Cruise Travel: Choosing the Right Cabin

You sit at a travel agent’s desk trying to decide whether or not to spend the extra $300 to upgrade your cabin aboard a luxury liner bound for some exotic locale. Like many cruisers, you assume the increased price will translate into a nicer cabin. Once onboard, you find your dinner companion’s cabin is about the same size as yours, and in a fine location. It’s just a lot cheaper than the one you’re in. 

In cruise travel, more money doesn’t always mean a better cabin or a better experience. Time, research and planning go a lot further than money when it comes to finding a cabin that suits you. Use these categories to figure out where you’ll be most happy as you sail into the sunset. 

Price: Price certainly comes into play, but it’s just one of many concerns. Set an overall budget for the trip. Learn to separate costs for excursions on shore, spending money needed for shipboard activities (gambling, soft drinks, sundries, etc.), port taxes and basic cabin charges. Subtract these costs from your overall budget figure to come up with a cabin range.
Remember, just because your budget allows you to spend “xyz” dollars on your cabin, it doesn’t mean you must spend that much. 

Cabin Fever: What do you expect from a cabin? Will you hang up your clothes there, sleep there…but little else? Do you see a cabin as someplace to get in and out of as fast as is possible? If so, save your money for what’s important to you: shipboard activities, shore excursions, and gifts for the family and friends. 

On the other hand, if you are traveling with another couple, or you’re planning a family reunion aboard ship, you may want a place to entertain. While ships certainly have enough lounge space, a sitting room in your own cabin can give you the privacy you need.