Look Inside Royal Caribbean’s $20,000 Ultimate Family Suite
I recently spent two nights on board the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, during a preview sailing for media. The ship has a dizzying array of features, but for families, chief among them — albeit one that's out of range for most — is the Royal Caribbean Ultimate Family Suite. More modestly, it's Room 1733. Right now, it's the only one of its kind across the company’s entire fleet, though a second is coming next year to the Quantum of the Seas.
Though I couldn't spend the night, I was able to spend a few hours exploring the palatial 1,346-square-foot suite. And you do need hours. It spans two decks and includes one of the most jaw-dropping balcony views on the entire ship.
The Amenities
Even if I never get to step foot in this suite again (and I probably won't), it was fascinating to see what's available for families with a hefty travel budget. The Ultimate Family Suite accommodates up to eight guests across two bedrooms and living room.
There’s a child safety gate leading into the kids’ room, a crawl-through nook from the adult bedroom to the kids’ room and what is possibly the loudest wallpaper my retinas have ever seen in the kids’ bathroom. Seriously, this is almost blinding.
There’s a private cinema room with an 85-inch 4K TV that streams movies, a popcorn machine and the latest gaming consoles. All of them. (Microsoft Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4 Pro.) As if that weren’t enough, there’s also an air hockey table, a building block wall, table tennis on the balcony and a Luckey Climbers vertical maze.
It’s extra in every possible way. Parents who prefer toned-down, earthy hues should avert their eyes because this space is blue and orange and pink and purple and yellow and neon. Oh, and there’s a spectacularly bright in-suite slide, where even the biggest of kids can slide from the top floor. Speaking of the top floor, It's worth noting that no beds (beyond the pull-out couch) are located on the ground floor, so stairs are a must to access much of the suite.
The Dream
In some ways, this is the kind of thing that exists simply because it can.
I spoke with Laura Hodges Bethge, vice president of customer experience, in the Ultimate Family Suite. She explained that the suite was dreamed up by her creative team. “We wanted them to push the boundaries — to create something guests may not even think to ask for.”
Unlike many things that come out of this group, the Ultimate Family Suite required no lobbying. “It was an immediate hit,” said Bethge. “We’ll have one on every new ship going forward.”
What also caught my attention was the size. “This is the largest suite on the entire ship,” said Bethge. “Our ships tend to sell from the top down.” In other words, the priciest and most spacious accommodations are claimed first, followed by the standard rooms where the rest of us sleep.
As with the ship’s other suites, the Ultimate Family Suite includes a Royal Genie: basically a butler assigned to cater to the needs of suite guests. Cruisers who book this room will receive a text several weeks prior to departure from their Royal Genie in a bid to start the conversation about likes, dislikes and what the family is hoping to achieve on vacation.
According to Bethge, the genie assigned to the Ultimate Family Suite is trained at a renowned butler academy in the UK, and can be easily spotted on the ship thanks to his or her special purple garb.
The Price
While they kept the suite clear during our preview sailing, it’ll be occupied soon enough — despite the massive price tag.
It was booked for the ship’s first-ever passenger sailing out of its new Miami home, and is already spoken for on nearly 80% of available dates. That’s particularly impressive given that the cheapest it’ll sell for is around $20,000 for a weeklong sailing, while peak periods such as Christmas week will demand upward of $80,000. (And yes, if you’re curious, Christmas 2018 is already spoken for.) Talk about sticker shock.
Now, a small bright side is that price doesn’t move depending on the number of guests, so it breaks down to $2,500 per guest at the lowest rates (assuming a full house of eight) — which is, of course, still a big chunk of change.
The Possibilities
Given the demand, I asked Bethge if Royal Caribbean would consider installing multiple Ultimate Family Suites per ship. She’s currently of the mind that one is enough — she appreciates that families can be the sole inhabitants of the most exclusive suite on the ship.
Beyond wanting more variation in size and configuration of these suites on each ship, I would love to see a corporate giving aspect to the room.
For example, a portion of each week’s proceeds could be donated to Make-A-Wish, with a goal to eventually host Make-A-Wish families in the Ultimate Family Suite on some sailings. But it’s early days for the product, so maybe one day.
Despite the astronomical price tag, multi-generational families with a (much) larger than average budget could see value here. The lack of effort required beyond making an initial booking is an incredible time saver. You pay for the week, ensure that you arrive to the dock on time and essentially everything else is taken care of for you. Your "genie" maps out activities and excursions for each member of your family, you get to enjoy being in the largest, most exclusive suite on the ship and you’re effectively guaranteed reservations at every ride or restaurant.
While it’s not as straightforward to exchange points and miles for a cruise as it is for a flight, we do have a guide that lays out a few of the best tips and tricks, as well as a guide to the best credit cards for booking cruises. Travelers should be aware, however, that in most cases when you redeem points at a fixed-value via your credit card's travel portal, it's usually at a less favorable rate then when transferring points to an airline or hotel partner.
If you're a family gearing up for a cruise, be sure to check out more of our cruise stories:
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.