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Some people are real wine experts and know exactly what they like…Even with the premium package they may struggle with the selection offered. Then there are guests like us…We frequently try house wines in restaurants and although we usually have a premium package because it comes with our room we will often just ask for a fruity red or a refreshing white…Easy on the first few days of your cruise to both order different wines at a bar to find something you like…If you pop by a quiet bar you could ask the bar staff to pour you just a taste of one or two different reds or whites to give you an idea. Once you know what you like take a drink back to your room, order your room service then one of you pops back with both cards to get a second glass ready… I suggest you do bring a few bottles on board simply for convenience if you are planning on regularly dining in suite. Your room attendant will bring you ice twice daily on request so you can chill your white. Great advice to give you some ideas… Also We probably get as much value from our package in speciality coffee, water, soda and the odd (OK frequent) little something to end the meal with. No room is ever that far from a bar… Hope you find the classic package wine enjoyable and that you have a wonderful cruise! Just as a ‘by the way’ you do know you can order your dinner from the MDR menu when it is open don’t you? You are not just restricted to the limited all day room service menu.

Sincere best wishes for a fantastic cruise…

The truck driver was alerted to your suite cases being on board…I would think that there is a good possibility that they have been identified and are being processed for redirection to you. I would keep in regular contact with the company in charge of finding your luggage by email or telephone. We usually have a personalised tag on our suitcases too with name and address and email on and a similar but slight larger name/address/email/phone number on top inside the cases. Did you have either or just the Celebrity tag? The biggest risk to not getting luggage back is if there is no clear contact information. In the meantime I would start making a list of all items so if, in a few more days time, the company in charge of finding your luggage report they have not been successful you will be ready to make an insurance claim. Very odd you were given the #1 tags…Was there any communication between you and your room attendant prior to them arriving in your room or did they just appear? I wouldn’t give up hope yet, sincere best wishes. Please report back (hopefully with good news)…

The reliable inconsistency of ‘additional perks’ add to the difficulty of communicating on CC exactly what to expect when cruising in a suite…All we can all do is differentiate between the ‘official list’ of higher suite perks and then relate our varying experiences.

Hope you are now feeling better.

Another one of those experiences vary things… I tend to doubt that the butler/PRH has the authority to provide/not provide several bottles of champagne or wine…I tend to think it would need approval from the suite manager. I guess if most guests attending a party have a premium drinks package then there is little difference between the guests being provided drinks in a suite to in a bar…

I think this is a great explanation of what Celebrity and many other lines try to offer. For many guests their room is a place to sleep, their cruise is about itinerary and enjoying the full ship. They will book the cheapest room possible and enjoy because their room is not important to them. At the other end of the scale are those who want to cruise in a bigger room and are willing to pay more for an upgraded service. They will enjoy their cruise because they appreciate the bigger room and the upgraded service. In between are the many who don’t feel the need for the suite perks but want to enjoy a bit more luxury like a balcony instead of an inside cabin… I can’t see anything ‘classist’ it is just about being able to choose what is important to you. If you board focusing on the experience you have booked (a quality line with an excellent reputation) you will have a great time. If you board constantly comparing your cruise to that previously experienced on a luxury line you may find certain aspects are different and may indeed fall short of your luxury line past cruises. However, you may find those shortcomings are more than compensated for by the other strengths of the ship…More choices of bars, restaurants and entertainment for a start… If you board thinking ‘suite guests get more than we do’ you will be correct. They do, they have chosen to pay a premium for a few extras… Will you feel like a second class citizen? Why should you? You will get excellent service and access to a wonderful ship. The only things you will not access are those you have not opted into by not booking a suite. We do generally book suites because we do like a bigger room and we do enjoy spending time in it. However, we spend only limited time in the ‘suite’ areas….We love the variety a bigger ship has to offer, the variety of bars, restaurants and entertainment but we do have the choice to retire to the more club like ambiance the suite areas offer if we want. There have been many posts where comments have been made that for the price of a higher suite on Celebrity you could cruise on a ‘real luxury line’…Many Celebrity suite cruisers don’t want that…They want a lovely ship to explore with that Celebrity ambiance of not too lively but not too quiet but with a few extra perks that they enjoy and are willing to pay a bit more for…

Only ever risked (in many years of cruising) flying in the same day. Just not a relaxing way to start a cruise. Schipol is not my favourite airport I think you are right to build in a buffer…

I hope this makes sense but we love the ‘flow’ of the S class ships…you never feel you walk too far to get anywhere and no where ever seems that crowded. On M class we felt we were constantly walking back and forwards (probably not helped with us having a room right at the back). Lounge areas just didn’t feel so spacious… As others have said, a real miss taking the Murano type restaurants out of M class.

I think it was March 2018. Definitely a spell of unexpected weather and odd to cover so much of the US…Ironically we have flown over several times in hurricane season and never had an issue! As you say, definitely the best of CC.

I remember arriving at our hotel in Fort Lauderdale at about midnight after the most bizarre day of travel absolutely physically and emotionally drained minus most of our luggage. Despite the exhaustion I logged onto CC to say thank you for the help. I was overwhelmed at the people following and the good will being expressed! Whilst it probably was our worst travel experience I now remember it for so many positives too…

Great advice above from bye-seaya re flights.

If they are anything size wise like the robes then they will be of no use….Not designed for little people!

The pjs were not available on our last cruise, we were told they had supply issues so don’t build up your hopes too high!

Good point about the handicap suite….I always feel really sorry when we read posts from people who have booked a ‘guarantee’ or ‘move up’ and then boarded to find a room designed for a wheelchair user, obviously not realising that it is a real possibility. The fact a key perk for the OP was a bath makes questioning even more important…

So pleased for you! It really makes a difference if you arrange things in advance. It also adds to their ease if you group order…The odd time we have arranged something different (usually in Murano) we have all requested the ‘special order’. Again the clear message that pre arranging is easier than last minute requests….

When your shoreside concierge contacts you it is useful to have your completed list ready and to email it after the conversation. Relying on verbal communication only in our experience results in errors. We also take two copies on board with us. One for the butler just in case the shoreside service hasn’t worked (does occasionally happen) and one for us to remind us of our dining plan! The shoreside concierge may mail you a list of spirits to choose from. Do not feel limited by it. Basically anything on the Premium list. For example, there is no cognac on the list but we always order it… Think about any other bits and bobs you may enjoy… We like a decent fruit bowl and also a kettle and tea tray (yes we are Brits…). You are right to pre book your on board dining. The PRH will try to ensure any speciality dining requests once on board but they (and the speciality restaurants) really appreciate you pre booking. Easier for them if you pre book then cancel or adjust once on board than trying to get you in to the most popular restaurants last minute. If you are celebrating a special occasion on board add it to your list. If you want to arrange a special in suite meal one evening wait until you are on board and talk to the PRH personally. Often asking their advice about what they could arrange results in a treat not on any menu…We always give the PRH 24 hours warning if we want a ‘special’ in suite meal or to host a sail away etc. Once on board remember to touch base with the Retreat concierge. If you would like a galley tour, a bridge tour….let him/her know. These were postponed during early post covid cruises but may now be operating and can be enjoyable. The PRH will generally look after your in suite needs whilst the concierge will look after ‘ship’ issues…Basically anything you would normally go to guest services with. The beauty of suite cruising on Celebrity is you have a big ship to explore and the more ‘club’ ambiance of the Retreat areas. We tend to split our time between the two…We tend to enjoy a quiet pre dinner drink in the Retreat Lounge but then post dinner we will go to one of the more lively bars post dinner…As a first time Celebrity cruiser it will be nice for you to get a taster of the full ship experience. Sincere best wishes for a fantastic cruise…

At present there may not be suites available. A positive for Celebrity of the move up system is that if someone cancels late they already have people in line ready to fill the gap. We love Silhouette, she has been beautifully upgraded. The suite deck does have a hot tub and bar, lots of comfortable loungers and excellent service. We loved the experience so much we have two further Silhouette suite experiences booked… One thing the last few years have taught us all is don’t leave a treat until next year if you could enjoy it this year! Worth a go at move up!

Firstly, as others have said there are big differences between suite facilities on different Celebrity ships, you do need to check what there is and what is important to you. Secondly, I think a lot of Celebrity cruisers have the opposite philosophy re being out and about on the ship…They will sometimes use the general pools, they will visit bars around the ship and whilst Luminae is their dining venue they may also use the speciality restaurants and the buffet. I haven’t been on Haven so I can’t compare but on Celebrity I have never felt the need to ‘stay’ in the specific suite areas. The suite areas are nice venues and generally quieter, especially on sea days, but the whole ship ambiance is nice…

Thanks for your review. When you started getting symptoms ‘within a few days of boarding’ did you present to medical for testing/possibly isolating? I hope your symptoms are mild and you make a speedy recovery.

…and plenty more memories still to make…

Hopefully someone will respond with personal experience…

If you go to Cruise Critic reviews Solstice…click on one of the decks you are interested in…then look at room category reviews below, click on inside and it shows you the number of reviews for that cabin type you can then read. Obviously most are full reviews with limited mention of the cabin but some may have details on room layout etc. As a general rule when booking any room we avoid any under public areas and with close proximity to lifts, doors or anywhere people are likely to gather… We loved our two Solstice cruises, hope you enjoy!

Congratulations!

Thanks…Useful information