Shoreside Concierge email

[CruiseNYC]

We are sailing in a Retreat PS on Millennium December 13.  We're fairly new to Celebrity - only one previous sailing.  One of the Shoreside Concierges sent us a lovely email with a menu with all of the Premium Spirits we can request (two bottles per cruise).  We're not sure if we're supposed to call her, email her or if she will follow up with a phone call.  The email was not specific.

We know that many of you have done this before.  Please let us know what the correct protocol would be.

Thanks in advance!

[C-Dragons]

1 minute ago, CruiseNYC said:

We are sailing in a Retreat PS on Millennium December 13.  We're fairly new to Celebrity - only one previous sailing.  One of the Shoreside Concierges sent us a lovely email with a menu with all of the Premium Spirits we can request (two bottles per cruise).  We're not sure if we're supposed to call her, email her or if she will follow up with a phone call.  The email was not specific.

We know that many of you have done this before.  Please let us know what the correct protocol would be.

Thanks in advance!

We are currently sailing in a CS and also received an email before departure. I called the telephone number provided and spoke to one of the Concierges. They made a note of all our requests which were passed onto the Retreat Concierge on the ship. It all very easy and convenient.

Enjoy your cruise!

[isdoo]

Email is fine with your requests as per the email.

On a call you might forget something. 

They will also try and call you in a few days. 

They will email you back confirming the bookings once made. However not all shoreside concierges are as good as one another - so take a copy of the email with you to check with the butler that all is done.

[chemmo]

Agree with isdoo an email leaves less to be forgotten than a phone call…

 

We have a standard email drafted which we then alter slightly each cruise…

 

Key items include…

 

Spirit choices (2 x 2 litre bottles) more or less anything off the premium list.

Beer and soda choices

Pillow preferences

Dining reservation list

Special occasions

….

 

We have usually been contacted 2/3 weeks pre cruise. 
 

We did a b2b in the Millie PH some years ago….We have rarely spent so much time in our suite! Much as we prefer the restaurants and flow of the S class ships the M PH deck is absolutely fantastic. We love the S class PH too with its decadence of light and space but the balcony is tiny in comparison to the M class….

 

Sincere best wishes for a fantastic cruise!

 

 

[mfs2k]

Concierge@celebrity.com 

[CruiseNYC]

You are all wonderful - thank you so much!!  Very helpful to see what our list should include.

Ummmmmm - pillow preferences?  Not sure what that means.  Two or four?

Just thought of another question:  we've never done a B2B prior to this one but we've added a shorter, 4 night cruise onto the 10 night, December 13 sailing.  Are we allowed to order another 2 liters of Spirits for that one?

Thank you all, again!  We appreciate all the input. 

[chemmo]

27 minutes ago, CruiseNYC said:

You are all wonderful - thank you so much!!  Very helpful to see what our list should include.

Ummmmmm - pillow preferences?  Not sure what that means.  Two or four?

Just thought of another question:  we've never done a B2B prior to this one but we've added a shorter, 4 night cruise onto the 10 night, December 13 sailing.  Are we allowed to order another 2 liters of Spirits for that one?

Thank you all, again!  We appreciate all the input. 

Pillow menu available….We just want to avoid the feather! There are firmer and softer options.

 

Each cruise is separate so you will get two bottles on each cruise. Your butler will sort it for you. Remember your OBC for cruise one will be cancelled out if you don’t spend it. Then OBC for the second cruise will become available.

 

Again have a great cruise….

[CHEZMARYLOU]

If your 2nd cruise is in a Penthouse or Royal suite you will be able to order two bottles of spirits on that cruise also.  We don't drink liquor so our request is always for Tattinger Champagne.  You can also request a bottle of wine for your suite.  We don't usually (me never) drink beer or soft drinks so always request a red and white wine to start.

[CruiseNYC]

What an exceptional group you all are!  So thankful for all your replies.

I must sound like a total idiot but do they actually send a "menu" with different levels of pillow firmness from which to choose?

Do they continue to restock the fridge with soda and beer - or whatever we consume?  Are tonic water and club soda offered?  Are we allowed to take home any unopened liquor bottles?

And yes, although our PS was unavailable for the 2nd cruise, we will be moving to the PS right nest to ours (I keep checking to see if one or the other comes available so we don't have to move).

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Never saw a pillow menu but they are rumored to exist.

They will continue to restock the fridge. Tonic and club soda should be available.  You can take home any unopened liquor, or save the open bottle for the 2nd cruise. 

Any non refundable OBC from the first cruise has to be used on that cruise, it will not carry over. You can get a form from the Retreat if you want to use any for additional gratuities.

The shore side concierge can prebook any specialty restaurants for you. Though limited on Millennium, they are all included except for the Chef's Table which is an additional charge.

On our October cruise the PRH arranged for an Indonesian meal that he served in our suite.  He also brought us another bottle of champagne to ease the sadness of packing to go home.

[chemmo]

It is a long time now since we did our first Celebrity Cruise…We just automatically request no feathers and firm pillows. You could ask the Shoreside Concierge to send you a list of pillow options, alternatively just state on your email ‘soft, firm…’ then chat to your butler once you are on board. On a couple of occasions some of our information has not made it to the ship and it has never been a big deal, the butler sorts everything!

 

They will stock your very big fridge in the butler’s pantry with the beers and sodas you request on your email to the shoreside concierge. Club soda and tonic water will not be a problem. Your butler will check the fridge and replenished daily. Your butler can access the pantry without entering the suite so it just happens by magic. If you have any spirits left end of cruise you can take them off with you. 
 

Hope you manage to keep the same suite, it will make life much easier…The suites are mirror image. We did our Millie cruises on the Starboard side and then a year or so later did a Port side on Summit and felt a bit disorientated!

 

 

 

[CruiseNYC]

We, also, are hoping that we won't have to move next door.  However, it wouldn't be the worst thing either.  We haven't cruised in 2 years and we truly miss it.

Question about the onboard credit:  I assume it can be used in the spa and Jim had mentioned that it can be used for Private Journeys.  Can we also assume it can be spent in the shops on board?  I've also seen that it can be used in the casino.  There's quite a bit between both cruise legs so thanks for the heads-up that we would need to use up all of the OBC from first leg.  I didn't realize that you can't "carry over" whatever is left.

Thank you all again!  We're looking forward to enjoying that balcony.  We always try to get an aft suite on Princess.  We spend almost all day out there, enjoying the wake view.

 

 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

The only  thing you can't use the OBC for is a deposit on a future cruise. Everything on board will be charged to your sea pass and drawn down from the OBC.

[chemmo]

3 hours ago, CruiseNYC said:

 

Thank you all again!  We're looking forward to enjoying that balcony.  We always try to get an aft suite on Princess.  We spend almost all day out there, enjoying the wake view.

 

 

Whilst we loved the aft view during the day it was at night we found the balcony magical….

 

There was usually a background noise of music from somewhere in the ship and the light noise of the movement of the ship and the wake…The stars in the sky…glass of cognac in hand enjoying the shrimp platter the butler had left in the fridge earlier in case we wanted a late night snack…

 

Just soooooo relaxing…

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

This is from 2019 but the selection is still good

 

[chemmo]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

This is from 2019 but the selection is still good

 

I think we have always had the Hypo allergenic as we request no feathers but may ask to give Isotonic a go next cruise!

 

Thanks for posting, I was sure I had seen a pillow menu somewhere, sometime….

[CruiseNYC]

Thanks so much, Jim!  

We, too, will probably go with Hypo Allergenic but might try Isotonic to see if we like.

We're definitely getting excited!

[CruiseNYC]

We had received an email from a Shoreside Concierge mid-November.  We responded fairly quickly with some questions but never heard back. I phoned this past Monday and spoke with an agent. I was told that the person who was assigned to us was unavailable but she would ask her to return my call.  We have not heard from her.   It’s kind of disappointing. 
I’m wondering if I should bother calling back and ask to speak with someone else or just wait until we board (Dec 13) and make all requests with Retreat host.   
 

[canderson]

@CruiseNYC

I'd call back again if you have any unusual requests that could impact day 1.  Otherwise, you will find that your Retreat Host will be able to accommodate anything discussed here, and more, after you board.

 

As an aside, if you don't ever get a proper response from shoreside, I'd mention it to the Retreat Concierge in Michael's while you're aboard.  It's the advance heads up from shoreside that makes it easier to prepare for your requests before you board.  Shoreside concierges are assigned to specific ships, so they'll know where the ball got dropped and will likely ask shoreside to step up the service for future suite pax.

[CruiseNYC]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

@CruiseNYC

I'd call back again if you have any unusual requests that could impact day 1.  Otherwise, you will find that your Retreat Host will be able to accommodate anything discussed here, and more, after you board.

 

As an aside, if you don't ever get a proper response from shoreside, I'd mention it to the Retreat Concierge in Michael's while you're aboard.  It's the advance heads up from shoreside that makes it easier to prepare for your requests before you board.  Shoreside concierges are assigned to specific ships, so they'll know where the ball got dropped and will likely ask shoreside to step up the service for future suite pax.

Thank you very much for your reply.  I really didn't want to make a fuss but we do have some issues that we'd like resolved before we board.   We're 10 days out; I would have thought they'd phone before we reached the 2 week mark.

[wrk2cruise]

At 10 days out I wouldn't write off getting an email or call.  At 3-4 I'd worry.   If you want to reach out to them by email their address is TheRetreat@celebrity.com.   I would include the ship name, sailing date and reservation number in the subject line so it can easily be directed to the responsible shoreside concierge.

[CruiseNYC]

5 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

At 10 days out I wouldn't write off getting an email or call.  At 3-4 I'd worry.   If you want to reach out to them by email their address is TheRetreat@celebrity.com.   I would include the ship name, sailing date and reservation number in the subject line so it can easily be directed to the responsible shoreside concierge.

Thank you.  I think I'll do that!

[isdoo]

5 minutes ago, CruiseNYC said:

Thank you.  I think I'll do that!

Which ship are you on?

[isdoo]

On 11/17/2021 at 4:49 PM, Jim_Iain said:

This is from 2019 but the selection is still good

 

I always find the pillows far too hard. I like a much softer pillow....

[CruiseNYC]

9 minutes ago, isdoo said:

Which ship are you on?

We are on the Millennium leaving Fort Lauderdale on Dec 13.