Question about aft balcony

[kona_wahine]

We are booked on the Glory with a lido balcony. I've always wanted an aft balcony and I keep going back and forth about getting one. On one hand I love being right there at the lido. On the other hand I love the view from the back of the ship. So, I've been looking at the cabins that are still available. There are 4 on deck 7. None show available deck 8. In all the pictures I've seen none of them show a lounge chair. I thought those rooms came with them? Can you request them? I just hate the crowds on lido in the afternoons and would love to have my own serenity deck. ;) but then I also hate the thought of not having a couch.

 

What to do???

[kelkel2]

We are booked on the Glory with a lido balcony. I've always wanted an aft balcony and I keep going back and forth about getting one. On one hand I love being right there at the lido. On the other hand I love the view from the back of the ship. So, I've been looking at the cabins that are still available. There are 4 on deck 7. None show available deck 8. In all the pictures I've seen none of them show a lounge chair. I thought those rooms came with them? Can you request them? I just hate the crowds on lido in the afternoons and would love to have my own serenity deck. ;) but then I also hate the thought of not having a couch.

 

What to do???

 

We had a bowling alley balcony (7434 on liberty) and I remember there being debate about wether there would be a lounger or not and we did end up having one. I am pretty sure you get one on the extended balconies. It's one of the perks! I'm sure you can ask for one if you don't get one, it never hurts to ask!

[CruiseHealing]

We also had a bowling alley balcony, but on the Sunshine (7319). It did not have a lounge chair at first. But when we met the room steward and told him there was no lounge chair. He was surprised and learned that the lounger was in the wrap around aft balcony next to ours. in fact they had four loungers. It happens when the partions are opened when people have friends and family share neighboring balconies. He had our lounger back in about 20 minutes. The other one was moved to the standard aft balcony.

 

We have been dabating the aft balcony for a couple of cruises. We love the idea of an aft balcony for the reasons you gave, however they are not very private given the partitions are angled down to the railing so your neighbors standing at their railing can look over and see you sitting in a chair or lounger. Plus, If the deck above has a balcony, people above you can see almost see half of your balcony. Once again not very private. So, I would have to book the top floor for aft balcony. I will do a aft balcony at some point, but for no cruise longer than 5 days.

 

We enjoy balconies, and the slightly larger bowling alley ones. But privacy is more important to us. I know people are staying next to us, but the fact that they can only see us sitting on the balcony is if they crane their neck around the almost floor to ceiling partition.

[doubledub]

We had a large group on the Victory last year and had six cabins that encompassed the entire corner of the ship. I had the aft cabin next to the aft wrap. There is no privacy as previously commented. We were fine with that as my mother was next door. There were two chairs and a table on my deck. The aft wrap had the loungers. We were on deck 7. The challenge was the folks on deck 8. Every morning there were cigarette buts and food pieces on our deck. That is just bad manners on their part. Our cabin did not have a sofa but the aft next to us did. If you want a sofa do not book the cabin next to the wrap. The only thing I did not like about that cabin was ~ there is no breeze! It was too hot to sit outside.

Edited July 24, 2014 by doubledub

[stargate fan]

We are booked on the Glory with a lido balcony. I've always wanted an aft balcony and I keep going back and forth about getting one. On one hand I love being right there at the lido. On the other hand I love the view from the back of the ship. So, I've been looking at the cabins that are still available. There are 4 on deck 7. None show available deck 8. In all the pictures I've seen none of them show a lounge chair. I thought those rooms came with them? Can you request them? I just hate the crowds on lido in the afternoons and would love to have my own serenity deck. ;) but then I also hate the thought of not having a couch.

 

What to do???

 

My husband and I have booked mostly Lido balcony cabins.

 

When I took my mom on a Destiny cruise, I surprised her with an aft wrap balcony. We hated it! The cabin was pie-shaped so we were often on top of each other, the balcony, while nice, was unusable one day in port because workers were scraping paint above us, but the biggest reason was that we were soooo far from the Lido. Every time we wanted to go anywhere, we felt like we were in a sci fi movie. The hallway grew longer and longer with every step.

 

My mom and I sailed in a regular Lido balcony two years later. We were both so much happier.

 

 

We got off the elevator mid ship and had to walk and walk and walk to our aft cabin.

[serene56]

We got off the elevator mid ship and had to walk and walk and walk to our aft cabin.

 

 

and if your turned the wrong direction and headed forward instead--- wow that walk back is frightful

[DaisyGirl55]

and if your turned the wrong direction and headed forward instead--- wow that walk back is frightful

 

 

haha...I did that one night after a late night in the casino. Got to the end of the hallway, and could not figure out why the numbers were wrong. Had to turn around and walk all the way back to the other end...laughing at myself the whole way. Oh well, the extra steps meant a piece of pie with less guilt! :p

 

We do try to book the aft when possible as we really like the extended balcony and the extra room. We have never had any issues with neighbors, or noise, or soot. Guess we have lucked out! It is in the sun quite a bit with little to no shade at times, but for the most part we usually have a nice breeze when the ship is sailing. I never get tired at looking at the water behind the ship.

 

It isn't for everyone, but for now - it is for us. We talk about getting a suite in the middle of the ship as the rooms look fantastic. Just not sure we will like the smaller balcony. We will just have to try it sometime!

[kona_wahine]

thanks for all the input. I don't like the idea of people being able to see around the partitions or look down on us. Maybe that's why deck 8 was sold out. I think we will stick to our lido balcony. :) I feel better now.

[Carnival_Brides]

We had an aft-extended view for our last cruise on the Pride and it had a lounger. They aren't as comfortable as the ones on deck, but it is to have your own nice private area.

[sandij]

We've had several aft balconies, the last on the Sunshine last year (7327). we love the views and had a lounge chair and two chairs with a small table. It does get hot on these balconies and other people above and from the side have a good view of your balcony. This cabin didn't have a sofa so would never book it again, but still love the aft views.

[serene56]

We had an aft-extended view for our last cruise on the Pride and it had a lounger. They aren't as comfortable as the ones on deck, but it is to have your own nice private area.

 

 

how the heck did that work out? The spirit class balconies on the aft are very small did it take up all your room

 

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f136/kellywhitehills/6264balcony.jpg

[pulledporky]

Not all aft balconies on Spirit class ships are the same. If you look at a photo of the back of the ship you'll see it is slanted from decks 5 thru 8. That slant can cost you 2 or 3 feet of your balcony. The overhang is also minimized due to the slant. But thank goodness for deck 4!