Is the Sky Suite Experience that Much Better than Aqua?

[jagoffee]

EagleRocker, I agree.

I find your Celebrity Suite comment interesting.  My wife and I will not cruise in a Celebrity suite.  I know it is a true suite with a separate bedroom, but the fact that the bedroom does not have a view to the option leads us to not booking it.  Might be different if we had a party of three. The Celebrity suite although bigger has the same suite benefits.  The Royal Suite is a great upgrade.

Was this the reason why you liked the corner S1 better?

Thanks

[MizDemeanor]

I did not like the RS, I will take the CS any day over the RS.

 

On S class.....

[EagleRocker]

Jagofee:  We had a Celebrity Suite on an M Class, so cannot speak to the CS on an S Class; maybe I would like that, but to be honest, the pictures I have seen do not make it look significantly more appealing than the S Class Sky Suite and possibly even less so unless it was one of the ones with the large angled balconies, which look nice.  I was not bothered that the M Class CS bedroom did not have a view - I actually liked that the bedroom was like a dark cave, because I am a bad sleeper and appreciated how quiet and dark it was.  Plus at the end of the 14-night trip, I got sick with some respiratory thing and my husband kindly slept out on the couch that last night; it was good for us both to have that option.  Liked the double closets.  HATED the bathroom. It is in the bedroom about three feet from the end of the bed, so you will wake up your partner if you use it, whereas in the aft S1, there is a sufficient physical separation that allows the other person to not get woken up.  The M Class bathroom is very small and the tub/shower combo is dangerous IMHO.  We were ok with it (did not like but handled), but I think that anyone short or with balance or mobility issues would have found it daunting getting in and out.  I am really puzzled by that poor design choice.  Also did not love the added-on balcony - the width is fine but pretty narrow and no wind protection.  The living area was good - I LOVED having a real table with real chairs, because we like to do Room Service breakfasts - I do not think S Class CSs have that.  The benefits are not really much more than with a Sky Suite, other than you get a call from a Concierge ahead of time asking if there is anything that he or she can do, and I was able to request that a bottle of wine be in the room for embarkation rather than the usually crappy sparkling wine (maybe it is fine, I just don't like it).  The Royal Suite seems like a big upgrade from both, but sadly, I have not been fortunate enough yet to experience one of those.

The main reasons we loved our Deck 12 aft corner S1 on the Reflection (and I assume the same on other S Class ships) were:  room was very large and spacious feeling, with lots of light coming in; great bathroom for what is the lowest level suite, plenty big and nice; fantastic views, both from the balcony and the side porthole window; aft location was quiet; and we loved the Deck 12 overhang, which was not as big an overhang as on the side S2s but just enough to be protective (I am pale so did not feel like I was frying when out there, even though there was plenty of sun).  We have an aft (non-corner) S2 on our upcoming cruise, so I will get to try that soon.

[warmwinds]

On 3/14/2019 at 8:09 PM, jagoffee said:

Susan, I forgot the part about your Suite being a corner suite SS1.

 My DW and I have cruises in the S1 corner suites many times and we loved it every time. We never noticed much vibration, so it might depend on your deck.  We prefer the deck 12 location, because we like the shade of the overhang.

The Royal Suites is even better, but that is a totally different product with many extra benefits.  (At a significant increase in cost) Your corner Aft suite will be great.

Enjoy.

Will be in our first suite (a SS on M class) in a few months.  Can someone remind me what the extra benefits of a Royal Suite are that we'll be missing in our Sky Suite?

[jagoffee]

EagleRocker, thank you for the detailed explanation.

[chemmo]

2 hours ago, warmwinds said:

Will be in our first suite (a SS on M class) in a few months.  Can someone remind me what the extra benefits of a Royal Suite are that we'll be missing in our Sky Suite?

 

Premium drinks package

Unlimited speciality dining

Laundry

WiFi

Bar set up in suite

Personal escort onboard

Usually a higher level of attention from butler/concierge 

Better room

 

For us the speciality dining is a great bonus and we do enjoy a much nicer room, bathroom and balcony.

 

We are not fans of the CS in either class of ship, we like a view from our bed!

[warmwinds]

6 hours ago, chemmo said:

 

Premium drinks package

Unlimited speciality dining

Laundry

WiFi

Bar set up in suite

Personal escort onboard

Usually a higher level of attention from butler/concierge 

Better room

 

For us the speciality dining is a great bonus and we do enjoy a much nicer room, bathroom and balcony.

 

We are not fans of the CS in either class of ship, we like a view from our bed!

Thank you.  We won't be missing anything of importance to us that we don't already have.

[cruisinsusin]

17 hours ago, EagleRocker said:

OP, you will love your upgrade to an after corner S1.  We had a Deck 12 corner S1 on Reflection an 11-night Med (Turkey, Italy and Greece) cruise and it was fantastic. Large and comfortable room (probably my all-time favorite, even more so than a more recent Celebrity Suite).  Sitting on the curved balcony as we made our way through the Dardanelles is a very fond memory, as are the wonderful expansive views we got of Istanbul heading in and out.  The views from the corner really are expansive and great.  Loved the side porthole window; it made there room so light and airy seeming.  Great bathroom and great service.  Minimal to no noise from above.  People often express concern about that with respect to the after Deck 12 rooms, but we did not experience it and it was a fairly warm weather cruise, so people were using the outside Bar area above. No hallway noise being at the back of the ship, and the wake view is glorious.  We did not experience any vibrations or other back of ship issues that might cause discomfort.  Hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Thanks- we are looking forward to the extra light from the porthole window as well as the extended balcony. Agree that aft is generally quieter as not much traffic in the hallways

[cruisinsusin]

On 3/14/2019 at 11:09 PM, jagoffee said:

Susan, I forgot the part about your Suite being a corner suite SS1.

 My DW and I have cruises in the S1 corner suites many times and we loved it every time. We never noticed much vibration, so it might depend on your deck.  We prefer the deck 12 location, because we like the shade of the overhang.

The Royal Suites is even better, but that is a totally different product with many extra benefits.  (At a significant increase in cost) Your corner Aft suite will be great.

Enjoy.

The aft corner (and the fact that after all was said and done it cost us only $350 pp)  is what sold us on the upgrade!

 

[cruisinsusin]

On 3/15/2019 at 11:01 AM, kenevenpar said:

Caution.  IIRC, there are a couple of s1's on Reflection with quite small balconies on Deck 6, if that is important to the OP.

 

Thanks- I did research the aft balconies before we booked and noted that the ones on 6 has the small balconies.

[Lastdance]

On 3/14/2019 at 8:12 PM, Oville said:

How about the noise from above on deck 12?  We have two booked, Equinox and Silhouette.  Thanks, Katie

 

Hi Katie...having stayed on deck 12, in an S1 corner aft, I can say that you will hear some scraping-like noises early in the morning and in the evening.  The noises are not awful, but just inconvenient.  However, I love the S1 corner afts on S class, so I took it knowing that ahead of time!  I guess it just depends on your hearing and tolerance levels...more of an overhang than the other S1 afts, as they have just a little.

Edited March 17, 2019 by Lastdance

[travel1light]

11 hours ago, chemmo said:

 

Premium drinks package

Unlimited speciality dining

Laundry

WiFi

Bar set up in suite

Personal escort onboard

Usually a higher level of attention from butler/concierge 

Better room

 

For us the speciality dining is a great bonus and we do enjoy a much nicer room, bathroom and balcony.

 

We are not fans of the CS in either class of ship, we like a view from our bed!

Are the benefits also included through booking Royal with a successful move up bid? 

 

And does unlimited speciality dining include the a la carte restaurants?

 

 Thanks. 

[jagoffee]

11 hours ago, travel1light said:

Are the benefits also included through booking Royal with a successful move up bid? 

 

And does unlimited speciality dining include the a la carte restaurants?

 

 Thanks. 

Yes and yes.

[chemmo]

11 hours ago, travel1light said:

Are the benefits also included through booking Royal with a successful move up bid? 

 

And does unlimited speciality dining include the a la carte restaurants?

 

 Thanks. 

 

Can’t answer the first we have never managed a RS bargain!

 

The speciality restaurants and bistro are included. We love dining in Murano’s and Tuscan several times per cruise. When the shoreside concierge contacts you pre cruise you can make your provisional bookings then. Once on board we ask for the Luminae menus for the week, look and see which evenings we may dine there (we find the service great but the menu limited) then ask the butler to reschedule if we need to.

 

 

[LA_CA_GAL]

I will add:

 

In Micheal's club we were able to meet the Captain on a couple of our visits there.

With the suite, we were given the bridge tour, which was fantastic.  Really enjoyed that.

Debarkation was also nice, waiting relatively comfortably in Michael's and being first off was great.

 

 

[chemmo]

35 minutes ago, LA_CA_GAL said:

I will add:

 

In Micheal's club we were able to meet the Captain on a couple of our visits there.

With the suite, we were given the bridge tour, which was fantastic.  Really enjoyed that.

Debarkation was also nice, waiting relatively comfortably in Michael's and being first off was great.

 

 

 

I agree, I think many first time suite guests board and don’t realise that Michael’s Club is more than a place to drink. 

 

Like you we have enjoyed a range of tours, the meet the officers event, enjoyed music performances  and  had an occasional issue sorted by the concierge. We don’t often attend afternoon tea preferring to have it delivered to our suite but it is very nicely done. As you say, so nice to wait in Michael’s at the end of the cruise then be escorted off at a time that suits you.

 

Then,  of course, Michael’s offers very attentive bar service, a great range of drinks, comfortable ambience and opportunities to meet new friends.

Edited March 18, 2019 by chemmo

[kenevenpar]

1 hour ago, LA_CA_GAL said:

I will add:

 

In Micheal's club we were able to meet the Captain on a couple of our visits there.

With the suite, we were given the bridge tour, which was fantastic.  Really enjoyed that.

Debarkation was also nice, waiting relatively comfortably in Michael's and being first off was great.

 

 

 

And, we also were invited, as were all suite guests on our cruise, to a helipad viewing of our departure from Bayonne.

[kenevenpar]

20 hours ago, cruisinsusin said:

Thanks- I did research the aft balconies before we booked and noted that the ones on 6 has the small balconies.

👍.  Good, I would hate to see someone get that surprise.

[Cyber Kat]

We are doing our first Celebrity cruise on Equinox next spring.  It will also be our first time in a suite - Sky Suite.

Have any of you stayed in SS 1403?  Do you have photos?  I have heard there are poles in the aft corners and I was wondering where it might be.  I've never encountered a room with a pole.  Also is there an overhang?  We like a little shade

[Oville]

19 hours ago, Lastdance said:

 

Hi Katie...having stayed on deck 12, in an S1 corner aft, I can say that you will hear some scraping-like noises early in the morning and in the evening.  The noises are not awful, but just inconvenient.  However, I love the S1 corner afts on S class, so I took it knowing that ahead of time!  I guess it just depends on your hearing and tolerance levels...more of an overhang than the other S1 afts, as they have just a little.

 

Thanks, we sleep with the White Noise app’s “Stream Water Flowing” so hopefully it will drown out the the early morning scrapping.

[BDL]

On 3/17/2019 at 5:45 AM, chemmo said:

 

Premium drinks package

Unlimited speciality dining

Laundry

WiFi

Bar set up in suite

Personal escort onboard

Usually a higher level of attention from butler/concierge 

Better room

 

For us the speciality dining is a great bonus and we do enjoy a much nicer room, bathroom and balcony.

 

We are not fans of the CS in either class of ship, we like a view from our bed!

Hi chemmo,

Someone told me there is a special luggage drop off for Royal Suite - is that true?  We are in our first RS in December. 

 

[chemmo]

2 minutes ago, BDL said:

Hi chemmo,

Someone told me there is a special luggage drop off for Royal Suite - is that true?  We are in our first RS in December. 

 

 

Yes that is correct in some ports including Fort Lauderdale, Barcelona and Southampton. Look on arrival for the ‘Special Delivery’ sign. Your luggage will be taken off you and you will be escorted through security to suite check. By the time you are checked in another member of staff will be waiting to escort you to Michael’s (not that we really need escorting, we know the way) but it is a nice touch! From arrival to having a glass of bubbles in hand about 10/15 minutes.

 

I have not cruised from the new Edge terminal in Fort Lauderdale, perhaps someone else can describe if the system is different with the new suite area. If you are cruising from another port I suggest you start a new post to ask if they have the ‘special delivery’ service. When the shoreside concierge contacts you he/she should also be able to give advice as well as finding out about your bar set up, dining, other requests.

 

Have a fantastic RS Cruise!

 

[BDL]

Thanks chemmo - We're on Equinox out of Ft Lauderdale.  We've been in Sky Suites before and we're really looking forward to the Royal!

[chemmo]

5 minutes ago, BDL said:

Thanks chemmo - We're on Equinox out of Ft Lauderdale.  We've been in Sky Suites before and we're really looking forward to the Royal!

 

We cruise on Equinox in September, look out for when I post. We are looking forward to cruising a ship post Revolution but I hope it is a simple soft furnishings change in the RS as it does have a really nice ‘flow’.

 

Make sure you have a chat with your butler and let him know of any extras you may fancy. We usually on boarding give him a copy of our email to the shoreside concierge which lists the drinks we want in our room and our dining requests. The speciality dining is a great perk. We love to dine in Murano’s and Tuscan several times per cruise. As a ‘regular’ in a speciality they get to know your table preferences, pace of service and even sometimes will cook you an off menu item.

 

Also have a chat with the concierge, they often set up a few events for higher suite guests. On Reflection, for example, a bridge tour with the Captain followed by lunch with officers in Blu (about 20 guests invited).

 

Any more questions just ask...

[BDL]

4 hours ago, chemmo said:

 

We cruise on Equinox in September, look out for when I post. We are looking forward to cruising a ship post Revolution but I hope it is a simple soft furnishings change in the RS as it does have a really nice ‘flow’.

 

Make sure you have a chat with your butler and let him know of any extras you may fancy. We usually on boarding give him a copy of our email to the shoreside concierge which lists the drinks we want in our room and our dining requests. The speciality dining is a great perk. We love to dine in Murano’s and Tuscan several times per cruise. As a ‘regular’ in a speciality they get to know your table preferences, pace of service and even sometimes will cook you an off menu item.

 

Also have a chat with the concierge, they often set up a few events for higher suite guests. On Reflection, for example, a bridge tour with the Captain followed by lunch with officers in Blu (about 20 guests invited).

 

Any more questions just ask...

Thanks for all the great advice!