Cruise vacations can be a time to spoil yourself, but you also have to consider your budget. When it comes to add-ons and upgrades, Royal Caribbean’s suite perks can be well worth the added costs for guests who seek exclusive amenities, priority access, and extra comforts that can elevate the whole experience.
From priority boarding to luxurious suite amenities and exclusive lounges, Royal Caribbean suite perks can definitely add substantial value, but whether or not they’re worth the extra money depends on your preferences.
In This Article:
Are the Perks Worth the Price?
Before we get into the perks that come with a Royal Caribbean suite, let’s look at whether or not these perks are worth the added price.
The answer is that it depends. Here are a few factors that play a role.
What Is Your Budget?
For starters, your vacation budget should be one of the main factors. While everyone enjoys spoiling themselves while on vacation, you have to remember that modern cruise ships are packed with exciting amenities and gourmet dining establishments that allow all guests to enjoy a sense of luxury, not just those who have booked the more premium accommodations.
In other words, only spend what you are comfortable with, as you do not want to blow your budget chasing suite perks you can’t really afford. Remember, prices can vary drastically between cabins and suites, even on a single Royal Caribbean ship.
For example, on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager Class ships, like Navigator of the Seas, prices can range from $670 for an inside cabin to over $2,600 for an Owner’s Suite, qualifying you for Star Class. So, in that sense, you’re paying almost $2,000 just to enjoy all of the perks the highest tier of suite guests gain access to.
For some passengers, this could be well worth the added cost; for others, choosing the cabin and having the option to book a second cruise while still saving money makes way more sense.
For those who are not constrained by a budget and highly value convenience, luxury, exclusivity, and the additional private space that comes with a suite, paying the extra for the perks of a Royal Caribbean suite can more than justify the additional costs.
Who Are You Traveling With and What Are You Celebrating?
For families traveling with children, groups of friends, or even those celebrating a special occasion, like an anniversary or honeymoon, there are plenty of reasons to pay extra for the improved accommodations, exclusive amenities, and more convenient services, like reserved tables at restaurants.
From a purely financial standpoint, a lot of the perks you get are about perceived value. Sure, you get lots of freebies that you would otherwise need to pay for, like complimentary Wi-Fi and entry to the Coastal Kitchen with all of its free drinks and food, but a lot of the other perks are more about saving you time and letting you indulge, rather than providing you with valuables.
What Do You Want Out of Your Cruise Vacation?
Ultimately, the decision on whether or not the suite perks are worth the additional costs rests with the individual.
If you seek added comfort and value in a truly elevated experience, Royal Caribbean’s suite upgrade can definitely enhance your cruise vacation, but it is far from necessary to book a suite to enjoy a voyage on a Royal Caribbean vessel.
It is also worth looking at the specific ship you plan to travel on. Some of the newer and bigger ships, like Quantum of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, or Odyssey of the Seas, have far more private, suite guest-only areas than the smaller vessels, like Radiance of the Seas.
So, What Is a Suite?
When traveling on a cruise ship, passengers can book different types of accommodations. Where a cabin is considered the base-level accommodation, a suite is an upgraded type of quarters that offers more space, more luxurious amenities, a higher level of services, and, in some cases, access to restricted areas on the ship.
In general, booking a suite means that your private space on the ship will have a larger sleeping area, better bed, luxury bathroom amenities, and sometimes even an ocean-view balcony.
Most cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, offer suites in different categories, ranging from junior suites that provide a little bit of extra space for passengers to incredibly luxurious penthouse-style suites reminiscent of some of the world’s most opulent hotels.
On Royal Caribbean cruise ships, in particular, a suite tends to be more than just more spacious accommodations. This is because booking a suite usually includes access to elevated service levels and additional amenities. Hence, we are talking about Royal Caribbean suite perks!
Sure, a suite on a Royal Caribbean vessel will also have the same basic advantages over a cabin, like more space, a bigger bed, and usually a better view, but you will also gain access to exclusive benefits compared to a standard stateroom.
Royal Caribbean divides its suites into different classes, each offering its own benefits depending on the suite category and the price to book it. With that said, all three tiers of the Royal Caribbean’s suite category of accommodations give you access to basic Royal Suite Class benefits.
The suite program has the slogan “Luxury That’s Anything But Boring,” so you can expect an elevated cruise experience, regardless of which of the three tiers you book.
Royal Caribbean Suite Class Benefits
While booking any suite class on a Royal Caribbean voyage will unlock a base level of benefits, there are additional perks you will unlock depending on the suite tier you have booked.
While there are numerous subcategories within each tier, suites are generally divided into three tiers on Royal Caribbean ships, each with its own exclusive benefits:
Sea Class
Sea Class suites are considered the entry-level category for suites on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Compared to booking a junior suite through another cruise line, these suites feature extra space, an improved bed, and enhanced bathroom facilities. Booking a Sea Class Suite will also unlock the following perks:
- A stocked Lavazza espresso coffee machine in the room.
- Access to Sea, Sky, and Star dining establishments (Includes an exclusive restaurant on Spectrum of the Seas).
- priority reservations to other specialty restaurants.
- Royal Caribbean plush luxury spa bathrobes (only for use onboard the ship).
- Luxury pillow top mattress, linen, and extra plush pillows.
Beverages, gratuities, and Wi-Fi are not included with Sea Class Suites. You will also not have access to exclusive lounges.
Sky Class
These larger suites include Grand Suites and Owner’s Suites. They tend to be larger than Sea Class Suites and usually offer an ocean view, often with a private balcony. In addition to all of the perks you get with a Sea Class Suite, booking a Sky Class Suite also unlocks a variety of additional perks:
- Complimentary dedicated concierge service.
- All-day access to Sea, Sky, and Star dining establishments. This includes the Coastal Kitchen, a complimentary a la carte Mediterranean-style breakfast and lunch restaurant that is exclusively for suite guests.
- Bottled water upon arrival.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi (Royal Caribbean’s VOOM internet and streaming service, which is advertised as the fastest internet available through any cruise line).
- Flexible boarding times and priority departure procedures.
- Reserved seating for entertainment venues and live shows (available upon request).
- Access to private suite lounges. Includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.
- All-day access to the private suite sun deck (this includes access to The Grove on Icon of the Seas).
With the exception of complimentary cocktails at certain private lounges, beverages are still not included with Sky Class Suites.
Star Class
Star Class is the top-tier option aboard a Royal Caribbean vessel. Currently, these accommodations are only available on Quantum, Icon, and Oasis Class ships.
In addition to all of the perks and upgrades you get with Sea and Sky suites, you get a huge list of exclusive benefits if you shell out for Star Class accommodations, including the following:
- Exclusive access to Royal Genie Services, a private assistant that can arrange all of your premium seating for performances, make dining reservations on your behalf, plan celebrations, organize luggage handling, and just about any other requests you may have while enjoying your cruise vacation. Resorts often describe this as a private butler service.
- Complimentary unlimited dining package with numerous unique menu items available in specialized restaurants.
- Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package, which includes all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including specialty coffees and premium cocktails.
- Complimentary Refreshment Package for guests under the legal drinking age.
- Still and sparkling water brought to your suite daily.
- Complimentary minibar stocked daily with Coca-Cola products, water, and some alcoholic beverages.
- Complimentary gratuities at all establishments.
- Free and unlimited VOOM internet and streaming.
- Expedited boarding and departure times and a complimentary luggage valet service.
- Guaranteed best seats in the house for select entertainment venues, including most live performances.
- Priority entrance and line pass for most onboard activities and amenities.
- Complimentary laundry and pressing services available upon request.
These premium perks are in addition to those listed for Sky and Star level suites, and your assigned Royal Genie can even help book shore excursions and other plans to ensure your vacation is as stress-free as possible. Booking any Star loft suite will unlock all of these benefits.
Royal Caribbean Suite Perks
As you can see from looking at the breakdown of the three main suite categories, Royal Caribbean suite perks can range from small room upgrades, like a fully stocked espresso machine, to extremely extravagant privileges, like priority access to certain included restaurants, upgraded seats at live performances, and even fully complimentary food, drinks, and internet.
To really help you understand how these suite perks can elevate your entire cruise experience, here’s an overview of some of the key perks that suite guests can enjoy:
Priority Access
Suite guests enjoy priority access across multiple points of the cruise experience, including the following:
Depending on the suite tier and the category you have booked, this can include a dedicated priority check-in counter at the terminal and priority boarding and departure procedures.
In other words, if you choose to do so, you can take the express path to boarding and departing the ship, saving you time and frustration. Skip the lines and get on and off the ship exactly when you want.
Suite guests can also enjoy a true VIP experience when it comes to enjoying amenities on the ship. From reserved spots in prime seating for live shows to skipping lines for popular amenities, booking a suite can give you access to special privileges and exclusive experiences while on the ship.
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For those looking to spend some time relaxing by the pool, select ships also offer VIP pool deck seating for suite guests, guaranteeing you get a comfortable spot in a prime location.
Plus, you can enjoy suite lounge access, exclusive sun decks with enhanced privacy, complimentary specialty dining establishments, and more.
Speaking of dining, guests from all levels of the suite program enjoy extra perks at dining establishments. From Sea Class to Star Class, suite guests will receive priority when booking reservations for specialty dining venues.
Some restaurants even offer a special seating section for suite guests. Basically, you will be able to eat what you want to eat when you want to eat it, and if you have booked a suite that qualifies as a Star Class Suite, those meals will be entirely complimentary.
Luxury Amenities
Royal Caribbean’s suites are outfitted with high-end amenities designed to add an even greater sense of luxury and comfort to your vacation.
From upgraded bathroom amenities, like rooms with a rainfall shower and a jacuzzi-style bathtub, to higher quality toiletries, the bathroom inside a suite will far exceed the cramped quarters you get with a standard cabin.
All types of suites also feature in-room Lavazza coffee machines, so you can start your day with a freshly brewed cup of name-brand coffee in the comfort of one of several Royal Caribbean plush bathrobes hanging in your closet.
The beds are also enhanced, with premium bedding and pillow-top mattresses standard in all types of suites. Beyond room service, which is also provided to suite guests, those with Star Class Suites can even enjoy a complimentary minibar, which is stocked daily.
Complimentary Add-Ons
Royal Caribbean suite guests also enjoy various complimentary services that those in standard staterooms have to pay extra for. For starters, complimentary room service is provided with no delivery charge, so you can relax and enjoy everything your luxury accommodations offer. For those with Star Suite status, a complimentary laundry service can ensure that your clothing is fresh and ready for you to wear.
Gaining access to private, suite-only restaurants, like the Coastal Kitchen, is also a complimentary add-on that suite guests can enjoy. For those staying in Sky and Star Class Suites, a complimentary VOOM Surf and Stream Package, which would typically cost $17.99 per guest per day, is another value-adding service that comes standard with the room.
Extra-Sweet Suite Extras
If you are staying in one of the more premium suites that would give you Sky or Star status, such as a Crown Loft Suite or the Icon of the Sea’s Ultimate Family Suite, you would also enjoy even more perks and privileges.
Unlimited access to the Suite Lounge can be a particularly alluring incentive. These luxurious and well-attended private lounges offer guests complimentary cocktails, snacks, and a relaxed atmosphere that can be difficult to find elsewhere on a crowded cruise ship.
For Star Class guests, the opportunity to enjoy the personalized assistance and attention you get from a dedicated Royal Genie can take all of the stress out of travel.
This personal concierge will handle everything you need. From taking care of your dinner and private breakfast reservations to booking excursions and spa days and making special arrangements on your behalf, this on-demand service is an incredible extra for those who have paid extra for the highest tier of suite.
Our Final Thoughts
As a brand, Royal Caribbean focuses on providing guests with an enhanced experience while they are on board the cruise line’s ships. While this is true for all guests, those who have booked upgraded accommodations can enjoy additional suite perks that offer major advantages in terms of convenience, comfort, and exclusivity.
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Ultimately, deciding whether to pay extra for these premium upgrades depends entirely upon your budget and preferences. If you enjoy paying more for a more premium experience, Royal Caribbean suite perks can be well worth the cost.
On the other hand, if you value having a memorable experience at a reasonable price, a standard stateroom can still provide you with everything you need.
