Advice on Grand Suite Cabin Aboard Rhapsody of the Seas

[DivotMaker]

Hi everyone,

 

I've been reading with satisfaction all the wonderful compliments on the Rhapsody of the Seas, and we're just now booking our cruise for next November to the Western Caribbean. There's 5 of us traveling (2 adults, 3 children), so we're booking a grand suite. Our travel agent said all the grand suites are on Deck 8, and she reserved #8518 but said we could change if necessary. I checked the deck plan and noticed that #8518 is next to a Royal Family Suite. We're a pretty quiet group, and want to do everything we can to avoid a roudy bunch of neighbors. Just curious if anyone has any recommendations for a grand suite cabin #. Thanks for any help!

[dderm]

Hi everyone,

 

I've been reading with satisfaction all the wonderful compliments on the Rhapsody of the Seas, and we're just now booking our cruise for next November to the Western Caribbean. There's 5 of us traveling (2 adults, 3 children), so we're booking a grand suite. Our travel agent said all the grand suites are on Deck 8, and she reserved #8518 but said we could change if necessary. I checked the deck plan and noticed that #8518 is next to a Royal Family Suite. We're a pretty quiet group, and want to do everything we can to avoid a roudy bunch of neighbors. Just curious if anyone has any recommendations for a grand suite cabin #. Thanks for any help!

We'll be in #8516 the end of October and will be happy to check it out for you if you like. Do you have any specific questions? There is a link to some excellent pictures posted in another thread by "TX Sailor/Fausto" on the GS category cabin he stayed in earlier this year. We will also be posting pictures when we return.

[DivotMaker]

Thanks for the quick reply! We've never had such a large room before, so we were mainly concerned about whether these rooms typically fill up with revelers that party into the night or families. From what I could tell, there are only 12 grand suites available, so we wanted to book something as soon as possible. Thanks.

 

We'll be in #8516 the end of October and will be happy to check it out for you if you like. Do you have any specific questions? There is a link to some excellent pictures posted in another thread by "TX Sailor/Fausto" on the GS category cabin he stayed in earlier this year. We will also be posting pictures when we return.

[wolfganghowell]

We're also in 8516. Derm - you da man...or woman for info for me. Have a great time. And feel free to take lots of pics. I'll be interested to see what will happen to the decor of the rooms during dry dock.

Divot - really there will be no better room for noise or not. It's the luck of the neighbors, I guess. I think 8518 is closer to the elevators -you might hear the dings or noise from the stairs. Depending on the week you are sailing, there will probably not be a large number of children aboard. Thanksgiving week can have a few kiddos but other than that, not very many.

[wolfganghowell]

Divot - I may be making a real faux pas with this remark but I think the folks who shell out the extra money for the suites tend to behave at night. I truly don't mean that in a snobby way, it's just an observation. That being said, we have done suites before and will invite friends over for drinks before dinner. But no late night raves!!

[critterchick]

Wolfie, it's because we're old & tired!:D The spirit is willing to party, but the flesh needs all the sleep it can get!

[DivotMaker]

Definitely not a faux pas, and I tend to agree with you. I appreciate all the advice and comments.

 

Divot - I may be making a real faux pas with this remark but I think the folks who shell out the extra money for the suites tend to behave at night. I truly don't mean that in a snobby way, it's just an observation. That being said, we have done suites before and will invite friends over for drinks before dinner. But no late night raves!!

[DivotMaker]

Do you have any detailed info on the dry dock? I called RC today and asked about the dry dock, and the guy said it was just in for minor maintenance and nothing was being remodeled.

 

 

We're also in 8516. Derm - you da man...or woman for info for me. Have a great time. And feel free to take lots of pics. I'll be interested to see what will happen to the decor of the rooms during dry dock.

Divot - really there will be no better room for noise or not. It's the luck of the neighbors, I guess. I think 8518 is closer to the elevators -you might hear the dings or noise from the stairs. Depending on the week you are sailing, there will probably not be a large number of children aboard. Thanksgiving week can have a few kiddos but other than that, not very many.

[wolfganghowell]

He's crazy about nothing being remodeled. They are adding a Ben & Jerrys and a Seattle's Best COffee. Other than that, probably just sprucing up carpet and upholstery, normal wear and tear stuff.

[m00k3y]

Hiya, we have room 8018 on our December 5th cruise. It just so happened that TXSailor / Fausto stayed in that room earlier this year and posted a lot of great pictures....

 

http://community.webshots.com/album/154930600ZKIsnN

 

One thing TXSailor said that he loved about the room is that the balcony is much more private as the RFS is next to it and you have a wall there instead of a balcony.

 

You couldn't get us to move.... well put us in the RS and we would :) :D

[wolfganghowell]

Thanks mook, now you have really gotten me in the mood. Only 8 more weeks. Yea!

[m00k3y]

Thanks mook, now you have really gotten me in the mood. Only 8 more weeks. Yea!

 

hehe yeah, i have to look at the pictures and day dream about my cruise fix at least once every other week. :D December can't get here fast enough!

[wolfganghowell]

Mook- I'd leave you a post it note since you are right after us. heh heh. Yep, it's starting to feel like it will really happen.

[m00k3y]

LOL leave it on the back of the mirror in bathroom. :)

[jwlane]

Thanksgiving week can have a few kiddos but other than that, not very many.

 

Few? Thanksgiving week will have a lot of kiddos. We were on the week after last year, and there were approximately 50. The AO staff said they had 7-8 times that many the previous week.

[m00k3y]

Check out this link i just found, there is a link to a 49 second video of Rhapsody of the Seas :) It is a little old, but still fun. :)

 

http://www.travelwizard.com/luxurycruise/royal-caribbean-cruise-line.html

[dderm]

Do you have any detailed info on the dry dock? I called RC today and asked about the dry dock, and the guy said it was just in for minor maintenance and nothing was being remodeled.

Our Oct 31-Nov 5 Rhapsody cruise is shortened from the normal 7 days to 5 because it's immediately going to dry dock, I'll check it out and report when we return. We can also do a "before and after" comparison as we're on her again in January and will update our review then. I'm with the others posting here, while it's generally the luck of the draw, am hoping these cabins are relatively quiet at night - we're not big night owls, more of the "get up at dawn and greet the sunrise" types. :)

[DivotMaker]

One thing TXSailor said that he loved about the room is that the balcony is much more private as the RFS is next to it and you have a wall there instead of a balcony.

 

Our travel agent said we have our pick still of any grand suite, as they're all available. We went with 8008 since there weren't any cabins directly across from us. We're pretty new at cruising (4 cruises under out belt), but I'd love to hear from you experienced folks out there on whether you think it's better to go with the one next to the RFS?

 

Here's a pic of Deck 8, you might have to maximize it to see the pic clearly.

 

Thanks!

 

[m00k3y]

Divotmaker: The one thing that I have heard about the grand suites is that it is better to get one that is not connected to another suite. (sound issues and also you have more room to use as there is no interior door). My guess is that you are going to be VERY happy with ANY of the grand suites. :D

[dderm]

Divotmaker: Just back from the Rhapsody. We found the noise level depended on who was in the cabins on either side of you. We were in 8516 and had families on both sides. While you could hear people having conversations, it wasn't intrusive. You do need to know that we constantly heard people walking (you know, the heavy footstep type) regularly coming from the pool area / Windjammer cafe that is on the deck immediately above, after awhile you just tuned it out. And you would hear something heavy being dragged around a few times during the day and night. Typically, we could hear the nightly pool party on the balcony but, with the exception of one night where it was a bit noisy until after 1:00 am, it was bearable with the balcony door shut. We really enjoyed 8516 and hope you'll enjoy your GS. If you're interested I've posted some cabin pictures on webshots under the ddercat id in the community area.

[wolfganghowell]

Thanks for the info on 8516. The noise shouldn't bother us. We are never in the room at night except to dress for dinner and usually stay out in the casino or disco until 2 or later. And we're up relatively early. Thank goodness for short afternoon naps!

 

But I promise that we creep quietly to the room even if I have to muzzle Mr Wolf. My mother raised me right!

[rascalious]

We are sure looking forward to cabin 8516 in September, 2005. dderms pictures were a great bonus!

 

Here they are:http://community.webshots.com/user/ddermcat

[Bookit]

Divotmaker,

 

Meant to answer you yesterday -- unfortunately, work interferred :p ! We have cruised on the Rhapsody of the Seas three times -- twice in the cabin you mentioned GS #8518. The only time we heard noise (from the occupants from the FS was in the hallway. This was from one of the small (3-4 yrs. old) children. The balcony is abutted by a steel wall -- the Family Suite has a bedroom on that side -- with no balcony extension -- thus, no noise from there. No noise from between walls -- on either cruise.

 

Now, I know you are excited about the GS. It has been wonderful for the two of us. However, with 3 children and 2 adults, I think it would be a bit crowded. A suggestion ...I think there is an arrangement on Deck 7 (formerly "D" cabins), whereby you can get one cabin with a balcony, and an adjoining cabin without. I would think that the 2 bathrooms would be wonderful, and you would still have a balcony. Perhaps another CC poster can enlighten :confused:

 

We thoroughly enjoyed the ship and the crew. I'm sure you will, also.

 

**** I am editing to add that Dderm was "right on" about the noise factor. The first time we stayed in the GS we were unprepared for how much noise from above we would hear. I would agree with how Dderm described the noise ... sometimes I would equate it with a "small herd of elephants". Why ship designers design a ship without soundproofing these more expensive suites from above, I don't know. :rolleyes:

[Bookit]

:rolleyes: As I mentioned this possibility to the OP, I am now wondering:

Is this correct? I would appreciate anyone clarifying that: a) Bookit has lost what little mind left :p or b) Bookit is "right on"! :D

 

Thanks.

 

P.S. - Regarding the noise factor -- we did become somewhat immune to the noise from above. I would probably book the same suite again, if Rhapsody ever gets a new route :cool:

[jeffw47]

Hi Bookit. Long time no talk to. We were on the Splendour with you this past spring. Carol and I are leaving in three weeks on the Rhapsody. We have a corner aft this time. We are really looking forward to this cruise. When is your next cruise?