A Few Thoughts on the Retreat Privilege Package (RPP)

[thebutlerdidit]

5 hours ago, OysterD said:

I agree. I've actually often wondered why there aren't more 2 bedroom options not just on Celebrity but other cruise lines too, and not just at suite level.

 

The size of two standard veranda cabins could easily be reconfigured at the design/construction phase into having one door, one bathroom (poss even two) and two separate bedrooms, there's plenty of room. 

Wouldn’t that be wonderful? 

[Jim_Iain]

20 minutes ago, thebutlerdidit said:

Wouldn’t that be wonderful? 

The Iconic Suite is open for the April Apex TA.    Might be a good deal for a family but at $44,000 I guess we will give it a pass.

[Cruisegirl6]

On 3/2/2023 at 11:54 AM, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

Your suite guests would have to have been allowed to make the purchase (like previously mentioned - it is  capacity limited and only offered to upper suites) but it is all or nothing. You have the purchase for the entire duration of the cruise. 

Thank you, honestly, two days be enough, I don't like to be limited to one area such as the retreat during the day, I make my rounds all over the place, so it would be a waste for me thank you.

[Boo's Mom]

On 3/2/2023 at 10:20 AM, vacruisincouple said:

I disembarked from the Summit last Saturday.  My husband and I were in a royal suite and my parents travelled with us in the adjoining C1 balcony cabin.  I purchased the Retreat Privilege Package (RPP) for my parents prior to sailing.  I know this program is somewhat controversial but don’t wish to discuss that here.  Rather, I would like to give my thoughts on how well the program did and did not work for us as well as some of the logistics of the program.

 

Pre Cruise:  As expected about 3 ½ - 4 weeks prior to the cruise, I received an email from the shoreside concierge with the usual list of questions on our preferences for the stateroom, specialty dining reservations, etc.  I responded with our needs as well as inquiring about having my parents join us in luminae as well as the retreat lounge and sundeck.  It was only after inquiring was I told I could purchase the RPP for them or pay per meal to have them join us in luminae.  Pricing was $99 per person per day for RPP or $30 per person for dinner or $20 per person for lunch.  We opted to purchase the RPP.  I called the shoreside concierge and the purchase was taken care of in about 10 minutes.

 

Cruise check in:  The morning of the cruise we took an uber to the port of Miami and were dropped off around 10:20 a.m.  The signage for the special delivery area was not very clear so we had the porter walk us over to the check in area that was curbside further ahead from where we were dropped off at.  Once there, they asked for our cabin numbers.  I provided them and they immediately tried to tell me that my parents needed to go through the regular check in.  I explained that they had the RPP which was met with blank stares.  I further explained they were to check in with us as apart of the program.  I’m not sure they believed me but I was rather insistent that they were coming with us.  We were taken to the retreat embarkation lounge which was already almost full where we met Connor and Connie the retreat concierges.  Beverages (coffee, juice, water, etc.) and light snacks were available.  After about 15 minutes the room was introduced to Daniel the retreat manager.  Connor then invited the 4 of us along with one other couple to follow him onto the ship.  Daniel and Connie also had a group with them so I assume that made up all of the upper tier suite passengers. We were the first to step foot on the ship.

 

Cruise:  We were escorted to the retreat lounge where we were welcomed once again and offered beverages from the bar as well as more snacks.  After finishing our beverages we went to our suite to drop off our carryon luggage and pick up our room keys.  All of our room keys including my parents were the grey suite keys.  We met our room steward Michael (who was absolutely fabulous the entire cruise) and dropped off our things. 

 

Luminae:  We headed down to luminae for lunch where we met Lobo who asked for our room numbers.  After providing them Lobo discretely tried to tell me there was a charge to have my parents dine with us.  I replied that they had the RPP.  He told me he would check on it.  We had a lovely lunch with Andy as our server.  Upon leaving, Lobo walked us out and I asked him if everything was set for my parents to enjoy luminae without us if they wanted to and he assured me everything was as it should be.

 

Retreat Sun Deck:  We went to the retreat sun deck for sail away.  If you do so, be aware that you are very close to the ship’s horn.  It is very loud and quite startling the first time it goes off.  We were also invited to the helipad for sail away but opted for the sundeck because 1) I didn’t want to change into closed toe shoes and 2) I wanted a place to sit.  I used my key card to get us into the retreat sun deck but my parents decided to leave before us and their key cards did not work in unlocking the gate.  They flagged down a crew member and were able to exit.  Later that evening we mentioned this to Connor in the retreat lounge and he took their keys and reprogrammed them so that they would work.  The keys worked perfectly the rest of the cruise.

 

Specialty dining and extras:  We dined at Tuscan grill on my dad’s birthday and I was expecting to have to pay the cover charge for both of my parents.  At the end of the meal however we were told everything was taken care of and did not have a bill to sign.  We left an extra tip in cash.   I don’t know if its supposed to be this way or not, but its as if my parents were given the same royal suite perks that we had.  This was the only specialty dining that we did with them so I don’t know if it was a one off or if it would have been the same at the other specialty dining venues.  Or perhaps it was because my parents literally only had a half portion of pasta each and they would’ve felt bad charging me $60 per person for them.  I kind of doubt that though.  Later in the cruise all 4 of us were delivered the monogrammed pajamas.  I also noticed that my parents beverage package had been upgraded from the classic package that came with their room (they were on an all included cruise fare) to the premium beverage.  Again, not sure if it is supposed to happen this way or not.

 

Conclusion:  All in all, I am very happy we booked the RPP for my parents.  All the crew members we encountered were incredible and made my parents (and us) feel very pampered.  It was a little annoying to have to assert that they had the package at check in and at luminae the first time along with the little hiccup with the key cards.  This is something that could have been better but rather minor considering the entire cruise experience.

 

Cheri

Excellent info.  Thank you for sharing with us - in such great detail. 

[MarkInPDX]

I'm add a link to a more current set of details about the Retreat Privilege Package (RPP) and wanted to share that the pricing drastically increased in December 2023 from $99/person/day to $199/person/day; just more than double.

 

[jelayne]

4 minutes ago, MarkInPDX said:

I'm add a link to a more current set of details about the Retreat Privilege Package (RPP) and wanted to share that the pricing drastically increased in December 2023 from $99/person/day to $199/person/day; just more than double.

 

Thanks for sharing the current info.  
Our last 6 cruises have been on E Class ships in a suite. The Retreat has been full on all of these sailings.  The Sundeck has very crowded on sea days and we have experienced waits to be seated in Luminae.    We have a sailing coming up where a SS is $11, if my sis and BIL join and book a OV which is $2600 for an additional $4K they get the Retreat amenities.  Sorry it doesn’t set well with me.  Celebrity seems to be intent on downgrading the value of their product.  

[jcpc]

4 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Celebrity seems to be intent on downgrading the value of their product.  

I 100% agree with you.  It seems to me that when it comes to Celebrity it's all about the money.  They don't care if they downgrade the value of their product or insult long-time Zenith members of the Captain's Club.  $$$$ is their main goal.

[cruisestitch]

Is it not a for-profit corporation?  It certainly isn’t a charity….

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, cruisestitch said:

Is it not a for-profit corporation?  It certainly isn’t a charity….

That’s a good thing, but as a shareholder and long time passenger the current “sell anything” strategy will downgrade the experience.  Premium Access & Retreat Privilege Package are selling privileges/amenities at a reduced rate and will detract from the experience of the passengers who booked cabins that included those things.  

[chemmo]

15 hours ago, jelayne said:

That’s a good thing, but as a shareholder and long time passenger the current “sell anything” strategy will downgrade the experience.  Premium Access & Retreat Privilege Package are selling privileges/amenities at a reduced rate and will detract from the experience of the passengers who booked cabins that included those things.  

As a party of three adults we have always gone for RS or above to ensure all of us have access to Retreat facilities. We have felt the extra perks like speciality dining and additional daytime living space make up for the managing with one and a half bathrooms and someone having a sofa bed (despite it being a comfortable one)…In the original posters situation on M class sharing a RS probably wouldn’t work…It has never been a ‘cheap’ solution but if we want the suite experience and to share space and access the same areas it has always been the choice we have made even if it has meant cruising less often. It has never occurred to us to book a member of the party in an alternative class of room or expect to do that then pay a reduced rate for them to join us in the Retreat…

 

I always feel for families not wanting to be divided by their booking class but like yourselves feel that ‘selling’ entry to Retreat areas isn’t a solution. If regular suite cruisers, like yourselves, feel suite areas are at capacity then there is a likelihood they will walk, especially if they find others have accessed at a fraction of the cost.
 

We haven’t yet booked E class as the RS wouldn’t work for us and the PH is out of our budget and the EV wouldn’t work either…
 

I don’t understand why they don’t have a bit more imagination in their cabin layouts…Much as we have outgrown RC they always seemed to have a better selection of suite options that enabled extended families to pool budgets to access appropriately designed suites.

[ncgolferette]

Celebrity offers only 10 RPPS per sailing. We are talking 10 people.   Even if all 10 packages are sold out for a certain cruise I don’t think crowding in Luminae or the retreat will be affected that much. 

[Liao]

20 hours ago, MarkInPDX said:

I'm add a link to a more current set of details about the Retreat Privilege Package (RPP) and wanted to share that the pricing drastically increased in December 2023 from $99/person/day to $199/person/day; just more than double.

 

Totally devalues the purpose of guests who pay for the retreat.

[PTC DAWG]

15 minutes ago, ncgolferette said:

Celebrity offers only 10 RPPS per sailing. We are talking 10 people.   Even if all 10 packages are sold out for a certain cruise I don’t think crowding in Luminae or the retreat will be affected that much. 

Agreed…if that is truly the limit

[RichYak]

32 minutes ago, ncgolferette said:

Celebrity offers only 10 RPPS per sailing. We are talking 10 people.   Even if all 10 packages are sold out for a certain cruise I don’t think crowding in Luminae or the retreat will be affected that much. 

I tend to disagree. I think that's a significant number on M and S class ships. E class is already overcrowded, so 10 more won't move an already stuck needle.

[jelayne]

38 minutes ago, ncgolferette said:

Celebrity offers only 10 RPPS per sailing. We are talking 10 people.   Even if all 10 packages are sold out for a certain cruise I don’t think crowding in Luminae or the retreat will be affected that much. 

Where did you see there was a limit of 10 and does that limit include any under 12 children?  I couldn’t find that info?
 

[chemmo]

1 hour ago, ncgolferette said:

Celebrity offers only 10 RPPS per sailing. We are talking 10 people.   Even if all 10 packages are sold out for a certain cruise I don’t think crowding in Luminae or the retreat will be affected that much. 

Ten more sun beds taken, 5 more two tops in Luminae…

 

Whilst on a ship like Silhouette with less suites to start with and perhaps a less appealing retreat deck as there is no pool then 10 additional guests may not be a big deal. However, several well respected posters have commented on how busy in particular the sun deck is on E class. The worse thing they can do is let anyone else in. Also remember Luminae also allows suite guests (by arrangement) to invite family/friends in for meals (for a price), this is in addition to those 10 who have bought the pay in RPP.

[ncgolferette]

1 hour ago, jelayne said:

Where did you see there was a limit of 10 and does that limit include any under 12 children?  I couldn’t find that info?
 

I got the 10 person info from the landside retreat concierge and a FCC onboard the Equinox.  Don’t know about children.  I paid $2400 for a 12 night cruise through my girlfriend’s booking who is in a sky suite. As a solo cruiser this was a way for me to cruise easier with her and her daughter on the Apex.  I’m glad Celebrity offer this  package especially for someone like me who is a solo cruiser.

 

[Shellyb312]

I really think that allowing people to pay for Retreat access without staying in a suite is very unfair, and I doesnt really matter if it is just 10 people per cruise.  Our upcoming trip we paid a true premium to stay in a suite and then others can pay 199.00 per day to upgrade, NOT right.  It seems, to me, that some try to bypass the system without paying for a suite.  It doesnt matter what excuse people may say, the retreat should be for people staying in suites only.