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If I don't plan to spend a lot of time in my stateroom,
what is the cheapest cabin I can book?
The most affordable way to get on the ship is to book an "inside
guarantee." The rate is often a little lower than the rate for the
lowest category on the ship and you could get a stateroom in any category.
You will not receive a cabin number when you make your booking, it will
be assigned as late as the day of sailing. You could receive the lowest
category on the ship or the highest. However, your best bet to avoid unnecessary
disappointment is to expect an inside cabin. The drawback is that you
don't know where you'll end up; the bonus is you could end up with something
better then you expected. It could be the front, back or middle, so if
that's a concern to you, we recommend avoiding this pricing program. Since
most cabins on today's ships only differ by the fact they're on a different
deck and may be slightly different in size, many people don't mind taking
a chance of where they end up, particularly if they are travelling on
a budget. Most of our clients who take advantage of this deal are quite
satisfied with their accommodations. If you seriously plan to spend little
time in your cabin, then you might want to consider this option - it will
save you money you can spend elsewhere on your holiday.
Is an ocean-view stateroom worth
the extra money?
This is a matter of personal preference. Do you like to look outside every
morning and see what it is like outside? Do you savour the idea of sitting
out on your own private verandah sipping your morning coffee? Your answers
to questions like these will help you decide if you should spend the extra
money on an ocean-view stateroom.
One of the advantages of having an ocean-view cabin is that the natural
light can make the space seem a lot larger. It also gives you some perception
of time. In an inside cabin you have no idea what time it is! Some people
feel this reason alone is worth the extra cost. If you want to know what
the weather is like each day, it's a lot easier to tell when you have
a window in your room. However, many ships have live cameras from the
Bridge Deck that show you exactly what it's doing outside, all you have
to do is turn on your TV.
Some people feel that a window isn't worth the extra expense for the little
amount of time you actually spend in the cabin, and would rather spend
the money on shore excursions or shopping. The choice is yours. Ocean-view
cabins generally cost about $100 more per person for a 7 or 10 night Caribbean
cruise and about $200 more per person for a European or Exotic itinerary.
Discuss the advantages of both types of staterooms with your CMEatSEA Coordinator.
The one itinerary where we highly suggest an ocean-view cabin is Alaska.
With daylight hours approaching 20 - 22 hours in the peak season, it's
wonderful to be able to enjoy it from your cabin.
What is the difference between
staterooms on the lower decks and those up higher?
On today's newer ships, there are basically four types of cabins: Inside
Cabins - these are cabins without windows; Ocean-view Cabins - basically
the same size as inside cabins only they have port holes or picture windows.
Deluxe Cabins - about the same size or slightly larger than an ocean-view
cabin and may have a private balcony which adds to the overall square
footage of the cabin; and Suites - significantly larger than other cabins
on the ship and often with a private balcony. You will find the Deluxe
Cabins and Suites on the higher decks of a cruise ship, so yes; there
is a difference here. However, Standard Inside Cabins or Standard Oceanview
Cabins are basically all the same on any deck.
What are my chances of getting
upgraded?
It does happen, but not as frequently as people would like to believe.
Most upgrades go to passengers who book early and buy the lowest category
on the ship in the form of a "Category Guarantee." A "Category
Guarantee" means that when you book your cruise, you are not assigned
a cabin number; you are simply guaranteed that category or better. "Guarantees"
are a great way to fill the ship with people looking for a good rate who
don't care where their cabin is located. The cruise lines always sell
more guarantees in a category than there are cabins in that category.
For example, the lowest rate on Celebrity Cruise Line's Zenith is a category
12, inside cabin. There are approximately 6 category 12 cabins. However,
on each sailing Celebrity will sell between 40 and 60 category 12 guarantees.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that 34 people are going
to get a free upgrade. Usually these upgrades are given on a first-come-first-serve
basis. Most upgrades are often from low inside cabins to higher inside
cabins, or low ocean-view cabins to higher ocean-view cabins. Rarely do
passengers get upgraded from inside to outside, but it does happen. But
don't book an inside cabin expecting a free upgrade to an ocean-view because
you will likely be disappointed. If you are assigned a cabin number when
you deposit on your cruise your chances of an upgrade are very small.
If you are travelling in a quad, your chances for an upgrade are very
small as there are so few quad cabins on board. Cabin assignments on guarantees
are usually made between a few weeks and the day of sailing. If you don't
like the cabin they give you there usually isn't much luck of getting
it changed, especially if the sailing is sold out. So, if you're afraid
of being at the front, back, top, bottom or under the dining room, don't
take any chances and book directly into a cabin assignment.
If I think the motion of the
ship might affect me, where should I choose a cabin?
While motion sickness shouldn't be a major concern on today's ships, you
should still know the best way to avoid it if possible. The best location
on board to minimize the affect of the ship's motion is the middle of
the ship. Cabins on the lower decks, closer to the bottom of the ship,
are less affected by motion than those on higher decks. The higher you
are, the greater the potential to feel a left to right rolling motion.
Today's ships are fully stabilized making your cruise comfortable in virtually
any location. As a matter of fact, if motion discomfort were such an issue,
the premium suites on a ship wouldn't be at the top and near the front.
To make sure you get the best cabin for you, book early. Additionally,
motion sickness medications can also help relieve any symptoms you may
have.
How many people will fit in my
cabin?
Most cruise ship cabins are built to accommodate two passengers. However,
there are many on each ship that can accommodate three and four guests
quite easily. Carnival, Celebrity, and Disney all have ships that sleep
five in one cabin. Royal Caribbean's newer ships feature family suites.
These cabin categories are obviously very popular and sell out quickly,
so book early if this is what you are looking for.
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