HAL suite amenities vs. competition

[auntierobin]

Just to stick my two cents worth in. We have always sailed in suites and always on NCL. We will be sailing on HAL for the 1st time in a Neptune Suite to Alaska (4th cruise to Alaska, 1st time on HAL).

 

I know that there will be two things that I will miss - the butler, and having a Lavazza coffee machine in the room. We enjoyed having dinner from the restaurant of our choice on occasion in our cabin, and the afternoon snacks (cheese & crackers, fruit, canapés, etc) that were brought each day. Norwegian also has a dinner with the officers, and the Captain's VIP cocktail party (all officers attend), both of which are very nice, it is great to get to know these hardworking people on a more personal level and hear their stories of life at sea.

 

The free laundry and dry cleaning on HAL is a great perk,, but is it better than a butler? I guess we'll find out. I will admit it was a toss up between HAL and X, and HAL's itinerary is why we chose them.

 

Bottomline, I have no doubt that our cruise on HAL will be as memorable as all of our others, and am looking forward to it, and the Suite Life on HAL.

Edited March 8, 2015 by auntierobin

[sail7seas]

We had butler service (on cruise line other than HAL) and found them invasive and sometimes annoying. Invariably they would call or knock to see if we wanted anything at a time that disturbed us. I finally got so fed up with the uselessness, I tipped and told them we'd let them know if we needed anything.

 

The combination of really good concierge and great cabin steward on HAL is so much more helpful for my needs. Maybe others don't agree but in all our HAL cruises in Neptune (S, SA, PS) suites, I cannot remember a single time we had something for which we wanted assistance and they weren't able to accomplish what we needed and far more. :)

 

[cruz chic]

We had butler service (on cruise line other than HAL) and found them invasive and sometimes annoying. Invariably they would call or knock to see if we wanted anything at a time that disturbed us. I finally got so fed up with the uselessness, I tipped and told them we'd let them know if we needed anything.

 

The combination of really good concierge and great cabin steward on HAL is so much more helpful for my needs. Maybe others don't agree but in all our HAL cruises in Neptune (S, SA, PS) suites, I cannot remember a single time we had something for which we wanted assistance and they weren't able to accomplish what we needed and far more. :)

 

I agree. I would not like a butler. What the heck do you do with them anyway?

[kazu]

Just to stick my two cents worth in. We have always sailed in suites and always on NCL. We will be sailing on HAL for the 1st time in a Neptune Suite to Alaska (4th cruise to Alaska, 1st time on HAL).

 

I know that there will be two things that I will miss - the butler, and having a Lavazza coffee machine in the room. We enjoyed having dinner from the restaurant of our choice on occasion in our cabin, and the afternoon snacks (cheese & crackers, fruit, canapés, etc) that were brought each day. Norwegian also has a dinner with the officers, and the Captain's VIP cocktail party (all officers attend), both of which are very nice, it is great to get to know these hardworking people on a more personal level and hear their stories of life at sea.

 

The free laundry and dry cleaning on HAL is a great perk,, but is it better than a butler? I guess we'll find out. I will admit it was a toss up between HAL and X, and HAL's itinerary is why we chose them.

 

Bottomline, I have no doubt that our cruise on HAL will be as memorable as all of our others, and am looking forward to it, and the Suite Life on HAL.

 

I have a butler on Oceania in November and I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do with him. From the sounds of things, he delivers your meals (room service on HAL), books your specialty restaurants (concierge on HAL) so I'm not sure what the big deal is with a butler. The concierge takes care of a lot of stuff on HAL.

 

I hope when you come back you will share the difference as I don't get it. It's just different people on HAL that do the same thing from what I could determine, but I have been wrong before and I am probably wrong again;)

 

As to dinner or drinks with the officers, get together with the officers, etc.....

 

The last Captain's dinner I had was on NCL with the Captain and wisely chosen companions (some of whom I was travelling with).

 

HAL does not do much of the drinks with officers and/or dinner with the captain or we are not one of the chosen which is fine by us.

 

I don't sail to get free drinks from officers or be talked to. I sail to see new things and get away from here and enjoy the ship.

 

Obviously if we are invited to something we often go and have the courtesy to rsvp one way or the other. And while I would agree that conversation can be interesting I haven't yet grasped the fascination with this. There have been some get togethers I have been to where it was obvious some officers wished they weren't there. Others, staff have been very outgoing and interesting. It all depends.

[Lizzie68]

When I go on vacation I cannot imagine wanting to eat, drink or socialise with the staff. And I'm sure they don't don't want to do that with me. On a ship I imagine it is part of their duties and likely one they wish they didn't have to participate in. A polite passing the time of day is enough.

 

As to a butler - I sure as heck would NOT want one. It would be like an invasion of my privacy.

 

Just MHO.;)

[auntierobin]

I am really sorry that I have offended so many of you. This post started as a comparison between suit perks on different lines. I would like to say that in NCL suites, you have a concierge, a butler, and a room steward. I would not want to ask the room steward (who is so very very busy) if he could get my clothes pressed and back to me in an hour, or for help with the gift bags for the CC M&G, or to get the champagne chilled for the M&G, or set up refreshments for a gathering in our room, he has much better and more important things to do, that is what the butler is for (just a few examples) Ordinarily we only saw our butler once a day after he got us settled on the first day, he would bring our afternoon snacks to us other than that we had a dedicated cordless phone that we could use to contact him or the concierge if we needed them.

 

We don't sail for free drinks, in fact I don't drink at all. I do however enjoy hearing how these people came to have the jobs that they have, and the stories that they can tell you about their travels. We have sailed with several on more than one occasion. There is one captain, that had we not talked we would not have discovered that our families are from the same town in Sweden, and in fact live on the same block. I find that meeting new people from different areas enriches the travel experience, and I don't feel that taking an hour and a half from my time is a huge sacrifice.

 

We were really looking forward to sailing on HAL, and I don't want to say this, but judging by the responses I think we may have made a mistake.

Edited March 8, 2015 by auntierobin

[cruz chic]

I am really sorry that I have offended so many of you. This post started as a comparison between suit perks on different lines. I would like to say that in NCL suites, you have a concierge, a butler, and a room steward. I would not want to ask the room steward (who is so very very busy) if he could get my clothes pressed and back to me in an hour, or for help with the gift bags for the CC M&G, or to get the champagne chilled for the M&G, or set up refreshments for a gathering in our room, he has much better and more important things to do, that is what the butler is for (just a few examples) Ordinarily we only saw our butler once a day after he got us settled on the first day, he would bring our afternoon snacks to us other than that we had a dedicated cordless phone that we could use to contact him or the concierge if we needed them.

 

We don't sail for free drinks, in fact I don't drink at all. I do however enjoy hearing how these people came to have the jobs that they have, and the stories that they can tell you about their travels. We have sailed with several on more than one occasion. There is one captain, that had we not talked we would not have discovered that our families are from the same town in Sweden, and in fact live on the same block. I find that meeting new people from different areas enriches the travel experience, and I don't feel that taking an hour and a half from my time is a huge sacrifice.

 

We were really looking forward to sailing on HAL, and I don't want to say this, but judging by the responses I think we may have made a mistake.

 

I don't think anyone was offended. I think most of us are curious as to what you would use a butler for. Thx for explaining. See, I would do all the things you mentioned myself except the pressing so that doesn't appeal to me. It does appeal to you so that's fine. I don't think that anything listed here should give you cause to go elsewhere but that needs to be your decision.

[auntierobin]

Thank you Cruz Chic, but when I have 30 or 40 gift bags to assemble and get to the M&G venue by the next morning (all of this after they have been delivered to the room with the luggage), any helping hands are welcome. The butlers have a pantry where they can put the champagne to chill, I have yet to have a refrigerator in my suite that can hold 8-10 bottles. There are many things that the butler can do for you (besides help with the M&G), the thing that gets me is that people say they are intrusive, they are the soles of discretion, I don't know what cruise line the other people had their bad experiences on, but at least on NCL as I said after the first day, they will only be there when you want them, and to deliver your afternoon canapés (which is nice, because you can sit on your balcony with a glass of something and relax, between excursions and dinner). I am going to drop this topic and the defense of the butlers now.

[cruz chic]

Thank you Cruz Chic, but when I have 30 or 40 gift bags to assemble and get to the M&G venue by the next morning (all of this after they have been delivered to the room with the luggage), any helping hands are welcome. The butlers have a pantry where they can put the champagne to chill, I have yet to have a refrigerator in my suite that can hold 8-10 bottles. There are many things that the butler can do for you (besides help with the M&G), the thing that gets me is that people say they are intrusive, they are the soles of discretion, I don't know what cruise line the other people had their bad experiences on, but at least on NCL as I said after the first day, they will only be there when you want them, and to deliver your afternoon canapés (which is nice, because you can sit on your balcony with a glass of something and relax, between excursions and dinner). I am going to drop this topic and the defense of the butlers now.

Ok, I can see why you'd want help with all those bags. I've never known anyone to go to that much work. Maybe it's happened and I just haven't been privy to it. I'm not aware of anyplace near suites where you can chill that much champagne unless it was the pinnacle suite, but perhaps they could do it in the dining room. I think this is an interesting conversation. There is no reason to bow out in my mind. It's important to you so that's all that needs to be said. I hope you won't be disappointed with hal. It just different than NCL. That's doesn't mean good or bad in my mind.

[WupperAV]

GOSH! What if they let commoners like me get into one of those rooms just because I can pay for it? Boy would that ruin a cruise because I'm a Redneck.

[Christine Frances]

Thank you Cruz Chic, but when I have 30 or 40 gift bags to assemble and get to the M&G venue by the next morning (all of this after they have been delivered to the room with the luggage), any helping hands are welcome. The butlers have a pantry where they can put the champagne to chill, I have yet to have a refrigerator in my suite that can hold 8-10 bottles. There are many things that the butler can do for you (besides help with the M&G), the thing that gets me is that people say they are intrusive, they are the soles of discretion, I don't know what cruise line the other people had their bad experiences on, but at least on NCL as I said after the first day, they will only be there when you want them, and to deliver your afternoon canapés (which is nice, because you can sit on your balcony with a glass of something and relax, between excursions and dinner). I am going to drop this topic and the defense of the butlers now.

 

You might be happier on Celebrity where people love the Butlers and the amenities which come with the suites especially the new dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner and Michael's Club (for the top suites:)

http://www.celebritycruises.com/htmlpage/celebrity-suite-class#&panel1-2&panel2-2&panel3-2&panel4-2&panel5-1&panel6-2&panel7-2

 

Plus coming April for the top suites Coming April 2015:

 

Dedicated private restaurant reserved exclusively for all Suite Class guests morning, noon and night

Access to the private Michael's Club

Complimentary Premium Beverage package

Complimentary unlimited Specialty Dining

Complimentary unlimited Internet access

Complimentary mini-bar stocked daily with water, sodas, beer

Edited March 9, 2015 by Christine Frances

[RJ2002]

I am really sorry that I have offended so many of you. This post started as a comparison between suit perks on different lines. I would like to say that in NCL suites, you have a concierge, a butler, and a room steward. I would not want to ask the room steward (who is so very very busy) if he could get my clothes pressed and back to me in an hour, or for help with the gift bags for the CC M&G, or to get the champagne chilled for the M&G, or set up refreshments for a gathering in our room, he has much better and more important things to do, that is what the butler is for (just a few examples) Ordinarily we only saw our butler once a day after he got us settled on the first day, he would bring our afternoon snacks to us other than that we had a dedicated cordless phone that we could use to contact him or the concierge if we needed them.

 

We don't sail for free drinks, in fact I don't drink at all. I do however enjoy hearing how these people came to have the jobs that they have, and the stories that they can tell you about their travels. We have sailed with several on more than one occasion. There is one captain, that had we not talked we would not have discovered that our families are from the same town in Sweden, and in fact live on the same block. I find that meeting new people from different areas enriches the travel experience, and I don't feel that taking an hour and a half from my time is a huge sacrifice.

 

We were really looking forward to sailing on HAL, and I don't want to say this, but judging by the responses I think we may have made a mistake.

 

I would love to attend one of your M&G's! :D

 

Back on topic... agree with some of the other posters that having a butler is not a big deal for us. We had one on NCL, and as someone noted, he always seemed to be stopping by at "nap time" to deliver snacks.

[George C]

I would love to attend one of your M&G's! :D

 

Back on topic... agree with some of the other posters that having a butler is not a big deal for us. We had one on NCL, and as someone noted, he always seemed to be stopping by at "nap time" to deliver snacks.

 

I hate when anything interferes with my nap time

[Jade13]

I don't think they need to make dramatic changes to suite benefits nor do I expect they will in the foreseeable future....... though, we have not yet learned much about the plans by the new President of HAL.

 

 

 

You would probably like it if they gave unlimited internet to those in the top Suites.

[scamper]

I am really sorry that I have offended so many of you. This post started as a comparison between suit perks on different lines. I would like to say that in NCL suites, you have a concierge, a butler, and a room steward. I would not want to ask the room steward (who is so very very busy) if he could get my clothes pressed and back to me in an hour, or for help with the gift bags for the CC M&G, or to get the champagne chilled for the M&G, or set up refreshments for a gathering in our room, he has much better and more important things to do, that is what the butler is for (just a few examples) Ordinarily we only saw our butler once a day after he got us settled on the first day, he would bring our afternoon snacks to us other than that we had a dedicated cordless phone that we could use to contact him or the concierge if we needed them.

 

We don't sail for free drinks, in fact I don't drink at all. I do however enjoy hearing how these people came to have the jobs that they have, and the stories that they can tell you about their travels. We have sailed with several on more than one occasion. There is one captain, that had we not talked we would not have discovered that our families are from the same town in Sweden, and in fact live on the same block. I find that meeting new people from different areas enriches the travel experience, and I don't feel that taking an hour and a half from my time is a huge sacrifice.

 

We were really looking forward to sailing on HAL, and I don't want to say this, but judging by the responses I think we may have made a mistake.

 

See, I'm with you, here. We have good use for a butler, especially if there are up to four of us in a suite. We have a standing order for coffees, teas, and light bites or a full breakfast when we get up. We always have the bag(s) of laundry/dry cleaning ready for him from the day before. They make alternate restaurant reservations for us, fetch DVDs, can arrange for pressing or have taken torn clothing hems to the laundry for repair. They bring a bottle of champagne when we decide at the last minute that we are in the mood for some. The first time we had a butler, I wasn't thinking one afternoon when we got back from shore and called room service for a snack. The operator said it would be an hour (!) before they could deliver. The butler got it in fifteen minutes. I once had a butler repair the clasp on my tux cummerbund. They polish shoes, help with packing and unpacking if you want. He puts away dry cleaning and laundry for us instead of just leaving it on a hook for us to do. These are just some of the things they have done for us in the past.

 

Are these simple things that we can do for ourselves, apart from repairing clothing? Absolutely! But this is what we consider a LUXURY. It makes us feel pampered and cared for! It certainly isn't something we have the means to have at home, but on cruises a butler is a treat!

 

You didn't offend anyone. Don't worry.

[vinodoc]

Given we travel as a family of 4, the unlimited laundry is a big perk. Less going over and more souvenirs coming back. Wait, is that a good thing? :D. Seriously, unlimited internet would be nice.

 

Kevin