Royal Suite - Star Class Benefits Shrinking??

[stevekc]

Matt: you seem you seem to be able to answer alot a lot of questions here, maybe you can handle this one. We just received and sent back the "get to know you" questionnaire. We are sailing star class on Oct.1. When will we be or should be hearing from our genie? We have several requests and hope not to miss out on getting getting the request 'granted'.

 

Regarding my experience, we are sailing on September 25th. (Oasis) We received the general questionnaire on Monday (this week) and just this evening I received the personal welcome from our Genie.

He asked when we "planned" upon arrival at the terminal, what type of celebratory drinks we might prefer to sail away and has taken the liberty of booking our dinner at the chefs table for the 1st. night.

So I'm impressed with the speed of service.

Steve

Edited August 27, 2016 by stevekc

[galba]

 

Ultimate Bev package, all specialty dining, and all the other perks, and the best - escorted on and off the ship in MINUTES - made it all more than worth it for us.

 

So for star class there is a priority line when leaving and boarding at all ports?

[philpcruiser]

Regarding my experience, we are sailing on September 25th. (Oasis) We received the general questionnaire on Monday (this week) and just this evening I received the personal welcome from our Genie.

He asked when we "planned" upon arrival at the terminal, what type of celebratory drinks we might prefer to sail away and has taken the liberty of booking our dinner at the chefs table for the 1st. night.

So I'm impressed with the speed of service.

Steve

 

By personal welcome, do you mean by email or phone? Also, what was his reply when you told him your planned port arrival time?

[MattInFLL]

Matt: you seem you seem to be able to answer alot a lot of questions here, maybe you can handle this one. We just received and sent back the "get to know you" questionnaire. We are sailing star class on Oct.1. When will we be or should be hearing from our genie? We have several requests and hope not to miss out on getting getting the request 'granted'.

 

 

 

We got our personal email about 2 weeks out but it depends on the Genie and how busy they are with current guests. And no, no phone calls - just email.

 

I am a total cruise planner. I want it all worked out before I arrive. And so it can be hard to " let go" but I would be comfortable getting on board with no pre planning and getting everything arranged. The Genies tend to get it done.

 

And I always tell people to put their really special requests in the questionnaire. They do read them. At least ours did.

[MattInFLL]

As to getting on and off the ship, I was talking about embarkation and debarkation. But the genies will make arrangements to walk you off the ship on port days, and I am sure they would arrange to meet you near the gang way to avoid long lines coming back as well. Although I've never really noticed a problem with getting on or off the ship in ports unless it's a tender port.

 

Arrival times are 11:30 to 12:30 ish. They need time to prep the suites so if you get there early they are still probably not going to be able to get you into your suite before about 11: 15 or so, and of course they can't get anybody on the ship until the ship has cleared and boarding has started. So if you're like many who want to get to the pier at 10 AM, you will be sitting in a special area waiting for boarding to begin.

 

But remember, everybody else is waiting until 1 PM to get into their cabin so you'll be in your cabin with your luggage unpacked and ready to enjoy your cruise while most people are still in line or milling about with their carry-on bags.

[stevekc]

By personal welcome, do you mean by email or phone? Also, what was his reply when you told him your planned port arrival time?

 

It was by email, and I haven't responded to him yet.

However my plan was to let him know we are planning to arrive at the terminal at 11.

[terkov]

I want to call out there are no star class lines except for zip lining and surfing. Your genie does NOT meet to walk you off on port days to ensure you get where you need to to. Ours stated only when you get on day one ( whom we were not brought on by ours but another) and when you disembark. Port days you are in long lines like everyone else looking for signs of where to go.

[terkov]

We also just got our bill with several issues. I asked our genie about these charges and was told I will look into it but don't think I can reverse them. What?!?! Really?!? Even Target adjusts a receipt if you were charged twice!

[thecoconut]

We also just got our bill with several issues. I asked our genie about these charges and was told I will look into it but don't think I can reverse them. What?!?! Really?!? Even Target adjusts a receipt if you were charged twice!

 

 

I think the other person that had your genie also had issues with their bill. I'm so sorry your experience hasn't been what it should have been.

 

 

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[kjc852]

We just disembarked from Allure and we too had been charged under two different sea passes for an extra tip given at 150 Park though the tip was only left on one of the accounts. This was identified to our Genie, Marla, and the extra charge was reversed the following day.

 

At Labadee, we did ask our genie to escort us off the ship and she was more than pleased to do so. Again the service was not suggested or anticipated by the Genie, but provided without question once I made the inquiry. We did not feel we needed or desired this escorted service in Jamaica or Cozumel, however I do believe Marla would have been happy to escort us if we desired.

 

Disembarking today went extremely well. We met Marla at Vintages at a prearranged time of 8:15 and was out waiting for a cab by 8:30. Valet luggage was especially convenient for my wife and I, yet the bags were waiting near customs for the others in our suite who were not able to use this service.

 

Show and dinner reservations were made at our requested schedule. We were asked to be slightly flexible on two nights (+ or - 30 minutes of the time we asked) and had no problem accommodating. I can attest that our Genie, together with the other Genies, arranged/reserved the best seats for all shows we attended in the Amber Theater or Studio B. Having the Aqua Thearer Suite on Deck 8, we watched all shows there from our balcony. Only minor issue is the audio of the shows was difficult to hear, however the convenience and comfort of viewing the shows from the suite far outweighed the audio issue.

[Deb04103]

Having the Aqua Thearer Suite on Deck 8, we watched all shows there from our balcony. Only minor issue is the audio of the shows was difficult to hear, however the convenience and comfort of viewing the shows from the suite far outweighed the audio issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Deb04103]

Oops...meant to quote that part, then ask if you had any photos of the suite.

 

 

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[jayyfree]

Have they stopped the complimentary In-Suite movies also

[kjc852]

Have they stopped the complimentary In-Suite movies also

 

Have a few photos of the suite and wraparound balcony, however having a problem uploading here. I will be happy to email them if you wish.

 

Keith

[kjc852]

Have they stopped the complimentary In-Suite movies also

 

I can not confirm if the movies are still a perk or not as we did not try to watch any.

 

I can confirm the hand crafted cocktails continue as every afternoon a rolling cart arrived at our suite with a list of that day's special cocktails, a list of about 8 different cocktails. Don't believe any of us took advantage of cocktails for at that time we were usually taking a breather from the drinks we enjoyed on the pool deck and pacing ourselves for drinking later at dinner and the shows.

[Campione49]

Booked in Star. When do you start receiving information from Genie?

[Clarea]

Booked in Star. When do you start receiving information from Genie?

Week or so before the cruise.

[RFerrington]

We received our Genie questionnaire about 6 weeks before (our cruise is Feb 11). I am looking for the more personal, welcome from the Genie.

[rclibertygirl5]

We are less than 5 weeks out and still haven't received our Genie questionnaire..... Sailing on Harmony 2/18. Is this unusual?

Edited January 15, 2017 by rclibertygirl5

[A&L_Ont]

We are less than 5 weeks out and still haven't received our Genie questionnaire..... Sailing on Harmony 2/18. Is this unusual?

 

Three weeks is roughly when the survey arrives. The week before you sail is when you will hear from the Genie.

[MattInFLL]

Three weeks is roughly when the survey arrives. The week before you sail is when you will hear from the Genie.

 

 

 

Wow. I'm always amazed when these older threads come back to life. :)

 

Thanks to the incomparable Royal IT dept you could get the questionnaire anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks out. I think ours was about 5, but we were in the first month of the program.

 

I strongly suggest using the questionnaire to tell them all of your preferences that you can. As I've said before - probably in this thread - I know from personal experience your Genie reads it. Even though the questions can be kind of bizarre, you can find a way to answer to clue them in to your expectations.

 

The "personal" email they should send to you one or two weeks out will cover your dining and show requests. (And give you a chance to reiterate anything special from the questionnaire.)

[rrzj]

After reading a pretty scathing review of the Royal Genie on Harmony, I'm a little nervous. We're booked in Star Class in a couple of months and have called several times to better understand how to reserve cabanas in Labadee and have been told multiple times that that happens with the genie only after you board. Does anyone know if that's true? I read other posts about people booking them beforehand.

 

Thanks!!

[TrojanUSC]

After reading a pretty scathing review of the Royal Genie on Harmony, I'm a little nervous. We're booked in Star Class in a couple of months and have called several times to better understand how to reserve cabanas in Labadee and have been told multiple times that that happens with the genie only after you board. Does anyone know if that's true? I read other posts about people booking them beforehand.

 

Thanks!!

 

I just read the review to which you were most likely referring. While it seems that the service they received was not quite up to standards (the nut allergy), I do think maybe they didn't quite understand the offering in general. I've had four different Genies, as I mentioned in another post. Rarely do they show up with something "special." Their job isn't to show up with unexpected treats or invite you to special things out of thin air. It's to help make your every wish come true. They are basically a personal concierge who will do their best to make your cruise what you want it to be.

 

Also, I think that poster is also using a very out of date description of Genie services. Frankly I'd be humiliated to ask any of my Genies to unpack for me or shine my shoes. It's just not their job. One of those things that, in practice, turned out to be different than maybe it was on paper. They are not butlers, but rather really connected VIP hosts.

 

Importantly, I've had some Genies who proactively will try to help you with your day, while others require a bit more "management." Either way, you need to be forthcoming with your Genie about your expectations and stay in contact on a regular basis. Don't email them. Call their phone extension. It's the best way.

 

Here are some of the things where they've been helpful:

 

- Arranging special/unique room service deliveries from speciality dining venues

- Reserving seats at the shows, bars and nightclubs

- Booking/managing dinner reservations as needed

- On-board activities (Flowrider, etc)

- Last minute requests to ensure your wait time is minimal (i.e. want to eat at Sabor in 20 minutes? Call the Genie, they'll have a table ready)

- Assistance planning unique Shore Excursions (both private and public)

- Guest Services assistance (expediting the queue should you need to visit GS, resolving account inquiries, etc)

- Escorting you off the ship at your designated time

- Party planning

Edited January 17, 2017 by TrojanUSC

[A&L_Ont]

After reading a pretty scathing review of the Royal Genie on Harmony, I'm a little nervous.

 

Thanks!!

 

 

I just read the review to which you were most likely referring. While it seems that the service they received was not quite up to standards (the nut allergy), I do think maybe they didn't quite understand the offering in general. I've had four different Genies, as I mentioned in another post. Rarely do they show up with something "special." Their job isn't to show up with unexpected treats or invite you to special things out of thin air. It's to help make your every wish come true. They are basically a personal concierge who will do their best to make your cruise what you want it to be.

 

I'm trying to find that review and I must just be missing it. Can either of you provide a link?

 

Trojan, we too would never ask the Genie to unpack, pack, or shine our shoes. We do all those things at home ourselves and we can sure do the same tasks while on holidays.

 

I do like your favourite sampler meal served in your cabin. I just told my wife about that and we will be doing that this March. MMM.:)

[RFerrington]

- Reserving seats at the shows, bars and nightclubs

 

I knew they could reserve specific seats for you at shows but didn't realize they could/would reserve seats at bars or nightclubs. Interesting

 

Can the Genie hold a sundeck "cabana" (or whatever they're called) for you ?