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October - November 2013
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  • Rulocal
    Day8

    A bit better

     November 5, 2013, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    The concierge lounge last night although full, was much better than the previous night.
    But most people are still not happy.
    We found the outcome of the management's meeting, and it was to carry on with the trial, as they said most of the feedback was positive.
    No one believed this and we asked for the hotel director to come and see us all in the concierge lounge.
    A couple of guests talked with him, but got the usual waffle about it being for our benefit and that it was an enhancement to our Crown and Anchor entitlements.
    I got to have a chat with him on my own and I asked him about the 'positive' feedback he'd received, and he did admit that it was only a couple of positives, but they needed to let the trial continue at least a little longer.
    He did take my name and room number, which either means he's getting back to me as he said he would, or he's marking my card lol.
    Tonight Sheila and i are going to give the concierge lounge a miss and try the Diamond lounge, which is our favourite lounge anyway.
    Also in the Diamond lounge you don't find people as concerned about cruise points and trying to outdo each other with how many points they've got and how many cruises they've done as you do in the concierge.
    Anyway day two and the sun is shining the seas are like a mill pond and it's 80°.
    Then I woke up and back to reality with grey skies high winds and very rough seas and about 4° outside.
    That's it for now, I'm getting back to Alex Fergusons latest autobiography.    Read more

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  • Rulocal
    Day6

    Phew!! got a seat on the first night

     November 3, 2013 in the United Kingdom ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    Last night in the concierge lounge most of our group managed to get a seat, but it was heaving and lots of people couldn't get in.
    We saw suite guests complaining, as they had no where else to go for their free drinks.
    Lots of diamond plus and pinnacle also couldn't get in.
    The diamond lounge on deck 14 was worse with the olive and twist lounge packed with people complaining.
    Even the bartender said he was overrun and the "trial" wasn't working.
    There will be a lot of people complaining at the pursers desk tomorrow.
    Anyway, we left the concierge lounge at 7.15 as a group of us were booked in Chops Grill for our BOGOF deal on the meals.
    We had a lovely night and once again met some lovely people.    Read more

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  • Rulocal
    Day3

    southampton port

     October 31, 2013 in the United Kingdom ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    Well from all the email contact I've had this week about this drinks thing on the Independence,
    it's going to be an interesting cruise.
    Everyone is up in arms, and some of us are planning to get hold of the guy running the trial, as soon as we get on board.
    So watch this space! !

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  • Rulocal
    Day1

    It's a smoke screen

     October 29, 2013 in the United Kingdom ⋅ 🌧 48 °F

    Recently been informed of Royal's new "improvement" to our Diamond facilities, in a pilot test, which we were informed of one week before sailing.
    The idea is that during the diamond drinks time we will be able to have up to a maximum of 3 drinks, each evening at any bar around the ship.
    All you have to do is show your sea pass.
    On the face of it, it sounds great, but it's a SMOKE SCREEN, the thing they don't tell you is that the overflow lounges for the diamond and concierge will not be used.
    As anyone who has done transatlantic cruises before will know the normal diamond and concierge lounges get extremely full and the overflow lounges are needed.
    Now instead of meeting friends of a similar level to you and relaxing in the overflow lounge, we will now be scattered around the ship perched on bar stools, drinking our MAXIMUM of 3 drinks, like naughty school children.
    This waffle about being able to enjoy the other bars on the ship during the diamond hours is just another Royal smoke screen, it is just a Revenue Dept, COST CUTTING exercise.
    I and a few others have already contacted Adam Goldsteins Miami office, and we've got the usual company spiel about it being an enhancement to our C&A amenities, in reality they have shortened the hours from 5pm - 8.30pm to 5pm - 8.00pm, half hours saved and with no overflow lounges available they will save a huge amount in free drinks.
    We have spent thousands of pounds (dollars) getting to our respective levels, and the majority of us enjoy meeting like minded cruise friends each evening in the diamond and concierge lounges.
    Well on this particular trip it's going to be impossible, because once the diamond/concierge lounges are full, which will be VERY quickly, we will have to spread ourselves around the ship, thus making the ships bars more crowded.    Read more

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