Michael Bayley looking for feedback D/D+ and suite lounges

[Pattycruise]

I follow him on Facebook.  Not usually a lot posted but I did just see this. 

[OCSC Mike]

I haven't seen a crowded DL since vouchers replaced happy hour.

[smokeybandit]

I've never ever seen a crowded suite/concierge lounge except for the first and last night of a cruise. About half the time it's actually rather dead.

[CrznTxn]

On our Galveston cruises the Diamond Lounge on the Oasis class ship will be crowded just before dinner but all the other times not so much. I like to work there during the day as there are outlets available and so few people. There is not much seating so 30 people will occupy the entire space.

On the Voyager class ships the Lounge is much less crowded in that is there are fewer D's. D+'s and Pinnacles. Never had an issue on those ships.

[Mike n Ky]

Once I hit D+ January 2024 freeze the program!!

[OCSC Mike]

3 minutes ago, Mike n Ky said:

Once I hit D+ January 2024 freeze the program!!

Hey, Mid-March for me, don't be greedy!

[F1guynz]

Last time we on Quantum the suite lounge had about 6 people in it each night.

I can imagine in the U.S. where cruising is more available that there could be access issues at times depending on the sailing.

With the drinks vouchers part of everyday life for C&A, the main reason for the Diamond lounge is socialising with other C&A members so instead. maybe dedicate a larger lounge/bar area with snacks circulating.

As it does not appear to be an issue on all sailings it makes it more complex as you end p with layered rules.

[Ditchdoc]

Other than the perception the DL is "exclusive", it really does not have that much to offer. I would go by there to get coffee around 5am because there is almost no where to get coffee at that time in the morning. Even then, the coffee machine in the DL would not be stocked or out of order on more than one occasion.

[OCSC Mike]

32 minutes ago, Ditchdoc said:

Other than the perception the DL is "exclusive", it really does not have that much to offer. I would go by there to get coffee around 5am because there is almost no where to get coffee at that time in the morning. Even then, the coffee machine in the DL would not be stocked or out of order on more than one occasion.

This varies by ship. It has always been a pet peeve of mine since I am also up early (maybe not 5am, but often by 6am).

Years ago, the coffee machine was almost always available. On some ships, like you said, it's not prepped until closer to 7am. On others, however, no problem getting coffee earlier. For example, Wonder was always available in June and has wonderful new machines.

The coffee machine is a big perk to me as I drink cheap stuff at home and enjoy cappuccino while cruising.

I still enjoy the happy hour snacks before dinner but they also vary by ship. They were awful on Indy last year but excellent on Wonder this June. It's also nice to be able to grab some breakfast items to go with coffee if I'm there later in the morning although those can be found elsewhere.

[RafaellaCG]

30 minutes ago, Ditchdoc said:

Other than the perception the DL is "exclusive", it really does not have that much to offer. I would go by there to get coffee around 5am because there is almost no where to get coffee at that time in the morning. Even then, the coffee machine in the DL would not be stocked or out of order on more than one occasion.

This was one of my big problems on my cruise. An ocean sunrise is stunning, but I want a coffee to sip while I watch! I would have been willing to spring for a specialty coffee if only there was something!

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, RafaellaCG said:

This was one of my big problems on my cruise. An ocean sunrise is stunning, but I want a coffee to sip while I watch! I would have been willing to spring for a specialty coffee if only there was something!

Cafe Promenade should be open for specialty coffee as early as you want if you're willing to pay for it (and on Voyager class and above).

Agree about the sunrise. I'm up early getting coffee but my wife has always gone running (now she walks). Sometimes I grab my coffee and a pastry and go find a spot near the running track to enjoy the early morning hours and wave as she goes by, lol.

[monctonguy]

1 hour ago, Ditchdoc said:

Other than the perception the DL is "exclusive", it really does not have that much to offer. I would go by there to get coffee around 5am because there is almost no where to get coffee at that time in the morning. Even then, the coffee machine in the DL would not be stocked or out of order on more than one occasion.

Pretty bad when on a vacation, that its hard to find coffee??!!

 

Another example of Royal not being in tune with the basics of vacations for the average family.

 

cant find coffee in the morning...wont be able to eat at night unless you want to pay for pizza....it might seem small to Royal, but that's what people like me care about.

 

Michael Bayley needs to start getting back to the basics...fancy and expensive ships aren't that important when basic's aren't taken care of.

[Xaa]

5 minutes ago, monctonguy said:

 

cant find coffee in the morning...wont be able to eat at night unless you want to pay for pizza....it might seem small to Royal, but that's what people like me care about.

 

Michael Bayley needs to start getting back to the basics...fancy and expensive ships aren't that important when basic's aren't taken care of.

I agree with the spirit of your post, but only one of those is kind of true.  Coffee is always available at Cafe Promenade regardless of the condition of the Diamond Lounge.  The other is just a survey question and while I don't put it past these guys to enact that stupidity, it isn't any more real than the Axe Throwing venue.

[barjpoe]

It seems to be busy on the 1st night, right at the beginning of Happy hour (food) then it does get manageable. Sometimes it hard to get waited on. On some of the smaller ships (Radiance) they do spread into the Viking Crown lounge and that helps.

[monctonguy]

yeah...that ONE spot on a 17 deck cruise ship with 4000 ppl, and i have to trek to find some lukewarm coffee sitting in those containers for hours...its great!..lol

 

But I guess my overall take away from the OP is that, he needs to worry more about these little things...Royal is getting too big too quickly imho and the small things(and some bigger things) are starting to change and slip away. And not in a good way.

[JohnK6404]

Here's today's blog article by Allie on this topic:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/08/11/royal-caribbean-diamond-lounge-overcrowding

[teddy]

The cynical part of me says that upper management doesn’t see any immediate revenue being generated in lounge spaces.   

[Pattycruise]

3 minutes ago, teddy said:

The cynical part of me says that upper management doesn’t see any immediate revenue being generated in lounge spaces.   

Yep.  I'm wondering if it's not truly a survey to see alternative suggestions to "help out" D/D+ and Suites but a tool to take away the lounge.  Though the saner part of me says he would not post that directly on his page and screw his upp;er tier, he would have the minnions send it out in a survey.

 

[WAYNO]

[SweetPea]

Someone posted a comment on the article posted here about adding a status between D+/Pinnacle. Norwegian did that. It used to be 174/5 points to Platinum Plus and then 700 to Ambassador, but they added a new tier at 340 points, i think.  Norwegian's loyalty benefits really aren't that great and they did it. I can't imagine Royal wouldn't consider the same. 

[Gilley]

I like that idea of having another tier between D+ and Pinnacle.

[OCSC Mike]

12 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

But as crowded as it is at times, it still must be a draw for a lot of folks.

Interesting. Your experience is vastly different from mine. As I mentioned earlier, I haven't ever found it crowded once vouchers were implemented and unless we're being treated to a suite (rarely), I go for coffee every morning and pop in to check out the snacks almost every night.

[steverk]

20 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I haven't seen a crowded DL since vouchers replaced happy hour.

I have. It depends a lot on the sailing. Most of the time it is not crowded outside of happy hour. However,  I was on a panama canal cruise where they closed the viking crown lounge to accommodate all of the diamond members. It was still crowded during happy hour.

So it seems adequate for most sailings, but not for sailings with lots of diamond members. 

[OCSC Mike]

Just now, steverk said:

I have. It depends a lot on the sailing. Most of the time it is not crowded outside of happy hour. However,  I was on a panama canal cruise where they closed the viking crown lounge to accommodate all of the diamond members. It was still crowded during happy hour.

So it seems adequate for most sailings, but not for sailings with lots of diamond members. 

I was about to edit my post to say something along those lines. You're probably right.

I sail almost solely when school is out (wife is a teacher) so there are less D's and above. The top tier numbers I saw for multiple weeks on Wonder this summer were very very low.

[barjpoe]

1 hour ago, Gilley said:

I like that idea of having another tier between D+ and Pinnacle.

There are some extra perks once you reach 525 points. 'Cheers with the Officers' ;more beverage options; etc

[Cakemeister]

The biggest problems I have with the Diamond lounge:

1) Not open early enough. The Cafe Promenade is okay but I want the good stuff.

2) People hogging the good snacks. 

3) Location on some ships. I like the lounge on Liberty, it's way up at the top. Sailaway was great there.

[WAYNO]

[twangster]

Since Royal is aware the upper ranks have grown so much it should be clear there is merit for two coffee machines in the DL.  That way peak times would be served better and if one machine broke down there would still be one working.

[Pattycruise]

1 hour ago, SweetPea said:

Someone posted a comment on the article posted here about adding a status between D+/Pinnacle. Norwegian did that. It used to be 174/5 points to Platinum Plus and then 700 to Ambassador, but they added a new tier at 340 points, i think.  Norwegian's loyalty benefits really aren't that great and they did it. I can't imagine Royal wouldn't consider the same. 

There are small perks at the 340 level, I suppose renaming it as an actual level might make someone feel better, however drink wise-I wonder if they’d add a another voucher….which would mean adding one to pinnacle. Even if  a drink voucher is added I can’t imagine it being a “desirable” perk.  Personally I didn’t look at their perks as a reason to sail, until they offered double points on the restart after Covid. That plus the cheaper sailings during the  restart had me booking more sailings and realizing I could achieve pinnacle quicker and for less investment so it became a mission.

it would be interesting to see if they add tiers and what perks they will give.  I was disappointed to reach Diamond and find out Royal up took away any chance for a free upgrade -even when they were at reduced capacity sailing.  

[OCSC Mike]

4 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

Snacks are mentioned, but I only see them during happy hour.

That's the only time there have ever been snacks in the DL to my knowledge (not counting breakfast).

[OCSC Mike]

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

Since Royal is aware the upper ranks have grown so much it should be clear there is merit for two coffee machines in the DL.  That way peak times would be served better and if one machine broke down there would still be one working.

Wonder has two (and I agree).

[HeWhoWaits]

22 minutes ago, twangster said:

Since Royal is aware the upper ranks have grown so much it should be clear there is merit for two coffee machines in the DL.  That way peak times would be served better and if one machine broke down there would still be one working.

Stop being logical!

[monctonguy]

Whynot start charging for those things in the lounge.....great way to prevent overcrowding and cut back on costs. And everyone in there can obviously afford it!

 

Seems that's  their thought process when it comes to us commoners who aren't allowed in those lounges to  enjoy a slice of pizza....gonna have to have to start paying for it.

[TXcruzer]

4 hours ago, Xaa said:

I agree with the spirit of your post, but only one of those is kind of true.  Coffee is always available at Cafe Promenade regardless of the condition of the Diamond Lounge.  The other is just a survey question and while I don't put it past these guys to enact that stupidity, it isn't any more real than the Axe Throwing venue.

The people that have spent HUNDREDS of days aboard your ship should be expected to travel to another deck, for a cup of coffee that has been sitting in the carafe for hours??  

[TXcruzer]

Bailey needs to take the axe away from Jason Liberty; if he keeps chopping, they won't have to worry about crowding anywhere.

[Xaa]

7 minutes ago, TXcruzer said:

The people that have spent HUNDREDS of days aboard your ship should be expected to travel to another deck, for a cup of coffee that has been sitting in the carafe for hours??  

I don't know what deck they are starting on but presumably some travel to another deck already.

My post was a response to one that proffered "can't find coffee" and I said it was only kind of true because we all know where to find coffee.  

I'm not against Diamond lounge having better hours and being more stocked earlier.  There are few that beat me out of bed.  But I can find coffee.

[ChessE4]

1 hour ago, WAYNO said:

Again, we have different experiences.  Snacks are mentioned, but I only see them during happy hour.  The rest of the day or night, there is coffee and water, and nothing else.  And when the coffee machine malfunctions, there is only water.

And my most recent experiences are on Symphony and Navigator. 

On my three cruises last year I saw continental breakfast in the AM followed by fruit/cookies around lunchtime and then appetizers at happy hour.

I have found the DL on smaller ships (deck 6 aft) crowded at happy hour and occasionally in the AM, but for the most part I had no problem getting a quiet cup of cappuccino or coffee.  The coffee machine does break down, however, as you noted.

[monctonguy]

1 hour ago, TXcruzer said:

Bailey needs to take the axe away from Jason Liberty; if he keeps chopping, they won't have to worry about crowding anywhere.

THIS...100%.

2024 and 2025 are going to be bad years....economically....he's not doing himself any favors right now. Seems most ppl I talk about cruising to are talking about high costs, and lack of service, cuts in programs, entertainment etc...and talking about checking other cruise lines or consider cheaper vacations....

[OCSC Mike]

26 minutes ago, monctonguy said:

Seems most ppl I talk about cruising to are talking about high costs, and lack of service, cuts in programs, entertainment etc...and talking about checking other cruise lines or consider cheaper vacations....

I'm not most people and that's perfectly fine with me. Our experience in June on Wonder was amazing and as good or better than any past cruise. For full disclosure, we were in a GS so we didn't experience some aspects that are commonly receiving complaints (once a day cabin service, MDR food, etc.).

That said, I have 4 more cruises booked on Wonder, all in interiors, and I can't wait! I enjoyed every non-suite venue/experience in June and expect to have a great time as always. The food at the included venues was good and the service across the ship was just as good as we're used to.

To each his/her own...

[monctonguy]

I don't get your reply to my statement.

 

I haven't talked to you...if you are ok with high costs and lack of amenities and starting to pay for slices of pizza at night..then you are not MOST ppl(or not most ppl in my social economic status )

 

I wasn't talking about inside cabins on a  new ship...booked 4x and just got off a cruise in a GS......not my demographic nor the type of cruiser i was referring to but..