Alaska 2017 balcony vs verandah

[E-P-C-O-T]

We are currently booked on a balcony cabin for our cruise, we have always said that we only do Alaska with a balcony and that is what we booked. The difference between a balcony and an oceanview is over $2500 and we are paying over $8000 to have a balcony. We have cruised on Cats 4a, 7a, 9c and 9D, so we are well aware of the difference between having an oceanview vs a verandah cabin and we really enjoy having one, but, is the balcony really worth it at this price point? I guess it really wouldn't bother me if the ov was $3500 and we paid $6000 for the balcony, but, is the price that is really killing me, $8000 really? This is our dream trip and we can afford it, but, how do I really justify spending that much?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are currently booked on balcony cabin for our cruise, we have always said that we only do Alaska with a balcony and that is what we booked. The difference between a balcony and an oceanview is over $2500 and we are paying over $8000 to have a balcony. We have cruised on Cats 4a, 7a, 9c and 9D, so we are well aware of the difference between having an oceanview vs a verandah cabin and we really enjoy having one, but, is the balcony really worth it at this price point? I guess it really wouldn't bother me if the ov was $3500 and we paid $6000 for the balcony, but, is the price that is really killing me, $8000 really? This is our dream trip and we can afford it, but, how do I really justify spending that much?

Only you can say if it's worth it or not. You have experience with the different options, I'd say go with your gut.

In my opinion, it's not "required" to have a verandah, but there are others who feel "it's the only way to do it".

For the most part, you'll get better views during the scenic cruising up on deck with the 360 view. With a verandah, you're pretty much stuck with what the captain feels is good for your side of the ship.

Your call.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

We've had a verandah for all of our cruises so far, but I just booked an oceanview (9B) for Alaska next summer. I just couldn't justify the large premium for the verandah. I had planned to book a 9A, but changed my mind when I was quoted a price difference of >$800. We're still toying with the idea of jumping to another cruise line, where we could get a balcony room for less than the OV on DCL, but we're not sure we're willing to give up the DCL experience. Decisions!

 

[Vijoge]

As much as I love Disney, I'm unable to justify the cost of a Disney Cruise at any price point. My husband and I cruised to Alaska on a mainstream cruise line in a veranda suite with a butler and concierge for just under $3000 total for 7 nights. No way in a hot place would I consider paying $8000, but maybe that's just me. Just remember, the glaciers and fjords will look the same from any ship.

 

[bcwife76]

Only you can decide if it's worth it.
For our Bahama's cruise we have a verandah. 7 months after that we'll be on the 5 night Alaskan in an inside room because that cruise is costing us more than the Bahama's - considerably more! So we'll suck it up. Would be nice to have a verandah (or even ocean view) but at least we have deck 4 and the top decks

 

[wdwfan]

I also wanted to get the veranda on the Alaskan cruise, but when I was quoted $8,000-9,000 for 2 adults I started to quickly love the 9B on deck 2 midship. I feel very good about the decision and can easily justify $4300 for the Disney experience. But that's me. Enjoy your cruise!! Can't wait till mine!

 

[lorimay]

With the inside passage the verandah cabin is amazing on an Alaska cruise, there's constant views that are gorgeous.
We spent almost the entire day on our balcony on Tracy Arm day, the temp. went down to 40 degrees when we got close, so it was nice to be able to go back into the cabin.

When we got to the closest point of Tracy Arm, which was very, very close, the Captain turned the ship a full 360 degrees and we had a full view from our balcony, we didn't miss a thing.

Only you can make the decision as to whether or not you want the balcony, but whatever you decide it will be an amazing cruise.

 

[Cruisepimpin']

This will be our 3rd cruise to Alaska. 1st was an inside room on Royal, 2nd was on Princess with a verandah. And this one will definitely be with a verandah on Disney. If you were to ever try a room with a verandah, Alaska is the place. Some areas it seems like you could throw a rock and hit shore. Nice being able to enjoy Hubbard Glacier, etc on our verandah without having to be bumped around by strangers on the top deck fighting for a view. Not to mention if its raining its nice to enjoy the scenery from our verandah and breathe the fresh air. Watching float planes fly by you. Looking for wildlife along the shore while sipping on some hot coffee. YOU WILL NOT REGRET spending the extra for a verandah to Alaska. Enjoy! We will be on the Wonder in June '17

 

[apathetic]

The balcony is great for Tracy Arm (or if you go on some of the other cruises in 2017), but mostly it is going to be pretty chilly & you won't sit out there. The views on the top deck are great, though probably not as convenient as having a private balcony. The question is the price difference worth a couple of hours convenience in Tracy Arm? Because you likely won't spend much more time out there on the cruise. It is going to be pretty cold while sailing.

 

[shh]

As much as I love Disney, I'm unable to justify the cost of a Disney Cruise at any price point. My husband and I cruised to Alaska on a mainstream cruise line in a veranda suite with a butler and concierge for just under $3000 total for 7 nights. No way in a hot place would I consider paying $8000, but maybe that's just me. Just remember, the glaciers and fjords will look the same from any ship.

Wow...I just priced cruises for May 2017, which is shoulder season, and don't see anything as low as 1500/person for a standard balcony room, let alone a suite. Is that 3k/person or for both total? May I ask when you cruised? Was it in the past year or so? That price is a steal.

 

[Donna3271]

With the inside passage the verandah cabin is amazing on an Alaska cruise, there's constant views that are gorgeous.
We spent almost the entire day on our balcony on Tracy Arm day, the temp. went down to 40 degrees when we got close, so it was nice to be able to go back into the cabin.

When we got to the closest point of Tracy Arm, which was very, very close, the Captain turned the ship a full 360 degrees and we had a full view from our balcony, we didn't miss a thing.

Only you can make the decision as to whether or not you want the balcony, but whatever you decide it will be an amazing cruise.

I cosign. We loved the balcony. Hot chocolate and blankets, and we were set for Tracy Arm Day. For us, worth every penny.

Whatever you decide, you will have a great trip!

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I am going to present another perspective. We cruised Alaska without a balcony on another cruise line because that's what worked for our budget at the time, and we still had a marvelous time. I am sure it would have been great to have a balcony, but it wasn't strictly necessary. We got tons of great pictures with an unobstructed view. (Keep in mind that the crowds on deck on DCL could be different than the cruise line we took.)

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts....

• I found the balconies to be too windy/cold on my Alaskan trips.... very happy with the Deck 2 Oceanview. It's like a climate controlled balcony. Only thing I would do different is get the midship Oceanviews with bigger windows to sleep in.
• Balconies are great when scenic cruising for those few hours in Tracy Arm. However, you only get to see once side of the view at a time.... not 360 like being on the public top deck.

 

[bksaffle]

Here's is just another point of view...

We originally booked an Oceanview for our Alaska 2014 cruise, we were fortunate to upgrade from a Deck 2 Porthole to a Deck 8 Verandah at the port for only $1300. We were so glad we upgraded, because when our kids were sleeping at least we could go out on the balcony and enjoy the scenery. When you are in Alaska you have about 20 hours of "light". And then when I got up early in the morning, I could go out and enjoy the scenery again, without having to wake everyone up getting dressed to go up on an open deck.

We literally saw so many animals, we even got a humpback whale breaching right outside our balcony. We actually spent a lot of time on our balcony.

 

[Disneyteachers]

We are sailing in August in a 9A. DH didn't want a verandah because he thought the kids might fall overboard (irrational) but in the end when I saw the difference in price between our room and our friends with a balcony, I felt justified in booking OV for this trip. It seems there are so many places to go hang out and view the scenery for me it's not necessary when I could book another trip for the same $. We paid $6800 for 2A2C in an 9A on deck 7 (we wanted a higher deck -- another DH request) and the price includes tax and prepaid gratuities. Still a lot, but I couldn't fathom 10+k like a lot of people are paying, even though I COULD pay that if I wanted to. Just seems nuts to me.

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

I appreciate everyone's feedback and we almost switched to a 9B yesterday. As we were looking at availabilty today for my sister, I noticed that someone had cancelled a secret verandah cabin and we switched to a 7A. We are now saving $800 and are happily staying in a verandah cabin for our cruise. Thank you!

 

[dcassetta]

We sailed to Alaska with DCL in 2013, and had a verandah cabin on that trip. Enjoyed it very much, but also spent time on the promenade deck and on the top deck enjoying the scenery. Originally booked a verandah for a 2017 Alaska trip, but we have change that to an inside, because it is half the price. We're going to use the savings, to book some excursions. I am anticipating having just as great a trip in 2017 as we had previously.

 

[sc426]

We were in a verandah room for our Alaska cruise last year (2015). We ABSOLUTELY loved it! To us it was worth every penny. It doesn't matter what side of the ship you are on. Whatever you don't see on the way out, you see on the way back. I HIGHLY recommend getting a verandah room.