Grand Suites

[fox02554]

11 hours ago, Sun and Fun said:

We started out in a GS, then OS a few couple times...and now in January 2022 we are in a Star Loft/Star Class on Symphony. It is a slippery slope for the checkbook!! 🤣

 

I think the only other thing not mentioned is the concierge will also escort you off the ship in the ports of call. Really upsets other passengers as they change the elevator to VIP status and bypass everyone waiting in line to get off the ship (we usually look down and keep whispering to each other...”no eye contact, no eye contact”).

of all the perks ( we're in a 2 bedroom grand with 16 & 17 year old grands ) this is the one for me ❤️ I am an amputee and wear a prosthetic on my right leg , I am very mobil and in long pants or skirt you would never know , but I set off the metal detecters 🤪( I ALWAYS travel in shorts so leg is visible  ) 2 years ago on an RCI I got a full search and pat down 3 times at one port by the same security staff. I was in tears by the 3rd time and didn't leave the ship again. my skins a little thicker now 😄 and I'll try anything for the Grands , but hope the escort and the gold card make the process a little friendlier . I understand the need for security , that has never been the issue, it was the staff attitude and the inconvenience that I caused them ( and they loudly pointed out ) that bothered me

[firefly333]

33 minutes ago, fox02554 said:

of all the perks ( we're in a 2 bedroom grand with 16 & 17 year old grands ) this is the one for me ❤️ I am an amputee and wear a prosthetic on my right leg , I am very mobil and in long pants or skirt you would never know , but I set off the metal detecters 🤪( I ALWAYS travel in shorts so leg is visible  ) 2 years ago on an RCI I got a full search and pat down 3 times at one port by the same security staff. I was in tears by the 3rd time and didn't leave the ship again. my skins a little thicker now 😄 and I'll try anything for the Grands , but hope the escort and the gold card make the process a little friendlier . I understand the need for security , that has never been the issue, it was the staff attitude and the inconvenience that I caused them ( and they loudly pointed out ) that bothered me

Just blurs for me, perhaps translate to print for us older eyes.

[cb at sea]

It would probably help to inform them of your prosthetic, if it's not visible, before going thru the metal detector....

Hubby has a pacemaker and can't use that, so a hand pat-down happens for him....usually only once, as they seem to remember him.

 

[SRF]

The biggest problem with sailing in a GS is that you will want to do it for every cruise after that. 😄

 

[fox02554]

1 hour ago, cb at sea said:

It would probably help to inform them of your prosthetic, if it's not visible, before going thru the metal detector....

Hubby has a pacemaker and can't use that, so a hand pat-down happens for him....usually only once, as they seem to remember him.

 

cb , I always wear shorts when I'm traveling , proud of my metal and my abilities , don't mind the pat down , it was the security staff I had issues with, they were rude and unconvinced by me and didn't tried to hide the attitude , looking forward to have escort this time 😄

[14Terry]

Congratulations on your 30th & 60th! GS is the way to go! Be warned though , the perks that come with it will spoil you :-)! Happy cruising!

[boozrcruzr]

One more question...how about the internet? Is it a perk or do you still have to purchase it? Just curious because it doesn't say.

[George C]

3 minutes ago, boozrcruzr said:

One more question...how about the internet? Is it a perk or do you still have to purchase it? Just curious because it doesn't say.

Not on Liberty it is on oasis, that is one of the things I dislike about rccl different perks n different ships.

[boozrcruzr]

Thank you sir, I wondered about that.

[John&LaLa]

20 hours ago, George C said:

Consider msc yacht club for a future cruise much better perks including stocked mini bar, drink package, WiFi, and suite restaurants, for a reasonable price, a little more than a Liberty grand suite. 

 

Aren't the normal YC cabins smaller than a JS

[George C]

12 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Aren't the normal YC cabins smaller than a JS

They are not big ,  they are very similar to celebrity summit and infinity sky suites, I think JS may be a little bigger have seen one but never stayed in one. Other perks are totally amazing. 

[molsonschooner]

11 hours ago, fox02554 said:

cb , I always wear shorts when I'm traveling , proud of my metal and my abilities , don't mind the pat down , it was the security staff I had issues with, they were rude and unconvinced by me and didn't tried to hide the attitude , looking forward to have escort this time 😄

it seems like you have had bad luck. My wife has a pacemaker/ defibrillator,

 gets patted down every time she boards but has never had any unpleasant experiences, except for the time she was being patted down, the security person notice the bump in chest. She questioned my wife who told her that she had a pacemaker. It took quite a bit to convince the person in fact ,it was a pacemaker

[George C]

7 minutes ago, molsonschooner said:

it seems like you have had bad luck. My wife has a pacemaker/ defibrillator,

 gets patted down every time she boards but has never had any unpleasant experiences, except for the time she was being patted down, the security person notice the bump in chest. She questioned my wife who told her that she had a pacemaker. It took quite a bit to convince the person in fact ,it was a pacemaker

Many decades ago went to airport to meet my wife returning from a overseas trip, only one person was in front of me trying to get through metal detector, he only had on shorts and a T-shirt, must of been caused my a few surgeries, he was Bob Lilly , Dallas legend and hall of fame football player.

[NumnuT]

Always yes to a Grand Suite...😁

[Jingerwoppy]

We've been in a JS and a GS but we aren't drinkers so the lounge doesn't mean much for us. In the theater we like to be down near the front and not in the balcony where the reserved seating is. It's the same thing with the skating rink as we can usually get what we think are better seats. In general, we don't really make use of the perks so it's not something we look at unless there is a very good price. We don't mind being in an inside or balcony but if there's a JS or GS at a good price we might go for it as the extra space can be very welcome. 

[Cruise a holic]

On 2/13/2021 at 3:29 PM, boozrcruzr said:

We're looking into booking a Grand this time after a Junior last cruise. Does anyone have any experience with one. It's not that much more but is it worth it. There seems to be a few more perks, just wondering if they make it worth while. It's our 30th anniversary and my 60th so just wanted to do something a little different.

Enjoy all of the suite perks.  They are great and IMO well worth it.  Suite lounge, suite deck- no reservations for shows.  Easy boarding and disembarkation.  Enjoy

[AF-1]

Do all suite guests get escorted on and off ship at embarkation and debarkation? Will there be a concierge on Jewel of the Seas?  Do they have a concierge lounge on Jewel?  Thanks

Edited February 22, 2021 by AF-1

[RFerrington]

10 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

Do all suite guests get escorted on and off ship at embarkation and debarkation?

Suite guests (with the notable exception of Star Class Guests and some guests of the Royal Suites on some ships) do not get any personal escort onto the ship at embarkation.  They do have a dedicated line for check-in and usually a separate waiting area prior to boarding but no personal escort.

 

Debarkation escorting is wildly disparate.  From what I am told (but I don't know if I truly believe this or not) the ability of the Concierge to escort you all the way through the Terminal, to the CBP kiosk is determined by the Port Authority and not the ship or cruiseline.  I have been escorted all the way to CBP and I have been shown a door to exit where I ended up at the back of the line with everyone else and everything in between.

 

The reason that I say I don't know if it's true or not is b/c a number of years ago we were sailing on Liberty out of Galveston in an Owner's Suite and the Concierge told all of the suite guests (by way of the disembarkation letter) that the PA would not permit him to leave the ship.  He basically escorted us to a "special" door which opened up to the back of the line of all of the other disembarking passengers.  We were totally on our own to find our way through the rest of the gauntlet.  It so happened that when we got to the area to pick up our luggage, one of our bags was missing.  We never found it...ever.  But while we were waiting for port personnel to help us look for it, who comes strolling down through the terminal ?  Yep....the Suites Concierge himself.  Of course, he apologized and helped us look for our bag for about 3 minutes and then moved on.  I'm afraid my inner Karen came out briefly during that encounter and bag search.  That was the very last time we ever let our bags go the night before.  Since then, we only carry our own bags off.

 

10 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

Will there be a concierge on Jewel of the Seas? 

Yes, as long as things are the same as they were pre-COVID, Jewel will have a Suites Concierge.  It's been many years since we've sailed on Jewel so I don't know if they still have a Concierge Lounge or if they have converted their CL to a Suites Lounge.

[AF-1]

Thanks for your feedback.  We will be sailing Jewel overseas;  so we won't be going thru customs like in the US.  

[AF-1]

Can anyone tell me what the cost of internet is per cruise?  We have 12 night cruise;  also is the gratuities still around $16 per guest per night for suites?  Thanks

[smokeybandit]

Internet prices vary.  It's 17.50 for gratuities

[AF-1]

26 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Internet prices vary.  It's 17.50 for gratuities

Thank you I appreciate the info

[TiiiSailor]

On 2/14/2021 at 10:44 AM, fox02554 said:

cb , I always wear shorts when I'm traveling , proud of my metal and my abilities , don't mind the pat down , it was the security staff I had issues with, they were rude and unconvinced by me and didn't tried to hide the attitude , looking forward to have escort this time 😄

That kind of security should have been reported immediately. Seeing how this is a GS topic, I'd have first contacted the Concierge.  If necessary, I would have taken it all the way up the chain of command until I was satisfied the issue was taken care of, or until I talked to that Captain. 

[smokeybandit]

I've never had an issue with my bags not being there on disembarkation. And yes how far the concierge takes you off the ship varies (at a minimum to the front of the line at the gangway, at a maximum to the baggage area).

[fox02554]

3 hours ago, TiiiSailor said:

That kind of security should have been reported immediately. Seeing how this is a GS topic, I'd have first contacted the Concierge.  If necessary, I would have taken it all the way up the chain of command until I was satisfied the issue was taken care of, or until I talked to that Captain. 

this was on the Freedom 2019 & not a GS issue , I was not comfortable enough in my new " skin "  at the time but I did have a couple of very productive conversations with RCI upon our return , plans are in the works to have this type of medical information available on your sea pass , never to by pass security , nor

infringe on you HIPAA rights , but to help with security being a little smoother and expected by staff