How to Choose the Best Cruise Cabin for Your Trip

Photo by CREATIVITYMEDIA VERSHKA on Unsplash

Choosing a cruise cabin can be surprisingly complicated.

Interior, oceanview or balcony? Forward, midship or aft? High deck or low deck? Near the lifts or as far away from everyone as possible?

Then you open the ship's deck plan and discover what appears to be several thousand tiny rectangles spread across 15 decks. 😂

The good news is that there isn't really one best cruise cabin.

The best cabin is the one that suits your budget, your priorities and the way you plan to use the ship.

I've stayed in everything from interior cabins to balconies and unusual oceanview cabins, and while I definitely have my preferences, I've also had fantastic cruises in cabins I probably wouldn't have chosen if money were no object.

Here are the things I'd consider before choosing yours.

Before worrying about anything else, decide how much you're comfortable spending.

If budget is a significant factor, this will naturally be your first priority.

There's not much point spending hundreds—or potentially thousands—more on a balcony if doing so means you can't afford the shore excursions you want, have to shorten your cruise or spend the entire holiday worrying about money.

Personally, I'd rather be cruising in an interior cabin than sitting at home because I couldn't afford a balcony. 😂

Once you know your budget, you can start comparing the cabin categories available within it.

Interior cabins don't have a window to the outside.

Pros:

• Usually the cheapest cabin category
• Very dark when the lights are off, which can be fantastic for sleeping
• Can be cosy if you don't need much space
• Great if you expect to spend very little time in your cabin
• Can make longer cruises considerably more affordable

Cons:

• No natural light
• You can't look outside to check the weather
• They can feel enclosed, particularly if you're prone to claustrophobia
• It's remarkably easy to sleep much later than intended when your cabin remains pitch black 😂

Interior cabins can be excellent value, particularly if your philosophy is that your cabin is basically somewhere to shower and sleep.

Oceanview cabins have a window or porthole but no private balcony.

Pros:

• Natural light and an outside view
• Usually cheaper than a balcony
• Can sometimes be larger than comparable interior cabins
• Great if you enjoy watching the ocean without necessarily needing private outdoor space

Cons:

• More expensive than an interior
• You can't step outside
• Some windows may have partially or fully obstructed views
• Window size and cabin layout can vary considerably

We've stayed in some interesting oceanview cabins, including Carnival Splendor Cabin 2462, which has an unusual layout and two oceanview windows rather than the more typical one.

Voyage Ready Read 👉 Carnival Splendor Oceanview Cabin 2462

This is also why I always look beyond the basic cabin category and check the actual deck plan.

Balcony cabins give you your own private outdoor space.

Pros:

• Private access to fresh air
• Fantastic for watching arrivals and departures
• Somewhere quiet to sit away from busy public decks
• Particularly lovely on scenic itineraries such as Alaska
• Natural light and great views

Cons:

• Usually considerably more expensive
• You may not actually use the balcony as much as you imagine
• Weather can limit its usefulness
• Some balconies have obstructed views
• Depending on location, balconies can occasionally pick up noise, smoke or smells from surrounding areas

For me, whether a balcony is worth the extra money depends heavily on the price difference and itinerary.

A balcony overlooking glaciers in Alaska might be much more valuable to you than one on a short cruise where you're planning to spend most of your time around the ship.

Seriously.

Check the deck maps.

Don't just choose "Balcony Cabin" and assume they're all essentially the same.

Deck plans can show you:

• Where your cabin sits on the ship
• What's directly above and below it
• Nearby lifts and stairs
• Connecting cabins
• Unusual cabin shapes
• Public areas nearby
• Laundrettes
• Restaurants and bars
• Pools and entertainment venues

I'll often compare several decks before choosing a particular cabin.

And once I've narrowed it down, I'll search the ship name and cabin number online. You'd be surprised how often somebody has uploaded photos, a YouTube walkthrough or a cabin review.

This is one of the biggest things I check.

A cabin can look perfect until you realise what's on the other side of its ceiling.

For example:

Pool deck above?
You may hear deck chairs being dragged around surprisingly early in the morning.

Nightclub or entertainment venue below?
You may be enjoying the bass line from bed long after you've decided to call it a night.

Restaurant or galley nearby?
There may be early-morning activity.

Cabins above and below?

Excellent.

If quiet is important to me, a cabin sandwiched between two other accommodation decks is usually my preference.

It's not a guarantee of silence. You are still sharing a ship with several thousand other humans but it removes some obvious potential noise sources.

Being close to the lifts can be incredibly convenient.

You've got a shorter walk back to your cabin, which is particularly handy on a large ship or for anyone with mobility limitations.

But there is a trade-off.

Lift areas naturally attract people. People talk. Kids get excited. Groups stand around deciding where they're going next.

If you're a light sleeper, being immediately beside a major lift lobby might not be ideal.

I generally like being reasonably close to lifts without being directly beside them.

Think about how you cruise.

A family with children might appreciate being reasonably close to the kids' club.

Someone who spends every sea day beside the pool may value easy access to the Lido deck.

If you love the main dining room, theatre and evening entertainment, a lower deck near those areas might make more sense.

And if you're planning to work from your cabin during the cruise, your priorities might be completely different again.

Consider the places you'll use most:

• Buffet
• Main dining room
• Pool
• Kids' club
• Theatre
• Casino
• Gym
• Spa
• Promenade
• Favourite bars or lounges

On a large ship, location can save a surprising amount of walking.

Although considering what I tend to eat on a cruise, perhaps the extra walking isn't necessarily a bad thing. 😂

Port is the left side of the ship when you're facing forward. Starboard is the right.

For many cruises, I wouldn't get too hung up on which one you choose.

Ships can berth in different directions at different ports, and operational requirements can change which side faces the terminal or water.

However, there are itineraries where one side may offer particular views at certain points.

If there's a landmark, coastline, scenic passage or port arrival that's especially important to you, it's worth researching the route before choosing.

Just don't assume that booking "the port side" means you'll always face the port. That's not how it works.

Connecting cabins are fantastic for families or groups travelling together.

There's an internal door between the cabins, allowing you to move between them without going into the corridor.

If you're not travelling with the people next door, however, that connecting door can sometimes allow more noise through than a solid wall.

Light sleepers may want to check the deck plan for connecting-room symbols.

This is one of those little things that people don't necessarily consider until they're onboard.

If you need natural light to wake up, an interior cabin might drive you slightly mad.

If you love sleeping in, it might be heaven.

If one person wakes at 6am and another sleeps until 9am, a balcony can give the early riser somewhere to sit without tiptoeing around a dark cabin.

And if you're travelling with children, cabin layout and storage can matter just as much as the view.

A guarantee cabin can be a great way to save money.

You choose a category—or minimum category—and the cruise line assigns the actual cabin.

The downside is obvious: You don't get to choose where it is.

You might score a fantastic location.

You might also discover you're directly underneath the pool deck.

If cabin location really matters to you, I'd generally pay the difference to select the actual cabin.

If your attitude is put me anywhere, just get me on the ship, a guarantee fare can make perfect sense.

Don't panic.

I've definitely had cabin preferences over the years, but ultimately the cabin is only one part of the cruise.

If your budget means an interior cabin, enjoy having an incredibly dark room to sleep in.

If your balcony overlooks a lifeboat, enjoy the fresh air.

If you're a long walk from the buffet, congratulate yourself on all those extra steps. 😂

And if you end up somewhere that wouldn't have been your first choice, you're still on a cruise.

Get out, explore the ship, find your favourite places and enjoy it.

There are far worse problems to have than discovering your cruise cabin isn't quite perfect.

Once you've worked out which cabin type and location might suit you, the fun part is finding the cruise.

When comparing itineraries and prices, remember to compare the actual cabin categories available, rather than just the headline cruise fare. The cheapest advertised fare will often be for an interior cabin, so the price can change considerably once you select an oceanview, balcony or suite.

You can browse and compare cruise itineraries, dates and cabin options through Expedia.

Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no additional cost to you.