Balc. vs. Mini -$$ worth to you??

[GottoCruise]

Just for my own curiosity - for those of you that figure a cruise cost on a "per diem" cost (which I always do) ...what is the maximum $$ "per diem" you would pay for a Mini-suite vs. a Balcony??

Figure Cruise incl. Port Tax and all fees - NO AIR ! per person - divide by # of days to get per diem per cabin cost.

Me? - it would be worth $25 per person per day ($50 per day total) for the Mini-Suite privilage! Am I too cheap??

 

PACIFIC PRINCESS

7/25/04 Islands of the Pacific Theater

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;7;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

GOLDEN PRINCESS

8/10/05 British Isles

8/20/05 TransAtlantic

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trfb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ooooff&cdt=2005;8;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

 

GOLDEN PRINCESS

8/10/05 British Isles 8/20/05 TransAtlantic

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;8;10;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

 

[spongerob]

I'll consider any move up in category when the difference is less than $100 per day. This would really apply only to the Sun-class ships, where the mini-suite prices tend to keep us away and the balcony cabins are just a little small. The real benefit to a mini-suite is the larger bathroom, regardless of the class of ship.

 

Completed:

Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess

Coming up:

Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04

Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[Crowsie]

It wasn't cost that mattered to us for our next cruise.

We have always booked balconies (have been upgraded to suites or mini's 3 out of 4 times).

This time we booked a mini, regardless of the price difference, because our cruise is 19 days.

For that length of cruise the extra space was well worth any difference in $$$$.

 

Sky Princess 01/1999 Australia and New Zealand

Sky Princess 03/2000 China

Royal Princess 02/2002 South America

Golden Princess 05/2003 Med

Sapphire Princess 03/2005 Sydney to Bangkok

 

 

March 2005 - Sydney to Bangkok on the Sapphire

 

[comettgirl]

YOU think you are cheap!! I will spend no more then $15 per day for a mini. I will however book a BA guareente, and take my chances. I will also not pay extra for a window. I either book an inside or a balcony. This time I picked a BA (cost $852)caribe deck. Mini's were going for ($999), I would not pay the extra $300 total. I did however say I would take a complimentary upgrade. I will be happy with either.

 

Therese

[c-cruise]

Wow you are cheap! $999 is a good price for a mini-suite. We are paying $1400 and some change for a mini on the Sapphire to Alaska this summer. To me it is well worth the extra cash to get the larger bathroom and sitting area in the cabin. I guess I think in terms of how cheap would the regular balcony cabin have to be before I would consider anything but a mini-suite.

 

Next Cruise: 6/27/04 Sapphire Princess

[Toto2Kansas]

On Princess, knowing how tiny their balcony cabins are, price is no object. If I can't afford at least a mini suite, I will wait and sail later when I can afford it. We have found that the stateroom we choose makes all the difference in the world in our cruise experience.

YES, I know we are spoiled, those darn free upgrades finally got to us. But we consider the quality fact vs the quantity factor.

After years of booking only balcony cabins, we realized that walking over the beds and not having the space to invite others over without telling them to 'pull up a chair and sit on out beds', well, it was a no brainer for us in our decision.

After all, you only live ONCE and you can't take it with you.

 

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04

RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.

One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

[PeabodyNVL]

My first cruise, I paid over $1300 for an outside obstructed on the Grand in 1999. So now, when I am paying about $1000 for a mini, I figure I am getting a lot more for a lot less. I don't even look at the balcony prices unless mini-suite prices are outrageous.

 

I think it also depends on the number of people in the cabin. If there are more than 2 people in the cabin, I would consider the mini upfront. The extra space is sooo nice. You aren't tripping over each other and the balcony is like an extension of the cabin.

 

Pea

 

5/9 Golden Princess  

[Lampwick]

On most of the ships, I don't see a huge differnce between a bal or mini. However - on the Sun Princess, the mini's are fabulous! You do feel like you're in a suite. On the rest of the ships the minis are just elongated balcony cabins.

[spongerob]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lampwick:

On the rest of the ships the minis are just elongated balcony cabins.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

But with a larger bathroom, and therefore more space for DW to spread her stuff out. Such things contribute to keeping the peace during a cruise.

 

Completed:

Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess

Coming up:

Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04

Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[Toto2Kansas]

And the minis on all of the ships have a sitting area whereas the balcony cabins do not. That is what makes us desire the cabins where you have room to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

 

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04

RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.

One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

[comettgirl]

Let me add something. I LOVE the extra space in a Mini Suite, but I love the huge balcony on the caribe deck (grand class). I did think long and hard. Huge balcony, huge cabin, huge balcony, huge room. We love having loungers on our balcony. Hard choice, but I went with the $300 less cabin with the huge balcony. BUT.... if I get an upgrade.... I will not complain, and will take it graciously..... OR..... if we end up with the cabin we picked..... I will also be perfectly happy..... Now isn't that how you are suppose to decide on a cabin?? ..

 

Therese

[AmyinGA]

If it adds less than $500 to our total I will go for the mini. We had a balcony on our last cruise and we really missed the mini. It would have been $800 more to get in the mini, so I was glad to have that money for shopping, but I missed the extra room.