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My daughter in law makes all the plans for the cruises. My two sons, and their wives, invited me to join them for a cruise, on the Norwegian Bliss, when it was a brand new ship. They reserved a single cabin, for me, in just the right place, on that ship, and we had a marvelous time, for that whole cruise. The was on my "bucket list", and I was so thankful for it. Isn't it wonderful to have your family love you that much!
Our kids gave us our first cruise as an anniversary present about ten years ago. I loved it. My last cruise was on the Bliss. We had a cabin on the same level and close to the observation deck. It was so great we decided to go see alaska this summer on Bliss. It’s one of my bucket list destinations.
I love that you are direct and to the point, well spoken without any useless jabbering 😊 Thank you for all the information you share. I’ve never been on a cruise but this information is useful for when I do. I’ll keep watching 😊
My wife and I went on an Alaska cruise last year. Our travel agent recommended a rear facing cabin. We were very happy with it. When looking at glaciers, we had a perfect view regardless of which side a glacier was on.
Agreed. We did this just two weeks ago. Another plus, it may be cold on deck due to the wind at night, but the rear facing balcony was ok since the wind was blocked.
@@livininthemusic Not at all. These modern cruise ships are very stabilized and I rarely felt any rolling motion. Plus the Alaska passage cruise is rarely exposed to open ocean. We've been on four cruises and the Alaska cruise was our favorite one.
I was in the bowels of the mid-ship, down the corridor from the Art Gallery, on the same deck as the International Cafe. No window, no balcony. Nice and dark with no traffic. LOVED IT!
The worst cabin we booked was a beautiful balcony far from the elevators and sandwiched between cabins above and cabins below us. This was a dream cabin which we booked directly with the cruise line. It was supposed to be one of the quietest cabins on the cruise. However, the teen club was directly across the hall and the noise was ear splitting! We are seniors and go to sleep early, but the noise was horrific until after eleven PM. No one considered the proximity of the teen club when we booked the cruise! 🤣
As a truck driver, I can imagine feeling right at home in a cabin that I hear or feel engine sounds. Lol… I’m used to a refrigerated unit running all the time or an auxiliary power unit running as I sleep. Going in our first cruise in August and have an AFT Penthouse Suite booked! 🎉😊❤
I just came off the NCL Joy. I was in 15868. When I tell you it was THE BEST room I’ve ever had I am not joking: I loved the sound of the waves, the view was extraordinary, it was so quiet because there was no foot traffic at all, the aft elevator was not far so I didn’t have far to walk to get the elevator, it was much wider than a normal balcony - I had two deck and two table chairs, there’s zero wind coming into the cabin unlike a front facing balcony so I could keep my balcony door open at all times. 💖
My husband and I try to get a cabin near the engine. We have found that the hum helps us sleep very well and tends to drown out other more annoying sounds for us. If we can get an aft starboard or port cabin then we also get the rocking motion that we absolutely loved. Felt like being rocked and a lullaby to fall asleep to.
I often think that since we're used to sleeping in a semi that we would be ok with a cabin close to the engine. Haven't tested it yet, but there's still time.
We absolutely love the forward-facing suites on the Royal class Princess ships. These suites have a forward facing window with the balcony on the side. So there is no wind issue when under way. I prefer to see where we are going than where we’ve been. Also, we can see both sides of the ship from the front window which allows for us to see most docking operations. Our favorite suite is B102 which is on the 11th deck and on the port side which allows us to wave to all of the high-rise revealers blowing horns when leaving Port Canaveral.
Did you feel any motion sickness being in this particular cabin? We just booked one on NCL, and now I'm regretting it as I'm worried we are going to feel those waves and wind!
@@barbaram7164 Fortunately, we do not really suffer from motion sickness. To the contrary, we really enjoy the rocking of the ship - especially at night when we get “rocked” to sleep. So I can’t really advise. I understand that it is a “smoother” ride toward the middle of the ship. I’ve been in both the front and the aft where I it is supposed to be more rocky. I’ve found that it depends more on the weather on your cruise rather than where you are on the ship. But, if you are prone to sea sickness, I understand that it is better to stay to the middle of the ship on a lower deck.
@@jackredmond6023 Thanks--I'm really torn because I've always wanted a forward suite, but others in my traveling party may not like it. Thank you--this was helpful!
I didn't realize partially obstructed meant a giant lifeboat in front of window! We got a great deal, it was on 8th deck in a good location, so we didn't complain much about it! We learned our lesson. 😅
Hi, Ilana- We are 2 seniors who cruise 3 or more times a year. Our next cruise is next month and when we booked, the difference between an ocean view and a balcony was over 4-1/2 times! So we booked the OV. We would rather go at that price than stay home! We did request an upgrade on our last cruise from an OV to a balcony for an increase of only $30 per day, which was reasonable. I waited until the first full day after embarkation to ask and it worked out. If it works, fine. If not, you can always go to a public deck and enjoy the view. If money is no object, do what you want! We need to watch our $. We also booked a 16 day TA for $200 pp for an inside cabin. 8 of those days are sea days, so not missing that much of the view. We have Carnival stock, so both cruises earn a total of $500 OBC. Yes, these deals can be had, but you have to be vigilant and watch your travel agent’s website frequently. 😅
Actually the rate was $810 total for the both of us for a 16 night TA. YES, it was a small inside cabin. With 2 large and 2 carry on suitcases, we could hardly move, so we immediately unpacked and stored the bags under the bed. That opened up the space. This was the first time in an inside cabin for us and it wasn’t that bad. We stopped at the Azores, Ireland, England and France. Disembarking at Rotterdam, we took a cruise line bus to Amsterdam and boarded the Nieuw Statendam for a second cruise to Norway. We had an obstructed view balcony and that was 4 times the price of the TA for the 11 nights round Norway. We did not use the balcony that much. Conclusion: Cruising in the north, a balcony is nice but not essential. If you are cruising on a budget, an inside cabin will save you lots of money. An ocean view cabin is a reasonable alternative if you don’t want an inside cabin. Just our experience.
The best part of cruising is having a forward cabin so that you get the motion and wave sounds that make for the best sleep that you ever have. (They say you shouldn't leave your door open at night - Posh! As long as weather allows - Do it!! When we book suites we love the aft cabins, especially the corner where we have a wrap-around deck with side and rear areas.
We are budget Cruisers so we tend to go for the interior cabins. We've only been on one Cruise and we booked another one for February 2024 but we watched a lot of Cruise videos before we made any cabin decisions. We learned very early on which ones to avoid and so far, even though just once, hasn't been disappointing. We realized we like the rocking that comes with being high and forward on a ship. As long as we don't have any loud noises around us then we are happy LOL
I almost always pick the cheapest fare available. That means I don't usually get assigned a cabin until the day of embarkation. I've been upgraded twice to VERY nice cabins including balconies. The other times I had inside cabins and it has never been a problem. I have earplugs should I be in a place where it has noises I don't want to hear. The prices I have paid have been super discounted and I am glad I am not so sensitive to the things discussed in this video. Oh, and yeah, if you're in the cabin next to me having sex, yeah, I can hear ya. I am glad I am not spoiled that a little bit of a orange lifeboat would be make me feel like my view is obstructed. I spend so little time in my cabin it just isn't an issue.
I just started a new job selling Princess Cruise lines and all of your advice is extremely helpful when helping guests to make the best cabin selection. You explained it so well!
I follow Gary Bembridge’s advice and only book cabins with cabins above, below, and across the hall. I have booked near the elevator and noticed no excessive noise. I was apprehensive on my last cruise because the kids club was on the same floor but on the other end of the ship. Luckily I didn’t hear anything.
Cove balcony on deck 2 was amazing. When it was time to leave the ship we were closer to the exit. Also close to the dining room. Was in the middle and bottom of the ship so it was actually easier to navigate throughout the ship.
We came back from a cruise a week ago. We upgraded our cabin as we didn't want the bunks that are in so many cabins on the Ambience. We paid £60pp to upgrade and we were given an aft cabin on the deck 11. It turned out that were directly below the buffet, which was great, a short walk to the stairwell, one deck up and straight into the Borough Market buffet. There was some noise in the cabin but not that much to write home about. We had absolutely no problem with the position of our cabin at all.
In Las Vegas we had a connecting door to a large group of Japanese girls. Their waking hours were in the middle of the night for us. So loud. I always carry ear plugs now.
Ilana, we love the forward and aft cabins because they are usually quieter with less foot traffic. The motion of the ship does not bother us at all. We also always try to book on a deck with cabins above and below us. Thanks for this very informational video!⛴⛴⛴
Hi--did you feel the motion every minute of the cruise? Was it constant? I just booked a forward cabin for the first time and now a bit worried I might get seasick or deal with the heavy wind issue--New York to Bermuda.
On our most recent cruise (Nov 23], we had booked a mid-ship balcony cabin on the 9th deck, of the Norwegian Getaway. It was horrible, due to the fact that crew members were in a kitchen below us on the 8th deck, cleaning pots and pans, dragging tables and chairs across the floor and slamming a heavy fridge or freezer door between the hours of 1 am to 4 am, almost every night.
Great Tips on the worst cabins. I have a client who is new to crusing and very sensitive to smells and noise so this is extremely helpful to me to make sure she doesn't have a bad cabin experience. Thanks so much! I always enjoy your informative videos. Happy Crusing!
We loved our aft facing balcony. The balcony is larger than normal, and it's out of the wind. Only con was a little bit of ash from the engine exhaust on one port day due to the wind direction that caused it to fall on our balcony. Also we could hear the music from the outdoor night club that was 2 decks above us, but that is something that is ship-specific. Overall it was our favorite cabin so far in any of our cruises
We love the aft cabin. Instead of seeing only those things on one side we get a panoramic view. It seemed that the balcony was a little larger. We want to go to the activity and not always be in the middle of the activity. We have never had noise or smell concerns. 😊
So happy you did this for people. I am VERY picky since I get very seasick 🤢, my Holland America cruise consultant didn't even know about places to avoid! My sister booked a suite in the front of the ship, was so excited until she got seasick, she NEVER gets seasick.
I like Aft cabins. Might be a bit noisy so stay toward the higher decks. That said, even less roll than midship but there is a sweet spot. Go to either side about 10 rooms from the suites. Look at your ship and find where the stabilizer is aft. Most ships have an X or what looks like a wine bottle on its side. Within 10 rooms it's comfy
The forward facing suite we had on Royal Princess was fabulous . Sit in bed with coffee with a bow ( front ) view . The side balcony was protected but skinny . Now , we love the motion. Sleep like babies .
We really like the obstructed view cabins for their lower price. The ones we have had have large floor to ceiling windows with a lifeboat hanging outside. We still can see the sky and get loads of daylight in the room . We are budget cruisers and choose these or inside cabins.
I'm inclined to agree with you. I'd much rather have natural daylight coming in than a completely interior cabin with only artificial light. My favorite on the QM2 is the sheltered balcony cabin (decks 4, 5, 6) which have their balconies built into the hull of the ship. We get a *very* private balcony, lots of daylight, and a good view through generous opening--all at a budget price.
Oh man, only have 1 cruise under our belt but we've seen countless videos of yours and others to really sort of map out ships and cabins. We've learned quite a lot even before booking our first cruise! mid-ship, cabins below and above, and a bit away from crew closets. From a balcony cabin, I don't think we'd ever want an interior. That circulating air is so nice to have during the week.
My all-time favorite cabin was an aft facing balcony - and my worst cabin was right over the casino. We must have been right over the speaker and they had drawings and such late into the night every single night - it was similar to what you would expect from a disco or club. Now i try to stick with floor that has rooms above and below.
Just booked a guaranteed interior state room on Odyssey of the seas for a Mediterranean cruise. Definitely kept the cost down compared to booking a balcony, as we usually do. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
I was on Carnival Glory with oceanview overlooking a secret small deck in the aft. I loved it. We could see wake from the window and two steps from our room we could go outside! Ours was obstructed oceanview but it was only obstructed because theoretically someone could have stood in front of our window. It was great. I was the only one all week who ever went on that unknown deck!
Best room ever: Carnival Dream. First level balcony. A life boat was hanging directly above my balcony but I could only see it if I looked up. This provided a super view of the beautiful water since I was low and close to the waterline. Flying fish were jumping right outside my view every morning. Room service breakfast every day was a highlight.
Great advice, I learned all these mistakes on my own. The elevator is the worst. My best advice is booking the cruise months in advance so you can get the room you want.
Thank you for another great video! We are booking a 2025 cruise and will definitely keep these considerations in mind when choosing our cabin location. The cabin we regretted booking was just off the center atrium of a Princess ship on the deck where dance parties, balloon drops and champagne towers were celebrated. It was so difficult to make our way through the crowds on some evenings just to try to get back to our cabin. It was also noisy as the crowds sometimes spilled over into our hallway. It would have been a great cabin for younger party people but did not really work for us.
No matter what, bring ear plugs. That goes for flying, hotels, and cruises. Even if you plot out your cabin as best as possible, there are still people walking in the halls, loud people above or next to you, etc. I pop in earplugs to sleep and block out any possible annoyances.
I really like the AFT balcony cabins mainly because the balconies are spacious and you actually have a view of wider view and see both sides of the ship. What I didn't like about it, was below us were workers who were smoking all the time. I hated the smoke. It was constant.
We sailed on Holland America for 28 years before my husband recently died from cancer. One cabin I was really upset about (I didn’t select it) in Europe was also obstructed partially by a lifeboat however, even though it was not a balcony cabin, it had floor to ceiling windows and that was a bonus.
We were 1st time cruisers in 2016. We were with family and friends. We went thru a tour company who picked well for us. Balcony on the 8th level. Worth the extra cost! That balcony became my happy place. I only regretted I didn’t order breakfast in our room. Thank you Royal Caribbean for all the wonderful memories!!💕
On Rhapsody of the Seas we booked a cabin below the pool deck and a few doors from the elevator for an Alaskan cruise. Great location as very little use of the pool, so no pool parties, chair dragging or kids running around. Also, super close to the windjammer for quick bites throughout the day. It was a Junior suite, which was only available in this part of the ship (floor and mid ship). Doing the same in August on Radiance, hoping for the same outcome.
The cruise my husband and I went on was awesome. We didn't hear any noise. Cabin was on the 5 floor middle of the ship with nice window view. I had the best sleep on my cruise. Had a lot of fun too!
Some cabins we regretted: under the buffet , ands family cabin with just two of us (the closed bunk beds were always in my husband’s way). We actually loved our aft cabin on a Princess ship. It was close to a small pool that hardly anyone visited. On our last cruise on Carnival, we had an accessible room at the very front of the ship. Although it was listed as an inside cabin, it had a huge window and right out a door was an area no one ever came to - It was large and had no chairs, but was perfect for watching the waves and spending time outdoors. There was a bench.
Yes! The last cabin is what we booked, it was directly in front of crew access or storage. They were in and out and just letting that door slam all hours of the day
Love your videos! You really nailed which cabins you should avoid. One cabin my wife and I love is the aft facing cabins. Less foot traffic and a lot more quieter. Don’t mind obstructed view cabins. The cabins we always avoid are forward cabins and right under the Ledo cabin.
Great tip on the interconnecting rooms. I just got back from a cruise on RC Quantum of the Seas, absolutely loved it, and our room - BUT - I did not love the family next door with a small child on threw huge tantrums every day. I am sure that interconnecting door meant we heard more of it than we otherwise would have. Additionally, the door moves a little bit so on the couple of sea days we had where the ship was moving a lot, the door creaked. Not ideal. Overall, still a great cruise though!
Aft balcony suite was the best place to be on panama canal transit. The whole workings of the canal was right in front of . Butler said we had the best view here. Also saw neighbors moving in with a lot of camera equipment. Loved it!!!
Hi there, I am new to the channel. I have been really enjoying the films that you have here. My golden rule is having a balcony first of all. Then make sure that there are rooms, above, below and to the side of you as well as inside of you. I am fairly relaxed about being near the lifts, there is not as much noise as you might expect and it certainly helps me to navigate. Cheers Stephen
I’m a fairly low income person so I’m just happy to be on a cruise ship. However a girl can dream so I wanted to check out this video haha! I’m surprised to hear the negative things about the forward facing balconies as I’ve only heard good things from other bloggers about those rooms.my two cruises so far I did the guaranteed interior room and for both was upgraded to a balcony mid-ship slightly towards the back for free due to the ship being very under-crowded. My room was above the jazz club but they only were open until 2 am- I’d usually get into my room around 1am-5am so some days I would miss the music, other days I found it relaxing as i wound down for bed. I honestly did wish that my cabin was closer to the buffet as i was so far away from it, but sometimes it was nice to have the peace and quiet of not being near any of the action. Growing up very low income and never even having been on a vacation until adulthood, I honestly think I would be able to put up with / be happy with most of these situations. I do get seasick on whale watches / small boats but did very well on my 2 cruises so far - I preventively used those patches behind the ear and one on my stomach and took 2 of the regular (not non drowsy) dramamine every few hours and it worked out great. I felt a little disoriented a few times by the movement but never nauseas. Knock on wood lol.
I was on the Carnival Magic in an rear oceanview on deck 1. The engine / anchor when the ship was docking away from shore was very loud and had a lot of strong vibrations. It didn't bother me because I was already awake and getting ready for the day, but for late sleepers or those that don't intend to leave the room for the day that wouldn't be a good experience.
As smokers, my group and I go out of our way to get rooms as close as possible to a smoking area. I say this because our agent told us that Carnival, RC and Princess are very happy to cater to us and place us in those particular rooms at a discounted price as they usually are not as popular :)
WOW! I booked my first cruise for 5 of us and miraculously booked 2 excellent balcony cabins. We were slightly forward. No where near the Lido deck, gym or swimming pools, kitchen or elevator. Up on the 14th floor…. praise God!
We just finished a cruise on a Holland America ship and our cabin was right at the forward Port elevators. Step off the elevator, turn left to the hallway and there we were. No wall or cabin across the aisle. There was even a high traffic mat outside our door to protect the rug! There was a bit of noise but mostly didn't notice it. I would book that cabin again.
I only book aft view balcony cabins. 180 degree panoramic views of both sides of where the ship goes, no wind, less foot traffic in the hallway and more of a walk to walk off the drinks and buffet.
Accidentally booked an inside cabin that had upper and lower bunk beds instead of two twins that we could put together. It wasn’t noticeable until we got our paperwork. My hubby and I made the best of it though! 😂
I never knew about smoking sections until I watched a vlog about our ship and someone said they could smell the smoke on Deck 8 from below on Deck 5, portside. I'm glad I saw the video or my husband would have had a fit about the smoke. I suggest people watch ship tours before booking....or at least look at the deck plans.
I did not realize smoking was allowed on a cruise ship. Thanks for the tip . I will definitely be looking for that info as I have severe asthma and I can’t be around smoke.
Worst cabin so far was an oceanview on the lower deck on Norwegian. We had rough seas and the waves were hitting very close to the window. Will never do that again! We generally prefer the aft balconies but booked a forward obstructed balcony on Princess for our cruise to Alaska. Even though it was a metal balcony we had more than enough room to invite our friends to join us watching the scenery as we cruised the inside passage.
Great info! We use many of the tips you included in your discussion. My advice in booking a cabin is to think about how much time you are planning on spending in a cabin? We are basically only in our cabin to sleep and to take a shower and to get dressed. Other cruisers seem to spend a great deal more time in their cabin. If you are like us, you can save significant funds by booking an inside or obstructed view balcony, or a cabin overlooking Central Park on the Oasis class ships. It all comes down to where you want to spend your money - for a cabin or dinning, drinks, or excursions. Also, consider where you are going on your cruise. If you are going to a scenic area (Alaska, Baltic, etc.) I highly recommend getting a balcony cabin to enjoy the scenic areas. If available, we prefer two decks above the main public areas (usually deck 5) and midship. The one area I try to avoid is anywhere near a crew elevator as these are used to move luggage, house keeping service carts, and crew. These can be very noisy. Recently on the Celebrity Apex, we make a last minute booking and selected an inside cabin (9199) which turned out near a crew elevator and we did notice some noise on the first and last night of the cruise. The cabin was also near a large AC ventilation fan, so the room did have a low level humming sound. While not ideal, it did not detract from us having a big time. The most noise we hear in any room is from loud and inconsiderate guest in the hallway. If you are leaving your room early or coming back late, be considerate and make an effort to be quiet - don't slam the doors! Keep yo the good work...
Love your videos! I have regretted two kinds of cabins 1) my very first cruise we booked an interior cabin. We just felt claustrophobic and I didn't like waking up and not knowing if it was 1am or 10am because there are no windows to know if the sun has risen yet, so yeah never again, and 2) a Central Park facing balcony cabin. Just not for us because you are literally facing other cabins, and I can't tell you how many people we could see changing and doing other stuff in their rooms because they forgot to close their curtains! If we're paying for a balcony, definitely going for ocean view :) Thanks for sharing all your amazing videos!
Ilana, this is a great list and video and we follow most of these tips most of the time. But I have to admit my curiosity got the best of me. We will be in a forward facing club balcony room on the NCL Prima in 9 days. I am really excited about the view and the wrap around balcony but I did book it with my eyes wide open, completely realizing wind will be a challenge.
Had a forward facing balcony on Iona to Norwegian Fjords in July . It was so windy I used to sit on the balcony wearing a woolly hat two fleeces and a blanket. Views were spectacular though. I have booked obscured ocean view cabins and choosing carefully the window was between 2 lifeboats so hardly any loss of view. Loved it.
Thanks for the info! Just booked our first cruise a few months ago and went to check on our cabin and it’s adjoining! Going to call today to see if it can be moved… also got the planner! Thanks for putting that together!
I regretted the cabin that I booked for a carnival cruise to Norway Fjords. I booked an obstructed balcony cabin. The fortunate thing about it is that the Norway cruise is so beautiful. I still got a good view of the mountains and sky.
I think sleeping in the aft with the rumble noise would be soothing, it's like a white noise that blocks out other sounds and if it's a regular sound it can be really relaxing.
We only book rooms in the middle of the ship not too far from the elevator and sandwiched above and below by other berths. Our next cruise we booked a promenade view room 2 floors above the promenade.
A friend and myself wanted to go as cheaply as possible on a cruise. We didn't care what cabin we had. We ended up right by the ankers and were noisily and vibrated awake at about 5am at each port 😂. You are right. Be careful which cabin you pick.
Totally agree by avoiding balcony cabin in the levels above the outside smoking area. I was on deck 11 above a smoking area on Deck 5 and on calm days or port days the smell was strong. It was my first cruise, booked by a family member, and I totally loved it, but smoke aggravates my asthma.
Avoid interior cabins if you suffer from motion sickness unless you are prepared to go on deck and look at the horizon, which can help if you are feeling seasick.
We have been cruising 30+ years and have made cabin mistakes. One early cruise our cabin was directly across from the medical center. Early people in the corridor waiting for it to open. I think most cruise ships now have the medical center away from cabins. We developed a rule. Short corridor going nowhere. Less party people walking by after midnight. The comment about not being below the Lido deck is correct. One exception. We have for past 5-10 years booked veranda cabin below Lido. A few doors back from the navigation bridge. Opportunity to say hi to the Captain occasionally. Never noisy. The cabin we book is not below the gym, not below the pool area, not below the running track and not below food area. It is below the spa treatment rooms - massage, etc. Virtually never used at night and no noise generated any other time of day. Movement doesn’t bother us being up front. In fact it helps us sleep. Also, only one floor away from Lido for our own private bathroom.
I had an aft cabin on Regent Seven Seas, and it was awesome! Very quiet, balcony was a bit larger. The cabin itself was a little smaller, but it was fine for one person. I do generally prefer balcony cabins midship & on higher decks. But I don't get seasick at all, so that's not an issue for me.
We booked a Cabin at the complete rear of the MSC Meraviglia (8232). The rear elevators shown on the map are staff only so we needed to go mid ship to take the elevator. Also. As you stated in the video, we where right beside the crew access door and I was often waken up during the night by the door opening and closing and other sounds. The door was perpendicular to our own and my spouse even got hurt by a crew member that opened his door at the same time my spouse was coming out of our room directly on her. Another thing you didn't mention, our balcony had a full metal rail guard instead of a glass guard. This meant that you couldn't sit and take a look at the view, you had to stand up which kinds of defeat the purpose of a balcony if you want to sit and read a book and enjoy the view.
We love an aft balcony if we can get it. No issues with soot. The balcony is bigger and we are far away from traffic. Princess aft balcony cabin was the best.
I think I’ve been in just about every cabin you’ve described (minus the balcony cabins.) I have memories of lots of closing doors, chains rattling in the morning, and sloshing waves. I never questioned this because I was on a ship. I love the aft - especially near the elevator. Wherever my cabin is I want to be near an elevator. I’m either lazy or in a hurry. The view from an aft window cabin is amazing to me. I’ve had noisy cabins, but not smelly cabins. The smell situation would be bothersome. As long as I can sleep a bit, day or night, I’m good. I’m on a cruise! That’s a good thing.
In a hurry - on holiday on a cruise? What could possibly cause someone to be so time poor when when there's nothing but time to kill? Have you considered meditation?
We love the aft cabins and are willing to pay a premium for them. It is farther to walk but the serenity of watching the sun set over the wake of the ship is so relaxing for us.
If you can't sleep due to the noise you haven't drunk enough yet try a few more bars and less coffee works for me LoL do know of a couple who got their room upgraded due to their noise complaint though.
Hi there! We cruised on the NCL Pearl last summer from Athens to Venice. The cruise, excursions, everything was perfect except for our cabin. We were promised a 'partially obstructed' view where we could supposedly see OVER a lifeboat and it would not be obstructed. Well, we arrived in the room & the curtains were shut. When we opened them we realized why. There was a dirty lifeboat. That's all we could see. We couldn't even see the water through the light boat because the windows were so dirty in it. On top of that, there were crew members every single day working on that lifeboat. One time we took a nap after an excursion and left the curtains open. When we woke up, there was a man right outside our window facing the lifeboat, working on it! It was filled with tools, it was all torn apart, and the windows on the lifeboat were all splattered and filthy. This was on the 8th floor. I felt so bad for my husband because he surprised me and splurged on a bigger window (because last time we had portholes which were fine), but bigger windows would be better. When we saw that lifeboat when we opened the curtains, he was so sad and I was shocked because I remembered they said we would be able to see over it. We will NEVER do that again! We love NCL but we will not believe them when they say the view is 'partially obstructed'.
My family and I were in connecting rooms directly in front of the elevators on a Princess cruise. The elevators didnt bother me at all. If you have music playing or a TV, you cant hear anyone unless they stomp, but then they are going to bother anyone who's room they stomp past.
So, I guess there are about a total of 7 cabins that you could stay in on the entire ship where you won't get any noise, smells, wind, or motion? This is why cruises stink.
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Low deck forward, on our very first cruise, we always heard the anchor!
Karen
My daughter in law makes all the plans for the cruises. My two sons, and their wives, invited me to join them for a cruise, on the Norwegian Bliss, when it was a brand new ship. They reserved a single cabin, for me, in just the right place, on that ship, and we had a marvelous time, for that whole cruise. The was on my "bucket list", and I was so thankful for it. Isn't it wonderful to have your family love you that much!
Our kids gave us our first cruise as an anniversary present about ten years ago. I loved it. My last cruise was on the Bliss. We had a cabin on the same level and close to the observation deck. It was so great we decided to go see alaska this summer on Bliss. It’s one of my bucket list destinations.
Go Joan!! That sounds like a blast, and like your daughter in laws love you (along w your sons!)!
Your a blessed woman
You must be an awesome mother & mother in law. ❤
God is good ❤
My parents taught me early about cabins to avoid, so I have never had a "bad" cabin. I always book in the middle area of the ship and a balcony.
Lol best location
I love that you are direct and to the point, well spoken without any useless jabbering 😊 Thank you for all the information you share. I’ve never been on a cruise but this information is useful for when I do. I’ll keep watching 😊
You'll never go on a cruise.
My wife and I went on an Alaska cruise last year. Our travel agent recommended a rear facing cabin. We were very happy with it. When looking at glaciers, we had a perfect view regardless of which side a glacier was on.
Agreed. We did this just two weeks ago. Another plus, it may be cold on deck due to the wind at night, but the rear facing balcony was ok since the wind was blocked.
Did you have any issues with seasickness in that location?
@@livininthemusic Not at all. These modern cruise ships are very stabilized and I rarely felt any rolling motion. Plus the Alaska passage cruise is rarely exposed to open ocean. We've been on four cruises and the Alaska cruise was our favorite one.
@@GregSr Our experience was the same.
What ship did everyone going on
I was in the bowels of the mid-ship, down the corridor from the Art Gallery, on the same deck as the International Cafe. No window, no balcony. Nice and dark with no traffic. LOVED IT!
My FAVORITE thing about your videos is that they ALL are SO well narrated! Great and high quality CONTENT! Thank you!!!
What's amazing to me is some people actually complain about smelling bacon. If I'm on a cruise ship smelling bacon, that's a good thing.
Nah. You don't want to smell food 24/7.
The people who complained about smelling bacon are probably vegans
@@notafanboy250yes I do
@@albertwebster1969 or just don’t eat pork like myself the smell of anything cooking pig related reeks imo!
The worst cabin we booked was a beautiful balcony far from the elevators and sandwiched between cabins above and cabins below us. This was a dream cabin which we booked directly with the cruise line. It was supposed to be one of the quietest cabins on the cruise. However, the teen club was directly across the hall and the noise was ear splitting! We are seniors and go to sleep early, but the noise was horrific until after eleven PM. No one considered the proximity of the teen club when we booked the cruise! 🤣
oh god! That sounds AWFUL!!
😱🤦
Oh nooo! You’d think they’d sound proof the kids club!
I'm not an senior and typically don't go to bed until 1-2am, and that would still annoy me.
A good travel agent would have seen that and not booked it for you. The cruise line would not offer you that information.
As a truck driver, I can imagine feeling right at home in a cabin that I hear or feel engine sounds. Lol… I’m used to a refrigerated unit running all the time or an auxiliary power unit running as I sleep. Going in our first cruise in August and have an AFT Penthouse Suite booked! 🎉😊❤
@Gypsyadventures2023 ,
How was your cruise? 😃
@@sarahw.mcelyea5655 ongoing!!! Currently in Sabatini’s for dinner!!
I was thinking the same 😆 used to fall asleep to the reefer and wake up when it went off. 12 years OTR MAGA! Usa 🇺🇸 💪
I just came off the NCL Joy. I was in 15868. When I tell you it was THE BEST room I’ve ever had I am not joking: I loved the sound of the waves, the view was extraordinary, it was so quiet because there was no foot traffic at all, the aft elevator was not far so I didn’t have far to walk to get the elevator, it was much wider than a normal balcony - I had two deck and two table chairs, there’s zero wind coming into the cabin unlike a front facing balcony so I could keep my balcony door open at all times. 💖
My husband and I try to get a cabin near the engine. We have found that the hum helps us sleep very well and tends to drown out other more annoying sounds for us. If we can get an aft starboard or port cabin then we also get the rocking motion that we absolutely loved. Felt like being rocked and a lullaby to fall asleep to.
We had an opposite impression of engine noise. It was not a him more if banging. It gave me seasickness
I often think that since we're used to sleeping in a semi that we would be ok with a cabin close to the engine. Haven't tested it yet, but there's still time.
I listen to brown noise while I sleep, and it sounds a lot like a ship engine. I'd probably enjoy that too.
Absolute favorite cabin is the Aft Cabin!!!!! Larger balcony normally and room is usually longer, a little larger. Happy Cruising!
We absolutely love the forward-facing suites on the Royal class Princess ships. These suites have a forward facing window with the balcony on the side. So there is no wind issue when under way. I prefer to see where we are going than where we’ve been. Also, we can see both sides of the ship from the front window which allows for us to see most docking operations. Our favorite suite is B102 which is on the 11th deck and on the port side which allows us to wave to all of the high-rise revealers blowing horns when leaving Port Canaveral.
Did you feel any motion sickness being in this particular cabin? We just booked one on NCL, and now I'm regretting it as I'm worried we are going to feel those waves and wind!
@@barbaram7164 Fortunately, we do not really suffer from motion sickness. To the contrary, we really enjoy the rocking of the ship - especially at night when we get “rocked” to sleep. So I can’t really advise. I understand that it is a “smoother” ride toward the middle of the ship. I’ve been in both the front and the aft where I it is supposed to be more rocky. I’ve found that it depends more on the weather on your cruise rather than where you are on the ship. But, if you are prone to sea sickness, I understand that it is better to stay to the middle of the ship on a lower deck.
@@jackredmond6023 Thanks--I'm really torn because I've always wanted a forward suite, but others in my traveling party may not like it. Thank you--this was helpful!
@@barbaram7164 Sure thing. I hope that you all have a wonderful cruise.
I didn't realize partially obstructed meant a giant lifeboat in front of window! We got a great deal, it was on 8th deck in a good location, so we didn't complain much about it! We learned our lesson. 😅
Hi, Ilana- We are 2 seniors who cruise 3 or more times a year. Our next cruise is next month and when we booked, the difference between an ocean view and a balcony was over 4-1/2 times! So we booked the OV. We would rather go at that price than stay home! We did request an upgrade on our last cruise from an OV to a balcony for an increase of only $30 per day, which was reasonable. I waited until the first full day after embarkation to ask and it worked out. If it works, fine. If not, you can always go to a public deck and enjoy the view. If money is no object, do what you want! We need to watch our $. We also booked a 16 day TA for $200 pp for an inside cabin. 8 of those days are sea days, so not missing that much of the view. We have Carnival stock, so both cruises earn a total of $500 OBC. Yes, these deals can be had, but you have to be vigilant and watch your travel agent’s website frequently. 😅
$200 for a trans Atlantic cruise...Is that per day per person in the cabin?
@Gayle i believe that's the total per person.
Actually the rate was $810 total for the both of us for a 16 night TA. YES, it was a small inside cabin. With 2 large and 2 carry on suitcases, we could hardly move, so we immediately unpacked and stored the bags under the bed. That opened up the space. This was the first time in an inside cabin for us and it wasn’t that bad. We stopped at the Azores, Ireland, England and France. Disembarking at Rotterdam, we took a cruise line bus to Amsterdam and boarded the Nieuw Statendam for a second cruise to Norway. We had an obstructed view balcony and that was 4 times the price of the TA for the 11 nights round Norway. We did not use the balcony that much. Conclusion: Cruising in the north, a balcony is nice but not essential. If you are cruising on a budget, an inside cabin will save you lots of money. An ocean view cabin is a reasonable alternative if you don’t want an inside cabin. Just our experience.
The best part of cruising is having a forward cabin so that you get the motion and wave sounds that make for the best sleep that you ever have. (They say you shouldn't leave your door open at night - Posh! As long as weather allows - Do it!!
When we book suites we love the aft cabins, especially the corner where we have a wrap-around deck with side and rear areas.
Fully right, that's cruise.
We are budget Cruisers so we tend to go for the interior cabins. We've only been on one Cruise and we booked another one for February 2024 but we watched a lot of Cruise videos before we made any cabin decisions. We learned very early on which ones to avoid and so far, even though just once, hasn't been disappointing. We realized we like the rocking that comes with being high and forward on a ship. As long as we don't have any loud noises around us then we are happy LOL
I almost always pick the cheapest fare available. That means I don't usually get assigned a cabin until the day of embarkation. I've been upgraded twice to VERY nice cabins including balconies. The other times I had inside cabins and it has never been a problem. I have earplugs should I be in a place where it has noises I don't want to hear. The prices I have paid have been super discounted and I am glad I am not so sensitive to the things discussed in this video. Oh, and yeah, if you're in the cabin next to me having sex, yeah, I can hear ya. I am glad I am not spoiled that a little bit of a orange lifeboat would be make me feel like my view is obstructed. I spend so little time in my cabin it just isn't an issue.
I just started a new job selling Princess Cruise lines and all of your advice is extremely helpful when helping guests to make the best cabin selection. You explained it so well!
I follow Gary Bembridge’s advice and only book cabins with cabins above, below, and across the hall. I have booked near the elevator and noticed no excessive noise.
I was apprehensive on my last cruise because the kids club was on the same floor but on the other end of the ship. Luckily I didn’t hear anything.
Great advice 👏
Cove balcony on deck 2 was amazing. When it was time to leave the ship we were closer to the exit. Also close to the dining room. Was in the middle and bottom of the ship so it was actually easier to navigate throughout the ship.
My favorite place to be during my first cruise was standing on a front balcony and star gazing at night. I loved the cool breeze and dark sky.
We came back from a cruise a week ago. We upgraded our cabin as we didn't want the bunks that are in so many cabins on the Ambience. We paid £60pp to upgrade and we were given an aft cabin on the deck 11. It turned out that were directly below the buffet, which was great, a short walk to the stairwell, one deck up and straight into the Borough Market buffet. There was some noise in the cabin but not that much to write home about. We had absolutely no problem with the position of our cabin at all.
In Las Vegas we had a connecting door to a large group of Japanese girls. Their waking hours were in the middle of the night for us. So loud. I always carry ear plugs now.
Ilana, we love the forward and aft cabins because they are usually quieter with less foot traffic. The motion of the ship does not bother us at all. We also always try to book on a deck with cabins above and below us. Thanks for this very informational video!⛴⛴⛴
Hi--did you feel the motion every minute of the cruise? Was it constant? I just booked a forward cabin for the first time and now a bit worried I might get seasick or deal with the heavy wind issue--New York to Bermuda.
On our most recent cruise (Nov 23], we had booked a mid-ship balcony cabin on the 9th deck, of the Norwegian Getaway. It was horrible, due to the fact that crew members were in a kitchen below us on the 8th deck, cleaning pots and pans, dragging tables and chairs across the floor and slamming a heavy fridge or freezer door between the hours of 1 am to 4 am, almost every night.
We were below a kitchen on our first cruise. Rolling carts all night long.
Great Tips on the worst cabins. I have a client who is new to crusing and very sensitive to smells and noise so this is extremely helpful to me to make sure she doesn't have a bad cabin experience.
Thanks so much! I always enjoy your informative videos.
Happy Crusing!
We loved our aft facing balcony. The balcony is larger than normal, and it's out of the wind. Only con was a little bit of ash from the engine exhaust on one port day due to the wind direction that caused it to fall on our balcony. Also we could hear the music from the outdoor night club that was 2 decks above us, but that is something that is ship-specific. Overall it was our favorite cabin so far in any of our cruises
Great to hear your experience 👏
We love the aft cabin. Instead of seeing only those things on one side we get a panoramic view. It seemed that the balcony was a little larger. We want to go to the activity and not always be in the middle of the activity. We have never had noise or smell concerns. 😊
So happy you did this for people. I am VERY picky since I get very seasick 🤢, my Holland America cruise consultant didn't even know about places to avoid! My sister booked a suite in the front of the ship, was so excited until she got seasick, she NEVER gets seasick.
I like Aft cabins. Might be a bit noisy so stay toward the higher decks. That said, even less roll than midship but there is a sweet spot. Go to either side about 10 rooms from the suites. Look at your ship and find where the stabilizer is aft. Most ships have an X or what looks like a wine bottle on its side. Within 10 rooms it's comfy
The forward facing suite we had on Royal Princess was fabulous . Sit in bed with coffee with a bow ( front ) view . The side balcony was protected but skinny . Now , we love the motion. Sleep like babies .
"I'd rather have a mirror on the ceiling" ROFL 🤣😅
We really like the obstructed view cabins for their lower price. The ones we have had have large floor to ceiling windows with a lifeboat hanging outside. We still can see the sky and get loads of daylight in the room . We are budget cruisers and choose these or inside cabins.
I'm inclined to agree with you. I'd much rather have natural daylight coming in than a completely interior cabin with only artificial light. My favorite on the QM2 is the sheltered balcony cabin (decks 4, 5, 6) which have their balconies built into the hull of the ship. We get a *very* private balcony, lots of daylight, and a good view through generous opening--all at a budget price.
Oh man, only have 1 cruise under our belt but we've seen countless videos of yours and others to really sort of map out ships and cabins. We've learned quite a lot even before booking our first cruise!
mid-ship, cabins below and above, and a bit away from crew closets. From a balcony cabin, I don't think we'd ever want an interior. That circulating air is so nice to have during the week.
It is nice, I agree :)
Don’t overthink it. After over 30 cruises I’ve never regretted my cabin.
Back on the mid ‘80’s we had a forward facing cabin in the Oceanic. Great room, great view!
My all-time favorite cabin was an aft facing balcony - and my worst cabin was right over the casino. We must have been right over the speaker and they had drawings and such late into the night every single night - it was similar to what you would expect from a disco or club. Now i try to stick with floor that has rooms above and below.
Just booked a guaranteed interior state room on Odyssey of the seas for a Mediterranean cruise.
Definitely kept the cost down compared to booking a balcony, as we usually do. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
I was on Carnival Glory with oceanview overlooking a secret small deck in the aft. I loved it. We could see wake from the window and two steps from our room we could go outside! Ours was obstructed oceanview but it was only obstructed because theoretically someone could have stood in front of our window. It was great. I was the only one all week who ever went on that unknown deck!
I am a widower, so I usually book an inside room. If the ships does not have single rooms the lowest fare room lowers the single supplement.
Best room ever: Carnival Dream. First level balcony. A life boat was hanging directly above my balcony but I could only see it if I looked up. This provided a super view of the beautiful water since I was low and close to the waterline. Flying fish were jumping right outside my view every morning. Room service breakfast every day was a highlight.
Great advice, I learned all these mistakes on my own. The elevator is the worst. My best advice is booking the cruise months in advance so you can get the room you want.
Thank you for another great video! We are booking a 2025 cruise and will definitely keep these considerations in mind when choosing our cabin location. The cabin we regretted booking was just off the center atrium of a Princess ship on the deck where dance parties, balloon drops and champagne towers were celebrated. It was so difficult to make our way through the crowds on some evenings just to try to get back to our cabin. It was also noisy as the crowds sometimes spilled over into our hallway. It would have been a great cabin for younger party people but did not really work for us.
No matter what, bring ear plugs. That goes for flying, hotels, and cruises. Even if you plot out your cabin as best as possible, there are still people walking in the halls, loud people above or next to you, etc. I pop in earplugs to sleep and block out any possible annoyances.
Aft cabins are the best. I love have a larger balcony and just watching the scenery go by. I have never had a problem with them.
I really like the AFT balcony cabins mainly because the balconies are spacious and you actually have a view of wider view and see both sides of the ship. What I didn't like about it, was below us were workers who were smoking all the time. I hated the smoke. It was constant.
Love an aft facing balcony! The sound of the engines helped lull me to sleep. ❤
We sailed on Holland America for 28 years before my husband recently died from cancer. One cabin I was really upset about (I didn’t select it) in Europe was also obstructed partially by a lifeboat however, even though it was not a balcony cabin, it had floor to ceiling windows and that was a bonus.
We were 1st time cruisers in 2016. We were with family and friends. We went thru a tour company who picked well for us. Balcony on the 8th level. Worth the extra cost! That balcony became my happy place. I only regretted I didn’t order breakfast in our room. Thank you Royal Caribbean for all the wonderful memories!!💕
On Rhapsody of the Seas we booked a cabin below the pool deck and a few doors from the elevator for an Alaskan cruise. Great location as very little use of the pool, so no pool parties, chair dragging or kids running around. Also, super close to the windjammer for quick bites throughout the day. It was a Junior suite, which was only available in this part of the ship (floor and mid ship). Doing the same in August on Radiance, hoping for the same outcome.
The cruise my husband and I went on was awesome. We didn't hear any noise.
Cabin was on the 5 floor middle of the ship with nice window view.
I had the best sleep on my cruise.
Had a lot of fun too!
Some cabins we regretted: under the buffet , ands family cabin with just two of us (the closed bunk beds were always in my husband’s way).
We actually loved our aft cabin on a Princess ship. It was close to a small pool that hardly anyone visited. On our last cruise on Carnival, we had an accessible room at the very front of the ship. Although it was listed as an inside cabin, it had a huge window and right out a door was an area no one ever came to - It was large and had no chairs, but was perfect for watching the waves and spending time outdoors. There was a bench.
Yes! The last cabin is what we booked, it was directly in front of crew access or storage. They were in and out and just letting that door slam all hours of the day
Love your videos! You really nailed which cabins you should avoid. One cabin my wife and I love is the aft facing cabins. Less foot traffic and a lot more quieter. Don’t mind obstructed view cabins. The cabins we always avoid are forward cabins and right under the Ledo cabin.
Great tip on the interconnecting rooms. I just got back from a cruise on RC Quantum of the Seas, absolutely loved it, and our room - BUT - I did not love the family next door with a small child on threw huge tantrums every day. I am sure that interconnecting door meant we heard more of it than we otherwise would have. Additionally, the door moves a little bit so on the couple of sea days we had where the ship was moving a lot, the door creaked. Not ideal. Overall, still a great cruise though!
Aft balcony suite was the best place to be on panama canal transit. The whole workings of the canal was right in front of . Butler said we had the best view here. Also saw neighbors moving in with a lot of camera equipment.
Loved it!!!
Hi there, I am new to the channel. I have been really enjoying the films that you have here. My golden rule is having a balcony first of all. Then make sure that there are rooms, above, below and to the side of you as well as inside of you. I am fairly relaxed about being near the lifts, there is not as much noise as you might expect and it certainly helps me to navigate. Cheers Stephen
I’m a fairly low income person so I’m just happy to be on a cruise ship. However a girl can dream so I wanted to check out this video haha! I’m surprised to hear the negative things about the forward facing balconies as I’ve only heard good things from other bloggers about those rooms.my two cruises so far I did the guaranteed interior room and for both was upgraded to a balcony mid-ship slightly towards the back for free due to the ship being very under-crowded. My room was above the jazz club but they only were open until 2 am- I’d usually get into my room around 1am-5am so some days I would miss the music, other days I found it relaxing as i wound down for bed. I honestly did wish that my cabin was closer to the buffet as i was so far away from it, but sometimes it was nice to have the peace and quiet of not being near any of the action.
Growing up very low income and never even having been on a vacation until adulthood, I honestly think I would be able to put up with / be happy with most of these situations. I do get seasick on whale watches / small boats but did very well on my 2 cruises so far - I preventively used those patches behind the ear and one on my stomach and took 2 of the regular (not non drowsy) dramamine every few hours and it worked out great. I felt a little disoriented a few times by the movement but never nauseas. Knock on wood lol.
I was on the Carnival Magic in an rear oceanview on deck 1. The engine / anchor when the ship was docking away from shore was very loud and had a lot of strong vibrations. It didn't bother me because I was already awake and getting ready for the day, but for late sleepers or those that don't intend to leave the room for the day that wouldn't be a good experience.
As smokers, my group and I go out of our way to get rooms as close as possible to a smoking area. I say this because our agent told us that Carnival, RC and Princess are very happy to cater to us and place us in those particular rooms at a discounted price as they usually are not as popular :)
Give up, you will save your health and money for more cruising
WOW! I booked my first cruise for 5 of us and miraculously booked 2 excellent balcony cabins. We were slightly forward. No where near the Lido deck, gym or swimming pools, kitchen or elevator. Up on the 14th floor…. praise God!
We just finished a cruise on a Holland America ship and our cabin was right at the forward Port elevators. Step off the elevator, turn left to the hallway and there we were. No wall or cabin across the aisle. There was even a high traffic mat outside our door to protect the rug! There was a bit of noise but mostly didn't notice it. I would book that cabin again.
I only book aft view balcony cabins. 180 degree panoramic views of both sides of where the ship goes, no wind, less foot traffic in the hallway and more of a walk to walk off the drinks and buffet.
Accidentally booked an inside cabin that had upper and lower bunk beds instead of two twins that we could put together. It wasn’t noticeable until we got our paperwork. My hubby and I made the best of it though! 😂
Lol, I’ve heard of a few couples doing this. Makes a good story 😂
I was booked in an aft balcony room and I loved it! It sounded like a constant fountain outside my balcony and I really enjoyed that. ❤
I never knew about smoking sections until I watched a vlog about our ship and someone said they could smell the smoke on Deck 8 from below on Deck 5, portside. I'm glad I saw the video or my husband would have had a fit about the smoke. I suggest people watch ship tours before booking....or at least look at the deck plans.
Great idea 👏
I did not realize smoking was allowed on a cruise ship. Thanks for the tip . I will definitely be looking for that info as I have severe asthma and I can’t be around smoke.
Worst cabin so far was an oceanview on the lower deck on Norwegian. We had rough seas and the waves were hitting very close to the window. Will never do that again!
We generally prefer the aft balconies but booked a forward obstructed balcony on Princess for our cruise to Alaska. Even though it was a metal balcony we had more than enough room to invite our friends to join us watching the scenery as we cruised the inside passage.
Best cruise I have ever had was a suite at the aft of the ship. 14 days of amazing views.
We just booked a mini suite on the Ruby Princess in the stern. All mid ship balcony rooms were already taken and this is for 2024!
Great info! We use many of the tips you included in your discussion. My advice in booking a cabin is to think about how much time you are planning on spending in a cabin? We are basically only in our cabin to sleep and to take a shower and to get dressed. Other cruisers seem to spend a great deal more time in their cabin. If you are like us, you can save significant funds by booking an inside or obstructed view balcony, or a cabin overlooking Central Park on the Oasis class ships. It all comes down to where you want to spend your money - for a cabin or dinning, drinks, or excursions. Also, consider where you are going on your cruise. If you are going to a scenic area (Alaska, Baltic, etc.) I highly recommend getting a balcony cabin to enjoy the scenic areas.
If available, we prefer two decks above the main public areas (usually deck 5) and midship. The one area I try to avoid is anywhere near a crew elevator as these are used to move luggage, house keeping service carts, and crew. These can be very noisy. Recently on the Celebrity Apex, we make a last minute booking and selected an inside cabin (9199) which turned out near a crew elevator and we did notice some noise on the first and last night of the cruise. The cabin was also near a large AC ventilation fan, so the room did have a low level humming sound. While not ideal, it did not detract from us having a big time. The most noise we hear in any room is from loud and inconsiderate guest in the hallway. If you are leaving your room early or coming back late, be considerate and make an effort to be quiet - don't slam the doors! Keep yo the good work...
Love your videos! I have regretted two kinds of cabins 1) my very first cruise we booked an interior cabin. We just felt claustrophobic and I didn't like waking up and not knowing if it was 1am or 10am because there are no windows to know if the sun has risen yet, so yeah never again, and 2) a Central Park facing balcony cabin. Just not for us because you are literally facing other cabins, and I can't tell you how many people we could see changing and doing other stuff in their rooms because they forgot to close their curtains! If we're paying for a balcony, definitely going for ocean view :) Thanks for sharing all your amazing videos!
it was said in another video: "take a cabin which has other cabins on all sides - top, bottom, front and back". much less words.
Ilana, this is a great list and video and we follow most of these tips most of the time. But I have to admit my curiosity got the best of me. We will be in a forward facing club balcony room on the NCL Prima in 9 days. I am really excited about the view and the wrap around balcony but I did book it with my eyes wide open, completely realizing wind will be a challenge.
I’m sure it’s going to be amazing overall. Let us know how it goes :)
Had a forward facing balcony on Iona to Norwegian Fjords in July . It was so windy I used to sit on the balcony wearing a woolly hat two fleeces and a blanket. Views were spectacular though. I have booked obscured ocean view cabins and choosing carefully the window was between 2 lifeboats so hardly any loss of view. Loved it.
Thanks for the info! Just booked our first cruise a few months ago and went to check on our cabin and it’s adjoining! Going to call today to see if it can be moved… also got the planner! Thanks for putting that together!
I lust came back from a 12-day cruise in an aft facing cabin and it was wonderful! No complaints at all. I'd do it again.
I can't remember what ship we were on, but we usually woke up to the smell of coffee. Not unpleasant at all.
I regretted the cabin that I booked for a carnival cruise to Norway Fjords. I booked an obstructed balcony cabin. The fortunate thing about it is that the Norway cruise is so beautiful. I still got a good view of the mountains and sky.
I think sleeping in the aft with the rumble noise would be soothing, it's like a white noise that blocks out other sounds and if it's a regular sound it can be really relaxing.
We only book rooms in the middle of the ship not too far from the elevator and sandwiched above and below by other berths.
Our next cruise we booked a promenade view room 2 floors above the promenade.
A friend and myself wanted to go as cheaply as possible on a cruise. We didn't care what cabin we had. We ended up right by the ankers and were noisily and vibrated awake at about 5am at each port 😂. You are right. Be careful which cabin you pick.
Totally agree by avoiding balcony cabin in the levels above the outside smoking area. I was on deck 11 above a smoking area on Deck 5 and on calm days or port days the smell was strong. It was my first cruise, booked by a family member, and I totally loved it, but smoke aggravates my asthma.
Avoid interior cabins if you suffer from motion sickness unless you are prepared to go on deck and look at the horizon, which can help if you are feeling seasick.
We have been cruising 30+ years and have made cabin mistakes. One early cruise our cabin was directly across from the medical center. Early people in the corridor waiting for it to open. I think most cruise ships now have the medical center away from cabins. We developed a rule. Short corridor going nowhere. Less party people walking by after midnight. The comment about not being below the Lido deck is correct. One exception. We have for past 5-10 years booked veranda cabin below Lido. A few doors back from the navigation bridge. Opportunity to say hi to the Captain occasionally. Never noisy. The cabin we book is not below the gym, not below the pool area, not below the running track and not below food area. It is below the spa treatment rooms - massage, etc. Virtually never used at night and no noise generated any other time of day. Movement doesn’t bother us being up front. In fact it helps us sleep. Also, only one floor away from Lido for our own private bathroom.
Book an inside cabin. They are quieter and cheaper. Use the savings for something else (drink package, excursions, special dinner, etc.)
I had an aft cabin on Regent Seven Seas, and it was awesome! Very quiet, balcony was a bit larger. The cabin itself was a little smaller, but it was fine for one person. I do generally prefer balcony cabins midship & on higher decks. But I don't get seasick at all, so that's not an issue for me.
What’s a aft?
We booked a Cabin at the complete rear of the MSC Meraviglia (8232). The rear elevators shown on the map are staff only so we needed to go mid ship to take the elevator. Also. As you stated in the video, we where right beside the crew access door and I was often waken up during the night by the door opening and closing and other sounds. The door was perpendicular to our own and my spouse even got hurt by a crew member that opened his door at the same time my spouse was coming out of our room directly on her. Another thing you didn't mention, our balcony had a full metal rail guard instead of a glass guard. This meant that you couldn't sit and take a look at the view, you had to stand up which kinds of defeat the purpose of a balcony if you want to sit and read a book and enjoy the view.
I like aft cabins. The Balcony's usually have no wind, and as mentioned they are in the quietest part of the ship.
We love an aft balcony if we can get it. No issues with soot. The balcony is bigger and we are far away from traffic. Princess aft balcony cabin was the best.
I think I’ve been in just about every cabin you’ve described (minus the balcony cabins.) I have memories of lots of closing doors, chains rattling in the morning, and sloshing waves. I never questioned this because I was on a ship. I love the aft - especially near the elevator. Wherever my cabin is I want to be near an elevator. I’m either lazy or in a hurry. The view from an aft window cabin is amazing to me. I’ve had noisy cabins, but not smelly cabins. The smell situation would be bothersome. As long as I can sleep a bit, day or night, I’m good. I’m on a cruise! That’s a good thing.
Lol thanks for sharing
In a hurry - on holiday on a cruise? What could possibly cause someone to be so time poor when when there's nothing but time to kill? Have you considered meditation?
We love the aft cabins and are willing to pay a premium for them. It is farther to walk but the serenity of watching the sun set over the wake of the ship is so relaxing for us.
Totally agree about the cabins above the smoking area. On port days, the balcony is completely unusable.
I wonder if there is a consistent side of the ship for the smoking areas?
@@LifeWellCruised I was on starboard side.
If you can't sleep due to the noise you haven't drunk enough yet try a few more bars and less coffee works for me LoL do know of a couple who got their room upgraded due to their noise complaint though.
Hi there! We cruised on the NCL Pearl last summer from Athens to Venice. The cruise, excursions, everything was perfect except for our cabin. We were promised a 'partially obstructed' view where we could supposedly see OVER a lifeboat and it would not be obstructed. Well, we arrived in the room & the curtains were shut. When we opened them we realized why. There was a dirty lifeboat. That's all we could see. We couldn't even see the water through the light boat because the windows were so dirty in it. On top of that, there were crew members every single day working on that lifeboat. One time we took a nap after an excursion and left the curtains open. When we woke up, there was a man right outside our window facing the lifeboat, working on it! It was filled with tools, it was all torn apart, and the windows on the lifeboat were all splattered and filthy. This was on the 8th floor. I felt so bad for my husband because he surprised me and splurged on a bigger window (because last time we had portholes which were fine), but bigger windows would be better. When we saw that lifeboat when we opened the curtains, he was so sad and I was shocked because I remembered they said we would be able to see over it. We will NEVER do that again! We love NCL but we will not believe them when they say the view is 'partially obstructed'.
5 years in the US navy on a small destroyer in the Pacific and I went thru 4 typhoons so no problem for seasickness.
Great advice! A friend had a aft cabin on Carnival Horizon and they got ash on their balcony. The crew cleaned it every day.
My family and I were in connecting rooms directly in front of the elevators on a Princess cruise. The elevators didnt bother me at all. If you have music playing or a TV, you cant hear anyone unless they stomp, but then they are going to bother anyone who's room they stomp past.
So, I guess there are about a total of 7 cabins that you could stay in on the entire ship where you won't get any noise, smells, wind, or motion? This is why cruises stink.