Emerald Princess Family Suites

My Aunt is interested in her grown kids and 3 grand children on a cruise and asked me to help. She is thinking Princess but between the two of us we can't figure out how these Family Suites work. It says 106 and 110 must be booked together and they can accommodate 8 people.

She is thinking that this cabin would be perfect for her and her husband plus her daughter, Son in law and 3 grand kids 8-10 -12. Is this picture actually the two cabins together? Is there any part that is private. It looks like you can close off one bedroom but not the other from the living area.

Her other daughter and her wife would be in a standard balcony, but she is thinking this room would be good for the group of 7.

This is for Alaska next summer and I did check the family suites are available for the ailing she is looking at.

Where is the smoking area on the Emerald Promenade deck - Wanting to avoid it and from where these are located that doesn't seem to be an issue.

Check out this thread with some photos of a Family Suite on the Sapphire.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=21699728&highlight=family+suite+photos#post21699728

Hello, my wife and I have a family suite booked on Emerald for Alaska sailing next July. Our travel agent said you have two cabins put together; meaning D105, is a Junior Suite; and D-101/103 are inside cabins. What joins them together is a common living room. Both rooms have private entrances; the inside cabin has two twin beds and bathroom. No windows. The junior suite is two beds or one king bed; they look out over the sliding glass doors. Bathroom has shower and tub; and the living room is between both rooms. Balcony is a combo/ metal railing and glass railing. I believe our suite is almost right behind the bridge; so you will be pretty forward on the ship; however you will be able to sit on balcony because the balcony faces sideways and not fulling facing the front of ship. The family suite is sold based on booking both cabins together. Hope this helps.

ps. we have never sailed Princess so don't know anything about the line. Princesss had the most affordable family suite. We compared Royal, NCL, Holland, and Disney. Best price was Princess

Where is the smoking area on the Emerald Promenade deck - Wanting to avoid it and from where these are located that doesn't seem to be an issue.

The smoking area is usually at the aft of the Promenade deck on one side. Can't remember port vs. starboard:confused:. Nautical terms confuse me:D. But it is on the side where you usually board the ship (is that port?).

There is another smoking area on Lido (usually), near the pool. And I think another one near the Outrigger bar, plus the Sports Bar.

Also, some ships have a room off the casino that is for cigar smokers.

The inside room has pull down bunks so it is a quad (our family suite on the Grand this room had a door for privacy) The mini suite side did not have a door connecting to the sitting area- it was open so much less privacy. I think these beds can be split apart into twins as well. In the sitting area there are two loveseat/sofas with pull out beds. On our April trip there were 7 of us in the family suite- MIL and SIL got the inside portion (they liked the twin beds and more privacy and my MIL can't use a tub shower) My kids slept in the pull out beds (2 5 year olds in one and my 8 year old in another- they liked being fairly close to mom and dad and having their own tv to watch. Hubby and I took the mini suite bed. We had done this same cruise before in 3 rooms- While we loved the suite privileges, it was cheaper and there was more space for storage with three rooms. Also, the family suites are at the very front of the ship so the balcony is very windy and hard to use while the ship is underway, and if you are sensitive to motion you will feel it more. I wish there were more family options, as it was really nice to have my young children and mobility challenged MIL together, but I'm not sure the extra expense is really worth it- if offered an upgrade or reasonable upsell would I take it again? yes- would I book it at full price again- not so sure!

This is for Alaska next summer and I did check the family suites are available for the ailing she is looking at.

 

Where is the smoking area on the Emerald Promenade deck - Wanting to avoid it and from where these are located that doesn't seem to be an issue.

If you book a family suite you get all the suite perks. But, if you wish you can also check out connecting balcony cabins. The Emerald Princess has quite a few of them.

Outdoor smoking areas on the Emerald are:

A very small section of the promenade deck, starboard, where the promenade deck narrows to go around the stern of the ship, all the way aft just outside of Club Fusion.

A section of the Horizon Terrace, deck 15, on the port side.

A small area next to the Tradewinds Bar, port side on deck 16

 

 

 

My Aunt is interested in her grown kids and 3 grand children on a cruise and asked me to help. She is thinking Princess but between the two of us we can't figure out how these Family Suites work. It says 106 and 110 must be booked together and they can accommodate 8 people.

 

She is thinking that this cabin would be perfect for her and her husband plus her daughter, Son in law and 3 grand kids 8-10 -12. Is this picture actually the two cabins together? Is there any part that is private. It looks like you can close off one bedroom but not the other from the living area.

 

Her other daughter and her wife would be in a standard balcony, but she is thinking this room would be good for the group of 7.

Correct. There is a door separating the inside room from the mini suite style room which locks from the mini suite part of the room. There is no curtain separating the living room area from the bed room area in the mini suite portion of the room.

The balcony has no partition towards the bow of the ship. When out at sea, it gets very windy.

Another caveat is that the suite benefits will not apply to those staying in the regular balcony room. Such benefits would be the breakfast, free specialty dinning on first night, priority tender tickets, embarkation lounge, and debarkation lounge (unless those staying in the balcony room are platinum or elite), to name a few. The room is very quiet comfortable.

Thank yo so much for all your help. I really appreciate all the input. I sent links to my aunt about the issues with the Family Suite, particularly the very front of ship location, bedding configuration, privacy issues and the other details you sent.

Today she was able to call Princess and get four BB balconies held for her a triple connecting with an interior door to a double for her daughter, Son In Law and their three kids, and then a double for her and her husband and another double for her daughter and her wife. The whole family 4 in a row!!! They are excited because this should afford the parent with the little kids more privacy and still kept the 4 cabins total under her budget of 20k.

We are hoping that there will be a fall sale that may offer further reductions in price. I can't thank this forum enough for all the help.

Does anyone know if suite guests get free or reduced price internet minutes? Thanks

Does anyone know if suite guests get free or reduced price internet minutes? Thanks

Sadly they do not- you have to be platinum for free minutes. Suites do not get free minutes.

Sadly they do not- you have to be platinum for free minutes. Suites do not get free minutes.

Thank you for the update

when we arrive at the port; is there a sign directing suite guests to check in? I have never been to Seattle port; nor have I ever sailed Princess; so I have no status. Thanks.

when we arrive at the port; is there a sign directing suite guests to check in? I have never been to Seattle port; nor have I ever sailed Princess; so I have no status. Thanks.

We've never sailed out of Seattle, but every other port we've gone out of there has been a port worker who directs you which waiting area to go to for waiting for check-in. This happens after you enter and fill out the health questionnaire.

Then once check-in occurs, you go through security and are once again directed to the appropriate waiting area.

We've never sailed out of Seattle, but every other port we've gone out of there has been a port worker who directs you which waiting area to go to for waiting for check-in. This happens after you enter and fill out the health questionnaire.

Then once check-in occurs, you go through security and are once again directed to the appropriate waiting area.

Ok, thanks for the info

I am going to start this thread up again. Here is a question to ponder. We currently have the 2 bedroom family suite booked on Emerald; July 2017 Inside passage. Depart 9 Jul. NCL has a 2 bedroom family suite on the Jewel; about same size ship as Emerald. NCL cost is about $2,000 more; but it comes with Drink and beverage package, prepaid gratuities, free wifi, free specialty dining. We are traveling with two teens. Do you guys think the benefits of NCL is worth the money? Both ships will offer separate dining for breakfast and dinner. I have sailed in suite on NCL last year; it came with butler. I have never sailed Princess. Everyone who wants to chime in and give me feedback; please let me know. NCL Jewell sails on 8 Jul; so both sail within a day of each other. Thanks for any and all feedback.

I am going to start this thread up again. Here is a question to ponder. We currently have the 2 bedroom family suite booked on Emerald; July 2017 Inside passage. Depart 9 Jul. NCL has a 2 bedroom family suite on the Jewel; about same size ship as Emerald. NCL cost is about $2,000 more; but it comes with Drink and beverage package, prepaid gratuities, free wifi, free specialty dining. We are traveling with two teens. Do you guys think the benefits of NCL is worth the money? Both ships will offer separate dining for breakfast and dinner. I have sailed in suite on NCL last year; it came with butler. I have never sailed Princess. Everyone who wants to chime in and give me feedback; please let me know. NCL Jewell sails on 8 Jul; so both sail within a day of each other. Thanks for any and all feedback.

I think NCL would be a better deal, especially with the teens.

We found on Princess the FS balcony is pretty useless when underway.

I am going to start this thread up again. Here is a question to ponder. We currently have the 2 bedroom family suite booked on Emerald; July 2017 Inside passage. Depart 9 Jul. NCL has a 2 bedroom family suite on the Jewel; about same size ship as Emerald. NCL cost is about $2,000 more; but it comes with Drink and beverage package, prepaid gratuities, free wifi, free specialty dining. We are traveling with two teens. Do you guys think the benefits of NCL is worth the money? Both ships will offer separate dining for breakfast and dinner. I have sailed in suite on NCL last year; it came with butler. I have never sailed Princess. Everyone who wants to chime in and give me feedback; please let me know. NCL Jewell sails on 8 Jul; so both sail within a day of each other. Thanks for any and all feedback.

This is Alaska and the itinerary should be king.

Compare the two itineraries and make sure you book the ship with an itinerary you prefer.

Princess will take you into Glacier Bay. I do not know if NCL will. If you have not been to Alaska before, you should want to see Glacier Bay.

By the way, no butler on Princess.

Right now we are booked on Emerald Princess inside passage. No Glacier Bay; tracey arm instead. We have 2 bedroom family suite booked; plus $800 OBC. One night specialty dining. I was looking at NCL website which basically has same itinerary as Princess. Both sail out of Seattle. The 2 bedroom family suite with NCL is about $2,000 more; it comes with pre paid gratuities, free beverage package, free drink package, free wifi. Free specialty dining. My wife and I don't drink and the kids are too you; so the alcohol package means nothing to us.

thank you for the nice replies. I am taking a look at both ships/itineraries and will make final decision. Have until Jul next year; so no super rush; except the family suites go pretty quickly

On 5/24/2016 at 9:50 AM, AF-1 said:

Hello, my wife and I have a family suite booked on Emerald for Alaska sailing next July. Our travel agent said you have two cabins put together; meaning D105, is a Junior Suite; and D-101/103 are inside cabins. What joins them together is a common living room. Both rooms have private entrances; the inside cabin has two twin beds and bathroom. No windows. The junior suite is two beds or one king bed; they look out over the sliding glass doors. Bathroom has shower and tub; and the living room is between both rooms. Balcony is a combo/ metal railing and glass railing. I believe our suite is almost right behind the bridge; so you will be pretty forward on the ship; however you will be able to sit on balcony because the balcony faces sideways and not fulling facing the front of ship. The family suite is sold based on booking both cabins together. Hope this helps.

ps. we have never sailed Princess so don't know anything about the line. Princesss had the most affordable family suite. We compared Royal, NCL, Holland, and Disney. Best price was Princess

Quick question;  we are booking the FS and out 20 month old granddaughter will be with us.  We are terrified of the balcony with her.  Is there a way to secure the door so we can sleep and not keep one eye on her?  If not, is there something I could bring or make to bring with me to keep it secured?  Thanks in advance !

All balcony doors have an internal lock, as required by law.  She isn't going to be able to reach/open it. 

For extra peace of mind, take along an inexpensive door alarm.

29 minutes ago, bemis12 said:

All balcony doors have an internal lock, as required by law.  She isn't going to be able to reach/open it. 

 

For extra peace of mind, take along an inexpensive door alarm.

Great idea !

3 hours ago, pauon said:

Quick question;  we are booking the FS and out 20 month old granddaughter will be with us.  We are terrified of the balcony with her.  Is there a way to secure the door so we can sleep and not keep one eye on her?  If not, is there something I could bring or make to bring with me to keep it secured?  Thanks in advance !

I answered your question on another thread. Those doors are heavy and the lock down handle is difficult to activate even for an adult imo. Although some ships do not have an internal lock.

2 hours ago, bemis12 said:

All balcony doors have an internal lock, as required by law.  She isn't going to be able to reach/open it

Not all ships have a seperate lock mechanism . Turning the handle down is the lock.