Are you ready to plan a cruise vacation? Are you wondering whether to choose a balcony stateroom, and whether it’s right for you? Is it worth the cost? Choosing a cruise cabin is indeed all about personal preference…and of course, your budget.
While there is a large contingent of cruisers who nearly refuse to cruise without an ocean view balcony (um…my husband), others will tell you they actually prefer an interior room. The fact that, given the same budget, they can cruise twice as much is pretty compelling to me.
But I do love an ocean view balcony.
In this post, I’ll share with you my top reasons to choose a balcony stateroom. Be sure to let me know if you agree or if you have a reason of your own in the comment section below. For all of you, worriers out there (like me), I’ll even cover some of the “What if something bad happens on my cruise” reasons to choose a balcony stateroom. Don’t worry; I’ve got your back.
Related Post: How to Choose a Cruise Ship Cabin
Daylight – while it seems like an obvious thing, natural light has a significant impact on most of us. It helps to regulate our body clocks and prepare us to wake and sleep.
More room! Whether it’s just perception or reality, a balcony stateroom will feel larger than an interior cabin. The floor-to-ceiling natural light helps open the space, creating the appearance of a larger space.
Many times, a balcony room is, by square footage, a little larger than an interior stateroom, but that’s not always the case. However, even if the square footage is the same, the balcony room will feel more substantial.
Check the weather! Yes, of course, you can pop on the TV and check the outside temperature. Having a private balcony lets you step right out and feel the temperature for yourself.
More reasons to choose a balcony stateroom
Fresh air – Take advantage of your balcony space and sit in the fresh air while you sip your morning coffee or evening glass of wine. While in port, you can use your towel clips or clothespins to attach your swimwear to the chair, so it dries twice as fast as hanging in the shower.
You may be wondering about seasickness by this point in my list, so I’ll sneak it in here. While some cruisers insist that an inside stateroom is better for seasickness because these rooms are…well…in the interior of the ship and you won’t see the waves. However, I will advise you that fresh air can do wonders for feelings of seasickness.
Private outdoor space – cruise ship decks can get pretty crowded, especially on sea days. It’s great to have a private area where you can breathe in the ocean air and relax. We use our balcony most often for morning coffee and a late evening glass of wine. To us, it’s worth the money!
Ocean! You’ve chosen a cruise vacation, so I’m assuming that you are an ocean fan. A balcony stateroom is a great way to stay connected to the sea. Many mega-ships have built attractions to be inward-facing. While areas such as Central Park on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class of ships is lovely, some say these mega-ships reduce the connection to the ocean.
The smaller/older ships have fewer balcony staterooms, but they have fantastic floor to ceiling windows in the dining room. Some have these grand windows on every level of the ship, such as on Empress of the Seas.
Worrier’s Guide: Why You Should Choose a Balcony Stateroom
So, we’ve all seen those reports on the news every few years. Cruise ship loses power, thousands stranded at sea. For the non-cruiser, this can seem like a regular occurrence. Why would anyone ever cruise? Well, as most frequent cruisers know that while minor things can pop up like changes to itinerary due to weather or changes due to mechanical issues. The dramatic events that hit the news are EXTREMELY uncommon.
But, since I’m a professional worrier, I’m going to tell you why a worrier can feel good about choosing a balcony!
In the event of power loss (no lights, no A/C, etc.) or….a plumbing issue….or mass chaos breaks out on the pool deck, and you’re running for cover 😉 Here is why a balcony can save the “very bad” day. Imagine how those poor people on Diamond Princess felt who were quarantined in an INSIDE CABIN.
In the unlikely event of a significant issue, you and your family can retreat to your balcony stateroom. There you will have access to daylight. This will be helpful in loss of power situations as an interior cabin would be complete darkness. Power loss would also mean no A/C, and you’ll have access to ocean breezes while still in the privacy of your cabin. Oh, and if there’s a plumbing issue, that fresh air will also come in handy. 😉
And, if mutiny breaks out on the pool deck and cruisers are fighting for the last bit of ice cream before it melts, you can sit peacefully in your stateroom munching on the snacks that you brought from home…because you’re a worrier…like me. 😉
There you have it! My top reasons to choose a balcony stateroom when planning your cruise! Did I mention YOUR top reason?
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