The process of choosing and booking shipboard accommodations can be tricky and confusing. Gone are the days of yore, when you faced the possibility of banging your head just by turning around in your cabin. But at least back in the old days if you booked a cheap (or even expensive) stateroom you knew what you were in for.
Today you're often faced with up to 20 different cabin categories. And cruise line brochures are ripe with all kinds of adjectives and confusing descriptions, as well as pretty photos that generally make spaces look larger than they really are. In most cases when you book a cruise you can pick (or have your travel agent pick) the specific cabin you want. But before you make a selection, study the schematics in the cruise line brochures to make sure you're actually getting what you want.
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Despite all the hype, there are really only four basic cabin types you need to know:
- Inside: No view
- Outside: Ocean views through a closed window or porthole
- Balcony/Veranda: Cabin has a door opening onto an outdoor space where you can take in the sea breezes
- Suite: Larger cabin, sometimes with a separate room, and often with a bathtub or Jacuzzi
Inside cabins are the cheapest, suites the most expensive. You generally pay less if you are in the bowels of the ship and more if your cabin is located on the sunnier upper decks (upper deck cabins may be larger and have nicer furnishings and amenities, too). Do note that the cheapest and most expensive staterooms tend to sell out first; if you want one of those categories, book early.
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Beyond type and price, however, there are many factors to take into consideration when picking the right cabin.
Size Matters:
Cruise ships are often called floating resorts, but unless you get into the elaborate suites category, ship cabins are less spacious than hotel rooms. Balconies make the space feel bigger, which is one reason that staterooms that have them are so popular.
The size of cabins is measured in square feet. For point of reference:
- 120-square-feet and under is low-end and cramped
- 170-square-feet is midrange and the minimum for anyone with claustrophobia
- 225-square-feet is spacious
- 250-square-feet and up is suite sized
Who are you Cruising With?
Who you cruise with will also determine what type of cabin you need.
- Spouse/significant other: Most cabins have twin lower beds. In most cases these can be combined to make a queen-size bed (request whatever configuration you want).
- Friends: Beyond the two twins, if there are additional friends check if a cabin comes with 3rd and 4th berths, and if these are on a sofa bed or in upper bunks (which pull-down from the wall or ceiling, and require use of a ladder). As an alternative, some ships offer connecting cabins with a common door between them.
- Kids: Same as for "Friends," above (except kids will love using the ladder). Do check if your ship offers a more spacious family cabin (it sleeps five); Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival are just some of the lines that have them. Disney's family-friendly cabins are especially noteworthy because they sport an extra half-bath. If you have little kids, it's also convenient to choose a cabin near the kids' facilities.
- Solo: See if your ship has any cabins designed and priced for singles; they are rare, making the Norwegian Epic noteworthy because it has 128 of them.
Location, Location, Location:
Just as important as getting the right size of cabin, is making sure it's in the right location.
Cabins in the very back of the ship tend to have the largest balconies — not to mention cool views of the ship's wake. If you book a forward-facing cabin or suite you can enjoy the same views as the captain.
If you suffer from seasickness, however, be aware of one cruise ship oddity: Fancy cabins tend to be on the upper decks, where the most motion is felt — the more stable cabins are in the very middle of the ship.
If you're noise-sensitive, avoid cabins under the disco floor, the basketball court, the fitness center, the running track, the children's playrooms, and the Lido Deck (the sound of people moving around their lounge chairs is particularly annoying). Cabins near stairwells/elevators add convenience, but can also be noisy. Try to avoid getting stuck near a maintenance alcove as well; get a cabin next to the vacuum toilet control system, for example, and you might hear every darn flush in your area! And avoid being too close to the ship's engine room, which you'll hear, smell, and feel (vibration!).
Finally, if you opt for an outside or balcony cabin, watch out for locations that have obstructed views — you don't want the natural light in your cabin blocked by, say, a lifeboat.
Tip: If you're flexible about location, you can pick a "guarantee" cabin, which means you choose a stateroom category rather than a specific cabin on the cruise ship. Giving up the power to select your cabin's exact location means you might (but not always) snag yourself a good deal. If your chosen category gets sold out, you automatically get upgraded. And some lines sell their guarantee cabins at a lower rate than others in the same category, so you could theoretically save some money. The downside is you might end up with the worst cabin and location in your chosen category, and you might not know what cabin you'll be in until just before departure.
Other Considerations:
Before you book, think about how much time you're going to spend in your cabin: If you're just going to be there to sleep, shower, and change your clothes, you can save a bundle by going small and cheap. If you plan to hang out in your cabin a lot, book the largest space you can afford.
A balcony/veranda brings the advantage of being able to somewhat privately (your neighbors can see you!) be able to take in the ocean views. But verandas vary in size. If you plan to do more than stand, make sure the space is big enough to accommodate deck chairs, a table, or whatever else you require.
If you're booking a suite, look to see if you are actually getting a separate bedroom and living room. In some cases the separation will be no more than a curtain. The fanciest suites are the size of apartments, houses, or even mansions (on several Norwegian Cruise Line ships, the top villa has three bedrooms and is about 5,000 square feet!).
If you're planning to spend a lot of time in the fitness center and spa, you may want to book a spa cabin. Spa cabins (found on newer ships, such as those in Celebrity's Solstice class, the Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream, and Norwegian's Epic and Breakaway include complementary access to the steam room and other facilities and are close enough that you can walk there in your bathrobe. Both Costa and Celebrity also have the destination spa-like benefit of healthy dining options at special restaurants for spa cabin guests.
Amenities:
Cabins come with private bathrooms equipped with showers (sometimes tiny ones). Bathtubs are a cruise ship rarity, so if you need a tub make sure your stateroom comes with one. Note also that not all cabins will have the same amenities. If the following are important to you, make sure the stateroom you are choosing has them:
- TV (with or without DVD player)
- Safe
- Mini-fridge
- Alarm clock
- Hairdryer
- Bathrobes
- Coffee/tea maker
- Bar of soap (there may just be liquid dispensers)
Smoker's Alert:
If you're planning to light up on your cruise, consider: Some lines including Celebrity, Oceania, Princess, and Regent Seven Seas an smoking in cabins and on cabin balconies. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian, and Disney Cruise Line don't allow smoking in cabins, but do allow it on cabin balconies. As of 2013, Silversea bans smoking in cabins and limit smoking elsewhere to specifically designated public areas, as of this year. Likewise, beginning in 2014 Crystal Cruises will eliminate smoking in nearly all indoor spaces -- with the exception of a smoking lounge.
--Fran Golden is the Experience Cruise expert blogger and a contributing editor of Porthole Magazine. She is the co-author of Frommer's Alaska Cruises and Ports of Call.
