Suite Guests Poll

[Ashland]

We've had butlers on X, Oceania and Regent. They are not intrusive; quite the opposite. No, I never had one pack or unpack, although I tried real hard to pack him into my luggage and take him home! I can't remember the ones in X, but the other two ships had them in black tails. Very, very impressive.

What did the Butler do for you?..Not sure I would know what to ask him for, that the room steward or Concierge couldn't do :confused:

[Suesan Jean]

What did the Butler do for you?..Not sure I would know what to ask him for, that the room steward or Concierge couldn't do :confused:

 

On all our six NCL cruises we have had a Butler. They are not your "personal" Butler. He or she is shared with other "Suites".

 

On cruises we have taken with our two Girls, they have used the Butler more than us. When they order in Lunch, Snacks, DVD's.

 

On three cruises, I have hosted parties and the Butler did all the set-up and clearing away.

 

We (my DH and I) usually ask the Butler for Breakfast, DVD's, snacks, that's about it.

On our first cruise we didn't know what to do with the Butler, but, the Girl's figured it out pretty quick......;)

Usually on port days, we have the Butler bring up Breakfast from Cagneys. Because port days always seem to be a rushing around kind of morning. Although, my DH ALWAYS goes to the Buffet for Waffles....

Our Butlers have never unpacked or packed on NCL, nor have they asked if they could. I don't think I would want them to unpack or pack.

I have never quite figured out the roll of a Concierge. We have never used the services of one. They have been amazingly cordial and friendly though.

The Room Stewards are there of course for anything we need for our cabin.

Having a Butler is just, well, kind of neat.......:D

[stretch44]

On all our six NCL cruises we have had a Butler. They are not your "personal" Butler. He or she is shared with other "Suites".

 

On cruises we have taken with our two Girls, they have used the Butler more than us. When they order in Lunch, Snacks, DVD's.

 

On three cruises, I have hosted parties and the Butler did all the set-up and clearing away.

 

We (my DH and I) usually ask the Butler for Breakfast, DVD's, snacks, that's about it.

 

On our first cruise we didn't know what to do with the Butler, but, the Girl's figured it out pretty quick......;)

 

Usually on port days, we have the Butler bring up Breakfast from Cagneys. Because port days always seem to be a rushing around kind of morning. Although, my DH ALWAYS goes to the Buffet for Waffles....

 

Our Butlers have never unpacked or packed on NCL, nor have they asked if they could. I don't think I would want them to unpack or pack.

 

I have never quite figured out the roll of a Concierge. We have never used the services of one. They have been amazingly cordial and friendly though.

 

The Room Stewards are there of course for anything we need for our cabin.

 

Having a Butler is just, well, kind of neat.......:D

 

 

So I guess it comes down to only needing a Butler or Concierge but not both.

[marci22]

I don't understand all the people choosing 1 night specialty dining (although I think that should be a given if you're in GS or above).

 

The soda card/2 free drink combination is worth far more unless you only drink water the entire cruise.

[Sarahs_mom]

My second choice would be free laundry and dry cleaning.

It would have been nice if we had two choices.

[Sarahs_mom]

One thing I have found interesting is that nobody has voted for having a butler. Do people use them when they are available on other cruise lines?

I think that is because they are like a conceirge and room steward combined, and we already have that.

[Don Pedro]

In Room Bar Setup.

Not sure if you mean a free bar setup or the ability to have the bar stocked with beverages of your choice, at your own expense. Personally, we would not do much drinking in our cabin because we enjoy getting out and about the ship. It's more fun to be in the CL or other lounge where there are folks to chat with.

Concierge Lounge back to suite guests only.

Unless RCCL makes the path to D+ much steeper this will probably be happening before long.

Free Laundy & Dry Cleaning.

Probably would not use this much unless we were on a fairly long cruise. We usually pack much more than we need for a seven nighter.

Free soda cards and drink coupons.

Used to be a couple free drink coupons in our booklets. Someimes we used them sometimes we didn't. Seems like the soda cards are subject to a lot of abuse.

One night free specialty restautant dining.

Nice idea! We almost always dine a couple nights in the specialty restaurants. Provided we can get reservations at a decent time this is something we'd use.

Priority boarding.

In recent years boarding has become a rather simple process. We typically get to the terminal about 11:15 AM and are on the ship quite quickly. It would be nice if they could have the suites ready by noon instead of 1:00 PM. Priority departure is something that would interest us.

Butler.

No thanks between the stateroom attendent and concierge we get all that we need. There's just something about having a butler that is out of character for us.

Full breakfast in a specialty restaurant.

Would probably be OK but we enjoy speed and choices of the breakfast buffet. We wouldn't want to get in a long drawn-out meal.

 

Anyway our top choices would be to have the CL devoted to suite guests and getting a free pass to a speciality restaurant.

[ssawjo]

My second choice would be free laundry and dry cleaning.

It would have been nice if we had two choices.

 

 

Free laundry and dry cleaning/pressing, along with at least some internet minutes. A free speciality restaurant and free soft drinks/bottled water would be all I would need above and beyond what is already provided. I have a GS on BOS in April 2011. It is a 16 day cruise and the free laundry especially will be missed. At least on Princess there are self serve laundromats and ironing boards. A bag of laundry for $25 is a bit steep if you ask me. But I am not on the ship to do laundry.

 

Bill

[critterchick]

Remember-suite guests don't have a CL on certain ships. What is done for D+ on those ships?? Do suite and D+ have a place put aside for a complimentary cocktail happy hour?? Do they have an AM breakfast set up somewhere where the concierge is available to them??

 

I think that D+ passengers are treated better than suite guests on the ships without CLs. On Rhapsody we had a dedicated area for breakfast (that was for Diamonds, too) and a cocktail hour (although the setting in the VCL was up by the DJ's station, very dark without much of a view and the free drinks were just La Terrible wine and house champagne). THere's no Concierge for anybody on those ships.

 

I don't understand all the people choosing 1 night specialty dining (although I think that should be a given if you're in GS or above).

 

The soda card/2 free drink combination is worth far more unless you only drink water the entire cruise.

 

Lots of people don't drink soda. I maybe have 1-2 a week at home, and less than that on a cruise. And I can get plenty of free drinks at the CL or Diamond event, although it would be nice to have one in another bar (and we get a BOGO in our D/D+ coupon book, for wine, anyway). We love the specialty restaurants, so would like that, although not every ship has those, either.

 

I love the private breakfast in Sabatini's on Princess (suites only, not Elite) and the D/D+ breakfast on the RCI ships. I'm really surprised that the suite guests don't have the same privileges on RCI.

 

I think an escort to your cabin even if you arrive prior to 1:30 would be nice. That used to happen on Monarch and Vision when they were in LA, at least for the OS and RS.

[stretch44]

Let's look at the top 4:

 

In Room Bar Setup

At this point I'll take it whether we have to pay for it or not. As most here agree, this should be available for everyone but especially for suites since they have a bar in their room!

 

One Night Free Specialty Dining Restaurant

This turned out to be a more popular option than I thought it would be. Might be a hard perk to give out since these dining venues are already very popular.

 

Free Laundry and Drycleaning

Seems they could at least match what they give D+ and give us a bag of laundry free.

 

Concierge Lounge Back To Allowing Only Suite Guests

Touchy subject here with D+ members but really, wasn't the concierge originally put on the ship to take care of suite customers? Can they really do their job if they have to take care of more people? Is it fair for someone who paid $10,000+ for their suite to walk in the CL at happy hour and not find a seat? On the other hand I have had some great conversations with long time cruisers in the CL and I would miss that. Don't know what the answer is here.

[marci22]

Let's look at the top 4:

 

Concierge Lounge Back To Allowing Only Suite Guests

Touchy subject here with D+ members but really, wasn't the concierge originally put on the ship to take care of suite customers? Can they really do their job if they have to take care of more people? Is it fair for someone who paid $10,000+ for their suite to walk in the CL at happy hour and not find a seat? On the other hand I have had some great conversations with long time cruisers in the CL and I would miss that. Don't know what the answer is here.

 

That's why I think the 2 free drink coupons are good, although maybe they should just give those to the D+ members and take away the CL. The concierge should be spending his time on suite guests anyway.

[kyriecat]

I'm still curious about how many people would vote for some free internet time if it were on the poll. Princess offers their suite guests unlimited internet but HAL doesn't offer any internet for suites.

 

I like to keep in touch with my folks via email while I'm away. I use my own laptop so if RC offered 10 free minutes a day (an hour for 7-night cruise), that would cover what I normally use. Unlimited would be nice, but I think some people might take too much advantage of that.

[Don Pedro]

Let's look at the top 4:

 

In Room Bar Setup

At this point I'll take it whether we have to pay for it or not. As most here agree, this should be available for everyone but especially for suites since they have a bar in their room!

 

One Night Free Specialty Dining Restaurant

This turned out to be a more popular option than I thought it would be. Might be a hard perk to give out since these dining venues are already very popular.

 

Free Laundry and Drycleaning

Seems they could at least match what they give D+ and give us a bag of laundry free.

 

Concierge Lounge Back To Allowing Only Suite Guests

Touchy subject here with D+ members but really, wasn't the concierge originally put on the ship to take care of suite customers? Can they really do their job if they have to take care of more people? Is it fair for someone who paid $10,000+ for their suite to walk in the CL at happy hour and not find a seat? On the other hand I have had some great conversations with long time cruisers in the CL and I would miss that. Don't know what the answer is here.

 

We agree that the Concierge Lounge is a touchy subject with D+ members and rightfully so!

 

When we Diamond's first got access to the CL there were very few of us on any sailing, typically not more than a half dozen. A Diamond Plus member was nearly a celebrity. Back then we all considered access as courtesy of RCCL.

 

As the Diamond ranks grew the courtesy became an entitlement with some members believing that their loyality to RCCL made them better than the suite guests and more deserving of the lounge.

 

When the lounges became too crowded RCCL had to make other arrangements for their D members. Unfortunately to date they have not implemented a plan to slow the growth within the C & A system and we are fearful that a similiar fate to the Ds might happen to the D+s.

 

The Crown & Anchor Society, by the way, is not a society at all. It is a tremendously successful marketing tool that has begun to start eating its young.

[wolfcathorse]

If they restrict the CL to just suite guests, I would hope that they code the D+ seapass cards to have free drinks at any venue of their choice between 5:30-8 pm. I'd miss the Continental breakfast and coffee in the morning. I would also miss being able to get information from the concierge. In January on Serenade, Kenneth told us exactly where to find the nearest pharmacy in St Thomas.

[Don Pedro]

If they restrict the CL to just suite guests, I would hope that they code the D+ seapass cards to have free drinks at any venue of their choice between 5:30-8 pm. I'd miss the Continental breakfast and coffee in the morning. I would also miss being able to get information from the concierge. In January on Serenade, Kenneth told us exactly where to find the nearest pharmacy in St Thomas.

 

We have no idea what they will do but they must make provisions for us D+ folks. Doubt they will go for your 5:30-8:00 PM free drinks at any bar suggestion but it sounds good to me.

 

What we'd enjoy as a suite benefit is to be able to get into our cabin at 11:30 AM rather than 1:00 PM and early luggage delivery.

[mommabean]

It would be my guess that if they gave some of the "free" things, specialty restaurant, bar set up, laundry, butler etc...that it wouldn't really be free. The price would be built into the cost of the suite stateroom. That might make it more comparable in price to other cruiseline's suites. And then they might have more of them remaining un-booked making it just another perk given to D+ members....and D members as they now claim they will do as available. :eek: Free Upgrades!

 

Gina

[stretch44]

That's why I think the 2 free drink coupons are good, although maybe they should just give those to the D+ members and take away the CL. The concierge should be spending his time on suite guests anyway.

 

That's a great idea! 1 or 2 drink coupons per night to be used at the bar of their choice for D+ members. That would free up the CL and the concierge for suite guests without taking too much away from D+ members. Really wouldn't cost RCI much as free drinks are free drinks no matter where you have them.

[BMG]

Free internet is a perk on Princess and it rocks! I also liked free laundry/dry cleaning on Princess. Don't get me wrong, I love Royal, but...

 

Bar set up would be great too (got that on Princess as well).

[Don Pedro]

That's a great idea! 1 or 2 drink coupons per night to be used at the bar of their choice for D+ members. That would free up the CL and the concierge for suite guests without taking too much away from D+ members. Really wouldn't cost RCI much as free drinks are free drinks no matter where you have them.

 

True, but just getting a couple free drinks a night fails to recognize the cruise history of D+ members. The CL provides much more than free drinks, it is an exclusive area set aside for only a small percentage of the ship's passengers.

 

Suite guests obvioulsy have first dibs on the CL. When the number of D+ members using the CL increases to the point that it adversely affects the suite guest, the D+ folks can expect something unpleasant to occur..

 

So RCCL is faced with the question of how to maintain the suite experience and still adequately reward the loyality of its D+ members.

 

The Diamond Lounges, on the ships that have them, are quite nice but reportedly, on some sailings are already overcrowded. And the ranks of D cruisers is increasing at a rapid rate.

 

We don't know what will happen but there have been rumors of a revamp of the C & A Society that would make the upward path much steeper. Perhaps the D's will get the free drink coupons and the D+ members will take over the Diamond lounge. We don't know, but you can bet your bottom dollar that RCCL would love to have an easy solution to this problem.

[stretch44]

True, but just getting a couple free drinks a night fails to recognize the cruise history of D+ members. The CL provides much more than free drinks, it is an exclusive area set aside for only a small percentage of the ship's passengers.

 

Suite guests obvioulsy have first dibs on the CL. When the number of D+ members using the CL increases to the point that it adversely affects the suite guest, the D+ folks can expect something unpleasant to occur..

 

So RCCL is faced with the question of how to maintain the suite experience and still adequately reward the loyality of its D+ members.

 

The Diamond Lounges, on the ships that have them, are quite nice but reportedly, on some sailings are already overcrowded. And the ranks of D cruisers is increasing at a rapid rate.

 

We don't know what will happen but there have been rumors of a revamp of the C & A Society that would make the upward path much steeper. Perhaps the D's will get the free drink coupons and the D+ members will take over the Diamond lounge. We don't know, but you can bet your bottom dollar that RCCL would love to have an easy solution to this problem.

 

Compared to their competition, it's not much of a suite experience. I've got to be honest with you, based on last year's cruise suite experience, my wife and I would not be on another RCCL cruise this fall if it weren't for our kids. They obviously love the activities and kids club. Don't get me wrong, we like RCCL but when it comes to suites and what extras are offered, the other major cruise lines blows them away. The only exception is Carnaval but their suites are priced much less than others. I hope they can upgrade the ammenities to at least come close to what others are offering. If they fix that, we would have no reason to stop crusing RCCL.

[Don Pedro]

Compared to their competition, it's not much of a suite experience. I've got to be honest with you, based on last year's cruise suite experience, my wife and I would not be on another RCCL cruise this fall if it weren't for our kids. They obviously love the activities and kids club. Don't get me wrong, we like RCCL but when it comes to suites and what extras are offered, the other major cruise lines blows them away. The only exception is Carnaval but their suites are priced much less than others. I hope they can upgrade the ammenities to at least come close to what others are offering. If they fix that, we would have no reason to stop crusing RCCL.

 

Perhaps I should have said "how to improve the suite experience" rather than "how to maintain the suite experience"

 

Anyway you get no arguement from us. There is need of improvement and RCCL needs to be aware of what their competition is providing. Part the problem is people like us who have not sailed anything but RCCL for several years and don't have first hand knowledge of what the other cruise lines are giving their suite guests. Ignorance is bliss!

[marci22]

I don't think they'd have to increase suite prices to provide extra amenities, but maybe they wouldn't have to discount them as much because people would be more apt to see value. I never really understood the "more real estate" mentality; I would expect that by paying so much more I would get some extras. Priority boarding and getting stuffed into an overcrowded CL are not my idea of extras.

[stretch44]

I don't think they'd have to increase suite prices to provide extra amenities, but maybe they wouldn't have to discount them as much because people would be more apt to see value. I never really understood the "more real estate" mentality; I would expect that by paying so much more I would get some extras. Priority boarding and getting stuffed into an overcrowded CL are not my idea of extras.

 

 

RCCL's suite prices are comparable to the other major cruise lines that offer many more perks. Carnival executes that "more real estate" mentality with their suites but at a much lower price. So if RCCL wants to fill their suites with paying customers, they either need to do away with the amenities and lower the price or what I hope they will do, increase the extras/perks to the level of their competitors.

[Sarahs_mom]

I love the new perks now, but it sure would be nice to have free laundry, or a bar set up on the now usless bar.

[mommabean]

I don't think they'd have to increase suite prices to provide extra amenities, but maybe they wouldn't have to discount them as much because people would be more apt to see value. I never really understood the "more real estate" mentality; I would expect that by paying so much more I would get some extras. Priority boarding and getting stuffed into an overcrowded CL are not my idea of extras.

 

But you know they would. After all they are the ones who quit putting chocolates on the bed and providing little toiletry bottles to all guests just to cut costs.

 

The suite experience could very well vary from ship to ship. Our least favorite was on Enchantment but that was probably due to the location. Our best was on Radiance but then again, Radiance does everything best. The hotel director and chief housekeeper, I suspect, have a lot to do with it. I consider it odd when in a suite that some stateroom attendants never offer pillow options or mention that they can get your formal clothes pressed for you. Those who are new to RCI suites might have no idea that these little things are options.

 

With that bar space going unused, you'd think they'd place some fresh flowers there, like on X, along with the fruit basket. I'm sure there are extra flowers on board that wouldn't cost them a penny more. Little touches can go a long way.

 

Gina