Will My Dad Ever Want To Cruise Again?

My dad has the Freedom Of The Seas booked right now for April 12, 2009 but after talking to his last night about the latest suite benefits he got very upset. As i understand at the pool the 3 tears or decks with chairs on them right next to the bars i hope you guys understand what im talking about are now reserved for suite guests. This is where my mom and dad will wake up at 6:30 and go up there after they get breakfast and sit all day. This the casino, and Chops are the only reasons my parents cruise. Can anyone please tell me if these chairs are now reserved for suite guests and if so what are the qualifications to get these perks?

No offense, but it really matters to him that much where he sits? I don't know which chairs are reserved for suite guests (and to answer your question, your dad would have to book a suite to get them) but there are lots of chairs on the pool deck and I am sure that at 6:30am he will have his pick.

Really, it's not a big deal.

I was on FOS last month and these chairs WERE reserved for concierge guests only - GS+ . Sorry.

They were also my wife's favorite place to sit by the pool.

No offense, but it really matters to him that much where he sits? I don't know which chairs are reserved for suite guests (and to answer your question, your dad would have to book a suite to get them) but there are lots of chairs on the pool deck and I am sure that at 6:30am he will have his pick.

 

Really, it's not a big deal.

I know it may not seem like that big of a deal to you and im sure many others. But every cruise we have been on they have sat on the second row (tear thing) and to them thats what they really enjoy its just one of those things that means alot to them. Im sure we will still cruise again but its tradition that they always sit there and if i ever need to find them i know where i can find them. :D Anyone no that facts for sure?

I was on FOS last month and these chairs WERE reserved for concierge guests only - GS+ . Sorry.

 

They were also my wife's favorite place to sit by the pool.

Do you have to be in a GS+ or can you have a Junior Suite and have access to the Concierge Lounge because we are diamond?

Really, it's not a big deal.

It was a big deal to my wife. She was disappointed that those 'tween deck chairs were no longer available.

Do you have to be in a GS+ or can you have a Junior Suite and have access to the Concierge Lounge because we are diamond?

I could use Diamond lounge but not concierge -- or concierge deck chairs. :(

Do you have to be in a GS+ or can you have a Junior Suite and have access to the Concierge Lounge because we are diamond?

I'm pretty sure it is GS+. JS not included for concierge or chairs.

I could use Diamond lounge but not concierge -- or concierge deck chairs. :(

Ohhhh yeah right because doesnt the Freedom have separate lounges for Diamond guests and suite guests?

Sunbathing by the pool, playing in the Casino, and Chops Grille are the only reasons your parents cruise??? They're missing out on a lot of fun stuff!

Sunbathing by the pool, playing in the Casino, and Chops Grille are the only reasons your parents cruise??? They're missing out on a lot of fun stuff!

No not really im mean sure they do a lot of other things but that after 9 cruises thats what they REALLY enjoy! Everyone has those things on a cruise!

There were numerous spots reserved for concierge guests only. In the theater on the first level the first couple rows of the center back section were reserved. In the ice shows there was a section reserved for these guests. I did not notice the sun chairs but I am not sure where you are talking about. I did not see any reserved on the Independence on deck 12 or 11 but I guess some were.

Hopefully your parents will find another location they can call their own...:)

No not really im mean sure they do a lot of other things but that after 9 cruises thats what they REALLY enjoy! Everyone has those things on a cruise!

I thought for a minuite that those are the only reasons your parents cruise! You title makes it seem your dad does not want to cruise again!

Chairs or no Chairs

even money the answer to your question

Will My Dad Ever Want To Cruise Again?

Is

Yup! ;)

Its my understanding that its Grand Suite or better. Status of C&A does not matter.

Truth be told, we all need to include these complaints on the comment cards. I am not sure they are being used enough to justify the preferential treatment.

At the ice show, a woman who the assistant cruise director knew by first name, went up to him and asked to sit in the special section reserved for GS+. He declined her admission to that section because she did not have GS+. She responded that she was a diamond +, owned RCI stock, etc etc etc, and would have booked a GS+ if they had one available. He told her to put it on the comment card.

Personally, I am not a big fan of these "perks".

My dad has the Freedom Of The Seas booked right now for April 12, 2009 but after talking to his last night about the latest suite benefits he got very upset. As i understand at the pool the 3 tears or decks with chairs on them right next to the bars i hope you guys understand what im talking about are now reserved for suite guests. This is where my mom and dad will wake up at 6:30 and go up there after they get breakfast and sit all day. This the casino, and Chops are the only reasons my parents cruise. Can anyone please tell me if these chairs are now reserved for suite guests and if so what are the qualifications to get these perks?

These matters have been covered so many times on various threads under headings like suite perks. Simply these sun chairs as well as reserved theatre and Ice show seats are now being reserved for suite guests in GS or above. As a regular visitor to these pages I cannot beleive you have not picked up on this. As a D+ member I think it is a poor decision by Royal, loyal customers like myself have spend a lot of dollars, and are now being denied such benefits. If we are expected to be loyal, so should the cruise line, or we could be attracted by benefits offered by other companies.

I haven't wanted to cruise on Cunard because of the tier system and the feeling that I would be in steerage. And now....

Chris - yes the tiers are where the new suite guest reserved chairs are located.

It is suppose to be for GS and up.

Yes, there are 2 separate lounges on Freedom, one on Deck 10 - the Concierge lounge for suite guests (GS and above) and the Diamond Club - Deck 14 for D's and D+s

And I hope he sits in those seats at 6:30 and doesn't become a chair hog.......

Wow. I had no idea there were reserved lounge chairs. I must say that I find that rather offensive and its upsetting to hear. As a paying guest everyone should have rights to the common area chairs regardless of the price they paid to be there. If they want to have a special cocktail party or something for the "elite" guests that is one thing, but to actually have chairs in the public areas reserved for them is a slap in the face for us common folk who are spending our hard earned dollars cruising on their ship. There are other places we could spend our money and not feel like second class passengers.:mad:

Chris - yes the tiers are where the new suite guest reserved chairs are located.

 

It is suppose to be for GS and up.

 

Yes, there are 2 separate lounges on Freedom, one on Deck 10 - the Concierge lounge for suite guests (GS and above) and the Diamond Club - Deck 14 for D's and D+s

Michele - Your rotating signature pics are very cool.

I Think the best seats are at the aft pool area,dont care for the seats at main pool,too crowded;)

Wow. I had no idea there were reserved lounge chairs. I must say that I find that rather offensive and its upsetting to hear. As a paying guest everyone should have rights to the common area chairs regardless of the price they paid to be there. If they want to have a special cocktail party or something for the "elite" guests that is one thing, but to actually have chairs in the public areas reserved for them is a slap in the face for us common folk who are spending our hard earned dollars cruising on their ship. There are other places we could spend our money and not feel like second class passengers.:mad:

I couldn't have said it better!!! I, personally, think this stinks. We have cruised with RCCL many times and have two more cruises booked with them withing 6 months of each other. We have two rooms booked on one but I guess this isn't enough to get to sit in the special chairs..........That was our favorite spot to sit as well, but I certainly won't spend the $$ on a suite to sit there.

My dad has the Freedom Of The Seas booked right now for April 12, 2009 but after talking to his last night about the latest suite benefits he got very upset. As i understand at the pool the 3 tears or decks with chairs on them right next to the bars i hope you guys understand what im talking about are now reserved for suite guests. This is where my mom and dad will wake up at 6:30 and go up there after they get breakfast and sit all day. This the casino, and Chops are the only reasons my parents cruise. Can anyone please tell me if these chairs are now reserved for suite guests and if so what are the qualifications to get these perks?

My own opinion is that I think it's good they reserve prime seating by the pool for suite guests. Along with seating at the shows etc.

We, however, only book aft cabins because we have no desire to be with the masses. We cruise to relax. And sitting near the pool with screaming kids and tons of people isn't our version of relaxation. We did that years ago when our kids were little. If sitting by the pool was that important to me, I'd book a suite. Otherwise....

There are so many places in the world to go, perhaps your parents should jump ship, so to speak and check out other kinds of vacations or cruiselines that are more suitable to their desires.

Off hand, I can think of aruba which has everything they seem to like and the resorts have great teen programs (my kids liked it just as much as cruising).

Sometimes it's good to branch out.

Cruising is fun but lots of other things are too.

Michele - Your rotating signature pics are very cool.

Awww thanks. :D