Sunny AZ Girl Posted June 16, 2009 #1 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I just received a quote from my T/A for a cruise on the Carnival Spirit to Alaska next year for a balcony guarantee which is a full $1200 less than my currently booked OV cabin on Princess! My question - I requested a unobstructed balcony. Are there obstructed balconies on the Spirit? Would I be safer requesting an assigned balcony? I wanted the lowest priced option as this is an "extra" cruise for me next year. However, I still want an unobstructed view and a great cruise experience for my daughter & myself. Any other suggestions for a first time Carnival Cruiser? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathalane Posted June 16, 2009 #2 Share Posted June 16, 2009 The standard balcony guarantee now includes category 7A, which is the obstructed view balconies. If you want to ensure a non-obstructed view, you would need to have an 8A guarantee or just choose your own location. Not sure if an 8A guarantee is any cheaper than an assigned 8A, but with the guarantee, there is a better chance of a small upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny AZ Girl Posted June 16, 2009 Author #3 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Thank you. In looking at the deck plans I was afraid of exactly that. I will ask my TA to recheck this for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wennfred Posted June 16, 2009 #4 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I just received a quote from my T/A for a cruise on the Carnival Spirit to Alaska next year for a balcony guarantee which is a full $1200 less than my currently booked OV cabin on Princess! My question - I requested a unobstructed balcony. Are there obstructed balconies on the Spirit? Would I be safer requesting an assigned balcony? I wanted the lowest priced option as this is an "extra" cruise for me next year. However, I still want an unobstructed view and a great cruise experience for my daughter & myself. Any other suggestions for a first time Carnival Cruiser? First, I like to know for what week you are going? I am planning to go on August 3rd 2010. The Spirit has the old Cat. 5a cabins which are blocked by Lifeboats on the Main Deck. Those are not Balconies but do have a Door (French Doors) and some do open. There is a rail right outside of the door so you can not go out. The Spirit also have the old Cat. 7a Balconies. These you can go out but the TOP of the Lifeboat is either Flush with the balcony floor or it could go over the floor by 2 feet. So you can look out, Left or Right but when you look downward, there is the Lifeboat. A Balcony that is not Blocked or Obstructed is any Cat. 8a and up. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breezin Posted June 16, 2009 #5 Share Posted June 16, 2009 :DDh and I have a 7A balcony on the Spirit in Oct,from what I understand the obstruction is the top of the lifeboat,you can`t see down,but you can see straight out.Someone correct me if I`m wrong,but this is what I have read here on CC;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wennfred Posted June 16, 2009 #6 Share Posted June 16, 2009 :DDh and I have a 7A balcony on the Spirit in Oct,from what I understand the obstruction is the top of the lifeboat,you can`t see down,but you can see straight out.Someone correct me if I`m wrong,but this is what I have read here on CC;) Just what I wrote above. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wennfred Posted June 16, 2009 #7 Share Posted June 16, 2009 In this picture these boats sit pretty high on the rail. It could be the Angle of the shot taking from the pier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny AZ Girl Posted June 16, 2009 Author #8 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Thank you. I think we will stick with an 8A or above - still a better deal than Princess by a long shot. I have e-mailed my TA and am waiting for a reply. Since we are booking an early savers rate I want to be sure in my choice! Wennfred - Thank you for posting the picture. That really helped clarify the 7A & 8A difference.:) We are looking at the July 6, 2010 sailing.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wennfred Posted June 16, 2009 #9 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Thank you. I think we will stick with an 8A or above - still a better deal than Princess by a long shot. I have e-mailed my TA and am waiting for a reply. Since we are booking an early savers rate I want to be sure in my choice! Wennfred - Thank you for posting the picture. That really helped clarify the 7A & 8A difference.:) We are looking at the July 6, 2010 sailing.:cool: Cool, hope you have a great time and post a review of the places and Excursions you have done. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oysterfiend Posted June 16, 2009 #10 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Hi Fred, we have booked 7-14 September 2010 We have category 8A 4219 its at Aft end of ship and Laundry appears to be around corner opposite the 4228 aft cabin We used our 50% off and had a credit from cancelling our Carnival Paradise cruise after swine flu episode, With our Taxes , Govt charges and Gratuities our final payment due June 2010 is US $536- just under a grand NZ money We looked into getting a Category 8I cabin - Absolute AFT but it was going to cost us US $600 more - even with our 50% discount. Are you going with the others on the Dream Team- with Randy? I am excited about this cruise as I have also booked time share weeks in Whistler and also at Radium Valley Hot Springs so with a rental car we will get a good look at BC Canada- throughout September 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oysterfiend Posted June 16, 2009 #11 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Sunny AZ Girl We Came to same conclusion as you, I wanted as cheap as possible with balcony but NOT a 7A-don't fancy looking at a life boat so as I said to FRED we now have 8A category we are only on deck 4 and I would have preferred higher- midship but I think its an early saver rate where they assign cabin from category picked We have 4 219, Main deck -rear end We are already going to MExico next year so with two lots of long haul flights I also wanted a cheap as possible as we are only doing Alaskan cruise in 2010 to use up Cruise credits and 50% off offer resulting from our not so great Swine Flu cruise (NOT TO MEXICO) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny AZ Girl Posted June 16, 2009 Author #12 Share Posted June 16, 2009 It looks like we will be going with a 8A, also. I am changing the date to July 13 as it works best for my work schedule. DD is a teacher, so we also have to work around her time off, also. This will be beautiful! I just have to hear back from my TA now as to our cabin assignment. I also like the full aft views but am watching the $$$ on this one. I figure that any balcony is sooo much better than the OV we originally had.;) Congrats on your great value cruise. I will be paying a bit more, but have a similar deal because of VISA points on my upcoming Radiance of the Seas cruise. Isn't it nice when you get to cash in?:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oysterfiend Posted June 16, 2009 #13 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Yes - I'd preferred to cash in in 2011 but we have a time limit on using these credits It will be a stretch as we had already booked timeshare weeks for Mexico April/May and two long haul overseas holidays in 1 year will be a stretch on my accounting skills - or as it is LACK OF THEM:D Have a GOOD CRUISE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCUBA Mark Posted June 16, 2009 #14 Share Posted June 16, 2009 We had one of 7A balconies on the Carnival Spirit in February. The top of the lifeboat is even with the floor of the balcony. The front three lifeboats on the ship also have a gondola sticking up which would be above the balcony floor but not all the way across. We had one of the 7A balconies that was between the lifeboats so we could also see down to the water. It felt like a normal balcony to me and saved us a bunch of money. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oysterfiend Posted June 16, 2009 #15 Share Posted June 16, 2009 We had one of 7A balconies on the Carnival Spirit in February. The top of the lifeboat is even with the floor of the balcony. The front three lifeboats on the ship also have a gondola sticking up which would be above the balcony floor but not all the way across. We had one of the 7A balconies that was between the lifeboats so we could also see down to the water. It felt like a normal balcony to me and saved us a bunch of money. Mark Thanks for that, I 'm not going to bug my TA anymore but thats worth Knowing, My Husband and both wondered about what they would be like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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