vivalv66 Posted September 3, 2004 #1 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Is there much difference? We have a balcony booked. How much more is a mini normally? Been in a HAL suite and it will be hard to go back to balcony or window now! Thanks for any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted September 3, 2004 #2 Share Posted September 3, 2004 There are a few things that the mini suites on Princess give you that the balcony cabins don't. You will have a full sized tub in the mini suite compared to a small shower in the balcony cabin. You will have a sitting area with sofa and comfortable chair in the mini suite where as in the balcony cabin you will have one desk chair or stool and one chair. You will have two TV's just in case you both are wanting to watch something different in the AM or when getting ready to do whatever. Most times the prices are not that far apart, usually within a couple hundred dollars difference between the two. Sometimes you can get them for almost the same price. Are they worth the extra? To us MOST DEFINITELY! After cruising in several balcony cabins on Princess, the last time we both looked at each other and said, NEVER AGAIN, this is just way too small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce-r Posted September 3, 2004 #3 Share Posted September 3, 2004 To add to that. If you are a family of 4 like us, a balcony's sleeping arrangements leave lots to be desired. The 2 twin beds can't be pushed together if the upper bunks are in use, so you end up with 2 twin bunk beds. In a mini, the twins get pushed together, the sofa is a single berth and there is a bunk that comes down out of the ceiling. That upper bunk was DD's almost favorite thing on our cruise :) I wouldn't recommend anything less than a mini for a family of 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regnig Posted September 3, 2004 #4 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Also depends on the ship you will be sailing. If it is a "Sun Class" ship the mini-suites are the greatest. They compare to full suites on most other lines and if you can swing it they are the way to go. The bathrooms with full oversize jetted tub and glassed in shower alone make it worth the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolmama_1 Posted September 3, 2004 #5 Share Posted September 3, 2004 We booked a mini on the Golden and really enjoyed the extra space in the bathroom as well as the couch and table.The sitting area was used everyday for breakfast. The extra room was worth it for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongerob Posted September 3, 2004 #6 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Even with just two of us, the extra space in a minisuite is a real bonus. I love that huge open closet, and (this is a guy thing) having a couch to stretch out on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mii Posted September 3, 2004 #7 Share Posted September 3, 2004 I got to agree with Spongerob. The sofa is the selling point, and I am sorry it is not just a guy thing. I am a gal and I enjoy stretching out on that sofe and watching t.v. Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare taxatty Posted September 3, 2004 #8 Share Posted September 3, 2004 It varies considerably, but the mini-suites also can have bigger balconies. Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamptod Posted September 3, 2004 #9 Share Posted September 3, 2004 You guys are starting to make me rethink my balcony cabin on the caribe deck! After reading about how much bigger the balconys are and the fact that they are partially covered was the big selling point. However, reading about all the extra space makes me want to call the TA and tell her to go ahead an accept a complimentary upgrade if the upgrade fairy comes along.:D There will be three of us in C518 on the Caribbean Princess. My DH and I love sitting out on the balcony, especially my hubby. We spend a lot of time there. Since my son is hardly in the room, we went for balcony space over cabin space. I hope we did the right thing. My concern is that we would wind up on in a mini that is uncovered or not in a good location. Is there such a thing as a mini in a bad location? Deborah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druke I Posted September 3, 2004 #10 Share Posted September 3, 2004 I agree with Larsen above - the mini-suites on the Sun class are great. On the Coral and Grand class ships, they are really only a bit bigger than a regular balcony cabin, and in my opinion not nearly as nice as those on the Sun class ships. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynda90 Posted September 3, 2004 #11 Share Posted September 3, 2004 If there are 3 of you sharing a cabin, there is no doubt in my mind that the mini is the way to go. The additional space makes a huge difference for 3 people. I personally do not think there is a bad location. Also, I have had both covered and uncovered balconies and I really saw no difference. Both are great. If you can be upgraded to a mini, definitely take it. Enjoy! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNYTRPS2GO2 Posted September 4, 2004 #12 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Another consideration is the shower space. If you are at all "horizontally challenged" the mini suite is the way to go. When we were in a balcony on the Golden my husband felt as though he was wearing the shower unit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted September 4, 2004 #13 Share Posted September 4, 2004 In the minisuites, are the bathtub and shower separate units or all one unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted September 4, 2004 #14 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Mini Suites on the Grand Class ships the bath tub and shower are all one unit. The Mini's on the Sun Class they are seperate. There is a shower and then a jacuzzi type tub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnMorin Posted September 4, 2004 #15 Share Posted September 4, 2004 I am totally confused here, we are going on the Star Princess in a BB as of right now cabin A429. Is that a small veranda? is it covered or uncovered? There are three of us should I switch to a mini suite? I was hoping that as it got closer to the cruise the mini suite price would come down as we are looking at Thanksgiving 2005 and I had to cut things close to get the BB cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted September 4, 2004 #16 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Ann-Sorry I can't help with the veranda size in the BB stateroom. I can tell you though that unless one of the people traveling with you is a child, that balcony cabin is going to be quite cramped for three adults. Remember, the balcony cabins have two places to sit in the stateroom, a nice comfy chair and a desk chair or stool. There is no type of sitting area to speak of. Also, the bathroom is very tiny in the balcony cabins. If there is any way possibly, a mini suite would be so much more comfortable for three people. Unless you spend almost no time in your cabin but to sleep and change clothes then it would probably be fine. If you are traveiling over Thanksgiving, I doubt the prices will drop at all, in fact, they may even increase depending on demand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnMorin Posted September 4, 2004 #17 Share Posted September 4, 2004 It would be my son myself and my husband, my son will be 12 at the time. Now I am getting nervous, maybe I should switch to a mini suite, it will run about 400.00 more though and I don't know if DH will go for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roohound Posted September 4, 2004 #18 Share Posted September 4, 2004 I think the balconies would be fine if it was just 2 people....for 3 tho....I think it would be well worth the $400. Obviously, I don't know your fininacial situation, and I make that comment with all due respect towards it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted September 4, 2004 #19 Share Posted September 4, 2004 All I can say is that IF it were me, I would definitely go for that mini suite. It will also afford you a sofa bed for your son to sleep on instead of a bunk type bed coming out of the wall. A bathtub, two televisions, sofa for during the day, and a ton more space. If you can find it in your budget, it would be a great assest to your cruising experience to book a mini suite instead of a balcony cabin. That way you won't all be bumping into each other with the minimal sq. footage the balcony cabins provide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnMorin Posted September 4, 2004 #20 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Ok I just looked and the mini suites are on the Dolphin Deck, how would I know which cabins are the best? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted September 4, 2004 #21 Share Posted September 4, 2004 What we do is ask ourselves where on the ship we would like our cabin to be. By the elevators, away from the elvators, more traffic areas or less. Then we check to see which cabins are still available and then look them up on the deck plans. Look above and below all of the suites on that deck and choose according to what is there. If there happens to be a club below or above a certain cabin, then that is one we shy away from as the noise can bleed through. Other than that, they are all the same inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapinowagain2 Posted September 4, 2004 #22 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Do the mini suites on the Coral Princess have a regular bathtub or a jetted bathtub? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csk Posted September 4, 2004 #23 Share Posted September 4, 2004 we were in a mini suite on the Diamond and it had a tub shower comb., but the extra room was great, loved the couch and the two tv. like everyone said, well worth the extra $$., in our case we booked just a guarantee, and was cheaper than a balcony, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynda90 Posted September 4, 2004 #24 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Ann, You will not be happy with 3 people in one small cabin. I have been in that situation before and you will be stepping over each other. I will never do it again. A mini-suite is really the only comfortable choice for 3 (other than a full suite). I do not feel you will enjoy your cruising experience if the 3 of you are crammed into a standard cabin. Please try to talk DH into it. The extra $400 for 3 will be worth it in the long run. Try to skimp somewhere else to make up for it. I don't think the location should be an issue for you. I always book the cheapest mini-suite category and usually get bumped up a notch or two. But even if I didn't, the location is not important to me, but the comfort of the cabin is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynda90 Posted September 4, 2004 #25 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Do the mini suites on the Coral Princess have a regular bathtub or a jetted bathtub? Here is a great stateroom link that should answer any questions about what each cabin has in it: http://www.cruisestateroom.com/shipsprincess.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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