Sea Princess Balcony Cabins

[SaltwaterTwo]

I have noticed several questions regarding the balcony cabins on the Sea Princess. The following details should answer many questions, however remember that when the following was written it was 2001 and perhaps a few things have changed. If anyone knows of any changes please let me know as we will be on the SeaP again next March 11 for a 14 day grand cruise of the East and West Carribean.

Sea Princess 2001 Fort Lauderdale to San Diego via Panama Canal

 

The Cabin

 

We had cabin A339 forward and on the starboard side. It was in an ideal location. If I had it to do again I would take the same cabin. It was a Balcony cabin and I can say we have been spoiled. Although small in size we gladly would give up the extra space for the openness provided by a balcony. It was big enough to have our other eight friends over for happy hour - four guys comfortably on the balcony and the six gals inside. We were only six doors from the elevator (lifts), one deck from the pool area, two decks from the horizon court and seven doors away from the laundry. From our balcony we watched the flying fishes play, the brown boobies (birds) diving for their lunch and on one very rare occasion, on the Pacific side, a giant marlin leaping. Here are the sub-categories of the cabin and the only reason I am getting into details is that posters have asked questions that perhaps the following will answer:

 

The closet area is five foot six inches long by 1 foot six inches deep. We found it quite adequate for all our clothes. Plenty of wooden hangers and if you need more just ask your room Steward. The bath area was very small but functional. I think if you are a very big person you might have problems. The one outlet is for shaver only and needs a foreign converter. I suppose the room steward has one but I didn't ask. In the evening we ran out of hot water in the shower but it was still warm enough for us. I suppose in the cold weather cruises it could be a problem. There was a 13-inch Sony TV. The Bed: It was at least one grade above hotel standard as were the pillows. Our entire luggage fit under the bed although we did have to slip one large piece under in the open position. The telephone. The telephone system is the best I have seen. Want time? Just punch in 133. To talk to another cabin punch in the code for the deck and the cabin number. I never used the handset. Just tapped the icon for speaker and with great clarity you can talk and hear from anyplace in the room. We used the phone message service to keep track of each other (all ten of us). One of the first things you should do is to get acquainted with the telephone. The Safe. This takes some getting used to. Out of the ten of us four of us had to call for assistance sometime during the cruise. It is quite small but will hold a SLR camera and small miscellaneous. Read the instructions very carefully. The fridge: It is seven and one half inches deep, thirteen inches wide, and eighteen inches high. Don't do what I did and place a soda can on the top shelf or it will turn to slush. Noise: The room is quiet. We could but rarely hear anything from the passageway however the noise on the adjacent balconies travels. We had to close our slider one day as our next-door neighbors read aloud to each other on their balcony. With the slider closed we couldn't hear them

 

The balcony. It measures eight foot ten inches long by four feet wide. Two resin chairs (it will hold four) and one table. On either side is a partition that when open folds up against the slider. We found this out one day when the wind blew one of them open. Our jewel of a cabin steward quickly got a large hex key and put it back in place. One word of warning. Your next-door neighbors can peer into your balcony and part of your cabin by peeking through the vinyl closure at the ends. Nobody can see you from above or from the bridge extensions. The room area: The entire room excluding the balcony is eight foot two inches wide by 17 foot 2 inches long. The bed area of the room is eight foot two inches wide and eleven foot eight inches long at the head of the bedside and twelve foot two inches long at the foot of the bed. We managed very well. There were few outlets. A hair dryer hung on the wall next to the desk (with mirror behind). The closet area is five foot six inches long by 1 foot six inches deep. We found it quite adequate for all our clothes. Plenty of wooden hangers and if you need more just ask your room Steward.

I would appreciate any update on the above from any who have been aboard the Sea Princess on recent cruises.

[Ibrasu]

Just left A335 (boo hoo) and can confirm the above still applies. The only minor niggle was that the telephone did not display the time permanently (as on Grand class ships) and we had forgotten our clock!

The position is perfect, whether you take stairs or elevators, to go up for snacks and down for the dining rooms.

It is indeed peaceful inside though you can hear MUTS from the balcony if everything else is dead quiet. It is, however, muffled and distant and this is less of a problem than it sounds as most of the time the sea noise quite covers it. (We were forced to anchor outisde a port half the night - details in 'Sea Princess' thread - and that was when it could be heard.)

We had sufficient hot water (too much indeed as the water which went through the loo system was also hot, something which brought a blush to our cheeks!) There was also a dispenser of liquid soap in the shower. We've never encountered this extra before and it was very useful, and nice spa soap too.

The balcony, though tiny, was essentially completely private. We checked for spy holes and found none ..... there also were no vinyl closures referred to above (and familiar from Grand class) but rather a more solid surround. Could this have been changed when it was P&O? (and if so why? And is it going to be changed back?) Anyway, it was nicer.

Regarding the safe, as always when clearing it check under the front ledge and, in the case of A335, pull out the loose lining too as it is easy to let something slip below it.

We had two electrical outlets (apart from the TV) one UK and one US. Hope this doesn't get changed!

Last thought ... on arrival, the cabin seemed very small in comparison with Grand class. However, within 24 hours we found a home for everything and the cabin size turned out to be more than adequate.

We wish we were still there!!!!

Byeee,

Ibrasu

[SaltwaterTwo]

Just left A335 (boo hoo) and can confirm the above still applies.

 

I appreciate the update. It looks like they have made a few improvements re privacy on the balconies. Many thanks

Saltwater (thats me) and Two (that's DW)