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Location, location, location. General advice on
what cabins are the best for you
- I don't plan to spend much time
in my cabin. What's the most affordable way for me
to get on the ship?
- Do the cruise lines ever give
free upgrades?
- Where is the best location for
my cabin if I'm concerned about the ship's motion?
- Is an oceanview cabin worth the
extra money?
- How many people can I get in my
cabin?
- Is there any difference between
cabins on the lower decks and cabins on the higher
decks?
I
don't plan to spend much time in my cabin. What's the
most affordable way for me to get on the ship?
Very
good question, and one we hear quite often. The most
affordable way to get on the ship other than stowing
away is to book an "inside guarantee." The
rate is often a little lower than the rate for the
lowest category on the ship. You will not receive a
cabin number when booking. It will be assigned as late
as the day of sailing. And your cabin assignment could
be in any category on the ship. You could receive the
lowest category on the ship or the highest. You never
know. However, expect an inside cabin. The drawback is
that you don't know where you'll end up. It could be the
front, back or middle, so if that's a concern to you, we
recommend avoiding this pricing program.
Since
most cabins on today's ships only differ by the fact
they're on a different deck, most folks don't mind
taking a chance of where they end up. Most of our
clients who take advantage of this deal are quite
satisfied with their accommodations. If you seriously
plan to spend little time in your cabin, then consider
this promotion.
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Do
the cruise lines ever give free upgrades?
Everyone
either knows someone, met someone on a ship, or they
themselves have been upgraded to a higher category than
they paid for. Yes, it does happen and but not as
frequently as people think. How do upgrades work? Who
knows? We're still trying to figure it out, but here's
our theory.
Most
upgrades go to passengers who book early and buy the
lowest category on the ship in the form of a
"Category Guarantee." A "Category
Guarantee" means that when you book your cruise,
you are not assigned a cabin number, you are simply
guaranteed that category or better. Since most people
who cruise simply want to get the best price,
"Guarantees" are a great way to fill the ship
with people looking for a good rate.
The
cruise lines always sell more guarantees in a category
than there are cabins in that category. For example, the
lowest rate on Celebrity Cruise Line's Zenith is a
Category 12, inside cabin. There are approximately 6
category 12 cabins. However, on each sailing, Celebrity
will sell between 40 and 60 Category 12 guarantees. You
don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that 34
people are going to get a free upgrade. Usually these
upgrades are given on a first come first serve bases.
Most
upgrades are often from low inside cabins to higher
inside cabins, or low outside cabins to higher outside
cabins. Rarely do passengers get upgraded from inside to
outside but it does happen. But don't book an inside
cabin expecting a free upgrade to an outside. It
probably won't happen.
If
you are assigned a cabin when you deposit on your
cruise, your chances of an upgrade are very small. If
you are travelling in a quad, your chances are very rare
in that there are relatively few quad cabins on a
sailing. Cabin assignments on guarantees are usually
made between a few weeks and the day of sailing. If you
don't like the cabin they give you, tough luck, you're
stuck. So if you're afraid of being at the front, back,
top, bottom, under the dining room, then don't take the
chance. Take an assignment at time of booking.
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Where
is the best location for my cabin if I'm concerned about
the ship's motion?
While
motion sickness shouldn't be a major concern on today's
ships, you should still know the best way to avoid it if
possible. If it's available, you should request a cabin
that is relatively close to the middle of the ship. If
you can imagine a see-saw in the play ground, it's the
ends that go up and down, not the middle. (No, cruises
are not like see-saws). You should also look for a cabin
that's closer to the bottom of the ship, not the top.
The higher you are, the greater the potential to feel a
left to right rolling motion. Example, the top of a tall
palm tree will always sway more in the wind than the
bottom of the tree.
Again,
today's ships are fully stabilized making your cruise
comfortable in virtually any location. As a matter of
fact, if motion discomfort were such an issue, the
suites on a ship wouldn't be at the top and near the
front.
To
make sure you get the best cabin for you, book early,
book early, book early. If you wait, you'll have less to
choose from.
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Is
an oceanview cabin worth the extra money?
Our
clients tell us the the biggest advantage of having an
oceanview cabin is that it makes your cabin seem so much
bigger. It's amazing what natural light will do for a
room. It also gives you some perception of time. When
you wake up at 7:00 am in an inside cabin, you can't
tell if it's 2 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon. For
them an oceanview cabin is worth it for this reason
alone. Want to know what the weather's like? Open your
curtain. With an inside cabin, you throw on some
clothes, run outside and run back again.
On
the other hand, our other valued clients say the
opposite. "Who needs a window. I'm only going to be
in there when I sleep anyway. I could use that extra
money on shore excursions, my bar tab, or my next
cruise."
Who's
right? They both are. It's really up to you. Oceanview
cabins generally cost about $100 more per person for a 7
or 10 night Caribbean cruise and about $200 more per
person for a European or Exotic itinerary. Our agents
will be glad to discuss the features and benefits of
both types of cabins without pressuring you into
something you don't want.
The
only itinerary where we highly suggest an oceanview
cabin is Alaska. With daylight hours approaching 20 - 22
hours in the peak season, it's wonderful to be able to
enjoy it from your cabin.
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How
many people can I get into my cabin?
Most
cruise ship cabins are built to accommodate two
passengers. However, there are many on each ship that
can accommodate three and four passengers. Carnival and
Disney both have ships that sleep five in one cabin.
These cabins are obviously very popular among families
and go quickly during family vacation times. So book
them early if you need them.
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Is
there any difference between cabins on the lower decks
and cabins on the higher decks?
On
today's newer ships, there are basically four types of
cabins:
Inside
Cabins - these are cabins without windows
Oceanview Cabins - basically the
same size as inside cabins only they have port holes or
picture windows.
Deluxe Cabins - about the same
size as an oceanview cabin, except it may have a private
balcony which adds to the overall square footage of the
cabin.
Suites - significantly larger
than other cabins on the ship, often with a private
balcony or verandah.
You
find the Deluxe Cabins and Suites on the higher decks of
a cruise ship, so, yes, there is a difference here.
However, Standard Inside Cabins and Oceanview Cabins are
basically the same on any deck. For example, a Category
4, Inside Cabin on Carnival's Fantasy on the Riviera
Deck is the same size as an Oceanview Category 9 on the
Empress Deck. The difference become evident in the Cat
11 and Cat 12 Demi-Suites and Suites.
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