I have sailed in interior, ocean view and balcony staterooms but by far the best way to cruise for me is the balcony. Being someone who likes to be outside on a cruise, its a no brainer. What other reasons are there to have a balcony stateroom?
Breakfast
Getting up in the morning and having a danish and coffee on your balcony starts the day right. Depending on the cruise line, you can usually get breakfast delivered to your stateroom at no charge or minimal charge. Some cruise lines like Princess, offer a full breakfast served in your balcony by a waiter. How often do you get to have breakfast with an ocean view? Private Outdoor Space Sometimes on a sea day, the ship gets a little crowded in places so I like to find a spot where I can relax in peace. Having a balcony allows me to go to my cabin and have that private outdoor space where I can enjoy a drink, read a book or even nap. 
The Scenery
Having a balcony in the Caribbean with the ocean air and beautiful blue water is great but some destinations it offers so much more. Visiting Alaska on a cruise, a balcony is a must. To be able to sit on your balcony and watch as you sail past glaciers, mountains and untouched land is amazing. And when the captain says there are whales on your side of the ship, no need to run from your stateroom up to the deck, just walk out on to your balcony. Port of Call Arrivals and Sailaways You wake up and you are arriving in Cozumel Mexico which is often early morning. You grab that coffee you had delivered and walk out to see the ship dock and maybe even some ship spotting. I also love sailing away either from homeport or from a port of call. The port of call can be fun to see if you have any pier runners to heckle. Watching Sunset You are getting ready for dinner and the sun is going down. Simply walk out on to your balcony and get that sunset view over the ocean without having to search for a spot on the rail. Have a seat and take it in.
The cruise lines are building ships with more balconies now so they are more affordable. Often there is not a huge difference between the ocean view and the balcony so its something to consider. On the newer ships you have a variety of options for your balcony including forward facing, aft facing and even wrap around balconies. So next time you are ready to cruise consider the balcony stateroom.
To start planning your next cruising vacation, complete my shore Vacation Inquiry Form and I can get you start on the road to vacation. Michael Miller
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