Location of cabins on a cruise ship.
Tips for choosing a cabin.
When booking a cruise, questions often arise on which deck it is better to book a cabin so that the sea rocking is less felt, or where the lifeboats are located and whether they will block the sea view from the window or balcony of your room. There are variants that vibration is felt from some cabins when the liner is moored at the pier or a not very pleasant noise is heard when the anchor is lowered.
There are no very “bad” or “unsuccessful” cabins on a cruise ship, there are certain errors, but as a rule, when booking, the cruise company warns of possible disadvantages of the cabin and the cost is always cheaper for such rooms.
- Layout of cabins on decks
When booking a cruise, you can immediately see where your cabin will be located and what is next to your room. What you need to pay attention to: what is under and above your cabin. If you want peace and quiet, choose a cabin where there are only cabins next door, although no one will insure you from noisy neighbors, and the sound insulation on the ships is not at a very high level.
If the cabin is located near a bar, restaurant, casino or "under the pool" then the noise will also be heard.
Many tourists fear engine room noise and fear that the inner cabins are below the water line. These fears can be safely dispelled, since all cabins are located on the upper decks and not lower in any way, and the noise from the engine room is not audible. Technical noise can only be heard if your cabin is not far from the anchor. These cabins are located in the bow of the liner.
Cruise ships are quite large in size and range from 10 to 16 decks, so choose cabins near the lifts. The elevators work silently and you will not experience any discomfort from their presence nearby.
When booking a cabin with a balcony, you need to carefully study its location, as it may not be a pleasant surprise in the form of a lifeboat in front of your eyes, instead of a beautiful view of the sea. Also, some cruise ships have not very comfortable cabins with balconies, as they are located one above one in the form of a ladder, and passengers on the upper balconies see the lower balconies.
- "Kachka" on the ship
In this matter, you need to be frank and immediately point out the fact that there is a little rolling on cruise ships. And more sensitive passengers should consider this fact when choosing a cabin. Least of all car sickness in the cabins, which are located on the lower decks in the middle. In the cabins, which are located at the stern and in the bow of the liner, the sea rolling is most felt.
All cruise ships have basic cabin categories. The difference between them can be quite insignificant, mainly it concerns the area of the cabin and the placement of furniture. American cruise lines have slightly larger cabins than European ones.
- Internal
The area of these cabins is from 14 to 16 square meters, they are located inside the ship on both sides of the corridor. The main disadvantage of the internal cabins is the absence of a window, but due to this disadvantage, the cost of cabins is much lower than that of cabins with a balcony (external cabins). Otherwise, the cabins are fully equipped with everything you need:
- private bathroom,
- large wardrobe with hangers and drawers for clothes,
- mini fridge,
- safe,
- plasma TV,
- telephone for intercom,
- chest of drawers with large mirror
- coffee table with a chair.
For children, there are extra beds in the form of folding beds, like sleeping places on the train.
If you plan to spend the whole day on excursions in the ports of call or on the upper decks of the ship (pools, bars, shops ...) and return to the cabin only to spend the night - the inner cabin is ideal.
- Cabins with window
Cabins with a window are usually larger than the internal ones, from 17 to 19 sq.m. A large window in the cabin opens up beautiful views in front of you, but the window itself does not open, this is the only drawback of this cabin. The cabin is more expensive than the internal one, in all other respects there are no differences between them.
- Balcony Cabins
Cabins area from 20 sq.m., balcony area 3-4 sq.m. The balcony has 2 sun loungers or high chairs and a small table. Unlike a cabin with a window, the balcony doors open and you can enjoy the fresh sea air without leaving your room. The balcony is enclosed by a solid glass board that fully complies with all safety rules. Most of the cabins with a balcony do not have folding extra beds for children; there are comfortable sofas for them. The cabins have everything you need for a comfortable stay: a large bed, a bathroom with a shower, a large plasma TV, a comfortable sofa and a coffee table, a safe, a telephone for intercom, a wardrobe and a large mirror.
The cost of cabins is much more expensive than with a window.
- Suites
These types of cabins are designed for people who like to relax with maximum comfort and for them it does not matter how much you need to pay for it. There are different types of suites, there are royal, deluxe, premium, mini suites ... Each cruise line has its own names and advantages in these cabins. There are two-storey suites, it is not uncommon for a grand piano to be installed in these cabins.
Tourists who live in suites have many advantages on board, they have a separate area for sunbathing, that is, they do not need to look for free sun loungers.
The cabins have daily fresh fruit and drinking water, which are included in the cruise price.
All cabins are cleaned twice a day, in the morning when you leave for breakfast and in the evening when you dine. Bed linen is changed every two days, towels are changed daily.
Bath accessories: shampoo, gel, shower caps and toilet paper are renewed regularly.
When you start exploring the cabin options on Carnival cruise ships, you can see that the cheapest deal will be the "Interior Upper / Lower" Class 1A. Although cruises in such cabins are offered at a great price, it is important to understand the difference between the interior type of 1A cabins and standard interior cabins.
On most Carnival cruise ships, Category 1A cabins offer one lower and one upper berth, essentially a bunk bed (i.e. 1A Upper), in contrast to the usual Interior cabins, which have two twin-size beds that can be moved together. to a friend, converting to a double king-size. In addition, 1A cabins are usually significantly smaller in size.
It is not recommended to book cabin 1A in the hope that you will get not 1A Upper, but 1A Lower cabin - only a few cruise ships of the Carnival company very rarely find a small number of 1A Lower cabins with two lower beds.
2. Booking a "guaranteed" cabin
A "guaranteed" cabin means only that you will be accommodated in a cabin of the class you have chosen - not lower. For example, if you book a Guaranteed Ocean View, it means that you are guaranteed to be accommodated in an Ocean View or higher cabin. This "higher" refers to a higher category of cabins in your chosen class, but not necessarily to a higher class - in other words, you can get an Ocean View cabin located in a better location, but get a Balcony or Suite cabin for passengers who booked "guaranteed Ocean View "is extremely rare. The final decision on the category and location of the guaranteed cabin is at the discretion of the cruise line.
It is not recommended to book a "guaranteed" cabin if you are traveling with other people and would like to cruise in nearby cabins. There is no way to guarantee that you will not only receive adjacent cabins, but even that they will be on the same deck. Likewise, if you prefer to travel in a specific part of the ship, for example in the middle or aft, you also should not book a "guaranteed" cabin - with such a booking there is simply no way to convey to the cruise company your request for a preferred cabin location. ...
You can book a "guaranteed" cabin only if you are ready to accept the fact that you will not be able to control the further choice of its location. If you do not like the idea of cruising on the first deck or in the bow of the ship, do not book such a cabin.
3. Wrong choice of the location of the cabin to avoid motion sickness
Modern cruise ships are equipped with special anti-roll devices that significantly reduce the list and trim of the vessel. In most cases, passengers do not feel any rolling at all, however there are areas on the vessel where rolling can be more pronounced, especially in inclement weather. The lower and closer to the center of the boat your cabin is, the lower the likelihood of seasickness.
If you are suffering from motion sickness or are on a cruise for the first time and want to be on the safe side, you are not advised to choose the forward stateroom. The most suitable for you will be a cabin in the middle of the liner or, if this is not available, in the rear (stern) part of it.
4. Wrong location to avoid noise
If you are sensitive to noise, you are advised to choose a cabin in those areas of the liner where the likelihood of this annoyance will be minimized. There is a common misconception that the higher the cabin category, the better the cabin. The main thing is the view from the cabin: hence the abundance of suites that open directly onto the Lido (beach deck) or the pool. But you need to understand that in these public places the movement of people never stops, noisy night parties are held, and from the very early morning from there, a loud rattle of movable sun loungers begins to spread throughout the entire district.
If silence is your top priority, it is not advisable to choose a stateroom below deck with a pool or restaurants; near such crowded places as elevators or liner atriums, as well as service areas (self-service laundries, various service storage facilities); not far from entertainment areas. In addition, it is best not to take the cabin too low or in the very bow and stern of the vessel (due to engine noise and thrusters).
So what is left? The best choice for a location that is as quiet as possible is the cabins located between the two passenger decks. Passenger decks, both above and below yours, will act as a buffer against the noise coming from public places.
5. Wrong choice of a cabin for people with reduced mobility
The cruise ship is quite large, and if you are unable to travel long distances, choosing the right cabin location is very important. Be sure to make sure you have access to the public areas you would like to visit, be it the swimming pool and spas on the upper decks, or the restaurants and casinos closer to the middle of the boat. It is also a good idea to find a cabin close to the elevator so that you do not have to take long, difficult walks along long corridors.
If you get tired quickly or need help walking, it is not recommended to choose cabins at the very bow or stern of the liner. Also, if you require a special cabin for the disabled, you need to tell the specialist in advance who will book the cruise for you. The doors of the standard cabins do not have a wheelchair, in addition, the cabins have a threshold at the entrance to the bathroom. The liners have a number of cabins modified to accommodate people moving in a chair - there are different doors, there are no thresholds and there is enough space for passage and chair turns.
6. Reassessment of cruise ship cabin dimensions
Onshore, booking one Interior class cabin to accommodate four adults seems like a very good idea for financial reasons, but after going out to sea you can very much regret this decision. The standard cabin is comfortable in size, but no more. For interior cabins, as well as Ocean Views and Balcony cabins, floor space can vary from 120-220 sq. Ft. (Approximately 10-20 sq. M.). Usually this is enough for two travelers, or for parents with small children, but for more than two adults this area is already too small. Especially when you take into account the typical equipment of such cabins with two twin-size beds, convertible into one king-size, and a fold-out sofa bed or one / two upper bunks for the third / fourth passengers.
It is not recommended to book only one cabin for several adults if you are sailing for more than five nights, or if you have not properly researched the size of the cabin and the location of the beds and are not convinced that it is exactly the right size for your group travel. If the passenger is not able to climb the ladder to the upper bunk, it should not be planned that he will be able to be accommodated in this bunk during the journey.
7. Booking a family cabin at the last minute
Most of the cruise ship's cabins are designed for double occupancy, the choice of cabins with the ability to accommodate three or more passengers is much more limited. However, the number of liners focused on family travel is growing - many cruise lines in their new ships are increasing the number of cabins suitable to accommodate entire families. These "family style" cabins are always in high demand because there are not many of them, but they offer much more space and amenities for a family of four or five: for example, an increased total area, separate bedrooms, screens, or even in many cases, two bathrooms.
Another option for a family would be to book adjacent cabins with an internal door that allows passage from one cabin to the next. With this solution, not only the total space is doubled, but also two bathrooms with showers appear! But again, these adjoining cabins are in high demand and are in limited supply, so book your cruise as early as possible to increase your family's chances of getting the best deal.
8. Waiting for a free upgrade of the cabin category
The best rule of thumb is to book a cabin of the category that you want and feel comfortable for yourself. Free upgrades are extremely rare. You need to know that there is no secret formula or elixir of wish fulfillment that you must drink in order to upgrade your cabin category. Usually a promotion is just a smile of fate, luck - you just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
If all cabins of a certain category are sold, or even resold (more cabins were sold than there are available), the cruise company cannot downgrade the cabins to those passengers who have already paid for their cruise. In this case, the company randomly (really randomly) selects some passengers and slightly upgrades their cabins category to the one that is not all sold out. So it's just a matter of chance.
As a rule, you will get exactly what you paid for - if you chose the cabin yourself, or if a particular cabin was offered to you by the cruise company, this cabin will be yours for the entire duration of the cruise. But of course, we will still continue to dream of being suddenly upgraded to the Penthouse Suite!
A person who has been on a cruise at least once does not have any questions about choosing a cabin. But if you are going on your first cruise and are faced with the problem of choosing a cabin - this article is for you.
Cruise ship cabins equipment
A cruise ship's cabin is very similar to a hotel room, only it is usually smaller in size. The size of a standard cabin is 14-18 square meters(excluding suites).
Here you will find everything the same as in a hotel room: a bed, a desk with a chair, a large wardrobe for storing clothes, mirrors, bedside tables, a telephone, a TV, and a safe for storing valuables. The temperature in the cabin is usually controlled by an individual thermostat. The beds in the cabins are usually collapsible, they can be pushed together in the form of a double, or separated separately. You do not need to move the beds yourself if you are not comfortable with their configuration. It is enough to ask the steward, and the next time the cabin is cleaned, he will do it for you.
Cleaning of cabins
The cabin is cleaned twice daily. Each cabin is assigned a steward who cleans up in the morning when you have breakfast and in the evening when you have dinner. Of course, if you wish, you can give up cleaning and unnecessary anxiety by hanging a "do not disturb" sign on the door handle. Whether or not to tip the steward is up to you, but it is generally understood to be included in a centralized service charge per passenger.
Bathroom in a cruise ship cabin
All cruise ship cabins are en suite. To save space, bathrooms of standard cabins are usually equipped with shower cabins, but they are also found with a full bath. Bathrooms are equipped with shampoo / shower gel dispensers so there is no need to bring them with you. The photo below is a standard bathroom on the MSC Divina cruise ship.
As you can see, there are towels, shampoo, shower gel, and a separate faucet with soap in the sink + some accessories like shower caps on the shelf. To the right of the shower head is a pull-out rope for drying swimsuits and linen. Flushing in the toilet, by the way, is vacuum, that is, water is sucked in, like in an airplane. It is a little intimidating when used for the first time.
The main types of cabins for cruise ships
Of course, all cruise ships are different from each other, and even within the same liner there are many categories of cabins. But in general, they can all be reduced to 4 main types:
- Internal cabins(eng: Interior cabin, Inside cabin)
- Cabins with window or outside cabins (eng: Outside cabin, Oceanview cabin)
- Balcony Cabins(English: Balcony cabin, Verandah cabin)
- Suites(Suits)
Let's take a closer look at each of them.
Inner cabin
Looking at the plan of the living deck of almost any liner, you can see that the cabins on it are located on either side of two long corridors that run through the entire ship.
At the same time, some of the cabins look as if inside the liner, and some outward. Those that look outward have the opportunity to make windows and balconies, since one of the walls of their cabin is essentially the outer skin of the liner. In those that look inside, there is no point in making windows, since the window will face the inner space of the liner, without sunlight, and you will not see anything interesting there. Hence the name - inside (inside) cabin
The main disadvantages of the inner cabins are:
- no windows
- lack of sunlight (in the morning you always wake up in complete darkness)
- small cabin area, interior cabins are almost always smaller than the rest
As you can see, there is very little free space here. If the two are more or less comfortable here, then it will be a little cramped with children. To accommodate children, inner cabins are usually equipped with folding bunks like in a train compartment. It looks like this:
More expensive cruise lines may have slightly larger interior cabins, sometimes with a seating area with a sofa and coffee table.
Choose an inner stateroom if you don't plan on spending a lot of time in it. If you are going to spend time on excursions in the port during the day, in the bars and restaurants of the ship in the evening, and only sleep in the cabin, then the inner cabin is what you need. Cheap and cheerful. And the sea air and views can be perfectly enjoyed on the open decks.
By the way, for some reason, many people think that the inner cabins are located below the ship's waterline, and therefore are afraid to buy them. This is nonsense, all the passenger cabins of cruise ships are located much higher waterline
Cabin with window
It looks something like this:
Its main advantage is, of course, the window. But you need to understand that it does not open. You won't be able to ventilate the room with sea air. But you can see where the liner is sailing, and in the morning you wake up not in pitch darkness, but from the rays of the sun
Window cabins are generally larger in size. So in the examples above, there is a seating area with a sofa. Both in terms of price and comfort, cabins with a window occupy an intermediate position between the inner ones and cabins with a balcony.
When choosing a cabin with a window, keep in mind that sometimes the windows can overlook the promenade deck and then people will constantly walk by your window. Use our detailed deck plans to avoid this.
Cabin with balcony
The most popular cabin type today. If in the old liners of the 90s, almost all cabins were internal or with a window, and only suites were equipped with balconies, then on modern giant liners most cabins have balconies.
A private balcony allows you to fully enjoy the atmosphere of a sea cruise, breathe the sea air whenever you want, meet sunrises and sunsets, and have breakfast outdoors overlooking the sea.
The size of a standard balcony is approximately 3-4 square meters. On the balcony you will find a couple of sun loungers and a table. Usually the balcony is fenced off with a solid glass partition, for the safety of passengers, in particular children. The balcony exit is floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that provide breathtaking views and plenty of sunshine.
Cabins with balconies are large enough to accommodate children. Children in these cabins sleep on a fold-out sofa or reclining shelves.
The only disadvantage of cabins with a balcony is their price, which is 1.5-2 times higher than prices for internal cabins.
Suites
For those who are used to traveling in comfort and paying for it, cruise companies offer exclusive types of cabins with increased space and improved service. It is impossible to describe all the options for the suites, on each ship these are cabins with a personal layout: from simple one-room cabins with an increased area to two-level lofts with their own Jacuzzi on the balcony and a butler.
Royal loft suite (Royal Caribbean):
The heaven deluxe owner "s suite (NCL):
Bathroom in Reflection suite (Celebrity Cruises).
Luxurious, bright 75 m² special suite on deck 11. Living room, double bedroom, dressing room. Bathrobes and slippers, LCD TV, CD, radio, bar and private sauna with jacuzzi. Cabin service and a special breakfast at the Bon Vivant restaurant. Soft drinks and fruits in the cabin. Free entry to the Sunflower Oasis saunas.
Own bar and saunas in the Commodore lounge. The Commodore lounge administrator will help you organize your leisure time on the ferry, including booking a table in the restaurant. Light meals, coffee and tea are available on board. There are also newspapers and magazines.
SUITE
Spacious (26-31 m²) double cabins aft on decks 8 and 9 with sea views. Two-room cabin with double bed, sofa / corner sofa, LCD TV, office corner, refrigerator, mini-bar, hairdryer, telephone, shower and WC. The cabin price includes drinks in the cabin and a special breakfast (on evening departures).
DELUXE (DE LUXE)
Comfortable double cabins 11-14 m² with sea view on decks 8 and 9. The cabin has a double bed, toilet, shower, hairdryer, LCD TV, telephone and refrigerator. The cabin price includes drinks in the cabin and a special breakfast (on evening departures).
FAMILY CABIN
All family cabins are cabins with a window. The family cabin has two rooms separated by a door. The four-bed family cabin is designed for a family of 4 with at least 2 children. A six-seat family cabin is intended for a family with at least 5 people, 2 of whom are children. The eight-bed family cabin is intended for a family of at least 6 people, of which 4 are children. All family cabins are located on deck 5 of the ship. Each cabin has a toilet, shower and LCD TV.
A - CLASS
A cabin with conveniences of 11 m² for 2-4 people with a sea view. The cabins have TV, telephone, air conditioning, hairdryer. The lower beds can be combined into a double bed. Cabins also for passengers with mobility difficulties and for those with small pets. Decks 5 and 8-11.
PROMENADE
Cabin with conveniences of 11 m² for 2-4 people with a view of the Promenade. The cabins have TV, telephone, air conditioning, hairdryer. The lower beds can be combined into a double bed. Cabins also for passengers with mobility difficulties and allergy sufferers. Decks 8-11.
B - CLASS
Cozy 11 m² cabin without window for 2-4 people on decks 5 and 9-11. In some cabins, the beds are stacked one above the other. The lower beds can be combined into a double bed. Cabins also for passengers with allergies and for those with small pets.
C - CLASS
Comfort cabin 11 m² without window for 2-4 people on deck 2 (below water level). In some cabins, the beds are stacked one above the other. The lower beds can be combined into a double bed. Cabins are also for those with small pets.
E-CLASS
A cabin without a window for 2-4 people on decks 8 and 9. WC, shower and TV in the cabins. The cabins are located above the nightclub and can be noisy in the cabins.
The word "cruise" scares away the average Russian tourist in the same way as the mighty Siberian man raised on dumplings with frog legs in sour cream scare away. But in vain. Paws ... that is, cruises are a great alternative to the boring tourist menu. Moreover, they also have a number of advantages.
The absence of the static moment of ordinary resorts, turning vacationers into amorphous sausages fried in the sun, is already a great incentive. Sea breezes, endless distances, albatrosses soaring high in the sky, waves escaping from under the keel over the horizon - it seems like a great alternative, doesn't it?
No intolerable tropical acclimatization, no pushy beach barkers. And then, in the usual 7-10 days you will have time to visit not one country, but several at once, you will see the best seaports, life and people, separated by languages and borders. You can go on a cruise at any time of the year and to any part of the world - be it exotic French Polynesia, the icy Arctic or the classic Mediterranean.
The only negative for people with sensitive vestibular apparatus is motion sickness. However, there are many ways to deal with seasickness, so that during a boat trip, feeling unwell will not prevent you from enjoying the endless expanses.
The price of the question: what to save on.
You say cruise is great! However, the question is about the price. This is crazy money. Yes. And what? It's hard to argue with that. But again - liners are different, not necessarily fashionable, cruises are different, not necessarily round the world, and the time of year is the same, not necessarily summer. So the price gradation is quite large.
In terms of prices, by the way, there is one point. He will help you navigate and save money. This is the location of the cabin. The most budgetary option is internal cabins. Cabins with a window are slightly more expensive, but still less than cabins with a balcony. The lower decks are much cheaper than the upper decks, as are the bow and stern when compared to the center. Also, don't be alarmed when you see the number in the tour operator's brochure. The word "cruise" usually means that its price will include all entertainment and sports programs, sports equipment, swimming pool, food, and sometimes alcohol. So to speak, "turnkey" rest. What is not included in the price is a transfer to the place of departure, shore excursions and port taxes, as well as some individual services - for example, SPA, laundry and ironing, some shopping on board.
Another "loophole" for saving is the season. The "low" tourist season is always several times cheaper than the "high" one. The "low" season, by the way, in addition to the price, has one more advantage: most of the interesting excursion port cities will be free from crowds of noisy tourists. You can walk along them slowly and with pleasure.
The cheapest tours are Mediterranean, the most expensive tours are in the southern hemisphere, the Arctic and Antarctica. In summer, the "high" season is closer to the subtropics, in winter - to the equator.
What else is important to consider when choosing a cruise for your vacation?
Ship size
He is often even more important than his affiliation with a cruise line. Generally, the larger the ship, the more entertainment you will find on board. The design of large cruise ships can include swimming pools, SPA-salons, casino clubs and other pleasant places. Small ships of such luxury, of course, do not provide, but they can offer something else - the cozy atmosphere of a small country boarding house.
Ship age
The older the liner, the less likely it is that all its amenities will be placed in suitable premises. In new ships, all functional rooms are provided even at the design stage, while on ships of an earlier year of production, you can, for example, find a sauna somewhere in the hold.
Ship class
Please note that liners have the same "star" classification as hotels. However, here the same stars mean a little differently. For example, standard 4 * cabins are usually smaller than rooms in a hotel with the same stars, but the service and furnishings here, on the contrary, are much better. Service, by the way, on any ocean liners, regardless of their class, age and size, is always very good. Perhaps because of the fact that, in principle, there is nowhere to get away from the board, and getting to work on such a liner is much more difficult than in an ordinary hotel.
Purpose of the trip
It is important to understand what you want - to come off with friends or relax with your family in peace. For the first purpose, small liners are more suitable, but the giants of cruise vacations, on the contrary, are usually perfectly adapted for family vacations - a nursery, children's playrooms, high railings. And in either case, by the way, you can save a lot: among cruise companies there is a widespread pricing system in which the first two passengers in the cabin pay the full cost of the cruise, and the rest - much less.
Reservation
Sea cruises are in demand. Therefore, tickets for the most popular destinations should be taken 3-4 months in advance. Moreover, the first to be dismantled are, as a rule, the cabins of the lowest and highest classes. So you can reach the middle class in a month or two. There are never "last minute" prices for sea cruises. Here everything is exactly the opposite: the cost increases the more the closer the day of sailing gets.
