grapau27 Posted December 14, 2019 #126 Share Posted December 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said: Let me disagree with you on this politely. We were on a 11 night Serenade cruise to the Southern Caribbean in November 2017. The CL was packed with all three parties trying to complete for space, Suites, Pinnacle’s, and D+. Each evening, someone in a party of P’s and D+, would reserve seats and tables. They seemed to prefer the stage area for their gatherings. It wasn’t manageable. Serenade still has a CL but we haven’t sailed on her sense. Reserving tables should not be allowed. On Explorer in October out of Southampton we went into the CL most nights and it was rarely over 70% full. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milwaukee Eight Posted December 14, 2019 #127 Share Posted December 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, grapau27 said: Reserving tables should not be allowed. On Explorer in October out of Southampton we went into the CL most nights and it was rarely over 70% full. I think their are much higher numbers of D+ and Pins that sail out of PC, Ft Lauderdale, and Miami than do out of the UK. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted December 14, 2019 #128 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Just now, Milwaukee Eight said: I think their are much higher numbers of D+ and Pins that sail out of PC, Ft Lauderdale, and Miami than do out of the UK. That's absolutely correct although numbers are creeping up in the UK. Suite guests should always get priority seating in a CL/SL unless they are offered the free drinks in other bars if they are not Diamond members and can't go into the DL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Dazzles Posted December 14, 2019 #129 Share Posted December 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Milwaukee Eight said: On what ship was the CL converted to an SL? I’m pretty sure on Freedom Class ships the CL’s are being converted to cabins. On the Navigator the DL was converted into a concierge/suite lounge - I am referring to the one with the beautiful windows and outdoor area on deck 13 - Viking Lounge are. The cigar lounge is now the DL on deck 5 - small - no windows etc. Star lounge was used as an overflow lounge some nights, but definitely not as nice to sit in during the day. Access was for Pinnacle and suite guests only - diamond plus was not allowed access. Old CL lounge appeared to be used by loyalty ambassador, and people booking cruises, but not sure if this is permanent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rimmit Posted December 15, 2019 #130 Share Posted December 15, 2019 12 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said: I think their are much higher numbers of D+ and Pins that sail out of PC, Ft Lauderdale, and Miami than do out of the UK. Don’t forget Bayonne and Baltimore and Galveston. I’d say pretty much any US port in the non peak is diamond loaded at this point. we just sailed out of Sydney on the Ovation in Nov. not even 200 P,D+, and D. The lounges were pretty empty even during happy hour. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted December 15, 2019 #131 Share Posted December 15, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, cured said: First of all, it is insulting to lump all new cruisers together that they cancel their tips. I am a relatively new cruiser and I would never dream of cancelling my prepaid tips. In fact, until I started reading here and had a few cruises under my belt, I didn't even know you could remove tips. In my experience as a relatively new cruiser, the new cruiser doesn't really even know they are allowed to remove tips. It is the more experienced cruisers that remove tips. And tips really have no bearing on changing perks because tips are not revenue bearing for Royal. To keep the growing population of higher status customers happy, Royal needs to find a way to pay for all those free drinks, more expensive amenities, and other perks that affect the bottom line. Yes, you are valuable to Royal Caribbean which is why those free drinks and other amenities need to paid for somehow. The alcohol companies are not donating the alcohol to Royal Caribbean. Makes sense that they would offer a perk for revenue to those that won't achieve that particular perk for a few years. It is also likely to bring them back as repeat customers as they got a taste of what fun some perks can be. It worked for us. We won our RoyalUp to a CL suite on our last cruise and loved it so much, we immediately turned around and booked another cruise in 2 suites rather than gambling on RoyalUp again. A company's first and foremost loyalty is to their shareholders and their shareholders care about the bottom line. It is a fine dance they need to play because ticking off good customers will affect the bottom line but so will giving costly perks to high status customers. If revenue goes down, the first thing that will be cut is freebies. So be glad Royal is finding more and more ways to satisfy the bottom line and still give their loyal customers "free" perks. I would never insult fellow tippers and I'm glad you are pro tipping. A lot of people have said the free drinks is of an inferior quality so cost will be minimal. I like a Sauvignon Blanc but it is not now included in the free drinks. I only speak from experience of what I have seen and heard and in the UK to my knowledge almost all cruiselines include tips now as standard as will Royal in 2020 for a reason. Edited December 15, 2019 by grapau27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milwaukee Eight Posted December 15, 2019 #132 Share Posted December 15, 2019 9 minutes ago, Grandma Dazzles said: On the Navigator the DL was converted into a concierge/suite lounge - I am referring to the one with the beautiful windows and outdoor area on deck 13 - Viking Lounge are. The cigar lounge is now the DL on deck 5 - small - no windows etc. Star lounge was used as an overflow lounge some nights, but definitely not as nice to sit in during the day. Access was for Pinnacle and suite guests only - diamond plus was not allowed access. Old CL lounge appeared to be used by loyalty ambassador, and people booking cruises, but not sure if this is permanent. Ok, so we can say a DL was actually converted to a SL but not the CL on Navigator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milwaukee Eight Posted December 15, 2019 #133 Share Posted December 15, 2019 12 minutes ago, grapau27 said: That's absolutely correct although numbers are creeping up in the UK. Suite guests should always get priority seating in a CL/SL unless they are offered the free drinks in other bars if they are not Diamond members and can't go into the DL. How would you recommend Suite guests get priority seating in the CL/SL? Good idea by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted December 15, 2019 #134 Share Posted December 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Blondiemomm said: I purchased the key for our January 2020 sailing, I also purchased it for the last cruise we went on. I am PAYING for the perks I receive. Quite a lot actually. I am guaranteed these perks because there is a dollar value attached. You are part of a loyalty program that does not have any monetary value. RCL OWES you nothing. Really???!! Would you like to guess how much we Loyal Royals have spent over the years? I book nothing but suites...and have been cruising Royal since 2005. Don't even go there. 2 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted December 15, 2019 #135 Share Posted December 15, 2019 1 hour ago, John&LaLa said: Spent entire evening in DL Overflow tonight. Everyone seemed happy We floated down to DL with overflow here on Harmony a few times as well. Was quite nice, and no crowding just after first seating. Was nice to pop in for a drink just before we wondered into the Ice Show. You were right John, Harmony is wonderful...sad to have to leave tomorrow. Love CK on this ship. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Dazzles Posted December 15, 2019 #136 Share Posted December 15, 2019 11 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said: Ok, so we can say a DL was actually converted to a SL but not the CL on Navigator. Yes, but there is no CL any more. It’s DL and Suite lounge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted December 15, 2019 #137 Share Posted December 15, 2019 7 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said: How would you recommend Suite guests get priority seating in the CL/SL? Good idea by the way. The concierge should set aside half the CL for Suite and the other half for P and D+.and for the SL split equally between pins and Suite guests. If a Suite guest cannot get a seat the concierge should give them for that night access to the DL or 3 free drinks in any bar to compensate them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted December 15, 2019 #138 Share Posted December 15, 2019 7 minutes ago, island lady said: We floated down to DL with overflow here on Harmony a few times as well. Was quite nice, and no crowding just after first seating. Was nice to pop in for a drink just before we wondered into the Ice Show. You were right John, Harmony is wonderful...sad to have to leave tomorrow. Love CK on this ship. 🙂 Pleased you have had a great cruise. We got off Grand Princess last week after cruising from San Francisco-Hawaii- San Francisco. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted December 15, 2019 #139 Share Posted December 15, 2019 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said: Ok, so we can say a DL was actually converted to a SL but not the CL on Navigator. DL got moved to the old Cigar Lounge. Pretty sure that was because the old card room, which many ships used for the new SL, was already turned into Izumi. Edited December 15, 2019 by John&LaLa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted December 15, 2019 #140 Share Posted December 15, 2019 22 minutes ago, Grandma Dazzles said: On the Navigator the DL was converted into a concierge/suite lounge - I am referring to the one with the beautiful windows and outdoor area on deck 13 - Viking Lounge are. The cigar lounge is now the DL on deck 5 - small - no windows etc. Star lounge was used as an overflow lounge some nights, but definitely not as nice to sit in during the day. Access was for Pinnacle and suite guests only - diamond plus was not allowed access. Old CL lounge appeared to be used by loyalty ambassador, and people booking cruises, but not sure if this is permanent. Number of seats remains the same in the new DL but Star Lounge for overflow is bigger. I was on the first sailing post Amp and I counted seating. The Navigator DL works quite well now. Plus the one set of elevators that service the VCL aren’t jammed full every night now. So the complaint boils down to a matter of the view. You still get the same service and beverages minus VCL views. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted December 15, 2019 #141 Share Posted December 15, 2019 18 minutes ago, island lady said: Really???!! Would you like to guess how much we Loyal Royals have spent over the years? I book nothing but suites...and have been cruising Royal since 2005. Don't even go there. +1. Best response yet. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted December 15, 2019 #142 Share Posted December 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, grapau27 said: Pleased you have had a great cruise. We got off Grand Princess last week after cruising from San Francisco-Hawaii- San Francisco. Sweet! Bet you had a nice time! We are on our way back to PC...laundry will be going by 10 am tomorrow. And then the dreaded ironing. Uggh!! But need to get ready for Mariner and B2B2B Vision next month. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted December 15, 2019 #143 Share Posted December 15, 2019 13 minutes ago, island lady said: We floated down to DL with overflow here on Harmony a few times as well. Was quite nice, and no crowding just after first seating. Was nice to pop in for a drink just before we wondered into the Ice Show. You were right John, Harmony is wonderful...sad to have to leave tomorrow. Love CK on this ship. 🙂 I like having the DL down on 4 for pre show drinks. However, i obviously have access to both lounges 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted December 15, 2019 #144 Share Posted December 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, twangster said: Number of seats remains the same in the new DL but Star Lounge for overflow is bigger. I was on the first sailing post Amp and I counted seating. The Navigator DL works quite well now. Plus the one set of elevators that service the VCL aren’t jammed full every night now. So the complaint boils down to a matter of the view. You still get the same service and beverages minus VCL views. Easy walk outside from Star lounge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted December 15, 2019 #145 Share Posted December 15, 2019 1 minute ago, island lady said: Sweet! Bet you had a nice time! We are on our way back to PC...laundry will be going by 10 am tomorrow. And then the dreaded ironing. Uggh!! But need to get ready for Mariner and B2B2B Vision next month. 🙂 We get off in the morning as well. Long drive home for us though 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted December 15, 2019 #146 Share Posted December 15, 2019 1 minute ago, island lady said: Sweet! Bet you had a nice time! We are on our way back to PC...laundry will be going by 10 am tomorrow. And then the dreaded ironing. Uggh!! But need to get ready for Mariner and B2B2B Vision next month. 🙂 Thanks,it was fantastic. Your cruises sound wonderful and I hope you both have a fabulous time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted December 15, 2019 #147 Share Posted December 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, John&LaLa said: DL got moved to the old Cigar Lounge. Pretty sure that was because the old card room, which many ships used for the new SL, was already turned into Izumi. That's funny...all the Radiance sisters had a cigar bar up in the VCL....that was turned into the CL later. Years ago it was a cigar bar by day, and then a DL (new concept at that time) by night. Still had that stink at night. 😮 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted December 15, 2019 #148 Share Posted December 15, 2019 6 minutes ago, grapau27 said: +1. Best response yet. Awww...thanks my DS friend. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigeck Posted December 15, 2019 #149 Share Posted December 15, 2019 (edited) 9 minutes ago, John&LaLa said: DL got moved to the old Cigar Lounge I thought it was the SL that got moved up there on Nav. and Izumi got the DL Edited December 15, 2019 by bigeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted December 15, 2019 #150 Share Posted December 15, 2019 6 minutes ago, John&LaLa said: I like having the DL down on 4 for pre show drinks. However, i obviously have access to both lounges Yes, you do....and so do I. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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