What is the difference in choosing categories on a cruise?

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Travel Agent

You have several categories to choose from on any ship:

Inside Rooms: No window, usually smaller but some ships offer "superior insides rooms" like Royal Caribbean. These rooms are available on most all decks.

Promenade Rooms: These are available on Royal Caribbean are are rooms with windows that look onto the interior of the ship (the Grand Promenade). Usually on mid-decks.

Ocean View Rooms: Same as the above but with views of the ocean (always above the water line). They can be large picture windows or just a porthole. Some have obstructed views. Available on most all decks

Balcony (or Verandah) Rooms: These rooms have full size windows with sliding doors that open onto a balcony of varying sizes. These will always be on higher decks.

Suites: These rooms go from a "mini" to a "superior" on most ships. Unless you have $5000 or more per person to spend, you'll probably be in a mini or standard suite. These rooms will offer a larger and seperate sitting area. The balcony will probably be larger and the bathroom will have a tub instead of just a shower. Again, always on higher decks.

These are general category descriptions and will vary from ship to ship and cruise line to cruise line. Usually lower decks are cheaper because all of the common ares are on higher decks. Therefore if your room is on Deck 2 you may save a few hundred bucks but you'll have to go up 5-10 decks to participate in the activities. Some peopls prefer lower because they say you cannot feel the movement as much.

However rooms on higher decks are usually more pricey because they're closer to everything. As you move up from deck to deck the price may increase by $20 a person. So if you're spending $500 on a Deck 2 room - you may spend $600 for a Deck 7 room.

Also rooms and suites vary according to cruise line. Here are some general examples:

Carnival: Rooms tend to be a bit larger than average.
Royal Caribebean: Some ships offer a selection of larger inside rooms and the promenade category.
Princess: They have a plethora of suite categories to choose from.
Celebrity: Some of their rooms can be bought in "concierge class" that offers it's own amenities.
Disney: They have rooms more geared towards family - so they have 2 bathrooms instead of one and a pull out sofabed. Again, the rooms are larger than the norm.
NCL: They have a room category that comes with a courtyard that can only be used by guests in that same room category. (so you can have a pool and lounge area you only have to share with about 50 other guests).

Again, all of this is very general information but it should give you a general idea.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

The first thing that you need to know is that the cetagory designations DO NOT mean the same thing on all cruise lines. For example, a Cat "C" on a Carnival ship is NOT the same as a Cat "C" on a Norwegian ship. AND, a category "C" is not the same across all of the ships in a cruise line, with one exception. For example, a Cat "D" is not the same on all Royal Caribbean ships, except it will be the same just for those situations where a cruise lines builds two IDENTICAL SHIPS. Example, the RC's Jewel of the Seas is Identical with their Brillance of the seas. So any cat on eith of these ships will be the same. Same with the NCL's Dream and its Wind ships.

The essential difference in categories is you pay more and you get more. The lowest priced room are always inside with no window or porthole and they are usually on the lowest floors of the ship. Most times when cruises are advertized these are the rooms they mean when they say "starting at". The next category may be outside, or overlooking an inside prominate or atrium. The rooms are generally the same size, but you have a "view' of something and can maybe see some light in your cabin so you know its daytime.

The next category is a balcony/veranda (same thing) room which has a private balcony just outside your room. These may run about $100to $200 or more above the inside and outside cabins. The room is the same size as inside, but you have a "VIEW".

Then you move up to the higher dollar suites and junior suites which have more space and a balcony. Some have jacuzzis and bath tubs instead of just showers. These can run $200 to $300 more per person. These are usually on a higher floor.

The top categories are the owners suites and penthouses and you are then talking about really big bucks, like maybe $5K a person. But these may include stuff like a butler, meals served on a table in your suite and a whole bunch of freebies.

The location is your preference. Some say there is less motion on lower floors, but most cruise ships no days have stabilized that prevent much motion at all anyway. But, don't pick a lower level on the back, you will get engine noise and well as ocean noise. Some people like to hear the ocean, but I prefer being high. I can hear the ocean by opening the balcony door. You cannot beat sleeping with the balcony door open on a balmy summer night in the caribbean. I always stay away from cabins next to the elevator bays because you will get noise from everyone coming and going. Since I am a non-smoker, I prefer cabins at the front of the ship so that I don't get the smoke from people's cigars and cigarettes wafting back on me.... LOL.

If you go to the cruise line web site and look at categories, they will generally have the square feet of ech cabin type, and the balcony if it has one, listed .

zharantan

I'm not quite sure what you are asking, but I shall try to help anyway, since I will be cruising in Alaska shortly. Cabin catagories are based on location and size and are priced accordingly. On a Caribbean Cruise, the port side may be more expensive. On Alaskan Cruises heading north, the Starboard side is more expensive. The cheapest will be inside cabins with no access to the see. The next level up is lower decks with obstructed ocean views. Then come Ocean views, cabins with a balcony progressing up the ship, then the suites are your most expensive. My mother and I prefer a simple cabin with a blacony which is in the middle price range and about mid to 3/4 of the way up the ship. Don't forget that Alcohol and shore excursions will cost extra. Oh, and if they have personal choice anytime dining, it is way superior to having a set dining time with the same people every night. You can choose when you want to go eat and in which dining room.

BonesofaTeacher

Some have 'windows' some don't. I don't think having a porthole or window is important because you can see the ocean from anywhere on the ship. Some have private balconies, again i think you can have a balcony basically anywhere. Do you need a private one? Some rooms are bigger but you probably won't be in your room much so i suggest the cheap one. But that is just me. Some people don't want to be "underwater" when they sleep, but i don't care about that. "inside" means no window or porthole.
i mean if you are made of money get the best room you can and invite friends you meet back there to party...
if you are poor get the cheapest one. the cruise is still great.
by the way, almost all the rooms are pretty small, even compared to a regular hotel room because space on a ship is limited. The rooms are very small.

gfdgirl

Everyone's explained the categories. I'll give you the "need to know." I'm not paying for a higher category because I spend very little time in my cabin. However, it's all about location. I've found that, almost every time I leave my cabin I head for the rear elevators (Dining room, pool, buffet, casino, and guest relations are all easily accessed from here on the ships I've been on - RCCL) Therefore, I go with a cheap, inside, cabin but I select one close to (but not RIGHT BY) the rear elevators. I also go for the higher floors but that's just my preference.

kentata

You might get a little smoother ride higher - but not markedly so. You will want to know if your cabin category is "Inside" (no window - only artificial light), or "Outside" (either a small porthole or a large window), or "Balcony", which has an attached balcony for relaxing, and fresh air. There are also suites, but they tend to be fairly expensive.

Paige

If money is no issue then get a balcony room,, in the middle of the ship,, both ways.

Do not stay in the very front.

Do not stay in the very bottom.

If money is a issue: do not spend money on a window,, or porthole.. (although it is nice to look out and see how the sea / and sun is doing)

but you aren't in your room enough to worry about a window. Unless you can afford a balcony then that is the way to go..
The categories are based on the price of how big the room, is and what type of bed.. you will have to ask,,

nsgsurfer

Like the other answers have said, the lowest cat is an inside. But, there are multiple inside categories. It depends on where the room is located and how many beds are in it. If you look on the company's website, you can find an exact layout of the different categories and if you have a good travel agent, pick the exact room that you want. The cruise line industry prices their rooms a lot like the airline industry prices their tickets. The higher you are on the ship isn't necessarily better, seasickness wise. You want to be in the middle of the ship. And guests are never put "below the water line", that's where the crew sleeps. No matter what, read the small print on your contract. The cruise line can bump you down or up or simply change your selected room for no reason. One side note, the handicapped rooms are HUGE on all ships. But they typically only sleep two. Good luck and have fun!

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