So what cabin type do I go for?

This is usually one of the big questions pondered particularly by first-time cruisers.  Of course many moons ago, only the more wealthy passengers could afford a cabin with a balcony, but over the course of the last 20 years, balcony cabins have become much more plentiful on the newer ships, to the point where it’s impossible to have a regular outside cabin with just a window on some ships!  This being said, there will still always be inside cabins, on larger ships anyway; so which cabin type do you go for?

I used to work on ships, and ‘did my time’ in an inside cabin for my first year onboard, and I can honestly say that the lack of natural daylight didn’t bother me at all, to the point where I personally will always opt to save money and go for the inside cabin, leaving more funds for other things; after all, who spends much time in their’ cabin, staring out of the window?  You would usually prefer to be out on deck, or in one of the panoramic lounges.  As a first-timer, I would suggest going for an outside cabin with window, even with an obstructed view (which is usually much cheaper), so that you at least have the natural daylight, and a point of reference to look out at, in case of sea-sickness.  If you’re ok with the ‘motion of the ocean’, you could maybe go for the inside cabin next time.  Once you have a balcony cabin, you’re much less likely to revert back to an inside or outside cabin, as you will definitely get used to it, unless you’re on a transatlantic cruise, where the weather and scenery can sometimes be less than gratifying!

Finally, if you want the kind of space that you would normally get in a hotel on land, you should go for a Suite .  Many cruise lines offer ‘Mini’ or ‘Junior’ Suites, which can give you extra space for sometimes only a small supplement over the regular balcony cabins, so it’s worth checking the price difference….

I hope this has been a helpful report.  Over and out for now….