Cruise Guests Lose Balcony Access Unexpectedly for Maintenance
If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my years of cruising, it’s to always expect the unexpected and be ready to roll with the punches. For example, it’s not uncommon for itineraries to change at the last minute due to inclement weather.
But what some passengers may not realize – especially if they are newer to cruising – is that booking a stateroom with a private balcony doesn’t always guarantee balcony access for the duration of the sailing.
Indeed, one such guest took to Reddit to ask if it was normal to lose access so that the crew members could complete maintenance tasks.
“We received a notice yesterday saying our blinds need to be closed and our balcony is off limits until they complete routine maintenance. I don’t know how long it will take yet, but a woman a few cabins down said hers was out of bounds for 3 days for painting, so I’m expecting the same,” the cruiser wrote without specifying the ship or cruise line.
In a later update, the guest confirmed that they only lost access for one day – not three like their fellow passenger – but still wanted to know if this practice was commonplace.
“We lost access at 6pm last night, and it’s going to be out of bounds until 6pm tonight… I’m not upset about it, just curious what the status quo was. I was a bit worried that it would be for longer since my neighbour lost hers for 3 days this sail, but guest services said I’d have access again this evening,” reads the update.
In the comments section, the majority confirmed that they had similar experiences where they too lost balcony access – but that it usually only lasted for a couple hours and was while the ship was in port, when guests would most likely be off the ship anyway.
That said, there could be situations – or even emergencies – where the crew needs to conduct maintenance that can’t wait for a port call or turnaround day.
But no matter the reason, losing balcony access – and/or not seeing the expected view from one’s balcony – can be a hot button topic with cruisers.
Last year, for example, one cruiser made headlines for complaining that the safety railing on their balcony obstructed their view onboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
Even more recently, a Norwegian Cruise Line guest sparked debate – and even got compensation – after her view was blocked by maintenance equipment while sailing through a narrow portion of the Panama Canal.
Why Balcony Access Isn’t a Given
There are many reasons for why crew members might need to temporarily forbid balcony use – but in this case, the cruiser confirmed that it was due to painting in their original question and in the comments section.
“I wasn’t expecting to lose access for my balcony for a full 24 hours, and the woman a few cabins down lost hers for 3 days because of grinding and painting,” they wrote to another cruise fan.
Some might wonder why the cruise line couldn’t just wait for the next visit to dry dock to paint, but most ships actually need to be painted much more often to prevent rust and corrosion and maintain the ship’s desired appearance.
Completing the work at sea allows the cruise line to maintain the ship with less delays and often lower costs.
Read Also: How Do Cruise Ships Float?
More commonly, cruise guests may receive similar notices to close their blinds and stay off their balconies so that the crew members can wash the windows – which keeps the ship clean, ensures guests get to keep their clear view, and prevents salt damage.
Although, sometimes guests don’t get the memo in time either – leading to some awkward situations.
One woman shared her family’s embarrassing story: “Did you know that they don’t even need to go into your room to go on the balconies? My husband found out after he took a shower midday and went into our bedroom to get dressed and loans behold there was our daily room cleaner outside on the balcony washing the windows!”
This is why most brands, such as Carnival Cruise Line, now notify guests of the cleanings in advance using an environmentally friendly door hanger system – which was implemented in summer of 2024.
Windows typically need to be washed at least once during every sailing – with some cruise lines undertaking the task more often. This often needs to take place mid-voyage due to the frequency this chore is required and simply not having enough time on turnaround days.
Cruise Guests Lose Balcony Access Unexpectedly for Maintenance