Balcony or inside ?

[brenjmull2]

I was talking with our TA about cabins and I thought we decided to do a balcony as it is only about 100 extra, but when she sent me my info it shows an inside cabin,, we are not locked in yet, we have till Sunday to decide,, should we switch to the balcony? we will be on the Crown Princess. She also put us in at traditional 8:15 dining,, I was thinking aobut anytime dining.. She thinks it will be better for us to get to know others on the ship this way,,, she might be right,, but I want the option to eat whenever also.. If we dont like traditional once on board can we change it? I am so looking forward to cruising but know so little..Thanks for any help, I have been reading these boards for days.

[firefly333]

If you want to change your dining time, you will need to talk to the maitre d'. You cant just decide that night to do anytime instead, its one or the other. I prefer traditional and meeting the same people at night. Many younger people prefer anytime.

 

Im the type I am happy in any cabin, but if its only $100 to upgrade, that sounds like a bargain .. and I love bargains. Thats very little to upgrade to a balcony. I just paid $250 pp to go from inside to balcony.

[cb at sea]

We LOVE having tablemates and look forward to dinner everynight BECAUSE of tablemates! It's certainly more fun than eating alone!

As far as a balcony, for $100, that's a steal, and you'll love it!

[Jamnuts]

I am a bit opposite of the rest of the posters. I highly recommend a balcony cabin. It is so nice to get up and sit on the balcony in the morning and enjoy the peaceful setting. I would never get an inside stateroom. It is like being in a closet. People say that you are hardly ever in your rooms, but I disagree, sometimes it is nice to go your room for some quite time and have a drink on your deck. As for the dining, we always choose anytime dining. You can always sit with others if you like with the anytime dining choice. I just think that when you are on vacation, why would you want to be stuck at a certain dinner time slot. Maybe you won't be hungry at 8:15, or may be there is a show you want to see. Also, what happens if you don't like your table mates and now you are stuck with them for every dinner. Think hard about how you want to spend your free time on your vacation. But at any rate, I am sure you will really enjoy your cruise :):)

[Host Faith]

I was talking with our TA about cabins and I thought we decided to do a balcony as it is only about 100 extra, but when she sent me my info it shows an inside cabin,, we are not locked in yet, we have till Sunday to decide,, should we switch to the balcony? we will be on the Crown Princess. She also put us in at traditional 8:15 dining,, I was thinking aobut anytime dining.. She thinks it will be better for us to get to know others on the ship this way,,, she might be right,, but I want the option to eat whenever also.. If we dont like traditional once on board can we change it? I am so looking forward to cruising but know so little..Thanks for any help, I have been reading these boards for days.

 

I would switch to the balcony...the price of $100 is a steal for that upgrade :)!

 

My husband and I enjoy the anytime dining. It's nice being able to eat when you feel like it. If you like to meet new people, you can ask to be seated with others if you would like. If you like to eat alone, you can ask for a table for two. I think the anytime dining gives you so much more flexibility. Maybe you can try eating with a group one night and then eating alone (both with anytime dining), so you can figure out what you enjoy most. :)

[cat-tav]

I can't stand the idea of being totally cut off from any natural light or view in an inside cabin. Our first cruise, we booked an unobstructed oceanview and got upgraded to a balcony. I'll never go back. I love being able to go outside and stand in the fresh air and look at the ocean without having to wait until I shower and dress for the day. Having a (semi-)private outside area is wonderful! I also like sleeping with the balcony doors open to the fresh sea air.

As far as dining, anytime does not mean eating alone. We always ask to share a table and have met many interesting people at meals. If we want to eat alone, we have that option and we don't have to worry about being stuck with less than desirable tablemates for every meal. If we don't mesh well with the people we're seated with, it's just one meal.

[cruising 4 me]

Do the balcony room !! It's so nice to go out and enjoy the view when ever you want. I like to go out & sit while my hubby gets ready at night before supper. And just before bed. Can even leave door open and hear the ocean. We love tradinal dinning late. So much fun to get to know new people over the week or 2 weeks.:)

[deltatango]

Always a balcony and my time dining cannot go wrong

[kroozerj]

Have been on 10 cruises and never had inside ( nor would i wanna). all i ever has was window, until i had a balcony, and i will never go with less then that. leaving the door open for fresh air and hearing the ocean moving is a great feeling. it isnt that much more money then an ocean view, so try a balcony, you will never go back.

[LBumb]

i disagree, sometimes it is a huge difference in price for balcony.

[kroozerj]

on almost every cruise i have been on, the price difference between a window and a balcony is about $100 per person, which averags out to less then 15 dollars a day for a 7 day cruise. shop around, you will see the deals offered, especially now.

[Puffinater]

Without a doubt I would jump all over the balcony for an additional $100.

[bestislander]

I noticed that nobody brought up my most important reason for preferring a balcony. AIR EXCHANGE. I air out my cabin every day, by leaving the door open for awhile.

If I could always afford a balcony at a decent price, it would be a no-brainer. I have allergies to perfume, chemicals & smoke, and have been stuck in very stuffy, smelly inside cabins. For me, it's not about eating on a balcony, or watching views. I was born and grew up on a gorgeous island, so got a lot of that.

 

It's tough when people are allowed to smoke in their rooms, and (just like a bad hotel room), I am assigned their room and their pollution within a couple of hours of them disembarking. Sadly, the so-called air exchange system only spreads the 'yukky' throughout the ship.

 

Nothing is wrong with inside cabins, except that stale air problem. Insides are usually well-priced, and we spend most of our time outside, anyway, except for showers & sleep. I really enjoy onboard activities and entertainment.

 

Heck, I'd even be a gambler if they banned smoking! But I avoid casinos like the plague, and resent that I sometimes am forced to walk through the casino's smoke screen, in order to get from Point A to Point B. My heart breaks for the casino employees, and that exposure's effect on their health. Oh well.