How to Choose a Cruise Cabin

Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, or Suite?

Here's the simple version. An interior cabin usually doesn't have a window. It can be a good choice if you're mainly using your cabin to shower, change clothes, and sleep.

An ocean-view cabin gives you natural light and a view without paying for outdoor balcony space. A balcony cabin gives you private outdoor space. If you enjoy sitting outside in the morning, watching the ship arrive in port, or simply having somewhere private to enjoy the view, that may be worth the additional cost to you.

A suite can offer more room and may come with additional features or benefits depending on the cruise line, ship, and suite category.

There isn't one category I recommend to everyone. The right cabin is the one that fits how you plan to use it.

When I Think a Balcony Deserves a Serious Look

There are some itineraries where the scenery is a big part of why you're going. Alaska is a great example.

If your cruise includes scenic sailing through areas where you'll want to watch the landscape, wildlife, glaciers, coastlines, or waterways, having your own balcony can be wonderful. But I still wouldn't tell someone they have to book one.

Cruise ships have public outdoor decks and viewing areas too. If choosing an interior or ocean-view cabin is what makes the cruise comfortably fit your budget, I'd rather see you take the trip than think you can't go because someone told you a balcony was required.

Your Cabin Location Can Matter Just as Much as the Category

Two balcony cabins on the same ship can give you very different experiences simply because of where they're located. Before choosing a cabin, look at the deck plan.

• What's above you?
• What's below you?
• Are you close to an elevator?
• How far will you be walking to the places you'll use most?
• Are you underneath a pool deck, restaurant, theater, nightclub, or other busy area?
• Are there connecting doors?
• Is the cabin near a high-traffic area?

If You're Concerned About Motion, Location Is Worth Considering

No cabin can guarantee you won't feel movement when the ship is moving. Sea conditions, weather, the ship itself, and individual sensitivity all play a part. But if motion is something you're concerned about, cabin location is worth discussing before you book.

Cabins lower on the ship and closer to the ship's center are generally where motion tends to be less noticeable than cabins higher up or farther toward the front or back.

That doesn't mean everyone needs to book midship. Some people love aft cabins. Others specifically choose forward cabins or higher decks. This is about knowing what matters to you before we pick the location.

Think About Who Is Sharing the Cabin

The cabin isn't just about the view. How many people will actually be sleeping there?

A cabin that feels perfectly comfortable for two adults may feel very different with three or four people, extra beds open, luggage in the room, and everyone trying to get ready at the same time.

Families may need connecting cabins or cabins that accommodate additional guests. Friends traveling together may prefer separate beds. Someone with mobility needs may require an accessible cabin, which should be discussed early because availability can be limited.

And sometimes two cabins make more sense than squeezing everyone into one just because technically the room can sleep four. “It fits four” and “four people will be comfortable in here for seven nights” are not always the same thing.

Don't Forget About Obstructed Views and Guarantee Cabins

A lower price can sometimes come with a tradeoff. An ocean-view or balcony cabin may have an obstructed or partially obstructed view depending on the ship and cabin.

A guarantee cabin or similar fare may also mean you're choosing a cabin category while the cruise line assigns the specific location later, subject to that cruise line's rules.

That can be a perfectly good option for someone who cares more about price than location. It may not be the right choice for someone who wants a particular deck, location, view, or proximity to other travelers. Know what you're giving up in exchange for the lower price.

My Advice? Spend Where It Matters to You

I don't believe in upgrading someone just because a more expensive cabin is available.

If you're going to sit on that balcony every morning with your tea and watch the world go by, let's talk about the balcony. If you're going to leave the cabin after breakfast and not come back until bedtime, maybe you'd rather put that money somewhere else.

If you need more space, an accessible cabin, connecting rooms, a particular location, or something else that will make the cruise work better for you, then that becomes the priority.

Your cabin is part of the vacation. It doesn't have to be the most expensive part of it. Choose the cabin you'll actually enjoy — and spend your vacation budget on the things that matter most to you.