Window Suite vs Vista Suite on Grand Princess

[heathriel]

Hi all! Just booked on the Grand and have only sailed in Vista Suites before with Princess. That cabin class wasn't available for the cruise I wanted, and I was only able to get a Window Suite.

 

From all the things I've seen, people either love these rooms or hate them. 

 

It's been a looooooooooong time since I've sailed in a cabin without a balcony, but I didn't want to lose out on suite perks either. 

I'm definitely happy to be on the ship (should it sail) -- but what I'm wondering is should I be happy with this cabin or spend my mind cycles keeping my eye out for a cancellation of a Vista?

[MileHighAko]

We had a window suite on Grand, and it was terrific. The room itself is spacious with high ceiling, plenty of storage, and brightly lit with lots of natural light.  And of course, it comes with suite perks.  In the end, it comes down to personal preference, if you need a balcony or not.  Personally, I would keep trying for a Vista but would be okay in the window suite.

[heathriel]

We really only use the balcony like once or twice per cruise, but it's always nice to know it's *there*, you know?

[memoak]

We are big Vista suite fans but we also use or balcony often. If you don’t use it you can save quite a bit of dinero with a window suite 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

I stayed in F315 for a 10 day Alaska sailing. Yes the room itself was large but the bathroom is like a mini suite not a vista suite. I enjoyed the views so close to the water and watched a huge pod of dolphins one day for the longest time as they swam next to the ship. 
 

However this suite is the first one off the piazza and every time anyone came in the hallway the door slammed and it was VERY noisy in my room. This went on all night. This hallway is commonly used to get to the Princess theater by those who don’t want to walk through the smoky casino. 
 

Which brings me to my last issue. On this cruise there was A LOT of smoke coming out of the casino and into the piazza and then into the window suite hallway and then into my room. Yuck. 
 

If you really don’t need a balcony it’ll be fine. Just stay away from the first ones off the piazza. 

[PatriciaF]

We have had a window suite twice.loved it.  My husband seldom uses the balcony but I do to sit out in the sun.  Our itineraries were not sun bathing weather, so not missed at all.  Love the suite perks at in our case for less than our usual mini suite

[brisalta]

13 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

I stayed in F315 for a 10 day Alaska sailing. Yes the room itself was large but the bathroom is like a mini suite not a vista suite. I enjoyed the views so close to the water and watched a huge pod of dolphins one day for the longest time as they swam next to the ship. 
 

 

F315 is wheel chair accessible hence it only has a shower and no tub so not as much space is needed for the bathroom. The other window suites have a shower and tub and thus their bathrooms are much larger.

[heathriel]

For future people searching for information on these not very well known cabins, here's a deck plan:

It looks like F315 doesn't have a deck plan posted anywhere -- and pictures of it are hard to find Here are what I found:

 

 

[bagney]

We have been in Window Suites twice on the Grand Princess and once on the Caribbean Princess! For the price/suite perks, it is our 'go-to' cabin type on these two ships. We have one booked for our Canada/New England cruise August 2022 on the Caribbean Princess. The Window Suite bathroom in F307, F309 and F311 are are the same or very similar to the other full suite bathroom size/layouts from my recollection. We love being low on the ship almost at water level and also love being so close to the Atrium/dining rooms, etc. We would use a balcony if we had it but we have learned that we really don't use the balcony that much (unless it is a hot weather/Caribbean cruise). Yes, cigarette smoke can be noticeable in the Window Suite hallway occasionally but we have never smelled the smoke in our cabins. 

 

Brian

[cr8tiv1]

My first choice of cabins will always be a window suite (F311).  You can't beat the location.  No elevators needed (except for the buffet/which I rarely go to).  Club Class dining on the same level....footsteps away.  21 drawers/3 closets.  Suite-like bathroom (no separate toilet).  No wet bar outside of bathroom.

 

The Grand Princess location is not as good as the Golden and Caribbean (casino on different floor).  

 

If you miss your balcony, walk up one deck to the Promenade Deck.

 

Usually cheaper than Club Class Mini with suite benefits.

 

F301 is slightly smaller and F315 is a handicap accesDealssible cabin.

 

I request to have the hallway doors close I close them myself.  Smoke has never seemed to be an issue.

[AF-1]

44 minutes ago, bagney said:

We have been in Window Suites twice on the Grand Princess and once on the Caribbean Princess! For the price/suite perks, it is our 'go-to' cabin type on these two ships. We have one booked for our Canada/New England cruise August 2022 on the Caribbean Princess. The Window Suite bathroom in F307, F309 and F311 are are the same or very similar to the other full suite bathroom size/layouts from my recollection. We love being low on the ship almost at water level and also love being so close to the Atrium/dining rooms, etc. We would use a balcony if we had it but we have learned that we really don't use the balcony that much (unless it is a hot weather/Caribbean cruise). Yes, cigarette smoke can be noticeable in the Window Suite hallway occasionally but we have never smelled the smoke in our cabins. 

 

Brian

Bagney are you on the 10 day cruise?  I was in Window Suite on CB this Oct but am now switched to WS on Enchanted Oct 2022.  Have fun.  I was looking forward to walking out my suite door and into club class dining.

[franktown]

The suite itself was great but that being said we missed the balcony a lot more than we thought we would. Little things like having morning coffee on the balcony a evening drink.  Just relaxing on the balcony.  We would not book a room without a balcony again.

[Thrak]

41 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

The Grand Princess location is not as good as the Golden and Caribbean (casino on different floor).  

 

Golden Princess in now called Pacific Adventure and is owned by P&O Cruises Australia.

[heathriel]

This is what I thought -- I think if we can't get the Vista, we'll be happy with the increased space (and the location, and that the casino is now mostly non-smoking so that won't be as much of an issue as it seems to have been for earlier cruises). Sad that there is no thermal suite on the Grand (we tend to camp there) but we're really in this one for the itinerary.

 

And I'll put up an alert to see if a Vista (or higher) does open up so I can switch.

Edited June 21, 2021 by heathriel

[bagney]

24 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

Bagney are you on the 10 day cruise?  I was in Window Suite on CB this Oct but am now switched to WS on Enchanted Oct 2022.  Have fun.  I was looking forward to walking out my suite door and into club class dining.

Yes we are on the 10 day cruise on the Canada/New England cruise in August in the Window Suite. We also have booked one of the Window Suites on the Sky Princess in January 2023 (had it booked for October 2020 but of course that didn't happen)!

[cr8tiv1]

8 minutes ago, heathriel said:

This is what I thought -- I think if we can't get the Vista, we'll be happy with the increased space (and the location, and that the casino is now mostly non-smoking so that won't be as much of an issue as it seems to have been for earlier cruises). Sad that there is no thermal suite on the Grand (we tend to camp there) but we're really in this one for the itinerary.

 

And I'll put up an alert to see if a Vista (or higher) does open up so I can switch.

 

I've only been upgraded (to a sun suite) once.  Have decided that I enjoy my Window Suite more and tag my booking as no upgrade.

 

Really sad the Golden is gone, the Pacific Princess is gone, the Island was butchered.  Very happy the Grand will be home ported in San Pedro for the next year.  Looking forward to three cruises on the Grand and one on the Caribbean.  I've been able to convert several balcony lovers to a Window Suite.

 

These older window suites are not comparable to the Regal Class window suites.  I am not a fan of higher decks/forward.  Wish they would build more like the Grand.  Was really hoping they would have added them to the Coral when they made those "new" cabins by the casino.  

Edited June 21, 2021 by cr8tiv1

[memoak]

16 minutes ago, heathriel said:

This is what I thought -- I think if we can't get the Vista, we'll be happy with the increased space (and the location, and that the casino is now mostly non-smoking so that won't be as much of an issue as it seems to have been for earlier cruises). Sad that there is no thermal suite on the Grand (we tend to camp there) but we're really in this one for the itinerary.

 

And I'll put up an alert to see if a Vista (or higher) does open up so I can switch.

I'm not sure why you think the casino is mostly non-smoking ?  I believe that 1/2 of the slots are still in the smoking section except for formal nights

[AF-1]

6 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

I've only been upgraded (to a sun suite) once.  Have decided that I enjoy my Window Suite more and tag my booking as no upgrade.

 

Really sad the Golden is gone, the Pacific Princess is gone, the Island was butchered.  Very happy the Grand will be home ported in San Pedro for the next year.  Looking forward to three cruises on the Grand and one on the Caribbean.  I've been able to convert several balcony lovers to a Window Suite.

 

These older window suites are not comparable to the Regal Class window suites.  I am not a fan of higher decks/forward.  Wish they would build more like the Grand.  Was really hoping they would have added them to the Coral when they made those "new" cabins by the casino.  

I thought Regal didn't have window suite.  Am I wrong?

[heathriel]

1/2 the slots -- all of those located on the port side, and none of the table games.

[Thrak]

11 minutes ago, heathriel said:

1/2 the slots -- all of those located on the port side, and none of the table games.

 

And, of course, the smoke all just stays right there in the "smoking area".

[heathriel]

No, but I've found that the air filters they have installed in the last update have done phenomenally well.

It's like a night and day difference.

 

[Bgwest]

1 hour ago, bagney said:

The Window Suite bathroom in F307, F309 and F311 are are the same or very similar to the other full suite bathroom size/layouts from my recollection.

You omitted F303 and F305.

Aren't they configured exactly the same (same bath layout) as the 3 cabins you mention?

[cr8tiv1]

26 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

I thought Regal didn't have window suite.  Am I wrong?

 

I was referring to the Regal Class ships (Sky/Enchanted/Discovery) or are they in a class by themselves?

[bagney]

Just now, Bgwest said:

You omitted F303 and F305.

Aren't they configured exactly the same (same bath layout) as the 3 cabins you mention?

I would assume so - I only mentioned the cabins I personally have been in.

[Bgwest]

3 minutes ago, bagney said:

I would assume so - I only mentioned the cabins I personally have been in.

Cool. The reason I ask it that we were in either 303 or 305 a while back and I could have sworn it had a the same layout as shown in Post #10. 

Good Times!!!