How To Pick A Cruise Cabin

Epic Courtyard Penthouse Suite

How To Pick A Cruise Cabin

When I first started cruising with my parents back in the mid ‘70s selecting a cabin, or stateroom, was pretty easy. Cruise ships back then had a limited selection of categories, generally an inside cabin without any windows, an outside cabin with a porthole or a suite which had a small sofa and generally a couple of portholes. The only other decisions my parents had to make were what deck and where on the ship they wanted to be located.

Today there are so many more options for cabin layouts available to choose from. The largest ships, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Freedom Class ships and NCL’s Epic have over 20 different choices alone. Today’s offerings are far removed from the selections of yester-years. NCL’s Epic offers chic studio rooms for single travelers, a rarity on most cruise lines, and Royal Caribbean offers two-story loft-style suites with two-story floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, dining areas and living rooms.

First time cruisers have often been advised to get a budget priced inside cabin to save money and get a taste of cruising often accompanied with “you don’t spend much time in your cabin anyway”. That may be true, however on journeys longer than seven days an inside cabin can become a little claustrophobic due to the lack of natural light filtering in from a window. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis, Freedom and Voyager Class ships all have inside cabins with bay windows that look into the middle of the ship’s Royal Promenade, a three story high, 350 yard long (think one football field) corridor which acts as the activity, shopping and dining hub of the ship.

Price, location, occupancy and amenities drive cabin selections. Suites and premium cabins are generally located in prime locations throughout the ship. Today’s cruise ships cluster most cabins on several decks above and below the entertainment and dining areas. In some cases a cluster of suites can be found on the higher decks of the ship surrounding their own private swimming pool and dining areas.

Price:

Most cruisers are going to be planning their vacation with a budget in mind. Price will be key to your cabin selection. Inside Cabins and some Outside Cabins (generally with an obstructed view or at the very front, or bow, of the ship) are some of the lowest priced cabins available. Many Cruise Line’s pricing structures include Category Guarantees, where prices are discounted on a category of cabins; you pay a lower price for the cabin however you are not assigned the actual cabin until a week or more before your sailing date. There are also Early Bird Discounts where cabin prices are discounted six months or more before the sailing date.

Of course if price is of little concern today’s ships have lavish suites that include multiple rooms, butler service, grand piano, outside Jacuzzi and much more. Suite configurations are as diverse as the itineraries offered. Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and NCL have some of the most amazing suites available. And if a suite is not in your budget, there are other options that provide exclusivity such as Concierge and Aqua Class Cabins on Celebrity, which provide extra amenities such as fresh flowers, upgraded bathing products, pillow menus, excusive restaurants and priority spa reservations.

Location:

Besides location for convenience, location is going to play a big part in your cruise satisfaction if you are prone to mal du mer, seasickness, have physical limitations or want the best views from your Cabin. As a rule, cabins located mid ship, on a middle or lower deck have the least amount of motion (pitch and roll). The Cabins in these areas are generally more expensive and are sold at a premium. Cabins on higher decks, at the bow (front,) or aft (back) experience the most motion. Even though these cabins can experience more pitch and roll, many people prefer these Cabins for their good views. Some suites are purposely located there for their amazing views.

If you are a light sleeper or in need of privacy it’s good to take into consideration the proximity of the Cabin to a stairwell or elevator (you will want to be close, but not too close, unless you don’t mind extra noise and traffic) and how close it is to public areas or work. If a Cabin is directly above or below a public space, like a disco, restaurant or bar, you will experience more ambient noise. Cabins under restaurants tend to hear chairs scooting around when people move to and from their table, while cabins that are close to a bar or disco may experience more noise and cigarette smoke (though most lines are becoming more and more smoke free).

Occupancy:

Most cabins can accommodate four companions easily. Besides the stationery beds (accommodating two) Pullman uppers (beds built into the walls or ceilings of the cabin that can be brought down by a Cabin Steward) or sleeper sofas can accommodate a third of fourth passenger. These options are great for a close group of friends or a family who wants to travel together on a smaller budget. Cruise rates for a third or fourth passenger staying in a room are greatly reduced (in some cases by over 90%).

Many suites can accommodate groups of up to six people comfortably and if a suite is not in your budget, Royall Caribbean, Celebrity and other Cruise lines offer family staterooms that have an extra room, or space, for extra beds.

Amenities:

The more amenities the cabin has the more expensive it will be. Generally all cabins will provide you with a comfortable, well decorated, ergonomically designed accommodation for your cruise. They generally have a small bathroom with shower and storage space for your toiletries, floor to ceiling closets, under bed storage, a desk/vanity with storage, small sofa or chair, coffee table, hair dryer, interactive television and air conditioning/heating.

Tomorrows Post will focus on GaySailAway’s Best Cabin Configurations