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What's the difference between an Ocean View room and a Junior Suite on a Fred Olsen cruise ship and is it worth paying the extra 50% cost to upgrade to a Suite? ​

If you are planning on a cruise holiday then one of the most important decisions you will need to make is your grade of accommodation on board.

If you are on a tight budget then your decision will be easier simply because only the cheaper accommodation grades will be open to you and if you are going on a short cruise (week or less) and visiting a cool climate destination then the more budget friendly options will serve you well.

In this comprehensive guide we will directly compare the mid range ocean view cabin vs the starter grade suite detailing precisely which extras you get if you upgrade along with some facts that you might not of considered regarding your accommodation choice but which can greatly impact your overall cruise enjoyment.

Remember just as important as the grade of accommodation you select on a cruise ship is its location within the ship, this will determine how much noise and movement you experience. Read our comprehensive guide which explains how to select the perfect location on board to minimise both engine noise and experience minimal ship movement.

Save up to 35% and get a free suite upgrade with Fred.Olsen

Junior Suite - looking towards balcony

Junior Suite - looking from balcony into room

Junior Suite - Balcony Area

Junior Suite - Bathroom with shower

Direct comparison of the main features of a Fred. Olsen Ocean view room versus a Junior Suite

Included	Ocean View	Suite (Junior)
Priority early check in  (on average 1-2 hours earlier)	❌	✅
Priority disembarkation ​at end of cruise	❌	✅
Size (approx)	214 sq.ft	244 sq.ft
Windows	Twin porthole or ​picture window	3 X floor to ceiling
Balcony	❌	✅
Location on ship	Lower decks 1 - 3	Upper decks 6 - 7
Seating area	Compact	Larger
Luxury towels	❌	✅
Bathrobes + Slippers	❌	✅
Bottle of complimentary sparkling wine	❌	✅
savoury canapes ​each afternoon	❌	✅
Fresh fruit bowl	❌	✅
Large fleece throw	❌	✅
Fresh water carafe	❌	✅
Mini-bar	❌	✅
Balcony steamer ​recliners	❌	✅
World Atlas	❌	✅
Twin umbrellas	❌	✅
Binoculars	❌	✅

Save up to 35% and get a free suite upgrade with Fred.Olsen

Is it worth the extra cost to upgrade to a suite?
Many cruise guests say that once you have experienced the extra space and benefits of a balcony you never go back to a fixed window cabin. I think there is a fair bit of truth in this but unless money is of no issue for you then there are some important points to consider in terms of how useful the advantages of a suite versus a cabin play out...

• Destination and time of year

Are you cruising somewhere warm/hot?
The benefits of having your own private outside space with comfortable seats in a warm climate means you can sunbathe in privacy and enjoy fresh sea air in your accommodation whenever you choose

If you are cruising somewhere cool eg. Norway, then these benefits are not so important.

• How long will you be onboard for?

On longer cruises (beyond a week) the extra space afforded by a suite along with outside space become much more important.

• How social are you?

Cruise ships have plenty of bars and lounges where you can go and relax along with pools and communal sunbathing areas. If you really enjoy mixing with fellow guests then extra private space may not represent value for money for you.

• Do you smoke?

If you are a smoker then a suite really does make sense because cruise lines allow passengers to smoke on thier own private balconies but you will find very few designated smoking zones in the public areas and these are often well used by fellow guests.  

• Do you like to use room service?

If you are a fan of eating in your room rather than always going to the restaurants then a suite gives you much more room to enjoy meals. With a dedicated comfortable seating area and proper table in the room as well as seating on your balcony you have a choice of options. Even if you think you won't use much room service you might actually find that you do especially on rough sea days when you do not fancy large meals. 

• Priority embarkation and disembarkation

This is quite a big positive on a cruise ship when embarkation often takes up a whole afternoon i.e.. at least 4 hours. Priority embarkation means you are first on the ship and go and enjoy a meal and familiarise yourself with the ship early.

Similarly on your final day you get to disembark early and can be on the road home well before your fellow passengers.
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• Luxury touches:

Fluffy towels, bathrobes and slippers, free sparkling wine and fruit etc etc...these all certainly add up to make you feel extra special!