balcony Staterooms

We love the sound of the sea at night too. Also, the quality of sea air (e.g., scent, softness) is a big reason that we leave the door open.

Every day. I have my morning coffee, and sometimes breakfast on the balcony.

Every day. I have my morning coffee, and sometimes breakfast on the balcony.

Every day, weather permitting.
My husband is not as mobile as he once was to the balcony is great extra space. He sometimes has trouble sleeping and has gone out on the balcony a few times in the middle of the night.
It was impossible to really use it on the transatlantic crossing April-May because of the cooler temps but warmer weather and we would have been out there.
On Caribbean voyages, we especially enjoy starting our day with a hot cuppa coffee and danish or a full breakfast in the cabin.

We have sort of evolved over the years in our cabin selections. Initially, on our first in 1990, we booked an inside but just before boarding they upgraded us to a "porthole", yes a real porthole, with the big screws and all. Loved it and the fact they did so left a good taste which kicked off and a wonderful Princess voyage, we have loved cruising every since.

After that we always booked an outside cabin, didn't care which deck, fore or aft, except didn't want to be low in the stern over the shaft alleys and screws. Some worry about being too far forward and able to hear the anchor chain, I always thought that rather silly, since they rarely drop the anchor and when they do it is for a tender port usually around 7 AM to 9 AM, if I haven't already been up by that time then I need to be, Haw. In Singapore, 2007, the inevitable happened, HAL offered us a deal we couldn't refuse for an upgrade to a balcony. We knew if we took it we would be spoiled and never satisfied without, we did and we are. Don't book anymore unless we get one. Also, we prefer the mini-suites over a plain balcony cabin. Reason, we like the couch, wife likes to get up in the middle of the night and read, she can pull the curtain, turn the lights on and have a room all to herself.

Problem is that on some ships they don't have the curtain anymore in their mini-suites.

I use the balcony a lot, especially love it during sail aways. Unless we are in a fairly warm climate it is tough sometimes to just lay out there, but I still use it even at that. I like to watch the flying fish, very therapeutic. Only when we are in a storm and the prevailing wind is blowing into our side of the ship do I shun the balcony and that is not very often. We have coffee and tea out there quite a bit, but we have only used it once for dinner. That was in Montevideo, Uruguay on the Star Princess about 5 years ago. We decided to stay on board that evening. It was one of the finest dinners we have ever enjoyed on a cruise. It cost us a little extra but they served all the courses, on a linen tablecloth, including pouring our the wine, which was also included.

I love to go out on the balcony anytime I'm in the room. Morning coffee, just enjoying the view and the breeze in my own space, star gazing in the evening, waiting for my lady to get ready, watching port activity... I use it a lot. Only time I book an oceanview room is to save money on more shore excursions or specialty dining Granted, it seems like you don't spend much time in your cabin, but try a balcony room... hard to do without - it will spoil you.

I tend to go for a balcony cabin on a longer cruise with lots of sea days. I have breakfast on the balcony on sea days and if we have an early excursion. I will sit on the balcony to read, lay down and sun if it is the sunny side of the ship and have a glass of wine before dinner or bed. My favorite is to leave the balcony door open a bit at night so you can hear the waves breaking on the ship to sleep.

Sometimes we book a balcony, especially if we are traveling to warmer climates. We never dine on the bacon but do read out there. Even if we don't actually use it much, we book it for the view we get.