Diamond Plus

[tinmantam]

We have had a terrible time with Raul on the freedom, very rude

[kandj05]

Hasn't taking a test in over 25 years. This could be fun! Love the sense of humor part

 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Forums mobile app

[marci22]

I never realized that early escort off the ship (by concierge) was not available to D+ in general.

 

Concierge (2 different ones) on our last 2 Ex cruises offered this option to us and I assumed it was because we were CL-eligible. I didn't ask for anything during these trips so maybe it was so they could provide some service to me and thus I would tip them? (because I did. Early debark is a valuable perk to me on this ship.)

 

I will say that there were a lot of guests gathered for the early debark last cruise. He had to make several elevator trips.

Edited September 12, 2014 by marci22

[Able Seaman H]

Credit where credit is due.

 

Recently cruised on board Adventure of the seas as Diamond Plus in a Grand Suite.

 

Ryno Strapp (great name !) in the diamond lounge was excellent. Walked around in the evening saying hello to everyone and ensuring everything ran smoothly. If you needed anything all you had to do was ask.

 

Dionne Jolly in the concierge lounge was the first we have actually used properly and came up trumps. Even before we had boarded she sorted out dining tables, a celebration cake on the first night and a couple of other things.

 

Both of them are a credit to Royal Caribbean.

 

I see it that as a DP customer I have the use of both lounges but if I need anything then it is the Diamond concierge who is my first port of call. Things like ice show tickets for instance: As a suite guest your gold seapass card allows entrance so there is no need for the concierge lounge concierge to carry them. The diamond lounge concierge on the other hand has them easily to hand.

 

As a suite guest I would use the concierge lounge concierge because they have regular contact with my cabin attendant and so on and know the suite perks inside out.

 

Henry :)

Edited September 12, 2014 by Able Seaman H

[denamo]

Glad to read the varied experiences of others with CL and DL. Experienced our first cruise as Diamond+ in March on the Navigator not in a suite. Concierge was in the CL, asked our cabin number. From that point on, we might as well have been invisible. If a suite guest came in, he couldn't be nicer.

 

So...we gravitated to the DL. Totally opposite experience. DL concierge even walked us personally to the tender. Were told by the CL concierge to just go down and flash our card. :eek: Saw him escort suite guests. :rolleyes: Guess who got a tip? We were back on in May and didn't even bother with the CL.

 

Just off an August Allure cruise, again not in a suite. Totally utilized the CL, and it was so nice. Ana was one of the concierges, and she could not have been more helpful! Never dealt with the gentleman, but saw him being helpful to others as well.

 

We enjoy the perks RCCL offers as loyal cruisers which includes the CL and DL. The one aspect of all of the experiences that spills over is the lack of consistency for which RCCL seems to be infamous. From reading here and our experiences, appears some CL concierge's practice that they are here for all; others have grabbed onto the suites only philosophy.

 

Neither philosophy impacted any of our cruises. Had a great time on all!

 

So...we have now had our own varied experiences. :);)

[LBB]

Wow. I missed a lot when I was unable to get online last night. Sorry to post and run.

 

This was on the Radiance. I don't need any special treatment. I asked about the departure, didn't wait to be asked. I only asked because I had been offered it before and had someplace to be at a specific time on departure day and knew it was within reason to get there in time.

 

In my previous experiences (as a suite guest) the concierge has always introduced themselves to me and my group and has tried to come over and say hello and chat on subsequent days we visited the lounge. Perhaps I was giving off a vibe that I didn't want to talk?

 

This really wasn't a big deal at all, but I had read some previous posts and was wondering how it would be. I also went over to the Diamond Lounge.

 

I guess it's nice to have a choice and it will depend on the ship/lounge. Luckily it's not something that will make or break a trip. As long as I'm on a ship, I'm happy.

[mommabean]

It seems there are some D+ who don't understand that having Concierge Lounge access does not entitle them to all the suite benefits. One of those benefits is suite departure lounge access - on Radiance or any other ship. It is for suite guests only and just recently is apparently being extended to Pinnacle club guests.

 

The PC gold card also doesn't entitle Pinnacle guests to all the Suite gold card benefits. I know a lot of PC guests who believe they are entitled to the Suite Party with the officers. They are not. Some ships allow it rather than deal with the backlash of angry guests. PC guests are also not supposed to be allowed to have the dining room menu offered for room service but I also know of at least one who has demanded it.

 

It seems this is the problem with allowing non-suite guests into the CL. They seem to think they should have all of the suite benefits just because their key works in the door.

 

Asking the CL concierge for suite lounge departure access is wrong. It's not a benefit. If the concierge invites you, fine, but don't ask.

 

Gina

[marci22]

I asked about the departure, didn't wait to be asked. I only asked because I had been offered it before and had someplace to be at a specific time on departure day and knew it was within reason to get there in time.

 

It seems like some concierges offer the departure perk to D+ and some don't. I know that if the CL concierge does not provide any service/acknowledgment to me as a D+ member, I will not tip him or her (this hasn't happened yet).

 

I do notice that they seem to pay a lot of attention to suite guests. I have only traveled as D+ on 3 cruises so my experience is limited.

[marci22]

It seems there are some D+ who don't understand that having Concierge Lounge access does not entitle them to all the suite benefits. One of those benefits is suite departure lounge access - on Radiance or any other ship. It is for suite guests only and just recently is apparently being extended to Pinnacle club guests.

 

The PC gold card also doesn't entitle Pinnacle guests to all the Suite gold card benefits. I know a lot of PC guests who believe they are entitled to the Suite Party with the officers. They are not. Some ships allow it rather than deal with the backlash of angry guests. PC guests are also not supposed to be allowed to have the dining room menu offered for room service but I also know of at least one who has demanded it.

 

It seems this is the problem with allowing non-suite guests into the CL. They seem to think they should have all of the suite benefits just because their key works in the door.

 

Asking the CL concierge for suite lounge departure access is wrong. It's not a benefit. If the concierge invites you, fine, but don't ask.

 

Gina

 

I don't expect suite level perks as a D+ member. The only reason I assumed that departure was a perk for D+was because 2 concierges offered it to me.

 

That being said, I would not have a problem requesting escorted departure in the future. I will tip for that benefit. If he says no, he says no.

[LBB]

Not to be argumentative, but "Priority departure" is listed in the Crown and Anchor benefits for Diamond Plus. I didn't realize that the details of this may vary from getting to choice the time you want, or gettin escorting off, or having a special waiting room. This is the only reason I even thought it. The concerienge had offered it in the past, and that's why I asked. I really just wanted to see if I could get the tags to get off early, but it was just as easy for me to walk off with my luggage.

 

I don't feel I'm "entitled" to anything, but this was a service I thought I could receive and would have benefitted from. I rarely ask for anything from the concierge in either the Diamond or Concierge lounge. But if I deserve a perk, I should be able to take advantage of it. I did earn it.

[wolfganghowell]

We have been D+ for the last 3 or 4 sailings I think. We always stay in GS or JS. Normally we have only used the CL because we usually cruise with friends who always stay in a GS. The one time we were by ourselves the DL was so packed, we stuck to the CL which was our choice anyway. The only difference I've noted is that the concierge seems to know the names and faces of all the suite people much more than D+ and P. I believe they have a list and they probably study that manifest since those are the people they are trained to deal with. They know the D+ and P are "pros" and already know to ask for what they want. As others have said, some are more outgoing and friendly but I can't think of anyone ignoring us or being discourteous.

[mommabean]

Not to be argumentative, but "Priority departure" is listed in the Crown and Anchor benefits for Diamond Plus. I didn't realize that the details of this may vary from getting to choice the time you want, or gettin escorting off, or having a special waiting room. This is the only reason I even thought it. The concerienge had offered it in the past, and that's why I asked. I really just wanted to see if I could get the tags to get off early, but it was just as easy for me to walk off with my luggage.

 

I don't feel I'm "entitled" to anything, but this was a service I thought I could receive and would have benefitted from. I rarely ask for anything from the concierge in either the Diamond or Concierge lounge. But if I deserve a perk, I should be able to take advantage of it. I did earn it.

 

Priority departure IS given to D+ in the crown and anchor priority departure lounge that is stated on the paper that should be left in your room by the loyalty ambassador. It's in a different location that the suite departure lounge. C&A members from Platinum up are given priority departure. Certainly they don't all think this means the suite departure lounge!

 

One priority lounge is for suite guests. The other priority lounge is for C&A members who qualify, meaning all but Gold members. C&A members have earned access to the C&A priority departure lounge. With all the platinum and above on most ships these days, it's not always a pretty sight.

 

Always booking a suite offers the opportunity to always have the smaller, quieter lounge that on most ships allows the guests off before the C&A departure lounge. Now PC members might be offered the suite lounge, or so it seems. Unless it's just on Vision of the Seas where this is offered.

 

It should be noted on that paper left by the loyalty ambassador. If you don't find this paper in your room, you should go ask the LA for it.

 

Gina