I think what is "taken away" is more about real estate than service. The effect will depend on where they choose to put CO. My guess is it will be in a space with a maximum of window tables. And how many tables will they take? If they take too many, the tables could sit empty while fewer tables are available to people not in CO. If they take too few, people who paid $50 pp may not think it's worth the cost if they have to wait for a table just as they would in the MDR.
CO is more than the dining option. There's priority embarkation and priority tendering. My cruise had only HMC as a tender port, so that wouldn't have been important to me. But if it's an itinerary with a lot of tender ports, that increases the value of CO. There's a priority line at the shorex desk, but I didn't check that out. I did stand on the "special" mat at the CO line at the front desk. I wasn't in a hurry, but nobody was there and I was curious about what would happen (I was in a NS, not CO, but NS get CO "privileges.") Not much priority there. Instead of being taken by the next available person, I had to stand until the person directly in front of me was free. With my luck, the person at her "station" was taking ages, and people in the general line were getting served before I was. I am NOT complaining like some Entitled Person. Just commenting on a CO perk that didn't seem like much of a perk.
As for things being taken away from suite guests, the only big thing is the Pinnacle breakfast. I like the ambiance of the Pinnacle better. Others don't like that ambiance and were happier in CO. So that's a matter of taste. A few more people will get priority embarkation and tendering. One poster was offended that someone in just any cabin can "buy in" to what NS/PS guests get as part of the suite. It's true that $1000 for a couple on a 10-day cruise is far less than the difference between the price of an Inside and a NS, but if that's how someone wants to spend their holiday budget, I'm not offended. It's like the retreat. Some people buy in Inside and then get a cabana. That's cheaper than getting a large private balcony by booking a NS or PS. It's all about options and how much money HAL can make by selling them.
Different things appeal to passengers. I’ve booked inside cabin, outside cabin, balcony and suites for different cruises and different cruise lines. I was new to cruising in 1991 and wanted to sample the options. I take my family on some holiday cruises and for Thanksgiving 2019, we booked balconies, added Club Orange at a special offer price 2 weeks before sailing. We will try it to see if it adds value. My favorite thing they over is priority for tenders, and concierge access. I have a couple of family members who are elderly and a couple who are just impatient. Anything that will make it easier for them would be great.
Club Orange is Excellent
in Holland America Line
Posted
Different things appeal to passengers. I’ve booked inside cabin, outside cabin, balcony and suites for different cruises and different cruise lines. I was new to cruising in 1991 and wanted to sample the options. I take my family on some holiday cruises and for Thanksgiving 2019, we booked balconies, added Club Orange at a special offer price 2 weeks before sailing. We will try it to see if it adds value. My favorite thing they over is priority for tenders, and concierge access. I have a couple of family members who are elderly and a couple who are just impatient. Anything that will make it easier for them would be great.