The Suite life - not really our "thing"

[ndabunka]

We just got off the PoA and while we had a fun, amazing trip almost none of it was due to this being our first "Suite" experience. While we did enjoy the extra space in the cabin and on the 200sq ft balcony, we likely won't be paying the additional cost (or even the extremely discounted price) on any future trips. This is not REALLY a price issue as we can afford any cabin we want and typically pay cash for most everything so it was really about benefit vs. costs.

 

For those of your "playing along at home" here's the underlying logic:

• We don't drink coffee so the coffeemaker was a big ZERO for us.
  
• We don't really drink much alcohol (less that $100 total for 7 days & that even included a $25 wine tasting event) so free bottle of wine was left in the fridge upon departure.
  
• We had already pre-booked all our shore excursions (and the solitary lobster night @ Jefferson's Bistro) so my entire interaction with the concierge had more to do with where to get on shuttles and the weather. No real value (for us) there.
  
• My wife ate at Cagney's....ONCE as she prefers a later wake up time and eating at the buffet as it has a LOT more selection. I did eat 2 breakfast & 2 lunches @ Cagney's and did enjoy the filet & eggs one morning & (personally) enjoy the less rushed/crowded atmosphere but I am also fine with buffet breakfast.
  
• The Butler was nice enough and did bring us 2 or 3 DVD's as there was ZERO children-oriented TV shows so our 12 year old needed... something he could watch here or there between activities.
  
• We asked our butler to bring us ONLY cookies or chocolates (not both) but each day we saw the salmon, cheese or other canopies and sometimes cookies as well. Basically a fail on his part but perhaps they are all already made up and he just brings what he brings.
  
• We never ordered room service as we were typically only eating breakfast & dinner on the ship (typically after 9 pm on overnight stays due to port activities).
  We aren't the types to throw "parties" in our suites as we never have been the party crowd.
  

We DID tip both our butler ($100) and concierge ($50) even though we never really used them. We did so because we both have prior service industry personal experiences and understand how they make their $ but the reality is that we simply don't use those types of services

 

PS - The cost of our suite was over 50% discounted off of the "original" price the 1st day available so it was essentially $800 over the cost of a similarly discounted balcony & what appears to be the least anyone could have gotten a suite for on our cruise. We did good on the pricing but will use that difference on future directly-booked excursions.

Edited August 2, 2015 by ndabunka

[SwissLe]

Completely agree, on a port intensive cruise the value of a suite can be hard to see. Especially as you, like me, book everything online before and know exactly what you want to do. POA cabins do feel tight though, so a suite probably came in handy there.

 

On a cruise where you need deck space, need indoor space on cooler cruises and ports where embarkation can be a nightmare a suite with its perks can be worth its weight in gold. I think a Haven also seals the deal for me too.

[Travelling2Some]

I was thinking the same thing as SwissLe. Hawaii is so port intensive that we'd barely look at the suite. Also I think people who frequent Cruise Critic are very likely to be "planners" who don't need much hand holding and tend to eschew ship sponsored shore excursions. (Especially true if you are an American in Hawaii where you speak the local language and are familiar with the currency.) For the HUGE price difference I can get my own coffee and eat breakfast in the buffet. As for snacks, I'd rather take a pass through the buffet and pick out what I actually like to eat. (Does anybody really want or need MORE food on a cruise ship???) I can definitely see the advantages of a suite on a transatlantic and/or if you are with a group and like to host parties though.

[bonvoyagie]

While I do enjoy the suite life - the extra room, hopping the line at the terminal, priority tendering, etc. having done Hawaii on the POA I am not sure I would want one for that cruise. One thing that might have been nice is the in suite dining - there were times when we got back to the ship and really did not want to change for dinner - so we did lots of buffets and the Cadillac diner.

[toyotaford]

We have always cruised suites but the PoA is by far the one we used the benefits on the least. Our last cruise was the 19 day Panama Canal and it is a totally different experience considering all the sea days. My advice would be to give it one more shot on a less port intensive cruise before you make a final decision. And you may still decided it is not worth the extra money no matter if the amount is large or small but you will have had another prospective.

[Chuck2810]

Good perspective and I am glad you had a great time, and can save a few bucks more next time. :) Yes, for the same reasons suites don't make much sense for your family, mine enjoy them immensely.

• I am a Morning person - have to have coffee in my hand within 10 minutes and enjoy a cup at 4am or 5am as we pull into the next port. Also like to have a juice and pastry delivered around six. (did I mention no one else in my family is a morning person?)
  
• I enjoy a variety of drinks and enjoy the cocktail party and having bottle service, rather than hanging at a bar.
  
• I too struggle most days to find what the concierge can do, other than priority on the tender, etc. I use them for dinner res, but to be honest I think I could do it myself pretty easily. We did have a great experience from Carlos once when my wife left her digital camera (back when they were a couple/three hundred) in a bathroom the night before and he was able to find it and have it returned the next afternoon.
  
• Breakfast at Cagney's is the real winner for me. And it probably gets the rest of my family up sooner.:D
  

[$hip$hape]

Thank You to OP, and all for your opinions.

[abe3]

That is a great perspective from the OP. At least you had a great cruise and tried the suite life once.

 

I for one have not gone back to regular cabins since we took our first suite 4 years ago. We always book suites now but we hardly use the concierge or really asked for much from our butler. The space and the use of the Haven complex is what makes suite worth it for us now.

[LrgPizza]

I like your perspective! Unlike me, you actually tried it. Although we could afford the suite life, when I look at the list of perks, I haven't found any yet that mean anything to me, so we haven't pulled the trigger. You aren't alone! haha

[kcwingwalker]

While we enjoyed our suite on the Jewel we have no suite plans in the future. It's just too expensive when you don't really use the services. For me a balcony is great. But then I'm a cheap date and box wine is fine with me:)

[SissasMomE]

I personally would not have bothered with the suite on a port intensive cruise such as this IF booking solely for the amenities. We would book for the extra space if the price were cheaper than the 2 balcony cabins that I normally book.

Edited August 2, 2015 by SissasMomE

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

I've done the Haven one time, and like the OP, I really enjoyed it, but I didn't see the value in it. I just didn't use enough of the extra amenities. I ended up kind of forced into the deal. I wanted two connecting rooms, but they were sold out, so they offered me a deal on a two bedroom Haven suite. It was an amazing room (although the balcony was the same size as an ordinary balcony), but honestly, I'd rather take two cruises or a Disney cruise for the price. It would have to be a really special occasion for me to do it again.

[jaja]

OP--good perspective...glad you enjoyed and hope you continue to enjoy whatever you book...We are fortunate enough to be able to book suites (non haven) now..and enjoy the perks. No..we do not really make full use of butler and concierge (we are low maintainance for sure) but enjoy the option of Cagneys for lunch and breakfast, and love the priority embark and disembark. Yes..sometimes I think the suite life is over priced...but when I am there...I do feel pampered and special..;) and it kind of makes it really all worth while..:)

[zqvol]

We've been in a suite once, and other than the extra size in the cabin, find it to be a lot to do about not much. IMO certainly not worth the $$$. Would much rather spend the money on a luxury line, in the end the luxury line is nicer and ends up being less expensive.

[bbryan5]

Agree 100% with OP. We've done 6 cruises, all NCL. 4 balconies, 1 mini-suite, and finally 1 aft facing penthouse suite. For us, the suite was not worth it at all. We are a young couple that spends very little time in the room. We are usually out and about till 3-4am, either in the casino, or just hitting different bars. Our butler and concierge were not good at all. I think cause we are young they weren't expecting a big tip, and kind of ignored us. Oh well, live and learn! :D:D

[DMH15]

Isn't it wonderful we all have choices from A to Z.

 

I love having ensuite dinner on port intensive cruises. Get back on board after a tiring, full day, shower, put on PJs and have Le Bistro brought to ME. It is awesome.

[watchdiva]

We definitely enjoy the suite life and make full use of the perks that come with our suite, especially breakfast, most lunches and a few dinners in our suite. We have been lucky to have had great butler/concierge teams on all of our cruises for the past 13 years. Unlike many passengers, we spend lots of time in our suite or on our balcony so the perks and extra room are certainly worth it to us.

[bonvoyagie]

Isn't it wonderful we all have choices from A to Z.

 

I love having ensuite dinner on port intensive cruises. Get back on board after a tiring, full day, shower, put on PJs and have Le Bistro brought to ME. It is awesome.

 

I am hoping this is the case on my next cruise - 10 ports in 14 days.

 

We are three adults in an SC on the Dawn. Hope the larger rooms will keep us sane for the entire cruise :D

[Cruzncutie]

We take full advantage of the suite perks. For me, it enhances my total experience. We enjoy priority embarkation, however we take our time disembarking the last day. Because I'm not a morning person and I'm not a fan of eating breakfast in the buffet, I always order breakfast from the Haven Restaurant and I'll eat a late dinner in my suite at least three times during the cruise. We are planners and typically make show reservations online prior to sailing. That being said, things can change once you're on the ship. Maybe we don't want to see Burn the Floor on Thursday night. Calling on my own or using the app I've seen "sold out" for certain show times and dinner reservations. One quick call to the concierge and viola, we are booked! While I like being poolside and soaking up the atmosphere, sometimes I just want peace and quiet in the Haven Courtyard. The perks definitely are a good thing for us and we have never regretted spending the extra money.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Edited August 3, 2015 by Cruzncutie

[DMH15]

I am hoping this is the case on my next cruise - 10 ports in 14 days.

 

 

 

We are three adults in an SC on the Dawn. Hope the larger rooms will keep us sane for the entire cruise :D

 

 

I especially enjoyed it on my 14 night S American cruise. Long excursions. It really did help.

[dlynn0366]

I've only ever stayed in the Haven, the last three times in an Owner's Suite & booked again in 2016 in an Owner' Suite. I've never had a meal delivered in my suite, maybe at the most had the concierge in the past 4 years make 2 dinner reservations for me. The most I've ever asked the butler for is the first day when convenient the use of a iron. I still love the Haven just for the ease of embarkation etc. Actually I get frequent calls from both my butler & concierge to check up everything is ok as they never hear from us :)

[klr6773]

We sailed our first NCL cruise on the Pearl in June .We upgraded to an aft Penthouse the week of sailing. The extra space was wonderful and the bed was super comfortable. We didn't make any special requests of the butler. The only " perk" we used via the concierge was quicker disembarking at ports,which was really nice. If was nice to have the coffee machine for a few quick lattes on the balcony. I would say what really set the experience apart for us was the private breakfast and lunch at Moderno's . Breakfast was my favorite meal the entire week. Never got tired of waffles and steak and eggs! Got bored with the lunch menu,so we didn't go there all 7 days.

 

I would upgrade again in a heartbeat,if offered at a great discount like it was. It would be hard for me to pay for the suite experience without the upsell. Simply just don't have that much disposable income...however,we will always be super happy we had the suite life once.it made out trip that much more special!

[ndabunka]

I personally would not have bothered with the suite on a port intensive cruise such as this IF booking solely for the amenities. We would book for the extra space if the price were cheaper than the 2 balcony cabins that I normally book.

 

In this case, the suite itself would have been about $2K LESS than 2 balcony rooms so, like me, it sounds like you also would have gone for this one.

[Silver Sweethearts]

We just got off the PoA and while we had a fun, amazing trip almost none of it was due to this being our first "Suite" experience. While we did enjoy the extra space in the cabin and on the 200sq ft balcony, we likely won't be paying the additional cost (or even the extremely discounted price) on any future trips. This is not REALLY a price issue as we can afford any cabin we want and typically pay cash for most everything so it was really about benefit vs. costs.

 

What were the "fun, amazing" parts of your trip??

Edited August 3, 2015 by Silver Sweethearts

[ndabunka]

We take full advantage of the suite perks. For me, it enhances my total experience. We enjoy priority embarkation, however we take our time disembarking the last day. Because I'm not a morning person and I'm not a fan of eating breakfast in the buffet, I always order breakfast from the Haven Restaurant and I'll eat a late dinner in my suite at least three times during the cruise....

 

Your comment about late night dinner's throws me a bit as you can't actually order a "LATE" dinner from any restaurant on the PoA, can you?

 

Our experience was that you can't get any meal from any of the dine-in ones after 9pm even via room service (where they get food from the buffet or Cadillacs for you). It appeared that the Butler was basically off after 10pm (on the PoA) so any room service after that time would not be served by the butler but rather by "normal" room service. I would expect that a previously planned in-room party would be different.

Edited August 3, 2015 by ndabunka