How Much is a Suite Worth?

[kidlessatsea]

Good Morning!

 

My family and I are booked on our FIRST Carnival cruise this November. We will be cruising on the Miracle and have booked and extended balcony (6232 - the bowling alley balcony room).

As the sail date gets closer, the prices for suites are dropping quite a bit. We are able to book an ocean suite right now for about $600 more than we paid for the balcony.

 

Is it worth it?

 

We will have four in our cabin (two adults, teenager, and a 4-year-old). Other than priority stuff, there's no other perks, right? We already have FTTF so is it best to just save our $$ and enjoy the cruise or should we push for an upgrade?

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[gtalum]

The only real advantages to booking a suite are shorter lines at embarkation, early boarding (suite passengers may board with Platinum and Diamond passengers), and more space in the cabin. What that's worth is up to you.

 

At $600, in my opinion it's getting close to being worth it.

 

EDIT: Just noticed your FTTF. If you do book the suite, be sure to cancel that! That will bring the effective cost of your upgrade down to $550.

Edited September 8, 2015 by gtalum

[jeniceglassman]

You didn't specify gender or age of your teenager. Suites provide additional room that can come in handy. If you are doing PV, Cabo it's up to you if the additional space is worth extra $. I will comment when I have "pushed" for anything it hasn't turned out as well as when I ask politely. Enjoy your first cruise. You might want to keep in mind weather out of LB in November will be chilly. Throw in that extra jacket or hoody.:)

[KLD1019]

id say yes, since you mentioned having a 4yr old. i would assume the 4yr old is still a bath taker, and not a shower user? suites have bathtubs. regular rooms do not, just stand up showers only

 

ETA: and i would still keep the FTTF. there are other perks with it other than priority

Edited September 8, 2015 by KLD1019

[tea4ular]

I love Carnival - that said, if I was going to spend $ on a suite, NCL & Celebrity would be where I'd spend the $ for one.

[bobsfamily]

I love Carnival - that said, if I was going to spend $ on a suite, NCL & Celebrity would be where I'd spend the $ for one.

Although the suite on NCL or Celebrity would most likely cost more the benefits are over the top compared to Carnival.

 

You would lose the huge balcony but get more space inside for sure. Might be worth it with the little one.

[skittl1321]

On Carnival, I would say that a suite has very little value at all. I would not pay for one.

[bluemoon12]

Ohhh....I would keep the larger balcony and save my $600. At night you will be in your room and maybe if the 4 year old still takes a nap. At least you will have that huge balcony to be on when the little one is sleeping. The suite balcony's are little compared to that balcony you have now!

[setsail1975]

Loved my Upsell to a suite, but we did so for 330$ that was worth it!! I would not pay 600$ to do so , personally. It depends on how much time you spend in your cabin.. We had originally booked FTTF and kept it with our upgrade to the suite, the FTTF had other advantages that were in addition to the suite.

[D4]

We've had an ocean suite on Carnival before and I don't feel it's worth $600 extra.

 

Have you checked to see how much more it would cost to get 2 adjacent balconies? It probably costs less than $600 to switch and I think that would be worth it even if you moved to regular balconies. You'd have double the space including 2 bathrooms.

[Vitamin_Sea]

Good Morning!

 

My family and I are booked on our FIRST Carnival cruise this November. We will be cruising on the Miracle and have booked and extended balcony (6232 - the bowling alley balcony room).

As the sail date gets closer, the prices for suites are dropping quite a bit. We are able to book an ocean suite right now for about $600 more than we paid for the balcony.

 

Is it worth it?

 

We will have four in our cabin (two adults, teenager, and a 4-year-old). Other than priority stuff, there's no other perks, right? We already have FTTF so is it best to just save our $$ and enjoy the cruise or should we push for an upgrade?

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

 

Keep the 600 in your pocket :cool:

[kidlessatsea]

We've had an ocean suite on Carnival before and I don't feel it's worth $600 extra.

 

Have you checked to see how much more it would cost to get 2 adjacent balconies? It probably costs less than $600 to switch and I think that would be worth it even if you moved to regular balconies. You'd have double the space including 2 bathrooms.

 

Yeah, we checked. Miracle does not have a lot of connecting rooms and I would want an interior door to the kids for sure. At this close to the sail date, they are all booked. However, booking two adjacent balconies only gives us aft facing cabin options and it's $500 MORE than a suite.

 

We will probably just stick with our balcony and enjoy it no matter what. :-)

[CJinFLA00]

We went from a standard balcony on the Lido to a suite for $500 on the Liberty last week. This was worth it to us but the most I would pay. This was the best deal I had ever seen so we couldn't pass it up.

[CCLCruiser4321]

It depends I always use to get calls about upgrading but we always book the same room (location) on every ship. Which is way more important to me I agree with people that said other lines have way suite(er) options

[Glock19]

We had 5 of us in a cat 12 on the Triumph a few years ago. Now when we travel with the kids we book two balcony cabins side by side and open the divider. I like two cabins better because you get two bathrooms. Its a pain to get 5 ready for dinner with one bathroom.

[DebJ14]

We actually got a suite for $200 less than the aft balcony we had booked during their 3 day suite promo in July.

 

We always take a suite on Princess, RCCL and NCL because they come with perks. On Carnival our perks come from past guest status, so no need.

 

However, we certainly do like the larger cabin and bathroom and if traveling with our son would pay the extra for the suite on Carnival.

 

The problem I saw with our last aft wrap was that there was just 1 chair for seating, no sofa. So, someone always ended up sitting on the bed. The weather was so lousy we were unable to use the huge balcony the entire time and were wishing we were in a suite since we were pretty much cooped up in our cabin. There were precious few activities happening around the ship and I can't stand being in a smoke filled casino for long.

[PCHENG]

I have sailed in an OS on the Pride (sister ship to the Miracle), and I don't think the suite is worth 600 dollars over an extended balcony.

 

If you need more space, I would suggest a premium balcony, which will get you 25 percent more space and the same upgraded décor as an OS.

[kidlessatsea]

The upgrade fairy called today and offered me an ocean suite for $500 more.

 

Should I take it?

[setsail1975]

The upgrade fairy called today and offered me an ocean suite for $500 more.

 

 

 

Should I take it?

 

 

It all depends if you can afford to and the room really matters to you.. I paid 330$ for my up sell.. But we are normally traveling as a family of 5 ... So we never get any opportunity to upgrade....My husband and I were able to cruise just us 2 for my 40th birthday.. So do to that we took the up sell... We probably would not have for the $500.00 .. If you can do it, then do it. If you can't you will still have a great cruise and can spend that money elsewhere... Have Fun[emoji572]️

[shonandsuzie]

The upgrade fairy called today and offered me an ocean suite for $500 more.

 

Should I take it?

We say yes!

If it were just for the 2 of you it wouldn't necessarily be worth it but for 4, no question. We have been in extended balconies and suites. Suites are much roomier which I think would be helpful with the age range of people in your family. In a regular balcony room you wont have much room besides sleeping space. Even though you have 1 bathroom in the OS, the suites have a larger bathroom/dressing room area that I bet you will be glad for!