Balcony vs. Inside

[ShawninFL]

We are currently booked on Radiance of the Seas going to the E. Caribbean on 12/5/04. We have a category L reserved for $517 pp. I can upgrade to a category D1 for $230 pp, making the price for the balcony $747 pp. We have always sailed in inside cabins and have been completely happy. Do you think the balcony is worth the extra money? Thanks for you help.

Shawn

12/95 Big Red Boat
5/97 Carnival Inspiration
9/97 Carnival Imagination
11/01 Grandeur of the Seas
2/02 Celebrity Century
10/02 Majesty of the Seas
1/03 Nordic Empress
5/03 Enchantment of the Seas
11/03 Celebrity Century
9/04 Fascination
12/04 Radiance of the Seas

[DebCatLady]

We have also always sailed in inside cabins up until our 5/2 Mariner cruise. We opted for an aft balcony. Now I'm not sure we can ever go back to an inside cabin. I had coffee on the balcony every morning and sat there every evening before going to bed, looking at the stars and the reflection of the moon on the water. Also, we used it a lot in ports after returning from shore trips.

Life is short. Go for it this one time. If you find that you don't really care for it, go back to inside. You'll never know until you try!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008080&cdt=2004;5;2;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Mariner of the Seas 5/2/2004

[Hoosier Cruiser]

Totally agree - try it, doubt you will regret it; besides that seems like a good price. . . .

Veracruz 1/84; Meridian 8/97; Sovereign 9/98; Mercury 1/99; Monarch 1/02; Enchantment 8/02; Millennium 10/02; Sensation 5/03; Glory 7/03; Millennium 1/04; Navigator 1/05

[dougp26364]

In a word, YES.

Future cruises
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2005;01;14;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;11;14;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

Past cruises
Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03
Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[caviargal]

At that price, you are getting a bargain. Balconies on my June 4 cruise on Vision START at 1749pp.

Enjoy!

RCI(37),NCL(12),Princess(1),HAL(2),Celebrity(3), Carnival(2), Eastern (13),Radisson(2), Star Clippers(1),Home Lines(2), Costa(5),Big Red Boat (6), Dolphin (1), Commodore (2), Others (11)

[justcruzin85374]

That sounds like a good price, and like others said, try it. You can always go back to an inside.
Just think, morning coffee/breakfast on the balcony, watching people return to the ship in port, sunsets, sleeping with the door open falling asleep to the sounds of the waves, just one thing...once a balcony-always a balcony [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean
Majesty 95 W. Caribbean
Granduer 97 E. Caribbean
Rhapsody 00 Mexico
Vision 02 Alaska
Radiance 03 Panama Canal
Brilliance 3/29/04



Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]Are we there yet?
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

My bags are always packed!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;3;29;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Brilliance 3/29/2004

[xpcdoojk]

And yet the increase pp is $230, which is $460 which will pay for a lot of shore excursions, drinks of the day, bottles of wine, photos, or massages. Remember the inside cabin eats the same food, gets the same entertainment, and goes to the same ports. So is it worth it to you to sit alone with your SO on your balcony when there is a huge balcony with a band and other people just a few feet away over your head. Only you know the answer to that.

jc

[nyrfan]

I agree with JC. While it's nice to have a balcony only you can decide what's more important to you. Sitting on a balcony, or having the extra $$ for something else while enjoying the outside decks as a balcony.

BTW - This comming from the person who always picks the room balcony [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[I]<p style="font-family:lucida calligraphy;font-size:110%;color:black">Felix K. ~~ [email="fk89@yahoo.com"]fk89@yahoo.com[/email]</p>[/I][I]<p style="font-family: palatino linotype;font-size:120%;color:black">[B]Carnival[/B]: Inspiration, Aug’97 - Fascination, Nov‘98
[B]Princess[/B]: Sea, Nov‘99 - Dawn, Nov‘00 - Grand, Nov‘03
[B]RCCL[/B]: Adventure, Nov‘01 - Radiance, June & Nov’02 - Monarch, May’03
[B]Next Up[/B]: Star Princess, Nov’04 [/I]

[This message was edited by nyrfan on 05-14-04 at 04:56 PM.]

[BUTERCUP]

BALCONY!!!!!!
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

BUTERCUP

[yarlenna]

Another vote for the balcony. YES! Especially if you are traveling with somebody you love. There is nothing like being out on the balcony, watching the flying fish, listening to the ocean and feeling the breeze - all of this with the person you love.

[img]http://members.aol.com/SharonWsmn/pg5/catwalk4.gif[/img]
Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!
[img]http://members.aol.com/SharonWsmn/pg5/catwalk3.gif[/img]

[brn2crz]

Ok,well considering JC & Felix have agreed twice today,I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the ocean..you know...with all the earthquakes and impending locust infestation [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Seriously..
We were not able to book a balcony this time,because apparently the rest of the world took them all [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif[/img]
But JC is correct.We spent way to much time on our balcony last time,and I feel we missed alot.
Was it an awesome experience? Yes.But it was so hard to "Get out There" cause it was so nice
"Being In There"

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&f=1683059817&m=1003063257&r=193100571"]Rhapsody Reunion 9-12-04[/url]



[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;09;12;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
[img]http://heathersanimations.com/Fish2/netdiver.gif[/img]

[BUTERCUP]

FISH...!!!
I once thought I saw a sail fish- but alas it was ocean debris!
still...Nothing beats the balcony.

BUTERCUP

[csteinhauser]

I'm sure I'm probably in the minority here but we actually prefer to save the $$ and go for the inside instead of the balcony. We had a balcony on our first cruise, and while it was nice I can't say it was worth the extra $$ we could have used elsewhere.

Cindy & Jonathan

Explorer of the Seas 9/21/02
Mariner of the Seas 11/23/03
Enchantment of the Seas 11/22/04
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[ws293]

At first we booked a room without balcony on the Mariner of the Seas for our upcomming cruise. I wanted a balcony room, but my wife is cheap and don't want it. Here is how I convinced her: I reminded her of the movie Titanic where when the ship sink, there are many people who got trapped inside the ship can not get out and drown. I pointed out that if the ship sink and we have balcony, we can get out of the ship. With an inside cabin, you are likely to be trapped inside. Our life is worth more than saving $100 per person.

I finally got her to agreed to switch to a balcony room. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Past Cruises:
Enchantment of the Seas - May 12, 2002
Sovereign of the Seas - Sept. 1997

[want2seaitall]

Having decided to give a balcony a try on my upcoming cruise...I would like to consider myself a fairly social person...but I am definately looking forward to quiet time outside on that balcony with my family! OMG I can't wait...how will I pass the time til my first Balcony cruise!!!???!!!

My first balcony on the Vision!!! 2/20/05
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=da70d6&cdt=2005;2;20;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
RCCL Majesty of the Seas - April 2004
Carnival Inspiration - June 2003
RCCL Monarch of the Seas - July 2002

[mrsogni]

Cindy and Johnathan, I have to agree. We just got off the Navigator. It's the first time we've had a balcony since our honeymoon on the Legend ( and I kinda pushed for it). You know what? We used it to dry clothes and check the weather in the morning. Chatted with our neighbors a few times. Never had coffee or dinner out there. We are truely "get out there" people. We want to be in the middle of things. Just booked the Serenade of the Seas for November - inside cabin. It's all about what you personally can "justify". If you can justify it - "GO FOR IT!!!!" We have decided to go with an outside or balcony on a 10 day or more cruise.

Now Shawn, I just asked my husband (who's a TA) and he said that price is excellent and if you want the balcony, grab it.

Bon Voyage,
Sha

Navigator of the Seas 5/2004
Oosterdam, 11/2003
Coral Princess,10/2003
Explorer of the Seas, 5/2003
Voyager of the Seas, 11/2002
Explorer of the Seas, 5/2001
Legend of the Seas, 5/1999
Carnival Fantasy, 1997

[gene624]

TO WS 293
You scare me to death! If the ship were to sink, I would be too scared to jump off the balcony. Surely there are other better reasons to go BALCONY.
Someone mentioned watching flying fish watching; great entertainment if you can spot them.
Gene in Birmingham

[justcruzin85374]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ws293:
At first we booked a room without balcony on the Mariner of the Seas for our upcomming cruise. I wanted a balcony room, but my wife is cheap and don't want it. Here is how I convinced her: I reminded her of the movie Titanic where when the ship sink, there are many people who got trapped inside the ship can not get out and drown. I pointed out that if the ship sink and we have balcony, we can get out of the ship. With an inside cabin, you are likely to be trapped inside. Our life is worth more than saving $100 per person.

I finally got her to agreed to switch to a balcony room. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]



Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean
Majesty 95 W. Caribbean
Granduer 97 E. Caribbean
Rhapsody 00 Mexico
Vision 02 Alaska
Radiance 03 Panama Canal
Brilliance 3/29/04



Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img] Are we there yet?
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

My bags are always packed!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;3;29;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Brilliance 3/29/2004

[bplazo]

Balcony without a doubt!

[mrsogni]

Oh my! On our honeymoon, we did a Transatlantic from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona (which I highly recommend BTW...I'd do it again in a heart beat!). That was definately worth the balcony. We got bread and cheese in Malaga and had that on our balcony while pulling out of port...things like that. Plus, you're at sea for 5 days straight crossing the Atlantic. On the Serenade in November, we have 1 day at sea. Very port intensive itinerary. The only time we'll be in our room is to shower and sleep. Bottom line is personal preference. this past cruise I wanted a balcony. Now I want an inside so we can use the extra money for airfare to San Juan and shore excusions. If money were no object maybe I'd feel different, but we work for a living. Again, this is only my opinion and everyone is entitled to their own feelings.

Sha

Navigator of the Seas 5/2004
Oosterdam, 11/2003
Coral Princess,10/2003
Explorer of the Seas, 5/2003
Voyager of the Seas, 11/2002
Explorer of the Seas, 5/2001
Legend of the Seas, 5/1999
Carnival Fantasy, 1997

[ShawninFL]

Thank you everyone for your responses. Although I have not yet made my mind up - I'm giving myself the weekend to decide - I'm leaning towards taking the balcony. Living in FL, I can usually pick up good deals and like to cruise at least twice a year if not more. So I'm weighing the fact that $460 is nearly another cruise for one in an inside cabin or both of us on a weekend deal as well as the possibility of what JustCruzin said, "once a balcony, always a balcony." Thanks again for all of your input.

Shawn

[BK300]

If your even asking the question your answer is clear. Balcony is worth it. Enjoy [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

RCL Radiance 5/05 Alaska
Coral Princess 5/05 2-day
RCL Mariner 11/04 Western

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;11;21;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Carnival Miracle 11/04 2-day
Costa Mediterranea 11/03 2-day
RCL AOS 10/03 Southern
Carnival Legend 2/03 Southern
RCL Navigator 12/02 2-day
Carnival Legend 11/02 2-day
Celebrity Summit 5/02 Alaska
Carnival Triumph 9/01 Western

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/beachbabe.gif[/img]

[Rick R]

WARNING!! Balconys can be habit you can't control. I can't cruise without one now.

Rick R.

[Florida Beach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ws293:
Here is how I convinced her: I reminded her of the movie Titanic where when the ship sink, there are many people who got trapped inside the ship can not get out and drown. I pointed out that if the ship sink and we have balcony, we can get out of the ship. With an inside cabin, you are likely to be trapped inside.

I finally got her to agreed to switch to a balcony room. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] Your wife needs to get out more often. Did you say to her that the Mariner has steel doors to lock the people with inside cabins from getting out, too?

Wait until she sees your post [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

March 28, 2004 - Mariner of the Seas