Is the Celebrity Retreat Worth It?
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- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
- Join us in this exciting episode as we delve into the question that is on everyone's minds - is the Retreat on Celebrity Cruise worth the extra splurge? We take on this burning topic and provide an in-depth analysis of the perks and pitfalls of the Celebrity Retreat. We'll share our opinions and tips to help you make an informed decision before booking your next cruise. So, sit back and get ready to embark on this thrilling journey as we uncover the truth about the ultimate cruise experience - the Celebrity Retreat!
We were on board the Celebrity Apex.
0:00 Intro
0:38 Pro- Food
2:05 Pro- Perks
3:41 Pro- Butler & Concierge
5:48 Pro- Embarkation & Disembarkation
6:36 Pro- Sundeck, Lounge, Bar
9:37 Pro- Tea Time
10:23 Pro- Room
11:39 Thanks
11:55 Con- Not a Ship within a Ship
13:03 Con- No Coffee or Tea in Room
14:47 Con- Room Service
16:17 Con- Bar
17:11 Con- Boarding Day
17:59 Con- Expensive
19:04 End thoughts
#CelebrityRetreat #celebrity #retreat #retreatworthit #celebritycruise #cruise
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About us:
We are the Lindsay's, Emma, Jack and Poppy. (and sometimes our dog Mezi) We love travel and our goal is to take our experiences to help you plan your next trip. Whether it is a big once in a lifetime trip or a fun weekend getaway… we want to help!
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You guys are Pro’s and the captions are excellent- always make us smile.
Excellent comparison/ contrast content. 😊
You always know how to make our week. Can’t wait to share everything we have coming this year with you.
Emma & Jack
Nice job guys! We really like the upscale feel of Celebrity ships in general (Edge class is our only experience). It feels like a five star hotel. Regarding the Retreat, it is a good experience overall but I do think The Haven is slightly better. The lounge with the bar is a great gathering spot and way to meet people. The Retreat Lounge was always so quiet and not really conducive to meeting others. And, as you mentioned, having everything in one place (ship within a ship) was a slightly better experience. With that said, I've found that sometimes there can be a substantial price difference between the two lines for the same or similar itinerary so it pays to check both. We paid about $3000 less for a Celebrity Sky Suite on the Edge last fall for an 8 day Med cruise versus a 7 night cruise in a Haven room on Norwegian with the same itinerary. I'd be happy on either if the price is comparable.
Thank you so much!
We loved our 1st Haven trip last year that started this whole channel and loved our most recent Celebrity Retreat trip.
We go back in the Haven next week and are looking forward to having a better lens to view it after we have been doing this a bit and have seen what others offer.
They are each unique and designed for a different experience so it may honestly come down to which style do you prefer for your trip because both are amazing.
We hope you have a great week!
Emma & Jack
Great review. And you are both so pleasant and fun to listen to.
Thank so much. Glad you enjoyed the video. We hope you have a great weekend.
Emma & Jack
This was so helpful,thanks!
Glad you found it helpful!
Emma & Jack
The grab and go drinks is reminiscent of premium airport lounges. It's convenient for passengers and alleviates congestion at the bar area and allows the bartenders to focus on the specialty drinks and not have to provide a Diet Coke. The Retreat was going for the upscale exclusive access to certain areas of the ship concept and The Haven was going for the high-end boutique hotel concept with the ship-within-a-ship design. Another way to look at this is like if you were at the airport and have access to the first class lounge at a gate in the main terminal versus being at a different part of the airport that services private jet passengers only.
That is a great way of comparing the two. Appreciate you sharing.
Emma & Jack
There is a separate lounge area for retreat quests at Port Everglades that serves food and drinks - I enjoyed it when on sailed on the Beyond mid-April. But if you don't look for it (the entrance is to the left - not up the escalators you all took) the staff does not do a good job directing you to it. Other than that, loved your review.
Thanks for the clarity there. We will be on the lookout next time!
Thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed it.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Emma & Jack
Great content, thank you. I’ve been on Edge twice and Apex once with another trip planned March 2024 and your videos gave me some ideas on things that I missed but would like to do. Note, there is a special area for embarkation and we haven’t waited more than 5 minutes from entering as they come to where you are sitting to check you in.
Thanks much for watching and commenting. We are sad we missed the Retreat entrance but now will make sure we catch it next time.
Glad our videos could help.
Hope you have a great week!
Emma & Jack
Thumbs up. Great job on describing and showing the retreat areas. This isn't for me at all but if it is a trend, then this is a great example of how Celebrity does it and there is some comparison within contrasting it with NCL's Haven.
We really appreciate it!
Emma & Jack
I totally agree on the coffee con! There should be a coffee maker in the room.
It is such a little thing but you miss it when it isn’t there.
Great Video you two.
Thanks so much! We appreciate more than we can say.
Emma & Jack
Sorry you missed the lounge at the port. It was super nice! We were escorted to an elevator and brought upstairs to have some snacks and coffee. They had us sit and they came to check us in.
Ya we are sad we missed it. But it didn’t negatively impact us as Celebrity does a great job across the board with the embarkation process. We will catch it next time.
Thanks for watching and commenting. We hope you have a great week.
Emma & Jack
I want a British butler too!😂
The buffet on Apex was hands down best food ever! I'm a chef and was blown away at the quality of food .
We have now done Celebrity a few times and for what we have sailed on it does have the best buffet!
12:47 it’s called a retreat so i am going to like being able to retreat to my space. I like the idea the restaurant is away from my room this way you don’t have people clocking you to run into you when emerge from your room. I’m going to use this cruise✅
Enjoy!
I like seats at the Retreat bar also!!!!! I've just been on the older ships.
Jack has gotten so much grief for his thoughts about this. Glad he isn't the only one that agrees!
Royal Caribbean Star Class is amazing!!!! The best top level overall service.
It is definitely on our list but waiting u til we can kind a trip in our budget. We have heard it is significantly better than we experienced in sky class.
Emma & Jack
Was also on Apex: One has to work it , to make them earn the premium for Retreat. A passive passenger likely wont get all the benefits, as even coffee requires making a request (and a swipe of the card or asking of a room number).
Agree its great, but could use a coffee machine in the room. Also, while entire ship is "nice" there's some FOMO as a result, e.g., leave the Retreat. Also, agree the lack of Luminae quality for room service makes some breakfast and dinner difficult or neverending. Plus general room service breakfast is Dennys quality. And, sundeck bar needs better waiting area for walk ups.
But, one major plus, no restrictions on children in the Retreat outdoor pool unlike Haven. So, Retreat is more parent friendly.
Thanks for watching and for your thoughts! Always great to hear what others think.
Definitely agree with the the pool deck being more kid friendly!
Thanks,
Emma & Jack
I really like the videos and I am excited to be going on with my family the Celebrity Infinity next July for a Greece Trip and staying in a Sky Suite. I cannot wait to see your comparison of the Retreat to the NCL Haven, and which one was better.
Thank you so much for such a nice comment! That sounds like an amazing trip and we hope yal have a blast.
Emma & Jack
The Infinity does not have the ship within a ship retreat and it's not revolutionized. Check out videos of it as it is a very different ship from any of the Edge class ships. Some things are similar but a lot is different.
FYI, That outdoor area next to the Retreat lounge is not there on Beyond and they added a bar in the Retreat lounge....but the lounge is larger and the sundeck is 2 decks on Beyond. And...on Beyond the Retreat area ia ALL together now with Luminae. We also had a Kurig in our Sky Suite. There IS a suite lounge for embarkation. You obviously missed it.😂 Sounds like you need to try Beyond!!
We really want to try the Beyond. We just haven’t found the right trip yet.
Sad we missed the lounge but next time we will make sure to capture it!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Emma & Jack
Good to know! We’ll be on Beyond in Retreat in January. Can’t wait! Thanks!
I've been in the Retreat on Apex and Edge. I don't see any big deal about the 'ship within a ship'. Tea can be had in your room. My wife got a kettle and the butler kept the basket refreshed throughout both cruises. On room service. I agree about Luminae. That would be nice. The higher level suites get a much better room service menu. Things like steak and eggs. No seats at the bar in the lounge? The tables are chairs are right there. I guess it would be nice, but I enjoyed taking my cocktails over to the window to watch the sea go by anyway. We were just on Edge and you're right. No bar there at all, however they have one right behind the area and will make anything you want. BTW, at the end of this Europe season Edge goes in for a refurbish which will include a bar! We had a lounge area in Barcelona, with food and beverages. Also, we were in the first group to board. Yes. It is more expensive. I may try The Haven someday, but I will be sticking to Celebrity for now. I really have enjoyed the first two videos I've watched of yours and look forward to more in the future.
We really appreciate you sharing your experiences. One day we will try the higher end suites but we really enjoy everything we already get with the Sky Suites.
For Jack, he just has a thing with being able to sit at a bar and have a drink. He used to be a bartender and really enjoys being able to sit there and watch them work and talk to everyone.
Glad to hear the Edge is adding the bar. We just booked Alaska on the Edge for next year and that will be a nice upgrade we weren’t expecting.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Emma & Jack
@@lindsayslivealittle I see what you mean about sitting at 'a bar'. I really enjoyed that most every day on the Retreat Deck. The staff was wonderful and the bartender was very conversant!
Hello. We met in luminae during this cruise. I would say I agree with 95% of your review. I was in a pre boarding lounge with drinks and fruit. We were escorted from the lounge to a private elevator to board. My next cruise is celebrity apex again March 2024. Looking into an Alaskan cruise for May/June 2024 with celebrity.
That is honestly what we expected however for some reason when we got to the check-in area they fed us to the main grouping area. Thanks for pointing that out to us.
We are on the Apex again in June with the Retreat and hopefully Alaska next year as well with family in May. Maybe we will run into you all again!
Hope you have a great rest of your week and thanks for watching, commenting and remembering us.
Emma & Jack
You need to voice to the port workers that you are retreat guests next time. You missed one of the best perks with the embarkation lounge and it’s not your fault! They should have been paying attention.
@@familyoceanexactly. I hope that doesn’t happen to me when I go, I look forward ti the special embarkation process.
Great video! We are booked on Celebrity Edge for our second Alaska cruise on May 26, 2024, in a Magic Carpet Suite. First time on Celebrity. We have been on Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Disney. In fact, our first Alaska cruise was on the Coral Princess (land and sea) and in November this year we will cruise on the Crown Princess for our 16 day Transpacific Hawaiian trip. However, we can’t wait to experience all that Celebrity Edge has to offer.
So excited. We just booked the Retreat for next April!
Enjoyable video. I very much like that you have captioned different sections of your video. It makes it easy to return and find your comments or pictures. That's the main reason I decided to subscribe (just now) with a thumbs up and I hit the bell. I realize for parents like yourself that you'd like to have discounts for children, but I"m glad that there are no discounts for the little ones. We want an experience as adult as possible and sorry, but with as few little tykes as possible. You may have a very well-behaved child, but well, you know....the odds of quiet areas go up with fewer children onboard.
Could you comment on how smoke-free the ship is? The retreat area is hopefully fully smoke free.
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing. We can definitely understand your POV on the little ones and honestly there are some trips we take without our little one that we feel the same way.
We found the Celebrity ship to be very much smoke free. There are the designated smoking area(s) but they are tucked away nicely away from common walkway areas. Unlike other ships we have been on where the smoking area is centrally located in common walking areas.
Appreciate the support!
Emma & Jack
From what I have heard there is a place for suite guests to relax in a special room before embarking, specifically in Fort Lauderdale. This is upsetting, can you go into more detail since this is the first time I have heard anything negative about embarkation there. It’s supposed to be one of the best place for it.
There is a lounge for suites but we must have missed it. We had a great time regardless but wish the staff would have pointed us to the correct location to experience the suites.
Emma & Jack
Completely agree that Celebrity missed the mark by not building a real bar in the Retreat Lounge.
I always enjoyed sitting at the bar in Michael’s Club on the S Class ships.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
It is one of those things that would just make it a bit more of a communal area.
Have a great week.
Emma & Jack
I still think the Solstice class and Millennium class Retreat class are the best.
Michael's Club is a nicer space than the Retreat Lounge IMO. Unfortunately, Celebrity doesn't realize that and are turning some Michael's Clubs into retreat lounges in style. Maybe I'm in the minority but I find the decor uninspiring and not very stylish in the whole retreat. And it's not about it being contemporary. It's just uninspiring. I like any type of style if there is creative use of colors, patterns and ambiance created. I just feel it is formulaic and uses the same formula used in all of the staterooms, just expanded into a whole area. Only Luminae stands out and that's a style that's a lot like the elevator landings on the whole ship.
Now he is concentrating so hard at starting at the camera it looks funny
Darn it! I am just not as good in front of the camera as Emma. 😀
Jack
Great video. Thinking of trying X again. I understand that butlers are no more, also tips are no longer included.
Appreciate it. We are heading out this weekend in the Retreat after the changes were made . Good news is they are bringing back the butlers for Sky Suites over the next couple of months.
Thank you for your reply. Happy to hear they are bringing the butler back. Now just wish the tips were still included. One can hope😊. Your video was well done, very helpful. Happy cruising!
Did I see they allow children in the Retreat?
Yes children are allowed in the retreat and the sundeck. I will say you tend to see kids more on the sun deck (pool usually) and at dinner. Not as often in the lounge. But they are allowed.
Thanks for the information. Gives me something to think about.
Did you guys think the NCL Haven restaurant had better food in general or did the Celebrity Retreat have better food in Luminae?
Thank you!
We feel like Celebrity Retreat offers better quality and overall menu than the Haven. The only exception is if you prefer “steak and potatoes” everyday then the Haven is better.
The Retreat offers a rotating menu and a more upscale curated menu vs the Haven has the same dishes everyday.
Emma & Jack
If I was in the retreat area outside relaxing , could ask them to bring me burger and frus at No coast?
Yes you can. As long as the outdoor bar/restaurant is open they will serve you on the Retreat deck.
Emma & Jack
Are the cruise lines doing what the airlines have done? Stratification people by the cost of these perks? Can regular cost cruisers access these areas?
Sorry for the delay in answering the question as we were traveling.
Cruise lines are stratifying similar the airlines and other travel industry parts. A big negative right now is with this stratification some experienced cruisers are losing a lot of the perks they had previously and still paying more for the cruise.
Typically non-suite cruisers do not get access to these areas. The only exception is Royal Caribbean which allows its top tier frequent cruisers to use the suite only areas.
Emma & Jack
@@lindsayslivealittle That's a very fair representation and thank you for mentioning the perceived "downside" to stratification.
Try Silversea.
It on our list as our channel grows. We have heard it is amazing.
The retreat does have a separate entrance and lounge for the guest. sorry you missed it
We got it the next time around!
You seem to be describing one parricular ship. Which one?
We sailed on the Celebrity Apex. It is Edge class so newer ship. All of the ships within that class will be similar.
Sailing in a couple months on an older, smaller Celebrity ship and will review that class as well.
Emma & Jack
What Aggie class?
Jack is Aggie class of ‘08. Although he actually graduated in ‘09 after a bonus year he took.
Jeez guy. No seats in the bar? There are tons of seats in the room!
Not sure you got the point. We don’t have complaints about the Retreat but Jack personally likes to sit at the bar.
It used to be, but too expensive now and they have significantly increased the number of suites in the Edge class ships. We prefer tge smaller Solstice class and Millennium class ships.
We want to try a smaller class ship next year. Thanks for sharing.
Emma & Jack
The Solstice class ships aren't that much smaller. They are a lot different, though. But they're only 6 to 8 percent smaller than the Edge class. They are just more intimate in how they are designed. And they don't have two "classes" like this ship does. They have a few reserved suite areas but not a whole section reserved just for suite passengers. I'll say this 1000 times, putting the Retreat in a prime real estate forward really robs the non-retreat paseenger of views and deck space and that's what I dislike about the Retreat. The Haven is aft I believe. But both have a big sense to regular passenger that this space is off-limits to them.
What cruise line has a ship within a ship?
NCL is the cruise line we have been on that has a ship within a ship concept. Believe MSC does as well but have not been on to be able to confirm.
Emma & Jack
Been on MSC Yacht club 8 sailings. Yes, it’s a ship within a ship. Love it , especially the service!!
You really were searching for cons. I agree that Celebrity is pricier than other lines, but I was willing to pay for the Celebrity experience. However, I am often a solo traveller, and they are pretty much pricing me out of that line with all their shenanigans. The Retreat comes off as snobby, and makes regular passengers feel like third class voyagers. It seems to be all about how much money they can make now, and corporate greed is unfortunately going to be their downfall. They are losing an important demographic by charging up to 3x the cruise rate for solo travelers. I won't sail with them anymoree.
Thank you for sharing. Emma was looking at a solo trip for the experience and when we looking to book it was honestly almost the same price for 2 as for a solo which is just ridiculous.
We hope you find a solo option that is more suited and let us know. We will make sure to comment about it in one of our vlogs.
Emma & Jack
you can look at her all you desire;;Someone is jealoua!
Now your butler is your room steward. I do think this is a bad idea.
We haven’t been on since the change but can’t see how it can any way equivalent to what we had previously.
@@lindsayslivealittle Exactly! Your cabin steward is going to be too busy to be a butler too!
So, do you prefer NCL Haven or Celebrity Retreat?
That is a very tough questions but we will be recording an vlog on it soon.
What we can say is they are 2 completely different experiences and it really depends on what you or your family enjoy. Because depending on what you are looking for in a vacation you would choose one over the other.
Emma & Jack
Celebrity Retreat hands down ,NCL nickel and dime u too much you have to pay to upgrade to premium Liquor, No free Unlimited premium WiFi and you have to pay your own Gratuities after that big price tag Etc.
We were in the celebrity suite which had coffee facilities and the butler did lots of extras including changing the tv so we could watch movies on usb bought us our favourite bottle of wine when he noticed we hadn’t touched the comp champagne. Luminaire was great but yes Brekky in room was not good. Great video though we are on apex in Aug
She is beautiful. I don’t blame you for wanting to stare at her.
I'll take "some JagOff won the wife lottery for $2000 Alex"
Thanks for sharing something that is both incorrect and not asked for.
The breaking news interruption… 😂
Had to do it!
I think they don’t want kids, hence the price.
We thought the same thing but all we heard from parents was how great the kids club is on Celebrity. Also a lot of their daily activities are geared to all ages so they let families enjoy the activities together.
Now by no means is Celebrity a kids designed ship and experience.
Emma & Jack
The Edge class ships --Yes. The Solstice class & older--No.
Thanks for that point. We have only done Edge class so we will stick with the Retreat on the Edge class ships.
What are the key differences on the Solstice class ships?
Emma & Jack
@@lindsayslivealittle The Retreat treatment in the Solstice class and older ships is the equivalent of a retreaded tire. Luminae is neither fresh or refreshing. The suites have been refreshed, but still have an old tired feeling about them. The Retreat lounge is severely lacking in space & imagination & there is no pool. The one area I find no fault with is the Retreat personnel. They try their best at being personable & accommodating.
@@geraldcarrington6619 thanks for the details.
@@geraldcarrington6619 They weren't designed for that. They were designed for most passengers so that's where they shine.
Tips no longer included with the Retreat
We were super disappointed when that was announced. So much so we did a second vlog just in the changes.
Emma & Jack
We were told that Celebrity is ADULT cruising.
Celebrity will not have the same level of kids activities as NCL or Royal but there have been several families on our trips with kids ranging all ages and there is a really good, underaged kids club.
"little splurge"
Let me guess 2 or 3 grand more for a trip?
Not exactly a splurge.
I love when people like this act as if a large amount of money is really just a small splurge
First thank you for watching. And second we were saying that a con to this line is that it can be more money than some other suite class cruises! Sailing in a suite is not cheap at all and we understand that! But Celebrity is also considered a more luxury brand so it is kind of expected. Even there balcony or interior rooms are a little pricier than some other lines.
Emma
No it’s no longer worth it. X is cutting services and raising prices to unsustainable levels. Time to move on.
Thanks for watching and providing your POV. People are still paying the price and selling out ships so it will be interesting if it is actually unsustainable.
Agreed.
I'd rather drink the water from the sink than consume coffee from a Kuerig machine. No self respecting coffee drinker would contemplate for a second using that piece of rubbish. Sorry. Just have a better coffee every morning and am not Willing to compromise.
Jack is actually a food scientist and specialized in premium coffee. He would whole heartedly agree with you. I just sometimes want a quick caffeine hit.
Emma
Such an annoying couple… If you want, extra service, and a cappuccino… Pay more!
Thanks for your input! There are other lines that supply a coffee makers in your room at an entry level suite. We are more than capable of getting ourselves a cappuccino at cafe al bacio.
It was just a review! Obviously not much to complain about!
Also never said we expected more service!
How miserable of a person you must be to find these two annoying. They broke down everything for people so they best know what to book.....seriously, are you okay? Find a hobby...get friends (if you can with this personality)...seek help!
They probably paid top dollar for this cruise (north of 3k per person). Why would you have to pay on top of that? Cruises for normal people start at 200pp.