Star SB Suites vs SF/SE Suites @ $2,200 difference are they worth it

[wejamn]

Looking a the NCL Star, SB Owner's Suite with 2 Balconies vs either the SE Penthouse with Large Balcony or the SF Aft-Facing Penthouse with Large Balcony and wonder if it is worth paying almost $2,200 more for the SB Suite. Looks like both include Butler and Concierge sevices as well as a list of other perks. Some say size matters, but in this case does it for the price? What are the chances if you book either SE or SF now that you will get an upgrade offer to SB at a later time assuming that one is available. Also some Suites say Butler and Concierge services included and others like SA say Butler and Concierge Available.......does this mean you can arrange to have it included at an additional charge? New to this freestyle stuff and want to make sure my cooler is full at all time. Any advice/info and or pictures greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Journey11]

Butler and concierge "available" means the same thing as "included" and there is no additional fee for their services. Of course, you should tip each according to how much you use them.

[dexddd]

Looking a the NCL Star, SB Owner's Suite with 2 Balconies vs either the SE Penthouse with Large Balcony or the SF Aft-Facing Penthouse with Large Balcony and wonder if it is worth paying almost $2,200 more for the SB Suite. Looks like both include Butler and Concierge sevices as well as a list of other perks. Some say size matters, but in this case does it for the price? What are the chances if you book either SE or SF now that you will get an upgrade offer to SB at a later time assuming that one is available. Also some Suites say Butler and Concierge services included and others like SA say Butler and Concierge Available.......does this mean you can arrange to have it included at an additional charge? New to this freestyle stuff and want to make sure my cooler is full at all time. Any advice/info and or pictures greatly appreciated.

Cheers

If you didn't already find the chart, the link below on NCL will show the differences across suites - look for the tab on the left of the page for the "Amenities Chart"

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ep7RysRfC6cJ:www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-75582.html+lenovo+slim+usb+keyboard+function+keys&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

[Cubechick]

Looking a the NCL Star, SB Owner's Suite with 2 Balconies vs either the SE Penthouse with Large Balcony or the SF Aft-Facing Penthouse with Large Balcony and wonder if it is worth paying almost $2,200 more for the SB Suite. Looks like both include Butler and Concierge sevices as well as a list of other perks. Some say size matters, but in this case does it for the price? What are the chances if you book either SE or SF now that you will get an upgrade offer to SB at a later time assuming that one is available. Also some Suites say Butler and Concierge services included and others like SA say Butler and Concierge Available.......does this mean you can arrange to have it included at an additional charge? New to this freestyle stuff and want to make sure my cooler is full at all time. Any advice/info and or pictures greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

On the Star, the difference between the SE and SF penthouses and the OS (besides size and number of balconies) is that the OS comes with three complimentary bottles of liquor, free soft drinks and mixers, and reserved seating at the shows.

[VideoTech]

Looking a the NCL Star, SB Owner's Suite with 2 Balconies vs either the SE Penthouse with Large Balcony or the SF Aft-Facing Penthouse with Large Balcony and wonder if it is worth paying almost $2,200 more for the SB Suite. Looks like both include Butler and Concierge sevices as well as a list of other perks. Some say size matters, but in this case does it for the price? What are the chances if you book either SE or SF now that you will get an upgrade offer to SB at a later time assuming that one is available. Also some Suites say Butler and Concierge services included and others like SA say Butler and Concierge Available.......does this mean you can arrange to have it included at an additional charge? New to this freestyle stuff and want to make sure my cooler is full at all time. Any advice/info and or pictures greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

I think it depends on what kind of cruiser you are. If you plan on spending a lot of time in your cabin, then the larger space of the Owner's Suite would really be worth it, as well as the two balconies.

 

Chances of an upgrade to the Owner's suite? Well, it's happened; people have posted about it. I wouldn't say it's something that happens a lot, though, given that there are so few of the Owner's suites on any one ship.

 

Your level of butler and concierge service should be the same in all the suites. That's really up to you, and how you use those services. As others have noted, there's a few additional perks to the Owner's suites, but not that much more than the penthouse suites.

 

It comes down to how you want to spend your money, and that's your decision.

 

Personally, I'd jump at the chance to try an Owner's Suite. We love the Penthouse suites, but it would be worth it to see what it's like.

[Fishbait17]

The basic differences between the SF/SE and SB (Owner's Suite Are size and layout. The SE/SF are single room suites, maybe about double the size of a balcony cabin, with a bed, small loveseat, chair, plus a table with four chairs. There is a curtain that goes around the bed to separate it from the living area. The bathroom is ok, small but workable, with a separate makeup table outside. The balcony is large, largest in the forward suites. The SB is very large, at least twice the size of the SE/SF, maybe 3x or more, with a separate bedroom with king bed, desk, easy chair, huge bathroom, walk-in closet, large living room with full sofa, lounger, table and four chairs, an extra half bath, and two entrances onto the side balcony with a table and chairs, plus two chairs with ottomans (there is also a large balcony off the bedroom with loungers and a side table). The other difference is a usually noticeable difference in the level of service you receive (not easy to put your finger on, but palpable). The OS also comes with the three free bottles of liquor, plus all the soft drinks and mixers you want at no extra cost (in suite only, not at bars).

 

For me, $2200 Is well worth moving up from a penthouse to the OS, but for others this might be too much.. I love the Owner's Suites with two balconies, they are only second to the Garden Villa for me. We spend a lot of time in our suite and love the luxury. Look at ncl.com under the ships, and cabins, for diagrams of the different layouts. Only you can decide.

 

Robin

[valleyvillage]

We were booked in a Family Penthouse on deck 12 and got an upsell opportunity to the Deluxe Owner's Suite all the way forward on 12. Nothing like the OS (SB) because they have no balcony. But we loved the huge windows and high ceilings. We did enjoy the priority seating for the shows and all that booze and soda!

 

We're glad we did it, but now we're afraid we're spoiled. We've only got the 2 balcony OS and GV to go and then what do we do?:eek:

[retired rascal]

For us the size of the OS on the Star...at least the Deck 10 is worth it....but it also depends on the itinerary. It is a HUGE space with a totally separate [glass partition pocket doors] bedroom with a TON of space and a desk and a chair and a settee....and the bath is enormous with a LARGE spa bath tub and a separate shower with several shower heads and dual sinks and large vanity and ALOT of open space between all those things plus 2 large windows. The dressing area is very large with 2 closets, 2 safes, lot of drawers, a pants presser. The rest of the cabin is similarly BIG with a second 1/4 [guest] bath off the foyer. Plenty of room in the dining alcove. HUGE front deck and quite large protected side deck where you can look right up into the bridge. For a long cruise a cabin this size seems justified. However, for a shorter time...not as sure. AND the big front balcony is open and very inhospitable at cruising speed especially on open ocean....just WAY too cold and windy. There is actually a true bulkhead door [with one of those submarine type spinning wheels to secure it] to get out to it....for good reason. Thus when we go to Alaska this September we will be in an aft penthouse [old Romance] so we can enjoy being outside with a huge view but comfort. We would not take an upsell to OS for this cruise. For another Panama Canal trip, we'd go back to the OS because the space is great on a 15 night trip and you can't beat the view of the canal from the bow ....but then again you're only moving at turtle pace.

[Cubechick]

For us the size of the OS on the Star...at least the Deck 10 is worth it....but it also depends on the itinerary. It is a HUGE space with a totally separate [glass partition pocket doors] bedroom with a TON of space and a desk and a chair and a settee....and the bath is enormous with a LARGE spa bath tub and a separate shower with several shower heads and dual sinks and large vanity and ALOT of open space between all those things plus 2 large windows. The dressing area is very large with 2 closets, 2 safes, lot of drawers, a pants presser. The rest of the cabin is similarly BIG with a second 1/4 [guest] bath off the foyer. Plenty of room in the dining alcove. HUGE front deck and quite large protected side deck where you can look right up into the bridge. For a long cruise a cabin this size seems justified. However, for a shorter time...not as sure. AND the big front balcony is open and very inhospitable at cruising speed especially on open ocean....just WAY too cold and windy. There is actually a true bulkhead door [with one of those submarine type spinning wheels to secure it] to get out to it....for good reason. Thus when we go to Alaska this September we will be in an aft penthouse [old Romance] so we can enjoy being outside with a huge view but comfort. We would not take an upsell to OS for this cruise. For another Panama Canal trip, we'd go back to the OS because the space is great on a 15 night trip and you can't beat the view of the canal from the bow ....but then again you're only moving at turtle pace.

 

See, it's all perspective. We were upsold to the OS on our Alaska cruise and thought it the perfect cabin for that cruise. We spent every daylight moment we were at sea running between the two balconies spotting whales, dolphins, porpoises and eagles. :D

 

The only time wind was a problem when we were leaving Glacier Bay.

[wejamn]

Thanks for the insight, as it is our first party at sea we decided to go overboard so to speak just how far overboard is the question. Then once you are there can you ever go back to anything else is the next question. By the sounds of it there is a distinct difference especially moving up to a suite with all the perks, however we are travelling with a few other couples and don't want to look too out there as far as perks go. I am told that a good butler will replentish the 3 bottles of spirits should one happen to run out during the curise and should we pick something up at the onboard store or in a port that it will some how make it's way to our room well in advance of the last night again thanks to a good butler, has anyone had that experience?

[soazlaney]

Here is a link to some pictures of OS 9006 on the Star. We loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

http://family.webshots.com/album/562344661vTUgcQ?vhost=family