How to Choose a Room: Ultimate Guide to Carnival Staterooms

Table Of Content

• What’s the Difference Between a Balcony and Cove Balcony?
• lessons learned after trying Carnival for the first time
• Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer
• PLAN FOR FUN

And if so, which balcony is the right choice for your Carnival cruise? Here’s your ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line’s balcony staterooms. 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.

What’s the Difference Between a Balcony and Cove Balcony?

While this may seem like a hefty price increase, it’s important to consider the benefits that come with booking a balcony room. On older Carnival ships (and, in general, all older cruise ships), there are far fewer balcony cabins. Fewer than 10% of cabins on the line's two oldest vessels, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, are balcony cabins. The standard balcony cabin has a private balcony with two chairs and a table. One of the best cruise experiences is sitting on your own balcony and enjoying the sunrise with a cup of coffee or the sunset with a cold drink.

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lessons learned after trying Carnival for the first time

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.

Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer

The most affordable way to experience all the Carnival excitement, without cutting corners on comfort. 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. 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.

The Carnival Dream balcony cabins feature lots of storage space in the cabinets, desk, and closets. The light woods make the cabin feel bright and cheerful, a perfect ambiance for a cruise ship. If you enjoy having some private time and access to ocean views during your cruise -- and if your budget allows it -- then I would say booking a balcony is worthwhile. If you are cruising somewhere especially scenic, such as Alaska, then I would definitely consider booking a balcony.

This is a relaxing space away from the bustling main pool deck with umbrellas and loungers. Compared to a standard balcony, cove balconies feel more like an open-window than an open-air balcony like you would expect. In comparison to a standard balcony, a Cove Balcony is more enclosed and located on lower decks. Cove balconies have cove-like enclosures with the bottom half of the balcony tail having a solid steel panel. With demand fluctuating for specific sailings and ships, Carnival does not have a one-size-fits-all approach to pricing.

PLAN FOR FUN

You will save some money in comparison to a standard balcony, but you will be sacrificing some space in the cabin itself. While the balcony is the same size as a standard balcony room at 44 square feet, the cabin is smaller at 172 square feet. The cabin itself measures at 185 square feet, while the balcony is an additional 40 to 44 square feet, depending on the specific ship. On each balcony, guests can find a small table and two chairs for lounging. 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.

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. Carnival’s balcony cabins are staterooms that feature a private verandah connected directly to the room. On newer ships, it tends to be a sliding door, while older ships have a single door that you have to pull. You will also find chairs and a small table on each balcony, as is standard for Carnival. Stateroom cabin categories are simply the way that Carnival groups the different types of staterooms (cabins).

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. The Havana Balcony rooms offer exclusive access to the Havana Pool and bar, and are only available on Vista-class ships. These rooms come with a tropical decor and vibrant colors, immersing you in the Cuban vibe.

Any time you’re in your room, you’re steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis… designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views. When she's not on the deck enjoying the ocean breeze, Annie loves sharing her tales and experiences on her blog. Dive into her stories, and you'll feel like you're right there with her, cruising the high seas with a cocktail in hand. Both the room and the balcony are more spacious than standard balcony rooms. So, if you’re someone who values the outdoor space more than a perfect view, this could be a budget-friendly option for you. Typically, a balcony stateroom on Carnival might cost between $50 to $300 more per night than an Ocean View room.

The fun continues when you reach your port — there’s a huge variety of shore excursions to choose from. Our ships sail to stunning destinations — see just where on the map we go. Picking a cabin on a Carnival Cruise Line ship isn't nearly as complicated as picking a cabin on, say, a Royal Caribbean or a Celebrity Cruises ship. Of course, we are not here to tell you exactly which room is best for you.

Unlike the open design of standard balconies, cove balconies feel like a large open window to the sea. An obstructed view balcony room might have a lifeboat or some other ship equipment blocking a portion of the view. A Balcony cabin is not for everyone no matter which cruise line you’re sailing with. 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. 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.

Carnival Cruise Line cabins and suite guide: Everything to know

Table Of Content

• Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships
• The 18 Different Types of Balcony Rooms
• Perks
• Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms & Suites
• Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer
• Have Fun. Be Safe
• Cove Balcony Rooms

Here are the major stateroom categories offered on Carnival Cruise Line. Suites on Carnival ships also haven't traditionally come with butlers and access to private concierge lounges like the suites on many other vessels. As noted above, Carnival ships generally don't offer a lot of suites. For the most part, the suites they have are relatively modest in size and amenities compared to the suites at some of the line's rivals. Inside cabins are the cabins you stay in when you're on a tight budget. About 44% of the 2,004 cabins on Carnival's Carnival Panorama (launched in 2019) are balcony cabins, for instance.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

A balcony on Carnival is more than just an outdoor space; it’s a gateway to the vast ocean and the world beyond. Now you know what to expect from all of the different Balcony rooms on Carnival cruise ships. But before you go ahead and pick one, let’s just make sure that a Carnival Balcony room is in fact the best room for you. For a good balance of price and space, you can’t go wrong with a standard category 8 Balcony. When it comes to these, 8A is the cheapest, while 8G is the most expensive due to its desirable mid-ship location. Havana Balcony rooms are only on Carnival’s Vista-class ships – Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama.

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The 18 Different Types of Balcony Rooms

Be careful though, not all Suites have balconies, some have windows or a lanai patio area, so be sure to study the Carnival website to know exactly what you’re getting. On the other side though, they are a great place where you can unwind if you do have some spare time, and sitting with a book in your own little private outdoor space is quite lovely. However some of them are quite ‘little’ and you might feel a bit cramped, especially if your partner or kids want to join you. If you want a little more space, Havana Suites are also available – and those can also be enjoyed on Excel-class ships too as well as Vista-class. There are also Havana Interior rooms on Vista- and Excel-class ships.

Perks

Balcony rooms also offer better views and more floor space than Inside or Ocean View rooms. Carnival Sunshine Balcony cabin location, stateroom cabin videos, stateroom cabin pictures, floor plans, diagrams, stateroom features and perks. You can see details and floor plans for all of Carnival Sunshine's different stateroom cabin categories on the NEW cabins page. Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships can sometimes be bigger than inside cabins and even bigger than balcony cabins (when comparing their interior space).

The primary difference between the Carnival Breeze cabins and those of her two older sister ships is the color scheme. The Breeze looks very tropical, with the cabins done in bright blue, yellow, and gold, with light walls. The Carnival Breeze cabins look much like a hotel room in a Caribbean resort. The faux louvered doors and murals in the corridors add to this atmosphere.

Suites on Carnival ships offer more square footage, separate living areas, and larger balconies. They also come with additional perks like priority boarding, access to exclusive lounges, and complimentary drinks. Fun-focused Carnival offers a solid mix of cabins on its vessels for a range of price points.

ALL THE PERKS, IN EVERY ROOM

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On Carnival Panorama, for instance, most inside cabins measure 185 square feet. That's the same size as the interior area of some oceanview and most balcony cabins on the ship (not including the extra square footage from the balcony). Carnival Celebration Balcony cabin location, stateroom cabin videos, stateroom cabin pictures, floor plans, diagrams, stateroom features and perks. Cruisedeckplans.com also provides links to actual stateroom cabin pictures and videos on this page.

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.

Cove Balcony Rooms

An obstructed view is where part of your view is blocked by the lifeboats on the ship. With Carnival, there aren’t many obstructed balcony staterooms – most obstructed views are in rooms with a window. A Balcony room on a Carnival ship is one that has its own private balcony area, accessible through a sliding door. They’re usually slightly larger than an oceanview cabin and have the extra balcony floorspace too. Designed with space in mind, the suites typically have an extra changing room, more square footage, a larger balcony, and VIP check-in.

In fact, there are upwards of 20 different balcony categories on Carnival. Each of Carnival’s ship classes will have a different selection of balconies available for you to book. 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.

You’ll want to make sure that there’s enough left in the budget for a drink package or whatever else you’ll need. 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 Havana Pool area has an exclusive swimming pool, two large hot tubs and a relaxation area with umbrellas, palm trees and comfy seating.

For example, rooms 9201, 9202, 10202, 12205, 14204, and all have partial views when sitting down. Whether you’re sailing a three- or four- day getaway or a longer cruise, having a great stateroom is important. When my family of four sailed on the Carnival Freedom a few months ago, a Balcony Stateroom was our home for the week. Every stateroom has amenities (including your dedicated room steward) that rival land-locked five-star hotels. Expect soft, cozy linens, in-room safes, plenty of storage space, television, climate control and even bathrobes upon request.

On newer Carnival ships, a significant portion of cabins are balcony cabins — the rooms everyone wants these days. But the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins on Carnival's newer ships isn't nearly as high as on the newer ships of some rival lines such as Royal Caribbean. If you choose an obstructed view balcony on Carnival, you will have a view that is partially blocked. This obstruction is likely a lifeboat, but could also be other infrastructure of the cruise ship that is blocking your view.

The takeaway here is that you'll have a tougher time locking down a balcony cabin on an older Carnival ship than on a newer vessel. If you're planning a cruise on one of the line's older vessels and a balcony cabin is a must, you'll want to book early to make sure you get one. Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista-class series, for instance, offer fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest-class ships have around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy-class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites. That means that when you're trying to find the best Carnival cruise ship cabin for you, you'll have an easier time than you will when booking with some other lines.

They have a smaller opening, with a completely solid bottom half rail and solid sides and roof. A Balcony stateroom with Carnival generally costs somewhere between $50 and $300 more than an Ocean View room does, but it depends on the class of balcony and the length of cruise. A typical seven-night Caribbean cruise costs $909 per person for a Balcony, compared to $799 for an Ocean View room with a window.