Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

I've been on two cruises before and have had balconies both times. I can't imagine not having one, especially since the rooms are so small. This will be our first cruise with kids, who will be 7, 5 and 2. Is it dangerous to have a balcony on your room? We're planning NCL Getaway.

I've heard people say that the doors to get out to the balcony are very difficult to open, have a lock up high that kids can't reach and that the railings are high. My kids aren't big climbers and are reasonably well behaved. Of course we wouldn't allow them outside without an adult.

Side note: We're thinking of getting adjoining rooms with MIL and my 7yo might stay with her since the max people per room is 4.

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

From what I remember the balcony doors have child safety locks/locks up out of children's reach.
The liability would be way too high for them not to.

Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

my oldest is 7, and he's been on 5 cruises already. we usually get a balcony room. they definitely have safety locks on them that are too high for younger kids to reach, plus the doors are almost too heavy for an adult to open LOL so as long as you keep an eye on them and go out there with them, you'll be fine.

Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

Just be careful with the cabin door and a balcony room. Apparently if both are open at the same time, the cabin door will slam shut, and the lady at PM Pediatrics was telling me about her hanging finger that got caught in it. She said it happens with kids a lot too.

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

Thank you, that's what I figured but didn't know if maybe I wasn't worrying enough.

Will keep an eye out for slamming doors too!

Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

As long as you're diligent about keeping the safety lock on, you'll be fine. We did 2 balcony rooms last year with my 3 year old and it was fine.

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

Safety locks and hard to open.
Also, the railings are high.

Been on numerous cruises, albeit without children.

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

It's safe! Just don't leave the door open without supervision or leave your children outside alone. We'll be cruising with a 5 and 3 year old in a few months and wouldn't dream of not having a balcony.

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by Sash

Posted by ElizaRags35

As long as you're diligent about keeping the safety lock on, you'll be fine. We did 2 balcony rooms last year with my 3 year old and it was fine.

Agree.. to me it’s no different then having a hotel room with a balcony.

...which brings me to say, if you have a balcony room at your hotel, be careful with those. Most don't have high locks on them. I know a mom who lost her sweet little boy in Hawaii because he snuck out there when she was getting ready, and squeezed between the railings and fell to his death

Re: Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by Sash

Posted by ElizaRags35

As long as you're diligent about keeping the safety lock on, you'll be fine. We did 2 balcony rooms last year with my 3 year old and it was fine.

Agree.. to me it’s no different then having a hotel room with a balcony.

...which brings me to say, if you have a balcony room at your hotel, be careful with those. Most don't have high locks on them. I know a mom who lost her sweet little boy in Hawaii because he snuck out there when she was getting ready, and squeezed between the railings and fell to his death

Cruising in balcony room with small kids and toddler?

If it's just hubby and I always go the Balcony route but when I have my little ones I'm too much of a nervous nelly. I booked a Deluxe Oceanview for our upcoming cruise.