3 Drinks only in Diamond Lounge

[xpcdoojk]

Actually a flowrider and a bunch of free drinks is good enough for me.  😄

 

jc

[xpcdoojk]

Ok, just a flowrider.  🤩

 

I know I am a sucker.

 

jc

[Merion_Mom]

Just now, xpcdoojk said:

Ok, just a flowrider.  🤩

 

I know I am a sucker.

 

jc

 

 

Speaking of "suckers", jc - did you know that this is CEPHALOPOD WEEK?!!?!?!?    😁

[xpcdoojk]

I not only had no clue, but I wasn’t sure what a Cephalopod was.... I had to look it up.  I have found an octopus or two on night dives, they are strange creatures.  In Venice my dive buddy had Cuddlefish stew, it dyed his entire mouth black that lasted for days.

 

jc

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

Ditto, I can't imagine only cruising one line just so I could accumulate sufficient credit so I could drink for free for a couple of hours.

 

I cruise who I cruise with for a variety of reasons.  The loyalty program is a fair ways down from the top of the list.

 

Please let us know if you feel the same after say 30 cruises. 😉

 

We jumped around for the first 20 or so. 😎

CARNIVALE
CROWN PRINCESS
NIEUW AMSTERDAM
ROYAL MAJESTY
SKY PRINCESS
ROYAL MAJESTY
ROYAL MAJESTY
REGAL PRINCESS
CELEBRATION
SENSATION
GRAND PRINCESS
NORDIC EMPRESS
SENSATION
VEENDAM
NORWEGIAN MAJESTY
TRIUMPH
GALAXY
GLORY
GLORY
GLORY

 

Got hooked on Royal at around 30😀
GEM
Mariner of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Sovereign of the Seas 
Independence of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Norwegian Sun
 

[John&LaLa]

13 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

Actually a flowrider and a bunch of free drinks is good enough for me.  😄

 

jc

 

Free cruises from the casino are pretty cool.

yes free, I wager about $20 a week lately

I have two available on MJ or Empress and won't take them

Bell would miss me

[xpcdoojk]

19 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Free cruises from the casino are pretty cool.

yes free, I wager about $20 a week lately

I have two available on MJ or Empress and won't take them

Bell would miss me

 

I think the total gambling I have done on all cruises is about $20.  That was on Celebrity, I think 20 years ago.  I liked playing blackjack, went to Las Vegas in college with the university bowling team, we were ranked 2nd in the country at the time.  One of the kids a freshman stole his roomie’s money to gamble.  The Showboat used to have something like 64 lanes.  One night we were walking thru the bowling center when a former team mate recognized me.  His name was Pete Weber... he bowled with us for a semester and then was disqualified because he won a regional PBA tournament.  He was stoned/drunk out of his mind (just like he was when he was in college).  He became pretty famous later as a bowler, his dad was Dick Weber... you should know the names since they were St Louis folks.  I remember going to his house just off campus and when he opened the door he squeezed some funky bong in my face.  So, on that trip I blew about $200 bucks I couldn’t afford to blow gambling, got a lot of free drinks though.  So, later as an adult, my boss, a bizillionaire, would go to the casinos in East St Louis back in the day, and while I would try to gamble I usually had to watch out to keep him and his buddies from ending up in serious trouble, so I just kind of quit.  

 

Literally haven’t gambled a dollar in at least 15 years.  

 

I have defended smokers rights in this forum a lot over the years, but I quit both bowling and gambling and realized how bad they both smell.  

 

Jc

[Tree_skier]

34 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Please let us know if you feel the same after say 30 cruises. 😉

 

We jumped around for the first 20 or so. 😎

CARNIVALE
CROWN PRINCESS
NIEUW AMSTERDAM
ROYAL MAJESTY
SKY PRINCESS
ROYAL MAJESTY
ROYAL MAJESTY
REGAL PRINCESS
CELEBRATION
SENSATION
GRAND PRINCESS
NORDIC EMPRESS
SENSATION
VEENDAM
NORWEGIAN MAJESTY
TRIUMPH
GALAXY
GLORY
GLORY
GLORY

 

Got hooked on Royal at around 30😀
GEM
Mariner of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Sovereign of the Seas 
Independence of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Norwegian Sun
 

I only hope I make it 30!  I'm going to do my best to get there though, I promise 🙂.  That being said, I do very much like Royal for a combination of reasons.  Loyalty program just isn't one of them. I haven't found a loyalty program out there that keeps me completely loyal.  Price and product are always going to trump a loyalty program. Maybe when I get to Diamond I'll think differently but I doubt it because I would normally have the drink pkg so a few freebies at happy hour in a crowded DL aren't a big incentive.  Probably the biggest incentive for me would be the balcony discount. The only loyalty program that truly keeps me loyal is Hilton's Honors program but the product/value is a really big part of that too.

[John&LaLa]

6 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I only hope I make it 30!  I'm going to do my best to get there though, I promise 🙂.  That being said, I do very much like Royal for a combination of reasons.  Loyalty program just isn't one of them. I haven't found a loyalty program out there that keeps me completely loyal.  Price and product are always going to trump a loyalty program. Maybe when I get to Diamond I'll think differently but I doubt it because I would normally have the drink pkg so a few freebies at happy hour in a crowded DL aren't a big incentive.  Probably the biggest incentive for me would be the balcony discount. The only loyalty program that truly keeps me loyal is Hilton's Honors program but the product/value is a really big part of that too.

 

Gotcha, but hotel and airline loyalty programs are different because they are paid for by your boss. 😎

 

[Retired LEO]

6 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 Update to original post. I stopped into the diamond lounge on the mariner to have a quick club soda. They did not take my card, but they wrote down my cabin number.    Apparently they are keeping some kind of track 

 

M

They didn't write down your cabin number. They checked off your cabin number on their clipboard to make sure you belong in there.

[ReneeFLL]

On 6/19/2019 at 10:13 AM, rt1092 said:

..."On the second leg Feb 3 they asked me for my card when I sat down. The waiters all knew us well. Plus we had our badges on. So no reason to check to see if we were eligible to be there."...

 

Badges???

Edited June 28, 2019 by ReneeFLL

[icsys]

It appears that anyone could wear a badge.....

p

Edited June 28, 2019 by icsys

[ReneeFLL]

On 6/20/2019 at 6:05 PM, cruisegirl1 said:

  

 Theoretically, no, HOWEVER I can’t imagine there would be a problem bringing your grandchildren with you.  The    concierge will make the final determination. The benefit is provided for those who actually have diamond status.  Unlike Celebrity, Royal Caribbean does not extend loyalty privileges to cabin mates.

 

Again, I can’t imagine that they would not allow your grandchildren to come in to the lounge with you.  If it becomes a problem, please be aware that three beverages are loaded on to your Seapass card to use each evening. You can go to any venue on the ship and use them, even getting a soda for your grandchildren. 

 

Enjoy

m

 

 

 

So you're encouraging someone to bring in their granddaughters when they aren't supposed to be in there to begin with and seating is at a premium? Is it just because they are only going to get a soda? Why can't others bring in their teen kids if they are only going to get soda? Because they aren't entitled to be in there! If Shirley brings in a grandchild or 2, Roger brings in a grandchild or 3 and so on there will be even fewer seats for the people who have EARNED them. There are plenty of other places someone can take their grandkids. If there are no seats available and there seems to be a few to many kids then maybe that's a sign that some of them shouldn't be in there. I guess it's time to get the concierge to start checking.

 

On 6/24/2019 at 12:52 PM, Thorben-Hendrik said:

I disagree and so would most doctors....

Especially when it is done daily! 😱

 

We can easily drink 3+ drinks while on vacation. This doesn't make one an alcoholic. 

 

14 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Not sure if this has been posted BUT, Empress has no lounge of any kind. They also do not hold any type of evening event for diamond and up. Therefore, those who sail  Empress and want a soda or cocktail (or 3) simply use one of the three daily  vouchers provided.

 

 I have not  heard from any of those who sail  empress that the 3 vouchers were not sufficient. Further, there is no dedicated space for those who say they want a lounge to meet other cruisers.   

 

Just sayin....,

m

 

3 vouchers isn't enough for us. Get a soda and a water and then only 1 alcoholic drink? I don't think so. Good thing we don't have any plans to be on the Empress.

 

[ReneeFLL]

13 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Majesty does not have dedicated CL/DL/SL either.  But they do hold a "Suite/D/D+/Pinnacle event in the VCL nightly, and is actually very good with upgraded munchies and great service.  Do miss the coffee machine though.  

 

That's good to hear. I will be on her for the first time next month. So they don't have a coffee machine at all?

[ReneeFLL]

12 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 Great idea to tell your secret on a public forum!   And to let us know that you persuaded a staff to go against the rules. 

 

 I am suspecting that others who sail on Empress do not expect staff to go against the policy, and appear to be satisfied with the three drinks.    We are. 

 

M

 

He never said he persuaded the staff to do anything. 

 

On 6/18/2019 at 3:04 PM, cruisegirl1 said:

So, what is the problem?   

 

I believe the benefit lists access to a lounge ( or a nightly event)  and no specific benefits listed, in fact no mention of alcohol at all.  Wouldn't it be hilarious if they kept the lounge but discontinued the alcohol.   From the original post,  I wonder if they were just keeping track, or actually limiting  drinks to three.   

 

This is from the website regarding a nightly event ( on Majesty) and the lounge on all other ship except Empress.  Empress has no lounges or event, just three vouchers:

 

........6. The Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event is a benefit for only Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members and cannot be extended to include friends and family. The event will take place approximately between the hours of 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Three nightly drink vouchers will be loaded on the member’s SeaPass card to be used in venues throughout the ship

 

7. Diamond Club is an exclusive benefit for only Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members and cannot be extended to include friends and family. Complimentary specialty coffees are only available in the dining room on days when breakfast is being served. On ships where a Diamond Club is available there will be no Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event or complimentary Specialty coffees available in the dining room. The Diamond Club is designated as a smoke-free area. We respectfully request that guests observe a Smart Casual dress code when visiting the Club (no swim or pool attire is allowed, footwear is required at all times). Guests younger than 21 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Guests and friends of Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members are not allowed into the Diamond Club due to limited space. ........

 

Cheers

M

 

Hmm!  You're quoting the RC rules to someone else, but then you tell a lady it's probably ok to bring in non-diamond members? I think you should read #7 again.

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, ReneeFLL said:

 

He never said he persuaded the staff to do anything. 

 

 

Hmm!  You're quoting the RC rules to someone else, but then you tell a lady it's probably ok to bring in non-diamond members? I think you should read #7 again.

Yes, I did say that. The poster said she is taking her YOUNG GRAND CHDREN  on a cruise.  I could not imagine  that others would get upset if her grand children were with her in the lounge for a few minutes?  

M

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, ReneeFLL said:

 

That's good to hear. I will be on her for the first time next month. So they don't have a coffee machine at all?

No lounge-no machine.   

 

m

[xpcdoojk]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Yes, I did say that. The poster said she is taking her YOUNG GRAND CHDREN  on a cruise.  I could not imagine  that others would get upset if her grand children were with her in the lounge for a few minutes?  

M

 

Some grand children are raised by their grandparents (not saying this is the case) which makes me ask a dumb question if so do they get the same status as grandpa?

 

jc

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, xpcdoojk said:

Some grand children are raised by their grandparents (not saying this is the case) which makes me ask a dumb question if so do they get the same status as grandpa

Like the SO link, RCI probably doesn't ask for any proof of the relationship, so as long as grandpa declares them his kids, they'd get the status (under 18).

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

No lounge-no machine.   

 

m

 

There used to be a machine in Compass Deli, but it was for suites and Pinnacles. Only available during breakfast hours

[BND]

13 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 Update to original post. I stopped into the diamond lounge on the mariner to have a quick club soda. They did not take my card, but they wrote down my cabin number.    Apparently they are keeping some kind of track 

 

M

Maybe they found that swiping cards caused too many issues with people thinking they were being charged or limited.  I don't see the issue with being limited to three drinks.  I think the original idea was for people to have one or two pre or post dinner drinks, not see how much they can drink in that timeframe.  I've seen a few try to break some kind of record of number of drinks consumed.  Honestly, who other than in the DL or CL ever drinks more than one or two every evening, if even that many?  Before we had the DL or CL (or even the D event) I maybe had one glass of wine in the evening at dinner and maybe one afternoon drink.   If anything, the happy hour has made me drink more than I should, even on vacation.  🙂

 

Edited June 28, 2019 by BND

[island lady]

4 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

 

That's good to hear. I will be on her for the first time next month. So they don't have a coffee machine at all?

 

Free coffee available at all dining venues, including the fairly larger WJ.  I can't remember where the specialty coffee place is, but that is not free.  There is also room service.  

 

My comment was in relation to not having that wonderful self serve coffee machine in the the DL/SL/CL that are missing on MJ.  

[Clarea]

5 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

 ...   I can't remember where the specialty coffee place is, but that is not free.  ...

 

Cafe Latte-Tudes, deck 5, just forward of the centrum, in the shop area.

[Merion_Mom]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Cafe Latte-Tudes, deck 5, just forward of the centrum.

 

I would call it IN the Centrum, but whatever.  😉

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Cafe Latte-Tudes, deck 5, just forward of the centrum, in the shop area.

 

Oh that's right...thanks.  Bucky loved to pick up decadent (and free) sweet treats there.  😄