Infinite Balcony Question

[TGfromTX]

5 hours ago, hmcrn said:

@TGfromTX - could you take a picture and post from the veranda sitting down so we can see where the railing height is from the chair?  I know you said 4 feet, but I am wondering with that odd chair if it puts you down below the railing or if it's directly in your line of sight. 

Thank you!

Interesting perception vs reality. I put my phone lenses right at my eye level sitting how I am normally sitting relaxed and sitting as high as I can not resting in back at all. 

 

upright:

 

Photos don’t exactly reflect the view due to foreshortening and such. Sitting upright does feel it’s in the way. When I’ve been sitting reclined into seat I am looking downward usually - didn’t realize this til now. If I look at horizon, I’m looking about 2” down from rail. But I tend to look at waves or boats which haven’t been at horizon. 
the lifeboat isn’t as intrusive as it looks in the photo. It’s affecting my ability to see flying fish though. Obviously I’d rather they not be there but I got a show when they lifted them back into place after excursions returned. 

[TGfromTX]

Just now, TGfromTX said:

Interesting perception vs reality. I put my phone lenses right at my eye level sitting how I am normally sitting relaxed and sitting as high as I can not resting in back at all. 

 

upright:

 

Photos don’t exactly reflect the view due to foreshortening and such. Sitting upright does feel it’s in the way. When I’ve been sitting reclined into seat I am looking downward usually - didn’t realize this til now. If I look at horizon, I’m looking about 2” down from rail. But I tend to look at waves or boats which haven’t been at horizon. 
the lifeboat isn’t as intrusive as it looks in the photo. It’s affecting my ability to see flying fish though. Obviously I’d rather they not be there but I got a show when they lifted them back into place after excursions returned. 

In previous photo you can see I have lots of overhang as do the balconies to the aft of me on deck 6.  Toward front this is not there. My view is much better that direction. 

[PTC DAWG]

Thanks for the laugh folks..I’m out..good work with the thermometer, I will say that.

 

i might walk out front and argue with the stop sign on my corner. 🙂

[zitsky]

3 hours ago, TGfromTX said:

I haven’t heard a single person complain about IV cabins on this cruise - beyond.  Anytime Ive passed guest relations, the line is shorter than any ship I’ve been on - I think the location of the desk makes it harder to find. The entertainment is where I’ve heard the most negative comments-not bad just not what they expected. Personally I’ve enjoyed the shows quite a bit. 

So no one has complained to you about IVs?  Did you ask guest relations how many complaints they received?  Assuming people can find the desk.

[hmcrn]

1 hour ago, TGfromTX said:

Interesting perception vs reality. I put my phone lenses right at my eye level sitting how I am normally sitting relaxed and sitting as high as I can not resting in back at all. 

 

upright:

 

Photos don’t exactly reflect the view due to foreshortening and such. Sitting upright does feel it’s in the way. When I’ve been sitting reclined into seat I am looking downward usually - didn’t realize this til now. If I look at horizon, I’m looking about 2” down from rail. But I tend to look at waves or boats which haven’t been at horizon. 
the lifeboat isn’t as intrusive as it looks in the photo. It’s affecting my ability to see flying fish though. Obviously I’d rather they not be there but I got a show when they lifted them back into place after excursions returned. 

 

Thanks SO much for this!  Greatly appreciate it.  

[TGfromTX]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

So no one has complained to you about IVs?  Did you ask guest relations how many complaints they received?  Assuming people can find the desk.

I’m not saying there aren’t complaints - for the line to make a statement there has to be plenty. But from conversations I’ve heard, the entertainment seems to be more a topic on people’s minds. Mostly only hearing compliments on everything. 
I opened the entire cabin this afternoon docked in port and was completely comfortable and the ac (much less effectively) ran the entire time. It was 90 outside at the time. I think it would be warmer than you’d like per your other posts. After 55 minutes it was 77 on tge far side of the cabin. The air it put out did rise in temp - not sure if it’s because of all the ambient air or if the ac runs better with ship moving. 
After 16 minutes of closing the folding doors it was 75.x.  Image isn’t showing for me. 
 

After 8 more minutes of closing the window, 68.2. 

It was 70 in cabin at that point. 
The lowest thermostat setting in the cabin is 66. 
One thing to note is the breeze has been very mild on my side of the ship until we left Cozumel. There is significant more air whipping around the IV so it might cause the temp to move higher/faster. But unless I notice something drastic I’m satisfied with what I wanted to know. 
My opinion - it feels and looks like a small porch.  There is something cute (not refined tho) about the space I don’t get from balconies. It is a bit awkward and limited space while folding the doors to get into seating area. Once out there it feels fine - can’t remember if balconies feel same but opening a door is less awkward. But the experience has been fine and isn’t enough difference where I wouldn’t book whichever is cheapest unless I knew there was cold or bad weather where the IV has the advantage. Honestly I’d probably look for a large window cabin and save money for one of those trips. I would pay extra where better furniture is in space.

Opening the bifold doors does change the environment in the cabin quickly - especially fogging all surfaces. It goes away within a couple of minutes and I would think a balcony door does the same but I’m much more likely to leave these folding doors open til I go back to my seat where I’d close a door. For me this feels like the most sunlight I’ve experienced in a cabin - I’m not sure if the glass is more tinted in past cabins or maybe I didn’t open the curtains where this had none. But I wouldn't pay extra for either of these. 
I haven’t figured out how to remote control from iPhone

[zitsky]

24 minutes ago, TGfromTX said:

I’m not saying there aren’t complaints - for the line to make a statement there has to be plenty. But from conversations I’ve heard, the entertainment seems to be more a topic on people’s minds. Mostly only hearing compliments on everything. 
I opened the entire cabin this afternoon docked in port and was completely comfortable and the ac (much less effectively) ran the entire time. It was 90 outside at the time. I think it would be warmer than you’d like per your other posts. After 55 minutes it was 77 on tge far side of the cabin. The air it put out did rise in temp - not sure if it’s because of all the ambient air or if the ac runs better with ship moving. 
After 16 minutes of closing the folding doors it was 75.x.  Image isn’t showing for me. 
 

After 8 more minutes of closing the window, 68.2. 

It was 70 in cabin at that point. 
The lowest thermostat setting in the cabin is 66. 
One thing to note is the breeze has been very mild on my side of the ship until we left Cozumel. There is significant more air whipping around the IV so it might cause the temp to move higher/faster. But unless I notice something drastic I’m satisfied with what I wanted to know. 
My opinion - it feels and looks like a small porch.  There is something cute (not refined tho) about the space I don’t get from balconies. It is a bit awkward and limited space while folding the doors to get into seating area. Once out there it feels fine - can’t remember if balconies feel same but opening a door is less awkward. But the experience has been fine and isn’t enough difference where I wouldn’t book whichever is cheapest unless I knew there was cold or bad weather where the IV has the advantage. Honestly I’d probably look for a large window cabin and save money for one of those trips. I would pay extra where better furniture is in space.

Opening the bifold doors does change the environment in the cabin quickly - especially fogging all surfaces. It goes away within a couple of minutes and I would think a balcony door does the same but I’m much more likely to leave these folding doors open til I go back to my seat where I’d close a door. For me this feels like the most sunlight I’ve experienced in a cabin - I’m not sure if the glass is more tinted in past cabins or maybe I didn’t open the curtains where this had none. But I wouldn't pay extra for either of these. 
I haven’t figured out how to remote control from iPhone

Thanks for posting such a detailed, quantitative review.  I bought one of those digital thermometers to watch the temps in my wine closet where I put things I’ll use in a week or too.  It even downloads to my iPhone.  (Govee)

[TGfromTX]

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

Thanks for posting such a detailed, quantitative review.  I bought one of those digital thermometers to watch the temps in my wine closet where I put things I’ll use in a week or too.  It even downloads to my iPhone.  (Govee)

I don’t want to mid steer you - I still don’t think you’d be happy in one - i think your comfort level is probably similar to my aunt who is from Maine - temperatures slightly chilly to me.  

[TGfromTX]

5 hours ago, zitsky said:

So no one has complained to you about IVs?  Did you ask guest relations how many complaints they received?  Assuming people can find the desk.

I did stop by relations earlier. 4 or 5 desks with only 2 people there.  They answered ‘about 10 out of 3000’ each cruise and mostly about expecting a balcony instead of an IV.  I don’t claim accuracy at all - I’d expect it to be higher for corporate to respond publicly, but that is the response received from beyond. I felt like it’d be in the 300 or higher range due to a corporate response. 

[RichYak]

13 hours ago, TGfromTX said:

But the experience has been fine and isn’t enough difference where I wouldn’t book whichever is cheapest unless I knew there was cold or bad weather where the IV has the advantage

Thanks for your review and all the details, although from a solo perspective. It should be noted that some of the biggest issues with the IV arise when there are 2 people in the cabin. 

[TGfromTX]

6 hours ago, RichYak said:

Thanks for your review and all the details, although from a solo perspective. It should be noted that some of the biggest issues with the IV arise when there are 2 people in the cabin. 

Correct. I tried to give some details to consider - especially if you open bifold doors when room is chilled. I didn’t bring up the blinds - that is pretty easy to know if it affects you. 

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, TGfromTX said:

Correct. I tried to give some details to consider - especially if you open bifold doors when room is chilled. I didn’t bring up the blinds - that is pretty easy to know if it affects you. 

except that you can only open the window if the blind is up.

 

22 hours ago, zitsky said:

So no one has complained to you about IVs?  Did you ask guest relations how many complaints they received?  Assuming people can find the desk.

of course not as X's is stance on any subject it that guests make "comments" or "give feedback" never complaints 🤣

[DaKahuna]

2 hours ago, the penguins said:

except that you can only open the window if the blind is up.

 

 Why would you want the window open if the blinds are down? 

 

[RichYak]

3 hours ago, TGfromTX said:

I tried to give some details to consider - especially if you open bifold doors when room is chilled.

You've done a great job just laying out the facts. I like facts. We don't get enough of them on Cruise Critic.

[the penguins]

8 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Why would you want the window open if the blinds are down? 

 

One of the complaints/comments from early risers who have had IV's has been that they have had to raise the blinds in order to open the window and in doing do have woken their partners.

[RichYak]

6 hours ago, the penguins said:

One of the complaints/comments from early risers who have had IV's has been that they have had to raise the blinds in order to open the window and in doing do have woken their partners.

I'm clearly missing something. Lets say this wasn't an issue and you COULD open the window without raising the blinds. Why would someone want to do this--open a window that's completely covered by blinds?

[TMLAalum]

6 hours ago, the penguins said:

One of the complaints/comments from early risers who have had IV's has been that they have had to raise the blinds in order to open the window and in doing do have woken their partners.

 

33 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I'm clearly missing something. Lets say this wasn't an issue and you COULD open the window without raising the blinds. Why would someone want to do this--open a window that's completely covered by blinds?

 

Even if you don't want to lower the IV glass, the blind has to go up to see the great outdoors!

 

@TGfromTX Thanks for the height measurement of the IV glass when opened to the outdoors. Being a shorty who's shrinking, I hope my chin can rest on the railing! 

Here's a thought: why not sub out those uncomfortable chairs on the IV for bar stools! And a 36in circumference bar height table too! Probably won't be any more comfortable than current seating but at least there'll be no glass obstructing the view!!

[Ex-Airbalancer]

15 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Why would you want the window open if the blinds are down? 

 

Beans ! 🤢🤣

Edited July 25 by Ex-Airbalancer

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, RichYak said:

I'm clearly missing something. Lets say this wasn't an issue and you COULD open the window without raising the blinds. Why would someone want to do this--open a window that's completely covered by blinds?

presumably because they wanted to let some fresh air in whilst keeping the room dark. At home we have no aircon and in the summer during the day we regularly have the bedrooms windows open about half an inch and the curtains/drapes closed so we get a little fresh air but keep the sun/heat out  during the day. In the winter we do the same at night. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

On 7/23/2024 at 4:24 PM, TGfromTX said:

I’m not saying there aren’t complaints - for the line to make a statement there has to be plenty. But from conversations I’ve heard, the entertainment seems to be more a topic on people’s minds. Mostly only hearing compliments on everything. 
I opened the entire cabin this afternoon docked in port and was completely comfortable and the ac (much less effectively) ran the entire time. It was 90 outside at the time. I think it would be warmer than you’d like per your other posts. After 55 minutes it was 77 on tge far side of the cabin. The air it put out did rise in temp - not sure if it’s because of all the ambient air or if the ac runs better with ship moving. 
After 16 minutes of closing the folding doors it was 75.x.  Image isn’t showing for me. 
 

After 8 more minutes of closing the window, 68.2. 

It was 70 in cabin at that point. 
The lowest thermostat setting in the cabin is 66. 
One thing to note is the breeze has been very mild on my side of the ship until we left Cozumel. There is significant more air whipping around the IV so it might cause the temp to move higher/faster. But unless I notice something drastic I’m satisfied with what I wanted to know. 
My opinion - it feels and looks like a small porch.  There is something cute (not refined tho) about the space I don’t get from balconies. It is a bit awkward and limited space while folding the doors to get into seating area. Once out there it feels fine - can’t remember if balconies feel same but opening a door is less awkward. But the experience has been fine and isn’t enough difference where I wouldn’t book whichever is cheapest unless I knew there was cold or bad weather where the IV has the advantage. Honestly I’d probably look for a large window cabin and save money for one of those trips. I would pay extra where better furniture is in space.

Opening the bifold doors does change the environment in the cabin quickly - especially fogging all surfaces. It goes away within a couple of minutes and I would think a balcony door does the same but I’m much more likely to leave these folding doors open til I go back to my seat where I’d close a door. For me this feels like the most sunlight I’ve experienced in a cabin - I’m not sure if the glass is more tinted in past cabins or maybe I didn’t open the curtains where this had none. But I wouldn't pay extra for either of these. 
I haven’t figured out how to remote control from iPhone

 

 

Thank you for providing real-world data points.  Have you heard many complaints of any kind?

[TGfromTX]

49 minutes ago, the penguins said:

presumably because they wanted to let some fresh air in whilst keeping the room dark. At home we have no aircon and in the summer during the day we regularly have the bedrooms windows open about half an inch and the curtains/drapes closed so we get a little fresh air but keep the sun/heat out  during the day. In the winter we do the same at night. 

There is no way to have the shade up/ie. window open and keep the cabin pitch black after the sun rises. The bifold doors are 16 frosted glass panes so they filter light but I can still read by the light.  Caribbean cruises mostly travel north and south so no direct sunlight into cabin or veranda, but if the ship were traveling east and west, I imagine it’d be direct morning or evening light into the cabin with shade up. 

[TGfromTX]

39 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

 

Thank you for providing real-world data points.  Have you heard many complaints of any kind?

I’ve heard none publicly announced by anyone in any event. overwhelmingly positive comments from every activity I’ve gone to where they asked about our trip so far.
On sea days the breakfast buffet is the only place open reasonably late for breakfast- that’s the worst buffet experience I encountered but other people seemed to be okay with it. I chose to just have coffee and skip. The coffee bars were pretty busy at that time too. All other times were easy to navigate but right before ports may be busy - I waited til after the rush so I don’t know. 
I haven’t had issues getting to bars or finding upper deck seating at all - any day. Often I can find entire seating areas with no one in them toward back of ship. The only bar ever completely empty is back of the buffet. 
I’ve seen people comment about kids at the bars, in casino and such - but bars are where they get their mocktails if they have the zero proof package. I saw none in casino but I haven’t frequented it. There are very few kids on this ship and these are the best behaved kids I’ve seen anywhere. None have been in my way - not once. Fewest I’ve seen on a ship. 
The worst I’ve heard is ‘the shows are nothing to write home about.’  If you appreciate talent, you’ll enjoy the shows. There is some ‘filler’ in shows but there are usually 2 or 3 things going on at all times during a show - one being some really talented singers. 
One other comment I’ve heard a couple of times is that the activities and events overlap so people can’t attend what they want. And this will happen because there is more going on than what one can attend. You will have to choose.

This ship does not feel full to me almost all of the time. The crowd is dispersed remarkably well throughout. 
Eden shows are the exception. I haven’t heard complaints but it isn’t big enough for the crowds it pulls. Plan to show early. 
The average age onboard is younger than I expected. All age groups are represented - I feel like median age may be in 40s. 

Edited July 25 by TGfromTX

[TGfromTX]

On 7/25/2024 at 12:24 PM, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

 

Thank you for providing real-world data points.  Have you heard many complaints of any kind?

I’m off the ship now.  Again few complaints I feel would affect one’s trip - but here are a couple other items - most not veranda related. 
A couple I met at lunch had issues where their cabin blinds would close randomly.  They reported issue during day and maintenance appeared quickly. Some module was replaced or reset and the issue didn’t occur again.  But they couldn’t open window at the time - I’m not sure if the blind closed partially or fully. But I hadn’t considered there are more points of failure vs a door leading to a balcony. 
The service issue I was most disappointed with - dish and silverware filth.  I’ve never seen this on any cruise before although it happens in restaurants on land more than I’d like.  Silverware from the buffet twice and once a stirring spoon from the coffee bar was visibly dirty.  Multiple plates had  food on them in the buffet stack one day.  I never saw this in main dining rooms.  
Banana liqueur has been removed from the bars. You can get pina colatas and strawberry daiquiris but no bmc (pretty sure that’s the banana frozen drink). 
The atm in the casino was broken. I only went there one evening so didn’t affect me but people had to go to elevator bank near the club to get cash - only other atm onboard.  I heard it only deposits $50 bills.

Lots of staff seems as lost as the passengers. I heard someone was sent to wrong location for the atm and I was sent a couple of times to wrong floors and similar.  After twice I just started using app anytime I didn’t know where I was headed. 
And lastly, I chose celebrity specifically to try their food due to reputation.  The buffet had many options and access was easy most of the time, but I avoided it anytime I could due to food temperature being lukewarm on almost everything. Service in main dining rooms was very good and nothing wrong with the meals - temperature always correct. But they didn’t meet expectations of elevation above NCL meals I’ve had. Some cuts of steak were surprisingly hard to chew and I’d rather have a bottled shrimp sauce than the flavored ketchup I was served. I didn’t have a bad time at all, but they didn’t convert me nor convince me that I gained much for paying extra to cruise this line.  The main benefits that stand out to me were notably fewer kids, anytime dining, very diverse crowd, no ‘crazy/unruly/fighting’ crowds onboard that is starting to plague other lines, less crowded feeling ship, lots of nooks to sit onboard, multiple entertainment and activity venues breaking up crowds, artsy and modern ship with many unique features everywhere.