I'll never opt for a guaranteed stateroom again! I booked my cruise months in advance and didn't get my room assignment til 48 hours before we sailed. My stateroom was across from a large set of doors. Things were ok til the final evening, when crew members swung those doors open and loudly rolled/banged everyone's hallway luggage through as they prepped for disembarkation, from around 9pm til 2am. It was impossible to sleep. I'll always choose my location from now on. it's worth the peace of mind!!
I always avoid cabins across from crew access doorways. Early in the morning the cabin attendants will be pulling their service carts through these doors, talking and banging into walls, etc. Another is across from the lateral passageways that connect each main corridor. Those can be, depending on location, high traffic areas and heaven forbid momma and/or daddy keep their screaming children quiet at 0700 when they are headed to breakfast or the pool or... and on the subject... parents who let their little darlings do the "Passageway Stomp." Way too many parents don't have control of their children and starting on the cruise ship just isn't an option. I love kids... I used to be one myself but please, have some consideration for others. These ships are made out of steel and stomping on the floor is guaranteed to wake everyone in their path. Sheesh!
Agreed! I always taught my son not to run up and down hallways at hotels and not to scream ! A lot of parents are just oblivious. Your kids are only cute to you!
I cant help but laugh about jumping out of the shower and realizing people can see in. I was in an ocean view balcony and we were docked in Nassau, I came out of the shower and there was a ship parked next to us that wasnt there when I went into the bathroom, so no balcony is safe lol. I do agree and follow the rooms to avoid that you listed.
I believe your modesty was not compromised. Try this, in the daylight go outside and peer into a darkish room from a short distance. Those opposite cruisers are oblivious, they are eagerly prepping for breakfast and the excursion awaiting them, the same as you are.
That happened when we were docked in Cozumel. We got there early in the morning and we had our 10 year old daughter with us. She walked out on our balcony and came right back in…the man on the ship across from us was on his balcony in his underwear. She was quite shocked! He went in when he realized everyone could see him.
My hubby tried being a cheapskate and booked a guaranteed cabin and didn’t tell me.. we ended up on deck 2 all the way back. And our room ONLY HAD 2 bunk beds and we could hear and feel the main Prop turning. Oh yeah.. he was in the doghouse when we got home 😂😂😂
So right Tony! I alway check for public areas above and below. Most of the time, the balcony cabins have been fairly private. The BEST balcony cabin the I’ve discovered is the Cove balcony on the newer Carnival ships. They are lower on the ship…closer to the water, views are amazing and unobstructed. Most of all they are private, since most are below the lifeboats and there are large gaps between the next balcony. When we book balconies, it’s Cove balconies if available. However, most of the time, we book interior cabins because they are generally located away from elevators and high traffic areas. The are very quiet, and very dark. We’ve never felt cramped. We’re booking one on a 14 day Princess Trans Atlantic. They are also much cheaper, saving money for other things!
I liked my cove. If you like the sound of the ocean you're going to get it. It's not quite as much light in through the door as a normal balcony because of the hull cutout but I still liked it. On some ships it's a fair bit cheaper.
Got upgraded to a balcony stateroom near the bow but discovered that at 6 a.m. on an anchored location day, we heard that LONGGGG anchor chain being released!! IT WAS SO LOUD I almost jumped out of bed!!
We do that too. We pick the deck and room area we want. Always ask questions to make sure it is exactly what you want. Our agent commented how prepared we were on our recent booking.
Oh Tony....memories..you brought back bad memories!! My cruise sales guy sold my husband and I a cruise on Carnival..last minute deal!! Just pay the taxes and port charges..we got stuck on deck 2, above the engine room, next to the gang plank..talk about noise!! Tiny room, port hole window..lived and learned..never again.
Our last 3 cruises have been with Princess (2017), Royal (2020), Royal (2022). Each cruise, we've had three different cabin types, interior on the Ruby, interior Promenade on the Liberty, and Balcony (via an upgrade... where we were almost literally moved across the hall from our selected cabin) on the Explorer. Never had a problem with noise, but I can see how having a cabin above or below a venue ca n ruin your whole day. On thing we have done, is always at least attempt to pick a consistent area for our cabin from cruise to cruise. Maybe it doesn't matter that much, but I find it helpful to know, we're on deck 6, port side... same as on the last cruise. Plus, you'll have a general idea, even ship to ship what to expect with your cabin.
I have had the misfortune of being upgraded to an ocean view cabin that had a deck in front of it. A religious group believed this to be an excellent place from which to call to their deity in tongues as the sun rose each morning. The spirit they awakened was not the one they called upon. I also had the misfortune of having a balcony cabin directly over the main theater. The thumping from the music during each show and every practice ensured I didn't nap or turn in early. Since these learning experiences, I now also try to avoid cabins directly in front of the elevator bank or anyplace where people gather as they tend to be noisy. The final cabin I attempt to avoid is any cabin with an adjoining door to another room. Unless those in the adjoining room are your closest of friends or family, your going to get to know them way too well, even if you never meet them.
Right on with all these points. We've cruised over 60 times and learned a load of lessons. I thought we had it made when 3 weeks ago we booked another last minute cruise. This time on the NCL Escape -Club Balcony Suite We were successful in securing the auction to a Haven suite. On a Thursday night we get an email the March 19th -26th , 2022 had been cancelled. We called our agent and discovered thousands of passengers had the same problem. NCL offered us the Dawn but out of Tampa on the 20th. Cabin wise we could only get a so called similar suite but they'd add free items to compensate for our loss and inconveniences. They noticed we had Haven Suite and said on the Dawn we'd love their suites just as much-if not more. Not wanting to lose our vacation we said OK. Let's just summarize it this way. Old ship with moderate updates. High speed internet was almost dial up speeds. Open bar literally meant open most hours but the majority of drinks not included. The thousands that had to be accommodated by the loss of the Escape resulted of mobs at Tampa Terminal, restaurants packed to the brim, bar wait times like going to Disneyworld. I could go on and on. I'll admit with the pressure of making a last second decision only we can be guilty of not exercising the buyer beware reality of NCL staff exaggerating and our my not having researched more. We spent hours studying and selecting the best cabin we could afford on the Escape only to be offered a regular suite right under the pool deck. What noise and loss of sleep we had to deal with for a week. One of lifes many cruise lessons we have learned again.
Avoid room with a door to the adjacent cabin. The noise from the room next to you comes thru the door. Avoid far forward cabins if you have motion sickness tendencies, as the front of the ship moves more than mid ship. Aft cabins, particularly the lower decks may have more engine room noise.
Stayed on NCL's Jade a couple of years ago and the vent from the Casino must have been below us...all of our clothes hanging in the closet reeked of smoke. Was so disappointed and uncomfortable the whole trip. No one ever told us about that. We were on the 8th deck level. Great info today. Love your videos. Suzanne from Ontario Canada.
Funny story...... I have wanted to cruise for years but hubby wasn't to keen on the idea. I was watching a You Tube video of a cabin walk through of an Aft extended balcony cabin, he looked over my shoulder and remarked how beautiful the view was. he then said '" If we could have that cabin I'd love to take a cruise" We will be on our first cruise May 9th in the exact cabin in the video.
I thought I had the perfect cabin on my cruise last week, cabins above, below, across, no interconnecting door, not far from the elevator, great!. The cabin above turned out to be a suite with a piano and a young child who was allowed to bang on the keys each evening, usually as we were settling in for our quiet time. Don't know how we could have avoided that. Under your privacy item, you should mention the interconnecting doors as those cabins can be noisier.
@@Hawkeye2001 Curious about the ship with the grand piano…. Do you remember which one? I’ve been in a very similar cabin (JS on the hump, directly under the Royal Suite on Voyager and Freedom Class). The RS has a player piano, but of course, you can also play on it too. We were lucky never to have a kid doing that above us, but we were always a little concerned about it.
This was so funny. Love the ocean view balcony but beware of the window washers. Very embarrassing to be caught with your pants down. Thanks for sharing.😎
March 2022 cruise Odyssey OTS. Jr suite 9638. Wonderful stateroom except for one thing.....the doorbell. First time we have had a cabin with a doorbell after 20 plus cruises. Problem was passengers, (kids?}, who would stop and ring the bell several times and then take off. Annoying when trying to sleep or just rest. Unable to disconnect. Didn't spoil our trip on the amazing, beautiful, exceptional Odyssey of the Seas.
Love watching your videos. One point I havent seen yet...we don't mind the obstructed view balcony room, because they are less costly and you can still see the ocean just fine from most of them. Be sure to check the deck plans first and pick a room that is near the ends or between tenders, etc. In fact, we enjoyed watching a tender vessel be brought up and secured after use one year. It is an interesting and precise job and takes quite a few minutes. Several people watched; a mini show!
This last January we bid and were awarded a forward facing penthouse suite on the NCL Encore. We knew going into it that these rooms were further away from elevators and subject to more motion since they are at the front of the boat and were ok with that. What we were unaware of and that no floor plans showed was that our room was right next to an anchor which would cause the whole room to vibrate and clang every time the anchor was raised/lowered (which took at least 30 mins). In addition we were directly above the crew bar which was typically loud and rowdy until around 3am, and then there was a water holding tank or something above our room that constantly had the sound of swishing water above us....This was all very disconcerting and not anything I would have known in advance from the floor plans. All in all, this was the most expensive but worst room (but beautifully appointed) we have ever booked. We were hardly able to sleep at all because it was so noisy, and we have had rooms right by the atrium elevators before that didn't bother us.
Good point about the guarantee cabin. We must remember that as the cruise line assigns those cabins about a week or closer before the cruise, they are usually the worst ones left, after everyone else has chosen their best locations.
I once booked a guaranteed mini-suite on the NCL Breakaway, which was cheaper than the you-select-your-own balcony cabins. I figured there probably are no bad mini-suite cabins. I took a chance. A few days later, I got a cabin assignment. I could not be happier with the location. At that time, NCL did not have the free this and that bonuses. So, it made no difference. With all these free bonus perks now, picking a guaranteed cabin will give up all the perks.
There is something to consider for those who can suffer from travel sickness. Middle of the ship and lower down helps mitigate sea sickness. It is less of an issue with modern cruise ships but Crossing the Bay of Biscay in europe is notorius for lumpy seas, I am sure there are similar places all over the world plus of course crossing major oceans. On a respositioning cruise from the Caribean we had the choice of landing in Southampton or Malaga. We chose the latter to avoid more uncertain spring weather returning to the UK than the southern Med. It also made travellining easier but that is another matter
Sailed on NCL Breakaway, and our stateroom was on deck 6 directly above Sid Normans Pour House..... a rock & roll bar that played LOUD classic rock until midnight every night.
Beware the blank spaces on those deck plans! Blank spaces in the middle of 2 cabins usually spell some kind of crew area. It may be a housekeeping/maintenance closet or it may be crew stairs! Had a cabin next to crew stairs once and it was loud! Crew running up and down metal stairs at all hours of the night!
I completely agree I like to choose my own room. I don’t get motion sick so I try to find a room on the highest deck towards the front. Great balcony views and less over head noise. I check deck plans but admit I messed up a bit in the Horizon. Deck 14 was great but unlike their other ships that have the sauna rooms above you they do not. The serenity deck is directly above creating a bit of noise from deck parties and just people up there.
I spent wayyy too much time looking at the deck maps lol. I made sure that there was nothing above or below it. We have solo cabins across from us. Close to the elevator but not too close. Only thing I'm worried about is neighbors and that we are two floors above the outdoor restaurant and walking area. But it will be Alaska on May and probably cold so maybe that will keep the folks inside.
Depends which elevator, the emerald deck on princess aft is ok. If over vista lounge ok. The vista lounge shuts down after 11 pm. The Disco club fusion totally agree. Under the gym totally agree( it was awful). Connecting rooms awful.
Also check out the view from a balcony too. Aft view balcony on the Carnival Breeze overlooks the water. Aft view balcony on Carnival Vista overlooks the Havana pool. I had no clue until it was pointed out in a FB group. My sailing is in 8 months so I’m glad I know so I have time to adjust to the idea rather than walking in day of and being mad.
AS someone that has cruised since 1984 I have seen many changes, cabins included! The best positive changes through the years are the amenities now offered in cabins, size, better noise insulation, better outlets etc. The addition of balconies also being a positive. The negatives are category classification BS as we call it. The renaming of outside cabins that may or may not have a couple sq ft extra or some minor difference as MINI-SUITE. This has improved in recent years to actually add a little more room or a bathtub or larger balcony in some cases. But must be know a mini-suite is not considered any kind of suite for amenities like early boarding, specialty lounges, what ever the add ons granted actual SUITES. This is a great subject you covered and deserves even more time devoted to picking out the room you will live in for especially for longer cruises. Categories mean little often the same cabin but location changes designation. Then how about the subcategories most ignore. A Junior Suite might be labeled JR Suite J-3 so how does that differ from a J-1 ( usually location ) A Vista suite on one ship is different than a Vista Suite on another class ship. When we book a cruise we spend time looking for youtube of that very cabin we are looking, recommendations etc. One last point, if you do not need adjoining cabins don't take one that is. The doors between adjoining cabins are usually not sound proofed, if next to noisy neighbors for the week you will know it. NOTE it is very rare to be able to change a cabin once onboard. The ships purser, now known as customer service desk, is not in the business of upgrading or relocating guests. They leave that to the land based centers unless a cabin becomes uninhabitable. And also remember like most hotels, they will never say, yes the AC has been broken for 6 months and we can't get the darn thing to work. You will get, they are working on it, we checked he temp out is okay, etc. They will do everything possible to keep you in that cabin. George in NY
You called out the ones to avoid on our list! One exception for us: We're both less disturbed by nighttime noise (we're both hearing aid wearers) so a "High Traffic" cabin near the elevators is still worth considering. Other than that you're spot on!
Well, I agree with everything that you said here, except for the cabin upgrade,,, on one cruise, we were offered an upgrade from a baloney to a family suite. On the NCL Dawn. There was a bit of a cost,but WELL WORTH IT!!
As non-smokers we avoid cabins on the starboard side on Royal Caribbean since that is where the designated smoking areas are on the ship. We also try to book towards the front to avoid smoke from drifting our way. After all that, it's really irritating when people think smoking is allowed on balconies when it's not!
Never thought about it before our cruise a couple weeks ago.... balcony above smoking areas! Grateful I didn't choose that but we weren't too far from it so choosing a cabin 10 or so more towards the mid and I wouldn't have been too happy.
I've been looking at you for the last 6 months I really do appreciate I'm leaving out Saturday from Miami going to Mexico 5 days I'm taking my son and my daughter and my grandbaby on a birthday cruise thank you so much Linda
We had a cabin right below the lido once. Loved it!!!! There wasn't any night noise (my husband is really sensitive to that). It was really nice to walk down only one deck and be right there.
Great video, Tony! Thanks! The worst cabin I ever had was just a few weeks ago on the Carnival Breeze. We were in 2493, an OV at the very back of the ship. We broke one of your rules -- didn't have cabins below us. What WAS below us were docking lines and other equipment. Starting at about 4am every port day, we had massive vibrations, shaking, rattling -- all sorts of racket and disruption. It went on for hours. It was awful. This was our first OV, first time on a low deck. And it's the last time.
Tony - I’d add some consideration if one is sensitive to motion on the ship: avoid too high up and too far aft or too far forward. I personally want rooms on four sides of a cabin and I study those deck maps like I’m reading the HOA bylaws of a new house I’m considering. AND! Never trust an unlabeled space on the map to be quiet - most likely it will have crew moving back and forth servicing the deck. Another video idea would be the corollary, “Look for These 5 Cruise Cabins Types” - good stuff.
On our latest cruise balcony cabin at the front, we used the Balcony twice, the first time we looked up & there were guests in suites above so no privacy, second time weather was beautiful so got my book to lay on the lounger & read but inconsiderate guests on one side were having a Zoom like call & seriously though we were in Norway I’d say they could be heard back home in the US
I went on a Royal cruise and got an upgrade from a 7th floor inside to a 6th floor balcony. Yeah I did the balcony dance. Up near the front of the ship. Best sleep ever
We just came off the Mardi Gras. We had suite 9433. We did not have a cabin below us and for that I’m thankful. Fun fact on the Mardi Gras….you can hear the cabin above you through your bathroom vent….everything. 🤣🤣 There were tons of hilarious stories shared on the fb page while cruising. Our cabin and even balcony were actually very quiet despite a venue below us. 😊
I need a handicapped accessible room, so we are always near the elevator. It is great during the day, but is sometimes annoying at night when people go by in the hall. We use a white noise machine to mask the sound and that really helps.
Hi Tony. I guess extreme far sides should count too. Last time I cruised, my sister and her husband were upgraded for free which was great because it was their first cruise ever, but the cabin was in the front of the ship. You could see Leonardo and Kate with their arms open from there. So we ran mostly into bad weather and my sister was sick every night for the excessive movement of the ship in the front. (Better get center cabins next time).
I will be in a Junior Suite on Navigator of the Seas next Monday!!!! I try to make sure there are no public areas above, below or to the sides of us. I like being close to the elevator, but not too near... Maybe a few doors down. I like to be more midship then aft or forward.
Love the promenade down the middle of the Navigator class ships. It seems much longer than the Oasis class ship. I also love the amount of top deck space on the Navigator ships. The Oasis class ships split this top desk space into many different levels (Central Park and the Boardwalk and pool Deck).
The only problem cabin I had was on the Mardi Gras and it probably isn't a problem on most ships. The Mardi Gras has open air restaurants, bars and public areas on lower decks below some balcony cabins. Our balcony looked down on tables full of people having a very good time and their voices carried right up the side of the ship late into the evening. So I look for cabins that avoid those areas.
I am going on the Mardi Gras very soon and I have a mid ship 9 the floor balcony and I am a little concerned because I noticed that below me is the one restaurant.
All good information. I wish I had the information on Morgan approved bathrooms before scheduling my Med cruise. Speaking of noise related cabin issues.
On Holland America we always book a guaranteed cabin, we’re four star and haven’t had a bad one yet! Last one was upgraded to a vista suite and it was great!
Trying our first cove balcony in August on the Mardi Gras. Watched several videos about them and love idea of being closer to the water. In Dec we’re trying first aft/ Sunset balcony on Celebrity Edge. Love comparison shopping, especially where cruising is concerned!
I loved cruising on the back of the ship. I never have problems with sea sickness and enjoy the extra rocking you sometimes get at that location. One night we had 15-20 feet seas and when the back of the ship would go down, you could almost feel the bed fall out from under you for a split second. Best night sleep of my life. Another evening, we stood out there and watched whales chasing the ship at sunset. On shore days, we'd order breakfast via room service and dine out on our balcony. It was glorious, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
@@AthenaisC I’m with you! I love the rocking of the boat (except when it turns into a kind of fun house as you’re trying to walk, then not so much). We just got off the NCL Encore and you just don’t feel the movement on those big ships! My husband is now a little leery, however, about the bed falling out from under him😂.
@@sherinash-braun520 it's a subtle sensation. He'll survive! These were rough Atlantic seas on a transatlantic crossing east of Bermuda on the Splendor of the Seas, a much smaller ship.
I agree with everything you said, Tony. But if there are issues with a cabin, you can definitely speak to the Customer Service and see what can be done. We weren't able to move but got a voucher that paid for 1/2 of another cruise.
We cruised Feb 26 for 7 days and they wouldn't do anything UNTIL FINALLY DAY 4 after going down there everyday. We got moved from floor 1 in the front to the first floor very back. Neither were good. The crazy thing is they said that had absolutely NO extra cabins and couldn't move us at all then suddenly had a room.
2 and 3. I have always stayed away from cabins near elevators. There is always some noisy kids running up and down the halls screaming at the top of their lungs. Once I booked GTY on the Ovation of the Seas and was put in a cabin right above the smoking area. That was a no-no. After the ship left Ovation did move me to a cabin 2 cabins from the fwd. I loved it. No noise at that end of hallway.
Was offered an upgrade - balcony to balcony - on most recent Princess cruise. Checked size and deck plan. New cabin would have been up a deck and 40sq feet less in size. We had booked large balcony. Had 2 days to say we didn’t want switch. I called ASAP, waited on the phone over an hour , thought it was settled. Several days later my documentation showed us moved back to the smaller upgrade! Did a chat this time. Told them I’d cancel if my room wasn’t the one I’d booked. Before this I had thought an upgrade meant BETTER. lesson learned. BTW the room next to us in the original booking went for 3x our cost. Pays to check it out!
We are going on the Joy. The same dates and the fact that we have been saving for 2 years to go were what sold it for us. First ever cruise and we get to try it twice for the price of airfare! I think Norwegian went above and beyond to try to make it right.
Your friend Don posted a story about a thoughtless woman who banged on a door near his cabin every morning yelling for her friend to get up at about 5 am. Unfortunately there is no way to avoid this type of rude person. Enjoyed and agreed with you on all points. Thank you.
Hi Tony, what we also use with deck plans is called "deck drag". It shows all the decks and you can drag a deck over another deck to see what is above/below. I also use it for room size comparisons. Though not drawn exactly to scale, it gives a pretty close representation. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut
I book suites now and look at the ship map so I can be on the right side of the ship and not be too close to the elevators. Haven't had any problems since doing this. Our July cruise we are in a family harbor suite on the right on the Panorama ship.
our last cruise had a cabin near the elevator and quite frankly, it was pretty great. no noise issues at all from people in the hall and so handy to be able to get off the elevator, turn the corner and be right at our door.
Thanks for adding this comment . I was getting nervous because I have a Alaska cruise coming in May and was concerned because I booked near the elevator. Hopefully I wont have issues either… But mine is also by the kids zone so we will see if that creates a difference.
I was "upgraded from a balcony to a balcony...new location across from laundromat. I passed, then upgraded again to a balcony below the lido deck..passed on that...then upgraded to a mini suite on below lido deck...passed on that..then upgraded to a mini suite...cabins above and below...accepted that upgrade...after the 3rd upgrade offer told my T.A. to tell them to stop jerling me around...guess that worked....
Specific ships/classes have certain cabins to avoid if you are bothered by noise. Our first cruise on Allure OTS was amazing, except for the fact that we were disturbed by the late AquaTheater show several nights. This was despite being in a Boardwalk balcony maybe 2/3 of the way forward on the Boardwalk from the AquaTheater. Even the Central Park balconies can be noisy, with people scraping chairs across the deck (not nearly as loud as the Boardwalk though).
Love this one. I agree to having rooms above and below yours. We were under a sun deck and at the crack of stupid they were moving all the chairs around. Scraping and bumping…grrr…
I have to admit that I am only in the cabin a short time. I don't sleep much. I am one of the first to wake up and the last one to sleep. Only 3 hrs. I don't want to miss anything in the morning or at night.
Just returned from Wonder Of The Seas and we were about 4 cabins from the elevator. No problem at all. The ease of getting around would out weigh any noise issue. Not taking the 1/4 mile walk down the hall was appreciated. 🙂
I was excited to watch this video! I know we booked a cabin that some people would avoid. We are booked on deck 10 last balcony on the boardwalk on Symphony of the Seas. Its going to be noisy but we don't care. I'm excited to watch the Aqua theater. Also, this cabin doesn't have privacy on the balcony. Again, we don't care. I guess if someone catches me jumping out of the shower well, ya! Oops!
Great video! I wish I had seen this before our last cruise. I think our cabin check ALL these boxes! Still had a great time, but for a little more $$$ all these could have been avoided.
On our cruise last December, we upgraded to a junior suite and we got an awesome cabin, because there are no bad junior suite cabins. We have chosen a guaranteed suite for our next cruise in December. It was only $130 more than a balcony that we could choose. It was a no brainer. There are no bad suites.
Never had a noise problem with a "High Traffic" Cabin, I almost always choose a "High Traffic" Cabin because I can get fast out or In. I hate walking long corridors.
Hello Tony! I always choose the spa balcony cabin on the Port side. (even number side) Have a great day as we enjoy everything that's going on in Ka-ruisinggggg!!!
Honestly cabin selection is important and while experienced cruisers may know more what they want I think an experienced cruise agent is really invaluable in helping with this selection. Each ship is different and there are bad locations on all ships.
My travel agent looks at cabin placement very seriously for us. I'm a light sleeper, and my wife has motion sickness tendencies. Mid ship, with cabins above & below and away from the elevators for us.
Our travel agent called us and told us we had an "upgrade" from our perfectly located and well-planned Inside cabin to an obstructed Oceanview cabin. I didn't want to to see the lifeboat when our draperies were open, so I told my travel agent to get our original cabin back. Thankfully, our inside cabin was still vacant. Now I tell my TA that I want to see where the upgraded cabin is before switching. I think you can opt out of an "upgrade." You really do have to be specific as to where your balcony will be facing when booking. Great video.
I had a cabin 25 steps from the forward elevators and it was great! Never had a noise problem because there wasn't a lot of traffic going through that area, also the forward elevators weren't used as frequently as midship. (on this particular ship)
I liked our guaranteed cabin last month on the Carnival Mardi Gras. We were given a deck 8 Havana inside stateroom. Location was perfect. Tiny room but bathroom was decent. It was a really inexpensive cruise.
I'll never opt for a guaranteed stateroom again! I booked my cruise months in advance and didn't get my room assignment til 48 hours before we sailed. My stateroom was across from a large set of doors. Things were ok til the final evening, when crew members swung those doors open and loudly rolled/banged everyone's hallway luggage through as they prepped for disembarkation, from around 9pm til 2am. It was impossible to sleep. I'll always choose my location from now on. it's worth the peace of mind!!
I always avoid cabins across from crew access doorways. Early in the morning the cabin attendants will be pulling their service carts through these doors, talking and banging into walls, etc. Another is across from the lateral passageways that connect each main corridor. Those can be, depending on location, high traffic areas and heaven forbid momma and/or daddy keep their screaming children quiet at 0700 when they are headed to breakfast or the pool or... and on the subject... parents who let their little darlings do the "Passageway Stomp." Way too many parents don't have control of their children and starting on the cruise ship just isn't an option. I love kids... I used to be one myself but please, have some consideration for others. These ships are made out of steel and stomping on the floor is guaranteed to wake everyone in their path. Sheesh!
Agreed! I always taught my son not to run up and down hallways at hotels and not to scream ! A lot of parents are just oblivious. Your kids are only cute to you!
once i got a cabin right by the pool filling area i did not sleep at all
I cant help but laugh about jumping out of the shower and realizing people can see in. I was in an ocean view balcony and we were docked in Nassau, I came out of the shower and there was a ship parked next to us that wasnt there when I went into the bathroom, so no balcony is safe lol. I do agree and follow the rooms to avoid that you listed.
I believe your modesty was not compromised. Try this, in the daylight go outside and peer into a darkish room from a short distance. Those opposite cruisers are oblivious, they are eagerly prepping for breakfast and the excursion awaiting them, the same as you are.
That happened when we were docked in Cozumel. We got there early in the morning and we had our 10 year old daughter with us. She walked out on our balcony and came right back in…the man on the ship across from us was on his balcony in his underwear. She was quite shocked! He went in when he realized everyone could see him.
My hubby tried being a cheapskate and booked a guaranteed cabin and didn’t tell me.. we ended up on deck 2 all the way back. And our room ONLY HAD 2 bunk beds and we could hear and feel the main Prop turning. Oh yeah.. he was in the doghouse when we got home 😂😂😂
So right Tony! I alway check for public areas above and below. Most of the time, the balcony cabins have been fairly private. The BEST balcony cabin the I’ve discovered is the Cove balcony on the newer Carnival ships. They are lower on the ship…closer to the water, views are amazing and unobstructed. Most of all they are private, since most are below the lifeboats and there are large gaps between the next balcony. When we book balconies, it’s Cove balconies if available. However, most of the time, we book interior cabins because they are generally located away from elevators and high traffic areas. The are very quiet, and very dark. We’ve never felt cramped. We’re booking one on a 14 day Princess Trans Atlantic. They are also much cheaper, saving money for other things!
Cove balcony in May, my first one, I’m pretty excited about it!
I liked my cove. If you like the sound of the ocean you're going to get it. It's not quite as much light in through the door as a normal balcony because of the hull cutout but I still liked it. On some ships it's a fair bit cheaper.
Id like to try a cove balcony in the not-too-distant future 😃
Love a cove balcony! Just be sure it’s not under the galley.
Got upgraded to a balcony stateroom near the bow but discovered that at 6 a.m. on an anchored location day, we heard that LONGGGG anchor chain being released!! IT WAS SO LOUD I almost jumped out of bed!!
Happened to me too! Except it was an inside cabin and couldn’t see to know what was happening!!
I learned to have the deck plans open when booking my cruise. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way.
We do that too. We pick the deck and room area we want. Always ask questions to make sure it is exactly what you want. Our agent commented how prepared we were on our recent booking.
Oh Tony....memories..you brought back bad memories!! My cruise sales guy sold my husband and I a cruise on Carnival..last minute deal!! Just pay the taxes and port charges..we got stuck on deck 2, above the engine room, next to the gang plank..talk about noise!! Tiny room, port hole window..lived and learned..never again.
Our last 3 cruises have been with Princess (2017), Royal (2020), Royal (2022). Each cruise, we've had three different cabin types, interior on the Ruby, interior Promenade on the Liberty, and Balcony (via an upgrade... where we were almost literally moved across the hall from our selected cabin) on the Explorer. Never had a problem with noise, but I can see how having a cabin above or below a venue ca n ruin your whole day. On thing we have done, is always at least attempt to pick a consistent area for our cabin from cruise to cruise. Maybe it doesn't matter that much, but I find it helpful to know, we're on deck 6, port side... same as on the last cruise. Plus, you'll have a general idea, even ship to ship what to expect with your cabin.
This is the Best video! Not just for the info., more for the energy and $10 words! Lol Love it!
I have had the misfortune of being upgraded to an ocean view cabin that had a deck in front of it. A religious group believed this to be an excellent place from which to call to their deity in tongues as the sun rose each morning. The spirit they awakened was not the one they called upon. I also had the misfortune of having a balcony cabin directly over the main theater. The thumping from the music during each show and every practice ensured I didn't nap or turn in early. Since these learning experiences, I now also try to avoid cabins directly in front of the elevator bank or anyplace where people gather as they tend to be noisy. The final cabin I attempt to avoid is any cabin with an adjoining door to another room. Unless those in the adjoining room are your closest of friends or family, your going to get to know them way too well, even if you never meet them.
Right on with all these points. We've cruised over 60 times and learned a load of lessons. I thought we had it made when 3 weeks ago we booked another last minute cruise. This time on the NCL Escape -Club Balcony Suite We were successful in securing the auction to a Haven suite. On a Thursday night we get an email the March 19th -26th , 2022 had been cancelled. We called our agent and discovered thousands of passengers had the same problem. NCL offered us the Dawn but out of Tampa on the 20th. Cabin wise we could only get a so called similar suite but they'd add free items to compensate for our loss and inconveniences. They noticed we had Haven Suite and said on the Dawn we'd love their suites just as much-if not more. Not wanting to lose our vacation we said OK. Let's just summarize it this way. Old ship with moderate updates. High speed internet was almost dial up speeds. Open bar literally meant open most hours but the majority of drinks not included. The thousands that had to be accommodated by the loss of the Escape resulted of mobs at Tampa Terminal, restaurants packed to the brim, bar wait times like going to Disneyworld. I could go on and on. I'll admit with the pressure of making a last second decision only we can be guilty of not exercising the buyer beware reality of NCL staff exaggerating and our my not having researched more. We spent hours studying and selecting the best cabin we could afford on the Escape only to be offered a regular suite right under the pool deck. What noise and loss of sleep we had to deal with for a week. One of lifes many cruise lessons we have learned again.
Random question, how do you afford it😂
Oh my; that sounds awful! And 60 times is a lot of cruises….
For over 35 years I just took the cheapest cabin guarantee and always had a good Cruise
Now that I'm older, I carefully select my cabin.
I like the obstructed view cabin with the balcony for the price of a inside cabin.
Our last crusie in January we got upgraded from an interior to a balcony for 100 bucks.
Avoid room with a door to the adjacent cabin. The noise from the room next to you comes thru the door. Avoid far forward cabins if you have motion sickness tendencies, as the front of the ship moves more than mid ship. Aft cabins, particularly the lower decks may have more engine room noise.
Couldn’t agree more with your list!! I love your antics/animation while talking. Keep up the great work!!
We got an upgrade once on Princess. It was an Alaskan cruise. We had booked a mini suite and we were upgraded to a suite!
Stayed on NCL's Jade a couple of years ago and the vent from the Casino must have been below us...all of our clothes hanging in the closet reeked of smoke. Was so disappointed and uncomfortable the whole trip. No one ever told us about that. We were on the 8th deck level. Great info today. Love your videos. Suzanne from Ontario Canada.
Funny story...... I have wanted to cruise for years but hubby wasn't to keen on the idea. I was watching a You Tube video of a cabin walk through of an Aft extended balcony cabin, he looked over my shoulder and remarked how beautiful the view was. he then said '" If we could have that cabin I'd love to take a cruise" We will be on our first cruise May 9th in the exact cabin in the video.
I thought I had the perfect cabin on my cruise last week, cabins above, below, across, no interconnecting door, not far from the elevator, great!. The cabin above turned out to be a suite with a piano and a young child who was allowed to bang on the keys each evening, usually as we were settling in for our quiet time. Don't know how we could have avoided that. Under your privacy item, you should mention the interconnecting doors as those cabins can be noisier.
I once got an interconnecting cabin and I SWEAR I could hear them breathe, literally! Never again!
@@georgene6767 Been there / done that... The interconnecting door is a deal breaker for us, from now on.
@@Hawkeye2001 Curious about the ship with the grand piano…. Do you remember which one? I’ve been in a very similar cabin (JS on the hump, directly under the Royal Suite on Voyager and Freedom Class). The RS has a player piano, but of course, you can also play on it too. We were lucky never to have a kid doing that above us, but we were always a little concerned about it.
I'm going on my first cruise and I'm taking ear plugs. Yes, it's uncomfortable initially but can't avoid all noises in a place like that.
This was so funny. Love the ocean view balcony but beware of the window washers. Very embarrassing to be caught with your pants down. Thanks for sharing.😎
March 2022 cruise Odyssey OTS. Jr suite 9638. Wonderful stateroom except for one thing.....the doorbell. First time we have had a cabin with a doorbell after 20 plus cruises. Problem was passengers, (kids?}, who would stop and ring the bell several times and then take off. Annoying when trying to sleep or just rest. Unable to disconnect. Didn't spoil our trip on the amazing, beautiful, exceptional Odyssey of the Seas.
Love watching your videos. One point I havent seen yet...we don't mind the obstructed view balcony room, because they are less costly and you can still see the ocean just fine from most of them. Be sure to check the deck plans first and pick a room that is near the ends or between tenders, etc. In fact, we enjoyed watching a tender vessel be brought up and secured after use one year. It is an interesting and precise job and takes quite a few minutes. Several people watched; a mini show!
This last January we bid and were awarded a forward facing penthouse suite on the NCL Encore. We knew going into it that these rooms were further away from elevators and subject to more motion since they are at the front of the boat and were ok with that. What we were unaware of and that no floor plans showed was that our room was right next to an anchor which would cause the whole room to vibrate and clang every time the anchor was raised/lowered (which took at least 30 mins). In addition we were directly above the crew bar which was typically loud and rowdy until around 3am, and then there was a water holding tank or something above our room that constantly had the sound of swishing water above us....This was all very disconcerting and not anything I would have known in advance from the floor plans. All in all, this was the most expensive but worst room (but beautifully appointed) we have ever booked. We were hardly able to sleep at all because it was so noisy, and we have had rooms right by the atrium elevators before that didn't bother us.
Good advice Tony. After 13 cruises, we have learned where to book our cabin...and where we like to be!
A great tips video... But I will add, depending on the ship, I like to be somewhat close to the elevator...
Good point about the guarantee cabin. We must remember that as the cruise line assigns those cabins about a week or closer before the cruise, they are usually the worst ones left, after everyone else has chosen their best locations.
I once booked a guaranteed mini-suite on the NCL Breakaway, which was cheaper than the you-select-your-own balcony cabins. I figured there probably are no bad mini-suite cabins. I took a chance. A few days later, I got a cabin assignment. I could not be happier with the location. At that time, NCL did not have the free this and that bonuses. So, it made no difference.
With all these free bonus perks now, picking a guaranteed cabin will give up all the perks.
There is something to consider for those who can suffer from travel sickness. Middle of the ship and lower down helps mitigate sea sickness. It is less of an issue with modern cruise ships but Crossing the Bay of Biscay in europe is notorius for lumpy seas, I am sure there are similar places all over the world plus of course crossing major oceans. On a respositioning cruise from the Caribean we had the choice of landing in Southampton or Malaga. We chose the latter to avoid more uncertain spring weather returning to the UK than the southern Med. It also made travellining easier but that is another matter
Sailed on NCL Breakaway, and our stateroom was on deck 6 directly above Sid Normans Pour House..... a rock & roll bar that played LOUD classic rock until midnight every night.
Beware the blank spaces on those deck plans! Blank spaces in the middle of 2 cabins usually spell some kind of crew area. It may be a housekeeping/maintenance closet or it may be crew stairs! Had a cabin next to crew stairs once and it was loud! Crew running up and down metal stairs at all hours of the night!
I completely agree I like to choose my own room. I don’t get motion sick so I try to find a room on the highest deck towards the front. Great balcony views and less over head noise. I check deck plans but admit I messed up a bit in the Horizon. Deck 14 was great but unlike their other ships that have the sauna rooms above you they do not. The serenity deck is directly above creating a bit of noise from deck parties and just people up there.
I have been using a cruise deck plan for a long time. It’s a great tool to use when choosing a cabin location.
I spent wayyy too much time looking at the deck maps lol. I made sure that there was nothing above or below it. We have solo cabins across from us. Close to the elevator but not too close. Only thing I'm worried about is neighbors and that we are two floors above the outdoor restaurant and walking area. But it will be Alaska on May and probably cold so maybe that will keep the folks inside.
Depends which elevator, the emerald deck on princess aft is ok. If over vista lounge ok. The vista lounge shuts down after 11 pm. The Disco club fusion totally agree. Under the gym totally agree( it was awful). Connecting rooms awful.
Also check out the view from a balcony too. Aft view balcony on the Carnival Breeze overlooks the water. Aft view balcony on Carnival Vista overlooks the Havana pool. I had no clue until it was pointed out in a FB group. My sailing is in 8 months so I’m glad I know so I have time to adjust to the idea rather than walking in day of and being mad.
If you're prone to motion sickness avoid cabins that are too far aft or forward.
AS someone that has cruised since 1984 I have seen many changes, cabins included! The best positive changes through the years are the amenities now offered in cabins, size, better noise insulation, better outlets etc. The addition of balconies also being a positive. The negatives are category classification BS as we call it. The renaming of outside cabins that may or may not have a couple sq ft extra or some minor difference as MINI-SUITE. This has improved in recent years to actually add a little more room or a bathtub or larger balcony in some cases. But must be know a mini-suite is not considered any kind of suite for amenities like early boarding, specialty lounges, what ever the add ons granted actual SUITES. This is a great subject you covered and deserves even more time devoted to picking out the room you will live in for especially for longer cruises. Categories mean little often the same cabin but location changes designation. Then how about the subcategories most ignore. A Junior Suite might be labeled JR Suite J-3 so how does that differ from a J-1 ( usually location ) A Vista suite on one ship is different than a Vista Suite on another class ship. When we book a cruise we spend time looking for youtube of that very cabin we are looking, recommendations etc. One last point, if you do not need adjoining cabins don't take one that is. The doors between adjoining cabins are usually not sound proofed, if next to noisy neighbors for the week you will know it. NOTE it is very rare to be able to change a cabin once onboard. The ships purser, now known as customer service desk, is not in the business of upgrading or relocating guests. They leave that to the land based centers unless a cabin becomes uninhabitable. And also remember like most hotels, they will never say, yes the AC has been broken for 6 months and we can't get the darn thing to work. You will get, they are working on it, we checked he temp out is okay, etc. They will do everything possible to keep you in that cabin.
George in NY
You called out the ones to avoid on our list! One exception for us: We're both less disturbed by nighttime noise (we're both hearing aid wearers) so a "High Traffic" cabin near the elevators is still worth considering. Other than that you're spot on!
Hearing loss sucks, however, there are times... :)
@@kenbaer2361 Is what it is, and it does often mean noise, at least at that level, just isn't a thing!
@@markt.3454 My hearing loss is from industrial environment, I followed all the rules and still paid the price
Carnival Miracle, Ocean Suite, Aft Starboard , Great idea on cabin location advice.
I have upgraded my cabin on NCL to a spa balcony cabin three times, every one has been fantastic.
Heading out of Vancouver on an Alaskan Cruise with Celebrity in August and booked a Celebrity Suite and The Retreat! We can't wait!!
Tony, great info.! I hope for their sake, newbies to cruising are listening because today's info. is crucial.
We always get a cabin near the elevator. No noise and very convenient, never had a problem in 15 years.
I agree we like our room closer to an elevator, we find it very convenient.
Will be near elevator for a B2B -23 days. Fingers crossed it will be a good cruise!
Well, I agree with everything that you said here, except for the cabin upgrade,,, on one cruise, we were offered an upgrade from a baloney to a family suite. On the NCL Dawn. There was a bit of a cost,but WELL WORTH IT!!
As non-smokers we avoid cabins on the starboard side on Royal Caribbean since that is where the designated smoking areas are on the ship. We also try to book towards the front to avoid smoke from drifting our way. After all that, it's really irritating when people think smoking is allowed on balconies when it's not!
Never thought about it before our cruise a couple weeks ago.... balcony above smoking areas! Grateful I didn't choose that but we weren't too far from it so choosing a cabin 10 or so more towards the mid and I wouldn't have been too happy.
I've been looking at you for the last 6 months I really do appreciate I'm leaving out Saturday from Miami going to Mexico 5 days I'm taking my son and my daughter and my grandbaby on a birthday cruise thank you so much Linda
Have a great cruise!
Midship Balcony on the Breeze in 73 days Woot Woot!
We had a cabin right below the lido once. Loved it!!!! There wasn't any night noise (my husband is really sensitive to that). It was really nice to walk down only one deck and be right there.
Lol. We also do guarentee cabin every time and have never been dissapointed. We always talk to the cruise agent and she knows where we like to stay.
Like Forward One Deck above Lido and pool 10 or 11 Usually Spa Catergory
Great video, Tony! Thanks! The worst cabin I ever had was just a few weeks ago on the Carnival Breeze. We were in 2493, an OV at the very back of the ship. We broke one of your rules -- didn't have cabins below us. What WAS below us were docking lines and other equipment. Starting at about 4am every port day, we had massive vibrations, shaking, rattling -- all sorts of racket and disruption. It went on for hours. It was awful. This was our first OV, first time on a low deck. And it's the last time.
Great I’m going to be on same ship Sam floor next month.
Was yours a cove balcony?
Tony - I’d add some consideration if one is sensitive to motion on the ship: avoid too high up and too far aft or too far forward. I personally want rooms on four sides of a cabin and I study those deck maps like I’m reading the HOA bylaws of a new house I’m considering. AND! Never trust an unlabeled space on the map to be quiet - most likely it will have crew moving back and forth servicing the deck. Another video idea would be the corollary, “Look for These 5 Cruise Cabins Types” - good stuff.
On our latest cruise balcony cabin at the front, we used the Balcony twice, the first time we looked up & there were guests in suites above so no privacy, second time weather was beautiful so got my book to lay on the lounger & read but inconsiderate guests on one side were having a Zoom like call & seriously though we were in Norway I’d say they could be heard back home in the US
Very well done! When I started cruising in'72 where were you Tony? I learned these wonderful tips as I went. Keep up the good work.
I went on a Royal cruise and got an upgrade from a 7th floor inside to a 6th floor balcony. Yeah I did the balcony dance. Up near the front of the ship. Best sleep ever
you just answered my question about booking a guarantee cabin. thank you
We just came off the Mardi Gras. We had suite 9433. We did not have a cabin below us and for that I’m thankful. Fun fact on the Mardi Gras….you can hear the cabin above you through your bathroom vent….everything. 🤣🤣 There were tons of hilarious stories shared on the fb page while cruising. Our cabin and even balcony were actually very quiet despite a venue below us. 😊
I need a handicapped accessible room, so we are always near the elevator. It is great during the day, but is sometimes annoying at night when people go by in the hall. We use a white noise machine to mask the sound and that really helps.
Hi Tony. I guess extreme far sides should count too. Last time I cruised, my sister and her husband were upgraded for free which was great because it was their first cruise ever, but the cabin was in the front of the ship. You could see Leonardo and Kate with their arms open from there. So we ran mostly into bad weather and my sister was sick every night for the excessive movement of the ship in the front. (Better get center cabins next time).
I will be in a Junior Suite on Navigator of the Seas next Monday!!!! I try to make sure there are no public areas above, below or to the sides of us. I like being close to the elevator, but not too near... Maybe a few doors down. I like to be more midship then aft or forward.
Love the promenade down the middle of the Navigator class ships. It seems much longer than the Oasis class ship. I also love the amount of top deck space on the Navigator ships. The Oasis class ships split this top desk space into many different levels (Central Park and the Boardwalk and pool Deck).
The only problem cabin I had was on the Mardi Gras and it probably isn't a problem on most ships. The Mardi Gras has open air restaurants, bars and public areas on lower decks below some balcony cabins. Our balcony looked down on tables full of people having a very good time and their voices carried right up the side of the ship late into the evening. So I look for cabins that avoid those areas.
I am going on the Mardi Gras very soon and I have a mid ship 9 the floor balcony and I am a little concerned because I noticed that below me is the one restaurant.
Try to book a cabin between decks that have cabins only to minimize noise.
@@lendoe8298 I wouldn't worry about it below you unless it's a 24 hr restaurant.
@@kevinlindavanveen3521 thank you. It's not a 24 hour restaurant. I'm good there
Your advice really helped my first cruise aboard the Odyssey!!!
As long as there are cabins above me and below me, I’m good with an inside room. I do not do cabins above or below venues
We always book deck 8 or 9 mid ship not too close to elevators. We always pick our own cabin
All good information. I wish I had the information on Morgan approved bathrooms before scheduling my Med cruise. Speaking of noise related cabin issues.
On Holland America we always book a guaranteed cabin, we’re four star and haven’t had a bad one yet! Last one was upgraded to a vista suite and it was great!
Trying our first cove balcony in August on the Mardi Gras. Watched several videos about them and love idea of being closer to the water. In Dec we’re trying first aft/ Sunset balcony on Celebrity Edge. Love comparison shopping, especially where cruising is concerned!
I loved cruising on the back of the ship. I never have problems with sea sickness and enjoy the extra rocking you sometimes get at that location. One night we had 15-20 feet seas and when the back of the ship would go down, you could almost feel the bed fall out from under you for a split second. Best night sleep of my life. Another evening, we stood out there and watched whales chasing the ship at sunset. On shore days, we'd order breakfast via room service and dine out on our balcony. It was glorious, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
@@AthenaisC I’m with you! I love the rocking of the boat (except when it turns into a kind of fun house as you’re trying to walk, then not so much). We just got off the NCL Encore and you just don’t feel the movement on those big ships! My husband is now a little leery, however, about the bed falling out from under him😂.
@@sherinash-braun520 it's a subtle sensation. He'll survive! These were rough Atlantic seas on a transatlantic crossing east of Bermuda on the Splendor of the Seas, a much smaller ship.
Love the Cove balcony! The sound of the waves and the view of the water is wonderful.
I agree with everything you said, Tony. But if there are issues with a cabin, you can definitely speak to the Customer Service and see what can be done. We weren't able to move but got a voucher that paid for 1/2 of another cruise.
It doesn’t hurt to ask. All they can do is say no.
We cruised Feb 26 for 7 days and they wouldn't do anything UNTIL FINALLY DAY 4 after going down there everyday. We got moved from floor 1 in the front to the first floor very back. Neither were good. The crazy thing is they said that had absolutely NO extra cabins and couldn't move us at all then suddenly had a room.
2 and 3. I have always stayed away from cabins near elevators. There is always some noisy kids running up and down the halls screaming at the top of their lungs.
Once I booked GTY on the Ovation of the Seas and was put in a cabin right above the smoking area. That was a no-no. After the ship left Ovation did move me to a cabin 2 cabins from the fwd. I loved it. No noise at that end of hallway.
Agree with all Tony but another one for us is the connecting rooms
Was offered an upgrade - balcony to balcony - on most recent Princess cruise. Checked size and deck plan. New cabin would have been up a deck and 40sq feet less in size. We had booked large balcony. Had 2 days to say we didn’t want switch. I called ASAP, waited on the phone over an hour , thought it was settled. Several days later my documentation showed us moved back to the smaller upgrade! Did a chat this time. Told them I’d cancel if my room wasn’t the one I’d booked. Before this I had thought an upgrade meant BETTER. lesson learned.
BTW the room next to us in the original booking went for 3x our cost. Pays to check it out!
We are going on the Joy. The same dates and the fact that we have been saving for 2 years to go were what sold it for us. First ever cruise and we get to try it twice for the price of airfare! I think Norwegian went above and beyond to try to make it right.
That into was so funny. That's part of the reason I subscribed to you channel . You're so entertaining
I think that interior balcony is definitely something to look out for.
All excellent points! I work through them all as I book my cruise but it’s great to be reminded. Thanks for your guidance!!
Your friend Don posted a story about a thoughtless woman who banged on a door near his cabin every morning yelling for her friend to get up at about 5 am. Unfortunately there is no way to avoid this type of rude person. Enjoyed and agreed with you on all points. Thank you.
Such great cabin type tips!! Gooood job, Tone - you never disappoint!!
Hi Tony, what we also use with deck plans is called "deck drag". It shows all the decks and you can drag a deck over another deck to see what is above/below. I also use it for room size comparisons. Though not drawn exactly to scale, it gives a pretty close representation. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut
Is deck drag for carnival only. Or for all cruise companies. Is it an app? Thks jo
Hi Bob (the tomato - also a Veggietales fan). Will have to check out Deck drag.
@@hintstipsandsmartadvice8883 When I taught Sunday School, my kids loved Veggietales. I still do also. "Oh Where ... Is my Hairbrush"
I book suites now and look at the ship map so I can be on the right side of the ship and not be too close to the elevators. Haven't had any problems since doing this. Our July cruise we are in a family harbor suite on the right on the Panorama ship.
our last cruise had a cabin near the elevator and quite frankly, it was pretty great. no noise issues at all from people in the hall and so handy to be able to get off the elevator, turn the corner and be right at our door.
I always book by the elevator and never have any issues
I also always book a cabin close to the elevator. Not an issue with noise either.
Thanks for adding this comment . I was getting nervous because I have a Alaska cruise coming in May and was concerned because I booked near the elevator. Hopefully I wont have issues either… But mine is also by the kids zone so we will see if that creates a difference.
@@crystalharris9912 I always book on decks 7,8 or 9 where there isn’t a bunch of venues. I hope your location works out for you
Yes by the elevator. I’m old. 😂
I always use the deck map, and I always pick my cabin.
I was "upgraded from a balcony to a balcony...new location across from laundromat. I passed, then upgraded again to a balcony below the lido deck..passed on that...then upgraded to a mini suite on below lido deck...passed on that..then upgraded to a mini suite...cabins above and below...accepted that upgrade...after the 3rd upgrade offer told my T.A. to tell them to stop jerling me around...guess that worked....
Specific ships/classes have certain cabins to avoid if you are bothered by noise. Our first cruise on Allure OTS was amazing, except for the fact that we were disturbed by the late AquaTheater show several nights. This was despite being in a Boardwalk balcony maybe 2/3 of the way forward on the Boardwalk from the AquaTheater. Even the Central Park balconies can be noisy, with people scraping chairs across the deck (not nearly as loud as the Boardwalk though).
Love this one. I agree to having rooms above and below yours. We were under a sun deck and at the crack of stupid they were moving all the chairs around. Scraping and bumping…grrr…
I have to admit that I am only in the cabin a short time. I don't sleep much. I am one of the first to wake up and the last one to sleep. Only 3 hrs. I don't want to miss anything in the morning or at night.
Exactly right! You always have great insight to the secrets of sailing! Thanks, Tony!
Just returned from Wonder Of The Seas and we were about 4 cabins from the elevator. No problem at all. The ease of getting around would out weigh any noise issue. Not taking the 1/4 mile walk down the hall was appreciated. 🙂
I was excited to watch this video! I know we booked a cabin that some people would avoid. We are booked on deck 10 last balcony on the boardwalk on Symphony of the Seas. Its going to be noisy but we don't care. I'm excited to watch the Aqua theater. Also, this cabin doesn't have privacy on the balcony. Again, we don't care. I guess if someone catches me jumping out of the shower well, ya! Oops!
Great video! I wish I had seen this before our last cruise. I think our cabin check ALL these boxes! Still had a great time, but for a little more $$$ all these could have been avoided.
On our cruise last December, we upgraded to a junior suite and we got an awesome cabin, because there are no bad junior suite cabins. We have chosen a guaranteed suite for our next cruise in December. It was only $130 more than a balcony that we could choose. It was a no brainer. There are no bad suites.
Last cruise we went from Grand Suite to Owner's Suite. You can be SURE there are no bad cabins in that category! Loved it!
Never had a noise problem with a "High Traffic" Cabin, I almost always choose a "High Traffic" Cabin because I can get fast out or In. I hate walking long corridors.
Hello Tony! I always choose the spa balcony cabin on the Port side. (even number side) Have a great day as we enjoy everything that's going on in Ka-ruisinggggg!!!
These 5 things were handy and looking for a room from the hustle and bustle is hard but it'll be worth every penny once booked.
You did a great job! Describing the cabins to avoid. I too like to choose my cabin for the cruise!!
Honestly cabin selection is important and while experienced cruisers may know more what they want I think an experienced cruise agent is really invaluable in helping with this selection. Each ship is different and there are bad locations on all ships.
My travel agent looks at cabin placement very seriously for us. I'm a light sleeper, and my wife has motion sickness tendencies. Mid ship, with cabins above & below and away from the elevators for us.
Good luck finding a good agent in 2022.
Our travel agent called us and told us we had an "upgrade" from our perfectly located and well-planned Inside cabin to an obstructed Oceanview cabin. I didn't want to to see the lifeboat when our draperies were open, so I told my travel agent to get our original cabin back. Thankfully, our inside cabin was still vacant. Now I tell my TA that I want to see where the upgraded cabin is before switching. I think you can opt out of an "upgrade." You really do have to be specific as to where your balcony will be facing when booking. Great video.
Thanks for the updates Tony. Agree with all your points about cabins to avoid.
I had a cabin 25 steps from the forward elevators and it was great! Never had a noise problem because there wasn't a lot of traffic going through that area, also the forward elevators weren't used as frequently as midship. (on this particular ship)
I liked our guaranteed cabin last month on the Carnival Mardi Gras. We were given a deck 8 Havana inside stateroom. Location was perfect. Tiny room but bathroom was decent. It was a really inexpensive cruise.