Royal Caribbean's suite lounge is a reserved area of the ship exclusively for passengers that booked a suite, and it's one of the best perks you get with your stateroom.
I love to spend time in the suite lounge to take advantage of the comfortable seating, snacks throughout the day, and complimentary drinks each day.
Access to the suite lounge is only for those that booked a Grand Suite or higher cabin, as well as Pinnacle Club members on sailings where there are not too many Pinnacle members.
With so much happening on your Royal Caribbean ship, it's easy to overlook the suite lounge, especially given it's usually located away from many of the activities and things happening around the ship.
If you happen to be in a suite that has access to the suite lounge, there are five good reasons to stop in each day.
There are three servings of snacks per day
You won't run out of food on a cruise ship, and there's even more waiting for you in the lounge.
Each day there's an assortment of quick bits offered during select hours. Essentially, there's a breakfast, lunch, and dinner offering.
You won't get a meal, but it's usually something quick and easy for something to tide you over. It's great for when you get back on the ship or are about to leave and need something quick.
I think the evening hor d'oeuvres are the best option, with various hot items along with fruits, salad, and desserts.
In the morning, there's a few pastries to choose from. If your cabin is nearby, it might be easier to pop in for something here than going down to Cafe Promenade.
The coffee machine
Speaking of food, I love the complimentary coffee machine they have in the suite lounge.
Each suite lounge has a self-service coffee and espresso maker that you can use 24 hours per day.
Just like the snacks, it's so convenient to have this. Plus, it might save you money as you won't have to pay for an espresso at one of the coffee shops around the ship.
And because it's available 24 hours, you're never too early or too late to get a cup.
The suite concierge offers personalized assistance
Probably my favorite benefit of the suite lounge is the suite concierge, and so few people take advantage of what they offer.
Think of the concierge like your own version of Guest Services, but without the long lines.
Even before your cruise begins, the concierge will email you to welcome you onboard and you can send them any pre-cruise requests you might have. Dining reservations, cabana location requests, or bedding changes are all things they can assist with.
If you're trying to get into something sold out, they can be a great resource in assisting as well.
I recommend going to the suite lounge on the first day and introducing yourself to them so you can put a face to the name and let them know of any requests you have.
Even if you have nothing special to ask for, they're a friendly face and I've had really interesting conversations about the ship, ports, and fun stories.
During your cruise if you run into any issue, including billing problems, the concierge can help fix all of it for you.
The suite lounge has a full-service bar
Perhaps the top value you can get from booking a suite are the free drinks in the lounge each night.
Depending on the ship you're sailing on, there are select hours when you can order complimentary sodas, beers, wine, and alcoholic cocktails.
The Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships have beer and wine from 11am to 11pm, and then a full bar happy hour in the evening. Other ships just have a happy hour between 5-8pm (or around those times).
Given that the drinks in the lounge are complimentary and there's no limit, for a lot of people it can work in lieu of a drink package purchase.
Some suite lounges have an actual bar, while all of them have waiter service too.
A beautiful view
Even when there's no food or drinks to enjoy, I love going up to the suite lounge for the views.
Because chairs with a view can get quite crowded (especially around the pool), it's nice to grab a book, iPhone, or magazine and head up to the suite lounge to take in the views around you.
Every lounge has large windows, and you can pull the comfortable chairs right up to them and enjoy a great view with plenty of air conditioning.
