Eliminating Butlers - Spoke to Celebrity. Here is conversation.

[zitsky]

34 minutes ago, Whinenowine said:

@zitsky, per your prior question I posted this about 10days ago on a similar thread (discussing moving to SilverSea/Regent from X).  Easy to find this itinerary on the Regent site given there aren't many 7day cruises.  I booked back in November using the Black Friday sale.

 

"Fed up with X's price increases (and service/benefits cuts) I booked a 7day Caribbean cruise in a Concierge Suite (Category D) on the Regent Grandeur for later this year. The cabin is more than 10% larger than a Sky Suite, but with a balcony almost 2x the size of a Sky Suite balcony. As with your SS cruise, my Grandeur cruise includes a pre-cruise stay at a 5-star Miami hotel, all drinks, all specialty restaurants, all tips/gratuities, all taxes, an excursion in each port and concierge (but not butler) service. It also includes $1,000 in OBC--I guess for spa services or reserve wine/liquor, given all else is already paid for.

 

Stripping out the airfare benefit to compare apples to apples, the Regent cruise is under $600pp/pd for their newest, nicest ship.  For comparison purposes I looked at all of X's Caribbean itineraries for that same week and the cheapest SS I saw was $640pp/pd--for just the cruise/food/booze.  That price didn't include taxes, tips, specialty dining, excursions, the pre-cruise hotel, etc.  To me that's just an economic no brainer.  Odd to say it, but Celebrity has priced me up to Regent."

I’ve had a variety of cruises in the last 7 years but none at $600 pp/pd.  I guess you are including everything in that price.  I’ll have to look at this.  Thanks.

[RichYak]

53 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I’ve had a variety of cruises in the last 7 years but none at $600 pp/pd.  I guess you are including everything in that price.  I’ll have to look at this.  Thanks.

Pretty much the going rate for a SS these days. 

[alexandria]

Take a look at the Celebrity Beyond in a SS (~310-460 sq ft) for the 10 nt Caribbean departing Nov 15.  If you include prepaid gratuities the total is $15,081.10.

 

Now compare that with Regent Seven Seas Grandeur in a Deluxe Veranda Suite (341 sq ft) for the 10 nt Caribbean departing Nov 14.  Total price (not including airfare) is $11,598.00.  No butler but included excursions, drinks, gratuities, wifi and such.  For the $15k or so you'd pay for the SS on X, you can get a Penthouse Suite on that Regent sailing (561-626 sq ft).  That will add a butler to the amenities.

 

Compare also with the Seabourn Ovation in a Veranda Suite (~365 sq ft) for their 10 nt Caribbean departing Nov 30.  Total price is just $8,398.00.  Includes drinks, gratuities, wifi and such.  Seabourn doesn't include excursions or a butler but your personal suite host and your suite attendant (yes, two people) will essentially do everything that the butler on X would do.  You can even order caviar and champagne to be brought to you anywhere and anytime day or night.  For the $15k or so you'd pay for the SS on X, you can book a Penthouse Suite (534 sq ft) or a Penthouse Spa Suite (~700-730 sq ft).

 

And while Silversea doesn't have a 10 nt sailing to the Caribbean, you can book the Silver Shadow in a Classic Veranda Suite (345 sq ft) for their 14 nt Caribbean departing Dec 3.  Total price is $14,500 and that includes a butler, excursions, drinks, gratuities, wifi and such.

 

As I've noted before, for those who don't require all of the bells and whistles of the large "theme park" style ships and enjoy a more laid back cruise experience, there are great luxury cruise alternatives out there.  However, because the luxury lines don't run the same regular "bus routes" back and forth from south Florida to the Bahamas, Caribbean or Mexico, it does take a little more time, effort and flexibility (or a great TA) to find a sailing that is suitable and that represents a good value.

 

 

 

 

[Whinenowine]

9 hours ago, RichYak said:

Pretty much the going rate for a SS these days. 

Yup.  And if you adjust the Celebrity price to include all the items already included in the Regent price, that $640pp/pd jumps well north of $800pp/pd.

 

Conversely, removing all the items included in Regent's price to equate it to what Celebrity offers would drop the price from around $580pp/pd to roughly $425-450pp/pd, vs X's $640+pp/pd.

 

Any way you look at it, the Regent price is oddly enough well below all E-class X cruises.  Silversea was also similarly priced but I didn't like their itineraries as much.

[zitsky]

1 hour ago, alexandria said:

Take a look at the Celebrity Beyond in a SS (~310-460 sq ft) for the 10 nt Caribbean departing Nov 15.  If you include prepaid gratuities the total is $15,081.10.

 

Now compare that with Regent Seven Seas Grandeur in a Deluxe Veranda Suite (341 sq ft) for the 10 nt Caribbean departing Nov 14.  Total price (not including airfare) is $11,598.00.  No butler but included excursions, drinks, gratuities, wifi and such.  For the $15k or so you'd pay for the SS on X, you can get a Penthouse Suite on that Regent sailing (561-626 sq ft).  That will add a butler to the amenities.

 

Compare also with the Seabourn Ovation in a Veranda Suite (~365 sq ft) for their 10 nt Caribbean departing Nov 30.  Total price is just $8,398.00.  Includes drinks, gratuities, wifi and such.  Seabourn doesn't include excursions or a butler but your personal suite host and your suite attendant (yes, two people) will essentially do everything that the butler on X would do.  You can even order caviar and champagne to be brought to you anywhere and anytime day or night.  For the $15k or so you'd pay for the SS on X, you can book a Penthouse Suite (534 sq ft) or a Penthouse Spa Suite (~700-730 sq ft).

 

And while Silversea doesn't have a 10 nt sailing to the Caribbean, you can book the Silver Shadow in a Classic Veranda Suite (345 sq ft) for their 14 nt Caribbean departing Dec 3.  Total price is $14,500 and that includes a butler, excursions, drinks, gratuities, wifi and such.

 

As I've noted before, for those who don't require all of the bells and whistles of the large "theme park" style ships and enjoy a more laid back cruise experience, there are great luxury cruise alternatives out there.  However, because the luxury lines don't run the same regular "bus routes" back and forth from south Florida to the Bahamas, Caribbean or Mexico, it does take a little more time, effort and flexibility (or a great TA) to find a sailing that is suitable and that represents a good value.

 

Thank you very much for that very detailed reply.

[Shiba_Lover]

14 hours ago, zitsky said:

Does one just search this forum for specific ports and/or post in the roll call?  To find out what to expect at a specific port?

Probably ask here in the celebrity forum about the embarkation lounge for retreat.  It's only on embarkation day, not every port day.  In ports on the cruise days, retreat just re-boards the ship as usual along with everyone else.  What port do you originate in?  I'm sure someone here will know what's available

[zitsky]

2 minutes ago, Shiba_Lover said:

Probably ask here in the celebrity forum about the embarkation lounge for retreat.  It's only on embarkation day, not every port day.  In ports on the cruise days, retreat just re-boards the ship as usual along with everyone else.  What port do you originate in?  I'm sure someone here will know what's available

I didn’t think there was a Retreat lounge for embarkation on port days.  I have seen Retreat signs and lines on port days on my recent Eclipse South America cruise.  But NOT embarking the ship.  Opposite of what you say happens.  But I wasn’t in Retreat that time so I may have missed the line.

 

I’m not in Bali until January.  I’ll ask on the roll call.

[tomcruiser1234]

Competition solves everything. 

 

Keep reporting numbers. I will certainly start checking things out for our next round of cruises. 

 

We’re on Apex in 5 days in a Magic Carpet SS. Will see how the new non-butler services are. 

[gmbhardy]

Just got off the Beyond on Friday, staying in a Retreat Sky suite. I can confirm that there is no butler service for this room category, regardless how management spins it. Had a conversation with the head butler and he said if you want butler service you need to move up to a higher room category.

[Gordoncruickshank]

12 hours ago, RichYak said:

Pretty much the going rate for a SS these days. 

Our upcoming Sky suite, which was booked two years ago, cost £321pppd or just over $400 a day pp.

[C-Dragons]

Not everyone booking a Sky Suite needs or wants a Butler.

Some book for the location and a larger cabin.

YMMV.

[RichYak]

18 minutes ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

Our upcoming Sky suite, which was booked two years ago, cost £321pppd or just over $400 a day pp.

A nice reminder of the days when Celebrity's Retreat was a competitively priced product. At least you don't need to worry about tipping your butler extra.

[Gordoncruickshank]

15 minutes ago, RichYak said:

A nice reminder of the days when Celebrity's Retreat was a competitively priced product. At least you don't need to worry about tipping your butler extra.

That is why we have no Celebrity cruises booked for the first time since 2012. Only 3 cruises on MSSC next year in the Yacht Club.

 

We will see if the butlers are reinstated before we arrive on board but actually quite happy if they are not.

[OceanCruise]

1 hour ago, gmbhardy said:

Just got off the Beyond on Friday, staying in a Retreat Sky suite. I can confirm that there is no butler service for this room category, regardless how management spins it. Had a conversation with the head butler and he said if you want butler service you need to move up to a higher room category.

Wow, that is unacceptable. Did you speak with the Hotel Director? What kinds of things did you ask the Head Butler to do that you could not get service for?

[zitsky]

1 hour ago, gmbhardy said:

Just got off the Beyond on Friday, staying in a Retreat Sky suite. I can confirm that there is no butler service for this room category, regardless how management spins it. Had a conversation with the head butler and he said if you want butler service you need to move up to a higher room category.

I’m curious if you gave feedback to anyone who was not on the ship?

[zitsky]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

A nice reminder of the days when Celebrity's Retreat was a competitively priced product. At least you don't need to worry about tipping your butler extra.

But now, I have to tie my shoes by myself.  😭

[OceanCruise]

4 minutes ago, zitsky said:

But now, I have to tie my shoes by myself.  😭

Plus expend all that effort to turn on the faucet for a bath 🤣

[Dolebludger]

Actually, the removal of butlers I SS wouldn’t be much of a problem IF the room stewards were assigned more duties and IF they were assigned fewer suites. We cruise Regent in suites without a butler, and the room steward takes over the duties with a lower workload that will allow it. No problem there. But in the Retreat (and on the rest of an X suite I assume) the steward only makes up the suite twice a day. Anything else is pretty much DIY. 

[gmbhardy]

24 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I’m curious if you gave feedback to anyone who was not on the ship?

No, and frankly I don’t care. I just posted, based on my own experience, to provide clarity on the issue.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

But now, I have to tie my shoes by myself.  😭

There's a song or poem that will help you but I can't remember it. Criss-cross... something... something... bunny ears... something... something...

[Texed]

We are in a Sky Suite on Ascent at this time. We really have not missed the personal butler because the head butler and room steward have been wonderful. 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

6 minutes ago, Texed said:

We are in a Sky Suite on Ascent at this time. We really have not missed the personal butler because the head butler and room steward have been wonderful. 

Watch our back as you are  good things about the Sky Suite 🤣

[Shellyd22]

6 minutes ago, Texed said:

We are in a Sky Suite on Ascent at this time. We really have not missed the personal butler because the head butler and room steward have been wonderful. 

I’m glad everything has been wonderful. Previous posters comment said theirs was “nonexistent”. Why such a big difference in service? Are peoples expectations vastly different or are some people getting way different service in the same suite class? Maybe a little of both? I don’t know but consistency would be nice so people understand what they are purchasing. 

[zitsky]

16 minutes ago, RichYak said:

There's a song or poem that will help you but I can't remember it. Criss-cross... something... something... bunny ears... something... something...

Mine are really hard because the laces are long and you have to tie them twice.

[billc23]

4 hours ago, Shiba_Lover said:

Probably ask here in the celebrity forum about the embarkation lounge for retreat.  It's only on embarkation day, not every port day.  In ports on the cruise days, retreat just re-boards the ship as usual along with everyone else.  What port do you originate in?  I'm sure someone here will know what's available

It depends. Many times there is a separate Retreat entrance on port days. Upper suites often have their butler show up to greet them from a ship sponsored excursion to be escorted onto the ship, bypassing the general boarding line.

 

Embarkation day depends on the port facilities. If no special room is available, then Retreat guests are often segregated in a roped off area. Also, there is often a difference in embarkation procedures for the upper suites - segregation of guests in the Retreat - that involves special luggage handling and a personal escort onto the ship.