Is the balcony really worth it?

[Friend100]

Tried a non balcony cabin once...NEVER, EVER again! The LEAST we'll book is a balcony....generally a JS or mini-suite....

I don't like being cramped...and I don't want to feel like I'm camping. I want space and most ship cabins don't give you much space. A balcony adds to the usable sq. footage!

 

Some inside cabins on some ships are quite spacious (such as HAL's Vista or Signature class "J" cabin on deck 1 or Disney's). A balcony though gives open air space that to many people will be usable but I can say for some other people (my DW for example :o ) they don't use it that much.

[Orderby56]

Big Al. These are balcony cabins under consideration; which do you think are best?:

 

14036

14049

13145

11314

 

Thank you!

[big al]

Big Al. These are balcony cabins under consideration; which do you think are best?:

 

14036 cab in size 189 sf + 56 SF balcony

14049 " " 151 sf + 65 SF balcony

13145 cab size 151 SF + 65 sf balcony

11314 " " 151 SF & 65 Balcony

 

Thank you!

 

I put the cab dimensions next to each ..# 11314 is an aft cabin, so it has completely different views...the others all have a bit of corners in them, so they all should be good..14036 has a smaller balcony, but bigger cabin inside ( considerable difference BTW)..I like 189 sf over 151 sf, but that's me..56 SF is a decent balcony, considering on the new Breakaway & Getaway, those balconies are 32-36 SF...just got off the new Regal Princess, where the balcony was 36 SF..a bit tight, IMO, but doable...consider location & where you are..deck 15 ( pool deck) is RIGHT above DECK 14..SO MORE NOISE FOR SURE...maybe 13030 ( same as 14036, but deck 13) would be better...I am a light sleeper, so we choose always a deck with cabins above & below- NEVER any public areas above ( like deck 14) or below...hope this helps..FYI - aft cabins are VERY serene & calm..love seeing the wake of the ship..

 

Big Al

[Orderby56]

Big Al, thank you!

I had read comments about noise and vibration on aft balcony. Has this been your experience?

Also, it appeared on deck plans that 14049 and 13145 had larger balconies due to angle. Is this not the case?

And, you would not choose deck 14 because pool is above? Is this correct?

[big al]

Big Al, thank you!

I had read comments about noise and vibration on aft balcony. Has this been your experience?

Also, it appeared on deck plans that 14049 and 13145 had larger balconies due to angle. Is this not the case?

And, you would not choose deck 14 because pool is above? Is this correct?

 

Thing is, every ship is different regarding aft noise..I would put a post on the NCL threads & ask about aft noise on the Epic..I have been aft 3-4x times and never felt anything loud or vibration..yes, 14049 & 13145 seem to have larger balconies due to angles..I would not choose deck 14 because I AM a sleeper..my wife sleeps thru anything, but not me..at around 6 or 7 am, the pool deck hands start putting all the lounge chairs down that have been piled up & it makes a thud each time they put the loungers down..I have read this many times on CC..BUT, avoid ONLY if you are a light sleeper..think in terms of NOISE..always look what's above your cabin & below..cabins are best..public areas are worst...

[o2barichgirrl]

:)

It depends on how you plan on using the balcony. If you're like me and spend lots of time on the balcony relaxing, reading or just watching the world pass you by, then yes it is absolutely worth it.

 

If you're the type to spend all your time in the casino or by the pool lounging in the sun, then no, it wouldn't really be worth it.

 

So, in my opinion, it all depends on how much time you plan on spending in your room and on the balcony. If you're wanting to save money and spend lots of time out on deck, then an interior or ocean view is the way to go. If you want to have your private little area with an ocean breeze, views of sunrises and sunsets and a place to relax as you hear the crashing of the waves as the ship cuts through the ocean, then a balcony would definitely be for you.

 

For me, it is always worth the extra money to spend on the balcony cabins. Someone else will have an entirely different opinion on this, though.

 

Just returned from an 8 day on the Valor with balcony and today scheduled a 7 day for June, also with a balcony. I enjoy the beauty of the ocean and sunrises and sunsets. Being able to read quietly while enjoying a soda or cocktail on the balcony is heaven. When I want to party or be around others, I head to the casino or casino bar. I choose the balcony every time. On the other hand, some of my family enjoy every port-of-call and would spend no time at all on the balcony so an inside is perfect for them. :)

[GUT2407]

To us definitely worth it, to others not.

 

If I could get a cabin [unobstructed] with floor to ceiling windows that opened, MIGHT pass on a balcony depending on the savings.

 

However I don't think a mini suite or junior suite or whatever else a line might call it, is to us worth the extra as a general rule but sometime the price difference is so low we take it.

[misty57]

Since our first balcony cabin we have only had an inside cabin once. It was because the cruise price for a 4 day was $350 for 2! So... that being said it was one of the smallest places I have ever stayed. Now I have an inside cabin booked for next Feb. I am also torn. I originally booked a balcony but then for $1100 savings changed to the inside. I keep looking at the prices.. if the price for the balcony drops I might trade up, but I don't really expect it to.

Maybe it will force me up and out of the cabin earlier. I keep thinking about the savings. :)

[GUT2407]

A balcony may also mean less on a short cruise, 2-4 days, but I have never been on a cruise that short, to me anything less than 2 weeks is too short.

[first2travel]

I have had the opportunity to travel via various cruise lines to a variety of destinations. My first experience and many more was an inside cabin (with kids), second outside (with kids), and finally the balcony (with wife) and I have to write the balcony experience was well worth the extra expense. Of course I have to inform you that the balcony stateroom was for both our transatlantic, and Medaterriaan adventures. A cool breeze during the nights, having a cocktail on the balcony before and after dinner, breakfast, and a great cigar. While I do not mind the other passengers at the congregate areas of the ship, there is something very nice about being alone and observing the sky, water, and sounds of the ocean privately. Happy travels!

[ducklite]

It depends on the ship. On the larger ships you need one to get away from the masses. On the smaller ones, not as much. We didn't have one in Windstar and never missed it. We had one in the Paul Gauguin and never used it.

[iliv2cruz]

We've sailed inside, ov, and balcony. It depends on where we're going and the price. We'd prefer a balcony. If we're taking a Bermuda cruise (one stop cruise) we don't mind an inside or ov. However, if price is right we'll get the balcony. It's especially enjoyable to us, when you're cruising to several ports. It's nice to get that view when you're relaxing in the room and you're going by some beautiful areas or just watching sunset before dinner as in the photo below. We'd rather a balcony, but don't really need one. Happy Sailing!

 

[1968girl]

You will have a great cruise to remember with the balcony. You will not have to get dress and go up on deck to see the day of light, all you have to do is go out on the balcony, at nite we go out to enjoy, in the morning we watch the sun come up then go back to bed and wait for room service to eat on the balcony. Love it, also the higher up you are the more of the port and island you can see.

[JimAOk1945]

Yes, definitely well worth it. We don't cruise without a balcony. We always spend a lot of time on it and we enjoy room service breakfast on every cruise.

 

What did you decide? Balcony or not?

Edited May 12, 2015 by JimAOk1945

[OCruisers]

My DH had Noro on a ship so we were both confined to our cabin.

Had we not had a balcony, I would have had BIG TIME Cabin Fever!:eek:

 

Normally, we seldom use our balcony BUT we would NEVER book a cruise without one!

 

LuLu

[Canugess]

The last cruise I did was a 14 night med cruise. We loved having a balcony. However, my next cruise is a short 3 nighter. We have book an inside overlooking the promenade, which I'm sure will be ok. The Channel in May isn't exactly warm. I doubt that we would spend much time on it anyway.

[Kolten]

We've done it before we just honestly don't use it enough to justify the extra $. I would rather spend that money on something @ port or something extra on the ship if you want a view go look off the side of the ship :D But some like it and use it and if that's the case then why not!

[cruznjan]

I love having my morning coffee on the balcony.

[absolutonrox]

I had been in the same predicament as the OP for some time. Our first cruise was an OV and that was fine, but I felt like I wanted to try a balcony and see what all the rave was about. When I finally booked our 2nd cruise for this August, the base prices for OV and balcony on our sailing were only $10 different, so I figured perfect opportunity to try the balcony! We haven't taken the cruise yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. We'll be on the Pride from Baltimore and being that it's in August, we should be able to use the balcony the entire trip. Our next trip is a 10 day from Baltimore in Feb 16. I will likely pass on the balcony that trip even if we love it just because I feel it will be wasted 3-4 days of the trip because of the outside weather, so not as much worth the money.

[cruznjan]

I love having my morning coffee on the balcony.

 

This is worth it for me.

[ahzach]

In my opinion, DEFINITELY yes. I wouldn't cruise without it. It is worth it as long as it is not more than twice the price of the ocean view cabin.

[ducklite]

I'm guessing the majority who claim they wouldn't sail without a balcony cruise the Caribbean over and over and over and have never cruised Europe o on a small ship. Those two items will be a game changer. I wouldn't cruise on a mega-loader mass market ship without a balcony, but can say for certain that there is no reason to spend the money for one in a small ship or European port intensive cruise.

[njrover0216]

We have only sailed with a balcony so I do not know any differently. I enjoy having that extra, private, outdoor space to ourselves. My family liked opening the door and allowing the fresh ocean air into our rooms, standing on our balconies while we docked into ports and simply relaxing while cruising the ocean.

[ASchaff]

Yes, definitely well worth it. We don't cruise without a balcony. We always spend a lot of time on it and we enjoy room service breakfast on every cruise.

 

What did you decide? Balcony or not?

 

Decided against it. Not worth the money.

[AtleeH]

I've been on only 2 previous cruises. One, at least 2 decades ago on Carnival 4 day cruise to the Bahamas, and this last January on Celebrity Shoulette for a 7 day cruise to the western Caribbean. On both, I saved money and had an inside berth. It turned out fine.

 

We are now booked for a January 2016 cruise on Celebrity Reflection for a 7 day cruise to the eastern Caribbean. This time I decided to spend the extra money on a balcony.

 

When I finish this cruise, I'll decide if the extra money is worth it. I have a feeling it will be. I think it will be nice to be able to open the door, and sit for some quality down time, while watching the ocean glide by.