I booked a cruise to one of the world’s most jaw-dropping destinations, but my balcony’s view was blocked by a bright orange lifeboat.
Would you ever book an obstructed view cabin on a cruise? These cabins, while identical to others on the inside, have a partially blocked view of the outdoors. Most commonly, the obstruction is caused by a lifeboat or other structural element on the ship.
Obstructed staterooms are frequently noted as “cabins to avoid” by cruise experts, and the partial view can be an unwelcome sight on a special vacation, especially if you didn’t expect it.
Having been on nearly thirty cruises, I always tried to avoid obstructed cabins. Yet on a recent 7-night cruise to Norway aboard Celebrity Silhouette, it was the only balcony option within my budget.
I figured any view was better than no view at all, so I gave it a shot as I sailed through Norway’s majestic fjords.
This is what it was really like to cruise in an obstructed balcony cabin, and whether or not I would do it again.
Originally I booked an interior cabin for my Norwegian fjords cruise. Five months before the sailing, I regretted my decision
As someone who cruises on a budget, I typically book interior cabins. While there’s nothing fancy about a closet-sized cabin without a window, the savings of the cheapest option are hard to beat.
When I originally booked my Celebrity Silhouette cruise to Norway, I booked an interior cabin for $1,830. The price included the cruise fare for two adults along with taxes, port fees, and gratuities.
Related: Inside cabin vs. balcony cabin on a cruise ship
While booking the cruise, I really wanted to book a balcony room, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t in the budget. I knew my cruise to Norway would incur additional expenses compared to a cruise departing from North America.
My airfare would be more expensive and, given the distance from home, I also wanted to budget for a few extra days in the Netherlands—the embarkation country—after the cruise ended. Additionally, Norway is one of the world’s most expensive destinations, so I needed to make sure I could budget for shore excursions, souvenirs, and food in port, too.
In the months leading up to my sailing, though, I started to regret my decision to be as cheap as possible. Cruises to Norway offer spectacular views not only in port, but also when sailing from place to place through the fjords.
I didn’t want to miss out on any of the beauty while in my windowless cabin, but I knew I wouldn’t want to spend the whole cruise on outdoor public decks, either.
Unfortunately, no regular balconies were available—my only economical choice was the obstructed option
I toyed with the idea of upgrading to a balcony for a few days, and I emailed my travel agent for options. Yet with just five months left before my sail date, she informed me that there were no more standard balcony cabins available.
Instead, I had two options.
The first was the obstructed cabin, which Celebrity calls a Partial View Veranda. For the week, this cabin would cost $2,686, or $856 extra compared to my interior cabin. It came with all the same amenities and perks as the cabin I already booked, aside from the addition of a balcony.
The second, and more expensive option, was a non-obstructed balcony cabin in Celebrity’s Aqua Class. At $3,723 for the week—$1,893 more than the interior room—the cabin included perks like meals at an exclusive restaurant, Blu, and complimentary access to the thermal suite.
Related: Celebrity Cruises guide: Ships, itineraries, tips & more
Still budget-conscious, the decision was a no-brainer for me. Paying $856 extra for an obstructed balcony didn’t seem outrageous. I figured that any view was worth it when cruising around somewhere as wonderful as Norway.
On embarkation day, I was worried the view would be completely blocked by a lifeboat
Obstructed view cabins vary greatly from cruise line to cruise line, and even from ship to ship within a particular line.
Sometimes there’s no telling how badly your view will be obstructed. Deck plans only tell you so much, and unless you’re lucky enough to find a video tour of your specific cabin online, you might be walking into the room blindly.
As I boarded Celebrity Silhouette in Rotterdam, I felt nervous. Would the $856 I spent on the Partial View Veranda be worth it, or would the view be completely ruined by an obstruction?
Fortunately, the view was less obstructed than I thought it would be
As I walked into cabin 6186 for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I could see from my obstructed view balcony.
As I expected, a lifeboat was in front of my balcony, but the balcony was a few feet higher than the lifeboat. Because of this, there were no major obstructions when standing on the balcony and looking toward the horizon.
Related: 8 reasons a balcony cabin is worth it to book on a cruise
Sitting on the balcony’s loungers, however, gave a more obstructed view—the lifeboats were directly in line with my eyesight. Additionally, looking straight down was not possible due to the lifeboat.
I did notice that the heights of the lifeboats differed from each other, and mine was slightly higher than the lifeboat next door.
Nevertheless, I was happy the view was only partially obstructed. Sure, that giant lifeboat would always be in view, but given its height, I felt confident it would never be completely in the way of Norway’s scenery.
Inside, I found the cabin cozy and spacious
Aside from the balcony, my cabin’s overall condition was excellent. The room had a good amount of walking space, but I wished there were more storage options and additional outlets to charge my electronics.
When I cruise in interior cabins, I try to spend as little time as possible in my room. There’s really no reason to hang out in a dark, windowless stateroom, so I'm usually in the cabin only to shower, sleep, and change.
Yet when I cruise in balcony cabins, I spend a lot of time in the room. I love having a private outdoor space to call my own, so much so that I have to force myself to leave the cabin to try other activities onboard.
Because of this, I was happy to see that my cabin on Celebrity Silhouette was relatively modern and well-kept. The light furnishings kept the room bright, and I loved having a sofa next to the balcony door so I could enjoy the views from the warmth of my room.
The bathroom was roomier than most cruise bathrooms I've stayed in, and because Celebrity is a premium cruise line, it came stocked with body wash, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.
Related: 7 bathroom hacks to use in your cruise ship cabin
I had minimal complaints with my cabin overall, but I wish the room had more storage space and better outlet locations.
Storage was limited, with only four drawers near the desk and two shelves above the bed (which I found hard to reach). There were no shelves in the closet, so it only worked for hanging clothing, making the space less functional. As far as outlets, the only ones in the cabin were near the desk, which was not convenient for charging my phone at night.
Despite the few faults, I was still happy with my choice to book an obstructed view cabin as we set sail toward Norway.
Having a balcony enhanced my Norwegian fjords experience, but the obstruction wasn’t totally ideal
As Celebrity Silhouette approached Norway, it was officially time to put my obstructed balcony cabin to the test. While I did not mind the slight obstruction on our first sea day, I was curious whether the lifeboat would seem more cumbersome while sailing through the Norwegian fjords.
After four port days in Norway, I came to the conclusion that the upgrade to a balcony was still worth it even if it came with a few downsides.
I won’t lie—if I sat on the chairs on my balcony, the view was more obstructed than I would have preferred. At eye level, most of my view was blocked by not only the lifeboat, but also the balcony railing.
Most of the time, therefore, I preferred standing near the railing to watch the scenery.
When doing so, I didn’t feel as if the lifeboat made my view any “worse” than what I could have seen with a regular balcony.
I also appreciated the natural light the balcony brought into the room, and watching the scenery from my bed was incredibly relaxing.
That being said, I still headed to the ship’s upper decks from time to time for a more complete view. Even though I had my own private balcony, there’s no denying that the outdoor decks provided a more panoramic view of the Norwegian fjords.
Whereas my balcony had views on one side of the ship, I could see scenery on both sides of the ship from Celebrity Silhouette’s upper decks. I could also take better landscape pictures from these decks, as the lifeboats were always in the way when I took photos from my balcony.
I wouldn’t hesitate to book an obstructed cabin again, but I’d pick a regular balcony first
All in all, the cabin was far less obstructed than I initially thought. While not everything was perfect about my Partial View Veranda, it was still a worthy investment. At $856 extra, upgrading from an interior room to the obstructed balcony wasn’t a budget-breaker, and it certainly enhanced my cruise overall.
If I had to pick between an obstructed balcony and a regular balcony, I would, without a doubt, choose a regular balcony. When checking prices on Celebrity’s website, I noticed that the price difference between the two cabin categories is often negligible. Sometimes, it’s even the same price!
I could see choosing the obstructed view if it were several hundred dollars cheaper, or if it was the only balcony option available. If a regular balcony was available for the same price, there would be no reason to book an obstructed view.
In my scenario, I didn’t have an option due to the fact that I decided to upgrade just a few months before my sail date. Even still, I do not have any regrets about booking the obstructed balcony cabin, and I would book it again if it were the only option.
Norway was even more stunning than I could have ever imagined, and I relished every opportunity I could to view the country’s extravagant landscapes—lifeboat in the way or not.
