No access to the Diamond lounge for diamond members

[Merion_Mom]

This is the first I've read of this issue of Diamonds being kicked out of the lounge.

 

We are also onboard Serenade and have been for this cruise and the previous fjords cruise.

 

Diamonds have not been kicked out of the lounge, they have the entire safari club as a diamond lounge on deck 6.

 

Diamond plus are using the Diamond Lounge on Deck 13, and suites and Pinnacles are using the Concierge Lounge on deck 13.

 

We were onboard last week also, and concierge lounge was open for suites, pinnacles and diamond plus. However, over 500 diamond and over 300 diamond plus boarded for the transatlantic, so they had to separate the lounges. All lounges have the same drinks and the same hors'd'oerves, and both the diamond lounge and safari club have better views.

 

No one would be happy to squeeze 800 diamond, diamond plus into the diamond lounge,

 

I think it was a great solution, everyone has a place to go and enjoy a cocktail and conversation.

 

Always the voice of sanity and reason. Thank you, Bill (and Rita). :)

Edited August 30, 2016 by Merion_Mom

[Langley Cruisers]

We are also onboard Serenade and have been for this cruise and the previous fjords cruise... Diamonds have not been kicked out of the lounge, they have the entire safari club as a diamond lounge on deck 6.

 

Well, your post says "no access to the diamond lounge". Perhaps it should have said "no specialty coffees available to diamond members... People immediately see your post and panic that the diamonds are being kicked out of the lounge.

 

HUGE THANKS for this more accurate information. It is so appreciated. :)

 

.

[Blizzard54]

I remember when CC used to be just great facts about shipboard life, not just a guessing game by some here.

 

It sounds like some people like Bill and Rita (negc) who are presently aboard are giving a very positive review of what Royal Caribbean did to keep so many D and D+ happy.

 

Nice report Bill!

 

Rick

 

There sure does seem to be some differences in the reports coming from the ship. We had some similar issues on the Explorer TP last spring. Over 800 D, D+ and 40 something PC's. They had to do a lot of juggling and not everyone was happy.

This seems to be the new normal for TA's and TP's. I understand that it is a difficult situation for the staff. It would be nice if Miami could give some guidance and inform C&A members what to expect on these voyages. Some consistency would probably be appreciated. I appears that each ship is left to figure it out for themselves.

 

I will add the Juan Diego did a great job of taking care of the vast majority of C&A's on the TP. (there were the usual few that could no be pleased)

[travelberlin]

Well, your post says "no access to the diamond lounge". Perhaps it should have said "no specialty coffees available to diamond members.

 

People immediately see your post and panic that the diamonds are being kicked out of the lounge.

 

The coffee machine in the concierge lounge was not working last week, so no cappucino available there, either......in fact, no coffee or hot water.

 

The facts are:

1) the diamond members do not have access to the diamond lounge, which is in the 13th floor. In fact we were told to leave.

2) the diamond members as in other cruises in which the numbers are large have been provided access to the Safari lounge for drinks and canapes in the evenings.

3) the diamond members do not have acces to specialities coffees, which in the morning were available at the diamond lounge.

4) no alternative for having free specialty coffees have been provided. Instead we were told this is not a benefit anymore for diamond members.

5) diamond members here complaining about this lost of benefit

thank you for your attention

[Merion_Mom]

The facts are:

1) the diamond members do not have access to the diamond lounge, which is in the 13th floor. In fact we were told to leave.

2) the diamond members as in other cruises in which the numbers are large have been provided access to the Safari lounge for drinks and canapes in the evenings.

3) the diamond members do not have acces to specialities coffees, which in the morning were available at the diamond lounge.

4) no alternative for having free specialty coffees have been provided. Instead we were told this is not a benefit anymore for diamond members.

5) diamond members here complaining about this lost of benefit

thank you for your attention

 

If specialty coffees are a serious concern for you, I suggest asking the Hotel Director for a private meeting. Tell him calmly and earnestly about your concern, and see if s/he will allow you some free coffee from Lattetudes.

[travelberlin]

If specialty coffees are a serious concern for you, I suggest asking the Hotel Director for a private meeting. Tell him calmly and earnestly about your concern, and see if s/he will allow you some free coffee from Lattetudes.

 

Thanks a lot for your constructive suggestion. It would be nice if also other fellow diamond members can still benefit from it. To have access to the Lattetudes for diamonds might be a solution benefitting others.

[topnole]

They did this on our transatlantic on Liberty in 2014. We were just a bit short of d+ and Diamonds weren't allowed in d lounge or the over flow right outside which sucked b/c that is our favorite bar on Liberty before dinner and we had the drink package anyways. So we couldnt enjoy our favorite bar all two weeks during happy hour.

[travelgoddess1]

This is not a new situation, so it is a bit surprising to see the angst. We were on a member cruise on Serenade in January, 2007, and Diamond Plus and Diamond were banned from the Concierge Lounge (the only lounge at the time, and prior to creation of the Pinnacle Club tier level). The same thing happened on a member cruise on Radiance in 2008 or 2009. Anyone who has cruised enough to make Diamond status (and above) should be aware of the possibility of this happening. The last time it happened to us was on Liberty's transatlantic in 2012.

 

This is going to happen on cruises that are popular with C&A members. Transatlantic and member/President's cruises would fall into that category.

[roquejo]

I find it odd that that Diamond members cannot get specialty coffee at Latitudes.

 

On Ovation, we lost our Diamond lounge in the Asia setup as this was converted to a Casino VIP room.

 

The happy hour is being held at the 2nd floor of the music lounge, which is better was we have an entire bar and pool table to ourselves.

 

We can get unlimited specialty coffee either at Starbucks in the Esplanade, in Seattle's Best at Cafe Two70 or another brand at coffee shop in Winjammer.

 

For the Diamond breakfast, it was held at Chops..

 

We didn't lost any benefits. Perhaps it differs from ship to ship.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

This sounds like a very reasonable solution to an abundance of D/D+/P members onboard.

 

On our North Atlantic Brilliance TA from the UK to Boston we had a large number of D/D+/P members onboard, too. I can not say how full the CL was, but the DL was so full that we were not able to get a seat [except once] in 14 days. On that night we arrived 10 minutes before time for the first dinner seating [we were late seating] and got to 2 seats before anyone else. [there were others milling around looking for seats] I felt pretty silly doing that and decided we would give up on the lounge.

 

We would have been glad to have another venue for the overflow. We enjoy meeting other cruisers. You do not get the same level of willingness to chit chat in bars that you do in the lounges.

 

I will be on the Harmony TA in October. There is a HUGE number of D and above. I have read ~200 Ps onboard. I am sure D and D+ is well over 1,000. I would welcome a similar solution.

Edited August 30, 2016 by DragonOfTheSeas

[Langley Cruisers]

Coffees at Lattétudes may sound like a reasonable solution, but if the DL is so overflowing that alternate arrangements had to be made, how long are the lines going to be at Lattétudes? Just musing.

[cruisenfever]

Diamonds have not been kicked out of the lounge, they have the entire safari club as a diamond lounge on deck 6.

The facts are:

1) the diamond members do not have access to the diamond lounge, which is in the 13th floor. In fact we were told to leave.

2) the diamond members as in other cruises in which the numbers are large have been provided access to the Safari lounge for drinks and canapes in the evenings.

Are you on the same ship as the above CC Member?

3) the diamond members do not have acces to specialities coffees, which in the morning were available at the diamond lounge.

4) no alternative for having free specialty coffees have been provided. Instead we were told this is not a benefit anymore for diamond members.

5) diamond members here complaining about this lost of benefit

thank you for your attention

To ease your frustration, there is NO specialty coffee machine in the CL so those folks eligible to use that lounge are not enjoying specialty coffee either.

Edited August 30, 2016 by cruisenfever

[looking4info]

The facts are:

1) the diamond members do not have access to the diamond lounge, which is in the 13th floor. In fact we were told to leave.

2) the diamond members as in other cruises in which the numbers are large have been provided access to the Safari lounge for drinks and canapes in the evenings.

3) the diamond members do not have acces to specialities coffees, which in the morning were available at the diamond lounge.

4) no alternative for having free specialty coffees have been provided. Instead we were told this is not a benefit anymore for diamond members.

5) diamond members here complaining about this lost of benefit

thank you for your attention

 

The OP's post is DL, as in on deck 13, specific. Why is this so hard for so many to understand? Diamonds do not have access to the DL located on deck 13. If they cannot utilize it how have they not been kicked out? They are not allowed access which means..

 

No quiet lounge to use during the day.

No coffee machine. If it was working.

No continental breakfast.

 

What they do have is an alternate venue for happy hour. Two separate/different venues.

 

Flame away

[cruisenfever]

The OP's post is DL, as in on deck 13, specific. Why is this so hard for so many to understand? Diamonds do not have access to the DL located on deck 13. If they cannot utilize it how have they not been kicked out? They are not allowed access which means..

 

No quiet lounge to use during the day.

No coffee machine. If it was working.

No continental breakfast.

 

What they do have is an alternate venue for happy hour. Two separate/different venues.

 

Flame away

And this situation is not uncommon on any TA which usually has a large number of Diamond and Diamond Plus Members.

[bigeck]

The OP's post is DL, as in on deck 13, specific. Why is this so hard for so many to understand? Diamonds do not have access to the DL located on deck 13. If they cannot utilize it how have they not been kicked out? They are not allowed access which means..

 

No quiet lounge to use during the day.

No coffee machine. If it was working.

No continental breakfast.

 

What they do have is an alternate venue for happy hour. Two separate/different venues.

 

Flame away

You hit the nail on the head.

Quiet breakfast and a decent coffee is equally as important as a few drinks that can be gotten at any bar with your seapass card

[looking4info]

And this situation is not uncommon on any TA which usually has a large number of Diamond and Diamond Plus Members.

 

Well aware of that and and completely agree.

 

It is however inaccurate to state "the entire safari club as a diamond lounge on deck 6". It is not a DL it is an alternate venue for happy hour that is used throughout the day for other events/activities.

[Seatravelers]

This is the first I've read of this issue of Diamonds being kicked out of the lounge.

 

 

 

We are also onboard Serenade and have been for this cruise and the previous fjords cruise.

 

 

 

Diamonds have not been kicked out of the lounge, they have the entire safari club as a diamond lounge on deck 6.

 

 

 

Diamond plus are using the Diamond Lounge on Deck 13, and suites and Pinnacles are using the Concierge Lounge on deck 13.

 

 

 

We were onboard last week also, and concierge lounge was open for suites, pinnacles and diamond plus. However, over 500 diamond and over 300 diamond plus boarded for the transatlantic, so they had to separate the lounges. All lounges have the same drinks and the same hors'd'oerves, and both the diamond lounge and safari club have better views.

 

 

 

No one would be happy to squeeze 800 diamond, diamond plus into the diamond lounge,

 

 

 

I think it was a great solution, everyone has a place to go and enjoy a cocktail and conversation.

 

 

I agree, great solution! Hope they do the same on the repo[emoji6]

[Ocean Boy]

Coffees at Lattétudes may sound like a reasonable solution, but if the DL is so overflowing that alternate arrangements had to be made, how long are the lines going to be at Lattétudes? Just musing.

 

The DL may be overflowing in the evening but I suspect that is not the case in the morning and during the day. On Oasis, when the coffee machine was down, there was no issue with getting coffee at Starbucks. I don't recall ever waiting for more than one or two people ahead of me. I thought it was a great solution to unreliable machine.

[Ocean Boy]

The OP's post is DL, as in on deck 13, specific. Why is this so hard for so many to understand? Diamonds do not have access to the DL located on deck 13. If they cannot utilize it how have they not been kicked out? They are not allowed access which means..

 

No quiet lounge to use during the day.

No coffee machine. If it was working.

No continental breakfast.

 

What they do have is an alternate venue for happy hour. Two separate/different venues.

 

Flame away

 

 

You hit the nail on the head.

Quiet breakfast and a decent coffee is equally as important as a few drinks that can be gotten at any bar with your seapass card

 

I tend to agree. The only time we really use the DL is during the day. We enjoy breakfast there on the Voyager/Freedom ships as we have the outside seating area. We much prefer using the vouchers around the ship in the evening.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Ocean Boy

[steveru621]

It's the Diamond Club and Concierge Club. :):):):)

 

There is only one lounge, the SL.

[travelberlin]

I find it odd that that Diamond members cannot get specialty coffee at Latitudes.

 

On Ovation, we lost our Diamond lounge in the Asia setup as this was converted to a Casino VIP room.

 

The happy hour is being held at the 2nd floor of the music lounge, which is better was we have an entire bar and pool table to ourselves.

 

We can get unlimited specialty coffee either at Starbucks in the Esplanade, in Seattle's Best at Cafe Two70 or another brand at coffee shop in Winjammer.

 

For the Diamond breakfast, it was held at Chops..

 

We didn't lost any benefits. Perhaps it differs from ship to ship.

 

Thanks for this information! We will insist...

[Biker19]

Thanks for this information! We will insist...

 

That Ovation example is not really comparable. The number of D and up, the venue, the situation is not anywhere like what happens on a TA or TP. You might insist, but I'd advise to not get too worked up if you get a no.

[Beachammo]

The lines are always long and slow for the DL coffee machine on TAs and TPs. A great cure would be to give Ds and above one free coffee on their seapass cards for Starbucks or Latitudes.

Edited August 31, 2016 by Beachammo

[gagirl7143]

It's the Diamond Club and Concierge Club. :):):):)

 

There is only one lounge, the SL.

 

 

Gosh, I thought up until the SL was established a couple of years ago, it was always the concierge lounge and then the Diamond lounge. [emoji18]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[tallcva3344]

Sounds like an over reaction, however, it is an inevitability, that the lounge privileges will be removed from diamonds when the numbers of diamonds keep rising. Hard for RCCL to remove the benefit that encourages more RCCL cruises for Diamonds and potential Diamonds. H