Do staterooms on cruise ships really matter?

Show all answers

Kristina L

Since this is your honeymoon, I say treat yourself and get the balcony. The inside stateroom is nice for the cost, and the windowed room doesn't open and it's small and filmed from salt water, so it's not really worth the extra cost. If money is an issue, go with the inside room (or chose a guaranteed room and sometimes you get upgraded to a windowed room without having to pay for it). I've only afforded the balcony once, and I LOVED IT. Late at night when you are tired you can just hang out on the balcony and enjoy the ocean. It's like meditating without effort. Or a quit place to read without a hundred people around.

It's kind of like frosting on a cake. Cake is really good without it, but it does ad a little something special. And a honeymoon should be special.

Edit: Also, I've heard if you act like "love sick puppies" and let them know it's your honeymoon, sometimes they'll throw you extra perks. :)

Tina R

I agree with the previous poster's observations. I would add one thing. If you book an oceanview stateroom, you may want to be sure that it's not an obstructed view. Obstructed or partially-obstructed staterooms often have the lifeboats hanging outside your window. Though you'll pay a lower rate for these staterooms, if your objective is an ocean view, you may not be happy with only seeing a margin of ocean around a lifeboat.

You can usually access deck plans for the specific ship, to avoid booking a cabin on the lifeboat deck or any other undesirable deck (for example, if you don't want to be on the same deck as the video arcade, shops, or restaurants).

tana731

Staterooms are a personal preference. Personally, I don't like an interior stateroom as I love windows - but if you are going to use it for sleeping and changing clothes only - why spend the extra $$ - the cabins are smaller. I enjoy waking up - opening the drapes & looking out to get my day going. Plus you're on a trip that has lots of shore days and will be spending little time actually on the ship I'm guessing. If you're on a cruise with sea days - a balcony is wonderful! You can have breakfast in your room with privacy & it is worth the $$ especially on a honeymoon where you want some personal time. Have fun!

Kristin

We debated the same thing, except we are going on a honeymoon cruise to the Carribean. The last time we went on a cruise, we had a "porthole" room...not an inside, but not the big picturesque windows. We have decided to go with the balcony room for several reasons.
1) It is our honeymoon and we want to splurge. We both look to look at the islands as we are coming in or out of port. You esp. would probably want it going to the Med. because of all of the things you will probably be able to see.
2) It is so much more romantic to be able to sit on your own private balcony watching the sunset while not having to worry about the people next to you talking and making noise. If you don't want to spend the extra money for a balcony...then I would at least get a oceanview. It is not a cool feeling to wake up and not know where you are or if it is even sunny outside or not. The natural sunlight is also a plus. I just wouldn't recommend an interior unless you really ONLY want to be in there to change and sleep.

darkwarriorxii

It depends on how much time you plan on spending in your stateroom. Most people usually don't spend a whole lot of time in their stateroom. But since this is your honeymoon, I'd say you should go all out and get at least an oceanview. If you're short on cash, an inside room is fine too. If you like the fresh air and would like some private deck space, go for the balcony. A lot of people could live without a balcony, and some even without a window. We personally would never sail with anything less than a window. It gets too dark in the room without one.

Deck level can make a difference in several respects. First, if the boat rocks, the higher up you are the more you will feel the rocking. On the other hand, the higher up you are, the closer you (usually) are to all the public area decks. With ships having lobbies as low as decks 2 or 3, this doesn't make as much of a difference. And certain rooms, like balconies, are only available on higher up decks.

Room selection is all about preference. If this is your first cruise, then just go with what you feel will be best. After that you can decide whether you'd like to be higher/lower on the ship, better/lower category (balcony, oceanview, inside), etc. next time.

Good luck and congratulations!

Jeffrey C

I love travel, and cruises, and I always go for the cheap ones so I usually have an inside stateroom.... but if it was my honeymoon, I'd go for a balcony. You can have breakfast room serviced and enjoy it with your honey on the balcony at sea, just you two and the ocean.

At night, it is you, your honey, and the stars outside with the smell of the sea and you can be alone in that way. Cause you want to remember the private breakfasts, the feeling of isolation and being with your honey, and all that. You can't replace that sense with an indoor cabin or one with a view. The private balcony means you were taken away to just be with your honey... love every moment.

gone!

A balcony stateroom gives you the chance to sit out and watch the sea, it's really romantic, no one else can see you, unless you are near land of course, your balcony is private. An inside room won't have any windows so you miss out on the scenery. a room with just a window can be ok but they are usually down low in the ship, you might like it. but I prefer a balcony room and YES the higher price is worth it. cruising is a wonderful way to have a honey moon so enjoy.

Johan from Sweden

For a honey moon nothing can beat the luxary of youre own verandah. In feb most of the mediteranean will have spring like weather (even thou it could be chilly and even snow in some northern and mountain areas) so enjoying breakfast in youre own balcony could be a real threat. And modern ships have so many balconys so its not much of an extra cost any way. As a minium I would definetily recomend a seaside cabin (window). There is nothing that enchants the feeling of being on a ship than being able to follow the sea and wake up to the sun.

But whatever cabin you choice youll find that cruising is the ultimate vacation and worth every cent, especially for honeymoners. Dont forget to buy a honeymoon package and inform the cruise lines that youre on a honeymoon! Johan

MsSassy

Yes! The kind of state room matters. I would not stay in any room less than an ocean view. I prefer at least some sort of balcony, but some of the older ships don't make balcony rooms all that affordable. We travel on Carnival. We love crusing. We are going on the Elation for Valentine's Weekend and we have an ocean view. For only 3 days, an ocean view was all we wanted to spend money for. However, on longer voyages, we have had balcony rooms. We are going on the Splendor in May and we have a balcony room...can't imagine 7 days without one. You can enjoy a bit of privacy, relaxation with your own balcony. I personally like being able to go outside without having to endure being bothered by kids, old people wanting to chat, or wait staff shoving drinks in your face. Get a balcony room. You'll love it!

Smiley

I'd say get either the Ocean View, or the Balcony. I think that you will want to see outside, especially when you are arriving at ports! Good luck!

worknlakeside

If you are at all worried about being a little sea sick you want to be as close to the center of the ship as possible. That is front to back and top to bottom. As for the room I personally like inside cabins cause I am not in the room that much. We had a balcony on the last cruise and forgot to use it when we were leaving the port and really only used it in the morning waiting for my son to get up. If your on a budget then go for the inside and if you can swing the window then bravo. It all depends on your ship your taking too. We went on the Sky last and it was an older ship that is doing the 3 and 4 day trips and the rooms are the smallest we have ever seen. I will have to say that the inside rooms were kinda dark and blah on that ship but that was not the case on the Pearl where we had a window on that ship and it is very colorful and fun. So check the ship on cruisecritic.com. What ever you do your going to love it.

modelplus2000

Go for a balcony room, intierior staterooms are very small. Hey it's your honeymoon go all out. Congrats

Mary L

Yes, they matter! My own approach has been that if the voyage is a crossing, there is really very little to see, so I go on a fancier and/or longer trip and get an inside cabin. However, for the Caribbean or any other trip with lots of stops and/or nice warm weather, I always get a private balcony!

One thing you really need to know about outside cabins, though -- do NOT get one on a deck with a promenade! Everybody who walks by can see directly into your cabin, so you have no privacy whatever unless you keep the curtains closed!!!

1Cheapcruise

Indoor- walk into your closet and put the light on.
Ocean view -- see the ocean via a window
Blacony - open the door & fresh air whenever you want

the higher you go in room category the higher the cost

Good luck

starryeyed

I think so. At least it would be worth it to splurge for your honeymoon!!

I just know if my bf and i had to stay in a tiny inside room for a week straight we'd probably kill each other!! Something you would probably like to avoid on your honeymoon. Plus i think it would be nice to get some extra private time together that way, because generally speaking every inch of a ship is packed full!!

Bill in Kansas

I have been in nearly every class of cabin.

The interior cabin feels confined and you never have daylight.

Balcony cabins are nice, but I prefer to spend time on deck, over sitting in my room

My favorite is an outside cabin with a full window.

green

I use to work for Royal Caribbean so please believe me that the indoor sucks and you are going on your honeymoon.The ocean-view is better but will be nice to have your own balcony for a nice evening or a special moment.So ask yourself if the extra money is more important or the first step in to your marriage...

Time travler

It's really what you prefer. The inside rooms make me feel all claustrophobic. If have to have the lights on all the time, plus you don't know where your at except by looking on the TV. A Ocean view is nice and if the price of a balcony is a problem, then an ocean view isn't bad. They are always low down on the ship. I prefer balcony myself because I like keeping the door open at night and hearing the ocean. I also will sit and read out on the balcony. I don't care at all where on the ship my cabin is, but I do prefer it to be away from the elevator, that's about it. So, the bottom line is go for the best that you can afford and no matter what, it will be great for you. Always go with a positive attitude. Then you can't go wrong.

Do staterooms on cruise ships really matter? pic 1
Do staterooms on cruise ships really matter? pic 2
Do staterooms on cruise ships really matter? pic 3
Do staterooms on cruise ships really matter? pic 4
Do staterooms on cruise ships really matter? pic 5

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: