Promenade cabin or Balcony????

[4nzic1]

Hi All,

 

Have you all just stepped off a cruise recently and already dreaming of next year too? :) My 8 day southern caribbean on Miracle was fabulous!!!!! Even though I went alone I had a blast!!! Thank you guys for all the great advice. I had planned to post a detailed post of the trip but it appeared someone else who was on the same cruise did just that and my post would have been a duplicate as I was pointing out the same fabulous things. LOL

 

Anyway, I have a 'which cabin would you choose' question. I've been cruising for years and been in practically every type of cabin and location (except for suites).....my fav is the balcony and I always sail balcony. My DB decided that he wants to go this time around. He's never cruised before but will be joining me in May on Carnival Fascination (he couldn't go this past cruise because of work) in a porthole cabin for four days. Well, I've also decided to plan a second November 2010 cruise to take place the next day after I step off my Majesty cruise (The Majesty cruise will be in an oceanview cabin). I'm currently looking at the 5 day on Navigator of the Seas (sailing to Grand Cayman and Cozumel) to immediatley follow that Majesty cruise. Here's the question: should I go Promenade room because it's unique or Balcony? I've stayed in a Promenade on Explorer when it first came out years ago so I'm familiar with them. The reason I'm leaning toward Promenade is to give him yet another idea of the various cabin types working him up to a balcony that way once he experiences a balcony he'll be like me and never want to go back to anything else. :) On the other hand, I'm thinking by this cruise that he would have experienced a porthole and oceanview so forget letting him experience a promenade/inside cabin and go straight for the balcony and he'll always want one. : ) What would you guys do?

[Ashland]

IMHO....I don't think he needs to be taught a lesson by putting him in a storefront at the mall.... What if that backfires :eek: and he won't go back....Go for the Balcony and he will be hooked for sure...Enjoy the first of many cruises with him.....;)

[4nzic1]

IMHO....I don't think he needs to be taught a lesson by putting him in a storefront at the mall.... What if that backfires :eek: and he won't go back....Go for the Balcony and he will be hooked for sure...Enjoy the first of many cruises with him.....;)

 

I am sitting here LMAO over your analogy!!!!! I see your point.....but he knows when it comes to my vacations that is the ONLY thing I'm selfish about. The problem is he just works and has never really taken a vacation before (I told him business trips do not count.). He is a 44yr old professional male and this May will not only be his first cruise but his first real vacation. I work hard (my screen name hints at my line of work) and thus my vacations are just as important to me for my mental health as he is to me. :) Heck, he saw how serious I was when I went alone this year. You're either with me or I'll see you when I get back. :) Yes, that is selfish....but why should we both sit home? We joke that should it come to marriage in the vows there will have to be the clause 'in vacations and in health.....to love, honor, and always provide cruise vacations'. :)

[jonbgd]

Isnt the Miracle a great ship Ill be back on her next year:D

 

IMHO if it is about finances than go with the cheaper cabin and the promenade is an interesting cabin to be in as RCCL is the only line to have one I would try it on a short cruise but a cruise with alot of sea days like the one you just did I couldnt

Also While I have worked my way up to Balconies MyGF Hasnt:rolleyes:

The first cruise I took her on was a Balcony and she was hooked and doesnt really have any desire to do anything less since So you are right as once you experience the Balcony never want to go back

We are doing a JS this time since the price was about 50pp over a balcony Im just woried about future cruises that she will only want JS and above:eek:

[4nzic1]

So it seems we are both spoiling our mates. LOL!!! It truly isn't about the money as I see it the price difference between the pr and balcony we are talking about perhaps extra money I'd throw away in the casino or on overweight luggage fees because of trinkets I'd buy for friends if I didn't do the balcony. :) So I'd rather spend the extra money on the balcony rather than give to the casino or airlines for baggage. :) And yes, the Miracle was fabulous and I was two steps away from booking it again but you see on this first leg of the November 2010 cruise I have friends who wanted to do the Majesty so they can take their two small kids (I don't have kids) because a 7 day cruise they could never do with the kids because the cost for four plus airfare would be too much for them. So I already committed to them. But I'd realllllly like to book Miracle again and take my BF because the time I want to go Nov 2010 Miracle will be doing a different itinerary (Grand Turk, Curacao, and I forgot where else). So I'm somewhat compromising (see, I'm not too selfish about my vacations) by going with them....but anything beats sitting home. But I'd love to secretly book Miracle and hold onto it just in case months down the line for some reason my friends need to cancel, I can then cancel Majesty and Navigator and do the Miracle itinerary. Yes, I'm just as methodical about my vacations as I am about my casework. LOL

[cb at sea]

Take the balcony---there's nothing that "unique" about having a window to the inside of the ship...even some of the inside cabins are larger than the PR cabins. Take the balcony!

[4nzic1]

Thanks CB :) You guys have definitely talked me into going balcony.

[jonbgd]

When I saw the new Itinerary I had to book And IMHO the Miracle/Spirit class ships are the perfect size and amount of pax Along with Radiance class which we just did and highly recommend:D

Ive been to Aruba and have always wated to go back on a land based Vaca but this will have to do Darn it I hate that I will have to do another cruise and got to love those 2 sea days on the way back to relax MY GF almost always wants sea days on the way home;)

Concerning your work Ive asisted on quite a few posts I was on call for a Pathologist at a local hospital for years open and closing the Y:eek:

[ken_nyc]

I would go for the Balcony, personally! I also love the Spirit Class ships of Carnival...we went on the Pride when she was 4 months old. It is their best class of ship in my opinion!

[4nzic1]

.....seriously consider saying 'ditch Navigator and friends and just go for Miracle Nov 19th 2010'. ;) As I sit here (I'm home sick today) looking at doing Navigator (Nov 20) or other cruise I realize an even bigger selfish reason to not go with my friends (who reallllly wouldn't be going alone with their kids because the wife's parents are also going...they can just make it a family only cruise :) ) is that if I go on the 19th or 20th I'd only need to take 2 vacation days off work rather than 5 days as the following monday is my regular day off and Thanksgiving and the next day we automatically have off.

 

I know I can't convince them to switch and vacation during Thanksgiving because they always said no because they're the type that likes to go to relatives for Thanksgiving whereas I enjoy spending time on vacation. Just my preference. As for the Miracle itinerary, I was/am even more tempted once I saw the new itinerary but I'd already booked Majesty with my friends on a RCL two day WOW sale. Aruba would be my only repeat port. I did a land based in aruba for 9 days two years ago. Oh, and this was my first time with the two days at sea and I thought I was going to hate it....especially because I was going alone....but I LOVED IT!!!!! I practically slept the first sea day away going and took the second to explore the ship. The two days back I worked on my dissertation (I'm in the final phases for my PhD....I aspire to graduate Summer 2010....hmmmmm Miracle trip could be a graduation present to myself??? :). So I'm now a fan of two sea days.

 

p.s. I too was a coroner's technican....for two years while I was completing my forensic science masters. :) So have done it all that you have mentioned.....and other stuff....we don't wanna gross out anyone. :)

[Hobiecat01]

I say cut to the chase and go Balcony! As you know there is nothing like it in the world. Just go ahead and make your brother a balcony man from now on... DW and I are. We would not think of any other cabin, period.

--------------------------

Sea ya!

Ron and Lee

Canton, Ga

Proud RCCL Platinum Member

"In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom,

in water there is bacteria." – Ben Franklin

We are proud Oasis Camel Cruiser – April 17, 2010

The Oasis Camels Website

Previous Cruises – 59 Days at Sea!

Carnival Mardis Gras - 3 Day Bahamas - April 1982

Carnival Destiny - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 1998

Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - April 1999

Princess Sea Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2000

Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2002

RCCL Navigator of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2003

RCCL Mariner of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 2005

RCCL Freedom of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - 6/18 - 6/25/2006

RCCL Liberty of the Seas - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - 7/19 - 7/26/08

Planned Cruises

RCCL Oasis of the Seas – Our Friends Cruise - April 17, 2010

RCCL Allure of the Seas – Our Neighborhood Cruise - 2011

The BIG One - Southeast Asia 14 day – 2012?

Princess Cruises - The Med – 14 day – 2013?

[4nzic1]

I guess I should have used DBF for dear boyfriend......I'm new to all this shorthand and didn't realize that some would think I meant DB for dear brother. LOL ....just so I don't make another error IMHO means? :)

[4nzic1]

Thanks Ken_NYC. :)

[lazydayz]

I guess I should have used DBF for dear boyfriend......I'm new to all this shorthand and didn't realize that some would think I meant DB for dear brother. LOL ....just so I don't make another error IMHO means? :)

 

"In my humble opinion"

[jonbgd]

Good Luck with the tough decision on changing the cruise But if you do we can sit down and talk about all the things we have seen that other people couldnt imagine:eek:

Congrats on going for your PHD and a great graduation present definately

 

I love my freinds and family but my Gf and I are mid 40's w/o kids (we do have 2 cats that get spoiled thou) we travel more than other couples our age and can be selfish about it because we can and we dont make any excuses about it to them We want them to go but were not waiting till they can Ill catch them on the next one. If we waited for our freinds we wouldnt be doing the cruise next month they wanted to go in May or June Maybe we will have to do another cruise then:D

The most important thing I have learned is I need to make sure im taking care of myself first, so then I can take care of others And doing a vacation, especially a cruise, is the best way to recharge those batteries so you can deal with all the problems of everyday life without getting stressed

 

IMHO in my humble opinion

[sjcruiser]

Go for the balcony

[4nzic1]

Thanks. :) Is there a list somewhere of the board lingo? Or is it just like one of those things like texting in that after awhile you pick up on it? :)

[jonbgd]

Thanks. :) Is there a list somewhere of the board lingo? Or is it just like one of those things like texting in that after awhile you pick up on it? :)

Here is one i found as there are many

http://www.ivillage.com/community/0,,nvmt,00.html

[4nzic1]

OMG!!! Now that one I do know. LOL That is usually my attitude with booking cruises and inviting friends. They too want to go during the summer when there kids are out of school (I'm 40 and boyfriend 44 and we both have no kids)....they are out during thanksgiving also but they all wanna go to family.....I'd rather have dry turkey on a ship somewhere than at relatives' house that I see on any given day. ;)

 

Well, I took a break in writing this response and booked Nov 19 sailing of Miracle!!!!!! I'd rather have it booked and back out later than wait and pricing goes up. Also, if friends back out months down the line, I won't have the 'i wished I had booked' regret. :) I wanted to get the same cabin i had this year but it was unavailable....so I got the one next door to it. Maybe the one I want will open up months down the line. I'm still going to keep Majesty booked....worse case scenario if I don't want to feel like too much of a heal and go with them I'd be out of three extra vacation days from work and $800. :)

[4nzic1]

thanks jonbgb!!! I just noticed that you are in Cali too. You're holding down the north and I the south. :)

[jonbgd]

thanks jonbgb!!! I just noticed that you are in Cali too. You're holding down the north and I the south. :)

Your welcome and I agree with you about dry turkey, but I get that at home too so might as well be on a cruise:rolleyes:

I always joke with my sis about that since she lives in Downey

I actually have lots of family in So Cal from Manhattan beach to Tujunga canyon and I Just love NorCal But I have a lot of my family up here too So whenever a family member is ill we respond to each other "Norcal is yours or SoCal is yours" as we have some relatives that sometimes you dont want to claim:eek: Lovethem but from a distance:D

BTW AWESOME on booking the Miracle I hope it works as my Gf is always looking to meet other couples our age that travel

Me 2 but you know what I mean women and men look at it a little different:confused:

[4nzic1]

Are you and GF booked for that very sailling??? Nov 19th? My BF and I like meeting new people too. In my line of work I'm always dealing with new people on a daily basis so that is not a problem for me. That's why this last cruise alone wasn't too big an issue because if I felt like meeting people, I did. On the excursion in St. kitts last month would you believe that of allllllllllllll the people on that ship I ended up on the bus with a retired couple from Rancho Cucamonga which is right around the corner from me. :)

[jonbgd]

Yep we are And we like meeting new people While Im happy traveling by myself( ive done 3 cruise by myself) or with a group

My GF couldnt go by herself I think she is a little overcautious

Btw did they put you over in the side room with the other solo cruisers

We called it the kids table at the family get together:D

[4nzic1]

GF overcautious......and I thought I owned the rights of being overcautious. LOL Working in a crime lab always makes me suspcious of everyone. LOL But I'm working on that issue without Dr. Phil :) I did the My Time dining and loved it!!! I really just wanted to eat and get out so I did the table for two.....which means only me and the suspcious personality were at the same table. LOL I found it easier that way and I can take my time with ordering etc....I have wheat and yeast allergies so the hostess would take extra time each night going over the menu with me and then having the kitchen prepare my meals. I don't think that I could bear being at a table with people eating while I sat hungry waiting for my food. :) My BF is a people person so I know I will probably get away with wanting a romantic table for two for one or two nights but not all 8. :)

[jonbgd]

You have to go up to the Supper club at least one night

It is worth the extra money and then maybe you can get a couple extra nights for 2 in MDR

My GF and I got sat at a table for 12 with the 10 others being one family They were very nice but she felt like we were invading so we switched to a 4top and the other couple never showed up

I dont know why I took 2 showers a day:confused: and shaved

Weve done MTD on Princes and HAL but never Carnival Maybe next cruise

We are going to try it next month on RCCL