5 Day w/ Balcony or 7 Day w/ Interior

[grandmarnnurse]

Have you ever sailed in an Interior? We have only because of really, really cheap or free bounce back offers from the casino, but 4 or 5 days is more than plenty and wouldn't want any more than that. Just personal opinion from someone used to balcony or suite cabins.

 

 

 

Personally, I would never book a cruise less than 7 days. The longer the better. And since we are a retired couple, inside cabins are about all we can fit into our retirement budget so that we can cruise once a year. Years ago, we had balconies, and they were nice. But as we got older and retired, just being able to cruise in an inside cabin is good enough for us. We spend so little time in our cabin, we can’t see spending all that money on a balcony. I just go up on deck to enjoy the ocean.

 

 

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[BookDragon]

In case you're not keeping score.....17-4, make that 18-4 with my 7 day interior vote. And besides, you have never cruised before, so it is kinda tough to give an honest opinion of the comparison of a 5 day balcony versus a 7 day interior. Hopefully you'll enjoy those 5 days with your DH so that you'll book a longer one next time.

 

No competition, just a recap as to how many posters responded to either side of the question brought forth by the OP. No reason to be defensive, it's just impossible for someone that has never cruised to give their opinion as to whether a 7 day interior is better than a 5 day balcony. It would be like asking a virgin about sexual position preference.

 

 

OP, who is also a new cruiser, asked, “What would you do?” I assumed because I am also a new cruiser that it would be appropriate to respond why I chose a 5 day over a 7 day. For some reason, You chose to focus on my response (and not the others who also chose a 5 day btw) and claimed that my response is somehow dishonest and implied that my opinion is invalid because I have never cruised before. Then you proceed to tell me there is no reason to be offended? LOL. Ok...if you say so.

[LMaxwell]

7 > 5

[cruiserbrianj]

I would go with the 7 day, and try to get an interior on the Lido deck. We used to get balconies all the time, then we tried an interior on the Lido and haven’t looked back—-we don’t even miss the balcony. Although everyone’s preference is different.

 

 

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I just booked an interior on the lido deck today and am excited about it. What do you like best about that location?

 

 

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[Towel Critter]

This is a great compromise..an interior on lido deck. I only sail balconies, but if you are ok with an inside, this sounds like a good idea.

I would prefer the five day cruise with a balcony. Seven days is too long (for me) with an interior.

[mz-s]

I have only ever done interiors. My motto is, you can't miss what you've never had. Had a porthole once, and watching the water move made me a little sick so have stuck with interiors since then.

 

I don't plan on booking a balcony until we book an Alaska cruise, whenever that may happen.

[cruiser20145]

I have only ever done interiors. My motto is, you can't miss what you've never had. Had a porthole once, and watching the water move made me a little sick so have stuck with interiors since then.

 

I don't plan on booking a balcony until we book an Alaska cruise, whenever that may happen.

 

That's kind of what my thinking is. I don't want to get a balcony and ruin cruising in an interior for me.

[RS77471]

7 day for sure!!! We did an interior for our first and loved it!!!!! Also just watch what is available...people cancel all the time! An "Interior with a window" might become available! We added an extra cruise this year...booked an inside...now we have moved cabins couple of times as better options became available and today a window/inside 4J became available on the Lido deck! Grabbed it! You never know!!!

[cruiser20145]

Good news everyone! Airfare to IAH dropped by $9 per person!

[cruiser20145]

Airfare during spring break can be brutal--we paid $800 to fly to Florida when we took a spring break cruise. I don't know what airline you fly with, but check Southwest, we find the best rates with them. And check them often. I just booked airfare for our October cruise (flying into FLL cruising out of MIA) and checked their website 10x a day for a couple months--finally got nonstop flights for $79 p/p at 3am one morning (total cost was $376 which included early bird), the next day the rate was gone!

 

Also, don't forget you have to get from Houston to Galveston.

 

Have you ever sailed out of Galveston? What transfer did you use?

[momof4girls]

We can fly from either Chicago or Milwaukee (we live in between them). Southwest is MKE's main provider. That 6 day in 2020 looks great!

 

I’d definitely look at SW to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale when the calendar is released. Especially from Chicago Midway...

 

How are the actual price of cruises out of there compared to Galveston? I wish there were cheaper options for Houston to Galveston (like with Orlando to Port Canaveral). :rolleyes:

 

Crazy thing about that 6 day on the Magic? The cheapest rooms for four passengers was a balcony! OV and interior were more money!

[cruiser20145]

I’d definitely look at SW to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale when the calendar is released. Especially from Chicago Midway...

 

How are the actual price of cruises out of there compared to Galveston? I wish there were cheaper options for Houston to Galveston (like with Orlando to Port Canaveral). :rolleyes:

 

Crazy thing about that 6 day on the Magic? The cheapest rooms for four passengers was a balcony! OV and interior were more money!

 

 

The cheapest cruise (that appeals to us and fits in our schedule) is from Galveston. Thats crazy about the Magic! I've heard of suites being cheaper than balconies, but never having balconies cheaper than interiors!

[mrpayroll]

My choice would definitely be the seven nighter.

[cjcrowder]

I just booked an interior on the lido deck today and am excited about it. What do you like best about that location?

 

 

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You are steps from all the daytime action—-pool; buffet; Guys burgers; Blue Iquana; if you have kids that will attend camp Carnival your closer. We usually do not leave the Lido deck until dinner time.

 

 

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[cjcrowder]

Have you ever sailed out of Galveston? What transfer did you use?

 

 

 

I have not sailed out of Galveston yet, but was going to at one point, then another option came available. I know Carnival has transfers, but I think you might get them cheaper thru a transfer service or maybe even an Uber. I’m sure someone will chime in and help you with that.[emoji846]

 

 

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[cruiserbrianj]

You are steps from all the daytime action—-pool; buffet; Guys burgers; Blue Iquana; if you have kids that will attend camp Carnival your closer. We usually do not leave the Lido deck until dinner time.

 

 

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Thank you for the confirmation. That is where we spend most of the daytime and into evening hours as well so it seemed like a no brainer but was curious to see what someone else thought.

 

 

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[Quilcruisers]

I vote for 7 days. I am a 7 day or longer “snob”. Although I can be convinced to cruise for any length of time. I have never stayed in interior but we booked one on thanksgiving week last year for an exceptional price and put our kids in there while we took the ocean view. I was willing to stay there but they loved it. I just wanted to cruise so I didn’t care if it was a broom closet. That being said, even if you book interior, the outside views and decks are always available and you get magnificent views from any part of the ship. Our personal favorite is the 3rd deck right outside of guest services. Perfect quiet , peaceful place to relax, read, and just watch the ocean. Lots of ships have serenity decks and we also enjoy sitting on the promenade playing games or people watching or listening to bands. The promenade is also a good place to watch the ocean go by. I would rather more days than a balcony. I have done a balcony a couple of times and my husband does not really see the value. We were lucky enough to snag the walkway view cabins on our upcoming breeze cruise, two of them to be exact , for the price of an interior. That sailing was still very expensive but I am excited to get this cabin and see what all the hype is about.

 

 

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[Quilcruisers]

The OV is about $200 more than the interior. There is just something unsettling with me about staying that low in the ship.

 

 

 

We stay many times on deck 1 or 2,it is our preference now. We usually do those decks, mid ship, and have a wonderful, relaxing time. I wouldn’t rule those decks out. Especially deck 1, you have cabins above you so you miss all the noises you would get from tables and chairs moving around and loud music from the clubs or bars or atrium.

 

Now for the airfare, I agree to keep checking southwest. Free bags is a huge selling point, especially if you are flying to a cruise, you will want the extra bags with no fees. Finally from a Houstonian, welcome to our great city, you will not be disappointed. Hobby airport is closer to Galveston than IAH in case you have that choice, your shuttle options might be a factor to consider too.

 

Whatever you decide, you are cruising and the cruise will be fun, if it weren’t, a lot of us wouldn’t be addicted like we are. Good luck to you and ask as many questions as you need to to make your choice.

 

 

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[Quilcruisers]

I just booked an interior on the lido deck today and am excited about it. What do you like best about that location?

 

 

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Omg one of my friends is always lucky enough to score an inside lido deck cabin for a great price. I don’t know how she does it but she does. I am afraid if I were that close to all the food, I would gain 75 pounds. My friend says the best thing is it is literally steps away from the pools , upper decks, gym and the food. Now, going to the casino and shows is an elevator ride down, but if you spend a lot of time eating(we do) and a lot of time at the pool, basketball courts, lido games, etc, (we do) , then these cabins are for you. Now , there will be noise at times that everyone is on the lido, watching movies on the big screen, hairy chest contest, mixology , or deck parties, if you are trying to relax at these times, dream on... otherwise, great choice of cabins .

 

 

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[cruiser20145]

We stay many times on deck 1 or 2,it is our preference now. We usually do those decks, mid ship, and have a wonderful, relaxing time. I wouldn’t rule those decks out. Especially deck 1, you have cabins above you so you miss all the noises you would get from tables and chairs moving around and loud music from the clubs or bars or atrium.

 

Now for the airfare, I agree to keep checking southwest. Free bags is a huge selling point, especially if you are flying to a cruise, you will want the extra bags with no fees. Finally from a Houstonian, welcome to our great city, you will not be disappointed. Hobby airport is closer to Galveston than IAH in case you have that choice, your shuttle options might be a factor to consider too.

 

Whatever you decide, you are cruising and the cruise will be fun, if it weren’t, a lot of us wouldn’t be addicted like we are. Good luck to you and ask as many questions as you need to to make your choice.

 

 

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Thanks for all the kind words! I just wish SW would put out their prices for late March 2019 already! I don’t want to book and then have to pay a ton for airfare. Hobby is wonderful (we’ve been stuck there once before, nicest people I’ve ever met! It’s a couple hundred more than IAH. Mom moved to Texas (sugar-something area) and she still remembers it pretty well. We may rent a car to drive to Galveston.

[simplelife]

A couple of key questions may help you decide: How important is the private balcony experience to the total enjoyment of the cruise vs more days, activities, and ports? Do you suffer from claustrophobia or really need natural light to sleep and wake well? (If so you will be miserable in an interior). If natural light is the only consideration, check out the price of an Ocean View on the longer cruise (You may find an obstructed view one that is cheaper but still provides light) even a port hole (These will be listed in the Interior choices but will be clearly listed as Port Hole). Another interior choice that provides natural light is one with a window that looks out on a deck (these are also clearly listed) We have never tried this particular type of cabin, but it may work for you.

[Alaskan Joe]

I'd probably go with the 7 day cruise, and extra 2 nights onboard would outweigh the balcony for me.

 

AMEN:halo:

[grandmarnnurse]

I have wrestled with this same issue many times myself! I do find that when I book a balcony room, I tend to stay in my room longer (and more often) then I do if I book an OV room (never tried interior). So while, yes, I do use the balcony a lot, it is only because it’s there. I’m a bit of an introvert, so I’m forced out of my comfort zone without the balcony (which isn’t a bad thing).

 

May I ask where you are flying from? Southwest hasn’t released dates for spring break next year yet, but they are almost always the lowest for me, and I don’t have the baggage costs. If it were me, I’d either book both under a fare you can cancel without a penalty, and wait until SW released flights for that time, or just wait to book my cruise until those dates are released. I’ve found, though, that cruise prices are lower the further out you book.

 

Spring Break is expensive for cruising, but I couldn’t pass up the 6 day Magic cruise in March 2020. I know that’s not when you’re looking, but if you get hooked, check it out! Price was very reasonable, and an interior with a walkaway view is affordable for that time of year.

 

I’m a “penny pincher” myself so it is difficult for me to pay $600 more for the balcony on my Breeze Cruise (vs an interior with a walkaway view). But it’s to celebrate 25 years so I try to tell myself that “we deserve to splurge”. :rolleyes::D

I’m booked on the Magic in 2020, but for an 8 day Southern Caribbean. We fly from Buffalo, and will be cruising Easter week. I’m sure the flights will be astronomical for that time frame. We may have to just drive, which I’m not fond of the idea. This will be my 50th Anniversary cruise, and although I would love a balcony for this special occasion, I realize that it is not a very cost effective choice for us on our retirement budget. We will just spend more time up on deck than in our room.

[cruiser20145]

A couple of key questions may help you decide: How important is the private balcony experience to the total enjoyment of the cruise vs more days, activities, and ports? Do you suffer from claustrophobia or really need natural light to sleep and wake well? (If so you will be miserable in an interior). If natural light is the only consideration, check out the price of an Ocean View on the longer cruise (You may find an obstructed view one that is cheaper but still provides light) even a port hole (These will be listed in the Interior choices but will be clearly listed as Port Hole). Another interior choice that provides natural light is one with a window that looks out on a deck (these are also clearly listed) We have never tried this particular type of cabin, but it may work for you.

 

I feel like I definitely need to have some type of window (I am very claustrophobic). However, I don't think the balcony will effect the experience or enjoyment of the cruise. I'm not the kind of person to sleep the day away, so that doesn't appeal to me.

[cruiser20145]

I’m booked on the Magic in 2020, but for an 8 day Southern Caribbean. We fly from Buffalo, and will be cruising Easter week. I’m sure the flights will be astronomical for that time frame. We may have to just drive, which I’m not fond of the idea. This will be my 50th Anniversary cruise, and although I would love a balcony for this special occasion, I realize that it is not a very cost effective choice for us on our retirement budget. We will just spend more time up on deck than in our room.

 

I am not fond of driving, either. Sitting for over 20 hours each way is not how I want to start and end a vacation.