The COST Series: Is STAR Class WORTH it? I Value the perks of STAR Class! | Royal Caribbean

When looking to purchase a high-end or luxury cruise room with Royal Caribbean, there are 3 different tiers in the Royal Suite program on Oasis and Quantum class ships only. These 3 levels are Sea Class, Sky Class, an Star Class all offering additional amenities and perks for your luxury cruise.
At the top of the levels, is the Star Class in the Royal Suite program and includes the most amenities and perks making the cruise almost all-inclusive. We will take a look at all of these extra perks and benefits and answer "What is the value of Star Class?". These rooms are not cheap but knowing everything that is built into the price might help you decide if you should book a Star Class Suite.
From there, you can determine "Is Star Class Worth it?". For everyone, this answer is going to be different but now you will have the information needed to answer the question!
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[@mariefraher8725]

Terrific review!

[@joycehardy9422]

Excellent review! Thanks

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Always my pleasure Joyce!

[@lifeiscruisey1912]

How have I only just found your channel 😍😍😍 I need to binge watch all them videos. As for this one I've got my first star class booked for Feb 2023 and can't wait

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Dwayne and welcome!!! You are going to spoil yourself with Star Class!

[@brentshuffler1234]

Circa minute 3:33: Tip: as you asked, "hors d'oeuvres" is French. Americans mispronounce this as "or DERvs" [same sound as in "serves"] but the v comes before the r and authentic pronunciation is therefore more like "orr deuh-vruh" (the last uh syllable being very gentle). Simpler alternatives would be snacks, "canapes" [= can-ah-pay] [the s being silent] [another French word] or appetisers.

[@cwmoore7000]

Great review.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Thank you!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Thanks for the awesome overview of all of the perks that tiers available on your Royal Caribbean cruise! We wouldn't have more than a couple of alcoholic drinks per person per day, so what a waste of money for us. We mostly enjoy eating at the main dining room and would most likely go to a specialty restaurant once or twice in a week. A big splurge for us is an outside room with a balcony in about the center of the ship.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That is still an awesome room!! I am a more simple person too and definitely did not need all these perks.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@TheWeekendCruiser You are a simple man that just has the looks of a man with millions of bucks! Thank you so much for your excellent advice and input.

[@dawnboyd1784]

On our last cruise the Genie was reserving seats in the music venues for their guests. That was nice since some of the entertainers were very popular and seats would be hard to get.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That would be beneficial! Finding a seat sometimes for Comedy or the Music Hall can be taxing if not reserved.

[@rexdaron409]

I just got off allure in a deck 8 aqua suite, and for it being my family's first star class experience I don't think we can go back to sky. Everyone we talked to about star class said you have to do 1 star class cabin to understand the best ways to enjoy it. We had a 8 night cruise and at first it was hard to understand all of the perks, but by the 6th night we were using the genie as much as we could to make the $20,000+ price tag of our suite worth it. We have our next one booked for next summer because there's nothing like star class.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Glad you enjoyed it Rex! For the price, you definitely want to feel like you are getting your monies worth!

[@AndreaSHG]

The first time I was ever on RC, I won the bid on Royal Up to the Grand Loft Suite - and now we can’t sail any other way!!! My family (4 adults) will be sailing next month in 2 Grand Loft Suites and none of us drink alcohol!! But we really feel that because we are with my folks who are older, the Genie is really priceless!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That's awesome Andrea and why I always recommend people to start with the lowest tier you think you will be happy with! It is VERY tough to re-acclimate to a lower tiered cabin after having such an amazing room and amenities!

[@Blaisefiyah]

I’ve done sky class (Crown Loft Suite) on Oasis in 2013, but am excited to do Star. I’m aiming for it September 2024 on Icon or Utopia if the Seas

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Feel free to invite me!

[@ZaphodCRC]

I have found working with a great TA, who is familiar with Star Class, is a invaluable resource. My TA works with the Genie (30-60 days prior) to relay likes/dislikes, things we are looking to do, things we did not know the genie would assist with, etc. We have always been wonderfully surprised and the benefit of the genie has been well worth it. Plus we have kids, which makes it a little more of a value. That said we only started booking Star Class during the last couple of years, where the prices are significantly cheaper than pre-Covid. So based on that, the value of the Genie (cost/benefit) will only diminish as cruising gets back to normal and the price of Star Class gets back up in the $15,000+ range for double occupancy.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That is a really good suggestion! Yes, if you have a Travel Agent that already knows you very well, this could be an excellent fit and takes some of the coordination off. Yes, prices right now are much cheaper than they have been. I am confident they will return eventually.

[@sharyncreswell5138]

I would use the heck out of my genie!! Lol. My favourite thing would be getting met at the port and the best seating(front row) and skipping the line. I would also get them to pack and unpack for me and definitely use the unlimited dining.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

haha, wait, the genie could have packed for me?!?! I didn't even think about that one!

[@VictoriaGates]

Thanks for the review. My boyfriend and I also don't drink so I always factor that in.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

It makes a significant difference when you don't drink. Sooooo much cheaper!

[@VictoriaGates]

@@TheWeekendCruiser It also helps that "fancy" meals don't impress or inspire me. Great tacos, steamed or roasted veggies, and crispy french fries for the win. While I like trying new foods, I prefer fresh whole foods cooked correctly with fresh seasonings over most high-end cuisine. Makes things a bit cheaper there also. lol

[@NancyGstt]

Thanks so much, I had no idea there was such a thing as a room that came with all of those perks.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You are welcome!! Just keep in mind, those perks come at a cost!

[@genefrance]

Thanks for the break down, can’t get that anywhere else! Hey can you inquire about the internet in the room, will they upgrade or put another relay in so it will work. I need fast internet

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You know, looking back, we probably should have inquired and we did not. We just assumed it was the location causing the issue. If staying there again, would definitely mention it.

[@kenstrong1]

Thanks so much for the great videos, Brandon. Our family has booked our first Star Class suite for 2024. (In 9330 in fact, just on Allure) We are regular cruisers but this will be a first for us. Can you please tell me how the à la carte restaurants work? You had mentioned Portside BBQ. I'm just curious about Johnny Rockets, Playmakers, etc, if you just order what you want and it is covered with the ultimate dining or how that works?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Ken! Star class is an all inclusive experience. Gratuities, wifi, and ultimate dining. You will not incur any "extra" charges unless you buy something in a store. All speciality dinning, including port side bbq, chops, park 150, Giovanni's, izumi, and chefs table is included. Just order what you want and you'll get it as all menus are a la carte. I often do 2 entrees and 2 apps. Only limitation is sushi where you get up to $35 per person which is a huge amount of food and ask about their prefix menu.

[@kenstrong1]

Excellent! Thanks so much!!

[@anthonygajewski1464]

I have sailed with a gene a few times i'm Diamond plus and i love it i have had the suite of a life time the royal loft on board the SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS and holy cow what a beautiful suite the only drag to me was having to look out over the basketball court as my front view i think this suite should have a better front view than basketball courts. the side view was all ocean which was nice just to sit and relax and soak up the rays.or chill in the hot tub that comes with the royal loft suite. i have had ice cream Sunday bar brought to the room by the gene popcorn which is not found any place on the ship.Bloody Mary bar brought to the suite Starbucks deliver every morning to my suite at the same time to me the gene is great we had nothing but the best treatments from a royal gene and its pricey for a reason because they pamper you ask and you shall receive .

[@redtankgirl5]

Considering my first cruise and would appreciate the heck out of my genie but like you I don’t drink alcohol and that is a cost that would be totally wasted on me. You have given a wealth of information though. Thanks

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Right? I feel like I really miss out on the true value. Everything is a trade off though! You can always rely on the Suite Concierges for lower tiered suite rooms and still get pretty close.

[@madhatter5889]

The virgin cocktails are the bomb. Our family gets the refreshment package so we are not out the entire $500+. The refreshment package usually cost about $25/30 per day on sale. We have done star class once and will only do it again if the price is under $3200 per person.

[@simonsole3789]

I will only do star class I love it it’s what I want when I go on holiday

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

The benefits are definitely very nice, especially if you know how to fully utilize all of them!

[@darleneeastburn7639]

I usually book a two bedroom suite on the NCL … or a Haven room .. have u tried those ?? I cruise alone .

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

I have not tried the Haven at this time but have only heard amazing things about that offering.

[@suzannegeer9375]

Question - been reading up on Star suite perks. Are free behind the scene tours and free access to the thermal spa also included? Priority disembarkment for port days and last day of the cruise is a BIG plus for us. Also, these suite rooms have wonderful bathrooms with lots of room and storage space.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Suzanne, to my knowledge, Star suites do not get the thermal spa... Behind the scenes tours were a causality of COVID and they have no returned. If you do the Sky level, you will have a genie and might be able to make special arrangement for you prior to sailing. (Oher cruise lines like Celebrity DO offer this beneift)

[@kathydoan782]

Of all the things you mentioned about the star class, you never member hope much it cost for the 7 days cruise!

[@andrewbrown4753]

Hi, does the sky class come with a genie? And what are the differences between your personal concierge staying in a normal suite and the genie

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Andrew, A Royal Genie only comes with Star Class. Sky Class, however, will give you access to the suite lounge which will have a shared concierge who can do many of the same items. The only real difference is the genie is dedicated to you and more personable. If something goes wrong, I also feel like a Genie would be easier able to resolve. The difference is really shared versus dedicated.

[@andrewbrown4753]

@@TheWeekendCruiser Thanks

[@campusx4195]

Just got back from Star Loft room cruise with Royal Genie. Some of your comments are spot on, but you seem to miss the overall value of the Genie and the perks. You get ANYTHING you want...just ask. They will give you any level of service you want past reservagtions and meeting you for dinner. Worth the value and we are doing it again. He noticed I had late night parties on the deck because the deck was huge. By night 3, the late night party was all set up at 3am and ready to go with food, drinks, towels and snacks without me knowing. Trust me I impressed severl of the guys that came back to the room! Just ask and they will take care of you. You dont have to show up 10 mins early to the show and no you will not get good seats if you show up late. I think you missed the value of the Genie!

[@andrewbrown4753]

Is the star class worth the money you pay for it ?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That could be the case... We did try to throw parties but were told we could not because of social distancing. 😭 Would be a neat video for someone to make on the top 10 things your genie can do!

[@campusx4195]

@@TheWeekendCruiser I was on in early March and no more mask mandates inside or outside and social distancing did not really exist. The casino and Blaze nightclub were pretty full, so they did not care about the number of people in the room. I am going back in a few months in Star Class again, so will try to document my experience. We are going on same ship and requested same Genie so he knows what I like and said he will make it better for me. One thing I did notice is that they have done away with the Genie Guest Gifts at the end...remember the Genie would actually give the guest a gift...gone :( Also, the daily happy hr drink cart they used to bring room to room is gone...but you can order whatever drink you want and they will bring to the room, but the drink of the day cart was fun....covid cutbacks or at least thats what they say. One thing the Genie would NOT do...you cannot reserve the canbanas on the private suite deck and that was a hard NO when I asked...kind of an odd thing to exclude but that was the only thing he could not do for me.

[@campusx4195]

@@andrewbrown4753 tough question to answer. Really depends on how much you will use the services?? Will you use the drink package and all inclusive dining? We ate at only speciality dining for lunch and dinner and had breakfest on the balcony daily. I used the laundry service several times, had parties on the massive deck space, multiple drinks, enjoyed steaks, lobsters, shrimp etc. daily, starbucks and ben and jerrys included..priority boarding with luggage taken to room and same when you leave...luggage goes with you to the curb...no stopping. Private island cabana with food and drinks....daily snacks delivered to the room, fully stocked mini bar with whatever you want and refilled daily...one day we drank everything at late night party...next day it was filled with double the amount. You get top notch service but at a price...expect to spend 10-20k for 7 nights for 2 ppl and that is a good deal if you can get it. 2 bedroom aqua suite or star loft suite are the cheapest and it goes up from there. I did a huge amount of searching on my own and found a good deal but it took probably 30 days of searching daily as things always change with RCC pricing. So for me, it was worth it to have the first class treatment from arrival to departure. And we tipped the Genie 100/day so that was an added expense, you dont have to tip them but they do provide an extra level of service you will never get on the ship elsewhere. They DO NOT wear uniforms or names tags so no other guest will stop them for assitance, they are there to assist the 3 or 4 suites they are assigned and that is all they do for entire cruise.

[@thomasgreen1816]

Does the pre paid gratuities cover the royal genie? If not how much per day is appropriate for their services?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Royal genie is one where you see a lot of variability. Depending on how much you utilize the genie and how much they add to your trip, people normally tip an additional $200-$300 for a 7 night sailing and can be upwards if $1,000+. No right or wrong answer but not uncommon to see this number be substantial.

[@brentshuffler1234]

I agree with the conclusion: it is not worth the huge price-premium for most guests. The one exception could be persons travelling in groups or with large families and being able to split the price among 4 to 6, 8, or even 10 persons. Even then, however, some of these Suites are so extravagant in size and in price that they might not be worthwhile for persons who will not spend much time in their room. Eg.., the large food-area and dining room are wasted luxuries unless you have lots of meals and butler-service in the Suite.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That seems to be the case in the comments too. Most people saying they LOVE this class of suite come with a larger family and kids.

[@gailgohrick5836]

Question… can you order from the menu of a specialty restaurant when dining in the Coastal Kitchen?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

hmm, we did not try this. I went through a phase where I loved Chop's Key Lime pie and would order it at every specialty restaurant I went to but not sure if the same would hold true for Coastal Kitchen. I am assuming you couldn't but always worth a shot!

[@ZaphodCRC]

@@TheWeekendCruiser No, you can not. However, one thing I noticed that you didn't mention in your video (not sure that you were aware of it), is that you can have any meal (as long as it is open) served from any or the restaurants (including specialty) served in your stateroom. This is a nice inclusion, and we enjoy sitting out on the large balcony and dining al fresco.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

@@ZaphodCRC Hey Chad, thanks for this! I did not realize you could have specialty delivered with Star Class! That would be an excellent feast on the outdoor table we had with the Aqua Suite!

[@gmartin0312]

question can you have the Royal genie stock my room with Evian/Pellegrino water as well as my favorite beer every day at no cost as if I went down to the suite lounge and just got it free at any point of the day? Or is there a "mini-fridge charge" for the in room stuff? I went on Celebrity recently and I had all premium drink packages included however, the water they placed in the room (Evian) was not included, even though I could literally walk down a flight of stairs to the Sunset Bar and ask for one free (or well included) Thanks!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Everything is included even the mini fridge. Just let your Genie know your favorite drinks and they will ensure it is there! (Not including liquor) I had water and Henikein Zero stocked.

[@gmartin0312]

@@TheWeekendCruiser Ahh I see so beer is included just not the spirits

[@darleneeastburn7639]

Oh , I have 70 cruises under my belt on many cruise lines … MOST ON NCL

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That's fantastic!! Does that makes NCL your favorite?

[@darleneeastburn7639]

@@TheWeekendCruiser of course it’s my favorite .. but I’ve cruised on Royal , Princess , Disney , Holland Carnival … many on each of those BUT NCL gives me what I want the most often . 5 cruises booked right now ..

[@kleocatra9675]

I would LIVE in a star class have everything come to me unfortunately my introverted nature would be going nuts with all those people around me.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

hahaha, that sounds very conflicting!

[@LIFE-nh4zq]

Is it really worth $1200 ?? i mean are getting $1200 worth of service ??

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That is a very personal question! If you are using the unlimited drink package and the food, and internet. You're getting a good value off that. The fluffy stuff, probably not.

[@vickapika22]

just a passing comment, he has beautiful eyes

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Thank you Vicki!

[@vickisoto1]

So 175 points... is which level?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Vicki, 175 points is also the threshold of Diamond Plus and you can request the toiletry bag to be one of your amenities.

[@vickisoto1]

@@TheWeekendCruiser Great! Thanks

[@lorimontiel9370]

Don't forget Starbucks drinks are included !

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

I think that is a new addition to the line up?

[@EntropyGuardian]

I wish I had Kardashian money so that I could afford a suite. Having the genie bring me all the rolls from Izumi to my room would be nice.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

hahaha that would be a very nice touch! Even the garlic bread from 150 Central would be amazing to have delviered.

[@victorpineda7519]

Wow, you are a real life vampire.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Not sure I follow this comment lol

[@victorpineda7519]

@@TheWeekendCruiseryou have two pearly white fangs. :)

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Haha oh the joys of filming in 4k 🤣

[@lauramckenzie3801]

Or dervs... lol

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Haha omg I hate this word 🤣🤣.