Ovation, No more Diamond Lounge

Perhaps there is some confusion about access by D+ to the concierge lounge because a message posted on the television said D and D+ member benefits include a daily cocktail party in the Music Hall; no mention was made about D+ access to the concierge lounge - but in fact, D+ members do have access to CL as others have noted as well.

Does anyone here know if this sailing will have a diamond lounge? If it is some music hall, does that mean non-diamonds can wander in? Can I get as many drinks as I want if it is held in the music hall? I like more than 3.

Thanks

Does anyone here know if this sailing will have a diamond lounge? If it is some music hall, does that mean non-diamonds can wander in? Can I get as many drinks as I want if it is held in the music hall? I like more than 3.

 

Thanks

Are you just asking for speculation since your cruise has not happened? Why would you care who comes into the music hall? If it's a big deal, email the C

Are you just asking for speculation since your cruise has not happened? Why would you care who comes into the music hall? If it's a big deal, email the C

I'm asking because the ship is coming FROM Asia Waters to Australian waters. I thought someone might have experience with that and might know.

I don't know what a "C" is and how to contact them.

I care who comes into the lounge or designated area because I am traveling with my underage child who will spend nearly every moment in the teen club and wouldn't be allowed inside the lounge anyway. I might as well be travelling by myself. I enjoy the camaraderie and friendship of the other people in the diamond lounge. Getting thrown together night after night helps to foster acquaintanceships. If anyone can come into the music hall, this will dilute the Diamond and above members and the mix will always be different. Also, if there are non-diamonds there, drink service will be slower and canapes may disappear as soon as they arrive.

So that is why I asked this question, in this forum.

I'm asking because the ship is coming FROM Asia Waters to Australian waters. I thought someone might have experience with that and might know.

 

I don't know what a "C" is and how to contact them.

 

I care who comes into the lounge or designated area because I am traveling with my underage child who will spend nearly every moment in the teen club and wouldn't be allowed inside the lounge anyway. I might as well be travelling by myself. I enjoy the camaraderie and friendship of the other people in the diamond lounge. Getting thrown together night after night helps to foster acquaintanceships. If anyone can come into the music hall, this will dilute the Diamond and above members and the mix will always be different. Also, if there are non-diamonds there, drink service will be slower and canapes may disappear as soon as they arrive.

 

So that is why I asked this question, in this forum.

Whether there is overflow in the Music Hall or not, the canapes will be in the Diamond Lounge, so theoretically, only the Diamond can access them.

I believe the Golden Room will get converted back to the Diamond Lounge when Ovation goes to Australia. The Upstairs Music Hall is the overflow area, which was more comfortable to me than the lounge. Hope this helps.

I'm asking because the ship is coming FROM Asia Waters to Australian waters. I thought someone might have experience with that and might know.

 

I don't know what a "C" is and how to contact them.

 

I care who comes into the lounge or designated area because I am traveling with my underage child who will spend nearly every moment in the teen club and wouldn't be allowed inside the lounge anyway. I might as well be travelling by myself. I enjoy the camaraderie and friendship of the other people in the diamond lounge. Getting thrown together night after night helps to foster acquaintanceships. If anyone can come into the music hall, this will dilute the Diamond and above members and the mix will always be different. Also, if there are non-diamonds there, drink service will be slower and canapes may disappear as soon as they arrive.

 

So that is why I asked this question, in this forum.

Dilution, only on cc:rolleyes:

Maybe you should stand at the entrance and check everyone that comes in

Hi everyone!

I have a question for the people who have been on Ovation recently -

My friend just forwarded me an email he received from RCI which says

"Ships with no Diamond Lounge will provide an Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event in one of our bars or lounges from approximately 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for Diamond members, offering complimentary wine and champagne and a happy hour discount of 25% off beer, liquor and fountain drinks."

Not whinging- I promise! lol - just wanting to clarify.

On all other RCI ships we've been on (Radiance, Rhapsody, Voyager and Legend) the Diamond drinks included a list of specific wines, beers, spirits and mixers which were included. For example, Smirnoff Vodka was included (but no other kind), Bombay Saphire Gin was included (but no other kind) etc. So, you could have a Gin (Bombay) and Tonic - as they were included in the Diamond drinks, or a caprioska (using Smirnoff) or a Cosmo (using smirnoff, Orange Juice because cointreu was not included, and cranberry juice).

Has it been your experience that now only wine and sparkling wine is complimentary, and instead of a few included beers, spirits and mixers, there is now just a 25% discount?

Thanks for any feedback!

Hi everyone!

 

 

 

I have a question for the people who have been on Ovation recently -

 

 

 

My friend just forwarded me an email he received from RCI which says

 

"Ships with no Diamond Lounge will provide an Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event in one of our bars or lounges from approximately 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for Diamond members, offering complimentary wine and champagne and a happy hour discount of 25% off beer, liquor and fountain drinks."

 

 

 

Not whinging- I promise! lol - just wanting to clarify.

 

 

 

On all other RCI ships we've been on (Radiance, Rhapsody, Voyager and Legend) the Diamond drinks included a list of specific wines, beers, spirits and mixers which were included. For example, Smirnoff Vodka was included (but no other kind), Bombay Saphire Gin was included (but no other kind) etc. So, you could have a Gin (Bombay) and Tonic - as they were included in the Diamond drinks, or a caprioska (using Smirnoff) or a Cosmo (using smirnoff, Orange Juice because cointreu was not included, and cranberry juice).

 

 

 

Has it been your experience that now only wine and sparkling wine is complimentary, and instead of a few included beers, spirits and mixers, there is now just a 25% discount?

 

 

 

Thanks for any feedback!

After the Diamonds were not allowed in the CL the Diamond Event was set up a little after that. This is what was available to Diamonds until Diamond lounges were added. Now most ships have the Diamond Lounge, but on ships that don't, and ships like Voyager that use the DL for other things because there aren't many Diamonds, this is what is offered.

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There's official policy and then there's what happens on the ship with a certain bartender. I would be surprised if a D were to get charged for a Gin and Tonic during the happy hour.

I sailed in April this year (out of Southampton) when the Diamond lounge was the now Card Room, it was an absolute zoo! Over busy, silly low stools to sit on and I have no clue how the staff managed to take orders and get them right because there were so many people there standing as there were not enough chairs.

I then sailed 9 weeks later Singapore to Beiijing (last cruise before it went fully Chinese) and the upper floor of the Music Hall was used and it was wonderful and spacious. Canapés were almost the same as the Concierge Lounge, service was fast and at your table and cards were checked. One door was closed off and the stairs to the lower floor roped off, it really was ideal.

What was great is there was normally a music quiz at 6.15pm so we got a drink and headed downstairs and still used our 3 drinks pre-loaded vouchers during happy hour :-)

Not that I trust the source, but I have it in writing from cruiseco that the diamond lounge will be operating on this voyage. The Asian market gambles and shops. Aussies drink more. So they use the diamond lounge as a casino on Asian voyages and as the diamond lounge on Australian voyages. Apparently this will be the changeover voyage.

Thanks for the replies ebveryone :) but what I was actually wanting to know (from those who have sailed on Ovation already), was:

whether the Diamond event now only offers complimentary *wine and sparkling wine*, and now just a 25% discount on beers/spirits/mixers, instead of a few complimentary beers/spirits/mixers?

Thanks :)

Hi everyone!

 

I have a question for the people who have been on Ovation recently -

 

My friend just forwarded me an email he received from RCI which says

"Ships with no Diamond Lounge will provide an Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event in one of our bars or lounges from approximately 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for Diamond members, offering complimentary wine and champagne and a happy hour discount of 25% off beer, liquor and fountain drinks."

 

Not whinging- I promise! lol - just wanting to clarify.

 

On all other RCI ships we've been on (Radiance, Rhapsody, Voyager and Legend) the Diamond drinks included a list of specific wines, beers, spirits and mixers which were included. For example, Smirnoff Vodka was included (but no other kind), Bombay Saphire Gin was included (but no other kind) etc. So, you could have a Gin (Bombay) and Tonic - as they were included in the Diamond drinks, or a caprioska (using Smirnoff) or a Cosmo (using smirnoff, Orange Juice because cointreu was not included, and cranberry juice).

 

Has it been your experience that now only wine and sparkling wine is complimentary, and instead of a few included beers, spirits and mixers, there is now just a 25% discount?

 

Thanks for any feedback!

That email is way out of date. There are very few ships that do NOT have a DL now - perhaps 3 or 4. You will have a full lounge with range of drinks. You will also have 3 drinks a day loaded against your SeaPass which you can use in any bar, (during the same hours of the lounge) so you can enjoy a drink with non-D friends!

The Golden Lounge will be converted back to a DL for the Australian market. It is a nice room, and if there are too many D members they open the doors so you overflow into the upper levels of the Music Hall.

Thanks for the replies ebveryone :) but what I was actually wanting to know (from those who have sailed on Ovation already), was:

 

whether the Diamond event now only offers complimentary *wine and sparkling wine*, and now just a 25% discount on beers/spirits/mixers, instead of a few complimentary beers/spirits/mixers?

 

Thanks :)

Hi

On both Ovation cruises I did it was a mostly open bar. If you search there is a flyer someone posted with all the free drinks during the Diamond happy hour. As an example I think there is a choice of 3 red and white wines, sparkling wine and any main spirit with mixer, common cocktails and selected beer.

i never saw anyone be charged for a drink whether it was in the diamond lounge/card room or upper music hall

If you have not sailed in Ovation before you are in for a real treat. To my mind everything is better than the older ships (just my opinion). I get goose pimples recalling how wonderful it is.

If you have any more specific questions I'm happy to try and answer

Alison

Hi

 

On both Ovation cruises I did it was a mostly open bar. If you search there is a flyer someone posted with all the free drinks during the Diamond happy hour. As an example I think there is a choice of 3 red and white wines, sparkling wine and any main spirit with mixer, common cocktails and selected beer.

 

i never saw anyone be charged for a drink whether it was in the diamond lounge/card room or upper music hall

 

If you have not sailed in Ovation before you are in for a real treat. To my mind everything is better than the older ships (just my opinion). I get goose pimples recalling how wonderful it is.

 

If you have any more specific questions I'm happy to try and answer

 

Alison

Thanks so much Alison :)

Do you know what happens with the North Star etc? Do you need to book for that, or do you get allocated a turn etc?

JUST (finally!!) got my booking number for the cruise (leaving Nov 39), but there wasn't any booking option for the North Star etc on the cruise planner.

Have booked for the three shows ("pixels", "live.love.legs" and "a dream" or names similar to that). Did you see those shows?

I called RCI today. Wanted to find out if they were going to offer dining packages. They fibbed me off on cruise co? Mmmmm:(

I also said that when I try to book ifly and North Star I can only get to number of passengers. Can not select date or time. The phone agent said that it was queuing for these items, like flow rider. Perhaps this means you can do them more than once.

Thanks so much Alison :)

Do you know what happens with the North Star etc? Do you need to book for that, or do you get allocated a turn etc?

JUST (finally!!) got my booking number for the cruise (leaving Nov 39), but there wasn't any booking option for the North Star etc on the cruise planner.

Have booked for the three shows ("pixels", "live.love.legs" and "a dream" or names similar to that). Did you see those shows?

North Star: Both cruises I was able to pre-book online for free in advance, It was the same for iFly too. A couple got married in the North Star by the Captain on one of the cruises I was on. It stayed static when the captain was in it then, once married, the couple had a ride in it.

Pixels: Fabulous, get there early and chose a seat upstairs or in the middle on one of the elevated sections for the best view. This was my favourite show. It used to be called Spectre's Cabaret

Live Love Legs: Fabulous show, very Las Vegas

The Dream: Did not go either time, when I did my research it was not getting very good reviews, the storyline was not clear and a few people actually dosed off so I didn't go to it.

Hope that helps, let me know if you need any more info.

Alison