Cruise : Why Your Best Bet Is A Balcony Stateroom
Six times youll wish you had your own balcony.
Youve decided to go on a cruise for your next vacationthrilled that youll get the chance to explore more destinations and experiences than youd normally see on your own, and for a value you couldnt possibly pass up. Now that youve booked it, one of the first choices youll need to make is what type of stateroomor accommodationto reserve. Generally, there are four main categories of staterooms: interior, ocean view, balcony or suite, and each one offers a unique experience.
Interior staterooms tend to be the starting point in terms of pricing and square footage, and they are ideal for travelers on the go who dont plan to spend much time in their rooms beyond sleeping and showering. If you couldnt do without a view of the water from the comfort of your room, though, you can opt for a similar room but with an ocean view.
But one of the most common questions for many first-time cruisers is whether or not to upgrade to a balcony stateroom. Accommodations with balconies, including suites, can be more lush and spacious, and the balcony gives you enviable views and a private place to sit outside. Considering it? Here are the times when you definitely dont want to miss the chance to indulge in one.
1. While in The Mediterranean
2. Exploring Alaska
3. For Families
4. If You Like Feeling Steady
5. If You Need Alone Time
6. If Youre An Avid People-Watcher
Choosing Your Neighbourhood Balcony Stateroom
A common concern of travellers considering a neighbourhood balcony stateroom is the level of noise they will be exposed to drifting up from the neighbourhood below or from shows and fellow cruisers. Royal Caribbean guide that the ambient noise is only minor and doesnt penetrate the staterooms. However, the level of audible noise will vary depending on where your stateroom is located and what is happening on board, and some guests are more sensitive to ambient noise than others.
If this is a concern but you are looking to stay in a neighbourhood balcony stateroom, then perhaps Central Park is the way to go as it is a bit quieter. The Boardwalk hosts shows at the AquaTheater and both because of this, as well as the extra foot traffic in this area, youre likely to notice more noise staying along the Boardwalk.
If the deck you are cruising on is important to you, Central Park balcony rooms are located on decks 10 through 14 while Boardwalk balcony rooms reside on decks eight through 14. The view of the neighbourhoods is the biggest difference between Central Park and Boardwalk balcony staterooms, but if your view is the most important thing to you, then it is worth noting that some Boardwalk balcony staterooms also offer partial or full views of the AquaTheater. Therefore, depending on where yours is located, you might get to take in some shows from your private balcony.
Cutting Through The Jargon
The first thing youll need to do is decipher some of the jargon surrounding cruise ship cabins. A cruise ship is, in reality, no different to a hotel room , but the cruise lines will insist on referring to them by different names.
You may think of it as nothing more than somewhere to rest your head of a night but theyll use terms like cabin, stateroom or other such things along a nautical theme.
Something that could cause confusion is the fact that all cruise ships have high-end suites available to book but if youre looking at a cabin on a luxury six-star ship theyll all be called suites .
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Recap Of Our Wonder Of The Seas Ocean View Balcony Cabin Review
Similar to our experiences on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, the Wonder of the Seas Ocean View Balcony Cabin was the perfect mix of size and value. The bed was comfortable, and the space was adequate.
Our stateroom had easy access to the stairs and elevators, with the public areas only a few decks below or above us.
The main cabin and balcony square footage were on par with most balcony staterooms on contemporary cruise lines. The décor was simplistic yet inviting. The bathroom was also a bit more upscale than some of the older ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Further, we always like having the his and her closets.
We also appreciated the number of outlets in the stateroom. These certainly come in handy for the modern day traveler with multiple devices.
Overall, this Wonder of the Seas Ocean View Balcony Cabin was an ideal accommodation for our 7-day Caribbean cruise on the lines brand new ship.
Balcony Cabins In Winter
I rarely ever get a balcony because I think that inside cabins offer much better value for money. Thats particularly true when youre on a cold weather cruise!
While it can be lovely to sit outside and admire the views, you may be less likely to do that if you need to put on your winter coat and take the duvet from the bed each time to keep warm out there!
If you plan to cruise in Europe in winter, then a balcony is rarely a good idea. Thats why so many cruise lines offer free balcony upgrades in the colder seasons!
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Where Will You Spend Your Time
Part of the decision is to determine what your plans are for the cruise and how much you plan on taking advantage of the room.
Royal Caribbean ships offer an incredible amount of activities, places to dine, and things to do onboard that you may not find much reason to stay in your stateroom, balcony or not. For some cruisers, a cabin is where you sleep, shower, and not much else.
While rock climbing walls, the casino, water slides and other activities are compelling options for some, other guests know they prefer to enjoy the weather from the comfort of their balcony. Book readers often cite having a balcony as a favorite activity.
Royal Caribbean Cabins To Avoid
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Planning to set sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Chances are you wont spend a lot of time in your stateroom these ships are packed with exciting things to see and do from the moment you wake up until well past your normal bedtime.
But you will need to sleep at some stage, especially if you have little ones with you. And while all Royal Caribbean staterooms are furnished to a very high standard, there are still some rooms that you might want to avoid.
Theyre not bad there arent really any bad rooms on Royal Caribbean ships but depending on your preferences there are some staterooms that will be better and some that will be worse for you.
Here are 13 staterooms that you might want to steer clear of when you make your booking
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Allure Of The Seas Staterooms Review Floor Plans Photos
Allure Of The Seas cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations, including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included byRoyal Caribbean en-suite amenities and services.
The Allure Of The Seas cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.
Benefits Of A Neighbourhood Balcony Stateroom
If you are looking for a space to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy some natural light without leaving the comfort of your stateroom, then having access to a private balcony will make all the difference to your cruising experience. However, sometimes upgrading to an ocean view balcony stateroom can come with a considerable price tag. Neighbourhood balcony staterooms tend to be slightly cheaper than ocean facing ones, so opting for one of these can make cruising with a balcony very reasonable.
Staying in a Central Park or Boardwalk balcony stateroom also allows you to soak up the atmosphere of each of these neighbourhoods in a whole new way. Central Park offers a green oasis with a lush garden while the Boardwalk neighbourhood, toward the aft of the ship, reflects a charming seaside promenade on the English coast, complete with a carousel, dining venues and the AquaTheater stage.
As well as an appealing price tag and the ambiance offered by these areas, guests staying in neighbourhood balcony staterooms also have access to added perks that may include a complimentary lunch for two at Giovanni’s Table and a bottle of red wine in your stateroom for Central Park guests as well as a private casino gaming lesson with an onboard guest.
Boardwalk balcony stateroom guests can enjoy a complimentary meal for four at Johnny Rockets, a complimentary Royal Refreshment Soda Package for two guests and an exclusive rock climbing wall experience for the entire family.
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Six Easy Mistakes To Avoid When Booking Your Cruise Ship Cabin
We may be slightly biased, but theres not much thats more fun than deciding on a cruise and then settling down to pick the perfect cruise ship cabin to stay in.
Choosing a grade, dissecting the deck plans, checking where the closest bar and spa is, bliss. Apparently though , some people dont really like the experience of choosing their cruise ship cabin.
Some find it a chore, some find it challenging and others just think its overly complicated. Never fear though, weve simplified things for you and made booking your cruise ship cabin a very simple decision
Well Thats A Bit Different
Whilst weve covered the basics theres still a bit more to go over, far too much to cover here in fact but well try to give you a taster.
Cruise ships arent just big floating hotels despite the stigma they are often stuck with. Whereas the rooms in hotels are laid out in the exact same size, cruise ship cabins in where theres space around the engines, the restaurants, the bars and theatre, the bridge and much more.
This means that on any given cruise ship if youre one of the people in the know , you can find some very quirky shaped or designed cabins. Sometimes the cruise lines will advertise this fact, sometimes they wont. Well try to cover a few of the more common ones here
Promenade Cabins
Believe it or not, its possible to get an inside cabin with a view! If you book a cruise on one of Royal Caribbeans larger ships , the ships will have whats known as the Royal Promenade.
This is a giant walkway in the centre of the ship three or four storeys high. On the bottom level youll find shops, restaurants, bars and the occasional parade as well as live music and other entertainment.
This is where it gets good though: on the higher levels, instead of just having blank walls , Royal Caribbean has added windows to all the cabins so you can overlook the promenade and people-watch to your hearts content.
Solo cabins
Theres a massive demand in cruising at the moment for solo cabins, but a lot of the cruise lines have been slow to catch up with this.
Family cabins
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Layout Of A Wonder Of The Seas Ocean View Balcony Cabin
At first glance, we noticed the design aesthetic of the cabin more closely resembled Quantum Class ships. Yet, it still had the familiar Royal Caribbean layout and color palette.
Immediately entering our stateroom, the bathroom was to the left. Beyond the bathroom was the bed flanked with his and her closets. Unlike Odyssey of the Seas though, there were no overbed storage compartments, which we did miss.
One closet was a full length clothes bar with hangers while the other was half clothes bar and half shelving. This closet also housed the safe.
The Royal king bed was on the left wall. There was a small night stand on each side of the bed. Both sides of the bed had a power outlet and USB outlet for easy charging access. Across from the bed was the larger than usual television as well as newly added pegs for hanging items.
Continuing past the bed and closet setup was the sitting area and desk. The seating area on the left included a somewhat larger sofa but no coffee table.
The desk, positioned on the right, had a small shelf as well as three U.S. power outlets, 2 European power outlets, and 2 USB outlets. Adjacent to the desk was a dresser that included 5 drawers for more storage and the mini-fridge.
Finally, there was the balcony. At 50 sq. ft., the size of the balcony is what we have come to expect from mega-ships. There was enough room for 2 adjustable chairs, 2 small ottomans, and a small round table.
Noisy Cabins Underneath The Pool Deck
Essentially the opposite of the point above, the other staterooms that can sometimes suffer from noise are the ones directly below the pool deck. And thats not because of late-night pool parties, but instead, its those early risers who are getting up to beat the crowds and secure themselves a lounger!
The loungers arent left in place, and so people will drag them around to get them into the perfect poolside position. And those wooden floors are, unfortunately, excellent at carrying the scraping sound directly into the rooms below.
Again, if youre also an early riser then you dont need to be worried. Its not a horrific sound, so its only an issue if its likely to wake you up. But if you do want a lie-in, its best to pick a stateroom that has another cabin directly above and below it.
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Dont Overpay For Your Royal Caribbean Cruise
Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise
2. Choose a trusted travel agent with a best price guarantee.
Please dont book with any old company just because they have a cheap deal. I suggest that you find the best price and then take it to a trusted travel agent who will beat it as well as giving you the best service.
To recap, heres a list of the Royal Caribbean cabins to avoid:
Are Balcony Cabins Worth It On A Cruise 10 Pros & 4 Cons
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One of the most important decisions youll make as you plan your cruise, is what type of cabin to book. Balcony cabins, sometimes called veranda staterooms, are a popular cruise cabin choice for good reason.
When we think of balcony cabins, we envision amazing balcony views of the ocean, islands, glaciers and more.
However, you might be wondering if a balcony cabin is worth it on a cruise, especially since the cost will be higher than ocean view and interior cabins.
In this post, I share the 10 reasons to book a balcony cabin on a cruise and why it may be the perfect choice for you. However, there are times when a balcony wont make as much sense or be worth the extra cost and well look at this too.
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See Whales And Dolphins
While theres no guarantee, its certainly possible to sit on your balcony cabin and be lucky enough to see marine life like dolphins, whales and flying fish. When the seas are calm, youll have a greater chance of seeing such a spectacular sight right from your own veranda.
Remember to bring your travel binoculars to see as much as you can!
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Studio Staterooms If You Like Space
Usually, if youre travelling on a cruise ship alone, youll need to pay a single supplement an extra fee to cover the losses that the ship is incurring by having one fewer passenger on-board that would be paying for their room, their drinks and so on.
Often that single supplement is the same price as the standard cruise fare, so single travellers pay the same price for a stateroom as a couple would.
The alternative is to book a single room, which some cruise lines offer, and with Royal Caribbean, these are called Studios. As you can probably guess, these are a lot smaller than a standard room, and sometimes only have a single twin bed. If youre used to sleeping in a double bed, this can be a little disappointing.
Studios rooms can actually be quite expensive and you may find that its actually cheaper to book a double room for single occupancy in some cases! If you do this, youll also get the Crown & Anchor loyalty points for both fares if you do, which is a nice bonus, and youll have more choice of your rooms location
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Suites On Royal Caribbean Ships
Royal Caribbean is known for having some of the cruise worlds most spectacular suites, including, on some ships, suites that sprawl over two decks.
Royal Caribbean isnt a luxury cruise line. But the top suites on its vessels offer an experience in keeping with what youll find on some of the worlds top luxury ships. Depending on the ship, these suites can come with such perks as private butlers who attend to your every need, access to a private restaurant, access to a private suite lounge and sun deck, reserved seating in entertainment venues and priority boarding and disembarkation.
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They also come with a much higher price tag than the typical Royal Caribbean cabin. These are rooms that are aimed at well-heeled travelers who, for whatever reason, prefer the sort of mass-market, megaship cruise experience that Royal Caribbean offers over the more intimate, white-glove experience youll find on the small ships that luxury lines operate.
As noted above, there is a wide range of suite categories on some Royal Caribbean ships. Among the lines most spectacular suites are the Royal Loft Suites on some of the newer Royal Caribbean vessels. Two decks high, they offer a soaring living room space framed by a glass wall that offers stunning views.
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Note that these family suites often carry an astronomical price, falling in the $20,000-a-week range.