BEST Balcony Room Cruise Deals (2024) - Cruise Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is the best balcony room on a cruise ship? ›

If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end. Aft balcony accommodations at the ship's corners are also the largest and often give more outside area than conventional balcony cabins, allowing you to enjoy both the beautiful views and the extra space.

Even on smaller, more luxurious ships that don't feel crowded, a balcony is desirable; if the weather is such that you can spend a lot of time on your balcony, it's like having an additional room.

Eastbound cruises get the most sun on the port side; westbound on the starboard side. Watching a sunset over the ocean or seeing the sun slip behind distant islands can also be a reason for a side preference. To catch sunsets, you'll want to be on the port side on northbound cruises and starboard on southbound cruises.

Princess Cruises two latest ships have the largest balconies ever offered by a cruise line. The two 'Sky Suites' are centrally located on the top decks of Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess. One measures 1,012 square feet and the other 947 square feet, both around the size of half a tennis court.

The most stable part of the ship is its lowest point of gravity, so on a lower deck, at the center. You'd feel a lot less motion here than, say, in a stateroom on the upper decks a long way forward or aft (towards the back of the ship).

To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.

A question we often hear from cruise enthusiasts is, “Can I sleep on the balcony of a cruise ship?” While the idea is enchanting, and on most cruise ships, there are no rules against getting your shut-eye here, many discourage it.

Midship cabins

The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

Depending on the cruise line and type of room, you should expect a daily charge of $16 to $23 for gratuities. There are a couple of good reasons why you might want to prepay, including getting to spend less during your trip and locking in the current rate.

Ocean-level cabins

If you're prone to seasickness, the center of the ship, also called the midship, is the place to be. It's the closest you can get to water level, where you'll feel the least amount of rocking.

What is guaranteed balcony on cruise? ›

So if you booked a guaranteed balcony cabin you'll save yourself some money off the standard balcony price but could end up with any balcony cabin on the ship; at the front, aft (rear of a ship) or in the middle. It's the grade of cabin you're guaranteed, not the cabin itself.

In particular, aft cabins located on the corners of the ship often have wraparound balconies, creating enough space for chairs, loungers and sometimes a small dining table. Larger balcony cabins are also found on the so-called hump of cruise ships (the hump of a ship is the midship curved portion).

Both standard inside and balcony categories are designed for double occupancy, but some rooms in either category can sleep up to four. The cabins will have two twin beds that can convert into one queen-size bed, a small desk or vanity with a mirror and chair, and a private bathroom.

You have to expect that there is a balcony higher than yours that can see into yours. The ships bridge have extensions that stick out over the water. They may be able to see into your balcony. If you are in port, people from a ship nearby or the shore may be able to see into your balcony and cabin.

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks. Like to be near all the action? Most mega-ships place their lido (pool) areas on higher decks.

Midship cabins

The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

Deck 7 on a cruise ship is often considered one of the best decks to be on. It provides a perfect balance between being close to the amenities and having a peaceful environment.

Fans of aft balcony cabins love the expansive, uninterrupted ocean views over the ship's wake. You're also likely to score significantly more space in your cruise's aft cabins than standard balcony cabins along the port and starboard sides of the ship.