Those cruisers who can sleep through anything or plan on spending as little time in their cabin as possible – partying until the early hours of the morning – need not worry about the location of their suite or stateroom so much. But for those who have trouble getting any rest when a background chorus of activity can be heard, should choose their cabin location wisely.
Some areas of a cruise ship can be particularly noisy throughout both the day and night, so here are some of the cabin locations to avoid if you’re a light sleeper.
What are the worst locations on a cruise ship?
Too near the lifts or stairs
This may seem like an obvious one, but you should always request to be placed away from lifts or stairs if you’re hoping for peace and quiet in your cabin. Guests tend to congregate around these areas, using them as meeting places, and the general chatter is often loud enough to be heard in nearby staterooms.
Too far from the lifts or stairs
Many modern cruise ships are huge, well over 1,000 feet long. If your stateroom is too far from the lift, walking can become tiresome, particularly if your legs aren’t what they used to be. And there’s nowhere to sit down in a long corridor of staterooms. So, if you struggle with walking at all, you should definitely consider a stateroom nearer the lift.
Next to the laundry room
Some ships will have public or crew laundry rooms located on passenger decks, so make sure you are not located next door to a loud whirring washing machine or a rumbling dryer, both of which have the potential to scupper a peaceful night’s sleep.
Directly below the late night buffet or nightclub
If you plan on sailing with a cruise line known for its vibrant nightlife, take a look at the ship’s deck plans to make sure you’re not situated below the late night buffet or nightclub dance floor to avoid hearing the sound of stomping feet above you until the early hours.
Below public areas
While you may need a solid eight hours of beauty sleep each night, other passengers may not. Avoid cabin locations below public areas where early birds and night owls are likely to gather.
Close to noisy equipment
As I’m sure you can imagine, cruise ships are full of important mechanical equipment and everything from a clanging anchor to a roaring engine could keep light sleepers up at night. If you’re unsure about where the loud equipment will be located on your ship and you’re desperate to avoid it, check with your cruise line before you book your cabin.
Next to the crew accommodation
While cruise ship staff are renowned for their courteous nature and friendly attitude, they will be working all hours of the day and night. Therefore, if your cabin is situated close to the crew’s quarters, there’s every chance you’ll be able to hear them coming and going at all hours of the day and night.
Front or back of the ship
If it’s not the noise that is likely to bother you on-board, but the movement of your cruise ship whilst at sea – which can bring on sea sickness in those who are prone to it – you should always try and book a cabin towards the middle of the ship. You are more likely to feel the rocking motion of your vessel when you are located towards the front or back (bow or stern), so avoid these areas if you’re worried about feeling ill.
What is the best location on a cruise ship?
With all these options on where not to stay, here’s our quick round-up on where the best locations to book your cabin are.
Outside cabin with a balcony
Enjoy the views of your upcoming ports from your own private space. These are often larger than standard rooms, with a small seating area and your own loungers to bask in the sunshine.
Lower deck cabins
Lower deck cabins are typically the cheaper cabins, perfect for budget-travellers. These being lower down offer a smoother ride which is great for those who get sea-sick.
The aft of the ship
Encounter thrilling views of the wake of the ship and your surroundings. These are a popular choice of room as they also don’t have a lot of neighbours, meaning you can really enjoy the peace and quiet.
Make sure you pick the right cabin number
Here at Cruise118, our Cruise Concierge teamare highly trained to make sure that people book the best cruise for them, including the best available stateroom. They can analyse the deck plans and available staterooms to help you choose the best cabin number. Just give us a call on 0808 1234 118 for award-winning assistance and advice with your booking.
