Must I Book a Veranda to Hawaii??

[liz336]

I received an e-mail from Southwest airlines for greatly reduced rates on HAL to Hawaii. I travel solo and am considering booking an inside "L" cabin for myself for a ridculously low rate. (The veranda rates are still very expensive)
I've only traveled in a suite in the past and wonder if I should try the inside. Are verandas really that important?

[dakrewser]

Are verandas really that important?

That's a very personal decision, but also one that should be governed by itinerary. In Alaska I'd say you definitely need a veranda - or plan on spending all your time outside on deck. In Europe, with a port-intensive itinerary, it's not as important because you'll be spending a lot less time on board and/or in your cabin.

I've never cruised in an inside because I like to peek out the window each morning to see where I am before having to get dressed. But if the rates are that low, low enough so that it seems absurd to stay home, then go for it! Unless you're claustrophobic, it won't be a bad experience and it might change the way you book cruises...

[FlorenceItaly]

I cruised solo 2 times last year on HAL. I couldn't resist, and went to southwest.com to see what you are talking about, and that IS a fantastic solo price. If it were me I would book an inside J on the lower promenade deck. I did this on my Alaska cruise, and it was wonderful. I was always just steps away from a balcony :). And, the teak loungers they have out there are wonderful too. For me, with the price difference, I would not book a balcony but we each have our own budgets. Please let us know what you decide.

Marie

[FlorenceItaly]

deleted

[RuthC]

If the question is inside vs no cruise at all the answer (for me) is easy.

I cruise.


I've been upgraded from inside to outside a couple of times, and booked an outside a couple of times (never stayed in the rarified air of the verandas) and am glad that I can be on the ship.

Everything else is gravy. Or dessert. Chocolate dessert. ;)

The cruise to/from Hawaii is five sea days of no other views but the sea each way. While in the islands you are so busy with five consecutive ports that you probably won't miss the veranda.


Take the deal! :D

[Roz]

To me there are no "musts" to cruising. My objective is always to get on the ship at a price I can afford. So far that's meant no verandas and a couple of inside cabins.

I read posts all the time that say you HAVE to have a suite, a veranda, a balcony, an outside cabin, etc. etc. The important question is, what do YOU want and what can you afford.

Happy sailing, no matter what you decide.

Roz

[kryos]

I read posts all the time that say you HAVE to have a suite, a veranda, a balcony, an outside cabin, etc. etc. The important question is, what do YOU want and what can you afford.

I cruise solo and I ALWAYS book the cheapest inside cabin I can get. This allows me to cruise twice a year so far. My feeling is this. I got all the deck I want if watching the world go by is something I feel like doing that day. I just find me a nice comfortable deck chair, bring a good book, and enjoy the views. It's not like an inside cabin means NO viewing the outside ... it just means no private viewing.

Another thing too ... if you're traveling by yourself and you have one of those fancy veranda suites ... that's gonna be an encouragement to stay by yourself for a good portion of the time. You're gonna want to enjoy that veranda by spending time on it. My idea of a great cruise is meeting new people ... enjoying lots of great conversation ... sipping a fruity drink and maybe being entertained in one of the lounges. Personally, I'd rather enjoy the views from outside ... or from a nice window in a lounge ... amongst other people.

That's why ... to be honest ... I wouldn't book a veranda as a solo traveler even if I had the spendable cash to do so. Now, if I was traveling with others ... and we were gonna be sharing a stateroom ... then sure, the veranda might be nice ... especially since I'm a smoker. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[liz336]

Thanks for all your helpful advice. Yesterday I booked the Dec 7 cruise to Hawaii in an "I" inside cabin on the Veranda deck. In addition to the high cost of a veranda I realized that what you posted about having a veranda suite to myself and spending all my time in the suite would be counter-producive to the whole idea of cruising. I've done that in the past and not been happy afterwards.
So, I'm very happy with my choice.
Liz336

[Roz]

Liz,

I'm envious...have a great time as you begin your cruise countdown. I couldn't help but notice the irony of leaving for Hawaii on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day. I think you made a good decision. You can take the money you would have spent on a veranda and put it towards shore excursions.

Roz

[kryos]

I cruised solo 2 times last year on HAL. I couldn't resist, and went to southwest.com to see what you are talking about, and that IS a fantastic solo price. If it were me I would book an inside J on the lower promenade deck. I did this on my Alaska cruise, and it was wonderful. I was always just steps away from a balcony :). And, the teak loungers they have out there are wonderful too. For me, with the price difference, I would not book a balcony but we each have our own budgets. Please let us know what you decide.

I agree that it's a very personal decision, but for my money when traveling solo, I just book the cheapest inside I can get. A balcony is nice, but I'm not gonna enjoy it as much if I have to sit out there by myself. I would much prefer to go onto one of the public decks where I can enjoy the view with other people.

When I cruise, I try to strike up conversations with as many people as I can. The wealth of things you can learn from them is amazing and there is just something about being on a boat that makes people very friendly and willing to share a few minutes of their lives.

No, a balcony is nice if you're traveling with friends and family, and on that sort of cruise, I would definitely consider it despite the higher cost. But, traveling as a solo, I can enjoy the same view from one of the public decks, and have a boatload of friendly people to share it with as part of the bargain.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Pete Jackson]

That's a very personal decision, but also one that should be governed by itinerary. In Alaska I'd say you definitely need a veranda - or plan on spending all your time outside on deck. In Europe, with a port-intensive itinerary, it's not as important because you'll be spending a lot less time on board and/or in your cabin.

I've never cruised in an inside because I like to peek out the window each morning to see where I am before having to get dressed. But if the rates are that low, low enough so that it seems absurd to stay home, then go for it! Unless you're claustrophobic, it won't be a bad experience and it might change the way you book cruises...

One should also consider the time of year that you will be travelling. For Alaska and Northern Europe in midsummer, or Antarctica cruises in January, the daylight is so long that you can see scenery almost all "night" from your cabin if you have an outside window or verandah. This might be especially important for a port-intensive cruise since the vast majority of the cruising will be at "night".

On the other hand, if you are cruising near the equator, or at a time other than near midsummer, it's mostly dark between dinner and breakfast, and so a verandah or outside window is less important.