Live From The Grand (Vista Suite)

[john_galt]

I'm spoiled rotten. The Suite perks have been wonderful. Preferred boarding was pleasant and we were on board at straight up noon.

I was warned that it might be difficult to get the extended room service menus. These are simply the main dining room menus. I gave the room steward a tip right up front and explained that I really wanted the MDR menu every day. It worked. We have ordered the full MDR meal every night except the two when we did Ultimate balcony Dining.

Breakfast at Sabatini's is a treat. No Platinum or Elite. Just Suites. Usually two or three other couples there.

We have priority tender boarding passes for Princess Cays tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if it actually saves us any time.

Internet time is unlimited.

Life is good...

[Mike M]

John:

It is fun to live the good life. The Vista Suite is beautiful and I'm glad you are fully enjoying it. Have a great rest of the cruise.

Once you go suite you'll think it's neat. OK: That was bad........but true.

Take care,
Mike

[MercedMike]

When we cruised with my dear 93 year old aunt, she always booked adjoining suites for us. It was indeed a luxurious life. Aunt Ruth loved going to the Neptune Lounge and having the concierge make her bowl of Rice Krispies with banana sliced into them. All the staff doted on her.

The many perks are wonderful.

BUT -- are they worth the price? A suite can easily be double or more the price of an outside cabin.

Frankly since Dear Aunt Ruth passed away we are back to standard outsides and still loving it! In truth, we get two cruises in the outside for the price of one in the suite. On balance we prefer doing it that way.

I made a page of pictures of the suite life at HAL Deluxe Verandah Suites. You might find it interesting.

[johnthed0g]

I must say I do agree that you can do more cruises by not having a suite, these can be two or even three time the price of a balcony..I don't think you save a huge amount by taking an inside though. Suite is the way if funds are not a problem. We are doing a Grills Class suite on Queen Elizabeth soon, I bet after that we will be spoiled.

[RichC]

How do the waiters serve the food in a suite? Is everything just dropped off on a serving cart & you help yourself?
I can't imagine they would hang around to serve each course.

[Surfguyxxx1]

Originally Posted by RichC

How do the waiters serve the food in a suite? Is everything just dropped off on a serving cart & you help yourself?
I can't imagine they would hang around to serve each course.

Rich,

If you'd like to spring for the cruise, I'd be happy to go and report back to you

[john_galt]

I would call room service and tell them I was ordering from the main dining room menu. They would take the order and ask my suite number. They always told me it would be 30-45 minutes but it never took more than 15. A waiter would should up with a meal cart and a table cloth. He would set up either on the table inside the room or outside on the big table. He would point out each course and have me sign for the meal. The waiter then left us to serve ourselves. Cold desserts went in the fridge. It worked so well that we only dined in the main dining room on the day we sailed.

We did Ultimate Balcony Dining two evenings.

We have a great deal of difficulty scheduling time for vacation. If we can only get away once a year, then we can afford to spend more on each adventure.

The suite counted as two cruises and we received our Platinum pins the last night at sea.

[johnthed0g]

Just curious, why not go to the MDR? Sorry if it's a personal thing,
if so just say.

[RichC]

Originally Posted by Surfguyxxx1

Rich,

If you'd like to spring for the cruise, I'd be happy to go and report back to you

I'm sure you would but we never eat in our "standard" room anyway. Most meals at at the buffet which is plenty good enough for us.
Dinner is always in the DR. We've never ate in our room except for a snack on the balcony.
The Emerald was letting people order anything off the menu last cruise for dinner even if you were in an inside cabin. We still don't like eating in our room when there's a perfectly decent DR available for us.

[johnthed0g]

Originally Posted by RichC

I'm sure you would but we never eat in our "standard" room anyway. Most meals at at the buffet which is plenty good enough for us.
Dinner is always in the DR. We've never ate in our room except for a snack on the balcony.
The Emerald was letting people order anything off the menu last cruise for dinner even if you were in an inside cabin. We still don't like eating in our room when there's a perfectly decent DR available for us.

There may be reasons for eating in the room, but we never have other than a snack or breakfast & then we get it ourselves.

[john_galt]

We traveled light. This cruise was jeans and tee shirts. I hate dressing up just to get a meal and wanted more than Horizon Court.

A suite is a pricey way to cruise totally casual and still eat well. I didn't miss the MDR at all!