Everything to Know about Balcony Cabins on a Cruise Read Before Booking

Table Of Content

• You’ll Likely Use the Balcony Less Than You Think (But It’s Still Wonderful to Have)
• Independence of the Seas
• reasons you’ll want to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise
• $699 pp — 4-Nt. Bahamas on New Utopia of the Seas w/Exclusive $50-$3,000 bonus, reduced rate, 60% off 2nd guest & more
• Cruise Ship Balcony Cabins – Are They Worth it?
• What to think about if a balcony cabin cost is worth it

Make sure to ask in advance, as cruise lines have different policies, but this is a great idea for group cruises if you do want to spend a lot of time together. Moreover, Celebrity’s Family Veranda Staterooms can sleep five on Solstice Class ships and feature a separate inside kids’ room with bunk beds plus a pullout sofa in the living area. Royal Caribbean has similar cabins that are usually dubbed "Ultra Spacious Balconies." New cruisers may see a balcony room as a good investment and opportunity to try cruising in an ideal environment.

You’ll Likely Use the Balcony Less Than You Think (But It’s Still Wonderful to Have)

Not a big deal, but most cruise fans will advocate choosing a stateroom midship, and that's where you'll find lots of balcony rooms. Besides what you can see from your balcony, I really enjoy having the outdoor space as simply a place outside to be. While I enjoy a fun pool deck celebration on the first day of a cruise when the ship sails away, enjoying your ship departing and arriving from your balcony is definitely more enjoyable. It's quite refreshing to be able to open up you balcony any time of day and get the breeze immediately.

Independence of the Seas

Having a balcony on certain itineraries really makes a difference, such as Alaska or Europe. 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. It is worth talking about a subset of the balcony rooms, known as obstructed balcony rooms. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. These include several nights stay in a hotel or a land tour before or after your cruise. Depending on how long your cruise is, the decision to get a balcony may be more important.

reasons you’ll want to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise

Cruise ship cabins are traditionally smaller than hotel rooms, so every square foot counts. If you are wondering if booking a balcony room is worth the extra money compared to an inside room, here are a few good reasons to move up to a balcony. For travelers with cash to spare, suites bring the luxury hotel treatment to sea, including perks like dedicated stewards or access to exclusive lounges, and large balconies and terraces.

As of now, most balcony cabins are a traditional style where you have the cabin, and then a door that leads out to the outdoor balcony. I can attest personally to the fact that it isn't a great situation to be stuck in a room that doesn't have a balcony for days. In late 2020, I was isolated in a cabin without a balcony for four days during a COVID-19-related ship quarantine, even though I wasn't sick. I would have paid just about anything during those days for even the smallest bit of outdoor space. But to us, it’s hard to beat the feeling of actually being outside that comes with a traditional balcony cabin. Being inside next to an open window has a much different feeling than stepping out into the fresh air.

Complete Guide to Using Your Phone on a Cruise (Carnival, Royal Caribbean & More)

Here's a list of the 8 best balcony cabins on cruise ships that you will want to book for your next vacation. Notably, newer Celebrity cruise ships like Ascent, Edge, and Beyond have a large number of infinite balcony cabins. If you’re worried about getting seasick on a cruise, one of the best things you can do is have a balcony cabin ideally in a mid-ship location. When you feel seasick on a cruise, one of the worst things to do is to go back to a small cabin and sit indoors.

$699 pp — 4-Nt. Bahamas on New Utopia of the Seas w/Exclusive $50-$3,000 bonus, reduced rate, 60% off 2nd guest & more

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. However, if your cruise is 7-nights or longer, that provides significantly more time to relax and enjoy the private balcony area, especially on sea days. Even when the weather may be a bit chilly, having access to the fresh ocean air is refreshing.

To find these balcony rooms, look at the deck plans, and you will see where these special balcony cabins are located. If you are unsure, you can always research message boards and ask other cruisers to confirm that the specific cabin you are looking at is, in fact, a hump balcony. Aft balcony cabins provide you with more space and better views than standard balconies.

All you have to do is take a look at a ship in port and see how few people are actually out on the balcony. It seems what’s more common is to sit occasionally and other times simply popping out for a few minutes to take in the view before heading off to do something else. So if a 7-day cruise for an interior cabin is $500 per person, expect a balcony to be between $750 and $1,000.

This impressive stateroom offers the added indulgence of a balcony and gives you more space than a standard stateroom. Enjoy your own private outdoor space with a table, two chairs, and a relaxing view of the inspiring scenery surrounding you, whether a beautiful sunset over the ocean or a new city to explore. It’s also perfect to enjoy cocktails before dinner or a leisurely breakfast.

'Drunk' cruise ship passenger jumps off balcony on a Royal Caribbean cruise in front of his family - Royal Caribbean Blog

'Drunk' cruise ship passenger jumps off balcony on a Royal Caribbean cruise in front of his family.

Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

When you need a Zen-like retreat at sea, a spa balcony cabin is the way to go. While these balconies tend to be the same size as standard balconies, it’s the interior portion of the cabin that rates them among the best. With an infinite veranda, there is no permanent wall between the cabin and the balcony.

Of course the biggest perk of a balcony cabin is having the outdoor space; that’s no argument. But one thing you might not realize is another perk — balcony cabins are normally larger than non-balcony rooms. This is because the doors leading to balconies in balcony cabins usually are made almost entirely of glass running from floor to ceiling. Ocean-view cabins without balconies, by contrast, often have just a single window. If you have a balcony cabin, you're always guaranteed an outdoor space where you can lounge for a few hours in complete privacy.

There’s enough space for a couple of chairs and a small table between, but that’s about it. Instead, you should just anticipate the price difference between a basic bare-bones interior cabin and a balcony room. In our estimation, it seems to run between 50%-100% more for a balcony cabin. Some upscale lines will arrange an elegant, private dinner for two on your balcony — think white tablecloths, multiple courses, the works — at no extra charge. Among mass-market lines, Princess Cruises offers an Ultimate Balcony Dining experience at an extra charge that brings a four-course meal, Champagne and cocktails or a glass of wine.

For example, at the time of this story's publishing, fares for balcony cabins on some fall 2024 cruises out of Galveston, Texas, were just 7% more than fares for ocean-view cabins. (Specifically, that was the differential on seven-night sailings in October 2024 on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas). 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. Many cruisers find wake views relaxing, even though you are technically facing backward and looking out at where you have just been. If you love to stand at the railing at the back of the ship and gaze out at that wake, an aft balcony cabin is the best choice for you.

If you’ll be off then ship or plan to participate in the many activities on the cruise ship, this may be a time to stick with a cheaper cabin. On many cruise ships, the crew will be able to open up the balcony dividers for you so you can enjoy a larger space for several 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 won’t make as much sense or be worth the extra cost and we’ll look at this too. If you’re traveling with the kids, the best balcony cabin for you is one designed with families in mind.