I haven't posted a poll in a while. This one is simple; it just asks for your SSS status.

We all know how i voted...but I'm working on it!

I don't know Robert, I think I'd rather be a wannabe than one of the forgotten few. ;)

Yeah, A, I think you have a point!

I want to see them put in another tier above Platinum, perhaps Diamond?

I will only be a wannabe for 31 days!

So who is the one that is a member of "the forgotten few?" If you are planning on sailing Regent again, do you want us to start an email campaign to get you basic SSS Member benefits? ;)

When I was on the Mariner last week, there was mention among some of the officers that a Diamond status is rumored to be considered for the future. They have to figure out how to configure it because a lot of the Platinums just do the WC or a Grand Cruise and not any of the shorter cruises. I think they want to figure out how to reward a level above Platinum for those on the shorter cruises and maybe different treatments on long cruises. Whatever they decide, there will be controversy.

Not sure this has been discussed, but there is a huge jump between Gold and Platnium days. Here is the breakdown, if my math is correct.

SSS - Silver 17 days
Silver - Gold 49 days
Gold - Platinum 124 days

I'd like to see another tier added or less days between Gold and Platinum. Do other lines have such a large gap between these two tiers near the top?

That could be tricky. I know that MOST of the WCers only do long cruies and can't imagine why we'd want to go on a one week cruise (MUSH). Then there are lots of people still working full time and/or with children at home who can hardly squeeze a one or two week cruise in.

Although we prefer longer cruises, there was no way we'd let MUSH (or 007) slip by without us being on it! :banana: We really enjoy the mixture of both short and long cruises because to us, so much of the vacation is all about the special people we reunite with every time and the making of new friends along the way!

It's me, with my lowly 3 days from the Mariner in '04. When the new benefits were announced I was crushed to find out that I won't get an invitation to the SSS cocktail reception on MUSH. Hopefully someone will take pity on me and let me sneak in with them!

Andrea, how about if I bring an extra pin along with me on MUSH for you?

By all means Andrea....YOU WILL BE AT THE SSS PARTY ON MUSH WITH US!! Between all the MUSHers we could have you dripping in pins up one side and down the other!

Don't tell, but, we have brought friends with us to the SSS parties on board. They are with us and like the new tier benefit, then by virtue of being our travel companions are allowed to attend.

I remember on VOF, Marcie and Tom were the RSSC newbies in our group! We found them pins and they joined the party.

Now, not even three years later, look where they are SSS "status-wise"!!!!

I think they are neck and neck with Clyde and Jean of active members here! Bet one couple or the other will be King and Queen for the SSS party!

Now you're making me blush!! :cool: Another couple on MUSH named Mike & June Gittings (friends of ours from WC and SA trip and they know Joanna & Tony too) also Ngaire's clients, have a lot of RSSC nights too! My best guess is Jean & Clyde have the most but there are several couples who are probably all close????

Yes, I remember VOF so well....our first RSSC cruise less than 3 years ago. It obviously turned us into helpless addicts!! <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" /> but I wouldn't trade it for the world! If they find a cure, I hope no one tells us :D

Same thing happened to us Marcie - first cruise B2B 9/03 Med - found Ngaire on CC - wish we had known about VOF, a month later, would have cancelled 9/03 and joined you all... but we have made up for it in the meantime - Joanna

Andrea - we can get you in!!! (don't want to mention names here) got us in on our first cruise, the Panama Canal, and we got some others in on our Canada/New England, we will get you in!!! you will be there and you will love it, its a wonderful party!

Agree with all the others, you will have so many pins you will probably get the award for the 'most cruise nights" LOL!! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

I have never kept my pins - maybe T has - do they check you at the door????

No, I never keep my pins either--David has one on his lapel, I think.

We also crashed our first SSS party. We got the letter warning us about the party (our second cruise), but never got the invite. Fortunately we had met a couple who were frequent cruisers--they told us about it, and dragged us along. No pins, however. Left a bit of a bad taste, I guess. Nice party, free champagne and caviar, otherwise, no biggie.

We have never worn PINS?????? Nor has anyone said you can't attend the party !!!! PINS??? - those yellow little cheapie things??? FlASH YOUR PIN AT THE DOOR????

They never look for pins. There are 2 entries, usually on the right side is the one where you meet the Captain, Cruise Consultant etc, but on the left entry to the theater, there's nobody to recognize if you're a SSS member or not. I guess if you're blessed by this group, go for the left side and enjoy.

Of course, anyone can get into this party.

A true crasher - thanks!!!! Frankly, we rarely attend those events - too much smiling and handshaking for me -

Someone around here had studs made for his tuxedo shirt buttons and cuff links from those SSS pins.

I've never worn my pin - usually loan them to someone male to put on their lapel since they need help crashing for caviar.

Kathy,

If I recall I think Marc (or Arlene for Marc) looked into having the pins goldplated for formal ware. I think they found it not worth it.

The pins are kind of a pain in the *#%. I remember trying to take one out of Lawrence's lapel...

Thanks, Suzanne - not sure who but I think it may have been someone else too. My brain is in packing for a cruise mode and that checklist is long for some reason.

*sniff* You are all so nice! :lct:

I can't pass up the champagne and caviar! :D But I don't think I have ever actually worn one of the pins!

I won't wear the pin but Stan keeps one in his lapel. We,also, like both long and short cruises. We have done SA a few times, Pacific, Asia, Alaska, Mexico, Black Sea, so whatever strikes us at the time!

I've never worn the pin and couldn't tell you where mine are - other than one of Tim's that he stuck on a Mariner visor and we can't seem to remove it! We seldom go to the parties either - unless there are other folks we know going - then it's nice to have the champage, treats, and social hour. (Scotch for dad of course!)

We can't do long cruises cause we're trying to accomodate too many work schedules - were that not the case we'd be on Fjords this summer. I check out the roll call for that one regularly cause I really would have liked to be there!

I don't wear the pin, either. Alan wear his in his lapel, too. Sheri, I never pass up caviar and champagne!

As for us, don't care too much for 7 day cruises with ports every day. We like a mix of port and sea days.

Interesting, right now, we have more platinums than wannabes.

Kathy, what a great idea for some of those SSS pins...cuff links! Linda & Larry

I've actually toyed with the idea of wearing them as earrings...but have never done it :D

BTW at the SSS party we attended, they now read out the Platinum AND the Golds on the trip with the most nights for a round of applause...no large "gifts" were bestowed publicly, did not ask around if there was something delivered to these folks privately.

So now that I have had the pleasure of "enjoying" our Silver Tier status, I must say it was nice to have the free internet AND the one hour phone...we did call home a few times during the cruise and managed not to go over the 60 mins alloted. So this perk really was great to have.

I've got a drawerful of pins but they're LYRES. What good are they? I, also, have seen them used as studs on the men and as earrings on the women. And to set the record straight, J&C only have 188 days!! And I thought after MUSH we'd get to Platinum on Fjords but apparently you can't advance on a cruise! Marcie, you and Tom must be the cruising royalty by now with the WC under your belt. Can't see any benefit anyway to getting to Plat. if AI goes into effect in 07. We DO NOT call home on a cruise! Maybe email but phone? No way. <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Karen, we have a lot of Platinum Wannabe's!!!

LOL Kathy, ain't that the truth!!

On the Voyager (WC), I really liked the way they did the SSS parties. They had big video screens on each side of the stage and they projected pictures of the longest cruisers and how many days. I don't remember any presentations but then, that cruise was loaded with long time passengers. They also used the same screens for the Capt's party at end of segments and showed a video of pics and clips from that portion of the cruise. It was so wonderful - made me want to run right out and sign up for another cruise!