How do you get in the Concierge Lounge?

[lknick]

Repeat business is a key element of continued success and RCI recognizes this. As an RCI cruiser with 45 cruises since the late 70s, I am quite pleased that RCI has chosen to recognize their loyal cruisers with this perk.

Has it occurred to anyone that RCI has fewer suites than other lines, and therefore uses what would be an unused venue at a frequent passenger perk?

 

Other lines, with a larger proportion of suites, only allow suite passengers into their "suite" lounge. Others have many more perks for suite passengers than RCI, i.e. HAL has free laundry service. Even Cunard has special dining venues for their suite passengers.

While I am certain they are pleased with your suite booking, it is both arrogant and presumptuous of you to assume that you will spend more aboard than those who travel in less expensive accommodations [sic].

And why is it “arrogant and presumptuous”?

[beverland]

The concierge has a list of Suite Passengers & Diamond & Diamond Plus members. On the first night you go to the lounge, you will be asked your name and/or cabin #. (if they don't know you already - our concierge on Mariner remembered us from the previous cruise.)

 

Upon arrival, a key (1 - per stateroom) will be in your stateroom along with a letter from the concierge welcoming you to the concierge lounge.

 

There is a continental breakfast in the a.m. and coffee, etc. is available throughout the day. Cocktails and hors douvres are available from about 5:00 pm until 9:00 ish.

 

I'm assuming that whomever is in your stateroom is allowed to visit the lounge. We sailed with relatives last year (separate cabins), but did not invite them to the lounge. They were not "qualified", so to speak.

 

The lounge was always relatively full, but we never had a problem getting a seat. We would ask fellow passengers if we could join them at a table.

 

We would have a drink or two before dinner and then leave. It appeared that most people used the lounge in the manner. I don't think anyone just hung out for the entire evening opening. It's not really that type of environment.

 

It is a nice perk and I feel I have earned it, so I wouldn't feel comfortable inviting those who haven't.

[caviargal]

Has it occurred to anyone that RCI has fewer suites than other lines, and therefore uses what would be an unused venue at a frequent passenger perk?

 

Other lines, with a larger proportion of suites, only allow suite passengers into their "suite" lounge. Others have many more perks for suite passengers than RCI, i.e. HAL has free laundry service. Even Cunard has special dining venues for their suite passengers. And why is it “arrogant and presumptuous”?

 

That is a very blanket statement about RCI and the number of suites available. This differs from ship to ship.

 

RCI made a decision to take the area originally designed as a suite for use as the CL on Radiance class ships. The lounges on Voyager class are larger windowless rooms.

 

Only Cunard to my knowledge has separate dining facilities for suite guests and they are not considered a mass market line.

 

Your assertion is presumptuous because you have no way of knowing how and where others choose to spend their money. I have seen poorly dressed passengers drop thousands at the casino and witnessed bar tabs that are astronomical being paid the last morning of the cruise. These are high profit areas for the cruise line.

 

My point is that each individual chooses how to spend their money and booking a suite is not representative of how much money the cruise line actually makes from that individual guest.

[lknick]

Your assertion is presumptuous...

Not my assertion! Get it right before you go off half cocked.

That is a very blanket statement about RCI and the number of suites available. This differs from ship to ship. [/Quote] I calculated the number of suites on HAL as a percent of total cabins, and the same on RCI. RCI has 1/3 of those on HAL. What is your support for this statement?

Only Cunard to my knowledge has separate dining facilities for suite guests and they are not considered a mass market line.[/Quote] And what is your definition of mass market. Any time a cruise line has five or less stars, it is considered Mass Market, QE2 has 4 stars with QM2 has 5. Most of RCI ships have 5.

 

Once again…why is it “arrogant and presumptuous” to have a suite?

[tinkerme1]

This is not the first time I've heard someone say that "suite cruisers" should be the only ones allowed in the Concierge Lounge. Sad, but I've heard many say this. I can only hope that RCCL continues to recognize the importance of rewarding their Crown & Anchor "loyal cruisers" with this very special benefit.

 

Although the lounges have become crowded on some cruises, RCCL and the Concierge attendent have made every effort to find a room onboard that will accommodate everyone. They have even brought in additional wait staff.

 

I will say that there is a policy that "anyone under the age of 18" is NOT allowed in the Concierge Lounge. We've had several cruises where there was almost a fight because the Concierge was enforcing the rule! I personally thought enforcement was a good thing!

 

As far as folks getting in through friends or sneaking in, that is entirely the fault of the Concierge for bending the rules. A good Concierge will definitely handle the situation correctly and ask the individual who does not belong to leave.

[critterchick]

We are looking forward to seeing the inside of the CC on our upcoming Brilliance cruise as Diamond members. I'm guessing that, as more & more passengers reach Diamond level, RCI will stop giving multiple credits for longer cruises & booking in suites to keep the numbers manageable.

[ducklite]

In about six weeks, I'll be a first time cruiser on RCCL. We've booked the Royal Suite, and are looking forward to it. With it comes access to the concierge lounge, and I'm looking forward to that as well, particularly to meet other cruisers. I'd love to chat with folks who have been on many cruises, to hear their tales of places I have yet to visit, and to get tips to enhance our cruise experience from those who have a lot more experience than we do.

 

As a person who is employed in the marketing and customer relations field, I certainly understand how extraordinarily important it is to take care of your loyal guests as much as your big spenders.

 

What I do hope to see is enforcement of the age restriction, as well as only allowing those who have the "right" to be in the lounge in, in order to minimize overcrowding. We are travelling with friends who are not in a suite or Diamond members, and we won't be bringing them into the lounge with us, now would we expect them to do so for us if the tables were turned.

 

Anne

[ducklite]

In about six weeks, I'll be a first time cruiser on RCCL. We've booked the Royal Suite, and are looking forward to it. With it comes access to the concierge lounge, and I'm looking forward to that as well, particularly to meet other cruisers. I'd love to chat with folks who have been on many cruises, to hear their tales of places I have yet to visit, and to get tips to enhance our cruise experience from those who have a lot more experience than we do.

 

As a person who is employed in the marketing and customer relations field, I certainly understand how extraordinarily important it is to take care of your loyal guests as much as your big spenders.

 

What I do hope to see is enforcement of the age restriction, as well as only allowing those who have the "right" to be in the lounge in, in order to minimize overcrowding. We are travelling with friends who are not in a suite or Diamond members, and we won't be bringing them into the lounge with us, nor would we expect them to do so for us if the tables were turned.

 

Anne

[Fritz265]

In about six weeks, I'll be a first time cruiser on RCCL. We've booked the Royal Suite, and are looking forward to it. With it comes access to the concierge lounge, and I'm looking forward to that as well, particularly to meet other cruisers. I'd love to chat with folks who have been on many cruises, to hear their tales of places I have yet to visit, and to get tips to enhance our cruise experience from those who have a lot more experience than we do.

 

As a person who is employed in the marketing and customer relations field, I certainly understand how extraordinarily important it is to take care of your loyal guests as much as your big spenders.

 

What I do hope to see is enforcement of the age restriction, as well as only allowing those who have the "right" to be in the lounge in, in order to minimize overcrowding. We are travelling with friends who are not in a suite or Diamond members, and we won't be bringing them into the lounge with us, nor would we expect them to do so for us if the tables were turned.

 

Anne

 

Anne,

 

We'd be happy to save you the trouble of having to leave your RS and walking all of the painful distance to the lounge. How about we join you at the nice fat bar you'll have in your RS? I'll even take care of the tip for your a private bartender.......:D

[rubrrick]

Anne,

 

We'd be happy to save you the trouble of having to leave your RS and walking all of the painful distance to the lounge. How about we join you at the nice fat bar you'll have in your RS? I'll even take care of the tip for your a private bartender.......:D

 

Someone has obviously been checking out the RS on RCCl. That's why we love to throw a party in our cabin: but wait, there is the new ruling about liqour, so maybe the RS is not that great anymore. Some of us are still waiting for a clarifacation of the "rules". We have the RS on our next trip in a few days and will let you fellow CC'rs know what we find out.

 

We also have an OS on a back to back to Harwich and on to the Baltic next spring. 26 days worth of liquor from the mainland is back breaking! We expect that RCCL will allow us to do what we have always done in the past.

 

Maybe we could have a small function in our cabin of Cruise Critic members on this forthcoming cruise, just to compare how the concierge does it vs. how we like to.............oh, never mind. Well, it's a thought!:D

 

Rick

[kenandlaura06]

 

As a person who is employed in the marketing and customer relations field, I certainly understand how extraordinarily important it is to take care of your loyal guests as much as your big spenders.

 

Anne

 

Well said.

[HotlantaCruiser]

Not my assertion! Get it right before you go off half cocked.

 

Don't you hate when someone goes off half-cocked?:eek:

 

It's fully cocked or nothing for me, I awlays say.

[Merion_Mom]

Someone has obviously been checking out the RS on RCCl. That's why we love to throw a party in our cabin: but wait, there is the new ruling about liqour, so maybe the RS is not that great anymore. Some of us are still waiting for a clarifacation of the "rules". We have the RS on our next trip in a few days and will let you fellow CC'rs know what we find out.

 

We also have an OS on a back to back to Harwich and on to the Baltic next spring. 26 days worth of liquor from the mainland is back breaking! We expect that RCCL will allow us to do what we have always done in the past.

 

Maybe we could have a small function in our cabin of Cruise Critic members on this forthcoming cruise, just to compare how the concierge does it vs. how we like to.............oh, never mind. Well, it's a thought!:D

 

Rick

Rick, our cabin steward not only didn't "say anything" when he saw my stash of bottles neatly arranged on the bar, but he rushed right out and brought a champagne bucket back when he saw me trying to shove a champagne bottle into the too-small regular ice bucket. He then kept both filled all the time. On the last night, as soon as we left the suite to go to dinner, he iced the remaining bottle of champagne without being asked! It was perfectly chilled and ready for our last-night late-night enjoyment.

 

Carol

[ducklite]

Anne,

 

We'd be happy to save you the trouble of having to leave your RS and walking all of the painful distance to the lounge. How about we join you at the nice fat bar you'll have in your RS? I'll even take care of the tip for your a private bartender.......:D

 

We've already invited everyone from CC that we are sailing with to a private Sail-Away party from Labadee in our cabin--there's about 60 people coming! Looking forward to it!

 

Anne

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We are looking forward to seeing the inside of the CC on our upcoming Brilliance cruise as Diamond members. I'm guessing that, as more & more passengers reach Diamond level, RCI will stop giving multiple credits for longer cruises & booking in suites to keep the numbers manageable.

 

That would indeed be unfortunate and even dishonest, frankly. Here's why. Passengers buy into the Crown and Anchor loyalty program by repeatedly traveling on RCI ships. They do so because they know about the clearly defined perks given to those higher up on the loyalty ladder.

 

What then happens when a passenger reaches the Diamond or Diamond Plus level only to be told that the perks he has been working toward are no longer available? The entire loyalty program would be based on false advertising that those who travel a given amount of times with RCI would be entitled to clearly defined rewards for their loyalty.

 

If RCI is indeed on the verge of an explosion in numbers of passengers who have reached Diamond status or better, thus overburdening Concierge Lounges, then it is the responsibility of RCI to remedy the situation by increasing the size of its lounges or by having more than one lounge.

 

Another remedy would be to "grandfather in" those who have entered the Crown and Anchor loyalty program before a cutoff date, so that they may enjoy the benefits that they were promised when they entered the program.

 

To do less would render the loyalty program nothing more than a cyncial and dishonest effort to snag repeat cruisers with empty promises. If word gets around that RCI has failed to deliver on its loyalty program, the cruise line will lose many repeat cruisers who have no compelling incentive to sail on RCI instead of other ships.

[rubrrick]

Rick, our cabin steward not only didn't "say anything" when he saw my stash of bottles neatly arranged on the bar, but he rushed right out and brought a champagne bucket back when he saw me trying to shove a champagne bottle into the too-small regular ice bucket. He then kept both filled all the time. On the last night, as soon as we left the suite to go to dinner, he iced the remaining bottle of champagne without being asked! It was perfectly chilled and ready for our last-night late-night enjoyment.

 

Carol

 

Carol, the way you have described your bar setup is what we have always done, and our steward has always brought in more ice, a full arrangement of glasses, and if there has been a bottle of champagne, it is always properly iced on request. This is probably on the wrong thread, but it looks to me that the only one RCCL is hurting here is Starboard Services, who can no longer sell liquor by the bottle to take to the cabin.

 

Glad your trip was such a success!!:D :D

 

Rick

[gkm]

When I was on the Brilliance this past spring, they had set up another area for the Concierge Lounge because of overcrowding. The Club on deck 13 was also turned into a Concierge Lounge and a sign put up at it's entrance stating so. It had much more room and was a lovely place to go before dinner drinks and snacks. Of course, the original Lounge was still open and that's where the Concierge Desk was.

 

Garry

[lknick]

That [restricting the Conciege Lounge to suite passengers] would indeed be unfortunate and even dishonest, frankly. Here's why. Passengers buy into the Crown and Anchor loyalty program by repeatedly traveling on RCI ships. They do so because they know about the clearly defined perks given to those higher up on the loyalty ladder. .

Keep in mind that airline clubs used to be free for frequent flyers, and then someone sued American Airlines for discrimination...and airline clubs are no longer free.

 

So expect to loose the priviledge.

[kek17]

We are diamond members and usually select ship with the conceirge club for the benefits. It was not until our last voyage in the Mediterrean that we learned that if we used the club regularly we really should tip the concerige. The level of service provided by our young man was top notch. Knew our names after the first day, remembered our drink orders, sent a bottle of wine to the room because we liked it in the club, and made dinner reservations for us at Chops overhearing our intent to do this. I feel badly that I didn't think about doing this before last summer. A good lesson to remember for those who plan to use their full benefits of this nice feature.

 

kek17:)

[critterchick]

First of all, I didn't say that RCCL would change the benefits of each level, but may make you earn each level the old-fashioned way – one cruise credit per cruise. Right now, you could make Diamond level in as few as 4 cruises – book 4 12-night or longer cruises or cruise tours in a junior suite or better and you'll get 3 credits for each cruise. Even though DH and I took advantage of that (we just like the JS, didn't book for the extra credit) and made Diamond in 7 cruises, I really don't think that's a good idea. The double or triple credit started in 2004, so it was conceived at a time when cruising wasn't all that popular, but I think it's time for go back to the old way of earning elite status (I know, easy for me to say now that I’m already there).

 

Secondly, while I would prefer to see RCCL use that method to cull the herd of Platinum & Diamond members, if they don't, then at some point they won't be able to accommodate Diamond members in the existing concierge clubs – they'll have to close down one of the other public lounges for that purpose. Also, Diamond members get boffo discounts on balcony cabin & better bookings, so having too many of us will surely have a negative impact on the bottom line.

 

Another alternative is to raise the number of cruises you need to have in order to reach each level – 7-10 for Platinum and 15+ for Diamond. I think that would surely raise howls of protest from those who have 4 or 9 credits.

 

The cruiseline ultimately will be faced with having to piss somebody off. The airlines have all changed their loyalty plans to make them less attractive – upgrades used to be 10k miles and now they're 25k, on many airlines you can't upgrade off the lowest fare, etc. People still fly their "favorites," albeit perhaps less slavishly. I myself will dump American Airlines for Jet Blue just for convenience of flying from Long Beach instead of LAX.

[caviargal]

We are diamond members and usually select ship with the conceirge club for the benefits. It was not until our last voyage in the Mediterrean that we learned that if we used the club regularly we really should tip the concerige. The level of service provided by our young man was top notch. Knew our names after the first day, remembered our drink orders, sent a bottle of wine to the room because we liked it in the club, and made dinner reservations for us at Chops overhearing our intent to do this. I feel badly that I didn't think about doing this before last summer. A good lesson to remember for those who plan to use their full benefits of this nice feature.

 

kek17:)

 

 

Good point, kek17. I did tip our Concierge on Serenade similarly to what I would have in a hotel. She was excellent and definitely made the cruise more pleasant overall.

 

However, I saw very few passengers tip her on the last evening so assume that many did not. A very nice couple that I sat with several nights in the CL mentioned that they did not plan to tip initially but utilized the lounge and services far more than expected.

[Merion_Mom]

This message board brought that issue into my consciousness, so I am grateful. Who knows if my befogged brain would have remembered to tip the wonderful Giuseppe on its own? :)

 

Carol

[Ericknow32]

First of all, I didn't say that RCCL would change the benefits of each level, but may make you earn each level the old-fashioned way – one cruise credit per cruise. Right now, you could make Diamond level in as few as 4 cruises – book 4 12-night or longer cruises or cruise tours in a junior suite or better and you'll get 3 credits for each cruise. Even though DH and I took advantage of that (we just like the JS, didn't book for the extra credit) and made Diamond in 7 cruises, I really don't think that's a good idea. The double or triple credit started in 2004, so it was conceived at a time when cruising wasn't all that popular, but I think it's time for go back to the old way of earning elite status (I know, easy for me to say now that I’m already there).

I would have no problem if RCCL did this. I earned my way up one cruise at a time. It can be done.

[mems]

Merion Mom, Still love your reply....practice, practice, practice. Sorry I didn't tell you at the time. Hey, we paid our dues now we cruise. mems

[logan1_2000]

What a hoot! Decided to upgrade from JS to GS on the 1/2/06 Radiance so that I can mix with the Platinum and Diamond, the hoi polloi, the interlopers, and those who, naturally, PAID MORE (sorry, that earlier part of this thread was so controversial and apparently done tongue in cheek--shame vocal inflection of sarcasm doesn't come across on the internet). Looking forward to this!

 

As a college student, maybe high school--don't remember--my late father brought me into the American Airlines Admirals Club ( I hope I got the club name right) before a trip. Was impressed, watched Dad closely to learn some concierge club manners. Bought a lifetime membership in another airline's club lounge for the whopping price of $750 in 1988 when I was 24 years old. Couple years later I brought a law school classmate in w/ me when we were on the same flight and had a layover, never forget his reaction and surprise when I invited him , "Wow...so what's behind the brown door?" Sounded like a porn flick.

 

I'll keep DS in line should he accompany me, though he's easily bored and there are other places he'll likely prefer to be.

 

"One thing it obviously can't buy is class."

Oh that was the best part of this thread. I feel like writing that on every dress code for formal night thread I see.

 

Thanks all.