OceanCruise

On another thread I posted this Celebrity link I received in a Celebrity email regarding my upcoming Sky Suite reservation. It is a Celebrity blog (August 2023) that tells all the amazing services that the Sky Suite butler will do to pamper guests (that they actually used to do before the staffing change) but, according to reports on Cruise Critic, in reality isn't happening anymore https://www.celebritycruises.com/blog/cruise-butler

Also be aware an 18 or 20% gratuity is automatically added onto the bill. You can add extra if you feel the service warrants it. Also, a 75-minute massage is more like 60 minutes in my experience because they will leave you alone a bit longer than necessary while you dress/undress in the room.

So much for that "enhanced experience" Celebrity promised. The linked article posted in the original post (about all the many amazing things the Retreat butler will do for us) is truly false advertising that Celebrity is continuing to send to Sky Suite cruisers.

I thought Move Up offers were only available after final payment date. I got the offer before that so I was wondering if they changed the program. I also wanted to point out the ridiculousness of the move-up offer which would cost me more with the minimum bid than if I just booked that cruise new today on the website. It is a reminder that Move-Up isn't necessarily the bargain people may think it is.

I am Elite Plus sailing on Silhouette 4 nights March 21 in a Sunset Sky Suite. Final payment is January 6 but I paid off the balance last week. I just got an email with an outrageous move-up offer that would cost me more in the end than if I booked on the Celebrity website now. Move up offer minimum bids were $3000 pp for PH Suite, $2000 pp for Royal Suite, $1000 pp Horizon Suite and $500 pp for Celebrity Suite. Again, this is for only 4 nights and there are 6 Royal Suites available plus several of the others except PH. I thought Move-Up offers were only available after the standard final payment date. Have others experienced this?

No one is on it when they move it. It moved up and down only once or twice a day at random times when we had a Magic Carpet Suite.

What was the exact date Celebrity eliminated the dedicated Sky Suite Butlers? The blog article was written August 14, 2023 which I believe is somewhat close to that time so it is very disingenuous.

The email was not sent from a specific person and it just linked to the preferences survey. Although it contained my booking info, it just looked auto-generated and did not mention any contact info if I had further questions.

I got an email from Celebrity today regarding my upcoming March 2024 cruise in a Sky Suite. It had the standard questionnaire asking for my preferences (such as pillow type, any extra hangers, wine, etc.) and included this link as to what amenities I can expect on this cruise for my Sky Suite experience. As the fallout from loss of a dedicated butler is well documented on this forum, I do think you will find this article Celebrity sent me to be ---let's say---quite interesting. It is quite specific. I read it and thought, "Is Celebrity crazy?" They really do think we are stupid. https://www.celebritycruises.com/blog/cruise-butler

Many of us have been stuck with our 2024 Sky Suite bookings because of the stiff penalties to cancel with NRD (of course Celebrity also had increased these deposit amounts just before the butler changes) so that may skew current occupancy statistics. It will be interesting to see how Celebrity does with Sky Suite bookings later in 2024 when many of us "obedient customers" are now looking at other options for future vacations. Also, I don't have to actually be on the cruise to know that going from 3 employees servicing my Sky Suite daily (room steward, assistant room steward, dedicated butler) to only one person (glorified room steward with increased workload) will diminish, not enhance my experience. Will I enjoy the cruise---probably. However, I am annoyed that I am paying a premium for the lesser service that I would get in a much cheaper balcony or Aqua Class room and not getting what was advertised at booking. A butler can provide much more than just bringing snacks and managing laundry. On a prior Celebrity cruise, when my spouse was injured on a ship's excursion, our Sky Suite butler made sure we were well-cared for by bringing food and ice packs to the room, getting medical supplies, arranging wheelchair transport, and checking in frequently.

I am insulted by this response Celebrity sent me today in regard to an email I wrote to them well over a month ago. It would have been better if they had not responded at all because, IMO, this indicates they think their customers are stupid. I had written to the executive office explaining I am Elite Plus with Celebrity and normally sail in Sky Suites. I stated I have always enjoyed the pampering, great service in Sky Suites but am now concerned about my upcoming two cruises in Sky Suites due to the butler staff changes implemented after I had booked and no option to cancel without penalty. I asked several specific questions, such as: Will the Retreat Hosts now have fewer rooms to attend to due to their additional duties for Sky Suite passengers? Is Celebrity increasing the number of Retreat Concierges to accommodate the increased demand on them? I also noted I am concerned about the many poor reviews on Cruise Critic from cruisers who never even met the Head Butler and apparent decline in service reported. I asked specifically how these staff changes will create an elevated experience, which Celebrity had expressed as justification for removing the dedicated butlers. I received this response today (I left off the person's name): Thank you for contacting the Executive Office of Celebrity Cruises. Your recent email to Ms. Hodges was forwarded to my attention, and I am glad to have this opportunity to follow up with you on her behalf. I am grateful that you took the time to share your concerns regarding the recent changes and updates made to Celebrity Cruise. Please be assured that these changes were implemented to enhance the cruising experience for our guests, particularly with regard to the increasing popularity of Celebrity Cruises Suite amenities." Again, thank you for reaching out to us. While I understand the executive assistants have to support company policy, this did not show any appreciation for my loyalty and made no attempt to answer my questions or alleviate my concerns. It actually made me more pi**ed off because it reinforces they really don't care about their customer base.

Best practices on a cruise would be to wash hands and avoid touching your face after handling menus or buffet serving utensils, touching elevator buttons, holding handrails, opening doors, etc. People need to be aware that the Florida Surgeon General (and many other physicians) are actually advising against getting the Covid booster for individuals under 65 due to the documented risk of myocarditis and pericarditis. Use discernment if you are older than that. My observation is also different in that many of my friends and relatives (of all ages) who are fully vaccinated have still gotten Covid multiple times, even having severe symptoms. There are many reports on cruise critic of fully-vaccinated people getting Covid when on a recent cruise. What I do find interesting is that I personally do not know anyone unvaccinated who actually got Covid a second time after having the original strain. Maybe natural immunity is working as it should.

I am a proponent of just living one's life. If you think of all the "what ifs" you will never go anywhere. Just use common sense, turn off the TV (main stream media tends to foster a lot of hype, fear and division), take information with a grain of salt and use discernment--- realize that most fear-mongering events never come to fruition (remember Y2K?) plus 50% of "the science" generally ends up being wrong at a later date (for example, lobotomies, FDA-approved drugs later recalled due to dangerous side effects, smoking previously advertised as being good for one's health, Oxycontin supposedly not addictive, catastrophic sea levels slated to occur 20 years ago, etc., etc.). If you keep ruminating on all the negatives and fear, you will not be able to relax and enjoy your vacation. I do not remember who said, "anxiety is not facts but just thoughts in your head" but I think that is a wise statement.

This is from the Celebrity website today under a mock booking for one of our 2024 cruises on Silhouette. Obviously, Celebrity is not being consistent with their misleading marketing. The verbiage and listed benefits for Sky Suites are very different depending on where you look on the website and IMO this is appalling and shows little regard for the consumer. This Silhouette amenities list indicates bottled water is provided only upon embarkation day and is specific about room service. I do feel bad for passengers not on Cruise Critic that are in for a big surprise with the downgraded services. Sunset Sky Suite The perfectly designed Sky Suite offers a blend of expansive views and intimate luxury. These large suites feature a king-sized* bed with our signature eXhale® bedding and a spacious, private veranda. Be welcomed with a bottle of sparkling wine and enjoy the luxury of your butler throughout your stay. Plus, enjoy access to Luminae and The Retreat Lounge, exclusive for guests of The Retreat. Stateroom amenities Sleeps 2-4. Studio, 1 bathroom. 366-379+ sqft Large studio suite with seating area and large bathroom Aft-facing spacious balcony Mesmerizing views as the horizon drifts away Access to The Retreat (The Retreat Lounge, and Luminae) Spacious Veranda with lounge seating Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors King sized* mattress & eXhale® bedding Butler Priority check-in when boarding the ship Priority debarkation & tender service in all ports of call Onboard Destination Concierge Reserved theater seating on evening chic nights Luminae room service breakfast menu Complimentary 24-hour in-room dining upon request Welcome bottle of Sparkling Wine Daily delivery of delectable delights Complimentary in-suite specialty coffee Afternoon tea hosted in The Retreat Lounge Frette Premium Terry Bathrobes, Towels, & Slippers Pillow selection upon request Co Bigelow Premium Bathroom Products Bottled water on embarkation day Complimentary use of umbrella and binoculars Complimentary shoeshine service Interactive television system Hair dryer

This is some of the current verbiage on Celebrity website for the Beyond Sky Suite that I booked for 2024. I highlighted some of the "questionable" areas as the marketing seems a bit disingenuous IMO given the current reports. Are any waters actually in the room and has anyone asked for "afternoon savories" and "fresh fruit" recently and received it? Are we supposed to call the concierge or room service for these? Does the in-suite dining include the Luminae and/or MDR menus for that day or just a very limited standard room service menu? "All our suites on Celebrity Beyond feature fresh color palettes and design details by Kelly Hoppen. As always, you’ll enjoy a butler, so you never have to lift a finger, along with luxurious amenities like eXhale® bedding, king-sized CashmereTM mattresses designed exclusively for Celebrity, and plush Frette robes and slippers—just to name a few. And now, when you book The Retreat, every guest in your suite receives premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, tips, and an onboard credit to use however you choose. We’ve thought of every detail, so you don’t have to think about a thing." Exclusive services and amenities Daily delivery of afternoon savories upon request Afternoon tea event hosted in The Retreat Lounge Complimentary 24-hour room service Complimentary use of umbrella and binoculars Complimentary shoe shine service World-class cuisine Exclusive access to Luminae at The Retreat Dine in the main restaurant Complimentary 24-hour in-suite dining, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner Thoughtfully curated amenities Complimentary welcome bottle of sparkling wine Complimentary in-suite specialty coffees and bottled water. Fresh fruit delivered upon request

I totally agree with you but this is from the Celebrity website: "Tips If you’re wondering when and how much to tip your dedicated service team — don’t. We’ve got it covered. As a guest of The Retreat, all your gratuities are prepaid."

Do you typically sail in an inside room (at perhaps $100 per night double occupancy) or in a suite at $1000++ nightly? Perspective and perceived value matters.

A mudslide! It is a frozen drink that is like an alcohol milkshake and contains Baileys, vodka, Kalua, an "ice cream" mix and chocolate syrup. Can only get it at the bars with a blender.

I agree. We are Elite Plus and have 2 cruises booked in 2024 in a Sky Suite. We had agonized over even booking at the current inflated rates but did so (prior to the recent changes) because we had missed out on several years of cruising due to Covid. We had always loved Celebrity's consistent, premium product we received over the past 20+ years and felt secure in booking knowing we could easily change our cruises to another itinerary/better deal with only a $100pp change fee which we were willing to risk. Now, instead of being a Celebrity cheerleader and feeling my typical excitement and anticipation for our upcoming 2 cruises, I instead feel buyer's remorse because the product is now diminished significantly after the fact. It sounds dramatic but I feel taken advantage of and can almost hear Celebrity saying "ha, ha sucker!". I am especially upset because we are now basically "stuck" taking 2 Celebrity cruises (given who knows what else they may change or take away next at whim) unless we want to completely lose our large deposits (Of course that is why the refundable deposit is so high as a deterrent to that strategy). How could Celebrity be so tone-deaf as to allow themselves to go so quickly from being a beloved "luxury" cruise line to alienating their loyal base and being referred to as Motel 6 in Cruise Critic threads? Did they not learn from the Bud Light fiasco that once a reputation is tarnished it is hard to recover? As a shareholder, that also concerns me. Given the trajectory of the increasing Celebrity prices and loss of amenities, add me to the list of those who will be looking at other cruise lines or luxury land-based vacations after this.

We all need to fill out those mid-cruise comment cards and post-cruise surveys with our dissatisfaction of the specific Sky Suite changes that negatively impact our cruise (making it clear it is not an individual staff person's fault but rather Celebrity policy). The Food and Beverage Managers and Hotel Managers take that feedback seriously and hopefully are in a position to communicate to Corporate.

We usually cruise in Sky Suites and remember when these had a Room Steward, Assistant Room Steward AND a Butler. We are not demanding people but appreciated never having to waste time hunting down staff to ask for a simple snack later in the day, handle the laundry (and find the lost item), answer a question, or arrange for room service breakfast the next day (always presented with a smile and Butler insisting he pour the coffee for us). We would always see one of the assigned room staff in the hall whenever we went too and from our room and it was super easy to make requests such as for a maintenance issue, needing more towels, obtaining a pen/paper, or asking for an extra daily activity program at turndown. In the "good old days" we didn't have to wait on hold on the phone (hoping our request would actually be fulfilled and in a timely manner), schlep to the Retreat lounge or keep searching up and down the hallway for staff. We are paying premium prices for EASY and that is what I want on a vacation. Plus, we appreciated the Butler surprising us with flowers, an unexpected snack, asking us if we wanted afternoon tea in the room, etc. that made us feel pampered. Now there is just an overworked glorified Room Steward (costing us triple the gratuities and more than double the cruise price as previously) and the illusion of a Retreat Butler.

There was a limit (I think $250 pp in five $50 increments) but I was under the limit and my spouse had not purchased any casino credit yet.

I just checked my two booked 2024 cruises and there is no longer an option to pre-purchase casino credits in my cruise planner. I already had purchased some for both cruises with OBC awhile ago that included the pre-purchase 10% bonus. I certainly hope Celebrity will still honor that.

I always wonder how many people actually use the minibar and pay the very inflated prices for items, especially when so many cruisers have a drink package. Is it really that profitable for the cruiseline, given the staff time needed to fill, replenish and bill for it? Do passengers truly want this convenience so they don't have to walk to a bar? Do the cruiselines "prey" on people (or kids) who consume the items by mistake, not realizing they have to pay for it? I also always wonder how long the items have been there and end up being expired.

Although tips will go to the "Retreat team" according to the website, it seems to me that it will now be awkward not to tip the random team member who delivers our room service breakfast or coffee/snacks in the afternoon even though this service is a perk of the Sky Suite. We would always tip our dedicated butler and room steward extra at the end of the cruise but will the random room service delivery people expect an additional tip each time we get something delivered?