Stevo B Posted December 13, 2019 Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 What’s the latest news rumours on the D lounge, points being altered to lighten the load on the lounges, D being denied entry, only D+ being allowed entry into the lounge as they lost the CL to pinnacles and suites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 13, 2019 Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 Rumors run rampant and have for many years. For several years we have lived under the threat of "changes are coming" only to have no changes come. Honestly I'm not sure there is a problem. The C&A program is immensely successful. It is doing exactly what it is designed to do - generate loyalty and return customers. A crowded loyalty lounge is a good thing, not a bad thing. Let's face it the lounge sits mostly empty for hour after hour. They only get crowded when the drinks are free. While people create rumors of point thresholds changing I don't see that happening. I built a graph of different cruise line loyalty programs and what it takes to reach the top in each program. I adjusted each to normalize for the different top levels such as 700 on Royal and 3,000 on Celebrity. Crown and Anchor does start off a little wonky before reaching Diamond but if that is the "golden point" after reaching that level all cruise line thresholds to level up track each other pretty well. So why would Royal buck this trend and do something wild with their thresholds when it has a very successful program doing exactly what it is designed to do? They could reduce the Platinum threshold to create a better logical progression. The jump from Gold to Platinum is 10 X while the jump from Platinum to Emerald is only 1.8 X. This early threshold anomaly is the only thing that stands out compared to the competition. The Cruise Junkie, Lovetocruise2002 and JasonL 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted December 13, 2019 Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 2 minutes ago, twangster said: I built a graph of different cruise line loyalty programs Shocking! lol twangster, SpeedNoodles, The Cruise Junkie and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted December 13, 2019 Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 Adding to what others said, this is a baseless rumor. Fear not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flacruiser99 Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 On 12/13/2019 at 9:36 AM, Matt said: Adding to what others said, this is a baseless rumor. Fear not. However I have seen baseless rumors come true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 23 minutes ago, Flacruiser99 said: However I have seen baseless rumors come true. Anyone can get lucky. I could see them adjusting benefits or perks. Pinnacle access to Coastal Kitchen for example. On high Pinnacle count cruises they have been limiting CK access for Pinnacles. This could become a standard. CK and the Royal Suite Class (Sea/Sky/Star) has only been around for 3 years so some fine tuning may be due. Over the years they have made changes to CAS including introducing the concept of Pinnacle. Swiping cards in the DL could become standard and that would eliminate the pre-Diamond that slip into the lounges to score free drinks. Once they start swiping then unlimited drinks may go away and they could enforce the 3 drink rule inside the club. Allowing binge drinking and drunkenness in the clubs isn't exactly a great thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flacruiser99 Posted December 17, 2019 Report Share Posted December 17, 2019 On 12/16/2019 at 9:01 AM, twangster said: Anyone can get lucky. I could see them adjusting benefits or perks. Pinnacle access to Coastal Kitchen for example. On high Pinnacle count cruises they have been limiting CK access for Pinnacles. This could become a standard. CK and the Royal Suite Class (Sea/Sky/Star) has only been around for 3 years so some fine tuning may be due. Over the years they have made changes to CAS including introducing the concept of Pinnacle. Swiping cards in the DL could become standard and that would eliminate the pre-Diamond that slip into the lounges to score free drinks. Once they start swiping then unlimited drinks may go away and they could enforce the 3 drink rule inside the club. Allowing binge drinking and drunkenness in the clubs isn't exactly a great thing. The only thing sometimes they seem to be going in the opposite direction, . I remember when you were not allowed to take drinks out of the lounge (sometimes you could pour your drink into paper coffee cup to sneak it out) now at 8pm there is a line of folks bring glasses of wine to dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 17, 2019 Report Share Posted December 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Flacruiser99 said: The only thing sometimes they seem to be going in the opposite direction, . I remember when you were not allowed to take drinks out of the lounge (sometimes you could pour your drink into paper coffee cup to sneak it out) now at 8pm there is a line of folks bring glasses of wine to dinner. The diamond club concierge can't stop us all! Matt, SpeedNoodles, Flacruiser99 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 Don't change it anytime soon please!!!!!..I will be about 2 cruises(7 nighters) away from Diamond after 2020..quite a feat considering I have only done once a 7 night cruise..most of my cruises have been 4 nighter's...taking awhile but I want my Diamond perks!! SpeedNoodles and Ken23 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arebee Posted December 23, 2019 Report Share Posted December 23, 2019 On 12/19/2019 at 1:16 PM, monctonguy said: Don't change it anytime soon please!!!!!..I will be about 2 cruises(7 nighters) away from Diamond after 2020..quite a feat considering I have only done once a 7 night cruise..most of my cruises have been 4 nighter's...taking awhile but I want my Diamond perks!! I finally hit diamond last week. After 7 years. Not planning to go to D+, just taking cruises and see what happens. monctonguy, jticarruthers, PRebecca and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 23, 2019 Report Share Posted December 23, 2019 2 hours ago, arebee said: I finally hit diamond last week. After 7 years. Not planning to go to D+, just taking cruises and see what happens. Congratulations !!! Big threshold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 23, 2019 Report Share Posted December 23, 2019 2 hours ago, arebee said: I finally hit diamond last week. After 7 years. Not planning to go to D+, just taking cruises and see what happens. Congratulations! Diamond is the biggest and most significant threshold in the CAS program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason12 Posted December 24, 2019 Report Share Posted December 24, 2019 Don’t care as long as I get my balcony discount and 3 free drinks I’m all good the diamond lounge can be a clicky place at times... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim S Posted January 26, 2020 Report Share Posted January 26, 2020 I think that RCI should allow the 3 free drinks to be any drink up to a pre-determined value, say $12, and not just those on the “Diamond” list. That might encourage drinkers to go to other bars on the ship and not jam up the Diamond and Concierge Lounges where the drinks choice is quite limited. WAAAYTOOO and RBRSKI 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted January 26, 2020 Report Share Posted January 26, 2020 19 minutes ago, Jim S said: I think that RCI should allow the 3 free drinks to be any drink up to a pre-determined value, say $12, and not just those on the “Diamond” list. That might encourage drinkers to go to other bars on the ship and not jam up the Diamond and Concierge Lounges where the drinks choice is quite limited. It may come to that as CAS numbers continue to grow and grow. The diamond lounge might have to stop serving drinks all together and everyone uses their seapass 'coupons'. RBRSKI and Jim S 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 Just to add.....in one of the Facebook groups last week someone posted the breakdown of C&A on board: Serenade top tier January 20, 2020 sailing. CAS onboard. 1767 Gold. 483 Platinum. 297 Emerald. 145 Diamond. 458 D+. 322 Pinnacle. 62 Top 3 3) 2417 points 2) 2481 points 1) 2668 points It was so crowded at Diamond and above (almost 850) that Diamond was sent to Safari for their happy hour. I think it’s become too easy to reach Diamond. You can be Diamond in as little as 6, seven night cruises in a junior suite. Honestly I’d rather they just load my card with my 3 drinks to be used anywhere, anytime and maybe just offer a concierge service. Of course I should talk I got the benefit of being grandfathered when C&A was reworked. We reached Diamond a little sooner than normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cruise Junkie Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 Ok I Want To Add Something I Saw Them Doing On Mariner, When I Was In The DL They Were Writing Down Your Cabin Numbers, I Asked What That Was For And I Was Told That C&A Is Trying To Keep Track Of How Many People Use The Free Drinks At The Lounge. RWDW1204 and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 37 minutes ago, Jaymac Radio said: Ok I Want To Add Something I Saw Them Doing On Mariner, When I Was In The DL They Were Writing Down Your Cabin Numbers, I Asked What That Was For And I Was Told That C&A Is Trying To Keep Track Of How Many People Use The Free Drinks At The Lounge. They weren’t doing that back in October on Mariner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 14 hours ago, Jill said: I think it’s become too easy to reach Diamond. You can be Diamond in as little as 6, seven night cruises in a junior suite. I'd point out most people do not cruise that often. Before I ever started this blog, I thought cruising once a year was quite an accomplishment. Diamond is really something for the Über cruiser, who goes a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flacruiser99 Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 14 hours ago, Jill said: I think it’s become too easy to reach Diamond. You can be Diamond in as little as 6, seven night cruises in a junior suite. Or 4 seven night cruises in a junior suite sailing single. Jill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB1 Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 When I started cruising almost 20 years ago, cruising was much more expensive. You can now get a window room for less than we paid when I started cruising. I have met Pinnacles who brag about how little it cost them to reach Pinnacle by going back to back in inside cabins. The situation has changed dramatically. It would not surprise me to see major changes as the numbers swell. I think most people see it coming and are mad about it, but it seems inevitable. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 Like @Matt said most people do not cruise that often. I doubt RCC is going to totally change or revamp the system because it works. They want the lounges full, it probably cost less than one D/D+ person cruise fare to cover all the alcohol the D(s) drink for the entire cruise. The most important thing is your are there and will be back. Mainly because you put too much into this loyalty program to quit. RCC has a good product, I want to hit Diamond and since I am a solo cruiser I could probably do it in less than 3 years. But that is not my overall goal. Enjoying my vacation is. HeWhoWaits 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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