That depends on your personal preferences and budget.
Anything with a view of the ocean — balcony or no balcony — is always a good choice. It gives you some space to breathe. It’s also great if you’re the type who likes admiring the view of the ocean or waking up to a bit of sunshine. If you like taking photographs, the balcony also provides a fantastic vantage point especially when the ship is docked at a port of call. And a window is useful when checking the weather quickly, especially on days that you intend to disembark for a shore excursion.
View of Penang from our balcony room
But if budget is a little tight, an interior stateroom isn’t bad at all. I have tried it before and I didn’t mind that there was no view because I was always outside exploring the other decks anyway. On our most recent cruise, we were assigned a balcony room, but to be completely honest, I didn’t really use it that much other than a couple of occasions when I wanted to take a photo of Penang’s and Singapore’s coasts.
This is probably why I think the obstructed ocean view balcony room can give me the most bang for my buck. I have never really tried it, but I’m guessing since I don’t really mind the view, it can still give me the space of a balcony room at the price of a regular ocean view room. If I would cruise again, this is probably what I would book if the price is much lower.
Some balcony views are obstructed by these boats
If you’re interested in an obstructed ocean view room, it might help to know how much of the view is blocked. It’s not visible on the international website, but it is clearly indicated on cruising.com.ph, allowing you to choose the room with the least obstruction at the same price. Here’s a sample:
Needless to say, if you’re going for an obstructed ocean view room, pick one with the least view blockage.