We plan to cruise in with our two sons, ages 14 and 18. We are leaning toward getting an interior room which would be the most inexpensive, however, is the balcony worth the price?

I just went on a carnival cruise and had a great time. My parents and sister had a suite with a balcony- those rooms were not much larger than the oceanview room we had 7 decks lower. The balcony was very small, and with 4 people - you would not all fit. Unless you are early risers and really want a balcony, your best bet is to go to the top of the boat for a breathtaking view. The only major reason for a balcony is if you smoke!! Otherwise my parent and sister would not pay extra for a balcony again. Have a great time

We chose an interior cabin on our last curise because it was larger than a similarly priced cabin with a balcony.

To each his own. I eat breakfast on my balcony, nap, have snacks, read, suntan, shelter in the rain, watch people getting on and off the ship, sit and look at the towns, watch the docking, look at the waves at midnight. And all this without getting dresssed.<BR><BR>Paul

A balcony is a nice plus, and once you've had one it's hard to go back to not having one. We got a great deal on a balcony cabin for our Christmas 2001 cruise (they were practically giving cruises away after 9/11) and we loved it. Then we found another bargin balcony cabin for our Thanksgiving 2002 cruise. Now we're spoiled and don't want to give up that fresh sea air, the extra &quot;private&quot; space and the sound of the waves lulling us to sleep. Our next cruise in April will also have a balcony. Is it worth it? Depends on the price difference between having one and not. Look for deals or maybe you'll get lucku and be upgraded. Either way.....enjoy!

Paul's reply conjours up quite a picture!! I hope he always gets a male cabin steward and a bathrobe.

Paul's reply conjours up quite a picture!! I hope he always gets a male cabin steward and a bathrobe.<BR><BR>Marsha - our rule of thumb is this: if we can get an outside for less than $400 (total, not per person) more than an inside, we book an outside. Also, if we can book a balcony for $700 more than an inside, we book that. We don't particularly care which deck or where on the deck as long as we're not under a kitchen or prep area.

Marsha<BR>We have had two cruises with balcony and could not go back to not having one. They are small but with four in a room, I think just the extra openness you would get with a balcony would be worth it. We start our day on the balcony with coffee and end our day on the balcony with cocktails, you can't beat the view, the sound or the privacy.

Even if it's a plain outside cabin I wouldn't take an inside cabin..it's too confining and claustrapohibic, especially if your going to be sharing a room. You could buy an inside cabin for the boys and have an outside cabin for yourself. Kids usually go to bed later and sleep later...and it give you all some privacy. Have been on two cruises with a balcony and it's a nice touch to walk outside and sit while the ship is cruising. The next ship we are cruising on doesn't have balconies,but no matter it's where it's going to me that is important.

It's getting harder and harder to get outside cabins without balconies. The newest ships provide balconies on 80% of their outside rooms. The outside cabins without balconies are generally situated very low on the ship. Having said that, we prefer to be where the action is, and make very little use of the balconey.

we had our first balcony after 25 years of cruising ( we usually get a nice outside cabin and never an inside cabin)...<BR><BR>After having a balcony, it is going to be very hard going back to a normal outside cabin....Love to go out on the balcony and watch us leave the ports , have breakfast out there- very romantic and private (depending on the ship).