Would you switch from mini suite to aft facing mini suite for $480.00?

[din2play2]

We are on the Gem and I just switched from (MB) mini suite #11108 to (M1) aft facing mini suite #11650 for an extra $480.00. It's a wheelchair accessible cabin therefore if they need it I would be moved to another cabin within the same category. I asked if nothing else was available in the same category would NCL downgrade me she said no, (hopefully this is true).

Do you think this was a good move or should I go back to #11108? I'm more concerned about the suites themselves if anyone knows anything about them. Since 11650 is directly below The Great Outdoors - is it noisy? It seems to be a slightly bigger deck then the mini suite so is the room itself smaller? I've read here that people like aft better - why? Do you think it is worth $480.00 more?

Edited September 5, 2014 by din2play2

[hpecorari]

I just switched from (MB) mini suite #11108 to (M1) aft facing mini suite #11650 for an extra $480.00. It's a wheelchair accessible cabin therefore if they need it I would be moved to another cabin within the same category. I asked if nothing else was available in the same category would NCL downgrade me she said no, (hopefully this is true).

Do you think this was a good move or should I go back to #11108? I'm more concerned about the suites themselves if anyone knows anything about them. Since 11650 is directly below The Great Outdoors - is it noisy? It seems to be a slightly bigger deck then the mini suite so is the room itself smaller? I've read here that people like aft better - why? Do you think it is worth $480.00 more?

 

Which ship?

There was a ship I was on, which I can't remember which one is was....

and early in the morning, if a light sleeper, you will hear chairs moving against the floor of the Great Outdoors. We heard the noise from our cabin ceiling. It never really bothered us, however.

 

Harriet

Edited September 5, 2014 by hpecorari

[din2play2]

We're on the gem - just fixed it in my OP. Thanks for pointing that out to me;)

[garycarla]

You may be happy with this.

 

Here is my two cents.

 

I would never book a HDCP as I usually hate the layout. Toilet is usually up high. Sometimes the whole bathroom is a shower, etc.

 

I have also done side of the ship and aft mini suites. Knowing that the vast majority of people love the aft, we would not book it again. We prefer the side of the ship.

[din2play2]

You may be happy with this.

 

Here is my two cents.

 

I would never book a HDCP as I usually hate the layout. Toilet is usually up high. Sometimes the whole bathroom is a shower, etc.

 

I have also done side of the ship and aft mini suites. Knowing that the vast majority of people love the aft, we would not book it again. We prefer the side of the ship.

 

Never even gave the bathroom a thought - yr right - TY

[punkincc]

Have you compared these two cabins on a deck plan? The balcony is way more than slightly bigger on the HC cabin. More the size of an aft facing corner penthouse suite balcony. And it would make no sense to make a HC mini cabin smaller than a regular minisuite, so yes the cabin is probably half again larger than the regular mini. You can look up the square footage. We had an HC once and the bathroom was very spacious. The shower was the type you could roll into, with a wrap shower curtain.

 

We love the aft location. The view and the sound of the aft wake is wonderful. You may get some noise overhead when the crew cleans and moves things around. I would book an aft facing mini for the price difference you quoted. Up to you whether or not you keep the HC. It MAY sit empty and eventually be offered to another non HC booking close to sail date ( what happened with us ), or if you keep it and there is no where to upgrade you later on, some HC passenger may not be able to book later.

[Starry Eyes]

Personally, I would not pay extra in this case.

Accessible cabins are larger, but the special features that do not necessarily appeal to the able bodied. Special bathrooms with barrier free showers (water can get all over the floor, especially if ship is rocking), call buttons (sometimes pushed inadvertently, resulting in call back or knock on door), sometimes sparser furnishings (to leave more open space to maneuver a chair).

I like aft cabins, but would not like to be below great outdoors (possible noise and smoke issues).

Opinions will vary.

[Siora7777]

I would switch to the Aft. I love that panoramic view.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Siora7777

[Hikini]

We have never done an AFT-facing cabin of any kind before, and I would like to. So, if I was offered this I would probably take it.

[soaringfalcon]

We were in 11656 (aft mini suite) in August. We saw 11650 when it was being cleaned and I would have taken it in a heartbeat, especially if you're traveling with family. The layout is much more spacious. I felt claustrophobic in the bathroom so a more open one would appeal to me, your mileage may vary of course.

 

We had zero issues with noise. There was a lounger and 2 chairs on the balcony. I loved relaxing out there. We've done aft twice and it can't beat.

[knitlady037]

in a heartbeat!

[retpoda]

YES, YES, YES. Finally took an aft on breakaway. Was wonderful, and we have been in a suite before. Also have had a Handicap cabin, and is larger. GO for it.

[hpecorari]

Keep in mind......depending on the ship - HC cabins won't have a couch. It'll be replaced with a chair. Sometimes, they also won't have that little table and two chairs either.

 

Harriet

[Golds0902]

My 11 year old daughter is in a wheelchair and we like to book suites. Unfortunately, we usually can't get the cruise we want because the handicap rooms are booked...sometimes by people who don't need them. We try to book our cruises 6-9 months in advance.

 

So if you don't NEED the handicap room, I wouldn't book it.

[FireEater]

No I would not pay for seeing where I have been. I like to see where I am going.

Edited September 5, 2014 by FireEater

[spidybabe]

On the Gem the 10th floor has the largest aft balconies. Love the view and the bakery smell in the mornings, but on 10 we did get some debris from the great outdoors, you will prob have some noise too. For that price we wouldn't upgrade. ..spend the $$ for other stuff, and just have breakfast at the great outdoors (one of our favorite places -very much missed on the BA)

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forums mobile app

[Cruzn Bills Fan]

Not addressing the HC part of the question but rather the Aft part. We have had 3 different aft facing cabins/suites and they are by far our favorite. The only downfall was trash (yes trash) that was thrown/dropped from The Great Outdoors that landed on our balcony. This was a daily occurrence. Just my $.02.

[agabbymama]

Not for $480 ! JMHO

 

If it was only say up to $100 I'd consider it. As another poster stated, I really want to see where I'm going, not where I have been.

 

The only good part of our aft cabin one cruise, was the dolphin pods that followed our ship at one point. It was neat to see them racing with us.

 

But to each their own. Others love the aft cabins.

[candydane]

Absolutely!

 

We love aft cabins.

[NMLady]

We are on the Gem and I just switched from (MB) mini suite #11108 to (M1) aft facing mini suite #11650 for an extra $480.00. It's a wheelchair accessible cabin therefore if they need it I would be moved to another cabin within the same category. I asked if nothing else was available in the same category would NCL downgrade me she said no, (hopefully this is true).

Do you think this was a good move or should I go back to #11108? I'm more concerned about the suites themselves if anyone knows anything about them. Since 11650 is directly below The Great Outdoors - is it noisy? It seems to be a slightly bigger deck then the mini suite so is the room itself smaller? I've read here that people like aft better - why? Do you think it is worth $480.00 more?

 

How many days is the cruise? Is the $480 for two people total?

Personally if I already had a mini-suite and the cruise is 7 days I would not pay an additional $35 per day per person ($480 is $240 per person) to have an aft mini-suite. I have better things to do with that money.

However if it was an upsell to an aft suite rather than mini-suite, I'd it in a heartbeat.

[din2play2]

Thank you all for your input. Some of you brought up some interesting points that I never even thought of. You've been very helpful - TY :o