Have Suite Managers now rolled out across other ships?

[philpcruiser]

We were on the Allure in January and were not over stunned with the suite offerings. We were in the suite level below Genie. Just exactly what more does a Genie do for you than a butler/concierge.....

We were on the Anthem in the top suite (RLBS). The Genie was touted as being able to grant your every wish and make your cruise 'magical'. Our genie met us at check in and escorted us (with luggage) right to our suite. It would have been nice to be the first to board, but we were pushed aside by a large sized wedding party who were whisked ahead and rushed onto the ship. Our genie tried to do everything we asked for, but it seemed we had to ASK for everything. As Star class, we did get pushed ahead of the lines on the bumper cars and did get priority seating at the shows. Also, any specialty restaurant reservation was handled by the genie. The genie also got us a special meet with the cast of the production show. The genie was not able to get us onto Northstar at the times we requested (it seems everything on the Anthem needed a reservation). A butler on Celebrity seemed to always be available to bring anything you asked for to the room.

 

Unless we had a rookie genie, or the genie concept was new when we cruised, we still prefer the butler/concierge system on Celebrity.

[chemmo]

We were on the Anthem in the top suite (RLBS). The Genie was touted as being able to grant your every wish and make your cruise 'magical'. Our genie met us at check in and escorted us (with luggage) right to our suite. It would have been nice to be the first to board, but we were pushed aside by a large sized wedding party who were whisked ahead and rushed onto the ship. Our genie tried to do everything we asked for, but it seemed we had to ASK for everything. As Star class, we did get pushed ahead of the lines on the bumper cars and did get priority seating at the shows. Also, any specialty restaurant reservation was handled by the genie. The genie also got us a special meet with the cast of the production show. The genie was not able to get us onto Northstar at the times we requested (it seems everything on the Anthem needed a reservation). A butler on Celebrity seemed to always be available to bring anything you asked for to the room.

 

Unless we had a rookie genie, or the genie concept was new when we cruised, we still prefer the butler/concierge system on Celebrity.

 

 

Thanks for your answer, it pretty much matches up with what we heard and saw on Allure....I do understand what you mean about the ASK.....It fits in with our butler ratings....

 

A good butler does everything you ask him to do.

 

An excellent butler will do everything you ask him to do and do or suggest one or two things more.

 

An outstanding butler simply knows what you want before you even need to ask....

[philpcruiser]

A good butler does everything you ask him to do.

 

An excellent butler will do everything you ask him to do and do or suggest one or two things more.

 

An outstanding butler simply knows what you want before you even need to ask....

That's a very good rating system! The outstanding butler makes for a much more memorable trip.

[Momma Rene]

When do you speak/hear from the concierge or suite manager? Is it onboard or before you sail?

[philpcruiser]

When do you speak/hear from the concierge or suite manager? Is it onboard or before you sail?

We usually heard from the "shoreside" concierge around 7 to 10 days before sailing.

[groryjm]

When do you speak/hear from the concierge or suite manager? Is it onboard or before you sail?

 

We got our phone call on 29th Sept for our 8th Oct sailing (9 days) :cool:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Just to chime in - we had a "Royal Genie" on the Allure last May. Count us as not impressed as well. I will admit, Royal Caribbean sells it well, but what I was expecting and what we encountered was like night and day.

 

We've had at least 1 OUTSTANDING butler on Celebrity with the other dozen so a mix between GOOD and EXCELLENT (mostly "just" good).

 

The best butler experience we had was on the Equinox in 2016 when our butler took it upon himself to go off the ship in one of the ports to get flowers for Cheryl after learning that the order I had placed through Celebrity pre-cruise had been, essentially, forgotten. What a sight that was coming back to our cabin and finding this assortment - we had no idea this was in the works!!

 

 

Tom

[chemmo]

Just to chime in - we had a "Royal Genie" on the Allure last May. Count us as not impressed as well. I will admit, Royal Caribbean sells it well, but what I was expecting and what we encountered was like night and day.

 

We've had at least 1 OUTSTANDING butler on Celebrity with the other dozen so a mix between GOOD and EXCELLENT (mostly "just" good).

 

The best butler experience we had was on the Equinox in 2016 when our butler took it upon himself to go off the ship in one of the ports to get flowers for Cheryl after learning that the order I had placed through Celebrity pre-cruise had been, essentially, forgotten. What a sight that was coming back to our cabin and finding this assortment - we had no idea this was in the works!!

 

 

Tom

 

Now that definitely comes under 'outstanding!'

 

How thoughtful, I must say I do find the little cut off rose things a little sad, give me a real bouquet any day!

[Project_gal]

Thanks for your answer, it pretty much matches up with what we heard and saw on Allure....I do understand what you mean about the ASK.....It fits in with our butler ratings....

 

A good butler does everything you ask him to do.

 

An excellent butler will do everything you ask him to do and do or suggest one or two things more.

 

An outstanding butler simply knows what you want before you even need to ask....

 

The advice I always give is that you should also let your butler know what you want to achieve rather than how you think it should be achieved - this rating explains why.

 

With good butler, the result is the same.

 

With an excellent butler, he may well know a much better way of achieving the result you want.

 

With an outstanding butler, it helps him tune in his crystal ball.

[Project_gal]

Now that definitely comes under 'outstanding!'

 

How thoughtful, I must say I do find the little cut off rose things a little sad, give me a real bouquet any day!

 

We always board with our own huge bouquet of alstromeria - great value from most supermarkets in many places round the world and, as a number of butlers have told us, last better/longer than any other flower.

 

They also highlight both the differences in the ingenuity and skills of different butlers. Some take the bouquet, stick them in a vase and pick up the petals when they fall. Some take them to the on board florist, have them arranged and top up the water each day. And some have an artistic flair, arrange the flowers themselves and rearrange them as the cruise progresses so the they always look wonderful.

[chemmo]

The advice I always give is that you should also let your butler know what you want to achieve rather than how you think it should be achieved - this rating explains why.

 

With good butler, the result is the same.

 

With an excellent butler, he may well know a much better way of achieving the result you want.

 

With an outstanding butler, it helps him tune in his crystal ball.

 

Agree!

 

Our cruises have ranged from high intensity sight seeing, to reunions with friends to total crash out! Letting the butler know the purpose/focus of your cruise will definitely help him to help you....

[chemmo]

We always board with our own huge bouquet of alstromeria - great value from most supermarkets in many places round the world and, as a number of butlers have told us, last better/longer than any other flower.

 

They also highlight both the differences in the ingenuity and skills of different butlers. Some take the bouquet, stick them in a vase and pick up the petals when they fall. Some take them to the on board florist, have them arranged and top up the water each day. And some have an artistic flair, arrange the flowers themselves and rearrange them as the cruise progresses so the they always look wonderful.

 

Sue, I had seen you recommend these flowers before on CC and did not know what they were. I looked out for them in the Supermarket and bought some for home.

 

They were really beautiful and as you say lasted really well. Unfortunately as they were getting to their very best better half and I both started sneezing and had streaming eyes (we have the same response with lilies)! They still had so much life in them I gave them to my sister who enjoyed them for over another week!

 

Definitely a great choice to take on board.

[Project_gal]

Sue, I had seen you recommend these flowers before on CC and did not know what they were. I looked out for them in the Supermarket and bought some for home.

 

They were really beautiful and as you say lasted really well. Unfortunately as they were getting to their very best better half and I both started sneezing and had streaming eyes (we have the same response with lilies)! They still had so much life in them I gave them to my sister who enjoyed them for over another week!

 

Definitely a great choice to take on board.

 

What a shame! We now have them in pots in the garden as well. They have flowered beautiful all summer and are still in bloom now looking better than ever.

[chemmo]

What a shame! We now have them in pots in the garden as well. They have flowered beautiful all summer and are still in bloom now looking better than ever.

 

Well that will be my way to enjoy them next year!