Elite cocktail hours extended...permanent change

[pretzlaff]

We are on the Constellation right now in Aqaba.  The lounge at happy hour is dead and boring. Drinks are between 5 and 7 only but thruout the boat including the dining room. Three times in the last week we have been given bills which were later fixed.  It just isn’t the same and the joy has been sucked out of it all. 

[davekathy]

3 minutes ago, pretzlaff said:

We are on the Constellation right now in Aqaba.  The lounge at happy hour is dead and boring. Drinks are between 5 and 7 only but thruout the boat including the dining room. Three times in the last week we have been given bills which were later fixed.  It just isn’t the same and the joy has been sucked out of it all. 

Were you asked to sign for your CC drinks? 

[pretzlaff]

No checks, so that is easier. The drinks show up on your account at $0. They do take your card each and every time. 

[davekathy]

6 minutes ago, pretzlaff said:

No checks, so that is easier. The drinks show up on your account at $0. They do take your card each and every time. 

I'm familiar with the process and that's why I asked if you had singed for the drinks. I thought you were being charged for the drinks as you said you were given bills and later fixed. 

Edited November 17, 2018 by davekathy

[lovescarborough]

We were charged for drinks twice on our last cruise even though we had the drinks package and we didn't sign anything ! I don't know how they can do this and it is a pain to have to keep checking the account and then going to customer relations to get the charges removed. 

[davekathy]

4 hours ago, lovescarborough said:

We were charged for drinks twice on our last cruise even though we had the drinks package and we didn't sign anything ! I don't know how they can do this and it is a pain to have to keep checking the account and then going to customer relations to get the charges removed. 

I guess anything is possible. Agree spending time in line at GS isn't my idea of quality time either. 

[ghstudio]

Sounds like we should create a list:

 

(AFAIK, the World Class Bar and Cellarmasters are not included on any ship)

 

Reflection: 4:30-7:30 any bar including dining room

Constellation: 5-7 any bar including dining room

Silhouette: 5-7 any bar but not in dining room 

[mafig]

2 hours ago, ghstudio said:

Sounds like we should create a list:

 

(AFAIK, the World Class Bar and Cellarmasters are not included on any ship)

 

Reflection: 4:30-7:30 any bar including dining room

Constellation: 5-7 any bar including dining room

Silhouette: 5-7 any bar but not in dining room 

 

Are those times valid for Reflection going forward (in the Caribbean)?  Or was it just on the TA?  

[Rjbobalou]

We were on the Equinox and MANY times we were charged for free drinks. Beverage manager had to get involved.

 

[ghstudio]

4 minutes ago, mafig said:

 

Are those times valid for Reflection going forward (in the Caribbean)?  Or was it just on the TA?  

 

The captain's club hostesss on the Reflection said the times were permanent.....of course, keep in mind that she also told me they were fleetwide changes.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[tromvest]

Are complimentary hor d'oeuvres still served in the Sky Lounge during the Elite happy hour?

[ghstudio]

yes, on the reflection...no idea what happens on other ships.

[Banjo]

10 minutes ago, tromvest said:

Are complimentary hor d'oeuvres still served in the Sky Lounge during the Elite happy hour?

Yes, at least during our September Vancouver-Honolulu Solstice cruise.

 

We did a Reflection trans-Atlantic last April and were able to order the Elite drinks (which was wine) in the MDR. The sommelier was really nice, every time he walked by  he top us off.

[Cruise Raider]

9 hours ago, ghstudio said:

Sounds like we should create a list:

 

(AFAIK, the World Class Bar and Cellarmasters are not included on any ship)

 

Reflection: 4:30-7:30 any bar including dining room

Constellation: 5-7 any bar including dining room

Silhouette: 5-7 any bar but not in dining room 

 

Just talked to some friends that disembarked today from the Silhouette ... they stated they were able to use their free drinks in the dining room.  But, I also understand that they have to be those drinks included on the CC menu.  

[davekathy]

3 hours ago, tromvest said:

Are complimentary hor d'oeuvres still served in the Sky Lounge during the Elite happy hour?

They were on our B2B Caribbean Equinox March/April 2018 cruise and our Canada/Pacific Coastal September 2018 Infinity cruise. 

[MadManOfBethesda]

On ‎11‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 11:18 AM, jagoffee said:

 

I fear that you might not really get it, either. I hope you realize for many people (perhaps most people) the change is viewed as an enhancement/improvement.  Having 3 drinks loaded on you sea pass card that are good at any bar including the dining locations from 5-7 PM is a very desirable change for many people.  Also being able to pick up water, soda, or beer to take back to you cabin without getting dressed for dinner is a significant improvement.

 

The number of people without a drink package desiring to have more than three drinks in 2 hours in one location has to be a relatively small number.

 

On the other hand, you and some others obviously are included in the small number adversely affected. I am just pointing out that for many (I think most) this change is an additional giveaway and not a takeaway.

I agree completely.  I would much rather be able to get three free drinks at almost any bar or lounge on the ship than be permitted to guzzle 5, 10, or however many drinks Ballymacjim can consume in a two-hour period in the designated Captain's Club lounge.

[DUTRAVEL]

22 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Just talked to some friends that disembarked today from the Silhouette ... they stated they were able to use their free drinks in the dining room.  But, I also understand that they have to be those drinks included on the CC menu.  

We also disembarked from the Silhouette yesterday - we were told we could not get the CC drinks in the main dining room. 

[DUTRAVEL]

18 hours ago, MadManOfBethesda said:

I agree completely.  I would much rather be able to get three free drinks at almost any bar or lounge on the ship than be permitted to guzzle 5, 10, or however many drinks Ballymacjim can consume in a two-hour period in the designated Captain's Club lounge.

The drinks they serve in the bars (at least the Cosmos at the Martini Bar and the glasses of wine) are smaller than the non-Captain's Club drinks.

[Charles4515]

13 minutes ago, DUTRAVEL said:

The drinks they serve in the bars (at least the Cosmos at the Martini Bar and the glasses of wine) are smaller than the non-Captain's Club drinks.

 

The martini glasses at the Martini Bar for premium Martini Bar menu drinks have always been larger than standard Martini Glasses. When we had beverage packages if we had the Classic Package the glass was a standard size  glass. When we had the premium package we got the larger glasses.

[DUTRAVEL]

17 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

The martini glasses at the Martini Bar for premium Martini Bar menu drinks have always been larger than standard Martini Glasses. When we had beverage packages if we had the Classic Package the glass was a standard size  glass. When we had the premium package we got the larger glasses.

That is not the case anymore since they changed to just charging you the difference between the Classic package maximum and the cost of the martinis.

[Charles4515]

14 minutes ago, DUTRAVEL said:

That is not the case anymore since they changed to just charging you the difference between the Classic package maximum and the cost of the martinis.

 

I always had the choice of the standard size or paying the difference. In any case the Elite drinks served at the Martini Bar would not be expected to be the premium drinks served in the larger glasses. The Elite drinks on the coupons served at any venue will be limited just as they were when served in the Elite lounge to those on the list. 

[Cruise Raider]

3 hours ago, DUTRAVEL said:

We also disembarked from the Silhouette yesterday - we were told we could not get the CC drinks in the main dining room. 

 

Wow ... guess they are inconsistent if they are anything.  I wasn't there ... just passing on what they told me.  

We were on the Equinox last year ... on one side of the MDR, we could get a certain type of wine, on the other ... no!  

[DUTRAVEL]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Wow ... guess they are inconsistent if they are anything.  I wasn't there ... just passing on what they told me.  

We were on the Equinox last year ... on one side of the MDR, we could get a certain type of wine, on the other ... no!  

 

It may depend on who and when you ask, but you are right the inconsistency is ridiculous. We moved our dinner reservations earlier to be able to take advantage of having a glass of wine with dinner. Hopefully they will develop a shipwide policy soon.

 

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, DUTRAVEL said:

 

It may depend on who and when you ask, but you are right the inconsistency is ridiculous. We moved our dinner reservations earlier to be able to take advantage of having a glass of wine with dinner. Hopefully they will develop a shipwide policy soon.

 

Hopefully fleetwide. 

[Mytravellove]

Just came off the Reflection...as a new Elite, I loved the fact that I could choose to relax in the Sky Lounge for a drink (and enjoy the appetizers with other Elite & Elite+) before dinner (5pm to 6pm) then head for dinner for 6pm and have a glass of wine with dinner, and just before 7.30pm order a cocktail which I would take to drink at the casino/show. 

I am not a big drinker and if I had to have 3 drinks in the Sky Lounge, I'd either be dancing on the tables or late for dinner....neither of which would be polite/considerate. 

I fully acknowledge that those who have been used to 'unlimited' drinks in the Sky Lounge would think this is a reduced benefit, but can you really drink 'more' than 3 drinks in 2 hours? This benefit now gives us the choice to enjoy all the venues (except the Martini Bar) and have a drink in the dinning room.

As for the Senior Officers' event, it was also held in the Sky Lounge but for Select and higher...and it was crowded. Difficult to find a seat, but no problem getting a cocktail or wine or the appetizers.