Suite Comparison

[SissasMomE]

We just booked a suite with royal caribbean for a cruise next year. Their perks are similar, better even (for us). Instead of the Haven, you have your own reserved seating at the pool (up one level, which I prefer), prime reserved seating for shows - and suite guests do not need to make reservations, full dining room menu room service, snacks delivered daily by your suite attendant, etc., etc., etc. The main and better perk is the free cocktail hour (or hours) every day. From 5 - 8:30pm, every day, in the suite concierge lounge, you get free cocktails (mixed drinks, frozen drinks, wine, beer, champagne - your choice) plus hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Why on earth doesn't NCL do this?? I realize Royal is more expensive than NCL, but wow ... what a difference. Also, their adult only area is free. I wish NCL would step it up some. I really don't like sailing another line, and would rather stay with NCL, but for this particular cruise, they are offering exactly what I was looking for.

Edited May 9, 2014 by SissasMomE

[PDIDDYwife]

It is pretty much not as good as advertised.

We have been doing Royal for years, all in 2 br suites. We have done 11-12 suite level cruises on Royal.

The concierge lounge IS wonderful, and it is 2.5 hours of free booze. The lounges are not huge. The reserved pool area gets full. The theater area is the same as on NCL.

One evening they have an AWESOME suite guest reception with sushi, champagne, etc. Very nice.

Which ship are you sailing on? On Freedom class the concierge lounge, for example, has no windows. It is tucked into a little hole. The smaller Grandeur has a lovely yet tiny lounge that wraps around a bar. I love the hors douvre. But do not expect any special treatment except for the couple of hours at cocktail hour. The treats in suite are one little plate, not what you get on NCL. There really is a huge difference between the 2 lines.

 

Not to be a buzz kill, but it ain't no NCL.

[SissasMomE]

I guess we'll find out! We have a 2-bedroom booked with NCL for Thanksgiving, and then the owner's suite on the Navigator for next year, so I will be able to compare. I could care less about the daily snacks. We aren't the "hang in the cabin" type of family ... but I do love the open bar perk, and not having to make show reservations! AND that balcony ... oh my. It's huge!

Edited May 9, 2014 by SissasMomE

[esp13]

We just booked a suite with royal caribbean for a cruise next year. Their perks are similar, better even (for us). Instead of the Haven, you have your own reserved seating at the pool (up one level, which I prefer), prime reserved seating for shows - and suite guests do not need to make reservations, full dining room menu room service, snacks delivered daily by your suite attendant, etc., etc., etc. The main and better perk is the free cocktail hour (or hours) every day. From 5 - 8:30pm, every day, in the suite concierge lounge, you get free cocktails (mixed drinks, frozen drinks, wine, beer, champagne - your choice) plus hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Why on earth doesn't NCL do this?? I realize Royal is more expensive than NCL, but wow ... what a difference. Also, their adult only area is free. I wish NCL would step it up some. I really don't like sailing another line, and would rather stay with NCL, but for this particular cruise, they are offering exactly what I was looking for.

 

I bolded the part that pretty much answers your own question. Royal Caribbean is more expensive so I would hope that the fair included a few things that NCL's doesn't. Otherwise, I can't see any reason to pay more for the same thing. Personally, I don't drink enough in 3.5 hours each day to make up the difference in the price of the cruise. So, I'd rather pay less for my suite and pay for my own alcohol.

 

The rest is really just a matter of preference. I'd rather have the Haven than a reserved pool deck and the "adults only" part of it isn't a big deal to me. If the Haven gets too rowdy, I have this really huge balcony that overlooks the wake. :)

 

But, if RCCL meets all of your needs at the price that works for you, that's great. I just don't think NCL needs to change to be like RCCL anymore than RCCL should change to be like NCL. Having choices is a really good thing.

[TifffanyD]

We had these perks on RCCL. While the cocktail hour sounds nice and does save money, you are in a little room and not enjoying the full ship. Ours didn't even have a window or balcony or anything... it was a stuffy little room. Kinda regret it.

[SissasMomE]

We had these perks on RCCL. While the cocktail hour sounds nice and does save money, you are in a little room and not enjoying the full ship. Ours didn't even have a window or balcony or anything... it was a stuffy little room. Kinda regret it.

 

Freedom class, yes. Not on the Navigator. I think they really end up losing a lot with both the Freedom and Oasis class ships, but ,,, I guess some people like them.

[cpcanuck]

"I realize Royal is more expensive than NCL, but wow ... what a difference. Also, their adult only area is free. I wish NCL would step it up some."

 

I bolded the part that pretty much answers your own question. Royal Caribbean is more expensive so I would hope that the fair included a few things that NCL's doesn't. Otherwise, I can't see any reason to pay more for the same thing. Personally, I don't drink enough in 3.5 hours each day to make up the difference in the price of the cruise. So, I'd rather pay less for my suite and pay for my own alcohol.

 

Yup! That is exactly what the difference is. There is a cost difference between the two suite fares on RCCL and NCL. If I was sailing on RCCL I would hope there were better perks for that price difference! I don't want NCL to start bumping up their prices. I can save money and buy my own drinks.

[SissasMomE]

I had started looking at Royal for the itinerary. It's gets old always going to the same places. Anyway, they are running a BOGOHO promotion, so the deal I got was good, and we go to mainly new places. The teen who is graduating just texted me and asked if we can stay with NCL instead. LOL Ugh! Now I'm back to the darn drawing board.

[PDIDDYwife]

The 'free"adult only area is the Solarium- thru which everyone traipses constantly to get food! it is for ages 16 plus, is not tranquil, and is has chair hogs. I think DD might have the right idea.

 

Either way, a change of pace is nice, the balcony IS mammoth and you will have a blast!!!

[SissasMomE]

The 'free"adult only area is the Solarium- thru which everyone traipses constantly to get food! it is for ages 16 plus, is not tranquil, and is has chair hogs. I think DD might have the right idea.

 

Either way, a change of pace is nice, the balcony IS mammoth and you will have a blast!!!

 

It's her graduation, so it's up to her. Hubby could care less LOL I'm moving us back to the Escape. Bummer - I really wanted that balcony. Oh well :o we will have a great time regardless.

[kdzkatz]

It's her graduation, so it's up to her. Hubby could care less LOL I'm moving us back to the Escape. Bummer - I really wanted that balcony. Oh well :o we will have a great time regardless.

 

I am a NCL cheerleader but I do understand why there are differenences between cruise lines and I am glad there are. I am a NCL cheerleader because they work for us. You are obviously curious about experiencing a RCCL suite and hopefully you will be able to do so sometime in the near future. As you will be doing an NCL suite you will be able to have a first hand comparison and then can decide what works better for you.

 

We love NCL but we understand they don't fit as well for others. Cruise ships are like styles of music. There is no wrong answer to what style music you enjoy but not everyone will like the same kind of music. Thank goodness for options! :D

[VideoTech]

I have to disagree. We've done suites on RCCL and NCL, and in our opinion, the suite perks on NCL are much better than those we received on RCCL. The "daily cocktail hour" was nice, but you don't seem to get much beyond that.

 

On NCL, you have the breakfast and lunch perk in Cagney's - Breakfast in particular is wonderful..having a nice, quiet breakfast away from the crowds. You get all the in-cabin dining amenities, plus the snacks and anything else you care to ask your Butler for. On some NCL ships, there are reserved seating areas for suite passengers at shows. In the higher levels of suites, there are liquor and wine benefits as well.

 

On RCCL, the concierge seemed singularly distant and unhelpful. On NCL, by and large, they are friendly, outgoing, and constantly checking to see if you need anything.

 

We'll stay with NCL suites, thanks.

[SissasMomE]

I have to disagree. We've done suites on RCCL and NCL, and in our opinion, the suite perks on NCL are much better than those we received on RCCL. The "daily cocktail hour" was nice, but you don't seem to get much beyond that.

 

On NCL, you have the breakfast and lunch perk in Cagney's - Breakfast in particular is wonderful..having a nice, quiet breakfast away from the crowds. You get all the in-cabin dining amenities, plus the snacks and anything else you care to ask your Butler for. On some NCL ships, there are reserved seating areas for suite passengers at shows. In the higher levels of suites, there are liquor and wine benefits as well.

 

On RCCL, the concierge seemed singularly distant and unhelpful. On NCL, by and large, they are friendly, outgoing, and constantly checking to see if you need anything.

 

We'll stay with NCL suites, thanks.

 

We ended up moving back to the Escape, but you get breakfast and lunch in Chops on Royal, plus the in-suite dining and snacks from your suite attendant. Just didn't want any misinformation out there.

[RosieRoo]

We ended up moving back to the Escape, but you get breakfast and lunch in Chops on Royal, plus the in-suite dining and snacks from your suite attendant. Just didn't want any misinformation out there.

 

Just to make this clear, the breakfast and lunch in Chops means you can go to the buffet, get your own food, and eat it in the specialty restaurant instead of with the masses. It was not sitting down and ordering off a menu and being served. At least that's how it was when we were last on RCCL, maybe it has changed? This doesn't compare in any way with Cagney's on NCL. And the free drinks are limited to popular brands of liquor and Chardonnay or Merlot, neither of which I drink. It is not a full bar. If you are at all picky about what you like, you wouldn't be happy with the free drinks.

 

I've been cruising for years and I have sailed in suites on RCCL and most every other line, but this year I sailed on NCL for the very first time. I have since sailed NCL three more times because I think they have the best suite benefits of any line I have been on. No other cruiseline has personally escorted me on to or off of the ship. The only other line we had a butler on was Celebrity. No other line has a restaurant which is exclusively for suite guests that serves breakfast and lunch which is huge for us since my husband hates buffets. Those are just some of the things I think they do well. There's so much more.

 

Not to say we wouldn't cruise any other line. I have several upcoming on RCCL, Celebrity and NCL. Variety is good. I like to see what everyone has to offer. I don't in any way want to deter you from sailing RCCL. I just want you to know what to expect if you are used to NCL suite life.

[SissasMomE]

Just to make this clear, the breakfast and lunch in Chops means you can go to the buffet, get your own food, and eat it in the specialty restaurant instead of with the masses. It was not sitting down and ordering off a menu and being served. At least that's how it was when we were last on RCCL, maybe it has changed? This doesn't compare in any way with Cagney's on NCL. And the free drinks are limited to popular brands of liquor and Chardonnay or Merlot, neither of which I drink. It is not a full bar. If you are at all picky about what you like, you wouldn't be happy with the free drinks.

 

I've been cruising for years and I have sailed in suites on RCCL and most every other line, but this year I sailed on NCL for the very first time. I have since sailed NCL three more times because I think they have the best suite benefits of any line I have been on. No other cruiseline has personally escorted me on to or off of the ship. The only other line we had a butler on was Celebrity. No other line has a restaurant which is exclusively for suite guests that serves breakfast and lunch which is huge for us since my husband hates buffets. Those are just some of the things I think they do well. There's so much more.

 

Not to say we wouldn't cruise any other line. I have several upcoming on RCCL, Celebrity and NCL. Variety is good. I like to see what everyone has to offer. I don't in any way want to deter you from sailing RCCL. I just want you to know what to expect if you are used to NCL suite life.

 

Good to know - thanks!!

[RosieRoo]

No problem. I just wanted to give you the opinion of a frequent RCCL cruiser.

 

And thanks to you as well. It was reading posts from suite cruisers like yourself that got me to try NCL in the first place. I don't know why I waited so long.

 

Whatever you decide, it will be wonderful. In 45+ cruises I have never had a bad cruise. They're all special in their own way.

[PDIDDYwife]

Our first suites were Disney.We then went to RCL briefly, then to NCL then to RCL ( NCL just did not have the ships where we needed them when we needed them)

 

Our first trip on Royal after NCL and poor DH was like Eeyore..."where's my Courtyard Oh, bother..?! ...." while the suite was nice and the balcony okay...the separate area to chillax is what makes NCL NCL. We have never been on the non Haven ships, so I cannot comment on anything but those

 

As for free cocktails- it is not any drink you want.Depends on the concierge. Grandeur had more liberal a policy than Freedom/Oasis. I don't drink much, DH maybe 2 . The finger foods are nice, but...

 

There is no special breakfast/lunch- just a special place to EAT it!

 

I had booked Explorer for this summer and then read about Getaway. Including hotel pre-cruise, airfare, limo, etc- we are saving over 2,500 . The Explorer was a 9 nite cruise to which we could have driven, but Getaway looks so much cooler. And the Royal fare was for connecting low-end suites- the 2 br suite would have run us an extra 2300. This was for a ship due for refurbishing at the end of the year. Oy!!

 

Off on a tangent.

 

We enjoy all our cruises. I have had some crappy experiences on NCL- not bad TRIPS, just bad little interludes, things that make you say "hmm.." - but it was with passengers whom you I wish had never made eye contact...and had some strange happenings on Royal as well. Well see how much I hate the weird view on the Getaway from the bizarre wall in th living room- but for my cruise buck, and for my darling Eeyore, I am going to try to stick with the HAven

[johnsak123]

I didn't realize RCL did this

I might have to look into taking a cruise on one of their ships

Or perhaps NCL will offer similar benefits for suite and haven guests

I would prefer that and if they do it before the end of the year since I am sailing early 2015 lol

[LrgPizza]

We just booked a suite with royal caribbean for a cruise next year. Their perks are similar, better even (for us). Instead of the Haven, you have your own reserved seating at the pool (up one level, which I prefer), prime reserved seating for shows - and suite guests do not need to make reservations, full dining room menu room service, snacks delivered daily by your suite attendant, etc., etc., etc. The main and better perk is the free cocktail hour (or hours) every day. From 5 - 8:30pm, every day, in the suite concierge lounge, you get free cocktails (mixed drinks, frozen drinks, wine, beer, champagne - your choice) plus hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Why on earth doesn't NCL do this?? I realize Royal is more expensive than NCL, but wow ... what a difference. Also, their adult only area is free. I wish NCL would step it up some. I really don't like sailing another line, and would rather stay with NCL, but for this particular cruise, they are offering exactly what I was looking for.

 

 

I've often said that I've yet to see an NCL suite perk that interests me, but those RCCL perks do, and I love the Voyager class ships. Too bad your daughter went the other way!

 

 

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[SissasMomE]

I've often said that I've yet to see an NCL suite perk that interests me, but those RCCL perks do, and I love the Voyager class ships. Too bad your daughter went the other way!

 

 

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<sigh> I know. If you go over to the RCCL board, there are people there who have recently cruised, and can verify the perks. The suite dining for breakfast and lunch with a dedicated menu is something new they recently added at least for the Voyager class. Oh well ... it's her decision and this is what she wants :rolleyes:

We will be on the main pool deck regardless LOL Hopefully, they move the Getaway's current crew over to the Escape when she sails. That will make it an A++ trip!

Edited May 9, 2014 by SissasMomE

[esp13]

I've often said that I've yet to see an NCL suite perk that interests me, but those RCCL perks do, and I love the Voyager class ships. Too bad your daughter went the other way!

 

 

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I'm curious as to which perk RCCL offers that interests you that NCL doesn't? The only difference that I can see in what was listed was the cocktail hour and suite guests not having to make show reservations. Everything else that was offered is also offered by NCL, unless I missed something which is always possible.

[LrgPizza]

<sigh> I know. If you go over to the RCCL board, there are people there who have recently cruised, and can verify the perks. The suite dining for breakfast and lunch with a dedicated menu is something new they recently added at least for the Voyager class. Oh well ... it's her decision and this is what she wants :rolleyes:

We will be on the main pool deck regardless LOL Hopefully, they move the Getaway's current crew over to the Escape when she sails. That will make it an A++ trip!

Someone on this forum asked me recently what perks would interest me, and one of them I said was a reserved lounge chair near the main pool. And it sounds like that's what RCCL does! Ha! That would be awesome.

 

3 weeks until I buy my FCC so I can then book that Escape TA! Is that the one you are doing for your daughter's graduation, or are you booking a different/additional Escape cruise?

[DrNora]

Someone on this forum asked me recently what perks would interest me, and one of them I said was a reserved lounge chair near the main pool. And it sounds like that's what RCCL does! Ha! That would be awesome.

 

3 weeks until I buy my FCC so I can then book that Escape TA! Is that the one you are doing for your daughter's graduation, or are you booking a different/additional Escape cruise?

 

The reserved lounge chair is nowhere near the pool. There is a small group of chairs cordoned off , with a view of the pool from a flight up from the pool. And not all the ships do this. And there are STILL chair hogs- only with worse attitudes. But it is more fun to report them. The parents will try and save chairs for the kids who have no interest in a lounger so far from the pool. It is a quiet spot, however, but if I recall correctly, on our last 2 cruises it was in a breeze less location - hard to do but it was done!

 

Lrg pizza- your trip is soooooo close!,,,,, I am excited for you!,,,,,,,

[LrgPizza]

The reserved lounge chair is nowhere near the pool. There is a small group of chairs cordoned off , with a view of the pool from a flight up from the pool. And not all the ships do this. And there are STILL chair hogs- only with worse attitudes. But it is more fun to report them. The parents will try and save chairs for the kids who have no interest in a lounger so far from the pool. It is a quiet spot, however, but if I recall correctly, on our last 2 cruises it was in a breeze less location - hard to do but it was done!

 

Lrg pizza- your trip is soooooo close!,,,,, I am excited for you!,,,,,,,

A view of the pool from a flight up is perfect. That's just what I want, except hopefully not too quiet, because I equate quiet with boring, and that would be a deal breaker. I also would like the free drinks.

 

Obviously I'm just reading a thread and not researching this, so I still don't know if it would be worth it to me. I have researched the perks on NCL suites, and they do nothing for me. At least these on RCCL made me perk up a bit.

 

Thanks, I'm excited for me, too! 3 weeks from today I'll be sailing! I've been on a 4 year hiatus from cruising in lieu of land vacations all over the place, but I'm so ready to sail again.

[Medtech2]

We just booked a suite with royal caribbean for a cruise next year. Their perks are similar, better even (for us). Instead of the Haven, you have your own reserved seating at the pool (up one level, which I prefer), prime reserved seating for shows - and suite guests do not need to make reservations, full dining room menu room service, snacks delivered daily by your suite attendant, etc., etc., etc. The main and better perk is the free cocktail hour (or hours) every day. From 5 - 8:30pm, every day, in the suite concierge lounge, you get free cocktails (mixed drinks, frozen drinks, wine, beer, champagne - your choice) plus hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Why on earth doesn't NCL do this?? I realize Royal is more expensive than NCL, but wow ... what a difference. Also, their adult only area is free. I wish NCL would step it up some. I really don't like sailing another line, and would rather stay with NCL, but for this particular cruise, they are offering exactly what I was looking for.

What exactly was the cost difference between comparable suites? It may end up being less expensive when you add in the happy hour, if you find the happy hour worth it. Looking forward to a complete review and comparison when you get back! I have always wondered about the draw of RCCL so I am nominating you to be our eyes and ears, lol!