Cabins

Cruises are a time to kick back, relax, and not think about day-to-day responsibilities. Who wants to worry about cooking and cleaning on vacation?

Even so, there are some rules—both explicit and implied—that you should follow while onboard. You should not, for instance, smoke in areas that are not designated for smoking or engage in any unruly or disruptive behavior. You could end up cooling off in cruise ship jail or stuck with a hefty fine! 

I sailed on Celebrity's newest cruise ship twice. The first was a 7-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, and the second was a weeklong cruise around the Greek Isles. Though I preferred the latter's itinerary, the expensive cabin wasn't worth it on a port-intensive itinerary. 

Who wouldn't love to save money on their upcoming vacation? 

Cruises are an affordable way to travel thanks to their relatively inclusive fares. Everything from accommodation to food and entertainment is included in the price. 

While there are opportunities to spend extra on things like shore excursions and drink packages, it is easy to create a budget and stick to it. 

As a frequent cruiser, inside cabins help me get the most bang for my buck. While they're often cramped and lack natural light, their value is undeniable compared to pricey balcony staterooms. 

Last year, I stayed in interior cabins on seven different cruise ships, ranging from Carnival Elation to Quantum of the Seas and Disney Magic. 

When choosing your stateroom, it’s important to consider how close it is to high-traffic or noisy areas of the ship, especially if you’re a light sleeper or traveling with young children. 

For example, nobody wants to be kept awake by the thumping of the cruise ship nightclub or woken early in the morning by the sound of deck chairs being dragged across the lido deck. 

Before selecting the first available cabin, follow these tips to avoid loud staterooms on your cruise vacation. 

Carnival ships have cabins ranging from budget-friendly interior staterooms to lavish suites. Before you place your deposit, you must determine which cabin category is right for your travel party.

If you don’t want to stay in a windowless inside stateroom or splurge on a suite, consider a balcony cabin. These staterooms have become increasingly popular throughout the last decade, with Carnival adding more balcony cabins to their newer ships. 

Virtual balconies are exclusive to Royal Caribbean ships and offer an innovative way to bring ocean views into the stateroom without the price tag of a traditional ocean-view or balcony cabin. 

Instead of standard windowless interior rooms, virtual balcony cabins feature an 80-inch LED television screen that provides live HD views from outside the ship. There's even a balcony railing overlay on the screen to help enhance the illusion that you're staying in an actual balcony room. 

Before you can begin your countdown to your Carnival cruise, you have to choose your stateroom. 

Selecting your perfect "home away from home" on a Carnival ship is easier than on other cruise lines. Whereas some ships have everything from interior-facing balconies to multi-level suites and cabins with windows overlooking the Royal Promenade, Carnival's staterooms are slightly more standardized. In other words, you won't find the same level of variation in cabin types across their fleet as you might with other cruise lines. 

Cruise ship cabins aren't known for being spacious, so how do you deal with cramming a family of four, five, or six into a single stateroom? 

First things first, most cruise cabins can only accommodate two passengers. Thanks to sofa and pullman beds, some standard rooms can fit three or four guests, but fitting a larger family can be challenging.