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Differences among hi-cost suites?

ddcruiser

By ddcruiser,
in Celebrity Cruises

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ddcruiser

ddcruiser

Posted
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We are hoping to book a suite that allows us to eat in Luminae and enjoy Michael's club among other perks. Can anyone help us understand the differences between Royal Suites, Penthouse Suites, etc.

 

We do not need "over-the-top" decor and enormous space. We just want very good service, good food, no crowds, quiet and total relaxation.

 

Thank you,

Ddcruiser

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cle-guy

cle-guy

Posted
Posted
Thank you for your suggestions as to Celebrity Suite. Sounds good and there is consensus on this. Still wondering what the differences are among the top suites? Is it just room size or other perks involved?

 

Thanks again,

ddcruiser

 

RS and PH add unlimited PREMIUM beverages, unlimited specialty dining, unlimited internet, in addition to other perks for being in top suites.

 

I always say:

  • SkySuite, or Junior Suite as other lines would call them, get the "soft" suit perks and Luminae.
  • Celebrity Suites add Michael's Club
  • RS & Up add unlimited attention and perks

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bigreckster

bigreckster

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We started out in a sky suite many cruises ago, then moved up to CS (that bathtub/shower step-up to get into and small bathroom was just impossible!) so we splurged for the Royal Suite with all of the aforementioned amenities as well as a great balcony and shower and we can never go back!!! We dine every night in the specialty restaurant and this upgrade , to us, is certainly been worth the money. We also eat breakfast every morning in the dining room area which is delightful! Everyone has different tastes/needs and you just have to evaluate what it's worth to go to the RS/PS level.:):)

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SuzCruise

SuzCruise

Posted
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RS and PH add unlimited PREMIUM beverages, unlimited specialty dining, unlimited internet, in addition to other perks for being in top suites.

 

I always say:

  • SkySuite, or Junior Suite as other lines would call them, get the "soft" suit perks and Luminae.
  • Celebrity Suites add Michael's Club
  • RS & Up add unlimited attention and perks

 

Do you mind sharing more information on what you mean by "unlimited attention and perks"?

 

We are trying to decide between a royal suite, signature suite or sky suite on Reflection. Not sure the extra money is worth more complimentary visits to the specialty restaurants, but if it also assures us getting in to those restaurants on our last minute cruise when they might otherwise be booked, then I'm more interested. Im not asking about that specifically, just trying to get an idea of what other perks are included with the 3x price tag. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience!

 

Susan

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need2bespoiled

need2bespoiled

Posted
Posted
Do you mind sharing more information on what you mean by "unlimited attention and perks"?

 

We are trying to decide between a royal suite, signature suite or sky suite on Reflection. Not sure the extra money is worth more complimentary visits to the specialty restaurants, but if it also assures us getting in to those restaurants on our last minute cruise when they might otherwise be booked, then I'm more interested. Im not asking about that specifically, just trying to get an idea of what other perks are included with the 3x price tag. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience!

 

Susan

 

Sky suite will get you access to Luminae, and very good service, access to a shared ship wide concierge, butler and bigger cabin, and bath and bathtub.

 

CS will get you a bigger cabin yet, access to the above Sky Suite benefits, and Michael's club which in addition to the "exclusive" club, and the MC concierge, comes with a bit higher level of priority services (boarding, dining, spa etc) through the concierge.

 

Above that, you do get more attention, rarely told no, and they will take care of any request that is possible. The concierge does seem to prioritize a PH over and RS over a CS request. RS, PH and Reflection Suite for example are often handed a rose at boarding to designate the suite level. This hasn't happened for a CS for us. RS and above is a all inclusive premium experience with the price tag to go along with it. A signature suite would likely fall somewhere closer to a CS.

 

This is of course based on our experience, and it does of course vary.

Happy sailing,

Jenna

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Project_gal

Project_gal

Posted
Posted
Do you mind sharing more information on what you mean by "unlimited attention and perks"?

 

We are trying to decide between a royal suite, signature suite or sky suite on Reflection. Not sure the extra money is worth more complimentary visits to the specialty restaurants, but if it also assures us getting in to those restaurants on our last minute cruise when they might otherwise be booked, then I'm more interested. Im not asking about that specifically, just trying to get an idea of what other perks are included with the 3x price tag. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience!

 

Susan

 

By "unlimited attention" it is my guess that Curt is referring to the almost undefinable step up in service you receive moving from a Celebrity Suite to a Royal Suite and, then, from a Royal Suite to a Penthouse. You know you are receiving it, but it is hard to put into words what "it" is. However, "it" is what makes it difficult to move back down again for many people.

 

Having said that, your chances of getting specialty restaurant booking are no less from booking a cruise last minute. There is only one reservation per time slot allocated online pre-cruise and I doubt many more are allocated off line. Most reservations are only available once on board.

 

However, many people find that they are no longer interested in booking the specialty restaurants if they are able to eat in Luminae, so you may find that specialty restaurant availability is no longer an issue. Until Luminae, we only ate in the specialty restaurants but, on our latest cruise, we were extremely disappointed when we tried them and are unlikely to bother again, except perhaps for lunch.

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LabGuy64

LabGuy64

Posted
Posted

Perhaps some of the cruisers with multiple experiences in RS and PH level will mention some of the things that might be asked for...(that they asked for) that would have been denied at a lower level booking.

 

 

 

By "unlimited attention" it is my guess that Curt is referring to the almost undefinable step up in service you receive moving from a Celebrity Suite to a Royal Suite and, then, from a Royal Suite to a Penthouse. You know you are receiving it, but it is hard to put into words what "it" is. However, "it" is what makes it difficult to move back down again for many people.

 

Having said that, your chances of getting specialty restaurant booking are no less from booking a cruise last minute. There is only one reservation per time slot allocated online pre-cruise and I doubt many more are allocated off line. Most reservations are only available once on board.

 

However, many people find that they are no longer interested in booking the specialty restaurants if they are able to eat in Luminae, so you may find that specialty restaurant availability is no longer an issue. Until Luminae, we only ate in the specialty restaurants but, on our latest cruise, we were extremely disappointed when we tried them and are unlikely to bother again, except perhaps for lunch.

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need2bespoiled

need2bespoiled

Posted
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Susan states what I tried to rather well. Good examples are hard to remember by but one I can think of was I had mentioned to my butler I was having a hard time finding a chair by the pool but we had an issue with our balcony. Without reserving a chair or anything to impact other cruisers he insisted on helping and found a spot we liked, out if the way but by the pool and hard chairs delivered from who knows where for 3-4 of us. It all seemed like magic. Hard to think that would have been done in a SS.

 

Another example is the way laundry may be handled. They would closely follow published rules for how fast you'd get it back and when you can send your last load in a SS. We've received faster service and closer to the end of the cruise than we should have in higher level suites

 

Another example may be flowers or fruit. They're really is t a comparison for what is offered.

 

I'm sure others will have examples but it is hard to quantify a service level to some extent. It's just higher.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Project_gal

Project_gal

Posted
Posted (edited)
Perhaps some of the cruisers with multiple experiences in RS and PH level will mention some of the things that might be asked for...(that they asked for) that would have been denied at a lower level booking.

 

It really is not the case of "asking" for anything special, as Jenna indicated. Most examples are very difficult to describe but I can think of a couple of things.

 

My husband was speaking to the [british] Executive Chef on Eclipse and mentioned a "proper English roast beef dinner" and how he was trying to describe it to a new American friends. This grew into a special meal for 6 in our suite with a selection of starters and deserts [all laid out on tables in our suite] with a main course of a roast beef dinner - arranged in chaffing dishes. This was all served by our butler. Set up started when we went for lunch and, by the time we returned there was the Executive Chef, Assistant Head of Housekeeping, the Maitre d' Specialty Restaurants and at least six others in our suite setting up for the meal. It was truly a night to remember.

 

And a very different example: We went ashore in Petropavlovska but had to return to the ship early because a bus had driven through a puddle covering me with freezing water. We returned to our suite and I immediately changed out of my clothes. Our butler asked why we had returned early and we explained. He insisted on taking my clothes and had them laundered and returned to us the same day - all with no charge.

 

As I said, just two very different examples and in neither case did we ask for anything.

Edited by Project_gal
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obxgirl

obxgirl

Posted
Posted

We were in the Penthouse suite on the Equinox. It was amazing. If I remember correctly, it was 1200 sq. feet. The bedroom itself was larger than most cabins. The bathroom was all marble with a hydrotherapy tub, two sinks, a rain shower for two and a separate toilet and bidet. There was a hydrotherapy tub on the deck and the deck was about five times larger than a standard deck with two chairs and a table, a table for four, and a lounger. The sitting area included a sofa and two chairs, a grand piano, a table for six, and a bar. We had a walk in closet in addition to another closet and a second full bathrom. We were allowed to select two bottles of liquor of our choice and mixers plus we had access to the mini bar. We had a wonderful butler who provided white tablecloth room service on the deck or the dining room table when requested along with our choice of cappucino or latte at any time. We loved Michaels Club where they kept my favorite vodka, Christiana. We visted there each night to enjoy the quiet or the special entertainment. We were fortunate to be able to upgrade from a Celebrity suite for a reasonable price and would do it again in a minute. If you ever get the chance, go for it.

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msweebee

msweebee

Posted
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We have sailed both CS and RS (never PH or Sky) and have found very little difference in service provide by Butler. Actually have had better service in CS (and best butler ever) in CS. Please know that we are low maintenance passengers and book for space rather than service. After an experience in first RS several years ago when I asked 2 days in advance for table to be set for breakfast for 6 you would have thought that I was asking for the impossible. Luckily hosting cheese and wine party predinner for 18 went much better!

 

The bath in RS is awesome as compared to bath in CS, in particular the CS shower is near impossible to get out of if you are 5'1". The RS master bath has plenty of space, perhaps near size of standard cabin, and we have found each has been well maintained even in the oldest of S class ships. The extra half bath is wonderful in RS. And both CS and RS have a separate bedroom which is what keeps me coming back to X now. A suite on other ships (including X's Sky) is not a suite if it is one large room to us! I am sure I have missed some 2 room suites but also the smoking policy is a deciding factor for us. We have yet to ever use the "tub" on balcony in RS and consider it a waste of real estate and would be better used for outdoor dining or more room around the lounger(s).

 

All that said I can do either CS or RS depending on pricing and our prior RS experience has been on S class since we prefer midship and location on M class is low (6) and towards aft but we are booked on Infinity in RS early 2016. But best perk of all has been Michael's Club; we look forward to Luminae in Nov after being bored with mostly specialty dining the last several cruises although there are a few items in main dining room that are standouts but not like in the old days when we started cruising.

 

No matter what you book, ENJOY and perhaps ask what your Butler can do for you to besides walking you to a reserved seat at show.

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soxfan2013

soxfan2013

Posted
Posted
Thank you for your suggestions as to Celebrity Suite. Sounds good and there is consensus on this. Still wondering what the differences are among the top suites? Is it just room size or other perks involved?

 

Thanks again,

ddcruiser

 

I've seen the cost difference between a CS and RS close to departure be pretty small, and the difference in benefits can be significant, including: starting w RS, you get unlimited free meals in the specialty restaurants, complimentary premium drink package, 2 bottles of complimentary booze for your room, unlimited wi-fi for the entire cruise, two full bathrooms, and a hot tub on the balcony.

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Project_gal

Project_gal

Posted
Posted
I've seen the cost difference between a CS and RS close to departure be pretty small, and the difference in benefits can be significant, including: starting w RS, you get unlimited free meals in the specialty restaurants, complimentary premium drink package, 2 bottles of complimentary booze for your room, unlimited wi-fi for the entire cruise, two full bathrooms, and a hot tub on the balcony.

 

Just in case someone lands on this and reads it out of context, there are only two bathrooms on S-class ships. Only one bathroom on M-class ships.

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  • 2 weeks later...
need2bespoiled

need2bespoiled

Posted
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One of the suite benefits is reserved theater seating on formal nights. Where are the seats or can you ask your butler or the Michael's concierge for specific seating?

 

They are generally two rows, center, lower level, 2-3 rows down from the top that are roped off. Butlers wait at the top of the stairs and escort you to one of these seats until 10-15 minutes before showtime when they are released to the general public.

 

Butlers generally ask if you'll be going to the show so they know to be there and maybe roughly how many seats to hold. We've never really had a bad seat in the house, just some bad shows that would be bad regardless of where we sat.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

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Lonedaddy

Lonedaddy

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They are generally two rows, center, lower level, 2-3 rows down from the top that are roped off. Butlers wait at the top of the stairs and escort you to one of these seats until 10-15 minutes before showtime when they are released to the general public.

 

Butlers generally ask if you'll be going to the show so they know to be there and maybe roughly how many seats to hold. We've never really had a bad seat in the house, just some bad shows that would be bad regardless of where we sat.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

Thank you

 

Another question for the suite experts, On the dinner room service what menu(s) can you order from ? Luminae, the MDR, specialty?

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