Cabin or Suite
 

Seem some of the cruises offer suites for a discount---still more than a cabin but not as pricy as you might think. We always opt for Business class on air flights of over 6 hours, especially at night, but wonder if opting for a suite is worth the extra money. We are at a stage in our lives when comfort is more important than saving money, but, as opposed to an airplane, we haven't spent too much time in our cabin when we have cruised. Any thoughts?

Suite! Suite! Suite! Suite!<BR><BR>Maybe you should try a.....er...let me think...Suite!<BR><BR>Depending on what's available, I either book an inside or a ...what was that word...Suite!<BR><BR>I have no interest in looking out a window, but do love having breakfast, lazy naps, afternoon drinks, watching the sea at night all from a veranda.<BR><BR>A suite is well worth the difference. Sometimes, suite amenities offset the difference in price.

Here's a list of the suite amenities from Celebrity. For cruises of 10 days or more, this is certainly the only way to go...IMHO.<BR><BR>Suite amenities <BR>* 24-hour European Butler Service <BR>* Champagne in your suite upon arrival <BR>* Personalized stationary <BR>* Complimentary Celebrity tote bag <BR>* Priority check-in and departure <BR>* Express luggage delivery at boarding <BR>* Seating preference in the main dining room <BR>* Private portrait sitting <BR>* Opportunity to book in-suite massage <BR>* Phone and voicemail <BR>* Personal safe <BR>* Hair dryer <BR>* Thermostat controlled air conditioning <BR>* Complimentary 24-hour room service <BR>* Mini-bar <BR><BR>European Butler Service <BR>* Full breakfast, lunch and dinner service in suites if you want<BR>* Hors d'oeuvres every evening <BR>* Complimentary espresso and cappuccino <BR>* Daily news delivery <BR>* In-suite afternoon tea service <BR>* Assistance with unpacking and packing <BR>* Shoeshine service <BR>* Delivery of requested board games <BR>

Julie,<BR>Just be sure they fully explain what they mean by a &quot;suite&quot;. Many of the lines now call regular cabins &quot;suites&quot;. I don't really know what the distinction is.<BR>The best way I've found to know for sure what type of cabin I'm getting is to compare the sq. feet.<BR>I like to opt for a more spacious cabin/suite when I'll be at sea and aboard ship more days to enjoy the accomodations. When we are on a destination cruise and very few days will be aboard, it hardly matters to me. Particularly, if we are in an area, at a time of year. that makes a veranda beside the point.<BR>Have fun.<BR>Linda

Mass-market cruise lines have very large cabins which they call suites. They have very limited amenities.<BR><BR>So, if you like to spend time in your cabin at a great price, book one of those resonable suites.<BR><BR>Paul

Paul--your answer only covers Carnival, RCL and NCL. There are specific amenities for the mid-range lines like Princess, HAL, and Celebrity. Additional amenities for Seabourn, Raddisson, and Silversea.<BR><BR>Your client base is showing.

I don't like to eat meals in my room. Therefore, any room which is over 180 square feet is large enough for me and I find most comfortable. I would book a regular room rather than a suite. That being said, I do like ships like Seabourn which offer &quot;suites&quot;, really a large cabin with a sitting area. I'd rather spend my money on an upscale line than for a suite on a less deluxe line. And like you, I would no longer fly economy on a long night flight. (On daytime flights where I don't have to sleep, coach is fine on American or any other airline that offers more leg room where I can get window-aisle configuration.)

Isn't that what I said Lew? Book the mass-market lines and get very limited amenities. Go mid-priced and upscale and receive additional perks as you go up in price.<BR><BR>Paul