What Cruise Cabin Should You Book? A First-Timer’s Guide

Why Your Cruise Cabin Choice Matters

Choosing a cruise cabin can feel confusing on your first cruise. If you are sitting there wondering what cruise cabin you should book, terms like inside, ocean-view, balcony, suite, forward, and aft can start to blur together. The right cabin does make a difference and all those factors do come into play. You must also take your budget into consideration, what you require to feel comfortable and also how much time do you expect to spend in the room will dictate what room is right for you.

Quick Answer: What Cabin Should Most First-Time Cruisers Book?

I have a unpopular personal opinion on this. My short answer is a Mid-Ship Interior or Ocean-View room is a great starter room for first-time cruisers. This allows you to save some money, which you can use to elevate your cruise experience in other ways, like spa treatments, dining, or excursions. However, I would go against that advice if you are cruising an area that will have scenery you don’t want to miss, like cruising to Alaska or taking that dream Mediterranean cruise.

Did you know that there is such a thing as a virtual balcony? You are in an interior room which has a virtual wall displaying real live web cam from outside the ship! You can see more on that in my Interior vs Balcony Skip the View Post

Inside Cabins: Best for Budget Travelers

What an Inside Cabin Includes

Although all cruise line ships are slightly different in size, an interior cabin can sleep anywhere from a solo traveler, up to a family of four. The major issue some people have with the interior stateroom is that there are no windows. You are essentially in the middle of the ship, 3 walls, and a door. You have the same amenities as the ocean view, minus the window.

Who Should Book an Inside Cabin?

An inside room is a great choice for someone active. Someone who is on the move, enjoying the pool deck, the shows, the casino, or just out there exploring their port destinations.

If you are looking for some solid sleep, the interior is a great choice because of the no windows. Your room is pitch black! This is where a good battery-operated motion light will come into play!

When an Inside Cabin May Be a Bad Fit

If you feel closed in or someone who needs natural light, then do not even bother looking at the interior room. You will not be happy as it can be, rooms can range from 140 sq. ft to 230 sq. ft in size. Some cruisers will say that inside rooms are prone to feeling more motion, but I honestly have never had this issue.

Oceanview Cabins: A Good Middle Ground

Why Oceanview Cabins Work for First-Timers

I love a good ocean-view room. On some ships, you get a porthole window and on others, you get this large picture window with a great view outside. In some cases, like on the Carnival Mardi Gras, when staying in the Family Harbor Ocean View, your picture window is large enough to use as storage, a window ottoman or in our case a stuffed animal fashion show you can see when boarding the ship.

When Oceanview Is Better Than Balcony

If you are traveling on a budget and still need a view or you are looking at an itinerary that is port heavy with stops, the Oceanview room is probably the better choice.

Balcony Cabins: Best for Views and Quiet Space

Why People Love Balcony Cabins

Probably one of the hottest topics on social media is cruisers who are team balcony or team waste of money. People love the balconies for a couple of reasons. You have your own outdoor space with chairs and a small table, you can open the doors when in your room for fresh air and you get a massive amount of natural sunlight with the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Oh yeah and coffee and breakfast with a view!

When Is a Balcony Worth It?

When deciding what cruise cabin should you book, you need to look closely at your itinerary, the number of sea days, and the total cruise duration. Choosing a balcony for a Mediterranean, Alaskan, or something like a cruise through the Panama Canal is where a balcony shines.

When we cruised through France, Italy and Spain on our Mediterranean cruise, we chose a balcony. We did not regret the decision at all. We spent more time on this balcony than we did on any of our previous cruises. We also enjoyed breakfast for 2 a couple of mornings or just enjoyed the sunset after a day exploring. It was well worth it for this cruise. Also cruising into ports like Venice and Kotor, Montenegro on a balcony had some breathtaking views.

When a Balcony May Not Be Worth It

I would not even consider a balcony when and if I ever take a short cruise. One draw back to living in the Northeast is we don’t really have short cruises so it is something I don’t have to worry about. However, saying all that, if you are looking to book a 3 day cruise I do not see a balcony worth the cost.

Also, if you are on a super busy cruise and are going to be out and about most of the time, I would skip the balcony. You would probably be getting back on the ship and then heading to the room to nap or get ready for dinner or shows. So time on the balcony would be scarce.

Don’t get me wrong I love a balcony view when the itinerary fits but as I mentioned earlier, I would rather save the cost per person on the room and enjoy some extra’s like tours, keepsakes or even a nice dinner in a foreign land.

A note on balconies. Some cruise lines also offer balcony suites. Which CAN be an actual suite or just a balcony room with some extra amenities. Nothing that would make it a “suite” in my eyes, so please make sure you understand the room category you are booking.

Suites: Best for Space and Extra Perks

What You Usually Get With a Suite

Full transparency, I’ve never stayed in a suite myself, and honestly, I’m not sure I ever will. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate what they offer, because the perks are genuinely impressive.

For starters, suites are some of the largest accommodations on the ship, with many lines offering multi-bedroom layouts that feel more like a luxury apartment than a cabin. Beyond the extra square footage, you’re typically looking at priority boarding, exclusive private restaurants, and private lounges reserved just for suite guests. On some lines, you’ll even get your own butler to handle everything from dinner reservations to unpacking your luggage.

When I think of what a true suite experience looks like, two programs immediately come to mind: the MSC Yacht Club, which even offers coffee delivered to your room each morning and Norwegian’s The Haven, which includes concierge and butler services, reserved seating at shows and restaurants and priority boarding. Both are great examples of what’s often called the “ship within a ship” concept, where suite guests get their own secluded world while still having access to everything else on board.

When a Suite Makes Sense

Suites are great for milestone trips like college graduation cruises, honeymoons, wedding anniversary or major birthday celebrations. If you think about it and factor in drink packages, Wi-Fi and dining options suites come with your suite so if you were already looking to purchase these separately the cost increase shrinks increasingly.

Another good use case is when traveling with families who may need extra bedrooms. A multiple-bedroom suite will allow for the separation and also come with a sitting area as well. Sharing the cost with others will also shrink the initial purchase of a suite.

Side note on suites. I know there are suites and then there is elevated suite experiences. So again, it all comes down to the category you are booking and the cruise line. I am generalizing my answers to try to inform as many users as possible on some of the options they have.

Best Cabin Location on a Cruise Ship

Midship Cabins

Best for motion-sensitive travelers, as the thought is you do not have as much movement as you would from the Aft or Bow. Usually, these are fairly close to the elevators as well. We recently sailed in December with some friends and we had 1 nasty day at sea. Putting them mid-ship was a major bonus for them as they were all first-time cruisers.

Forward Cabins

When thinking what cruise cabin you should book, if you see an offering that is mid-forward or mid-aft, these are great alternatives. Can feel more movement but may be quieter.

Aft Cabins

Nothing better than the view of the propeller wash and aft-facing rooms can give you that each day. Although the view is fantastic, you will also feel much more movement if in rough seas.

Cabins Near Elevators

Very convenient when the elevators are right there, but you also need to take into consideration the noise from other users coming and going. You can see this below in the image.

Cruise Cabin Comparison Table

Common Mistakes When Booking a Cruise Cabin

Booking Only by Price

The cheapest cabin may not always be the best value. If you are like me, anxiety can take place when traveling. Booking a guaranteed room because of the price may not be ideal. You may not find out your room until late after boarding which causes me to be anxious. Also, focusing solely on price can relate to a cabin in a poor or noisy location and in some cases, a view of a lifeboat!

Ignoring What Is Above or Below You

This is a must when working with a trusted travel advisor like myself (shameless plug), but make sure you have this conversation. Ask the questions about what is above and below the room. Being below the kids club or pool deck may mean lots of foot traffic.

Assuming Every Balcony Is the Same

Cruise ships are meant to move people. Lots of people, so when people say that their balcony is their private oasis, I kind of smirk. There is literally someone right next to you on both sides. So keep that in mind, but also some balconies may be at an angle, so you lose line of sight or are partially blocked by a lifeboat.

Forgetting About Motion

When thinking about which cruise cabin to book, do not forget the possibility of rough seas. If you get seasick, the midship and lower decks are usually safer choices. Make sure you pack Anti-Motion meds for your First time, just in case. They are far more expensive on the ship, and I would recommend the non-drowsy version.

My Personal Advice: Pick Location Before Luxury

A well-located oceanview cabin can be a better choice than a poorly located balcony. Why pay more money to look at a lifeboat’s bottom or a metal wall. If you are sent an upgrade offer or offered an upgrade, be sure to check the new room location as well. Review what is around the room and where it fits into your comfort zone when navigating the ship. I hope this info can help first-time cruisers make a more informed decision on their next booking.