Choosing the Right Cabin - Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)

Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)

Choosing the Right Cabin

Does cabin size count? Are suites sweeter than cabins? How desirable is a balcony? What about location?

Ideally, you should feel at home when at sea, so it is important to choose the right accommodation, even if most of your time in it is spent with your eyes shut. Accommodation sizes range from a whopping 4,390 sq ft (407 sq m) to a minuscule 60 sq ft (5.5 sq m). Choose wisely (dependent on your budget, of course), for if you find your cabin (incorrectly called a ‘stateroom’ by some companies) is too small when you get to the ship, it may be impossible to change it, as the ship could be full.

Cruise lines designate cabins only when deposits have been received - they may, however, guarantee the grade and rate requested. If this isn’t done, or if you find a disclaimer such as ‘All cabin assignments are confirmed upon embarkation of the vessel,’ get a guarantee in writing that your cabin will not be changed on embarkation.

There are three main types of accommodation: suites, outside-view cabins, and interior cabins. But there are many variations on each type, as detailed below.

The suite life

Suites are the most luxurious and spacious of all shipboard accommodation, and typically come with butler service. A suite (in the sense of a ‘suite of rooms’) should comprise a lounge or sitting room separated from a bedroom by a solid door (not just a curtain), a bedroom with a large bed, one or more bathrooms, and an abundance of closet, drawer, and other storage space. The best suites have the most desirable position, privacy, good views, and bed linen. Many cruise lines inaccurately describe some accommodation as suites, when they are nothing more than a large cabin with a curtain that divides sitting and sleeping areas.

Be aware that, although the large resort ships may devote a whole deck or two to penthouses and suites, you will have to share the rest of the ship with those in lower-priced accommodation. That means there is no preferential seating in the showroom, dining rooms, or on sunbathing decks. You may get separate check-in facilities and preferential treatment upon disembarkation, but your luggage will be lumped with everyone else’s.

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The lavish Reflection Suite bathroom on Celebrity Reflection.

Celebrity Cruises

10 reasons why people like balconies

1. You can get fresh air.

2. You can listen to the waves.

3. You get the maximum amount of natural light.

4. You can have tea/coffee or breakfast outside.

5. You can see what the weather is like, to decide how to dress.

6. You may see the stars (and shooting stars) at night.

7. You can sunbathe in private - assuming the ship is in the right position and your balcony isn’t overlooked.

8. You can escape from the noise of the entertainment areas.

9. You can take pictures of the sea from within your cabin.

10. You can boast about it to your friends.

‘Spa suite’ accommodation

Spa suites - not to be confused with the ‘thermal spa suites’ (comprising sauna, steam room, and herbal showers) found in the on-board spa - are usually located adjacent to or near the ship’s spa. They often have ‘spa-added’ features such as a bathroom with window into the sleeping area, bathtub, and mood lighting, and perhaps special health teas or herbal infusions. Some cruise lines may even include a spa treatment such as a massage or facial, in the ‘spa suite’ package, plus unlimited access to the actual spa.

Are balconies worth it?

Romeo and Juliet thought so. And they’re addictive, too. A private balcony (or veranda, terrace, or lanai), for which you pay a premium, is just that. It is a mini-terrace adjoining your cabin where you can sit, enjoy the private view, smell the sea, dine, or even have a massage.

Some private balconies aren’t so private, though. Balconies not separated by full floor-to-ceiling partitions don’t quite cut it (ships with examples of these include Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Victory, Maasdam, Oriana, Queen Mary 2, Ryndam, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Voyager, Statendam, and Veendam). You could be disturbed by noise or smoke from your neighbor. Some ships have balconies with full floor-to-ceiling privacy partitions and an outside light - Celebrity Century, is an example of this, with some partitions full and others partial.

Many large resort ships have balconies too small to accommodate even two reclining chairs, and may have plastic or plain painted-steel decking instead of traditional, more expensive teakwood decking. The average size of a cabin balcony aboard the large resort ships is about 9 by 6ft (2.7x1.8m) or about 55 sq ft (5.2 sq m), but they can measure as much as 30 times that.

Some suites with forward-facing private balconies may not be so good, as the wind speed can make them all but unusable. Ships with balconies of this kind include Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow, Silver Spirit, Silver Whisper, Silver Wind, Star Legend, Star Pride, and Star Spirit. And when the ship drops anchor in ports of call, the noise pollution can be irritating - as on Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, for example.

For the best in privacy, a balcony suite at a ship’s stern is hard to beat, and some of the largest afloat can be found there - sheltered from the wind, such as aboard Marina and Riviera (Oceania Cruises).

Installing a balcony means that space is often taken away from either the cabin or the bathroom, which is why today’s bathrooms are smaller and almost none have tubs.

All private balconies have railings to lean on, but some have solid steel plates between the railing and deck, so you can’t look out to sea when seated (Costa Classica, Costa neoRomantica, Dawn Princess, Oceana, Sea Princess, and Sun Princess). Better are ships whose balconies have clear glass (Aurora, Brilliance of the Seas, Celebrity Century, Empress, Mein Schiff 1, Mein Schiff 2, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas) or horizontal bars.

Balcony doors can be quite heavy and difficult to open. Many ships have doors that slide open (examples: Celebrity Century, Crystal Serenity, Grand Princess, Norwegian Gem); a few have doors that open inward (examples: Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind); some have doors that open outward (examples: Eurodam, Legend of the Seas, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria).

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View from a Carnival balcony.

Carnival

French balconies

A ‘French’ balcony (also called a ‘Juliet’ balcony) is neither French nor a balcony as such. It is a full floor-to-ceiling sliding door with a ledge (not really a balcony) that allows you to stick out your toes and smell the fresh air, and railings for safety.

Interior-view balconies

Aboard the largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, ‘interior’ balcony cabins are novel. They overlook one of two so-called ‘neighborhoods’: Central Park, with its trees and plants, or The Boardwalk at the stern of the ship, although these really are classed as outside balcony cabins - if it rains, your balcony can get wet, but it’s unlikely. However, people scream as they career along the Zipline above the Boardwalk balconies, so they can be really noisy by day. And, when no one is zipping, you may have a view of the sea (and perhaps the excellent acrobatic AquaShow) at the ship’s stern.

Balconies that lack privacy

If you choose a Riviera Deck (Deck 14) balcony cabin aboard Azura or Ventura, for example, you can oversee many balconies on the decks below yours - particularly those on C Deck and D Deck - because they are built right out to the sides of the ship. If you have such a cabin, it would be unwise to sunbathe or sit naked on your balcony. Not only that, but almost all balcony cabins can be seen from the navigation bridge, where the staff is equipped with binoculars (for keeping a lookout).

Interior ‘virtual’ balconies

For the latest in interior design, there’s the ‘virtual’ balcony. Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas has them, and so do some 81 interior cabins retrofitted to Navigator of the Seas. They give the cabins an ‘outside’ feel, and feature 6ft 7in (2m) ‘screens’ with a live video feed from cameras mounted on the front and aft of the ship fed through the ship’s computer server and fibre-optic cables. With curtains on either side of the (almost) floor-to-ceiling wall ‘screen’ (which you can turn off), the ‘balcony’ is positioned on a forward- or aft-facing cabin wall. Naturally, these cabins command a premium price.

Balconies to covet

Some of my favorite large balcony suites and cabins include some on Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, and Celebrity Summit (6147, 6148, 9096, 9098, 9156, 9197); Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 (9069, 9078, the Balmoral and Sandringham duplexes at the stern); Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2, with two owner’s suites measuring 1,227 sq ft (114 sq m); Oceania Cruises’ Nautica and Regatta (6088, 6091, 7114, 7119, 8064, 8067), Marina and Riviera (8143, 9147, 10111 - these suites each measure 1,991 sq ft/185 sq m and span the ship’s entire beam, although the balcony is actually split into two); Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner (780, 781, 8100, 8101, 988, 989, 1080, 1081), and Seven Seas Voyager (673, 674, 781, 782, 970, 971).

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Allure of the Seas’ Royal Loft Suite.

Royal Caribbean International

Upstairs and downstairs

Allure of the Seas, Aurora, Oasis of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, and Queen Mary 2 have ‘loft’-style or ‘duplex’ accommodation, with a living room downstairs and bedroom upstairs.

How much?

The cost of accommodation is directly related to the size of the cabin, its location, and the facilities and services. Each line implements its own system according to ship size, age, construction, and profit potential. Many cruise lines still do not give accurate cabin sizes in their brochures. It may be better to book a low-grade cabin on a good ship than a high-grade cabin on a poor ship. If you are in a party of three or more and don’t mind sharing a cabin, you’ll save a lot per person, so you may be able to afford a higher-grade cabin.

Cabin sizes

Cabins provide more or less the same facilities as hotel rooms, except space. Most owners favor large public rooms over cabins. In some smaller interior (no-view) and outside cabins, changing clothes can be a challenge.

The latest ships have more standardized cabin sizes, because they are made in modular form. I consider 180 sq ft (16.7 sq m) to be the minimum acceptable size for a ‘standard’ cabin today.

Cabin location

An ‘outside-view’ cabin is recommended for first-time passengers: an ‘interior’ cabin has no portholes or windows, making it more difficult to get oriented or to gauge the weather or time.

Cabins in the center of a ship are more stable and tend to be noise- and vibration-free. Ships powered by diesel engines (i.e., the most modern vessels) create and transmit some vibration, especially at the stern.

Take into account personal habits when choosing the cabin location. If you like to go to bed early, avoid a cabin close to the disco. If you have trouble walking, choose a cabin close to the elevator.

Generally, the higher the deck, the higher the cabin price, and the better the service. This is an inheritance from transoceanic times, when upper-deck cabins and suites were sunnier and warmer.

Cabins at the front of a ship are slightly crescent-shaped, given that the outer wall follows the curvature of the ship’s hull. But they can be exposed to early-morning noises, such as the anchor being dropped at ports where the ship is too big to dock.

Cabins with interconnecting doors are fine for families or close friends, but the dividing wall is usually so thin that you can hear the conversation next door.

Many brochures indicate cabins with ‘obstructed views.’ Cabins on lower decks are closer to engine noise and heat, especially at the stern of the vessel and around the engine casing. In many older ships, elevators may not operate to the lowermost decks.

And so to bed

Aboard ship, the bed frames are usually made of steel or tubular aluminum for fire protection purposes, although some older ships may have (flame-retardant) wood frames. Some have rounded edges, while others have square edges (watch your legs on these), particularly when the mattress is contained within the bedframe.

Some beds have space underneath for your luggage, while others have drawers fitted for additional storage space, so your luggage has to be stored elsewhere in the cabin.

Mattresses

Mattresses can be hard, semi-hard, or soft. If your mattress is not to your liking, ask your cabin steward if it can be changed - most ships have spare mattresses, and, to make the bed firmer, bed boards.

Some cruise lines provide simple foam mattresses, while others place more emphasis on providing extra comfort. Regent Seven Seas Cruises, for example, provides a custom-designed ‘Suite Slumber Bed’ - a plush euro-top mattress capped with a double layer of memory foam and dressed in the finest linens to assure a refreshing sleep.

Ultra-expensive Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattresses can be found aboard the tiny coastal boutique-size cruise ships of Un-Cruise Adventures ships (Safari Endeavor, Safari Explorer, Safari Legacy, and Safari Quest).

There are differences between mattress sizes in the UK, US, and Europe, depending on which supplier a cruise line specifies when a ship is outfitted or when bed frames and mattresses are replaced.

Duvets

Down duvets, fine bed linens, and plush mattresses are what superior sleeping environments are all about. Duvets are usually goose down or cotton filled, and range from 3.5 togs (thin) to 13.5 togs (thick), the tog rating being the warmth rating. Anyone with allergies should try a spundown duvet, which is filled with non-allergenic polyester microfiber.

Duvet covers can be for single, double, queen-, or king-size mattresses. If you request a queen-size bed configuration when you book your cruise, request an overlay, otherwise there will be a crack between the beds. Not all ships have them but the luxury/premium grade ships, and ships with suite-grade accommodation, should.

Duvet covers and sheets of 100 percent cotton (up to 400 thread count) are best, but may be more difficult for a ship’s laundry to handle. But they do provide those wonderful moments when you slip into bed.

Pillows

Many ships have a ‘pillow menu’ in suite-grade accommodation. This gives you a choice of several different pillow types, including hop-filled or hypoallergenic, goose down, Hungarian goose down (considered the best), silk-filled, body pillow (as long as an adult body, providing full support at to the head and neck at the top and, lower down, to legs and knees), Tempur-Pedic, isotonic or copycat memory foam.

10 things a butler can do

1. Assist with unpacking your suitcase

2. Bring you DVDs, CDs, board games, a pack of cards

3. Bring you menus for all dining venues and serve course-by-course meals in your suite

4. Arrange a private cocktail party

5. Arrange for laundry/cleaning items

6. Make dining venue reservations

7. Provide afternoon tea or canapés

8. Book shore excursions

9. Make your spa reservations

10. Shine your shoes

Facilities

The standard is a private bathroom (generally small) with shower, washbasin, and toilet. Higher-grade cabins and suites may have full-size bathtubs. Some have a whirlpool bath and/or bidet, a hairdryer, and more space. Most cabins come with the following: flat-screen television ‘infotainment’ system or regular television (regular satellite channels or closed circuit); two beds (possibly, another one or two upper berths), or a double, queen- or king-size bed. Some twin beds can be pushed together to form a double/queen; depending on cabin size, a chair, or chair and table, or sofa and table, or, in higher grades, even a separate lounge/sitting area; telephone (for inter-cabin or ship-to-shore calls); refrigerator/wet bar (higher grades); electrical outlets for personal appliances, usually 110 and/or 220 volts, vanity/desk unit with chair or stool, personal safe; closet space, drawer space, plus under-bed storage for suitcases; bedside night stand/table unit.

Some older ships may have upper and lower berths. A ‘berth’ is a nautical term for a bed held in a wooden or metal frame. A ‘Pullman berth’ tucks away out of sight during the day, usually into the bulkhead or ceiling. You climb up a short ladder at night to get into an upper berth.

International mattress size comparisons

United Kingdom

Inches

Centimeters

Single

36 x 75

99 x 180

Double

54 x 75

140 x 190

Queen

60 x 78

150 x 200

King

72 x 78

180 x 200

Europe

Single

35 x 79

90 x 200

Double

55 x 79

140 x 200

Queen

63 x 79

160 x 200

King

72 x 78

80 x 200

US/Canada

Single or twin

39 x 75

99 x 180

Double or full

54 x 75

137 x 191

Queen

60 x 80

150 x 203

King

76 x 80

193 x 203

Comparing the biggest of the big

Ship name

Cruise line

Gross tonnage

No. of passengers

Space ratio

Year built

Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

225,282

5,400

41.2

2010

Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

225,282

5,400

41.2

2009

Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

167,800

4,100

38.5

2013

Anthem of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

167,800

4,100

40.9

2015

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Cruise Line

163,000

4,200

38.8

2015

Freedom of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

154,407

3,634

42

2006

Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

154,407

3,634

42

2008

Liberty of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

154,407

3,634

42

2007

Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Cruise Line

153,000

4,200

36.4

2010

Queen Mary 2

Cunard Line

148,528

2,620

56.6

2004

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line

145,655

3,998

36.4

2013

Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Cruise Line

145,655

3,998

36.4

2014

Royal Princess

Princess Cruises

141,200

3,600

39.6

2013

Regal Princess

Princess Cruises

141,200

3,600

39.6

2014

Britannia

P&O Cruises

141,000

3,638

38.7

2015

MSC Preziosa

MSC Cruises

140,000

3,502

40.2

2013

MSC Divina

MSC Cruises

139,400

3,502

39.6

2012

MSC Fantasia

MSC Cruises

137,936

3,274

41.2

2008

MSC Splendida

MSC Cruises

137,936

3,274

41.2

2009

Explorer of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

137,308

3,634

42

2000

Voyager of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

137,280

3,634

42

1999

Adventure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

137,276

3,634

42

2001

Mariner of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

137,276

3,634

42

2004

Navigator of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Int.

137,276

3,634

42

2003

Costa Diadema

Costa Cruises

132,500

3,700

35.8

2014

Disney Dream

Disney Cruise Line

129,690

2,500

51.2

2011

Disney Fantasy

Disney

129,690

2,500

51.2

2012

Carnival Breeze

Carnival Cruise Lines

128,251

3,646

35.6

2012

Carnival Dream

Carnival Cruise Lines

128,251

3,646

35.6

2009

Carnival Magic

Carnival Cruise Lines

128,251

3,646

35.6

2011

AIDAprima

AIDA Cruises

125,000

3,286

37.8

2015

Celebrity Reflection

Celebrity Cruises

122,210

2,852

42.7

2012

Celebrity Silhouette

Celebrity Cruises

122,210

2,852

42.7

2011

Celebrity Eclipse

Celebrity Cruises

121,878

2,852

42.7

2010

Celebrity Equinox

Celebrity Cruises

121,878

2,852

42.7

2009

Celebrity Solstice

Celebrity Cruises

121,878

2,852

42.7

2008

Ventura

P&O Cruises

116,017

3,092

37.5

2008

Diamond Princess

Princess Cruises

115,875

2,674

43.3

2004

Sapphire Princess

Princess Cruises

115,875

2,674

43.3

2004