A Family's Review of a Category B2 Balcony Stateroom on the Norwegian Getaway

Are you ready to take a tour of Norwegian Getaway’s connecting balcony staterooms? Let’s go!

You just might seriously consider the rooms we’re reviewing today—two connecting Balcony Staterooms, category BA for your family. Each stateroom offers a comfortable and cozy retreat for up to four guests, and a balcony that offers spectacular views of the sea.

The two rooms had similar layouts, except that the sleeping and sitting areas were flipped around. We’ll review the rooms in detail and describe the added feature of having the two rooms connected so you can make an informed decision before booking your next cruise.

Ready to set sail? Then let’s take a closer look at the Norwegian Getaway connecting Balcony Staterooms!

5 Things to know about a Balcony Stateroom on the Norwegian Getaway

Each stateroom can accomodate up to 4 people
The bathrooms in the cabins are surprisingly spacious
There is limited storage under the bed for luggage
Bring a multi plug charger for your devices. There were only two outlets in our stateroom
Staterooms are only cleaned once a day; there is no longer turndown service

Norwegian Getaway Stateroom: So why two Balcony Cabins?

Connecting balcony cabins on the Norwegian Getaway are great if you're looking to have your entire family stay in "one" stateroom, but still have lots of space. Normally, we're a Haven family when we travel on NCL, but this time around, our 10-day cruise proved to be too expensive for us to do our usual two-bedroom Haven suite—so we did the next best thing: we grabbed two connecting balcony cabins.

The result? It was almost like having the two-bedroom suite and even more importantly, it gave us the extra space (and privacy!) we needed, instead of having to squeeze three adults and one child into a single balcony cabin.

You also get the amenities of the connecting balconies—two separate balconies with plenty of room for multiple people, as well as two doors in case you want to come and go without waking anyone else up or disturbing anyone from the adjoining cabin.

Overview of Norwegian Getaway Balcony Cabins

The category BA staterooms have a queen bed, an upper bed, a sitting area with a sofa bed, a wardrobe closet, a bathroom with a single sink, and a private balcony with 2 chairs and a small table.

The cabins we stayed in were nearly mirror images of one another—we were in cabins 12256 and 12258. The only discernible difference was that in one cabin, the bed was closer to the balcony than in the other. Each room came equipped with a surprisingly spacious bathroom with a good amount of storage space and a roomy shower.

Cabin 12256 Aboard the Norwegian Getaway

One word of caution here though: you'll need to step up into the bathroom, and it takes some getting used to. At one time or another, we all tripped coming in or out of the bathroom!

Step up into the Bathroom Aboard the Norwegian Getaway

We've debated it and feel that the beds were full-size and not queen, although they are listed as queen-size. The furniture was basic but functional. Unfortunately, there were only two outlets located at the vanity and the balconies were sufficient but on the small side.

Also, we were unable to open the partition between the balconies for safety reasons so that put a kibosh on having the single, larger extended balcony. All-in-all, however, it was a great set-up and perfect for families who can come to terms with the fact that cruise staterooms are relatively smaller than your typical hotel rooms.

Now let's talk details.

The Norwegian (NCL) Getaway Beds

The "queen" bed is actually two beds joined together. If you so choose, you can instead request to have the beds to be separated, which may work better for two kids that want their own beds.

We found the beds to be comfortable and everyone slept well with no complaints. The one thing we could complain about was the pillows. While they were plentiful, we found them to be too soft for us.

You know the kind, where you just sink into the center and the edges come up around your face. Yes, those are the ones. We needed the extra pillows on the bed to provide the firmness we prefer.

If three to four people are sleeping in the cabin, it is possible to use the sofa as a bed for the third person. A fourth bed can drop from a compartment in the ceiling for a fourth person. We did not use either of these beds during our cruise and won't comment on their comfort level.

Storage and Closet Space in Norwegian Getaway Balcony Cabins

Closet Space

Ahh, the closet space—here's where we run into a wrinkle. There was a decent amount of shelf space in the closet but the hanging space felt a little cramped. Also, there was no light in the closet so it was at times difficult to find things.

We felt that we needed a bit more space in this area so the items that we could not hang were left folded and placed either on the shelves on the opposite side of the closet or in one of the shelves in the vanity.

The space between the closet and either the bed or the couch (depending on your room's layout) was tight without a lot of space to maneuver. Consequently, getting to the hanging space was a bit challenging.

There was an extra drawer under the sofa where the extra linens for the sofa bed were stored. We did not use this space and are certain that our room steward would have removed the linens if we asked.

Storage Space

The beds are elevated so you can store your luggage and other items underneath the bed. However, the beds were not as elevated as you would see on a newer ship making the storage space feel a bit cramped.

Also worth mentioning are two small shelves on either side of the beds which provide a few more opportunities for storage that could come in handy for smaller items like phones, the remote, etc.

Vanity

The rooms have a vanity dresser with an adequate amount of storage space and counter space. However, we were a bit challenged in managing the counter space due to items such as device chargers, bottles of water, and when we ate in our room, the plates and cups that we brought down from Cabanas (the buffet) or from room service.

Mini-Fridge

Under the vanity, there was a mini-fridge that you can use to cool down water bottles, sodas, etc. Here we have to note that there were bottles of sodas and sparkling water, for purchase, in the mini-fridge.

We took them out of the fridge and kept them on one of the shelves so that we could use the space for other items. We returned them to the fridge at the end of the cruise so that we wouldn't have to pay for them.

Mini-fridge with Water for Sale Aboard the Norwegian Getaway

The Bathrooms in Norwegian Getaway BA Balcony Staterooms

We were pleasantly surprised with the amount of space that we found in the bathrooms. While you will most likely only have one person in the bathroom at a time, we found that there was plenty of room to move around.

While the bathroom vanity only had one sink it was sufficient, again considering that it is on a cruise ship. The shower was also ample enough that you could get in and not feel as though you would bump along the sides with each turn.

The bathrooms had ample storage space for toiletries. The shelfs lining the wall did have small lips to ensure that items wouldn't fall off if you encounter rough seas and there was even shelf space available under the counter.

The Real Advantage to Connecting Rooms

The thing that's really useful is that if you needed to, you could open the connecting door and use whichever of the bathrooms were vacant. This could come in very handy at times when everyone is getting ready to go out, especially for families with children.

Aside from the high step into the bathroom, the one other drawback we found is that the bathrooms do not have a night light. The light is either on or off which can disturb anyone sleeping if you're getting up for a middle-of-the-night trip to the restroom.

The Norwegian Getaway Balcony

Of course, we can't forget about the balcony!

In our humble opinion, a balcony is the only way to go if you can afford it. Imagine stepping outside onto your private balcony—the ocean breeze, the sound of the waves, and the unique port views.

Royal Navy Dockyard from the Balcony of the Norwegian Getaway

One of our favorite things is standing on our balcony and watching the next port come into view. There really is nothing like it and it can't be beat for relaxing on your cruise.

The balcony is the width of the room so it doesn't fit a lounge chair, but it can accommodate two chairs and a small table. The space is perfect for sipping coffee or sharing snacks while you watch the world go by or a beautiful sunset.

Stateroom Service aboard the Norwegian Getaway

Much to our surprise, we found that service was only provided once per day. This meant that if we had plates or glasses from room service or the buffet in our room after the single cleaning of the day, we were pretty much stuck with them until the next day. We were asked not to place them in the hallway for safety reasons.

Rare Towel Animal Aboard the Norwegian Getaway

Turn-down service is no longer an option and towel animals are scarce. We ended up with towel animals specifically because we asked our cabin steward. If we didn't have a child with us, we're not so sure that we would have received them at all.

The cruise line has made this decision and we feel it's a good one to be more green. Fewer towel animals mean less laundry, which is better for the ocean.

Final Verdict: Are Norwegian Getaway Stateroom Balconies Worth It?

So you're wondering if the Norwegian Getaway Stateroom Balconies are worth splurging for? Here’s our verdict:Absolutely.

Don't get us wrong, the Haven 2-bedroom suite is the way to go if you have no qualms in paying the price for the suite. There are additional perks that justify the cost for the Haven suites like the private dining room, concierge, butler, private sun deck and pool to name a few. However, if you are reluctant to pay the going rate, the two connecting balcony suites are a good alternative that won't break the bank.

Overall, the space and accommodations that the balcony cabins offer is well worth the money and make them perfect for families. Plus, it gives you a private outdoor space to escape to away from the crowds on the ship.

If you’re planning a family vacation and want to keep everyone in the "same" cabin without feeling cramped, then connecting balcony cabins will give you the extra space and the feeling of being in the same room.

You can enjoy the closeness or proximity of the rooms, but also have the separation and privacy that at times you may want. All-in-all, we would suggest connecting balcony rooms and would choose these accommodations again.

Until next time, Enjoy the journey!

Norwegian Getaway Balcony Stateroom: Complete Review of Connecting Balcony Cabins

5 Things to know about a Balcony Stateroom on the Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Getaway Stateroom: So why two Balcony Cabins?