I was in blissful denial about the room service fee on Celebrity, new for 2023, until my recent cruise onboard the Solstice. Then I saw it on the menu, but still couldn’t believe it. Then I saw it on my shipboard account and was like, “no this can’t be right, not on Celebrity!” So I visited Guest Services, needlessly wasting everyone’s time and was told that yes, there is now a fee for most room service orders. And then I saw it on my credit card bill and finally accepted that the days of free hot room service on Celebrity are over and likely never coming back. Sigh. But I’m happy to report that some room service is still free. Here’s the 411 on Celebrity room service:
Continental breakfast items: Complimentary from 6am-9:30am.
Hot breakfast items: $9.95 service fee + 18% gratuity per delivery (unlimited items per delivery).
Lunch/dinner/late night: $9.95 service fee + 18% gratuity per delivery (unlimited items per delivery).
Coffee/Juice/Milk/Non-Dairy Milk: Complimentary at breakfast.
Wine/Champagne/Beer: Priced a la carte + 20% service fee.
Zenith-level Captain’s Club members, suite guests, and passengers staying in the retreat will still be able to get room service delivered for free.
Celebrity’s room service breakfast card must be hung on your cabin door by 2am for delivery between 6-9:30am the next morning. Indicate your preferred 30 minute delivery window on the card. You can use the room service card to order both complementary continental items or hot items or a combination of both. If you order any hot items from the right side of the menu, you will incur the $9.95 + 18% gratuity charge. I always tip a few extra dollars to the crew member who delivers my order (especially if I only ordered complimentary items), but it isn’t required.
Coffee, tea, juice, milk, and non-dairy milk is complimentary at breakfast. Alcohol is priced a la carte and will incur an automatic 20% service charge.
While the desserts were delicious, I didn’t find the other items as good as what you’d get at the buffet, dining room, spa cafe, burger joint, or other dining venues onboard. Note also that this is the exact same room service menu that used to be complimentary (I mean, at least jazz it up a bit if you’re going to start charging). So, is it worth the $9.95 service fee? Under certain emergency circumstances it might be. Like to nurse a hangover from bed, if your toddler is napping and you can’t leave the cabin for lunch, or if the buffet is closed and you get a late-night chocolate cake craving (I speak from experience on that one…shrug).
Thankfully it’s still free (and worthwhile) to order complimentary coffee and a pastry for the balcony as a pre-breakfast. In most other cases though, now that there’s a charge, I’d skip room service. Instead, save the 10 bucks for airport snacks on your trip home and walk yourself to one of the delicious complimentary dining options onboard.
And with that…
Class Dismissed.
Homework (10 points): What are your thoughts and experiences ordering room service on Celebrity? Do you find it worth the $9.95 charge? Share to the comments.
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