Balcony or not

[Robb]

Expect to be doing a cruise to the Mediterranean in Oct of next year on the Westerdam and thinking about getting a cabin with a balcony. What is your opinion, is it worth it?

[torpeedo]

It is definitely worth the extra bucks as long as you have them. We spend a good deal of time on the balcony at all time of the day. It's great for watching the ports and you can enjoy an evening drink out of the balcony in peace and quiet watching the waves go by. We have sailed in outside cabins but we really like the balcony experience best.

[Charliesmom]

Be forewarned. Once you have a balcony, you will never want to go back to a cabin without one. Even if you never sit on the balcony, the ability to bring fresh air into your room is marvelous. I love to sit on the balcony and watch the sea go by. The sound is so very relaxing and you don't have to deal with anyone else in your own private space.

Roberta

[karbar]

DH is a smoker so the balcony is worth its weight in gold !!!!
It is a most relaxing place to recoup after a long day ashore and a wonderful way to start your day with breakfast overlooking some beautiful carrribean port or ocean !ENJOY! :)

[mhshapiro]

We generally make our balcony choice based on a combination of cost and itinerary. If we are headed on cruise to mainly cool or cold weather ports, we skip the balcony and book low and midships just in case we run into heavy seas.

On the other hand, if we are headed to warm water ports we usually will spring for the balcony. We have booked the Ft. Lauderdale to Rome repositioning cruise on Westerdam, and did select a balcony cabin.

[Ziggy7]

Try it you'll like it hehehehe :)

[Vicar]

As long as you can afford it, get the balcony.

A lot of people say why waste the money, you are only in the cabin to sleep and shower and change.

But when you have a balcony you just make the effort to enjoy it. Have a drink out there , or just to let the fresh air in. Or just to go out there because you can and when you are out there it is just beautiful.

Just adds a lot to the already pleasureable experience of cruising.

[SANDY BEACH]

I find a balcony adds so much to your cruise experience. It's my favorite place for sail away, coffee in the am and getting away from the crowds, if necessary. Your room seems much more spacious when you can see through to a balcony. My DH and I do not sail without one. Try it once and make up your own mind.

[Randyk47]

A balcony is a must for us. DW can't stand dark or cramped spaces without some easy access to outside. I'm so used to a verandah now I don't think we'd cruise if it meant an inside cabin. Not sure if we could compromise and settle for an ocean view....but I don't think so.

[jazzsea]

Most of us would love to sail in a balcony cabin on every cruise. However, one must never book a balcony cabin if the cost will prohibit taking shore excursions. I suggest to my clients that they first take a look at the shore excursions offered on their selected sailing. Don't miss seeing part of the world's treasures just to have a balcony.

Dh and I were once upgraded by Holland America to a deluxe suite on Rotterdam for a spring TransAtlantic (Ft. Lauderdale to Lisbon). Of the nine days we could use our balcony for only four. Strong winds kept us off the balcony from Bermuda to the Azores. One day the winds were so strong that we couldn't even open the door. Even with the strong winds the Rotterdam rode like a dream. Not much motion at all.

Holland America has some great pricing for cruises for 2005. Shop around. Maybe you can have a balcony cabin and not deplete your onboard expense fund.

[Candy]

Our first balcony was a little one in a little Brilliance cabin, and we've never booked anything less since then. If it was a choice of paying for a balcony cabin or doing excursions, the balcony wins by a longshot.

Candy <-- won't, however, give up the craps table

As long as you can afford it, get the balcony.

A lot of people say why waste the money, you are only in the cabin to sleep and shower and change.

But when you have a balcony you just make the effort to enjoy it. Have a drink out there , or just to let the fresh air in. Or just to go out there because you can and when you are out there it is just beautiful.

Just adds a lot to the already pleasureable experience of cruising.

[the2ofus]

Our first cruise was in a balcony cabin. Ever since we have had outside cabins or Lower Promenade cabins on the S class ships. This year, for the first time in ten years we are sailing again in a balcony cabin. Why? Because this year the price was right.

We fell in love with cruising ten years ago, but would rather spend our money on shore excursions than on that balcony space. You should go with what you can afford. It's not true that once you've been in a balcony cabin you can never enjoy less. There's enough space in most HAL cabins that you won't feel closed in no matter what cabin you choose.

[michmike]

we have always had outside cabins with the exception of a couple of yrs ago when we were fortunate enough to be upgraded to a balcony.. did we enjoy it?? sure..

But on most sailings with HAL a balcony is at least $300 per person more than an outside. My shipboard tab is generally in the neighborhood of $500 for the week, so I rationalize that by foregoing the balcony, I have paid my on board tab.

Really boils down to how you want to spend your money. I'd prefer to spend more on excursions or even a couple of days precruise in Fla as we are doing this trip. (we leave 11/6 on Volendam in a Cat E)

That having been said, my DW disagrees.. but she isn't prepared to forego her trips to the jewelry stores in St Thomas so I'm not budging on outside vs balcony.. Have seen a few offers from Celebrity where a balcony is only $125 or so more than an outside. At that price I might go for it.

[jhannah]

Each has to certainly go with what is affordable for them. For us, a veranda is an integral part of the cruise experience, for all of the many reasons mentioned above. We won't leave home without one!

[Druke I]

On certain itineraries, I think a balcony great, but on port-intensive itineraries, not for us.

We do enjoy sitting out there on a sea day, relaxing and reading, but barely use it in port, as we are often busy ashore.

[cruznon]

A balcony makes the cruise experience even better! We watched whales from our balcony as we leaft Cabo San Lucas, had AM coffe as we come into ports, and nothing like waking in the middle of the night to go out and watch the sea as the moon reflects on the water.....glorious. Our next two cruises have aft balconies...I hear they're wonderful.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have to agree with everyone else, once you have had one you will always want one. We did have an Outside cabin for just a 3 days cruise after we had our first balcony. It was OK for 3 days just to give us a quick Cruise Fix but for a 7 day cruise or longer I would definitely find a way to get a balcony at least the bottom BB catagory even in cold weather cruises. We loved our balcony on our Alaska Cruise and have balconys for all 4 of our upcoming cruises.:D I guess you could call me a spoiled brat:p

[CrazyforCruisin]

Hi,
Go with the balcony! Our first cruise to Alaska was even better because we had the balcony. We spend time relaxing in our cabin so it is a must for us. It is just that little extra touch of luxury. Enjoy your cruise!

[stanjj111]

Best thing. Enjoy breakfast outside and drinks before dinner.

[Charlie2na]

We had a balcony on our first cruise , but after much thought..... our next cruise will be "balconyless" My thought process went like this... At best , it's usable 12 hrs a day nothing to see at night. Yes, it has fresh air , but not worth the price. possible bad weather would render it useless. For us, the only time we were in our room was to dress or sleep... HOWEVER breakfast and coffee was very enjoyable on our balcony... but not worth the extra $ Like the Rev we're trying a cat J ... just a few steps from biggest balcony on the ship and saving a bundle.... What a brave decision.... will let you all know how it all works out... 88 days till Maasdam southern swing !!

[bepsf]

Life is too short - get the balcony...

[gizmo]

I think the balcony is worth it for Caribbean and Mexico cruise, since I use it alot. I have never done a cruise to the Med, but it could make a difference. It would depend on how many port days and how often I would have the chance to enjoy it.

[michmike]

just did a quick count of cabins on Volendam which we will be sailing in 3 weeks. My numbers may be off marginally as I was counting from HAL"s deck plans but essentially, there are 218 balcony cabins, 406 outside and 138 inside. That means that 60% of the cabins are NOT balconies. Would be hard to argue that 60% of the passengers were having a substandard experience because they didn't have a balcony.

As the other posters here have said, look at the cost and compare it to what you could otherwise do with that money and weigh it against having coffee out on your balcony each morning.

Just keep in mind that the 60% of us in steerage are drinking the same coffee.. *L*

[Charlie2na]

Everything is relative ! If the cost of a balcony is as insignificant as lets say dinner out, then by all means buy it. However if it equates to a weeks pay or more... maybe that cash can be saved, or at least enjoyed more, spent another way

[SANDY BEACH]

A balcony room is the way I spend my extra $$. It is what I want on a cruise. No shore excursions or spa treatments. I want a balcony above everything else so that is what we book. I know others can't comprehend this but that is what makes us all different. I can't comprehend spending all my time running on shore excursions but others can't live without them. Again I say, great to have choices. Do what makes your cruise the best for you. Just go and enjoy!

[mcduck]

Don't think that we could book a cruise without a balcony! We booked outside cabins until the Princess upgrade fairy smiled on us and put us in a full blown suite on an Alaska cruise years ago. Have never sailed without a balcony since (so I guess in a sense that was a very expensive upgrade!). As we now cruise with our teen children, we are restricted to the holiday periods when the ships are always full, so it is nice to have your own quiet deck space without having to worry about "chair hogs" - although that does not seem to really be a problem with HAL cruisers.

There is just something about being on your balcony listening to the ocean rush by as you sit on your lounger reading, just daydreaming or watching the stars.

[Giorgi-one]

IMHO, a balcony is a must have for Alaska. We had an aft balcony and most of the time we were comfortable in shorts while those on deck were wearing parkas. Also saw whales following the ship for two days.

We always book a balcony in the Caribbean because we don't enjoy the pool area - too crowded, too loud and I know I would get into a fight with a chair hog sooner or later. This way, we just spend afternoons on our balcony with a glass of wine and order shrimp cocktails and ceasar salad for lunch or afternoon snack.

After 14 cruises, we don't do many excursions and sometimes stay on the ship in certain ports. I usually find that the cost of a balcony over an ocean view cabin is less than $200 per person and sometimes as low as $100 each.

As someone posted earlier, "Don't leave home without it".