Internet and Diamond Status

[jabberwk]

I just made it to Diamond status. Whew! According to the C&A benefits list, Diamond members are eligible for one free day of internet service onboard. How does that work? When I go to purchase ahead of time through the planner, it shows me the rate for the duration of the cruise. Would there be a credit applied once I get on the ship or is there some way to apply it beforehand?

[smokeybandit]

28 minutes ago, jabberwk said:

Would there be a credit applied once I get on the ship

yes

[jabberwk]

15 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

yes

Thanks. That's all I needed to know.

[smokeybandit]

Note that it's not a credit against any internet package you may have pre-purchased. It's only a credit for purchasing internet on the ship.

[SteveK]

8 hours ago, jabberwk said:

When I go to purchase ahead of time through the planner, it shows me the rate for the duration of the cruise.

Would there be a credit applied once I get on the ship or is there some way to apply it beforehand?

 

NO.

You can only get your credit by buying the internet once you are onboard.

No pre purchased plans get 'credits'.

On board only.

 

[jticarruthers]

You cant have (as far as I can tell) the "pre-purchase" discount by booking ahead and also your diamond discount ... like so many of the C&A discounts it is devalued by the fact that they basically give the same discount to everybody for pre-paying for things.

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, jticarruthers said:

You cant have (as far as I can tell) the "pre-purchase" discount by booking ahead and also your diamond discount ... like so many of the C&A discounts it is devalued by the fact that they basically give the same discount to everybody for pre-paying for things.

 

Even worse, the pre-purchase discount is almost always better than the onboard C&A discount so the C&A discount is often meaningless.  @twangster has written about ways to get around some of that but it usually means going a day or 2 without internet service so you have to be willing to accept some limitations.

[twangster]

3 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

You cant have (as far as I can tell) the "pre-purchase" discount by booking ahead and also your diamond discount ... like so many of the C&A discounts it is devalued by the fact that they basically give the same discount to everybody for pre-paying for things.

 

I think it depends.  Certaintly the best CAS discounts or offers are at the higher levels of the program. 

A short cruise is different than a longer cruise.  Diamond is different than Diamond Plus.  Some people just want to check in from time to time, some people want to be connected all the time.  A cruising couple both at D or D+ has more opportunity to spread and share their CAS free days compared to a solo.  It all depends.

For a D+ on a 3 night sailing the onboard discount can make the internet nearly free.  Less so on a 4 night cruise and even less so on a 7 night cruise. A couple that are both D+ get 4 days so if they share them, taking turns, that can cover the needs for some folks to check in from time to time.  For a D couple with two 24 hour passes between them that can be enough for a 3 night cruise.  That saves hundreds of dollars if it works for you.  For some that is a great perk.  It all depends.

Not all discounts are appealing to all users.  That doesn't mean they are devalued.  I rarely use the free photo so for me that discount is a waste.  Other's find great value in that perk.   Some find great value in photo plans which make the free D photo redundant.  I don't think it's fair to say pre-purchased plans devalue a CAS perk.

[jabberwk]

All of this info helps a lot. Appreciate the input. I'll look at both ways and see what works best. I have a feeling, the pre-purchase will probably be the way to go given that it's a longer cruise and I need to stay connected for some critical reasons.

[Ampurp85]

I am one night from D+ and currently sailing on Freedom. I used my free diamond day and the price onboard was $26.99. I am also prime, the 30% discount on the remaining days will be much cheaper than the planner price.

 

[Sromag]

I am a new Diamond member, it says my kids will get the same Diamond benefits as me while cruising. Does that include 1 free day of internet? If I have 4 kids sailing with me I will get 4 additional days of Internet?

[twangster]

8 hours ago, Sromag said:

I am a new Diamond member, it says my kids will get the same Diamond benefits as me while cruising. Does that include 1 free day of internet? If I have 4 kids sailing with me I will get 4 additional days of Internet?

Yes, as long as your kids are dependent children under 18.  

Kids that are over 18 or kids that are sailing with you but not your dependent children (friends/nieces/nephews) are not included.

 

[RCIfan1912]

I don't understand why with being  Diamond when you check out for a full plan for a cruise they can't just pro rate it and only pay for 6 days rather than the full 7 days. I just don't get it other than of course they don't want you to use the perk. They certainly don't want to make it easy or for it to make sense. If you wait to purchase on the ship you are gonna pay more in the end. It's a way to have a perk but not really have it. 

[Kathleen]

I was going to use it on one day and choose to have 2 devices at the same time on Wi-Fi without toggling back and forth. Is this a possibility or does it mess up the log in/ off process for the other dates?

[Pattycruise]

6 hours ago, Kathleen said:

I was going to use it on one day and choose to have 2 devices at the same time on Wi-Fi without toggling back and forth. Is this a possibility or does it mess up the log in/ off process for the other dates?

I’m not sure I understand your question . Your plan is to purchase one device package and then use your free day at the same time at some point?

here is my experience

once I logged into my purchased internet the option to use my 2 free days disappeared. On one ship I asked them to add my days back to my account so I could log into another device while using my paid Internet simultaneously.  They said no problem and added my days back to my account.  When I logged into the second device I chose my free days.  On other ships I’ve been told I could get ONE day at a time and when they activated my first 24 hour pass from being D+ the 24 hours started from when they loaded it.  Quite annoying as I did not want my internet to begin during the time frame i was limited to speak with the internet assistant (about 8am-11am and then 5pm-8pm)  when I wanted my second free D+ day I had to go back to the internet guy for him to activate it.  To me it’s ridiculous to have to do this, I feel it should be loaded and accessible in 24 hour blocks from when I want to start using it, not when they load the account. 

 

[Kathleen]

@Pattycruise thank you. Your answer was exactly what I was wondering. I have a 1 device internet package for the week. I just want to access my free Diamond day on a second device at the same time on one day. Your first scenario answers this question. Much appreciated!!

[Larry S]

I guess I'm a little slow this morning since I thought I understood the OP question, however, not sure I understand the answers so I'll ask my own way.  If a Diamond member purchased an Internet package for 10 days online before the cruise, will the Diamond member receive a credit for the one-day benefit that their Diamond status provides them?  Either as an OBC or future purchase towards Internet. 

[OCSC Mike]

39 minutes ago, Larry S said:

I guess I'm a little slow this morning since I thought I understood the OP question, however, not sure I understand the answers so I'll ask my own way.  If a Diamond member purchased an Internet package for 10 days online before the cruise, will the Diamond member receive a credit for the one-day benefit that their Diamond status provides them?  Either as an OBC or future purchase towards Internet. 

No.

[steverk]

47 minutes ago, Larry S said:

I guess I'm a little slow this morning since I thought I understood the OP question, however, not sure I understand the answers so I'll ask my own way.  If a Diamond member purchased an Internet package for 10 days online before the cruise, will the Diamond member receive a credit for the one-day benefit that their Diamond status provides them?  Either as an OBC or future purchase towards Internet. 

No, but you can talk to the voom desk on board. They can transfer your free internet coupon to someone else in your party

[Larry S]

Thanks to both of you for your quick reply.

[Brando95]

It's not as simple as buying it pre-cruise and getting credited back the value of the one free day. Doesn't work that way. What you'll get is a free day on a second device for you or someone else in your party to use. As I sail solo most often that doesn't do much for me. Since I don't really need to be connected for work, I just like to have it to stay in touch back home in case of emergencies, especially on the longer cruises. On my upcoming cruise, since I'll be in US ports the first part of the trip, I'll just use my phone and data when in port and wait until we begin the crossing over to Vancouver to purchase the internet. Buying it on the first of the 5 consecutive sea days, will get me 5 days for the price of 4. While the onboard price per day will be more than it would be in the planner my overall cost won't be as much. 

[Dad2Cue]

On 12/5/2023 at 10:33 PM, Pattycruise said:

I had to go back to the internet guy for him to activate it.  To me it’s ridiculous to have to do this

I agree .... except I like to chat with the internet guy so I don't mind.  The poor guy seems bored most of the time.

[Va4fam]

We are D+.  Is there a certain amount of cruise days required for each of us to get 2 free days?   I thought I read cruise must be more than 5 days to get some of the perks.

 

[Ampurp85]

53 minutes ago, Va4fam said:

We are D+.  Is there a certain amount of cruise days required for each of us to get 2 free days?   I thought I read cruise must be more than 5 days to get some of the perks.

 

No, you can get the internet on 2day cruises. The 5 days is for laundry. 

[Va4fam]

On 12/13/2023 at 10:46 PM, Ampurp85 said:

No, you can get the internet on 2day cruises. The 5 days is for laundry. 

How about the D+  BOGO speciality dining?  Does it work for 3 day cruises the same as 7 or 12 days?

 

[Ampurp85]

18 minutes ago, Va4fam said:

How about the D+  BOGO speciality dining?  Does it work for 3 day cruises the same as 7 or 12 days?

 

Yes. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

42 minutes ago, Va4fam said:

How about the D+  BOGO speciality dining?  Does it work for 3 day cruises the same as 7 or 12 days?

 

Yes.  I just used it last week on Freedom.  Whether or not you can use it beyond night #2 is ship-specific but I have only been turned down once, when I wanted to use my BOGO beyond night #2 and that was on Wonder.  All of the other ships have accommodated a BOGO on either night #1 or night #2 and then the second BOGO some time later in the cruise.

[WannaCruise]

Silly question (and I apologize if this was already mentioned).  We don't get internet at all as we like to disconnect from the world....but with Diamond, do we still get 1 free day without buying any internet?  Or it's only if you purchase it then 1 day is free?

[JFCruise]

@WannaCruise - You get free 24 hour internet access, no purchase necessary.

[steverk]

5 minutes ago, WannaCruise said:

Silly question (and I apologize if this was already mentioned).  We don't get internet at all as we like to disconnect from the world....but with Diamond, do we still get 1 free day without buying any internet?  Or it's only if you purchase it then 1 day is free?

There's a coupon loaded on your account.  When you log in and try to purchase 1 day internet,  it automatically applies and makes your cost $0. Whether or not you choose to use it is entirely up to you

[Dad2Cue]

3 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yes.  I just used it last week on Freedom.  Whether or not you can use it beyond night #2 is ship-specific but I have only been turned down once, when I wanted to use my BOGO beyond night #2 and that was on Wonder.  All of the other ships have accommodated a BOGO on either night #1 or night #2 and then the second BOGO some time later in the cruise.

Just don't buy one on the cruise planner and expect to get your guest that shows up with you for free.  That was too confusing so I will never do that again.  Somehow the one I bought on cruise planner vanished even though it was supposed to be refunded to the original form of payment.

[F1guynz]

I think the reason Royal does not give you a C&A discount on WIFI purchase in the cruise planner is they would see it as double dipping. The CP is giving you a discounted price then you would essentially be getting another discount by applying free days.

The reason you can use it on a ship is because that price is not discounted unless you apply a C&A discount.

I am not saying I agree but I can see a logic.

[Pattycruise]

10 hours ago, F1guynz said:

I think the reason Royal does not give you a C&A discount on WIFI purchase in the cruise planner is they would see it as double dipping. The CP is giving you a discounted price then you would essentially be getting another discount by applying free days.

The reason you can use it on a ship is because that price is not discounted unless you apply a C&A discount.

I am not saying I agree but I can see a logic.

Royal and logic??

it’s more likely someone would have to maintain a database or program (you can tell I’m not a program writer)  to cross reference the cruise planner to your C&A level AND casino prime level.  I see it as one  more thing that would go wrong. 

[Va4fam]

On 12/15/2023 at 4:22 PM, Dad2Cue said:

Just don't buy one on the cruise planner and expect to get your guest that shows up with you for free.  That was too confusing so I will never do that again.  Somehow the one I bought on cruise planner vanished even though it was supposed to be refunded to the original form of payment.

Appreciate the advice.......this will be our first time using the BOGO.   If we plan to go to Chops and Jamie's Italian, when do we need to "book" and plan our two specialty dining and who do we need to see when we get on ship?

 

 

[AshleyDillo]

1 hour ago, Va4fam said:

Appreciate the advice.......this will be our first time using the BOGO.   If we plan to go to Chops and Jamie's Italian, when do we need to "book" and plan our two specialty dining and who do we need to see when we get on ship?

Go to any specialty dining restaurant or the kiosk on the Promenade when you board. If you are using the BOGO for nights 1 & 2 then you just remind them when you go to the restaurant at your dining time. If you're trying to use the 2nd meal on a different night than 1 or 2, you need to verify that they allow it ahead of time.

[Dad2Cue]

11 hours ago, Va4fam said:

Appreciate the advice.......this will be our first time using the BOGO.   If we plan to go to Chops and Jamie's Italian, when do we need to "book" and plan our two specialty dining and who do we need to see when we get on ship?

 

 

Yes ... what @AshleyDillo says is all you do.  I did the same except I let them know I had already bought one meal on cruise planner.  I wanted to let them know there would be two people with BOGO.  All was well until after the meal when I was charged for one meal and got the other meal for free.  I asked what happened to the meal I bought on cruise planner but nobody seemed to understand why I thought I shouldn't be charged for one meal.  It was all cordial and somewhat comical.  The suggestion was to go to customer service.

I took proof of the cruise planner purchase to customer service and they seemed to understand so they called the restaurant.  Customer service thought it was the restaurant's responsibility to issue a refund.  In the end someone said the cruise planner purchase should be refunded to my credit card but that never happened.

The weird thing was I was going to do a second BOGO later on in the cruise.  I had already purchased the meal on cruise planner for the second reservation.  I asked customer service if the same thing would happen.  Customer service issued an onboard credit for that cruise planner purchase. 

I think they want you to pay the full price onboard for the meal you buy rather than the discounted price you get on cruise planner.  The problem with that is they may not have any openings when you get onboard for the time you would like the reservation to be.

 

[Ampurp85]

@Dad2Cue when it comes to C&A discounts, they all require you to pay onboard prices. So at most you can book the dinner in CP to get a particular dinner time. But they won't let you pay the discounted CP price and use the bogo.

[Va4fam]

Thanks again.....I think I have it.  

My wife and I are both D+, so does mean I book Chops, she eats free, she books Jamie's, I eat free?  No sense using the cruise planner as we won't be eligible for the discount.

[Dad2Cue]

20 minutes ago, Va4fam said:

My wife and I are both D+, so does mean I book Chops, she eats free, she books Jamie's, I eat free? 

Yes ... no need to buy Chops+1 on the cruise planner like we used to do.  You just have to make your reservations onboard and not the cruise planner.  

[WAAAYTOOO]

2 hours ago, Va4fam said:

Thanks again.....I think I have it.  

My wife and I are both D+, so does mean I book Chops, she eats free, she books Jamie's, I eat free?  No sense using the cruise planner as we won't be eligible for the discount.

You have it exactly right.  The only question you will have to have answered onboard is whether you can use one of the BOGO on a night other than night #1 or night #2.  Chances are that you will have to pay for the second BOGO at the same time that you pay for the first one, but then when you go to the second restaurant there will be a $0 bill.

it is definitely a rule violation to try and apply a Cruise Planner purchase as one of you BOGO even though some have been successful in doing that….but it’s cheating and that is never ok.