Caribbean - Interior, OceanView or Balcony?

[NewCruiserMPC]

We are doing a western Carribbean cruise out of Houston in March. This is our second cruise and we did a balcony to Alaska in June last year. Had a great time!

 

Is a balcony worth it for the Caribbean? Any scenic views we will want not to miss?

[crystalspin]

Have cruised with THREE adults in a large inside on the HAL Statendam, and we did just fine. Statendam's large inside is large, and the ship had enough public spaces with views. Also port-heavy itinerary.

 

Just returned from the Norwegian Star, two of us in a balcony. Based on our Cabin Crawl, I would never book anything below a balcony (for a couple) as the insides AND oceanviews are just too small. (And we camp in a 19' travel trailer!) NCL's ships tend to have a dearth of public areas with views. And it was a 14-day itinerary with almost half sea-days (and we don't 'do' casino or bingo).

 

So my recommendation is go to the Princess website, find your ship, look at the deckplans and then the specs and floorplans for the stateroom(s) you are considering. Go to the Princess board here on CC and ask about the particular ship's public areas, with and without views. Make your decision based on whether you can be happy, for the time and activities you have planned, in anything less than a balcony!

[cb at sea]

I wouldn't cruise anywhere without a balcony! Just me, I know! Lots of folks are fine in interior cabins, as there is so much public space to use. However, I compare a balcony to a seaside resort.....I'd rather have an ocean view than overlook the parking lot.....

 

The whole point of cruising, IMO, is to be close to the sea.....and a balcony helps!

[houstoncruisers2001]

We've done inside, promenade and balcony cabins. Naturally, we prefer balconies. It's not even really about the views in port, it's about the view, period. Love looking at the open sea.

[krev]

Never had an inside cabin and don't plan on it. Won't cruise without a balcony, love sitting out there with a glass of wine and only my husband and I enjoying the view

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[JimAOk1945]

We always cruise with a balcony. There's something special about relaxing on a balcony that can't be adequately described.

[Michelle25490]

I'll be booking my first (Costa) cruise in the next couple of weeks, but I'm defenitely going for a oceanview cabin/stateroom. Of course, I'd love a balcony as much as everyone would, but as a solo traveller that's not in my budget.

[bashawclan]

We were there in December on Royal. We had a balcony while all the kids had inside rooms. I think that between the 8 of us we might have spend a whole hour out there. Most of the cruising time there was nothing to see and when we were docked we certainly were sitting in the cabin, so it was good when we arrived and left ports that was it.

We just booked a 15 nt to Hawaii and we booked an inside room. We'll put that 1,500 dollars towards another cruise in the fall.

[NewCruiserMPC]

Thanks everyone! We decided on a balcony... we enjoyed it so much on our 1st cruise... think its the right choice for the 2nd as well.

 

Maybe one day we'll try out the interior... maybe on a shorter cruise. Just to see what the difference is.

[cruiserking]

A balcony is always worth it. If for no other reason than to step out there at night and feel the balmy tropical breezes and watch the stars above. I love stepping out there early in the morning and seeing the islands drift into view.

 

We love relaxing on our balcony when the ship is anchored and taking in the mountainous scenery of St. Thomas, Tortola or St. Lucia.

 

Having a balcony is a special treat, a private sanctuary all your own, book one and don't ever think twice about it.

 

Jonathan

[hockeygal54]

You are no doubt referring to the Caribbean Princess since its the only Princess ship sailing from Tx! I was on her last week on Riviera deck inside aft cabin. I'm a balcony snob I admit it but for this trip, inside was the economical choice since I was footing the bill for myself, DD and her BF. All other issues aside, this cabin was noisy as hell!! What I thought was stabilizer or thruster noise was actually Horizon Court activity half the nite! On disembarkation day I was nosing around and found that the higher priced balcony cabins across the hall were no bigger, just had a balcony!! I love outside light tho so the compromise would be an ocean view.