Do we need a balcony? (Alaska Cruise)

[lemonpan]

Hi Folks!

I've never, ever cruised before and now I know what non-Disney folks feel like when they plan their first vacation. My head is spinning! The more I read about cruising, the more confused I get. Oy!

AnyWAY, my mom wants to do an Alaska cruise. Our big debate right now is....do we *need* a balcony? We keep going back and forth.

I don't have to tell you that the price with a balcony is MUCH more than without.

Since we've never cruised before and have never been to Alaska, we don't know if we need a balcony to watch the scenery go by of if there are other places to sit and enjoy.

Any help is more than welcome!

Thanks guys!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi Folks!

I've never, ever cruised before and now I know what non-Disney folks feel like when they plan their first vacation. My head is spinning! The more I read about cruising, the more confused I get. Oy!

AnyWAY, my mom wants to do an Alaska cruise. Our big debate right now is....do we *need* a balcony? We keep going back and forth.

I don't have to tell you that the price with a balcony is MUCH more than without.

Since we've never cruised before and have never been to Alaska, we don't know if we need a balcony to watch the scenery go by of if there are other places to sit and enjoy.

Any help is more than welcome!

Thanks guys!

Just my opinion, but, no. While having a verandah is a definite MUST DO for some, others do just fine in oceanview or inside rooms.

It's nice to sit on your verandah and have coffee in the morning, or drinks at night (if you don't mind the cold), but it not a "need" necessarily. You can see and enjoy Alaska just as well utilizing the public viewing areas. And, if you are on deck, you can easily cross over to the other side to catch the whole view, not just what you can see from your side of the ship on your private verandah.

And, yes, I've done both a verandah and an oceanview on my Alaskan cruises.

 

[lemonpan]

Just my opinion, but, no. While having a verandah is a definite MUST DO for some, others do just fine in oceanview or inside rooms.

It's nice to sit on your verandah and have coffee in the morning, or drinks at night (if you don't mind the cold), but it not a "need" necessarily. You can see and enjoy Alaska just as well utilizing the public viewing areas. And, if you are on deck, you can easily cross over to the other side to catch the whole view, not just what you can see from your side of the ship on your private verandah.

And, yes, I've done both a verandah and an oceanview on my Alaskan cruises.

Gotcha!

That's good to know. Now I need to figure out how to snag the best deal. Did I mention that my head is spinning?

 

[jahber]

We sailed in an inside and had a wonderful time! Really really amazing. But we are from Florida, so honestly, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy the verandah much. Brrrr! Even just Tracey Arm day (when you visit the glacier), we were FREEZING! On the other hand, my kids swam in port when the ship wasn't moving and the sun was shining.

Edited to add: at least one of the kid pools was heated. They just bobbed in there and watched movies. And then got out and ran screaming (and freezing) for the towels

 

[jdb in AZ]

Actually, we love verandahs, especially in Alaska. You don't have to get dressed to grab your camera and go up on deck when you see a whale, or scenery you need to photograph.

We also love Glacier Bay, but DCL doesn't go there. If you cruise with Princess or HAL, you could see Glacier Bay, and the $$$ you save could cover the additional expense of the verandah. Or a great shore excursion.

 

[lemonpan]

We sailed in an inside and had a wonderful time! Really really amazing. But we are from Florida, so honestly, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy the verandah much. Brrrr! Even just Tracey Arm day (when you visit the glacier), we were FREEZING! On the other hand, my kids swam in port when the ship wasn't moving and the sun was shining.

Edited to add: at least one of the kid pools was heated. They just bobbed in there and watched movies. And then got out and ran screaming (and freezing) for the towels

Hee! You make such a good point about the cold. Hmmm....

Actually, we love verandahs, especially in Alaska. You don't have to get dressed to grab your camera and go up on deck when you see a whale, or scenery you need to photograph.

We also love Glacier Bay, but DCL doesn't go there. If you cruise with Princess or HAL, you could see Glacier Bay, and the $$$ you save could cover the additional expense of the verandah. Or a great shore excursion.

To be honest, I started looking at other non-Disney cruise lines. They are SO much cheaper! Gah! Not sure what to do!

 

[jahber]

Jdb makes a great point. We loved our DCL to Alaska, but when we do Alaska again, we'll probably do Princess (since we have littles and HAL isn't known for lots of kids )

 

[over50visits]

Actually, we love verandahs, especially in Alaska. You don't have to get dressed to grab your camera and go up on deck when you see a whale, or scenery you need to photograph.

We also love Glacier Bay, but DCL doesn't go there. If you cruise with Princess or HAL, you could see Glacier Bay, and the $$$ you save could cover the additional expense of the verandah. Or a great shore excursion.

I agree with this completely. DCL is our go-to line for cruises, EXCEPT Alaska since they do not go into Glacier Bay. The absolute highlight of our Alaska cruise was an entire morning in Glacier Bay, sitting on our balcony on a great Carnival cruise ship.

Plus, the rest of the cruise passed by amazing scenery day and night, and at each port, making our verandah a fantastic choice. We spent many, many hours on it taking in the sights of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

It was the experience of a lifetime (along with a few others we've had on DCL). And since the route is better on Carnival (and others), the ship was great, and the price was much lower, Alaska on another line than Disney is a no-brainer (unfortunately). The money you'll save over Disney will easily pay for a balcony, and we spent much time on it in Glacier Bay and the inside passage. There is a huge amount of scenery you will pass by, and that is the only cruise we've taken where we thought the verandah was a must-do.

If you really must do Disney, they I would seriously consider affording the verandah. But if better scenery and a much lower price lets you choose another line (such as Princess or Carnival), I'd forgo Disney for this cruise.

You can't see Alaska as well from an inside cabin and depending on public viewing areas. You won't always want to get dressed and go up on deck for the overwhelming scenery passing by. You'll treasure every moment and fill your camera with pictures.

 

[dclpluto]

Nope you don't need a verendah. Let's say you sit out on your verendah 2 hours a day. 14 hours on your cruise let's say the verendah costs 1400 more dollars. Is it worth it now 100 dollars a hour. Of course you get a bigger stateroom also. Enjoy. It's probably more than 1400 dollars also

 

[wombat_5606]

Maybe I cruised to Alaska for different reasons than most people, but it was all about the scenery for me. If you stay on your balcony, you're only seeing one side of the scenery. While the ship is moving you are going to have a better view if you are in a location where you can see both sides of the ship, or at least walk to both sides. When the ship is in glacier viewing mode, most times the captain will rotate the ship so both sides can see the glacier, but he won't do that if you pass by a whale on the way to the glacier.

 

[Ofinn]

I'm not paying 3k more for a verandah. I like having a verandah in the caribbean to dry out shoes, running clothes, bathing suites, and to air out the room. I cant remember ever actually sitting on one. I prefer to be around other people so I will probably spend most of my time in the outlook cafe or by one of the windows in the promenade lounge. I could never justify the upcharge on a verandah on the classic ships. I only book verandah's on the Fantasy and Dream because the cost is minimal.

 

[Ofinn]

Nope you don't need a verendah. Let's say you sit out on your verendah 2 hours a day. 14 hours on your cruise let's say the verendah costs 1400 more dollars. Is it worth it now 100 dollars a hour. Of course you get a bigger stateroom also. Enjoy. It's probably more than 1400 dollars also

It's way more than 1400 dollars on DCL. It's usually 3k or more.

 

[missyp]

Need a veranda ? No. But it was quite spectacular to have one. Nothing better than sitting on your private veranda with hot chocolate or coffee and a chocolate chip cookie from room service and watching the magnificent scenery. If it doesn't break the bank I certainly recommend it.

I agree with previous poster that for Caribbean cruises I barely go out on the veranda, but for Alaska I was out there constantly.

 

[southerngirl528]

I always book a verandah room. Only 2 exceptions: one was a group cruise where I didn't have as much say in what category stateroom I got, and the other was our Alaska cruise 2 years ago on the Wonder as my DD, SIL & 2 little princesses were going as well and didn't want to spend the extra money and we wanted connecting rooms. We had connecting Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms on Deck 2 midship and loved it. I scarcely missed my verandah at all. I agree with Wombat that you would miss a lot if you relied mostly on your verandah for taking in the gorgeous scenery.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Maybe I cruised to Alaska for different reasons than most people, but it was all about the scenery for me. If you stay on your balcony, you're only seeing one side of the scenery. While the ship is moving you are going to have a better view if you are in a location where you can see both sides of the ship, or at least walk to both sides. When the ship is in glacier viewing mode, most times the captain will rotate the ship so both sides can see the glacier, but he won't do that if you pass by a whale on the way to the glacier.

Totally agree. The views are stunning when standing on deck and you get the full view. We cruised Alaska with HAL but I will never forget standing on the deck right up front with nothing or no one in the way. Pretty much a 360 view. You just don't see the "full picture" on a veranda.

 

[blondietink]

Have not been to Alaska on a cruise but my best friend has. they were eternally grateful that they had an inside cabin. Others who had Oceanview or veranda cabins complained all the time about not being able to sleep due to the very long days in the summer in Alaska even with the drapes closed. She said that it really never gets dark, and the sun is actually out until around 1 am. then it just gets dusk and by 4 am the sun is out again. So, if you have trouble sleeping in daylight, then go for an inside.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Hi Folks!

I've never, ever cruised before and now I know what non-Disney folks feel like when they plan their first vacation. My head is spinning! The more I read about cruising, the more confused I get. Oy!

AnyWAY, my mom wants to do an Alaska cruise. Our big debate right now is....do we *need* a balcony? We keep going back and forth.

I don't have to tell you that the price with a balcony is MUCH more than without.

Since we've never cruised before and have never been to Alaska, we don't know if we need a balcony to watch the scenery go by of if there are other places to sit and enjoy.

Any help is more than welcome!

Thanks guys!

Verandah Alaska.

Lots of misconceptions about a verandah in Alaska get posted here.

Let's rule a few of them out first.

Lots of daylight, - so can't sleep. NOPE. The rooms have thick Curtains and it's pitch black in there, in fact my son wanted to watch a movie on a sea day at noon, and had it 100% dark when we went in.

You can't see the other side. NOPE. All cruisers can walk around the ship, if you gave a verandah, you are not locked in your room. In fact you have more freedom. You do not need to get up at 6 am to snag a good deck place on Tracy arm day, where Disney cruisers act like WDW parades and stake out every good place a few hours in advance. If you have a verandah, you can use it, or walk about and come back, and go to breakfast, the lunch BBQ and restrooms without loosing your view. In fact you do not get other people or their cameras in your view.

You see everything from an inside room. NOPE. We have a verandah, we used it from 6 am, with rolling views of waves of fog, beautiful, then land, sea life, whales Dolphins, land, - to midnight, with Kate quiet views, sunsets, breathtaking nature, gliding through. Those with inside rooms do not see early morning or late evening, they do not know what they are missing. We may see the show then get room service and stay on the verandah from 9.30 to midnight, inside rooms do not do this, you do not see them on deck. Most of the best views were 6 am and post 10 pm. The verandah us a port adventure that lasts four days all day, it's worth it.

You get cold on the verandah. NOPE. DCL supply extra blankets to view, and you can get room service, you get cold on deck bring out all day, now if you have children, thry may get bored, so with a verandah they watch a movie in the room, and are warm, you can watch the views, same if they go to bed early.

It's not worth the extra money. NOPE - As well as a four day port adventure, the reason why you book Alaska is the views. It's invaluable, that's why verandah prices are higher and book out fast, as the seasoned travellers know you only get 50% of the views if you book an inside room. Coming into port going out of port is interesting, if you are on your verandah you see if your getting in early, like Ketchikan where we got on two hours early, we were on the verandah, saw it and was first off. Alaska route you go up then back down , same as Tracy arm up then down, you see both sides from the verandah 180 degrees, no other people in the way, no others pushing in, no spoilt photos, and you can come and go as you please. If there is any sea life the PA system will tell you, they said about Eagles, our side, then whales other side to us, and we just went out of our room and up and saw them. A bit like paying for a cabana at castaway, you do not have to stay in it all day to get your money's worth, you can come and go. People will let you in on deck for an odd photo, but not allow you to take their space permanently.

Interestingly, you should check into responses here before trusting the answers, at least one poster who has responded has not been to Alaska on DCL, but gave their opinion, do your own research, we booked a verandah, yes it was worth it, you see so much more from 6 am to midnight. The people in inside rooms do not know east they have missed because they didn't see it.

If DCL released Alaska cruises, tomorrow, and all cabins verandah and insider were at the same price, everyone here would book a verandah. Thry know it's better, but a few just try to convince you it is not. It's just one decision, is the money within your budget, if it is, do it.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Actually, we love verandahs, especially in Alaska. You don't have to get dressed to grab your camera and go up on deck when you see a whale, or scenery you need to photograph.

We also love Glacier Bay, but DCL doesn't go there. If you cruise with Princess or HAL, you could see Glacier Bay, and the $$$ you save could cover the additional expense of the verandah. Or a great shore excursion.

Great points.

Hee! You make such a good point about the cold. Hmmm....




To be honest, I started looking at other non-Disney cruise lines. They are SO much cheaper! Gah! Not sure what to do!

Great points.

Maybe I cruised to Alaska for different reasons than most people, but it was all about the scenery for me. If you stay on your balcony, you're only seeing one side of the scenery. While the ship is moving you are going to have a better view if you are in a location where you can see both sides of the ship, or at least walk to both sides. When the ship is in glacier viewing mode, most times the captain will rotate the ship so both sides can see the glacier, but he won't do that if you pass by a whale on the way to the glacier.

great points from a seasoned cruiser.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

This is definitely a good question and one that comes up quite often on the boards and honestly it's just a decision you'll have to make once you've taken in all the advice and of course considered your finances as only you can decide what you are comfortable with.

There is no right or wrong answer, just matters of opinion so I'll share mine. We had a 7A verandah in 2013 as it was our first Alaska sailing with DCL and loved it. We are doing Alaska again in 2016 but the difference between Oceanview (9C) to Verandah (7A) has gone up tremendously. It's about $2500 for the 3 of us and I decided that was not worth it to us. We love the deck 2 9C cabins and spent 11 nights there for our summer cruise to Norway/Iceland and Scotland cruise and had no regrets (don't get me started on that price difference lol).

I booked opening day (so that's a huge help right there) and we are paying around $4400 with OBB so I find that very reasonable for DCL and Alaska. Truth be told, I'd rather sail in an oceanview with DCL instead of verandah on another line if prices were similar. That's just us though. I do check other lines and sailings but I have not found one that was like, OMG I need to book this one or what an amazing deal - just hasn't happened so we are pleased sailing with DCL.

I do agree that the cabins do stay dark, even in oceanview as again for the "land of the midnight Sun" in Norway/Iceland this summer we stayed dark in our cabin with no effort closing the thick curtains.

If you feel the extra $ would be better used for excursions, airfare, etc then there is nothing wrong with that and I know you'll still have an amazing cruise in an inside or oceanview. If you have the extra funds and want to go for it, sure a verandah is amazing!

Good luck

Heather

 

[SuzanneSLO]

This is definitely a good question and one that comes up quite often on the boards and honestly it's just a decision you'll have to make once you've taken in all the advice and of course considered your finances as only you can decide what you are comfortable with.

There is no right or wrong answer, just matters of opinion so I'll share mine. We had a 7A verandah in 2013 as it was our first Alaska sailing with DCL and loved it. We are doing Alaska again in 2016 but the difference between Oceanview (9C) to Verandah (7A) has gone up tremendously. It's about $2500 for the 3 of us and I decided that was not worth it to us. We love the deck 2 9C cabins and spent 11 nights there for our summer cruise to Norway/Iceland and Scotland cruise and had no regrets (don't get me started on that price difference lol).

I booked opening day (so that's a huge help right there) and we are paying around $4400 with OBB so I find that very reasonable for DCL and Alaska. Truth be told, I'd rather sail in an oceanview with DCL instead of verandah on another line if prices were similar. That's just us though. I do check other lines and sailings but I have not found one that was like, OMG I need to book this one or what an amazing deal - just hasn't happened so we are pleased sailing with DCL.

I do agree that the cabins do stay dark, even in oceanview as again for the "land of the midnight Sun" in Norway/Iceland this summer we stayed dark in our cabin with no effort closing the thick curtains.

If you feel the extra $ would be better used for excursions, airfare, etc then there is nothing wrong with that and I know you'll still have an amazing cruise in an inside or oceanview. If you have the extra funds and want to go for it, sure a verandah is amazing!

Good luck

Heather

Heather: Slightly off topic, but I'm hoping you can help us with cabin choice for our Norway cruise next year. We are booked in a 7A, traditional Navigators verandah for the 7 night cruise. On our Med cruise last year, we lucked into one of the few 7A, secret verandah with obstruction.

I'm thinking of upgrading to a standard verandah, but some have said the Navigator's verandah is nice for cold weather cruising. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance. -- Suzanne