Balcony Hacks

[elcuchio24]

I think faster than I read, so before I saw "to keep the door open" I thought, oh no bad idea!!! And of course had a visual of some drunk idiot bungee jumping off the balcony lol

 

Hahaha, to keep the door open only NO other use!

[Gamecock_Cruiser]

Please don't bungee the door open as it affects the air conditioner in my cabin next to yours... thanks!

 

I recommend bring a pair of binoculars for the balcony

[elcuchio24]

Please don't bungee the door open as it affects the air conditioner in my cabin next to yours... thanks!

 

I recommend bring a pair of binoculars for the balcony

 

Anything to back that up?

[sanmarcosman]

Anything to back that up?

 

There's this recent post of March 2nd by our resident maritime expert chengpk75. I hope this helps. He's a fellow Mainer, btw.

 

" There are two different AC systems in use on the ship. One is like a window AC unit at home, that merely takes the cabin air and cools it while recirculating it back to the cabin. This is what is controlled by the cabin thermostat, and by the balcony door interlock, if fitted. This system is designed to recirculate 80% of the cabin's volume each hour.

 

The second AC system is the one that is affected by the balcony door being open, and that affects the cabins around yours when you leave the door open. This system is not controllable from the cabin, and can not be shut off. This system is designed to bring fresh air into the cabin, about 20% of the volume per hour, and is balanced by the bathroom exhaust vent, which removes about 20% per hour. This system takes outside fresh air, cools it in a large air handler (in those big white spaces down the middle of most cabin decks), and supplies this air to all of the cabins in a particular fire zone (between those pesky doors in the passageway) for one or two decks, meaning one fan and cooler handles 30-50 cabins. Now, this air is sent to the cabin at a higher pressure than normal HVAC systems, for one reason. This "overpressures" the cabins, forcing any leakage at the door to go out into the passageway, not the other way around. This prevents any possible smoke ingress to your cabin in an emergency.

 

Now, what happens when you open your balcony door? You replace the 2" diameter bathroom vent, and the 3/4" x 3' crack under the door that maintains the pressure balance in the cabin, with a 3' x 6' opening to outside. This immediately drops the cabin pressure to atmospheric, and the fresh air supply AC system sends all of the air to your cabin trying to rebuild the over pressure. This means that the other cabins lose much of their supply of fresh air (cooled), and also their overpressure safety feature, and now air is drawn back into their cabins from under the door, from the passageway (warmer). Therefore, the other cabins in the zone lose some of their AC capacity, and start getting warmer air supplied to the cabin.

 

How can you tell if this is happening? Real simple. I used to do it daily when I worked on cruise ships. You walk down the passageway, and listen for the air whistling under a door. 99 times out of 100, I would find the balcony door open in that cabin. Also, if it is your cabin with the door open, when you open the door to the passageway, you will create a wind tunnel, that blows everything out of your cabin. It doesn't do this when the balcony door is closed, so the door being open obviously has an effect on the AC balance in other areas than your cabin.

 

Your humble opinion may think it is BS, but I've worked on ships for 42 years as an engineer, 35 as Chief Engineer, and I have intimate knowledge of shipboard AC systems. Yes, there is a proven effect on others from having your balcony door open, and I've had to deal with it constantly over the years I worked cruise ships, when we would get whole banks of cabins complaining about their AC."

[cruisinqt]

Thanks for the info about cruise ship A/C Sanmarcosman. This engineer obviously knows his stuff. Personally, I’ve never used a bungee cord to keep the balcony door open. During the day I’m out on the balcony whenever possible. At night it gets too humid and hot for us with the balcony door open. We prefer a nice cold room at night. I think it sounds like a good idea initially, but in reality I’m not going to be hearing the ocean, I’ll be sleeping. Plenty of time to hear, see, and smell the ocean when I’m awake.

[Homosassa]

And for all those suggesting clipping towels, bathsuits, or anything else to dry on the balcony, many cruiselines will tell you that such a practice is forbidden.

[sanmarcosman]

And for all those suggesting clipping towels, bathsuits, or anything else to dry on the balcony, many cruiselines will tell you that such a practice is forbidden.

Correct, cloth left on balconies can fuel fire. Star Princess March 2006 balcony fire caused by a cigarette:

 

[Surrealistic]

Order a veggie plate from room service to go with pre dinner drinks on your balcony. Great for sunset watching. Def bring binoculars...we have seen whales, dolphins, flying fish and lots of birds from our balconies. Enjoy your cruise.:):)

[Homosassa]

Correct, cloth left on balconies can fuel fire. Star Princess March 2006 balcony fire caused by a cigarette:

 

Another reason that the articles left on the balcony can blow overboard, even when clipped onto something.

[kjunea]

I get a cheese plate at dinner with a cloche to bring back to cabin and enjoy with wine in the evening.

[A&Jfamily]

Battery candle for evenings.

Be nice to your neighbor and keep the light off!

Don't need a lap blanket - just take the spare comforter from under the bed

Sail Princess and book a Carib deck balcony that is available on many ships - 9'x9'!

[AmazedByCruising]

Correct, cloth left on balconies can fuel fire. Star Princess March 2006 balcony fire caused by a cigarette:

 

Actually, they couldn't find a cause at all, and then decided to blame a cigarette.

[rolaur]

Although I agree with most everything here, a/c does not cool air but instead removes heat. I know it may sound the same but actually is a totally different process. And yes, please keep your balcony cabin door closed!

 

There's this recent post of March 2nd by our resident maritime expert chengpk75. I hope this helps. He's a fellow Mainer, btw.

 

" There are two different AC systems in use on the ship. One is like a window AC unit at home, that merely takes the cabin air and cools it while recirculating it back to the cabin. This is what is controlled by the cabin thermostat, and by the balcony door interlock, if fitted. This system is designed to recirculate 80% of the cabin's volume each hour.

 

The second AC system is the one that is affected by the balcony door being open, and that affects the cabins around yours when you leave the door open. This system is not controllable from the cabin, and can not be shut off. This system is designed to bring fresh air into the cabin, about 20% of the volume per hour, and is balanced by the bathroom exhaust vent, which removes about 20% per hour. This system takes outside fresh air, cools it in a large air handler (in those big white spaces down the middle of most cabin decks), and supplies this air to all of the cabins in a particular fire zone (between those pesky doors in the passageway) for one or two decks, meaning one fan and cooler handles 30-50 cabins. Now, this air is sent to the cabin at a higher pressure than normal HVAC systems, for one reason. This "overpressures" the cabins, forcing any leakage at the door to go out into the passageway, not the other way around. This prevents any possible smoke ingress to your cabin in an emergency.

 

Now, what happens when you open your balcony door? You replace the 2" diameter bathroom vent, and the 3/4" x 3' crack under the door that maintains the pressure balance in the cabin, with a 3' x 6' opening to outside. This immediately drops the cabin pressure to atmospheric, and the fresh air supply AC system sends all of the air to your cabin trying to rebuild the over pressure. This means that the other cabins lose much of their supply of fresh air (cooled), and also their overpressure safety feature, and now air is drawn back into their cabins from under the door, from the passageway (warmer). Therefore, the other cabins in the zone lose some of their AC capacity, and start getting warmer air supplied to the cabin.

 

How can you tell if this is happening? Real simple. I used to do it daily when I worked on cruise ships. You walk down the passageway, and listen for the air whistling under a door. 99 times out of 100, I would find the balcony door open in that cabin. Also, if it is your cabin with the door open, when you open the door to the passageway, you will create a wind tunnel, that blows everything out of your cabin. It doesn't do this when the balcony door is closed, so the door being open obviously has an effect on the AC balance in other areas than your cabin.

 

Your humble opinion may think it is BS, but I've worked on ships for 42 years as an engineer, 35 as Chief Engineer, and I have intimate knowledge of shipboard AC systems. Yes, there is a proven effect on others from having your balcony door open, and I've had to deal with it constantly over the years I worked cruise ships, when we would get whole banks of cabins complaining about their AC."

[Elaine5715]

Although I agree with most everything here, a/c does not cool air but instead removes heat. I know it may sound the same but actually is a totally different process. And yes, please keep your balcony cabin door closed!

There isn't anything to disagree with, when Chief posts about ship systems, he is 100% correct. He is a Senior Engineer and he knows "ship".

[elcuchio24]

There's this recent post of March 2nd by our resident maritime expert chengpk75. I hope this helps. He's a fellow Mainer, btw.

 

" There are two different AC systems in use on the ship. One is like a window AC unit at home, that merely takes the cabin air and cools it while recirculating it back to the cabin. This is what is controlled by the cabin thermostat, and by the balcony door interlock, if fitted. This system is designed to recirculate 80% of the cabin's volume each hour.

 

The second AC system is the one that is affected by the balcony door being open, and that affects the cabins around yours when you leave the door open. This system is not controllable from the cabin, and can not be shut off. This system is designed to bring fresh air into the cabin, about 20% of the volume per hour, and is balanced by the bathroom exhaust vent, which removes about 20% per hour. This system takes outside fresh air, cools it in a large air handler (in those big white spaces down the middle of most cabin decks), and supplies this air to all of the cabins in a particular fire zone (between those pesky doors in the passageway) for one or two decks, meaning one fan and cooler handles 30-50 cabins. Now, this air is sent to the cabin at a higher pressure than normal HVAC systems, for one reason. This "overpressures" the cabins, forcing any leakage at the door to go out into the passageway, not the other way around. This prevents any possible smoke ingress to your cabin in an emergency.

 

Now, what happens when you open your balcony door? You replace the 2" diameter bathroom vent, and the 3/4" x 3' crack under the door that maintains the pressure balance in the cabin, with a 3' x 6' opening to outside. This immediately drops the cabin pressure to atmospheric, and the fresh air supply AC system sends all of the air to your cabin trying to rebuild the over pressure. This means that the other cabins lose much of their supply of fresh air (cooled), and also their overpressure safety feature, and now air is drawn back into their cabins from under the door, from the passageway (warmer). Therefore, the other cabins in the zone lose some of their AC capacity, and start getting warmer air supplied to the cabin.

 

How can you tell if this is happening? Real simple. I used to do it daily when I worked on cruise ships. You walk down the passageway, and listen for the air whistling under a door. 99 times out of 100, I would find the balcony door open in that cabin. Also, if it is your cabin with the door open, when you open the door to the passageway, you will create a wind tunnel, that blows everything out of your cabin. It doesn't do this when the balcony door is closed, so the door being open obviously has an effect on the AC balance in other areas than your cabin.

 

Your humble opinion may think it is BS, but I've worked on ships for 42 years as an engineer, 35 as Chief Engineer, and I have intimate knowledge of shipboard AC systems. Yes, there is a proven effect on others from having your balcony door open, and I've had to deal with it constantly over the years I worked cruise ships, when we would get whole banks of cabins complaining about their AC."

 

Jeeeez, way to suck the fun out of everything. Oh well, none of my stewards have ever mentioned it being a problem, so the Bungee will remain a staple for us to keep the door open.

[sanmarcosman]

Jeeeez, way to suck the fun out of everything. Oh well, none of my stewards have ever mentioned it being a problem, so the Bungee will remain a staple for us to keep the door open.

You asked. Now you know while you're having fun in your cabin you'll be sucking the cool air out of your neighbors cabins.

[WiCruiseDreamer]

It wouldn't be a hack anymore. But the ships could supply guests with fire resistant hammocks, and some decent hooks on the ceiling to get them hanging without breaking a divider.

 

I can see it now, some silly person decides to swing in the hammock and ends up going over the balcony.

[cruisinqt]

You asked. Now you know while you're having fun in your cabin you'll be sucking the cool air out of your neighbors cabins.

 

I for one am glad you posted the info. For years I had heard rumors that keeping balcony doors open caused problems with your neighbors air conditioning but there was never any concrete proof. But my husband is an engineer and has verified that what you said is true. Yes I know, I should have asked him in the first place but I never thought to. And we never discussed keeping the balcony door open because we like a cold room.

 

I can’t believe after reading your article some cruisers will still do it, that’s so rude and inconsiderate. Saying that none of the cabin stewards ever said anything so that must make it okay is ridiculous. Just because no one calls you out on it doesn’t make it okay. I’ve seen rude people cut in line many many times on cruises with people being too polite to say something about it. I’ve seen kids rush across the room to dive into an elevator that older people had been waiting a long time for with no chastisement because the older ones were too stunned to even get a word out. Not everyone that is inconsiderate or rude gets called out on it. Just because a cabin steward doesn’t speak up (more than likely because he’s probably worried about his tips getting cut off from an angry customer) doesn’t mean it’s okay.

[elcuchio24]

You asked. Now you know while you're having fun in your cabin you'll be sucking the cool air out of your neighbors cabins.

 

Now I know: but I still don't care.

[thatsmrjptou]

One thing we've done in the past was bring a very small inflatable pool and used an ice bucket to put a little water in it for my 1 year old to splash around in. It is against the rules but, we've done it on sea days and deflated and drained it in the shower with none the wiser. Its nice because only potty trained kids can use the main pools.

[WiCruiseDreamer]

Jeeeez, way to suck the fun out of everything. Oh well, none of my stewards have ever mentioned it being a problem, so the Bungee will remain a staple for us to keep the door open.

 

 

Even when it will create an issue for those cabins near you? Some might say that is selfish on your part now that you know it will create issues.

[WiCruiseDreamer]

Now I know: but I still don't care.

 

 

Unless you are the one affected by it, I imagine.

[Elaine5715]

Jeeeez, way to suck the fun out of everything. Oh well, none of my stewards have ever mentioned it being a problem, so the Bungee will remain a staple for us to keep the door open.

The stewards will never mention it is a problem. They know such a comment will get their grats pulled. Now, engineering may show up and they will say something.

[Elaine5715]

I for one am glad you posted the info. For years I had heard rumors that keeping balcony doors open caused problems with your neighbors air conditioning but there was never any concrete proof. But my husband is an engineer and has verified that what you said is true. Yes I know, I should have asked him in the first place but I never thought to. And we never discussed keeping the balcony door open because we like a cold room.

 

I can’t believe after reading your article some cruisers will still do it, that’s so rude and inconsiderate. Saying that none of the cabin stewards ever said anything so that must make it okay is ridiculous. Just because no one calls you out on it doesn’t make it okay. I’ve seen rude people cut in line many many times on cruises with people being too polite to say something about it. I’ve seen kids rush across the room to dive into an elevator that older people had been waiting a long time for with no chastisement because the older ones were too stunned to even get a word out. Not everyone that is inconsiderate or rude gets called out on it. Just because a cabin steward doesn’t speak up (more than likely because he’s probably worried about his tips getting cut off from an angry customer) doesn’t mean it’s okay.

And you can see what happens when someone does call them out...

[pacruise804]

Now I know: but I still don't care.

:(

:rolleyes::(