Ahhh persuade me to do the balcony!

[CarefreeCruising]

Yea, but.......

Where do all of the other masses of people go for the sunsets who don't have a balcony? They will be with you on the upper deck while ones with a balcony will have privacy. I prefer privacy.....:)

 

As much as I really do love balconies, my first cruise was in an ocean view room. We had no problem finding two lounge chairs up on deck away from everyone else to quietly watch the sunset. It was a fun nightly tradition. Of course, I enjoy it even more on our balcony but it's not bad on deck either!

[cruiseguy1016]

Yea, but.......

Where do all of the other masses of people go for the sunsets who don't have a balcony? They will be with you on the upper deck while ones with a balcony will have privacy. I prefer privacy.....:)

 

And this is where people are different. I would rather be out enjoying it with other people.

 

I am not saying a balcony is bad. Many people have no trouble affording them. Many people use them a lot. I would rather spend my money elsewhere. I personally don't have a need for one. For every reason someone gives me why you have to have a balcony, I can give a reason why it's not necessary.

 

I'm just trying to let people see the other side of the issue.

[ryano]

No help here. There is no way I would pay almost 500.00 per person more for a balcony. I would take that money and book another cruise!

 

Im in the cabin to shower, change and sleep. Thats it :) A total of 6 hours at the most a day.

 

People here say that will change if I ever get a balcony but I dont cruise to be by myself and sit in my cabin. I cruise because I like mingling with people and partaking in all the activities.

 

Money IS an object to me and the only way I will ever see a balcony is if the offer is just too good to refuse.

 

I could have upgraded to a balcony this upcoming cruise for 20.00 per person and would have in a heartbeat but there were no HA balcony cabins left.

 

An inside or oceanview will suffice me just fine :)

[earn]

OK, the only balconies I have had are JS. I would cruise JS again for the extra room and the balcony was good because my mum was cruising with me and takes a loooooong time to get ready. I could sit outside rather than have to wait inside, but was still close. Normally I cruise with my family and we all like getting out on to the decks. I like being around people and prefer being on deck than on a balcony as it is more sociable. I would only take a OV if it was on a high deck as that is very important to me. I like to be on deck 9 or 10.

[Robert & Debra]

We love balconies and always try to get one. Having said that the cost difference in your case would make me pause. I have in the past gone for a oceanview when I felt the price difference was too much.

[ASeaPrincess1]

Absolutely not true!

 

It all depends on the cost. We often book inside cabins are are totally happy. In this case, it would be foolish for most people to spend almost $1000 extra for a balcony.

Maybe not true for you, but it is for me!

 

I have traveled in just about every category, and I prefer having fresh air and knowing what time of day it is. I also get claustrophobic in an inside.

That is just me.

I love everything about having a balcony.

 

If balcony cabins are running $1000 more than an inside, I don't know it, because I never price insides. But for me, it IS worth it.

 

So I will revise my statement: Once I had balcony, I will never go back.

[bus man]

To the OP: if you have an extra $1,000 sitting around, then by all means get the balcony. But otherwise . . . I would recommend doing a simple cost-benefit analysis. You already know what the cost is; but what is the benefit? Is it worth that amount of money to you? What is the opportunity cost of spending this money in this way? In other words, what will you have to give up in order to afford the balcony? Is the trade-off worth it?

 

To me, the answer couldn't be easier: NO WAY! I'll take that $1,000 and do another cruise! But that's me. You have to do what's best for you; and if you'd rather take one cruise and do it up big-time, rather than taking two frugal cruises, then go for it!

[aloha43]

Maybe not true for you, but it is for me!

 

I have traveled in just about every category, and I prefer having fresh air and knowing what time of day it is. I also get claustrophobic in an inside.

That is just me.

I love everything about having a balcony.

 

If balcony cabins are running $1000 more than an inside, I don't know it, because I never price insides. But for me, it IS worth it.

 

So I will revise my statement: Once I had balcony, I will never go back.

 

Haha.....you just described me when it comes to the balcony!:D

[klingoncruiser]

I hope you choose not to do the balcony. Once you do a balcony, you will never go back inside.... evaaar..... Don't do it, it is a clever trap on the part of the cruise lines. :D

[MissLianne]

Tiianks everyone i love all the imput

 

sooooo df asked a few colleagues and they all pretty much agreed that the balcony is the way to go. a few of them suggested the ocv stateroom but df said what the heck!

 

I really think we made the right decscion as we are now even more excited.... I was nervous up to now about the interior.

 

 

 

Thanks so much & excuse my lack of punctuationim writing this on my blackberry

[yogimax]

sooooo df asked a few colleagues and they all pretty much agreed that the balcony is the way to go.

 

Of course... that's the obvious and simplistic answer.

 

Would you rather fly First Class or Economy is comparable.

 

The real question is whether it is worth $1000.

 

If you decide it is, it will say something about future decisions you will make.

[ThaiManCity]

I will never go for an inside without a port hole, unless really no choice.

I would go for the minimum of an ocean view cabin.

I like to see the sea condition and wave size while cruising.

On port day, checking the weather and temperature before deciding how much clothing to put on is also an added bonus.

 

If you are a smoker, some cruise lines allow smoking in the balcony.

Save some walking going for a puff.

 

On selected cruise where the balcony cabins are not costing an arm or a leg, I will go for a balcony. I usually aim for these cruises.

 

 

 

It all depends.

[Tax Lady]

I just returned from a 7 day cruise with a balcony. Have done an OV and will not do that again. Love my balcony. BUT Princess allows smoaking on balconies. That could render your balcony unuseable.

 

I have not had that experience, but check with your cruise line for advice.

 

Tax Lady

[WedNoMor]

I rate the Balconies with a Triple B rating...!!

 

Breakfast - Beer - Bikini's drying...

[travlingram]

A balcony is wonderful much of the time, but be prepared for the possibility that your shipmates in adjoining cabins may be smokers, and if you're not, you may find yourself having to choose between wonderful views and smoke. We hadn't considered that possibility. Unfortunately, our neighbors on both sides were smokers. When a smoker leans on the rail with cigarette in hand, and you're downwind, it's not pleasant. That being said, I would still choose a balcony. For our part, next time we'll try to find a smoke-free cruise.

[SamFritz]

I've never done an inside cabin, but have been in Oceanview, Balcony, Junior Suite and Owner's Suite (courtesy of the upgrade fairy). For my purposes I have placed the value of a balcony at $25 per day. Right now I'm watching my Radiance cruise for last minute drops. It's a five day cruise, so I need it to be no more than $125 more than what I paid for the OV. It's running $280 more, but I would get a $100 diamond discount, so I need it to drop another $55 to go for the balcony. If it doesn't I'll be happy in my OV and maybe upgrade my wine package, or take a night at Portofinos or Chops.

[Isaboo]

[quote name='ryano']No help here. There is no way I would pay almost 500.00 per person more for a balcony. I would take that money and book another cruise!

Im in the cabin to shower, change and sleep. Thats it :) A total of 6 hours at the most a day.

People here say that will change if I ever get a balcony but I dont cruise to be by myself and sit in my cabin. I cruise because I like mingling with people and partaking in all the activities.

Money IS an object to me and the only way I will ever see a balcony is if the offer is just too good to refuse.

I could have upgraded to a balcony this upcoming cruise for 20.00 per person and would have in a heartbeat but there were no HA balcony cabins left.

An inside or oceanview will suffice me just fine :)[/quote]

For our cruise on the Freedom in June 2011 it was only $300 more per person for a balcony. I'll take that! We are a family of five, with a 10-year old and 4-year old twins. We actually got one inside cabin and one balcony cabin, so we have someplace to hang out during the day. I don't care where I sleep, but we want that balcony during the day! I think I would be OK with an inside only if we were just adults traveling. People say "I'm only in the room to sleep", but when you have small kids you spend more time in the room!

[JOLLY8]

I have sailed 11 times, my wife 8 times, 6 on Princess. Cruise #1 inside, under the ship! Learned that I could survive. Great trip! #2 OV just missed getting a balcony. Fun trip! With wife had RCCL annoyances. #3 Alaska Hal just missed a balcony, went OV, Land tour too. Great trip. #4 Panama Canal Coral Princess w/wife. Best balcony cruise! Wife loves coffee, reading, laying out in robe. #5 took married children, booked suite, Hal, tough on HC folk, #'s 6-11 Learned about handicapped cabins. Both HC. Wife w/scooter. Balcony best for her. Searched for cruises w/small differences in cost. Princess rules! 15 day escorted AK Bal cruise fantastic.[IMG]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon14.gif[/IMG] If cost is not too great a burden, we will always sail in an HC Bal cabin. In fact, we have had the same cabin # on many trips. We try to sail 1 or 2 times a year if $ possible. All the joy of morning/evening on a Balcony relaxing makes a cruise seem to last longer and be more enjoyable. Love the pix posted. Have many of our own. Cruises rule!:)

[cruise4]

Once you have a balcony, you never go back! :)

[Paul65]

[quote name='aloha43']Yea, but.......
Where do all of the other masses of people go for the sunsets who don't have a balcony? They will be with you on the upper deck while ones with a balcony will have privacy. I prefer privacy.....:)[/quote]


Yeah . . . trust me, the upper decks are not exactly crowded at sunrise. And if you really want see a panoramic view of the sunrise, the open decks are much better than a balcony for that.

And I normally sail w/ a balcony cabin, but still like to see the sunrise from up top. The difference in price has usually [B]much[/B] less than $1000, though, so I'm not sure I would pay that much differential to get a balcony. That said, I think I saw where the OP already made her choice, and they're going with the balcony, so it's settled. Hope they have a great time.

[Shooraq]

[quote name='green eyed lady']I would get the inside cabin and use that extra $468/pp to go on another cruise :eek:[/QUOTE]

Bingo. I rather stay inside and do 2 cruises a year versus 1 balcony at one cruise a year. I do little on my balcony. The times I've had it, I'll force myself to read or have a cup of tea. But the times I have an oceanview or interior, I jsut go off to the pool deck. Instant savings of money!

[LarCourt]

Easy one.......Fresh air and great views with a balcony....

[jack278]

[quote name='Shooraq']Bingo. I rather stay inside and do 2 cruises a year versus 1 balcony at one cruise a year. I do little on my balcony. The times I've had it, I'll force myself to read or have a cup of tea. But the times I have an oceanview or interior, I jsut go off to the pool deck. Instant savings of money![/quote]

Same can be said that one can buy 2 Corollas instead of 1 Lexus, or 2 burgers instead of 1 cheeseburger... I rather have the Lexus.

Everyone has their own ideas and values, that's why I think there are no clear cut answers to questions like these. While a Ferrari might be worth the money for me, other won't agree.

[L & D in MKE]

Originally Posted by [B]green eyed lady[/B] [URL="http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=27756788#post27756788"][IMG]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif[/IMG][/URL]
[I]I would get the inside cabin and use that extra $468/pp to go on another cruise :eek:[/I]
[I] [/I]
[I] [/I]
[I] [/I]
[I]Unless money is NO object, I agree with green eyed lady. I'd rather spend the money on other enjoyment as opposed to accommodations. However, if you are the type to spend a lot of time in the room or on a balcony instead of being out and about, it may be worth the money. [/I]
[I] [/I]
[I]Either way you'll have a good time. [/I]
[I] [/I]
[I] [/I]

[kjddrb]

We always do a balcony if available. OV cabins often place the bed directly under the window so it's hard to enjoy any view (the exception might be Disney with large unobstructed windows. My wife is claustrophobic and we spend a lot of time in our cabin due to her health conditions. Even if you don't actually use the balcony that much, IF you are going to spend much time in your cabin you will enjoy the extra light, the great view, and the impression of a much more spacious accomodation.