Balcony ( get it or not??)

[naturalbeauty2011]

I'm going on freedom of the seas already booked a ocean view, but I'm strongly considering changing to a balcony. What are the cons and pros. I'm going in the summer. Thank you for the opinions and the time you took to share them with me.

[FOXTROT]

Stick with the oceanview. Once you have a balcony, you will always want a balcony. You will spend time out on your balcony. Might even have a meal out there. Heck we will even sleep out there. All this time spent on the balcony takes away from gambling or other activities on the ship. Balconies are more more money, making all your future cruises more. Stick with the oceanview:rolleyes:

[Ashland]

Balcony is a must for me...just that extra quiet personal outdoor space.

 

If you're even considering the switch to a balcony then that thought is in your mind...better to have done it than wish you would have.

 

Enjoy, you'll love the FOS.

[LilBlackDress]

our first cruise was ocean view... it was OK. Our 2nd cruise we got a balcony. I would have to agree with FoxTrot, Once you go Balcony you will never go back. you may upgrade from a balcony but you will never want to downgrade.

 

If you dont get cruise / vacation often and you want to splurge go for it! you won't be disappointed. If you do cruise / vacay often... I would stick with the ocean view (unless you are comfortable in spending the extra money each trip)

[Proudmom1120]

I hear the saying once you go balcony, you never go back so many times. Maybe it is just me but I did the balcony and it was nice but I didn't feel it was worth the money. It really depends on you and what type of person you are. Do you spend lots of time in your room? I only sleep and shower in my room so I'm satisfied with an inside. Enjoy your cruise. I'm sure you will like whatever cabin you choose.

[At Sea 4Ever]

I'm going on freedom of the seas already booked a ocean view, but I'm strongly considering changing to a balcony. What are the cons and pros. I'm going in the summer. Thank you for the opinions and the time you took to share them with me.

 

 

The only con of a balcony is being spoiled for future cruisers. Like other posters have mentioned once you have a balcony it's a let down to downgrade in the future. If the amount is small between an ocean view and balcony then consider upgrading but if it's a big difference save the extra money and put it towards another cruise! : )

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Luke104]

I hear the saying once you go balcony, you never go back so many times. Maybe it is just me but I did the balcony and it was nice but I didn't feel it was worth the money. It really depends on you and what type of person you are. Do you spend lots of time in your room? I only sleep and shower in my room so I'm satisfied with an inside. Enjoy your cruise. I'm sure you will like whatever cabin you choose.

 

I agree with you totally. My first cruise was a balcony cabin, nice but like yourself, I'm not in the cabin all that much. Ever since I've had an inside, just not worth the extra cost for the balcony. I use that extra cost on other things that I enjoy.

[screamin400]

We have done one of each. The ocean view is nice and quite a bit cheaper and may make it possible to do more excursions or other cruises. We will never do another ocean view after having a balcony. Coffee in the morning on the balcony. The waves rolling. Pulling in or out of a port while on the balcony is amazing. Getting up and going out there to see if you see land and there is another beautiful country. Watch it as it gets closer with the coffee in your hand. Nothing like it for us.

[SamFritz]

I value a balcony at about $50 per day. So with my C&A discount if a balcony is priced $600 or less than an Ocean View, I'll go for it. If it's more than that, I'll enjoy the view out my window and think about how much money I'm saving. I have never even considered an inside cabin.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RCI Cruisers 004]

You will love a balcony ! Nothing better than having breakfast on it or watching the sun set at night. Like everyone has said, they are very addicting, and before you know it, you'll be upgrading to a suite and then there is no going back !

[rolloman]

I always look at a balcony as a form of insurance. In the event you are confined to your cabin, you at least have the ability to enjoy a view. In the event of a power outage or the AC were to go off...you do not have to drag your bed up to the top deck (think Carnival). As for the CON's of a balcony, well if you are a light sleeper, occasionally a balcony door does not seal properly (especially on older ships) and you could hear noise created from this.

[Ourusualbeach]

The mid afternoon nap is always so much better in this.:D

 

[clawmachine]

The mid afternoon nap is always so much better in this.:D

 

 

Wow! May I ask how you accomplished that set-up? :-)

[Ourusualbeach]

Wow! May I ask how you accomplished that set-up? :-)

 

Just a pair of C clamps. One on either side attached to the steel girder.

 

[SamFritz]

The mid afternoon nap is always so much better in this.:D

 

 

 

 

 

I usually just ask the stateroom attendant to try to get a lounge chair for our balcony.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ourusualbeach]

I usually just ask the stateroom attendant to try to get a lounge chair for our balcony.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Did that once and he said he wasn't allowed. Do you know how many people stare at you as you are schlepping a lounge chair from the pool deck down to an aft balcony.:D:eek:

[clawmachine]

Thank you. I love it! I'd be afraid of breaking the boat after eating cruise food for a week, lol.

[leinhto]

Just a pair of C clamps. One on either side attached to the steel girder.

 

C-Clamps!!! Nice...Don't leave for your cruise without it...lol...that is resourceful...[emoji33] [emoji14]

Edited January 17, 2015 by leinhto

[Lionesss]

C Clamps, I will have to add that to the list that has duct tape on it.:eek:

 

 

That hammock what a great Idea.

 

That was a first for me seeing that.

 

Safe travels.

[surgie]

I'm going on freedom of the seas already booked a ocean view, but I'm strongly considering changing to a balcony. What are the cons and pros. I'm going in the summer. Thank you for the opinions and the time you took to share them with me.

 

I would definitely switch to the balcony. As others have mentioned...coffee out there in the morning, wine and room service snacks before dinner, reading and naps in the afternoon on a sea day...there is just nothing like it. But, my husband and I don't go to the casino or shop on the ship and we enjoy spending time in the room and enjoying fresh ocean air on the balcony. If you just use the room as a place to shower and sleep, then you might not get your money's worth out of a balcony.

[DonnaK]

I hear the saying once you go balcony, you never go back so many times. Maybe it is just me but I did the balcony and it was nice but I didn't feel it was worth the money. It really depends on you and what type of person you are. Do you spend lots of time in your room? I only sleep and shower in my room so I'm satisfied with an inside. Enjoy your cruise. I'm sure you will like whatever cabin you choose.

 

We agree with you. We will get a balcony if the C&A discount brings it down close enough to the price of an inside/outside. But as summer cruisers, we almost never go out onto the balcony...it's just too hot and humid, so it is not a necessity for us.

[uncfes]

100% yes. Nothing like just hanging out away from it all. Sea breeze on cruise days or watching as you leave or enter port and not having people push you while fighting to get a rail spot

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[2chiefs]

I hear the saying once you go balcony, you never go back so many times. Maybe it is just me but I did the balcony and it was nice but I didn't feel it was worth the money. It really depends on you and what type of person you are. Do you spend lots of time in your room? I only sleep and shower in my room so I'm satisfied with an inside. Enjoy your cruise. I'm sure you will like whatever cabin you choose.

 

I agree with Proudmom as far as our own preference. I think the real answer is try it to see if you like it. The comment that "you will never go back" is untrue for us. We have sailed in a Jr Suite, a balcony, an oceanview and inside cabin. We get a balcony discount so we sometimes book a balcony when the price is not much different from an inside. We spend most of our time outside the room so the balcony doesn't interest us if the price difference is wide. Price is the driving factor for us. As Paul Simon said: "One man's ceiling is another man's floor".

[2chiefs]

I agree with Proudmom as far as our own preference. I think the real answer is try it to see if you like it. The comment that "you will never go back" is untrue for us. We have sailed in a Jr Suite, a balcony, an oceanview and inside cabin. We get a balcony discount so we sometimes book a balcony when the price is not much different from an inside. We spend most of our time outside the room so the balcony doesn't interest us if the price difference is wide. Price is the driving factor for us. As Paul Simon said: "One man's ceiling is another man's floor".

 

One more comment. We have never booked an Oceanview. The only reason we sailed one was because of an upgrade. I don't think the price difference between an inside and an Oceanview is worth it (for us). If prices are low, we would pay extra for a balcony but not an oceanview. Oceanviews are almost always on the lower decks. We like the upper decks.

[LMaxwell]

What are we talking here $200 or $1000? That could certainly sway my mind one way or the other