Cabin Reviews. Cabin Reviews. A selection of reviews by members of Cruising Mates Forum. Splendour of the Seas Grand Suite.

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1 Cabin Reviews A selection of reviews by members of Cruising Mates Forum Splendour of the Seas Grand Suite

2 Introduction This Flip Book contains a selection from the many cabin reviews posted on the forum by members of Cruising Mates, and will be updated periodically as new reviews are added to our cabin reviews area. The reviews have been written by real passengers, and their views and opinions (and photos!) are their own. We believe that makes this resource unique in an area dominated by glossy brochures and wide-angle photographs. Only the initial reviews are published here; on the forum, each review is followed up with discussion, questions and answers. This edition was published in July To visit our Cabin Reviews area click: To visit Cruising Mates Forum, click: Cruising Mates Cabin Reviews Cruising Mates Forum Contents Page 2

3 Contents Azamara: Azamara Quest Suite 8091 Celebrity: Constellation Cat C3 Cabin 9100 Eclipse Balcony Deck 8 Cat C1 Celebrity Eclipse Accessible Cabin Deck 10 Silhouette Cat 2B Balcony Cabin 7283 Silhouette Cat 2A Balcony Cabin 7276 Costa: Costa Deliziosa Panorama Suite 4399 Costa Fortuna Stern Balcony Cabin 6467 Costa Serena Cat B3 Balcony Cabin 8382 Costa Pacifica Balcony Cabin 6419 Cruise & Maritime: mv Discovery Outside Cabin 7119 Cunard: Queen Mary 2 B3 Balcony Cabin Deck 4 Queen Mary 2 Balcony Stateroom Deck 11 Queen Victoria Princess Grill Suite 5093 Fred. Olsen: Balmoral Junior Balcony Suite Contents Page 3

4 Balmoral Premier Suite 1024 Black Watch Outside Cabin 3032 (E) Black Watch Junior Suite 5004 Boudicca Outside Cabins 4101 & 4051 Boudicca Premier Suite 9016 Braemar Inside Cabin 3120 (Grade I) HAL: Eurodam Deluxe Balcony Suite Deck 6 Aft 6164 MSC: MSC Divina Yacht Club Suite MSC Opera Inside Cabin NCL: Norwegian Epic - Cat BF Balcony Cabin 9257 Norwegian Jade Mini Suite Norwegian Breakaway BA Balcony Cabin P&O: Oceana Inside Cabin L338 Ventura Balcony Cabin L304 Ventura Obstructed View Cabin E324 Ventura C deck Balcony Cabin Contents Page 4

5 Princess: Caribbean Princess Inside Cabin 741 Crown Princess Balcony Cabin 214 Royal Caribbean: Adventure of the Seas Junior Suite 9234 Splendour of The Seas Grand Suite 8510 Saga: Saga Pearl II Superior Outside Cabin 115 Saga Pearl II Owner's Suite Cabin 1 Saga Ruby Inside Cabin J Grade Saga Sapphire Superior Balcony Cabin Saga Sapphire N Grade Seabourn: Seabourn Odyssey Cabin/Suite 431 Thomson: Thomson Celebration Deluxe Cabin 233 Thomson Spirit Deluxe Cabin 200 Viking River Cruises: Viking Neptune Cat A Cabin 311 RV Tonle (Viking Mekong) Double Cabin Contents Page 5

6 Balmoral Premier Suite 1024 by Dave For our first cruise in 2004 we chose the cheapest inside cabin. We continued to believe that "cabins are only for sleeping in" and booked inside cabins for the next few cruises. Then we had a free upgrade to an outside cabin - "much better" we thought, so it was outside cabins from then on. But along came the 'inside smoking ban' so we tried a junior balcony suite. "Wow, this is so much better!" we said, and so a balcony became a must. When we booked our honeymoon cruise we decided to really go for it. So, being Fred Olsen fans, we chose probably Fred's best offering - a premier suite on Balmoral (sorry to anyone who thinks his other top suites are better!). Balmoral isn't our favourite Fred Olsen ship, but the date was perfect and she was sailing to the Med from Dover - our local port. We took a few photos (actually, we took lots - this was a whole new world for us!). The cabin is big. The first door on the right leads to the bathroom, nicely finished in marble with a full-sized bath. Bathrobes, toiletries, and other bits and pieces are all included. The second door leads to a large walk-in wardrobe with a full-length mirror, a safe, and masses of storage space. Contents Page 6

7 The bedroom area - obviously! The sitting area has a sofa (which can be made into a bed), a coffee table, and a couple of armchairs. The 42" TV and home cinema system looks impressive, but the offerings were poor - the ship's location in Google Earth, a few news channels, and 55 pay-per-view films in low quality - most of which were aimed at children and teenagers (who only comprised about 1 in Contents Page 7

8 50 of the guests!). There's also Fred Olsen interactive but we only really used it to order breakfast and to check our account. (P&O's system is miles better.) The dining area: Other benefits for 'suite people' included champagne, a goodies bag of chocolates, etc., slippers, canapés, daily topping-up of fruit bowl, daily news-sheet, and the use of excellent binoculars (much better than mine) and atlas. We also boarded at 11.30am for a special lunch and were first to disembark. Complimentary celebration extras included a second bottle of champagne, and a cake and serenade at dinner! I don't expect we'll enjoy this level of luxury again (it's a standard balcony cabin on Boudicca next), but we've got the memories - and a video! Contents Page 8

9 Norwegian Epic - Cat BF Balcony Cabin 9257 by Wansbrough On the 21 June 2010 we took a 1 night cruise on the brand new Norwegian Epic. We had already booked cabin 9219 but unfortunately along with many other cabins on this cruise, it had not been finished and we were moved to another cabin in the same category. Looking towards the balcony over the bed. The cabins on the Norwegian Epic caused a lot of controversy when she was first launched because they do not have a separate designated bathroom. In most cases the toilet and shower are either side of the cabin door concealed behind obscure glass. This can then be zoned off from the rest of the cabin by a curtain to provide extra privacy. I have to say that I was really taken with the look and feel of this cabin. I can remember lying on the bed viewing my surroundings and thinking how smart it looked with its long curved wall of wood and mirror. The cabin is very long but is quite narrow and a clever concept of making the dividing walls wave shaped presumably means they have tried to try and squeeze more cabins into the design of the ship. I remember there being loads of storage and lots of little fancy ideas which I have not seen in other cabins. For me the sink was in a peculiar place being right next to the bed. We were not too bothered by the need to draw the curtain across for privacy but do recall being aware of certain sounds being broadcast to the rest of the cabin because the lack of proper door. Contents Page 9

10 Looking from the balcony end towards the cabin door where you can see the bathroom area and the curtain. The very comfortable bed which is tucked into the curve of the wave wall. Contents Page 10

11 MSC Divina Yacht Club Suite by Skier Pete Category := Grade Yacht Club 1 Deluxe Suite. Situated on deck 15, forward port side. CABIN The 215 sq. ft cabin measured ~25 ft X 8.5 ft on its maximum dimensions. The furniture consisted of a queen size bed, 2 small bed side lockers each with 2 very small drawers, a 3 seat settee and a small oval glass top coffee table. The fixed furniture consisted of a walk-in wardrobe, ~ 4 ft square, which housed a hanging rail (one half had a full length drop and the other a half had a half height drop) beneath which was a two shelf unit. The final storage in the wardrobe was a full height unit containing 6 deep drawers. and 2 shelves, one of which held the safe. At the top of the room was the top shelf housing the life jackets (4). Contents Page 11

12 In the cabin itself was a further full height half width shelving unit with five shelves. The final fixture was the vanity unit/desk/ mini-bar unit with attendant pouffe. There are two quadrant shelves above the mini-bar one of which houses the flat screen TV. This was relatively small for a suite, with just adequate storage. But the major factor is it is in the MSC Yacht Club Area with all its attendant exclusive YC benefits which more than make up for its size. This must have been the quietest cabin I've ever stayed in. NO noise problems! BATHROOM The bathroom was ~ 6 ft X 6 ft (~36 sq. ft.)with a good sized bath with a adjustable heights shower head over the bath and a plastic shower screen on the bath. Storage was 3 quadrant shelves above the sink surround and 4 small cupboards under the sink area. Bathrobe hooks (2) were on the back of the door and above the bath was a pull out washing line. Contents Page 12

13 Bath with shower over. BALCONY The balcony was 8.5 ft X 4.5 ft (~40 sq. ft) and was furnished with 2 chairs (non-adjustable) and one small low table/3rd chair. I consider it a very small balcony for a suite. Contents Page 13

14 mv Discovery Outside Cabin 7119 by JollyJill We had been blessed by the upgrade fairy so were delighted to have been given a cabin on deck 7 instead of deck 5. It was the biggest cabin we had experienced at that time and felt that it was big enough to hold a party. The windows were large and there was a light and airy feel to the room. There was a bath as well as a shower which we like because there is more space to hang washing (there is no self service laundry on Discovery) The only downside for us was the storage space, which was in our opinion, inadequate. I appreciate that she is an old ship but there was plenty of room to add another wardrobe. Let's hope that the refit has addressed that particular problem. Contents Page 14

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16 Boudicca Premier Suite 9016 by Dave A cabin review? What's the point? I suppose I can only say that having booked this cabin I searched for photos and/or descriptions and could find nothing other than the hopelessly distorted 360 degree 'panoramic' view on the Fred Olsen website and some tiny out-of-date photos. At 550 sq ft, Boudicca's premier suites (together with the Black Watch versions) are Fred Olsen's largest offerings except for their owner's suites. They're about 25% larger than those on Balmoral and are real suites (as opposed to a large cabin with a partition or screen), while Braemar doesn't have either these or the slightly smaller marquee suites. I think it's important to see this review in context. This may be Fred Olsen's best, but I've seen what some other lines can offer - through photos that is - but if you cruise that far upmarket you're probably not even reading this! So what do you get for three or four times the price of an inside cabin? The answer is space and privacy, and the perks of the Suite Dreams package - a bottle of Champagne, free spirits (we had these replaced with free Pepsi!), excellent binoculars, an atlas, free shuttle bus passes, bathrobes, slippers, canapés, fruit, and so on. Check the brochure for the full list. The cabin door opens into a short 'hallway' with large cupboards to one side and doors to the living area and bathroom. The bathroom is unusual in having two sections - a toilet and basin Contents Page 16

17 part, and a bath / shower and basin part. The sections are divided by a central sliding door and I suppose the idea is that you can use the toilet while someone's having a bath. This arrangement also means that the bathroom effectively has two doors because the bath side has a door to the bedroom, so there are two doors to lock or forget to lock - as the case may be. A large double sliding door joins the living area and the bedroom, and both are enormous. The bed is enormous, and so are the wardrobes. There's no lack of storage space! The balcony was perfect for a cruise in cold waters, being very well sheltered, and our smoke was unlikely to be noticed by our neighbours since the adjacent balconies were a good three metres away (and I think they smoked anyway!). But Balmoral's balconies are far bigger and open to the sky above, and are better for cruises in warm waters. While the cabin was extremely comfortable and nicely presented in an old-fashioned sort of way, the bathroom was definitely in need of attention. Although it all worked properly, the wallpaper was loose in places and looked a bit tatty. My only other criticism concerns the TV - or rather, what was on the TV: Sky and BBC World News, some sports channels, the occasional film, and very little else - hopeless! Contents Page 17

18 Ventura Obstructed View Cabin E324 by bobbyboy Obstructed view cabins provide a means to some natural light and a bit of an outside view if you're on a bit of a budget. We have had an obstructed view cabin twice on Ventura and were happy with our choice given the savings made over the price of an unobstructed view. Before booking any obstructed view cabin on a P&O ship, make sure you have a look on the P&O website. You will be able to see what your view will be like. Ventura and Azura are sister ships so if you can't find the cabin view for one of them then look at the same cabin on the other. Don't forget that with Getaway Fares you only get a guarantee cabin so you may end up with a full view of the side of a tender, so tread carefully when booking an obstructed view. Let's have a look at cabin E324 (fully obstructed view LA grade)... What's that? You want to see the inside? Ok then... Contents Page 18

19 Not bad so far. Here's the en-suite......not forgetting the 'pamper pack'... Contents Page 19

20 The view wasn't brilliant but you could see around the lifeboat at the right angle... The cabin corridors were nice too... Obviously, I'd prefer a balcony or a clear view from a picture window, but if the cost is an issue (it normally is for me) then the right choice of obstructed view is a good compromise between the choice of an inside or an outside cabin. Please note that the cabin grades I have used are the new 2013 grades. LA used to be NA and KA used to be MA. It gets confusing when you're trying to book a cruise as I think the change to cabin grades takes effect in April 3013 and there will be four different grades of obstructed view cabins to choose from. Contents Page 20

21 Thomson Celebration Deluxe Cabin 233 by Dave We always want a balcony, but since Celebration doesn t have any cabins with balconies we chose a deluxe cabin on the promenade deck. I put deluxe in quotes because we thought the cabin was anything but! But let s deal with the positives first. There were two: the location was perfect being only seconds from both the promenade deck and the mezzanine area of the show lounge, and the main shops, etc. being very close. I suppose another positive is that the cabin was big, but since it was lacking in anything else it might just mean that it was a longer walk to the beds! Setting aside the cost of excursions, we paid 333 per night between us (or 167pp) for what was basically a rather tatty outside cabin. Where do I start? There was no kettle, no free room service, the TV was blurry and only provided ship-based movies and information. The sound system didn t work, the beds were very small, and there was no comfortable seating. Contents Page 21

22 The bathroom worked, but you can probably see the condition from the photo stains and repairs are evident. It s true that there was a lot of storage space, but we ve never had a cabin where there wasn t room to put everything (I m never sure why people rate this feature!). But the really, really bad thing about cabin 233 was the noise - and I don t mean noise from the ship, but noise from other passengers. The walls seemed paperthin, as was the locked connecting door shown in the photo. There might just as well have been curtains between the cabins! To make things worse, the cabins on either side were occupied by three people, and three people make far more noise than two. (I noticed that the third berth is provided by replacing the small chairs and table with a camp bed.) Contents Page 22

23 For us the cabin was the reason why we re very unlikely to cruise with Thomson again. If I can put things in context yet again, we paid nearly as much per night for this cabin as we ve paid for premier suites on Balmoral and Boudicca, and a lot more than we paid for a nice balcony cabin on Ventura there s simply no comparison. Contents Page 23

24 Boudicca Outside Cabins 4101 & 4051 by JollyJill In 2012 & 2013 we booked outside cabins grade D for our 35 night cruises to the Caribbean/Amazon and Central America. The photos are of cabin Cabin 4051 was identical but configured the other way round. Cabin 4101 was well situated on Atlantic deck 4 (aft). We didn't experience any particular engine or vibration noise and given that the weather was calm for virtually the whole cruise, we didn't have a problem with pitch and roll either. Cabin 4051 was more amidships and whilst we still had no problems with engine and vibration noise, we did experience some rough weather on the way back across the Atlantic and certainly did feel the pitch and roll then! Contents Page 24

25 The supply of toiletries in the bathroom was minimal but shampoo/conditioner/shower cap was available on request. Gone are the days of the full compliment supplied without having to ask. Contents Page 25

26 Celebrity Eclipse Balcony Deck 8 Cat C1 by sevenseascoaster Our stateroom was as expected, but would have preferred the bed configuration the opposite way, as with the bed by the patio doors it makes entry onto the balcony very narrow. The wardrobe space is adequate, I always take extra hangers but find it difficult to move the sliding doors across. The bathroom is well laid out and plenty of storage, but wish the fixed tap could be moved to the side, if you wanted to wash out smalls or hair. Adequate plugs make sure you take adaptors? Very comfortable bed. We were lucky to have the sun on our balcony most days so we made a lot of use of the comfortable chairs etc to gaze out at the majestic seas and dream! Everywhere was spotless, our stateroom attendant Cherryl was super and although tiny! She did an amazing job. Contents Page 26

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28 RV Tonle (Viking Mekong) cabin by Dave Our cabin was one of 28 almost identical 'deluxe' double cabins located on decks 2 & 3 - and we were in and exploring it within seconds of boarding. The remaining 10 cabins are all singles and are on deck 1. Unlike the doubles, the single cabins have just a porthole and (we were told) are very small! The photos were taken from the doorway. Out of shot to the right is a small table, a fair-sized built-in wardrobe with a safe, and the door to the bathroom. Contents Page 28

29 I always find it difficult with my camera to take decent photos of a ship's bathroom but this is of average size and very much in keeping with the rest of the ship - except for the shower (not shown) which is tiled in white. Contents Page 29

30 From the photos below it might appear that we had a balcony. Well, it's a balcony of sorts and it suited us perfectly (note the ashtray on the table!). The cabins on decks 2 & 3 are reached from the outside - there are no internal corridors on this ship - and so someone might walk past occasionally, but in effect it was like having your own balcony. Contents Page 30

31 Queen Mary 2 B3 Balcony Cabin Deck 4 by bobbyboy This was the lowest grade of balcony cabin towards the stern on the lowest passenger deck (Deck 4). A sheltered balcony often referred-to as a Hull Hole due to the fact that it's in the hull of the ship and has a big cut-out (hole) to the outside world. It was perfectly adequate on our short cruise in the English Channel but views are restricted by the steel of the hull when sitting down. The cabin itself was good... as with most shiny, big, new ships! You can see the steel front of the balcony in this image... Clean, tidy and modern... nothing too fancy... Contents Page 31

32 A quick shot of the en-suite... A view of the cabin from the doorway... For a low grade balcony it was great. In spite of being on the lowest passenger deck it was still high-up due to the enormous size of the ship and the view was unobstructed when standing up. Contents Page 32

33 HAL Eurodam Deluxe Balcony Suite Deck 6 Aft 6164 by grannym Our stateroom 6164 Aft Deluxe Balcony suite, Upper Veranda deck, was ready when we boarded and once we found it we were delighted to see how spacious it was. It is definitely the most luxurious accommodation we've ever had and the welcoming bottle of champagne and fruit bowl a very nice touch. As expected the furnishing was of the highest standard. A huge settee, coffee table with two armchairs either side, a desk with all the usual ship information and personalised stationery. A large flat screen TV and DVD player. The 4 doored wardrobes had separate hanging space with loads of hangers in the double wardrobe, a gent's robe which also housed the safe, a long compartment of shelf space for clothes and shoes. Also all around the stateroom there was plenty of other doored shelving. The bed was enormous, the same as most other ships we've been on, very comfortable and a choice of 3 different pillow softness. Although it was spacious and luxurious it was one room and to call it a suite was a little misleading. Sorry this photo does not do justice to the size of the stateroom as the wardrobes and bathroom door are behind where I'm standing. Contents Page 33

34 The bathroom was fantastic with two sinks, a bathtub and separate shower stall. Both the bath and the shower had dispensers for shampoo, conditioner and bath/shower gel. The little dressing room just before the bathroom was a dream with mirrors about the dressing table and a huge magnified mirror which was great for putting on make-up. Three drawers down one side for cosmetics kept it tidy. The best thing of all was a 'real' hairdryer and not one of those weak slow things that are the usual on ships and in hotels. 2 electric sockets in here for American and European plugs. Contents Page 34

35 Being an aft corner suite the balcony wrapped around the stern and was furnished with a table and 4 chairs, 2 armchairs and footstools and round the corner on the port side 2 sun loungers. We seldom used the sun loungers but made great use of the rest of the balcony. This stateroom could be connected to the next door stateroom and if a family had both and opened the connecting balcony doors it would be a fabulous facility. This was the first time we had accommodation at the back of the ship. There was some vibration but it was not loud and it was not a problem. The great thing about the position was being able to sit and watch the wake anytime day or night and on one night between Tallinn & St Petersburg we had a great view of the most fantastic lightning show. Contents Page 35

36 Splendour of The Seas Grand Suite 8510 by Skier Pete Situated on deck 8, forward starboard side. Category := Grand Suite THE CABIN The cabin is ~ 19ft x 19ft (~ 350 sq. ft.) of which the bath room is ~ 8ft x 7ft (~56sq. ft.) Storage is in 5 full height wardrobes, consisting of a double door unit which has full length hanging space with a high level shelf above for the lifejackets. Two of the other wardrobes have 4 shelves each and the fifth has two large drawers at the base and half-length hanging space above. Fitted in the bar are a mini-bar three full size drawers, a shallow drawer and a narrow cupboard. In the vanity unit are three drawers, one of which houses the hair-drier. Above the tea / coffee making facilities is a small cupboard with two shelves one of which has the safe on it. The bedside tables have three very small drawers in them. Contents Page 36

37 The seating area has a single arm chair, an L-shaped four person (at a squeeze) settee, a small glass topped coffee table and a large flat screen TV. The bed area can be screened off using the heavy duty curtain. Finally access to the balcony is through the four section full height and width windows. There is room for two cases under the bed and additional cases will go behind the curtain adjacent to the TV. Large spacious cabin with masses of storage space, generous seating, large bar area, and a large his and hers bathroom with full size bath and shower in the bath. This cabin benefits from the "Suite Guest enhancement Program" and has full use of the concierge lounge and all the concierge facilities. There are US and European power outlets and a hairdryer. NOISE There was a lot of noise from tables and chairs being dragged about in the Windjammer right up until 02:00. This was peculiar to this cruise as the opening times are different on South American itineraries. Usually on European and Caribbean cruises the Buffet shuts at 21:00. Contents Page 37

38 THE BATHROOM BALCONY The balcony is overhung, by about 8ft by the deck above. Furniture was two wicker chairs and a wicker, glass-topped coffee table. Two sun loungers were provided when we asked for them. Approximately 110sq. ft. Contents Page 38

39 Balmoral Junior Balcony Suite by Dave Looking back at the different cabins we've had, there's one that for us was the perfect choice. Fred Olsen call it a 'junior balcony suite', but a cabin of this size and type might be called a deluxe balcony cabin or simply a standard balcony cabin by other cruise lines. I believe it's a bit naughty to call any cabin a 'suite' unless there are separate sleeping and living areas but, putting the slightly misleading description aside, this was a brilliant cabin nonetheless! I never find it easy to take a photo of the bathroom (I need a wide-angle lens!), but it was a decent size, had all the usual necessities, and a bath: Contents Page 39

40 There's plenty of wardrobe and drawer space, and the furniture and fittings are of a good quality. The light-coloured wood finish and lots of mirrors create a feeling of space: Perhaps the only downside to this cabin was that the two single beds were fixed (unless someone knows differently..?): The living area was great (and a little bigger than it seems in the photo). There were two comfortable chairs to sit and watch the world go by, and a decent-size coffee table to put your feet up on: Contents Page 40

41 The balcony (like all Balmoral's balconies as far as I'm aware) has an unobstructed view and was a reasonable size - enough for two chairs, a small table, and one lounger (so you have to take turns!), and the balcony deck isn't covered in plastic: We've paid a lot more for bigger cabins but, to be honest, they weren't worth the extra. And we've paid less for smaller ones, but they were only places to sleep. The Balmoral junior balcony suite is (again, in my humble opinion) simply the best! Contents Page 41

42 Celebrity Constellation Cat C3 (Concierge Class) Cabin 9100 by Wansbrough This was our first time for a Concierge Class cabin and only a 2 night mini cruise across the channel. The cabin is ideally placed on deck nine right outside the mid ship staircase. You only need to walk up one deck for the pool deck and buffet. The ship had only recently been in for a refit to make it more like the newer Solstice class ships but being as we had not been on her before, we were not able to see what was new and what wasn't. The cabin was very light and airy, nice and clean but did have a really small balcony. All the usual items are there, mini bar, hair drier, safe, etc... Contents Page 42

43 All in all a very comfortable cabin with a very small balcony which looks right into a suite. Contents Page 43

44 Celebrity Silhouette Cat 2B Balcony Cabin 7283 by Wansbrough We love these balcony cabins on the Solstice class ships and feel really at home in them. This particular cabin is aft to mid-ship on the port side and it is one that can be used as an adjoining cabin if required. There is a clever doorway which can be folded out for a single entry door to both cabins. Looking towards the balcony. The bed is balcony end and there are all the usual items at your disposal such as safe, hairdrier, mini bar and also an interactive TV where you can check your onboard account, book a table in the speciality restaurant, order room service or view the ships photos taken of you. Or you simply watch a film or the cruise director's daily waffle. Contents Page 44

45 Slightly angled view looking towards the balcony. Looking back towards the door from the balcony. Contents Page 45

46 Costa Serena Cat B3 Balcony Cabin 8382 by Wansbrough These photos show how the cabin looked back in April Costa have recently re-branded their cabin category's so I am not sure what it would be in today's brochure. It is a very typical Costa balcony cabin, plenty of room and not too fancy, very clean and ample storage. Our only grumble would be that it is just under the buffet and you could hear the waiters trolleys being wheeled up and down at various time during the day. Contents Page 46

47 Looking back into the cabin, and shots of the bathroom. Contents Page 47

48 Ventura C deck balcony cabin by Dave There's been some talk about the advantages of choosing a balcony cabin on C deck on Ventura as opposed to other decks, so I thought I'd share my opinions in a 'cabin review', and hopefully it might also be of interest to those considering other Grand class ships such as Azura, Grand Princess, etc. This was only our second cruise with a balcony. We've had a junior balcony suite on Balmoral and, since the general layout and sizes were very similar, comparisons were inevitable. Contents Page 48

49 I felt Ventura's cabin was functional and rather cramped which, given its reasonable size, might seem puzzling. The 'bathroom' (no bath!) was the smallest we'd ever had - including those in our previous inside and outside cabins. Taking a photo wasn't easy!: Between the bathroom and the rest of the cabin was this great big... er, space. Actually, it was a space with a shelf and a rail and I suppose it could be described as a walk-in wardrobe. It might be better described as a wardrobe with no doors: It was a bit of a squeeze to get past the bed, but at least this was a double (unlike Balmoral's two singles!) Contents Page 49

50 But the saving grace for this cabin was the balcony - it was not only quite big, but it was halfcovered by the balcony above which meant that we could pop outside for a fag - even in the rain! Although the balcony has ample space for a couple of loungers, there were only two chairs, a small table, and one footstool. Looking down on the balconies below, we could see they all had two footstools, so I asked our cabin steward where our other one was. He told us that only the deluxe balcony cabins have two footstools! So sun-bathing on the balcony required laying out towels on that green plastic stuff that's very painful to walk on in bare feet... Contents Page 50

51 Queen Mary 2 Balcony Stateroom Deck 11 by sevenseascoaster Our Room was an A1 balcony on deck 11 amidships. We were pleased to see that the refurbishments that had taken place since our last cruise on her had made a big difference. Gone were the tired furnishings, carpet and bed linen and replaced with new and pleasing colours, everything was spotless, and a welcome bottle of sparkling wine. The best part of the cabin is the ample wardrobe space (except the rail is not high enough to cope with the length of Ladies Formal Dresses! And those awful hangers that are attached to the rail) lots of lovely drawer space and the safe at eye level. Ample space in the bathroom for all sundries. Another minor gripe is NO kettle, as it sails from British waters not much to ask for? for those that like a cup of tea made with boiling water! And at any time required, without having to call for room service and then the water is lukewarm?!! Contents Page 51

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54 Black Watch Junior Suite 5004 by Dave We wanted this cruise and there was only one cabin available, so although it's not one we would have chosen, I accept that 'beggars can't be choosers'. However, I feel it might be of interest if I explain why this deck 5 junior suite was probably our least desirable cabin to date on any ship. There are two main reasons for our disappointment: the standard of the cabin, and its location. First though, perhaps I ought to mention the price - 705pp for a 4 night cruise booked at the very last minute works out at nearly 180pp per night. Last year an early booking of a premier suite on Balmoral worked out at about 190pp per night on a 14 night cruise. Given that four nights really means three-and-a-half days, the prices per day were very similar but the packages were vastly different, not least in that a junior suite doesn't have a balcony. On arriving at suite 5004 our impression was that this was simply a big cabin. The room was very similar to our deck 5 outside cabin of two years ago - but wider. There was a double bed instead of the two singles (one of which became a sofa during the day), a basic sofa, an extra easy chair, and there was a bath in the bathroom. There was a fruit bowl, but the 'Suite Dreams' extras don't apply to this grade. Contents Page 54

55 This was a cabin that looked as if nothing had been done to it in twenty years. The wear and tear was obvious (although not that apparent in the photos) - from wardrobe doors that wouldn't stay open because the catches were broken, to a bath panel that I had to wedge to stop from banging as the ship rolled, to a lockable draw that I couldn't unlock (luckily there was another!). Perhaps the only thing that had changed in twenty years was the TV - an LCD model with a screen smaller than the average laptop. In a word, the cabin was tatty. Too make it worse, I know that 'junior suite' cabins are found on decks 5 and 7. Those on deck 5 are at the front on the ship (where the movement is greatest) and have a small window, whereas some on deck 7 are on a very attractive passageway with much larger windows. There really is no comparison, yet both are the same grade in terms of price. Contents Page 55

56 Many deck 5 junior suites have an extra bed or two and are probably ideal for families - there was a family in one a couple of doors along from us - but for two people, a lot more money buys little more than a bit of extra space. I rarely criticise Fred Olsen (my last three cabin reviews have been positively glowing) but I'll make an exception this time; please don't call this a 'suite' Fred, call it a 'big cabin'. And get the decorators in! (Looking back on what I've written I suspect I'll be accused of sour grapes because I'd have preferred a cabin on deck 7. That's true, but at least prospective junior suite passengers will be aware that they're not all the same!) Above: Deck 5 Junior Suites. Below: Deck 7 Junior Suites. Contents Page 56

57 Adventure of the Seas Junior Suite 9234 by grannym Size 265 sq.ft. After a walk around the ship the staterooms were ready at 2pm and we made our way to ours to have a look before the Lifeboat drill. Previously we ve had balcony cabins on Navigator and Independence and we thought they were as good as some mini-suites on other ships but this time we had a junior suite and it was much bigger. A kettle and small coffee maker was provided and a fabulous walk-in wardrobe with loads of hangers were another difference from Navigator. I have to say that in our experience Royal Caribbean have had the best shelves and drawer space compared to other ships we've sailed on so far. Contents Page 57

58 The bathroom was small and the only difference from the balcony cabins was it had a bath. Again lots of shelves behind the long mirrors above the wash-hand basin which are very useful for keeping the bathroom tidy. Contents Page 58

59 The balcony was the real bonus as it was much bigger and completely private as the sides were solid from top to bottom. We experienced little noise from either side and really enjoyed the use of the balcony throughout the cruise. Size 75 sq.ft. The suitcases arrived one at a time and we unpacked the first one and was putting it under the bed when we discovered a pair of sandals and a half full bottle of water. We found a stateroom attendant but he wasn t ours. He said ours would be along soon and he took the items away. Eventually when ours did show he apologised and gave us the so much to do on turn-around day routine. He also told us that they do not have assistants now which really does make for a lot more work in a very short time which we do appreciate. However, although everything was always spotless he didn t inspire confidence as there was a lot of little things that we found irritating. For instance, we had used the one coffee bag provided on the first day and asked him the next morning if we could have more than one. He said of course but there was only one left the next day. It didn t really bother us as the one-cup coffee maker was a pain and the coffee wasn t great either so we stuck to tea. However, days went past when we had no ordinary tea-bags or white sugar. Although we were bringing them up from the café we kept them in a drawer to see just how long it would take for him to replace what we had used. Eventually after a few days I had to ask him for them. This was a great cabin but unfortunately I have to say the stateroom assistant was probably one of the worst we've had compared to our other 2 RCI cruises. Or for that matter on any other cruise. Contents Page 59

60 MSC Opera Inside cabin by JollyJill We had never booked an inside cabin before but because the itinerary appealed, we decided to get the cheapest deal we could. Actually, we were both pleasantly surprised. I didn't feel in the least bit claustrophobic and I guess that is because of the clever use of the lighting and mirrors. I also liked the complete darkness when it was time to sleep; in fact I had quality sleep throughout the cruise, which can't be said when I am at home. The cabin was situated on deck 10 just aft of amidships and at no time did we feel any pitch and roll whilst at sea. There was adequate storage space, and the shower room was fine although not big. Contents Page 60

61 Norwegian Jade Mini Suite by grannym First impression of Jade was that she was a well laid out and organised ship. Everyone was very helpful and welcoming. Our stateroom was amidships and although it was a mini-suite at 26.5 sq m. was no bigger than a balcony stateroom on RCI. The balcony was of similar size too. The only flat surface used as desk/dressing table was a bit cramped because it contained the coffee maker, the hairdryer and all the electric sockets for these and the television. There was only 1 American and 1 European socket for personal use. The hairdryer was excellent as were the mirrors and lighting round them but there really was not enough room here for all you needed to do. Contents Page 61

62 I was struck by how clean everything seemed and then remembered that Jade had been refurbished earlier this year. It was obvious in the fittings and especially the bathroom and toilet which looked brand new. This was not a spacious bathroom and the toilet is separated from the bath/shower and wash basin area by a sliding glass door making the bath and wash basin area feel even smaller. The shower was over the bath and an addition of a frame for the sliding glass shower panels made it rather awkward to get in and out of. The three glass panels did a good job of keeping the shower from flooding the floor. Contents Page 62

63 While I m pointing out the negatives the absence of any drawer space at the bedside was greatly missed. On one side there was a small table which held the phone with a shelf underneath for books etc,. but on the other side was a tiny little shelf that held no more that a book. Not really very convenient for keeping personal items tidied away. Apart from these small grievances overall the stateroom had great hanging and loads of drawer space for two people. Suitcases went easily under the bed and the bed itself was of the usual good quality you find on cruise ships. Of course the obligatory 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and pillowcases are always a treat. Contents Page 63

64 A section of deck 11 does have an overhang from the sun deck above. It didn't bother us as far as we do not sun bathe, but there was quite a lot of noise of sun-beds being dragged to be put out in the morning and again when they were being stacked in the evening. If you are a sun worshipper you should take note of which section of deck 11 these staterooms do have 'overhang' from above when booking. All in all everything about this cabin was well placed and adequate but I don't know that it should be called anything other than a Balcony cabin. We liked it so much that we booked the same category for the next year. Contents Page 64

65 Seabourn Odyssey Cabin/Suite 431 by JollyJill First of all Seabourn cabins are classed as suites and rightly so because they are bigger, better furnished and more luxurious than the average cruise line when you book a standard cabin. Suite 431 was on deck 4 and being one of the cheaper suites did not have a balcony. It didn't matter to us though as we like to spend as much time as possible on deck. The suite itself was furnished very comfortably with large twin beds, a sofa and a table with 2 chairs. Contents Page 65

66 There was plenty of wardrobe and storage place - enough for world cruise if we could afford one. The cabin attendant kept it all spotlessly clean and made sure that we had an endless supply of fresh fruit and that our favourite tipples were topped up. Contents Page 66

67 Azamara Quest Suite 8091 by sevenseascoaster Deck 8 aft, our Suite, was great. A separate lounge, large bedroom, with a whole wall of wardrobes, all the wood is dark but with the space it really looked good. The incorporated fridge was well stocked and there was a safe, writing desk area, make up/dressing area & TV. Contents Page 67

68 The bathroom had a whirlpool Jacuzzi bath, two shower units, lots of lovely toiletries and soft fluffy towels. And there was another separate bathroom for guests! The lounge area had plenty of chairs, a sideboard, large TV, DVD etc. The sideboard was topped off with four bottles of spirits. There was a dining table with four chairs. Contents Page 68

69 The wrap around balcony or Terrace Balcony as it was called was 233 sq ft huge. Perfect for catching the sun's rays in different positions and wonderful views all round. Two giant size loungers, huge glass table with four chairs and a couple of separate chairs and foot stools. All this luxury came with its own Butler, named Mevin, who was great and extremely efficient, and once again nothing was too much trouble, but I found it difficult to ask for anything, (not used to that luxury!!) and couldn't help myself in clearing up etc.! If you're in a Suite you are entitled to use the two speciality restaurants for no charge. Contents Page 69

70 Costa Pacifica Balcony Cabin 6419 by Wansbrough Costa Pacifica Classic Balcony Cabin No 6419 Bohème Deck (6) was our home for 7 nights in April It is just about identical to any Costa cabin we have ever had with the exception that this one has a flat screen TV in it. The ship's theme is "Music of the Seas" and the art in the cabin reflected this. It amused me to see a Union Jack on the picture above the bed. It was comfortable and spacious enough for all our needs. As with all previous Costa cabins it is kept spotlessly clean. Something we noticed on this cruise was the continual slamming of balcony doors, the closing mechanism seemed to catching a lot of people out or either they just didn't care about making noise when shutting the doors. The bathroom is basic and it has one of those lovely clingy shower curtains. The cabin was well maintained and I did not see any areas which needed attention. There's plenty of hanging storage space (which I forgot to photograph!). Contents Page 70

71 There are 2 sockets in the cabin, one is a Euro type and the other is the US version. If you are taking UK adapters there is only enough room to plug one of these in so maybe if you are relying on two sockets you should invest in some leads that will fit the sockets. I have some but couldn't find where I had put them before I went. There is a hard wired hair-drier in the top drawer. Contents Page 71

72 Norwegian Breakaway BA Balcony Cabin by Wansbrough We selected this cabin for its central location and first impressions of the cabin were good but having spent some time in it there are a few things that did not work for us. The storage space is very limited and there are no drawers except for the ones under the sofa which on this occasion were empty but would presumably be used to store additional bedding for the third person sleeping in the cabin. The wardrobe is a good size but access is very tight beside the bed. I would say there is only about 15" between the wardrobe and the bed and you have to stand immediately in front of it to gain access and walk in a crab like fashion to get to the other end where the hanging is. I like to stand back a bit to look in which you cannot do here. The safe and shelving are behind the first door in and it was very awkward to see what was on the lower shelves. I wish I had taken a photo now to show how narrow it was. I really liked the look and feel of the rosewood effect lacquered doors and with the sweeping curves it all helps to make the cabin feel slightly larger than it actually is. Contents Page 72

73 There is a flat screen TV where you have all the usual access to guest services and you can check your account, book tables, excursions or simply just use it to watch a film or TV. The balcony is tiny and there is not much privacy when sat on it from adjacent cabins. The cabins on deck 14 are also right under the overhang from deck 15 and would be surprised if you get much sun on these even in warmer climates. Contents Page 73

74 The cabin also has a coffee machine and there are 4 sockets ( 2x Euro & 2 x US). Lights in the cabin can only be operated after inserting your sea-pass into a slot next to the door. NCL have introduced a clever system for communicating with your steward, there are two switches near the door where you can switch them on and off to show a light over the door on the outside, these lights can indicate if you need the cabin made up or simply that you do not wish to disturbed. They have basically replaced the piece of card you hang over the door handle but now nobody can mess with them as you have control from inside the cabin. Something else we have not seen before in our cruising experience is cabin doors that open out into the corridor. This again is to presumably gain more room in cabin. The bathroom is nice and compact and although it's not too big, it is very user friendly, the shower having its own glass cubicle with some decent pressure too. A nice cabin but maybe a little too compact in places. I have to admit to being disappointed with what I found. Contents Page 74

75 Caribbean Princess Inside Cabin 741 by Peka As my cabin (sorry stateroom) was an inside, situated right at the back of the ship it was relatively quiet (apart from a bit of engine or whatever noise/vibrations) but at least I knew when we were arriving in port every day, without having a window to check! Split into two areas, I thought was good, first from the door to the right - the bathroom and dressing area and then into the main living area. Overall comfortable and spacious - approximately 163ft according to the Princess website, with plenty of storage (at least I thought so, for one person on a 12 day trip, but I don t take much!). Bed hmm the bed was a bit Goldilocks for me. The twin beds made into a queen sized bed one side a little soft, the other side alright but I often ended up falling down the middle trying to get comfortable and as the bed kept deciding to part! Two bedside cabinets with two drawers and a shelf each. I did have a problem a few nights, maybe it was a little bumpy as the drawers flew open, scaring the life out of me! The bedside lamps, with very annoying twisty turn off (we all had problems with them) - it either twists around and around and doesn t turn off, or twist and the light closes off so quickly with a pop, you aren t sure if you had blown the bulb, so end up twisting it again to check! In fact, the Contents Page 75

76 bulb did blow in my parents room and even exploded in my grandparents room as they found fragments of glass one day. Large hanging open space more than enough for me I counted 30 hangers. I only needed about 6, I must have used the man s share of the hangers! I did find that I had to push all the hangers to one end, as they swayed and clanked about at times. There is a shelf above that stores the life jackets and beach towels plus space for other stuff (I put my holdall out of the way up there and still had space). My case stored easily in the wardrobe space, I think it would have gone under the bed OK, I didn t think of putting it there until writing this! (But there was plenty of things already under the bed - spare sheets etc by the looks of it.) Next to the wardrobe a large cupboard with about six shelves one of which houses the safe (nice and easy to use, I ve never bothered with the safe before, I don t possess anything worth nicking!) I just used it for the fun of it, mainly locking my chocolates away every night! Contents Page 76

77 Desk/vanity whatever you want to call it, a large mirror with spotlights above, with three drawers. Fitted hair-dryer, I tried it once, OK, I guess - it got my hair from wet to dry! Two (US) power sockets to the side (why are they always placed so low it is hard to plug items in?). I couldn t find the spare adapter before we went, so I had to trek down the corridor to charge stuff, until I discovered the sockets for the bedside lamps were Euro fittings. Fridge to the side, stocked with a bottle of water and 4 sodas (I can t remember if they were there to start with, I think I checked first and it was empty). Ice bucket - I just used the ice - it soon melted and provided me with enough cool water to refill my bottle everyday! Contents Page 77

78 TV above the fridge, fitted slightly wonkily to the wall. I think channels relayed info from the ship, weather, position etc/webcam. Channel 50 showed anything that was broadcast on the big screen up on Lido Deck (Movies Under the Stars); other channels had the usual movies, US TV shows, news and sports etc. Picture quality was poor, the menu had been disabled so you couldn t adjust the brightness/contrast and colour. Reception was OK, not that we were anywhere remote, but in-house stuff, the picture was worse! There is a daily Wake show with the Cruise Director, mainly pointless as he basically read the info direct from the Princess Patter/port info sheets showing them on screen but all you could see were white sheets of paper! The only interesting part of the show was that it was hosted from different areas of the ship you don t usually see. There is a small circular table placed in the room in the stupidest place, against the wall between the desk and walkway leaving about a foot to negotiate around. Bathroom - shower, toilet, hand basin pretty much what you d expect! Three open shelves to the side, I didn t take much so there was plenty of space for my stuff. A shaving point, large mirror with spotlights so probably not a fantastic light for applying make-up maybe explaining some of the orange looking people but OK for putting contact lenses in. The toiletries provided are all branded as Lotus Spa (ship s own) - shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and soap, but no shower gel! As I was travelling light I almost didn t bother packing my own, but luckily added a small bottle in my case last minute. They are usable but nothing special, found the shampoo a little drying, the eucalyptus scent made me feel like a koala Replenished daily (if I removed a bottle there would be a replacement in the evening) so I have a few extra bottles, they are quite nice for refilling. Contents Page 78