island lady

OMG Dave...that looks just like you! 😄 But nothing like Kathy!! 😇

Sorry. You were quoting cruisegirl1 who was talking about current set up on on our January 6th Jewel cruise. Guess I thought that was what you were replying to. And yes...ship to ship has their own version of "we have reached our threshold". I have no idea which ship has which limit beyond those two ships recently. I know the non-suite Pinnies were not allowed in CK or the SL on Wonder TA a couple of months ago...there were over 300 of us on that one. Don't know what their threshold was...and did not ask. I was in a GS...which I always book if on a ship with CK, thus never have to worry about being excluded.

LOL...mine currently on Jewel has 3 bottles of SB in it. One I brought on board, two they gave me. B2B 7 night= 14 nights. On a 6/8 B2B cruise = 14 nights. Here is the catch. For Pinnacles (and I think 350 point D+) two 7 night cruises = 6 bottles (3 per week). But for a B2B having one 6 and one 8 night combo = 4 bottles, since you only get one bottle for a 6 night cruise. Very tricky RCI. 😖

There is no SL or CK on Jewel. The threshold on both Serenade (that we just disembarked from recently) and Jewel (on board currently) is 30...if there are over that number...they restrict the Pinnacles not in a suite from the CL. Last week on Jewel (holiday week) there were 39, but they decided to let them in as an exception. This week....41 of us. Not allowed into the CL.

The idea is to actually just book and pay for one person. There are no one person tables...least chairs at a table...two (or two top). So pretty easy to add the second person, first being already paid in full (most of the time). Giovanni's always congenial to it for us...Chops is where I have the problem.

I picked one that I could normally get free glass with voucher. (Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc). Only did it the one time, not sure about other wines. Asked about it on other ships...but answer was no.

Friend of mine simply goes to the MDR on lobster night due to preferring the broiled lobster tail, versus the "butter poached" in CK. Neither of us tries to get them to bring food in from another venue, we just go to that restaurant.

Not every bar will do that though. We had good experience with it on Odyssey, with the bartender at Giovanni's wine bar suggesting it to us, though he said it is not advertised.

Have had that on EX B2B2B last year. A dozen or less Pinnies...indeed a waste to set aside a Pinnacle event (which was held in the Library on that ship). They finally shut it down and let the Pinnies into the CL. Will be interesting to see what they do on Voyager B2B2B starting end of the month.

Each time, booking one person...then adding the second upon check in...have had different experiences. From no problem, smile...done deal, to being pissy, trying to charge again, etc. (Chops) Never know what to expect. Though I now realize, booking in advance for Chops (which I will probably not do again) is the only way to insure a reservation on the smaller ships. Have never had a problem with Giovanni's and will probably wait to book once on the ship from now on.

Follow up report. Giovanni's dinner (same menu as always). Bucky's filet was wonderful, my Ossobuco was tender, tasty...yums! 🙂 But my real favorite is the appetizer Tonno Crudo (thin sliced sushi grade tuna with citrus sauce)..

Steak is on the kids menu? All I ever see on any RCI ship is hamburger, chicken fingers, grill cheese, mac and cheese, and spaghetti.

Serenade had a Pinnacle "event" but not in a dedicated room. It was a sectioned off area of the VCL, which had their own "happy tisers" set up in that section and the LA was always present. It was actually very nice. Here on Jewel...kind of a joke. It is an overflow for the DL, with little signs on the tables "reserved Pinnacle Members". The back door to the DL is open, and pax from D and up wander back and forth. Drinks are only coming from the VCL bar, which gets nuts. And of course, the Ds, and D+ ignore the Pinnacle signs and just sit wherever they want. Go up there later after 5 pm, and you can't find a seat. The happy tisers are only set up in the tiny DL...which is a mob scene. And we never see the LA, who is new as of this last Friday. On both ships...Pinnacles not in a full suite were not allowed in the CL. And of course D+ are now officially banned from the CL from now on.

I will hold judgement until I not only see....but taste...the new menu. 😉 The only real thing I worried about...is losing those classics off the menu. After all....some of us are classics and would prefer to stick around a bit longer.

Though if you are a Suites guest and not in C&A as D and above.....you are not allowed in the DL. No crossover there.

They just have not changed the name on the sign yet. On sister ship Odyssey...they already did. And if called SL, or CL...if the ship reaches the number of Pinnies they deem too many...they are excluded if not in a full suite.

And that makes it right?

OMG....you should have seen them last night in front of the MDR. It is deck 4, which does the MTD seating, with first seating at 6:45. A few "ladies" were having a hissy stomp fest about not being seated right away (when we were going in at 5:15 early traditional).

Yup, thanks. I know what it is....but have never tried it in Giovanni's yet. May do that tonight. 🙂

This exactly ^. Assigned time...is....assigned time. 😉

I liked Portofinos. 😉

I have never tried the Osso Bucco...not really a red meat person (though Bucky loves their filet). Maybe I should try it tonight...thanks. 🙂

Doing Giovanni's tonight...at least that menu is also the same. 🙂

Indeed that is permanent on ships that still have a CL. D+ forever kicked out of that lounge now. Suites Lounge never invited D+ since inception. We are on Jewel, and just recently on Serenade, which has a CL. Even Pinnacles are kicked out of the CL (unless in Grand Suite and above).

Those ships usually have a Suites Lounge, not CL. CL still on older ships, as in Jewel we are on now, and just recently disembarked Serenade. There are no Sky or Star class level cabins on those older ships.