We also received the Seven Seas Society letter today and thought the cover statement was somewhat misleading when it stated, "We also hope you start planning your next cruise to take advantage of the one category upgrade certificate enclosed." We were immediately excited because we thought we might be able to use it for our upcoming PG cruise. However, when we found the certificate, it was clear that it was good only on a very limited number of cruises. This is one more example in which Radisson could have easily represented the "perk" more accurately if they had just included "on selected cruises" in the original statement.

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Eugene

Eugene - can you tell us WHAT cruises we can use the certificate for?

However, when we found the certificate, it was clear that it was good only on a very limited number of cruises.

POOR so poor.....Rad needs to take look at who is making these lousy decisons/offers in main office??!!! Joanna

Eugene:

Are these the certificates that you can use for friends travelling with you, too? If so, is there any limitation (i.e., can you get upgrade on unlimited number of cabins)?

Are there any Mariner Caribbean sailings included? How about Voyager 30 Nov 06?

thanks,

An upgrade certificate with limitiations and you can't take advantage of the certificate on your upcoming cruise? All I can do is shake my head in disbelief. Why not spell it all out in the letter? Hardly an inducement. Radisson, what are you thinking?

I am not surprised by limitation on use of certificate. I equate it to "point stretcher" nights at Hilton. They have identified properties and dates where they don't think they will be fully booked. To convince people to book their rewards during those slack times, they offer them at a discount. Why wouldn't Radisson limit the upgrade certificates to those cruises where they will not already sell out? Wasn't MINT a two category upgrade JUST to sell it out?

On the certificate it says at the bottom: "Referral Program--If you book any of these sailings and bring with you guests who have never sailed with RSSC, we'll extend the upgrade offer to them as well."

Keep in mind that these must be booked by February 15, 2006. There are two PG sailings, one Mariner sailing, five Navigator sailings, and eleven Voyager sailings.

I'm signing off the the evening now.

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Eugene

Oh man, now I'm dying to know if it could possibly be the Mariner sailing I'm considering! Oh well, I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.

Okay guys: Mariner (Sept 20); PG (Dec. 2 and Dec. 13); Navigator (July 1, 8, 15, 22, and Nov. 20); Voyager (July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Aug. 5, 12, 19, Oct. 21, Nov. 12, and Dec. 11).

Good night.
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Eugene

None of my cruises either :(

Those dates make sense. Navigator 20 Nov is a great deal; too bad don't have time to do it. All those Baltics cruises on Voyager and Navigator don't have any SSS discount so this just replaces that; I wonder if they are going to sell a lot more Cat H guarantees than normal given how expensive those cruises are (discounting without having to appear to discount).

Marc, I guess the point I was trying to make is that this is the beginning of their new program - upgrade certificate included. Why not begin this program with an upgrade offering that includes all sailings as a welcoming gesture as RSSC begins their new program? Just my two cents.

Denise, I understand what you are saying. For goodwill starting the new program, that would be a great welcoming guesture.

Edited to remove spurious math.

Although a great goodwill gesture, providing upgrades on all sailings does not help to fill up sailings that aren't selling well.

Marc, you're thinking like a businessman and not a loyal RSSC consumer! Shame!

Interesting that some of those listed as special upgrades were advertised on their website months ago. The Baltic cruises were being pushed heavily when we took our cruise in September. All of those listed in the letter (which we have not gotten yet) were available for one category upgrade then. That looks like about 1/2 of the list on your upgrade certificates. So...again RSSC blew it by trying to make people think they were offering something new, when in reality it was out there for a long time. This is not a good reflection on RSSC IMHO.
Cheers, Pam

Pam, you're right. It doesn't look good. It seems disingenuous.

And when you read the accompanying letter of Mark Conroy you would think they're offering the moon and the stars. I wonder if he really believes these offerings are as exciting as he says in his letter.

Marc,

I read your post last night, however, was unable to respond. Thanks for taking the time to do the math, breaking it down, monetarily. Despite you looking at the dollars and cents of upgrades, most of this makes no "cents/sense" to me from a true incentive/thanks for being a loyal RSSC guest, here's a perk to keep you sailing on RSSC standpoint. More ado over pretty much nothing. IMHO, these half-empty incentives will further drive people to cruiselines that offer real loyalty incentives.

It would appear that the only people excited about this "exciting new program" are the "masterminds" who orchestrated it. After months of waiting to receive the new program/tier letter, I am no longer enthused. We've enjoyed each and every RSSC cruise we've taken over the last 4 years. No complaints whatsoever. What is very unfortunate is the "new and improved" way in which RSSC has chosen to reward guests for remaining loyal. When RSSC spent so much time working out the details of a new loyalty/incentive program, and the hype was in full gear, expectations from loyal and frequent RSSC cruisers were high that something very special was on the horizon and forthcoming. Unfortunately, those expectations are not reflected in what RSSC's has put together.

Denise,

You're absolutely right! It seems that the "masterminds" are working in an echo chamber and congratulating each other on a job well done. But only they see the greatness of this program. Reminds me of the story about the emperor that had no clothes.

I don't know if Marc Conroy himself drafted the letter signed by him that is included in the packet, but he gushes about the "....exciting new 4-tier program" :rolleyes: . That's hardly the way any sane person would characterize it!

Upgrade certs that are good for only a select group of cruises, are valid if the cruise is booked by Feb. 15, 2006. "If you book any of these select sailings and bring with you guests who have never sailed with RSSC, we'll extend the upgrade offer to them as well."

Denise,

How interesting that the certificate is dated. They make us wait months for them to unveil their fantastically wonderful new program, and now we have less than 6 weeks to respond and book an expensive cruise. Maybe all of us should send those certificates back to RSSC in Ft. Lauderdale and let them know what we think!
Cheers, Pam

PS We have not gotten our letter, but I presume it will be mailed to our home in NH and then forwarded to us in the UK

Hi Pam,

The booking period is very brief. There seem to be many who have not recieved their letter yet, thus shortening that period further.

If your letter is forwarded from NH to the UK, any interest you may have in booking a specific sailing honoring this perk, will be cut very close to or after the expiration date. In cases of late arrivals, would RSSC still honor the expired cert? It would seem only fair to do so.

I'm wondering if these certs will be offered yearly.

I would hope that everyone would send their comments to RSSC after they vent on this board. That is the only way for RSSC to see your displeasure. Leaving Tuesday for SA.

We won't even receive our letter until we return.... 1 month AFTER the February 15 deadline to book! Funny Denise that you've received your letter in CA. Talked to friends yesterday that live in FT. Lauderdale and they haven't received their letter yet. Can't figure the rhyme or reason to any of this.

I thought it was odd that Alan's came before Tom's, Marcie. Our sailing days - a whopping 28 - are a mere fraction of yours and Tom's. No explaining the mailing system.

BTW, if anyone who hasn't receive their cert yet wants ours, please let me know. We are taking a river cruise this year and won't be using the cert. Pam, if you're interested, I'd be more than happy to airmail it to you.

Sounds like some mind altering drugs going on in FLL!! <img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />

Denise,

Thanks for the offer of your upgrade certificate. Actually, we should have ours next week as my brother forwards our mail from NH via Int'l Priority. However, we have no intention of using our certificate as we already have 3 RSSC cruises booked. We are now contemplating a different voyage in the fall....perhaps try another cruise line in light of RSSC's wonderful new program.
Cheers, Pam