Help me decide, Breakaway balcony worth it?

[lepidoptera]

Hi Guys- I’ve been debating hopelessly for 3 weeks now. I currently have solo 2 cruises booked with NCL- a post-Thanksgiving repositioning cruise on the Breakaway from NYC to NOLA and a transpacific on the Jewel from Tokyo to Seward in April of 2024. I also have my first trip on Celebrity booked for October of 2024, a repositioning from Boston to Fort Lauderdale.

 

My Jewel cruise would be my first time in Japan. My plan was to spend about a week in Japan pre-cruise and most of my travel budget has been ear-marked for that trip. My plan was to keep my Breakaway trip “cheap” and cheerful. I found out about a month ago that I might not be able to go on my Jewel transpacific, but unfortunately I won’t know until about 2 weeks after the final payment is due for the Breakaway trip. What with not being able to travel in the spring and a family vacation in the summer, the Celebrity cruise would be my only in 2024. 

 

Currently I am booked in a studio cabin on the Breakaway. I have sailed in studios before (currently have about 20 days sailed in them over several ships) and I like them a lot. I also really love the waterfront on either warm weather or scenic cruises, and spend a lot of time sitting out there. If I sail on a smaller ship with out studios and a waterfront I have typically sailed in a balcony. I do use my balcony in warm weather, but have found on colder cruise I don‘t necessarily use it enough to justify the price difference especially when paying the solo supplement. 

 

The price of my Breakaway cruise has dropped significantly. Pricing it out, if I cancel and rebook a studio I would save a bit more than $600 or if I upgraded to a balcony it would be a bit over $200 more. I keep going back and forth about what I should do. I have been on cabin tours on the Breakaway and thought the balconies were minuscule. There is also the fact that I don’t think I would get much use out of the balcony on the embarkation day-between the rooms being ready later and I anticipate a coast guard inspection-or the first 1.5-2 days out at sea due to weather. Or I could take the price drop for the studio and sit on the difference, until I know if my Jewel cruise is a go. If it is a go I would just spend it on my Japan trip. If it is cancelled I then I would buy a spa pass and upgrade my beverage package, possibly upgrade to the free at sea plus. 

 

What would you do? I literally cannot make a decision and I want to pull the trigger tomorrow before any so called sales they pull for the 4th of July. Also sorry for  my frankly too long post 😂

[www3traveler]

I would go with your Studio and put the money you may save on your Japan cruise.

[omahabob]

When you spend time on the Waterfront, do you enjoy lot's of gazing out into the sea? If yes, would it be worth spending $200 to do that from your cabin? Sure, there are other differences, but this seems to be where the rubber meets the road for you. The other differences, like a larger cabin and bathroom, are generally more advantageous to couples than singles. Focus on what's important to you, not bling. Unless of course, bling is what's important to you. 😄

[RB9643]

1 hour ago, lepidoptera said:

Pricing it out, if I cancel and rebook a studio I would save a bit more than $600 or if I upgraded to a balcony it would be a bit over $200 more.

 

 

Looks like you're debating $800 (or so). How much does $800 mean to you? Have you ever cruised in a balcony? You don't seem to be that impressed with what you've seen. You are happy with the solo cabins, so, I'd say your $800 is best spent elsewhere.

 

Do your thing. You know what you like.

 

 

[Mississippian]

I kind of regret my solo balconies. On a Breakaway transatlantic earlier this year I certainly used my balcony some, but not that much. It is nice to be able to walk out and see what is going on, and my hotspot worked really well in ports because it could get a cell signal. I doubt I would be able to use my hotspot in an inside, although there are lots of public places where it works.

Edited June 29, 2023 by Mississippian

[lepidoptera]

Thanks guys. I think I am leaning towards the studio after writing it all out and reading your comments. I do enjoy a balcony but I’m just not sure that I would use it on this particular sailing. The $800 is not a ton of money, but I think I can get a better bang for money with it somewhere else. 

[BirdTravels]

The breakaway has the smallest balconies in the fleet. It is more to get some fresh air than use. 

 

Let’s face it,,, every demands balconies but very very very very very few ever spend time on their balconies. 

[RB9643]

1 minute ago, BirdTravels said:

Let’s face it,,, every demands balconies but very very very very very few ever spend time on their balconies. 

 

 

First thing in the morning, last thing at night. Other than that, occasionally.

 

 

[Elvis1209]

2 hours ago, lepidoptera said:

Hi Guys- I’ve been debating hopelessly for 3 weeks now. I currently have solo 2 cruises booked with NCL- a post-Thanksgiving repositioning cruise on the Breakaway from NYC to NOLA and a transpacific on the Jewel from Tokyo to Seward in April of 2024. I also have my first trip on Celebrity booked for October of 2024, a repositioning from Boston to Fort Lauderdale.

 

My Jewel cruise would be my first time in Japan. My plan was to spend about a week in Japan pre-cruise and most of my travel budget has been ear-marked for that trip. My plan was to keep my Breakaway trip “cheap” and cheerful. I found out about a month ago that I might not be able to go on my Jewel transpacific, but unfortunately I won’t know until about 2 weeks after the final payment is due for the Breakaway trip. What with not being able to travel in the spring and a family vacation in the summer, the Celebrity cruise would be my only in 2024. 

 

Currently I am booked in a studio cabin on the Breakaway. I have sailed in studios before (currently have about 20 days sailed in them over several ships) and I like them a lot. I also really love the waterfront on either warm weather or scenic cruises, and spend a lot of time sitting out there. If I sail on a smaller ship with out studios and a waterfront I have typically sailed in a balcony. I do use my balcony in warm weather, but have found on colder cruise I don‘t necessarily use it enough to justify the price difference especially when paying the solo supplement. 

 

The price of my Breakaway cruise has dropped significantly. Pricing it out, if I cancel and rebook a studio I would save a bit more than $600 or if I upgraded to a balcony it would be a bit over $200 more. I keep going back and forth about what I should do. I have been on cabin tours on the Breakaway and thought the balconies were minuscule. There is also the fact that I don’t think I would get much use out of the balcony on the embarkation day-between the rooms being ready later and I anticipate a coast guard inspection-or the first 1.5-2 days out at sea due to weather. Or I could take the price drop for the studio and sit on the difference, until I know if my Jewel cruise is a go. If it is a go I would just spend it on my Japan trip. If it is cancelled I then I would buy a spa pass and upgrade my beverage package, possibly upgrade to the free at sea plus. 

 

What would you do? I literally cannot make a decision and I want to pull the trigger tomorrow before any so called sales they pull for the 4th of July. Also sorry for  my frankly too long post 😂

Back in the days when you could smoke on your balcony I used to always end the night out there with a cigar and cognac.  I always take my binoculars with me on a cruise.  One night I went out on my balcony and noticed another cruise ship not far from us.  I grabbed my binoculars and looked at all the balconies on her.  What did I see?  There was another guy out on his balcony looking through binoculars at our ship!!!!  I waved at him but apparently he didn't notice me!

 

Elvis

[Twolittleboys]

I just completed a transatlantic on the Getaway in an ocenaview cabin and thought that was perfect. To be honest, I am not a huge balcony person so didn't really miss having one. In addition, the waterfront really works fairly well as a "balcony replacement".

 

I agree with the weather consideration. We had great weather on this trip but I went on a Med cruise in October not so long ago and basically didn't use my balcony because it was just too chilly. I would assume that a winter transatlantic would not offer many days warm/sunny enough to enjoy sitting outside.

 

That being said, the Getaway/Breakaway really does not offer a lot of public space in bad weather. For your trip I would seriously consider getting a spa pass (I have not been in there but hear good things). I didn't have a solo cabin so don't know how comfortable/fun the solo lounge is. But other than for fee spaces (like the spa) and the casino there is very little comfortable indoor space and it gets very crowded.

 

I thought an oceanview window was perfect because it is basically a mini-balcony but enclosed. You can sit in there and enjoy the view without the cold/wind (though of course no fresh air).

 

 

[mjkacmom]

11 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The breakaway has the smallest balconies in the fleet. It is more to get some fresh air than use. 

 

Let’s face it,,, every demands balconies but very very very very very few ever spend time on their balconies. 

We love balconies, I’d say about 4 or so hours a day. Hate the pool,deck.

[mcmomny]

We were on The Escape in March with another couple, we had a balcony and they booked ocean view to save money.

While their cabin was lovely the first thing I noticed when I walked in was a stale smell, no fresh ocean air from a balcony door like our cabin!

We have coffee every morning on our balcony, love sailing in and out of port on our balcony, when my husband naps or gambles I read on our balcony and we love our night cap on the balcony!

We have had a balcony for all kinds of weather, Hawaii, Alaska in the fall, The Caribbean and The Med and have used them everyday, cold or rain!

The Breakaway was a lovely cruise, but the first 3 days it rained so The Waterfront was useless but our balcony provided protection and we used it still.

 

We are balcony fans!

 

Go Bill's!