Its true. Once you go balc you dont go back!

[RAMSJUNKIE887]

DW and I are going on the conquest march 20th for our 1 year anniversary and had booked an inside cabin to start with. We had a balcolny last year on the legend for our honeymoon for the first time. Ive always sailed inside to save money. but as the cruise got closer we just couldnt handle it we had to upgrade to a 4th floor balcolny. as it got even closer we decided we want to be up higher so we upgraded to an 8th floor balcolny. finally just now there was a price drop so I called and got a free upgrade to the lido deck right by the door that goes out to the pool! I dont know that I could ever sail without a balcolny again. I honestly didnt think we would use it that much but we fell in love with it. Now im very excited to see how we like this room on the lido deck ive always stayed down in the basement with all the rats;)

[RAMSJUNKIE887]

Has anybody ever got to upgrade free to a suite from a balcolny? That would be awsome if we start out with an inside and end up in a suite!

[H82seaUgo]

DW and I are going on the conquest march 20th for our 1 year anniversary and had booked an inside cabin to start with. We had a balcolny last year on the legend for our honeymoon for the first time. Ive always sailed inside to save money. but as the cruise got closer we just couldnt handle it we had to upgrade to a 4th floor balcolny. as it got even closer we decided we want to be up higher so we upgraded to an 8th floor balcolny. finally just now there was a price drop so I called and got a free upgrade to the lido deck right by the door that goes out to the pool! I dont know that I could ever sail without a balcolny again. I honestly didnt think we would use it that much but we fell in love with it. Now im very excited to see how we like this room on the lido deck ive always stayed down in the basement with all the rats;)

 

i never understood the concept of people paying for crap accomodations just to save a buck, and then feel the need to run from the room because it's so bad.

 

we loves a balcony or suite, and enjoy our room as part of the vacation.

 

i even hates a land vacation where even the bathroom doesn't have a window.

[okgirl]

Not true for me and sister, but we cruise several times a year and wouldn't be able to afford the upgraded cabin and have the money we want to have for excursions, the casino and our S&S card.

 

We're perfectly happy in an inside cabin.

 

We take the upgrades when they are offerred (once for free to a BL, once for a $30/pp upsell to a BL), but as a rule we like to be midship on the Upper deck, port side, so once we have chosen our cabin we're pretty much set.

 

Now someone earlier said if money were no object what would we do, and in that instance it would always be in a balcony or suite.

[deeluvs2cruise]

To answer your original question...in my case yes..once I cruised in a balcony room, I never went back to an inside. I think a balcony really enhances the cruise experience. For me anyway. JMO

[okgirl]

i never understood the concept of people paying for crap accomodations just to save a buck, and then feel the need to run from the room because it's so bad.

 

we loves a balcony or suite, and enjoy our room as part of the vacation.

 

i even hates a land vacation where even the bathroom doesn't have a window.

 

I don't consider our inside cabins crap accomodations.......I love to be out among people, albeit other passengers or sitting at a bar to chat with the crew........I probably don't spend 1.5 awake hours a day in my cabin, so why spend the extra $$ for essentially nothing.

 

Maybe it's because my sister and I are single and due to work and such aren't very social people during non-vacationing time. I'm sure if I were married and hadn't had any alone time with my hubby, I would maybe feel different.

[balcony bound]

I didn't think we could ever do less than a balcony, but we've taken a few shorter cruises in an inside and it was just fine. Couldn't do it for a week, though.

[Anyislandwilldo]

First cruise was inside room and then after that a balcony. Never again will we cruise with an inside room. We love to sit on our balcony first thing in the morning with coffee and watch the water as we sail. We had a cabin on the lido deck and it was so convienient. Never once did we any loud noises.

 

Have a great cruise!

[H82seaUgo]

I don't consider our inside cabins crap accomodations.......

 

that's fine. i'm not speaking for others. i consider them crap accomodations.

 

i'm sure others do too, but i'm not speaking for them.

[melodystrother]

Just booked first balcony after having an inside, and ocean view on previous cruises. Just wanted to say after booking the balcony I

ve tried all three ... but I will say that if it came down to it and it was a matter of cruise or not .. then I would take an inside especially on a new ship. With our previous two cabins we still didnt stay in room much. but will post after sailing on balcony. Oh, I will add I booked a balcony because it was not much difference in price. Otherwise I would have just booked another inside.

[jaded99]

We always cruise balcony too - we don't really use it all that often (too windy sometimesin the Atlantic!) but DF loves the oversized window more than the balcony itself - don't think we would enjoy a cruise in an inside or even a smaller-windowed OV as much.

 

Our first cruise we got a Verandah Suite on the Inspiration -- big mistake. Our cabin was right under the gym and we heard thump-thump-thump of people on treadmills every morning waking us up :/

[Tbay-eh]

Love a balcony and will book when and if we can afford it - however, this cruise we are doing a b2b - so outside stateroom for first leg and interior for second leg. We are only in our cabin to eat, sleep and change so not a big deal. Plus the cabins are the same size so you don't feel confined.

[remharri]

I cruise in all types of cabins. (Never have stayed in a suite though) Depends what I can afford at the time. All that matters to me is being on the ship. However, I did love the cove balcony on the Dream. We opted it out of it on the Magic because we won't be in our cabin that much at all. With 1 sea day, we couldn't justify paying for the balcony. We got one of the inside cabins with the port holes and can't wait to try it out.

[sewut]

We've been on 10 cruises and only one was a balcony. It was #7, I think. I enjoyed it early in the morning, watching the sunrise, but once our smoking neighbors woke up, it was spoiled. Our next cruise is a cove balcony, so we'll see how that goes. I really wish they would make one side of the ship non smoking. I'll probably get flamed for this, but I don't like cigarette smoke, my eyes water whenever I'm around it.

[rockymt_woman]

My first cruise we had a balcony and I loved going out on it in the morning and having breakfast and watching us come into port. On my second cruise we had an inside cabin. We got out onto the ship more. We would hang out on the decks outside and people watch and enjoy the sun. My husband likes the buffet in the morning and I like room service (but I am not much for breakfast).

Both were great for us. Yes, if money was no object, I would totally do a balcony always. But since money is, I am just as happy doing an inside room and getting out on the ship more and being able to cruise more.

[firefly333]

it wasnt true for me. im just as happy in a OV. did a aft facing js just to see if i would use the balcony ..didnt really.

 

it really isnt for everyone. not everyone wants to sit out there by themselves.

[The4Cruisers]

We've got a handful of cruises under our belt and they've always been booked as OV. Once we were upgraded to V suites, but I don't have the need to have a balcony every time we go.

 

As long as I can look outside from my room, I am happy.

[SadieN]

For us it depends on location. We like to be low and in the middle or aft surrounded by cabins. If we cannot get an OV in a good (to us) location then we will get a balcony.

[Martini Mom]

We've done an inside, OV, and a balcony. While we loved our balcony, it isn't a must for us. An OV is must for us. It is just a tiny bit more than in inside, so it's worth it to us. I'm claustrophobic, so the window is great.

 

It also depends on the ship and itinerary. If I cruise the Caribbean again, it will probably be with a balcony, but with short cruises, it doesn't matter much. Also, on the older ships, there aren't many balconies, so they're expensive.

 

As far as a balcony on the Lido next to the pool. No thanks. It would be nice to be close to the action, but that's a little too close for me.:)

[G'ma]

DW and I are going on the conquest march 20th for our 1 year anniversary and had booked an inside cabin to start with. We had a balcolny last year on the legend for our honeymoon for the first time. Ive always sailed inside to save money. but as the cruise got closer we just couldnt handle it we had to upgrade to a 4th floor balcolny. as it got even closer we decided we want to be up higher so we upgraded to an 8th floor balcolny. finally just now there was a price drop so I called and got a free upgrade to the lido deck right by the door that goes out to the pool! I dont know that I could ever sail without a balcolny again. I honestly didnt think we would use it that much but we fell in love with it. Now im very excited to see how we like this room on the lido deck ive always stayed down in the basement with all the rats;)

 

Funny.

 

I, like you, was completely content with my cheapest inside cabin I could buy. After all, how much time do you spend there anyway? Take a shower and sleep, right?

 

Then, several years ago, for some unknown reason, I was upgraded to a balcony. It was at that point I KNEW why people didn't spend much time in their cabin. Who the heck wants to spend anytime in a closet, not knowing if it's day or night.....when the balcony opens the entire universe to you day or night.

 

I've never gone back..and never would....

 

It's cost me a lot more (solo traveler) but I prefer quality over quantity anyway. I spend so much time out there, morning coffee, watchiing the docking or cast off; harbor activity, shore activity, before and after dinner and late, late night or early morning when all is still.

[Bunkie103]

Our first cruise was a balcony and our last cruise was a "crap" cabin. That's such a nasty word!:mad:

 

I personally love a balcony, but I also really enjoy Fantasy class ships and some do not have balconies. If I want to cruise twice a year I manage in an OV, PT or :eek: even an inside! Our upcoming Alaska cruise is a balcony for maximum scenery views.

[elcuchio24]

Most people who say they don't pay for a balcony because "you don't spend any time in your room anyway except to sleep". Well, you'd spend allot more time in your room if you had a balcony!:)

[SkyMaster]

We've had balcony cabins twice out of 27 Carnival cruises. Frankly, it was a waste for me, as I only went out there a couple of times on each of those 7 day cruises. It's O.K. to have a balcony, but it certainly isn't worth the extra money for me. I'd much rather have 1/2 of another cruise. ;)

 

"SKY"

[Friend100]

For me, it depends on the price difference between inside vs outside vs balcony and if I think the difference is worth it for that particular ship, itinerary, length, etc. For example, a $300 vs $700 difference between inside and balcony may influence my decision.

[RWolver672]

We go along with "once you've had a balcony you'll never to back" and "once you get a cabin on the Lido or Panorama deck, you'll never go lower again."