Loyalty member benefits

[MFPW at Sea]

Why does RC keep messing with C&A benefits?!

I have been loyal to RC ever since my very first cruise in 2007. Since then I finally reached Diamond status and am currently trying to get to Diamond Plus. The renamed Diamond Lounge on Wonder will soon limit access to the Crown Lounge from 5-8 PM for only D-plus and Pinnacle members leaving Diamond members out. Is this another idea the brilliant minds running the show are floating? When will it go fleet wide? This is as dumb an idea as the thought of charging guests for the mediocre pizza at Sorrento's (sorry that wasn't nice).

What's the point of being loyal if they keep moving the goal post?

[TXcruzer]

4 hours ago, MFPW at Sea said:

Why does RC keep messing with C&A benefits?!

I have been loyal to RC ever since my very first cruise in 2007. Since then I finally reached Diamond status and am currently trying to get to Diamond Plus. The renamed Diamond Lounge on Wonder will soon limit access to the Crown Lounge from 5-8 PM for only D-plus and Pinnacle members leaving Diamond members out. Is this another idea the brilliant minds running the show are floating? When will it go fleet wide? This is as dumb an idea as the thought of charging guests for the mediocre pizza at Sorrento's (sorry that wasn't nice).

What's the point of being loyal if they keep moving the goal post?

The access was only limited to a Casino Royale cruise with larger than normal numbers of high tier sailers.  

There has been no policy change.

[smokeybandit]

5 hours ago, MFPW at Sea said:

The renamed Diamond Lounge on Wonder will soon limit access to the Crown Lounge from 5-8 PM for only D-plus and Pinnacle members leaving Diamond members out.

There's no evidence that this is true as a fleetwide policy.

 

[CruiseGus]

5 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

There's no evidence that this is true as a fleetwide policy.

 

But with the post covid addition of another drink voucher, that can be used anytime of the day, as opposed to 3 hours in that tiny room slamming drinks, you have really gained benefits.  The fact that they may lock you out during Happy Hour is really inconsequential as long as your allowed in for your morning coffee machine

[OCSC Mike]

9 minutes ago, CruiseGus said:

The fact that they may lock you out during Happy Hour is really inconsequential

Not if you enjoy the happy hour snacks.

[Doug_Texas]

COVID created too many Diamond and above status members.  If you go to their “top tier” events where they tell you the status breakdown numbers for your sailing it is really astonishing.  I think they are trying to cope with the numbers.  I’ll just keep crossing my fingers that the drink coupons don’t change because it is the best perk on the ocean and costing them a great deal in lost bev revenue.

[OCSC Mike]

19 minutes ago, Doug_Texas said:

If you go to their “top tier” events where they tell you the status breakdown numbers for your sailing it is really astonishing.

That depends greatly on the ship, date, and itinerary. All summer the numbers were very low on Wonder b/c higher tier members are less likely to sail with expensive prices, lots of kids, and boring itineraries.

[FionaMG]

20 minutes ago, Doug_Texas said:

COVID created too many Diamond and above status members.  If you go to their “top tier” events where they tell you the status breakdown numbers for your sailing it is really astonishing.  I think they are trying to cope with the numbers.  I’ll just keep crossing my fingers that the drink coupons don’t change because it is the best perk on the ocean and costing them a great deal in lost bev revenue.

I wonder if it is or if the opposite is true. I expect the bean counters have their eye on this. It would be interesting to see some numbers. I'm sure thay have them but do they share them with anyone? Shareholders I suppose would potentially need to be informed.

[Rackham]

11 hours ago, FionaMG said:

I wonder if it is or if the opposite is true. I expect the bean counters have their eye on this. It would be interesting to see some numbers. I'm sure thay have them but do they share them with anyone? Shareholders I suppose would potentially need to be informed.

They've increased the voucher count by one after the vouchers were introduced, which tells me the voucher program had a serious amount of unused funds budgeted based on passenger use, and there's multiple ways for them to make up for the lost revenue.

From a pure cost perspective, looking at the Allure sailing I was on last summer, there was 6,600 pax aboard. Of those, 277 were Diamond, 149 Diamond Plus, and 46 Pinnacle. Assuming everyone used their vouchers for premium cocktails, and assuming Royal's cost per cocktail was no more than $4, that means Royal's daily cost was $8,516 or $59,612 for the week to service the vouchers. The cost of servicing the vouchers in this example, divided among every passenger aboard, would be $9 for the week. Without trying to model the effects of drink packages, revenue lost by Royal on drinks which would've been bought if not for the vouchers, and the revenue made by Royal because Diamond and up loyalty members chose to sail with them versus another line, adding ten bucks to everyone's fare to keep and encourage customers who've shown that they're interested in your product, when the total cost and company profits are significantly higher, is a no brainer. I suspect if Royal isn't already factoring in C&A benefit cost based on an individual sailings, versus an annual average, they'll start soon. i.e. Sailings popular with Diamond and up members will have fares starting higher to compensate for the additional cost to service C&A benefits aboard while random summer sailings in the Caribbean will have a lesser tariff factored in. Though depending on servicing costs, Royal might just increase things across the board for that sweet additional profit on sailings with limited higher C&A tiers aboard. 

 

Edit: Just ran the numbers on my Brilliance, Multi-glacier cruise from this summer. Royal's weekly cost, based on the assumptions above, spread among everyone aboard would be about $4. 

[smokeybandit]

2 hours ago, Rackham said:

They've increased the voucher count by one after the vouchers were introduced, which tells me the voucher program had a serious amount of unused funds budgeted based on passenger use, and there's multiple ways for them to make up for the lost revenue.

From a pure cost perspective, looking at the Allure sailing I was on last summer, there was 6,600 pax aboard. Of those, 277 were Diamond, 149 Diamond Plus, and 46 Pinnacle. Assuming everyone used their vouchers for premium cocktails, and assuming Royal's cost per cocktail was no more than $4, that means Royal's daily cost was $8,516 or $59,612 for the week to service the vouchers. The cost of servicing the vouchers in this example, divided among every passenger aboard, would be $9 for the week. Without trying to model the effects of drink packages, revenue lost by Royal on drinks which would've been bought if not for the vouchers, and the revenue made by Royal because Diamond and up loyalty members chose to sail with them versus another line, adding ten bucks to everyone's fare to keep and encourage customers who've shown that they're interested in your product, when the total cost and company profits are significantly higher, is a no brainer. I suspect if Royal isn't already factoring in C&A benefit cost based on an individual sailings, versus an annual average, they'll start soon. i.e. Sailings popular with Diamond and up members will have fares starting higher to compensate for the additional cost to service C&A benefits aboard while random summer sailings in the Caribbean will have a lesser tariff factored in. Though depending on servicing costs, Royal might just increase things across the board for that sweet additional profit on sailings with limited higher C&A tiers aboard. 

 

 

But I agree. The vouchers have been more beneficial to the bottom line than the open bar happy hour. If they weren't they'd be gone already.

[WAAAYTOOO]

They’re making money on me.  I never EVER use all of my vouchers.  Most days I don’t use any of them.  I’m sure I’m not the only one…

[Rose City Cruiser]

17 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

They’re making money on me.  I never EVER use all of my vouchers.  Most days I don’t use any of them.  I’m sure I’m not the only one…

Especially on a port day we may not even redeem a voucher.  After dinner, we are usually at the casino anyways get the Prime tier benefits at the casino bar.

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

Wow…and yet I am dreaming of the day I might finally become Diamond and get to experience how it feels to just earn a few vouchers!   

[Riley]

About half of our vouchers go toward bottles waters, which are pennies (or less) of cost so that might lower your calculations even further, Rack.  

I'd also be willing to bet the bar staff likes the vouchers, as they are more likely to be tipped in cash (as opposed to an auto 18% gratuity added on to the bill).  

[JimnKathy]

12 hours ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

Wow…and yet I am dreaming of the day I might finally become Diamond and get to experience how it feels to just earn a few vouchers!   

We're right there with ya.  

[Pattycruise]

Just now, Riley said:

About half of our vouchers go toward bottles waters, which are pennies (or less) of cost so that might lower your calculations even further, Rack.  

I'd also be willing to bet the bar staff likes the vouchers, as they are more likely to be tipped in cash (as opposed to an auto 18% gratuity added on to the bill).  

Sad to see a lot of people order their voucher drinks and do not tip.  
For the non believers, sit at a bar at closing time and watch.

I’ve met a lovely couple on my current sailing who will be Diamond after this sailing.  I’ve gifted them a few drinks and they see the tip.  They acknowledged that’s what they will be doing since they understand no tip is included.  I’m grateful they understand. (They also now do the tip for the drink I gift them)

[Ampurp85]

I was a newly minted D+ cruiser on my last sailing. I used maybe 7 out of the 35 vouchers I had for this sailing. I would say I gifted 4 of those 7. It is not that I didn't order drinks, it was that sometimes the crew never charged me. As a person who not only managed a restaurant but used to do outside inventory reviews, I know this perk cost Royal barely cents. I don't see this perk going away.

However, I can see why access is being limited during happy hour. I watched several people bring lower/non-ranking pax into the lounge to get apps. Not saying they were all Diamond, but they probably think it is easier to start with that level.

[Srp431]

usually 3 vouchers per day get used on sea days and 2 on port days. i always forget about getting water bottles 

[Riley]

4 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Sad to see a lot of people order their voucher drinks and do not tip.  
For the non believers, sit at a bar at closing time and watch.

I’ve met a lovely couple on my current sailing who will be Diamond after this sailing.  I’ve gifted them a few drinks and they see the tip.  They acknowledged that’s what they will be doing since they understand no tip is included.  I’m grateful they understand. (They also now do the tip for the drink I gift them)

I believe that and (as a former bartender) it's too bad, especially on a Caribbean cruise where the blender is going non-stop. Golly I used to loathe making pina coladas! (drinking them is another tale altogether, of course...) 

I present my sea pass AND tip when I order and try to use the same bar tenders. It's amazing just how large a shot can become by around Day 3, and my liver starts to whimper by Day 5.

(shut up, liver! You knew the dangers going in!)

[TXcruzer]

On 10/23/2023 at 6:27 AM, Doug_Texas said:

COVID created too many Diamond and above status members.  If you go to their “top tier” events where they tell you the status breakdown numbers for your sailing it is really astonishing.  I think they are trying to cope with the numbers.  I’ll just keep crossing my fingers that the drink coupons don’t change because it is the best perk on the ocean and costing them a great deal in lost bev revenue.

The double points promos post Covid awarded just slightly over the number of points that were lost during the lockdown.  This really isn't a major factor

[TXcruzer]

On 10/24/2023 at 11:25 AM, Pattycruise said:

Sad to see a lot of people order their voucher drinks and do not tip.  
For the non believers, sit at a bar at closing time and watch.

I’ve met a lovely couple on my current sailing who will be Diamond after this sailing.  I’ve gifted them a few drinks and they see the tip.  They acknowledged that’s what they will be doing since they understand no tip is included.  I’m grateful they understand. (They also now do the tip for the drink I gift them)

The staff does receive a tip on the voucher drinks

[smokeybandit]

20 minutes ago, TXcruzer said:

The staff does receive a tip on the voucher drinks

From what pool of money?

[WAAAYTOOO]

I have decided to try the "Crown & Anchor" discount for boarding day lunch.  Frankly, I don't recall what the "old" CP price was for lunch so there's every reason to believe that the C&A "discount" is no better - maybe even worse !  than the old lunch CP discount.  Nevertheless, I am done with scavenging about for something to eat on boarding day.  In the past we always purchased the UDP, so had a [good] plan for boarding day lunch,  but have not been doing that lately....so we were left to fend for ourselves on boarding day and I am DONE with that.  For sailings on Oasis/Quantum class ships I have my fingers crossed that we will be able to eat lunch in the CK so I'm not booking any boarding day restaurants for those ships....but for everything else, yes.  Well...not everything else, I guess.  For those sailings where we are doing B2B, I am not booking any lunch for the second boarding day as there is a lunch for B2B'ers which we enjoy....but for all of the non-O/Q first leg cruises.   For the most part, only Chops seems to be open for lunch on boarding day but in one instance (can't recall which ship it was), only Giovanni's in whatever form it is, on that ship, was available for boarding day lunch.

This new scheme might backfire on me...I guess I'll have to see how it goes.  For ships that are very strict about BOGO being ONLY nights 1 and 2, that's going to be a lot of specialty dining crammed into the first 2 days/nights. ...but my experience has been mixed with that "rule" and I am hoping that as long as we both PAY for the BOGO on nights #1 or 2, they will allow us to space the second "free" meals out a bit.

[WAAAYTOOO]

7 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

For the most part, only Chops seems to be open for lunch on boarding day but in one instance (can't recall which ship it was), only Giovanni's in whatever form it is, on that ship, was available for boarding day lunch.

Just took a look at my receipts.  It was Freedom that only had Giovanni's [Italian Kitchen] open on boarding day.  That's actually my preference as it is slightly cheaper than Chops....but it is only available on boarding day on Freedom....at least, from the ships that I am on....

[JFCruise]

51 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

rankly, I don't recall what the "old" CP price was for lunch so there's every reason to believe that the C&A "discount" is no better - maybe even worse !  than the old lunch CP discount.

If it helps - I had booked a lunch on my Quantum cruise - and then repriced it with the discount. It wasn't much, but the price was definitely lower, but not much.

[TXcruzer]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

From what pool of money?

Beats me, but it states on my $0 receipt that gratuity is covered on this bill (paraphrasing)

[Doug_Texas]

I always travel with a stack of $1 bills and tip $2 per drink for the drink vouchers.  The wait staff and bartenders definitely react more positive to the cash than to writing a tip on the receipt.

[Pattycruise]

1 hour ago, Doug_Texas said:

I always travel with a stack of $1 bills and tip $2 per drink for the drink vouchers.  The wait staff and bartenders definitely react more positive to the cash than to writing a tip on the receipt.

I’ve not seen receipts last month or this month.  I do tip cash.  Even the theater, where they don’t know if there will be a tip-no receipt when the drink was brought.