Riverbound

This is a great topic! And simply balcony vs inside does not take in what we really investigate when booking, and that is location of the room. As some have said, balcony cabins can be larger. But this is not always true. Careful research can uncover unusually large inside cabins - we love the insides on Holland that include corner couches! As far as location, we avoid embarkation floors, especially on port intensive sailings as your hallway can get clogged with queues of folks waiting to get off the ship. Along with making it difficult to get out of your own room, it can be noisy. We also avoid close proximity to elevators & restrooms and we try to be sandwiched between two "cabin-only" floors. I like to be mid-ship, (up, down & bow, aft). I find it more convenient to get to everything. Another plus for the Balcony side of the spreadsheet is watching the ship dock. We frequently travel with another couple and the husband loves to watch the ship dock, which is generally very early in the morning. So a balcony and lots of room service coffee is his nom.

Hello, Ultimately, balcony vs inside is a personal choice. We almost always book inside. Can we afford balcony? Yes. But since we only do 7+ day cruises, the difference is often the price of another cruise and we spend so little time on a balcony, so it doesn't seem like a good value. On our upcoming NCL Northern Europe, a balcony is almost double the cost of an inside. Here are some points to consider that we find helpful: 1) How port intensive is the cruise? Port days are busy - you have little time to enjoy a balcony. 2) Are you traveling with others? Most balconies are too small to host other guests and thus you are far more likely gather in public spaces if you are with other couples. We generally travel with 2-5 other couples. 3) How's the view? Will you be staring at a horizon where blue sky meets blue sea? Maybe not worth it. Or are you watching glaciers calve or whales breach in Alaska? Worth it. I would always upgrade to a balcony for Alaskan cruises - especially if you are traveling in June when it is daylight at 2am. You're going to use that balcony. 4) How much time do you anticipate using the ship's public places? If you never miss an evening show, love the casino, spend time in the pools/whirlpools daily, and love meeting new people in the pubs and bars - then you'll likely be in your cabin from Midnight-7am. A balcony might be a waste of money that is better used for shore excursions and on-board fun. 5) Are you on your honeymoon? Private balcony. 6) How much downtime do you need? If you require regular time away from crowds to recharge, a balcony makes sense. Breakfast or happy hour cocktails & apps delivered to your room and enjoyed on your private balcony would provide the perfect balance to the more people-filled public places on the ship. 7) Do you suffer from claustrophobia or motion sickness? I understand that a room with view is pretty helpful for these conditions. Hope this helps! Happy Cruising.