Stateroom dilemma

[Karen Lynn]

We’re looking at doing 4 -B2B sailings hopefully !! In September 22 - friends may join us which is lovely. Problem is we’re thinking of a Sky Suite and they may do a balcony - dining together will be an issue won’t it? ☹️

[wrk2cruise]

Suites assigned dining is Luminae and balcony is the Main Dining Room.   Suite guest can dine in the MDR.   As a suite guest you can invite others to join you on a space available basis for $30 pp for dinner.   I think the charge is $10pp for breakfast and $20pp for lunch.  Lunch is only served in Luminae on sea days.

 

It may make sense to do dinner separate most of the time, you join in the MDR on occasion and maybe do a specialty once in awhile.   Being on 4 B2B the menus in any one dining room can get repetitive.

 

If the goal is to dine nightly together you may want to forgo the suite.

 

Edit:  You didn't say which ship you are on but Edge/Apex I believe have a few Sky Suites with a connecting inside which I think can be booked together and I believe everyone gets suite benefits.   If you are on one of these ships you might want to inquire.  You might be able to search these forums for "Family Suite" (not Family Veranda).

 

Edit2:  Look at the last couple of posts in this thread

 

Edited February 17, 2021 by wrk2cruise

[wrk2cruise]

Found the definition of the Family Sky Suite.  Evidently they are all aft connecting with a SV to form the family sky suite. 

 

When combined with an adjacent Sunset Veranda cabin, aft-located Sky Suites can be booked as "Sky Family Suite" (SF).

[LGW59]

1 hour ago, Karen Lynn said:

We’re looking at doing 4 -B2B sailings hopefully !! In September 22 - friends may join us which is lovely. Problem is we’re thinking of a Sky Suite and they may do a balcony - dining together will be an issue won’t it? ☹️

If you want to forfeit Luminae, you can join them in MDR, they cannot join you in Luminae.  So yes, you answered the question, it will be an issue with the scenario you propose.  Me thinks though that you already knew the answer prior to "asking".

Edited February 17, 2021 by LGW59

[Karen Lynn]

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

If you want to forfeit Luminae, you can join them in MDR, they cannot join you in Luminae.  So yes, you answered the question, it will be an issue with the scenario you propose.  Me thinks though that you already knew the answer prior to "asking".

Many thanks to all and yes, I kind of already did know the dining room assignment would be different and a bit of an obstacle. We’re on Eclipse, sorry should have added.

 

We could dine with them in the MDR perhaps and space available, they with us occasionally , might be do able.

 

Thank you!

[Miaminice]

14 minutes ago, Karen Lynn said:

 

We could dine with them in the MDR perhaps and space available, they with us occasionally , might be do able.

 

as mentioned above - yes, doable... at the cost of 30$ pp.

[XtaSea]

More than dinner, there's the whole Retreat thing to consider...the "suites only" lounge and sun deck. We've always thought Luminae was equal to the specialty restaurants, sometimes better. Throw in the Retreat and it would be a shame to pay the suite premium and not fully enjoy all of the perks. Especially on a 4 B2B. Depends on how much time you want to spend with your friends. Maybe they'd consider doing a suite.

[emmas gran]

If they can push to a sky suite that's the answer as XtaSea says its not just dining its the Retreat lounge and the suite only sun deck. I don't think they will be allowed into all the venues if not in a suite.

 

Some will come here and say it is possible but with restrictions from Covid who knows how what will become of cruising

[jelayne]

The Eclipse has not been revolutionized so she does not have a Retreat Sun Deck.  Thus eliminating one obstacle.

[emmas gran]

12 minutes ago, jelayne said:

The Eclipse has not been revolutionized so she does not have a Retreat Sun Deck.  Thus eliminating one obstacle.

Not arguing with you but OP is talking September 2022 who knows if there will be a Retreat deck then

[chemmo]

It really depends on how much time you and your friends wish to spend together on the cruise...If they are cruising with you expecting to just meet up sometimes during the day and for some meals it will work. If you are the sort of friends who are cruising together to enjoy quality time together then it will involve compromises.

 

 

I think cruising with friends (if you are planning to spend significant amounts of time with them) can be difficult if you choose different room categories. Suite perks include so much more than Luminae and the suite lounge. Priority boarding, tendering, helipad sail aways and behind the scenes tours are just a few things you will have access to but your friends will not.

 

The Suite Concierge may be tolerant about allowing your friends to join you  occasionally in the suite lounge (perhaps a night they are joining you in Luminae) and will probably be willing to escort them with you for priority tendering. However, there may be occasions where you either miss out on something you want to experience or feel guilty if you do it!

 

If your friends can push to a sky suite it would make life easier. Perhaps they could look at grabbing a suite guarantee nearer the time?

 

Whatever you decide on I hope you and your friends all have a great cruise!

[Karen Lynn]

Excellent points ... I’ll give a nudge to them to consider a suite.

Appreciate all of the feedback 🙂

[Alakegirl]

Since they have recently kicked out zenith level cruisers from using the retreat, supposedly to keep from overcrowding, I would be doubtful that the concierge would let non-suite passengers in to join their friends.

[jelayne]

17 minutes ago, Alakegirl said:

Since they have recently kicked out zenith level cruisers from using the retreat, supposedly to keep from overcrowding, I would be doubtful that the concierge would let non-suite passengers in to join their friends.

Same could be the case with Luminae where they may not allow an occasional guest. 

[wrk2cruise]

On Eclipse the aft corner S1 suites are "connecting" to SV on the lower decks and C1 on higher decks.  If available you might try to convince Celebrity to allow you to book as a Family Sky Suite like on the Edge class ships with suite perks for all.  Probably a long shot but should be cheaper than 2 sky suites.

 

Of course finding these available on 4 consecutive sailings may be difficult.

 

I wouldn't expect the concierge to bend the rules regarding lounge access even occasionally for a sky suite passenger (no offense I'm one two).  I've only noticed this once with a big spending PH guest.

 

Yes for an event like a helipad sailaway or tour a polite ask might get an extra invite extended.

[Karen Lynn]

I don't really want the preoccupation of trying to get them to bend the rules anyway to be honest.

I may just do a balcony, but not sure I can do 52 days of BLU as the dining option. We can mix it up with specialties I suppose...

 

Correct me if I'm wrong - Eclipse is scheduled to be 'revolutionized' next month still?

Edited February 17, 2021 by Karen Lynn

[emmas gran]

2 minutes ago, Karen Lynn said:

I don't really want the preoccupation of trying to get them to bend the rules anyway to be honest.

I may just do a balcony, but not sure I can do 52 days of BLU as the dining option. We can mix it up with specialties I suppose...

I think that’s a good choice! But maybe ask them first if a suite is in their budget. We have friends who would rather do a balcony even an inside and upgrade drink and dining options 

[Karen Lynn]

I will ask again- I know that it is likely in their budget but not what they would ideally select ..

[Miaminice]

5 hours ago, emmas gran said:

Not arguing with you but OP is talking September 2022 who knows if there will be a Retreat deck then

 

You wish... all Revolutionizing is on hold.

[wrk2cruise]

8 hours ago, Karen Lynn said:

I may just do a balcony, but not sure I can do 52 days of BLU as the dining option. We can mix it up with specialties I suppose...

 

Blu is Aqua Class restaurant and you will have the same issue unless your friends are also in AQ

[Alakegirl]

Actually it would be a bit worse, since you cannot invite guests to dine with you in Blu the way you can if you are in a suite in Lumina is your dining room. Blu does not allow guests, even for a fee, unless you are a single, and even that may be disallowed in future

Edited February 17, 2021 by Alakegirl

[Karen Lynn]

Oh no, sorry ...I meant we’d both do Aqua class but the problem is solved! 
I asked if they could consider a suite and a suite it is ! Booked today !
now, we wait .....and wait 🥴 

 

Thank you all for the great tips and suggestions. Very much appreciated.

[NCHPcruiser]

I  We were in the same situation a couple of years ago.  I stressed over it for months and a few weeks before the cruise they switched to a SS.  They did not regret it!  We have enjoyed several cruises together since,  all in a suite.  

[George C]

1 hour ago, NCHPcruiser said:

I  We were in the same situation a couple of years ago.  I stressed over it for months and a few weeks before the cruise they switched to a SS.  They did not regret it!  We have enjoyed several cruises together since,  all in a suite.  

My very first celebrity cruise was on the then new solstice and we got upgraded to our first suite , have booked suites since. Perks are much better now since there was no Luminae or suite lounge back then.

[emmas gran]

6 hours ago, Karen Lynn said:

Oh no, sorry ...I meant we’d both do Aqua class but the problem is solved! 
I asked if they could consider a suite and a suite it is ! Booked today !
now, we wait .....and wait 🥴 

 

Thank you all for the great tips and suggestions. Very much appreciated.

Hope you all have a great cruise