Choosing your cruise ship cabin or stateroom is an essential part of planning a dream cruise vacation. The right accommodation can enhance your cruise experience, providing you with a comfortable retreat after a day of adventure, but some choices may turn out to be an expensive mistake.
Here’s how to select the best cruise ship cabin for your needs, whether you're seeking breathtaking views, peace and quiet, convenience, or the best value.
Cruise Ship Cabin Grades
From motel-sized inside cabins to luxurious suites that rival the most expensive land-based hotels, cruise ships offer a range of accommodation grades to suit all preferences and budgets:
Interior Cabins: The most budget-friendly option, these cabins are located inside the ship and have no windows. Although they are often just as spacious as oceanview cabins, the lack of natural light may be off-putting to some.
Oceanview Cabins: Offering a window or porthole, these cabins provide natural light and views of the ocean or ports, a good middle-ground option. On modern ships, such cabins will likely be located towards the bottom of the ship, as balcony cabins now dominate ship exteriors.
Balcony Cabins: These cabins feature private balconies allowing direct access to ocean breezes and private views. These cabins are perfect for those who prefer to enjoy the scenery privately.
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Some ships offer cabins with direct access to the promenade deck, while the largest ships, including MSC World Europa, offer balconies overlooking an internal courtyard or promenade.
Suites: The most spacious and luxurious option, suites often come with extra amenities and services, ideal for travelers looking for a premium experience. Separate bedrooms, wraparound balconies, and even butler service are some common features of cruise ship suites.
Pioneered by Norwegian Cruise Line, solo traveler cabins are becoming more common across the industry. Whereas for many years solo cabins were usually interior grade, there are now oceanview and even balcony cabins available for solo travelers on some lines.
Consider The Location
Perhaps more so than the accommodation grade, the cabin location can significantly impact your cruise experience.
Top-to-bottom: Cabins on lower decks are usually cheaper with the added benefit of experiencing less movement in rough seas.
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.
Cabins on higher decks will provide better views from balconies and suites, and good access to many of the ship’s amenities, but passengers may feel the ship's movement more. You may also hear more noise from outdoor activities on the pool deck.
Cabins on middle floors offer the best combination of access to facilities and less movement in the event of rough seas.
Front-to-back: Just as important as the deck number is the cabin’s location between the ship’s front and rear.
Cabins located at the very front and very back of the ship will experience significantly more movement in the event of rough seas, so choose a cabin towards the middle of the ship if you’re facing multiple sea days or sailing off-season.
It’s also worth knowing that most cruise ships feature main dining venues at the rear and the main theater at the front.
The Budget Accommodation Choice
When choosing a cabin, start with understanding your budget. Decide how much you’re willing to spend and remember that while the cabin is important, you’ll also want to budget for on-board activities, excursions, beverages, and other expenses.
If budget matters above all else, an interior cabin is a wise choice. You could also save money by booking a saver fare offered by some cruise lines.
These fares typically don't allow you to select your cabin in advance. This will likely result in you being allocated a cabin at the front or back of the ship, but it will save you money.
Questions To Ask Yourself
If you have more flexibility in your budget, consider what’s important to you in accommodation. If you plan to spend a lot of time in your cabin, you might value a balcony or a spacious room more. Families might look for cabins with connecting doors or extra bed options.
Before booking, read reviews of the ship and specific cabins on websites such as Cruise Critic or watching YouTube reviews. Previous travelers can offer invaluable insight into noise levels, views, and overall satisfaction.
Examine the ship’s layout to see where your cabin is in relation to key areas like the lido deck, dining rooms, and entertainment venues. Consider potential noise from above or below your cabin, especially if it’s immediately above or below a dance floor, crew area, or near the pool.
Your cruise itinerary might also influence your choice of accommodation. For scenic cruises, such as those in Alaska or the Norwegian fjords, a balcony might be worth the splurge to enjoy the magnificent views in relative peace. A balcony breakfast while sailing along a fjord will be an experience to remember.
On the other hand, if you plan to spend most of your time exploring ports and partaking in onboard activities, the type and location of cabin might be of less importance.
