Ampurp85 Posted December 2, 2024 Report Posted December 2, 2024 Hey all just wanted to inform everyone that it looks like the comp cruises have changed. You know how you search the codes like 24112A06 or 2412C06 at the points threshold? Well, be careful because some will have "Complimentary for 2" or "Complementary for 1 with a reduced cruise for One" and Freeplay could be missing. It also looks like with the latter you have better ship options and farther out to book. Certificate Offer Code Look Up WAAAYTOOO, JustMeJoe, NikiM and 1 other 2 2 Quote
loki007 Posted December 2, 2024 Report Posted December 2, 2024 I will definitely take less cruises if I am now paying for the second guest regardless of what the discount is. This seems like a short sighted money grab. SplashOfWater and Ampurp85 2 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted December 2, 2024 Author Report Posted December 2, 2024 @Matt Just posted on the blog about it. It looks like they also added a new points tier. Quote
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 2, 2024 Report Posted December 2, 2024 Just musing….I wonder how combining certs will work. If Dan and I both are awarded BOGO instant rewards certs will they combine ? Will we have to pay for 4 passengers ? I guess we’ll find out soon ! SplashOfWater, Ampurp85, JustMeJoe and 2 others 4 1 Quote
tonyfsu21 Posted December 2, 2024 Report Posted December 2, 2024 Is this regarding the “Instant Rewards Cruise Cert”? If so, I received one last week on Icon that is still comped for two. This was at 9000 point. Quote
SplashOfWater Posted December 2, 2024 Report Posted December 2, 2024 It's really going to impact players on the 3-4 night cruises. They will not earn as many points and will tend to get those lower end certificates. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote
SplashOfWater Posted December 2, 2024 Report Posted December 2, 2024 5 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said: Is this regarding the “Instant Rewards Cruise Cert”? If so, I received one last week on Icon that is still comped for two. This was at 9000 point. Yeah, my 2000 point certificate from the last week in November doesn't have any of these limitations either. Quote
Pattycruise Posted December 2, 2024 Report Posted December 2, 2024 Matt posted on his blog about this. At certain point levels it has no impact. This also started with December certificates. I’m not inclined to gamble with this as the offer (I don’t h go much above 2,000 pts). It will be interesting to see how long this lasts. I like being able to cancel a comped cruise, if needed, without penalty. (I’ve only done this three times over three years-with months notice!) If we are paying for 1 passenger I imagine we won’t be able to cancel without penalty. Hopefully it doesn’t go too well for Royal and they stop this. Also makes you wonder how the Prime annual will be impacted…. Imagine they pulled that for The annual!?! WAAAYTOOO and SplashOfWater 1 1 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted December 3, 2024 Author Report Posted December 3, 2024 I think this is a way to get more bodies on ships, hold more money and increase revenue. I know people like my mom and her friends who only gamble enough to get 400-600pts. It allows them to book reduced fare offers and puts them on cruises. Also based off of preliminary research the 3-5 cruise still have the better offers since you have less days to earn. Quote
DoomSlayer Posted December 3, 2024 Report Posted December 3, 2024 8 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: Just musing….I wonder how combining certs will work. If Dan and I both are awarded BOGO instant rewards certs will they combine ? Will we have to pay for 4 passengers ? I guess we’ll find out soon ! I was wondering that too. Let us know if you learn anything. I guess I'll find out after our cruise later this month myself. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote
twangster Posted December 3, 2024 Report Posted December 3, 2024 I'm at 700 points on my current cruise. I may stop and try something from the new 600 level just to try it. The 400 and 600 level have new cruise fare for 1 verbiage. The 800 level looks like its the same as before. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/casino/offers/2412A.pdf WAAAYTOOO and Ampurp85 2 Quote
AshleyDillo Posted December 3, 2024 Report Posted December 3, 2024 I'm a low points per cruise gambler, so I've been getting a lot of the BOGO monthly offers. Whenever I use them as a solo, the casino rate with the BOGO offer has been decent discount from if I booked solo with DP340 on the website. I can sail solo for $400-$500 inclusive of port fees and taxes for the 3-6 night sailings that I get these offers for which makes it a cheap cruise for me. The list of free cruises for those lower point instant certs were usually too limited for me to take advantage of anyways. Quote
Ampurp85 Posted December 3, 2024 Author Report Posted December 3, 2024 1 hour ago, AshleyDillo said: I'm a low points per cruise gambler, so I've been getting a lot of the BOGO monthly offers. Whenever I use them as a solo, the casino rate with the BOGO offer has been decent discount from if I booked solo with DP340 on the website. I can sail solo for $400-$500 inclusive of port fees and taxes for the 3-6 night sailings that I get these offers for which makes it a cheap cruise for me. The list of free cruises for those lower point instant certs were usually too limited for me to take advantage of anyways. I also see this as a boon. Since I do a lot of S2S or B2B. I can now gamble for the lowered tiers across more cruises and stack offers. Plus I'm often solo in my room and pay the fee anyway. I understand the downside of paying upfront but I think it evens out in the long run. WAAAYTOOO, JustMeJoe and AshleyDillo 3 Quote
SplashOfWater Posted December 5, 2024 Report Posted December 5, 2024 On 12/3/2024 at 9:09 PM, Ampurp85 said: I also see this as a boon. Since I do a lot of S2S or B2B. I can now gamble for the lowered tiers across more cruises and stack offers. Plus I'm often solo in my room and pay the fee anyway. I understand the downside of paying upfront but I think it evens out in the long run. Can you combine offers from B2B cruises that are earned within the same month (and have the same offer code)? Quote
JustMeJoe Posted December 5, 2024 Report Posted December 5, 2024 20 minutes ago, SplashOfWater said: Can you combine offers from B2B cruises that are earned within the same month (and have the same offer code)? In November, my wife and I had instant rewards for each leg of a B3B. The CR rep would only let me combine the dollar off offers if they were from the same sailing (one each for me and my wife). That worked out ok and I managed to use all of the offers. We shall see if this policy changes due to their "new" December comp system. SplashOfWater 1 Quote
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 5, 2024 Report Posted December 5, 2024 34 minutes ago, SplashOfWater said: Can you combine offers from B2B cruises that are earned within the same month (and have the same offer code)? Nope. You can only combine certificates that are earned on the same cruise. Ampurp85, SplashOfWater and JustMeJoe 1 2 Quote
twangster Posted December 5, 2024 Report Posted December 5, 2024 Final sea day of this cruise and I am holding ~700 points. This morning the instant rewards cert was on my door, 2412A9 so the 600 point level. NextCruise future cruise cert in hand. I cruise mostly solo and I spent a few hours today dwindling the options down to a dozen choices. The actual reward can't be booked until the cruise is over and the website shows the offer in my account but I'm ready to book something. Options included a couple Radiance 7 night Alaska cruises, a couple longer sailings like a 9 night panama RT and a 12 TA neither of which work for me due to dates and existing commitments. A number of 5 - 7 night options and a lot of 3-4 options. There were even a couple of 2 night choices. I'll be pretty happy with any one of the dozen I have flagged as candidates so we'll see what happens tomorrow. For a 600 point instant reward there were quite a few appealing cruises through September of 2025. For this solo cruiser it's looking pretty good. JustMeJoe, WAAAYTOOO and AshleyDillo 3 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted December 5, 2024 Author Report Posted December 5, 2024 1 hour ago, twangster said: Final sea day of this cruise and I am holding ~700 points. This morning the instant rewards cert was on my door, 2412A9 so the 600 point level. NextCruise future cruise cert in hand. I cruise mostly solo and I spent a few hours today dwindling the options down to a dozen choices. The actual reward can't be booked until the cruise is over and the website shows the offer in my account but I'm ready to book something. Options included a couple Radiance 7 night Alaska cruises, a couple longer sailings like a 9 night panama RT and a 12 TA neither of which work for me due to dates and existing commitments. A number of 5 - 7 night options and a lot of 3-4 options. There were even a couple of 2 night choices. I'll be pretty happy with any one of the dozen I have flagged as candidates so we'll see what happens tomorrow. For a 600 point instant reward there were quite a few appealing cruises through September of 2025. For this solo cruiser it's looking pretty good. I saw that the list breaks down to some completely "free" with just taxes and fees and some for 1 guest with a reduce rate. Do the "free" ones extend to Sept? Quote
twangster Posted December 5, 2024 Report Posted December 5, 2024 1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said: I saw that the list breaks down to some completely "free" with just taxes and fees and some for 1 guest with a reduce rate. Do the "free" ones extend to Sept? The verbiage in the 400 and 600 level instant reward cruise list at the top of each page is states "COMPLIMENTARY CRUISE FARE FOR 1, PAY REDUCED CRUISE FARE FOR GUEST 2 AND PAY TAXES AND FEES FOR ALL". For one guest it is complimentary through September. I think all cruises at the 400 and 600 level have a fare charge for guest #2. At this time, in the 800 level chart there appears to be some that are complimentary for 2 guests and some that have a charge for guest #2. From 2412A08 the first two pages are cruise fare for 2 and pages 3 - 11 are - cruise fare for 1 guest with a charge for guest 2. Looking at 2412A07 there are more pages with "cruise for 2 guests" and fewer pages that are "cruise fare for 1 guest". At each offer code getting higher in points the list of cruises for 2 guests is longer. So the complimentary for 2 guests extends out to September for the higher point levels only. As you go higher in points there are more distant cruises for 2 guests on the list. SplashOfWater, WAAAYTOOO and Ampurp85 3 Quote
twangster Posted December 5, 2024 Report Posted December 5, 2024 It's almost like the concept is... cruise solo at the lower point levels but please do come alone, after all it's better if your spouse isn't there to distract you away from the casino At the higher points levels they've already got more of your money so it's okay if your spouse distracts you away from the casino WAAAYTOOO, AlmondFarmer, Kelseylovestocruise and 1 other 3 1 Quote
Pattycruise Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 6 hours ago, twangster said: The verbiage in the 400 and 600 level instant reward cruise list at the top of each page is states "COMPLIMENTARY CRUISE FARE FOR 1, PAY REDUCED CRUISE FARE FOR GUEST 2 AND PAY TAXES AND FEES FOR ALL". For one guest it is complimentary through September. I think all cruises at the 400 and 600 level have a fare charge for guest #2. At this time, in the 800 level chart there appears to be some that are complimentary for 2 guests and some that have a charge for guest #2. From 2412A08 the first two pages are cruise fare for 2 and pages 3 - 11 are - cruise fare for 1 guest with a charge for guest 2. Looking at 2412A07 there are more pages with "cruise for 2 guests" and fewer pages that are "cruise fare for 1 guest". At each offer code getting higher in points the list of cruises for 2 guests is longer. So the complimentary for 2 guests extends out to September for the higher point levels only. As you go higher in points there are more distant cruises for 2 guests on the list. Can you please let us know if it’s actually complimentary for one.. usually royal will charge on those when only one books. I’ve booked my cruise on disembarkation morning while I await getting off the ship. Quote
twangster Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 Well so much for testing the new levels. I stopped playing with 703 points thinking my paper instant rewards A09 certificate was it. Today my online account shows an A07 certificate for 1,200 points. Pattycruise, WAAAYTOOO, JustMeJoe and 1 other 2 1 1 Quote
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 48 minutes ago, twangster said: Well so much for testing the new levels. I stopped playing with 703 points thinking my paper instant rewards A09 certificate was it. Today my online account shows an A07 certificate for 1,200 points. ….nice surprise. I can’t remember….did you get a NC open booking ? Quote
twangster Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: ….nice surprise. I can’t remember….did you get a NC open booking ? Yes WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted December 6, 2024 Author Report Posted December 6, 2024 6 hours ago, twangster said: Well so much for testing the new levels. I stopped playing with 703 points thinking my paper instant rewards A09 certificate was it. Today my online account shows an A07 certificate for 1,200 points. Do you think you got the wrong cert, or did you earn those points? Twice I got a cert lower than points earned in my cabin. Quote
twangster Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 30 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: Do you think you got the wrong cert, or did you earn those points? Twice I got a cert lower than points earned in my cabin. The paper instant reward cert left on my cabin door is for what I thought I earned. Ampurp85 1 Quote
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 I almost never get the [final] cert that I think I’m going to get. I’ve never had one lower than I thought I deserved. I think they must calculate the original cert a couple of days prior to the end of the cruise, so if I continue to play, the points continue to accumulate and result in a better cert than the one I originally get in my cabin. There is also a fudge factor inserted at the end (who knows how THAT is calculated) based on how much $$ you lose….which, in my case, is usually significant. I will say, I don’t think I’ve ever had as large a discrepancy as the one that @twangster got yesterday. Mine is usually just one level up from the original. Quote
DoomSlayer Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 34 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said: I almost never get the [final] cert that I think I’m going to get. I’ve never had one lower than I thought I deserved. I think they must calculate the original cert a couple of days prior to the end of the cruise, so if I continue to play, the points continue to accumulate and result in a better cert than the one I originally get in my cabin. There is also a fudge factor inserted at the end (who knows how THAT is calculated) based on how much $$ you lose….which, in my case, is usually significant. I will say, I don’t think I’ve ever had as large a discrepancy as the one that @twangster got yesterday. Mine is usually just one level up from the original. I am not sure when they cut them either, but on the last night, I always checkout with the Casino host and get a new cert printed which has been always correct, and more than what is left on my door earlier. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote
twangster Posted December 6, 2024 Report Posted December 6, 2024 While booking my A07 instant reward I found a ship and date in the complimentary cruise fare for two guests list of cruises so I'm good with that. Like before this was complimentary for me just paying port fees and taxes. I asked them about a cruise on the list for "cruise fare for 1". These incur a cost for the second guest even when sailing solo. The 2nd guest charge is 50% of the cruise fare based on prevailing rates. So the "Complimentary cruise fare for 1" is not completely complimentary, even solo guests have to pay the fare for the second guest. Ampurp85, DoomSlayer, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 1 2 1 Quote
Sea Squirrel Posted December 8, 2024 Report Posted December 8, 2024 This may be a silly question but I scanned the QR code on my instant cert but I don't see whether it is for 1 or 2. Where do I find that? If it helps my offer codes all end in A03A. Quote
billdauterive Posted December 9, 2024 Report Posted December 9, 2024 18 hours ago, Sea Squirrel said: This may be a silly question but I scanned the QR code on my instant cert but I don't see whether it is for 1 or 2. Where do I find that? If it helps my offer codes all end in A03A. That's the 4000 point level which are all only for 2 as they have always been. Currently the new offers for 1 only go up to the 2000 point level (a05). WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote
Sea Squirrel Posted December 10, 2024 Report Posted December 10, 2024 Thanks @billdauterive this is all pretty new to me. I made sure I did the NextCruise deposit based on the info I found here for the freeplay. This place is such a great source for info. Quote
Vince M Posted December 18, 2024 Report Posted December 18, 2024 Just got back from a RC cruise and also noticed about half the cruises on my 2412C05 offer were now limited to one guest for free. Wonder what happened to Royal being Loyal? Also found out that the Diamond and above free drinks do not include unopened beer and seltzer cans. They have to open all of them at the bar now. It was explained that it was a safety thing, but I saw quite a few buckets of beers unopened on the pool deck. I guess if you pay for it, its not a safety issue... Certainly hear how RC appreciates us being loyal to Royal, but appears RC doesnt feel the same way. Quote
Brine Posted January 2 Report Posted January 2 Yep. I called this morning to ask about the "1 free and 1 discounted" offer. A solo passenger would have to pay his own port fees and taxes as well as his imaginary "guest's" discounted cruise fare (but obviously not port fees and taxes for a second person.) A five-day sailing worked out to be about $500. Not too bad for just the 800 point instant offer level. Honestly, this specific sailing would have never been offered in the 800-level under the old system, so I can't really complain. Hope it isn't a slippery slope to a worsening of offers overall though. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 22 Report Posted January 22 Thought I would come back and confirm that for combined certs that both have awarded FreePlay, both FreePlays are awarded. I was pretty sure they would but today I combined our instant reward certs from our 1-11-25 OA sailing and both of our FreePlay values were transferred ! YIPPEE !!! JustMeJoe, The Fox, SplashOfWater and 2 others 5 Quote
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