vancouverfan

This is an interesting discussion.

 

We have always booked oceanview and up (after 2 oceanviews we tried a balcony and never looked back).

 

Unlike many cruisers, we DO spend a fair bit of time in our room. We love spending time on the balcony and often enjoy meals in room or on the balcony. Even when we've travelled in colder weather, you can count on us to be on that balcony. I like the extra light, the fresh air and the slightly larger space a balcony gives you. We've had a chance to tour inside cabins and about 2 minutes inside was enough for me. :o

 

Where you spend your money is up to you. We spend very little on board, typically booking private tours or DIY, and don't indulgence in spas, meals that cost extra $ or the various extras the cruiselines offer. We bring the wine allowance on board and don't drink much extra beyond that. We always have lots of OBC. Our onboard bill has been as little as -$32 and as high as $460 (14 day cruise). I know there are cruisers who have onboard bills in the thousands.

 

My point is that, for us, the price of a balcony is worth it, and we save money in other ways to allow us to pay for it.

I totally agree with you.

The most frequent comments here : we love the darkness in the room to sleep better. My question is do you also have a room without a window at home, if not how can you sleep at home !!!! This is rationalisation.

We do not spend a lot of time in the cabin : well with an inside cabin, it is an excellent idea. The lack of natural light is a depressant. Also, there is nothing to enjoy in an inside cabin during the day, no view, no sunshine, no fresh air, etc. With a balcony, you can listen to the waves, watch sunrise and sunset, relax and doze off in you private chair, eat breakfast or lunch al fresco, etc. No wonder none of you spends a lot of time in an interior cabin.

I would rather spend my money on a balcony than sit in my interior stateroom and watch my interest grow and my investment increase. My children would prefer that I stay only in insides.....I want to spend it, enjoy luxury and have fun rather than being thrifty for others to enjoy my money later.

It's the notice period I have secondary issue with.

 

People that have booked and had little option of cancelling if they wish etc.

 

Of course if they gave notice it would create bad PR. That's why they do it with immediate effect. They would have known about this for some considerable time, meanwhile they are happy to takes people's cash, on the basis that the customers who are familiar with the longstanding policy are not aware of the change.

 

I have checked-in online for a cruise in a few weeks time. No mention. I've printed my luggage tags. No mention. If you google news on HAL there's also nothing about it online to date. No press release? Of course not. Sneak it in.

Seriously, you would cancel your cruise because you cannot bring your wine !!!!