Bliss: Getting 2nd thoughts about booking a balcony over an Inside room

[fstuff1]

Casinos at Sea offer for Oct 2018 sailing to 8day Mexican Riviera on Bliss (going solo):

Inside is $300pp ($160 admin fee + $140 port fees/taxes).

Balcony is +$400pp more.

 

so i just booked an angled balcony (Deck 11 forward) for $700 total.

I've always cruised on best value. I've also never had a balcony before.

So i thought $700 for a balcony on a new ship was a good deal.

 

Now im thinking after the initial novelty of the balcony wears off, then what?

 

On past cruises where i sailed solo, i spent most of the sea days in the casino.

i guess i can get a tan on the balcony vs fighting the crowds at the pool/sun deck.

and i could watch the sunset for half the trip. (For the other half, i'll be on the wrong side of the ship to see the sun set. :( )

 

And although $700 for a balcony on a new ship is a good deal, the best value is Inside for $300.

 

What would you do?

And WHY?

Edited December 7, 2017 by fstuff1

[Keith1010]

Switch to the inside.

 

Keith

[Clarea]

I'd go with the balcony, it would be worth the extra cost to us.

[easyboy]

Balcony is always worth the experience, especially if you haven’t. But if you have no intention of using it much, switch to inside.

 

 

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[dacsmom]

That is a great deal no matter which you choose. I frequently sail solo and go back and forth between the solo cabins and balcony cabins. I like the insides and the solo cabins because they are less expensive and suit my needs. But I really so enjoy a balcony cabin. There is just something so relaxing about having coffee while watching the sunrise, listening to the ocean at night. Just the peacefulness of the whole experience. Yes, I can go up on deck and see the same view, but it really feels different. I say keep the balcony this time and if you find it was not worth the cost you will never have to face the same dilemma again, you will have your answer.

 

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[Two Wheels Only]

I've also never had a balcony before.

You only live once.

Although you can "see" the price difference, you'll never know the actual difference until you experience it.

 

Do it now and if the experience isn't worth the cost difference....lesson learned. If the experience is great, you'll decide in the future if a balcony is worth the added cost for your next cruise.

[Meekofigaro]

Make sure you join the roll call! It is pretty active for being far off still!!

 

 

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[vince_g]

I would go with the balcony. I tried an inside once, and while it served its purpose, I really missed having a sitting area. Love being able to just step out and get some fresh air too.

[gambit57]

For you, I'd most definitely go inside. Because you spend most of sea days on the inside.

 

I like a balcony as it's a private place to have a meal without fighting for an outdoor place in the public areas. In Alaska, it's nice to have when viewing glaciers as you don't have to fight crowds for a space and can run inside if it gets too cold and still have an unobstructed area to come back to after you've warmed up. We'll see how bad that forward viewing area gets in Alaska.

 

But, you're not going to Alaska and love spending time in casinos. Your room is more of a place to just sleep. I really don't see a point in paying more for a balcony then. Save your money. Just more you can apply to the casino.

[Sotermarler]

$700 for a balcony on that sailing is dirt cheap. That sailing is super expensive and keeps rising. This is the first time in 5 cruises I had to book an OV because the price is so high.

 

 

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[Juvesgirl]

This is literally exactly what I was deciding two days ago. Got CAS offer, decided to go with 8 day Bliss to Mexican Riviera. Was choosing between inside and balcony.

 

On the one hand, I have always had a balcony when we have sailed, and I find that we frequently use it. I read out there quite frequently. When one of us is in the shower getting ready for dinner, the other of us is usually on the balcony (I sail with my husband). I love listening to the waves, watching the sunset, seeing the view as we depart a port, and generally just being outside. It is one of the reasons why we love NCL and the -away ships and their Waterfront - we just love being by the water, and a balcony enhances that for us.

 

On the other hand, I didn't want to spend a lot of money, we usually don't cruise that time of year, and thought it might be best to save if we can. The CAS was an unexpected surprise (first time we got such an offer), so it is also an unexpected expense.

 

NCL ultimately made the decision for us - for some strange reason, the insides were not available when I was booking, so we went with the balcony. I have always wanted an angled balcony and got one, so I think the universe was telling us to treat ourselves. Of course, the insides are available again and we could always switch to an inside, but I think we are going to stick with the angled balcony and just enjoy the splurge.

 

So strange - reading your post was as if I had written it!

 

Let us know what you decide :) I am also on your roll call!

[Nelsj099]

I have gone on three CAS cruises this year all inside all solo. The last one I had a room directly below the buffet and they were working 24/7 for 7 nights. I was always awake by 5 am with a crash of dropping plates or something. The two before that were fine. I did, however, decide this summer when I got off a Baltics cruise that I wanted a balcony for Australia, New Zealand Christmas and New Years cruise I am going on in a few days. (partially as a Christmas present to myself for living in Russia for a second year) The last time I had a balcony was Alaska. We are doing a day and a half cruising the sound and I am excited to look for wildlife off of my balcony. If I am not there I too will be in the casino.

[boscobeans]

We only cruise the Caribbean and except for one time in an inside cabin have always booked veranda staterooms.

 

There are always those days when there may be a little rainy / drizzly weather and open deck activities are not possible. On those days we have found that unless it is really rotten we could enjoy the cover afforded on the veranda and relax as we enjoyed the fresh Caribbean air watching the rain fall....

 

bosco

[jdvmd]

I would go for the balcony especially since you haven't had one before.

[boopsahoy]

Casinos at Sea offer for Oct 2018 sailing to 8day Mexican Riviera on Bliss (going solo):

Inside is $300pp ($160 admin fee + $140 port fees/taxes).

Balcony is +$400pp more.

 

so i just booked an angled balcony (Deck 11 forward) for $700 total.

I've always cruised on best value. I've also never had a balcony before.

So i thought $700 for a balcony on a new ship was a good deal.

 

Now im thinking after the initial novelty of the balcony wears off, then what?

 

On past cruises where i sailed solo, i spent most of the sea days in the casino.

i guess i can get a tan on the balcony vs fighting the crowds at the pool/sun deck.

and i could watch the sunset for half the trip. (For the other half, i'll be on the wrong side of the ship to see the sun set. :( )

 

And although $700 for a balcony on a new ship is a good deal, the best value is Inside for $300.

 

What would you do?

And WHY?

Balcony Balcony Balcony-drinks on the balcony, AM coffee on the balcony, sunsets on the balcony, privacy on the balcony!

[don't-use-real-name]

Your first cruise - tough decision ?

First off - log into the CC Roll Call for your cruise

Sign up for the Meet and Greet (Mingle)

If offered take the Cabin Crawl to see other cabins - insides to suites

Compare notes of price-space-amenities-location-More?

Visit the cruise website and view the floor and deck plans of your next plan cruise

Some of these have videos (YouTube) and still pix of actual staterooms

Go to any major search engine site Google Yahoo for instance and put in the

cabin number i.e. NCL SUN 8077 and see what that cabin is like

AND then rack your brains against your BUDGET - what you can afford !

 

With all that plan your next cruise armed with a plan to enjoy it that much better !

Follow along for a few weeks checking the best deal that is affordable and perhaps

with perks and promos to enhance your cabin selection

Come here to CC frequently and often to weight the merits of cabin selection

Just because you are here at the NCL CC forum doesn't mean that you have to

make your selection solely with NCL there are other cruise lines and websites to check

 

Have an affinity relationship with i.e. Casinos at Sea (CAS) AAA or a travel agent

see what they have to offer

 

Our readers and posters here have a wealth of wisdom and guidance to offer

You are at the right place and time

[GlamorousGirl]

You could take the inside and hope they give you an upgrade bid offer and then bid whatever it's worth to you.

[Casino Comp Chick]

Keep the balcony, an inside is a glorified closet, no sunlight, no fresh air etc. My friend had an inside and ordered pizza one night and the room stunk since there is zero air movement.

[newmexicoNita]

Casinos at Sea offer for Oct 2018 sailing to 8day Mexican Riviera on Bliss (going solo):

Inside is $300pp ($160 admin fee + $140 port fees/taxes).

Balcony is +$400pp more.

 

so i just booked an angled balcony (Deck 11 forward) for $700 total.

I've always cruised on best value. I've also never had a balcony before.

So i thought $700 for a balcony on a new ship was a good deal.

 

Now im thinking after the initial novelty of the balcony wears off, then what?

 

On past cruises where i sailed solo, i spent most of the sea days in the casino.

i guess i can get a tan on the balcony vs fighting the crowds at the pool/sun deck.

and i could watch the sunset for half the trip. (For the other half, i'll be on the wrong side of the ship to see the sun set. :( )

 

And although $700 for a balcony on a new ship is a good deal, the best value is Inside for $300.

 

What would you do?

And WHY?

Two ways to look at it: experiencing a balcony is wonder and something everyone should do, but from the otherside, when you once do, you may never wantto go back to the frugal way of traveling. We had always or mostly had outside cabins and then, with daughter we did the balcony. I was spoiled so next time we cruised I booked a balcony for hubby and me. Well, he hated the idea of spending all that money just to sit an a balcony once in awhile. So, our last cruise we went back to outside because it was so much less expensive. Guess what? Our May cruise we are back to balcony and not because of me. Hubby never wants to cruise without a balcony even though it is so much more.

[LMaxwell]

I used to book on a price per day, per person metric and generally was happy with insides. Just had an inside 2 weeks ago. But my preference is for an oceanview. For a short cruise I can do an inside or Oceanview. For a longer cruise it is nice to have a balcony. You are still getting fantastic value. As a solo you have complete choice over what you will be doing, so I say try it, it could provide you with a very different cruise experience than you have had before. You may find you really enjoy sea days out there for hours.

[Peachypooh]

If you are the type of person (and I know quite a few) that just won't be able to enjoy themselves no matter how much they like the balcony because it costs more go with the inside. However, both those prices are great and I personally would go with the balcony. It makes me feel less closed in on the ship and it is great to just step outside my cabin for a breath of fresh air instead of having to go up on deck.

[garycarla]

Maybe book the inside and HOPE for a good bid upgrade.

 

Just noticed... this is not until next October. Things change in a year.