You’re
ready to take a cruise and it’s time to pick a stateroom! Take a pause; this
isn’t something that should be done quickly. In general, your choice will be
guided by your budget. But, in addition to determining the category of
stateroom that you can afford (which will also dictate what deck you’re on),
you need to consider your stateroom’s location.
To make
your choice, it’s helpful to understand some of the terminology of cruise ship
staterooms.
Cabin, Stateroom,
Suite. Cabin
and stateroom are used interchangeably to refer to accommodations on a cruise
ship. A suite is a type of cabin or stateroom that usually offers more space
and amenities, and often has a balcony as well.
Inside or Outside. Cabins and
staterooms can be located either in the interior of the ship (inside) or along
the exterior walls of the ship (outside). Inside cabins have no windows.
Passengers choose these cabins because they are budget-friendly; because they
don’t mind the lack of windows; or because they love to be on deck or on shore
all day and use their cabins just to sleep. Outside cabins offer a window,
ranging from a small porthole to expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, depending
on the deck.
Veranda or
Balcony. These
are really the same thing: a private space on the exterior of your cabin where
you can enjoy the fresh sea air and views. That said, the term veranda implies
a larger space that is covered; some ships offer both balconies and verandas,
others use the terms interchangeably.
Port and
Starboard. Left
(port) and right (starboard), as you face toward the front of the ship. Being
port or starboard can be important if you’ll cruise through a scenic area and want
to take in the view from your stateroom.
Fore, Midship, Aft. The front,
middle and back of the ship. Midship is preferred by people who tend to feel
motion sickness: even with great stabilizers, the ship’s movement can be more
noticeable in the fore and aft sections. Reasons to go fore or aft include the
potential for larger balconies and easier access to fitness centers and spas
(they tend to be fore) or dining rooms (they tend to be aft).
There
may be more to consider: for example, if you have mobility issues, you may want
to be near an elevator; if you’re a light sleeper, you may want to be away from
the elevators. Fortunately, Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert
can help you make sense of it all and pick the stateroom that’s best for you.
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