In the event you’re booked in a collection on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you will get entry to the cruise line’s suite lounge.
Suite visitors and Pinnacle Membership members are capable of entry the lounge, which incorporates complimentary drinks within the night, snacks all through the day, a self-service espresso machine, and plush seating.
I can entry the lounge both as a result of I am booked in a collection or as a result of I’ve attained Pinnacle Membership standing in Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program.
I like how quiet the suite lounge might be within the daytime, and the way a lot enjoyable it may be assembly different passengers in the course of the blissful hour every night. I additionally like getting access to the foods and drinks, together with the companies of the Suite Concierge.
Listed here are 5 issues I by no means do in Royal Caribbean’s suite lounge.
Stuff your self on meals
There’s snacks to get pleasure from within the suite lounge thrice per day, and the precise selection will fluctuate. By far, the night hors d’oeuvres are the only option with skewered meats, charcuterie boards, eggrolls, and extra.
They are often tempting, particularly as a result of it is “included” and prices nothing to get pleasure from, however I will not load up my plate until I am ravenous or know I will not be consuming for some time. I’ve made that mistake earlier than and it resulted in ruining my urge for food for dinner.
I believe dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise is probably the most celebrated meal of the day, and there is additionally the very best decisions round.
I get pleasure from going to the suite lounge for a couple of pre-dinner drinks, particularly on ships which have a bar within the suite lounge (such because the Radiance Class ships). It is a good way to fulfill individuals and revel in complimentary alcoholic drinks with out a drink package deal.
Learn extra: Royal Caribbean drink package deal data and suggestions
After a drink or two, having a snack might be mighty tempting, however I attempt to restrict my consumption and snacking in order that I can benefit from the nice dinner service supplied on the ship.
Have a telephone name
The suite lounge is not a library, however I do suppose it is vital to be respectful of others within the lounge.
Similar to on an airplane, practice, or cafe, nobody desires to listen to another person’s telephone dialog.
If I get a telephone name, I will reply and rapidly ask them to hold on or I will name them again so I can step out of the lounge and take the decision. That is straightforward on the Voyager Class ships which have an out of doors deck to the suite lounge, however typically I will really stroll again to my stateroom or one other public space.
A part of the enjoyable of the suite lounge is to have a dialog with somebody there, however I do suppose telephone calls are usually louder. And if somebody has their speakerphone on, then it is simply annoying to others to have to listen to.
Whereas it hasn’t been a problem I’ve seen, I might all the time use headphones for any sort of audio whereas within the lounge.
Stiff the concierge or bar workers
Tipping on a cruise is a little bit of a grey space as a result of it isn’t that nicely outlined, however you must count on to tip whereas within the suite lounge.
How a lot and who you tip actually is dependent upon how a lot interplay you’ve gotten with the workers.
If I spend a while within the lounge and get to know the suite concierge, I often tip that individual on the finish of the crusing. The quantity is dependent upon how a lot I ask of them, how lengthy the crusing is, and the way nicely I get to know them. There is not a proper or incorrect quantity, they’re appreciative of what you can provide them.
The form of issues the suite concierge can do for you is escort you off the ship to bypass the road of visitors disembarking, repair billing points, ebook specialty eating places, or principally do something Visitor Providers can do. On some cruises, I ask a variety of them, and others not a lot. Even when all I do is cease in to get an escort off the ship on disembarkation day, I will tip them for the assistance.
Learn extra: 8 causes to get off your ship as early as doable on disembarkation day
The opposite time to tip whereas within the suite is once you order a drink from the wait workers.
You will get complimentary alcoholic drinks day by day within the suite lounge (seek advice from your welcome letter in your suite for precise hours) and there are waiters to take your drink order.
A greenback or two per drink is the customary tip, though some visitors will tip a particular waiter on the finish of the crusing.
Sneak non-suite visitors in
It may be tempting to need to carry family and friends into the suite lounge so you may all hang around, nevertheless it’s towards the principles if they are not additionally in a collection.
This is not a lot about defending Royal Caribbean (though it’s strictly towards the principles), however relatively, being thoughtful of your fellow passengers.
Suite lounges will not be massive. In reality, many are fairly tiny. It is why Royal Caribbean will typically limit the quantity of Pinnacle Membership members that may entry the lounge.
Go away my children unattended
Do not confuse the suite lounge with the adults-only Solarium, however I nonetheless would not let my children simply hang around alone in there both.
I prefer to take my children into the suite lounge so we will get pleasure from time collectively, plus permit them to benefit from the suite advantages they’re entitled to. It is a great way to introduce them to what to anticipate, so once they’re older, they know the best way to act.
I really like my children, however I do know when left unsupervised, they will typically be loud or just annoy one another and that may get loud. This goes again to among the different fake pas’ I listed on this submit about being respectful of different visitors.
I’ve no downside sending my children as much as the lounge by themselves on a mission to seize a drink or snack, however by no means to hang around.
