My Experience in CL with Kids

[ggo85]

I thought the suite price was generally for the space. If not, that makes for some pretty expensive drinks. What about the folks who sail in suites on ships that do not have CL?

 

As a suite cruiser . . . we want the extra space, the priority at shows, etc. My spouse doesn't even drink alcohol. I enjoy having a drink and hors d'hoeuvres before dinner. It's another benefit that we get for buying a premium priced cabin. Is the CL "the" reason we book a suite . . . absolutely not.

 

It's like flying First Class on an aircraft. Do you do it b/c you get a couple of glasses of wine/liquor? I doubt it. But it's nice, once you've paid the steep extra cost for your seat, not to be nickled and dimed for the price of a drink or two.

 

Same deal for suite cruisers. At least IMHO.

[Gone Fishing]

And then there was the "lady" in the lounge who proceeded to empty the choc. strawberries plate, take them back to her table, wrap them in a napkin, and put them in her purse. :rolleyes:

 

Leave my mother-in-law out of this ..... :p

 

My guess is like others have said – Suites pax only in the CL is coming soon to a ship near you.

[marci22]

My guess is like others have said – Suites pax only in the CL is coming soon to a ship near you.

 

At least if they boot D+ out of CL they won't be complaining and yelling at AG. who needs that. He's probably looking forward to it, lol.

[bajathree]

At least if they boot D+ out of CL they won't be complaining and yelling at AG. who needs that. He's probably looking forward to it, lol.

 

Don't count on the no complaining Marci...if D+ get's kicked out the CL as I suspect is only a matter of timing.....then it would most likely follow that D will be getting kicked out the DL so it can become the D+L

[cruznbelle]

Perhaps I'll be surprised by the size of the Allure's CL - but why anyone would want to bring young ones into the Radiance CL is beyond me - it's WAY too small (before retrofit anyway). I can't imagine the concierges are happy about this - we usually tip them around $100 for the week and tip the waiter each night in cash - so it's definitely not 'free'. I imagine this change is probably going to impact those guys the most as they try to keep everyone happy.

 

In 2003 their top suites had 3 bottles provided - that was our 1st cruise. I think GGO85 stated it well - after paying 1k-2k/night - it's nice not to be nickled and dimed or simply go back to stocking the suites. Even with the suites - we spend plenty of money in tips, the casino and lounges - so that is not the issue. It's a matter of trying to squeeze 30 people in a 20 person space. Makes the lounge useless to everyone.

 

As a side note, my one experience on HAL several children in the morning and afternoon did in fact pick up and handle all the food - it was a tad chaotic - as you pushed a button to open up the 'cover' to the food trays - one set of kids had to be repeatedly told to quit pushing the button - the parents were oblivious. :rolleyes: I can't remember if happy hour had kids as we spent time elsewhere.

 

My question - for the Allure isn't there 2 CL's? The main one and the one in the loft area? Wondering if both are open to the suite pax or if the loft area CL is only for loft suites? I imagine the lofts might have more families rather than couples.

[marci22]

Don't count on the no complaining Marci...if D+ get's kicked out the CL as I suspect is only a matter of timing.....then it would most likely follow that D will be getting kicked out the DL so it can become the D+L

 

Yes I realize that. They could probably take the sting out for D by offering a couple/few free drinks coupons in the booklet. There are too many D to continue giving them all unlimited, free drinks every night.

[mommabean]

DH and I were thinking about an alternative approach to kids in the CL. During a brainstorming session we had driving along the Seward Highway to port, we have decided we will get all children started in a round of singing "99 bottles of beer on the wall" and then sneak out. LOL Won't their parents be so glad they brought them in for a very happy hour for some family time before dinner? Didn't we all love that song as kids and sing it to the very last verse? :D

 

 

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[DrLookGood]

Well I think I explained what I was saying in regards to the schooner bar. If people are just going to the lounge with their kids for free drinks - then that's silly. That a better way to put it?

 

Again, I do not care if someone brings their kids. To me happy hour for a young teenager or child is inappropriate - but they're not my kids.

 

By the same token, if childless adults are going to CL during happy hour only for free drinks - that should be silly as well. There are other places for them to have adult only time, but those places do not have free drinks.

 

Let's be honest - the issue here is that childless D+ and suite guests feel like the entitled to free drinks in adult only setting and they don't care that adults who cruise with children in suites in the past could not enjoy the perk of free drinks (either because OA is not open between 5 pm and 7 pm or they want to spend that cocktail hour as a family).

 

 

The perk, according RCCL's website, has always been "free drinks", it was never described as "free drinks in adult only setting". Like I said before your rights should not come at expense of others rights.

[brmoqueen]

Like I said before your rights should not come at expense of others rights.

 

Exactly...but yours don't come at the expense of others rights either! That's precisely the point...Apparently he who complained LOUDER got their way and the rest had to go along with it.......Well, now the rest are complaining....

 

Suites 'earn' the right for a CL with 'free' drinks by paying a lot of $...GOT IT

 

BUT...D+ 'earn' the right a CL with "free" drinks by cruising repeatedly more than 24ish cruises.....GOT IT

[Rockfordcruiser]

Exactly...but yours don't come at the expense of others rights either! That's precisely the point...Apparently he who complained LOUDER got their way and the rest had to go along with it.......Well, now the rest are complaining....

 

Suites 'earn' the right for a CL with 'free' drinks by paying a lot of $...GOT IT

 

BUT...D+ 'earn' the right a CL with "free" drinks by cruising repeatedly more than 24ish cruises.....GOT IT

 

And some of us do both at the same time...;)

[Stags14]

By the same token, if childless adults are going to CL during happy hour only for free drinks - that should be silly as well. There are other places for them to have adult only time, but those places do not have free drinks.

 

Let's be honest - the issue here is that childless D+ and suite guests feel like the entitled to free drinks in adult only setting and they don't care that adults who cruise with children in suites in the past could not enjoy the perk of free drinks (either because OA is not open between 5 pm and 7 pm or they want to spend that cocktail hour as a family).

 

 

The perk, according RCCL's website, has always been "free drinks", it was never described as "free drinks in adult only setting". Like I said before your rights should not come at expense of others rights.

 

Well, it's not a right it's a privlidge and there's a huge difference there.

And they probably have had enough people complain that they decided to change it. Whatever it is, it is what it is.

 

So if you go to a restaurant and they have happy hour is it wrong to bring a child to eat your meal there? If you go to a wedding and they have a cocktail hour is it wrong to have your child there too? On a cruise ship there are bars and people drinking EVERYWHERE. By these standards you should even bring your child on board!

 

This is a lounge on a family oriented cruise ship. Of course RCCL is going to cater to the families. There are hundreds of thousands of people that cruise every year. They are going to look at that demographic and do what the majority of their paying customers want. It's not only about the current higher status members but also about encouraging those without status to keep sailing with them.

 

I'm not stating my point anymore. I think everyone has valid points, and it is what it is.

 

I completely agree with your 2nd paragraph.

[DiamondSuiteCruiser]

And some of us do both at the same time...;)

 

Cheers to that! D+ and still sailing in suites for comfort. But still wishing that they go back to NO KIDS in the CL!

[teajak]

DH and I were thinking about an alternative approach to kids in the CL. During a brainstorming session we had driving along the Seward Highway to port, we have decided we will get all children started in a round of singing "99 bottles of beer on the wall" and then sneak out. LOL Won't their parents be so glad they brought them in for a very happy hour for some family time before dinner? Didn't we all love that song as kids and sing it to the very last verse? :D

 

 

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You are a genius, I love it:cool:

[DiamondSuiteCruiser]

Does anyone happen to know the correct address to write and complain about this new policy to RCI? If we all spent as much time in drafting up a letter to RCI as we do writting comments about it, they possibly will hear all of us, and maybe something can be done.

 

The only address I found on RCI web site was:

Corporate Guest Relations

1050 Caribbean Way

Miami, FL 33132.

[jst]

Diamondsuitecruiser send your letter to agoldstein@rccl.com, this is where I sent mine and

received the same canned!!! reply as everyone else.

[SherriZ366]

.

 

As a side note, my one experience on HAL several children in the morning and afternoon did in fact pick up and handle all the food - it was a tad chaotic - as you pushed a button to open up the 'cover' to the food trays - one set of kids had to be repeatedly told to quit pushing the button - the parents were oblivious. :.

This is the real problem -- the oblivious parents. The ones who don't discipline their kids, don/t pay attention etc. And this behaviour is even worse on a cruise as it is their vaction.

[BND]

This is the real problem -- the oblivious parents. The ones who don't discipline their kids, don/t pay attention etc. And this behaviour is even worse on a cruise as it is their vaction.

 

Except they forget, you never get a vacation from parenting until they are grown up, which, btw, happens very quickly.

[SherriZ366]

Except they forget, you never get a vacation from parenting until they are grown up, which, btw, happens very quickly.

But if they don't raise their children well, they may be parenting (ie supporting them) their kids for a long while after they are grown up.

 

You are right that raising our DD did go by quickly. Enjoyed every minute. She is a delightful young woman and glad that we are only 35 minutes from her and SIL.

[Loucat]

We really do not sail on RCC as much as we used to. We sailed on a Freedom class this year (never bothered to list it); found the H2O Zone and Shriek.:eek:

We book suites and like the concierge lounge. For those of you who think Suite guests pay alot, attaining D+ is not cheap either.

I am tired of the line; could recite their dinners without reading and have lost all faith in their making smart moves for passengers; just their bottom line.

They make DUMB moves; wait for all the push back, and then make changes.

 

I sold their stock when they did not allow

use of stock benefits and other deductions and they changed back.

RCC go for it and market to families, let kids in the CL. Wait for the push back and then change again.

 

We have moved all RCC sailings to 2013. Booked HAL and Princess and based on those experiences, may cancel the 3 RCC we have for 2013.

It will take time and $$ to move up on another line, but I would rather have a peaceful cruise than come away aggrevated yet one more time. Before anyone mentions it, I do not expect perfect there either. Good luck to all of those who enjoy the CL with adults only and 1 1/2 hour of adult conversation with really interesting people who have such great stories on their cruises.

 

It seems that their strategy is to attract them young; expect a bright future; provide comparative activities to Disney at a lower price and the heck with their loyal customers.

[tallcva3344]

By the same token, if childless adults are going to CL during happy hour only for free drinks - that should be silly as well. There are other places for them to have adult only time, but those places do not have free drinks.

 

Let's be honest - the issue here is that childless D+ and suite guests feel like the entitled to free drinks in adult only setting and they don't care that adults who cruise with children in suites in the past could not enjoy the perk of free drinks (either because OA is not open between 5 pm and 7 pm or they want to spend that cocktail hour as a family).

 

 

The perk, according RCCL's website, has always been "free drinks", it was never described as "free drinks in adult only setting". Like I said before your rights should not come at expense of others rights.

 

What happens when there are two or three crying babies. Even Disney has private adults only areas. It is just common sense. RCI meeds a CL for adults only and a CL for the nursery group. That would solve the problem.

 

It is not the free drinks, but recognition of the loyalty to being a RCI cruiser for year after year after year. I know it took me over 25 years, and being recognized, and not making that status a farce is what I expected.

[hawlcruiser]

Have said it before and will repeat.... If I encounter children in the CL I will request a drink and take it back to my suite. Dare them to question my decision to do that. Someone explain to me.... why would anyone want to take children into a bar venue.

[RM]

Wow I guess my experience on the Explorer next week will be interesting. We were on the Freedom last month and no kids.....when did this policy change?

 

I'm sorry for the Concierges, the are in a no win situation.

[Debde]

RCI meeds a CL for adults only

 

Why a CL?

If everyone is so hell bent on having an Adult only venue-maybe they will create one. Actually-I think this is possiblly exactly what they will do because so many are asking for it. You may have to pay for a drink but heck-many will got the serenity they seek!!!

[Scotty G]

Wow I guess my experience on the Explorer next week will be interesting. We were on the Freedom last month and no kids.....when did this policy change?

 

I'm sorry for the Concierges, the are in a no win situation.

Check out the poll here and another thread on the subject: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1477008

[hawlcruiser]

Debde, I don't think you get it...... We have already PAID for it!