What benefits come with booking a suite?

[PJTMG]

We booked a suite for Oct since all the balconies are all sold out! Reading thru some of these threads, it looks like there a benefits to a suite? What are you favorites? What ones are easily overlooked?

[wordell1]

It can depend a lot on what ship you are on.  Benefits are not uniform and vary by ship class.  

This is a recent article that breaks everything down.

What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks? | Royal Caribbean Blog

[Ampurp85]

Benefits will depend on ship and class. Quantum and Oasis sky and star class suites will have the most Benefits. IMHO on other classes of ships the suite benefits are nothing to warrant the cost of the rooms when you have status with the Royal.

[smokeybandit]

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

[DoomSlayer]

49 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

Benefits will depend on ship and class. Quantum and Oasis sky and star class suites will have the most Benefits. IMHO on other classes of ships the suite benefits are nothing to warrant the cost of the rooms when you have status with the Royal.

Not sure I agree as the suites on the smaller ships a generally cheaper and are a good option when you just need the extra space without killing the budget. The non Oasis / Quantum ships just don't have the facilities to match the perks you find with Sky or Star class suites and are therefore cheaper and less prestigious.

Personally, I don't seek out suites unless I need them.  I paid for a 2 bedroom suite for an upcoming trip in January because I wanted to invite my daughter, her husband, and granddaughter -- and have a private living space where we could comfortably take care of the little one without having to run between staterooms.  This averaged out to about $650 a person which was a good deal to me because we wanted space on this trip.  My status would not have gotten me the desired benefit of having more space that comes with suites.  I used one of my casino comps and paid for the upgrade from a balcony to the suite which was well worth it to me in this case.  However, if it was just me and my wife (as it normally is), we would not have gone for the suite life as we would not have needed the space benefit.

[ChessE4]

2 hours ago, PJTMG said:

We booked a suite for Oct since all the balconies are all sold out! Reading thru some of these threads, it looks like there a benefits to a suite? What are you favorites? What ones are easily overlooked?

On Vision in November 22 the only benefit to our room, aside from a little extra space, was the espresso pod machine, which wasn't as useful as the Diamond Lounge. Diamond perks, in my opinion, are better.  Therefore, I recommend using your $$ to take more cruises and get Diamond status.  Balconies are nice for the space, but not essential.  If we see that they are too expensive, we go Ocean View.  On many ships, think of a Junior Suite as just a nice balcony room, and consider your options.

[Ampurp85]

9 hours ago, DoomSlayer said:

Not sure I agree as the suites on the smaller ships a generally cheaper and are a good option when you just need the extra space without killing the budget. The non Oasis / Quantum ships just don't have the facilities to match the perks you find with Sky or Star class suites and are therefore cheaper and less prestigious.

Personally, I don't seek out suites unless I need them.  I paid for a 2 bedroom suite for an upcoming trip in January because I wanted to invite my daughter, her husband, and granddaughter -- and have a private living space where we could comfortably take care of the little one without having to run between staterooms.  This averaged out to about $650 a person which was a good deal to me because we wanted space on this trip.  My status would not have gotten me the desired benefit of having more space that comes with suites.  I used one of my casino comps and paid for the upgrade from a balcony to the suite which was well worth it to me in this case.  However, if it was just me and my wife (as it normally is), we would not have gone for the suite life as we would not have needed the space benefit.

I find often times the suites on smaller ships cost as much as the larger ones. On maybe vision class or something the suites would be cheaper but on Voyager and Freedom, I find they are close in price but not perks.

[DoomSlayer]

18 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I find often times the suites on smaller ships cost as much as the larger ones. On maybe vision class or something the suites would be cheaper but on Voyager and Freedom, I find they are close in price but not perks.

Definitely on vision class, they are cheaper. I have had good suite deals on Voyager class ships, but it may be more because of the market for Galveston is not as tight as one of the big Florida ports.  I have a limited lense I guess because I mainly sail out of Galveston because it is close to me. 

[PJTMG]

Thank you everyone. I have no idea what level of suite we are in. We are on the Enchantment in October out of Rome. This information is helpful so I will keep digging.

[Ampurp85]

10 hours ago, DoomSlayer said:

Definitely on vision class, they are cheaper. I have had good suite deals on Voyager class ships, but it may be more because of the market for Galveston is not as tight as one of the big Florida ports.  I have a limited lense I guess because I mainly sail out of Galveston because it is close to me. 

Oh that makes sense, I know sailings from Galveston tend to be on the cheaper side. Since I am from Chicago I mostly sail from Florida and like I said the suites on Voyager and Freedom class has been close in price to Quantum and Oasis......in some cases the larger classes are cheaper. 

[Cactus527]

Just remember that junior suites do NOT have the suite perks that other suites do (e.g. suite lounge, Coastal Kitchen, etc.). Don't know which type of suite you chose.

[Paid4c4]

The perks we enjoy the most are assisted embarkation and debarkation, Chops for breakfast, Suites Lounge, Deck chairs at the pool area, Country Kitchen, Suites Country, Reserved seating at shows, Free room service and now twice a day room freshening.  Please keep in mind that a Jr. Suite has limited perks.

Bill

[Ahaque]

1 hour ago, Paid4c4 said:

Free room service

Does this include the gratuity or will that be charged?

[smokeybandit]

23 minutes ago, Ahaque said:

Does this include the gratuity or will that be charged?

No gratuities will be charged, nor the fee. Just note when you call they may say "it'll cost $9.38" and then you just remind them you're in a suite. Also I've had it charged before anyway, but just talk to the concierge to get it removed.

[Cakemeister]

23 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

Am I reading these articles correctly that all suites including Junior Suites get priority boarding but only the higher suites get priority departure?

[WAAAYTOOO]

9 hours ago, Cakemeister said:

Am I reading these articles correctly that all suites including Junior Suites get priority boarding but only the higher suites get priority departure?

Yes, that is correct.