A Few Retreat Questions

[handbellplayer]

We are staying in a Sky Suite on Beyond in November.  This will be our first suite experience on Celebrity.  I have read a lot of reviews, but I still have questions.

 

What comes with the mini-bar?  Is it all complementary? Can we bring back soda, beer or wine from the Retreat Lounge and restock the mini-bar ourselves?

 

One of our port stops is Grand Cayman.  How does priority tendering work?

 

Do suite guests always have access to Blu?  Do you need reservations?

 

We get premium bath products.  How is the quality?  It could be one less thing to pack.

 

Suites get complementary room service.  Is there a special room service menu, or just the standard one?  Can you order room service from any other dining venues?

 

I  understand the Retreat lounge has a lunch menu.  What does it include?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[mrgabriel]

Have not sailed in a Sky Suite so cannot answer most of your questions.

 

However, can state that suite guests do not get unlimited access to Blu. Blu is the assigned dining room for Aqua Class. Suite guests can request access from the Blu maitre d' but it's not guaranteed. You do, however, have full access to Luminae. No reservations needed there. 

[George C]

On lunch Luminaeis only open on embarkation and sea days , on embarkation they do offer lobster roll which I love , always have a burger and pretty sure Cobb salad . On port days outdoor retreat offers a small menu including burger . 

[thebutlerdidit]

If you’re already booked you can see all of the menus in the app. Blu is not guaranteed to suite guests unless you’re booked in an Aqua Sky Suite. It’s available on a space available basis. Luminae will be your designated dining room. It’s open for breakfast and dinner, as well as lunch on sea days and embarkation day.

[jelayne]

On the Beyond now and the mini bar came with some cokes, Evian water and a 4 beers.  Those are complimentar. We had beers removed and had Coke switched fro Sprite.  Yes you can pick up items from the Lounge and bring to your suite. 
Fior priority tendering you go to the Retreat Lounge and they escort you to the tenders.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

1 hour ago, handbellplayer said:

We are staying in a Sky Suite on Beyond in November.  This will be our first suite experience on Celebrity.  I have read a lot of reviews, but I still have questions.

 

What comes with the mini-bar?  Is it all complementary? Can we bring back soda, beer or wine from the Retreat Lounge and restock the mini-bar ourselves?

 

One of our port stops is Grand Cayman.  How does priority tendering work?

 

Do suite guests always have access to Blu?  Do you need reservations?

 

We get premium bath products.  How is the quality?  It could be one less thing to pack.

 

Suites get complementary room service.  Is there a special room service menu, or just the standard one?  Can you order room service from any other dining venues?

 

I  understand the Retreat lounge has a lunch menu.  What does it include?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Mini Bar, not sure about restocking since we sail in upper level suites.  Yes, you can bring back items from the Retreat Lounge if not restocked.

 

Priority tendering: The Retreat Concierge will take you to the next available tender without you needing to get a tender ticket #.

 

Blu, dining access is on a space available basis. Even in an upper level suite the concierge made arrangements for us to dine in Blu because Aqua class was fully booked on our sailing.

 

Bath products are Ok but I didn't care for the scent of the lotion, prefer unscented. If you are fussy about your hair bring your own.

 

Room service is included without a fee.  The menu is on the app.

 

The Retreat sun deck has a limited lunch menu, salad, burgers, turkey club, and a few other items.

[George C]

Restocking seems to be up to butler , they asked us what we wanted restocked on our last beyond sky suite. 

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

What comes with the mini-bar?  Is it all complementary? Can we bring back soda, beer or wine from the Retreat Lounge and restock the mini-bar ourselves?

 

In a Sky Suite the mini-bar is not included.  

What we do is ask the stateroom attendant/Butler to remove the non-free items.  We let them know our preferred non-alcoholic drink preferences and ask them to keep it stocked for us. 

 

4 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

One of our port stops is Grand Cayman.  How does priority tendering work?

 

Guest inform the Retreat Concierge and get escorted to the next available tender.  

 

4 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

Do suite guests always have access to Blu?  Do you need reservations?

 

Retreat guest can dine in Blu on a space available basis.  We let the Luminae Maitre'd know when we would like to dine in Blu and he coordinates with the Blu Maitre'd to see if and when space is available.  Recently there has been a move on E-class where you can let the Maitre'd in Luminae know a day in advance what you would like from the next days Blu menu and prepare it for you to eat in Luminae. This is new and the process may vary from ship to ship so check with the Luminae Maitre'd about what you need to do if you want to have food from the Blu menu or you like to dine in Blu. 

 

 

4 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

Suites get complementary room service.  Is there a special room service menu, or just the standard one?  Can you order room service from any other dining venues?

 

Yes, there is a room service menu that you order from.  You cannot order from other dining venue's.  We have been able to get take out sushi from the Raw on 5 but had to go to the reception desk at the restaurant and place the order. 

 

4 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

I  understand the Retreat lounge has a lunch menu.  What does it include?

 

 There are usually snack items in the lounge but lunch on port days would be on the Retreat Sundeck.  They have a couple of sandwiches to choose from. 

 On sea days, Luminae is open for lunch. 

 

 Check the app for menus on a current sailing of Beyond for a more up to date menu. 

 

[MMMCruiser]

Just got off the Apex a couple of weeks ago in an Aqua Sky Suite. 

 

The mini-bar had waters and soda I think (I honestly can't remember what was in there, but our butler asked what we liked and then he kept stocking it with those items for the rest of the cruise).

 

Yes, you can bring back drinks (or snacks) from the lounge.

 

We liked the bath products, but YMMV.

 

We were able to just walk into Blu for dinner when we tried (they didn't ask us if we were Aqua which we were) and the ship was full.  We preferred Luminae, though, so only went to Blu once.

 

We did have a retreat room service menu in the room (plus a card for breakfast).  We only ordered breakfast through room service, but it was nice.

 

There is a small but nice menu up on the Retreat sundeck (I think it's the same as in the lounge).  We had lunch a few times up there - it was so nice and uncrowded compared to the buffet.  There are also a lot of snacks in the lounge. 

 

Hope this helps. 

[curry767]

41 minutes ago, MMMCruiser said:

We were able to just walk into Blu for dinner when we tried (they didn't ask us if we were Aqua which we were) and the ship was full.  We preferred Luminae, though, so only went to Blu once. 

Did you have any issues with getting a table in Luminae even though you were in a Aqua Sky Suite?

[CruisersTimesThree]

4 minutes ago, curry767 said:

Did you have any issues with getting a table in Luminae even though you were in an Aqua Sky Suite?

Aqua Sky Suite passengers dining venue is Luminae so there is no issue eating there. They also can eat in Blu if requested and get priority over other suites since it’s an “Aqua” Sky Suite. 

[cruisestitch]

The retreat lounge does not serve lunch.
 

Retreat sundecks have a small lunch menu.

 

Luminae serves lunch on sea days

[zitsky]

Retreat guests can go to the lounge for priority tenders?  Does that work if it’s a Celebrity group tour?  Is it only for private tours?  Because you need to know your bus number on a group tour.

[miched]

The bath products are in dispensers in the shower.   I am not fussy but have found that the conditioner seems to cause a lot of static in the small amount of hair that I have.  It wont  lay flat after using it.    My wife also claims it does the same with her hair.   She now takes on her own brand.   
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[handbellplayer]

10 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Retreat guests can go to the lounge for priority tenders?  Does that work if it’s a Celebrity group tour?  Is it only for private tours?  Because you need to know your bus number on a group tour.

I would like to know the answer to this, too.  We are on a Celebrity excursion in GC.

[miched]

I am sure you have to go to the area where the group is meeting.   It is usually in the theater.  You get a number and then the group is escorted to the tender by the group number.   If you were If you were in the retreat area you wouldn’t hear the number and you would also be on a top deck and not have the group number that is needed for the tour.  The tender boards off of the Magic carpet that is stationed at a bottom deck for that purpose.   

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[cruisestitch]

Stop into the retreat the day before your tour and get their instructions from them. They will tell you where you should be meeting to go on your tour.

[wrk2cruise]

If you are in a suite and are on a Celebrity shore excursion you have to meet at the meeting point listed on your excursion ticket which is almost always going to be the theater if tendering is required.  You will depart from there.

 

If you are exploring on your own or on a private tour and need priority tender service go to the Retreat Lounge and they will escort you from there.

[phoenix_dream]

15 hours ago, mrgabriel said:

Have not sailed in a Sky Suite so cannot answer most of your questions.

 

However, can state that suite guests do not get unlimited access to Blu. Blu is the assigned dining room for Aqua Class. Suite guests can request access from the Blu maitre d' but it's not guaranteed. You do, however, have full access to Luminae. No reservations needed there. 

Access to Blu is granted,  with no prior requests needed, probably 99% of the time

[phoenix_dream]

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

Retreat guests can go to the lounge for priority tenders?  Does that work if it’s a Celebrity group tour?  Is it only for private tours?  Because you need to know your bus number on a group tour.

If you are on a Celebrity shore excursion you go to wherever the ticket tells you like everyone else. If you want to go ashore on your own, go to the Retreat Lounge and they will get you on the next available tender

[billc23]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

Retreat guests can go to the lounge for priority tenders?  Does that work if it’s a Celebrity group tour?  Is it only for private tours?  Because you need to know your bus number on a group tour.

Yes. For Celebrity tours the concierge will retrieve your bus number sticker if asked for the day prior - so no need to wait in the theater - but you still need to go with your group and you can be escorted if desired. This is available if tendering or docked.

 

The Retreat often has priority tendering back to the ship and this is useful when there is a long line waiting for the next tender to board. At the security entrance to the tenders there may be a Retreat sign and/or Retreat personnel. If you do not see any Retreat designation you can walk up to security and show your Retreat card. A Pinnacle sailing as Zenith can use this benefit too... 

[Andy_P]

This is causing arguments all over the Internet, but it appears clear that ALL suites have a complementary mini-bar.

 

Edited August 20 by Andy_P

[39august]

"Stocked" with  certain items depending on suite status.  

[Team Stag]

38 minutes ago, Andy_P said:

This is causing arguments all over the Internet, but it appears clear that ALL suites have a complementary mini-bar.

 

I think part of the confusion is because it is technically a new policy as of May 24th, 2024.  However many Butlers were already doing it on their own for years leading up to being made official & I think that's where the confusion was stemming from.  

Edited August 20 by Team Stag

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, billc23 said:

Yes. For Celebrity tours the concierge will retrieve your bus number sticker if asked for the day prior - so no need to wait in the theater - but you still need to go with your group and you can be escorted if desired. This is available if tendering or docked.

 

The Retreat often has priority tendering back to the ship and this is useful when there is a long line waiting for the next tender to board. At the security entrance to the tenders there may be a Retreat sign and/or Retreat personnel. If you do not see any Retreat designation you can walk up to security and show your Retreat card. A Pinnacle sailing as Zenith can use this benefit too... 

we find it easier for Celebrity Excursions just to go to the meeting point rather up to the  lounge then back down to join the group as they exit the ship.  
 

The priority for return tenders is a real plus in a very hot port with a long line for the tender.