How Sweet Will The Suite Life Be On The Edge?

[WonderMan3]

Just to chime in here regarding the Retreat...

 

There is a bar in the Retreat. It is up on the sundeck and is full-size with seating at the bar and a good-sized seating area with tables. I imagine that most people using the Retreat will be spending their time up on the deck so the bar would be convenient to that. No, there is not an actual bar in the lounge, but from what has been advised by those onboard there will be staff to take drink orders and bring them to you at your seat in the lounge. Also, the bar up on the deck is open until midnight each day, so unless it's poor weather, you can go up there and enjoy an evening cocktail and it should be much less crowded than the Sunset Bar. That is a plus to me to have another outdoor bar that you can enjoy in the evening or at sunset but not as crowded. The seating in the lounge is more comfortable than bar seats and you can actually sit around and engage with other guests face to face instead of craning to look around someone at a bar. It  also looks like there is much more seating than Michael's Club and it is spacious. One of my complaints about Michael's Club when it's busy is that it is so cramped and crowded which is why I've always generally avoided it. This lounge looks much more comfortable and inviting. Additionally you can also enjoy outdoor seating at the lounge without having to go up to the sundeck with lovely sea views. That is a big gain on Michael's Club.

 

To compare to The Haven, yes the NCL ships have a bar inside their lounge but that's the only one. There is not an additional bar on either of the two sundecks, so that's a wash in my mind. If you prefer an indoor bar then you will see a plus with NCL. If you prefer an outdoor bar then you'll see a plus with Celebrity. (If you want both then you'll need to cruise with MSC) It does look like NCL has a slightly better sundeck dining menu with a few more choices but there's is not overly large either. When it comes to dining, the Haven restaurant has a larger menu but you have to remember that their menu does not change nightly except they might possibly have one special entree (when I cruised the special was the same each time we dined); Luminae's menu changes on a nightly basis giving you overall a wider variety of choice by the end of the cruise. Yes, the other Celebrity ships let you order from the MDR menu but that food quality is inferior. On NCL you can order from specialty restaurants in The Haven restaurant but it is generally discouraged as it is a lot of work for the staff and food temperatures don't work well, plus you have to pay whatever the specialty fee is. The food quality of Luminae vs. The Haven is also much higher. And as for the concierge, yes it looks like The Haven has a larger concierge desk. The Retreat has two concierges on staff. I'm sure both will be on duty at busy times just like on NCL. As long as they can answer your questions and provide the services you need it's a bit irrelevant as to how big their desk is. My biggest complaint about The Retreat would be the placement of Luminae which is two decks down from the lounge below the spa. I'm totally baffled as to how that design came to be and why they wasted valuable front view space on the spa when it could've been used to position Luminae at the fore of the ship similar to MSC's Yacht Club. Overall though, from what I'm seeing so far things look on a pretty even keel between The Haven and The Retreat. I'll reserve final judgment after my Edge cruise which starts next week. I was in a Haven suite in January so I'll be able to compare them easily enough. I do think that MSC has both of them beat as far as executing a true suite experience based on how everything is totally congregated in one area with amazing views at the front of the ship for lounge, restaurant and sundeck. I'll reserve final judgement on them to next September when I do a side to side cruise in Europe.

 

I think everyone really needs to experience this Retreat and see how it meets or doesn't meet your own personal needs before rendering a final opinion.

[MizDemeanor]

Lets us know. Thx. 

[Dr. Cocktail]

1 hour ago, WonderMan3 said:

Just to chime in here regarding the Retreat...

 

I think everyone really needs to experience this Retreat and see how it meets or doesn't meet your own personal needs before rendering a final opinion.

 

Great post!

 

In the past year, I have done two Yacht Clubs on Seaside and The Haven on Escape.

 

For whatever reason, I still love the Haven for numerous reasons. Shade on the pool deck, nicely designed suites and lots of specialty restaurants to choose froml

 

The Yacht Club is great with its design and venues but there's generally a lack of shade and the food in the YC dining room is mediocre at best.

[hvsteve1]

I see a menu charging for drinks at the bar. Do they also charge inside?  Why charge when any suite guest will normally have a premium beverage card?  According to the "X" description of suites, the beverage card is not referred to as a "perk" but a "benefit".  As for no bar in the lounge, at Michael's Club most people got their drinks from servers, anyway. I didn't get the impression most people preferred to sit at the bar.

[TeeRick]

11 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

Just to chime in here regarding the Retreat...

 

There is a bar in the Retreat. It is up on the sundeck and is full-size with seating at the bar and a good-sized seating area with tables. I imagine that most people using the Retreat will be spending their time up on the deck so the bar would be convenient to that. No, there is not an actual bar in the lounge, but from what has been advised by those onboard there will be staff to take drink orders and bring them to you at your seat in the lounge. Also, the bar up on the deck is open until midnight each day, so unless it's poor weather, you can go up there and enjoy an evening cocktail and it should be much less crowded than the Sunset Bar. That is a plus to me to have another outdoor bar that you can enjoy in the evening or at sunset but not as crowded. The seating in the lounge is more comfortable than bar seats and you can actually sit around and engage with other guests face to face instead of craning to look around someone at a bar. It  also looks like there is much more seating than Michael's Club and it is spacious. One of my complaints about Michael's Club when it's busy is that it is so cramped and crowded which is why I've always generally avoided it. This lounge looks much more comfortable and inviting. Additionally you can also enjoy outdoor seating at the lounge without having to go up to the sundeck with lovely sea views. That is a big gain on Michael's Club.

 

To compare to The Haven, yes the NCL ships have a bar inside their lounge but that's the only one. There is not an additional bar on either of the two sundecks, so that's a wash in my mind. If you prefer an indoor bar then you will see a plus with NCL. If you prefer an outdoor bar then you'll see a plus with Celebrity. (If you want both then you'll need to cruise with MSC) It does look like NCL has a slightly better sundeck dining menu with a few more choices but there's is not overly large either. When it comes to dining, the Haven restaurant has a larger menu but you have to remember that their menu does not change nightly except they might possibly have one special entree (when I cruised the special was the same each time we dined); Luminae's menu changes on a nightly basis giving you overall a wider variety of choice by the end of the cruise. Yes, the other Celebrity ships let you order from the MDR menu but that food quality is inferior. On NCL you can order from specialty restaurants in The Haven restaurant but it is generally discouraged as it is a lot of work for the staff and food temperatures don't work well, plus you have to pay whatever the specialty fee is. The food quality of Luminae vs. The Haven is also much higher. And as for the concierge, yes it looks like The Haven has a larger concierge desk. The Retreat has two concierges on staff. I'm sure both will be on duty at busy times just like on NCL. As long as they can answer your questions and provide the services you need it's a bit irrelevant as to how big their desk is. My biggest complaint about The Retreat would be the placement of Luminae which is two decks down from the lounge below the spa. I'm totally baffled as to how that design came to be and why they wasted valuable front view space on the spa when it could've been used to position Luminae at the fore of the ship similar to MSC's Yacht Club. Overall though, from what I'm seeing so far things look on a pretty even keel between The Haven and The Retreat. I'll reserve final judgment after my Edge cruise which starts next week. I was in a Haven suite in January so I'll be able to compare them easily enough. I do think that MSC has both of them beat as far as executing a true suite experience based on how everything is totally congregated in one area with amazing views at the front of the ship for lounge, restaurant and sundeck. I'll reserve final judgement on them to next September when I do a side to side cruise in Europe.

 

I think everyone really needs to experience this Retreat and see how it meets or doesn't meet your own personal needs before rendering a final opinion.

 

Thank you for the excellent summary!

[DachshundsRule]

Interesting discussion. My husband loves the privacy and pampering (cool cloths, fruit skewers, intimate feel) of The Haven but I’m not crazy about parts of NCL - the cigarette smoke that permeates everything around the casino, the idea of go karts on the latest ships. I think I’ll love the design of Edge (will know next week) but the Retreat is a different animal, do more people = less pampering?, we don’t love the sun so the pool deck looks challenging, etc. They really are different concepts and Celebrity is a little late to the game but we’re hoping they’ve thought it all through. 

[MizDemeanor]

1 hour ago, DachshundsRule said:

Interesting discussion. My husband loves the privacy and pampering (cool cloths, fruit skewers, intimate feel) of The Haven but I’m not crazy about parts of NCL - the cigarette smoke that permeates everything around the casino, the idea of go karts on the latest ships. I think I’ll love the design of Edge (will know next week) but the Retreat is a different animal, do more people = less pampering?, we don’t love the sun so the pool deck looks challenging, etc. They really are different concepts and Celebrity is a little late to the game but we’re hoping they’ve thought it all through. 

What I have noticed is the vast amount of seating. I agree that equates to more people. I think It a very good question as to what the level of service will be particularly when cocktail bars that are present in these areas on other ships provide an experience that is not being covered to some degree. 

 

I imagine that that there will need to be quite a bit of staff just for drink orders. And sometimes that means a bit of a wait. 

 

I am am anxious to hear in the near term how this works out. 

 

[vtcruising]

One thing I noticed in my short suite stint was the branding of the Retreat. It starts in the terminal with a Retreat sign to head up to the Retreat terminal lounge, to the Retreat Lounge, Retreat Sundeck, Luminae at the Retreat, special towels with the Retreat design, plates in Luminae with the design, Sea Pass cards and even the chocolates given to suite guests. The design (fronds) is simple and elegant, IMO, and it looks like it will carry over to the Revolutionalized ships as they have Retreats installed.

 

Here are some examples of the Retreat design that I've found so far. The terminal picture didn't come out but there was one at the entrance to the suite lounge at the terminal.

 

New Suite SeaPass Cards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea Salt Caramels (Sky Suite)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2018 by vtcruising

[RICCruisers]

22 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

Just to chime in here regarding the Retreat...

 My biggest complaint about The Retreat would be the placement of Luminae which is two decks down from the lounge below the spa. I'm totally baffled as to how that design came to be and why they wasted valuable front view space on the spa when it could've been used to position Luminae at the fore of the ship similar to MSC's Yacht Club. Overall though, from what I'm seeing so far things look on a pretty even keel between The Haven and The Retreat. I'll reserve final judgment after my Edge cruise which starts next week. I was in a Haven suite in January so I'll be able to compare them easily enough. I do think that MSC has both of them beat as far as executing a true suite experience based on how everything is totally congregated in one area with amazing views at the front of the ship for lounge, restaurant and sundeck. I'll reserve final judgement on them to next September when I do a side to side cruise in Europe.

 

I enjoyed reading your take on Retreat. My only definite disagreement with you is your  comment about the placement of Luminae. You suggest they should have placed it where the Spa/Fitness Center is located. That area is the only place on Edge that Non-Suite passengers can get a forward view now that the Retreat has replaced the Sky Lounge from S Class ships. All passengers should have the opportunity to see where we are going, not just where we have been.  Not everyone that cruises has the financial resources to afford a Suite. 

PS - The Deck area outside of the Fitness Center is my DW’s favorite place to take a mat and do some yoga.  That is her Retreat. 

Edited November 30, 2018 by RICCruisers
Added comment

[WonderMan3]

14 minutes ago, RICCruisers said:

I enjoyed reading your take on Retreat. My only definite disagreement with you is your  comment about the placement of Luminae. You suggest they should have placed it where the Spa/Fitness Center is located. That area is the only place on Edge that Non-Suite passengers can get a forward view now that the Retreat has replaced the Sky Lounge from S Class ships. All passengers should have the opportunity to see where we are going, not just where we have been.  Not everyone that cruises has the financial resources to afford a Suite. 

PS - The Deck area outside of the Fitness Center is my DW’s favorite place to take a mat and do some yoga. 

 

According to a few posts I've seen from the pre-cruises, that outside deck is only accessible when you purchase a pass to the Thermal Suite (or get automatic access if you are in Aqua Class). I'm sure someone will correct me if the information I saw was wrong.

[RICCruisers]

Oh No. That is Strike 1 for Edge says my DW if true. She’s done yoga out there in Alaska, Caribbean and the Med. 

[MizDemeanor]

1 hour ago, vtcruising said:

One thing I noticed in my short suite stint was the branding of the Retreat. It starts in the terminal with a Retreat sign to head up to the Retreat terminal lounge, to the Retreat Lounge, Retreat Sundeck, Luminae at the Retreat, special towels with the Retreat design, plates in Luminae with the design, Sea Pass cards and even the chocolates given to suite guests. The design (fronds) is simple and elegant, IMO, and it looks like it will carry over to the Revolutionalized ships as they have Retreats installed.

 

Here are some examples of the Retreat design that I've found so far. The terminal picture didn't come out but there was one at the entrance to the suite lounge at the terminal.

 

New Suite SeaPass Cards

 

 

 The Fonds are quite nice. Aside from the Pool Bar, have you located any other bar in the Retreat Lounge area that was mssing from the deck plans? Where does one get a drink in the Retreat Lounge? Have you been able to determine? Does the guest have to fetch from anoher bar or is there ample bar sevice roving wait staff to accommodate the seated guests? 

 

Glad you are up and about and feeling perky and none worse for the wear. Thank You for all of your determined and focused efforts. You are amazing!

[vtcruising]

1 hour ago, MizDemeanor said:

 The Fonds are quite nice. Aside from the Pool Bar, have you located any other bar in the Retreat Lounge area that was mssing from the deck plans? Where does one get a drink in the Retreat Lounge? Have you been able to determine? Does the guest have to fetch from anoher bar or is there ample bar sevice roving wait staff to accommodate the seated guests? 

 

Glad you are up and about and feeling perky and none worse for the wear. Thank You for all of your determined and focused efforts. You are amazing!

Thanks, I'm not feeling very perky tonight....😉  Post #137 gives some details on why corporate decided not to have  a bar in the Lounge, but you will be served lovely drinks with the same great service most likely.

[MizDemeanor]

20 minutes ago, vtcruising said:

Thanks, I'm not feeling very perky tonight....😉  Post #137 gives some details on why corporate decided not to have  a bar in the Lounge, but you will be served lovely drinks with the same great service most likely.

 

Thanks for that insight....it like in the Theatre....behind the curtain....well brands and liquor guns. Oh boy. 

 

Get a good nights sleep, you have had one busy, busy week. And Thanks again from me for all that you have done and continue  to do. You are just as Amazing as Amazing can get. 

 

We LOVE YOU!!!!

Edited November 30, 2018 by MizDemeanor

[vtcruising]

1 hour ago, MizDemeanor said:

 

Thanks for that insight....it like in the Theatre....behind the curtain....well brands and liquor guns. Oh boy. 

 

Get a good nights sleep, you have had one busy, busy week. And Thanks again from me for all that you have done and continue  to do. You are just as Amazing as Amazing can get. 

 

We LOVE YOU!!!!

I'm missing my butler calling to check on me and the bottles of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries - Edge withdrawal!

[TeeRick]

Marilyn- When in the Retreat area did you ever ask any Celebrity staff or management about whatever happened to the Hippie Van?  Just curious......

[vtcruising]

2 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Marilyn- When in the Retreat area did you ever ask any Celebrity staff or management about whatever happened to the Hippie Van?  Just curious......

Found it! Instead of loungers on our balconies, we each get a hippie van to recline in: ✌️

 

[vtcruising]

Seriously, I asked Joao, concierge in the Retreat, who is amazing, and he knew nothing about it. He wants to see the pictures though.😎

[TeeRick]

Thanks.  Hopefully they sold it and can buy some loungers for the balconies with the money!

Edited December 2, 2018 by TeeRick

[C-Dragons]

2 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Thanks.  Hopefully they sold it and can by some loungers for the balconies with the money!

Lol !

Btw, I agree !

[MizDemeanor]

I guess the loungers may make it to Apex after all the disappointments expressed here. -OR- they can use the ones on board here as a swap for the Revolutionizing of the other ships and get us all new ones now. 

[WonderMan3]

Are any of the people expressing disappointment here going to be in a Celebrity Suite or higher on Edge? I know there was one person in a CS on here posting somewhere. If not then I'm not sure why people would be getting upset. Loungers don't come with Sky Suites on S-class ships either save for when someone asks their butler or room attendant to bend the rules and bring them one. (I can't speak to M class well as I've only been on one ship)  Edge was not promoted to have loungers in Sky Suites so people should not have been expecting any. For the other suites, it looks like they all had either daybeds or loungers in CS and on up, so if they are not present then that would be a bit of bait and switch. People can't complain about something not being there if it was never offered in the first place.

[Oville]

16 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

Are any of the people expressing disappointment here going to be in a Celebrity Suite or higher on Edge? I know there was one person in a CS on here posting somewhere. If not then I'm not sure why people would be getting upset. Loungers don't come with Sky Suites on S-class ships either save for when someone asks their butler or room attendant to bend the rules and bring them one. (I can't speak to M class well as I've only been on one ship)  Edge was not promoted to have loungers in Sky Suites so people should not have been expecting any. For the other suites, it looks like they all had either daybeds or loungers in CS and on up, so if they are not present then that would be a bit of bait and switch. People can't complain about something not being there if it was never offered in the first place.

Here’s what was advertised:

 

 

Not this:

Edited December 2, 2018 by Oville

[C-Dragons]

12 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

Are any of the people expressing disappointment here going to be in a Celebrity Suite or higher on Edge? I know there was one person in a CS on here posting somewhere. If not then I'm not sure why people would be getting upset. Loungers don't come with Sky Suites on S-class ships either save for when someone asks their butler or room attendant to bend the rules and bring them one. (I can't speak to M class well as I've only been on one ship)  Edge was not promoted to have loungers in Sky Suites so people should not have been expecting any. For the other suites, it looks like they all had either daybeds or loungers in CS and on up, so if they are not present then that would be a bit of bait and switch. People can't complain about something not being there if it was never offered in the first place.

I was never expecting a lounger on my aft S1suite, but I was expecting the same type of furniture depicted in all of the renderings of them that have not changed since they were first revealed. What is actually on the verandahs “are a bit of bait and switch”. You are correct, the Sky Suites on the S-Class ships do not have loungers, but they have regular outdoor furniture including a table that can actually be used to have a meal served on.

[WonderMan3]

27 minutes ago, Oville said:

Here’s what was advertised:

 

 

Not this:

 

Yes. Different style of chair was promoted. We had those discussions about that chair swap when we saw the photos coming in from the transatlantic crossing. People aren't complaining about that chair change anymore (which would be a reasonable complaint), they are complaining about loungers which were not promoted.