Letter to Diamond Members (Merged Threads)

[coxswain]

God this sounds great !!

 

 

Wonder should i email the Brilliance to see if i'm going to have problems !!

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

[Elizanessie]

I didnt know you could pre-book Salon & Spa on RCCL website? :confused:

[coxswain]

Can you ??????

 

 

 

 

 

jj........

[scotsman]

Coxswain

 

Someone told me you were no longer sailing Royal :eek: ???????

[Elizanessie]

Can you ??????

 

 

 

 

 

jj........

 

Well it says in that email-

 

Salon & Spa appointments, shore excursions and some of our other services often sell out. Therefore, it is recommended that these be booked in advance either through the Royal Caribbean website at http://www.royalcaribbean.com/home.do or if you prefer, by emailing me and I will make the reservations for you. Once the reservations are made, I will send you an email confirming the details. Remember, in order to avoid disappointment, it is recommended that you book in advance.

[piercetc4]

me thinks printing the email from adam goldstein regarding newest policies about c.l. usage and taking it with us on our august 09 freedom cruise would be a good idea!

 

thanks for the headsup!!! :)

[coxswain]

Coxswain

 

Someone told me you were no longer sailing Royal :eek: ???????

 

 

Well i wasn't until A/G and royal c decided to change their minds on the C-Lounge !!

 

 

 

Liz i'm on the RCI website and can't find spa bookings ???

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

[Elizanessie]

Well i wasn't until A/G and royal c decided to change their minds on the C-Lounge !!

 

 

 

Liz i'm on the RCI website and can't find spa bookings ???

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

 

 

JJ I dont think you can pre-book Salon & Spa ...I think the concierge made a bit of a booboo :confused:

 

Hi George :D

[scotsman]

Hi Liz

 

No Oasis in Southampton :(:(

[piercetc4]

if i go to the rci website, sign in to the c and a area, click on my res #- there it shows the options of prebooking spa / salon appts , pre booking specialty rest.'s, etc..............

can u guys see that when you sign in and look at your ressie on the website?

[Elizanessie]

Hi Liz

 

No Oasis in Southampton :(:(

 

Shame about that George although personally I wouldnt have made it down anyway as I will be on the plane on the 9th with Cinnamon to Malaga for our NV TA :D

[Elizanessie]

if i go to the rci website, sign in to the c and a area, click on my res #- there it shows the options of prebooking spa / salon appts , pre booking specialty rest.'s, etc..............

can u guys see that when you sign in and look at your ressie on the website?

 

Hi Tamra :D

 

Nope we cant do that :(

 

We can only buy soda package,shore excursions or spec restaurants...no salon appts.

[coxswain]

if i go to the rci website, sign in to the c and a area, click on my res #- there it shows the options of prebooking spa / salon appts , pre booking specialty rest.'s, etc..............

can u guys see that when you sign in and look at your ressie on the website?

 

 

 

When i go into my Res ** the only options i have are Soda - Shore/Land and restaurants ?????

 

 

 

UK members discriminated again !!

 

 

 

jj.......

[karena1]

We were just on the Serenade. We went to the Diamond, D+ party, and there were only 35 Diamond members and 4 D+'s on our cruise. Not once was the CL crowded. The week before, they had to have an overflow lounge, so you just never know.

 

While the waiters in the CL were great, I will say we (and others in the CL) thought Kenneth left a lot to be desired. Not attentive at all, rarely walked around to talk to anyone, would just disappear and not come back.

 

When we were on Liberty, Mario walked around the lounge all night making sure everyone was happy, see if we needed anything, if there was anything he could do, etc.

 

Not once did Kenneth ask if we needed anything. Hardly bothered to say "hi" when you walked in the door.

 

We thought the staff on Serenade were incredible, the BEST cruise we have every been on, but IMHO Kenneth was not even close to the level the vast majority of the staff on that ship are.

 

I will be posting a full review later this week as I can get some time to do so.

[hellosailer]

I guess you think that makes a good debating point but a debating point is all it is from what I have read.

 

As far as Royal Caribbean being the best of the mass market lines.....that is your opinion. I have been on over 30 cruises and I think Royal Caribbean is best at some things and other mass market cruise lines are best at other things. For one thing, Royal Caribbean needs to fix the food! It has the worst food on the mass market lines compared to the others except for NCL.

 

We have been cruising for 50 years, at least twice a year and agree that RCCL is not perfect - but the best at what it aims for!! Food? Was on the Brilliance B2B in February and the food was some of the best we have had on a cruise ship in the last 10 years!!! They were really trying to up their game!! Again, it is only YOUR opinion that the food is the worst!! The decline in food on Princess is very noticeable - especially since Carnival took over!! But we are realistic - this is banqueting food - and we mostly eat in the WJ at night. On the Brilliance it was excellent. Mongolian buffet, oysters, asparagus, cooked to order lamb chops and many other very tasty options. One night we were rewarded by the chef cooking the most amazing beef strogonoff for just the two of us.:D:D But the meals in the MDR, when we did eat there, were excellent. Its just the noise level........?!

[stevekc]

When i go into my Res ** the only options i have are Soda - Shore/Land and restaurants ?????

 

 

 

UK members discriminated again !!

 

 

 

jj.......

 

We are in the US and I just logged into my reservation and cannot pre-book Salon or Spa anything. We are booked for a suite leaving end of May.

 

I've had a suite previously with RCI and we did receive that email pre-notification from the Concierge director. I imagine things will be the same for this cruise and am hopeful that we can pre-book Spa services at that time.

[hellosailer]

So many people have commented on this issue, it is difficult to believe that this 'simplistic' view still get's espoused.

 

For most of the people posting on the subject, it is all of the below ... so to speak. Noting that some people don't drink, it is about the socializing, the atmosphere, the 'drinks', the coffee/coffee machine, the breakfast, the quiet place, the lounge chairs, the concierge, the computers, and even the toaster. To continue to repeat "its all about the drinks" implies that ... forget it. I'm going to try to stay on the high road.:confused:

 

Really? Well, that'll be a first for you anyway!!!

 

A few people don't drink and the CL is hardly used during the day and after 8.30pm. Sorry, but on the locked thread no-one would admit it was about the free drinks - on this, many have admitted how much it saves them on the cruise, over if they had to pay for drinks. If having a toaster means so much, well....... !!!!!! They will have a concierge (never used the Concierge for reservations etc. myself - perfectly capable of doing this!), a special breakfast room is being supplied as is a special Diamond Lounge for the socialising everyone claimed they would miss!! Cappucinos are available as are alcoholic drinks - for a charge!!

 

I am sorry that Diamonds are no longer permitted to use the Lounge, but this comes as NO surprise to those of us who cruise regularly. It became like a zoo in there!! RCCL have now made arrangements to appease those who were so upset by the loss and most have accepted this arrangement as a good compromise. C O M P R O M I S E !!!!!!?????

 

As far as not combining on board credits and discounts - well, that has hit all of us. They are trying to make a PROFIT in a difficult financial climate. And those credits were very, very generous. One day Plussers may also lose the use of the CL and it will be only for the use of Suite Guests - just as it is on other ships. Unfortunately, most Plussers agree that the overcrowding has made it impossible to enjoy a nice drink before dinner - Diamonds too, if they are honest!! Some have even come on CC and boasted that they have invited friends in for drinks. Some sat for three hours drinking solidly. Its use was abused and was difficult for the staff to control.

 

Sealord - you go on and on and on - I am concerned for your sanity!!!:p

[Ocean Boy]

I guess you think that makes a good debating point but a debating point is all it is from what I have read.

 

As far as Royal Caribbean being the best of the mass market lines.....that is your opinion. I have been on over 30 cruises and I think Royal Caribbean is best at some things and other mass market cruise lines are best at other things. For one thing, Royal Caribbean needs to fix the food! It has the worst food on the mass market lines compared to the others except for NCL.

 

And, of course, that is your opinion.

[piercetc4]

i just rechecked the info i gave out above about pre booking spa appt's- it is not there- either i saw it somewhere else or imagined seeing it- sincerely apologize for the misinformation! i dont book spa/salon appts so must have imagined it as i scanned over that part of the page- :( so sorry :(

 

hey liz! how ya been? good to "see" you!!!

[Charles4515]

And, of course, that is your opinion.

 

Of course it is an opinion. There is no best mass market cruise line unless one is a "fan" or has only sailed on one cruise line. They all have bests and worsts, because they are marketing to the mass. It is presumptuous to claim one of them is the best. In general they are all similar. That does not mean we don't and won't have preferences for one over the other.

[hellosailer]

God this sounds great !!

 

 

Wonder should i email the Brilliance to see if i'm going to have problems !!

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

 

Well, I had to organise it for all the Diamonds to be admitted on the Brilliance, both in February and the previous April!! I was the only Diamond to have the cards in my cabin - sorry, stateroom!!! But I couldn't and still can't, understand why the ships do not conform to Company Policy!!!

 

Why not e-mail Gordon Whatman the CD. He is well aware..............!!!!! Great guy!!!!

[cinnamon]

me thinks printing the email from adam goldstein regarding newest policies about c.l. usage and taking it with us on our august 09 freedom cruise would be a good idea!

 

thanks for the headsup!!! :)

I would love to email someone at RCCL to take their reply with me to ensure admittance to the CL. Unfortunately, here in the UK I have had no notification of the future policies reagarding the changes and have no idea what address I should use. Any help would be appreciated. If this Concierge, Kenneth, has got things wrong, I would like to be able to quote company policy, chapter and verse, to him.

[LindaAndBillTravel]

Cinnamon,

 

Check out our roll call. And don't worry, I'll have everything printed out. I'll make you a copy of all my documentation on policies and what has been communicated. We'll get into the CL one way or another. :-)

 

-Linda

[mjyanne]

We were just on the Serenade. We went to the Diamond, D+ party, and there were only 35 Diamond members and 4 D+'s on our cruise. Not once was the CL crowded. The week before, they had to have an overflow lounge, so you just never know.

 

While the waiters in the CL were great, I will say we (and others in the CL) thought Kenneth left a lot to be desired. Not attentive at all, rarely walked around to talk to anyone, would just disappear and not come back.

 

When we were on Liberty, Mario walked around the lounge all night making sure everyone was happy, see if we needed anything, if there was anything he could do, etc.

 

Not once did Kenneth ask if we needed anything. Hardly bothered to say "hi" when you walked in the door.

 

We thought the staff on Serenade were incredible, the BEST cruise we have every been on, but IMHO Kenneth was not even close to the level the vast majority of the staff on that ship are.

 

I will be posting a full review later this week as I can get some time to do so.

 

I sailed the Serenade (B2B) in March. I could counter each of your statements for the entire 14 days we were on board. The CL was moved to the Odyessy (there were over 60 D/D+ each week) for the evening (5 - 8:30 pm). Ken sat with guests. He made it a point to either greet them when they came in or go to them when they sat down. He brought the next days Cruise Compass to each person in the lounge. In the CL, he addressed everyone when they came in. In fact, when I didn't go to the CL one evening he called to ask if everything was OK (we did the Murder Mystery that night and I was running late so missed the CL).

 

He even reminded me (even insisted) that if there was anything I needed no matter how trivial that I should let him know and he would take care of it (which he did on several occassions). I was not in a suite but am a Diamond member.

 

Kenneth is one of the better conceirges we have had (the best is still Martiza, sorry Ken) and I hope to see him again in the future.

 

BTW, the Conceirge usually only sends emails to suite guests (I have never received an email pre-cruise). But they have a master list of all D/D+ and Suite guests and I have been contacted via voicemail if I have not been to the CL.

[cinnamon]

Cinnamon,

 

Check out our roll call. And don't worry, I'll have everything printed out. I'll make you a copy of all my documentation on policies and what has been communicated. We'll get into the CL one way or another. :-)

 

-Linda

Linda, I have just written to Adam Goldstein myself, using the address on your email. I suspect he has had to increase the staff answering all the emails he must have received in the past week or two.

:)