Celebration Cabin Selection...which one?

[gopackgo21]

    Hubby and I have an offer for a free Suite on the Celebration, however the date we want is mostly booked and the only option left for a suite is for the Family Harbor Oceanview. Why on earth would you book a suite without a balcony? We've decided to just go with a balcony instead but we have options and I'd love to get some opinions on which you'd choose. Background, we are both in our 30s, no children and hubby likes to spend time in the casino and in the room relaxing, I prefer sunshine and exploring for my relaxation. We have always stayed in a Cove Balcony (we love being close to the water!), Normal Balcony, or Ocean Suite. We really enjoy sitting on the balcony and and just watching the water and occasional wildlife. 

 

   For the Celebration (or Mardi Gras), which of these would you pick and I'll expand on my hesitations. All would be the same price (free!).

 

Havana Extended Cabana - Worried that we won't have a great "view". We love laying on the bed looking out to see the ocean or spending our mornings on the balcony with our coffee staring mindlessly into the ocean. Do you feel like the lack of privacy is worth the Havana perks? How was your view from inside your cabin and outside on your cabana?

Premium-View Extended Balcony- Worried about the lack of privacy from above and below, as well as the same "Can you see the ocean from your bed?" 

Extended Balcony - Solid option, any cons?

Cloud 9 Spa Cove Balcony (Or Regular Spa Balcony) - We would pick the Cove if we did this option just to be closer to the water. Is the Spa pass worth the smaller balcony? I always get a spa treatment on the ship, but was left underwhelmed last month on the Vista spa. Never used the thermal suites, but thought it could be a nice area to check out. Is it normally busy?

 

  Which would you pick and why?

 

   

[TrqoisWtrs]

Ok, so this isn't an option on your list, but I always appreciate pics when I'm trying to decide. 😊  I stayed in 10416 (8C balcony) on MG and I thought I was just getting a regular small balcony, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got, because this is not labeled as an extended balcony.  This pic is in the shade, but when the sun is overhead, front half is sunny (and viewable from above) and the back half is shaded due to the deck overhead, so there is privacy.  Decent view from the bed.

 

I've cruised MG 4 times and always stayed in this hallway...loved the location.  Walk a bit forward and you're at the midship stairwell that takes you down right into the main areas.  Short walk aft and elevators for Summer Landing and Shaq's.

 

[cruisinqt]

With a cabana your balcony is really more of a patio. You would have to leave your balcony (patio) and walk across the sidewalk to get to the railing to look out at the ocean. You wouldn’t be able to see the ocean from your bed. I think a Havana cabana is more for those wanting an uncrowded pool to relax in and a larger patio to hang out at. Plus there’s the whole Havana bar that’s amazing. 
 

I can’t comment on the premium or extended view balconies as I’ve never had one. I’ve had opportunities but I’m not crazy about where they are usually located. I prefer to be in the center of the ship. Maybe one day I’ll try one though. 
 

A few weeks ago we did a spa balcony on the Mardi Gras and loved it. The room was a little narrower but much longer than normal including the balcony. We seemed to have more room to move around out there. We love doing the thermal suites. I enjoy the steam room and saunas. But doing the hot bubbly therapy pool then relaxing in the heated marble lounger is my favorite thing about cruising. I’ve had some of the best naps ever in those things. 

[Jamman54]

We like the extended balconies on the "hump". They  are the only balconies on the ship where you can look straight down to the water. They also come with a lounger. 😎

Edited August 13, 2022 by Jamman54

[siestakeys04]

6 hours ago, cruisin*tigger said:

Ok, so this isn't an option on your list, but I always appreciate pics when I'm trying to decide. 😊  I stayed in 10416 (8C balcony) on MG and I thought I was just getting a regular small balcony, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got, because this is not labeled as an extended balcony.  This pic is in the shade, but when the sun is overhead, front half is sunny (and viewable from above) and the back half is shaded due to the deck overhead, so there is privacy.  Decent view from the bed.

 

I've cruised MG 4 times and always stayed in this hallway...loved the location.  Walk a bit forward and you're at the midship stairwell that takes you down right into the main areas.  Short walk aft and elevators for Summer Landing and Shaq's.

 

We are in cabins down the hall from this I booked as quick as i could bigger balcony without paying for extended even though that is what I originally had before it was canceled 2020

[csm5986142]

3 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

We like the extended balconies on the "hump". They  are the only balconies on the ship where you can look straight down to the water.

 

I was going to say the exact same thing - I don't like to look over the balcony and see decks or lifeboats. 

On Mardi Gras we have stayed in an extended hump balcony and also a Havana Cabana.  Both were awesome, but we totally preferred the Havana Cabana for multiple reasons, and would book it every time if it weren't for the price. 

[Illbcruzn4life]

38 minutes ago, csm5986142 said:

 

I was going to say the exact same thing - I don't like to look over the balcony and see decks or lifeboats. 

On Mardi Gras we have stayed in an extended hump balcony and also a Havana Cabana.  Both were awesome, but we totally preferred the Havana Cabana for multiple reasons, and would book it every time if it weren't for the price. 

Yes we loved the havana cabana. The prices now are a deal breaker for me but if I am booking a Carnival cruise I'll book an inside just to stay in the cabana area.

 

The prices we paid for havana cabanas on the Horizon and Celebration. 2 days after I booked the Celebration he prices went up about $800-$900.

 

we got lucky on that booking.

[gopackgo21]

11 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

Yes we loved the havana cabana. The prices now are a deal breaker for me but if I am booking a Carnival cruise I'll book an inside just to stay in the cabana area.

 

The prices we paid for havana cabanas on the Horizon and Celebration. 2 days after I booked the Celebration he prices went up about $800-$900.

 

we got lucky on that booking.

What is it about the Havana area that makes it a must!? 

[sunshower9]

I had a hump balcony on the Mardi Gras and loved it.  The balcony was HUGE.  No cons, IMO.  I'll have an aft extended balcony on my next cruise.  From looking at YouTube videos, you can see that there's a small area at the front of the balcony where people can look down on you, but most of the balcony is covered.  People can only see you if you're standing at the railing.  But of course, there's nothing like the aft view. 

[Illbcruzn4life]

2 hours ago, gopackgo21 said:

What is it about the Havana area that makes it a must!? 

It's nice and quiet, no kids, your own bar,pool, and hot tubs. No chair hogs either.

[hockeyluver]

We had a bump out balcony on the Mardi Gras and have another booked for the Celebration,  WE LOVED IT and cant wait for the Celebration !! 

[Jamman54]

20 minutes ago, hockeyluver said:

We had a bump out balcony on the Mardi Gras and have another booked for the Celebration,  WE LOVED IT and cant wait for the Celebration !! 

Us too!!! 

[KmomChicago]

I have only sailed MG once and we were in a Premium interior (because cheapo) which has the same interior footprint as a standard balcony room (larger than standard insides) and even so, it felt almost too small to me.  We also did a cabin crawl and saw an extended balcony room which confirmed again that the interior space is the same as our room was, i.e. efficient and comfortable but a little tight. 

 

I'm more of a space person than a balcony person so I would actually take that Family Harbor oceanview suite because it will be a nice big room and kids don't really much get on my nerves, but fully understand I am in the minority.  DH and I had a forward picture window room on Vista and enjoyed the generous floor space (we were able to sneak on to the secret deck adjacent even though it is not the same as a private balcony).

 

But in your case, since the balcony is on your must-have list,  I would opt for the extended balcony as others have mentioned, to give more overall floor space. A nice big "back yard" provides significantly more real estate to spread out and given the room sizes on Excel class I think this is a big benefit.

[jimbo5544]

I would chose the Havana extended, the Havana area is a plus over the rest.

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/14/2022 at 1:21 PM, Illbcruzn4life said:

It's nice and quiet, no kids, your own bar,pool, and hot tubs. No chair hogs either.

No hot tub in the Havana area on the Excel Class, but the pool is about the size of one.