rhinomike Posted January 21, 2019 #1 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Hello...l. First time ver here on the RC boards. We are ready to book today sailing in July. We fly to London on July 5th. Then we would board Explorer of the Seas for a 14 day cruise. Our main port we are excited about s St. Petersburg, Russia. Our first time on RC. We are Platinum on Carnival and NCL but newbies to RC. Any recommendations or secrets when booking? Any big differences? We are thinking about booking a suite (Grand or Owners). Are the perks worth it? I know NCL has excellent perks. Curious about RC perks. Maybe we should just stick with a balcony room and save the money??? Me and my wife want to get a suite and then put our three college age kids in a regular room near us. NCL and Carnival lets us include them in our perks. Will RC allow them to be included or would I also need to book them a suite? Sorry so many newbie questions from a seasoned cruiser. Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubsFanRS23 Posted January 21, 2019 #2 Share Posted January 21, 2019 We think the suite perks are worth it. And yes the kids will be able to be included in most, if not all, things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockmom Posted January 21, 2019 #3 Share Posted January 21, 2019 2 minutes ago, CubsFanRS23 said: We think the suite perks are worth it. And yes the kids will be able to be included in most, if not all, things. I don't think they can get suite perks if they aren't staying in a suite also. I'm sure @Host Clareacan confirm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted January 21, 2019 #4 Share Posted January 21, 2019 1 minute ago, rockmom said: I don't think they can get suite perks if they aren't staying in a suite also. I'm sure @Host Clareacan confirm. Correct, suite perks are only for those booked in the suite. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhinomike Posted January 21, 2019 Author #5 Share Posted January 21, 2019 9 minutes ago, Host Clarea said: Correct, suite perks are only for those booked in the suite. Ok. Thank you. Is there a price I could pay to include them n our perks or would I just have to book them into a suite? If that is the case I would probably just put us all in balcony rooms. Unless you have better suggestions or think the suites are worth the extra $15k for the five of us. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted January 21, 2019 #6 Share Posted January 21, 2019 8 minutes ago, rhinomike said: Ok. Thank you. Is there a price I could pay to include them n our perks or would I just have to book them into a suite? If that is the case I would probably just put us all in balcony rooms. Unless you have better suggestions or think the suites are worth the extra $15k for the five of us. Thank you. Does your sailing have the Key pkg? You get some perks that way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhinomike Posted January 21, 2019 Author #7 Share Posted January 21, 2019 (edited) 9 minutes ago, John&LaLa said: Does your sailing have the Key pkg? You get some perks that way I booked the flights. My wife is doing the cruise. I will ask her. Thank you. What are the perk differences between the key program and suites? Edited January 21, 2019 by rhinomike Added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted January 21, 2019 #8 Share Posted January 21, 2019 3 minutes ago, rhinomike said: I booked the flights. My wife is doing the cruise. I will ask her. Thank you. What are the perk differences between the key program and suites? Suites get access to Suite Lounge. Coffee all day, booze in the evening. They also get private breakfast on most ships. There may be a Suites party one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted January 21, 2019 #9 Share Posted January 21, 2019 45 minutes ago, rhinomike said: Hello...l. First time ver here on the RC boards. We are ready to book today sailing in July. We fly to London on July 5th. Then we would board Explorer of the Seas for a 14 day cruise. Our main port we are excited about s St. Petersburg, Russia. Our first time on RC. We are Platinum on Carnival and NCL but newbies to RC. Any recommendations or secrets when booking? Any big differences? We are thinking about booking a suite (Grand or Owners). Are the perks worth it? I know NCL has excellent perks. Curious about RC perks. Maybe we should just stick with a balcony room and save the money??? Me and my wife want to get a suite and then put our three college age kids in a regular room near us. NCL and Carnival lets us include them in our perks. Will RC allow them to be included or would I also need to book them a suite? Sorry so many newbie questions from a seasoned cruiser. Lol. Mike, the Explorer does not offer all that much in the way of perks. In your situation I would book connecting larger balcony cabins (unless boy #3 would prefer a Pullman/bunk bed to a sofa bed, then that’s the regular balcony category). Those Baltic cruises (and 5 flights! 😳) are expensive enough, and shore excursions won’t be cheap either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank808 Posted January 22, 2019 #10 Share Posted January 22, 2019 13 hours ago, rhinomike said: Hello...l. First time ver here on the RC boards. We are ready to book today sailing in July. We fly to London on July 5th. Then we would board Explorer of the Seas for a 14 day cruise. Our main port we are excited about s St. Petersburg, Russia. Our first time on RC. We are Platinum on Carnival and NCL but newbies to RC. Any recommendations or secrets when booking? Any big differences? We are thinking about booking a suite (Grand or Owners). Are the perks worth it? I know NCL has excellent perks. Curious about RC perks. Maybe we should just stick with a balcony room and save the money??? Me and my wife want to get a suite and then put our three college age kids in a regular room near us. NCL and Carnival lets us include them in our perks. Will RC allow them to be included or would I also need to book them a suite? Sorry so many newbie questions from a seasoned cruiser. Lol. Just a question to you as a NCL cruiser. I thought the Haven was only accessible to guests booked in the Haven. You booked a Haven cabin for you and your wife, a non Haven cabin for the kids and NCL let the kids have all the Haven perks without being in a Haven cabin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhinomike Posted January 23, 2019 Author #11 Share Posted January 23, 2019 On 1/21/2019 at 9:12 AM, Merion_Mom said: Mike, the Explorer does not offer all that much in the way of perks. In your situation I would book connecting larger balcony cabins (unless boy #3 would prefer a Pullman/bunk bed to a sofa bed, then that’s the regular balcony category). Those Baltic cruises (and 5 flights! 😳) are expensive enough, and shore excursions won’t be cheap either. Ok. Thank you for the advice. Just booked two connecting balcony rooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhinomike Posted January 23, 2019 Author #12 Share Posted January 23, 2019 On 1/21/2019 at 8:53 AM, John&LaLa said: Does your sailing have the Key pkg? You get some perks that way I asked our Senior Advisor and he had never heard of the key package. I explained to him what you said and he said no such thing. Strange. He was a senior advisor we were transfered to because it was a large transaction. $18k. Ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacher42 Posted January 23, 2019 #13 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Dear Rhino, Do not believe Explorer has the suite amenities , let alone the deck space to provide a Key program. Your senior advisor may be right. Try MM post #9 suggestions, she is occasionally right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggtjr Posted January 23, 2019 #14 Share Posted January 23, 2019 On 1/21/2019 at 10:53 AM, John&LaLa said: Does your sailing have the Key pkg? You get some perks that way From what I understand, the Key program is a trial basis on Oasis and Liberty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhinomike Posted January 23, 2019 Author #15 Share Posted January 23, 2019 13 minutes ago, Teacher42 said: Dear Rhino, Do not believe Explorer has the suite amenities , let alone the deck space to provide a Key program. Your senior advisor may be right. Try MM post #9 suggestions, she is occasionally right. Yes. Thank you. I just booked it. I did exactly what she said. $18k. For two weeks. Two connecting balcony rooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare SteelCityCruiser10 Posted January 23, 2019 #16 Share Posted January 23, 2019 10 minutes ago, ggtjr said: From what I understand, the Key program is a trial basis on Oasis and Liberty. Key is available in my cruise planner for Jewel on 2-1 sailing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockmom Posted January 23, 2019 #17 Share Posted January 23, 2019 15 minutes ago, ggtjr said: From what I understand, the Key program is a trial basis on Oasis and Liberty. It's available on my Allure and Freedom sailings. I think they have added a lot more ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted January 23, 2019 #18 Share Posted January 23, 2019 29 minutes ago, ggtjr said: From what I understand, the Key program is a trial basis on Oasis and Liberty. Dont believe everything you read Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted January 23, 2019 #19 Share Posted January 23, 2019 36 minutes ago, Teacher42 said: Dear Rhino, Do not believe Explorer has the suite amenities , let alone the deck space to provide a Key program. Your senior advisor may be right. Try MM post #9 suggestions, she is occasionally right. Wh as t does deck space have to do with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubsFanRS23 Posted January 23, 2019 #20 Share Posted January 23, 2019 2 minutes ago, John&LaLa said: Dont believe everything you read I see dead people. #PW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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