Crown & Anchor Diamond Plus cutbacks continue!

[KelJ]

2 hours ago, lr657 said:

We will be boarding Navigator this Friday. Thought I would share this email we received yesterday. As a D+ member I was aware that the CL was changed to SL during dry dock and D+ would be using the DL. This email sort of discourages use of the DL also! 

 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS     Dear Guest, In about a week, you’ll be boarding the newly amplified Navigator of the Seasand we’re excited to welcome you onboard! As you may know, this sailing is quite popular amongst our Crown & Anchor Society members, so we wanted to share with you some of the updated and new locations for our exclusive lounges. The beautifully designed Diamond Lounge is on Deck 5, adjacent to the Star Lounge. This is where you’ll find the Diamond Concierge, who is available to assist you with reserving that dinner reservation you’ve been looking forward to, or answer questions about what to do in port. This lounge is centrally located; however, seating is limited. Therefore, we encourage you to enjoy and explore all of the incredible new bars and lounge venues while using the complimentary drink vouchers that will be loaded on your SeaPass card. Insider Tip: Catch the beautiful sunset from the Viking Crown Lounge. And just in case the lounge is busier than usual in the morning, we are loading one specialty coffee voucher per day onto your SeaPass card. This can be used in the Main Dining Room, Café Promenade, Star Lounge, and the Plaza Bar in the Windjammer. Once onboard, please check your Welcome Letter or with your Concierge for additional information and how to best use your loyalty benefits. We can’t wait to welcome you onboard! Thank you for your loyalty and we hope your time with us is nothing short of spectacular! Sincerely, Your Crown & Anchor Society Team

©2018 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships' registry: The Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean International
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132 USA

 

They did this on our Freedom transatlantic in October/November of 2017.

 

Edited February 26, 2019 by KelJ

[Paulette3028]

29 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

 

Sounds like they are making the Diamond experience even better, adding a free coffee, that will come in handy when the line in the DL is 15 deep at the coffee machine or it is broken.  Hope this expands fleet wide!

 

jc

I would love to be able to take advantage of getting a specialty coffee at breakfast without having breakfast in the DL.  If 1 or 2 were added to my seapass for use, it would be wonderful, indeed.  I can HOPE!

[Ocean Boy]

The coffee machine in Adventure's DL worked just fine last month and I never encountered a line.

[Ocean Boy]

So th DL on Navigator us now on deck 5 with no ocean views? Sounds like a great enhancemen.

[Paulette3028]

7 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

So th DL on Navigator us now on deck 5 with no ocean views? Sounds like a great enhancemen.

This is where they are putting them on the new builds....not a nice spot in my view --- but it is what it is.  I love when it has an ocean view....as when it is accessed from the Viking Crown Lounge on many of their ships.  Our first cruise on Allure had the DL overlooking the Promenade which was nice for people watching, but in her refurb they moved it and took away the Library on Deck 11, although still with NO ocean view.....and turning what was the DL into more cabins.  That is how it was when we sailed on Allure the 2nd time. 

[Clarea]

18 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

The coffee machine in Adventure's DL worked just fine last month and I never encountered a line.

 

Same in the SL the last two weeks.

[grapau27]

11 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

So th DL on Navigator us now on deck 5 with no ocean views? Sounds like a great enhancemen.

Like the DL on deck 4 on Harmony they are making the DL into a dungeon rather than somewhere with outside views or an outside sitting area like on Independence which I have posted a couple of photos.

[Paulette3028]

13 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Like the DL on deck 4 on Harmony they are making the DL into a dungeon rather than somewhere with outside views or an outside sitting area like on Independence which I have posted a couple of photos.

 

 

The outside seating areas on the ships that still have them are wonderful, but clearly NOT the way of future build outs or remodelings.  It is what it is.  If they make it a less pleasant/enjoyable place, fewer people will use it.

Edited February 26, 2019 by Paulette3028

[Ocean Boy]

16 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Like the DL on deck 4 on Harmony they are making the DL into a dungeon rather than somewhere with outside views or an outside sitting area like on Independence which I have posted a couple of photos.

Same as on Freedom.

[Clarea]

32 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Same as on Freedom.

 

Would not surprise me to see these go away, like on Navigator.

[Baron Barracuda]

Putting one cup of coffee on card would be woefully insufficient.  DW is usually good for 5+ cappuciono / day.  Often goes down to dl at 5am and preps machine herself.  

[cruisegirl1]

47 minutes ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Putting one cup of coffee on card would be woefully insufficient.  DW is usually good for 5+ cappuciono / day.  Often goes down to dl at 5am and preps machine herself.  

 This is an ADDITIONAL  benefit. She can have as many cups  as she would like  from the lounge, but now she will receive an ADDITIONAL one while seated for breakfast. 

 

M

[lr657]

6 hours ago, KelJ said:

 

They did this on our Freedom transatlantic in October/November of 2017.

 

 

I understand the need to do this on special cruises that normally have high amounts of upper tiers sailing. I don't consider this to be one of those cruises.

[lr657]

4 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

So th DL on Navigator us now on deck 5 with no ocean views? Sounds like a great enhancemen.

 

Maybe they're thinking that the location might help to discourage people from using the lounge. 

[Clarea]

4 minutes ago, lr657 said:

 

Maybe they're thinking that the location might help to discourage people from using the lounge. 

 

I think there's something to that.

[nelblu]

3 hours ago, Paulette3028 said:

This is where they are putting them on the new builds....not a nice spot in my view --- but it is what it is.  I love when it has an ocean view....as when it is accessed from the Viking Crown Lounge on many of their ships.  Our first cruise on Allure had the DL overlooking the Promenade which was nice for people watching, but in her refurb they moved it and took away the Library on Deck 11, although still with NO ocean view.....and turning what was the DL into more cabins.  That is how it was when we sailed on Allure the 2nd time. 

 

 

Confused.  Did Allure have a refurb since Easter, '18.  If not, the DL on the 11 has the view of the Boardwalk and some ocean/sea view.  Overflow is the 12th deck.

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, Paulette3028 said:

The outside seating areas on the ships that still have them are wonderful, but clearly NOT the way of future build outs or remodelings.  It is what it is.  If they make it a less pleasant/enjoyable place, fewer people will use it.

My photos were of the DL on Independence last May after a multi million dollar upgrade.

[Nashna]

We are Diamond and are sailing in a GS in June.  Because we are sailing with family,  who do not have access to either the DL or SL, we probably will not use either lounge very much.  On a RCCL 7-day sailing 15 years ago, we met a couple who were staying in an inside stateroom from January to April.  They prided themselves in purchasing the cheapest possible inside stateroom, never leaving the ship and not spending one extra cent onboard.  I'm sure RCCL lost money on these two passengers.   However, look at the loyalty points they were amassing.  We have a cruise booked on MSC in January.  MSC will transfer my loyalty Diamond points to their gold status.  Their points are based on what you spend for your cruise.  You receive 500 for an inside stateroom and 2000 for a suite.  Plus, you get extra points for pre-spending on excursions, packages, spa treatments, etc.  They are rewarding spending; not nights cruised.  The benefits are fantastic.  Members of their loyalty program get an automatic 5% discount.  The rewards go up from there.  We are sailing in the Yacht Club, which includes a private dining room,  24 hour lounge area with musical entertainment, a private pool area, all drinks, fully stocked mini bar, a beautiful lounging deck area and butler service so nice that you are escorted onto and off the ship.   We are spending less for twelve days than we are spending on the Allure and getting way much more.  RCCL can't continue their current loyalty program the way it is currently structured.  Another poster stated that RCCL must attract families who spend and they are correct.  Guests who simply purchase the cheapest inside stateroom and leave the ship without spending a cent would cause them to go bankrupt.  I think we are going to see some drastic changes in the cruise industry.     

[Ocean Boy]

16 minutes ago, Nashna said:

We are Diamond and are sailing in a GS in June.  Because we are sailing with family,  who do not have access to either the DL or SL, we probably will not use either lounge very much.  On a RCCL 7-day sailing 15 years ago, we met a couple who were staying in an inside stateroom from January to April.  They prided themselves in purchasing the cheapest possible inside stateroom, never leaving the ship and not spending one extra cent onboard.  I'm sure RCCL lost money on these two passengers.   However, look at the loyalty points they were amassing.  We have a cruise booked on MSC in January.  MSC will transfer my loyalty Diamond points to their gold status.  Their points are based on what you spend for your cruise.  You receive 500 for an inside stateroom and 2000 for a suite.  Plus, you get extra points for pre-spending on excursions, packages, spa treatments, etc.  They are rewarding spending; not nights cruised.  The benefits are fantastic.  Members of their loyalty program get an automatic 5% discount.  The rewards go up from there.  We are sailing in the Yacht Club, which includes a private dining room,  24 hour lounge area with musical entertainment, a private pool area, all drinks, fully stocked mini bar, a beautiful lounging deck area and butler service so nice that you are escorted onto and off the ship.   We are spending less for twelve days than we are spending on the Allure and getting way much more.  RCCL can't continue their current loyalty program the way it is currently structured.  Another poster stated that RCCL must attract families who spend and they are correct.  Guests who simply purchase the cheapest inside stateroom and leave the ship without spending a cent would cause them to go bankrupt.  I think we are going to see some drastic changes in the cruise industry.     

Sounds to me like you are saying that RCI is overpriced for what you get. And then you knock someone for booking the least expensive cabin on RCI that they can find.

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, lr657 said:

 

Maybe they're thinking that the location might help to discourage people from using the lounge. 

 

1 hour ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I think there's something to that.

And then when enough people stop using the lounge RCI can declare a lack of interest an turn the lounge into more cabins.😮😉

[grapau27]

3 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

 

And then when enough people stop using the lounge RCI can declare a lack of interest an turn the lounge into more cabins.😮😉

Certainly makes you think that is their plan.

 

[lr657]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

 

And then when enough people stop using the lounge RCI can declare a lack of interest an turn the lounge into more cabins.😮😉

 

I wouldn't give them any ideas.

[Hoopster95]

4 hours ago, Paulette3028 said:

 If they make it a less pleasant/enjoyable place, fewer people will use it.

 

2 hours ago, lr657 said:

 

Maybe they're thinking that the location might help to discourage people from using the lounge. 

 

I don't think so. I've been to many bars during the nightly lounge hours on various ships, and they are empty of D and up cruisers. On Brilliance in the UK I hung out often with 2 other cruise buddies I met on board the Schooner Bar and we were the only ones D or above there for 12 days. I feel that the mentality of a large majority is "if I'm D, then I MUST and DESERVE to go to the D lounge at all costs, under any circumstance"... even if they are packed with no seating. Let's all jam into 1000 square feet whereas there's a 200,000 TON ship to use.

 

My biggest aha moment about this was on Explorer last year on the BC 4-day coastal. I decided to open the door to the interior CL on EX on deck 9.... standing room only/every seat jam packed with very little room to maneuver.... in one of the very worst locations on the entire ship. I hope I'm wrong, however I felt as if none of those C&A members could likely overcome the thought of demeaning themselves by being "demoted" up to the DL and the Viking Crown with superlative views and much more space.

Edited February 26, 2019 by Hoopster95

[SAmome]

5 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

The coffee machine in Adventure's DL worked just fine last month and I never encountered a line.

 

Even when I have a drink package and can get specialty coffee other places, I usually hit up DL for less of a line than other locations.  Additional machines would be a good idea and should be something they could incorporate into the DL.

[nelblu]

14 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Certainly makes you think that is their plan.

 

 

Not on your life.  Symphony DL is inside and folks are standing in line to get in.  However, the DL has 2 screens which show virtual reality of the sea/Ocean.