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Grand Suite or Junior Suite on Symphony of the Seas?


CruisingOz

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Hello Guys,

This will be our first cruise on an Oasis class ship and we want to make the most of the new entertainemn and offerings on the ship. We are from Australia so sailing on an Oasis class is something we don't get down under. We are Diamond Plus, so I think we would have access to the Consierge lounge and some priority for seats at the shows? We are seeking incite from the community as to whether we should pay the difference from a JS to a GS, which is about $1,000 more? We are normally happy with a balcony and even an inside cabin but thought by going up to a suite we can do more with ease. We are planing on doing a B2B so western and eastern, and so I believe in Labadee there is a special area which only GS and above guests can enter.     

Appreciate your thoughts on the subject

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Welcome to the message boards.

For $1k more I would recommend a Grand Suite but also keep an eye on Loft Suite which are sometime close in price to a GS.  

A JS will get you a few dinners in Coastal Kitchen and early boarding on day one of the first cruise, by about 90 seconds earlier over D+.  

A GS is Sky Class on Symphony so you'll have full access to Coastal Kitchen for all meals, dedicated seating areas for entertainment, complimentary Voom internet plus access to the Suite Lounge and Suite Sun Deck.  The priority access to entertainment is well worth it on Oasis Class if it is your first time on this class or a particular Oasis class ship.   

You'll also get access to Barefoot Beach on Labadee as you mentioned.  There may even be a suite sail away party on the helipad which is the only way to access the helipad on this class.  The suite lounge on this class has complimentary beer, wine and water from 11am to 11pm.  Lastly with a GS or better you have the suite concierge at your disposal.  

Keep in mind there is no Concierge Club on Oasis class but there is a Diamond Lounge.  Without staying in a GS there is only the DL for all Diamond,  Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members.

For a first time Oasis class cruise I'd highly recommend a GS for at least the first leg if not both.  If a loft suite is close in price for either leg I'd highly recommend spending a few bucks more for it.  Changing cabins is easy on a B2B so I wouldn't let that be a factor if the same cabin isn't available for both legs.

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Junior suites are not worth the money in my opinion period, they are nothing more than a glorified balcony.  If you are going to splurge then spring for the Grand Suite or higher.  I've stayed in every category of Sky Class suite on the Oasis Class ships (I can't afford Star Class it is outside of my price range for now).  If you are going to cruise and you have the money to treat yourself then just do it, treat yourself you won't regret it.  I guarantee you Sky Class on an Oasis Class ship is worth the extra money.  

 

There are several different suite types within Sky Class on Oasis Class ships.  In my opinion 3 are worth the money they are the Owners Suites, Crown Lofts, and the Aqua Theater 1 bedroom suites. My persona; favorite are the Aqua Theater 1 bedroom suites, some people don't like being at the back end of the ship I for one love it.

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  We stayed in the JS for many years for some big reasons.  Full bathroom instead of standing in the tube shower, Walk in closet, a little more room and double points.  Now that we are diamond plus the double points don't mean much.  Due to age getting to the next level is out of the question.  When the price was right we got some GS and LS rooms and it will spoil you living the suite life.  We are staying in another LS this June and like Twangster said if you can swing the price Loft Suites are highly recommended!

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If the difference would only be $1000 for both legs of the B2B, then 100% yes it's worth it.

Otherwise, you need to take in all the considerations that have been mentioned for being Sky Class and decide if it is worth it to you.  I think if you aren't likely to experience an Oasis Class ship again, then yes go ahead and make the splurge.

Make sure you look into all the different available rooms in Sky/Star Class.  I think the Loft Suites and the Aquatheather suites are pretty unique when it comes to Oasis Class ships.  I loved being able to watch the aquatheater shows from my balcony, but it is a long walk to the room.  The loft suites are neat two-story rooms with lots of glass and are also located on Deck 17 which is near the Suite Lounge/Coastal Kitchen so it is very convenient.

Star Class is essentially the all inclusive option, so if you are thinking of doing specialty dining and the drink package, you may want to see if the pricing makes sense to go to that level as well.

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On 1/18/2021 at 7:11 AM, JasonOasis said:

Junior suites are not worth the money in my opinion period

Different folks different strokes I guess. We always only booked interior cabins as I had previously fallen into the, "you only sleep there " camp. But generally speaking, I find the double points, full size tub, dedicated table space, and walk-in closet to be incredible value for money. Often times with the Key, one can get similar perks for less. We really aren't in the room all that much, and I would prefer to spend the extra 1000$ on the UDP/UBP anyway. Coastal Kitchen is amazing... I just like the flexibility and variability that the UDP/UBP provide on Oasis class ships.

For the OP, I think it always just depends on your cruising style. If you're sailing party isn't into drinking or trying all the new dining options, maybe GS would be a better option. But the cost of our UDP/UBP was about $1000 on our (previously upcoming) April cruise which I think gives you a lot more options than the GS would. Can't wait to hear about your choice and how well it goes for you!

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I have stayed in both a CL and a GS on Oasis class ships.  I will go against the majority here and say that I really prefer the GS, unless you want two bathrooms.  The CL is awesome, and very convenient to the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen, but feels removed from the rest of the ship.  I like feeling more a part of the ship's atmosphere.  I do like Sky Class perks, though.  Coastal Kitchen and access to the concierge are wonderful.  I also like having the lounge as a place to get away from the crowds sometimes.  The sun deck is also nice when the pool deck is really crowded.  Not having to make reservations for the evening entertainment is also nice because it allows more spontaneity.  

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1 hour ago, Bakerette said:

There is a Concierge club on most Royal Caribbean shipa, but they call that area on their ships the Suite Lounge.

There is a Concierge Club on 13 of 25 ships however since the OP is D+ the lack of a Concierge Club on Symphony is important since they mentioned having access to the Club as a D+ member.  D+ do not get access to Suite Lounges (unless they are staying in a full suite like everyone else).  This has been a point of contention for D+ members as Concierge Clubs have been removed in amplifications and new suite lounges installed.  

It's widely believed that the Concierge Club on Anthem was going to be converted to a Suite Lounge during her dry dock.  Odyssey should launch with only a Suite Lounge.  Explorer was to lose her Concierge Club during her amplification.  The Concierge Clubs are slowly going away and since D+ aren't allowed in the Suite Lounge it's an important distinction particularly for Oasis class since none of them have a Concierge Club.

 

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Thanks to all for the feedback about the GS, as this will be our first Oasis and limited opportunity to sail this class, we want to take full advantage of the perks. It is an expensive bed to sleep for a few hours a day, but the access to skip queues, and reserved seating is a benefit.   

It is disappointing that D+ no longer has access to the lounge. I have sailed on the Explore and Voyager prior and lounge access was great and in those ships the Diamond lounge was in a great location and it was really disappointing when boarding the amplified Voyager last year, and discovered the area is now a Suite lounge, Concierge lounged closed down and no access to D+. To make matters worse the new Diamond lounge was really small and on one cruise the overflow area was taken up by functions for a charter. I love the three free drinks we can have anywhere but the lounge was a fantastic area to make new friends, socialise and share each others stories of the how great a day others had.  

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