Difference between Balcony & Mini Suite?

[schwaja3]

All:

 

What is the difference between a Balcony & Minisuite on the GEM?

 

I am booked on a 9th floor balcony, and the price's have gone down, so a minisuite might be there for just a few $$ more. What do you get with a mini that I don't already have in the balcony?

 

Thanks for all the help. You guys have given me so much info in the past.

 

Jack

[DinaS]

All:

 

What is the difference between a Balcony & Minisuite on the GEM?

 

I am booked on a 9th floor balcony, and the price's have gone down, so a minisuite might be there for just a few $$ more. What do you get with a mini that I don't already have in the balcony?

 

Thanks for all the help. You guys have given me so much info in the past.

 

Jack

 

I believe the mini-suites are about 4 feet longer, and you get a tub instead of a shower. If a little more space is worth it to you, then get the mini-suite.

 

There are no actual benefits other than cabin size and tub.

[JohnIreland]

The best feature is a curtain between the seating area and the bed area.

[roger001]

All:

 

What is the difference between a Balcony & Minisuite on the GEM?

 

I am booked on a 9th floor balcony, and the price's have gone down, so a minisuite might be there for just a few $$ more. What do you get with a mini that I don't already have in the balcony?

 

Thanks for all the help. You guys have given me so much info in the past.

 

Jack

 

Which ship?

[bear3412]

which ship?

 

 

.... Minisuite on the gem? .....

 

... :)

 

ETA; I never noticed it changes upper case to lowercase when you quote. Weird. I tried to change it (GEM) still, not.

Edited February 24, 2014 by bear3412

[KeithJenner]

One quite significant difference on the Gem if there are more than two of you then it is apparently quite difficult to get onto the balcony if the sofa bed is being used in a balcony room. There is more room to get past in a Mini Suite.

[schwaja3]

Thanks for the help. I should have mentioned that it is only my wife and I.

 

So, other than a few more feet (4), they are the same? Is the balcony the same size?

 

I am thinking that maybe it would be better to look for an aft balcony instead of the minisuite.

 

Thanks again.

 

Jack

[emcelh]

Thanks for the help. I should have mentioned that it is only my wife and I.

 

So, other than a few more feet (4), they are the same? Is the balcony the same size?

 

I am thinking that maybe it would be better to look for an aft balcony instead of the minisuite.

 

Thanks again.

 

Jack

 

That would be my choice.

[KeithJenner]

I am thinking that maybe it would be better to look for an aft balcony instead of the minisuite.

 

 

That sounds like a good plan.

[Turtles06]

Another thing to keep in mind re mini-suites on the Gem (and other Jewel class ships) is their location on Deck 11. Many of them are under highly-used public areas on Deck 12, including the pool area and the buffet. You may well hear the scraping of chairs early in the morning when the crew are cleaning up and setting up, and other noise from above.

 

My personal preference is to book a cabin that has cabins above and below it, but if you opt for a mini-suite, please look carefully at what is above (and below) you.

 

Have a great cruise!

[cpcanuck]

So, other than a few more feet (4), they are the same? Is the balcony the same size?

 

I am thinking that maybe it would be better to look for an aft balcony instead of the minisuite.

 

Thanks again.

 

Jack

 

I just went through the same thing and ended up booking an aft facing balcony on the Gem which was cheaper than the minisuites - you get the amazing view from the aft and less wind issues. The tubs are not that big (having been in the aft penthouse suite on the Dawn before - and it was a small tub - hardly worth using - I'm assuming the minisuites would be similar).

 

I guess the only question that remains is the size of the balcony - but for me the view counts for a lot!

[DinaS]

I just went through the same thing and ended up booking an aft facing balcony on the Gem which was cheaper than the minisuites - you get the amazing view from the aft and less wind issues. The tubs are not that big (having been in the aft penthouse suite on the Dawn before - and it was a small tub - hardly worth using - I'm assuming the minisuites would be similar).

 

I guess the only question that remains is the size of the balcony - but for me the view counts for a lot!

 

I believe the balconies are the same size on both the balcony cabin and the mini-suite. (At least that's what I found from all my research!)

[Love my butler]

Unless you can get the mini for about the same price as the balcony, don't waste your money. Barely any difference and zero perks.

[DinaS]

Unless you can get the mini for about the same price as the balcony, don't waste your money. Barely any difference and zero perks.

 

 

Right now, the price for balcony and mini-suites appear to be about the same for our March 17th sailing :)

Edited February 24, 2014 by DinaS

[roger001]

Here's some pics of a mini on the Pearl, which should be the same as the Gem. Yes, mini suite balconies are slightly bigger.

 

http://s241.photobucket.com/user/roganderson60/library/Pearl%20Mini%20Suite?sort=2&page=1

[hladygirl]

We upgraded for free from a balcony to a minisuite on the Dawn last November for a 14 night cruise. We did feel the size of the room, bathroom and balcony a bit larger and more comfortable. We chose a cabin under the buffet midship. There was an overhang from the buffet windows that gave us extra protection from the sun and the balcony never got wet when it rained. The other balconies were soaked in Cozumel when it down poured. Our balcony was dry as a bone. We never heard a thing above us. If the cost is minimal I would definatly choose a minisuite. Storage was also better.

[LrgPizza]

I didn't know people actually booked mini-suites. I thought they only existed so that NCL could offer "upgrades" to those booking balconies & they'd get excited about the sound of it.

[mizLORInj]

If the price is the same, I'd move to the mini for the additional space. Just be aware of what is above you--I'd get one under the Garden Cafe or La Cucina for less noise from above. Also, the midship mini-suite balconies have a large overhang so go farther aft if you want more sun. (look at some close-up photos of the ship--you'll see the overhang)

Edited February 25, 2014 by mizlorinj

[hladygirl]

If the price is the same, I'd move to the mini for the additional space. Just be aware of what is above you--I'd get one under the Garden Cafe or La Cucina for less noise from above. Also, the midship mini-suite balconies have a large overhang so go farther aft if you want more sun. (look at some close-up photos of the ship--you'll see the overhang)

 

In the hot Caribbean and after being in the sun all day you will appreciate the shade!

[RCLnewbie]

We just returned of the Dawn and stayed in a mini-suite. One perk I haven't seen anyone mention is being upgraded to VIP for staying in a mini-suite. We were. They gave us priority embarkation. Marched right passed 100s of people waiting to get on the ship with a personal escort holding a sign :D. We also received a bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, a 2 for 1 dinner at any specialty restaurant except Teppanyaki, and the best perk of all was priority disembarkation at all ports and when returning home. I'd definately go for the mini. And if noise is a problem, I did here some noise in the Garden Cafe above, just bring some earplugs and voila. Totally worth it in my opinion.

[DinaS]

We just returned of the Dawn and stayed in a mini-suite. One perk I haven't seen anyone mention is being upgraded to VIP for staying in a mini-suite. We were. They gave us priority embarkation. Marched right passed 100s of people waiting to get on the ship with a personal escort holding a sign :D. We also received a bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, a 2 for 1 dinner at any specialty restaurant except Teppanyaki, and the best perk of all was priority disembarkation at all ports and when returning home. I'd definately go for the mini. And if noise is a problem, I did here some noise in the Garden Cafe above, just bring some earplugs and voila. Totally worth it in my opinion.

 

That's great that you got VIP status, but you didn't get VIP status for being in a mini-suite - that absolutely is NOT a normal perk.

 

Something else got you the VIP status - not your mini-suite. Not sure what it is - perhaps you reached platinum status - or perhaps something else.

 

For anyone else thinking of getting a mini-suite for VIP upgrades - it isn't going to happen.

 

Mini-suites do not include any perks other than the cabin and balcony.

[bear3412]

We would always choose more space, and possible a larger bath, and curtain, over aft every time. Of course we aren't aft folks. :o lol.

 

We prefer balconies on the sides of the vessel too, so .....

 

But definitely investigate what is above AND below said cabin.

 

So, I guess that means we would choose the mini. Of course we have two little animals to consider, so .... YMMV.

If we were two adults, ..... maybe we would feel different. Not sure. We are defiantly side balcony folks. Plus it can get weird back there aft in sustained heavy seas states. Can you say, .... Yaw ?

 

Good luck and Enjoy.

 

:)

Edited February 25, 2014 by bear3412

[disfan13]

I like the Mini Suites - I like being up that high, o the Gem. We are booked right under the steam rooms in the Spa, not worried about noise. We stayed in one on the Spirit under the pool area and only once heard chairs moving. We enjoy them, more for the location.

 

As for the difference - my partner likes to sleep in, the curtain does help if I want to be up and have coffee or start getting ready for my day. The balconies are usually a bit bigger.