Six Mistakes To Avoid When Booking Your Cruise Ship Cabin (2023)

FAQs

What to avoid when booking a cruise? ›

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.

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.

If you'd rather see the sunrise while sailing south or east, staying on the port side is your ideal choice as well. Choose the starboard side for the opposite situation: sunsets are visible on southbound and eastbound sailings while sunrises are visible on northbound and westbound cruises.

The areas around elevator banks and stairways on cruise ships can be noisy, just like they can be at land-based resorts and hotels. You'll get people milling around talking as they wait for an elevator car. On some ships, you'll also hear a distinctive chime every time an elevator arrives.

Avoid arriving at peak boarding time

We recommend getting to the terminal either early, before the rush, or late (after 2 p.m.), when most people are already onboard. You might still have a little wait, but it won't be anything compared to peak boarding time.

Just like the security screening at an airport, we also screen all luggage our guests bring onboard to ensure everyone's safety. If there is an item in your luggage that is prohibited or is believed to be prohibited, your bag will be taken to a screening location and will be inspected by our Security Team onboard.

The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship's center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.

Can You Sleep on a Cruise Ship Balcony? There are no rules that say that passengers on cruise ships can't sleep on their balconies. That said, cruise lines do generally advise against it. Despite this many people enjoy sleeping on their balconies and you won't have any problem doing so if you want to.

Which cruise line is considered the best? ›

Balcony cabins are great for giving you that much needed bit of personal space when you're both in the room. If he wants to nap but you're wide awake, a balcony offers you a place to hang out without worrying if you're making too much noise or using too bright lights.

The best location to book your cabin will be in the center of the cruise ship and on the lower deck. The lower you go down, the less rocking you will experience during your trip. If you suffer from any motion sickness, this area is ideal for you.

Rear-facing balcony cabins are among the best balcony cabins on any ship. Often, their balconies are bigger than balconies on side-facing cabins and they also feel quiet. There are far fewer balcony cabins at the back of a ship than on the sides of a ship, so you don't hear a lot of noise from your neighbors.

Low and midship: Best cabin location to avoid seasickness

The best cabin location for those worried about seasickness is midship on a low deck. As a ship rocks and rolls in the waves, it is most stable at its lowest, most central point.

You'll likely want to steer clear of forward cabins. These are far and away the cruise rooms most affected by waves since they're the first to dip in rough seas. Even if you're on a lower deck, the forward of the ship might be the worst place to stay if you're prone to seasickness.

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.

Bianco, P&O's White Party

This all-white event is usually the biggest themed party night on any P&O cruise. Everyone dresses in white, often adding 'bianco' accessories such as hats, sunglasses, jewellery or feather boas.

Lower Decks

This is because this part of the ship, its lowest and most central area, is the most stable during rough sea conditions.

To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.

Are there jails on cruise ships? ›

Are there jails on cruise ships? Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship. The term comes from the word "brigantine," which is a type of two-masted sailing ship formerly used to house criminals.

As soon as an incident happens, cruise ship crew will activate a button that pinpoints the place where the person went into the water. The ship will then stop and turn back to that area. The ship and its crew will perform a lengthy search and rescue operation, lasting several hours.

Cruise ships do not accept cash onboard because all onboard purchases are charged to passengers personal cruise accounts. Cruise accounts are usually connected to a credit or debit card which is much easier for the cruise lines to process.

Ships usually start boarding shortly after the final passenger has disembarked from the previous sailing, usually sometime between 10 and 11 a.m. Adhering to your assigned embarkation time will help to keep the boarding process running smoothly.

Traditionally, the cheapest months to book a cruise have been January, February, and March, which are also known as "wave season." The trio of months often welcome industry-wide sales that can extend further than just a reduction on cruise fares.

Carnival Cruise Line has added more security personnel and introduced narcotics sniffing dogs at home ports to screen luggage on both a routine and random basis. Guests may even see dogs on board at home and destination ports to do random searches.

There are closets in every cabin that can hold a suitcase or two. You can also store them under the cabin bed so that you don't have to worry about it taking up valuable space.

3-1-1 Liquids Rule

You are allowed to bring a quart-size, zip-lock bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes though the checkpoint in carryon luggage. These combined items need to be less than 3 ounces.

For most, prepaying gratuities is a great way to keep track of your overall cruise budget. If they're paid for and out of the way, you won't accidentally spend your gratuity money while onboard or in port or receive a large(r) bill at the end of the sailing.

Which type of cruise ship cabin is typically the smallest? ›

There's too much to see to be inside.” An inside cabin will be the smallest on a ship, and it generally has no window. It's sort of like being in a closet but with a major benefit: It's usually the cheapest cabin on any ship.

Can a wave flip a cruise ship? It is highly unlikely that a wave could flip a cruise ship. They are built to be wide and have a heavy enough ballast on lower decks that they will survive rogue waves. It would also rely on the negligence of the crew to allow the ship to hit perfectly on the side.

Do not leave the balcony door open! Doing so not only messes with the ship's air conditioning system, but it can create the “mother of all air tunnels” should you open your hallway door.

Sleeping with the guests is strictly prohibited on board cruise ships, with strict consequences for any member of staff caught copulating with a tourist - but that doesn't stop it happening. Ex-cruise worker Whateverdude1 said: “You can't sleep with guests! Rule #1. [But] everybody did it.”

Will I have to wear a face mask or physically distance onboard the ship? Masks are recommended, but not required, in most onboard venues, though you may need to wear them in select venues or certain situations on your cruise. Mask requirements are clearly designated through signage and onboard communications..

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.

Balcony cabins typically sleep two to four people, but sometimes they can accommodate more.

Are cruise cabins cold? ›

In general, cruise cabins are cool, so you don't have to worry about getting too hot. In our view, we've had issues with the room being too cold for our taste and not being able to warm things up a bit.

As a general rule, plan to have $50 to $100 each day in the local currency. Also, you may want to bring an extra $20 a day for tipping crew members. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port.

As any seasoned traveler knows, you'll often find lower rates or free add-ons as the departure date approaches and the cruise line works to fill the ship.

Cabins on the upper decks usually cost more than those on the lower decks. Since these cabins are nearer the pool and sun decks, they are more desirable for those on warm weather cruises who plan to use these amenities.

The so-called "hump" balcony cabins are the rooms on the outwards part of the curvy outline of the ship. If you look at a deck plan, you'll notice around mid-ship, the hull design jets outward. What is this? Report Ad. On many ships, balcony cabins in these areas are significantly larger than other balcony cabins.

But exactly what is a lido deck, anyway? The word "lido" in Italian refers to a beach or seashore where people gather to swim. So, fittingly, a cruise ship lido deck is a centrally located outdoor area where passengers will find a pool or two, along with hot tubs and lounge chairs.

To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.

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.

Cruise ships are large, and if you are unable to walk long distances, choosing the right cabin location is very important. Be sure to research what public places you would like to have the most convenient access to; the pool and spa on the upper decks, or the dining rooms and casinos located more mid-ship.

When seas get rough, modern cruise ships have onboard technology that helps stabilize them. But if it looks like a more serious storm is in their path, cruise ships generally try to outrun or avoid them.

Are you more likely to catch Covid on a cruise ship? ›

Cruise ships and COVID-19

Although operators have taken steps to improve infection control, cruise ships continue to experience COVID-19 outbreaks, affecting passengers and seafarers. The confined setting on board and combination of multiple households enables COVID-19 to spread faster than it is able to elsewhere.

Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. If your cruise line does not have a specific testing requirement, get tested as close to time of cruise departure as possible (no more than 3 days before you travel). Get tested again after cruise travel.

The best cabin location for those worried about seasickness is midship on a low deck. As a ship rocks and rolls in the waves, it is most stable at its lowest, most central point.

When the ship reverses the sound is particularly loud and the ship may feel a bit bumpy. The cruise ship's propellers will also have a sound and vibration, that bothers some people more than others. Some enjoy the “white noise” sound it provides, while others don't.

As any seasoned traveler knows, you'll often find lower rates or free add-ons as the departure date approaches and the cruise line works to fill the ship.