Carnival suite vs balcony whats the difference ?

Table Of Content

• Should you book a balcony for your Carnival cruise?
• Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships
• FAMILY HARBOR OCEAN VIEW
• Premium Balcony Rooms

In general, you can expect to spend anywhere from $200 to $600 more for a balcony stateroom on Carnival than an inside cabin. Looking a typical 7-night sailing, a balcony cabin costs $115 to $155 per person for each day of the sailing. Here’s your ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line’s balcony staterooms. There is a huge difference in size for the standard balcony vs an extended balcony--if you pick the right one.

Should you book a balcony for your Carnival cruise?

From thrilling water parks to state-of-the-art fitness centers, there is something for everyone on board. I can indulge in a variety of culinary delights, enjoy live music performances, and even catch a movie under the stars. The onboard entertainment is endless, with Broadway-style shows and comedy nights that will keep me entertained throughout my entire cruise. Overall, the benefits of having a balcony room outweigh the potential drawbacks, but it’s important to make an informed decision based on personal preferences and safety considerations. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to a balcony, then you should consider an Ocean View room with a window.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

With 22 ships in service and more on the way, Carnival has a large fleet with a wide array of balcony and suite options. Some are a little extra space; others are the size of luxury apartments. Keep in mind that some staterooms and features are exclusive to specific ships, so be sure to check out the amenities on board the ship you choose.

FAMILY HARBOR OCEAN VIEW

Families cruising on Carnival’s Vista-class ships (Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama) also have the option of a cove balcony with the FM and FS categories of Family Harbor Suites. Select ships also have forward and aft-view balconies that come with more outdoor space and some unique views that port and starboard rooms cannot provide. An Extended Balcony stateroom (8J, 8K, 8L, 8M and 8N) on a Carnival ship is one where the room is the same as a standard Balcony but the actual balcony space is larger. How much larger varies – some offer just 2 square feet more, while others have over 40 square feet more space outside.

Premium Balcony Rooms

Some have significantly more balcony space, such as aft-facing cabins, while others are more minimal. In general, the extended balcony can vary from a few extra feet to double the size. With a balcony cabin, you have access to the fresh air and ocean views at any time on a private verandah. Additionally, you can see the scenery right from your cabin without having to go to the top deck. If you’re sailing to scenic destinations like Alaska, having a balcony stateroom can really enhance your cruising experience. Balcony rooms offer stunning views of the ocean, fresh sea air, and more floor space than interior or ocean view rooms.

For families traveling together, having the extra space of the extended balcony stateroom would be worthwhile.

These cabins are great options for those on a tighter budget or who want to stretch their vacation budget as far as possible. Spending less on your room means that you'll have more to spend on cruise add-ons, such as drink packages, shore excursions, specialty dining, and more. While the majority of the fun will be located outside of your stateroom, you still want a comfortable “home away from home” that you can return to each evening and rest for the next day’s adventure. Premium and Extended Balconies are good choices too, especially for important occasions like a honeymoon! But, compare the prices with a Suite – it might not be a huge jump and you’ll still get more room and some extra perks included too. Of course, you must take into consideration the price of these staterooms as well.

Some people say the noise from lido bothers them on deck 8, but it has never bothered us. Unfortunately the price is still about $150 more than I paid 6 weeks ago. These are up to 30 newest stateroom pictures from our collection of cabin pictures. Slightly more affordable are the ships' 12 Carnival Excel Corner Suites, with the "wow" of private, open-air hot tubs on wraparound balconies. Budget travelers will find the inside cabins very functional; we felt that Carnival utilized the space as best as the cruise line could. There was a lot of attention to detail to ensure the design optimized the small cabin.

If the weather turns rainy or chilly, roll that window back up, and you can still enjoy the sitting area as an indoor portion of your cabin. We found there to be plenty of storage between the shelves and counter, along with space in the shower to also store cosmetics. The small ottoman could be used as even more storage if needed, although we mostly used it as spot to sit. The vanity was also where the obligatory stateroom telephone was located, which is much appreciated compared to older ships that have the phones taking up precious real estate on the nightstand. We were surprised to see our stateroom could accommodate up to 4 people; it would have been very cramped in the cabin at full capacity unless the additional 2 guests were small children.

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Guests will also receive a complimentary scrub kit for the Thermal Suites and access to fitness classes.

These rooms are slightly larger than ocean view cabins, offering both a roomy interior and the added luxury of the balcony floorspace. Before you book your cruise, you will want to know which stateroom you should call your own. Getting familiar with the types of staterooms helps you choose the sleeping space that offers you the most comfort based on your personal preferences and personality. It could also depend on whether you’re cruising solo, plus-one, with the family or as a group. I’ve found that the price difference between an ocean view room and a balcony room on a Carnival cruise can vary from $50 to $300 per night, depending on the ship location and category.

One of the main arguments against choosing a Balcony room is that you may not spend that much time in your room – you’ll be exploring the ship and making the most of all the facilities. Family Harbor Balcony staterooms are only available on Vista-class ships – Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama. But, if you like the Family Harbor concept, some of the other ships instead have Family Harbor Interior rooms, Family Harbor Ocean View rooms or Family Harbor Suites. On Carnival Miracle and Carnival Spirit, you can choose between a Premium or standard Balcony room if you’re happy to have one with an obstructed view. On Carnival Legend it’s only the Premium Balcony rooms where some have an obstructed view. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure.

Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish. Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels mostly have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Family Harbor Balcony has all of the benefits of a standard balcony cabin, with the added perks of the Family Harbor area. Looking at the prices for a popular seven day eastern Caribbean itinerary in March 2023 on Mardi Gras, the prices vary by a couple of hundred dollars between balcony cabin categories.

Once that is done, you have a cozy spot with two chairs and a cocktail table where you can admire the sea or enjoy your morning coffee — even if your cabinmate is still sleeping. Relax in your own personal outdoor oasis… designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views. For our sailing on Carnival Celebration, my sister and I were staying in an inside cabin guarantee. It’s inherently more expensive to sail on a brand-new cruise ship during its inaugural season, so we were content booking an inside cabin because of its affordability. For years, Carnival resisted the industry-wide trend of building massive mega-cruise ships that can hold upwards of 10,000 people onboard. With the creation of the Excel-class, Carnival Cruise Line finally hopped on the industry bandwagon by building new ships that can hold 40% more passengers than anything the cruise line had built before.

Carnival Cruise Line cabins and suite guide: Everything to know

Table Of Content

• CARNIVAL EXCEL SUITE
• Interior vs balcony staterooms on a Carnival cruise. Here's how they compared.
• Deck locations
• Obstructed View Balcony Rooms
• Should You Book A Balcony Room on a Carnival Cruise?
• Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms & Suites
• How many different types of balconies does Carnival offer?

These factors mean that cove balconies provide greater privacy, but there are some downsides too. Similarly, you'll find Havana balconies, as well as Cloud 9 spa balconies, each of which come with their own set of fun perks. Note, though, that Havana balcony cabins do not directly overlook the ocean. Instead, your cabin opens up to a patio area that is next to a public walkway, meaning that other guests will pass by your stateroom. Onboard Carnival Celebration, for instance, you'll find 130 standard ocean view rooms, as well as 41 Family Harbor and 4 Cloud 9 Spa ocean view cabins. In comparison, Carnival Paradise has 464 ocean view staterooms onboard.

CARNIVAL EXCEL SUITE

Affordable balcony cabins might come with a veranda so small your knees rub against the railing as you sit in one of two deck chairs flanking a small cocktail table. The most expensive suites, on the other hand, can have balconies as large as half a tennis court, equipped with cushy loungers, a big table for outdoor dining and even a private hot tub or plunge pool. I learned that Carnival Cruises offers 18 different types of balcony rooms, including obstructed view, junior, cove, extended, premium, premium vista, Cloud 9 Spa, Family Harbor, and Havana balcony staterooms. Compared to other cruise lines, Carnival offers a wide range of balcony room options, giving passengers the opportunity to choose a room that fits their specific needs and preferences.

Interior vs balcony staterooms on a Carnival cruise. Here's how they compared.

A Junior Balcony runs $2,316 for two guests, all in with taxes, while a Private-View Extended Balcony costs $2,572. Unlike the open design of standard balconies, cove balconies feel like a large open window to the sea. Think of a Junior Balcony as a cozy version of the standard balcony room. While the balcony size remains the same, the interior is slightly smaller. These rooms are ideal for couples or solo travelers and are exclusively available on Carnival’s Excel Class ships.

Deck locations

Some of these rooms are incredible, so they’re definitely worth looking into. If this happens, a steward will close a metal storm door over your glass balcony door and you won’t have access to your balcony until the next port of call. On Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise, the GS category Grand Suites also have cove-like enclosures where the bottom half of the balcony rail is solid steel. Here is everything you need to know about cabins onboard Carnival Cruise Line. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month.

Obstructed View Balcony Rooms

Or just spend time on your balcony — you’ve got one of our most spacious rooms. Booking a themed balcony room can add an extra touch of excitement to your cruise, whether you choose the vibrant Havana or the cozy and family-friendly Family Harbor. As they are less open than standard balconies they feel much more private and have a more secluded and cosy feel than the normal balcony. This is despite the fact that they are actually quite a lot bigger than a regular balcony. The latter three come with additional perks that you might want for your cruise vacation, such as access to the exclusive Family Harbor lounge or Havana pool. The most basic accommodation option you'll find on any cruise line are interior rooms, and Carnival is not an exception.

Those who prefer to spend their time onboard utilizing their balcony would certainly appreciate the extended balcony stateroom. Fun-focused Carnival offers a solid mix of cabins on its vessels for a range of price points. If you're looking for an inexpensive vacation option, the inside cabins on Carnival ships are more spacious than the inside cabins you'll find on the ships of some rival lines. Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships also can be larger than normal for the category. Balcony cabins on Carnival ships hold their own in size against most competitors. Located at the top of each ship on Deck 17, the complexes have separate living and sleeping areas and the most expansive balconies in the Carnival fleet — all unusual-for-Carnival features.

Should You Book A Balcony Room on a Carnival Cruise?

Carnival offers different balcony cabin options among its eight classes of ships, with newer ships in its Excel class providing fantastic new cabin designs for modern cruising. While a balcony room offers a unique experience, it’s essential to consider how much time you’ll spend in your room. If you’re the adventurous type who plans to explore the ship and its amenities, an Ocean View room might be a better value.

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Whether you want a balcony that is forward or aft-facing is another consideration, among many. Virgin Voyages likes to do things more playfully than other lines, and its balcony cabins are in keeping with that philosophy. Book a Sea Terrace on the line's Scarlet Lady, Resilient Lady or Valiant Lady and you'll get a balcony equipped with chairs and a small table plus a hammock swing attached to the ceiling. Embrace your inner kid and swing to your heart's content while you enjoy fresh air and sea views.

I think the themed Balcony rooms – Family Harbor and Havana – are some of the best, especially Family Harbor if you’re sailing with kids. Having the extra games for the little ones, and that free evening of babysitting can really help the whole family enjoy a good time on their cruise. And that is definitely the case for a lot of people who choose to sail with Carnival. Carnival ships are some of the most feature-packed on the oceans and there are loads of things to see and do. You might pay the extra for a Balcony but never really get the chance to make the most of it. A Balcony cabin is not for everyone no matter which cruise line you’re sailing with.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you’re looking to cruise with a view aboard Mardi Gras. A Junior Balcony stateroom features the same size balcony as standard Balcony rooms, just with a little less interior space. Any time you’re in your room, you’re just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Balcony staterooms are more expensive than inside and ocean view staterooms. If you are not planning to spend much time in your stateroom, then you might prefer to save your money and book a more affordable cabin. You might also want to consider if your balcony offers enough privacy, as some extended balconies, as well as Havana Cabanas, are visible from other areas onboard. Moreover, balcony cabins are considered roomier than inside and outside staterooms.

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On most ships, you'll find that the interior space of a balcony cabin measures around 185 square feet, while the balcony portion is around 35 square feet. In general, there are fewer ocean view rooms on newer Carnival ships, as most of the exterior facing cabins have balconies. Like with the number of different interior options on newer Carnival ships, you'll find that you have different types of ocean view rooms to choose from, too. A Balcony room on a Carnival ship is one that has its own private balcony area, accessible through a sliding door.

While not every ship will have every category, there will still be many different accommodation types to consider. A lot of people think that a balcony stateroom is a must-have on a Carnival ship. There are three kinds of Premium Balconies available on Carnival’s cruise ships. Balcony staterooms have become increasingly more popular throughout the last decade. Many cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, are building more balconies on new ships than ever before. All that being said, for the upcoming cruise, we were able to grab one of the extended balconies listed above, the ones termed "bowling alley" balconies.

These accommodations afford a unique view of the sea since you aren't on a typical balcony that hangs off the ship, but in a cutout in the ship's superstructure. You'll have more privacy than with typical balcony cabins, since no one can see you from above or the side — but that's not the main draw. With all balcony cabins, you can just throw on your bathrobe to catch views of wildlife or of your ship pulling into port.