Expert: Linda - 5/13/2008

Question
I am new to cruising and am trying to decide what stateroom to get on a Carnival Victory cruise for a honeymoon running from San Juan on a 7 day to the southern carribean.  I am trying to decide between a suite and a balcony stateroom and don't quite understand the difference between balcony sizes and a private balcony versus a regular balcony.  Also, I understand there is a jacuzzi tub in the suite.  Is this a 2 person type of tub, something to relax in or simply a regular tub with jets?  What would you reccomend for 2 people.  The most important thing to me is to have a romantic time with my new bride.  Price is of course a consideration.

Answer
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Carnival Victory is a great ship!

A balcony room has a place to sit (couch), 2 beds or a queen size, bath, closets, dressing table and then the balcony, (about4X8)
The suite is much larger in size, ususally has a built in bar and larger place to sit.  The jacuzzi tub is NOT a 2 person tub, it's the tub with the jacuzzi jets.  The differences in the balconies depend on the location of the stateroom, if it's aft and in a corner, you will have more privacy, but its still not "private".

We've had both....for the money, I'd choose the regular balcony stateroom.  IF you have the opportunity, although AFT, the rear cabins on the corners of the ship are VERY large and the balconies wrap around; that's our favorite for stateroom.

You can log onto Carnival, or call your travel agent and you can arrange to have champagne chilling in your room when you arrive, also chocolate covered strawberries or fruit, or a floral arrangement.  You could also have Carnival decorate your cabin as well.  The carnival web site has pretty good pics of the rooms, but as I said, for the difference in money, I'd get the balcony, not suite.

Go to CRUISECRITIC.COM, join the site (free) then navigate to MESSAGE BOARDS, choose CARNIVAL and then you can ask questions there also and receive LOTS of responses from seasoned cruisers.  You can also search the message boards for those that have ask that question previously.  It's a GREAT site.

Best wishes and ask again if I can be of any further help.

Linda