Mardi Gras Presidential Suite - Will I have time to sleep?

[Host CMLA]

Bit the bullet and booked a Presidential Suite on the Mardi Gras for next summer.  It was that or downpayment for a house.  😆 We have a house so suite it is!  I've been diving deep into everything I can find out and I don't want to miss a thing.  I want to take advantage of every perk offered with the suite and do all the things.  I'm thinking there won't be time to sleep but that's OK.  I'll sleep when I get home. 

 

What do I need to do to make sure I do and see and take advantage of everything this amazing stateroom offers?  I'll probably never book something like this again because, honestly, it's a lot of money.  Tell me your best tips and tricks and insider info!  Please.  🙂 

[weezal]

Suite_Excel.pdf

[Host CMLA]

1 hour ago, weezal said:

Suite_Excel.pdf 34.68 kB · 8 downloads

 

Thanks for that.  I have the whole list of things.  I was hoping to get feedback from someone that's stayed in one of these suites and find out how they optimized their experience.  

[weezal]

https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5702

there might be some benefits you weren't aware of, such as...

Suite Amenities and Perks

Access to Thermal Suites and Havana Pool (Presidential Suite Only!)

[Host CMLA]

1 minute ago, weezal said:

https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5702

there might be some benefits you weren't aware of, such as...

Suite Amenities and Perks

Access to Thermal Suites and Havana Pool (Presidential Suite Only!)

 

Thanks for this!  It's even more detailed.  Now I have to investigate the thermal suites.  🙂

[CruiseHealing]

Always remember you can change your cabin if you have not made final payment. My experience with suites is that the price is more than it is worth.  However if the suite offers an unbelievable million dollar view then it’s money well spent. 

[Host CMLA]

14 minutes ago, CruiseHealing said:

Always remember you can change your cabin if you have not made final payment. My experience with suites is that the price is more than it is worth.  However if the suite offers an unbelievable million dollar view then it’s money well spent. 

 

I booked it for the balcony space and the separate bedroom mostly.  I figured if I'm going to be on a ship with 6000 other people, I need the most relaxing space to go to to get away from it all.  I'd much rather spend money on an experience versus something tangible that I can hold so spending the money for me is right up my alley.  It's just more than we usually spend on travel.  Plus I've told my kids so I'm committed to it now!  lol 

[CruiseHealing]

46 minutes ago, Host CMLA said:

 

I booked it for the balcony space and the separate bedroom mostly.  I figured if I'm going to be on a ship with 6000 other people, I need the most relaxing space to go to to get away from it all.  I'd much rather spend money on an experience versus something tangible that I can hold so spending the money for me is right up my alley.  It's just more than we usually spend on travel.  Plus I've told my kids so I'm committed to it now!  lol 

I understand what you mean. After 40 cruises we spend most of our time on our balcony than with the masses.  In the last three cruises I never made it to the Serenity Deck, I stayed on our balcony reading and relaxing. We enjoy the quiet and isolation.  Lately we have been booking cabins with larger balconies and some of them are suites.

 

We sailed the Mardi Gras in 2021, and had one of the larger Extended Balcony cabins.  We liked the ship, but prefer the Vista / Dream class.

[Host CMLA]

Another question I have.  Exactly how private is the hot tub/shower area on the balcony of this suite?  Private enough to use the shower as an actual shower and be nude without a ship camera on you?  Private enough to naked hot tub?  I'd worry about a ship camera being on me but my son says he bets he could shower outside when the bathroom shower is being used by someone else.  I'm skeptical.  

[CruiseHealing]

On 3/24/2023 at 4:22 PM, Host CMLA said:

Another question I have.  Exactly how private is the hot tub/shower area on the balcony of this suite?  Private enough to use the shower as an actual shower and be nude without a ship camera on you?  Private enough to naked hot tub?  I'd worry about a ship camera being on me but my son says he bets he could shower outside when the bathroom shower is being used by someone else.  I'm skeptical.  

They appear to be very private, unless another ship is beside you in port, then it’s a show.

[Host CMLA]

3 hours ago, CruiseHealing said:

They appear to be very private, unless another ship is beside you in port, then it’s a show.

 

LOL  A show.  It looks pretty private but you never know where a ship camera will be.  The outdoor shower is a great bonus for when someone else is in the shower and you need to get ready for dinner.  Even if he wore his swim trunks, it would work!  

[love4monsters]

Our first cruise was on the NCL Pearl and we were upsold to a 2 BR/BA suite for $400 for 7 nights. We had our 4 sons with his and were originally in 2 connecting mini suites. Even crazier that one mini suite held the luggage the entire trip. Love the Presidential balcony!

[Daddyfto]

On 3/24/2023 at 2:39 PM, Host CMLA said:

 

I booked it for the balcony space and the separate bedroom mostly.  I figured if I'm going to be on a ship with 6000 other people, I need the most relaxing space to go to to get away from it all.  I'd much rather spend money on an experience versus something tangible that I can hold so spending the money for me is right up my alley.  It's just more than we usually spend on travel.  Plus I've told my kids so I'm committed to it now!  lol 

 

[Daddyfto]

Sounds Great!!

Edited March 26, 2023 by Daddyfto
no longer relevent

[Host CMLA]

1 hour ago, love4monsters said:

Our first cruise was on the NCL Pearl and we were upsold to a 2 BR/BA suite for $400 for 7 nights. We had our 4 sons with his and were originally in 2 connecting mini suites. Even crazier that one mini suite held the luggage the entire trip. Love the Presidential balcony!

 

Didn't you love the the Pearl 2 br/2ba?  When my kids were small we'd book those for repositioning cruises up and down the West coast.  The space was great and the extra bathroom was a big bonus.  I'm excited for the Presidential balcony.  I honestly feel like I could spend the whole week there.  I don't go to shows.  I go to the casino, dinner and I like getting some sun.  Depending on what food I can get delivered to the balcony dining table, I would just leave the room for the casino.  😉 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On 3/24/2023 at 4:22 PM, Host CMLA said:

Another question I have.  Exactly how private is the hot tub/shower area on the balcony of this suite?  Private enough to use the shower as an actual shower and be nude without a ship camera on you?  Private enough to naked hot tub?  I'd worry about a ship camera being on me but my son says he bets he could shower outside when the bathroom shower is being used by someone else.  I'm skeptical.  

 

It's private - used both without issue/concern (at sea, or course). There's a camera down on the bridge, but I really doubt someone down there would actually turn it up to the suite.

 

[Host CMLA]

6 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

It's private - used both without issue/concern (at sea, or course). There's a camera down on the bridge, but I really doubt someone down there would actually turn it up to the suite.

 

 

These photos help so much!  Thank you.  The shower is farther down and you probably couldn't get the camera to view there.  Good information to have.  This, by the way, looks like heaven.  Soaking in the spa out on the open ocean.  Perfection!

[Guest BasicSailor]

Just curious with your foot facing forward 😉. I see chairs which look to be the front of the ship. Without looking at the deck plans is this part of your balcony?

[Host CMLA]

8 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

Just curious with your foot facing forward 😉. I see chairs which look to be the front of the ship. Without looking at the deck plans is this part of your balcony?

 

I can answer!  Yes, that's part of the Presidential suite balcony.  It has this side area with spa and shower then the area over the bridge and across the front of the stateroom.  I read that the balcony area is bigger than the actual stateroom at about 1,300 sq ft. 

[Guest BasicSailor]

Carnival definitely upgraded their game on this ship.😉

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

6 hours ago, BasicSailor said:

Carnival definitely upgraded their game on this ship.😉

 

Yes - and they had even reached a tad (and, I mean JUST A TAD) higher, then fell short...

 

LINK

 

Tom

[Host CMLA]

4 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Yes - and they had even reached a tad (and, I mean JUST A TAD) higher, then fell short...

 

LINK

 

Tom

 

No fancy coffee maker?  We had Lavazzo coffee makers in the suites on NCL.  That's great amenity.  Disappointed to see there isn't one in this level of suite.  I usually take a few packs of Starbucks cold coffee in cans on board but having a maker in the room would be excellent.