Choosing the best cabin location on a cruise is something that is often on the mind of avid cruise enthusiasts as well as those that are going on a cruise for the first time. Depending on what type of cruise itinerary you are planning, this is going to have an impact on the type of cabin you choose. There are going to be cruising destinations were it might be ideal to have a balcony if so desired while other cruise itineraries it is not as important. This factor alone might help you determine the location that you might want to choose for your cabin. If your itinerary includes a cooler climate, then you most likely are going to be involved in many of the ships activities so having a balcony may not be something that you desire. However, if you’re cruise is a tropical location, then being outside might be more desired.
If this is your first time on a cruise, odds are you are not going to be in room all that much so you might want to consider that as well. There is so much to explore on any given cruise ship and the larger the ship you are on, the more you have to explore and experience. Mega cruise ships today are basically mini vertical cities floating in the ocean. You will be quite astonished once you experience one of these mega cruise liners. There are quite a few amenities that come in all cabins today no matter the location or design of cabin you choose. Obviously if you are choosing an upgraded cabin or a suite, the amenities and luxuries will increase as well as prime locations on the ship. So what are some of the main things to take into consideration when choosing the best cabin location on a cruise?
Type Of Cabin
The type of cabin that you are looking to have is going to determine your location as well. If you do not have a preference to the type of cabin that you have because you’re not planning on spending that much time in your cabin, then an inside cabin might be a great option for you. These cabins are located front to back on most deck levels of the ship. If you’re looking to have a balcony or a suite then your location might matter a little more you.
Most suites are located in prime locations on-board so you will have excellent privacy and great access to on-board amenities. If you choose a balcony cabin then you are going to need to determine if you would rather be closer to the front of the ship near the theater, the rear of the ship near the buffets or mid ship close to the pools and the rest of the on-board activities.
Proximity To Activities
If you want to be close to all of the action on-board, then odds are you are going to want to be located mid-ship. This puts you as close to all the activities in either direction as well as the closest to the main pool area of most cruise ships. Many travelers really enjoy being in the middle because they tend to want to try and do as much as possible when on-board and depending on how large your cruise ship is, you can end up doing quite a bit of walking.
If this is not a concern of yours, then this location might not matter but if you would rather cut back slightly on the distance you have to travel from your room to most locations on-board, then being as close as possible to smack dab in the middle might just be the best option for you and those you might be traveling with.
Close To Pool
Most cruise ships today have multiple pools so being close to one is not usually an issue. Even so, there is still usually a main pool on board that will host most of the outdoor cruise activities from the pool parties, water volleyball, and dance parties under the stars as well as most of the live pool bands or DJ’s.
If you would like to be as close as possible to all this type of action as well as get a prime lounge chair location early in the morning for the day, then you are going to want to have a mid-ship cabin most likely. Not only will this provide you prime access to the main pool, but should you need to run back to your cabin a couple times during the day, it is going to be much easier and quicker than having to trot all the way back to the front of the ship in a wet bathing suit.
Near Elevators
Yes there are elevators on-board your cruise ship and this is a prime location for many travelers. There are many, many, many deck levels to cruise ships and every activity, restaurant, bar, club, pool, theater, lounge, etc. is going to be on a different deck level. This is a main aspect to keep in mind when you are heading to events or activities, dinner or show time while on-board.
Always leave yourself plenty of time to get to where you want to go, and never think it’s only going to take you 2 minutes to get anywhere. If you would like to have quick access to all the deck levels then reserving a cabin near the elevators is going to save you quite a bit of time as well as stair climbing. However, like many state, depending on how many items you enjoy at the buffet, taking the stairs a few times a day, might not be a bad idea.
Front Of Ship
The front of the ship also known as “forward” is going to house the on-board theater most of the time. If you are someone that likes to see every show and every activity that takes place in the theater then this will be the perfect location. Be advised that in the very front of the cruise ship you are going to feel more movement than if you are towards the middle.
This doesn’t seem to affect many travelers, but if the movement is a concern to you, try to book a cabin that is on a lower deck level as there will be less movement there then if you are on a higher deck. There are quite a bit of activities that take place in the theater on-board cruise ship, such as movies, bingo, games and other smaller venue shows besides the headliner shows. Keep in mind however that you are going to be at the opposite end from other things.
Middle Ship Location
The middle if the ship is hands down the most popular area of most cruise ships. One of the main reasons is that travelers like to be in the center of all the action and close to the pools, yet still close to the front of the ship for the theater and the rear of the ship for the buffets and adult pool areas. The middle of the ship also provides the least amount of movement.
Specifically, you want to be in the middle of the ship on lowest guest deck level for the overall least amount of movement. One thing to keep in mind however is, this is going to be a very busy area of the ship with a constant flow of people. If you do not want to have to deal with crowds for the duration of the cruise, then an area closer to the front or rear might be better for you especially if slight movement isn’t a concern for you.
Rear Of Ship
The rear of the ship also known as the “aft” is considered to be by many avid cruise travelers as the quiet area of the ship. This, for the most part tends to be true for most cruise ships. If there is an adults only area and/or pool, this is going to be the location for that. The on-board spa is also usually located here, so that should give you a good indication as well about how relaxing this area of the ship can be.
There is more movement in this area of the ship, so if movement is a slight concern, choose a cabin on a lower deck level if you want to be in the rear of ship close to the adult areas on board your cruise. If the idea of having a wonderful nights rest, waking up and heading to the spa after breakfast, then to the adult pool area to relaxing the entire afternoon, this might be the prefect area of the cruise ship for you.
Desired Experience
Your cruise should be all about want you want to do. There is no right or wrong way to experience you cruise itinerary. If you want to take part in every single activity and event and be a social butterfly then go for it and live it up. However, if you want to only leave your private balcony in your cabin only for dinner and spend the rest of your time gazing out at the stunning ocean beauty for hours on end in peace and quiet that is just as spectacular.
Both experiences, as well as every area in between, are perfect and will actually help you determine as well the type of cabin you might enjoy as well as assist in choosing the best the best cabin location for your cruise. Once you experience your first cruise, odds are you will return again and again so you’ll be able to try different cabin locations on-board each time.