For many, a balcony cabin is a must-have on a cruise vacation. Interior rooms are often the smallest staterooms onboard, and while ocean-view cabins offer natural light, they lack direct access to fresh air—there's nothing quite like opening the door to your veranda and sipping a hot cup of coffee while your ship pulls into port!
Today's newest cruise ships prioritize offering more balcony staterooms than ever to accommodate the growing demand for private outdoor spaces. Cabin categories range from traditional ocean-view balconies to those overlooking the interior neighborhoods of the ship and even expansive suites with wrap-around decks that feature private hot tubs.
Balconies are even more desirable on certain sailings, such as those to Alaska and Northern Europe, where towering glaciers, rugged coastlines, and majestic fjords are a highlight of the journey.
When Celebrity Cruises launched its first Edge Class ship in 2018, it was the first vessel to feature the brand-new infinite veranda staterooms. Unlike traditional balconies, infinite verandas were designed to bring passengers closer to the ocean by turning the entire stateroom into a balcony.
Instead of walking outside, cruisers can essentially turn their entire cabin into a balcony by pressing a button that lowers the top half of a massive floor-to-ceiling window.
Since its debut, the concept has been praised by some, celebrating its innovative design and integration of indoor and outdoor living. Others, however, claim it's not a "real" balcony and miss having the separation that standard balconies offer.
Read more: I spent $5,000 for an infinite veranda cabin on Celebrity's newest ship
During a recent Q&A session with Celebrity Cruises' President Laura Hodges Bethge, Cruise Critic users took advantage of the opportunity to ask whether the cruise line would consider scaling back on the number of infinite verandas on future ships.
"Will the next class of ship have the [infinite verandas] as the standard room?" asks NMTraveller, "We highly prefer a standard balcony. We have booked our next cruise on Princess due to this Celebrity shortcoming."
"All of our ships, including the Edge Series, have standard balconies, and we can have someone contact you to help you find the right stateroom for you for your next voyage. The infinite veranda category is truly loved by some and not enjoyed by others," says Hodges Bethge.
"Given that our guests have a range of stateroom preferences we will have infinite verandas on our next class of ships--we just will not have as many. It will be essential for us to get to the right mix to meet everyone’s preferences, and we will do that."
Another user advocates for a change to the bi-fold doors that separate the infinite veranda space from the rest of the cabin
"Can those translucent bi-fold doors separating the [infinite veranda] from the rest of the cabin be changed out for drapery as on RCCL ships? Or perhaps redesigned to be opaque? The top-down room darkening shade is problematic when one cabin mate wants to sleep in and the other is ready to rise and shine and enjoy the view outside," TMLAalum writes.
Hodges Bethge acknowledges that the infinite veranda is "very polarizing," with guests either loving or hating the concept. Once again, she mentions that the cruise line will reevaluate the ratio of traditional balconies to infinite verandas for future ship classes. However, she goes one step further, thanking TMLAalum for their feedback and stating they'll look into the possibility of curtains.
Infinite verandas weren't the only topic addressed during the Q&A session
From drink packages to Captains Club loyalty benefits, Hodges Bethge answered over 50 questions about the cruise line. Many were regarding future cruises, asking whether they'd consider deployments in places like Galveston or longer Caribbean voyages where sailors wouldn't have to waste a day in port on a back-to-back sailing.
One common theme, however, was Celebrity's drink packages. D10000, for example, inquires about whether Celebrity would be interested in creating a "truly great premium drink package" that includes all premium offerings onboard.
"If you want to purchase the classic drink package there is a charge. If you want to upgrade to a premium drink package there is an additional charge," they share.
"If you want to purchase most of the [specialty] cocktails at Eden or World Class bar there is yet another charge. If you want to get a nicer glass of wine or spirit, you guessed it an additional charge. Drink prices on Celebrity are already amongst the highest and yet the inclusions continue to be eliminated."
Hodges Bethge wrote a lengthy response, stating the inclusions of each package. The Classic, for instance, covers all alcoholic drinks up to $10, as well as a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. Those seeking a more inclusive experience will want to consider the Premium Beverage Package, which includes all alcoholic beverages up to $17 and a wider range of non-alcoholic drinks.
"While we try to make as many people as possible happy, we recognize there are some guests whose preferences fall outside of these two categories. We are constantly evaluating our beverage offerings to make sure they are in lockstep with what our guests want on a sailing. We will definitely take your feedback on the complexity of the packages back to the team," says Hodges Bethge.
Read more: 15 best tips and tricks to Celebrity Cruise drink packages
Cruise Critic user mousehole adds to D10000's sentiments, sharing they believe Celebrity's drink packages are some "of the most complicated to understand...in the cruise industry." "Having these exclusions makes it difficult for passengers [to] understand what is in the package and what is not," they continue.
"I have seen several passengers upset when they order something, thinking it would be included as it is under the dollar amount, only to be told that there is a charge for it. This causes a lot of frustration [for] passengers and even staff having to deal with this. I have noticed that most other cruise lines have a drink package and you understand that drinks up to a certain value are included if you have purchased a drink package. Will Celebrity ever simplify their drinks packages?"
Hodges Bethge didn't provide confirmation whether we can expect an overhaul of Celebrity's drink package program in the future. However, she did thank mousehole for their feedback regarding the complexity of their packages.
To further increase their beverage offerings, Celebrity has recently created an internal wine division to focus on their overall wine selection
According to DaKahuna, the wines offered by Celebrity Cruises are subpar, with most selections found in grocery stores for a fraction of what the cruise line changes.
To address their concerns, Hodges Bethge assures they're focusing on their overall wine selection with an emphasis on bringing value back to the packages: "Our new wine division is constantly traveling to new destinations to discover and include more quality wines, keeping our guest preferences at the forefront."
No changes expected to Celebrity's Captains Club
In the Q&A forum, Hodges Bethge confirmed that Celebrity isn't adding another tier to their Captains Club loyalty program. However, they're looking into ways to keep Elite Plus cruisers motivated to reach Zenith. Similarly, Celebrity isn't changing their program to have identical benefits as Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society.
When asked by overlake7 if they'd consider giving out daily drink coupons to higher-tiered members in place of the ship's daily happy hour, Hodges Bethge said, "At this point, we are not planning to change our drinks benefit to match Royal. The Crown & Anchor Society benefit is more focused on the drinks while we are more focused on the cocktail hour and the experience for members to get together."
Read more: I used Royal Caribbean’s new loyalty status match program on my Celebrity cruise
Celebrity Cruises is not interested in a fully all-inclusive model, either
With mainstream lines like Virgin Voyages including basic Wi-Fi, gratuities, and "essential" drinks in the cost of the cruise fare, many have begun to wonder if upscale lines like Celebrity may follow suit. Unfortunately, Hodges Bethge effectively squashed any hope that cruisers may see more inclusive fares in the future.
"We have recently adapted our All-Included package offerings to add enhanced flexibility and choice, while still including our guests’ most preferred amenities – Classic Drinks and Basic Wi-Fi. This aligns [with] the evolving needs of our guests, as it allows us the flexibility to express personal appreciation to our amazing crew members by providing tips any way they choose – adding it at the time of booking, or doing it onboard -- giving guests more choice," she writes.
"We also offer Cruise-Only Rates, our lowest available fares that include our world-class amenities like accommodation, dining, entertainment, onboard activities and much more."
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
