Penthouse vs. Concierge

[CptBoatface]

On 4/15/2024 at 5:48 AM, lolawpb said:

Here are the few I took. We were on deck 7. From the deck plans it seems that there are a few more penthouses on 11 with those balconies and several concierge rooms with extended balconies on the other decks.

 

 

  

 

Wow, may have to upgrade!

[TravelinGert]

On 4/15/2024 at 8:03 AM, lolawpb said:

Here are some other photos of the Penthouse suite if anyone would like to see them. Note the space between the end of the bed and credenza which really shows how wide these rooms are. The shower is larger than it appears in the photos. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to post all those photos. The extended balcony and the large bathroom do look extremely roomie and comfortable!

[TravelinGert]

On 4/15/2024 at 11:46 AM, tipsygirl said:

We only travel on Oceania in a Penthouse Suite. Once you do it is hard to go back to Concierge. Love having a  Butler.

I would absolutely love it if someone gave a detailed description of each thing they have their butler do for them on the average cruise. I guess I'm just lacking in imagination because I don't even know what I would ask them to do for me.

[TravelinGert]

On 4/15/2024 at 1:01 PM, ORV said:

I was actually asking Traveling Gert which one they were talking about. For people new to Oceania they don't realize the difference in rooms and bathrooms between the R ships and the newer ones. 

 

All of the noise in this post about the small bathrooms and showers are moot points unless you're going on an R ship. That's why I keep asking people which ship. 

 

After reading your first post I would say you might want to consider how much you might want to eat in the room. The Concierge cat really doesn't have an acceptable place for eating, where the PH will. 

Oh sorry I didn't catch on sooner. The ship I am looking at is Vista at the moment but I have yet to settle definitely. None of the ships I'm seeing in the Med next year start with an R, though.  

[EJL2023]

29 minutes ago, TravelinGert said:

Oh sorry I didn't catch on sooner. The ship I am looking at is Vista at the moment but I have yet to settle definitely. None of the ships I'm seeing in the Med next year start with an R, though.  

R is the class of ship. It would be Regatta, Insignia, Sirena and Nautica. 

[clo]

On 4/13/2024 at 2:21 PM, Snaefell3 said:

• Dinner served in your PH by your butler was so-so because of the small table and -- at least in our case -- he had other things going on, so he wasn't as much to hand as a waiter would be; you refilled your own coffee cup, etc.

 

I've wondered, does the food cool off to the point that it's a negative? It seems it's certainly a longer walk than to the dining table. And under a metal cover could steam it a bit. TIA.

[takemewithyou]

6 hours ago, TravelinGert said:

I would absolutely love it if someone gave a detailed description of each thing they have their butler do for them on the average cruise. I guess I'm just lacking in imagination because I don't even know what I would ask them to do for me.

See my post #49 in this thread.  I detailed what I asked butler for and asked if there was anything else I could have asked for and received no responses.

[AMHuntFerry]

10 hours ago, TravelinGert said:

I would absolutely love it if someone gave a detailed description of each thing they have their butler do for them on the average cruise. I guess I'm just lacking in imagination because I don't even know what I would ask them to do for me.

You may find this post by @Sthrngary useful:

 

[Sthrngary]

16 hours ago, TravelinGert said:

I would absolutely love it if someone gave a detailed description of each thing they have their butler do for them on the average cruise. I guess I'm just lacking in imagination because I don't even know what I would ask them to do for me.

@TravelinGert You will Notice that @AMHuntFerry on comment #58 referred you to an article/stream I wrote.  Some many years ago, on the NCL Thread I also wrote an article on something I called the "Butler Letter".  The letter outlines my wife and my wants and needs which are simple and specific to us.  It helped gain much better communication early with our butlers from that point forward.

 

Your question is a good one to be able to determine if you want to do a Penthouse or Concierge Level without a butler.   I have been there myself and I need justification which I gained. 

 

To support you in your request for information, I will start below and it might save you some time. Remember, take anything that anyone gives you on social media with a grain of salt.  Especially me.  I tend to be very opinionated.  

 

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Utilizing Your Butler:

 

Feature: Having a butler or your first butler is not intuitive.  The first time you almost feel uncomfortable until you learn about what they will and won’t do.

 

Benefit:  Knowing how to utilize a butler made a huge difference in my elevated cruise vacation experience.  A “go to” person for hard to take care of items.  Once I knew exactly what they did from research/experience, it made it easier to ask and receive these special services.

 

My Story: Oceania provides Butlers for Penthouse, Oceania, Vista, and Owners Suites. Things you will encounter and enjoy with a Butler.  They will:

·        Menus: Each morning, they will bring you that day’s “Grand Dining Room” menu OR it will be on your TV screen. The Specialty Restaurants Menus are in the suite or on the TV screen as well. You MAY want to attempt to change your specialty restaurant booking that evening in the Specialty Restaurant based on “Grand Dining Room” menu. Make sure you can replace that reservation for another time that suits you before you cancel it.

·        Coffee: Bring your morning coffee and pastries if you like, even from the illy™ Barista Coffee Bar. Always give your butler good instructions, a head up, and time to prepare. We had coffee delivery every morning at 07:45 AM and on sea days, 08:30 AM.

·        Reservations: Assist in making or changing Specialty Restaurant reservations.  Remember, “NO” guarantees especially on a sold-out cruise and that is why making those reservations pre-cruise as soon as you can, is important.

·        In-Suite Dining: Serve you in-suite dining from ANY restaurant.  The butler will do this course-by-course.  Please give your butler a fair head up and only order from one restaurant to avoid confusion.

·        Sweet Dreams™ Pillow Menu: Gain the pillow you want from the Sweet Dreams™ Pillow menu and exchange it for the pillow on the bed.

·        Afternoon Tea in your Suite: Oceania has Afternoon Tea daily in the Horizons Observation Lounge at 04:00 PM.  You may choose to have a personalized Afternoon Tea in your suite.  As with all uniquely special services, give the Butler a fair head-up.

·        Afternoon Canapes: Provide you with your afternoon canapes based on your selections provided to them in the morning. There is a nice list.  Choose one or two.  We never did but always had him bring nuts and pretzels. My request was NEVER bringing in huge amounts because I hate wasted food.  It was honored no questions asked.

·        Bubble Bath: Draw you a bubble bath at a specific time. I did my own Bubble bath, and it was fantastic. I had the benefit of the huge Vista Suite jacuzzi though.

·        Escorts: Escort you to the main theatre shows, restaurants and events upon request.

NOTE: A Butler is NOT your date.  They take you to the location and drop you off.

·        Laundry: Takes care of your complementary laundry of three (3) bags of 20 items each.  There is a three-day turnaround time for return. Ask your butler what the last day is for your third bag.  I did not and had to do it myself on the last morning.

·        Shoeshine: Have a scuff on your shoes, give them to your butler.

·        Pressing:  You have up to three-days after embarkment to provide four (4) items per cabin for pressing.

·        Port Reservations: Gain reservations even for port restaurants.

·        Luggage: Unpack and pack your luggage.  This is NOT something I have ever had done.  Those that have had it done seem to enjoy it.

 

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Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[clo]

10 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

Each morning, they will bring you that day’s “Grand Dining Room” menu OR it will be on your TV screen. The Specialty Restaurants Menus are in the suite or on the TV screen as well.

Is that true of all cabin's TVs?

[JRIH]

30 minutes ago, clo said:

Is that true of all cabin's TVs?

Yes.

[DENIE]

Gary, we used your Butler Letter suggestion from one of your original posts, and it was awesome.  I don't think our butler had seen one of them before, and sounded like he was afraid of what we were going to ask.  But upon meeting him and giving it to him, he nodded and said, yes, he could do all those things (and did!).  In fact, a couple times during the cruise he found us because he had a question...he pulled our letter from his inside pocket!  Great experience for us!

[Sthrngary]

12 hours ago, DENIE said:

Gary, we used your Butler Letter suggestion from one of your original posts, and it was awesome.  I don't think our butler had seen one of them before, and sounded like he was afraid of what we were going to ask.  But upon meeting him and giving it to him, he nodded and said, yes, he could do all those things (and did!).  In fact, a couple times during the cruise he found us because he had a question...he pulled our letter from his inside pocket!  Great experience for us!

@DENIE So happy to hear this.  Glad it worked out.  You have no idea how much heat I have gotten from folks over the years on this letter.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Tr1v1alCru1ser]

We were on Vista over Christmas in a PH.  

 

The biggest plus for us were the twin sinks in the bathroom and plenty of storage for toiletries.  The shower was very nice, the only downside for us, was that they no longer have a walk in on Vista, unlike Marine and RIviera, and if we were both trying to get clothes out of the face to face wardrobes, it was very tight.

 

The days menus are available on the TV, which is much better positioned in the cabin than the other ships.  

 

We have never really made much use of the butlers we’ve had, other than to bring us tea in the morning before we go to breakfast.  We’ve never been accompanied anywhere by the butler in 20 cruises!  We did eat in the cabin one evening and all the food was brought at once and left on the table and other surfaces, definitely not delivered course by course.  

 

We’ve always had our dining reservations booked when reservations opened pre cruise, and occasionally asked the butler to change one if something’s come up.  

 

I prefer unpacking and packing our clothes, so although they offer services, we’ve never felt the need to use them, so don’t know how good they would’ve been.  

 

The ship is lovely, and we were very impressed with the decor, loved the bakery and Aquamar kitchen, didn’t rate Ember, our meal there wasn’t good at all, but felt overall the food was better than on our previous cruise in ‘22.

[pettapil]

On 4/13/2024 at 6:03 PM, Sny said:

Love the penthouse and would not reserve anything smaller.  We do make use of the butler a great deal.  We generally have breakfast in our room and do have room service from specialties a few times on each cruise.  The table may be small; but the butler can serve you course by course.  It still beats getting showered and dressed up after a long day of sightseeing.

WE have also felt that the cultural exchange with our butlers has been a highlight of our cruises.

And, there is no better authority on where to find things and what is happening on the ship than the butler.  If he doesn't know, he will find out.

Good suggestions. We’ll be 1st time Oceania passengers (Nautica) and we were debating about what cabin to book. Because our trip is over a month long, we opted for the PH — just for the space. But, as we’re paying for one, we’ll be sure to use the services of a butler.

[MEFIowa]

Though certainly for the O-class ships, non-concierge B cabins and concierge A cabins are quite nice and useful. Some people may not find they get enough benefit from the A-level to leave the B-level. NO one should feel like the "have" to have a PH. Or an A. Or that they are in an "inferior" cabin, whether even G or F.

 

I think paying for a PH is a waste of money since we cruise for excursions and ports and take port-intensive cruises. I'd rather use the money saved to take an interesting excursion, for example. But to each their own.

 

ANY cabin on any O ship is a nice place to be if that is what you want and can afford. 

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

I think paying for a PH is a waste of money since we cruise for excursions and ports and take port-intensive cruises.

The debate on staterooms (Dining Venues, Ports, Drink Packages, Amenities, and on) is similar to the debate on all things cruising.  A cruise brand wants to have a variety of options to met lots of clients needs.  Where one client wants a Penthouse and can give all the reasons they feel that way.  Another client can do the same for any other stateroom.  It is not a matter right or wrong.  It is a matter of can a client justify the value based on the cost and/or simply client preferences. There is NO wrong answer, just what suits you best.   

 

I make no bones about it.  I am a Penthouse or higher guy.  I have been for years. I lived on the road for decades in every type of hotel room from the worst to the best.  All paid by my clients.  Now in retirement, it is my money, my choice.  Regardless of anyone choice of stateroom, make it right for YOU, your vacation and your budget.  We are so very blessed to have the ability to vacation.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[fdnycruiser]

Gary, I can’t believe that people would actually give you heat over your letter. I think it was well thought out with good suggestions. 

[MEFIowa]

53 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

... There is NO wrong answer, just what suits you best. ... Regardless of anyone choice of stateroom, make it right for YOU, your vacation and your budget.  We are so very blessed to have the ability to vacation. 

I don't think we necessarily disagree at all. It is up to each person to decide which cruise line, which cruise ship, which cruise itinerary, and which cruise cabin they'll want to pay for. That suits their needs and budget. So full agreement there.

 

BUT no one should be encouraged to feel like "PH or above is automatically better" or that "If you're not in a PH or above, you've settled for less." That's bunk. Our B3 and A3 were both perfect for us on that Riviera B2B in the Med. Would've been a complete waste of money for us to be PH or above. We spend so little time in our cabin. And we're in bed by 2200 to be off the boat the next day at 0800 for a full day of...whatever (off the ship). Forget if we had just 2 sea days out of our 20 nights B2B. Or was it just one?

 

Just think about OUR recent cruise on Riviera. You and I were both on it. Talked to you. Gina and I did so much more in ports and excursions than you did. That was our choice and your choice. Each choice right for each of us. We were active in the extreme. Off the boat as early as we could each day in port and hopefully back at the last minute. We came to see things and do things. And if that meant taking the #38 bus in Istanbul out 4 miles to the old walls of Constantinople and a walk back, then that's what we did. So, saving money meant we could spend it on amazing excursions in places like Ephesus & Rome. AND spend 3 nights in Venice before hand and 3 nights in Barcelona after. Worth it for us. To go B3 and A3.

[MEFIowa]

1 hour ago, Sthrngary said:

... There is NO wrong answer, just what suits you best. ... Regardless of anyone choice of stateroom, make it right for YOU, your vacation and your budget.... 

So, for our upcoming 22 nights B2Bon Sirena in the Baltic (starting with 3 nights in London and finishing with 3 nights in Copenhagen), our F and C1 (the big one on deck 7) are perfect for us. I think we'll have 1 sea day. So, we'll be doing and seeing and seeing and doing every day we can. So many excursions and sights to see. I even had to agree to the ABBA Musuem for my wife so I could see the preserved Swedish ship, the Vasa. 😉 

[Sthrngary]

26 minutes ago, fdnycruiser said:

Gary, I can’t believe that people would actually give you heat over your letter. I think it was well thought out with good suggestions. 

@fdnycruiser The real heat was my approach to putting the entire tip in the letter upfront.  I get it.  We all need to do what is best for each of us. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[Kay S]

This PH or better talk could be discouraging to new O cruisers, such as myself, who are booked down in steerage. 🙃 Don't tell me we will treated differently because of that.  This particular cruise is the perfect itinerary on the perfect dates, and we booked late.  Rather than risk the waitlist on something with a verandah, we took an ocean view down on a lower deck.  My husband is allergic to "class system" cruises and will never book  on one of those ship-within-a-ship behemoths coming out on the mainstream lines.  I don't want to tell him Oceania is more class-based than any others.  Yes, I get it; you pay more, then you get more.  I guess what I'm asking is will there be any "snobs" on O we will need to avoid?

[ORV]

8 minutes ago, Kay S said:

I don't want to tell him Oceania is more class-based than any others

There is no need for that. There's always snobs, it's a big enough ship to avoid people you don't get on with. Most of the people that I've met over the years on Oceania have been nice folks, with a few exceptions. But I've seen no one bragging about which room they're in. It might come up in a conversation, but generally not in a boasting or "I'm better" kind of way. 

 

The worst you might run in to is to be at a sharing table in one of the Specialties that is just a bad fit. We've had a few of these over the years, especially those that can't leave their politics at home. 

[basor]

12 minutes ago, Kay S said:

This PH or better talk could be discouraging to new O cruisers, such as myself, who are booked down in steerage. 🙃 Don't tell me we will treated differently because of that.  This particular cruise is the perfect itinerary on the perfect dates, and we booked late.  Rather than risk the waitlist on something with a verandah, we took an ocean view down on a lower deck.  My husband is allergic to "class system" cruises and will never book  on one of those ship-within-a-ship behemoths coming out on the mainstream lines.  I don't want to tell him Oceania is more class-based than any others.  Yes, I get it; you pay more, then you get more.  I guess what I'm asking is will there be any "snobs" on O we will need to avoid?

I think if you have read through many of the posts you will find there is no "class system" on O.  Once you are out of your room, no one cares!  I have no idea what cabin most of our friends are in onboard.  The "perks" for booking in a higher cabin category are - 1) Access to the outdoor spa area in front of the spa but anyone can use for a daily fee (they simple paid for access upfront) 2) On the lager ships (Vista, Riviera and Marina) there are concierge/executive lounges for people in those cabins,  There is nothing in those lounges that you cannot find anywhere on the ship.  We have had access to them on several cruises and never step foot in them. 3) Earlier access and possibly more "guaranteed" reservations in the specialty restaurant but everyone receives at least one guaranteed reservation in the specialty restaurant and can check for more.  

You will find a welcoming atmosphere onboard for everyone and if, in a rare instance, that someone is asking/telling their cabin, we smile and move on...

[AMHuntFerry]

22 minutes ago, Kay S said:

  I guess what I'm asking is will there be any "snobs" on O we will need to avoid?

They are rare enough that I find them entertaining rather than annoying. In fact, they are at risk of being trolled if one of us is feeling crusty.