Connecting oceanview or balconies for 12 day Med?

[Scarlette]

We are a family of 4, kids will be 13 and 15 when we go on our 12 Day Mediterrean cruise in June of 2012. We will be on the Serenade. We will be getting connecting cabins, but debating between two oceanviews for $3900 each or two balconies for $4450 each.

 

Husband would like the balcony, but not sure if it is work over $1000 since this cruise is so port intensive. I don't think an extra $100 a day is worth it. Should I splurge or stick with the connecting oceanviews?

[bajathree]

A major trip like that ........balcony for sure.

[cublet]

We are a family of 4, kids will be 13 and 15 when we go on our 12 Day Mediterrean cruise in June of 2012. We will be on the Serenade. We will be getting connecting cabins, but debating between two oceanviews for $3900 each or two balconies for $4450 each.

 

Husband would like the balcony, but not sure if it is work over $1000 since this cruise is so port intensive. I don't think an extra $100 a day is worth it. Should I splurge or stick with the connecting oceanviews?

 

Hello,

 

Next time, if possible, book on either a Voyager or Freedom class ship.

 

Have a look at deck 9: the last two cabins on the port and starboard sides are (a) interconnecting, and (b) one balcony and one inside.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[Scottee25]

I am with Steve on this one... get a balcony.

[Scotsnomad]

No go ocean view, spend the rest of the money in the Casino !!! :) Or a drinks package, or trips for the kids !!!

[Scarlette]

No go ocean view, spend the rest of the money in the Casino !!! :) Or a drinks package, or trips for the kids !!!

 

OK, you guys are no help.;) Yes, I want to save the $1000 for excursions and extra stuff.....but the balcony sure would be nice, afterall we are already spending lots of $$$ to get over there, etc. etc. might as well do it right.

 

I have to say though, we usually do get a balcony and I only step out when we are first pulling away from a dock and maybe once or twice in the morning. (The whole trip, but those are 7 day caribbean trips.) On the other hand, DH likes the balcony in the mornings after he gets his run in on deck.

[Tina0922]

I am traveling with 2 other family members on or 13-night Med cruise. Being we are all grown adults we usually get standard Balcony for the week & deal with it but since we are going to be 13 days and its a once in lifetime trip....we spent the extra for a Jr Suite. Personally, go with balconies. Each morning wake up pulling into port with coffee & at night at sail away sit out there & enjoy a glass or wine/beer!

 

Tina

[baggal]

If you are a gambler, I would say go for the balcony and hope for a price drop before final payment.

[cafe rose]

call RCCL and ask about the family suite.

[Gordo]

We are a family of 4, kids will be 13 and 15 when we go on our 12 Day Mediterrean cruise in June of 2012. We will be on the Serenade. We will be getting connecting cabins, but debating between two oceanviews for $3900 each or two balconies for $4450 each.

 

Husband would like the balcony, but not sure if it is work over $1000 since this cruise is so port intensive. I don't think an extra $100 a day is worth it. Should I splurge or stick with the connecting oceanviews?

 

We are struggling with a similar issue and are very interested in the feedback.

 

We normally book a balcony or higher but are considering an oceanview cabin for our visit in 2012 since the Mediterranean is so port intensive.

 

The reasoning behind this decision is we are thinking of booking a private tour in each port - and with two overnight ports - we are also looking at hotels packages for these stops. The private tours are quite pricey, but from all the wonderful feedback we feel that the experience is well worth the expense.

[stipmom]

Why don't you book a balcony for the adults and put the kids in an inside right opposite you? Than is what I did when we took our kids.

[cruisinitaly]

Our kids are 13 and 15 and we are going with a balcony with an inside right across the hall. They will just be in there for showering and sleeping anyway. We (the adults) get the balcony :)

[SallyUK]

The Med's our favourite itinerary and we've done it both oceanview and balcony. Would I prefer a balcony to an oceanview? Heck yes. However for us the deciding factor would be making sure you get to do everything you want to do when you are there.

 

If you're going to Europe for the first (or possibly only) time, make sure you get to do all the trips you want to do in port (DIY, booked independently or ships tours according to preferences) and don't skimp on those - that's what will make the memories - not the hour a day max you get on the balcony. When you look back 5 years from now you'll be remembering seeing the Collosseum, Pompeii, Monte Carlo or wherever your trips take you, not the comfy balcony chair. So if you can do all that, see what you want and still afford a balcony, great, if not, go for the oceanview.

[English_in_Spain]

The Med's our favourite itinerary and we've done it both oceanview and balcony. Would I prefer a balcony to an oceanview? Heck yes. However for us the deciding factor would be making sure you get to do everything you want to do when you are there.

 

If you're going to Europe for the first (or possibly only) time, make sure you get to do all the trips you want to do in port (DIY, booked independently or ships tours according to preferences) and don't skimp on those - that's what will make the memories - not the hour a day max you get on the balcony. When you look back 5 years from now you'll be remembering seeing the Collosseum, Pompeii, Monte Carlo or wherever your trips take you, not the comfy balcony chair. So if you can do all that, see what you want and still afford a balcony, great, if not, go for the oceanview.

 

One of the most sensible and wise answers I have read in a long time.

[johneeo]

Why don't you book a balcony for the adults and put the kids in an inside right opposite you? Than is what I did when we took our kids.

 

Exactly, balcony and an inside right across the hall.