GS on Rhapsody & amenities in Concierge Lounge

[cathydev]

Just booked a GS on Rhapsody for July 2013. After several searches I see that Rhapsody now has a CL. Is this available to GS guests? What are the amenities offered in the CL? All my searches come up with lots of different information, so it's hard to determine what's accurate or not.

 

I also see a list of email info and Concierge names for the ships. Is it advisable to contact them ahead of time? If so, what do you ask of them or request?

[Clarea]

Just booked a GS on Rhapsody for July 2013. After several searches I see that Rhapsody now has a CL. Is this available to GS guests? What are the amenities offered in the CL? All my searches come up with lots of different information, so it's hard to determine what's accurate or not.

 

I also see a list of email info and Concierge names for the ships. Is it advisable to contact them ahead of time? If so, what do you ask of them or request?

Yes, there is a CL on Rhapsody now, and guests in GS or higher suites are permitted in the CL. There is a continental breakfast in the morning, and an evening cocktail hour from about 5pm to 8:30pm with free drinks and hot/cold appetizers. There is also 24 hour access to free specialty coffee.

 

The Concierge can help you with speciality restaurant reservations, excursion bookings, and generally any other thing that Guest Services would do for you.

[Miamia65]

Just booked a GS on Rhapsody for July 2013. After several searches I see that Rhapsody now has a CL. Is this available to GS guests? What are the amenities offered in the CL? All my searches come up with lots of different information, so it's hard to determine what's accurate or not.

 

I also see a list of email info and Concierge names for the ships. Is it advisable to contact them ahead of time? If so, what do you ask of them or request?

Just off Rhapsody, the current concierge is Pretty Shamu, she is from South Africa and is very lovely and helpful.

 

The CL is open 24/7 and staffed in the morning and evening. Your sea pass gives you access to the lounge 24/7 and you can make tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Many different varieties of Lipton tea. Takeaway or china cups could be used.

 

For breakfast there was fruit, muffins, pastries, fruit bun, toast and bagels.

 

For lunch there was small wraps and bread rolls (using french stick) with meat and lettuce mainly. Usually whatever was in the Windjammer buffet. Very limited range though.

 

In the evening from 5 to 8.30 pm there was hot/cold appetisers .... samosas, crumbed chicken drumsticks (small), crumbed mushrooms, spring rolls (small), fruit and cheese platter, dip with fresh vegetable sticks (carrot, celery, cucumber, radish) - the dip changed each day, and then a plate of small bread toasts and savoury tarts with cheese, fruit, pate, mashed egg with mayo spreads/toppings.

 

PLUS

 

the free drinks - beers, wines, spirits but not cocktails.

 

The Concierge also assisted us with emails and priority tendering. We would go to the CL and she would radio to the Activities Manager who was managing the tenders and advise that xxx people were ready to get on a tender and then she would walk us down to the part of the ship where you board the tender and we would go straight to the front of the line. No waiting in lounges or hallways for your tender number to be called. This was a great service although it was generally available after 8am. So if you arrive in port at 7am and the ship is cleared and the tenders start then you go alone. But when this happened there wasn't many people up that early waiting for the tender anyway!

 

One other point is that I would every few days get the Concierge to print our room account and if there were discrepancies she would fix them. I bought internet time and it was very slow and asked for a credit for the remaining time as it really wasn't worth it. Also we had a noro-virus break out on the ship and were told that the mini bar would be free and we used the lemonade/sprite and water when we were quarantined. We were then charged for these items and once I raised it with her she then removed them.

 

We also had a special seating area in the theatre which was roped off and serviced by wait/bar staff which was really useful and you didn't have to climb over people to get a seat - this is located on the top floor of the theatre which is accessible from deck 6.

 

There are many other benefits, like access to about 50 DVDs for use in the room, chocolates on the pillows in the evening (no other rooms have this on rhapsody), luxury bathrobes and toiletries, ability to order room service from the main dining room menu (when the dining room is open). 24/7 room service (whereby other rooms there is a charge between midnight and 5am ish).

 

Pretty told me that she usually alternates between the CL and DL on different cruises.

 

You will receive an email from the Concierge the week before you board the ship, she will introduce herself and advise of the full services. You should introduce yourself when you first visit the lounge and she WILL remember your name and assist you with pretty much anything you need. As already stated, its much easier than lining up at Guest Services.

 

Some people we met on the ship were needing to phone a airport transfer company to confirm a booking and she let them make a courtesy call from her phone - very very helpful.

 

If you have an email address I would be happy to send you the email we received prior to starting the cruise.

[pax2]

Hi MiaMia,

what a great review many thanks how did you find priority embark and disembark through OPT Sydney what time did you board and what was the procedure, what time did you disembark. Could you send me the email you were sent many thanks and thanks for sharing. holden.jeanette@gmail.com

[Miamia65]

Hi MiaMia,

what a great review many thanks how did you find priority embark and disembark through OPT Sydney what time did you board and what was the procedure, what time did you disembark. Could you send me the email you were sent many thanks and thanks for sharing. holden.jeanette@gmail.com

Hi pax2, email sent .... we arrived at the OPT at about 2pm there was a very long line on the kerb. I think it was just luck for us that grandma needed a wheelchair and there were RCI staff ready to assist with wheelchairs, so we went straight upstairs to check-in. Not long after that most of the people lined up at the kerb were allowed upstairs.

 

We went to the wheelchair and parents with kids in strollers check-in which was very short and were taken all the way to our room! Absolutely amazing.

 

We did notice that the suite check-in queue wasn't that long and one of the staff said there were about 35 people waiting.

 

I will send you an email I got from RCI which they sent a few weeks before which suggested times for arrival based on the deck that your stateroom was on, it also said suite guests could embark from 11am onwards. This is a good idea but advising passengers 2 weeks before a cruise when travel arrangements had been made 6 months in advance was a bit silly. I think RCI should change their procedure and provide this information when people make their booking not prior to cruising!!

 

I know that some passengers wait up to 3 hours to board and were not very happy about that. So the procedure was, drop your bag in this area where there are 2 tents (we didn't do this), line up in the sun and wait, every now and then a number of passengers were released to proceed up into the terminal to check-in, go through customs with departure card and passport, then security screening and photo opportunity and then you are on the ship.

 

We disembarked around 9am, and with the CL access for suite guests we met in Chops Grille where a continental breakfast was supplied. We met Pretty (concierge) who then escorted us to the exit point off the ship, then through customs with arrival card and outside the terminal. We elected to take our own luggage off rather than leave it outside the room in the hallway by 11pm on the last night. No hassles with that. But if you let RCI take your bag off, once you are off the ship you then have to find your bag in the terminal before customs.

 

There was a form we received a few days before disembarking where we had to advise what time and how we wanted to disembark. I didn't fill it in completely just made arrangements with the Concierge. Very easy.

 

Have you seen my full review of the cruise or just the photo bucket? I will bump it up the RCI posts anyway!

[cathydev]

Miamia, wow what great information. Thank you! I would like the email you referred to. Please send it to smiemszoo at gmail dot com. I knew there were some perks, just didn't realize how many. We will be spoiled. Where is the Concierge Lounge on the ship? Hopefully near the suites?

 

Thanks again and I look forward to the email. Also, need to search for your review and photos.

[cruisenfever]

Miamia, wow what great information. Thank you! I would like the email you referred to. Please send it to smiemszoo at gmail dot com. I knew there were some perks, just didn't realize how many. We will be spoiled. Where is the Concierge Lounge on the ship? Hopefully near the suites?

 

Thanks again and I look forward to the email. Also, need to search for your review and photos.

Grand Suites and above are located on Deck 8 forward and the new CL and DL on located on Deck 11. They are part of the VCL.

[houze4u]

yes would like to know what a GS is and a CL. This is greek to me. First time cruising with Royal Carribean in July on the Rapsody. Thank you

[looking4info]

PLUS

 

the free drinks - beers, wines, spirits but not cocktails.

 

 

No cocktails in the CL?

 

GS Grand Suite

 

CL Concierge Lounge

[Clarea]

No cocktails in the CL?

GS Grand Suite

 

CL Concierge Lounge

That's got to be a mistake. The CL should have free beer, wine, soda, and basic mixed drinks.

[39august]

All of the CL's I have been in, and that's a bunch, also served limited martinis as well as mixed drinks. No frozen drinks, however.

[Aussie FF]

DL(Diamond Lounge) on Rhapsody is in the Shall We Dance lounge, on Deck 6.

My teenagers drink fruit punches.

I have them with a little Vodka or Rum!

Aussie Frequent Floaters.

[cathydev]

On the website it mentions an honor bar (self service) for concierge services. Is this only during evening appetizers? Or is this 24 hours since CL is open 24 hours?

[Clarea]

On the website it mentions an honor bar (self service) for concierge services. Is this only during evening appetizers? Or is this 24 hours since CL is open 24 hours?

The honor bar verbage on the website is old and inaccurate. During the cocktail hour from 5pm to 8:30pm, there are bar servers to serve drinks. There is also free self-serve specialty coffee available 24 hours, and self-serve continental breakfast in the morning.