Junior Suite perks, vs. Grand Suite perks, Symphony

[jetta8300]

So we are booked in a Junior suite now, and are thinking of upgrading to a 1 bedroom grand suite.  However I think the price difference may not be worth it for us.  It's $3000 more which I feel is insane, especially for the room.  However our other family members are booked in a Grand Suite 2 bedroom and have access to things we will not have.  We are mostly concerned with not being able to sit with them at shows. They have two small children and want the extra bedroom, while we have only one child and actually like the layout of the more open junior suite.

 

Do Junior suites have priority check in with the other suite guests?  We are sailing out of Miami.

 

The coastal kitchen menu doesn't interest any of us much even though we would have access to that at dinner.  And we like eating at the Specialty restaurants anyway.  But is the suite lounge also off limits to Junior suite guests if we are eating at the Coastal Kitchen for dinner?

 

And with the suite guests with reserved seating at the shows, they will have their own section?  And i'm guessing the kids can't sit together then at the shows?

 

And do the junior suites have the pillow top mattresses or are they the same as a regular room?

 

thanks!!!

[Biker19]

Buy Key for seating with suites.

[frank808]

No access to suite lounge. 

[John&LaLa]

25 minutes ago, frank808 said:

No access to suite lounge. 

 

But on Oasis ships, they will serve you drinks at dinner.

[Cruise a holic]

If you are in a grand suite in addition to having meals in suite restaurant.  You have. Access to all shows without reservations, suite deck is excellent!  Suite lounge also wonderful.  The suite concierge excellent.  Of course priority boarding and disembarking. In addition if you go to labadee or cococay, you have a nicer private beach access with a deluxe barbecue .  Junior suite nice but grand suite nicer IMO 

 

Imo worth it if you can afford it

[Dr. Pam]

Hi!  We are on the Symphony at the end of March and are excited to try out this new ship.  We have cruised on Oasis 2x, Allure 2x and several other Royal ships as well as Celebrity and Princess.  MY thoughts on upgrading from a JS to a GS.  BIG DIFFERENCE!

 1. Priority embarkation and escorted disembarkation with concierge that bypasses the lines

 2. Coastal Kitchen...our fav restaurant on Oasis class ships.  We do not dine at the MDR .  However, I have not checked out  

      Wonderland, Jamie's or the new seafood venue as this will be new to us on this cruise. (We do have ressies for these 

      restaurants so I will report back. :)

 3.  If you cruise has Labadee as a port stop, you will not be able to hang out with your friends at Barefoot Beach. 

 4.  If you are in a GS then you are able to join your friends in the Suite Lounge for appies and cocktails in the evening, as well

      as picking up gratis bottled water and sodas for your room. The suite concierges are usually some of the most gracious and 

      amazing staff on the ship and will accommodate almost any request if they are able!

 

 

I realize that the $$ for a GS is much more than a JS. However, you are paying more for not only the real estate but for the services which I believe turns Royal Caribbean into a luxury vacation.  I am sure you will have a wonderful time in a JS, but I think your friends will have a better experience with the full suite amenities.  And of course it depends if your families are OK with splitting up for some dinners and events or if you were planning to do everything together.  Happy and Safe travels.

 

 

Pam

[jetta8300]

5 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

If you are in a grand suite in addition to having meals in suite restaurant.  You have. Access to all shows without reservations, suite deck is excellent!  Suite lounge also wonderful.  The suite concierge excellent.  Of course priority boarding and disembarking. In addition if you go to labadee or cococay, you have a nicer private beach access with a deluxe barbecue .  Junior suite nice but grand suite nicer IMO 

 

Imo worth it if you can afford it

I definitely think it's nice, but I don't know about $3000 nice.  Especially with small children with us, I don't see spending a lot of time in the lounge.  I'm willing to pay for something that's truly worth it but I'm not sure it is.  And we wouldn't use the concierge.  However I didn't know about the private beach at Coco cay.  Is this a thing?  We are not going to Labadee.  But I'm intrigued by this with Cococay.  

 

I thought the priority boarding was included with the Junior Suite.  I also am not really interested in the coastal kitchen.  The menus don't  look good and we like the specialty restaurants.  But that's a GREAT point about the suite deck as well.

[jetta8300]

3 minutes ago, Dr. Pam said:

Hi!  We are on the Symphony at the end of March and are excited to try out this new ship.  We have cruised on Oasis 2x, Allure 2x and several other Royal ships as well as Celebrity and Princess.  MY thoughts on upgrading from a JS to a GS.  BIG DIFFERENCE!

 1. Priority embarkation and escorted disembarkation with concierge that bypasses the lines

 2. Coastal Kitchen...our fav restaurant on Oasis class ships.  We do not dine at the MDR .  However, I have not checked out  

      Wonderland, Jamie's or the new seafood venue as this will be new to us on this cruise. (We do have ressies for these 

      restaurants so I will report back. 🙂

 3.  If you cruise has Labadee as a port stop, you will not be able to hang out with your friends at Barefoot Beach. 

 4.  If you are in a GS then you are able to join your friends in the Suite Lounge for appies and cocktails in the evening, as well

      as picking up gratis bottled water and sodas for your room. The suite concierges are usually some of the most gracious and 

      amazing staff on the ship and will accommodate almost any request if they are able!

 

 

I realize that the $$ for a GS is much more than a JS. However, you are paying more for not only the real estate but for the services which I believe turns Royal Caribbean into a luxury vacation.  I am sure you will have a wonderful time in a JS, but I think your friends will have a better experience with the full suite amenities.  And of course it depends if your families are OK with splitting up for some dinners and events or if you were planning to do everything together.  Happy and Safe travels.

 

 

Pam

 

thanks so much for your long post!  It is very informative.  Our situation is just so different with small children.  Some of the perks we would use as a couple, we will not use with children.  they are 7,7, and 9 at the time.  We won't use coastal kitchen at all probably.  And we are not going to Labadee.  

 

My thing is also, we booked a ship like the Symphony so we can enjoy the ENTIRE ship. We want to see everything and do everything.  And the suite perks almost keep you confined to certain areas.  I'm sure we'll be stuck by the water slides with the kids, where as with a couple, we would be up on the suite deck.

 

However I am intrigued by someone mentioned a separate area at cococay.  we are going there.  I also like the in room full dining menu, suite deck (if we can get rid of the kids for a while at adventure ocean) and the reserved seating for shows.

 

But can someone tell me if the JS has priority embarkation?  I thought they did, just not priority debarkation.  And also about the mattresses...

[Dr. Pam]

Regarding embarkation....I cannot speak to it as I have not been in the new terminal in Miami.  However, preliminary reports on CC are stating that embarkation is a breeze for everyone!  However, getting off the ship may be another story.  Again, I have not been at the new cruise terminal.  But I have been fortunate to be escorted off by the suite concierges to bypass the lines and take us straight to our luggage and on to a special line for custom clearance.  That was the icing on the cake for our suite experience!

 

Also, the GS will give you a lot more room with 3 children and possibly a bit more privacy with the divider and curtains! 😉

Edited February 9, 2019 by Dr. Pam
added more info

[kontraxed]

You should look at purchasing "The Key" through your Cruise Planner. It will give you some of the benefits you are asking about, but not all. I believe you get priority embarkation and disembarkation. You do have to make reservations for the shows but then you get to sit in the Key section which, I believe, is in the suite section. You do not get to go to the suite sections of Cococay or the suite lounges. Check it out.

[DanOO]

I want to add to Dr. Pam list.  We had free WiFi for one device per person. 

A private sail away party for Suite Guests on the helipad with Officers of the ship. 

 

[cb at sea]

You will get priority boarding with the suites.  Aside from the extra points for a JS, that's about the only perk.  Your friends can sit anywhere in the theaters, so they can sit with YOU!

 

[jetta8300]

1 hour ago, jetta8300 said:

 

thanks so much for your long post!  It is very informative.  Our situation is just so different with small children.  Some of the perks we would use as a couple, we will not use with children.  they are 7,7, and 9 at the time.  We won't use coastal kitchen at all probably.  And we are not going to Labadee.  

 

My thing is also, we booked a ship like the Symphony so we can enjoy the ENTIRE ship. We want to see everything and do everything.  And the suite perks almost keep you confined to certain areas.  I'm sure we'll be stuck by the water slides with the kids, where as with a couple, we would be up on the suite deck.

 

However I am intrigued by someone mentioned a separate area at cococay.  we are going there.  I also like the in room full dining menu, suite deck (if we can get rid of the kids for a while at adventure ocean) and the reserved seating for shows.

 

But can someone tell me if the JS has priority embarkation?  I thought they did, just not priority debarkation.  And also about the mattresses...

 

Thanks!  I should clarify I only have one child though. He’s will be 7. My sisters kids will be 7 and 9 and they are the ones with the 2 bedroom. 

[jetta8300]

1 hour ago, jetta8300 said:

 

thanks so much for your long post!  It is very informative.  Our situation is just so different with small children.  Some of the perks we would use as a couple, we will not use with children.  they are 7,7, and 9 at the time.  We won't use coastal kitchen at all probably.  And we are not going to Labadee.  

 

My thing is also, we booked a ship like the Symphony so we can enjoy the ENTIRE ship. We want to see everything and do everything.  And the suite perks almost keep you confined to certain areas.  I'm sure we'll be stuck by the water slides with the kids, where as with a couple, we would be up on the suite deck.

 

However I am intrigued by someone mentioned a separate area at cococay.  we are going there.  I also like the in room full dining menu, suite deck (if we can get rid of the kids for a while at adventure ocean) and the reserved seating for shows.

 

But can someone tell me if the JS has priority embarkation?  I thought they did, just not priority debarkation.  And also about the mattresses...

 

Thanks!  I should clarify I only have one child though. He will be 7. My sister’s kids will be 7 and 9 and they are the ones with the 2 bedroom Grand suite.  So it’s just 3 of us in the junior suite. 

[jetta8300]

1 hour ago, jetta8300 said:

 

thanks so much for your long post!  It is very informative.  Our situation is just so different with small children.  Some of the perks we would use as a couple, we will not use with children.  they are 7,7, and 9 at the time.  We won't use coastal kitchen at all probably.  And we are not going to Labadee.  

 

My thing is also, we booked a ship like the Symphony so we can enjoy the ENTIRE ship. We want to see everything and do everything.  And the suite perks almost keep you confined to certain areas.  I'm sure we'll be stuck by the water slides with the kids, where as with a couple, we would be up on the suite deck.

 

However I am intrigued by someone mentioned a separate area at cococay.  we are going there.  I also like the in room full dining menu, suite deck (if we can get rid of the kids for a while at adventure ocean) and the reserved seating for shows.

 

But can someone tell me if the JS has priority embarkation?  I thought they did, just not priority debarkation.  And also about the mattresses...

 

Duplicate post. 

Edited February 9, 2019 by jetta8300

[Andy C]

There is no comparison.  We spend the majority of the cruise up in the SL/CK and use the suite sun deck a lot.  In my opinion all the food on Royal is mediocre so we don't spend a dime on specialty and take all our meals in CK.  The escort off the ship at debarkation is priceless.  

[jetta8300]

7 minutes ago, Andy C said:

There is no comparison.  We spend the majority of the cruise up in the SL/CK and use the suite sun deck a lot.  In my opinion all the food on Royal is mediocre so we don't spend a dime on specialty and take all our meals in CK.  The escort off the ship at debarkation is priceless.  

 

I read your earlier reviews and you have young children right?  Did they enjoy the coastal kitchen?

[Andy C]

13 minutes ago, jetta8300 said:

 

I read your earlier reviews and you have young children right?  Did they enjoy the coastal kitchen?

 2 and 4.  They loved it.  They don't stop talking about it.  We had the same staff take care of us on our last 3 cruises on Harmony.  They ask about Rico and Cheker at least a couple of times a week.  They are always looking at videos of Harmony and Symphony on their iPads.  You will not regret it.  Trust me.  Take the plunge.  Just remember you'll never go back to a regular cabin.  

[GalwayGirl03]

Not sure how you feel about it but doesn't the 2 bed GS sleep 8 and there will be 7 in your party.  You all could go into the GS 2 bedroom...if I was with my sister's family I would do this in a heartbeat but we each have three kids so 6 btw the 2 of us and hubbies so that puts us over the 8 threshold..

Edited February 9, 2019 by GalwayGirl03
added info

[Andy C]

1 minute ago, GalwayGirl03 said:

Not sure how you feel about it but doesn't the 2 bed GS sleep 8 and there will be 7 in your party.  You all could go into the GS 2 bedroom...if I was with my sister's family I would do this in a heartbeat but we both have 6 kids and hubbies so that puts us over the 8 threshold..

 

The 2nd bedroom is a closet with a queen bed and 2 pullmans shoved in there.  

[GalwayGirl03]

yeah but it would save loads of money....stick the all three kids on the pull out bed and parents in both bedrooms is what I was thinking...total room for a cheap blow up mattress too for third kid if they wanted it. 

[jetta8300]

6 minutes ago, Andy C said:

 2 and 4.  They loved it.  They don't stop talking about it.  We had the same staff take care of us on our last 3 cruises on Harmony.  They ask about Rico and Cheker at least a couple of times a week.  They are always looking at videos of Harmony and Symphony on their iPads.  You will not regret it.  Trust me.  Take the plunge.  Just remember you'll never go back to a regular cabin.  

 

Alright well I think 8250 it is. Right outside of central park. Hopefully a good location! Thanks everyone for your input!

[CubsFanRS23]

6 minutes ago, jetta8300 said:

 

Alright well I think 8250 it is. Right outside of central park. Hopefully a good location! Thanks everyone for your input!

 

Good choice. You won’t regret it and won’t ever look back!!!

[Andy C]

1 hour ago, jetta8300 said:

 

Alright well I think 8250 it is. Right outside of central park. Hopefully a good location! Thanks everyone for your input!

 

Awesome I have that one and 8254 booked on Symphony this upcoming December. Take some good pics for me and post them!  Why don't you do a live review?

[jetta8300]

3 minutes ago, Andy C said:

 

Awesome I have that one and 8254 booked on Symphony this upcoming December. Take some good pics for me and post them!  Why don't you do a live review?

 

Thats crazy!  I just might.