Annual Prime Cruise

[jaullram]

So, I just called to book my free annual prime cruise and then upgrade to a balcony or suite.  In the past, we have always paid around 40% of the total cruise fare for the cabin we want to go to.  So, for example, we booked a Grand Suite with last year's prime offer and paid $1,800 which was 40% of the current rate for that room.  

This year however, the prices to upgrade have increased significantly and we are now paying 70% of the going rate.  I asked about it and she said that is the pricing they have and she couldn't tell me anything more.

When I received the price, the "math" doesn't work either.  If I get a free interior and only have to pay for taxes and fees, I am getting a discount of $1,220 (Total interior (cheapest) for the cruise we are looking at is 1,678 less taxes and fees of $398).  When she priced out the upgrade to a balcony, the discount I received was less than the $1,220 which doesn't seem right!

Currently annoyed because apparently they are taking away more perks from us again!!!! 

Has anyone else experienced this yet?

[WAAAYTOOO]

Hmmm....this doesn't sound good at all.  I haven't tried to have my 2 cruises repriced yet.  I was going to give it a little time and let the rush die down.

If this turns out to be the new "norm" then I will just cancel my B2B Star Class cruises on Anthem.  I will take the hit on the cancellation penalty and reassess whether we will continue to be loyal to Royal.  I'll let you know what happens when I ask Michelle to reprice the 2 I was planning on using for my annual cruise(s).

[Sweety]

3 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Hmmm....this doesn't sound good at all.  I haven't tried to have my 2 cruises repriced yet.  I was going to give it a little time and let the rush die down.

If this turns out to be the new "norm" then I will just cancel my B2B Star Class cruises on Anthem.  I will take the hit on the cancellation penalty and reassess whether we will continue to be loyal to Royal.  I'll let you know what happens when I ask Michelle to reprice the 2 I was planning on using for my annual cruise(s).

Please let me know how it goes.

[jaullram]

On 4/16/2019 at 2:06 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:

Hmmm....this doesn't sound good at all.  I haven't tried to have my 2 cruises repriced yet.  I was going to give it a little time and let the rush die down.

If this turns out to be the new "norm" then I will just cancel my B2B Star Class cruises on Anthem.  I will take the hit on the cancellation penalty and reassess whether we will continue to be loyal to Royal.  I'll let you know what happens when I ask Michelle to reprice the 2 I was planning on using for my annual cruise(s).

Maybe you will have better luck because you have a "Michelle"!  Our Star Class on Anthem next March at full price was $8,400 and I got a quote to upgrade using Prime certificate and it was $5,500.  Still a great price but I was expecting it to be $2,000 less than that (at $3,500).  We are still going to do it but not enthusiastic about their new pricing!!!  I only have the deposit down as I am hoping once the craziness goes away maybe the pricing will be better because at 30% I can go to any of the other major lines and get the same discount before having step foot in their casinos!

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, jaullram said:

Maybe you will have better luck because you have a "Michelle"!  Our Star Class on Anthem next March at full price was $8,400 and I got a quote to upgrade using Prime certificate and it was $5,500.  Still a great price but I was expecting it to be $2,000 less than that (at $3,500).  We are still going to do it but not enthusiastic about their new pricing!!!  I only have the deposit down as I am hoping once the craziness goes away maybe the pricing will be better because at 30% I can go to any of the other major lines and get the same discount before having step foot in their casinos!

Since I wrote that post, above, I have asked Michelle to reprice our Dec 2020 Oasis Star Class cruise. She came back with a discount very similar to what you stated - about 30% off (looks like yours is in the neighborhood of 35%).  Last year we were getting at least 60% off.  So while it's not as bad as some I've read about, it is certainly a far cry from what we were getting last year.  

Both Dan and I got surveys today from Club Royale.  I let them know about our disappointment in this year's casino comp upgrade rates.  I hope you will do the same if you get a survey.

We have 3 Star Class cruises booked for 2020.  We were going to reprice 2 of them using our CR annual prime cruises but I haven't decided whether I will go forward with it or not.  We WERE willing to pay full price for 1 of them if we got the good (60%) discount on the other 2 but doubtful that we will do that now.  I may just cancel all of them and combine our 2 comp cruises together and apply to the fall group cruise on Brilliance.  I know I will take a $200 hit on the deposit for anything I cancel but that may just be the way it has to be.

[jaullram]

6 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Since I wrote that post, above, I have asked Michelle to reprice our Dec 2020 Oasis Star Class cruise. She came back with a discount very similar to what you stated - about 30% off (looks like yours is in the neighborhood of 35%).  Last year we were getting at least 60% off.  So while it's not as bad as some I've read about, it is certainly a far cry from what we were getting last year.  

Both Dan and I got surveys today from Club Royale.  I let them know about our disappointment in this year's casino comp upgrade rates.  I hope you will do the same if you get a survey.

We have 3 Star Class cruises booked for 2020.  We were going to reprice 2 of them using our CR annual prime cruises but I haven't decided whether I will go forward with it or not.  We WERE willing to pay full price for 1 of them if we got the good (60%) discount on the other 2 but doubtful that we will do that now.  I may just cancel all of them and combine our 2 comp cruises together and apply to the fall group cruise on Brilliance.  I know I will take a $200 hit on the deposit for anything I cancel but that may just be the way it has to be.

I received the same survey today and mentioned our displeasure with the new pricing. I mentioned that if there were too many prime members that perhaps they should offer discounts of varying percentages off depending on points.  My husband had 10,000+ last year and I was at 8,000 so that should account for more of a discount than someone who just gets 2,500.  I also mentioned that I can go to MSC or NCL and get 30% off without even stepping foot in their casino.  I know you have been a member much longer than me (didn't know it existed when we first cruised with RCL in 2013) so I am sure you are feeling the disappointment more!

[Hoski]

I wish I would have remembered to mention this in my survey today.  They wanted a crazy amount to upgrade on our upcoming Empress cruise so I bid on a Royal Up and got it that way at a good price. 

[Cmichael]

Hello,

sorry if this is the wrong place but this is first time post for me. Thanks for all your information.

This is my first time as prime and found this blog. I became prime on my last cruise.  I am D+ plus but never knew anything about club royal until a host came up and put a sticker on my card and congratulated me. I am from Australia and finding it hard to know what to do. I received a free inside cabin certificate and became prime as well.  I rang the number the host told me for Australia to book but I was just told to email Club Royale for prime and C&A for the certificate. I don’t usually have any luck with emails to C&A. I was wondering if there were any other Australians out there that have booked these comps before and how they did it. thank you in advance. c

[WAAAYTOOO]

Hello, Cmichael !

I recommend that you go to https://www.clubroyaleoffers.com and find your certificate there.  The number that they ask for, during the online check-in is your Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor number.  There is a "redeem" button to the left but I have found that link to be less than useful.  But at least, if you have the certificate number, you can call Club Royale directly (US number 866-213-3116) and you will have the information you need to book your complimentary cruise.

Your cruise can be any cruise, 8 nights or less, that is not a "hoiliday" sailing.  It is still a little vague about what constitutes a holiday sailing - even here in the US.

Welcome to the blog, welcome to Club Royale and you posted in exactly the right place !  Good luck and smooth sailing.

[voltanton]

On 4/16/2019 at 10:01 AM, jaullram said:

So, I just called to book my free annual prime cruise and then upgrade to a balcony or suite.  In the past, we have always paid around 40% of the total cruise fare for the cabin we want to go to.  So, for example, we booked a Grand Suite with last year's prime offer and paid $1,800 which was 40% of the current rate for that room.  

This year however, the prices to upgrade have increased significantly and we are now paying 70% of the going rate.  I asked about it and she said that is the pricing they have and she couldn't tell me anything more.

When I received the price, the "math" doesn't work either.  If I get a free interior and only have to pay for taxes and fees, I am getting a discount of $1,220 (Total interior (cheapest) for the cruise we are looking at is 1,678 less taxes and fees of $398).  When she priced out the upgrade to a balcony, the discount I received was less than the $1,220 which doesn't seem right!

Currently annoyed because apparently they are taking away more perks from us again!!!! 

Has anyone else experienced this yet?

I have been sailing with Club Royale a long time. The amount the casino "pays" for your room is not off-the-shelf pricing from the website. The discounts are not set percentages either. They are based on that day's pricing (at their special rates) of the category of room you have been awarded, this amount is then deducted from that day's price of the category of room you have chose to upgrade to, again, at their special rates. For my most recent cruises I paid much less than 6 months ago. However I very easily could have paid more, based on prevailing rates.

[voltanton]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Hello, Cmichael !

I recommend that you go to https://www.clubroyaleoffers.com and find your certificate there.  The number that they ask for, during the online check-in is your Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor number.  There is a "redeem" button to the left but I have found that link to be less than useful.  But at least, if you have the certificate number, you can call Club Royale directly (US number 866-213-3116) and you will have the information you need to book your complimentary cruise.

Your cruise can be any cruise, 8 nights or less, that is not a "hoiliday" sailing.  It is still a little vague about what constitutes a holiday sailing - even here in the US.

Welcome to the blog, welcome to Club Royale and you posted in exactly the right place !  Good luck and smooth sailing.

The holiday blackouts are for Presidents Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years in my experience. This is also what I was told by the Club Royale agent when I booked my 2019 Annual offer.

[WAAAYTOOO]

We used one of our annual comp cruises this year on Anthem during President's Day week so this is just another example of the inconsistency in which such rules are applied.

[voltanton]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

We used one of our annual comp cruises this year on Anthem during President's Day week so this is just another example of the inconsistency in which such rules are applied.

Sounds like the agent made a mistake.

[Minicruiser]

@WAAAYTOOO I have a question about booking and repricinf. If I know I already earned next year’s prime cruise and want to book an Oct 2020 star class room (2 bedroom aqua theater suite) that will likely not be available if I wait til then, how do I do it? Book now with the normal deposit and just call club royale to reprice it once the offers come out next April? Any advantage to booking with Next Cruise onboard in june? Thanks! 

[WAAAYTOOO]

3 hours ago, Minicruiser said:

@WAAAYTOOO I have a question about booking and repricinf. If I know I already earned next year’s prime cruise and want to book an Oct 2020 star class room (2 bedroom aqua theater suite) that will likely not be available if I wait til then, how do I do it? Book now with the normal deposit and just call club royale to reprice it once the offers come out next April? Any advantage to booking with Next Cruise onboard in june? Thanks! 

That is exactly what I did for my B2B Anthem cruises for Feb 2020.  I booked them last year at the regular price just to hold them and then once 1 April came around, I used my casino comp offers to reprice those cruises....only I ended up not doing that...but that's another story.

So yes.  If you want to book a 2 BR ATS for October 2020, book it now at the going rate and then reprice them using your casino comp offers after 1 April 2020.  Just realize that you will not be price protected.  They will reprice the room based on whatever the going rate is when you reprice and the most you are likely to get off (unless things change between now and then) will be 30% but 30% off is sure better than full price !!  Also, be prepared to sacrifice $100 per person in case it does not work out the way you think it will (which is my scenario for the Anthem cruises I booked).

Once I started booking casino comps I have never gone back to Next Cruise.  The benefits of Next Cruise and the Casino are mutually exclusive and the casino will always win out - even with a miserable 30% off.

[Minicruiser]

44 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

That is exactly what I did for my B2B Anthem cruises for Feb 2020.  I booked them last year at the regular price just to hold them and then once 1 April came around, I used my casino comp offers to reprice those cruises....only I ended up not doing that...but that's another story.

So yes.  If you want to book a 2 BR ATS for October 2020, book it now at the going rate and then reprice them using your casino comp offers after 1 April 2020.  Just realize that you will not be price protected.  They will reprice the room based on whatever the going rate is when you reprice and the most you are likely to get off (unless things change between now and then) will be 30% but 30% off is sure better than full price !!  Also, be prepared to sacrifice $100 per person in case it does not work out the way you think it will (which is my scenario for the Anthem cruises I booked).

Once I started booking casino comps I have never gone back to Next Cruise.  The benefits of Next Cruise and the Casino are mutually exclusive and the casino will always win out - even with a miserable 30% off.

Thank you!!!!

[WAAAYTOOO]

3 hours ago, Minicruiser said:

Thank you!!!!

My pleasure. Good luck

[Cmichael]

15 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Hello, Cmichael !

I recommend that you go to https://www.clubroyaleoffers.com and find your certificate there.  The number that they ask for, during the online check-in is your Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor number.  There is a "redeem" button to the left but I have found that link to be less than useful.  But at least, if you have the certificate number, you can call Club Royale directly (US number 866-213-3116) and you will have the information you need to book your complimentary cruise.

Your cruise can be any cruise, 8 nights or less, that is not a "hoiliday" sailing.  It is still a little vague about what constitutes a holiday sailing - even here in the US.

Welcome to the blog, welcome to Club Royale and you posted in exactly the right place !  Good luck and smooth sailing.

Hi,

Thank you I found the cruise offers website.  The certificate I was given while on the ship is the only one on there. Same offer code. Nothing about prime or yearly free cruise. Is it a different free cruise or same. The offer says instant rewards certificate. Thank you again

[WAAAYTOOO]

10 hours ago, Cmichael said:

Hi,

Thank you I found the cruise offers website.  The certificate I was given while on the ship is the only one on there. Same offer code. Nothing about prime or yearly free cruise. Is it a different free cruise or same. The offer says instant rewards certificate. Thank you again

Then it sounds to me like you have not received a Prime tier comp cruise for this year.  It would appear that the award that is on your website is the one that you earned on the cruise and not the annual Prime tier comp cruise.  In order to get an annual Prime tier comp cruise, you would have had to qualify for it prior to March 31, 2019.  If you qualified for Prime prior to March 31, 2019 then you will need to call Club Royale and present your case.  You will need to know how many points you accumulated in each of the qualifying cruises to prove that you accumulated at least 2500 points between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019.  I keep a spreadsheet with all of that information b/c I simply do not trust Club Royale to accurately track my points.

[Cmichael]

Thank you WAAAYTOOO, I understand now as I didn’t get prime until early April. Does it mean I will get a prime free cruise next year? If I remember rightly the host did say I will be prime this year and next. I thought after the 31st March all points go and you have to start accumulating  points again. 

I also read somewhere that no point going to casino no last day as points not counted. Surely this isn’t true. I know the instant rewards are given out earlier since maybe that is what they meant. 

thank you again.  C

[AGSLC5]

1 hour ago, Cmichael said:

Thank you WAAAYTOOO, I understand now as I didn’t get prime until early April. Does it mean I will get a prime free cruise next year? If I remember rightly the host did say I will be prime this year and next. I thought after the 31st March all points go and you have to start accumulating  points again. 

I also read somewhere that no point going to casino no last day as points not counted. Surely this isn’t true. I know the instant rewards are given out earlier since maybe that is what they meant. 

thank you again.  C

If you made Prime early April you won't get the free Prime annual cruise until next year.. Also You should absolutely still play on the last day. You can totally still gain points. All you have to do is see the casino host as soon as your done playing on the last day and say to them ok recalculate my points from today.. I do this on every cruise because I usually get enough points on the last day to move me up a category. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, Cmichael said:

 Does it mean I will get a prime free cruise next year? 

 Yes

 

1 hour ago, Cmichael said:

 

1 hour ago, Cmichael said:

 If I remember rightly the host did say I will be prime this year and next. 

That is correct. You will get all of the benefits of being Prime this year (no “convenience fee” and free drinks in the casino) except for the free cruise.  Next year (since you have already qualified) you will get everything.

1 hour ago, Cmichael said:

. I thought after the 31st March all points go and you have to start accumulating  points again. 

That is accurate.  Since you have already qualified for Prime for next year, you don’t care if they zero out your account and start over !  You’re already “in”. On April 1 2020 you will start working on the next years status.  The only time you would really care about being zero-ed out would be if you are close to making the next level - something I will never have to worry about !

For some reason the quote box isn’t working....but yes, all points are counted - even on the last day. I always go talk to the casino host at the very end of the cruise to make sure every last point is recorded.  I keep a very close accounting of my points as I do not trust the home office to record them accurately- a fear that has been validated more than once.  Write it all down and keep track !

 

[Cmichael]

40 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

 Yes

 

That is correct. You will get all of the benefits of being Prime this year (no “convenience fee” and free drinks in the casino) except for the free cruise.  Next year (since you have already qualified) you will get everything.

That is accurate.  Since you have already qualified for Prime for next year, you don’t care if they zero out your account and start over !  You’re already “in”. On April 1 2020 you will start working on the next years status.  The only time you would really care about being zero-ed out would be if you are close to making the next level - something I will never have to worry about !

For some reason the quote box isn’t working....but yes, all points are counted - even on the last day. I always go talk to the casino host at the very end of the cruise to make sure every last point is recorded.  I keep a very close accounting of my points as I do not trust the home office to record them accurately- a fear that has been validated more than once.  Write it all down and keep track !

 

Thank you so much. I finally get it.  I don’t think I have to worry about next level either, unless lucky enough to have big win and silly enough to reinvest it.

It is good to get free drinks and no fee. A pity we can’t also get some morning coffees in casino.

Im glad to know last day points count. I will ask in future what my final points are at end of cruise and keep record. 

Good luck and safe travels on all your future cruises. C

 

 

[Cmichael]

52 minutes ago, AGSLC5 said:

If you made Prime early April you won't get the free Prime annual cruise until next year.. Also You should absolutely still play on the last day. You can totally still gain points. All you have to do is see the casino host as soon as your done playing on the last day and say to them ok recalculate my points from today.. I do this on every cruise because I usually get enough points on the last day to move me up a category. 

Thank you. I will definitely check with host on last day. C

[Cmichael]

Hi,

After looking at all the cruises on offer, on the back of my free cruise certificate, there is nothing left I can choose. All have already sailed except for 5 that are in Oct-Nov months only. We are already booked on a 19 night cruise from Sydney to Hawaii at that time. It would be  Impossible for us to use any of the cruises on the remaining list.  Three different ships with similar dates.

I rang the number I was told to use for Australians. I asked if there were any updated lists that I could find a cruise.  They told me no updated list. I can only choose from the list given to me.  Fair enough, rules are rules. I was looking forward to an actual free cruise too. 

Put it down to bad timing. At least I get free drinks in Casino this year.

 I was told I can use the $500 on another cruise. I guess I will just have to look into that now before my time runs out.

C

[WAAAYTOOO]

Unless the free annual Prime tier comp cruise works differently in Oz than it does in the US, there is no list to choose from.  You should be able to book any cruise, 8 nights or less, not during a holiday.  If you have a certificate that lists a bunch of sailings on the back, it would be a certificate that you earned while on a cruise, not the annual Prime tier comp cruise.  I recommend that you call back again and make it clear that you are looking to book your annual Prime tier comp cruise.  If the rules are different than here in the US, then I apologize for confusing you.

[Cmichael]

3 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Unless the free annual Prime tier comp cruise works differently in Oz than it does in the US, there is no list to choose from.  You should be able to book any cruise, 8 nights or less, not during a holiday.  If you have a certificate that lists a bunch of sailings on the back, it would be a certificate that you earned while on a cruise, not the annual Prime tier comp cruise.  I recommend that you call back again and make it clear that you are looking to book your annual Prime tier comp cruise.  If the rules are different than here in the US, then I apologize for confusing you.

No you didn’t confuse me. Your information is always very clear.

Sorry I probably confused you. It isn’t a prime cruise. It is a free cruise certificate. C

[WAAAYTOOO]

2 minutes ago, Cmichael said:

No you didn’t confuse me. Your information is always very clear.

Sorry I probably confused you. It isn’t a prime cruise. It is a free cruise certificate. C

Too funny !!

Yes, I have run into the same problem with the eligible lists.  I have, from time-to-time, been able to get an updated list with cruises further into the future, but far more often, I have not been able to get such a list.  Keep trying !  And good luck !

[Cmichael]

Sorry my mistake.

[Cmichael]

Thank you. I will eventually learn more about club Royale and posting.

you are very kind. Good luck to you too. 

[Cmichael]

Hello again,

I know this is about the annual prime cruise but I would like to ask a question about any casino comp cruise again.

As I couldn’t sail on any of the comp cruises listed on the back of my certificate. I Had no choice but to use the $500 off offer on a cruise I had already booked. This cruise is a long way off and I have only paid deposit so far. I logged into rccl to see my future cruises and noticed we were given a cabin number already, on a balcony guarantee booking. Seemed odd with cruise being so far away.  

Being D+ (Over half way now to the big P. ) doesn’t seem to matter anymore. The balcony cabin that has been allocated, is one of the worst cabins available on that ship from what I have read. I was just wondering if this happens with casino offers. Do they give you a cabin number earlier and as comped  A crappy cabin. ?  I asked our travel agent to see if he can change to another balcony. After contacting rccl we were told, that if we want another balcony cabin, 1 floor up, would be an extra $800. Normal balcony, no larger. 

So many changes it seems with rccl now. When your loyalty counted and being diamond + and above you had more chance of an upgrade. Actually listed as one of the advantages of meeting that tier. Concierge lounge access etc. taking it all away bit by bit. The cruise after our last,  junior suites were told they couldn’t have dinner in coastal kitchen. Diamond+ couldn’t access concierge lounge either. Great if you have reached pinnacle, so far you get to keep suite class perks and so you should. 

I guess with the new royal up it will get harder to upgrade your casino comp cruises.

C

 

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

I have never booked a guarantee cabin so I don't know anything about how they are assigned but I would find it very difficult to believe that they would assign less desirable cabins to casino comps on purpose.  I think you may have just gotten incredibly unlucky on that one.

As for changing cabins, if you change from 1 cabin to another cabin within the same category there should not be any additional charge.  I would have your TA call again. That does not sound right - especially if the cruise is still a ways out.

[Hoski]

With cruise comps we USUALLY get assigned the cabin right away.  They usually aren't anything special or horrible.  We have tried to upgrade and the price lately has been crazy expensive to upgrade.  We've never tried to change to the same category.  The only cruise we weren't assigned a cabin right away is one my husband earned a junior suite but only oceanview was available.  He got a guarantee for that one and we don't know the cabin yet 3 weeks out. 

[Cmichael]

Thank you,

I also thought there should’t  be additional cost. Certainly not $800. We have asked our travel agent to call again.  The upgrade prices are as you say crazy expensive. Apparently these balcony’s are nearly totally obstructed and the only worse cabins are opposite side and they have to endure cigarette smoke as cabin is directly above the smokers station. It is on utube. 

This cruise is Feb. 2020. I would cancel this cruise but we have booked 2 other cabins for our family.  We chose their cabins as booked after. I will never do guarantee again. Lesson learnt.