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Think of a cruise, and you might picture sitting on a cabin balcony, sipping a drink, and watching the waves go by. In addition, some people with extra money to spend would rather splurge on shore excursions or other extra-charge items, such as shipboard spa treatments, than on a higher-priced cabin. What is most important to one person on a vacation may be different from what is important to another person. Ocean-view cabins, in turn, were running about 29% more than windowless inside cabins — the third major category of cabins you'll find on ships. When you step outside the cabin into a regular balcony, you are doing exactly that — going outside.
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When you book a balcony cabin, you get a well-sized room along with a private balcony to enjoy at anytime during your cruise. There are some cruise itineraries that are very port intensive, and have few or even no sea days. In this case, if you booked the cruise planning to be off the ship exploring the ports of call, a balcony cabin may be a waste of money on your cruise. This probably goes without saying, but if you’re claustrophobic, having a balcony is absolutely worth the money. The fact is, inside cabins are small and cozy, meaning no natural light at all. Plus, spa balcony cabins come with all kinds of perks, which vary based on which cruise line you are sailing with.
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I booked the cheapest balcony cabin on Carnival's newest ship for $2600. Look inside my 205-square-foot balcony ... - Cruise Blog
I booked the cheapest balcony cabin on Carnival's newest ship for $2600. Look inside my 205-square-foot balcony ....
Posted: Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. The ocean breeze you’ll have by opening the sliding doors in your cabin, will help you to feel better if you are a bit bothered by the ship’s movement. Club Balcony Suites provide additional amenities and privileges at no additional cost. Similarly, the line’s AquaTheater Suites found onboard Oasis Class ships have large balconies that offer some of the best views of all the AquaTheater shows, with no tickets or queuing required.
Infinite Balconies Are a New Style on Some Ships
Moreover, it is your place to enjoy in the morning and evening, or with a cup of coffee. Balcony rooms are situated on the outer portion of the ship, with the ability to look out from your room to the ocean. If you are thinking about booking a balcony stateroom on your Royal Caribbean cruise, here is what you need to know about this stateroom category.
Your Balcony May Not Be Private
Aft is a nautical adjective that means “toward the back of the ship.” In other words, aft balcony staterooms are located at the back of the ship. Due to the shape of the ship's stern, these staterooms are often elongated and stray from the cookie-cutter design of standard balcony cabins. Dubbed an “infinite balcony,” this style makes the balcony and the cabin one space. At the end of the cabin you’ll have a full window wall instead of a door leading outdoors. The top half of this wall slides down, essentially like a large horizontal window.
These may include fancier robes and slippers, a pillow menu, complimentary thermal suite or exercise class passes, and yoga mats. Spa cabins are located close to the spa, which on most ships is on the upper decks (the higher the deck, the better the balcony view). The décor in spa balcony cabins is often outfitted with a color palette of earth tones to create a calming ambiance. Bathrooms may feature rain showers or massaging jets and spa-brand in-cabin toiletries. Where can you find some of the biggest and best cruise ship balcony cabins?
Front Row Seat for Beautiful Scenery
Even on cruises in cold weather, there's nothing quite like stepping out on a balcony for a few minutes or more to soak in the salty breeze. Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis. He has become one of the foremost expert on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Cove balcony cabins on Carnival Cruise Line
A balcony room will also give you more space, both inside and outside. Obstructed balcony rooms have some physical barrier that blocks at least part of the view you would usually have in a balcony room. That is not to say the view from your balcony is completely obstructed, just partially. Boardwalk balcony rooms have a view of the Boardwalk neighborhood, while Central Park balcony rooms have a view of the Central Park neighborhood. Book one of these suites and you also have unlimited access to Loft 19, a lounging area equipped with cushy loungers and cabanas that is reserved for suite guests.
The fresh air
There are reasons to like this type of cabin, but there is a disadvantage that may be a dealbreaker for some people. For a lot of cruise fans, having their own balcony to see every morning, enjoy the ocean as it passes by, and watch the sunset from is worth it every time. Balcony rooms all feature a bed that can be split into twin beds if necessary, private bathroom with stand up shower, sitting area, television, mini fridge cooler, and of course a private balcony. The suites come with many perks, the coolest of which is a private viewing of what's playing on your ship's giant Movies Under the Stars screen. If the weather turns rainy or chilly, roll that window back up, and you can still enjoy the sitting area as an indoor portion of your cabin.
And that's exactly what you can do on your balcony on many cruise ships, with the waves as a background soundtrack. They typically also offer you a great view of the outdoors from inside your cabin. Balcony rooms offer more living space than inside rooms, and the private balcony gives you a really nice area to enjoy anytime during your cruise. Unlike the pool deck, a private balcony means private space to enjoy time in the sun and also somewhere much more quiet. Other balcony cabins may also include pullman beds, which are retractable beds that can descend from the ceiling. It’s hard to imagine when a balcony cabin wouldn’t be enjoyable, however there are times when it may be hard to justify the extra cost.
Instead, the balcony area is enclosed on its outer edges with glass windows; the one facing the sea can roll down just like a car window at the touch of a button. When not in use, roll up the windows, open the doors, and you have a roomier cabin with a sunny seating area at one end. Royal Caribbean's inside cabins are around 149 square feet in side, whereas a balcony room starts at 180 square feet. That may not seem like a lot of extra space on paper, but experiencing it in person gives all the perspective you need.
Of course, you have to be on the correct side of the ship to get certain views. Arriving in New York, there is an allure to watching the arrival from both sides of a vessel. From the port side, you'll get the best view of the Statue of Liberty.
With the push of a single button, a window opens up and allows you to soak in the fresh air from the comfort of your stateroom, rather than outside. On the newest ships of lines such as MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, you'll find suites occupying the corners, but other ships have more affordable balcony cabins in this location. Be aware when booking rear-facing balconies that your space might not have much shade and that you will feel more movement than you would in a cabin in the middle of the ship. These beloved cabins are not necessarily the best for those who get seasick. However, on some cruise ships you’ll find that the price of a balcony cabin may only be a couple hundred dollars more than an ocean view or outside stateroom.
Look for these and other family-designated balcony cabins when you want the best digs for the kids. Ultimately, a balcony cabin will almost certainly cost more than an oceanview or windowless "inside" cabin, but I think the cost is justified in so many cases. When you think of a cruise vacation, you probably have the ocean air in mind, and a balcony cabin gives you ample access to it. Of course, a balcony cabin will cost more than an inside cabin, but in many cases, the price difference is not significantly more. Every dollar counts in your vacation budget, but I've found with advanced planning, you can usually get a balcony room for a reasonable upcharge compared to an inside room. While they are the width of the cabin — usually around 8-10 feet, the typical balcony doesn’t offer much depth.
A balcony cabin is a cruise ship stateroom which has all the same features as inside and ocean view cabins. However, balcony rooms are usually larger and have a private outdoor balcony space. On some cruise lines, such as Celebrity and Holland America, balcony cabins are called Veranda cabins.
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