Crystal Symphony
"Cabins 8076 and 8077 are midship gems. They're priced as "limited view" cabins, since they're on the deck where the lifeboats hang, but they sit between lifeboats and offer unobstructed ocean vistas. They'll save you $1,280 to $2,380 on a 20-day South Pacific cruise." —Richard Turen, Churchill and Turen, Naperville, Ill. (800-445-7979)

Cunard Line
Queen Elizabeth 2
"The P2 cabins on Three Deck are spacious and midship—both desirable on transoceanic voyages. P2 guests dine in the Princess and Britannia grills, which are smaller, quieter, and less ostentatious than the other dining options—perfect if you want to feel exclusive but don't want to spend big bucks. Cabins 3087 and 3090 are 21 square feet larger than the other P2 cabins." —Dorothy Reminick, Reid Travel of Florida, Boca Raton, Fla. (800-666-7150)

Queen Mary 2 (maiden voyage in January 2004)
"On the QM2, your dining room will be determined by your cabin category. If you're a food connoisseur and really enjoy time outdoors on a balcony, select a junior suite on Deck 10 with Princess Grill dining. If your wallet is a little thinner and the dining experience isn't a major issue, I'd recommend the standard oceanview cabins without balconies and with dining in the less intimate Britannia. There are balcony cabins with Britannia dining, but since those balconies are set back within the ship's hull, your view is narrowed." —John Ferguson, Pisa Brothers, New York (800-729-7472)

Disney Cruise Line
Disney Magic, Disney Wonder
"The veranda staterooms on Deck 8 sleep a family of five, so you needn't pay for two adjoining cabins. These rooms have a queen or two twin beds, plus three pullout singles. There's a divider between the master bed area and the pullout beds for privacy, and the bathtub and toilet areas are separate, each with their own door." —Becky Williams, Brownell Travel, Birmingham, Ala. (800-999-3960)

Holland America Line
Amsterdam, Rotterdam
"The verandas in suites 7032 to 7043 on the Amsterdam and 7030 to 7039 on the Rotterdam are shaded from the sun by an overhang (part of the Lido Restaurant above), making them a great choice if you prefer shade." —Cheryl Smiley, Cruise Specialists Inc., Seattle (800-544-2469)

Maasdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam
"The category B suites on the Veranda Deck, set high and midship, cost only $35 more per person per day than the staterooms without balconies. Besides a sitting area, you get a whirlpool bath, usually available only in more expensive cabins on comparable cruise lines." —Rich Skinner, Cruise Holidays, Woodinville, Wash. (866-487-4001)

Oosterdam, Zuiderdam
"The aft corner suites on the Veranda Deck (S5186 and S5187) have huge wraparound balconies—at least three times larger than those of comparably priced suites—and are great for entertaining. Cabins SS6052, SS6108, SS6117, SS8094, and SS8099 on the Navigation Deck also have larger balconies than other rooms in the same class." —Cheryl Smiley (see above)