Pearl suite questions

[bobbylutens]

We finally chose a cruise and today upgraded to a 2 bedroom family suite:) I have been reading a little about what comes with suites. I've never sailed NCL before and am wondering how a few things work. Do all suite guests board at a particular time? I saw there is a private restaurant, is that for all meals? Also, do suite guests get priority reservations at specialty restaurants? And if we want to eat in the main dining room, do we need reservations for that?

 

Anything else we should know about suite perks? Thanks!!!

[Sauer-kraut]

You will board when there is a group enough to board, otherwise you'll be waiting in a private area of the terminal with beverages and snacks available to you. A butler or concierge will escort the group on the ship.

 

As far as I know you will get breakfast and lunch in a private restaurant, for dinner you eat at any restaurant. No, you do not need reservations for the MDR. As a suite guest you get can start making specialty reservations at 100 days prior to sailing, whereas the general population has to wait until 90 days out. If Teppanakyi is on your list (asian hibachi dining) seats are very limited so that is imperitave to book early.

[bobbylutens]

You will board when there is a group enough to board, otherwise you'll be waiting in a private area of the terminal with beverages and snacks available to you. A butler or concierge will escort the group on the ship.

 

As far as I know you will get breakfast and lunch in a private restaurant, for dinner you eat at any restaurant. No, you do not need reservations for the MDR. As a suite guest you get can start making specialty reservations at 100 days prior to sailing, whereas the general population has to wait until 90 days out. If Teppanakyi is on your list (asian hibachi dining) seats are very limited so that is imperitave to book early.

 

 

Oh no! we are 90 days out....we didn't make a reservation there yet!!!

[marelind]

We finally chose a cruise and today upgraded to a 2 bedroom family suite:) I have been reading a little about what comes with suites. I've never sailed NCL before and am wondering how a few things work. Do all suite guests board at a particular time? I saw there is a private restaurant, is that for all meals? Also, do suite guests get priority reservations at specialty restaurants? And if we want to eat in the main dining room, do we need reservations for that?

 

Anything else we should know about suite perks? Thanks!!!

 

Suite guests have a separate VIP check-in area. You do not have an assigned time to be at the port. Be sure to ask the people at the port who are directing you to the lines where the suites check-in is. Once you check in they will then have you go to the suites waiting area where you meet the concierge or his assistant and a butler, not necessarily yours, who will escort you on board the ship. They will take you to the suites restaurant for lunch if you are in time for lunch.

 

There is a private suites restaurant, usually Moderno, for breakfasts and lunches. You will have a letter in your cabin outlining the times and places for those meals; sometimes the times can change depending on whether it is a sea day or port day.

 

You do not need reservations for the main dining room, but you may make them on board. The concierge is your friend for making reservations. If you know ahead of time when you want to dine in the specialty restaurants you might want to send that information to the pre-concierge about 2-3 weeks before your cruise (do a search for pre-concierge).

 

Be aware that the Daily Service Charge (DSC) for suites is $15.50/person per day, not the $13.50 for the other cabins. Also, the concierge and butlers are not included in that DSC, so plan to give them tips. (You can read the thousands of threads on tipping to determine what you think is appropriate.) The steward cleans the cabin, the butler handles in-cabin dining, coffee maker supplies, afternoon snacks and cabin maintenance issues, and the concierge handles outside the cabin issues like reservations for restaurants, spa, and excursions, embarking or disembarking, seats for shows, etc. They usually all work together though and if one doesn't handle it they will communicate to the correct person or tell you who to contact.

 

Have a wonderful time and just know once you have tasted the suite life it is hard to go back. ;)

[marelind]

Oh no! we are 90 days out....we didn't make a reservation there yet!!!

 

Don't worry, you can make them now and it likely won't be a problem. If you have a very good concierge they might be able to get last minute reservations when you are on board. We were on the Jewel a week ago and we prefer to decide day of or day before for specialty restaurants. Bruno was very good at getting us reservations on board.

[bobbylutens]

Suite guests have a separate VIP check-in area. You do not have an assigned time to be at the port. Be sure to ask the people at the port who are directing you to the lines where the suites check-in is. Once you check in they will then have you go to the suites waiting area where you meet the concierge or his assistant and a butler, not necessarily yours, who will escort you on board the ship. They will take you to the suites restaurant for lunch if you are in time for lunch.

 

There is a private suites restaurant, usually Moderno, for breakfasts and lunches. You will have a letter in your cabin outlining the times and places for those meals; sometimes the times can change depending on whether it is a sea day or port day.

 

You do not need reservations for the main dining room, but you may make them on board. The concierge is your friend for making reservations. If you know ahead of time when you want to dine in the specialty restaurants you might want to send that information to the pre-concierge about 2-3 weeks before your cruise (do a search for pre-concierge).

 

Be aware that the Daily Service Charge (DSC) for suites is $15.50/person per day, not the $13.50 for the other cabins. Also, the concierge and butlers are not included in that DSC, so plan to give them tips. (You can read the thousands of threads on tipping to determine what you think is appropriate.) The steward cleans the cabin, the butler handles in-cabin dining, coffee maker supplies, afternoon snacks and cabin maintenance issues, and the concierge handles outside the cabin issues like reservations for restaurants, spa, and excursions, embarking or disembarking, seats for shows, etc. They usually all work together though and if one doesn't handle it they will communicate to the correct person or tell you who to contact.

 

Have a wonderful time and just know once you have tasted the suite life it is hard to go back. ;)

 

 

Thank you so much!! Do we need to pre-reserve the shows and is there an additional charge for them?

[BirdTravels]

No show reservation required. No reserved seating for you. First come first serve in theater.

[bonvoyagie]

The Pearl is a nice ship you will enjoy her very much.

 

She does not have any extra charge entertainment venues - everything happens in the bars, lounges, atrium, or Stardust Theatre and is all free.

 

All suites have access to Modnero for breakfast and lunch.

 

Embarkation is different at different ports - in Seattle you are escorted to the head of the security line and then to a small lounge area where you are checked in. Then on to the ship with one of the butlers.

 

Recently in Boston I stood in line going through security and then had to fill out my Canada Customs forms. Finally I was able to dodge the line to be checked in - from there we were directed to a draped off area where we were escorted to our suite. Not near as nice as Seattle.

 

YMMV

 

We were recently in a 2 bdrm family suite on the Dawn - a great space for three adults to spend 14 days on a cruise ship.

 

The Pearl has two sets of these suites - 8 on deck 14 in the Haven and 10 on deck 11. there is no difference in the room - just the location and access to The Haven courtyard and sundeck - might be nice in AK :D

 

Enjoy your cruise

[Turtles06]

No show reservation required. No reserved seating for you. First come first serve in theater.

 

Aren't there a few rows in the balcony that are restricted to suite guests? (at least until the show starts?) I don't think they are in a particularly desirable location, just wanting the info to be correct for the OP.

[bonvoyagie]

The Stardust Theatre has some reserved seating in the balcony section for Owner's Suites and Garden Villas only. On the Pearl that would be 2 GV, 2 Deluxe OS, and 4 OS - or about 24-36.

 

Usually the concierge or one of their assistants are at the entrance to this area and know the guests that should be there.

 

On my recent cruise on the Dawn there was a show that was indeed SRO and since the reserved section was half empty - they opened it up to anybody - but that is not always the case.