Cruise Cabins Guide
Cruise Cabins
Overwhelmed by all the brilliant choices when it comes to cruise cabins? With different cabins available on various cruise lines and major differences between cruise cabin grades, you’re well and truly spoilt for choice. But for some, this can be a lot of information to take in, especially if you’ve never been on a cruise before. Whether you’re sailing away on a solo adventure or whisking the whole family away on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise holiday, we’re here to help you make sense of your options and make sure you choose the perfect cabin or stateroom that ticks all your boxes.
How to choose a cruise cabin
No matter what cruise line you choose to sail with, or which itinerary has taken your fancy, you’ll always need to pin down which cabin you’ll be staying in throughout your holiday. But with so many things to consider, from room sizes and location on the ship to cabin grades and your personal preferences, the decision can be a tough one. Maybe you need a larger cabin to accommodate more guests? Or would you prefer to choose your cabin based on the amenities that come along with it? In this guide, we’ve got you covered with all the information you need to choose your ideal cabin and keep your entire party happy.
Cruise Cabin Locations
When choosing your cabin, you might be asked if you have a preference for where your cabin is located on the cruise ship. While this might not be important for some guests, it can be something vital to properly consider if you suffer from seasickness, prefer to avoid late-night noise or want to be as close as possible to everything.
We always recommend researching ship layouts to help you choose where you’d ideally like to stay. So, what do you need to consider when it comes to cabin location? From ship stability to noise, here’s what you need to think about.
Stability
If you’re someone who tends to suffer from seasickness, cabin location is key. The lower and more central you are in the ship, the less movement you will feel. Even if you opt for a stateroom with a balcony, choose the lowest level you can find since you’ll usually feel less rocking. Midship cabins can also be great if you want to stay in the centre of all the action because it’s likely that the restaurants, bars and other popular amenities are just a few decks away.
Distance
Some cruise guests know exactly where they want to stay, but if you’re new to cruising, it’s always worth doing some research into where certain things are on your ship. Depending on your preferences, different decks or areas of the ship might suit you better. For example, sun worshippers might prefer an upper-deck location close to the pools and sunbathing areas. Meanwhile, those keen to experience the onboard nightlife might want to stick closer to the bars and clubs.
Noise
After a peaceful and quiet cabin tucked away from the noise of restaurants, bars and any other amenities? It’s usually best to choose a cabin surrounded by other cabins. This means finding a cabin with more cabins above, below and on either side since this usually means you won’t be disturbed during your stay. You’ll also want to avoid staterooms close to elevators, passenger laundry rooms and other areas that might draw more foot traffic.
Cruise Cabin Sizes
Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes, which means that cabins can also vary size-wise. Generally, inside and ocean-view staterooms are very similarly sized, but other cabin types will always have more square footage.
While price can be a big factor in which cabin you choose, it’s also worth looking at the different sizes to find out how much value-for-money you’re getting. Check out these factors below to make sure you’re considering everything you might need for your stay.
Outdoor space
How important is it that you have private outdoor space? If you’re the kind of traveller who prefers to spend time in public areas such as the sun decks, lounges, and restaurants, then private outdoor space might not be on your radar. But for guests who enjoy a slice of solitude every now and again, having a good amount of private outdoor space can be a game-changer for your experience. It’s also important to take your travel itinerary into account since a cruise in cooler climates might mean that you’re less likely to spend time relaxing on a balcony. If you’re sailing into warmer temperatures, outside space might be higher on your list of priorities. But if you’re sailing off somewhere picturesque like the Norwegian Fjords or Alaska, you’re still likely to want a balcony of your own to enjoy the sights from – even if you might be a bit chilly!
Family
Since cruising has become a more popular holiday choice for families, cruise lines are paying more attention to building family accommodations. Generally, family cabins will feature a double bed that can be divided into twins, plus two bunk beds. The main thing to think about when travelling as a family is that you have enough space for everybody to enjoy themselves. This is especially important on longer cruises since the last thing you want is to feel cramped into a too-small room for weeks at a time. In these cases, splurging on a suite might be worth the extra money. If a suite isn’t really your thing and you’d prefer to separate the kids from the adults while still being just a door away, interlinking rooms might be the best option for you and you can find these on more and more cruise lines.
Solo cabins
Most cruise holiday prices are based on double occupancy so if you’re a solo traveller you’ll sometimes need to pay a single supplement. However, many cruise lines are now offering accommodation options dedicated to solo travellers. For example, the Norwegian Escape is now fitted with Studio rooms for solo passengers and these are priced for a single guest with no supplement needed. So, if you don’t need as much space, it’s worth searching for cruise lines introducing the supplement-free option.
Cabin Amenities
All cruise cabins come with the basic amenities that you’d find in most hotel rooms, including comfy beds, en-suite bathrooms and TVs. You’ll also have a cabin steward available to service your room daily, access to a safe, storage areas and climate control.
If you’ve booked one of the more luxurious cabin grades, you may have access to some extra services like direct access to the concierge or a 24-hour butler service. Other cabins may also give you exclusive access to certain areas of the cruise ship, such as the spa or lounges.
What’s the best cabin on a cruise ship?
So, which cabin is the top choice for most cruisers? There isn’t a definitive one-size-fits-all answer. But, generally speaking, balcony cabins are usually the best if you want something that doesn’t break the bank but also allows you to experience some extra luxuries. Whether you go for an inside or outside balcony room, choose one that’s away from the hustle and bustle to give yourself some peace and quiet, but also be sure to look at the amenities and facilities nearby to help you pick the perfect location. Of course, if you can afford to extend your budget for the cabin, we’d recommend booking a suite for the extra space.
Cruises with Single Cabins
When you’re planning to travel on your own, it can be comforting to know that there are others on your cruise ship in the same position. In this case, choosing a cruise ship that offers single cabins can be a good option.
So, which cruise lines offer these? Take a look below…
Norwegian Cruise Line
NCL was one of the first cruise lines to introduce solo cabins specifically priced for guests travelling alone. Not only do they offer 100-square-foot rooms called studios, but by booking these studios, travellers can get exclusive access to the Studio Lounge. Here, they can lounge on sofas, watch TV, use coffee facilities and even enjoy a drink at the lounge bar.
Celebrity Cruises
Onboard Celebrity Edge, guests can stay in one of their 16 solo cabins. These are designed to blend the outdoors and indoors seamlessly since guests can choose between open-air balconies or closed-off sunrooms by simply pressing a button.
Costa Cruises
Costa ships each have between 6 and 21 rooms designated as single occupancy. What’s more, these are offered on just over half of the fleet, including Costa Diadema, Costa Favolosa, Costa Pacifica and Costa Fortuna.
Cunard Cruises
Cunard offers some of the largest solo occupancy rooms in the cruise industry, so if you’re still looking for lots of space as a solo cruiser, this is a great choice. Whether you’re sailing on Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 or Queen Elizabeth, you can enjoy a large room, plenty of storage and an ocean view in the majority of rooms.
Holland America Cruises
Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam both have 12 solo occupancy rooms available sized between 127 and 172 square feet. You’ll get a great view of the ocean, a writing desk and, let’s not forget, the large single bed.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships have 28 solo cabins each, alongside giving you the option of a virtual window or a moderately-sized 55-square-foot balcony all to yourself.
Most Luxurious Cabin Top Picks
If only the best will do for your cruise, then look no further. From ultra-lux suites and tailored butler services to fun-filled family rooms with slides and games, here are some of our favourite picks from cruise lines available to book here at Cruise Nation.
Regent Suite – Seven Seas
Onboard Seven Seas Splendor is this 4,443-square-foot suite, sitting at the very front of the ship and stretching all the way from one side of the ship to the other. The suite features two huge bedroom complexes with seemingly endless space, a living room, dining area and a breathtakingly spectacular balcony. The master bathroom even has its own sauna and steam room. The surprises don’t end with the immense amount of space either – the suite also gives you perks such as first-class domestic flights to reach the ship, a personal car, driver and guide at every port call, and a butler service for any additional needs.
Reflection Suite – Celebrity Cruises
With the Reflection Suite onboard Celebrity Reflection, it’s all about the ceiling-to-floor windows in every corner of the suite. From the dining area to the ultra-luxury bathroom, the ocean is there at every turn. So, if you’ve been dreaming of enjoying a rain shower with uninterrupted panoramic views of the ocean, this is the suite for you.
Ultimate Family Suite – Royal Caribbean
Think luxury and family don’t mix? Take a look at Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Family Suite and get back to us. This cabin spans 1346 square feet and two decks fully loaded with family fun. We’re talking air hockey tables, table tennis, and even a vertical climbing maze. And for moving around the complex, there’s obviously a slide reaching from the second floor to the first, alongside a crawl-through nook connecting the main adults bedroom to the second bedroom. The best bit? It has its own private cinema room featuring an 85-inch TV where you can eat popcorn, watch films, and play games.
Sky Suites – Princess Cruises
Are you all about the views from your cruise cabin? Sky Suites aboard Princess Cruises offer complete luxury and the best-of-the-best when it comes to your views. With 270-degree panoramic views, an outdoor dining room, a large day bed and sun loungers, you can make the most of your outdoor space in total privacy. Not only this, but you can also enjoy lounging around in the 1873 square feet of space inside the suite, complete with your very own Suite experience Manager ready to take care of all your onboard needs.