flash sale and my first balcony

[slugo]

I have been planning on booking a Magic cruise for this summer. In the past I have always done an inside room. The cost of going in a balcony is $180 more total for two people. The best deal is where carnival selects your balcony room. The positive is that it is much cheaper for carnival to select the room. What is the negative of them choosing your room? Is it better to have an Inside room that I have always liked in the past or is it better to pay the extra $180 for a balcony that I don't know where it is going to be? I'm a little nervous about getting a balcony that I don't like. I'd love to hear suggestions. I'm leaning towards a balcony but am fearing the unknown.

[lizardhowson]

I always personally select my cabin deck and location based on whats on the deck above and below (noise coming through the steel plates) elevator location, expected hallway traffic, etc.

 

IMHO when you allow Carnival to pick your cabin, you get the left-overs - the cabins no one else wants because of one reason or another.

[FlaGrl4Evr]

We always pay the extra to be able to select our own cabin. We also try to book as early on as possible to be able to get what we consider a good cabin location. Everyone has different preferences but here are a few of our own for doing so:

 

 

1) We enjoy a mid-ship location..... it tends to cut-down of the amount of motion. No guarantees in rough seas but it does help.

 

2) We prefer our cabin to be on a deck that has other cabins above and below and not public spaces. It could be a nightmare to be below a nightclub or other loud venue if one tends to be a light sleeper.

 

3) We also would never want to be in a cabin with a connecting door to the next room. This is self explanatory..... noise issues being the biggie.

 

4) We also like to try and find a location that is near the elevator banks but not directly across. Convenience is a nice factor.

 

5) Since we travel as a couple, we also try to find a cabin location that has cabins designated for only 2 to each side of us. Believe it or not this really does cut down on a lot of potential noise. Again, no guarantees but being next to a quad cabin could possibly up the chances, especially when you are talking about a balcony cabin. We learned this after being next to the family from He!! that used the balcony as their kids time-out zone. It was a nightmare to say the least....... so yuppers... we try to book between two other doubles.

 

 

 

**** If you would be happy with any balcony cabin in any location on the ship then go for it but if you have reservations about your location due to movement or noise from possibly being placed in an undesirable location then paying a little extra $ may give you some peace of mind.

 

 

------Cabin location is where we don't mind spending a little extra money.-----

 

 

.

Edited March 23, 2015 by FlaGrl4Evr

[Isa65]

I played with the idea of upgrading myself to a balcony for my B2B this summer... $160 total for two.

 

BUT.... there is a real chance that Carnival will place us on deck 6 which is over lounges, casino, promenade, arcade. I can't deal with all that noise.

And I know I have only myself to blame for letting someone else choose my cabin. I'm staying put!

[Tannison]

For that amount, to move from an inside to a balcony, I would let Carnival choose my room. The insides are just so much smaller and the lack of natural light is what really gets me. I would chance it. I personally love the cove balconies, so would be thrilled with their lowest balcony cabin.

[Peg_S]

If you don't mind wearing earplugs - take some along and take a chance with a balcony.

 

Have fun whatever you choose!

 

Peg

[islandatsea]

As others has said, you might get a balcony in an area that is not that good. That is the gamble a person takes. You could get a good cabin, nobody knows.

 

We always select our own cabin since we will live there for a week or more & don't want to regret or be annoyed with a bad location even though it does cost more to pick our location, IMO.

[iluvit!]

Once you have had a balcony there is no going back! We usually pay about $600 extra for a balcony over an inside and consider it money well spent. Tried an inside for a cheap cruise in Feb and the difference was night and day. Go for it!

[JMHAM1]

 

 

5) Since we travel as a couple, we also try to find a cabin location that has cabins designated for only 2 to each side of us. Believe it or not this really does cut down on a lot of potential noise. Again, no guarantees but being next to a quad cabin could possibly up the chances, especially when you are talking about a balcony cabin. We learned this after being next to the family from He!! that used the balcony as their kids time-out zone. It was a nightmare to say the least....... so yuppers... we try to book between two other doubles.

 

 

 

.

 

I have never thought about that but you are totally right!

[fshstck]

Enjoy the balcony, that's a nice change for that price. In a perfect world we all could afford AFT wrap Balconies, buy everyone has there own budget to live with. I'm sure you will have a blast in your balcony no matter who chooses it.

[Lisichka]

The worst balcony cabin is still better than the best inside cabin.