Diamond plus changes on Oasis

[Backpack Cruisers]

I started this thread after disembarking from a very unhappy cruise experience on Oasis in December 2014, Dia Plus members were treated no better than Diamond and any specialness previously felt onboard Oasis was totally wiped out. This is a sad state as earlier in 2014 we had our best cruise experience with any cruise line on Oasis, the use of the Concierge lounge was a huge part of that.

 

We have 98 cruise days booked for 2015, only 26 of them with RCI, and I see that number reduce each year.

As a previous poster said, my cruise loyalty is now to myself. We had an excellent experience on Royal Princess last year, so this year we will cruise more with Princess and will try other lines including Oceannia.

Edited March 7, 2015 by Backpack Cruisers

[roquejo]

Perks change over time, you win some..you lose some.

 

Yeah, D's no longer have access to CL, now even D+ will lose the CL perk in Oasis, and our next cruise OBC perks got drastically reduced...

 

But new benefits are also being added, like the 3 drink coupons for D per day, the 2 bottles of wine allowance per stateroom for all guests on embarkation day, and lately, the no corkage fee for the wine you brought in. Meaning you are free to enjoy your favorite premium wine you bought at grocery store or wine shop prices before your cruise.. this is nice for us and less profits for the cruise line.... and other competing cruise line still won't let you bring your own wine without paying a corkage fee.

 

So inspite of the cut backs.... I still cruise RCCL as the overall benefits are still great, especially for us alcohol drinkers :p

[setsail]

Funny, the CL was open the whole month of December, oh and its still open. :rolleyes: with a new name

Edited March 7, 2015 by setsail

[PompeySailor]

We have cancelled a couple of RC cruises and are looking at Silver Seas for the Arctic and Antarctica itineraries.

NCL suites are also now looking the way forward for us too

 

Another factor for us looking elsewhere is the new Casino VIP program change

Where my 13 years of play!! Will only be recognized for my last years play

That's loyalty for you:eek:

 

Imagine sailing for 13 years, making D+, then RC saying hey guys, thanks for being loyal to us, you are now Gold, but you can bring 2 bottles of wine on board and we won't charge you to open them:rolleyes:

 

New Cruise lines

New destinations.

Variety is the spice of life!!

Happy Days!

Edited March 7, 2015 by PompeySailor

[booze brothers]

So many rumors flying around. We just got off the Allure (fantastic) Concierge said "they" were trying to figure out a way to use the original concierge on deck 11 for D and D+. He said D+ would be upstairs and D on the lower level. Concierge also said they don't see how that would work.

 

So, they take away cooked breakfast, wine and beer and lunch in the concierge. Ok so be it. But I sure would miss not being able to have evening cocktails in the lounge. I'm hoping this would be the same on Oasis.

 

We're sailing b2b Oasis in Oct. Is the concierge lounge or maybe it's called Diamond club, in the same concierge lounge on deck 11?

 

So many changes, just can't keep up.

[Clarea]

So many rumors flying around. We just got off the Allure (fantastic) Concierge said "they" were trying to figure out a way to use the original concierge on deck 11 for D and D+. He said D+ would be upstairs and D on the lower level. Concierge also said they don't see how that would work.

 

So, they take away cooked breakfast, wine and beer and lunch in the concierge. Ok so be it. But I sure would miss not being able to have evening cocktails in the lounge. I'm hoping this would be the same on Oasis.

 

We're sailing b2b Oasis in Oct. Is the concierge lounge or maybe it's called Diamond club, in the same concierge lounge on deck 11?

So many changes, just can't keep up.

 

Yes, the former CL on deck 11 (and 12) is now the Diamond Club. I believe they changed the furniture too.

[Folk Singer]

Yes, the former CL on deck 11 (and 12) is now the Diamond Club. I believe they changed the furniture too.

 

Thanks Bob.

[Ocean Boy]

When diamonds were removed from the CL a ways back this same talk came about. They were either leaving and not coming back or were going to watch the company go into financial ruin!! [yes-I inflated that a bit :p]

In reality, most rushed to climb up the loyalty ladder, booked like crazy and went no where and the company wound up building bigger ships!!

 

But yes, you are correct. Time will tell............Stay tuned for the next chapter..........

 

Booked like crazy to climb a ladder in a program that could end tomorrow. It all makes perfect sense to me.:eek: :rolleyes:

[Merion_Mom]

Actually, I think that most people booked cruises, "like crazy" or otherwise, in order to..................

 

CRUISE.

 

:rolleyes:

[Ocean Boy]

Actually, I think that most people booked cruises, "like crazy" or otherwise, in order to..................

 

CRUISE.

 

:rolleyes:

 

Well, some of us still have to work on most days.:eek:

[Missus Makkem]

Cannot see where being able to bring 2 bottles of wine onboard is considered a perk, those who wanted their own wine seemed to sneak it onboard anyway.

For us RCI has cetainly changed in the years since we started and of course it should, nothing should stand still but when we take into account the cruise fares in Europe and the airfare to Caribbean it becomes sensible to look elsewhere.

This we have done and taken out buisiness to 2 other lines so far this year, this is not to say we will never cruise RCI again but if and when we do it will be because we got good deal and with a better itenary than is being offered at the moment.

[Captgreg]

They have once again taken away a great benefit from the Diamond Plus members by removing them from the Concierge Lounge on Oasis class ships. We used to have access as a Diamond member then it was taken away. We EARNED Diamond Plus primarily to get back the CL and now it is gone again! We have already booked a land vacation and with another cruise line instead of Royal Caribbean. We will still cruise RCL, but I certainly do not think we are alone and feel this move will significantly impact their "loyal" customers. We are extremely disappointed!

[Debde]

They have once again taken away a great benefit from the Diamond Plus members by removing them from the Concierge Lounge on Oasis class ships. We used to have access as a Diamond member then it was taken away. We EARNED Diamond Plus primarily to get back the CL and now it is gone again!

 

Aren't you in the same exact room you were in before [now with the use of both floors] with just a different name on the door???

[emmy]

Aren't you in the same exact room you were in before [now with the use of both floors] with just a different name on the door???

 

Exactly ~ Deck 11 and 12 for D/D+ /Pinnacle and the signage reads Diamond Club.

 

Still a great venue for nightly drinks and continental breakfast

[cruisenfever]

Aren't you in the same exact room you were in before [now with the use of both floors] with just a different name on the door???

I think just the name Diamond Lounge doesn't have the same prestige as Concierge Lounge did. And, they can not get breakfast and lunch anymore.

[1ParticularHbr]

They have once again taken away a great benefit from the Diamond Plus members by removing them from the Concierge Lounge on Oasis class ships. We used to have access as a Diamond member then it was taken away. We EARNED Diamond Plus primarily to get back the CL and now it is gone again! We have already booked a land vacation and with another cruise line instead of Royal Caribbean. We will still cruise RCL, but I certainly do not think we are alone and feel this move will significantly impact their "loyal" customers. We are extremely disappointed!

 

I guess I don't get the appeal of Concierge lounge. We cruised in a Grand Suite while we were Emerald and we appreciated the food, drinks and socialization in the CL. Now that we've been Diamond for a bit, and have visited Diamond Events on two ships w/o Diamond lounge, and Diamond Club on Oasis, I didn't feel as though either one was any different than the CL. What am I missing??

[Debde]

I think just the name Diamond Lounge doesn't have the same prestige as Concierge Lounge did. And, they can not get breakfast and lunch anymore.

 

Something tells me the word 'concierge' could very well be be a thing of old in the near future so no one will have any prestige!!:p

As for breakfast and lunch-again, I'm leaning towards this whole suite lounge/coastal kitchen thing fleetwide and Royal may have just given a small hint to the new suite upgrades maybe??? Again, I speak from no inside information but as that expression goes, 'things change'.

[CVU]

I think just the name Diamond Lounge doesn't have the same prestige as Concierge Lounge did. And, they can not get breakfast and lunch anymore.

So happy we were able to have some time before the changes took affect to enjoy those lunches and breakfast in there.:) It was Very Nice!!!