The Royal Suite

[captainannoyed!]

After nearly 25 years of cruising with Royal, and wanting this suite, I finally have the Royal.  To make the suite even ‘sweeter’ is that on this cruise I will hit diamond plus, as well as these things all happening on my favorite class of ship, Radiance.

 

My question to the forum is to people that have stayed in a RS on a Radiance class since the pandemic has subsided.  I have heard many rumors over the years of perks not mentioned on the official RCCL website, such as dinner at the captains table, etc.  If you feel comfortable please share your experiences if there was anything outside the official listed perks.

 

TYIA

[acuprulez]

2 hours ago, captainannoyed! said:

After nearly 25 years of cruising with Royal, and wanting this suite, I finally have the Royal.  To make the suite even ‘sweeter’ is that on this cruise I will hit diamond plus, as well as these things all happening on my favorite class of ship, Radiance.

 

My question to the forum is to people that have stayed in a RS on a Radiance class since the pandemic has subsided.  I have heard many rumors over the years of perks not mentioned on the official RCCL website, such as dinner at the captains table, etc.  If you feel comfortable please share your experiences if there was anything outside the official listed perks.

 

TYIA

 

Haven't done that class post-pandemic, however never saw anything like that.

 

If they stepped it up to be like the royal suite program on quantum/oasis/icon we might consider sailing those ships again....

[Ashland]

Personally I've never been interested in the RS which with that piano is a waste of space. 

I however love the OS and sail in that category often.

[cruisegirl1]

YEARS ( and years) ago those in the Royal suite were often invited to have dinner at the Captain's table.  The practice stopped a while ago and was never reinstated.   In fact, except for a few exceptions, there is rarely a formal captain's table dinner.  

 

Enjoy the suite  but be aware that not all Royal Suites are created equal.  Some ships have a more vibrant suite program with a variety of benefits not provided on Radiance class ships. 

 

You will have full access to the suite lounge including complimentary evening cocktails, lots of attention from the suite concierge and goodies delivered to your suite most every (if not all)   night.  You may be able to arrange a bridge tour.

 

Of course if you hit D+ on this cruise, the D+ benefits do not kick in till the following cruise ( But you probably already know that).   

 

enjoy the cruise and the suite

M

 

 

Edited February 15 by cruisegirl1

[smokeybandit]

9 hours ago, Ashland said:

Personally I've never been interested in the RS which with that piano is a waste of space. 

I however love the OS and sail in that category often.

On some ships even an Owner's Suite is a waste since the space you gain in the cabin you lose on the balcony.

[Ashland]

6 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

On some ships even an Owner's Suite is a waste since the space you gain in the cabin you lose on the balcony.

Cabin space is what we prefer. The size of the balcony matters little to us personally.

[fpcruiser]

I have never seen a Captain's Table dinner happening since Covid restart.

[George C]

We were in a grand suite and met a couple in royal suite at dinner , we went to shows together and they invited us to a royal suite for drinks, concierge kept sending them champagne and shrimp and other appetizers. Beautiful suite not sure if it’s worth the money on this class of ships.

[wolfcathorse]

When we had the RS, an officer met us in the terminal and walked us onto the ship. He escorted us to the RS even though staterooms weren't available yet. Free suit pressing was offered the first night. There were fresh flowers and a bottle of Moet waiting for us. This was pre-pandemic. 

[TheInnocentAge]

On 2/14/2024 at 9:00 PM, captainannoyed! said:

After nearly 25 years of cruising with Royal, and wanting this suite, I finally have the Royal.

Captain, just curious how your experience was in the RS. We have the RS on Jewel in May. We are D+, so I'm aware of those benefits, but just wondering what additional perks (champagne, wine, etc.) that may have come along with this cabin.

 

Also, did you use the piano, and if so is it fairly in tune?

 

Thank in advance...

[smokeybandit]

The escort and the champagne are all you get

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

[TheInnocentAge]

6 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The escort and the champagne are all you get

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

I've seen that document, but since others have posted that they've received perks in addition to those listed, I figured I'd ask the OP.

[captainannoyed!]

1 hour ago, TheInnocentAge said:

Captain, just curious how your experience was in the RS. We have the RS on Jewel in May. We are D+, so I'm aware of those benefits, but just wondering what additional perks (champagne, wine, etc.) that may have come along with this cabin.

 

Also, did you use the piano, and if so is it fairly in tune?

 

Thank in advance...

@TheInnocentAge I did find that there’s not so many ‘secret’ perks.  I did ask about being able to be on the bridge for sail away.  But only the standard bridge tour was offered.  As others have stated, there’s no dining at the captain’s table anymore.

 

However, the experience was absolutely wonderful!  You will be personally escorted onboard to the suite by the Concierge, and the Royal Suite will be ready for you to go to directly without a wait.  I do think they sent us a few extra nice things.  Chocolate covered strawberries and I think an extra bottle of wine.  

 

You will be extremely happy with the RS, as the Jewel was the ship I was on also.  The AC was awesome!  We tried to turn it down.  But it took us a bit to find the FOUR thermostats (yes there are four ‘zones)!  The showers are the VERY BEST I ever experienced on a cruise (I’ve been in a number of GS and an OS before - no comparison)!  Room service was very noticeably faster, and the food hotter on arrival than I ever had on a cruise before.  We ordered from the main dining room and had dinner on the balcony when the wind or humidity were not an issue.  The rest of the nights we had dinner at the dining table in the suite.  It was awesome!  You could live in this suite!

 

There was a feeling that we were being looked after with more than normal attention, yet never with any kind of intrusion.  You just know there is elevated attention.

 

Overall, and I wanted this suite for about 25 years since I first cruised and found out about it, the Royal Suite was absolutely everything I hoped it would be!  I’ll definitely sail in it again when budget permits!

 

Enjoy your cruise!  You are going to have a great time!  If you remember, please reach out here and let me know what you thought after your cruise!

[TheInnocentAge]

5 minutes ago, captainannoyed! said:

Enjoy your cruise!  You are going to have a great time!  If you remember, please reach out here and let me know what you thought after your cruise!

@captainannoyed! Thank you for the quick response, and especially for the positive vibes! We will be in that cabin for 15 nights, and I will definitely let you know how it goes.

[captainannoyed!]

Just now, TheInnocentAge said:

@captainannoyed! Thank you for the quick response, and especially for the positive vibes! We will be in that cabin for 15 nights, and I will definitely let you know how it goes.

15 nights are going to be awesome!!!!  Enjoy!!!

[1 Buffett Fan]

I see that within one of the documents mentioned earlier in the thread there is a mention of drinks in the Suite Lounge / Concierge Club:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

Suite Lounge/Concierge Club Access (Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktails Each Evening)

 

Are these drinks complimentary for suite guests (above JS), or does this just mean that drinks are available there but have a cost, much like a regular bar?

 

We get five free per day based on C&A status, but wondered if these happy hour drinks would come out of that voucher allotment or are in addition to our free five.

 

Seeing conflicting answers in other threads (imagine that).

 

Thanks.

[Biker19]

28 minutes ago, 1 Buffett Fan said:

Are these drinks complimentary for suite guests (above JS), or does this just mean that drinks are available there but have a cost, much like a regular bar?

No cost for full suite guests though you may need to check your account to confirm that your D+ vouchers were not used.

[captainannoyed!]

1 hour ago, 1 Buffett Fan said:

I see that within one of the documents mentioned earlier in the thread there is a mention of drinks in the Suite Lounge / Concierge Club:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

Suite Lounge/Concierge Club Access (Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktails Each Evening)

 

Are these drinks complimentary for suite guests (above JS), or does this just mean that drinks are available there but have a cost, much like a regular bar?

 

We get five free per day based on C&A status, but wondered if these happy hour drinks would come out of that voucher allotment or are in addition to our free five.

 

Seeing conflicting answers in other threads (imagine that).

 

Thanks.

The suite lounge, and happy hour, is for grand suites and higher.  JS doesn’t get the perk.  But you shouldn’t have to use you vouchers.  It’s a nightly open bar for full suites and Pinnacles.  I always tip the bartender, but it’s never been a voucher issue.

[SuzD123]

2 hours ago, 1 Buffett Fan said:

I see that within one of the documents mentioned earlier in the thread there is a mention of drinks in the Suite Lounge / Concierge Club:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

Suite Lounge/Concierge Club Access (Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktails Each Evening)

 

Are these drinks complimentary for suite guests (above JS), or does this just mean that drinks are available there but have a cost, much like a regular bar?

 

We get five free per day based on C&A status, but wondered if these happy hour drinks would come out of that voucher allotment or are in addition to our free five.

 

Seeing conflicting answers in other threads (imagine that).

 

Thanks.

Beverages in the Suite Lounge are complimentary to guests staying in a GS or above...regardless of loyalty status/level.  They are not charged to your SeaPass account, nor are they counted against your D/D+ drink vouchers.  However, if you are getting your beverages in the Crown Lounge (formerly "Diamond Lounge") you will likely see they those drinks count against your allotted vouchers...same as if the vouchers are used at any other venue.

Edited April 26 by SuzD123

[SuzD123]

BTW...Love this thread, because for the first time in all of our cruises...we are booked in our first RS on Adventure...albeit not until Jan 2026, but we finally got her.  🙂

[captainannoyed!]

35 minutes ago, SuzD123 said:

Beverages in the Suite Lounge are complimentary to guests staying in a GS or above...regardless of loyalty status/level.  They are not charged to your SeaPass account, nor are they counted against your D/D+ drink vouchers.  However, if you are getting your beverages in the Crown Lounge (formerly "Diamond Lounge") you will likely see they those drinks count against your allotted vouchers...same as if the vouchers are used at any other venue.

Perfectly explained.  Kudos!

[captainannoyed!]

14 minutes ago, SuzD123 said:

BTW...Love this thread, because for the first time in all of our cruises...we are booked in our first RS on Adventure...albeit not until Jan 2026, but we finally got her.  🙂

You’re going to LOVE IT!!!!  We loved it so much we just upgraded our 11/25 cruise to the RS!

[Jetdriver787]

We secured the Royal suite for 26 nights, some years ago, on a “Freedom” class ship, for a Westbound TransAtlantic followed (5 months later) by the subsequent Eastbound TransAtlantic. 
 

For us, it was a wonderful experience and although we have had many great experiences since, those trips will always be etched in life’s scrapbook! 
 

Both ways, escorted onboard by the concierge, who also went out of (his) way to ensure our every whim was entertained. I could have happily lived in the room for the foreseeable future, and would regularly indulge my “Niagra” fetish of showering under all three shower heads at the same time! (Sorry Greta!) The autoplay Piano also triggered the “Elton” fetish (not so much the eyewear or drugs,) and the delighted staff on the deck above regularly showed their full appreciation by dragging furniture across the floor (ceiling) at around 2am every morning! 

My wife also made friends with the Captains wife, who was also onboard for his then current tour of duty. I believe (albeit it unverified) they spent many a happy hour bemoaning the sacrifices and tribulations of being the spouse of a Captain! We had the privilege of being invited to the Captains quarters. (Not sure of the source of that invitation, but I’ve always had my suspicions?) Invited (along with our then 11 year old son) to the captains table for dinner, and again later in the week to a private dinner in “Chops” with the Captain, Chief Engineer and their spouses, to celebrate our sons birthday! 

I can’t promise your experience will be the same, but I can promise you will love it!……..Enjoy! 🍾🥂👍

[TheInnocentAge]

1 hour ago, Jetdriver787 said:

The autoplay Piano also triggered the “Elton” fetish (not so much the eyewear or drugs)

That made me laugh!

 

We have the RS on Jewel for 15 nights beginning in mid-May, and it's great to hear about the experiences that have been shared in this thread so far.

 

Speaking of the piano, did you play it at all, or just use the auto-play? I do play a bit here at home, nothing fancy, but just wondering what variety of songs there was in the auto-play feature, if you can recall.

 

Thanks in advance. 

[captainannoyed!]

13 hours ago, TheInnocentAge said:

That made me laugh!

 

We have the RS on Jewel for 15 nights beginning in mid-May, and it's great to hear about the experiences that have been shared in this thread so far.

 

Speaking of the piano, did you play it at all, or just use the auto-play? I do play a bit here at home, nothing fancy, but just wondering what variety of songs there was in the auto-play feature, if you can recall.

 

Thanks in advance. 

I did play it a bit for fun.  There is a disc player at the lower right side that plays it also.  So, it’s either.  I suspect that if it was desired you can even arrange to have a player brought in if you are entertaining.  I forget the songs available.  Btw, if James is still the cabin steward he’s really great!  We had this RS just a few weeks ago, and it’s still on our minds.  We even decided to upgrade our cruise next year to the RS!

Edited April 27 by captainannoyed!