Where is the best place for a cabin on a cruise ship?
As a cruise ship writer for over 20 years, I hear this question often, but it’s not an easy one to answer. On any cruise ship, the best cabin location for one person may not be the best choice for another.
For example, the ideal cabin for a light sleeper on a given ship might be a room tucked away in the quietest corner of the ship. But another passenger on the same ship who cares more about the scenery might be happiest in a completely different place.
On a typical cruise ship, cabins are spread out everywhere—high and low, front, center, and aft—but that’s not always the case.
Some cruise ships, especially river cruises, have cabins concentrated at the stern and public areas at the bow. Other ships, such as most ocean cruises operated by luxury cruise lines Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises, have cabins concentrated at the bow and public areas at the stern.
Cruise ship cabins also come in all shapes and sizes and come with a variety of amenities and perks. Some cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, offer a variety of room options in various locations on the ship, from small, windowless “in-house” cabins to palatial suites.
In fact, there is such a wide variety of cabin locations and cabin types on board that probably the best way to narrow down your accommodation options on any given ship is to gather a list of the cabins that you are sure of. No Want to choose.
In fact, we’ve done just that in TPG’s guide to cabin locations you should definitely avoid.
Nonetheless, there are some broad categories of cabin locations on cruise ships that are always in high demand due to their prime locations.
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Related: Reasons You’ll Want to Book a Balcony Cabin on Your Next Cruise
Midships cabin
If you are particularly prone to seasickness, these are the cabins you should choose.
The biggest appeal of a midship cabin is its stability. In a cabin amidships you won’t feel the rolling of the sea as much as in a cabin at the bow or stern. This is because ships are like seesaws. They tilt back and forth around a central axis that sometimes barely moves.
If you were in the center of a ship, you would be in the center of a seesaw. Even in rough seas, when the boat is bouncing up and down in the waves, you won’t move as much as someone on the far side of the boat.
Note that if you’re worried about seasickness, being closer to the water can also help.
On very large ships, where activity areas are spread far and wide, midships also have the advantage of being at the center of it all. For example, when you’re staying in a midship cabin, the main pool deck is probably right above you – not that far away. The same goes for the central interior area.
RELATED: Cruise Ship Cabin Hacks That Will Transform Your Voyage
The cabin at the back
It’s a mesmerizing feeling to be at the stern of a boat and look out over the wake. When you’re in the ocean, you can see a long trail of churning water behind you, stretching forever like a road in the ocean. It’s tangible evidence of your journey. As you pull out of the harbor you have the best views in the house.
I admit I could stand on the stern looking out over the water for hours, and I’m a big fan of rear-facing cabins – as long as they have balconies. I firmly believe that the aft-facing balcony cabin is one of the best balcony cabins on any ship.
Typically, aft-facing cabins have larger balconies than side-facing cabins, and they also feel quieter. There are far fewer balcony cabins in the stern than on the sides of the boat, so you won’t hear as much noise from your neighbors.
If your cabin is in the back corner of the boat, you might even have a balcony that wraps around the sides of the boat. This type of balcony is very cool.
Note that on some ships all or most of the aft-facing cabins are large and expensive suites. But this is not always the case. For example, Carnival cruise ships often have quite a few non-suite accommodations on the stern of the ship.
RELATED: Everything You Want to Know About Carnival Cruise Line Cabins and Suites
front cabin
I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of the forward-facing cabin. First, there is no place on the boat that is easier to move than the front. Front-facing cabins also usually don’t have balconies, for reasons I’ll explain later.
That being said, many cruisers simply prefer forward-facing cabins. They love them because the views are spectacular, especially when you get to the new port. Additionally, some people like to be at the front of the boat and be able to see where they are going.
Related: Why it’s worth upgrading your cruise ship cabin
Forward-facing cabins also sometimes have extra space. This is because they sometimes incorporate the oddly angled interior spaces that exist at the front of the boat, which are often tilted. As mentioned above, forward-facing cabins usually don’t have balconies because the wind on the bow of a sailing ship makes balconies impractical. Instead, they will have large windows—sometimes floor-to-ceiling windows—that offer beautiful views.
A cabin surrounded by other cabins
Light sleepers, take note: If you don’t want to be disturbed by noise, the best places to stay are in cabins surrounded by other cabins. This means that the cabin has a cabin directly above, a cabin directly below, and a cabin on either side.
Finding a cabin like this is harder than you think. On a typical ship, the top deck of cabins is directly below the pool and activity deck, which can be noisy during the day and even at night (yes, the noise sometimes wafts through the ceiling). The cabin deck directly below the cabin top deck might be a good option.
But a few decks down, you’re usually at the top of the indoor entertainment deck, home to music lounges, theaters and other raucous venues.
RELATED: Ways cruise newbies waste money on their first cruise
If ultimate tranquility is your goal, you’ll also want to avoid cabins near elevators, passenger laundromats, and other areas that attract foot traffic. This may require some research on deck plans, but as experienced cruisers know, it’s worth sticking to a cabin that’s away from anything that might keep you up at night.
Cabins near the spa
If you’re a big fan of spas—the kind of person who would spend hours on vacation getting treatments—you’ll want to rent a cabin near the ship’s spa. Trust us. It can be a little strange to make the long journey on a busy ship in a robe and slippers to make a spa appointment.
Some cruise lines offer spa enthusiasts special spa cabins located close to the spa and equipped with special spa amenities. These might include a plush robe and slippers to wear on your way to the spa, upgraded toiletries, a scrub set, an aromatherapy diffuser, or even a yoga mat. Cabins sometimes also offer spa discounts, unlimited access to spa lounges and other spa-related perks.
Cruise lines with designated spa cabins on some or all of their ships include Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Azamara and MSC Cruises.
On Celebrity, spa cabins (called AquaClass cabins) have exclusive access to a special spa restaurant called Blu.
If you are interested in a spa cabin, you will need to book in advance. They often sell out early.
bottom line
There is no right answer to the question of the best cabin location on a cruise ship. The perfect location of the cabin for one passenger may not be the perfect location for another.
That said, some places on a cruise ship are better than others in terms of cabin location, including the front and rear of the ship. As the ship approaches port, there’s nothing quite like being in the room looking forward or watching the stern from the cabin at the back.
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