Is a balcony worth splurging on for a cruise? Sometimes it can be an obvious choice for the convenient access to fresh air, a great view, and natural light in your cabin.
However, sometimes a balcony can cost a lot more or the itinerary isn't conducive for a balcony cabin.
A balcony cabin is incredibly popular because a lot of people see them as a good blend of space, value, and amenities. It's why you'll find more balcony cabins on newer cruise ships than older ones. Cruise lines have increased the percentage of balcony cabins on ships quite a bit over the last 15 years.
I've taken almost 100 cruises, and I've sailed around the world, so I've been on quite a few balconies. Here are the pros and cons of private balconies on a cruise.
What to expect in a balcony cabin
No matter which ship or balcony cabin you book, you can expect a stateroom with a private veranda that you can enjoy anytime day or night.
Balcony rooms are also larger than an inside cabin, which means more living space within the cabin itself and the space the balcony provides.
Royal Caribbean's inside cabins are around 149 square feet in side, whereas a balcony room starts at 180 square feet. That may not seem like a lot of extra space on paper, but experiencing it in person gives all the perspective you need.
Verandas come in many sizes, with some being just 40 square feet all the way up to hundreds of square feet in the mega suites.
All balcony cabins include at least two chairs and a table, that you can use to sit or even have room service deliver food out there. Having your morning coffee while sitting on your balcony is something I will never tire of, and something I can never replicate at home.
I'd recommend everyone try this at least once, because eating on your balcony is another fantastic reason to book a balcony.
Some of the larger balconies (especially those on suites), may include loungers instead of chairs.
Balcony cabins offer a lot to love
When you think of a cruise vacation, you probably have the ocean air in mind, and a balcony cabin gives you ample access to it.
It's quite refreshing to be able to open up you balcony any time of day and get the breeze immediately. The connection to the ocean is such a critical component for many on why they enjoy to cruise.
Even when the weather may be a bit chilly, having access to the fresh ocean air is refreshing.
In addition, enjoying your ship departing and arriving from your balcony is definitely more enjoyable. Since you have a private balcony to enjoy, you don't have to contend with anyone else to get a spot.
Taking a seat in a chair and watching the world go by is a big reason why I enjoy being in a balcony cabin.
Why cruisers book a balcony
When asked if it's worth the extra cost to have a balcony, veteran cruisers talk about the reasons to give one a try.
In an online discussion, journmajor wrote, "Balconies are heaven after a hot day, a cool shower, with a glass of wine and a book before late dinner time. My favorite time of the day."
Julios_on_50th wrote, "I have been on 10 cruises. Always get a balcony. My husband and I use it throughout the day. Early morning coffee, reading in the afternoon, late night cocktail. The balcony is so relaxing."
tipsy_python shared their thoughts on how much more to spend on a balcony, "My opinion on value: $1-$250 more is no brainer, you have to do balcony $251-$500 tempting, probably should $500+ experiencing diminishing returns, gotta consider the alternatives."
Reasons to not book a balcony
If you're wondering what the rationale is to skip a balcony, there are a few good counterarguments.
A balcony stateroom can sometimes cost a lot more than an inside room. That's money you could spend on another cruise or even just a shore excursion. Every dollar adds up.
The amount of people in your cabin could be a factor. Most balconies only have two chairs, so if you have a family of three or four people, you cannot sit outside together.
Something else to think about is the wind effect, especially when the balcony door is open and someone opens the stateroom door to the hallway. This creates a wind tunnel, and it can tussle all of your belongings.
Lastly, there's the reality of how much time will you actually spend on your balcony? Royal Caribbean ships are designed to have so much going on, and what ends up happening is cruisers spend more time out of their cabin than they originally anticipated.
Is it worth getting a balcony on a cruise?
Spending more to book a balcony can definitely make sense, but there are important factors to consider.
On shorter sailings, where the amount of overall time you have on the cruise limited, you may find a balcony unnecessary since there is not much time to enjoy it.
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.
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.
Ultimately, a balcony cabin will almost certainly cost more than an oceanview or windowless "inside" cabin, but I think the cost is justified in so many cases.
New cruisers may see a balcony room as a good investment and opportunity to try cruising in an ideal environment.
Someone who been on multiple cruises and wants to book more cruises may look at this conundrum as an opportunity to save money for a future cruise and book an interior stateroom. Plus, they have already experienced a balcony cabin in the past.
Having access to a balcony and the associated benefits it brings makes the decision to splurge on a balcony worth it.
