Unpopular post: Didn't care for the suite life

[valleyvillage]

It's not really correct that you get more at the buffet. You can see more food if you go to the buffet but everything they have there, you can also get at Cagney's. If they don't have it, they send someone down to the buffet to get it for you.

 

Precis!

[sverigecruiser]

Precis!

 

Helt riktigt!

[Mainah]

From pics I saw online it looks to me like this has a shower and a tub. Is that correct do you know?

 

This will be our first time in a suite but from some pics I found of cabin 8002 which I believe is a mirror image of 8202 it looks as though there is a tub and a separate shower.

 

The web address for the pics is: http://lrichters.smugmug.com/gallery/1251466#!i=58665469&k=s8nLTbG. I'm pretty sure these people are on CC and have posted a review on this site. Hope this helps!

 

Just thought I'd pop back in to say I just found this review here on CC which mentions that it has a separate shower.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=23961

[texast518]

I never booked a suite and never will, although I can afford it (maybe not spending money on things I don't need is why I can afford it).

 

Being treated like royalty doesn't make you royalty.

 

I like to be up and about with "the masses"....and I love being able to choose my food from right in front of me.

 

Give me a small cabin...and I'll save that bundle of money for a good time in the casino!

 

You could save your money and not sail and eat @ Golden Corral every day. Also bet u could make short drive to a casino.

[cruiser1955a]

Those of us who are not blown away by the suite life do exist! I do spend time in the cabin, though, and book suites when I can. On CCL, it's just a bigger cabin - I like space. We did our first NCL cruise in a Deck 10 aft PH. LOVED the balcony! Big enough for the family and would book it again. This fall we're booked in a new SJ Family suite - no balcony but large room and windows. DD and I don't do buffet ever, so Cagney's is a great perk. As for the rest, I do my own reservations, rarely use room service, don't need to be escorted anywhere and I actually stand on the Customer Service line rather than go ahead of everyone (most of my stuff isn't that important), so the butler and concierge can pay attention to other people. One of the reasons I've stuck to mass-market lines is that I don't really like to be fussed over. But I do like the suite cabins!

 

I agree. To me it's about the space, and the VIEW. Some people like to be pampered. I consider it "being bothered". We cruised in the new "SJ" on our last cruise (first suite experience) and loved the extra space in the cabin, and especially in the bathroom. I loved the view in the old Spinaker lounge, and it's a shame that current passengers don't get to experience that anymore. With the "SJ" suites you get that beautiful view 24/7 from your full size sofa, or comfy easy chairs, or dining table, or your bed. Our butler was great, but I really didn't have any need for his services. We met our concierge in the terminal lounge before boarding, and never saw her again. We really had no need for her services either. We did spend more time in the cabin because of the view, but still did everything we wanted to do on the ship. Cagney's is a nice perk, but we only used it for one breakfast, and one lunch, because we like the variety of choices on the ship.

 

It's such a subjective thing. Some are interested in food, some are interested in being served, some are interested in extra space, some are interested in balcony size, etc, etc. With the SJ suites, it's all about the view & space. The butler, concierge, Cagney's, Lavaza coffee machine, and 40" TV are just nice little extra's. I'd book an SJ without those extra's anytime.

[GORDONCHICK]

We've not ever sailed in a suite - only insides for us to this point. There are 3 of us, and DS is growing and soon will not spend much time in the kids' program. A larger cabin might be nice, but I have no idea what I'd do with a butler. A concierge on the other hand, I could use.

 

I don't know if we'll ever book a suite, I'm just happy to be on a ship.

[itravelalot]

We often book a suite but it is true to the amount of time spent in the cabin.

 

When we have a suite with large balcony, we tend to spend much more time there and make use of the butler and concierge.

 

However, we just got off the Disney Wonder and we spent little to no time in our room or balcony (booked late, no suites available) and that was because of space. We enjoyed the cruise just as much.

 

I am back in a large suite for or next one and I look forward to quiet balcony time... I can see how it matters for some and not for others. While we can afford it, suites are for me...:)

[MsTabbyKats]

You could save your money and not sail and eat @ Golden Corral every day. Also bet u could make short drive to a casino.

 

Ok...if I could exchange the concierge/butler...for services I'd use, such as a massage therapist & an aesthetician....I'd consider it. :)

 

Buffet is a treat for me. I wish the Golden Corral would come to NYC!

[vent1020]

This happens to be the SAME room we will be in. Now who wouldn't want to stay in this?

 

http://vimeo.com/46524693

[GORDONCHICK]

This happens to be the SAME room we will be in. Now who wouldn't want to stay in this?

 

http://vimeo.com/46524693

 

It's not that it isn't a great cabin/suite - we just cannot justify the expense.

[jonbgd]

We are doing a minisuite which is about the size of a regular balcony cabin on other cruiselines

To be in the Courtyard PH it would be about another $7500 for 77sq ft more:confused:

 

Thats some expensive real estate:eek:

[Warmer Climes]

 

It's such a subjective thing. Some are interested in food, some are interested in being served, some are interested in extra space, some are interested in balcony size, etc, etc. With the SJ suites, it's all about the view & space. The butler, concierge, Cagney's, Lavaza coffee machine, and 40" TV are just nice little extra's. I'd book an SJ without those extra's anytime.

 

We were in an SJ this year too and I agree with you 100%. If you ever cruise the Sun, I would suggest the forward penthouse. The view is of course incredible and the bathroom is even more fab than the SJ one on Dawn. The PH itself isn't that big but would be excellent for two people (we had three.)

 

Barb

[Carnac767]

We love the suite life. But everyone is free to do what they please. Whatever floats your boat. The notion of being treated like royalty is nonsense. We've been treated well by NCL no matter what category cabin we've had. Once we'd experienced the master bath in the Jewel class SC, we were hooked. It's not the price that keeps us from cruising more, it's those pesky jobs we have. If some folks don't care about a bigger cabin or the other suite perks, that's there prerogative. It's no big deal.

[NH Cruisers]

We are doing a minisuite which is about the size of a regular balcony cabin on other cruiselines

To be in the Courtyard PH it would be about another $7500 for 77sq ft more:confused:

 

Thats some expensive real estate:eek:

Minisuites about the size of regular balcony cabins on other cruise lines?

 

I must always get the "Big" mini suites. They are noticably bigger than normal balcony cabins.

[PoopDeckPappy]

I've done a Haven suite and would always look to book one. Would rather cruise less but go big when we do. That said I don't think I'd do a non-Haven suite based on what I've read in general. While the large room was nice in the suite it was the Haven area that made the difference.

[Cruzface]

I'm sure I would love the suite life. We loved visiting our friends' suite on the Epic. It felt like a hotel room. A really nice hotel room. I just can't imagine I would have more fun than we did in our large balcony cabin.

[shoreless]

From pics I saw online it looks to me like this has a shower and a tub. Is that correct do you know?

 

We were thrilled to get a really inexpensive upsell to this cabin for an Alaska cruise in 2007 -- our second cruise and first suite. The bathroom has double sinks, a tub with shower and also an additional separate (very small) shower. There's also a large closet/dressing area.

I loved that cabin! The furnishings weren't at all over the top like some of the newer ships, and it was very comfortable. I like seeing where I'm going, rather than where I've been, so if I'm going to pay for a suite it has to be a forward-facing one:)

[jonbgd]

Minisuites about the size of regular balcony cabins on other cruise lines?

 

I must always get the "Big" mini suites. They are noticably bigger than normal balcony cabins.

My Experience with NCL is the POA and the Epic

My comment was based on the EPIC cabin size and yes they really are small compared to other cruiselines when called a mini suite

 

On the Mariner it is about the size of a "d" balcony just the Epic cabin is more narrow

 

We like to book a junior suite on RCCL which we think is the perfect size cabin and about the same size as the PH suite but not much more than a Balcony Cabin on RCCL;)

Now is the butler worth that much more money

[SuiteCruiser]

Interesting thread! I often sail in suites (in case you didn't guess by my name!) but my last three cruises were in a studio, and then two insides. I loved them all. I felt snug and cosy in my studio and inside and pampered in my suites. I can definitely happily sail in any cabin.

[fergusonvt]

We were thrilled to get a really inexpensive upsell to this cabin for an Alaska cruise in 2007 -- our second cruise and first suite. The bathroom has double sinks, a tub with shower and also an additional separate (very small) shower. There's also a large closet/dressing area.

 

I loved that cabin! The furnishings weren't at all over the top like some of the newer ships, and it was very comfortable. I like seeing where I'm going, rather than where I've been, so if I'm going to pay for a suite it has to be a forward-facing one:)

 

 

Thanks for the pics. On our last NCL cruise (Star) we had an aft PH which I liked very much but I'm looking forward to the forward PH. On our Feb. cruise we were in an aft wrap on CCL and the size of the cabin was huge as was the balcony. We had balcony on both the aft and port side of the ship. There were 2 loungers and 5 upright chairs plus a small table and there was room for more.

[Mysticks1]

You can count me in with the "Non-Suite" cruisers. I am booked on my first NCl cruise and was really interested in learning about the Suite Life after coming to this board. After reading many threads and comments I have determined that it is not for us. The only perks that appeal to me are the priority Embarkation and tender tickets (if needed) and the increased price isn't worth it.

My daughter is 19 and is too "busy" with her social life to want to go on vactions with us anymore so it is just my husband and me so we don't really need the extra space. We don't like to dress up for dinner and think we will love "Freestyle" cruising. I wouldn't use Cagneys for breakfast or lunch because I prefer to pick up something up at the buffet and find somewhere outside in the fresh air to eat.

I will now only sail in a balcony cabin and look for those that have a little larger balcony for the same price and there seems to be some of those on every ship so far. On the Star cruise that we have booked there are 8 BA class cabins on deck 11 that have the same balcony size as the minisuites due to their location opposite the elevators and I was able to get one of those so I am happy and looking forward to the slightly larger balcony.

As others have said it is different strokes for different folks and I am glad that the cruiselines offer many different categories to fit everyone's individual wants and needs.

[vent1020]

We are doing a minisuite which is about the size of a regular balcony cabin on other cruiselines

To be in the Courtyard PH it would be about another $7500 for 77sq ft more:confused:

 

Thats some expensive real estate:eek:

 

 

Part of the reason we booked the 2 Bedroom was that the price wasn't that bad, relatively speaking. We wanted a bigger cabin as the balcony we were in on the epic was WAY TOO small for us and the 2 kids. We looked at a PH which was $1399 pp. Then found out we could get the 2 bedroom, which was way bigger and NICER for $1749 pp. Figured an extra $700 to upgrade to a lot nicer cabin was worth it. We are spluging for this cruise, so figured what the heck. My biggest fear is that I will love the suite life and won't be able to ever book a regular cabin again. ;)

[Mrs. Squirrel]

Interesting thread! I often sail in suites (in case you didn't guess by my name!) but my last three cruises were in a studio, and then two insides. I loved them all. I felt snug and cosy in my studio and inside and pampered in my suites. I can definitely happily sail in any cabin.

 

I'm with you. I thought I was a balcony snob until an opportunity came along to do a second cruise in one year. To make it doable, pricewise, I had to go back to an inside. What I discovered about myself is that I would sleep in the cargo hold if it meant I could cruise again. :)

[LizzieTrowbridge]

I agree, I would rather cruise in an inside cabin than not at all, BUT having a balcony is a completely different experience in my opinion. A balcony allows you to retreat to a private space to read a book or take a nap out if the way of the crowds. I love being around people and I spend a lot if time out and about the ship when cruising. I also like to take a little break here and there and having a place to do this with a view and a breeze is wonderful. I have sailed in an inside, a porthole, a balcony, and an aft wrap, but never a suite- someday...

[Carnac767]

Jerry Seinfeld--I'll take the first class seat

Elaine--Why should you get the first class seat?

Jerry--Elaine, have you ever flown first class?

Elaine--No

Jerry--All right, then. See, you don't know what you're missing. I've flown first class, Elaine. I can't go back to coach. I can't . . . I won't.

 

Seinfeld "The Airport"