Sometimes in life, you get what you pay for, and Celebrity Cruises Suite Class program is no exception. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel in Sky Suites (the entry-level suites aboard Celebrity) a couple of times. To date, we haven’t shelled out the really big bucks for a Royal Suite or Penthouse. Maybe one day, but for now a Sky Suite is just fine with me. Let me share a few great things about these suites.
- Space to spread out. Even the basic suites are almost twice the size of a standard balcony cabin. At 300 square feet, there is plenty of room to relax inside, or on your larger-than-normal balcony. Oh, and the bathrooms have a rainfall showerhead and a bathtub.
- Your very own butler. In my real life, I have a personal barista that makes my perfect cappuccino and delivers it to my office every day. (Apparently, not everyone has a husband as fabulous as FKGuy.) Your Celebrity butler will bring you cappuccinos if you just can’t bear to make it down a few flights of stairs to get your own. Our butler brought us biscotti to go with the coffees. I hadn’t even realized I needed a snack, but Sue had me covered. Your butler will also shine your shoes, arrange in-suite parties, handle your laundry, make dinner reservations (although admittedly, I had arranged all of those before we boarded) and more. Just ask, and they will be happy to do.
View from the huge corner balcony. (There were days with better views.) - Luminae. Truly, this should be first on the list. Luminae is the suite-only restaurant, and it is amazing. A warm and inviting atmosphere combined with stellar service and special orders accommodated with ease make this the best dining venue I’ve seen on a ship. (Yes, that means better than the specialty restaurants, and better than other lines like Seabourn. Shocked? I was too.) The only thing missing from Luminae is a cheese trolley. Really, wouldn’t the world be a better place with more cheese?
- Michael’s Club. This was the first cruise we had access to Michael’s Club, the under-utilized, suites-only club with a dedicated concierge and bar. Yes, there is a bartender available from 7 AM until midnight daily. There is also a giant Nespresso machine so that you can make your own cappuccino. You know, if you didn’t have the butler bring one. Don’t want to DIY? No problem. The bartender makes great cappuccinos, too. In between the prosecco drinking and cognac indulging, I did enjoy a Nespresso one day. (The bartender insisted. It is possible he knew how much Courvoisier was consumed the night before.) With all this talk about bartenders, I would be remiss if I did not mention the concierge. Although ours did not arrange special events, she did handle quite a few things that I asked her to do.
Any meal is a treat in Luminae. - Go Best. Many Celebrity sailings include one “perk,” either a drink package, onboard credit, wifi or prepaid gratuities. On those sailings, generally, the suites get all four perks.
- No waiting. Maybe not none, but certainly less. Suite guests have priority tendering and priority embarkation and disembarkation, but you still have to wait in the customs line. Sorry.
Is it worth the extra expense? That depends. I firmly believe that you should book what makes you comfortable. If a balcony cabin makes you happy, go for it. If the choice is an inside room or no cruise at all, by all means, get your sunshine on deck, and book the inside room. With this or any other cruise questions, please give me a call. I am always happy to help you plan your next great adventure.
