What's your favorite suite perk?

Hi,

My husband and I were offered an upsell and we took advantage of it! We will be in our first suite for our 12 day Grand Mediterranean Cruise in September on the Island. This is also our first Princess cruise.

What is your favorite perk of being in a suite, things Princess may do that we aren't aware of-specifically Island Princess and anything else that may help us make the most of our time onboard.

Thanks!

Our favorite was the private breakfast for suite passengers in Sabatini's. It's strictly for the passengers in the suite: not their family members in other cabins, not elite (per se), not platinum (per se). We rarely saw more than 5 other tables in use at any time, and with three waiters the service was magnificent.

Our favorite was the private breakfast for suite passengers in Sabatini's. It's strictly for the passengers in the suite: not their family members in other cabins, not elite (per se), not platinum (per se). We rarely saw more than 5 other tables in use at any time, and with three waiters the service was magnificent.

Have to agree!!! Also, liked the fruit in the room, afternoon goodies, and the special lounge at happy hour.

Breakfast in Sabatini's wins hands down. As Elite passengers we get most of the other perks anyway, with the exception of being able to order off the full menu en suite, and our beloved breakfast in Sabatini's. We also very much appreciate that on disembarkation morning we can enjoy breakfast en suite from room service.

Sabatini's and free laundry. I know Elites get free laundry also, but I loved being able to send my clothes out.

We are staying in our first suite on Princess. I have heard how great the window suites are so I thought we would give it a try. This is the first time ever that we do not have a balcony so we will see how it goes. During a warm sailing we are seldom out on the balcony so-why not. Our ws is actually cheaper than a mini suite, close to Sabatini, IC is a few feet away, casino is right there- we are excited. The suite perks are just the icing on the cake....

Because you are Island Princess and not Royal/Regal, we would have to go with the laundry. On Royal/Regal we have to go with the concierge lounge right across the hall. Sabatinis was a good one, though. The minibar was not bad--we had to host a party in our suite just to get rid of all the alcohol. Room service accommodated our party very well. I did not expect to take advantage of all the free pay-per-view movies, either, but we did. All the MUTS movies appeared on our TV, free, the very next day. Never did MUTS--we just opened the window to our balcony and turned the TV on.

I know you asked for one favorite but... Sabatinis for breakfast, free laundry (especially on long and/or hot cruises) and earning two cruise credits in recognition of the higher cost. Since this was an upsell (i.e. you paid for it) make sure that you get the 2 cruise credits. If it isn't noted in your personalizer talk to the Captain's Circle host or just call Princess after you return.

Being able to order anything off the dinning menus and sitting outside for

a quiet lovely meal. Also great seats in the dinning room. Enjoy your suite.

We agree with all of the "special perks" listed above and would add there is just something about the "Special Pampering that goes with Breakfast at Sabatini's"

We are familiar with On Island, I would say breakfast.

Sabatinis is on the promenade deck and there are a few, actually I think there are four, tables in two very nice bay window areas which offer lovely views whilst you have breakfast.

When we were on board, there were never that many in for breakfast each day, though that may change now that they have added 15 more suites, bringing the total up to 31.

We are familiar with C704 and D421, and they both have a very nice layout.

I know you asked for one favorite but... Sabatinis for breakfast, free laundry (especially on long and/or hot cruises) and earning two cruise credits in recognition of the higher cost. Since this was an upsell (i.e. you paid for it) make sure that you get the 2 cruise credits. If it isn't noted in your personalizer talk to the Captain's Circle host or just call Princess after you return.

Good point about verifying the two cruise credits after you return. We took an upsell on our Baltic cruise to a penthouse suite. When we returned, we looked at our cruise history online and saw that we had not received the extra credit. We emailed Captain's Circle. They responded to the effect that technically you don't qualify because you didn't book a suite, but that as a gesture of goodwill they would give it to us. Note you don't get the extra credit for a free upgrade, but for an upsell it seems that they will give it to you if you ask.

That's not the story we heard about the upsell. We were told it was strictly a shortcoming in the system: that you had to request the credit after the sailing. The policy posted on Princess website is that you have to pay for the suite to get the credit. We did. Upgrades don't count. It's a bit ambiguous, but an upsell is not an upgrade, and that little word "sell" means you paid for it.

Good point about verifying the two cruise credits after you return. We took an upsell on our Baltic cruise to a penthouse suite. When we returned, we looked at our cruise history online and saw that we had not received the extra credit. We emailed Captain's Circle. They responded to the effect that technically you don't qualify because you didn't book a suite, but that as a gesture of goodwill they would give it to us. Note you don't get the extra credit for a free upgrade, but for an upsell it seems that they will give it to you if you ask.

We reserve suites about 40% of the time but last November we had an upsell to a suite on a cruise booked at the last minute. When we returned home I noticed that we had not been credited with the second cruise credit. I called Princess and had our records corrected within 3 minutes without any problems. Customer Service couldn't have been nicer or more efficient.

Because you are Island Princess and not Royal/Regal, we would have to go with the laundry. On Royal/Regal we have to go with the concierge lounge right across the hall. Sabatinis was a good one, though. The minibar was not bad--we had to host a party in our suite just to get rid of all the alcohol. Room service accommodated our party very well. I did not expect to take advantage of all the free pay-per-view movies, either, but we did. All the MUTS movies appeared on our TV, free, the very next day. Never did MUTS--we just opened the window to our balcony and turned the TV on.

Yes, the mini bar set up will need help in drinking all the alcohol. My husband is more of a beer drinker usually with an occasional nightcap of something else. I'm more a wine drinker but do like coconut rum and amaretto. We will have to have a party as well. Can you explain what you meant about room service accommodating the party very well? And does anyone know if you can request certain alcohol instead of the norm?

Another suite perk is a free meal in a specialty restaurant on embarkation day.

The Bayou Café and Steak House is our favorite dining venue aboard the Coral Princess, the sister ship to the Island Princess.

Room service will provide Glasses, tables with napkins and buckets of ice for any party you have. Just give them a day or so notice to get things lined up. We held the Meet and Greet party in our PH Suite on the Crown, which was an aft PH Suite and had 38 folks join us along with shrimp appetizer, Mimosa's. We started in Quebec City and spent the night overnight in dock. We brought 2 bottles of bubbly each time we re-boarded the ship (within their rules), which was 4 times, hence we had 8 bottles of bubbly and ordered up OJ to go with it, 6 buckets of ice, and two tables. The only charge was for the shrimp and OJ, which was not much at all. Your room steward is your friend for parties.

And Sabatini's and priority Tendering.

Sabatinis.

I would have to agree with those who said Sabatini's for breakfast. It is one of the few truly "suite" perks that are not offered to so many others on the ship who have earned elite status (ie: mini bar, laundry, priority boarding, etc). I can see why folks work to get their elite as quickly as they can so that they can get many of the so called suite perks without having to pay double the price for the cabin. But yes, breakfast in a quiet dining room with quality staff is the best!

My first choice would be the extra credit then Sabitinis:D

Yes, the mini bar set up will need help in drinking all the alcohol. My husband is more of a beer drinker usually with an occasional nightcap of something else. I'm more a wine drinker but do like coconut rum and amaretto. We will have to have a party as well. Can you explain what you meant about room service accommodating the party very well? And does anyone know if you can request certain alcohol instead of the norm?

You can swap out the minibar offerings for other items - you can swap alcohol for any other offerings on the list and the sodas/water for other non-alcoholic items. You can also swap out an entire setup for a coffee card or bottle of wine. As Elite in a suite on Golden right now, we got 2 setups and swapped everything for water and sodas.

And we're wishing that one suite perk would be priority on the tenders returning to the ship. We are in the pouring rain in Ketchikan and the tenders are moving very slowly. Star Princess departed about 30 minutes ago, but I guess Golden doesn't want to pay port and navigation fees to take the empty dock space.:(

May be a dumb question but why is Sabatini's the overall favorite suite perk? We usually always eat breakfast in one of the dining rooms verses the buffet area because I enjoy the sit down service at breakfast. Just a more enjoyable way to start my day and enjoy my coffee :o)

And from what I see the full dinner menu is available on room service? We had paid for the Ultimate Balcony Dinner before we upgraded to the suite and I wonder if we should still do it? It's $50 pp. Should we just order room service instead?

Can't speak for UBDining because I have never tried it. Others have said it is very romantic. I would opt for dinner from the dining room and save the UBD for another cruise. First night: Specialty dining complementary.

I tried this once and Room Service was not happy with me, but did it. On a sea day, they had a pub lunch. I didn't want to wait in the line. On the Golden, the Crown Grill is right outside my door. So I asked them to deliver a meal to me along with another Room Service order. They got back to me and said okay, they would pick up my lunch on the way to the room.

Sabatini's is very special. Besides all the mimosas you can drink (I don't), they have real fresh orange juice and specialty coffees to your order. By the second day, coffee was on my table within a minute of my arrival.

Also have "requested" special items. Given a day or two notice, I most always have it ordered.

It's like having your own private chef for breakfast. That is why it is the best suite perk of them all.

Breakfast at Sabatini's is a special way to start the day. But my favorite things are the Jacuzzi tub with bath salts, and also the extra large balcony with the chaise lounges, especially when you have an aft facing balcony. Love watching the wake and the waves between my toes when I'm all stretched out on the chaise. Oh and getting room service from the dinner menu. We got that on a formal night on our last cruise because we just didn't feel like getting all dressed up for dinner. There's so many positive things about cruising in a suite.

May be a dumb question but why is Sabatini's the overall favorite suite perk? We usually always eat breakfast in one of the dining rooms verses the buffet area because I enjoy the sit down service at breakfast. Just a more enjoyable way to start my day and enjoy my coffee :o)

 

And from what I see the full dinner menu is available on room service? We had paid for the Ultimate Balcony Dinner before we upgraded to the suite and I wonder if we should still do it? It's $50 pp. Should we just order room service instead?

Sabatini's is a nice quiet atmosphere. Great service, mimosas, cappuccinos, made to order breakfast any way you like it.

You can get dinner served in a suite. Why send the money on the UBD?