Princess Cabin Categories

[clojacks]

I wish I could search just within the Princess threads, but I'm not able to figure out how, so....my search becomes a thread.

 

I haven't sailed Princess in a number of years, consequently, I'm unfamiliar with the cabin categories. Can someone give me an overview of the differences between the different Balcony categories and the different Mini-Suite/Club Suite categories? Are there preferred cabins ala the Sweet Sixteens for those who are Celebrity proficient? Even links to threads discussing this would be appreciated.

[patrickmoran]

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/ships/

[cr8tiv1]

Mini-suites are misnamed and are just larger balcony cabins with a sitting area.  They do not include any suite perks.  The highest mini-suite club class cabin will include Club Class dining and priority boarding.

[memoak]

Mini suites are larger balcony cabins that feature a sofa sleeper coach and I believe an extra TV. If you go for the club class version then you get club class dining , priority boarding half bottles of wine but no extra “suite” privileges 

[caribill]

The PDF file below may be helpful.

Princess cabin categories.pdf

[georgiacat]

Mini-suites also have the shower in the bathtub.  Thus a larger shower area.  I have read that some people have trouble getting into and out of the tub, so you may consider that.  It is not a problem for us, and the larger shower area (do not need tub) plus more space in the room, is why we book mini-suites.

 

I do not guarantee that every mini-suite has a tub, but the ones (few) that we have stayed in did.

[skynight]

It would help to know which ship you are looking at. There are some differences especially with the Royal class ships. 

"B" stands for a balcony category cabin. With few exceptions all interiors of balcony cat. cabins are the same. The word 'premium' only refers to location on the ship, usually mid ship or aft.  It has nothing to do with in room amenities. With few exceptions all "B" cat. interiors are the same. Premium cabins are a "B" followed by a number such as B1, B2. Other balcony cabins range from BA to BF depending on their location on the ship. Princess considers A a better location than F. Some balcony cat. cabins have larger balconies. It depends on the ship. On Grand Class ships these are the cabins on deck 10. On Royal Class ships these are spread around the ship. You can find them on the deck plans. As an example on the Crown and other Grand class ships there are deck 10 cabins with 9' x 9' balconies in cat. B1, B2, BD and BE. It's all about location. We like the deck 10 BD's on this ship. Balcony cat cabins do not have a sofa. On Royal Class ships deluxe balcony cabins "D" do have a small sofa.

Mini suite cabins start with an "M". Almost all mini suites have the same interiors. M1 mini are the club class cabins. These have a few additional in cabins amenities. The big benefit is club class dining. It's a section the one of the MDR's. Club Class dining is anytime dining. Walk in anytime the DR is open and you almost always will be promptly seated. The menu is the same as the other MDR's with one additional evening selection. The DR is open each day for breakfast and dinner and for lunch on sea days.

Other mini suite cabins "M" have the same interiors as the club class cabins, less the special amenities.

On the Princess web site select Onboard Our Ships and then Deck Plans. Select your ship and then a cabin. If there is some difference the information will appear in red. You can also determine which cabins can have a 3rd and 4th berth as well as which cabins are connecting cabins.

If you are booking Princess for the first time take a look at the military benefit and the Carnival Corp shareholder benefit. 

Edited October 25, 2020 by skynight

[clojacks]

34 minutes ago, skynight said:

It would help to know which ship you are looking at. There are some differences especially with the Royal class ships. 

"B" stands for a balcony category cabin. With few exceptions all interiors of balcony cat. cabins are the same. The word 'premium' only refers to location on the ship, usually mid ship or aft.  It has nothing to do with in room amenities. With few exceptions all "B" cat. interiors are the same. Premium cabins are a "B" followed by a number such as B1, B2. Other balcony cabins range from BA to BF depending on their location on the ship. Princess considers A a better location than F. Some balcony cat. cabins have larger balconies. It depends on the ship. On Grand Class ships these are the cabins on deck 10. On Royal Class ships these are spread around the ship. You can find them on the deck plans. As an example on the Crown and other Grand class ships there are deck 10 cabins with 9' x 9' balconies in cat. B1, B2, BD and BE. It's all about location. We like the deck 10 BD's on this ship. Balcony cat cabins do not have a sofa. On Royal Class ships deluxe balcony cabins "D" do have a small sofa.

Mini suite cabins start with an "M". Almost all mini suites have the same interiors. M1 mini are the club class cabins. These have a few additional in cabins amenities. The big benefit is club class dining. It's a section the one of the MDR's. Club Class dining is anytime dining. Walk in anytime the DR is open and you almost always will be promptly seated. The menu is the same as the other MDR's with one additional evening selection. The DR is open each day for breakfast and dinner and for lunch on sea days.

Other mini suite cabins "M" have the same interiors as the club class cabins, less the special amenities.

On the Princess web site select Onboard Our Ships and then Deck Plans. Select your ship and then a cabin. If there is some difference the information will appear in red. You can also determine which cabins can have a 3rd and 4th berth as well as which cabins are connecting cabins.

If you are booking Princess for the first time take a look at the military benefit and the Carnival Corp shareholder benefit. 

We are looking at the end of August of '21, IF we are back traveling, so the ship options sailing form Whittier are the Royal, Sapphire, and the Grand. The Club Mini does interest us as we do enjoy the Aqua category on Celebrity due to its dedicated dining, and this appears to be the closest  style to that.

[skynight]

36 minutes ago, clojacks said:

We are looking at the end of August of '21, IF we are back traveling, so the ship options sailing form Whittier are the Royal, Sapphire, and the Grand. The Club Mini does interest us as we do enjoy the Aqua category on Celebrity due to its dedicated dining, and this appears to be the closest  style to that.

Royal Princess Club Class mini suites are mid ship on decks 11, 12 and 14. The balconies are a little larger the most 9' x 4' balconies as they are angled. The starboard side sea walk, deck 16, is open between the walkway and the main part of the ship. You can notice this on the deck plans. Those few walking on the sea walk can have a direct view of the balconies below with more of a close view on the upper decks.. The port side sea walk is adjacent to the Seaview Bar. There is more decking and the views from the sea walk are not as pronounced as on the starboard side.

The Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess are older Grand class ships. They are well maintained, have really nice designs, lots of open viewing areas, lots of lounges,  indoor pools, 1,000 less passengers than the Royal Princess. The  Club Class mini suites and all mini suites on these ships are on deck 9. All these cabins have 9' x 6' uncovered balconies. The Grand Princess has 7 window suites on deck 6. They are a good value, if you can get one, with full suite amenities, including club class dining and the special mimosa breakfast each morning. Full suite passengers can also order room service from the full DR menu. F301 is not as large as the other 6 cabins.

[clojacks]

12 minutes ago, skynight said:

Royal Princess Club Class mini suites are mid ship on decks 11, 12 and 14. The balconies are a little larger the most 9' x 4' balconies as they are angled. The starboard side sea walk, deck 16, is open between the walkway and the main part of the ship. You can notice this on the deck plans. Those few walking on the sea walk can have a direct view of the balconies below with more of a close view on the upper decks.. The port side sea walk is adjacent to the Seaview Bar. There is more decking and the views from the sea walk are not as pronounced as on the starboard side.

The Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess are older Grand class ships. They are well maintained, have really nice designs, lots of open viewing areas, lots of lounges,  indoor pools, 1,000 less passengers than the Royal Princess. The  Club Class mini suites and all mini suites on these ships are on deck 9. All these cabins have 9' x 6' uncovered balconies. The Grand Princess has 7 window suites on deck 6. They are a good value, if you can get one, with full suite amenities, including club class dining and the special mimosa breakfast each morning. Full suite passengers can also order room service from the full DR menu. F301 is not as large as the other 6 cabins.

Thank you for your help. This is all extremely informative to me, as it has been a long time since we have sailed a Princess.

Edited October 25, 2020 by clojacks

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, clojacks said:

We are looking at the end of August of '21, IF we are back traveling, so the ship options sailing form Whittier are the Royal, Sapphire, and the Grand. The Club Mini does interest us as we do enjoy the Aqua category on Celebrity due to its dedicated dining, and this appears to be the closest  style to that.

 

If you go on the Royal, they have deluxe balconies, which include a little extra room, enough for a mini sofa, the kind you would find in many of the cabins on Celebrity's M-class ships.  The regular balcony rooms don't offer any seating other the bed or on the balcony (oh .. and a desk chair).  The Royal has particularly small balconies with a few exceptions.  We found the midship balconies that are angled to have a lot more balcony space.  A check on their deckplans will outline which have large balconies.  There are a few of club class minis on the forward section of the ship that have extremely large balconies and a different configuration in the room as well.  I've always wanted to try one of these but, my DH is afraid there would be too much movement that far forward.  

 

I've never sailed on the Sapphire but, have cruised several times on the Grand.  Since we've also sailed in Aqua class on Celebrity, the club class mini's would be the closest thing to that.  However, you can oftentimes book a regular cabin and book specialty dining for every night for less money than a club class.  Now, if you can get one, the Grand has something called a window suite.  Oh my ... you won't be sorry!  Don't book the two on the one end or the other .. I think they are E301 (smaller and reports of smoke from the casino when the hallway door is left open) or E315 (noisy due to the door to the private hallway opening and closing at all hours).  There is no balcony, but don't let that put you off!  These rooms are wonderful and come with full suite benefits, which includes a specialty dinner on the first night as well as club class dining, a mimosa / specialty coffee breakfast every morning (except the last one) in a specialty restaurant and many other perks.  The location is so convenient, too.  They are snagged up really quickly as there are only a few of them on the ship.  Any cabin between F311 and F303 are great choices.