RCCL new Diamond Lounge Policy?

[frank808]

Or retired. [emoji6]

 

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I thought Bella was the boss? [emoji848]

 

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[frank808]

We also get ‘weird’ looks, comments and questions in the Lounge. I am 39 and I always get asked by other D members if I work for Royal (because how else would I be in the lounge etc). Sometimes people are quite intrusive!

 

My answer is standard for curious D lounge guests and anyone in this thread asking why I am in the lounge - not for the canapés, I am there for the free drinks!

 

 

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I have had a couple snarky members in d lounge comment on how I must have walked in behind someone. I just let it go and mention to my wife in a little louder voice before we leave "honey we have got to come back here tomorrow, they get free drinks here!" 🤣[emoji23]

You should see the stares we get the next time we see those same people when we enter the d lounge.

 

Also have heard comments that children of d members should have to earn their own points to be admitted to lounge. I wanted to tell that person that my son is close to d+ on his own history.

 

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[frank808]

Yes, I think Tenerife and the other Canary Islands I have visited look a like Hawaii and I think the weather is fairly similar, too. I was driving on our trip to Tenerife, so I wasn't taking photos, but a lot of the caldera of El Tiede look like Volcano's national park with lava piles. Plus, the top of the volcanos are quite high, like Hawaii. I will never forget spending the morning before sunrise on Haleakala watching the Orionid Meteor shower. Amazing. Then on the bike ride down, going thru a cloud and getting snowed on.

 

JC

Now to watch sunrise on haleakala you have to have a reservation. It was getting too crazy with overcrowding and people parking wherever they wanted when parking lot got full.

 

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[STANMELB]

I really don't think a majority of the cruisers for happy hour would pay the full price for those drinks. I know I wouldn't drink as much if it wasn't for the happy hour benefits.

I would just stick to gs or better on oasis class and drink in the sl if there were no diamond hour.

 

Probably the reason why it costs royal next to nothing for the new Amsterdam vodka. I wonder how much a bottle of amsterdam costs. Considering Kirkland vodka is $12 for 1.75 litres. Amsterdam vodka must be a lot cheaper if royal is using it.

 

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Hi Frank,

 

Just paid $18.99 plus tax for a 1.75 liter of New Amsterdam Vodka at Total Wine in Viera, Florida.

 

Just e-mailed you the info you requested.

[frank808]

Hi Frank,

 

Just paid $18.99 plus tax for a 1.75 liter of New Amsterdam Vodka at Total Wine in Viera, Florida.

 

Just e-mailed you the info you requested.

Try the Kirkland vodka for $12 as it is almost as smooth as grey goose! Much much better than New Amsterdam vodka. Maybe should send a letter to purchasing at royal that they could serve better and cheaper vodka by switching to Kirkland label! I hear the Kirkland tequila is good also.

 

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[xpcdoojk]

Try the Kirkland vodka for $12 as it is almost as smooth as grey goose! Much much better than New Amsterdam vodka. Maybe should send a letter to purchasing at royal that they could serve better and cheaper vodka by switching to Kirkland label! I hear the Kirkland tequila is good also.

 

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Several years ago, we spent a few nights at a RIU all-inclusive in Costa Rica on the beach, and the alcohol was all Disco brand. It was pretty bad. We then transitioned over the Westin All-inclusive a few miles south and the alcohol was traditional brands. You generally get what you pay for....

 

JC

[Milwaukee Eight]

Try the Kirkland vodka for $12 as it is almost as smooth as grey goose! Much much better than New Amsterdam vodka. Maybe should send a letter to purchasing at royal that they could serve better and cheaper vodka by switching to Kirkland label! I hear the Kirkland tequila is good also.

 

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I like Tito’s

 

 

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[ATC cruiser]

But what about the huge profit margin they would make if the sold the same booze. I know many look at it as they are only losing x on the FREE drinks but it also may be looked as losing y (the mark up).

 

 

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That’s assuming I’ll pay full price for the drink, which I won’t.

 

 

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[John&LaLa]

Does Royal? Unlimited discounts?

 

 

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Sure, I can get a Balcony discount on just about any sailing

 

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[grapau27]

Most of the time. We are still Diamond and soon to be D+. But yes, Suites should board before Diamond’s.

 

And why not measure loyalty to Royal by dollars spent or mix the two together like many other loyalty programs are moving too.

 

Many airlines used to be miles or segments only. They then recognized that those that bought more expensive fares were of value to them, more so than many of the low fare flyers. So they began to reward those that spend a lot more $$$ on their fares. Why shouldn’t Royal reward those that spend the most dollars with them over a year period.

 

 

 

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Maybe 1 point per cruise,2 points for JS and 3 points for GS and above and 1 extra point for single cruisers.

This would enable full suite users to move up C&A loyalty quicker.

[grapau27]

I have had a couple snarky members in d lounge comment on how I must have walked in behind someone. I just let it go and mention to my wife in a little louder voice before we leave "honey we have got to come back here tomorrow, they get free drinks here!" 🤣[emoji23]

You should see the stares we get the next time we see those same people when we enter the d lounge.

 

Also have heard comments that children of d members should have to earn their own points to be admitted to lounge. I wanted to tell that person that my son is close to d+ on his own history.

 

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We tend to mostly keep to ourselves in the DL but often end up speaking to other people.

Fortunately i have never heard anyone commenting about someone should not be in the DL.

The consierge often checks anyway so that should be all thats necessary.

[frank808]

I like Tito’s

 

 

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I also like Tito's but and it costs $32 or so for the jug at Costco. Although Tito's doesn't taste three times better than the Kirkland vodka.

 

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[frank808]

Several years ago, we spent a few nights at a RIU all-inclusive in Costa Rica on the beach, and the alcohol was all Disco brand. It was pretty bad. We then transitioned over the Westin All-inclusive a few miles south and the alcohol was traditional brands. You generally get what you pay for....

 

JC

 

I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for. But the Kirkland vodka tastes as good as standard name brand vodka but at half the price. Just like the Kirkland golf balls that performed like name brand golf balls but at a quarter of the price.

 

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[davekathy]

We tend to mostly keep to ourselves in the DL but often end up speaking to other people.

Fortunately i have never heard anyone commenting about someone should not be in the DL.

The consierge often checks anyway so that should be all thats necessary.

 

Agree; agree and agree.

[BNBR]

Depends where they purchase and load their vodka. They can't buy and resell Costco vodka in Florida unless Costco wanted to sell it though a distributor, which I'm pretty sure they don't. Lots of rules when it comes to alcohol!

[BNBR]

I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for. But the Kirkland vodka tastes as good as standard name brand vodka but at half the price. Just like the Kirkland golf balls that performed like name brand golf balls but at a quarter of the price.

 

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Because it is brand name vodka and golf balls, generally speaking. Just white labeled.

[tomko2]

Sometimes it is difficult to keep up with the changes.

When we looked at our Sea Passes last week as we were about to board the Independence, we noticed there was no level designation on it. My DH asked one of the ladies shooing people along to the ship about it and she said "they are all like that now". Shrugged our shoulders and boarded.

Usually stuff in the cabin - couple of Heineken and welcome letters, etc. Went to CL (yes, sadly to be gone next winter) and card worked fine. Went to Olive Or Twist Bar and cards didn't work for free drinks (Bartender very nicely said for us to stay and have a drink and sort out card later). Thanked him but wanted to get it sorted out. Went over DL and showed pass at door, got the " look" and Diamond Concierge Jennie started to explain about the requirements to be admitted to the Lounge. We stopped her and then she checked her list and we were on it.

I said we would go to Purser and get new cards but Jennie explained we needed to see Loyalty Ambassador.

Off we go and finally get a D+ sticker put on our cards.

I don't drink alcoholic beverages but DH not happy to have his cocktail hour (early dining) severely truncated.

 

Bottom line is that the situation was no big deal however it highlighted how we (myself and my DH) are becoming more and more accustomed to having perks (yes having D+ on the card is a little perk) taken away to the point where the removal of our C&A level from our Sea Pass didn't surprise us.

 

KathyT

[payitforward]

Honestly, I don't particularly care to "hang out" in the diamond lounge. I go in to grab a free drink before dinner, and like to stop in later to get another; along with a can of soda or bottle of water to take back to my cabin for later. I haven't been diamond very long, but found the lounge to be VERY crowded. There was never anywhere to sit. And, since the people I was traveling with weren't diamond, I didn't know anyone there and didn't feel particularly welcomed. I was 45, and think I may have been the youngest person in there each time I went.

[Milwaukee Eight]

Sure, I can get a Balcony discount on just about any sailing

 

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Ok. Now I understand.

 

 

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[Milwaukee Eight]

Maybe 1 point per cruise,2 points for JS and 3 points for GS and above and 1 extra point for single cruisers.

This would enable full suite users to move up C&A loyalty quicker.

 

 

 

Doesn’t the value of money spent onboard mean anything? I think Royal would say yes.

 

Aren’t you glad Royal hasn’t asked us what we think. Lol

 

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[John&LaLa]

Doesn’t the value of money spent onboard mean anything? I think Royal would say yes.

 

Aren’t you glad Royal hasn’t asked us what we think. Lol

 

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They ask us at the end of every cruise. It's in the survey. 😉

 

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[Loki_77573]

Just makes it easier to sail other lines. I’m D+ but have never felt loyalty to RCCL. Every year you notice smaller and smaller benefits. Strangely it makes me feel bad for those “married “ to it expecting what was marketed to them on their expensive climb up.

 

 

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[gkbiiii]

I have figured that with 119 cruise credits, it would take me between 6-$10,000 to become a D+ and I am not sure it is worth it to me. Being bored with Royals reductions in overall quality, I decided to try MSC. While I found serious issues as stated below, I did find that their top end service experience, the Yacht Club, seem much better than anything Royal offers, at a much reduced price.

 

While aboard, I found that their were many problems on the MSC Divina; but being inside Yacht Club on Seaside in October, may change things for me. Yacht Club status gets you a deluxe drink package and the MSC Black Card gets you comped specialty dining, which on Seaside could be worth upwards of $100 per dinner, for a couple. It should be noted that drinks, snacks, gratuities, are much less on MSC and that the drinks menus are simply amazing!

 

I do believe eventually Royal will make Diamonds just use the three comped drink vouchers. The Club will be for D+, but I am seeing a lessening of benefits for them as well. If MSC YC goes well, I think I will just remain diamond. There are rumors that MSC is going to come out with a level above Black. The prior program had, dinner with the captain, 20% bookings, cabin upgrades, casino cash, etc. So perhaps it is worth booking with them.

 

My problem with Royal Caribbean, is that I feel the product quality continues to slide, while the prices continue to rise. Also the their drink menus bore me and everything aboard seems so expensive.

Also I resent the 18% bar gratuity!!! My report on Divina said that "MSC was totally lacking in Service & Hospitality"; but this was for the general ship, NOT the Yacht Club.

 

If your paying Suite Money on Royal, in many instances MSC Yacht Club, is LESS money! As well, it is basically an all inclusive experience. What I am saying is, Royal needs to seriously up their game NOW, the second MSC mega-ship is coming at year's end.

 

The MSC Meraviglia will be a strong competitor in both the New York & Miami markets. The ship has a indoor "Royal promenade" like a mall, but with a large LCD roof, like Down Town Las Vegas. Again, serious threat to Royal, at a time that they seem to want to cut benefits and reduce service & standards aboard.

Edited January 20, 2018 by gkbiiii

[John&LaLa]

MSC reduced the Black benefits prior to offering status match. They all play games. 😉

 

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[Milwaukee Eight]

I have figured that with 119 cruise credits, it would take me between 6-$10,000 to become a D+ and I am not sure it is worth it to me. Being bored with Royals reductions in overall quality, I decided to try MSC. While I found serious issues as stated below, I did find that their top end service experience, the Yacht Club, seem much better than anything Royal offers, at a much reduced price.

 

While aboard, I found that their were many problems on the MSC Divina; but being inside Yacht Club on Seaside in October, may change things for me. Yacht Club status gets you a deluxe drink package and the MSC Black Card gets you comped specialty dining, which on Seaside could be worth upwards of $100 per dinner, for a couple. It should be noted that drinks, snacks, gratuities, are much less on MSC and that the drinks menus are simply amazing!

 

I do believe eventually Royal will make Diamonds just use the three comped drink vouchers. The Club will be for D+, but I am seeing a lessening of benefits for them as well. If MSC YC goes well, I think I will just remain diamond. There are rumors that MSC is going to come out with a level above Black. The prior program had, dinner with the captain, 20% bookings, cabin upgrades, casino cash, etc. So perhaps it is worth booking with them.

 

My problem with Royal Caribbean, is that I feel the product quality continues to slide, while the prices continue to rise. Also the their drink menus bore me and everything aboard seems so expensive.

Also I resent the 18% bar gratuity!!! My report on Divina said that "MSC was totally lacking in Service & Hospitality"; but this was for the general ship, NOT the Yacht Club.

 

If your paying Suite Money on Royal, in many instances MSC Yacht Club, is LESS money! As well, it is basically an all inclusive experience. What I am saying is, Royal needs to seriously up their game NOW, the second MSC mega-ship is coming at year's end.

 

The MSC Meraviglia will be a strong competitor in both the New York & Miami markets. The ship has a indoor "Royal promenade" like a mall, but with a large LCD roof, like Down Town Las Vegas. Again, serious threat to Royal, at a time that they seem to want to cut benefits and reduce service & standards aboard.

 

 

 

Doesn’t Royal offer something similar with Star Class? MB did say it was Royals goal to get all ships as possible over to Star/Sky/Sea class. I know not all ships are setup for this.

 

 

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