Same with the sheets!!! I swear I tell them every day that there is no need to change them, but they do. And if I take an afternoon nap, they change them again!
In case you are still wondering, that mystery step in the shower serves two purposes…you can prop up your leg to make shaving it easier, and also for those of us that are larger in size, being able to prop up a leg helps wash all the nooks and crannies way easier!
On my first cruise, I had a balcony. Inside passage to Alaska. When we were standing on the deck in the rain, I realized that we were directly above our cabin. We went back to the cabin, took off our rain coats, ordered a pot of coffee and a plate of cookies and enjoyed the view from our balcony.
I'm definitely "Team Balcony" on this. Not so much that I actually sit on the balcony for extended periods of time (that is an option on some cruises, but not the primary reason). For me, it's like having windows in your house. It's more about enjoying the ability to open a window and get some natural light and fresh air (if it's not too cold).
@@Thewootanglife I'm also on a budget, it's just slightly different. Everyone should do what works for them. The question of whether or not a balcony upgrade is worth the extra expense or not is a very personal value judgement. I look at it slightly differently. If I'm going to take a vacation to a beautiful place like Alaska (or Norway), or a warm tropical island, I want to maximize my enjoyment. These are places I may never get to see again, and sitting on my balcony while the ship floats down a beautiful Fjord, and through the Inside passage, or while the sun is setting (or rising) in the Caribbean or worth the extra cost to me and my family. If you have other priorities, that is absolutely fine. There is no right or wrong here. Edit to add: Spending less on a cruise to have more money to go on more cruises works, as long as you are retired, or have enough vacation time from work to go on multiple cruises. Two cruises a year is my max, depending on how long they are and how much travel is involved. I budget enough for each of them to make sure I get maximum enjoyment from each and every one.
@@Thewootanglife I think it’s less a budgetary decision and more a cruising preference. When I was on a tighter budget, I just went on fewer cruises - once every other year rather than once a year and and I did day trips to parks and local beaches in the off years. I’d rather have one big cruise that is just the way I want it rather than several cruises where I feel like I have to scrimp and watch my pennies on each one.
For me there is one essential reason to get an outside room, seasickness. I have found that looking at a fixed point like a cloud or the horizon is the best way to suppress seasickness.
As a previous marine engineer, if you get an interior room that is on a very low deck, you will experience less relative motion. But of course, at the expense of not being able to orient your eyes on the clouds
This only works if the seasickness is a you problem. If the sea is calm, looking out helps. If you're looking out at 12m waves in a small ship, watching the horizon dip and roll is not going to help your seasickness. In that case all you can do is get as low and central as you can manage.
I am most definitely a balcony cruiser. I love to set out on the balcony early in the morning and late at night and just list to the sound of the waves. The view of a sunset on the water can't be beat in my opinion
For me, this year has totally changed my thoughts on cabin types. One thing I genuinely wouldn't have thought about before was the outside scenery. For example, I'd ALWAYS book an inside cabin regardless of any other thoughts, usually due to high solo fees. However, I've done both Norway and Alaska this summer, and now I'll always think about the morning/evening views when cruising. I did find it pretty annoying in Alaska to wake up and wonder what it looked like outside, but not know (other than the TV) until I was showered, dressed and ready to go for breakfast. At the end of the day, there were a few nights I didn't want to go and get ready for dinner as the views were so good, and I couldn't see them from my inside cabin! First world problems I know, but hey!
Team Balcony for Life!! I'm a very private person and love having my own private balcony to enjoy the scenery, take tea or meals, and best part is watching coming into/going out of port, I love to be portside!
Team Balcony. The thought of being locked down for weeks in an inside cabin……….. My MIL only goes inside. I’ve cruised with her. Her reason? “You’re never in your cabin!” And she doesn’t! But my husband and I DO spend time in our cabin. We always room service breakfast. We enjoy the sea breeze at night. We like just the air! And if we’re on Princess, we do enjoy the nostalgia with a couple of episodes The Love Boat! We also prefer as forward as we can get. One, we need the exercise! But we also like the extra movement. We sleep like babies being rocked!
We like the inside cabins because we only use them for sleeping. However....when the pandemic hit and we heard of the people stuck in their rooms on cruise ships I decided that an outside cabin would be in my future. Great vlog!
A balcony is a must cruising Alaska. Sitting there watching the landscape and realizing that those mountains have never had people set foot on them. It was life changing.
I always enjoy your videos, Emma! I’m totally team re-use your towels. I tell my hubby and kids that if the towel needs to be washed after drying you after a shower, then you need to get back in the shower and clean yourself better! The staff (at home-me) do not need that extra work. Thank you for your thorough and informative video as usual! Also I’ve never tried a balcony room, but maybe next year…. 😁
I’m wondering why no one is mentioning ocean view. If you need natural light to wake up properly, an inside cabin, even when you have one of those natural daylight lamps, just isn’t the same and it can throw off your biorhythms enough that you’re out of sorts the entire trip which is a bigger waste to me than springing for a balcony. But then again, a balcony isn’t the only solution, ocean views do it too. I’ve heard of complaints that the portholes are too small and on lower decks they can get covered in salt residue from the ocean but as long as the light coming from the porthole is sufficient, that can be enough.
One thing that worries me about balcony cabins on Royal Caribbean is that a number of them are "interior balconies", which overlook the Promedade (or Esplanade, depending on which ship you're on). So your balcony will be over the mall of the ship and you'll be able to see across into the balconies of other cabins. And, if their drapes are open, you'll be able to see into their rooms.
I'm definitely team balcony. My husband likes to have a little nap in the afternoon, so i enjoy sitting on the balcony reading a book. Plus we are not real party people so tend to do sail away from balcony.
I love having a private bolthole away from the maddening crowds. Most times I’m not comfortable being around a mass of people and the idea of fighting for space on a railing to admire the view is enough to set me into a meltdown. I really love a balcony. But my cruise-after-next is a solo oceanview on Resilient Lady and I’m kinda regretting that. Just got to figure out how the upgrade bidding works and whether it would be worth it.
@@tabithamashburn8786 aye. As it turned out the Valiant Lady solo cabin was absolutely one of the best cabins I’ve been in. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t splurge on a balcony. I’d highly recommend the little solo cabins as they are really cozy comfy and the bed being in an alcove-ish space made it feel like a secret hideaway - perfect for Aspie me to hide away when things got too much and I needed a break. Though tbh I didn’t need the bolthole at all. There were lots of quiet places even on the pool deck and the crowds weren’t at all maddening, possibly because there were no kids.
So glad you did this video. We always face a dilemma when we book cruises. A general rule of thumb we use is if the balcony cabin is 25% or less priced more than the interior, we will upgrade. As Canadians, we face a double-whammy of an unfavourable exchange rate, currently at $1.30 Canadian for every US greenback. So cost is a huge factor. You also have to see what other amenities you would prefer, be it a dining package, WiFi, beverage.....if I could have a beverage package minus a balcony room, I take the beverage. Simple as that.
The "mystery bar" down in the shower -- it's a footrest so you don't have to bend over as far in the small shower to wash your feet, right? And maybe for shaving legs a little easier?
Yes I agree. On some sailings, an outside cabin is really good, but its also a question of 'addiction'. I am in 'insider' myself, but when I have paid for an outside (or being upgraded) its been SOOO hard to go back to inside for the following sailing. However, as soon as I am in the inside again, its all fine... but outside cabins ARE addictive!!!
I just got home for a 16 day Norwegian cruise. I really loved our balcony, and I usually choose interior rooms. I've also had one trip with a cabin with an adjourning room, and it was a problem. I love your channel.
totally agree Emma on the towel front. I wonder how many of those people who commented, wash their own towels at home after just one use? Talk about wasteful!!
Beautiful scenery in Norway! Definitely worth having a balcony. I enjoy having a balcony. It is nice to watch the scenery or sunbathe if it is warm or just listen to the ocean.
Since we live only 3 hours away from the Anthem’s USA homeport of Cape Liberty in NJ, we have sailed her several times. We have been in an oceanview on Deck 3, a sideways balcony cabin (these are interesting and there are only a few in the middle of the ship) on Deck 6, a partially obstructed view balcony (over the smoking hut-eww, wouldn’t do that again), and a regular balcony on a higher deck. We always choose balconies now because we sail mostly in the winter to the Caribbean. Our reasons are the same as the other balcony-loving posters. Since fresh air is one of our priorities, I have learned to never book a cabin on the same side as the smoking areas top-deck. No matter how far away your cabin is, it seems the smoke drifts downward, and especially when docked in port. We also like aft balconies for the 180 degree view and watching the wake while out at sea. Every other day we do a total fresh air exchange by opening our doors for two minutes. First fasten down any papers and such that blow around. Then open the balcony door. Stand by your cabin door and hold it open about halfway. The whoosh of air will clear out any cabin odors or staleness. Can’t do that with an inside or oceanview cabin. BTW, people with cabins on Deck 6 near the aft of the ship on the Anthem have a shortcut to get to 270. 🤫😉
This is exactly why I pick my own room and don't try to do the Royal Up. They'll give you one of the rooms that no one wants, like right below the Lido deck or something really stupid like a connecting room!
Hello dear Emma, I have never been on a cruise but, if one day I will, the option of a balcony room on a cruise in the north of Europe during the Summer it will certainly appeal to me, just for the fact of the night light!!!! It is amazing as you still look so alike of that beautiful little 11 years old girl ahahah!!! You are always very nice, good job!
We loved our balcony suite in the Caribbean. Porpoises playing in the bow wake, flying fish flying along us. It made the sea days especially nice. But we don't cruise as often as you, so these little things tickled us. They might be 'old hat' to others.
Team Inside Cabin, I am with you regarding the towels, how dirty do you get that you need a clean set every single day? The amount of water and chemicals (aka soap/detergent) to be used is crazy, and the power to use the machines. On another topic I found a MSC Venice to the Greek Isles for $219.00 Dollars 7 days at the end of October, too bad could not booked it, since at that time I am supposed to be on the Costa Toscana (Flying from Florida to Rome).
" I am with you regarding the towels, how dirty do you get that you need a clean set every single day? " lol....on my first time underway on a submarine, I took seven towels, mistakenly thinking I would need to have a fresh one every day. Well the problem was that took up 80% of the space you get to store your stuff. What most of us did was have one or maybe two towels and just keep reusing it. :) Of course we use very little water. The nuclear reactor can make a LOT of fresh water but we only have space in the tanks for about 5000 gallons (18927 L) of fresh water per day. That works out to 41 gallons for each of 20 officers and 100 enlisted. That includes flushing toilets, washing clothes, water faucets, juice, coffee, soda, etc. So basically, a shower is you go in and turn the water on for 1 or 2 seconds and then turn it off. Then put soap on. Then turn the water on for 1 or 2 seconds and turn it back off. Shower is over. :) You're motivated to do that by two things.....(1) if you're using a lot of water, people will be VERY angry with you, and you will probably be ordered to go back aft and watch the water being made for a week of port and starboard watches...this means you sit there for six hours then someone else takes over and you sleep for six hours then you get woken up and go back, etc. and (2) the water is REALLY COLD....we're deep underwater and it's cold down there, and while the potable water won't freeze back up due to heat from the reactor, no effort is made to heat it to a comfortable temperature so it comes out like 70 F (21 C)!!! lmao :)
The plastic luggage tag holders are awesome. Mine have a splash of colour on the top and it helps the bags stand out a bit more. Plus the wire reusable loop means it isn’t going to be accidentally torn off either. And, of course, you don’t need to worry about staples.
I couldn't agree more. Pay the extra when the extra is worth it. But when the difference is big money and it's no trouble to go up on deck then save the cash for another cruise or to do some tours that would otherwise be beyond the budget. As they say, there's a lid for every pot.
I think you make a lot of good points Emma. I get why you budget and use the inside cabins as you travel as your job. We cruise once or twice a year and always book a balcony cabin because it's our vacation and we want to enjoy everything including the view and balcony. My favorite thing to do on our cruises is have my morning coffee delivered and sit on the balcony and relax while watching the sea go by. That alone makes it worth it for me.
Loved having a balcony on my Carribean cruise. One of the best parts of it was going to sleep, to be able to hear the ocean, or waking up, I'd take a shower, throw a towel on and air dry on the balcony in the warm ocean air, which felt so much more relaxing and helped me wake up more
After years in the Coast Guard sleeping in three high racks below the waterline I've had my fill of inside cabins! When I saw RCL's Sky Loft suites it was love at first sight! Yes it's expensive but I'd rather cruise less and cruise better! Love yourattitude
I have never been in anything but a balcony. The hubs loves the fresh air, relaxing with a book and beer, watching the dolphins, flying fish and, twice now, sharks. I’d go to an inside gladly, but the hubs can’t imagine not having his morning in his boxers fresh air. Maybe someday I’ll convince him to try it, or at least a window cabin.
I agree with you Emma! We have had lovely cruises in interior cabins, and for the money savings this is definitely worth it for us. But the luxury of getting up and stepping outside on the balcony is also a fantastic way to enjoy a cruise. We are not of the opinion that once you go to a balcony cabin you never can go back to an interior - in fact, for us there are so many perks for that interior cabin. Thanks for your wonderful content!
The only time I have been on a cruise was with princess cruises to the medditeranian and we had an ocean view room. I was so sea sick basically the whole cruise and would have definitely preferred a balcony as could have got some fresh air instead of laying in bed whenever we were on the ship. Most of the ship including crew got sea sick as the ship had some technical problems and ended up only having 1 engine to get back to the UK with. Certainly not the best experience but the shore tours were really good.
Just want to let you know that I think your videos are probably the best of all that I follow. I have only been on a few cruises and don't really need so much info but you are very entertaining to watch. Your voice and diction are a pleasure and the visuals are very helpful to make your point. The research is outstanding! I love the "British isms" Also your outlook seems so natural and 'real'... keep up the good work!! 😊
For a cruise in Norway, I can appreciate the benefits for enjoying the fjords easily from the comfort of your cabin, even in your jammies 😆 When I cruised in Alaska, however, I was glad to have had an inside cabin mainly for ease of sleeping since I was able to have total darkness on demand 24/7. Also, passengers with cabin decks were rather loud playing music while in the glacier areas and having video chats with friends and family back home. This was against policy, of course, but so many passengers ignored it. My ship allowed special access to the front bow normally accessible only to crew for viewing the glacier bays. It was absolutely amazing yet very few of the passengers took advantage of it or quickly left the area after a short look. It was brilliant. If I had booked a cabin with a deck, I doubt I would have had the same experience. So I'm definitely a Team Inside member.
This is such a good point - I was amazed that in Norway in May and Alaska in July, we got such little darkness - I think all of us 'insiders' got the best nights' sleep every night! Haha
All good points. For our first cruise together (Nav of the Seas, 4 day LA/Ensenada/Catalina) I went for a balcony cabin. Serving in the Coast Guard I fell in love with the water at night, and wanted my wife to get the chance of seeing and feeling it right outside.
We were o.k with an inside until we switched to a balcony...not going back. The recent stuck-on-ship problems arising from covid further strengthens our resolve to always travel balcony...just in case.
The one time I tried to book an inside, my TA found that oceanview cabins were cheaper and a balcony was only a few dollars more. Then through a bunch of price breaks and a resident sale, we upgraded to a suite guarantee. We wound up with a two room suite! (talk about storage, it had a walk in closet!). it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime deals and I'll never have a suite again, but boy was it nice. It was a Greek Isle/Med cruise, so it was nice to have the balcony to watch all the sail ins and outs.
As ever, another amazing video Emma 😊 We try to avoid adjoining cabins mainly because we sail with our 2 young children. We obviously love spending time with our baby and 3 year old, but we know that our neighbours won't want to hear their lovely voices when we get woken up at 6am 😁! We enjoy balcony cabins and inside cabins equally, and have an inside cabin on our next cruise (although we are trying Cunard's Deluxe Inside, which is exciting!)
I was in the Caribbean in January on Britannia on my own and had a balcony. It was like an extra room where I could read and relax in the sunshine. I had a window cabin in Norway, but you really need to be on one of the top decks during a fjord sail in or out. Best cruise in the fjords was in a 4m kayak a few years back. That was awesome (though possibly not something for your channel). My son is currently singing on Arcadia, so I need to get on that one now ☺️
We've been on many cruises -Mexico, Alaska, Caribbean, Europe. We usually have ocean view (twice we've done balcony). Typically I don't think it's worth the extra cost for a balcony but for a cruise of Norway, I'll definitely book a balcony. Thanks for the video.
Unfortunately, I can not book an inside cabin, because I am claustrophobic and need at least one window. Therefore, I have so far always booked cabins with sea view or balcony cabin. And I always make sure that I book the cabin are located quite centrally and not too far up. I have heard from friends that you also have to make sure with an inside cabin that they are not on or near the farm roads. Because then it is consistently quite loud and can disturb the sleep very much.
I'm going on a balcony for the first time in December but the inside I had a few years ago was good. It was the best sleep I ever had so I don't think I'll turn into a balcony snob but want to try it out anyway.
I've had cabins in all areas of ships and I prefer balconies. I enjoy room service for breakfast and there's nothing like eating it on the balcony. It's also just a great place to chill without crowds. I'm heading down to the Southern Caribbean in a week and looking forward to the ocean air during breakfast once again.
The one time I took a cruise, we did not have a great time because it was impossible to escape all the noise noise noise everywhere. This was the Carnival Elation in 2005. Our kids loved it, however. If I cruise again, it’ll be a balcony cabin.
9:01 .. In Canada it's very rare to here a tap called a "Faucet" ,,, basically only heard "Faucet" is at the posh section of fancy plumbing suppliers :)
I'm about to go on my first cruise in June, to see the Norway fjords. We booked a balcony in order to not miss any views. You've confirmed that it's worth the extra money. I can't wait to learn more about your travels with inside cabins in light of your seasickness. I'm prone to that also. And I'm as budget oriented as you are.
Norwegian here, and glad you liked our nature and I know many others do too. We are used to both the light summers and dark winters. I live in the south so I don’t have either total daylight or total darkness as a part of my year (I don’t know how to say it in English here, I am sorry for that), but we do have a few hours of light in the winter and a few hours of darkness in the summer, but not much though. Thank you for sharing, love from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
We've been in every type of cabin from an inside to the lowest level suite (different lines). My travel companion has a progressive physical disability, and as this has worsened, she really prefers the balcony cabin because there are days when she doesn't feel well enough to be "out and about," so will enjoy sitting on the balcony. Yes, they cost more, and if cruising on my own, I'd be selective about when to get a balcony as I have no trouble going to "adult only" outdoor areas on the ship for my tea, etc. But you can't beat the luxury of a balcony. There are a few ways that you might get one at a lower price....if you are lucky, there are free upgrades. There are abilities to bid on upgrades or purchase upgrades at port. Prior to needing the HA cabin, this was our favorite. By purchasing at port, you KNOW what cabin you are purchasing, so sometimes we can get a nicer HA this way. Finally, some cruise lines offer "last minute" sales, usually 30-60 days before a cruise and sometimes have great balcony rates then. I used to ask myself whether I wanted 1 cruise in a balcony or 2 cruises in a lower level cabin, and cross my fingers that I'd be able to upgrade to the balcony at a low price. Sometimes it worked! But as you noted, there are itineraries where a balcony is a real plus.
We, a family of 5, took our cruises with adjoining doors. The two teen had their own cabin and the under 5 with us. That door(s) was open the majority of the time. We could have put everyone in one cabin, but double the space, extra restroom and add privacy was worth the extra cost.
Always booked an inside cabin apart from the Fjords this year on Iona... the whole appeal of Norway to me is the scenery so for me, a balcony was a must! Gone back to my happy place of an inside cabin ready for Azura in December!!
I absolutely agree with your comment about making life easier for the cruise ship staff. Such a kind, thoughtful comment and that says so much about You 😊
Wow, Thanks Emma for great info that I did not know and I’m booked on Anthem! Didn’t know that out of 2091 cabins, 1565 are balcony cabins, including 129 suites, just 148 Oceanview cabins leaving 378 inside cabins. Have been helping a friend research and book a balcony on my fall 2023 transatlantic cruise and didn’t realize this! Might have a shot with a decent bid on winning a “Royal up” to a balcony!
Thanks Emma - great show. We just finished 19 nights on the Apex in a Deluxe Interior and it was lovely. Plenty of room and slept like babies. When I say we sail in interiors folks think we are crazy but it lets me do B2B without much increase over 7 days in a veranda. Looking forward to TA on Anthem in the spring and have a balcony for that one.
I just found your channel and immediately subscribed when you talked about the storage space and not washing the towels daily. You are a woman after my own heart. P.S. TIL Brits call them taps, not faucets.
I’m personally Team Balcony. There’s something really nice about being able to sit out and watch as you sail in and out of ports, especially on cruises like this Norwegian one. My family also quite like them because you can put your swimming costume out to dry on the balcony. On the one cruise we did, 2 of us were in an indoor cabin and we were in a balcony cabin and they would put their swimming costumes out on our balcony to dry because it was convenient. It was also quite good for when we were younger as quite a few family rooms, at least on P&O, are balcony’s. But I can definitely understand choosing an indoor cabin if you’re trying to cruise on a budget.
@@Thewootanglife We all make decisions based on our circumstances. Just saying what our decision is. Don’t think we would cruise in an inside cabin if things were different.
anthem goes out of my home port of NJ and I love that they have the kettles in the cabins. i get to grab some tea bags from the station and have tea every night before bed. i love all of the storage on Anthem as well.
Our next cruise is to Norway...in winter. It's on Viking so all cabins are balconies, don't know if we will use it much though. Really hoping we see good auroras...bucket list.
Good video Emma, I'm just back from a cruise on Ventura with my children, I booked two inside cabins, I like balconies but the extra cost as you say can be prohibitive. I was happy on the inside but I did oversleep a lot ! Just one small point on plug sockets, on P&O all sockets are UK 3 pin.
I booked an inside cabin for my next cruise (in September). I think my favorite cabin was the inside cabin I had on Celebrity Edge (in 2019). It was bright and well laid out. In between and I had a balcony on Freedom of the Seas (in April) and while it was nice, I had obnoxious neighbors- a woman (assuming she was the mother) who yelled a lot and screaming kids. Maybe it was coincidental, but any time I went out on the balcony, they were out there too. So, I was very happy to just get an inside this time, which looks to be in a great location. I truly do not spend much awake time in the cabin except to rest a few minutes. I don't even like the idea of eating in my cabin. I prefer to go to the buffet or other fast restaurants for breakfast, and I wouldn't want to eat lunch or dinner in my cabin when I have much nicer food in the MDR, etc. - So many of your UA-cam colleagues say that people should always pick a balcony, but I don't agree. It totally depends on how people spend time in their cabins. Thank you for your informative videos.
It really depends. I know on MSC some of the balconies can be partial views; and small so it really depends on the upgrade you are selecting. I generally stay in Inside Staterooms but I also like Oceanviews.
I think that your preferences for staterooms will vary by your stage of life. Younger people often need to get the best possible deal for their money. A few years later, you may prefer to pay for a certain amenity. If you offered to give someone extra money to upgrade their cruise, some people would upgrade their cabin, some would upgrade their flights, some would buy extra excursions, and some would upgrade their beverage package and specialty dining. Having a variety of options available is great; it draws a greater variety of people and is even helpful for friends who travel at the same time, but have different tastes. So I think Team Inside and Team Balcony are pickup teams for the current cruise, not a long term thing.
We just got home from a week on the Norwegian Bliss in Alaska. Balcony was worth every bit that we paid for it. We’ve always gotten balcony cabins and thought we’d try something different on Wonder of the Seas a few months ago. We got a cabin with a balcony that was overlooking Central Park. In retrospect I think that I would have preferred an inside cabin. There were balconies directly facing us on the other side so people could just see into our room. Also we missed having an ocean view. Won’t try that again. We were surprised at how different it was.
Hi Emma. Another great informative video! Hope to catch your live sailaway on Thursday on the Emerald. We were on her in March for a 14 night Caribbean adventure, our restart. Had a great time and great weather. Be well and have a fantastic voyage on your cruise! Bruce and Gwen from across the pond in Jersey . 🌞👍
American here. Indeed, tap water comes from the tap/faucet/spigot and I LOVE my electric kettle. They've become far more common/popular here over the last few years. I have one, and two of my last three roommates had their own.
Emma, we tried it with RCCL picking the balcony cabin on the Mariner of the Seas back in 2019. We ended up with a cabin upgrade to an extended balcony vs the standard balcony! Big win! Enjoyed your cabin review on the Anthem of the Seas.
Hi Emma! Love your vlogs. I was on Anthem of the Seas 3 times in 2019 out of Cape Liberty, NJ. There were NO kettles in any of my rooms. I had 1 virtual balcony, one regular balcony & 1 junior suite. Thank you for your entertainment.
Love you being in my beautiful country! I have just booked my first non-ferry cruise. It's in just 19 days, and will be 10 days on MSC Grandiosa from Copenhagen to Barcelona. It will go to Southampton as it's first stop on the 13th, so if you can recommend something to do there between 9am and 9pm, I appreciate it
My hubby and I always get a balcony or suite for special occasions. ( I can claim any day is special!) We have tried a few ocean view staterooms early in our cruising life. In the Mountains in Eastern US they may call the faucet a spigot or hydrant.
Always a balcony, no matter where or when. My husband and I spend mornings and evenings and other times during the day on the balcony. I love it so much. We’re introverts and not party people anyway.
You get more and more professional in every one of your vlogs. Been watching you for ages and absolutely love your work Emma!!! We set sail in 6 days on the Coral Princess and after watching this video I'm even more appreciative of the 470sqft were about to enjoy. Looking forward to being at sea at Christmas and New Years Eve, so in case I don't watch your next vlog, it's a very Merry Christmas and a joyful, Happy New Year
I just recently found the tips for travellers channel on youtube, and its been really informative. You and him are definitely the best cruise channels on youtube!
The crew are almost always absolute heroes, I'm with you on the "don't make extra work for them" front
🙌🙌🙌
Also washing towels daily is terrible for the environment. Just hang them up to dry.
Right u just used soap and shoud be CLEAN.........
no nead to wash them.
amen
Same with the sheets!!! I swear I tell them every day that there is no need to change them, but they do. And if I take an afternoon nap, they change them again!
In case you are still wondering, that mystery step in the shower serves two purposes…you can prop up your leg to make shaving it easier, and also for those of us that are larger in size, being able to prop up a leg helps wash all the nooks and crannies way easier!
I thought it had a more 'adult' purpose!!
Why would I want to shave my legs?
@@Tugela60some people shave their legs.
On my first cruise, I had a balcony. Inside passage to Alaska. When we were standing on the deck in the rain, I realized that we were directly above our cabin. We went back to the cabin, took off our rain coats, ordered a pot of coffee and a plate of cookies and enjoyed the view from our balcony.
I had one cruise without a balcony. NEVER again. I love being able to sit out and enjoy the views in privacy. The cost is totally worth it.
I'm definitely "Team Balcony" on this. Not so much that I actually sit on the balcony for extended periods of time (that is an option on some cruises, but not the primary reason). For me, it's like having windows in your house. It's more about enjoying the ability to open a window and get some natural light and fresh air (if it's not too cold).
Ha ha, definitely is better to have a house with windows can deny that 😅❤️
@@Thewootanglife I'm also on a budget, it's just slightly different. Everyone should do what works for them. The question of whether or not a balcony upgrade is worth the extra expense or not is a very personal value judgement.
I look at it slightly differently. If I'm going to take a vacation to a beautiful place like Alaska (or Norway), or a warm tropical island, I want to maximize my enjoyment. These are places I may never get to see again, and sitting on my balcony while the ship floats down a beautiful Fjord, and through the Inside passage, or while the sun is setting (or rising) in the Caribbean or worth the extra cost to me and my family.
If you have other priorities, that is absolutely fine. There is no right or wrong here.
Edit to add: Spending less on a cruise to have more money to go on more cruises works, as long as you are retired, or have enough vacation time from work to go on multiple cruises. Two cruises a year is my max, depending on how long they are and how much travel is involved. I budget enough for each of them to make sure I get maximum enjoyment from each and every one.
@@Thewootanglife I think it’s less a budgetary decision and more a cruising preference. When I was on a tighter budget, I just went on fewer cruises - once every other year rather than once a year and and I did day trips to parks and local beaches in the off years.
I’d rather have one big cruise that is just the way I want it rather than several cruises where I feel like I have to scrimp and watch my pennies on each one.
Ah... but even windows on a house have their place. I am in the process of designing my new house, and my room has no windows. Quite on purpose. 😎
@@TitoTimTravels Certainly lots of places don't have windows (interior apartments, etc..), but for me, I'm a windows and patio guy. To each their own.
I can't imagine going on a cruise and not having a balcony to be honest, love having the door open listening to the sea and seeing the outside world.
For me there is one essential reason to get an outside room, seasickness. I have found that looking at a fixed point like a cloud or the horizon is the best way to suppress seasickness.
As a previous marine engineer, if you get an interior room that is on a very low deck, you will experience less relative motion. But of course, at the expense of not being able to orient your eyes on the clouds
This only works if the seasickness is a you problem. If the sea is calm, looking out helps. If you're looking out at 12m waves in a small ship, watching the horizon dip and roll is not going to help your seasickness. In that case all you can do is get as low and central as you can manage.
I am most definitely a balcony cruiser. I love to set out on the balcony early in the morning and late at night and just list to the sound of the waves. The view of a sunset on the water can't be beat in my opinion
For me, this year has totally changed my thoughts on cabin types. One thing I genuinely wouldn't have thought about before was the outside scenery. For example, I'd ALWAYS book an inside cabin regardless of any other thoughts, usually due to high solo fees.
However, I've done both Norway and Alaska this summer, and now I'll always think about the morning/evening views when cruising. I did find it pretty annoying in Alaska to wake up and wonder what it looked like outside, but not know (other than the TV) until I was showered, dressed and ready to go for breakfast. At the end of the day, there were a few nights I didn't want to go and get ready for dinner as the views were so good, and I couldn't see them from my inside cabin!
First world problems I know, but hey!
I think having a balcony when there is an amazing view, such as Norway, is an excellent idea.
Team Balcony for Life!! I'm a very private person and love having my own private balcony to enjoy the scenery, take tea or meals, and best part is watching coming into/going out of port, I love to be portside!
Team Balcony. The thought of being locked down for weeks in an inside cabin……….. My MIL only goes inside. I’ve cruised with her. Her reason? “You’re never in your cabin!” And she doesn’t! But my husband and I DO spend time in our cabin. We always room service breakfast. We enjoy the sea breeze at night. We like just the air! And if we’re on Princess, we do enjoy the nostalgia with a couple of episodes The Love Boat!
We also prefer as forward as we can get. One, we need the exercise! But we also like the extra movement. We sleep like babies being rocked!
We like the inside cabins because we only use them for sleeping. However....when the pandemic hit and we heard of the people stuck in their rooms on cruise ships I decided that an outside cabin would be in my future.
Great vlog!
If you come down with Covid, you were moved to an inside isolation cabin. Hopefully, this is now over!
That mystery bar in the corner of the shower is for you to prop up your leg when you need to shave
Cheap luggage tag trick: after folding it up as directed, put a piece of clear packing tape over the outside, and staple through the whole affair.
A balcony is a must cruising Alaska. Sitting there watching the landscape and realizing that those mountains have never had people set foot on them. It was life changing.
Definitely agree with that! Saw some amazing sights on my balcony there.
Do people take into account which side of the ship is best depending on the cruise?
Do people take into account which side of the ship is best depending on the cruise?
I believe the “mysterious step” is the shave bar
I always enjoy your videos, Emma! I’m totally team re-use your towels. I tell my hubby and kids that if the towel needs to be washed after drying you after a shower, then you need to get back in the shower and clean yourself better! The staff (at home-me) do not need that extra work. Thank you for your thorough and informative video as usual! Also I’ve never tried a balcony room, but maybe next year…. 😁
I’m wondering why no one is mentioning ocean view. If you need natural light to wake up properly, an inside cabin, even when you have one of those natural daylight lamps, just isn’t the same and it can throw off your biorhythms enough that you’re out of sorts the entire trip which is a bigger waste to me than springing for a balcony.
But then again, a balcony isn’t the only solution, ocean views do it too. I’ve heard of complaints that the portholes are too small and on lower decks they can get covered in salt residue from the ocean but as long as the light coming from the porthole is sufficient, that can be enough.
One thing that worries me about balcony cabins on Royal Caribbean is that a number of them are "interior balconies", which overlook the Promedade (or Esplanade, depending on which ship you're on). So your balcony will be over the mall of the ship and you'll be able to see across into the balconies of other cabins. And, if their drapes are open, you'll be able to see into their rooms.
When booking on the larger ships that gave balconies facing inward you have to let them know you want an ocean view
That is to offer you additional entertainment
That is the adult entertainment she mentioned... As she said:" You have to know where to look for it."
I think I was that entertainment on my last cruise. I was usually half undressed before I realized the cabin attendant had opened the curtains again!!
hmm, I think I just worked out a way to afford the upgrade.... charge for the show, charge more to close the curtains :p
I'm definitely team balcony. My husband likes to have a little nap in the afternoon, so i enjoy sitting on the balcony reading a book. Plus we are not real party people so tend to do sail away from balcony.
I love having a private bolthole away from the maddening crowds. Most times I’m not comfortable being around a mass of people and the idea of fighting for space on a railing to admire the view is enough to set me into a meltdown. I really love a balcony. But my cruise-after-next is a solo oceanview on Resilient Lady and I’m kinda regretting that. Just got to figure out how the upgrade bidding works and whether it would be worth it.
Far from the maddening crowds…
@@tabithamashburn8786 aye. As it turned out the Valiant Lady solo cabin was absolutely one of the best cabins I’ve been in. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t splurge on a balcony. I’d highly recommend the little solo cabins as they are really cozy comfy and the bed being in an alcove-ish space made it feel like a secret hideaway - perfect for Aspie me to hide away when things got too much and I needed a break. Though tbh I didn’t need the bolthole at all. There were lots of quiet places even on the pool deck and the crowds weren’t at all maddening, possibly because there were no kids.
So glad you did this video. We always face a dilemma when we book cruises. A general rule of thumb we use is if the balcony cabin is 25% or less priced more than the interior, we will upgrade. As Canadians, we face a double-whammy of an unfavourable exchange rate, currently at $1.30 Canadian for every US greenback. So cost is a huge factor. You also have to see what other amenities you would prefer, be it a dining package, WiFi, beverage.....if I could have a beverage package minus a balcony room, I take the beverage. Simple as that.
I like that general rule! YES!
The "mystery bar" down in the shower -- it's a footrest so you don't have to bend over as far in the small shower to wash your feet, right? And maybe for shaving legs a little easier?
Yes I agree. On some sailings, an outside cabin is really good, but its also a question of 'addiction'. I am in 'insider' myself, but when I have paid for an outside (or being upgraded) its been SOOO hard to go back to inside for the following sailing. However, as soon as I am in the inside again, its all fine... but outside cabins ARE addictive!!!
Any cabin that lets one cruise more is good. Inside, oceanview, balcony, suite.
I just got home for a 16 day Norwegian cruise. I really loved our balcony, and I usually choose interior rooms. I've also had one trip with a cabin with an adjourning room, and it was a problem. I love your channel.
totally agree Emma on the towel front. I wonder how many of those people who commented, wash their own towels at home after just one use? Talk about wasteful!!
a balcony in Alaska is also very nice to have. I sat out there in the middle of the night as we cruised down the inside passage. Amazing views.
Beautiful scenery in Norway! Definitely worth having a balcony. I enjoy having a balcony. It is nice to watch the scenery or sunbathe if it is warm or just listen to the ocean.
Since we live only 3 hours away from the Anthem’s USA homeport of Cape Liberty in NJ, we have sailed her several times. We have been in an oceanview on Deck 3, a sideways balcony cabin (these are interesting and there are only a few in the middle of the ship) on Deck 6, a partially obstructed view balcony (over the smoking hut-eww, wouldn’t do that again), and a regular balcony on a higher deck. We always choose balconies now because we sail mostly in the winter to the Caribbean. Our reasons are the same as the other balcony-loving posters. Since fresh air is one of our priorities, I have learned to never book a cabin on the same side as the smoking areas top-deck. No matter how far away your cabin is, it seems the smoke drifts downward, and especially when docked in port. We also like aft balconies for the 180 degree view and watching the wake while out at sea. Every other day we do a total fresh air exchange by opening our doors for two minutes. First fasten down any papers and such that blow around. Then open the balcony door. Stand by your cabin door and hold it open about halfway. The whoosh of air will clear out any cabin odors or staleness. Can’t do that with an inside or oceanview cabin. BTW, people with cabins on Deck 6 near the aft of the ship on the Anthem have a shortcut to get to 270. 🤫😉
This is exactly why I pick my own room and don't try to do the Royal Up. They'll give you one of the rooms that no one wants, like right below the Lido deck or something really stupid like a connecting room!
Hello dear Emma, I have never been on a cruise but, if one day I will, the option of a balcony room on a cruise in the north of Europe during the Summer it will certainly appeal to me, just for the fact of the night light!!!! It is amazing as you still look so alike of that beautiful little 11 years old girl ahahah!!! You are always very nice, good job!
My mother in law found a great use for the bin with no lid, a great sick bucket
Oh dear 😅
Emma, I think the step in the corner is for shaving legs? So you can put your foot on it and reach easier... no clue, just my guess.
We loved our balcony suite in the Caribbean. Porpoises playing in the bow wake, flying fish flying along us. It made the sea days especially nice. But we don't cruise as often as you, so these little things tickled us. They might be 'old hat' to others.
Team Inside Cabin, I am with you regarding the towels, how dirty do you get that you need a clean set every single day? The amount of water and chemicals (aka soap/detergent) to be used is crazy, and the power to use the machines. On another topic I found a MSC Venice to the Greek Isles for $219.00 Dollars 7 days at the end of October, too bad could not booked it, since at that time I am supposed to be on the Costa Toscana (Flying from Florida to Rome).
Thats incredible!! Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
" I am with you regarding the towels, how dirty do you get that you need a clean set every single day? "
lol....on my first time underway on a submarine, I took seven towels, mistakenly thinking I would need to have a fresh one every day. Well the problem was that took up 80% of the space you get to store your stuff. What most of us did was have one or maybe two towels and just keep reusing it. :)
Of course we use very little water. The nuclear reactor can make a LOT of fresh water but we only have space in the tanks for about 5000 gallons (18927 L) of fresh water per day. That works out to 41 gallons for each of 20 officers and 100 enlisted. That includes flushing toilets, washing clothes, water faucets, juice, coffee, soda, etc. So basically, a shower is you go in and turn the water on for 1 or 2 seconds and then turn it off. Then put soap on. Then turn the water on for 1 or 2 seconds and turn it back off. Shower is over. :)
You're motivated to do that by two things.....(1) if you're using a lot of water, people will be VERY angry with you, and you will probably be ordered to go back aft and watch the water being made for a week of port and starboard watches...this means you sit there for six hours then someone else takes over and you sleep for six hours then you get woken up and go back, etc. and (2) the water is REALLY COLD....we're deep underwater and it's cold down there, and while the potable water won't freeze back up due to heat from the reactor, no effort is made to heat it to a comfortable temperature so it comes out like 70 F (21 C)!!! lmao :)
The plastic luggage tag holders are awesome. Mine have a splash of colour on the top and it helps the bags stand out a bit more. Plus the wire reusable loop means it isn’t going to be accidentally torn off either. And, of course, you don’t need to worry about staples.
I couldn't agree more. Pay the extra when the extra is worth it. But when the difference is big money and it's no trouble to go up on deck then save the cash for another cruise or to do some tours that would otherwise be beyond the budget. As they say, there's a lid for every pot.
I think you make a lot of good points Emma. I get why you budget and use the inside cabins as you travel as your job. We cruise once or twice a year and always book a balcony cabin because it's our vacation and we want to enjoy everything including the view and balcony. My favorite thing to do on our cruises is have my morning coffee delivered and sit on the balcony and relax while watching the sea go by. That alone makes it worth it for me.
That's pretty cool. When I do a cruise I'll do the same, have a morning coffee and watch the sea go by.
Balcony was the right choice, clearly. The scenery looked beautiful, but, man! It sure looked cold, especially for August!
IIRC, that 2nd bin is for you, ladies, during that part of the month.
Loved having a balcony on my Carribean cruise. One of the best parts of it was going to sleep, to be able to hear the ocean, or waking up, I'd take a shower, throw a towel on and air dry on the balcony in the warm ocean air, which felt so much more relaxing and helped me wake up more
Norway and Alaska are the primary cruises where I think an outside cabin is a 'must'. Otherwise, I am with you in an inside cabin.
After years in the Coast Guard sleeping in three high racks below the waterline I've had my fill of inside cabins!
When I saw RCL's Sky Loft suites it was love at first sight! Yes it's expensive but I'd rather cruise less and cruise better! Love yourattitude
I have never been in anything but a balcony. The hubs loves the fresh air, relaxing with a book and beer, watching the dolphins, flying fish and, twice now, sharks. I’d go to an inside gladly, but the hubs can’t imagine not having his morning in his boxers fresh air. Maybe someday I’ll convince him to try it, or at least a window cabin.
I agree with you Emma! We have had lovely cruises in interior cabins, and for the money savings this is definitely worth it for us. But the luxury of getting up and stepping outside on the balcony is also a fantastic way to enjoy a cruise. We are not of the opinion that once you go to a balcony cabin you never can go back to an interior - in fact, for us there are so many perks for that interior cabin. Thanks for your wonderful content!
I agree that washing towels everyday is not necessary and also wasteful.
The only time I have been on a cruise was with princess cruises to the medditeranian and we had an ocean view room. I was so sea sick basically the whole cruise and would have definitely preferred a balcony as could have got some fresh air instead of laying in bed whenever we were on the ship. Most of the ship including crew got sea sick as the ship had some technical problems and ended up only having 1 engine to get back to the UK with. Certainly not the best experience but the shore tours were really good.
Just want to let you know that I think your videos are probably the best of all that I follow. I have only been on a few cruises and don't really need so much info but you are very entertaining to watch. Your voice and diction are a pleasure and the visuals are very helpful to make your point. The research is outstanding! I love the "British isms" Also your outlook seems so natural and 'real'... keep up the good work!! 😊
Thanks so much that’s very kind ☺️
For a cruise in Norway, I can appreciate the benefits for enjoying the fjords easily from the comfort of your cabin, even in your jammies 😆 When I cruised in Alaska, however, I was glad to have had an inside cabin mainly for ease of sleeping since I was able to have total darkness on demand 24/7. Also, passengers with cabin decks were rather loud playing music while in the glacier areas and having video chats with friends and family back home. This was against policy, of course, but so many passengers ignored it. My ship allowed special access to the front bow normally accessible only to crew for viewing the glacier bays. It was absolutely amazing yet very few of the passengers took advantage of it or quickly left the area after a short look. It was brilliant. If I had booked a cabin with a deck, I doubt I would have had the same experience. So I'm definitely a Team Inside member.
This is such a good point - I was amazed that in Norway in May and Alaska in July, we got such little darkness - I think all of us 'insiders' got the best nights' sleep every night! Haha
All good points.
For our first cruise together (Nav of the Seas, 4 day LA/Ensenada/Catalina) I went for a balcony cabin. Serving in the Coast Guard I fell in love with the water at night, and wanted my wife to get the chance of seeing and feeling it right outside.
We were o.k with an inside until we switched to a balcony...not going back. The recent stuck-on-ship problems arising from covid further strengthens our resolve to always travel balcony...just in case.
The one time I tried to book an inside, my TA found that oceanview cabins were cheaper and a balcony was only a few dollars more. Then through a bunch of price breaks and a resident sale, we upgraded to a suite guarantee. We wound up with a two room suite! (talk about storage, it had a walk in closet!). it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime deals and I'll never have a suite again, but boy was it nice. It was a Greek Isle/Med cruise, so it was nice to have the balcony to watch all the sail ins and outs.
Oooo yes love it when things like that happen! :-)
@@Thewootanglife I hear ya! We've looked at the cost of those cabins on other cruises and they are THOUSANDS more than the regular cabin
woahh how cool what TA do you have? A suite upgrade would be great for my family of 7 😅
@@madday9589 She's the best!
@@deniseyoung3738 My family dosent use a TA but maybe we should! Have any recommendations?
As ever, another amazing video Emma 😊
We try to avoid adjoining cabins mainly because we sail with our 2 young children. We obviously love spending time with our baby and 3 year old, but we know that our neighbours won't want to hear their lovely voices when we get woken up at 6am 😁!
We enjoy balcony cabins and inside cabins equally, and have an inside cabin on our next cruise (although we are trying Cunard's Deluxe Inside, which is exciting!)
That's very kind of you to think of the neighbours! Much appreciated haha. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
@@EmmaCruises we try our best 😅 our pleasure as ever Emma 😊
I was in the Caribbean in January on Britannia on my own and had a balcony. It was like an extra room where I could read and relax in the sunshine.
I had a window cabin in Norway, but you really need to be on one of the top decks during a fjord sail in or out.
Best cruise in the fjords was in a 4m kayak a few years back. That was awesome (though possibly not something for your channel).
My son is currently singing on Arcadia, so I need to get on that one now ☺️
I love your videos, but I’m definitely Team balcony! Keep up the great work.
We've been on many cruises -Mexico, Alaska, Caribbean, Europe. We usually have ocean view (twice we've done balcony). Typically I don't think it's worth the extra cost for a balcony but for a cruise of Norway, I'll definitely book a balcony. Thanks for the video.
Unfortunately, I can not book an inside cabin, because I am claustrophobic and need at least one window.
Therefore, I have so far always booked cabins with sea view or balcony cabin.
And I always make sure that I book the cabin are located quite centrally and not too far up.
I have heard from friends that you also have to make sure with an inside cabin that they are not on or near the farm roads. Because then it is consistently quite loud and can disturb the sleep very much.
I'm going on a balcony for the first time in December but the inside I had a few years ago was good. It was the best sleep I ever had so I don't think I'll turn into a balcony snob but want to try it out anyway.
I've had cabins in all areas of ships and I prefer balconies. I enjoy room service for breakfast and there's nothing like eating it on the balcony. It's also just a great place to chill without crowds. I'm heading down to the Southern Caribbean in a week and looking forward to the ocean air during breakfast once again.
Oh yess, Have a great time! 🥳🥳
The one time I took a cruise, we did not have a great time because it was impossible to escape all the noise noise noise everywhere. This was the Carnival Elation in 2005. Our kids loved it, however. If I cruise again, it’ll be a balcony cabin.
9:01 .. In Canada it's very rare to here a tap called a "Faucet" ,,, basically only heard "Faucet" is at the posh section of fancy plumbing suppliers :)
I'm about to go on my first cruise in June, to see the Norway fjords. We booked a balcony in order to not miss any views. You've confirmed that it's worth the extra money. I can't wait to learn more about your travels with inside cabins in light of your seasickness. I'm prone to that also. And I'm as budget oriented as you are.
Norwegian here, and glad you liked our nature and I know many others do too. We are used to both the light summers and dark winters. I live in the south so I don’t have either total daylight or total darkness as a part of my year (I don’t know how to say it in English here, I am sorry for that), but we do have a few hours of light in the winter and a few hours of darkness in the summer, but not much though.
Thank you for sharing, love from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
I don’t wash my towels after 1 use at home so why would I expect anyone else to do that?
I love having a balcony cabin. I order coffee for the mornings and love to sit out on the balcony with my coffee and just take a minute to wake up.
We've been in every type of cabin from an inside to the lowest level suite (different lines). My travel companion has a progressive physical disability, and as this has worsened, she really prefers the balcony cabin because there are days when she doesn't feel well enough to be "out and about," so will enjoy sitting on the balcony. Yes, they cost more, and if cruising on my own, I'd be selective about when to get a balcony as I have no trouble going to "adult only" outdoor areas on the ship for my tea, etc. But you can't beat the luxury of a balcony. There are a few ways that you might get one at a lower price....if you are lucky, there are free upgrades. There are abilities to bid on upgrades or purchase upgrades at port. Prior to needing the HA cabin, this was our favorite. By purchasing at port, you KNOW what cabin you are purchasing, so sometimes we can get a nicer HA this way. Finally, some cruise lines offer "last minute" sales, usually 30-60 days before a cruise and sometimes have great balcony rates then. I used to ask myself whether I wanted 1 cruise in a balcony or 2 cruises in a lower level cabin, and cross my fingers that I'd be able to upgrade to the balcony at a low price. Sometimes it worked! But as you noted, there are itineraries where a balcony is a real plus.
Yess, makes perfect sense. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
We, a family of 5, took our cruises with adjoining doors. The two teen had their own cabin and the under 5 with us. That door(s) was open the majority of the time. We could have put everyone in one cabin, but double the space, extra restroom and add privacy was worth the extra cost.
We considered for an upcoming cruise with our adult daughters. Just easier!
Balcony is always best to go. Prices are low due to lots of balconies. Everyone needs outdoor and fresh air
The mysterious little step in the shower is apparently to be used if one wants to shave your legs in the shower according to our last cabin attendant.
I like the bed near the balcony. I always do balconies and the desk and chair/couch is always by the balcony on the ships I've been on. Great video!
Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
Always booked an inside cabin apart from the Fjords this year on Iona... the whole appeal of Norway to me is the scenery so for me, a balcony was a must! Gone back to my happy place of an inside cabin ready for Azura in December!!
Emma, I look forward to, and totally enjoy your British-ism word comparisons in each video. Great videos!
I absolutely agree with your comment about making life easier for the cruise ship staff. Such a kind, thoughtful comment and that says so much about You 😊
I think that metal bin below the vanity is for your curling iron :)
Wow, Thanks Emma for great info that I did not know and I’m booked on Anthem! Didn’t know that out of 2091 cabins, 1565 are balcony cabins, including 129 suites, just 148 Oceanview cabins leaving 378 inside cabins. Have been helping a friend research and book a balcony on my fall 2023 transatlantic cruise and didn’t realize this! Might have a shot with a decent bid on winning a “Royal up” to a balcony!
Thanks Emma - great show. We just finished 19 nights on the Apex in a Deluxe Interior and it was lovely. Plenty of room and slept like babies. When I say we sail in interiors folks think we are crazy but it lets me do B2B without much increase over 7 days in a veranda. Looking forward to TA on Anthem in the spring and have a balcony for that one.
I just found your channel and immediately subscribed when you talked about the storage space and not washing the towels daily. You are a woman after my own heart.
P.S. TIL Brits call them taps, not faucets.
I’m personally Team Balcony. There’s something really nice about being able to sit out and watch as you sail in and out of ports, especially on cruises like this Norwegian one. My family also quite like them because you can put your swimming costume out to dry on the balcony. On the one cruise we did, 2 of us were in an indoor cabin and we were in a balcony cabin and they would put their swimming costumes out on our balcony to dry because it was convenient. It was also quite good for when we were younger as quite a few family rooms, at least on P&O, are balcony’s. But I can definitely understand choosing an indoor cabin if you’re trying to cruise on a budget.
Always a balcony. Great to wake up and see the sail in or where you are docked.
Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
@@Thewootanglife We all make decisions based on our circumstances. Just saying what our decision is. Don’t think we would cruise in an inside cabin if things were different.
The word "detest" sounds so much more ferocious in british than in american!
🤣🤣🤣
If you cut back on producing crew work the result will be crew losing jobs. The heart is often misguided.
anthem goes out of my home port of NJ and I love that they have the kettles in the cabins. i get to grab some tea bags from the station and have tea every night before bed. i love all of the storage on Anthem as well.
Our next cruise is to Norway...in winter. It's on Viking so all cabins are balconies, don't know if we will use it much though. Really hoping we see good auroras...bucket list.
Good video Emma, I'm just back from a cruise on Ventura with my children, I booked two inside cabins, I like balconies but the extra cost as you say can be prohibitive. I was happy on the inside but I did oversleep a lot ! Just one small point on plug sockets, on P&O all sockets are UK 3 pin.
I booked an inside cabin for my next cruise (in September). I think my favorite cabin was the inside cabin I had on Celebrity Edge (in 2019). It was bright and well laid out. In between and I had a balcony on Freedom of the Seas (in April) and while it was nice, I had obnoxious neighbors- a woman (assuming she was the mother) who yelled a lot and screaming kids. Maybe it was coincidental, but any time I went out on the balcony, they were out there too. So, I was very happy to just get an inside this time, which looks to be in a great location. I truly do not spend much awake time in the cabin except to rest a few minutes. I don't even like the idea of eating in my cabin. I prefer to go to the buffet or other fast restaurants for breakfast, and I wouldn't want to eat lunch or dinner in my cabin when I have much nicer food in the MDR, etc. - So many of your UA-cam colleagues say that people should always pick a balcony, but I don't agree. It totally depends on how people spend time in their cabins. Thank you for your informative videos.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Thank you! 😁❤️
It really depends. I know on MSC some of the balconies can be partial views; and small so it really depends on the upgrade you are selecting. I generally stay in Inside Staterooms but I also like Oceanviews.
I think that your preferences for staterooms will vary by your stage of life. Younger people often need to get the best possible deal for their money. A few years later, you may prefer to pay for a certain amenity. If you offered to give someone extra money to upgrade their cruise, some people would upgrade their cabin, some would upgrade their flights, some would buy extra excursions, and some would upgrade their beverage package and specialty dining. Having a variety of options available is great; it draws a greater variety of people and is even helpful for friends who travel at the same time, but have different tastes. So I think Team Inside and Team Balcony are pickup teams for the current cruise, not a long term thing.
You are 100% right.
We just got home from a week on the Norwegian Bliss in Alaska. Balcony was worth every bit that we paid for it. We’ve always gotten balcony cabins and thought we’d try something different on Wonder of the Seas a few months ago. We got a cabin with a balcony that was overlooking Central Park. In retrospect I think that I would have preferred an inside cabin. There were balconies directly facing us on the other side so people could just see into our room. Also we missed having an ocean view. Won’t try that again. We were surprised at how different it was.
Hi Emma. Another great informative video! Hope to catch your live sailaway on Thursday on the Emerald. We were on her in March for a 14 night Caribbean adventure, our restart. Had a great time and great weather. Be well and have a fantastic voyage on your cruise! Bruce and Gwen from across the pond in Jersey . 🌞👍
Thanks Bruce and Gwen! :D
American here. Indeed, tap water comes from the tap/faucet/spigot and I LOVE my electric kettle. They've become far more common/popular here over the last few years. I have one, and two of my last three roommates had their own.
Emma, we tried it with RCCL picking the balcony cabin on the Mariner of the Seas back in 2019. We ended up with a cabin upgrade to an extended balcony vs the standard balcony! Big win! Enjoyed your cabin review on the Anthem of the Seas.
I'm binge watching your videos..... so addicting
Yes, everyday towel washing is a wee bit excessive. The idea is you wash yourself in the shower so your towel is essentially clean
Hi Emma! Love your vlogs. I was on Anthem of the Seas 3 times in 2019 out of Cape Liberty, NJ. There were NO kettles in any of my rooms. I had 1 virtual balcony, one regular balcony & 1 junior suite. Thank you for your entertainment.
Love you being in my beautiful country! I have just booked my first non-ferry cruise. It's in just 19 days, and will be 10 days on MSC Grandiosa from Copenhagen to Barcelona. It will go to Southampton as it's first stop on the 13th, so if you can recommend something to do there between 9am and 9pm, I appreciate it
My hubby and I always get a balcony or suite for special occasions. ( I can claim any day is special!) We have tried a few ocean view staterooms early in our cruising life. In the Mountains in Eastern US they may call the faucet a spigot or hydrant.
Always a balcony, no matter where or when. My husband and I spend mornings and evenings and other times during the day on the balcony. I love it so much. We’re introverts and not party people anyway.
You get more and more professional in every one of your vlogs. Been watching you for ages and absolutely love your work Emma!!!
We set sail in 6 days on the Coral Princess and after watching this video I'm even more appreciative of the 470sqft were about to enjoy. Looking forward to being at sea at Christmas and New Years Eve, so in case I don't watch your next vlog, it's a very Merry Christmas and a joyful, Happy New Year
I just recently found the tips for travellers channel on youtube, and its been really informative. You and him are definitely the best cruise channels on youtube!
I think between me and Gary we have most things covered, very different but in a good way! Gary’s a great at guy too. ☺️
I second that, although I much prefer your channel to Gary's, your English accent is much easier to understand lol