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You might be able to save a lot of money with an obstructed view balcony, assuming you do not care about having something blocking your view of the ocean. Cloud 9 Spa balconies are themed-staterooms located conveniently near the Cloud 9 Spa where guests receive exclusive amenities and benefits during the duration of their cruise. Cloud 9 Spa balcony guests get access to the ship’s thermal spa for the entirety of their cruise vacation, along with priority access to spa appointments and discounts on spa treatments on port days. For example, Carnival offers extended balconies on some ships, which provides additional balcony square footage in comparison to a standard balcony. You can also book specialty balconies in locations close to the spa, childcare centers, and Havana club.
Family Harbor Balconies (FM, FO, FS)
As someone who loves to travel and explore new places, I understand the importance of finding the right accommodations for a trip. And when it comes to cruising, there’s nothing quite like having your own private balcony to soak up the sun and take in the stunning views. That’s why I’m excited to share with you all the information I’ve gathered about Carnival’s balcony rooms – from the different types available to the pros and cons of booking one.
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Passengers can also expect a private bathroom and shower, with basic toiletries such as shampoo and soap and a hair dryer. Newer balcony cabins on the Mardi Gras even have glass enclosed showers which are much roomier than those found on other ships. Making the choice even harder is a wide range of suites with even more indoor and outdoor space as well as a range of amenities and benefits that many cruises love. While Carnival has limited obstructed view balcony staterooms, the ones that do exist come at a discounted price.
What is an Obstructed View on a Carnival Balcony?
For couples, the Havana Balcony rooms are great as you’ll be able to hang out at the exclusive Havana pool, far away from the crowds. If you’re cruising with kids, then Family Harbor Balcony rooms are the best for you. Kids will love the fun decor and the exclusive Family Harbor Lounge is a great place to hang out with other families. If you love spa days, then Cloud 9 Balcony rooms are ideal as they come with unlimited access to the Thermal Suite and lots of perks. The lounge also provides breakfast in the morning, which can be less hectic than fighting the crowds elsewhere onboard. There are three different types of Havana balconies available on select Carnival’s ships.
Notably, the vanity was nearly identical between our inside cabin and the extended balcony stateroom.
It is really much more useful, IMHO, if you like to be on it during the day really spreading out and laying back. Our next cruise we have a 9C on the Liberty, which has a balcony more than twice the size of a regular one. My mother told me today that she would never be able to get a normal balcony again. I got a free upgrade from ES price drops (actually got the upgrade and OBC) so didn't think much about it.
In all my years of cruising, I’ve never ran into someone I know onboard a cruise ship, so this was a fun coincidence. Carnival's newer ships have relatively few such cabins, as generally cabins that face outwards now are built with balconies. With an oceanview cabin, you get a window looking out to the sea but not an attached balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. Note that, in a quirk of the cabin categorization system at Carnival, there are a few inside cabins on some Carnival ships that do, indeed, have a view to the outside world. These cabins either have an obstructed view (often due to lifeboats) or a porthole, such that the view isn't all that great. You'll also want to book early if you're aiming for a suite — particularly if you want one of the best suites on a Carnival ship.
STATEROOMS GOT YOU FEELING ALL COMFY?
Located on Deck 10, my coworker's extended balcony stateroom felt very spacious and functional. The cabin features a considerably large balcony with 46 square feet of outdoor space. These extended balconies are approximately 50% bigger than a standard balcony, although there is no extra furniture on the extended balcony. Carnival’s Premium balcony staterooms are larger than standard balcony cabins onboard. If you are looking to splurge, these Premium balconies will cost you more than a standard balcony but you will have more space for your sailing. These spaces vary widely in size, so it pays to study your ship's deck plan before booking.
Infinite Veranda cabins on Celebrity Cruises
Whether you have 10 or 20 people in your group, there’s something to do and see even if everyone differs in age, abilities and interests. On the other hand, the Family Harbor Balcony rooms are aimed at families with access to the Family Harbor Lounge. These rooms, only available on Vista-class ships, offer a nautical decor with a cozy and family-friendly atmosphere. They’re great for families traveling with kids, offering a range of amenities like board games and movies.
Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. If you want to save money and you think you might not make the most of a Balcony, then definitely consider an Ocean View stateroom. You’ll still get a sea view, but those extra $ you’ve saved can go towards another excursion or a couple of speciality restaurant meals. The worst Balcony rooms on Carnival ships are the Obstructed View Balcony rooms on Carnival Miracle and Carnival Spirit. The Cove Balcony rooms aren’t loved by everyone either – as they can be a little shaded and the low deck position means you can’t always use them in rough seas. The priority appointments only apply to reservations made on the first day though – once 6 pm hits on embarkation day, other guests will be able to start making their own bookings.
It gives you more room to maneuver out there, and I find that preferable. I've usually done my homework and booked a cabin where we were not smack-dab in the middle of a lifeboat location, but more "in between" them so that we can see a little of the water line below. I happily give up being able to see straight down to the water in order to have a more spacious balcony. On Royal Caribbean's enormous Oasis Class ships, these one- and two-bedroom suites overlook the back of the ship with the bonus of views of the AquaTheater. You can sit in your lounge chair and privately watch thrilling high-diving shows, complete with dancers, acrobats, dancing fountains and performers jumping off 30-foot platforms into the deepest pools at sea.
Even between the two of us, we used up nearly all of the plugs to charge all of our devices, including phones, laptops, watches and more. Between the inside cabin and extended balcony stateroom, both vanities featured the identical strip of outlets and USB plugs. The sofa in the extended balcony stateroom converted each night into a sleeper bed (not to be mistaken with a roll-out couch). Essentially, the stateroom attendant would remove the back cushions each evening and the sofa was transformed into a twin bed. Our inside cabin on Carnival Celebration, nestled on Deck 4, was considered a standard inside stateroom with 160 square feet of space.
And if you have a toddler or small child, you might want to think twice. I’m not here to tell you that you should or shouldn’t book a Balcony room on a Carnival cruise, because I think it depends on what you want from your cruise, and your budget – and that’s a personal thing. Just so you’re aware, you can’t have young kids in a Havana room – they’re for guests aged 12 or older only. The Havana Bar is open to all guests – with Latin music and Cuban-inspired coffees and cocktails, it’s a fun place to hang out. Family Harbor rooms on a Carnival ship are aimed at families and include a number of benefits including access to the Family Harbor Lounge.
