Sad to say the capacity issues at the lounge and the breakfast are ongoing and it seems that the management is completely absent. The hard product feels high quality and relatively nice (if a bit bland) so hopefully they can find a way to fix the crowding issues. For now I would avoid weekends and any other day that it may be busy.
We were there for two nights, checking out today. On the first night (Friday) the lounge was very busy, but there were always a few tables free. Breakfast was basically the same the next morning.
Neither the lounge nor the breakfast were particularly good. The lounge had no Japanese sake/shochu and only a small amount of food on offer. And to echo previous comments about the lounge host -- he did not seem at all acquainted with the standards and norms of Japanese hospitality. He does have a particular way with his clipboard. (And on the first night he was doting on a big group of young American guys for a long period of time rather than doing anything useful.) The breakfast offer was a bit better, but the presentation felt a bit disjointed trying to do Western and Japanese while also nodding to Korean and Chinese visitors -- and we were only offered drip coffee?
Last night (Saturday) was a mess at the lounge. Tried to have a quick drink before dinner at 6:30pm and was told we would be #15 in line. Maybe we should have went on the list for AFTER dinner? Now this morning (after being told that there may be a wait after 8am) we go down for breakfast at 7:30am and immediately get back in the elevator as there's a line that runs from the restaurant over to (and around) the elevator lobby. Aside from the fact that the line is so long, is there no better place to have people wait?
We've been Marriott Plat (and Hyatt Glob) for 10+ years and have traveled extensively in Japan and around the world and have never seen anything quite like it -- especially in Japan. And I don't believe the hotel is even that full.
Maybe it feels worse because we came directly from the Sheraton Kagoshima which felt much better run overall. On every comparison it felt like a more premium property. And they offered a web page that listed how busy each hotel amenity was. The only thing better about the Nagasaki Marriott is the location at the station.
Bottom line is that they need to stop selling club access rooms and rates including breakfast if they can't accommodate the demand -- or put in place some actual solutions. Offer a light breakfast in the lounge as an option when it's busy. Allow those with breakfast included to order room service. Extend the lounge benefit to some offer at the bar (even a single drink voucher if you're turned away?). Enforce the (already awkward) 60 minute limit in the lounge. Put up a website to share how busy each amenity is. By not finding solutions, they are actively denying benefits and a shrug and a "sorry" feels very un-Japanese.
Missing breakfast in particular leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. My last memory of our stay in Nagasaki will be rushing out to the train early to gather up some cold station food for our 5 hour train journey.
In terms of general updates, lounge hours are currently:
Cocktails/hors d'oeuvres: 4:00pm to 7:00pm (last refill for hot dishes at 6:30p)
Cordials/dessert: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Family hours are 4:00pm to 5:30pm (we do not have children with us and we were advised to go after 5:30p)