A guide to cruise ship cabin types, booking your cabin, and useful tips to keep in mind
When it comes to sitting down and booking your next cruise adventure, choosing the right cabin for you and your travelling group is one of the most important decisions you can make before embarking on your exciting escape. With many cruise ships boasting a wide variety of cabin types and several suites with interesting extra amenities, making a decision might seem a little overwhelming at first; you’ll need to consider who you’re travelling with alongside the budget you’re working with, where you want your cruise ship room to be onboard, and more.
We know that sounds like a lot of decision-making, but this choice shouldn’t hamper any excitement you have for your upcoming adventure. So, whether you’re a first-time cruiser preparing to embark on your debut sailing, or a seasoned traveller booking your latest getaway, Iglu Cruise is here to help.
Below, you’ll find some details on a range of typical cruise ship cabin types, guidance on booking the right cabin for you from what’s available, and a few handy tips you may want to keep in mind throughout the booking process and when you actually embark.
Contents:
- Cruise ship rooms: popular cabin types explained
- Top tips for booking the right cruise ship room for you
- Tips for booking multi-cabin family cruises
- Cruise ship room tips and details you may not know about
Cruise ship rooms: popular cabin types explained
Cruise ship rooms, the place where you’ll be sleeping and showering during your sailing, are primarily divided into two main categories: cabins and suites.
Cabins, which some cruise lines refer to as staterooms, are typically more affordable than suites and feature compact bathrooms, a comfortable bedroom with a small seating area, and essential amenities. Meanwhile, suites are an elevated accommodation option that feature larger bathrooms and bedrooms, oftentimes a completely separate living space to unwind in, and a range of premium amenities and extra benefits you won’t find included with the cabins onboard.
Within these two broad categories, you’ll typically find the following cruise ship room types available:
| Cruise ship room type | Description |
|---|---|
| Inside Cabin | Smaller rooms with essential amenities in the middle of the ship, meaning they don’t have windows |
| Outside Cabin | Comfortably-sized rooms with essential amenities and a picture window or porthole for natural light |
| Balcony Cabin | Larger rooms with essential amenities and a balcony, sometimes featuring a veranda large enough to lounge on |
| Mini Suite | Smaller suites with premium amenities and a comfortable sitting area, often also featuring a balcony area to enjoy |
| Suite | Larger suites with premium amenities, spacious bedrooms and sitting areas, balconies to unwind on, and a range of exclusive extras |
| Family Room | Spacious rooms with enough beds for the whole family, sometimes featuring connecting doors to neighbouring cabins |
| Solo Cabin | Comfortable cabins with essential amenities designed specifically for solo travellers |
Below, alongside more detailed descriptions of each cabin type, we’re going to highlight some of the pros and cons of each option.
Inside Cabins
Inside cabins, which are sometimes referred to as an interior stateroom, are often the smallest rooms on the cruise ship. They’re also always found in the middle of the deck, meaning they don’t feature any picture windows, portholes, or balconies. They’re not the most luxurious option, often only featuring the essential amenities available with your chosen cruise line, but this is reflected in their price per person per night.
Pros: Inside cabins are a fantastic option for those who want to cruise on a budget, giving you more to spend onboard and ashore, and they can be closer to the onboard entertainment venues, restaurants, and attractions, meaning you won’t have to travel far to find something exciting to do onboard. They’re ideal if you’re planning on spending as much time as possible out and about.
Cons: This cruise ship room type is often short on space, which can make storage an issue, and the lack of picture windows or portholes means you’ll have to head outside for natural light; this could be a positive if you struggle to sleep when it isn’t dark, though!
Outside Cabins
Outside cabins, also referred to as oceanview staterooms by some cruise lines, are comfortable rooms with a window or a porthole offering views of the outside world. Often a little larger than inside cabins, these rooms also feature essential amenities, ensuring you have everything you need for your cruise escape. These are a great option for anyone who wants to wake up with natural light and travellers who can’t wait for their first glimpse of that day’s port of call; the picture window or porthole can also make the room seem larger than it is, though don’t expect the most spacious rooms when booking outside cabins.
Pros: Outside cabins are a relatively affordable option that also offer stunning views and natural light; they're fantastic for those who think they’ll spend a little more time in their cabin but are still travelling on a bit of a budget.
Cons: With this cruise ship room type, you might find that your view is obstructed by a lifeboat or overhanging structure; the cruise line will make this clear when booking, though, so you won’t be caught off guard by it.
Balcony Cabins
Balcony cabins, also known as veranda staterooms, are larger cabins that include essential amenities and a balcony with an outdoor veranda. In some cases, this outdoor veranda area is quite a small space with enough room to stand on; in others, though, it can be large enough to lounge on, with comfortable outdoor furniture to take advantage of. Often a little pricier than outside cabins, this is a fantastic option for those who want to enjoy fresh air and natural light in the comfort of their accommodation, and having a balcony cabin can certainly make your cruise escape feel a little more special.
Pros: With balcony cabins, you’ll have the chance to enjoy stunning sea views and fresh air anytime, without needing to leave the comfort of your cabin; there’s nothing quite like ordering breakfast via room service and enjoying a morning coffee watching the morning sun rise above the horizon.
Cons: These cabins aren’t quite budget-friendly, and the inside space can actually sometimes be smaller than an outside cabin, as additional space is sometimes needed for the balcony itself.
Mini Suites
Mini suites, as the name suggests, are the smallest suite-level rooms available onboard; however, they are typically larger than the cabins you’ll have to choose from, featuring a comfortable sitting area that’s completely separate from the bedroom area. These cruise ship rooms also often have balconies, meaning you can enjoy fresh sea air and admire stunning ocean views without needing to leave your accommodation. A cruise experience complemented by elevated amenities and suite-level extras, which vary from cruise line to cruise line, this option is fantastic if you’re looking for a more luxurious escape or a little extra space to enjoy.
Pros: Mini suites are larger than cabins, which means you’ll be even more comfortable when unwinding in your accommodation; this is ideal if you want to relax after a long day ashore, if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the Pool Deck during sea days, or enjoy some time to yourself before an exciting evening onboard.
Cons: Booking a mini suite instead of a cabin can be quite a price jump per person, per night, so this might not be the most affordable option. The extra space you’ll have the chance to enjoy, courtesy of the separate sitting area, may also be a little cramped if you’re planning on entertaining friends and family in your room during your cruise, so you may want to book a larger suite.
Suites
Suites are among the most luxurious cruise ship rooms available, boasting ample room to relax alongside a range of premium amenities and additional extras you won’t find anywhere else. Often featuring a large bedroom and spacious sitting area, you’ll also enjoy larger bathrooms and – more often than not – a more spacious balcony when booking a suite. The specific suite-level amenities and additional benefits you’ll enjoy in suites vary from cruise line to cruise line, but can include: priority boarding and disembarkation, access to exclusive restaurants onboard, personalised butler services, in-suite mini bars, and so much more. Coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, cruise ship suites are often the priciest option available but well worth the additional cost if you’re looking to ensure your cruise getaway is truly unforgettable.
Penthouse Suite - Cunard
Pros: Suites are the most spacious rooms on a cruise ship, making your time onboard even more comfortable and allowing you to entertain friends and family without worrying about space. They’re also often located on higher decks, meaning you’ll have the best views from your balcony and windows.
Cons: Although you’ll definitely get the most bang for your buck with a suite, they are the most expensive type of cruise ship room available; there are also usually fewer suites than other cruise ship room types onboard, unless you’re sailing with a luxury cruise line, so you’ll need to book earlier to avoid disappointment.
Family Rooms
Family rooms are cruise ship cabins that feature enough beds for the whole family, ensuring parents and their children can stay in the same room during their cruise. Often designed with pull-out bunks and beds that can be hidden when not in use, family rooms typically feature a sitting area for enjoying and essential amenities for the whole family. You’ll also find inside family rooms on some cruise ships, family rooms with interconnecting doors, and suite-level family rooms; with so many options to choose from, you’re bound to find a family room to suit you and your family’s needs.
Pros: With such a wide variety of family rooms out there, you’re bound to find the right accommodation for your budget, needs, and preferences. On some cruise lines, family rooms even feature amenities and attractions specifically designed for children, like slides between floors and in-suite games!
Cons: You may not find family rooms on all cruise lines, although popular cruise lines that focus on family-friendly experiences often do feature a selection of them. So, it’s important to plan ahead and check what’s available before booking.
Solo Cabins
Solo cabins, also known as single cabins on some cruise lines, are cruise ship rooms designed for solo travellers. In the past, those travelling alone would have to pay an additional ‘single supplement’ fee when booking a cabin or suite to make up for the fact that one person would be staying in a cruise ship room designed for at least two cruisers. Now, though, thanks to solo cabins, this is no longer the case, and solo travellers can enjoy an incredible cruise experience with all the essential amenities at a more reasonable rate.
Pros: With no ‘single supplement’ fees to pay when booking solo cabins, this makes taking a cruise much more affordable when travelling alone, giving you everything you need to enjoy an incredible experience.
Cons: Solo cabins are few and far between, and don’t appear on every cruise ship. So, you’ll have limited options when it comes to booking, and you’ll need to book early to avoid missing out; these tend to get snapped up pretty quickly by other like-minded travellers.
Top tips for booking the right cruise ship room for you
If you think you know what type of cruise ship room is right for you, you’ll find a few tips when it comes to booking below; it’s not always easy to secure your spot on the hottest sailings to some of the world’s most scenic spots, and identifying which type of room is right for you is only the first step.
Be sure to do some specific research before booking
This might seem obvious, but the rooms you’ll have the chance to book can vary dramatically from cruise line to cruise line, with inside cabins on one ship being different from those found on another, balcony cabins’ outside areas varying in size, and suites boasting a wide range of unique amenities and additional benefits to choose from. So, even if you have a specific cruise ship room type in mind, it’s important to look into the specifics of the cabins available before booking; thankfully, you’ll have no trouble finding this information on Iglu Cruise or the cruise line’s own website.
Avoid motion sickness by booking centrally-located cabins
If you’re prone to sea-sickness or motion-sickness, the best cabin positions on a cruise ship are centrally located and on lower decks. Cruise ship rooms at either end of the cruise ship, and those on higher decks, are more prone to feeling the motion of the ocean when sailing. Watching the horizon can be a good way to combat sea sickness, but it’s still worth booking a room lower down on the cruise ship if you’re particularly susceptible to this.
Being surrounded by other cabins isn’t always a bad thing
You might not think it at first, but booking a cruise ship room that’s surrounded by other cabins or suites is actually a fantastic idea if you want to avoid noise. Doing so will mean you’re less likely to be bothered by the possible noise of a public space in the early morning and late at night – you’ll definitely want to avoid booking a cruise ship room that shares a wall with a late-night bar or accommodation directly under the pool deck. It’s also not a bad idea to avoid cruise ship rooms that share walls with restaurants and cafes, as these are sometimes cleaned overnight, and cruise ship rooms at the front or back of the ship on lower decks, as you may be bothered by engine noises and vibrations from the thrusters.
Consider the itinerary you’re booking on
While an inside cabin is always an attractive option, if you’re embarking on a particularly scenic itinerary – such as a Norwegian Fjords cruise or cruises to Alaska – you may want to spend a little extra and book a cabin with a window or a balcony. Spending extra might not be something you want to do, but having easy access to these sensational views will make it worth every penny.
Don’t be afraid to book a guaranteed cabin
For those who want to save a little money when booking their cruise ship room, guaranteed cabins are a sensational option. While you won’t be able to choose the location of your cabin, booking a guaranteed cabin ensures you’ll have a room of that level (ie, inside, outside, balcony, etc.) or higher. Upgrades aren’t guaranteed, but this can be a more affordable way to book a more expensive option – provided you don’t mind where your room is actually located on board.
Tips for booking multi-cabin family cruises
Booking family cruises might seem stressful, especially if you think you’ll need more than one cabin, but there are a few things that can make the process more manageable. Below, you’ll find a handful of tips specifically regarding booking multi-cabin family cruises.
Book well in advance
The best way to ensure you get the cruise ship rooms you want is to book as soon as possible; it’s really that simple. Whether you’re looking for a multi-room suite with an abundance of incredible features or more affordable cabins with connecting doors, booking early is the best way to beat the crowd and make sure you get what you’re after.
Check cabin configurations before booking
It isn’t always obvious, but larger cabins and suites sometimes feature hidden beds that allow more than two people to sleep in the same room on a cruise ship – even though they’re not advertised as a family cabin. While this might mean things are a little cramped, this can be an affordable way to take your family on the cruise of a lifetime and the difference between booking that sailing you’ve had your eye on at the last minute and missing out on the adventure!
Use a cruise agent
Booking multiple cabins isn’t always easy, so don’t be afraid to lean on the talents of a cruise agent when doing so. Not only will they be able to help you make sure you’re booking cabins close to one another, but their expertise could be invaluable in making the most of your money and ensuring the whole family has a sensational cruise adventure, wherever in the world you decide to go.
Cruise ship room tips and details you may not know about
For those hoping to make the most of your cruise ship room, here are a few more tips and hidden details the cruise lines don’t always tell you about.
Don’t be afraid to ask for more
When you arrive on board and get to your cruise ship room, if you find that there aren’t enough clothing hangers or towels (for example), don’t be afraid to ask for more. It’s never a bad idea to bring your own, but you should have no issues requesting extra items like this. You can also request that your in-room mini-bar be emptied if you have no intention of using any of the snacks or drinks; having this extra fridge space in your room can be great if you want to enjoy your own stash of snacks or have medication that requires cooler temperatures.
The walls are magnetic
One thing you might not realise at first is that the walls (and the back of the door) in your cruise ship room are magnetic. If you’re worried about storage space for coats, jackets, dresses and more, packing a handful of magnetic hooks is a great way to tackle that problem. If you decide to do this, though, make sure you’re packing hooks that can support the weight of heavier items – so, always get magnetic hooks that are a little stronger than you think you need.
Avoid leaving your balcony door open
It might be tempting to leave your balcony door open on a warm day on the water, cooling your cruise ship room while you head out to grab a bite to eat, but this can create quite a mess upon your return. With both your cabin’s door and the cabin’s balcony door open, a wind tunnel (of sorts) can whip its way between the two doors, sending lighter items all over the place. It’s not the end of the world if you do leave it open, but it’s something to be mindful of when leaving your cruise ship room.
Take advantage of the tap water
The tap water in your cruise ship room is safe to drink, so packing a reusable water bottle for your cruise and keeping it topped up using the taps in your cabin or suite is always a good idea. It’s the same tap water you’ll encounter in restaurants and bars elsewhere onboard, and can save you from paying for bottled water when out and about.
Check under the bed
While every cruise line’s cabins are different, oftentimes you’ll find extra storage space under the bed in your cruise ship room. So, if you’re looking for somewhere to store your suitcase while sailing, be sure to check under the bed for a little more storage space. In some cases, cabin stewards have already stored some fresh linens in there. As long as you make sure they can still access these when needed, there’s nothing to worry about.
Book your next sensational escape with Iglu Cruise today
If you’re looking for the hottest cruise deals available right now, Iglu Cruise is the perfect place to be. From luxury sailings and last-minute offers to all-inclusive packages, sensational short breaks, and so much more, there’s a wide range of sailings to choose from, ensuring there’s something for every taste and budget.
Or, why not check out more from the Iglu Cruise creative team on Iglu Cruise Insider? Here are a few more interesting posts to peruse while browsing the latest deals and offers.
