Once in a suite, always in a suite......NOT! What was your experience?

[Sand and Seas]

Meet and greet? you mean the latitudes appreciation meeting where the officers come out and you get free drinks?

 

What list are you talking about again?

Go to the Roll Calls section of cruise critic and search for your ship and sailing date. Then see if someone on your list has set up a Meet and Greet (or Meet and Mingle) for your cruise. The meeting is usually held on the first sea day and takes about an hour. Nice way to meet some of your fellow cruisers. Some of the ships officers come to your meeting and there is always a sign-up list of who attends. I'm pretty sure that's one reason we end up getting treats delivered from the Hotel director.

[Farts]

Go to the Roll Calls section of cruise critic and search for your ship and sailing date. Then see if someone on your list has set up a Meet and Greet (or Meet and Mingle) for your cruise. The meeting is usually held on the first sea day and takes about an hour. Nice way to meet some of your fellow cruisers. Some of the ships officers come to your meeting and there is always a sign-up list of who attends. I'm pretty sure that's one reason we end up getting treats delivered from the Hotel director.

Thanks! I had no idea this was going on.

[Sand and Seas]

Thanks! I had no idea this was going on.

 

Your very welcome:)

Some roll calls will also have a sign up for a Pub Crawl, a Slot Pull, or a Cabin Crawl (to see other types of cabins.) Just read the posts for your cruise.

 

Here is a link: http://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcalls/

[Jruns]

WE sailed on the Pearl (Panama Canal ) in the haven and loved it and for Christmas I just booked us the owners suite with two balconies on the Dawn but there is no Haven . Will we feel a big difference? Since this will be our first Christmas away (husband - 22yr old daughter ) I really wanted it special but the haven ships don't work i.e.; itinerary, dates, etc! Thoughts on going from pearl haven to suite? If anyone has sailed over Christmas, would love to hear their experiences!!

 

 

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[WashyWashyHappyHappy95]

I never got the obsession with the butler leaving snacks in your room. Like you don't eat enough on a cruise already, anyway

[dexddd]

WE sailed on the Pearl (Panama Canal ) in the haven and loved it and for Christmas I just booked us the owners suite with two balconies on the Dawn but there is no Haven . Will we feel a big difference? Since this will be our first Christmas away (husband - 22yr old daughter ) I really wanted it special but the haven ships don't work i.e.; itinerary, dates, etc! Thoughts on going from pearl haven to suite? If anyone has sailed over Christmas, would love to hear their experiences!!

 

 

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No, you will not feel a big difference. The Jewel class Haven area is quiet and you have the little pool, but really not much to be missed. Your room is huge and you still have the B&L for suite guests.

[momofmab]

Just realized that on NCL we've never cruised non-suite (thanks to an upgrade fairy on our very first NCL cruise, and the fact that we only cruise every other year or so), but I have cruised suite and non-suite on Royal. On NCL, the only things I would miss would be the room/bathroom size and having a dedicated restaurant that isn't crowded.

 

I've never been comfortable with the whole butler concept and don't really use the concierge, other than getting us a reservation that I'm not able to get on my own. I don't like being escorted places, or bumped to the front of lines (although my husband LOVES that perk!) We don't dine in our suite (other than room service breakfast on port days) and I don't request special snacks be kept "in stock" in our cabin. Clearly we don't utilize the majority of the suite perks.

 

I will say that we have not cruised Haven, which I understand is a whole other suite level (at least on the big ships). I agree with others that the soaring costs of Haven will likely result in something that we never do - at least until our kids are grown and we don't have to be locked in to expensive school break cruise times.

[zerooveride]

Really? Thirty plus foot seas and you got annoyed because your butler hesitated about bringing you piping hot soup and then you refused to give him a tip at the end of the cruise? All I can say is wow [emoji15] SMH

 

 

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This is only one example of the lack of help throughout the cruise. Everytime I called for something, there was always an excuse and I was given a hard time.

 

And just an FYI, the soup came in little to go cups with lids. So I doubt there was a spill issue. He was just unhelpful and lazy the whole cruise.

[NEW 2 CRUISIN]

We decided we'd rather cruise more often than pay the ever-rising suite prices again.

I just don't get the value any more when it's THOUSANDS more than a balcony room.

 

Bigger Bathrooms? Meh.

 

Give me 2 cruises in a balcony a year instead of 1 in a suite ....and I'll bathe in the sink! HAHA! :')

[Farts]

I never got the obsession with the butler leaving snacks in your room. Like you don't eat enough on a cruise already, anyway

Regardless of how I feel, this really made me chuckle

[Markanddonna]

We have cruised in everything from insides to a Penthouse suite, and my conclusion is that the suite/Haven experience certainly was not worth the many thousands extra for a suite. I just priced out two cruises, one on NCL and the other on RCL and the price difference per passenger was $3,122 to $3465. Considering a couple usually books the room, that is about $6K-7K more for a suite than an inside room.

 

I guess I'm just a person whose needs are easily met but I am thrilled to just to traveling around the world like we do on a budget. Really, who needs gummy bears and m &m's (my grandchildren sure enjoyed them) and the butler giving special disembarkation instructions just so that he can remind you about the extra tip he and the concierge are expecting?

[Barb Nahoumi]

The one and only time that I was in a suite was when I was awarded a DOS, after booking an oceanview guarrantee. It was 12502, I bedroom and no balcony. Of course I loved it, but could never afford to pay for it myself.

 

After that, back to OVs and balconies. Hey, at least we're on the ship and having a great time.

[bam1957]

We've sailed Inside, Balcony, Haven, Mini Suite, Haven, Mini Suite and Haven this December in that order. When not sailing Haven I honestly miss the lounge area. I like to read and it's hard finding a spot where I can go do that in peace. I also miss the special elevator once you get on the ship the first day because getting one when not a Haven Guest is CRAZY. I also miss the special line for disembarkment. I miss the space of the cabins because my husband likes to sleep late and I like to lounge in the room and catch a movie first thing in the mornings before starting my day. As you can see I miss a lot when not staying in the Haven.

[Farts]

We've sailed Inside, Balcony, Haven, Mini Suite, Haven, Mini Suite and Haven this December in that order. When not sailing Haven I honestly miss the lounge area. I like to read and it's hard finding a spot where I can go do that in peace. I also miss the special elevator once you get on the ship the first day because getting one when not a Haven Guest is CRAZY. I also miss the special line for disembarkment. I miss the space of the cabins because my husband likes to sleep late and I like to lounge in the room and catch a movie first thing in the mornings before starting my day. As you can see I miss a lot when not staying in the Haven.

Couldn't you just read in the library? It's always empty. I know b/c I am in there all by myself on my laptop studying like a loser :loudcry:. I can say that is by FAR the emptiest room in the ship.

[DMH15]

I wasn't there but my first thought was that he was not refusing because he was lazy or didn't feel like it, but more for your safety. A rocky ship is not a good time to be carrying and or eating hot soup....which might be why it wasn't very hot when he finally brought it.

 

 

 

Nope. What is the difference in eating hot soup in the dining room or at the table in your suite? The soup could be easily transported in a large pitcher.

 

If a butler told me to eat in the buffet I would... just smile. And say nothing.

 

 

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[uneamie]

Couldn't you just read in the library? It's always empty. I know b/c I am in there all by myself on my laptop studying like a loser :loudcry:. I can say that is by FAR the emptiest room in the ship.

And an even better option is out on your balcony, assuming you booked one. It's quiet and you can't beat the ocean view. If we had tons of money I'd book a Haven cabin....just because I could. We are not poor but we don't need extra space, a butler, treats in our room or priority reservations enough to spend that kind of money and limit the number of vacations we can take because of it.

[DMH15]

Herein lies the distinction. To be "always in a suite" would mean booking only suites. Not the upsell/bid/sometime suite cruiser. Because obviously they are not guranteed the upgrade. That cruiser has already decided not being in a suite is ok.

 

It's those of us who only book suites, who have seen prices jump, possibly doubling, in such a short time... would we be willing to cruise NCL in a non-suite? And if so, what was it like?

 

 

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[Farts]

And an even better option is out on your balcony, assuming you booked one. It's quiet and you can't beat the ocean view. If we had tons of money I'd book a Haven cabin....just because I could. We are not poor but we don't need extra space, a butler, treats in our room or priority reservations enough to spend that kind of money and limit the number of vacations we can take because of it.

I get very sea sick looking at the ocean and the glare on my laptop makes it hard to read.

 

 

I am one of the few people where an outside view subtracts from my experience cruising.

[bam1957]

And an even better option is out on your balcony, assuming you booked one. It's quiet and you can't beat the ocean view. If we had tons of money I'd book a Haven cabin....just because I could. We are not poor but we don't need extra space, a butler, treats in our room or priority reservations enough to spend that kind of money and limit the number of vacations we can take because of it.

 

The difference with either of those choices is no bar service.....

[KeithJenner]

I never got the obsession with the butler leaving snacks in your room. Like you don't eat enough on a cruise already, anyway

 

Absolutely this.

 

When I am hungry I will go and get some food that I want. I don't see the appeal in someone bringing some random food to me at a time that is convenient to them.

 

On our one time in a suite, we barely touched the snacks.

 

As to the OP's question, my views are probably not all that relevant, as they like being in a suite enough to have booked it many times. We tried it once and have never had the inclination to bother again. We were in an owners suite on the Pearl and the room was very nice. However, when we were on the Jade the following year in an aft mini suite we observed how much more we enjoyed the ship by not having the distraction of the Haven. We never use a concierge anywhere, as we much prefer to make our own arrangements.

 

I honestly couldn't care less about being given "VIP services". We are no more important than anyone else onboard and the service that you get whatever category of room you are in is excellent, as long as you treat the staff with friendliness and respect. I honestly don't see what more they can do without it becoming fawning which I absolutely hate.

 

I would probably pay a small amount extra for the bigger room, but I much prefer being able to afford multiple holidays in balcony rooms than just one in a suite. If I only had the time for one holiday then I'd still stay in a balcony and spend the thousands of pounds I save on something that I value a bit more than having some snacks delivered to my room just to be chucked in the bin, and jumping the queue at the theatre.

 

To the OP, just go with an open mind, enjoy doing the things that you may not have done had you been in a suite (there are good breakfast and lunch options available to everyone for example), and don't spend the entire week thinking about what you are missing.

[biker@sea]

I found it to be true' date=' once we tried a suite, every booking after that was in a suite; until the most recent booking. Because of the increase in suite prices, we have booked a balcony for our next cruise, and though we are Platinum, know we will miss those suite perks! :( Though we have never been on a ship large enough to have a separate Haven restaurant, we always enjoy breakfast and lunch in the suite venue, as well as the larger bathrooms and cabins.[/size']

If you have done this, what was your experience? Did you really miss all those suite perks? Did you manage fairly well in an "other than suite" room? Just want to know others' experiences.

 

 

" Other than a Suite Room"

@ Platinum Plus I think we have received all the perks " vip treatment " on a couple of ships, in steerage .

 

Really don't miss them.

And butler's do find deck 4 :D

Edited June 26, 2017 by biker@sea

[BostonGal35]

on the Star last year i was able to upsell to a 2 bedroom suite. i then was lucky enough to upsell into a 2 bedroom Haven suite on Gem over new years. Several cruises in between have been back in "steerage".

 

we loved and enjoyed the perks in both situations, particuarly Gem has had a Haven vs. Star that does not. We both wholeheartedly agreed that it is worth the extra cost on an upsell or now a bid deal but not worth it full price.

 

that said, we did splurge and book a full price suite for our panama canal sail next year more for the larger room over 14 days than anything else.

 

we do miss the perks, but for us we'd rather sail more frequently than one or two splurges. case in point, to do the 14 day sail in a suite we decided to give up our new year's cruise this year. :-( although we may still try to snag a last minute deal!!!!

[df5250]

Just to clarify...Even though you are a platinum member, they treat you differently vs if you were living in a suite?

 

 

 

Yes, that has been my experience. It's not bad treatment by any means but different. I think suite guests get a higher level of attention all across the ship... having done both.

 

 

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[Farts]

Yes, that has been my experience. It's not bad treatment by any means but different. I think suite guests get a higher level of attention all across the ship... having done both.

 

 

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:(

What a shame.

[LeesaB]

The biggest selling point for me is the space. I love cruise ships, but am introverted so need time in my cabin to regroup. Plus, we have 2 pre-teens and the thought of sleeping in one room with them gives me shudders, so 2 rooms are necessary. For the non-haven suites anyway, the price of the 2br is not a huge amount more than booking 2 rooms. Plus I don't have the headache of 2 different reservations, getting extra keycards for proper sleeping arrangements, etc. The extra perks are nice, but honestly not necessary. If they had the 2br available as a non-suite, I'd book that in a heartbeat.