Five Cruise Ship Cabins You Should Never Book

Whether it's your first or fiftieth cruise, choosing a cabin on a cruise ship is never easy, not with so many different things to consider.

Rather than having to hunt around on deck plans looking for the one perfect cabin that suits your needs, we've narrowed things down to let you know which cabins to avoid on your cruise ship.

There’s nothing wrong with any of the below cabin options, per se. But if you do have the option to choose your preference, it may be worth thinking twice before booking any of the cabins in this article.

Guaranteed Cabins

In short, while you’re guaranteed a place on the ship with this cabin option, you won’t know exactly where your cabin will be located until you arrive.

These types of cabins are sold with a big discount on them (which is why they get booked) but cruise lines do tend to use them to fill up those ‘awkward’ spots that guests wouldn’t normally choose to book. Cabins above the theatre, below the sundeck and next to the lifts are common examples.

If you’re just looking for a cheap cruise deal and know you won’t be spending much time in your cabin then they’re probably worth looking at. However, if you think you’ll be spending any significant amount of time in your cabin, other than to sleep, then it’s probably worth spending the extra money and choosing a cabin you know you’ll be happy with.

Obstructed Views

A lot of first-time cruisers make the mistake of booking an obstructed view cabin, thinking it will save them some money, as they are generally sold at a cheaper price.

In these cabins, you’ll have your view blocked (either partially or fully) by one of the ship's lifeboats and whilst a discount may sound like a good idea if you’re watching your pennies, we’d suggest either an inside cabin, an unobstructed view cabin, or even a balcony cabin.

Cabins Above Or Below Busy Areas

You’ll probably need a deck plan for this one, but there are different spots on the ship you should avoid if you can; these tend to be the spots you’d end up with if you were booked a guaranteed cabin).

We can’t go into too much detail as the different positions will be specific to each ship, but cabins to avoid tend to be ones right above the theatre and clubs; cabins below the pool; cabins above or below a busy restaurant or bar; or those near to the lifts.

Inside Facing Balconies

As ships have got bigger and bigger the cruise lines have come up with more and more innovations to try and encourage people to book with them.

On some of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships, as well as having the standard balcony cabins that face out to sea, they also have the option of balconies that look out over the Boardwalk and Central Park areas of the ship.

As you would expect, these inside-facing balcony cabins are sold much cheaper than standard balcony cabins with a sea view. However, it is worth noting that if you're looking for privacy- these cabins may not be the option for you!

Cabins Smaller Than 150 Square Feet

Most inside cabins will start in size at about 180 square feet, but it’s important to remember that a cruise ship isn’t the same as a hotel you would expect to find on land with hundreds of identical rooms.

This may sound obvious, but it means that not all the cabins, even those in the same grade, will be the same size. Due to odd staircases, the shape of the ship, the positioning of bars and restaurants, and many more considerations, some cabins simply have to be smaller than others.

Whilst all cabins should be fit for purpose, we’d argue that once you start getting down to 150 square feet, things will start to get far too cramped, especially for any longer cruise itineraries.

If you’re unsure of which cabin type to book for your next cruise holiday- don’t panic! Our specialist cruise consultants will be happy to advise you on which cabin will work best for you.