Celebrity Ascent Retreat Questions

[BookBikeBeyond123]

Hi!

 

This will be our first time cruising with Celebrity. Here are some of my questions… I am comparing it with the MSC yacht club.

 

1. tender priority: so the cruise will tender at santorini, I wonder if being in retreat gives you priority tender.. this is actually the main reason we will opt for Retreat, to get on the first tender boat so we have longer time to enjoy! For anyone who cruised to Santorini before, if you don’t book suite class, how long do you usually wait to get tendered to the port?

 

2. will the concierge book special dinning and escort you to the theatre?

 

3. Can we eat at blu and other main dining restaurant if we are just booking the most basic retreat suite? 
 

4. Are there any specific area of the boat you’d avoid? We like quite rooms…

 

5. are there any unlimited or other specialty dining package available? What’s the price like?

 

6. is the wifi 2 per cabin or 2 per person?

 

7. are fresh squeezed juice and smoothie included or part of drinking package?

 

thanks in advance!

[BookBikeBeyond123]

One more question… the 12 day and the 9 day cruise basically have the same price… do you recommend to book the longer cruise for better value? Will 12 day be too long of a stay? We usually do 7 day cruises before… not sure if we have the endurance for a 12 day cruise lol

[Liao]

2 minutes ago, BookBikeBeyond123 said:

Hi!

 

This will be our first time cruising with Celebrity. Here are some of my questions… I am comparing it with the MSC yacht club.

 

1. tender priority: so the cruise will tender at santorini, I wonder if being in retreat gives you priority tender.. this is actually the main reason we will opt for Retreat, to get on the first tender boat so we have longer time to enjoy! For anyone who cruised to Santorini before, if you don’t book suite class, how long do you usually wait to get tendered to the port?

 

2. will the concierge book special dinning and escort you to the theatre?

 

3. Can we eat at blu and other main dining restaurant if we are just booking the most basic retreat suite? 
 

4. Are there any specific area of the boat you’d avoid? We like quite rooms…

 

5. are there any unlimited or other specialty dining package available? What’s the price like?

 

6. is the wifi 2 per cabin or 2 per person?

 

7. are fresh squeezed juice and smoothie included or part of drinking package?

 

thanks in advance!

Have you already booked on Celebrity?  If so, several of your questions will apply to upper suite guests only.  

[chisoxfan]

On 3/13/2024 at 8:32 PM, BookBikeBeyond123 said:

Hi!

 

This will be our first time cruising with Celebrity. Here are some of my questions… I am comparing it with the MSC yacht club.

 

1. tender priority: so the cruise will tender at santorini, I wonder if being in retreat gives you priority tender.. this is actually the main reason we will opt for Retreat, to get on the first tender boat so we have longer time to enjoy! For anyone who cruised to Santorini before, if you don’t book suite class, how long do you usually wait to get tendered to the port?You should get priority but problem is always functioning of cable car (down for maintenance I believe this week) and amount of other visitors in port.

 

2. will the concierge book special dinning and escort you to the theatre?They will certainly book dining but we were disappointed that they did not seem able to have any ability to create an opening ie. if there were limited times they worked within these- no special call 'can you fit two diners in at 7)

Escort you to show.... can't stop laughing. There is a section reserved for production shows but nothng spectacular as far as location- I think we sat there twice and otherwise found seating outside of it.

 

3. Can we eat at blu and other main dining restaurant if we are just booking the most basic retreat suite? We had no issue going to Blu.
 

4. Are there any specific area of the boat you’d avoid? We like quite rooms…Lots of detailed info elsewhere on this

 

5. are there any unlimited or other specialty dining package available? What’s the price like?I know this is not a direct reply but we were shocked at X dining pricing and outside of visit to steakhouse (quite good) we stuck with Luminae and occasional Blu

 

6. is the wifi 2 per cabin or 2 per person?2 person included- a bit disappointed this was not expanded

 

7. are fresh squeezed juice and smoothie included or part of drinking package?Yes

 

thanks in advance!

I will answer based on our Ascent (and Apex) SS experience. My guess is that higher leverl cruisers (we are Elite) and higer suite classes may get better 'service' but we did see better service in general on Apex vs. Ascent and if nothing else X is consistent in its inconsistency,

[cruisestitch]

If the main reason you are booking, the retreat is to take an early tender to Santorini, it would be much cheaper to choose a regular stateroom, and then just book a Celebrity shore excursion that leaves first thing on arrival, go over on that early tender and then ditch the excursion.

 

 

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

We sailed on Ascent in a b2b when the ship first debuted.  The first leg was in a Porthole Deluxe cabin and the second was in a Sky Suite (Retreat).  We got hands-down better over all service on our non-Retreat leg.  We are Elite so we enjoyed all the perks that go with that level.  In addition, we boarded the ship on embarkation day faster than any recent suite embarkation.  None of our ports required tendering but in the past, while in a suite, priority tendering is a perk.

 

We absolutely loved Ascent and would sail on her again in a heartbeat.  There are plenty of quiet places on the ship...little nooks on the deck that are off the beaten path.  We especially enjoyed the outdoor area outside of Eden for a quiet place to view the water.  It's also a great way to escape the crowd after an evening show.  Exit the side door and walk a ways  and then re-enter...you'll have left the show crowd behind.

 

Regarding other questions:

• We've stayed in a Sky suite to Royal suite and have never been escorted to the theater by the butler.
• A concierge or butler has made dinner reservations for us with no problem...regardless of suite category.
• dining packages can be purchased ahead of time and are detailed in the cruise planner.  On S class, upper suites beginning with Royal suite, get unlimited specialty dining (I believe this is true for E class as well) so no need to buy a package.
• wifi is 2 per person
• freshly squeezed juices are available in the spa cafe and perhaps, Luminae....we aren't usually up in time to go there for breakfast.  You can also get fresh squeezed juice and smoothies brought to your room via room service...which can be prearranged the evening before...

[chisoxfan]

On 3/13/2024 at 8:36 PM, BookBikeBeyond123 said:

One more question… the 12 day and the 9 day cruise basically have the same price… do you recommend to book the longer cruise for better value? Will 12 day be too long of a stay? We usually do 7 day cruises before… not sure if we have the endurance for a 12 day cruise lol

For me that longer cruise all things equal is a no brainer especially when you are spending time and energy flying overseas. For us. we didn't see a 'breaking point' until we were on 16 day cruise for what it is worth (and that was a T/A).

[Jeremiah1212]

I would not gamble the expense or Retreat spend solely on Santorini. If there are multiple ships in Santorini and yours is not the very first to start tendering, it doesn't matter when you get off. You will be waiting potentially for a long time. Unless your plans avoid the cable car or you are willing to walk up, you may be a little shocked at the sheer number of people ahead of you. Do not expect a leisurely tender ride, hopping on the cable car and being in Fira within a few minutes unless you wait until late morning to early afternoon. 

[Pennstatedj]

Retreat guests have reserved seats in theatre for the shows. Other shows you do not need to reserve seats no problems. We just came off the Ascent in Jan. 

I agree with the answer that take an early excursion. Either just get off or do first then walk around all afternoon. Thats what we have done twice. 

OJ can be had in lumina. 

All answers by Georgia Peahes are great. 

[Liao]

4 minutes ago, Pennstatedj said:

Retreat guests have reserved seats in theatre for the shows. Other shows you do not need to reserve seats no problems. We just came off the Ascent in Jan. 

I agree with the answer that take an early excursion. Either just get off or do first then walk around all afternoon. Thats what we have done twice. 

OJ can be had in lumina. 

All answers by Georgia Peahes are great. 

All retreat guests or just the upper suites reserved seating?

[jelayne]

6 minutes ago, Liao said:

All retreat guests or just the upper suites reserved seating?

All suites have reserved seats on Evening Chic nights.  Other nights no reserved seats

[chisoxfan]

15 minutes ago, jelayne said:

All suites have reserved seats on Evening Chic nights.  Other nights no reserved seats

Yes, reserved seating was only on Chic nights not every Production show.... I was thinking of our upcoming cruise on Princess Sun 

[Pennstatedj]

All suites guest and Zenith have reserved seats usually only needed on chic nights. Ask concierge which nights that will be. 

[RichYak]

4 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

• wifi is 2 per person

Are you sure about that? My recollection is that it's 1 per person in standard Retreat suites. Upper suites get 2 per person.

[Georgia_Peaches]

17 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Are you sure about that? My recollection is that it's 1 per person in standard Retreat suites. Upper suites get 2 per person.

We had 2 per person in a sky suite on ascent back in November.  I could be misremembering but I used my phone and my laptop.

Edited March 15 by Georgia_Peaches

[RichYak]

9 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We had 2 per person in a sky suite on ascent back in November.  I could be misremembering but I used my phone and my laptop.

I could be misremembering too, but I seem to recall having to constantly log out of one device to use another, except when I sailed in a RS. I'm sure someone will confirm.

[Liao]

5 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I could be misremembering too, but I seem to recall having to constantly log out of one device to use another, except when I sailed in a RS. I'm sure someone will confirm.

Could not use on both at same time, had to log off phone if I wanted to use on laptop.

[Georgia_Peaches]

11 minutes ago, Liao said:

Could not use on both at same time, had to log off phone if I wanted to use on laptop.

Thank you for the clarification...that would explain why I was able to use both devices.  

 

@RichYak, you remembered correctly!  😁

[Oceangoer2]

On 3/13/2024 at 9:36 PM, BookBikeBeyond123 said:

One more question… the 12 day and the 9 day cruise basically have the same price… do you recommend to book the longer cruise for better value? Will 12 day be too long of a stay? We usually do 7 day cruises before… not sure if we have the endurance for a 12 day cruise lol

12 day cruise would cost more than a 9 day.  We've always preferred the longer cruise but if you're unsure, maybe best to try a 9 day first. 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

On 3/13/2024 at 9:32 PM, BookBikeBeyond123 said:

3. Can we eat at blu and other main dining restaurant if we are just booking the most basic retreat suite? 

 

Blu is a space-available basis for Suite guests as your assigned dining room would be Luminae. I've seen a report or two on here recently that when Aqua is 100% full Suite guests have only been allowed in Blu very early or late.

 

I can't speak to going to the MDR as when I was in Aqua I only did Blu for breakfast and dinner.

[jelayne]

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We had 2 per person in a sky suite on ascent back in November.  I could be misremembering but I used my phone and my laptop.

You can use multiple devices  but you can only be connected to 1 device at a time.    Be logged in to 1 device and when go to use another device is asked if you want to disconnect the other device. Lots of SS cruises and only 1 login per person.

[billc23]

14 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We had 2 per person in a sky suite on ascent back in November.  I could be misremembering but I used my phone and my laptop.

4 per person in an upper suite.