Is booking a suite worth the extra money?

[fireba11]

I would like to ask all of you who have booked a suite and compared it to balcony and inside cabins whether they are worth the extra dollars or not?

I know they are roomier but in reality, one normally doesn't spend much time in their cabin anyway, so what makes them worth it?

TNX
Tim

[colorcrazie]

Got upgraded once, thought it was really nice, but when I went to price our next cruise, no way I would pay that much. I would rather go on a longer cruise, cruise more often, or remodel the bathroom...whatever. I like being on deck, I love the ports, and am quite happy with any cabin as long as it is on a ship!
Marty

[Mike M]

Of all of my cruises most the cabins have been suites or mini-suites. The reasons I book them are for the extra room, amenities and balcony sizes.

Contrary to popular belief people spend more time in their cabin then they think. The eight hours you sleep, dress at least twice a day adds up to at least ten hours.

I spend at least that amount and a bit more and I enjoy having a comfortable place to relax.

I had an inside cabin once.......... I said once.

Take care,
Mike

[seadog2]

The extra room is really nice. You are not running over each other trying to get to the bathroom, closet, balcony, bed, door. You just get more space.

[Paul Motter]

First off, it is really a personal choice. Some people LOVE sitting on their balcony. I get bored after a few minutes. But I still want a balcony cabin for the fresh air and light.

Some people only need an inside cabin because they really don't use it much. I do prefer balconies, though.

As for suites, it depends on what the suite has to offer. If it means a big flat-screen television, mini-bar, jacuzzi tub and free DVD rentals, then yes. But if all it means is a deeper balcony and a walk-in closet, then no.

An inside cabin is perfect for some people, just like some people can take a shower before their morning coffee (not me). Some people only need a cabin for sleep and changing clothes, they stay outside the rest of the time.

I was amazed on Queen Mary (it was a trans-Atlantic which meant cold & gloomy outside) that everyone seemed to be out of their cabins. It was 75% Brit audience. People were reading, playing games, etc everywhere. It is a big ship but it really felt alive during the day. Some ships feel almost quiet outside.

[katlady]

I think I have had almost every type of room you can get. From inside, to porthold, to oceanview, to balcony to balcony suite (lucky upgrade). My dream CAT is a 9A on a Carnival ship the balcony is huge. I love balconies on cruises like Alaska where a lot is going on in the ocean. I saw Dall Dolphins, Humpbacked whales, and glaicers right from my balcony. However, if the cruise is to Enseneda I will save my money and go on inside cabin.

[rinker250]

I, too, have ran the gamut of inside, outside and balcony.
I found the outside to be the roomiest. I think that the space that would have been used for the balcony was added to the cabin.
The sitting area included a full size sofa and an occasional chair whereas our balcony cabin only had a loveseat squeezed between the bed and the the slider to the balcony.
That said, if sailing to Alaska-definitely a balcony because there is so very much to see all day.
To the Carribean or Mexican Riviera, then we'll stick with the outside (still gotta have a window)...underway days are bland for viewing (in my opinion).

Something very financially special will have to happen to justify the cost of a suite. After all, it is a bed, tv, and bath....insides have those.

[mehawk]

Never had a suite but will try one someday.

[Tee]

We cruise Princess, always a balcony. A major strike against the mini suites to me is that the sitting area is between the bed and the balcony. I LIKE seeing/hearing/smelling the ocean all night.

Cheers!
Tee

[susierphillips]

We've had them all, including suites a couple of times. Sure, they are nice for the extra room but I've been pretty happy with the regular verandah cabins. On some lines the suites can be very expensive.
I just love being on the ship and am happy for a balcony for reading.

[erikhag]

If I lived close to a port where cruiseship starts from I might prefer a cheaper, but window not inside, cabin to be able to cruise more but since I have to pay so much just to get to the ship, the extra money for a balcony or even a suite isn´t such a big deal.

[misguidedangel]

I would go with a suite if I can afford it, if not, I go with a balcony. Now, the comment on not spending a lot of time in the cabin, that depends completely on the person cruising. A sea day I will be in and out, but I will take an hour or two and just sit on the balcony and watch the sea go by. A port day is different, that is when I spend a LOT of time in the cabin. I love the warm weather, but the warm weather saps the energy out of me!!! Once back on the ship I'll drop my goodies and quickly unpack my beachbag and such. After that I'll dash up on deck to get a quick bite to eat and then back to the cabin to flop on the bed and stay there for a good half hour to get motivated to sort out my goodies I bought.....

I also head back to my cabin over an hour before bed because I'll sit out on the balcony and relax and read the capers for the next day. No, I spend a LOT of time in the cabin, so a suite is sweet, but a balcony is cheaper!

[WelshLord]

Originally Posted by Mike M

I had an inside cabin once.......... I said once.
Mike

I, too, had an inside cabin ONCE! :evil:

[rinker250]

Originally Posted by WelshLord

I, too, had an inside cabin ONCE! :evil:

Yeah...gotta have a window at the bare minimum.

[WelshLord]

Originally Posted by rinker250

Yeah...gotta have a window at the bare minimum.

No one has "gotta" do/have anything, but it's unlikely I will ever go on a cruise without a private balcony, or that doesn't allow cigar smoking.

[pioner17]

We generally go with a balcony, on Celebrity we like concierge class just
because the furniture is nicer on the balcony. but always an outside with window atleast. A suite just seems to be over doing it. We like to get room service breakfast and eat on the balcony

[ferrangi]

I've only had a cat11 so far only one cruise, but getting in the VIP line alone would be worth the extra money, if I had it...
Last time we got a deal where is was only 95 dollars more per person, for 4 day cruise to get the cat 11, so we took it..
this time I consider myself very lucky.... booked bal guarentee... we got an extended balcony and the verandah (deck 7) in the middle of the ship..
"Pride". I'll take it.

[WelshLord]

Originally Posted by pioner17

We generally go with a balcony, on Celebrity we like concierge class just
because the furniture is nicer on the balcony. but always an outside with window atleast. A suite just seems to be over doing it. We like to get room service breakfast and eat on the balcony

Yes, Libertad and I, too!

[fireba11]

Thanks for all your answers! Next question I guess should be....What makes a suite worth that extra money?

Thanks
Tim

[WelshLord]

Originally Posted by fireba11

Thanks for all your answers! Next question I guess should be....What makes a suite worth that extra money?

Thanks
Tim

One of my soldiers who is only 22 years old tells me that he has been on about a dozen cruises with his parents, and they always had suites. Presumably, the space makes it worth the money if you are traveling with your children, or more than one other person.

[misguidedangel]

Balcony or suite all the time!!!! A suite all the time if I could have it. I had my first suite in February and it was wonderful. There were three of us and it was spacious enough that we all had lots of space!!!!! My next three are balconies, but Sept 09 will be a Spa suite on the Splendor in honour of my 40th birthday and a overnight at Queen Mary hotel and biz class airfiare--first and probably only time ever!

I cruise solo, so a suite can be pricy...but 40 comes but once in a life, so I might as well open the bankbook and just go insane!!!!!!

[fireba11]

The author of this article said that this is not a scientific poll.....Who better to poll then the best cruisers in the world? Come on folks lets really respond to this poll to give an accurate count. Here is a link to the article if you haven't read it.
http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/...ies-082708.cfm

[Stevan77]

OK, I'll jump in even though we have yet to take our first cruise!

We were at the point of booking a balcony cabin - actually pressing buttons on the laptop - when the option to upgrade to a Cat 11 mini-suite for $99 popped up. Looking at the whirlpool tub and extra living space (it is almost double the area of the regular cabin) , who could turn that down? I'll make up the difference by passing on the casino . . .

At regular prices we would definitely go for a regular balcony cabin though.

[fireba11]

My cousin argues that he can afford 3 cruises with an inside cabin compared to a suite. I guess one must ask themselves whether cruising more often is worth more then cruising in style.

[Pocono Pug]

Ive never had a suite but have had inside, balcony, and ouside. I prefer an inside because they're a bit cheaper and Im not in my cabin except to sleep and shower so I think spending the extra money would be a waste for me

[Stevan77]

Back from the cruise, I wold now say that I suspect those with inside cabins do indeed use their cabins for sleep-time only - and no wonder! Our little suite was so delightful that we enjoyed spending a fair amount of time relaxing in it, reading, etc. There were a lot of shipboard activities we actually weren't at all interested in pursuing, so having a great cabin was a delightful surprise.

[nace0]

Definitely would recommend an oceanview unless you plan on bringing someone back with you. HAHA

[Jeff of Torrance]

There were a lot of shipboard activities we actually weren't at all interested in pursuing, so having a great cabin was a delightful surprise.

As bargaineers to (almost) an extreme. we certainly appreciate you folks that need the big (expensive) rooms, so that we can continue to bottom feed. We avoid those same stupid, brainless, shipboard activities from our interior room. However, we did enjoy having a couple of cabins with "partially obstructed" views. As long as they weren't too much more. While at sea, we're typically found lounging in the enclosed pool area. In port, we're the ones that are avoiding the excursions, while seeing as much of the area as possible.

[fireba11]

Just back from our cruise on the Carnival Triumph and our first cruise with a balcony. I must say we are now hooked on Balconies! We had a cabin 8434 at the rear or the ship and it had a really nice sized balcony. We spent much more time in our cabin and on our balcony then we had on the previous cruises where we only had inside rooms. I must confess that this was the MOST relaxing cruise we have had and I contribute it to having a balcony. One thing that I loved was that with those rear balconies there was a community feel to it as we could see all or the other rear balconies and talk to one another. All in all I wont say that we will never have an inside cabin again but we definitely will cruise with more balcony cabins as much as possible.

Happy Sailing
Tim

[colorcrazie]

Jeff,
I'm with you...bottom feeding. As long as I get on a ship, I am happy. Yes, balconies are nice and relaxing, but in today's world, I try to differentiate between want and need. I need my occasional cruise getaway, want, but don't need a balcony.
Marty