A balcony for a transatlantic crossing?

[midcape]

Is a balcony useful and worth the extra $$ on a 7 day-at-sea crossing especially in late October? We're sailing on Navigator on 2010 from Rome and it seems like most of the rooms are balcony. Most oceanviews seems to be dead forward or dead aft. I'm not familiar with this configuration. :confused: Any advice sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill

[John Henry on CC]

Is a balcony useful and worth the extra $$ on a 7 day-at-sea crossing especially in late October? We're sailing on Navigator on 2010 from Rome and it seems like most of the rooms are balcony. Most oceanviews seems to be dead forward or dead aft. I'm not familiar with this configuration. :confused: Any advice sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill

 

Prices have been so cheap on TA's lately, I would go for the balcony. The oceanviews are fine, too, even the ones all the way forward.

 

The REAL bargains have been last minute price DIVES on interiors. :)

[Coralc]

Is a balcony useful and worth the extra $$ on a 7 day-at-sea crossing especially in late October? We're sailing on Navigator on 2010 from Rome and it seems like most of the rooms are balcony. Most oceanviews seems to be dead forward or dead aft. I'm not familiar with this configuration. :confused: Any advice sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill

 

We have a very active roll call for this cruise, Perhaps you'd like to join us? The link is here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=950570

 

The prices are reasonable. We have a balcony, we like to watch the water and check the air temperature. :)

[gadaboutgal]

We will usually cruise in whatever cabin is the best value, BUT the balcony is a must for me when doing the Transatlantics. The cabin isn't usually any bigger but the wall to wall glass gives the illusion of a larger space and jmo gives a little "home-ier" feel to it. Having the balcony for quiet time and to just watch the waves go by or to read a book on some of those long sea days is perfect.

[Tucker in Texas]

I was hesitant to book a balcony cabin on a trans-Atlantic wondering how much use I would get out of it but when finally making Diamond (just in time to be "discarded" it seems and not allowed to combine benefits with stockholder's OBC), I got the balcony discount, which made the cabin about the same price as an ocean view with no discount so I went for it. I found I used the balcony a lot. The first couple of days out of Barcelona on the Fall cruise I would wear a bathrobe out there in the morning with my tea but, after that, spent a lot of time on it without even a sweater.

 

As far as having a cabin forward or aft, I specifically request a cabin that is forward on Deck 6 near the stairs and elevators. I am one deck up from the food end of the Promenade and the secondary lounge. Two decks down to the Schooner bar, casino, atrium and the balcony of the show room. This is good because when the show lets out you are close to your cabin to use the facilities and don't have to wait on an elevator. About the only time I use the elevator is to get to the pool deck (Solarium is on "my" end of the ship) and the Windjammer and Viking Lounge. The "downside" is you go the length of the ship to get to the dining rooms but I consider that exercise to take off some of the calories. The library (worthless) and internet cafe are at the opposite end of the ship, too.

 

Tucker in Texas

[The Big Booper]

We are on this years Nav TA in Nov and were advised to get a port side balcony, which we did. More sun, considering the direction the ship is pointing.

 

We will probably book the 2010 Nav TA out of Rome. Great port stops in Europe and dirt cheap, especially with the diamond balcony discount.

[Desert Cruizers]

I am looking into doing the 2011 Navigator TA. Unable to Cruise anywhere in 2010. We have our Calif group cruise in April 2011( Mariner ) so want to do a TA afterwards.

[Coralc]

We are on this years Nav TA in Nov and were advised to get a port side balcony, which we did. More sun, considering the direction the ship is pointing.

 

We will probably book the 2010 Nav TA out of Rome. Great port stops in Europe and dirt cheap, especially with the diamond balcony discount.

 

The prices went up recently. But perhaps they will drop again. The cruise seems to be selling very well. :)

[Grannycb]

No. I'll differ with others here. We had a balcony on our TA and used it about 5 minutes each day. It wasn't worth the extra cost. Unless it is the same price as an OV I wouldn't do it again.

[mjldvlks]

We had a balcony for the Independence TA last April and were happy with the choice. The balcony cabins are significantly bigger than the normal OV cabins and we enjoyed going outside once in a while. It was worth it to us.

[tally10]

We prefer balconies on the transatlantics for the usual reasons as everyone has mentioned. Another reason is to get some fresh air into the cabin. There also seems to be, in our experience, a lot of respiratory illnesses that occur on these long sailings and it is important to have the fresh air flow rather than only recirculated air. Just our opinion. If you can afford it, definitely opt for a balcony.

[packedandready]

I had this question also. I'm not really concerned with size or location though. My question is about weather temps. We're looking at a TA from Spain to Galveston in Nov. Anyone remember daily temps on this itinerary? I'd hate to pay for a balcony and it be too cool to use it.....I'm a cold natured person so I don't do cold well. Thanks

[Galveston Cruiser]

Definitely get balcony. The weather was great. Two TA's last year. Both crossings had beautiful weather. Loved siiting on the balcony with coffee in the morning and later in the day reading.

 

The worst weather was in the Mediterranean, both May and December.

[The Big Booper]

The prices went up recently. But perhaps they will drop again. The cruise seems to be selling very well. :)

 

I have been lurking on your thread as well as our 2009 TA sailing.

 

Right now we are watching the Explorer Holiday sailing for price drops, after that, yours. We can only plan so much, what with fall starting and then tax season.:eek: Of course that is what pays the bills.:)

[midcape]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. Very, very helpful. We have a courtesy hold on stateroom 6594, cat E1, portside thanks to you. The ship seems to be selling out fast (unless that's just a sales technique:rolleyes:)

[swsfrail]

Is a balcony useful and worth the extra $$ on a 7 day-at-sea crossing especially in late October? We're sailing on Navigator on 2010 from Rome and it seems like most of the rooms are balcony. Most oceanviews seems to be dead forward or dead aft. I'm not familiar with this configuration. :confused: Any advice sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill

 

You are on vacation. Live it up! I would never consider trying to save a buck on the stateroom. Get the best you can afford. It's your personal space for the duration of the cruise, and you are worth splurging on it. And a balcony room is a great way to splurg. Nothing beats waking up in the morning and the first thing you see is the ocean passing by outside your balcony. Makes a person thankful for being so blessed that they can afford to treat themselves to a cruise.

 

Mary