Clarea Posted January 18, 2018 #51 Share Posted January 18, 2018 So can someone please clarify Diamond status in the diamond lounge re drinks , does this mean its unlimited drinks between certain times and if so what are those times,Sorry for asking this but we will become diamond on our next cruise. Thanks Unlimited drinks in the DL during the 3.5 hour cocktail period. This normally starts an hour before early traditional dining. So if early dining is 5:30pm, the cocktail period would usually be 4:30pm to 8pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milwaukee Eight Posted January 18, 2018 #52 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Unlimited drinks in the DL during the 3.5 hour cocktail period. This normally starts an hour before early traditional dining. So if early dining is 5:30pm, the cocktail period would usually be 4:30pm to 8pm. Do you think crowding in DL as others have reported would still be an issue if Royal “limited “ the number of FREE drinks? Limited and counted? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeyakids Posted January 18, 2018 Author #53 Share Posted January 18, 2018 That was the worst I've ever been in. Cramped, about 1/3rd the size it should be, and not even a window. Worst appetizers too! Don't get me started on the appetizers.....I have never seen so many "mystery meal balls" on one cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted January 18, 2018 #54 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Do you think crowding in DL as others have reported would still be an issue if Royal “limited “ the number of FREE drinks? Limited and counted? Possibly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted January 18, 2018 #55 Share Posted January 18, 2018 That's already reality, not a new idea - I was responding to a question about DL policy. ah...OK...guess I was not paying attention to the hours matching the listed cocktail time in the lounges. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcruiser80 Posted January 18, 2018 #56 Share Posted January 18, 2018 That was the worst I've ever been in. Cramped, about 1/3rd the size it should be, and not even a window. Worst appetizers too! Couldn’t disagree with you more. Nice little retreat away from the chaos. Incredible staff and appetizers were just fine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILCTCRUISER Posted January 18, 2018 #57 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Unlimited drinks in the DL during the 3.5 hour cocktail period. This normally starts an hour before early traditional dining. So if early dining is 5:30pm, the cocktail period would usually be 4:30pm to 8pm. Let me first say I value the D and D+ benefits. But, in the end, is there really such a thing as a "free" lunch? Certainly the cost of the drinks and the apps served in the lounges does not end up on our accounts, but I have to believe we all pay for it, no matter what C&A status one might have or not have. Consistency, on the other hand, is a different matter. Wouldn't it be nice.... I tend to think each ship is set up as a distinct profit center. Staff has some discretion. The accountants on board probably generate a report each day that indicates whether or not cruise is meeting targets. That may drive decisions that impact how we view product quality and services levels. Consistency? On a 7-day cruise recently that had well over 800 D and above, DL was closed for evening cocktail period and relocated to the show lounge. CL was small interior room. We chose to go to the VCL one evening rather than the show lounge and use our vouchers. We sat at bar. Seated next to us was a fellow who was a D, right next to us. We ordered; he ordered. Bartender looked at our card and gave it right back; he took the D's card and processed it. There were other D+ and P with us, and the same happened when they ordered. Know where we were each night after that for cocktails (appetizers are not that important to us; we enjoy meet up with others)? And I'll hazard a guess the D saw what happened as well: he was seated right next to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Barracuda Posted January 18, 2018 #58 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Not big drinkers so three drinks nightly is plenty for us. Don't mess with coffee machine access though. DW needs 6 cappuccinos to get through the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted January 18, 2018 #59 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Couldn’t disagree with you more. Nice little retreat away from the chaos. Incredible staff and appetizers were just fine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Timing has a lot to do with it also. If you go in 15 minutes or so just after first seating...you will find a lot of vacated seats. Still warm! ;p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 18, 2018 #60 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Another nice feature would be if they standardize the ability to use the vouchers in the MDR and specialty restaurants across the fleet. I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 18, 2018 #61 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Totally agree. And I think that may be why they have such a tiny little DL in "the bilge" on deck four on Harmony. :o:eek: Trying to get the D's to just go elsewhere to use their drink vouchers. Hope you both had a fantastic cruise. In Harmony we went in DL at 5.30 for 30 minutes only. We used our free drinks on Central Park and the barman exchanged our vouchers for a bottle of sparkling wine to save me keep coming back to the bar so i gave him a good tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyKnott Posted January 18, 2018 #62 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I like the drink vouchers, because I rarely go into the diamond lounge since the people I travel with are not diamond. Also not the type to strike up a conversation with someone I don't know, small talk is hell to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigeck Posted January 18, 2018 #63 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Everything is pointing towards Royal kicking Diamonds out of the Diamond Lounge and requiring that they use the drink vouchers. Changing the name to Diamond Plus Lounge and kicking the pluses out of the Concierge Lounge. There are just way to many Diamonds now. I think they might increase the vouchers from 3 to unlimited during the Happy Hours??? Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk I said that last year and just got abuse. CL for Suite and Pinnacle DL for D+ D will get drinks on card only I do like the unlimited, although most nights I never have more than 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted January 18, 2018 #64 Share Posted January 18, 2018 ...but Alcohol sales are one of Royals profit margins. Giving away more FREE drinks will decrease that margin...Sent from my iPhone using Forums BLA, BLA BLA! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouhunter Posted January 18, 2018 #65 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Normally we agree but Alcohol sales are one of Royals profit margins. Giving away more FREE drinks will decrease that margin. Set fixed number of FREE drinks period. Limit it too two in DL. That would free up seats. If your two are used up in DL, then you can’t use in Dinning areas. If you drink outside of DL, set to 3 on Pass But drinks in DL count towards the 3. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Could you come up with something a little more convoluted?:rolleyes: It's all they can do to keep track of what they do now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 18, 2018 #66 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Do you think crowding in DL as others have reported would still be an issue if Royal “limited “ the number of FREE drinks? Limited and counted? Sent from my iPhone using Forums No it is the tiny lounges to blame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 18, 2018 #67 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I said that last year and just got abuse. CL for Suite and Pinnacle DL for D+ D will get drinks on card only I do like the unlimited, although most nights I never have more than 3 You did and so did i with same response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigeck Posted January 18, 2018 #68 Share Posted January 18, 2018 You did and so did i with same response. I remember it well. Some people don't like change and some can't see what going to happen in the future. Now reality is beginning to set in. It will give people a higher goal to make D+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted January 18, 2018 #69 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Hope you both had a fantastic cruise.In Harmony we went in DL at 5.30 for 30 minutes only. We used our free drinks on Central Park and the barman exchanged our vouchers for a bottle of sparkling wine to save me keep coming back to the bar so i gave him a good tip. Ahh...sounds like the perfect way to mix it up...and nice to get the bubbly too! :D Yes, a good cruise, though limited mobility of course. Bucky was great as my pilot wheeling me around in the "limo". I am trying to go wheel chair free on our cruise tomorrow, just using this honking big "ski boot style" walking boot while the broken foot heals. MJ is a smaller ship so hopefully not as much to get from one place to the other. ;p:cool: Getting on an elevator was always a challenge!! :eek::( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare xpcdoojk Posted January 18, 2018 #70 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I know I am a broken record, but I really hate these stupid, I am the CEO and I know how to fix something that is not a problem, threads. The Diamond Lounges are a finite size. They can't be larger. If there are too many other "special" people on board, I may not be able to get into the tiny windowless bilge room, and horror... I have to get 3 free drinks in a bar somewhere on the ship. O the horror!!!!:evilsmile: They may be really nice and steal a lounge from everyone else who are not "special" so we can have unlimited drinks, but they are not obligated to do this. We do not have a binding contract. Again, JMHO, these threads are stupid and pointless. JC<---- is DP so is affected by this first world "special" non-problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastsun Posted January 18, 2018 #71 Share Posted January 18, 2018 How about 2 drinks for diamond, 4 drinks for diamond plus, 6 drinks for new level at 500points, and unlimited for pinnacle with expanded times for the latter two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted January 18, 2018 #72 Share Posted January 18, 2018 JC<---- is DP so is affected by this first world "special" non-problem JC needs to use the proper acronym of D+ lest someone get confused by DP.:halo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare xpcdoojk Posted January 18, 2018 #73 Share Posted January 18, 2018 JC needs to use proper acronym of D+ lest someone get confused by DP.:halo: Yes sir! Sorry Sir! My bad, Sir! JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powersboyee2 Posted January 18, 2018 #74 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Suite guests and Pinnacle C&A members board first on all RCI ships. If there is a wedding party, then they are boarded before all others. I must politely laugh at the wedding party comment.... This past April we had our wedding booked through Royal and were sailing on Navigator for a 5 and 9 night back to back. 45 people sailed with us on the 5 nighter. It was by far (in 15 cruises with them) the WORST AND LONGEST wait we’ve ever had to get on a ship. Even As diamond and arriving at 1030 am. It was almost 1pm before we were onboard. Keep in mind all the while having to hold her wedding dress above our heads so that it didnt wrinkle on the bottom in the bag etc. Was very disappointing needless to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted January 18, 2018 #75 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I said that last year and just got abuse. CL for Suite and Pinnacle DL for D+ D will get drinks on card only I do like the unlimited, although most nights I never have more than 3 I don't think you are alone...and ideally you should not get abuse for just voicing your opinion. That is what these boards are for! :confused: Shame on the ones that did that. :( I agree with your thinking, but would tweak it to be SL for full suites only, and CL (Or C&A lounge) for D+ and Pinnacle. The Pineapples won't like it, (sorry guys :o) but I look at it as a Suites thing and an upper tier C&A deal. D's get the drink vouchers. Plus suites guests should never have access to an upper tier lounge...unless they have made it that level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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