Sky Suite Personal Butler

[Oceangoer2]

3 hours ago, ECCruise said:

The reverse is largely true.

I differ on this one.  We've had 3 Celebrity Personal Reps, each promoted over time, and each excellent.  Knowledgeable, helpful, going out of their way to include what they can and explain if they can't.  Would never disparage an X rep....IMPO and experience.  The call centre staff may be newbies so I'd ask for a personal rep or a supervisor if you're not getting a plausible answer.

Edited May 3, 2021 by Oceangoer2

[excitedofharpenden]

3 hours ago, George C said:

Some are excellent some are so so.

This has also been my experience. And I've had the same butler on a different cruise who has not been so good. 

 

Phil 

[C-Dragons]

3 hours ago, George C said:

I don’t think so , since my only so so was my last cruise in a royal suite which normally comes with the senior butlers I believe, had always liked the ones in sky and celebrity suites. Have another royal suite in July.

We had a so-so Butler in a Signature suite on Reflection, but also had a wonderful Butler on another cruise in the same suite.

I guess “Life is like a box of chocolates...” 😉

[RICCruisers]

The following is a snippet taken directly from the description of what you get by booking a cabin in The Retreat.  It may explain what the OP was told by the X rep:
 

As always, you’ll enjoy a Personal Retreat Host, so you never have to lift a finger, 

[jelayne]

17 minutes ago, RICCruisers said:

The following is a snippet taken directly from the description of what you get by booking a cabin in The Retreat.  It may explain what the OP was told by the X rep:
 

As always, you’ll enjoy a Personal Retreat Host, so you never have to lift a finger, 

Sounds like a new name for the Michaels Club Concierge.  There 1 on each of the M & S Class  ships to support all Suites.  On E class, because there are many more suites there are 2 or 3.

[RICCruisers]

11 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Sounds like a new name for the Michaels Club Concierge.  There 1 on each of the M & S Class  ships to support all Suites.  On E class, because there are many more suites there are 2 or 3.

I am not sure I agree with your thought that it was the Michael’s Club Concierge. It appears that X is eliminating the term Butler in their current description of what you receive when booking a Suite/Retreat cabin and replacing it with the term Host. I have seen it used on all levels is Suite/Retreat descriptions. Similar to less utilization of the word Suite being replaced by using the word Retreat. It goes along with the Ship Within a Ship that X is now pushing to differentiate itself similar to the Yacht Club and Haven on other cruise lines. 

[Oceangoer2]

1 hour ago, excitedofharpenden said:

This has also been my experience. And I've had the same butler on a different cruise who has not been so good. 

 

Phil 

Our butler(s) never get a chance to show us how good they can be and seem disappointed that the cabin is too neat, we get our own morning coffee/lots of pastry, make our own bookings.  We do too much for ourselves I think. Next time, we'll really take advantage and make a pest of ourselves...LOL.

[Covepointcruiser]

We were in a Royal Suite on a transatlantic in 2018.   Our Butler had 12 suites over three decks.  One suite, Penthouse, monopolized his time expecting he was their personal servant.   

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

5 hours ago, RICCruisers said:

I am not sure I agree with your thought that it was the Michael’s Club Concierge. It appears that X is eliminating the term Butler in their current description of what you receive when booking a Suite/Retreat cabin and replacing it with the term Host. I have seen it used on all levels is Suite/Retreat descriptions. Similar to less utilization of the word Suite being replaced by using the word Retreat. It goes along with the Ship Within a Ship that X is now pushing to differentiate itself similar to the Yacht Club and Haven on other cruise lines. 

 

If they really want to get the ship within a ship concept right, they need to do what MSC does:  all of it is contained in one area and only accessible to suite/retreat people.

[jelayne]

39 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

If they really want to get the ship within a ship concept right, they need to do what MSC does:  all of it is contained in one area and only accessible to suite/retreat people.

We hope that doesn’t happen.   Just a bit too separatist for us.  We enjoy Luminae.  The Retreat Lounge is  ok but  not a place we want to spend time,   we prefer the Martini Bar or Sunset Bar.    Retreat Sun Deck on E class only. Is very nice but I enjoy the regular pool deck just as much.
 I guess we like the mid size  ships because we like more venues, the interaction with more people and the not in your face class designation.
 

[Denny01]

I agree jelayne. I didn’t book Retreat to be separated, but to enjoy the additional amenities. Edge is a beautiful ship with Eden and many other common venues we love. Including the buffet! And the Sunset bar. So will enjoy Retreat special amenities and the rest of the ship. 
 

Not going that route to do that “ship within a ship”. not trying to step away from the rest. 
 

den

[excitedofharpenden]

13 hours ago, Oceangoer2 said:

Our butler(s) never get a chance to show us how good they can be and seem disappointed that the cabin is too neat, we get our own morning coffee/lots of pastry, make our own bookings.  We do too much for ourselves I think. Next time, we'll really take advantage and make a pest of ourselves...LOL.

I'm very low maintenance too and ask for very little. Perhaps I'll do the same as you next time! Lol 

 

Phil 

[tfred]

10 hours ago, jelayne said:

We hope that doesn’t happen.   Just a bit too separatist for us.  We enjoy Luminae.  The Retreat Lounge is  ok but  not a place we want to spend time,   we prefer the Martini Bar or Sunset Bar.    Retreat Sun Deck on E class only. Is very nice but I enjoy the regular pool deck just as much.
 I guess we like the mid size  ships because we like more venues, the interaction with more people and the not in your face class designation.
 

I don't think that Happy is looking for a parallel universe, just wants Retreat services clustered in one end of the ship.  There isn't a need for a Retreat level Sunset or Martini bar as they exist and can be used by everyone.  

 

Marriott does this is some of their hotels with M Club that is above the usual concierge lounge.  Concierge lounge is available for extra with a C lounge rate or if you have status it is free at most full service Marriotts.  M Club is a charge for virtually everyone, isn't cheap and is usually segregated in a wing. Four Seasons does have some hotels that are completely segregated with rooms, pool and lounge.  Its out there, X is just following what is established   

[ExArkie]

2 hours ago, tfred said:

...Marriott does this is some of their hotels with M Club that is above the usual concierge lounge.  Concierge lounge is available for extra with a C lounge rate or if you have status it is free at most full service Marriotts.  M Club is a charge for virtually everyone, isn't cheap and is usually segregated in a wing. Four Seasons does have some hotels that are completely segregated with rooms, pool and lounge.  Its out there, X is just following what is established   

Where it has been put in service, typically as a replacement to the Concierge Lounge, Marriott's M Club is still accessible to Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador level members of their loyalty program (plus one guest per member) without an extra charge. Or at least that has been my experience (I'm lifetime Titanium) and is stated as such on their Web site. Otherwise, you are correct - everyone else pays extra to get in, either a daily access fee or by booking a more expensive room that grants access.

 

I'll add one more hotel group to the mix: Gran Melia with their Red Level. We stayed at one in Madrid (on American Express points...can't afford the room rates) and there was a separate elevator with key card access that took you to the Red Level floor to check in. Our room was on that floor, along with a rather elaborate lounge with food and drinks and open for the better part of each day. Pretty much the same idea as Celebrity's Retreat concept.

[George C]

14 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

If they really want to get the ship within a ship concept right, they need to do what MSC does:  all of it is contained in one area and only accessible to suite/retreat people.

I agree , but there main restaurant wasn’t as good as Luminae 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

13 hours ago, jelayne said:

We hope that doesn’t happen.   Just a bit too separatist for us.  We enjoy Luminae.  The Retreat Lounge is  ok but  not a place we want to spend time,   we prefer the Martini Bar or Sunset Bar.    Retreat Sun Deck on E class only. Is very nice but I enjoy the regular pool deck just as much.
 I guess we like the mid size  ships because we like more venues, the interaction with more people and the not in your face class designation.
 

 

One is not precluded from enjoying the rest of the ship by being in MSC Yacht Club.  Personally, I find the rest of the ship to be chaotic, crowded, and overrun with screaming children.  But Yacht Club remains quiet and peaceful precisely because access is restricted.  To me it's not a question of class but a question of being willing to pay more for a better experience.

[H2OH!]

We love the priority embarkation/disembarkation process. 

 

When tenders are involved being able to be escorted, by your butler, to the front of the line is the best especially in hard to get to place such as santorini!!!  It is also helpful getting off ahead of other cruisers when meeting  your local guide...love it! 

 

Speaking of Santorini- we climbed the stairs down to  where the tenders were waiting and were so HOT when done we just wanted to get back to our cabin.  The line for the tenders were 200 people deep so we walked to the front of the line and simply asked if there was priority tender boarding for suites- he said yes- and put us immediately on the tender. We were back on the ship, recovering from the heat and those stairs, in no time at all- lol! Definitely worth the money and perk! 

 

 

[Denny01]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

One is not precluded from enjoying the rest of the ship by being in MSC Yacht Club.  Personally, I find the rest of the ship to be chaotic, crowded, and overrun with screaming children.  But Yacht Club remains quiet and peaceful precisely because access is restricted.  To me it's not a question of class but a question of being willing to pay more for a better experience.

Fully understand your rationale of going Yacht Club on MSC. That’s why I cruise on X since the entire ship doesn’t experience the ‘chaotic, crowded and overrun with screaming children’. I don’t think many book Suites/special areas because of some perceived class status, I assume we who cruise a lot have got ‘that feeling’ from those that don’t cruise who see it as some snob appeal.

 

How many times have we seen people ask about how ‘nice’ X cruisers are, feeling that there is some upper-crust to the X cruisers, especially when X use to have the formal night dinings. 

 

I always go to my overused and tired ‘I’m going to breakout my Ascot’ joke to lighten it all up. Enjoy the MSC Yacht Club and for the first time, I’ll be giving the X Retreat a go next year!

 

Den

Edited May 4, 2021 by Denny01

[grandgeezer]

1 hour ago, George C said:

I agree , but there main restaurant wasn’t as good as Luminae 

Personal opinions. I thought the Luminae was slightly better, my wife thought the pasta and seafood on MSC was much better. 

[George C]

11 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Personal opinions. I thought the Luminae was slightly better, my wife thought the pasta and seafood on MSC was much better. 

They made pasta one lunch on pool deck it was excellent, also excellent pizza on Msc

[tfred]

3 hours ago, ExArkie said:

Where it has been put in service, typically as a replacement to the Concierge Lounge, Marriott's M Club is still accessible to Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador level members of their loyalty program (plus one guest per member) without an extra charge. Or at least that has been my experience (I'm lifetime Titanium) and is stated as such on their Web site. Otherwise, you are correct - everyone else pays extra to get in, either a daily access fee or by booking a more expensive room that grants access.

 

I'll add one more hotel group to the mix: Gran Melia with their Red Level. We stayed at one in Madrid (on American Express points...can't afford the room rates) and there was a separate elevator with key card access that took you to the Red Level floor to check in. Our room was on that floor, along with a rather elaborate lounge with food and drinks and open for the better part of each day. Pretty much the same idea as Celebrity's Retreat concept.

probably thinking of this as the pay extra lounges.  I can get into the regular lounges 

 

http://deals.marriott.com/jw-marriott-hotels-resorts/mexico/quintana-roo/cancun/welcome-to-club-91-jw-marriott-cancun-resort-spa

 

This is in Cancun, but I think there are a few of these around .  The JW Cancun has one.  Maybe Marco Island too.  Add in resort fees ($25/day) and it starts to get expensive

 

I am one of  those Lifetime titaniums as well

[miched]

If it is 1 : 1  ratio than a suite with two passengers would have to have 2  butlers.   🤷‍♂️   Don’t think so.   
 

You need to get back to that PCC and ask if he would guarantee it and refund you cruise if it wasn’t as he said 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

6 hours ago, Denny01 said:

Fully understand your rationale of going Yacht Club on MSC. That’s why I cruise on X since the entire ship doesn’t experience the ‘chaotic, crowded and overrun with screaming children’. I don’t think many book Suites/special areas because of some perceived class status, I assume we who cruise a lot have got ‘that feeling’ from those that don’t cruise who see it as some snob appeal.

 

How many times have we seen people ask about how ‘nice’ X cruisers are, feeling that there is some upper-crust to the X cruisers, especially when X use to have the formal night dinings. 

 

I always go to my overused and tired ‘I’m going to breakout my Ascot’ joke to lighten it all up. Enjoy the MSC Yacht Club and for the first time, I’ll be giving the X Retreat a go next year!

 

Den

 

I've enjoyed Yacht Club several times.  However, they do not have any interesting itineraries out of Florida and their prices have risen about to the level of Retreat cabins on Celebrity, so I'm back in the Retreat next year.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

6 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

Personal opinions. I thought the Luminae was slightly better, my wife thought the pasta and seafood on MSC was much better. 

 

In my view, it's no contest on the food, Celebrity wins hands down.  Also with much better service.  MSC does have good risotto, but I was underwhelmed by the pizza.

[ChucktownSteve]

On 5/3/2021 at 11:39 AM, LGW59 said:

Celebrity butler are THE best!!

 

Curious. What other cruise lines with butlers have you sailed to make that superlative comparison?

 

Have you had many Celebrity butlers?

Edited May 5, 2021 by ChucktownSteve