Obstructed Views ? Would You Book One ?

Cabins with restricted, or obstructed, views are always a topic of conversation when booking a cruise. The obstruction is usually a view or a lifeboat, or part of a life boat but can also be parts of the ships structure. Whatever it is it basically means that when you look out of your window, or, in some cases, over the balcony rails, you will have something blocking your view.

So would you book one? There are far more pluses than minuses for these type of cabins, really the only minus is you won`t get a clear view, but on the plus side the benefits can be really good.

Cabins with lifeboat restrictions are generally in the middle of the ship and you will therefore get an excellent, stable position. It is very difficult to know, until you actually get into the cabin, how much you can or can`t see past the restriction but you will get natural light which, if you were thinking of booking an inside cabin, is a huge bonus.

The biggest benefit of course is the price. Cabins with restricted views can often be only slightly more expensive than inside cabins.You will get the same facilities as an outside cabin with a clear view, but you will pay far less.

I had a wonderful cruise to Alaska on the Diamond Princess a couple of years ago. Alaska is a fabulous destination for a cruise with so much to see and do. I had a cabin on deck 8, right in the middle, with a view obstructed by lifeboats, and I was amazed at how much you could see. Every evening around 6pm we would look out through the lifeboat outside our window and do a spot of whale watching! We saw whales every evening of the cruise.

So y advice would be give the restricted view a try and you may be very surprised at  what a good deal you will get, and, if you are looking for a new destination to visit, think of Alaska, one of the most wonderful places I have been  lucky enough to visit.