Voyager Refurb gives Diamond lounge to suite guests!

[avalon007]

Just read the CC post about Voyager's Refurb, seems the great DL with it's nice view is now a suite guest lounge & diamond lounge is smaller & relegated to deck 5.
Voyager's DL was one of the things I enjoyed most about the ship, the views were lovely, now I assume it's much like the DL on Ovation with overflow into the nearby lounge area, which due to the growing number of Diamond members I can see is a useful option for Royal, but will miss those views.

 

[Chiliburn]

3 hours ago, avalon007 said:

Just read the CC post about Voyager's Refurb, seems the great DL with it's nice view is now a suite guest lounge & diamond lounge is smaller & relegated to deck 5.
Voyager's DL was one of the things I enjoyed most about the ship, the views were lovely, now I assume it's much like the DL on Ovation with overflow into the nearby lounge area, which due to the growing number of Diamond members I can see is a useful option for Royal, but will miss those views.

 

The diamond lounge is just off the Star lounge I think it was a reading room.

 It’s still quite pleasant.

You can still get your 3 drinks in the sky high bar.And tail gate into the suite lounge.

We have a grand suite in 3 weeks I’ll keep you posted.

Edited November 21, 2019 by Chiliburn

[avalon007]

I recall that area that is now the DL being previously a wine lounge maybe? Anyhow for me it isn't getting the 3 drinks, it's about the social interaction, being able to meet up with the same people every evening & getting to know them better. When everyone ends up spread out into the public lounge area you don't get that same interaction. It's the common bond of having cruised a lot to get to Diamond level that bonds DL users I think, whereas some suite guests are not always frequent cruisers like yourself & can often even be on their first cruise - so less in common.

I wouldn't want to be in the suite lounge now it's no longer the DL - not the same.

 

[Chiliburn]

The new diamond is just on the right as you walk in the Star lounge.

 I think they where going to put the suite lounge where izumi is .Thats what they did on Marina , But we got short changed.

Voyeger goes back to Singapore in a year for another tart up.

Edited November 21, 2019 by Chiliburn

[Chiliburn]

That’s Marina,they gutted the back of the Viking crown lounge out and made it bigger.

I like the lounges ,it’s a different clientele. Seasoned travelers with interesting stories,not just tourists.

Edited November 21, 2019 by Chiliburn

[mr walker]

We were a little disappointed when we learned some time ago that the DL, with it's lovely space on 14, including the outdoor area, was going to be replaced by SL. The new area used to be called the Connisseures Club I think (maybe that was on Exploreer??), just on the right as you go thru to Star Lounge. I think it was originally designed as cigar lounge or similar. I have never seen anyone entering or leaving that place.

 

That said, we mostly visit DL during the day for relaxed area & a coffee or light lunch, and less often for pre-show drinks & chat. We have met some good people in the DL, but also some that were not so much our cup of tea. We will see how we go with the new DL, but we mostly use our drinks 'vouchers' and have our pre-show/dinner drinks on our balcony.

 

Only 129 days until we get to try out the 'new' Voyager.

[misterb25]

It is very disappointing, we also used the DL on Deck 14 during the day for some peace and quiet to read and have a light lunch with a beautiful view of the ocean.

I guess those who may only ever cruise one time with Royal Caribbean are of more importance than those who continually cruise with them. I guess we can sit in the Viking Lounge in the future but it would have made more sense to move Izumi's and make that area available for the Suites.

Whenever I have passed by Izumi's it always only had a few tables occupied.

[Chiliburn]

Diamond plus aren’t allowed in the suite lounge only pinnacles.

 

In America there’s a problem with to many upper tiers .The people who pay for the suite experience can’t get into the concierge lounge. So they have to do something.

 I think RC should have a 3rd lounge for diamond plus and pinnacle.

[MicCanberra]

Royal are really focusing on who spends money on the cruise and not on the passengers with loyalty status. I think it is only a matter of time that most perks will be weakened to such a state, that you may as well get a suite for decent privileges.

[mr walker]

When we first cruised in 2011, we had never heard of C&A Society, and even after that cruise we would never have dreamed we would ever get to 80N. But we did in less than 4 years, and so did a bunch of others.

We accept that the success of the program has created problems in providing the benefits & also accept that RCI can vary the benefits at any time. Also that RCI can provide benefits to others thru a different avenue if that works for them & the people availing themselves of that program.

Lounge & Happy Hour drinks are a good perk, but we would be just as happy to forgo the lounge and unlimited free drinks in Happy Hour in the DL & instead get say 5 drinks per day to be got from any bar, at any time of the day would work for us.

[NumnuT]

4 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Diamond plus aren’t allowed in the suite lounge only pinnacles.

 

In America there’s a problem with to many upper tiers .The people who pay for the suite experience can’t get into the concierge lounge. So they have to do something.

 I think RC should have a 3rd lounge for diamond plus and pinnacle.

thankfully not too many Pinnacles in Australia, the US C&A upper tier numbers are crazy

 

my 2 cents..

Its too easy to get to Diamond & I am Diamond.

We are on Voyager in March in a GS & really looking forward to it, especially the SL.

 

maybe DL becomes D+ & Pinnacle lounge, Diamond gets say 5 drinks/day in any bar?

Craig

 

 

[Chiliburn]

RC has a good product and they will keep the punters in.

[MicCanberra]

1 hour ago, mr walker said:

When we first cruised in 2011, we had never heard of C&A Society, and even after that cruise we would never have dreamed we would ever get to 80N. But we did in less than 4 years, and so did a bunch of others.

We accept that the success of the program has created problems in providing the benefits & also accept that RCI can vary the benefits at any time. Also that RCI can provide benefits to others thru a different avenue if that works for them & the people availing themselves of that program.

Lounge & Happy Hour drinks are a good perk, but we would be just as happy to forgo the lounge and unlimited free drinks in Happy Hour in the DL & instead get say 5 drinks per day to be got from any bar, at any time of the day would work for us.

That would work for us as well, although I really enjoy the DL.

[The_Big_M]

On ‎11‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 9:59 AM, misterb25 said:

I guess those who may only ever cruise one time with Royal Caribbean are of more importance than those who continually cruise with them.

 

Not how many times... just how much you're spending that time.

[resordanis]

Just wondering whether anyone who has been on Voyager recently can update this thread?

I know where the Diamond Lounge is located and that it is very small, but do they still endeavour to serve drinks, snacks and coffees in the small space and is there an overflow lounge.?

Any information would be appreciated.

[Chiliburn]

17 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Just wondering whether anyone who has been on Voyager recently can update this thread?

I know where the Diamond Lounge is located and that it is very small, but do they still endeavour to serve drinks, snacks and coffees in the small space and is there an overflow lounge.?

Any information would be appreciated.

I’ll be on it next week.

From what I understand it’s next to the Star lounge and on other ships they use the Star lounge as a overflow.

[resordanis]

Thanks will be interested to hear your views. We are not on till January,

[cme2c]

I'm a lowly Gold so no fancy places for me! I was on the repositioning cruise from Singapore to Sydney and I think RCCI have gone a bit too far in turning public spaces into cabins. The whole ship seemed more crowded and understaffed than Explorer of the Seas, on which I cruised in January. From observation outside the lounges from the "jazz bar" they were crowded too. The Jazz bar used to be a quiet place, but no more as they play the standard piped music and use the space for yoga and "enrichment classes" 

 

I was speaking to someone who had one of the new cabins where the gym used to be and he said the view was fabulous, but felt the ship wasn't quite "right".

 

One of my Gold C&A "perks" was 2 for 1 milkshakes at Johnny Rockets. Pity Johnny Rockets is gone...

[Chiliburn]

16 minutes ago, cme2c said:

I'm a lowly Gold so no fancy places for me! I was on the repositioning cruise from Singapore to Sydney and I think RCCI have gone a bit too far in turning public spaces into cabins. The whole ship seemed more crowded and understaffed than Explorer of the Seas, on which I cruised in January. From observation outside the lounges from the "jazz bar" they were crowded too. The Jazz bar used to be a quiet place, but no more as they play the standard piped music and use the space for yoga and "enrichment classes" 

 

I was speaking to someone who had one of the new cabins where the gym used to be and he said the view was fabulous, but felt the ship wasn't quite "right".

 

One of my Gold C&A "perks" was 2 for 1 milkshakes at Johnny Rockets. Pity Johnny Rockets is gone...

Nothing wrong with being gold ,you have a big adventure ahead of you.

Those repositioning cruises attracts a lot of high end C&A because it’s cheap.

[The_Big_M]

Yeah, it was a massive enough increase after the previous refurb that had an effect. With the large increase again this time, this class of ship isn't one I want to sail on any more. Happy to try it if there's a massive bargain or some other specific reason, but not one I'd choose to take. Just like what they did to Rhapsody after packing too many in and taking away all the public space.

[misterb25]

17 hours ago, resordanis said:

Just wondering whether anyone who has been on Voyager recently can update this thread?

I know where the Diamond Lounge is located and that it is very small, but do they still endeavour to serve drinks, snacks and coffees in the small space and is there an overflow lounge.?

Any information would be appreciated.

I am on Voyager at the moment and confirm that the new Diamond Lounge is small, overcrowded and for the past 2 nights queuing for a drink was required as there are not enough staff to handle the number of members. 
It is totally inadequate.

[resordanis]

Thanks all for this information.

cme2c there is nothing wrong with Gold we were all there once and you also are entitled to your perks!

 I did think that the new DL would be totally inadequate and I think that is what Royal want. As someone who is about to become D+ I am not sure that there are any benefits to that level these days.

Starting to think that Princess look after me better being Elite! I think it is Casino money that they all want. 
I am interested in the location of the new cabins. We have just been allocated our cabin a JS forward on Deck 11. Is that where the new cabins are located?
Hope Voyager is not like Explorer as we didn’t like Explorer as much as we did the old Voyager. Time will tell I guess.

i agree with others too 5 drinks all day might be a better option!

 

 

 

[misterb25]

21 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Thanks all for this information.

cme2c there is nothing wrong with Gold we were all there once and you also are entitled to your perks!

 I did think that the new DL would be totally inadequate and I think that is what Royal want. As someone who is about to become D+ I am not sure that there are any benefits to that level these days.

Starting to think that Princess look after me better being Elite! I think it is Casino money that they all want. 
I am interested in the location of the new cabins. We have just been allocated our cabin a JS forward on Deck 11. Is that where the new cabins are located?
Hope Voyager is not like Explorer as we didn’t like Explorer as much as we did the old Voyager. Time will tell I guess.

i agree with others too 5 drinks all day might be a better option!

The cabins on deck 11 are new cabins and there are 4 inside cabins where the Concierge club used to be. I believe the Suite lounge is very nice, I hope that they are being treated better than the loyal Diamonds & Diamond + members. There should be no queuing for drinks as this is stopping the waiters from coming around to the tables.

 

 

 

[resordanis]

Thanks for that information. I really didn’t remember any cabins on deck 11. Hope they are ok.

Are they using the other lounge as an overflow or is everyone just having to stand around waiting for drinks? Also can you still get coffee during the day?

 

 

 

[Chiliburn]

1 hour ago, resordanis said:

 

I am interested in the location of the new cabins. We have just been allocated our cabin a JS forward on Deck 11. Is that where the new cabins are located?
Hope Voyager is not like Explorer as we didn’t like Explorer as much as we did the old Voyager. Time will tell I guess.

i agree with others too 5 drinks all day might be a better option!

 

 

 

Those junior suites are where the gym used to be ,I’m not sure they have a balcony and if you will have people looking in your window.

5 drinks a day anywhere would be good considering what RC pay for them. I read somewhere because of the volume they don’t pay much and no tax.