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My experience in a Sky Suite is that the butler isn't around my cabin all that often. They had plenty of other cabins to attend to, often including higher suites. If I needed something, I would call. I would imagine there still will be a number to call.

Another piece of information - this is from FB and supposedly a screenshot from DMs on Twitter.

I don't know how much a butler is needed in a Sky Suite. We rarely used ours when we were in a SS. And what little they did the Concierges and your stateroom attendant can handle. So I'm not sure the lack of a butler is a big issue to me. To me, pricing is the bigger problem and I suspect that will correct itself at some point. We are now generally priced out of the Retreat both in that it doesn't fit our budget and also in that I don't feel there is enough value for the current price even if it was in our budget. As prices continue to climb and people see less value in what is offered, there will be more people that fall into my category and at some point I suspect demand will fall. I recognize that they are attracting a new clientele at the same time but I think that clientele will also reach a tipping point. In the meantime, those that fall into my category (or are close to falling into it) are checking out other lines. Will we find something we like better? Only time will tell. Celebrity does have on their side the fact that all cruise lines are cutting services and raising prices. But that doesn't mean people won't find something they like better or that has a better value to them.

In my opinion, it is rumor until there is actually a policy or it is implemented. From what I can tell it has not been verified by any higher official, what we know is only through word-of-mouth, and the plan could be changed or tweaked at any point before implementation. That's not to say rumors can't ultimately come true.

No, this thread is just about a rumor they might discontinue butler service for lower suites.

I expect dinner reservations and tours are officially the concierge's job and many butlers may even hand them off to the concierge's even now. We personally have used the Concierges for these tasks. And the mini-bar isn't officially included in Sky and Celebrity Suites. That's just some butlers have been willing to fill and re-fill. So without a butler, that will revert back to the official policy of not being included. Things like pillow requests are technically the cabin steward's job now (even if Butlers sometimes help) as well as any problems in your cabin.

Yes, the deck 11 forward indoor lounge is open to all and is a great lounge to spend time.

There is more than one pier in Honolulu. The Eclipse docked at pier 2 this past May. I believe it depends on whether the Pride of America is in port that day as I believe they get priority at pier 2 which is the better pier. @padgman1 According to this schedule, it looks like the Solstice will be at pier 2 on October 1 of this year: https://hawaii.portcall.com/#!?tab=2 (scroll down until you see Honolulu as this website is all Hawaii ports).

I have found that every cruise line has pluses and minus and we each weigh those pluses and minus differently. Even my husband and I don't always agree. I also think the experience can vary quite a bit from ship to ship/cruise to cruise so I try not to make a judgment on the entire line based on just a single cruise. We personally were not impressed with Princess last year. We spent 15 nights on the Emerald Princess in February 2022 and 14 nights on the Caribbean Princess in June 2022. We were going to cruise the Crown this year but cancelled after those two experiences plus all we heard about propulsion issues on the Crown last year (something that went on for many months). For comparison purposes, we have recently sailed on the Constellation and Eclipse. One of my big issues was Princess did not accommodate my food allergy very well. I always had safe food to eat but it was repetitive and usually quite bland. I have had so many amazing experiences with chefs creatively adopting dishes to meet my dietary restrictions on Celebrity (and almost every other line) which made this surprising and especially disappointing. My husband (who does not have any food allergies) thought the food in the MDR was quite good on the Emerald but pretty poor on the Caribbean. Celebrity's buffet was night and day better (more variety and better quality) than Princess. Another issue we ran into was the lines at the MDR. It didn't seem to matter if you made a reservation or not, we always were standing in lines waiting to get in. This was an issue on both Princess ships, although was far worse on the Caribbean Princess where those without reservations got seated much quicker than those with reservations. We also really wish Princess put a couch or at least comfortable chair in standard balcony and lower cabin categories. Instead they have chosen to put a huge walk-in closet that takes up so much of the cabin that the cabin feels really small. On the Caribbean Princess, I was quite shocked at how poor that ship was maintained (even just 5 or 6 weeks after dry dock). AC and plumbing issues were prevalent all over the ship (in cabins, public spaces, and public restrooms). And at one point, I caught my niece collecting all the loose tiles in the pool. Even with these issues, we did still really enjoy our cruises on the Princess. The Princess Plus package was a great value (we had booked at the old cheaper prices). I really enjoyed the International Cafe as well as Coffee and Cones. There was a pretty decent grill at the pool. Service was great on both ships. I loved having access to an open deck above the bridge for a great forward view. Good Spirits (when they have a mixologist on board) is a great bar. The medallion is an amazing concept and if they ever get it to work consistently, it will give Princess an edge. Would I book Princess again? I don't ever say never. But they aren't high in my list when I consider booking a new cruise.

The Constellation (which is not revolutionized) had 2 in November of last year as well as 2 in the fall of 2021.

Tendering starts as soon as the ship is cleared and the tenders are in the water and ready. Priority goes to suites, those on Celebrity excursions, and often those with loyalty (although this priority can vary). Everyone else gets a ticket from some central location (like the martini bar) and waits for their ticket number to be called. Once there are no longer lines (usually after a couple hours), they won't require tickets anymore and you can just directly get in line. Tenders will continue while you are in port (although they won't run as many in the middle of the night) and the last tender usually leaves 1 hour before sail away (they will tell you the exact time once you are on board).

A P1 or P2 has an actual veranda. It's just a bit more enclosed with a huge circle view. P1 are in a better location. A lot of the P2s are directly above the theater so could be loud at night during shows.

Specialty coffees (also called premium coffees) are included in the classic package. Red Bull is not. Here is a nice comparison of the classic and premium drink packages (scroll to the bottom of the non-alcohol inclusions): https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/onboard-packages/beverage-packages/compare-packages I believe they can make an exception to the rule about both people having the same drink package in some scenarios, if you call. That said, do the math first. It may be cheaper to get the All Included cruise fare (especially if you also want Wi-fi) and just pay for the Red Bulls a la carte (depending on how many he will drink). Both passengers do need to have the same cruise fare.

The sommelier is part of bar staff so earns their tips from individual drink gratuities and drink package gratuities (which I understand includes the drink package that is part of AI). They do not receive any portion of the daily gratuities.

@vm6514 Hope you have a great cruise!

Our five night cruise had 2 evening chic nights last fall. The year before that same itinerary only had 1 so I think the Captain/ship team has some discretion.

1. Stay in a hotel the night before that is fairly close to the port. 2. In the hotel or car/shuttle ride over, we watch the safety video on the app and listen to the horn. It's usually available starting about 9am on embarkation morning. 3. Arrive at the port around our arrival time, check-in, and board once boarding starts. 4. Stop by our muster station. 5. Drop our bags in our cabin and pick up our sea pass cards. 6. Find lunch. If we can help it, we avoid the buffet as it is usually crazy on this first lunch. The Mast Grill is one option. The sushi place is usually open for a fee. If we book concierge class, we go to the main dining room. If we book a suite, we go to Luminae. 7. Stop by the Martini Bar for the first martini of the cruise. 8. Once cabins are ready, I also usually try to go check on the paperwork for dining reservations, shore excursions, etc. to make sure there isn't anything that needs to be adjusted. Last cruise, our assigned dining time got switched on us at the last minute so we went to the hostess in the main dining room to fix that. 9. Meet the room steward and watch for suitcases so we can start unpacking. It never feels like the vacation has truly started until I have unpacked.

Cruise docs usually don't show up until 30 days before you sail. You don't actually have to print them. I usually just download them to a device so that I have it handy should there be any questions on board. And porters can tag your bags like has already been said so it isn't required that you even print the luggage tag page.

You sound like you are in the right section. For my cruise, it is right below the word "Open Dining" is my seating time and then right below that it says Gratuities. If you booked an AI fare though, it won't be there. If you can't find it, your Celebrity vacation planner will also be able to handle it over the phone.

Gratuities are only included for any drink (or portion of a drink) that is covered by the package. So you will pay gratuities on price of the bottle of wine after the discount has been applied.

On our last cruise, the information in our cabin about Elite privileges and events mentioned where to go for tender priority. On our Eclipse cruise that was Le Petit Chef which was convenient as it was right next to where the Elite breakfast was being held in Tuscan Grill.

We just did this analysis for our Ascent cruise and saw a similar pricing difference. We just couldn't justify it. I will miss the Retreat but I've cruised in cheaper rooms on Celebrity enough times that I know I will still greatly enjoy the cruise.

If not all of your travel group wants to eat in a specialty restaurant. Or if you want some things from the MDR menu but would like an uncharge steak or lobster. Or to save a little money but still get something that is a step up. To me, as long as upcharge items in the MDR don't replace things that used to be included, it seems like a net positive as it gives people more choices.

No, I do not believe Celebrity is using them currently but if Carnival is going to the trouble to start using them, I expect others may start as well if they start seeing issues. And no, even that isn't perfect but when fines are attached it does some to discourage it. Never? I have at quite a few ports. Mexico is the most common I have seen but they aren't the only one where I have seen dogs.

Cruise lines have a vested interest in keeping it off with the regulations they have to follow. Myrtle Beach does not (states are quickly legalizing it at least for medical use or at least looking the other way). Carnival is going so far as to put drug dogs on some of their cruises as well as in the terminals. Some countries have the drug dogs regularly at their terminals.