New to Princess - Help Please

[CruiseMob]

Hi, we've never sailed Princess before and need some advice. We're looking at a 2018 Pacific Coast cruise 7 night on Ruby Princess. This is a much larger ship then we're used to - so that may be interesting. :) Anyway, I'm trying to decide between a mini-suite and a suite and have the following questions:

 

1. How can I tell I'm booking a stateroom that accommodates 4? We are currently only 3, but one of the kid's friend may join us.
   
2. Is there a suite lounge, like the Neptune Lounge on Holland America? This may be the tipping point for us, as we enjoy the Neptune Lounge.
   
3. What are the big differences between the two. I tried comparing the amenities on both, but I'm not sure I understood them completely.
   

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

[MTJSR]

If you do not find your answers here, a call to Princess can help with question # 1. Full suite passengers get to eat breakfast in Sabatini's which no one else can. As far as special lounges, there is nothing like the Neptune on Princess that I have ever seen.

 

(Holland America Line Neptune LoungeHolland America Line introduced an industry-first with the Neptune Lounge, an exclusive retreat for guests staying inNeptune Suites and Pinnacle Suites. The Neptune Lounge offers a private place where these guests can relax,socialize with other suite guests and enjoy personalized concierge service to make reservations for shoreexcursions, car rentals, spa appointments and the ship’s elegant Pinnacle Grill restaurant.Each of Holland America Line’s 15 ships features a Neptune Lounge with large-screen television, library, wi-fi,sofas, chairs, work tables and refreshments throughout the day. The Neptune Lounge is open on sea days from7:30 am until 8:30 pm and from 7:00 am until 8:30 pm on port days.Neptune Lounge Concierge ServicesIn addition to serving as an oasis of privacy, the Neptune Lounge offers many exclusive concierge services toenhance the cruise experience of suite guests. Concierge services include: Reservations for the Pinnacle Grill, Holland America Line’s sophisticated, intimate-dining restaurant. ThePinnacle Grill features innovative menus and the highest quality regional ingredients, including handselected,aged Sterling Silver Beef®, fresh seafood and an extensive, world-class wine list. This populardining venue is open to all guests on board, so reservations are highly recommended. Assistance with all shore excursion reservations in ports of call during the cruise. For express shoreexcursion bookings, suite guests should return their completed Shore Excursions Requests to the NeptuneLounge as soon as possible. While some excursions may sell out, priority is given to Neptune and Pinnaclesuite guests. Confirmed shore excursion vouchers are delivered to each guests’ suite. Reservations for car rentals and local restaurants in ports of call. Reservations for exclusive treatments at the Greenhouse Spa and Salon. All Front Office transactions and billing account services – these can be settled in the Neptune Lounge. Continental breakfast and morning coffee or tea served daily until 11:00 am. Espresso and cappuccinoserved throughout the day. Cookies, small pastries and sandwiches served daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.Because the Neptune Lounge is for the exclusive use of Neptune and Pinnacle Suite guests, it is not available forprivate functions. )

[SuiteTraveler]

Just as information, the best mainstream lines for a suite are:

NCL (butler and concierge service, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suites (these would be great for traveling with your daughter and her friend), The Haven pool, sundeck lounge, special restaurant for suite guests) These are the perks on NCL for suite guests:

VIP embarkation

Butler Service

Concierge service

The Haven (pool, sundeck, steamroom, sauna/spa treatment room)

The Haven restaurant

The Haven bar and lounge

Welcome aboard flower arrangement

Welcome aboard sparkling wine and large bottle of water

Upgraded bath amenities

DVD player

Coffee/tea/hot chocolate machine in stateroom

Daily hors d'ouerves

Suite guest menu and ability to get food from any venue that is open via the butler (you pay extra for food from specialty restaurants)

Special seating at shows

Expedited Tendering

bathrobes and slippers

upgraded bathroom with separate tub and walk in shower (most suites)

The Haven Spa suite includes 2 passes to the thermal suite

Escorted early self-disembarkation (be among the first 20 - 30 passengers to disembark the ship - it's a great perk!)

 

MSC (butler and concierge service, all inclusive experience with pool, sundeck, restaurant and lounge for suite guests - drinks included, and 24x7 hors d'ouorves in The Yacht Club lounge. Butler will escort you off the ship for excursions and disembarkation.)

Celebrity (close to what you get on NCL and MSC but no pool or Haven type area)

RCCL (playing catch up with NCL. Suite restaurant on some ships but no butler service or pool)

HAL (Neptune lounge and a few minor perks)

Princess (a few minor perks but mostly just a bigger room and a suite breakfast in Sabbatini's)

Carnival (no perks, just a bigger room)

[CruiseMob]

Thanks SuiteTraveler, but I have to disagree about HAL. Other than butler and The Haven we had everything else in a HAL suite including my personal favorite traveling with kids - free laundry service. :)

 

We're specifically looking at Princess right now for their round-trip Pacific Coast cruises. There aren't a lot of options on other lines for this.

 

I'm just having a hard time justifying the difference in cost between a mini-suite and a suite, especially a club class mini-suite, they seem very similar. I enjoy handling everything in one place, no going to shore excursion desk, guest services desk, etc. We all enjoy being able to pop in anytime for the goodies.

 

So is it a definite, Princess does not have lounge? Do they offer goodies, either in room (like Celebrity did) or somewhere else?

[nukesubsailor]

Thanks SuiteTraveler, but I have to disagree about HAL. Other than butler and The Haven we had everything else in a HAL suite including my personal favorite traveling with kids - free laundry service. :)

 

We're specifically looking at Princess right now for their round-trip Pacific Coast cruises. There aren't a lot of options on other lines for this.

 

I'm just having a hard time justifying the difference in cost between a mini-suite and a suite, especially a club class mini-suite, they seem very similar. I enjoy handling everything in one place, no going to shore excursion desk, guest services desk, etc. We all enjoy being able to pop in anytime for the goodies.

 

So is it a definite, Princess does not have lounge? Do they offer goodies, either in room (like Celebrity did) or somewhere else?

 

If you book a full suite on the Regal Princess or the Royal Princess you will have a lounge just for full suite guests. There will be a ship's staff member there during posted hours who can make reservations etc, for you. All ships have a private cocktail party nearly every evening for full suite passengers as well as Platinum and Elite members of the Princess Captains' Circle loyalty club.

[skynight]

If you book a full suite on the Regal Princess or the Royal Princess you will have a lounge just for full suite guests. There will be a ship's staff member there during posted hours who can make reservations etc, for you. All ships have a private cocktail party nearly every evening for full suite passengers as well as Platinum and Elite members of the Princess Captains' Circle loyalty club.

OP is going on a west coast cruise. The Royal and Regal do not sail from west coast ports.

[Kamloops50]

Hi, we've never sailed Princess before and need some advice. We're looking at a 2018 Pacific Coast cruise 7 night on Ruby Princess. This is a much larger ship then we're used to - so that may be interesting. :) Anyway, I'm trying to decide between a mini-suite and a suite and have the following questions:

 

 

1. How can I tell I'm booking a stateroom that accommodates 4? We are currently only 3, but one of the kid's friend may join us. There are mini suites and suites that handle 4 passengers . The only issue with adding a fourth is that might be able. To capacity is limited by lifeboat spaces.
   
2. Is there a suite lounge, like the Neptune Lounge on Holland America? This may be the tipping point for us, as we enjoy the Neptune Lounge. There is lounge for suites and Elites held every evening from from 5PM to 8PM otherwise no lounge full time.
   
   
3. What are the big differences between the two. I tried comparing the amenities on both, but I'm not sure I understood them completely. Mini suite is larger then a regular and has a love seat . It is also tub and shower combibation.
   
   

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

 

Hope helps.

[skynight]

Hi, we've never sailed Princess before and need some advice. We're looking at a 2018 Pacific Coast cruise 7 night on Ruby Princess. This is a much larger ship then we're used to - so that may be interesting. :) Anyway, I'm trying to decide between a mini-suite and a suite and have the following questions:

 

 

1. How can I tell I'm booking a stateroom that accommodates 4? We are currently only 3, but one of the kid's friend may join us.
   
2. Is there a suite lounge, like the Neptune Lounge on Holland America? This may be the tipping point for us, as we enjoy the Neptune Lounge.
   
3. What are the big differences between the two. I tried comparing the amenities on both, but I'm not sure I understood them completely.
   

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

No Neptune's lounge or anything similar on the Ruby Princess.

The six aft full suites on decks 8, 9, and 10 can accommodate 4. Other full suites can only handle 3. Full suite passengers can get a special breakfast each day. On the Ruby I believe the suite breakfast is in the Crown Grill. Full suite passengers also receive Club Class Dining. This is a special area of a dining room reserved for those in full suites and those that book Club Class Mini Suites (see below). You can find additional information on Club Class Dining by searching Princess Cruises Club Class Dining. Full suite passengers also receive complementary dining in the Crown Grill the first night of the cruise. Call the DINE line once on board. You can also order room service from the full dining room menu.

 

Mini suites are large balcony cabins with a larger bathroom which includes a tub with shower and a seating area, plus some other things. Most of these are on deck 9. They have a 9' x6' balcony which is not covered. The 12 mini suites on deck 8 aft do have covered balconies. There is no special breakfast with mini suites. Some mini suites can hold 4, but most hold three.

 

Club Class mini suites are mid ship on deck 9. They are they same layout as other mini suites with some additional amenities. Passengers in Club Class mini suites also can choose club class dining.

 

There are a few club class mini suites that can hold 4 passengers, but most hold 3.

 

I have found the biggest difference between Princess and HAL is that Princess is a lot more lively during the day, into the evening and later evening.But, Princess does quiet down after 11pm/midnight. On a coastal cruise you probably will find a younger crowd on Princess, We did.

[MCC retired]

Best to book a cabin for 4 then delete the friend if required , before final payment .

 

 

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[cherylandtk]

Here is the flyer for the full listing of Princess Suite amenities.

 

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/PrincessSuite_eFlyer.pdf

 

While some may call them minor perks, others may really appreciate the free same day laundry. To each their own.

[JF - retired RRT]

If the friend is definitely going on the trip...a better way to book would be a mini or a balcony for the parents and an inside across the hall. This is assuming the kids are old enough to be in a cabin alone.

That way you have 2 bathrooms and adult privacy.

A balcony and an inside would cost less than a suite and maybe even less than a mini. Of course, you'd loose the suite benefits.

If you do this, when you book, put one adult in each cabin with one of the kids (unless the kid's are 18), the rearrange sleeping quarters after you board.

[CruiseMob]

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.

[caribill]

Here is the flyer for the full listing of Princess Suite amenities.

 

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/PrincessSuite_eFlyer.pdf

 

While some may call them minor perks, others may really appreciate the free same day laundry. To each their own.

 

Note that the benefits listed are for full suites, not mini-suites.

[caribill]

 

 

1. How can I tell I'm booking a stateroom that accommodates 4? We are currently only 3, but one of the kid's friend may join us.

 

Go through the cabin selection process on the Princess web site.

Enter the number of passengers as 4 and it will only display cabins that can hold 4.

[Thrak]

Just be aware that the term "mini suite" is completely misleading. It's just a slightly larger balcony cabin with a sofa and a tub rather than just a shower. If the directions above about selecting 4 passengers when looking at the deck plans isn't clear here is a snip of the deck plan screen that illustrates what is being talked about:

 

[NavyVeteran]

Best to book a cabin for 4 then delete the friend if required , before final payment .

 

 

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I agree that this is definitely the best option as long as you are not booking a promotion with a non-refundable deposit. You need to know if the friend is going before final payment (and the penalty period starts). If you cancel before final payment, then you still have the reservation for three in the same cabin at whatever price and promotion you booked.

 

If you wait to add the friend later, there can be several problems. The ship may be full. Even if there are beds available, the ship may still be full based on the lifeboat capacity. Even if you can add then, you may have to pay a different price or receive a different promotion.

 

Even if you don't know for sure by final payment, you may still want to book and pay for the fourth person. Under the standard Princess passage contract (applicable to most sailings including the Pacific Coast cruises) for cruises less than thirty days, final payment is 75 days prior to sailing. However, the penalty for cancelling up to 57 days prior to sailing is only the deposit. Princess Vacation Protection is also non-refundable after final payment. Depending on the amount of the deposit and vacation protection, you may want to take the risk up to 57 days prior to sailing.

[caribill]

 

If you wait to add the friend later, there can be several problems. The ship may be full. Even if there are beds available, the ship may still be full based on the lifeboat capacity. Even if you can add then, you may have to pay a different price or receive a different promotion.

 

I have been told by officers on Princess ships that every Princess ship has more than enough lifecraft capacity for all passengers and crew where all passengers means every berth occupied.

 

Lifeboat capacity is no longer limits the number of berths that can be occupied.

[Kamloops50]

I have been told by officers on Princess ships that every Princess ship has more than enough lifecraft capacity for all passengers and crew where all passengers means every berth occupied.

 

 

 

Lifeboat capacity is no longer limits the number of berths that can be occupied.

 

 

We were told the opposite by one captain during a bridge tour.

 

 

 

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