Celebrity's Cabins

[Neesa]

Hello amazing fellow cruisers! I am trying to educate myself regarding the Celebrity product coming from RCCL and DCL.

I'm trying to understand the vernacular when trying to choose a cabin that is right for us. 

Concierge cabins? Are they just regular cabins with a concierge access? 

Are Sky suites a true suite, is it like a Royal junior suite? 

Is the Celebrity and up suite like grand suite and above? 

Is the butler similar to a genie?

Is the Celebrity suites program streamlined across their fleet unlike Royals where different ships afford different suites amenities?

Thanks so much!

[WAAAYTOOO]

Thanks @Neesa.  I need to learn this as well.

[Plumlee2028]

Hi:

Ive only stayed in Concierge Class (it was a cheap $100 MoveUp upgrade from the solo balcony) but here is what I know about your questions. 

Concierge Class is the same physical space as that ships balcony.  (Traditional Balcony on Millennium or Solstice Class or Infinite Veranda on Edge Class).  It has concierge Access, a welcome lunch in the dining room, a bottle of sparkling wine, daily canapés in the room (you need to request both now, but they are there), and I believe slightly upgraded bath amenities, and a couple extra perks. https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/staterooms/concierge-class-stateroom  In cabin service (except for the deliverables above) is the same as a normal cabin.  I personally didn't get much use of the concierge class product. 

Sky Suite is a full suite and is part of the retreat product.  https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/staterooms/suite-class

The suites are similar across the fleet and all suites within the same class have a similar service level.  The primary difference in hard product will be decoration and that the non-revolutionized ships do not have a retreat sundeck.   I do see that some of the higher end suites (such as Royal Suite and above) will have complimentary unlimited specialty dining and liquor bottles in the room.  You won't have a sky suite on Apex and one on Infinity with different service.  (The one exception is they introduced an Aqua Sky Suite, which will add AquaClass amenities).  

I believe Only the edge class has a retreat sundeck with a pool, and the revolutionized ships have a retreat sundeck with no pool area.  

Celebrity Suite looks comparable to Grand Suite, but if the space isn't an issue, then Sky Suite is going to get the same service level.  Its not like a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite with more space and that's about it. 

I can't really compare butlers to Genies.

[Neesa]

@Plumlee2028 your descriptions help a great deal. TBH it makes me feel perfectly comfortable booking the concierge class. We usually book our suites for tge teo bathrooms and im not willing or able for that matter to book those ultra expensive cabins. If i only have one bathroom the concierge cabin sounds like a perfect fit. 

Thank you so much for educating me! 

[SebagoSue]

Hi @Neesa!  Just returned from a Med cruise on the Beyond in a Celebrity Suite and have also done Sky Suites on Apex and Beyond, so hopefully I can answer questions you have about those ships.  We have only sailed on the Edge class ships. From my experience, you will LOVE the Retreat experience on Celebrity.  The Retreat (suites) start with the Sky Suites and move up to the Iconic Suites.  Aqua class (not Aqua Sky suites) are not considered suites in the Retreat, but they do have spa benefits as well as a special dining room called Blu that many guests really like.  I believe Concierge class are all IV cabins just below Aquaclass with some concierge benefits and some better locations. The Retreat concierge is different from the concierge class concierge.

The Retreat dining experience in Luminae is beyond compare and like a specialty restaurant, except with crew that gets to know you. In fact, we had the same primary waiter this cruise as we had in April.  I think the food is significantly better than CK on Royal.  They are open every breakfast and dinner and lunch on sea days.  They also serve a limited menu on the Retreat sun deck.  In addition to the changing nightly dinner menus, they have classics like French onion soup, shrimp cocktail, filet, steak and salmon.

The Retreat sun deck on Edge class ships is awesome.  It’s a full experience, more so than the suite sundeck on Royal.  Roving drink servers, crew to set up your lounge towels ( not needed, but wow!), fruit kabobs every morning and sorbet every afternoon delivered to your lounge chair, nice sized pool on Edge class ships, umbrellas when not windy, full bar service.

We don’t hang out in the Retreat lounge too much, as there are so many great areas on the ship, but it is a beautiful, very comfortable space.  It has 2-3 concierges, full bar, full glass windows for spectacular views, snacks at various times of day.

Butler service is amazing.  There have been some slight changes initiated recently that affect Sky Suites and Aqua Sky Suites. Their service is now by a Retreat “Team” instead of one personal butler so it’s still TBD how that will work out.  But for Celebrity Suites and above, you get a personal butler who may have about 9 suites to service. They will truly do whatever you need similar to a genie. Some people use them much more than others, having a butler walk them to dinner, meet them at a show ensuring a drink server provides what they need, etc.  Others, like us, may use them for a special afternoon snack like a cheese plate delivered to the room or coffee and pastry from Cafe al Bacio delivered before an early morning excursion. (One morning this cruise the DH went for our coffee and our butler ran down the hall to unlock the door when he saw him returning, saying please let him always get it for us.) He also decorated the room and brought a special cake when he knew it was our anniversary.  The butlers also are at the main theater on chic nights to greet their guests and save a section on the upper floor for the Retreat guests.

As far as Sky Suites and Celebrity suites, here are some thoughts.  Suites on Edge class ships have regular balconies, not the Infinite Veranda type that is more like a window.  Size wise a Sky suite is about the same as a junior suite.  But it has full suite/Retreat benefits (other than the butler change noted above).  There are different versions of a Sky Suite, like a Magic Carpet Sky Suite or an Aqua Sky Suite, but the room itself is essentially the same.  
Celebrity suites have a separate bedroom, I believe always with a door.  They also have a 2 part bathroom which is helpful with 2 people getting ready.  These remind me of a grand suite or owners suite perhaps.

The suites above Celebrity Suites are considered premium suites and get some additional benefits like free specialty dining and 2 bottles of alcohol.

The Celebrity experience is definitely more for adults than families so we will continue to do both Celebrity and Royal.  But the Retreat experience is fantastic!

 

 

[Neesa]

@SebagoSue OMG thank you so much for taking the time to describe the Celebrity product....SOLD!  I really think moving forward this will be a better fit for our family as we don't go for the "thrills" that much anymore. Different strokes, right? I am especially excited they are going to start to sail from PC as well. I have been watching videos on the cabins and what not but the first hand account experience is what I lean into. The videos of any quality (no crazy moving camera making me nauseous) are usually done by the lovely TA community and they just want to sell cabins. I like to know everything I can before I commit. Thanks so much for your perspective I really truly appreciate it

[DaveWithHat]

The Points Guy website has a very good article on Celebrity cabins and suites. Celebrity Cruises cabins and suites guide -- everything you want to know - The Points Guy