Tips and Tricks for the Retreat?

[DaKahuna]

On Edge in 2020 the sodas, beer, and bottle water in the mini-fridges in the Retreat Lounge were self-service.  There is no bar in the lounge but there are staff coming through quite frequently asking if you would like anything.  Of course there is a full service bar on the Retreat Sundeck.

 

On the S-Class's we sailed in, 2019 and prior, the soda's, beer, and water in the large refrigerator's in Michael's Club were also self-service.  

 

An example of the experiences we have come to appreciate is in Michael's Club was on the first day, I asked the bartender if they had Ron Zacapa 23.  He looked and informed me he did not have it.  

 

We went about our business and a couple of hours late we came back for a pre-dinner drink and when I walked up to the bar to order the bartender informed me that he had found a bottle of the rum I asked about and would I like a drink.  He let me know that he had discovered that the bar just outside Michael's Club had a bottle and he "acquired it" from there.   I was able to get Ron Zacapa 23 anytime I wanted in Michael's Club the rest of the cruise.  

 

 

[Catlover54]

I am booked on Edge in an S1 ( first time on X) which allegedly has retreat access.  When I click on the website for my cruise, I get offers to book all kinds of dining venues for different extra costs and times with or without packages, but no Lumiere or Blu.  Does that mean my class of service cannot book in Lumiere or Blu?

I somehow thought it would be an option, when I booked.  Maybe need a higher suite?

[jagoffee]

4 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

I am booked on Edge in an S1 ( first time on X) which allegedly has retreat access.  When I click on the website for my cruise, I get offers to book all kinds of dining venues for different extra costs and times with or without packages, but no Lumiere or Blu.  Does that mean my class of service cannot book in Lumiere or Blu?

I somehow thought it would be an option, when I booked.  Maybe need a higher suite?

Luminae is your assigned dining room.  You can dine in Blu based on availability.  Pre cruise reservation are not required nor available.  Enjoy
 

[JennAngel9]

I haven't been able to sail with Celebrity since 2019, but the last time I sailed, there was a Shoreside Concierge available to assist with reservations for dining, shore excursions, miscellaneous immigration issues (less helpful on that last issue, but the service was excellent as they tried to get me in touch with the right people at X).  Is this feature still available? We're two months out from our next cruise and I haven't heard anything yet.

[cruise47]

To DaKahuna

Are the items in the mini-fridges free in your suite?

Edited September 20, 2021 by cruise47

[cruise47]

6 minutes ago, cruise47 said:

To DaKahuna

Are the items in the mini-fridges free in your suite?

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by cruise47

[Cruise a holic]

On 9/17/2021 at 6:43 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

We had a unique dilemma on the Edge this July 2021. Booked a Retreat cabin someone cancelled 72 hours before sailing. Supposed to have all the perks included (Wifi, OBC, drink package, gratuities) and when we got on board our key cards reflected none of them. Went to the Retreat lounge and told them of our problem. Being a weekend, no TA (had to leave SOS message on her cell phone). In the mean time all the Retreat concierges could do was sign us up for all the perks and add everything to our credit card ship board account. We thought we might escalate the matter by going to Guest Services and having to wait in a long line. As we left our cabin our Personal Retreat Host stopped and ask us where we were off to and I explained. She suggested that we allow her to escort us to her personal friend in guest services to evade the long line. The Retreat does have its advantages and yes, our TA picked up the call and contacted shore side Celebrity which contacted the ship and the 'friend' in guest services reversed all the charges and gave us new key cards reflecting all the perks.

This is one reason we book directly.  Perhaps the TA give some perks, bu IMO not worth it.  Why have any aggravation.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/17/2021 at 4:01 AM, Mark_K said:

I notice on the website that suites include a personal retreat host.  Is that just a new name for the butler?  If so, make sure your parents utilize their services.

Yes

 

I still have trouble remembering their new title.  When your PRH calls the phone still says Butler.

 

I think it is intended to help remove the confusion of what the Retreat Host and the Butler can do.   You Butler can make reservations, appointments and excursions as well as the Hosts.  

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, JennAngel9 said:

I haven't been able to sail with Celebrity since 2019, but the last time I sailed, there was a Shoreside Concierge available to assist with reservations for dining, shore excursions, miscellaneous immigration issues (less helpful on that last issue, but the service was excellent as they tried to get me in touch with the right people at X).  Is this feature still available? We're two months out from our next cruise and I haven't heard anything yet.

Personally I've found the Shoreside Concierge useless.     They are still available but now reach out to all suites including SS and the workload has turned them into just a paper mill.

 

90% of the times my requests arent passed on and on the last cruise even in a PH they didn't even bother to call or email.  

 

I asked 4 times about Upper Suite Luggage Drop off and just kept getting back their generic instructions for regular arrival.    Maybe it is just the Concierge for Equinox.    BTW my requests are really minimal.   

[C-Dragons]

9 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Personally I've found the Shoreside Concierge useless.     They are still available but now reach out to all suites including SS and the workload has turned them into just a paper mill.

 

90% of the times my requests arent passed on and on the last cruise even in a PH they didn't even bother to call or email.  

 

I asked 4 times about Upper Suite Luggage Drop off and just kept getting back their generic instructions for regular arrival.    Maybe it is just the Concierge for Equinox.    BTW my requests are really minimal.   

It might be the ship…

We had the opposite experience in July on the Edge.

The shoreside Concierge called us at home, noted all of our requests (also minimal) and they were all fulfilled on board.

We were in a Sky Suite. 

[morpheusofthesea]

7 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

This is one reason we book directly.  Perhaps the TA give some perks, bu IMO not worth it.  Why have any aggravation.

In our case, an extra $500 OBC was much appreciated.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We sail in just over 3 weeks and received an email from the Shore Side Concierge yesterday with the menu's for specialty restaurants and the parking placard attached.  Replied this morning and had her response in 3 hours letting me know that my requests were passed on to the ship and our dining reservations were confirmed.  So far our experiences with the SSC has been positive.

[canderson]

1 hour ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

We sail in just over 3 weeks and received an email from the Shore Side Concierge yesterday with the menu's for specialty restaurants and the parking placard attached.  Replied this morning and had her response in 3 hours letting me know that my requests were passed on to the ship and our dining reservations were confirmed.  So far our experiences with the SSC has been positive.

Last time we did this, it was all handled over the phone.

Did the email include some sort of questionnaire with a list of things from which you needed to make choices?  Bedding, booze and all the rest?  Or was it up to you to know what the options were from which you were expected to make any desired selections?

[George C]

4 hours ago, C-Dragons said:

It might be the ship…

We had the opposite experience in July on the Edge.

The shoreside Concierge called us at home, noted all of our requests (also minimal) and they were all fulfilled on board.

We were in a Sky Suite. 

We were happy with shoreside concierge, everyone else told us that we had to board at assigned time 2pm , he assured us we could board at noon which we did . We had a confusing time since we booked a sky but our royal up was accepted two days before sailing to penthouse.

[shaun07]

9 hours ago, cruise47 said:

To DaKahuna

Are the items in the mini-fridges free in your suite?

Good question. Does anyone know?

[DaKahuna]

9 hours ago, cruise47 said:

To DaKahuna

Are the items in the mini-fridges free in your suite?

Not unless you both have the "Drinks and More" package.  If both persons staying in the suite do not purchase the package, then the mini-bar is not included.  

 

If we don't purchase the Drinks and More package, we ask the room steward to empty the mini fridge and use it to store water and soda we bring back to the room from the Lounge. 

 

I believe they are free in the higher level suites, but not in the Sky Suites we have booked. 

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by DaKahuna

[Julma]

25 minutes ago, shaun07 said:

Good question. Does anyone know?

We were on the Edge in August in an SS and they were included.  The Host let us know to take whatever we wanted and she would restock.  There was never a charge.  This seems to be a practice rather than a rule though, so I would ask before I consumed anything from fridge.  

[DCPIV]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

I believe they are free in the higher level suites

 

Yes, the mini bar and two 1-liter bottles of booze are included with RS and above. 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

2 hours ago, canderson said:

Last time we did this, it was all handled over the phone.

Did the email include some sort of questionnaire with a list of things from which you needed to make choices?  Bedding, booze and all the rest?  Or was it up to you to know what the options were from which you were expected to make any desired selections?

Yes it did. Choice of alcohol, beer, water, etc. Extra blankets, pillows, etc. Also an option for pajamas. Menus and options to book specialty restaurants. When will we be at the port and more.  We are in a RS so YMMV.

[canderson]

7 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Yes it did. Choice of alcohol, beer, water, etc. Extra blankets, pillows, etc. Also an option for pajamas. Menus and options to book specialty restaurants. When will we be at the port and more.  We are in a RS so YMMV.

Nope.  We are, too, which is why I figured you'd be a good source of info!  The list will make it easier.  Good to hear.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

19 minutes ago, canderson said:

Nope.  We are, too, which is why I figured you'd be a good source of info!  The list will make it easier.  Good to hear.

What ship are you on and when?

 

[canderson]

Constellation, 11/7 and 11/12 for a 5N and 10N B2B, Western and Eastern Caribbean. 

[George C]

1 hour ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Yes it did. Choice of alcohol, beer, water, etc. Extra blankets, pillows, etc. Also an option for pajamas. Menus and options to book specialty restaurants. When will we be at the port and more.  We are in a RS so YMMV.

What are the options for the pajamas? They gave them to us but didn’t hear about options. Loved the pillows in our penthouse, we just ordered pillows from celebrity. We are in a royal in February on summit.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Size and initials. S/M or L/EX

[George C]

1 hour ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Size and initials. S/M or L/EX

I guess our butler looked at me and knew I was not S/M 😁