Ocean Realm

Choosing the cabin for your next cruise can make the difference between a fun-filled trip and a miserable experience. I have been on several cruises and booked several of the different cabin types. Each cabin type has it’s advantages and disadvantages. Room sizes and types can vary between cruise lines, but many of the major cruise lines have basic categories that rooms are grouped into.

The cheapest cabins on the ship are usually inside cabins because these cabins are located on the inside of the ship. They don’t have windows. The first time I booked an inside cabin I was a little apprehensive about whether I would feel claustrophobic. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the inside cabin still had plenty of room and I didn’t feel constrained at all. For cruisers that enjoy sleeping in late in the morning, an inside cabin provides a nice dark place to sleep. If you are considering booking an inside cabin, you should take a look a deck plan of the ship you will be cruising on. Make note if your potential cabin is located next to a stairwell, because these rooms can be noisier from people using the stairs.

Outside cabins are the next step up and may be larger in size that most inside cabins. Featuring a regular window or porthole, these rooms enable you to see what is going on outside the ship. However, the cabin window wasn’t in a location that made it easy to look out of, so I really didn’t use it that much.

Balcony cabins are larger than standard outside cabins and include a door for access to your own outside balcony. Rowdy neighbors and close proximity to them didn’t provide much solitude during the day. That being said, one of the most memorable parts of my last balcony cabin was falling asleep listening to the sea through my open balcony door.

If you have the ability to afford it, you might want to consider a suite. These premium cabins are the best and largest on the ship. With your own private suite, you may find that your time spent in your suite was one of your favorite parts of your cruise.

Consider all your options when choosing a cabin for your next cruise. The features and sizes of the different cabin categories may make one type more suitable than others for your situation. Enjoy your cruise!

In addition to writing articles about cruises, the author maintains websites about pet vacuums and maternity evening wear.