Cabin location

Different locations have their pros and cons, and it depends on what matters to you.

Quiet

Light sleeper? Accustomed to quiet surroundings? Look at the deck plan to see what is above, below and near the cabin. If quiet matters to you, then ...

• Seek - cabins surrounded by other cabins. If you are on a deck with only cabins above and below you, you will be in the quietest part of the ship.
• Avoid - cabins under the disco, unless you are going to be one of the people in the disco when it closes.
• Avoid - cabins under the pool deck. Crew re-arranging chairs at 6 am, kids running around throughout the day, this can be a noisy area.

Motion

Concerned about waves? First of all, read our article on how to avoid sea-sickness. In terms of cabin choice, you will experience least amount of motion in the lower decks, and closer to the middle of the ship.

View

Depending on where you are sailing, one side of the ship may have a different view than the other. If you are cruising round-trip, this may not make much difference, but a north-bound Alaska cruise will have land views on the starboard (right) side and water views on the port (left) side of the ship.

Also, rear facing balconies appeal to guests who like to sit and watch the ship's wake disappear in the distance.

Some ships even have forward-facing balconies. These have best view when pulling into port, but be aware that sometimes these verandahs may be visible from the observation decks above.

Convenience

Higher decks are closer to the pools and casual dining. This is popular, so cabins that are higher up the ship are typically more expensive than those lower down. The lower decks are closer to the front desk, main dining room and lounges.

Guests who prefer to walk less may prefer a stateroom near the elevators.

Privacy

A small proportion of staterooms have windows and balconies that may be visible from public areas. So if you want to maintain your view and your privacy, be sure to check the deck plan and avoid:

• Outside cabins with a promenade deck outside the window
• Tiered balcony cabins, which are most often found on Princess