I Always Choose A Cruise Cabin On This Deck. You Should Too! 

We always try to get a middle deck, mid ship balcony cabin that also has the sofa. The reason we get a cabin with a sofa is because at night before we go to bed we put all the sofa cushions piled up vertically against the cabin door and lock the door. This cuts down dramatically the noise coming from people and staff walking passed your cabin door. We lock the door and put the do not disturb sign outside so the room steward doesn't come in. Try this and you'll have more peaceful nights.

The best cabin we have found is spa balcony or anywhere near the spa. Very quiet. You do not hear any noise in this area. Spa and Gym closes at 9 PM no people no noise, restful sleep.

One of my main considerations for picking a cabin is being close to the stairs and elevators. I usually find deck 7 or 8 on most ships to be close enough to things, but far enough to be more quiet.

I'm a single traveller so it's the cheapest cabin for me, if ' cheap ' is the right word.

I’m pretty sure on Princess if you forget to check the box refusing an auto upgrade and you receive an auto upgrade . You have up to 48 hours to get your original cabin choice back 😎

Wonderful and insightful tips. One additional suggestion that we followed many years ago on an Alaska cruise is to have balcony cabins on opposite sides of the ship when traveling with a larger party. We took the cruise with my parents and found that having balcony cabins on opposite side of the ship on the same deck afforded us the opportunity to enjoy the best views possible depending on what we were passing by. Thank you for sharing.

Due to asthma, forward balconies for me. Because in spite of no smoking rules, there's always someone sneaking a smoke and it blows aft.

I have used your tips for picking cabins very successfully, got caught out this time as the cabin above us was a suite with a piano and a young child who was allowed to "play" on it every evening as we were settling in. Your tips have saved me from interconnecting cabins and other inconvenient areas. Thank you. Love the channel.

We always have deck 9 and love it. Very quiet middway down the cruise ship 🚢

I prefer toward the rear and close to morning coffee.

I go where the cheapo seats are. 5 day cruise a few months ago, $50 + port fees and gratuities, solo person in the cabin, next cruise a few weeks later, $100 + port fees, I really went all out a few weeks ago and spent $199, again all solo. You folks spend too much time and money trying to figure out the best place. FYI, I eat the same food as others and see the same shows.

Oh, midship... I've learned my lesson. If there's no center elevators/stairs, I won't book midship because that's equally inconvenient to everything! One advantage of booking a ship (or class) you've been on before is that you know where you'll be spending the bulk of your time and can select accordingly.

Great minds think alike. I've always used your method in picking staterooms. We usually go for a balcony, mid-ship, Deck 10.

For us, middle ship, balcony, cabins above and below, and we pick the room. That is it. Have proven a good combo so far. Happy Crusi'n in 2022! 😀

We have found this advice well worth the time for finding the right cabin. This is just as important as the cruise line. It make a good trip a great trip.

We always choose a balcony cabin as I love sitting out at night to stargaze. A few years ago we sailed in Asia on the Sapphire Princess and our cabin, which was fine, was situated mid aft and all I could see was black sooty exhaust which blocked out the night sky. This was because of the way the smokestacks are situated. So now deck plan in hand I look at where I am in relation to those stacks as well as many of the same things you do. Perhaps on newer ships this isn't a problem but it curtailed my stargazing from my cabin. Thanks for your always insightful posts.

We almost always pick the deck above the promenade for the last 5 or so cruises. Before that we've been all over the ship, except for the lower levels, we've never stayed lower than a balcony level. Most of the activities we enjoy are on the promenade give or take a deck (casino, piano bar, sports bar, comedy club...) and it is very nice to not have to wait on an elevator. We have never heard noise by choosing this deck. Since the promenade is a lower/mid deck our deck is mid deck and midship is best for us too. We enjoy the activity and the fun, we bring an approved fan that would help with noise if there ever was any. In all our cruises the only noise we've had to deal with is from people in the hallways talking loudly with each other and allowing their doors to slam shut. But in all the different rooms we've booked all over the ship noise from the ship, entertainment, elevators and such have never been an issue. Perhaps we just aren't finicky and never noticed, also again we have our fan for white noise.

One of the things we took into consideration for our (very first) cruise is to be near the stairs or elevator as my mom has mobility issues (and I can have some depending on how inflamed I am.) Thankfully for us, Regent ships have all suites and balconies, so we didn't have to think about that, but since we hadn't watched any of your videos before we looked at decks, we're on THE VERY TOP DECK. And what's below me, you ask? THE SPORTS DECK. Then the pool deck. I feel so lucky. 13 decks and I'm blessed with the two worst decks below me. However, since we're at 1/2 capacity it may not be so bad??? Positive thoughts, people, positive thoughts. It's the Caribbean. I need positive thoughts.

I got a free ticket so I can't complain at anything just gratefully to do the journey

Gary I’ve been following you for quite some time and I really enjoy your videos. I have never been on a cruise nor do I plan on going on one but that doesn’t matter your cruise tips are fascinating and enjoyable. If I ever do decide to go on a cruise I’ll think of all your tips. Thank you

Thanks, Gary. Good advice. Well-spoken and edited, as always.

Best to avoid right for'ard or right aft... this enables you to be far from the bow and stern thrusters. We were rudely awakened early mornings when coming alongside....SO much NOISE and of course VIBRATION.

We have to get wheelchair-accessible cabins as my wife is scooter-bound. As the number of wheelchair-accessible cabins is limited, we frequently have to take what we can get as opposed to being able to select our cabins. We don't spend much awake time in our cabin anyway, so this lack of choice isn't a problem.

Very good, useful information as always! One tip from frequent travelers on Disney cruise lines or those that attract kids, you do NOT want to be anywhere near elevators. They add a looooot of noise especially if you're the type who needs to sleep a bit earlier than the rest of the ship.

Also avoid being too close to elevator lobbies (but not too far, either) and the galley (kitchen) which can run the length of half a deck or more. Galleys are marked sometimes on deck plans, but not always. They’re typically located either on or just below the lowest passenger deck.

There is nothing worse than staying on an inside cabin near an elevator. You will not get any rest there at all. Between the hydraulic sounds coming from the elevator and the loud people getting in/out of the elevator, it’s absolutely draining.

Thanks Gary. As always, very insightful information. I agree completely that becoming familiar with the ship through perusing the deck plans is the way to go. Too risky letting them assign you a cabin for the small amount of savings. Be well and stay healthy! 👍🌞

Hi Sir Gary. Happy New Year. Yes. I prefer to look at the deck plan and choose my own cabin the past 5 years. Was blessed with great areas when I didn’t know I could choose years back. I didn’t realize you can hear the tv etc with connecting cabins. Oh. Didn’t know there was auto upgrade. I’ve received emails offering upgrades for x amount of money but always declined to stay with our group of 17. Everyone avoids the deck under the lido. Or ports deck. Never understood the the decks that have walkways past ones balcony cabin. Yes. Balcony mid deck for ones with seasickness. Amazing tips. Thanks so much and see you next video.

Early in my cruising life, I booked a balcony cabin for my wife & I and an inside for my children directly across the hall. Since the TA didn't inform me (and I didn't know any better) that there was a "do not upgrade" designation, I was shocked to find that our balcony cabin on the Caribe deck (larger balcony) was "upgraded" to the "Aloha" deck (standard balcony), with my children still in the Caribe inside. Needless to say, our peak-time Alaska cabin could not be recovered and Princess was not very accommodating or empathetic. Thanks, Gary, for mentioning this.

I like your criteria, but I love to pick a mid forward Lido deck balcony cabin, just forward of the elevator lobby (to avoid lots of people waling past). That way, no steps for Lido deck and we can use lifts for going to dinner, shops, etc. That way many activities involve zero stairs.

Because Carnival has most of their specialty dining on the Lido deck, it's easy to spend 75% of your time on the Lido deck (with occasional trips down to the promenade deck for main dining/shows). If that's your style of cruising, get one of the cabins on the Lido deck (or just above/below those cabins). You avoid the elevator/stairs for 75% of your activities, and it's easier to find an elevator to travel down to the promenade.

Voyager-class RCCL (Navigator of the Seas) has 14 decks, but two of them are shortened, due to recreational and bar features. Our cruise in October 2023 we booked a forward-facing balcony deck 11 (Lido Deck) directly over the bridge. The cabin has not only a railing but a plexiglass 'front' attached to the railing, to cut the wind. We're early risers so to see the ship coming into port is for us a cool thing, while drinking Mimosas and having the Continental B'fast. Deck 11 is also the pool and buffet deck, as well a the adult pool/whirlpool and Solarium buffet.

Thanks Gary, very informative and helpful tips! You're great, sincere and knowledgeable. I've been on lots of cruises, so I know what you're talking about. Haven't been on one in 10 years, but planning one very soon. Thanks!!!😊🙏😊🙏

"...too far to walk to fitness room or gym." Irony is so ripe in that sentence.

We recently booked a cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas, an old lady. The ship is set up with suites on deck eight, balconies on deck seven and the other cabins below that. Since we decided to book a suite, we had no choice of deck. That put us below the pool deck so we selected to be near the bow elevators instead of midship, our normal pick.

Again, thank you so much. I'm addinf all the t's for t's to build my future first cruise. I thoroughly enjoy tour channel. You've said you are actually a bit shy, but I would walk right up and bear hug you first chance I get. Gently, of course. Peace- Gordon

Our cruise a couple weeks ago we were on deck 9, i loved it :) most of the public spaces were on deck 7-5 and then the pool deck was deck 14.... So if the lifts were full i could just nick down the stairs to the lower deck with no problems :) we had cabins below, above and next to us :) we were also in the corridor, only 2 cabins away from the aft lift!/stairway which i loved :)

I appreciate the style and class you give to your videos.

Thank you for another great video explanation, Gary. I'd only disagree with your comments about traffic. We had a balcony cabin closer to the stern and the hall access to the cabin was very quiet because there were very few people walking that far down. Thanks again.

Got upgraded to a rear corner stateroom once. Great room. Even better balcony. Problem was it was under the Lido deck. Every morning we got woken up by the crew rearranging the deck chairs.

Thank you for the excellent information, as always!

My fav is mid ship Oceanview. Always always! I've had balconies but really don't spend enough time in cabin to justify it. So the light and view in Oceanview is my choice.

You need to do a video about which side of the ship you should choose. Sun, scenery, etc.

I''m used to the ferry where deck 10 or 11 is usually the top, and the lower deck numbers are typically the car decks.

This is really good information. Thank you.

Great advice 👍 we concur 👍. Starboard v portside v destinations are a must, for consideration. We have cruised extensively for 20 years. Great vlog/information 👊👊👊👏👏👍

I have been 4 different ships And try to stay between 8 or 9 decks but enjoyed every minute I had on the Cruise Liners especially on the Norwegian Gem

Well done as usual Gary.

Just returned home from Seabourn Christmas Cruise. Fabulous! Only 9 decks, I was at the end of deck 6, near a sunbathing area that I had all to myself!!!! Really couldn’t cope with those huge shops! Once again, it depends what you’re looking for on a cruise holiday .

Thanks for the great tips

On my last cruise I had an inside cabin on Deck 2 underneath one of the Dining Room lobbies. Neither my sister nor I heard any noise from there. We were on an 11 day cruise with lots of sea days. We were far enough from elevators and stairs so we weren't bothered by noise and traffic from them. I studied deck plans extensively before choosing a block of acceptable cabins. All of the cabins surrounded by other cabins were much more expensive and higher on the ship than I wanted to be based on seasick fears.

Port or Starboard can be a factor also. On our Rome to Miami cruise, Starboard faced the coast during cruising. We also will avoid being next to cabins holding 4 people (likely including kids) after loud teenagers next door arguing on their balcony made using our balcony unpleasant.

There are a lot of factors when choosing the best cabin for yourself for sure. I find the traditional wisdom that mid-ships has the least movement. If you watch boats in the water going through waves. The bow moves up and down the most, but the stern stays in the water the most. It's also typically where the engines are and hence a lot of weight. So I have found for up and down movement the stern is the best place. For side to side, it's just physics. The higher up you are regardless, it will move more side to side. We have been pretty lucky on all of our cruises to only have 1 day or evening of rougher seas at most. Another way we think about things is not really what you will be doing most but how. We tend to stay in the adult only areas of ships or just find the most ideal place at the pool for us. So we are not going from our room to the buffet for lunch, only for breakfast. And we typically take all of our stuff with us and either grab our chairs first, or go to the buffet with our pool stuff for breakfast. For lunch we will be going from the pool area, so it does not matter as much where the cabin is. And for dinner, we are going to MDR or a specialty restaurant and those are unknowns. We got a cabin once under part of the lido deck and every morning at 4 am we had the chairs moving and scraping above us as they put them out for the morning. That was all it took and we always look at what is above and below. We also don't prefer anything too close the elevators because people are not always quiet when they walk down the hallways. So we like to limit traffic outside our door. Your own mobility is probably the most important factor in determining where to stay (other than what is above and below you). If you can use the stairs and 5 ish flights is within your ability for the week it will be much better vs the elevators. Need the elevators because of mobility then insure you have access to the most number of options to you.

Happy new year, Gary!! Many happy cruises in 2022! Arthur G. Holiday, FL

Everyone has their preferences, and a lot of that is learned by going on cruises and through trial and error. Some things you can figure out by reading and watching videos, others, not so much. Myself (and some of these can change depending on who I am traveling with and their particular needs if they have any), I tend to prefer higher balcony (but still surrounded on all sides by cabins) or lower 'cove' balconys, as i also like being able to 'hear' the water down there. so, either location works for me. I like being near elevators, but not right NEXT to them, if that makes sense. I don't mind being mid ship, as I don't mind walking. If I could find a way not to have any children near me that would be great, but, cruises (or room types) where that would be likely would be far out of my budget- and the cruise lines where it would be more likely would not be my style at ALL ;) LOL

Good information. Thanks!

I have been following several people about cruises. Listening to all of the comments and advise I have finally come to a conclusion that (since I can't find a handicapped customer video) that cruising has dropped off my bucket list of things to EVER do. I much appreciate this video as it's made that very clear for me.

We prefer the slightly smaller ships of HAL, where booking a verandah cabin on deck 5 or 6 puts us more or less equidistant from the dining/entertainment venues below and the lido above. I always apply your above-below-beside-across rule, and it works out very well 😋

All good points and well encapsulated thanks Gary. We increasingly target 2 levels above the main or promenade deck, the rationale being that we are less energetic at the end of the day, especially with a belly full of food and a couple of glasses of wine. Conversely, we tend to be more energetic earlier in the day so those steps are a little less challenging at that time of day. Also, we prefer to use the bathroom facilities in our own room throughout the evening rather than the public bathrooms so being close by is more convenient.

Amazing very useful informations, I don't think that if I searched the youtube I will find someone gives these kind of informations,, Thank you so much

Very much enjoy your content Gary. Thank you.

I always choice a cabin on a deck just above the water level of a ship normally reception deck level. Common sense, lower the deck less turbulence in rough weather,less expensive on the pocket, normally quicker to get off ship at ports local to reception help desk.

My wife and I normally cruise on HAL. We always stay in Neptune suites and pick our cabin. We stay midships near to the Neptune lounge. But not so close as the year the noise or traffic. We have a favorite cabin figured out on all the classes of their ships. I call my PCC at Hal and book my cruise. Most of the time, even if that cabin looks like it is taken online, it may not be. I book early as possible so as to have the most freedom of choice.

I am going on my first cruise in 8 days your videos are very helpful 👌🙂

Another great video😊 ❄️❤️☃️🇨🇦

Disembarked yesterday from a far stern flank mid level starboard balcony. Garbage incinerator exhaust came in through the HVAC system. Woke us up and drove us out.

Always avoid anywhere near the anchor or/and those pop out platforms crew use during navigation into and out of port. We were near one on a Med Cruise and every morning very early it came clattering down with a thud that went through the room.

Happy New Year Gary!!

We once booked a mini suite, not realising that it was directly under the pool deck. Were kept awake at night and woken early into the morning by people scraping chairs across the deck and thundering like elephants along the deck. It pays to check what is above you. Below you isn't usually too bad. We had the theatre below us once, and we weren't disturbed at all by noise. The one time we didn't get the rooms we'd paid for, we ended up hearing the anchors drop when we docked, but even that wasn't too bad.

Thanks for this .

Great advice as always 👍

I recommend a balcony on the port side of the ship - that way you can yell at people who are late coming back from their shore excursions

Have had cabins with club music/bass pounding keeping us awake as well as a cabin right below some sort of track used in transporting very noisy cargo. Sounded just like a heavy train going back and forth! All night long.

Great advice

Good information. We have good luck choosing a cabin near concierge lounge.

I chose Deck 8 Balcony for my upcoming Carnival Panorama Cruise midship and there are staterooms above and below me, not an interconnecting cabin and its close to everything! The only thing across from me is the high roof of the Sky Jump. but it should not impact me.

TBHH: That depends mostly on what your itinerary would be like. Usually on European very port intensive cruises, with little if any sea days, there is really no difference on where you are or not, because basically you are only on the ship to sleep and have breakfast, dinner and some night entertainment... So now, on a Transatlantic with plenty of sea days, things are very different to say the least. You'd like a location near the lifts.... Otherwise you'll run long distances all day to go elsewhere. That is what I find the most important. Have a nice day!...

Easy access to emergency escape is crucial in my decision making process

Not having been on a cruise myself, the advice given by family members who have includes DON'T get a cabin right next to an elevator. She was on a Carnival cruise, and the elevator was in use late into the night, the elevator itself was a bit noisy, and if anyone was getting on/off at her deck it was even worse because the people would be loud (and probably drunk if it was late night) She said her cruise had a large "partying" population.

Lido deck on the caribbean princess. Next to stairs and elevators, short walk to pools and food. I was in L256 which was about 10 doors away from the action. room was quiet as a church.

If you have mobility issues, etc… I can see the deck mattering. For us we walk everywhere, no elevators, and it does not take much longer. It also helps burn off some of the food.

Another interesting video Gary. Our next cruise (in 2023) will be interesting because I didn't realise when I booked that we didn't choose our cabin. Anyway we will see what happens. We still do not have ships back in Australia. Very frustrating!

Happy New Year 🎊

Just came off cruise where I was right below the Lido deck and loved it. But I am a really sound sleeper so not much is going to bother me. I figured if I take that one, nobody else has to suffer. Honestly not sure any of these things would bother me much. I am the kind of passenger the cruise line should love . . . not picky at all.

thank for your information and I love dk 9,10,11, mid ship is the best while the rock sea conditon effected to the ship

I love an inside cabin as they are cheaper and I sleep way better. Win win 🏆

Generally speaking the area where the Casino is at is there by design. Its center mid ship and very stable If your cabin is anywhere in that area you should be fine. Its why a Super Carriers command center, island is in that general area if that is any interest. I did a cruise on Ruby Princess and they have a hidden bonus..if you get a balcony room in the aft area they tend to have a wrap around balcony. The cons to that was I felt alot of boat movement.

I always pick my stateroom on a higher deck . It doesn't matter if you get rooms all around you because people are noisy. I also always get a balcony midship on the starboard side. I don't worry about the distance I have to walk. If I did I wouldn't cruise. To me the higher the better, and the elevator takes me up or down so it's no big deal on any distance.

Coming as an Officer staff from Carnival Cruise, you do want to be in the middle/high (Center of the ship)... Mostly 2 or 3 floors from the very top deck. Why Well you are situated in the middle ground where is short to go to the restaurants or to the spa, but you are not too close to the casino/pools where it's very noisy. Is a general rule.

Hi Gary, great video as always. You probably don't suffer from sea sickness, but maybe you could collect some tips for people who do to enjoy cruising more (treatments, routes to take/avoid, locations on the ship, etc.). One tip I discovered is that you should avoid LONG rooms. I was on a Disney cruise and one of their dining rooms was exceptionally long. It was so long, you could just make out the other end of the room moving at a slightly different rate than the end I was on. Instant sea sickness! Things like this may help others if you are able to collect enough to justify a video.

Are there any websites folks use or recommend which makes choosing the best cabin easier? This feels like something the community should totally get behind in identifying good/bad areas for each ship based on certain criteria. Could be really awesome.

Good tips!

I got luclky when I picked my sailing, I got a deck that is surrounded by cabins. Although I am on the front of the ship close to the elevators, still should be somewhat quiet.

Some very good tips! We always do balcony and typically decks 8-9, and in our case we purposely take a room at the back of the ship so we can get in some extra steps and burn-off a few extra calories ;)

Never take a cabin under the buffet or pool deck. Ever. Unless you are trying to avoid sun on your balcony ...check if your balcony is affected by overhanging deck above. Your room will be darker and cooler on your balcony earlier.

good tips for those with unlimited budgets...

Wow. So informative. Can you please recommend which balcony deck to choose on Norwegian Prima new ship? For Iceland and Norway cruise ? Please help me to choose the best balcony middle deck. Thank you

I booked a mini suite forward..it was half price of any other location. I got upgraded to a cabin mid ship!!!

Hi Gary, thank you so much for an informative and interesting channel. Have you ever cruised on Star Clippers, which are under sail, the largest of which only takes 227 passengers? Your videos have convinced me that I would very much dislike the large, party and entertainment oriented cruise ships, but I might enjoy something much smaller. I've been in port when cruise tenders have been disgorging their passengers and concluded there's no way I'd even accept money to take a large cruise 'ship'. I'm a keen independent traveller and do not enjoy organised groups. However, I think a cruise with culturally and historically-oriented excursions and lectures with guest academic might be the way to go, as it offers a way to sample previously unvisited places. Also smaller ports of call that cannot accommodate the larger ships. Anyway, I don't mean to be dismissive of the cruise holiday, it's just really about preferences. We used to voyage between Southampton and Cape Town on the Union Castle line when I was a child and enjoyed it, especially the old-school crossing the line ceremony. The Viking ocean and expeditionary cruises look the most interesting after Star Clipper.

I was at the back of the ship and didn’t need to go to the gym as I walked 3 km a day to the cabin