How to Choose the Best Cruise Ship Cabin (Balcony vs. Inside vs. Ocean View)

Wondering how to choose the best cruise ship cabin? Here’s what we learned about inside, ocean view, balcony, and suite rooms on our Celebrity Cruise to Alaska on the Solstice.

Planning Our First Cruise

When we started planning our 35th anniversary trip, we decided a cruise would be the perfect way to celebrate. But as soon as we opened up cruise line websites, we were quickly overwhelmed. The choices felt endless!

Rather than trying to wade through all the decisions on our own, we asked a few experienced cruising friends for advice. One of them recommended her spunky, 80-year-old travel agent who had been on countless cruises all over the world. What a gift it was to sit down with her and hear all her wise tips and advice! She graciously explained so many details and helped guide us through all the decisions to get the ball rolling.

The first big choice was the cruise line. After hearing her recommendations, we settled on Celebrity Cruises—whew, one decision made! Then came the next big one: choosing our room.

Cruise Cabin Types Explained

Our travel agent helped us think through pros and cons of each cabin type. My best advice to give is this: Be aware of your personal needs and preferences first—then let budget be the next consideration.

Here are the main options to consider:

Inside Cabin

• No window, usually the least expensive.
• Our travel agent told us she actually prefers inside cabins—because, in her words, “you’re never in your room anyway!” (That’s true for some people…but not us…)
• Perfect for those who love to be out and about where the action is. If you are someone who loves to be where all the action is, then this might be just perfect for you! There is no shortage of activities to do on the ship, and there are plenty of quiet spots to sit with a book or lounge comfortably while watching the ocean views out the window. We saw people bundled up in blankets in the open air on lounge chairs having lovely naps while activity was happening all around them!
• Can feel cozy and dark, which some people love for sleeping.
• If you picture yourself spending all your time enjoying the ship and just using your room for sleeping and getting ready, then an inside cabin just might be your cup of tea!
• Another thing to consider: If excursions are more important to you than the type of room you stay in, you might want to choose this type of room and spend your extra money on excursions that are your dream. (Some of them are VERY expensive.) And, if you have any claustrophobia tendencies, this room is NOT for you!!

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Window Cabins (Obstructed or Unobstructed)

• A step up from inside rooms, with natural light.
• Some windows may be partially obstructed (a rope or beam across it) or fully obstructed (like a lifeboat in front).
• If you want light but don’t care about the view, this is a nice middle ground.

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Balcony Cabins (Our Choice!)

• You will have your own balcony window and private outdoor space. Even though you’re going to Alaska, it might be warm enough to sit out there quite a bit (We sure did…) We loved sipping coffee on our balcony, watching the stunning Alaskan scenery (and wildlife), and having a quiet retreat when we needed downtime.
• As an “extroverted introvert,” I enjoyed chatting and meeting new people at meals—but I also needed to recharge. We often found ourselves going back to our room to rest up for the next big event.
• Bonus: It was the perfect spot to view the breathtaking passage into Dawes Glacier.

In all honesty, I personally couldn’t imagine travelling on a cruise ship without at least a window with a good view (that opened, too). Now that I’ve done it, I will be so bold to say that I’d never choose to cruise without a balcony room.;) We’re so glad we chose to pay extra for it (and save money on excursions…).

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Suites

• Larger rooms, extra perks, and sometimes butler service.
• Best if you want a luxury experience or are celebrating something extra special. Honestly, I didn’t do any research on luxury rooms, but if they are in your budget, I’d encourage you to check it out.

***Pro-tip: Search in YouTube for tours of cruise ship cabins. You’ll find quite a selection of options there done by travellers.

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Rooms to Avoid

Our travel agent also gave us a few insider tips about what to avoid when choosing your “home on the ship”. Here are some room placements you might want to avoid:

1. By the elevators – constant dinging and chatter of people.
2. Under restaurants, bars, or the theater – you’ll hear scraping chairs and activity overhead late at night and early in the morning.

Some people don’t mind noise at all, but if you’re a light sleeper, these things matter!

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Tips for Choosing the Right Room for YOU

• Budget traveler? Inside or obstructed-view rooms are the most economical.
• Light sleeper? Avoid high-traffic/noisy areas.
• First-time cruiser? A midship balcony balances views with stability.
• Special celebration? Consider a suite for extra pampering.

Concerned About Seasickness?

If seasickness is a worry, the best location is midship on a lower deck. This part of the ship moves the least when seas are rough. The farther forward or aft (back) you go—and the higher the deck—the more you’ll feel the motion.

Here’s the general advice travel experts give:

• Best for motion sensitivity / seasickness:
  • Midship (middle of the ship, both lengthwise and vertically on lower decks) is the most stable part of the ship.
  • The higher and farther forward/back you go, the more movement you’ll feel.
• Back of the ship (aft):
  • Some cruisers love aft balconies because of the wide wake views, but you’ll feel more motion there than midship.
  • Not the best choice if seasickness is a concern.
  • Note: Our balcony room was toward the back of the ship on a lower deck, and we had no trouble. But, I did take some seasickness medicine and Sea-bands along just in case.
• Front of the ship (forward):
  • Tends to have the most noticeable movement and can make motion sickness worse.

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