Jr suite vs Balcony

[Ozark_Kid]

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

We were a young family of 5 when we started traveling....Now we're an extended family (adult kids their spouses and 4 grand kids and two more on the way). Sometimes when we take them all it seems like we're sailing with a small village...so four cabins or hotel rooms.

We are in the same "boat" but now 6 grand kids.  They are for sure a blessing but I am with you on the for cabins or hotel rooms.  When the 5 of us cruised we usually got two connected cabins.

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, jonbgd said:

greasing the palm🤔😁

"Vegas Style" I guess....Not something I would do on a ship...JMHO 

[Cigar King]

26 minutes ago, Ashland said:

Not something I would do on a ship

Why not?  

[jonbgd]

16 minutes ago, Ashland said:

"Vegas Style" I guess....Not something I would do on a ship...JMHO 

on a cruise ship with the silver card, we have gotten some extras by being nice, understanding and not being a pushy spoiled cruiser jmho

We have been looking at doing a JS, on ships that have a CK but the cost difference doesnt seem to justify another dining option. So we just book a large balcony and add on the dining pkg

[Ashland]

27 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

Why not?  

To get a table...come on...that's a bit pushy !!

In the old days when they gave suites priority tender tickets no way was I going to wave my "Golden Ticket" and push past those that had been waiting in line. Just not my style !!!

Edited June 1, 2021 by Ashland

[poocher]

Being nice instead of an entitled jerk!  I have always found that to work.  Actually I AM nice and always try to show respect and admiration for the incredibly hard job working with the paying public is.   Everything I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten?!?!!

PS: My hubby does like that gold card!

Edited June 1, 2021 by poocher

[Cigar King]

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

To get a table...come on...that's a bit pushy !!

I guess I don't see this as any different than any of the other things we pay a premium price on to get premium service.  Let's face it, money talks.  While I haven't had to do this in CK, I generally tip, and the result is the basically the same.

[Ozark_Kid]

Does the Coastal Kitchen cost?  I may be misunderstanding but it looks like only Star guest get complementary meals.

[Cigar King]

There is no charge to eat at CK.

[Ozark_Kid]

2 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

There is no charge to eat at CK.

Ok, thanks.  I see now how I read that wrong.  I read the following.

• Star guests receive complimentary specialty dining throughout their entire cruise as well as access to Coastal Kitchen for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I did not notice where it said.... as well as.

[poocher]

CK is complementary for breakfast lunch and dinner for Sky and Star class.  Sea class also has access to complementary dinners at CK if reservations are available.

[Ozark_Kid]

So I have been convinced to try a Jr Suite.  I checked out Harmony for Oct through March.  Right now they are 4x the cost of a balcony!  The end of next year is a lot more reasonable.  I think maybe I need to check out smaller ships or shorter cruises if I want to try one sooner.

[Cigar King]

I try not to pay any attention to what the other room categories might cost.  I just get the room that fits my needs best and am happy.

[BillOh]

On 5/31/2021 at 1:49 PM, Ozark_Kid said:

For those who experienced both, what do you now choose most.  I am a big fan of balcony rooms but I have never tried a jr suite.  Yes the jr is larger but does is seem so much larger that when you try one you don’t want to go back to a balcony?  Do other benefits of a jr make a big difference?  After I try a jr is it going to be one of those moments where I say.... why did I wait so long.

 

I usually go for the best value and watch prices.   I usually book far enough ahead to upgrade if a sale happens, but I could be happy with either, but always liked the double points.   Twice I've booked cruises right after major bad PR for cruise lines like Cost Concordia, or Carnival Triumph.  We booked 7 days in a Junior Suite for less than what late bookers paid for a regular balcony a couple of times.   

[dplusd]

We feel the regular balcony cabins on Royal Caribbean are just fine and don't often upgrade to a Junior Suite.  We also sail Princess and their regular balcony rooms are quite small and so always select a Junior Suite on that line.  

[retired dude]

balcony cabins are fine, leaves us with enough money to go to Jeff Ruby's more often.....who-dey

[Ozark_Kid]

2 hours ago, Cigar King said:

I try not to pay any attention to what the other room categories might cost.  I just get the room that fits my needs best and am happy.

Even if I closed my eyes to other rooms, $3,200 for a jr would seem over priced for 7 nights.  Lol

[tcrandal]

It really boils down to what is important to you. We like a Jr. Suite for the Coastal Kitchen access, but we won't pay a huge premium for it. We typically get Casino based rates, and pay for upgrades, and try and go in a suite as much as possible for more room for our son (15) and the two of us, so we get some additional separation. Obviously the Jr Suite doesn't provide that over a balcony room. Our primary goal is always maximizing the size of our balcony and preferably on the Aft. 

 

 

[Cigar King]

1 hour ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Even if I closed my eyes to other rooms, $3,200 for a jr would seem over priced for 7 nights.  Lol

FWIW, I looked at the last time we booked a JS.  (it was ~5 years ago)  It was just over 2k, so 3k does seem high.  OTOH I had a GS booked for last February, and it was 4500 so perhaps the 3k price is what they're going for now?

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Even if I closed my eyes to other rooms, $3,200 for a jr would seem over priced for 7 nights.  Lol

My last two 7 night Southern Caribbean 2018 was $3514.00 & $3790.00 JS after my discounts....so I don't think your pricing is that far off point.

 

You always have to factor in the ship & itinerary.

Edited June 2, 2021 by Ashland

[Ozark_Kid]

19 hours ago, Cigar King said:

FWIW, I looked at the last time we booked a JS.  (it was ~5 years ago)  It was just over 2k, so 3k does seem high.  OTOH I had a GS booked for last February, and it was 4500 so perhaps the 3k price is what they're going for now?

I was thinking it was high because the same ship a year later is almost half the cost.  

[Ozark_Kid]

19 hours ago, Ashland said:

 

[Ozark_Kid]

19 hours ago, Ashland said:

My last two 7 night Southern Caribbean 2018 was $3514.00 & $3790.00 JS after my discounts....so I don't think your pricing is that far off point.

 

You always have to factor in the ship & itinerary.

I was posting the cost for 1.  Sorry for the confusion.  See the last I looked the cost is down a bit. Right now the total cost is about $5,200.    When I was scanning and posted before the first person was $3,200. The end of next year same ship and itinerary $1,600 for the first person.  I did not look at total cost before because just one person cost was about what two usually cost.

[Ashland]

Our upcoming March 2022 B2B southern caribbean on Explorer price points after discount's are

$3,958.00 & $3,792.00 and that's in an OS...so excited I booked those when I did...even though originally is was on Freedom and changed to Explorer last October.

[Ozark_Kid]

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

Our upcoming March 2022 B2B southern caribbean on Explorer price points after discount's are

$3,958.00 & $3,792.00 and that's in an OS...so excited I booked those when I did...even though originally is was on Freedom and changed to Explorer last October.

You did real good!  OS on 3/27/22 same ship 7 days $9,400.  Easy for me to see now book suites when they are first offered.