Tips on Choosing a Cruise Cabin

For the first time vacation cruise goer, cabin options are confusing at best. With the variance in stateroom styles and prices, it is easy to simply either choose the least expensive or the room that is recommended by the cruise line. The wise choice is to make an informed decision, which will allow you and all those you travel with to have the best cruise experience possible.

Take your primary goals for the vacation into consideration, as well as the needs and desires of those with whom you will be traveling. A person who is seeking a quiet, relaxing holiday has much different needs than someone who is hoping for an exciting, blood pumping experience. Fortunately, cruise vacations provide something for everyone, but those who are sharing a cabin should get the best one for their goals.

The basic styles of cruise ship cabins are:

• Interior
• Ocean View
• Balcony
• Suite

Interior Cabins

Interior cabins are the least expensive, however they tend to be among the smallest of the staterooms and do not offer a window and can be very noisy due to proximity to the ship’s inner workings. Therefore, interior rooms may not be the best choice for large groups or anyone who is planning on spending a great deal of time in the room. Interior cabins are best suited for those who:

• Need to stick to a strict budget
• Are not sharing a room with others
• Will not be spending much time in the room

Ocean View Rooms

Ocean view rooms are generally about the same size as interior rooms, though they often provide a small window so that guests may see the sea. All staterooms on nearly all cruise lines have 24/7 access to a steward and provide ample luxury items, such as toiletries and comfortable bedding. Ocean view rooms work best for those who:

• Plan to spend most of their time outside of their stateroom
• Are traveling in small numbers
• Can be satisfied with small spaces

Balcony Rooms

Balcony rooms are generally larger than both interior and ocean view cabins. Though seldom spacious, they offer a more luxurious experience than their less expensive counterparts. These rooms provide guests with a sliding glass door so that they may look out at the sea and may enjoy time on the narrow balcony. Balcony rooms are best for those who are:

• Traveling in pairs or groups
• Wishing to spend more time in their room
• Claustrophobic and need more space

Suites

While suites are the most expensive, they also offer the greatest amount of space and luxury. Suites offer separate sitting and sleeping areas, and can also have larger bathrooms than other cabins. On some ships, suites have upgraded steward service as well. Suites work best for:

• Families or other larger groups
• Wish to spend at least half of their vacation in the room
• People who desire a luxurious vacation regardless of cost

Once a vacationer has chosen the cruise cabin, it is wise to consider the location of the cabin as well. Some cruise lines allow a less expensive option of not choosing the location, but those who are easily sea sick or have particular desires about a certain location may find that spending the extra money is well worth it. Taking these few items into consideration, it doesn’t take long to choose the best cabin for your cruise vacation. Once you do, all that is left is for you to enjoy your vacation.

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