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For example, Carnival has premium vista balcony cabins located on the aft corners of certain ships. We’ve broken it down to help you decide which stateroom fits your vacation needs. Some river cruise lines even offer single suites (booking with single occupancy rates). The most famous liner having plenty of single cabins (designed specifically for solo travelers) is Norwegian Epic. Penthouse Suites have a twin beds configuration (beds can convert to queen). Due to their location, aft balconies can be less breezy and, therefore, hotter than regular balconies as the ship's structure blocks the wind.
Forward- and Aft-Facing Balconies
The advantage of upgrading your room via RoyalUp is that you could move up to a higher, more desirable room, for less than booking it outright. Royal Caribbean offers guests on most sailings the opportunity to bid for a stateroom upgrade through RoyalUp. Ultimately, where your room is located on the ship (midship versus forward or aft) is an arguably more important consideration than the side of the ship. You might be wondering why there aren't any suites in my list, and there's two reasons why it's not here, but could still be a great choice. You'd be surprised how affordable two connecting rooms can be versus booking a single larger room to fit 4 or 5 people. For a lot of people, the best cabin is located wherever the price is right.
STATEROOMS
You might also enjoy seeing the coastline or cities as you pull into port — without having to go upstairs to view the scenery with everyone else. 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. It’s always worth checking to see if there are any promotions or past passenger rates that can make a balcony room more affordable on a cruise. While cruise ship balcony cabins are generally more expensive than inside and ocean view cabins, they may be more affordable than you think.
Central Park View Interior
Shorter cruises means you will likely be running around trying to see and do everything, so investing a ton in an expensive room may not make financial sense. On longer sailings, having a larger room means more space to spread out and enjoy to nap, read or watch the world go by. In short, aft balcony rooms offer a different perspective than a balcony on the side of the ship and a lot of people find this view more relaxing.
Cold Weather Cruises
If you can upgrade to a balcony cabin, you'll have more room to spread out and store your stuff. Parents will also appreciate the chance to relax on the balcony with an adult beverage after the kids go to bed. You'll also be able to sit outdoors, have a glass of wine or read a book in private.
The range of ultra-spacious cruise rooms across categories spans all the way up to our new Ultimate Family Townhouse — three stories that elevate the way you stay and play. With no space wasted for a traditional balcony, the other benefit of this setup is expanded indoor space. These cabins are 23 percent larger than on the line's Solstice-class ships, including bigger bathrooms. Loaded with adrenaline-amping thrills and maxed-out ways to make new memories, Harmony of the Seas® is your ticket to the boldest family vacation ever. Whether you’re traveling with kids or bringing the whole extended adventure squad along, you’ll find spacious, well-appointed cruise rooms designed to suit all your vacation needs. To be clear, we see the advantages and disadvantages of these cabins.
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It's worth noting that some cruise ships -- such as Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon Classes and MSC Cruises' World Class -- have balcony staterooms that face the interior of the ship. If you are set on having ocean views, you'll want to make sure that you book the right cabin category. Otherwise, you might end up disappointed when you arrive and realize that your view is actually the ship's Boardwalk or outdoor Promenade. Some large cruise ships can feel busy and crowded, especially on sea days. A balcony cabin can give you some private outdoor space to read or just sit quietly, away from the activities going on on the lido deck and inside the cruise ship. Cruise staterooms booking rates are usually based on deck location.
There are reasons to like this type of cabin, but there is a disadvantage that may be a dealbreaker for some people. If you have a normal balcony room, you have the cabin, and then a wall with a door that goes out to a separate balcony space. The outdoor area is completely closed off from the rest of the room. Additionally, it's easier to spot wildlife from a balcony than an ocean view room, as you're able to peer over the edge and have a wider viewpoint. That being said, there are certain itineraries where the cost of a balcony stateroom can be justified just because of the views you'll get.
My $2400 Wonder of the Seas balcony room had more storage and modern touches than I expected - Royal Caribbean Blog
My $2400 Wonder of the Seas balcony room had more storage and modern touches than I expected.
Posted: Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
NCL's The Haven and MSC's Yacht Club accommodations are located within an exclusive complex and offer ''ship within ship'' amenities and services. Passengers (who can afford them) enjoy private sundecks with swimming pools and jacuzzis and exclusive facilities like restaurants, bar lounges, gyms and spas. Cove balconies, unlike Balconies, have two patio chairs and a table.
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. They deliver mesmerizing views as your ship pulls out of ports of call, and their balconies tend to be larger than those on the sides of the ship.
You will be able to see wildlife and the coastline as your ship passes by, which is especially nice during sail away or sail in. 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. It is worth talking about a subset of the balcony rooms, known as obstructed balcony rooms.
Unwind on your balcony in your very own private jacuzzi or take part in a game of table tennis — all while enjoying ocean views. I'm a big fan of getting up early to watch as cruise ships pull into ports. In some places, such as New York and Sydney, the experience is a highlight of the trip. The arrival into New York, in particular, is one of the great cruise experiences. Your ship will glide under the giant Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (often with just feet to spare) before passing the Statue of Liberty and the skyline of lower Manhattan. Often, the captain of a vessel will spot such animals first and then make a public announcement to passengers to head to the sides of the ship to look.
Balcony cabins, sometimes called veranda staterooms, are a popular cruise cabin choice for good reason. Cabins on higher decks will provide better views from balconies and suites, and good access to many of the ship’s amenities, but passengers may feel the ship's movement more. You may also hear more noise from outdoor activities on the pool deck. Pioneered by Norwegian Cruise Line, solo traveler cabins are becoming more common across the industry. Whereas for many years solo cabins were usually interior grade, there are now oceanview and even balcony cabins available for solo travelers on some lines. Choosing your cruise ship cabin or stateroom is an essential part of planning a dream cruise vacation.
Celebrity touts the cabins are 23 percent larger than the balcony cabins on its Solstice-class ships. For even more space, larger groups can combine two Infinite Veranda cabins to become one space with a sweeping balcony view. New cruise ships are built with more balcony cabins than they are with any other accommodation type, but not all veranda cabins are created equal. Some have more interior space, while others have larger balconies or extra amenities.
Holland America has well-designed balcony cabins, generally starting at 212 square feet including the veranda (most are 54 square feet). These days, balcony cabins may not cost as much as you think, and for many people, they are definitely worth the splurge! When you book a balcony cabin, you’ll have a private outdoor space where you can get a sea view at any time. Along with the larger cabin space, this can add so much enjoyment to your cruise experience.
