Observations from a Chartered Sailing

[cle-guy]

Some things that were different on the Summit sailing out of San Juan last week:

 

1) No assigned seating, select dining all the time for everyone. This worked beautifully, never saw a line, always had nice table mates.

 

2) BLU was advertised to allow Aqua guests to bring 2 guests, all suite guests were ENTITLED to it, and others could buy in of there was room. No one had to wait all were serviced just fine.

 

3) Sorry folks, no alcoholic drink packages. Pay per drink as you go. Bar service was the same speed as when beverage packages were used (still slow compared to land based bars). I just believe they don't train their staff very well on efficiency, it has little do do with tips or not. A normal bar I tip $1 per drink. On this they got 15% which was always greater it seemed as I like Martini bar, premium brands, and doubles elsewhere....

 

4) No pre-booking spa or specialty dining. Wait until you board. I was able to get my preferred specialty dining night and time and a haircut and men's shave within 2 hours of my preferred time.

 

5) No priority tendering not even in suites. Just line up and go. We tendered in St. Bart's, and never saw a line. My first tendering experience, so not sure how it usually goes...they had 3 tenders operating all day, always with empty seats.

 

So my observation is, some of the systems and processes put into place to help with lines and waits may not be working as well as if you just let people come and go as they wish.

[TeaBag]

Was the ship full?

[cle-guy]

Was the ship full?

 

Every cabin was occupied as I watched the inventory till the final says hoping for an upgrade opportunity, and we were told we had 2080 passengers plus crew.

 

Not sure what Summit's capacity is.

[Iamthesea]

I probably missed an earlier thread of yours, but why were you on a chartered ship, and by whom was the ship Chartered?

Edited March 16, 2014 by Iamthesea

[CHEZMARYLOU]

How was the suite and service? We're looking at a CS on an up coming Summit cruise.

 

Mary Lou

[JFontaine]

Did they recognize Captains Club membership (elite cocktails, etc.) on the charter? Thanks.

[WayTea]

I probably missed an earlier thread of yours, but why were you on a chartered ship, and by whom was the ship Chartered?

 

Satisfying your curiousity, Atlantis.

[lilghallinsf]

Thanks for your notes on this. Makes Atlantis look good too :)

[Iamthesea]

Satisfying your curiousity, Atlantis.

 

Thank you! ;)

[cle-guy]

Captains Club Perks were modified let's say....

 

I got the points for the cruise

I got the coupons sheets in my cabin

I got a call from the CC hostess welcoming me aboard and letting me know to contact her should I need anything

Michael's was not set up as a reception place for CC or Suites. Just boarded and start the party wherever.

 

 

There were no elite functions or activities at all and I wouldn't have expected them on the charter since the charter company in effect has control of the public spaces for their plans. I never use any of the CC events anyway, preferring to enjoy drinks and food with the masses than stand in a room spouting off about my status.. LOL. I'm guessing the number of elites and above on this charter were minimal anyway, although there were definitely some faithful X cruisers as well.

 

The company even had daily scheduled meetings for particular groups in the Fun Factory LOL!

 

Cabin service I suppose was the same, my butler said he was only 5 months into the position, and he seemed to be following a script, no matter how I tried to stop him (like he INSISTED on escorting me to the Ocean View Cafe after boarding even though I said I was quite familiar with the ship etc.) and that I really wanted a martini.... I finally gave into the 'battle' and followed him since it was only 1 deck up and he was clearly following some sort of directions from somewhere. I didn't use near as much of the butler service on this sailing as in the past, finding myself sleeping in quite late and being up very late....! They even modified food service times to extend much of the buffet till 4am (pasta, pizza, salad bar burgers and dogs to order) then from 4a to 6a Bistro on 5 was complimentary till ocean view reopened. Mind you the pool parties went till 3 am, then moved to reflections lounge to go to 6 ;-)

 

It was my first CS, and actually on M class I'd choose over Royal Suite again. I enjoy a table and chairs for in room dining (S class do not have a sitting table, just a large coffee table) and I did miss the whirlpool on the veranda a bit, but felt it isn't worth the extra $$$ for it and when I really wanted it, just used the tub whirlpool, which was surprisingly powerful and relaxing.

 

I also enjoyed the bedroom being fully blacked out by closing the doors, where the Royal, light seeps in thru the curtains. I also felt the closet space was better used and accessed in the S class CS than RS.

 

If traveling with others who would use the sofa bed, the RS may be better as the bathroom is accessible without disturbing and walking thru the bedroom.

 

My butler brought a pool lounger so I could rest on the veranda in the afternoons which I love to do, it fit fine, but the veranda is narrow. The cabin itself, felt more spacious honestly then the RS did on my connie sailing. The veranda, NO privacy at all from the sides (not an issue from above) due to the bump out, but not really a deal breaker for me.