Is it worth paying extra for a balcony cabin?
As someone who has been writing about cruising for over twenty years, I hear this question often, and I know where I stand: Absolutely.
Balcony cabins on ships are almost always more expensive than window-only cabins – known in industry jargon as “ocean view” cabins. But usually, it’s not an outrageous amount.
For example, at the time this article was published, balcony cabin fares were nearly the same as ocean view cabin fares on select 2027 cruises departing from Galveston, Texas. (Specifically, there is no spread on seven-night cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Caribbean in September 2027; seven-night sailings on MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape and Carnival Breeze out of Galveston in the same month have higher spreads of 16% and 19%, respectively.)
In turn, ocean view cabins on these three ships operate 16% to 29% faster than windowless cabins (the third main cabin on board).
Of course, these differences are not trivial. For many vacationers on a tight budget, even a small increase in room prices can be a deal breaker.
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Additionally, some people with extra money to spend would rather splurge on shore excursions or other extra-charge items, such as onboard spa treatments, than spend it on pricier cabins. This makes perfect sense to me. What’s most important to one person during the holidays may not be the same as what’s most important to another person.
That said, here are six things you get from a balcony cabin that I think are worth the extra cost if you have the spare cash.
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fresh air
For me, this was the main reason to buy a balcony cabin. At any time of the day (or night) you can slide open the balcony doors and breathe in the fresh ocean air. You can also hear the sound of the waves hitting the bow of the boat. It’s a very soothing, rhythmic sound – so soothing that it can put you to sleep.
Even on a cold weather cruise, there’s nothing better than stepping out onto the balcony for a few minutes or more and soaking in the salty breeze. It’s exhilarating.
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If you find yourself confined to your cabin due to illness, the fresh air from your balcony can also be a lifesaver, at least for your sanity. This can happen if you contract a virus such as norovirus or COVID-19 on board the ship. As was often the case on cruise ships during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people who were quarantined in cabins without balconies for days were unhappy with the lack of fresh air.
I can personally attest that being stuck in a room without a balcony for days on end is not a good situation. In late 2020, during a COVID-19-related ship quarantine, I was quarantined in a cabin without a balcony for four days, even though I didn’t get sick. In those days I would pay anything for even the smallest amount of outdoor space.
ultimate privacy
Cruise ships can be crowded places. Even on luxury cruises, where there’s typically more space per passenger than on mass-market cruises, you’ll likely be sharing the pool deck with dozens or even hundreds of people. On some of the biggest cruise ships, like Royal Caribbean’s giant new Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, you’ll compete with thousands of other people for a deck chair. It’s not private, and it’s usually not quiet. Cruise ship pool decks can be noisy.
If you have a balcony cabana, you always have access to an outdoor space where you can relax for a few hours in complete privacy. Generally, this will be a quiet outdoor space. While you can sometimes hear sounds from other nearby passengers on their balconies, for the most part it’s a much quieter experience than being on the top deck.
best view
Balcony cabanas offer more than just outdoor space. They also often give you a great view of the outdoors from inside the cabin.
This is because balcony cabin doors leading to the balcony are often made almost entirely of floor-to-ceiling glass. Typically, balcony cabins have both floor-to-ceiling glass doors to the outdoors and floor-to-ceiling windows, effectively creating an exterior-facing wall made entirely of glass. In contrast, ocean view cabins without a balcony usually have only one window. Some only have portholes.
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The result is that you can usually get a better view of the outdoors from inside a balcony cabin than from inside an ocean view cabin.
Opportunities to encounter wildlife
Speaking of views, you’ll get a better view of passing wildlife from a balcony cabin than from an ocean view cabin. If you stand on the edge of the balcony railing, you can turn your head left and right and enjoy a 180-degree view of the flowing water. That’s two to three times the field of view you’d get by staring out of your cabin window.
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I find balcony cabins especially wonderful in wildlife-filled destinations like Alaska, where boats sometimes pass spectacular creatures like whales in the water or bears on the shoreline. Usually, the captain will spot such animals first and then publicly notify passengers to go to the ship’s side to check. If you’re in the balcony cabin (on the right side of the ship), you’ll soon be looking down on these views.
Opportunity for a romantic dinner
Nothing says romance like a private dinner for two under the stars. This is exactly what you can do on the balcony of many cruise ships, with the waves as your background music.
Some high-end restaurants will arrange an elegant private dinner for two on your balcony (think: white tablecloths, multiple courses, creations) at no extra cost. On its mass-market cruises, Princess Cruises offers the ultimate balcony dining experience for an additional fee, including a four-course meal, champagne and cocktails or a glass of wine. If it’s a princess offering, you might even put flowers and (flameless) candles on the table.
Best place to watch port arrivals
I absolutely love getting up early to watch the cruise ships come into port. In some places, like New York and Sydney, this experience is a highlight of the trip. Arriving in New York, in particular, is one of the best cruise experiences. Your boat will glide under the massive Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (often only a few feet remain) before passing the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan skyline.
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But as spectacular as they are, these arrivals in port often occur in the early morning, before you (or at least your bedside hair) are ready to go out into the world. The great thing about having a balcony is that you don’t have to get dressed and ready to watch the port arrivals for the day. You can get up in your pajamas and head to the balcony.
Of course, you have to be on the right side of the boat to get some of the views. Upon arriving in New York, it was tempting to watch the arrival from both sides of the ship. From the port side, you have the best view of the Statue of Liberty. But assuming you’re on a boat heading to the downtown pier, the starboard side will give you the best views of downtown Manhattan.
bottom line
Balcony cabins cost more than ocean view cabins or windowless “inside” cabins. But if you’re the kind of person who likes to have some privacy outdoors during the holidays, they might be worth the splurge. No matter how crowded your boat is, if you have a balcony you can always escape to it and watch the world go by without distractions.
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