New "crown lounge" rule

[Jasukkie]

1 hour ago, BND said:

We board Jewel on Friday so we'll see what happens.  This itinerary usually has a lot more experienced cruisers. We'll see what they end up doing.  We're traveling with friends who are Pinns and we are D+ and on Jewel the DL and CL are both up in the VCL so views are good and it's usually pretty busy.  We're doing the b2b CL to Quebec City, QC to CL.  20 nights total.

Pinns had the Safari Club on my recent Jewel cruise. The teeny tiny DL up in the vortex was packed the one time I went in to get a cup of coffee. The door was open so it spilled over into the Vortex area. No one checked my seapass card anyway. I'm D+ so this doesn't affect me much but I'd scrap the whole lounge/snacks/coffee program. At this point, it's a very low percentage of eligible status members who can actually use the spaces. Add more vouchers/freebies and call it a day.

[Tree_skier]

4 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

The actual snacks vary but yes. On Oasis class (usually what I’m sailing) there are usually 3-4 hot apps like breaded shrimp, dumplings, samosas, little egg rolls, little steak/chicken skewers, pigs in a blanket, mini quiche, etc. Then there is always a cheese & cracker spread & a small sweets tray with little chocolate things, chocolate covered strawberries, etc.

Some things are of course better than others & it’s food so personal preference applies but I usually find some of them quite good.

 

On the flip side, they were awful on Indy last year and it was nothing like I was used to on other ships. On Indy it was one little plug in heating tray with luke warm mozzarella sticks & dry meatballs… and then the cheese & crackers.

 

In any case, it’s worth checking out. Just like popping into the WJ, you never know when you might find something you like. You can always walk right back out.

 

In the SL (not the DL but they usually have similar stuff afaik) on Wonder in June I think I had about 20 breaded shrimp b/c they were so good & I knew I didn’t love that night’s CK menu, lol.

 

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

It's a section of hot and cold finger sized food. They had chocolate covered strawberries every night I saw on allure, small brownies or cake. Hot might be beef on a stick or shrimp but no cocktail sauce, chili sauce. Or cold shrimp placed on a slice of cucumber. It's not like WJ or other places, party food. 

Thanks, I'll have to get in there at 4:55 and see what is on offer 🙂 

[Tree_skier]

1 minute ago, Jasukkie said:

Add more vouchers/freebies and call it a day.

If they added one more voucher I'd probably accept them scrapping the whole thing 🙂 but I'm sure others will disagree.

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, Tree_skier said:

 

Thanks, I'll have to get in there at 4:55 and see what is on offer 🙂 

I may have to in Allure in 10 days now that firefly just mentioned the shrimp. Hopefully the new restriction won’t be in place though.

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, Tree_skier said:

If they added one more voucher I'd probably accept them scrapping the whole thing 🙂 but I'm sure others will disagree.

Yes, those of us who drink 3 cappuccinos every morning would disagree. 🤣

[njkruzer]

Ok. We're D+.  On board Radiance for 2 cruises (9/29 & 10/7). We disembark in Tampa on 10/23.  No changes except since the coffee machine isn't working you get a voucher for a specialty coffee at Latt'tudes and I think Park Cafe.  Dh uses it.  There are a very large number of D and D+ ( hundreds) so lounge expanded into Starquest lounge.  Reasonably busy in the evening.  I think Pinnacles get Colony club, but not sure.  Think they may also get accexs to Suite lounge.   No other changes.  Lounge has not been re-named.

 

Now if someone could do something about the weather,  that would be appreciated. 

[Tree_skier]

1 minute ago, OCSC Mike said:

Yes, those of us who drink 3 cappuccinos every morning would disagree. 🤣

3 cappuccinos in a short period of time and I'd be twitching like a speed freak.  There was a day that I could but that day is not today...  

[steveru621]

1 hour ago, BND said:

We board Jewel on Friday so we'll see what happens.  This itinerary usually has a lot more experienced cruisers. We'll see what they end up doing.  We're traveling with friends who are Pinns and we are D+ and on Jewel the DL and CL are both up in the VCL so views are good and it's usually pretty busy.  We're doing the b2b CL to Quebec City, QC to CL.  20 nights total.

 

We are on Jewel now B2B2B.  All three no access to Concierge Club.  First they gave P's Safari then only Vortex.

 

500+ D's and D+, they expanded to Vortex.

 

Wishing you the best.

[catsmit]

2 hours ago, steveru621 said:

 

On Radiance class ships there is a great view.

Agree, the view is great for all (roughly) 36 seats. 

[Ship2Shore]

Calm down people. First of all, the letter is from the concierge on Wonder. Wonder is hosting a special casino Signature guest sailing. If you read the entire letter, it references THIS cruise.  I don’t believe this is anything more than reserving space for the high rollers. 
 

Some people just love to spread gloom and doom. While others like to wish closure on ‘this stupid and useless crown lounge’ (you know who you are). 😉
 

To the rest of us, carry on!

[RoperDK]

Glad this seems to be only for top tier heavy cruises.  Spreads out the crowds.  We don't use the coffee machine in the Crown or Suite lounges because we can't figure out how to use it. 😁 I have to admit that we use the evening snacks as a light dinner sometimes. It would be missed if we don't have access.      

[Tree_skier]

37 minutes ago, Ship2Shore said:

First of all, the letter is from the concierge on Wonder. Wonder is hosting a special casino Signature guest sailing

Yes, this is why I asked about the original letter.  Which was a special sailing that is likely to have a large number of higher tier passengers sailing.

 

Now we find out that this Wonder cruise is a special casino signature sailing. 

 

Thanks for this.  This is the kind of info we need. For those of us who are not big Casino players can you tell us what is a casino Signature guest sailing?  

[BND]

1 hour ago, steveru621 said:

 

We are on Jewel now B2B2B.  All three no access to Concierge Club.  First they gave P's Safari then only Vortex.

 

500+ D's and D+, they expanded to Vortex.

 

Wishing you the best.

Not expecting CL.   Last time they expanded DL into Vortex with some seats for Pinns only.  I just want a friggin snack since we have late dining lol.  Are you on our cruise?

Edited October 15, 2023 by BND

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, RoperDK said:

Glad this seems to be only for top tier heavy cruises.  Spreads out the crowds.  We don't use the coffee machine in the Crown or Suite lounges because we can't figure out how to use it. 😁 I have to admit that we use the evening snacks as a light dinner sometimes. It would be missed if we don't have access.      

Using the coffee machine pretty much involves pushing a button or two.

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, RoperDK said:

  We don't use the coffee machine in the Crown or Suite lounges because we can't figure out how to use it. 

Push the Americana button.

[Tlbecker1]

We started our Anthem TA yesterday.  Diamonds still have access to the Crown Lounge(at least that is what our letter states).  We did have a Meet & Mingle yesterday at 4:30 in the Solarium for D, D+ & Pinns with tables of mimosas and champagne. They were walking around with food also which reminded me of Celebrity.

[FishOn55]

8 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Next week will be my second cruise as Diamond. I enjoyed spending time in the DL for happy hour and having some cocktails and snacks pre dinner. I will be disappointed if I can no longer do that. 

My sentiments exactly. Am I going to quit cruising with Royal. No way, but as  Sea Dog, I am extremely disappointed. I hope Royal reconsiders.   

[GetToLivin]

11 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Well, that was quicker than I thought.  Looks like admittance will be based on number on board by sailing. 

This makes sense. On our current sailing (Mariner) we are able to go in at all hours, but I will say it was an absolute zoo on embarkation day so I haven't been back to actually utilize the space, it's just too small for the number of people who want to partake.

[lovelife]

3 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

For those of us who are not big Casino players can you tell us what is a casino Signature guest sailing?  

Signature players are invited to a gathering annually (in addition to the annual complimentary tier cruise for Prime, Signature, and Master).  This year there were three dates to choose from on Wonder. Last year it was on Symphony. We chose the Wonder 9/10 sailing. It included a complimentary balcony cabin, a welcome reception in the Solarium, some goodies - tee shirts, water bottles, lanyards, etc., a special dinner, complimentary slot tournament, Coco Cay water park passes, some casino incentives, etc. It was a crowded sailing!

[vjmatty]

Just got off Enchantment this morning, no such letter or restrictions on the past week’s sailing. However, there were so few status members on this sailing that we boarded with not only the suite concierge as an escort but also the Diamond concierge as well, and we are only mere newly achieved (previous cruise) Diamond status.  Didn’t bother with the (still named) Diamond Lounge since we had access to the Concierge Lounge. 

[bucfan2]

It's going to be interesting to see the upcoming changes due to status overcrowding.   'Diamond' is about 1/2 tier above first-time-cruiser status. Heck, 3 post-covid cruises in a suite and one could go from newbie to diamond. 

[sgmn]

31 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

. Heck, 3 post-covid cruises in a suite and one could go from newbie to diamond. 

True, but a lot of people (most I would think) cruise just once a year in a balcony or below. All my points have been earned one night, one point. 

I've  also cruised other lines,  therefore it's taken a long time to get to the highly anticipated Diamond level. 

Hoping that the op's experience was a one off and the CEO of RC will honour what he said when he announced the change of name of the lounge

[island lady]

13 hours ago, BND said:

We never use the machine in the lounge.  We use one of our 5 vouchers and get coffee at Cafe Lattetudes every morning.  When we were on Jewel last fall to the Caribbean, there was a line every morning for the  coffee in the lounge.  

 

Not at 6 am.  😉

[TYMAN]

6 hours ago, lovelife said:

Signature players are invited to a gathering annually (in addition to the annual complimentary tier cruise for Prime, Signature, and Master).  This year there were three dates to choose from on Wonder. Last year it was on Symphony. We chose the Wonder 9/10 sailing. It included a complimentary balcony cabin, a welcome reception in the Solarium, some goodies - tee shirts, water bottles, lanyards, etc., a special dinner, complimentary slot tournament, Coco Cay water park passes, some casino incentives, etc. It was a crowded sailing!

We were on the 10/01 Wonder sailing. Casino packed during sea days & nights, DL (at the time) was hardly filled during the day. We're well over 340 points, so no effect on us. 

[island lady]

7 minutes ago, TYMAN said:

We were on the 10/01 Wonder sailing. Casino packed during sea days & nights, DL (at the time) was hardly filled during the day. We're well over 340 points, so no effect on us. 

 

Hi Bill!  We are just missing you again...drats!   We board our B2B Wonder on the 29th of this month. 🙂