We LOVE the Viking Crown Lounge!!!!!!!!!

[shipfriend_max]

We also really enjoyed the Viking Crown Lounge on Liberty otS in Sep. 2014.

I truly hope that the oasis Class ships are the only ones where the VCL will be eliminated and that RCI keeps it on the other ships!!!

As far as I have heard, when Freedom will be refurbished in March, the Nightclub on Deck 3/4 will be eliminated and the facilities might be moved to VCL. OK, at least, this lounge is accessable fpr everyone and keeps its function as bar, lounge and discotheque... :rolleyes:

 

So let's pray that VCL stays on all other RCI ships!!

[Aquahound]

If it is underutilized much of the blame can be placed on CD's and Activities staff that do not schedule events there.

 

On my last Oasis cruise, the calypso band from the pool deck played in the VCL at night. The place was packed. Huge kudos to the CD, Ricky Mathews, who was most likely responsible for it.

[leisuretraveler223]

If it is underutilized much of the blame can be placed on CD's and Activities staff that do not schedule events there.

 

I don't think any of us truly have the firsthand knowledge to make this assertion with any confidence. RCI ships are designed and operated in a very particular fashion with ONE goal in mind: To get the passengers to spend as much money as possible. There are only a finite number of resources- personnel, supplies, venues and passenger appetites. To assume that these venues are simply ignored or overlooked by the CD and staff is a fairly naive approach.

[LBumb]

great pic

[bigque]

Ask, and ye shall receive.

 

That actually make the ship look better! With the VCL you cannot mistake a Royal ship for any other cruiseline ship! :cool:

[LMaxwell]

I don't think any of us truly have the firsthand knowledge to make this assertion with any confidence. RCI ships are designed and operated in a very particular fashion with ONE goal in mind: To get the passengers to spend as much money as possible. There are only a finite number of resources- personnel, supplies, venues and passenger appetites. To assume that these venues are simply ignored or overlooked by the CD and staff is a fairly naive approach.

 

Disagree. If they put more bar staff there and scheduled more activities there, they'd generate more revenue. Of course I understand the promenade on the big ships offers much more other things to get money out of people, but still, if a venue is underutilized because of lack of hosted activities that's on the cruise staff, not the guest. Guests go where the action is. Nothing naive about that at all.

[John&LaLa]

Ask, and ye shall receive.

 

Not sure about the rest of you, but I see several hundred places to view and connect with the sea. Those were not on the old RCL ships.

[critterchick]

I've seldom been on a ship where the VCL was heavily used unless it was by a group. On our honeymoon in 1995, we missed a Coco Cay and spent the day alone in the VCL on Nordic Empress reading and sipping on cocktails. I don't know what the original purpose was, but unless there was a band playing up there, the place was usually pretty empty. I'll be sad if they all go, but can see how repurposing it fits into the revenue objective. I wish that the answer would be to put a dance combo in there, but that would require hiring more people for little or no return on the investment except for some happy feet.

[Hoopster95]

Ask, and ye shall receive.

 

WOW!!! Great job :D

[leisuretraveler223]

Disagree. If they put more bar staff there and scheduled more activities there, they'd generate more revenue. Of course I understand the promenade on the big ships offers much more other things to get money out of people, but still, if a venue is underutilized because of lack of hosted activities that's on the cruise staff, not the guest. Guests go where the action is. Nothing naive about that at all.

 

So let me get this straight. You believe that you have figured out something that Royal and their bean counters haven't? You really think that's a solid solution and they just haven't thought of it or bothered to try it? Your mistake is in believing it's actually just that simple. Could they get more use out of a particular venue? Sure. Could they generate more revenue? Absolutely. But there are other factors to consider. What is the cost in investing in "more bar staff" or scheduling "more activities"? What effect would that have on other venues? There are only so many people on board, and they are all going to be somewhere. Perhaps Royal has already crunched the numbers and determined that while they might get the VCL to generate more revenue, it wouldn't be a net gain for the vessel as a whole. Personally, I have no idea if this is the case. But I stick to my guns when I say it is naive to think that there is a simple "solution" that RCI simply hasn't discovered or explored.

[mets07]

My husband and I have always loved the VCL. Often there to enjoy the sunset while having a pre-dinner drink.

 

We have some fond memories, including one of sitting there and watching our son, who at the time was running high school cross country, running around and around and around the "track" of whatever ship we were on.

 

We are going to be on Vision next and you guys just made me concerned enough to go check the deck plan and make sure the VCL was still there.

:)

 

Probably the only spot for a drink we have enjoyed as much was outside on the NCL Breakaway - Waterfront .... although a completely different experience.

[LMaxwell]

So let me get this straight. You believe that you have figured out something that Royal and their bean counters haven't? You really think that's a solid solution and they just haven't thought of it or bothered to try it? Your mistake is in believing it's actually just that simple. Could they get more use out of a particular venue? Sure. Could they generate more revenue? Absolutely. But there are other factors to consider. What is the cost in investing in "more bar staff" or scheduling "more activities"? What effect would that have on other venues? There are only so many people on board, and they are all going to be somewhere. Perhaps Royal has already crunched the numbers and determined that while they might get the VCL to generate more revenue, it wouldn't be a net gain for the vessel as a whole. Personally, I have no idea if this is the case. But I stick to my guns when I say it is naive to think that there is a simple "solution" that RCI simply hasn't discovered or explored.

 

I'll continue to enjoy VCL's and make them the first stop on my cruises as long as they are open and accessible. It's a shame they are being reduced in sized, closed off, or plain not even built on new ships. If I don't like the fact that they are reducing and / or eliminating a signature lounge that's my choice and my opinion. I'm certainly not going to argue with you over it.

 

All I said is that if more events were planned by the staff in VCL, the VCL would have more traffic. It really IS that basic and simple. Same goes for the theater, casino, schooner bar, centrums, etc. Plan more activities in those venues and you will see increased traffic in those venues. Plan less activities and you'll have less traffic. Simple logic.

 

Oh, and I don't think in the same paragraph you can assert I am mistaken about anything in which you end with a strong closing of "but I don't really know." Relax.

Edited October 29, 2014 by LMaxwell

[A&L_Ont]

On my last Oasis cruise, the calypso band from the pool deck played in the VCL at night. The place was packed. Huge kudos to the CD, Ricky Mathews, who was most likely responsible for it.

 

We have stayed on deck 17 for 95% of our Oasis Class cruises and the VCL is usually under-utilized at night. We would always stop in for a pop/soda before bed and it would be quiet, except for the guitarist or piano player playing to a few small groups of people enjoying some time together. The night we always saw it busy was when one of the actors from Hairspray would sing a set. It was always hopping that night.

 

Now if the calypso ban had been playing we would be joining the crowd and having a blast. For our upcoming cruise Ricky Mathews is joining the ship the week after we sail, so sadly we will JS his energizer bunny attitude. He's a great guy and CD.

Edited October 29, 2014 by A&L_Ont

[rusty nut]

Not sure about the rest of you, but I see several hundred places to view and connect with the sea. Those were not on the old RCL ships.

I see you've been on several Royal ships. I'm certain you've visited the VCL on many of them. With that, you know darn well there is nowhere else like it anywhere on the ship, or any other cruise line, for that matter. For me it's a huge disappointment that it's gone on the Oasis/Quantum class ships. It was, without a doubt, the crowning achievement of the royal fleet. It was their signature, and now it's gone on their grandest ships. Sure, there are lots of places to take in the ocean but nothing like the VCL.

[poncho1973]

It was replaced with the North Star. And guess what, it's going to cost you. Cha-Ching!

 

This is how rumors get started. It's free, unless you book it for a special occasion. Rumormongering is bad, mmm-kay?

 

 

From our experiences, the VCL is almost always empty. The card rooms might have some use during the mid-afternoon on sea days, but otherwise are empty.

 

I agree that you get some beautiful views, but if you owned these ships and had the chance to take an area that vastly underperforms and turn it into something with a good cashflow, I believe you'd do it.

[Philly Steve]

The VCL is a great place to watch a thunderstorm while at sea. The bar service is the best aboard. :)

[Freedom2014]

I've always been confused is the VCL for past guest only...or can anyone go in?

[Clarea]

I've always been confused is the VCL for past guest only...or can anyone go in?

The VCL has always been open to all, except when there is some sort of private function there.

[John&LaLa]

I see you've been on several Royal ships. I'm certain you've visited the VCL on many of them. With that, you know darn well there is nowhere else like it anywhere on the ship, or any other cruise line, for that matter. For me it's a huge disappointment that it's gone on the Oasis/Quantum class ships. It was, without a doubt, the crowning achievement of the royal fleet. It was their signature, and now it's gone on their grandest ships. Sure, there are lots of places to take in the ocean but nothing like the VCL.

 

Darn well, really? Yes, I've been on every class but Quantum, but I rarely go there except to go through on the way to Diamond lounge or Diamond event.

YMMV

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app

[rusty nut]

Darn well, really? Yes, I've been on every class but Quantum, but I rarely go there except to go through on the way to Diamond lounge or Diamond event.

YMMV

 

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Yes, I know several people that don't give the VCL a second thought. That's okay. :) My thoughts are quite different. I loved the VCL and it became one of my favorite spots on the ship. It was a quaint, quiet, intimate place to get away from the crowds, and the VIEWS!! I will miss it.

[TheMastodon]

I just read a short review of a westbound TA on Oasis. Since they added all those new cabins and took away the Viking Crown Lounge that definitely takes away the appeal for us to sail on that ship!!!!

 

We cruise for the views of the ocean. Period. We LOVE the sea and prefer to enjoy it from a vantage point like the Viking Lounge where you don't have to wrap up in a blanket or stand in the blazing sun!!!

 

Now, if you want that view the cruise line is forcing you to pay for a suite!!!

 

It is sad to us that they are moving this direction. :mad:

 

 

Then book ships that have it.

[Big_G]

For us the VCL was the place to go when everything else was too busy. When they had entertainment there, it was usually not that impressive. We always book a balcony so if we wanted quiet time during the day, we'd head back to the cabin. I agree it's iconic and I'll miss that visual but I'm thinking I won't actually miss the lounge itself.

[Ladysilver]

Our favorite place to relax and have a drink is the Viking Crown Lounge. Best views of the ship gliding through the water. :D

[mickev99]

The Viking Crown Lounge was for all guests, regardless of C&A level. It was a unique feature on Royal's ships, located aft, above the pool deck, with windows usually giving an expansive view of the ship and ocean.

 

I believe this is one of the first VCLs:

 

 

 

Well darn it, I wish I had known about this on our freedom cruise. We went to olive or twist a few times for the view. Anyone know if they have it on Indy?

 

 

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[Clarea]

Well darn it, I wish I had known about this on our freedom cruise. We went to olive or twist a few times for the view. Anyone know if they have it on Indy?

Every Royal ship except Quantum has a Viking Crown. Also, the Viking Crown on Oasis has been re-purposed and no longer allows all guests to have access.