The Suite life.....How can anybody afford it.

[jmele999]

Hello all,

 

I recently saw a similar thread on the RCI board and thought that it provided very useful information so I thought about starting a thread here where everyone can post their secrets/suggestions on how anybody can afford the suite life.

 

Our secret is too book very early (2 years ahead) and the get the most OBC possible. I realize that booking early is not for everyone, but it works for us. Our OBC has ranged from as little as $300 to as high as $850. On our last cruise, the OBC we received was enough to cover 20% of our cruise fare, and on our upcoming cruise we are even saving more. Also by booking early you can usually get the cheapest fare, and have the ability to pay for the cruise in installments. Additionally, you can use a TA for more OBC.

 

Next use your credit cards points for additional OBC, airfare, hotels, etc.

 

Additionally, subscribe to discount sites such as groupon, living social so that you can score discounted airport parking, hotel and dinner vouchers.

 

Lastly, book the cheapest suite possible. The suite perks on NCL are great and all suites receive the same standard suites perks. Higher suites get more perks, but they are usually MORE expensive.

Edited April 29, 2014 by jmele999

[SissasMomE]

On NCL, all suites get the same perks - with the exception of the 3 bottles of alcohol. Also, if you travel during off times, it is very affordable.

[CruiseRansier]

We always sail in an Aft Suite. We usually book 2 years out and make payments on it. By the time we sail we like to have also paid off our gratuities and any shore excursions.

[Squidward Q Tentacles]

On NCL, all suites get the same perks - with the exception of the 3 bottles of alcohol. Also, if you travel during off times, it is very affordable.

 

When be the best travel dates for a Caribbean cruise to snag a cheap suite?

[tel2]

On NCL, all suites get the same perks - with the exception of the 3 bottles of alcohol. Also, if you travel during off times, it is very affordable.

 

Hi! That is not correct. On some ships, there is a Haven. On some ships, not all suite passengers have access to the Haven, only certain suite levels. Also, on some ships, only come levels of suites have reserved theatre seating. That all that comes to mind right now re differences.

 

Terry

[weltek]

Do couples ever share with another couple (sans kids) to make it affordable? Is it worth the inconvenience for suites where there is only one bathroom (e.g., Family Suite)?

 

I'm not sure I want to share a cabin, but have considered it in order to enjoy the suite life.

[jmele999]

When be the best travel dates for a Caribbean cruise to snag a cheap suite?

 

December (before the holidays), January, February. If you want to do a summer cruise, you best bet is late August, early September. However, prices for summer cruises tend to be higher.

[khaide612]

Do couples ever share with another couple (sans kids) to make it affordable? Is it worth the inconvenience for suites where there is only one bathroom (e.g., Family Suite)?

 

I'm not sure I want to share a cabin, but have considered it in order to enjoy the suite life.

 

I've done the 2 bedroom with my parents, sister & brother-in-law where my parents had the master & we all shared the 2nd bedroom. It was tight but we managed as we had the living room & just used the bedroom for sleeping.

 

This next cruise my sis & BIL were booked in a mini. I invited myself to go with them so upgraded to an aft penthouse for the 3 of us. When they started the kids free promo, we upgraded to the 2-bedroom and got a small refund.

 

I follow prices a lot and have seen it where 4 people in a 2-bedroom suite was less expensive than 2 balconies or minis with 2 people each. It is all your own comfort level though. There are couple who share inside cabins.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Just booked a Penhouse Suite H7 on the Breakaway for November 16, 2014. Ever since I was on the Breakaway last March (Spa Balcony) I have been dying to try a suite mostly because of the posts I have seen on this Board. I am booked through CAS because of my last cruise and was given a comp oceanview on this cruise. Obviously I upgraded. The cost through CAS is $3,400 for the 2 of us compared to the price online which is $4,570. Quite a good savings in my opinion. Of course I will get our drink cards which is an additional perk through CAS in the casino. I don't drink much buy DH enjoys his drinks so I am sure that alone will save a large amount. I am just paying it off during the next few months. Will just have to stay away from Atlantic City YIKES lol

 

 

I did consider sharing a suite with my SIL and BIL on a future cruise but they didn't want to share the bedroom and give me and DH the small room. I was like ummmm NO that doesnt work considering I am the one getting the better deal. My SIL only gets 20% off on future cruises through CAS. So no I rather not share. I will scrimp and save to have this suite for me and DH. He is a workaholic and Im so happy he agreed with me for this cruise.

Edited April 29, 2014 by GeriC

[triptolemus]

... and have the ability to pay for the cruise in installments.

 

Why pay NCL "installments"? An installment payment is a periodic payment that's made on a loan. You don't have a loan from NCL. You have a booking. If someone has to save for their cruise (suite or otherwise), that's fine, but makes far more sense to fund your own savings account with periodic deposits sufficient to meet the savings goal (the fare). Then make one payment at or near final payment date.

 

It isn't Bank of NCL, after all.

 

If this is an issue of "NCL has my money so I can't spend it..." well, I'll save the lecture for another time.

Edited April 29, 2014 by triptolemus

[Lacaena]

Do couples ever share with another couple (sans kids) to make it affordable? Is it worth the inconvenience for suites where there is only one bathroom (e.g., Family Suite)?

 

I'm not sure I want to share a cabin, but have considered it in order to enjoy the suite life.

 

 

We are currently planning a trip to Bermuda on the Dawn in September 2015 (have not booked yet). My fiance (by that time husband) and I will be traveling with my MIL and BIL. We priced out 2 balconies but it was about the same price to get a 2 bedroom suite. IMO definitely worth it for the suite perks, even without the Haven.

 

Additionally, if you can hit it on "kids" sail free (which really means any 3rd and 4th passenger) then you can snag an even better deal. We are hoping that promo comes around again before we have to book.

[weltek]

I'm so ignorant. I didn't realize the "kids sail free" may be ANY 3rd and 4th passenger sail free. I don't have kids, so I don't even bother looking at those. Now I will.

 

I have reservations about sharing a suite with another couple, but if the right sale and right couple is in place, this is giving me confidence to go for it.

[esp13]

My secret (such as it is) to affording the suite life is to sail the week before Christmas (much cheaper) and book way early. Both times I have done this I have scored a good amount of OBC ($450 this time around) and booked at a cheaper price (my current suite is up over $450 pp from what I booked). I also use my NCL BofA points to get more OBC which brings the overall cost even lower.

 

Because I can generally only cruise once a year and sometimes only every other year, I can also save up to pay for the higher costs of a suite, including the "hidden" costs of tipping the butler and concierge. It's not that those are secret costs, but they are in addition to the normal sailing costs and need to be accounted for in the budgeting process. It takes a little more planning, but is well worth it.

[Va. Plumber]

I booked an SJ suite on Dawn to Bermuda in October very early. Between the nice OBC and the difference from current pricing, I saved $700.00.

 

I would much rather pay for the cruise in manageable installments than have the whole thing hit at once.

 

Sure, the suite life can be expensive, but try staying at the Greenbrier or the Homestead for a week.

[SissasMomE]

When be the best travel dates for a Caribbean cruise to snag a cheap suite?

 

Look at the off-season ... before and after holidays. Early November and December - really good deals then!

[Ilovesailing]

Why pay NCL "installments"? An installment payment is a periodic payment that's made on a loan. You don't have a loan from NCL. You have a booking. If someone has to save for their cruise (suite or otherwise), that's fine, but makes far more sense to fund your own savings account with periodic deposits sufficient to meet the savings goal (the fare). Then make one payment at or near final payment date.

 

It isn't Bank of NCL, after all.

 

If this is an issue of "NCL has my money so I can't spend it..." well, I'll save the lecture for another time.

 

I normally would agree with you however on our upcoming Panama cruise 1/2015 we booked in 7/2013 and knew the Canadian dollar was going to drop so we paid our cruise in full about a month later, lost exactly 1 cent on the dollar now the buck is worth .91 cents so the hedging paid off for us. Having left that money in the bank at 1.30% interest is going to get me a bag of peanuts.

 

And as as side note our penthouse is up $900 pp since booking.

[hominid]

Kids Sail Free has worked for us twice now. We cruised out of NOLA the first week of December 2012 (yes, we took the kids out of school). We had a family suite SJ on the Star for 4 and I booked it the first week of July 2012. Got the cruise for 4 for $2665 and $650 OBC. We already had a vacation booked for that year but it was such a crazy good deal, we had to take 2 vacations that year:D

 

And with the most recent KSF promo, we booked another SJ on the Dawn to Bermuda sailing out of Boston on Halloween. We were able to get it for $2770 with $350 OBC.

 

We would have really preferred to try one of the new ships, but my family got spoiled by the Suite Life the last time and cruising in the summer in a suite was almost 3X as much. I know we probably won't get as good a deal as these again, but I will definitely enjoy them when I can find them!

[jenf22]

I follow prices a lot and have seen it where 4 people in a 2-bedroom suite was less expensive than 2 balconies or minis with 2 people each. It is all your own comfort level though. There are couple who share inside cabins.

 

We just did this on RCL for October. It is us (2A, 1C) and my parents (2A). We were able to switch from our sailing on DCL in 2 balconies to the 2-bedroom suite on RCL for $2000 less. We got 3rd, 4th, and 5th person free. This will be our first taste of the "suite life". We'll see how it goes.

 

We also have a suite reservation on NCL for next June. I justified the cost because it was $2500 less than the same cruise on DCL. So the suite seemed like a deal :)

 

But to get to the point of the question (at least on the other board), I think you just have to budget and determine what is most important to you. We have a savings account that gets fed automatically every paycheck. How we spend that money is up to us... we both get 4 weeks of vacation a year. Do we want to spend all our money on one big trip or book cheaper rooms so we can go on multiple trips. For us, it's multiple trips. I want to see as much as I can while I have the money to.

[jjikids]

Do couples ever share with another couple (sans kids) to make it affordable? Is it worth the inconvenience for suites where there is only one bathroom (e.g., Family Suite)?

 

I'm not sure I want to share a cabin, but have considered it in order to enjoy the suite life.

 

Not all suites can accommodate four. We did the Gem penthouse SF. It sleeps three. We are doing it again. Booked early to get $300 OBC for booking nine months in advance. Then the cost is only a little more than a balcony.

[gooch47]

I will admit feeling a little jealous reading about the suites, seeing the photos, etc. We easily spend enough every year to afford the suites, but instead opt to take numerous cruises in balcony cabins instead of limiting ourselves to one or two luxury ones.

[hpecorari]

I love the suite life. My problem is very few ships have suites or Haven Suites (except for the 2 bedroom) that the bed will separate into two beds. I travel with my SIL and as much as I love her I don't want to sleep with her. Tried sleeping on the couch on one cruise for 11 days and won't be doing that again.

 

Harriet

[kcwingwalker]

I love the suite life. My problem is very few ships have suites or Haven Suites (except for the 2 bedroom) that the bed will separate into two beds. I travel with my SIL and as much as I love her I don't want to sleep with her. Tried sleeping on the couch on one cruise for 11 days and won't be doing that again.

 

Harriet

 

Agree! Not all of us are traveling with spouse/significant other. Would love to have the option of separate beds! Heck even a trundle under the bed would be an improvement.

 

Thanks for suggestion:)

[kjquilts]

Do couples ever share with another couple (sans kids) to make it affordable? Is it worth the inconvenience for suites where there is only one bathroom (e.g., Family Suite)?

 

I'm not sure I want to share a cabin, but have considered it in order to enjoy the suite life.

 

Larry and I have shared suites several times. 9076 on the Sun with my mom and stepdad and family suites SG and SJ on the Star with our best friends Rich and Roseann. The family suites are great for sharing because of the really nice bathroom set up. The four of us (me, Larry, Rich and Roseann) were booked in two oceanview staterooms on the POA for our upcoming cruise but when the kids of all ages promo happened we traded both in for one of the two bedroom suites on the stern with the giant balcony :)

 

Since the Hawaii cruise is to celebrate their 30th anniversary and her birthday they're getting the big bedroom. Otherwise we just alternate who gets the bed and who gets the couch or murphy bed.

[kjquilts]

I'm so ignorant. I didn't realize the "kids sail free" may be ANY 3rd and 4th passenger sail free. I don't have kids, so I don't even bother looking at those. Now I will.

 

I have reservations about sharing a suite with another couple, but if the right sale and right couple is in place, this is giving me confidence to go for it.

 

 

The last promo was the first time I've seen kids sail free include "kids of all ages". We were able to take advantage of it and you can bet I'll be reading the fine print on the next kids sail free promo :)

[DMH15]

I am of the "cruise less but in a suite" camp. We combine this theory with longer cruises. March 2013 was 11 nighter and Oct 2014 is a 15 nighter. Slipping in a getaway to Red Rock Resort in Vegas next month to split the gap. I travel with mom, a widow and I am divorced with no kids.

 

In 2015 we will do Jewel Haven for my niece's 18th birthday. Just the three of us in the 2 bedroom.