Are you planning to go on a cruise? Before you do, it’s important to know that not all cruise cabins are created equal. Some cabins are better than others, especially if you’re susceptible to seasickness. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the worst cabins on a cruise ship. Do your research by studying the cruise ship deck plans, you don’t want a bad cabin to ruin your vacation!
Worst Cabins on a Cruise
Front of Ship
Cabins at the front of the ship tend to be the worst for those with motion sickness. They can be especially rocky in choppy waters. The movement is even worse when you are on a small ship sailing in choppy waters! If you’re prone to seasickness, it’s best to avoid cabins at the front of the ship and instead book cabins in the middle, which tend to be more stable.
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Cabins Under the Pool
Avoid cabins under the pool deck. Cabins located under the pool deck can be quite noisy, particularly at night when the crew is rearranging lounge chairs and moving things around. If you’re a light sleeper or sensitive to noise, it’s best to avoid these cabins.
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Cabins Under the Sports Courts and Jogging Track
One of the worst cabins for light sleepers is to be under the basketball court, jogging track, indoor gym and other sports courts. You’re likely to hear the balls bouncing, people jogging, and the noise from sports equipment, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
Cabins with Obstructed Views
Sometimes, balcony and oceanview cabins come with an obstructed view. So what does this really mean? This usually means that you’ll have an obstructed view of the ocean, such as a lifeboat blocking your view.
I once stayed at an oceanview cabin with an obstructed view and basically, I was looking out into an orange lifeboat! That was my view on the entire cruise!
You might luck out and get partially obstructed view, meaning you might only be blocked by part of the lifeboat and you can see the ocean from a certain angle. Either way, it’s not the best view!
These cabins can also be noisy, particularly if you’re at a port where tender boats are used. The crew may have to lower your lifeboat and use it as a tender. It’s definitely not the best way to cruise. You might as well save money and get an inside stateroom.
Cabins Above the Casino
Cabins located above the casino can also be quite noisy, with the beeps of slot machines and the sound of people talking and laughing likely to keep you up all night. If you’re sensitive to noise, it’s best to avoid these cabins.
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Cabins Above the Theater and Lounge
Similar to being above the casino, the cabins above the theater, lounge, clubs, piano bar will be noisy at night. Imagine hearing random strangers singing karaoke all night long while you are trying to sleep!
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Guaranteed Cabin
I never choose “guaranteed cabin.” Guaranteed cabin is when the cruise ship will assign the cabin for you. It can be tempting because if you are a half-glass-full type of person, you might see it as a chance to get a cabin upgrade. The truth is, it rarely happens and you may end up with a less desirable cabin location, such as one located under the casino.
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Cabins near the Elevator
One thing you will notice when you are on a cruise is that there are grills at the bottom of the cabin doors. These grills provide airflow, but they also allow outside noise to come in. Because of that, avoid the cabins near the elevator. You will hear the elevator ding, people walking in the hallway and banging of cabin doors! It’s the worst if you are trying to get a good night’s sleep.
Cabins of Adjoining Rooms
When you book your cabin, make sure you are not booking a room that is an adjoining room. These are side-by-side cabins with a door that you can open. They tend to have thinner walls in between adjoining rooms. You don’t want to hear strangers next door, especially if they are a family with noisy kids. Good luck getting a good night’s sleep!
Cabins by the Anchor
It’s best to avoid cabins located near the anchor since it can get very noisy when the ship drops the anchor. This usually happens early in the morning when the ship arrives at a port. It’s no fun to be rudely awakened by the anchor!
It’s sometimes hard to pinpoint exactly where the anchor is at the ship, you’ll have to do a little research or ask your travel agent for advice so you don’t accidentally book cabins near the anchor.
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