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Is Celebrity going to Eliminate Butlers on Sky and Celebrity Suites?

terrydtx

By terrydtx,
in Celebrity Cruises

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terrydtx Great Review Rare

terrydtx

Posted
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There is a long discussion, on the social media site we can't mention here, that recently Celebrity management made a decision to eliminate Retreat Butlers for Sky and Celebrity Suites. Supposedly this information was given yesterday to a meeting of butlers on the Apex and that there would only be 6 butlers left on the Apex in the future.

 

Has anyone else heard about this? We have a Sky Suite booked and paid for on the Apex in September. I sincerely hope this is just a rumor and not reality.

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BCHappyGal

BCHappyGal

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We have Sky Suites booked (8) on the Constellation in November, the Beyond in January & The Solstice in April ... sure hope this does not happen as our Butler definitely makes the cruise much mroe personable and at what we pay for a suite I expect/want that personal detail....

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lv2cruisgrl Great Review Rare

lv2cruisgrl

Posted
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22 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

There is a long discussion, on the social media site we can't mention here, that recently Celebrity management made a decision to eliminate Retreat Butlers for Sky and Celebrity Suites. Supposedly this information was given yesterday to a meeting of butlers on the Apex and that there would only be 6 butlers left on the Apex in the future.

 

Has anyone else heard about this? We have a Sky Suite booked and paid for on the Apex in September. I sincerely hope this is just a rumor and not reality.

Well if it's true I am not surprised.   While we loved our butlers in sky suites sometimes we really didn't need him/her for much.  However it certainly was nice to utilize them when we did.

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39august

39august

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If so, then once again, X is changing the product after purchase. Seems to me these types of changes (vaping in the casino, for instance) should grandfather in those who booked under the rules at the time of booking. I know they can do anything they want due to the contract.  But these changes to the product do not seem fair for the prices paid. 

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trout62

trout62

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9 minutes ago, 39august said:

If so, then once again, X is changing the product after purchase. Seems to me these types of changes (vaping in the casino, for instance) should grandfather in those who booked under the rules at the time of booking. I know they can do anything they want due to the contract.  But these changes to the product do not seem fair for the prices paid. 

...and the wine policy.

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micruiser2002

micruiser2002

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23 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

If true it is one more instance of Celebrity Royal Caribbeanizing. RC only has The Genie Butlers in the higher end suites.

I just hope they do not go as far as Royal.  Junior suites do not get access to Suite lounge or restaurant.

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mac_tlc "Live from...." Rare

mac_tlc

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It really is becoming a race to the bottom. Other than E-muster, I can't think of a single change on Royal or X since the restart that has been positive for the paying guests. 

 

mac_tlc

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NorthStarStateCruiser

NorthStarStateCruiser

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1 hour ago, 39august said:

Seems to me these types of changes (vaping in the casino, for instance) should grandfather in those who booked under the rules at the time of booking.

Although I agree with the idea of not changing benefits after booking, how do you propose they "grandfather" in folks who booked prior to allowing vaping in the casino?  Complimentary gas masks?

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sixpackeddie

sixpackeddie

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The price of sky suites are through the roof and climbing. I believe it would not be a great business decision to cut more amenities given the price tag. Although we try not to use our butler, it’s nice to have when you need something.

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phoenix_dream

phoenix_dream

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8 minutes ago, sixpackeddie said:

The price of sky suites are through the roof and climbing. I believe it would not be a great business decision to cut more amenities given the price tag. Although we try not to use our butler, it’s nice to have when you need something.

Exactly.  I sailed on a B2B Royal Suite earlier this year that I had booked probably a year ago. Our first, and the way things are going will be our last RS.   For next year, I am literally paying the same price for Aqua Class.  I do not exaggerate.  Unbelievable!  And if they did decide to Royalize some more and only have them for upper level suites that may be the final straw for me and Celebrity after close to 80 cruises.  Considering the extremely high prices for all levels of suites (and astronomical for the higher level ones) if they start cutting perks that's completely unacceptable.  I know ships are sailing full right now but this bubble will burst sooner or later.  I'm frankly surprised it already hasn't.  Disney is already seeing some of the pushback (for price and other reasons).  But soon people will be starting to pay real attention to their credit card bills (highest debt in US history) and many will need to start repaying their student loans, so we'll see what happens.

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abbydancer2003 "Live from...." Rare

abbydancer2003

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If they do this and start dropping the price of Sky and Celebrity suites, I'd be Ok with it.  Mostly I use the butler for coffee in the morning, and laundry questions.  I do mini suites on Princess too, and no butlers there,  On the other hand I booked my several sky suite cruises with the expectation of a butler.

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phoenix_dream

phoenix_dream

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12 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Is that a good thing ? 🤔

Been cruising on Celebrity for over 10 years never noticed that they had bingo 😁

Many people feel that it is.  I confess I am not one of them. But yes, they had bingo for many, many years.

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phoenix_dream

phoenix_dream

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1 minute ago, abbydancer said:

If they do this and start dropping the price of Sky and Celebrity suites, I'd be Ok with it.  Mostly I use the butler for coffee in the morning, and laundry questions.  I do mini suites on Princess too, and no butlers there,  On the other hand I booked my several sky suite cruises with the expectation of a butler.

Don't mean to be rude here, but I couldn't stop laughing at your idea that they could or would start dropping the prices of Sky or Celebrity suites.  The CEO has stated he wants to charge more and more and more (I'm paraphrasing).  No prices will drop unless (or until) people stop booking.  I'm hoping when they start getting their credit card bills in and start needing to pay back their student loans (in the US) that maybe some normalcy will return to pricing.  

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abbydancer2003 "Live from...." Rare

abbydancer2003

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4 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

Don't mean to be rude here, but I couldn't stop laughing at your idea that they could or would start dropping the prices of Sky or Celebrity suites.  The CEO has stated he wants to charge more and more and more (I'm paraphrasing).  No prices will drop unless (or until) people stop booking.  I'm hoping when they start getting their credit card bills in and start needing to pay back their student loans (in the US) that maybe some normalcy will return to pricing.  

I didn't say I expected that to happen - but it would be nice if the sky prices moved a bit closer to Aqua.  

One can dream ......

 

 

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jelayne

jelayne

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If they eliminate the butlers the Retreat Concierge’s will having to handle dinner reservations, cancelling/ booking tours, birthday/anniversary cakes, cabin decorating, pillow requests, and other problems.  The cabin attendants are stretched thin now will they now refill the mini bar, shine shoes, fix a button.  
 

Im becoming more and more convinced that Lisa’s departure was due to an unwillingness to jump on the downgrading of Celebrity.  

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hcat "Live from...." Rare

hcat

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only had a suite once..just recently to use up our cancelled cruise credits..

 

our Butler and her asst(?)  were very attentive and at times over attentive..

The few things we needed could be arranged at Guest Rel or with the Concierges in the Retreat area who were very helpful.

 

a top notch room attendant would serve the same purpose as tge Butler....but then rates should be reduced accordingly..

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