Anyone in a Sky Suite thinking to go down a level?

[jagoffee]

11 minutes ago, acstall said:

We did an onboard booking last year for a 10-day cruise in a Sky Suite on Equinox in January 2024 at a refundable rate.  I knew when I booked it that I would not keep this cruise/cabin as the price was so high.  At the time of booking, all perks included were premium beverage and wifi, tips and a lot of OBC.  I was hoping that suite prices would come down, but they did not, so I moved this booking to a non-refundable fare in a deluxe veranda, April 2024 on Silhouette.  As expected, my OBC was reduced significantly, but my invoice from my TA is still showing premium beverage, tips and wifi.  Is this correct?  I thought my premium beverage and wifi would drop to classic.  I'm getting conflicting answers from Celebrity and I don't have full confidence in the big box TA.  

I think you are correct and your TA invoice is incorrect.

[Mark_T]

4 hours ago, Mark_K said:

The other thing Luminae has that Blu doesn’t is lunch on sea days. On a cruise with a lot of sea days that’s a big difference for me.

... or just use So5 or one of the others that often opens on sea days during a cruise...

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

29 minutes ago, zitsky said:

My TA is trying to convince me to keep the SS.

 

Yikes. If my TA ever tried to talk me out of something I wanted to change to I'd have serious thoughts about using her again.

 

Thankfully mine is super responsive and will explain things out if something she suggests would be more expensive. Like my upcoming summer cruise I initially contacted her about changing to a different cruise that, yes, was 2 days shorter, to jump into Aqua Class after getting spoiled in Blu on the Summit this past summer. She let me know the price for changing and then said that I could change to Aqua on the cruise I was booked on for about $250 more than the 6 night and it's for 8 nights. But she left the choice up to me. (I took the bump up on my 8-night.) And she regularly checks all my bookings (cruise and Disney) to make sure I'm at the lowest rate possible.

[sdnich]

We have stayed in a few sky suites in the past, but we also have decided to go with an aqua class room going forward. The prices went up too high! I would rather book an aqua, and do a couple nights in specialty dining, and save the extra money!! We are doing a cruise in September that has five sea days so Luminae would have been nice but we are OK with going to the main dining room a  couple of days and sushi on five and maybe one of the specialty restaurants if they are open for lunch.

[goofysmom99]

1 hour ago, acstall said:

We did an onboard booking last year for a 10-day cruise in a Sky Suite on Equinox in January 2024 at a refundable rate.  I knew when I booked it that I would not keep this cruise/cabin as the price was so high.  At the time of booking, all perks included were premium beverage and wifi, tips and a lot of OBC.  I was hoping that suite prices would come down, but they did not, so I moved this booking to a non-refundable fare in a deluxe veranda, April 2024 on Silhouette.  As expected, my OBC was reduced significantly, but my invoice from my TA is still showing premium beverage, tips and wifi.  Is this correct?  I thought my premium beverage and wifi would drop to classic.  I'm getting conflicting answers from Celebrity and I don't have full confidence in the big box TA.  

Do you have the invoice that comes from Celebrity, not the big box invoice?  Can you ask for it? It would show what you do/don't have.  My experience is that you downgrade to classic bev & wifi but not sure about the tips since you booked onboard when they were included.

[acstall]

9 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

Do you have the invoice that comes from Celebrity, not the big box invoice?  Can you ask for it? It would show what you do/don't have.  My experience is that you downgrade to classic bev & wifi but not sure about the tips since you booked onboard when they were included.

Good idea. I do not have that but will ask. Thank you.

[CruiseMrB]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

My TA is trying to convince me to keep the SS.  I think because she gets a better commission that way.  She doesn’t seem aware of the complaints about butlers.

What could be going on is that downgrading out of suites generally has meant a greater loss and worse experience in the past than it does now in your mind. Your TA *might* have thoughts that this would be terrible, and you would hate it and would not use their services again. If you normally travel SS or better, than your TA is, in their mind, trying to protect you.

 

Put your foot down and say downgrade it or transfer the booking to another TA who will. Overwhelm their fear of what possibly might happen with more fear from you of what will happen now.

Edited November 25, 2023 by CruiseMrB

[Lastdance]

I have to agree with all of you regarding suites.  We have three on the books, due to booking when first released, but one is on Oceania Vista - TA.  In a few days, we will be back on Beyond, then Edge, followed by Ascent in an SV.  We are elite+, so do not need the Premium drink package, so are doing zero proof.  We have had a SV on Apex/with Sunset suite for second cruise and really enjoyed it.  Luminae’s menu just isn’t the same quality or choices.  With the high prices and lower quality for suites, I am going to only book regular cabins on Celebrity unless something changes.  My DH and I are really excited about my Oceania cruise in a PH1.  The price was 9,000 and it included 600 OBC.  My TA(travel agent)also upped the ante, so a fantastic deal, IMHO.  Then, we are staying in Portugal and driving to Algarve in the south.  Furthermore, using FCC to book seems to work quite well, especially if you need to cancel an NRF cruise.  

 

Z...I hope your situation, whatever you decide, works out well for you!

Edited November 25, 2023 by Lastdance

[hcat]

6 hours ago, Mark_K said:

The other thing Luminae has that Blu doesn’t is lunch on sea days. On a cruise with a lot of sea days that’s a big difference for me.

good time to try specialty restaurants

[goofysmom99]

I just finished pricing 2025 Fall TAs on Celebrity and Oceania.  My prices are solo, but since they're all 200% supplement, prices for two would only differ by the additional taxes.

 

Apex, 10-19-25, 13 nights, Southampton - Port Canaveral, SS2 (367 sq ft), $10236, $1012 NRF dep.

 

Ascent, 10-31-25, 13 nights, Rome - Ft Lauderdale, SS2 (398 sq ft), $12397, $1232 NRF dep.

 

Vista (1200 pax), 11-20-25, 14 nights, Barcelona - Miami, PH2 (440 sq ft), $9180, $500 RF dep (less $150 admin fee)

 

We all know what we get and don't get with a SS on X and that specialty restaurants are an add-on cost, tips are extra.

 

On Vista (2023 build), tips are extra, a PH includes a butler, wine with lunch and dinner (you can also bring on 6 bottles/cabin), wifi (2 devices/suite), $1000 shore excursion credit (have no idea if this will be of any value to me yet), in room dining from MDR as well as all specialty restaurants.  And best of all for me, the bathroom has a real shower!  The ship has a dedicated Aquamar Spa Terrace, their version of The Retreat Sun Deck.  And an Executive Lounge (Retreat-like spot for the concierge).  The biggest selling feature for me was, for $9180 all-in, being able to grab one of the PHs on Deck 7 with the extended balcony,  This is what a suite balcony ought to look like! 

 

After my last cruise on Connie (disembarked Wed), I knew I needed to upgrade my dining options to Blu, Luminae or another ship!  I'm encouraged that O is known for its food.  Vista has a hands-on cooking demo kitchen with classes you sign up for.  Also has a casino.  Obviously shows can't be the same caliber they are on X, especially E-class, however, that's not a big deal to me.  I quit going to shows about 10 yrs ago, preferring Ensemble, Rendezvous, etc., before and after dinner.  BTW, the O drink package upgrade is $30/person/day.  I don't know if the additional $420 for 14 nights would be cost effective for me for one or two Aperol spritzes daily (O drink prices are lower than X), but I'm thinking about adding it.  If I do, price will still be significantly less/day for a better overall benefit (to me) than X.   
 

So, I booked O.  If I need to cancel, I'll only be out $150 up until final payment.  That's not much risk in the grand scheme of things.  No way I will give X a 10% NRF deposit; that's unacceptable risk.  

 

Of course your TA makes more money from a suite; so does Celebrity!  If I had a SS booked on X right now, I'd downgrade to Blu; you don't lose your deposit if you merely downgrade but keep the same ship and date.  

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by goofysmom99

[cinderellen]

16 hours ago, someguyfl said:

I've mostly been in either SS or AQ on Celebrity (but also in regular Verandah, Ocean View, and a Royal Suite)...

 

IMHO, on S and M class ships, AQ is the sweet spot, because Blu is a large step up in quality over MDR (which isn't bad itself) ... and while Luminae does have somewhat fancier ingredients and somewhat better service ... Both are really quite adequate.

On my last cruise in SS, I found myself eating at Blu half the time anyway, since I preferred the menu.

 

As far as the Butler service... Really, I'm not that fussy, and I didn't get too much use out of the Butler service even when I was in a Royal Suite.

We’ve been doing AQ since it was introduced years ago, with a few suites mixed in. We have loved AQ. Last month we did it again on the Reflection TA. It was very disappointing. The maitre de didn’t speak or acknowledge us until day 3. He spent the majority of the time running around like a chicken with his head cut off, on his phone. The menu changed and items we always looked forward to were gone. We ate at a couple specialty restaurants and when we would return, we would have people near us tell us about dinner taking 2+ hours.
 

Our room was very nice and well taken care of but absolutely none of the “niceties” we’ve come to expect as elite plus cruisers. First cruise ever to not receive sparkling wine at embarkation (although the flutes and ice bucket were there). Captains Club functions were packed, wall to wall. I’m sure the fact that this was a completely full cruise with close to 500 B2B cruisers contributed to the mediocre experience. 

[mahasamatman]

We couldn't care less about the butler changes, but the super high cost of a SS and loss of other benefits like the OBC will have us thinking twice not only about suites, but about Celebrity in general. We've never been on a ship with actual Retreat facilities, so that's not an issue. We're looking forwrd to our Yacht Club experience in March to see if that's a viable alternative.

 

47 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

And best of all for me, the bathroom has a real shower!

 

I have to know what ships you've been cruising on that don't have showers?

[goofysmom99]

1 minute ago, mahasamatman said:

I have to know what ships you've been cruising on that don't have showers?

ALL suites on X below RS, except accessible and 6145/6 on M-class, have bathtub/shower combo.  I cannot safely climb out of a tub (CS on Summit is why I permanently limp and need a cane).  I don't want to pay for a RS just to get a walk-in shower.

[miched]

Recently got off of a cruise in a SS.   The value and expereince is no longer there.  We booked that suite because we were in a SS and it was a fantastic experience.   The last cruise was a disappointment and it is the first time that we didn’t purchase another future cruise.  
 

If we  ever decide to book another cruise on X it won’t  be in a suite.   $600 plus/day pp is way too much for nothing special.   It will be a veranda or AQ at the most depending on the cost differnce. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[lv2cruisgrl]

7 minutes ago, miched said:

Recently got off of a cruise in a SS.   The value and expereince is no longer there.  We booked that suite because we were in a SS and it was a fantastic experience.   The last cruise was a disappointment and it is the first time that we didn’t purchase another future cruise.  
 

If we  ever decide to book another cruise on X it won’t  be in a suite.   $600 plus/day pp is way too much for nothing special.   It will be a veranda or AQ at the most depending on the cost differnce. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Agree!  We only have 2 future cruises booked as I am no longer excited about the Celebrity experience. 

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, mahasamatman said:

We've never been on a ship with actual Retreat facilities, so that's not an issue.

What ship doesn’t have Luminae and a Retreat Lounge/Michael’s Club?

[jelayne]

13 hours ago, zitsky said:

We have a NRD and I’ve asked the TA to find out if we would lose the deposit.  She already said we would lose all our perks.  Tips, drinks, WiFi.

You shouldn’t lose the deposit.  You can purchase the premium beverage package for about $65 inc.tip, pp pd and premium wi-fi 2 devices for $29 pd on sale.  Doing that make be less expensive than the AQ AI price.  

[zitsky]

5 hours ago, miched said:

Recently got off of a cruise in a SS.   The value and expereince is no longer there.  We booked that suite because we were in a SS and it was a fantastic experience.   The last cruise was a disappointment and it is the first time that we didn’t purchase another future cruise.  
 

If we  ever decide to book another cruise on X it won’t  be in a suite.   $600 plus/day pp is way too much for nothing special.   It will be a veranda or AQ at the most depending on the cost differnce. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

How much is your decision influenced by your recent experience and how much by comments by other cruisers?  Did you consider changing your booking before final payment?

[DaKahuna]

deleted.. 
 

Edited November 26, 2023 by DaKahuna

[goofysmom99]

5 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

deleted.. 
 

I'm glad you retracted that.

[mahasamatman]

6 hours ago, RichYak said:

What ship doesn’t have Luminae and a Retreat Lounge/Michael’s Club?

 

I was referring to the "Retreat Sun Deck" and an actual Retreat Lounge. Michael's Club is not a Retreat Lounge - it's just a crowded, dingy room.

[Sailaway1706]

We enjoyed the Sky Suite. But is it really worth the extra money? Better spend it at a specialty restaurant. Normally we book one or two cruises when I’m on board. Not last time. I think it’s time to make a vacation from Celebrity. Especially with the new CEO. 

[acstall]

18 hours ago, goofysmom99 said:

Do you have the invoice that comes from Celebrity, not the big box invoice?  Can you ask for it? It would show what you do/don't have.  My experience is that you downgrade to classic bev & wifi but not sure about the tips since you booked onboard when they were included.

Well, this is a new one on me.  Here is the response from my TA.  "Since this is special discounted rate, I cannot forward you the invoice from Celebrity."  Heard anything like this one? 

[Bejay219]

Along with the taking away the Butler, tips and On Board Credit, the  Sky Suite pays the same tips as the Iconic Suite.... That is hardly fair.  If you reduce my service, please reduce the tips accordingly! 

[zitsky]

49 minutes ago, acstall said:

Well, this is a new one on me.  Here is the response from my TA.  "Since this is special discounted rate, I cannot forward you the invoice from Celebrity."  Heard anything like this one? 

The first or second time I booked with our current TA it was like pulling teeth to get our booking confirmation.  But now I just tell her that I want it.