Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-09-15
Choosing your cabin is the biggest decision after the route – and the honest answer is this: there’s no single «best» cabin, only the one that suits your holiday style and your budget best. Here’s the guide that will tell you which one that is in five minutes.
Inside cabin: the budget hero
No window, but the lowest price – and honestly, if you’re spending all day on deck, by the pool and ashore, you’ll only use the cabin for sleeping anyway. Perfect for first-time cruisers, city collectors and anyone who’d rather put the money saved towards excursions. Bonus: nowhere is darker for sleeping.
Outside cabin: daylight without the price shock
A porthole or panoramic window gives you daylight and a sense of direction («ah, we’re just coming into port») for a moderate 10 to 20 per cent surcharge. The sensible middle ground – but be careful: «obstructed view» often means a lifeboat right outside the window. The deck plan will tell you.
Balcony cabin: the holiday upgrade
Morning coffee over the sea, sailing into the fjord in your pyjamas, a glass of wine at sunset – a balcony really does change the trip. On scenic routes (Norway! Adriatic!) it’s almost essential; on pure city itineraries, it’s optional. Rule of thumb: the more sea days and panorama, the more worthwhile the balcony becomes.
Suite: more than just space
With suites, you’re not primarily paying for square metres, but for everything around them: a private restaurant, priority embarkation, butler service, a separate sun deck area (MSC Yacht Club, AIDA suite concept). If you’re looking for peace and quiet on a large ship, this is exactly where you’ll find it – the «ship within a ship» is real.
Location matters too
Midship and lower decks have the least motion – good for sensitive stomachs. Under the pool deck and theatre, things can get noisy in the morning (chairs scraping at 7 am is a classic). And connecting doors to neighbouring cabins are handy for families, but less soundproof.
Fancy exactly this? Zazou, our travel assistant, puts flights, hotels and a route together in seconds - and tells you honestly when it gets cheaper.
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