Celebrity Suites? How Good Are The Perks?

[Gracie115]

As for tipping the butler. We tip the butler and housekeeper upfront $20 each and nicely tell them will will be happy to tip more at the end for their good service to us. This "gets them going".

 

 

I don't know about "getting them going" but we also tip upfront. I've never had any "bad reaction" from any staff about doing that and the difference in our service from when we didn't do this is noticeable and makes it a policy that we won't change. Not that service was bad before...it's just better since we began doing this a few years back. If nothing else it lets the person know that you aren't going to "stiff" them as I know some do.....so there may be some who've said it's an insult...that has NOT been our experience.

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

Thanks,

they are in a sky suite on Solstice- mom is happy because it's an aft one and she wanted one aft. OK, so tip at end. What is the usual amount to tip for butler for end of 12 day cruise? They got free pre-paid tips when booking so most people are taken care of already (unless they want to tip a little extra, which they prob will)

[oregon50]

If you prepay gratuities, how can you stiff someone?

[dkjretired]

Thanks,

they are in a sky suite on Solstice- mom is happy because it's an aft one and she wanted one aft. OK, so tip at end. What is the usual amount to tip for butler for end of 12 day cruise? They got free pre-paid tips when booking so most people are taken care of already (unless they want to tip a little extra, which they prob will)

 

The butler is tipped in those pre paid tips you paid. Anything else you give him will be extra.

[dkjretired]

You have actually asked multiple butlers this question? Interesting. I will ask my next butler the same question prior to tipping.

 

As for writing a list, which I do not, I can see why some might do this if there is a long list or possibly a language barrier. I apologize if this comes off harshly, but in all of my times in a suite, I enjoy the little assistance we ask for during our cruise but really do not think "butler" in the formal sense of the word. I think more helper. Butlers know what to do without being asked and especially more than once. We ususally have to ask more than once and things definitely get lost in translation even when requesting basic things to us, that might be foreign to the butler.

 

Not butlers but various service people who get tipped. Many have also reported the same thing on these boards...

[CathyCruises]

I tried tipping at the beginning once and our steward looked shocked and said, "What's wrong???" I've never tried THAT again!

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

The butler is tipped in those pre paid tips you paid. Anything else you give him will be extra.

 

Really? Wow...

 

that's good then. I was expecting that to be extra. Maybe it is on other lines...

[Gracie115]

If you prepay gratuities, how can you stiff someone?

 

 

Not everyone prepays gratuities....

[dkjretired]

Really? Wow...

 

that's good then. I was expecting that to be extra. Maybe it is on other lines...

 

Here's a list of those you should have paid tips for...

 

 

Restaurant Service*

 

Per Person Per Day

 

Waiter

 

$3.65

 

Assistant Waiter

 

$2.10

 

Dining Room Management

 

$1.00

 

Stateroom Service*

 

Per Person Per Day

 

Butler (Suites Only)

 

$3.50

 

Stateroom Service

 

$3.50 ($4.00 for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms)

 

 

 

Alternative Service*

 

Other Service Personnel

 

$1.25

 

Should be $15.00 per day per person for your tips. This does not include the $15% added for drinks..

[orchestrapal]

You have actually asked multiple butlers this question? Interesting. I will ask my next butler the same question prior to tipping.

As for writing a list, which I do not, I can see why some might do this if there is a long list or possibly a language barrier. I apologize if this comes off harshly, but in all of my times in a suite, I enjoy the little assistance we ask for during our cruise but really do not think "butler" in the formal sense of the word. I think more helper. Butlers know what to do without being asked and especially more than once. We ususally have to ask more than once and things definitely get lost in translation even when requesting basic things to us, that might be foreign to the butler.

 

NO we never asked our butlers...it just came out in conversations.

When we cruise for 30+ days we do get to know our wonderful (Oceania) butlers and hope the same for our X cruise.:)

[curtdesilets]

All staterooms include:

 

Services

• Our signature friendly, personalized service with a guest to staff ratio of nearly 2:1
  
• Twice daily service (makeup and turndown)
  
• Daily ice service in stainless steel ice buckets
  

Dining

• 24 hour complimentary room service
  

Amenities

• Robe
  
• Complimentary tote bag
  
• Custom blended bath products (shampoo, conditioner and lotion), shower cap, cotton balls and cotton swabs
  
• Water/wine glasses
  
• Celebrity eXhale bedding featuring 100% cotton linens and plush duvet, pillows and custom premium mattresses
  
• Hair dryer
  

Stateroom Features

• Private mini-bar*
  
• Interactive Samsung flat-screen television system to view and select shore excursions, order room service, and watch movies*
  
• Private safe
  
• Dual voltage 110/220AC outlets
  

*Additional charges apply.

 

 

In addition our suites include:

 

 

Services

• European-trained butler service to help you pack/unpack, make your spa appointments, dinner reservations, shore excursions and so much more
  
• Full in-suite breakfast, lunch & dinner service
  
• Afternoon canapés and tea service
  
• Complimentary daily in-suite espresso and cappuccino
  
• Shoeshine service
  

Dining

• One complimentary dinner for two (cruise of 7 nights or less) and two complimentary dinners for two (cruise of 8 nights or more) in a specialty restaurant
  

Amenities

• Plush Frette® bathrobe
  
• Oversized 100% cotton bath towels
  
• Slippers
  
• Extra handheld hair dryer
  
• Additional custom bath products: nail kit, shower gel and mending kit
  
• Pillow menu
  
• Fresh flowers
  
• Welcome sparkling wine
  
• Daily fresh fruit platter
  

Stateroom Features

• Veranda
  
• Hansgrohe® showerhead
  

Special Amenities for Penthouse & Royal suites include:

 

 

• Separate whirlpool bathtub
  
• Whirlpool on private veranda
  
• Your choice of one bottle of vodka, scotch or gin with accompanying mixers
  

 

Thanks! I didn't realize about the specialty restaurant. We already prepaid for a night at Murano. Do you think they may refund that as an OBC? Or maybe we'll just book a second night.

[curtdesilets]

The above are pretty accurate however would like to point out that the free specialty dinners only apply to the S class ships they do not apply to the Century...

 

Don't make no sense! Maybe because it's a smaller restaurant? And their only one?:confused:

[cruzmaven]

For those who have been in suites on Celebrity, do you feel the suite benefits outweigh the privacy benefits of two separate cabins when there are 3 adults involved.

 

Trying to decide between a Celebrity suite or two Aqua Class cabins on the Reflection for three adults, me, DW and my sister.

 

Cost for the two cabins is a little less than the suite and we'd get guaranteed dinner in Blu. We could get adjoining cabins and open the balconies.

 

Not really concerned about the butler, what other suite benefits would we be missing out on if we go with the AQ cabins?

[MrsNancyG]

Your right. We have heard from several of our butlers that they consider tipping at the beginning of a cruise insulting and always think those that do it have never had butler service before. They also feel that way about lists given to them instead of a sit down conversation to discuss the wants and needs of the clients.

 

 

When you say tipping before the cruise is considered insulting, do you mean the prepay gratuities that you can do? I really hope not, this is our first time ever with a butler anywhere ever and we've already arranged our prepaid grats. Just for the record we prepay our grats for two reasons, one to make sure that the service is properly rewarded and because on our first two cruises...where money became a huge stress..., we barely were able to scrape together our tip money at the end of the cruise due to poor planning and just being a little overzealous in the casino. lol

 

Thanks and happy cruising!

[Project_gal]

For those who have been in suites on Celebrity, do you feel the suite benefits outweigh the privacy benefits of two separate cabins when there are 3 adults involved.

 

Trying to decide between a Celebrity suite or two Aqua Class cabins on the Reflection for three adults, me, DW and my sister.

 

Cost for the two cabins is a little less than the suite and we'd get guaranteed dinner in Blu. We could get adjoining cabins and open the balconies.

 

Not really concerned about the butler, what other suite benefits would we be missing out on if we go with the AQ cabins?

 

Personally, for your decision, having two bathrooms with two Aqua Class cabins would be the deciding factor. We prefer [but cannot always afford] a suite with two bathrooms just for the two of us! As the S-class Celebrity Suite has no dining table and no curtain [drapes] at the glass wall between the bedroom and sitting area, I cannot see what you would gain with a suite [other than a butler and a few perks].

 

Sue

 

Sue

[ladylemondrop]

For those who have been in suites on Celebrity, do you feel the suite benefits outweigh the privacy benefits of two separate cabins when there are 3 adults involved.

 

Trying to decide between a Celebrity suite or two Aqua Class cabins on the Reflection for three adults, me, DW and my sister.

 

Cost for the two cabins is a little less than the suite and we'd get guaranteed dinner in Blu. We could get adjoining cabins and open the balconies.

 

Not really concerned about the butler, what other suite benefits would we be missing out on if we go with the AQ cabins?

 

I think the two cabins would be best, otherwise your sister is on the sofa to sleep, meaning her bed will be made up in the evening, depriving you of a lounge. You will also get the two bathrooms, and some privacy for all.;);)

[cruzmaven]

Personally, for your decision, having two bathrooms with two Aqua Class cabins would be the deciding factor. We prefer [but cannot always afford] a suite with two bathrooms just for the two of us! As the S-class Celebrity Suite has no dining table and no curtain [drapes] at the glass wall between the bedroom and sitting area, I cannot see what you would gain with a suite [other than a butler and a few perks].

 

Sue

 

Sue

 

There' a glass wall w/o a curtain between the bedroom and sitting area?!!

 

I was not aware of that. That's a deal breaker. The only reason I was considering the suite was I thought it had a separate bedroom which would give us some privacy.

 

I was thinking the separate cabins were the way to go, I was just wondering if there were any suite benefits we'd be missing that would make the lack of privacy and shared bath worth putting up with.

 

Thanks for the responses.

[oregon50]

Prepaid gratuities is not slipping $20. to an individual. Prepaid gratuities means NO more tipping while on the cruise. You have fulfilled your tipping

obligation and can hold your head up high.

[dkjretired]

When you say tipping before the cruise is considered insulting, do you mean the prepay gratuities that you can do? I really hope not, this is our first time ever with a butler anywhere ever and we've already arranged our prepaid grats. Just for the record we prepay our grats for two reasons, one to make sure that the service is properly rewarded and because on our first two cruises...where money became a huge stress..., we barely were able to scrape together our tip money at the end of the cruise due to poor planning and just being a little overzealous in the casino. lol

 

Thanks and happy cruising!

 

Prepaid tips simply means that you have paid the tips PRIOR to BOARDING the ship. The extra tipping mentioned in this thread is giving a tip when they meet the person, in this case the butler. Some do this also to their stateroom attendents and their waiters.

[dkjretired]

Don't make no sense! Maybe because it's a smaller restaurant? And their only one?:confused:

 

I agree, that portion of the web site goes back to before the M class ships got the S class treatment and only had 1 Specialty and of course Century only has 1 Specialty. Perhaps they will revisit this section now that the M class ships have more options.

[dkjretired]

For those who have been in suites on Celebrity, do you feel the suite benefits outweigh the privacy benefits of two separate cabins when there are 3 adults involved.

 

Trying to decide between a Celebrity suite or two Aqua Class cabins on the Reflection for three adults, me, DW and my sister.

 

Cost for the two cabins is a little less than the suite and we'd get guaranteed dinner in Blu. We could get adjoining cabins and open the balconies.

 

Not really concerned about the butler, what other suite benefits would we be missing out on if we go with the AQ cabins?

 

Assuming you figured in the single supplement, I would absolutely grab the two AQ cabins. Eating in Blu is like eating at a Specialty every night...

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

Here's a list of those you should have paid tips for...

 

 

Restaurant Service*

 

Per Person Per Day

 

Waiter

 

$3.65

 

Assistant Waiter

 

$2.10

 

Dining Room Management

 

$1.00

 

Stateroom Service*

 

Per Person Per Day

 

Butler (Suites Only)

 

$3.50

 

Stateroom Service

 

$3.50 ($4.00 for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms)

 

 

 

Alternative Service*

 

Other Service Personnel

 

$1.25

 

Should be $15.00 per day per person for your tips. This does not include the $15% added for drinks..

Actually, the TA paid it, it was a bonus for booking w/ them.

[dkjretired]

Actually, the TA paid it, it was a bonus for booking w/ them.

 

Great, you're all set then, enjoy.

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

Great, you're all set then, enjoy.

 

Yep, that's one reason we go w/ a TA over cruise line direct. OBC, free tips paid, last time I got a spa certificate...

 

and if prices drop- and I e-mail my TA, they will always work w/ me to get that 'better' cabin. :)

[MrsNancyG]

Prepaid tips simply means that you have paid the tips PRIOR to BOARDING the ship. The extra tipping mentioned in this thread is giving a tip when they meet the person, in this case the butler. Some do this also to their stateroom attendents and their waiters.

 

ahhh ty for the clarification

 

Thanks and happy cruising!