WINDOW SUITES

[seniorladycruiser]

Thinking of booking a window suite on the Grand Princess.  Would appreciate hearing pros and cons.

[2beaglesmom]

Hi we were in window suite to hawaii plusses are suite benefits, close to international cafe, lovely sized room, great steward I loved it But my husband missed the balcony and 2 tvs that mini-suites and other full suites have. There are several large picture windows but no balcony


Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[seniorladycruiser]

Thanks for your reply.  Not having a balcony is really no problem for us but we like the idea of a bigger room and all the suite perks.

 

The only cabins left open are on Fiesta deck and was wondering if being in such close proximity to the Casino is a problem noise wise.

[compozer]

I think they should be under a different category.  Not a suite.   A suite needs a balcony.  I think they wold be good cabins if you had a couple toddlers and were worried about them being out on the balcony.   We do long cruises and I would go nuts without being able to sit outside with my morning coffee, lunch, cocktail hour, after dinner drink.  

 

[compozer]

Some people say they can smell the smoke from Churchhill lounge.   We were in one once - my first and only time I did a guarantee at the last minute - never again.   The windows are hard to see out of because of the sea salt from the water splashing up on them constantly underway and they never washed them.   Almost every night there was a very annoying pounding or banging  - the desk told us it was the stabilizers. 

 

 

[memoak]

12 minutes ago, seniorladycruiser said:

Thanks for your reply.  Not having a balcony is really no problem for us but we like the idea of a bigger room and all the suite perks.

 

The only cabins left open are on Fiesta deck and was wondering if being in such close proximity to the Casino is a problem noise wise.

Window suites still get the full suite perks or has something changed 

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

11 minutes ago, seniorladycruiser said:

Thanks for your reply.  Not having a balcony is really no problem for us but we like the idea of a bigger room and all the suite perks.

 

The only cabins left open are on Fiesta deck and was wondering if being in such close proximity to the Casino is a problem noise wise.

We don't need the balcony either, so we really like these.  Many now only want balconies to have fresh air.......just in case!  I have several S7's booked for 2021.

[cruzsnooze]

I like them and their location. The only one I wouldn't book is 301 because it's smaller then the others and the shared wall is with a public bathroom, flush flush!

[EDDY0827]

"The only cabins left open are on Fiesta deck and was wondering if being in such close proximity to the Casino is a problem noise wise."

 

Window suites on the Grand are exclusive to Fiesta Deck. We were in F307. You can barely hear the machines in the WS passageway, nothing as far as casino noise in the cabin. The cigar lounge is not in play as far as smoke, it is on the other side of the ship. Breakfast in Crown Grill one deck above. CC dining is a 3 minute walk away. Daily laundry, minibar and an escort while boarding. With 2 large picture windows, we didn't miss the balcony.

What's not to love about these cabins?

[voljeep]

10 minutes ago, EDDY0827 said:

What's not to love about these cabins?

in these current times at least ... fresh air ... and believe me if these Covid-19 times never happened, we'd be happy booking insides as we as ship people, not cabin people

[jondfk]

We've sailed many times in the deck 6 (Fiesta) suites on Grand, Golden and Caribbean.  

These are full suites will all amenities including suite breakfast.  

 

F301 is slightly smaller though what goes missing is not moving around space, rather the massive counter under the large windows.  Some complain they smell a bit of smoke from the nearby cigar bar, your sensitivity may be greater or lesser than some.  F315 is handicapped accessible.  The others F303, 5, 7, 9 & 11 are identical at least to my eye.

 

We have loved nearly 100 nights in these cabins and in fact have chosen itineraries and departure dates solely based on availability.

 

Noise from the casino is, as noted elsewhere, no factor.

 

However, we were on the ill fated Grand sailing on February 21st, in one of these suites.  As spacious and lovely as they are, with no balcony, and with the ship locked down for rough weather (4 days) followed by isolation to cabin (5 days) I can say you do miss the access to fresh air.  As many nights as we've loved these suites - I sincerely doubt we'll book one again based on our most recent experience.  In fact, we happily rebooked for Grand in '22, however we took a CC Mini at more or less the same price.  No suite breakfast - but a balcony worse come to worse.

 

 

[cr8tiv1]

I love the  Window Suites and have no cons for them.  Best location on the ship.  Private hallway that will help cushion the outside noises and (if you keep the forward doors closed) no smoke.  Easy access to Princess Theater.  Down the hall from Suite breakfast and Club Class dining.  Easy return to cabin to use your own bathroom.  Extra bathroom just outside Princess Theater.  

 

Cons....Every other cabin has the bed facing the "wrong" way.  I think I'd be lost in the dark if I was in the "other" cabins (lol)

[Tak8]

I've done WS twice on the Caribbean Princess.  I really enjoy it.  Feel a little secluded since not as much foot traffic.  Great suite perks at a cheaper price and a nice size cabin.  I'd do one again. 

[Cruise Raider]

16 hours ago, seniorladycruiser said:

Thanks for your reply.  Not having a balcony is really no problem for us but we like the idea of a bigger room and all the suite perks.

 

The only cabins left open are on Fiesta deck and was wondering if being in such close proximity to the Casino is a problem noise wise.

 

My DH is a huge fan of a balcony cabin and was so pleased with the WS cabin on the Grand, we booked it a second time.  There are no downsides to these cabins!  It is like a rather large hotel room, plenty of natural light from the large windows.  The bathroom has double sinks, a shower and a jetted tub (warning, the jetted tub has a fair bit of rust coming out from the jets).  There is a ton of closet and drawer space and you are provided with slippers and a nicer robe.  All the suite perks are amazing ... makes this the best deal ever, if you can snag one of these cabins.  Warning:  F301 is smaller than the other cabins in this area.  There is sometimes a bit of smoke in the hallway on that end if someone props the hallway door open.  We've been in F311 twice and our friends booked F309.  There was never even a hint of noise or smoke from the casino once inside the cabin.  The hallway is private but, some people do use it to avoid the smoke from the casino if they know about it.  Not even all the ship's staff know about the rooms in this hallway.  

It is directly across from the Club Class dining area of the MDR, just a flight up to the Crown Grill for breakfast and a flight or two down to the IC / Piazza and right there by guest services, the casino and the entrance to the Princess Theater.  The location is so convenient.  In some ports, the gangway is set up right outside that hallway door by guest services.  You couldn't ask for a better room option, IMO.  If you are willing to do without a balcony and it's obvious many are, as these rooms are snagged rather quickly, you are in for a real treat.  

 

 

[MCC retired]

Until we are certain that the Covid-19 is gone , I would not cruise without a Balcony in case of quarantine .

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

5 hours ago, MCC retired said:

Until we are certain that the Covid-19 is gone , I would not cruise without a Balcony in case of quarantine .

Great!  More window suites for me!  Perfectly happy to be quarantined in a WS.

[waltd]

I remember when you couldn't give the window suites away.   Now very popular.   A great location and love love love the extra room.    If you are tall it's nice to have the seperate shower that you can stand in.    Didn't miss the balcony at all.  

[seniorladycruiser]

Thank you all for your replies.  We went ahead and booked a window suite.

[rhblake]

Hear are videos of our window suite F307 on the Grand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzHwFRg0abM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Tu-gcJrd8

[cr8tiv1]

Trivia:  Window Suites are about twice the as two Ocean View cabins.  There are 21 drawers and 3 large closets.  One outlet by the single desk.  One behind the television.  And if you bring an adapter, there are four lamps that have European outlets.  There "was" a barrel chair and 2 desk chairs.  Not so sure anymore.  One large cabinet above the set of big drawers.  More space than you will ever need to have.

[oldfashioncruiser]

There was talk a while back about changing them to a different cabin category since they are so cheap.   Guess they figure they would still sell and not have to give suite perks with them.

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

Several of my cruise buddies who have sworn off cruising just cancelled bookings for window suites on Caribbean cruises.  Maybe one of you can benefit!

[cr8tiv1]

4 hours ago, oldfashioncruiser said:

There was talk a while back about changing them to a different cabin category since they are so cheap.   Guess they figure they would still sell and not have to give suite perks with them.

 

I sure hope not.  I love my Window Suites and it does "qualify" as a suite except without a balcony.  Agree, it is about the same fare as a Club Class Mini, but much, much, much better.  They've already moved the Golden to Australia and the Caribbean Princess is stuck in the Caribbean.  Glad they are not moving the Grand out of Los Angeles.

[oldfashioncruiser]

They use to be the same price as a lower mini price.  And they sold out right away.   Maybe raising the price satisfied the bean counters.

[cr8tiv1]

On 8/25/2020 at 7:27 PM, oldfashioncruiser said:

They use to be the same price as a lower mini price.  And they sold out right away.   Maybe raising the price satisfied the bean counters.

 

Prices are currently about the same as a Club Class Mini but with all the suite perks.  I'd much rather be in a window suite without a balcony.