Current Diamond Plus Benefits

[DENBET30]

Like many of you we are resuming cruising. It appears there have been some changes to some of the Diamond + benefits and likely this has been discussed here. What exactly has changed, good and the bad? Thanks 

[Magicat]

Well the good is the 5 drink coupons, any bar, any time of day, drinks up to $13.00.  We strategically purchased inexpensive beers during the day and then up scaled to martinis in the evening.  Worked out way cheaper than a drink package.  

[neverbeenhere]

5 martinis a day keeps the doctor away. 

Edited September 29, 2021 by neverbeenhere
In my case that’s not a good thing.

[Merion_Mom]

@DENBET30 - the only real change for D+ is the free drink situation.  No more unlimited drinks in the D Lounge from 5-8:30, made with the cheapest possible liquor and a limited menu.  Now you will have five drink vouchers on your SeaPass every day - you can use them any time, anywhere, and your drink will be free, as long as it's not more than $13.  This even applies on CocoCay (or Labadee, if RC ever returns  😞 )  (disclaimer:  no Bionic Bar; no Starbucks-branded kiosks)

[BND]

1 hour ago, Magicat said:

Well the good is the 5 drink coupons, any bar, any time of day, drinks up to $13.00.  We strategically purchased inexpensive beers during the day and then up scaled to martinis in the evening.  Worked out way cheaper than a drink package.  

I'm confused about what is strategic about that?  Each drink can be up to $13 so you're not banking anything by buying inexpensive beer.

 

We usually have a specialty coffee in the am, maybe a cocktail in the afternoon, a glass or two of wine before/with dinner and maybe one at the evening show.  At least I have all that.  DH doesn't drink much but he can use his for water or soda as well as coffee.  

 

[Cigar King]

I'm guessing they are paying for less expensive drinks and then using all the vouchers for the more expensive drinks later in the day.  At least for this person, that works out cheaper than the package.

[ReneeFLL]

1 hour ago, BND said:

I'm confused about what is strategic about that?  Each drink can be up to $13 so you're not banking anything by buying inexpensive beer.

 

We usually have a specialty coffee in the am, maybe a cocktail in the afternoon, a glass or two of wine before/with dinner and maybe one at the evening show.  At least I have all that.  DH doesn't drink much but he can use his for water or soda as well as coffee.  

 

Just because your drinking habit is one way doesn’t mean others are like yours. Strategic to them is buying the inexpensive beers during the day and then using the coupons for the more expensive drinks later on just like they said. Spending their money wisely. Should make sense to everyone.

[BND]

1 minute ago, ReneeFLL said:

Just because your drinking habit is one way doesn’t mean others are like yours. Strategic to them is buying the inexpensive beers during the day and then using the coupons for the more expensive drinks later on just like they said. Spending their money wisely. Should make sense to everyone.

Just because you think you know what I meant, doesn't mean you do.

 

I understood it to say they were using their coupons to buy all their drinks, including their beers.  You really need to stop with your condescending to me.  You've done it before.

[BND]

21 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

I'm guessing they are paying for less expensive drinks and then using all the vouchers for the more expensive drinks later in the day.  At least for this person, that works out cheaper than the package.

Thank you.  That wasn't how I originally read it so I was just asking.

[ReneeFLL]

1 minute ago, BND said:

Just because you think you know what I meant, doesn't mean you do.

 

I understood it to say they were using their coupons to buy all their drinks, including their beers.  You really need to stop with your condescending to me.  You've done it before.

I don’t know how you could have not understood what they were saying. What you drink has nothing to do with what they drink or how they do it strategically.

[DENBET30]

Is the 24 hour free wifi (per cruise) still one of the diamond + perks?

[HicksRA]

7 minutes ago, DENBET30 said:

Is the 24 hour free wifi (per cruise) still one of the diamond + perks?

D+ is 48 hours.  

[Chiliburn]

1 minute ago, HicksRA said:

D+ is 48 hours.  

Is that for any cruise length? Say a 2 nighter.

[HicksRA]

3 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Is that for any cruise length? Say a 2 nighter.

Not sure. I’ve never done a 2 nighter. 

[Sea Viewer]

I've  got the 48 hours on a 3 night cruise  so I  think cruise length  doesn't  matter.

[Chiliburn]

Do they have to be consecutive days? 

[Chiliburn]

9 minutes ago, HicksRA said:

Not sure. I’ve never done a 2 nighter. 

I’ve done one but not again, you just unpack your bag and it’s over.

A real party but the drunks where a eye opener.

[Biker19]

53 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Do they have to be consecutive days? 

No, you can start the second 24 hr at any time.

[HicksRA]

57 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Do they have to be consecutive days? 

You basically have to go in and buy 24 hours twice.  They don’t have to be consecutive.  
You can only buy one day or the entire/remainder of the cruise. 

Edited September 29, 2021 by HicksRA

[knittinggirl]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Do they have to be consecutive days? 

the last time I cruised, we ended up with a certain amount of credit.  It was two days before the end, and I used all my credit on a streaming package.

[Magicat]

18 hours ago, BND said:

I'm confused about what is strategic about that?  Each drink can be up to $13 so you're not banking anything by buying inexpensive beer.

 

We usually have a specialty coffee in the am, maybe a cocktail in the afternoon, a glass or two of wine before/with dinner and maybe one at the evening show.  At least I have all that.  DH doesn't drink much but he can use his for water or soda as well as coffee.  

 

Perhaps I can clarify my statement.  Although we enjoy adult beverages during a cruise, it is not like we are hammered daily.  On those lazy sea days, we would enjoy a cesar with Belvedere vodka for brunch using a coupon.  Then perhaps paying for 2 or 3 beers during the afternoon sitting around the pool.  Then in the evening either in the diamond lounge or another bar we would have 2 martinis or other drink socializing.  With 2 drink coupons remaining, we would get a nice glass of wine for dinner and save the last one for a night cap.  So the beers would cost us about $30 which is way less than the drink package.

On port days, we might end up with a surplus of coupons.  So if we were done for the evening, we would ask to take our remaining coupons in unopened beers and take back to the room.  This then would eliminate the need to purchase beers during the day further reducing the cost.  I think this happened twice on our last cruise.  A note here that it would depend on your relationship with the wait staff as I am sure this is not officially allowed.

I hope this clears up how we use the drink coupons.  If anyone else has other ways to get the most out of them please share.  Cheers.

[gerig]

21 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

@DENBET30 - the only real change for D+ is the free drink situation.  No more unlimited drinks in the D Lounge from 5-8:30, made with the cheapest possible liquor and a limited menu.  Now you will have five drink vouchers on your SeaPass every day - you can use them any time, anywhere, and your drink will be free, as long as it's not more than $13.  This even applies on CocoCay (or Labadee, if RC ever returns  😞 )  (disclaimer:  no Bionic Bar; no Starbucks-branded kiosks)

Both my husband and I are diamond plus but for the next cruise I purchased the drink package for him and the refreshment package for me because I am also prime in the casino.  If I use my 5 free drinks from being diamond plus can I use my husband's free drinks rather than running to the casino?

[lovesthebeach2]

2 hours ago, Magicat said:

Perhaps I can clarify my statement.  Although we enjoy adult beverages during a cruise, it is not like we are hammered daily.  On those lazy sea days, we would enjoy a cesar with Belvedere vodka for brunch using a coupon.  Then perhaps paying for 2 or 3 beers during the afternoon sitting around the pool.  Then in the evening either in the diamond lounge or another bar we would have 2 martinis or other drink socializing.  With 2 drink coupons remaining, we would get a nice glass of wine for dinner and save the last one for a night cap.  So the beers would cost us about $30 which is way less than the drink package.

On port days, we might end up with a surplus of coupons.  So if we were done for the evening, we would ask to take our remaining coupons in unopened beers and take back to the room.  This then would eliminate the need to purchase beers during the day further reducing the cost.  I think this happened twice on our last cruise.  A note here that it would depend on your relationship with the wait staff as I am sure this is not officially allowed.

I hope this clears up how we use the drink coupons.  If anyone else has other ways to get the most out of them please share.  Cheers.

thanks for the idea of asking for a beer - unopened - to bring back to the room to use up leftover voucher. Hubby would like that 😉

[dianajo67]

I know this is super cheapy…but you could also get a non carbonated mixed drink or even a shot of something with your non-used vouchers and put it in your fridge.  Add ice or soda/juice later.

[kwokpot]

10 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

thanks for the idea of asking for a beer - unopened - to bring back to the room to use up leftover voucher. Hubby would like that

As Magicat stated that's solely dependent on the generosity of the server. 
Usually It's not a problem, but not always.