Is anyone on a cruise in a Sky Suite that can comment about the changes instead of speculating.

[Bo1953]

1 hour ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Only with a 20% gratuity.

For you, CML, 30%...

 

Cheers and bon voyage

[swigso]

23 hours ago, neverlaysup said:

Are you saying that in your now recent experience with the new policies that the butler team failed to bring you coffee at a specified time? Or are you just making a WAG that this will be neglected from now on?

Why be so belligerent, my comment was not about coffee it was about our butler bringing breakfast to our cabin and I was just making a comment that if the service we had experienced in the past was no longer available. We really enjoyed that experience it was far superior than the service we had experienced in a balcony and Aqua cabin. We have 2 cruises booked in 2024 and will see if the changes impact our perception of the added value of sailing in a suite. Hope you enjoy all your cruises on X as we will most certainly enjoy ours. But we will be looking elsewhere if we decide the cuts in service that we are accustomed to affect our enjoyment.

For example it seems that on sea days lunch in any restaurant has been cancelled and the only venue open will be the Ocean View Cafe, but sorry I do not like to eat in buffets. The reason being is that over the years I have seen too many people pick food up look at it and then put it back. I have also seen people pick food up with their hands, eat it lick their fingers and the pick another item up. 
Each to their own and I really hope you enjoy your vacations.

[neverlaysup]

1 minute ago, swigso said:

 

 

1 minute ago, swigso said:

Why be so belligerent, my comment was not about coffee it was about our butler bringing breakfast to our cabin and I was just making a comment that if the service we had experienced in the past was no longer available.

I wasn't, I was just asking a question because the title of this thread was...

 

"Is anyone on a cruise in a Sky Suite that can comment about the changes instead of speculating.

 

That's all, have a great day!

[swigso]

1 minute ago, neverlaysup said:

 

I wasn't, I was just asking a question because the title of this thread was...

 

"Is anyone on a cruise in a Sky Suite that can comment about the changes instead of speculating.

 

That's all, have a great day!

You too have a great day and thank you for the nice reply I guess no one will know before we cruise again but these changes are concerning. 

[neverlaysup]

Just now, swigso said:

You too have a great day and thank you for the nice reply I guess no one will know before we cruise again but these changes are concerning. 

I'll let everyone know next month...I have 14 days in a Sky Suite (unless my Move Up bid gets accepted). I anticipate, we will not really notice much difference.

[swigso]

Thank you we are not very needy but like to have breakfast on our balcony and a nice bottle of wine to be available other than that I can get coffee or water 👍

[Baynanno1]

We are currently at sea off the Australian coast in a Sunset Sky Suite on day 4 of our cruise from Sydney to Singapore.

 

At this point in time, given what we had read prior to the cruise of the experience of others on other ships - we have been pleasantly surprised by the regular presence of our Head Butler Dominic, who we have seen at least once each day - often more than once.

 

We brought a cooler bag with us, but have not required it. Our fridge has been stocked and re-stocked with all we require, water and dry ginger ale. Also a small jug of fresh milk daily for our early morning tea - kettle and teabags were provided on request.

 

I will post again if there is anything to add during the next eleven days.

 

Trish

[wineoclock]

We are currently on Beyond in a magic carpet suite. (Guarantee) It’s fine. Not great but fine. Saw our head butler first day.
 

If I had paid full price I’d not be happy. 
 

Have to get our own drinks. Fridge not stocked. Order room service again fine. But I miss the connection that you have with a butler. it’s definitely not the same experience whatever the spiel is. 
 

Long lines at the retreat lounge desk, whereas previously your butler would deal. 
 

It’s clear your Retreat Host is a cabin steward and no more. 
 

Id only now book a SS with either a guarantee or as move up. I would not pay full price. 

 

I would also like to know why we are paying the same gratuities as higher level suites and not getting the same service. 

[wineoclock]

I should also add that whatever Celebrity says, the product is most certainly diminished for SS. 

[sweep2907]

Having been in SS on Beyond last year, I would 100% never book one again and do not think it is worth all the extra money over Aqua Class. For me either enjoy AC or go the whole hog but with the queues I have heard about in the lounge, I struggle to see the benefits anymore. Saying that, our butler last year never really told us what we could use him for and other than finding us reservations at Eden and changing our excursions, we did not really use him. Other passengers with more experience of SS I know used their butler a lot more for all sorts of things. 

 

From 12 months ago the price of SS has gone up significantly and for a lesser product. You do not even get the $800 on board spend anymore but the price has not lowered to reflect this and now gratuities also not included? 

[jelayne]

2 hours ago, wineoclock said:

We are currently on Beyond in a magic carpet suite. (Guarantee) It’s fine. Not great but fine. Saw our head butler first day.
 

If I had paid full price I’d not be happy. 
 

Have to get our own drinks. Fridge not stocked. Order room service again fine. But I miss the connection that you have with a butler. it’s definitely not the same experience whatever the spiel is. 
 

Long lines at the retreat lounge desk, whereas previously your butler would deal. 
 

It’s clear your Retreat Host is a cabin steward and no more. 
 

Id only now book a SS with either a guarantee or as move up. I would not pay full price. 

 

I would also like to know why we are paying the same gratuities as higher level suites and not getting the same service. 

In reading the reports from SS guests on different ships it seems that guests on the S class with 44 Sky Suites and and M class with 32 SS are experiencing more interaction and better service from the Head Butler and Concierges. 

The E class ships have between 146-162 Sky Suites, with 1 Head Butler it is not surprising that many only see them once a cruise and that there are lines to speak to a Concierge.  
We board the Edge in a week, lowering my already lower expectations.

[chebby]

Currently arriving back in Southampton after a 11.5 day cruise in an SS.  Service has been excellent, in fact much better than in an RS on the same ship three months ago.  Room Steward was very efficient and far less intrusive than the Butler last time.

[39august]

I don't mind not having a butler. I mind paying for an experience that I did not get last month. 

[deseylou]

We have been debating canceling our Sunset Sky Suiteb

on the Beyond in April of 24.

However we have a non refundable $500 deposit and $600 on board credit.

We booked long enough ago to get all the perks.

l’ll probably be going in a little jaded.

My hubby really wanted the view and I want the itinerary.

But we did cancel our Ascent SS and booked MSC World America in the yacht club for April 25.

[RichYak]

51 minutes ago, 39august said:

I don't mind not having a butler. I mind paying for an experience that I did not get last month. 

I mind being told "This is better. You have a whole butler team now." when that's clearly disingenuous.

[chisoxfan]

I know the Butler situation is a hot button. We recently returned from an Apex 10 night cruise in a SS.

We did not have a butler and in fact this was our first suite experience on X. We did not even meet our cabin steward until day 2 and we were on our own going to the cabin on embarkation.

(Suite passengers previously on NCL and MSC). That said we had no issues. There was always a Retreat Concierge should we have any questions and they were attentive. Room service was prompt.

Based upon a positive experience we will keep a booking on the Ascent in Jan.  Not sure what a butler would offer to us that we need outside of an outstretched hand looking for a tip. Besides when we return home we have our own butler to take care of us 😁JMHO

[zitsky]

3 hours ago, chisoxfan said:

I know the Butler situation is a hot button. We recently returned from an Apex 10 night cruise in a SS.

We did not have a butler and in fact this was our first suite experience on X. We did not even meet our cabin steward until day 2 and we were on our own going to the cabin on embarkation.

(Suite passengers previously on NCL and MSC). That said we had no issues. There was always a Retreat Concierge should we have any questions and they were attentive. Room service was prompt.

Based upon a positive experience we will keep a booking on the Ascent in Jan.  Not sure what a butler would offer to us that we need outside of an outstretched hand looking for a tip. Besides when we return home we have our own butler to take care of us 😁JMHO

I’m not intending to be funny but….

 

”We didn’t have a butler.  They would have just asked for money.”

 

How would you know if you never had one?

 

I guess it is the arrogance of us little people in the “junior” suites who expect to get what we paid for.  😂

 

 

[Rmoosh]

We just got off the Equinox on an ABC island cruise in a Sky Suite. This is our third Retreat experience (1 RS and 2 SS). We were on this same ship in a SS last December. It’s not the same and with the prices going up we’ll be definitely looking at other cruise lines. 
 

There was a head butler (John) that we saw once in the hallways and once in the retreat lounge when he was covering for the concierge going on break. We spoke to him about the fact that we were told the ship was out of bubbly for the suites and he said no you just have to request it - they are doing that because some people would prefer wine. We asked for a bottle of white on one of our sea days and it never showed up. We only saw one other butler and since he never assisted us or even addressed us I assume he was for the  upper suites.

 

Although there was afternoon tea, no butler was present there. Assistant waiters of luminea were responsible for most of the food set-up. The bartender was responsible for the making of the tea and cleaning up. He (Ryan) was pretty good and actually made good drinks. I say this because many bartenders on the ship appear to lack training - a couple of my drinks were horrible and they never seemed to smile.

 

We did get reserved seating at the chic night shows but again no butler taking drink orders like in the past.  
 

There were never any surprises or treats in our cabins like we had before. The room attendant (retreat host) kept our room clean and stocked with water and ice but that was it. He also was not a dedicated retreat host because he was responsible for many different types of rooms not just suites. So no one asked if we needed a shirt pressed or dinner reservations.

 

Room service, which was breakfast on port days, was brought by room service. 
 

Retreat manager (who we only saw a couple of times because she was very busy socializing with her peers) told us nothing had changed but it obviously has. Although we went into the retreat lounge many times we were never addressed by name.

 

The luminea was wonderful but short staffed compared to December.
 

The retreat deck was the same - drinks and food took a long time to get but the crew was friendly and helpful.

[zitsky]

17 minutes ago, Rmoosh said:

We just got off the Equinox on an ABC island cruise in a Sky Suite. This is our third Retreat experience (1 RS and 2 SS). We were on this same ship in a SS last December. It’s not the same and with the prices going up we’ll be definitely looking at other cruise lines. 
 

There was a head butler (John) that we saw once in the hallways and once in the retreat lounge when he was covering for the concierge going on break. We spoke to him about the fact that we were told the ship was out of bubbly for the suites and he said no you just have to request it - they are doing that because some people would prefer wine. We asked for a bottle of white on one of our sea days and it never showed up. We only saw one other butler and since he never assisted us or even addressed us I assume he was for the  upper suites.

 

Although there was afternoon tea, no butler was present there. Assistant waiters of luminea were responsible for most of the food set-up. The bartender was responsible for the making of the tea and cleaning up. He (Ryan) was pretty good and actually made good drinks. I say this because many bartenders on the ship appear to lack training - a couple of my drinks were horrible and they never seemed to smile.

 

We did get reserved seating at the chic night shows but again no butler taking drink orders like in the past.  
 

There were never any surprises or treats in our cabins like we had before. The room attendant (retreat host) kept our room clean and stocked with water and ice but that was it. He also was not a dedicated retreat host because he was responsible for many different types of rooms not just suites. So no one asked if we needed a shirt pressed or dinner reservations.

 

Room service, which was breakfast on port days, was brought by room service. 
 

Retreat manager (who we only saw a couple of times because she was very busy socializing with her peers) told us nothing had changed but it obviously has. Although we went into the retreat lounge many times we were never addressed by name.

 

The luminea was wonderful but short staffed compared to December.
 

The retreat deck was the same - drinks and food took a long time to get but the crew was friendly and helpful.

As someone who is more well traveled than me, please tell me you passed this feedback on to Celebrity executives?  This is pretty sad.

[billc23]

16 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

 

At this point in time, given what we had read prior to the cruise of the experience of others on other ships - we have been pleasantly surprised by the regular presence of our Head Butler Dominic, who we have seen at least once each day - often more than once.

 

 

Dominic is great and always goes above and beyond. The butlers always varied in their initiative and now maybe it is really important to end up with a great head butler on your sailing.

[Rmoosh]

17 minutes ago, zitsky said:

As someone who is more well traveled than me, please tell me you passed this feedback on to Celebrity executives?  This is pretty sad.

I plan on doing that even though I don’t think it will make much difference.

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, chisoxfan said:

 

We did not have a butler and in fact this was our first suite experience on X. We did not even meet our cabin steward until day 2 and we were on our own going to the cabin on embarkation.

(Suite passengers previously on NCL and MSC). That said we had no issues. There was always a Retreat Concierge should we have any questions and they were attentive. Room service was prompt.

 

Based upon a positive experience we will keep a booking on the Ascent in Jan.  Not sure what a butler would offer to us that we need outside of an outstretched hand looking for a tip. 

 Being escorted onto the ship and your room is not something that has been done for passengers in Sky Suites in our experience.  I have only seen that done for guest in the higher suites, e.g. Royal and Penthouse suites. 
 

 Something that we looked to our butler on past cruises was a standing delivery of coffee from Cafe Al Bacio in the mornings, keeping water, soda, and Vitamin Zero water stocked in our mini-fridge, as well as shrimp cocktail and cheese plates in the afternoon. 
 

[zitsky]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 Being escorted onto the ship and your room is not something that has been done for passengers in Sky Suites in our experience.  I have only seen that done for guest in the higher suites, e.g. Royal and Penthouse suites. 
 

 Something that we looked to our butler on past cruises was a standing delivery of coffee from Cafe Al Bacio in the mornings, keeping water, soda, and Vitamin Zero water stocked in our mini-fridge, as well as shrimp cocktail and cheese plates in the afternoon. 
 

Well excuuuuse me, but they most certainly will be escorting yours truly to my (not an accessible this time) Sky Suite.  Or someone in corporate is going to hear about it.  😭

[Covepointcruiser]

Why should passengers in SS be escorted to their small suite stateroom?     You paid for the SS experience so if you want more you need to book a RS or above.

[39august]

Never been an escort to cabin in SS's.