Hi all,
I was wondering if any of you could offer me some advice on a balcony stateroom on the Island Princess. There are a several options open on our cruise - what deck (Aloha, Caribe, Dolphin, Baja, or Emerald) and part of the ship is best? Thanks!!!
Lynn
Lynn, if I was going to book a balcony cabin on Island Princess (other than a mini-suite on Baja Deck, which would be my first choice), I would book a catagory BA on Caribe deck, somwhere between C318 or C319 and C407 or C408. The BA balconies are larger than the other standard balcony cabins. I also like being somewhere between midship and forward because the Horizon Court buffet and dining rooms are all forward, unlike the Grand Class ships. And I would avoid cabins too close to the "humps" (C309-C310 and C416-C417) as there are privacy issues associated with being next to these cabins.
My next choice would be the same relative location on Baja Deck; and lastly, Aloha Deck. That area on Aloha Deck is right under the Lido Pool; and while I've never heard any noise complaints about Aloha Deck, I would prefer to have a buffer between me and the pool--that's why I would take Baja over Aloha.
Thanks so much Rick. That helps a lot. The BA category rooms are too much more expensive for me. Do you recommend picking the "guaranteed" room with the chance of an upgrade? The room choices I have now are: D625, C637, B722, B539, B43, B427, B423, B405, B401, E704,E702, E701, E633, E632, E631.
thanks again!
Lynn
The "guarantee" catagory is of course the way to lock in the best price if you don't have a preference for a particular cabin or location. But the thing to keep in mind is that an upgrade to a higher catagory does not always mean a better location; but then not everybody agrees on what is the "best" location. I really can't advise for or against a "guarantee"; I like to pick my own cabin; but not everybody feels the same.
Of the choices you have shown, I would advise against C637 and B423 and B427 because of the privacy issue I mentioned earlier; C637 looks right into C633's balcony, and they into yours. And B423 and B427 look right into B431's balcony, and they into yours. Any of the others would be fine, although my preference would be B401 or B405 simply because they are farther forward.
You have one listed that is missing. a digit, B43; by process of elimination I'm guessing it is either B435, B437 or B439. Any of those would be good; they are on the "hump" and would add a few degrees to your field of view. B431 would not be a problem here because there is a partition between B431 and B435. The problem with B431 is on the other side; the curved part is clear glass. I think I have a photo I can post that will show you what I mean--I am probably making this all very confusing for you.
D625 and the cabins on Emerald deck are fine; I just don't like being that far back on Island Princess or Coral Princess.
Lynn, I think you can see from this photo that if you are on a balcony on the corner of the "hump" you can see right into the first couple of balconies next to it--and visa versa. This is why I would advise against C637 and B423 and B427. B435, B437 or B439 would be fine.
Hi again Rick,
WOW! You have been a super help. Those pictures are beautiful and really made it clear what you were talking about. I reserved the cabin B437 on the "hump"! I am so happy I posted this note...I would have had NO idea which cabin to choose! Thanks so much!!!
Lynn
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