Jasp 0401

Hi

Also does anyone know if they will let a 17yr old into the Diamond lounge during cocktail hour.She is a diamond member in her own right.

Cheers Trish

Hi

In the past on Voyager of the Seas, we've enjoyed the Diamond and above breakfast room near the MDR. Now that the Voyager has a Diamond lounge does anyone know if they still offer the Diamond breakfast in the old area in the MDR ?

Thanks

Hi

Now that the Voyager has a Diamond lounge does anyone know if they still offer the Diamond breakfast in the old area in the MDR and can you still use it for lunch? Or is it just a continental breakfast in the Diamond lounge?

Thanks

We will be on a X Solistice arriving in Port Chalmers (Dunedin) NZ on Dec. 10, 2015. After researching online we've narrow down 2 possible tours and looking for your input/comments to help us decide.

 

a. Taieri Gorge Railroad to Pukerangi

our ship will be the only one in port so there is an opportunity to book this 4 hours train ride independently at this time. What's pro/con to book this trip with a local tour operator vs. direct with train co.(train co. also have shuttle to station)? prices are about the same. The other alternative is to book a ship tour which gives more flexibility but cost is almost doubled pp. I also need to double check if it's a 4 hours or 6 hours train.

 

b.Wild lives - Royal Abatross and Penguins. Most of tours that I can find lasts 6 - 7 hours. As I understand there will be many tour operators in port. Will we be able to find a morning tour that last 4-5 hours only? Or most tours are afternoon due to the opening hours?

 

Lastly, which tour would give us more appreciations of New Zealand on our first trip. Other port stops are - Akaroa, Wellington, Tauranga, Bay of Islands and Auckland. Thanks

Hi

In Dunedin we booked the train trip and city tour through Good Company. They picked us up from the ship and took us in plenty of time to catch the train. We didn't have to worry about booking train tickets or needing to pick them up as they did that all for you. The train trip was wonderful and well worth doing. At the end of the train trip they meet you to take you on a 2 hour city tour which was also great .They then return you back to the ship in plenty of time.I highly recommend them not only because they are so much cheaper than booking through the ship but they also offer wonderful customer service.We have used them twice before and have booked a tour with them again for our January cruise.

In Akaroa the dolphin swim cruises are great and so is the mailrun. Wellington and Auckland are great towns to go around on foot or take a hop on hop off bus. The cable car in Wellington is also great.

Cheers Trish

http://www.goodcompanytours.co.nz/shore-excursions-dunedin

Thanks for posting your Hump Balcony Room's Photos after you returned. :):):):)

It took me awhile as I had lost the memory card for my camera . My sister has booked it for January and we have the Owner suite next door. I will try and post some more photos up as the Voyager has been into drydock since I took those photos.

My 16yr daughter likes their virgin cocktails. The barman will be happy to make you a virgin cocktail if you ask. My daughter had ones that are mainly Mango or Cranberry juice.

We've never had the honor of being selected to dine with the captain. Is it a totally random thing? How do they go about making their selection?

 

Sailing on FOS again this September and always hopeful. :)

I have over heard someone being told that it is picked at random. They don't give a priority to any guest including suites and CA members .We love to cruise in suites and have even had the Royal and didn't get an invite. But I also don't think he ate with any passengers during our cruise.

Good luck I hope you get picked

Did see someone turned away from the Dining room for being in their pj's and robe .You see people in just pj's and pj's and Robe in the Windjammer most mornings on a cruise. I personally feel if you don't want to dress for Breakfast call room service and eat in your cabin.I also feel it is only showing respect for the crew and other passengers if we dress when we go out in public for our meals.

On the Rhapsody I was allowed the cocktail of the day using free diamond drink vouchers.Also saw someone getting a virgin cocktail using one.

We are booked in the Royal Suite on Advenutre late June sailing. After reading some of the concerns over these suites on the board, I am hoping any extra perks may make up for a broken piano. :) Thanks for starting this thread. I will be eagerly waiting on the announcement like the rest of you!

I hope you have a really wonderful experience in the Royal Suite.

The broken piano didn't bother us at all and only mention it in passing .Even after they fixed it I don't remember anyone touching it.Our problem was the broken spa and having the bathroom being pulled apart for days. And no one really caring that we may want to be able to use our bathroom. An "I am sorry for your inconvenience" would of been nice. Also wouldn't of cost them any extra.I guess we were to nice and just put up with it.So they didn't think they needed to apologize for all the inconvenience.

Saw a suite guarantee yesterday for the 6/19 Celebrity Millennium sailing at $1,649 pp. Initially thought this sounds like a pretty good deal as their S1 & S2 are along the lines of a Junior Suite on RC and that would be the high probability, but it appeared to include a drinks package, $300 OBC, prepaid grats - sounded like a decent offer. We've only done Celebrity once, so not exactly sure how they determine their pricing.

 

Put a courtesy hold on a cabin and called to confirm and was told that particular rate doesn't include the "free" things.

 

OooooKkkkk. - how much if we want the "free" things? - $2,599 pp.

 

Oh -

So not really free at all. It should be this is the price if you want to include these extras.

We have been on two cruises where children were permitted in the Concierge Lounge and problems were caused. Toddlers were sitting on the floor playing while adults were milling around because no seating was available. The parents were taking no notice of the children - had a child been hurt, I am sure the lawsuits would have been flying!

 

There were also problems with small gangs of 11/12 year olds using the Lounge during the day on another cruise. One would have a card and bring in his friends. They trashed the Lounge several times, to the Concierge's horror.

 

Another cruise, there were children playing on the floor in the Diamond Lounge. On another, children running around, bumping into passengers and spilling drinks. Concierges just don't want to get involved, as it causes them problems and may lose them tips.

 

I do think there should be adult only places - and there are - the Casino and Solarium. No reason for not allowing children in for a few hours during aduolt cocktail hours in overcrowded Lounges.

 

If I can't use the large spaces allocated to kids, no reason why there can't be some places off limits to kids.

 

Oh oh oh - I can feel the flames:D:D:D

Sorry you have had bad experiences with children in CL.

I personally have never seen badly behaved children only adults and they were asked to leave. So I feel if the parents didn't control their children.Then the Concierge should of asked them to leave.

I'm currently on Radiance. No Gold Card breakfast in a Specialty Restaurant and no gold card area in the dining room for breakfast and/or lunch. Last year on Legend they had an area on deck 5 for Gold Card holders for both breakfast and lunch. A great perk and not hard to do.

I agree with you it would be great perk if they could do breakfast on all their ships. On Radiance they only have it in the CL which is a lovely room but the table and chair set up is not designed for eating at.

Have a friend who has tried many different cruise companies and only ever cruises in suites . She did like the espresso machine in NCL but hated the butler .She said she prefers RCI customer service so loves to cruise with them more. She has never had a problem with being able to talk to Concierge if she needed too.As she always goes up in the morning because in the evening the room is always full and he or she is just to busy.She also drops them notes and they have called when they have been free.

When we cruise we book all our own restaurants and tours so only talk to the concierge in passing to ask him how his day has been.

I would love them to introduce as a suite perk a better coffee machine in each suite. Also to be able to go to 1 free specialty restaurant per cruise. My friend said they need to have 1 concierge for the suite guest I Diamond and 1 for Diamond+ and Pinnacle members.Then concierges would be able to give more personal service to the ones that need it.

The only reason I asked the concierge to help because we called maintenance 3 days in a row and the problem was never fixed. He told me I should have come to him first. After 2 weeks the problem was never fixed. Very frustrating and disappointing for all the money we spent for the Royal Suite. They said we could use the shower in an inside cabin at the opposite end of the ship. If I wanted an inside cabin shower I would not have booked this suite. We paid for the bathroom with a huge shower jacuzzi tub and jacuzzi on balcony and couldn't use it. If the Royal Suite was having these issues ( which I believe they were because it was still happening when our cruise was over) they should not have booked it

I agree with you it is so frustrating.And after 3 days the maintenance didn't come .I would of gone to the concierge for help too. I have spoken to a lady who said the piano hadn't worked for her 6 months before our cruise.As she was in a wheelchair she didn't use the Spa so didn't know if it worked. I truly believe that in the case of your Royal suite and our Royal suite on the Rhapsody that they knew they had issues with them and shouldn't be selling passengers cruises in them until they are fixed.That way passengers get to enjoy cruising in these suites and not come away thinking badly of the company. If this had been our first cruise on RCI it would of been our last. As we have cruised them many times before we are will to cruise with them again. But I wouldn't waist my money on a Royal suite again.

I think you dealt with this well, IMO, if I had all the issues you have highlighted

With workers in my cabin, 4 days!!! Working on fixing an issue, I would of been looking for compensation for sure.

Let's say $12k- $17k for the RS you had paid for a relaxing, stress free vacation

And you had people in your cabin for 4 days, that would of stressed me out for sure. No privacy for one

 

Granted they could of not put you in a like for like room, but at least offered an OS whilst repairs were taking place. I do not feel that would of been too much to ask.

Also agreed not the concierges job to fix the issues, I would of contacted the Hotel Director to get a resolve or some form of compensation.

 

Just my $0.02 worth

Happy Days!

My sister said I should of asked for compensation because it was very inconvenient having work men coming in and out and pulling down walls.The dust it was yuck and went everywhere.The poor room attendant kept on apologizing because he couldn't keep the suite as clean as it should of been. Looking back I should of asked if they had another room to use for those days. To make matter worse my husband had booked the suite as a surprise for our Wedding Anniversary.So I feel sorry for him as he tried so hard to do something special.

I never expected personalized service but the service was terrible. I just thought that our problem with sewer smell in bathroom and dirty water should have been more important than booking specialty restaurants .The people in the concierge lounge wanted the concierge to be their best friend I will not pay for any suite on a RCCL again. It absolutely was the cabin it's self having so many issues. The problems were never fixed. Very sad.

We never expected personal attention either but like you I think its not to much to ask to get what your paying for. We will never book the Royal suite again as its just not worth it.

We have from time to time had cabin issues, including plumbing problems. We always call the deck supervisor first, then they might get the executive assistant housekeeper involved. We have always had immediate attention because they are the ones who must arrange for repairs. Especially on the older ships there is more of a chance that things break or go wrong. As we have learned in fixing issues in our own home it sometimes takes a while to analyze the problem, find the parts, and then get the repairs done. We have always had daily calls from the deck supervisor to make sure we are satisfied and that the repairs have solved the problem. If it an especially difficult issue we have been offered compensation in the form of a future cruise certificate.

While the concierge can do the calling for you it is quicker and more effective to go straight to the people who can solve the problem for you, and offer satisfaction for the way it is accomplished.

We always make friends with each Concierge, and while we try not to monopolize their time I hope it is not offensive to others to have a couple of minutes chat with them each day. We also use notes to communicate to avoid standing at their desk and have never had a problem with the Concierge calling us back in our cabin to discuss what our needs are.

We rang and organized for someone to come and look at the spa as it was broken form the first day and just mentioned the other issues that we had with the suite like the piano not working.They came straight away and due to not having parts and not knowing what the problem was it took 4 days to fix it. We never had anyone call to see how things were going or see if the fact that we had 6 men pulling apart our bathroom for 4 days was a problem.Nor did we get a sorry for any inconvenience from anyone other than our lovely room attendant. I think because we never complained or made out that it was a problem.They never offered any compensation for our inconvenience. We would never of asked the Concierge to get someone to fix any of the problems in our suite even if he had the time to talk to us.As I am sure that wouldn't of been part of his job at all. We always try and make friends with the concierge and always ask them in passing how their day has been when we go up for coffee.I know they always appreciate someone asking them how they are going.

As a Pinnacle Member I would be very disappointed if our presence or that of fellow Ps actually caused a lack of service to the top suite Guests. It is rare that a large number of Pinnacle members are on the same cruise. Yes on the TA's or a new ship there will be alot, but in general it would be under 10.

I also agree that Royal would benefit from looking at how the options available to Suite Guests can be improved.

However under the current set up Suites do not get a butler, and those that book suites are aware of that. They only have access to a concierge whose services are shared by other guests, therefore not a personalised service. It may be the case that when those that choose to pay the extra for space, also want a more personalised service, they may have to book elsewhere. That in turn may make Royal review their Suite offering when compared to other lines, I hope that is the case. Until then we will continue to only book a JS or Balcony, if I need more space I will stay at home. :D

We have cruised many times with Royal and always in suite and know that the concierge is there for everyone that can use the CL.We at no time expected personalize service.We did get told that because we were in the Royal suite we would be met on the pier by the Concierge on boarding day and we didn't get that. But that was okay. Our problem was that when things were broken or went wrong it took days to fixes. We had 6 workmen working in our suite trying to fix things for 4 days.We were given the line to many Pinnacle member on our cruise taking all the concierge time as to why he was unable to meet us on the pier or be of any help. And on our cruise the Pinnacle member were very demanding and thought that Alex was there for them and them alone.Which didn't bother us either as we can make our own booking etc . I do feel if people are paying big money for the Royal suite or any cabin that everything in the suite/cabin should work not that we didn't get personalized service.In future we will keep cruising in Grand suites.

Hello! Does anyone know if Radiance has suite breakfast! Thanks!

 

 

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On the Radiance each day they have a continental breakfast in the CL. Then one day during the cruise they but on either a brunch or cocktail party in Giovanni's Table with the Captain and some of the senior staff.

This was also a special treat for our 40 th wedding anniversary. It was such a big disappointment. As I said before we did a sky suite on celebrity and the servic and room were unbelievable. You even have a butler in a sky suite. Not that I need a butler but I do believe the most expensive suite on any ship should have personalized service. We were told there were too many pinnacle members to give us the attention that the royal suite usually gets .that is no excuse for poor service. They should get extra help to avoid these issues.

Yes it is very disappointing when things don't go as well as they should have.We also got the too many pinnacle members line too.

We will have to try a sky suite on the celebrity as just the name sounds lovely.Not that I want or need a butler but it is nice if you are paying a lot of money to get some personalized service.

Maybe that will be part of their New suite perks upgrade.More personalized service if not it should be.

Wow. I can't believe that you had same issues in a Royal Suite. We had dirty brown water everyday in our tub and balcony jacuzzi . The water was so dirty it stained the tub. There was also debris floating in the water. We then collected water from shower and it was just as dirty. They never fixed the problem. I was afraid to brush my teeth so I used bottle water everyday.

 

I even took the water home with us in case we got sick

 

We also had a piano that did not work. We had sewer smell coming from the toilet. It was a disaster. We spent a lot of money for this suite and I expected it to be top notch.

 

I agree I will never book the Royal Suite or any suite until they get their act together

Not good.They need to look at their Royal suites and make sure everything is clean and works before they put new passengers in each cruise. We cruised with family and my sister was in an owners suite and got better service than we did. And we paid twice the cost of her suite.It also didn't help matters that my husband had booked the suite as a surprise for our wedding anniversary.Never again

I had the Royal Suite this past November on Explorer of the Seas. This was our first suite on RCCL and it will be our last. We had better service in a sky suite on celebrity. There is only one concierge for all the suites , diamond plus and pinnacle members. I think they should have a designated concierge for the suites only. We are not very needy people at all . I had a hard time communicating with the concierge because he was too busy with the pinnacle members. I have nothing against them I believe they earned their status and the perks they receive. I just believe when you spend that kind of money for a suite you should at least have first rate service.

 

We had numerous issues with the cabin and it took days before anyone could figure out what the problem was. When we left the issues were not fixed. I felt sorry for the next people who had the a Royal Suite.

 

My money for a suite will be spent on celebrity !

We had the Royal suite on the Rhapsody and had nothing but problems. We were told we would be met on the pier and that didn't happen. Then when we got to the suite the Spa in the bathroom didn't work or the Piano. It took 4 days to fix the spa and 3 days for the Piano.All we got was I am sorry it took so long.We will still cruise with RCI but in a grand or owners suites .But not the Royal suite as we didn't find it was worth the extra money.

Just a bit of info for anyone going on the voyager. Friends did sysney around nz and back a couple of weeks ago. This was their 6th royal cruise and all the ships they had been on had both oz and usa plugs. Murphy's law this time they deliberately didnt bother taking usa plug only to find since the refurb rooms only have usa ports.

once on the ship they couldnt get off to go buy one so had no option but to buy one on the ship.

A good money spinner for royal.

Your friends must of been mistaken when they thought that Royal had OZ power plugs.Like it tells you on its website and in its brochures all of Royals ships only have US and Euro power outlets.

I am amazed that some people on cruise critic are still upset that Royal changed the rules to allow children into the CL back in 2011. To date I have never come across anyone that has been upset by it while on a cruise .Nor have I seen any children misbehaving while in the CL or DL only adults that have been asked to leave as they were drunk and being loud and rude. Personally I don't care whether there are children in the CL or if they change it an allow children into the DL. I have worked in schools and a lot of my friends are teachers and when we go out for a kid free evening. We don't expect the club or Restaurant to make the parents and children leave because we want a kids free night. Having children around is just apart of life.

Royal are giving us Diamond and up 3 free drinks to enjoy at most bars around the ship.Which is wonderful as they are giving us so much choice on where and with whom we can have our drinks with. But then I also cruise for the love of cruising and happy to sit back and just enjoy my cruise.