Carnival ships have cabins ranging from budget-friendly interior staterooms to lavish suites. Before you place your deposit, you must determine which cabin category is right for your travel party.
If you don’t want to stay in a windowless inside stateroom or splurge on a suite, consider a balcony cabin. These staterooms have become increasingly popular throughout the last decade, with Carnival adding more balcony cabins to their newer ships.
With a balcony cabin, you have access to the fresh air and ocean views at any time on a private verandah. Additionally, you can check out the scenery and weather from your cabin without venturing to the top deck. If you’re sailing to picturesque destinations like Alaska, having a balcony stateroom can enhance your cruising experience by letting you view the fjords and snow-capped mountains from the privacy of your verandah.
There are many different balconies to choose from when you take a Carnival cruise. For example, newer Carnival ships feature Cove Balconies situated lower on lower decks. These balconies are closer to the ocean, offering a more immersive experience for guests who enjoy the sound and sight of the waves.
However, balconies are typically more expensive than ocean-view and inside cabins. Not only are they larger but guests will have a private, front-row seat to the passing ocean and ports of call. Because of the price increase, many question whether splurging on a balcony stateroom is worth it.
Here’s your ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line’s balcony staterooms.
How much does a balcony cost on Carnival?
With demand fluctuating for specific sailings and ships, Carnival does not have a one-size-fits-all approach to pricing. If the demand is low for a specific sailing, prices will drop. On the other hand, cruising during peak season will often see the most expensive balconies.
In general, you can expect to spend anywhere from $200 to $600 more for a balcony stateroom on Carnival than an inside cabin. Looking at Carnival Celebration's March 1, 2026, departure, an inside cabin starts at $824/person, whereas the cost of a balcony stateroom increases to $1,114/person.
What is considered a balcony cabin on Carnival?
Carnival’s balcony cabins are staterooms that feature a private verandah connected directly to the room. You'll be able to access the balcony through a door. 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. The railings are 45 inches tall.
Balconies are available on every ship in Carnival’s fleet, even the oldest ones. Newer vessels will have a higher ratio of balconies available, meaning balconies are more scarce on older ships.
Carnival Paradise, for instance, only has 98 cabins with standard balconies. In comparison, Carnival Jubilee, the cruise line's newest ship, has 1,042 standard balcony staterooms! If you're cruising on an older vessel and want a balcony, it's important to speak to your travel agent and book as early as possible.
While some balconies can sleep up to five guests, four is standard. The fifth guests would typically sleep on a cot or trundle bed. Moreover, balcony cabins are considered roomier than inside and outside staterooms. You can also book adjoining—or connecting—balcony rooms if you want to benefit from two bathrooms and additional living space.
Carnival’s website states that the following ships have balcony door locks on the door handle: Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, and Carnival Spirit. All other vessels in the fleet have a stateroom door leading out to the balcony with a safety lock located approximately 65 inches from the floor.
How many different types of balconies does Carnival offer?
There's a wide range of balcony types onboard Carnival’s ships. In fact, there are upwards of 20 balcony categories on Carnival. Each of Carnival’s ship classes will have a different selection of balconies available for you to book.
For example, Carnival offers extended balconies on some ships, which provides additional balcony square footage compared to a standard balcony. You can also book specialty balconies near the spa, childcare centers, and Havana Club. Other balconies even face the ship's wake.
Here is a list of all the different balconies available across Carnival’s fleet, along with each category code:
- Balcony (8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 8G)
- Junior Balcony (7X, 7Y)
- Cove Balcony (7C)
- Obstructed-View Balcony (7A)
- Extended Balcony (8J, 8K)
- Premium Balcony (9B)
- Obstructed View-Premium Balcony (9A)
- Premium Vista Balcony (9C)
- Aft-View Extended Balcony (8M, 8N)
- Forward-View Extended Balcony (8L)
- Havana Premium Vista Balcony (HM)
- Havana Premium Balcony (HL)
- Havana Aft-View Extended Balcony (HI)
- Family Harbor Cove Balcony (FM)
- Family Harbor Suites with Large Cove Balcony (FS)
- Family Harbor Aft-View Extended Balcony (FO)
- Cloud 9 Cove Balcony (7S)
- Cloud 9 Balcony (8S, 8T, 8P)
- Cloud 9 Forward-View Extended Balcony (8V)
Note that this list does not include any suites with balconies.
Balcony (8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 8G)
The standard balcony room is around 220 square feet. The cabin measures 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.
Available: All Carnival ships
Junior Balcony (7X, 7Y)
A junior balcony room on Carnival is smaller than a standard stateroom. Plus, the cabin can only accommodate up to two guests, so it’s not suitable for a family.
You will save some money compared 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.
Available: Excel Class only (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee)
Cove Balcony Stateroom (7C)
Compared 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. In other words, the balcony is built into the structure of the ship.
A cove balcony has a smaller opening with solid sides. Cove balconies feel more like an open window than an open-air balcony as you would expect.
Available: Dream, Vista, and Excel Class ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee)
Obstructed View Balcony (7A)
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 it could also be other structures, such as support beams or maintenance equipment.
Most of the time, you will have a lifeboat directly below your stateroom, which would partially block your view. Generally speaking, Carnival does not have an abundance of obstructed-view balconies, but you will save some money by booking one of these balcony variations.
Available: Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride and Carnival Miracle
Extended Balcony (8J, 8K, 8M, 8N, 8L)
There are three different types of extended balconies on Carnival:
- Extended Balcony (8J, 8K): These can be located anywhere onboard.
- Aft-View Extended Balcony (8M, 8N): These cabins are at the back of the ship and have a view facing the ship’s wake, which is highly sought-after for many cruisers.
- Forward-View Extended Balcony (8L): These have a view of the front of the ship but can experience more motion and wind. Some of these have shields to help with the wind.
Extended Balconies on Carnival have larger balconies than standard balcony staterooms; however, the room is the same size as a standard balcony. The size of the larger balcony varies by stateroom. Some have significantly more balcony space, such as aft-facing cabins, while others are more minimal. Generally, the extended balcony varies from a few extra feet to double the size.
Note that Carnival's website states certain Forward-View Extended Balcony cabins are obstructed, too, as they have a steel railing. For example, rooms 9201, 9202, 10202, 12205, 14204, and 15206 all have partial views when sitting down.
Available: All Carnival ships
Premium Balcony (9A, 9B, 9C)
There are three kinds of Premium Balconies available on Carnival’s cruise ships.
- Obstructed View Premium Balcony (9A)
- Premium Balcony (9B)
- Premium Vista Balcony* (9C)
Carnival’s Premium balcony staterooms are larger than standard balcony cabins onboard. You will find that both the room and stateroom are bigger. If you are looking to splurge, these Premium balconies will cost you more than a standard balcony but will have more space for your sailing. You can also get a Premium balcony with an obstructed view.
*Premium Vista Balconies are unique balconies onboard aboard Dream, Conquest, and Sunshine Class ships. Premium Vista balconies are located on the aft of the ship and feature a massive balcony that wraps around the side of the ship; however, the size of the stateroom itself is the same as a standard balcony.
Available: Most Carnival ships, excluding Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Paradise, and Carnival Elation
Havana Premium Vista Balcony (HM, HL, HI)
There are three different types of Havana balconies available on select Carnival ships.
- Havana Premium Vista Balcony (HM)
- Havana Premium Balcony (HL)
- Havana Aft-View Extended Balcony (HI)
A Havana balcony on a Carnival cruise ship is a themed cabin located near the ship’s lively Havana Bar, which is a Latin-inspired venue featuring Latin music, fun cocktails, and Cuban coffees.
When staying in a Havana balcony, you have exclusive access to the Havana Pool. This area has two large hot tubs and sports tropical-themed decor. It's a relaxing space away from the bustling main pool deck with umbrellas and loungers.
While the Havana Bar is open to all guests onboard, the pool area is exclusive for Havana cabin guests. Havana balconies have direct access to the Havana Bar, so if you plan to spend a lot of time in this bar, a Havana balcony could be the perfect choice!
Note that all guests must be 12 years old and older.
Available: Vista Class ships
Havana Cabanas (HE, HJ)
Two Havana Cabana balcony categories can be found on select Carnival ships:
- Havana Cabana (HE)
- Havana Extended Cabana (HJ)
Onboard Excel Class ships, Havana balconies are different because they aren't actually "balconies." While you still have a private outdoor space, it sits adjacent to a public walkway, meaning you do not have a direct ocean view.
Like with the Havana Premium Vista Balconies, you'll still gain access to the exclusive Havana pool area, and guests must be 12 years old or older to stay in a Havana stateroom.
Available: Excel Class ships
Family Harbor Balconies (FM, FO, FS)
There are three types of Family Harbor balconies available on Carnival cruise ships:
- Family Harbor Cove Balcony (FM)
- Family Harbor Aft-View Extended Balcony (FO)
- Family Harbor Suites with Large Cove Balcony (FS)
Carnival Cruise Line is very family-focused, and Family Harbor staterooms are designed for families with young kids in mind. These balcony staterooms are nautical-themed and located in a specific area onboard.
Most importantly, these family-friendly balconies come with a slew of amenities and benefits, including access to the Family Harbor Lounge. If you are traveling with young children, these balconies are great because of the close proximity to Camp Ocean.
The lounge also provides breakfast in the morning, which can be less hectic than fighting the crowds elsewhere onboard. The lounge also serves snacks throughout the day.
Other amenities for Family Harbor balconies include access to board games, video games, and movies in the lounge, as well as a free evening of Night Owl babysitting service and kids-eat-free in most specialty restaurants.
Available: Carnival Vista Class ships; however, Carnival’s Excel ships have the same Family Harbor concept onboard. On these ships, you won't find any balconies, though, as they only have inside and ocean-view Family Harbor rooms.
Cloud 9 Spa Balconies (7S, 8S, 8T, 8P, 8V)
There are three different kinds of Cloud 9 Spa balconies available on Carnival’s ships:
- Cloud 9 Cove Balcony (7S)
- Cloud 9 Balcony (8S, 8T, 8P)
- Cloud 9 Forward-View Extended Balcony (8V)
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.
Guests will also receive a complimentary scrub kit for the Thermal Suites and access to fitness classes. Cloud 9 Spa balconies also include luxury bathrobes and slippers.
Available: Excel, Vista, Dream, and Sunshine Classes
Read more: 15 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a Carnival ship
Pros and cons of booking a Carnival balcony
If you want more space and a private outdoor verandah to watch the ocean views and sunsets, splurging on a balcony is probably a great choice. You’ll have more room in a balcony stateroom, and you can also enjoy fresh air whenever you choose.
Balcony staterooms are more expensive than inside and ocean-view staterooms. If you are not planning to spend much time in your stateroom, you might prefer to save money and book a more affordable cabin. This way, you can allocate more funds toward add-ons like drink packages, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and more.
You might also want to consider if your balcony offers enough privacy, as some extended balconies, as well as Havana Cabanas, are visible from other areas onboard. The lack of privacy might not justify the price difference, depending on how often you want to lounge on your verandah.
Another consideration is the amenities onboard your ship. If you are going to be spending most of your time exploring the cruise ship and port, you might not find the value of a balcony stateroom. You do not want to spend extra money on a balcony cabin if you do not think you will have the time to use it and get your investment’s worth.
If you enjoy having some private time and access to ocean views during your cruise—and if your budget allows it—booking a balcony is worthwhile. If you are cruising somewhere especially scenic, such as Alaska, balconies can be especially luxurious, as you can lounge outside and take in the breathtaking views without venturing to public decks.
Best balcony cabins on Carnival ships
Everyone has their own preferences and budgets, which is why Carnival offers a wide range of balconies to choose from.
A standard balcony is perfect if you’re looking to upgrade from an inside or outside cabin but do not want to splurge on a themed stateroom or extended balcony. You might save a lot of money with an obstructed view balcony. In these cases, you're more concerned with having access to fresh air and don't care about having a picture-perfect view of the passing scenery and ports of call.
Carnival’s themed staterooms, including the Havana balconies, Family Harbor balconies, and Cloud 9 Spa balconies, are all unique to the cruise line. If you want to spice up your cruise experience compared to a standard balcony, these might be a consideration. Plus, you'll get extra perks that might help justify the price.
If you are traveling with kids, consider booking a Family Harbor balcony. These are conveniently located and include some very nice amenities for those with younger children, including complimentary babysitting and access to the Family Harbor lounge, as well as kids-eat-free at most specialty restaurants.
For a special occasion, such as a honeymoon or anniversary, having an extended balcony or an aft-facing balcony would be a nice selection. These balconies allow more space, which you can enjoy privately together.
Read more: 10 lessons learned after trying Carnival for the first time
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
