Picking the Best Cabin for Your Cruise

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Cabin or Stateroom?

Call it a Stateroom, call it a Cruise Cabin - a room on a cruise ship is just a room, right? Well, NO! How do you select the best cabin for your cruise, then?

Just as you can choose to sleep at a budget motel, or a suite in a five star luxury hotel, you have choices when choosing the best cabin on a cruise ship. And the best cabin for you might not be the perfect stateroom for someone else.

Inside or Ocean View? Balcony or Promenade? Suite, Loft, or Garden Villa? Choosing your cabin or stateroom is a big part of planning a cruise.

I'll show some of the different cruise ship cabins on today's mass market lines, starting with affordable inside cabins, and we'll move 'up' from there. Along the way, you'll find some cruise tips in picking the best cabin for your sea cruise.

What are my personal preferences? Well, that depends . . . Let's get on with it!

Photo: my own
Page created 02/21/11
Last updated 06/03/12

In the Old Days . . .

There were "Classes" on Ocean Liners

In the days when great ocean liners made Atlantic crossings, "First Class" passengers enjoyed very different accommodations than the less fortunate in "Second Class," also sometimes referred to as "steerage." First Class was better attended to, and better fed in a luxuriously appointed dining room.

Today, only the Cunard Line sails true ocean liners , and maintains only a faint vestige of classes. There are (in descending order) Queen, Princess, and Britannia staterooms. Each does have its own dining room, but there's nothing remotely "steerage" about Cunard. Friends who are Cunarders report that 'even' Britannia passengers sail in well appointed cabins (some with balconies) and enjoy top drawer service and food throughout their voyage.

To find out more about the Cunard Queens that once plyed the ocean, see Queens of the Ocean Past

Photo: R.M.S.Queen Mary, having been pressed into war service as a troop transport, arrives in New York, June, 1945. (public domain photo)

Location, location, location

Cabin Location Could Make a Big Difference.

Here are some general considerations in choosing your cabin location:


Directions Cruise Shirt


1 - Cruise ship stabilizers minimize pitching and rolling to SOME extent - not entirely. The higher the deck, the more you feel rolling (sidewards motion) while the effect of pitch (front to back rocking) is more pronounced when you're nearer the bow or stern. If you worry about sea-sickness, choose a midship cabin on a lower deck.

2 - Check the Deck Plans on the cruise line's site. Find out what is nearby the cabin you are considering. Example: a cabin right underneath the Disco Bar might be a poor choice if you like to turn in early.


Directions Cruise Shirt
Directions Cruise Shirt by CruiseReady


3 - If you have mobility issues, book early to assure availability of one of the limited number of special handicapped accessible cabins.

4 - Some cabins have an 'obstructed view.' Often, these cabins are located right under where the lifeboats hang on the side of the ship. They're so marked on the the deck plans on the ship's website. Just be sure to check for this. (Sometimes these cabins are discounted!)

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INSIDE Cabins

Big on Affordability- Small on Roominess

Inside cabins are just that - completely INSIDE the ship, with no outside exposure. These are also the smallest and most affordable cabins on a cruise ship.

Did I say small? Oh, yes. For example, on one of the older and smaller Royal Caribbean vessels, you'll have about 115-122 sq. ft, while on a newer, larger ship in the Princess feet, you get a whopping 160 sq. ft. - and that includes the bathroom!

Don't despair. If you spend any waking hours at all in your stateroom, you'll miss out on your cruise all together! It's really a sleeping and changing room, and that's typically all it's used for. (Honeymooners excepted, but they don't seem to mind hours in close quarters!)

Poto curated from Flickr

My Word on Inside Cabins

... and Some Tips

Have I / Would I sail in an Inside cabin?
I have, and I would. I would IF it meant the difference between cruising and not cruising, and IF the cruise were for 4 nights or less.

SOME TIPS:
1 - There is NO outside light coming into these staterooms, so switch off the lights, and it's pitch back. Bring along a travel alarm clock with a lit dial. Otherwise you'll have no earthly idea when morning has arrived!

2 - Space is at a premium. Hang up evrything you can right away and stow empty suitcases under the bed. Make up for the lack of countertop, shelf, and drawer space with an over-the-door shoe bag. It's the perfect solution! Use its pockets to safely 'stow' your camera, card key, sun lotion, and other gear where you can quickly and easily retrieve them.

3 - If you like to swim, bring AT LEAST two swim suits. Wet suits take forever to dry when hung in the bathroom of one of these cabins. There's nothing more miserable than having to put on a still-wet suit! Pack a couple of large zip-lock bags for packing still damp things in at going home time, too.

Handy Items for Cruising in an Inside Cabln

These Will Be Helpful on Your Cruise

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Ocean View Cabins

A Nice Middle Ground

Ocean View cabins are a nice middle ground between inside cabins and the more expensive ones with their own private balconies.
Even within the group of Ocean View cabins, you may have additional choices to make. For example:

- Porthole (Usually on lower decks. Portholes don't open.)
- Window (No, these do not open, either)
- Obstructed View (the view is at least partially blocked, often by lilfeboats)
- Superior (larger than regular ocean view, with a sitting area, and more storage space)
- Family (limited number available - some can accomodate up to six)

Note that not all of these choices apply to every ship of every line.

These cabins vary in size from line to line and ship to ship, but even the smaller ocean views are generally a bit larger than inside cabins. The Superior is larger than the regular ocean view. (Different lines may have different names for these.) The Family Ocean View cabins are the largest, often with a partitioned off sleeping area for the children. Some may utilize sofa-beds, wall fold-downs or bunks for the extra beds. Remember- efficient utilization of space is everything on a ship!

The question I hear most often about is "How obstructed is the view on an obstructed ocean view cabin?" The answer is that it can vary. In the above picture, which is fairly typical, you can see that, from this particular cabin, on deck 8 of one of Royal Caribbean's Sovereign class ships that we sailed in, the water is still visible.

Photo: my own (all rights reserved)

My Word on Ocean View Cabins

... and a Tip or Two.

Q -Have I / Would I sail in an Ocean View cabin?
A - I have, and would.. . although, I would prefer a balcony, but I can't always have what I want.
Q - What about an obstructed view cabin?
A - This is the type of cabin we usually book for a 3 or 4 nighter to The Bahamas. It's somewhere we've been more than a few times, and we can go more often if we don't pay a bundle for each time!
Q- And the larger, Superior Ocean View Cabins?
A - Yes, and yes. I like them, but don't always want to spend the extra that they cost.

In my opinion, the view from a ship's railing is one of the best views in the whole world!


Deck Level View Print print
Deck Level View Print by CruiseReady


Some Tips

1- Save money- go obstructed! If you are willing to forego a panoramic view, you could end up saving quite a few bucks by booking one of these cabins.

2 - Try to at least get one with a window, rather than a porthole. You get a bit more of a view that way.

3 - Look for an obstructed view cabin fairly near a stairwell. You may be just one deck above the Promenade Deck. This is ideal. That way, if you spy something you'd like a better look at, it will be just a quick jaunt down a flight of stairs and out a nearby door to get to the ship's railing where you can enjoy a really unobstructed view, while breathing the healthy sea air!

4 - As an alternative to a Family OceanView, try finding a pair of obstructed view cabins with a connecting door. (Once again, do your homework by checking the deck plans on the cruise line's website.) ADVANTAGE: You may save some money, AND you get TWO bathrooms!

What Are You Thinking So Far?

So far, we've mentioned Cunard, talked about inside cabins, and several types of ocean view cabins.

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Video Tour of a Balcony Stateroom

on the Carnival Legend

Here's a narrated video tour of a balcony stateroom on the Carnival Legend. It gives you a good look at what one of these staterooms provides, including, of course, the balcony. Decor and design will vary from line to line,and ship to ship, but this will give you a real good general idea of what you can expect.
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Balcony or Veranda Staterooms

The Beginning of Prime Real Estate

If you are going to to any entertaining at sea, you'll probably want to book at least a balcony stateroom. Yes- you read that right! I actually hostsed a wine and cheese party on my extended balcony once. And, I've attended invitation only parties in Grand and Presidential Suites.

But, what if you just want to cruise in a really nice stateroom? Yes, now I'm calling them stateroom as opposed to cabins. Nothing more than semantics! There is a very special feeling that you get from relaxing on your own private balcony, foo foo drink in one hand, and good book in the other. Oh, yeah. On most lines, you can even arrange ahead of time to have an extra special romantic breakfast or dinner served on your balcony... for a price, of course! So, if you want that extra touch and feel of luxury, go for it, and book a balcony stateroom.

Once again, there are variations within this catetory of staterooms, and some people have some pretty strong preferences. For example, on some (not all) Royal Caribbean ships, there is a bulge along about mid ship that some cruisers call "the hump." Some swear the view is susperior from these balconies. There is a real range in sizes, and, of course, a corresponding range in pricing.

Photo: my own (all rights reserved)

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My Word on Balcony Cabins

Plus, Some Tips

Have I / Would I cruise in a Balcony (or Veranda) Cabin?
Oh yes! And no Question.

I like balcony cabins for cruises that are long enough to enjoy the balcony - anything of 6 days or more. And, I especially like them if the itinerary includes even one new port for me. I LOVE watching the new port come into view from my balcony... and bidding goodbye from there, too.

Since I am not sure I would book a suite, even if money were no object, for me absolute prime real estate on just about any ship is an Aft Corner Balcony. These are often are bigger than the non-corner ones, and the view is fabulous. Second best would be any of the aft balconies. I'm a wake watcher. That churning water is just mesmerizing, and especially so in the Caribbean, where the color is simply unmatched.

Swirling Sea mousepad mousepad
Swirling Sea mousepad by h2oWater



Tips
1- Balconies provide a great place to let your wet swim suits dry - when you are in port. Just don't forget to take them inside the cabin before the ship sails, or you might lose them!

2 - A tip about tips. Be generous with your stateroom attendents, wait staff, and others who work so hard to make your days on board pleasant. The bulk of their pay comes from YOU, not the cruise line. I like to think of the cruise line's tipping guidelines as a 'starting point.' You take it from there.

3 - Most balcony doors can be locked into place when open, so that they don't bang shut again with each roll of the ship. Just investigate your door closure a little, and you'll probably find the secret, which varies from ship to ship.

Personalized Anchor iPhone 4 Case speckcase I cruise . . .Therefore Magnet magnet Live Love Cruise Custom Bag bag

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Need New Luggage?

I am seriously considering this set

I should replace our luggage set before we take many more cruises. On our last cruise, the couple in the next cabin had a set like this one, except theirs was in red.

After getting aquainted, I asked them how they liked it, and they went on about how satisfied they were with their New Yorker Luggage Set from US Traveler, and what a good buy it was.

So, I thought I would pass this along in case anyone else is in need of new luggage.

US Traveler New Yorker 4 Piece Luggage Set Expandable,Royal Blue,One Size

Amazon Price: $109.77 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $199.99

This is a nice looking set, and I have heard good things about it.
It comes in four colors:
Black, Red, Royal Blue, and Gray.

SUITES

The Really Prime Real Estate

Here's where divergence really begins to happen. Different cruise lines have different names for their different types of suites, and how they are appointed. Most have separate living room and bedroom areas, wet bars, large flat-screen TVs, Stereo systems, and jacuzzi tubs. At the very least. Some have grand pianos. Others have wrap-around balconies with private hot tubs.

And each line strives to distinguish itself with the 'specialness' of their top end accomodations. For example:

- Norwegian Cruise Line has the Courtyard - a group of private suites with their own private pool deck, butler service, and more.
- On their new Oasis class ships, Royal Caribbean has introduced two level Loft Suites, with guest bathrooms, indoor and outdoor dining areas, and an upper level for sleeping quarters.
- Celebrity's AquaClass is designed for the ultimate spa enthusiast, with easy access to the Spa, and their own private, special-menu dining room

There's more... but you get the idea.

Pick a line, and look for their top category of staterooms. You're sure to find some amazing things, along wit an equallly amazing price tag in some cases. Curious about prices? I just ran a price check on a 'low season' week long cruise for 2 in a loft suite on Oasis of the Seas - $10,680. That's perhaps 10 times what you might expect to pay for economy digs.

Enjoy Your Cabin and Your Cruise

A Hearty Bon Voyage to You!

There are a few other special types of cabins to choose from, including Boardwalk and Promenade View Cabins on some Royal Caribbean ships, and Cabins for solo travelers on the Norwegian Epic, but you'll discover them when you begin researching your future cruise.

Whatever type of cabin you choose, remember that the cruise isn't all just about what your cabin looks like... it's about the places you go, the people you'll meet, the experiences you'll have.

BON VOYAGE
So, choose your cabin wisely, but most of all, just choose one, and enjoy your cruise.

Photo of a sunset at sea, taken from our balcony on one of our recent cruises.

Bon Voyage Pin button Crew Thank You - Anchor zazzle_card Porthole Stateroom Door Marker magnet

Is a Balcony or Suite More Your Style?

Now that you've had a chance to read a little about Balony cabins and Suites, let's take another vote. Maybe you were holding orff, or maybe you've changed your mind.

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Cruise Ship Collectibles

Like cruise ship "stuff"? Here are some cruise ship collectibles currently being auctioned off on The Bay.,
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Specific Cabin Selection Questions

Two good sources

If you have very specific questions about cruise cabins beyond the general information offered in this lens, here are two good sources for you:

1) Your Travel Agent. A GOOD Travel Agent should be able to answer a lot of your questions, or get the answers for you. It's important that your agent is a) certified by CLIA or some other sanctioning organization and b) has a good amount of personal experience cruising themselves. I have a good one, and she is a keeper! (For the record, I wouldn't dream of handling my own bookings. See Booking a Cruise - DIY or Use a TA for why.)

2) Veteran Cruisers. If you check some of the popular internet cruise forums, you'll meet quite a few of them. And, you may even bump into someone who has cruised in the exact cabin you are considering. Here's a good place to start. It's a forum at CruiseLineFans.com specifically set aside for asking Cabin Selection questions.

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Stateroom Door Markers

Once you've chosen your stateroom,
you'll want a Stateroom Door Marker.

Read all about them HERE

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Was This Page about Cruise Ship Cabins Helpful?

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About Ocean Liners of Days Past

(Other pages you might enjoy)

Sister Ships of the RMS Titanic
Everyone knows the story of the sinking of the Titanic, but not everyone knows that the RMS Titanic was one of a trio of sister ships that also included the HMHS Britannic and the RMS Olympic
Pictures of Titanic
Pictures of the RMS Titanic, that went down in the North Atlantic 100 years ago
Musical Heroes on the Titanic - The Band that Played as the Titanic was Sinking
Wallace Hartley, and the other seven members of the Titanic Band went down with the ship ... and played to the end. What WAS the last song played? That is actually a bit of a mytstery, but it was probably one of three tunes . . .
Queens of the Ocean Past
Elegant luxury liners of Cunard that ruled the Atlantic in times past - Cunard's Queens of the Ocean

Ahoy, Matey!

Please leave a note. Just say hello if you wish. Or, leave a comment about the material I've presented here.

  • survivoryea Jun 3, 2012 @ 12:09 pm | delete
    Makes me wish I were cruising right now! Great tips to help others plan their cruise! ~~~~~Blessed~~~~~
  • LittleLindaPinda Jun 2, 2012 @ 8:30 am | delete
    Really great advice and tips to think about when you make your decision to cruise.
  • WriterJanis May 30, 2012 @ 3:52 am | delete
    Such great advice. Thanks! Going on a cruise next month.
  • Johanna May 29, 2012 @ 11:32 pm | delete
    Thanks for all the great tips, this was certainly helpful. My husband made reservations for June aboard the Carnival Imagination to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. It's our first cruise, and only a 3 day to the Bahamas because of his work schedule. They were supposed to choose our stateroom, which was of the inside category, and we just found out it is the second from the front or "bow" lol, and has two portholes...I freaked out of course, but I think pitch black would make me feel worse, so I guess it's not so bad. I wasn't too happy with the fact that it was on the lowest deck of rooms on the ship either, but now that I read it has less motion, so-to-speak, then once again, I guess it's not so bad. This was a wonderful article and helpful tips, God bless you! Johanna :)
  • UKGhostwriter May 27, 2012 @ 4:57 am | delete
    Fantastic lens!! - pinned too
    http://pinterest.com/pin/85286986663712425/
  • csbsews May 21, 2012 @ 8:34 pm | delete
    Great lens.
  • RuralFloridaLiving May 20, 2012 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    I really found your information on how to choose cabins on a cruise helpful. I have no experience in this and wouldn't know how to begin. Thanks.
  • Christene May 7, 2012 @ 6:30 pm | delete
    I'm going on my first cruise ever next year. I cant wait! Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? I'll be on the Disney Dream.
  • CruiseReady May 7, 2012 @ 6:43 pm | delete
    No, we haven't cruised Disney, but the kids have. You will have a wonderful time!
  • gypsykitschpress May 6, 2012 @ 10:09 pm | delete
    This is an amazing lens on cruising. I especially like the suggestion for the over the door shoe holder for holding essentials. Super idea! I have cruised and will again and next time I'll do it smarter because of you! I tweeted this to my wonderful Twitter followers of 100,000, pinned it, and scooted it over to my Facebook as well. I think everyone should read this one! (Yep, I bookmarked it as well.)
  • CruiseReady May 7, 2012 @ 12:15 pm | delete
    Thank you so very much!
  • hadi fable Apr 24, 2012 @ 1:13 am | delete
    Picking the Best Cabin for Your Cruise sometime make so confused, thanks for you article.
  • beannie64 Apr 11, 2012 @ 3:51 pm | delete
    Love your info!
  • BiminiBahamas Apr 8, 2012 @ 5:23 am | delete
    A boatload (heheheee) of great information . Thanks!
  • rt8ca Apr 7, 2012 @ 10:48 pm | delete
    Another job well done! You put a lot of time and effort into your lens, offering some great tips and personal insight! Look forward to more!
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CruiseReady

Nothing fascinating here... just a cranky old lady who loves to cruise, watch the Indy 500, and follow tropical weather systems.
I live on Florida's...
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