which one is more important, ship or cabin?

I had a similar thread else where. I've heard many talks on how wonderful a balcony is, and want to try it. But with my limited budget, I can afford a balcony on Carnival Liberty or a OV on Celebrity Summit for a 7 day cruise to Southern Caribbean. I personally like Celebrity and Summit better because it is less crowded and exotic, and probably has better service. But I prefer a balcony over a OV for a 7 day cruise with 5 ports. As for me personally, I took one cruise to Alaska before in an inside cabin. I spent as much time off the ship at the ports as possible. When on board, I watched 2 shows and 1 movie, tried 1 piano bar, used the hot tub 1-2 times, spent half a day in the library reading and playing jigsaw puzzle, and hanged out in the dinning room by the window a lot. That's pretty much what I will do for this cruise. My companions are of similar style.

How would you guys choose between the 2?

I like a balcony....we've done an OV once, and I swore NEVER again. I like my space, and I like being able to access the outside without getting dressed and made-up.....so I'd pick a balcony every time!

I love a balcony and some ships I'm just not interested in.

We choose our cruises based on the itinerary, then choose the cruise line. After that, I choose the stateroom. However, we always have a balcony.

My priority starts with the ship and itinerary.

Keith

I had a similar thread else where. I've heard many talks on how wonderful a balcony is, and want to try it. But with my limited budget, I can afford a balcony on Carnival Liberty or a OV on Celebrity Summit for a 7 day cruise to Southern Caribbean. I personally like Celebrity and Summit better because it is less crowded and exotic, and probably has better service. But I prefer a balcony over a OV for a 7 day cruise with 5 ports. As for me personally, I took one cruise to Alaska before in an inside cabin. I spent as much time off the ship at the ports as possible. When on board, I watched 2 shows and 1 movie, tried 1 piano bar, used the hot tub 1-2 times, spent half a day in the library reading and playing jigsaw puzzle, and hanged out in the dinning room by the window a lot. That's pretty much what I will do for this cruise. My companions are of similar style.

 

How would you guys choose between the 2?

We start with what ship & where are we going..a balcony is standard for us..the ships are all different & cruise lines also vary- RCI has great balconies & good shows...Celebrity is more upscale, less options for entertainment, considered a bit more "uppity"...NCL is more specialty restaurants & great entertainment ( on larger ships)..Carnival has great prices, but is Carnival ( some say too loud ..& party)..a cabin is a cabin & it's great to have a balcony ( only way to go IMO) , but as a cruise agent & cruiser of 31 cruises, I recommend choosing the itinerary, then the ship, then the cabin...

Big Al

For us, the most important thing is to be 'on the boat'. We are bargain hunters. Our standard is an inside, and we upgrade if there are real bargains. We like knowing we have a balcony - but 'knowing' and 'using' are different things. We have found we seldom use it, so unless it is a real bargain, we book insides.

We usually book for itinerary. Only once have we booked just to sail a particular ship, the QE2. EM

I first set a realistic budget and then choose what destinations are available for when when I want to travel [from all lines]. Next I see which ships are going to those places. I then discard the ships that don't fit my preference (I don't enjoy standing with hundreds of impatient passengers waiting to see something special on the itinerary). That means that I try to find smaller ships that are not very on board activity focused. Even though I'm athletic and very fit I have no interest in climbing [shipboard] rock walls, zip lining over man made jungles, watching outdoor movies, water slides and other entertainment that are normally things one can do at a resort destination- no ship needed :). With the above out of the way I can now choose my accommodations. I prefer a balcony but it is far from a deciding factor in my cabin choice. Where your cabin is located is important. This formula has served me well for many years.

With us, it's definitely ship and itinerary. We don't need much space, so don't need a balcony for that. I don't need a window since I like to sleep in as dark a room as I can get, but hubby does need a window. So, with us, it's ship, itinerary, and an affordable windowed cabin, which can be a partially obstructed view.

We want it ALL! :D

The itinerary we want! The Cruise line/Ship we want! The type of cabin in the location we want! :)

LuLu

My priority starts with the ship and itinerary.

 

Keith

Probably true with most people. All else being equal (which it never is), I would choose a ship with lots of passenger space even if the cabins were a bit larger.

Not sure I understand the original post. What is important to one person isn't to another. What's important to me may not be to you. :confused:

Usually, I sail for itinerary and price. I like to get as many "new-to-me" ports as possible, which is getting to be difficult since I've sailed mostly Carnival. That will change once I get my 25th cruise (23 & 24 coming up soon).

I really couldn't care less about the ship as long as the service and food are good and they have been, so far.

I really like cheap, inside cabins. Great sleeping in them! And even the insides on Carnival's old ships are fairly large. A balcony is nice, but since I mostly sail solo these days, and am on a budget anyway, it's out of the question. I'd much rather sail three times a year in an inside than once in a balcony.

I never pay for "just" a window. For me, total waste of money. Prefer the dark inside cabins.

I'll sail an older, smaller ship with an itinerary I've already done if I just "need" a cruise. But when I'm planning, I look for repositioning cruises and more unique itineraries. I'll add a different ship if the prices are comparable.

But I really also couldn't care less about sailing newer, bigger, more-bells-and-whistle ships, either. I had a casino offer this spring and could've sailed a ship I haven't been on, but the exact same itinerary and cabin cost almost $300 more. I opted to sail on the ship I'd already sailed and liked and kept the funds for my Bermuda cruise.

Between the two, I would definitely say cabin. I would rather have a balcony on a smaller, older ship than an interior on a large, new ship.

But then again, itinerary would win over both of these any day. When my husband and I finally make it to Europe for our Med cruise, I don't care if we are in the smallest interior known to man. [emoji6]

We want it ALL! :D

 

The itinerary we want! The Cruise line/Ship we want! The type of cabin in the location we want! :)

 

LuLu

We all like to "have it all"; but being a realist, I will generally choose either ship or itinerary first - depending upon how much I prefer whatever of each is offered. I would only choose NCL for a winter itinerary out of New York; but doubt I would ever pick any ship carrying much more than 3,000 passengers even if it were sailing from New York to anywhere any time of year. I would probably choose Prinsendam on almost any itinerary. I am good with any location on a ship as long as it is at least ocean view.

I have always wondered what American Cruisers / Canadian Cruisers class as there dream

Cruise Area as for myself we love cruising too Caribbean for 2 weeks Inside cabin , itinerary and price priority , then ship .

I wouldn't have an inside on any ship.

Not many I'd have an OV on.

Some ships I wouldn't have a suite on.

When I initially began cruising it was all about the price and destinations. Now it's about the destinations and the ship offering the right price at the right time of year I prefer to travel. Booking a balcony cabin is a no questions asked option for me. I do like less intensive ports as it allows me equal time to enjoy land based activities but to also be able to spend quality time on the ship and usage of that awesome balcony I purchased. We're going on Allure of the Seas this time and have already nixed one island visit (Nassau) so there will be even more time to enjoy onboard and on balcony. :)