Aft balconies - How do ya get 'em?

Bout time to start setting up the next cruise and was curious

how far out in advance people usually book to get aft balconies.

I could be wrong but I assume they go pretty early. Never even

tried to get one before.

 

GO RED RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I booked my last two corner aft cabins 16 months ahead of time and the people that are sailing with us have the aft cabin next to us 8C booked when we did. They do go fast. If there is one that you really want don't wait you may miss out on it. Linda

I booked most of my aft cabins about 18 months out but have booked them as far as 2 full years in advance! :eek:

We have an aft on deck 9 on Navigator in three weeks time.

Its booked about 18 months too.

I cant wait!

I booked my next cruise which is on the Navigator OTS back in March. I wanted one of the two aft Junior Suites on deck ten as everyone states that they are the best location. The two were already taken when I booked so I had to settle for one on deck seven. Last week the final payment was due and one of the two cabins opened up. I am now very happy.

 

Also I am booked on the Miracle for next May. Cabin #4228 is my favorite due to the wrap around balcony. I have it booked at they do go fast.

 

I would suggest that if the cabin you are wanting is not avialable then book something to make you happy but keep on an eye on the inventory to see if it opens up.

Yikes, 18 months sounds like the standard answer. I'm used to booking about 6 in advance. Guess I better start checking now. Thanks for the info.

Yeah, I would very surprised i fyou could wrangle one up within a year of sailing. Let us know :D

I was able to book an aft balcony on the Triumph approx 2 1/2 months prior to sailing.

I was able to book an aft balcony on the Triumph approx 2 1/2 months prior to sailing.

Nice ;)

i booked our legend cruise for next month in march of this year....

 

i "snagged" the last aft 8C cabin....(i think i remember correctly)

 

 

 

there were still some cat 11 afts left, but not the extended ones like i got....

 

i'm excited!! an aft balcony without the suite price!!! :)

 

 

Marsha

We booked our aft cabin for our upcoming cruise a year ahead of time. If I'd looked sooner we probably could have had a better selection. Still, we're happy to have it. It's our first aft! :)

Why are aft cabins so popular?

We tried to book an aft cabin on the Miracle 10 months ahead and they were all gone. I thought it was because it was a newer ship. I guess not! I'll plan my next cruise sooner.

I booked one 2 weeks ago on the Caribbean Princess for next Oct. same cabin I had on the Star last year that I got 3 months before sailing. Last year we had already booked in the same category but as I was checking prices to see if they dropped I noticed one opened up and had my agent grab it quick!

It doesn't matter which side you 'book'. While in port-of-call you can see both sides, and departing port gives you the same advantage. Wind and noise are at a minimum, and the view is spectacular... :D

People claim that movement may be more noticeable, but most new ships are built to almost totally minimize the 'motion'.

I own a small boat on Lake Erie and most passengers enjoy the 'aft' view vs. the port or starboard or 'forward'. It just seems nicer..!! :)

One can also book the wrap-around balconies which give a side and aft view. Usually much larger balcony. The Spirit class of ships now have Cat 11 Suites at the corners of the aft.. There must be something to it!! :cool:

I had my first aft wrap around balcony when I sailed the Pride on 05/30/04. It definitely will not be my last aft wrap around balcony. I guess I was just lucky since I just booked the cruise in January. But, it was the only one left.

 

I've already reserved my cruise on the Spirit for 01/11/2006! I wanted to be sure to get an aft wrap around and I wanted a full selection of cabins available.

Just last week I booked an Aft, wrap around on the Liberty for Oct. 05. When I realized what it was, I snatched it quick. I've never had one, so I'm hoping they are as great as reported here. Does anyone have a picture of the inside of the triangular shaped room? Would love to see it.

The Liberty balconies are going fast!

I booked my Cat. 11 Suite with wraparound balcony last July for my June 2005 cruise on Legend. Make sure you look at the all the deck plans since each deck has different layouts for aft suites with wraparound balconies. I've heared that some suites have much smaller feel to them because of their poor layouts.

I booked an Aft cabin on the Pride in April for July...3 months....on deck 5.

 

I got upgraded to deck 7 when I boarded!

 

This year in May, I was booking a cat 11 aft wraparound for next May on the Legend, and found the corner I wanted was already booked, so I took the opposite side, as I needed an adjoining aft room that held three. When I went to put my deposit down the next day, my desired cabin suddenly became available!

I've heared that some suites have much smaller feel to them because of their poor layouts.

Do you know which ones?

I've never been able to justify the price difference for an aft wrap around (9A) on Carnival. For our AOS cruise next year we did book one for the same price as a regular balcony.

I booked an aft wrap around last week for the Miracle on Jan 16--deck 7. There was still one left on deck 8 when I was looking yesterday.

MrPeteLI.

 

If you go to Carnival website and look at all the deck plans on Carnival Legend, you can see that aft suites on Panorama (8273 and 8268) and Verandah (7298 and 7347) decks have more open layouts than Empress (6260 and 6329), Upper (5266 and 5295) and Main (4228 and 4237) decks. Empress, Upper and Main decks have more odd shaped room layouts and make the suites feel a lot smaller than.

I read some bad reviews about those suites with odd shaped layouts.

 

http://www.carnival.com/Ship_Detail.aspx?shipCode=LE

 

You can see all Carnival cruise ships' deck plans online:

 

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Ships/FunShips.aspx

Empress, Upper and Main decks have more odd shaped room layouts and make the suites feel a lot smaller than. I read some bad reviews about those suites with odd shaped layouts.

Cabin 4228 on the main deck is not small! In fact, it is rather large. Great cabin to play hide-n-seek. ;) But, I've heard that the cabins on the empress and main decks do not have a separate bedroom. :(