Phase out of Concierge Lounge

[TPCRUISER2]

What I don't understand is why the new Suite lounge rules have not been implemented fleet wide in Freedom class? Thought the Freedom of the Seas had been refurbished and does not have the new Suite lounge. Yet, the Liberty is getting one. Can someone enlighten me? Always go with the flow, yet would like to make sense of it all. Ha!

[wolfganghowell]

Every time one of these threads pops up, I am reminded why we prefer the CL to the DL. There is way too much complaining and one upsmanship in the D and D+ world.

 

We are D+ and usually do a GS. When booking our Liberty cruise, I noticed the CL was gone, to be replaced by a SL. We had been considering a JS and this change alone decided we would bump up to a GS. In our experience, DL's have been overcrowded, loud, clique-ish and often packed with complainers who bemoan the good old days. To my knowledge, no poster here has been on the same sailings so I'm certainly not accusing anyone here. But let's not kid ourselves, the DL's have a reputation for being Gritch Central. The CL's and now apparently, the SL's are more diverse in age, ethnicity and loyalty levels. Conversations are centered more on normal subjects instead of competition on how many cruises someone has taken or what level they are on and or how _oftheseas "used to be" so much better.

 

So if the CL's get phased out, we'll plan our cruise budget accordingly so we have access to SL and DL. (Yes sometimes we pop in the DL - usually in the morning when the complainers are somewhere else!)

[John&LaLa]

IMHO, you can exclude PC Members from complaining as they are eligible to go into any lounge no matter it's name.:D

 

Maybe one day in the future the two lounges will be Suite and Pinnacle.

[John&LaLa]

Every time one of these threads pops up, I am reminded why we prefer the CL to the DL. There is way too much complaining and one upsmanship in the D and D+ world.

 

We are D+ and usually do a GS. When booking our Liberty cruise, I noticed the CL was gone, to be replaced by a SL. We had been considering a JS and this change alone decided we would bump up to a GS. In our experience, DL's have been overcrowded, loud, clique-ish and often packed with complainers who bemoan the good old days. To my knowledge, no poster here has been on the same sailings so I'm certainly not accusing anyone here. But let's not kid ourselves, the DL's have a reputation for being Gritch Central. The CL's and now apparently, the SL's are more diverse in age, ethnicity and loyalty levels. Conversations are centered more on normal subjects instead of competition on how many cruises someone has taken or what level they are on and or how _oftheseas "used to be" so much better.

 

So if the CL's get phased out, we'll plan our cruise budget accordingly so we have access to SL and DL. (Yes sometimes we pop in the DL - usually in the morning when the complainers are somewhere else!)

 

Not sure I get your point, the CL environment can have quite a few D+'s and higher carrying on in the same way as you mentioned in the DL. Then add to that mix the shocked suite guests who can't find a seat. We generally eat early, so we are early lounge people. we rarely go after dinner, the casino is calling, and i may get a Baileys or two while in the casino. all is good

[wolfganghowell]

My point is that threads like this become so heated and insulting, that it's a turn off and validates why many of us choose to fly under the radar when we sail. I said from my experience to make the point that the CL/SL doesn't seem to have the same snobbery and complaining that we have seen in the DL's. I certainly grant that that is not always the case. Very seldom have I seen a few D+'s carrying on in the CL although I have seen a few Pinnacles do it. I've also met a few Pinnacles that have been warm and gracious and as long as someone was in the CL they didn't question how they had earned the right to be there. The DL, on the other hand, has always had a decent % of self-policers who seem to think that anyone who appears under the age of 70, shouldn't be there and hasn't truly "earned" it. Once again, I reiterate, from our experience. I realize there may be many delightful experiences in the DL - we just haven't seen them. I accept that they exist though. We will continue to be glad that we have 2 distinct options no matter how they shake out - DL, CL, SL.

[Moltar]

Every time one of these threads pops up, I am reminded why we prefer the CL to the DL. There is way too much complaining and one upsmanship in the D and D+ world.

 

 

Never experienced anything like that in my time in the DL. Ever. Wonder what kind of conversations you guys are carrying to lead to such things.

[slk230red]

The other side of that coin is that the nightly cocktail parties, which are obviously very popular among RCI loyalists, drive repeat business. As with any loyalty program, the goal is to get the customers back through the door again and again.

 

For me, the nightly drinks are a great way to keep me coming back. Every time I think about booking another cruise line, the little voice in my head (one among many) whispers to remember Royal's generous loyalty perks.

 

I don't think anyone believes the drinks to be free. But at the wholesale bulk pricing the cruise line pays, the cost must obviously be worth enticing guests to come back onboard.

 

Well said.

 

Hey Grady, I'm the guy that took pictures of the Jewel when you were going through Tracy Arm Fjord on your Alaska cruise this past summer when we were on the Infinity. Your Alaska photos turned out great!

Maybe I'll see you at the CL bar.

 

Gotta finish packing and mow the lawn. Safe travels everyone.

[DarthGrady]

Well said.

 

Hey Grady, I'm the guy that took pictures of the Jewel when you were going through Tracy Arm Fjord on your Alaska cruise this past summer when we were on the Infinity. Your Alaska photos turned out great!

Maybe I'll see you at the CL bar.

 

Gotta finish packing and mow the lawn. Safe travels everyone.

 

See you there!

[Clagmeister]

I agree. LB is currently in dry dock and is getting a suite lounge. The former CL will be a library and card room. This probably will ease crowding for gold card holders. But I don't see any relief for the D and D+ folks unless every ship creates an over flow area for the D lounge.

 

Sounds fair to me.

[wolfganghowell]

Never experienced anything like that in my time in the DL. Ever. Wonder what kind of conversations you guys are carrying to lead to such things.

 

We don't participate in those conversations. They are what we have overheard around us. But thank you for making an assumption that we would be responsible for it. :rolleyes: I am glad you have never experienced it - and I mean that sincerely - not being sarcastic. I do know it is not unique to us though since it has been discussed ad nauseum here and it's been mentioned a few times onboard - even by concierges.

[Thetrail]

I recall they did that in one of the Serenade TA the time when there were so many elites on board.

 

It is actually the discretion of the ship's managers.

 

They can still mingle in the D lounge if they want to, but have an option to mingle in the other bars of the ship as well.

 

It was better that way given the situation had not for that initiative, the lounges will be really crowded for comfort given the number of elites on board, and the bar service will degrade given many are waiting for their drink.

Your recall senses are off, this has never been done on any RCL ships. Elite status is not a RCL term by the way.....:rolleyes:

[A&L_Ont]

Your recall senses are off, this has never been done on any RCL ships. Elite status is not a RCL term by the way.....:rolleyes:

 

Thanks The Trail. I would have thought if that ever happened I would have read about it here. I remember reading on some TAs that there were so many in the D and up grouping that they had taken over larger bars to use for the drink hours, for the over flow.

 

I bunched the D, D+, and Pinnacle all into their term of a generic "elite", but not in the Princess Cruise Line way.:)

Edited January 18, 2016 by A&L_Ont

[Thetrail]

Not sure I get your point, the CL environment can have quite a few D+'s and higher carrying on in the same way as you mentioned in the DL. Then add to that mix the shocked suite guests who can't find a seat. We generally eat early, so we are early lounge people. we rarely go after dinner, the casino is calling, and i may get a Baileys or two while in the casino. all is good

Am D+ myself and more often than not in a suite. So for you to say we generally eat early and imagine the shocked suite guest, who cares, sounds like a personal problem....:rolleyes:

[Thetrail]

Thanks The Trail. I would have thought if that ever happened I would have read about it here. I remember reading on some TAs that there were so many in the D and up grouping that they had taken over larger bars to use for the drink hours, for the over flow.

 

I bunched the D, D+, Pinnacle and suites all into their term of a generic "elite", but not in the Princess Cruise Line way.:)

First part...true, second part...gotcha!:)

[Cabansail]

Have not been here in a while.

 

Reading threads like this makes me realise that RCI is very environmentally conscious.

 

They run their ships on Alcohol.

[jonj]

Have not been here in a while.

 

Reading threads like this makes me realise that RCI is very environmentally conscious.

 

They run their ships on Alcohol.

 

This was seriously funny :), thanks for the laugh

Edited January 18, 2016 by jonj

[The_Big_M]

Then why do all the newest Quantum class ships all have a Concierge Lounge?

 

Indeed. With no Diamond lounge on Quantum.

 

As often is, it's a ship by ship basis.

[LMaxwell]

Indeed. With no Diamond lounge on Quantum.

 

As often is, it's a ship by ship basis.

 

Quantum has a Diamond Lounge

[Ourusualbeach]

Quantum has a Diamond Lounge

 

Anthem does but on Quantum it has been reported that it has been removed to make way for a high rollers room as part of the casino expansion which also saw the removal of the music hall.

 

And in true Royal fashion they have not updated the deck plans to reflect this.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Ourusualbeach

[John&LaLa]

Am D+ myself and more often than not in a suite. So for you to say we generally eat early and imagine the shocked suite guest, who cares, sounds like a personal problem....:rolleyes:

 

??? I said we eat early. Plus I was kind of taking up for the suite guests. The reason I used the term shocked was because a certain percentage of suite guests don't have your experience and may be surprised on their first visit to a CL overflowing with guests. Have a nice day.

[BND]

Anthem does but on Quantum it has been reported that it has been removed to make way for a high rollers room as part of the casino expansion which also saw the removal of the music hall.

 

And in true Royal fashion they have not updated the deck plans to reflect this.

 

That's because the Quantum is being used in the Asian market. It has nothing to do with future plans and everything to do with high roller gamblers on Asia cruises.

[ARCruisinNana]

That's because the Quantum is being used in the Asian market. It has nothing to do with future plans and everything to do with high roller gamblers on Asia cruises.

 

 

Yes, and right now there aren't many C&A members with a lot of cruises. So two lounges aren't really needed. That will probably change with so many ships now in the market.

[Ourusualbeach]

That's because the Quantum is being used in the Asian market. It has nothing to do with future plans and everything to do with high roller gamblers on Asia cruises.

 

I never said that it had anything to do with future plans or even questioned why it was that way. I just stated what it was currently being used for and that the deck plans are incorrect. People from other parts of the world are still booking cruises on the Quantum and the deck plans should reflect the current uses of the various spaces.

[roquejo]

That's because the Quantum is being used in the Asian market. It has nothing to do with future plans and everything to do with high roller gamblers on Asia cruises.

 

I sail in almost all parts of the world and I confirm that Quantum has no D lounge but has a concierge lounge. But there is a Diamond event at the music hall every night.

 

2 reasons:

 

Quantum's guests are mostly mainland Chinese. They don't drink except warm water, bars are empty, but gamble, smoke, and shop a lot. So the D lounge happy hours have no value to them.

 

2nd, there are not much Diamonds in Asia being a new market. So every time I sailed either Voyager and Mariner, I have almost have the Diamond lounge to myself.. as well as the concierge and bar tender's exclusive attention.

 

RCCL is a global company, so in one part of the world (US and Europe), the lounges are overcrowded, and the other side of the world (Asia), the D lounges are way too empty and exclusive. While in Australia, the number of D's and above are just right without over crowding the D lounge.

 

So please take into consideration that the overcrowding of lounges is not a global problem for RCCL. Really depends on which part of the world you are sailing.

Edited January 19, 2016 by roquejo

[xpcdoojk]

You should get acquainted with Bill W. You need his help.

 

What an awesome friendly comment.:rolleyes:

 

JC