Choosing the wrong cruise cabin is almost as costly as selecting the wrong ship and itinerary. While some passengers are okay with the cheapest inside cabin, others can't imagine staying in a windowless shoebox for one week.
Not only that, but some stateroom locations are better than others. For example, you could be kept awake into the late hours of the evening if you are near the casino or nightclub. Additionally, forward cabins tend to feel more motion than those in the middle of the vessel, making them less than ideal for guests who struggle with motion sickness.
Generally speaking, most cruise cabins are perfectly acceptable, providing the same basic amenities and value, but the differences in location, size, view, and noise can affect your overall experience.
Here's a rundown of the worst cruise rooms to avoid on your next voyage.
Obstructed view cabins
Obstructed-view rooms are often more affordable than their unobstructed counterparts, making them appealing for budget-conscious travelers who want to save money on their cruise accommodations.
However, before agreeing to one of these staterooms, you must understand that the obstruction can range from a lifeboat to structural elements of the ship, which may severely limit your view of the ocean.
Still, if you're booking an ocean-view or balcony cabin more for the natural light and fresh air than the view, an obstructed-view cabin can be a sensible choice — so long as you're aware of what you are sacrificing for a blocked view.
Staterooms by the cruise ship nightclub
Some cruise rooms are located directly below or above the nightclub's dance floor. Staying in one of these cabins means that you're almost guaranteed to hear the DJ spinning tunes into the late hours of the evening.
Additionally, many frequent nightclub patrons are also heavier drinkers, meaning that these guests can stir up commotion as they're leaving the venue.
On a similar note, you should also avoid cruise cabins near the piano bar, casino, and other popular entertainment spaces if you have an earlier bedtime or are traveling as a family with younger kids.
Cabins that are close to the cruise ship elevator banks
Cruise ship elevator banks are typically a place of congregation. As such, they can be noisier than other areas, with passengers coming and going at all hours, waiting for the next available car.
Not only that, but staterooms closer to the elevators will see a constant flow of passengers passing by from further down the hallways at all times of the day.
However, if you have mobility issues, having a cabin near the elevators is convenient and provides easier access to the ship's amenities. In that case, aim for a stateroom that's a little further down the hall to avoid any unnecessary noise and traffic near your cabin.
Staterooms near the cruise ship anchor
While there's no denying the excitement of pulling into port, you don't want to be startled awake by the anchor dropping, especially if you stayed up longer than planned the night before.
Although the cruise deck plans rarely indicate where the anchor is, it's typically on a lower deck near the front of the ship. Although it's several decks below the passenger cabins, the sound of the chain plummeting toward the ocean floor can echo upward.
As such, you should steer clear of staterooms in the forward part of the vessel on decks 2, 3, 4, etc. Generally speaking, these are inside and ocean-view rooms that lack a proper balcony.
Adjoining cruise cabins
Unless you know the party in the connecting stateroom, you shouldn't book an adjoining cruise cabin. They're ideal for families who want extra space (Two bathrooms? Yes, please!), but can be a nuisance if you don't know your neighbors.
Although the rooms are designed with a locked door between them — meaning that you won't have to worry about strangers entering your space — the adjoining door is less insulated than a typical wall. Consequently, sound between the two staterooms travels more easily.
For example, you could get stuck beside a family with a fussy infant or a couple who tend to fight after a few drinks. In both cases, your sleep schedule could be interrupted by less-than-considerate neighbors.
Staterooms in the front and back of the ship
The best location on a cruise ship for seasickness isn't in the forward (front) or aft (back) of the ship. Instead, you want to focus on selecting a mid-ship stateroom, since they're less likely to feel the rocking and rolling of the ocean's unpredictable swells.
Cabins in the front and back of the vessel tend to experience the most motion because they are further from the ship’s center of gravity.
You could get lucky and experience calm seas. However, if you're sailing somewhere that's notorious for rougher waters (i.e., the Bay of Biscay or the Gulf of Alaska), the swaying could negatively impact your overall experience.
Read more: How to avoid cruise motion sickness
Cabins near the Lido Deck
Passengers staying near the ever-popular Lido Deck typically hear the scraping of pool chairs early in the morning, with crew members gearing up for the inevitable chair hogs to stake their desired spot.
Not only that, but if you're trying to enjoy some quiet time on your balcony, you may notice the thumping of the poolside DJ and lively bellyflop competition.
On cold-weather sailings, the pool deck might not be as busy. However, if you're cruising somewhere warm, like The Bahamas or the Mediterranean, the top deck is a social hub of activity at all hours of the day.
Standard cruise rooms (if you're a solo traveler)
Cruises make for great solo vacations, offering the freedom to set your own schedule, join group activities when you feel social, and enjoy the convenient amenities.
However, because of the way cruise fares are structured, solo travelers typically have to pay a hefty single supplement fee. This surcharge, which is usually 100% of the fare, is applied to single travelers to help cover the cost of the would-be second guest.
As such, solo cruisers should look for cruise ships with available solo (or studio) cabins. Although they're smaller than traditional staterooms, they are well-appointed and offer everything you need for a comfortable stay — for a fraction of the cost.
Read more: Going on a cruise alone? Here are the 8 best solo cruise cabins
Upgraded cruise cabins
A lot of people dream about staying in larger, more lavish cruise rooms. Sometimes, you may be lucky enough to receive a sudden upgrade offer via email or debate whether it's worth bidding for a better cabin.
Generally speaking, this deal isn't as sweet as it sounds. For starters, you can't pick your new room's location and could end up under the nightclub, next to annoying neighbors, near crew stairwells, or with a less-than-desirable view.
For example, some Loft Suites on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships face the sports deck, while others have an unobstructed ocean view.
GTY staterooms
Like with obstructed-view cruise rooms, booking a guarantee (GTY) fare can help you save a little extra money on your overall fare. There's a major caveat, though.
Guarantee staterooms "guarantee" you a cabin in your chosen category, such as inside, outside view, or balcony. The trade-off, however, for the more affordable rate is that you do not get to pick your exact stateroom.
Once you are assigned your cabin, you typically can't change it unless you pay to upgrade your stateroom. Consequently, you could get stuck with a connecting cabin, a cruise room near the smoky casino, or a cabin toward the front of the ship.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
