Monday, April 1, 2024

The Best Cabin Locations To Book On Your Next Cruise, According To Industry Pros

best stateroom location on a cruise ship

Finding these oddballs can be a bit of a treasure hunt, but one worth your time if saving money is your main goal. The rule of thumb for finding the most peace and quiet is to insulate yourself with other passenger cabins -- on either side of you, across from you and both above and below you. Booking a stateroom guarantee means Royal Caribbean will pick the exact room assignment for you, while guaranteeing you will get that room category or higher. If your RoyalUp bid is accepted, Royal Caribbean will assign your room automatically, leaving little to no choice in its location.

What Is the Best Cruise Ship Cabin?

CruiseMapper's cabin and suites section allows you to explore cruise staterooms by ship. Each page provides extensive information on all passengers accommodations on a particular vessel, including floor plans, room types and categories (grades used upon booking), cabin sizes, deck location. Also provided is an extensive review of all ticket price inclusive en-suite amenities, along with furniture details and additional / bonus perks (if available). Given how relatively quiet this back area of a ship often is, you may be able to bask out on a private balcony, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the sea in all its splendor. Some cruise ships even have slightly larger balconies at the stern of the ship, and often with no added fees or charges for the additional space.

Why Are River Cruises So Expensive? (& Are They WORTH It?)

Previous travelers can offer invaluable insight into noise levels, views, and overall satisfaction. Inside cabins on the 'P&O Arvia' cruise ship are a good value accommodation option. However, depending on the size of the ship, they could be farther from entertainment and dining areas. 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. If you have health or mobility challenges, Carnival proudly welcomes you on board.

Types of Cruise Ship Staterooms and Differences

Suites themselves are usually the best option if cruising with a guaranteed big balcony is your goal. Each of the twelve ships in the Celebrity fleet is unique in terms of their deck designs and the way the decks are organized. Some cruisers prefer lower levels as you’re less likely to feel any rocking while the ship is in motion, but that varies from person to person. Foodies may want a stateroom closer to the many incredible dining options onboard. Returning cruisers might have a favorite bar or lounge where they become a regular during their vacation. 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.

Sea Days

If you’re looking for extra space, a suite is one of the best rooms on a cruise ship to book. In suites, you’ll find that the sleeping and living spaces are separated. Some suites even have multiple bedrooms, making them ideal for families or groups of friends. While you will not find any forward-facing balcony cabins, you can book an ocean view room that overlooks the front of the ship.

Higher Deck Cabins

Majestic Princess Cabins & Staterooms on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

Majestic Princess Cabins & Staterooms on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:16:38 GMT [source]

Thus, if motion sickness concerns or easy access to amenities are among your top priorities, a midship cabin could be the best option for you. Cruise ships typically have cabins located at the front (forward), middle (midship), and back (aft) of the vessel. With these, though, it is important to warn you that they are prone to feeling motion more than cabins that are centrally located. Moreover, they will be further from elevator banks, meaning that you will have a longer walk to and from your stateroom.

best stateroom location on a cruise ship

Where are the best cruise SUITES?

best stateroom location on a cruise ship

Will you be entertaining in your room and need a dining table that can seat six or eight? Do you want benefits like being the first in line to get on or off the ship? Do you want to be pampered with extra-plush linens and bathrobes, fancy bath products and in-suite coffee and booze? You can find those amenities and more in most of the upper-level suites.

Although the lower deck cabins will give you a smoother ride in rough seas, they are also the furthest from the common areas such as the pool and lounges. You will be hiking the stairs or riding the elevators more from a lower deck, but you can also work off some of those extra calories. Therefore, even though standard inside cabins might be are all the same size and layout on a ship, you can save a few hundred dollars by choosing to be on a lower deck. The same applies for standard ocean view cabins, but you might want to inquire about the size of the window since the lower deck ocean views might only have portholes or a smaller window. Two problems that you might experience with cabins on the lower decks are engine noise and anchor noise.

Viking's two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of balcony cabins with a similar array of amenities and services. They also have a different type of balcony that makes them feel more spacious than their square footage suggests. Viking also offers many balcony cabins and suites on its river ships — something that isn't always the case in the river cruise business, where space on vessels is at a premium. However, unlike its ocean ships, Viking's river ships aren't all-balcony-cabin vessels. Some can have as many as 25 cabins per ship that are below the waterline and have windows high in the walls. When you book a hotel or resort, your choices might include one king bed or two queen beds; garden view or beach view; a standard room, suite or perhaps a villa or casita.

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. If you see prices drop on your cruise, you might be able to adjust your room selection to an upgraded one if the cost for the new cabin is the same as the original one. 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. Cruise cabin upgrades are rarely guaranteed, but you have a few ways to chase one. Beyond the aforementioned guarantee booking, you can look for booking promotions or loyalty program perks that allow you to pay for one category of cabin and get upgraded to the next.

Sitting on the balcony with a good book or just being able to step outside and breathe in the sea air helps differentiate cruising from a resort vacation. Having a cabin as a retreat after a busy day ashore can add something special to the cruise experience for those who enjoy quiet time on their cruise vacation. Suites are the largest type of cruise ship cabin, and they come in a wide range of varieties. Minisuites or junior suites are slightly roomier versions of balcony cabins, with sleeping and sitting areas in the same space without a wall in between.

No matter which cabin you choose, you can find a way to make it work for you — whether by upgrading it, improving it or simply leaving it when you're not sleeping or changing clothes. 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. The private outdoor spaces are usually fairly small, but certain cabin categories might have roomier balconies due to the ship's layout.

They will often have features such as roll-in showers with benches, wider doorways, smooth thresholds and lowered sinks and counters. The benefit of this type of room (sometimes called an "infinite veranda") is that all of the cabin's square footage is usable rain or shine. With a traditional balcony, the extra outdoor space is wasted when it's chilly or wet outside. Royal Caribbean has an unusual type of balcony cabin on its Oasis-class ships. Instead of facing out to sea, these balconies look out on an interior yet open-air section of the ship, as if you had a balcony that overlooked a city street.

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