Cruise Ship Cabins?

Question

Any one more experienced than me know the REAL difference between types of cabins. I'm going on my first and want to be comfortable at night on board.

Answer 1

OK, first of all , the staerooms can be considered pretty small, but you really aren't in them. I LOVE to cruise (7 in 2 years and yes I have a problem...lol)

If price matters you can get an interior cabin, there is no window so if you get claustrophobic that might not be the best answer for you but size wise its the same as and outside .

Outside are great. You can get them with either 2 portholes (which I don't like) or with a window .I wont' get anything less than ocean view becasue I do get claustrophobic and love to lay in bed and see the outside.

Balcony rooms can come obstructed or not. BIG DIFFERENCE, dont let the travel agent fool you. We were convinced an obstructed balcony would atleast let us see out, if not down. What we did see was 7 days of lifeboat #12 and the ship employees who inspected it at many different times of the day so you really couldnt leave the blinds open if you did want to see the side of a life boat..

Price and your budget will determine the type of room you get. The sizes, other than suites, are all the same , so if all you afford is an inside, go and have a fantastic time, pack a night light,clock, and power strip and Have fun

Answer 2

For the most part cruise ship cabins can be divided into five groups.

1)  Inside - no windows

2)  Inside - with a window

3)  Ocean view

4)  Balcony

5)  Suite

1)  An inside cabin has no connection to the outside.  On some ships the inside cabins are the smallest cabins.  On others, such as Carnival, the inside cabins are the same size as any other standard cabin.  These cabins get very dark when you turn off the lights, because there is no window with moon light coming in.  Also, if you wake up at 9:00, you will not know if it is morning or night unless you have a watch with am and/or pm on it.  These are the least expensive cabins.

Here is a photo of an inside cabin (this one sleeps four) ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

2)  On eight Royal Caribbean ships, the five Voyager class and the three Freedom class (the third Freedom ship is still under construction), there is a central promenade with inside cabins that have a window overlooking the promenade.  While you do have a window, you cannot see outside the ship.  Here are a couple of pictures of the Royal Promenade from the Navigator of the Seas ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

3)  Ocean view cabins have a window where you can see outside the ship.  Moon light can come in the window if you leave the curtains open.  However, the window itself does not open.  Some windows are picture windows, some are port holes.  

Here is a photo of an ocean view cabin with a picture window ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

Here is a photo of an ocean view cabin with a port hole ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

4)  Balcony cabins have a door to a private balcony.  You can sit on the balcony and have breakfast (or any other meal), sun yourself of just watch the world go by.  Here are some pictures of balcony cabins ...

These are side facing balconies ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

These are rear facing balconies ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

This is a rear facing balcony ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

These two photos were taken from a rear facing balcony ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

5)  Suites are the largest cabins.  Suites usually have a tup/shower combination while the other cabins have just a shower.  Also, suite usually have a balcony, and in some cases that balcony can be very large.  Suites are always larger than the standard cabins.

Tub/shower combination of a suite ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

Shower only of a standard cabin ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

This is the sitting room of a two bedroom suite ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

This is the sitting room of a very large three bedroom suite ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

This is a wrap around balcony (the balcony continues on the side) of a suite ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

Couple of photos of a suite ...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/Z...

Answer 3

we started out with a mini-suite with a balcony - and have never gone back - just bigger.  We now book Owners Suites and Royal Suites.  You must have a balcony.  People who claim you will never use it - never had one.  We use it all the time.

Answer 4

Zef gave a real complete answer, so not a whole lot to add to it other then on some of the cruise lines the higher the class of cabin the better the beds will be, I know that we have been on the Monarch of the seas twice, once in an inside cabin and once in an oceanview cabin that we then got moved to the owners suite when I won it as a prize in bingo.  There was a slight difference between the bed in the inside cabin and the oceanview cabin, but when we got into that owners suite we almost didnt want to leave the bed at times because it was so comfy.

Answer 5

I found that the floor in which your cabin is located is very important.  I traveled on Royal Caribbean's Rhaposdy of the Seas, and I found that both 4th and 7th floors have excellent rooms.  I have not stayed in any rooms on other floors, but I did notice whenever going to the Windjammer (restaurant) which was on the 9th floor and at the front of the ship, I ALWAYS felt the ship's movement and I was always getting motion sickness...I noticed the higher the I went the more I felt the movement.  I also noticed the 2nd floor has a humming type of noise which I could only gather was the engine? I don't know, but it was kind of annoying.....so I would say if you are new to cruising, stick to the middle (both from front to back and from top to bottom) of the boat and you will definately have a wonderful night's sleep.  I loved my cruises so far, and plan on taking another this summer.  Enjoy!  (Oh! Balcony is much better than window, but window is not that bad!)