Just "downgraded" from RS to CS for Transatlantic - did we make a mistake?

[sueclark]

All of our Celebrity sailings (except 1 in a SS) have been in a RS and we have loved them. Last year on the southern transatlantic we found that we didn't use the balcony hardly at all due to the cool temps and wind so when we booked the 9/7/04 Constellation (a northern crossing) we booked a RS because all the CS were gone (maybe there's a clue there) and waitlisted for a CS. It came through this morning.

Now I'm having all kinds of second thoughts... what are your opinions?? Pro or con, it will help us adjust our thinking.

Sue
[email="SueClark"]sueclark@aol.com[/email]

[B]Constellation Transatlantic 9/7/04[/B]
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[B]Infinity Panama Canal 4/17/05[/B]

[pammyveruda]

Hi Sue:

I would say take the CS - it really is a beautiful cabin. Those floor to ceiling windows are awesome!! You won't be getting that much use from the balcony, you will still have all the same perks, so I say save the extra $$ for another cruise and go with the CS. Just my two cents worth of course!

[Flacrusrs]

Sue,

You certainly have more experience than I do cruising, plus you have already done the southern crossing and found you didn't use your balcony, so that would suggest you keep the CS suite.

On the other hand, I would be out there on my balcony even if it were snowing. So I would always choose a balcony, just to know I could go out on it anytime I wanted to.

If all things were equal I would choose the layout of the RS over the CS. But then there is the view from the CS.

Tough choice, Sue. But my vote is still for the balcony.

Alicia

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;11;10;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Panama Canal

[ocngypz]

North or south.. I've never used the balcony on the transat.

Don't worry... Sue.. you did the right thing.
Use the savings in the spa!!

[sueclark]

The savings were in the neighborhood of $2500.00. Instead of the spa, I'll probably put it toward a quicky cruise in January. I don't think I can go the 7+ months between Sept and April '05 without a vacation. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I guess my main concern is about the service. Since there are only 2 suites on Vista deck 7, I just can't imagine (but I hope) that the service will be as good as we have always received in the cluster of top suites on Penthouse deck.

Sue
[email="SueClark"]sueclark@aol.com[/email]

[B]Constellation Transatlantic 9/7/04[/B]
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[B]Infinity Panama Canal 4/17/05[/B]

[Blazerboy]

Well, your neighbor isn't happy about your move! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] We'll miss having you two doors down.) That said, I, too, wondered if we'd upgrade to CS from SS if one came available. I think it's really personal preference. I used to need the balcony to smoke, because I always hated smoking indoors. Gave smoking up (yeah) but still want the balcony. Then again, I love getting bundled up and sitting out there even when it's really cold. The CS has those great windows, so you certainly won't lose anything in terms of view. And the thought of an extra cruise would probably seal the deal if I were in your shoes! And we'll all still have lots o' fun!

Blazer Boy

[sueclark]

Aaaaack, I don't know what to think. I'm sorry we're not going to be a couple doors from Blazerboy, but we'll all get together!

We enjoyed having the whole wall of windows in the Mercury RS... and the M-class RS only have the sliding door from the living room so the view is slightly restricted. With most of the temperatures supposed to be in the 50's and 60's I'm going to convince myself I made the right decision.

Sue
[email="SueClark"]sueclark@aol.com[/email]

[B]Constellation Transatlantic 9/7/04[/B]
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[B]Infinity Panama Canal 4/17/05[/B]

[RodPat]

Sue, I don't think you made a mistake. We were in a CS on Infinity last year to Alaska. We had been to Alaska once before with a balcony and knew how little we would use it. The CS is a lovely room. It has a separate dining area, living room with plasma tv, desk with computer, a good stereo system. The bedroom has a great closet, another plasma tv and a bathroom I would love to have a home. Enjoy this cruise and the next one. Pat

[Linda-E]

Sue,
We have one of the large aft balconies and you're welcome to come join us any time. I too have concerns about whether we'll use the balcony that much, but we did spend lots of time out there on the two spring Transatlantic cruises we've taken. However, I do love the idea of floor-to-ceiling windows. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

Linda

Constellation 7/2005
Constellation 9/2004
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;9;7;17;00;00&timezone=GMT[/img] 
Galaxy back-to-back 5/2004, Monarch of the Seas 1/2004, Infinity 10/2003, Constellation Transatlantic 4/2003, Sun Princess 8/2002, Millenium 3/2002, Summit 11/2001, Galaxy 6/2001, Sea Princess 11/2000, Splendor of the Seas 5/2000, Ryndam 1/2000, Zenith 12/1997, Crown Odyssey 8/1996, NCL Dreamward 8/1994, Sun Princess 1/1988, Costa Riviera 1986, Carnival Mardi Gras 1984, Sunward II 1979

[Shadow]

Hi Sue,
We had a CS on a back to back in Alaska. In my opinion, in cold weather the CS will be perfect. As with any cabin there are pros and cons. The only cons we had was that you couldn't get fresh air and the way the bathtub/shower were, it is hard to get in and out of, because of the height. The views were amazing with the floor to ceiling windows and it was nice to be able to sit back in comfort and watch the world go by. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

We just saw Joyce and she asked if we had met yet. We'll have to try to get together someday. Happy sailing. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Millennium - 6/20/05 - Mediteranean
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Infinity - 12/5/04 - Hawaii - Infinitinis
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[Brahmama]

Sue,
We are on the same cruise and have a big Aft balcony too - so if Linda isn't at home, come and visit our balcony!
That said, our good friends had a CC last fall and I fell in love with it. What a gorgeous view. That is their favorite suite and always book it if available.
So, how can you lose?
Frankly I think we need to have "progressive" cocktail hours going from one room to another to check them all out!
Carol

Costa Riviera 6/91
Regent Sun 8/92
Neui Amsterdam 10/95- NCL Seaward 8/96
Royal Odyssey 10/96 & 4/97
NCL Crown 4/98
Commodore 9/00
NCL Wind 11/00
HAL Statendam 1/02 Rhapsody of the Sea 5/02
Princess Golden 8/30/02 Millenium 10/14/03
Constellation 8/26/04 Constellation 9/7/04
Oceania Insignia 1/18/05

[sueclark]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words! We are just so spoiled with our Royal Suites - mostly the great service!

How does the Butler assigned to these suites do it? He must spend all his time running between floors. There are only the two CS on Vista deck.

I think a progressive cocktail party sounds like a great idea. We always have several cocktail parties onboard. Let's start planning the progressive one on our Roll Call post.

Sue
[email="SueClark"]sueclark@aol.com[/email]

[B]Constellation Transatlantic 9/7/04[/B]
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[B]Infinity Panama Canal 4/17/05[/B]

[micdeb]

We have been in the CS on the Infinity and Summit and we honestly did not miss the balcony. The view was awesome and great accomodations as well. I am sure you will enjoy and save a few bucks as well. More to party with of course!

Mic & Deb

Grandeur of the Seas 1997
Voyager of the Seas 2000
Mecury 2001 - Alaska
Explorer of the Seas 2001
Summit - Hawaii 2002
Infinity Panama 2003

[stomsf]

Sue --

We've been in both and for the Transatlantic, you probably made a good choice for the CS.

For hot weather the solar gain through those floor-to-ceiling windows is a bit too much for the A/C, especially if you have a bunch of people in your cabin for a cocktail party. The RS is better suited for entertaining and has the great balcony, but in cold weather you'll use your balcony quite a bit less than you would in a warm weather cruise. Plus, as I recall from our last cruise on the Constellation, the RS balconies have a mesh overhang which mostly shades the balcony from the sun.

Between the two we liked the layout of both, but for the CS your Pros are definitely the inside bedroom (completely dark for a good night's sleep) and the view from the windows. For the two of us, we rearranged the furniture upon arrival like most and moved the dining table to the windows so we could eat with a view -- the two chairs moved to the dining area closer to the bedroom make a good seating/reading area. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Enjoy your cabin and we'll see you on board!

Steve and Patrick

[sbku]

Sue,

A progressive cocktail party sounds like fun. We love having a balcony, especially in a M-Class RS because my hubby loves to pull the rolling chair up to the window, no matter what the weather. We call it his throne [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Blazerboy: We will still be your neighbor [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Sue & John

Constellation-9/7/04 Transatlantic
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;9;7;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000[/img]
Mercury-02/18/05 Mexico
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;2;18;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
Constellation-06/04/05 Baltics
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[hebeast]

We are also on the Transatlantic and like the progressive cocktail party to check out rooms. We got the largest aft cabin balcony (besides the penthouse - which we can look over) on the Vista deck so we can add that to the list.

Deb

[Linda-E]

Progressive cocktail party sounds like fun! We're in aft balcony on Panorama deck.

Linda

[Blazerboy]

This is practically becoming a Rollcall! I say "yeah" to the progressive cocktail party, too- I've been on ships that weren't full, and the staff offered a tour of available cabins. It was a great way to check out what we wanted to book for the next time- and this cocktail party idea sounds even better!

Blazer Boy

[CINDON]

Sue,
You did the right thing. The Celebrity Suites are absolutely wonderful. I hope that you got one of the forward ones that the window curvature allows you to look forward.

Mercury 9/24/2004 Cabo Wabo Party
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[sueclark]

Sadly, no ours is one of the aft-facing CS, but I'm sure it will be fine.

Steve and Patrick, I had to laugh when I read that you re-arranged the furniture. We always do that in the RS and the Stewards have acted like we are the only ones that ever do it! We like to have the couch and loveseat opposite each other rather than in the "L" shape. Picky, Picky, Picky!!!

Since we spend a lot of time in the cabin reading, I can see us arranging the two chairs in front of the window during the day, and moving the table each evening for dinner. I hope we have some nice husky stewards to do the moving for us!

Sue
[email="SueClark"]sueclark@aol.com[/email]

[B]Constellation Transatlantic 9/7/04[/B]
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[B]Infinity Panama Canal 4/17/05[/B]

[newtocc]

Sue, have a great time in the CS, it might be a nice change, since your already a Celebrity Snob, CS is probably the perfect choice! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

This ship 10/91
That ship 11/95
Whatever ship 12/98
here a ship 13/99
there a ship 14/00
everywhere
a
ship ship 15/05

[sueclark]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm... was that a slam? or did it refer to the "snob" thread? But yes, I am a bit of a Celebrity snob. Celebrity offers exactly the type of cruise I like! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Sue
[email="SueClark"]sueclark@aol.com[/email]

[B]Constellation Transatlantic 9/7/04[/B]
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[B]Infinity Panama Canal 4/17/05[/B]

[newtocc]

Sue, of course I was referring to the snob thread, I've been on here too long to be mean to you, you should know better than to take me seriously!

This ship 10/91
That ship 11/95
Whatever ship 12/98
here a ship 13/99
there a ship 14/00
everywhere
a
ship ship 15/05

[4 cruisers]

Sue, I think you did the right thing too! We made the mistake of having a Royal on the Century for my husband's 50th and it will be so hard to cruise again without!!!!! I'm truly okay about it but my husband is really quite spoiled! For us the Royal was important because we usually travel with our sons (this August on the Splendour only one son). The Royal was just the greatest for the four of us. But for the two of you, the service should be just as great and you really don't need all that space! By the way, we are "reduced" to a Jr. Suite on the Splendour...we're treating my parents, so we really had to economize this trip! Oh....I really wanted to do one of those little winking faces here....I haven't figured out where they went yet...boy am I dumb.....?!!!

[sueclark]

4 cruisers,

I agree completely about being spoiled by the Royal Suites. A few years ago we booked one "for a special one-time-only treat." Now we really don't consider anything else. That's why I am a little concerned about the move to the Celebrity Suite.

Sue