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Cruise Information Center
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Accommodation & Layouts Your accommodation onboard a cruise ship is your home away from home and it is important to choose the right accommodation that will meet your needs and requirements. Regardless of what accommodation you choose there non will be perfect and you will always be able to find good points and bad points. There are no set rules as to what a cruise line may designate as a cabin, stateroom or a suite. In fact one cruise line may call a cabin a cabin, while another one will call a cabin a stateroom, or one cruise line may call a stateroom a suite. It all depends on marketing angle and techniques that a cruise line is working with to secure that you the consumer to purchase your cruise from them. There is no sense on selecting a small cabin or a cabin that is not right at time of booking with the hopes that you may get upgraded or be able to change your accommodation for a modest fee once you are onboard. Most of the time it impossible to change or upgrade your accommodation once you are onboard. Some cruise line lines will allow you to pick your cabin or suite number at the time of booking, while others will only guarantee your accommodation in a particular grade at time of booking and will only assign you a cabin or suite just a few days before you leave on your cruise.
Cabin Size The size of your cabin does matter and it is important ensure that you select the right size of cabin for your requirements and your budget. Many people use their cabin just for sleeping and use the public areas for entertainment, where as other use their suites to entertain and have private dinner parties. Think of a cabin as a hotel room in miniature that will provide you with the same facilities and will utilize the space very efficiently. In some of the smaller inside (no outside view of the ocean) and outside cabins (view of the ocean) you will be met with some challenges, such as changing clothes, or taking a shower. Ships that have been constructed in recent years (1970 onwards) have been built with mostly standardised modular cabin. The modular cabin design incorporates all the normal conveniences and will have an integrated bathroom made from non-combustible materials. These modular cabins are built at a separate location and then taken to the ship where they are installed, thus reducing the time it take to build a ship. Prior to 1970 most cabins were custom built and constructed onboard the ship. Most industry experts consider 170 square feet or 15.7 square metres as the minimum acceptable standard cabin size. Always ask your travel agent to confirm the dimensions of your cabin that you have selected before you make a deposit.
Balconies Balconies, French balconies, verandas and terraces, are various names for the latest innovation in the cruise industry. They are the newest addition to your normal cabin or suite. They add another dimension to your life while you are on your cruise vacation and are worth the extra money. They will allow you to enjoy quite moments sipping champagne and enjoying the view, to having a romantic dinner or a civilised breakfast in your housecoat to sunbathing in total privacy. It is so nice to have the fresh sea air in your cabin or suite thus avoiding being confined to an air-conditioned cabin or suite. Once you have had a balcony aboard a ship you will never go back to a standard cabin or suite, they are very addictive especially on warm weather cruises. Yes, you will pay a premium for your cabin or a suite with a balcony, but it is worth every last penny. You should be aware that some balconies are not so private as advertised. Some balconies do not have a floor to ceiling partition and some balconies are visible from the higher decks when people look over the railings above you. Also you should be aware that on some ships you will not be able to escape the loud music that is played on the upper decks. If you select a forward facing balcony that is available on a number of ships, you should be aware that they may not be usable all the time because of wind speed especially when the ship is sailing into wind. Be careful when you are selecting the location of your cabin or suite that has a balcony, to ensure that you have full enjoyment out of it.
Suites Suites aboard ship are the most luxurious and spacious, they will provide you with a lot of little extras to make your life comfortable and receive preferential treatment. The extras will usually include extra service staff such as a butler and/or concierge, extra amenities in the bathroom, fully stocked bar, priority embarkation & disembarkation (no waiting in lines). Some cruise lines make special dinning arrangements for people in suites. A suite should be a minimum size of 350 square feet or 32.5 square metres and should comprise of a separate living area and bedroom that is separated by a solid door not just a curtain. On large ships of 1250 passengers or more you should be aware that some of the preferential treatment will not be the same as if you were on a smaller more expensive ships. On the large ships you will share the same common facilities and will not get preferential treatment in the dining room seating, seating for the shows or shore excursions. Be aware that some cruise lines are inaccurately marketing smaller size accommodation and calling them suites, but in reality their size may be a stateroom. Size is not the only consideration, the attentiveness and level of service that you will receive from the staff is also a factor.
Main Types of Accommodation Owners Suites (500 to 5750 sq. ft.) Owner’s suites will have floor to ceiling windows and an oversized balcony or your own private garden villa that will provide for a panoramic ocean view, with separate living, dining table and a separate bedroom with a queen size bed. Some Owner’s suite even comes in a duplex format covering two decks. Owner’s suites will offer the highest standard of service that a particular cruise line can offer and some cruise lines have a dedicated Butler or concierge service. The suite will have the world’s finest furnishing that are available and will have a deluxe state of the art entertainment center. It also contains a writing desk, double walk in wardrobe and a dressing table. Owner’s suites will offer the world finest amenities and will have a large private marble bathroom with a bath and shower combination along with a full size Jacuzzi. You will be given priority embarkation and disembarkation. Example of an Owners Suite
Suites (350 to 700 sq. ft.) Suites have large windows or a balcony that will provide for a panoramic ocean view, with separate living and sleeping area with twin beds that may convert into a queen size bed. Suite will have a deluxe state of the art entertainment center that will contain television and DVD or VCR player, writing desk, walk in wardrobe and a dressing table. Suite accommodation will offer the cruise lines deluxe amenities package and will have a private bathroom with bath and shower combination or a separate shower. You will be given priority embarkation and disembarkation. Example of a Suite
Junior Suites (200 to 350 sq. ft.) Junior Suites have large windows, some may have a small balcony that will provide for a panoramic ocean view, with separate living and sleeping area with twin beds that may convert into a queen size bed. Suite will have an entertainment center that will contain television and DVD or VCR player, writing desk, walk in wardrobe and a dressing table. Suite accommodation will offer the cruise lines deluxe amenities package and will have a private bathroom with bath and shower combination or a separate shower Example of a Junior Suite
Ocean View Staterooms (may have a balcony) (200 to 300 sq. ft.) Outside Stateroom with a large window or a balcony, with separate living and sleeping area with twin beds, plus some staterooms may use the sofa to accommodate a 3rd person. Twin Beds that may convert into a queen size bed. Staterooms will have a large wardrobe dressing table. These cabins will offer the cruise lines amenities package and will have a private bathroom with bath and shower combination. Example of a Stateroom with a balcony
Deluxe Outside Cabins (Ocean View) (120 to 190 sq. ft) Outside cabin with a window, small living area and twin beds, plus some cabins may have two upper berths (beds). Twin Beds that may convert into a queen size bed. This type of cabin will have a wardrobe and a small dressing table. These cabins will offer the cruise lines standard amenities package and will have a private bathroom with shower or bath. Example of a Deluxe Outside Cabin
Outside Cabins (Ocean View) (120 to 190sq. ft) Outside cabin with 2 portholes, small living area and twin beds, plus some cabins may have two upper berths (beds). Twin Beds that may convert into a queen size bed. This type of cabin will have a wardrobe and a small dressing table. These cabins will offer the cruise lines standard amenities package and will have a private bathroom with shower. Example of an Outside Cabin
Inside Cabins (Interior Cabin with no outside view) (120 to 190sq. ft) Inside cabin with no outside view small living area and twin beds, plus some cabins may have two upper berths (beds). Twin Beds that may convert into a queen size bed. This type of cabin will have a wardrobe and small dressing table. These cabins will offer the cruise lines standard amenities package and will have a private bathroom with shower. Example of an Inside Cabin
Inside Cabin (with internal view) (140 to 170 sq. ft) An inside cabin that has no outside ocean view, but has a bowed window overlooking the internal promenade deck, creating an interior cabin with a view. Twin Beds that may convert into a queen size bed. This type of cabin will have a wardrobe and a small dressing table. These cabins will offer the cruise lines standard amenities package and will have a private bathroom with shower.
Cabin Amenities & Facilities Cabin amenities and facilities vary considerably across the cruise industry and but there is one standard regardless of cruise lines and that is the more you pay the better the amenities, facilities and the service that you will receive. Most cabins on a modern cruise ships will provide you with the following basics
Cabin location If you are a first time cruiser it is recommend that you take an outside cabin that has an ocean view. If you enjoy having natural light and want a view, you will need to select an outside view cabin. An inside cabin has no portholes or windows, this may make it difficult to orient yourself to the time and weather conditions. If you are a night owl and want to party all night and do not want to be bothered by natural light coming into your cabin to awake you in the morning, select an inside cabin. Cabins that are located in the center of the ship will be the best location to select a cabin because they will provide more stability from the motion of the sea and will tend to be less noisy and vibration free as they are located away from the engine and machinery rooms. Cabin, Staterooms and Suites that are located on the upper decks tend to cost more and will provide you with better service. Cabins located in the bow (front) of the ship will be susceptible to noise from docking procedures and/or dropping of the anchor, this is especially true in the early mornings when a ship is arriving in a port of call. Cabins that are located lower down in the bow (front) of the ship will find that these cabins tend to be a little irregular in shape to compensate for the curvature of the hull of the ship. Cabins that are located lower down in the aft or stern (rear) of the ship will be susceptible to noise and vibration from the engine and machinery rooms, along with docking procedures when a ship is arriving at a port of call. Some cabins or suites will have interconnecting doors, this type of arrangement is designed to accommodate families or close friends. If you select one of these cabins and are not using the interconnecting door, you may fine that you will notice the noise from your neighbouring cabin because the walls tend to be thin between these types of cabins. Take into account your personal habits, when you are selecting your cabin
Cabin Considerations Choose a cabin that is not close to public areas, as they may be loud. A good example would be the ship’s night club/disco. The cruise line may have located night club/disco far from any cabins, however noise does travel and so it is advisable to ensure that your cabin is far enough away not to be disturbed. Also take into consideration the deck above and below could be susceptible to the noise from the night club/disco. Upper deck cabins are not a good idea if you are susceptible to motion discomfort (sea sickness) because the higher you are in the ship the greater the motion. It is better to select a cabin on a lower deck in the center of the ship, this way you will reduce the motion in rough seas. Cabins that are located near the bow (front) of the ship are not a good idea if you are susceptible motion discomfort (sea sickness) because the closer to bow the greater the ships motion. It is better to select a cabin on a lower deck in the center of the ship, this will reduce the motion in rough seas. Cabins that are located near the stern (back) of the ship are not a good ideas if you are susceptible motion discomfort (sea sickness) because the closer to stern the greater the ships motion. It is better to select a cabin on a lower deck in the center of the ship, this will reduce the motion in rough seas. Cabin near the stern especially the cabins lower down are susceptible to noise and vibration from the ship’s engines. Cabins that are located near to children and teen’s areas may be fairly noisy during the day and into the evening. If you are disturbed by such noises, make sure your cabin is not close by on the same deck or the deck above or below, as noise will travel. Lifeboats can some time obstruct your view if you have an outside cabin. You can make terrific savings by booking an inside cabin. Do not select a cabin next to an elevator, as they will be noisy during the day and into the evening. For disabled cruise passengers it is better to have a cabin that is located close to an elevator and the ship’s entrance. Best advice is to familiarize yourself with the ships layout found in the cruise line’s brochure or on their internet site.
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