Not trying to stir the pot...but

[E91]

may I ask a snobby question? I'm new here so I'll do it anyhow. I've read a lot of posts about embarkation times, cabin cleaning, etc. Does the crew clean the suites in a priority manner? I know that certain crew are assigned to certain cabins. When I've cruised it always seems that the higher ticket cabins get priority service while onboard. Do they attack these cabins first to get them ready? To me a suite category versus everything else is like the old liners class system w/o calling it a class system. I have traveled both ways and have had a wonderful time each and every time but wondering if behind the scenese they place priority on suite guests? I'm just curious.

[sail7seas]

Suites are not cleaned and ready to be occupied any earlier than any other cabin. When the announcement is made the cabins are ready, it pertains to ALL cabins. We always board about 11:30 - 11:45, we always stay in a Suite and we always go to Lido and wait to hear the announcement.

 

We can go to the Neptune Lounge to wait but we choose not to.

 

While the fare we pay to occupy a Suite includes some extra amenities, that is not one of them.

 

[tomc]

All cabins are thoroughly cleaned before you get to them, whether suite or cheap seats. As there are stewards for each section, they are probably done at the same time. Not to worry.

[Cloud9 Bob]

I'm new here too. This is an interesting question. I haven't a lot of cruise experience, but one thing comes to mind. I would imagine that the suites garner better tips and therefore the senior room stewards maybe "graduate" to these rooms as say a seniority advantage? Maybe they have less rooms to take care of and can do a better/quicker job...especially since they will probably make more than $3.50 per day tip? Maybe they have been there longer and have a system? Just a thought. I'd also be interested in what the more experienced members have to say. I'm not sure it's really a class thing though it was an interesting parallel.

[sail7seas]

:D More experienced? :D You think TomC and I aren't experienced?? :D

 

 

[jhannah]

I would think any cruise line would put its best people in the suite area. I don't think they do a necessarily better job of cleaning. Certainly not quicker, as there is more square footage to cover. Plus, suites have more deliveries than other cabins. The daily menus, for one, have to be distributed. There's just more work to do in servicing a suite.

[peaches from georgia]

We have been told on the ships that the room stewards do work their way 'up'.

[bepsf]

...but each steward is responsible for something like 12 staterooms - so not everyone's beds can be made at the same time.

[fcorey]

:D More experienced? :D You think TomC and I aren't experienced?? :D

 

 

 

I wish I had half your experience...or days aboard ;)

[Cloud9 Bob]

:D More experienced? :D You think TomC and I aren't experienced?? :D

No, no, nothing like that!:eek: It's just that there were no replies when I answered and you fast typers got your posts in quicker than me ;)

[tomc]

I'm really not that experienced. I just write funny and people read my stuff. Don't confuse humor with knowledge. :p

[Atomica]

For what it's worth, we had the same excellent service in an S Suite as we did in a VC verandah as I did in my lowly Cat M Inside stateroom. Now, I'm sure the room stewards work their way up, and most likely a steward cleaning a suite has less rooms to physically clean, but as stated above, there's likely to be more deliveries to the room, requests etc. etc.

[michmike]

and even if it WERE the case that the suites get cleaned and turned around first, IMHO the folks that pay that tariff deserve any and all fringes they get.

 

No suite envy here.. just too damn cheap to live that life

[riz]

We choose to stay in a suite on all of our sailings....it's not about the perks (although the free laundry is nice) it's more about the extra space and large veranda. That said...I can't imagine there is any type of priority to cleaning these suites to have them available first..like everyone else we go to the Lido and have lunch and wait like everyone else.

 

As far as more experienced stewards...I don't necessarily think they are assigned suites specifically based on their history or performance etc etc. As lovely as all of our stewards have been...I can think of more than a few that were new (weeks of experience) or that were on their first assignment.

[Sea King]

when it comes to cleaning and getting ready for new pax on embarkation day, there is absolutely no priority given to suites before attending to other cabins

 

if you think about it, there couldn't be a priority .. there are only so many cabin stewards and each has a specific assignment .. those on Main Deck don't head to Navigation once they're done with their cabins ..

 

with respect to "priority" given suites once you're at sea, the only real priorities are the amenities .. not the service .. the steward assigned to an S suite is just as eager to please and do the best job possible as is the steward assigned to the inside cabin on A deck

 

as other posters have said today and in the past, there are definite advantages to the "suite life" .. but why not? you're paying for the privilege; it's not free by any stretch;)

 

must respectfully disagree with anyone who has said or hinted at a "caste system" aboard any HAL ship .. it's the same dining room for everyone; the same lounges; the same casino; the same pools, the same alternate dining; even the same lifeboat:)

 

and shock of shocks .. suites have the same problems with a/c, toilets and leaks as every other cabin at times:eek:

[Frick_&_Frack]

SeaKing -

 

But at least you have a bigger veranda to hide on when the plumbing problems happen! (And also a bigger area to sleep on if the snoring gets too loud in the cabin!) :D

 

Seriously though, to the OP, the true "advantages" of a suite really are amenities during the trip and with tendering operations.

[OceanLiner]

It might be slightly the opposite. Because of the size of the suites, and all of the extras of the suites, turnaround is actually more difficult and time consuming. We do take advantage of the Neptune Lounge in that we deposit our carry on luggage at the lounge and then play on the Lido deck for the rest of the day. Usually we find that the stewart has moved our carry on luggage to the suite where everything is now waiting for us. I seem to notice that we are not among the earliest rooms released to passengers.

 

As for the class system, you can see that it is coming back to a certain degree, but not really on the HAL ships. Suite guests still have the same food, pools, decks, and other services. What they get extra seems to be a priority in tendering and reservations on the ship. I have noticed that other cruise lines (NCL & MCS) have developed a ship within a ship concept with special pools and very different amenities. I'm not sure that this is good or bad for cruising, but the cruise lines are well aware of the extra bucks that people are willing to pay for the extra, or different, services.

 

It looks like we have ships that have suite amenities like HAL, followed by ships that have different dining like Cunard, to newer ships that have completly seperate areas of the ship like NCL and MCS. (Please forgive me if I have the last two lines incorrect, but I believe both of them have introduced the ship within a ship idea and I think that the Queen Victoria is also going to have more of a seperate area for the Grill guests.)

[MMastell]

It may be true that some "less experienced" stewards can be assigned to lower decks (categories) or stewards whose performance wasn't up to par on a previous cruise may be assigned there, I feel that the quality of service isn't really that great of a difference.

 

I have sailed in full suites, balcony suite and an inside cabin and the best service has been in an inside cabin and the worst in a balcony suite. The worst service was far from terrible.

 

It is basically the luck of the draw and many of the stewards on the lower decks are trying to show their best work to impress their customers and their managers. If not, they may not be around for another voyage.

 

Now the part about having an inside cabins.............:)

 

 

Mike

[HoneyGV]

when it comes to cleaning and getting ready for new pax on embarkation day, there is absolutely no priority given to suites before attending to other cabins

 

if you think about it, there couldn't be a priority .. there are only so many cabin stewards and each has a specific assignment .. those on Main Deck don't head to Navigation once they're done with their cabins ..

 

with respect to "priority" given suites once you're at sea, the only real priorities are the amenities .. not the service .. the steward assigned to an S suite is just as eager to please and do the best job possible as is the steward assigned to the inside cabin on A deck

 

as other posters have said today and in the past, there are definite advantages to the "suite life" .. but why not? you're paying for the privilege; it's not free by any stretch;)

 

must respectfully disagree with anyone who has said or hinted at a "caste system" aboard any HAL ship .. it's the same dining room for everyone; the same lounges; the same casino; the same pools, the same alternate dining; even the same lifeboat:)

 

and shock of shocks .. suites have the same problems with a/c, toilets and leaks as every other cabin at times:eek:

 

While I agree that there isn't a caste system, I do believe that full suite pax get preferencial treatment in many areas. The first one, IMO, is the color of the key card to distinguish a suite pax from a non-suite pax. I was also told by my concierge on my last trip that when they seat pax in the dining room, they try to seat the suite pax together unless you change your table seating. That has happened a few times to us, but on the last voyage, I wanted a table change from 6 to 4 and I was told that if I changed I couldn't be guaranteed to be sitting with other suite pax.

I have also noticed that if you are a suite pax with the different colored card and you step up to a bar to get your own drink, that as soon as they see the card, they will serve you before they serve anyone else who was there before you. I experienced this on HAL and Celebrity.

Just having priority boarding and tender boarding and disembarkation shows that there is a caste system. I know the suite pax pay for it, but then again, so did the people in the first class cabins in the old days pay for their "class".

I believe that if you pay for something...you get what you pay for and those that don't pay the premium for the suites DO get excellent service as well, surely much better service than the "steerage" class did in the earlier days of sailing.

I doubt it will ever go back to the days of separation of the decks, and I don't believe it should, but there are certainly subtle differences between the suite and non suite pax.

I always sail full suite, but I'm not a snob about it although I have met some pretty snobby people in the Neptune on a few cruises. Even the concierges have rolled their eyes a few times when the snobbiness shows through.

I remember once on a cruise the concierges were talking about some group of people who had ducks or something all over the place and from their candor in talking about it, they conveyed that they thought it was silly and those people were pretty snobbish onboard. Go figure.

One thing I insist on is that the stewards and concierges address me with my first name...my mother is Mrs...xxx, not me.:)

[OceanLiner]

While I agree that there isn't a caste system, I do believe that full suite pax get preferencial treatment in many areas. The first one, IMO, is the color of the key card to distinguish a suite pax from a non-suite pax. I was also told by my concierge on my last trip that when they seat pax in the dining room, they try to seat the suite pax together unless you change your table seating. That has happened a few times to us, but on the last voyage, I wanted a table change from 6 to 4 and I was told that if I changed I couldn't be guaranteed to be sitting with other suite pax.

 

I have also noticed that if you are a suite pax with the different colored card and you step up to a bar to get your own drink, that as soon as they see the card, they will serve you before they serve anyone else who was there before you. I experienced this on HAL and Celebrity.

 

Just having priority boarding and tender boarding and disembarkation shows that there is a caste system. I know the suite pax pay for it, but then again, so did the people in the first class cabins in the old days pay for their "class".

 

I believe that if you pay for something...you get what you pay for and those that don't pay the premium for the suites DO get excellent service as well, surely much better service than the "steerage" class did in the earlier days of sailing.

 

I doubt it will ever go back to the days of separation of the decks, and I don't believe it should, but there are certainly subtle differences between the suite and non suite pax.

 

I always sail full suite, but I'm not a snob about it although I have met some pretty snobby people in the Neptune on a few cruises. Even the concierges have rolled their eyes a few times when the snobbiness shows through.

 

I remember once on a cruise the concierges were talking about some group of people who had ducks or something all over the place and from their candor in talking about it, they conveyed that they thought it was silly and those people were pretty snobbish onboard. Go figure.

 

One thing I insist on is that the stewards and concierges address me with my first name...my mother is Mrs...xxx, not me.:)

 

Your last line caught me off guard. We do the same thing and never even thought about it. We have always instructed the staff to call us by our first names and that seems to really break the ice....also, our children are instructed to always address ALL of the staff as Mr/Mrs/Miss.

[madhouseinc]

It looks like we have ships that have suite amenities like HAL, followed by ships that have different dining like Cunard, to newer ships that have completly seperate areas of the ship like NCL and MCS. (Please forgive me if I have the last two lines incorrect, but I believe both of them have introduced the ship within a ship idea and I think that the Queen Victoria is also going to have more of a seperate area for the Grill guests.)

 

Excuse, can you tell me what line is? You did not MSC did you?

[sail7seas]

While I agree that there isn't a caste system, I do believe that full suite pax get preferencial treatment in many areas. The first one, IMO, is the color of the key card to distinguish a suite pax from a non-suite pax. I was also told by my concierge on my last trip that when they seat pax in the dining room, they try to seat the suite pax together unless you change your table seating. That has happened a few times to us, but on the last voyage, I wanted a table change from 6 to 4 and I was told that if I changed I couldn't be guaranteed to be sitting with other suite pax.

I think the only time the different color card is noticed is for tender boarding. They used to hand out little cards the night before a tender port for Suite Priority Tender Use. They don't bother with those cards now and that is a reason for the different color ID card. At the gangway, it serves as a Tender Pass.

 

I have also noticed that if you are a suite pax with the different colored card and you step up to a bar to get your own drink, that as soon as they see the card, they will serve you before they serve anyone else who was there before you. I experienced this on HAL and Celebrity.

I experienced that, without question, on Celebrity and I never liked it.

I have never shown an ID card at any HAL Bar when ordering a drink. They ask my cabin number, my name and I sign the slip. The next time I come to that bar, they remember my name (and most everyone else's) and never (or VERY rarely) have to ask again. They have not one time asked to see my (or DH's) ID card.

 

Just having priority boarding and tender boarding and disembarkation shows that there is a caste system. I know the suite pax pay for it, but then again, so did the people in the first class cabins in the old days pay for their "class".

 

I believe that if you pay for something...you get what you pay for and those that don't pay the premium for the suites DO get excellent service as well, surely much better service than the "steerage" class did in the earlier days of sailing.

 

I doubt it will ever go back to the days of separation of the decks, and I don't believe it should, but there are certainly subtle differences between the suite and non suite pax.

 

I always sail full suite, but I'm not a snob about it although I have met some pretty snobby people in the Neptune on a few cruises. Even the concierges have rolled their eyes a few times when the snobbiness shows through.

There are snobs and jerks everywhere in the world. Why wouldn't there be some on a cruise ship? I don't find it Caste for a company to offer something for sale and when someone buys what they are selling, they GET what they have bought.

If you buy a fancy car that is supposed to give you a loaner if your car is serviced, you get the loaner. You bought it as part of the package when you bought your car. Is everyone who bought that 'package' a part of a Caste System? I don't see any distinction. The cruise line sells something and people buy it. The car dealer sells something and people buy it.

In both cases, they expect to get what they paid for.

 

I remember once on a cruise the concierges were talking about some group of people who had ducks or something all over the place and from their candor in talking about it, they conveyed that they thought it was silly and those people were pretty snobbish onboard. Go figure.

The group you are referencing are friends from another BB. The 'leader' of that group happens to be good friends with an HAL Captain. Their duck thing started as a small gag years ago and each year has grown bigger and bigger. There are now some rubber duckies as permanent residents on the particular ship you reference. One 'lives' on the Bridge. The Captain seems to have fun with these folks and it is innocent enough.

But, the bottom line is they are customers. They don't bother anyone else. It is good clean fun. The group numbers about 20 or so and if the Captain and some crew members enjoy 'playing' with them once a year when they sail, is anyone else being hurt buy it?

 

One thing I insist on is that the stewards and concierges address me with my first name...my mother is Mrs...xxx, not me.:)

 

:) I know what you mean by that. For years, when anyone addressed me as "Mrs. ----", I thought they were speaking to my mother-in-law.

 

I don't mean this as any criticism at all. Just my viewpoint. We all can look at the same situation but see it differently. I look at the Suite perks I buy as a list of things that are included in my fare. We all have food, movies, pools, tender use, etc etc. We all buy that with our ticket. Some people spend more on their ticket and buy more things. Anyone has the choice to do that. In any society, not everyone has the ability.

 

That's life in general......not just cruising.

[OceanLiner]

It looks like we have ships that have suite amenities like HAL, followed by ships that have different dining like Cunard, to newer ships that have completly seperate areas of the ship like NCL and MCS. (Please forgive me if I have the last two lines incorrect, but I believe both of them have introduced the ship within a ship idea and I think that the Queen Victoria is also going to have more of a seperate area for the Grill guests.)

 

Excuse, can you tell me what line is? You did not MSC did you?

 

NCL and MSC. There was a write up about the new class of ship froj MSC and there was mention of this sep ship idea. The QV has different venues and boxes reserved for the Grill passengers.

[riz]

It's funny that the idea of suite "snobbery" came up. We are very down to earth people....and had an interesting experience in the Neptune a few weeks ago on the Westerdam.

 

This was not our first S suite and nor will it be our last...we use the Neptune occasionally for the delish cookies and what I like to call Neptune "juice". (cranberry juice...sounds cooler if I call it something else). We sometimes sit in the lounge for a few minutes...have a drink and a cookie before returning to our cabin usually after our day in port. People have always been friendly and well mannered...except for this particular day.

 

In a period of about 10 minutes we watched people coming and going....doing nothing but harass and complain to the concierges for the some of the most ridiculous things. One man came in in nothing but his bathrobe and underpants (he was quite old...perhaps not all there) and comment on the "salami"...how it has been better other cruises. We also listened to another man....very well spoken but complaining about being charged for a shore excursion that he CHOSE not to take because it had been raining. He wanted a refund despite the fact he never made an effort to cancel it. In his well "spoken" manner he pretty much threatened the concierge by saying "I am a lawyer...I know how these things work". Well unfortunately that was our saying for the rest of the cruise "I'm a lawyer...I know how things work" I was amazed by this man's nerve....thinking that he was pulling some kind of rank to get his way...when really...if he was a good lawyer (like the one I travel with and love very much :))....he would have read the terms and conditions when he ordered his shore excursion and understood that a refund was not in the cards.

 

Anyways...this was a first for us. I don't care where you sleep and what you pay for your cruise....no fare buys you the right to feel you are above the rules and most importantly the people that are working to make your vacation special.

 

Rant done. :)

[twinkletoes4445]

Just having priority boarding and tender boarding and disembarkation shows that there is a caste system. I know the suite pax pay for it, but then again, so did the people in the first class cabins in the old days pay for their "class".

 

But this is no different if you fly first class on an airline.

 

I found you post very informative. :)