Choosing the right cabin

While most of the time you won’t be in your cabin, you’ll be out on deck or enjoying the facilities of your cruise ship, or exploring a port call, getting the right cabin can make a real difference to the overall enjoyment you get from your cruise. A large part of what you pay for your cruise is spent on the size and location of your cabin, so getting it right is vital.

Inside Cabins don’t have windows and are often called ‘inside, interior or lower level’ cabins but there’s another category here – rooms that are lower than the waterline and have a small porthole that can’t be opened. These are the lowest priced accommodation and there’s a good reason for this – there’s no natural light and no chance to ventilate your cabin other than using the air conditioning. While such cabins are usually bright and well lit, some people find it claustrophobic not to have natural light and it can be difficult to know what time of day it is, or what the weather is like, until you get up on deck.

Mid-priced cabins and staterooms – while the British still tend to say cabin, all the American cruise lines say stateroom, because it sounds less cosy – don’t be fooled though, there’s no difference in size between cabins and staterooms, although there are vast differences between the different lines, so compare room sizes carefully if space is important to you. Location is also important and the variables of location and size can lead to there being up to twenty different prices for this category of cabins. Try to work out what you want to be nearest – is it the nightclubs or the deck or the pool? And remember that cabins near nightclubs and engines can be very noisy at night.

Veranda and Balcony cabins – these allow some private outdoor space and many have the chance to have dinner or breakfast served outdoors in private, which can be a great consideration for honeymooners or those who wake up slowly. On the other hand a balcony can be a real trial to parents with young children who have to be supervised whenever they are outside but the cost is often considered worth it – they range in price depending on size and location on the ship.

Suites – a suite will be at least two rooms, but can be as many as five or six. They tend to be better equipped than standard cabins, with luxurious ones having hot-tubs and other amenities and the most exclusive ones also offer private access to a VIP deck which usually has a pool and lounge areas.