Cove vs Standard balcony dilemma

[CruiseMark]

I have a dilemma.

I’m booked on the Panorama 25 Night Transpacific cruise next year, from Singapore to Long Beach. I’m booked in my usual balcony location on Panorama, on Deck 8 aft (not aft-facing this trip, unfortunately). I like it because I can easily pop up to Lido buffet and pizza. 

 

But something about those Cove Balcony cabins intrigues me.  Being so close to the water for a cruise with 19 Sea Days could be very cool, plus the additional privacy that they offer. The thing that kind of holds me back is the Deck 2 location. It’s a long walk to the casual dining that I primarily use (Lido, pizza, Guy’s, etc)

.

I’m not prone to seasickness so that’s a non-factor, and the price is virtually identical. 
 

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve done both types of cabins.

[noslen3333]

I always get a cove and if I can't get one, I will book an oceanview. I get a room near the middle elevators and if you use that and go to the lido, you are right at the entrance to guys burgers and the mexican taco place. If you enter the lido, your front buffets are there. The pizza and fish place are the on the back.

 

The cove balcony is very private and covered so you are not roasting in the sun. If it is raining you can still use your balcony and these coves are slightly wider than other balconies.

 

Hope this helps

 

[Guest BasicSailor]

Love me a cove, fishing at it's finest 😉

[noslen3333]

If I could really fish then that would be the icing on the cake. The casino wouldn't like it because then I would not live in the casino

 

[Guest BasicSailor]

3 minutes ago, noslen3333 said:

If I could really fish then that would be the icing on the cake. The casino wouldn't like it because then I would not live in the casino

 

I have a photo of the Carnival crew fishing out of an open bay door somewhere in my files. Never, say never 🙃

[Theosprey247]

I would think taking (and waiting for) the elevator or the stairs from the 2 floor would get old quick. However there are things going on deck 4 and 5. I would take the normal balcony on deck 8. 

[mcgore83]

Love the coves.  So private. No problem with elevators.  Very convenient to get on and off the ship!

[Essiesmom]

If you do go for a cove, make sure you are forward of the midship elevators, otherwise you will be under the galley.  If you decide to try one, I would do it on a shorter cruise.  25 days is a long time to find out you don’t like it.  EM

Edited February 12, 2023 by Essiesmom

[staceyglow]

I sail a lot on decks 1 and 2. Personally, I like being far away from the buffet and pizza.  Less tempted to pop up there for food that I don't really need to eat. 

 

Also, cove balconies are awesome.

[txcruiser1234]

Yeah, coves seem to have a cult following (I'm a member). If we have a choice between a cove in a quiet location and a regular balcony, we'll always choose the cove. But, I've read other cruiser reviews with valid reasons (for them) for not liking the coves - location being one reason. Hard to tell which group you'll fall into until you personally try one.

 

I wrote this a while back re: our first cove:

We had a cove for the first time last month on the Dream.

Loved, loved, loved it.

Normally, a regular balcony is just a nice-to-have for us b/c we just never find ourselves out there for any length of time - maybe a couple of hours total over a seven day cruise. We spent at least a dozen hours out in the cove on our eight day cruise (a lot for us). It was nice to be able to sit and actually put our feet up while watching the world go by. The regular balconies we've had on Carnival have tinted plexiglass below the rail that's often hard to see through clearly while lounging, especially when salty.

 

[Earthworm Jim]

I agree with noslen that a big difference is whether you are a sun lover or a shade lover. The coves offer more shade.

 

Another point is I wonder if a trans-Pacific might tend to have bigger seas since you'll be in a big ocean far from land? I don't know if that's the case, but if it is there is the chance that those rougher seas could cause the crew to shut down the cove balcony opening covers some days. So you could have days without a balcony.

[Essiesmom]

If the seas are rough enough for them to close the cove balcony doors, you won’t want to be out on your regular balcony, either.  EM

[mcgore83]

25 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

If the seas are rough enough for them to close the cove balcony doors, you won’t want to be out on your regular balcony, either.  EM

AGREED!

[ZoeyVictoria]

I have a cove booked for the first time on the Celebration in October, because (1) That many people can’t be wrong, and (2) regular balconies are available on every ship on every cruise line - cove balconies are unique. 

[13cheermom]

15 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I have a cove booked for the first time on the Celebration in October, because (1) That many people can’t be wrong, and (2) regular balconies are available on every ship on every cruise line - cove balconies are unique. 

You will love it as long as the location is good overall depending on what is above you on Deck 6.  We just booked our first one on Mardi Gras couple of weeks ago, and loved it.  So close to all the food options and activities on Deck 6,7,& 8.  We were midship, cabin 5348, under the Java Blue Cafe and had no noise issues whatsoever.  Also if you search online you can see what cabins have no life boats above them as well.  We had a clear view of the ocean from all directions.  You do have a hike to Lido and upper decks, but we enjoy walking stairs for exercise so worked well for us.  We already came home and re-booked for different itinerary and basically same cabin for next year. Also the cove balcony room have the same exact sq. footage as a regular balcony room, the actual balcony size might be a lil smaller but worked well for the both of us to sit out there and enjoy. 😁

[ZoeyVictoria]

16 minutes ago, 13cheermom said:

You will love it as long as the location is good overall depending on what is above you on Deck 6.  We just booked our first one on Mardi Gras couple of weeks ago, and loved it.  So close to all the food options and activities on Deck 6,7,& 8.  We were midship, cabin 5348, under the Java Blue Cafe and had no noise issues whatsoever.  Also if you search online you can see what cabins have no life boats above them as well.  We had a clear view of the ocean from all directions.  You do have a hike to Lido and upper decks, but we enjoy walking stairs for exercise so worked well for us.  We already came home and re-booked for different itinerary and basically same cabin for next year. Also the cove balcony room have the same exact sq. footage as a regular balcony room, the actual balcony size might be a lil smaller but worked well for the both of us to sit out there and enjoy. 😁

Thank you so much, that info is absolutely helpful!  We are just a few cabins away from 5348, and we prefer easy walking access (stairs) to decks 6-8 over the upper decks.  Add in not having to fight for elevators when returning from ports, and it sounds perfect!

[kdr69]

Coves are my goto now

 

[CruiseMark]

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. I switched to the Cove balcony!

[Rudyard]

Love the Coves! Couldn't get one for my cruise late this year as they were all sold out even though I booked a year out. My PVP said it was most likely due to all the refugees from the cancelled Jubilee cruises (of which I was one) snatching them up. Tried to get a Lido balcony (my go to when on a ship with no Coves) but those were gone too. Ended up on deck 11 so I'm not complaining.