http://youtu.be/dsQVOXQWElE

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Originally posted by sea4me:
Since it is virtual, why have the faux railing?

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Originally posted by Johan:
The most essential element, the free sea air is lacking...
it is gimmicky, and it diminishes the appeal of cruising

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I actually like it quite a bit. I know it won't look good when you're somewhat close to it but it does seem to "open up" the cabin a bunch.

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Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
It may be gimmicky but I like it. I've never done an inside cabin but this'll make me consider it. I always leave the bridge channel on in the cabin even with a window or balcony. The only complaint I have is that its view is tied to your location on the ship. I would love to be able to switch between cameras. I prefer a forward facing view from above the bow.

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Originally posted by Johan:
The most essential element, the free sea air is lacking...
it is gimmicky, and it diminishes the appeal of cruising

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I heard that as a new amenity for these virtual balcony inside cabins you get a bottle of Fabreeze "Ocean Air" and a battery operated fan to simulate the wind.

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Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
It may be gimmicky but I like it. I've never done an inside cabin but this'll make me consider it. I always leave the bridge channel on in the cabin even with a window or balcony. The only complaint I have is that its view is tied to your location on the ship. I would love to be able to switch between cameras. I prefer a forward facing view from above the bow.

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Now wait a minute. That would be unfair to those who pay more for a real balcony. They can't change the view. You book a balcony you are stuck with the view. You book a virtual balcony inside cabin you are stuck with the channel.

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Originally posted by Johan:
[...]it is gimmicky, and it diminishes the appeal of cruising

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I feel the same way - these gimmicks seem to 'take over' - it's getting too much.

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Originally posted by FL_Cruiser64:
Smoking allowed on these balconies?

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Originally posted by sea4me:
Since it is virtual, why have the faux railing?

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It's obvious! It is to stop you having a virtual fall.

It would not be that difficult to design a mega-ship without inside cabins, would it!

[ 04-21-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Johan:
The most essential element, the free sea air is lacking...
it is gimmicky, and it diminishes the appeal of cruising

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Diminishes the appeal of cruising how?

If anything, these "gimmicks" have broadened the appeal of cruising. More and more people cruise every year as the "gimmicks" such as ice skating, rock climbing walls, diving shows, indoor promenades, flowriders (surfing), etc, have attracted millions of new cruisers.

Very few people today want to go on a cruise to sit in a steamer chair on a promenade as that is what their grandparents did.

What the new generation of cruisers want is an active, resort-style vacation. They want to do things they would not normally do at home or activities they don't have access to on a daily basis. It's called going on vacation to have fun.

However, if one wants to sit in a deck chair, promenade around the deck and wax nostalgic having an experience that makes them feel they have stepped back in time, one can always travel on the Marco Polo or go stay on the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

The new, larger, "gimmick" laden ships have proven themselves as the public votes with their wallets.

That's my view.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

It's obvious! It is to stop you having a virtual fall.

It would not be that difficult to design a mega-ship without inside cabins, would it!

[ 04-21-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Malcolm,

no it would not. However, it would waste valuable "real estate" in that ships are designed to maximize revenue. And by eliminating inside cabins, you would be eliminating the all to valuable entry-level price point. There's still a good number of people who just want a cabin as a place to sleep, shower and dress or choose one for budgetary reasons.

I've met many people who perennially choose the cheapest accommodations as they can take one or two cruises per year in a balcony cabin or five in an inside. Or cruise every year in an inside or cruise once every few years in a balcony.

Cheers,

Interesting to see that in Europe at least, the quieter ships are disappearing together with the shorter trips, Very difficult to find some good ones, as compared to only a few years ago, btw

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Originally posted by Tim in Fort Lauderdale:

And by eliminating inside cabins, you would be eliminating the all to valuable entry-level price point.

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Hi Tim, I see your point of view. I've booked the occasional inside cabin and spent the savings in the bar etc.

However, I assume the 'entry' level cabin was once four beds and no private bathroom. I am suggesting that inside cabins could be abolished to history.

I see no reason on-board these mega-ship with thousands of cabins that a balcony cabin could not be the future 'standard'.

All cabins could be on the outside and many of the public spaces on the inside. Public-spaces without windows is already common-place on many mega-ships (Voyager, Freedom, Oasis and epic etc.).