Balcony ( get it or not??)

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

I'd definitely go with a balcony. I've never been in any category below it, because some of our extended family, who we travel with often, went on their first cruise in an ocean view. Their second cruise (our first:D), we both decided to go with balconies. They say they'd never be able to go back.

[queenschick9b]

I agree with Proudmom as far as our own preference. I think the real answer is try it to see if you like it. The comment that "you will never go back" is untrue for us. We have sailed in a Jr Suite, a balcony, an oceanview and inside cabin. We get a balcony discount so we sometimes book a balcony when the price is not much different from an inside. We spend most of our time outside the room so the balcony doesn't interest us if the price difference is wide. Price is the driving factor for us. As Paul Simon said: "One man's ceiling is another man's floor".

 

 

I am the exact same (except no jr. Suites). It depends on the price. I have had many balconies and I booked my 2/8 as an inside. I am only in a balcony now because of an upgrade offer. I like to be out of my room and if I am in an inside or oceanview I do my quiet outside reading on Deck 4. You can bring your wine/coffee out there too :)

 

 

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[Anthony63]

Balcony is a must for me...just that extra quiet personal outdoor space.

 

If you're even considering the switch to a balcony then that thought is in your mind...better to have done it than wish you would have.

 

Enjoy, you'll love the FOS.

 

I agree if you are considering it then do it. Our first was an Oceanview all after that have been balcony.

 

We have our breakfast out there sometimes. Enjoy a drink and the view while getting ready for dinner. A nice quite personal space when you don't want to deal with all the people around the pools yet want to be outside. If the side your on is on the ported side you can watch the drunk-run from the balcony.

 

When we book cruises I always look at balcony prices. Although I have started looking at the mini suites and suites.

[Susie51]

Balcony

 

The sliding door provides a lot of light into the room. Sitting out on the balcony is fantastic especially at night.

[Lokip53]

A lot of people make the comment that once you have a balcony you'll never go back. I'd like to adjust that statement a bit based on personal experience:

 

Once you have a balcony, you'll never go back-- unless you want to cruise more often and decide that you can accomplish that by booking an inside cabin-- which you'll do the first time and then worry about and second guess yourself about-- until you survive the experience and realize that it's not that bad at all-- then you just book inside cabins and cruise more often-- but then you remember how much you loved a balcony so you do it "just this once"-- then you absolutely love it, realize how much you used it, and swear you'll never go back-- until you want to cruise more often and decide you can accomplish that by booking an interior cabin...

 

Wash, rinse, repeat. :)

[griffy116]

Our first cruise, we chose an inside cabin because everyone told us you don't spend any time in the cabin. Second cruise we had an OV. Next cruise we had a balcony. We spent time on the balcony early in the morning while others got ready for breakfast with a cup of coffee, time on the balcony in the evening while getting ready for dinner, but my favorite is time late at night with a glass of wine, a few snacks from room service listening as the ship glides through the water and watching the other ships lights or the lights from the little islands we pass. We were unable to get a balcony cabin on a last minute Spring cruise a couple of years ago. We didn't think we would mind an OV. We missed the balcony terribly. This June, my two daughters and I are going to share a cabin for the first time ever. We are looking forward to late night on the balcony just enjoying the serenity of feeling the breeze, looking out on the ocean and whatever we see in the horizon. We would enjoy a cruise no matter what type cabin, but having a balcony gives us just another enjoyment.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

A lot of people make the comment that once you have a balcony you'll never go back. I'd like to adjust that statement a bit based on personal experience:

 

Once you have a balcony, you'll never go back-- unless you want to cruise more often and decide that you can accomplish that by booking an inside cabin-- which you'll do the first time and then worry about and second guess yourself about-- until you survive the experience and realize that it's not that bad at all-- then you just book inside cabins and cruise more often-- but then you remember how much you loved a balcony so you do it "just this once"-- then you absolutely love it, realize how much you used it, and swear you'll never go back-- until you want to cruise more often and decide you can accomplish that by booking an interior cabin...

 

Wash, rinse, repeat. :)

 

Haha, I agree!

 

We only get to cruise once a year, so we treat ourselves to a balcony or suite. But I could definitely see myself settling for an inside or OV if it gave me the ability to cruise more often, on maybe longer or more exotic itineraries.

[dodgersmom]

Definitely balcony! For all the reasons above. We have our "pre-breakfast" of room service coffee and pastry out there before hitting the gym and having our "real breakfast".

 

I am a little scared as our next cruise is in a GS (deal we could not pass up). So scared that going back to a plain old balcony after that is going to be difficult. Real first world problems we have :)

[ryano]

"Once you go balcony you'll never go back" is the exact reason I WON'T get one. If I never go balcony I don't have to worry about that.

 

I would take one for free as an upgrade but I'm not willing to spend even 50.00 for the week for one. That's just me. Promenade and oceanview is just fine. For me at least. I spend about 6 hours in a 24 hour period in my cabin. I cruise to mingle. Not to seclude myself :) a cabin truly is just a place to shower and rest a few hours :)

 

YMMV.

Edited January 17, 2015 by ryano

[sjb317]

The type of cabin we book depends on the cruise we are doing. If we are going on a long cruise, such as a TA, or cruising in Europe, we will definitely book a balcony. But if it is a short cruise, 7 days or less, in the Caribbean, we are willing to do an interior. Cheaper cruising means more cruising for us!:D

 

Our next cruise is a 7 day on Vision in February. We are in an interior on deck 2 :eek:, we have never been that low before! But it's only for 7 days and it was really cheap!:D

 

Sherri:)

[trihawks1]

We went on Independence of the Seas Dec 2013. This was our third cruise and my daughters second. However, 3 of the young adults had never cruised before. My nephews were originally going to book an inside just BC of cost and BC they didn't think they would be in the room enough. I pushed them into an E2 hump cabin 6640 and they LOVED it. They did peek into a couple inside cabins and they said it made them sooo glad they listened to me. They both enjoyed watching us pull in and out of port from the balcony with peace and quiet. And we had 3 cabins in a row on the hump so it was fantastic. If you can afford the balcony, I would do it...but be prepared to never want to go back to an oceanview or inside.

 

 

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[uncfes]

I would also consider it like being locked up in a jar. For me not having a place to look out would drive me nuts. Some go in cruises to do nothing but hang out (which is fine) or go around to get into people's business. We just like to spend time to ourselves on vacation and at time enjoy company of couples we get along with

 

 

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[naturalbeauty2011]

Thank you all for your opinions!! I greatly appreciate them, I've been on a couple of cruises and always felt confined to my inside cabin lol and always winded up sleeping late because the cabin is so dark. Its in my budget so I'm going for it just called and changed to E2 category:):)and its on the hump . Its my son first cruise so I'm just going to buy a stick alarm just in case, never let him on there alone and remove all chairs once we go to sleep ( can never be to careful) thanks again!!

Edited January 17, 2015 by naturalbeauty2011

[TravelerThom]

...Its my son first cruise so I'm just going to buy a stick alarm just in case, never let him on there alone and remove all chairs once we go to sleep ( can never be to careful) thanks again!!

Okay, I'm confused:confused: The only place I can conceive of removing those chairs to is "over the side" (which would make RCI very unhappy) - where are you putting them?

 

You sort of forgot to mention safety issues with an apparently young child. That alone would have tipped me to say to NOT get a balcony.

[naturalbeauty2011]

Okay, I'm confused:confused: The only place I can conceive of removing those chairs to is "over the side" (which would make RCI very unhappy) - where are you putting them?

 

You sort of forgot to mention safety issues with an apparently young child. That alone would have tipped me to say to NOT get a balcony.

 

My son is 6 years old, we been to a lot of hotels and sometimes had a balconie so he knows what NOT to do but I always been on the safe side! I spoke with the cruise planner and I would be allowed to move the chairs inside.

Edited January 17, 2015 by naturalbeauty2011

[Rala]

I love a balcony, but lots of people will say "well, I only go to my cabin to sleep and shower, so a balcony is a waste. I like to spend time in the cabin as well as out about the ship, so I(we) use our balcony quite a bit for reading, napping, enjoying a quiet "personal" space, just relaxing , in general. It really is a very subjective , personal choice. Whatever you do, enjoy your cruise!:)

[TravelerThom]

My son is 6 years old, we been to a lot of hotels and sometimes had a balconie so he knows what NOT to do but I always been on the safe side! I spoke with the cruise planner and I would be allowed to move the chairs inside.

Okay. Just be aware that E2's on FR have 184 sq.ft. in the cabin, and I'm pretty sure (might be wrong) that square footage includes the bathroom and the closet. IMO it will be VERY crowded with two beds, two bedside tables, one coffee table, one side chair with the vanity table, one sofa or other seating PLUS two chairs and a small table from the balcony.

[tdk]

It will spoil you.... We tried one time to go cheaper on a New Years eve trip so the balcony was a lot more and was our 2nd cruise of the year so decided to do inside cabin the first time. I told my husband I would never do that again. Our first cruise on our honeymoon was an ocean view but now I always prefer a balcony. It's so nice in the morning and evening to sit out there. The one problem I have with ocean views is most of time you are at the bottom of the boat usually decks 2-4 and we prefer to be a little higher up.

[cruisegirl1]

I am in the minority and don't believe in the thought that if you take a balcony you can never have any lesser type accommodation. We generally sail a balcony or above cabin, but have also sailed in OV ‘s and an occasional inside. Heck we went from a suite on one cruise to an OV a few months later on the next, and look, I’ve lived to tell about it. We've sailed the same ship and itinerary in a variety of cabins (suite/balcony/OV) and find no real feeling of pleasure/dissatisfaction in the cruise. I'll admit - a suite is a nicer way to sail, but not always available or in the budget.

 

We sail several times a year so the particular accommodation is not a huge issue for us. Perhaps if I sailed less often, I might be more selective.

 

OP – As you can imagine, the balcony will provide a more luxurious cruising experience, but your budget has to help you make the decision.

 

enjoy

[thrifty99]

The past year I have become more claustrophobic so a balcony is now a must have. I've needed that space late at night to step out onto for fresh air. Without it I'm afraid I would be running down the hall in my pj's until I made it outside for some fresh air!!!

 

If I did not have this to worry about and money was an issue I'd be fine with Ocean view and save the money for something else (more cruises).

 

 

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[American Bear]

We are big believers in the saying, 'once you go balcony, you never go back'!:eek:

We got our first balcony many years ago for port fees and taxes from the casino club, a great deal, but it spoiled us, now its balcony or nothing!

There's a reason the number of balconies on new ships is increasing, 'its a better cruise with a balcony'!:D

Do you need/have to use it all the time, no, but just having it available if you want it is great! Call it 'happiness cruise insurance'!:D

Things a little hectic on the boat, you got your own personal ocean front balcony to sit on and relax!

Edited January 17, 2015 by American Bear

[bjohio]

I'm going on freedom of the seas already booked a ocean view, but I'm strongly considering changing to a balcony. What are the cons and pros. I'm going in the summer. Thank you for the opinions and the time you took to share them with me.

 

We had a balcony one cruise out of Tampa (5days) and enjoyed it, but I think the difference in price to our normal ocean view was only $100. On the cruise we are taking in March (10day-Eastern Caribb/Baltimore) the difference is $1000. Double that for the second person. No way a balcony is worth that to us. Also where and when you are cruising makes a difference- want to be sure the weather should be warm enough to use it anytime.

We do enjoy a window and will pay extra for that over an interior room, but again that is usually $100 or less over no window.

[Anthony63]

Okay. Just be aware that E2's on FR have 184 sq.ft. in the cabin, and I'm pretty sure (might be wrong) that square footage includes the bathroom and the closet. IMO it will be VERY crowded with two beds, two bedside tables, one coffee table, one side chair with the vanity table, one sofa or other seating PLUS two chairs and a small table from the balcony.

 

Well the chairs from the balcony can stack so it is only the floor space of 1 chair. And it is only while they are sleeping so I doubt it will be a problem.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Anthony63

[mmi1103]

Imho, it's the only way to go. Especially with the Mega ships, it let's you personally enjoy your cruise experience!

[MTdreaming]

We have done all...we only book balcony now...the fresh air, to air out the room. And to have some quiet space to yourself..very worth it. We do watch for price drops and can book with fairly quick notice so that helps. But I wouldn't enjoy a cruise in an inside cabin at this point, probably feel claustrophobic as someone else mentioned. Did I mention fresh air in the room??