When you book your cruise, you'll often have the option to select the exact cabin you want to stay in. Before you can choose which deck you want to stay on, however, you need to choose the stateroom category.
Interior staterooms tend to be the cheapest onboard, as they have no windows. Next are ocean view rooms. While you won't have a personal verandah, you will have natural light and be able to look at the passing scenery.
Balconies are some of the most popular cabins on any cruise, as nothing beats waking up and sipping coffee from your personal verandah! Finally, the most expensive cabins tend to be suites. In addition to larger rooms, you will also get a handful of perks meant to enhance your cruising experience.
The best deck on a cruise ship varies based on what is most important to you as a cruiser. In other words, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer!
Depending on your personal preferences, there are reasons to pick one deck over another. If, for instance, you have children, it makes sense to be located on a higher deck near the youth clubs. On the other hand, if you're someone who gets seasick, you might want to be on a lower deck.
Let's dive into what the best deck on a cruise ship is for every type of cruiser.
The best deck on a cruise ship for those who like peace and quiet
If you're someone who is easily disturbed while sleeping, you will want to avoid cabins that are either below or on the same deck as public areas. If you choose one below the pool deck, you might be woken up by crew members moving lounge chairs into place.
Similarly, cabins too close to the casino are subject to hearing the late-night noises of the slot machines and disappointed cries of those who just lost all their winnings at one of the tables.
Staterooms at the very front (forward) of the vessel can sometimes be loud, too, as the sounds that come from the bow thrusters and anchor can be rather loud.
To get the best-uninterrupted sleep, you'll want to select a cabin on a deck that's above and below other cabin-only decks. That way, you won't fall victim to any noise bleed from public venues.
The best deck for people who don't want to feel the motion of the ocean
Some people are more prone to feeling seasick than others. If that sounds like you, you'll want to pick a certain deck that will help minimize any feelings of movement.
The ideal deck to be on if you get motion-sick easily is the lowest possible deck available. If you're able to score a room that's located in the middle of the vessel (otherwise known as mid-ship), that is even better!
As balconies tend to be offered on higher decks, you'll want to select the lowest deck that you can. On select Carnival ships, for instance, you may opt for a cove balcony versus a standard balcony. Cove balconies on Carnival Breeze are located on Deck 2, whereas regular balconies aren't available until Deck 6.
Thankfully, being able to look out on the horizon is an easy way to settle your stomach if you do start to feel ill. This is why those who are worried about getting seasick shouldn't book interior cabins!
The best deck for scenic cruises
Some voyages sail through dramatic landscapes, and if you don't want to miss any of the action, you will want to select a cabin on a higher deck. This includes cruises to Alaska, the Norwegian Fjords, the South Pacific, and Hawaii.
The higher you're located, the better view you will have. Sometimes, balconies on lower decks can be obstructed, too, such as those on Deck 6 of Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class.
On scenic cruises, aft balconies, or those located at the very back of the vessel, are quite popular. In addition to the beautiful landscapes, you'll be able to see the ship's wake as you sail through the open waters.
The best deck if you have children
If you are taking children on a cruise, you'll want to be located on a deck that is close to the youth programming and pools.
Sometimes, however, these two features aren't exactly close. On Carnival Celebration, for instance, Camp Ocean is located on Deck 4, while the lido deck is up on Deck 16. On Wonder of the Seas, however, Adventure Ocean is on Deck 14, just one deck below the main pools, Splashaway Bay, and FlowRider surf simulator.
If sailing on Wonder of the Seas, booking a stateroom on a higher deck would be the most convenient, as you'd be able to easily go back and forth between the places that are most interesting to your children.
For those sailing with children, it's important that you look at the deck plan to see where everything's located. From there, try and figure out where you think your kids will want to spend the most time. If you're going to have to constantly go up and down the elevators to access the pools on Carnival Celebration, you might not want to select a room on a lower deck, even if it is closer to Camp Ocean.
Read more: 5 Kids' Cruise Lines the Whole Family Will Love
The best deck for cruisers with mobility concerns
Growing up, we began cruising more frequently due to my mom's health issues. Having everything in a more centralized area, versus a resort, was a great way to ensure that we'd be able to spend time together without having to worry about my mom's mobility.
Plus, she didn't have to worry about my sister and me running off. She knew that if she needed to rest and we weren't all together, my sister and I were probably hanging out in the youth center or by the pools together.
Picking a cabin on a lower deck is ideal, as you won't have to worry about traversing more of the ship via elevator to get to the main public areas. Being on a lower deck will make it much easier to get to the main dining room, bars, and lounges. Theaters tend to be on the lower decks, too.
Another bonus to being on a lower deck is that embarkation and disembarkation will be easier, both on the first and last days of the sailing, as well as in various ports of call.
Finally, if you have mobility issues, you'll want to avoid booking a cabin that's at the very end of a hallway and not convenient to an elevator bank.
If you have a preference for your cabin's location, you should not book a guaranteed stateroom
While you might see the same cabin category advertised for less, you'll often have to give up the ability to choose your exact room to save the extra cash. If you opt to book a guaranteed stateroom, you'll be assigned a cabin at random by the cruise line.
The biggest risks that accompany booking a guaranteed rate are that you could either end up with a stateroom with an obstructed view or an undesirable location.
Plus, if you're a family traveling together and hoping to book cabins that are close to one another, there's no way to ensure this request will be accommodated. You might end up with rooms on opposite ends of the ship and/or on different decks!
If you select what you deem to be the perfect cabin for you, avoid stateroom upgrade offers
Prior to your cruise, you may be presented with the opportunity to upgrade your cruise ship cabin. At first thought, it might seem like an enticing offer. Why wouldn't you want to move from a standard balcony to a spacious suite?
There are some things you should consider before jumping on the offer. First, you'll have to pay more money. While this is obvious, the money you spend on the upgrade could be put towards other cruise add-ons. If those have already been paid for, perhaps you'd rather set that money aside for another cruise in the future!
One of the biggest drawbacks of accepting a cruise ship cabin upgrade is that you won't be able to pick your stateroom's location, as the cruise line will select the exact cabin that's assigned to you, kind of like a guaranteed room!
If you have a specific preference for your stateroom's location, you'll want to decline the upgrade offer. Moreover, families with two cabins might be separated, as there's no guarantee that the upgraded staterooms will be close to one another.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
