Let’s be honest, cruise ships have many different types of cabins and not all of them are good.
If you are not careful and just pick a random cabin, you risk getting one with a bad view, noisy, or even smaller than usual.
But are there any tricks to be able to get a better cabin on a cruise?
There are some strategies that many people use and that are quite effective.
Let’s see what they are and how to put them into practice.
1. Book as Early as Possible
If you want to have a better cabin than all the other passengers, the first thing you need to do is book before everyone else.
Obviously, the cabin availability on cruise ships is very limited, and the best ones tend to sell out quickly.
It would be better to book at least a year in advance, but be aware that as the departure date approaches, cabins sell out and prices increase.
I know it is not easy to arrange everything well in advance, but whenever possible I book the cruise about two years in advance.
2. Consider Carefully the Type of Cabin That Suits Your Needs
The second thing you need to do is to consider the type of cabin you want to book.
I often see people who have traveled with one cabin type and then stick to it for all other cruises.
That’s not the right thing to do because the best type of cabin changes based on the ship, length of cruise, and itinerary.
For example, if you are doing a mini cruise of 2 or 3 days, it is probably best to choose an inside cabin, since you will spend very little time in it.
On the contrary, if you take a cruise where the view is stunning, such as Alaska, then a balcony cabin is definitely the best choice.
I talked more about this important decision-making process in the article on which cabin is better between inside and balcony.
3. Check Out the Photos in Advance
Even in the same category, cabins may have a different interior layout and a different external view.
The thing you can do is to look at the specific photos of that cabin before booking.
I know it is not easy to find photos of a specific cabin, but there are usually two fairly effective methods.
The first is to look for them on social media, especially on Facebook groups dedicated to specific cruise lines or ships.
The second one is to take a look at cruisedeckplans.com, they have a lot of pics and videos for most of the cabins and, if you are lucky enough, you will also those for the cabin you are looking for.
4. Avoid Guaranteed Cabins
If you wanna be sure to get a better cabin, you should avoid guaranteed ones.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with it, but basically with guaranteed cabins you choose a cabin category and the cruise line will automatically assign the cabin number a few days before the departure.
Some lucky people can get a cabin upgrade with this method, but it also has some risks.
As I said, your cabin number is automatically assigned and you can’t pick it up. This means that if you’re unlucky you can also get a cabin in a bad position, or worse, you can get a cabin with an obstructed view.
5. Bring Organizational Tools
If you want to enhance your cabin experience, you can also bring some very useful organizational tools.
You can see the full list in my article about cruise essentials, but I usually bring magnetic hooks, a hanging organizer, and a very small fan.
The magnetic hooks can be attached anywhere since the cabin has metal walls and are convenient for hanging anything.
The folding organizer can be hung on the bathroom door to store shoes, accessories, or clothes.
6. Use a Travel Agent
One thing that many people also underestimate is the booking process.
If you are not an expert, I would definitely recommend a travel agent who will be able to recommend the right cabin for your needs.
The only thing you need to be sure of is to contact a serious and reliable travel agent. To make sure you don’t go wrong, check the 7 travel agents you must avoid when booking a cruise.
7. Leverage Loyalty Programs
Some loyalty programs have particularly attractive cabin benefits, even though they can vary greatly by cruise line, your status level, and the type of cruise.
Generally speaking, the most attractive benefit is that you are more likely to receive a free upgrade.
If that is your goal, remember to check also all the methods to receive a free upgrade.
8. Bid for Upgrades
If the chances of receiving a free upgrade are very low, for example when you travel during the peak period, you can always bid for upgrades.
It’s a thing allowed by several cruise lines, you just place a bid for a higher category cabin at a price you’re willing to pay, and you may end up with a much better room for a fraction of the cost​.
It’s always difficult to estimate the right figure to get the upgrade, usually, there is a minimum and maximum bid, and of course, higher bids have a better chance of being accepted.
9. Select Your Cabin Location Wisely
If you want to have a better cabin than other passengers, you also need to carefully consider the location.
Cabin location is very important for sleeping well on a cruise, and you need to choose a cabin that is not noisy, away from places with music, and that is not under areas such as restaurants.
At the same time, it should not be too far from elevators or meeting places, to avoid too much walking each time you wanna get back to it.
My advice is to look at the ship plan. See what areas you are interested in and what areas are potentially noisy. Try to find a cabin that is somewhere in between, neither too far away nor too close.
10. Consider Specialty Cabins
The last thing I recommend is considering special cabins.
Many passengers don’t know about them and therefore don’t book them, but they can really make a difference in some cases.
Again, their availability can vary by ship, but usually, special cabins include studio cabins for single passengers, cabins with virtual balconies, and family cabins for 5 or more.
In addition, if you’re traveling on a budget, check the list of the cheapest cabins, it will be useless to consider the most expensive categories.
