Two days before Thanksgiving, we received a card from Radisson thanking us for our past patronage, and once again announcing that the new tier levels would be announced in the "near future". So the answer remains "not yet".

Thanks,
Richard

Dolebludger: our Thanksgiving card from Radisson said "shared over upcoming months"...if yours said "near future" then there were two (or more) variants of the card. Near future sounds sooner!

Well, once again, i just do not understand how a company of this size can be so "loose". My company would be long gone with this sort of custome "not" service. We didn't get the thanksgiving letter, only 3 cruises, but still. i read another thread about someone (Marna, i think) not being invited to a Seven Seas party. i think that is just awful. with all the wonderful things we all love so much, that front office stuff, including the tier levels just really needs to be rolled out. just my 2 cents.
Cindy

Cindy, I couldn't agree with you more.

I called this morning and was on hold for 12 minutes. One of the announcements I listened to said that if we signed up on line, we'd get a news letter with information - I suppose about "deals", etc but since I've never seen one, I don't really know.

I have signed up twice over the past few months for that phantom news letter and have NEVER had one email.

What is surprising is that Mark's area of expertize is marketing.

Peggy

Yikes Peggy, with all your RSSC World Cruises, they certainly should treat you like a Princess!! Big mistake to alienate their BEST customers like you!

I guess I'm cranky today so take it for what it is worth .. Why would I continue to book cruises with these guys when they are happy to pull benefits for SSS members early & wait to announce what the replacement plan looks like for months? Answer: I wouldn't . Cheers, Anne

well, sorry to say but particularly when silverseas is "closing the gap" on pricing. Still more typically I understand, but we did a SS last year, all inclusive, and the price was the same as Radisson. Since we did that cruise, the mailings have been virtually non-stop and i'm not kidding. Catalogs, specials....lots and lots of mailings. We did one cruise. Now, you know i love Radisson, but this is really not good. Really, not good. I really hope we see Mark Conroy on the "presidents Cruise" in January. This is a high end product that needs to be treated as such. Again, just my opinion.
cindy

It is ironic that Mark Conroy's wife works for SS.

Cindy and Anne, I agree with both of you! (And maybe I am cranky today...going back to work after a long weekend) Since my ONE Silversea cruise I have been inundated with mailings, e-mailings, etc. I got a HUGE catalogue which contains their entire schedule for next year. After at least 14 cruises with RSSC, I get few mailings if at all, and most are addressed to my daughters. Jessica, with the fewest cruises gets the most to my recollection. I ordered a catalog from RSSC's website and never got it from them, it came from Ngaire. I ordered (again, from their website) one for Alaska, since I am bringing 10 others aboard, and no result! To my knowledge, I did not even get the "Thanksgiving" mailing you all are talking about. Yes, they need to find out what their customers are experiencing from their service to us as a company. This has nothing to do with the TA's!

A couple of years ago, I did an informal "analysis" of the percs that Crystal and Silversea offer past passengers (tier levels), and compared it to Radisson. At the time, I still felt RSSC offered the most to the occasional cruiser simply for the reason that once you had one cruise, you got a benefit every time you returned...the SSS 5% discount that is not even available on Silversea for every cruise. And the on-board booking idea was great! But even if you do this for a cruise that is not a SSS sailing, you are still out 5% now! Free laundry costs them nominally if this is to be a perc, they already have personnel aboard to provide this for the few who will qualify. Drycleaning is not included in these percs! I don't care about upgrades from G to F or even E for the same class cabin, and would not pay for a a D standard to get a C penthouse, especially on Voyager! Crystal and Silversea offer free cruises after so many nights/cruises, but these are beyond the reach of the vast majority of cruisers.

Marc Conroy is no longer available to accept your e-mail, by the way. The only time I ever e-mailed him was after the Voyager shakedown cruise for a quick question to clarify what I had posted, and he answered quickly. I never felt I had a serious enough problem that needed his attention. Once, not too far back, when there was a particulary relevant thread that I thought would be helpful to him, (no, not an all-inclusive thread) did I try to e-mail him again and forward the thread. It came back undeliverable from every address I tried.

I will continue to book and cruise with RSSC so long as the on-board experience is up to past standards and the pricing is competitive. But I will increase my searching into Silversea when I have a particular itinerary in mind that they are offering as a special.

Off the soap box now, just wanted to share my thoughts that have been building for awhile, and they are totally about "company" policy, nothing to do with TA's or the quality of service of on-board staff. This has everything to do with the very top echelon of the company.

We didn't get a Thanksgiving card, either, but then we got the other letter several weeks after everybody else had already forgotten about it.

The only way I'm managing a second big trip next year after ROAR is that I've always yearned for a British Isles cruise. Silversea isn't doing one, RSSC is.

When we didn't get an invitation to the Society party we became concerned about whether our nights were correctly accounted for. We left a note for the concierge but did not hear a word from her until George tracked her down three days later, and she said the home office did not include us on the past passenger list. I emailed Julie at B&K who contacted Radisson on our behalf but the only response they gave us was that the mishap was the fault of the ship's staff. Meanwhile all we wanted was to know that our records are correct, and for Radisson to know that we never get mailings or brochures even when we specifically request them.

So the PG and Radisson home offices are extremely busy pointing fingers at each other and no one stepped up and said, "I don't know what happened but I'll take care of this and let you know what we have on record for you." Julie finally got that out of them today but why did it take four days of playing the blame game to resolve what should have been the simplest of issues? Also, Radisson told Julie that our address is on file so we "should" be getting brochures etc. and left it at that. They were not the least concerned that we actually are not getting the information we want. How crazy is that? As I told Julie, if I had a company and realized that a customer wanted my advertising materials I'd have everything I ever printed packaged up with a big red bow and on their doorstep ASAP.

Radisson makes its customers work too hard.

I think you're so right MarnaLou!!! Ours are so hit and miss. We may get 3 of the exact same mail-out (all in one day!), then nothing for 6 months or more.... nor do we receive the actual brochure we've requested. Thank goodness for B&K or we still wouldn't have the South America brochure we requested TWICE from RSSC. Maybe they ignored our brochure request since we had already signed up for the whole cruise??

I requested the cruise book for 2006 and never got it either. I have 3 cruises booked for 2006.

It's all about communication. Radisson should focus on improving this part of their business. A company that is content to communicate in a hapazard manner such as inaccurate or outdated information on their website and in their brochures or untimely delivery of information to their client base is conveying a "we don't really care about you" message. Their product doesn't convey that message though. Obviously they know how to offer superior customer service. They do it every day on their ships. They need to find a way to approach their customer communications with that same dedication to customer satisfaction.

On a similar note, during our Monte Carlo to Ft. Lauderdale cruise, the cruise consultant was not onboard due to a family emergency. We were provided a letter to take home to our TA for a future onboard booking. They did not have anyone else who could fill in for her and we had a ton of business to conduct. Luckily, a quick email to Ngaire, TA extraordinnaire, and our transactions were completed before we ever arrived on land. But, what about those first-timers or others who don't have such a knowledgeable TA? Did Radisson loose some repeat customers? Hello...don't they know about cross-training?

I understand all of these concerns. I just wanted to provide another data point. I have gotten two 2006 Cruise Atlases and two 2006 Antarctica brochures. I get multiple Radisson emails as they have two different email addresses for me. I got both letters (although the recent one was addressed to Arlene) that have been mentioned here. I have not received Inspirations in many months; probably because they haven't published one.

I am sorry to hear that Mark Conroy's email address no longer works (though I never tried to send any email to him). Here is a phone number in Ft Lauderdale for Sales Management that might be useful (I don't know if it is a public number but I didn't get it from B&K):

800-477-7500 x600

Nobody is perfect; no company is perfect. I also think Radisson (er, Regent) knows that they have not been doing good on the PR front with respect to SSS.

Hopefully, their databases and communications will improve. I am just waiting for those tiers to be announced.
:mad:

I have yet to sail with Radisson and get emails from them at least once a week. Go figure!!!

Nancy

Just talked to my friend that hasn't sailed with RSSC in 4 years & never plans to sail again. She is just more of a land traveler. Nothing against RSSC. Got the Thanksgiving card - not at my house. Got a brochure today about some Panama Canal special - not at my house.
But I think what happened on PG is the worst yet.
I agree: the new computer, computer problems or computer glitch excuses are getting very old. But they are still filling up the ships so why care until business drops?
When they let Janet go, these brochure, communication issues went from just bad to horrible.
Just my 2 cents.

Scott L:

As far as the exact wording on the Thanksgiving card from Radisson, I was merely paraphrasing the wording of a card I had read and thrown away days before my post. I believe you are correct that the exact wording was a tier announcement would be made in "the upcoming months" --- which, in "corporate speak" means about the same to me as the term "in the near future". To me, when a corporate communication fails to give a more exact time frame, the true meaning is "don't hold your breath!"

I too feel that the delay in this announcement bodes ill for Radisson. In the past three to four years, we have cruised Radisson a really excessive number of times. People have asked why. My response has been "they are offering deals that are too good to last" in terms of what you get vs. what you pay. Well, now, prices are up considerably, "specials" are fewer and farther between, and the scope of SSS benefits cannot be determined. At least one "die hard Radisson fan" (me) has put future bookings on this line "on hold" until this matter becomes clear.

Thanks,
Richard

The ship sent us a note of apology yesterday with a bottle of champagne and a summary of our Radisson history (which is all we asked for and all we wanted). The history wasn't exactly correct but the one Julie got is so I'm not concerned.

We appreciated the gesture, we really did, but had they hopped on the issue the day it happened or the next it wouldn't even have made it onto my radar screen. I hope they resolve these internal problems and bring customer service more into line with the gracious nature of the onboard experience.

Jan B and I get lots of e-mails and information from RSSC every week. The problem is it normally information about cruises that we have already done.
Example: PG, "MINT", Navigator replacing Diamond itinery, and we have not gone on Voyager "PARTY" and we are getting information about the same cruise in 2006.

MarnaLou,
I am happy to hear that something was finally done right by you. But, I agree with you that had it been handled in a reasonable fashion immediately then you would not have been upset by it and no apology would have been necessary. I am sorry that you had to go through this on your wonderful vacation, but happy that at least an apologetic gesture has been made with an attempt to satisfy your query. Best wishes for the rest of your trip!
Debbie

it is always nice to have an error acknowledged. i'm glad they did that, but like MarnaLou think it should have been much more quickly.
cindy

The head office is finally giving correct accounting of the number of days traveled with Radisson. It is time to check with them.

Ardis

Ardis, thank you, are you telling us that we can check on-line, or we have to call RSSC? I am concerned, due to Marsha's recent experience. Once again, thank you for your input!

I don't have the answer to that since on board the future cruise consultant, Nansea, did the research for us. Gudrun came up with a number of days that was more than one hundred less than our actual number. It is now correct.

Ardis

Well I DONT KNOW ANY DETAILS about the loyalty program itself what I do know is that I think they are getting very close to unveiling the new program. I have heard that several times now so I think that this is truly coming out very soon. Probably before month end so I hope that this is accurate information and we finally get to the information we have all been waiting for. Keep your fingers crossed.

Ngaire,

Just like when RSSC does it's new sailing calendar, they will do it when you are out of the office. So I guess it will be announced the week that you are on PARTY!

Gee. Maybe we will hear something on "PARTY"

How do you check number of days sailed online? I pulled up the website but don't see where to pull it up

Bette, I don't think it is on the website, I would imagine you would have to call Radisson??

OF COURSE - the release will be either the day I sail or within a few days of sailing. It happens everytime!!! I bet it will happen then and not before I leave.

Bette: There is no where you can pull up your nights and I dont have any access to those numbers. I just called RSSC to see how difficult it is to see how many nights someone has. The people who answer the phones would have to go through your cruise record and look at each booking and count up the nights so that is not as easy as it sounds. They wont let them do that for everyone as it would take forever and the phones are on hold now as it is without doing all that. They could also make a mistake in doing something manual like that. I am sure it is automatic somewhere in their system but not with the people that answer RSSC phones.

The cruise consultants on board have that information as they need it to figure out who the top cruise night person on the ship is for the society party. I suggest you ask on Party to get your nights.

I imagine that they will send out letters to everyone with the number of nights and where they are in whatever tier levels they offer.

I also understand they are going to make an effort to update the data base with correct mailing addresses.

PROGRESS!!!