Princess Suites

[2old4this]

30 minutes ago, travelerpair said:

Thank you all for your responses. We just keep coming back to no airports and the benefit of walking off the ship and getting in the car. Love to cruise and love to travel, but out last airport experience (not weather related) just took too long. Suite travel is just that SWEET.

 

Trouble with airports is they are airports.  They are saddled with too many security requirements, too many unwashed people with way too much authority, all brought together in a faceless mass movement of humans all wishing they were already at their destinations . .  or still at home or, better yet, stuffing drawers and closets in their Princess suites.  Tempers are high, standing room only in the lines, and some bearded ladies in official hats are demanding to see documents again.  Worse, a dog in a snout harness likes what he smells in your handbag and his attention brings out your perspiration and hammers at your failing impatience.  The plane is late, too, and you are asking that travel question you have thought before, "Why are we doing this?"

[SempreMare]

On 12/20/2019 at 9:05 PM, franktown said:

Some of the cruise lines have attempted to make a ship within a ship where premium ;paying guest almost have there own area away from everyone one else.  Princess does give good perks for sailing in a suite but not the ship within a ship concept.  I personally like it better that way.

 

I've been curious about the point you make here.   

Can you elaborate on why you prefer the Princess suite with better perks vs a ship within a ship concept? 

 

[SempreMare]

On 12/20/2019 at 7:39 PM, milolii said:

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/PrincessSuite_eFlyer.pdf

 

Here is the Official perk pdf.    We got 2 bottles of water a day.  No butlers.  What other lines have you sailed with a suite?  NCL?  What Princess ship are you looking to cruise?  

Thank you for linking to this @milolii

 

Are those perks in the PDF unique to Princess Suites vs the category one level down? 

Or is it all lower category perks + Suite perks.

[milolii]

Yes on some lines, suites passengers meet in a designated area and are escorted off ship by someone, usually  the concierge. Really wish Princess offered this.  

 

Ah!  the lounge for cocktails ,  forgot about that.  Again not sure that is all ships.  I agree, do not miss butler.  Was always kind of annoying to have to call him/her  when cabin steward was nearby. 

 

Last trip, I really appreciated  the laundry as we as we had been on  busy land trip just prior.  But we really like the space most of all.  

[milolii]

5 hours ago, SempreMare said:

Thank you for linking to this @milolii

 

Are those perks in the PDF unique to Princess Suites vs the category one level down? 

Or is it all lower category perks + Suite perks.

Club Class  is the next category.   Suite perks::Basically suites have  all the perks of  Club Class  plus the suite perks  

Here is that PDF

https://www.princess.com/learn/ships/staterooms/club-class/

 

 And a FAQ 

 

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/club-class/ClubClass-FAQ.pdf

 

I think the suites do not get the 1/2 carafe of wine though.  Not sure. 

 

Some report that at times, the Window suites can be secured without much difference in cost from Club Class.  These suites are only available on few ships.  The Grand is one, as well as, the Fabulous forward facing window suites on the SKY.  Only two of those. 

 

Good luck! 

[tampadee]

If I reserve a Suite do I get an extra loyalty points per night?  (Like a couple of other cruise lines?)

[Colorado Coasty]

13 hours ago, 2old4this said:

Trouble with airports is they are airports.  They are saddled with too many security requirements, too many unwashed people with way too much authority, all brought together in a faceless mass movement of humans all wishing they were already at their destinations . .  or still at home or, better yet, stuffing drawers and closets in their Princess suites.  Tempers are high, standing room only in the lines, and some bearded ladies in official hats are demanding to see documents again.  Worse, a dog in a snout harness likes what he smells in your handbag and his attention brings out your perspiration and hammers at your failing impatience.  The plane is late, too, and you are asking that travel question you have thought before, "Why are we doing this?"

Wow!

[2old4this]

36 minutes ago, tampadee said:

If I reserve a Suite do I get an extra loyalty points per night?  (Like a couple of other cruise lines?)

 

33 minutes ago, Colorado Coasty said:

Wow!

I just did 15 days in C424 and have heard nothing regarding loyalty points.  We can easily determine this when talking with our friendly Princess travel person as we consider this year's sea cruise.

 

You do receive suite-level onboard spending and you as a Coastie get more spending as a veteran.  Handy cash for all sorts of things.

[Colorado Coasty]

4 minutes ago, 2old4this said:

 

I just did 15 days in C424 and have heard nothing regarding loyalty points.  We can easily determine this when talking with our friendly Princess travel person as we consider this year's sea cruise.

 

You do receive suite-level onboard spending and you as a Coastie get more spending as a veteran.  Handy cash for all sorts of things.

I think you missed the point of my " Wow! ".

[2old4this]

6 hours ago, Colorado Coasty said:

I think you missed the point of my " Wow! ".

No offense, Coastie, I must have.  I'm trying!  Jack

[Ginnyfyr]

On 12/22/2019 at 12:46 PM, tampadee said:

If I reserve a Suite do I get an extra loyalty points per night?  (Like a couple of other cruise lines?)

You get 2 credits vs 1 credit for all the other cabin types

[HBCcruiser]

Like others here have stated, we prefer to cruise in suites. Although the Princess suite perks do not compare to the Haven (NCL), I love the larger cabin, bathroom, food options and priority treatment. I have sailed more Princess Cruises than other lines. You can’t beat the beauty of the ships,  adult only sections, Sanctuary and prices IMO. Great value. 

[2old4this]

23 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

Like others here have stated, we prefer to cruise in suites. Although the Princess suite perks do not compare to the Haven (NCL), I love the larger cabin, bathroom, food options and priority treatment. I have sailed more Princess Cruises than other lines. You can’t beat the beauty of the ships,  adult only sections, Sanctuary and prices IMO. Great value. 

 

I almost felt guilty coming out of my suite on Grand and seeing the interior of my inside cabin neighbor as it was being cleaned.  After that viewing I promised myself I would travel less to have money for suite lodging or not sail at all.  I agree with you, HBCruiser. Suites are the way ro get the most out of travels.

[getting older slowly]

Is a suite worth it ??..... It is up to you as others have stated....

 

To us a suite is the amount of room.... we spend time on our cabin.....

 

it is like having an apartment on the ship.... as do not use a lot of public spaces....

 

Yes we only travel in suite on Princess.... simply would not travel any other way...

 

Cheers Don.

 

 

[Cruise Raider]

We've only booked a suite a couple of times on Princess (never on any other cruiseline).  

We loved it ... so worth the extra money but, bear in mind that our suites were the window suites on the Grand, so they are much less expensive than full suites with a balcony.  This was our experience:

 

We were directed to check in at a special line.  We have over 2 dozen sailings on Princess so do already have priority boarding but this was even more expedited.  

We were offered an escort onto ship, which we didn't need so turned them down.  

 

You will have a special line at the guest services desk that you will share with passengers with elite status.  

 

We received two mini bar set ups  (one for being in a suite and one for being elite) and we did get an extra bottle of water for each of us every day for sailing in a suite.  

 

The bathroom has a double sink, a lighted make up mirror, a jetted tub with bath salts as well as a shower stall ... nicer towels and robes are also provided.  We did not get slippers as some have said they got ... it didn't matter to us, though.  

 

There were three closet areas in our room, two full length closets and one with shelves and drawers.  So much room to store all your clothing and belongings.

 

There was supposed to be an orchid plant in our room but, sadly, it had died and been tossed prior to our cruise.  They did deliver a small vase of cut flowers for us instead. 

 

There is a shoe shine kit, a sleep kit and a little amenities kit filled with toiletries, lip balm, etc. in a small gold mesh bag.  This is the same bag given to passengers with elite status.  

 

Shoes can be sent for a complimentary shoe shine (I'm pretty sure your room steward takes care of this).  Laundry can also be sent out .. this is not a service we use except in the case of getting a shirt pressed.  

 

There is a bowl of fresh fruit with a small bowl of sugared almonds within that bowl.  

On formal nights, they deliver some sweet snacks (chocolates) to your room.  

 

On the first night, you are invited to a complimentary meal at the specialty restaurant of your choice.  We were not able to get a dining time in the Crown Grill on the first night around 6 PM, so they allowed us to switch our specialty dining benefit to the second evening of the cruise.  

 

You can order tea / scones, etc for your afternoon tea if you choose.  The room service menu is expanded to order anything off the MDR menu during dining times.  You are able to order room service breakfast even on the last morning of the cruise.  

 

For dining in the morning, you can go to the Club Class dining area or better yet, the suite breakfast (usually in one of the specialty restaurants) where they serve a cooked to order breakfast (if you notify them the day before, they will even make you steak and eggs), complimentary specialty coffees and mimosas.  This was one of my favorite suite amenities.  

For lunch on sea days and all dinners, you can go to the Club Class dining area of the MDR with no waiting (usually ... we never waited even 30 seconds) and you will be offered the regular MDR menu as well as a special dish.  Do not underestimate this most valuable benefit.  It is first class service!!   This was also one of my most valued suite amenities.  

 

You are invited to attend the daily happy hour in the PES lounge (Platinum, Elite and Suite) where they serve drinks at a reduced cost (limited menu) with an assortment of appetizers, which range from really good to pretty decent.  If you have the beverage package, it's not really worth going to this event for the discounted drinks.  They are $6.50 each for a very limited menu.  You can get any type of drink in there for full price. 

 

Where tendering, you will not have to wait in a long line to go ashore.  You will be given a ticket for the next available tender.  Return tenders don't allow for this same perk.  

 

Lastly, you will get priority disembarkation, so basically, you can pick from any of the available times that you would like to get off the ship.  There is a disembarkation lounge they will use for suite passengers only ... the bar waiters you've met throughout the cruise will bring you water, coffee, juice, pastries, etc.  

 

I have nothing to compare this to other than travelling in regular non-suite cabins but, I felt pretty darned spoiled with the extras that were offered.  You will also receive double the Captain's Club tier points for booking a suite.  

 

PS -- this was just a couple of months ago, so info is pretty current. 

 

Edited January 21, 2020 by Cruise Raider

[Cruise Raider]

On 12/22/2019 at 10:37 AM, Colorado Coasty said:

I think you missed the point of my " Wow! ".

 

Don't worry, it wasn't lost on some of us.  

[2old4this]

12 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

We've only booked a suite a couple of times on Princess (never on any other cruiseline).  

We loved it ... so worth the extra money but, bear in mind that our suites were the window suites on the Grand, so they are much less expensive than full suites with a balcony.  This was our experience:

 

We were directed to check in at a special line.  We have over 2 dozen sailings on Princess so do already have priority boarding but this was even more expedited.  

We were offered an escort onto ship, which we didn't need so turned them down.  

 

You will have a special line at the guest services desk that you will share with passengers with elite status.  

 

We received two mini bar set ups  (one for being in a suite and one for being elite) and we did get an extra bottle of water for each of us every day for sailing in a suite.  

 

The bathroom has a double sink, a lighted make up mirror, a jetted tub with bath salts as well as a shower stall ... nicer towels and robes are also provided.  We did not get slippers as some have said they got ... it didn't matter to us, though.  

 

There were three closet areas in our room, two full length closets and one with shelves and drawers.  So much room to store all your clothing and belongings.

 

There was supposed to be an orchid plant in our room but, sadly, it had died and been tossed prior to our cruise.  They did deliver a small vase of cut flowers for us instead. 

 

There is a shoe shine kit, a sleep kit and a little amenities kit filled with toiletries, lip balm, etc. in a small gold mesh bag.  This is the same bag given to passengers with elite status.  

 

Shoes can be sent for a complimentary shoe shine (I'm pretty sure your room steward takes care of this).  Laundry can also be sent out .. this is not a service we use except in the case of getting a shirt pressed.  

 

There is a bowl of fresh fruit with a small bowl of sugared almonds within that bowl.  

On formal nights, they deliver some sweet snacks (chocolates) to your room.  

 

On the first night, you are invited to a complimentary meal at the specialty restaurant of your choice.  We were not able to get a dining time in the Crown Grill on the first night around 6 PM, so they allowed us to switch our specialty dining benefit to the second evening of the cruise.  

 

You can order tea / scones, etc for your afternoon tea if you choose.  The room service menu is expanded to order anything off the MDR menu during dining times.  You are able to order room service breakfast even on the last morning of the cruise.  

 

For dining in the morning, you can go to the Club Class dining area or better yet, the suite breakfast (usually in one of the specialty restaurants) where they serve a cooked to order breakfast (if you notify them the day before, they will even make you steak and eggs), complimentary specialty coffees and mimosas.  This was one of my favorite suite amenities.  

For lunch on sea days and all dinners, you can go to the Club Class dining area of the MDR with no waiting (usually ... we never waited even 30 seconds) and you will be offered the regular MDR menu as well as a special dish.  Do not underestimate this most valuable benefit.  It is first class service!!   This was also one of my most valued suite amenities.  

 

You are invited to attend the daily happy hour in the PES lounge (Platinum, Elite and Suite) where they serve drinks at a reduced cost (limited menu) with an assortment of appetizers, which range from really good to pretty decent.  If you have the beverage package, it's not really worth going to this event for the discounted drinks.  They are $6.50 each for a very limited menu.  You can get any type of drink in there for full price. 

 

Where tendering, you will not have to wait in a long line to go ashore.  You will be given a ticket for the next available tender.  Return tenders don't allow for this same perk.  

 

Lastly, you will get priority disembarkation, so basically, you can pick from any of the available times that you would like to get off the ship.  There is a disembarkation lounge they will use for suite passengers only ... the bar waiters you've met throughout the cruise will bring you water, coffee, juice, pastries, etc.  

 

I have nothing to compare this to other than travelling in regular non-suite cabins but, I felt pretty darned spoiled with the extras that were offered.  You will also receive double the Captain's Club tier points for booking a suite.  

 

PS -- this was just a couple of months ago, so info is pretty current. 

 

 

You just listed everything that makes suites the way to go if you can afford the extra cash.  I also made good use of the double balcony while we moved among the islands.  We had several breakfasts outside while docked.  By being on my large balcony so high above the water with warm air and light breezes my evening wines seemed to taste better.  My son used up the complimentary hard liquor bottles to his advantage.  My daughter just fell in love with the Grand and used most of its hair and massage services.

 

1a_HAWAII WITH KIDS.pdf

[compozer]

2 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Is a suite worth it ??..... It is up to you as others have stated....

 

To us a suite is the amount of room.... we spend time on our cabin.....

 

it is like having an apartment on the ship.... as do not use a lot of public spaces....

 

Yes we only travel in suite on Princess.... simply would not travel any other way...

 

Cheers Don.

 

 

I could have written that.  We have been doing suites since our second cruise and it is definitely worth it to us.  We love sitting on the aft balcony first thing in the morning with our coffee.  We spend most of our time on the balcony but do hit the pool most days for a little while.  We like the extra space and enjoy inviting friends down.   If you really want a nice suite - book the grand suite.  It has only been available once for the cruises we wanted.  Four weeks was wonderful.  I still have not told my husband how much it cost but it was worth it.   I am getting older and I want to be comfortable.  Same for first class flights.     

I don't think I have ever heard anyone in a suite say they did not like it or that it was not worth the money.  

Go for it and have a wonderful time.

[Jakdgr]

Our first cruise we’ve had a mini suite on Royal Caribbean  and saw the full suite next door to us and thought “yes please” .... took another cruise this time on Celebrity but again in mini suite. Finally booked a cruise on Princess’s and booked the long awaited suite and have gone suites for all of our cruises on Princess since.  Love the extra space inside, the specialty restaurant on embarkation, breakfast in Sabatinis (mostly), the shower in bathroom and the other perks said by others.

 

However went on Majestic last March - room was great as usual however the balcony on that ship was quite skinny compared to others that we have had mid ship. If that’s all I have to complain about well that is not bad hey! Going on Enchanted in Suite mid year so expect similar sized balcony to Majestic. DH doesn’t like noise as super light sleeper so stern cabins never been an option.

 

Next year we are on Grand in CC mini suite - due to length of cruise sector (28 days)  and we are Elite which gives us laundry and a few other things; I decided not to book a Suite. DH after that cruise is sure to let me know future room choice 😄.

 

As to worth it well as others said, I agree that it all depends on the individual traveller and the value they place on how they like to travel and how many cruises. We fly a long way to cruise some routes so for us it’s a yes as we try to do 1 cruise/year.

 

Happy cruising all!

Jo

Edited January 21, 2020 by Jakdgr

[Ken the cruiser]

We are currently on the Island in our first Vista Suite and definitely love it with all the room, large veranda and breakfast in Sabatinis!

 

But it also comes down to price as sometimes on certain cruises they can be quite high. However, on some occasions like our upcoming  30 day Asia cruise on the Grand, we snagged an aft-facing Penthouse suite with the BSE perks for about $276 pp/day!! 

[AF-1]

To the OP;  yes to sailing in a suite. It is nice to be pampered on vacation.  This is one way to do it; so go ahead and do it. 

[AF-1]

What's not to like about this window suite on SKY.  Add in the suite benefits and you have one awesome vacation.

[2old4this]

2 hours ago, AF-1 said:

To the OP;  yes to sailing in a suite. It is nice to be pampered on vacation.  This is one way to do it; so go ahead and do it. 

 

1 hour ago, AF-1 said:

What's not to like about this window suite on SKY.  Add in the suite benefits and you have one awesome vacation.

 

I sense a relationship between you and Air Force 1 thus AF-1?  Otherwise, once in a suite means always choosing a suite.  And the Sky Princess suite is the best I have seen in your pictures.  What a honeymoon gift THAT suite certainly is.  My wife and I were lucky we had enough gas to make it from Kansas to California.

[2old4this]

3 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We are currently on the Island in our first Vista Suite and definitely love it with all the room, large veranda and breakfast in Sabatinis!

 

But it also comes down to price as sometimes on certain cruises they can be quite high. However, on some occasions like our upcoming  30 day Asia cruise on the Grand, we snagged an aft-facing Penthouse suite with the BSE perks for about $276 pp/day!! 

 

The price was what kept me from going suite for most of my earlier cruising.

 

We just got off Grand and suite C 424 having done the SF and Hawaii in a midships.  

Loved it and we really liked Grand.  Photo is of my son using his portion of C 424 to text home on his Internet connection.

 

Tell me about your current ride on Island.  Are you pleased with eating, entertainments, the ship, and your excursions?  We board Island at SH to visit Iceland, Greenland to NY.  I want to know about my suite C 703, too, if you happen to walk past it on Carib Deck during your time aboard.  Thanks!  Jack

[Ken the cruiser]

3 hours ago, 2old4this said:

Tell me about your current ride on Island.  Are you pleased with eating, entertainments, the ship, and your excursions?  We board Island at SH to visit Iceland, Greenland to NY.  I want to know about my suite C 703, too, if you happen to walk past it on Carib Deck during your time aboard.  Thanks!  Jack

We’re having a great time with no complaints. We also really enjoy Sabatini’s for breakfast and are amazed at how fast the courses arrive at our table for 2 in CC dining! As far as the Princess excursions go, as that’s all we’ve booked on this cruise, they have been very enjoyable and worth the money albeit from OBC we got from our military and shareholder benefits perks as well as from OBC we got from our TA. 
 

As far as your future suite cabin goes, I don’t have much to add as we are in one of the aft-facing cabins. The ONLY negative we’ve found with one of those is that there is no cover over the balcony. 

Edited January 21, 2020 by Ken the cruiser