OT ?? for Barb & Tony

[NCRedding]

I know this isn't about DCL, but you have taken a RCCL cruise to Alaska (I think I remember this). Did you have an inside or balcony cabin. I can't decide which to get. The inside is on Deck 8, the balcony one on deck 9, Price difference is $950. We always cruised with a veranda, so what would you do. Thanks for the help.

 

[luv2tvl]

Well, I'm not Barb but I did an Alaskan cruise last June with a balcony and we loved it! (we were on Holland, not Royal) There were many times we were just sitting on our balcony and saw whales spouting and breeching right off our balcony! That was one of the most amazing sights I've seen! Very awsome!!
Have a great time, it's a beautiful cruise.....

 

[TootyJane]

I'm not Barb either but last year we did an Alaskan cruise on the Regal Princess. They are 5 of us so we had a stateroom with a verandah and an inside room. Basically the inside room was a black box. We will never go for an inside again on any ship! Go for the verandah!! It is so worth the $$ and you won't regret it, trust me. It is so fun to sit on your balcony and see whales and the glaciers.

 

[NCRedding]

Thanks for the responses. I had been leaning very strongly towards the balcony--now I have that confirmed.

 

[inkkognito]

We had a balcony too...we booked it specifically so we could sit out there when we passed the glacier, and fortunately we had booked the best side of the ship so the view was awesome. The glacier was "calving" (chunks were falling off as we passed), so that was quite a site. Other than that, we didn't use the balcony much because it was so cold out there. You could get by without one, since the ship is built with a lot of glass and there are lots of viewing areas, but of course it's nicer to have your own.
If you are sailing on RCCL, beware of which cabin you pick. Ours was over the lifeboats, and unlike Disney, the boats stick way out. One of my favorite things to do is to stare down at the water, but instead my view was the boats! Ugh! The stateroom was not listed as obstructed view, and unlike Disney, RCCL does not reclassify their staterooms...no break in price for the ugly view. But other than that, the scenery was fantastic. We did a shore excursion where we rafted through an eagle preserve, and just getting there on a small boat was gorgeous, with waterfalls everywhere. We also took a helicopter up to a glacier where we went dog sledding, and even managed to squeeze in horseback riding!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[NCRedding]

Ok, so now I have to ask--what's the best side of the ship to be on? I had read about the obstructed view, and plan to tell the TA I have to use (business related trip, so have to use the TA the association is using) that I don't want those obstructed views, but which side should I request for best viewing of the calving? One more question, is the thermal room like the rainforest room at all?? Thanks for all the replies.