My husband and I will be on the 7/28/08 sailing of the MS Rotterdam. We currently have an oceanview room. We've discussed upgrading to a verandah cabin. I'm not sure. The delta in cost is several thousand dollars. I've never been on this ship, so I don't know what the experience will be like with,or without.

Would people mind sharing their experiences, both pro and con? I need help!

Thanks, Sheila

Hi WhansaMi, welcome to cruise chat. You're in for a wonderful experience. If you can afford a balcony, by all means book it. It is wonderful to be able to watch the sunrise/sunset from your own verandah. I usually go up and get my hubby a cup of coffee and we sit on the balcony to watch the sunrise as we're at sea or pulling into port. The sailaways are great fun as well. It also will depend on your itinerary. If you're doing Alaska, depending on the time of year you're going, it might be a little nippy on the balcony, but still will be wonderful to watch the passage through the ice fields, etc. We sail the Caribbean, so weather is not much of a factor in our selection. Typically, the cabins are larger in the balcony class. We also like being able to dry our swim wear and snorkeling gear on the balcony. Sailaways are so much fun as you can wave to others on board another ship while leaving port. If the choice is to not cruise because you cannot afford the balcony, by all means, cruise. If it will not hurt your pocketbook, by all means get a balcony. To me, it just makes the experience better. Best wishes and have a wonderful cruise!