loman Posted October 25, 2022 #26 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Its a good place to get an expresso and not have to pay for it . Get a double and go down to the promenade and grab a seat. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailor05 Posted October 25, 2022 #27 Share Posted October 25, 2022 The past 3 cruises I haven't seen more than 1 or 2 people in the lounges. I go in there to get a free espresso and leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sobro Posted October 25, 2022 #28 Share Posted October 25, 2022 I enjoy the DL in the mornings. I'll have coffee and some fruit and cold cereal for breakfast. Keeps me out of the hash browns and sausages I shouldn't eat daily. Ships older than Oasis class have nice views from the DL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taglovestocruise Posted October 25, 2022 #29 Share Posted October 25, 2022 5 hours ago, HicksRA said: They needed more space for another kiddie ride. Covid is dead... time to add more cabins 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taglovestocruise Posted October 25, 2022 #30 Share Posted October 25, 2022 40 minutes ago, sailor05 said: The past 3 cruises I haven't seen more than 1 or 2 people in the lounges. I go in there to get a free espresso and leave. Just got off a S2S on Ovation/Quantum. DL packed every night, every night they opened the doors to the Music Hall for added overflow space. Same on both ships. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyitsmema Posted October 26, 2022 #31 Share Posted October 26, 2022 2 hours ago, sandebeach said: Currently sitting in the DL on Quantum. Nice windows and at 10:00 AM this place is packed. They still haven't removed the cage from the Golden Room? We were on Quantum in May and they said that was being removed soon, guess not. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HicksRA Posted October 26, 2022 #32 Share Posted October 26, 2022 5 hours ago, yogimax said: It's not just about the drinks. It's about the ability to meet people and establish lifelong friendships, somthing that's simply not going to happen sitting around a noisy bar. I must agree. I believe every lasting friendship I’ve made on the ship was either in the DL or SL. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted October 26, 2022 #33 Share Posted October 26, 2022 1 hour ago, reallyitsmema said: They still haven't removed the cage from the Golden Room? We were on Quantum in May and they said that was being removed soon, guess not. I was wondering if that was something they added for China sailings, since it wasn't there when I sailed in Oct. 2014. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyitsmema Posted October 26, 2022 #34 Share Posted October 26, 2022 1 minute ago, Another_Critic said: I was wondering if that was something they added for China sailings, since it wasn't there when I sailed in Oct. 2014. The DL is the Golden Room on those sailings with high stakes table games. That is the cage for payouts that the concierge said was being removed. The Noodle restaurant hadn't been changed out when we sailed either, not sure if that is still up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted October 26, 2022 #35 Share Posted October 26, 2022 3 hours ago, Spurschick said: Now that Diamond and above get drinks put on their cards (and need to use those vouchers if getting drinks in the lounge) there is no need for it to be as large. It will be less crowded compared to when you used to not get vouchers and only got drinks in the lounge. 2 hours ago, sailor05 said: The past 3 cruises I haven't seen more than 1 or 2 people in the lounges. I go in there to get a free espresso and leave. 1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said: Just got off a S2S on Ovation/Quantum. DL packed every night, every night they opened the doors to the Music Hall for added overflow space. Same on both ships. The DL has been crowded on most of my sailings since restart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurschick Posted October 26, 2022 #36 Share Posted October 26, 2022 38 minutes ago, Another_Critic said: The DL has been crowded on most of my sailings since restart. Which ships? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandebeach Posted October 26, 2022 #37 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Just now, reallyitsmema said: The DL is the Golden Room on those sailings with high stakes table games. That is the cage for payouts that the concierge said was being removed. The Noodle restaurant hadn't been changed out when we sailed either, not sure if that is still up there. There is a “Dimsung and Milk Tea” restaurant up on the pool deck, which was closed in Alaska. It was opened on this sailing and is called Splashaway Cafe. Excellent Kung Pao chicken for $6, or fried rice for $6. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted October 26, 2022 #38 Share Posted October 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Spurschick said: Which ships? Oasis - Oct 2021 Anthem - Dec 2021 Anthem - May 2022 Voyager - Sept 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted October 26, 2022 #39 Share Posted October 26, 2022 18 hours ago, Empehi said: With the drinks being available at any bar I see no need for a large DL. I do love the morning pastries and coffee .... I always try to book a cabin as near the DL for the morning coffee. e Aren't they just the same pastries you can get in the Windjammer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted October 26, 2022 #40 Share Posted October 26, 2022 4 minutes ago, Jimbo said: Aren't they just the same pastries you can get in the Windjammer? No washy washy to get DL pastries. 🙃 You go for the "free" specialty coffee; pastries being available is a bonus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted October 26, 2022 #41 Share Posted October 26, 2022 7 minutes ago, Another_Critic said: No washy washy to get DL pastries. 🙃 You go for the "free" specialty coffee; pastries being available is a bonus. I'm not a coffee snob, so don't need the free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeRick Posted October 26, 2022 #42 Share Posted October 26, 2022 18 hours ago, Empehi said: With the drinks being available at any bar I see no need for a large DL. I do love the morning pastries and coffee .... I always try to book a cabin as near the DL for the morning coffee. e Not just about the free drinks. We have met many people in the Diamond Lounge and still stay in touch with some of them. They have similar cruising interests and experiences. Not really the case for the Suite Lounge. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted October 26, 2022 #43 Share Posted October 26, 2022 38 minutes ago, Jimbo said: Aren't they just the same pastries you can get in the Windjammer? Maybe the same pastries but very different atmosphere. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted October 26, 2022 #44 Share Posted October 26, 2022 21 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said: Maybe the same pastries but very different atmosphere. Not an atmosphere we would like on Icon, to small and no windows. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted October 26, 2022 #45 Share Posted October 26, 2022 12 minutes ago, Jimbo said: Not an atmosphere we would like on Icon, to small and no windows. Ok, if you are restricting your comments to the location on Icon. The V/F class ships as well as Allure, have very nice lounges and those Windjammer pastries taste better in there than they do with the crowds of the WJ. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisingwithmoni Posted October 26, 2022 #46 Share Posted October 26, 2022 (edited) I can also see royal phasing out diamond, or making it more difficult to becoming diamond status. I enjoy having my apps and drinks in the lounge, and building a relationship with my server that I will see every day. My next cruise will put me at diamond + and although I don’t spend too much time in the Lounge (more often it is a bit of an older crowd) it is something I look forward to. The concierge as someone mentioned before is an awesome amenity to the lounge, having someone to book your show reservations, give you a tender 1 pass so you can be the first off the ship, etc saves a lot of time from waiting at the front desk - and you are assured you will receive the best service. I haven’t been on any of the new ships recently, but I am interested in seeing the difference. We just cruised on the independence which has a beautiful diamond lounge with view and outside patio area. For those of you who mentioned coffee in the lounge in the morning - this is also something I look forward to. Just a little FYI - On my recent cruise the coffee machine in the lounge was out of order. I asked the concierge about it and she gave us a punch card which allowed us to get lattes/coffees downstairs from the Starbucks free of charge. The out of order may have worked in our favor! I took a break from cruising for a couple years and just came back, but I noticed royal is absolutely catering to suite guests more than their c&a guests these days. Suite only lounges, pool decks, etc. The suite areas also used to be accessible to Diamond members (special areas of the pool decks, reserved seating in the ice shows, pre-boarding to get on the boat) everything I noticed this past cruise was suite guests or pinnacle. Don’t get me wrong, pinnacle deserves it! Edited October 26, 2022 by Cruisingwithmoni 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HicksRA Posted October 26, 2022 #47 Share Posted October 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Cruisingwithmoni said: I can also see royal phasing out diamond, or making it more difficult to becoming diamond status. I enjoy having my apps and drinks in the lounge, and building a relationship with my server that I will see every day. My next cruise will put me at diamond + and although I don’t spend too much time in the Lounge (more often it is a bit of an older crowd) it is something I look forward to. The concierge as someone mentioned before is an awesome amenity to the lounge, having someone to book your show reservations, give you a tender 1 pass so you can be the first off the ship, etc saves a lot of time from waiting at the front desk - and you are assured you will receive the best service. I haven’t been on any of the new ships recently, but I am interested in seeing the difference. We just cruised on the independence which has a beautiful diamond lounge with view and outside patio area. For those of you who mentioned coffee in the lounge in the morning - this is also something I look forward to. Just a little FYI - On my recent cruise the coffee machine in the lounge was out of order. I asked the concierge about it and she gave us a punch card which allowed us to get lattes/coffees downstairs from the Starbucks free of charge. The out of order may have worked in our favor! I took a break from cruising for a couple years and just came back, but I noticed royal is absolutely catering to suite guests more than their c&a guests these days. Suite only lounges, pool decks, etc. The suite areas also used to be accessible to Diamond members (special areas of the pool decks, reserved seating in the ice shows, pre-boarding to get on the boat) everything I noticed this past cruise was suite guests or pinnacle. Don’t get me wrong, pinnacle deserves it! Don’t you think Royal should do more catering to suite guests since they paid upwards of 4 to 5 times as much as inside guests?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted October 26, 2022 #48 Share Posted October 26, 2022 55 minutes ago, HicksRA said: Don’t you think Royal should do more catering to suite guests since they paid upwards of 4 to 5 times as much as inside guests?? Same argument that had been going in for years. The amount spent on a specific sailing vs. the amount spent over time as one moves up the C&A ladder. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taglovestocruise Posted October 26, 2022 #49 Share Posted October 26, 2022 14 hours ago, Spurschick said: Which ships? Navigator Jan 2022, DL only for Pinnacles, D and D+ were sent to Cosmopolitan Club Navigator March 2022 full every night Ovation Sep 2022 so full they opened the doors to the music hall for overflow Quantum Oct 2022 so full overflow in Music Hall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurschick Posted October 26, 2022 #50 Share Posted October 26, 2022 (edited) 23 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said: Navigator Jan 2022, DL only for Pinnacles, D and D+ were sent to Cosmopolitan Club Navigator March 2022 full every night Ovation Sep 2022 so full they opened the doors to the music hall for overflow Quantum Oct 2022 so full overflow in Music Hall Seems like most issues with crowding are on quantum class ships and will also be influenced by itinerary and demographics on board. we have sailed Oasis, Brilliance, Harmony twice, Mariner, Explorer and Indy since December. Not had any issues on any of them - guess we were either lucky or just got our timing right. YMMV Edited October 26, 2022 by Spurschick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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