Diamond Plus - No More Concierge/Suite Lounge Access

[island lady]

1 minute ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Correct.  Free Internet only comes with full suites on Oasis and Quantum class.  

 

 

Unless you are Pinnacle...then it works on all ships, no matter what cabin booked.  😉 

[John&LaLa]

9 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

I am waiting for the release of Australia, NZ, SP, Hawaii  24/25 season.   Going to try again (for the 3rd time 😖)  to book that route.  

 

 

I've already got that booked for spring 2024😎

[Lady Hudson]

Boarded Enchantment 12/1.  First cruise D+ not allowed in CL.  D+s were told this came from corporate.  (I am Pinn and CL was basically empty the whole cruise.  25 Pinns onboard.). D+ friend told me that was no early disembarkation for D+ either.  Luggage tags were according to deck level.  Katherine 

Edited December 15, 2022 by Lady Hudson

[midwife1021]

On 12/14/2022 at 2:22 PM, island lady said:

 

If you are not at least Diamond or above...you would have no access to the Diamond Lounge...full suite or not.  

 

D and D+ do not have access to the Concierge Lounge.  Only full suites, and occasionally Pinnacles, but only if numbers are low.  

Yeah, I know that. I'm saying let D & D+ keep their space (DL), and let the full suites have their space (regardless of loyalty tier).  If you happen to be a D, D+ or PC and you also have a full suite then you can access the whole assortment of exclusive lounges.  

[sjb317]

7 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I would have gone back to the LA and informed them that they were incorrect and see if they fixed it.  Also would have questioned the Diamond Concierge.  

We did but there was no fix, we gave up. I am not spending my vacation chasing a latte.😂

 

Sherri🙂

[jclinard]

I just made Diamond Plus last year, with an extra effort to sail with them.  I'm not so much concerned about the impact of this perk being dropped as much as what it implies for the future.  If they are moving the goalposts like this once they have too many passengers in a category, I'm not going to be making RCI my brand of choice to get to 340 points.  My gut tells me that they'll pull back on the single supplement benefit and cheers / meal with officers as I approach that mark, and kick them to Pinnacle.

 

Same with Pinnacle.  I expect them to drop benefits as more people hit that mark. 

 

I'm not going to be Charlie Brown trying to kick the football if RCI is going to be Lucy yanking it away.  I'll look into doing more sailings on other lines.

 

 

 

On 12/12/2022 at 11:05 AM, Colibri51 said:

Not happy that Diamond Plus can no longer access the Concierge Lounge because of too many top tier members. If that is true and Diamond Plus can no longer access the Concierge lounge due to high volume, then why not prohibit Pinnacle to access the Diamond lounge as that also is impacted by large numbers of top tier members.  

 

[Spurschick]

On 12/12/2022 at 1:14 PM, TBurr said:

The latest in RCCL downgrading its produced. First they no longer have the evening cabin cleaning so they can fire half their housekeeping staff, now their elite members lose another benefit.  I think they are learning from the airlines how to alienate their best customers. I recently sailed on Celebrity and found a far superior service, food, product and as an Elite member there they offered a great benefit.  I suggest you consider leaving RCCL since they have left us, and going to Celebrity. I am done with RCCL since they are done with me.

I guess I must have had a magical fairy on my cruise last week as I certainly had cabin cleaning every night and morning (unless I was just completely drunk and imagining it) 

 

[Spurschick]

On 12/12/2022 at 6:21 PM, George C said:

Celebrity Edge class gives suite passengers a huge edge over Rccl . Outdoor retreat with pool and bar are fantastic.

We are trying retreat for first time next month so hoping it lives up to expectations. MSC YC far exceeds RC suite class

[Spurschick]

On 12/13/2022 at 10:10 AM, Starry Eyes said:

Well, I think they should name the 340 (or 350) point level.  They are already giving added benefits at that level.  I don’t think they should change the threshold for D+ from 175 to 350 as trburks suggested.  Doing so would either (a) send a lot current D+’s back to D (creating resentment) or (b) grandfather those current D+, so soon a bunch of D’s would have more points than many of the grandfathered D+’s they meet (creating resentment).

What they should stop doing is automatically making kids D+ on their first sailing because they are automatically grandfathered in to their parents status. Yes I understand that if traveling with parents they should be entitled to the same status as their parents on that sailing whilst they are minors but once they stop being minors they should be on their own tier status based on what they have sailed.

 

I am sure there are plenty of D + status cruisers out there that have only sailed 1 cruise.

 

(I.e. they have their own earned status from zero but can share benefits on cruises with their parents whilst minors)

Edited December 16, 2022 by Spurschick

[Spurschick]

10 hours ago, Big_G said:

 

We’re D+ so we could always got to the D Lounge. It’s just that our last cruise was on Serenade in a GS and we still had to buy internet and a drink package. We’ve been full suite cruisers for years but some times we end up in the D Lounge anyway depending on the ship. We’d still sail full suite on the Oasis Class.

It’s really frustrating that basic things like internet package with full suite can’t be rolled out fleet wide.

 

Celebrity are expanding their retreat class fleet wide so I don’t get wht Royal can’t do the same.

[Spurschick]

16 hours ago, molly361 said:

The Adventure is coming to Pc at the end of next year

Yay booked it today!😉

[Spurschick]

On 12/14/2022 at 3:13 PM, Starry Eyes said:

That’s a mouthful.  Plus, some of us hope they name that 340-350 level someday.  They could call it “over 80 club”  That might reduce the crowd, too🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thanks for aging me over 3 decades lol 😂 

[Spurschick]

15 hours ago, Daghis said:

 

Now that it's just the two of us, we acknowledge that all of the amenities onboard (and looking at the fancy infographic they have of Icon of the Seas onboard, that's being taken to 11) are just not what we're looking forward to at this point in our life. We do have a couple more RCI cruises booked, but we have decided to start venturing over to Celebrity (thanks, reciprocal status!) sometime next year.

Agreed and you should also look at MSC YC (their casino program is very good as well 😉)

[island lady]

16 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I've already got that booked for spring 2024😎

 

LOL...showoff!  😄  We had it previously booked with Radiance, which was then cancelled to send her to NO.  😞   That following the first one to that cancelled due to Covid.  

 

Not sure third time is the charm...but will wait to see what they offer for Winter of 2024.  

[island lady]

9 hours ago, midwife1021 said:

Yeah, I know that. I'm saying let D & D+ keep their space (DL), and let the full suites have their space (regardless of loyalty tier).  If you happen to be a D, D+ or PC and you also have a full suite then you can access the whole assortment of exclusive lounges.  

 

That is they way it is now on most ships.  Nothing new.  I noticed you did not mention Pinnies.  😉 

 

I think that whole idea of lounge habitation went out with the introduction of vouchers.  We are two seats that go unoccupied now in any happy hour lounge, preferring to use the vouchers at any bar, at any time.  

[nelblu]

6 hours ago, Spurschick said:

I guess I must have had a magical fairy on my cruise last week as I certainly had cabin cleaning every night and morning (unless I was just completely drunk and imagining it) 

 

Same on my Oasis sail. 

[island lady]

Same currently on Serenade, and last month on Wonder.   Twice daily.  

[Big_G]

14 hours ago, Spurschick said:

It’s really frustrating that basic things like internet package with full suite can’t be rolled out fleet wide.

 

Celebrity are expanding their retreat class fleet wide so I don’t get wht Royal can’t do the same.

We're on Apex right now in a Sky Suite. Drinks, internet, and butler are all included and I believe every ship has Luminae which is the suite dining room. Almost forgot to mention the suite lounge and sundeck also. It's called the Retreat.

Edited December 16, 2022 by Big_G

[BND]

On 12/15/2022 at 4:04 PM, Lady Hudson said:

Boarded Enchantment 12/1.  First cruise D+ not allowed in CL.  D+s were told this came from corporate.  (I am Pinn and CL was basically empty the whole cruise.  25 Pinns onboard.). D+ friend told me that was no early disembarkation for D+ either.  Luggage tags were according to deck level.  Katherine 

EN's CL isn't as utilized as the DL is.  Our experiences on EN is that at most a few suite guests use it and occasionally D+ and Pinns.  But, we've met many D+ and Pinns in the DL.  Didn't they have the Pinns setup in the VCL on the main level?  I know for our 3 EN cruises this year, they had a section in the VCL, front and center roped off for Pinns, including appetizers.   Not that there were ever very many there.

Edited December 16, 2022 by BND

[Lady Hudson]

2 hours ago, BND said:

EN's CL isn't as utilized as the DL is.  Our experiences on EN is that at most a few suite guests use it and occasionally D+ and Pinns.  But, we've met many D+ and Pinns in the DL.  Didn't they have the Pinns setup in the VCL on the main level?  I know for our 3 EN cruises this year, they had a section in the VCL, front and center roped off for Pinns, including appetizers.   Not that there were ever very many there.

Don’t think there is any need for separate area for Pinns on EN —relatively small number of suites plus now no D+ in CL.  My experience — February separate area in VCL (part of Covid protocol, I believe) June and December no separate area for Pinns.  Katherine 

Edited December 16, 2022 by Lady Hudson

[Another_Critic]

On 12/15/2022 at 8:42 AM, island lady said:

Yes, I was...but thanks!  

 

Will be our first time on VY, and still have yet to meet NV and AD.   Just not convenient to ports we use...so far anyway.  😉 

Sailed AD Sept 2019 for 10 nights one way Cape Liberty to Quebec City (with an overnight).

Sailed VY Sept 2022 for 14 nights one way Copenhagen to Boston.

Haven't sailed EX, NV, or MA.  I should have booked EX when it sailed from Cape Liberty.

[Oceansaway17]

On 12/15/2022 at 3:22 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

I've already got that booked for spring 2024😎

so how did the Wonder go for you in prep for WC on serenade?

I was surprised you did not post photos of dedication ceremony.

Have you prepared your cute doggie for the WC and whatever leg you are on?

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

so how did the Wonder go for you in prep for WC on serenade?

I was surprised you did not post photos of dedication ceremony.

Have you prepared your cute doggie for the WC and whatever leg you are on?

 

Met a lot of my fellow cruisers, that was the best part. 

 

Bell is set up for 5 months. Laura is only doing leg 1 And 2

[BND]

3 hours ago, Lady Hudson said:

Don’t think there is any need for separate area for Pinns on EN —relatively small number of suites plus now no D+ in CL.  My experience — February separate area in VCL (part of Covid protocol, I believe) June and December no separate area for Pinns.  Katherine 

In April there were something like 27 Pinns on the 12 night and 15 or so on the 8 night and both had the separate Pinn area.  What was really funny was on the 6 night Bermuda in July, we as D+ had the third highest point count onboard (435 or so) and there were only 2 Pinns onboard so we got to go onstage at the Top Tier event as the top three cruisers and get our photo (group) taken with the Captain.  So, yeah, some itineraries have very few.   12 night always has more than other itineraries.  So, they did have the separate area set up on the 8 and 12 night but I don't remember it on the 6 night.  We've gone out of Baltimore on RCI 12 times and the longer itineraries always have the most.

[nelblu]

On 12/15/2022 at 11:06 PM, jclinard said:

I just made Diamond Plus last year, with an extra effort to sail with them.  I'm not so much concerned about the impact of this perk being dropped as much as what it implies for the future.  If they are moving the goalposts like this once they have too many passengers 

 

 

 

 

That specific goal post was moved many moons ago.  Now Royals is putting it in writing.