Suites??

[newyorkray]

I'm an old time Celebrity cruiser going back to 1996 and many cruises. I always booked a veranda until concierge came out. Not sure why I still do as concierge is nothing special. I've thought about a suite. 3 years ago I booked my family on NCL Breakaway when it was new and NCL upgraded me 2 weeks before the cruise to a Haven suite (2 bedrooms, living room, really nice) for just my wife and I, for only an additional $500. We are rarely in our cabin. Port days we are first off, last on. Sea days it activities, pool, dinner and casino until closing. Does a suite really make sense? It is a significant difference in price and the comfort is great but is it worth paying $7-8,000 for a week cruise? I don't know if is my snobbish ego that wants it or I really want a bigger space. I could find other things to do with the extra several thousand dollars! There seems to be so many suite cruisers on here, what do you think?

[philpcruiser]

Look, if you can afford it, go for it. You only live once. We only take one "good" vacation per year, so we live it up. Last summer, we did a PH on the Summit. Loved the experience from the minute we walked into the terminal to the good-byes from Michael's club. Loved the spaciousness of the room(s), loved the balcony, loved the convenience of a wet bar. Although you pay a premium, you don't get nickled and dimed once on board. Its a great thing to look forward to.

[Cruise To Relax]

Personally, we take maybe one "big" vacation every 12-18 months. We are just the opposite from you in our cuisine style. We go to relax, enjoy reading, watching the world go by, etc. We are not big drinkers, pool, or casino people. That is our style. Your style is completely different. We like easy cruising. For us, suites make sense. When we were younger, we did the thinks you do although with with less "intensity." We did veranda rooms. We booked a suite after my lengthy stay in the hospital. We were "hooked" - it fit our desires and style. It seems based on my perception of you "style" that suites and the associated cost that you may not get to enjoy all the suite perks. Just reading about about your daily schedule makes me tired 😬. But that is what you enjoy so that is great. Yes the extra room is nice - know that haven suite was AWESOME. Room space is nice but we like all the perks. We do RS and, while more costly, is perfect for us. We get pampered and we get to have things we don't usually have - breakfast in bed or eating on our balcony, etc. Whatever you decide - know you will enjoy it. As they say - for some cruising is for the destinations, others it is for the laid back stress less cruise. Not sure I answered your question but hope it helps in seeing a different perspective.

[Host Jazzbeau]

I don't see the benefit of Concierge over Veranda, but AquaClass and Suites get the choice to dine in Blu and Luminae respectively. That is the big benefit in my mind, and works equally well if you spend a lot or a little time in the suite itself.

[jelayne]

For $7-8,000 for a week I wouldn't spend enough time in the suite to justify the cost and it doesn't sound like you do either. Luminae is great but for $400 for a 1 week cruise you could get the unlimited speciality restaurant package-take the $6-7,600 saving and take another cruise.

[cb at sea]

Sounds like you don't need the "perks" that might come with a suite...so why pay for them? NCL has the best suite perks. None of the other cruise lines come close! Save your $$$...and book only what you need.

[Host Jazzbeau]

For $7-8,000 for a week I wouldn't spend enough time in the suite to justify the cost and it doesn't sound like you do either. Luminae is great but for $400 for a 1 week cruise you could get the unlimited speciality restaurant package-take the $6-7,600 saving and take another cruise.

 

It sounds like you are comparing the jump from an Inside to a Super Deluxe Owner's Royalty Super-Size with Fries Suite. The jump from OP's Veranda to an S2 Sky Suite is much less. Plus the menu in Luminae changes every day, while the specialty restaurant menus are always the same.

[Chunky2219]

At one end you have the people who would prefer to spend their money on 3 or 4 cruises a year. They take an inside cabin, happy with having somewhere just to hang their clothes and lay their head at night. Every day, they are first out and after a swift breakfast are at the poolside soaking up the rays and reading a book. In the evening it's the theater or one of the bars until exhaustion kicks in and they return to the accomodation.

 

At the other end, you have people who value floor space, comfort and access to finer food. They might prefer to eat in the suite and have it served on a proper table with linen and condiments rather than delivered on a tray. Rather than sit around the pool they might prefer to sit on a balcony or maybe jump in the outside Jaccuzzi (which I can especially recommend if you are moored opposite Sydney Opera House and still have the bottle of fizz from boarding). Bathroom wise, you might be much happier with a long soak in the tub rather than a pokey shower and in some relationships having more than one lavatory can be a godsend. In the evening, if you are particularly drawn to that sort of thing then reserved seats in the theater might be attractive, otherwise you might just enjoy spending time in the suite on the comfortable furniture. Perhaps you might both like to watch differnt things on TV, which is possible with two sets. Internet is now free, rather than something you have to eek out expensive minute by minute, so it offers a bit more chance to keep in touch with the real world and if you are sad and obsessed enough to even do some work.

 

Between these extremes lie all possible flavours of variation. No answer is right for everyone, no answer is even right for the same person every single time. If you're unlikely to suffer from buyer's remorse, book a suite. If you don't suffer from sea-sickness/claustrophobia and are time rich or if you'd rather spend your wonga on a range of other things then the inside cabin is a perfectly rational choice.

 

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[fleckle]

.........Does a suite really make sense? It is a significant difference in price and the comfort is great but is it worth paying $7-8,000 for a week cruise? I don't know if is my snobbish ego that wants it or I really want a bigger space. I could find other things to do with the extra several thousand dollars! There seems to be so many suite cruisers on here, what do you think?

All that matters is whether or not the suite is worth the extra money to YOU for this cruise at this time.

 

For another cruise, your answer may be different.

 

This is just a higher priced version of the frequently asked question about whether or not it is worth paying extra for a balcony.

 

I realize that you are looking for a yes or no answer, but my answer in both cases is "it depends" which I know is not helpful at all, but it really is the only honest answer I can give. :)

 

 

Maybe it could help you decide if you consider what other things you will do with the extra several thousand dollars if you don't spend it on the suite, and then see which choice is more appealing to you.

 

 

[mdmourges]

My wife and I enjoy staying in the RS. Having a bedroom separate from the living space is important to us. We also enjoy the larger master bath and having a 1/2 bath for guests. And now with all the perks thrown in for the RS and PS, it makes it even nicer. Yes the price has gone up because they include the perks but if you look hard, you can find prices that reflect the old prices and not 100% of the perks. Anyway, just my opinion.

[bigbenboys]

We had a A1 cabin with 123go allin. We rebooked a S1 cabin with Best 4 perks on our 7 night cruise. The cost difference was $900, plus we got more OBC. I think we got a great deal.

[chemmo]

We only take one "good" vacation per year, so we live it up. Last summer, we did a PH on the Summit. Loved the experience from the minute we walked into the terminal to the good-byes from Michael's club. Loved the spaciousness of the room(s), loved the balcony, loved the convenience of a wet bar. Although you pay a premium, you don't get nickled and dimed once on board. Its a great thing to look forward to.

 

Could not agree more...

 

To the OP....as others have said it is only worth booking a suite if you are going to use and enjoy the perks...If I was going to be as busy as you sound like you are going to be I would book a cheaper room, pay for a couple of speciality dinners and spend the cash I saved on some really nice shore excursion, sea plane flights, helicopter trips....Lots of ways to enjoy a cruise.

 

Suites are great for some people but do not suit the lifestyle of others....I guess that is why all cruise ships have such a variety of room choices!

[jagoffee]

We had a A1 cabin with 123go allin. We rebooked a S1 cabin with Best 4 perks on our 7 night cruise. The cost difference was $900, plus we got more OBC. I think we got a great deal.

I agree. Congratulations.

[DrivesLikeMario]

You have to weigh your priorities. To me, I could care less what I cruise in as long as I GO! DH is the opposite - he wants suites and first class airfare all the time. I don't need to feel "suite special" to enjoy a cruise. Some people need that special treatment, exclusive dining, extra perks, etc. There's nothing wrong with that; everyone is different. For me, the destination is more important.

 

I think the more you cruise, the more you discover what's important to you. Maybe if you look back on your prior cruises and think about what made each one a great experience, you'll get your answer on whether to go with a suite or not.

Edited February 11, 2016 by DrivesLikeMario