My wife and I travelled in a accessible Sky Suite in January of this past year on the Equinox. The butler also provided optional services such as unpacking your clothing and hanging things up in your wardrobe.
Sky Suite for us on the Beyond in April, 10 days. Cost less than on this far older room. So we think it is actually decently priced with all the inclusions.
Thank you so much for taking the time to show us all of these things if we should book this type of Suite. I pray that you enjoyed this cruise as well. Stay safe. Amen
Surprised you didn’t fly in the at least the day before. Taking our first Celebrity cruise next March out of Sydney in a Sky suite and we’re flying in 5 days prior.
The Retreat is very different between Edge class and non-revolutionized ships. I have sailed the Retreat on both Beyond and Equinox during 2023. Beyond it was unbelievable. Equinox, non-revolutionized, just ok (I was also in a Sky Suite). You really need to sail an Edge class ship (or at least revolutionized) to get the full Retreat treatment, imo. Also, Vancouver port has no dedicated area for Retreat quests waiting to board (or at least they didn't this spring). They did let you on the ship first, but there where no refreshments or separate seating area. But Vancouver port boarding area for cruises wasn't designed for cruise ships, and it's a real mess, so I guess that isn't a surprise. One final thought as I got to the end of your video. Celebrity does seem to be cutting down no the quality of the food served in all venues, including Lumina and Blu, except for the specialty dining. They are making a big mistake cutting down on quality in Lumina (and the variety has also been taken away, with a much less expansive menu) since you are paying such a premium price for the Retreat experience. It caused me to book my next cruise on SilverSea for about the same price but clearly is a luxury line, though I still have upcoming Celebrity sailings.
In May I sailed from Fort Lauderdale on the celebrity equinox, in a Celebrity Suite. You are correct about the retreat embarkation lounge, it was so special. Group seating with comfy chairs and small tables not at all like the large room you showed in your video. Within minutes of getting to our suite, our room attendant came by and introduced herself, and then our dedicated Butler arrived. He offered to unpack our suitcases, which we didn’t need him to do. But he did insist on putting them up onto the bed, in the separate bedroom that we had. There was a full walk-in closet in the bedroom. And, of course, that very very large balcony. Our suite was just off of the library, right by the mid elevators. What an amazing trip! Our butler came in every morning with a banana for me, since I need extra potassium. He filled our ice twice a day, and brought in extra water. And as you shared, eating in the Luminae restaurant was an amazing experience. The service was wonderful, with delightful, friendly staff. And the food was absolutely decadent, every meal, every day. I don’t know that I would want to eat food like that every day for any longer than two weeks, it was so rich, but oh, so good. A lot of healthy and very fresh, but a lot of very rich food as well. This was a trip of a lifetime, and I doubt if I’ll ever be able to afford to sail in a suite again, but I am so thankful for the experience. I’m looking forward to my next cruise, even if I will feel a bit sad that I won’t have that same level of comfort and care. I look forward to seeing the rest of the Vlogs regarding your trip in the retreat. Thank you for the time you give to help others learn about cruising.
Hi Zach 😎 I’m so excited for this video and the others to follow. I had a similar corner Sky Suite booked on Equinox back in 2010 but was fortunate to get upgraded to one of the Royal Suites. I’d like try one of those corner cabins in the future. On my last trip out of Miami on Summit I was escorted on board and to the Retreat Lounge. Then we could find our cabins and hit Luminae for lunch. Cheers 🥂
I can't wait for the rest of this series! You held up very well, considering you flew in the day of embarkation! I would NOT have done so well, and probably would have slept the afternoon away (I know, bad idea)! Cabin looks incredible!!!
Nicely produced video, with great information, and I love your chill style. PS- I listened to your guest appearance on that podcast; you were terrific. I screamed when you said you were going to Japan in the fall.
I love the Reflection but having been on the Reflection for a week in Feb 2023, paying less than $500 (before fees and drink/dining options) for my interior room, nothing on there could get me to pay $8000pp and make me feel good about it. Everything is getting cheap and cost cutting is extreme on cruise lines. If you pay the lowest fees and shop for deals, then you won’t be disappointed.
Gee Whiz Zach you're making me homesick! We did the Reflection back in 2017 in a Concierge balcony cabin and really loved her. She's a little bit different, as you're finding out, than her sister Solstice class ships. We've done the Retreat on Equinox, Eclipse and Edge. Loved them all, but as others have stated, Edge Retreat is a whole other level. Their Retreat Lounge is so beautiful, open and spacious, compared to Michael's Club on the Solstice class ships. The Retreat Sundeck is gorgeous too! You can find little seating areas up there that are shaded, they have a bar and light bites for lunch. As you, we love the Adult Solarium for the shade-we loved the one on Edge! So much more open and bright. Looking forward to seeing and hearing your review on this sailing. Fair winds, and following seas.
Fun! I love Barcelona. I think you're on the cruise we were supposed to be in June, but cancelled due to multiple life factors. The Reflection looks beautiful. Can't wait to sail on her and can't wait to watch the rest of the series. Always informative. Thanks, Zach!
Great video, thanks Zach! I was looking forward to this as this is probably the closest I’ll ever get to The Retreat 😅 I was on Silhouette earlier this month and my cabin was on the same deck as a couple of suites, the temptation was strong to ring the doorbells and run away (I didn’t because I’m nice and also can’t run fast) 😂
The Lawn Grill and the Hideaway are both present on the Silhouette too! Exciting that you've got to try out The Retreat, must be nice to have the extra space.
Great video Zach. We just got off the reflection not long ago. It’s a beautiful ship needs a bit of TLC in some spots, especially in the passport bar. The seats are looking very tired. The rooms need to be updated also. We will be on the Summit in a months time. This will be the first Celebrity ships we’ve been on that has been fully upgraded. Should be good. I have never done the suite class yet, maybe one day, Good Lord willing 😊
I'm so glad you've done this one - I've been interested in the Retreat concept since sailing on Silhouette last year. I don't think that I'd ever pay this much money for any cruise cabin personally, but appreciate there's a clear place in the market for the much more opulent spaces than my inside cabins...!! Great video as always, Zach!
Zach, I am really glad you are doing a series on the Retreat on the Reflection. I struggle with Aqua Class versus Retreat on the non-revolutionized, non-Edge series ships. Because only the Edge series have a proper outdoor pool area, which is super important to me, I have only booked Aqua Class before and absolutely loved it on the Millenium. I booked a magic carpet sky suite on the Apex and cannot wait for that, in the spring. I like the idea of a "ship within a ship" concept that Edge class has. Separate note: I thought only dedicated Butlers and tips were being removed from the Retreat? I did not hear that the OBC credit was also leaving? Thats usually a promotion to book the Retreat? If so, they better lower those cost like the said they would!!!! Can't wait to see the other videos!
It’s worth it for $9k, the retreat is ultra luxurious! It’s not for the regular cruiser. It’s a suite with concierge, private lounge and butler service…
I had the pleasure of staying in The Retreat on the Equinox in May. Yes it was a splurge, but oh so worth it. The service was fantastic, the little perks that happened to pop up all week were amazing as was the food in Luminae. I would love do The Retreat on an Edge class ship.
It's nice to have a view over the port of Barcelona. We're sailing there in oktober so I can figure the geoography better with your vid (and maps, of course). We'll be on the MSC fantasia, and many other ships will be at port the same day as us, so it's quite cool to see all those (Carnival Freedom, Costa Smeralda, Enchantment of the seas and Queen Elizabeth). I wish they'd all offer a tour everytime they're at port, but if so, I would never make it to see the actual city 😀 Anyway, thanks for the tour and see you on the following vids !
$8,000 ? Wow, I am cruising with Celebrity for the first time next March and am price shocked. We are going to have to adjust to cruising in an interior room because I just can't spend that much for a cruise. We are even booked on Cunard and it's only $2,600 for the two of us for a week. For $8,000 I would expect a whole lot of pampering.
@@latoyapettiway7022 it turns people off of cruising with that line, though. It feels like you're constantly getting less included unless you're spending 10k on a cruise. It takes away from the inclusive part of a cruise (which is what differentiates them from land resorts). I get that they need to make money, but they aren't increasing their customer base by locking things behind outrageous prices.
In Terminal B, The Retreat starts with it's own area set aside for it's guests. On Edge we were among the first dozen on. The Lawn Club Grill is on Silhouette. That's our next cruise. We've been in two Sky Suites, but never a back corner. Now I'm so tempted! BTW, there was no Retreat area in the waiting area in Amsterdam. In the past my butler ironed my dress shirts, offered to shine my shoes, etc. Also went 'all out' to bring cocktails, coffees, anything. Looking forward to the entire series on this trip!
We've never cruised on celebrity cruise lines. We usually cruise on Royal Caribbean but we're doing it in june to Aruba so we'll see. Going on the Breeze.
Great info, Zack. Thank you! I’m so disappointed to hear that your food at dinner at Luminae the first night was just average. I sure hope it got better as the trip went on. We’re doing the sailing right after you so can’t wait for more content!
As Retreat guests on the Edge-class ships, we have always been accepted at Blu. Personally, I prefer it to Luminae. My husband and I are scheduled to sail in December on the Ascent. It will be the first time that we will experience the revised butler program. Our last cruise was this past June on Apex, and we were in a Sky Suite. I hope all goes well....
Zach, I didn't know it at the time but you were on the same cruise I was on, the Solstice this year to Mexico. I would have loved to meet up with you and have a drink or something. I had such a great time on that cruise and admittedly jealous of the cruises you get to take. I cant wait until my next cruise. Thank you for your content. Adam
My wife and I have a concierge room booked on this ship for March. We are considering getting a Retreat, but it's $4,000 more, even considering what is included.
I love the enthusiasm you are expressing in this video. You were genuinely happy to be doing this and I am happy for you. I was sorry to see that the first dinner in Luminae did not measure up but hopefully it will get better. The soup definitely looked amazing. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. By chance are you going to be on the maiden voyage for Ascent?
Great video Zach! I'll be doing Celebrity Infinit next November for 12 days, can't wait, want to get Morocco off my bucket list, so excited... Was your flight direct & from where? Thanks so much for taking us along... when did you do this cruise?
The retreat on the edge class ships cost me about the same (a little less for a 7 day med sailing) and it was incredible. im sure you're sick of these comments by this point, but if you have the chance to do an edge class retreat sailing, it's totally worth it.
Hi Zach, We are big fans and just finished watching your sail away in Barcelona. It just so happens we were on the Edge in front of you at the sunset bar watching you sail away. We too got delayed due to some of those passengers on the same plane. What a small world!!
We are big celebrity cruisers as we know you are and who knows, we may bump in to each other one day. In the meantime we will enjoy watching your videos!! Cheers!
Thanks for referencing the cuts, cookiegate, butler issues, and more. Would like to know if youre getting the room service breakfast Luminae menu or standard room service quality food. Seems like another area where Celebrity may be overpromising.
Thanks for doing this review, Zach! We're in The Retreat (also Sunset Sky Suite) in a few months so very interested in your experiences. Will follow the series closely. A lukewarm review for Day 1 - not promising.
Awesome video! My first Celebrity cruise back in January was on Reflection and she's a great ship for sure. The $8,000 price tag is pretty steep but I think I'm correct in assuming you were stung with the dreaded solo supplement so it would normally be $4,000 per person based on double occupancy. That's the main thing keeping me out of the Retreat at the moment but Luminae looks so tempting. I just disembarked Constellation where I sailed in Aqua Class via a "Move-Up" upgrade (I bid the minimum) and adored Blu, but the way Celebrity is pricing their cruises - especially for solos - is making me wary of booking Aqua or Retreat outright. Zach, is Virgin Voyages on your radar? I really want to try them out and while plenty of others have reviewed them here on TH-cam, I'd really think you'd do a good job bringing your own perspective. I was actually really considering booking on Brilliant Lady for this winter, only to have Virgin announce her delay the very next day. 😬
We went on a the Celebrity Reflection June 6 for 10 days. The cruise traveled from Barcelona and ended on Rome. The biggest problem we had on this ship was the dining. If you eat in basic dining room you will be sorry as the food is HORRIBLE. Sure if you upgrade to specialty dining and pay $150 for 2 you get fairly good meal. The price you pay for the cruise must include specialty dining every night. Beware of this shipping line.
Hey Zach! I know you are a big fan of Blu as am I (along with the spa). I always book Aqua Class and am heading out for a short 4 day on Reflection in May. They are offering some rather inexpensive "Move Up" deals including Aqua Class Sky Suite. My dilemma comes down to Blu VS Luminae. I am not a huge "foodie" and in Blu hits me about right. Do the other benefits of Reflection's Retreat enter heavily into this decision?? Thoughts - $125 pp for the Move Up. Keep up the great videos and honest reviews - love your channel!!
Thanks for the butler info. It’s worse than I thought. We used our butler for a standing order for coffee and mimosas in the morning on many past cruises. It seems that may be a thing of the past. I cannot ask our room attendant to do that. They’ve got enough to do 😢
We’re bummed about their cost cutting of true butler service also. They started that about four months after we made our reservation for Sky Suite on the Beyond next spring.
Maybe that’s the room service person? This is really disappointing. I’m on Beyond in the spring in a sky suite, and they still advertise a butler for the sky suites. It’s really not cool.
I booked a sky suite on celebrity and I booked with gratuities and on board credit included. The cruise is in February… I hope they still are included 😢
This is an honest question since this is, like, the 5th cruise video, I've seen. Is Social Class in "Social Class Ships" intended to define your social position by your ability to pay for a more expensive ship, or is it supposed to simply identify the more expensive levels/packages in a ship? I'm confused. There's different name tags on different cruise lines (not Surprisingly), but they appear to offer wildly different perks in what seems like similar levels. I'm confused.
We love Reflection but prefer the Edge class ships now. The removal of gratuities and OBC is a step too far for Celebrity, in particular for Retreat guests. Cruises are getting more expensive, especially for us in Europe.
Was the suite quiet? I've had issues with noise on Solstice class ships. Looks like you were tucked into a corner so it should have been quiet. The suite you had reminded me of a large front facing family ocean view room I had on Royal once. So far I would not have been impressed for 8 grand.
Absolutely not. I'm a big Celebrity fan but shifted away from the mass market lines. All-in they're about the same price as an ultra-luxury line so why bother?
Luminae was vastly overrated on Silhouette. Very disappointing. Coastal Kitchen on Royal was much better and the suites are much bigger and the lounge is twice as big as the retreat lounge.
Thanks Zach. I'm trying to understand why Celebrity is so highly touted. We have an 11 day booked on Beyond Dec 2024 that will almost certainly cancel. Even with the non-refundable deposit for the retreat I can't justify the price. We love Oasis class ships and are sailing on Wonder October 22nd and 29th. Love your channel.
You fly the same day as your cruise? I don't trust airplanes that much, and you wil notice that one flight to your ship had problems and almost missed embarkation. You should NEVER fly the same day.
My wife and I travelled in a accessible Sky Suite in January of this past year on the Equinox. The butler also provided optional services such as unpacking your clothing and hanging things up in your wardrobe.
I loved the suites and Retreat on the Celebrity Apex & Celebrity Edge! You should experience it on one of the newer ships, it's quite different.
Sky Suite for us on the Beyond in April, 10 days. Cost less than on this far older room. So we think it is actually decently priced with all the inclusions.
Thank you so much for taking the time to show us all of these things if we should book this type of Suite. I pray that you enjoyed this cruise as well. Stay safe. Amen
Thanks Zach! We're really looking forward to the rest of this series!
Surprised you didn’t fly in the at least the day before. Taking our first Celebrity cruise next March out of Sydney in a Sky suite and we’re flying in 5 days prior.
The Retreat is very different between Edge class and non-revolutionized ships. I have sailed the Retreat on both Beyond and Equinox during 2023. Beyond it was unbelievable. Equinox, non-revolutionized, just ok (I was also in a Sky Suite). You really need to sail an Edge class ship (or at least revolutionized) to get the full Retreat treatment, imo. Also, Vancouver port has no dedicated area for Retreat quests waiting to board (or at least they didn't this spring). They did let you on the ship first, but there where no refreshments or separate seating area. But Vancouver port boarding area for cruises wasn't designed for cruise ships, and it's a real mess, so I guess that isn't a surprise. One final thought as I got to the end of your video. Celebrity does seem to be cutting down no the quality of the food served in all venues, including Lumina and Blu, except for the specialty dining. They are making a big mistake cutting down on quality in Lumina (and the variety has also been taken away, with a much less expansive menu) since you are paying such a premium price for the Retreat experience. It caused me to book my next cruise on SilverSea for about the same price but clearly is a luxury line, though I still have upcoming Celebrity sailings.
In May I sailed from Fort Lauderdale on the celebrity equinox, in a Celebrity Suite. You are correct about the retreat embarkation lounge, it was so special. Group seating with comfy chairs and small tables not at all like the large room you showed in your video. Within minutes of getting to our suite, our room attendant came by and introduced herself, and then our dedicated Butler arrived. He offered to unpack our suitcases, which we didn’t need him to do. But he did insist on putting them up onto the bed, in the separate bedroom that we had. There was a full walk-in closet in the bedroom. And, of course, that very very large balcony. Our suite was just off of the library, right by the mid elevators.
What an amazing trip! Our butler came in every morning with a banana for me, since I need extra potassium. He filled our ice twice a day, and brought in extra water. And as you shared, eating in the Luminae restaurant was an amazing experience. The service was wonderful, with delightful, friendly staff. And the food was absolutely decadent, every meal, every day. I don’t know that I would want to eat food like that every day for any longer than two weeks, it was so rich, but oh, so good. A lot of healthy and very fresh, but a lot of very rich food as well. This was a trip of a lifetime, and I doubt if I’ll ever be able to afford to sail in a suite again, but I am so thankful for the experience. I’m looking forward to my next cruise, even if I will feel a bit sad that I won’t have that same level of comfort and care. I look forward to seeing the rest of the Vlogs regarding your trip in the retreat. Thank you for the time you give to help others learn about cruising.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. And for watching!
Hi Zach 😎 I’m so excited for this video and the others to follow. I had a similar corner Sky Suite booked on Equinox back in 2010 but was fortunate to get upgraded to one of the Royal Suites. I’d like try one of those corner cabins in the future. On my last trip out of Miami on Summit I was escorted on board and to the Retreat Lounge. Then we could find our cabins and hit Luminae for lunch. Cheers 🥂
Excellent video! Love all the views and the tour of the ship! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful! Loved your thorough review. Always the best!
Thank you so much!
Enjoy your time. I’m looking forward to seeing your excursions and more from the luminae
More to come!
I can't wait for the rest of this series! You held up very well, considering you flew in the day of embarkation! I would NOT have done so well, and probably would have slept the afternoon away (I know, bad idea)! Cabin looks incredible!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Looking so forward to this video series… I love your honesty… thank you🚢
Thanks for watching!
We sailed on Reflection this past January and loved our Retreat experience! We’ve booked another for next year 😊🛳️
Nicely produced video, with great information, and I love your chill style. PS- I listened to your guest appearance on that podcast; you were terrific. I screamed when you said you were going to Japan in the fall.
Awesome! Thank you so much! Still going to Japan next month and cannot wait. :)
I love the Reflection but having been on the Reflection for a week in Feb 2023, paying less than $500 (before fees and drink/dining options) for my interior room, nothing on there could get me to pay $8000pp and make me feel good about it. Everything is getting cheap and cost cutting is extreme on cruise lines. If you pay the lowest fees and shop for deals, then you won’t be disappointed.
Gee Whiz Zach you're making me homesick! We did the Reflection back in 2017 in a Concierge balcony cabin and really loved her. She's a little bit different, as you're finding out, than her sister Solstice class ships. We've done the Retreat on Equinox, Eclipse and Edge. Loved them all, but as others have stated, Edge Retreat is a whole other level. Their Retreat Lounge is so beautiful, open and spacious, compared to Michael's Club on the Solstice class ships. The Retreat Sundeck is gorgeous too! You can find little seating areas up there that are shaded, they have a bar and light bites for lunch. As you, we love the Adult Solarium for the shade-we loved the one on Edge! So much more open and bright. Looking forward to seeing and hearing your review on this sailing. Fair winds, and following seas.
Fun! I love Barcelona. I think you're on the cruise we were supposed to be in June, but cancelled due to multiple life factors. The Reflection looks beautiful. Can't wait to sail on her and can't wait to watch the rest of the series. Always informative. Thanks, Zach!
Thank you for watching! She was a great ship.
Great video, thanks Zach! I was looking forward to this as this is probably the closest I’ll ever get to The Retreat 😅 I was on Silhouette earlier this month and my cabin was on the same deck as a couple of suites, the temptation was strong to ring the doorbells and run away (I didn’t because I’m nice and also can’t run fast) 😂
You got my sub at 7:08 into the video! Can't wait to see more of this ship! I'm a travel agent and it's awesome to see other ships I haven't been on.
Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
The Lawn Grill and the Hideaway are both present on the Silhouette too!
Exciting that you've got to try out The Retreat, must be nice to have the extra space.
Thanks for confirming! Now I gotta go on Silhouette! 😂
Great video Zach. We just got off the reflection not long ago. It’s a beautiful ship needs a bit of TLC in some spots, especially in the passport bar. The seats are looking very tired. The rooms need to be updated also. We will be on the Summit in a months time. This will be the first Celebrity ships we’ve been on that has been fully upgraded. Should be good. I have never done the suite class yet, maybe one day, Good Lord willing 😊
Have a great time!
Good review, Zach...thanks!
Glad you liked it!
I'm so glad you've done this one - I've been interested in the Retreat concept since sailing on Silhouette last year. I don't think that I'd ever pay this much money for any cruise cabin personally, but appreciate there's a clear place in the market for the much more opulent spaces than my inside cabins...!!
Great video as always, Zach!
Thank you! I’m not sure I could ever pay that much again but it was a nice splurge. Back to balconies for me!
Zach, I am really glad you are doing a series on the Retreat on the Reflection. I struggle with Aqua Class versus Retreat on the non-revolutionized, non-Edge series ships. Because only the Edge series have a proper outdoor pool area, which is super important to me, I have only booked Aqua Class before and absolutely loved it on the Millenium. I booked a magic carpet sky suite on the Apex and cannot wait for that, in the spring. I like the idea of a "ship within a ship" concept that Edge class has. Separate note: I thought only dedicated Butlers and tips were being removed from the Retreat? I did not hear that the OBC credit was also leaving? Thats usually a promotion to book the Retreat? If so, they better lower those cost like the said they would!!!! Can't wait to see the other videos!
It’s worth it for $9k, the retreat is ultra luxurious! It’s not for the regular cruiser. It’s a suite with concierge, private lounge and butler service…
Yeah that unfortunately didn’t end up being my experience.
Very honest and detailed report, as others have said the Retreat is different on Edge class ships
I had the pleasure of staying in The Retreat on the Equinox in May. Yes it was a splurge, but oh so worth it. The service was fantastic, the little perks that happened to pop up all week were amazing as was the food in Luminae. I would love do The Retreat on an Edge class ship.
It's nice to have a view over the port of Barcelona. We're sailing there in oktober so I can figure the geoography better with your vid (and maps, of course). We'll be on the MSC fantasia, and many other ships will be at port the same day as us, so it's quite cool to see all those (Carnival Freedom, Costa Smeralda, Enchantment of the seas and Queen Elizabeth). I wish they'd all offer a tour everytime they're at port, but if so, I would never make it to see the actual city 😀
Anyway, thanks for the tour and see you on the following vids !
$8,000 ? Wow, I am cruising with Celebrity for the first time next March and am price shocked. We are going to have to adjust to cruising in an interior room because I just can't spend that much for a cruise. We are even booked on Cunard and it's only $2,600 for the two of us for a week. For $8,000 I would expect a whole lot of pampering.
I could justify 8000 for a 14+ night cruise, but for 9 nights? Ouch.
this is the suite level. High end. There are more economical prices@@iandean1112
The Retreat is ultra luxurious. It’s not for the regular cruiser. It’s a suite with concierge and butler service, private lounge etc…
@@latoyapettiway7022 it turns people off of cruising with that line, though. It feels like you're constantly getting less included unless you're spending 10k on a cruise. It takes away from the inclusive part of a cruise (which is what differentiates them from land resorts). I get that they need to make money, but they aren't increasing their customer base by locking things behind outrageous prices.
That cabin is worth more than my car😝
In Terminal B, The Retreat starts with it's own area set aside for it's guests. On Edge we were among the first dozen on. The Lawn Club Grill is on Silhouette. That's our next cruise. We've been in two Sky Suites, but never a back corner. Now I'm so tempted! BTW, there was no Retreat area in the waiting area in Amsterdam. In the past my butler ironed my dress shirts, offered to shine my shoes, etc. Also went 'all out' to bring cocktails, coffees, anything. Looking forward to the entire series on this trip!
we were in a similar Sky Suite in March 2016, long before the Retreat and it was still great. The pole in our room was closer to the couch,
We've never cruised on celebrity cruise lines. We usually cruise on Royal Caribbean but we're doing it in june to Aruba so we'll see. Going on the Breeze.
Great info, Zack. Thank you! I’m so disappointed to hear that your food at dinner at Luminae the first night was just average. I sure hope it got better as the trip went on. We’re doing the sailing right after you so can’t wait for more content!
So are we! See you in a few days😂
I sent your review to Celebrity. They called me yesterday to discuss it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they reach out to you to have a do over. Cheers.
My wife and I did the Retreat on Apex and LOVED it! Totally different experience on the Edge Class.
I enjoy your honesty 😊
Thank you 😊
As Retreat guests on the Edge-class ships, we have always been accepted at Blu. Personally, I prefer it to Luminae. My husband and I are scheduled to sail in December on the Ascent. It will be the first time that we will experience the revised butler program. Our last cruise was this past June on Apex, and we were in a Sky Suite. I hope all goes well....
Zach, I didn't know it at the time but you were on the same cruise I was on, the Solstice this year to Mexico. I would have loved to meet up with you and have a drink or something. I had such a great time on that cruise and admittedly jealous of the cruises you get to take. I cant wait until my next cruise. Thank you for your content. Adam
How cool! Next time. Thanks for watching!
dreamboat!! both you and that ship! 🥰😉
Excited to see the rest of the trip! Did anyone count how many times you said Luminae in this video?
My wife and I have a concierge room booked on this ship for March. We are considering getting a Retreat, but it's $4,000 more, even considering what is included.
That suite is gigantic compared to what we have stayed in on cruises. Jealous!!!
I was in Sky Suite 8336 on Solstice and it was worth every penny ❤️ it was such a great experience and awesome cruise with my bestie ♥️💜♥️Nov'22
I love the enthusiasm you are expressing in this video. You were genuinely happy to be doing this and I am happy for you. I was sorry to see that the first dinner in Luminae did not measure up but hopefully it will get better. The soup definitely looked amazing. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. By chance are you going to be on the maiden voyage for Ascent?
I won't be on the "maiden voyage", but I will be on her first sailing!
@@ZachtheTravelingMan That's great! I'll be on the 12/3 sailing and am so excited! Looking forward to your first impressions.
We booked a MAGIC CARPET Sky Suite for our Transatlantic cruise later this month on The Beyond. I hope they don’t disappoint us!
"They've got the little cart waiting here for me to do my job this week" - that made me laugh out loud 😂
😂 😆
Great video Zach! I'll be doing Celebrity Infinit next November for 12 days, can't wait, want to get Morocco off my bucket list, so excited... Was your flight direct & from where? Thanks so much for taking us along... when did you do this cruise?
The retreat on the edge class ships cost me about the same (a little less for a 7 day med sailing) and it was incredible. im sure you're sick of these comments by this point, but if you have the chance to do an edge class retreat sailing, it's totally worth it.
Lordy. The price! I would have to stay in my cabin and area the whole time. Enjoy
Hi Zach, We are big fans and just finished watching your sail away in Barcelona. It just so happens we were on the Edge in front of you at the sunset bar watching you sail away. We too got delayed due to some of those passengers on the same plane. What a small world!!
Thank you for watching! I was on the very back of the ship looking right back at you.
We are big celebrity cruisers as we know you are and who knows, we may bump in to each other one day. In the meantime we will enjoy watching your videos!! Cheers!
Pre-Covid, we all cruised on Celebrity, classy ships. Just cruised with RC, when did they leap ahead? Sorry to hear Celebrity now scrimping.
Thanks for referencing the cuts, cookiegate, butler issues, and more. Would like to know if youre getting the room service breakfast Luminae menu or standard room service quality food. Seems like another area where Celebrity may be overpromising.
The breakfast menu for room service did have “premium” options.
Thanks for doing this review, Zach! We're in The Retreat (also Sunset Sky Suite) in a few months so very interested in your experiences. Will follow the series closely. A lukewarm review for Day 1 - not promising.
Hope you enjoy it!
Awesome video! My first Celebrity cruise back in January was on Reflection and she's a great ship for sure. The $8,000 price tag is pretty steep but I think I'm correct in assuming you were stung with the dreaded solo supplement so it would normally be $4,000 per person based on double occupancy. That's the main thing keeping me out of the Retreat at the moment but Luminae looks so tempting. I just disembarked Constellation where I sailed in Aqua Class via a "Move-Up" upgrade (I bid the minimum) and adored Blu, but the way Celebrity is pricing their cruises - especially for solos - is making me wary of booking Aqua or Retreat outright.
Zach, is Virgin Voyages on your radar? I really want to try them out and while plenty of others have reviewed them here on TH-cam, I'd really think you'd do a good job bringing your own perspective. I was actually really considering booking on Brilliant Lady for this winter, only to have Virgin announce her delay the very next day. 😬
I’ll be trying Virgin very soon. Those videos should be on the channel in January. ;)
Looking forward to your videos for this cruise. Hope you include some info about disembarking (Civitavecchia?) and any post cruise travel.
What is the name of the head butler? We will be sailing on the next TA in a sky suite and would like to know. Thank you.
I’m going solo on Viking around the Horn in a balcony for 18 days for under $8,000.
Ugh. I’m so jealous. What a great price. I need to try them out apparently.
We went on a the Celebrity Reflection June 6 for 10 days. The cruise traveled from Barcelona and ended on Rome. The biggest problem we had on this ship was the dining. If you eat in basic dining room you will be sorry as the food is HORRIBLE. Sure if you upgrade to specialty dining and pay $150 for 2 you get fairly good meal. The price you pay for the cruise must include specialty dining every night. Beware of this shipping line.
Hey Zach! I know you are a big fan of Blu as am I (along with the spa). I always book Aqua Class and am heading out for a short 4 day on Reflection in May. They are offering some rather inexpensive "Move Up" deals including Aqua Class Sky Suite. My dilemma comes down to Blu VS Luminae. I am not a huge "foodie" and in Blu hits me about right. Do the other benefits of Reflection's Retreat enter heavily into this decision?? Thoughts - $125 pp for the Move Up. Keep up the great videos and honest reviews - love your channel!!
I are the best burger that I had ever eaten in the Lawn Club Grill. The entire meal was well worth the price for a Speciality selection!
Thanks for the butler info. It’s worse than I thought. We used our butler for a standing order for coffee and mimosas in the morning on many past cruises. It seems that may be a thing of the past. I cannot ask our room attendant to do that. They’ve got enough to do 😢
I totally agree! It’s just a room attendant now. I’m not asking someone who has to clean 17 rooms to bring me a drink.
We’re bummed about their cost cutting of true butler service also. They started that about four months after we made our reservation for Sky Suite on the Beyond next spring.
Maybe that’s the room service person? This is really disappointing. I’m on Beyond in the spring in a sky suite, and they still advertise a butler for the sky suites. It’s really not cool.
MSC yatch club is truly a hidden gem then! Seems like you get so much more with MSC
The food is horrible on MSC. Even in the YC. The Yacht Club area is nice, the rest of the ship is chaotic, crowded and poor service.
We sail from Barcelona on 10 19 23. Transatlantic in sky suite
That will be great! Tell all of the amazing crew in Luminae that I said hello :)
I booked a sky suite on celebrity and I booked with gratuities and on board credit included. The cruise is in February… I hope they still are included 😢
Nm you said booking after Oct 4th 😅
This is an honest question since this is, like, the 5th cruise video, I've seen. Is Social Class in "Social Class Ships" intended to define your social position by your ability to pay for a more expensive ship, or is it supposed to simply identify the more expensive levels/packages in a ship? I'm confused. There's different name tags on different cruise lines (not Surprisingly), but they appear to offer wildly different perks in what seems like similar levels. I'm confused.
The room looks beautiful. Does the $8K price include the solo supplement?
Yeah that’s the price for two essentially.
Around $800 a night for a suite isn't bad, especially if you're traveling solo with a surcharge as it appears.
That support pole in the middle of the room is a non-started for me.
We had one of those poles in our Neptune Suite in the HAL Koningsdam. It was a pain.
We thought the buffet and the dining room on the reflection was the best we've been on.
We love Reflection but prefer the Edge class ships now. The removal of gratuities and OBC is a step too far for Celebrity, in particular for Retreat guests. Cruises are getting more expensive, especially for us in Europe.
Was the suite quiet? I've had issues with noise on Solstice class ships. Looks like you were tucked into a corner so it should have been quiet. The suite you had reminded me of a large front facing family ocean view room I had on Royal once. So far I would not have been impressed for 8 grand.
It was quiet but I was on the back so it would ShAkEeee everytime we entered port.
Have you tried the Eden restaurant on Celebrity? It’s our favorite.
Yes, it’s amazing!
Where did you stay in Barcelona? We are in a Marriott brand suite in sitges prior to our cruise in 2024
I flew in the night before and went straight to the ship.
May I ask, what hotel are you staying at in Barcelona? We cruise next Nov. 2024 on the Celebrity Infinity, can't wait....
Why the towels rack is inside the shower ? 🤦♂️🤷♂️
You should have contest: Guess how many times Zach said, “retreat” and win a stay in the retreat.
As a solo cruiser, did you pay full price for the suite or was there a solo cruiser discount?
I paid full price. Meaning I paid for two people.
Absolutely not. I'm a big Celebrity fan but shifted away from the mass market lines. All-in they're about the same price as an ultra-luxury line so why bother?
The World Europa
You broke the number one rule never fly into port the day of sailing
Is it $8000 per person based on double occupancy or are you traveling solo with a solo supplement?
Traveling solo with a solo supplement. So it would be $8,000 for one person or two people.
Did you pay single supplement?
Yep it was 100%.
What was the itinerary of this cruise? How many days? Enjoy!
Also did you have to pay more as a solo traveler?
Barcelona to Rome in 9 days. Only one sea day. Livorno, Marseille, Villefranche, Messina, Genoa, Naples.
I did have to pay double.
I think head butler can get you tickets for the shows you want to see.
You don’t need tix for shows on celebrity
Didn't you have to pay double given you went solo?
Yes I did. So it would’ve been around $4,000 pp.
Damn u got ripped off on that one.
I eat carnivore. I am hoping I can find something on the menu.
I don’t like the pole in this cabin- I don’t feel it’s really worth the cost
Luminae was vastly overrated on Silhouette. Very disappointing. Coastal Kitchen on Royal was much better and the suites are much bigger and the lounge is twice as big as the retreat lounge.
Thanks Zach. I'm trying to understand why Celebrity is so highly touted. We have an 11 day booked on Beyond Dec 2024 that will almost certainly cancel. Even with the non-refundable deposit for the retreat I can't justify the price. We love Oasis class ships and are sailing on Wonder October 22nd and 29th. Love your channel.
You fly the same day as your cruise? I don't trust airplanes that much, and you wil notice that one flight to your ship had problems and almost missed embarkation. You should NEVER fly the same day.
Oh I’m well aware. It’s just what worked best for my travel and schedule this time. Thanks. :)
@@ZachtheTravelingMan You got lucky. Quick...Get out and buy a lottery ticket. LOL
So you never answered if it was WORTH IT...😅
The Retreat on the Prima is a disappointment
I can't imagine spending that much money on a cruise.
Hear ya. Our host, Zach, must be a huge lottery winner! 🙂
We paid 17k for a suite on the Beyond. 14 days.
You need a wind sock for your microphone 🤔
Oh it has one. That’s how windy it was.
I’m single…..are you?
This suite is so outdated.