This blog entry is limited to experience on the bigger ships on the moderately priced lines and is also limited to the most affordable cabin classes (inside, outside view, balcony). Examples of these lines are Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and MSC. The cabin experience on the ultra luxury lines is different, as you would expect for the additional money you pay to sail on them. Melissa and I have very little experience in solo cabins or suites, so we will stick to what we know. The videos we include in this blog entry are from the Celebrity Constellation. They are typical of old school ships that debuted before 2018, which provide a base line for comparison. Melissa and I prefer the older ships, mostly because they are smaller, having about half the number of passengers than the new mega ships. On the other hand, all the new ships have more bells and whistles. They are worth a look if you don’t mind paying a little more and don’t mind sharing your vacation with 5,000 other passengers.
COMMON CHARACTERSTICS OF ALL OF THESE CABIN CLASSES:
- Most can accommodate 2 passengers and many can accommodate 3 or 4 passengers. They start with 2 twin beds that can be combined or kept separate. Sleeping accommodations of passengers 3 and 4 come from either a pull out bed, or beds that fold out of the wall or drop down from the ceiling.
- All but the newest cabins have very few electrical outlets. Most common is a configuration of 1 US style outlet and 1 European style outlet in the main cabin and 1 more of each in the bathroom. Another blog post will deal with how to make this work for you and your electronics.
- Newer ships have more outlets and some USB ports. Another blog post will show you how to determine this before you board.
- Generally speaking, the cabins have lots of storage, with hanging closets, shelves, drawers, hidden drawers and cubbies, etc. Another blog post will deal with how to maximize storage and how to declutter.
- Most people store their luggage under the bed.
- Bathrooms are small, as are the showers in the bathrooms.
- Most cabins have a minifridge.
- All cabins have a TV that has a modest selection of channels, some On Demand movies and shows, and a bunch of informational channels dealing with what is going on aboard the ship.
INSIDE CABINS: Generally, they are the least expensive cabin class. Because they are located on the interior of the ships, they have no view outside and they are very dark when the lights are off. Many passengers find they sleep longer in inside cabins because of the lack of light coming in. The average size of these cabins runs between 150 and 175 square feet. That is kind of small for two people but is really cramped with 3 or 4. We have found that the people who are happiest in the inside cabins are those who primarily use if for little more than sleeping, showering and answering nature’s call. Some of the newer ships have put a virtual window in these rooms, projecting a vision of the sea on the wall that makes it feel like you are in an outside cabin. The bigger inside cabins have a chair to sit in, but most are not big enough for a loveseat or sofa. Here is a video of an inside cabin on Celebrity Constellation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in_qMT4weyU
OUTSIDE “OCEAN VIEW” CABINS (Porthole or Window): These rooms are similar to a balcony room, once you get past the fact that there is no balcony. They are similarly sized to a balcony room and have either a porthole or a bigger window to let in light and give an outside view. The average size of these cabins runs from 160 to 210 square feet. They are less expensive than the balcony rooms and are often on the lowest decks. They generally have at least one chair to sit at and may have a loveseat. They are more comfortable than an inside cabin and are often the last category to sell out. Here is a video of an Ocean View cabin on Celebrity Constellation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmCsUkvGNJ0
BALCONY CABINS: Most of these are similarly sized to an Outside Cabin, but they have floor to ceiling sliding doors that open up into a balcony that has 2 chairs. Most balcony rooms will include a sofa/loveseat, giving you a little space to hang out while waiting for your roommate to get ready for whatever you plan to do next. The average size of a balcony room is 180-225 SF, but that includes the balcony area. Melissa and I almost always choose a balcony because we will occasionally take a break from people and just chill, reading a book or watching the world go by. Balcony cabins are the most expensive of these 3 classes. But also the most comfortable. Here is a video tour of a balcony room on Celebrity Constellation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkYIzfTnKes
SUITES IN NAME ONLY: Some lines have a separate class of balcony rooms that they call something that makes it seem more fancy (for example, Princess has a cabin class called a “Mini-Suite). These aren’t really suites. They are just slightly bigger balcony rooms in slightly better locations. Do your research before booking this cabin class. I have read many a review from disappointed cruisers who paid the additional $ for a mini suite only to learn that it was not a suite, and came without the perks that entice people to book a suite (priority boarding, priority specialty restaurant reservations, special happy hours, etc).
WHY DO SOME CABINS IN THE SAME CLASS COST MORE THAN THE OTHERS?: Location, location, location. Think about it. Would you rather be under the buffet, above the nightclub, or on a deck where there are cabins both above and below our cabin. Also, some cabins have bigger interiors or bigger balconies.