Following up with Ngaire's earlier report, here, from the RSSC website, is an update on SSS benefits:
It will be interesting to see what "the exciting new benefits" are. Maybe, like with SilverSeas, we will get free laundry and dry cleaning. :D

edited to add:

These are the 10% discount dates for 2006 (no dates in 2005):

Voyager: 4/28, 6/9, 6/19, 11/12
Mariner: 11/30
Navigator: 1/27, 3/23, 4/21, 6/3
Paul Gauguin: 1/29

marc, good info, thanx..and we gobbled up
the navigator 1/27 sailing already, along with michael and heather and their friends..r/wes

And we're on the 4/28/06 Voyager Crossing...deposit being charged today!

On the CC board here is what one TA stated she received via email today from RSSC.

"Please be advised that for 2006, RSSC is currently revising the standard 5% Seven Seas Society savings and will apply to LIMITED (emphasis added) 2006 sailings. As part of this change, we are going to be launching a new and improved Seven Seas Society which will be announced in the near future."

Is it just me, or are the words "select 2006 sailings" on the web site meant to be interpreted in a more benign fashion than the wording that was sent to the TA's, i.e., "limited 2006 sailings"?

I'm fine with the concept of improving SSS benefits. But what are they? Do they even know? Seems like "ready, fire, aim", i.e, they wanted to increase fares (for most sailings) as of May 1, 2006 w/o telling us the benefits of the new and improved SSS because they themselves DON'T KNOW what they will be. Why else keep it a secret?

RSSC is a line that is undergoing great pressures, e.g., financial, management, and the dynamic relationship of subsidiary (RSSC) vs parent (Carlson). WE LOVE RSSC. We don't want RSSC to change, but it will (and is changing). Is it going to be better? Its so good now its hard to imagine, but surely everything can get marginally better. Could it get worse? I suppose it could, it can certainly get more expensive (and is).

I agree with Ngaire that most people don't care about what happens from a business perspective, they only care about their on-board experience. But business "doings" can affect the longer term cost of a cruise and their on-board experience.

The luxury cruise market is also changing ...it used to represent 10% of the overall cruise business, now its 5% (due to the faster expansion of of the mass market cruise business).

We're hopeful, but the times they are a changin'.

Please don't take this as a slam against RSSC. It's not. I only hope that RSSC stays the same or improves.

What is really needed is for RSSC management (whomever that may be) to CLEARLY articulate their new vision for RSSC.

Sorry for the rant...

BTW, we are booked on a B2B in September with RSSC and have no plans to change.

Bill

Alas, one of our cruises, New Years on the Navigator is a 0% discount. However, since we will be booking prior to 30 April 2005, we are grandfathered with a 5% discount.

For those contemplating particular 2006 cruises, I recommend finding out if your cruise is a 0% or 5% discount?

Also, having learned the hard way, it is better to use goldpoints on those cruises without SSS, onboard booking, and/or group discounts. All of those discounts eat into how much you actually save.

edited to add:

Bill, Radisson does need to change SSS benefits. Currently, unlike other luxury lines and mainstream lines alike, Radisson does not give additional benefits as your history with the company (whether in days sailed, dollars spent, or both) evolves. If they were trying to make it a zero cost add to provide these benefits, something had to be taken away. I don't mind them using different discounts for different cruises to increase or decrease rates at the margin. After all, they probably leave a lot of money on the table on some sailings and others they have to add benefits to anyway. Free laundry, free cruises, etc are worth more than the one cruise where I may choose to take a 0% discount cruise vs one with 5 or 10.

Marc

Marc,

I have about 100K goldpoints, I guess I should look into being able to use them. After PIP I will have a bunch more. How do you use them and what is the best value for them?

To use them, just let your TA know. $400 per 100,000 points. You don't want to use more than that at once (unless this has been fixed recently) since you get less for your points. I believe, that if you have a joint account, you can each use 100,000 points. It used to be that you could 100,000 points more than once (e.g, at initial deposit and final payment) but I think Ngaire said they don't allow that anymore.

If you use goldpoints (lets use 100,000 for $400 as an example), they take the $400 off before certain of the discounts. Again, Ngaire is the expert but I believe it is before onboard, SSS, group, and back to back discounts. Assuming three 5% discounts, you really only get

400 x .95 x .95 x x.95 = $342.95 discount.

Now, if you use the goldpoints for a three day mini cruise which has none of these discounts, you get the full $400 benefit.

Marc--

I agree in principle in terms of changing the RSSC SSS program.

But why didn't RSSC figure out what the positive changes to the program would be and announce them as a complete "package" CONCURRENT with announcing the implied negative aspects to the changes to the SSS program?

After all. the SSS business dynamics are NOT new to RSSC. Nor are their per diem yields. They have been known FOR YEARS. One would think that this significant change in policy would have been carefully analyzed, thought out, and released (packaged) as a positive, thoughtful, and attractive change for loyal RSSC customers.

They chose to announce HALF of the change, i.e., the perceived negative (and revenue enhancing)part of removing the 5% discount on most cruises w/o the positive change and benefits of the new program ("Trust us, it's coming in the summer"). Does this business decision REALLY make sense to you, assuming what was clearly known to RSSC at the time? What could possibly affect the timing of this decision?

What was the urgency to announce a change to the SSS policy w/o the positive benefits to the change in policy?

Best regards--

Bill

Bill, I understand and agree with what you are saying. Why the delay to summer? Why not delay the entire change until summer? These are good questions for the Radisson lurker(s).

Marc

This reminds me of the not so recent announcement by Leading Hotels of the World that they are changing their "Leaders Club" program. As an existing meber, I was "invited" to let them know that I want to be among the first to know... This was months ago, and I don't think they've yet announced the new terms!

I just think a company should determine their marketing program, announce it and get on with it.

----
Leslie
----
Leslie

Leslie:

I signed up with LHW Leader's Club looking for benefits at Cape Grace and at Royal Livingstone. Although program has not got back on its feet, last email they sent indicated that you get benefits ONLY if you book through their site. Kind of a waste if you ask me.

What happens when there is uncertainty, is there is lost confidence in the product. And as a result, lost revenues. If I wait to book a cruise, because there is no incentive, then I might wait longer to book the next one as well.

Well said, Leslie and Kathy. I agree!

I, for one, have a window of time between ROAR in April of 2006, and MUSH in late August (really September). I think if RSSC does not offer what I need, I am going to wait to see what Silversea comes out with. If Silversea, with it's program of offering discounts closer to the cruise, is still offering me 5% off as a past cruiser, and RSSC is not, then I will just check the numbers, as well as the itinerary, a little closer.

Olivia:

Look at the Med to Baltics repositioning cruises on Voyager in June.

35% discount + $1000 off or free air + 10% SSS discount.

Even with 2006 prices, these look pretty inviting.

going there now! Thanks, Marc

They are listing SSS discounts on, at least, the specials screens.

Marc

The 6/30 itinerary with the 10% off caught my attention, but I noticed that the Oct cruises at 5% off on the Voyager have been removed from the site for now.

Marc,
thanks for breaking it down. Shall be doing the research now and pick a date out!
Jan

Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention, Marc. A great service to our community!

RSSC is not alone in rethinking how they market their vacation product to new and repeat customers. That said, my knee-jerk reaction is I've been lucky enough to sail on RSSC but the best of those times is behind me. I'm growing jaded about what RSSC is telling their passengers. What possible "enhancements" to the SSS will equate to the discounts and early booking opportunities we have up until recently enjoyed? I hope to be pleasantly surprised when they decide to let us in on the secret. Until then, I'm inclined to NOT book any additional cruises. It's too much of a hassle already to book, rebook, etc. as the deals keep changing.

As always, this needs to be compared to one's "next best alternative" in making vacation decisions. I hope for all of our sake's they will offer an equally attractive package vis a vis their competition in coming years. Cheers, Anne

I think that by the time we get off the plane after MUSH, we might be in the mood to stay home for a while (unless this exciting group comes up with something else that I'll need to rush to book).

We have WDW with the kids in Dec, 2005, then nine days after we get home from that trip we head out to FLL for PARTY. Then ROAR, preceded (as of right now) by a week in Scotland. A rest, maybe, then MUSH.

I know that doesn't look like a lot to most of you, but it does to me right now.

All that to say that I *think* I have plenty of time to see what RSSC is going to come up with.

Marc, Thank you for pointing it out about the 6/3/06 repositioning. That is exactly the itinerary we were going to do two years ago on Princess when we cancelled due to 9/11.

We were going to book the Crossing but when the airfare vs the number of days and the ports come into play, I'd prefer the June 3rd repositioning cruise. Just in time!

Yes, I was looking at that one, and a Voyager one about the same time. But where are you seeing the SSS discounts? I can't find them anywhere under that cruise.

Wendy, when you click on specials, then click on the Voyager Europe 2006 Special. All sailings show up with the $1000 or free air special and in that window it shows which are 5% and which are 10%.

Well, if I could find the "Voyager Europe 2006" to click, I'd be all set. I don't see this in the lists of specials anywhere.

Wendy

http://www.rssc.com/specials/detail.jsp?offerId=631311

Betty, you copied the Navigator specials. Here is the link for Voyager:

http://rssc.com/specials/detail.jsp?offerId=631226

Thanks Betty and Marc, got them both!

Is there anything about other itineraries?

It appears that they are offering only 6-9 SSS savings on each ship for the European Season - that's not even 50% of the cruises. So for most, it's a 5% rate hike before you even get down to the new price!

I'm sorry to see RSSC going this route. They will obviously erode past passenger loyalty with out this benefit.

It is sad to see our "past cruiser" benefits apparently erroded, with only vague promises of unspecified "additional benefits" to be announced in the future. Undoubtedly, RSSC has felt the financial sting of grossly increased fuel prices. Heck, I feel it when I fill up the Honda! And the costs of the Diamond cancelations can't be helping either. With the prices of everything else escalating faster than published cost of living figures indicate, I'm sure RSSC can't insulate itself against these pressures.

But I'd rather they do it is a straight-forward manner by pure and simple fare increases necessary to cover expenses plus profit. I don't like to see it by "chipping around the edges" cutting perks here and cutting benefits there. Makes one worry, what's next?

Thanks,
Richard

So what do we do? Can we all sign an email to Mark Conroy showing our displeasure? I think postponing booking may be hurting ourselves more since they have grandfathered the current SSS benefit until 30 Apr; what do you think? With the removal of Harmony and Diamond, 1200 berths have disappeard; has this give the cruise lines significant pricing power? Or, since cruises also compete with other types of vacations, do you think these extraordinary price increases will be scaled back?

I really do think Radisson can improve SSS such that we won't be so disappointed with selective provision of 5% discounts. However, Bill is right; they should have told us the good parts at the same time as the bad parts.

I am in total agreement with both Bill and Marc.
Marc's wording of "selective provision" is on target.

Fare structure for 2006 is somewhat confusing. Spelling out all the positives of Society membership and emphasizing the benefits is essential, as 2006 fares have dramatically increased and discounts have been adjusted.

To not think this through, carefully and completely, prior to issuing the 2006 itineraries, fares, and discounts, is beyond comprehension and makes no positive business sense. The fact that rates had been posted, only to disappear, numerous times, only reinforces what is perceived to be a cruise line in transition.

It still remains to be seen as to which direction RSSC will invariably take.

I always find these discussions fascinating. Past cruiser or not here is my take:
The cruise industry is DOMINATED by the mass market lines. Whether we like it or not, they drive the perception of value in the cruise industry. How many of you have asked your friends to join you on RSSC only to be told "I saw an ad for XXX to Alaska for $599"? Although we all have loyalty to RSSC, that loyalty does not pay the bills. Radisson is going for a market that is probably less than 10% of all cruisers. That small market also does not pay the bills. Would they like to intervene on the rest of the 90%? You bet! But to do so in Radisson fashion they either charge higher per diems or they cut corners. For a cruiseline that cannot figure out which side of the fence it sits on, Radisson is in a no win situation. Be cost conscious like the mass markets or provide a higher level of cruise?

For us, we have already seen the "depreciation" of Radisson......with only three ships to cover all the places people want to go they simply cannot provide the flexibilty we are looking for. We are the definition of "move up" cruisers, the very market Radisson should covet. We were fortunate to be appraised of the Jan27 Navigator, which at this point looks like a steal, but otherwise we were looking elsewhere for our cruise fix, including rivals of Radisson.

Should Radisson raise the prices to compete for 10% of all cruisers? In my opinion that would be complete suicide. Positioning themselves between the mass markets and the luxury lines seems smart. If the reality turns out to be that Radisson cannot make a go of the "in between" market they will probably be relagated to the high end of the "premium" lines instead of the low end of the luxury market which would be the kiss of death for the typical value cruiser. Radisson NEEDS to find a way to market themselves in that "in between" market and sell their differences. That is the appealing part of Radisson for us and I am guessing for most of you. If they can, then great...if not then I continue my quest for the best bang for my diminishing vacation dollars. Simple

The fuel surcharge, the elimination of SSS discounts for many cruises, the changes to the on board booking discount policy (remains to be seen how many cruises will be at 0%, 5% or 10%), the 16-19 employees laid off in their sales and marketing group, and the higher brochure prices are all about getting RSSC profitable. (They haven't been profitable for the last several years). They are the only cruise line (Other than Orient Lines in the Pacific) to levy a fuel surcharge for 2005. Their rush to change SSS polcies w/o talking about the benefits was made with a clear urgency to protect revenues first and foremost. Its also pretty clear to me that Ken Watson, evp of sales and marketing, is calling most of the day to day shots. Mark Conroy's star has faded due to continued poor financial performance of the business unit and the Diamond fiasco.

Change is not necessarily bad, its just tough to tell what other changes may be in the offing.

But my opinion is that taking all of the above into consideration coupled with a shrinking fleet, RSSC is in a high state of flux.

RSSC chose (or had to have) a strategy to conserve capital while they grew in capacity. It's a fine strategy when it works but usually results in higher costs down the road. By not owning ships outright (leasing or by joint ventures with V. Ships (yes, they own 50% og the Mariner, Voyager and Navigator)) ultimately RSSC has higher expenses than a line that does own their ships outright.

It's just hard to see how RSSC, with its drive to becoming profitable, is going to be able to continue to position itself as the value leader in the luxury segment. I believe those days are over.

What RSSC desperately needs is to articulate their vision and strategy for the future and they need to do it NOW.

Bill

So sad...and disturbing, for relative newcomers to RSSC like my wife and I. On our first cruise, the PG in early '04, we met and became good friends with two other couples, and the six of us had such a fantastic time that we vowed to get together on Radisson for years to come. Our first reunion was in March on the Mariner Panama Canal. We all did an onboard booking for still another cruise, which we had planned to "roll over" into the '06 schedule (which wasn't out at the time). Now it looks like the universe is changing on us. Price increases per se don't disturb me as much as the disarray, the changing of rules, the disregard for return customers, the possible erosion of services (see thread on shake-up of the PG officers and maintenance staff), and so on. AT A VERY MINIMUM RSSC management should be communicating directly with every past cruiser, reassuring and explaining in detail what "the plan" is, and why we should not move on to other cruise lines in this category. Leaving it to rumor and speculation, and the trickle of bad news, is a deadly PR formula.
Tim

And the perception of what is going to happen may have a lot less to do with the reality of things to come. It would be nice if the powers that be at Radisson would appear here and put this discussion to rest. No one wants to live with uncertainty about a future cruise in which they have intended to invest thousands of dollars. Too much negative talk here that may have no basis until we are told what is going on.

I agree Olivia - I have convinced several other couples who have never cruised to go to Alaska in August 2006 with us - be nice to put the rumor and speculation to rest - Joanna

Am I mistaken?

I looked at the Radisson website, and noted that it stated that SSS benefits begin after one's SECOND CRUISE. It seems I recall that they formerly began after the first cruise. Am I in error, or is this a change too?

Thanks,
Richard

It used to start after the first cruise. At least it did for my whole family. I agree with Olivia wholeheartedly - this lack of concrete information and reduction (whether actual or perceived) in benefits for repeat cruisers is disconcerting.

I recall that same wording in previous editions of the web site. I did find this today on the FAQ section:

Q: Are past guests eligible for any discounts?

A: Seven Seas Society members, or guests who have sailed with us before, are eligible for a 5 to 10% savings on all voyages (policy valid through May 15, 2005). Effective May 16, 2005 members will be eligible for a 5 or 10% savings on select voyages. Restrictions apply.

Still rather open since it does not say how many times you have to have sailed before.

It may be a matter of semantics.
Become a Member
Membership in the Seven Seas Society is automatic. All you have to do is sail. Full fare adult guests achieve Society Membership ON their second sailing, including all applicable benefits.

Since it says "on" rather than after, it was explained to me that when you book your 2nd cruise you receive the benefits that may apply to that cruise.