Penthuse Suite 10008 or 10018 on Sprit

[Mikalen]

We are booked on May 15 sailing and were suppose to be in suite 10008, but when I received my confirmation it was for 10018. Does anyone know if there is much difference between the two. Looks like 10008 is further from the elevator which I kinda like, just not sure if it is worth calling cand changing. Have never been in the suites before, so am pretty excited. Can anyone tell me about the perks?

[kendal]

We recently sailed on the Spirit and had suite 10022. I specifically chose to be close to the elevator as we also had our 80 year old parents in the ajoining cabin. We never heard any noise from the elevator as it was around the corner from the room. Our butler was Maurice and our concierge was Belle. They could not have done more to make our cruise so nice.

 

You are going to love the cabin--it's gorgeous! The sitting area is roomy and there is a large flat screen tv, the bar area has lots of glassware and the coffee machine-expresso and the like, was awesome. The bathroom is beautiful and there is a separate glassed in shower and the jaccuzzi tub that has a large glass window, there is so much light. The bedroom has a large, comfortable bed with another small flat screen tv. You will have much space to put your things, there are lots of built in draws and a large closet.

 

I hope that you have a wonderful time on the Spirit--it's a beautiful ship.

[Mikalen]

thank you so much for the information. We are really excited to stay in our FIRST suite. I think we will just stay where we are

[VideoTech]

Have never been in the suites before, so am pretty excited. Can anyone tell me about the perks?

 

Suite cruising is the way to go...you'll never go back.

 

First of all, embarkation: Separate registration area, usually away from the crowd, usually with drinks and snacks (look for signs for "VIP registration" after you clear port security). Once your ship account is setup, you'll usually meet your concierge and butler, and one of them will escort you onto the ship, directly to Cagney's restaurant, where you can have lunch while you wait for your suite to be ready.

 

Cagney's is one of the perks. Private breakfast and lunch service for suite customers. You don't have to eat there, but it's certainly nice, quiet, and luxurious. About the only drawback is that the breakfast and lunch menus are the same every day, but there's enough variety to do for several days. For breakfast, be aware that there is a little buffet with European style cold cuts, fruit, breads, and cereals that you can use too. The chocolate croissants are usually heavenly!

 

Concierge service: You'll have a concierge on board. That person can make specialty restaurant reservations, assist with shore excursions, and will get you into reserved suite seating areas in the theater. They're like a concierge in any big hotel...ask them and they're bound to be helpful, or at least know the answer! On the smaller ships they show up at Cagney's and spend some time there as their office during the day. You'll also find their phone extension on a card in your room.

 

Butler service: Your butler replenishes the coffee machine, and can arrange anything for your room that you need, from water and soda to getting things fixed or finding the right pillow for you. They take care of room service, and one of the nicer things is to order a room service breakfast through them. They'll bring it at whatever time you like, set it up on the little dining table in your suite, and clear it away when you're done.

 

The butler also brings little snack plates in the evening. These vary from salty bar snacks to hors d'oeuvres. Don't be afraid to ask for something you'd like; for instance, we enjoy fresh fruit like grapes, and arrange with the butler to have a little bowl of them kept fresh all the time. when we let our butler on the Pearl know that I was a chocoholic, there were chocolate snacks every night after that!

 

Spend a few minutes to get to know your butler, and nicely make the things you like known...you'll enjoy the result.

 

Ports of call: Your concierge will let you know about priority disembarkation at port of call. Often this means you meet them at an arranged, early time, and are escorted via back stairways down to the gangway, where you can be the first ones off after the ship clears the port customs and immigration.

 

Priority disembarkation: When you return to your home port, your concierge will let you know about several priority disembarkation times. Usually you meet at these pre-arranged times in one of the lounges, and then are escorted off the ship, bypassing the lines of others waiting to check out. Your bags are also put in a separate VIP area in the customs shed, if you don't carry them off, making them easier to find in the rush on the dock.

 

Of course, if you're pleased with the service, show your appreciation with separate tips at the end of the cruise. We bring some small envelopes (NCL doesn't provide them as other lines do), and leave tips for our room steward, and butler in the room. Please do be kind to your room steward. He or she does the real grunt work in the room, and they can make a big difference in how you enjoy your cruise. Yes, they both share in the tip pool that you pay with your shipboard account, but these people go an extra mile for you, and it's worth it to acknowledge that.

 

I've had mixed results about tipping the concierge. One seemed surprised to receive it, and almost seemed to turn it down, but took it when I insisted. Another accepted it as normal. I'm not sure if the concierge staff shares in the on board tip pool or not. Strangely, the concierges on the Epic (there were two of them) were so un-helpful (not like the norm at all) that we did not tip them at the end of the cruise. Perhaps their attitude was because this was one of the first Epic cruises, and things were still getting worked out.

 

Anyway, enjoy your cruise. You will really like the bigger cabin and the improved service, and I think you'll find it hard to go back to normal cruising!

[jusstice]

I was in Suite 10018- the Virgo Suite on the 3/20 cruise. You will love it- for the reasons already mentioned by previous posters. It's so awesome. I love the decor, especially in the bedroom. The bed is in an enclosed space with mirrors on the walls and ceilings. You have thick, Victorian type red velvet bed curtains which you could draw to completely close off the sleeping area from the dressing area. Wait till you see the shower & the tub! Oh, and the beautiful dividing doors that can close the rooms are so gorgeous and come in handy when someone is sleeping/dressing while room service is being delivered.

 

Maurice was our butler and he is a doll. Benjamin was our steward and he was fantastic.

 

The suite is near enough to the elevator so as it is not inconvenient to get around, but you can't hear any noise. If memory serves me, there is one other suite and an adjoining room before the Virgo suite.

 

About the only negative thing I can about the suite is that I am not still there! Actually, the bottom drawer in the chest of drawers in the bedroom sticks. Oh, and watch out for that marble divider on the floor in between the bathroom area and the dressing area. I think I must have stubbed my toes on it every day, twice a day. The balcony is small- I think it's because of the tubs and showers.

 

Have fun in my former paradise!

[Mikalen]

Thank you all so much for the valuable information. Never having been in a suite before, I had no idea. We are so excited can hardly wait now that we have this information

[NW Pacific]

We are also on this cruise, come on over to the roll call board and meet others onboard. The Suite life is very very nice, geting close to sailaway. We are flying in from Oregon and staying 2 nights pre cruise in NOLA, have been there before and looking forward to "browsing around" again!

 

I think you are forward, we are Aft, love looking over the wake.

[kcfoxy]

We recently sailed on the Spirit and had suite 10022. I specifically chose to be close to the elevator as we also had our 80 year old parents in the ajoining cabin. We never heard any noise from the elevator as it was around the corner from the room. Our butler was Maurice and our concierge was Belle. They could not have done more to make our cruise so nice.

 

You are going to love the cabin--it's gorgeous! The sitting area is roomy and there is a large flat screen tv, the bar area has lots of glassware and the coffee machine-expresso and the like, was awesome. The bathroom is beautiful and there is a separate glassed in shower and the jaccuzzi tub that has a large glass window, there is so much light. The bedroom has a large, comfortable bed with another small flat screen tv. You will have much space to put your things, there are lots of built in draws and a large closet.

 

I hope that you have a wonderful time on the Spirit--it's a beautiful ship.

 

BTW: We will be trying the suite, (the Aries I believe?), for the May 1st sailing and it too, is our first NCL experience in the Suite life. Purposefully picked the nearest suite to midships as we haven't tried anything aft before.

 

OP, I think for that reason 10018 might be a bit nicer than 10008? Also wondering what that large door like appartus is below us a few decks down and the very large white space on the inside between the 10 Forward suites and balcony cabins?

 

Would Maurice and Belle also be on the May cruises or do the vacation times vary (I know dear departed Bruce V. took June and December)? Only ask because I make my own lotions, soaps and such and enjoy providing personalized treats in addition to the always welcomed green stuff...