Opinions on Balcony vs Oceanview for Mediterranean Cruise

[biksgirl]

Hey all,

 

    so I've booked a balcony room for my family of 4 (DH plus teens, 15 and 17yr old) for a July cruise going to Italy and Greece. Sailing on the Rhapsody.

 

We've cruised about 5 times, twice we've had Oceanview, but the last 3 cruises we've had balcony, which we love. This will be our first time cruising in Europe.

 

So for those with experience,  does it make sense to keep my balcony room, especially with unexpected possibilities with Covid,  or should I save $4k and get the Oceanview room?  I love the balcony, but I'm thinking with such a port heavy itinerary do I need the balcony?

 

and if I do decide to change, is it a fairly simple thing to do? Is there any penalties or anything?

 

thanks 🙂

[topnole]

$4k price difference?   That is a lot and I’d probably switch and use that money elsewhere on your trip.  

[biksgirl]

Thanks for the reply. That's what I'm thinking, but don't want to regret not having the balcony too. LOL

 

 

[topnole]

12 minutes ago, biksgirl said:

Thanks for the reply. That's what I'm thinking, but don't want to regret not having the balcony too. LOL

 

 

How long is the cruise?

[topnole]

13 minutes ago, biksgirl said:

Thanks for the reply. That's what I'm thinking, but don't want to regret not having the balcony too. LOL

 

 

4K could buy you several extra days on either end of the trip in a city or two that you could really spend some time in.  If it was me I might consider something like that. 

[biksgirl]

7 Nights.

 

Yeah that's what I'm thinking...I just didn't want to regret anything...but that money can really go further on extending the trip. 

 

So if I call and change room types, there's no penalty right? 

Edited February 13, 2022 by biksgirl

[sgmn]

We've done both (and inside) for Med cruises. No real difference. They are very port heavy so you are off the ship most days . Rhapsody is one of the smaller ships and easy to slip up to the outside decks for views and fresh air.

For that price difference I would go for the window cabin 

[Saab4444]

Oceanview rooms on Rhapsody are very small and outdated, most on low decks 2 and 3, not so nice and big difference to balconies on deck 7 and 8. On the newer ships oceanview cabins are much better and not that much below standard balcony room comfort.

[Coralc]

And no coolers (refrigerators) in the Oceanview rooms. I always like to have a balcony, because I like to know what the weather is like before I get dressed. But for $4000 in savings, I could probably figure it out some other way. 

[RKHOOKER]

I can’t speak for you, but, my wife and I never spend time in our room on port intensive Med cruises with only one sea day.  Our room is for sleeping and showering etc.  If we’re not on land, we are in the pool, at a bar, restaurant, casino or watching a show.  
Just no time to sit on a balcony & get $4000 worth from it.  

[jacobtsf]

Like Rkhooker above me, we spent no time in our room at all on our 7 day Mediterranean, it was solely for showering and sleeping. 
 

We went with an interior and are so glad we did. The room was in near total darkness, so we slept really well and were recharged every day (and we were able to sleep in on the one sea day without the sun coming through any blinds). 
 

I would really recommend an interior. maybe even 2 right next to or across from each other, that total cost will probably be cheaper than your one balcony room

Edited February 13, 2022 by jacobtsf

[TwinMamainMN]

We love a balcony for watching sail in/sail away, and Europe is gorgeous, but for $4000, I could have a lot of extra pre or post cruise vacation time. I would not want to stay on a low deck or in an cabin iwth only a small window. If I could get a OV cabin in an amped ship, or a newer ship, I would do that and use the money for pre/post cruise.

[carolyn22]

I did a balcony on a 7 day cruise that was 6 long and busy port days and only one sea day. I wish I had gone with OV and used the savings on excursions instead. 

[topnole]

9 hours ago, biksgirl said:

Hey all,

 

    so I've booked a balcony room for my family of 4 (DH plus teens, 15 and 17yr old) for a July cruise going to Italy and Greece. Sailing on the Rhapsody.

 

We've cruised about 5 times, twice we've had Oceanview, but the last 3 cruises we've had balcony, which we love. This will be our first time cruising in Europe.

 

So for those with experience,  does it make sense to keep my balcony room, especially with unexpected possibilities with Covid,  or should I save $4k and get the Oceanview room?  I love the balcony, but I'm thinking with such a port heavy itinerary do I need the balcony?

 

and if I do decide to change, is it a fairly simple thing to do? Is there any penalties or anything?

 

thanks 🙂

Not sure if there is a penalty.  Call them up and find out the price difference in total to make the switch and to make sure there is cabin availability.   The price could also change at any point so I would do that sooner than later given the large price difference   

[MeHeartCruising]

I'll agree with others that, for Med cruises, if you're looking where you can save a little money, going with a non-balcony cabin is one place to do it.  The days in port are usually long and exhausting (but FUN!).  You come back to the ship and freshen up a bit and then eat your dinner and relax a little in the public areas of the ship.  Then you you go to bed to get a good night sleep so you can do it all again tomorrow.  

 

I'm with the above suggestion to actually consider getting 2 inside cabins so you'll have more room.  The ocean view doesn't do much for you.

[erinsmom03]

Have you looked into the option of two OV rooms? The prices I see for two passenger in an OV room seems very similar to the price per person if it was 4 in the room.

[time4u2go]

9 hours ago, biksgirl said:

So for those with experience,  does it make sense to keep my balcony room, especially with unexpected possibilities with Covid,  or should I save $4k and get the Oceanview room?

If your concern is about being quarantined, note that with today's rules (obviously a lot could change by July), if you test positive, you wouldn't be staying in your room.

[biksgirl]

@time4u2go okay thank you. I actually didn't know that.

 

Thank you everyone for the input.   I never even thought about 2 inside rooms...that's a great idea!!.   calling to save some money. 🙂 

[Norwich Cruiser]

For the price difference I’d definitely go inside staterooms.

[Sunshine3601]

As other said go for the OV cabin and maybe put the kids in an interior cabin across the hall from you,    2 bathrooms is always nice.    

IMO cruises that are port intense don't require a balcony especially with that big of price difference.   

[SbbquilterUT]

Med cruise for us is all about the ports and spending money on tours and local food - you are off the ship early and often not back until dinner.  We are perfectly happy to be in a less expensive cabin in Europe.

[biksgirl]

thanks for all the great input. I'm literally on the phone trying to change. I'm on hold as the rep goes to see if I can do the change. I'm still 2 months out from final payment and I had paid extra for the cancellation insurance with Royal, so I'm hoping its easy to just change over.

 

Otherwise I guess I have to cancel and rebook?!!

[biksgirl]

So I ended up booking an Oceanview and an Inside room across the hall and saved $3648 plus got $250 OBC which we never had the first time around!!!

 

 

Thank you to everyone and their great recommendations!! 🙂 

 

[MeHeartCruising]

12 minutes ago, biksgirl said:

So I ended up booking an Oceanview and an Inside room across the hall and saved $3648 plus got $250 OBC which we never had the first time around!!!

 

 

Thank you to everyone and their great recommendations!! 🙂 

 

That sounds like a great switch. You’ll appreciate the extra space. 

Edited February 14, 2022 by MeHeartCruising

[erinsmom03]

33 minutes ago, biksgirl said:

So I ended up booking an Oceanview and an Inside room across the hall and saved $3648 plus got $250 OBC which we never had the first time around!!!

 

 

Thank you to everyone and their great recommendations!! 🙂 

 

 

Good deal!!!!