IzznOll17

2 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 I am a bit confused about the celebrity comments.....

 

 Our cards had “elite” on them, and how in the world anyone would anyone know whether we were a  first time Celebrity cruiser, or had sailed  Celebrity many times to attain the elite category?   I don’t understand how people report they have funny looks from long time Celebrity cruisers.   It simply doesn’t make sense to me.   

1 hour ago, loveheart said:

Yes this^^^^ exactly. Our sea pass said Elite I'm sure and any other passengers didn't get a look at my sea pass.

They didn't get a 'look' at ours either - as I've stated earlier, it started when we asked questions with regards to the benefits on the card ( this was a ship that had very few drinks menu's at the bars for some reason - tired ship, tired itinerary - who knows! )

It was a very weird cruise, fraught with several issues on port days in particular so maybe - wrong place, wrong time!

I've yet to experience it since and probably never will - but that said, you could sit a pinnacle next to me and I wouldn't care one iota how they got there!

1 minute ago, loveheart said:

Oh right. All the Celebrity cruisers I have spoken to never looked at me in a funny way when I tell them I usually sail with RC,  they seem interested in the differences between the cruise lines and our opinions and in general most of them have sailed on both cruise lines. I have never encountered any snobbery. 

yeah don't get me wrong it was definitely most were the same - how long do you get on the internet/ how much for this n that etc ... but for people to comment how it's wrong that we had all this on our first cruise was a little too much! again, I don't judge who n what they are, so why is it ok for them! 

When our cards were passed over for bar service and the like ... one or two shaking heads were obvious! 

Additionally I saw it as a taster cruise in that aspect and has made me see their product in some ways a bit better than Rccl's and cruise more with them, even if one or two of the passengers were on that cruise a little 'obtruse' let's say ha ha  

25 minutes ago, 123funcruiser said:

It would have been nice towards the OP, if you had stated your advice as your opinion and being against the rules Right from the beginning and not only after being busted.

 I did! 

First sentence of the second paragraph implies in no uncertain terms that it's wrong!

(of my initial reply)

5 minutes ago, loveheart said:

We've sailed wth RC many times and Celebrity twice and neither time has anyone looked at us any differently in bars, restaurants or in the Captains Club. Why on earth would it make any difference to the staff?

not the staff - other cruisers! 

5 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Coastal kitchen on Oasis class is part of the same space of the SL.

Maybe that's what I was thinking! - thanks

4 minutes ago, 123funcruiser said:

 

Of Course it is. Others, as well as me are letting them know what the Facts are and we are saving them from the fake News your are trying to spread based on your own opinion instead of the factual stated rules By the cruiseline. 

 

We are saving them some potential embarrassment, you are trying to get them into.

 

I´m not sure what I Need to know About them. They asked a Question they got answers. Some Right some - like yours - wrong.

It´s not been me making the rules, I just let them know About them. 

It would be nice if you had such a caring attitude to tell them the truth, even if it´s not perfectly what they want to achieve, though we don´t even know this, as they didn´t even explain their Needs, they just asked a Question.

yeah I've no problem with that - I didn't see an issue with a child as I think it's similarly flawed the moment you can marry into a certain status! That's only my personal opinion, it's what I'd do with regards to my nieces - for whatever reason and not particularly to get them in the lounge with us, advice is exactly that - advice - it's 100% upto them whatever they choose to do with it!

BV

Just now, Ourusualbeach said:

Not really.  

 

There used to be 2 lounges...DL and CL

 

Now there are still 2 lounges the DL and the SL and in most cases now the SL is in a much better location than the old CL was

 

Same  2 lounges, the only thing that’s different is who can use them

Ah my mistake ... I kinda thought that Suite guests had other options - or is that just for dining? ie coastal kitchen?

1 minute ago, 123funcruiser said:

Yes I am saying because they Chose to take their nephew they either Need to forfeit their entitlement to enjoy the lounge, or they Need to seperate from their nephew for a short period of time in the evening.

Well that's such a lovely caring attitude to take to a fellow cruiser you know nothing about!

3 minutes ago, 123funcruiser said:

 

It´s not About what someone beliefs or not. YOu can believe all you want. It´s About the rules of the Programm. 

 

You might think the System is flawed, but that does not entitle you to ignore the rules. Status Transfers to SO´s and Kids under the age of 18 Living under the same address. Your Suggestion was to lie About the Residence to get someone Status s/he does not deserve and that´s what People are rightfully calling you out on.

As your own example Shows you are Right it´s not Always correct advice given on this site. Yours definitely has been wrong - factual wrong and morally wrong.

 

👇

4 minutes ago, IzznOll17 said:

The post was all about them being able to enjoy 'their' benefits AND staying together at the same time!

 

The child getting temporary or otherwise Diamond status is in my opinion a fairly irrelevant aspect of that when it's already overly abused and taken advantage of in so many ways!

 

or are you simply saying because THEY chose to take their nephew on a cruise they should forfeit their entitlement to enjoy the lounge? ... 

7 minutes ago, davekathy said:

What I took offense to was the part you left out this time. "To be sure you don't miss out on the perks of your status and assuming your nephew has the same surname, can you not 'register' him as living with you? ie an 'extra' child ha ha  He'll automatically pick up your status then and be able to join you"...Plenty of places on the ship to eat, drink, laugh and be together as a "family unit".

The post was all about them being able to enjoy 'their' benefits AND staying together at the same time!

The child getting temporary or otherwise Diamond status is in my opinion a fairly irrelevant aspect of that when it's already overly abused and taken advantage of in so many ways!

or are you simply saying because THEY chose to take their nephew on a cruise they should forfeit their entitlement to enjoy the lounge? ... 

1 minute ago, blackshirt said:

Are you saying you got nasty looks and comments because of your elite status match? How would anyone even know? Anyway, I’ve sailed Celebrity twice now and encountered no such thing.

Yes!

It's on the seapass card and we asked a few questions with regards to stuff like internet etc at dinner and in company at the bar and that's when people gave more than a few disparaging looks! Maybe the area of cruise and the demographic of people on it ( 17 nighter around NZ & Australia for what it matters ) was the difference! I've never looked up or down for that matter to anyone I've cruised with so I don't believe anyone should do to either of us.

3 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Keep digging. If you want to lie about someones residence for as you call it ease of communications that's on you. Just don't bring them in the DL which this what this thread is about. This is what I took exception from on your original post, "To be sure you don't miss out on the perks of your status and assuming your nephew has the same surname, can you not 'register' him as living with you? ie an 'extra' child ha ha  He'll automatically pick up your status then and be able to join you. For what he'd drink/eat it's nominal I would have thought and you can all stay together as a family unit"!

I don't consider it to be 'digging' as such and as you've stated  - this bit  .... 'and you can all stay together as a family unit' was really my only thought on the matter! I don't believe that entitled cruisers shouldn't be able to bring in children or relatives that are travelling with them. That's my belief and I'm happy to accept it's not yours and/or other people on here.

I joined this site many moons ago because I believed at the time it was a font of all knowledge and advice for cruisers, but as I've found over the years it's not all positive/correct advice in some cases as you believe that of mine. But what I will say, there's an element of toxicity to some people and what 'they' believe is right!

Again, I'll leave you to it, Happy Cruising and you have my best wishes all the same

10 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

I for one do not decide on a cruise line based on loyalty programs. I base my choice on what works for me whether it be price, itinerary, ports in driving distance or overall ambiance that each line provides. Jockeying for position in a loyalty program never enters the equation. The only perks that would interest me are the perks that save actual dollars like a balcony discount. Internet has become so inexpensive that the perk is now meaningless. Drink packages trump any lounge benefit that dictates a time frame and I will not let anyone do my wash for fear of damage or loss.   What I have learned is that I can have a vacation tailored to me if I am willing to jump around. That  is more important than any feel good freebies and emotional stroking. What I don't understand is bumping kids or spouses to  a status that haven't earned it. Now that doesn't mean that a spouse would be excluded from a lounge or special embarkation, or tender lines if they are booked together.  I think those who turn to on line dating sites to meet a potential spouse should add their Diamond + status to their profile. It could give you an edge if you are looking for someone who likes to cruise.

Ha ha ha ... your post made me giggle!

You're right about other cruise lines etc, when we cruised with Celebrity ( instantly Elite ) the looks and comments were at times terrible from their hardcore cruisers! Not that i worried at times, simply found it fun when asked, to tell them anything to wind them up even more! My opinion of them was that they were just another cruiser/table mate and I didn't believe they should judge others in any other way.

MSC is on our bucket list, as are pretty much 'most' other lines! The extra's they offer are often like you say immaterial when drinks are all inc and/internet/laundry etc are easily obtained.

The online dating bit is comedy gold - I'm not 100% sure on how it works, but I can see the humour in it ha ha

1 minute ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

The difference is lying about where he lives. 

I guess the intention was fairly innocent but the facts are plain wrong!

Let me try one last time to explain how I came to suggesting that - 

I have nieces who live in New Zealand who's parents I KNOW have no intention of cruising ..

Lets assume for a minute that my nieces would ( always shown a massive interest and have asked if they could come on the ship when we've docked in Auckland etc ) like to cruise with my wife and I. They have the same surname etc so i would when booking simply have told (hypothetically remember) RCCL that they lived at the same address - for ease of communications and the like!  innocent enough = yeah .... factually  wrong = of course!

That was pretty much how I read and and replied to the OP  

2 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

No more CLs when the ship converts to SL.  As in Freedom and Voyager class...the old CL location is taken out and converted to inside cabins, I think there were 4 or 5 of them put in that spot on Mariner when we were on in June.  SL is full suite and Pinnacles only. 

DL remains as a C&A venue for Ds and above..including D+ and Pinnacle.  

kind of matches to what I think with regards to - making more money from the space - theory!

shame!

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

No more CL period. I doubt it. On ships that currently don't have a CL it's only the DL for those that are members. 

.. of which is can be overcrowded as we know~! 

I've said it for a while, irrespective of our levels, they want rid of it all and to simplify it all - like the vouchers of old and/or pre loaded cards from the offset!

Maybe they'll combine in a VCL or similar which have always been a great venue and allows people to mingle with whoever they like! It's a shame and yet another 'poorer' aspect to the product that's delivered by RCCL if you ask me!

7 minutes ago, davekathy said:

We did a a B2B  cruise on the Freedom March 2019. We are diamond +. We preferred and used the DL over the CL. CL was like a closet. We get those choices for at least now. The CL on the Freedom is going away and Cloud Nine and Seven Hearts is going to be converted into the Suite Lounge. 

Does that mean the CL won't exist anymore? and they'll join both the DL + the CL together in say, one of the bigger venues that are used later on in the evening for music and the like?

6 minutes ago, blackshirt said:

Not sure what you mean. D+ and above also have Diamond Lounge access. Suite guests that are not Diamond or above would have Concierge lounge access but not Diamond Lounge access. Bringing any guest into the Diamond Lounge is against the rules regardless of what other lounge they may have access to.

It was more an example of how a contented lounge was disrupted by someone being brought in ( I wasn't aware of the co- access of D+'s ) and how it quickly turned sour! ie it's not necessarily the non entitled that cause people/staff issues!

6 minutes ago, island lady said:

The point here is the crowding in the lounges these days. Many, many new Diamonds coming on each day.  Most times it is tough enough to find a seat for those that actually belong in there.  Seats taken up by those that do not qualify for that seat?  Issue?  Yes, it is for those that earned that C&A level.    

 

Solution?  Some years ago RCI came out with the "Diamond Vouchers".   You can still get your free drinks in any lounge outside the DL/CL/SL ....and sit with your non-Diamond family and friends.  Munchies?  Like you can't find food all over the ship?  

 

 

This this this THIS! .. I've alluded to this a few posts up, but in regards to dispensing with the lounges themselves and stopping pretty much all of the issues that've been discussed from the offset!

As per the norm nowadays, things were better back before they started messing with things!

Here's something else to consider with regards to 'should they - or shouldn't they?' ... 

What do people believe about people with Concierge lounge access (D+ and above) coming into a Diamond lounge?

I saw this very recently, as their friends were only diamonds and they wanted to spend the time with them, but within 15 mins or so they caused trouble for the server who was never seen again for the entirety of the cruise!

I'd be interested to see what people's thoughts on this were?  keypad on door, so let in via the Diamond guest I may add 

8 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Agree. Maybe if the LA put out a policy if any diamond or above member brought others in the DL that are not member(s) and got busted by the DLC those member(s) would be denied access to the DL for the remainder of the cruise. Day or night.  

I've posted further along about a very good friend who I met through another cruiser that wasn't 'entitled' to be there .. the only thing with your idea ( which I agree with too!) is that it was the concierge who let them in in the first place!

She was part of a family group ( 2 adults, 1 child ) and in a way was in an identical situation to the OP, a relative .. the only difference my friend is an adult! 

3 minutes ago, papaflamingo said:

Nice backpedal.  

The "system" doesn't create  problems, it's actually quite clear.  It's people who constantly try to beat the system that creates problems.  You say you don't care how someone gets into the Diamond Lounge. Really?  If you walk in and find it so crowded that you can't move, then find out that One Diamond took his 10 friends that he's cruising with in, I bet you'd care.  I care because it's a perk that I enjoy and am entitled to.  I want to be able to enjoy that perk in comfort.   When I'm pushed out by people who aren't entitled to that perk I'm not happy.  Why should I be?  

I never EVER assume that anyone in the lounge isn't Diamond.   But I also expect the Concierge to enforce the rules as set by the "system."  

Oh yeah...on Post 4 you say "can you not 'register' him as living with you?"  Not only does that violate the "system," but it likely violates the law!  How does Customs resolve someone claiming a minor as a legal dependent when they aren't?  How would that not red flag these people.  With all the discussion and concern about human trafficking in the U.S. I wouldn't try to claim a minor a legal dependent just so he can get into the Diamond Lounge.  

It wasn't a 'backpedal' .. it was a genuine statement that I didn't mean to offend anyone!

As far as people ( you're assuming it's a 'him' for some reason ) taking in their friends, then that is not my business - again by your comment I take it you're 'assuming' they're of drinking age etc but you're quite right when you say it's the concierge who should be checking - On Harmony they even have an extra person at the door for when the Concierge is away or busy dealing with someone! I'll go as far to say that I've met someone in a lounge who wasn't supposed to be there and they're now a very good friend of mine - remember the bit about not judging people? Don't forget this was all about a family wanting to take a child relative in with them and what was in my opinion a fairly harmless suggestion and even less of a issue when in said lounge!

But, yes I'll have to agree that the initial suggestion probably does have considerations to take with regards to customs and the like - I didn't think that what was on a cruise profile would link to such a degree!

Anyway, the lounges are what they are, occupied by people who have never caused any issues to cause any upset to anyone's cruise in my experience and generally a happy, free to do whatever you please environment and long may that continue!

Happy Cruising 

11 minutes ago, chmusar said:

Never had a drinks package before was wondering if i go to bar and i want 2 drinks can i just show my wifes pass or does she need to come to the bar with me 

No - take both cards and you'll be fine!

Although in the realms of 'equality' ... even she could take both your cards and get the drinks for you! ha ha

12 minutes ago, marci22 said:

They used to specify 21 and over but now allow accompanied minors.  I do believe you that some ships/itineraries may limit minors as Royal's product can be quite variable. 

I know a family who book the royal suites on a regular basis and it being yards away from the CL so young' un liked to go in to get a drink and a cake or whatever on a regular basis - no fuss- no harm to anyone etc

People complained that a teenager shouldn't be in there and he was asked to leave!  There was more than a kerfuffle when his mother went in to ask what the problem was, and if i remember correctly the concierge got into a lot of trouble as they were also friends of the captain and his wife!

1 minute ago, marci22 said:

Your statement "consuming as much as they possibly can in the stipulated time AND then having the 3 drinks on top" sounds like they are staying in the lounge during open hours and having 3 drinks in addition. 

 

There is nothing wrong with doing what you say above. They use the cheapest alcohol possible and most loyalty members know to tip their servers. 

Yeah I'll agree to the poorly worded statement - my apologies ha ha

It was kind of linked to the initial posting of how it's flawed in that people complained how the 'opening hours' sometimes prevented them from enjoying their benefit AND enjoying what else the ship has to offer in regards to shows/dinner and the like, So RCCL changed to allowing 3 drinks to use in other parts of the ships. This then let the more creative cruiser utilise this even more ... ie I think RCCL meant to have one or the other - not both ha ha 

I've actually known it done that people have had an agreement with their MDR servers that they'll turn up just after 8pm having had the maximum hours in the lounge, took a drink 'for the road' and then had 3 glasses of wine waiting! You're right when you say tipping is the key ha ha ha

Nobody bats an eyelid anymore for fear of upsetting the customer - dining room dress code/solarium age/sunbeds to name just a few! That's why the whole system is flawed and other posters have reciprocated in similar ways!