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??? about Concierge

LilBlackDress

By LilBlackDress,
in Royal Caribbean International

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LilBlackDress

LilBlackDress

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Hi Everyone

 

I have read several threads about the concierge services and some information contradicts what others have said... This is our first GS and we are kinda lost pups, much like we were on our first cruise, with a family of frequent cruisers, who never told us anything. We missed more than we should have but still had a great time and learned on our own for our next cruise. We tend to learn something new with each cruise...

 

Anyways... here are our questions

 

We are on Adventure Feb 22 (YAY under 10 days)

 

  • When should we hear from the Concierge and what form of contact will it be (phone or e-mail)
     
  • What are some of the general things you ask for to be in your suite upon arrival
     
  • Is having a birthday breakfast set up on our balcony pushing the limits or is that something normal
     
  • We are sailing with others and have the late seating, can we just order appetizers, off the MDR menu, earlier and then meet the group at 830 (If yes what is the latest you would put in the order)
     
  • Are there any tips you can share with us

 

Thanks in advance

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Clarea

Clarea

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Posted
Hi Everyone

 

I have read several threads about the concierge services and some information contradicts what others have said... This is our first GS and we are kinda lost pups, much like we were on our first cruise, with a family of frequent cruisers, who never told us anything. We missed more than we should have but still had a great time and learned on our own for our next cruise. We tend to learn something new with each cruise...

 

Anyways... here are our questions

 

We are on Adventure Feb 22 (YAY under 10 days)

 

  • When should we hear from the Concierge and what form of contact will it be (phone or e-mail)
  • What are some of the general things you ask for to be in your suite upon arrival
  • Is having a birthday breakfast set up on our balcony pushing the limits or is that something normal
  • We are sailing with others and have the late seating, can we just order appetizers, off the MDR menu, earlier and then meet the group at 830 (If yes what is the latest you would put in the order)
  • Are there any tips you can share with us

 

Thanks in advance

You may or may not hear from the Concierge ahead of time. If they do contact you, it's usually by email.

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PSU

PSU

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The concierge is different on RC ships than having a butler on Celebrity. The concierge does not deliver room service. On Adventure, we had a Grand Suite and besides having drinks in the concierge lounge, there were very few things that we asked the concierge to do. One good thing is he or she will escort you to the tender boat in tendered ports. And when you disembark at the end of the cruise, the concierge will take you down in a special elevator.

The new CEO of RC, Michael Bailey said that new suite perks will be announced in late spring. Maybe that is to compete with Celebrity with their new suite program.

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cruisenfever

cruisenfever

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The concierge is different on RC ships than having a butler on Celebrity. The concierge does not deliver room service. On Adventure, we had a Grand Suite and besides having drinks in the concierge lounge, there were very few things that we asked the concierge to do. One good thing is he or she will escort you to the tender boat in tendered ports. And when you disembark at the end of the cruise, the concierge will take you down in a special elevator.

The new CEO of RC, Michael Bailey said that new suite perks will be announced in late spring. Maybe that is to compete with Celebrity with their new suite program.

Unfortunately, that does not happen on Allure.

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PSU

PSU

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Patti,

 

That is the problem that I have with the RC's suite program, it is so ship-specific. We usually travel in suites and our experiences are so different depending on the ship that we are on. I would wish that there would be some consistency.

Unfortunately, that does not happen on Allure.
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cruisenfever

cruisenfever

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Patti,

 

That is the problem that I have with the RC's suite program, it is so ship-specific. We usually travel in suites and our experiences are so different depending on the ship that we are on. I would wish that there would be some consistency.

No consistency is right, however we were told on our recent b2b2b that it's the CBP in FLL that does not allow suite guests to be brought down to the front of the line. Don't know why they would have anything to say about it.

 

When we disembarked last Sunday, we were in line before 8AM to disembark the ship. Once we got down the escalator and into the terminal where the luggage was neatly organized, the pier rep was taking those with Gold Cards out of the line and directing them to another rep who did take them closer up in line for customs. They said they were trying out a new system.

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LilBlackDress

LilBlackDress

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Thank you for the quick replies. I forgot to ask about the steaming or ironing for the formal night. I read some ships don't offer it, some do but you have to ask and some do it automatically

 

Do you have any info on Adventure in this regard

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Clarea

Clarea

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Thank you for the quick replies. I forgot to ask about the steaming or ironing for the formal night. I read some ships don't offer it, some do but you have to ask and some do it automatically

 

Do you have any info on Adventure in this regard

The pressing service on formal night should be available on all ships. Just mention it to your stateroom attendant the first chance you get.

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jules815

jules815

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Last month on Brilliance I used the concierge to make specialty dinner reservations and spa appointments. This was our first time ever sailing in a suite. I was originally going to make our own reservations because I've always had no problem taking care of those things on my own, but she went out of her way to ask if there were any appointments she could make for us. The evening we dined in Giovanni's, when we arrived I overhead the maitre d' whisper my name to our waiter, and that I drink Chardonnay; something she must have noticed when I was in the lounge. :)

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MichaelCMTX

MichaelCMTX

Posted
Posted

 

  • When should we hear from the Concierge and what form of contact will it be (phone or e-mail)
     
  • What are some of the general things you ask for to be in your suite upon arrival
     
  • Is having a birthday breakfast set up on our balcony pushing the limits or is that something normal
     
  • We are sailing with others and have the late seating, can we just order appetizers, off the MDR menu, earlier and then meet the group at 830 (If yes what is the latest you would put in the order)
     
  • Are there any tips you can share with us

 

Thanks in advance [/color]

 

Our #1 dealing with the Concierge on our trips was mainly spur-of-the-moment dinner reservations. It was typically in the CL during Cocktail hour when we'd say "MDR menu looks a little on the iffy side, maybe today is Giovanni's/Chops?" and we've never had a problem. "What time?" "Right about now?" "OK, go on over." Concierge also helped us get cabana on Coco Cay and Barefoot Beach cabana on Labadee, both via e-mail prior to sailing.

 

Also DW always gets a pedi in the spa so on the latest trip we figured "why waste a day of the cruise, can we get it done on boarding day?" and that was worked out.

 

A good concierge looking to add to their tip would be inclined to help you arrange that special Birthday Breakfast. ;) On our Radiance cruise our "Neighbors" were celebrating a birthday and our Concierge helped us send them a bottle of champagne to help.

 

Enjoy your trip but be warned: we did our first trip in a GS and haven't booked anything less since.:D

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LilBlackDress

LilBlackDress

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Our #1 dealing with the Concierge on our trips was mainly spur-of-the-moment dinner reservations. It was typically in the CL during Cocktail hour when we'd say "MDR menu looks a little on the iffy side, maybe today is Giovanni's/Chops?" and we've never had a problem. "What time?" "Right about now?" "OK, go on over." Concierge also helped us get cabana on Coco Cay and Barefoot Beach cabana on Labadee, both via e-mail prior to sailing.

 

Also DW always gets a pedi in the spa so on the latest trip we figured "why waste a day of the cruise, can we get it done on boarding day?" and that was worked out.

 

A good concierge looking to add to their tip would be inclined to help you arrange that special Birthday Breakfast. ;) On our Radiance cruise our "Neighbors" were celebrating a birthday and our Concierge helped us send them a bottle of champagne to help.

 

Enjoy your trip but be warned: we did our first trip in a GS and haven't booked anything less since.:D

 

I already told my dh we'd be in trouble if we do the GS we wouldn't want to go down to a balcony again.... His response was "and what is wrong with that?" gotta love that man :-)

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stompy

stompy

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Enjoy your trip but be warned: we did our first trip in a GS and haven't booked anything less since.:D

 

Hi Neighbor-we're in Lewisville...

 

You are so right. Last cruise we had booked a JS and got upgraded to an Owner's Suite-our first! Let me tell you, 2 TVs in a room is a little silly but it certainly spoiled us. We sailed at Halloween and the ship didn't really do anything for it so we got a blankie from our room steward and watched a scary movie, cuddled up on the couch.

 

In the past we got a bottle of evian on boarding day for free. This time it was free the whole cruise. They just kept giving us another bottle everytime we finished ours-no bev pkg, nothing. Never had a charge. The minibar guy did do inventory and we got charged for the stuff we took from there but never the water.

 

I did notice things like room service and maintenance requests got done right away when we were called from the suite as opposed to longer waits when we've been in a JS or D1.

 

We've also sailed in a RFS with just 2 of us. My wife LOVED having her own bathroom. We used the 2nd bedroom for luggage and laundry. Grandeur's wrap around balcony is nice.

 

We've never done Allure or Oasis or the new ships but I would love to try the Sky Lofts or some of the other new ones, including the spa jr suite which I still haven't seen pics of.

 

Enjoy your GS but like Michael said, you'll never be able to go back to an Oceanview on deck 2 or an interior again...

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Colorado Babe

Colorado Babe

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We have booked several OS and always have paid for the water and didn't have two TV's. The only ship we were personally escorted off was on the Liberty. On our last cruise (Indy) they did away with free pressing. We were very disappointed with the Conceirge service. No one told us about the private beach in Labadee and the Conceirge and Diamond lounges were so full we couldn't use them. To top it off, we had a wine party in our suite and the few choices we had for appetizers were on the regular stateroom menu. I truly hope RC makes some changes.

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jules815

jules815

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We have booked several OS and always have paid for the water and didn't have two TV's. The only ship we were personally escorted off was on the Liberty. On our last cruise (Indy) they did away with free pressing. We were very disappointed with the Conceirge service. No one told us about the private beach in Labadee and the Conceirge and Diamond lounges were so full we couldn't use them. To top it off, we had a wine party in our suite and the few choices we had for appetizers were on the regular stateroom menu. I truly hope RC makes some changes.

 

I can't believe you weren't notified about the private beach on Labadee. Aren't they supposed to offer cabana rental to suite guests there?

 

Not to hijack, but I noticed you're also sailing FOS on 9/6. :)

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LilBlackDress

LilBlackDress

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When requesting the Birthday Breakfast, be sure to order it from the MDR and during MDR operatiing hours vs. room service. You can order directly off the MDR menu when in a suite.

 

I have read conflicting posts about breakfast...

Some posts say if you are in a suite you can only order dinner off the MDR menu

Others say if the MDR is open, you can order room service...

 

I guess I will find out for sure in 8 days!

Here is another question... Someone said they found the robes uncomfortable, I don't really wear a robe at home...I don't believe I ever wore one with any balcony or even hotel we have stayed at... would I be out of place if I didn't wear one in the suite/balcony?

 

PS I don't mind hijacking a thread I start, it just gives me more info to read and learn about :D

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