Shaunas05

Thank you vantec-good to know!

Thank you guys so much for your advice! I'm thinking we will try the Crown grille- i believe we can go to Share for breakfast throughout the cruise, correct? When we went on the Crown Princess we could eat at Sabatini's for breakfast, and I think that is what Share replaced on the Emerald Princess ship...?

We are sailing on the Emerald Princess in August to Alaska and we are booked in the family suite, which includes "full suite perks" (we are a family of 6, our kids are ages 12,11, 7 and 5)...can anyone tell me about the specialty embarkation dinner perk included in our fare?

Embarkation day happens to also be my birthday, so I considered booking Share or Crown Grille, but now I'm wondering which one is included...I'd love to go to either specialty restaurant and not pay the cover charge for my birthday!? Can anyone give me insight on this? Thank you for any info!

Shauna

Because your oldest child is under 16 if you choose two separate cabins there would have to be one parent and 1 to 3 kids in each one for Princess to accept the booking. And Princess is very strict enforcing that only the persons listed in the suite at the time of booking will get the suite perks--no "rotating" which of you go to the special suite breakfast venue, or get to use priority tendering if at a tender port.

 

The family suite is tailor-made for your family group of four pre-teen and younger. Yes I know the location all the way forward is less desirable but the ability to have all of you in the same space outweighs that. And the best spot for glacier viewing is always out on the top deck--though some who have sailed in an aft balcony will say that is adequate.

Thank you for your experienced opinions, fishywood! =)

My wife and I have 3 kids (12, 9, 7) . We have done all of us in one room suite and also two separate rooms. With the ages of kids you have, I would suggest the family suite if you can afford it. Having two rooms forces you and your spouse to coordinate movements in two completely separate rooms. Keeping everyone and everything in one room will reduce the amount of work you have to go through in every task. Our last cruise with them we did the two separate rooms. It just complicated things more than necessary. I think when they are older (all in teens) having two rooms will be better, but when they're young and you have to pick out clothes and dress them and check on everything they're doing constantly...one room will save a lot of hassle.

 

 

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Thank you for this reply! It really helps to hear from some who has tried both! =)

This is a tough one. Does the suite have 2 bathrooms? If not, with 6 people, the extra cabin would be a lifesaver, IMO. However, as already pointed out, there's the issue of suite perks, and one of the parents would have to booked in the other cabin.

 

Roz

Yes, Roz-the family suite does have 2 bathrooms-its basically described as a mini suite with a sitting room that attaches it to an extended balcony and an inside stateroom so everyone has their own sleeping area, but its connected from inside the suite, opposed to 2 outside seperate rooms.

We've done a Disney cruise and booked 2 rooms and honestly we just all crammed into one so the 2nd room was wasted because we prefer to all be together with young kids.

I think the family suite i currently have booked costs about a grand more than the various 2 room combos ive priced online...for the suite perks i think the price is close enough that maybe the family suite is worth the extra money ...?

i'm mostly concerned with the location on the ship-the balcony looks really large and i would hope we could see a lot of scenery, but reading reviews people discuss how its super windy that far forward and you feel much more movement...has anyone else stayed in a princess family suite? Did you like it? Any problems that i should know about? I love the layout for our family, it seems ideal, just wish they were in a different spot...????

We plan to travel to Alaska in August of 2018 with Princess cruises-i booked a family suite right when they opened up the itenerary, but now wonder if we would be just as satisfied with a suite and an inside stateroom (our four kids are 4, 6, 10, 11) so booking 2 rooms, we probably would bring a blow up matress and have kids camping on the floor for sleeping, as i dont think we would want them in another room...has anyone with a large family done this? Do you have insight to which we would prefer (family suite with us all together or different suite with inside cabin close by to save a little money?

I've read that people dont like paying full price for 4 passengers in a family suite, but i feel like that happens even if we book 2 rooms (1st 4 people would pay full price)...so i guess i'm debating more because of location on the ship-the family suites are far forward, and the other suite i would consider cramming everyone into would be an aft suite and trying to book a close inside stateroom for storing suitcases and bathroom use.

For the Tracy Arm sailing is it better to be forward or aft?

Any suggestions from experienced cruisers on Princess is welcome! Thank you!