Balcony a must? - Page 3 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

jstducky · 12-12-2005, 02:26 PM

oh i didnt realize. i definitely will take a look at them later today!

thanks jim!

TerilynnS · 01-15-2006, 01:35 PM

AllieMan and I also did a PC. We did not get the balcony at the time and spent a lot of time at the aft of the ship in deck chairs. It does take a long time (there was a 7 hour wait in Gatun Lake) to get through, but I think in the future, we'd look up a bacony if we can.

The good news is, cruise lines tend to make repositions through the canal cheaper anyway. Might be worth it to get a balcony in the long run to give you a spot to rest on your own.

jstducky · 01-17-2006, 03:50 PM

Thanks Terry for the info. I defintely will keep this in mind as I look for PC cruises!!!

PagodaSwan · 01-17-2006, 03:54 PM

Well, I booked a Panama cruise for 2007, and an inside cabin cos thats what I could afford and anyway, NCL Crown has full all round prom deck on level 7 and other deck areas on levels 8,9,10 and 11, so I won't miss a thing

jstducky · 01-17-2006, 03:56 PM

tell us how it goes Ally.

i guess in the end its a big matter of costs.

PagodaSwan · 01-17-2006, 03:58 PM

Put it this way JST, my cruise is for 17 days plus 2 days at the Sheraton in Santiago. With flights etc £2200 all inc. To me that is excellent value for money, especially as a solo cruiser, seeing the entire Panama Canal and the coast of Peru etc. Can't go wrong really, IMO

Cruise Lover · 01-29-2006, 11:30 PM

We usually book an inside guarantee to just get on the ship, but when we took the Celebrity Mercury through the Panama Canal we sprung for a balcony. Mainly because of the 8 hour transit thru the canal. We enjoyed our balcony and didn't miss a thing.
One thing on this cruise was that we upgraded to the highest balcony cabin and at the last minute we were upgraded to a mini suite with a butler. It was a big surprise that our TA got for us.

TerilynnS · 02-03-2006, 07:23 PM

Also, I forgot to mention one little thing that we loved about our lower deck cabin - without the balcony....

Becuase we were closer to the water, we had a better sight line out our window to the SHORE. Because it's so tight in the cancal cuts in parts, we were actually able to see wildlife on the shore that people higher up were not! Coati mundi were everywhere! (Please forgive my spelling if I screwed it up!)

houch · 02-19-2006, 11:23 PM

We had an outside room. Even if we had a balcony I don't think I would have been on it much. I was too busy going all over the ship checking out the views from all areas! I especially liked laying on my belley in the wade pool on the top front deck of the Sun Princess. With my arms over the little ledge it was kinda like hanging on the hood ornament (guess I'm dating myself here,

) on the front of a car as you traveled through. I was the only one up there and really enjoyed it. Didn't spend all day there as too hot and I would have fried!

Carol

Captain Larry · 02-20-2006, 11:11 AM

We had an inside cabin on Amsterdam, and having an outside cabin or a balcony would probably have been nice. However, at least on Amsterdam, they opened the focsle, normally off limits to passengers, for the full duration of the curise, and it was probably the best venue. But, like Carol said, it was HOT! The Sun was brutal. There was no shade on the focsle, so you could not spend too long there. The Crow's Nest Lounge was one of the better spots, but it was crowded. So we spent a lot of the cruise in the Lido Restaurant. Had window seats, shade, air conditioning, and food and beverage readily available. You would want to be on deck going through the locks and through Culebra Cut, but go inside for comfort during the Gatun Lake transit. That part really doesn't feel like a canal at all. Incidentally, since Gatun Lake is fresh water, the ship rides a couple of feet lower in the water than when at sea.