Truer words were never spoken! There’s no way we would book anything other than a Retreat room! The level of service and luxury is amazing! However, our next cruise is on the Eclipse which doesn’t have the Retreat sun deck or lounge😢. Thanks for the great video!
Great video! After 7 Celebrity cruises, we are finally in the Retreat on the Apex for a TransAtlantic crossing in Nov 2025. It will also be our first time sailing out of South Hampton. I'm beyond excited. Thank you & Merry Christmas- Cheers! Michell
Thanks so much for your kind words, Michelle! I hope you had a great Christmas with your loved ones. That cruise is going to be amazing. I am excited for you! I love the Apex. It has a wonderful Retreat team. You are in for such a treat. Enjoy it!
I totally agree with you! My husband and I experienced a sky suite on Celebrity Constellation. We were spoiled. The service was exceptional! We loved Luminae! We are looking forward to our next cruise!
Just seeing this for the first time. I have sailed the Retreat 4X with another one coming up in a month! More expensive? YES! But absolutely worth every penny and then some. One should be pampered on a long awaited vacation and the Retreat delivers every time. The only way to go.
I have to agree with you Tom about the Retreat Luminae, for us it was the best food at sea we have ever had. While we thought the Retreat lounge was small it was still lovely. On the Apex the Retreat sun deck is really large and I thoroughly enjoyed my time on board.
I miss Luminae very much! I am hoping to be back in the future. I heard that Ascent and Beyond have a redesigned sundeck. I would love to see how they improved that area.
Good Afternoon Tom!! Great video on the retreat. I personally love the retreat area and service. I have done the retreat on the millennium, Ascent and Beyond. All were great 👍. I only have one complaint and that is the retreat pool area on edge class ships gets very, very crowded. So crowded on the ascent that we ended up going down to the main pool. Nothing wrong with that at all, but it was kind of disappointing, considering we paid a high premium to be in the Retreat area. Thanks again Tom . Have a great weekend 😊
Good Afternoon, Kristi! I am glad you enjoyed this video. You make a valid point, the pool area on the sundeck is small and can get very crowded on sea days. I heard the Ascent and Beyond have a larger sundeck. Last time I was on those ships, they did not allow me to look into the Retreat areas. I am hoping to review/compare it next time I sail on the Beyond. From the outside, it looks to have a whole second floor. Thank you for your comment. I hope you have a great weekend as well. Cheers!
Thanks for posting Tom. Any recommendations on how we can cruise with our 3 kids ages 14, 13 an 10? Most rooms, even suites, seem to be capped at 4 guests. Is the best option 2 separate rooms and if so are they connected? Idea would be a suite with a bedroom that accommodates 5 but seems hard to find. Thanks.
After two cruises in a Sky Suite and one in a Celebrity Suite, you were right. I'm never going back to a more standard room. I believe the Retreat extras are that much better on Edge Class ships. I have two more Retreat cruises in my future!
Just got home from Retreat on Apex. Loved the lounge! I thought Luminae was fantastic for breakfast - I’m dreaming of that potato egg cheese waffle lol- but it was okay for dinner. I really loved having a real balcony, also. I loved the pool area but didn’t love that parents had kids in swim diapers swimming in the hot tub. Celebrity isn’t going to say anything to people staying in the retreat. Luminae was open for lunch just FYI although we didn’t go as ours was a port heavy itinerary (Scandinavia)
I was able to try the retreat in Alaska on the Edge for slightly less than a concierge + wifi + drinks (at 50% off) would have been. It was a deal to say the least. Honestly I thought it was amazing. Luminae was the highlight for myself; it was such a treat to go there each meal...and I actually loved spending time at the sundeck too even though the weather was less than optimal for most (I live in Seattle so this was mostly business as usual for me). Anyhow...would I do it again? Absolutely...but at the same time I can't justify it if the price is substantially more than concierge or aqua class + drinks + wifi would be.
@@tomsunday yeah....I had concierge for like $700 pp and got the retreat for something like $1500 or so pp... So when you added drinks and such to concierge it actually was a little more than retreat which includes those things...kinda wild when I see retreat often going for 3.5-6k per person.
It’s in a way accentuates the class system and the haves and have nots, you virtually have to be a multi millionaire to afford these exclusive suites, or be lucky to get a good deal… not many people can afford $15-$30, 000 for a cruise, and how do the other people who pay a good sum of money for their cruise feel like that big portions of the ship are not for them? Like second class citizens?
Ok. You're right. But do you realize how you sound to those that can't afford a cruise at all? If some are going to feel that way, they shouldn't cruise. It's like having to walk through first class on a plane to get to economy. So what. We do live in a world where money can buy privilege. I can buy a taste of it and thoroughly enjoy the experience when I do. I will feel no guilt when I do. Some choose to drive $80,000 vehicles. I choose to take more expensive cruises. I'm happy with that.
The contents of your Sky Suite fridge ARE NOT included free of charge. It’s crazy because we all have the Premium drink package. So our room attendant knew we, as most cruisers, would immediately ask for all of them to be cleared out. Later on, we got sodas and water from either our butler or Retreat Lounge.
Our butler kept ours filled with soda, beer, and water just for the asking. For evening cocktails, he brought those. Again, no additional charge. And yes, we were also in sky suites.
@@brunkerj Yeah, we got the water and soda from ours. It didn’t occur to us to ask for beer, so my husband went to the Retreat Lounge. We don’t have cocktails in our room anyway. Our butler was great, but with 20 rooms to deal with, we hated asking him for things. Except he always brought us our morning coffee pot and other breakfast items very quickly.
@@tomsundayNot sure if that’s true on all X ships. It was to be rolled out on the Ascent, then Beyond. Don’t know how many other ships have complete butler service.
Eden is a very good restaurant. One of my favorites. Especially considering the location and the open kitchen. Personally, Luminae wins for me because the menu changes daily. However, Eden is fantastic.
You're absolutely entitled to your opinion. However, my personal experiences with passengers in The Retreat have been quite different. I found everyone I met to be very kind, humble, and caring. Many work in regular professions like nurses, electricians, and teachers. In our conversations, they shared that they often cruise less frequently-opting for one cruise every two years instead of two annually-just so they can afford the luxury of The Retreat for their vacation. While there may be exceptions, I've never personally encountered any Retreat passengers who looked down on others. It's easy to assume they are all snobs because it's very expeinsive but like I said, everyone was super nice and respectful.
I don't see it that way. My wife and I have been on only 4 cruises our first in 1993 our honeymoon in a inside cabin 2003 our second cruise a 10 year anniversary in our first balcony cabin and our 3rd cruise in 2017 in a concierge cabin also our fourth in a Aqua class cabin. We worked over the years built wealth the American way with hard work, good choices and good investment to make extra money. We are taking our next cruise on Celebrity Ascent in a Aqua Sky Suite which includes the retreat. Not everyone is privileged on a silver spoon. We actually worked hard and made good decisions and thank God everyday for his blessings. Don't know why you feel to take shots at people that can afford to get a suite on a cruise? People that are jealous of other people's success is ridiculous. Make your own path and whatever makes you happy.
@@bobcarr5497 I agree with your very measured response to Mr Watson’s comment. I would only add that while Mr Watson’s tone was a wee bit crass, I think I can understand what he was getting at. Mr Watson would rather that Celebrity did not have such exclusive areas, because they mark off a class structure in full sight of others. Mr Watson would not mind if you spent your hard earned readies on one of the more up market cruise lines on which he would never travel. I think he mistakenly believes that people who travel in the Retreat only do it so they can act superior to the rest of the passengers.
More Retreat Videos Here: th-cam.com/play/PLAMELD7KEuK7E01ituJ4TpG-uODdKGPiW.html&si=3GZf3ChmZFqsaEZR
Truer words were never spoken! There’s no way we would book anything other than a Retreat room! The level of service and luxury is amazing! However, our next cruise is on the Eclipse which doesn’t have the Retreat sun deck or lounge😢. Thanks for the great video!
You are very welcome. I am glad you enjoyed the video. Eclipse is a great ship. I hope you have an amazing time.
Great video! After 7 Celebrity cruises, we are finally in the Retreat on the Apex for a TransAtlantic crossing in Nov 2025. It will also be our first time sailing out of South Hampton. I'm beyond excited. Thank you & Merry Christmas- Cheers! Michell
Thanks so much for your kind words, Michelle! I hope you had a great Christmas with your loved ones.
That cruise is going to be amazing. I am excited for you! I love the Apex. It has a wonderful Retreat team. You are in for such a treat. Enjoy it!
I totally agree with you! My husband and I experienced a sky suite on Celebrity Constellation. We were spoiled. The service was exceptional! We loved Luminae! We are looking forward to our next cruise!
I would love to have another 7 days in Luminae. Its such a treat. I hope you enjoy your next cruise, Katherine!
Just seeing this for the first time. I have sailed the Retreat 4X with another one coming up in a month! More expensive? YES! But absolutely worth every penny and then some. One should be pampered on a long awaited vacation and the Retreat delivers every time. The only way to go.
You are correct the Retreat has changed our standards of cruising. And well worth the extra expense.
Agree with everything in this video. Getting ready to sail on a Perfect Day sailing on Reflection in a Signature Suite and can't wait.
I hope you enjoy your cruise!
Thanks Tom! Another great video. Yes, my wife's brother and wife swear by The Retreat. They love it. Maybe some day.
You are most welcome, Steve! The Retreat is a very nice treat. I hope you are able to experience it some day!
ABSOLUTELY loved your comments, tips, and scores!
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.
Tom, This video is a great overview of the Retreat benefits. Thanks for posting!
You are very welcome! I'm glad you found this video helpful.
I have to agree with you Tom about the Retreat Luminae, for us it was the best food at sea we have ever had. While we thought the Retreat lounge was small it was still lovely. On the Apex the Retreat sun deck is really large and I thoroughly enjoyed my time on board.
I miss Luminae very much! I am hoping to be back in the future. I heard that Ascent and Beyond have a redesigned sundeck. I would love to see how they improved that area.
Absolutely!
Good Afternoon Tom!! Great video on the retreat. I personally love the retreat area and service. I have done the retreat on the millennium, Ascent and Beyond. All were great 👍. I only have one complaint and that is the retreat pool area on edge class ships gets very, very crowded. So crowded on the ascent that we ended up going down to the main pool. Nothing wrong with that at all, but it was kind of disappointing, considering we paid a high premium to be in the Retreat area. Thanks again Tom . Have a great weekend 😊
Good Afternoon, Kristi! I am glad you enjoyed this video. You make a valid point, the pool area on the sundeck is small and can get very crowded on sea days. I heard the Ascent and Beyond have a larger sundeck. Last time I was on those ships, they did not allow me to look into the Retreat areas. I am hoping to review/compare it next time I sail on the Beyond. From the outside, it looks to have a whole second floor. Thank you for your comment. I hope you have a great weekend as well. Cheers!
Does royal suite and above include drinks package or do you still have to pay?
Every Retreat room includes free alcohol in the Retreat areas. Royal suites and above include premium drink package everywhere on the ship.
Love the suite life!.
Thanks for posting Tom. Any recommendations on how we can cruise with our 3 kids ages 14, 13 an 10? Most rooms, even suites, seem to be capped at 4 guests. Is the best option 2 separate rooms and if so are they connected? Idea would be a suite with a bedroom that accommodates 5 but seems hard to find. Thanks.
After two cruises in a Sky Suite and one in a Celebrity Suite, you were right. I'm never going back to a more standard room. I believe the Retreat extras are that much better on Edge Class ships. I have two more Retreat cruises in my future!
2 retreat cruises sound amazing! I agree they are much better on the Edge class ships.
Good video!! Just wanna know if the dedicated butler is back for the sky suite
Thank you. Im glad you enjoyed the video. Yes dedicated butlers are back in all suites (including Sky).
Just got home from Retreat on Apex. Loved the lounge! I thought Luminae was fantastic for breakfast - I’m dreaming of that potato egg cheese waffle lol- but it was okay for dinner. I really loved having a real balcony, also. I loved the pool area but didn’t love that parents had kids in swim diapers swimming in the hot tub. Celebrity isn’t going to say anything to people staying in the retreat. Luminae was open for lunch just FYI although we didn’t go as ours was a port heavy itinerary (Scandinavia)
That potato waffle was delish! Did you try the oatmeal with balzamic glaze?
No! I couldn’t give up the waffle lol
I was able to try the retreat in Alaska on the Edge for slightly less than a concierge + wifi + drinks (at 50% off) would have been. It was a deal to say the least.
Honestly I thought it was amazing. Luminae was the highlight for myself; it was such a treat to go there each meal...and I actually loved spending time at the sundeck too even though the weather was less than optimal for most (I live in Seattle so this was mostly business as usual for me).
Anyhow...would I do it again? Absolutely...but at the same time I can't justify it if the price is substantially more than concierge or aqua class + drinks + wifi would be.
Wow! Retreat for the price of Concierge? Where do I sign? That is a great deal!!!
@@tomsunday yeah....I had concierge for like $700 pp and got the retreat for something like $1500 or so pp...
So when you added drinks and such to concierge it actually was a little more than retreat which includes those things...kinda wild when I see retreat often going for 3.5-6k per person.
That is wild! I would love to get it for that price. Nice work!
It’s in a way accentuates the class system and the haves and have nots, you virtually have to be a multi millionaire to afford these exclusive suites, or be lucky to get a good deal… not many people can afford $15-$30, 000 for a cruise, and how do the other people who pay a good sum of money for their cruise feel like that big portions of the ship are not for them? Like second class citizens?
Ok. You're right. But do you realize how you sound to those that can't afford a cruise at all? If some are going to feel that way, they shouldn't cruise. It's like having to walk through first class on a plane to get to economy. So what. We do live in a world where money can buy privilege. I can buy a taste of it and thoroughly enjoy the experience when I do. I will feel no guilt when I do. Some choose to drive $80,000 vehicles. I choose to take more expensive cruises. I'm happy with that.
@@brunkerj I booked the Retreat on Beyond and loved it.....I agree with your comment.
The contents of your Sky Suite fridge ARE NOT included free of charge. It’s crazy because we all have the Premium drink package. So our room attendant knew we, as most cruisers, would immediately ask for all of them to be cleared out. Later on, we got sodas and water from either our butler or Retreat Lounge.
Our butler kept ours filled with soda, beer, and water just for the asking. For evening cocktails, he brought those. Again, no additional charge. And yes, we were also in sky suites.
@@brunkerj Yeah, we got the water and soda from ours. It didn’t occur to us to ask for beer, so my husband went to the Retreat Lounge. We don’t have cocktails in our room anyway. Our butler was great, but with 20 rooms to deal with, we hated asking him for things. Except he always brought us our morning coffee pot and other breakfast items very quickly.
I have heard that they are cutting back significantly on the number of "Butlers" who deliver the service.
That cut back is old news. Since that time, Celebrity reversed their decision and introduced Butlers back to every single suite in The Retreat.
@@tomsundayNot sure if that’s true on all X ships. It was to be rolled out on the Ascent, then Beyond. Don’t know how many other ships have complete butler service.
Danielemir hi everybody ❤❤❤
Gratuity not included though. Petty exclusion
Lumina is good, but Eden is better.
Eden is a very good restaurant. One of my favorites. Especially considering the location and the open kitchen. Personally, Luminae wins for me because the menu changes daily. However, Eden is fantastic.
Who cares about the privileged snobs that think they are special but still have to rub elbows with 97% of booked passengers.
You're absolutely entitled to your opinion. However, my personal experiences with passengers in The Retreat have been quite different. I found everyone I met to be very kind, humble, and caring. Many work in regular professions like nurses, electricians, and teachers. In our conversations, they shared that they often cruise less frequently-opting for one cruise every two years instead of two annually-just so they can afford the luxury of The Retreat for their vacation. While there may be exceptions, I've never personally encountered any Retreat passengers who looked down on others. It's easy to assume they are all snobs because it's very expeinsive but like I said, everyone was super nice and respectful.
I don't see it that way. My wife and I have been on only 4 cruises our first in 1993 our honeymoon in a inside cabin 2003 our second cruise a 10 year anniversary in our first balcony cabin and our 3rd cruise in 2017 in a concierge cabin also our fourth in a Aqua class cabin.
We worked over the years built wealth the American way with hard work, good choices and good investment to make extra money.
We are taking our next cruise on Celebrity Ascent in a Aqua Sky Suite which includes the retreat.
Not everyone is privileged on a silver spoon. We actually worked hard and made good decisions and thank God everyday for his blessings.
Don't know why you feel to take shots at people that can afford to get a suite on a cruise? People that are jealous of other people's success is ridiculous. Make your own path and whatever makes you happy.
@@bobcarr5497 I agree with your very measured response to Mr Watson’s comment. I would only add that while Mr Watson’s tone was a wee bit crass, I think I can understand what he was getting at. Mr Watson would rather that Celebrity did not have such exclusive areas, because they mark off a class structure in full sight of others. Mr Watson would not mind if you spent your hard earned readies on one of the more up market cruise lines on which he would never travel. I think he mistakenly believes that people who travel in the Retreat only do it so they can act superior to the rest of the passengers.