Diamond (and higher) drink vouchers are back on Independence of the Seas

[denamo]

I was catching up on reading this thread. Two pluses I've gleaned from others on this thread are:

1. No dress code for going to other places on board to get a drink as required for the DL and CL;

2 If cruising with others who are not at the same loyalty level, the loyal cruiser can still receive a complimentary drink(s) at other locations on board with their cruising party.

 

As I reported in an earlier post, a B2B cruiser had received notice on the Navigator of the voucher system being put into place for the second leg of the cruise. We're back on the Navigator in May, so curious to see if the voucher system will still be in place. Might miss the appetizers offered in the DL/CL (especially shrimp), but my waistline certainly won't! ;)

[CVU]

A better white wine is music to my ears.

Do you know the dates of the other two voucher sailings?

We sail March 29 and would like to know if we can look forward to vouchers as well as lounges.

Thanks.

 

This cruise right now on IOS march 15 starting

And then the next 2 cruises.

 

Enjoying the better white wine. Limited brands allowed i gather there is a list but ok for us.

Nice to not try to find a seat etc in CL or DL

Frees up over flow lounges for the others. You can get your drink in those as well!!

A Great ship! Have a wonderful cruise.

[Starry Eyes]

This cruise right now on IOS march 15 starting

And then the next 2 cruises.

 

Enjoying the better white wine. Limited brands allowed i gather there is a list but ok for us.

Nice to not try to find a seat etc in CL or DL

Frees up over flow lounges for the others. You can get your drink in those as well!!

A Great ship! Have a wonderful cruise.

It seems ours is the third of those three cruises; I am pleased to hear it. This will be our first cruise with a voucher option, and I am looking forward to trying it. And if we have an extra wine choice or two with the voucher, all the better:).

Thanks for taking the time to share the info.

Continue to enjoy your 5 B2b cruises...wow.

[Mal]

Still on Indy with one additional note about drinks...don't expect fruit in your drinks! That's right - a vodka tonic isn't served with lime because they don't have any. None. Zero. A few of the bars had them at the start of the cruise, but the vast majority were fruitless. Not a BIG deal, but still a little annoying. (It doesn't matter if you are buying your drinks or using a voucher.) Yes, the vouchers are great, and we also love going to the DL. (DL hasn't had fruit all week.) I just find it odd - never had this issue on a cruise before.

[Mal]

I feel the power of Cruise Critic! Got my club soda at the Solarium pool after spending a day at Labadee...and it had a LEMON! Woo Hoo! Thank you, RCCL! Maybe someone read my post and borrowed some lemons from Grandeur (parked right beside us today.) I saw some orange slices and cherries, too. I believe in full disclosure, so I'm giving you the facts. :)

[Ocean Boy]

My gut tells me this is where it's heading for D's. Although for me, no biggie but seems it will be real big to some here. Three drinks are not by accident. One before one during and one after dinner. It's supposed to be a thank you for coming back. Not a sit down and pound down as many as you can in the given time frame for some.;)

 

No big deal to me either. Now we can have a drink together in the Windjammer over dinner.

[PerferWarmWeather]

I wonder if you can have 1 drink in the DL or CL and still be able to have 2 left on your card for some other bar?

[Ocean Boy]

Focus on the positives! You can now have a drink in the Schooner Bar or the Centrum with entertainment. You can sit in the hot tub! You can enjoy more time with your friends and/or family. You can enjoy dinner and a drink in the WindJammer.

 

Maybe RCI did this to make you happy? Why all the doom and gloom?

 

Enjoy your future cruise.

 

I have to agree with you here. It seems that when RCI makes changes people rarely see it as them possibly trying to actually enhance our cruise experience. Maybe this is all headed down an elimination path as some surmise but, at least for now, I see this as a very positive move. I'd love to grab a drink and take a walk around the ship, sit in a lounge, take it to dinner, or perhaps go sit on my balcony and just water the water go by. And 3 drinks a night is plenty good enough for me especially since it appears that they have to be obtained during the 3 hour window that the DL/CL bar is in operation for complimentary drinks.

[PerferWarmWeather]

My gut tells me this is where it's heading for D's. Although for me, no biggie but seems it will be real big to some here. Three drinks are not by accident. One before one during and one after dinner. It's supposed to be a thank you for coming back. Not a sit down and pound down as many as you can in the given time frame for some.;)

 

I missed this earlier, pound down. :D That's funny. On our last cruise this lady kept asking for 2 wines at a time. Each time the server brought 2, she would ask for 2 more. It was funny to watch, especially when she got up to leave. fist bumping people all the way to the door.

[Ocean Boy]

I wonder if you can have 1 drink in the DL or CL and still be able to have 2 left on your card for some other bar?

 

What I am getting from reading... and I might be totally wrong... is you can get three drinks outside of the lounges. I don't think what you have inside the lounge counts against the total. As I said, I could be wrong and if I am then I am sure that someone will very soon be by to point it out.

[Debde]

No big deal to me either. Now we can have a drink together in the Windjammer over dinner.

 

We are so on the same page with that thought!!!:D

[bloodymary]

What I am getting from reading... and I might be totally wrong... is you can get three drinks outside of the lounges. I don't think what you have inside the lounge counts against the total. As I said, I could be wrong and if I am then I am sure that someone will very soon be by to point it out.

 

You are right this is just to save the crowding at 5.30 in the two lounges. I think it is a great idea having a drink at the pool before I go to get changed for the evening.

 

Jennifer

[Ocean Boy]

We are so on the same page with that thought!!!:D

 

And I in no way am trying to negate your other opinions on this matter. You may very well be right. For some reason I'm just giving RCI the benefit of the doubt today. I guess that is what the weekend being here does for my thought process.:p

[Mal]

Here is how it is working on Independence this week...

You are allowed 3 beverages from 5-8:30 at any bar on the ship. Drinks from the Diamond Lounge (5-8:30) do NOT count against your 3 at any other bars. Remember that it's only from 5-8:30.

[PerferWarmWeather]

Ocean Boy and Mal.

 

Thank you both

[39august]

Sounds great to me. Hope this is in place on Navigator May 4. I'd love to try it.

[plank]

They always make us martinis in the DL...will be able to get those as well with the voucher?

[smmountaingal]

Nice move Royal. This should be good news to all!

I agree. Wonderful when cruising with non-Diamond old friends or new friends!

[Swarmmarketing]

My brother sailed yesterday , he is diamond plus and he sent me a picture of the letter from the concierge . Looks like it is being rolled out to other ships, gp

[maryann2]

Still on Indy with one additional note about drinks...don't expect fruit in your drinks! That's right - a vodka tonic isn't served with lime because they don't have any. None. Zero. A few of the bars had them at the start of the cruise, but the vast majority were fruitless. Not a BIG deal, but still a little annoying. (It doesn't matter if you are buying your drinks or using a voucher.) Yes, the vouchers are great, and we also love going to the DL. (DL hasn't had fruit all week.) I just find it odd - never had this issue on a cruise before.

 

I feel the power of Cruise Critic! Got my club soda at the Solarium pool after spending a day at Labadee...and it had a LEMON! Woo Hoo! Thank you, RCCL! Maybe someone read my post and borrowed some lemons from Grandeur (parked right beside us today.) I saw some orange slices and cherries, too. I believe in full disclosure, so I'm giving you the facts. :)

Seems there is a problem getting limes.

Blimey! Mexican Lime Shortage Is No Pulp Fiction « CBS Los Angeles

[Life is Good Cruising]

Came home yesterday from Explorer. They also now have 3 drinks
added onto your sea pass card during Happy Hour. If you wanted a seat in the CL, you had to get there before 5 or wait till after 6. We split our time between the CL, Cloud 9 and the Casino during Happy Hour. This is a nice perk if your are traveling with friends who don't have it.

[Merion_Mom]

[quote name='Life is Good Cruising']Came home yesterday from Explorer. They also now have 3 drinks
added onto your sea pass card during Happy Hour. If you wanted a seat in the CL, you had to get there before 5 or wait till after 6. We split our time between the CL, Cloud 9 and the Casino during Happy Hour. This is a nice perk if your are traveling with friends who don't have it.[/QUOTE]

On the Explorer now. :D Concierge Lounge is NOT crowded, and I credit the vouchers!

:)

[Merion_Mom]

[quote name='Ocean Boy']No big deal to me either. Now we can have a drink together in the Windjammer over dinner.[/QUOTE]

On the Explorer, the paper says that the vouchers CANNOT be used in the main dining room, Windjammer or...............or...........or.........darn it. Can't remember the third place. :(

[Merion_Mom]

[quote name='PerferWarmWeather']I wonder if you can have 1 drink in the DL or CL and still be able to have 2 left on your card for some other bar?[/QUOTE]

Complete separate. No swiping in the lounge, so those three drinks on your SeaPass are available from 5 to 8:30, regardless of how much you drink in the lounge.

Oh, and would you PLEASE do me a HUGE personal favor? Ask the mods to fix your screen name. It's driving me crazy. ;) :D Edited March 23, 2014 by Merion_Mom

[Mal]

Updates:
1. Got a LIME tonight at the theater. Guess the "lime fairy" flew over and delivered some limes. Amazing!
2. Problem with the 3-drinks on my card. When I ordered a drink for me and DH ordered a club soda, the server said I already had my 3 today. WHAT? He also said my husband's club soda would have to be charged even though he had a soda sticker because he was in the theater and he thought he would prefer a can. SERIOUSLY? He insisted that we sign, and since the show was starting we did. (We were at the pool all day, and then packing in the late afternoon.) I knew I didn't have any drinks, so after the show we went to Guest Relations and they removed the theater's charges for the drink and club soda. Can't quite figure that one out, but you can be sure I'll be checking our statement to be sure our folio number wasn't compromised. I'll keep you posted.
3. Thanks for the story about the limes maryann2. Makes seeing a Corona with lemon a little easier. :)