Premiere Package with Full Suite?

[schmenge]

I am trying to assess if there is any overlap between suite perks and features of the Premiere package that would make buying Premiere a waste of money. There is nothing obvious that I am seeing except that the package allows two specialty dining options that could go along with the one specialty dining with the suite.  Any guidance would be appreciated.

[HaveDogWillTravel]

18 minutes ago, schmenge said:

I am trying to assess if there is any overlap between suite perks and features of the Premiere package that would make buying Premiere a waste of money. There is nothing obvious that I am seeing except that the package allows two specialty dining options that could go along with the one specialty dining with the suite.  Any guidance would be appreciated.

Suite perks are very different on the Royal class ships vs the Grand and Coral class. 
 

On Royal class ships there’s a dedicated Concierge Lounge aft Riviera deck. This lounge has cans of soft drinks and bottled waters (still and sparkling) 24/7.  Every evening (from 5-7 pm in my experience) there’s an open bar with very good liquor…..Bombay Sapphire, Gentlemen Jack…Tito’s vodka….Jamison’s…..  There’s mediocre wines and decent selection of beers.  Additionally, the concierge immediately offered to have Jamison’s in the morning when I mentioned I liked Irish Coffees in the morning occasionally. 

This is enough for me that I don’t get any drink package when I book a full suite on a Royal class ship. 
 

None of this is available on the other class ships. At least since February of this year. 
 

Only you know if the rest of what comes with Premier is worth it to you or not. 

[cr8tiv1]

Which ship?  Length of cruise?  Port intensive?  Are you a "heavy" drinker?  Do you have OBC?

 

I have done Plus with a suite.  That was overkill, but the rate was very reasonable at $40 and $50.  I ended up giving away most of the mini bar.

 

My next cruise is in a suite with Plus (@ $50). 

 

I will be doing my last cruise of the year in a suite.  Being elite, I will get 2 mini-bars plus 2 bottles of water a day.  @ $60 for plus...it isn't worth it to me.  

 

Premier is even more expensive (never considered going up that far).  You will get one specialty dinner on the first night.  Some have said that trying to claim the 2 that come with the Premier is difficult.  

 

Not suite perks; but included in Premier

reserved seats in theater for production shows

2 additional dinners

gym classes

sundaes

photos

 

 

 

[Steelers36]

56 minutes ago, schmenge said:

I am trying to assess if there is any overlap between suite perks and features of the Premiere package that would make buying Premiere a waste of money. There is nothing obvious that I am seeing except that the package allows two specialty dining options that could go along with the one specialty dining with the suite.  Any guidance would be appreciated.

Aside - the Cruise Fare package is Premier.

[Hop77]

We will be in a full suite with Premier on the Diamond in Dec. As far as I know, there is no Concierge Lounge for Suite on the Diamond, thus we figure getting the Premier is the way to go if we want to have the better grade wine or cocktails. And since we will be paying the crew appreciation, needed the WIFI, want extra specialty dinning, would like to participate Princess Prizes just for the kick, throwing in photos and reserved seating, the package seal the deal for us since we are going with our 2 children. 
 

However, this is our first Princess cruise. So I am also unclear if there is any overlapping of benefits. But since I have paid for it, I am hoping the answer is no at least for Diamond. 😅

[Plato123]

We enjoyed the concierge lounge on the Royal and even more so, the service of the concierge in making reservations and just being very helpful in ironing out minor issues. In our experience, the wines in the lounge were not bad and some cases very good (Siverado and "real" Mondavi CS).

We will miss that on our upcoming Emerald cruise but will still get the Premier package for the convenience and better wines.  What we will miss in concierge benefits will be made up with an excellent itinerary we hope.  We upgraded to an Owner's Suite from a Penthouse Suite, with help from our TA, and actually saved money.

[memoak]

We always sail Plus in a full suite. Much prefer Grand class ships to Royal class. We rarely use the concierge on Royal class except to get issues dealt with, speciality dining or help avoiding crowds when disembarking. Would rather hang at bars or  casino to drink and now that ships are sailing at capacity the Royal class are way too crowded and loud

[cr8tiv1]

9 hours ago, Hop77 said:

We will be in a full suite with Premier on the Diamond in Dec. As far as I know, there is no Concierge Lounge for Suite on the Diamond, thus we figure getting the Premier is the way to go if we want to have the better grade wine or cocktails. And since we will be paying the crew appreciation, needed the WIFI, want extra specialty dinning, would like to participate Princess Prizes just for the kick, throwing in photos and reserved seating, the package seal the deal for us since we are going with our 2 children. 
 

However, this is our first Princess cruise. So I am also unclear if there is any overlapping of benefits. But since I have paid for it, I am hoping the answer is no at least for Diamond. 😅

 

I hope your 2 children are booked in your suite.  Everyone, then, will have access to all of the suite perks.  I spoke to the Loyalty and Events manager recently and she told me that her job will transition to onboard events only.  But did mention that those in suites on Grand Class suites would be getting their own concierge in July (or was it June?); no suite lounge.

 

Has anyone onboard a Grand Class ship experienced this new change?

[schmenge]

Thanks everyone for the great discussion and feedback to my original question. I am booked on Enchanted 10 day in an Owners suite the Caribbean. After considering the must haves for us - employee appreciation, wifi, and drinks (don't drink a lot, but like to try different things) - the cost for the balance of the Premiere benefits don't seem to be too big of a deal. I think we will stick with Premiere.

 

Tangent: We happen to be in the same cabin on Enchanted when we went in Feb, 22 with only a half-full ship. It will be interesting to see the difference 2 years later.

[Hop77]

9 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

I hope your 2 children are booked in your suite.  Everyone, then, will have access to all of the suite perks.  I spoke to the Loyalty and Events manager recently and she told me that her job will transition to onboard events only.  But did mention that those in suites on Grand Class suites would be getting their own concierge in July (or was it June?); no suite lounge.

 

Has anyone onboard a Grand Class ship experienced this new change?

 
Oh yes, the children will be sharing the Owner Suite with us. No lounge is alright for us since we already had purchase Premier. And it will be fun trying out all the drinks from all over the ship. We are actually more like a teetotaller at home. But I figure we are on vacation, a few sips here and there would be nice. 

[EKELLEY]

Is the Regal a Royal class ship?

[memoak]

29 minutes ago, EKELLEY said:

Is the Regal a Royal class ship?

Yes

[Cruise Raider]

On 6/21/2023 at 8:11 PM, cr8tiv1 said:

Which ship?  Length of cruise?  Port intensive?  Are you a "heavy" drinker?  Do you have OBC?

 

I have done Plus with a suite.  That was overkill, but the rate was very reasonable at $40 and $50.  I ended up giving away most of the mini bar.

 

My next cruise is in a suite with Plus (@ $50). 

 

I will be doing my last cruise of the year in a suite.  Being elite, I will get 2 mini-bars plus 2 bottles of water a day.  @ $60 for plus...it isn't worth it to me.  

 

Premier is even more expensive (never considered going up that far).  You will get one specialty dinner on the first night.  Some have said that trying to claim the 2 that come with the Premier is difficult.  

 

Not suite perks; but included in Premier

reserved seats in theater for production shows

2 additional dinners

gym classes

sundaes

photos

 

 

 

Must of note, there are now seats reserved in the theater for this in suites for production shows, too.  The seats are better, IMO, than those reserved for those with the premier package.  

[cr8tiv1]

6 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

Must of note, there are now seats reserved in the theater for this in suites for production shows, too.  The seats are better, IMO, than those reserved for those with the premier package.  

 

I think you are saying that suites now have reserved seats?  Is that across all fleet? If this is true, long time in coming and I am grateful for this perk.  

[Cruise Raider]

5 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

I think you are saying that suites now have reserved seats?  Is that across all fleet? If this is true, long time in coming and I am grateful for this perk.  

I saw it on both the Discovery and on the Royal but not sure if it is fleet wide.  I am thinking it would be but I can’t say that with all certainty.  
 

The seat covers specify which are which but if you just glance, you probably wouldn’t know.  
we had the premier package and found some great seats, only to find out they were reserved for suite guests.  They are in the center aisle whereas the premier reserved seats are off to the port side and a bit further down.  The reserved suite seats would be the perfect place to sit, IMO.  
They are only available for production shows as far as I could tell but I’m sure if enough suite passengers express their views, they could probably reserve these seats every night.  It only takes hanging a cover over the top of the seat.  
 

I agree, suites cost enough that I think people have paid for this added perk.  

[memoak]

16 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Must of note, there are now seats reserved in the theater for this in suites for production shows, too.  The seats are better, IMO, than those reserved for those with the premier package.  

We sail in full suites with plus packages and have never ever seen this perk and it is not on the list of suite perks nor has a concierge ever mentioned it to me. Plus to us he best seats are end of row at the very top so we can scoot out if ee don’t like the show