Help me Decide: Balcony or Window Suite in Hawaii

[schoolmom]

For not much price difference I can get the Golden window suite vs. a balcony. This is for Hawaii. I'm thinking I would really miss the balcony in Hawaii. Although, there are 3 of us in the cabin so the extra room would be nice. Which way to go??:confused:

[framer]

If you are going in the spring it can be cold. When in HI you will be off the ship. It will be cool to cold on most seadays. I'd take the suite:D.

 

Plus you get suite perks.

 

framer

[karatemom2]

We have done the Hawaii cruise several times on the Golden, and while you might use your balcony for the days you are in Hawaii, it might not prove that attractive during the Pacific crossing which can be a bit cool and windy. We tend to spend the bulk of our time in Hawaii off the ship in port since there is so much to do in just a few days so if you are like us, even in Hawaii you would probably only be using the balcony in the evenings. Personally, I think I would go for the extra space.

[Mr. Bubble]

We did the balcony to/from Hawaii in December. On sea days we had happy hour on the veranda wrapped in blankets! It was great.

 

Whatever you decide, have a great time.

 

MJ

[marilynbn]

Hawaii?? No question....Balcony!! :D

[jnc411]

Hi , have done Hawaii before and are booked again for Nov. We have a balcony booked, it just worked out best for us (two of us), but if we had 3 in the cabin I would go for the suite, we have traveled with 3 in a cabin before and booked a mini suite , having that extra space was really good, the bed was the sofa so it was on the floor and not fold out from the ceiling like you would have in a balcony cabin, really much nicer for the one who has to sleep in the extra bed. Hope it all works out good for you. Enjoy your cruise

Cori

[Woobstr112G]

If you've never done the Hawaii Itinerary before then a balcony would be my first choice. If you've done the cruise before I would personally take a WS suite for the suite perks. Breakfast in Sabatinis being the best followed closely by the free internet.....:):):)

 

Bob

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

It will be to cold to seat out side...

[Mycruises62]

Never to cold to sit on a balcony on your way to hawaii.

You will enjoy the balcony to, read, have lunch, chat with you're fellow cruisers or just watch the sea go by.

 

For sure book a balcony.

 

Have a great trip. off to Hawaii in Nov for us. Balcony all the way.

[Vanilla]

Going to Alaska in August 2012 - weighing the balcony vs the WS - for about the same price - we chose the WS....check out ALL the suite perks on the Princess site... for us, free pressing of clothing/laundry/Sabatinis breakfast/drinks in the cabin were too good for us to pass up. Warm climate like Caribbean/Hawaii when it is in the 80s or 90s while at sea is a different story. I don't want to have to use a coat or blanket to be on the balcony. Everyone has an opinion - I would weigh what is important to YOU and then decide. Its going to be a great cruise no matter which cabin you pick.

[Toddy709]

We had an aft balcony to Hawaii so maybe it doesn't count because we didn't have the cold wind issues. But I have to say, I'd never do a cruise that long without a balcony!! I don't care how cramped it is inside as long as I can retreat to the balcony!

[KruzPrincess]

You'll have to decide what's most important to you. For me, balcony wins hands down. Being outside on the balcony is probably the most important thing to me with cruising. I'll wrap up in a blanket if it's chilly. I don't really care about the suite perks, but I'm elite and already get laundry, etc. I never go out to breakfast, so Sabatini's is no big deal. I'm sure you'll have fun either way.

[Cruisin' Chick]

When I was booking our December 2010 cruise on the Golden, there were only obstructed OVs and window suites still available. Cost is important to us so we went with the OOV -- which turned out to be not so obstructed so we were happy. We were looking at the deck plan after I finished the booking and I noticed that the WS were by the cigar bar. So even if we had the $5000/person, we wouldn't have booked one of them.

 

On the cruise, when checking out the casino, we walked down the hall where the WS cabins were, and the hallway reeked. I think it will be far worse when smoking in the cabins gets banned and the smokers flock to the cigar room.

[dbeckett]

Not sure why everyone is so down on cigar smoke. Cigarettes I can't stand the smell of but cigars I can inhale the smell quite happily - I'm not saying till the cows come home but pretty close

[Cruisin' Chick]

Not sure why everyone is so down on cigar smoke. Cigarettes I can't stand the smell of but cigars I can inhale the smell quite happily - I'm not saying till the cows come home but pretty close

 

My father was a cigar smoker. Even multiple washings couldn't get that smell out of his clothes. My mother was smart when she banned him from smoking inside their condo.

[flamomo]

I cannot imagine a cruise to Hawaii without a balcony cabin.

 

MY first choice would be for one on the Caribe deck ..... larger than average balcony that is half covered, 2 semi-reclining chairs, 2 regular chairs, a larger table that is dining height, and hopefully with ottomans to prop our feet up while relaxing and enjoying the sea view and the smell of the sea!!! Ahhhhh .... Heavenly!!!

[StillPooh]

Going to Alaska in August 2012 - weighing the balcony vs the WS - for about the same price - we chose the WS....check out ALL the suite perks on the Princess site... for us, free pressing of clothing/laundry/Sabatinis breakfast/drinks in the cabin were too good for us to pass up. Warm climate like Caribbean/Hawaii when it is in the 80s or 90s while at sea is a different story.

Our Southern Caribbean itinerary only has one sea day. That was one of the factors that made us choose the WS over a balcony cabin.

 

When I was booking our December 2010 cruise on the Golden' date=' there were only obstructed OVs and window suites still available. Cost is important to us so we went with the OOV -- which turned out to be not so obstructed so we were happy. We were looking at the deck plan after I finished the booking and I noticed that the WS were by the cigar bar. So even if we had the $5000/person, we wouldn't have booked one of them.

 

[/quote']We're only paying $999/pp for our WS. Only slightly more than a balcony and less than a mini suite (but we get full suite perks). :cool:

[Wormy53]

I agree that this is a personal decision. I would not like all those sea days to and from LA. So for me, I would choose the WS unless I had an aft mini. It will be chilly out there during the crossing. You will have 4 perfect days to use a balcony. I guess it comes down to whether that is enough for you.

 

All those sea days would really be more enjoyable with suite amenities. Hope you have a good time making this decision!!:)

[Dena]

We went in late November and had a balcony and used it every day. Never thought it was cold. Anyway, I don't mind putting on a sweater or jacket to sit outside.

 

Also, with a balcony one or two people could go outside to give the third person a bit of privacy for changing.

[Vanilla]

Still Pooh, did you notice any smell from the cigar bar? I have thought that would be the only downside to the WS.

[Roses2]

We are Elite, yet any time the price of a Window Suite is close to that of a mini-suite, we grab the WS and have done it three times.

 

However, if you do not like to start the day with a champagne cocktail or a Mimosa in Sabatinis, and if you do not like to have those chocolate strawberrues delivered every afternoon, and if you do not like to have that flower arrangement -- and , and, and ---- then of course, grab the balcony or the mini.

 

Just our opinion.

[StillPooh]

Still Pooh, did you notice any smell from the cigar bar? I have thought that would be the only downside to the WS.

We have not cruised in our WS yet. We sail january 29th.

 

But I read many reviews of the suites and only one person said their cabin smelled of smoke (but that the corridor did not). Smoking will be banned in the cabins and balconies by the time we sail My husband enjoys a nightly cigar, so choosing a cabin near the cigar bar was a deliberate choice for us. He gets his stogies and I get a marble jacuzzi bath, private breakfasts with free mimosas, and a host of other fantastic perks. :cool:

[baylaurel]

We just returned from a Princess Cruise. Our window suite reeked of stale cigarette smoke. Initially, the hallway did not smell, except right outside our door. Later, it did smell of smoke either because there were smokers in one or more window suites and/or because the door at the end of the hall near the cigar lounge was sometimes left open. The suite perks were not worth sleeping in an ashtray.

[momK]

Which ship and room #?

[baylaurel]

Golden Princess F311.