Hi everyone! My wife and I usually book a balcony or Aqua Class cabin on Celebrity, but I’m thinking about trying something different. I’ve seen some itineraries (7–10 days) on Azamara, Oceania, Seabourn, Silversea, etc., that cost about the same as Celebrity ($2,500–$4,000 per person). The catch is they’re inside or window cabins instead of balconies.
For those of you who’ve gone this route, would you say the overall cruise experience makes up for not having a balcony? Would love to hear your thoughts or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone! My wife and I usually book a balcony or Aqua Class cabin on Celebrity, but I’m thinking about trying something different. I’ve seen some itineraries (7–10 days) on Azamara, Oceania, Seabourn, Silversea, etc., that cost about the same as Celebrity ($2,500–$4,000 per person). The catch is they’re inside or window cabins instead of balconies.
For those of you who’ve gone this route, would you say the overall cruise experience makes up for not having a balcony? Would love to hear your thoughts or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!
@Shan
Last fall, we sailed with Cunard in a standard balcony cabin, and it was great. This summer, we’re trying MSC in Northern Europe. Since it’s cheaper, we booked a Premium Aurea Suite with a whirlpool on the balcony.
@Nico
You’d probably have a better experience in a cheaper Yacht Club cabin. We’ve even done an inside Yacht Club cabin on MSC. Spent most of our time in the lounge with other guests.
We booked an ocean-view cabin on an Emerald yacht for a similar reason – to try a premium line at a reasonable price. The window was big, but the room was smaller than balcony ones. No comfy seating and little storage. That’s why we’d skip ocean-view next time, but it wasn’t about the balcony itself—just room size and storage.
I’ve paid for a balcony before, but I barely used it. Last cruise, I went solo in an inside cabin with Norwegian. They made the room feel more open with a fake window and a live view on the TV. Saved money and spent it on tours instead.
Keir said:
Inside Yacht Club cabins on MSC are a hidden gem. Great value!
Agree 100%. We booked an inside Yacht Club cabin after a disappointing MSC experience, and it was surprisingly nice. Didn’t miss the balcony much since we hung out in the lounge most of the time. Felt like a river cruise vibe.