Royal Suite Class - Star Class Review from Ovation April 22 Sailing

[jules815]

That sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

[ebk2795]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

Do you know if Johnny Rockets is included?

 

Eileen

[A&L_Ont]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

Do you know if Johnny Rockets is included?

 

Eileen

 

It sure should be. Sabor, Hibachi, Samba etc should all be included. They are pay venues and are cheaper than Chops. However, this is RC so you never know what to expect. ;)

[1ParticularHbr]

That sounds amazing. I am still trying to figure out what ships and cabin classifications qualify for this service. We have the Royal suite on the Enchantment in June but I doubt that since it's a smaller, older ship it will have this available.

 

It's only available on Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Anthem (and Ovation on Sydney departures only)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

Do you know if Johnny Rockets is included?

 

Eileen

 

It sure should be. Sabor, Hibachi, Samba etc should all be included. They are pay venues and are cheaper than Chops. However, this is RC so you never know what to expect. ;)

 

I've been wondering this myself. I really think this one could go either way, as RC can spin it to suit them as needed.

 

Also, if La Patisserie is included, what about Cups and Scoops?

 

Tom

[mkbruce]

I've been wondering this myself. I really think this one could go either way, as RC can spin it to suit them as needed.

 

Also, if La Patisserie is included, what about Cups and Scoops?

 

Tom

 

It seems obvious (but I could be wrong) that specialty restaurant cover charges are included, but the real question is a-la-carte charges such as the above and Izumi sushi? And what about Chef's Table?

Edited April 30, 2016 by mkbruce

[WaterGirlCruiser]

It seems obvious (but I could be wrong) that specialty restaurant cover charges are included, but the real question is a-la-carte charges such as the above and Izumi sushi? And what about Chef's Table?

 

Yes to both questions...I asked Royal Genie Margaret and she said all was included... Also said to let your Genie know asap about Chefs table since books up quickly and limited seating.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Yes to both questions...I asked Royal Genie Margaret and she said all was included... Also said to let your Genie know asap about Chefs table since books up quickly and limited seating.

 

Chef's Table is included?? I now have to wonder if the wine pairing meal @ 150 Central Park would be on the table too!

 

Honestly, this just seems to be a bit too good to believe. :confused:

 

Tom

[WaterGirlCruiser]

Chef's Table is included?? I now have to wonder if the wine pairing meal @ 150 Central Park would be on the table too!

 

Honestly, this just seems to be a bit too good to believe. :confused:

 

Tom

 

I dont know about 150, didnt think to ask because ive never been, but the Chefs table was an interest for our family....took her a few days for her to reply to get accurste information but it is included.

[N2DFIRE]

What is the loop app?

[mkbruce]

What is the loop app?

 

It's a web-based messaging system used to communicate with the Genies.

[jv_nyc]

Hi All - back in Chicago, and like Jetdriver, I’m going through serious withdrawals - especially because the line at O’Hare for immigration and customs was two and a half hours long! Mia - where were you to escort us to the front?!?!? Just kidding, no, okay, not really. ;)

 

Please keep the questions coming!

 

Joanna

 

So I was wondering how does it work ordering a drink to your suite. Given the beverage packages don't include room service do they charge you for the drinks or is basically your Genie can get you what ever you want and that is included in your Ultimate drink package? I understand that all specialty restaurants are included with star class. So, can you order specialty restaurant food to your room with that or still just MDR food to the suite? The current info seems a bit unclear on these two things.

 

Thanks for an clarification you can provide.

 

I’m not sure about this one because we ordered some bottles of wine (which were for charge) for our suite for the week, so we didn’t need to order individual drinks. However, I do remember Mia mentioning that she could send individual drinks down to us if we wanted them, so I have to assume that they would be part of the package because she didn’t say that they weren’t.

 

jv_nyc, what a great review. We (along with everyone else !) have been waiting to get some idea of the genie process. Sounds amazing !!

 

I had read somewhere else that the genie actually reserved specific seats for shows and then personally escorts you to those seats. Was that your experience ? If so, was this in the gold card reserved area or some other part of the theater ?

 

Yes, this is a great Genie story! One night in the Music Hall, the band that was playing there said there was a Queen cover band playing the next night in the Royal Theatre. I opened the Loop app and texted Mia to reserve seats for us for the later show. It was late at night, so she responded in the morning that she would reserve seats for us (which did we prefer, the stage or the mezzanine? Mezzanine), and we met her right before the show, and she escorted us to the two reserved seats which were right in the center.

 

I’m not familiar with where the gold card reserved area is, so I don’t know if it was or not.

 

Mia also had reserved seats for Spectra for us, which were in a great location, and she escorted us to them.

 

just wondering , how many cabins does a genie look after per cruise? I would assume more than one. If so, if there are services requested by more than one cabin at the same time? which came gets served first? If the genie is occupied with some one else is there much of a wait until she could look after the second request?

 

As Chip mentioned, there are three suites per Genie, and when we met Mia, she explained that if she’s not available, then another Genie would be able to help us via the Loop app, which is why it’s so awesome. It worked out that Mia was the only Genie we interacted with in-person though. I only saw one other Genie onboard, who was with one of their guests. We never experienced a delay in response.

 

Thanks for the detailed report - very nice to see you had such a fantastic time!

 

Could you tell me if Mia had any "helpers"? I seem to recall reading that they might have assistants.

 

THANKS

 

Tom

 

I didn’t see assistants like how Suite Attendants will have assistants, but I can assure you that Mia ran that ship behind the scenes when you watched her in action! She was our primary point of contact, and then she would delegate out whatever the task was to whoever needed to do it. For example, the day that we wanted snacks/light lunch in the room, we used the Loop app to ask Mia, and then about five minutes later, Dining called to ask if we would like to make any changes or additions to what she selected for us. It was delivered within 30 minutes. If we needed extra blankets, Loop to Mia, and ten minutes later Housekeeping delivers two blankets.

 

Things she would take of personally were the confirming of our reservations (both onboard and off-board), escorting us, reserving seats, etc. Things that she wanted to make sure were handled properly.

 

Also, just to mention, in our communications before the cruise, I sent her all the guide information and asked that she confirm - she probably would have done it anyway, but if you'd like your Genie to do it, might be good to ask, just in case.

 

Totally agree with jv_nyc's review of the "Genie's" they were just like excellent P.A's. Despite living a professional life where everything is organised to the minute, as soon as my wife and children become part of the formula, everything tends to dissolve into temporal chaos. Our Genie was brilliant at ensuring everything was ready and waiting whenever we were running late.

 

I have spent the last two weeks sitting cross legged on a rug at home rubbing an oil lamp (not a euphemism) but sadly nothing has happened!

 

What is it about vacation and causing normally punctual people to be okay with being late?!? :) We were usually 10 minutes late for everything, but Mia just figured out how to make it work, or maybe she started telling us the time to be somewhere 20 minutes before we needed to be lol! On the last day, we made sure we were five minutes ahead of the schedule she gave us so that we hopefully made it easier for her!

 

If I find the secret rub, I’ll let you know!

 

Great info on your cruise experience. I am guessing that this will be your preferred way to travel RC from now on?

 

Thanks!

 

I hope we continue to be fortunate enough to do so; as a planner, I loved having someone take care of the execution of the plans.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

Do you know if Johnny Rockets is included?

 

Eileen

 

Lots of questions about food charges and availability, I’ll do my best to answer:

 

• Chef’s Table - yes, it was included. I don’t know about 150 Central Park.
  
• Johnny Rockets or Kung Fu Panda - I don’t know.
  
• Izumi - I had thought that our al la carte items at Izumi were included, but double checking our invoice, we did have a charge for it. It was only $25, so i'm not going to sit on hold with Royal to find out, but I do wonder if it was a mistake.
  
• Cups and Scoops - I don’t know.
  

 

Regarding in-room dining, we didn’t order any meals from the specialty restaurants in our room, but I have to imagine we could have. The day that we ordered snacks/light lunch, it was chicken caesar salad and some various hot canapés. I’ve eaten a few hundred Royal caesar salads, and I want to think these were the ones from Chops - definitely not the main dining room ones.

 

It was also strange that we didn’t order room service for breakfast; we mostly ate in Coastal Kitchen or went to Windjammer for the variety.

 

Somewhat separate, we were able to have a gluten-free pizza made at Sorrento’s, which wasn’t too bad.

 

What is the loop app?

 

The Loop app is a mobile-friendly website where you can text with your Genie. An email with the link to the site unique to your sailing date and cabin will be sent around the same time as your Genie email is sent.

Edited April 30, 2016 by jv_nyc

[N2DFIRE]

What about tipping the genie. Are the normal prepaid tips shared with them. Also did you tip them extra.

[jv_nyc]

What about tipping the genie. Are the normal prepaid tips shared with them. Also did you tip them extra.

 

I don't know if the prepaid tips are shared with them. We tipped her, slightly more than what I would previously tip a Concierge who helped me with plans or went above and beyond.

 

Also on that note, we didn't receive the normal Concierge communications for this sailing, which I'm assuming is intentional because it would be confusing of who to reach out to for what. With our port-intensive itinerary, we usually spent the early evening relaxing in our suite before dinner, so we only spent about 10 minutes one night in the Concierge Lounge for the entire sailing.

 

I'm curious if non-Star suite guests will find more availability/service from the Concierge because the Genies are assisting the Star guests.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thanks for all the great insight/info!

 

I think we might be giving the Chef's Table a try in a few weeks. I was not planning to, and was just going to book it on the Oasis for both us and our office staff - but this way I can have a "comped" preview to see if it's something worth bringing a dozen or more people to next time!

 

As a side note - anyone here who's familiar with the Allure that knows what night, or nights, the Chef's Table is on? Is that something which can be booked in advance (Carnival), or only once onboard (Princess and Celebrity)?

 

Tom

[A&L_Ont]

Thanks for all the great insight/info!

 

I think we might be giving the Chef's Table a try in a few weeks. I was not planning to, and was just going to book it on the Oasis for both us and our office staff - but this way I can have a "comped" preview to see if it's something worth bringing a dozen or more people to next time!

 

As a side note - anyone here who's familiar with the Allure that knows what night, or nights, the Chef's Table is on? Is that something which can be booked in advance (Carnival), or only once onboard (Princess and Celebrity)?

 

Tom

 

 

Are you eastern or western?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Are you eastern or western?

 

Go WEST young man, go west!

 

:)

 

Tom

Edited April 30, 2016 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[A&L_Ont]

Go WEST young man, go west!

 

:)

 

Tom

 

No guarantees but the Compasses from our March cruise should still be relevant, especially if the ports are the same.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2335818

 

 

Edit: DW Lisa just said she thinks it isn't offered the first night. We aren't sure about the last night. What every she says goes.;)

Edited April 30, 2016 by A&L_Ont

[klepton]

Thanks so much for the report, sounds awesome and I can't wait for our sailing on Harmony next year. Sounds like the Genie is so much more than the butlers on NCL. With only 3 suites each they can afford to be.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

No guarantees but the Compasses from our March cruise should still be relevant, especially if the ports are the same.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2335818

 

 

Edit: DW Lisa just said she thinks it isn't offered the first night. We aren't sure about the last night. What every she says goes.;)

 

Smart man... ;)

 

Thanks for the link.

 

Tom

[myraid]

Thanks for the info! Do you know if the character breakfasts are included? I can't wait!

[cruisequeen3311]

You mentioned you got your money back either before the cruise or during for the specialty dining - do you think we should book ahead still and pay the fee and then get reimbursed on board - or wait to book online that the Genie will get us in anywhere we want to go and when. Traveling with 2 kids so trying to plan as much as possible to eliminate stress :)

 

thanks for the review - loved reading it! exciting. cant wait to have the star class perks!

[RadioRob]

When asked, I was told to let the genie take care of it... don't bother with getting refunded.

[jv_nyc]

Thanks for the info! Do you know if the character breakfasts are included? I can't wait!

 

Thanks! I'm sorry, I don't know if they're included or not. Sorry!

[jv_nyc]

You mentioned you got your money back either before the cruise or during for the specialty dining - do you think we should book ahead still and pay the fee and then get reimbursed on board - or wait to book online that the Genie will get us in anywhere we want to go and when. Traveling with 2 kids so trying to plan as much as possible to eliminate stress :)

 

thanks for the review - loved reading it! exciting. cant wait to have the star class perks!

 

Thanks! This will probably come down to personal preference. I'm a planner, and while it's probably safe to assume that the Genie could work magic to get the dates/times I would want, I don't like leaving room for the risk that something might be booked up - especially the smaller venues like Wonderland or Chef's Table.

 

My preference was to book in advance and then have the Genie take care of securing the refunds, fortunately, Mia didn't need to secure the refunds for us because it was automatically handled (or maybe she did behind the scenes :) )