How to choose your cruise cabin

Time to look at the cabins themselves ...

• How big is the cabin?
• Where is it on the ship?

In looking at these be thinking about how much time you think you will spend in your cabin.

• Do you want to sit on a balcony and watch the scenery as you cruise?
• Will you be using the pool, the climbing wall, the gym?
• Will you be out in the public lounges while at sea?

And what is your budget?

Ready? Let's cruise ahead and check the Kinds of Staterooms you'll find... see what the different categories of cabins are like.

INSIDE CABINS

The lowest available accommodation on some ships is known as an “Inside Cabin”. The least expensive, may be one that has “upper and lower” sleeping which in English means “bunk beds”! Not too romantic is it? The next level of Inside Stateroom will have “twin beds” that may or may not convert to queen or king beds.

Of course, this may only be important if you are on your honeymoon! If sleeping together is critical to you, make sure you understand how the bed(s) are going to be configured.

Simply put, Inside Cabins are essentially a box! They are normally the least expensive accommodation (short of crew quarters) on the ship! The only difference between a standard Inside Cabin and an Ocean View Cabin (sometimes referred to as an Outside Cabin) is a “window” in the cabin. An inside cabin therefore has no natural daylight, and no view whatsoever.

There is an exception to this “no window” rule for inside cabins. Some Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Ships have “Promenade Staterooms”. These mega ships are so large they have an interior shopping plaza and promenade in the middle of the ship spanning several decks!

The Promenade Staterooms are Inside Cabins, but they have a Bay Window overlooking the shopping plaza NOT the sea!

If you're a shop 'til you drop type... or if you like people watching.... you might like this kind of room. Many passengers do. It's an interesting alternative to an inside cabin with NO window. You need to remember though that you need to be careful with what you're wearing and doing with your drapes open. You can be seen from the shopping plaza or by guests staying in those Promenade Staterooms on the other side of the plaza!

In an Inside Cabin you have no sense of where you are or what it happening outside. In fact, some guests have been known to sleep through ports of call because they did not know it was daylight and they had arrived! (Might also be because they were up far too late the night before)! If you are at all prone to claustrophobia, choose a cabin with a window. After all, I am willing to bet your bedroom at home has a window in it, doesn’t it?

OCEAN VIEW or OUTSIDE CABIN

An outside cabin doesn't mean you're going to be sleeping out on the deck! It means your cabin will be on the outside hull of the ship on either the left (port) or right (starboard), and you'll have a window or a porthole. You'll know whether it's day or night and if you're moving or not. It gives you a sense of having more room, of not feeling "boxed in". It does pay to be cautious and think about a few things when selecting your ocean view cabin.

Let's consider your window:

Is your view on the sea from a porthole or window?

Some ships have cabins with large picture windows.... you'll have a wonderful expansive view of the sea. Others, especially older ships have porthole windows. While better than no window, they're small. You'll have to be standing right up to them to peer out at the sea. Sometimes cabins at the bow of the ship also have portholes.

Will you have a full view or will something obstruct it?

Be sure to ask if your window has a full view or if the view is partially obstructed or even fully obstructed. Your ocean view cabin may be on a deck where the lifeboats hang right into the view from your window.... not giving you much of a view at all! They may block the sunlight and the lifeboat may be all you can see.

These cabins will be priced a little higher than an inside cabin, but will not be as much as an outside cabin with a full view.

Will you be looking straight out to sea, or will there be a deck outside your window?

Determine if your full ocean view cabin is on a promenade deck. A promenade deck is usually a walk around deck where passengers can (and do!) stroll the ship. We covered this once before in another chapter, but you need to think about this. If the deck is right outside your window, not only can you see them stroll by, but it would be wise to watch what you're wearing if you have the window covering open!

How about beds and baths?

One bed or two?

Ocean View cabins are typically equipped with twin beds that are convertible to queen or kind by pushing them together. (The room steward does this -- not you.) Beware that this can result in the "infamous crack" between the beds. Ask if the bed is a real queen or king or if the cruise line offers a covering that makes sleeping on the converted beds more like home.

What if you need more than two beds?

If you have chosen to travel with three or four to your ocean view cabin, there will be upper berths that fold into the walls and are lowered by your room steward at night...

... or... a sofa bed may be converted at night (again by your room steward).

And the rest of the amenities?

The bathrooms will usually have a shower but no tub. Most new ships will have a television, a radio and a telephone.

In room safes protect your valuables.... they are prevalent on newer ships and are available to you at no charge.

The Inside Cabin and the Ocean View or Outside Cabin have until recently been the most popular accommodation for the majority of cruisers, both first time and repeat.

How about a balcony?

Now you're talking!

The Ocean View cabins have until recently been the most popular choice for the majority of cruisers... both first timers and repeat cruisers. In recent years, the cruise lines have been concentrating on adding more features to the staterooms.

One of the more popular additions is the Ocean View Cabins with Private Balcony or Verandah. These used to be available only to high rollers who popped for a suite, but now you can have one too. Cabins with balconies now range from the standard size-standard equipped ocean view cabin all the way up to junior suites and penthouse cabins.

The ocean view balcony cabin gives you private outdoor space to enjoy sunsets, sea breezes, and stargazing without making your way to the public decks.

Balconies can be wonderful and may be worth the extra investment to you..... BUT be aware that not all balconies are not all created equal!

How big is your balcony?

Balconies in some categories, on some ships, are little more than railings with room for a small chair and table only.

Others have full lounge chairs and enough space for parties or amorous adventures. Be sure to ask the balcony size before plunking down you hard earned cash.

How private is your "private balcony"?

"Private" is a relative term. Depending on the ship or the category you choose, there may be only a wind wall between your balcony and your neighbor's.

Depending on the deck and category you choose, there may be a balcony that is overlooking yours with a complete view of your outdoor space, so choose your activities and attire accordingly.

Note: Please note that while you have private access to your outdoor space, you shouldn't prop your door open to let the sea breeze into your room for extended periods (while you are away from the cabin). Doing so can upset the air conditioning system for the entire ship!

Mini-Suites, Suites, Penthouse Cabins

Moving up the accommodation scale, you'll find that some ships offer mini-suites, suites, and ... if you're really rolling in it .. Penthouse accommodation. As you move into the "deluxe" accommodation categories, you may find additional amenities available to you such as special bedding, concierge service, and possibly butler service included in the price of your swank room.

Of course, luxury will add significantly to your final investment. You do, however, get much more space and added privacy.

Guests on Holland America, for example, who choose suite accommodations, enjoy several additional amenities – from personalized stationery and luxurious duvets to in-suite afternoon tea and savory hors d'oeuvres – all with the Captain's compliments. Ongoing enhancements to Holland America’s Suite Guests include these additional amenities:

• Premium Plush Euro-Top mattresses*
• Highest-quality cotton bed linens
• Large, plush towels and deluxe terry bathrobes
• Massage shower heads
• Lighted, magnifying make-up mirrors
• Salon-quality dryers
• Welcome basket of fresh fruit
• Elegant stainless-steel ice buckets and beverage serving trays

Penthouse Verandah Suite – Holland America Amsterdam

The Penthouse Suites feature a bedroom with king-size bed and master bath including oversize whirlpool tub. Complete with dressing room, living room, dining room, pantry and private verandah. Guest toilet, VCR, mini-bar, refrigerator. Approximately 1,126 square feet including verandah.

With or Without the Balcony -- Get the Room With A VIEW

So Which Room Should You Choose?

This completes our discussion about the types of cabins on board your ship. It depends on what you want out of your cruise and to a large extent on your budget.

The key things to remember -- you'll pay more for:

• larger rooms
• rooms with balconies
• rooms with added amenities
• rooms in "prime" locations

BUT also remember this..... All rooms arrive at the same destinations at the same time! So if you're trying to save dollars, your choice of your cabin is one place you can achieve that goal and keep your budget intact.

Also remember that all guests dine in the same dining rooms regardless of where their cabin or stateroom is located!

My recommendation is to take a full ocean view cabin as your minimum selection. You'll enjoy the feeling of openness.... And that view on the sea will give you special moments in your own stateroom... staring at the beauty and serenity of the ocean.

However I promised this book is also about saving money, so... you can give up the window and reduce the price!

Also, remember that all guests dine in the same facilities regardless of where their cabin or stateroom is located!

OK, let's review types of accommodations ...

Key considerations in choosing your cabin are:

How much motion will there be?

The smaller the ship, the greater the rolling and pitching (only on the off chance there is bad weather). A mid-ship, lower deck cabin will help. This is important but don’t get the idea that a small ship equals discomfort. ALL modern ships have stabilizers to control motion and the Captain would prefer not to shake up the guests!

What is the square footage of the cabin?

Get the whole picture, including the bathroom and the balcony. Cabin and balcony size can vary significantly within the same price category.

Will anything obstruct your view?

The hull, lifeboats, and equipment on the deck can limit your view if they are in front of your window.

NOTE: Some "obstructed view" cabins are great value because they are situated between two life boats and have a clear site line. These cabins are priced lower than full ocean view cabin. Ask your booking agent to compare the pricing. Small compromise for added daylight in your room!

How large are the windows?

They may be portholes, standard size windows, floor to ceiling windows or floor to ceiling glass doors that open to a verandah or balcony.

Can other passengers see me in my room or on my verandah?

A stateroom on a promenade deck could allow other passengers who walk by your window, the opportunity to view inside. Most modern ships use reflective glass to minimize this, which works during the day but not at night when your lights are on.

How about on your verandah or balcony?

Some balcony cabins over look others and everything happening on the lower balcony is visible to others, not good if you are sun bathing sans your bathing suit!

Is the room noisy?

If you like to sleep late or are a light sleeper, avoid cabins near the anchor (at the bow usually), the tenders (the little boats that take people to shore), the engines, the disco, the galley, the stairwells...

Three things left to do:

• One.... Find an itinerary that excites you..... This is up to you, but it deserves enough discussion that I've decided to dedicate another volume to it.

• Two.... Learn all about what to pack, documents, boarding the ship and onboard life (dining, entertainment, shore excursions, safety etc) which also deserves a separate volume.

• Three.... Learn how to get the best price for your well earned cruise vacation.

That deserves to be in this volume so here we go ...

Well, that's about it for getting yourself used to the layout and design of today's modern ship. You should be feeling a little more confident about choosing your cabin and where it's located.

Are you ready to learn how to get the most for your money and really make this a dream vacation? Let's explore ...

Coming Next ... 7. Getting the Deal

This Guide to Cruising is being updated regularly - Please bookmark this page and come back again for the next 'chapter'

1. Introduction to this Cruising Guide ...

2. How much more you can enjoy a cruise compared to a 'land' based holiday ...

3. How to research a cruise holiday

4. Types of Cruise Ship Accommodation

5. What Part of the Ship Should You Choose For Your Cabin?

6. How to choose your cruise cabin

7. Choosing and Booking your Cruise Part 1 and Part 2

8. Should I book my Cruise through a Travel Agent?

9. Cruises - FAQs ... Answers to frequently asked questions on Cruise Holidays

10. Your Cruise Checklist ... Things to consider when choosing your cruise ...

11. So what do all those sailing terms mean?

12. How to Choose a Cruising Holiday - What different Itineraries mean ...

13. Cruise Destinations - Caribbean Cruises

14. Cruise Destinations - Alaska Cruises

15. Cruise Destinations - Hawaii Cruises

16. Cruise Destinations - Mexican Riviera Cruises

17. Choosing the right kind of cruise ship for your kind of holiday

18. What kind of cruise traveler are you?

19. Next ...Singles Cruising