Neptune Suite worth it? I don't think so.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

2 hours ago, canadianbear said:

For our upcoming 6 day Pacific Coastal in a Neptune suite we are paying the same price as we did for this Celebrity cruise.   I’m sorry it took me so long to listen to others saying to try Celebrity’s suite life-it is excellent.  

 

Our 5 day Pacific Coastal started out at $739 SS, $939 NS.  I know that the 6 day Coastal is pricier, but that's quite a deal to catch a Sky Suite for anywhere near that range, on a 7 day Caribbean cruise.  Is that after deducting the perk value?

 

 

[ottahand7]

3 hours ago, dundeene said:

5190 and 5191 on Zuidie and Westie

Thanks looking at the Zuiderdam for a 2020 Canada cruise.  

[DAllenTCY]

When we celebrated our mother's (grandmother's, mother-in-law's to some) 80th birthday we (18) booked her a Neptune Suite so that she would have a nice place to entertain.

 

It was worth every cent on a 7 night Alaska voyage from Seattle on the Oosterdam.

 

In the Main Dining room tables were set up along side, each other so she could alternate evenings with us.....and of course we had a Pinnacle Grill dinner in a semi-private room on her actual birth date.

 

David

[canadianbear]

14 hours ago, Stateroom_Sailor said:

 

Our 5 day Pacific Coastal started out at $739 SS, $939 NS.  I know that the 6 day Coastal is pricier, but that's quite a deal to catch a Sky Suite for anywhere near that range, on a 7 day Caribbean cruise.  Is that after deducting the perk value?

 

 

We pay higher price for Neptune because we book far out to pick our cabin etc.  When we see a cruise we want we book.  We paid much more than what you have said and we are ok with it but now comparing the perks on Celebrity it is quite clear who wins the battle of the suites. 

[terrydtx]

We looked at both SS and NS for our Alaska Cruise in July on the Noordam. We always prefer to have room service for breakfast so the PG breakfast had no interest for us. With so much to see when cruising Alaska we like eating breakfast with a view from our cabin. We are arriving the day of the cruise to Vancouver so the earliest we will be boarding is around 1:30pm so the special embarkation wasn't an appeal to us. Don't really need snacks in the Neptune lounge. After all of the pros and cons the SS gave us the extra space and larger balcony we wanted and we saved over $1000. The SS on HAL are  true mini suites compared to other lines and for us a real bargain for the extra space. We have been in mini suites in both RCCL and NCL and they are just a veranda cabin at a higher cost not anything close to HAL SS class. We got upgraded by RCCL from a verandah to a mini suite once and until we actually saw the cabin we thought we got a good deal. If you get upgraded to a SS you are really getting an improved cabin. Now it we get an upgrade to a NS from our SS I wouldn't turn it down, but I doubt I would accept any upsell at this point for one.

 

The new Premium Economy class of flying on most airlines is more like the HAL SS, more room and space than coach or main cabin, priority boarding and check in,  but no where as costly as First Class.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

34 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

We pay higher price for Neptune because we book far out to pick our cabin etc.  When we see a cruise we want we book.  We paid much more than what you have said and we are ok with it but now comparing the perks on Celebrity it is quite clear who wins the battle of the suites. 

 

We booked 1 year out, not sure what the rates were 6 months prior.  If someone in the cabin down the hall paid 50% more for the same amenities, kudos to to them.  X may win the battle of the suites on standard cruises, but I believe the tables turn on transpacific, transatlantic, and reposition cruises.

 

For instance, Transpacific from Japan in May 2020:

 

16 Nights on Westerdam, 7 Ports - SigS $2,199 - No current perks, Shareholder Benefits Optional ($250)

13 Nights on Millennium, 2 Ports - SkyS $3,749 - No Perks, includes Haven / Luminae , Shareholder unlikely

[Djptcp]

We would never pay regular price for Neptune Suites, but we have had Neptunes on our last five HAL cruises for which we paid obscenely low, low prices with casino promotions. We love Neptunes, enjoy the Neptune Lounges and the helpful Concierges, and are looking at booking another one with the casino promotion we received yesterday. We definitely recommend Neptune Suites!

[canadianbear]

4 hours ago, Djptcp said:

We would never pay regular price for Neptune Suites, but we have had Neptunes on our last five HAL cruises for which we paid obscenely low, low prices with casino promotions. We love Neptunes, enjoy the Neptune Lounges and the helpful Concierges, and are looking at booking another one with the casino promotion we received yesterday. We definitely recommend Neptune Suites!

And that is your choice.  We don’t drink and don’t gamble so the money we save there we can certainly afford Neptune suites at whatever price we are comfortable at.    It’s nice you get a low casino price for Neptune suites and I can see why you’d recommend them.  Enjoy it while you can.

[kazu]

OK, I'll fess up.  We had a Signature Suite booked for our swan song on the Prinsendam and there was a flash sale.  Couldn't do anything with my current booking because of circumstances for OBC, but I could move to Neptune for what I thought would be the less than an upsell.  (Upsells aren't cheap on this ship - there are no offers like $299 - they'll sail them empty first).

 

Just one left for our sailing and low and behold it was the very first cabin we had on this ship when I was younger and foolish and paid without doing an upsell (no more).

 

FWIW, for me, these are the nicest Neptune Suites in the fleet, the nicest Neptune lounge (great library and balcony and that stained glass) and the PG has been my favourite.  So, we capitulated.  

 

Was it worth it?  As I finangle finances?  Yes, our last cruise on this ship and it seems appropriate that we end up back where we started.

 

Others may laugh at our sentimental notion, but again, it's what important to you.

 

After this, it will be the cheap seats, for sure. 😉 

[terrydtx]

11 minutes ago, kazu said:

OK, I'll fess up.  We had a Signature Suite booked for our swan song on the Prinsendam and there was a flash sale.  Couldn't do anything with my current booking because of circumstances for OBC, but I could move to Neptune for what I thought would be the less than an upsell.  (Upsells aren't cheap on this ship - there are no offers like $299 - they'll sail them empty first).

 

Just one left for our sailing and low and behold it was the very first cabin we had on this ship when I was younger and foolish and paid without doing an upsell (no more).

 

FWIW, for me, these are the nicest Neptune Suites in the fleet, the nicest Neptune lounge (great library and balcony and that stained glass) and the PG has been my favourite.  So, we capitulated.  

 

Was it worth it?  As I finangle finances?  Yes, our last cruise on this ship and it seems appropriate that we end up back where we started.

 

Others may laugh at our sentimental notion, but again, it's what important to you.

 

After this, it will be the cheap seats, for sure. 😉 

Kazu, I don't blame you, the Prinsendam is a very special ship, more of a premium ship in the middle of a non premium cruise line. You will have fantastic cruise in a fantastic cabin.

[kazu]

20 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Kazu, I don't blame you, the Prinsendam is a very special ship, more of a premium ship in the middle of a non premium cruise line. You will have fantastic cruise in a fantastic cabin.

 

Thanks for not laughing at my sentimentiality or foolishness.  I swear there will be a tear or two in my eye when I disembark and realize "this is it" assuming all is as it has been in the past.

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

Kazu, I don't blame you, the Prinsendam is a very special ship, more of a premium ship in the middle of a non premium cruise line. You will have fantastic cruise in a fantastic cabin.

Completely agree.  She is our favorite HAL ship (by far) and we are very sorry to see her go.

 

Hank

[OlsSalt]

3 hours ago, kazu said:

OK, I'll fess up.  We had a Signature Suite booked for our swan song on the Prinsendam and there was a flash sale.  Couldn't do anything with my current booking because of circumstances for OBC, but I could move to Neptune for what I thought would be the less than an upsell.  (Upsells aren't cheap on this ship - there are no offers like $299 - they'll sail them empty first).

 

Just one left for our sailing and low and behold it was the very first cabin we had on this ship when I was younger and foolish and paid without doing an upsell (no more).

 

FWIW, for me, these are the nicest Neptune Suites in the fleet, the nicest Neptune lounge (great library and balcony and that stained glass) and the PG has been my favourite.  So, we capitulated.  

 

Was it worth it?  As I finangle finances?  Yes, our last cruise on this ship and it seems appropriate that we end up back where we started.

 

Others may laugh at our sentimental notion, but again, it's what important to you.

 

After this, it will be the cheap seats, for sure. 😉 

 

I know it was worth it since it was  you who encouraged us to take a last minute upsell for the Prinsendam Neptune over five years ago, even though it was right next to the Crows Nest. True, there was no noise. Best cabin and entry hall way on any ship so far. the Amundsen Suite. We hardly left the cabin on that cruise.  And loved our little balcony "perch" on the whole rest of the world. 

 

For the final voyage on your most beloved ship, you definitely did the right thing. 

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Kazu, I am so glad you put yourself in a Neptune Suite on your favorite ship. Have a wonderful time. Barbara

[cruisemom42]

4 hours ago, kazu said:

 

Thanks for not laughing at my sentimentiality or foolishness.  I swear there will be a tear or two in my eye when I disembark and realize "this is it" assuming all is as it has been in the past.

 

Hope you have a great time on that special cruise -- often wish I could've found a way to "stay onboard" for it too. 

[Cls241]

I find the Neptune Suite worth it, I like the extra space, I like the perks, I like the concierge service, I like the Pinnacle Grill for breakfast, I like just about everything about it and it’s worth the extra costs for us.  But the ship has a lot of rooms, and you can pick whatever you want.  I can’t understand why someone gets a Porsche SUV, that seems counter productive, but it’s their money and their choice.  Each their own.  Have a Neptune Suite for 5/11 to Alaska and can’t wait.  I don’t second guess the price.  Plus with the 535 OBC it’s not really that big of an upgrade cost.