Princess cabin categories question.

[RMM34667]

I am wondering about how the categories are structured.  Specifically is a B4 higher than a B2.

 

Thanks 

[john watson]

Balcony cabins are designated with the grade having  the first letter "B" denoting Balcony then the second letter A,B,C etc with the earliest letter in the alphabet i.e. "A" being the best in this range.  Above this the Premium Balconies range which do not have a "second letter" but a number instead with the lowest number being the highest grade.

 

This basic principle also applies to other categories e.g. Suite have the "S" first letter.

 

Regards John

Edited September 3, 2019 by john watson

[Wishing on a star]

YYes.  For example,   A category BA would one of the best standard balcony categories. And would be considered a better location than a BE.  

More details about the balcony categories...

Balcony Deluxe cabins have a slightly larger interior with a two seat loveseat, which may be a pullout.   The size of the balcony is the same size as any other non-deluxe balcony. Unless you happen to be able to find one of the few cabins that, because of logistic design, do have a larger balcony.  These are either standard balcony cabins OR balcony deluxe cabins.

AFT facing balconies are larger, and I believe they have an additional unique category.

[Steelers36]

For the OP,  note that some cruisers would prefer a Balcony BD over a Balcony BC because they want to be in a certain location.  All the letter codes do is give you what Princess considers the stratification of cabins and the pricing grids correspond to this. 

 

That said, you might find on a particular cruise that a Deluxe Balcony, DE, may be less money than a Regular Balcony, BB.  I.E., it is not necessarily true that all cabins of the next major category are priced higher than all cabin types of the next lower category.

 

In addition, letters V up to Z (not all letters on all ships) are used to designate Obstructed and Partially-Obstructed view cabins.  These can be Oceanview (O), Balcony (B), and Deluxe Balcony (D) categories.  They can often represent good value and early and selective choice can get you a pretty clear view depending on the ship.

 

[MarkBearSF]

A bit more on why a cabin in a "better" category may not be better for you.

In general, lower decks are a lower category than higher. However, they are more stable, so you may prefer them. Also, I've been on cruises where my group tended to hang out on the far aft pool on the Star Princess. For these cruises, it was more convenient to be aft than midship, although midship cabins are a "higher" category. And every ship tends to have the "special" cabins, where due to quirks in the design, a few cabins have an advantage like a larger balcony, a few more square feet, an almost unobstructed "obstructed view" cabin, etc.

Personally, we like being slightly closer to the dining rooms, which on just about every modern ship means aft. And we hate being in a noisy cabin so we avoid one with a disco, showroom, galley, buffet, or outside deck immediately above or below.  On most ships, including Princess, that means our sweet spot is the first deck or two above the lower sets of public rooms (depending on what's below) and a cabin in the aft category, but as close to the midship category as possible. On most Princess ships, that would be a forward-ish BD cabin on Deck 10-Caribe. 

Edited September 4, 2019 by MarkBearSF

[caribill]

Note that what Princess considers to be a better cabin (B1, for example, better than B2) may not be what you consider to be a better cabin.

 

For the most part, better in the same category as far as Princess is concerned is just what location Princess thinks is better and thus higher priced. Cabin size (not including balcony size) in the same category is basically the same.

[Steelers36]

7 hours ago, MarkBearSF said:

On most Princess ships, that would be a forward-ish BD cabin on Deck 10-Caribe

Hmm.  BD's are normally aft.  Perhaps you meant BC?

Edited September 4, 2019 by steelers36

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, a lot of confusion in some comments here.

The upper decks are a lower category/price.  Which might be why the OP and her group thought it would be good to book there.

The reason for this is the motion, as well as elevators and walking, in relation to the midship atrium area, restaurants etc.  (the 'hike', such as in-high-heels going to supper and out for the evening....)

Middle decks can be the higher categories.

Forward and Aft, on any deck, are usually considered to be lower than mid-ship, for the same reason.

 

In general terms, the further the cabin is from the mid-ship atrium area and restaurants, the lower the category/price.

 

The very lowest deck can be lower, because many of the balconies here are 'obstructed'.

Careful consideration of deck plans can show that some of these obstructed cabins are really Unobstructed, unless one is at the balcony looking around for the obstruction.

 

And, to top off all of this confusion,  the pricing algorithms can be crazy...  I have seen a so-called obstructed balcony/deluxe mid-ship cabin WAY overpriced.   It did come down...  About the same as a forward Unobstructed balcony/deluxe.

 

Edited September 4, 2019 by Wishing on a star

[Wishing on a star]

Hey, RMM,  just curious...

Are you considering changing from your current high-deck location???

And,  Happy Planning!

[MarkBearSF]

16 hours ago, steelers36 said:

Hmm.  BD's are normally aft.  Perhaps you meant BC?

I actually meant the most forward cabins of that (aft) category, closer to midships. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify for those who may have been confused.

[RMM34667]

On 9/4/2019 at 11:20 AM, Wishing on a star said:

Hey, RMM,  just curious...

Are you considering changing from your current high-deck location???

And,  Happy Planning!

I know I have a great cabin in C310 on the Crown but saw B749 available and love afts. Normally this would be an easy switch. But because I started with a free Oceanview from the casino and paid to upgrade to a BA GTY then got upgraded to a B2.. they couldn't/wouldn't switch me. It's all good.  I am sailing 10 day Caribbean for $300 pp INCLUDING taxes and fees 🙂

Edited September 7, 2019 by RMM34667
Typos

[Wishing on a star]

Wow!!!

I had actually posted, with some confusion, it was another person talking about a high deck....

We had one of those Caribe deck cabins on the Ruby.  That balcony is wonderful!

[Steelers36]

41 minutes ago, RMM34667 said:

I know I have a great cabin in C310 on the Crown but saw B749 available and love afts. Normally this would be an easy switch. But because I started with a free Oceanview from the casino and paid to upgrade to a BA GTY then got upgraded to a B2.. they couldn't/wouldn't switch me. It's all good.  I am sailing 10 day Caribbean for $300 pp INCLUDING taxes and fees 🙂

If you don't mind saying, how much do you need to spend in the Casino to get these huge discounts?

[RMM34667]

6 hours ago, steelers36 said:

If you don't mind saying, how much do you need to spend in the Casino to get these huge discounts?

Too much!! Although I have luck on occasion and my out of pocket expenses can be a couple of hundred dollars a night.  But they only count what you put in, not what you take out. 

 

My last cruise was only a 4 day but I won $1500 on the last night and ended up walking off in the black.

 

I would say I  won't get a free cruise out of this one. I really shouldn't be going but who can turn down a 10 day Caribbean cruise?  Final payment for my January cruise is due the day we sail. And that one is not free 😞

[GUT2407]

What Princess think is a better cabin, you may not

 

We decided years ago to pick and stick, now health issues make that even more important to us.

[Haboob]

For mini-suites, they're "M".  When Princess decides to market what it considers a "best" mini-suite (MA) with Club Class dining included, they market it as an "M1".   Ditto, for example, ME / M5.

[DMT1970]

Has anyone had a Penthouse suite on Crown Princess?  Thoughts on how it compares to a club class mini suite on deck 9. 

[suekay]

On 9/5/2019 at 5:42 AM, MarkBearSF said:

I actually meant the most forward cabins of that (aft) category, closer to midships. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify for those who may have been confused.

I thought (hoped) that's what you meant because that's just what we've booked for exactly the same reasons as you. Nice to have my calculations validated