voice your opinion on balconies!!!!

[Mom33]

I love and always book balconies. Don't have to go out to the decks for a breath of fresh air.

[satxdiver]

First cruise we had an ocean view (window) cabin and thought we were happy. The second cruise we were given an upgrade to a balcony due to a sales promotion and thought it would be nice but not necessary. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Now it is a balcony or we don't book period. The comments below are very correct. Once you have one, you cannot go back.

 

As for the original question, we vote for keeping the balcony size as the few extra feet in the cabin is definitely not worth it!

[lovevacadays]

I have not read through this thread so not sure what others posted. For me, if I book a balcony cabin I want a good sized balcony. If I want more room in my cabin I book a mini-suite.

[loliola]

Thanks for posting a photo of a balcony almost no one can afford to ever book.

[SeagoingMom]

Our concept of a balcony and one which we will be enjoying this winter is shown here;

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/Yarkerhill/Louis-Cristal-0678-1.jpg

 

Yes, that is a personal hot tub in the corner.

I am glad you explained that -- it looked to me like a kitchen sink!

[iliv2cruz]

I just read an article on cruise critic from Norwegian that new ships they are building will have smaller balconies as cruisers prefer larger space inside. Who are they kidding? Princess reconfirmed the Regal will be the same as the Royal. I switched from Norwegian to Princess due to smaller cabins & balconies. What is your opinion???

 

My husband and I prefer a larger balcony. I love going up on deck during the day and lounging by the pool or upper decks with all the other people, but also enjoy going back to the room, grabbing a glass of wine, and sit on the balcony, where it's nice and quiet, feet up, watching the beautiful view and in the morning having breakfast, and sometimes afternoon lunch out there. That's all part of the cruise that we enjoy, and a smaller balcony just isn't comfy for us. I always look for the largest balconies when we plan a cruise or wait till one is open before we book. Bottom line: I'd rather a smaller room with a larger balcony.

[ONT-CA]

Thanks for posting a photo of a balcony almost no one can afford to ever book.

 

Interestingly enough, we are paying less for this than we have paid for a Pacific Princess balcony on a 14-day cruise. Of course we grabbed it

[ONT-CA]

I am glad you explained that -- it looked to me like a kitchen sink!

 

Everything but...

[boca7]

Cruise critic has now posted on their review of the Royal the sizes of the cabins & balconies. Princess has avoided publishing them. Read & weep.

[Cruise Junky]

Cruise critic has now posted on their review of the Royal the sizes of the cabins & balconies. Princess has avoided publishing them. Read & weep.

 

From Cruise Critic:

Inside cabins come in at 161 square feet, which is fairly standard for Princess. The accessible cabins are a generous 240 square feet. Each inside cabin has either two twin beds or one queen and all the usual amenities, such as a flat-screen television, small desk, in-room safe, direct dial telephone, a small armchair and a small fridge. Bathrooms are shower-only. Basic toiletries (shampoo and shower gel) are located in the shower.

 

Standard balcony cabins are 222 square feet (181-square-foot cabins with 41-square-foot balconies), which is significantly smaller than what's found on Grand Princess (214 square feet inside, 257 total with balcony). They include all the features of an inside cabin, plus quite spacious closets. Private verandahs are each outfitted with two mesh chairs and a cocktail table.

 

A new stateroom category, the Deluxe Balcony cabin is only deluxe if you compare it with the standard balconies. These new cabins are pleasant but small. They come in at 233 square feet (192 square feet inside, 41-square-foot balcony) and include some of the upgrades found in a Mini-Suite stateroom, including enhanced bathroom amenities (lotion in addition to the pumps of shower gel and shampoo), waffle bathrobes (you must request them, however) and upgraded duvets, but the only real difference is a couple of extra feet in each stateroom for a loveseat. They each have a decent-sized space for hanging clothes, but the shower-only bathroom, along with those found in the lower-category cabins, is ridiculously cramped for a modern cruise ship -- and it's got the dreaded clingy shower curtain. Its balcony layout is identical to that of the standard verandah staterooms.

 

Mini-Suite cabins measure 299 square feet each (258 square feet inside, 41-square-foot balcony) and have been redesigned to be smaller than those on the Grand Class ships. The decor is more contemporary, though. One big improvement: A curtain, which can be drawn closed, has been added to separate living and sleeping areas. Mini-suites get the same general stateroom amenities, as well as decorative central lighting fixtures, marble-topped counters and two flat-screen TV's instead of one. The biggest disappointment with mini-suites? They get the same tiny, narrow balconies as standard staterooms, with the same furnishings.

[caribill]

From Cruise Critic:

 

A new stateroom category, the Deluxe Balcony cabin is only deluxe if you compare it with the standard balconies.

 

My favorite part.

[pablo222]

Standard balcony cabins are 222 square feet (181-square-foot cabins with 41-square-foot balconies), which is significantly smaller than what's found on Grand Princess (214 square feet inside, 257 total with balcony).

 

Previously we were told that pax are willing to give up balcony

space, or larger cabins. While that may be true, the statistics

show that they are not getting that trade off on Royal.

 

I guess the correspondents here who only want to read good news

will have to move along.

[baldercash]

So the new deluxe is 20 sq feet smaller then the old standard that is likely a 1.5 foot shorter cabin.Then they also trimmed the balconies as well.

What did Princess do with the extra space?

Isn't Royal wider then the Grand, I understand on the lower decks they have used it to expand the size of the Piazza and capacity of the restaurants. On decks that only have cabins what did they use the space they trimmed from the balconies and rooms for?

Does Royal have 10 foot wide hall ways? What did they do with it make over sized insides on the higher decks?

 

I would like to thank those who persist in unraveling Royal in spite of fierce opposition.

I have learned so much about her through your efforts.

[Iamcruzin]

I also wonder if the cruise lines have a bit of "Las Vegas" thinking -- if pax get too comfortable in their cabins/balconies, they aren't spending additional $$$. [in Vegas, it was the lack of chairs or benches for the casual tourist to sit -- except in the casino. No, I do NOT like Vegas!]My vote is for comfortable balconies!

 

You hit the nail on the head. When I read the many posts and threads on how passengers enjoy drinking wine that they bring on board and eating food from the buffet out on the balcony they are spending too much time in the room and not enough time in the public areas spending money at the bar, casino, or specialty restaurants. Also there is no opportunity for the paparazzi to snap photos or for the wait staff to push the wine tasting and the drinks of the day in the special collectible glass. So hence the smaller cabins, uncomfortable balcony furniture and smaller balconies. Also keep in mind with more passengers there is also a need for more public space. The sq footage had to come from some place.

[Cruise Junky]

 

You hit the nail on the head. When I read the many posts and threads on how passengers enjoy drinking wine that they bring on board and eating food from the buffet out on the balcony they are spending too much time in the room and not enough time in the public areas spending money at the bar, casino, or specialty restaurants. Also there is no opportunity for the paparazzi to snap photos or for the wait staff to push the wine tasting and the drinks of the day in the special collectible glass. So hence the smaller cabins, uncomfortable balcony furniture and smaller balconies. Also keep in mind with more passengers there is also a need for more public space. The sq footage had to come from some place.

 

Yes, definitely. I don't think we ever wondered the Why. Just not sure if Princess realized it would cause so many to cancel and move to other lines. There are still Insides, Balconies and a Suite available on the once over sold, 500 person waiting list Maiden Transatlantic. Hard to spend money if you're not on the ship ;)

[timetravler]

Princess will have no trouble what so ever filling the Royal. Those that cancelled did so for many many reasons. I doubt the small balcony's were a reason except for you to have cancelled. BTW, the ship as of today is almost full for the TA, So apparently 3,600 are looking forward to the Royal including me.

[lfk60]

To correct an assumption that this is not a ship balcony, it is one of two on the Louis Crystal.

 

And what might the cost be to sail with this lovely balcony??? It looks to me like that ship is 30+ years old. Yikes!!

[ONT-CA]

And what might the cost be to sail with this lovely balcony???

 

Somewhat less than what we were charged for a 14-day cruise aboard the Pacific Princess (now there's a small balcony). Mind you the Pacific did take us to Manaus Brazil and this new cruise is but to encompass Cuba for 14 days. But both are fascinating ports of call and we hope we will be forgiven if we decide to just enjoy the balcony (deck?) in lieu of a land tour now and then.

 

As to ships, newer , larger and sparkly are not necessary better...

[oskidunker]

The rooms are small enough on the Grand Class ships, if you don't get a mini suite.

[SCFCRUISER]

Don't get me wrong, we love the balcony when we get one! Of our 18 cruises, 14 have been inside cabins. We would rather have a cheaper cabin in order to make it more affordable.

 

Steve

[oskidunker]

I hope not.

[oskidunker]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=400

 

Much of the useful information in the original review is gone.

[Cruise Junky]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=400

 

Much of the useful information in the original review is gone.

 

It's still there, you just have to click to the next page on the cabins.

[Mom33]

Let's see, a balcony on Baja deck on the Emerald is reported to be 45 sq. feet.

So the Royal balconies at 41 sq. ft are 4 sq. foot smaller. Gee whiz.:D.

There are larger balconies on Royal just like on Emerald. if you can't cruise on the Royal 41 sq. ft balcony then I guess you don't book above Caribe on the Emerald.

[Cruise Junky]

Let's see, a balcony on Baja deck on the Emerald is reported to be 45 sq. feet.

So the Royal balconies at 41 sq. ft are 4 sq. foot smaller. Gee whiz.:D.

There are larger balconies on Royal just like on Emerald. if you can't cruise on the Royal 41 sq. ft balcony then I guess you don't book above Caribe on the Emerald.

 

Of course Royal has acceptable size balconies, but at a huge cost. It's pretty easy and cheap to book an aft or forward caribe balcony on any grand class ship, Royal they're at a huge premium. Given the run of the mill itineraries she's on, it's not worth it to a lot of people. No one said you can't get a decent balcony for a price, it's that 90% of the balconies are far too small.