Beyond LIVE Med Review 10/20-10/30: Tales from our Suite Roman Holiday

[cruisebeachgirl703]

22 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

@GenerationX I agree 100% with this.  The very idea that Celebrity’s senior management believes that there is no change to the quality/level of service provided by the “Butler team” is so wrong and a thing that needs to be addressed as loudly, widely, and frequently as possible.  
 

So how is the new butler situation going for you two? 

[abbydancer2003]

So, now on Production shows, the Sky Suites no longer get the reserved seating?  Aren't they still putting that in the benefit list?  Not a big deal but still.

[hcat]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Ha! You're a troublemaker! 😂

just making a suggestion!   I sm sure Charla will be giving her own hints!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

28 minutes ago, abbydancer said:

So, now on Production shows, the Sky Suites no longer get the reserved seating?  Aren't they still putting that in the benefit list?  Not a big deal but still.

 

I believe they still get the reserved seating.  They just don't get escorted there by their butler since they don't have one.

 

[Lastdance]

8 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

I believe they still get the reserved seating.  They just don't get escorted there by their butler since they don't have one.

 

That in itself isn’t a biggie, but with everything else combined, the tipping process would also be greatly decreased too.  However, it would depend on one’s own experience which can be very different.  I am glad that Jeremy and Charla and having a good cruise and maybe more fun than the rest of us!

[GenerationX]

Quick pro tip from Beyond:

 

If you have the premium package and are struggling to find Evian onboard, I’ve had very good luck getting it in the late afternoon/evening at the martini bar and/or craft social and if you ask nicely, the bartenders have been willing to give an extra bottle or 2 to take to the room for later.

 

[DaKahuna]

3 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

I believe they still get the reserved seating.  They just don't get escorted there by their butler since they don't have one.

 

 

I cannot recall a single time we were ever escorted to the theater by our butler.  We usually met him when we entered the theater and he expedited drink service if we wanted a drink.  Otherwise he just made sure than the reserved area was not 'intruded upon' by non-suite guest until it opened up just before the show started. 

 

We understand that this service is provided in the MSC Yacht Club but do not see ourselves availing ourselves of it unless there is an issue getting into the theater. 

 

 

[Lena11033]

41 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

We understand that this service is provided in the MSC Yacht Club but do not see ourselves availing ourselves of it unless there is an issue getting into the theater. 

 

 

 

I did it once with YC, but honestly the next few times I just went down by myself and walked to the side I entered with my butler (basically walking past everyone), showed my seapass and they let me through. I just then went to the roped off area for YC members.

[Stem to Stern]

@GenerationX Thanks for the tip, but please tell us more about this gorgeous lady with the martini glass figure that Mr. Evian is accompanying.

[theopup]

What martini is that in your last picture? Nice colour!

[Jim_Iain]

On 10/21/2023 at 1:27 PM, Bejay219 said:

Hub

I got a call from Shoreside Concierge, we are in a Sky Suite B2B on Ascent, Madien Voyage. This year is the first time in 21 years not sailing Celebrity Suite or higher.  I told her since achieving Zenith and starting in Sky Suites in May this year (B2B great experience!) but we were very disappointed with not only the tips and OBC taken away, but the Butler.  She proceeded to say she has not heard ONE NEGATIVE THING about the "Retreat Team" and that "everyone" loves it. I said that I have heard differently but will keep an open mind for these sailings but that we have since booked Viking and Cunard after 21 years of loyalty to Celebrity. 

We have been very fortunate to have wonderful Butlers in the past 21 years, some a notch or two above others, but the service is something we could always count on no matter what ship or suite we were in.   The new President said in the Q&A, that the "Retreat Team" will be a good experienc. If it is not the same level, feedback needs to go up the chain of command on the ship and also to the Executive Office. 

Beverly -  Looking forward to a report on your experience.

[Jim_Iain]

14 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Jeremy has never had the pleasure of seeing me in my Gatsby dress so I decided it needed to make a come back for this cruise.  He dressed to impress me too with a gorgeous silk tie he bought in Rome.

 

He is in for a treat.    I have to say that is my favorite dress you wear.    Looks like it was made for you.

[verizon]

10 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

I believe they still get the reserved seating.  They just don't get escorted there by their butler since they don't have one.

 

I was so embarrassing that one of the butler by the rope off area refused to let me in by not showing my card as a Zenith member.

He didn’t even know what is Zenith member but luckily his colleague knew and let me in.

[Samantha]

10 hours ago, theopup said:

What martini is that in your last picture? Nice colour!

That looks like the Lavender Lemon Drop Martini I had on my Beyond cruise... it's delicious!

[catmonkeys]

Another question, which is very important to my teenager: is Scoops free? If Scoops has gelato, do you have to pay for it?

[miched]

7 minutes ago, catmonkeys said:

Another question, which is very important to my teenager: is Scoops free? If Scoops has gelato, do you have to pay for it?

When we were on the Beyond in Mar the ice cream was free.   I went to use my Captain Club benefit for one free scoop of Gelato and was told it wasn’t needed as the gelato was free.   They only had one flavor per day and honestly I couldn’t tell the difference between the gelato or the regular ice cream.    
 

There were always long lines waiting to be served.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[terrydtx]

1 hour ago, catmonkeys said:

Another question, which is very important to my teenager: is Scoops free? If Scoops has gelato, do you have to pay for it?

On the Apex last month the ice cream station located in the OVC was still there and free except for the couple of Gelato selections. You can still get your one free scoop of Gelato for being a Captain Club member,

 

This picture is the Cafe Al Bacio with the still free cookie jars too.

Edited October 23, 2023 by terrydtx

[terrydtx]

20 hours ago, abbydancer said:

So, now on Production shows, the Sky Suites no longer get the reserved seating?  Aren't they still putting that in the benefit list?  Not a big deal but still.

On the Apex last month the reserved seating on Chic nights was still available and we would meet the Retreat Hosts at the upper theater entrance to be escorted to the reserved section.  This has not changed since we started sailing in the Retreat post Covid.

[GenerationX]

Checking in from Marrakech Mule and Beyond Signature cocktail hour at the Sunset Bar on a beautiful day in Corfu!

 

Our tour group didn’t have to assemble until 8:45 this morning, so we had time to have our first Luminae breakfast of the trip.

 

I’d forgotten how good the pistachio danish are!  

 

We’re just settling back in on the ship after todays excursion.  We did the Abelonas Winery and Old Town Walking Tour booked through Celebrity.

 

Our first stop of the trip was a very brief stop at a random beach club where we had about 15 minutes to take pictures, put our toes in the ocean and look in a couple of small, very touristy shops.

 

Then we had about a 30 minute ride up into the mountains to the winery. The winery grounds are beautiful and have gorgeous views.

 

Our guide and the winery staff did a presentation on the history of the winery (which has been run by the same family since the 1600’s) and their organic, sustainable wine and olive oil making processes. 

 

After the presentation, they set out a spread of light Greek buffet made from local products.  We were also welcomed to partake in multiple full glasses of the winery’s red, white and rose wines.  All of the wines were on the dryer side, which I prefer. I know almost nothing about Greek wine, so I wasn’t really in a position to judge the quality.  I had 3 glasses of the red though so I guess I thought it was pretty good.  Jeremy and I found a cute little table for 2 under an olive tree and held hands while sipping and eating overlooking the vineyard.  
 

I know, you’re getting nauseous from the sappy romance. I’ll try to tone it down.

 

The salad, feta, olive oil and cured meats were delicious! Have I mentioned that I now realize that America’s tomatoes and bread are pathetic? 

 

We were at the winery for a little over an hour then headed to old town Corfu.  Traffic and crowds were hectic with 3 ships in port (Beyond, the massive NCL Prima and Viking Neptune). I can’t imagine what the crowds are like in peak season during the heat of summer.  
 

Our “walking tour” wasn’t much of a tour. I was expecting something like the fabulous walking tour we had in Montepulciano through Viator our last day pre-cruise (I know, I still owe details).  This time, our guide spent about 10 minutes taking us past a church and pointing out a couple of historical buildings from a distance, then told us we were free to wander on our own and be back at the bus in an hour if we wanted to take it back to the ship.  

 

She also told us that because we purchased a celebrity excursion, if we wanted to stay in town longer, we could also show our ticket stubs and get on a paid shuttle service to/from the ship that Celebrity was running every 20 minute until all aboard.

 

We didn’t really mind the approach to the city since Jeremy had shopping money burning a hole in his wallet, but I think some in our group were more disappointed in not getting a true guided tour.

 

We did a little souvenir shopping for our parents and Gen Z then Jeremy took me to see something he’d spotted in a shop window while I was looking at olive oils that he thought I’d like.

 

I have a thing for bees.  Our mini farm at home is named The Bee Charmer Ranch and I have quite a bit of bee themed decor, accessories, etc (yes, I also own my fair share of the vintage Gucci bee logo collection).   My wonderful husband treated me to an earrings and necklace jewelry set styled after the Minoan bee pendant in the museum of antiquities in Crete!

I know, again with the mushy stuff. Sorry!

 

The sun and crowds were getting to be a bit much for us (but again, as I understand, nothing compared to what it would’ve been like a couple of months earlier) so we decided to head back to the ship on our tour bus after an hour.

 

We’re about to head down to the cabin for a nap then I plan to soak my sore feet in the tub with a glass of Brunello and do some catch up writing before dinner time.  Tonight’s plan is dinner at Raw on 5 and the Dreams show in Eden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hcat]

great photos.. my fav is below..love the mushy stuff... a perfect romantic getaway... enjoy the bee bling! 

[hcat]

you can check out this catalog for more bee motifs..apparently they are out of the great soap right now.

https://www.monticelloshop.org/search/searchresults/?q=bee

 

 

[Beachlover1989]

24 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

 

 

Love the necklace!!

[GenerationX]

On 10/22/2023 at 6:39 PM, hcat said:

Thanks for the update.  Great review underway..  as always. You both look great ..love that dress (great color for you) and Jeremy's tie. 

 

Hint to Jeremy..something Emerald and gold  for the neck and earrings would be perfect for that stunning dress!  some of the jewelry shops were willing to deal!

 

Food looks very appetizing..compared to  some food  pics posted by others

(mdr..sad!)

 

can you give more info about the Jazz Joint in the Club?

Yes, I would say that while there have been a few disappointing dishes, on the whole the food quality in Luminae and specialty has been very good.  The people I’ve talked to who are in AQ class have had similar feedback about Blu.  

 

I’ve only had a chance to meet a few people thus far who are using the MDR’s but the feedback I’ve heard has been much more mixed both in terms of food quality and service.

 

Definitely do check out the Jazz Joint show on your cruise!  I think they only offer it one night of the cruise, but with 2 showings.  It’s done after each of the main theater shows end so it doesn’t compete.  Seating is limited so it’s definitely worth getting there a bit earl.  It’s an immersive show with dancing, acrobats and singers. I think I shared some photos and posted some pics from it in my Beyond solo review from spring.  Just let me know if you’d like me to try and find it and post a link!

 

[terrydtx]

6 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Yes, I would say that while there have been a few disappointing dishes, on the whole the food quality in Luminae and specialty has been very good.  The people I’ve talked to who are in AQ class have had similar feedback about Blu.  

 

I’ve only had a chance to meet a few people thus far who are using the MDR’s but the feedback I’ve heard has been much more mixed both in terms of food quality and service.

 

Definitely do check out the Jazz Joint show on your cruise!  I think they only offer it one night of the cruise, but with 2 showings.  It’s done after each of the main theater shows end so it doesn’t compete.  Seating is limited so it’s definitely worth getting there a bit earl.  It’s an immersive show with dancing, acrobats and singers. I think I shared some photos and posted some pics from it in my Beyond solo review from spring.  Just let me know if you’d like me to try and find it and post a link!

 

Last month we were on the Apex and we found the food to be really good in Luminae including the new Daniel Boulud Duck entree. My biggest complaint was the noise level was higher than the MDR's, how has it been on the Beyond? Also, when ordering drinks, it took forever to get them to our table.

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, verizon said:

I was so embarrassing that one of the butler by the rope off area refused to let me in by not showing my card as a Zenith member.

He didn’t even know what is Zenith member but luckily his colleague knew and let me in.

 

Would definitely point out to the Retreat Manager so he can properly train the Butler.  

 

I had a security guard stop me once to ask  "What's a Zenith -   I've never seen one of those cards before."  He was just interested and when I told him joked that next time he would salute me.  LOL