nanuak Posted June 30, 2011 #26 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Loved this comparison! I'm trying to figure out what we are going to do next year for our 10th Anniversary. Some of the suite perks sound fabulous and similar to our land vacations. We got married at Sandals Negril, He wants to go back like we did on our 5th Anniversary, and stay in the swim up suite again ($15K - 14 days :eek::eek:). I am trying to look for something a little more reasonable. At Sandals, we had 2 butlers and a cell phone to contact them at anytime...sweet! We did not use them to unpack our luggage, but they would have if requested. We didn't have to be chair hogs, they did it for us everyday and our names were printed out on a "reserved" card :D I better quit thinking about it, as I am slowly talking myself into going again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris41 Posted June 30, 2011 #27 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Tom, That is a great list however could you give a the price of each of these suites for say a normal 7 day carib cruise so that we can all see how much the difference is? If possible thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #28 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Tom, That is a great list however could you give a the price of each of these suites for say a normal 7 day carib cruise so that we can all see how much the difference is? If possible thanks Keep in mind that some of these ships have several different suite levels. Some, especially on lines other than Carnival, have suites which are quite large (up to 3 bedrooms - Garden Villa on NCL). I picked our sail week on the Epic as an example. It is the week following Thanksgiving, and I am showing the lowest and highest suite level (per person before fees and taxes): NCL Epic...........$2500....$4700 NCL Pearl..........$1560....$8830 (Garden Villa) Celebrity Eclipse $1950....$7300 Ruby Princess.....$2150....$2550 Carnival Dream...$1350....$1950 Quite the range!! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin13 Posted June 30, 2011 #29 Share Posted June 30, 2011 We had a 2 bedroom 2 bath suite last October on NCL's The Pearl. It was the best cabin we have ever had on over 15 cruises. The bathroom was to die for and there were giant picture windows over the tub and in the shower. The perks were amazing and no the butler did not unpack my suitcase. I am sure if I would have asked him he would have but I did not want strangers going thru my clothes. Probably the best perk was eating breakfast and lunch at Cagneys! They had a whole different menu from the MDR and it was so relaxing in there. As for cost it really wasn't that much expensive than the suites on Carnival and to me it was worth every penny. Does anyone know the reason why they do not offer more perks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted June 30, 2011 #30 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Keep in mind that some of these ships have several different suite levels. Some, especially on lines other than Carnival, have suites which are quite large (up to 3 bedrooms - Garden Villa on NCL). I picked our sail week on the Epic as an example. It is the week following Thanksgiving, and I am showing the lowest and highest suite level (per person before fees and taxes): NCL Epic...........$2500....$4700 NCL Pearl..........$1560....$8830 (Garden Villa) Celebrity Eclipse $1950....$7300 Ruby Princess.....$2150....$2550 Carnival Dream...$1350....$1950 Quite the range!! Tom Sure is, nice thread, and the price variance adds another flavor to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #31 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) ... As for cost it really wasn't that much expensive than the suites on Carnival and to me it was worth every penny. Does anyone know the reason why they do not offer more perks? I assume that there are a few reasons - possibly including, but not limited to: > Carnival knows that there are many other lines which offer a wide range of suite perks, and they don't want to try and compete for that guest. > Carnival may feel that a sufficient number of their (demographic) guests would not appreciate such perks (to the tune of what it might cost). > Carnival might feel that a % of their guests could feel intimidated by having a subset of suite guests onboard who are being treated differently - and not be able to understand or factor that in. An example being the Platinum line at Guest Services. I can't tell you how many times I have used that line and then received direct comments (negative, I might add) or "the evil eye" from people in the regular line. I am sure those people are in the minority - though perhaps there are more of them on Carnival. > Carnival does not want to put the time, effort, or expense into changing their current profitable system. Case in point: Look at their past guest loyalty program. Changes have been promised for years now (as being "right around the corner") and yet nothing has changed. A glacial pace indeed. Who knows? !! :confused: Tom Edited June 30, 2011 by Tom-n-Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #32 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) Take, for example, the Courtyard/Family Villa on the Epic. There was a second (small) bedroom with its own bathroom. Here are a few pictures to show what it has to offer (over a "standard" cabin - or even a suite on Carnival): Automatic lighting controls: Touchscreen phone: Nice Bar area: ..continued... Edited June 30, 2011 by Tom-n-Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rxlowry Posted June 30, 2011 #33 Share Posted June 30, 2011 On NCL, not all suites get Courtyard access. It is Owner's Suite and above (except on Epic I think which might give it to more suites) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #34 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Comfortable Bedroom - with second DVD player/TV: SUPER bathroom/shower: You can play Video Poker/Slots (for real $) right from the comfort of your couch!! ... thus, there are more perks than meet the eye... Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #35 Share Posted June 30, 2011 On NCL, not all suites get Courtyard access. It is Owner's Suite and above (except on Epic I think which might give it to more suites) I do know that on the Epic, all suite levels have access (not mini-suites). Aside from that, I am still on a learning curve! Thanks, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted June 30, 2011 #36 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Love the pics, esp the bath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #37 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Love the pics, esp the bath. Fortunately, there is a reflective (outer) coating on the glass. Nonetheless, I pulled down the shade when in port - and showering. Otherwise, it's quite the view when you are in the shower at sea... rain shower overhead - exhilarating! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted June 30, 2011 #38 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Fortunately, there is a reflective (outer) coating on the glass. Nonetheless, I pulled down the shade when in port - and showering. Otherwise, it's quite the view when you are in the shower at sea... rain shower overhead - exhilarating! Tom LOL, that would be interesting. Suddenly you show up on youtube :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #39 Share Posted June 30, 2011 LOL, that would be interesting. Suddenly you show up on youtube :eek: I haven't shown Cheryl how to operate the VIDEO mode on my camera yet. Methinks I won't! :o Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted June 30, 2011 #40 Share Posted June 30, 2011 What is the balcony like in that cabin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #41 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) What is the balcony like in that cabin? Rather small actually - not like the kind of space we had on Celebrity (with those nice breakfasts out there). Since some of that ocean facing real estate is utilized by the shower/tub area, thus it shrinks the balcony. Definitely not a deal breaker in this case, as everything else moves the balcony issue quite low on the list! Here is a layout of the cabin: Tom Edited June 30, 2011 by Tom-n-Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted June 30, 2011 #42 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Rather small actually - not like the kind of space we had on Celebrity (with those nice breakfasts out there). Since some of that ocean facing real estate is utilized by the shower/tub area, thus it shrinks the balcony. Definitely not a deal breaker in this case, as everything else moves the balcony issue quite low on the list! Tom Interesting... and fairly different than other lines have done (although NCL has raised the concept bar). I tend to agree with your assesment of relative importance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #43 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Interesting... and fairly different than other lines have done (although NCL has raised the concept bar). I tend to agree with your assesment of relative importance. I added in an image to my last post to better illustrate the layout of that cabin. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted June 30, 2011 #44 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Tom why not include RCL. I have heard those loft suites on oasis are 2 stories and quite nice. The best perk is getting into the concierge lounge and a couple of hours of FREE drinks at night. Any full suite and above gets to enter the concierge lounge. Im more interested in Celebrity and RCL than Princess (another carnival line) and NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchpam Posted June 30, 2011 #45 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I assume that there are a few reasons - possibly including, but not limited to: > Carnival knows that there are many other lines which offer a wide range of suite perks, and they don't want to try and compete for that guest. > Carnival may feel that a sufficient number of their (demographic) guests would not appreciate such perks (to the tune of what it might cost). > Carnival might feel that a % of their guests could feel intimidated by having a subset of suite guests onboard who are being treated differently - and not be able to understand or factor that in. An example being the Platinum line at Guest Services. I can't tell you how many times I have used that line and then received direct comments (negative, I might add) or "the evil eye" from people in the regular line. I am sure those people are in the minority - though perhaps there are more of them on Carnival. > Carnival does not want to put the time, effort, or expense into changing their current profitable system. Case in point: Look at their past guest loyalty program. Changes have been promised for years now (as being "right around the corner") and yet nothing has changed. A glacial pace indeed. Who knows? !! :confused: Tom I would think that they would at the very least they could give you 2 bottled waters per day, maybe a few drink coupons, and a night of dining in the steak house... not all the regular folks would have to see that kind of thing... simple, but nice touches that really mean something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted June 30, 2011 #46 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I would think that they would at the very least they could give you 2 bottled waters per day, maybe a few drink coupons, and a night of dining in the steak house... not all the regular folks would have to see that kind of thing... simple, but nice touches that really mean something.good points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #47 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) Tom why not include RCL. I have heard those loft suites on oasis are 2 stories and quite nice. The best perk is getting into the concierge lounge and a couple of hours of FREE drinks at night. Any full suite and above gets to enter the concierge lounge. Im more interested in Celebrity and RCL than Princess (another carnival line) and NCL. I priced out those loft suites once ... it seems it was close to $10,000 pp. Can you imagine the cost for two for a week... ESPECIALLY if you spend time in the casino (and you are already willing to drop $20K on the suite alone)! We have one RCL sailing under our belt. It was a short cruise on the Sovereign of the Seas. It was an "OK" cruise. We would love to try the Oasis or Allure at some point. We'll get around to it eventually! I just checked.. the Oasis for that week runs between $3,000 and $8,700 pp for a suite. Tom Edited June 30, 2011 by Tom-n-Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #48 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I would think that they would at the very least they could give you 2 bottled waters per day, maybe a few drink coupons, and a night of dining in the steak house... not all the regular folks would have to see that kind of thing... simple, but nice touches that really mean something. good points. I have made all sorts of "suggestions" to them (to people who supposedly have ears) regarding perks for Milestone and suite guests over the years. Nobody is listening... :( Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted June 30, 2011 Author #49 Share Posted June 30, 2011 ...I just checked.. the Oasis for that week runs between $3,000 and $8,700 pp for a suite. Tom To be (more) complete, here is RCL's listing of suite perks (does not include "junior" suites): RCL: Priority check-in Personalized attention throughout the cruise with complimentary Concierge Club service on select ships Reserved prime seating in the main theater for entertainment shows, where available Priority tender tickets on select cruises. (Tender service is provided when smaller vessels are necessary to reach shore in locations without docking ports large enough for cruise ships.) VIP pool deck seating, where available Full breakfast, lunch and dinner dining room menus available for in-room dining Private breakfast and lunch seating in specialty restaurants on our Voyager and Freedom Class ships Mattel® board games available to order for in-room entertainment for the kids Complimentary luggage valet service Luxury spa bathrobes for use onboard Complimentary pressing service on formal night Priority departure with exclusive suite* departure lounge featuring continental breakfast Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchpam Posted June 30, 2011 #50 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I have made all sorts of "suggestions" to them (to people who supposedly have ears) regarding perks for Milestone and suite guests over the years. Nobody is listening... :( Tom A for effort though! I know that we are seriously re-thinking our suite on the Dream and switching to a balcony just to save the $$ to be able to do more on our cruise... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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