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These tend to be a little more expensive than the basic cabin in the same class but come with perks that can enhance your vacation. The private outdoor spaces are usually fairly small, but certain cabin categories might have roomier balconies due to the ship's layout. Look for larger-than-average verandas on cabins at the back of the ship and in places where the structure of the ship juts out. Deciding if a balcony room is worth the price is something many cruisers have to consider with each booking. Ultimately, it depends on your budget and how much more it would cost to move up to a balcony room (or suite) from a lower category.
Cabins near the elevators are the most convenient
When choosing a room, you will need to look at if it's on a higher deck versus lower deck, as well as midship versus forward or aft. A good rule of thumb when choosing a room is picking one that has no public spaces directly one deck above or one deck below it. There are good arguments to be made for every type of room, from inside rooms to balconies to suites. For a lot of people, the best cabin is located wherever the price is right. Speaking of seasick, you not only want to be midship, but also on a lower deck too. But since this question comes up so often, here are the best cabins to book for most people and why they might be the right choice for you.
Hump balcony
Picking the right or the wrong cabin and location will have an impact on your cruise experience. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on cabins on mega-ship cruises. Cabins located near a ship's elevators are perhaps the most underrated stateroom you can get on a cruise. Sure, other cabin locations may have their share of benefits, but a stateroom close to the elevators means easy access to every other deck on the ship, something other cabin types all lack. Being in close proximity to the elevators means you can get to most other areas of the vessel quickly, with the pool, restaurants, and shopping areas a mere click of a button away. On port days, such a room also gives you an edge in making it down to the ship's gangway — having a headstart on the crowds when the ship docks is always a bonus.
Interior cabins are cost effective
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Inside, a balcony cabin will offer an ensuite bathroom, bed(s), closet area, desk with chair and a small sitting area. The exterior wall will be a floor-to-ceiling window with a door leading to a private balcony, usually with two upright chairs and a small table for drinks or alfresco meals. First and foremost, the locations we talked about could include suites too. There are suites located midship, on the aft, and even suites that can connect with another room. So the rationale explained earlier in this post holds true whether if you are an inside room or a suite.
If you plan to spend a lot of time in your cabin, you might value a balcony or a spacious room more. Families might look for cabins with connecting doors or extra bed options. As I mentioned earlier, larger families can look into family cabins and suites that accommodate five or six people. Some of the best cruise lines for families will have suites that can sleep eight, such as Norwegian's three-bedroom garden villas. But what if you're traveling in a large family group with cousins, grandparents, friends, even a nanny in tow? For cruise lines offering promotions where you choose your favorite booking perk, suite passengers often get all the freebies instead of one or two or higher amounts of onboard credit.
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Connecting cabins are less soundproof than rooms without those extra doors, so avoid those, too, if you're not booking both rooms. The vast majority of balcony rooms are standard balcony cabins or slightly larger rooms along either side of a cruise ship -- the port and starboard sides. It's hard to beat a direct sea view (or port view in some cases), and equally wonderful to leave a ship's public areas and soak up the sun, views, or breezes from the comfort of your own cabin. Interior rooms on a cruise ship are generally the cheapest option that you'll find on board. These typically have no windows, windows onto the ship's public interiors or -- as you'll find on NCL and other lines -- virtual balconies or portholes.
However, Disney Cruises is known for offering larger standard rooms meant to accomodate families. Depending on your desire to socialize, soak up the sun or enjoy some peace and quiet, you'll want to think strategically about where your cabin is aboard the cruise ship. That's particularly true as today's megaships -- like Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas -- can mean long walks to your room throughout the day.
A concierge cabin comes with -- you guessed it -- easy access to a cruise concierge. That means hands-off dinner and spa reservations, shore excursion bookings, and requests from guest services. Their services are included in the price of many suites, and on some ships you'll find a concierge lounge where suite guests and loyal premium-level passengers can snack, drink and relax in private. Concierge cabins may also come with in-cabin amenities like welcome drinks, fruit baskets or afternoon canapes.
In addition, given the atrium's central location on the ship, it also means easier passage from one end of the ship to the other. On the other hand, if you plan to spend most of your time exploring ports and partaking in onboard activities, the type and location of cabin might be of less importance. Examine the ship’s layout to see where your cabin is in relation to key areas like the lido deck, dining rooms, and entertainment venues.
On most ships, the elevators are located in the front and back of the ship, while the biggest ships have them in the center as well. Cruisers in cabins at the front of the ship are the first to see what's ahead. With such priority viewing, it's a nice way to sail into each port of call. Best Ships for Cruisers with DisabilitiesIt's possible for cruisers with disabilities to enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Whether you're going far away or just cruising around the United States, there's plenty to look forward to once you've pulled the trigger and booked that cruise you've been talking about. As important as the aforementioned things are when it comes to guaranteeing a memorable seafaring vacation, something else that's integral is selecting the right cabin for you and your party. Because aft balcony rooms are coveted, some cruise lines categorize them as higher-end cabins, which means they sell for higher prices than standard balcony cabins. The next step above an outside cabin is one with a balcony (veranda). These cabins have sliding glass or French doors giving you access to the outside. The sliding doors also mean you can see outside from anywhere in the cabin, i.e. lie on the bed and still see the ocean outside.
They are excellent for those who have mobility problems or who are seasick prone. However, a midship cabin can have more traffic outside in the hallways since other passengers will often be passing by. Some cruise ships charge slightly more for midship cabins or even have them in a separate category. If you are thinking of a midship cabin, be sure to check out the location of the tenders or lifeboats.
