Cove vs 4J?

[new_cruiser_75]

Looking at booking a cruise and just can't decide... need some opinions! 

 

Cove balcony (under the kitchen or dinning room, $400 more expensive total, BUT a cove and sooo close to the water!)

   or

4J (on the top floor, cheaper, great views)

 

Whatcha think?  Now is the time for the CC opinions that everyone loves to hate 😉 😄 

[csm5986142]

If they were the same price, and the cove was located under the dining room (not the kitchen) I'd definitely choose the cove (but I don't really care for the higher decks).  Sometimes the rooms on the top decks can be a long walk to everything.  Depending on location, it can also be a long wait for the elevators (of course the specific ship makes a difference). 

But I'm cheap so I probably wouldn't be willing to pay the extra $400.  And I'm a light sleeper so definitely wouldn't book a cove under the galley.

 

[nwcruiselover]

Cove balcony, absolutely.  Under the dining room would be better than under the kitchen because the dining room is carpeted and not open all night.  I have been in 4J cabins many times but for the extra money coves are better.  There are great views from the “secret” balconies in front of the cabins, but it’s quite windy out there when the ship is moving.  It’s not a place people sit outside very much.  In fact, in the many times I have had 4J cabins, I can’t recall a time when I saw anyone out there for more than 15-20 minutes at a time.

[jsglow]

I'm assuming this is a 7 day cruise? For $200 pp I'd probably do the Cove.  Part of that might depend on how port intensive it is.  I've stayed in both those forward facing 'Secret Deck' cabins and Coves.  No comparison really.  Coves might be my favorite all time.

[BrotherCraig]

Cove

[audcc77]

LOL. My experience with a 4J ….
 

We had somewhat bad weather starting at Noon on the last day.  About 2 pm, I kept hearing this banging.  It kept on and on and on.  I figured they must be working on the air conditioning or something. Banging went on and after dinner, still banging.  I returned from the casino at 10pm. Still banging. 
 

I called GS and said there must be something which has come loose outside my window.  Is anyone else calling about this?

 

No ma’am.  It’s the waves.  
 

Are ya sure?  I’ve been on a lot of cruises and never heard waves like this …

 

Yes, ma’am.  I’m sure.  Nothing I can do about it.  
 

Are you positive? Because it seems like something is flapping around out there.  I’d go out there myself but there’s a sign saying not to go out there …
 

It’s waves, Ma’am. 
 

So I go to sleep and wake up at 3 a.m. because of the banging.   I get dressed, go down to GS so that the lady there can tell me that it’s waves. 
 

I insisted she send somebody to my cabin.  She seemed annoyed as heck.  

Head of Housekeeping shows up, and I apologize for waking him.  He listens and says he thinks he knows what it is. He goes outside, stops the banging and comes back. 

What was it?  It was straps on the stacked loungers outside my window which had come loose.   🙄

 

I listened to that for HOURS. 

Here’s what it sounded like. 

I don’t know if the link will work.  
 

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0f0hQx6T9aTvr3ixgPNUsniAg

 

Definitely get a Cove balcony.   

[BlerkOne]

I'd take the Cove all day. You have to keep the curtains closed at night with a 4J and when there is something to see, your view will likely be blocked by a butt.

[mcgore83]

Love the cove balconies, so quiet and close to the water!