How would a cruise line company class an 'unrestricted view' from a balcony cabin on a cruise?

Question

Would a 90 degree straight ahead/backward view constitute such, with forward facing aspect being totally restricted by lifeboat? Am I wrong in expecting a clear view in all directions? I could stand in my cabin and see nothing but sea, but not where we were going.

Answer 1

I believe what you are describing would be classified as an unobstructed view by most cruise lines.  

It is no different than an airline describing a flight as direct, because there is no change of planes, even though the flight itself does not go directly from the first airport to the destination airport.

It all depends on how you want to define what is and what is not an unobstructed view.  There is always going to be some obstruction.  Even the captain on the bridge does not have a full 360 degree field of view.

Answer 2

That would be a unrestricted view. You can see out but not down, or up. Obstructed will give you a lovely view of the lifeboat, which is what I had 3 cruises ago despite the fact we were told it was unobstructed

Answer 3

i believe that what you are describing would be classified by the cruise lines as a Balcony Cabin

(unobstructed, most probably)

cruiselines might vary on their terms.  I would call the cruiseline for details.

cruiseclues.com

Answer 4

horizontally :-  You should expect an unrestricted view to the horizon over a 180 degree arc.

Vertically there should be obstruction downward to the water and upwards to infinity.

There might be temporary obstructions while in port caused by gang-planks and the like. This is considered acceptable.

Ian M

Answer 5

I have a been on many cruises and of late have always selected a balcony cabin.  I have never seen a balcony cabin listed as "unrestricted view"  but I have seen some listed as "partially obstructed, or obstructed view".  In general what an obstructed view means is what you said about a life boat or a wall obstruction a part of the view from the balcony. On many ships the very last cabin and the very first cabin on each floor will likely have a partially obstructed view, regardless of whether it is listed that way.  Also, ships that have a curve/bulge in the center will have a different type view.  I had such a cabin on the RC Freedom ship.

Regardless of what ship or cruise line you cannot see 90 degree from inside you cabin.  That is because the balcony will extend out six or eight feet with a privacy wall on either side.  You must walk to the balcony railing to get the 90 degree view.  On some ships balconies I have been on the view sitting on the balcony has been somewhat restricted  when sitting because of the way the ship is designed.  On some ships the balconies on some floors are designed like oval windows, rather than being fully open.  But even on these balconies you get the 90 degree view from the railing.

But you cannot tell these type differences by looking at the ship diagrams on line.  You can see the difference if you look at an actual close up photo of a ship.  So before you select a cabin, look on line for a photo (that a passenger has taken) of the ship so that you can see exactly what the balcony cabins look like from the outside.

Answer 6

Unrestricted view would be just that.  Nothing is blocking the view from your cabin.

Answer 7

Virtually all balcony cabins would be on the outermost side of the ship.  I can't image how you could have an obstructed view with a balcony.  They wouldn't put a lifeboat there; too many things cold happen.

Now RCCL has a series of ships that have balconies on the inside Promenade. These overlook evening galas that happen on the thoroughfare each night.  

Now, your view might not be completely 180 degrees since there are other cabins on each side of you.  That might take another 10 degrees off on each side.  Also consider, some ships have cabins in the front, so you can see where you are going.  These, however, are more like to be the suites...with a hefty surcharge.