Switching from Royal Suite to Celebrity Suite - what am I missing?

[MarLieb]

We just sailed in a RS on Summit over Christmas week and I booked the same week for 2019 on the Summit, but decided, to save some money ($4,000 to be exact!), to book a Celebrity Suite instead.  The room looks lovely (may probably look even lovelier after the refurb!) and will suit our family's needs just fine (me, my husband and 12-year old son).  It dawned on me, however, that many things that were included in the RS will not be included in the Celebrity Suite.  We will not get free specialty dining, free laundry, free mini-bar items (is that correct?) and my son will not get a free beverage package.  I know we will want to eat in Qsine (or any new restaurant that replaces it) and Sushi on 5, both of which we enjoyed twice on our last cruise.  I also did laundry twice as it really helps me cut down on packing.  My husband raided the mini-bar's diet cokes (he doesn't drink alcohol) and my son liked the occasional hot chocolate and virgin colada.  We do have the Go Best package with our suite and we have a total of $650 OBC.  Is there anything else I'm missing that isn't included in the Celebrity Suite that was included in the Royal?  I'm just trying to get a general sense of what are expenses might be (specialty dining, laundry, mini-bar, son's beverages, etc.).  I don't think they will add up to $4,000 (!), but just sort of want to be prepared for onboard costs going in.  Thank you for your help!

[George C]

Only small perk I can think of is luggage direct is free on large suite I believe, sounds like you be saving lots of money, we are looking forward to our celebrity suite on infinity. 

[RodPat]

What I like about the Royal Suite is the bathroom.  Celebrity suite on Summit we have been in and it is very hard to step into the tub.  Not much room to get in.  Once in the shower is great and I guess the jets work but I never tried it as I like to shower.  The bedroom is really nice and stays quite dark for sleeping.  The balcony could be wider but it is fine.  We have had that room before the balcony and after it was added.  $4000 saving is substantial and the suite is just fine.  I think you made a wise decision.  Also the Celebrity suites are very close to the elevators.

 

Pat

[NCHPcruiser]

We have been in Celebrity Suites on both the M and S class ships.  And while the M class CS's desperately need a refurb I think the space is much better (and larger) than on the S class and will work fine for the three of you.  I do agree with RodPat that the tub is very high to step into.  The bathrooms are much smaller as well.     We have also been in a RS (S-class) which was nice but for the two of us it is doubtful we would book again, even though the perks were nice, especially the unlimited specially dining.   Having the separate bedroom is important to us so we usually book CS's.  You can easily eat and drink what you like and have laundry done for a fraction of what you are saving.  

 

[chemmo]

We have visited a CS on M class but not stayed in one.

 

The living room area of the CS on M class is nice but we really didn’t like the totally inside bedroom and agree with RodPat re the tub in the bathroom but this would only be an issue if you are small or infirm.

 

Although you will not have a bar set up or free minibar in your room you can ask the butler to empty the minibar and then stock yourselves with unopened water, coke....You may find that your butler will still stock it anyway as you have a drinks package.

 

There is often an all you can fit in a bag laundry offer mid cruise, much cheaper than laundry per item so ask your butler about it. Also look out for a speciality dining package precruise, offers do come up and it saves ‘haggling’ once on board.

 

Contact by the shoreside concierge and being escorted on board are both more hit and miss in a CS than a RS but aren’t exactly key perks!

 

Hope you have a fantastic cruise!

 

[jelayne]

We find the CS on the M Class has a more open spacious feeling than the RS but the bath is small and tub is a challenge to enter and exit.  The balcony is very narrow and if it is forward facing, very windy when at sea. 

 

But for 4k on a M Class I would do the CS, especially if the cruise isn’t a repo/TA/TP.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Only small perk I can think of is luggage direct is free on large suite I believe, sounds like you be saving lots of money, we are looking forward to our celebrity suite on infinity. 

George, is luggage direct the same as Valet Luggage and is it available on ships sailing from San Juan?

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[George C]

11 minutes ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

George, is luggage direct the same as Valet Luggage and is it available on ships sailing from San Juan?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

Not sure what ports it’s available on normal cost is 25 per person and we used it at a couple of Florida ports, luggage is sent from ship to home airport but depends on time of your flight . 

[chill6x6]

2 hours ago, George C said:

Only small perk I can think of is luggage direct is free on large suite I believe, sounds like you be saving lots of money, we are looking forward to our celebrity suite on infinity. 

That WAS included with our CS in March 2018.

[Host Jazzbeau]

The CS tub isn't really that hard to step IN to – it's stepping OUT that can be life-threatening!

 

But maybe the Revolution will take care of this problem.  "A bas le bathtub!" 

[Tracefan]

2 hours ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

George, is luggage direct the same as Valet Luggage and is it available on ships sailing from San Juan?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

If luggage direct is the same thing as luggage valet, I’m pretty sure it’s only available in Florida ports and I think Seattle. Sadly not San Juan. 🤨

[crazyman3]

We've had CS four times on the Connie and the Silhouette ----all on the hump! Our cruise later this year is also a CS on the hump.

On the Millie we've had both a forward and backward facing suite.

 

The bath is awkward to climb out of.... on one cruise I was recovering from a knee-op and this made the climb even harder!

 

The SS on the Reflection was amazing when comparing it to a CS on Millie or Silly-Sillie! However, they're only on that ship.

 

I like the idea of asking the butler to clear the 'fridge' so that you can place your own drinks inside.

[Gordoncruickshank]

2 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

The CS tub isn't really that hard to step IN to – it's stepping OUT that can be life-threatening!

 

But maybe the Revolution will take care of this problem.  "A bas le bathtub!" 

It is the same on the S class in the CS and SS cabins. Hopefully they will install a separate shower (or remove the bath). We are on cruise no 27 next month and neither of us has used a bath (including those on the balconies of the RS) and the older you get the configuration of a shower within the bath becomes more and more dangerous.  

[Gordoncruickshank]

1 hour ago, crazyman3 said:

We've had CS four times on the Connie and the Silhouette ----all on the hump! Our cruise later this year is also a CS on the hump.

On the Millie we've had both a forward and backward facing suite.

 

The bath is awkward to climb out of.... on one cruise I was recovering from a knee-op and this made the climb even harder!

 

The SS on the Reflection was amazing when comparing it to a CS on Millie or Silly-Sillie! However, they're only on that ship.

 

I like the idea of asking the butler to clear the 'fridge' so that you can place your own drinks inside.

Do all the SS have showers on the Reflection. We have only been on it once in what was an AQ suite at the time on the hump but I assumed that this was only due to the Aqua type of room and that the regular SS including the S1s at the back would have the Shower in the bath configuration. 

[groryjm]

We have stayed in RSs and CSs on the S class ships and an RS on Connie while my sil had a CS. We also always travel as a 3 in the suite with my DD (now 19).

 

As 3 in the cabin we find the separate bedroom / living room works well and we would struggle in an SS with only on room at night. One advantage of the RS is the second bathroom , which with three can be a lifesaver. obviously you will lose the bath tub on the balcony which we like , though not something every one seems to like.

 

The Expedited luggage service (which I think is available in the US as well) is not like the luggage valet in Florida . When your taxi drops you at the port he will be directed to a separated area where a concierge is waiting with a list of 10 names (there being only ten suites that receive this service) your luggage is then labelled and taken direct to your room . We found that when we went to our cabin our bags were sitting in our living room waiting😎. I 'm not sure if this is the same service as in the US ports but I can't imagine we Brits get something you don't across the pond.

 

Price wise as we are drinkers and there are rarely free premium drinks packages or internet available for all pax in the UK, we find the cost of 3 premium drinks, 3 unlimited internet, a couple of bottles of premium spirits and a few speciality dinnings and a lunch or two at sushi on 5  usually come close to the difference in price. Though I have to confess that on our particular choice of 2020 cruise the price hike for 14 days worked out at £7k so we have opted for a CS for that one. Funnily enough 2 months after the bookings came out two thirds of the CSs and S2s along with both PHs have gone but none of the RSs are booked so perhaps X are pricing the RSs too high and prices my drop to fill the cabins.

 

One unwritten advantage of the RS experience is the way we have found we were treated. For example on our last cruise all the suite guests were offered a tour of the galley on the sea day and the RS and PH guests were offered a tour of the Bridge as well. We have always enjoyed these types of extra and while we have done the big galley tour offered to every one before found this one considerably more detailed.

[crazyman3]

3 hours ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

Do all the SS have showers on the Reflection. We have only been on it once in what was an AQ suite at the time on the hump but I assumed that this was only due to the Aqua type of room and that the regular SS including the S1s at the back would have the Shower in the bath configuration. 

 

I've just checked my photos: the SS have a good shower over the bath.... and it is a curtain job!

The 'wall' between the bathroom and the bedroom is adjustable from almost opaque (not really translucent) to transparent!

[crazyman3]

2 hours ago, groryjm said:

We have stayed in RSs and CSs on the S class ships and an RS on Connie while my sil had a CS. We also always travel as a 3 in the suite with my DD (now 19).

 

As 3 in the cabin we find the separate bedroom / living room works well and we would struggle in an SS with only on room at night. One advantage of the RS is the second bathroom , which with three can be a lifesaver. obviously you will lose the bath tub on the balcony which we like , though not something every one seems to like.

 

The Expedited luggage service (which I think is available in the US as well) is not like the luggage valet in Florida . When your taxi drops you at the port he will be directed to a separated area where a concierge is waiting with a list of 10 names (there being only ten suites that receive this service) your luggage is then labelled and taken direct to your room . We found that when we went to our cabin our bags were sitting in our living room waiting😎. I 'm not sure if this is the same service as in the US ports but I can't imagine we Brits get something you don't across the pond.

 

Price wise as we are drinkers and there are rarely free premium drinks packages or internet available for all pax in the UK, we find the cost of 3 premium drinks, 3 unlimited internet, a couple of bottles of premium spirits and a few speciality dinnings and a lunch or two at sushi on 5  usually come close to the difference in price. Though I have to confess that on our particular choice of 2020 cruise the price hike for 14 days worked out at £7k so we have opted for a CS for that one. Funnily enough 2 months after the bookings came out two thirds of the CSs and S2s along with both PHs have gone but none of the RSs are booked so perhaps X are pricing the RSs too high and prices my drop to fill the cabins.

 

One unwritten advantage of the RS experience is the way we have found we were treated. For example on our last cruise all the suite guests were offered a tour of the galley on the sea day and the RS and PH guests were offered a tour of the Bridge as well. We have always enjoyed these types of extra and while we have done the big galley tour offered to every one before found this one considerably more detailed.

 

Not really sure about how the allocate places for bridge and engine control room tours for suite guests... we've been on both as CS guests. As SS guests on Reflection we were also offered a galley tour as well as a bridge visit.

 

At Christmas (2016) on the Millie, I did notice that the concierge in MC had sorted out bottles of wine and cards for RS and above.

[Gordoncruickshank]

2 hours ago, groryjm said:

We have stayed in RSs and CSs on the S class ships and an RS on Connie while my sil had a CS. We also always travel as a 3 in the suite with my DD (now 19).

 

As 3 in the cabin we find the separate bedroom / living room works well and we would struggle in an SS with only on room at night. One advantage of the RS is the second bathroom , which with three can be a lifesaver. obviously you will lose the bath tub on the balcony which we like , though not something every one seems to like.

 

The Expedited luggage service (which I think is available in the US as well) is not like the luggage valet in Florida . When your taxi drops you at the port he will be directed to a separated area where a concierge is waiting with a list of 10 names (there being only ten suites that receive this service) your luggage is then labelled and taken direct to your room . We found that when we went to our cabin our bags were sitting in our living room waiting😎. I 'm not sure if this is the same service as in the US ports but I can't imagine we Brits get something you don't across the pond.

 

Price wise as we are drinkers and there are rarely free premium drinks packages or internet available for all pax in the UK, we find the cost of 3 premium drinks, 3 unlimited internet, a couple of bottles of premium spirits and a few speciality dinnings and a lunch or two at sushi on 5  usually come close to the difference in price. Though I have to confess that on our particular choice of 2020 cruise the price hike for 14 days worked out at £7k so we have opted for a CS for that one. Funnily enough 2 months after the bookings came out two thirds of the CSs and S2s along with both PHs have gone but none of the RSs are booked so perhaps X are pricing the RSs too high and prices my drop to fill the cabins.

 

One unwritten advantage of the RS experience is the way we have found we were treated. For example on our last cruise all the suite guests were offered a tour of the galley on the sea day and the RS and PH guests were offered a tour of the Bridge as well. We have always enjoyed these types of extra and while we have done the big galley tour offered to every one before found this one considerably more detailed.

I think you need to look at booking onboard as, for the last couple of years you get the Premium Drinks, free internet, Free gratuities and $300 on board spend and the price is usually what you pay at home without those.

[cangelmd]

8 hours ago, chemmo said:

 

Although you will not have a bar set up or free minibar in your room you can ask the butler to empty the minibar and then stock yourselves with unopened water, coke....You may find that your butler will still stock it anyway as you have a drinks package. 

 

 

 

 

OK, it's early morning here, and my brain isn't quite working, but I've heard other people mention this, and I've never understood.

If you ask the butler to empty the minibar in the suite, and then he notices you have drink packages and he refills the minibar with water and soda, etc - how is that different? On our last cruise I noticed that the minibar contained regular looking drinks, because I had wondered about that.

I'm sure there's an obvious answer, woke up at 3 am this morning and couldn't go back to sleep!

[Gordoncruickshank]

15 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

 

OK, it's early morning here, and my brain isn't quite working, but I've heard other people mention this, and I've never understood.

If you ask the butler to empty the minibar in the suite, and then he notices you have drink packages and he refills the minibar with water and soda, etc - how is that different? On our last cruise I noticed that the minibar contained regular looking drinks, because I had wondered about that.

I'm sure there's an obvious answer, woke up at 3 am this morning and couldn't go back to sleep!

If the butler is any good he will be able to comp out anything you take from the minibar provided you have a drinks package to cover them.

 

To be honest we usually just get the stateroom attendant to empty the fridge and fill it up with stuff we get in Michaels or in the bars.

[cangelmd]

50 minutes ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

If the butler is any good he will be able to comp out anything you take from the minibar provided you have a drinks package to cover them.

 

To be honest we usually just get the stateroom attendant to empty the fridge and fill it up with stuff we get in Michaels or in the bars.

 

The second part of your reply is what we have done.

 

In terms of the butler (or your room steward for that matter) refilling or not emptying the minibar of people with Premium drink packages, I guess they don't want to encourage you to drink more (less profit) by keeping the minibar full. Our last cruise was a TA, so we were onboard for 15 nights in AQ, I thought about asking the steward to put 4 waters and a six-pack of Diet Coke in the mini-bar for us (didn't seem unreasonable for 2 weeks) but I just got waters myself.

[MarLieb]

2 hours ago, cangelmd said:

 

The second part of your reply is what we have done.

 

In terms of the butler (or your room steward for that matter) refilling or not emptying the minibar of people with Premium drink packages, I guess they don't want to encourage you to drink more (less profit) by keeping the minibar full. Our last cruise was a TA, so we were onboard for 15 nights in AQ, I thought about asking the steward to put 4 waters and a six-pack of Diet Coke in the mini-bar for us (didn't seem unreasonable for 2 weeks) but I just got waters myself.

Thank you for your replies, everyone!!  I showed my husband pictures of the bath/shower in the CS and he said, for a savings of $4K, he can deal!  I'm also hoping they may fix that configuration a bit in the refurb, so we shall see!  

 

Right now, we are on deck 7 of the Summit in 7140, so I think our balcony faces aft?  So, perhaps, we will avoid the wind.  We definitely don't need a bathtub on our balcony.  We didn't even use the one on our RS balcony.

 

Thank you for the tips on the possible "fill a bag" laundry deal mid-cruise (I'll definitely look for that!), specialty dining pre-purchase deals and asking the butler to empty the mini-fridge and just filling it ourselves.  Great tips!  To cangelmd's point above, we actually found that our RS butler was really reluctant to refill our fridge even though we were in a RS, had the premium bev package AND only drank soda and water.  We certainly weren't drinking Celebrity out of house and home, so to speak.  We also never attended the sail-aways or galley tours, so that's not really a concern (or worth $4K!).

 

I'll definitely keep checking prices to see if the RS cost comes down enough to justify switching.  Our CS already came down $2.5K since I booked!  I just had a little bit of ticket shock when comparing pricing from our December 2018 cruise to the exact same cruise dates in 2019 (same ship, same dates).  The cost of our 2019 CS is, basically the cost of our 2018 RS.  I understand they have to pay for these refurbs, but a 40% price hike felt a bit much to me.  Still happy we can continue cruising in a lovely CS, however!

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Another problem with the CS on M class is the only access to the bathroom is through the bed room.  On the S class there is a separate entrance from the living area which makes it nice if 3 people are sharing the suite.

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 hours ago, MarLieb said:

I'll definitely keep checking prices to see if the RS cost comes down enough to justify switching.  Our CS already came down $2.5K since I booked!

 

Did you get this price cut?  Our TA was always able to get them for us (before final payment).  On a Med cruise on Connie in 2016 we went from an AQ to an SS to a CS and ended up paying less than the original AQ price!

[jagoffee]

3 hours ago, MarLieb said:

Thank you for your replies, everyone!!  I showed my husband pictures of the bath/shower in the CS and he said, for a savings of $4K, he can deal!  I'm also hoping they may fix that configuration a bit in the refurb, so we shall see!  

 

Right now, we are on deck 7 of the Summit in 7140, so I think our balcony faces aft?  So, perhaps, we will avoid the wind.  We definitely don't need a bathtub on our balcony.  We didn't even use the one on our RS balcony.

 

Thank you for the tips on the possible "fill a bag" laundry deal mid-cruise (I'll definitely look for that!), specialty dining pre-purchase deals and asking the butler to empty the mini-fridge and just filling it ourselves.  Great tips!  To cangelmd's point above, we actually found that our RS butler was really reluctant to refill our fridge even though we were in a RS, had the premium bev package AND only drank soda and water.  We certainly weren't drinking Celebrity out of house and home, so to speak.  We also never attended the sail-aways or galley tours, so that's not really a concern (or worth $4K!).

 

I'll definitely keep checking prices to see if the RS cost comes down enough to justify switching.  Our CS already came down $2.5K since I booked!  I just had a little bit of ticket shock when comparing pricing from our December 2018 cruise to the exact same cruise dates in 2019 (same ship, same dates).  The cost of our 2019 CS is, basically the cost of our 2018 RS.  I understand they have to pay for these refurbs, but a 40% price hike felt a bit much to me.  Still happy we can continue cruising in a lovely CS, however!

I had to check after reading your posts.  I sure I am glad that I do not desire or need to cruise over the Christmas break.

Your 7 day cruise for 2019 and 2020 reflect over $2100 a day for an RS.  (Assuming 2 people).  I am shocked that anyone would ever pay that much for even a RS.

 

I know you are booking with 3 people, but 2 people is my experience base.

 

Obviously it would be very difficult to justify that kind of cost on Celebrity.