Has anyone been in a HS on deck 7 on the Mariner? We just got upgraded from a guaranteed C and not sure about the lower deck. Linda & Larry

It is lovely. The room size is not much larger but the bed area is separated by a hanging. The balcony is very large. Deck seven is the best because the lower you are, the less movement you feel. We always try to get on Deck seven. A disadvantage is that there is no laundry there and you must go up to another deck.

McKeever, but isn't it just above one of the bars? Is is noisy at night? We opted for a Cat C because of its size and proximity to the laundry room. Doesn't the wake bother you? How about the anchor? Thanks, Linda & Larry

Aloha from Kauai.

We sailed in a HS, #992 on the Mariner and we loved it.

The way the suite is configured, it feels very, very roomy. You actually have two TV's and a nice long couch in the living area to stretch out on.

The decks (or lanais) as we call them here in Hawaii are more than 3x's as large as a Penthouse C Suite.

I don't believe that you will have a problem with noise being above the Horizon Lounge. As has been discussed here at LCT many times, the lounges aren't exactly crowded, especially after dinner. I think the busiest time in the Horizon Lounge is probably for afternoon tea.

In terms of stability, the back of the ship is very stable, and being on a lower deck will make it even more so.

The only thing I would mention is that being on Deck 7, you will see all the other folks on their balconies on the back of the ship. We didn't get a great sense of privacy. We really ended up enjoying that part of it though, as we got to know all our neighbors on the adjoining suites (up & down, and side to side). We felt like we were in a bit of an exclusive little group and kind of formed an instant bond with the others cruisers in the HS and SSA suites.

You'll love either suite. The only other difference I can think of is that you'll probably have the infamous Butler in a HS and I don't think you will in a Penthouse C.

Hope all that helps. We have also sailed in a Penthouse A on the Mariner, so if you have any other questions I can assist you with, please send me an email.

Happy Aloha Friday!!

Thanks, Island Girl, for your comments. We have been so looking forward to this trip from Tokyo to Japan that we were a little "disappointed" that we got upgraded to a Horizon Suite, when we really just wanted the larger Cat C near the laundry room. We did the Mariner thru the Panama Canal earlier this year and were in Cat D on deck 10 in the middle of the ship and decided to go for the larger suite of C (don't really need a butler...had one on PG and hardly used him) and find ourselves on deck 7 in the back of the ship. I'm not sure about the deck privacy. Don't like that at all. Oh well, it'll still be a wonderful trip.

I must be in the minority here....the farther away from a washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board I am......the happier :D

I believe there are Horizon Suites on Decks 7,8,9, and 10. And, yes, the Horizon Lounge is not a noisy one at all. The Stars is the lively one.

Linda and Larry:

Kathy and I were in the SS Suite 988 just adjacent to the Horizon suites. Our only complaint was the long walk from the theater. But being at the stern allows views of both sides of the ship.

We were in that suite for 28 days and enjoyed it immensely.

Look forward to seeing you aboard.

Hate to disagree with you McKeever, but we've sailed Mariner 3 times and Stars has been dead every night, every time. Aboard Mariner the Horizon Lounge is the active evening place, not Stars, as opposed to Voyager where the Voyager Lounge is much more active than the Horizon Lounge most evenings. Things usually button up by midnight though.

Doug, (and McKeever), I think it depends on the dynamics of groups aboard the Mariner. I have been on several cruises on the Mariner, and activity in both Horizons and Stars has been all over the place. On MINT, there were about 50 of us from LCT aboard, and Starz seemed to be the place to be. It was alive and kicking every night. Suzanne even led a conga line out into the hallway! On other cruises, I have walked up to Horizons and it was dead after the show. At other times, I have gone up there and there were lots of dancers out on the floor, and Stars was empty. Not that I have a whole lot of experience with late night, but on the Voyager WC for my one leg, the Voyager Lounge was packed after the show almost every night (of course, no Starz on that ship). Something about all-inclusive, maybe.

I agree, Olivia. It seems that Stars is more popular on the shorter 7 day cruises from what I have gathered from comments on CC and here. We don't do the shorter cruises. All of ours have been at least 21 days and Stars has been a wasted space. Never saw more than 6 people there and they were at the bar. The place was always empty by 2300. Joe, Karyn(Doucet), Lynn and I stopped off there after the Horizon Lounge shut down one night and we had a heck of a time getting someone to crank up the disco; took @ 30 minutes to get the music going.

I've only been on the Mariner once (MINT) and with so many of us in there each night, Stars was certainly not dead at night!!! We'll be on the Mariner for 62 days on our SAMBUCA South America cruise....guess Tom and I will have to recruit others to try and liven it up at night! I'd love to see it like the Voyager Lounge was on the WC!! I know the "all inclusive" on the WC had a lot to do with this.

When we were on the Mariner, some nights Stars was packed and other nights empty. Just depended (on what I don't know). One night two of the officers (a girl and guy) did swing dancing and they were great!

If you're upset or unhappy with your
upgrade, I am certain that you can refuse
it.