Balcony vs Inside cabin

[bobe]

Will be doing our 16th cruise in 3 weeks time around NZ on Radiance of the seas, we did the Honolulu- Sydney on Celebrity Century in Nov 2011 and had a balcony as there were fair few SEA days, like other people have said if you can afford the balcony go for it as you can pass the time away dreaming etc of your next cruise, have a nice chilled GLASS or whatever with a nice platter and your in a world of your own, 2 years ago we had a great cruise thru the Panama Canal had a balcony there also, THAT is a cruise all cruise'ers should do( not being cleaver when I say that)it is a cruise beyond belief will never forget it till the day i fall off the perch. By the sounds of you post you have caught the bug ( Cruising ) hope you dont get rid of it ENJOY every min.

 

[MissBurrill]

Thank you bobe. We're pondering the soft drinks package this cruise. We don't want to spend two plus weeks binge drinking. What do you normally do when it comes to drinks and packages? We used the running track on the short cruise and the drinkers were counting the laps we ran.

 

[Pushka]

We bought the soda package and it was nice to just show your pass and get a drink. I'd ordered wine and champers to be in our room when we boarded. Four bottles for a 7 day cruise. When we opened the door with that delightful ping noise, there they were. All in ice buckets. With around 8 matching glasses. Must have thought we were big drinkers.

Always use the stairs. Helps a lot with calories. And maybe order two entrees instead of one and a main meal. But they call them different names. And the deserts aren't as nice as they look on RCL cruises.

 

[MissBurrill]

Cheers Pushka!

On the three night cruise we didn't buy a drinks package. The smallest one had much more wine than we could safely drink in that time. We used the stairs alot but it's definitely easy to over eat on board.

 

[Pushka]

I posted 'other' on the poll. I'd always spring for a balcony as hubby may feel motion and fresh air is important. Our first cruise 30 years ago on the now scuttled oriana had a tiny porthole and after the first day the honeymooning couple we shared a table with, and we, were pondering how much it would cost to hire a helicopter to fly us off. It took us 30 years to cruise again. Ships have changed so much since then. On the Liberty after four weeks travelling around Europe we booked a mini suite. No real suite perks but it had a really large closet where we could actually unpack the suitcases after four weeks. Bigger balcony but that wasn't really needed. It was the closet and bathtub we were after. And we are also on a mini suite for our next cruise which is supposed to go to Egypt and Israel in July. We will see.

And yes we are hooked. But we have to choose a port intensive cruise or hubby would go batty. Me, on the other hand, just like boats. They go places. So I'll be a solocruiser sometimes. I love QM2 as lovestotravel knows.

 

[Skyring]

Always use the stairs. Helps a lot with calories.

Hear, hear! I found on my 30-day cruise on Aurora that while it was pleasant to walk around the boat deck of a morning, it also got rather tedious and wasn't getting my heart rate up. I always took the stairs, and by the end of the trip I was taking them three at a time, bounding up and down like a gazelle. Such fun!

And it is far too easy to overload on the tucker. Honestly, I could have spent 24 hours of every day in a cafe or restaurant or dining room or buffet or snack shack. Not to mention room service.

We had a limited selection of rooms, as most of the passengers had booked for the whole 90 day trip. An inside would certainly have been cheaper, but I got a lot of pleasure by being able to look out of the window, for example on waking I could draw back the curtains and often see us arriving at some port or other without the need to get dressed, and shave and stuff.

Next cruise, I'll go for a balcony. Getting more view, having brekkie on the balcony, or just sipping coffee with a book and not having to worry that someone else might want the seat.

And the fresh air, of course.

 

[get me outta here]

Balcony for sure. I loved leaving the door open and being lulled to sleep by the gentle or rushing sound of the wash over the bow. Some people may think it too loud, but not me. Also loved the cabin for those moments when looking for some quiet time from the humanity outside.

Be aware that many balconys have a highish solid steel fence that you can't actually see over when sitting down. The phots of the ships sometimes try to obscure that by making it a sort of sea colour so that it blends into the sea horizon.

Balcony also useful for draping washing over chairs overnight.

 

[chemtrails]

I posted 'other' on the poll. I'd always spring for a balcony as hubby may feel motion and fresh air is important. Our first cruise 30 years ago on the now scuttled oriana had a tiny porthole and after the first day the honeymooning couple we shared a table with, and we, were pondering how much it would cost to hire a helicopter to fly us off. It took us 30 years to cruise again. Ships have changed so much since then. On the Liberty after four weeks travelling around Europe we booked a mini suite. No real suite perks but it had a really large closet where we could actually unpack the suitcases after four weeks. Bigger balcony but that wasn't really needed. It was the closet and bathtub we were after. And we are also on a mini suite for our next cruise which is supposed to go to Egypt and Israel in July. We will see.

And yes we are hooked. But we have to choose a port intensive cruise or hubby would go batty. Me, on the other hand, just like boats. They go places. So I'll be a solocruiser sometimes. I love QM2 as lovestotravel knows.

QM2 is in MEL the 21st of March.

You can always go the single soft drink package.... Once you have the cup, can share it and you just go up with the cup and they fill it up.

 

[Pushka]

QM2 is in MEL the 21st of March.

You can always go the single soft drink package.... Once you have the cup, can share it and you just go up with the cup and they fill it up.

Yes, I was on her when she cruised in to Melbourne last year! Great fun watching all the media and other identities having to line up to board her for their Lunchtime gathering onboard, forming a huge queue, whilst us passengers simply walked straight past them and on to the boat. Red Symonds was in particularly good form. The sailaway was pretty special.

I was booked on her this year, Sydney to Adelaide but I cancelled. I so wish I was on her again now but will definitely book in 2014.

About your idea of buying 1 cup and sharing, I dont think that's appropriate. Just me.

 

[chemtrails]

I don't tend to drink much soft drink, stick to wine and coughtails Gary.

 

[drron]

Well i'll come in on the side of the Balcony.It is your honeymoon.You want it to be as good as possible.My mantra is-"life is not a dress rehearsal".so get it right the first time.
Of course we all have different likes and dislikes.So here are my reasons for choosing a balcony-again on the proviso it is a real balcony.
I really enjoy the view of water.
I like to be on the lookout for wildlife.Seabirds are a virtual certainty,dolphins not uncommon and may be even lucky to spot a whale.I have been amazed by the number of animals I see from the comfort of our balcony.
Unlike your friend I would pick a port side cabin because normally I dont see the sunrise so it is great to lie in bed and witness one of natures great performances.Besides at sunset i am usually on deck having a Mojito.Besides I am often in bed early and when cruising in the far north or south detest the suns rays streaming in when i am trying to go to sleep.
Champagne breakfast on the balcony.Inviting friends from a non balcony room to have lunch with you admiring the view.Anytime sharing a bottle of wine.

Whatever you do just enjoy it.

 

[bobe]

Hi MissBurrill I usually get a drink package if there is one available with the cruise line, my other half just has the odd glass of wine, I dont think its a matter of 2 weeks bingeing but know what you mean seen it many many times people getting a package and getting bloto every night but if you are sensible people like you are the packages are NO problem, we get plenty of exercise like you are saying up and down staires etc etc etc !!! just enjoy and I'll put money on that before the cruise is over you will be planning the next.

 

[AVC]

Inside balcony or outside?
We've booked Allure Of The Seas fro December, and we managed to get an inside balcony room that is all the way aft, so we get about 90 degrees of outside view, as well as overlooking the AquaTheatre. No passing traffic outside the door either...

Our first ever cruise..

I after the first day the honeymooning couple we shared a table with, and we, were pondering how much it would cost to hire a helicopter to fly us off.

Hmmm, I remember my dive course, on a live-aboard 25m single hull in QLD. The trip out to the reef was rough. As in sitting out on the dive deck, the horizon would disappear below the gunwales, then disappear above the sun deck above us. I think everyone was sick. I would have paid any money for a helo. Nowhere to land it though