First time in a suite - dos and don'ts

[Mark.Jules]

We took the plunge and are in a sky suite on our Apex cruise to Norway. Hearing the dos and don'ts of suite cruising intrigues me. I know so much is subjective and will keep this in mind.

 

What is your favorite aspect of being in a suite?

What do you wish you would have known about the suite life before your cruise?

What other advice do you give to a first time suite guest?

 

Looking forward to  reading your responses.

[Cruise a holic]

We were on the apex three times.  Did one back to back.  LOVE the suite life.  The suite lounge is wonderful and the concierges and bartenders in the lounge are fabulous.  The suite sun deck great- however lacks adequate shade seating.  We enjoy the perks you get with the suite- priority boarding and disembarkation, Luminae service excellent- but do enjoy the specialty restaurants!  The butler service is nice- the actual sky suite has a large cabin and the bathroom excellent.  We prefer the S1 and S2 cabins, but the S3 look interesting.  You are in for a real treat.  Wonderful ship.  Enjoy

Edited June 9, 2023 by Cruise a holic

[horseymike]

Would you please pass the Grey Poupon ? 😁

Have a great cruise. 🛳️

[dateacher]

The layout of the cabin is better but I don't think it is any larger.  The bathroom is a major step up.  Love the retreat lounge and pool area.  It makes the cruise seem so much calmer when you are not around large crowds.  Love the option of eating at Luminae and Blu (yes we had no trouble eating in Blu with no reservations.)

 

All around better experience.  The one problem - once you do it, you don't want to go back.

[lv2cruisgrl]

What's not to like!  We love it all.  Food, service etc.  Don't be afraid to ask your butler for anything.  Mine even got my shoe fixed!  

[TeeRick]

31 minutes ago, dateacher said:

The layout of the cabin is better but I don't think it is any larger.  The bathroom is a major step up.  Love the retreat lounge and pool area.  It makes the cruise seem so much calmer when you are not around large crowds.  Love the option of eating at Luminae and Blu (yes we had no trouble eating in Blu with no reservations.)

 

All around better experience.  The one problem - once you do it, you don't want to go back.

Sky suites are definitely larger than traditional Inside and Balcony Cabins.  There are a lot of sites where you can find the SQ FT of all cabins and suites on any ship.

[Sigyn]

I'm interested in the advice you get - I'll have my first taste of the suite life in something like 26 or 27 days. On the Millennium, but still...

[jbcallender]

@dateacher is right.  It's very easy to get used to.  Upgraded linens and bedding.  An extra bit of service and a concierge that can make things happen when needed.  We are on Millie 8/4 and eagerly awaiting it.

[tomcruiser1234]

First timers……

 

You wont be a last timer… To many people are choosing now and spending the family inheritance 

 

price keep going up so its gotta be great. 

 

Use your butler and enjoy the morning breakfast and espresso.  

[KKB]

4 hours ago, Mark.Jules said:

We took the plunge and are in a sky suite on our Apex cruise to Norway. Hearing the dos and don'ts of suite cruising intrigues me. I know so much is subjective and will keep this in mind.

 

What is your favorite aspect of being in a suite?

What do you wish you would have known about the suite life before your cruise?

What other advice do you give to a first time suite guest?

 

Looking forward to  reading your responses.

We did Retreat for the 1st time in April on Beyond.

We really liked it but will only book if we can get a great deal again.

 

My favorite part was the Retreat sun deck--never overly crowded.

DH said his fav was the Lounge--easy to grab a quick bite for breakfast/lunch/snack, grab & go sodas & beer in fridges. 

 

Luminae was good but I don't know that it was particularly better than many dining rooms.

Room is great, but we just aren't in it that much.

 

We made requests regarding drinks/snacks in room...by & large ignored. 

Not a huge deal as we don't get those in regular rooms.

I don't order AM coffee as Iike to wake when I wake...so I cannot put a time as to when I will want it!

Rarely saw our butler.

 

You will definitely enjoy it--just go with the flow!

 

Edited June 9, 2023 by KKB

[KKB]

24 minutes ago, tomcruiser1234 said:

First timers……

 

You wont be a last timer… To many people are choosing now and spending the family inheritance 

 

price keep going up so its gotta be great. 

 

Use your butler and enjoy the morning breakfast and espresso.  

Meh, we might be a last timer...will only do it again if a fantastic deal comes our way again.

Definitely not worth much more than we paid to us.

Would rather travel more frequently.

Edited June 9, 2023 by KKB

[jbcallender]

2 hours ago, tomcruiser1234 said:

First timers……

 

You wont be a last timer… To many people are choosing now and spending the family inheritance 

 

price keep going up so its gotta be great. 

 

Use your butler and enjoy the morning breakfast and espresso.  

The person that spent 45 years making the family inheritance and getting three great kids off the payroll is going to do whatever we (me and DW) want with it!!  And you're right.  One suite cruise is not enough!  Tahiti-Hawaii last November and Alaska on Millie in 55 or so days!

[zitsky]

Don’t ask your butler for a foot massage.  Things they don’t tell you on Cruise Critic.  😂

 

We saw our butler several times.  Talked to him often.  He brought our room service breakfast when we had an early excursion.  Was that normal?

[TeachAloha]

Silly thing, but we learned DON'T order room service via the TV or button on the phone; call your butler. We didn't want to bother him so early, so ordered breakfast through the TV. Apparently, they have to transfer the order to the butler anyway & somehow, it got all mucked up and never got to him 🙂 There are door cards where you can order breakfast & if they are on your door by 2am, *poof* breakfast magically arrives at the time you requested. 

 

We didn't want to be "those people" and bug him, but found out not calling them for things like room service makes their job harder since it gets delayed.  

[zitsky]

We used the door cards.  Easy.

 

[Pantheral]

Do: 

- Enjoy the suite. Even if it's just a bit bigger that regular stateroom, it does feel less cramped over time.

- Priority tendering: nothing better than skipping the long boarding lines at any tendered port of call, both coming and going.

- Appreciate the boarding process, especially at Ft. Lauderdale. Again, no waiting in lines, head up the elevator and board with your escort.

- engage the butler and room attendant. Tell them what you like to drink, pillow style, etc. Not all butlers are equal, but most will provide you with the basics for happiness. every room attendant we've has in a suite has gone above and beyond to be helpful.

- consider hosting a small cocktail party if travelling with friends. A good butler will be happy to set this up and even help send invites to guests

- Get to know all of your potential servers, concierges and bartenders in all the suite areas (Retreat, Luminae,etc) We have often had the same server at Luminae every night and they will learn your preferences

- seek out help from the Retreat Concieges if you have any questions or are looking to make reservations

 

Don't:

- expect everything will be perfect. 

- miss any invited events, particularly sailaways on the helipad if they fit your schedule

- forget to ask/request

-forget to tip accordingly

 

hope this helps, but mostly enjoy the cruise and the benefits, you paid for them!!!

[Cruise a holic]

9 hours ago, dateacher said:

The layout of the cabin is better but I don't think it is any larger.  The bathroom is a major step up.  Love the retreat lounge and pool area.  It makes the cruise seem so much calmer when you are not around large crowds.  Love the option of eating at Luminae and Blu (yes we had no trouble eating in Blu with no reservations.)

 

All around better experience.  The one problem - once you do it, you don't want to go back.

Definately a sky suite much larger then a balcony, AQ or concierge class cabin.  Size of those cabins, except accessible is 243 sq feet.  Smaller bathroom.  The Sky suites are 397 square feet and more in accessible.  We never ate in Blu as we had tried on previous ships- much prefered Luminae and specialty restaurants.  Loved Eden and the Steak house.

Edited June 9, 2023 by Cruise a holic

[dateacher]

4 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

Definately a sky suite much larger then a balcony, AQ or concierge class cabin.  Size of those cabins, except accessible is 243 sq feet.  Smaller bathroom.  The Sky suites are 397 square feet and more in accessible.  We never ate in Blu as we had tried on previous ships- much prefered Luminae and specialty restaurants.  Loved Eden and the Steak house.

You are correct on the size. It didn't seem so when I was in it but I thought it was because of the bed placement.  

[Cruise a holic]

Just now, dateacher said:

You are correct on the size. It didn't seem so when I was in it but I thought it was because of the bed placement.  

Varies depending on ship If you are on a edge class ship in an S3 the bed placement isn't the same as the S1 and S2 and the suite might feel a little crowded.

[zitsky]

53 minutes ago, Pantheral said:

Do: 

- Enjoy the suite. Even if it's just a bit bigger that regular stateroom, it does feel less cramped over time.

- Priority tendering: nothing better than skipping the long boarding lines at any tendered port of call, both coming and going.

- Appreciate the boarding process, especially at Ft. Lauderdale. Again, no waiting in lines, head up the elevator and board with your escort.

- engage the butler and room attendant. Tell them what you like to drink, pillow style, etc. Not all butlers are equal, but most will provide you with the basics for happiness. every room attendant we've has in a suite has gone above and beyond to be helpful.

- consider hosting a small cocktail party if travelling with friends. A good butler will be happy to set this up and even help send invites to guests

- Get to know all of your potential servers, concierges and bartenders in all the suite areas (Retreat, Luminae,etc) We have often had the same server at Luminae every night and they will learn your preferences

- seek out help from the Retreat Concieges if you have any questions or are looking to make reservations

 

Don't:

- expect everything will be perfect. 

- miss any invited events, particularly sailaways on the helipad if they fit your schedule

- forget to ask/request

-forget to tip accordingly

 

hope this helps, but mostly enjoy the cruise and the benefits, you paid for them!!!

Can you talk about this priority tendering?  Because we just went to the theater.  And coming back I only saw one line?  I was on Beyond recent Italy, Turkey, Greece cruise.

[DingoMom]

On tender days, suite guests go to the Retreat lounge (still Michael’s Club on M class, I believe) and the Retreat Concierge escorts each small group of suite passengers when they are ready to go to the tenders to go ashore. No need to go get tender tix and stand in long lines. (Unless you are going on a shore excursion…then you have to meet in the theater with your group.) Be forewarned, though…no ‘priority’ when you need to tender back to the ship.

[zitsky]

20 minutes ago, DingoMom said:

On tender days, suite guests go to the Retreat lounge (still Michael’s Club on M class, I believe) and the Retreat Concierge escorts each small group of suite passengers when they are ready to go to the tenders to go ashore. No need to go get tender tix and stand in long lines. (Unless you are going on a shore excursion…then you have to meet in the theater with your group.) Be forewarned, though…no ‘priority’ when you need to tender back to the ship.

Matches my experience.  Why didn’t I just push people out of the way?  I’m stupid.

[LisaLeone]

11 hours ago, Sigyn said:

I'm interested in the advice you get - I'll have my first taste of the suite life in something like 26 or 27 days. On the Millennium, but still...

I just got of the Summit and the suite life was sublime! The service was the best we have ever experienced. I love M class ships. The lack of new in no way affects the graciousness.

[Mark.Jules]

I am loving all of this information, thank you all for sharing.

[RichYak]

5 hours ago, Pantheral said:

Get to know all of your potential servers, concierges and bartenders in all the suite areas (Retreat, Luminae,etc) We have often had the same server at Luminae every night and they will learn your preferences

^^^ This. Also because they’re great people to get to know.