Do You REALLY Care about your Cabin???

[gooselover]

I have read over and over about the "afts" the "humps", etc.,..... and would like to know does your cabin really matter that much? Are you just as satisfied with an E1 as a D1? Do you usually book inside/oceanview, or balcony and does it matter really WHERE it is???

 

In other words, if a hump/aft is available, do you feel it is REALLY that important/necessary to spend the extra $$ over say an E2????? Thanks for all your replies on this....I hope I am making sense in my question.

[isujim]

YES..........why we book 18 to 20 months in advance.........see pending cruises

[npmadsen]

If it means not cruising, I would go cheapest way, but I do like to look out on the ocean, ocean view was always fine by me.

I also got spoiled had a Caribe deck balcony on Princess, and now do not want to go back. But enjoyed it as it was longer than most, so this cruise I booked an E1 aft, huge balcony. I really could care less about the size of the actual cabin. I guess you do not miss what you do not know. If I only had experienced an inside it would be fine by me.

Needless to say if I won lotto, then maybe a suite. LOL

Eileen

[bplazo]

Choise of cabin is a must.

[ckrobyn]

I admit it. I DO care about my cabin. I care about the size, the location and the price. I always book my cruises at least a year in advance to secure the best possible cabin at the best price. So far I have done a side cabin towards the aft, a GS on the hump and a JS at the aft. My choice right now is the aft ....I have one booked for 14 nights on the AOS in a few weeks.

[Lightsluvr]

I have read over and over about the "afts" the "humps", etc.,..... and would like to know does your cabin really matter that much? Are you just as satisfied with an E1 as a D1? Do you usually book inside/oceanview, or balcony and does it matter really WHERE it is???

 

In other words, if a hump/aft is available, do you feel it is REALLY that important/necessary to spend the extra $$ over say an E2????? Thanks for all your replies on this....I hope I am making sense in my question.

 

The more we cruise, the more it matters...

 

As isujim said, we're standing in line when itineraries are opened, hoping to book a favored cabin or suite.

 

LL

[Happy ks]

I think it's a great question.

 

First off, it depends on our budget. If we can only get away for a short cruise and have a small budget, I probably wouldn't go if all I could afford was an inside on a small ship. I would need the window. We've had insides before and they have worked out OK, but you really do miss something by not being able to see outside.

 

I've also learned that I don't care to be on the lower decks, it's worth a few more $$ to move up a deck or two. I'll add that we don't use elevators much, except when we have more than 5 decks to climb, so the lower decks I don't get as much of a workout. Another plus of the higher decks is that (unless you have a priority disembarkation), the decks are disembarked from the top down. It's not at all fun to sit there with nothing to do for 2+ hours waiting to get off the ship.

 

Our last cruise was in an aft Junior Suite and we loved it. The balcony was huge, we used it a lot. It was great to have breakfast there, wine parties with the family before dinner, we spent a lot of time out there before going to bed. Our favorite view of the ocean is the wake behind the ship, we had plenty of that on this cruise!

 

While we would definitely cruise again in an outside or regular balcony cabin, the JS was great. If we can find another great deal like we did, we would go for it again.

 

But, everyone has their own needs. We find we get along better when we aren't as crowded for space. I read about families putting 5 to a cabin and just cringe, there is no way we could do that. When we take our kids, we always try to get them a separate cabin from us, two bathrooms are crucial at certain times of the day.

 

Sure, you don't spend all your time in the cabin, but the time spent there is important. I like to have a few creature comforts around me and one of them is a little privacy and space to get ready for the day or dinner.

[kruzerci]

I think I may be the only one on here, but it really doesn't make that much difference to me!

 

Yes, of course, I love having a balcony, but it doesn't make much difference to me if I have an oceanview or inside or anything else.

 

It really just depends entirely on how much I want to spend, how much I plan on being in the cabin, and how long the cruise is. There is no way I would pay for more than an oceanview on a short cruise like my next one, but I would not hesitate to spend the money on a balcony or suite if the cruise is long or has a lot of days at sea. I have had every kind of cabin and I have been just as happy with one as another, I am just glad to be on vacation when I get there :D !

[RCCLCARIB]

YES IT DOES MATTER!!

 

I book 12-15 months head of time for a great price, but also for the "perfect" cabin location.

 

I personally spend some time in my cabin on the 7+ night cruises, especially the ones with lots of at sea days.

 

Booking a great cabin is a must, as for me, it makes the cruise experience!

[The Viking]

We have only been on one cruise which was a JS. We really enjoyed the space and the balcony where we spend much time.

 

Nothing beats breakfast or peaceful evening time on the balcony.

[cruisin from florida]

It's not a matter of paying more for and aft or a hump cabin. It's a matter of paying the same amount and getting a great cabin rather than a good cabin. Whether it's the size of the balcony (aft) or location (hump) where your cabin is CAN make your cruise even more enjoyable. Do we cruise when we can't get those cabins? Of course. But our 2008 cruise is already booked, and we have two center aft cabins (E3) on deck 7 on the Serenade, and I'm VERY excited. We actually had the same two cabins on deck 8 (E2) but I thought I'd like deck 7 better, in terms of not needing to take elevators down to the casino and dining room, etc.

 

OTOH, we never knew to care about cabin location, or even thought about the fact that we had a choice in cabin location, until about our 3rd or 4th cruise.

[Alexis]

I try to book the day the intinerary comes out that I want. Usually around 16 - 18 months in advance.

Middle of the hump. Deck 8 is our favorite spot. ;)

[tofubeast]

I guess you do not miss what you do not know. If I only had experienced an inside it would be fine by me.

 

 

I agree with the above comment. I have always had ocean view, but on my next cruise on EOS, I am trying one of the Promenade facing inside cabins (so it has a window...just not to the outside world.) I wouldn't put my nose to an inside if it mean that or no cruise. However, I am sure if the upgrade fairy were to ever give me a balcony or a suite....man it would be hard to go back to reality for the next cruise! For now, we have to cruise based on what we can afford. Hopefully, one day when older, I can enjoy some of the cabins you all are booking a year and a half out! But I am saving for a house...so I have to have my priorities right now! hehe. I do care where the cabin is though..in that I prefer to be midship. Though I wouldn't snub an aft cabin if the upgrade fairy twinkled pixie dust on us!

[mcarnett]

I agree, not only cabin choice, but location is important to us. I base our choice on what is above us, below us or outside that could be noisey. We like the aft not only because of large balconys but less traffic outside. No kids running up and down the hallways. No loud talking around elevators.

 

Mike

[serene56]

for me-- the cabin is not as important as the balcony. If I am paying good money for my vacation I want the biggest the money can buy.

For the same price as a side balcony-- I can get a bigger balcony on the aft.

I have a CAribbean Princess cruise planned for Feb 2007 which I booked in Nov 2005. I wanted a certain cabin C753 or C752 and both were gone for valentines week. I switched the week later so I can get C753.

[pmshirl]

The cabin to me is not important at all. I book a balcony only for the C&A discount! I spend very little tme in my cabin. Just to shower and sleep. I do like the balcony only to be able to see on the outside if my DH is not up as early as I am. But once we are both up, we are outta there and on our way until 1-3 am again, only checking back in the cabin to shower and change clothes and back out till after midnite again! I don't need a suite, I can use the extra in the casino. I am there to adventure the ship, not to be a cabin ornament!

[jimbug]

Here's what I think about it:

- When in Alaska, you must have a balcony; location on ship not important, as long as you've got that balcony!

- When in the Caribbean, not so much...it's either too hot or too windy (it seems) to justify spending so much time out there

 

- However, if you DO have a balcony, and you're on a Princess ship, by far, go for the Caribe...we had Caribe 747 on Diamond Princess and it was the best balcony, EVER! (Not only was it the giant Caribe deck balcony, but it was the furthest aft balcony on the starboard side, so it had another 2-3 feet extra towards the aft). I don't have experience on RCCL as far as what is better, etc.

 

- All that said, it looks like I'll be in my first inside cabin on the AOS in August. Saving money for other things, and took the cheapest cabin we could find (Cat N on Deck 8). I will certainly be watching for price drops for a promenade or outside cabin on our sailing (would be too awesome if a balcony or JS category dropped enough for it to be affordable!)

[DON M.]

I think it becomes a matter of priorties and budget. We can only travel during the summer months right now. Airfare from LosAngeles to Europe, East Coast etc., pre-cruise hotel rooms, insurance, excursions, can add up quickly. Recently booked for June the 9day Gradeaur out of Balt. Would I have liked a balcony or an outside cabin?-yes. But with the costs of the above mentioned nessesities, and the cost difference of $900 and $2000 respectively, it will be an inside cabin and a wonderful 9 day cruise watching the world go by from one of the decks above.

I wonder how many of those who need a balcony would book it after paying $1200 pp to fly to Rome?

[masterbaker]

Cabin choice is important to us. Our choice of cabin category and location depends on the ship, itinerary, and how much time we plan to spend in the cabin. We can be as happy with a centrally located inside cabin as we are with an aft balcony suite. The cruise we choose dictates that choice.

[rsscaptain]

Yes! We spend time in our room and our balconies. Vacation for us is for total relaxation, and not so much adventure. Been there done that, and because of our daily lifestyle we enjoy the down, pampering time. So yes, cabin choice is key to us. I would rather wait if money were an issue, for a cabin that I wanted, rather than cruise in an inside cabin.

 

I can understand why some who enjoy cruising so much, opt to stay in inside cabins because they feel they can travel often that way. We can only take two vacations a year, so we opt to wait for the cabin of choice.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

I wonder how many of those who need a balcony would book it after paying $1200 pp to fly to Rome?

 

I would!:D Which is precisely why we are on a "cruise budget" for the next two years, so we can save up enough for a balcony in the Med - preferably an AFT balcony. I expect it to be the vacation of a lifetime & I want to savor every moment of it!:cool:

 

I am one of those who spends quite a bit of time on the balcony. We love to eat breakfast out there in the Caribbean. It is one of those things that make a cruise vacation so special for me. I would rather be on my balcony with a good book and the sounds of the sea than on a crowded, noisy pool deck any time. But, that is just me.;)

 

That being said, we did have an OV on our 3 day Monarch in December. For that amount of time, the OV was just fine. Plus it was too cold to use the balcony at that time. But we are looking forward to a JS in order to get a balcony on the same ship in April.

[samtig]

Because I'm prone to motion sickness we have been booking mid-ship. Deck doesn't really matter, because the lower the deck the more stable, but have to at least have a window. Have to be able to see outside! If we find a sale, we book a balcony which is wonderful. We are going on our 1st forward balcony cabin, deck 10 soon. Would like to try an aft balcony. We stay in our cabin enough that it makes a difference to have a window.

[pickleo]

The cabin choice isn't an issue for me. We are always on a budget, and love to cruise, so getting the best room isn't a priority for us. The ship and excursions are though.

[123traveller123]

I just booked a cabin on Adventure of the Seas at the end of the ship..Cabin 6204 I think...and now i'm worried that there is going to be major sea-motion. So maybe cabin choice is important.

[navel1ring]

Cabin is totally unimportant, but it does help when the couple we travel with always try to get the Royal Suite or the best available. Even when we don't travel with them, I have never cared what type or where. Just like to cruise!

 

Wendy