"Daily delivery of savories upon request" - Sky Suite

[CruisingTheWaves]

Apologies if this has been asked a hundred times,  but with the changes with Sky Suites and butlers and then hearing most recently that they are adding butler service back to Sky Suites, I am not sure what is still the standard of service. Last cruise was on Edge pre-COVID in a Sky Suite and it was the best cruise experience we have had, so I am a bit out of the loop as to what has changed (and I am sure it is a lot)! We're on Apex next month.

 

On Celebrity's website for Sky Suites it says "Daily delivery of afternoon savories upon request". I have read conflicting information for some staterooms regarding canapes, special food deliveries, etc, saying "not available" any longer. SO, seeing this, it want to confirm this statement IS true for Sky Suites, and, if you have asked to have something delivered daily, what have you asked for? I believe in the past I have asked for fruit - berries in particular, a cheese plate with any type of cheddar or pepperjack. Have also asked for shrimp have have gotten it. How far off the mark is the reality from this nowadays? I struggle to believe I will be able to eat on this ship like I used to so it's not really an expectation, but given that we have had it in the past it would be nice to have the option again.

[jelayne]

It’s a fluid situation right now.  2 weeks ago we had to order from room service.  As they move back to having Butlers for Sky Suites delivery of a snack will probably return, but they are saving that having Butlers back in place on all ships will take until June.

[Texed]

35 minutes ago, CruisingTheWaves said:

On Celebrity's website for Sky Suites it says "Daily delivery of afternoon savories upon r

 

Even without the personal butlers, we were able to have a standing order delivered daily. 🙂

[lv2cruisgrl]

Go with the flow once on the ship. Different things are happening on different ships per these boards. 

[CruisingTheWaves]

1 minute ago, Texed said:

 

Even without the personal butlers, we were able to have a standing order delivered daily. 🙂

Thanks! Which ship were you on and when? 

[CruisingTheWaves]

19 minutes ago, jelayne said:

It’s a fluid situation right now.  2 weeks ago we had to order from room service.  As they move back to having Butlers for Sky Suites delivery of a snack will probably return, but they are saving that having Butlers back in place on all ships will take until June.

Interesting, as it is still stated on the list specifically for Sky Suites, but says a "Retreat butler and team". Celebrity suites have the same line, with the difference being it simply says "Butler" which of course means a dedicated butler per stateroom. Seems they should  remove the "Daily delivery of afternoon savories upon request" statement for Sky Suites if they're just going to tell me "order from room service to get it."

[Texed]

5 minutes ago, CruisingTheWaves said:

Thanks! Which ship were you on and when? 

 

We were on Ascent for a B2B in January.  

[jelayne]

9 minutes ago, CruisingTheWaves said:

Interesting, as it is still stated on the list specifically for Sky Suites, but says a "Retreat butler and team". Celebrity suites have the same line, with the difference being it simply says "Butler" which of course means a dedicated butler per stateroom. Seems they should  remove the "Daily delivery of afternoon savories upon request" statement for Sky Suites if they're just going to tell me "order from room service to get it."

As I said, when the Butlers are back in place it shouldn’t be a problem. 

[CruisingTheWaves]

5 minutes ago, jelayne said:

As I said, when the Butlers are back in place it shouldn’t be a problem. 

I am just noting what it says on the website currently. Would be nice to have a butler next month.

[RichYak]

27 minutes ago, CruisingTheWaves said:

I am just noting what it says on the website currently. Would be nice to have a butler next month.

Even if you don't have a personal butler, the head butler should fulfill your requests. If they tell you to call room service, tell them you'll call the Retreat Manger instead.

[kasowell2]

19 minutes ago, RichYak said:

the head butler should fulfill your requests. If they tell you to call room service, 

I’m afraid if they were to tell me to do that I would have to ask in return then what do you actually do to deserve that daily gratuity?

[CruisingTheWaves]

36 minutes ago, kasowell2 said:

I’m afraid if they were to tell me to do that I would have to ask in return then what do you actually do to deserve that daily gratuity?

Very true, just wondering if we don't have a dedicated butler in place by then what lengths I would need to go to to have something delivered. I do remember snacking on things while we got ready for dinner in the past. Currently debating on my end if it is a must have or if it would be more of a hassle trying to get what I asked for then to just go up to the Retreat Lounge and look for something myself. Or not at all, depending on the way I plan to schedule my afternoons. I used to have a very specific routine on sailings, but it's been 5 years and I am forgetting how I did things 🤣

[kasowell2]

I feel like giving a tip to a “butler” that I never see is the same as the Maitre  d that shows up on the last night wanting a tip when he/she hasn’t even spoken to us all cruise. I want the money to go to the person that provided the service. Getting paid for doing nothing promotes incompetence 

Edited February 14 by kasowell2

[CruisingTheWaves]

5 minutes ago, kasowell2 said:

I feel like giving a tip to a “butler” that I never see is the same as the Maitre  d that shows up on the last night wanting a tip when he/she hasn’t even spoken to us all cruise. I want the money to go to the person that provided the service. Getting paid for doing nothing promotes incompetence 

Exactly. We have all had that Maitre'd before! Any "service provider" that disappears the whole cruise and tries to save face at the 11th hour never gets anything extra from me.

[rcrabb1513]

On 2/14/2024 at 12:00 PM, jelayne said:

As I said, when the Butlers are back in place it shouldn’t be a problem. 

I missed that change about butler service returning.  When and where was that info published?

[RichYak]

2 hours ago, rcrabb1513 said:

I missed that change about butler service returning.  When and where was that info published?

Same place that the butler cutback was published 😂

[mtempelaar]

On 2/14/2024 at 12:50 PM, CruisingTheWaves said:

"Butler" which of course means a dedicated butler per stateroom. Seems they should  remove the "Daily delivery of afternoon savories upon request" statement for Sky Suites if they're just going to tell me "order from room service to get it."

The upon request thing - too wishy washy.  Either do or don't do.   I asked about "savories" delivery in 2022 and was rejected, told to go to the Retreat Lounge, and this was before they made the changes to the butler service.   I was so annoyed that I told my husband we would keep our remaining (upcoming) non-refundable SS intact, but I wouldn't do again.  I have kept to this. Future bookings for 2025 are NOT retreat. 

 

20 years ago my Concierge stateroom came with champagne when I got onboard, an escort to the cabin, butler service.  And a Royal Suite came with all that plus afternoon High Tea, and not just a maybe on random savories.  My butler back then was stocking my mini fridge with caviar just because he overheard me say I liked caviar, and when I got injured, he ran to the infirmary to get me meds and bandages.   

 

Butler service now is an invisible stateroom attendent on a walkie talkie who may or may not assist you

[kasowell2]

41 minutes ago, mtempelaar said:

 

 

Butler service now is an invisible stateroom attendent on a walkie talkie who may or may not assist you

And the price is three or four times the price back 20 years ago and I’m not talking 2024 dollars

[mahasamatman]

On 2/14/2024 at 9:28 AM, jelayne said:

they are saving that having Butlers back in place on all ships will take until June.

 

Last I heard (today), it's supposed to be end of April, but that could also be ship-dependent.

[1Virgo]

On 2/14/2024 at 3:17 PM, CruisingTheWaves said:

Exactly. We have all had that Maitre'd before! Any "service provider" that disappears the whole cruise and tries to save face at the 11th hour never gets anything extra from me.

and when the Maitre D parades a Chef around the last night …  Ironically, we were in Blu so lunch I was told to speak to head chef due to a serious food allergy.  Him.. No problem, I will personally make you something. 1/2 hr later he was still wandering in OceanView. I went back up to him, and . 20 minutes later, still no food and he was still wandering the floor.    Geesh. I was happy if I could get a salad or baked potato (there were none out)   Actually said I would be happy with a baked potato      DH went up and spoke to him, still on the floor.    After about an hour and half, I got a salad.  

 

  on last night in Blu, Maitre D paraded the Chef.  Chef took one look at me, jaw dropped and said “i didnt know you were in Blu”.     Ah. Maurice. You did not get a tip from us

[kasowell2]

Pulled from the website today. I’m going to be on the reflection in a few weeks and probably won’t request it but I do expect it. Maybe if more people insist n what they purchased then maybe they will be forced to do what they say. I sound really brave online and probably won’t enforce it but I’m also the type of person that will not take no when the person can’t say yes in the first place. We all pay way too much for a suite and I expect to get what I pay for. And don’t tell me the website is wrong and blame it on the IT department. I relate it to the price on the shelf must be the same price at the register and if it’s not then give the advertised price

Edited February 17 by kasowell2

[CruisingTheWaves]

10 hours ago, kasowell2 said:

Pulled from the website today. I’m going to be on the reflection in a few weeks and probably won’t request it but I do expect it. Maybe if more people insist n what they purchased then maybe they will be forced to do what they say. I sound really brave online and probably won’t enforce it but I’m also the type of person that will not take no when the person can’t say yes in the first place. We all pay way too much for a suite and I expect to get what I pay for. And don’t tell me the website is wrong and blame it on the IT department. I relate it to the price on the shelf must be the same price at the register and if it’s not then give the advertised price

Yep, this is why I got angry when I went to book my reservation for Eden a few weeks back. App SAID $65pp, website SAID $65 pp, try to book it on the app and suddenly now it’s $85 pp but verbiage on the previous screen says $65? No. Fix it. If they’re going to advertise it as one price then they need to honor it. I called and got “sorry, that’s the price.” 

Edited February 17 by CruisingTheWaves

[mtempelaar]

10 hours ago, CruisingTheWaves said:

Yep, this is why I got angry when I went to book my reservation for Eden a few weeks back. App SAID $65pp, website SAID $65 pp, try to book it on the app and suddenly now it’s $85 pp but verbiage on the previous screen says $65? No. Fix it. If they’re going to advertise it as one price then they need to honor it. I called and got “sorry, that’s the price.” 

And that doesn’t even include the gratuities 😕 I was fortunate to lock in at 65 as soon as dining bookings opened, but I got the shock when it opened up for next year’s cruise on Eclipse.  We may only do Murano and then MDR for the rest.  Sick of all the extra costs and MDR is good on Celebrity.   

We are looking now at Virgin for the future.  It seems so different and like the dining options that are included.  Still love Celebrity but the cost is high and perks going down.   

 

[CruisingTheWaves]

On 2/17/2024 at 5:40 PM, mtempelaar said:

And that doesn’t even include the gratuities 😕 I was fortunate to lock in at 65 as soon as dining bookings opened, but I got the shock when it opened up for next year’s cruise on Eclipse.  We may only do Murano and then MDR for the rest.  Sick of all the extra costs and MDR is good on Celebrity.   

We are looking now at Virgin for the future.  It seems so different and like the dining options that are included.  Still love Celebrity but the cost is high and perks going down.   

 

It doesn't include gratuities for the future but I booked this cruise back in March of last year so at least for this sailing those changes don't affect us. Going forward, it unfortunately will. I understand the uproar, it's not worth $85pp plus gratuities.

[ScottC4746]

On 2/14/2024 at 9:07 AM, CruisingTheWaves said:

Apologies if this has been asked a hundred times,  but with the changes with Sky Suites and butlers and then hearing most recently that they are adding butler service back to Sky Suites, I am not sure what is still the standard of service. Last cruise was on Edge pre-COVID in a Sky Suite and it was the best cruise experience we have had, so I am a bit out of the loop as to what has changed (and I am sure it is a lot)! We're on Apex next month.

 

On Celebrity's website for Sky Suites it says "Daily delivery of afternoon savories upon request". I have read conflicting information for some staterooms regarding canapes, special food deliveries, etc, saying "not available" any longer. SO, seeing this, it want to confirm this statement IS true for Sky Suites, and, if you have asked to have something delivered daily, what have you asked for? I believe in the past I have asked for fruit - berries in particular, a cheese plate with any type of cheddar or pepperjack. Have also asked for shrimp have have gotten it. How far off the mark is the reality from this nowadays? I struggle to believe I will be able to eat on this ship like I used to so it's not really an expectation, but given that we have had it in the past it would be nice to have the option again.

To be honest we only had the savories on the Solstice in 2022 in Concierge Class and we were disappointed.  Some were inedible and even though two of us in the room, they brought one serving and one fork.

We are Concierge May 2024 on Edge and I think we will tell our stateroom attendant to skip them.