Are Suites Worth The Extra Cost?

Are Suites Worth The Extra Cost?

This was a question I was asked the other day by a customer who had received a windfall and was considering upgrading their cabin on their Cunard cruise.

This can be a bit of a difficult question to answer as different cruise lines offer a different experience when travelling in a suite. For example on a Royal Caribbean ship a Junior Suite has the name of a suite but you do not receive the benefits of booking a full suite, so you have to be careful.

However, as my customers were sailing on Queen Elizabeth, there are definitely advantages to booking into one of their Grill Suites.

What comes to mind when you think of a Grill Suite? A posh fast food chain with an adjoining motel style room? Definitely not – apparently Grill rooms are synonymous with fine dining experiences – just think of the Savoy and Dorchester hotels in London, they both have Grill restaurants. So you can start to imagine the overall experience. It will be luxurious, relaxing and intimate.

Cunard first introduced the Grills experience in 1914 on board Aquitania, then in the 1930’s they introduced the verandah grill on the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, these ballrooms were the place to be seen and were well known for their fantastic dining and level of service.

So what do you get for your buck?

Cunard have 2 grill options, Princess and Queens Grill.

Both offer luxurious large well positioned staterooms, pillow menus, fluffy robes and slippers ( a personal favourite of mine ), 24 hour room service, Illy coffee machines, Penhaligons toiletries etc and the chance to eat in an intimate restaurant, the finest of ingredients with a reserved table at a time of your choosing or why not dine in your suite? The choice is yours.

And if funds allow a Queens Grill suite comes complete with your own butler – how very decadent!

So what did they do? Well I am pleased to say that they upgraded to a Princess Grill and are really looking forward to the experience!