Royal Suite

[NCHPcruiser]

My husband and I (Elite) have rather unexpectedly sold our house (downsizing) and will be moving into an apartment (in one week!) until our next home is renovated. So we have rather impulsively booked a short Caribbean cruise in a Royal Suite on the Reflection in just a few weeks! To say that I am excited is an understatement. We usually plan our trips out well in advance.

 

Am I correct in assuming ( as the Celebrity website currently states) that we are entitled to unlimited Specialty Dining (does this include The Porch?), bar setup (2 bottles), included mini-bar and laundry twice? Anything else? We have been in a Sky Suite several times but never thought to have dinner in our cabin, however, with a proper dining table, perhaps we will.

 

We are a low key, undemanding couple (61 & 58) who like to have a good time. While we enjoy the extra space in a sky suite, our butlers have never stood out as special, in fact our last butler on the Equinox in September was not any better than our cabin attendants on my first Celebrity cruise (Aqua) 7 years ago despite giving him a very nice tip upon boarding. We rarely saw him.

 

Other than the extra space, is there anything else to look forward to or ask for?

 

Thanks!

 

Martha

[varoo]

My husband and I (Elite) have rather unexpectedly sold our house (downsizing) and will be moving into an apartment (in one week!) until our next home is renovated. So we have rather impulsively booked a short Caribbean cruise in a Royal Suite on the Reflection in just a few weeks! To say that I am excited is an understatement. We usually plan our trips out well in advance.

 

Am I correct in assuming ( as the Celebrity website currently states) that we are entitled to unlimited Specialty Dining (does this include The Porch?), bar setup (2 bottles), included mini-bar and laundry twice? Anything else? We have been in a Sky Suite several times but never thought to have dinner in our cabin, however, with a proper dining table, perhaps we will.

 

We are a low key, undemanding couple (61 & 58) who like to have a good time. While we enjoy the extra space in a sky suite, our butlers have never stood out as special, in fact our last butler on the Equinox in September was not any better than our cabin attendants on my first Celebrity cruise (Aqua) 7 years ago despite giving him a very nice tip upon boarding. We rarely saw him.

 

Other than the extra space, is there anything else to look forward to or ask for?

 

Thanks!

Luminae and Michael's Club are two of the big suite perks.

You should also receive a premium drink package and unlimited internet. If you have any tender ports, you get priority tendering. You get invitations to things like the helipad for port departures, bridge tours, dining with an officer, special presentations or entertainment in Michael's Club, embarkation day lunch in Luminae.

They try to make you feel special and tend to fawn all over you.

 

Whenever we have been in a suite, the butler has given us his card, saying we should call him at any time if there is anything we want.

 

To us, some of the things they do are absurdly over the top

Examples are the butler offering to escort you to your seat in a roped off area of the theater on chic nights, or running down the hall to open your door for you when you have your hands free and can easily open it yourself. Also, whenever they see us coming down the hallway carrying anything, even if it small and light, they run up to take it from us and carry it for us, but I guess some people enjoy that sort of thing.

 

Like you, we are also low key and undemanding, basically do-it-ourselves types.

What we like most about the higher level suites is having the separate bedroom. To us, a sky suite is not really a suite, just a larger cabin with a fancier bathroom. We would actually like to have the space of a Royal Suite without any butler at all, but that is not an option.

 

It depends on what additional things you want, so if you want anything, just ask. They are very eager to please and will try to get you anything you want, within reason.

 

On warm weather cruises, we always request the lighter weight bathrobes, as the ones supplied in suites are heavy, thick and bulky.

 

 

[jelayne]

Breakfast on the balcony is nice. If you are sailing with others a pre-dinner cocktail gathering. We were in a Suite on DHs birthday and the butler put together a nice pre-dinner cocktail party with shrimp, cheese plate, finger sandwiches and other goodies. The only time we hosted a party & I didn't lift a finger.

[Ginnyfyr]

You might want to call X to clarify about the unlimited specialty dining. Hubby and I became Elite on our last cruise with them (Sept 2016) and also sailed in a Royal Suite as it was our wedding anniversary, and we were never told that we could have unlimited specialty dining. We were told that any suite - from sky and up - used to get one specialty dinner included but now that they have Luminae, that has replaced that perk (and, IMO, any dinner in Luminae beats a specialty restaurant in terms of food quality, service, and ambiance any day!).

 

I can't remember if we had in room bar set up but I do recall our butler telling us to help ourselves to the mini bar at no charge AS LONG AS it was something he could easily replace from a bar (so maybe stay away from the pricey small bottles, lol).

 

We never had dinner in our cabin but we did take advantage of a full breakfast one morning and it was lovely. White tablecloth service, everything we ordered plus some extras - we made good use of that dining area!

 

Also can't recall if two bags of laundry were offered but one was for sure - I remember seeing the coupon for it (I'm told they've done away with those now and it's all just linked to your card). Husband did have his suits pressed before both formal nights at no extra cost so maybe that was a trade off?

 

When in doubt, ask! Your butler should be forthcoming in telling you what's available. We liked to get lattes each morning from Cafe El Bacio. After our first morning our butler found out that we'd gone and gotten them ourselves (in our defense, were jet lagged and were waking up at 4 and 5 am as we adjusted to the west coast, and I certainly was not about to wake the man at that hour to get a coffee I could get myself!) but he was instant after day one that we call his number and he or one of his assistants would bring us coffee. I like to think we're pretty low key too, but when you get a talking to from your butler, you listen, lol.

 

OH - almost forgot about Michael's Club! The Concierge there can help you with dining and shore reservations, as well as reserving you seating at the theatre on formal nights. I think your cabin butler can do the same but we utilized the Michael's concierge for non-cabin things like dining reservations (he also sped us through on-ship immigration in San Fran in record time!) and kept the in cabin requests for our butler.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

Edited January 18, 2017 by Ginnyfyr

[WonderMan3]

Royal Suites and above definitely get unlimited specialty dining.

[jagoffee]

Yes, it does include unlimited specialty dining which includes the Porch, Sushi on 5, and Lawn Grill. The shoreside Conceirge we even make advanced reservations for you. Make a reservation for each day and decide later if you are not sure. You should get a call and/or e mail about 2 weeks before your cruise. Perhaps you have had a call by now.

I have heard the statement about laundry twice, but ours was unlimited.

 

On the Reflection we also had Gelato and the extra cost breakfast items included. If not sure ask one of the Michael's Club Conceirges or your Bulter what is included

 

You can order any two bottles of alcohol that is within reason with the appropriate mixes. You also get a bottle of real champagne.

 

Do not miss the Porch for lunch because it is a lovely spot. Great opportunity to try everything.

 

Enjoy.

[Passing Lane]

You should be contacted by a rep prior to sailing! We arranged all our dinning before we got on the ship. Luminae, Blue, Mariano's, etc. we have had great butlers except one. You never have to pay for anything else, no tips, not for drinks, anything!

 

 

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[varoo]

.....On the Reflection we also had Gelato and the extra cost breakfast items included..

You just reminded me........

On the Summit, we asked and were told that the gelato is not included if you order it at the gelato station.

 

But if you order a drink at Cafe Al Bacio that comes with gelato (which can be any flavor gelato you want), there is no charge!

 

Go figure - maybe because they ring it up on a different profit center code, or maybe we would have received a different answer if we had asked someone else.

 

 

[BEAV]

We sailed Millie is a RS in September and we're given everything -- premium drink package, Michael's Club, unlimited complimentary visits to Tuscan Grille, Qsine and Sushi on 5 as well as gelato at the gelato station. And also unlimited laundry.

[peanut1957]

We also had unlimited laundry in a RS on Reflection last summer. Very handy perk.

[Gordoncruickshank]

Both the Porch and Sushi on 5 were included in the Unlimited Specialities but as they have now changed the paid for Ultimate Dinning Package I would ask the shoreside concierge when they call you just to make sure.

 

We were in a RS in October on the Silhouette and not only were both included but it also included the lunches when they were on. We had lunch in the Lawn Club the last day. We also had lunch in the Porch almost every day.

 

Enjoy it.

[chemmo]

We have found cruising in a RS or PH that it is often the 'little things' that add to our cruising pleasure.

 

Like yourselves we are 'low maintenance' and many of the things you can request from a butler we would not even consider....However, we have always really appreciated the things they have done for us without asking...For example, the butler seeing us return to our room with some new friends for a drink on the balcony and insisting on poring the drinks and then returned with nuts and savouries. Another example was saying to him after a busy port day we were returning to the room early to watch a film and him arriving with a bowl of popcorn!

 

We have found that first chat with your butler is important....let him know what you would like and he will sort it. For example, leaving a little snack in your chiller to enjoy on the balcony late at night....

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

[tomcruiser1234]

We also had unlimited laundry in a RS on Reflection last summer. Very handy perk.[/quote

 

Laundry is huge. Bring less clothing. You can have clothing washed and pressed everyday. Very nice

[Gordoncruickshank]

We also had unlimited laundry in a RS on Reflection last summer. Very handy perk.[/quote

 

Laundry is huge. Bring less clothing. You can have clothing washed and pressed everyday. Very nice

 

I think it is now listed as twice a cruise in the details about the suite.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We were in a RS on Silhouette in December on our B2B cruise.

 

The only food we were charged for was the upcharge steak in Tuscan, which was not worth the price. We ate in every restaurant but Qsine.

 

The mini bar is included and the shore side concierge will contact you about 2 weeks prior to see what you want in terms of water, soft drinks and beer. I inquired about wine and although it was not included, she said the butler would take care of that for us. We had him bring a bottle of cabernet that was replenished.

 

We don't drink alcohol so requested 2 bottles of champagne instead of vodka, scotch, etc.

 

Laundry was unlimited. On the 2nd week we sent it out 3 times. Everything came back pressed, including t-shirts.

 

There is no reserve seating in the theater. On chic nights there are 3 rows in the balcony roped off for suite guests. They open them up to everyone about 10 minutes before the show.

 

Although they don't come around with the tea cart any more, our butler brought us cheese, shrimp, small plate, around 5:00 each day.

 

The Michael's Club concierge will print your boarding passes for you, just take the flight details.

Edited January 18, 2017 by CHEZMARYLOU

[loosygoosy]

I was fortunate enough to experience a Royal Suite. You will LOVE it. You will get much more than advertised. Take advantage and have a PARTY in your Suite. Invite your CC friends. It's a great way to be spoiled. Enjoy.

 

 

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[mandream]

We had him bring a bottle of cabernet that was replenished.

 

We don't drink alcohol so requested 2 bottles of champagne instead of vodka, scotch, etc.

 

Perhaps you should read the labels of the cabernet and champagne.... :D

[cb at sea]

I would forgo the "pre-tip", and wait until you see what you butler does for you. The do NOT expect tips prior to services...some may feel they're being bribed. So wait on the tipping!

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Perhaps you should read the labels of the cabernet and champagne.... :D

 

We did, the cabernet was Atalon from Napa and the champagne was Tattinger from France, obviously not their top champagne but champagne none the less. :D

[Husky61]

 

I think it is now listed as twice a cruise in the details about the suite.

 

It is listed, but we were able to send out as often as we liked.:)

[NCHPcruiser]

Thanks for all of the suggestions and information! We have been on the Reflection before and dined in all of the specialty restaurants (including Sushi on 5 which we like) except The Porch so I am looking forward to a new dining venue. Our last cruise was on the Equinox and I missed the Lawn Club Grill so we are looking forward to that as well. Tuscan Grille has underwhelmed us the past two times so we might pass on it. My husband was very disappointed when they discontinued the table side Caesar salad.

 

The complimentary laundry, whether twice a week or unlimited will be nice but it's a shorter cruise so probably won't use it but once. It will be nice to have things pressed though.

 

We love having breakfast on the veranda and usually do each morning. Our first time in a sky suite we had the white tablecloth, etc. but the last time in a SS the setup was much simpler and no tablecloth.

 

Thanks again!

 

Martha