Suite guests escourted onto ship

[cruisegirl1]

Boarded the enchantment this morning, and saw something new, at least to me.

 

I was waiting in the suite/P/D+/D area and the staff asked if there were suite guests waiting, and the concierge escorted suite guests on, prior to opening the ship for any other boarding.

 

Seems like a nice perk.

 

They then opened boarding for Pinaccle, then D+ and so on. There were maybe 10 people in our waiting area. We boarded at 10:35. I could not believe it was so early.

 

Looks like a beautiful weekend for a cruise, but then again, isn't that true for every weekend!

M

Edited March 13, 2015 by cruisegirl1

[ltjn]

Celebrity started that a few years ago for suite passengers. However, sky suites were excluded.

[George C]

I was hoping for something like this, line was pretty long last year and we will be in suite next month also

[PompeySailor]

Not sure it is for all Suite Guests.

I do know that if you are staying in the RS, you will be escorted onto the ship in the private elevator;) with the Concierge.

 

Never happened for us when in an OS or GS though, maybe a new perk!

Least that is our experience

 

Happy Days!

[Cruisingthesuitelife]

I've seen something similar to this on Allure but only for certain grades of suites.

[LilBlackDress]

We were in a suite last month and I received an email from RCI with the boarding schedule. There was a section in there for Suites, D, D+ and P. I semi ignored it because my DS/BiL were flying in @ noon (for an 8:30pm sailing) and I was picking them up at the airport.... my suite boarding time I think was 11ish.

[danzur]

When we have stayed in the RS and RLS, we were escorted on the ship by the Concierge. When we have stayed in a CLS we have not. It seems to be RS, RLS, and maybe the RFS may get escorted on. We were also told that the escort was based on the availability of the Concierge, there were no guarantees that we would be escorted early. No worries for us, we show up with a bag for the pool...grab some lunch....and head to the Solarium for the afternoon.

[PompeySailor]

When we have stayed in the RS and RLS, we were escorted on the ship by the Concierge. When we have stayed in a CLS we have not. It seems to be RS, RLS, and maybe the RFS may get escorted on. We were also told that the escort was based on the availability of the Concierge, there were no guarantees that we would be escorted early. No worries for us, we show up with a bag for the pool...grab some lunch....and head to the Solarium for the afternoon.

 

Agreed on your post, RS, RLS. we agree a time with the concierge a week or so before sailing and if it works for them, we check in at the time they give us.

 

But as you say no Biggy if they don't make it. One Concierge is always there;)

 

Happy Days!

[cruisenfever]

I've seen something similar to this on Allure but only for certain grades of suites.

We were in a GS on Allure in January and were not escorted onto the ship.

 

Will be interested to see what happens on our Legend cruise in 2 weeks as we are also in a GS.

Edited March 13, 2015 by cruisenfever

[Debde]

Stayed in OS GS and RFS and never once an escort.

I've heard its only for the Royal and Presidential suites.

 

Keep in mind-new suite amenities are being announced shortly. Maybe this was a test run for something new?? NCL does this for its Haven guests.

Edited March 13, 2015 by Debde

[BND]

Carnival does something similar, except top tiers get on first, then FTTF, then suites. We were in an Ocean Suite a month ago and waited in the VIFP area. They came in twice and asked for the highest tier cruisers and FFTF (pay for that) to come with them. They then boarded the rest of us. We're Gold with them so we would have boarded after the Platinum and Diamond even if we weren't in a suite.

 

We've been in both JS and GS on RCI and the only boarding benefit we get is priority. Never been "escorted" lol.

Edited March 13, 2015 by BND

[PompeySailor]

Can confirm we had it when staying in an RS, and on our last cruise confirmed with DT, what time to meet him when we sail next also in RS

He said 11:30, we said works for us!!

 

Happy Days!

[drarill]

We were escorted once staying on an Owner's suite. Celebrity does this for their suite guests. Last summer on Celebrity's Reflection, during check in we were given a rose to identified us as suite guests. Then we were escorted to Michael's Club where we met the concierge and our butler. Michael's Club is exclusive for suite guests and Zenith CC members. Michael's staff had drinks and hors d'Oeuvres for us. The concierge had a chance to introduce himself and explained to us what to expect from him. When our suite was ready, our butler went with us to the suite to give us a tour of the room, introduce the room attendant and explained some perks... It was a really nice way to start our cruise. Huge difference from our suite experiences with Royal.

 

Debde is right... new suite amenities are being announced soon. IMHO, Royal needs to improve their suite perks, hope something good is being announced by Mr Bailey. We are trying Celebrity's new suite amenities this summer, and hope to try Royal's in the winter...;) Will let you know who does the new "suite life" better...

Edited March 13, 2015 by drarill

[Cruisingthesuitelife]

We were in a GS on Allure in January and were not escorted onto the ship.

 

Will be interested to see what happens on our Legend cruise in 2 weeks as we are also in a GS.

 

As I said, only for certain grades, I was in a GS that time and as you say, that wasn't included. Done several in GS on varying ships and not been escorted. That's not a big deal to me though, I think I can work out how to get on the ship ;)

[kc320]

We were escorted once staying on an Owner's suite. Celebrity does this for their suite guests. Last summer on Celebrity's Reflection, during check in we were given a rose to identified us as suite guests. Then we were escorted to Michael's Club where we met the concierge and our butler. Michael's Club is exclusive for suite guests and Zenith CC members. Michael's staff had drinks and hors d'Oeuvres for us. The concierge had a chance to introduce himself and explained to us what to expect from him. When our suite was ready, our butler went with us to the suite to give us a tour of the room, introduce the room attendant and explained some perks... It was a really nice way to start our cruise. Huge difference from our suite experiences with Royal.

 

Debde is right... new suite amenities are being announced soon. IMHO, Royal needs to improve their suite perks, hope something good is being announced by Mr Bailey. We are trying Celebrity's new suite amenities this summer, and hope to try Royal's in the winter...;) Will let you know who does the new "suite life" better...

 

I sailed on Celebrity Century last April...I was sitting in the Vip waiting area before boarding & 3 times staff came up to the gentleman next to me to tell him the Concierge would be down shortly to escort him & his party onboard....around noon they began boarding...as I was going thru the line to have my seapass picture taken he was standing to the side & someone again was telling him the concierge would be with him shortly...heard later they finally gave up & just boarded with the rest of us....:rolleyes:

[drarill]

I sailed on Celebrity Century last April...I was sitting in the Vip waiting area before boarding & 3 times staff came up to the gentleman next to me to tell him the Concierge would be down shortly to escort him & his party onboard....around noon they began boarding...as I was going thru the line to have my seapass picture taken he was standing to the side & someone again was telling him the concierge would be with him shortly...heard later they finally gave up & just boarded with the rest of us....:rolleyes:

 

LOL!! I don't know when they started escorting suite guests to Michael's, if I'm not mistaken we didn't have this perk the previous summer on the Eclipse. BTW, we were not escorted by the concierge, he was in Michael's waiting for all the suite guests.

[CruisesOnMyMind]

We were in an OS on the Splendour last October and was escorted on the ship by the concierge. He took us to the CL where we waited until our cabin was ready and then escorted us to our cabin shortly there after.

 

Only had this happen once before on NCL.

Edited March 13, 2015 by CruisesOnMyMind

[rubrrick]

Of all of the cruises with Royal Caribbean, the only times that we have been escorted aboard, is when we are staying in an RS. And looking back, I believe that it's been every time that we have stayed in an RS, which is more than a dozen.

 

We have never been escorted aboard while staying in an OS or lower.

 

Rick

[Tagsalong]

Keep in mind that the Enchantment is now John Denton's ship -as of March 25. As HD on the Explorer he did many special things for Suites (and Pinnacles), above and beyond the Corporate Matrix. This is why he is in a little hot water with Mr. Bayley right now - ie making the CL just for Suites (and Pinnacles).

 

So, my guess is that some of the things that the Concierge is doing for Suites on the Enchantment is probably not happening on the other 21 ships.

Edited March 13, 2015 by Tagsalong

[volunteer cruiser]

Check in for Royal Suite on Freedom was very embarrassing for me, not the kids of course. While waiting in the suite line for check in a staff member looks at my boarding paperwork and yells to check in staff "Oh we have our royal suite guests here". Everyone else in the lines turned to look at us and I just hid my face with my hat. We were taken upfront in the line, checked in then escorted past everyone waiting to get seapass photo and then on to ship. I felt really bad passing every one in line. I like to keep things low key but our kids loved it and thought that was the coolest thing. If I ever get lucky enough to stay in another Royal suite, I hope I can opt out of grand entrance. I have also stayed in Grand suite and Crown Loft suite and my mom in Royal Family suite and Aquatheater suite and did not have the escort.

[14Terry]

On our last cruise (May 2014 on the Grandeur), we had an OS. All the suite guests were escorted on first. All were escorted off on the last day too. I thought it was a nice perk. Happy cruising everyone!

[lovelife]

Never an escort on or off when sailing in grand suite or above.

[A&L_Ont]

When we have stayed in the RS and RLS, we were escorted on the ship by the Concierge. When we have stayed in a CLS we have not. It seems to be RS, RLS, and maybe the RFS may get escorted on. We were also told that the escort was based on the availability of the Concierge, there were no guarantees that we would be escorted early. No worries for us, we show up with a bag for the pool...grab some lunch....and head to the Solarium for the afternoon.

 

Agreed on your post, RS, RLS. we agree a time with the concierge a week or so before sailing and if it works for them, we check in at the time they give us.

 

But as you say no Biggy if they don't make it. One Concierge is always there;)

 

Happy Days!

 

Yes and Yes. We actually prefer to show ourselves onto the ship and that is what we did when we stayed in the RS and RLS. The shore side suite concereige, Robert, has retired from the Oasis and Allure terminal. I will miss seeing him, as he was one heck of a nice guy.

[danzur]

That's right-Robert! I guess we won't see him next week...

[berylde]

Sailed in a OS, GS and RFS out of Port Everglades. No assistance

Sounds nice.