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A RETREAT BEYOND the stars July 7-13, 2024

CravingaCruise

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CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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They say once you start sailing in suites you can't go back.  Well...they weren't kidding!  We attempted going back last year...all the way back.  We sailed three consecutive cruises in February 2023 on Navigator of the Seas in an interior cabin.  I don't know what we were thinking!  We survived, but determined we are officially suite snobs now!

Now when I start looking at cruises and suggest a cruise, my hubby is the first to ask if it's a suite.  If the answer is no, it's a no-go!  I've created a monster...but I'm okay with that.  LOL

We've been busy with wedding planning this past year with our daughter, so we've taken a break from cruising.  Since the newlyweds were on a cruise for their honeymoon (naturally), they shared pics of their adventures and I got jealous.  🙂  Now we're going on a cruise!

Details on our adventure:

Who's Going

  • Just the empty nesters!

Flight & Hotels

  • Flying in two days before on a super duper early flight non-stop from home to Orlando. 
  • Staying one night in Orlando to meet up with our middle daughter who lives in Florida.  
  • Taking the Brightline train from Orlando to Ft Lauderdale the day before the cruise
  • Staying one night in Ft Lauderdale at the Hilton Ft Lauderdale Marina (hopefully) with a view of our ship!!

Cruise

  • Celebrity Beyond
  • July 7 - 13, 2024

Cabin

  • Booked Retreat Guarantee and were assigned a Sky Suite on deck 9

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Leaving Ft Lauderdale at 4pm
  • Day 2:  Perfect Day at Cococay
    • Booked the Hideaway Beach (Adults Only) Day Pass
  • Day 3:  At sea
  • Day 4:  Grand Cayman (haven't been here since our very first cruise 25 years ago!!)
  • Day 5: At Sea
  • Day 6:  Bimini Bahamas (never been before)
  • Day 7:  Back in Ft Lauderdale

I'm 4 minutes from checking in for this cruise!  I hope you'll join us for our adventure!  I'll be taking a ton of pics of the ship and the Retreat and comparing to Star Class on Royal!  If you have any specific questions, let us know and we'll do our best to answer them along the journey.  

 

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9 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

They say once you start sailing in suites you can't go back.  Well...they weren't kidding!  We attempted going back last year...all the way back.  We sailed three consecutive cruises in February 2022 on Navigator of the Seas in an interior cabin.  I don't know what we were thinking!  We survived, but determined we are officially suite snobs now!

Now when I start looking at cruises and suggest a cruise, my hubby is the first to ask if it's a suite.  If the answer is no, it's a no-go!  I've created a monster...but I'm okay with that.  LOL

I know it's bad, but this whole bit made me laugh out loud while having my tea this morning lol

9 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

I hope you'll join us for our adventure!  I'll be taking a ton of pics of the ship and the Retreat and comparing to Star Class on Royal!  I

I'm totally here for this! Well at least I will try my best. I just realized while re-reading this that you aren't sailing until July 7th. We'll be in Barcelona by then getting ready to board Voyager but I will still try to follow along. Hubby and I are doing our own "retreat" vs "star class" comparison a few weeks afterward that Voyager sailing.

CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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13 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

yesssssssss a sky suite!!!!!

and the beyond!!!!

we are going on the ascent in february and i think again next december. so excited for this!!!

Thank you!  When we were booking it, I looked for blogs on the Beyond in Retreat and I didn’t see any so I thought I’d offer up our experience!  I have high hopes for this! ❤️

CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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11 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Hubby and I are doing our own "retreat" vs "star class" comparison a few weeks afterward

Thanks for following along. Looking forward to your blog too!  

From all the reviews online it feels like Celebrity is geared a bit more toward the Gen X crowd. I’m excited for the new experience!

Have a great time on your trip!

10 minutes ago, Sweety said:

 

I will be following this cruise. Thank you for sharing.

 

Thanks for the follow! ❤️

Lovetocruise2002 Pinnacle

Lovetocruise2002

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3 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

It’s never too early!!  Didn’t @Lovetocruise2002 start one like a year in advance one time? 😂

 

1 hour ago, SweetPea said:

Poor Sabrina will never live that down! 🤣🤣🤣 i can hear her now. ... that happened ONCE! YEARS AGO!!!

OMG! That rumour totally won't die! It was 6 weeks early 😂

1 hour ago, SweetPea said:

Since we'll overlap, i think we should do a joint blog and really confuse folks! 🤣🤣🤣

Wait? I am already confused. You and @OCSC Mike aren't even on the same ship right?

Maybe I should join the fun and start my 7/8 blog too right now LOL!  Not...

CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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RETREAT SPECIFIC INFO

I reached out to Celebrity tonight because we've seen contradictary information online that left us (who am I kidding - me) with so many questions. The individual I spoke with was very cordial.  I swear I was talking to Ramone (Oscar Nunez) from the movie, The Proposal!  He sounded just like him - even his giggle! 

Here's the scoop:

Celebrity has a specific number to contact them about the Retreat:  1-877-738-7328  💥 @Royal - you really NEED to do this for STAR!! 💥

However, with as much as I appreciated having a dedicated number for the Retreat, the representative I spoke with didn't know as much as I expected him to!  He had to put me on hold several times to check answers to my questions - which left me somewhat less confident in his answers.  😬

Here are the questions I asked specifically for us (remember, we're in a Sky suite - the entry level into Retreat):

  • We booked a retreat guarantee and have been assigned a Sky Suite cabin # already, is it possible our cabin will change before the cruise?  No
  • On embarkation day at the terminal is there a dedicated luggage drop-off for Retreat guests or do we drop our luggage with the regular porters?  No.  Drop off luggage with any porter
  • Will we have a dedicated butler in our Sky Suite?  No, we will have a concierge/butler team.  Royal Suite & up are assigned a dedicated butler
  • Can we have specialty coffee brought to our room each day?  Yes, ask the team when we get onboard and they will put that order in for us
  • Is the mini-bar in the room included or will the mini-bar items be charged if used?  Not included in the Sky Suite.  They are included for Royal Suite & up at no charge
    • My next question was if the mini-bar is customized per guest requests, but since it wasn't included, I didn't ask.
  • Can we request a bowl of fresh cut lemons and limes brought to our room for waters each day?  Yes, ask the team when we get onboard and they will order for us
  • Are tips included in the Sky Suite?  No.  They are for Royal Suite & up  For our 6 night cruise, he told me they would be $138 per person.  
  • Will we be able to get priority disembarkation at the ports?  He tried to reach the ship concierge but they were closed already - I need to call back in the morning
  • Will the ship concierge/butler team reach out to us in advance of the cruise to assist with reservations, etc?  I need to call back for this too

I know the email addresses for each concierge on Royal Caribbean ships is (semi) public knowledge.  Does anyone know if the same is the case for Celebrity?  

I know, I know - I'm high maintenance.  I'm extreme type A and love to know everything I can before I go on a trip so I can prepare as necessary.  But I'm not a Karen - I promise!!  Just well prepared - like Mary Poppins!  😇

 

themillennialcruiser Diamond Plus

themillennialcruiser

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4 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

Here are the questions I asked specifically for us (remember, we're in a Sky suite - the entry level into Retreat):

  • We booked a retreat guarantee and have been assigned a Sky Suite cabin # already, is it possible our cabin will change before the cruise?  No
  • On embarkation day at the terminal is there a dedicated luggage drop-off for Retreat guests or do we drop our luggage with the regular porters?  No.  Drop off luggage with any porter
  • Will we have a dedicated butler in our Sky Suite?  No, we will have a concierge/butler team.  Royal Suite & up are assigned a dedicated butler
  • Can we have specialty coffee brought to our room each day?  Yes, ask the team when we get onboard and they will put that order in for us
  • Is the mini-bar in the room included or will the mini-bar items be charged if used?  Not included in the Sky Suite.  They are included for Royal Suite & up at no charge
    • My next question was if the mini-bar is customized per guest requests, but since it wasn't included, I didn't ask.
  • Will we be able to get priority disembarkation at the ports?  He tried to reach the ship concierge but they were closed already - I need to call back in the morning
  • Will the ship concierge/butler team reach out to us in advance of the cruise to assist with reservations, etc?  I need to call back for this too

I know the email addresses for each concierge on Royal Caribbean ships is (semi) public knowledge.  Does anyone know if the same is the case for Celebrity?  

 

 

We sailed on Beyond in the villa (won via move up!) and Edge in a sky suite. To answer a few of your unanswered questions - while there is not a specific porter for your luggage with the retreat there is a retreat representative that will expedite your boarding process. This includes a separate seating area with refreshments and snacks. Once check in is complete you will be escorted onto the ship to your muster station by a member of the retreat. 

There is priority disembarkation as well as priority tendering available to you in a sky suite and above. To get this service you will go to the retreat lounge and a member of the retreat team will escort you to the gangway. You can also get this access from being Elite or Above using the lounge designated by the loyalty ambassador. 

As for reservations/contact with the butler team pre-cruise we had access to a shoreside concierge with the villa however did not with the sky suite. With celebrity you do not need show reservations or reservations to luminae and/or blu which is honestly one of my favorite parts of booking with celebrity. If you are planning to do specialty dining especially Eden I highly recommend booking it before your sailing. Eden often sells out and our last sailing many people asked the retreat concierge for a reservation and weren’t able to get one since it was full pre cruise. 

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asquared17

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4 hours ago, themillennialcruiser said:

There is priority disembarkation as well as priority tendering available to you in a sky suite and above. […] You can also get this access from being Elite or Above using the lounge designated by the loyalty ambassador. 

thank you!!!! this is great news for us!! (we’re on ascent in february)

we are so used to disembarking with 6k passengers on oasis class that i forget how much easier this should be in theory with celebrity. 

4 hours ago, themillennialcruiser said:

With celebrity you do not need show reservations or reservations to luminae and/or blu which is honestly one of my favorite parts of booking with celebrity

LOVE THIS. can’t wait to show up at blu when we are hungry and not be rushing all the time 😂

CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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6 hours ago, themillennialcruiser said:

while there is not a specific porter for your luggage with the retreat there is a retreat representative that will expedite your boarding process.

Thank you for answers to some of our questions!  For the luggage, was your luggage delivered to the room quickly?  Did they bring it directly to the room or did you have to go find it?

 

6 hours ago, themillennialcruiser said:

There is priority disembarkation as well as priority tendering available to you in a sky suite and above. To get this service you will go to the retreat lounge and a member of the retreat team will escort you to the gangway.

Can we set it up in advance?  We’ll be at PDCC with Wonder and would like to get to Hideaway ASAP to get a bed.  When we were there on AN with Yen, she got us off as soon as the ship cleared and had transport waiting for us and two other couples in Star class. We got one of the beds next to the pool and I was a happy camper!!

 

6 hours ago, themillennialcruiser said:

If you are planning to do specialty dining especially Eden

We were thinking about Eden but wondered if it really was worth it. It has a $60 cover charge with an al a carte menu, or $100 for a tasting menu. The venue is complimentary for breakfast and lunch. Is Eden the restaurant not to be missed for dinner?  It looks beautiful, but really wonder if it’s worth it. 

themillennialcruiser Diamond Plus

themillennialcruiser

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21 minutes ago, CravingaCruise said:

Thank you for answers to some of our questions!  For the luggage, was your luggage delivered to the room quickly?  Did they bring it directly to the room or did you have to go find it?

As for the luggage in our experience all of our pieces were brought directly to our room by the time we finished getting lunch at luminae. They have a lobster roll on day #1 that is delicious.

21 minutes ago, CravingaCruise said:

Can we set it up in advance?  We’ll be at PDCC with Wonder and would like to get to Hideaway ASAP to get a bed.  When we were there on AN with Yen, she got us off as soon as the ship cleared and had transport waiting for us and two other couples in Star class. We got one of the beds next to the pool and I was a happy camper!!

I sailed both Edge and Beyond in Europe so haven’t been to PDCC on a Celebrity sailing yet but in my experience when we had a tender port the suite guests we’re brought down to the gangway first and had priority. This also applied to getting off in ports we did on our own. 

21 minutes ago, CravingaCruise said:

 

We were thinking about Eden but wondered if it really was worth it. It has a $60 cover charge with an al a carte menu, or $100 for a tasting menu. The venue is complimentary for breakfast and lunch. Is Eden the restaurant not to be missed for dinner?  It looks beautiful, but really wonder if it’s worth it. 

I think its worth trying once. I think the food in Le Voyage is slightly better if you are going to splurge. The breakfast and lunch are not up to eden dinner quality but they are good. One thing to note is that you can enjoy the specialty cocktails at the eden bar with your drink package without a dinner reservation and they are very delicious! Some drinks are a few dollar up charge but worth it!

Lovetocruise2002 Pinnacle

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12 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

On embarkation day at the terminal is there a dedicated luggage drop-off for Retreat guests or do we drop our luggage with the regular porters?  No.  Drop off luggage with any porter

I was wondering this too. We board in Fort Lauderdale and some of the FB groups seem to imply that there was a separate luggage drop off.

12 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

Celebrity has a specific number to contact them about the Retreat:  1-877-738-7328 

I have been meaning to call too. Reports seem to be mixed with whether they call you or not, even for the upper suites. We are in an upper suite, and one guy who is on the sailing after us already had shoreside reach out to him. I suspect this is much like the silly SC questionniare.

12 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

Is the mini-bar in the room included or will the mini-bar items be charged if used?  Not included in the Sky Suite.  They are included for Royal Suite & up at no charge

I wonder if they are wrong about this one. Celebrity just sent out an email this past week about a few (good) changes to the Retreat. One of the changes is that all suites will now have complimentary mini bar stocked.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/staterooms/suite-class

12 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

Are tips included in the Sky Suite?  No.  They are for Royal Suite & up 

Wow! I actually had no clue about this! I will have to inquire about ours.

12 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

Will the ship concierge/butler team reach out to us in advance of the cruise to assist with reservations, etc?  I need to call back for this too

I need to know this too! Let us know what you find out.

SebagoSue Diamond

SebagoSue

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@CravingaCruiseLooking forward to reading your blog!  We have sailed twice in the Retreat on Beyond and absolutely loved it.  

I think the rep may have given you some outdated info.  The email Celebrity sent out recently noted by @Lovetocruise2002 highlights some great new benefits like the free minibar. Also, I believe as of June 1 all Sky suites on every Celebrity ship will be back to having dedicated butlers, not the team approach.  As for gratuities being included- it depends on when you made your reservation.  At some point in the last year, I believe, Celebrity no longer included gratuities automatically when you booked in the Retreat.  Previously gratuities, as well as premium WiFi and premium drinks were included. Currently only premium WiFi and premium drinks are included automatically in Sky suites. If gratuities are included it should be noted on your reservation.
There may be dedicated Retreat porters, but we have always used the regular porters and our luggage has arrived very quickly.

Have a great cruise!

CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I was wondering this too. We board in Fort Lauderdale and some of the FB groups seem to imply that there was a separate luggage drop off.

15 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

Right?  So many mixed messages!  We’ll find out for sure in 42 days!

 

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I have been meaning to call too.

Let us know if you do and what you find out!

 

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

One of the changes is that all suites will now have complimentary mini bar stocked.

Oh good!  I’m surprised the rep didn’t know this!

 

1 hour ago, SebagoSue said:

 

@CravingaCruiseLooking forward to reading your blog!  We have sailed twice in the Retreat on Beyond and absolutely loved it.  

 

Glad to have you along for the journey!  Thanks for the info!  We just booked our trip a couple of weeks ago so it sounds like our gratuities aren’t included. Great to know we’ll have a dedicated butler though. I like that approach because they get to know things you like and dislike…or it seems it would be that way.

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SweetPea

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20 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

Celebrity has a specific number to contact them about the Retreat:  1-877-738-7328  💥 @Royal - you really NEED to do this for STAR!! 

Yes!! Adding also that there is a Haven specific email and number. Never understood why Royal doesn't do this for Star.

CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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MORNING COFFEE

I’m sitting here this morning having my coffee, thinking about my morning coffee on the cruise, and more questions come to mind…naturally.  🤔

Side note…For health reasons we have recently started eating primarily whole-food plant-based foods, which limits our intake of dairy and other animal products. That’s not to say that we won’t be indulging in these things on the cruise because we are huge steak lovers, fried chicken lovers, and seriously love dairy and cheese, but when we can avoid these things we will.  Here are a few questions for you seasoned Celebrity cruisers:

  • How’s the normal coffee that’s delivered by room service?  If you could compare to Royal that will help me know how to judge it per my taste buds. Hubby is former military so he can tolerate mud. I, on the other hand, am a coffee snob. ☕️
  • From room service what are the options for coffee additives (I.e., cream & sugar options)
  • Do they offer milk alternatives?
  • Does anyone know if they have Stevia onboard?
  • Does anyone know if Cafe al Bacio offers milk alternatives?
  • Does anyone have a menu of the pastries Cafe al Bacio offers?

I think that’s it for now. More questions may come to mind. Thanks all!  I appreciate your help!

themillennialcruiser Diamond Plus

themillennialcruiser

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3 hours ago, CravingaCruise said:

MORNING COFFEE

I’m sitting here this morning having my coffee, thinking about my morning coffee on the cruise, and more questions come to mind…naturally.  🤔

Side note…For health reasons we have recently started eating primarily whole-food plant-based foods, which limits our intake of dairy and other animal products. That’s not to say that we won’t be indulging in these things on the cruise because we are huge steak lovers, fried chicken lovers, and seriously love dairy and cheese, but when we can avoid these things we will.  Here are a few questions for you seasoned Celebrity cruisers:

  • How’s the normal coffee that’s delivered by room service?  If you could compare to Royal that will help me know how to judge it per my taste buds. Hubby is former military so he can tolerate mud. I, on the other hand, am a coffee snob. ☕️
  • From room service what are the options for coffee additives (I.e., cream & sugar options)
  • Do they offer milk alternatives?
  • Does anyone know if they have Stevia onboard?
  • Does anyone know if Cafe al Bacio offers milk alternatives?
  • Does anyone have a menu of the pastries Cafe al Bacio offers?

I think that’s it for now. More questions may come to mind. Thanks all!  I appreciate your help!

Yes, i think the coffee is better than RCCL! They offer milk alternatives including soy, almond, oat, etc. They have stevia offered in Cafe al baccio + blu, main dining. And the pastries include a selection of muffins, danish, and croissant with GF options. Cafe al baccio also offers a sit down service ceramic coffee cups and biscotti 

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I'm trying very hard to get to diamond on royal and then start trying celebrity, which I think will be a really good fit for us with smaller ships.  Looking forward to your blog because I will have a very long hiatus between June 2024 and March 2025 when I hope to sail next!  Jane

CravingaCruise Diamond Plus

CravingaCruise

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MOVE UP OFFER

This morning I woke up to a move up offer in my inbox!  I put some questions out on our Retreat Facebook page, and we're on the fence if we want to try for anything or not.  Our quesitons were answered in the FB forum, and yet we're still thinking about it.  We were offered cabins from Sunset Sky Suite all the way up to the Iconic Suite.  The only one we're considering is the Sunset Sky Suite because of the larger balcony and the aft view (which we fell in love with in a Grand Loft Suite on Anthem a few years ago).  I know it wouldn't be the same because it's not a loft, but the aft vew is super peaceful.  

There's a risk to bidding on a move-up offer for a Sunset Sky Suite though.  We could end up on deck 12, just under the Oceanview Cafe, and we fear that would negate any peace we would get from the aft view.  What are your thoughts on this?  Anyone stay on deck 12 in a SS Sky Suite?

I'll post the Move Up offers in a separate post so you can see what we got.

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