Diamond Plus Perk now Taken Away on Anthem!

[mugtech]

3 hours ago, LorraineP said:

Did. Their reply

 

Thank you for contacting our office regarding your upcoming sailing. As Crown &Anchor Society Diamond Plus members, we especially value your patronage of Royal Caribbean International and appreciate this opportunity to respond to any concerns.

The Concierge Lounge is now only available to the Pinnacle members and Diamond and Diamond Plus members will now have exclusive rights to the Diamond Club. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you for allowing me to address this concern. We look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.

Sincerely,

Sean Stewart
Royal Guest Experience Management

Says Diamond and D+ will have EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS to the DL.  Does this mean no P's in the DL or is it just poorly worded?

[Ocean Boy]

18 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Milk is often in the cooler beneath the machine. 😉

 

You can also get it in the WJ

Now I supposed to service the machine? Is staff taking care of it another lost perk?

[voyager70]

@twangster I rarely even step foot into the CL as I find the DL's usually much nicer (save Anthem).  Like I said before it's the principal.  

[mugtech]

2 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Now I supposed to service the machine? Is staff taking care of it another lost perk?

Heard many crew members lactose intolerant.

[John&LaLa]

1 minute ago, Ocean Boy said:

Now I supposed to service the machine? Is staff taking care of it another lost perk?

 

Honestly rather do that than go all the way to Cafe Promenade.  😉

 

But you can do whatever makes you happy

 

FWIW, I've been refilling milk 5+ years. Its how we roll

[voyager70]

19 minutes ago, LorraineP said:

5% off cruise, a dark chocolate ship (which was delicious), champagne, a meal in specialty restaurant, can’t remember all. Google it. At their M&M it was wonderful, they had cocktails coming around frequently, chips & nuts on each small table, then waitresses coming around with hot hors d’oeuvre then a large cake cutting. Captain & officers stayed around talking to everyone, they were in no hurry to leave. 

 

Sounds wonderful.

[twangster]

1 minute ago, voyager70 said:

@twangster I rarely even step foot into the CL as I find the DL's usually much nicer (save Anthem).  Like I said before it's the principal.  

 

I get it.  Like I said I've been denied CL many times over the past two years.  The CL's on Freedom and Voyager class notwithstanding because no one used them and they were mostly empty.  (the old interior CLs)

 

However I got over it because the expanded DL experience was executed very well with little to complain about plus I often received a specialty coffee to boot. 

 

It occured to me I was fine, taken very good care of and got over it.  Suite guests pay a lot of money.  I know I do when I pay for full suites.    

 

I enjoy the Royal product and appreciate the daily HH that no other cruise line provides as part of their loyalty program.   It works for me.  If it doesn't work for others then go find green grass somewhere.  To each their own.

[voyager70]

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

I get it.  Like I said I've been denied CL many times over the past two years.  The CL's on Freedom and Voyager class notwithstanding because no one used them and they were mostly empty.  (the old interior CLs)

 

However I got over it because the expanded DL experience was executed very well with little to complain about plus I often received a specialty coffee to boot. 

 

It occured to me I was fine, taken very good care of and got over it.  Suite guests pay a lot of money.  I know I do when I pay for full suites.    

 

I enjoy the Royal product and appreciate the daily HH that no other cruise line provides as part of their loyalty program.   It works for me.  If it doesn't work for others then go find green grass somewhere.  To each their own.

 

Well we agree.  But I am definitely looking into MSC now due to their great reviews, ships, and itineraries that Royal and X can't compete with.  Not to mention their loyalty match.  Being of Italian/Mediterranean decent doesn't hurt either.

 

[Beachin2]

1 hour ago, LorraineP said:

We did the MSC Yacht Club twice, absolutely best cruise, service, food, private pool & spas, the YC lounge & restaurant unbelievable. Liked it much better then NCL Haven. RCL suite life doesn’t have much to offer that’s why I only book balconies & mostly book RCL out of Baltimore or Bayonne. If I have to fly it’s MSC or Holland. 

Our first was B2B out of Miami.  We viewed the ship as our destination, having been to the usual Caribbean ports many times.  Agreed, best cruise we have done in many years!  That said, I probably would not cruise MSC outside of the YC.

[Beachin2]

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

How do you go about the status match? Did you do the yacht club experience? 

Yes, we did YC (awesome) and we are pretty low maintenance.  Look on the MSC USA web site & it details the status match.  There is a stickey on the MSC board that is tracking matches.

[twangster]

11 minutes ago, voyager70 said:

 

Well we agree.  But I am definitely looking into MSC now due to their great reviews, ships, and itineraries that Royal and X can't compete with.  Not to mention their loyalty match.  Being of Italian/Mediterranean decent doesn't hurt either.

 

 

Absolutely.  My status match expires EOY.  No plans to address that.  

 

YC is great I hear, non-YC not so much.   The people I know have said don't sail MSC unless you get YC.    Diamond MSC gives you a tasting menu one time and a cocktail.  A photo and priority boarding.  CAS works better for my needs, even without a CL.  YMMV.

Edited January 24, 2020 by twangster

[AftMan]

Is there a chance that casino players who have reached 'Masters' level, may lose Suite Lounge and dining benefits?

My wife. whom I'm scared of, would be very disappointed if she was no longer able to exchange lies with the pinnacles in the Suite/Concierge Lounges.

 

Help! 

Edited January 24, 2020 by AftMan
edit

[frank808]

2 hours ago, Tony O said:

Yes they are arguing that. It's just a change of venue.You just go to different names  place  to get your free drinks and appetizers. No lose of benefits .Is the name of where you get your freebies  that important? 

It is not just a change of venue.  As D+ we were told we had CHOICE.  One great benefit was if the cappuccino machine was broken in DL or line was long, I could go over to the CL.  Now that CHOICE is taken away. 

 

If you had a benefit and choice then poof it is gone, I am sure you would feel cheated.

[twangster]

3 minutes ago, AftMan said:

Is there a chance that casino players who have reached 'Masters' level, may lose Suite Lounge and dining benefits?

My wife. whom I'm scared of, would be very disappointed if she was no longer able to exchange lies with the pinnacles in the Suite Lounge.

 

Help! 

 

No indications of that.  At least not that I've seen.

[LorraineP]

13 minutes ago, Beachin2 said:

Our first was B2B out of Miami.  We viewed the ship as our destination, having been to the usual Caribbean ports many times.  Agreed, best cruise we have done in many years!  That said, I probably would not cruise MSC outside of the YC.

I would definitely never cruise MSC outside the YC either. Really no need to leave it other then the great shows. 

[mr walker]

4 hours ago, kruzerci said:

 

Nope. They should be removing all Pinnacles also if they are removing D+ and make it truly for suites only. I doubt they will, but sincerely hope they do. The tone of the "oh well" Pinnacles would undoubtedly change! 

The human mind is a strange beast, at least in some individuals. So you would be less unhappy if others have benefits reduced for them, making them unhappy also in your reckoning. So you will be more happy if others are made less happy?? I guess you can then say nah, nah, nah, nah.

I say this as someone who is D & who is very unlikely to make D+, less so Pinnacle.

[twangster]

2 minutes ago, frank808 said:

It is not just a change of venue.  As D+ we were told we had CHOICE.  One great benefit was if the cappuccino machine was broken in DL or line was long, I could go over to the CL.  Now that CHOICE is taken away. 

 

If you had a benefit and choice then poof it is gone, I am sure you would feel cheated.

 

Any time the DL machine has been broken they have given us free specialty coffee at cafe Promenade. 

 

I don't feel cheated.  Sorry if you do. 

[Arzeena]

We got a similar email for the Grandeur for Feb cruise. One Speicalty coffee per day loaded on card as "reimbursement" for lack of a better word.😉

Okayyyy, not the end of the world. Happy to be cruising.

[Baron Barracuda]

49 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Now I supposed to service the machine? Is staff taking care of it another lost perk?

DW and her friends are 4am risers.  They often set up machine in dl themselves.  Supplies are usually available.  No big deal to add beans & milk and remove waste.

[Ocean Boy]

40 minutes ago, voyager70 said:

 

Being of Italian/Mediterranean decent doesn't hurt either.

 

One of several things that is attracting me to MSC is being Italian and able to speak the language. I think it would be fun to be with an Italian speaking crew.

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, mugtech said:

Heard many crew members lactose intolerant.

They don't have to drink it, just fill the machine.

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Honestly rather do that than go all the way to Cafe Promenade.  😉

 

But you can do whatever makes you happy

 

FWIW, I've been refilling milk 5+ years. Its how we roll

I don't mind the trip to the Promenade. I have hyperactivity disorder anyway.

[voyager70]

2 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

One of several things that is attracting me to MSC is being Italian and able to speak the language. I think it would be fun to be with an Italian speaking crew.

 

Absolutely. I speak some Italian and am learning more every day.  I also speak German and French (some not fluent) and love trying my skills abroad.

 

 

 

[Another_Critic]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Now I supposed to service the machine? Is staff taking care of it another lost perk?

 

I serviced the machine on Grandeur last time.  There were several couples hanging out in the DL trying to get coffee but it was out of beans.  I looked in the cabinet for the beans, grabbed them and filled it.  Checked the milk and it was out.  Grabbed two pitchers of milk from the cooler and poured into the milk reservoir.  Got my latte and sat down.  Several couples got theirs.  Then it stopped again ... forgot to empty the grounds.

Edited January 25, 2020 by Another_Critic

[frank808]

2 hours ago, Beachin2 said:

Saw this coming quite awhile ago - steady erosion and a product that is, in our opinion, going stale. 

 

We cancelled our 2 2019 RC sailings last fall and sailed on MSC Seaside Yacht Club for about the same $ as the RC balcony - but with MUCH better perks, service, etc.  Nice status match too.  Cancelled our 2 RC 2020 sailings for the Seaside YC again this coming fall.  We are in that 500 point "neither fish nor fowl" area with RC and generally do about 30 nights a year at sea.

 

We will look to RC & X again, but only for unique/bucket list itineraries and certainly not the twice a year B2B sailings we have been doing. 

 

Instead of wringing your hands and pounding your keyboard - just vote with your wallets.   It's pretty liberating.

Will be on Seaaide for b2b this June also.  Have cruised Seaside 2 years ago and will be back on in a few months instead of Royal.