anyone sailed on Royal Carribean who is Diamond member or higher?

[korky1]

My husband and I will become Diamond members after our next cruise in March, in time for our April cruise. I read you have access to the Diamond Lounge but can instead get 3 free drinks each evening during the designated hours from any bar if you prefer. is this correct ? Does the Diamond Lounge get really packed?

 

Thanks for any info you can give me.

[Big Kev]

My husband and I will become Diamond members after our next cruise in March, in time for our April cruise. I read you have access to the Diamond Lounge but can instead get 3 free drinks each evening during the designated hours from any bar if you prefer. is this correct ? Does the Diamond Lounge get really packed?

 

Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

Yes, 3 same type drinks attached to your seapass card info. Avail any bar. Diamond lounge drinks also available. Packed lounge depends upon how many D's on the sailing, but most ships open doors and take in extra lounge area if crowded. From Oz, usually not hundreds of D's at moment.

 

.

[goodycruising]

It can depend where the ship is sailing as to whether there are a lot of Diamonds and above on board, and lately, also whether the suite guests feel they would like to sit in the Diamond lounge as it has a better view.

 

Which ship are you sailing on in April? We were on Voyager last November and the gold suite sea pass cards were opening the door of the Diamond Lounge. No signs or gentle words were stopping the suite guests, and some of them were not moving during the whole 3 1/2 hours.

 

The Diamond Concierge was trying to talk to them, and she was getting no support from higher up. We did a back to back cruise, and on the second cruise the atmosphere was very different, and people were having their pre-dinner drinks and moving on. There was much more room available.

 

On Voyager the only overflow is out in the open next to the noisy exhaust stacks, and not really where people wanted to sit in the evening. You could comfortably go to the next door High Notes bar, or any other bar for your drinks. We made sure that when we went to the High Notes bar we gave them a tip at the end, as there were quite a few Diamonds out there.

 

If you are cruising on another ship, then there are provisions for overflow on Radiance, and the Concierge Lounge is next door with a good view, or if it is another ship others may have more information.

 

We like to go to the Diamond Lounge for light breakfast or lunch some days also, and we enjoy the self serve coffee machine also.

[Dizziedi]

It can depend where the ship is sailing as to whether there are a lot of Diamonds and above on board, and lately, also whether the suite guests feel they would like to sit in the Diamond lounge as it has a better view.

 

Which ship are you sailing on in April? We were on Voyager last November and the gold suite sea pass cards were opening the door of the Diamond Lounge. No signs or gentle words were stopping the suite guests, and some of them were not moving during the whole 3 1/2 hours.

 

The Diamond Concierge was trying to talk to them, and she was getting no support from higher up. We did a back to back cruise, and on the second cruise the atmosphere was very different, and people were having their pre-dinner drinks and moving on. There was much more room available.

 

On Voyager the only overflow is out in the open next to the noisy exhaust stacks, and not really where people wanted to sit in the evening. You could comfortably go to the next door High Notes bar, or any other bar for your drinks. We made sure that when we went to the High Notes bar we gave them a tip at the end, as there were quite a few Diamonds out there.

 

If you are cruising on another ship, then there are provisions for overflow on Radiance, and the Concierge Lounge is next door with a good view, or if it is another ship others may have more information.

 

We like to go to the Diamond Lounge for light breakfast or lunch some days also, and we enjoy the self serve coffee machine also.

 

The Suite guests drink in the DL on the Voyager because the Concierge Lounge is like a cupboard and is just plain awful. Not saying it's right but that is the reason. It's funny but once people become Diamond Plus they all seem to want to drink in the CL on the Radiance which can cause it to be packed - especially on the Trans Pacifics.

 

Drinks hours on the Radiance is currently 4.30pm to 8pm.

 

On this cruise we have 14 Diamond Plus and only a few Diamonds but I haven't seen any Diamonds in the DL at all. Next cruise we go to 16 Diamond Plus and 25 Diamonds so maybe it will be a little busier but not enough to open the doors.

 

Cheers

Di

[megsie]

We recently cruised on two Radiance cruises one week apart. One from Fremantle-Sydney the other Sydney-Hobart-Sydney.

The two cruises were so different in age groups and past cruisers.

The first had so many Diamonds that part of the Viking Crown Lounge was partitioned off. Also so many return cruisers that that the Welcome Back Event was in the theatre and it was full. The Top Tier event in the Colony Club was standing room only. We didn't get our crystal block presented as there were so many Diamond Plus being presented with them on the night.

Our next cruise, the Welcome Back event was at most half full in the Colony Lounge and no Top Tier event. Around 2000 first time cruisers or new to RCI onboard.

Probably the longer the cruise the more experienced cruisers would be onboard. In our experience a lot of new cruisers do the shorter cruises as a taste or special event, family get together etc.

The drink perks were good. DH a non drinker would go to the bar and get 3 diet cokes in cans and bring back to the room. I would have a drink before dinner and take one to dinner from the bar near the restaurant. As many as you wanted at the Diamond Lounge, to quote one passenger ' no good leaving here sober'!

[korky1]

Thank you all for your kind replies. Our first Diamond cruise is on the Explorer in April. I suppose we will try the Diamond lounge on the first evening and if it proves to be too packed and therefore too hard to get a drink we will use the 3 free drinks in any bar option the rest of the cruise.

[Dizziedi]

Thank you all for your kind replies. Our first Diamond cruise is on the Explorer in April. I suppose we will try the Diamond lounge on the first evening and if it proves to be too packed and therefore too hard to get a drink we will use the 3 free drinks in any bar option the rest of the cruise.

 

We are on the Explorer in April to Seattle. If you are on this cruise, both the DL and CL will be packed. We have 11 in our group which is made up of cruise buddies from the Trans Pacific on the Radiance in April '15. We are D+ and suite and the rest are all D+ and we will all drink in the DL due to the CL being a cupboard.

 

Whatever cruise you are on, enjoy your Diamond status in the DL because I don't think it will be long before Diamonds will have to consume the three free drinks (maybe they will increase the limit) in bars outside the DL, ie a the Diamond Lounge will be renamed the Diamond Plus Lounge.

 

Cheers

Di

Edited January 4, 2016 by Dizziedi

[joandian]

I've been on cruises where there was so many Diamonds and above that they took over the big forward lounge on deck 5 on the Voyager class ships for the evening drinks. Other cruises there were only a handful of D and D+ in the Lounge.

 

I do believe that it won't be long until Diamonds are excluded from the lounge all together and it is reserved for D+ up. I've seen several people suggest this and as there are more diamonds joining the ranks, and since they added the drinks to the sea pass cards, I think it's a realistic scenario.

 

The larger ships Oasis and newer only have the one lounge for D and D+ and there is a special lounge/dining for Pinnacle and Suite guests.

 

As someone said the Concierge lounge on the Voyager class is a little inside box and the Diamond lounge is much nicer.

[donaldcoyne]

We were on the Liberty of the Seas last January and yes if you are a Diamond member you can get 3 free drinks at most bars during happy hour.

[Lilfrog79]

Thank you all for your kind replies. Our first Diamond cruise is on the Explorer in April. I suppose we will try the Diamond lounge on the first evening and if it proves to be too packed and therefore too hard to get a drink we will use the 3 free drinks in any bar option the rest of the cruise.

 

Just off explorer and I can say that the diamond lounge was quite busy most nights but if u pick your time right you should be ok. For example we went up about 6pm each night just when a Lot of people were leaving for dinner, and we always found a seat. If not straight away, after about 5 minutes. 7pm many people also left to go see the show, so if you're a little flexible you should be ok.

 

The free drinks is also nice, and you have a list of about 10 or so different alcoholic drinks to choose from.

[MicCanberra]

Just off explorer and I can say that the diamond lounge was quite busy most nights but if u pick your time right you should be ok. For example we went up about 6pm each night just when a Lot of people were leaving for dinner, and we always found a seat. If not straight away, after about 5 minutes. 7pm many people also left to go see the show, so if you're a little flexible you should be ok.

 

The free drinks is also nice, and you have a list of about 10 or so different alcoholic drinks to choose from.

 

I think it would really depend on the cruise, but as you say, some times are busier than others.

[avalon007]

I think it's good to use the DL or equivalent as you get to see the same people several times & can often make some good friends that way.

 

Any cruise out of the US will have loads more Diamonds & above as Royal has cruised there for many years, whereas they have only been in Australia for a much shorter time, so even if you did a cruise a year most Aussie cruisers haven't made it to Diamond as yet unless they do a few B2B or repo cruises or pay up for a suite to get double points.

 

Looking forward to checking out the new DL on VOS in a few weeks. :) Still a good few cruises away from Diamond Plus so hope the DL stays as is for now!

[MicCanberra]

I think it's good to use the DL or equivalent as you get to see the same people several times & can often make some good friends that way.

 

Any cruise out of the US will have loads more Diamonds & above as Royal has cruised there for many years, whereas they have only been in Australia for a much shorter time, so even if you did a cruise a year most Aussie cruisers haven't made it to Diamond as yet unless they do a few B2B or repo cruises or pay up for a suite to get double points.

 

Looking forward to checking out the new DL on VOS in a few weeks. :) Still a good few cruises away from Diamond Plus so hope the DL stays as is for now!

 

I agree, even out of cocktail hours, it is also just a nice place to get away from it all if you want to.

[joandian]

I agree, even out of cocktail hours, it is also just a nice place to get away from it all if you want to.

 

We love going up to the Diamond (or Concierge) Lounge during the day, grabbing a coffee and finding a comfortable chair and settle down to read. It is usually a nice quiet spot during the day.

[MicCanberra]

We love going up to the Diamond (or Concierge) Lounge during the day, grabbing a coffee and finding a comfortable chair and settle down to read. It is usually a nice quiet spot during the day.

 

With great views.:D

[avalon007]

Yes love the views - so good for sail away! Very relaxing.

 

I noticed on the deck plans for Ovation that the DL is on one of the lower decks - wonder if there is much of a view there?

[MicCanberra]

Yes love the views - so good for sail away! Very relaxing.

 

I noticed on the deck plans for Ovation that the DL is on one of the lower decks - wonder if there is much of a view there?

 

I haven't checked it out as yet, I hope it has windows. The concierge lounge on the VOTS and the EOTS is dismal.

[robinph]

Thank you all for your kind replies. Our first Diamond cruise is on the Explorer in April. I suppose we will try the Diamond lounge on the first evening and if it proves to be too packed and therefore too hard to get a drink we will use the 3 free drinks in any bar option the rest of the cruise.

 

We just got off Explorer on Wed, only a ten dayer and there were 156 diamond members next cruise an 11 nighter to NZ was having over 200. Diamond lounge got very crowded by about 5pm but concierge never allowed any overflow to Izzy's Some people ended up going to the outside seating area. Robin :):)

[MicCanberra]

We just got off Explorer on Wed, only a ten dayer and there were 156 diamond members next cruise an 11 nighter to NZ was having over 200. Diamond lounge got very crowded by about 5pm but concierge never allowed any overflow to Izzy's Some people ended up going to the outside seating area. Robin :):)

 

Wow, it would have been very busy.

[The_Big_M]

Yes love the views - so good for sail away! Very relaxing.

 

I noticed on the deck plans for Ovation that the DL is on one of the lower decks - wonder if there is much of a view there?

 

Yes, it's placed on level 3 - not a great location.

 

That said, while based in China they combined it with the Concierge lounge and converted the DL to a casino high roller's room. The concierge lounge has a great view. If they keep the same it will be nice, which they may due to the short visit here.

[MicCanberra]

Yes, it's placed on level 3 - not a great location.

 

That said, while based in China they combined it with the Concierge lounge and converted the DL to a casino high roller's room. The concierge lounge has a great view. If they keep the same it will be nice, which they may due to the short visit here.

 

That is interesting. I am not sure the high rollers room will get as much use but you never know.

[orphaned]

Thank you all for your kind replies. Our first Diamond cruise is on the Explorer in April. I suppose we will try the Diamond lounge on the first evening and if it proves to be too packed and therefore too hard to get a drink we will use the 3 free drinks in any bar option the rest of the cruise.

 

Hi there! We enjoyed our first "Diamond" status sailing on Legend last June, Singapore to Sydney. The Diamond lounge was very small, hot and stuffy, standing room only - too many people for us. We went up to the Crown Viking lounge (think that's what it was called) and enjoyed our three "freebies" up there. Staff were excellent, and met lots of people (also Diamonds). We are in our mid to late 50's.