In
the old days of cruising, many people didn't spend a lot of time in
their staterooms, but that's no longer the case. Today's cruise ships
are floating resorts, and the staterooms aspire to be holiday havens –
particularly those with balconies.
Spacious sanctuary
A
balcony or veranda stateroom is an outside stateroom with
floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto a private deck – giving you
access to the great outdoors. The deck is usually furnished with at
least two chairs and small table for outdoor lounging.
These
staterooms are usually larger than the standard staterooms, and some
qualify as mini-suites, which mean they have a small sitting area with
a loveseat or convertible sofa. The mini-suites sometimes have a
curtain that can be drawn to separate the sleeping and sitting areas.
This feature is ideal for couples, families or friends who have
different sleeping habits. Night owls and early risers can pull the
curtain, sit in the balcony and enjoy the stars or an early morning
sunrise without waking up their significant other.
Most
balconies are private; however, there are a number that are not
private. On some ships, aft-facing stateroom balconies are tiered like
a layer cake and this means that some balconies are visible from the
decks above. The good news is these balconies are often larger than
those along the sides of the ship, but these aren't the best for those
that prefer some shade.
A balcony stateroom makes a cruise
vacation even more enjoyable since it's a private retreat. Couples
looking to get away truly enjoy the privacy by having breakfast on
their balcony. Some cruise lines even offer private dinner service on
balconies. Additionally, many cruise travelers prefer balcony
staterooms because they like the privacy far from the throngs of
passengers in public areas – it's a great place to read a book or take
a nap.
Box seats to see the world
Sitting on the
balcony looking out at the stars and just being able to step outside
and breathe in the sea air helps differentiate cruising from a resort
vacation. Even better – the views! Having a balcony in Alaska,
Caribbean and Mediterranean is like having box seats to the world's
most amazing places.
In Alaska, a private balcony is truly worth
the splurge. As the ship glides early morning through the fjords, throw
on a coat, sit back on your balcony and watch nature's show. Watch and
listen as glaciers calve into the ocean. The sound of the ice falling
into the ocean is like a strong thunder storm. Turn you stateroom TV on
and get commentary from the ship's onboard naturalist who will point
out additional features of glaciers and, if you're lucky, bald eagles,
sea otters, whales, and seals.
A balcony stateroom allows you to
enjoy extra space, finer amenities, and breathtaking views. Watch the
sunrise, sunset, marvel at the beauty of the ocean, and have everything
you need at your fingertips. Balcony suites are sweet indeed. Once you
have had a balcony stateroom, there is no going back! They are the most
indulgent accommodations afloat.
Anita Dunham-Potter is a
Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel and
cruise vacations. In addition to writing pieces for Princess Cruises,
Anita is a weekly travel columnist for MSNBC.com and Tripso, and she is
a contributor to Fodor's "Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises 2007.
