What's a suite worth to you?

[vllygrrl]

Here's a question that I anticipate will bring some interesting discussion. At what price point does a suite become tempting to spend a bit more on? For example, my husband and I currently have an aft penthouse booked on the Getaway in the fall, with my sister and my son in the room with us. My parents have the connecting balcony room booked. Obviously, the trip would be nicer for everyone if my parents were in a suite as well. At the moment, a spa penthouse would be $1000 more than the price that they paid for their balcony, and my father does not see the value in that. They sailed in a suite on the Star with us, so they are aware of the perks that come with the suite life. Essentially, I know I can get them to spend a bit more to upgrade to a suite if it's a "bargain". However, what is a bargain?

[KeithJenner]

I wouldn't pay much more for a suite.

 

We had an Owners Suite as a one off, which was very nice. The best bit about it was the size of the room itself. However, as it cost about three times as much as a mini suite, I wouldn't do it again.

 

The perks were quite nice, but I wouldn't pay much extra for them. We barely used Cagneys and whilst the Butler service was nice it was nothing I would miss. We didn't really use the Concierge at all.

 

I've been tempted by the Aft Penthouses, but we decided to go for an Aft Mini on a 14 day cruise instead as it was about £1,500 ($2,000) extra and that was too much for the extra space.

 

We will probably get the Family Suite on the Star if we do a Baltics cruise in the coming years, mainly for the extra space and because it isn't all that much more expensive than a mini suite. The Balcony is less important on that cruise anyway as it isn't as warm and the lack of a balcony seems to keep the price of the suite down. It's a nice big room.

 

So, I'd say that I would value the extra room you get in a Penthouse at about $500 and don't really value the perks at much at all.

 

I do quite fancy the idea of the 2 bedroom suites as our son would have his own room, but again at the cost I just don't see it as worth it when he's quite happy on the sofa bed. Maybe in a few years that will change.

 

Many people say that when you've done a suite you will never want to go back, but I didn't find that at all. It was nice, but I'm really looking forward to the balconies and mini suites we have, and it means we can afford to cruise 2-3 times a year, which is more important to us than lunch in Cagneys and things like that.

Edited March 24, 2014 by KeithJenner

[B6ConMe]

I wouldn't pay much more for a suite.

 

 

Many people say that when you've done a suite you will never want to go back, but I didn't find that at all. It was nice, but I'm really looking forward to the balconies and mini suites we have, and it means we can afford to cruise 2-3 times a year, which is more important to us than lunch in Cagneys and things like that.

 

Ditto! :eek: I agree with everything said here and just add a bit. We were booked on the Pearl in a balcony and when the prices continued to drop after final payment I went ahead and paid the $130 to move up to an Aft PH suite. We didn't pay any more for the PH than we did for a balcony on the Eric in February.

 

I'm glad we took the opportunity to try a suite but we'll likely not do it again.

[johnsak123]

No one can tell you what a bargain is because it depends on your budget and finances

Expensive to you might be cheap to others

I enjoy being able to eat at Cagneys for breakie and lunch so I prefer a suite but it all depends on the price differential

Now spending more for the Haven is a priority for me since I like the solitude of being away from the masses

Edited March 24, 2014 by johnsak123

[kcwingwalker]

People book suites for a variety of reasons. We have just booked our first and our reason was to have some quality time and create some special memories. I'm doing this for someone dear to me and wish to do something that will make her very happy. In years to come I think more than a few conversations will go back to the time when "we had a suite"

 

We've always had balconies and have been very happy.

[fridaythe13th]

The extra floor space is nice but as far as a butler and concierge, we don't use them. I would only pay $3-400 for a suite as we are perfectly happy with a balcony.

[swedish weave]

We normally book inside cabins. Our logic is that we enjoy time on the ship much more than the amenities provided in a suite, and we can cruise 28 days for less money than we could in a suite for 14 days.

[LrgPizza]

There are 3 of us, and we'd MAYBE pay $100 each more for a suite, so about $300 total, but even then, I doubt we'd do it. We prefer giant buffet breakfasts, and prefer to then just munch on the deck for lunch (or eat at ports), so we wouldn't use Cagney's at all. We don't care a bit about space, since we are really only in our cabin to sleep and for quick showers. I know we wouldn't use butler or concierge, since we kind of enjoy doing things for ourselves, and we wouldn't eat in the cabin at all. We looked into booking a suite this cruise, but when researching and reviewing all the amenities, none seemed like anything that we really cared about, so it didn't make sense to us. We like our cabin location better than any of the suites on our ship, also.

 

It's a very individual decision based on what is important to you.

[acharris1]

One of our big reasons for booking in the Haven is because of the private courtyard. We find the main pools soooooo crowded that we've never ever been able to get a chair there. We're looking forward to hanging around the pool, even if it's a small pool, without the crowds. The main pools aren't even that much bigger and they're for thousands more people.

 

We're also looking forward to the preferred seating at shows, first on and off the boat, being able to have dinner served in your room.

[cpcanuck]

I wouldn't pay much more for a suite...

 

I do quite fancy the idea of the 2 bedroom suites as our son would have his own room, but again at the cost I just don't see it as worth it when he's quite happy on the sofa bed. Maybe in a few years that will change.

 

I agree with you:

 

As for the 2 bedroom suites - I had looked into this when thinking of travelling with an elderly family member. From what I can see the 2nd bedroom doesn't have a real bed - it is a sofa bed in a small room with no windows. Hardly a true bedroom in my mind. I might as well be sleeping in someones basement on a lumpy couch that they keep telling me is "really comfortable" (as they go back upstairs to their nice kingsize bed in the master bedroom! :rolleyes:)

 

I've had one suite - aft penthouse - it was lovely. Next time a balcony will be just fine unless the price really goes down. I do keep my eyes on the prices! It was fun to say that I experienced a suite - but not worth breaking the bank every time I want to sail! :)

[SissasMomE]

I did book a 2-bedroom suite for our upcoming thanksgiving cruise for really 2 reasons. 1 - it was cheaper than booking 2 balcony cabins and 2 - it's thanksgiving, and I wanted to do something extra special. Would I go broke over a NCL suite? Nooooo. There are so many nicer resorts (think Sandals Grenada) to book a suite with butler service ;) If you have stayed in a resort with butler service, this will not even hold a candle to the service or amenities ... but if you're breaking even on the price, you might as well do it.

[garycarla]

We normally book inside cabins. Our logic is that we enjoy time on the ship much more than the amenities provided in a suite' date=' and we can cruise 28 days for less money than we could in a suite for 14 days.[/quote']

 

And, there are people that only book suites, and the higher end every time.

 

It all depends on what they like and their finances.

 

On a related note, I would never do a cruise where part of the family is in a suite and part is not - meaning some of you eat in Cagneys or Haven, and part do not. Nor would I put 4 people in a one room suite. That is just us and I understand others are okay with it. Just offering my two cents, since you asked.

Edited March 24, 2014 by garycarla

[SissasMomE]

I agree with you:

 

As for the 2 bedroom suites - I had looked into this when thinking of travelling with an elderly family member. From what I can see the 2nd bedroom doesn't have a real bed - it is a sofa bed in a small room with no windows. Hardly a true bedroom in my mind. I might as well be sleeping in someones basement on a lumpy couch that they keep telling me is "really comfortable" (as they go back upstairs to their nice kingsize bed in the master bedroom! :rolleyes:)

 

I've had one suite - aft penthouse - it was lovely. Next time a balcony will be just fine unless the price really goes down. I do keep my eyes on the prices! It was fun to say that I experienced a suite - but not worth breaking the bank every time I want to sail! :)

 

The sofa beds are extremely comfortable. I wouldn't hesitate to sleep on it. The 2-bedroom suites are really for families. I would not expect an adult couple to sleep in the 2nd bedroom - although some on here have done it!

[Winchester Ranger]

Too many variables to give a realistic answer.

 

Both myself and DW work full time, so money isn't the issue for us with cruising, getting vacation at the same time is the issue. So with taking just the occasional cruise we tend to spend more to make it "special" and have opted for butler serviced suites on our next cruise and last cruise. If we were retired and cruising 3 times a year the budget would be tighter so we would downgrade to plain balcony rooms or maybe even inside cabins :eek:.

 

But, as with most things in life, if you have the means it really is the only way to fly.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Winchester Ranger

[Love my butler]

1000 bucks more to eat Cagney's? No thanks.

[Tingle]

From my experience on Celebrity Solstice, the benefits of the suite in order were:

 

1.Space

2. A BATH!!

3. freedom dining and 2 'free' speciality dining evenings

4. priority disembarkation at ports. (I'm not sure whether we had priority on returning to the ship but we couldn't bring ourselves to queue jump.)

 

The stuff I wouldn't pay extra for was

 

1. Butler

2. fruit

3. Being led to a prime place in the theatre by my butler on formal nights

 

what I'd like added

 

1. free laundry or a laundrette

2. A drinks package. (I loved having a free bar on the 3 star Pulmantur Sovereriegn - possibly as much as a suite on the Solstice.)

 

Obviously we'd all choose suites over ordinary cabins if it wasn't for the extra cost. And the calculation of whether that extra cost is low enough to tip the balance is going to be personal.

 

We did it because it was a special birthday and it'll probably be a while before we splash out that way again.

[acharris1]

When I booked our suite, the promotion included the unlimited drinks package. Regular bookings at that time also included the unlimited dining package, so we have both. Our big thing is the uncrowded Haven courtyard. It's such a zoo at the main pool!

[sdmike]

Like others have said, I don't put much value in being in a suite. I might book one for my family of 5 if the price is right...like the kids sail free promo...but I'm not interested unless the price is less than $300-$400 TOTAL for the week.

 

Example..on the kids sail free promo, I could get my family into a family suite for around $3,800. That's cheaper than two balconies or even an balcony and an inside because of the 3-5 person charges in two rooms. We would have booked except we couldn't make the offer dates and school dates line up

[acharris1]

I booked during the kids sail free promo (at least I'm pretty sure I did) and the kids were still charged, so I'm thinking maybe that doesn't apply when you book a suite??

[SissasMomE]

I booked during the kids sail free promo (at least I'm pretty sure I did) and the kids were still charged, so I'm thinking maybe that doesn't apply when you book a suite??

 

It does, but there are blackout dates. We could not get that promotion for our Thanksgiving sailing.

[acharris1]

So the kids sail free promo probably only applies to when there's not many kids sailing anyway, huh? Great promo, lol.

[Dorhead1230]

]We prefer giant buffet breakfasts, and prefer to then just munch on the deck for lunch (or eat at ports), so we wouldn't use Cagney's at all. We don't care a bit about space, since we are really only in our cabin to sleep and for quick showers. I know we wouldn't use butler or concierge, since we kind of enjoy doing things for ourselves, and we wouldn't eat in the cabin at all. We looked into booking a suite this cruise, but when researching and reviewing all the amenities, none seemed like anything that we really cared about, so it didn't make sense to us. We like our cabin location better than any of the suites on our ship, also.

 

It's a very individual decision based on what is important to you.

 

This is so similar to our viewpoint on suites. We could have gotten a good deal (compared to the actual price) on a PH when we upgraded to a balcony on my BF's casino voucher, but it still would have been over $1000 more. He loves breakfast buffets, and wouldn't want to sit for a served breakfast, and I wouldn't want to sit for a served lunch because I am too impatient to get out there and keep having fun. We wouldn't use a butler, because there isn't anything beyond what a cabin steward would do for us that we can't do for ourselves. Plus, I like being sandwiched between decks with no public areas to avoid noise. So, just not a good value for us! On the other hand, I gladly paid $300 to book a small cabana for our upcoming cruise, because the BF likes some shade, I'll want the ceiling fan because it will be super hot in July, I like the convenience of towels and water waiting for us, and we sure won't say no to a $50 beer credit ;). So, it's all just about what makes sense for you!

[esp13]

I find the suite very valuable and worth the price. My issue, generally speaking, is not with price but with time when it comes to cruising. My job makes it difficult to cruise more than once a year (2012 was the exception) and usually, it's closer to two years in between them. It's also fairly stressful, so when I do get to go, I want as much comfort and relaxation as possible.

 

December of 2012 was my first cruise in a suite (Aft PH on the Pearl) and I found it to be worth every penny. I loved the extra room on the balcony for just hanging out and relaxing. I loved the butler to bring breakfast, drinks, or snacks if I didn't feel like making the trek outside. I loved going to Cagneys, knowing I didn't have to fight crowds in the buffet (although I admit, it's probably not THAT different than a main dining room breakfast). And I enjoyed being able to make a call to the concierge and get reservations when I was ready rather than feeling like I needed to plan the meals more.

 

This December, we are in a Aft PH on the Getaway which will include my first Haven experience. It's significantly more than a balcony, but the huge aft balcony is definitely worth it, along with the private Haven courtyard.

 

But that's just me. And my guess is that there are many, many more people who feel differently or the ships would be all suites. :) That's what is so nice about having options - hopefully everybody can find something that fits their budget/needs.

[nbsjcruiser]

I'm with your father. $1000? No way. The benefits would never outweigh the $1000. That's my spending money for the week!

[cadien]

I would put a dollar value on the extra Latitudes points but not $1,000.