Would You Want an Inside with a Balcony??

[osiebosie]

I was looking at the picture of the Oasis of the Seas and there will be inside cabins with balconies viewing the park inside of the ship. Wow. The park will be the size of a football field, complete with plants/greenery.

I don't think I'd want a balcony looking over the park inside of the ship. I'd still want a balcony looking over the ocean.

How about you?

I wonder if this'll do away with windowless inside cabins. Unique way to make more money. I also wonder if other cruise lines will follow.

Shay

[Nuttycruisegirl]

It would have to be a really good price for me to take it....I'd rather have an OV than a balcony overlooking a park. It would be good for those that get a little too closed in staying in an IS cabin I guess....Again, to me, it all depends on price.

[LHP]

While it is an interesting concept on paper.... I am still wondering about the acoustics.

The Atrium area on some ships has a noise issue.....I guess time will tell if these have a noise issue as well.

[BlueC5Kitten]

I am addicted to the sea...so it wouldn't do it for me.

[Rockportgirl]

I just don't understand this concept. I go on a cruise for the OCEAN. I can see a park or a shopping mall at home.

[salty dingo]

I would find zero value in having a balcony overlooking a mall. I have seen those in certain hotels, and rarely do I see anyone on them. I think it is just fluff. I'd be surprised if they are priced higher than an inside without a balcony.

[jerseygirl79]

I would love to sail Oasis, but not in a balcony overlooking the park due to noise. It kinda reminds me of when I stayed at a Raddison (I think it was Raddison) in a courtyard room around the indoor pool area. It was an interesting view of the pool and restaurant, but you could hear the people in the pool.

[bobsfamily]

RCCL has a ship that has Balconies over the "mall" area inside. It might be fun, depending on the atmosphere - like a street party. I do enjoy the balcony and this might be fun once, not sure about more than that.

[jerseygirl79]

Originally Posted by salty dingo

I would find zero value in having a balcony overlooking a mall. I have seen those in certain hotels, and rarely do I see anyone on them. I think it is just fluff. I'd be surprised if they are priced higher than an inside without a balcony.

Reminds me of the balcony rooms you see at the airport hotels. Who wants to overlook the airport "lobby"!?!?! I think I saw that in Orlando.

[jerseygirl79]

Originally Posted by bobsfamily

RCCL has a ship that has Balconies over the "mall" area inside. It might be fun, depending on the atmosphere - like a street party. I do enjoy the balcony and this might be fun once, not sure about more than that.

Just a thought....what if your have really rowdy, rude people in one of those cabins. That could make it really annoying to walk through that area. hmmmm.

[osiebosie]

Well, I am with all of ya'll.

Here in Nashville we have the Opryland Hotel, a mega-massive complex. Of course, there is no "view" outside of the hotel, and the interior rooms overlook the gardens. Those were the rooms to have. One year we gave my parents a room for an early Christmas gift. They had a room with a balcony overlooking the fabulous harpist who played every night. The hotel was decorated for Christmas. It was, they said, one of the best gifts ever.

But on a ship???

Shay

[danixbanani]

I really find this concept weird too. I'm not sure I'd really be into it unless the price was cheaper than an "ocean balcony". I'm one of those people that have a hard time traveling in an inside stateroom on a cruise so if I HAD to, I'd probably do it.

I agree about the acoustics and such too. I wonder how that will work out. But I think the roof is going to be open? Probably covered with glass so you can see the sky...that could be nice.

[firefly333]

In answer to will this do away with the PR cabins, the inside cabins with the window, no, but it does cut down on the number of them for sure. Fewer PR cabins means the price was up for them.

As far as the price for the inside balcony .... believe it or not, the inside balcony prices were a lot higher than the balcony prices on the outside of the ship. I kid you not. I suspect this is because they are new and people want to try out a new type of cabin.

Just for comparison .... those cove balconys on the QM2 are cheap cheap cheap, about the price of a inside cabin. I guess being on deck 2, with a metal shell isnt that attractive to those folks ... but on Carnival since its a new concept, people are wild to talk about them and have one ... .same concept. Its something new to try.

[bazarr2]

I would take it if it was the same price as a normal inside. If all I could afford was an inside.

[pnjkeith]

NO, whats the point of it?

[GottaLuvCruising]

I think it's an interesting option and a far cry better than an inside stateroom. I'd take it over an oceanview, but would strongly prefer a balcony where you overlook the water.

[CorvetteLady]

Originally Posted by osiebosie

Well, I am with all of ya'll.

Here in Nashville we have the Opryland Hotel, a mega-massive complex. Of course, there is no "view" outside of the hotel, and the interior rooms overlook the gardens. Those were the rooms to have. One year we gave my parents a room for an early Christmas gift. They had a room with a balcony overlooking the fabulous harpist who played every night. The hotel was decorated for Christmas. It was, they said, one of the best gifts ever.

But on a ship???

Shay

Your parents got lucky. We stayed at Opryland and had a room overlooking the gardens. There was a private party going on, loud band, people drinking, even with the balcony door closed we could hear them. Didn't stop till after midnight. Those rooms cost more, and I would never book one again. Feel the same way about the Oasis, if I am on a ship I want to see the sea!! It will be interesting to see the first reviews. It seems to me it will be more like a resort than a cruise. I hope they have come up with a way to get 5000+ passengers off in a timely manner at the ports. It could be great or not.

[bobsfamily]

I guess I do have a bit of a different look on it as I see the ocean every day. Every time I leave the island and come back I see beautiful views, when I take the dog for a walk on beach, when I drop by my favorite watering hole that overlooks the ocean I get wonderful views. I don't cruise JUST for the water view so for me the inside balcony might be fun. I've stayed at several hotel complexes that had the "inside" balcony and have liked it every time... prefect weather and no flying things..

[Traveler353]

I also was looking at those pictures. Don't like them. The only reason that I would get a balcony would be to see the ocean. Also that inside section is going to be one big echo chamber. To me it looks like they started out designing a car ferry and decided half way thru to make a cruise ship out of it.

[travelntreats]

If you think about it, RCI has taken their "Promenade" staterooms ( from the Voyager Class ships) to a new level...... The Promenade staterooms had a Bay window facing the "Royal Promenade" and were designed for only 2 passengers. I have stayed in those staterooms and they are wonderful for people watching, parade watching and were often not much more than an inside stateroom. So they took that idea and ran with it and now have added a balcony to view from, but of where their different cities are (some refer to as a mall !).... I think a wonderful idea and remembering that some of those staterooms will have a slight view of the back of the ship which is open air and the sea will be visible.

Don't discount this concept yet, and remember that RCI is selling their ships as the destination more so than the actual itinerary. Is that a good or bad thing ??? Only future passengers will be able to say I guess. I was fortunate enough to be invited to sailing on a TA 2 nighter on the Oasis the day after Thanksgiving and looking forward to see what she has to offer and share with our clients.