Star Class - Advance Specialty Dining Reservations

[topnole]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

A suggestion:

 

As a Star Class cruiser on a ship that has the Coastal Kitchen, when you go the first time, make sure your Genie escorts you, not just to the entrance of the CK, but to your table, which could very well be the table you get each time you go, if you like it.  If you do that, the wait staff and maitre d will remember you, your party, and your status, also make sure you leave a very generous tip when you leave.  Oh, and talk to the wait staff, ask them questions about where their from, about their family, and so on.  From that point on, the maitre d' and his/her asst will not ask you for your info again, they will happily great you, by name, with a huge smile on their faces.  Also, the wait staff will fall all over themselves to give you great service.  They do work as a great team in the CK, at least that is my experience.  

I think that is overkill.  The CK manager will know you are Star class immediately after looking at your sea pass card.  They take care of everyone well up there anyhow.  Been treated the same whether I was in a grand suite or going star class.  Regardless, the genie will probably pay a visit while you eat anyhow.  So they will all know the deal quickly.  
 

Again, I don’t think any of that matters.  We’ve almost always had outstanding experiences regardless. I don’t think sky vs Star matters much in the CK.  Maybe for getting a preferred table.  But again, they know your star class when you check in with the manager.  

Edited October 5, 2022 by topnole

[Ret MP]

3 hours ago, topnole said:

I think that is overkill.  The CK manager will know you are Star class immediately after looking at your sea pass card.  They take care of everyone well up there anyhow.  Been treated the same whether I was in a grand suite or going star class.  Regardless, the genie will probably pay a visit while you eat anyhow.  So they will all know the deal quickly.  
 

Again, I don’t think any of that matters.  We’ve almost always had outstanding experiences regardless. I don’t think sky vs Star matters much in the CK.  Maybe for getting a preferred table.  But again, they know your star class when you check in with the manager.  

I don't doubt your experience, not at all.  However, you can go back in this social media forum and find some, not many, folks would disagree.  Some, I'm convinced, would b*t^! if you hung 'em with a new rope.  

 

My entire intent was to give a, I believe, a newbie to the Star Class a little suggestion that is based upon MY experience and some of the posts in here and other sites that I've read.  

 

On my last cruise, Alaska, May, Ovation, there were other Star Class folks in the CK, of course, and I'm hear to tell you, they did not get the attention that we did.  We were well taken care of.  Our benefiting from the attention wasn't just because our Genie escorted us to our table, which he probably would have done anyway, but we were fun to be around.  We joked with the wait staff, told them funny stories, made fun of ourselves and we picked on ourselves and them a little.  Oh, on our first visit to the CK on the Ovation, there was only one other party in the entire venue.  So, we were not putting on a show.

 

My only regret with the post at issue is that I did not account for every minute and every detail while I was on my initial visit to the CK.   AND, I'm not trying to mitigate my preferred way of doing things.  On the contrary, I paid for the extra attention/service, I want the extra attention/service, I'm going to get the extra attention/service but in a civil, humorous and respectful way. If I didn't want or expect the extra attention/service (only by the crew), why would I pay for it. 

 

That is all

[topnole]

12 hours ago, Ret MP said:

I don't doubt your experience, not at all.  However, you can go back in this social media forum and find some, not many, folks would disagree.  Some, I'm convinced, would b*t^! if you hung 'em with a new rope.  

 

My entire intent was to give a, I believe, a newbie to the Star Class a little suggestion that is based upon MY experience and some of the posts in here and other sites that I've read.  

 

On my last cruise, Alaska, May, Ovation, there were other Star Class folks in the CK, of course, and I'm hear to tell you, they did not get the attention that we did.  We were well taken care of.  Our benefiting from the attention wasn't just because our Genie escorted us to our table, which he probably would have done anyway, but we were fun to be around.  We joked with the wait staff, told them funny stories, made fun of ourselves and we picked on ourselves and them a little.  Oh, on our first visit to the CK on the Ovation, there was only one other party in the entire venue.  So, we were not putting on a show.

 

My only regret with the post at issue is that I did not account for every minute and every detail while I was on my initial visit to the CK.   AND, I'm not trying to mitigate my preferred way of doing things.  On the contrary, I paid for the extra attention/service, I want the extra attention/service, I'm going to get the extra attention/service but in a civil, humorous and respectful way. If I didn't want or expect the extra attention/service (only by the crew), why would I pay for it. 

 

That is all

Understood.  I’m just passing on my experiences of Star vs sky class in the CK.  Having done many Sky and several Star I have a pretty decent sample to go from. 
 

We prefer a much more low key way of going star class.  We don’t need them escorting us anywhere (other than to the front row seats).   We certainly love all the perks, but we don’t need or want others to “see” our genie so we supposedly will get treated better.  
 

In my opinion, if staff need that to treat you well, well then I’ll seek out other staff who do a good job for the sake of doing a good job.  Most of them take a lot of pride in doing a good job at what they do.    Sure there are things they probably dislike (or hate) about their jobs (like all of us), but they also usually really enjoy certain things like the positive customer interactions and making someone’s vacation.
 

Like you we typically interact with the wait staff a lot and have a lot of fun with them.  But we’ve always done this and we’ve almost always had great experiences in all the restaurants (independent of whether we were in inside cabins vs all the way to Star class).  Now we have kids and the staff cater to them like they were their own children.  Heck, our last star class even the SL concierges were always giving attention to us and our kids.  They knew we had a genie and needed nothing from them (and thus I’m sure they were not doing it to get tips later in the week).  They just enjoyed the kids and chatting because they typically initiated the interactions.  I don’t attribute this to us being Star class.  If anything, you’d think they would pay us less attention and focus on the sky class passengers or pinnacles.  They were just a couple of genuinely nice and caring people who like going above and beyond.  I think almost all of the staff are the same.  That is why I don’t think class difference matters.  I almost prefer to see who treats us well before they know we are in a suite or Star class. 

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, topnole said:

In my opinion, if staff need that to treat you well, well then I’ll seek out other staff who do a good job for the sake of doing a good job.  

Yep, we all have differing experiences and reasons for what we do.  They aren't always apparent or understood to its fullest.  And I'd never criticize how you do things as long as they don't interfere with me and my family or if I'm criticized for something that has nothing to do with anybody else.

 

One little point I want to make about your post, and it is a little point, I do what I do to insure the service I want/expect so I don't have to go out and seek other staff.  And YES 99.9% of the time staff is wonderful.  I'm avoiding the .1% that seems to find me. I want my time to be spent enjoying myself, not complaining, feeling less than fulfilled, seeking out remedies and so on.  I just want to have a good time.  

 

One last thing.  I have our Genie escort us anywhere there is expected to be a line that we would have to walk by, go ahead of, example: the theatre.  Again, the Genie would probably do that anyway.  There are far too many people that don't understand and/or never heard of Star Class and get down right upset and indignant while you are making your way to the front.  I'm not good at handling confrontation by turning the other cheek. So, I feel it's better to have the Genie (who is an officer of the ship, as I've been told, at the least, he/she is a official in a uniform) escort and monitor situations.  It shouldn't be the guest that has to deal with it.  Don't ask how I know!

 

Oops, another one last thing.  I'm not showing off my Star Class here.  As I've said many times, I don't brag about my status, I will discuss, pass on experience, try to be of assistance, point out facts. But, I don't thing, at least I hope, you will not find a post where I am trying to say I'm better than anyone else.  Getting service that one pays for is not bragging, talking about it is discussing facts.  I'm as middle class as it get.  I save for, usually, up to 2 years for my Star Class experience.  I'm just a retired Army Sergeant looking to provide my wife with a little luxury she so richly deserves.  My next cruise is a 4 day Oceanview Balcony in about 25 days and we have cruised in Sky class, also.  It's just an "in between" cruise.  We were having withdrawals.  

 

Let's put this dead horse up and "Let's Cruise".  

Edited October 6, 2022 by Ret MP

[topnole]

On 10/6/2022 at 10:22 AM, Ret MP said:

Yep, we all have differing experiences and reasons for what we do.  They aren't always apparent or understood to its fullest.  And I'd never criticize how you do things as long as they don't interfere with me and my family or if I'm criticized for something that has nothing to do with anybody else.

 

One little point I want to make about your post, and it is a little point, I do what I do to insure the service I want/expect so I don't have to go out and seek other staff.  And YES 99.9% of the time staff is wonderful.  I'm avoiding the .1% that seems to find me. I want my time to be spent enjoying myself, not complaining, feeling less than fulfilled, seeking out remedies and so on.  I just want to have a good time.  

 

One last thing.  I have our Genie escort us anywhere there is expected to be a line that we would have to walk by, go ahead of, example: the theatre.  Again, the Genie would probably do that anyway.  There are far too many people that don't understand and/or never heard of Star Class and get down right upset and indignant while you are making your way to the front.  I'm not good at handling confrontation by turning the other cheek. So, I feel it's better to have the Genie (who is an officer of the ship, as I've been told, at the least, he/she is a official in a uniform) escort and monitor situations.  It shouldn't be the guest that has to deal with it.  Don't ask how I know!

 

Oops, another one last thing.  I'm not showing off my Star Class here.  As I've said many times, I don't brag about my status, I will discuss, pass on experience, try to be of assistance, point out facts. But, I don't thing, at least I hope, you will not find a post where I am trying to say I'm better than anyone else.  Getting service that one pays for is not bragging, talking about it is discussing facts.  I'm as middle class as it get.  I save for, usually, up to 2 years for my Star Class experience.  I'm just a retired Army Sergeant looking to provide my wife with a little luxury she so richly deserves.  My next cruise is a 4 day Oceanview Balcony in about 25 days and we have cruised in Sky class, also.  It's just an "in between" cruise.  We were having withdrawals.  

 

Let's put this dead horse up and "Let's Cruise".  

I’m not judging your personal preferences or suggesting you are entitled or a snob or high maintenance or whatever one might call it.  I don’t blame anyone for wanting their way of doing things.  But since you recommended an approach I thought it reasonable to mention my experience and preferences as an alternative.  There are obviously different ways to do things (that make one satisfied) depending on someone’s preferences.  

Cheers.  

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

1 hour ago, topnole said:

I’m not judging your personal preferences or suggesting you are entitled or a snob or high maintenance or whatever one might call it.  I don’t blame anyone for wanting their way of doing things.  But since you recommended an approach I thought it reasonable to mention my experience and preferences as an alternative.  There are obviously different ways to do things (that make one satisfied) depending on someone’s preferences.  

Cheers.  

When I was in Moscow just after the Cold War came to a close, I couldn't get hotel staff to do much of anything. 

 

I went prepared.

 

I learned that I could get almost anything done for a pack of American cigarettes. I don't smoke, but I brought three cartons with me.

 

That brainiac idea garnered me 5-star service in what I would otherwise have rated negative two stars. 😂

[topnole]

19 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

When I was in Moscow just after the Cold War came to a close, I couldn't get hotel staff to do much of anything. 

 

I went prepared.

 

I learned that I could get almost anything done for a pack of American cigarettes. I don't smoke, but I brought three cartons with me.

 

That brainiac idea garnered me 5-star service in what I would otherwise have rated negative two stars. 😂

Very smart.  Probably could’ve brought some Levi’s jeans too.  
 

When we had our first child, I realized cruising with her brought more attention than being Star class.  We got the usual stoping by tables to get a smile from her or the cook asking us what we needed for her, but I’m also talking staff buying her gifts (build a bear, toys, etc.) and seeking her out to hold and/or doting on her, etc.   It really made cruising with her a lot of fun.   Traveling with little one’s isn’t easy, so we sure appreciated the staff’s attention and help.  It also helps

them feel better being with kids because they miss their own so much.  Win win situation.  

Not gonna use my daughter’s name, but we used to call it traveling “..” class because the help and service we got was top notch.  If you have babies or well behaved young kids, I think that trumps nearly all including Star class for certain things.  I guess that’s why the big sports stars always throw the ball or glove to the kids and not the adults.  
 

 

[mconthehighseas]

On 9/15/2022 at 6:42 PM, Ret MP said:

You will get an email from your Genie, up to, weeks in advance of your embarkation date.  That is the time to ask him/her any and all questions you may have about the Star Class experience, there are many things that are not included in the advertised "amenities" list on the website.  

 

Having said that, when you respond to the Genie's email, include what you would like to do.  For example, I tell our Genies that we want to experience ALL (or with exceptions) specialty restaurants, we want to go to all shows (not Cats) but do not want to be rushed to get to a restaurant from a show or to a show from a restaurant, so schedule accordingly.  I also let him/her know what we want in the suite when we arrive (example:  Ice Cream Sundae bar, cheese/cold cut plate, chocolate cake, cheese cake, etc.) and what we want as a standing order to be placed in the suite everyday and coffee service and danish every morning at XX:XX AM.  I also tell him/her that we want to be escorted, by him/her, into any and all venues rather than buck the lines and be confronted by those that don't understand what is going on (as a retired LEO (cop) I don't deal well with ignorant confrontation).  We also want to be escorted off the ship when we get into Ports of Call if bucking the line to go ashore.  If you are celebrating an event (anniversary, birthday, divorce, graduation, etc.) let the Genie know and that you would like decorations (if they have any for the event) cake(s)etc.  My last cruise, it was my wife's birthday.  I used an email account that my wife never uses and doesn't have on her computer to let the Genie know about it and to do something special for her.  He handled it very well and it was a complete surprise to her, she loved it.

 

We have always told' the Genie, in general terms, what we want to do and when we want to do it.  Let him/her schedule/reserve for us, provide us with a digital or printed schedule and it has always worked out great.

 

Just rely totally on your Genie to accomplish everything you want (within reason, of course and his/her capabilities).  Afterall, that's what you are paying thousands of dollars for!

 

One last thing, since you are paying thousands of dollars for Star Class and a Genie, don't be shy to inform your Genie if you are unsatisfied with something on the ship or with the Genie's service/performance.  Believe me, they will respond aggressively and favorably.  On the other hand, give positive feedback as well.  The best feedback is a generous TIP.

 

My opinion - Marla is the best Genie in the RCCL inventory of Genies, period!

Thank you for this stellar post.  It is the most comprehensive description of what a genie can do to make an ordinary cruise truly regal, and it is a good guide to what kinds of instructions to send to your genie precruise.

There is a video on youtube of a couple  whose genie helped them plan an onboard wedding celebration, complete with invitations.  The couple was gob-smacked, as my MIL used to say.

But if you can't think of anything that you want or can't decide where to ear, or you are too busy to send a note in advance, your genie will come up with an itinerary to show you on your first day, and you can make adjustments.