What Is a French Balcony on a Cruise Ship? - LuxuryTravelDiva (2024)

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What Is a French Balcony on a Cruise Ship? - LuxuryTravelDiva? ›

What's a French Balcony on a River Cruise Ship? Viking, Avalon, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, Tauck and CroisiEurope are among the river cruise line offering rooms with French balconies -- sliding doors that open to let in air and bring the outside in.

This is why many savvy river cruisers opt for a “French balcony” instead of an “outside balcony.” A French balcony is a glass door or wall-to-wall window that opens to give you fresh air and the feel of a veranda, minus the outside floor, tables, and chairs.

It depends on your personal preferences. If you want to enjoy the views without being disturbed by wind or rain, a French balcony is the way to go. These balconies are enclosed, so you can sit back and relax in comfort. But if you really want to immerse yourself in the surroundings, a veranda is the best choice.

Balconet or balconette is an architectural term to describe a false balcony, or railing at the outer plane of a window-opening reaching to the floor, and having, when the window is open, the appearance of a balcony. They are common in France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

What's the difference between a Juliet, a French and a Balconette balcony? Well, nothing really. They're typically thought of as 'false balconies' as they're shallow and directly proceed a set of large French doors, hence French Balcony, with safety railing or glass.

The key difference between a French balcony and a veranda on a river cruise ship is that you can only lean out of French balconies but also step out onto verandas. Verandas tend to have small tables with a couple of chairs.

Know This: Location can matter! One of the best spots for a balconied cabin (or suite) is on a ship's aft deck, facing backward over the wake. It's an incredibly soothing sight ,and often these verandas (even with a standard-category cabin) are deeper and roomier than usual.

Some cruisers consider a balcony an unnecessary upgrade. They are just as content to book a cheaper cabin and don't mind jockeying for a lounge chair on the open decks. However, others relish having the option of being able to head outdoors directly from their cabins, even in their bathrobes, to enjoy the sea.

I find that the interior areas of the ship, like the Main Dining Room and show lounges, can be chilly. I usually just carry my sweater as we stroll the outside decks at night. The only time I could see the outside decks being chilly is when you are in Orlando.

Does a French balcony open? ›

What's a French Balcony on a River Cruise Ship? Viking, Avalon, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, Tauck and CroisiEurope are among the river cruise line offering rooms with French balconies -- sliding doors that open to let in air and bring the outside in.

Some ships have cabins with what is termed a Juliet or French balcony, where the top panel of the huge window partially slides down to give you plenty of fresh air and the view, but you can't actually walk outside.

French Balconies look and act like a regular balcony, with the only exception being that there is a railing placed directly behind the glass, meaning you cannot step out onto a separate space — without splashing into the river, that is.

Whereas traditional balconies consist of a barriered floor jutting out from an apartment or hotel room, a French balcony is actually just a long window or glass door, which can be slid open to let in more ventilation and light.

Essentially, a Juliet balcony is a glass balustrade that is fixed to the external wall of a building. They are often used in front of big windows or French doors and they don't have a surface or deck to walk on them, unlike a standard balcony.

While you can't physically sit outside on a Juliet balcony, if your doors or windows don't open inward, you can still use the floor area in front of the balcony to set up a bistro-style table and chairs.

The best views. Balcony cabins don't just offer you access to an outdoor space. They typically also offer you a great view of the outdoors from inside your cabin. This is because the doors leading to balconies in balcony cabins usually are made almost entirely of glass running from floor to ceiling.

On the other hand, noise and vibration can be high, so you will probably want to steer clear of the back of the ship where the engine is usually located. On the lowest deck you will find the cabins with small windows which look straight out over the water - what we refer to as the 'duck's eye' view.

Balcony is translated in French by...

Le balcon (m)