Is it woth booking a balcony......

[navybankerteacher]

You can find exceptions to anything, but I have been cruising and checking rates for over 30 years and I stand by my figures for the majority of the cruise prices offered.

 

I don't choose to argue over this.

 

Then why did you?

[swedish weave]

Then why did you?

 

 

 

??????????????????

[boogs]

This is the first time that I have heard that balcony cabins sell out first. I heard it was the cheap cabins that go first.

 

Yeah, I'd imagined the balconies would take more time to sell.

 

I'm booked for a cruise in February. All categories have been sold out for at least two months except insides.

 

On my last cruise in October, balcony cabins sold out prior to final payment. Only insides and some expensive suites were available after final.

 

On our Baltic cruise in 2008, insides were available after final payment. There were no balconies available, having been sold out prior to final payment.

 

How do I know this? I subscribe to an online service that monitors cruise cabin prices and emails me when a price change occurs on cruises I want to monitor. In every case mentioned above, price drops on inside cabins continued well after final payment. Price drops on balcony cabins stopped well before final payment. I also check a website that lists available rooms to see if our cruise will be full or not. I am always looking for the opportunity to upgrade to a better cabin for little to no cost, so I monitor the sell-out status.

 

Still doubt this? Then consider that there is a reason all the newer ships have many more balcony cabins than inside - it is what most people want. It's simply demand driving supply.

[olemissreb]

I wouldn't cruise without a balcony. It doesn't matter to me if I can see land or not, it's just wonderful extra real estate for things like: eating breakfast, having a glass of wine and reading a good book, relaxing and watching the world go by, a glass of wine pre-dinner with your DH while in your fancy formal night clothes.

[travel_nuts]

I wouldn't cruise without a balcony. It doesn't matter to me if I can see land or not, it's just wonderful extra real estate for things like: eating breakfast, having a glass of wine and reading a good book, relaxing and watching the world go by, a glass of wine pre-dinner with your DH while in your fancy formal night clothes.

 

But the square footage of the balcony cabin includes the balcony, therefore, often times it is smaller within the cabin. Just saying! But whatever you choose, enjoy your decision.

 

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[boogs]

But the square footage of the balcony cabin includes the balcony, therefore, often times it is smaller within the cabin. Just saying! But whatever you choose, enjoy your decision.

 

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Not true on most, if not all, of cruise lines. For instance, on Celebrity's S-class ships, the majority of the staterooms are listed as 194 sq ft, and the balconies are listed as 54 sq ft. On their M-class ships some of the staterooms are 170 sq ft with balconies measuring at 38 sq ft, while others are at 191 sq ft and 42 sq ft for the balconies.

 

A simple rule of posting - don't post information you can't back up. :D

[travel_nuts]

Not true on most, if not all, of cruise lines. For instance, on Celebrity's S-class ships, the majority of the staterooms are listed as 194 sq ft, and the balconies are listed as 54 sq ft. On their M-class ships some of the staterooms are 170 sq ft with balconies measuring at 38 sq ft, while others are at 191 sq ft and 42 sq ft for the balconies.

 

A simple rule of posting - don't post information you can't back up. :D

 

I'm sure you are correct since you have posted so much more than I. You should call the reservation specialists and explain that to them. They've told me on more than one occasion that the cabin square footage listed includes the balcony. Also, other cruise lines have said the same thing. Exactly how are you going to back up your statement?

 

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[boogs]

I'm sure you are correct since you have posted so much more than I. You should call the reservation specialists and explain that to them. They've told me on more than one occasion that the cabin square footage listed includes the balcony. Also, other cruise lines have said the same thing. Exactly how are you going to back up your statement?

 

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What cruise line are you referring to? Some do, some don't.

 

As to backing up my statement, no problem. The cruise lines I cruise on the most list the stateroom and balcony square footage separately on their web sites:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-eclipse#Staterooms/ships/celebrity-eclipse/staterooms/stateroom-subtype-ec-do

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-constellation#Staterooms/ships/celebrity-constellation/staterooms/stateroom-subtype-cs-do

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-constellation#Staterooms/ships/celebrity-constellation/staterooms/stateroom-subtype-cs-cc

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-constellation#Staterooms/ships/celebrity-constellation/staterooms/stateroom-subtype-cs-ss

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cabinclass/cabinTypes/cabinType/home.do?br=R&cabincls=B&cabinType=OS&shipCode=FR

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cabinclass/cabinTypes/cabinType/home.do?br=R&cabincls=B&cabinType=DO&shipCode=FR

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cabinclass/cabinTypes/cabinType/home.do?br=R&cabincls=D&cabinType=FS&shipCode=FR

 

http://browse.azamaraclubcruises.com/dc/plancruise/ships/cabinclass/cabintype/home.do?br=C&cabinType=SV&cabincls=B&shipCode=QS

 

http://browse.azamaraclubcruises.com/dc/plancruise/ships/cabinclass/cabintype/home.do?br=C&cabinType=SS&cabincls=D&shipCode=JR

Edited August 15, 2014 by boogs

[dsrdsrdsr]

But the square footage of the balcony cabin includes the balcony, therefore, often times it is smaller within the cabin. Just saying! But whatever you choose, enjoy your decision.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Forums mobile app

 

And another thing about the square footage of the balcony is that perhaps 10 of those square feet are 'dead' space that has no other purpose than to keep clear for the access to the balcony. They can't push the bed against the wall, they have to bring it out to leave a narrow gap to squeeze through.

[boogs]

And another thing about the square footage of the balcony is that perhaps 10 of those square feet are 'dead' space that has no other purpose than to keep clear for the access to the balcony. They can't push the bed against the wall, they have to bring it out to leave a narrow gap to squeeze through.

 

If you look at any floor plan for a balcony cabin you will quickly see that the area needed to access the door is open area to begin with. Most ships have the sitting area next to the balcony.

 

Celebrity Eclipse:

 

 

Royal Princess:

 

Norwegian Getaway:

 

Disney Dream:

 

 

And those that may have the bed next to the balcony, compare it to an inside with the nightstand next to the bed that requires "perhaps 10 of those square feet are 'dead' space that has no other purpose" so you can get into the bed without having to crawl over your bed mate. The only difference is that a balcony room has a door to the balcony, the inside has a blank wall. Both often have the exact same floor arrangement.

 

 

 

But I get it. You don't want to pay for a balcony stateroom so you are scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to find excuses to justify your decision. Well, if it makes you feel better, use any excuse you want.

 

PS: That "A" I gave you for effort in an earlier post has now been downgraded to a "C-". :D

Edited August 16, 2014 by boogs

[dsrdsrdsr]

PS: That "A" I gave you for effort in an earlier post has now been downgraded to a "C-". :D

I didn't realise that American cabins are all double beds. Or is it just your selected examples? I haven't your practical experience of studying cabin plans, but the actual cabins I have seen are more cramped than inside cabins of the same size. That Norwegian Getaway cabin, for example - looks squashed enough even with a double bed, not twins - think how much more space you would feel to have of the twin beds were configured turned sideways and up against the (non-balcony) right hand wall.

[boogs]

I didn't realise that American cabins are all double beds. Or is it just your selected examples? I haven't your practical experience of studying cabin plans, but the actual cabins I have seen are more cramped than inside cabins of the same size. That Norwegian Getaway cabin, for example - looks squashed enough even with a double bed, not twins - think how much more space you would feel to have of the twin beds were configured turned sideways and up against the (non-balcony) right hand wall.

 

I have never tortured myself by booking an inside cabin, so I don't have experience staying in one. But, as can be seen on the stateroom description pages of cruise line web sites, on many ships the typical inside cabins are often the smallest cabins available. Ocean view and balcony cabins will either be the same size or larger, depending on the ship. And some of these ships also have other balcony cabins that are even larger - Celebrity's M-class ships have two sizes of balcony cabins - some at 170 sq ft (same as the inside cabins) and some at 191 sq ft. Both have balconies that offer additional square footage to relax on, with some balconies offering over 100 more square feet of space. Their family staterooms are 271 sq ft and have balconies that provide 242 more sq ft, for instance.

 

Even if they are the same size, the window in an ocean view or the wall-to-wall window/door on balcony cabins will make them appear to be larger since you can view outside which avoids the claustrophobic feel of an inside cabin. And some cruise lines have larger cabins than others. For instance, the Norwegian Breakaway room in the diagram is small by normal standards. The rooms I have stayed in are large enough so that the sofa is long enough to be able to stretch out on and take a nap. In some staterooms the sofa bed pulls out as a double bed. All Disney rooms have sofa beds, for instance.

 

It appears that you have only traveled in inside cabins with the beds made up as twins.. Most cruisers are couples and would prefer a single, large bed, with perhaps a sofa bed for a child or parent travelling with them. There is typically ample room in this configuration, whether inside or balcony. These larger beds are typically constructed so they can easily be separated into two beds in case the occupants want separate beds. It is a simple act of pulling them apart and using different bed linen.

 

Keep in mind that twin beds is not the normal configuration for the average cruise. As double beds (actually, they are often advertised as "queen" size beds) the room is not as cluttered as when they are separated.

Edited August 16, 2014 by boogs

[boogs]

sorry - double post caught just in time :D

Edited August 16, 2014 by boogs

[dsrdsrdsr]

I have never tortured myself by booking an inside cabin, so I don't have experience staying in one. But, as can be seen on the stateroom description pages of cruise line web sites, on many ships the typical inside cabins are often the smallest cabins available. Ocean view and balcony cabins will either be the same size or larger, depending on the ship. And some of these ships also have other balcony cabins that are even larger - Celebrity's M-class ships have two sizes of balcony cabins - some at 170 sq ft (same as the inside cabins) and some at 191 sq ft. Both have balconies that offer additional square footage to relax on, with some balconies offering over 100 more square feet of space. Their family staterooms are 271 sq ft and have balconies that provide 242 more sq ft, for instance.

 

Even if they are the same size, the window in an ocean view or the wall-to-wall window/door on balcony cabins will make them appear to be larger since you can view outside which avoids the claustrophobic feel of an inside cabin. And some cruise lines have larger cabins than others. For instance, the Norwegian Breakaway room in the diagram is small by normal standards. The rooms I have stayed in are large enough so that the sofa is long enough to be able to stretch out on and take a nap. In some staterooms the sofa bed pulls out as a double bed. All Disney rooms have sofa beds, for instance.

 

Thanks for that. Actually, I wasn't trying to argue that smaller cabins are bigger than bigger cabins. I freely concede that a 270 square foot cabin has more room than a 150 square foot cabin.

 

Inside cabins don't feel claustrophobic. Not to me, anyway. And to those who do think they're claustrophobic, they can always practice at home by closing the curtains.

 

I really don't get the idea of a holiday being torture just because there's no balcony, or because the window won't open, or isn't there. I would far rather go on a holiday than not, even if little details don't match my ideal. But if you genuinely have a proper phobia about inside cabins, then of course you have to pay the extra.

 

I It appears that you have only traveled in inside cabins with the beds made up as twins.. Most cruisers are couples and would prefer a single, large bed, with perhaps a sofa bed for a child or parent travelling with them.

I would never make my mother use a sofa bed. Besides, third beds in cabins on the lines I use are usually bunks and she couldn't climb up there.

[boogs]

I really don't get the idea of a holiday being torture just because there's no balcony, or because the window won't open, or isn't there.[/Quote]

 

There was supposed to be a " :D " after that comment, but it somehow got deleted, probably during my obsessive editing before posting the final version of my comment. But, I still think that being in a closed, confined room with no natural light is not my way of vacationing.

 

At least the newer Disney ships have a virtual porthole, which is an HD screen mounted behind a fake porthole cover that displays what a camera mounted on the side of the ship sees, but with a whimsical touch.

It at least let's a person know if it's dark, light, stormy, cloudy, sunny, etc. before getting dressed for the day.

 

Royal Caribbean takes that idea a step further with wall-sized high-definition TVs displaying real-time views of the ocean and the ship's ports of call.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5718

 

 

I would never make my mother use a sofa bed. Besides, third beds in cabins on the lines I use are usually bunks and she couldn't climb up there.

 

The sofa beds on the lines I cruise on aren't anything like a bunk bed.

Edited August 17, 2014 by boogs

[geoherb]

For me, it depends on the difference in price. If it's just a little bit per person, I'll book the balcony for us. I'd rather sail on a cruise in an inside cabin than not go at all. For instance, when we sailed to New England/Canada, the difference in price between an inside cabin and a balcony was more than $600 per person. That was enough to pay for our airfare and excursions and tips.

[EGG]

To original poster - It looks like this is your first post. Welcome to Cruise Critics. As you can see many of us are opinionated and while we don't mean to, our post often come out that way. We do mean well and only want to help.

 

I did two early cruises to the Baltic and to the Med on Celebrity M class ships, the Constellation and the Millenium. As I recall, we had a fairly large inside cabin of about 170 sq ft. on an upper deck. So in your case, the size of the cabin should not be a problem. I do not know if an inside cabin on a lower deck is smaller on M class ships.

 

Someone once posted that if you want to decide if the price difference is worth it you should figure out how many hours you will be using the balcony. For example 2 hours the first day for sailaway and while you are unpacking, 4 hours each of the 3 sea days to sit and look at the ocean, and 1 hour each of the port days to see what the weather is and watch the latecomers run back to the ship. Total for this purely hypothetical cruise is 22 hours on your balcony and of course this is very dependent on the weather. Take the difference in price and divide by the number of hours you think you will be on the balcony and then decide if it is worth it.

 

Whatever you decide you will have a great cruise. Please note that excursions in Europe can be very pricey, especially in the Med where the ports are not always near the major cities, so consider this when you are doing your budget as to whether to get an inside or balcony.

[biker@sea]

I have booked a few balcony and O/V cabins when I felt the view was worth it .

 

Other than that it's insides for me . Just by habit I can not sleep as soon as daybreak starts . The slightest hint of daylight and I'm up and at em before the rooster crows.

 

I love a dark inside cabin so I can sleep till 8:00 or 9:00 A.M. on vacation .