Royal Caribbean gives guests a whole new ‘suite’ experience

 
On February 17, Royal Caribbean International announced a whole new level of personalized service for guests booked in suite category staterooms.

The new suite programme is designed to focus on distinctive and personalised servicing and touch every aspect of the guests’ experience from arrival to departure. Suite guests will enjoy a number of special privileges and upgraded amenities for their cruise, along with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s world-renowned Gold Anchor Service from every member of its staff and crew. The new suite programme was implemented fleetwide in March 2009.

All Royal Caribbean International suites include a balcony for a total living area up to 2,025 square feet. The Royal Suite features a digital baby grand player piano, a bar, and panoramic sea views through a glass panel wall that spans the length of the suite. On Asia, Alaska, South America and Europe itineraries, suite guests can enjoy a closer look at the unfolding shoreline with complimentary binoculars to use onboard. Introduced aboard the cruise line’s celebrated Freedom-class ships, the Presidential Family Suite is a four bedroom, four bathroom suite accommodating up to 14 guests. Other suite category staterooms include the Royal Family Suite, Owner’s Suite, Grand Suite, and Junior Suite.

On arrival at the pier, guests booked in the Presidential Family Suite, Royal Suite, Royal Family Suite, Owner’s Suite, and Grand Suite have access to dedicated security (where available) and check-in lines to help ease them swiftly through the embarkation process and directly to their suite accommodations. Additionally, guests booked in the Royal Suite and Presidential Family Suite are personally welcomed by a senior officer at the cruise terminal and escorted to their suite.

Upon check-in, all guests booked in Grand Suites or higher category staterooms receive distinctive gold SeaPass cards, which enable ship crew and staff to provide them with the personalised service and offerings available to suite guests throughout their cruise.

On the first formal evening of the cruise, these guests are treated to a pre-dinner cheese presentation, and on the second formal or final evening of the cruise, a ‘petits fours’ plate during turndown service. Guests also enjoy complimentary 24-hour room service and coffee and tea service throughout their cruise, and the privilege of ordering from the main dining room’s full breakfast, lunch or dinner menus to dine in the privacy of their suite. For guests wanting to stay in, a popular board game from toy brand, Mattel’s game menu could be ordered for delivery to the suite.

A dedicated suite attendant will deliver Royal Caribbean International’s Gold Anchor Service throughout the cruise and help to fulfill any special requests, such as pressing service – complimentary on formal evenings.

Guests booked in the Grand Suite and higher category staterooms have special privileges and access on their Royal Caribbean cruise, including an invitation to a private cocktail reception hosted by the Captain of the ship. Reserved VIP seating in the main theatre for entertainment shows, and priority bookings for appointments in the salon and spa, and for tendering and shore excursion tickets, are some of the benefits provided to suite guests. On Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, suite guests have reserved VIP seating by the pool as well as at the ice shows in the Studio B venue. Guests dining in the Windjammer during breakfast and lunch also enjoy reserved private seating in the adjacent specialty restaurants.

Aboard Radiance-, Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, these suite guests will receive a personal key to the Concierge Club. Hosted by the ship’s concierge, the Concierge Club offers suite guests a relaxed atmosphere, business services such as faxes and photocopies, an extensive library of DVDs and CDs, and complimentary continental breakfast and pre-dinner cocktail receptions daily. The concierge is on-hand to see to the needs of the suite guests and assist with any special requests, such as securing reservations in specialty restaurants; pre-ordering wine for dinner; booking Explorations! shore excursions; scheduling spa and salon appointments; and arranging a private event.

At the end of their cruise, these suite guests enjoy priority departure from the ship and complimentary valet luggage service, where their bags are automatically transferred to the airport, leaving them to enjoy an excursion or other pursuits at the port city.

Guests occupying Junior Suite category staterooms and distinguished by their silver SeaPass cards enjoy many onboard benefits to make their cruise memorable.

As part of the new suites programme, Royal Caribbean International is upgrading furnishings in all suite category staterooms. The installation of new plush sofa-beds, casually elegant deckchairs and tables, and state-of-the-art entertainment systems with flat-panel televisions and CD/DVD will be completed by 2010.

For more information visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.