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Selecting the best cabin for your cruise
Selecting a cruise cabin is much different than a hotel. What makes one cabin better than another? What cabin is the best? Is location important? What cabins are best for people who get seasick (mid ship on a deck higher then deck 3)? What the cruiselines don't tell you about your cabin? Why is one cabin more expensive than the same cabin in a different location, or on a different deck?
Any travel site (Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline, etc.) will provide you with good basic information about cabin choices, there's a lot of information (about the difference in cruise cabins) available to you that they don't provide.
Quick guide to cabin selection:
- Cabins on lower decks are cheaper (Opinion: there are elevators)
- Cabins on lower decks near front of ship sometimes hear the anchors being lowered and raised
- Cabins on lower decks are often closer to deparkation when in port
- Lower Cabins are often closer to the dining room
- Cabins nearer the elevators and center of ship are the better cabins ($$). (From experience (and being over 50) I've learned I prefer to pay a few more dollars to be near the elevators.)
- You CAN choose the cabin you want.
- Check if your cabin is above or below:
- the dining room?
- the disco?
- the pool area?
- the kids play area?
- Suggestion: Go with your budget... For me, it's the CRUISE that's worthwhile. Many people pay for an expensive cabin and spend very little time in their cabin
But don't settle for an inside cabin if you won't be happy there. A cruise is all about choices and finances.
Given the way I chat here you'd think I only take inside bunk cabins. Truth is I've yet to cruise in an inside cabin!
I booked an inside cabin on my Monarch of the Seas cruise, but was upgraded to an obstructed view. That's when I realized that if push came to shove an obstructed oceanview cabin is ok. There's a lifeboat outside your window, but you can still see outside! And, if you do your homework you can choose an obstructed view cabin that's in-between the lifeboats with a better view :)
Balcony Cabin A warning: once you've had a balcony cabin on a cruise, you'll have a hard time ever cruising without one! I've been lucky enough to find great cruise deals that enabled me to take THREE cruises with a balcony!
From luxurious suites to inside bunkbed cabins, the choices are numerous! While hotels and resorts offer different room choices, cruise lines offer an even wider variety of cabin selections.
As is true at 5-star hotels, the luxury cruise lines (i.e. Seaborn, Silversea, Crystal) provide the top-of-the-line cabins; usually large suites with balconies and jacuzzis.
For the rest of us that cruise on lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean Norwegian and Holland America, while penthouse cabin suites with similar amenties are available, most of us can't afford them!
Balance your budget with the importance of your cabin. Many people consider a cabin 'just a place to sleep' while others enjoy spending time relaxing on the balcony or entertaining friends. And the difference in cabin cost can easily be $1,000+.
Personally, I enjoy the time spent in my cabin; it's my little retreat from the hustle and bustle of ship activities and fellow cruisers at the pool or the buffet. This is espcially true on sea days where I can often be found mid-afternoon napping or catching a tv movie. Don't forget that room service is included in your cruise package, even for an afternoon snack (don't forget the tip!)
Another note about cabin size: All cruise lines are created differently. In the mainstream, Carnival is popular for it's larger cabins (sometimes
Why does the exact same cabin cost more than another one?
Many cruisers don't realize why the exact same cabins have different price tags. Usually the reason for this is (as in real estate) "Location, location, location!"
The lower decks are more affordable than the upper decks, which have better views and are closer to the pool, spa, buffet, etc. My personal opinion is "it's an elevator ride ?!?"
There are also less desirable locations on the ship that may bring a lower price. These are often the front (fore) of the lower decks of the ship (where you can often hear the ship dropping the anchor and docking ('parking') in port at early hours of the morning). Also beware if you're below the running track or pool you may be awaken in the morning by joggers or sun-worshippers moving around their lounge chairs. I've heard complaints about being in close proximity of a disco or children's play area. These are things to keep in mind when selecting your cabin.
Close proximity to the elevators is another debate. Some people complain of the noise from over-zealous passengers using the elevator. On the other hand, I appreciate being close to the elevator for the many times I forget something in my cabin, or simply because my bad knee thanks me for the short walk to the elevators.
 Always an exception to the rule...
the cabins at the fore or aft of the ship are highly desirable. Because these cabins face the front or back of the ship they often have better balconies or simply better views. The (attached) picture of my neighbors' balcony on Carnival Valor cabin 6452 is a perfect example. They booked and paid for a balcony cabin and their cabin was similar to mine, but check out their wraparound corner balcony!!! (more Carnival Valor pix)
 Bump Cabins are another exception. Not all ships have bump cabins, but some of Royal Caribbean ships have them. Brilliance of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas are ships with bump cabins. These cabins are located mid-ship and protrude outward so they have a better view. 
This is a view from my hump cabin 6324 on Adventure of the Seas as people headed off the ship.
There are also a handful of carefully kept secret cabins! They're the ones in odd locations on the ship, therefore laid out differently and often offering more space.
 Two examples of this are:
My Carnival Valor cabin 6450, which was a balcony but the layout of the cabin was different due to it's odd location on the ship (very front). My balcony was twice as long as the typical balcony cabin. (more Carnival Valor pix)
 On the Empress of the Seas my friends had an Oceanview cabin forward on Deck 8, and there was this HUGE balcony deck in front of their cabin! These are cabins 8004, 8002, 8000, 8502 & 8504... (The secret doors are on the sides!)
How do you find these special cabins? Read the online cruise message boards. They're are many to choose from, but my favorite is CruiseCritic.com. The Cruise Critic website offers an amazing array of helpful information. They have reviews of most of the ships; aside from an excellent staff review, are the member reviews from people like me and you. These are the ones I want to read ... More about cruise critic in my cruise journals.
Look at the layout and decks on your ship. That way you can decide what your priorities are and CHOOSE your own cabin!
 Interior cabins are the least expensive cabins on a cruise ship. The feel of the small cabin is accentuated by the lack of windows.
These cabins can be as tiny as 108 sq ft. but are usually at least 130 sq ft. and usually a bit larger. Keep in mind, the older the ship, the smaller the cabin size. (more pix from the new NCL Gem)
This is the perfect cabin if all you're looking for is a place to shower and put your head (don't forget to remove the chocolate from your pillow - everyone gets those); OR if it's the only way you can afford to cruise (if the only way I can cruise is an inside bunk-bed cabin that's where you'll find me!)
 If you need to have at least a little light or view to the outside world from your cabin, but can't really afford an oceanview cabin, this might be your choice.
These cabins usually face the lifeboats. One trick: view the ship's layout before you book and choose a cabin that's 'in between' lifeboats. The view is still obstructed, but you can 'peek' in between lifeboats, as opposed to looking strait at one.
 **NEW** - on the NCL Gem they have positioned the lifeboats below the oceanview windows so that your view is OVER the boats. You can't see straight down, but you have no obstruction looking out to the water. (More NCL Gem pix)
To save a few bucks, after a few cruises with an oceanview (OV), I decided to try an obstructed oceanview. I still wanted that 'touch' with the outside world.
You can usually save at least $100 on a 7-day cruise... that's only a few dollars a day, but hey... that's an excursion - or a some of fru-fru drinks, or a nice bet in the casino.... always up to you!
This is probably the most popular cabin. It's a good value. It was my choice for my first cruise and is still my favorite (when I can't afford a balcony).
 I'll never forget the amazing feeling of staring out that window for hours on my first night on my first cruise. It was heaven. How I felt is what vacations are all about. (more pix from the new NCL Gem)
Again, the cabins are all alike and the difference in price usually has to do with location.
Be aware that some cabins may allow other cruisers to see into your room. These are often on the promenade or jogging decks, since people can walk or jog past your window. Some ships use reflective glass, which provides some privacy during the day, but not in the evening when your lights are on.
 While having a balcony is not a necessity on a cruise, it's certainly a luxury worth spending a few hundred dollars more if you can afford it. Price of a balcony cabin can run from 25-50 percent more than an inside cabin.
Imagine in the morning, sitting on your balcony sipping coffee enjoying the beauty of a sunrise over the water. Add to your enjoyment by ordering breakfast from room service. (Just remember to tip when they roll your warm breakfast into your room.)
Many people enjoy sitting on the balcony with a cocktail before dinner, or maybe champagne and chocolate covered strawberries! Personally, enjoying hot tea and croissants in the morning was among my favorite times spent on my balcony.
After an evening at the piano bar or in the casino, relaxing on your private balcony with your sweetheart with the light wind blowing and the sweet salt of the sea is extremely romantic.
My first night on my first balcony I took my pillow and blanket and (tried to) sleep out there. You do not know elation until you've breathed in that salt air under the stars, watched the water roll by, felt the warm breeze and the gentle rock of the boat.
 Balcony Cabins Odds 'n Ends
- Privacy: Some ships are built in tiers, where each deck protrudes out more than those above it. In this case passengers can look right down onto your balcony - either from other balconies or from upper decks.
- Security: Some balcony dividers are more secure than others. As you can see from the picture, someone could easily slip between the balconies.
- A plus for families and those traveling as a group: Balconies that connect!
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One last warning... once you've had a balcony, it's really hard to go back to a lesser cabin!
Suites are larger and more luxurious than a standard balcony cabin. Many offer a sitting area. The newer ships suites usually include a balcony; but often older ships only offer windows.
Luxury cabins -- excuse me -- staterooms! What can I possibly say about a cabin that comes with a personal valet?
Well all suites (as all cabins) are not created equal.
 In October '06 I couldn't believe the deal I got for a MINI-SUITE with a balcony (see Norwegian Dawn). AMAZING! Not only a balcony, but a BATHTUB (seldom found on cruise ships!). (more pix from the NCL Dawn)
Luckily I did my homework on cruise critic and learned that sometimes a mini-suite is just a few inches larger than a standard balcony cabin. (yes, but mine had a bathtub LOL). More pictures of this mini-suite cabin including bathtub images
 I also managed to get a glimpse of a disabled mini-suite and took a few pictures. another view
 The larger luxury cabins often have rooms. Some have jacuzzi's; flat screen tv's to watch from the bathtub. (More images of this luxury stateroom on NCL Gem.)
Some owner's suites have a Grand Piano!
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