Cruise Ship Rooms: How to Choose the Cabin That's Right for You

Table Of Content

• The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship
• Cabin Upgrades on a Cruise
• Best cabin location to avoid seasickness: low and midship with a view
• Upper vs. Lower Deck: A Cabin Comparison
• Saving Money on an Inside Cabin Lets You Spend More on Specialty Dining and Other Extras
• Cruise News Recap: Carnival Tampering, Dining Changes, Evacuation

Aft staterooms are closer to the ship’s vibrations and engine, so keep that in mind if you want as silent of a stateroom location as possible. Forward and aft staterooms tend to have more sway than midship, which is something to keep in mind as you’re booking your room. With a veranda stateroom, you’ll have your own private outdoor space, a quiet haven where you can soak up every precious moment of vacation. Sit out on your veranda and enjoy the sea breeze and port views as you sip your coffee in the morning, or enjoy a glass of wine and sunset views in the evening. When selecting a stateroom, you’ll want to figure out what type of experience and convenience you’d like to have during your cruise vacation. The location of the stateroom on the ship, right down to the deck, can make a big difference in your vacation experience, especially if you know what you want to be close to.

The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

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Among the most over-the-top suites are Norwegian Cruise Line's 5,000-plus-square-foot, three-bedroom Garden Villa suites on its Jewel-class ships. These each feature a private terrace with a hot tub, spacious living and dining areas, and butler service, plus access to an exclusive-access deck area. Other suites may come with dining areas, wet bars, deluxe bathrooms, walk-in closets, multiple levels and even pianos. Most cruise ships have designated "spa staterooms" (inside, oceanview, balcony, and suite) located on the Spa Deck or 1 deck above or below the Spa.

Cabin Upgrades on a Cruise

Depending on the line, solo cabins come in inside, ocean-view and balcony options, though they're often smaller than the same style of cabin designed to sleep two or more. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises, create special restaurants, lounges and sun decks exclusive to suite residents. This lets passengers avoid crowded public areas and enjoy fine dining in a less frenetic setting than the main dining room. For cruise lines offering promotions where you choose your favorite booking perk, suite passengers often get all the freebies instead of one or two or higher amounts of onboard credit.

Best cabin location to avoid seasickness: low and midship with a view

On big ships, there may be 10 or even more flights of stairs between your cabin and the pool, sun deck, buffet, and other amenities found at the top of the ship. There will be elevators, of course, but you should expect queues at busy times. The newest, largest cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean's 'Icon of the Seas' offer a huge range of ... Many cruisers spend way more time outside of their cabins than indoors. Between eating, drinking, dancing, belly laughing at comedy shows and splashing in the pool, there's enough action on a cruise to keep you outside of your room day and night. When you add in port excursions, you might just find that you're only in your room to change clothes, shower and sleep.

Finally, you don’t want to be on a low deck that’s too aft or too forward, as you may end up above the engines or the anchor, which makes a lot of noise when it’s lowered and raised. You may feel a bit like Goldilocks trying to choose that perfect cabin on your next romantic cruise, but the reward of peace and quiet will be priceless. Cruise accommodations—also known as staterooms or cabins—are a vacationers’ home away from home while at sea. Far from a one-size-fits-all decision, there are numerous factors to consider when determining the best rooms on a cruise ship to fit your and your companions’ needs.

Saving Money on an Inside Cabin Lets You Spend More on Specialty Dining and Other Extras

Will you want to be a quick elevator ride or walk away from your fellow travelers? These are all questions to consider when you’re choosing what deck is best for you. Some staterooms have larger verandas (typically ones on the bow or aft of the ship) and some have partially blocked views, which may or may not be a big deal to you. Once you’ve chosen your stateroom category, you can decide what deck you want to stay on. When you book a cruise early, you’ll have a better opportunity to choose what deck of the ship you want to be on.

Concierge Cabins: A Direct Connection to a Cruise Concierge

Consider how much space and light you need in this case as a balcony might not be worth the added cost. By selecting a quiet room location, you can enjoy a tranquil and restful retreat during your cruise vacation. Choosing a quiet room location on a cruise ship ensures a peaceful and relaxing environment where you can recharge and unwind. It’s important to communicate your preference for a quiet room with your travel agent or the cruise line to ensure they can accommodate your request to the best of their ability.

Others may prefer the option of luxury on a budget and choose a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite. Pillow-topped mattresses, premium toiletries and complimentary dinners at Coastal Kitchen also make this a draw for families who want the good life without breaking the bank. Interior rooms on a cruise ship are generally the cheapest option that you'll find on board. These typically have no windows, windows onto the ship's public interiors or -- as you'll find on NCL and other lines -- virtual balconies or portholes. Midship rooms are often favored for their stability, convenience, and minimal noise. Lower decks offer a more stable experience, reduced crowds, and affordability.

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Cruise News Recap: Carnival Tampering, Dining Changes, Evacuation

You can always ask at the front desk when you board your ship, but even if you play the birthday/anniversary/special occasion card, you can rarely sweet talk your way to a suite. Suites are not only about spacious digs, but also about the VIP perks and privileges that come with the booking. For starters, there is nowhere on a ship more prone to movement than the front of a ship. Forward-facing cabins also often lack balconies, for reasons I will explain in a moment. If you are in the center of a ship, you are at the equivalent of the center of a teeter-totter. Even in very rough seas, you're not going to move nearly as much when the ship goes up and down in the waves as someone located at either of the far ends of the ship.

And quite often, the room you'll end up booking is somewhere inbetween. On this deck on each ship, you'll usually find the buffet, bars and entertainment like a big outdoor screen for movies. Sports courts and activities like ropes courses, mini-golf, water parks and other wet and wild attractions are located at or toward the top of the ship, as well. If you've read this guide and are still confused about choosing a cabin on a cruise, I suggest you connect with a knowledgeable cruise travel agent. They can walk you through the entire booking process — and maybe get you a great price on the cabin you ultimately select.

The safe is small, with a footprint about the size of a small laptop computer. Still, it’s enough space for things like passports, phones, cash, and cards. The safe is operated with a four-digit code that you create on your own.

These are the cabins that you should seek if you're particularly prone to seasickness. As a cruise writer for more than 20 years, I've heard that question a lot, and it's not an easy one to answer. On any given cruise vessel, the best cabin location for one person might not be the best choice for another. Just be wary of any offer promising a two-category upgrade (or similar). The fine print usually indicates that the line will give you a so-called better cabin within the same category.