Can you go on the deck when on a cruise?

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phantom_of_valkyrie

I don't think it's worth it. We did a balcony and we both said we wouldn't do it again. The doors between the balconies were constantly swinging open so I was always concerned about people walking on our balcony and looking in. It never happened but it always worried me.

Plus balconies have some problems. First, some of them have the view blocked by the lifeboats. Some are so close to the deck that people on the deck can look in. Being on the upper decks, you are closer to all the noise--the casino, the pool, the disco. So great if you plan on being there a lot, bad if you like peace and quiet at night.

Personally I do really like ocean view. I think thats worth the extra. I get to see the island and look out over the ocean at night. But yes for the most part, you are never in your room. I woke up, got my bathing suit on and went to get breakfast. Then I was up on Lido deck laying out. Then I went to activities. I went back to change for dinner and didn't go back until we wanted to collapse.

I've had all 3 rooms--inner, view, and balcony. I felt the added cost of a balcony might be worth it on a transition cruise or a longer like 14 day cruise. But normally--if you are active and you plan to see all the ship has to offer--it's not worth the money.

dancer_bean

Depends on your preference. I personally like balcony rooms b/c you have a great view when arriving/leaving the islands. Of course you can see everything on the upper decks but, if you have a balcony you don't have to fight to find a good spot. The only thing that I really hate about the inside cabins is that there is no natural light. If this is your 1st cruise I'd say stick w/ the cheaper room b/c you are really only in there to shower, dress & sleep, then on your next cruise upgrade to a balcony. Keep in mind that cabins are VERY small & the lower the status of the room (ie inside cabin vs. Balcony suite) the less space you'll have.

Time travler

You will have a choice of about 12 or more decks you can hang out on. If I had an inside room, I would be outside as much as possible. To me a balcony is worth the price, but I'm a senior citizen who likes to wake up looking out the window. Some of the decks have pools and hot tubs, some have food, and some have exercises area's and gyms. It's pretty easy to get lost on these big ships, so the first day or two, you can carry around a mini map of the ship in your pocket. Every cabin gets one of these maps. Have fun.

Yanni

We usually get the inside cabins because they are cheap......You only use them to sleep and get ready. Most of the time you are out and about doing something else on the boat or out at land when you port. I wouldn't recommend a balcony because you are going to pay for something that you are hardly going to use unless you plan to spend most of your time in your room.

rick d

Everyone has a view on inside or balcony. Here is my 2 cents. I do not sit on a plane to board a ship to plan on sitting in my cabin. I have actually had people ask me if I had a cabin because I am on deck most of the time. The View better on deck, more ships with balcony cabins sure they charge more for them. If I just wanted to relax and see water, islands etc. I would just sit on the deck right here.

Warbird

Well when you go on a cruise most of the time you are out of your room on deck, eating or doing some sort of activity. Usually you go to your room just to get something or sleep. But a room without a window can be a little awkward.

Ayelle

I have had ocean view rooms, rooms with a floor to ceiling window, and balcony rooms. My favorite was the floor to ceiling window up on the spa deck. They don't have those on every ship, though. I didn't think having a balcony was all that great. It had less view than the floor to ceiling window because of the doors. I have never had an interior room before, but I don't think it would be that bad. The only thing that would bother me is the natural light thing, but if you weren't going to be there during the day then it wouldn't matter. Try this as a test: think of a room in your house with no windows (it will probably have to be a bathroom or laundry room, maybe even a walk in closet or something). Go in there & think, would I be okay with living in only this type of lighting for a week? If you're okay with it, then do it. If you can though, go for just the ocean view room without the balcony. We only used the balcony to sometimes eat breakfast on. It was on the wrong side to wave goodbye during departure, so we had to go to the lido deck anyways. If you are on the right side though, it is nice to be able to go out and check out the port you have just arrived at. (Sometimes we were on the right side, sometimes the wrong side, just depends on the port location) It's like right there! You can see everything!

myraxellenxamos

I used to stay in the inside staterooms until I had a balcony one year. I could NEVER go back to staying in an inside stateroom. I definitely think a balcony is worth it. You can relax without people walking all around you. You can sit on the balcony with your jammies on and eat breakfast. It is great. I highly recommend it.

P.S. this is on the Royal Caribbean ships. I have never had a problem with people coming through doors or anything blocking the view.

Kev G

yes you can stay on deck but a balcony is worth it you can see if its raining or if its Sunny

Barrel Bottom

Honestly, I only go with a balcony suite.

Even when you arent on the balcony, being able to look outside from your bed is worth it. And having your morning coffee from the balcony and watching the scenery is memorable.

Also on some lines you have amenities that are offered with balcony suites that are not offered with inside cabins. Free room service for one.

I do not know what your finances are, but in my experience having an outside suite with balcony is the only way to go.

Also I do not know of one single person that has actually been in a balcony suite and regretted not saving the money and taking an inside cabin.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

In answer to your first question about going on deck:

There are many places where you can spend time on ship when you do not want to be in your cabin. In addition to the pool deck with the pools and hot tubs, there is the gymnasium if you want to work out, the bars and lounges if you want to sit and have a drink or listen to music, the library and game rooms if you want a quiet environment to read or play table games; and most ships have a lounge that has a lot of glass and comfortable chairs where you can sit and relax or sleep. In addition, you can just sit in the buffet area, or the atrium or centrium that is a common area. Then there are normally deck chairs on the promenade deck and on the top deck where you can sit and/or sleep during the days and evenings.

Is the Balcony worth it?

I started cruising about 20 years ago when just about every cruise ship had no balconies except for some suites. So I have had inside cabins and cabins with portholes and cabins with a nice picture window. Believe me the balcony cabin is THE best and worth the money to help you enjoy your cruise. I will not even go on a cruise ship that does not offer balcony cabins. And, consider this, in the past 7 to 9 years the cruise industry has recognized the importance of balcony cabins by now making their new ships with MOSTLY balcony cabins.

The difference between an inside, outside or balcony is kinda like sitting in a room with no windows, or looking out the window versus sitting on the porch or deck seeing and feeling more of the same thing.

Those people who say the inside and outside cabins are all that you will need or want have not experienced the benefit of waking at 3:00 AM and stepping out on the balcony to feel the warm sea breeze in the Caribbean and hear the ocean, and see the stars, and sit for a while before returning to bed. They have not experienced ordering breakfast room service and sitting on the balcony for breakfast (half dressed too). They have not experienced the feeling of having a much larger room when you open the curtain and have a floor to ceiling sliding door. They have not found the benefit of having your own private space to go to after you tire of people being around chatting about what they did yesterday.

The bottom line for me, and I heard the people on the travel channel say this too, if you have a balcony cabin you will use it and enjoy it more than you will an inside or outside cabin. There is no way that sitting in a room with no window or one with a porthole or small window is the same as having a balcony.

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