Is there anyone else who have never been in a balcony?

[printingchick]

I'm sure I would LOVE a balcony, even though I don't spend a whole lot of time in the cabin. For now, it's really cost prohibitive. I really LOVE being able to wake up and see the ocean, before even getting out of bed, so I consider the OV an almost necessary splurge. Some day, I hope to get a balcony. I can certainly see myself sipping my morning coffee or evening glass of wine out there. Given the size of a cruise ship cabin, the ability to send my cabin mate out to view the ocean while I'm...ummmm...checking out the bathroom facilities...would also be a nice benefit. ;) And the aft balconies look amazing!

 

But for now, I'm MORE than happy with my OV on Deck 2 or 3, even though they're among the "cheap seats" so to speak. I'm on a CRUISE!!! THAT's what matters!!!

[caddie1]

As long as I am cruising a bar stool in the Schooner bar would do me.

[WetToes]

akcruz - I think there are just as many, if not more posts, stating that a balcony is not a necessity.

You're right about it being a choice.

Those posting about sleeping, that's fine, but I don't spend money on a cruise to sleep.

[jpg1747]

I agree. I like to be out and about on the ship, not hanging out in my cabin. I am only there when sleeping. Of course, relaxing with a glass of wine on the balcony sounds a lot more appealing that sitting on the bed....:)

 

I had a great roll call on my TA and spent more time on other folks balconies that I did on mine. We had some great wine parties.

[superduper123]

I had a great roll call on my TA and spent more time on other folks balconies that I did on mine. We had some great wine parties.

Awesome!

[Gennee]

Truth is, I'm afraid if I ever upgrade, I'll never want to go back to an inside, and I'm not sure my budget can afford that! :)

 

We've done it. We went from an inside to an aft Junior Suite and back to an inside. No problem.

 

We decide what we want to pay, then book the best room that works with that budget.

 

Don't get me wrong. Having a balcony is really nice and we prefer them whenever we can get them. But that won't stop me from booking an inside if that's what it takes to go on a cruise I want. :)

 

When we don't have one we use the outside promenade deck as our "balcony." It's usually very quiet there. You can hear the waves and see the stars and other ships. Read a book. Or sit with a cup of coffee as you approach a port (although you'll have to put on your clothes first ;)).

[welikepalms]

I'll throw my preference into the mix. We have had a balcony on our last 2 cruises, ocean view before that. For our money and enjoyment we prefer balcony's. There has been much said about spending time in the cabin vs being "out and about". I think we do both. We enjoy early morning coffee and tea on the balcony, sailaway or just reading and pondering life while the ocean slips by. We also enjoy all the shows, game shows, quest, karaoke and dancing almost every evening. Not to mention all the fun we have at what ever port we visit.

 

I think its safe to say that everyone who cruises(because it is such a fun and activity filled vacation) sits down for a break now and then and just wants to relax a bit. For us there is no better place to take a load off for a while then our private little oasis some call a balcony. I just sit put my feet up and let out a peaceful sigh.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Happy Cruising however you do it!

[Dayenu]

Just curious if I am the only one! On my last cruise, I "splurged" and got an oceanview, but other than that, every cruise I have taken has been in an inside cabin. After reading posts about this suite and that suite, and all the perks, I'm thinking to myself, am I the only cruiser who books an inside all the time? Truth is, I'm afraid if I ever upgrade, I'll never want to go back to an inside, and I'm not sure my budget can afford that! :)

 

I cannot stay in inside as I get sea-sick, must have a window. We always go for a cheaper lower level porthole or window. Never been in a balcony cabin. Perks? As we never got them, we don't miss them :D

[Desert Cruizers]

Don't know about this non social part with Balcony cruisers, but we are quite the social ones.:) Doesn't matter to us what cabin someone has, suite or even steerage.;) we are a friendly couple.:)

[Kik35]

Our last 2 cruises had balconies and really didn't use the balcony that much. In Oct went to the Mediterranean and were gone 8-9 hrs a day touring, and only had 3 sea days. Then last month sailed out of Bayonne, NJ, so 1st 2(sea) and last 2 days really couldn't use the balcony, too cold.:eek: Did book a balcony for Nov out of Tampa(W Carrib)and will def use it.

We are thinking of booking an inside on a shorter cruise to try it. I def like hearing how people sleep soo well in an inside, I'm not the best sleeper.~Claudia

[Danish]

I have never had a balcony. 4 times inside and 1 time oceanview. The OW was on deck 2 and one morning I woke op, and took the curtains to the side and look directly into the eyes of the crew on the pilot boat. I usually only is the cabin to sleep or to take a bath and change clothes. There are many other places around the ship to enjoy the seaview and the sunrise etc.

I would better like to go on more cruises, instead of fewer cruises in a balcony cabin.

But I must say, that I am afraid, that if I ever get in a balcony cabin, I will feel it difficult to get back in an inside, so I stay in the inside cabins.

[hazeleyez3]

We mostly do balconies, but we don't mind outsides. I'm not sure if I could do insides again (thats what I had in my late teens, early twenties).

 

Don't forget that inside cruisers get the best sleep - pitch black & quiet! :D Therefore we are less grumpy and can be the life of the party!

 

Not for all. I can't stand things being pitch black. There are two sounds I hate: crickets chirping and silence. If there is no noise, I will wake up.

[shorbr]

Not for all. I can't stand things being pitch black. There are two sounds I hate: crickets chirping and silence. If there is no noise, I will wake up.

 

I'm like you...I absolutely hate the silence and the darkness is too eerie. In my younger years we had inside cabins and there were always 4 of us sharing. But since getting married, my husband insists on a balcony cabin. It's nice, but I rarely use it, makes me feel funny looking at all that water. Since I have to drag him on a cruise, he will only go if we have a balcony. Makes no difference to ME...inside or balcony. Strange, but even at home I use a personal fan just for the noise.

[varoo]

Ditto. This is my first cruise and I wouldn't consider anything less than a balcony. Since I don't have as much vacation time, I want to make the most of my cruise. I'm so looking forward to breakfast on my balcony...............

 

[printingchick]

Just a flip side of the sleeping in inside cabins debate: I found just the opposite. I think most of us wake up at some point during the night, maybe more than once, and we just roll over and go back to sleep. But in a room that is SO dark, you can't see your watch...you can't even see your HAND...when you wake up you have no earthly idea if it's 2AM or 10AM. Did I miss my wake-up call?? Has my excursion left without me?? I'd have to get up and sneak to the bathroom to look at my watch - trying not to wake my cabin mate. I don't really want total darkness unless I fully intend to sleep late, which I typically do NOT on a cruise. (Except for maybe the day at sea, but I prefer port-intensive cruises, so I usually have only one of those.) Total darkness is too much darkness for me. But that's me...other people, clearly, LIKE that for sleeping.

[dzmom]

We've been on nearly 20 cruises. We had one obstructed view cabin and once we were upgraded from an inside to an aft balcony. Certainly that was nice; however, my husband and I would rather save that extra money and use it for a future cruise or shore excursions. I like the darkness. I have a travel alarm that shows me the time if I press the button. But I really like knowing that we have more money than if we had gotten a balcony.

[Pomperaugrr]

The nice thing is that all cabins go to the same place. ;) I used to book ocean view cabins, but since we don't have the time to go as often as we like, we now book balcony cabins or suites, since we have time to save up and splurge on the cruise. Some day, in the distant future, once our kids go to and finish college, we will probably be able to cruise more often and we may choose to go back to other cabin choices. Who knows.

 

Cabin choice is all a matter of preference, that's why there are so many different offerings on board. There is a cabin that is the perfect fit for everyone.

 

Choose what is best for you. If you're not sure which is the best for you, then I suggest doing some "research" and booking different types. Of course, that means cruising more often, but that's my kind of research!!!

 

Eric

[Reijo]

I've only had a window on two cruises and never a balcony. While it was nice, I had to crawl up on the bed if I wanted to sit and look out. I would have preferred standing. That said, my husband and I love the promenade cabins. My own opinion is that while in port, I'm up and out of my cabin early and I can see everything (in the port) from almost anywhere in the ship. While at sea, all you see is water. Don't get me wrong, I love the ocean but really don't see the additional cost associated with a balcony. My husband and I are 65> and while we could afford any cabin we wanted, we just prefer the promenade. We get an inside rate without four blank walls.

[jmjmann76]

I've never been in a balcony room. Of course. I've only been on one cruise (so far). For our first cruise, we were in an inside stateroom. As many have also said, the inside cabin was very conducive to a good night's sleep. As a very light sleeper, this was important to me. I must say I had some of the best sleep of my life on that cruise. As we spent most of our in-cabin time sleeping, I was very pleased with our choice of cabin. There were plenty of other places on the ship to enjoy the sunrise, sunset, various views, etc.

We are currently booked for an inside stateroom on our next cruise. My husband was very interested in trying a balcony room this time around, but after much consideration, I booked the inside cabin. Here are my primary reasons why:

1. The above-mentioned excellent sleep.

2. My husband is very sensitive to smoke.

3. We enjoy eating breakfast in the MDR.

4. We spent little time in the cabin on 1st cruise.

5. We do have limited funds at this point in our lives.

[ehfl]

We usually do inside but have done balcony as well. The only time we will do outside is if it's a free upgrade...can't justify spending any more money for a tiny window over the bed, since we rarely spend much time standing on the bed staring out the window.

 

It's nice to have a balcony, but we're happy with insides as well. If we can get a good deal with the discounts and OBC we'll get a balcony. Otherwise an inside is no big deal.

[Jimnbigd]

I've done 25 cruises and only had 3 balconies. It is not worth the extra money to me -- For others, it is well worth it. I might consider a balcony on Celebrity since they don't allow smoking on balconies (although I've read that is can be difficult to get someone to not smoke if they really want to do so). But I'm very happy with my inside cabin.

[AussieVisi2r]

I love a balcony - for the fresh air and to duck out when you first wake up and before bed. But I do not spend time out there worshiping the sun.

I don't spend much time in the cabin apart from sleeping etc.

 

#1 Alaska - booked an OV then upgraded to balcony as everyone said Must have a balcony for Alaska - too damp to spend much time out there.

#2 Mediterranean - booked an OV then upgraded to balcony as everyone said Must have a balcony for Mediterranean - too hot to spend much time out there.

#3 NZ - family suite with a 86 yo Dad and others. Spent many mornings out there with family breakfast. Dad spent time reading out there.

#4 NZ- booked an OV then got a cheap upgrade to balcony. Checked out the morning and evening. Not much else.

#5 Cruise to nowhere - booked an OV and loved it.

# 6 family suite with a 87 yo Dad and others. Spent some mornings out there with family breakfast but it was too hot to use it most mornings.

Now I have a few more cruses in the family suite coming up, with dad and others (and one in a GS to make me diamond plus).

 

Then I will be an OV girl (unless Dad is travelling).

Between excursions and the Concierge lounge I am rarely awake in my room. Cheaper room = more cruises.

Raina

[RCI Cruisers 004]

Lots of people start in an interior room if for nothing else to check out what cruising is all about in a cheaper way. We did he same and moved to a balcony then JS and up to a GS and there is no going back. We love the bigger rooms and especially the perks that go with it.

[Scribbles77]

Balconies are horrible! I should know I have had 3 and one was a suite!

 

Cruisers who only get balconies are always complaining about smokers on other balconies! Insides never have that problem;) Balcony cruisers always complain about chair noise from above:confused:

 

Balcony cruisers are boring people who dont know how to socialise with anything other than a good book or the room service steward with cheese platter to complement said book with an occasional glass of red!

 

Inside cruisers rock! and are much better people than Balcony cruisers are!

 

Great thread ;)

 

 

That's rather rude :mad:

 

I always have a balcony for several reasons the biggest being i hate/fear enclosed spaces.

 

I have never complained about chair noises

 

I used to be a smoker and i always checked that people were not on the balconies next to me and did not smoke at all if children were around (not all smokers are inconsiderate)

 

Yes i like reading but i also know how to have a good time and i don't drink

 

I think to each his own but i don't make harsh generalisations about other people it's uncalled for

[Beach4me]

I'll tell you in one word why I never cruise unless I have a balcony: NORO

 

Two of us got hit with it on a 15-day voyage a couple years ago. (We were on a "sick ship"...CDC even boarded us due to the percentage of sick passengers and crew.) If I hadn't been able to step out on the balcony or open the door for a bit of fresh air, I would have been even more sick than I was.

 

I've always enjoyed our balconies over the many years. But that was the first time I ever viewed it as a necessity! And, to me and my family, it is.

 

(My guess is there are a lot of folks who were in inside cabins on the Carnival Triumph who will never cruise without a balcony again...if they ever cruise again. ;) )