The Insider's Guide to Picking the Best Cabin on Any Cruise Ship

Meghann Foye

Mon, September 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM UTC

The Insider's Guide to Picking the Best Cabin on Any Cruise Ship

Cruising's popularity is surging right now. With almost 40 million people expected to take a cruise in 2026, demand is only increasing, and it's largely thanks to the category's high satisfaction rates, according to Cruise Lines International Association's 2025 State of Cruising Report . In fact, 82% of cruisers will go again, says the report.

Travel agents note that their repeat cruise clients are booking further and further out, and with triple the numer of luxury offerings compared to 2010, passengers are competing for the best boats, sailings, rooms and experiences possible. But does that mean you can't get a great room no matter which boat you choose? Of course not, says Hayley Phillips from popular YouTube site, Cruise Blog, in a recent video . You just have to know what to look for. "Ultimately," she said, "the best rooms have to do with your personal preferences."

The "secret" to picking the best cruise ship cabin, she shared, is to prioritize your must-haves, then consult the ship's deck plan to match your location needs. And if you have a particular preference on top of that, looking for the cabin type that will suit your needs. Here are the keys to booking the perfect cabinfor your cruise, goals and budget.

What Makes a Cabin Truly "Ideal"

With thousands of rooms and multiple ship classes to choose from, new cruisers may find the experience of choosing the right cabin location (forward, midship or aft) and deck (upper, middle or lower) a bit overwhelming, but Phillips offers a quick primer:

A midship cabin on a lower deck has the most stability for those prone to seasickness, while cabins sandwiched between other cabins provide the quietest environment for cruisers. Balcony cabins at the aft offer wake views and forward-facing cabins can provide dramatic vistas, though all locations come with trade-offs, she says in her video.

In short, there is no one "ideal" cabin, however, midship cabins on lower floors that are closer to the elevators seem to be most popular with cruisers—and expensive room category as a whole—thanks to least amount of ship motion, proximity to everything going on and views.

All the middle-of-the-boat cabins taken? Forward (front-of-the-boat) cabins also offer certain perks, says Phillips. They can offer unique or larger windows thanks to the boat's angles off the ship's bow. They can also sometimes be more spatious. Cons include being more subject to pitching motion and strong winds, so sometimes ships choose to offer windows rather than full balconies on these rooms.

Aft, or back-of-the-boat, rooms are also very popular with "wake view" lovers. They can have large, private balconies offering 180-degree views of the ship's wake and offer beautiful sunset views. "There's something soothing about looking at the sea and seeing your wake trail off into the distance," she shares. Some of the largest suites and balconies can be offered with this area of the ship—and may even be priced the same—giving you more bang for your cabin buck. Downsides include potential noise from the ship's engine and being far from activities.

Depending on location, rooms can be underneath or next to louder areas of the ship, so finding a "sandwich room" or one that has rooms on both sides and above and below can help ensure noise buffers, says Phillips.

Best Cabin Types for Each Goal

Seasoned cruisers often develop particular goals for each cruise. If it's a theme cruise, for example—like the upcoming Norwegian Cruise Line ' Bachelor Nation: Vacation at Sea '-themed cruise—you may want to choose a room close to the events and activties space. Or, if you know you'll be spending a lot of time at the pool deck, a room closer to that deck can be helpful.

On a recent Mediterranean cruise I was on that I'd packed with shore excursions, I found I had less time than expected to hit the breakfast buffet before early a.m. call times and then make it to the ever-changing meeting spaces near the ship's gangway. A lower-deck room close to the center of the ship might have helped with all the back and forth. According to Phillips, here are some of the most popular types of cabins for particular cruise goers:

Best for Accessibility

If you're someone who struggles with mobility, you should book a cabin by the elevator shafts, says Phillips. "It can be a little noisier in these rooms given the foot traffic, but you will not have to trek down endless corridors to get to your cabin." She stresses that cruise goers often underestimate the size of the larger ships. "Symphony of the Seas is as long at the Empire State Building is Tall. It can be a long walk back to your cabin at the end of the day." Being tossed by rocking waves can also be tough for those with mobility issues, so plan accordingly.

Best for Elevating Your Experience

The cruise ship suite category is different than suites at standard hotels, notes Haley. "On land, it just guarantees more space or access to a concierge lounge." She explains that cruise ship suites, however, aren't just larger than other cabins, but come with amenities that help justify the cost, like access to a butler, special restaurant and lounges, concierge service, priority booking and more. Norwegian's the Haven, Celebrity Cruises' the Retreat, MSC Cruises' Yacht Club are examples of this type of "cruise within a cruise" option. "Beat chairhogs at the sundeck and skip long lines at buffets," suggest Phillips. "Restaurants will feel more intimate," with this cabin type.

Best for Budget Passengers

Going on a cruise does not have to break the bank, says Phillips. "In fact, it can be one of the most cost effective vacations out there." The perfect cabin for budget cruisers is an interior statesroom. "These windowless cabins are some of the smallest accomodations on board, but they come with all the same amenities...With so much to do, you will not be spending much time in your cabin anyway...Your wallet will thank you later."

Best for Families

Definitely "look for rooms with split bathrooms," says Phillips, explaining that this style of bathroom is a must for families of four-plus cramming into one single stateroom. Split bathrooms divide the bathroom into two separate areas, she explains. One has a shower and sink, and potentially a commode, and the other has a single toilet. Disney boats offer this nice perk, she says, but it can be a rare find on others, except for the suite class rooms.

Best for Light Sleepers

Look for rooms sandwiched between other rooms. "Rooms near the pool, dining room, casino or bars will often be louder than you'd like at particular times of day. You may hear early morning deck chairs being set up or late night dance parties," says Phillips. "In a room surrounded by other cabins, it's always possible to hear TV noise or other families tallking, but it's often much quieter. Just check that it's not nearby a crew elevator shaft. Also check to make sure the rooms are for doubles, not families."

Best to Maximize Your Fun

The ideal room for anyone? "Near your happy place," says Phillips. "When you cruise, ask yourself, where do you spend most of your time? Spa, pool, casino, kids' only deck? The best cruise cabin location for you might be the shortest commute to your happy place." She goes on to explain that if you want to sleep as late as possible and still snag a pool lounger, it may be worth it to pick it near the Lido deck. If you want to roll out of bed and go right to breakfast? Maybe you want to be close to the breakfast cafe for easy coffees access, she explains. Ultimately, she says, "do not waste time trekking from elevators to maximize your vacation time."

How to Get Your Dream Cabin Without Overpaying

The biggest tip to snag your perfect room? Plan ahead and book early.

With cruisers booking further and further out , it pays to be forward-thinking so you can get the best selection at the best prices. Putting down the refundable deposit on the last day of your cruise ship to book the next one or finding out when a new ship's booking portal opens and setting a calendar alert can gain you access to the best selection available.

Working with a travel advisor can also be a great way to get premium selection as they sometimes have access to room categories that regular cruisers booking online do not.

If you're hoping to score a last-minute deal, your ideal choice of room may be something you have to forgo, however, sometimes waiting until the last-minute can work to your advantage as blocks of rooms become open again.

Another tip? Book an older boat. As more passengers hold out for the newest, hottest ships , older cruise classes from the 00s and '10s, may offer a greater selection of elevated statesroom options from balconies to suite classes that may work to your advantage. Coral Princess and Island Princess, built in 2002 and 2003, for example, still earn top scores on Cruise Critics' Cruisers' Choice Awards year after year for their outdoor space and scenic itineraries from Los Angeles to Florida through the Panama Canal, but may offer greater room selection than the newer ships due simply due to their age.

If you haven't yet, join a loyalty program—if you have a cruise preference and join up, you can often get access to new sailings, boats and other perks. For example, Celebrity Cruises: Captain's Club Loyalty Program offers cabin upgrades and points are awarded for each night sailed on Celebrity and based on your cabin category.

And if your dream ship doesn't have the exact room you want? Don't fret. With more than 56 new cruise ships slated to come out before 2036 , the chance of your dream room becoming available is greater than ever.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.