The best cabin we have found is spa balcony or anywhere near the spa. Very quiet. You do not hear any noise in this area. Spa and Gym closes at 9 PM no people no noise, restful sleep.
We always try to get a middle deck, mid ship balcony cabin that also has the sofa. The reason we get a cabin with a sofa is because at night before we go to bed we put all the sofa cushions piled up vertically against the cabin door and lock the door. This cuts down dramatically the noise coming from people and staff walking passed your cabin door. We lock the door and put the do not disturb sign outside so the room steward doesn't come in. Try this and you'll have more peaceful nights.
One of my main considerations for picking a cabin is being close to the stairs and elevators. I usually find deck 7 or 8 on most ships to be close enough to things, but far enough to be more quiet.
I do the exact opposite. I like to be as far of the elevator as possible. Walking those extra steps several times a day counts towards burning some calories.
A general comment, life-rule: however you travel -- plane, train, cruise -- make sure you pack EAR PLUGS. Keep them in your backpack/purse. You just never know when the AC unit is whining all night, there's a party happening at 3am in the next room, or someone's toddler is screaming for the *entire* international flight. (Ask me how I know...) Also, pack several packs of ear plugs. They're easy to lose, and you can make a friend for life by handing them out in emergency child-screaming situations.
Best to avoid right for'ard or right aft... this enables you to be far from the bow and stern thrusters. We were rudely awakened early mornings when coming alongside....SO much NOISE and of course VIBRATION.
I have used your tips for picking cabins very successfully, got caught out this time as the cabin above us was a suite with a piano and a young child who was allowed to "play" on it every evening as we were settling in. Your tips have saved me from interconnecting cabins and other inconvenient areas. Thank you. Love the channel.
We always choose a balcony cabin as I love sitting out at night to stargaze. A few years ago we sailed in Asia on the Sapphire Princess and our cabin, which was fine, was situated mid aft and all I could see was black sooty exhaust which blocked out the night sky. This was because of the way the smokestacks are situated. So now deck plan in hand I look at where I am in relation to those stacks as well as many of the same things you do. Perhaps on newer ships this isn't a problem but it curtailed my stargazing from my cabin. Thanks for your always insightful posts.
We almost always pick the deck above the promenade for the last 5 or so cruises. Before that we've been all over the ship, except for the lower levels, we've never stayed lower than a balcony level. Most of the activities we enjoy are on the promenade give or take a deck (casino, piano bar, sports bar, comedy club...) and it is very nice to not have to wait on an elevator. We have never heard noise by choosing this deck. Since the promenade is a lower/mid deck our deck is mid deck and midship is best for us too. We enjoy the activity and the fun, we bring an approved fan that would help with noise if there ever was any. In all our cruises the only noise we've had to deal with is from people in the hallways talking loudly with each other and allowing their doors to slam shut. But in all the different rooms we've booked all over the ship noise from the ship, entertainment, elevators and such have never been an issue. Perhaps we just aren't finicky and never noticed, also again we have our fan for white noise.
Wonderful and insightful tips. One additional suggestion that we followed many years ago on an Alaska cruise is to have balcony cabins on opposite sides of the ship when traveling with a larger party. We took the cruise with my parents and found that having balcony cabins on opposite side of the ship on the same deck afforded us the opportunity to enjoy the best views possible depending on what we were passing by. Thank you for sharing.
Gary having taken 17 cruises, nothing compared to you, the best place as far as I’m concerned, is away from the stairwell, whether it’s in the back of the ship or otherwise. Of course, you also want to be sandwiched between passenger decks as to avoid the deck noise or other feature above or below you. Money is no object, select a grand suite, it would be in the after part of the ship to avoid the wind. Those sweets at the front of the ship are gonna face a barrage of wind as you cruise at 15 to 19 kn and that doesn’t even count surface winds.
I’m pretty sure on Princess if you forget to check the box refusing an auto upgrade and you receive an auto upgrade . You have up to 48 hours to get your original cabin choice back 😎
We once booked a mini suite, not realising that it was directly under the pool deck. Were kept awake at night and woken early into the morning by people scraping chairs across the deck and thundering like elephants along the deck. It pays to check what is above you. Below you isn't usually too bad. We had the theatre below us once, and we weren't disturbed at all by noise. The one time we didn't get the rooms we'd paid for, we ended up hearing the anchors drop when we docked, but even that wasn't too bad.
Voyager-class RCCL (Navigator of the Seas) has 14 decks, but two of them are shortened, due to recreational and bar features. Our cruise in October 2023 we booked a forward-facing balcony deck 11 (Lido Deck) directly over the bridge. The cabin has not only a railing but a plexiglass 'front' attached to the railing, to cut the wind. We're early risers so to see the ship coming into port is for us a cool thing, while drinking Mimosas and having the Continental B'fast. Deck 11 is also the pool and buffet deck, as well a the adult pool/whirlpool and Solarium buffet.
Oh, midship... I've learned my lesson. If there's no center elevators/stairs, I won't book midship because that's equally inconvenient to everything! One advantage of booking a ship (or class) you've been on before is that you know where you'll be spending the bulk of your time and can select accordingly.
I like your criteria, but I love to pick a mid forward Lido deck balcony cabin, just forward of the elevator lobby (to avoid lots of people waling past). That way, no steps for Lido deck and we can use lifts for going to dinner, shops, etc. That way many activities involve zero stairs.
Hi Bill how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, I live in Duluth, Minnesota.
Also avoid being too close to elevator lobbies (but not too far, either) and the galley (kitchen) which can run the length of half a deck or more. Galleys are marked sometimes on deck plans, but not always. They’re typically located either on or just below the lowest passenger deck.
There is nothing worse than staying on an inside cabin near an elevator. You will not get any rest there at all. Between the hydraulic sounds coming from the elevator and the loud people getting in/out of the elevator, it’s absolutely draining.
I have been following several people about cruises. Listening to all of the comments and advise I have finally come to a conclusion that (since I can't find a handicapped customer video) that cruising has dropped off my bucket list of things to EVER do. I much appreciate this video as it's made that very clear for me.
What are your disabilities Beth? I see LOTS of people in wheelchairs or scooters or other types of mobility devices and am in fact going with a friend of mine from highschool in May who is disabled. She does not typically use a mobility device but will be renting a scooter for the cruise because of the large amounts of walking/distances on the ship and we did get an accessible room. Everyones situation and circumstance is unique, but I would not let it detour you, especially if you have someone with you who can assist if and when needed!
we were on a cruise that had an accessible room across from us. It was huge. The lady using it was severely disabled, unable to move basically and confined to a huge wheelchair that was virtually laying her flat. The staff were amazingly helpful to her and her carer. I wouldn't be too worried about cruising with a handicap. If it entails a wheelchair or mobility aid, you may not be able to get off at tender ports, but you should be fine with land based docks. I've seen people with scooters use the gangways quite successfully and usually there are staff on hand to assist. Some ships we've been on also have spaces for wheelchairs in the main theatre.
Because Carnival has most of their specialty dining on the Lido deck, it's easy to spend 75% of your time on the Lido deck (with occasional trips down to the promenade deck for main dining/shows). If that's your style of cruising, get one of the cabins on the Lido deck (or just above/below those cabins). You avoid the elevator/stairs for 75% of your activities, and it's easier to find an elevator to travel down to the promenade.
Very good, useful information as always! One tip from frequent travelers on Disney cruise lines or those that attract kids, you do NOT want to be anywhere near elevators. They add a looooot of noise especially if you're the type who needs to sleep a bit earlier than the rest of the ship.
Coming as an Officer staff from Carnival Cruise, you do want to be in the middle/high (Center of the ship)... Mostly 2 or 3 floors from the very top deck. Why Well you are situated in the middle ground where is short to go to the restaurants or to the spa, but you are not too close to the casino/pools where it's very noisy. Is a general rule.
Gary I’ve been following you for quite some time and I really enjoy your videos. I have never been on a cruise nor do I plan on going on one but that doesn’t matter your cruise tips are fascinating and enjoyable. If I ever do decide to go on a cruise I’ll think of all your tips. Thank you
We have to get wheelchair-accessible cabins as my wife is scooter-bound. As the number of wheelchair-accessible cabins is limited, we frequently have to take what we can get as opposed to being able to select our cabins. We don't spend much awake time in our cabin anyway, so this lack of choice isn't a problem.
Never take a cabin under the buffet or pool deck. Ever. Unless you are trying to avoid sun on your balcony ...check if your balcony is affected by overhanging deck above. Your room will be darker and cooler on your balcony earlier.
Got upgraded to a rear corner stateroom once. Great room. Even better balcony. Problem was it was under the Lido deck. Every morning we got woken up by the crew rearranging the deck chairs.
There are a lot of factors when choosing the best cabin for yourself for sure. I find the traditional wisdom that mid-ships has the least movement. If you watch boats in the water going through waves. The bow moves up and down the most, but the stern stays in the water the most. It's also typically where the engines are and hence a lot of weight. So I have found for up and down movement the stern is the best place. For side to side, it's just physics. The higher up you are regardless, it will move more side to side. We have been pretty lucky on all of our cruises to only have 1 day or evening of rougher seas at most. Another way we think about things is not really what you will be doing most but how. We tend to stay in the adult only areas of ships or just find the most ideal place at the pool for us. So we are not going from our room to the buffet for lunch, only for breakfast. And we typically take all of our stuff with us and either grab our chairs first, or go to the buffet with our pool stuff for breakfast. For lunch we will be going from the pool area, so it does not matter as much where the cabin is. And for dinner, we are going to MDR or a specialty restaurant and those are unknowns. We got a cabin once under part of the lido deck and every morning at 4 am we had the chairs moving and scraping above us as they put them out for the morning. That was all it took and we always look at what is above and below. We also don't prefer anything too close the elevators because people are not always quiet when they walk down the hallways. So we like to limit traffic outside our door. Your own mobility is probably the most important factor in determining where to stay (other than what is above and below you). If you can use the stairs and 5 ish flights is within your ability for the week it will be much better vs the elevators. Need the elevators because of mobility then insure you have access to the most number of options to you.
Early in my cruising life, I booked a balcony cabin for my wife & I and an inside for my children directly across the hall. Since the TA didn't inform me (and I didn't know any better) that there was a "do not upgrade" designation, I was shocked to find that our balcony cabin on the Caribe deck (larger balcony) was "upgraded" to the "Aloha" deck (standard balcony), with my children still in the Caribe inside. Needless to say, our peak-time Alaska cabin could not be recovered and Princess was not very accommodating or empathetic. Thanks, Gary, for mentioning this.
That is ridiculous. For safety concerns for your children, you should have been able stay in the first cabin you chose. There is no way I would have left my cabin across from my daughter when she was young and left alone. You should have been compensated for the worry and stress about your children and you probably didn't have as much enjoyment due to this
@@Niallisababe1 Absolutely right on all accounts. The ship was full and all they would do was give us an inside on the Aloha deck, down the hall from the balcony. The purser was kind of a jerk to top it off.
same thing happened to us on a P&O after we'd paid an extra fee per person not to be "upgraded". We were downgraded several decks below, with our children on a different deck and at opposite ends of the ship. I fought with them until they suddenly found two "spare" rooms next to each other. Not the same standard as we had paid for but at least we were together.
One of the things we took into consideration for our (very first) cruise is to be near the stairs or elevator as my mom has mobility issues (and I can have some depending on how inflamed I am.) Thankfully for us, Regent ships have all suites and balconies, so we didn't have to think about that, but since we hadn't watched any of your videos before we looked at decks, we're on THE VERY TOP DECK. And what's below me, you ask? THE SPORTS DECK. Then the pool deck. I feel so lucky. 13 decks and I'm blessed with the two worst decks below me. However, since we're at 1/2 capacity it may not be so bad??? Positive thoughts, people, positive thoughts. It's the Caribbean. I need positive thoughts.
We recently booked a cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas, an old lady. The ship is set up with suites on deck eight, balconies on deck seven and the other cabins below that. Since we decided to book a suite, we had no choice of deck. That put us below the pool deck so we selected to be near the bow elevators instead of midship, our normal pick.
I always choice a cabin on a deck just above the water level of a ship normally reception deck level. Common sense, lower the deck less turbulence in rough weather,less expensive on the pocket, normally quicker to get off ship at ports local to reception help desk.
We have found this advice well worth the time for finding the right cabin. This is just as important as the cruise line. It make a good trip a great trip.
Hi Gary, great video as always. You probably don't suffer from sea sickness, but maybe you could collect some tips for people who do to enjoy cruising more (treatments, routes to take/avoid, locations on the ship, etc.). One tip I discovered is that you should avoid LONG rooms. I was on a Disney cruise and one of their dining rooms was exceptionally long. It was so long, you could just make out the other end of the room moving at a slightly different rate than the end I was on. Instant sea sickness! Things like this may help others if you are able to collect enough to justify a video.
TBHH: That depends mostly on what your itinerary would be like. Usually on European very port intensive cruises, with little if any sea days, there is really no difference on where you are or not, because basically you are only on the ship to sleep and have breakfast, dinner and some night entertainment... So now, on a Transatlantic with plenty of sea days, things are very different to say the least. You'd like a location near the lifts.... Otherwise you'll run long distances all day to go elsewhere. That is what I find the most important. Have a nice day!...
Not having been on a cruise myself, the advice given by family members who have includes DON'T get a cabin right next to an elevator. She was on a Carnival cruise, and the elevator was in use late into the night, the elevator itself was a bit noisy, and if anyone was getting on/off at her deck it was even worse because the people would be loud (and probably drunk if it was late night) She said her cruise had a large "partying" population.
Hi Sir Gary. Happy New Year. Yes. I prefer to look at the deck plan and choose my own cabin the past 5 years. Was blessed with great areas when I didn’t know I could choose years back. I didn’t realize you can hear the tv etc with connecting cabins. Oh. Didn’t know there was auto upgrade. I’ve received emails offering upgrades for x amount of money but always declined to stay with our group of 17. Everyone avoids the deck under the lido. Or ports deck. Never understood the the decks that have walkways past ones balcony cabin. Yes. Balcony mid deck for ones with seasickness. Amazing tips. Thanks so much and see you next video.
If you have mobility issues, etc… I can see the deck mattering. For us we walk everywhere, no elevators, and it does not take much longer. It also helps burn off some of the food.
I just got off a wonderful cruise on the Enchanted Princess. Level 8 mid forward. Wonder mini suite but we were a little too close to the water. Our balcony was continually wet from the wind blown spray from the wake of the ship. But… the balcony was fabulous in port. I would select 10 level + in the future… also midship if available. Again wonderful cruise.
As an adult, I have only been on five cruises. First two were on NCL which ultimately I did not care for. And the last three were all on HAL. As a single mom, even $100 per person was a lot for me so I did not request a specific cabin and just paid for the cheapest cabin on the ship. The second time I cruise on HAL, I got an automatic upgrade to a balcony room on the back of the ship! The third time was the week of Valentines Day, so no balcony upgrade as the ship was full. I love cruising, but must do it on a very limited budget. Since I live in Florida, I don't have to incur airfare costs. If there are any negatives, such as engine noise, I just roll with the punches and remember how grateful I am to be on a cruise. I mentioned cruising as an adult for a specific reason. When I was very small we lived in the Philippines. International Harvester, the company my father worked for, sent our family of four with two children under the age of 2, on the Presidential Line to the Philippines. We were on the SS President Hoover. Is there anyone out there who remembers the Presidential Line and may have even traveled on some of their ships?
My favorite ship was the refurbished SS Monterey, not sure if it was renamed, but it was one of the USS Presidential lines ships, which my grandfather was a steward on. The refurbish was beautiful and included the original Steinway, which I spent as much time as I could on. It was not, unfortunately, a very pleasant cruise, as we were at half capacity and up to 30 foot swells, a week before Christmas. Even the waiters were getting seasick(!!!) I still love that ship though ❤
@@TravelsWithBunnies thank you so much for replying! We too went through the edges of a typhoon. I wasn't even two yet, but my mom said she remembered oranges on the floor of the stateroom, rolling back and forth. My only memory is, when we returned to the US in late 1960 right after I turned four, going to different tables in the dining room where other passengers would feed me black olives from the little relish trays on ea h table. I still love black olives!
I chose Deck 8 Balcony for my upcoming Carnival Panorama Cruise midship and there are staterooms above and below me, not an interconnecting cabin and its close to everything! The only thing across from me is the high roof of the Sky Jump. but it should not impact me.
Everyone has their preferences, and a lot of that is learned by going on cruises and through trial and error. Some things you can figure out by reading and watching videos, others, not so much. Myself (and some of these can change depending on who I am traveling with and their particular needs if they have any), I tend to prefer higher balcony (but still surrounded on all sides by cabins) or lower 'cove' balconys, as i also like being able to 'hear' the water down there. so, either location works for me. I like being near elevators, but not right NEXT to them, if that makes sense. I don't mind being mid ship, as I don't mind walking. If I could find a way not to have any children near me that would be great, but, cruises (or room types) where that would be likely would be far out of my budget- and the cruise lines where it would be more likely would not be my style at ALL ;) LOL
Our cruise a couple weeks ago we were on deck 9, i loved it :) most of the public spaces were on deck 7-5 and then the pool deck was deck 14.... So if the lifts were full i could just nick down the stairs to the lower deck with no problems :) we had cabins below, above and next to us :) we were also in the corridor, only 2 cabins away from the aft lift!/stairway which i loved :)
Amazing very useful informations, I don't think that if I searched the youtube I will find someone gives these kind of informations,, Thank you so much
Always avoid anywhere near the anchor or/and those pop out platforms crew use during navigation into and out of port. We were near one on a Med Cruise and every morning very early it came clattering down with a thud that went through the room.
Thank you for another great video explanation, Gary. I'd only disagree with your comments about traffic. We had a balcony cabin closer to the stern and the hall access to the cabin was very quiet because there were very few people walking that far down. Thanks again.
We prefer the slightly smaller ships of HAL, where booking a verandah cabin on deck 5 or 6 puts us more or less equidistant from the dining/entertainment venues below and the lido above. I always apply your above-below-beside-across rule, and it works out very well 😋
Lido deck on the caribbean princess. Next to stairs and elevators, short walk to pools and food. I was in L256 which was about 10 doors away from the action. room was quiet as a church.
Have had cabins with club music/bass pounding keeping us awake as well as a cabin right below some sort of track used in transporting very noisy cargo. Sounded just like a heavy train going back and forth! All night long.
Midship balcony two decks below the pool is the best cabin and best value in most cases. Very little if any noise comes from public areas. If you don’t like connecting doors don’t cruise Norwegian almost all of them connect.
Are there any websites folks use or recommend which makes choosing the best cabin easier? This feels like something the community should totally get behind in identifying good/bad areas for each ship based on certain criteria. Could be really awesome.
Port or Starboard can be a factor also. On our Rome to Miami cruise, Starboard faced the coast during cruising. We also will avoid being next to cabins holding 4 people (likely including kids) after loud teenagers next door arguing on their balcony made using our balcony unpleasant.
On my last cruise I had an inside cabin on Deck 2 underneath one of the Dining Room lobbies. Neither my sister nor I heard any noise from there. We were on an 11 day cruise with lots of sea days. We were far enough from elevators and stairs so we weren't bothered by noise and traffic from them. I studied deck plans extensively before choosing a block of acceptable cabins. All of the cabins surrounded by other cabins were much more expensive and higher on the ship than I wanted to be based on seasick fears.
Again, thank you so much. I'm addinf all the t's for t's to build my future first cruise. I thoroughly enjoy tour channel. You've said you are actually a bit shy, but I would walk right up and bear hug you first chance I get. Gently, of course. Peace- Gordon
Thanks Gary. As always, very insightful information. I agree completely that becoming familiar with the ship through perusing the deck plans is the way to go. Too risky letting them assign you a cabin for the small amount of savings. Be well and stay healthy! 👍🌞
Hello how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, I live in Duluth, Minnesota.
You left out the other disadvantage upper desks have. MORE movement. If want to be really moving around go top deck near the bow. I prefer to be on a balcony, middle deck about 1/3 forward of the stern.
I disagree. My preferred spot is the highest deck in the rear. On most ships the aft buffet is hardly used in the evening so there is no noise issue being directly beneath it. Being on a high desk provides quick access to the topside buffet, pools, and the outdoor activities and aft elevators.
My fav is mid ship Oceanview. Always always! I've had balconies but really don't spend enough time in cabin to justify it. So the light and view in Oceanview is my choice.
I always pick my stateroom on a higher deck . It doesn't matter if you get rooms all around you because people are noisy. I also always get a balcony midship on the starboard side. I don't worry about the distance I have to walk. If I did I wouldn't cruise. To me the higher the better, and the elevator takes me up or down so it's no big deal on any distance.
Deck 7 Neptune suite near Neptune Lounge and a Cabana on deck 11 for entire cruise. Perfect private cruise on HA. Pinnacle dining brekkie on Oosterdam. I ignore the pools and hot tubs too many users, too dangerous for colds, covid and flu. Private villa for next part with our own pool.
Just came off cruise where I was right below the Lido deck and loved it. But I am a really sound sleeper so not much is going to bother me. I figured if I take that one, nobody else has to suffer. Honestly not sure any of these things would bother me much. I am the kind of passenger the cruise line should love . . . not picky at all.
Just returned home from Seabourn Christmas Cruise. Fabulous! Only 9 decks, I was at the end of deck 6, near a sunbathing area that I had all to myself!!!! Really couldn’t cope with those huge shops! Once again, it depends what you’re looking for on a cruise holiday .
Another interesting video Gary. Our next cruise (in 2023) will be interesting because I didn't realise when I booked that we didn't choose our cabin. Anyway we will see what happens. We still do not have ships back in Australia. Very frustrating!
All good points and well encapsulated thanks Gary. We increasingly target 2 levels above the main or promenade deck, the rationale being that we are less energetic at the end of the day, especially with a belly full of food and a couple of glasses of wine. Conversely, we tend to be more energetic earlier in the day so those steps are a little less challenging at that time of day. Also, we prefer to use the bathroom facilities in our own room throughout the evening rather than the public bathrooms so being close by is more convenient.
Saame! The cost effectiveness of them means we can cruise more often. And there is the inner glee of knowing the cabin across the way paid thousands more for a place to sleep lol
@@CrusifoxMedia I like to sit & read on my balcony, with a cuppa. It gives me a quiet place to sit, with my own tea/coffee available, as well as my own loo. With my binoculars I can spot things in the distance.
I go where the cheapo seats are. 5 day cruise a few months ago, $50 + port fees and gratuities, solo person in the cabin, next cruise a few weeks later, $100 + port fees, I really went all out a few weeks ago and spent $199, again all solo. You folks spend too much time and money trying to figure out the best place. FYI, I eat the same food as others and see the same shows.
Great advice 👍 we concur 👍. Starboard v portside v destinations are a must, for consideration. We have cruised extensively for 20 years. Great vlog/information 👊👊👊👏👏👍
Generally speaking the area where the Casino is at is there by design. Its center mid ship and very stable If your cabin is anywhere in that area you should be fine. Its why a Super Carriers command center, island is in that general area if that is any interest. I did a cruise on Ruby Princess and they have a hidden bonus..if you get a balcony room in the aft area they tend to have a wrap around balcony. The cons to that was I felt alot of boat movement.
I have looked hard at staterooms on the same deck as the pool. They are not on a hallway with other public areas and elevators so traffic should not be a concern. The convenience of being close to my own room while using the pool area just seems like a good deal. I just do not know how much the sound from the pool area wafts back to the balconies aft of them. Would love to hear from others who have stayed in one. Not looking at a Carnival, something quieter like Celebrity.
Due to COVID and the need to have isolation areas, we got an upgrade we didn't want. We have been looking forward to trying a Princess 'Deluxe Balcony". This is a room expanded the size of a love seat instead of the couch in a mini-suite BUT you keep a shower instead of dealing with a bathtub. The bathtub is the only thing we don't like about mini-suites. Wouldn't you know! We got upgraded to a mini-suite because our chosen room will be an isolation area and no other rooms of same class are available. If we wanted that upgrade we probably would have never got it.
My wife and I normally cruise on HAL. We always stay in Neptune suites and pick our cabin. We stay midships near to the Neptune lounge. But not so close as the year the noise or traffic. We have a favorite cabin figured out on all the classes of their ships. I call my PCC at Hal and book my cruise. Most of the time, even if that cabin looks like it is taken online, it may not be. I book early as possible so as to have the most freedom of choice.
I wonder if there are any search apps where you can find the cabin you prefer first and then see which cruises on which this is still available. There are some ships where I know I want to be.
Check out the video about building MSC Meraviglia (can't make a hyperlink). Skip right to 36:00 to see the part I believe might interest you. Despite its size I'll cruise in it if I can.
Some very good tips! We always do balcony and typically decks 8-9, and in our case we purposely take a room at the back of the ship so we can get in some extra steps and burn-off a few extra calories ;)
I require a room for those with limited mobility, not full disability. Happy with cabins with a view, although prefer a balcony. Research is key. Try for a passenger cabin, surrounded by other passenger cabins.
Thank you for another informative video. My husband and I are booked on a Viking cruise in 2024 and one of the things I was concerned about was cabin choice. I ended up with a cabin on deck 5 mid ship. My concern is that the cabin is on the starboard side and we are cruising from Bergen to Amsterdam. Will being in the side away from the sight of land cut down on our viewing experience or can we just go on deck to observe? Does it ever matter what side of the ship your cabin is on? We have never cruised before and have no experiences to judge by. Thank you for all your very useful videos. I have been binge watching!
Leaving Bergen you travel for hours along a long fjord. The views on both sides of the ship are amazing and it's the same in any fjord really. If you go into a port one way you leave it facing the opposite direction, so you'll see the views regardless. Most of the rest of the time you're too far out so sea for there to be any views. If your ship goes under the huge bridge near Denmark on it's way down to Amsterdam, you can see it from both sides of the ship. Entering into Amsterdam you usually go through a lock. The views are the same on each side of the ship, and it's absolutely amazing to experience such a big ship squeeze into the space with literally only a few cms to spare on either side. Unfortunately it is generally in the early hours of the morning but when we did it, there was a storm brewing so they went into port in the afternoon before, so we got to see it all. To enter the estuary where the lock is, it appears as if your ship is sailing right across a beach. Really weird visually, when there's people on the beach!
just off the regal princess. buffet was questionable? internet was terrible. other wise fine... smoke from stack at night seemed to b;low over the balconies just behind me.
My fav cabin is near the centrum elevator one floor below the Windjammer, in an owner's suite on most Royal ships. I can walk one floor to the Windjammer. Dining rooms, Promenade Cafe are just an elevator away on most ships.
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The best cabin we have found is spa balcony or anywhere near the spa.
Very quiet. You do not hear any noise in this area.
Spa and Gym closes at 9 PM no people no noise, restful sleep.
I'm a single traveller so it's the cheapest cabin for me, if ' cheap ' is the right word.
We always try to get a middle deck, mid ship balcony cabin that also has the sofa. The reason we get a cabin with a sofa is because at night before we go to bed we put all the sofa cushions piled up vertically against the cabin door and lock the door. This cuts down dramatically the noise coming from people and staff walking passed your cabin door. We lock the door and put the do not disturb sign outside so the room steward doesn't come in. Try this and you'll have more peaceful nights.
One of my main considerations for picking a cabin is being close to the stairs and elevators. I usually find deck 7 or 8 on most ships to be close enough to things, but far enough to be more quiet.
I do the exact opposite. I like to be as far of the elevator as possible. Walking those extra steps several times a day counts towards burning some calories.
A general comment, life-rule: however you travel -- plane, train, cruise -- make sure you pack EAR PLUGS. Keep them in your backpack/purse.
You just never know when the AC unit is whining all night, there's a party happening at 3am in the next room, or someone's toddler is screaming for the *entire* international flight. (Ask me how I know...)
Also, pack several packs of ear plugs. They're easy to lose, and you can make a friend for life by handing them out in emergency child-screaming situations.
I prefer toward the rear and close to morning coffee.
Best to avoid right for'ard or right aft... this enables you to be far from the bow and stern thrusters. We were rudely awakened early mornings when coming alongside....SO much NOISE and of course VIBRATION.
We always have deck 9 and love it. Very quiet middway down the cruise ship 🚢
I have used your tips for picking cabins very successfully, got caught out this time as the cabin above us was a suite with a piano and a young child who was allowed to "play" on it every evening as we were settling in. Your tips have saved me from interconnecting cabins and other inconvenient areas. Thank you. Love the channel.
Yikes! That is annoying as impossible to know that cabin above and that....
We always choose a balcony cabin as I love sitting out at night to stargaze. A few years ago we sailed in Asia on the Sapphire Princess and our cabin, which was fine, was situated mid aft and all I could see was black sooty exhaust which blocked out the night sky. This was because of the way the smokestacks are situated. So now deck plan in hand I look at where I am in relation to those stacks as well as many of the same things you do. Perhaps on newer ships this isn't a problem but it curtailed my stargazing from my cabin. Thanks for your always insightful posts.
Due to asthma, forward balconies for me. Because in spite of no smoking rules, there's always someone sneaking a smoke and it blows aft.
We almost always pick the deck above the promenade for the last 5 or so cruises. Before that we've been all over the ship, except for the lower levels, we've never stayed lower than a balcony level. Most of the activities we enjoy are on the promenade give or take a deck (casino, piano bar, sports bar, comedy club...) and it is very nice to not have to wait on an elevator. We have never heard noise by choosing this deck. Since the promenade is a lower/mid deck our deck is mid deck and midship is best for us too. We enjoy the activity and the fun, we bring an approved fan that would help with noise if there ever was any. In all our cruises the only noise we've had to deal with is from people in the hallways talking loudly with each other and allowing their doors to slam shut. But in all the different rooms we've booked all over the ship noise from the ship, entertainment, elevators and such have never been an issue. Perhaps we just aren't finicky and never noticed, also again we have our fan for white noise.
Wonderful and insightful tips. One additional suggestion that we followed many years ago on an Alaska cruise is to have balcony cabins on opposite sides of the ship when traveling with a larger party. We took the cruise with my parents and found that having balcony cabins on opposite side of the ship on the same deck afforded us the opportunity to enjoy the best views possible depending on what we were passing by. Thank you for sharing.
Hello Jim how are you doing.
We did the same and it was fun running back and forth! We got some great viewing of the wildlife and landscape
Gary having taken 17 cruises, nothing compared to you, the best place as far as I’m concerned, is away from the stairwell, whether it’s in the back of the ship or otherwise. Of course, you also want to be sandwiched between passenger decks as to avoid the deck noise or other feature above or below you. Money is no object, select a grand suite, it would be in the after part of the ship to avoid the wind. Those sweets at the front of the ship are gonna face a barrage of wind as you cruise at 15 to 19 kn and that doesn’t even count surface winds.
For us, middle ship, balcony, cabins above and below, and we pick the room. That is it. Have proven a good combo so far. Happy Crusi'n in 2022! 😀
I’m pretty sure on Princess if you forget to check the box refusing an auto upgrade and you receive an auto upgrade . You have up to 48 hours to get your original cabin choice back 😎
We recently heard that they gave a 6 hour window to refuse an upgrade.
actually the computer automatically upgrades if you selected that before, so you lose your old cabin right away.
We once booked a mini suite, not realising that it was directly under the pool deck. Were kept awake at night and woken early into the morning by people scraping chairs across the deck and thundering like elephants along the deck. It pays to check what is above you. Below you isn't usually too bad. We had the theatre below us once, and we weren't disturbed at all by noise. The one time we didn't get the rooms we'd paid for, we ended up hearing the anchors drop when we docked, but even that wasn't too bad.
I got a free ticket so I can't complain at anything just gratefully to do the journey
Voyager-class RCCL (Navigator of the Seas) has 14 decks, but two of them are shortened, due to recreational and bar features.
Our cruise in October 2023 we booked a forward-facing balcony deck 11 (Lido Deck) directly over the bridge. The cabin has not only a railing but a plexiglass 'front' attached to the railing, to cut the wind.
We're early risers so to see the ship coming into port is for us a cool thing, while drinking Mimosas and having the Continental B'fast.
Deck 11 is also the pool and buffet deck, as well a the adult pool/whirlpool and Solarium buffet.
Oh, midship... I've learned my lesson. If there's no center elevators/stairs, I won't book midship because that's equally inconvenient to everything! One advantage of booking a ship (or class) you've been on before is that you know where you'll be spending the bulk of your time and can select accordingly.
Great minds think alike. I've always used your method in picking staterooms. We usually go for a balcony, mid-ship, Deck 10.
Hello how are you doing.
I like your criteria, but I love to pick a mid forward Lido deck balcony cabin, just forward of the elevator lobby (to avoid lots of people waling past). That way, no steps for Lido deck and we can use lifts for going to dinner, shops, etc. That way many activities involve zero stairs.
Hi Bill how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, I live in Duluth, Minnesota.
Also avoid being too close to elevator lobbies (but not too far, either) and the galley (kitchen) which can run the length of half a deck or more. Galleys are marked sometimes on deck plans, but not always. They’re typically located either on or just below the lowest passenger deck.
There is nothing worse than staying on an inside cabin near an elevator. You will not get any rest there at all. Between the hydraulic sounds coming from the elevator and the loud people getting in/out of the elevator, it’s absolutely draining.
I have been following several people about cruises. Listening to all of the comments and advise I have finally come to a conclusion that (since I can't find a handicapped customer video) that cruising has dropped off my bucket list of things to EVER do. I much appreciate this video as it's made that very clear for me.
What are your disabilities Beth? I see LOTS of people in wheelchairs or scooters or other types of mobility devices and am in fact going with a friend of mine from highschool in May who is disabled. She does not typically use a mobility device but will be renting a scooter for the cruise because of the large amounts of walking/distances on the ship and we did get an accessible room. Everyones situation and circumstance is unique, but I would not let it detour you, especially if you have someone with you who can assist if and when needed!
Check out the youtuber cruising with wheels- he is a handicapped cruiser and reviews with accessibility in mind
we were on a cruise that had an accessible room across from us. It was huge. The lady using it was severely disabled, unable to move basically and confined to a huge wheelchair that was virtually laying her flat. The staff were amazingly helpful to her and her carer. I wouldn't be too worried about cruising with a handicap. If it entails a wheelchair or mobility aid, you may not be able to get off at tender ports, but you should be fine with land based docks. I've seen people with scooters use the gangways quite successfully and usually there are staff on hand to assist. Some ships we've been on also have spaces for wheelchairs in the main theatre.
Because Carnival has most of their specialty dining on the Lido deck, it's easy to spend 75% of your time on the Lido deck (with occasional trips down to the promenade deck for main dining/shows). If that's your style of cruising, get one of the cabins on the Lido deck (or just above/below those cabins). You avoid the elevator/stairs for 75% of your activities, and it's easier to find an elevator to travel down to the promenade.
Very good, useful information as always! One tip from frequent travelers on Disney cruise lines or those that attract kids, you do NOT want to be anywhere near elevators. They add a looooot of noise especially if you're the type who needs to sleep a bit earlier than the rest of the ship.
Coming as an Officer staff from Carnival Cruise, you do want to be in the middle/high (Center of the ship)... Mostly 2 or 3 floors from the very top deck. Why Well you are situated in the middle ground where is short to go to the restaurants or to the spa, but you are not too close to the casino/pools where it's very noisy. Is a general rule.
Gary I’ve been following you for quite some time and I really enjoy your videos. I have never been on a cruise nor do I plan on going on one but that doesn’t matter your cruise tips are fascinating and enjoyable. If I ever do decide to go on a cruise I’ll think of all your tips. Thank you
So weird. I have said all my life a cruise is the least type of holiday I would want but I watch all these videos!
We have to get wheelchair-accessible cabins as my wife is scooter-bound. As the number of wheelchair-accessible cabins is limited, we frequently have to take what we can get as opposed to being able to select our cabins. We don't spend much awake time in our cabin anyway, so this lack of choice isn't a problem.
Never take a cabin under the buffet or pool deck. Ever.
Unless you are trying to avoid sun on your balcony ...check if your balcony is affected by overhanging deck above. Your room will be darker and cooler on your balcony earlier.
Got upgraded to a rear corner stateroom once. Great room. Even better balcony. Problem was it was under the Lido deck. Every morning we got woken up by the crew rearranging the deck chairs.
There are a lot of factors when choosing the best cabin for yourself for sure. I find the traditional wisdom that mid-ships has the least movement. If you watch boats in the water going through waves. The bow moves up and down the most, but the stern stays in the water the most. It's also typically where the engines are and hence a lot of weight. So I have found for up and down movement the stern is the best place. For side to side, it's just physics. The higher up you are regardless, it will move more side to side. We have been pretty lucky on all of our cruises to only have 1 day or evening of rougher seas at most.
Another way we think about things is not really what you will be doing most but how. We tend to stay in the adult only areas of ships or just find the most ideal place at the pool for us. So we are not going from our room to the buffet for lunch, only for breakfast. And we typically take all of our stuff with us and either grab our chairs first, or go to the buffet with our pool stuff for breakfast. For lunch we will be going from the pool area, so it does not matter as much where the cabin is. And for dinner, we are going to MDR or a specialty restaurant and those are unknowns.
We got a cabin once under part of the lido deck and every morning at 4 am we had the chairs moving and scraping above us as they put them out for the morning. That was all it took and we always look at what is above and below. We also don't prefer anything too close the elevators because people are not always quiet when they walk down the hallways. So we like to limit traffic outside our door.
Your own mobility is probably the most important factor in determining where to stay (other than what is above and below you). If you can use the stairs and 5 ish flights is within your ability for the week it will be much better vs the elevators. Need the elevators because of mobility then insure you have access to the most number of options to you.
Early in my cruising life, I booked a balcony cabin for my wife & I and an inside for my children directly across the hall. Since the TA didn't inform me (and I didn't know any better) that there was a "do not upgrade" designation, I was shocked to find that our balcony cabin on the Caribe deck (larger balcony) was "upgraded" to the "Aloha" deck (standard balcony), with my children still in the Caribe inside. Needless to say, our peak-time Alaska cabin could not be recovered and Princess was not very accommodating or empathetic. Thanks, Gary, for mentioning this.
That is ridiculous. For safety concerns for your children, you should have been able stay in the first cabin you chose. There is no way I would have left my cabin across from my daughter when she was young and left alone. You should have been compensated for the worry and stress about your children and you probably didn't have as much enjoyment due to this
@@Niallisababe1 Absolutely right on all accounts. The ship was full and all they would do was give us an inside on the Aloha deck, down the hall from the balcony. The purser was kind of a jerk to top it off.
same thing happened to us on a P&O after we'd paid an extra fee per person not to be "upgraded". We were downgraded several decks below, with our children on a different deck and at opposite ends of the ship. I fought with them until they suddenly found two "spare" rooms next to each other. Not the same standard as we had paid for but at least we were together.
The only other option would have been to put one child and one parent in each room. Not ideal, but certainly safer.
One of the things we took into consideration for our (very first) cruise is to be near the stairs or elevator as my mom has mobility issues (and I can have some depending on how inflamed I am.) Thankfully for us, Regent ships have all suites and balconies, so we didn't have to think about that, but since we hadn't watched any of your videos before we looked at decks, we're on THE VERY TOP DECK. And what's below me, you ask? THE SPORTS DECK. Then the pool deck. I feel so lucky. 13 decks and I'm blessed with the two worst decks below me.
However, since we're at 1/2 capacity it may not be so bad??? Positive thoughts, people, positive thoughts. It's the Caribbean. I need positive thoughts.
Be careful of being anywhere near the elevators or stairs if you are sensitive to noise.
Elevators can be very noisy, at all hours of the night.
Thanks, Gary. Good advice. Well-spoken and edited, as always.
Thank you kindly
We recently booked a cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas, an old lady. The ship is set up with suites on deck eight, balconies on deck seven and the other cabins below that. Since we decided to book a suite, we had no choice of deck. That put us below the pool deck so we selected to be near the bow elevators instead of midship, our normal pick.
Which cabin did you book and did you have any problems with movement or noise? Also did you have an obstructed view?
I always choice a cabin on a deck just above the water level of a ship normally reception deck level.
Common sense, lower the deck less turbulence in rough weather,less expensive on the pocket, normally quicker to get off ship at ports local to reception help desk.
We have found this advice well worth the time for finding the right cabin. This is just as important as the cruise line. It make a good trip a great trip.
Hi Gary, great video as always. You probably don't suffer from sea sickness, but maybe you could collect some tips for people who do to enjoy cruising more (treatments, routes to take/avoid, locations on the ship, etc.). One tip I discovered is that you should avoid LONG rooms. I was on a Disney cruise and one of their dining rooms was exceptionally long. It was so long, you could just make out the other end of the room moving at a slightly different rate than the end I was on. Instant sea sickness! Things like this may help others if you are able to collect enough to justify a video.
You might consider natural remedies for sea-sickness. For example, my wife swears by ginger tablets.
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I''m used to the ferry where deck 10 or 11 is usually the top, and the lower deck numbers are typically the car decks.
TBHH: That depends mostly on what your itinerary would be like. Usually on European very port intensive cruises, with little if any sea days, there is really no difference on where you are or not, because basically you are only on the ship to sleep and have breakfast, dinner and some night entertainment... So now, on a Transatlantic with plenty of sea days, things are very different to say the least. You'd like a location near the lifts.... Otherwise you'll run long distances all day to go elsewhere. That is what I find the most important. Have a nice day!...
Not having been on a cruise myself, the advice given by family members who have includes DON'T get a cabin right next to an elevator. She was on a Carnival cruise, and the elevator was in use late into the night, the elevator itself was a bit noisy, and if anyone was getting on/off at her deck it was even worse because the people would be loud (and probably drunk if it was late night)
She said her cruise had a large "partying" population.
Carnival is known as a party ship, more young people than others.
Hi Sir Gary. Happy New Year. Yes. I prefer to look at the deck plan and choose my own cabin the past 5 years. Was blessed with great areas when I didn’t know I could choose years back. I didn’t realize you can hear the tv etc with connecting cabins. Oh. Didn’t know there was auto upgrade. I’ve received emails offering upgrades for x amount of money but always declined to stay with our group of 17. Everyone avoids the deck under the lido. Or ports deck. Never understood the the decks that have walkways past ones balcony cabin. Yes. Balcony mid deck for ones with seasickness. Amazing tips. Thanks so much and see you next video.
Easy access to emergency escape is crucial in my decision making process
If you have mobility issues, etc… I can see the deck mattering. For us we walk everywhere, no elevators, and it does not take much longer. It also helps burn off some of the food.
Ditto! We always do the stairs- no elevators for us for the same reason!
You need to do a video about which side of the ship you should choose. Sun, scenery, etc.
I just got off a wonderful cruise on the Enchanted Princess. Level 8 mid forward. Wonder mini suite but we were a little too close to the water. Our balcony was continually wet from the wind blown spray from the wake of the ship. But… the balcony was fabulous in port. I would select 10 level + in the future… also midship if available. Again wonderful cruise.
As an adult, I have only been on five cruises. First two were on NCL which ultimately I did not care for. And the last three were all on HAL. As a single mom, even $100 per person was a lot for me so I did not request a specific cabin and just paid for the cheapest cabin on the ship. The second time I cruise on HAL, I got an automatic upgrade to a balcony room on the back of the ship! The third time was the week of Valentines Day, so no balcony upgrade as the ship was full. I love cruising, but must do it on a very limited budget. Since I live in Florida, I don't have to incur airfare costs. If there are any negatives, such as engine noise, I just roll with the punches and remember how grateful I am to be on a cruise.
I mentioned cruising as an adult for a specific reason. When I was very small we lived in the Philippines. International Harvester, the company my father worked for, sent our family of four with two children under the age of 2, on the Presidential Line to the Philippines. We were on the SS President Hoover. Is there anyone out there who remembers the Presidential Line and may have even traveled on some of their ships?
My favorite ship was the refurbished SS Monterey, not sure if it was renamed, but it was one of the USS Presidential lines ships, which my grandfather was a steward on.
The refurbish was beautiful and included the original Steinway, which I spent as much time as I could on.
It was not, unfortunately, a very pleasant cruise, as we were at half capacity and up to 30 foot swells, a week before Christmas. Even the waiters were getting seasick(!!!)
I still love that ship though ❤
@@TravelsWithBunnies thank you so much for replying! We too went through the edges of a typhoon. I wasn't even two yet, but my mom said she remembered oranges on the floor of the stateroom, rolling back and forth. My only memory is, when we returned to the US in late 1960 right after I turned four, going to different tables in the dining room where other passengers would feed me black olives from the little relish trays on ea h table. I still love black olives!
I chose Deck 8 Balcony for my upcoming Carnival Panorama Cruise midship and there are staterooms above and below me, not an interconnecting cabin and its close to everything! The only thing across from me is the high roof of the Sky Jump. but it should not impact me.
Everyone has their preferences, and a lot of that is learned by going on cruises and through trial and error. Some things you can figure out by reading and watching videos, others, not so much. Myself (and some of these can change depending on who I am traveling with and their particular needs if they have any), I tend to prefer higher balcony (but still surrounded on all sides by cabins) or lower 'cove' balconys, as i also like being able to 'hear' the water down there. so, either location works for me. I like being near elevators, but not right NEXT to them, if that makes sense. I don't mind being mid ship, as I don't mind walking. If I could find a way not to have any children near me that would be great, but, cruises (or room types) where that would be likely would be far out of my budget- and the cruise lines where it would be more likely would not be my style at ALL ;) LOL
Our cruise a couple weeks ago we were on deck 9, i loved it :) most of the public spaces were on deck 7-5 and then the pool deck was deck 14.... So if the lifts were full i could just nick down the stairs to the lower deck with no problems :) we had cabins below, above and next to us :) we were also in the corridor, only 2 cabins away from the aft lift!/stairway which i loved :)
Amazing very useful informations, I don't think that if I searched the youtube I will find someone gives these kind of informations,,
Thank you so much
Always avoid anywhere near the anchor or/and those pop out platforms crew use during navigation into and out of port. We were near one on a Med Cruise and every morning very early it came clattering down with a thud that went through the room.
Thank you for another great video explanation, Gary. I'd only disagree with your comments about traffic. We had a balcony cabin closer to the stern and the hall access to the cabin was very quiet because there were very few people walking that far down. Thanks again.
We prefer the slightly smaller ships of HAL, where booking a verandah cabin on deck 5 or 6 puts us more or less equidistant from the dining/entertainment venues below and the lido above. I always apply your above-below-beside-across rule, and it works out very well 😋
I, too,request 5 or 6 midcabin verandah on HAL
Lido deck on the caribbean princess. Next to stairs and elevators, short walk to pools and food. I was in L256 which was about 10 doors away from the action. room was quiet as a church.
Have had cabins with club music/bass pounding keeping us awake as well as a cabin right below some sort of track used in transporting very noisy cargo. Sounded just like a heavy train going back and forth! All night long.
Midship balcony two decks below the pool is the best cabin and best value in most cases.
Very little if any noise comes from public areas.
If you don’t like connecting doors don’t cruise Norwegian almost all of them connect.
Are there any websites folks use or recommend which makes choosing the best cabin easier? This feels like something the community should totally get behind in identifying good/bad areas for each ship based on certain criteria. Could be really awesome.
Port or Starboard can be a factor also. On our Rome to Miami cruise, Starboard faced the coast during cruising. We also will avoid being next to cabins holding 4 people (likely including kids) after loud teenagers next door arguing on their balcony made using our balcony unpleasant.
You should have reported them!
On my last cruise I had an inside cabin on Deck 2 underneath one of the Dining Room lobbies. Neither my sister nor I heard any noise from there. We were on an 11 day cruise with lots of sea days.
We were far enough from elevators and stairs so we weren't bothered by noise and traffic from them.
I studied deck plans extensively before choosing a block of acceptable cabins. All of the cabins surrounded by other cabins were much more expensive and higher on the ship than I wanted to be based on seasick fears.
Again, thank you so much. I'm addinf all the t's for t's to build my future first cruise. I thoroughly enjoy tour channel. You've said you are actually a bit shy, but I would walk right up and bear hug you first chance I get. Gently, of course. Peace- Gordon
Thanks Gary. As always, very insightful information. I agree completely that becoming familiar with the ship through perusing the deck plans is the way to go. Too risky letting them assign you a cabin for the small amount of savings. Be well and stay healthy! 👍🌞
Hello how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, I live in Duluth, Minnesota.
You left out the other disadvantage upper desks have. MORE movement. If want to be really moving around go top deck near the bow. I prefer to be on a balcony, middle deck about 1/3 forward of the stern.
I disagree. My preferred spot is the highest deck in the rear. On most ships the aft buffet is hardly used in the evening so there is no noise issue being directly beneath it. Being on a high desk provides quick access to the topside buffet, pools, and the outdoor activities and aft elevators.
My fav is mid ship Oceanview. Always always! I've had balconies but really don't spend enough time in cabin to justify it. So the light and view in Oceanview is my choice.
I always pick my stateroom on a higher deck . It doesn't matter if you get rooms all around you because people are noisy. I also always get a balcony midship on the starboard side. I don't worry about the distance I have to walk. If I did I wouldn't cruise. To me the higher the better, and the elevator takes me up or down so it's no big deal on any distance.
Deck 7 Neptune suite near Neptune Lounge and a Cabana on deck 11 for entire cruise. Perfect private cruise on HA.
Pinnacle dining brekkie on Oosterdam.
I ignore the pools and hot tubs too many users, too dangerous for colds, covid and flu.
Private villa for next part with our own pool.
Just came off cruise where I was right below the Lido deck and loved it. But I am a really sound sleeper so not much is going to bother me. I figured if I take that one, nobody else has to suffer. Honestly not sure any of these things would bother me much. I am the kind of passenger the cruise line should love . . . not picky at all.
Just returned home from Seabourn Christmas Cruise.
Fabulous!
Only 9 decks, I was at the end of deck 6, near a sunbathing area that I had all to myself!!!!
Really couldn’t cope with those huge shops! Once again, it depends what you’re looking for on a cruise holiday .
Another interesting video Gary. Our next cruise (in 2023) will be interesting because I didn't realise when I booked that we didn't choose our cabin. Anyway we will see what happens. We still do not have ships back in Australia. Very frustrating!
Hopefully you have a great cabin!
Hello Dianne how are you doing.
All good points and well encapsulated thanks Gary. We increasingly target 2 levels above the main or promenade deck, the rationale being that we are less energetic at the end of the day, especially with a belly full of food and a couple of glasses of wine. Conversely, we tend to be more energetic earlier in the day so those steps are a little less challenging at that time of day. Also, we prefer to use the bathroom facilities in our own room throughout the evening rather than the public bathrooms so being close by is more convenient.
I love an inside cabin as they are cheaper and I sleep way better. Win win 🏆
Saame! The cost effectiveness of them means we can cruise more often.
And there is the inner glee of knowing the cabin across the way paid thousands more for a place to sleep lol
@@CrusifoxMedia I like to sit & read on my balcony, with a cuppa. It gives me a quiet place to sit, with my own tea/coffee available, as well as my own loo. With my binoculars I can spot things in the distance.
I love the inside cabin also and I still close the curtains I feel safe
thank for your information and I love dk 9,10,11, mid ship is the best while the rock sea conditon effected to the ship
I go where the cheapo seats are. 5 day cruise a few months ago, $50 + port fees and gratuities, solo person in the cabin, next cruise a few weeks later, $100 + port fees, I really went all out a few weeks ago and spent $199, again all solo. You folks spend too much time and money trying to figure out the best place. FYI, I eat the same food as others and see the same shows.
I have been 4 different ships And try to stay between 8 or 9 decks but enjoyed every minute I had on the Cruise Liners especially on the Norwegian Gem
Great advice 👍 we concur 👍. Starboard v portside v destinations are a must, for consideration. We have cruised extensively for 20 years. Great vlog/information 👊👊👊👏👏👍
Thanks as always for watching and the comments!!
Generally speaking the area where the Casino is at is there by design. Its center mid ship and very stable If your cabin is anywhere in that area you should be fine. Its why a Super Carriers command center, island is in that general area if that is any interest.
I did a cruise on Ruby Princess and they have a hidden bonus..if you get a balcony room in the aft area they tend to have a wrap around balcony. The cons to that was I felt alot of boat movement.
Very much enjoy your content Gary. Thank you.
Thank you kindly
I have looked hard at staterooms on the same deck as the pool. They are not on a hallway with other public areas and elevators so traffic should not be a concern. The convenience of being close to my own room while using the pool area just seems like a good deal. I just do not know how much the sound from the pool area wafts back to the balconies aft of them. Would love to hear from others who have stayed in one. Not looking at a Carnival, something quieter like Celebrity.
Due to COVID and the need to have isolation areas, we got an upgrade we didn't want. We have been looking forward to trying a Princess 'Deluxe Balcony". This is a room expanded the size of a love seat instead of the couch in a mini-suite BUT you keep a shower instead of dealing with a bathtub. The bathtub is the only thing we don't like about mini-suites. Wouldn't you know! We got upgraded to a mini-suite because our chosen room will be an isolation area and no other rooms of same class are available. If we wanted that upgrade we probably would have never got it.
Good information. We have good luck choosing a cabin near concierge lounge.
What about choosing port side?
I booked a mini suite forward..it was half price of any other location. I got upgraded to a cabin mid ship!!!
I recommend a balcony on the port side of the ship - that way you can yell at people who are late coming back from their shore excursions
Port refers to the left side of ship. Ships don’t always open on that side when at a port.
My wife and I normally cruise on HAL. We always stay in Neptune suites and pick our cabin. We stay midships near to the Neptune lounge. But not so close as the year the noise or traffic. We have a favorite cabin figured out on all the classes of their ships. I call my PCC at Hal and book my cruise. Most of the time, even if that cabin looks like it is taken online, it may not be. I book early as possible so as to have the most freedom of choice.
Gary: Takes 7854848548 factors into account.
Emma: *Randomly rolls dice* 😂😂
I wonder if there are any search apps where you can find the cabin you prefer first and then see which cruises on which this is still available. There are some ships where I know I want to be.
Hello Stephen how are you doing.
Check out the video about building MSC Meraviglia (can't make a hyperlink). Skip right to 36:00 to see the part I believe might interest you.
Despite its size I'll cruise in it if I can.
I just cruised on the Meraviglia. Lovely ship and crew. It’s going into dry dock and moving back to Europe so you can cruise from Europe now.
I sailed on the Meraviglia in the Mediterranean. Very nice ship!
Discovery princess alaska cruise deck 15 M114. Please advise😊
As close to the centre of roll and as close to the centre of pitch as possible
"...too far to walk to fitness room or gym."
Irony is so ripe in that sentence.
So true 😀😀😀
Some very good tips! We always do balcony and typically decks 8-9, and in our case we purposely take a room at the back of the ship so we can get in some extra steps and burn-off a few extra calories ;)
I require a room for those with limited mobility, not full disability. Happy with cabins with a view, although prefer a balcony. Research is key. Try for a passenger cabin, surrounded by other passenger cabins.
Thank you for another informative video. My husband and I are booked on a Viking cruise in 2024 and one of the things I was concerned about was cabin choice. I ended up with a cabin on deck 5 mid ship. My concern is that the cabin is on the starboard side and we are cruising from Bergen to Amsterdam. Will being in the side away from the sight of land cut down on our viewing experience or can we just go on deck to observe? Does it ever matter what side of the ship your cabin is on? We have never cruised before and have no experiences to judge by. Thank you for all your very useful videos. I have been binge watching!
Leaving Bergen you travel for hours along a long fjord. The views on both sides of the ship are amazing and it's the same in any fjord really. If you go into a port one way you leave it facing the opposite direction, so you'll see the views regardless. Most of the rest of the time you're too far out so sea for there to be any views. If your ship goes under the huge bridge near Denmark on it's way down to Amsterdam, you can see it from both sides of the ship. Entering into Amsterdam you usually go through a lock. The views are the same on each side of the ship, and it's absolutely amazing to experience such a big ship squeeze into the space with literally only a few cms to spare on either side. Unfortunately it is generally in the early hours of the morning but when we did it, there was a storm brewing so they went into port in the afternoon before, so we got to see it all. To enter the estuary where the lock is, it appears as if your ship is sailing right across a beach. Really weird visually, when there's people on the beach!
I was at the back of the ship and didn’t need to go to the gym as I walked 3 km a day to the cabin
I appreciate the style and class you give to your videos.
Thanks for watching. Great to hear this feedback. Very much appreciated
just off the regal princess. buffet was questionable? internet was terrible. other wise fine... smoke from stack at night seemed to b;low over the balconies just behind me.
My fav cabin is near the centrum elevator one floor below the Windjammer, in an owner's suite on most Royal ships. I can walk one floor to the Windjammer. Dining rooms, Promenade Cafe are just an elevator away on most ships.
Hi may I ask which deck were you on anthem if the seas
@@marieip1122 Most suites on Anthem are deck 10 there are some on 9, accessible on 9 is the same size as a Jr suite. Hope this helps