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

FAQs

What is a French balcony on a cruise? ›

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.

Although French balconies do come with a host of benefits, there are downsides too. They don't give you space for activities like sitting, BBQing, or gardening.

If you plan to list your building for sale, we recommend adding a French balcony to enhance the property's value and overall aesthetics. Balconies require little financial outlay because of their size and can only be used on upper levels. Contrarily, verandas are more spacious and are built on the ground floor.

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.

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.

If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end. Aft balcony accommodations at the ship's corners are also the largest and often give more outside area than conventional balcony cabins, allowing you to enjoy both the beautiful views and the extra space.

Most staterooms are now over 200 sq ft, with an extra wide, 11ft French balcony. The flat glass which covers the entire wall is fantastic for making you feel like you are part of your surroundings. It feels like you are outside even in the cooler months when you are less likely to have the window open.

Balconies and terraces should be constructed in the north, east or north-east directions. One must avoid a house with a balcony in the south-west or south direction. Having a water fountain in the north-east side of the terrace can increase positivity in the house.

A Self Supporting Balcony System is the Safest Balcony System. Self supporting balcony systems, or bolt-on balconies, are the safest balcony systems over wooden cantilever balconies. The reason self supporting balcony systems are safer is exemplified by the Berkeley, CA cantilever balcony tragedy.

What are the disadvantages of a veranda? ›

However, as verandas are more exposed to unpredictable weather elements, they will require more upkeep and may need to be repainted or re-stained periodically. Conservatories, on the other hand, are a more versatile space and require minimal maintenance thanks to their durable materials.

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.

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.

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 particularly true for all types of balconies, including the Juliet, which can add 5-10% to the value of your property. Due to the affordability of installation, this means a Juliet balcony is highly likely to bring a significant return on the investment when selling.

Even on smaller, more luxurious ships that don't feel crowded, a balcony is desirable; if the weather is such that you can spend a lot of time on your balcony, it's like having an additional room.

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.

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.