The best balcony cabins on cruise ships in 2026 are the ones that match how you travel. For modern design, look at Celebrity’s Edge-class Infinite Verandas; for families, Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class family balconies and Disney’s Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah; for views and privacy, aft-facing and cove balconies on Princess, Holland America and Carnival. Below, we compare nine standout balcony types by size, cruise line and who they suit best, plus the balconies that divide opinion.
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A balcony is the most popular upgrade at sea for good reason: fresh air, a private place for morning coffee and a view that changes every day. But two balconies at the same price can feel completely different depending on the ship, deck and position. If you are still weighing the upgrade, our guide to the pros and cons of a balcony vs an inside cabin sets out the trade-offs.
Best balcony cabins on cruise ships at a glance
Sizes are approximate and vary by ship and individual cabin, so always check the deck plan for the specific room you are booking.
| Cabin type | Cruise line and ships | Approx. size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinite Veranda | Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent, Xcel | About 243 sq ft including the veranda | Couples who want more indoor space |
| Surfside Family View Balcony / Family Ocean View Balcony | Royal Caribbean Icon, Star and Legend of the Seas | About 285 sq ft plus a 50 sq ft balcony (Legend’s Family Ocean View Balcony) | Families with young children |
| Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah | Disney Cruise Line (Dream example) | About 256 sq ft plus a 43 sq ft verandah | Families of up to five |
| Standard balcony (Prima class) | Norwegian Prima, Viva, Aqua, Luna | About 200-225 sq ft on Aqua and Luna | Value hunters on new ships |
| Cove balcony | Carnival Vista-class and Excel-class ships, plus selected others | About 185 sq ft plus a 45 sq ft balcony (Carnival Horizon) | Privacy and close-to-the-water views |
| Aft-view verandah | Holland America Pinnacle class (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam) | About 228 sq ft | Wake views on a calmer ship |
| Sea Terrace | Virgin Voyages Scarlet, Valiant, Resilient and Brilliant Lady | About 185 sq ft plus a 40 sq ft terrace | Adults-only relaxation (with a hammock) |
| Aft-facing Deluxe Balcony | Princess Sphere class (Sun Princess, Star Princess) | About 220-230 sq ft | Panoramic wake views |
| Single Infinite Veranda / solo balcony | Celebrity Edge class; MSC solo studios on selected ships | Smaller than a standard balcony | Solo travelers |
Best balcony cabins for space and design
1. Celebrity Edge-class Infinite Veranda
Celebrity’s Infinite Veranda is the most talked-about balcony design of recent years. Instead of a separate outdoor deck behind a sliding door, the “balcony” is built into the cabin itself. Press a button and the upper half of a floor-to-ceiling window lowers, turning the sitting area by the glass into an open-air veranda. Close it and that space becomes part of your room, so you get roughly 243 sq ft to use in any weather.
You will find Infinite Verandas on all five Edge-class ships: Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent and Xcel. They are excellent for cooler itineraries such as Alaska or Northern Europe, where a traditional balcony can sit unused. The trade-off is that it feels more like a sunroom than a classic balcony, and there is less space for lounging outside. Before you book, read our rundown of Celebrity Edge cabins to avoid so you do not end up under a noisy venue.
2. Holland America Pinnacle-class aft-view verandah
Holland America’s newest ships, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, offer verandah staterooms of about 228 sq ft, with aft-view verandahs looking straight out over the wake. Aft balconies are often deeper than side balconies, which makes them good for long sea days, and Holland America’s mid-size ships and older-skewing crowd tend to mean a quieter atmosphere around the cabins. Expect a little more vibration at the very back of the ship and a longer walk to forward venues.
Best balcony cabins for families
3. Royal Caribbean Surfside Family View Balcony and Family Ocean View Balcony
Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships were designed around families, and their balcony options reflect that. The Surfside Family View Balcony, on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, sleeps up to four, has a split bathroom and includes a living area that converts into a kids’ nook. Its balcony overlooks Surfside, the ship’s family neighborhood with splash areas and a carousel, rather than the ocean, so it suits parents who want to keep an eye on the action more than those after sea views.
For more space, the Family Infinite Balcony sleeps up to six with a separate bunk alcove. Legend of the Seas, which joined the fleet in 2026, also introduced a Family Ocean View Balcony with a traditional open balcony: about 285 sq ft inside plus a 50 sq ft balcony, a split bathroom with two sinks, a bunk nook and room for up to six guests.
4. Disney Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
Disney has long been known for cabins that work for families, and the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah is the classic choice. On Disney Dream, for example, it offers about 256 sq ft inside plus a 43 sq ft verandah, sleeps up to five using a queen bed, a sofa bed and a pull-down berth, and has Disney’s split bathroom: a tub and shower on one side and a toilet and sink on the other. That layout alone saves a lot of time on busy mornings. Details vary between the Disney Dream, Fantasy, Wish, Treasure and Destiny, so compare floor plans for your ship.
Best balcony cabins for views and privacy
5. Carnival cove balcony
Carnival’s cove balconies are tucked into the hull on lower decks, just above the water. They are found on Carnival Dream, Magic, Breeze, Vista, Horizon, Panorama, Venezia and Firenze (usually on Deck 2), and on Excel-class ships Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee (on Deck 5). On Carnival Horizon, a cove balcony cabin is about 185 sq ft with a 45 sq ft balcony, a little larger than a standard balcony.
The appeal is privacy, since cabins above cannot easily look down on you, and a close-up view of the waves. The downsides: balconies can be closed in rough weather, sea spray happens, and views are lower on port days.
6. Princess Sphere-class aft-facing Deluxe Balcony
Princess Cruises’ newest ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, have several balcony categories, but the aft-facing Deluxe Balconies on the upper accommodation decks are among the most sought-after cabins short of a suite. Expect around 220-230 sq ft with a full sofa and a broad view of the wake. Princess also offers lower cove balconies on these ships if you prefer to be closer to the water. Aft cabins book up early, so this is one to reserve as soon as your dates are set.
7. Virgin Voyages Sea Terrace with hammock
On Virgin Voyages’ adults-only ships, the standard balcony cabin is the Sea Terrace: about 185 sq ft plus a 40 sq ft terrace, with the line’s signature red hammock on most balconies. It is a simple feature, but it turns a small balcony into a proper place to relax. Watch out for the “Slightly Smaller Balcony” Sea Terraces, which sit above lifeboats and have shallower balconies and more limited views. Our list of Virgin Voyages cabins to avoid covers this and other trouble spots.
Best value and solo balcony cabins
8. Norwegian Prima-class balcony (including partial views)
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima-class ships, Norwegian Prima, Viva, Aqua and Luna, have bright, modern balcony cabins of roughly 200-225 sq ft on the newer Prima Plus ships. If budget is the priority, look at partial-view or obstructed balconies, which are priced below standard balconies. Some are only lightly blocked by a structural element, while others look straight onto lifeboats, so check the exact cabin on the deck plan before you accept the saving.
9. Solo balconies: Celebrity Single Infinite Veranda and MSC studios
Solo travelers usually pay a steep single supplement for a standard balcony. Celebrity’s Edge-class ships offer dedicated Single Staterooms with an Infinite Veranda, priced for one person; Celebrity Xcel has 32 of them, with fewer on Edge and Apex. MSC Cruises also builds solo studios on its newer ships, and some include a balcony, but availability varies by ship. MSC World America’s solo cabins, for example, are interior and ocean-view rather than balcony, so confirm the category before booking.
Balcony cabins that divide opinion
- Balconies facing inward. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class Central Park and Boardwalk balconies, and promenade-view balconies on ships such as MSC World America, look into the ship rather than out to sea. Some passengers love the people-watching; others find them noisy and miss the ocean.
- Lifeboat-obstructed balconies. Lower balcony decks on many ships sit above or beside lifeboats. The view may be partly or largely blocked, though some cruisers accept this for a lower fare.
- Overlooked balconies. Balconies on the “hump” or below stepped-out decks can be visible from cabins or public decks above, reducing privacy.
- French balconies. These are floor-to-ceiling doors that open to a railing with no space to sit outside. They are pleasant, but they are not a true balcony, so price them accordingly.
How to choose the best balcony cabin on a cruise ship
- Avoid guarantee fares if location matters. A guarantee means the cruise line picks your cabin, which could put you under the pool deck or behind a lifeboat.
- Study the deck plan above and below. Check what sits over and under your cabin. Pool decks, buffets, theaters and nightclubs can be noisy at early or late hours.
- Pick the right side for your itinerary. This is the tip many guides miss. On one-way or coastal routes, such as a northbound Alaska cruise or a Panama Canal transit, one side of the ship faces land for much of the trip. Check the route map and choose the side that faces the scenery, or the side that gets afternoon shade in hot climates.
- Midship and lower for motion sickness. If you are prone to seasickness, a midship balcony on a lower-to-middle deck feels the least movement.
- Read cabin reviews and forums. Search the specific cabin number. Other passengers often post photos showing exactly how big the balcony is and what the view looks like.
- Use connecting cabins for groups. Two connecting balcony cabins can cost less than a family suite and give you two bathrooms and two balconies.
Balcony prices move a lot, and upgrades are sometimes bundled into promotions. Booking early generally gives you the widest choice of specific cabins, which matters more for balconies than for any other category.
Before you pay extra for a balcony, read our take on common cruise booking tips and when to ignore them.
Already booked a cheaper cabin? Our guide to how to upgrade your cruise cabin after booking explains how to move up to a balcony without rebooking from scratch.
A cheaper balcony guarantee cabin fare can work out, but it means giving up any say over which of these balcony locations you get.
FAQs
Where is the best balcony location on a cruise ship?
It depends on your priority. Aft-facing balconies at the back of the ship offer wake views and are often deeper, midship balconies feel the least motion, and cove balconies on lower decks offer the most privacy.
Which cruise line has the best balcony cabins?
There is no single winner. Celebrity’s Infinite Verandas are excellent for space and cooler climates, Royal Caribbean and Disney lead for families, and Princess and Holland America are strong for aft wake views.
What are some bad balcony cabins to avoid on a cruise ship?
Avoid balconies directly under pool decks, buffets or nightclubs, those blocked by lifeboats unless the fare is much lower, and inward-facing balconies if you want ocean views. Booking a guarantee fare can land you in any of these.
Is an aft balcony worth the extra cost?
For many passengers, yes. Aft balconies usually have more outdoor space and a wide view of the wake. The trade-offs are more vibration, possible soot on some ships and a long walk to forward venues.
What is the difference between an Infinite Veranda and a regular balcony?
An Infinite Veranda is built into the cabin, with a window that lowers at the touch of a button, so the space can be used indoors or out. A regular balcony is a separate outdoor deck behind a sliding door.
