Club Orange is Excellent

[3rdGenCunarder]

22 minutes ago, JRG said:

 

If the food is very good,  then perhaps one should vote, not with their feet, not with their wallet,  not with their heart,

..but on the actual CC cruise review format, so that it shows up next year in the annual CC Critics Choice Dining Awards.   

 

I'm willing to stipulate that your dining experience was par excellence and that is a good thing....but.....$50?

 

The furniture and the change-out signage makes it look rinky dink and the tablesettings don't fool me. 

 

And lastly,   I'm just not comfortable with the naming,    CO sounds too much like one of the periodic  elements. (i.e. cobalt).     I think HAL could have done better.

 

How about "Club L'Orange"   or    "Prince Albert's"    or     "Studio 65"  ....something that doesn't sound so cheesy.

 

 

Cobalt is Co. CO is carbon monoxide! 😱

 

I have no problem with calling it Club Orange, as I understand that it's for the House of Orange, the royal family. For people who don't know that, I suppose it does sound odd. But I wouldn't call it cheesy. And I can't think of an alternate name, except maybe Club Green because HAL hopes they will make money from it.

 

I think I get what you mean by "rinky dink." To me it looks like a hotel coffee shop, more upscale than a diner, but less upscale than a restaurant. I tend to think of Pinnacle as having an upscale look. But then again, some of the Pinnacle chairs (silver-painted rebar) are pretty strange, so there goes that argument. 

 

[frankc98376]

4 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Cobalt is Co. CO is carbon monoxide! 😱

 

I have no problem with calling it Club Orange, as I understand that it's for the House of Orange, the royal family. For people who don't know that, I suppose it does sound odd. But I wouldn't call it cheesy. And I can't think of an alternate name, except maybe Club Green because HAL hopes they will make money from it.

 

I think I get what you mean by "rinky dink." To me it looks like a hotel coffee shop, more upscale than a diner, but less upscale than a restaurant. I tend to think of Pinnacle as having an upscale look. But then again, some of the Pinnacle chairs (silver-painted rebar) are pretty strange, so there goes that argument. 

 

I believe the 400 pound silver PG chairs are finally all gone- thank goodness.

[JRG]

I actually typed in "Club Orange" in the search box and surprisingly only got about 10 threads* on the subject.

 

Sounds like some current ground intelligence is needed here.  Club Orange wasn't on Kdam when we sailed the Med in summer 2018,  but neither was the Rolling Stones thing so if anyone was lucky enough to be one of the canaries when it launched some pictures might help..

 

*significant threads only

Edited April 18, 2019 by JRG

[3rdGenCunarder]

CO on K'dam. I've seen pictures of CO on NS and the furniture doesn't look as comfortable as K's. Also, the giant silverware on the glass walls on NS looks creepy. ON the K it was a random vertical design. 

 

[John Cruise]

i am going on the NA in May and wonder if the Club Orange will be in effect then.

Please help me if you can with any info.

thanks,

John

[canadianbear]

1 minute ago, John Cruise said:

i am going on the NA in May and wonder if the Club Orange will be in effect then.

Please help me if you can with any info.

thanks,

John

We are going on the 28th and I sure hope it isn’t on the NA yet.  I’d like one last week of breakfast in the Pinnacle.  

[3rdGenCunarder]

6 minutes ago, John Cruise said:

i am going on the NA in May and wonder if the Club Orange will be in effect then.

Please help me if you can with any info.

thanks,

John

 

I don't think HAL has announced a schedule beyond saying it will roll out to other ships "in 2019." I wonder if HAL even knows HOW they're going to do it--build a Wall! to give CO passengers a private area? Change the chairs in one area to orange upholstery to indicate that certain tables are for CO passengers? The Vistas have more Neptune Suites than K or NS, so they'll need more tables than on the K or NS. Not sure how the number of Neptunes compares on NA and Eurodam.

 

3 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

We are going on the 28th and I sure hope it isn’t on the NA yet.  I’d like one last week of breakfast in the Pinnacle.  

 

Enjoy!!

 

[twodjs]

14 hours ago, JRG said:

I actually typed in "Club Orange" in the search box and surprisingly only got about 10 threads* on the subject.

 

Sounds like some current ground intelligence is needed here.  Club Orange wasn't on Kdam when we sailed the Med in summer 2018,  but neither was the Rolling Stones thing so if anyone was lucky enough to be one of the canaries when it launched some pictures might help..

 

*significant threads only

JRG - If you read through the past threads, you'll see how divisive this subject has become since its inception last November. No change at the present - still just on the two newest ships. All the info you need is in those threads. HAL probably wishes they would disappear, as they are generally unkind to the concept and execution. You are seeing more positive comments now, but HAL has lost long-time loyal customers in the process. 

[Roz]

4 hours ago, twodjs said:

 You are seeing more positive comments now, but HAL has lost long-time loyal customers in the process. 

How do you know HAL has lost long-time loyal customers?

 

Roz

[OVgirl]

6 hours ago, twodjs said:

JRG - If you read through the past threads, you'll see how divisive this subject has become since its inception last November. No change at the present - still just on the two newest ships. All the info you need is in those threads. HAL probably wishes they would disappear, as they are generally unkind to the concept and execution. You are seeing more positive comments now, but HAL has lost long-time loyal customers in the process. 

Big changes on HAL ships tend to go through some rough growing pains. When they first added cabanas to the ships, the discussions were long and very negative. Now, most, if not all are quite positive. 

If CO is used a lot on the ships, HAL will keep them and expand to the rest of the ships. If the space is underused, they will come up with other ideas.

Only time will tell.

[3rdGenCunarder]

2 hours ago, Roz said:

How do you know HAL has lost long-time loyal customers?

 

Roz

 

I don't think they have, at least not many. Unlike the reserved lanai chairs and Lido cabanas, CO didn't take away a heavily used area that used to be open to all (and free).  But when HAL starts walling/roping off sections of the MDR, I think some passengers will be turned off to the extent that they will at least look elsewhere if not leave.

 

On K and NS, CO is relieving some of the pressure for busy times at the MDR, so it's sort of helping pax not in CO by freeing up some tables. But when CO takes away tables in the MDR, I wonder which areas will be impacted, fixed dining or anytime? Yes, it's the same number of people in the space, but the way the CO space is used will be different. Even if a table is empty in CO, they can't seat non-CO pax in there.

 

[Responder]

2 hours ago, Roz said:

How do you know HAL has lost long-time loyal customers?

 

Roz

They lost us.

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 minute ago, Responder said:

They lost us.

 

Only because of CO, or were there other reasons?

 

[drowelf]

12 hours ago, John Cruise said:

i am going on the NA in May and wonder if the Club Orange will be in effect then.

Please help me if you can with any info.

thanks,

John

If they are going to do any major modifications to the MDR for CO, then it would probably happen on the ships next dry dock. If its just a service/training issue and roping off a section then they could implement at any new segment start.

 

As to whether it stays or goes, it will probably all depend on the number of non-Neptune passengers willing to cough up $50ppd for the experience. 

Edited April 19, 2019 by drowelf

[JRG]

13 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

I don't think HAL has announced a schedule beyond saying it will roll out to other ships "in 2019." I wonder if HAL even knows HOW they're going to do it--build a Wall!

 

They need to scuttle the jewelry shops and commandeer those that are adjacent to the casino......

 

Then expand the casino and open up a bingo/keno/turf-club-like football/sports/race book/Chophouse/Gastropub.

 

 

[chill6x6]

Personally....I would WELCOME a suite dining area aboard HA ships.  It is one of the "perks" I look for when booking a cruise.  I appreciate the breakfast dining option for suites at Pinnacle Grill but personally the decor and ambiance is a little over the top for me.  For now, Luminae is the standard.  It's decor/ambience offers a good balance for diners in the evening and also those that are going on a shore excursion in the mornings.

 

I've seen a lot of comments from folks that seem to have never even been INSIDE Club Orange.  No offense but I'm not really sure how that is useful information. 

[Roz]

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I don't think they have, at least not many. Unlike the reserved lanai chairs and Lido cabanas, CO didn't take away a heavily used area that used to be open to all (and free).  But when HAL starts walling/roping off sections of the MDR, I think some passengers will be turned off to the extent that they will at least look elsewhere if not leave.

How does a roped off area of the MDR turn passengers off?  To me it's no different than a section of the MDR reserved for a group.  

 

Roz

1 hour ago, chill6x6 said:

I've seen a lot of comments from folks that seem to have never even been INSIDE Club Orange.  No offense but I'm not really sure how that is useful information. 

I agree.  This happens all the time.  People who have never seen or experienced something new on a ship take an immediate dislike to it.

 

Roz

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I don't think they have, at least not many. Unlike the reserved lanai chairs and Lido cabanas, CO didn't take away a heavily used area that used to be open to all (and free).  But when HAL starts walling/roping off sections of the MDR, I think some passengers will be turned off to the extent that they will at least look elsewhere if not leave.

 

On K and NS, CO is relieving some of the pressure for busy times at the MDR, so it's sort of helping pax not in CO by freeing up some tables. But when CO takes away tables in the MDR, I wonder which areas will be impacted, fixed dining or anytime? Yes, it's the same number of people in the space, but the way the CO space is used will be different. Even if a table is empty in CO, they can't seat non-CO pax in there.

 

If the intent is to provide a special place for suites guests, a 'roped off area in the MDR' is not the answer.  A 'roped off area in the MDR' will still be too crowded and too loud.  

[frankc98376]

14 minutes ago, Roz said:

How does a roped off area of the MDR turn passengers off?  To me it's no different than a section of the MDR reserved for a group.  

 

Roz

I agree.  This happens all the time.  People who have never seen or experienced something new on a ship take an immediate dislike to it.

 

Roz

Would definitely turn me off if I had to pay $50 per person per night just to eat the MDR menu in a roped off section of the MDR when people two tables away didn't have to pay.

[twodjs]

Roz - The very title of this thread raises my blood pressure. We are 4 star Mariners and often book NS or PS. We have waited very patiently for HAL to upgrade their offerings to Suite guests. They are years behind the other lines who offer premium drink packages, exclusive restaurants, free WiFi, even exclusive areas with pools, jacuzzis, etc. Finally they have an opportunity to make it up to the Suite guests. But no - they insult Suite guests by taking away our exclusive breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill and what was an exclusive room service menu is no longer exclusive. Instead they create an exclusive restaurant for Club Orange! They get the servers that were in Pinnacle and they also get our formerly exclusice room service menu. What are we, chopped liver? So loyalty means nothing. Premium guest means nothing. That is what pisses me off! Oh, and by the way, (since they closed Pinnacle to us) as an afterthought, we're invited to join Club Orange for breakfast and dinner. Wow! Let's downgrade our Suite experience. No table cloths on the tables for breakfast and they haven't even bothered to remove the hood vents from the last remodel. Orange is the color used in fast food joints, not upscale restaurants. And the dinner is exactly the same as that served in the MDR, with the addition of one chef's special. Not even close to the exclusive food options offered by other cruise lines. This is a scam disguised as a perk. It does nothing but sweeten the bottom line for HAL. We need value for the high price we pay, or we're gone. Smoke and mirrors won't do it. 

[slidergirl]

10 hours ago, twodjs said:

JRG - If you read through the past threads, you'll see how divisive this subject has become since its inception last November. No change at the present - still just on the two newest ships. All the info you need is in those threads. HAL probably wishes they would disappear, as they are generally unkind to the concept and execution. You are seeing more positive comments now, but HAL has lost long-time loyal customers in the process. 

 

I'm sure HAL does not tremble at having lost 1 or 2 "long-time loyal" customers.  They probably have 10-12 new cruisers eager to take their place for every 1-2 who miss the old days.  How many stars you have or how much more you pay than the Average Joe on a cruise doesn't mean you are entitled to anything more than what is offered.  Mariners are already offered discounts on extra-charge restaurants, laundry, etc.  Having your own special place to eat without mingling with the masses - you still have that with Club Orange.  Those who are paying to eat there apparently want another option, just like those who pay for a Cabana want a different deck experience.

 

Things change all the time; Perhaps HAL decided the "formality" of Pinnacle for breakfast was not giving an ROI anymore.  If you don't like what is offered, try another line.  

 

Don't let the door hit you on your way out 😉

Edited April 19, 2019 by slidergirl

[3rdGenCunarder]

29 minutes ago, Roz said:

How does a roped off area of the MDR turn passengers off?  To me it's no different than a section of the MDR reserved for a group.  

 

Roz

 

 

I've read posts resenting that. And you've been here long enough to remember the resentment of the reserved chairs for lanai cabins. People are less annoyed when a new area is built for something exclusive than when an area that was once for all becomes a place for only some. 

 

And as RocketMan said above, roping off an area isn't going to please CO passengers. It's still the MDR. 

 

So I think it will cause negative responses from both sides. 

 

[Roz]

20 minutes ago, frankc98376 said:

Would definitely turn me off if I had to pay $50 per person per night just to eat the MDR menu in a roped off section of the MDR when people two tables away didn't have to pay.

Frank, I must have misinterpreted the post.  I thought he/she was saying the passengers in the main section of the DR would be honked off about the CO passengers taking up space in the DR.  I'm guessing when CO is implemented on the other ships, it won't be a roped off area in the MDR, but who knows.  Maybe when we're on the Nieuw Amsterdam next week, we can ask about it.

 

Roz 

[3rdGenCunarder]

2 minutes ago, Roz said:

Frank, I must have misinterpreted the post.  I thought he/she was saying the passengers in the main section of the DR would be honked off about the CO passengers taking up space in the DR.  I'm guessing when CO is implemented on the other ships, it won't be a roped off area in the MDR, but who knows.  Maybe when we're on the Nieuw Amsterdam next week, we can ask about it.

 

Roz 

 

Yes, please do ask. People are curious about this!!!

 

All HAL has said in the press release is that it would roll out across the fleet "in 2019." If they really mean to do this on all ships this year, it has to be something like roping off seats because not all ships have a drydock scheduled. 

 

[Roz]

15 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Yes, please do ask. People are curious about this!!!

 

All HAL has said in the press release is that it would roll out across the fleet "in 2019." If they really mean to do this on all ships this year, it has to be something like roping off seats because not all ships have a drydock scheduled. 

 

I'll ask and report back....