Inside Cabins from those that been in a Balcony before.

[bigrednole]

We have been on 2 cruises now: one on Magic and one on NCL Breakaway. The balcony is decent, but not something we really used. We are more of the types that sleep and shower in the room then out doing "stuff". As for a balcony, we can just go to a deck and experience it anyway. For those that have cruised in an Interior cabin and balcony in the past is there anything that you missed with a balcony?

[Raysgirl]

We only book a balcony if we get a really good deal.    Like you, we just sleep and change in the cabin.  If we just want to chill we grab a cup or coffee and tea and hang out on the lido deck.     The savings booking an interior lets us cruise more often.

[suncouple]

We prefer the interior cabins!  We like to stay out late and sleep late in our dark "cave"!

[Megan_Strick]

I would always book interior or ocean view then I booked a balcony. I can't go back now. I guess I'm a balcony snob but I actually spent more time out there than I thought I would.

[dbrucern]

We booked a balcony for years and still due at times but have had a inside a number of times also and the truth be told we are only in our rooms to shower and sleep so it is no big deal for us

[Lee Cruiser]

8 minutes ago, sthrnbll said:

I would always book interior or ocean view then I booked a balcony. I can't go back now. I guess I'm a balcony snob but I actually spent more time out there than I thought I would.

Same here.  We booked OV our first two cruises years ago.  On our third cruise we booked a pack and go balcony deal.  Since then we have always booked balcony cabins.  We love spending time on the balcony away from the crowds.  We are definitely not only use our rooms to sleep people.

[Pyxie]

I can cruise in just about any cabin and be happy (well maybe except those upper/lower bunk ones lol). I've had everything from interior to balcony and never been disappointed. I like balconies, but I don't spend a ton of time on them.

[bigrednole]

We just got back from our second cruise. I pretty much only went on the balcony because I could snap a random picture. I could do the same going out on a deck somewhere as well. Other than that, never really on it. The price difference is crazy and something I am considering as a savings.

[Megan_Strick]

5 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

Same here.  We booked OV our first two cruises years ago.  On our third cruise we booked a pack and go balcony deal.  Since then we have always booked balcony cabins.  We love spending time on the balcony away from the crowds.  We are definitely not only use our rooms to sleep people.

Yes, too! I like sail away on my own balcony. I also like arrivals on my own balcony. I love sitting outside at night before bed and relaxing. Open decks are too peopley for me. LOL

[tattoos]

We have booked both stateroom types and liked the balcony room because it is larger and has a couch.  The interior room is dark as a cave and I found it claustrophobic.  We have found a good compromise and always book an interior category with a picture window.  These rooms are located at the very front of the ship and are quite spacious and the window lets in natural light.  The window looks out over the "secret" deck and a good place to watch sail away and I can sit out during the day and work on my tan in relative privacy.  There are very few people using the secret deck.  

[MisterOJ2]

We usually book interior cabins, because of the price and the one time we had a balcony, we just didn't use it that much. One our cruise earlier this month, we were in a balcony for the first time in years - because we got a REALLY good offer to upgrade. (It was an extra $180 to move from an Interior on Deck 6 to a Balcony on Lido.) So, we did it.

 

At the end of the cruise, my wife and I figured we spent maybe 30-45 minutes out on the balcony. Total, for the entire 6 days. We did like that the room had more space than an interior, but at the end of the day, we decided it just wasn't worth it. Plus, there were some thing we didn't like about the balcony - like how anyone nearby moved a chair our on their balcony, the screeching sound they made on the floor was really loud and obnoxious. Interior rooms are just more cozy and quiet, I think.

[live.love.cruise]

I recently went from balcony to inside on same ship, Mardi Gras and I missed the balcony. The second time around the ship was full and I missed having some private outside space. We don’t sit out there much but I do enjoy the fresh air and the ocean waves.
 

I have an inside coming up next month and check daily for upgrade deals. While I prefer the balcony I will not overpay for it.  I now receive random casino/non casino offers with great balcony pricing. I hope to book those only in the future but it not I’ll still cruise in an inside.

 

Edited April 18, 2022 by live.love.cruise

[TravelGirlinDallas]

53 minutes ago, sthrnbll said:

I would always book interior or ocean view then I booked a balcony. I can't go back now.

Same here. I enjoyed my interior cabins just fine before I knew what I was missing. Now, it would be really hard to go back. We use our balcony a lot.

[TechDiva]

I did oceanview and balcony before doing an interior on Magic in October (basically a free cruise).  I was a little leery about the interior room but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  However, I really missed being able to see outside via a window or the balcony.  So, my next cruise in June is in a balcony.

With the interior cabin, we did spend more time on Lido but capacity was lower than normal, so it wasn't that bad.  But, we wouldn't spend that much time on Lido at normal capacity.  It's nice to have a balcony to relax on early in the morning and late at night, just watching the waves.  So, I'm not sure if I'd do another interior again.

[Hoosierpop]

1 hour ago, Raysgirl said:

We only book a balcony if we get a really good deal.    Like you, we just sleep and change in the cabin.  If we just want to chill we grab a cup or coffee and tea and hang out on the lido deck.     The savings booking an interior lets us cruise more often.

Agree 100% with this. We almost never book a balcony. If we can an upgrade offer that’s good, we may take it. But I’m not going to judge people who pay for a balcony and use it often.

[Drazil65]

We book balcony or suites (suite if decent deal or extra special occasion).  We love the extra space of cabin with couch as well as that little piece of private outside real estate on the balcony.  We definitely use the balcony, especially in morning to enjoy room service coffee and watch the sun rise (before we get dressed and can just stay in PJs).  I am an early riser and would for sure miss that peaceful sunrise with my first cup of coffee, its all part of my cruising experience.  Once I can get DH up to join me, it is a great way to start our day off relaxing with coffee on the balcony, talking about our upcoming day and making plans.  

 

We also use it right before dinner for a pre dinner glass of wine, very relaxing while each of us showers and dresses, away from the crowds and that glass of wine, nice slight breeze and watching the world go by.  We started getting a balcony years ago when our son was a toddler and we would take turns for nap time, put him down for nap and then go relax on balcony with good book while he slept.  We got hooked after that and its been at least a balcony every since.  

[Virga]

We love it when we can get a balcony cabin for only a little more than an inside, but we don't typically value it very highly.  We enjoy looking at the stars at night, we enjoy having our own private sailaway, we enjoy eating meals out there - but we usually aren't willing to spend more than about $10pp/pd to do it.  We'd rather cruise more often!

 

As one glaring exception, we paid $50pp/pd to get an extended balcony for our upcoming Alaskan cruise.  We expect to spend more time on this balcony than we ever have - it seems better than having to share the open decks with everyone else.  

[a3593]

Ive done both, and though the balconies are nice, I don't feel they are worth the extra because all of us has access to a big, free balcony called the Lido deck.  😁  One thing that I really didn't enjoy about the balcony is that I seem to always be next to people who want to sneak and smoke, ugh.

[icft]

Early in our cruising days we tried interior rooms, ocean view rooms, suites and balconies. We ended up preferring balconies. The interiors make us feel locked in a box. The ocean views always have grody windows and the window doesn't really relieve the locked in a box feeling much. The suites are nice, but the extra room was a waste for us and the bathtubs (one of the "perks") are hell to step up to and sized for children. So we always go with the balcony these days.

 

The balcony is nice for departure, arrival, checking the outside temp (we generally sail Sept through April and the temps and vary a lot) taking pictures as well as just hanging out every now and then waiting for the wife to get out of the bathroom. DW likes to sit out there and read while waiting for me to wake up since I sleep later than her.

 

As for how much time we spend on the balcony... We don't spend much time in the bathroom so I guess we could take a room without a bathroom. When we wanted to go to the bathroom we could go to one of the public ones on the ship. Shower? That is what the spa area is for. 😁

[SCBarker]

We just had a balcony for the first time because it was free. We've had quite a few interiors and oceanviews of varying configuration. We didn't care for the balcony. I spent about 8 minutes out there and my GF even less over 7 days. The whistling from the vacuum on the balcony door drive me crazy.

 

So far, the oceanview deluxe on the Dream Class with the 2 bathrooms has been our favorite. The GF really adores the tub for leg shaving. 

[sunshower9]

1 hour ago, sthrnbll said:

Yes, too! I like sail away on my own balcony. I also like arrivals on my own balcony. I love sitting outside at night before bed and relaxing. Open decks are too peopley for me. LOL

This is how I feel too.  I've done 4 cruises:  inside, balcony, inside, and balcony.  Insides are okay but I  strongly prefer balconies for the reasons you listed.  I'm not in my room all the time, but it's SO nice to have the option to relax outside in a private space whenever I want.  It's worth the money to me.

 

[Elustriah]

So I would have Said people were just being picky BUT we had an inside room years ago and since then, Balcony or suite.  We just got off a 3 day cruise I got for 35pp for inside cabin.  While I had a GREAT cruise. I won't ever book inside again. I don't care if it's free. It felt claustrophobic to me. With a balcony you at least have a small sofa.

 

It was good to sleep in, but I sleep fine anyways if it's not pitch dark.

[travelplus]

Book the cabin you can afford and then perhaps you may get a Balcony upsell like we did  for $260 from an oceanview to Extended Balcony. If you really want a Balcony then go ahead and book it and look for reprices.

[ScottsSweetie]

I would say, for us, it depends on the itinerary whether we would even consider a balcony.

 

If there are several sea days, late arrival into ports, or we have late excursions booked, then we absolutely love having our first coffee and a pastry delivered from room service on our balcony. There is just nothing like it. (We have NEVER used room service in our interior rooms.) If, on the other hand, the itinerary is port-intensive or we have early excursions each day then we wouldn't be able to take advantage of this pleasure.

 

Also, depending on your itinerary, it can be either horribly hot or exceedingly windy on your balcony, making it almost impossible to be pleasant there.

 

I would say we book about 70% inside/30% balconies (and I will say that 4 of those balcony rooms have been since the restart at rock bottom prices).

[shortyjoesmith]

I was a confirmed Interior person for years. I tried a balcony this last time because I caught a good sale. I didn't spend a ton of time out there but having the curtains open and the time I did spend out there was without parallel. I came back from this vacation more mentally refreshed that I ever have. That was worth the price increase. I hope to always be able to have a balcony from now on. 😁