Choosing the right cruise ship cabin type
Randall Shirley on his cruise history of sleeping around — from tiny inside cabins to balcony suites
George Washington’s got nothing on me…I’ve slept in a lot of beds (ok, and been in a few I didn’t exactly sleep in). During 30 years as a travel journalist I’ve stayed in accommodations of almost every imaginable type. And that includes cruise ship cabins. Choosing the right cruise ship cabin type is important.
In the past, an “outside cabin” may have had a porthole. That’s not so likely these days…although on some expedition ships such as this one, it can still happen! Photo: Randall Shirley
I’ve tried almost every type of cabin, with exception of luxury suites (I’m not a high enough roller) and singles-only cabins. Recently, my husband and I decided to “downgrade” our cruise cabin to an Inside, providing us with extra money for airfare, onboard spending, and port money.
After many years of balcony cabins, I was expecting a shock. Instead, our Inside Cabin on Ruby Princess was a pleasant, and positive surprise, and one that I’d be happy to have again. Based on that experience, here’s my take on cruise ship cabin types, along with a few tips, from cheapest to most-expensive.
Be sure to scroll to the bottom for a few crucial tips pertaining to all cabin selections.
Our inside cabin on Ruby Princess took advantage of a big mirror to give the illusion of space and increase light reflection. Photo: Randall Shirley
Inside Cabin
My early cruises in the 80s and 90s were in this type of cabin, and they were fine experiences. In them I learned the joys of sleeping in pitch darkness! Today’s modern inside cabins are plenty comfortable. The recent cabin Denni and I shared onboard Ruby Princess was as functional and comfortable as the oceanview cabins I’ve had on other ships, and seemed to have about the same amount of space. One bonus specific to Ruby and perhaps some other Princess ships: the closet was configured perpendicular to the entryway, rather than alongside it, providing for a much larger feeling entry and closet.
If pricing is a concern, we would gladly book an inside cabin again.
Pros:
Price, darkness for “anytime” sleeping.
Cons:
The lack of a window makes it difficult to know what time of day it is, and could be claustrophobic for some travelers.
Outside/Oceanview Cabin
An oceanview will generally be in the same size-range, and in my experience a similar configuration as an inside cabin on the same ship. The difference, of course, is a window. Most oceanviews have a large, square-ish window—not the romantic porthole you might expect. Oceanviews are often on the lower decks of the ship, and I really like being down there near the water’s surface—there is something very soothing about opening the curtains and watching the waves go by.
Pros:
Lots of daylight, usually at a decent price point. Lower decks often provide interesting vantage point on the ship.
Cons:
Often not much larger (if at all) than an inside cabin, so it’s quite expensive daylight! Windows don’t open, so no fresh air. And beware: many oceanview cabins have obstructions—like lifeboats—can block your view; you still get some daylight. Worse, some are located on decks where fellow passengers might walk right by your window, so you’re likely to keep the drapes closed and could have saved money by booking an inside!
A balcony gives you private space to relax and do what you wish in the fresh air…just make sure you book one that has privacy! Photo: Randall Shirley
Veranda/Balcony
In my opinion, this is the very best type of cabin. And based on the number of balcony cabins the cruise lines have squeezed onto ships these days, I’m not alone in that opinion. All of my balcony cabins have included a sitting area with a small sofa and coffee table, in between the bed and the wall of glass. Outside, the actual square footage of the balconies has varied, but it’s always been enough to enjoy. And we really enjoy just cruising along with the outside air coming in—it can make for an enjoyable afternoon nap or in-room movie experience. We’ve also enjoyed lots of morning coffee on the balcony, and even some nookie (depending on the configuration of the ship and who might spy from the side or above).
Our balcony cabin on Celebrity Solstice provided the extra space of an indoor seating area, all very comfortable. Photo: Randall Shirley
Pros:
The fresh air at sea can’t be beat! Stepping outside to check the weather is nice. Extra space in both indoor and outdoor seating mean you don’t always have to sit on the edge of the bed or lay on the bed to watch TV (as is common in smaller cabins). And the possibility of “romance” on the balcony is right up my alley!
Cons:
Price. Unless the itinerary has a lot of sea days, we don’t spend enough time in the room to make it worth the extra money—which is usually a few hundred bucks/person over the inside and oceanview cabin prices.
In a mini suite, such as this one onboard Azamara Quest, a large balcony and butler service provided a great spot for private breakfast. Photo: Randall Shirley
Mini Suite
There are a variety of other names for this—“Junior Suite” comes to mind—but in my experience these are often just balcony staterooms with some substantial extra space, which varies from ship to ship and line to line. They rarely deliver the multi-room extravagance that “suite” conjurs in my mind; but do provide enough room to invite a few friends over for cocktails or shenanigans. On some lines, these rooms will include access to a “suites only” dining area and possibly other amenities such as a private lounge that may have special events and net you some “free” drinks. On some lines, the upper-priced mini suites are the entry-point to butler service, which we tried once courtesy of Azamara and found we really didn’t need many of his services…although our butler’s breakfast setup on our balcony each morning was quite decadent.
Pros:
Extra space. Exclusive access to some amenities. Likely priority embarkation/disembarkation and tendering.
Cons:
Price.
Full Suite
I’ve never (yet) been upgraded to one of these rooms, and god knows I’m too cheap to pay for one, but I’ve been invited into several of them by friends who are either rich or ultra-frequent cruisers. There’s really no way to describe suites—they come in many configurations and are placed in different locations on different ships. What they have in common is at least a separate sleeping room and living room/lounge. Beyond that they may have additional private dining rooms, ultra-large balconies, and sometimes even a private hot tub.
Pros:
Many of the comforts of home, especially nice on a longer voyage. Access to exclusive amenities.
Cons:
Price.
Thoughts on cabin selection, regardless of type or price:
- Always look carefully at what ship features surround your intended cabin on every side: both left, right, and above and below. Nothing can ruin a cruise faster than a waking up in a gorgeous room with a jogging track above your head, or discovering that the giant door and hallway used to offload luggage is below your room. Both of these have happened to me.
- Port or Starboard: The word “POSH” was created by the steamship industry. It means “Port Outbound, Starboard Home,” and came to signify the ideal cabin location for ships originating in Europe and sailing to India. If you’ve booked a sailing that goes around Australia or up the Inside Passage, you might consider which side your cabin is on, especially if you want to view some of the scenery from your private balcony.
