Diamond Club Theory when we return

[Oxo]

50 minutes ago, pink845 said:

  They will provide instead a couple of complimentary specialty dinners or lunches to the Diamond people (including me.)  Again, we would be happy with that. 

On NCL Platimum get 2 free meals w/bottle of wine in a SR. No HH.

[livingonthebeach]

5 minutes ago, davekathy said:

I was also referring to RC but at the current number of drinks, not the increased number of drinks suggested or WAGs by others on this thread. My Magic 8 Ball says, " don't count on it".  

 

Of course I don't count on it -- was just stating my preference.  It shouldn't matter to RCI when or where I consume my allotted drinks and I'm sure there are others that think the same way.  If they do away with some perks, the least they should do without costing them a dime is increase the time limit on the specific number of drinks whatever number it turns out to be. 

 

[Oxo]

35 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Why limit it to hours?  The loaded drinks at any bar should be available all day -- to me it makes no difference if your drink is at breakfast (mimosa), lunch, dinner, or after hours.  The idea of cramming 6 drinks in a couple of hours is not at all appealing. 

I agree and made basically the same suggestion in post #3 on July  10. 

Stay safe! 

 

[zekekelso]

How about this... if there is an RCL and an X ship in port, D+ and above get to go visit the X ship’s lounge and have free drinks over there 

[Oxo]

4 minutes ago, zekekelso said:

How about this... if there is an RCL and an X ship in port, D+ and above get to go visit the X ship’s lounge and have free drinks over there 

Can't do that bc someone would not remember what ship they are on and miss their evening meal. LOL

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Disagree! 👎👎

+1.

[LXA350]

On 7/19/2020 at 10:37 PM, grapau27 said:

Hopefully people leave the waiters a good tip at the end but I believe in tipping every drink so every waiter who brings us our drinks gets our tip immediately as on occasions previously a good waiter was not there on the last night and lost out.

When we go in a DL we sit in different locations each visit and are very observant of people and is it a coincidence that no one near us moves to put a note in the waiters hand or on his tray when ordering or receiving a drink?.

Everyone is free to do what they want of course.

On European cruises especially from Southampton there are often large queues of people at GS stopping their autogratuities.

We pre-pay our gratuities.

 

We shouldn't go there, there was a thread discusing this topic some time ago, but the US is unique to their tipping culture, at the end it's just paying the salary of the waiter. It's not a favor it's basically a obligatory fee to pay. I do think it's not ok for people to remove auto gratuities, but otherwise with some exceptions there is no reason why you should tip for each drink or provide a tip to the concierge because they did their job of being efficient.

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, zekekelso said:

How about this... if there is an RCL and an X ship in port, D+ and above get to go visit the X ship’s lounge and have free drinks over there 

You would cause overcrowding in the X ship lounge...and if I'm on the X ship I wouldn't be happy about that. Stay in your own neighborhood....regardless of where that might be.

[reallyitsmema]

35 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

 

We shouldn't go there, there was a thread discusing this topic some time ago, but the US is unique to their tipping culture, at the end it's just paying the salary of the waiter. It's not a favor it's basically a obligatory fee to pay. I do think it's not ok for people to remove auto gratuities, but otherwise with some exceptions there is no reason why you should tip for each drink or provide a tip to the concierge because they did their job of being efficient.

 

He shouldn't go there because he is making a lot of assumptions.  Not everyone makes a big deal when they tip, so just because he didn't see a tip, doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Some tip at the end of the week and do it as they leave the lounge, not with each drink.  As far as the line at guest services, unless he went and asked each person why they were in line, he has no idea why people are there.  Everyone should worry about themselves and mind their own business.  What someone tips and doesn't tip is between the bartender and the guest, no one else.

[HBE4]

48 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

He shouldn't go there because he is making a lot of assumptions.  Not everyone makes a big deal when they tip, so just because he didn't see a tip, doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Some tip at the end of the week and do it as they leave the lounge, not with each drink.  As far as the line at guest services, unless he went and asked each person why they were in line, he has no idea why people are there.  Everyone should worry about themselves and mind their own business.  What someone tips and doesn't tip is between the bartender and the guest, no one else.

 

+1. 

 

[Ocean Boy]

3 hours ago, pink845 said:

 They will provide instead a couple of complimentary specialty dinners or lunches to the Diamond people (including me.)  Again, we would be happy with that. 

And I would not. And if the bars are open on the ships how do you figure that the three drink vouchers and Covid have anything to do with each other?

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, LXA350 said:

there is no reason why you should tip for each drink

Drinks are “free”. Any paid for drink includes gratuities but a free drink does not. 
 

M8

[davekathy]

4 hours ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Of course I don't count on it -- was just stating my preference.  It shouldn't matter to RCI when or where I consume my allotted drinks and I'm sure there are others that think the same way.  If they do away with some perks, the least they should do without costing them a dime is increase the time limit on the specific number of drinks whatever number it turns out to be. 

 

Smart not to count on it. We aren't. We'll just wait and see if any of the C&A benefits/perks change when cruising starts back up and we'll adjust accordingly if there are any changes. 

Edited July 21, 2020 by davekathy

[livingonthebeach]

2 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Smart not to count on it. We aren't. We'll just wait and see if any of the C&A benefits/perks change when cruising starts back up and we'll adjust accordingly if there are any changes. 

 

Yes -- hopefully we'll get to see that day again soon. 🙏

[zekekelso]

On 7/10/2020 at 9:49 AM, ownedbypets said:

Maybe the Diamond lounge can be by reservation only. 30 minute limit. Someone can invent a timer that shocks your seat after 30 minutes and then sanitizes it when you get up. You can only go once during your cruise to ensure other have an opportunity to enjoy. So much speculation!

[grapau27]

12 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

He shouldn't go there because he is making a lot of assumptions.  Not everyone makes a big deal when they tip, so just because he didn't see a tip, doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Some tip at the end of the week and do it as they leave the lounge, not with each drink.  As far as the line at guest services, unless he went and asked each person why they were in line, he has no idea why people are there.  Everyone should worry about themselves and mind their own business.  What someone tips and doesn't tip is between the bartender and the guest, no one else.

What do you think will happen to the DL when cruising returns?

Asking for a friend.

[grapau27]

10 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Drinks are “free”. Any paid for drink includes gratuities but a free drink does not. 
 

M8

That's why I tip $1 for every free drink.

Graham.

[grapau27]

12 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

He shouldn't go there because he is making a lot of assumptions.  Not everyone makes a big deal when they tip, so just because he didn't see a tip, doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Some tip at the end of the week and do it as they leave the lounge, not with each drink.  As far as the line at guest services, unless he went and asked each person why they were in line, he has no idea why people are there.  Everyone should worry about themselves and mind their own business.  What someone tips and doesn't tip is between the bartender and the guest, no one else.

Not assumptions.

On Southampton sailings we speak to lots of people on board and 90% say they have been to stop their tips at GS and think we are daft to have paid them.

Several reliable posters have said the same about queues at GS stopping tips.

I said in my post that 

Of course people can do what they want.

UK tipping forums are full of people saying they don't tip.

To get back to the thread.

The DL like the theatre and show lounges are empty during the day but I like to call in especially when there are great outside views for a couple of coffees and to chill out.

Free drinks are a massive temptation and having sailed Royal before DLs the DL introduction was a big pull for me away from other cruiselines where we were top or nearly top loyalty at that time.

3 free drinks seemed strange as after the first 2 on each card you have to hand both your cards over for the third drink which means you are left without a key if you need to go back to your cabin.

For this reason I think an even number like 4 would be appropriate as we prefer to go into a bar or speciality restaurant rather than a full DL.

Edited July 21, 2020 by grapau27

[grapau27]

9 hours ago, davekathy said:

Smart not to count on it. We aren't. We'll just wait and see if any of the C&A benefits/perks change when cruising starts back up and we'll adjust accordingly if there are any changes. 

Some D+ benefits we use some benefits we don't use so depending which are changed this will determine my decision whether I book with Royal or not.

[CSHS1979]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

Not assumptions.

On Southampton sailings we speak to lots of people on board and 90% say they have been to stop their tips at GS and think we are daft to have paid them.

Several reliable posters have said the same about queues at GS stopping tips.

I said in my post that 

Of course people can do what they want.

UK tipping forums are full of people saying they don't tip.

To get back to the thread.

The DL like the theatre and show lounges are empty during the day but I like to call in especially when there are great outside views for a couple of coffees and to chill out.

Free drinks are a massive temptation and having sailed Royal before DLs the DL introduction was a big pull for me away from other cruiselines where we were top or nearly top loyalty at that time.

3 free drinks seemed strange as after the first 2 on each card you have to hand both your cards over for the third drink which means you are left without a key if you need to go back to your cabin.

For this reason I think an even number like 4 would be appropriate as we prefer to go into a bar or speciality restaurant rather than a full DL.

 

Royal probably didn't realize folks would use one card to utilize the vouchers for a couple. They probably thought both cards would be usef for each round, so it's not a big desl to have odd numbers.

 

And be careful. 2 is an even number😉

[grapau27]

5 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Royal probably didn't realize folks would use one card to utilize the vouchers for a couple. They probably thought both cards would be usef for each round, so it's not a big desl to have odd numbers.

 

And be careful. 2 is an even number😉

Not worried if they only put 2 on the card as I would just get drinks in the DL and carry them out to the VCL.

We are more likely to go to Chops Grill or Giovanni's every night rather than the DL if there are sufficient HH drinks on our cards.

Graham.

[reallyitsmema]

1 hour ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Royal probably didn't realize folks would use one card to utilize the vouchers for a couple. They probably thought both cards would be usef for each round, so it's not a big desl to have odd numbers.

 

And be careful. 2 is an even number😉

 

We have always given two cards when using our vouchers in a bar, as have those we have been sailing with.  Never heard of someone using only one card.

[reallyitsmema]

2 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Not assumptions.

On Southampton sailings we speak to lots of people on board and 90% say they have been to stop their tips at GS and think we are daft to have paid them.

Several reliable posters have said the same about queues at GS stopping tips.

I said in my post that 

Of course people can do what they want.

UK tipping forums are full of people saying they don't tip.

To get back to the thread.

The DL like the theatre and show lounges are empty during the day but I like to call in especially when there are great outside views for a couple of coffees and to chill out.

Free drinks are a massive temptation and having sailed Royal before DLs the DL introduction was a big pull for me away from other cruiselines where we were top or nearly top loyalty at that time.

3 free drinks seemed strange as after the first 2 on each card you have to hand both your cards over for the third drink which means you are left without a key if you need to go back to your cabin.

For this reason I think an even number like 4 would be appropriate as we prefer to go into a bar or speciality restaurant rather than a full DL.

 

Unless you and the "reliable posters" you refer to poll the people in line at guest services, you have no idea what people are doing.  As far as discussing tips with all those you speak to, that is baffling unless you are doing an unofficial poll of a small segment of a sailing.  We don't discuss tips and never will.

 

We use our three vouchers in whatever venue we are in each night and do not think three is strange.  We each give a card for our drink as does those we have sailed with.  

[grapau27]

15 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Unless you and the "reliable posters" you refer to poll the people in line at guest services, you have no idea what people are doing.  As far as discussing tips with all those you speak to, that is baffling unless you are doing an unofficial poll of a small segment of a sailing.  We don't discuss tips and never will.

 

We use our three vouchers in whatever venue we are in each night and do not think three is strange.  We each give a card for our drink as does those we have sailed with.  

I never discuss tips or politics unless asked to make a comment.

The UK is different from the US regarding tipping and it is always someone we speak to on Southampton departures that asks us if we have stopped our tips.

I like to talk holidays and sport and have no interest whatsoever in talking tips unless it is on a tipping forum.

Whenever there has been a tipping thread many UK posters have said the same as me regarding queues at GS.

I think we should stick to the theme of the thread.

I hope they don't change the Diamond lounge but with social distancing unless there is a vaccine there will have to be changes for HH and as D+ have been removed from the CLs the logical step would be to offer more free drinks to D members in exchange for non entry during HH only or a guaranteed overflow Lounge.

As D+ I would keep out of the DL during HH in exchange for 4 drinks on both our cards.

We never use the Free D+ casino voucher,laundry voucher and WiFi voucher or the money off drinks but always use the BOGO on speciality restaurants and go there most nights.

Graham

 

[Polly1922]

50 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Unless you and the "reliable posters" you refer to poll the people in line at guest services, you have no idea what people are doing.  As far as discussing tips with all those you speak to, that is baffling unless you are doing an unofficial poll of a small segment of a sailing.  We don't discuss tips and never will.

 

We use our three vouchers in whatever venue we are in each night and do not think three is strange.  We each give a card for our drink as does those we have sailed with.  

Hi Emma.

I am from Britain and always go to reception and cancel automatic tips.

A lot of my fellow passengers do the same.