TransAtlantic - balcony or oceanview?

[Chicago Boy]

I've always wondered why people specifically chose to sail Trans Atlantic cruises.

 

1. Are those that cruise TAs different than the passengers on other sailings?

2. Is it because cruising life is more of an attraction than the destinations?

3. Is it because they are inexpensive?

 

I would like any details of how they are different from other cruises as I might consider one in the future.

 

Hi Andrew.....I think you get a little older crowd (not ancient) doing the Trans Atlantics and they are a very good value. We enjoy the destinations but we also like sitting on our balcony, listening to music, reading and watching the ever changing ocean. We are on the Equinox from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale this fall. In fact, we do it every year. :)

[dln929]

How important is balcony on a TA cruise?

 

Is it necessary due to long sea days? Or mostly unused due to the weather?

 

Please share your experience.

Thank you.

 

Hi Michael. We just got back from an eastbound TA (Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona). We upgraded at the last moment from a balcony to a sky suite and it was the best thing we ever did. We spent a lot of time out on our balcony. Most mornings we had breakfast out there, which is a lovely way to start the day. There's no telling with weather, of course, but for the most part the temperatures were in the high 60s to mid 70s F, which was warm enough to enjoy being outside.

 

We liked the balcony because for as much as we like socializing, we also need adequate amounts of "down" time with peace and quiet, which our balcony provided. A balcony is a good haven.

[ghstudio]

Hi Andrew.....I think you get a little older crowd (not ancient) doing the Trans Atlantics and they are a very good value. We enjoy the destinations but we also like sitting on our balcony, listening to music, reading and watching the ever changing ocean. We are on the Equinox from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale this fall. In fact, we do it every year. :)

 

This is the other side of the two edged sword...if the weather is nice, it's wonderful to sit outside, read, etc. That other edge is if the person in the next cabin also likes to use their balcony and either talks loudly (perhaps due to hearing loss) or plays music/TV/etc which becomes distracting, annoying, etc when you just enjoy the quiet sea and read.

 

We have had some wonderful cruises where sitting on the balcony was a joy....and we have had others that were a disaster due to noise from adjacent balconies. No way to tell until you get on board....

 

We still book balconies for the large window and at least walking out and sitting for some part of the day (perhaps when neighbors are eating).

 

Note: Chicago Boy...I am not directing this at you...you just gave me a perfect quote to illustrate what we've experienced.

[jomf]

Methinks that a portside balcony on an east bound TA would be on the north side of the ship, not the sunnier south side.

 

 

My apologies, you are quite correct, we were on the starboard side. Must have been looking at the plan the wrong way round, old age...

[speedwell]

If you are on Millie class ship, I think the best bet is an aft balcony cabin.

 

The cabins are huge and are sheltered from the wind in nearly all conditions. I love them!

[jerseygirl3]

We had a port side balcony cabin on a east bound TA. Used it every day, loads of sun and peace and quiet.

Our friends were on the other side and had very little sun.

 

Because of the sea days I would pick a balcony every time. There were too many people on deck for our liking. The balcony was an oasis of calm!

 

That's very odd to have sun on a portside on an Eastbound TA. The norm is portside for a Westbound if you want sun and starboard for an Eastbound.

 

I'm confused. We had portside on a Westbound from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale and we had lots of sun, while starboard had practically none.

 

We're doing a Westbound from Rome November 2014 and we specifically booked a portside in order to have a sunny balcony.

[celebritydave]

We have done 3 TAs. One eastbound and 2 westbound. On the last one this past December on the Silhouette, I managed to snag one of the hump balcony cabins. We really enjoyed the large balcony and even had a cocktail party for our friends out there. We always get a balcony, and we get quite a lot of use on the TAs.

 

If you can get a good price on one of the hump cabins on an S class ship, grab it!

[anandaindonesia]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

 

In past cruises we loved our balcony. I was thinking to opt for just oceanview for TA so we can save some money. Your posts convince me that balcony is the only way to cruise!

 

Ok. Ok. Let's have a balcony then. :)

[kittyluvrnurse]

I would say Balcony. Some of those ports in Europe are amazing to pull into. Actually, most ports are... lol. I am balcony SPOILED.

[We Go Cruise Brah]

Oh, you are one of the folks who throws off the air conditioning system in all the cabins around you by leaving your door open all night. The ship is not designed for that....

 

Is this true? I'd like to see some evidence. What if someone were to leave the door open during the day to enjoy the breeze, or while they were having breakfast on the balcony? Does that throw everything off too? I find it hard to believe a modern cruise ship would not take into account a balcony door being open and leaving neighboring cabins frigid.

 

And if true, you cant possibly assume that everyone knows this, so there was really no need to say "Oh you're one of those folks"

[AndrewM]

Hi Andrew.....I think you get a little older crowd (not ancient) doing the Trans Atlantics and they are a very good value. We enjoy the destinations but we also like sitting on our balcony, listening to music, reading and watching the ever changing ocean. We are on the Equinox from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale this fall. In fact, we do it every year. :)

 

Thanks for the insight! I've always been too reticent to take a Trans Atlantic thinking I'd feel lost at sea or go bat crazy wanting to see land or something. I don't think I could sit on my verandah for 7 days looking at the waves.

 

I totally want to do one though because I have the time and they're so affordable. But I just keep wondering if I'll get bored and regret it.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Thanks for the insight! I've always been too reticent to take a Trans Atlantic thinking I'd feel lost at sea or go bat crazy wanting to see land or something. I don't think I could sit on my verandah for 7 days looking at the waves.

 

I totally want to do one though because I have the time and they're so affordable. But I just keep wondering if I'll get bored and regret it.

 

Our last two cruise have been TAs, and have another one book for Nov

I keep running out of time on sea days to fit everything in :eek:

Also there is so many interesting people to meet on a TA to spend much time on the balcony

[laughing husky]

I have been on about 7 inside passages....going both ways....I live here and use it to visit friends in other parts of the states that it would be very expensive to drive....or fly....either side of the ship is good in AK...When they go into a glacier area, they turn the ship around several times so all can see everthing....

[Jean Veronica]

Hi Andrew.....I think you get a little older crowd (not ancient) doing the Trans Atlantics and they are a very good value. We enjoy the destinations but we also like sitting on our balcony, listening to music, reading and watching the ever changing ocean. We are on the Equinox from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale this fall. In fact, we do it every year. :)

 

Hi Chicago Boy,

I notice that you are taking the Barcelona/Ft.Lauderdale tran-Atlantic this fall. Would you by any chance be on the Nov.25th sailing? My husband and I and another couple are on that one. Have you done that itinerary before? I was wanting information on the port call in Lisbon as we would like to visit Fatima while there and although the ship has a tour it seems it is quite long when taking a bus and not too much time at the shrine. This will be our fifth T/A but first time in Lisbon. We love Barcelona and are staying three nights pre-cruise there. Thanks for any information!

[Jean Veronica]

Thanks for the insight! I've always been too reticent to take a Trans Atlantic thinking I'd feel lost at sea or go bat crazy wanting to see land or something. I don't think I could sit on my verandah for 7 days looking at the waves.

 

I totally want to do one though because I have the time and they're so affordable. But I just keep wondering if I'll get bored and regret it.

 

Andrew...you will definitely not get bored on a trans-Atlantic! We just got off a 15 day Celebrity Century cruise to Hawaii with 8 days at sea and there was too much to do! We really enjoy doing as Chicago Boy does...relaxing, reading, going to the casino and joining the Trivia groups which sometimes are held three times a day! We would often just sit out on the balcony as it was so relaxing. You'd be surprised how beautiful the waves are...so serene! :)

[pris993]

Depends on your crossing, southern ones in the spring (east) can be very nice and a balcony can be very enjoyable even on sea days. Northern one maybe less so. Did a westward crossing in the north in August one year from England to NY, enjoyed a balcony as well. Weather can be unpredicable. We have been lucky.

 

We have done 4 crossing always with a balcony, booked another for next April, again with a balcony. I like the fresh air and enjoy the balcony provided it is not windy.

 

Always nice in port.

 

Crossing as far north as Bermuda are not as good as more southerly ones from our experience.

[AndrewM]

Andrew...you will definitely not get bored on a trans-Atlantic! We just got off a 15 day Celebrity Century cruise to Hawaii with 8 days at sea and there was too much to do! We really enjoy doing as Chicago Boy does...relaxing, reading, going to the casino and joining the Trivia groups which sometimes are held three times a day! We would often just sit out on the balcony as it was so relaxing. You'd be surprised how beautiful the waves are...so serene! :)

 

You make a good pitch, Jean! I've always considered doing the Hawaii cruise from the west coast too, so that's good to know! Thanks for the reply!