Diamond Plus Perk now Taken Away on Anthem!

[Ocean Boy]

1 minute ago, DoctorRN said:

 

 

Maybe, but just stating the fact that DL is about to get a lot busier if CLs are becoming SLs.

I have been on ships with SLs. I am sitting on one right now. The whole issue seems to be a bigger problem on CC than what I find it to be in real life. RCI has made accommodation for the number as needed and I think they have done a fine job. Perhaps, others have had different experiences and would disagree with me.

[DoctorRN]

3 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I have been on ships with SLs. I am sitting on one right now. The whole issue seems to be a bigger problem on CC than what I find it to be in real life. RCI has made accommodation for the number as needed and I think they have done a fine job. Perhaps, others have had different experiences and would disagree with me.

 

To be fair, so have I. The time when it is a real issue is on Transatlantic cruises when there can be >1500 D and above. 

[grapau27]

11 hours 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.

Ciao Wow, reading the 2020/2021 brochure and the Yacht club looks fantastic.

In Europe it is  predominantly Italian passengers too.addio.

Edited January 25, 2020 by grapau27

[gc]

This is not the first time Royal has removed Loyalty members from a lounge...in 2008 Diamonds were booted from the concierge except this time royal learned their lesson and decided to change the name to suite and pinnacle. The Diamond plus of now have accepted this much better than before.   

https://www.travelersunited.org/anchors-away-royal-caribbean-gives-passenger-perks-the-heave-ho/

I would have thought this group would be more understanding today. "How soon they forget"

Edited January 25, 2020 by gc

[grapau27]

53 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

There is still reserved seating on Adventure also. However, they have now condensed P, D+, Suite, and Key all to the same area. The last time I was on this ship Key had its own area apart from the others.

Best wishes hope you are having a brilliant cruise.

[HBE4]

8 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

9 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Be nice. Royal should cater to Suite Guest. 

I am being nice. I said that they should get there lounge....and in there they should stay.😄

 

Meanwhile, on the other side, I'm worried that the public bars will be flooded with upper tier people booted from their lounges, hogging the chairs meant for lower-tier folks and slowing down bar service as they redeem their frozen virgin drinks. 😂

 

[rolloman]

Aside from the  C lounge removal, I can tell you the biggest recent D+ perk to be taken away...priority entrance into the terminal. I wonder what will be next? 

[twangster]

22 minutes ago, DoctorRN said:

Maybe, but just stating the fact that DL is about to get a lot busier if CLs are becoming SLs.

 

It's not about to get busier, it's already been like that on the majority of the fleet.  With 26 ships in the fleet today only 11 have CLs.  Only Vision class, Radiance class and select Quantum class have CLs remaining.

 

Oasis lost the CL about 5 years ago.  Somehow D+ survived that and continue to have great cruises on Oasis class.  Three years ago Liberty lost her CL.  Somehow for the past 3 years D+ have survived on Liberty.     Two years ago Adventure lost her CL.  Somehow for the past two years D+ have survived  on Adventure.  The rest in class followed and lost their CL.

 

The biggest changes have already occured.  Harmony and Symphony at launch never had a CL.   If you've cruised over the past two or three years on these classes you've already experienced it.

 

It's about time Royal finished the job.  This isn't something new that should come as a shock to anyone.

[twangster]

10 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Aside from the  C lounge removal, I can tell you the biggest recent D+ perk to be taken away...priority entrance into the terminal. 

 

Where is that listed as a CAS benefit?  It was only available at a few terminals.  The majority of us never had that.  Nothing taken away for most of us, especially when you consider it wasn't a published benefit.

[Milwaukee Eight]

8 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I am confused. You buy a drink package because of the over crowding in the lounge? How much can you possibly drink in 3.5 hrs. to make a drink package even close to worth while especially since you can get three drinks for free outside of the lounge with no package? Or does your buying the package have to do with factors other than lounge crowding?

Some buy a drink package so they can drink quality alcohol. NA is an example. Same with some wines. Beer too. Nice they added Bud Light. Blue Moon is a good example, not on the list but available. 

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

I have been on ships with SLs. I am sitting on one right now. The whole issue seems to be a bigger problem on CC than what I find it to be in real life. RCI has made accommodation for the number as needed and I think they have done a fine job. Perhaps, others have had different experiences and would disagree with me.

 

Every 'problem' on CC is bigger than real life.

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, DoctorRN said:

 

To be fair, so have I. The time when it is a real issue is on Transatlantic cruises when there can be >1500 D and above. 

 

Overflow lounges on TA's are some of the best

[John&LaLa]

22 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Aside from the  C lounge removal, I can tell you the biggest recent D+ perk to be taken away...priority entrance into the terminal. I wonder what will be next? 

 

Strip searches

[molly361]

I  won't have to worry about this in 2020 since I'll be very busy enjoying my $18 per day drink packages😇

[Milwaukee Eight]

13 hours 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.

Who exactly told you that you had a “CHOICE “. I assume you’re referring to the CL and DL. Did they also tell you on “select ships” or show you the Terms & Conditions that clearly in writing state that Royal may make ANY changes at ANY time and there is not much you can do about it???

[John&LaLa]

13 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Some buy a drink package so they can drink quality alcohol. NA is an example. Same with some wines. Beer too. Nice they added Bud Light. Blue Moon is a good example, not on the list but available. 

 

Only available as draft, and usually requires the use of a voucher due to location

Edited January 25, 2020 by John&LaLa

[rolloman]

4 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Who exactly told you that you had a “CHOICE “. I assume you’re referring to the CL and DL. Did they also tell you on “select ships” or show you the Terms & Conditions that clearly in writing state that Royal may make ANY changes at ANY time and there is not much you can do about it???

Clearly the change has no effect on you. Great.  However, please keep in mind this is an open forum to discuss all things cruising. This forum is also monitored by the cruise line and discussions similar to this have paid dividends in the past. That being said,  It just so happens this thread is about D+ benefits going to the wayside. I am pretty sure everyone is aware the benefits can change at any time just as I am even more sure my cruise line of choice can change at anytime. 

[HBE4]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

I suspect that the D folks might have some issue with your post.

 

As someone who will be a first time D on my next cruise, I'm not going to miss what I never had. Other soon-to-be-D's may disagree with me.

 

Solution would be to grandfather current DL access. Pick a date and anybody that has DL access gets to keep it. Anybody turning D afterwards (and I'll include myself in the scenario since I have yet to experience DL) will not have access but in order to make up for a "lost benefit", will have unlimited HH drinks loaded to their card to be used any bar. Oh, and one specialty coffee.

 

I would consider that a fair compromise.

 

[HBE4]

15 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Strip searches

 

Possible benefit depending on who is doing the search.😉

[rolloman]

20 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Where is that listed as a CAS benefit?  It was only available at a few terminals.  The majority of us never had that.  Nothing taken away for most of us, especially when you consider it wasn't a published benefit.

It needs to be in writing for you? Every port in Florida at one time offered this perk. I am sorry you missed out on it. Suites and Pinnacle are the only categories who still receive this perk.  

[Milwaukee Eight]

10 hours ago, rolloman said:

The D+ benefits have fallen to basically the same as Diamond and to me that is a kick in the face because reaching Diamond is a joke compared to the vast difference in between D and D+.  Do us ( Pineapple 340 and above)  a favor and officially make a D++  category and give us the suite lounge access and or associated dining perk.

Why not just remove the D+ level and D 175-700.  The SL is often too crowded now at certain times with only Suites and P’s access without D+ access. I don’t believe anything less than P will have access unless awarded other ways like Casino Master. 

[Milwaukee Eight]

4 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Good idea.

It would be an incentive for us D+ in the 250 range to aim for.

Pipe dream. Not going to happen. 
 

Sorry 

 

In my opinion 

[Ocean Boy]

33 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Some buy a drink package so they can drink quality alcohol. NA is an example. Same with some wines. Beer too. Nice they added Bud Light. Blue Moon is a good example, not on the list but available. 

As I said.... reasons other than lounge crowding.

[Milwaukee Eight]

18 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Only available as draft, and usually requires the use of a voucher due to location

Not if you have the drink package. CL/SL may not have a draft beer or the drink of choice. I’ve never found a SL or CL that after the first day, wouldn’t come up with our alcohol of choice if we had the drink package. Another advantage of getting the drink package. Every SL I have been in stock Tito’s. It’s not on the list. So why do they stock?  

[twangster]

19 minutes ago, rolloman said:

This forum is also monitored by the cruise line and discussions similar to this have paid dividends in the past.

 

Great.  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Royal for the excellent expanded Diamond Lounge experience when I was restricted from visiting the CL as a D+.  It has worked quite well on all occasions.