You’ve chosen a date. You’ve chosen a cruise line. You’ve chosen a ship. You’ve chosen an itinerary. Now, it is time to choose a stateroom. What stateroom category do you want? Do you get motion sickness? Will extra noise bother you? What is your budget? These are all valid questions to ask and have answered before you embark on the vacation of a lifetime.
One of the first decisions you will want to make is the type of room you want. There are four big categories of staterooms: interior cabins, ocean view cabins, balcony cabins and suites.
The most budget friendly choice is an interior cabin. Interior cabins have no outside view and are perfect for travelers who don’t plan to spend much time in their cabin except to sleep. Royal Caribbean does offer a “virtual view” interior cabin on its Quantum and some Oasis Class ships which feature LED screens offering travelers real-time views of the ocean. Royal Caribbean also offers an interior cabin on its Voyager, Freedom and some Oasis Class ships that overlooks the ship’s promenade.
If you want to have some view of the ocean, but stay within a lower price range, you will want to look at an ocean view cabin. These rooms are midway between an interior cabin and full balcony. The room will feature a porthole (window), that does not open, but still allows for some natural light in the room and a view of the outside.
The next step up and the most popular stateroom category is the balcony cabin. Balcony cabins have a private outdoor space allowing guests to step outside, enjoy the ocean air, and watch the sunrise or set without a crowd. Balcony cabins are especially popular on cruises known for their scenic viewing, like Alaska.
The most luxurious (and costly) stateroom category is a suite. Suites offer the most space and typically have separate living and sleeping spaces. Suites also usually offer VIP boarding, larger balconies, and exclusive perks and amenities. Keep in mind, there are various types of suites offered by different cruise lines.
The next decision is location, location, location. Depending on how motion, seasickness and noise affect you, you will want to consider where your room is located. Cruise ships are very stable, but you will still feel the movement of the ocean. Depending on where you are on the ship, will make a difference on how much of that motion you feel.
If motion sickness is a concern, you will want to pick a cabin that is on a lower deck and as close to the middle of the ship as possible. This is where you will feel the least amount of movement. If this is your first cruise, start there until you know how you will feel while cruising. Low and central is considered the “sweet spot” on a ship.
Guests in cabins at the bow or stern of the ship will feel more motion. Forward (toward the bow) will feel more up-and-down movement, and aft (toward the stern) cabins will feel more swaying and possible engine vibration. However, if you are choosing a balcony, an aft-facing balcony is the best choice for spectacular views of the ship’s wake.
Cabins on the upper decks are going to have the most movement, but they are closer to the action, which brings us to the next item to consider–noise.
Be sure to consider your noise tolerance when choosing your cabin. If you are a light sleeper, you will want to pick a deck that is in between two decks of passenger rooms, preventing noise from above or below you. If you are opposed to early morning or late night noise, you will want to avoid cabins below the pool deck or near the ship’s entertainment venues, elevators, casino and main dining room.
Another item to consider when choosing your stateroom is with whom you are traveling. If you or a travel companion has mobility challenges, you will want to choose a room midship and near the elevators for ease of navigating the ship. If you are traveling with your family, see if your ship has family or adjoining cabins. If you are traveling alone, check if the ship has designated solo cabins in order to avoid paying extra.
Cruise lines provide official deck plans for each of their ships giving travelers the opportunity to research the best cabin for their vacation. Guests also have the option of choosing the exact cabin they want or allowing the cruise line to assign the room later. This is called a “guarantee” fare and can save you money. It is possible to end up with a complimentary upgrade, or a room you really do not want, so choose wisely. Lastly, it is important to book early. Booking early allows you to get the cabin and location you really want.
Ultimately, the perfect stateroom is the one you choose, on the cruise line you choose, on the ship you choose, during the itinerary you choose, with the people you choose. Happy cruising!