Coastal Kitchen on Harmony (should I be frustrated or not ?)

[LMaxwell]

Hi everyone,

 

I recently returned from Harmony of the Seas, and my family of 4 books (2) cabins - One a Junior Suite for my wife & I, and the other a Central Park Balcony for 2 boys, ages 18 & 15. We put one adult in each room, partnered with a child (because kids under 21 cannot have their own stateroom unless directly adjoining to the the parents room). So.... during our cruise I was declined reservations for dinner (yes I know Jr Suites only get dinner privileges) for my family of 4 because all travelers were not booked in a junior suite. I complained to the Coastal Kitchen manager, but she stated "we have a very strict policy to only allow suite guests to dine @ Coastal Kitchen"... really ?? We are a family of 4 !! Am I over reacting to her response or should I have the right to be disappointed with Royal?? -

 

BTW We are all Diamond members, and have been allowed to dine @ Coastal on other ships when booking the same format as described above (Anthem just last year)... Interested in the communities thoughts ?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Why did you book your kids in a non-suite if having suite benefits is important to you as a family? There's no published policy on the RCI site indicating you can have what you wanted. In the absence of a policy what happens on one ship has no bearing on what happens on another.

[ARCruisinNana]

Will you elaborate? I sail Oasis often and have an opportunity to enjoy CK but will be sailing harmony when she comes to Port Canaveral.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

M.

 

 

 

Oasis and Harmony are the same except the SL and CK are reversed. On Anthem there is a CL at the back of the ship. CK is no where near it.

 

 

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[cruisegirl1]

Anthem doesn't do the free wine and beer since it doesn't have the SL attached.

 

She also may not have the expanded lunch menu you are used to on Oasis.

 

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Thanks John, those items you posted are certainly not a deal breaker for me.

 

M

[Theredofshaw]

says it right on their suite perks page. I'm on RCI's side on this one.

[John&LaLa]

Thanks John, those items you posted are certainly not a deal breaker for me.

 

M

I'll be disappointed, the expanded lunch menu in CK is one of our favorite perks.

 

I'll see how it goes in September

 

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[island lady]

YES, I do thing that you are overreacting.

 

Junior Suites are on an iffy basis. When you water that down by adding a non-suite you have stepped outside the JS dining for dinner in CK situation..

 

Had you booked two Junior Suites you would have had more CK dining power. You chose a cheaper alternative and didn’t get what you wanted from CK and understandably so.

 

If you were able to work that combo on another ship, so be it, be thankful. Don’t count on all ships doing that for you.

 

We want our family to be able to use the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen....to ensure this we booked them a Grand Suite.

 

Well said. :)

[island lady]

We normally book JS cabins on the ships without SL/CK. We are not Pinnacle, (yet) but if we want access to CK/SL on Oasis we book a GS. Which we do most of the time on that ship only.

 

One time in a JS on Oasis, we asked if there was room for two for dinner in CK and were granted that access. We felt lucky to be able to enjoy it for one dinner, since it is on an availability basis only. There is no guarantee.

[parrotfeathers]

Just out of curiosity, are you peeved when the person who wants (and receives) suite perks and doesn't pay for them (on that particular cruise) is a Pinnacle?

 

Pinnacles paid with their loyalty.

I love CK also but always book a suite to be sure I get in.

 

I do think OP is over reacting. I thought Anthem CK was pretty crowded when I was in there.

[crusinthrough]

I have asked if they can allow my parents and in laws to be in Barefoot Beach with us and this was allowed but we did not displace any other suite guests. Unfortunately (or fortunately), Coastal Kitchen is a small venue so their leeway in accommodating you is limited.

 

This is a bit hypocritical. If your parents and / or in laws used a lounge chair then that was one less lounge chair for a suite guest or a specific chair a suite guest could not use thus displacing someone. Did your parents and / or in laws eat the upgraded lunch food, which would make the line longer by a few people.

 

You can argue that you were in an area that was less crowded but this could be the same as the original OP who may have asked for reservations in CK when it was less crowded.

 

If you believe that non suite guests should not have access to CK because you as a suite guest may be displaced when you want to dine, then the same policy applies to Barefoot Beach lounge chairs and lunch.

Edited July 21, 2018 by crusinthrough

[cruisegirl1]

I'll be disappointed, the expanded lunch menu in CK is one of our favorite perks.

 

I'll see how it goes in September

 

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We will be pinnacle soon, and perhaps will have an opportunity to sail on a ship where we can enjoy full day and evening privileges.

 

 

I don’t think CK lunch is a dealbreaker for us. I know the all day wine is not as I am not a fan of the free wine RCCL offers. I don’t drink the free wine that is currently offered in the concierge or diamond lounges. I either drink a cocktail, or go to a bar and buy a glass of wine I prefer. Is the wine offered in the suite lounge any different then what is offered in the diamond or concierge lounge?

 

I am happy with my limited evening CK dining access, and will look forward to full access soon. The concept is nice and I am happy that it is a current perk for my accommodations and will be a nice perk when we reach pinnacle.

 

Thx.

M

[actuarian]

As I said in my previous post, the cruise line at least technically did the right thing. The fare paid by the two people who were not in the JS did not include the cost of CK. Nevertheless, the OP also has a point because they did pay for the JS and most JS's on the Harmony are able to sleep 4. If the family had all squeezed into the JS, they would have saved money AND been all permitted to dine in CK. However, they paid for that extra room in order to be more comfortable. Arguably, the loss of access to CK diminishes the value of the extra room that the OP paid for.

[jyasneski]

Question - We are in similar situation. My and daughter in JS, and wife and son in interior. I didn't plan on trying all four of us in CK, but was hoping to have wife and I try once or twice. I guess technically it's not allowed, but it's still just two on the reservation. Anyone tried this successfully?

[Ourusualbeach]

Question - We are in similar situation. My and daughter in JS, and wife and son in interior. I didn't plan on trying all four of us in CK, but was hoping to have wife and I try once or twice. I guess technically it's not allowed, but it's still just two on the reservation. Anyone tried this successfully?

You should have no problem getting a table for 2. They don’t have any tables for 1. Just make the reservation for you and your daughter and gave your wife show up instead, no one will care.

[L1211]

YES, I do thing that you are overreacting.

 

Junior Suites are on an iffy basis. When you water that down by adding a non-suite you have stepped outside the JS dining for dinner in CK situation..

 

Had you booked two Junior Suites you would have had more CK dining power. You chose a cheaper alternative and didn’t get what you wanted from CK and understandably so.

 

If you were able to work that combo on another ship, so be it, be thankful. Don’t count on all ships doing that for you.

 

We want our family to be able to use the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen....to ensure this we booked them a Grand Suite.

 

 

 

did you read your post?

 

 

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[John&LaLa]

We normally book JS cabins on the ships without SL/CK. We are not Pinnacle, (yet) but if we want access to CK/SL on Oasis we book a GS. Which we do most of the time on that ship only.

 

One time in a JS on Oasis, we asked if there was room for two for dinner in CK and were granted that access. We felt lucky to be able to enjoy it for one dinner, since it is on an availability basis only. There is no guarantee.

 

I'm not sure I've run across any marketing information that says "on an availability basis only". It does say reservations required. Maybe that's their way out.

 

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[John&LaLa]

We will be pinnacle soon, and perhaps will have an opportunity to sail on a ship where we can enjoy full day and evening privileges.

 

 

I don’t think CK lunch is a dealbreaker for us. I know the all day wine is not as I am not a fan of the free wine RCCL offers. I don’t drink the free wine that is currently offered in the concierge or diamond lounges. I either drink a cocktail, or go to a bar and buy a glass of wine I prefer. Is the wine offered in the suite lounge any different then what is offered in the diamond or concierge lounge?

 

I am happy with my limited evening CK dining access, and will look forward to full access soon. The concept is nice and I am happy that it is a current perk for my accommodations and will be a nice perk when we reach pinnacle.

 

Thx.

M

I'm pretty sure you'll change your mind when you experience the breakfast and lunch experience.

 

Captain Per eats lunch up there. [emoji6]

 

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[L1211]

Why did you book your kids in a non-suite if having suite benefits is important to you as a family? There's no published policy on the RCI site indicating you can have what you wanted. In the absence of a policy what happens on one ship has no bearing on what happens on another.

 

 

 

so they should have just put four in a cabin versus two cabins then? he was only looking for dinner for two... crumbs. find another line OP!!

 

 

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[Shacky316]

You are not missing anything with Harmony's CK. I have also been on Oasis, Anthem and Quantum and their CK's are better. CK on Harmony is much slower, worse food quality and not as friendly.

 

Take the money you saved on the balcony and go to Jamie's.

[Andy C]

This is a bit hypocritical. If your parents and / or in laws used a lounge chair then that was one less lounge chair for a suite guest or a specific chair a suite guest could not use thus displacing someone. Did your parents and / or in laws eat the upgraded lunch food, which would make the line longer by a few people.

 

You can argue that you were in an area that was less crowded but this could be the same as the original OP who may have asked for reservations in CK when it was less crowded.

 

If you believe that non suite guests should not have access to CK because you as a suite guest may be displaced when you want to dine, then the same policy applies to Barefoot Beach lounge chairs and lunch.

 

 

Ah there you are! See OP I told you there are plenty of nasty trolls on here.

 

Yes, our folks enjoyed Barefoot beach. They used 6 extra lounge chairs (aunt and uncle were there too). They also enjoyed the buffet, especially my FIL - he may have had enough lamb chops for several people. We also kept our beach butler pretty busy bringing drinks for our expanded group.

 

Oh and one more thing, they were also escorted off the ship by the concierge on debarkation day.

[waterbug123]

"we have a very strict policy to only allow suite guests to dine @ Coastal Kitchen"... really ?? We are a family of 4 !! Am I over reacting to her response or should I have the right to be disappointed with Royal?? -

 

Yes, you're overreacting.

 

Here's another example: Say you book a flight to Europe with your family of 4. You buy yourself and one kid tickets in business class, with a nice meal on real china, better wine, more snacks between meals etc. You buy your wife and the other kid seats in economy with TV dinner type meals. Would you expect the flight attendants to take business class meals back to your wife and 2nd kid because you are "a family of 4?" Of course not; their booked fare class doesn't include that perk. Same with Coastal Kitchen and family members not traveling in suites. If suite perks are important to you, book all family members in a suite.

[beachnative]

so they should have just put four in a cabin versus two cabins then? he was only looking for dinner for two... crumbs. find another line OP!!

 

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Quoted from OP’s first post:

So.... during our cruise I was declined reservations for dinner (yes I know Jr Suites only get dinner privileges) for my family of 4 because all travelers were not booked in a junior suite.

[DShock]

More of the entitled mentally...sad! Should I raise heck over the fact that my brother is sailing with us on Allure in a balcony cabin and therefore can't join us in CK or Barefoot Beach...of course not. My brother knew what he was booking and just because they are with us doesn't mean he should get the same perks. That's life. It's like saying everyone should have the same income. God help us all if this is the way people are thinking!

[TeeRick]

Does anybody know if suite guests can take non-suite guests to CK if they pay extra for them? This is actually the policy on Celebrity. A suite guest can take a non-suite guest to dinner with them in Luminae for $30.

[John&LaLa]

Ah there you are! See OP I told you there are plenty of nasty trolls on here.

 

Yes, our folks enjoyed Barefoot beach. They used 6 extra lounge chairs (aunt and uncle were there too). They also enjoyed the buffet, especially my FIL - he may have had enough lamb chops for several people. We also kept our beach butler pretty busy bringing drinks for our expanded group.

 

Oh and one more thing, they were also escorted off the ship by the concierge on debarkation day.

I hope you tipped them well

 

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[John&LaLa]

Does anybody know if suite guests can take non-suite guests to CK if they pay extra for them? This is actually the policy on Celebrity. A suite guest can take a non-suite guest to dinner with them in Luminae for $30.

Not in my experience

 

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