Raycruise2010 Posted March 30, 2012 #1 Share Posted March 30, 2012 My wife and I are on the Ruby Nov. 4 for a short 7-day jaunt. We generally get balconies. While the description of a mini suite looks inviting --- more space --- the videos I've seen have left me fairly unimpressed. But a video doesn't tell the whole story. So I wonder: is a mini-suite worth the extra $200 pp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserdru Posted March 30, 2012 #2 Share Posted March 30, 2012 A lot depends on how you use your cabin - if it is mostly a place to sleep then you may not want to spend the extra $$. We always choose a mini over a balcony on Princess. We like the tub over the small shower stall, we like the extra space for stashing all our stuff (the closet is bigger, there is more storage space in the room itself), and I like that there is some place for me to hang out in the room (the couch) when I get up early and know my DH will sleep another couple of hours. Unfortunately, once we did a mini and found these little advantages, we have never gone back to a balcony on Princess. That said, most of our Princess trips are 12-14 days (and one was 27) and the extra space makes life easier over the long run. When we do TAs (7 days) on QM2, we are quite happy in a sheltered balcony and I can live with the smaller space and the tiny shower. Have a great time no matter what you pick. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CA Posted March 30, 2012 #3 Share Posted March 30, 2012 For $200/pp, I think a mini-suite is well worth it. You have a real sitting area with a couch, more storage, a 2nd TV, larger bathroom with tub/shower and a good-sized balcony with two half-recliners, two footstools and a good-sized table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dena Posted March 30, 2012 #4 Share Posted March 30, 2012 We like them too. That and the promenad deck are making very hard for us to leave Princess for Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pris993 Posted March 30, 2012 #5 Share Posted March 30, 2012 We have been on the Ruby twice. Just got off last week, we booked a mini, we enjoyed it so much, we upgrade to a mini on the Star Princess we have booked in September. We do mini suites or balcony cabins as a rule, depends what we feel we can afford depending on the length of the cruise. We do spend a lot of time in our cabin. We like to do both breakfast and lunch there, and enjoy quiet time in the afternoon on the balcony. The storage space, tub, 2 tvs, and sofa make the cabin feel more like home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovevacadays Posted March 30, 2012 #6 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Worth it to me if I have it in my budget. I love the extra room and bigger bathroom. Also, love the larger balcony. I guess it really depends on what $200 pp means to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highheel girl Posted March 30, 2012 #7 Share Posted March 30, 2012 For $400! No! Put the money towards some tours/drinks/specialty rest. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonnenschein Posted March 30, 2012 #8 Share Posted March 30, 2012 For $400! No! Put the money towards some tours/drinks/specialty rest. :D You don't need to many drinks to fall asleep in a mini suite since they have better mattresses and bedding:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CA Posted March 30, 2012 #9 Share Posted March 30, 2012 You don't need to many drinks to fall asleep in a mini suite since they have better mattresses and bedding:pJust FYI, I had a wonderful pillowtop mattress with good support in my Caribe balcony cabin on the Star. Much better than I've ever had on HAL or had on Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Patches Posted March 30, 2012 #10 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Yes, $400 is worth it to me for the extra space. I love having the sitting room so you can watch tv, read or talk without having to lie in the beds. I also like the extra bathroom space. The worst thing about the standard balconies is the tiniest shower at sea. It is so much more comfortable to shower in the tub/shower combo. When we started booking minis years ago my standard was I would pay up to $200 per person per week to upgrade from a BB/BA Caribe balcony to an AD mini. If you can get it for that, then it is worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 HappyCruiser Posted March 30, 2012 #11 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Other that the larger bathroom the mini's don't offer that much more for my money. The balcony isn't any larger than a Caribe balcony, the sitting area is nice but how 2 TV's add to any extra enjoyment is beyond me. The larger closet space might be OK for some but we never fill the regular size closets. If they want for upgrade me to a mini then fine I'll take it but for $400 extra I'll spent it a little more wisely. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiro Posted March 30, 2012 #12 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I really think that the bathroom makes it worth it - having the larger shower/tub is great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzyed Posted March 30, 2012 #13 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I also think the length of your cruise is a factor...at least for us. On a two week or more sailing, that extra space is much more comfortable and somehow more homey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtocruising63 Posted March 30, 2012 #14 Share Posted March 30, 2012 After my first cruise with a small shower stall, I have never considered booking a room without a bathtub/shower combo. It is well worth the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5326jan Posted March 30, 2012 #15 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I also think the length of your cruise is a factor...at least for us.On a two week or more sailing, that extra space is much more comfortable and somehow more homey! This is exactly how we feel too. One week in a balcony is fine, more than 7 days and it becomes claustrophobic. In a balcony cabin I always felt like the tub chair was in the way, and you couldn't really use the little side table with it or the door to the balcony was completely blocked. DH likes to work a little while on vacation, so having a sofa with a coffee table gives him space while still allowing access to the door out to the balcony. I also find the fridge and bar area awkward to use in a balcony cabin. I do love the size of the Caribe balcony though. Two tv's are not at all important, but a larger bathroom sure is nice. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzyed Posted March 30, 2012 #16 Share Posted March 30, 2012 This is exactly how we feel too. One week in a balcony is fine, more than 7 days and it becomes claustrophobic. In a balcony cabin I always felt like the tub chair was in the way, and you couldn't really use the little side table with it or the door to the balcony was completely blocked. DH likes to work a little while on vacation, so having a sofa with a coffee table gives him space while still allowing access to the door out to the balcony. I also find the fridge and bar area awkward to use in a balcony cabin. I do love the size of the Caribe balcony though. Two tv's are not at all important, but a larger bathroom sure is nice. :) Agree, agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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