Whether you always get a balcony room or are looking at splurging on one for the first time you are sure to have a bevy of choices. Of course there is the standard balcony cabin- with a smaller outdoor space which typically holds two chairs and a small table. There is also a larger balcony, as pictured above, which can be found on ships like the Norwegian Getaway. These larger balconies often have several loungers, chairs and a larger table. There are quite a few other types of balconies you can enjoy, however, from an inside the ship view to an aft wraparound retreat. Here is a list of various balcony cabin types the cruise lines offer:
A Virtual Balcony- While some cruisers complain this is not a "real" balcony you do still get an outside view-just not the outside air! Royal Caribbean's Virtual Balcony is comprised of an inside cabin with an 80-inch high-definition screen that spans from basically the floor to the ceiling. With this cabin option you have the ability to see real-time views and sounds of the ocean, as well as port destinations
from the comfort of your room. Both the RC Navigator of the Seas and the Quantum of the Seas have these unique faux balconies.
Inside the Ship Balcony- Several Royal Caribbean ships, such as the Allure of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas offer these cool outdoor areas which give passengers a view of a bustling and picturesque area of the ship. Cabins with these inside the ship views offer a 24/7 look at the Boardwalk area of the ship or the re-creation of Central Park, like on the Oasis and Harmony of the Seas. Imagine watching the parade on the boardwalk from your cabin! :)
Cove Balcony- This cozy balcony can be found on ships like the Carnival Magic and Carnival Breeze. The lower level balconies are pretty close to the water and have a look more like an open oceanview cabin. Many cruisers report they love being so close to the water and getting an up close view of the sea creatures. The balcony doors will lock automatically if the ship encounters rough weather though.
Aft Balcony- These awesome balconies offer a wraparound view for corner cabins-which typically have loungers and chairs. Medium sized ships, such as the Norwegian Pearl have many of these aft cabins classified as a Suite or Haven, so locating a true balcony classification for a larger sized aft balcony is a find!
Large Balcony- This sizable private space is also available as a mini suite with a balcony category on ships like the Norwegian Getaway and Escape. The caveat is that these balconies are on decks 8 and 9, which stick out a bit more than usual balconies. So, if you are a cruiser who does not plan to stand outside in your underwear (yes I saw this! lol! :) ) than you should be a-okay with an area of your balcony visible to other passengers. We loved our large balcony on deck 8 of the Norwegian Getaway-it was a perfect place to lounge and even to have breakfast! Other ships, like the Celebrity's Millennium Class fleet offer what is coined as a "Sweet Sixteen" set of balcony cabins, which while classified as a 2C category are bigger than the average balcony for the same price! These inexpensive balconies offer the most bang for you buck and are found as a set of 8 on both the port and starboard sides of the four Millennium Class ships. Princess's Grand Class ships have mini suites with exposed large balconies as well.
Balcony cabins may also include a private whirlpool, hot tub or solarium- however those rooms are almost always classified as suites. Have you had a spectacular balcony room on a cruise voyage? Please share the balcony room you loved with me! :)
Is a summer cruise on your list for 2017? Although our cruises are planned for 2017 already my sister is looking to plan a extended family cruise vacation for her and her in laws in June of this year. She asked for my thoughts on a good cruise to take for roughly 7 adults, 3 children and a baby. While I am unable to join them on this cruise it was certainly fun researching the options-and I decided to share my findings with you all! Their parameters were a cruise for the month of June from a central/south Florida port and ideally a week long trip. While one family member will need a wheelchair accessible balcony room the other cruisers would prefer balcony rooms in a family friendly area. Child care and a cool kids club is requested, as well as ports for water sports and active excursions. I chose to search for a cabin for two adults and one child, so the totals will vary a bit. Here is what I found for them:
Norwegian Escape- June 24-July 1- Balcony (B2-Family) Room 9736. Includes Ultimate Beverage Package and Shore Excursion Bonus of $50 per port (other options are Ultimate Dining and Wi-Fi- you pick two). $100 on board credit is also given, along with $50 deposits. This cruise goes to Roatan, Harvest Caye (new private island), Cozumel and Costa Maya. The Escape is the newest NCL ship with lots of kids activities on board, including a large sports complex and aqua park. This ship leaves from Miami and the total cost is $4325.00.
Carnival Magic- June 24-July 2 (*8 days)- Cove Balcony Room 2378. Includes a $75 on board credit and $25 per person deposits. This cruise goes to Grand Turk, Amber Cove (new private island), San Juan and St. Thomas. The Magic is a large ship with Waterworks, Seuss at Sea and the Hasbro Game Show-which are all great for kids. This ship leaves from Port Canaveral and the total cost is $3754.00.
Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas- June 25-July 2-Balcony Room (D4) Room 6264. This cruise goes to Nassau, St. Thomas and St Kitts. The Allure of the Seas offers a Dreamworks kids experience, a boardwalk with games and a carousel, aquatic activities, a flowrider and ice skating. This ship, which leaves from Fort Lauderdale has a total cost of $4307.00 and a deposit of $750.
MSC Divina- June 24-July 1- Balcony Room 12011, Aurea Experience-includes unlimited beverages, spa package, a private sun deck, cooking classes for kids and priority dining times.This cruise goes to Nassau, San Juan and St. Maarten. The Divina has a small kids club with a Smurfs theme, as well as pools and some family friendly activities planned. This newest MSC ship leaves from Miami and the total cost is $2883.00. The deposit now should be $100 per person, although this is subject to change.
By a sizable amount the MSC Divina is the least expensive, with the most perks as well. The drawback to the Divina is the lack of substantial children's activities and family friendly spaces. The Allure of the Seas is chock full of young at heart fun, with all day and night family entertainment. However, RC does not offer any perks like alcoholic/non alcoholic beverages or spa treatments. Carnival comes in as the third cheapest cruise, with a small on board credit. The benefit of the Seuss at Sea, as well as water activities make the Magic a good option. Finally, the NCL Escape offers the latest and greatest in aqua sports fun and includes a generous beverage package, as well as credit towards shore excursions. The high price of over $4000 makes this cruise week an expensive one, however. Also, don't forget to add on a budget for parking fees, flights to and from the port (or gas), shore excursions and gratuities per person, which are added daily by all the cruise lines.
The take away is my sister and family are looking at a cruise costing between $3200 and $4600 for the week (including gratuities only). They will need to decide on the importance of beverages, spa amenities and kids activities, as well as ports to debark from and visit on their cruise. I will let you know what they end up deciding! :)
