Hello,

Two questions:
1. While looking at the Seven Seas Suites on the Mariner, aft and forward, I've noticed a great difference in size, but they have the same price. What is the reason for this? Is aft significantly (200sqft) more desirable than aft?

2. I've read on another board that it is difficult for service in the dining room to make substitutions or accomodations to individual request. Have you found this to be the case?

When we get back in July from the Alaska cruise I look forward to writing a report.

Hang on GM2U: There are some that know MUCH on this board ---I am sure they will have "been there done that" for suites and will guide you -

Question #2 is absolutely they will do whatever they can to personalize for you. It's a good idea to let the Maitre'd know on embarkcation if you have special needs. Some dishes may not be able to be modified right at the time you order, but, they will try. I have never had a problem with that at all.

I haven't seen the Seven Seas Forward suite on Mariner, but our first RSSC cruise was to Alaska in the SS Aft suite. I was ruined for life.

No comments on 1.

But on 2 - I'm not sure what you are looking for in terms of substitutions or accomodations in the dining room. But in the main dining room, aside from the daily features, there is always the regular "standbys" in the "Simplicity" menu which includes steak, grilled chicken, salmon etc. Also, if you request the day before, you can basically order whatever you want off the menu - eg King Crab Legs or Souffles - the code it to your cabin number and the next day just ask for it with your cabin number. Latitudes has a set menu however, but they will try to accomodate special requests like Vegetarians. Signatures has a full menu choice.

This is just a guess on the sq. footage question but I think it has to do with the size of the veranda - the aft suites have a larger balcony space - they are also configured a bit differently. Your agent can probably help you with this information.

Have toured the aft SS suites twice now when on the Mariner, and they are really nice with a large balcony that wraps, so you have a side view as well as an aft view, and a seperate bedroom, plus an extra 1/2 bath. THe SS forward suites are actually pretty much identical to the Penthouse suites (A,B & C) except they are just larger, but the layout is the same and they have a dining table, which the Penthouses don't. I'd take the aft suite over the forward suites on Mariner. On Voyger its actually just the opposite, I don't like the aft SS layout at all. I have not sailed in a SS suite, but I have gone thru them. Hope that helps.

One caveat for the rear suites is the potential for vibrations (I know it was a problem on Voyager - did it ever get fixed?). On the Mariner, I believe they have scheduled a major repair of the propulsion pods (that caused the problems on MUSH) which hopefully will not cause any vibrations afterwards.

Mariner had no vibration before. I think somebody explained a hull difference, but I don't remember who or in which thread.

The Mariner will vibrate in the stern under certain conditions. Any ship with pods will vibrate with a "following sea." You get more of a "shudder" than a vibration based on the cycle of the seas. It is most noticeable in Horizon Lounge; never felt it much higher up.

We spent 28 days in 988 in the South Pacific. As Joann says the difference is that the aft suite has a separate bedroom and a huge veranda. Obviously in the S. Pacific te veranda was great. I don't know where you will be cruising and if that is an issue. As she also pointed out, the veranda allows an aft and views of both sides of the ship.

There are two small negatives. The drawer space is somewhat limited and the closet is not large and is the passage to the bath. However, the extra bath is a wonderful convenience.
The second issue is that being all the way aft, it is a long walk to some of the venues, although very convenient to the aft elevators and thus to the dining venues above and below.

Our solution to both issues was to spend more $$ and travel in the Mariner suite, which we have done for the past 56 days of cruising. If you can afford that it is a wonderful suite.

Good luck, the Mariner is a superb ship.

Agree, Mariner suite is fantastic - I also had a tour of that suite when I was on the Panama Canal in 2003, and would take that one any day, any time if the $$ were right.
Now, we were on the Mariner for MUSH, and were in 769 and did not find it too far to any of the venues, the boutiques, casino, and down to stars were just a short walk down the hall, the aft stairs took us right up to La Verandah, and the mid atrium was just a little way from the casino/boutique area, so did not notice that to be a problem and those aft SS suites and Horizon suites were only about 8 cabins or so away from us - in fact we even had the same room stewardess as a couple of those suites, however, did not closely check out the drawer issue that Jody mentioned, so thats something to think about. In fact we found it very quiet and a great location - but if you want something more mid ship, then you should consider that.
When we were on the Panama Canal, we were in 1005, which was forward and again, didn't really have any issues getting around and to where we wanted to be, in fact we really loved it up there, as there were only 5 cabins on each side (the rest are inside the door to the bridge) and it was very quiet and like a very private area.

JoAnn

That was a great suite - very beautiful - you had a cocktail party up there on that cruise that was great fun with the butler pampering all of us.

Thank you all for your input! Besides size and location, there is no difference between the aft and forward Seven Seas Suites. It seems to me that the SS aft could be another suite category entirely considering the great discrepency in size with its identically priced sister aft suite. Thank you again for your input. I'm amazed at the knowledge and community of this board.