When Is a Balcony Cabin Worth it on a Cruise? (2024)

If money were no object, we’d all sail in a balcony cabin on a cruise. After all, there’s no arguing that having the extra space, access to fresh air, and a spot to sit and take in million-dollar views of some of the most beautiful spots in the world is a definite good thing.

The only issue is that sailing in a cabin with balcony access on a cruise costs extra money, and in some cases, significantly more money. So is the balcony worth it? We think most people will be happy with the decision to upgrade to a balcony cabin, but there are some times when it’s definitely worth it, and others when it’s not a must-have.

What You’ll Spend to Upgrade to a Balcony Cabin

Before you can really evaluate whether or not a balcony room is worth it for your cruise, it helps to have an idea of what you’ll spend. Unfortunately, there is no set rate for how much more this type of room will cost over an interior or a balcony. So it’s not the case that a balcony room costs, say, $200 more than an interior room for a 7-day cruise. The amount will vary.

For instance, a 7-day May 2025 cruise aboard Carnival Jubilee charges $779 per person for an interior cabin, and $1,069 for a balcony room. That’s a difference of $290 per person or about 37%.

Meanwhile, a 7-day May 2025 cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas has a cost of $732 per person for an interior room but $879 for a balcony cabin. That’s a difference of just $147 per person, or 20%. We found another Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Mariner of the Seas priced at $396/$682 for an interior/balcony or a difference of about 72%.

As you can tell, the price difference can vary widely. It depends on the specific cruise. And the amount of the difference can be relatively small or substantial. You should always expect the balcony room to be more expensive, but you’ll want to factor just how much more when deciding. So when should you pony up the extra money?

When the Balcony Is Worth It

After years of cruising and staying in everything from interior cabins to suites, we have a few ideas on when a balcony cabin is worth it:

Cruises of Five Days Or More: Sailing a week-long cruise? In that case a balcony is just about always going to be the good choice, even if more expensive. We like to use five days as a cut-off. If sailing a shorter than five-day cruise, balconies often aren’t worth it as shorter cruises see less time spent in the cabin. On these short cruises, you spend a much larger percentage of the cruise around the ship or in port.

On cruises of five days, we consider it to start to tip the scales in favor of a balcony cabin. With longer cruises there is more downtime, offering you more of a chance to use the balcony to relax.

When You Sail With Kids: Sailing as a family? In that case, a balcony will be well worth it. With more than two people in a cabin, the small size gets pretty cozy. Having the extra space to take advantage of is nice.

If you are traveling with a small child, such as a toddler, a balcony is a must-have. This give the ability for parents to put the child to sleep at a reasonable hour and then sit on the balcony to still be able to talk without waking them.

When the Upgrade Price is $25 or Less Per Day, Per Person: Of course, whether the cost of an upgrade is worth it to you or not depends on your budget. To us, we think a baseline of $25 or less (preferably less!) per day for two people makes sense to book no matter your cruise length. So a 4-day cruise that’s priced at $400 per person for an interior cabin ($800 for double occupancy) would make sense to upgrade if the balcony room is under $500 per person ($1,000 for double occupancy).

The other rules still hold true about when it’s worth it, but we consider a price of $25 per day, per person too good a value to pass up.

Benefits of a Balcony

One more thing that might help you decide if the balcony is worth it for your trip is understanding the benefits. Of course, we all know having the extra outdoor space is the biggest benefit, but there are others you may not realize.

Outdoor Space: As mentioned, having an area where you can go outside, relax, and take in the view is by far the biggest benefit of having a balcony space. But also keep in mind that you can do this in tons of other public areas around the ship, although they don’t have the advantage of being your own private area.

Fresh Air/Natural Light: When it comes to comfort, interior cabins are perfectly fine but they do lack in one important area. Interior and oceanview rooms don’t allow for fresh air. Interior cabins don’t offer natural light. For a few days that’s fine (remember, shorter cruises you are usually out and about more), but over time it gets hard to not have those features.

More Overall Space: One thing you may not realize is that even without the added outdoor space, often balcony cabins are designed to be larger than interior or oceanview rooms. In other words, a balcony room isn’t just the same as an interior with the balcony tacked on. Instead, there is usually more living space inside, meaning even if you don’t take advantage of the balcony, you’ll still enjoy the benefit of more elbow room.

One Final Thought

One more thing to consider in figuring if a balcony cabin is worth it to you? You may actually use the balcony way less than you think. In our experience, we like to go out and take in the view and fresh air a few times a day for a few minutes, but the actual time spent outside adds up to amazingly little.

While we haven’t timed anyone, we think our experience is likely pretty normal. If you head out to watch a ship coming into dock or when they are leaving port (two of the best times to take advantage of the balcony), you’ll likely see that there aren’t a ton of people outside.

Some people do sit outside a lot and take advantage. We’d venture most just using the space sparingly.

Just keep that in mind when you’re considering whether or not to purchase.

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When Is a Balcony Cabin Worth it on a Cruise? (2024)

FAQs

When Is a Balcony Cabin Worth it on a Cruise? ›

Even on smaller, more luxurious ships that don't feel crowded, a balcony is desirable; if the weather is such that you can spend a lot of time on your balcony, it's like having an additional room.

Is it worth upgrading to a balcony on a cruise? ›

Some cruisers consider a balcony an unnecessary upgrade. They are just as content to book a cheaper cabin and don't mind jockeying for a lounge chair on the open decks. However, others relish having the option of being able to head outdoors directly from their cabins, even in their bathrobes, to enjoy the sea.

Is it worth booking a balcony on a cruise? ›

The best views. Balcony cabins don't just offer you access to an outdoor space. They typically also offer you a great view of the outdoors from inside your cabin. This is because the doors leading to balconies in balcony cabins usually are made almost entirely of glass running from floor to ceiling.

Which part of a cruise ship is best for a balcony? ›

If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end. Aft balcony accommodations at the ship's corners are also the largest and often give more outside area than conventional balcony cabins, allowing you to enjoy both the beautiful views and the extra space.

What is the best cabin level on a cruise ship? ›

The most stable part of the ship is its lowest point of gravity, so on a lower deck, at the center. You'd feel a lot less motion here than, say, in a stateroom on the upper decks a long way forward or aft (towards the back of the ship).

Where are the best and worst cabins on a cruise ship? ›

Here are what I consider to be the best and worst staterooms to book on a cruise.
  • BEST ROOMS TO BOOK ON A CRUISE.
  • Ocean-level cabins.
  • Studio rooms.
  • Port or starboard staterooms.
  • Cabins close to popular attractions.
  • Rooms by elevators.
  • WORST ROOMS TO BOOK ON A CRUISE.
  • Staterooms directly above or below busy areas.
Jan 30, 2024

Can you sleep on the balcony of a cruise ship? ›

A question we often hear from cruise enthusiasts is, “Can I sleep on the balcony of a cruise ship?” While the idea is enchanting, and on most cruise ships, there are no rules against getting your shut-eye here, many discourage it.

What are the benefits of a balcony on a cruise ship? ›

Benefits of Cruising in a Balcony Stateroom

The outdoor balcony is an extension of your stateroom's living area, which means you're getting extra space at a great value. If the sun deck is particularly busy, you know that you always have the perfect spot from where to watch the sunset — your very own balcony!

Can you leave balcony door open on cruise ship? ›

Leaving Your Balcony Door Open Can Make a Mess

You might want to prop open your balcony door as you sail, but cruise lines aren't so keen on the idea. For starters, the warm air coming in will cause your cabin's air-conditioning to work harder (unless you turn it down), wasting energy on the ship.

How many beds in a balcony room on a cruise? ›

Standard balcony staterooms, accommodating up to four people in 185 square feet, come with two twin beds (combinable into a king), an upper pull-down bed and a sofa bed. The 35-square-foot balcony has two chairs and a small table.

Where not to get a room on a cruise ship? ›

We can't go into too much detail as the different positions will be specific to each ship but cabins to avoid would be ones right above the theatre/clubs (the rooms are soundproofed but still…) or cabins below the pool, above/below a busy restaurant/bar or one's near lifts.

Where is the most comfortable rooms on cruise ship? ›

Midship cabins

The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

When cruising which side of the ship is best? ›

Eastbound cruises get the most sun on the port side; westbound on the starboard side. Watching a sunset over the ocean or seeing the sun slip behind distant islands can also be a reason for a side preference. To catch sunsets, you'll want to be on the port side on northbound cruises and starboard on southbound cruises.

What is the best deck to stay on a cruise? ›

Middle decks strike a balance between stability and accessibility. They are often preferred by cruisers who want easy access to onboard facilities while still enjoying a relatively stable experience. These decks are usually located near popular amenities like pools, spas, and dining venues.

What is the safest cabin on a cruise ship? ›

It's a smart idea to select a stateroom below the waterline in addition to a mid-ship stateroom, which is typically distributed over multiple floors. This is due to the fact that this section of the ship, which is also its lowest and most central, is the most stable in choppy seas.

Which end of a cruise ship is best? ›

starboard side of the ship is best to stay on. Your decision will depend on a variety of factors, from your stateroom type to your cruise itinerary.

Which cruise upgrades are worth it? ›

  • The number one upgrade I pay for on any cruise is a balcony cabin. ...
  • I try to book specialty dining as soon as I can. ...
  • Specialty coffee drinks are a must for me. ...
  • Thermal-suite passes are a little luxury I try to book as often as I can. ...
  • Some unique activities are worth the extra cost.
Mar 2, 2024

How do I get a free balcony upgrade on Carnival? ›

Upgrades are automatically assigned at the time of booking and are based on availability in like to like categories only (interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view and balcony to balcony). Free room location upgrade is not available on upper/lower, obstructed, and cove categories.

Is it better to stay on a higher or lower deck on a cruise? ›

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks. Like to be near all the action? Most mega-ships place their lido (pool) areas on higher decks.

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