Suite on Ventura - what extra's do you get?

[Suebiker]

Hi there

 

Just wondering if anyone knows what differences there are between a superior balcony and a suite.

 

I understand you get a butler - what exactly do they do?

 

I believe you get priority boarding - how does this work?

 

Can anyone give me a little more info on the extra's that you get in a suite?

 

 

Thank you

 

Sue

[sammydo]

hiya,

we have always had suites, but they do vary from ship to ship, but it could also be from year to year!!

 

if you board at southampton, you do get priority boarding, which is very nice, and you usually go to one of the lounges where free drinks and sanwiches are served, before being escorted to your suite. the luggage also has gold tags, which mean they are also priority, and arrive very quickly. you also get priority disembarkation back at southampton.

obvioulsy this cannot happen with fly cruises, as embarkation/disembarkation is dependant on flight times.

you also get priority disembarkation cards at tender ports. There is often a special evening where you are welcomed to a private party with the captain and staff for pre-dinner drinks. Usually a very small party, or once we had lunch with the captain in his lounge and on his private balcony, watching the ship sail into Palma. We have also been invited to the bridge for sailaway.

On ventura, the suites were able to have breakfast in Marco pierre Whites restaurant daily.

Yes there is a butler, who usually comes in every day, bringing canapes before dinner, but generally he will get you any drinks you need, or book any tours, he will even unpack your case for you. :eek: Have to be honest, we hardly used our Butler, although he was a lovely guy, and each evening gave us lots of infornmation re future ports we were visiting.

He is always at the end of the phone, should you need him.

 

on one of our cruises,...i think Oriana, we also had a cake sent to our room on the last day, with "safe journey home" iced on to it.

really nice touch.

 

Basically we always book a suite to get the extra room and larger Balcony, but again these do vary from ship to ship. Our favourite balocny is on Oceana. Due to work comittments, we are only able to get away once a year, but probably if we had more free time, then we would not book a suite, and go 2 or 3 times a year, in a smaller room.

 

As i said, the ships all vary, and i even think some of the same ships vary,

and i am sure they probably are all subject to change quite often.

 

there is also a priority concierge email address, where you can pre book restaurants on Ventura, such as marco pierre white, or east etc, giving time and date you require, rather than waiting til onboard. Your butler can also book anything for you once on board.

 

i,ve probably missed some bits out, and i am sure others will let you know of their experiences, but whatever you decide to book, i hope you have a great cruise

[Suebiker]

hiya,

we have always had suites, but they do vary from ship to ship, but it could also be from year to year!!

 

if you board at southampton, you do get priority boarding, which is very nice, and you usually go to one of the lounges where free drinks and sanwiches are served, before being escorted to your suite. the luggage also has gold tags, which mean they are also priority, and arrive very quickly. you also get priority disembarkation back at southampton.

obvioulsy this cannot happen with fly cruises, as embarkation/disembarkation is dependant on flight times.

you also get priority disembarkation cards at tender ports. There is often a special evening where you are welcomed to a private party with the captain and staff for pre-dinner drinks. Usually a very small party, or once we had lunch with the captain in his lounge and on his private balcony, watching the ship sail into Palma. We have also been invited to the bridge for sailaway.

On ventura, the suites were able to have breakfast in Marco pierre Whites restaurant daily.

Yes there is a butler, who usually comes in every day, bringing canapes before dinner, but generally he will get you any drinks you need, or book any tours, he will even unpack your case for you. :eek: Have to be honest, we hardly used our Butler, although he was a lovely guy, and each evening gave us lots of infornmation re future ports we were visiting.

He is always at the end of the phone, should you need him.

 

on one of our cruises,...i think Oriana, we also had a cake sent to our room on the last day, with "safe journey home" iced on to it.

really nice touch.

 

Basically we always book a suite to get the extra room and larger Balcony, but again these do vary from ship to ship. Our favourite balocny is on Oceana. Due to work comittments, we are only able to get away once a year, but probably if we had more free time, then we would not book a suite, and go 2 or 3 times a year, in a smaller room.

 

As i said, the ships all vary, and i even think some of the same ships vary,

and i am sure they probably are all subject to change quite often.

 

there is also a priority concierge email address, where you can pre book restaurants on Ventura, such as marco pierre white, or east etc, giving time and date you require, rather than waiting til onboard. Your butler can also book anything for you once on board.

 

i,ve probably missed some bits out, and i am sure others will let you know of their experiences, but whatever you decide to book, i hope you have a great cruise

 

Thank you so much for your response - I am so excited now!!!!!! Never had a suite before and yesterday we go a phonecall from our cruise agent asking if we would like an upgrade.(Not free unfortunately) We decided that we would probably never get the chance to get a suite at this price again - so we decided to go for it.

 

Your post is really helpful - I have never really dared look at a suite before because they were out of our price range. So I didn't really know much about them and their benefits. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks so much

 

Sue

[ROSEBASKETS]

Sue, who's your cruise agent, I wish i'd booked with them instead of Thomas Cook as I've not had a phone call, mustn't be worthy, they've obviously got enough money out of me for my balcony cabin!

 

(I'll have to wait for my invite to your "in suite" soiree, which is also an option I understand!)

 

Only jealous ;)

[Adammara]

Our experience of P&O suites is different to sammydo's. We had a suite on Arcadia in September, no private party, nothing. You get a butler,and a cabin double the normal size, cutbacks were evident everywhere. Still enjoyed the cruise!

 

In November we had an owners suite on IOTS, what a difference, three time the size of a normal cabin, and a huge balcony. No butler, but a very good steward and assistant, reserved seating for various events, reserved restaurant area for breakfast and lunch, and excellent concierge, and lounge serving free drinks and hot & cold canapes (far superior to P&O's) from 5pm to 8.30pm. We loved the suite and the ship and have already booked the same cabin for 2011. And £3k less than P&O!

[Suebiker]

Sue, who's your cruise agent, I wish i'd booked with them instead of Thomas Cook as I've not had a phone call, mustn't be worthy, they've obviously got enough money out of me for my balcony cabin!

 

(I'll have to wait for my invite to your "in suite" soiree, which is also an option I understand!)

 

Only jealous ;)

 

Funnily enough we booked with "Gills" who loads of people have slated lately. But we had a really good deal on our original balcony cabin which was actually cheaper than the year before!!!!! and then being offered this upgrade too - I guess we were really lucky - never ever had an upgrade before!!!!!

 

I'm still coming down to earth!!!!!!!!

 

Sue

 

P.s. Your invitation is in the post !!!!!!!

[Suebiker]

Our experience of P&O suites is different to sammydo's. We had a suite on Arcadia in September, no private party, nothing. You get a butler,and a cabin double the normal size, cutbacks were evident everywhere. Still enjoyed the cruise!

 

In November we had an owners suite on IOTS, what a difference, three time the size of a normal cabin, and a huge balcony. No butler, but a very good steward and assistant, reserved seating for various events, reserved restaurant area for breakfast and lunch, and excellent concierge, and lounge serving free drinks and hot & cold canapes (far superior to P&O's) from 5pm to 8.30pm. We loved the suite and the ship and have already booked the same cabin for 2011. And £3k less than P&O!

 

Hi - interesting comment, it seems it's very much pot luck. We actually sailed on IOS two year ago (Not in a suite but a superior balcony cabin) and it was the worst cruise we have done. It has put me right off RCI. It was the only cruise where I couldn't wait to get home!!!!!

 

You obviously had a very different experience to us - maybe we were unlucky.

 

Fortunately I know we will enjoy Ventura as we sailed on her last year and had a fantastic time. Having a suite is just the icing on the cake for us!!!!

 

Sue

[jojo67]

I'm just about to book a weekender on the Ventura in a suite (as a surprise for DH) - would anyone recommend one suite over another? I was looking at one of the ones at the back of the ship, possibly on deck A??

[mgdsld]

Just wanted to say we totally agree with Richard in fact we could have written it ourselves. We used to be loyal to P&O but we feel Royal Caribbean can offer us so much more for our money especially as we always book Suites, will be back on board Independence (4 times now) in June and can't wait. Sue

[Suebiker]

I'm just about to book a weekender on the Ventura in a suite (as a surprise for DH) - would anyone recommend one suite over another? I was looking at one of the ones at the back of the ship, possibly on deck A??

 

Hi Jo,

 

We have booked A751 which is at the back of the ship - it is a category AD. I believe alot of people don't like the midship ones because they are under the pool deck and they are noisy also they don't get alot of sun because of the overhang too.Ours is also under the terrace pool but I don't know how much noise we will get!!!!We shall see. The suite next door to ours is an AB category which I believe is the highest grade - there are only two of these on the ship which are both on A deck so I guess it must be a good location.

 

I guess we will find out soon

 

Sue

 

Sue

 

Just be prepared for a little more movement if you book an aft cabin.

[Suebiker]

Just wanted to say we totally agree with Richard in fact we could have written it ourselves. We used to be loyal to P&O but we feel Royal Caribbean can offer us so much more for our money especially as we always book Suites, will be back on board Independence (4 times now) in June and can't wait. Sue

 

Glad you liked IOS - but like I said we had a horrendous cruise with them and were very unimpressed. They would have to pay me to go back onboard!!!!!! Sorry

 

Sue

[ROSEBASKETS]

"We have booked A751 which is at the back of the ship - it is a category AD"

 

Thanks for the invitation in the post Sue, now you've told me where you are I don't need one.... I'll just gatecrash :eek:

 

I'll be sure my daughter befriends your little one in the kids club, She doesn't want to be mixing with the riff-raff in the lower grades of cabin, just the "elite" and "superior" ones in the premium cabins;)

[jojo67]

Rosebuckets, that is one of the 2 suites I was considering, can't book until April 27th though, so hoping it doesn't go!

[Pig Launcher]

Hi Jo,

 

We have booked A751 which is at the back of the ship - it is a category AD. I believe alot of people don't like the midship ones because they are under the pool deck and they are noisy also they don't get alot of sun because of the overhang too.Ours is also under the terrace pool but I don't know how much noise we will get!!!!We shall see. The suite next door to ours is an AB category which I believe is the highest grade - there are only two of these on the ship which are both on A deck so I guess it must be a good location.

 

I guess we will find out soon

 

Sue

 

 

 

Sue

 

Just be prepared for a little more movement if you book an aft cabin.

 

 

 

I have booked this suite for the Canary Cruise sailing on July the 27th this year. My primary reason being the wife prefers a bath to a shower. She had better get some use out of it at this price.

Having only sailed with Celebrity before who I rate highly I am both excited and slightly apprehensive about this trip. P&O seem to have mixed reviews. Time will tell.

[annieuk]

We have had aft suites on Azura twice - same layout as Ventura. We always go for the aft - the balconies are bigger, especially on A and C deck. The only thing to mention is that some of the aft suites have a beam going through part of the balcony, C750 and C751 have the beam but C748 and C749 don't. For a short cruise I wouldn't mind but I wouldn't want one of the suites with the beam for a longer cruise. A750 and A751 are also beam-free.

 

On Azura suite passengers get to have breakfast in the select dining restaurant Seventeen which is lovely. Of course the butler will bring breakfast to your cabin if you prefer - anything, including hot, from the main restaurant menu. You can also have lunch served in your cabin and indeed dinner if you like. The butler will do as much or as little as you wish. He will get you any drinks you want to purchase for your cabin fridge (not duty free) he will organise any Select Dining bookings you want. The butlers are a mine of information so do use yours - they really want to help give you a good cruise.

 

Along with the canapes each evening the butler will bring you the main restaurant menus for lunch and dinner the following day so you can decide what wine you want in advance or you can see what is available for lunch if you wish to have it in your cabin.

 

Hope you enjoy the experience - it's wonderful.:)

[Bobbyjean]

Make sure you ask someone when you get on board where the suite passengers should go! No one said a word to us and we would not even have known about this perk if not for the CC forum.

 

IMO this was the best part of having the suite. Beautiful lounge, wine and lovely food being served while you wait for your suite to be ready ... the best way to start the holiday!

[daiB]

Make sure you ask someone when you get on board where the suite passengers should go! No one said a word to us and we would not even have known about this perk if not for the CC forum.

 

IMO this was the best part of having the suite. Beautiful lounge, wine and lovely food being served while you wait for your suite to be ready ... the best way to start the holiday!

 

This is the same lounge as the Gold members meet. Or that should be Caribbean. Champagne and a very nice hot and cold buffet.

 

Do not want the Butler to come to soon when there is free shampoo on offer.:rolleyes:

 

 

Gan Canny

 

 

Dai

[daiB]

Our experience of P&O suites is different to sammydo's. We had a suite on Arcadia in September, no private party, nothing. You get a butler,and a cabin double the normal size, cutbacks were evident everywhere. Still enjoyed the cruise!

 

In November we had an owners suite on IOTS, what a difference, three time the size of a normal cabin, and a huge balcony. No butler, but a very good steward and assistant, reserved seating for various events, reserved restaurant area for breakfast and lunch, and excellent concierge, and lounge serving free drinks and hot & cold canapes (far superior to P&O's) from 5pm to 8.30pm. We loved the suite and the ship and have already booked the same cabin for 2011. And £3k less than P&O!

 

 

Well Sammydo did say that the experience is dependant on the ship. We were on Arcadia in Oct 06 and there was no party then so no cutbacks there then. Arcadia has more Suites than the other ships of her size, in fact more than Azura or Ventura. She has 35. Which is why no intimate get together. These may happen on Oceana with 6 suites, Oriana with 8 and Aurora with 12. This is why these cabins are the most expensive in the fleet.

 

We have not noticed any cut backs anywhere in our recent cruises, all in suites or mini suites.

 

 

 

Gan Canny

 

 

Dai