Those Horrid Aft Cabins

[Candleonwater]

Thanks for the laugh! I will say, having traveled on the Enchantment in these horrific cabins... saved me from myself... Windjammer is SO far away!!!!!

[frito58]

Funny thing our roll call on our April 7th AOS cruises we have like 6 of the aft rooms and none of us are traveling together 3 on deck 10 I think 2 on 9 and 1 has that wonderful corner room on 7 we are counting on him to hold all of the balcony partys. :D

[Familygoboston]

To all of you promoting the virtues of aft cabins!;)

Obviously, everyone has their own favorite places to stay, but ill take the afts (when I can get 'em- had to take a hump on Brilliance, but ill keep looking:p)

 

I'm also wondering if all this "talk" of no loungers lately on aft balconies isn't also the work of Leilow and his/her ilk;)

[klingoncruiser]

Most people love or hate them. We were "upgraded" one time to an aft room. The balcony was gigantic and we were thinking, wow. Then reality set in. We had been gang pressed into a room directly above the band in the night club below. It hopped and thumped until 1AM every night. :rolleyes: Yes, we learned the "dirty" little truth about the balconies back there as well. Bottom line is, no more. We love the roll of the sea at night so the added motion is not a problem for us.

 

To add insult to injury, we had my Dad along with his electric cart. He was also moved to a "upgrade" room as well. Guess where it was.... front of the ship. Yup, not RCL's finest hour. We did not know about this until we got to the dock. They were unable to move everyone back where they belonged. I was ready to strangle the upgrade fairy if I could have caught the little rascal.

[ssb]

I have had 1688 on the AOS booked for over a year because the afts are terrible and nobody wants them , but I took it so nobody else would have to suffer through it for a week :rolleyes::rolleyes::p

 

And the size of tha room is so small

And there is a pole in the middle of it!;)

[ssb]

Funny thing our roll call on our April 7th AOS cruises we have like 6 of the aft rooms and none of us are traveling together 3 on deck 10 I think 2 on 9 and 1 has that wonderful corner room on 7 we are counting on him to hold all of the balcony partys. :D

 

We also suffer thru staying on 7 corner aft on voyager class

with having to hold all those cocktail parties

and being totally alone in rain or shine

with no views to rear or side of the ship.

And we have to put towels down to lay out

Or go to pool to fight for a lounge chair!

There is no privacy back there.

And the price is terrible for that cabin!

;);)

[ARCruisinNana]

Which deck were you on? We have never been in an aft, we have our first booked for next year on the Explorer, deck 10. I'm trying to avoid the superstructure. I don't think I'd book on decks 6, 7 or 8. I think deck 9 is the RFS.

 

On Voyager class the RFSs are on decks 8 and 9. Both are wonderful. We've also done many aft balconies on Voyager class, Freedom class and Radiance class. The view and balcony is worth the walk:)

[spiritkat090909]

Ok... I know you are joking.

 

BUT, a legitimate complaint...my last aft balcony, which was otherwise nice...the 3 women chimney's next door who had a radar that knew when I was out there! The awning on the 10th floor was shared between our cabins & the smoke was worse than the casino. Also, I did see the smokestack soot on the loungers below us, but it didn't affect our balcony at all.

[leilow]

Ok, ok…there may have been a tad bit of sarcasm in my original post (and a rather large dose of exaggeration). To be serious for a moment (must…resist…urge...to…insert…cynical comment), aft cabins can have some pretty nice balconies, but there are some drawbacks. They may not be everyone’s idea of heaven:

 

• Yes, it is a bit of a walk from the elevators. For most of us, the extra walking is a bonus, but beware if you have any mobility issues.

• You may experience some vibrations from the propellers. This can range from a barely noticeable purr, to a full on “magic fingers” bed.

• In heavy seas there is more motion in cabins at the stern or bow of the ship. If you are really susceptible to motion sickness, stick to mid-ship cabins.

• Yes, you may find some soot on your balcony. The amount will vary with the ship, location of the balcony, and the current wind conditions. A top tip is to grab a damp wash cloth from the bathroom and wipe down the loungers, chairs, and railings first thing in the morning. It only takes a minute.

• Your balcony will probably not have a view straight down to the water. This is especially true in the Freedom and Voyager classes.

• Some people hate always facing the rear and not being able to see where the ship is going. However, many corner aft cabins extend to the side far enough to provide a least a partial view forward.

• Because aft balconies are usually more sheltered from the wind. Chain smokers on nearby balconies may be more noticeable.

• Just because it’s a fabulous aft balcony does not mean there aren’t the usual location issues to consider in any cabin selection. For example, deck seven cabins on Radiance class ships will get some noise from the Colony Club on deck six. Deck ten cabins on Radiance class ships may get some morning noise from the open air seating area in the Windjammer on deck eleven. Deck six and seven cabins on Freedom and Voyager classes may get some noise from the outdoor crew area on deck five.

• There are rumors that some ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet do not have lounge chairs on the non-suite aft balconies (this appears to be due to a bizarre rules interpretation by some ships crews). Let’s face it…what’s the point of a huge balcony without lounge chairs.

 

If you can live with those potential drawbacks, there are a few benefits in addition to the enormous balcony (and, hopefully, lounge chairs):

 

• The hallways are blissfully quiet. You will experience far fewer of those delightful, screaming youngsters burning off their extreme sugar high right outside your cabin door. You will also most likely miss the two a.m. drunk mistaking your cabin door for his/hers (followed by the pounding and “Let me in, my card doesn’t seem to work!”).

• Many people (yours truly included), find sitting and staring at the wake trailing away from the ship strangely mesmerizing and quite relaxing.

• When the wind is howling at 40 knots up on the pool deck, the aft balconies are usually fairly sheltered.

• Did I mention the enormous balcony? In addition to a couple of loungers, you’ll also have enough room for a decent tango.

 

Cynic, n: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Ambrose Bierce

[Olive1950]

Okay, consider yourself WARNED.

 

If you book a Royal Family Suite on a "Freedom" class ship, DO NOT book the ones on Deck 8.

 

Those balconies are unprotected. Whenever they wash the windows of Windjammer, your balcony will be awash in soapy, dirty water. And most of the time the ship will NOT inform you that washing will be taking place.

 

Thank you for your attention.

[wmowan8485]

Thank you for clarifying! However I am willing to take one for the team and am sailing away on an aft balcony this Christmas eve!! I'll check back in when I return to fill you all in on the experience. :p

[caissonqueen]

I never realized I was being the sacrificial lamb by booking afts. Blast you all!! :p I really hate when I fall asleep on those nasty, soot covered loungers. ;)

[parrotfeathers]

Don't think an aft will ever be in my radar. I like being as close to the CL as possible for my morning cappuccinos.

[bigeck]

Okay, consider yourself WARNED.

 

If you book a Royal Family Suite on a "Freedom" class ship, DO NOT book the ones on Deck 8.

 

Those balconies are unprotected. Whenever they wash the windows of Windjammer, your balcony will be awash in soapy, dirty water. And most of the time the ship will NOT inform you that washing will be taking place.

 

Thank you for your attention.

 

What other balcony do you get a free shower to cool down

 

Alex

[Olive1950]

What other balcony do you get a free shower to cool down

 

Alex

 

Good morning Alex.

 

I was in 8414. I would steer clear of 8412, 8414, 8714, and 8712 on the Freedon-class ships. I can't speak about the coverage on the balconies of 8410 and 8710. The folks in the aft cabins on Deck 9, were sympathetic; but amused when they watched me <almost> get doused by that dirty water one morning.

[BILL-WI]

I will never cruise in the AFT again!

:DUntil my next cruises!:D

 

BILL

[bigeck]

Good morning Alex.

 

I was in 8414. I would steer clear of 8412, 8414, 8714, and 8712 on the Freedon-class ships. I can't speak about the coverage on the balconies of 8410 and 8710. The folks in the aft cabins on Deck 9, were sympathetic; but amused when they watched me <almost> get doused by that dirty water one morning.

 

Good Morning Cheryl,

We have never been on a Freedom yet but hope to sail on Freedom or Indy in 2015. I have booked our first aft on Serenade. I managed to get 1100. I will wait and see what all the fuss is about.

We plan to go to Alaska in 2014 and would like 1100 on that cruise,

 

Alex

[travelbuddies]

Aft Cabin 6712 on Indy has a camera at the cabin & balcony door. The view is obstructed & noise was so loud dh wore ear plugs every night. We needed to move all of the furniture closer to the balcony door to keep it from getting wet from runoff of overnight cleaning on decks above. We were so miserable that we are sacrificing ourselves once again next year on the Legend hoping the unobstructed view and noise level on deck 7 will be better;):D

Susan

[mcdermott]

...I can't conclude whether you are being sarcastic or serious with this post... my sarcasm detecto meter must be broken...

 

We've sailed aft cabins on three occaisions (Carnival and Princess and loved it!) and will sail the AOS in three days with an aft cabin also, this isn't what I wanted to hear this close to my sailing date...

 

Woe is me....

 

I have sailed twice this year in aft cabins on AOS Once in a balcony and once in a family suite both were excellent I try very hard to get this position

Just one tip put the coat hangers on the floor of the wardrobe after you have packed as this could be a little noisy but that happens in most ships on the last night Enjoy

[Scoobydobe7]

Hi -- I am booked in cabin 9704 on the Indy next November -- I am aware of the door and window -- should I be aware of any other pitfalls concerning this particular balcony -- thanks!!!

[buffett010]

We sail next thanksgiving and we were given the option of the brig or an aft cabin. We thought long and hard about it and decided to leave the brig open to some other lucky soul. I guess we will have to have breakfast on all the lawn funiture! LOL

 

Fins up parrotheads

[ticktoneer]

Some love 'em....some hate 'em......something for everyone!

I hate em '

 

Soot and bits of food washed from the upper decks !!

[C Cruise Dude]

Most of my cabins have been aft. I have not had that experience, even on the 1st floor. :rolleyes: They have been good cabins.

[rroepke]

We have booked cabin 1400 on the Liberty of the Seas for a 5 day cruise in March. This will be our first cruise experience and I am starting to regret not going with a more "traditional" location on the ship. Has anyone been in this cabin or similar cabin on the Liberty? I am hoping we did not make a mistake.

[Driftwoodgal]

I love my aft as I want to see the wake. Saying that we are on the Allure next and have booked as close as I can afford to get to it in a B1 on deck 11. We shall see if I have made the right choice of cabins.

 

I think you have to do your research on aft cabins, some people hate soot, the lack of over hang etc. I have been protected by the over hang in an aft cabin in the Panama Canal. I have had soot on my balcony and no lounge chairs too. If you love to walk and have some privacy at the butt of a ship then book them. If the ship is rocking you will be bouncing. I am looking forward to my Alaska cruise in one as well as the new expierence on the Allure.

 

Had the RFS on the Majesty and listened to pool music until wee hours of the morning. That won't be a cabin of choice in the future.

 

Research...... key word.