News Article

Princess' Signature Balconies Offer Passengers a Seagoing "Room with a View"


Imagine the views as your ship sails by: the breathtaking glaciers of Alaska; St. Mark's Square in Venice; Australia's Sydney Harbor bridge; the stunning fjords of Norway -- or Chile; the idyllic tropical views of throughout the Caribbean or South Pacific. Every day Princess passengers revel in these types of scenes just by walking onto their own private balconies -- a ship feature that not long ago was a rarity.

When the five-star Royal Princess debuted in 1984 with 150 balcony staterooms, the overwhelming passenger response proved that Princess had tapped into something big. So began Princess' early role as a pioneer of the balconies-at-sea trend, which has become increasingly popular within the industry.

Today, Princess is still a leader in balconies -- its worldwide fleet will feature more than 8,000 cabins with private balconies by the end of 2006 (more than 54 percent of the fleet's total outside cabins) -- and the line's ground-breaking efforts truly reinvented balconies as an affordable pleasure for many passengers instead of a luxury for just a few.

"Passengers really do love our private balcony experience," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "And they become quite addicted, saying that once they've cruised in a cabin with a balcony, they'll never again sail without one."

Naturally, passengers cite varying reasons for favoring cabins with private verandas. Ocean lovers appreciate them for the sights, smells and sounds they provide of the open sea. Avid readers enjoy the peace and quiet they afford when enjoying a good book. Outdoor types welcome the full-time access balconies offer to glacier and wildlife sightings. Early and late risers alike favor their balconies for the solitude they provide for a private "in-cabin" morning meal and coffee. And just about everyone loves them for the chance to relax and unwind in the privacy of their own room. "Our balcony cabins, ranging from standard accommodations up to suites, are most often the first to be booked on any given sailing," added Brown.

In the early days of cruising balconies were rare, often offered only on penthouse suites for the wealthiest cruisers. Typically then, a private veranda at sea meant spending more money for the cruise. But not anymore. Princess set the pace for the industry by making balconies available on a full range of cabin categories, offered at only slightly higher rates than similar cabins without them. As a result, the balcony cabin experience is now affordable for most passengers, with a wide range of stateroom types. Princess ships now feature more than 700 balconies on its largest vessels.

Now that Princess has helped create the balcony boom, many passengers even take it for granted that they'll have their own private oasis whenever they cruise. But when stretched out on a lounge chair with just the sound of the waves for company, everyone savors the luxury that only a cruise ship balcony can provide. And be warned, once you've cruised in one of these special "rooms with a view," there's no turning back!