Owner's Suite and Private Courtyard area

[cruisegal134]

Sorry to pester with another question, but this board ROCKS! There is so much info and everyone is so helpful!

 

My DH and I are cruising on the Pearl to Alaska with his brother and Brother's wife in May. We have a BA balcony room and they have an AA Owner's Suite. Can we go to the private courtyard area with them? They think it is a shame to have this area available to them and not use it because we all want to be together. Is that a no-no? We don't want to break any rules or get any dirty looks. We are just wondering if we can go their with them. And where is this courtyard - it is the one on 14 o15? I wonder if it will be too cold up there in May in Alaska.

 

Also, did I read on the board that they get some goodies in addition to their lovely room? I believe they have concierge and butler service available - do they also get some booze :D? I thought I may have read that they get a bottle of something or flowers or sweets or something.

 

My DH and I are celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary and my 45th birthday :eek: a few months early by taking this cruise. Is there anything that we can do to make that special - is there some romantic package we can purchase or anything NCL does for couples celebrating big days?

 

Thanks to everyone who makes this board so wonderful! I have only been on one cruise before (RCI), so I hope to be more helpful to those with questions when I return so I can repay the favor.

[Planer's Edge]

Some will say it absolutely against the rules. I would say that if it just the two of you joining family it should not be a problem. Just go and not get in other peoples way and you will be fine.

 

Yes, they will bet three bottles of booze and free mixers for the cruise. They will also get treats delivered to their cabin every evening. I have heard of butlers bringing similar treats to friends and family of Owners Suite residents. With your relative making all of the reservations for specialty restaurants you may want to assit with their tip for the concierge. Another option would be to have dinner served in their suite for a VERY special evening. Just have them ask the butler for his assistance and he will create a very memorable evening.

 

PE

[Maryfrei]

Bon Voyage Gifts:

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/staticPages.html?pageId=bon_voyage_gifts

 

Item # Description Price (USD)

 

 

308 The Captain's Choice

Brimming Basket of assorted seasonal fruits and a hearty bottle of wine (specify Red or White) $30.00 309 The Captain's Choice (non-alcoholic) $30.00 310 The Bon Voyage Basket

An assortment of seasonal fruits and a bottle of wine

(specify Red or White) $20.00 311 Bon Voyage Basket (non-alcoholic) $20.00 304 Shrimper's Delight

Two dozen crisp jumbo shrimp served on ice with lemon and cocktail sauce $33.35 300 Norwegian Sampler

Served with ham, anchovy, caviar, celery & cheese $34.50 305 The Cheese Block

Selection of cheeses, Camembert, Edam, Gouda, Swiss, Muenster, Blue Cheese, & Cheddar, with crackers and grapes $36.80 Back to Top

 

Flowers are available only on cruises departing from Miami, San Juan, Boston, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, and Honolulu. 800 Harmony $20.00-$35.00 802 Springtime $20.00-$35.00 801 Tropical Delight $35.00-$45.00 803 Classic Dozen Roses $50.00-65.00 Back to Top

 

These flowers and prices are only available on the Hawaii Sailings out of Honolulu.

810 Harmony $35.00 812 Springtime $30.00 811 Tropical Delight $42.00 813 Classic Dozen Roses $60.00 Back to Top

 

There is nothing more luxurious than a treatment at our Mandara Spa. Treat yourself or someone special to a complete menu of body - soothing experiences. Try a Coconut Body Polish, a Japanese Honey Steam Wrap, a Bali- Press Massage or a tempting selection of other choices.

605 $25.00 Certificate $25.00 606 $50.00 Certificate $50.00 607 $100.00 Certificate $100.00 Back to Top

 

Some restrictions apply to purchase and use of game chips and tokens. This offer is limited to one per person.

600 $25.00 Onboard Credit Certificates $25.00 601 $50.00 Onboard Credit Certificates $50.00 602 $75.00 Onboard Credit Certificates $75.00 603 $100.00 Onboard Credit Certificates $100.00 706 Triple Play Chips

Triple Play Chips stay in play as long as they win, so you get more chances to lure Lady Luck to your side! And they're good on all table games, including Blackjack, Stud Poker, Craps, Roulette and Let It Ride. $10.00 Back to Top

 

Give the gift of good fortune with NCL table game chips and/or slot tokens

700 $25.00 Chips/Tokens $25.00 701 $50.00 Chips/Tokens $50.00 702 $75.00 Chips/Tokens $75.00 704 Casino Win Card

Learn to play your favorite table games like a pro. NCL's Win Cards show you how with instructions on Craps, Blackjack, and Roulette.

$5.00 Back to Top

 

Someone celebrating a special occasion? We will decorate their stateroom with streamers, confetti, balloons and a scrumptious party cake. Just specify type of occasion.

550 Anniversary $30.00 551 Birthday $30.00 552 Bon Voyage $30.00 553 Congratulations $30.00 Back to Top

 

341-3 3-day cruise package $28.00 341-4 4-day cruise package $33.00 341-7 5-day cruise package $39.00 Back to Top

 

(13-17 Years of Age) 343 20 non-alcoholic drinks, including non-alcoholic smoothie in a 12-14 oz. glass The teen and a guest are entitled to an afternoon dance party with the D.J., pizza and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks

The Teen will also receive an invitation to a "Farewell Frat Party" on the last evening of the cruise. Passports are not replaceable if lost.

$34.50 Back to Top

 

 

 

Unlimited Fountain Soda

Includes: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water, Soda Water

The entire cruise must be purchased. Non-Refundable.

Prepaid @ $5.75 per day per person x Cruise days

 

$5.75/day Back to Top

 

504 Honeymoon / Anniversary Package

Sparkling Wine and strawberries in your stateroom upon embarkation

Canapés delivered to your stateroom one evening

Honeymooners' Champagne and Cake party

Honeymoon photograph

Romantic dinner for two in Bistro with a complimentary bottle of wine

 

$79.00 505 Deluxe Honeymoon Package

Sparkling Wine and strawberries in your stateroom upon embarkation

Canapés delivered to your stateroom one evening

Honeymooners' Champagne and Cake party

Honeymoon photograph

Romantic dinner for two in Bistro with a complimentary bottle of wine

Breakfast in bed on one day of your choice

Two 25- minute Mandara Spa half body Seven Seas Massages

 

$229.00 506 Romance Package

Sparkling Wine and strawberries in your stateroom upon embarkation

A traditional Mandara pedicure and manicure for one

Two 25- minute Mandara Spa half body Seven Seas Massages

Tea service in stateroom on the afternoon of your choice

$249.00 507 Deluxe Romance Package

Sparkling Wine and strawberries in your stateroom upon embarkation

Choice of Mandara Spa Exotic Frangipani Body Nourishing Wrap or Exotic Coconut and Milk Ritual Wrap for one

Two 25- minute Mandara Spa half body Seven Seas Massages

Tea service in stateroom on the afternoon of your choice

Breakfast in bed on one day of your choice

A beautiful keepsake formal portrait

Romantic dinner for two in Bistro with a complimentary bottle of wine

[Cruisin&Relaxin]

Some will say it absolutely against the rules. I would say that if it just the two of you joining family it should not be a problem. Just go and not get in other peoples way and you will be fine.

 

PE

 

I wouldn't give them false hope. They will not be fine.

 

Even if they sit in a corner in the courtyard and keep the intrusion to a minimum, I would expect that they would be asked to leave at some point.

 

The concierge knows who is staying in the rooms that have access to the courtyard and will ask the people who are not staying in these rooms to leave.

 

The courtyard is for exclusive use of the people staying in the courtyard villas, the garden villas and the owners suites. People visiting friends and family who are staying in these suites are welcome to join them in the suites, but they are not allowed to partake in the courtyard facilities.

 

In the two times that I have stayed in a courtyard villa, after the first 24 hours, the concierge was extremely vigilant in making sure that the courtyard area was being used exclusively by the guests staying in the courtyard villas, the garden villas and the owners suites.

[beachchick]

On our recent cruise, no guests were allowed in the courtyard areas. Of course guests were allowed in the suites. Part of the reasoning is that it is a fairly small area and should be reserved only for those who paid for the privilege. Part of it is where do you draw the line? If every suite with courtyard privileges (17 on PoH) brought in 2 guests, that would be 34 extra people. But then what about those traveling with 8 family members, they would want to bring all of them, not just 2...and on it goes. As a courtyard pax, I would be royally ticked if guests of suite pax were occupying all the lounges and what not when I wanted to be there.

 

beachchick

[cruisegal134]

Thanks to all for your responses. Can you tell me what the lowest grade cabin you can have to have use of the Private Courtyard?

 

This is an Alaskan cruise in May which, I hear, is less popular than the summer months - so I can watch prices of other rooms or say nightly prayers to the upsell Gods if we hope to hang out in that area. I certainly don't want to be anywhere that we should not be.

 

Thanks again to everyone!

[Cruisin&Relaxin]

Thanks to all for your responses. Can you tell me what the lowest grade cabin you can have to have use of the Private Courtyard?

 

This is an Alaskan cruise in May which, I hear, is less popular than the summer months - so I can watch prices of other rooms or say nightly prayers to the upsell Gods if we hope to hang out in that area. I certainly don't want to be anywhere that we should not be.

 

Thanks again to everyone!

 

cruisegal - Garden Villas, Courtyard Villas and the Owners Suites have exclusive use of the courtyard area. If lowest grade means lowest cost, then the single bedroom courtyard villa will be the least expensive option. There are two single bedroom courtyard villas and eight double bedroom courtyard villas.

 

Upsells to the courtyard villas were common on the two cruises I went on in which I stayed in a courtyard villa. I was offered an upsell from a romance suite both times and many other courtyard villa guests had also been upsold.

[beachchick]

We got our A4 (one bedroom) courtyard villa on PoH through an upsell from an AF mini-suite. What a treat! No possible way we could book it outright. In fact, we didn't even take their first or second upsell offers because the p/p extra would have been almost enough to take another cruise in a balcony cabin. I think the two A4s are the least popular suites (that are courtyard eligible). The regular (not upsell) difference in fare from AB (the highest suite level that is NOT eligible for courtyard access) and A4 (the lowest level that is eligible) was pretty substantial--as I recall, about $1000+ p/p.

 

When we got the first call, all A3s and both A4s were available, as well as several other suites at various levels. The A3 has the kids bedroom (which we didn't need) and a deeper balcony (but we can live without that). The upsell pricing for the A3 and A4 was the same. Two weeks after their first and second offers and about two weeks before our cruise date, we got a third call. At that time, ONLY the A4s (both) and one Garden Villa were still available. The A3s had all been snapped up. We had decided that $300 p/p was the most we could rationalize to go from the AF to an A4. We had no realistic expectation of getting this because I had been researching upsells and hadn't found anything lower than $500 p/p (and that was from an AC, not a little AF). I was stunned when the upsell rep offered us an A4 at $300 p/p. I didn't hesitate, and told her "Do it! Do it now!" The actual fare difference at that time was about $2000 p/p!

 

You just never know. Keep your fingers crossed and you just might get that call. (Unfortunately, you can't call them because they no longer accept incoming upsell requests. The tiny department was getting overwhelmed by pax calling constantly asking/begging/pleading for upsells. So, the PTB changed the policy to "Don't call us, we might call you.") I'll be sending good thoughts your way hoping that you do get an upsell offer and are able to take advantage of it.

 

beachchick

[mrstek]

We stayed in a Courtyard villa cabin on the Pearl Jan 14-19. The butlers & concierge are completey familiar with the passengers in the Villas & Owner Suites after embarkation. The seclusion of the private areas is what passengers are paying for in these staterooms. Guests are usually not allowed in the pool & deck areas, or at the private lounge/restaurant for breakfast & lunch. All are by invitation only.

[cruisegal134]

Thank you all for your responses. They have been very helpful.

 

Beachchick - I'll take those positive vibes for the upsell. Alaskan cruises are SO expensive. $3770 for the DH and I in a balcony room - The AA for the inlaws is $9300! This is definitely a once in a lifetime thing!

 

Mrsteck - I had already stated that I would not want to be anywhere we were not supposed to be. You stated, though, that "all are by invitation only". My initial question was asking if we were invited to join a couple in an Owners Suite in the courtyard area, would it be OK to do so.

[dwrist]

From NCL site, info on the staterooms--

Owner's Suite

These suites include a living room, private balconies, dining room, separate bedroom with king-size bed, mini bar and luxury bath and separate shower. Access to exclusive concierge lounge and private courtyard area with pool, hot tub and sundeck. Butler service and concierge available.

 

 

 

exclusive=admitting only members of a restricted or very carefully selected group: an exclusive club.

 

Have a good cruise and come back and tell us how the Courtyard was!!!:rolleyes:

[beachchick]

Thank you all for your responses. They have been very helpful.

 

Beachchick - I'll take those positive vibes for the upsell. Alaskan cruises are SO expensive. $3770 for the DH and I in a balcony room - The AA for the inlaws is $9300! This is definitely a once in a lifetime thing!

 

Yikes!:eek: That's pricy all right! I'll keep those good upsell vibes headed your way.

 

Mrsteck - I had already stated that I would not want to be anywhere we were not supposed to be. You stated, though, that "all are by invitation only". My initial question was asking if we were invited to join a couple in an Owners Suite in the courtyard area, would it be OK to do so.

 

Afraid not because the Owners Suite pax have no authority to invite guests into the private (exclusive) Courtyard. So...I'm a sendin' those vibes for you to get "the call" for an upsell. And congratulations on your upcoming celebrations.:D

 

beachchick

[newercruiser]

Holy smokes! :eek: That is expensive!!! I'm sure it will be beautiful, though! Alaska is supposed to be amazing!

 

I hope you get that upsell call!!! :D It would be cool if you could both have the two Owner's Suites on the same floor!