Royal Suite Questions

[gibbetygibb]

Hi guys,

 

It's our first time staying in a RS (1241) on the Reflection and I have a couple of questions. We're off on 25th April for 11 nights round the med.

 

1) We like to allocate all our tip money at the start and I wondered if you have both a room steward and butler for the suite or just the butler who also cleans? I know the butler's gratuity is $3.50 per person per day but I wondered what the steward gets from the prepaid gratuities? Also typically what would be an average additional tip at the end for both these members of staff? I'm aware there could be a higher expectation given the room.

 

2) I have heard differing views as to the laundry. Some state it's a service you can use twice as a perk of the room. I assume this is an unlimited amount of items though? it would be good to know I can get there and get all my jackets sorted on day 1 / day 2 and it saves me getting them dry cleaned here. Others have reported it is simply unlimited for the duration.

 

3) How easy is it to organise a little party / gathering? Can the butler bring mixers / snacks for free? Can they send out invitations? I'm aware alcohol served to the room is not included but i think we start with a fair bit in the room already as a perk.

 

4) Do you have any other tips regarding the RS? What can you use the butler for in general beyond the obvious reservations and serving etc?

 

5) Has anyone tried the in suite dining where it is served course by course? We'd love some info on this.

 

6) How does the minibar work and what can you have in it?

 

7) Where is the reserved theatre seating?

 

8) Can you eat in the specialty restaurants for lunch? On port days or just sea days?

 

Thanks so much in advance!

[ArkansasCruiser73]

I will give you the answers based on our experience in December on Constellation and our trips on Reflection in 2014.

 

1) We like to allocate all our tip money at the start and I wondered if you have both a room steward and butler for the suite or just the butler who also cleans? I know the butler's gratuity is $3.50 per person per day but I wondered what the steward gets from the prepaid gratuities? Also typically what would be an average additional tip at the end for both these members of staff? I'm aware there could be a higher expectation given the room.

A) You will have a butler for setting up reservations, attending to your primary needs and questions. I always let the butler know of any expectations or special events like birthdays. We also run through the stocking of the mini fridge, ice, and our general schedule. The room attendant will take care of cleaning, bed turndown, etc. They room attendant and the butler usually work as a team.

 

 

2) I have heard differing views as to the laundry. Some state it's a service you can use twice as a perk of the room. I assume this is an unlimited amount of items though? it would be good to know I can get there and get all my jackets sorted on day 1 / day 2 and it saves me getting them dry cleaned here. Others have reported it is simply unlimited for the duration.

A) We had 2 coupons for laundry and 2 for some pressing of garments. There is a limit to the number of items which is generally what fits into their laundry bag that they provide. Pressing is limited as well. If I remember correctly it was 2 items total.

 

3) How easy is it to organise a little party / gathering? Can the butler bring mixers / snacks for free? Can they send out invitations? I'm aware alcohol served to the room is not included but i think we start with a fair bit in the room already as a perk.

A) Our butler did setup a small gathering for us. we have done this in the RS and CS across a few ships. Our butler did arrange for other parties to be notified, we did have some afternoon snacks like cookies and snacks like you find in the café al bacio (coffee shop). If the alcohol comes out of your mini fridge it is covered by the RS. On a few occasions we were provided complimentary sparkling wine.

 

4) Do you have any other tips regarding the RS? What can you use the butler for in general beyond the obvious reservations and serving etc?

A) The butler is your main contact for any questions you have. So from scheduling specialty dining, priority disembarkation, verifying special events like celebrating an anniversary, etc. If you want something to make your experience better the butler is a good place to start.

 

5) Has anyone tried the in suite dining where it is served course by course? We'd love some info on this.

A) We have done this a few times and it is course by course like the main dining room. We also had over a few guests and they were treated as well as those of us in the RS.

 

6) How does the minibar work and what can you have in it?

A) We mostly used our as is, but the butler was willing to swap our anything at our request similar to what is covered by the premium drink package. Our primary use was for cokes so we typically had a dozen cokes at any given time in the fridge or in the dining area near the mini fridge.

 

7) Where is the reserved theatre seating?

A) Usually it's near the stage in the lower section. We have only taken advantage of this once, typically we just sit wherever unless there is a full house.

8) Can you eat in the specialty restaurants for lunch? On port days or just sea days?

A) This one is conflicting based on the ship and experience. There are limited options for lunch dining specialty restaurants. For reflection you have bistro on 5 and on a few ships you have the porch. The suite restaurant is typically only open on at sea days and is part of the suite experience. We were on reflection 2x in 2014, but they have changed the porch and bistro on 5 since that time. On our trips we ate at bistro on 5. The march 2014 was much better as they had changed the menu some by the December trip. I think there is more info in other posts as to what the current menus look like.

[gibbetygibb]

Thanks for all that information. I don't suppose you know what the gratuities are out of the $16.50 or something like that per person per day for the Steward and Butler?

[chemmo]

You will find conflicting information, even on the same cruise!

 

Just to add a few points from our suite experiences...

 

-We gave directions for minibar and spirits via the shoreside concierge. No problems with our selections, all were promptly kept topped up. We had water, Coke, Sprite and a selection of beers. The spirits we asked for were not on the list the shoreside concierge sent us but were on the premium list.

 

-We were told by the Tuscan M'D on Solstice that lunchtime meals in the specialities were not included, but were later told by another RS couple that they had dined there been charged and then had the charges reversed when they complained. No issue for us, only asked so I could report on CC.

 

-Were told by our butler that the laundry was not unlimited (elite coupons) but then we were not charged for additional laundry.

 

-If you want to arrange a get together the butler will arrange snacks (very pretty little savouries, cheese plate...) we were embarrassed by the quantity. The more warning you can give him the better he will be able to plan his time. We used the sodas and beers in the fridge and chiller. He arranged ice for our champagne...When we later returned to our room all was clean, tidy and the fridge restocked.

 

We rarely dine in room, occasionally we will order a soup/salad at lunch...What we will sometimes ask for, however, is for a cheese plate or shrimp platter to be left in our chiller to eat late at night on the balcony.

 

After a few cruises now with the suite life on different ships I think there are a few anomalies in what is/is not included. Certainly with laundry and speciality lunchtime dining! Non of them really an issue! If you are unsure just ask either your butler or Michael's Club concierge.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

-

[Project_gal]

I believe that the gratuities have increased since my information but, when the butler received US$3.50 pppd, the stateroom attendants also received US$3.50 pppd.

 

As for additional gratuities, we use these figures as the benchmark and ask ourselves do we think the service we have received deserves 1x, 2.5x, [or whatever] the benchmark? Only you can decide what s right for you to give.

 

As for refreshments for an in-suite party, the rules are that cold food is free, hot food is charged; tea, coffee, fruit juice are free, alcohol and sodas are charged. As I say, these are the rules, experiences may be different.

[Chicogirl]

The answer about lunch in Specialty restaurant bothers me. I'm in RS for my Alaska cruise and was looking forward to lunch in speciality.

Here is what I copied off the Celebrity website just now.

 

Unlimited dining in all specialty restaurants including lunch, dinner, and one Champagne High.

 

So as per Celebrity we should receive free lunch in Speciality.

[ArkansasCruiser73]

On the lunch specialty, it is inconsistent. If you go on Day X you may get charged and on day Y not get charged. If you encounter issues I would recommend going to Michael's lounge. All of our issues were dealt with quickly in Michael's lounge to our satisfaction.

[lisalovlee33]

Our experience in the RS a few times.

Hi guys,

 

It's our first time staying in a RS (1241) on the Reflection and I have a couple of questions. We're off on 25th April for 11 nights round the med.

 

1) We like to allocate all our tip money at the start and I wondered if you have both a room steward and butler for the suite or just the butler who also cleans? I know the butler's gratuity is $3.50 per person per day but I wondered what the steward gets from the prepaid gratuities? Also typically what would be an average additional tip at the end for both these members of staff? I'm aware there could be a higher expectation given the room.

We tipped $100 when he organized a b'day party. Then $10s along the way if he does something nice. And another tip at the end of the cruise. If you're nice to the butler, he'll be nicer to you. Not advocating you tip to get good service. We tip because they were great and we found out they became greater!

2) I have heard differing views as to the laundry. Some state it's a service you can use twice as a perk of the room. I assume this is an unlimited amount of items though? it would be good to know I can get there and get all my jackets sorted on day 1 / day 2 and it saves me getting them dry cleaned here. Others have reported it is simply unlimited for the duration.

Rules, smules, don't matter. We have done laundry, pressings, dry cleaning, never had a problem or charged. It's all up to the butler

3) How easy is it to organise a little party / gathering? Can the butler bring mixers / snacks for free? Can they send out invitations? I'm aware alcohol served to the room is not included but i think we start with a fair bit in the room already as a perk.

We had a b'day party on one occasion. 2 bottles of champagne, with a dozen of champagne glasses, an actual b'day cake, snacks of different kind, butler even suggested it be a surprise and came in with the cake (NO CANDLES) when the b'day girl arrived, great event. Not charged for anything. Which I think we would have because of the champagnes. We tipped him $100 for this.

 

4) Do you have any other tips regarding the RS? What can you use the butler for in general beyond the obvious reservations and serving etc?

 

5) Has anyone tried the in suite dining where it is served course by course? We'd love some info on this.

 

6) How does the minibar work and what can you have in it?

Don't need it really. So much to drink as it is.

 

7) Where is the reserved theatre seating?

On formal night, your butler along with other butlers lined up outside the theater (lower level) ready to escort you to your seats.

 

8) Can you eat in the specialty restaurants for lunch? On port days or just sea days?

 

Thanks so much in advance!

[lisalovlee33]

The answer about lunch in Specialty restaurant bothers me. I'm in RS for my Alaska cruise and was looking forward to lunch in speciality.

Here is what I copied off the Celebrity website just now.

 

Unlimited dining in all specialty restaurants including lunch, dinner, and one Champagne High.

 

So as per Celebrity we should receive free lunch in Speciality.

Good to know! :D

[lisalovlee33]

The answer about lunch in Specialty restaurant bothers me. I'm in RS for my Alaska cruise and was looking forward to lunch in speciality.

Here is what I copied off the Celebrity website just now.

 

Unlimited dining in all specialty restaurants including lunch, dinner, and one Champagne High.

 

So as per Celebrity we should receive free lunch in Speciality.

Can you post the link. All I see is

Complimentary unlimited Specialty Dining

[Chicogirl]

Can't seem to post a link. Just go to Celebrity web site , to onboard experience. Click on stateroom...then suite...then find royal suite and click details. It's in there.

[lisalovlee33]

Can't seem to post a link. Just go to Celebrity web site , to onboard experience. Click on stateroom...then suite...then find royal suite and click details. It's in there.

Yes, I found it. Thanks

[youwash]

Royal suite this past February sailing specialty restaurants included. We ate lunch ( some days late lunch as they opened at 3PM) at The Porch. It was wonderful. Shrimp and lobster every day. Bristo on 5 had just changed to Sushi on 5 and we did not eat there so cannot report on it.

[gibbetygibb]

This is all very useful thanks guys

[ClaudiaB]

On the S class ships the suite reserved seating was the highest balcony center. Much better (IMO) than having it close to the stage. We don't always sit there, and don't make a big deal about it because it always seemed a bit pretentious. We also don't get the butler to make phone calls to reserve things for us, when it's just as easy for us to make a phone call.

 

We had a small party given by our butler in a sky suite. He brought in trays of shrimp, dried fruits, some nuts, little canapés. We had found some new friends pre-cruise in Barcelona and we all had brought on wine. So we pooled our wine and bought a few more bottles and shared it all. The butler set up the room with draped tables and bar ware and some flowers. It was great. We did tip him well. And there was no charge for the food but it may differ.

 

We tend to tip a couple days in - maybe $40 or so (sky suite) and then the same every few days on a 14 day cruise.

The butler is who you'll see most often, but there IS also the usual cabin steward and his assistant. The butler takes care of YOU and the steward and assistant take care of the room . Typically the assistant is the one who does the bathroom.

 

Make sure to fill out one of those cards to give feedback. Do it during the cruise. This has immediate good results. If you compliment your sommelier by name and give some good positive feedback (or your butler, or whoever) they very likely will come to you the next day or so and tell you that because of your comments they got a free phone call home or internet time or an extra shift off - and it all goes in their file towards promotions. Very important for people to do this.

 

Have fun.

[lisalovlee33]

Royal suite this past February sailing specialty restaurants included. We ate lunch ( some days late lunch as they opened at 3PM) at The Porch. It was wonderful. Shrimp and lobster every day. Bristo on 5 had just changed to Sushi on 5 and we did not eat there so cannot report on it.

would you have been able to eat at the sushi place (lunch or dinner) for free?

[youwash]

would you have been able to eat at the sushi place (lunch or dinner) for free?

 

As I remember it-Sushi on 5 was only open for dinner. I can't answer about being included free as I had no personal contact. Believe I read on here somewhere conflicting information about being charged for it.

[fantasy51]

3) How easy is it to organise a little party / gathering? Can the butler bring mixers / snacks for free? Can they send out invitations? I'm aware alcohol served to the room is not included but i think we start with a fair bit in the room already as a perk.

 

If your guests have drink packages, you could always ask them to arrive with a drink of their choice. If other potential guests are like me, the main things are the good company and a chance to see the RS! ;) I would hate to deplete your drink stores if they are not going to be replenished.