B is For Balcony
On our first cruise, in 1994, we had an interior room. At the time, we didn’t know any better and we couldn’t afford more. Like many first time cruisers, we started and ended our day with activities, using our room for little more than falling into bed, exhausted. This is the number one reason we hear for not upgrading the room and if you have nothing to compare it to, then price alone can be a compelling argument. After twenty years of cruising, and a few lessons, we have come to understand the difference that this little extension of the room makes.
I remember the first time we had a balcony, there were things to learn. Lulled by the soft breeze and setting sun, we fell asleep with the curtains open. Forgetting that it is a continually changing landscape outside that window, we woke the next morning in port, docked next to another ship, looking directly onto their balcony rooms…and they into ours! Still, that ever changing, floor to ceiling view is just one of several reasons to have a balcony room. This is especially true when cruising very scenic locations such as Alaska. While most passengers are on deck fighting for that perfect picture of the glaciers, you can simply return to your room and enjoy the passing scenery in quiet serenity.
