Tired of Veranda Balcony

[sugarcharlie]

i am trying something new for my next Eastern Carib cruise. I booked a J for the following reasons:

On my last one I had a balcony and also a cabana in the Retreat. I found that I spent almost everyday in the cabana and had two great cabana boys that provided me everything I could want. The only thing I really did in my cabin was to shower, dress and sleep.

This time I also booked a cabana for the entire cruise so I figured I'd try the inside cabin. I had one a few years ago and we left the tv on to the channel from the bridge. It was like a virtual window as we were able to see the sunrise and as we were entering ports. At night I'm at shows or in the casino and when I get back to my cabin it's to sleep.

Now I am not doing this for economical reasons, it just makes sense to me. I sailed on the Westerdam to Alaska last June and was in the Penthouse which was a great experience. We spent a lot of time on that huge balcony, and were in our hotub as we sailed through Glaciar Bay.

People sail because they enjoy cruising. Everyone has reasons for the way they book their cruises whether it's itineraries, costs, or whatever. Everyone tries (and they should) to get maximum value for what they are purchasing. We look for price reductions, upsell offers, upgrades, and shipboard credits. It's part of the fun of cruising.

I'll let you know how my plan works out after my trip. In the meantime if any of you are going to be on the March 17th sailing of the NA, and have a cabana booked, let me know. I'll join you for a sail away cocktail!

[CruiseWhere]

Hell!!! Given the choice I'd take a balcony/verandah over a room /suite!!:):D

[sammygoose]

We are about to find out! We had an outside stateroom on the NA in October and loved it. 1010 was chanted many an evening by us and the crew- I'm not sure they even knew our names but we were a happy group and they called us by our stateroom- hey 1010! We loved that room and on a rough sea day and night it was nice to be snuggled down in the ship. A friend commented that our room seemed cozier and warmer than hers on the 4th deck. The window was also larger than we expected. Based on the fact that it was a port intensive cruise we were more than pleased with our room.

We booked a VD verandah for our upcoming Caribbean cruise with the warmer weather. We'll use it more is the thinking.

I hope I am not 'ruining' myself with the upgrade...........all my cruising co-workers looked at me with pity when I said our first cruise was sans verandah.

When we booked the cruise in Feb our TA said the verandah was cheaper than an outside stateroom, confirmed by my research on the HAL website at the time. It may be an evil plan to wreck us forever..........damn.

[Richie2pies]

Since HAL allows smoking on balconies, I always cruise with one. If a line prohibits smoking on balconies, it's not going to get my money.

[Typhoon1]

I started in an inside, graduated to on outside. After taking DH on a cruise, we decided on a veranda for the next cruise. There's no turning back.

[JamesEM]

DW and I have been on over 50 cruises, about 10 years ago I booked a cabin with a verandah and now we don't a cruise without one.

[GeriatricNurse]

Since HAL allows smoking on balconies, I always cruise with one. If a line prohibits smoking on balconies, it's not going to get my money.

 

As long as HAL or any other other cruiseline allows smoking on their stateroom balconies then I will continue to enjoy booking interior staterooms, thereby saving money as well as not being exposed to carcinogenic sidestream tobacco smoke by having booked a verandah suite! ;)

[Lessa123]

On our first cruise we had an inside cabin and I contracted norwalk. I was restricted to my cabin for the duration of the illness and 24 hours after all signs had passed. While I was ill that was fine, the 24 hours more had me going stir crazy and claustrophobic. Because of that experience, no verandah, no cruise.

[LindaM]

As long as HAL or any other other cruiseline allows smoking on their stateroom balconies then I will continue to enjoy booking interior staterooms, thereby saving money as well as not being exposed to carcinogenic sidestream tobacco smoke by having booked a verandah suite! ;)

 

Yup, me too. What is interesting about this thread is how many people obviously are NOT bothered by smoking on balconies. Most people haven't said a word about it and continue to book balconies. I guess this is good news for HAL---they aren't losing any passengers because of their policies.

 

They've lost me....except I will still sail on Prinsendam. I like it's OV cabins. Can't stand the OV on the other ships---with the window above the bed.

[cruz chic]

Yup, me too. What is interesting about this thread is how many people obviously are NOT bothered by smoking on balconies. Most people haven't said a word about it and continue to book balconies. I guess this is good news for HAL---they aren't losing any passengers because of their policies.

 

They've lost me....except I will still sail on Prinsendam. I like it's OV cabins. Can't stand the OV on the other ships---with the window above the bed.

I don't like having a smoker next to me and I always hope they don't smoke non stop. Hal allows it for now. Why complain here because some people get really nasty. Just look at the recent smoking thread. I mention it on my comment card where it is more likely to be seen.

[Cruising-along]

On our first cruise we had an inside cabin and I contracted norwalk. I was restricted to my cabin for the duration of the illness and 24 hours after all signs had passed. While I was ill that was fine, the 24 hours more had me going stir crazy and claustrophobic. Because of that experience, no verandah, no cruise.

 

I have never had Noro (knock on wood!) but have always thought if I ever have the misfortune to get it, I hope I have a balcony so I can get fresh air.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

[matondo]

For us cruising is about relaxation not destination. We spend a lot of time in our cabin and a balcony is a must. Last cruise over 2 years ago we had an SY suite and now DH said no matter how long it takes it is a suite or nothing. SIGH:(. Also, it is HAL or nothing. Still hoping to go this year. We shall see!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

As long as HAL or any other other cruiseline allows smoking on their stateroom balconies then I will continue to enjoy booking interior staterooms, thereby saving money as well as not being exposed to carcinogenic sidestream tobacco smoke by having booked a verandah suite! ;)

 

Yup, me too. What is interesting about this thread is how many people obviously are NOT bothered by smoking on balconies. Most people haven't said a word about it and continue to book balconies. I guess this is good news for HAL---they aren't losing any passengers because of their policies.

 

They've lost me....except I will still sail on Prinsendam. I like it's OV cabins. Can't stand the OV on the other ships---with the window above the bed.

I guess what amazes me the most is those that worry about getting someone who smokes near you. This new policy has been going on for a couple of years and I have had a balcony in 34 of my 36 cruises and only once did I have someone smoking near us that bothered us and that was on Mariner of the Seas over 2 years ago. Even our recent NCL cruise we spent a lot of time out on the balcony and not once did we smell smoke from any direction and neither did any of the people traveling with us in their balconies, I had three different cabins on HAL this past year Westerdam 7 day, then the 4 day Zuiderdam then moved for the 7 day Alaska to a Suite and not once was there anyone smoking. I hate smoke, I avoid at all cost. Here in Las Vegas I only go to casinos that have good ventilation when I am going to eat out at one. (The restaurants do not allow smoking it is just walking thru a casino that bothers me) My odds are pretty darn good with balconys and because of what I do for a living I talk to a LOT of people who cruise and have balconys and not once have I had a complaint. I have asked two different Hotel Manager if they get complaints about people smoking on the balcony. They both commented rarely if ever, it actually has surprised HAL they expected this to be a problem but it has not.

 

Hmmmm I might start a survey, because I honestly do not think this is a problem of the magnitude that people want it to be.

 

So to give this as an excuse no longer flies with me, granted it may have happened to someone once but doubtful it will happen again :rolleyes: If you live your life fearing something how is this really living life?

[cruz chic]

I guess what amazes me the most is those that worry about getting someone who smokes near you. This new policy has been going on for a couple of years and I have had a balcony in 34 of my 36 cruises and only once did I have someone smoking near us that bothered us and that was on Mariner of the Seas over 2 years ago. Even our recent NCL cruise we spent a lot of time out on the balcony and not once did we smell smoke from any direction and neither did any of the people traveling with us in their balconies, I had three different cabins on HAL this past year Westerdam 7 day, then the 4 day Zuiderdam then moved for the 7 day Alaska to a Suite and not once was there anyone smoking. I hate smoke, I avoid at all cost. Here in Las Vegas I only go to casinos that have good ventilation when I am going to eat out at one. (The restaurants do not allow smoking it is just walking thru a casino that bothers me) My odds are pretty darn good with balconys and because of what I do for a living I talk to a LOT of people who cruise and have balconys and not once have I had a complaint. I have asked two different Hotel Manager if they get complaints about people smoking on the balcony. They both commented rarely if ever, it actually has surprised HAL they expected this to be a problem but it has not.

 

Hmmmm I might start a survey, because I honestly do not think this is a problem of the magnitude that people want it to be.

 

So to give this as an excuse no longer flies with me, granted it may have happened to someone once but doubtful it will happen again :rolleyes: If you live your life fearing something how is this really living life?

You have been VERY lucky. I have had smokers beside me at least 60% of the time. On the first part of my N.A cruise in Nov my neighbor was out there a lot smoking, even at night. I like to enjoy a glass of wine out there but it was always present. Maybe people just don't complain about it because what can you do about it? The place to complain is HAL. Please don't diminish the experience of others just because it hasn't happened to people you know or deal with.

[GeezLouise1]

Yup, me too. What is interesting about this thread is how many people obviously are NOT bothered by smoking on balconies. Most people haven't said a word about it and continue to book balconies. I guess this is good news for HAL---they aren't losing any passengers because of their policies.

 

They've lost me....except I will still sail on Prinsendam. I like it's OV cabins. Can't stand the OV on the other ships---with the window above the bed.

 

It really is just a matter of personal taste. Our first HAL cruise (coastal)was an OV with the bed under the window. One of the nicer memories was waking up, chins propped up in hands, to peek out the window as we sailed along. Without getting out of bed, we watched coastal lights and other vessels go by in the night. It was fabulous.

 

We like balconies too - we've been lucky, never been bothered by smoke at sea! I guess we just haven't cruised enough! Also, it really does depend on the itinerary too , we had a balcony on the Queen Mary that was pretty darned useless in the North Atlantic! The balcony in the hot Med., sipping Cava and toasting the sunset was priceless.

 

I'll be quite happy in any stateroom - just to be sailing at all is wonderful .

[Taxguy77]

Have cruised inside :o, OV :) balcony :confused: and a bay window with a table and chairs!:D

Inside was booked by a friend who booked for a group of us, never let anybody book for you! Small, dark and unpleasant. I know !here are larger insides on HAL and other lines, but take a few night lites!.

OV; Our favorite for TAs, natural light and a view of the ocean.,Why else cruise?

Balcony; Liked them for Med. cruises with so much time in ports. With the enormous size of the new ships, I doubt if they can get into the small ports with the color and activity we enjoyed so much. I like small ships better, anyway! Never spent much time on the private deck, but enjoyed it until I quit smoking and the people on the next balcony didn't!:(:eek: Anyway I spend most of the day on deck. On my last TA, I spent just about all the daylight hours on the Lido deck, including lunch.

Suite: Never sailed one, but give me some money and I will!

[Hlitner]

Although we tend to book verandas on most of our cruises (and we cruise a lot) HA is the exception. Since some of the HA ships charge a real premium for a balcony we tend to avoid them if there is a major price difference. We figure that there is a real possibility we will not want to use our HA balcony because of cigarette smoke...and are not willing to pay much extra when we have to gamble on a smoke-free environment.

 

Hank