7 reasons you should splurge on a suite on your next cruise
Anyone who has ever priced an apartment on a cruise ship knows that they can be pricey.
Like TPG is shown in the price comparison of family cruise linesYou’ll typically pay at least 50% more for a suite on a cruise ship than for a standard cabin. Sometimes insurance premiums can be much higher.
With a price of 11,000 USD per night, the most luxurious suite on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ luxury ship line Bay Bien Hoa Long is 4 years old To be more than five times the cost of a standard cabin on a ship.
However, it’s not just the high price that sets cruise ship suites apart. Cruise ship suites are also typically a lot larger than standard cruise ship cabins, have better locations, and come with a long list of extra perks you won’t get in a regular cabin. .
Perks often include many free things you’d normally pay extra for on board, such as Wi-Fi access and dinner at top onboard restaurants.
Related: 8 cabin locations on cruise ships you should definitely avoid
Add it all up, and – at least for some cruisers – a more expensive suite on a cruise ship can turn out to be the best value of any cabin on the ship. Here are seven things you often get with a yacht suite that might make you want to book one instead of a standard cabin.
Priority boarding
The benefits of staying in a suite begin from the moment you arrive on your ship. You’ll typically find a special check-in area for guests booking luxury suites at the arrival terminal — an area without the long lines you’ll sometimes find to check in to a cabin normally. Sometimes, there is even a separate seating area for guests with drinks and snacks.
As a guest in your room, you will be one of the first passengers to board your ship. That means you’ll be able to start your vacation earlier than most others on your itinerary.
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A bigger room
This one’s a bit obvious, but for the sake of thoroughness, we’ll say it again anyway: Cruise ship suites are larger than regular cabins — sometimes much larger. Cabins on conventional cruise ships are notoriously small – at least when compared to hotel rooms on land – but some suites on cruise ships can be very large, with multiple rooms, including living rooms. , dining room and secondary bedroom.
In other words, while you pay more for a set, you get more space for your money.
On the higher end, there are suites on cruise ships that are larger than the average American home, such as the eye-catching suite Regent Suite picture above. It is more than 4,000 square feet and has a large living and dining room area as well as two large bedroom complexes.
Related: 6 reasons you’ll want to book a cabin with a balcony on your next cruise
Room location is better
Cruise ship suites aren’t just bigger than regular cabins. They are also in a better position.
On many ships, you’ll find some of the largest suites at the front or back of the ship – the two places with the most stunning views. You’ll also often find suites along the side of the ship at the balance point – the spot near the middle of the ship that’s most stable in rough seas. If you’re prone to seasickness, this is the place you want to go.
Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
Better room perks
When staying in a suite on a cruise ship, expect all kinds of upgrades to your in-room experience, from higher thread count sheets to upgraded toiletries.
ABOVE Royal Caribbean For example, on board, Royal Suite guests receive upgraded bottles of L’Occitane shampoo, conditioner and lotion in the bathroom, Mr. and Royal Caribbean bathrobes for use during the cruise. Top suites on Viking The train has a minibar stocked with free drinks, including spirits. Famous yachts Suites also feature a fully stocked minibar along with two bottles of wine of the passenger’s choice.
More pampering service
Your suite will usually have a personal butler on duty around the clock. Some suites also have private concierge services. These are the people whose entire job is to eliminate all the little stressors you might encounter on vacation and pamper you to the highest degree.
Related: 5 reasons to refuse a cruise ship cabin upgrade
Your butler, if your room has one included, can do everything from unpacking suitcases to serving you private meals on the balcony. This same butler (or your concierge, if applicable) can also book you into top restaurants on the ship, where you can get priority entry, another common suite perk. She or he can also escort you to the private guest seating area in the ship’s theater room, which is another benefit of staying in a suite on many lines.
Butlers and concierges can also help you get tickets to onboard activities (again, with priority access) and will assist you in disembarking quickly when the ship docks – permitting you make the most of your time during port calls.
Access to exclusive ship areas
On a growing number of super-ships, customers have access to large, private, luxurious “ship-within-a-ship” areas, providing a level of pampering not found on the remaining ships.
Over more than half Norwegian Cruise LineFor example, onboard many of the flagship suites are part of an exclusive keycard access area called The Haven. Aimed at luxury travelers, The Haven complex is located on the top floor of the ship and often has private lounges, swimming pools, sunbathing areas and even restaurants.
Some MSC Cruises ships offer a similar “ship within a ship” area for in-suite guests called the MSC Cruise Club and Latest famous trainsuch as Celebrities out thereThere are luxurious and exclusive indoor and outdoor seating areas for passengers sitting in the luxury suite called The Retreat.
Some ships also have private concierge lounges open only to suite class passengers (some are for passengers with top elite statusalso).
Related: What does it take to get into the concierge lounge on a cruise ship?
Includes free gift
Staying in a room can get you all sorts of value-added perks on ships that typically cost extra, from free Wi-Fi access to meals in restaurants for extra fees. .
Experience the suite at Princess yachtfor example, includes a free dinner on the day of embarkation at one of the ship’s paid restaurants. Passengers staying in Royal Caribbean’s top Star suites enjoy complimentary dining at paid eateries throughout the cruise, as well as gratuities and a complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package.
On Regent’s Seven Seas Splendor, Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Grandeur, top Regent Suites have personal masseuses on call for unlimited treatments during your cruise, along with a long list of Other perks.
Other freebies that often come with suites include laundry services, access to a spa thermal suite (usually for an additional fee), a bottle of Champagne on board, and canapes delivered every afternoon . If you stay in a big enough room, you can even have dinner with the ship’s captain.
Additionally, many promotions that lines run will include free gratuities, beverage packages, shore excursions, and even onboard credits as an incentive to book.
Bottom line
A room on a cruise ship can be a lot more expensive than a regular cabin. However, the difference in price isn’t as high as you might think when you factor in all the free perks you get with another set of products and added value.
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