What cabin is best for you
When booking a cruise one of the most important things you need to consider is what cabin do you need, and what cabin can you afford! My advice would be to go for the most expensive one you can afford as the more they cost the nicer they will be! Have a read through the types of cabin's that will be on offer to you starting from the cheapest to the most expensive!
Lower deck cabins - fairly obviously these cabins are found in the lower decks of the ship, they can guarantee a smooth ride for passengers located in them, which makes them best for those who suffer from seasickness. However due to them being lower down you can suffer from loud engine and anchor noise; they are also the furthest away from the entertainment, bars and shops etc.
Higher deck cabins - located further up these are the closest to the pool area as they are further up from the lower decks. However as they are further up you can feel the boat rocking more than in other places making them more suited to those who don't suffer from seasickness.
Midship cabins - in the middle of the boat meaning you are fairly close to everything however you are likely to suffer from a blocked view due to life boats and also noise from people passing through.
Bow cabins - these are based at the front of the boat and again you are likely to feel the rocking of the boat and a few splashes from the sea!
Aft cabins - if you want the best view then these are the cabins to be in, located just under the restaurants and bars means you don't always have guaranteed privacy, you are at the back of the boat with the gorgeous views on the largest balconies on offer, so who cares if people are looking!
Want more of a description of the cabins?
Standard inside cabins - i.e. lower, higher and mid deck cabins, these cabins have around 180 square metres of floor space. You can find in these cabins a TV, queen-size/twin bed, storage space for clothes, hairdryer, a telephone and air conditioning obviously this may vary from ship to ship. The bathroom tends to be fairly small with a shower rather than a bath; they also tend not to have windows.
Standard outside cabin with ocean view - i.e. lower deck, these basically have everything a standard inside cabin does but have the added feature of a window or porthole enabling you to see out; however these windows or portholes can't be opened.
Cabins with balconies - i.e. bow and aft cabins, these cabins are larger than standard ones, and have glass doors you can slide open to walk onto your balcony. Within the cabin there is normally also a small sitting areas as well as being able to fit a few chairs on your balcony, however not all ships offer balconies that are completely private.
Suites - i.e. aft cabins, these are the largest of the cabins and the most luxurious obviously! They have two separate areas for sitting and sleeping, and a balcony. The bathrooms also often offer a shower and a tub, on some cruise ships if you stay in a suite you may get offered butler service!
Cruises
- Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising could be trips of a few days or more, but could be a round-the-world trip of a lifetime.