I'm Torn Balcony or Not

[askimdog]

Yes, big time personal choice.

 

Our family has a system:

 

Cruise has to be Dec-Feb

Must leave from one of the 4 ports we have friends in ( to visit and stay with)

Price must be under 333.00 pp

Must be 7 day cruise

Preferably no private beaches

Flight to Port must be under 300.00 pp

Preferred Riviera Deck/Inside room

Total flight and cruise for 3 shall remain under 2k

 

This has worked well, though we missed our budget 2013, and 2014 (dang Govt. sequester hurt the vacation fund this year), we are 99% 2015 will be a go.

 

I leave our room at 5-6 AM, and "might" return once before dinner. I usually plan on not returning till 8:30/9PM (daughter (8) goes to bed, I read, wife goes out to shows). I leave in the morning with my pack containing a swimsuit (I never seem to use) and books and Bon Voyage bottle for the day.

 

A balcony would be used little, so it is not a big deal with us. Even after my daughter turns in, I only last another 30 minutes to an hour myself.

[Cyber Kat]

I'm somewhat claustrophobic, so I never even look at the prices for inside rooms. I've done an OV - and I can deal with that, but most of the time the jump from an OV to a balcony is not that much.

 

We use the balcony a lot. Last time we had an aft wrap and it was wonderful. The only reason I probably won't get an aft wrap on our next cruise is because I'll be booking it way out and I want the price drops - which you rarely get with the aft wrap.

[mz Miami]

We did OV twice but after we had a balcony we love it we only book balcony now could never do an inside cabin bcus I like to see where im going :) but I wouldnt upgrade to a suite for an extra $480..it up to you if u need too or want too ..

[rick&james]

After discussion Partner Said stay Inside since we are going in Balcony On Breeze In November for his Bday and that one sea day and all the port days are until 5 and 6 and we plan to use every minute avlb on the Islands.... Thanks for all your input James.....

[woodsy64]

Personally I love the balcony. For me it provides that quiet place where I can sit and enjoy the ocean breezes when the decks are really full of people and noise. However, cruising for me is a time of escape. If you like the energy of people around you all the time, then I wouldn't bother with the balcony.

[halos]

For us, a balcony is pretty much a must-have. It's a matter of preference and what you find important.

Although we spend little to no time in our cabin (which is why after trying a suite, we decided that it was pretty much a waste of $$$ for us, even on NCL where suite perks are pretty much fabulous), we do make use of a balcony.

We like to sleep with the balcony door open at night (unless it is too humid) and listen to the sounds of the ship cutting through the waters and spend a good deal of time out there when we awake in the morning. That is one of my favorite parts of the day....standing out there, in the quiet, looking at the ocean. It's my bliss, you might say.

My bliss, however, may not be yours. Only you would know if it is worth it or not and the only way to find this out is to try it yourself. You may find that it is worth it OR not...like we discovered about having a suite.

[bplazo]

I would not cruise if I did not have a balcony.

[sailfirst]

After discussion Partner Said stay Inside since we are going in Balcony On Breeze In November for his Bday and that one sea day and all the port days are until 5 and 6 and we plan to use every minute avlb on the Islands.... Thanks for all your input James.....

have a great cruise to me it is all about the cruise we have done inside, ov, bal. and last time grand suite was great but the cruise was the same. we leave the 30th for a Europe cruise can't wait a bal. Nov. Bahamas a bal. Jan. southern carr. ov all about price still the same amount of fun.

[DebBrown]

I like being able to have natural light in the cabin. I have learned that if I book early enough I can get a porthole for the inside price. I will do that or a OV if I am on a shorter cruise. If I am on a 7+ day one, I want a balcony. It's nice to order a light breakfast and walk out on your balcony to enjoy it and watch the water. I have had one true inside and wasn't keen about it at all.

[virgoprincess80]

I say balcony! I've had both inside ad balcony and after my last experience, I will only choose a balcony from here on out.

[rtap23]

We always stay in an inside cabin. We booked a balcony on our last cruise and never once stepped out on it. We are out of our cabin by 6:30, come back to shower around 5:30 for early dinner and won't come back to sleep until after midnight. For us it not worth the extra expense. We are never there. I guess everyone is different.

[islandgirl2013]

I will say,its well worth the extra money.Never cruised befor june2013 and i'm glad we had a balcony. Well worth its weight in gold.

[billys mom]

I've never had a balcony, always ocean view. Splurged for our next cruise and finally have a balcony. My sister said once you have a balcony you will never cruise without one. If you can afford it, then go for it. I've been told it's so nice to sit outside while cruising.

[Big_G]

We switched to balconies after an upgrade on our 3rd or 4th cruise. I booked an OV a couple of years ago because of the awesome price and it gave us an extra cruise that year. Although we had a great time, at the end of the cruise DW made it perfectly clear that I should never do that again. 'Nuff said. Balconies it is.

[Silverspringcruiser]

We always get a balcony. My wife enjoys having a quiet place to be outside and read her Kindle and sometimes so do I.

[Ms. T]

i agree. if we can't book a balcony at a decent price then we won't go. we have coffee on the balcony every morning and wine in the evening - to us the extra cost is worth it.

 

 

amen...

[1midsun]

We always book a balcony, (well our third cruise is booked and we book balconies)

 

Only because, flights are so expensive. I can't justify spending more on a 7 hour flight than a 7 day cruise.

 

And we do use our balcony, and neither one of us smokes, we just enjoy the quiet, a nice glass of wine before bed, and a good cup of coffee in the morning.

 

Happy cruising!!!

[skipnpeanut]

Booked a balcony once, out of 17 cruises, and would much rather spend the extra $$ on an excursion or something else. Just didn't use it that much.

[mzloolue]

If you are content with an interior, I would stay. That $480 is half way to paying your next cruise fare!

 

This.

 

Plus it is August, right?

 

I had a balcony in August and during the day it was too hot to sit out there comfortably, for me anyway, since there was no breeze.

It was nice at night, but still.

 

I would take that $480 and book another cruise, but I don't have to deal with a smoker.

With a smoker that $480 might be cheap just to keep things peaceful.

[WetToes]

I've been watching the prices for a Balcony for upcoming cruise August 18th I got a Inside for 973 total for Two but looking at the Balcony's they are not bulging a extra 480.00 total is it worth it with this itinerary only one sea day dilemma....

 

 

I'm going to say no. If you didn't book a balcony originally, I'm guessing you really don't need one.

Use the money for something else.

 

Myself I'd never not book a balcony. We 'need' one. No balcony, no go.

 

Whatever you decide hope you have a great time. ;)

[rtap23]

Booked a balcony once, out of 17 cruises, and would much rather spend the extra $$ on an excursion or something else. Just didn't use it that much.

 

I agree. I would spend the extra money on something else. If you want to spend all of your time in your cabin you might as well relax at your home.

[WetToes]

If you want to spend all of your time in your cabin you might as well relax at your home.

 

 

We don't spend all of our time in our cabin, but we do spend a good bit of time, not all, on our balcony.

I don't know where you live, but when I look out 'any' window of my home I do not see a beautiful ocean, or a sky full of stars. That, and other things (alone time) make the balcony well worth getting, ... for us. ;)

[Handsome58]

me a balcomy is a waste of money, we are never in the cabin that long......NOT!!!!! LOL!!! We must have a balcony, it makes it feel as if you have a part of the ship all to your cabin. A place to step out on and watch the WONDERS OF GOD go by!!!!!!!!

[mikel24m]

Yes my partner loves Balcony because he smokes and doesn't have to go up to Lido I'm happy to be cruising and the 480 would not break the bank but my Casino play may lol I think I'll stay in inside they also have ocean views for 180 total also considering this

 

I would save your casino money and for sure book a balcony.Just one thing to remember once you do it you may not be able to book an inside or OV

 

For us we like to people watch from our balcony while in port(and remember the fresh air!!!) and it gives us some space if my wife wants to take a nap I will make a drink and sit outside and relax

 

It took me years and years to realize its very hard to win at the casinos on cruise ships they are not regulated like AC or Vegas and the comps suck.One cruise I lost over $10k and my next cruise they gave me $300 and a fruit basket and some wine

[rtap23]

We don't spend all of our time in our cabin, but we do spend a good bit of time, not all, on our balcony.

I don't know where you live, but when I look out 'any' window of my home I do not see a beautiful ocean, or a sky full of stars. That, and other things (alone time) make the balcony well worth getting, ... for us. ;)

 

Again. That's why there are colors. Some like red some like blue. I would say I spend about 15 minutes in the morning, another 30 minutes in the evening to shower before dinner and come back to our cabin after midnight to sleep. It is a no brainier for us. For others who like to spend time in their balconies it will be worth the extra expense to them.