What You Need to Know About Choosing a Cruise Ship Cabin

Choosing your cabin for your cruise is a big decision, because a number of factors effect your selection. Whether you're checking Carnival Cruise cabins, Princess Cruise cabins or other cruise ship cabins, there are a few things you should know.

You've heard the real estate mantra, location, location, location! Check out the ship's floor plan carefully before choosing your cabin. Do you want to be next to the noisy anchor, or under the dance floor? Do you want to save money and be in the bowels of the ship, or go for broke and get a balcony cabin? The best cruise cabin location is really a matter of personal choice.

Your cabin will either be lower deck, higher deck, midship, bow (forward) or aft (rear) and there are pros and cons to all these locations. Sometimes a cruise ship will offer a "guarantee" cabin, which means you are paying for a category of cabin, not a specific cabin or stateroom (the words are inter-changeable.) Check out your options before booking a "guarantee" cabin. You could either get a great deal or be disappointed because you find there are other cabins in this category that have better locations.

Lower Deck Cheaper

Inside lower deck cabins are usually the cheapest. An advantage is they give you a smoother ride, and a disadvantage is that you are constantly in elevators or going up and down stairs. The same goes for ocean view cabins on lower decks. Ask about the size of the window or porthole on those ocean view cabins.

Portholes in cruise cabins may give you the impression they are more than what they are. You will know whether it's night or day but you may not be able to see much else. You're going to hear the engine more on lower decks and if you're near the front of the ship the sound of the anchor dropping a couple of times a day may have you jumping out of bed.

Carnival cruise cabins and those from other cruise companies on higher decks are usually more expensive. You will feel more motion, so if you think you're prone to seasickness you may want to be lower. Of course you're closer to the pools and other amenities on deck.

Less Motion Midship

A midship stateroom may be a good choice as they offer a central location and less motion. A downside is there will be more traffic outside, with people going back and forth. If you're looking at a midship cabin check the lifeboat locations to make sure they don't block your view.

Forward cabins experience the most motion and you will get wind and spray on the front. Windows are sometimes smaller and recessed or slanted, meaning your view is not as complete as what you might get on the side or rear. Suites are often at the front and provide larger balconies.

Rear cabins (aft cabin) give you a great view of where you've been. They have more motion than those in the middle but less than those in the front. Check the ship design to see if patrons in the lounges or restaurants are looking down at your balcony.

Continue to: The Different Cruise Ship Cabin Types