Where are the best rooms to stay in on a cruise?

M

Mike

Active member
Joined
May 13, 2008
Messages
2,890
Reaction score
0
Points
36
I'm talking as far as location on the boat itself. I know I don't want to be at the back (engine too loud) but how are the middle and the front of the boat? What about higher or lower decks? Does it even matter? What if you're prone to sea-sickness?

Thanks for the answers!
 
Back, middle, or front shouldn't make too much difference except for the sound of the engines. The most expensive state rooms are usually high up and have lovely balconies. However, if you are prone to being sea sick, then near the water line is actually the best place to be. Besides, do you really plan to spend most of the voyage in your room? Or is it just a place to sleep?

P.S. They will have Dramamine patches at the front desk. And they do help.
 
For a smooth, quiet ride, the inside cabins on the lower decks are the best. They are dark too and easy to sleep in. Nearly all cabins are the same size, until you get to the real premium ones. Balcony cabins are popular, especially in warm weather ports. A balcony on the side of the port is usually nicer (not necessarily the port side--could be the starboard). There are expensive balconies on the rear of most ships, generally the higher up you get the more expensive the cabin. Because of this, we often opt for the cheaper inside cabin and spend our money on other things.
 
Seasickness on a cruiseliner is a funny thing. I grew up in Alaska and have spent countless hours in rough water on a sport sized fishing boat in the name if fishing. In my entire life, I can remember getting seasick only one time. Same thing in Cozumel on a cruise this year, we took the ferry to the mainland in extremely rough seas. Half the boat puked, but I was fine. However, you get me on a cruiseship, it is a different story. As soon as I can feel myself moving and I am not able to see the horizon, I get sick. Fortunately, I take a pill or two of motion sickness meds and I am fine.

People have mentioned that an interior room at the waterline is the best. In theory, I have to completely agree and if it is your first cruise, I would recommend it. I have found that in reality, by the time you factor in the size of the ship, the stabilizers, and such, the position of the room relative to seasickness really doesn't matter that much.

So how to find the perfect room not considering seasickness?

Here is the criteria I consider:

1. Interior vs. Exterior: Personally, on vacations, one of my priorities is to get some quality sleep. I tend to favor interior rooms. It is always dark in there and there is no sun to wake you up. To me, the greatest feeling is waking up and realizing it is 9AM. Other people's priorities might be to watch a sunrise over the ocean or to sit and watch the waves with a glass of scotch. You need to decide if you plan on using your room as a place to sleep or as part of the experience. If it is only a place to sleep, don't blow the money on a balcony suite. If you like your own private balcony looking over the water, then by all means. The decision is yours!

2. Location to public areas: I tend to stay away from rooms near noisy public areas. Most cruise ships seems to have designed this with noise in mind. However, I would shy away from rooms near the entrance/exit to noisy areas like bars. There is nothing worse than trying to sleep with drunks banging into the door at 2 AM as they leave the club. I would say the same with staircases and elevators.

3. The running/walking tracks. I have been on ships that have exterior rooms overlooking walking decks and running tracks. I can't imagine waking up to some health nut running by at 5 AM. On the walking tracks, I used to watch people stop and look into the windows.

4. Locations relative to public areas (again): Not knowing your age or physical health, you need to consider where your room is to everything else (like dining room, disembarkation points, etc). As a person in the mid-30's with no real physical issues, it does not bother me to walk the length of the ship to get to the dining room. Stairs are not an issue. If you are older and the knees don't work too well, you might want to think about getting a room on the same floor as the dining room. The only thing that does not seem well planned on any cruise I have been on is the elevator. The elevators always seem slow and crowded.

Good Luck!
 
If you're concerned about sea sickness, you'll want to be in a low deck close to the waterline as close to the center of the ship as possible, as that's where you'll experience the least movement. I would also recommend seeing your doctor before you cruise, as he can help you with sea sickness remedies.

Good luck!
 
You will NEVER be in your room. PERIOD. You will sleep in their go to the bathroom and take a shower. That is it. Pay the cheapest you can for the middle of the boat and interior room. You wont even know your in the middle of the ocean. Save money for shore excursions and for your next cruise, because we all know that their will be a next.
 
If you are worried about feeling the motion the best cabins to chose are those on lower decks in the middle of the ship. You are probably best to take some medication for sea sickness as a precaution as it will cost you at least £40 just to see the ships doctor. Make sure you have travel insurance too just in case.
 
You've got all the answers as to positioning. If you are worried about sea sickness - forget it - unless you are going somewhere with known bad seas/winds in which case why go there?

If you are going on a modern big ship you will feel nothing! The ships have stabilisers (like plane wings) under the sea which iron out anything except extreme motion!

Don't overeat or eat things you are not keen on. Parts of a ship can be over-hot and stuffy - keep away. Get plenty of fresh air on deck and keep away from "smells" such as down-draughts from the funnel and you will be fine!

We were coming back from Antarctica last November in a small expedition cruise ship icebreaker (no stabilisers). We were hit by a force 11 gale (85mph winds) and 36ft sea swell. Got some fabulous photos of the sea breaking over the bows as it was submerged!
 
what makes you think the engine noise is too loud? or that it is even in the back ? or that you will hear it?

the higher the deck, the more expensive the cabin, across categories.

for most stability, middle. but honestly there are little difference between location as far as that goes.


cabins near elevators will have more noise in the corridors. cabin on upper decks will have noise from the restaurants and clubs and pool ares directly above. cabins on the lower decks will be further away from all the action.
 
Sea sickness will arise no matter where your room is. Personally, I like the cheaper rooms (no window or small window) on the lower decks. You are barely in your room anyway. I literally went in there at 2 am, slept, and was out by 8 am.

My aunt and uncle always get a balcony room because they smoke. Once they got one at the front of the ship and said it was extra nice because the balcony was bigger than usual in that location.
 
What mrsjvb said - I have stayed in the furthest aft cabins on the Riviera deck and the engine noise is no more than a low, dull throb. It was by no means loud and if anything, help lull us to sleep
 
Back
Top