Diamond status question.

[drp055934]

Just recently became a Diamond member, do you still receive the perks of the gold, silver etc members? Would hate to lose the 1hr thermal area session.

 

[Tierun]

You still receive all perks from the lower tiers 

[Ljdoc]

Does anyone know how priority boarding works in Southampton and late cabin check out at disembarkation. I am booked on Euribia in December but this is my first time as Diamomd and struggling to definitely know what this means.  
 

Also, how do you go about booking the complimentary specialty dining meal and is this available in Le Grill. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

3 hours ago, Ljdoc said:

Also, how do you go about booking the complimentary specialty dining meal and is this available in Le Grill. 

We booked our complimentary meal with the hostess at the specialty restaurant area on embarkation day. She went over all the included restaurants…the easiest way to determine if a restaurant is likely included is to see if there is a fixed menu option as well as an a la carte. The diamond meal comes from the fixed side of the menu. If the menu only offers a la carte, then it’s likely not included. This holds true for the Japanese restaurant for sure. Sorry, I am not familiar with Le Grill. 

Edited September 22, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[Ljdoc]

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We booked our complimentary meal with the hostess at the specialty restaurant area on embarkation day. She went over all the included restaurants…the easiest way to determine if a restaurant is likely included is to see if there is a fixed menu option as well as an a la carte. The diamond meal comes from the fixed side of the menu. If the menu only offers a la carte, then it’s likely not included. This holds true for the Japanese restaurant for sure. Sorry, I am not familiar with Le Grill. 

Great thanks, Butchers Cut is not in Euribia but Le Grill is on the lower Galleria floor where the French restaurant was. The menu is almost identical to Butchers Cut. Just checked and they do have the dining experience so will do the same as you when we embark.  

[dexddd]

While advertised, only found late disembark a myth.  

[Mark_T]

47 minutes ago, dexddd said:

While advertised, only found late disembark a myth.  

Depends mostly on where you are sailing, if it is a US port where there is a requirement to zero out the ship before boarding can commence then late disembark isn't going to happen.

[Beamafar]

Late disembark just means you can stay in your cabin an hour longer than the indicated vacate time.  You need to inform your cabin steward that you wish to avail of this option (though it may not always be possible). 

[Sailor75]

So it's another useless benefit like "priority" debarkation.

[insidecabin]

Southampton(unless they change it) there is only YC priority outside the terminal and through security.

 

Everyone else is in the same line till after security.(YC get escort to front of line)

 

At the top of the stairs after security that is when they split the check-in lines.

 

All previous cruises we have done there is no check of allocated/selected times.

 

The cruises are multi embarkation ports with Southampton often being one of the larger contingency.

 

If driving and using ABP parking sometimes there is a back up at the carpark.

 

End of cruise they don't rush to kick people off, there is often a mad queue early as many think self disembark will be quicker.

 

We hang in cabin till late and then go for breakfast and just wait till any rush is over.

 

[Stem to Stern]

On 9/21/2023 at 9:33 PM, Georgia_Peaches said:

We booked our complimentary meal with the hostess at the specialty restaurant area

If this was on one of the Sea ships, which restaurant did you choose?  Thanks.

[Georgia_Peaches]

12 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

If this was on one of the Sea ships, which restaurant did you choose?  Thanks.

It was on Seaside and we chose Ocean Cay...big mistake!  The whole specialty dining area (deck 16) was dead.  We were the only ones in Ocean Cay.  Our reservation was for 7:30.  Only one table was occupied when we arrived and nobody arrived after us. No vibe at all. Our meal was average, at best.  The fixed menu was not too appealing but I had the seafood pasta and DH had a fish dish.  He said it was just OK.  If memory serves, we could choose from an app or a salad (not both), a main, and dessert.  Thank goodness for the bread basket because otherwise, we would have left hungry.  Knowing what I know now, I'd definitely go with the steak house instead.  

Edited October 3, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[Stem to Stern]

12 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Knowing what I know now, I'd definitely go with the steak house instead.

Thank you.  Hmmmm.  Maybe we should just forego this perk and have all our dinners in the yacht club?  What other diamond perks did you find advantageous?

[Georgia_Peaches]

9 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

Thank you.  Hmmmm.  Maybe we should just forego this perk and have all our dinners in the yacht club?  What other diamond perks did you find advantageous?

Honestly, if you're in YC, the perks you get in that category are better than what you get for being Diamond.  We received a gift and some nice chocolates.  And I don't mean to sound ungrateful at all....but the value of the perks seems to be better if one is sailing in a lower category.  In which case, priority embarkation/debarkation would likely be my favorite perk.

 

As for YC dining...you can't go wrong there.  The one night we dined in Ocean Cay was Indian night in YC and I missed the butter chicken...which I had on a previous cruise and was absolutely amazing.

[Stem to Stern]

3 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Indian night in YC

Good tip.  I lerve Indian food.  Will watch for that night.  Sorry to OP for hijack.

[jules815]

21 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I missed the butter chicken

We were just on Seascape in the YC and we hadn't ordered the butter chicken, but our waiter knew we liked Indian food and brought it for us anyway. It was very good. We did our complimentary Diamond meal in Butcher's Cut, but I thought the filet was dry, not as good as the filet I had in YC from the every day menu. The filet in YC was very good each time I ordered. I know people say it comes from Butcher's Cut, so you'd think they'd be the same.

 

[CruisingFox27]

21 hours ago, Sailor75 said:

So it's another useless benefit like "priority" debarkation.

Personally, we find the extra hour allowed in the cabin to be a very useful benefit. Even on USA cruises. Just allows for a more relaxed departure. 

[Two Wheels Only]

4 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We were the only ones in Ocean Cay.  Our reservation was for 7:30.  Only one table was occupied when we arrived and nobody arrived after us. No vibe at all. Our meal was average, at best. 

 

Our experience was pretty much the same. We had the entire place to ourselves (great for photos) and the food was mediocre. My appetizer was better than my main course.

 

I'd probably go back if something new on the menu looked appealing.

 

It's a pretty place, though.

[riredsox]

18 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

Thank you.  Hmmmm.  Maybe we should just forego this perk and have all our dinners in the yacht club?  What other diamond perks did you find advantageous?

You can use the diamond perk for lunch.  That is what we did in the Asian marketplace and it was excellent.  

[dexddd]

What GP and riredsox said.  We normally use perk at BC for lunch.

[carlmm]

On 10/3/2023 at 2:31 AM, Sailor75 said:

So it's another useless benefit like "priority" debarkation.

No, it depends on the port and cruise if you can really disembark late (eg due to US regulations) and how long. Eg in Palma de Mallorca we once stayed until afternoon.

[Sailor75]

On 10/3/2023 at 6:29 PM, CruisingFox27 said:

Personally, we find the extra hour allowed in the cabin to be a very useful benefit. Even on USA cruises. Just allows for a more relaxed departure. 

Just off the Meraviglia out of Brooklyn, no late check outs allowed; everyone had to be out of their room by 7:30 am. It would be a nice benefit if I could actually use it, but maybe some ships allow it.

[Mark_T]

11 hours ago, Sailor75 said:

Just off the Meraviglia out of Brooklyn, no late check outs allowed; everyone had to be out of their room by 7:30 am. It would be a nice benefit if I could actually use it, but maybe some ships allow it.

It is always going to be harder to get this benefit cruising out of a US port with the need to 'zero out' the ship, vs a Mediterranean port with much less restrictive regulations. 

[dexddd]

Note that one benefit is 15% off in gift shops.  But here is the catch, first night only.  Not sure why not all.  There is also 10% off laundry.

[bob brown]

On 9/21/2023 at 9:33 PM, Georgia_Peaches said:

We booked our complimentary meal with the hostess at the specialty restaurant area on embarkation day. She went over all the included restaurants…the easiest way to determine if a restaurant is likely included is to see if there is a fixed menu option as well as an a la carte. The diamond meal comes from the fixed side of the menu. If the menu only offers a la carte, then it’s likely not included. This holds true for the Japanese restaurant for sure. Sorry, I am not familiar with Le Grill. 

Is it possible to book your complimentary specialty dinner in advance of your cruise?   Some cruise lines offer this...