COVID cruising: Does a suite help your comfort?

[weltek]

We have a CruiseNext that we need to use to book in the next few days with travel by Dec. 31, 2022.  We are pretty COVID-cautious and I can't imagine I would entertain any level of comfort with the idea of cruise before April (and even then it still feels pretty risky). Summer and fall cruises are either undesirable or impossible for us, so we've decided April or December are pretty much the only options at this point we'll look at, and December isn't my favorite for vacation, given all the holiday hubbub at home.
 

I'm entertaining some unusual ideas for us, one of which is splurging on a suite on an older ship. I can get an aft-facing large balcony penthouse suite on the Dawn for about $1000 more than we usually spend for a B6 (large) on a newer ship. It's a splurge for us, for sure, but not an outrageous one. The bad news is that it's April, when Covid is still going to be an issue.

Would having a larger room with balcony increase your comfort in sailing during the covid-era? If so, why?

 

[European_CruiseGirl]

Definitely it would for me. I’d most likely eat breakfasts at the suite, delivered by the butler. You can order from a very extensive suite breakfast menu (no room service charges). I might also eat some dinners in-suite and just ask my butler to bring my desired dishes from whichever restaurant I’d want to eat: main dining room, specialty restaurant. You name it, you get it. Again no extra charges other than the normal specialty restaurant charge if you want food from one. However note that the drink package does not include drinks brought to you by your butler so either you pay for those or do like we do: get them ourselves from a quiet bar before our butler arrives with the foods. 
 

If I’d be very cautious then rather than reading a book by the pool or great outdoors I’d read that book at my lovely aft facing balcony. Etc. 
 

So I’d definitely see sailing in a suite being more safe in covid times. Add to that being able to eat breakfast and lunch at a dedicated suite guest only restaurant so you can avoid eating with the big masses even if you choose to dine outside of your cabin. Boarding and leaving the ship should be easier and somewhat safer too as you are being escorted on and off the ship with just the suite guests and you’d do check in at a dedicated suite guest area. 

Edited January 10, 2022 by European_CruiseGirl

[Karaboudjan]

1 minute ago, European_CruiseGirl said:

Definitely it would for me. I’d most likely eat breakfasts at the duote, delivered by the butler. You can order from a suite breakfast menu (no room service charges). I might also eat some dinners in-suite and just ask my butler to bring my desired dishes from whichever restaurant I’d want to eat: main dining room, specialty restaurant. You name it, you get it. Again no extra charges other than the normal specialty restaurant charge if you want food from one. 
 

If I’d be very cautious then rather than reading a book by the pool or great outdoors I’d read that book at my lovely aft facing balcony. Etc. 
 

So I’d definitely see sailing in a suite being more safe in covid times. Add to that being able to eat breakfast and lunch at a dedicated suite guest only restaurant so you can avoid eating with the big masses even if you choose to dine outside of your cabin. 

 

Agreed.  It's this service and not the room itself that would make the difference, although I would certainly take a balcony over no balcony.

[TrinaLC]

 But if you get Covid they evidently will dump you down on the medical floor with a porthole if you are lucky 

[sanger727]

It really depends on what the suite means to you. If it means spending more time in your cabin comfortably to prevent exposure; then yes. If you plan to cruise as normal and want the suite in case you get quarantined - it appears that you lose your room anyway when you get quarantined. So it probably wouldn’t make a difference.

[mking8288]

Rather have our own HEPA filter and run it 24/7 while inside the stateroom, balcony will do for fresh outside air exchange.  Short of that, one of the medical grade UV lights ... that would better help convert our room into a more "sterile" environment.  Wishful thinking, of course - cannot bring one's personal/private HEPA filter machine onboard, although I think UV lights should not be against their rules, not asking for negative air-flow with HVAC.

 

Strictly my opinion, feel free & many will likely disagree, no need to debate or challenge it.  The elite/privileged mindset vs. the herd/cattles mindset not going to help keep out the invisible as it is airborne.  Exclusive dining is for peace-of-mind, perhaps, but only sound good if there are effective barriers that separate the tables and guests in between to 3 ft. minimum (6' preferred); and that the food items serve and brought out & promptly served are covered (we like them hot, at least - warm ... not luke warm or room temperature, as we know)

 

I don't see any sound reasons or basis to assure that all fellow suite guests are free of the invisible enemy, sorry.  Never mind washy washy for a happy tummy - soap & running water, scrub and rinse & dry after 30 seconds - that helps to keep other viruses away, as in norovirus ... we're on the medical floor and seen crew fully suited up, level 4 PPE doing decon inside what was then known as a mini suite during a confirmed noro outbreak on our 14 nighters.  Our balcony was just down the hallway & room stewards were wiping with bleach & chemicals all week long, much heavier concentration than usual.  

 

BTW, there are no separate passage ways or corridors for "Insiders" as they are often just across the hallway ... and the studio lounge, so pick your deck carefully.  Good luck 🙄 😷

Edited January 10, 2022 by mking8288

[Karaboudjan]

2 hours ago, TrinaLC said:

 But if you get Covid they evidently will dump you down on the medical floor with a porthole if you are lucky 

On some of the ships the medical center is up in balcony land.

[Epic_Bear]

We stayed in the Haven on our 12/27/21 Getaway cruise, one because we had a lot of credit from cancelled cruises and two because we figured we had a pool. hot tub, bar, restaurant all in one place and we didn't have to go anywhere and be around a lot of people if we didn't want to.  

[pcakes122]

10000% improves your comfort - Covid-era or otherwise 😊 Go for the upgrade!

 

Does nothing for safety at all.  I cruised during Covid in the Haven. Thought that just being in the Haven would help limit exposure, plus I ate most meals in the cabin, never went to the theater or buffet or most other public places. Still got cooties.

 

Those germs will find you if they want to.

[TrinaLC]

3 hours ago, Karaboudjan said:

On some of the ships the medical center is up in balcony land.

You can hope for that!  But plan for the worst 

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, Karaboudjan said:

On some of the ships the medical center is up in balcony land.

Not on the small ships. 

[Laszlo]

I thought it you tested positive on the ship you were moved to a location with everyone else who tested positive?

[Av8torcrj]

My perspective is that splurging should be saved for the a time where the likelihood of actually getting the cruise you paid for is at least average. It would seem these days any cruise is a total crap shoot. Can you imagine spending that extra 1k only to find an additional 1k is required to get you through quarantine? Right now, I wouldn’t sail if they gave me the cruise. 
This being said, we were on the gem in an aft penthouse a couple months ago. The staff was outstanding and the perks were much appreciated. It was an accessible ( handicap) and I wouldn’t ever do that again due to its quirks. The aft balcony is quiet from a foot traffic in the hallway perspective but the balcony has a lot of “sea noise” which can be soothing or distracting depending on your preferences. The view is nice but if one has any sympathy for the earth and environment it’s a little depressing to see the filth (exhaust) that is left behind. 

[KatieCruser]

On the Joy right now. We planned to “only eat outside” and other precautions. We’re being safe, masking everywhere, but impossible to stay away and still get the cruise experience. Buy the room you want and take your chance at an upgrade if capacity still low in April, they were basically giving them away on this sailing. 

[weltek]

Thanks for all the responses. Lots of good insight here, especially thankful for pcakes response, as that's what we were thinking, but there are just so many other variables and ventilation issues that it's probably a small reduction in risk for highly transmissible variants.

Given our discomfort now and your responses, we decided to pass on the GREAT suite deal in April, and book a balcony in December (to use up expiring CruiseNext). Some day, we'll enjoy the suite life. Just not now.