Suite Manager - new position?

[Cruising Princess]

I just read that Celebrity has created a new position called Suite Manager. Does anyone have details about their role and duties? Does this person replace the Michael's Club hostess?

[kk99]

Hi, Just off the Equinox sailing 7-16-23, 2017. The first suite manager is Anca Cenea, a former Michael's Club concierge. She is on Equinox for four months. Anyone who has interacted with her before will be very happy to see her again. Jole Jacoby is the currently serving excellent Michael's Club host. The Equinox is the first ship to try out this new position and their duties are separate but compliementary. Anca was doing anything to help out the suite guests from arranging special dinners, celebrations, problems with any of the suites, overseeing the butlers, etc. It frees up the Concierge to have more time to do their duties, such as the welcome letters, events for the current passengers and the documents for the following cruise. Whereas the Michael's Club host spends most of their work hours in the lounge, the suite manager goes wherever needed during their work hours. For instance this past week, Anca arranged a surprise birthday dinner for a gentleman celebrating his 91st birthday, a former Naval Captain who turned 18 on Omaha Beach during the D Day invasion. The Chief Engineer and Captain both stopped by his birthday celebration. His wish when he blew out his custom cake, was to have as wonderful a time as he did on this birthday, hopefully on a Celebrity Cruise. The gentleman's wife had only asked for the small complimentary cake be delivered at dinner, and instead got his favorite type of cake and a much larger one than the ones I have seen before. Anca made it a very memorable evening for the couple.

 

The other trial program currently being done on Equinox only, is for the higher level suites to enter between stations 9 and 10 at the pier for Celebrity embarkation, and you are met by a Celebrity representative who escorts you through to expedited check in and onto the ship, and also your baggage goes on a separate luggage cart which is delivered to your room and waiting as soon as the rooms are ready to occupy. It was a nice touch and if it works well, they may expand it to other ships.

[ipomoeagirl@gmail.com]

From this job posting, it looks like it is above the MCC and reports directly to GRM.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/401201294

[johhnnyt]

Does make sense to have someone below the HD and GRM to deal with problems/issues with suite guests. It does appear that on Edge class they won't have a Michael's club but instead have the Retreat Lounge for suite guests, the Suite Manager position will already exist when the Edge class comes to life.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Sounds like a good adjunct to the MC concierge, who is often overwhelmed. Perhaps they will phase out the shore side concierge and re assign the duties to the MC concierge.

[2NHcruisers]

This sounds like a great change. Looking forward to experiencing it!

[hcat]

Hope they do something similar for AQ class.,there is supposdly a Concierge to help with spa appts etc but hever actually met one!

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We came across the CC class Concierge several times in the library on Silhouette while waiting for our suite to be serviced. Is there suppose to be a separate concierge for Aqua Class or just the Spa Concierge?

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Love the early luggage delivery idea. Hope that gets rolled out to all ships.

[DiamondSuiteCruiser]

The luggage thing sounds much like star class on RCCL larger ships. That was wonderful they took our luggage straight to our room, our room was ready as soon as we boarded, the Genie escorted us on the ship straight to our room. The last night you do not put your luggage like everyone else, the morning of departure you go to breakfast and let your Genie know and he has your luggage taken down to a special area. After breakfast you let the Genie know when you are ready to go, and he comes and escorts you off the ship to our luggage, where the baggage carrier is waiting to take your luggage to your car or taxi. I hope it will be a lot like that. That was the Best experience we've ever had on RCCL! Very detailed and personal.

[wrk2cruise]

Will be nice to see Anca again in Sept. I'm excited to see this new program and it will be interesting to see how the rolls are split.

[Orator]

Anca would be perfect for this position. Look forward to seeing her in August

[TommyD3]

The other trial program currently being done on Equinox only, is for the higher level suites to enter between stations 9 and 10 at the pier for Celebrity embarkation, and you are met by a Celebrity representative who escorts you through to expedited check in and onto the ship, and also your baggage goes on a separate luggage cart which is delivered to your room and waiting as soon as the rooms are ready to occupy. It was a nice touch and if it works well, they may expand it to other ships.

 

Also just off Equinox. Wondering if the new luggage program also applies to Zenith? Don't know how that would work since baggage handlers don't know what Zenith is. We were checked in by the normal Suite / Zenith desk, not escorted through to expedited check in. Zenith still get the Silver folder like the top level suites and are normally escorted onto the ship. No priority thru customs on disembarkation in Miami like they had at Terminal 18 in Port Everglades.:(

[Straughn]

We are on the Sept. 4 Equinox sailing, in a CS. My birthday occurs while we are on the cruise. It will be interesting to see how much of the program has been rolled out. Would love the early baggage delivery. I don't expect a big fuss over the birthday as it is not a significant one (doesn't end in 0 or 5!)

[H2OH!]

 

The other trial program currently being done on Equinox only, is for the higher level suites to enter between stations 9 and 10 at the pier for Celebrity embarkation, and you are met by a Celebrity representative who escorts you through to expedited check in and onto the ship, and also your baggage goes on a separate luggage cart which is delivered to your room and waiting as soon as the rooms are ready to occupy. It was a nice touch and if it works well, they may expand it to other ships.

 

Do you know if a celebrity suite is included in the early luggage delivery? I hope so! we are on equinox in December so hoping t hey are still piloting the process and we qualify :)

[Straughn]

Do you know if a celebrity suite is included in the early luggage delivery? I hope so! we are on equinox in December so hoping t hey are still piloting the process and we qualify :)

 

 

I would think it would be. We have always had an escort onto the ship when in a CS. Generally when ~X~ says upper level suites, they are referring to CS and above.

[StanleyVA]

kk99:

Anca was our MC concierge in April '16 for a TA. She was better than fantastic! I have said that I wouldn't book a cruise dependent on a particular staff member, but if Anca was my concierge, or suite manager, it would certainly weigh in on my decision.

Any chance that you got a business card with her email? I'd love to drop her a note.

George

gww.pog@verizon.net

[CruiseTimeAgain2]

Sounds interesting. I wonder what the timetable is to roll it out to other ships?

[cruiseerf]

I knew this was being done and I am happy to see it is rolling out. Anca is fantastic and a perfect person for this job....Though the head butler Emir on Equinox is pretty fantastic as well. I am sure this will only add more value and services to suite guests, It should not be offered to Zeniths, they have enough. We are Zenith and constantly book suites....when there are too many Zenith's onboard (and there are growing numbers) they can monopolize Michaels club and the concierge and really "take away" from paying suite guests Michaels club experiences. IMHO Celebrity already provides Zenith members with a premium alcohol package, why do they need Michaels club as well?

 

These Michaels club improvements will be great for both the staff who can move up and around into different positions AND the Suite Guests who will only receive better services.....All good news!

[cruiseerf]

As and Aside, I just remembered that the Presidents cruise is coming up Onboard the Equinox, Aug 27th......That brings out a whole new set of nuts......This Suite manager position couldn't have been put into play sooner. I have no doubt there are going to be 20+ Zenith members and their spouses/partners onboard.....Michaels club is going to be busy busy. Safe travels to all!

[TommyD3]

As and Aside, I just remembered that the Presidents cruise is coming up Onboard the Equinox, Aug 27th......That brings out a whole new set of nuts......This Suite manager position couldn't have been put into play sooner. I have no doubt there are going to be 20+ Zenith members and their spouses/partners onboard.....Michaels club is going to be busy busy. Safe travels to all!

Last week we were told that there will be 19 Zeniths onboard the Presidents cruise.

Celebrity automatically gives a married spouse the same level even if they have never sailed on Celebrity.

So the 19 includes spouses.

[TommyD3]

Do you know if a celebrity suite is included in the early luggage delivery? I hope so! we are on equinox in December so hoping t hey are still piloting the process and we qualify :)

Asked Anca about the new program. Limited to Royal and Penthouse suites (just like the unlimited specialty dining). Coordinated with the shore side concierge allows a Celebrity rep to meet the guests outside the terminal and coordinate the luggage, check in and boarding. Nice new perk !!!

[TommyD3]

As and Aside, I just remembered that the Presidents cruise is coming up Onboard the Equinox, Aug 27th......That brings out a whole new set of nuts......This Suite manager position couldn't have been put into play sooner. I have no doubt there are going to be 20+ Zenith members and their spouses/partners onboard.....Michaels club is going to be busy busy. Safe travels to all!

We were on Equinox last week.

Total of 5 Zeniths onboard.

Were told that there were 100+ Blue Chip members who also had Michaels Club access.

On Reflection the lounge is the same size as Equinox but has 2X the suite guests due to the old AQ Suites being Sky Suites now.

The Zeniths are not the problem!

[Orator]

Some want to do for others. Some want to keep for themselves. I hope I'm in the first group.

[H2OH!]

Asked Anca about the new program. Limited to Royal and Penthouse suites (just like the unlimited specialty dining). Coordinated with the shore side concierge allows a Celebrity rep to meet the guests outside the terminal and coordinate the luggage, check in and boarding. Nice new perk !!!

 

Thanks for asking. On Reflection probably includes Sig Suite as gets the specialty dining and drink packages. Bummer about CS. I wish they would include this class more...we love the hump balconies on the CS. Much better than the RS balcony.