6 Tips for Cabin Selection
In our last post, Choosing the Perfect Cabin for Your Cruise, we reviewed different types of cabin types on most cruise ships and what amenities they provide. Additionally, we broke the surface on the types of questions cruisers should ask themselves before booking. Now that we have the nitty-gritty out of the way—let’s explore the depths of cabin selection.
Below you’ll find a couple more questions to ask yourself before choosing a cabin in addition to a slew of expert tips provided by our in-house cruise experts.
What type of schedule will I keep at night?
If you are a light sleeper and like to go to bed and rise early, then consider this: when you’re crawling into bed and getting ready to rest up for port the next day but there is a party thumping upstairs at the discothèque, will you be able to sleep? If the answer is no, make sure to choose a cabin between two passenger decks and not near the clubs, theater, below the dining rooms or pool deck, or near the galley of the kitchen (typically found on the lowest deck).
Pro tip: Other areas to avoid include the forward-most part of the lowest two decks. When the ship is docked you may hear the anchor dropping, which can be anything from a low rumble to a loud clanging. Additionally, many cruisers say the bow (back) of the ship on the lowest decks have cabins susceptible to engine noise.
Do you have 3+ people traveling in your cabin?
In general, cabins offer a comfortable amount of room for you and your travel buddy. However, when you have 3 or more people in one room, space can become tight. Evaluate how much space you may use on daily basis, cut it in half, and then imagine sharing with a couple other people. Now, how do you feel? If you’re filled with dread you may want to consider getting two staterooms.
Pro tip: If you’re traveling with a family, look for connecting staterooms or family cabins, these provide extra room while still maintaining privacy.
Exclusive tips from our seasoned team of cruise experts
1. If you don’t have a preference for where your stateroom is located and want a cheap price, look for a guaranteed interior. You never know when you’ll be treated to an upgrade.
2. Speaking of upgrades, if you handpicked a cabin specific to your interests and would not be happy with anything else, give your travel agency a call and make sure you are marked as “Do not upgrade” on your booking.
3. Think about the ship as a teeter-totter, the most rocking comes from either end. Stick to the middle if you don’t want to feel the motion of the ocean.
4. A cabin near the elevators and stairs are convenient. However, if you are trying to get as close as possible, buyer be warned: being too close puts you at a noise risk during peak hours (dinner, morning in port, etc).
5. Want an inside price with a porthole window? Check out Carnival’s category PT cabins. How about a “Balcony” at an Ocean view price? Holland’s ‘Lanai’ cabins have sliding glass doors that open to the public wrap around deck, giving you instant access to the soft ocean breeze.
6. If you’re yearning to try a balcony and the guaranteed cabin is the best price, check with the cruise line or your travel agent. Guaranteed balcony cabins are sometimes cheaper because you risk having your view obscured by a lifeboat. However, it is possible the ship may have zero, that’s right, zero obstructed cabins. On these ships, a guaranteed balcony is the deal of a lifetime.