I tried Royal Caribbean’s luxury Star Class suite for the first time for $11,000. I would have had just as much fun in a cheap interior cabin

I just tried one of Royal Caribbean’s most exclusive and expensive suites. Despite the amazing perks, I might book an interior cabin next time.On my most recent cruise—a 3-night getaway on the brand-new Utopia of the Seas—I booked a Star Class suite for the first time. Star Class is the highest tier of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, which encompasses the largest, most lavish suites in the cruise line’s fleet.These cabins can cost upwards of $30,000 for a 7-night cruise, with the biggest suites often priced over $50,000.As someone who typically books cheaper cabins on cruise ships, like interior rooms, I never considered booking a Star Class suite. Sure, there’s nothing fancy about cruising in a dark, windowless cabin, but with so much to do on Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships, I rarely spend much time in my cabin anyway.Related: We stayed in every type of cabin on Royal Caribbean—here’s how they comparedDue to the price, I had a hard time justifying cruising in a Star Class suite. Yet when a friend’s change of plans left them with an empty bedroom in one of these suites, I jumped at the last-minute invitation to join the cruise.After a weekend trying Star Class, though, I think I would have had just as much fun in my usual interior cabin.I cruised in a 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite, which cost over $11,000 for the weekend cruiseFor the weekend, I stayed in a 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite on Utopia of the Seas. The total cost was $11,388, or nearly $3,800 per passenger including gratuities. While usually among the cheapest Star Class cabins to book, the suite still came with a hefty price tag.Related: Take a look inside my $11,000 suite on Utopia of the SeasIt was, however, unlike any cabin I’ve booked before. Inside were two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious living room, and a wraparound balcony with panoramic ocean views.The cabin came stocked with complimentary beverages, from seltzers to sodas, and a selection of finger foods were delivered to the room each day.If the suite’s amenities were any indication of what my overall Star Class experience would be like, I now had high expectations.My suite came with a personal concierge, my own “magic maker” onboard the shipAll Star Class suites on Royal Caribbean come with a Royal Genie, the cruise line’s “magic maker” for suite guests. While there are no strict guidelines as to what the Royal Genie can and cannot do for Star Class guests, their goal, in a nutshell, is to make the cruise experience as seamless as possible.I first met my Royal Genie, Carlos, at the cruise terminal, after which he promptly escorted me onboard Utopia of the Seas and to my opulent suite. Once there, we confirmed my weekend schedule. He had already organized entertainment and dining reservations.Related: My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruiseAfter just minutes with my Royal Genie, I was impressed by his friendliness and attention to detail.Throughout the weekend cruise, Carlos was truly a magic maker. He took my Starbucks and breakfast order for the following day each evening, and he also escorted me around the ship, whether to my front-row, reserved seats at the ice-skating show or to enter a specialty restaurant for dinner.Whenever I had a question or made a special request, Carlos was available and ready to assist almost immediately.I wasn’t used to this type of luxury, so I felt out of my elementAs someone who cruises in budget cabins, I was not accustomed to the luxury of a Royal Genie. Truthfully, I don’t find it that difficult to do things myself, whether making a reservation at a specialty restaurant or reserving a theater show ahead of time on Royal Caribbean’s app.Nonetheless, I was still curious to test the benefits of my Royal Genie further. A few hours after boarding, I messaged Carlos to request a quesadilla and glass of wine to be delivered to the suite. I felt somewhat ridiculous requesting this; I could have easily obtained the items myself with just a short walk. Regardless, my request was promptly fulfilled.I made a few similar requests throughout the weekend, but despite the convenience, I always felt slightly uncomfortable asking too much of my Royal Genie. Knowing h ow diligently Royal Caribbean’s crew members work, I felt guilty asking for silly requests that I could do myself, even if this is part of the genie’s job description.I loved having access to the ship’s exclusive, suites-only spacesOutside of my cabin, one of my favorite aspects of cruising in a suite was having access to Utopia of the Seas’ Suite Neighborhood.Royal Caribbean’s newest ships feature an entire neighborhood dedicated to suite guests. On Utopia of the Seas, the Suite Neighborhood encompasses the Suite Lounge, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and an exclusive outdoor sun deck.During my three days onboard, I took full advantage of these spaces. On a ship with over 6,000 passengers, the suites-only spaces felt like a haven away from the hustle and bustle found elsewhere.I particularly enjoyed the ambiance of Coastal Kitchen.This suites-only restaurant offers a more enhanced dining experience than the larger, more chaotic Main Dining Room for non-suite passengers. The menu offered upscale options like lobster risotto, and tables were far apart from each other, which provided more privacy to guests.My Star Class suite included perks like a drink package and dining packageAside from access to the Suite Neighborhood and a Royal Genie, another benefit of Star Class are all of the included perks.Star Class guests receive a Deluxe Beverage Package, Unlimited Dining Package, included WiFi on one device, and complimentary laundry services, among other benefits.Related: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining PackageAlthough I always purchase a WiFi package when I cruise, I rarely spend money on extras like a dining package, drink package, or laundry. I was skeptical of whether or not I would make use of these benefits. Of course, they were already included in my cruise fare, so I tried to find value in the perks.I started off my cruise with an embarkation day brunch at The Mason Jar, the first of five specialty dining meals during the sailing. I appreciated the wide variety of cuisine at specialty restaurants, from sushi to steak, and found the food quality higher than that in the ship’s complimentary dining venues. Of all the perks, this was probably my most utilized.The laundry perk proved useful, too. I sent my travel outfit to dry cleaning after boarding the ship, and I later had a full bag of laundry washed so I could return home with clean clothes.I didn’t get value from the Deluxe Beverage Package, and wished there was an option to remove itDespite making use of the Unlimited Dining Package and laundry services, I wish I could have opted out of the Deluxe Beverage Package to save money on my cruise fare.I never book drink packages when I cruise. As a Diamond Plus member in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, I already receive five free drinks each day. Spending over $70 per day on a drink package just doesn’t make sense. I would need to drink over 10 drinks per day to maybe break even!Related: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & ConsBecause of this, the drink package was one of my least favorite benefits of Star Class. It is included in the cruise fare, but I would rather save money on the overall cost of the suite and remove the package.I understand Royal Caribbean wants the Star Class suites to be as all-inclusive as possible, but I would rather book a cheaper cabin and purchase the add-ons I actually want individually.My Star Class benefits were unbelievable, but cheaper cabins can offer just as much funDespite the mind-blowing benefits that came with my Star Class cabin, I probably won’t book this type of cabin again.Don’t get me wrong—I loved feeling like royalty onboard. However, at over $11,000 for the weekend, Star Class is simply out of my budget for regular vacations. Personally, I might rather use that money to visit a new-to-me destination, or perhaps try a luxury, all-inclusive cruise on Silversea, Royal Caribbean’s sister brand.As someone who travels on a budget, I recognize that I am not part of the cruise line’s target demographic for Star Class. Many passengers booking these high-end suites may not find the price tag to be a concern, and they are unlikely to worry about the benefits justifying the expensive cruise fare.Aside from just the price, though, I still wouldn’t say my experience in a Star Class cabin was any more enjoyable than cruises where I’ve booked interior, oceanview, and balcony rooms.I’ve had just as much fun watching movies with my sister in an interior room, viewing Alaska’s glaciers from the pool deck instead of a balcony cabin, and reading under the sunlight from an oceanview cabin’s cozy porthole.At the end of the day, the main reason I cruise is to make memories around the world with those I care about. Whether I’m staying in the best or worst cabin onboard is an afterthought.
Appeared first on: Royalcaribbeanblog.com