Are Balcony Cabins Worth The Extra Cost?
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Cruises Editor
Cruise Ships
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A cruise is all about life on the high seas, so what could be better than being able to see the ocean at any time of the day or night?
Wake up, pull back the curtains and step out onto your own balcony. Voila! And how romantic to return to your stateroom after a great night onboard, walk out onto your terrace and stare into the inky blackness, nightcap in hand.
Not too long ago a balcony (or verandah, as some ships like to call them) was considered a real indulgence; only a few lucky passengers had one.
These days the price of balcony cabins has definitely come down as ships get bigger and bigger. Cruise lines are now adding a greater percentage of balcony accommodation when designing their ships.
With so many balcony cabins to sell, there are often many good deals about, and once you’ve experienced a balcony and felt the salty wind in your hair, it’s hard to go back.
One of the great joys of having a balcony is enjoying room service breakfast alfresco; it’s better than the best seat at a seaside café. There’s no need to queue up in the buffet, no need to save a seat on the ship’s lido deck and hope no-one grabs it while you get another cup of coffee, and no need to dress up for the formal dining room. And since most ships don’t charge extra for a room service breakfast, this indulgence can be absolutely free.
Another great time to enjoy a private balcony is when pulling in and out of port. It’s a joy to sail away and toast day one of your holiday at sea, and many ships provide a welcome bottle of bubbly for just this reason (plus, many lines will let you bring one bottle of wine or champagne aboard to consume in your cabin).
Veteran cruisers love getting up early to watch their ship pull into the dock, whether at a Pacific island or a big city port. Watching this spectacle from your own balcony means you always have a spot by the railing.
Couples and friends travelling together often gather on one of the group’s balconies for a tipple before going to dinner. “Drinks on my balcony tonight?” is certainly a difficult invitation to refuse.
As to the price, a quick look at two 14-night cruises to New Zealand next summer on two popular cruise lines reveal that the difference in price for a balcony cabin (over an ocean-view cabin with a picture window and no balcony) was a mere $450 on one, and $540 on the other – or just 20 per cent more.
It’s well worth the money.
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