Is a suite worth the extra money?

[goodycruising]

We have been in E balcony through to GS. It depends on the cost, and the destination, but when we were in an E we just had to get out as the cabin was too small to relax in. I like to have a choice.

 

I know some people say an inside is fine as they don't stay in it anyhow, and that is really a personal choice. If I had more time available I would look at an inside more favourably, but as we have a short window to get away, we like to splurge.

 

We like the perks of the GS, but usually for us we find the price jump from JS is a bit out of our budget. We will be keeping an eye out and hoping for price drops or upgrade fairy :D

[Videophile]

For me, the answer is "definitely yes!"

 

But it might not be for you. If you can afford it, give it a try.

 

For me, it's a matter of time being more tight than money. If someone offered me either a free cruise ticket in a OS or an extra week away from work (without a mountain of work awaiting when I returned) with the catch that I had to take a seven night cruise, I would pick the time off instantly. Since it's hard to arrange the time off, when I do take a vacation I like it to be very nice. Suites fit that bill.

 

Alternatively, if your in the situation where you'd take an extra cruise every year if you had the funds, I'd probably opt for a balcony and try to fit a second trip. :)

[TubbyMrT]

I book a suite to get the Barbie size tub/shower as it provides a large person more room than the phone booth shower.

 

Do the top end $uites have a full sized shower?

[Videophile]

 

Do the top end $uites have a full sized shower?

 

Yes.

[Clarea]

I book a suite to get the Barbie size tub/shower as it provides a large person more room than the phone booth shower.

 

Do the top end $uites have a full sized shower?

The separate shower starts in the Owner's Suite.

[Lionesss]

Sue, the next step is the SLS. If you are stepping up do 1718 first then the next cruise try 1720. They are the same class of cabin, by no means are they the same cabin.

 

Sounds like you are having a wonderful cruise experience. :D

 

 

 

 

Yes, but, the week goes to fast.

 

Maybe a B2B

 

Gotta play the lottery:D

 

Sea Ya

[Fat Paul]

We have always had at least a Jr. Suite but much prefer a Grand or Owners. We like the extra room and many benefits of the full suites. If we want a particular cruise and no Grand suite is available we will book a Jr.

[north29]

A big YES!!!!!!, not to cry poor but money is always a issue with us, when you travel 60 plus days a year LOL. A big cabin is also nice if you are a room person, who just want to read and watch tv on your trip. Most of us do not fit that type of cruiser, so to cruise more, a GTY cabin is fine. This is on cruises of 7 days or so. I always book a good balcony cabin on long cruises, that few inches of extra space is great.

[kymbakitty]

The separate shower starts in the Owner's Suite.

 

I can only speak about the OS on the LOS.

 

We decided to book GS from now on because of the super tiny shower in the OS.

 

Don't ask me why I had a measuring tape with me, but I did. The shower was so tiny that I wanted to measure it. My DH is not that large....6', 185 lbs. I'm 5'8" and weigh less.

 

The shower in our OS measured 30" wide. There is also a handicap bar that you hit with your arms, at least for the first week. By the 2nd week, we pretty much didn't move too much (if soap drops--DO NOT BEND DOWN TO GET IT OR DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK).

 

I don't have a clue what someone that is moderately overweight would do. I started showering in exercise facility on week two.

 

The tub is huge. Never got in it though. Neither one of us did or ever do. Personally, I see it as a design flaw, given the general size of Americans. Maybe it wasn't built for American's though.

 

Went on cabin crawl on saw GS and when we saw bathroom, with it's large tub/shower combo, we knew it was GS's for us. Plenty of room and you can petition the bedroom off from living room, which is why we get suites in the first place.

 

Enjoy!

[samom]

ok you all brought up some good points which raised some questions for me Is it noisy on the L2 since you overlook the sports area ( we are 17232)? If booking the JS i thought you had no suite perks. Do you have priority boarding? We are debating between the GS or L2. Worried that the L2 will be noisy and not romantic on balcony. Only two of us in that room. Have JS booked for rest of family.

[George C]

We did the GS for 1st time last cruise, loved the suite and the perks with the gold card, we have 2 more GS booked and 1 JS booked with the BOGOHO sale. I rather cruise a little less and have the suite and the 1st class air.

[Lionesss]

ok you all brought up some good points which raised some questions for me Is it noisy on the L2 since you overlook the sports area ( we are 17232)? If booking the JS i thought you had no suite perks. Do you have priority boarding? We are debating between the GS or L2. Worried that the L2 will be noisy and not romantic on balcony. Only two of us in that room. Have JS booked for rest of family.

 

Do you mean 1732?

 

We sailed in 1736 and only once heard noise during a basketball tournament.

 

This year we sailed in 1748 and loved the ocean view.

 

Yes you get all the suite perk, and priority boarding.

 

Enjoy

 

Sea Ya

[MichaelCMTX]

It all started for us 5 cruises ago when we sailed the Mariner of the Seas out of Port Canavral in Grand Suite. We said we would never ever sail in anything but........................

 

Well Until Allure............................

 

We said we would never ever sail in anything but an L2

 

Well until this year...............................................................

 

We said we would never ever sail in anything but an L1............

 

Next year on Oasis...............................................................

 

DH really really scared:D

 

Sea Ya

 

We love the suite life.

 

This was a concern when we booked that OS on Serenade, but we had to admit it was more real estate than we could truly enjoy (though the separate tub and shower was welcome). In that particular situation where the difference was $xxx instead of $xxxx it was worthwhile, but we are happy enough in a GS.

[Fat Paul]

I can only speak about the OS on the LOS.

 

We decided to book GS from now on because of the super tiny shower in the OS.

 

Don't ask me why I had a measuring tape with me, but I did. The shower was so tiny that I wanted to measure it. My DH is not that large....6', 185 lbs. I'm 5'8" and weigh less.

 

The shower in our OS measured 30" wide. There is also a handicap bar that you hit with your arms, at least for the first week. By the 2nd week, we pretty much didn't move too much (if soap drops--DO NOT BEND DOWN TO GET IT OR DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK).

 

I don't have a clue what someone that is moderately overweight would do. I started showering in exercise facility on week two.

 

The tub is huge. Never got in it though. Neither one of us did or ever do. Personally, I see it as a design flaw, given the general size of Americans. Maybe it wasn't built for American's though.

 

Went on cabin crawl on saw GS and when we saw bathroom, with it's large tub/shower combo, we knew it was GS's for us. Plenty of room and you can petition the bedroom off from living room, which is why we get suites in the first place.

 

Enjoy!

 

Agree with you about the shower in an OS. My wife is very petite and still had a hard time shaving her legs in the shower. We also have no use for the "third sink" (bidet). The dinning area and balcony however are awesome.

[samom]

Great points but need additional information. First, I did not think there were any suite perks with JS so I thought they board with with everyone else. Secondly, is it noisy on the balcony of the L2 We are 17232 and I am concerned the balcony has no privacy, is noisy and not romantic. So we are now considering a GS. My favorite thing to do is a drink on the balcony before dinner and before we turn in. It is our 40th so a special trip. Thoughts??

[samom]

So sorry you all must think I am crazy. I did not think the first post made it lol. But still not sure the benefits of the JS on the Allure. This cabin is for family. I thought it is just the extra space ( which is a perk) and in room coffee was all JS received. So no special treatment during boarding etc.

[samom]

Sue, yes 1732. Could you see the ocean??? Just seems like all that activity would generate noise and not offer the same amount of privacy as a GS. The GS is more than the L2 so not sure what to do.

[Clarea]

So sorry you all must think I am crazy. I did not think the first post made it lol. But still not sure the benefits of the JS on the Allure. This cabin is for family. I thought it is just the extra space ( which is a perk) and in room coffee was all JS received. So no special treatment during boarding etc.

JS Perks on Allure:

 

Bathtub, walk-in closet, priority check-in and boarding, tea kettle, coffee maker, bathroom amenities, robes, double C&A points, and a silver Seapass card.

[samom]

Thanks for the info. Need to read more closely!

[kkpcruiser]

Our first cruise ever 10 years ago was in a Royal Suite on the Voyager. We were celebrating a few family milestones and college tuition payments hadn't yet started. There were 4 of us with the kids sleeping on the pullout in the huge living room ( sorta feel bad in retrospect). I think we were sort of clueless as to the comparison cost but my husband liked to travel well. Didn't even have a clue about cruise critic!

In the years since, we have booked GS, OS and JS...all traveling with our kids and they each brought a guest until they graduated college and therefore they had separate cabins. The suites provided a nice gathering place with a larger deck area ( Esp great on the RS) but of course presented problems using the concierge when only we were booked in a suite.

 

Since we have traveled on our own, I've gotten my husband to see that we could take 2 or 4 cruises for the price of the suites we've booked in the past. He loves a large balcony but our most recent cruise on the NCL Breakaway, he survived probably the smallest balcony ever at 35SQFT. He often said he liked the extra space a suite provided but honestly I think he has changed his tune.

 

If you are traveling with a family group or friends, the RS provides a wonderful area to chill, enjoy cocktails or lounge on an oversized deck. If its to celebrate a special occasion or milestone, go for it!

IMHO, after experiencing both worlds, I'd rather take an extra cruise for the dollar difference.:)

 

Probably been asked before?

Are Royal Suites worth it?

Booked one on the Liberty....for next year

Has any one been in one on the Liberty?

[Desert Cruizers]

We can get by with the standard balcony because I am the only one who uses it. DH if in the cabin sits inside the room and watches TV, I do that at home and prefer to be out & about. Yet he admitted to loving the extra space the JS gave us on our recent cruises.

[kkpcruiser]

Samom...being a 40th celebration, I'd say go for the GS. However it does present a problem with your other family in a JS unless they are diamond plus or higher, as they will not have access to the suite concierge area for drinks in the evening and you will. If this doesn't matter and you want to celebrate in style, I'd say DO IT!

 

Great points but need additional information. First, I did not think there were any suite perks with JS so I thought they board with with everyone else. Secondly, is it noisy on the balcony of the L2 We are 17232 and I am concerned the balcony has no privacy, is noisy and not romantic. So we are now considering a GS. My favorite thing to do is a drink on the balcony before dinner and before we turn in. It is our 40th so a special trip. Thoughts??

[PSCruiser]

Wow, I must be the only one to differ!

Now I'm assuming that one has a cruising budget, of either time or money - if not I'll be in a GS on every cruise with Super Mario. But, a typical choice I might have to make could be between a week in the Eastern Caribbean in a suite with CL privledges, or, that same week in a nicely positioned D1, and then stay on as a B2B for another week, this time Western Caribbean. Still have some funds left, so I'll buy the drink package to make up for loss of the CL, and still have a few dollars left for the casino. My choice - I'd take the second week every time.

[kymbakitty]

Agree with you about the shower in an OS. My wife is very petite and still had a hard time shaving her legs in the shower. We also have no use for the "third sink" (bidet). The dinning area and balcony however are awesome.

 

I have no idea how your wife shaved her legs in that shower! At 5'8", I didn't even attempt it.

[Cruising89143]

When cruising on RCI we book suites for the larger balcony and stateroom and expect very

little. The perks are weak compared to other cruise lines unless you're comparing to Carnival which flat out stinks with suite perks.

 

Our favorite suite is the Sky loft on the Oasis class. Perfect size stateroom and balcony. I say go for it.

Edited August 17, 2014 by cruisingator2