Cruise Ship Rooms and Suites | Best Cabin Staterooms | Royal Caribbean Cruises (2024)

FAQs

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The most stable part of the ship is its lowest point of gravity, so on a lower deck, at the center. You'd feel a lot less motion here than, say, in a stateroom on the upper decks a long way forward or aft (towards the back of the ship).

You want to be as close to the pivot point as possible to feel the least movement. Avoid cabins near the front (bow) or back (stern) and on decks higher than the middle deck of the ship. So, on a ship with fourteen passenger decks, your best options are below deck seven.

Suite. Finally, the best cruise ship rooms are suites at the top of the vessel. In most cases, you'll have a sitting area separate from the sleeping area, a full bathroom and a more spacious balcony. You might even enjoy a boatload of amenities, such as priority boarding, premium toiletries and a private concierge.

Look for options for mid-ship, which is closer to the ship's interiors. The rocking motion of the ship reduces in these areas. The rougher the waves, the choppier the sea gets, and the ship will bob more. If you feel seasick, it is better to steer away from any upper deck or cabins in the aft (rear) of the ship.

As such, it's fairly common to find that decks skip straight from 12 to 14, just as airlines often skip row 13 for the same superstitious fear. That being said – it's also common for a cruise ship to include deck 13, but skip 17 (should the ship be big enough) for similar reasons.

Key Takeaways. Certain areas of a cruise ship, including pool decks, dining rooms, and outer decks, can become particularly hazardous during rough seas, posing risks such as injuries from slips and falls.

And don't forget the cruise ship engine. While humming noises put some to sleep, the loud buzz of machinery might not exactly be restful to others, making these some of the worst cabins on a cruise ship. Passengers on the lowest deck are most likely to hear engine or even anchor sounds.

Even on smaller, more luxurious ships that don't feel crowded, a balcony is desirable; if the weather is such that you can spend a lot of time on your balcony, it's like having an additional room.

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Depending on the cruise line and type of room, you should expect a daily charge of $16 to $23 for gratuities. There are a couple of good reasons why you might want to prepay, including getting to spend less during your trip and locking in the current rate.

An upgraded cabin is almost always better than the most basic room on board. The only thing stopping you from splurging on a larger space, a private balcony and extra perks is your budget. If you change your mind once you've booked, you'll find several ways to upgrade your cabin to a higher-category room.

Middle decks strike a balance between stability and accessibility. They are often preferred by cruisers who want easy access to onboard facilities while still enjoying a relatively stable experience. These decks are usually located near popular amenities like pools, spas, and dining venues.

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks. Like to be near all the action? Most mega-ships place their lido (pool) areas on higher decks.

Midship cabins

The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

In the Northern Hemisphere, book the starboard side of an eastbound cruise and the port side of a westbound cruise. On the other hand, if you are sensitive to the sun, or want to ensure that your cabin remains cool, consider booking on the side of the ship that is likely to face the nearest pole.

The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.