about and only about cruises. Truth is we do know a lot about cruising but it is not all we are about. Just so you know, we are also all about all-inclusive vacations as well. We are Texas Cruise and Travel because we intended to use the initials for our name in all our promotion but someone beat us to the TC&T and besides it sounds like a railroad. However, just to be clear our business is pretty evenly split between cruises and all-inclusive vacations.
Today I want to talk cruises . . . not just cruises in general but cabin choices. Now, right from the start let me say I have never had a bad experience on a cruise because of my cabin selection. Whether and inside cabin or a suite any cruise I get to experience is a good cruise.
So, you don’t want that cramped inside bungalow and you’re not ready to drop a dime on that luxury suite . . . what to do. Do what I do . . . get a balcony cabin. Now it used to be that a balcony was twice the price of an ocean view cabin (An ocean view cabin is generally speaking an inside cabin along the hull of the ship with a window). By the way, these are a good alternative to an inside cabin for people short on cash and long on claustrophobia. These days a window will cost you about a hundred dollars per person more than the inside cabin.
In my book the best buy on any cruise ship is the balcony (Veranda) cabin. It’s going to cost you about $15 per person per day more than the ocean view cabin (roughly $100 pp on a seven night cruise) but it’s going to give you everything you get in the inside cabin and about half what you get in a suite. What I am trying to say is that cost really should not be an issue in choosing a balcony cabin instead of one of the lower category cabins (inside or ocean view). Now if those best meet your other needs go for it but I’m here to tell you that a balcony cabin is your best cruise buy.
I cannot think of a seven days or longer cruise where a balcony isn’t the best choice (value). Trust me, the longer the cruise the more cramped that inside/ocean view cabin will become. You will discover, because of the balcony, you will spend more time in your cabin than you expected. Again, the longer the cruise the more you’ll find yourself enjoying that balcony.
So take my advice, if you can make it work on your next cruise choose a balcony cabin. You’ll be glad you did.
Let me make a suggestion here that is totally aside from choosing a balcony on a cruise ship. If you are already a balcony or suite person when it comes to cruising and if you really enjoy watching the scenery go by let me suggest that you consider a river cruise. There are paddle-wheeler cruises all over America (especially the Mississippi River system) and in a couple of years Viking River Cruises will be offering a European style river cruise on the Mississippi.
Many ocean cruisers never come back to the big ships after they do a river cruise . . . just warning you . . . River Cruising is addictive.