Is Celebrity going to Eliminate Butlers on Sky and Celebrity Suites?

[C4HCG]

Just now, zitsky said:

Maybe you should work for them.

They couldn’t afford me.

[emmas gran]

Just now, C4HCG said:

Not having a butler is that important? You still get all of the other benefits of suites.  Something many people only dream of.

What is your problem, we choose how we spend our money and what we expect, if you don't like it leave this thread!!

 

 

[MizDemeanor]

I think it's necessary to wait and see what this 'rumor' might actually mean. Even at SS levels, there was a large number of cabins that Butler's, as we know them, handled.  This may  be simply a matter of relabeling from Butler to Retreat Team, although I must say, the best service we received was on on last cruise in March, by a very attentive Butler. She was a single point of contact, and wanted to be, despite other resources that we could have used such as Concierge, which truly is part of a Retreat Team. I am most interested in service levels, and what any of this dust devil may actually mean to the onboard service level experience.

[Mark_T]

1 minute ago, C4HCG said:

Not having a butler is that important? You still get all of the other benefits of suites.  Something many people only dream of.

Where do you draw the line..?

 

Taken individually, you can say that almost all of the amenities are not 'that important'...

 

The Retreat lounge can be empty half the time, so not that important...

 

The Retreat sun deck isn't used by many either and doesn't even exist on all the ships so another one that isn't that important...

 

Some don't enjoy Luminae, preferring Blu or even the more plain cuisine of the MDR and order from there instead, so probably not that important either...

 

Once you start dissecting the service and experience that has been paid for and expected, you start down a very slippery slope...

 

[zitsky]

4 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Not having a butler is that important? You still get all of the other benefits of suites.  Something many people only dream of.

I can guess your idea of a good cruise.

 

We have a new suite category.  You get an inside cabin on a cruise ship.  You can eat in the buffet once a day for your meal.  All for a low low price of $20,000.  What are you complaining about?  Did you really expect us to give away suites for free?  😂

[Spurs Fans]

15 minutes ago, zitsky said:

It’s only a problem when the cap is backwards.

 

I admit I do treat the staff like servants.  I make them dress me in the morning a la Downton Abbey.  It makes me feel like I’m nouveau riche.  😂

My wife has always wanted a Ladies Maid. 

[Gracie115]

54 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

And I am so tired of hearing people complaining about something they can just walk away from. And something that is not unique to Celebrity. It is frankly boring.

 

Then stop reading the posts if you find them boring.  

 

 We have "walked away" from Celebrity, doesn't mean I'm not going to follow the cruiseline in some hope that things will improve.  

[Georgia_Peaches]

5 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Not having a butler is that important? You still get all of the other benefits of suites.  Something many people only dream of.

For now.  Some have suggested the Celebrity might follow Royal’s lead and eliminate lounge and sun deck access for sky suites. If that happens, I will change my upcoming sky suites to a lower category. One thing I learned a few weeks ago is that I can sail in a regular verandah and have a very nice experience. I won’t pay for a sky suite only to get veranda level amenities. I don’t use a butler for more than morning coffee but I’m currently paying for more services from a butler so expecting them to be available isn’t unreasonable. 

[terrydtx]

30 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Not having a butler is that important? You still get all of the other benefits of suites.  Something many people only dream of.

if Sky Suites never had a dedicated Butler, it wouldn't be a big deal. We do like all of the other Retreat benefits and in the beginning of our retreat bookings we would still have booked without the butler. It is like offering lobster dinner and then taking away the lobster and calling it a seafood dinner, but if it was called seafood dinner from the beginning no one would care.

 

We have done 5 Sky Suite cruises and we found the Butler to be an excellent amenity that is one of the benefits that has kept us from looking at other more premium cruise lines. We can now book an Oceania Concierge class verandah without a butler for about the same cost or less per night than a Sky Suite (also without a butler) on Celebrity. This makes our decision to book Oceania for our March 2025 South America cruise even more appealing. This will cause a lot of Celebrity loyalists jump ship like us, but why would Celebrity care, there will be plenty to fill the SS cabins who never knew about a personal butler.

Edited July 30, 2023 by terrydtx

[C4HCG]

1 minute ago, Gracie115 said:

 

Then stop reading the posts if you find them boring.  

 

 We have "walked away" from Celebrity, doesn't mean I'm not going to follow the cruiseline in some hope that things will improve.  

I don’t read the posts, my butler does it for me.

[C4HCG]

10 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I can guess your idea of a good cruise.

 

We have a new suite category.  You get an inside cabin on a cruise ship.  You can eat in the buffet once a day for your meal.  All for a low low price of $20,000.  What are you complaining about?  Did you really expect us to give away suites for free?  😂

Sounds good.

[chemmo]

1 hour ago, C4HCG said:

And I am so tired of hearing people complaining about something they can just walk away from. And something that is not unique to Celebrity. It is frankly boring.

If they are booked then in most cases they are committed to the deposit cost at least. As many cruise guests book flights at about 8/9 months out and often attach a cruise to a land stay then they are further committed. Saying they can walk away next time doesn’t soften the blow this time…

 

52 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

A major benefit having a servant? Have you or any others mentioned the devastating impact this has had on those losing jobs? They are the people I feel sorry for.

 

Most of us who have enjoyed butler service would be far too respectful to all staff to use the derogatory term ‘servant’. We see butlers as an integral part of the hospitality team whose role is to add to our holiday ease and pleasure. Whilst many suite guests will only use their service intermittently they will value it. For me, with mobility issues the value is frequently in bringing me things, for a hard working couple it may be a romantic meal on their own balcony, for others it may be knowing your requested full fruit plate magically refills daily…In many ways butlers over the years have greatly added to our holiday pleasure…

 

Re the devastating impact on those loosing their jobs. I could not agree more. My heart goes out to them. My heart also goes out to the room attendants of Sky Suite guests who I cannot help but feel will end up picking up some of the work.

 

As a regular CC contributor I don’t see this issue as ‘boring’ and I have no personal gripe, I have no Sky Suite bookings, but I do feel for those who do…

 

Edited July 30, 2023 by chemmo

[terrydtx]

16 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

For now.  Some have suggested the Celebrity might follow Royal’s lead and eliminate lounge and sun deck access for sky suites. If that happens, I will change my upcoming sky suites to a lower category. One thing I learned a few weeks ago is that I can sail in a regular verandah and have a very nice experience. I won’t pay for a sky suite only to get veranda level amenities. I don’t use a butler for more than morning coffee but I’m currently paying for more services from a butler so expecting them to be available isn’t unreasonable. 

If we were to book less than a suite it would not be on Celebrity. There is so much more competition out there without the Retreat amenities that IMO offer more than Celebrity does. The Retreat product, including the butler, is what has kept us sailing on Celebrity up to now.

Edited July 30, 2023 by terrydtx

[C4HCG]

2 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

if Sky Suites never had a dedicated Butler, it wouldn't be a big deal. We do like all of the other Retreat benefits and in the beginning of our retreat bookings we would still have booked without the butler. It is like offering lobster dinner and then taking away the lobster and calling it a seafood dinner, but if it was called seafood dinner from the beginning no one would care.

 

We have done 5 Sky Suite cruises and we found the Butler to be an excellent amenity that is one of the benefits that has kept us from looking at other more premium cruise lines. We can now book an Oceania Concierge class verandah without a butler for about the same cost or less per night than a Sky Suite (also without a butler) on Celebrity. This makes our decision to book Oceania our March 2025 South America cruise even more appealing. This will cause a lot of loyal Celebrity loyalists jump ship like us, but why would Celebrity care, there will be plenty to fill the SS cabins who never knew about a personal butler.

Fair points that aren’t to be disagreed with and they make sense. We don’t book suites as never thought they are value for money, with or without a butler. The stateroom attendants to us provide an excellent service. I do feel sad that celebrity loyalists are moving on, one day we might do the same but nothing presently prompts us to.

[terrydtx]

8 minutes ago, chemmo said:

If they are booked then in most cases they are committed to the deposit cost at least. As many cruise guests book flights at about 8/9 months out and often attach a cruise to a land stay then they are further committed. Saying they can walk away next time doesn’t soften the blow this time…

 

 

Most of us who have enjoyed butler service would be far too respectful to all staff to use the derogatory term ‘servant’. We see butlers as an integral part of the hospitality team whose role is to add to our holiday ease and pleasure. Whilst many suite guests will only use their service intermittently they will value it. For me, with mobility issues the value is frequently in bringing me things, for a hard working couple it may be a romantic meal on their own balcony, for others it may be knowing your requested full fruit plate magically refills daily…In many ways butlers over the years have greatly added to our holiday pleasure…

 

Re the devastating impact on those loosing their jobs. I could not agree more. My heart goes out to them. My heart also goes out to the room attendants of Sky Suite guests who I cannot help but feel will end up picking up some of the work.

 

As a regular CC contributor I don’t see this issue as ‘boring’ and I have no personal gripe, I have no Sky Suite bookings but I do feel for those who do…

 

We have considered our Butlers more of our friends than a "servant" and have stayed in contact with a couple. I have reached out to one in particular to see if he is one on the chopping block, I have not heard back from him yet.

Edited July 30, 2023 by terrydtx

[Georgia_Peaches]

5 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

If we were to book less than a suite it would not be on Celebrity. There is so much more competition out there without the Retreat amenities that IMO offer more than Celebrity does.

Completely agree. We will continue with MSC in their Yacht club but they don’t have a ship doing Alaska itineraries. One of our Sky suite bookings is on the Edge to AK in May, 2024. I will be disappointed if these changes actually happen bc we got a great deal that I’m sure we couldn’t find at this point on another cruise line like Oceania. And the IV category does not interest me in the least.

Edited July 30, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[cruisefam38]

3 hours ago, chemmo said:

The third issue is one of trust

and a small measure of respect for us, the paying customers.

 

Once again, Well Done, chemmo.

[weregoingcruising]

It’s time for all unhappy suite guests to unite and get organized. Form a union and picket at your next cruise demanding a binding contract. A possible name for the union could be Disgruntled suite guests or  DSG for short. Any suggestions for a different name.

[paulh84]

Maybe the old butlers will be the smoking monitors in the casino 💨 . 
 

In reality sometimes the role of the butler/retreat host, cabin steward and concierge are muddy. There is a lot of overlap which creates confusion. Maybe it was shortly before COVID but high level suites were supposed to have to ability to text their butler on E class. Never heard any more about that. However it there was some functionality similar to that and a group of butlers/hosts/whatever to contact, I really don’t think I would have a problem with it not having my ‘own’ butler.  
 

Considering Beyond and Ascent have 160+ Sky Suites I really do not see a move to revoke access to Retreat facilities. 

[Mark_T]

3 hours ago, chemmo said:

The third issue is one of trust…

That is where the long term damage is going to accrue...

 

The changes over the first half of this year had little or no impact on Retreat guests, this butler change has no impact on those outside the Retreat, but all of these changes are teaching cruisers that there is nothing they can rely on when committing to a reservation up to 2 years in the future...

 

We have a 2025 Japan cruise booked on Millennium which is hanging by a thread.

 

Soon as MSC release their Asia cruises for 2025 we will make a decision, but if the prices are even remotely close to the 2024 season it will be a very simple decision.

 

Celebrity will of course be happy if we cancel, as they are currently selling inside cabins for more than we paid for a C1...

[terrydtx]

5 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Completely agree. We will continue with MSC in their Yacht club but they don’t have a ship doing Alaska itineraries. One of our Sky suite bookings is on the Edge to AK in May, 2024. I will be disappointed if these changes actually happen bc we got a great deal that I’m sure we couldn’t find at this point on another cruise line like Oceania. And the IV category does not interest me in the least.

We are looking at 2025 Alaska cruises and Celebrity is no longer on our list to consider. We are looking at the HAL Koingsdam with the Club Orange dining room. We will book a Signature Suite, about the same size as a Sky Suite. We will get all the premium drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and one night specialty dining included  We will add the HAL Club Orange for $50 total per night which adds the Club Orange exclusive dining room for dinner and breakfast.  CO includes priority boarding, tendering, a dedicated concierge service and we will be paying a lot less than a SS on the Edge and getting a traditional open balcony.

[TeeRick]

1 hour ago, C4HCG said:

A major benefit having a servant? Have you or any others mentioned the devastating impact this has had on those losing jobs? They are the people I feel sorry for.

A few points.

You have done a great job twisting the issue and getting everybody going here, now including me. Bravo. 

The key issue for me (and others I think) is having already paid for an advertised service (not a servant) and removing it without any communication. On future cruises, knowing this in advance, people can make a choice of how valuable this service is to them and decide what to do.

 

And who said they will lose their jobs?  They apparently will just be reassigned into a Retreat Team with different titles.

Edited July 30, 2023 by TeeRick

[C4HCG]

1 minute ago, TeeRick said:

A few points.

You have done a great job twisting the issue and getting everybody going here, now including me. Bravo. 

The key issue for me (and others I think) is having already paid for an advertised service (not a servant) and removing it without any communication. On future cruises, knowing this in advance, people can make a choice of how valuable this service is to them and decide what to do.

 

And who said they will lose their jobs?  They apparently are just be reassigned into a Retreat Team with different titles.

Agree entirely about paying for a product that is diminished. And if people are not losing their jobs my argument is void, but they are according to posters here who have been told and posted here that contracts are not being renewed. It is those people I care for, it’s their livelihoods. 

[Octavias]

37 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Completely agree. We will continue with MSC in their Yacht club but they don’t have a ship doing Alaska itineraries. One of our Sky suite bookings is on the Edge to AK in May, 2024. I will be disappointed if these changes actually happen bc we got a great deal that I’m sure we couldn’t find at this point on another cruise line like Oceania. And the IV category does not interest me in the least.

We are in the same boat.  (See what I did there? 😉). Not at all interested in the infinite verandas and scheduled to go to Alaska next May.  If they cut much more from our experience we will likely bail, lose our deposit, and go with a competitor. 

[SI Cruiser]

From Celebrity, 

 

"Hello, thank you for reaching out to us! Our butlers are not being dismissed, the title of "butler" is being changed to "The Retreat Team". This will allow for a more efficient approach, providing the same products and personalized services."

I then asked "All suite categories or only some?"

"This is for all Sky Suites categories, including the Aqua Sky Suites and the Horizon Suites."