The Right Cabin

Ideally, you should feel at home when at sea, so it is important to choose the right accommodation.  Like houses ashore, all cabins have good and not so good point.  Choose wisely, for if you find your cabin is too small when you get to the ship, it may be impossible to change it or to upgrade, as the ship could very well be completely full.

Cruise lines designate cabins only when deposits have been received (they may, however, guarantee the grade and rate requested).  If this is not done automatically, or if you find a disclaimer such as ' All cabin assignments are confirmed upon embarkation of the vessel', get a guarantee in writing that your cabin will not be changed on embarkation.

There are three main types of accommodation, but many variations on each theme:

• Suites: (the largest living spaces, typically, with a balcony balcony); and 'junior' suites (with or without private balcony).
• Outside-view cabins: a large picture window or one or more portholes (with or without private balcony).
• Interior (no view) cabins: so called because there is no window or porthole.

Private Balconies

Once you've had one, you won't be able to do without one on your next cruise.  A private balcony (or 'veranda' or 'terrace') is just that.  It is a balcony (or mid-terrace) adjoining your cabin where you can sit, enjoy the view, dine or even have a massage.  There's something very civilized (if slightly antisocial) about sitting on one's balcony sipping champagne, or having breakfast 'a la deck' in some exotic place.  It is also pleasant to get fresh air and to escape air-conditioned cabins.  The value of a private balcony, for which you pay a premium, comes into its own in warm weather areas.  Balconies are like cruises: they're additctive.  Indded, some ships have enough private balconies for more than 900 Juliets to be wooded by their Romeos.

How Much?

The amount you pay for accommodation is directly related to the size of the cabin, its location, and the facilities and services provided.

• Each line implements its own system according to ship size, age, construction.
• If this is your first cruise, choose the most expensive cabin you can afford.
• It may be better to book a low-grade cabin on a good ship than a high-grade cabin on a poor ship.
• If you are a party of three or more and do not mind sharing a cabin, you'll save a lot per person, so you may be able to afford a higher-grade cabin.

Cabin Location

• An "outside-view" cabin is recommended for first time passengers: an "interior (no-view)" cabin has no portholes or windows, making it more difficult to orient you or to gauge the weather or time.
• Cabins in the centre of a ship are more stable and tend to be noisy and vibration-free.  Ships powered by diesel engines (i.e most modern vessels) create and transmit some vibration, especially at the stern.
• Take into account personal habits when choosing the cabin location.  If you like to go to bed early, avoid a cabin close to the disco.   If you have trouble walking, choose a cabin close to the elevator.
• Generally the higher the deck, the higher the cabin price, and the better the service.  This is inheritance from transoceanic times, when upper-deck cabins and suites were sunnier and warmer.
• Cabins at the front of the ship are slightly crescent-shaped, given that the outer wall follows the curvature of the ship's hull.  But they can be exposed to early-morning noises, such as the anchor being dropped at ports where the ship is too big to dock.
• Cabins with interconnecting doors are fine fro families or close friends, but the dividing wall is usually so thin you can here the conversation next door.

Facilities  Cabins provide some, or all, of the following:

• Private bathroom (generally small) with shower, washbasin, and toilet. Higher-grade cabins and suites may have full-size bathtubs. Some have a whirlpool bath and/or bidet, a hairdryer, and more space.
• Electrical outlets for personal appliances, usually 110 and/or 220 volts.
• Multi-channel radio, TV (regular satellite channels or closed circuit), and VCR or DVD player.
• Two beds or a lower and upper berth (possibly, another one or two upper berths) or a double-, queen- or king-size bed. In some ships, twin beds can be pushed together to form a double.
• Telephone, for inter-cabin or ship-to-shore communication.
• Depending on cabin size, a chair, or chair and table, or sofa and table, or even a separate lounge/ sitting area (higher accommodation grades).
• Refrigerator and bar (higher grades).* Vanity/desk unit with chair or stool.
• Personal safe.* Closet space, some drawer space, plus storage room under beds for suitcases.
• Bedside night stand/table unit.* Towels, soap, shampoo, and conditioner. (Upscale ships provide a greater selection of items.) 

Many first-time passengers are surprised to find their cabin has twin beds. Double beds are a comparative rarity except in the higher-priced suites. Aboard some ships you will find upper and lower berths. A “berth” is a nautical term for a bed held in a wooden or metal frame. A “Pullman berth” tucks away out of sight during the day, usually into the bulkhead or ceiling. You climb up a short ladder at night to get into an upper berth.

The Suite Life 

Suites are the most luxurious and spacious of all shipboard accommodation, and typically come with butler service. A suite (which means a “suite of rooms”) should measure a minimum 400 sq. ft. (37 sq. meters), and comprise a lounge or sitting room separated from a bedroom by a solid door (not just a curtain); a bedroom with a large bed; one or more bathrooms, and an abundance of closet, drawer, and other storage space.  Many cruise lines inaccurately describe some accommodation as suites, when they are nothing more than a large cabin with a curtain that divides sitting and sleeping areas. 
Suites are best on long voyages with several days at sea. Be aware that in the large resort ships (those carrying more than 1,200 passengers), there may be a whole deck or two devoted to penthouses and suites, but you will have to share the rest of the ship with those in lower-priced accommodation. That means there is no preferential seating in the showroom, the dining rooms, or on sunbathing decks. You may, however, get separate check-in facilities and preferential treatment upon disembarkation, but your luggage will be lumped to­gether with everyone else’s.

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