Balcony Vs Suite

[Sheshefran]

Hello,

 

I have cruised on several different lines, but always in a balcony cabin. For My 50th birthday I have thought about upgrading to a suite. This is going to cost an additonal $2000.00 for my husband and I. My question is, for those of you who have cruised in suites, what makes it worth it. What does the butler do? Most important, once you have sailed in a suite can you go back to a balcony cabin? I may be able to cruise this way once, but not always! Any comments would be appreciated.

[heelfan94]

We sailed in a Sun Penthouse and loved it, but I have been able to go back to other categories. The Butler will bring your room service meals and snacks, bring dvd's for you to watch and take care of any laundry to be sent out. We really didn't use him that much. Just movies and a couple of lunches in. $2000 to me would be a lot to upgrade to a suite. What category are we talking about?

[Frick_&_Frack]

Hi and Congrats on your 50th Birthday!

 

It may be helpful to let us know which intinerary/ship you are interested in as suites differ from ship to ship (and, those that have sailed in various suites on various intineraries can specifically address the positives/negatives of certain suites).

 

PS - We have been on the Dawn in an AC - both times Caribbean run and *loved* the suite. The view is stunning. The butler is extremely helpful in bringing meals/snacks/treats (which is about the extent of what we have ever required). The opportunity to have full meals for dinner in the suite is really a treat as well. We don't require much else, but s/he can coordinate laundry services, etc. as well. As far as going "back" to a balcony cabin, I can't help you on that....

[Sheshefran]

We were looking at upgrading to an AD from a balcony. The $2000.00 is for the cabin not per person. We are planning on going on the DAWN a year from December. So I have plenty of time to consider.

[heelfan94]

Which ship?

[heelfan94]

Our Dawn cruisers can help you decide on the AD. And I only meant that $2000 would be a lot for me to upgrade. Everyone sees it differently. If the deal to upgrade is good for you, then it's a good deal. It doesn't matter what any of the rest of us think. :)

[Sheshefran]

Thanks Heel Fan,

 

It is a lot for us too, so I am trying to decide if I want to spend the money. No that's not true, I want to spend the money but I have to convince my Husband that he wants to. (tee hee).

[goldmom]

We were just in an AC on the Spirit and loved it! It was our first time in a suite. You do get very spoiled and feel very pampered. In addition to the butler, you also have concierge service. They will make your dinner reservations for the whole week and also escort you thru customs and when disembarking the ship you can get off before the crowds. You also get invited to an officer's cocktail party. We really enjoyed all the perks of being in the suite.

 

I know it will be hard to go back to a regular cabin. Our next cruise is in a CC oceanview on the Dream. Would we rather be in a suite? Sure!:) But we just couldn't justify the extra cost and I'm sure we'll be fine. Hey, we'll be on vacation!

 

Whatever you decide, enjoy yourself and Happy Birthday!:D

[chipnchair]

We booked a BA balcony and got upsold to an AD on the Star. We loved it for most of the reasons listed in previous posts on this thread (pampered, concierge and butler services, larger stateroom, balcony ...etc.)

 

That said, next cruise we're still going to book a balcony and hope the upgrade/upsell fairy comes through again.

 

Perhaps that can be your path? Book your usual balcony with hopes of the upgrade/upsell to a suite (the fee is far less than the $2000 for booking the suite outright).

[McCutie]

Sheshenfran~

 

We were in one of the AD suites on the Dawn and to me, it would be worth it esp. since it is for a nice celebration...You only turn 50 once : )

 

The location (aft) was another reason we loved it.

 

We did use the butler and he was very nice as well. Usually for breakfast or a specialty dinner. We had our toddler with us so this was a great perk.

 

Suite perks are good too....

[heelfan94]

Thanks Heel Fan,

 

It is a lot for us too, so I am trying to decide if I want to spend the money. No that's not true, I want to spend the money but I have to convince my Husband that he wants to. (tee hee).

I agree with the poster who said you only turn 50 once. I say go for it. :)

[ncl_Stan]

Yea!

 

My DW and I had booked a AF mini-suite [just a little bigger than your Balcony] on the Jewel in '05. We got an upsell to an AD. Wow, the suite perks [do some searching here] and the balcony for the room was just fantastic. We used the buttler to bring us breakfast almost every morning. On the Jewel the AD balcony's are large enugh that both of us could lay in the chase loungers and sip drinks and just enjoy the view.... I only wish we were there now....

 

I say Go for IT!!!

-Stan

[MrLee]

I agree with the poster who said you only turn 50 once. I say go for it. :)

 

Don't be too sure. I couldn't tell you how many times my wife has turned 39! ;)

[McCutie]

MrLee : ) : ) :)

LOL~ at "39"

 

I have been "29" for 5 years now : )

[spleenstomper]

Look at the deck plan: what's above it? Anything?

 

We got a BA balcony but were considering a mini-suite (POH). When I looked to see what was above the minisuites, it was the buffet, the kids club, etc. No way!

 

The mini-suites are above the BAs. So I figure a balcony is good enough for me!

[heelfan94]

Don't be too sure. I couldn't tell you how many times my wife has turned 39! ;)

As a 36 year old, I plan to hit that mark a few times myself. :o

 

And husbands HAVE to play along. ;)

[driker2]

I have cruised on several different lines, but always in a balcony cabin. For My 50th birthday I have thought about upgrading to a suite. This is going to cost an additonal $2000.00 for my husband and I. My question is, for those of you who have cruised in suites, what makes it worth it. What does the butler do? Most important, once you have sailed in a suite can you go back to a balcony cabin? I may be able to cruise this way once, but not always! Any comments would be appreciated.

After a time lapse of several years, my wife and I returned to cruising in 2004 with an Owner's Suite (about the only kind of suite) on the Norwegian Crown to Bermuda. We loved it. We are not given to being waited upon hand and foot, but Anshuman, our butler, made the trip a major pleasure. In addition to bringing us room service, we sort of became a little family of three. He would bring special little treats for my wife each evening and we developed a nice week-long relationship.

 

Going back to a balcony cabin? Well, our next cruise, 2005, was in an AB on the Spirit. Suite 10000 right up front. We loved it. Our butler this time was Arnie, a pleasant, slightly shy, gentleman from the Phillipines. Once again (maybe it's us) we developed a very pleasant relationship and Arnie insisted upon serving us a complete, very formal dinner in the suite on he last cruise night. This was 14 days of back-to-back cruising in the Caribbean. I must mention our sterling concierge on the Spirit, Claudio. His help and friendliness went a long way to making the cruise a major success.

 

Next a suite on the Crown Princess. Nice, but a little disappointing since Princess does not offer butlers or concierges to suite passengers. Severe withdrawal!

 

Back to an NCL suite with the September LA to Miami Transcanal cruise. This time in the AA Owner's Suite, deck ten, port side.

 

Suite cruising can definitely be addictive. We go once a year and, yeah, it's a lot of money, but cruising is our once-a-year vacation event. We want it to be super-special.

We were thinking of writing a 12-step book on cruise suite withdrawal but then we decided that the market for the book would simply be too small. :cool:

[Sheshefran]

We were thinking of writing a 12-step book on cruise suite withdrawal but then we decided that the market for the book would simply be too small. :cool:

 

And you haven't figured out step one: How to book a cruise without a suite!

 

 

Thanks to all who wrote a comment. I am so looking forward to this.

[halos]

Thanks Heel Fan,

 

It is a lot for us too, so I am trying to decide if I want to spend the money. No that's not true, I want to spend the money but I have to convince my Husband that he wants to. (tee hee).

 

I hate that I'm practical, but I am.

I've never sailed in a suite unless you count an aft balcony cabin on Celebrity in Consierge Class which is close.

 

My feeling is that $2000 can get you an additional cruise, OR take a longer cruise to someplace more exotic. If it were me, I'd stick with the balcony. How much time do you want to spend in the cabin anyway?

[heelfan94]

I hate that I'm practical, but I am.

I've never sailed in a suite unless you count an aft balcony cabin on Celebrity in Consierge Class which is close.

 

My feeling is that $2000 can get you an additional cruise, OR take a longer cruise to someplace more exotic. If it were me, I'd stick with the balcony. How much time do you want to spend in the cabin anyway?

At first that was my opinion, too. But then I thought about the suite and celebrating a birthday. I think if the OP can afford it, the upgrade would be a nice splurge. :)

[gloryb2god]

For an additional $2000 I'd go on Celebrity.:p

[halos]

For an additional $2000 I'd go on Celebrity.:p

 

:p Tried that...didn't think it was worth the extra $$$ at all.

Seriously for an extra $2000, I'd make my 7 day cruise a 14 day-er.

Do a back to back and after the first week, sit there with a foo foo and watch everyone else get off the ship :D :D

THAT is nice.

[MrLee]

For an additional $2000 I'd go on Celebrity.:p

 

I wouldn't!!! Having to rush back to the cabin and put on my tux or suit on 6 out of 11 days kind of turned me off from Celebrity. Nice cruise otherwise.

[beachchick]

I hate that I'm practical, but I am.

I've never sailed in a suite unless you count an aft balcony cabin on Celebrity in Consierge Class which is close.

 

My feeling is that $2000 can get you an additional cruise, OR take a longer cruise to someplace more exotic. If it were me, I'd stick with the balcony. How much time do you want to spend in the cabin anyway?

 

Some people do enjoy spending time in their cabin--Particularly if it's a really nice suite with a great balcony. We don't cruise without a balcony (almost always "just" a regular balcony cabin) because that is important to us. However, for $2000, we wouldn't do it. That's practically another cruise in a balcony cabin! But that's our priority. We were thrilled with our upsell on PoH and really loved all the cool perks, but I wouldn't have paid full price for it.

 

beachchick

[halos]

Some people do enjoy spending time in their cabin--Particularly if it's a really nice suite with a great balcony. We don't cruise without a balcony (almost always "just" a regular balcony cabin) because that is important to us. However, for $2000, we wouldn't do it. That's practically another cruise in a balcony cabin! But that's our priority. We were thrilled with our upsell on PoH and really loved all the cool perks, but I wouldn't have paid full price for it.

 

beachchick

 

That's why I said, 'if it were me'.

We always have a balcony cabin too. Had an aft once and that was unbelieveable...but for me, I'd take a lesser cabin and more days on the ship every time.

Not everone has more days to vacation though either...everyone has to choose what's right for them. The OP asked opinions, I just gave mine, which sounds exactly like yours. :)

 

and I meant it when I said that I hate that I'm practical. I wish I could get myself to splurge on anything...I always talk myself out of it and it's not like we can't afford it either. I probably need a shrink. :p