What should I expect - compared to an Elite tier Princess Cruise?

[ian441672]

Hi

 

My wife and I are Princess regulars (Elite tier) but we have booked a Sky Suite on the Reflection next January around the Caribbean. When on Princess I am at ease with it all, I know the score, what is good and not so, where to eat and hang out etc., but for this I won't so much.

 

When on Princess (usually a suite) we would get free speciality dining the first night, Club Class dining in the MDR (set aside area, walk-in, slightly enhanced menu and head waiter does tableside preparation on a couple of bits), we could go to the (adults only) Sanctuary area of the ship for enhanced sun loungers and greater privacy and so on. We also get a 'Mimosa' breakfast purely for suite guests, all made to order in a private restaurant. This time we were also escorted on (nice touch).

 

I know I won't get a lot of my Princess perks on here, and the Sky Suite is the most (as I understand) lower class of suite, but could you advise me what to expect and where to eat? I understand I get access to a suite only dining room on board - is it worth dining there? Do they do breakfast as well, should we eat there all the time, or should we try the MDR and (just for breakfast) the buffet? I know there are some good speciality restaurants on board; we both enjoy a nice steak and a decent bottle of wine - any recommendations? In essence, what would you say are the best dining options to include a bit of variety.

 

Is there also a Sanctuary type area (we had to pay for it on Princess) to laze a day by? Any other (Sky) Suite perks that are worth looking out for, or any other tips?

 

Sorry for the questions, but looking forward to a change from Princess!

 

Many thanks,

Ian.

 

 

[Orator]

I am not familiar with Princess, but will make some comments about the Sky Suite.

You will dine in Luminae, the Suite Dining Room. You may dine in Blu, the Aqua Class restaurant, if space is available

You will have access to Michael's Club. You can get drinks throughout the day in Michael's Club. They serve afternoon tea and sometimes have special evening entertainment. There is usually a Senior Officers reception. You will find the Michael's Club Concierge there and they will help you with any arrangements you might make or any problems you encounter. You will have a Butler assigned to your cabin.

There is a Priority lines at embarkation for Suites/Zeniths.

Edited August 5, 2019 by Orator

[Ken the cruiser]

Be prepared to be wowed. We recently were in a corner aft-facing sky suite on the Reflection in January and ate all of our breakfasts (when we didn't have an early excursion) and dinners in the Luminae with lunches only served on sea days. They have a unique 14 day menu that has at least one chocolate dessert every lunch and dinner. This is important to us as my DW is a chocoholic. But you can also order off the MDR menu if you don't see something that fancies your interest. But for us the Luminae menu options were so great, we saw no reason to go to a specialty restaurant, let alone to the MDR. We also like to eat early and had no problem getting a window table for 2 every evening as the main crowd usually didn't start showing up until after 6 pm.

 

We also got all 4 perks with our booking (free grats, unlimited internet for 2, premium beverage package and $300 OBC). If you like to have a quite drink before dinner, you can also go into the private Michael's Lounge where everything is free, to include drinks, soda and bottled water. They also have a Michael's concierge which can handle most of the issues your butler can't.

 

There are other perks which others will probably clue you in on to include Sanctuary-type areas on the ship, but these were the ones that mostly stood out for us on our first "suite" cabin experience.

[George C]

We did several princess cruises but always in mini suite. I love celebrity suite perks, the suite dinning room is excellent we normally eat almost all our meals there both food and service. Luminae is open for breakfast and dinner everyday and for lunch on sea days . There is also a suite lounge that has free drinks from morning till late at night , some ships have a Area called the retreat not sure of perks there but it is a suite area , all ships will have them in a few years. You can always take a drink or glass of wine from suite lounge to luminae. You also get a butler for your room, suite will not be as nice or large as princess suites. 

 There are a few specialty restaurants a love Tuscan grill a Italian restaurant with good steaks , there is also a French restaurant and others .

[gcorgain]

Having sailed both Princess and Celebrity, I think you will find the Celebrity suite experience definitely a step up. I'll agree with others that Luminae is absolutely a great dining room -- on par with the specialty restaurants. On the Reflection I would try Murano (French) and Lawn Club Grill if the weather is nice.

 

The adults only lounging area is the Solarium, and this is included free to all passengers. The only downside is that you may need to get there early to get a space. Next to it is the Aqua Spa cafe which has a small healthy selection of complimentary food.

[ian441672]

Thanks for your replies, it reads well!  We too are Aft, room (deck 10) 1405 I think, looking like it is on the corner, so I am guessing a bit bigger and nice balcony.

 

Free drinks - really?! Not something you get (apart from mini bar set up) on Princess, so that will be good in Michaels Bar. Cocktails too? We have the standard drinks package, but I guess these drinks will be over and above the quality included on the package?

 

Luminae sounds right up our street, and enhance version of Club Class in Princess perhaps, so looking forward to that too. I will look at the menus of the speciality, but it seems we don't need to stray too far off Luminae.

 

Thanks again, I think we might be wowed!

[ian441672]

11 minutes ago, gcorgain said:

On the Reflection I would try Murano (French) and Lawn Club Grill if the weather is nice.

 

The adults only lounging area is the Solarium, and this is included free to all passengers. The only downside is that you may need to get there early to get a space. Next to it is the Aqua Spa cafe which has a small healthy selection of complimentary food.

Thank you, that is helpful.

[Cruise a holic]

Celebrity has Michael's club/the retreat lounge.  On princess the sanctuary is very expensive- the suite lounge and deck are free to suite guest on Celebrity.

 

Lumanie is also a great perk, not on princess.  You will also get priority seating on Celebrity for chic night theatre shows.  Priority boarding and disembarking. Suite lounge also has some special functions during your cruise.  You have a butler, who can help you with a variety of things to make your cruise more enjoyable.

 

Dine in the specialty restaurants- especially the Lawn club grill.  It is covered and heated and ac so weather isn't an issue.

Edited August 5, 2019 by Cruise a holic

[ian441672]

6 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

Celebrity has Michael's club/the retreat lounge.  On princess the sanctuary is very expensive- the suite lounge and deck are free to suite guest on Celebrity.

 

Lumanie is also a great perk, not on princess.  You will also get priority seating on Celebrity for chic night theatre shows.  Priority boarding and disembarking. Suite lounge also has some special functions during your cruise.  You have a butler, who can help you with a variety of things to make your cruise more enjoyable.

 

Dine in the specialty restaurants- especially the Lawn club grill.  It is covered and heated and ac so weather isn't an issue.

Thanks - Yes, Sanctuary is $40pp per day - you get fancy thick matrassed sun loungers and a nice afternoon tea, but it is expensive as you say.

 

Priority seating sounds nice, as sometimes you are in a rush from dinner and all the good seats are gone. Do you need to make reservations for Luminae or just turn up?

 

Thanks again everyone. 5 months away, but getting exciting now!

[GeorgesGal]

One thing I'd like to point out:  I don't believe the mini bar in your suite is included in the drinks packages.  Check on that prior to grabbing a bottle while in your room, and get a surprise at the end of your cruise!

 

Donna

[Orator]

4 minutes ago, GeorgesGal said:

One thing I'd like to point out:  I don't believe the mini bar in your suite is included in the drinks packages.  Check on that prior to grabbing a bottle while in your room, and get a surprise at the end of your cruise!

 

Donna

It isn't included; however, you can have a mini bar emptied of the things you don't want and replace sodas, water and ice tea from Michael's Club.

Edited August 5, 2019 by Orator

[George C]

Your butler will also bring you a bottle of sparkling wine, micheals is almost never crowded so it a nice quiet place to have a martini, cognac or coffee.