Balcony Etiquette!

I was once discussing the pros and cons of having a larger balcony on a Princess ship and the fact that it would be slightly overlooked from above, my client went on to tell me that she had once been up on a top deck when she looked below she was shocked to see a naked German man sunbathing on his balcony

I have no idea how she knew he was German but that brings me to mention the Etiquette of Cruising with a Balcony, I found this article and it is a comprehensive list of do’s and don’ts

The most important thing to remember is that you have neighbours, who are not just in the stateroom next door, but also have a balcony of their own – noise can travel, so be mindful when you are outside early in the morning and late at night in particular.

Don’t ever try to feed birds or seagulls from your balcony. Not only can it cause chaos and be noisy, but think of the mess you could encounter

Many cruise lines have changed smoking policies to include it being forbidden on balconies. If you are a smoker and it is allowed, please don’t smoke your neighbors out of their private outdoor space, and use the proper receptacle for your butts. And never, ever throw butts or matches off your balcony – they can blow back onto decks or other balconies below, causing a potential fire hazard.

There is a divider between your stateroom and your neighbours for privacy, so don’t be tempted to peek over it to see who they are and what they’re doing.Try not to leave things on your balcony while you are not in your stateroom. For one, they may get soaked if the area is being washed, which happens frequently when in port, and when you’re ship is at sea, you might find yours swimmers disappearing into the wind.

If you’re tempted to take any specific bedroom activities outside on to your balcony – don’t!

Many people book staterooms with balconies so they can leave their doors open at night and hear the sound of the ocean. Remember this if you are outside, or if you are inside with the doors open and playing music or listening to the TV.

If you need to use your mobile phone, don’t speak at the top of your voice on your balcony – you might think the call is “private” but those balconies around you and above and below will be able to hear everything you say, whether they want to or not.

Generally you should aim to behave towards others as you would like them to behave towards you. A balcony stateroom can be a wonderful place to escape the crowds for some quality quiet time. Don’t ruin it for anyone around you.

If you have encountered Balcony Neighbours from Hell or have any amusing anecdotes I would love to hear them!