Retreat Lounge vs Retreat Sun Deck

[Welland]

Is it possible to explain why a Suite Guest may have drinks of choice in the Retreat Lounge but if one chooses to relax on the Retreat Sun Deck and have lunch there drinks are not complimentary unless one has a drink package.     Does that mean that one can remove a drink from the Retreat Lounge and proceed to the Retreat Sun Deck, order lunch and drink with the complimentary drink from the Retreat Lounge?  

 

Any insight you can provide would help to make our decision as to whether or no to continue with suite bookings for the future.

 

Thank you.

[hvsteve1]

The Retreat Lounge continues the Michael's Club custom of free drinks.  Not all suite passengers have a beverage package. For example, we were on the 3-night EDGE preview cruise and, because it was so short, suites did not get the usual perks, including the premium beverage package.  We stayed on board for the 7-night inaugural cruise and the usual perks were in effect.  I gather "X" does not want to extend free drinks to a regular bar, even one on a suites-only deck. On a normal cruise everyone there will probably have the beverage card.

[chemmo]

3 hours ago, Welland said:

Is it possible to explain why a Suite Guest may have drinks of choice in the Retreat Lounge but if one chooses to relax on the Retreat Sun Deck and have lunch there drinks are not complimentary unless one has a drink package.     Does that mean that one can remove a drink from the Retreat Lounge and proceed to the Retreat Sun Deck, order lunch and drink with the complimentary drink from the Retreat Lounge?  

 

Any insight you can provide would help to make our decision as to whether or no to continue with suite bookings for the future.

 

Thank you.

 

Whilst the suite lounge has always offered free drinks unless you are in a top suite that includes a premium drinks package suite guests have never automatically had free drinks in any other area. However, as suites usually come with ‘perks’ as part of their pricing this means  that on most cruises suite guests have a drinks package so do get free drinks throughout the ship. However, on certain cruises like TAs and TPs  perks are not offered but you do have the option to purchase a drinks package.

 

Simply, you need to look at the details of the cruise you are considering and decide if the suite package meets your needs/wants. 

 

If you are looking at a TA or a TP with no drinks package offered you could price up a RS  or PH which have a premium package attached to the room (not a perk). Ironically these suites often loose out on the perk offers that other suite guests enjoy as a ‘free perk’ of a drinks package is meaningless as you already have one.

 

In our experience you can take drinks from the suite lounge but unless you are cruising on Edge the suite lounge, restaurant and deck are some distance apart making carrying drinks more difficult unless you stick to bottles and cans. We have seen guests, for example, regularly taking wine to Luminae. 

[chemmo]

 

Sorry for posting above too late to edit and delete...just realised I am not on the general site...Look forward to to seeing official response.

[hvbaskey]

On ‎7‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 8:19 PM, Welland said:

Is it possible to explain why a Suite Guest may have drinks of choice in the Retreat Lounge but if one chooses to relax on the Retreat Sun Deck and have lunch there drinks are not complimentary unless one has a drink package.     Does that mean that one can remove a drink from the Retreat Lounge and proceed to the Retreat Sun Deck, order lunch and drink with the complimentary drink from the Retreat Lounge?  

 

Any insight you can provide would help to make our decision as to whether or no to continue with suite bookings for the future.

 

Thank you.

 

When we were on the Millennium in May 2019, they extended the offerings of the Lounge to the Sun Deck.  

The policy (for that ship, anyways), apparently changed in response to customer feedback.

I am following this thread to find out if the policy will go fleet wide that Retreat Lounge "benefits" will extend to the Sun Deck.

[Lisa Lutoff-Perlo]

Hello! 

We invite suite guests to enjoy complimentary drink offerings in the Retreat Lounge as its own venue. The Retreat Sun Deck is a separate venue and operates independently. Thank you and have a great rest of your day!