Ngaire:

I agree with your accessment of the "lux cruise" market, in that "snail mail" is the best way of communication. Many who are now retired, but used to have IT managers, administrative assistants, secretaries, and the like buzzing around them don't know how to (and don't want to) touch a keyboard. I am sort of one of them, as when things go wrong with all of this digital plastic, I don't understand why there isn't someone I can call in to fix it! Heck, if my car won't start, there is somebody to call! Many of us in our 60's feel this way. So I will just await their letter to me.

But in the meantime, please allow me to say that RSSC really fouled up in abolishing their OLD set of past guest perks before announcing their NEW set of perks. Makes it difficult to comparisson price one's future cruises. Especially when RSSC has inrceased fares so much.

Thanks,
Richard

The idea that RSSC can't communicate with email because some customers don't like being left out of the loop is sad. It seems as though that's their choice, and shouldn't stop the process for others.

I think most of us know what our cruise days are unless RSSC finds a different way to count them too. Only time...snails pace...will tell.

They need to communicate both ways. Obviously snail mail should be used for the technology challenged and as a back-up for all customers. But they need to take advantage of their web site for many of the "baby boomer" and younger passengers who also sail and are used to the convenience of doing business online. If they were savvy enough, they could have an "opt-out" of snail mail like many banks, investment firms and other corporations do. The bottom line is Radisson needs a comprehensive and cohesive marketing plan that looks at the overall picture. I get the impression that it is all "piece-meal" without much thought to how new ideas affect the entire corporate plan. Clear, accurate communications keep customers happy! I'm off my soapbox now.

They will put this on their web site. It will probably hit the web site about the same time the letters go out. In fact we know it will be on the web site - that is what Marc saw and posted.

As I mentioned you will probably get all the details of the program on the web prior to getting your letters.

I do think it is more logical to do a snail mail letter when it comes to the numbers of nights people have. There are going to be forms in there for people to fill in and send back to correct errors in both the number of nights and also the mailing list. Doing emails and trying to peronalize all those emails and a regular mailing because they truly have to do that, is really a duplicate effort.

As long as you know the program from the web and you have a good idea of your nights then for those who do use the internet the mailing will be a secondary announcement.

Tit bits of information are creeping out anyway of course. I dont want to post anything or even email you behind the scenes as the information I am hearing or others are hearing could be wrong. I think it best to wait until the program is unveiled properly - it is not long now.

By the way Donna that is actually a good idea for those who want to OPT out of snail mail. The problem could lie in the fact people seem to change their email with the wind, much more than their physical addresses. It is amazing how many emails I have received with all kinds of corrections - (mostly email addresses) since I posted that "send me your corrections" post.

If RSSC required a new guest form for every sailing they may be able to keep up with the changes but I had to think about that policy. What a pain that would be!

I guess there are NO easy answers. Lets hope this new data base software they are rolling out will help with some of these problems. At least they are trying something new to make these corrections. I am going to get my computer guru Julie to contact RSSC when she stops partying on the Voyager to see how this will work with our data base.

Ngaire:

There might be a problem accessing the information on the website prior to us receiving our letters. They state that that portion of website will be accessible to only SSS members. Do you think we will only need to put in our Seven Seas Society number? You would think that there would need to be an additional number too for security purposes; any idea what it might be or do we have to wait for our letters? Arlene and I have different SSS numbers; is this normal or does this cause a problem?

thanks,

I really dont think the information on peoples nights will be on the web Marc. Just the program details. I dont know this that just makes sense to me. If it were to show the number of nights on a personal profile on the web I would think they would wait they get it out and people make any corrections.

I imagine they would want the program details available even to NON society members as an incentive to sail RSSC in the first place. Cannot imagine it will be difficult to access this.

Everyone individual person always has a personal society number.

Marc, if you look at your info when you log into the RSSC site, your SSS number is already listed. So I bet as long as you can log into the site, you won't need to enter you SSS number. This is just a guess on my part.

Where would I find the SSS number? Have logged on to "my cruises" - no number there.

Ted:

If you have a cruise booked, click on "complete guest information form." Fill in the information and click continue. Click "i agree" after all the contract provisions. Then click edit or edit all. You will see your SSS and Goldpoints numbers in this form.

Ted, another way to see your SSS number is to go to "my cruises" page at RSSC and the click on "my account" on the left hand side. Click on the "my preferences" tab and the number might be listed there.

I followed instructions and got both Tom and my SSS #, so why do I need this? I've never known it before...am I suppose to do something now that I have these?

No Marcie, Marc was just wondering if we might need our SSS numbers to access the information on the RSSC website if they post it prior to sending us out the post office mailing.

Marc, Denise et al

I had a great time but having been on the ship in prior years found the changes rather sad.

Examples: in 01 they provided free shorkel gear and beach bags.... When I asked if they stiill did they replyed they " never did" rather than saying we no longer did! and told me I was wrong.

In putting in a request for a rental cars ( and for this I was charged)I was told in several ports that there were none and I would have to take the ships tour. I went to a travel agent in NZ and booked the cars in those ports.
Where Radisson had booked me they had me paying $320 a day nzd, for a rental car...This amused both me and Avis. I found they gave diliberately missleading info if you were not on the tour the ship provised. After 5 seperate incidents I caught on. At no time was I demanding nor arogant... It was clear they were into selling the ship products at all costs.

In NZ they charged $165 USD for a tour that could be purchased on the dock for $41usd from the same company radisson used.... I checked and found this % mark-up to be consistent with other tours..... I don't mind paying reasonable profit but this was in the obscene area. There were others I havent cited. I caught on the new trend and adapted well. .

I have spent over 60 days on Radisson over the years and it is from these I draw my long-term opinion.....I will go again proably but wont have as high expectations in certain areas

Hmm, this certainly doesn't bode well for the future. If nothing else, it means that we probably all will have to start pricing independent tours at various ports, so that we can compare them with Rad when they publish the prices. I've enjoyed trusting Rad on this, I admit.

OKay my two cents worth here. All ships make a lot of profit on tours. There is a $15 communciaton fee for the simplest of requests. With internet these days so much we can do ourselves without using the tour desk.

If Radisson used to be more reasonable than they are now then they were just slow to adopt this as a profit center as most ships do, they are still less than many competitors though. I think we must all realise this is a profit center and when we book a tour recognize for the convenience and comfort of booking with RSSC you are paying a price. In probably 90% of the cases you can do a tour for much less on your own.

I was shocked on my trip to Machu Picchu a few weeks ago sitting next to a tour escort from Holland America. I was told they charged $3000 per person, stayed at the Libertador (less expensive) and took the standard train (lot less expensive). Radisson charges $1800 stays at the Monasterio (more expensive) and take the Hiram Bingham train (much more expensive by about $300 or more per person). Compare those prices.

Same with Moscow one day excursion from St. Petersburg, the same excursion on Oceania was about $250 more (I think just doing this from memory) than RSSC. Same exact tour.

Sometimes I will take a tour. This is when they offer something I cannot do on my own, a concert, trains, boats things of this nature. I have taken some tours that I really thought were a great value, other tours I wondered why on earth I signed up in the first place. They are great for those who are not comfortable in a foreign place doing things on their own. I remember I thought the Xian Warriors was expensive but after the trip I really felt I got a great value for my money.

Otherwise I usually just go ashore and pick up a tour or taxi driver on the docks. I dont even like pre-arranging too much. Particuarly when the operator wants an upfront payment. If they are not there and you are stuck waiting around. I remember doing this once with a guide in St. Petersburg HIGHLY recommended on the CC boards by many who emailed me back etc and then just did not turn up. He disappeared from sight. Several people were in the same situation.

I do use RED OCTOBER in ST. Petersburg, a big company and very reputable. In Rome I know a tour operator I trust - more expensive than others but I am confident she will be there.

AS to the rent cars that does sound like it was being mishandled and there was an overcharge. No one knows the details here, bigger car, the rent car company charging RSSC more then with RSSC profit it just got way up there.

The one thing I have liked about the tour desk on RSSC is that they did offer information on doing things on your own and usually have a local come onboard in each port that can direct "independent" tourists. I have not experienced that on other lines but then I dont go on other lines much anymore to know if this is offered elsewhere. Most of the cruise lines push with great tenacity their tours this is pretty standard. I have always found RSSC not to be as aggressive on this issue. I think one is a profit motivation but I also know one is safety. I know that I make some of the tour desk managers nervous. They see us somewhere on our own and say "how did you get here?". They are much more comfortable with all passengers on escorted tours so they know nothing will happen to them. Lets face it - I have been forced to get on a roof to find the ship before and show it to the taxi driver, then I got stuck in between the Great Wall and Beijing one time. Caught in a traffic jam coming back from Gibraltar thought we might miss the ship. It happens when you go independently. I know one tour manager sees me and says "be careful" in the ports. I guess this tour manager knows me pretty well.

Hopefully this was an unusual incident and that this is not a new trend. I honestly dont know because I very seldom even go to the tour desk personally.

I will pay attention to this on my next trip, on the Panama Canal cruise December 27 - January 10.

As to the snorkeling information, it was probably a person who was not around when it was available. I had a new agent at RSSC tell me yesterday that there are never any cruises with more than 5% society savings. I just chuckled - she will learn!! I have to admit I hear more misinformation from RSSC from new people who sincerely believe that what they are saying is correct I am sure. We are dealing with individual people here and one or two pieces of incorrect information do not make a whole cruise line off base. So this is not such a big thing in my mind.

We normally have done a combination of "doing our own thing", an excursion through RSSC or hiring a private guide. We've had good luck with all of these! Since most of my experience was on the WC I can say that the tour desk was most helpful in all regards. I never felt they were trying to talk us into or out of anything. If we wanted to do our own thing, they always had excellent suggestions and eager to help.

Of all the RSSC excursions we've taken 95% were excellent that I can highly recommend. Once in awhile there's a dud...but such is life.

The overnight/leave the ship tours such as Queenstown NZ, Taj Mahal, Luxor, Bangkok were very well planned and excellent!

As Doug said, sometimes you are more than happy to just pay a higher price, know everything will be arranged for you and all you have to do is show up!

Marc and Karen

Thanks for guiding this cyber-challenged one - indeed, I did find my SSS number! Identity crisis has been overcome.

They just removed reference to April 2006 as start date. Of course, the link to new benefits is now broken. :(

Marc, just how often do you check the Radisson site!?! I do count on you to give me the lastest updates :)

Our experience with the RSSC tours were all very good. Depending on the port, we often do a mixture of on our own, sharing a cab or rental car with other cruisers, pre-arranging a tour privately,or taking an RSSC tour.

On our Baltics tour, we did Talin and Stockholm on our own, used Red October in St. Petersberg and used RSSC for the rest.

On our Athens-Istanbul tour, because of bad weather, a couple of our tours and plans dissolved the day of the tour. On one, I think Mykonos, we wandered the island with Denise and Alan and had a great time (Delos was cancelled because of bad weather). In Rhodes, we hopped on an RSSC tour at the last minute when the weather was nasty..we were going to go to the beach. Denise arranged private guides for us in Athens and our two Turkey stops. Athens didn't work out well overall (no fault of Denise's, but the snotty son of a highly recommended tour guide), but Denise's selection of tour guides for Turkey, made the trip.

It is too bad if the prices become prohibitive or too expensive with RSSC. We will just have to plan ahead with one another and use private guides.

I agree with Ngaire that the RSSC excursion desk is normally excellent. They are flexible, do not try to upsell their tours and give you good information to help you select from the ship tours or doing it on your own.

Andi,

Just to add our touring through RSSC while docked in Naphlion (sp?) which was really well done.

This past year while in the Baltics, we used RSSC tours for a day excursion to Moscow. I can honestly say this excursion/tour (which is quite expensive, but should be done nevertheless) was superb. Our guide was the best guide we've ever had.

We also took an excursion in Visby, through RSSC, and it was wonderful.

Normally, I arrange private guides, rather than go through the ship's excursions. However,when we do wish to use the ship's tours, we've always found excellent service and assistance through the excursion desk.

The benefit of a private tour is that it can be cheaper, but more importantly you see what YOU want to see and can adjust the timing and itinerary. When we have strong opinions or friends who have the same desires, we often opt for private tours.

Denise, if I remember correctly, you had a good experience in Santorini too with a private guide. We took a taxi to Oja and really enjoyed that.