tonyfsu21

It’s just “limited access”. All this means is you will actually have a nice window seat during sail away and a very attentive suite concierge + drink serving staff thats finally able to cater to you. Often the lounge was so jam packed with suite guests and friends of suite guests and randoms that you simply couldn’t get a nice seat or a drink (in a timely manner). Enjoy the experience because this situation may not last long. IMHO sailing in a suite on RC reduced capacity is now up to par service wise with high end companies like Regent. 

It’s just “limited access”. All this means is you will actually have a nice window seat during sail away and a very attentive suite concierge + drink serving staff thats finally able to cater to you. Often the lounge was so jam packed with suite guests and friends of suite guests and randoms that you simply couldn’t get a nice seat or a drink (in a timely manner). Enjoy the experience because this situation may not last long. IMHO sailing in a suite on RC reduced capacity is now up to par service wise with high end companies like Regent. 

I have to say, it’s really nice having 1+ crew per person as far as service goes. I really don’t mind the lack of crowds at all. I would think that this is going to have a major impact on RC bottom line and my concern would be the overall elimination of the cruise industry as we know it. I suppose it’s better to have 500 people sailing then 0. 

Wow!! What a great time we had on Allure of the Seas last week. Got tested for CoVid on the 20th, that was a bit of a nervous time, but all 6 of us tested negative. The embarkation process was very simple and quick. We had the 1:00 check in time and we were on the ship by 1:20! Our cruise director, Marc Walker (Amazing) said that the passenger count was a bit under 1600!
I am so impressed with the health protocols Royal has in place. Every where we looked sanitizing and cleaning were going on. The Wind Jammer was great with the crew serving the food. I am really hoping that this is something that will stay as I hate people grabbing so much food and not eating it and making a mess of everything, not to mention touching all the serving utensils. 
The main dinning room as usual was excellent and again the above and beyond cleaning of tables. Everyone working the dining room were so grateful for us to be there and we let them know how grateful we were to be there and to be with them .
Everyone on the ship went above and beyond to make the cruise a great experience. We certainly felt much safer on the ship than we did on land. Even though everyone on the ship was vaccinated (except for kids 12 and under) and all tested negative, the mask mandate was in place as were vaccinated venues. I really did not mind wearing the mask as it was only on to get from the cabin to the next point, or while we were shopping on the Royal Promenade. 
All of us made sure that we showed our support for all the entertainers by clapping and hollering as loud as we could at each of the shows. Mamma Mia was so much fun!! The diving and ice skating show, as always, were top notch!!
I would have to give our time on Allure 10 out of 10!
Oh, and while on board my wife and I booked our next cruise on Harmony for next September.

I am following as well. My family is sailing SC in April on Oasis. We just (like an hour ago)  surprised my husband’s mom and his brother and family. We are paying for them to come on the cruise. They will be staying in ocean view balcony rooms. We definitely want them to come hang in the suite and we’re wondering about this very question. Thank you for asking! PERFECT TIMING! ?

@tonyfsu21 sent you a PM ?

Thank you so much for this excellent information. I am 100% going to ask for an ice chest for lots & lots of beer!

My responses are, of course, based on before-COVID (BC) realities so answers may be subject to current conditions.
IMO, the most important information that the Genie gleans from the advance contact are things like what kind of drinks you prefer to be stocked in your suite and whether or not you have food allergies, etc.  All of that can be relayed to the Genie in plenty of time, even on short notice.  ...and if, for some reason you still do not relay that information to the Genie before boarding, it only takes 1 visit from the beverages guy (he comes at least once per day to replenish...or did, BC) to fix it all.  If you want something special (food, etc.) on boarding day, you might or might not get that information relayed in time. IMO asking for special food on embarkation day is a nuisance for everyone.  I would recommend that you wait until at least day 2 for any kind of suite event - especially involving food.
You should have no problem organizing any kind of event IN your suite.  You can invite anyone you wish to your suite and they can enjoy any food and beverages that you enjoy.  There would be no cost unless you want liquor or wine.  Where  you will sometimes run into issues is if you try and organize something OUTside of your suite.  Then it becomes much more complicated and the chances are higher that you might be asked to pay for non-SC pax.  Dining in specialty restaurants is a good example.  Obviously, anyone staying in the SC suite will have no charges but those who are at the table with you who are NOT SC will be expected to pay.  It is in everyone's best interest to make sure that the non-SC are aware of this fact and not taken by surprise that they will most likely receive a bill.  I say "most likely" b/c I have experienced certain isolated situations where the non-SC seated with SC did not receive a bill....but the "rule" is clear - non-SC must pay. When you are served in your suite, you will not be charged for anyone - or at least, my experience has been that there is no charge, regardless of how much food or drinks are consumed.  Again - based on BC experiences.  Tipping is appropriate (I know I don't have to tell you that....).
What beverages will be on hand for you ?  The Genie/beverage guy will stock any kind of water, juice, soft drink or beer that is regularly available on the ship.  If you ask for something NOT regularly available on the ship (diet Ginger Ale, caffeine-free soda, etc.) you probably will not get it - especially now.  I have heard of Genies going out into town on turnaround day and procuring special requests for pax but this is really rare and I would not expect it to happen these days.  It is possible to have individual drinks (wine, liquor) delivered to your suite although we have never asked for this on any of our SC cruises.  It just seemed decadent when I can walk my fat a$$ down to the bar and get it myself if I want it that bad...especially on Deck 17.  There is a drink cart that comes around in the afternoon with select drink options but we never ever seemed to time it right and have never even seen one !  You can have bottles of wine delivered but there is a charge.  Liquor is a very complicated issue and they strongly discourage it.  Can it happen ?  Yes, but it's neither reasonably priced nor easy to do...by design.  One of the only complaints I have ever had about my SC beverage service was that there was TOO much brought to the suite so I think you will have no problem at all getting as many drinks delivered as you could possibly want.  We actually had the beverage guy remove some of them the last time, they just kept coming and coming and coming.  It was a ridiculous amount of cans and bottles for just 2 people !!  I will make 1 recommendation...if you want a lot of beer to be available in your suite, you will probably have to ask for an ice chest to be brought it.  The only cooler that is in your suite is the same size as everyone elses...super small and not cool at all.  This is a request that I would (and always do, BTW) make with the Genie PRE boarding.  Let the Genie know that you expect an ice chest filled with XX beer all iced and cooled down for when you board.  If you don't make that specific request ahead of time, you will have plenty of warm beer with nowhere to cool it down or store it.  We always keep an ice chest full of ice in our suite.  Sometimes they will have to scout around to find an ice chest (most often it is actually supplied by one of the attendants !!) but I've never had them fail to produce one, eventually.
Just remember - inside the Suite - anything goes - all free for everyone.  Outside of the Suite - maybe yes, maybe no (extra $$).
I hope you get the RoyalUp upgrade.  It will be sooo nice for your whole group !!
 

Correct. C&A points are for the original cabin category. If you had a balcony or lower category, you should have received 1 point per night…3 nights equals 3 points. Double that equals 6 points total.
If you originally booked a suite, including a Junior Suite (not RoyalUpped into one) than another point per night. 3 nights equals 6 points. Double that equals 12 points total.
I get the Trifecta! I’m usually sailing solo, in a suite, so I get 1 point per night…plus another point for being solo…and still another for being in a suite. That’s 3 points per night. Double that equals 6 points per night. So for me, a seven night cruise totals 42 points! This makes up for all the cruises I had to cancel last year.

You will only get the points associated with your original cruise.   I was going from Balcony to suite on a Royal Up and was  told I would not get the extra suite points.  Just the double points for the balcony.  That was one reason I did a Royal Up for suite double points, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way  Sorry

@tonyfsu21 I agree with your little rant as I felt this way the entire time in Egypt......and in places like Starbucks. In Egypt there are people in the bathroom holding the toilet paper rolls just to get tips. This is not like a bathroom attendant in fancy places, this is literally someone holding hostage a basic need for tips. I also think if you have to ask for a tip, you don't deserve one. My first time to the Bahamas many years ago I was reminded more than 3 times to tip before I had any services render, I planned to and I did, but not nearly as much as I would have had they just focused on the service.

Cruising is different but Star Class is a whole different beast imho. I don't think a genie really would work for me and I like luxury travel. I think $100pp is an adequate tip, but.....that is a personal preference because $100 has different value to everyone.  I am tidy at home and on vacation but I always tip the housekeeper, no matter how long I stay. Even though I am an accountant by career, I have worked in the restaurant industry since I was 15. Anything in regards to customer service is brutal. In most cases service is all about convenience as you can do all the things they do for you...therefore you are paying for the privilege of their expertise. Tipping is a very personal thing and my advice is the threshold depends on the circumstances. In the US if you eat out at a restaurant I do think if everything is satisfactory you should tip at least 20% My standard rate for adequate service is 25% because I have been a server before. I know the server has to tip out hosts, bartenders and buss people. When I travel elsewhere I try to stick to their customs. I have been told I am on over tipper by lots of coworkers and friends but it's always about how I felt when I received the service.

No, not at all.  I'm sure you've read some of my SC blogs where I discuss that Dan really doesn't care much for the Genie service.  In fact, if it were strictly up to him, would cruise in a balcony cabin with none of the "extras".  He doesn't really care for the fuss.  One of the things that he really dislikes about SC is all of the activity that it generates.  Someone is constantly calling or knocking at the door or coming or going (now, this may change with COVID restrictions and protocols but that's the way it was BC).
What the Genie wants more than anything else is for you to enjoy your cruise and it that means that you didn't need him/her much, all the better, I'm sure !  But I'm willing to bet that at LEAST for the first time, you will enjoy the attention and help.  It is so nice not to have to worry about ANYthing.  All of your reservations, your seats (it's so nice to know that your seats are reserved and that you can wait until just minutes before the show to arrive), your trips off and onto the ship, room service, extra attention for your daughter, arrangements for special tours (may be a thing of the past....) like the personal tour we got of the Central Park gardens with Laszlo Turos (senior horticulturist for Royal who created all of the Central Park gardens).  But you can get as much or as little attention from the Genie as you like.  On our one of our last SC cruise we asked that the Genie make a special effort to minimize the interruptions and she did ! ...and there's just nothing like having your Genie arrange a party in your suite !!  Some Genies will even create and send out invitations but we never wanted anything quite THAT formal.

My family of 4 always adds money to the envelope even after paying the standard gratuities. My kids make a mess though. I think from what I understand, RC uses the gratuity charge to essentially pay the staff a guarantee tip wage per voyage and anything placed in an envelope should technically go directly to that individual (I hope). I only tip extra via envelope to stateroom attendant and suite concierge (and Genie). Speciality dining I always tip around 25.00-$50 per meal depending on service. I also feel really bad for these crew members being away from their families and I get joy out of compensating them. 

Sorry, my intention was not for this to morph into a “what have you done to deserve a tip thread”. I really just wanted to get a base line for the Genie knowing they are not part of the tip pool on the ship and their income directly correlates to their ability to provide a level of service that is rewarded by a tip. I think I now have a pretty good idea. Thank you. 

My family of 4 always adds money to the envelope even after paying the standard gratuities. My kids make a mess though. I think from what I understand, RC uses the gratuity charge to essentially pay the staff a guarantee tip wage per voyage and anything placed in an envelope should technically go directly to that individual (I hope). I only tip extra via envelope to stateroom attendant and suite concierge (and Genie). Speciality dining I always tip around 25.00-$50 per meal depending on service. I also feel really bad for these crew members being away from their families and I get joy out of compensating them. 

My family of 4 always adds money to the envelope even after paying the standard gratuities. My kids make a mess though. I think from what I understand, RC uses the gratuity charge to essentially pay the staff a guarantee tip wage per voyage and anything placed in an envelope should technically go directly to that individual (I hope). I only tip extra via envelope to stateroom attendant and suite concierge (and Genie). Speciality dining I always tip around 25.00-$50 per meal depending on service. I also feel really bad for these crew members being away from their families and I get joy out of compensating them. 

Sorry, my intention was not for this to morph into a “what have you done to deserve a tip thread”. I really just wanted to get a base line for the Genie knowing they are not part of the tip pool on the ship and their income directly correlates to their ability to provide a level of service that is rewarded by a tip. I think I now have a pretty good idea. Thank you. 

Sorry, my intention was not for this to morph into a “what have you done to deserve a tip thread”. I really just wanted to get a base line for the Genie knowing they are not part of the tip pool on the ship and their income directly correlates to their ability to provide a level of service that is rewarded by a tip. I think I now have a pretty good idea. Thank you. 

Genies are excluded from the regular gratuities so it is customary to tip them.  Again, it's totally at your discretion. 
As far as what they do for you?  As @WAAAYTOOOalways puts it, the value of a Genie is very hard to quantify.  Think of the Genie as your very own, personal concierge.  They do everything, literally.  You never have to visit guest services, you never have to visit the suite concierge.  You want something?  Ask for it, and it happens (well, not rule breaking or anything) but the Genie literally will go out of his/way to make things happen for you.  You are spoiled beyond what you can imagine.
Off the top of my head, the specific extras a Genie has been known to do are beyond what I can list here. All I know is that when the opportunity is there, I will always pay the extra and choose Star.  
If you are truly interested, take some time and read the Star Class live blogs here in the message boards.  It was by doing that (mainly the early ones by @WAAAYTOOO and @CGTLH) that got me interested in the Star Class program in the first place.  I think if you go through a few live blogs, you will see what I mean.  It is really hard to come up with a comprehensive list of all the extras.

My kids will turn the aqua theatre suite upside down so I’m kind of thinking the same dollar figure. 

Always 

Always 

My kids will turn the aqua theatre suite upside down so I’m kind of thinking the same dollar figure. 

In that case, don't forget some extra for the room attendant! They are the real superstars here in keeping the room clean and removing the constant flow of empty dishes from all the food and snacks that get delivered.