TeeRick

@Mick B We just booked the 2025 Canary Islands cruise on INDY May 12 2025. Is this the one you booked too?

Thanks everybody. We just booked a 2-BR Grand Suite on Indy for the 12-night Canary Islands in 2025. Booked mostly for the great itinerary. It is an aft-facing suite (6716) with a huge balcony. This one has a jacuzzi on the balcony too. Anybody stay in this suite or something similar on Freedom Class? I know Indy was "amplified" a few years ago so a more recent renovation. On the downside, the suite amenities are not great for the price (no CK, no free WiFi) like our Symphony cruise in a couple of months in a CL. It does have a SL. I guess we can buy a specialty dining package. Between the SL and our D+ level, we probably do not need a drink package.

We are in a CL suite on Symphony this coming Feb. Looking forward to your comments as we usually sail in the Retreat on Celebrity. A few years ago we did a back to back on Edge (in a CS) and Harmony (in a CL). We wrote a comparative review on it.

That's interesting. My dw loved the two levels and two bathrooms.

On Oasis Class we like deck 17 which is a smaller contained area of suites directly next to the Coastal Kitchen and Suite Lounge. It is pretty quiet compared to the rest of the ship. It is convenient. We usually go for a Crown Loft which is similar in price to a Grand Suite and still cheaper than Celebrity Retreat.

We have sailed RCCL many times and enjoy the experience. We go back and forth depending on the deal and itinerary.

As I mentioned previously, some good deals on suites (above JS) with CK dining and Suite Lounge on RCCL ships. We have booked for less than a Sky Suite on Celebrity. Even a better deal if you have Diamond or above benefits. So goodbye Celebrity for at least the time being.

I'd support no cell phones in dining venues. At least for talking. Texting would be fine.

And importantly they fit under the Bridge of the Americas on the Pacific side. That is the other big issue.

We did this ABC cruise on Equinox in Jan this year. Had a very nice cruise and great time. It was in the beginning of major unannounced cutbacks (like the dinner buffet) but a number of these things now have been moderated or restored. Hope you enjoy it!

Gran ole days of most everything including cruising are over so I agree from that perspective. Keeping prices out of it, some changes are also for the better.

Thank you for the report and great pics. Following along. We will be on Symphony soon in Feb 2024 in the Caribbean.

Thank you all for your responses. Good information!

I am the OP and did not specify older ships.

Can anyone here advise as to the availability of a 2-BR Grand Suite - are they just on Oasis Class Ships? Are they on all Oasis Class Ships or just certain ones? Any other 2-BR suites on other classes of RCCL ships? Thank You!

Do you have an email address for the Symphony suite concierge? Thank you!

No butler as this is a mid-level (Sky Class) suite on RCCL. Only the premium suites (Star Class) gets a butler (Royal Genie). We don't really care about butlers. The Crown Loft suite (2 levels, 2 baths) was priced cheaper than a Sky Suite on Celebrity (Reflection or Equinox) for a similar 8 night Southern Caribbean itinerary out of FLL. We usually do a CS on Celebrity (a mid level suite) and the CS was far more expensive than the CL suite on RCCL. Here is a list of suite benefits on RCCL. It is sometimes dependent on the ship class. Not all ships have Coastal Kitchen. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

I am one of those people - after many, many years booking suites on Celebrity- we walked. For example we booked a Crown Loft suite on RCCL Symphony next cruise. Less expensive than a Sky Suite on Celebrity by quite a lot. We get a number of suite perks including unlimited streaming WiFi, and meals at Coastal Kitchen (suite restaurant), but we would have to pay for a beverage package if we wanted one. And gratuities are not included on either line now. As we are D+, we can get drink coupons every day and access to the Diamond Lounge. Also drinks included for free in the Suite Lounge. This all works for us anyway.

A suite guest might not get access to Blu, depending on availability.

Thank you! We have sailed only Celebrity post-pandemic and not RCCL. This will be our first time since that Harmony cruise. No reservations needed for Luminae on Celebrity.

We are staying in Feb in a Crown Loft suite on Symphony. Can we make our CK reservations for dinner at the dining time we want prior to the cruise? Or do we have to board and hope for the best times available if not taken already? I seem to recall when we sailed Harmony (in 2019) also in a CL, a suite concierge contacted us prior to the cruise by email. Does this still happen?

There are plenty online sources for all of these commercials the following day if you really want to see them.

Betting more on the Eagles, but Steelers vs Eagles - all PA Super Bowl.

So what is the dinner priority for availability - Junior Suite vs Pinnacle? Or first come first served in terms of reservations that day?