Diamond to Pinnacle: Drink vouchers time change 5am to 4:59am

[Ocean Boy]

3 minutes ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Where have you been, Doc. Cruising?

Mostly working but, yeah, I have fit a few cruises in where I can.

[ONECRUISER]

6 hours ago, little britain said:

Just trying to work out if you still can get away with them being valid on disembarking day or if you’re b2b ( when you can double up on the day)?   I don’t think so? 

That's my thought, can't use Vouchers Day we get off... Know for while on B2B's could use Internet from previous Cruise into the evening long after Ship left Port on next leg, it always saved me a day. Not anymore on that one last couple yrs

Edited December 16, 2022 by ONECRUISER

[c-leg5]

3 hours ago, meadowlander said:

Boarding day, vouchers cannot be used until 5 pm as opposed to pre noon.

Where does it state that?

[Tree_skier]

4 hours ago, Blue Eyed Belfast Belle said:

I wish tbey would either give us a discount from a package ($13 x 5 = $65) or offer the 10 drinks card permantly

If they offered me $36 off the drink package pre-cruise in exchange for the diamond vouchers I'd gladly take that deal.

[Tree_skier]

4 hours ago, MrMarc said:

Actually you loose vouchers for the first and last day.  I understand the need for cutbacks, but don't try to convince me you are doing me a favor.

I understand about losing vouchers on the last day but how do you lose them on the first day?

[Tree_skier]

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

And I probably wouldn't even care if RCI didn't try to make every cutback or new charge or increase charge out to be an enhancement of our cruise experience.

Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Bartenders are hurting since the 18% auto has been removed

When and where has the 18% been removed.  Is there a change I'm not aware of.

[Wineaux007]

5 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I understand about losing vouchers on the last day but how do you lose them on the first day?

You don't lose vouchers on the first day.  They are good from the time you embark on the first day until 5am the following day.  As for the last day, if you consider disembarkation as the last day, unsure if you will have vouchers that morning for bloody mary or whatever.  I've read some speculation that you do.  

[Tree_skier]

1 minute ago, Wineaux007 said:

You don't lose vouchers on the first day.  They are good from the time you embark on the first day until 5am the following day.  As for the last day, if you consider disembarkation as the last day, unsure if you will have vouchers that morning for bloody mary or whatever.  I've read some speculation that you do.  

That's what I read too.  That's why I didn't understand @MrMarc's comment about losing them on the first day.

[Morecruisesplz]

7 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

When and where has the 18% been removed.  Is there a change I'm not aware of.

Was not charged on receipts on Explorer Dec 5th sailing.

[Wineaux007]

2 minutes ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Was not charged on receipts on Explorer Dec 5th sailing.

There is no charge/18% gratuity for voucher drinks.  I surmise they get something from the ship for serving free voucher drinks.  I don't know, but I usually leave $1 per drink just in case.

[Morecruisesplz]

4 minutes ago, Wineaux007 said:

There is no charge/18% gratuity for voucher drinks.  I surmise they get something from the ship for serving free voucher drinks.  I don't know, but I usually leave $1 per drink just in case.

$1 isn't even 10% on a $13 drink ... just saying!

[Wineaux007]

1 minute ago, fredmdcruisers said:

$1 isn't even 10% on a $13 drink ... just saying!

I don't drink $13 drinks.  Just saying.  😉

[Tree_skier]

10 minutes ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Was not charged on receipts on Explorer Dec 5th sailing.

 

5 minutes ago, fredmdcruisers said:

$1 isn't even 10% on a $13 drink ... just saying!

 

So you meant for Voucher drinks... yes, I have seen that.  I usually slip the bartender a couple of singles with a voucher drink and a $5 every now and again.  I thought you were referring to something other than the voucher drinks.  My bad.

[Morecruisesplz]

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

 

 

So you meant for Voucher drinks... yes, I have seen that.  I usually slip the bartender a couple of singles with a voucher drink and a $5 every now and again.  I thought you were referring to something other than the voucher drinks.  My bad.

No worries. All these years I thought that I was tipping on top of voucher drinks w/ 18% already added. Thx for clarification !

[DaKahuna]

2 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

That's what I read too.  That's why I didn't understand @MrMarc's comment about losing them on the first day.

 I think he saw 5 AM and thought it was 5 PM. 
 Thinking about when the CC Happy Hour starts.  
 

No real Idea thought, just guessing. 

Edited December 16, 2022 by DaKahuna

[Biker19]

7 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

That's what I read too.  That's why I didn't understand @MrMarc's comment about losing them on the first day.

Just like some RCI CSRs provide incorrect answers, sometimes CC posters do as well. 

Edited December 16, 2022 by Biker19

[nelblu]

13 hours ago, meadowlander said:

Boarding day, vouchers cannot be used until 5 pm as opposed to pre noon. Departure day, I was able to use my voucher for coffee while waiting for my tag to be called.  Still get 4-6 drinks within 24 hours, that has not changed just the begin & end time which is not an enhancement of the benefit.

My e-mails says if begins at 5AM.  Also, in the beginning all vouchers could not be used on day of debarkation.  So, in essence Royal did you a good deed.  Just like when the HH was in effect.  Drinks could only be consumed in the DL.  However, Paxs took their drinks to the MDR and other bvenues. Also, they relaxed the rule in that you could order drinks in the MDR, Theatre, etc., only on Oasis classes.  Things change,

[Engineroom Snipe]

13 hours ago, dada2199cc said:

I’ve run a bunch of permutations and combinations in a spreadsheet and it’s definitely true but it’s edge participants who are affected. 
 

I would guess that 90% of voucher users won’t see more than 1 drink lost per person over any length of cruise, and 10% are likely losing one day worth of drinks, maximum.

 

There’s no math (that I could estimate) where a person loses more than 1 day count of vouchers.

 

It’s still better than the old DL “drink as much as you can in 3 hours” nonsense.  I detested those people.

 

I have seen things get sloppy when people attend a time limited "all you can drink" happy hour. They have the "I have got to get my monies' worth" mentality. I drink occasionally but not the quantities I did when I was younger 🤮.  Similar to going to a keg party in college, everyone kicked in some money and there were those who drank fast and hard to ensure they got their monies' worth. Not a pretty sight to witness them later in the evening.

 

The new voucher system allows drinks around the pool, at a quieter bar, or in the dining room with your meal.

 

If you pick specific bartender at the pool (or your favorite area of the ship) early in your cruise and treat them right (yes, I cash tip on the free vouchers for my wife and I), two rum runners over one hour will be more than enough to get you in a very relaxed mood. I tip privately and at the point of transaction. I normally fold cash into a cocktail napkin, so it is not visible, and tell them not to throw it away as I hand it to them. They get the intent of my actions immediately and I get some outstanding drinks which are more than adequate every time I go back. The drink quality more than makes up for the lack of drink voucher quantity to include a small amount of cash tip. A tad of appreciation goes a long way to making those vouchers an outstanding deal.

[dada2199cc]

3 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

 

. The drink quality more than makes up for the lack of drink voucher quantity to include a small amount of cash tip. A tad of appreciation goes a long way to making those vouchers an outstanding deal.

 

I'm a heavy tipper if someone provides just basic service.  If they go out of their way, then the sky is the limit (no kids, no wife, no mortgage, late 40s here).  The only reason I go on cruise ships is (a) I need to always be moving and (b) service.

 

Between myself and my partner, the free drinks has actually given us reason to cruise more.  We don't drink much but always appreciate a nice libation, and the DL was always a mess during HH.  Never again, to be honest.

 

Now we can find a bar that isn't busy and just have a nice time together over a cocktail that's made a little bit more intimately than the rush at the casino bar or the pool bar at noon on a sea day.

[meadowlander]

9 hours ago, nelblu said:

My e-mails says if begins at 5AM.  Also, in the beginning all vouchers could not be used on day of debarkation.  So, in essence Royal did you a good deed. 

Yes, I was mistaken between 5 pm & 5 am. Since I have been eligible for vouchers, I have always been able to use them at lunch on boarding day. I was also able, the only time I attempted, to use my voucher for a coffee on disembarking. Never would have tried but read on  these boards others had done so with success.

[Engineroom Snipe]

12 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Just like some RCI CSRs provide incorrect answers, sometimes CC posters do as well. 

 

I have been guilty of being one of them... 😭.

[Husky1987]

Figured I’d resurrect this month old thread.

 

I was able to use Diamond vouchers this morning for lattes at Cafe Promenade prior to disembarking Voyager.

[Engineroom Snipe]

10 minutes ago, Husky1987 said:

Figured I’d resurrect this month old thread.

 

I was able to use Diamond vouchers this morning for lattes at Cafe Promenade prior to disembarking Voyager.

 

Thank you for providing first person feedback. One last question, did you use up your "quota" of free vouchers the day (and night into the reset time)?  In my following example, it would be Saturday up til the Sunday early morning reset time.

 

If the first day of a seven-night cruise is Sunday, it is day number one and the following Sunday (at the 4 or 5am reset time) would be considered the end of the vouchers. In your timeline, you were able to use a "new" issue of vouchers after the Sunday morning reset time, that would technically be an "8th" day.

 

This was one the proposed negatives identified by some posters of this change of time compared to existing voucher usage.

 

Thanks for posting.

[Husky1987]

17 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

One last question, did you use up your "quota" of free vouchers the day (and night into the reset time)? 

Good question.  I believe I used all 5 on Saturday night (but it may have been 4).  I got the lattes a little after 6am so it should have reset to the 8th day.