The 5 best cabin spaces on any cruise ship

What is the best cabin location on a cruise ship?

As a cruise writer for over 20 years, I’ve heard this question a lot, and it’s not easy to answer. On any cruise ship, the best cabin space for one person may not be the best option for another.

An ideal cabin for a light berth on a particular ship, for example, may be a room located in the quietest corner of the ship. But another passenger on the same ship who cares more about the view might be more excited about a completely different place.

On a typical cruise ship, cabins are spread all over – up and down, forward, middle and aft. Not that it’s always like that.

Some cruise ships – especially river ships – have compact cabins in the back with public areas in the front. Some ships, such as most of the luxury cruise lines Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises, have cabins attached to the front with public areas in the back.

Cruise cabins come in all shapes and sizes and have a variety of amenities and benefits. Some lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, offer a wide range of room options, from small, windowless “inside” rooms to royal suites, in all types of locations on their ships.

Indeed, there is such a wide variety of not only cabin locations but also cabin types on ships that the best way to narrow down the accommodation choices on any given ship would be to compile a list of the cabins you definitely have. don’t do it you want to choose.

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As it turns out, we’ve already done that here at TPG in our guide to cabin places to avoid.

However, there are wide categories of cabin spaces on cruise ships that are always in high demand because of their prime locations.

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Midship cabins

These are the cabins to look for if you tend to get seasick.

The main attraction of the midship cabin is its stability. You won’t feel the vibrations of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you would in a forward or aft cabin. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They bounce back and forth around a central axis that doesn’t move very slowly.

If you are in the center of the ship, you are about the same as the center of the teeter-totter. Even in rough seas, you won’t be able to get away from the ship going up and down in the waves like a person in the far reaches of the ship.

Note that it also helps to be underwater if you are worried about seasickness.

On larger ships, where work areas are further apart, central cabins also offer the advantage of being in the middle of everything. The main pool deck, for example, is probably above you if you are in the midship cabin – not a long way. Ditto for mediocre interiors.

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Cabinets in the back

There’s something magical about being in the back of a ship facing its wake. When you are in the open sea, you can see a long line of broken water behind you, stretching seemingly forever like a sea road. It is a tangible proof of your trip. From the port, you have a great view from the house.

I admit I can stand at the back of a ship for hours looking out over the water, and I’m a big fan of aft facing cabins – as long as they have a balcony. I’m firmly in the camp that says aft cabins are among the best balcony cabins on any ship.

In general, balconies on rear-facing cabins are larger than balconies on side-facing cabins, and they also feel quieter. There are fewer balcony cabins at the back of the ship than at the sides of the ship, so you won’t hear too much noise from your neighbors.

If your cabin is in the back corner of the ship, you may have a balcony that wraps around two sides of the ship. Those types of balconies are the best in the cool area.

Note that on some ships, all or most of the aft cabins are large, expensive, but this is not always the case. Carnival Cruise Line’s ships, for example, tend to have a few bad berths in the back.

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Cabinets in front

I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of forward facing cabinets. First, nowhere on the ship is more prone to movement than before. Forward-facing cabins also tend not to have balconies, for reasons I’ll explain in a moment.

All that said, most passengers like forward-facing cabins. They love them because the view can be amazing, especially as you arrive at a new port. Also, some people like the idea of ​​being far ahead of the ship and being able to see where they are going.

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Forward facing cabinets also sometimes come with extra space. This is because they sometimes include interior spaces with unusual angles that are present in the front of the ship, which is often tilted. As mentioned above, forward cabins will not usually have balconies, as the wind over the forward bow of the ship is such that the balcony does not work. Instead, they’ll have large windows — sometimes floor-to-ceiling windows — that offer views of the stars.

Cabinets are surrounded by other cabinets

Light sleepers, take note: The best place to be if you want the best chance of not being bothered by noise is a bathroom surrounded by other cabins. This means a cabin with a cabin directly above it and a cabin directly below it, as well as cabins on either side.

Finding such a wardrobe is harder than you might think. On a typical ship, the upper part of the cabins is directly below the pool and work desk, which can be noisy during the day and even at night (yes, the noise will sometimes penetrate your roof). A cabin deck just below that upper deck of cabins would be a good choice.

But go down a few more decks, and you’re often at the top of indoor entertainment venues that are home to music lounges, theaters and other loud venues.

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If the latter is your goal, you’ll also want to avoid booths anywhere near cabs, passenger restrooms, and other areas that attract foot traffic. It may take some reading of the deck plans, but as seasoned sailors know, it’s worth waiting for a cabin far away from anything that can keep you up at night.

Cabins near the spa

If you’re a big spa fan — the kind who can spend hours on vacation getting treatments — you’ll want to find a cabin near your ship’s deck. Trust us. Walking long distances across a crowded cruise ship in your robe and slippers to get a spa appointment can be a little weird, all right.

Cruise lines cater to spa lovers with exclusive cabins that are close to the spa and come with exclusive spa amenities. This may include luxurious bathrobes and slippers to wear to the spa, enhanced toiletries, scrubs, aromatherapy scrubs and even yoga mats. Cabins sometimes also come with spa discounts, unlimited access to the spa lounge and other spa-related amenities.

Lines that have chosen spa cabins on some or all ships include Celebrity Cruises, Carnival, Holland America, Azamara and MSC Cruises.

For celebrities, the spa cabins – called AquaClass cabins – come with exclusive access to the spa’s exclusive restaurant called Blu.

If you’re interested in a spa cabin, you’ll want to book in advance. They often sell out early.

Bottom line

There is no right answer to the question of which cabin location is best on a cruise ship. The ideal cabin position for one passenger may not be the ideal position for another.

That said, there are some areas on cruise ships that are better than others when it comes to cabin space, including the fore and aft of the ships. There is nothing like being able to look forward from your cabin when you are on a ship approaching port or watching the wake of a ship from a cabin facing the stern.

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