RCCL new Diamond Lounge Policy?

[Milwaukee Eight]

The DL is why I check out RC ships sailings when planning a new vacation. We spend a lot of time there during the day. We like the quiet view and coffee. We also enjoy talking to people who cruise often in the evening. If the DL is in a dark bad part of the ship or D did not have access we would sail on another line or ship.

 

 

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So, if there were no FREE booze you would still sail with Royal?

 

 

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[Milwaukee Eight]

Can't see that happening.

 

New customers is crucial, but so is repeating loyal ones. They won't risk losing existing cruisers.

 

As the older generation get to the end of their cruising life, a new one follows up with different views and opinions.

 

Drinks packages are being bought by the younger clientele and diamond level drinks doesn't matter to them. Also, they are the ones who can't loose the house without Wi-Fi. Hence the new drinks package and 1 device deal.

 

 

 

So then to you, it’s all about the FREE booze?

 

 

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[Milwaukee Eight]

Well we were in CL suite on the Harmony TA. There was something like 200 or maybe it was 300 pinnacles onboard. They provided them other venues like dazzles for drinks and chops for meals but they all seemed to prefer the SL/CK. I can’t blame them since it was their choice. It was way over crowded and many suite guests we talked to were not happy including us. Service was bad b/c the staff was set up for failure. The poor workers were so over worked but always kept a smile. They tried their best but management left them hanging and under staffed.

 

 

 

I escalated my complaint and in the end received a significant future cruise credit. It took a few days for corporate to get back to guest services but on the last day I got a call explaining the resolution. We paid a ton for a CL on that cruise so I felt it was appropriate to let them know they failed miserably in providing us the experience we paid for. That is the only time I have ever complained about much to a level where I would get something like a future cruise credit. I surely wouldn’t pay for a suite on that Presidents cruise.

 

 

 

And the reason we decided to avoid the 2018 Presidents Cruise on Harmony.

 

 

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[island lady]

Love you're thinking. The song Bad Girls by Donna Summer pops in my mind. BTW Sapphire level and pin is a great idea. Possible big brother RCI is listening. ;)

 

 

LOL...now I have that song stuck in my head!! ;p Yeah, call me bad girl for sure! Troublemaker. :eek:;)

[Milwaukee Eight]

D+ lose the CL...could be coming that the Ps will lose the SL unless they are in a full suite?

 

 

 

Awesome idea. Maybe more would choose to sail in Suites. More $ for Royal.

 

 

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[bigeck]

So then to you, it’s all about the FREE booze?

 

 

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Nah, not me, I don't really drink a lot.

Maybe if they took the coffee machine away I might moan a bit. It's good to go into a lounge and have a cup of coffee an a bit peace and quiet sometimes. Breakfast is ok as well, if the windjammer is crowded.

 

I was talking in general and from a business perspective

[grapau27]

That's what I have been saying for long time. It's the only thing that would make sense with the crowding problem. Closing the CLs, shrinking the size of the DLs and now...they are eliminating the overflow lounges to the DL....the change is coming. :o Three drink vouchers for the D's, but also add on a couple of specialty coffee vouchers would be nice.

 

I still like the idea of changing the DL name to the new "C&A" lounge that would be Pinnacles and D+. SLs are in place of the CLs...so that could be next?

C&A lounge sounds appropriate because a DL that didn't allow diamonds entry would be a contradiction.

Fortunately with European cruises the DLs are never full but i totally sympathise with my American friends cruising from the US with packed lounges and no overflow.

Something has to give so a new C&A lounge for D+ and P and drink vouchers for D seems unavoidable unfortunately.

 

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[grapau27]

I like "Sapphire"....RCI blue! :D :cool:

I was a Sapphire now called Atlantic loyalty member(93 cruise nights) on P&O.

 

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[grapau27]

I think they should leave the levels alone. We were happy to make Diamond and don’t abuse the privilege of going to the Lounge, maybe they should limit the time spent there but don’t know how they could. I wonder how many D+ would be happy with this thread if they were still Diamond[emoji15]

 

 

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I remember trying to achieve Diamond to get CL access before the DL was formulated when they decided you had to be Diamond plus to get CL access.

 

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[grapau27]

I don't think D will travel that much with Royal if the can't get to the DL.

The D's is more then D+.

Everyone offers great deals with perks no reason to go with Royal

The perks is not that much different from D to D+

 

 

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Totally agree.

 

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[grapau27]

Exactly… It’s funny how we are back to people who are above the diamond level coming up with all of these “brilliant“ ideas to reduce our benefits.

We all want bigger lounges to accommodate the increasing numbers of diamonds but as others have reported 34 seats for 100s of diamonds cant continue.

 

 

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[grapau27]

The DL is why I check out RC ships sailings when planning a new vacation. We spend a lot of time there during the day. We like the quiet view and coffee. We also enjoy talking to people who cruise often in the evening. If the DL is in a dark bad part of the ship or D did not have access we would sail on another line or ship.

 

 

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Harmony DL on deck 4 is a small windowless lounge not suitable for the biggest and most populated cruise ship in the world.

 

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[Midwest Sunseeker]

We agree. We don’t drink a lot. So if we still had the D lounge and coffee or even just 1-2 drinks we would put that in the plus column when choosing a cruise. Do we ONLY sail RC no. We first look at the destinations and length. We sailed long cruises in the past. Unfortunately family obligations have been limiting our vacation time the last few years and probably will get worse over the next few years. So we do last minute cruises and right now quiet off the grid is what we need most. We are SO sick of the Caribbean but if someone offers to give us a break....zoom we are gone and we try for what works best with the time we are given.

 

 

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[steveru621]

We all want bigger lounges to accommodate the increasing numbers of diamonds but as others have reported 34 seats for 100s of diamonds cant continue.

 

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Why not? If it's too crowded don't go. RCI built Diamond Clubs knowing how many D's and D+ passengers there are. This didn't just happen last year

 

Most of the cruises we have been on, neither club has been full.

 

Lot's of urban legend in this thread. We have been talking about this since 2013.

[bmac1]

Our last two cruises on Grandeur in 2016 and 2017 the Diamond Lounge was never overcrowded. We really enjoyed our time there each evening.

[grapau27]

Why not? If it's too crowded don't go. RCI built Diamond Clubs knowing how many D's and D+ passengers there are. This didn't just happen last year

 

Most of the cruises we have been on, neither club has been full.

 

Lot's of urban legend in this thread. We have been talking about this since 2013.

We are D+.We turned D in 2011.

As i have reported many times,on our cruises in Europe and Arabia the DLs are never full.

The TA and Presidents cruises seem to be heavily populated with higher tier C&A members as are a lot of US cruises and there are numerous posts saying the DL is overcrowded on these and then with the newest ship (Harmony) they produced a small windowless DL on deck 4.

 

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[John&LaLa]

And I have nothing against pinnacles, RCL should have planned it out better to avoid the massive over crowding. Some suite guests payed 20-30k or more for that cruise. You can’t just let the sl and ck be over crowded when you advertise the suite benefits like they do.

They advertise the CK benefit for JS with no fine print of as space is available. 😉

 

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[bigeck]

We are D+.We turned D in 2011.

As i have reported many times,on our cruises in Europe and Arabia the DLs are never full.

The TA and Presidents cruises seem to be heavily populated with higher tier C&A members as are a lot of US cruises and there are numerous posts saying the DL is overcrowded on these and then with the newest ship (Harmony) they produced a small windowless DL on deck 4.

 

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Good comeback by Sunderland today.

 

We only started cruising in 2011. Was diamond after 5 cruises. Not sure if I would do that now with the price increases thas been going on over the past few years.

Even with the ££ to $$ is getting slightly better, Its still getting pricey.

[4774Papa]

We are D+.We turned D in 2011.

As i have reported many times,on our cruises in Europe and Arabia the DLs are never full.

The TA and Presidents cruises seem to be heavily populated with higher tier C&A members as are a lot of US cruises and there are numerous posts saying the DL is overcrowded on these and then with the newest ship (Harmony) they produced a small windowless DL on deck 4.

 

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What about cruises from Australia or Transpacific cruises?

[topnole]

They advertise the CK benefit for JS with no fine print of as space is available.

 

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True. And we were in a crown loft and still had huge problems and n the harmony TA. Like 15-20 mins in the CK before any server came to our table. Happened at breakfast, dinner, etc. Forget about getting your water refilled at any meal, etc etc.

[marfl]

Why not? If it's too crowded don't go. RCI built Diamond Clubs knowing how many D's and D+ passengers there are. This didn't just happen last year

 

Most of the cruises we have been on, neither club has been full.

 

Lot's of urban legend in this thread. We have been talking about this since 2013.

 

I agree with you if is too crowded don't go.

We haven't seen any problems with the DL

M

[wannalottadough]

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+

 

Or start trying other cruise lines. I have been curious to see what other lines are like lately but since we've become diamond the drink perks (which are just right for us now) make it too tempting to stay with RC. If this diamond perk goes away and only diamond plus and above have access, I will definitely try other lines. Not saying I won't sail RC anymore but there will be nothing to keep me loyal. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one thinking this and I'm also pretty sure RC doesn't want to risk upsetting all of those diamond members.

[KKMurphy2]

Or start trying other cruise lines. I have been curious to see what other lines are like lately but since we've become diamond the drink perks (which are just right for us now) make it too tempting to stay with RC. If this diamond perk goes away and only diamond plus and above have access, I will definitely try other lines. Not saying I won't sail RC anymore but there will be nothing to keep me loyal. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one thinking this and I'm also pretty sure RC doesn't want to risk upsetting all of those diamond members.

 

I am convinced they don't care. They are making Diamonds so fast, there is someone else to take my Diamond Plus spot. ;p

[grapau27]

Good comeback by Sunderland today.

 

We only started cruising in 2011. Was diamond after 5 cruises. Not sure if I would do that now with the price increases thas been going on over the past few years.

Even with the ££ to $$ is getting slightly better, Its still getting pricey.

Thanks.

I have supported Sunderland since i was born 61 years ago and we continually get let down,Rodwell on £70,000 a week doesn't want to play for us.

Who is your team bigeck?.

I have been associated with Buchanans of Greenock for 17 years.

 

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[Milwaukee Eight]

We all want bigger lounges to accommodate the increasing numbers of diamonds but as others have reported 34 seats for 100s of diamonds cant continue.

 

 

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Want and get a two different things. Sure, it is peoples instinct to want more, more, more. Give me give me give me. I sailed with Royal I am now entitled to it.

 

If it doesn’t add revenue, then it’s not happening. Consider it good while it lasted.

 

 

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