DRINKS IN THE DIAMOND LOUNGE DURING HAPPY HOUR

[John&LaLa]

18 minutes ago, topnole said:

Oh, it was all about the free drinks.  The crowd, or lack of a crowd, tells you all you need to know.  
 

Met lots of folks who would hardly leave their seat to use the restroom during happy hours.  Drink after drink and then “sneak” out one for the road.   Then, I would never see them with a drink at other times.  It was all about the freebies.  The socializing is just the natural extension of cramming way too many drunk people into a room.  You have no choice but to chat with folks who are nearly sitting on your lap.  😂😂😂.  We met some lovely people this way.   

 

Back in the day we rarely stayed 45 minutes. Always did early seating. But I could pound 4-5 Cape Codders in those 45 minutes😇

[island lady]

41 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Back in the day we rarely stayed 45 minutes. Always did early seating. But I could pound 4-5 Cape Codders in those 45 minutes😇

 

My Man!!!   😁

[topnole]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Back in the day we rarely stayed 45 minutes. Always did early seating. But I could pound 4-5 Cape Codders in those 45 minutes😇

I became an Amstel light drinker after having kids due to happy hour.   Crisp, light in calories and relatively low in ABV. Never once felt bad the next day from Amstel Lights.  Thanks C&A for forcing me into that beer!   I do share your fondness for New Castle among many other darker beers.  I’m just more careful now so that I’m a happy dad in the morning with my kids.  

[molly361]

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Back in the day we rarely stayed 45 minutes. Always did early seating. But I could pound 4-5 Cape Codders in those 45 minutes😇

You're my idol. 

 

 

[Jarmo]

36 minutes ago, topnole said:

I became an Amstel light drinker after having kids due to happy hour......

Hell of a happy hour.

[Another_Critic]

1 minute ago, Jarmo said:

Hell of a happy hour.

They should sue Royal for child support.  😜

[Tatka]

I thought I would miss regular system, but I like new one too. It is much more convenient to have 5 (now) drinks throughout the day in any places. We usually have 1 or 2 in DL, especially if it is next to Crown Viking lounge.

[brillohead]

12 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

A DL server had her try a non-virgin “Kiss on the Lips” but made it very weak on purpose. Tasted good to me other than the lack of alcohol, very sweet & mango-y … she said it was OK but of course wasn’t a huge fan of mango. 🤷‍♂️

Have her try a "light alcohol" Pretty n Pink.  I'm not a fan of booze, but I find the low-alcohol Pretty n Pink to be very refreshing.  

 

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, topnole said:

I became an Amstel light drinker after having kids due to happy hour.   Crisp, light in calories and relatively low in ABV. Never once felt bad the next day from Amstel Lights.  Thanks C&A for forcing me into that beer!   I do share your fondness for New Castle among many other darker beers.  I’m just more careful now so that I’m a happy dad in the morning with my kids.  

 

I've found the Cape Codder to be virtually hangover proof. But doesn't work well if you have any responsibility the night of.

 

Enjoying some Mich Ultras now

Edited July 19, 2022 by John&LaLa

[topnole]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I've found the Cape Codder to be virtually hangover proof. But doesn't work well if you have any responsibility the night of.

 

Enjoying some Mich Ultras now

Yeah.  I used to drink ultra (I liked the Ulta Amber too), but Amstel sort of took over that segment of my beer drinking (Uber light beer).  And now Amstel cemented itself as my go to beer.  It was an odd transition for me because I really love dark beers and my favorite are the Bavarian Dunkels.  Nothing better than a dunkel in Munich in a beautiful beer garden.   But for whatever reason, I really enjoy the crisp taste of Amstel light.  My coworker from The Netherlands laughs at me.  

Edited July 19, 2022 by topnole

[John&LaLa]

3 minutes ago, topnole said:

Yeah.  I used to drink ultra (I liked the Ulta Amber too), but Amstel sort of took over that segment of my beer drinking (Uber light beer).  And now Amstel cemented itself as my go to beer.  It was an odd transition for me because I really love dark beers and my favorite are the Bavarian Dunkels.  Nothing better than a dunkel in Munich in a beautiful beer garden.   But for whatever reason, I really enjoy the crisp taste of Amstel light.  My coworker from The Netherlands laughs at me.  

 

You can get regular Amstel in Curacao for free at the Effy store. 

 

Well, kinda free

 

[yogimax]

10 minutes ago, topnole said:

It was an odd transition for me because I really love dark beers and my favorite are the Bavarian Dunkels.  Nothing better than a dunkel in Munich in a beautiful beer garden.   

Have you tried the Czech dark beers... Krusovice Cerne or Brouchek Dark Lager?  Ah, to sit in the beer garden in Prague with a Pivo.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

On 7/16/2022 at 5:56 AM, John&LaLa said:

 

I've had a couple get 'missed' in the lounges but 90%+ have been charged

 

On Navigator we weren't asked for our cards but drinks were charged to our card in the lounge. One night I asked the waiter about it and he said they have the pics of eligible passengers and know who to charge. We all know how good they are with remembering your name.....which has always amazed me. 

 

[suzyluvs2cruise]

6 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Back in the day we rarely stayed 45 minutes. Always did early seating. But I could pound 4-5 Cape Codders in those 45 minutes😇

 

At least you drank what your ordered. Back in the day we observed "several" who ordered several glasses of Courvoisier throughout the time they were in the lounge and poured them into a "to go" glass for later. I also remember seeing lounge eligible cruisers at Chops hop up to go to the lounge to bring more "complimentary" glasses of wine back to their table.....and this before there were drinks loaded on your SeaPass card. Vouchers, to me, are a real benefit and I hope they never go away. 

Edited July 20, 2022 by suzyluvs2cruise

[Another_Critic]

2 hours ago, topnole said:

It was an odd transition for me because I really love dark beers and my favorite are the Bavarian Dunkels.  Nothing better than a dunkel in Munich in a beautiful beer garden.  

I have one of these in my fridge:

 

[CntPAcruiser]

On 7/18/2022 at 8:37 AM, Ocean Boy said:

It really is pretty cool when you find a true bartender who enjoys doing that with you. When I was in Allure this past January I had a bartender like that in the Champagne Bar. His name was Romeo. I think being able to remember names is a sign that you had a good one.

 

I'm struggling to remember which ship we were on several years ago, where the diamond lounge was up in the crown, and they used the entirety for the overflow. The head bartender (I think) of that bar was jovial and very accommodating. Once we got to talking, he was happy to make drinks that were not on the standard Diamond menu of available liquors/mixers. I suggested some new ones he'd never had, and he made me a few of his own creations. It was a very pleasant time during the happy hour on that cruise. 

 

There are several lesser-known cocktails I enjoy that include grapefruit juice, and a few diamond lounge bar setups over the years would get in grapefruit juice on request. Not so on our last cruise pre-Covid (Grandeur--on that ship I couldn't even get a decent martini or scotch and soda). Now that we can use vouchers, I won't have that issue any longer where they "couldn't" accommodate. I haven't met a bartender yet who is familiar with the Woodward, which is 3 parts scotch and 1 part each dry vermouth and grapefruit juice, shaken and served up with no garnish. It's an excellent but largely unknown pre-dinner cocktail. 

Edited July 20, 2022 by CntPAcruiser

[SuitesRbest]

On 7/18/2022 at 7:55 AM, hmorrow said:

That , now we only have 4 drinks through out the whole day, and nite. We used to have several drinks in the lounge before dinner, and then use the 3 on the seapass for the dining room.  It just seems like taking away the all you can, or wanted to drink in the lounge, is a downgrade, in my opinion.

Totally agree here, we would definitely have several. We also would do exactly the same!!

[rrraydon]

On 7/16/2022 at 12:05 AM, brillohead said:

There are NO free alcoholic drinks in the DL anymore.

You can get ANY drink up to $13 with your voucher, not restricted to low-budget drinks.  They get the drinks from a nearby bar with a standard list of drinks available.

Previous to COVID, there were THREE vouchers per evening that could be used in any bar but ONLY for the drinks on the list of Diamond Lounge cheap liquors and ONLY during the designated Happy Hour time frame.  

The current Diamond drink vouchers can be used at ANY time of day at ANY bar* for ANY drink up to $13.  (*Note: certain ships may restrict voucher usage at certain bars, like the Bionic Bar or the Rising Tide Bar.  This will be noted in the letter outlining the program that will be in your room on Embarkation Day.)

 

I have never been to the Rising Tide Bar nor the Bionic Bar (although i will soon as I'm booked on both ships), why are they exempt? What is special about these 2 bars?

[topnole]

3 hours ago, yogimax said:

Have you tried the Czech dark beers... Krusovice Cerne or Brouchek Dark Lager?  Ah, to sit in the beer garden in Prague with a Pivo.

Not sure about those two, but I’m enjoyed many varying beers in Prague.  Several dark.  All fantastic.   Of course I also had to sample the original Budweiser as I recall.  

[topnole]

10 minutes ago, rrraydon said:

 

I have never been to the Rising Tide Bar nor the Bionic Bar (although i will soon as I'm booked on both ships), why are they exempt? What is special about these 2 bars?

Pretty sure you can use them at the rising tide bar on most oasis class.   Maybe all of them.  

[topnole]

2 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

I have one of these in my fridge:

 

I have toured their brewery in Munich and love their beer garden near central station.   I prefer the regular dunkel vs the wheat beer dunkel (not that I would turn one down).   My favorite is HB dunkel.  
 

Ever visit the Andechs Monastery?  It’s about an hour outside Munich.   Then an hour hike through the Bavarian woods. The Doppelbock Dunkel is to die for.  

[topnole]

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

You can get regular Amstel in Curacao for free at the Effy store. 

 

Well, kinda free

 

Nice.  All they serve in Amsterdam is Amstel.   Amstel light is pretty much an American product as far as I know.   
 

A few year back the wife and I leave the kids with my folks and go Star Class on oasis.   Genie escorts us to our front row seats for Cats and our drinks are to us in no time. I of course get an Amstel Light.  I look at all the stuff littering the front of the stage and right in front of me is a huge bottle of Amstel.  The seats clearly had my name in them.   I’m the only goofball who ever had to get a picture of that.  😂😂😂.  
 

We will probably do an ABC itinerary in the next year or two so I’ll bring the wife to that store and enjoy a proper Amstel.   

Edited July 20, 2022 by topnole

[Another_Critic]

24 minutes ago, topnole said:

I have toured their brewery in Munich and love their beer garden near central station.   I prefer the regular dunkel vs the wheat beer dunkel (not that I would turn one down).   My favorite is HB dunkel.  
 

Ever visit the Andechs Monastery?  It’s about an hour outside Munich.   Then an hour hike through the Bavarian woods. The Doppelbock Dunkel is to die for.  

My ex-wife actually brought the beer back from Germany.

 

I drove through Munich years ago (1985).  If I recall, I didn't stop anyplace.  I picked up my new VW Jetta GLi at the Wolfsburg factory earlier in the week and was basically just driving from country to country for 12 days.

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by Another_Critic

[brillohead]

4 hours ago, rrraydon said:

I have never been to the Rising Tide Bar nor the Bionic Bar (although i will soon as I'm booked on both ships), why are they exempt? What is special about these 2 bars?

It's not all Oasis-class that exempt the Rising Tide Bar.  I was on Symphony and Allure in the fall and one or the other exempted the Rising Tide, but I don't remember either of them exempting it when I was on them in the spring.  

I think the Bionic Bar is probably exempt because you have to ring up the coupon when placing the order, and the iPad system isn't set up to do that.  

 

[welshrich]

On 7/17/2022 at 11:43 AM, Tin can said:

 

Did that quite often on our recent cruise if having a beer at lunchtime around the pool to save the vouchers for the more expensive cocktails in the evening. I got the impression that for whatever reason some bar staff were not too keen to do this.

We had this on Anthem last year I had a coke package and even a couple of times a coke got taken as a free drink at the bar which then meant a trip to GS, same on Radiance last month, bought two beers using the BOFOF at lunch and had two drinks deducted from my 5 allowance.   Majority of time it worked well but I can see why servers may not be keen.