Princess Cruises

Feature Article

Cabin Pressure

The Right Cabin for You

There's more to take into account when planning your cruise than just the destination and the time of the year. Many people tend to forget that, after strolling the deck, contemplating the waves, and enjoying the food and entertainment programmes on the ship, they will return to their cabin in the evening. The choice of cabins is, therefore, not without importance. It's of even greater importance if you expect you'll often want to retreat into the comfort of your cabin to be alone with either your thoughts or your companion.

No cabin is designed to be uncomfortable, of course. However, there are differences between them that you should be aware of. Cruise lines will try to make up for the usually small size of the cabins by pampering the passengers with comfort enhancers such as bath accessories, mints on their pillows, and so on.

Space management is the name of the game in ship cabins. Spacious as they may seem in the pictures, you shouldn't expect a salon. But this doesn't mean cabins are uncomfortable. Though designed to be practical, the furnishings are also attractive and meant to give you a cozy feeling. You'll usually find a large bed that can be separated into two, depending on the relationship between the passengers. The cabin will also contain a wardrobe, a desk, and, in some cases, even a small alcove with a couch and a table. A private bathroom with a shower is also among the regular amenities.

Normally, inside cabins are not smaller than outside cabins, but they are usually the most economical, because they don't have portholes giving you a view of the waves and they tend to be darker due to the lack of direct sunlight. If you want to spend less and are not claustrophobic, you should consider booking an inside cabin. If you decide you don't want to give up the pleasure of gazing at the ocean and being woken up by the sunrays coming in through the window in the morning, that's probably worth spending some extra money to book an outside cabin.

There's also an upgrade to outside cabins: some have balconies or terraces that let you watch the ocean from your own private little deck. They're more expensive, of course, but then most upgrades usually are.

Finally, if you are determined to enjoy all the comfort the ship has to offer, you might want to go for the suite option. With a private veranda and a lot more room than a regular cabin, you'll feel a prince on a luxury voyage.

The one thing you can't choose is the location of the cabin. You can only hope it'll be comfortably situated - close to an elevator, for instance -, but that's not under your control. If you think you might be seasick, you can try requesting a cabin on the lower decks, but there's no guarantee you can get it. However, don't forget that most of your memories at the end of your vacation will be from the deck, so don't be grumpy and sad if you don't get the best cabin possible. Relax and enjoy.

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