Balcony or Havana Interior Cabin?

[sd63]

Price is similar. Which would you recommend. Balcony and use Serenity Deck or Havana Interior Cabin to have use of Havana amenities? Also, cruise itinerary has 4 sea days. Would that affect your decision?

[FloridaMommyof3]

I've never stayed in a Havana cabin so I don't know what those are like.  However, honestly, with the way this Covid thing is going, I wouldn't book anything but a balcony in the chance there is any kind of on board quarantine.  I would hate to be stuck in an interior.  After 4 years I decided to take a cruise again in September and made sure I had a balcony for that "just in case" circumstance.

[Moviela]

With 4 sea days the Serenity deck could be over utilized. I have need seen a crowd in the Havana area on Vista class. I'd go with Havana.

[crazy4themouse]

I would stay in a broom closet in the Havana area over anywhere else. The outside area is gorgeous, the rooms are beautiful and different, and it's amazing to be able to go out on a sea day and just sit in the pool, take your pic of loungers, not fight for a clamshell... and have no kids running and screaming and splashing, lol. It's peaceful and wonderful. 🥰

 

[mexicobob]

2 hours ago, FloridaMommyof3 said:

I've never stayed in a Havana cabin so I don't know what those are like.  However, honestly, with the way this Covid thing is going, I wouldn't book anything but a balcony in the chance there is any kind of on board quarantine.  I would hate to be stuck in an interior.  After 4 years I decided to take a cruise again in September and made sure I had a balcony for that "just in case" circumstance.

I also have never been in a Havana cabin but agree in this Covid age I would never gamble on being locked up in an inside cabin. I prefer a balcony always.

[mondello]

7 hours ago, sd63 said:

Price is similar. Which would you recommend. Balcony and use Serenity Deck or Havana Interior Cabin to have use of Havana amenities? Also, cruise itinerary has 4 sea days. Would that affect your decision?

Please be aware that the Havana area is much nicer on the Vista class ships. Havana pool area downplayed on Mardi Gras and Celebration in favor of the new, exclusive Loft 19 area.

What ship and what date are you considering? Booking a balcony over concern of a possible quarantine is a valid point; however, you should be fine if you're talking about 2022 or later. Interior is fine if it gets you in the Havana area. No bookings for under 12. Great for 4 sea days.

Edited July 17, 2021 by mondello
Correction

[DKimmey]

I'd never sail w/o a balcony

 

Non-starter

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

36 minutes ago, DKimmey said:

I'd never sail w/o a balcony

 

Non-starter

That’s a nice thought but probably not helpful to the OPs question, which is overall value and enjoyment.  Hopefully someone who has cruised both can provide their perspective.
 

In general, a Havana interior is priced roughly equal to a standard balcony.  I just checked what it would cost to upgrade my HI to the lowest priced Havana balcony (a Havana aft), it adds another $930.  
 

On a Vista class ship with a 5,000 pax capacity, I would have to spend most of my time on the balcony and not the pool, serenity, or most other public areas to enjoy it at all without having access to Havana.

Edited July 17, 2021 by TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail

[DKimmey]

The balcony IS a large part of my enjoyment, a majority. Waking with my coffee out there. Having some calm zen time of my own a couple times a day.

 

I can't do it without a balcony, and the response is intended to answer.

 

No balcony is a non starter for many

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

8 minutes ago, DKimmey said:

The balcony IS a large part of my enjoyment, a majority. Waking with my coffee out there. Having some calm zen time of my own a couple times a day.

 

I can't do it without a balcony, and the response is intended to answer.

 

No balcony is a non starter for many

Understandable.  And an aft balcony on a smaller ship would probably be my zen since I might not have to fight the crowds when not in my room.  

[mondello]

Some guests are hardly in their cabins enough to use the balcony. Dining, port days, casino, shows, deck partys, drinks...

[firefly333]

Those that say inside Havana have actually had a Havana cabin it seems. Those that say balcony, seems like they have not booked a actual Havana cabin, and say the better value is the regular balcony cabin.

 

I'm not sure ..did I miss someone above? Snj says he always books insides and books inside on Havana so I'm sure some prefer this.

[crazy4themouse]

37 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Those that say inside Havana have actually had a Havana cabin it seems. Those that say balcony, seems like they have not booked a actual Havana cabin, and say the better value is the regular balcony cabin.

 

I'm not sure ..did I miss someone above? Snj says he always books insides and books inside on Havana so I'm sure some prefer this.

 

The only one I haven't had is the inside Havana, only because we prefer the cabana. But if we couldn't get that, I would absolutely get the HI. I have done other insides, and balconies, and still stick with my opinion that Havana anything (on Vista class for sure!) trumps anything else for that class.

 

[firefly333]

I think it would also be interesting to ask how much people drink who book Havana as I've read many rave about the bar service. They like attentive bar tenders serving drinks while they sit there. If you have cheers it might be good to not have to worry about getting served and finding that favorite bar and all that. A place with good service that is quiet.

[mondello]

The main draw is the exclusive access to the Havana pool and whirlpools. Too many people competing for the limited space at the Lido pool and hot tubs.

[Oldsweets]

Just stayed in Havana inside on Horizon and it was great and acceptable BUT we knew it was our last time booking an inside vs Balcony.  Just can’t enjoy the 4 walls vs an outside view of a Balcony. We literally got out of bed and got a cup of coffee and set on the deck of Havana club.  This is a clear what is your preferences but an inside room no matter the location is still an inside during the time when your in the room.  

[surfone]

we are in a Havana interior next month on Horizon.  We go with the best value for each cruise. We spend little time in the cabin.  We were on the Vista 3 years ago and visited the Havana area in the evening and spoke to some who had a cabin there and said they loved it and was so relaxing if you liked quiet, no screaming kids and hot tubs to yourself and excess to great bar service.  the serenity on the Vista class has no pools only hot tubs,  it was always crowded so we are looking forward to trying Havana out.  But,  for the Alaska cruise I would recommend a balcony also for the Med cruises (at least for the initial one) I'm just hoping to cruise!

[tap_out]

Havana interior for sure.  We have had them all and second we would stay in a closet if it meant we had access to the Havana.  We have a Cabana for our August 1st cruise because they threw a ridiculous price at us "$1600"

[LuckyStar]

15 hours ago, sd63 said:

Price is similar. Which would you recommend. Balcony and use Serenity Deck or Havana Interior Cabin to have use of Havana amenities? Also, cruise itinerary has 4 sea days. Would that affect your decision?

Havana area is great.  Much, much better than Serenity.  We loved the sea days.  Dedicated pool, bar and lounge chairs. It's very quiet, if that's your thing.  

[LuckyStar]

4 hours ago, mondello said:

Some guests are hardly in their cabins enough to use the balcony. Dining, port days, casino, shows, deck partys, drinks...

I agree.  As much as I love the openness of the balcony, I never have enjoyed holing up in my room.  The Havana area is so calm and close to your inside room on the Vista, it's almost like a private balcony.  We had a Havana patio on Vista and even that was a bit underused. 

[LuckyStar]

3 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Those that say inside Havana have actually had a Havana cabin it seems. Those that say balcony, seems like they have not booked a actual Havana cabin, and say the better value is the regular balcony cabin.

 

I'm not sure ..did I miss someone above? Snj says he always books insides and books inside on Havana so I'm sure some prefer this.

I'm the odd soul. I love inside cabins.  I have stayed in the Havana area, in a patio.  It was overpriced for us but since I love the Havana area and I love inside cabins, I will always choose a Havana inside over a balcony. 

[Joebucks]

I wouldn't pick either. I would do an interior cabin.

 

But if I had to pick one, I'd pick Havana. While balconies are beautiful and nice to have, I don't want to sit in the room. Havana meets in the middle for both exclusivity of a balcony with the fun of cruise activities. I've heard great things about the Havana pool and bar. It sounds like that experience would be a much better value for my money.

[KmomChicago]

3 hours ago, mondello said:

The main draw is the exclusive access to the Havana pool and whirlpools. Too many people competing for the limited space at the Lido pool and hot tubs.

My strategy for this problem is to use Serenity and other pools during the morning of a port day and just doing a short walk around onshore after lunch. On sea days I find other stuff to do like eat, battle for a ship on a stick and eat some more.

[Buck Turgidson]

We did Panorama back to back just as the pandemic was starting to emerge. Week one was Havana aft balcony, great view, and relaxing. No crowd in Havana infinity pool or jacuzii . Plenty of loungers available. Small amount of soot from stacks did land on our balcony.

Week two we had an interior non Havana room and used the aft pool and the serenity area, jacuzii in the serenity was usually packed but overall the area had enough lounges available, a nice area.

 

We have booked an interior Havana on the Panorama for August 28th rather than a similar priced non Havana balcony.

[crzndeb]

1 hour ago, LuckyStar said:

I'm the odd soul. I love inside cabins.  I have stayed in the Havana area, in a patio.  It was overpriced for us but since I love the Havana area and I love inside cabins, I will always choose a Havana inside over a balcony. 

I’m with you. I love interiors. I tried a balcony for 23 days on the Spirit in 2012, and it was anything but peaceful and quiet. Those latched doors and the constant slamming on both sides of me, definitely changed my mind about balcony cabins on Carnival. I have heard the new ships have sliders.

But for the OP, if you want a more quiet relaxed atmosphere, I would choose Havana Interior.