Solo cruiser - Balcony or Studio

Hello all,

I am thinking about doing a solo cruise on the Getaway. Price being roughly the same, is there really any kind of advantage to the studio room? Or should I go for the balcony? I guess what I am curious about is the social aspect of the studio room. Does it really facilitate meeting people, or should I just go with a balcony room and make friends the old fashioned way? lol

You don't have to be in a studio in order to participate in the solo social activities organized by the ship. Often the 'cocktail hour' meet and greet moves out of the studio social area anyway. In my opinion, if a balcony appeals, take it.

The solo lounge is called private on the website. I would assume if you have a Balcony you wouldn't have access to the solo lounge. If you would rather have the balcony do it :) I'm a solo cruiser as well. I'm outgoing and don't have trouble meeting people and I enjoy balconies/suites.

Hello all,

 

I am thinking about doing a solo cruise on the Getaway. Price being roughly the same, is there really any kind of advantage to the studio room? Or should I go for the balcony? I guess what I am curious about is the social aspect of the studio room. Does it really facilitate meeting people, or should I just go with a balcony room and make friends the old fashioned way? lol

Are you sure the price is the same? Usually you pay double for solo in a balcony. If the cost is almost the same for sure get the balcony.

I typically make lots of friends on cruises, but I haven't gone solo before. I'm kind of intrigued by the idea.

Are you sure the price is the same? Usually you pay double for solo in a balcony. If the cost is almost the same for sure get the balcony.

For the sailing I am looking at, there is a solo discount that makes the solo price close to the same as double occupancy

I would definitely book the balcony! Although you wouldn't have general access the Studio lounge, you can still gain access during the solo meet up hour or so. On my trips on Epic I found the studio lounge pretty quiet at other times. Yes it was nice to have somewhere quiet to pop back to at the end of the evening to grab a drink and cookie, but for me the balcony perks would outweigh that.

I typically make lots of friends on cruises, but I haven't gone solo before. I'm kind of intrigued by the idea.

 

 

 

For the sailing I am looking at, there is a solo discount that makes the solo price close to the same as double occupancy

That’s perfect, all of the sole people will want to party in your cabin and balcony. :)

I love the studios so I’m biased... but I love the whole lounge concept, snacks, decent coffee and meeting solo guests too... balcony’s are sometimes cheaper than a studio but I love having the quiet space that only a few can access... all depends what is important... to be fair not many hang in the lounge during the day so it’s no guarantee of meeting new people.

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I'm just back from sailing in a solo room on the Breakaway. The Solo Lounge really depends on the host and the passenger demographics. We had a good host that was there every night and organized group dinners and such. It was nice to pop in for a snack or coffee and chat with whoever was there. The bar was open in the lounge from 5-6 everyday and the get together was at 5:30 for 30 minutes. Most of the solos on our cruise were a bit older so we met people that we wanted to hang out with in the disco and casino.

If cost is the same, go for the balcony. BTW, what cruise is this and how do you find the solo discounts?

What about perks? Frequently they will give a solo price to the sailaway category, which doesn't typically have any perks. The studio would have a perk. Just something to think about when deciding.

I've gone solo a few times, but never in a studio. Will do my first studio in a few weeks. Kind of excited!

If price is the same, I'd go for a balcony. If a studio is less expensive, I'd go with that. If you're looking for somewhere quiet to sit and watch the world go by, it's usually not that hard to find a place for just one person.

I would go for the balcony, without question. The studio rooms are nice, but you can't beat having the balcony if you plan on using it even a little. I would even pay a bit more for the balcony, but at the same price, it's and easy decision in my opinion.

The main benefit of the studio rooms is access to the studio lounge, which has 24 hr complimentary coffee/tea/hot chocolate and snacks for most of the day (not late at night/ very early morning from my experience on the Breakaway.)

I have done a Studio cabin twice with no need to go back so I would recommend a balcony. Even though a Studio is practical, I prefer the extra room in a regular cabin. For my upcoming cruise, at one point a Sail Away balcony was $300 cheaper than a Studio. The Lounge is nice to have easy access for coffee or tea at odd hours without having to go all the way to the buffet. Also, the Lounge on the Away ships is pretty small when compared to the one on the Epic. You should be able to make shipboard friends at the evening solo gatherings and other locations on the ship.

Definitely the balcony. The balcony itself outweighs the solo lounge

Frequent solo traveler and have stayed in both. If prices are comparable, I'd go for the balcony 100% of the time. You'll meet people either way.

When I go solo, I book a balcony, aft. When I go with family, we book a suite. That being said the studios look adorable and I would not be opposed to trying one someday. As others have mentioned, you can still participate in the solo meet ups without staying in the studios. I planned on doing that but started to meet too many new friends the old fashioned way and never got around to it. Especially if the price is the same, no brainer get the balcony.

Hello all,

 

I am thinking about doing a solo cruise on the Getaway. Price being roughly the same, is there really any kind of advantage to the studio room? Or should I go for the balcony? I guess what I am curious about is the social aspect of the studio room. Does it really facilitate meeting people, or should I just go with a balcony room and make friends the old fashioned way? lol

If the price is the same take the balcony. I've sailed in the studio three times. You don't get anything extra except the lounge. I never saw anyone in there, and the social gatherings occur in one of the bars.

I agree with those who have said take the balcony. I have been in studio cabins several times and I would always take the balcony for the extra room and the balcony itself. The studio lounge is a nice perk, but a balcony is so nice. You can always join the solo social hour at night and meet people that way.

I've done both. Ceteris paribus, take the balcony. You can still do the solo get togethers (which are oftentimes held in public areas after the first day), and the solo lounge isn't worth giving up a balcony. Plus the balcony stateroom itself is far larger.

I typically make lots of friends on cruises, but I haven't gone solo before. I'm kind of intrigued by the idea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the sailing I am looking at, there is a solo discount that makes the solo price close to the same as double occupancy

I’m going to guess the Balcony is a sail away rate, no perk.

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I would go for the balcony, no question about it! I could see sailing in a studio under certain circumstances and at a really great price, but it mostly seems like a marketing gimmick to sell inside cabins.

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I’d go for a Balcony, unless you plan on drinking a fair amount and the Free at Sea promo works out in your favour cost-wise getting a studio. The cheaper balcony for solos is usually only a sailaway rate and adding a drinks package becomes too costly.