Tips on Choosing Cabin Location
Enhancing your cruise experience can be as simple as selecting the appropriate cabin accommodations to make for a smooth, comfortable trip. You'll hear some experienced cruisers say "Don't pay extra for your cabin; you're never in there!" Is there truth in that statement? Some. But you're definitely going to be in there to sleep, and imagine how upset you'd be if your cabin was in a noisy area, or where the motion of the ship was felt more strongly, or you had strong vibrations in your cabin because you're directly over the propellers?
If you go a week without a decent night's sleep, that bargain cabin is going to look less and less desirable. And what happens when you ask the Purser how much an upgrade would cost, and every cabin on the ship is already full? That's the vacation worthy of a National Lampoon movie, not the dream cruise you had hoped for! But with Internet resources at hand (ship diagrams, deck plans, etc.), there is no reason for today's cruise traveler to reach that position.
- Avoid the White Stuff unless you know what it is. If you look at any ship's deck plans, you will see certain areas that appear in brochures (and online) as white areas, with no description. You can almost be guaranteed if you call the cruise line, they'll tell you it is storage space, which might be true. It could also be the Room Service area, where phones are ringing (through your wall) at all hours of the day or night. It could be an ice machine, which is notoriously noisy. It could be a steward's locker, and keep in mind they tend to come on duty at 6am and might be rattling keys to get supplies out. It could be the ship's galley (kitchen). Or a public restroom. Or a 24-hour Laundromat. You get the picture. It's not true 100% of the time, but as a rule of thumb, avoid the white stuff!
- What about the smoothest ride? The majority of a ship's weight is from the center to the back. If you simply LOOK at a ship, that's obvious. At the front (bow), the ship will bend into a point to cut through the water. There's very little weight there in comparison, so if there is any tossing and turning to be done, it will be felt most in the forward section of the ship. Being exactly in the middle might be called midship, but it's not the smoothest ride. The smoothest ride is about 2/3 of the way back, which is close to the true balance point of the vessel. If you're all the way at the far back (aft) you will undoubtedly experience some vibration from the ship's engines and propellers. Many people love that, since it becomes soothing and cuts out any excess noises. For others, it's a distraction that can be a detriment to their cruise. Also, mythology would tell you "the higher you are, the better the ride." This is probably the biggest misconception in the industry! Some of these modern ships are 12, 15 or 18 stories high, and if the wind is blowing, the lower you are, the smoother the ride. The cabins closer to the water will be held by the water, much the way the ground holds a tree trunk firmly in place.
- Some people want an oceanview cabin. Be advised there are cabins on some ships with tiny portholes, others with larger windows, and some even have floor-to-ceiling bay windows and private balconies. The fancier the view, the higher the price tag in nearly every instance, so decide how important a factor it is for you prior to getting a price. If you saved $100.00 on a 7-day cruise, but were totally unhappy with the view you had, we're really talking about less than $15.00 a day to either be happy or unhappy on your vacation. So don't be afraid to pay a little more up front to have the type of vacation you want, need and deserve! It's difficult in some cases to know if a certain type of cabin has portholes, windows, etc., but our staff will gladly assist you.
- Common sense is the key. When looking at a ship's diagram, you can see certain cabins that you automatically know you will not enjoy. In the cabins just below the disco, there's a good chance you'll hear the partying of the younger crowd. Cabins next to an elevator can hear its noise whenever it is running. If your cabin is under the jogging track, you will like hear those running above you. Cabins under the Main Show Lounge can expect to hear music and dancing until around midnight. Even if none of these cabins sound appealing, there are lots of cabins still left to choose from.
- Many cruise lines now offer guarantees for people who don't care where
they wind up on the ship. They tend to reward you with a lower price (though
not always), but the cruise line selects your cabin at the last minute.
There are many cases where people get upgraded at no additional cost. That
sounds great! But sometimes a free upgrade comes at a price; you might be
upgraded 3 or 4 decks higher, but now you're the first cabin at the bow of
the ship or next to the elevator, leading to the disco overhead! If you're
experienced enough to know those things don't bother you, it's a great way
to save money in many cases. But it's literally the luck of the draw on
where you'll be assigned. Plus you may not be upgraded at all. Oftentimes,
you'll get the same deck as the category that you purchased as a guarantee,
but in a less desirable location than if you had simply selected a
well-placed cabin in the first place. Our recommendation is to discuss this
with the others traveling in your cabin, even before contacting us, so that
everyone in the group is on the same page. This will make for a unified
decision, and will keep anyone from being disappointed later. Consider your
choices, and feel free to ask us. We'll offer an informed opinion, and will
do everything possible to make your vacation fantastic!