Elite Lounge Hours - possible change

[eileen & jay]

It's officially now 5-7 starting with the cruises that turnaround today.

 

Phil

 

 

OKay with us! :) Thanks for sharing good news.

[TPCRUISER2]

Are the new hours fleet wide? Thanks in advance.

[jerseygirl3]

I don't like that at all:eek: We have early seating so we don't get the full benefit. (1 hr) The people who dine late have 2 hrs!! What's with that!! We had a wonderful time on the Millie where both dining times were accommodated each night. Not happy:(

 

But for those of us who have late dining (8:30 p.m.), going at 4 p.m. for before dinner cocktails is way too early.

 

I prefer the 5-7.

[excitedofharpenden]

Are the new hours fleet wide? Thanks in advance.

From what I understand,yes.

 

Phil

[sandancer]

This is great news. It will be so nice to go straight to dinner (Select) from the lounge) rather than going back to change for dinner.

[rsfriedm]

With early seating on the Constellation at 5:45 it hardly seems fair but there isn't much I can do about it

[jerseygirl3]

With early seating on the Constellation at 5:45 it hardly seems fair but there isn't much I can do about it

 

I believe early dining on Celebrity is 6:15.

[RMSeadog]

I have done something I rarely do, read every post in this thread as anything free is near and dear to my heart.

 

At first I had a wee bit of a problem with the time change but the more I read it became easier to live with. I had always opposed the Smart Casual and Above dress code at 1600 since in the rest of the ship it's not required until 1800, that being said I would put on a coat and tie for a free drink or two. Now that they have changed the time I agree with the dress code.

 

If an early dinner member thinks he/she is being short changed by only having an hour or if late seating members think it's too early then Select Dinning would solve the both problems. They 2000-2200 time frame would not work because there is no venue available. Different times for different seatings would be a nightmare to police. What about Select Dinning.

 

My big problem here is those that wish limit the amount drinks by issuing chits for one drink a day in different bars which would limit the amount of socializing. Those who think one should be outside by the pool, reading, or engaging in more productive activities than going to Happy Hour or believe 1600 or 1700 is too early to enjoy a wee dram or two. The have the right to not like the way things are, but, to recommend it be changed to fit their beliefs is in my opinion is wrong. ~ Ric

[jackdiamond]

I have been mildly ambivalent vis-a-vis this situation, but now that the hours have changed to 5-7, I am now more pleased with the change since we normally proceed to Blu for dinner at about 7:15. Ergo, I will simply remain in my smart casual or formal for both the happy hour and dinner.

[Christine Frances]

We are not happy campers. We enjoy Traditional Dining, we like to eat early as we do not like going to bed with a full tummy (we have the evening to walk it off:D) I work(ed) the 4-6 time into my schedule just like Trivia or lectures etc. I don't go there just for the drinks, but to meet other like minded people and socialize. Before we had a 2 hour window during which everyone could (and did attend if they wanted to). Not so much now:(

[eileen & jay]

We are not happy campers. We enjoy Traditional Dining, we like to eat early as we do not like going to bed with a full tummy (we have the evening to walk it off:D) I work(ed) the 4-6 time into my schedule just like Trivia or lectures etc. I don't go there just for the drinks, but to meet other like minded people and socialize. Before we had a 2 hour window during which everyone could (and did attend if they wanted to). Not so much now:(

 

Christine, this past year we moved to an earlier dining hour and really enjoyed it. As far as, the Elite Social hours, about an hour seems to be okay with us before dinner as I do enjoy conversation and wine with dinner.

 

But on that note...question Off Topic.... What company are you using for your land base tour of China? We are thinking Singapore-Hong Kong on Azamara and on to China. Thanks in advance...:)

[Denny01]

Well, so much for me standing in the Elite Lounge, sloshing down as many drinks as I can for 2hrs. Being a Early Diner at 6pm, I guess I'll just order two drinks at a time during my 1hr and drink them at the same time - two-fisted! Or, I could just walk in, socialize for an 1hr or so have a drink or two, and walk out for dinner, just as we almost always did before. We didn't show up at 4pm many times and this won't change things much at all, for us, and I bet for most of us.

 

Think about it, I personally don't need to drink for two hrs, 4-6pm, before dinner, have a glass or so at dinner, then have another few in the evening after dinner, socializing, hitting the casino or whatever. This is also ignoring a drink (or two?) during the day around the pool.

 

Me thinks Celebrity just saved me a bit of money for a liver transplant!

 

Den

[vi1234]

Like 4-6

[Christine Frances]

Christine, this past year we moved to an earlier dining hour and really enjoyed it. As far as, the Elite Social hours, about an hour seems to be okay with us before dinner as I do enjoy conversation and wine with dinner.

 

But on that note...question Off Topic.... What company are you using for your land base tour of China? We are thinking Singapore-Hong Kong on Azamara and on to China. Thanks in advance...:)

 

I usually go shortly after 4 for an hour and then head to the cabin to meet up with our traveling (non-elite) (4 pts) companions and then we may go to the Martini Bar before dinner. I know, I know - I need better friends:D So now, no Michael's Club for us.:(

 

Now for China - we have a custom tailored 15 day tour just for us and another couple and we worked with ChinaPac in Vancouver http://www.chinapac.com/ I hope that it is alright with the moderator to post that:eek: They were wonderful to deal with and we leave next Monday (14th):D

 

Cheers

Christine

[royalcruz]

Those who think one should be outside by the pool, reading, or engaging in more productive activities than going to Happy Hour or believe 1600 or 1700 is too early to enjoy a wee dram or two. The have the right to not like the way things are, but, to recommend it be changed to fit their beliefs is in my opinion is wrong.

 

So, those people who want to keep the happy hour at 4-6 PM to fit THEIR beliefs are right because it used to be at 4-6 and they don't think it should change because it met their needs the way it was? Someone needs to read "Who Moved My Cheese?".

 

I don't think that any of the later diners want to deny the early diners a pre-dinner happy hour. It is Celebrity who seems to be willing to cater this service for only 2 hours, which makes it difficult to please everyone. It would be so easy to cater for both groups (and the Anytime diners in between) with minimal effort by extending the number of hours.

[maxs mom]

We are RCI Diamond Plus members getting ready to take our first Celebrity cruise over the Thanksgiving Holiday. We were apalled to find the cocktail hours were 4-6. We are still on the beaches in ports at 3-3:30. Dragging on board at 4. I'm certainly not ready to get ready for dinner at that early hour. A change from 4-6 would be very welcomed for us. On RCI it's 5:30-8:30 and that is perfect. Early seaters get plenty of time as do late seaters. The early seaters even get to come in for an after dinner drink.

[eileen & jay]

I usually go shortly after 4 for an hour and then head to the cabin to meet up with our traveling (non-elite) (4 pts) companions and then we may go to the Martini Bar before dinner. I know, I know - I need better friends:D So now, no Michael's Club for us.:(

 

Now for China - we have a custom tailored 15 day tour just for us and another couple ...

 

 

Thanks Christine! Got the info and will review the web site. Have a wonderful trip!:)

[adamtennis]

We are huge fans of the 5-8:30pm Diamond Event on Royal Caribbean - so any change in that direction is a good one for us. Since we eat late and arrange our afternoon accordingly, being dressed to attend a happy hour from 4-6pm is not even on our radar. Even when we are at home, we don't eat dinner until 8 or 9pm. So, while 5-7pm is not optimal for us, it is definitely better than 4-6pm.

 

Thanks Celebrity :)

 

Adam

[hapicruisin]

We would really prefer later hours - 4 pm is way too early for us to start drinking.

 

Did wonder at the time it was first introduced what the reason for the early start was.

 

Have usually only attended, when it has been possible, for a short time from about 5.30 just to have a drink and meet up with friends.

 

Not wanting to step on toes, but we would much prefer Elite Lounge Hours to be be the later time.

[mferranti]

We would really prefer later hours - 4 pm is way too early for us to start drinking.

 

Did wonder at the time it was first introduced what the reason for the early start was.

'Too early to start drinking' — I do not understand this concept. :confused:

 

I imagine the thinking when they set the lounge up was that in the 'prime drinking hours' the bartenders and bar waiters would be needed in the profit-making lounges.

[pauly]

It really is appalling.

 

I say if another cruise line is perfect, then go with them!

[cruising teacher]

'Too early to start drinking' — I do not understand this concept. :confused:

 

I imagine the thinking when they set the lounge up was that in the 'prime drinking hours' the bartenders and bar waiters would be needed in the profit-making lounges.

 

We have enjoyed the 4-6 cocktail hour very much on many cruises since the Elite Benefits started. (Yeah!!!!) I hope that that the poster's insider information is incorrect. We will be on the Equinox in a few days and we shall see. I also wonder about the availability of waitstaff during the 5-7 times as many of our waiters had to leave early to get to another post.

[richsea]

I have read this entire thread & am amazed that so many people can take a perk & rip it apart. There were those who ripped it when it was first offered from 4 to 6, those who rip it because of the smart casual dress code, & now those who are upset that the hours are changing. It is a perk!! If the time doesn't suit you, don't use it! There's no rule that says that you must partake, or that you must spend the whole 2 hours in the lounge, or that it's even supposed to be used strictly for before dinner drinks.

I guarantee you that there is some suit in Celebrity's offices saying "Jeesh!! Can you believe these people!

[Lois R]

I have read this entire thread & am amazed that so many people can take a perk & rip it apart. There were those who ripped it when it was first offered from 4 to 6, those who rip it because of the smart casual dress code, & now those who are upset that the hours are changing. It is a perk!! If the time doesn't suit you, don't use it! There's no rule that says that you must partake, or that you must spend the whole 2 hours in the lounge, or that it's even supposed to be used strictly for before dinner drinks.

I guarantee you that there is some suit in Celebrity's offices saying "Jeesh!! Can you believe these people!

 

Thank you for posting this...I must have started a reply 6 times but

deleted it before I hit "submit". Glad I am not the only one who has

these same feelings.

[CelebrityMan]

I second Lois & Rich! :D

 

I'm also fairly confident that as another earlier poster postulated (just had to do that....) the original 4-6 pm timeslot was selected so that the servers would be freed to go to their other positions, not to make it difficult for anyone to get to the lounge.

 

Seems to me that in a "can't please everyone, all of the time" situation the only real solution would be longer hours, such as 5:00 - 8:00 pm. That still gives both early and late diners time to enjoy the lounge, and it frees staff to get to bars before early diners go for after-dinner drinks.

 

 

CM