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Why is an aft cabin so good?

Esilef

By Esilef,
in Royal Caribbean International

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jmf123

jmf123

Posted
Posted
When a corner aft on Radiance was a D2 category..... no noise, no soot, just heaven....

 

40704_10150244007750352_5237716_n.jpg

 

What itinerary is this exactly?

 

Is that 9256?

 

Yes, that is 9256 on the Radiance. Linda was on an Alaska cruisetour, there is a link to her blog in her signature. The photo appears to be taken at Hubbard Glacier. We've stayed in the stateroom located directly above this one, fantastic JS 1100. I would book either in a heartbeat. :)

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tactic

tactic

Posted
Posted

If the ship has an aft cabin we will book it.... We love to watch the wake, no need for anyone other than neighbours to walk past the door, love leaving balcony door open at night going to sleep to the sound of the sea, fantastic views as leave port etc etc..... On a few cruises we have had to stay elsewhere but aft is our preference every time :) walking to stairs / lift never worries us

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CptSticky

CptSticky

Posted
Posted
We did not like our aft room...too much vibration...the balcony was nice, but he room felt small....

We went back to booking a GS....

You do know that on Radiance Class there is a GS on the corner aft.(1600). The bad news is that it's very hard to get.

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JosieCat-MN

JosieCat-MN

Posted
Posted

Wow, it looks like people either love them or hate them. I have decided to upgrade to a JS on my upcoming Enchantment cruise (couldn't do it today as I booked through the casino). The 2 cabins I was considering were 7166 - different thread mentioned the large balcony - and 8066. If 8066 is available, I think I'll go with that one. Don't want to find out the hard way that I don't like an aft cabin :)

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critterchick

critterchick

Posted
Posted (edited)
That photo of bus sold me on aft cabin 7688. Wondering if we should change to 7388 as when in Sydney harbour we would be able to see the opera house when in port?? Oh decisions.....

 

Recently I read that aft cabins have been reclassed and named. On one line they are called sunset balcony cabins with an increased price tag but of course the noise & wake will provide you with a zen like experience.

 

On another ship they are becoming loft rooms with the $$$$ tag.

 

I believe that the sunset balcony designation is on Celebrity ships. RCI actually downgraded the aft cabins on Radiance class ships - they were D-1s, but only sleep 2, so were downgraded when they created the D-2 category.

 

I am enjoying this thread, I must admit. I've never cruised in an aft cabin before, but I have one booked for Alaska next summer. Not sure I'd care much on another cruise, but I've been to Alaska and I know how prime the balcony space is up on deck. I like knowing I've got a huge balcony all to myself to view the scenery. My only real concern is any extra movement back there, but that's what meds are for. :D

 

One thing that was of interest to me in booking an aft...less wind. You're protected against it. So many times I've been in a regular balcony room with the wind whipping my face. Seems it's a non-issue (barring any storms, etc. I guess) in an aft cabin.

 

The corner aft cabins can be very windy. We visited our friends in 1100 during our Canada-NE cruise and found it to be really cold and windy. Our midships GS had no such issues.

 

As for vibration, I've felt it more on Vision and Rhapsody than on any of the Radiance class ships. When we were crossing the Pacific from Hilo to Seattle in the former 8588 on Rhapsody, it felt like somebody with no sense of rhythm was banging on a drum for 5 straight days.:eek: DH never noticed it (he's a retired naval engineer and has slept a lot closer to the engines than that), but it drove me barking mad for about 2 days.

 

And on Deck 10 on Radiance class ships, there can be a lot of noise from the WJ - carts, slamming doors, scraping chairs. But little or no soot, since the gas turbine engines don't produce any and the diesels are generally only used in port.

 

But all of those are minor annoyances to me, and I would book an aft cabin on Vision and Radiance class in a heartbeat. I prefer the hump cabins on Voyager & Freedom, though. The overhang makes the Deck 10 balconies too dark for my tastes and the superstructure is annoying to me on the lower decks.

Edited by critterchick
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dixieva

dixieva

Posted
Posted (edited)
Wow, it looks like people either love them or hate them. I have decided to upgrade to a JS on my upcoming Enchantment cruise (couldn't do it today as I booked through the casino). The 2 cabins I was considering were 7166 - different thread mentioned the large balcony - and 8066. If 8066 is available, I think I'll go with that one. Don't want to find out the hard way that I don't like an aft cabin :)

 

 

7166 is a corner aft that will have a much larger balcony. But if you think you won't like the aft then maybe it's not for you.

Edited by dixieva
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kccrzr

kccrzr

Posted
Posted (edited)

There is nothing good about an aft cabin, nothing at all -the walk down that long hallway past all the artwork, the view which makes you want to cry, the wake which puts you in a stupor if you watch too long, the dilemma day after day about where to locate the loungers and the chairs and the table on the balcony, and PLEASE don't get me started about deciding what to order from room service to eat outside on that balcony). Believe you me, I only book aft balconies because I am a masochist.

Edited by kccrzr
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The Grumpus

The Grumpus

Posted
Posted

Of course the view of the sea is great from any balcony, I love watching the sunset when we're sailing away from it. It always feels to me like your aft cabin (excluding Oasis class) is back where people don't venture to and has a feel of exclusivity back there.

 

Grand1-1.jpg

 

Aft-Pride4.jpg

 

Grand2.jpg

 

wake-bal.jpg

 

P1010001.jpg

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Barbiegator

Barbiegator

Posted
Posted
Are some of the aft balconies being reclassified as suites on RC ships? I have not heard this, but two previous posts allude to this. I just checked deck plans for Radiance 9256 and it is also still a D2 in all of the available deck plans. We are hoping to score 9256 on an Australian cruise in about 3 years, so would be very disappointed if the price jumps to a JS or higher rate.

 

We also stayed in FOS 7408 corner aft and absolutely loved it. It's what sold us on corner afts! If we can't get the corner aft, my hubby just assumes to save the money and get an inside.

 

We have stayed in FOS 7408 twice. Enjoy the large balcony and view.Very quiet and no soot.Long walk to elevator is my exercise.

Had soot on aft on enchantment but called and they quickly cleaned our balcony.

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  • 4 weeks later...
bouhunter

bouhunter

Posted
Posted (edited)
It's not, and it was never a big deal until recently.

 

The noise from the churn is extremely loud, and sometimes there is soot floating around.

 

And when the ship was really cruising the noise is really bad to the point where you cannot talk to each other.

 

It is also a long walk from the nearest elevator.

 

All you see is where you have been.

 

 

Too funny. Yes they have a big balcony. Other than that I can't think of an advantage. Looonnnnggg walk to get there, potential for soot, long way from the elevators and food etc. I know people love them, but we've never seen the advantage. We like a balcony and enjoy it, but never spend enough time there to want the large ones aft. I don't see the difference in view, no matter the balcony location all you see is water......... To each their own

Edited by bouhunter
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KeywestK

KeywestK

Posted
Posted

Yes, the aft balconies are wonderful, but I'm essentially lazy and don't want to hike that long corridor a dozen times a day. On the Radiance-class ships, the balconies at the ends of the humps are excellent. Some are extra-deep and some are pie-shaped. Those are the ones we go after;):D

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Seaworthy01

Seaworthy01

Posted
Posted
Just wondering why these are now becoming prime cabins on ship on the newer boats they are becoming suites & above.

 

Unable to answer at this time, another 6 weeks will be a different story. We are in our first aft cabin next month and after reading so many great reviews about aft cabins (Some not so great) we are very excited to be able to experience one of these cabins first hand.

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msjaxson

msjaxson

Posted
Posted

Maybe because I only do afts on radiance class and the ships are smaller the walk never really bothered me .... love my favorite cabin 8168 ( corner) and cant wait to be in it for 13 nites on the brilliance ( looking forward to sailaway with all my aft friends)...love the quiet hallway and the larger balcony ....nice to get some rays out there in a lounge chair during busy sea days....never any soot and only problem with movement for me was during hurricane sandy ...of course then they took all my furniture for a couple days !!

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OCD1966

OCD1966

Posted
Posted
Maybe because I only do afts on radiance class and the ships are smaller the walk never really bothered me .... love my favorite cabin 8168 ( corner) and cant wait to be in it for 13 nites on the brilliance ( looking forward to sailaway with all my aft friends)...love the quiet hallway and the larger balcony ....nice to get some rays out there in a lounge chair during busy sea days....never any soot and only problem with movement for me was during hurricane sandy ...of course then they took all my furniture for a couple days !!

 

You lovely ladies look very familiar. Are you the woman who talked me into an aft balcony for my cruise on the Brilliance?

 

Maybe you can talk me into a B2B next year. Wait, you did!!!

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msjaxson

msjaxson

Posted
Posted
You lovely ladies look very familiar. Are you the woman who talked me into an aft balcony for my cruise on the Brilliance?

 

Maybe you can talk me into a B2B next year. Wait, you did!!!

 

 

LOL I promise on a radiance ship you will love the aft !!! On Freedom however I am a hump girl -- deck six to be exact !!!!!

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