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SUITE PERKS (Compared): Carnival, NCL, Princess, Celebrity

Tom-n-Cheryl

By Tom-n-Cheryl,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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happy cruzin

happy cruzin

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After taking my office staff on 3 (and 1/2!) Carnival cruises, following our sailing on the Epic earlier this year, I decided to take them all on the Epic in November. It's gonna knock their socks off (though granted, they won't be in suites...)!

 

Tom

 

 

Hey, I thought you were sending me that application..... ;) :D

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Tom-n-Cheryl "Live from...." Rare

Tom-n-Cheryl

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So sad to know that on such a fun and exciting board, talking and getting questions answered about cruises and vacations, that one would even need to have such a feature...

 

Yep. Perhaps some people just have BAD days, or they are just not careful about how things might come across to others. I have, on multiple occasions, been told that I am a snob, stuck up, self-important, privileged, condescending, arrogant, etc.... just based on "real world experiences" I have relayed on here. I have only really been ticked at a couple of people here over the last (let me check) 8 years. They have to REALLY be trying to push buttons, or were either very rude or caustic. They seem to have gone away, and it's not because I put them on ignore. Others, I have simply come to realize, are always up for a (pointless) debate or seem to enjoying finding some fault in something I/anyone have/has to say.

 

Tom

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Tom-n-Cheryl "Live from...." Rare

Tom-n-Cheryl

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Just booked a quickie (Friday and Saturday night) on the NCL Pearl out of Miami for 10/14/11. If anyone wants to test the "suite waters", this would be a nice sampling! For kicks, there is a bowling alley ($5/game I think) and 24 hour buffalo wings, fish and chips, cheeseburgers, etc... (no charge) for all guests at the "Blue Lagoon".

 

The 4252 sq. ft. Garden Villa is still available - though at $2,350 pp, you better make very good use of that huge space!! :eek:

 

We went with a somewhat more modest 387 sq. ft.... ;)

 

Tom

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Linsuesue

Linsuesue

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Tom-thanks a million for the compare and contrast! We had an aft wrap on the Spirit last year. I did a bunch of comparing and contrasting of ships to Alaska before we booked. It is overwhelming trying to try to base a cabin decision on price/size/perks/amenities. You've got the right idea-try them all! To us, having that huge balcony for the price Carnival offered was a perk, and we ended up with 2 rooms, 2 tvs, and a great overhang on deck 4. We checked out balconies on other ships in ports and it looked like the ones with massive balconies were owner suites. One ship even had a deck with only two cabins aft and they both had bay windows! They were really deep as well as being half of the ship width. I know that balcony size vs. price for our Alaskan cruise dictated the cruise lines for us. I believe that the Spirit is due to dry dock next year. I'm hoping the beards are listening to your suggestions and adding some suite perks then-coffee makers-breakfast on balconies, flat screen tvs, dvd players...

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Tom-n-Cheryl "Live from...." Rare

Tom-n-Cheryl

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... We had an aft wrap on the Spirit last year. ...

To us, having that huge balcony for the price Carnival offered was a perk, and we ended up with 2 rooms, 2 tvs, and a great overhang on deck 4. ...

 

Spirit class deck four wraps are THE BEST ON THE SHIP!!

 

... I'm hoping the beards are listening to your suggestions and adding some suite perks then-coffee makers-breakfast on balconies, flat screen tvs, dvd players...

 

I'm not holding my breath... for my, nor anyone else's suggestions. :(

 

Tom

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Chris41

Chris41

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Keep in mind that some of these ships have several different suite levels. Some, especially on lines other than Carnival, have suites which are quite large (up to 3 bedrooms - Garden Villa on NCL).

 

I picked our sail week on the Epic as an example. It is the week following Thanksgiving, and I am showing the lowest and highest suite level (per person before fees and taxes):

 

NCL Epic...........$2500....$4700

NCL Pearl..........$1560....$8830 (Garden Villa)

Celebrity Eclipse $1950....$7300

Ruby Princess.....$2150....$2550

Carnival Dream...$1350....$1950

 

Quite the range!!

 

Tom

 

 

Thanks for the Info Tom

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mitchpam

mitchpam

Posted
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Yep. Perhaps some people just have BAD days, or they are just not careful about how things might come across to others. I have, on multiple occasions, been told that I am a snob, stuck up, self-important, privileged, condescending, arrogant, etc.... just based on "real world experiences" I have relayed on here. I have only really been ticked at a couple of people here over the last (let me check) 8 years. They have to REALLY be trying to push buttons, or were either very rude or caustic. They seem to have gone away, and it's not because I put them on ignore. Others, I have simply come to realize, are always up for a (pointless) debate or seem to enjoying finding some fault in something I/anyone have/has to say.

 

Tom

 

I guess the saying is true "it takes ALL kinds"! I appreciate *most* of the input I get on CC and take the rest with a grain of salt.

 

After even MORE research and hard thinking of what we wanted our vacation to look and feel like...our debate over... we are KEEPING the suite. Now I can just relax and forget about the $$ it costs. I think this is a KEY to enjoying a vacation, find a price you are comfortable spending and then spend it. Do not keep looking at what else you could have spent IF ONLY you had made another choice. Heck, I think it is KEY to happiness in other areas of life as well. :)

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jimbo5544 "Live from...." Rare

jimbo5544

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I guess the saying is true "it takes ALL kinds"! I appreciate *most* of the input I get on CC and take the rest with a grain of salt.

 

After even MORE research and hard thinking of what we wanted our vacation to look and feel like...our debate over... we are KEEPING the suite. Now I can just relax and forget about the $$ it costs. I think this is a KEY to enjoying a vacation, find a price you are comfortable spending and then spend it. Do not keep looking at what else you could have spent IF ONLY you had made another choice. Heck, I think it is KEY to happiness in other areas of life as well. :)

Enjoy your cruise. Let us know your thoughts about it after you cruise.

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tiggerman101

tiggerman101

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Spirit class deck four wraps are THE BEST ON THE SHIP!!

 

Tom

 

Amen. They are now the only Carnival suites I will book. I have tried the others on different ships as well and, in my opinion, they would be more enticing with additional perks. I will be in 4228 for my September Bermuda cruise, however, I am most excited about having that same cabin for my 15 day Hawaii trip.

 

I always say that I was blown away by the suite perks on our NCL Med cruise this year. Totally worth it. I have sailed in pretty much every cabin type so I am not hung up on the whole suite thing at all.

Edited by tiggerman101
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Cruising89143

Cruising89143

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I priced out those loft suites once ... it seems it was close to $10,000 pp. Can you imagine the cost for two for a week... ESPECIALLY if you spend time in the casino (and you are already willing to drop $20K on the suite alone)!

 

We have one RCL sailing under our belt. It was a short cruise on the Sovereign of the Seas. It was an "OK" cruise. We would love to try the Oasis or Allure at some point. We'll get around to it eventually!

 

 

I just checked.. the Oasis for that week runs between $3,000 and $8,700 pp for a suite.

 

Tom

 

Loft suites on the Oasis class depends on the week but they are really nice. We have had all three types of loft suites on the Allure and I have found very little out there that can touch the Royal Loft other than NCL's Garden Villa when it comes to mass market lines.

 

One reason that I don't look at Carnival at this time is due to their turning a deaf ear on suite and past guests. That and the design of their ships. They need to freshen things up a bit.

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Cruising89143

Cruising89143

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I would assume so. Im the reverse.. calling up celebrity to move to Elite, when I turn diamond on RCL after oasis this fall.

 

If you are elite on Celebrity you would yes be diamond on RCL.

 

But the really good stuff doesnt come until diamond plus.. all ships that have a concierge diamond lounge let in diamond plus, only diamond on freedom class and higher for the free drinks.

 

the free upgrades used to be diamond plus only .. but now it says diamonds can call up too, about 3 weeks before sailing and you can move one category up if there are 3 or more unbooked cabins in the category above you. they used to take the top 3 loyalty people on your cruise. Not sure if its still just 3 .. so no chance for me.

 

PS about the loft suites .. everyone I know got them as a free upgrade.

 

I think its intangibles as the above that count a lot.

 

Not that many get the upgrades. Especially now. Inventory Management is now offering upgrades to a CL for a cost. Last week on the Allure they had one left and gave it away as a bingo prize. Other than that, the remaining 24 or so sold and at over $5700.00 a person. Prices never dropped.

Edited by cruisingator2
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Cruising89143

Cruising89143

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There are, without a doubt, pros and cons to them all.

 

You can BET I will TOTALLY enjoy NCL - no matter how long it lasts! ;)

 

Tom

 

NCL is not going anywhere. You will be able to enjoy them for a long time. We tried NCL twice over the last couple of years. Had a nice time. Not my favorite line but they do suites better than just about anyone.

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JeffHatfield

JeffHatfield

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Not that many get the upgrades. Especially now. Inventory Management is now offering upgrades to a CL for a cost. Last week on the Allure they had one left and gave it away as a bingo prize. Other than that, the remaining 24 or so sold and at over $5700.00 a person. Prices never dropped.

 

 

We were on the Oasis the day before you were on the Allure. Two weeks before we sailed, 10 of the 25 loft suites were sold. They called my TA two days before we sailed and offered us the last loft suite for an additional 800 (up from a JS we paid roughly 4100 for 2.) We snapped it up.

 

Our neighbors were upgraded from a GS for free, but we probably still paid less.

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Cruising89143

Cruising89143

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We were on the Oasis the day before you were on the Allure. Two weeks before we sailed, 10 of the 25 loft suites were sold. They called my TA two days before we sailed and offered us the last loft suite for an additional 800 (up from a JS we paid roughly 4100 for 2.) We snapped it up.

 

Our neighbors were upgraded from a GS for free, but we probably still paid less.

 

Back in January, we were on a B2B on the Allure and were in a Sky loft for two weeks. RCI called us three days before we sailed and stated that the Royal Loft had opened up for the second week of our sailing and offered it for an upsale. We took it. :) How did you like the crown loft.

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JeffHatfield

JeffHatfield

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Back in January, we were on a B2B on the Allure and were in a Sky loft for two weeks. RCI called us three days before we sailed and stated that the Royal Loft had opened up for the second week of our sailing and offered it for an upsale. We took it. :) How did you like the crown loft.

 

We really liked it. The zip line landed right beneath our balcony. The only down side was the upstairs closet. Meant I got to carry the luggage up the steps. But I have to say, I wouldn't pay the full price for it, didn't like it that much.

Edited by JeffHatfield
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Sargent_Schultz

Sargent_Schultz

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Bumping

Please do not manipulate postings on the boards by "bumping" topics to the top of the forum. Members will assume something of value has been posted, only to find that the newest posting is nothing more than a "bump post". This only wastes everyone's time.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/faq.php?faq=guidelines

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Tom-n-Cheryl "Live from...." Rare

Tom-n-Cheryl

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Bumping

Please do not manipulate postings on the boards by "bumping" topics to the top of the forum. Members will assume something of value has been posted, only to find that the newest posting is nothing more than a "bump post". This only wastes everyone's time.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/faq.php?faq=guidelines

 

Sgt is correct. It's advisable to at least make a pseudo post so as to appear to be in compliance ;)

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