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We chose the Sun out of Vancouver due to the pricing and availability/size of a inside quad cabin, and then ended up upgrading (for $80 total) to a balcony. The Sun is a beautiful ship, and we thoroughly enjoyed the freestyle dining concept. You also need to take into account which ports/glaciers your ship will go to, and make sure that you are getting to where you want to be. The Sun went to Sawyer Glacier, which was great, but next time I want to go to Glacier Bay.I personally don't know that a balcony is required, but I would want an outside cabin with a big enough window to look out of. Our experience is that it was too cold and windy to sit outside on the balcony much, at least while the ship was moving. This was the week of June 6, so maybe it gets more pleasant as the season goes on. It wasn't the cold as much as the wind and the noise that bothered me while trying to sit on the balcony. We did see one whale and several porpoises (or dolphins, not sure which) from our balcony, along with beautiful sunsets. If the cost between the outside room with a picture window and the balcony was similar, I would go with the balcony, but if the balcony was substantially more I might just try the window next time.
We chose the Sun out of Vancouver due to the pricing and availability/size of a inside quad cabin, and then ended up upgrading (for $80 total) to a balcony. The Sun is a beautiful ship, and we thoroughly enjoyed the freestyle dining concept. You also need to take into account which ports/glaciers your ship will go to, and make sure that you are getting to where you want to be. The Sun went to Sawyer Glacier, which was great, but next time I want to go to Glacier Bay.
I personally don't know that a balcony is required, but I would want an outside cabin with a big enough window to look out of. Our experience is that it was too cold and windy to sit outside on the balcony much, at least while the ship was moving. This was the week of June 6, so maybe it gets more pleasant as the season goes on. It wasn't the cold as much as the wind and the noise that bothered me while trying to sit on the balcony.
We did see one whale and several porpoises (or dolphins, not sure which) from our balcony, along with beautiful sunsets. If the cost between the outside room with a picture window and the balcony was similar, I would go with the balcony, but if the balcony was substantially more I might just try the window next time.
