When it comes to choosing a cruise ship cabin, location is everything. The worst cabin locations on a cruise have the potential to impact your comfort and sleep – and even ruin your cruise vacation.
While some cruise travelers aren’t picky about their stateroom location, many experienced cruisers take choosing the right cabin seriously.
Similar to real estate, the best locations are often sought after. For this reason, they book up faster and often come with a higher price.
There are a few location rules I like to follow that help me opt for better staterooms. With these tips and a little bit of research, you can choose your perfect cabin and avoid the least desirable ones.
Cruise Cabin Locations You’ll Want to Avoid Booking
1. Cabins Directly Under the Pool Deck
Although having a stateroom near the lido deck is convenient, this cabin location has one major drawback. Unfortunately, crew members begin setting up the pool deck early in the morning. If you’re in a balcony cabin directly below, you’ll likely hear the chairs dragging across the deck.
Furthermore, the lido deck is noisy throughout the day. If you want to take a nap, you’ll have to endure the sound of music and lots of people. Pool decks can also be noisy in the evening time if they are showing movies or hosting a deck party.
The unfortunate reality of booking a cabin right below the pool deck is that you must deal with noise. If you’re a light sleeper, you’ll want to avoid booking a room in this location.
You should also avoid booking a stateroom below the jogging track, sports area, and basketball courts, as the noise will drive you crazy!
2. Cabin Near the Casino
Booking a cabin near the casino goes beyond just the noise. You may also have to deal with the smell of the smoke.
On many cruise ships, casinos allow smoking and have designated areas inside the casinos for smokers. This can result in dealing with a smoky odor and the negative effects of secondhand smoke.
While many cruise lines allow smoking in this popular venue, they do their best to contain it with ventilation systems. However, if you’re sensitive to smoke or smells, you will certainly notice it when you’re near the casino.
I’ve been on several cruise ships and can smell the smoke from the stairways near the casino and other surrounding areas.
If you’re sensitive to smoke, it’s a good idea to check the deck plans before choosing your cabin. This way, you can avoid being near the casino.
3. Cabins Near the Kid’s Club
A cabin near the kids’ club is one of the worst stateroom locations on a cruise ship. On busy ships, you may hear young children, teens and their parents in the hallways and gathered in main area outside of the kid’s club.
Moreover, some kids may decide to pull a prank on you, knock on your door, and run away. Of course, this is an innocent prank, but it’s definitely annoying.
If you’re on a family-friendly cruise ship or an itinerary that attracts a lot of children, you’ll want to book a cabin not near the kids’ club. This way, you can enjoy your stateroom, and you don’t have to worry about hearing children running in the hallways.
Related: Cruise Ship Kids’ Clubs: Everything You Need to Know
4. Cabins Near the Elevator
Booking a cabin near the elevator can be very convenient for those cruise passengers with mobility issues. However, stairway and elevator lobbies and can get noisy, which can be disturbing.
When choosing your cruise cabin, it’s best to steer clear of those directly next to the elevator. This way, you can avoid potential disturbances from other passengers waiting for the elevators and talking loudly, ensuring a more peaceful stay.
5. Inside Facing Balcony
Certain cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-Class and Icon-Class, feature inside-facing balconies. Although these balcony cabins provide a unique view inside the cruise ship, they have a major drawback.
When you book an inside-facing balcony stateroom, you’ll lack privacy, and it can get quite noisy.
For instance, when we first sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas in 2012, we had an inside-facing balcony, and it would get really noisy when there was the aqua show. The view was unique, but we always had trouble relaxing on that balcony.
Related: Aft Balcony Cruise Ship Cabins Pros & Cons
6. Cabins Near or Under the Nightclub
Getting a cabin as an entertainment venue is always a bad idea. However, one of the worst cabin locations is near the nightclub.
If you’re someone who values a good night of sleep, then you’ll want to avoid this cabin location at all costs!
If your cabin is near the nightclub, you will not only hear the music from the club but also passengers may be noisy in the hallways. Before choosing your cruise cabin, verify that the nightclub isn’t near your cabin.
7. Cabins at the Front of the Ship
Many new cruisers don’t realize that the closer you are to the front, the more movement you will feel. Compared to cabins in the middle or back of the cruise ship, you will feel the movement much more when you’re near the bow.
Avoiding cabins close to the bow is a good idea if you’re prone to motion sickness. Getting seasick can ruin your day or even your cruise, so you’re going to want to take steps to avoid this from happening.
If you’re less prone to motion sickness, you’ll probably be okay. Nowadays, technology has advanced on cruise ships, so you want to feel the ship rocking unless you’re in rough seas.
As someone who has cruised a lot, I always try to avoid cabins at the front of the ship. I figure the more precautions I take against getting seasick, the better!
Related: How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise: 10 Effective Remedies
8. Cabins Near a Laundryroom
Certain cruise lines have self-service laundry rooms for their passengers to use. Although it may be convenient to be near the laundry room, you will have to deal with the noise of the laundry machines and passengers talking in the laundry room.
Considering most cruise passengers use the laundry room once throughout their voyage, purposely booking a cabin next to it isn’t worth it. Instead, book a cabin in a quieter location so you don’t have to deal with unnecessary noise.
9. Cabin Near the Anchor
Cruise lines don’t indicate where the anchor is located on the ship. However, it’s safe to assume that cabins near the anchor are located at a low level towards the front of the ship.
Although I have never sailed in a cabin near the anchor, other cruise passengers say it sounds like a freight train!
If you’re sailing on a cruise ship with several tender ports, you’ll want to avoid booking a cabin near the anchor. However, if your cruise itinerary does not feature any tender ports, it is unlikely that you will have to deal with the sound of the anchor.
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Final Thoughts on Cruise Cabin Locations You’ll Want to Avoid Booking
Choosing the right cabin location can make or break your vacation. By researching your cabin and looking at the deck plans, you’ll have all the information you need to get the ideal cabin location for your needs.
What cruise cabin would you avoid? Please let me know your questions and tips in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Author Bio: Ethan Schattauer has been cruising with his family since he was four years old and has been on more than 30 cruises. As a frequent traveler, Ethan shares his unique perspective on what cruising is like from a young person’s perspective. Ethan also writes about men’s fashion, travel and college advice on the website WhatToWearMen.com.