Worried about getting cabin fever on a cruise ship? Don’t be. On many of today’s mega-ships you can spread out in suites that have multiple rooms and even multiple levels.
The range of cabin types available on cruise ships can be mind boggling, eye opening and sometimes confusing, so here’s a guide to some of the more common and some of the more surprising cabin types.
The essentials
An inside cabin with no window is usually the smallest and cheapest. Outside cabins can also be small but have a window or porthole, while obstructed view cabins have a window which is partially covered by a structure on the ship, like a lifeboat.
As the name suggests, balcony cabins have their own private balcony, and cabins referred to as suites are larger and often have separated sleeping and living areas. So, they’re the basic cabin types. From here on, things get trickier and more interesting.
Your own floating palace
Some cruise ships offer cabins with a butler service, so you have your own private butler to look after you.
Your butler can do everything from making on-board dining reservations and bookings for shore-based excursions, to getting your laundry done.
Windowless inside cabins are less desirable because there’s no view, but now some come with a ‘virtual balcony’ – a screen which displays a moving view of the outside of the ship.
Going up a few levels, some suites are like miniature mansions at sea and can include dining rooms, games rooms and luxurious bathrooms with spas. On Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, their Ultimate Family Suite even includes an in-suite slide for the kids to play on and table tennis on the balcony.
On Regent Seven Seas Explorer, their Regent Suite is literally the size of a small mansion, with more than 370 square metres of living space and a private wrap-around balcony.
The suite even comes with its own grand piano. And if you can bear to tear yourself away for a shore visit, you’ll have your own private chauffeur waiting. But for all this indulgence on the high seas you’ll have to fork out an eye-watering $10,000. That’s per night – not for a whole cruise.
More affordable comfort
Don’t have a budget for top-end luxury? Luckily when it comes to choosing a cabin, there are still lots of options that can make your cruise more comfortable and enjoyable.
It depends not only on your budget but also on the kind of holiday you want.
You may not always feel like sharing your space with other people, in which case your own balcony might be worth considering.
If you’re worried about being affected by the motion of the ocean, choose a cabin in an area of the ship where you’ll feel less movement. This is typically the middle of the ship and at lower deck.
Some people like a cabin that’s located close to the action, but others may want a little more peace and quiet, so a cabin away from busy areas of the ship may be a better choice.
Because cruise lines all do things a little differently, including the layout and amenities in their cabins, it’s a good idea to speak to an expert so you can be sure that when you first open the door that it’s going to be a fantastic voyage.
Cruising has come a long way and with many cruises lines trying to outdo one another on the ‘wow factor’, now is a good time to look at jumping on board.
Choosing a cruise ship cabin - part two
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