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Buying Unsold Cruise Cabins and What Happens to Them

If you have done some research on getting unsold cruise cabins a week or two before a cruise, it’s probably because you are hoping to score a ridiculous deal on your cruise stateroom.

I have read some reports of people being able to book a cruise 48 hours before the cruise date, but technically this is not supposed to happen and you should not expect to be able to book a cruise this close to the cruise date.

Related:  How to avoid spending an extra penny on board a cruise ship

So what happens to all those unsold cruise cabins?

Cruise lines try to sell them as fast as they can.  But with cruising becoming more and more popular with vacationers there are fewer instances of cruise ships having vast amounts of cruise staterooms to unload to the public.  In fact, if you wait too long to try to get a last minute deal, hoping to grab an unsold cruise cabin, you may find yourself not being able to get a room at all.

If some cabins are still unsold before a cruise, some passengers might get a call from the cruise line offering a discounted upgrade to a higher category cabin.  They do this to both cut their losses on the rooms and to also try to get you hooked on that higher category stateroom.   And often…. it works. But what a cruise line does with the unsold cruise cabins depends on a few factors.

Even if some cabins are empty a cruise line may not be able to sell them to you

A cruise ship is considered at full capacity when there are twice as many people as cabins on the ship.  Since a portion of cabins can house more than 2 passengers, many cruise ships operate at over 100% capacity. The target goal for cruise lines is around 107% capacity.

One thing a cruise ship is not allowed to do is have more passengers than their lifeboats can hold.  So that’s why some cruise ships will have empty staterooms even if they are not offering any more cabins for sale.

Why do some cabins magically become available before a cruise?

Travel agents have the ability to hold a certain amount of cabins on a cruise ship.  If some of their customers cancel or do not put down their deposit, these cabins will become available to everyone else.  The same goes for people who book a cruise online but do not pay their deposit on time.  When that date passes without the deposit being paid, those cabins show up as available inventory.  Cabins may also appear around the date of final payment due to some canceling their cruise.

Things to consider when looking for unsold cruise cabins

By waiting to see what cabins are unsold when booking a cruise you are also taking a risk here.  You could easily end up with the stateroom in a noisy area or a highly undesirable location.  Of course there is always a chance you could end up with a very nice cabin, but it’s a bit of a gamble.

Related: Check out our post on the cheapest times of year to take a cruise .

How to find those unsold rooms on a cruise ship

There are a couple of ways you can go about this.  If you are on a cruise line’s email list you may get a message about last minute deals for particular ships.  You can also visit their websites every day and multiple times a day, because yes, the prices can change that fast.  Quite a few travel agencies also offer email newsletters with some of the best deals on these unsold cabins for last minute cruisers.

A note on price-control

Some cruise lines have implemented tight price-controls in recent years.  This means that even travel agents aren’t allowed to sell the cabins for less than what the cruise line states.  Some will offer on-ship credit to still give you a good deal, but certain price-controls have made it more difficult to find those bargain basement prices. Even in this tough economy cruise ships are leaving their ports at 100% capacity.

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Check the really cheap boat tours that offer a very low price but require a few hours of sales pitches for timeshares. Just don’t get sucked into a timeshare. They have high maintenance fees and cost a lot to get out. The boat is not luxurious, but you get free meals, a hotel stay and a chance to tour the destination–often in the Bahamas. If you don’t know how to find such a tour, then ask friends, because many receive phone or mail offers.

Hey was curious if you could elaborate how you were able to redeem the new deals if you had aleady booked? Just hoping you could explain a little more so I could get a good deal on my first cruise. Thank you

If you already made the final payment then it’s more than likely too late to score a better deal, with some exceptions. Some cruise lines, like Carnival, will offer price drop protection up to 2 weeks of the final sailing date. If you book through a cruise travel agent they can take care of this for you. Otherwise you can contact the cruise line and request an adjustment. Hope this helps.

I did the same in 2012 my Mediterranean cruise whent from $2500 to $1250, paid my air fare.

There is no “3” day requirement. Federal law requires the submission of the manifest one hour prior to sailing. That is why you must be checked in one hour prior to sailaway. Unlike the airlines, the cruiselines are not able to add someone to the manifest once it is submitted.

I have booked the day before the cruise. You have to go through the cruiseline directly to purchase it. Once at the pier, they may have to call in to Miami to verify the booking.

I guess my the biggest mystery is this…. if they have 15 cabins open for max 2 capacity, why do they shut it off for families of 3? Why not sell one and remove one if it’s really close?

The article emphasizes checking prices daily…sometimes more than once per day…because fares change that fast. It’s absolutely true. I booked a Bermuda cruise and kept watching the price. When I checked the fare in the morning it dropped $90 per person, so I took advantage of the price drop. Then I checked again after lunch and it had dropped again, this time by $40 per person. Not a huge price drop, but eighty bucks is eighty bucks. Then, about a week later, it dropped again AND a free booze package was offered fleetwide. So, just by watching often I scored price drops that brought my fare down over $250 and free booze. Watch prices and book early.

Make sure your profile with each cruise line you travel, says that you are willing to take upgrades when they are available. I was surprised when I checked my profile with one of the cruise lines we travel quite extensively, that it showed I wasn’t interested in free upgrades.

Sometimes getting an upgrade can backfire on you. I was “upgraded” from a cabin mid-ship to a higher category, 4 cabins from the front of the ship. It was very rough up in the bow of the ship. Since then, I have declined “upgrades” so that I know I am getting a cabin in a location I will be happy with.

I am trying to get a solo deal to hawaii in august or september?

keep calling

This is a great article!! I waited until the very last minute and booked my last cruise. I got a really great price; but my cabin was on the first deck right by the engines! The price I paid was so good; that I had to go. My cabin-steward bought me some ear-plugs and problem solved. I only paid $400 for a 5 night Thanksgiving cruise!!!!!!!

I forgot to state that for $400; I had a solo cabin!

Did you book it through travel agent? Or cruise line directly? I have been looking for a week and prices are still the same. Even thou the cruise ship leaves tomorrow .

Did you wind up booking?

Send me tips and information

Comments are closed.

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Finding deals on unsold cruise cabins: tips and strategies.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Booking early increases the chances of getting the desired cruise experience.
• Flexibility with travel dates, ships, and cabin locations increases the chance of finding deals.
• Guarantee cabins can be a gamble, but they help cruise lines fill unwanted cabins.
• Strategies can be employed to target sailings and look for promotions.

What to Look For

Best Booking Practices

Strategies and tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do cruise lines determine which cabins are considered "unsold", are there any risks or disadvantages to booking an unsold cabin, can i negotiate the price of an unsold cabin with the cruise line, are there any specific times of the year when cruise lines are more likely to offer deals on unsold cabins, are there any additional fees or charges associated with booking an unsold cabin.

Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team.

From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

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Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team. From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

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Choosing the perfect cruise cabin: factors to consider.

• Different cabin types offer different experiences and prices increase as you move up in cabin type.
• Consider your vacation style and special groups of cabins that align with your preferences.
• Cabin location and noise can affect your sleep quality, so choose a quieter spot and consider the location on the ship.
• Deck level and cabin size/layout are important factors to consider for convenience and comfort.

Cabin Types and Cost

Vacation Style and Special Groups of Cabins

Cabin location and noise.

Deck Level and Cabin Size/Layout

Additional cabin amenities and overall experience.

Proximity to Amenities and Attractions

Noise considerations, cabin size and accommodations for groups, accessible cabins for passengers with mobility issues.

• Accessible cabins come with features like wider doorways and accessible bathrooms.
• Booking an accessible cabin can usually be done online, like any other cabin type.
• It’s important to book accessible cabins early due to limited availability.
• Accessibility features in these cabins ensure a comfortable and convenient experience for passengers with mobility issues.
• Cruise lines are a great option for passengers with special needs, as they provide accessible cabins and prioritize the comfort of all passengers.

Choosing Your Own Cabin Vs. Letting the Cruise Line Select

Are there any discounts or promotions available for booking certain cabin types, can i request a specific cabin location on the ship, are there any age restrictions for certain cabin types or special groups of cabins, is there a limit to the number of people allowed in a cabin, what is the process for upgrading or changing cabins after booking.

Alfons is the visionary leader and driving force behind Voyager Info’s success. As the Editor in Chief, he brings a wealth of experience and an unwavering passion for travel to the helm of our cruise-centric platform.

With a lifelong fascination for exploring new horizons, Alfons discovered his love for the ocean and cruising at a young age. From sailing across pristine Caribbean waters to embarking on daring expeditions to far-flung destinations, he has amassed a treasure trove of first-hand experiences in the world of cruising.

Setting Sail with the Perfect Soundtrack: The Ultimate Cruise Playlist

Introduction

Creating the perfect cruise playlist.

Popular Songs for a Cruise Playlist

Songs that capture the spirit of cruising, classic cruise-inspired songs, how to curate your own cruise playlist, consider the cruise destination and itinerary, mix up genres and eras, include songs that evoke the feel of the open sea, don’t forget to include fun and upbeat songs, sample cruise playlist, 1. surfin’ usa, 2. one love, 3. margaritaville, 4. come sail away, 5. night fever, 6. escape (the piña colada song), 7. celebration, 8. let’s groove, 9. vacation, 10. red red wine, 11. girls just want to have fun, 12. hot hot hot, 13. walking on sunshine, 15. don’t worry, be happy, 16. somewhere over the rainbow, 17. island in the sun, 18. soak up the sun, 19. no shoes, no shirt, no problems, 20. it’s five o’clock somewhere, 21. party in the u.s.a., 22. knee deep, 23. on the floor, 24. fireball, 26. the night is still young, 28. heat waves, 29. friday (dopamine re-edit), 30. i’m good (blue), related articles.

Claire, a creative soul with an unquenchable thirst for storytelling, is an integral part of the Voyager Info team. As a dedicated writer, she weaves captivating narratives that transport readers to enchanting cruise destinations and beyond.

Claire’s love affair with writing began at an early age when she discovered the magic of words and their ability to craft worlds and emotions. Her innate curiosity led her to explore various literary genres, but it was travel writing that truly captured her heart. Drawing inspiration from her own globetrotting adventures and encounters with diverse cultures, Claire embarked on a journey to become a travel writer par excellence.

Silversea Holiday Sales: Suite Upgrades, Discounts & Onboard Credit

As someone passionate about travel, I’m excited to announce the incredible holiday sales event by Silversea.

Imagine upgrading your suite, saving an additional 5% per person, and receiving a generous $1,000 onboard credit. This credit can be used for indulgent experiences like spa treatments and shore excursions.

With worldwide voyages departing soon, you can explore classic Caribbean destinations or embark on unique journeys from ports like Singapore, Bangkok, and Bali.

Join me in spreading holiday cheer by booking a luxurious cruise and creating unforgettable memories with your loved ones.

• Suite upgrades are available during Silversea’s Holiday Sales Event, providing a more luxurious and comfortable experience with extra space, elegant furnishings, and breathtaking views.
• Customers can enjoy an extra 5% off per person and receive a $1,000 onboard credit per suite during the Holiday Sales Event, making their cruise more affordable.
• The onboard credit can be used to pamper oneself with luxurious amenities, explore new destinations through various excursion options, enjoy live shows and performances onboard, and treat oneself to extra amenities for an unforgettable cruise experience.
• Specialty restaurants offer delectable culinary delights, gourmet dining experiences, a diverse array of flavors and cuisines, and a sophisticated ambiance for an elevated dining experience.

Suite Upgrades: Enhance Your Accommodation

I can enhance my accommodation by taking advantage of the suite upgrades offered during the Silversea Holiday Sales Event.

This special event allows me to upgrade my holiday accommodation to a higher category suite, giving me a more luxurious and comfortable experience on board. Imagine having more space, elegant furnishings, and breathtaking views from my suite. It’s the perfect way to upgrade my cruise experience and make my holiday even more memorable.

Additionally, during the sales event, I can also enjoy an extra 5% off per person and receive an onboard credit of $1,000 per suite. This credit can be used for exciting shore excursions or indulgent spa treatments.

Discounts: Save More on Your Cruise

Take advantage of the special offer to save even more on your cruise. Silversea’s Holiday Sales Event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy luxurious cruising at budget-friendly prices.

With the one-category suite upgrade, you can enhance your accommodation and experience ultimate comfort. Plus, you’ll receive an extra 5% off per person, allowing you to save money and make the most of your vacation.

But that’s not all! Silversea is also offering an onboard credit of $1,000 per suite, which can be used for exciting shore excursions or indulgent spa treatments.

With these discounts and credits, you can truly make your cruise a memorable and affordable experience. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to save money and enjoy a fantastic holiday at sea.

Onboard Credit: Treat Yourself to Extra Amenities

Indulge in the onboard credit to pamper yourself with luxurious amenities during your cruise.

With the Silversea Holiday Sales Event, you can enhance your experience by using the onboard credit for various options.

One exciting option is to explore new destinations ashore with the wide range of excursion options available. Whether it’s visiting historical landmarks or immersing yourself in local culture, there’s something for everyone.

Additionally, you can enjoy live shows and performances onboard as part of the entertainment options. From Broadway-style productions to live music, the cruise ship offers a vibrant and entertaining atmosphere.

Specialty Restaurants: Indulge in Culinary Delights

Savor the delectable culinary delights offered at the specialty restaurants on the cruise ship. Indulge in gourmet dining experiences and fine dining options that will tantalize your taste buds. From elegant seafood dishes to succulent steaks, these specialty restaurants offer a diverse array of flavors and cuisines.

Immerse yourself in the sophisticated ambiance of these dining establishments, where every detail is meticulously crafted to create a memorable dining experience. From the elegant decor to the attentive service, every aspect is designed to enhance your enjoyment.

Sample the chef’s signature dishes, created with the finest ingredients and expertly prepared to perfection. Whether you prefer French cuisine, Asian flavors, or classic Italian dishes, these specialty restaurants have something to satisfy every palate.

Experience a culinary journey like no other as you savor each bite and savor the exquisite flavors. With the onboard credit provided by the holiday sales event, you can indulge in these fine dining options without worrying about the cost.

Treat yourself to an unforgettable dining experience and make your cruise even more memorable.

Spa Treatments: Relax and Rejuvenate Onboard

I can’t wait to book a spa treatment and relax onboard, allowing myself to unwind and rejuvenate. Silversea offers an array of spa options that are perfect for pampering and self-care. Here are some of the fantastic spa amenities you can enjoy on your cruise:

Immerse yourself in the soothing ambiance of the spa and embrace the opportunity to take care of your well-being.

What Other Benefits Are Included in the Silversea Holiday Sales Event Besides Suite Upgrades, Discounts, and Onboard Credit?

In addition to suite upgrades, discounts, and onboard credit, the Silversea holiday sales event offers free Wi-Fi and complimentary beverages. These extra perks enhance the overall experience and make for a truly enjoyable vacation.

Are the Suite Upgrades Available for All Types of Suites on the Cruise?

Sure thing! Suite upgrades are available for select types of suites on the cruise. Eligibility for suite upgrades may vary, so it’s best to check with the cruise line for specific details.

Can the Onboard Credit Be Used for Any Other Expenses Besides Shore Excursions and Spa Treatments?

Yes, the onboard credit can be used for a variety of expenses besides shore excursions and spa treatments. It can be used for specialty restaurants, onboard activities, and other amenities to enhance your cruise experience.

Are the Specialty Restaurants Included in the Cruise Fare or Do They Require an Additional Fee?

Yes, specialty restaurants on Silversea cruises require an additional fee. However, with the onboard credit from the holiday sales event, you can use it towards enjoying the delicious meals and exquisite dining experiences at these specialty restaurants.

Are Spa Treatments Included in the Cruise Fare or Do They Require an Additional Fee?

Yes, spa treatments and specialty restaurants are not included in the cruise fare and require an additional fee. However, with the Silversea Holiday Sales Event, you can use onboard credit for these amenities.

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How to Find Out if Your Cruise Ship is Full? (Unsold Cabins)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Whether you want to determine your odds of winning a cabin upgrade or you’re looking to score big discounts on unsold cruise cabins, it’s good if you know how to find out if your cruise ship is full.

While cruise lines are reluctant to share occupancy numbers on upcoming cruises, you can use a clever trick to find unsold cabins.

You can find out if your cruise ship is full by creating a mock booking on the cruise line’s website or a cruise booking website. By checking how many cabins are available to book, you’ll know how full your cruise ship is booked.

Keep reading to learn more about finding your cruise occupancy and getting deals on unsold cruise cabins.

Table of Contents

How to Find Out if Your Cruise Ship is Full?

Most cruise lines don’t provide an easy way to see how full a cruise ship is sailing. Instead, you can find out if your cruise ship is full by creating a mock booking to see the available cabins.

Creating a mock booking gives you a good idea of how close your cruise ship is to being sold out.

During the booking process, you’ll be asked to choose your cabin. While picking a cabin, you can see which cabin categories are sold out and how many staterooms are available.

You won’t know exactly how many passengers are booked for your sailing, but it gives you a good approximation.

If you only have a couple of cabins to choose from, it’s a good indication that your cruise is close to selling out . But if you find several dozen staterooms available to book, you’ll know your cruise is sailing under capacity.

Most cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, do a good job of showing the number of available cabins. Some of the other best websites to book a cruise show a complete deck plan highlighting unsold cruise cabins.

Additionally, a good travel agent can check the availability of your itinerary and let you know how close your cruise is to be sold out.

Why Should You Care About Unsold Cruise Cabins?

There are several reasons why you should care about unsold cruise cabins.

First, if you’re on the fence about booking the sailing, it’s important to remember that prices rise as cabins sell out.

The best time to book a cruise is right when tickets go on sale and the cruise ship is full of empty cabins. As people book their cabin accommodations and the cruise ship fills up the cruise price rises.

If you can’t book your cruise months in advance, it’s good to check how many cabins are available.

If only a few cabins are available to book, you know that prices may rise. And if you wait too long, the cruise may be sold out when you go to book.

Another reason passengers check for unsold cruise cabins is to wait for last-minute discounts . Many people try to snag unsold cruise cabins at rock-bottom prices.

While we believe you get the best cruise fare by booking your cruise well in advance of the sailing date , there are times when you can find substantially discounted cruise fares on unsold cabins.

Huge last-minute discounts on cruise fares don’t appear often, and you won’t have much time to prepare (usually only a few days or a couple of weeks at most). With such short notice, you’ll need to be flexible with your vacation time and itinerary choices if you decide to book with last-minute discounts, as you may not have many itineraries, ships, or sailing duration choices.

Finally, many people keep an eye on their cruise ship occupancy when they bid on a cabin upgrade .

Many cruise lines allow guests to place a bid on unsold cabins. If no one books the stateroom, the highest bidder receives an upgrade, usually at a discounted price.

Bidding on a cabin upgrade is exciting. You’ll usually find one or two posts daily in most cruise Facebook groups asking questions about how high to bid and their chances for an upgrade.

On our 2022 Alaska cruise on Serenade of the seas , we one an upgrade from our interior cabin to an oceanview stateroom for less than $150 per person.

The same cabin would’ve cost us nearly $500 per person if we had booked it from the start.

Everything Can Change When the Final Payment is Due

Just because your cruise looks sold out, it doesn’t mean it will stay that way.

When you book a cruise, you’ll pay a small deposit to reserve your cabin, with the remainder due closer to the sailing date.

It’s common for people to change their minds or have other circumstances that prevent them from embarking on their cruise vacation. On the payment date, it’s always possible that previously reserved cabins become available if people cancel their booking.

If you’ve checked the cabin availability before the payment date, it’s good to check a few days after the final payment is due to see if more staterooms become available.

What Do Cruise Ships Do With Unsold Cabins?

When cruise ships have unsold cabins, the cruise line may reduce the price as the sailing date approaches. If there are many unsold cabins in the weeks before embarkation, some cruise lines give big discounts to fill the ship.

Last-minute cruise deals were pretty common in the past. But they aren’t common anymore.

Increased demand for cruise vacations is part of the reason. But cruise lines are reluctant to provide big discounts on unsold cabins on cruise ships.

If cruise lines always provide last-minute deals, passengers will wait to purchase their cruise at lower prices. Cruise lines work a great deal to protect their pricing.

Instead, many cruise lines will provide smaller discounts or add extra perks like beverage packages, onboard credit, or wifi plans.

With the popularity of cabin upgrade auctions, many cruise lines don’t mind sailing with unsold cabins as long as they can make back some money from upgrade bids.

Marcello De Lio

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Unsold Cruise Cabins: Understanding the Impact of Overcapacity on the Cruise Industry

Unsold Cruise Cabins are a common occurrence in the cruise industry. Despite the cruise lines’ efforts to fill every cabin on their ships, there are always unsold cabins left over. Cruise lines use various strategies to fill these cabins, including discounts, upgrades, and package deals.

These unsold cabins can be a great opportunity for travelers looking for a last-minute getaway or a budget-friendly vacation.

Cruise lines prioritize filling higher-category cabins first, such as balcony cabins and suites, in order to protect as much revenue as possible. However, if any cabins are left unsold one to two months prior to the embarkation date, cruise lines may offer them at a discount to fill the ship completely.

Travelers who are flexible with their travel dates and cabin preferences can take advantage of these unsold cabins and snag a great deal on their next cruise vacation.

Understanding Unsold Cruise Cabins

What are unsold cruise cabins.

Unsold cruise cabins are cabins that have not been purchased by passengers for a particular sailing. These cabins can be of any category, from inside cabins to balcony-level rooms, and are typically sold at a discount to entice passengers to book them.

Why Do Cruise Lines Have Unsold Cabins?

Cruise lines aim to fill as many beds as possible to maximize revenue onboard. However, demand can be unpredictable, and cruise lines may end up with unsold cabins. Cruise lines also hold back a certain amount of inventory to sell at a later date, closer to the sail date, in the hopes of selling those cabins at a higher price.

How Do Cruise Lines Deal with Unsold Cabins?

Cruise lines have various tactics to fill unsold cabins. They may offer discounts, upgrades, or extra-value deals, such as free internet packages or drinks packages. Cruise lines may also partner with travel agencies to offer exclusive sales or invitation-only bidding on unsold cabins.

Cruise lines typically fill higher category cabins first, as it is more palatable for them to offer discounts on those cabins rather than lower category cabins. Cruise lines also try to protect their pricing, especially on balcony cabins and suites, and may not offer deep discounts unless the situation is dire.

Passengers looking to snag a deal on unsold cruise cabins can keep an eye out for last-minute travel deals, flash sales, or resident discounts. They can also try their luck with a mock booking or bidding on unsold cabins.

In conclusion, unsold cruise cabins provide an opportunity for passengers to book a cruise at a discounted price, while also allowing cruise lines to fill as many beds as possible and generate more revenue onboard.

How to Find Unsold Cruise Cabins

Unsold cruise cabins can be an excellent way to save money on your next vacation. However, finding these deals can be challenging. Here are some tips on how to find unsold cruise cabins:

Travel Agent Insight

Travel agents can be a great resource for finding unsold cruise cabins. They often have access to exclusive deals and can help you find the best prices. Additionally, travel agents can provide valuable insights into the cruise industry and help you navigate the booking process.

Mailing Lists and Email Notifications

Signing up for mailing lists and email notifications from cruise lines and travel agencies can be an excellent way to stay informed about unsold cabins. These notifications often include last-minute deals and promotions that can save you money on your next cruise.

Social Media

Following cruise lines and travel agencies on social media can be another way to stay informed about unsold cabins. Many companies post about last-minute deals and promotions on their social media accounts. Additionally, social media can be an excellent resource for finding reviews and recommendations from other travelers.

Online Booking Process

When booking a cruise online, keep an eye out for unsold cabins. Many cruise lines will advertise these cabins on their websites, often with significant discounts. Additionally, booking directly through the cruise line’s website can provide access to exclusive deals and promotions.

In conclusion, finding unsold cruise cabins can be a challenge, but with a little research and some insider knowledge, you can save money on your next vacation . Whether you turn to a travel agent, sign up for mailing lists and email notifications, follow cruise lines on social media, or book directly through the cruise line’s website, there are plenty of ways to find great deals on unsold cabins.

Tips for Booking Unsold Cruise Cabins

Be flexible with your sail date.

One of the best ways to snag a deal on an unsold cruise cabin is to be flexible with your sail date. If you have some flexibility in your travel plans, you can take advantage of last-minute deals and discounts. Keep an eye out for sailings that are departing soon, as these are the ones most likely to have unsold cabins.

Consider Alternative Ports and Itineraries

If you’re willing to consider alternative ports and itineraries, you may be able to find some great deals on unsold cruise cabins. Look for sailings that depart from less popular ports or visit less popular destinations. These cruises may have more unsold cabins, which means you’ll have a better chance of getting a good deal.

Look for Extra-Value Deals

Many cruise lines offer extra-value deals to entice passengers to book unsold cabins. These deals may include onboard credit, free drinks packages, or discounted shore excursions. Keep an eye out for these deals when you’re searching for unsold cabins.

Upgrade Offers and Bidding

Another way to get a good deal on an unsold cabin is to take advantage of upgrade offers and bidding. Some cruise lines offer free upgrades to higher cabin categories, while others allow passengers to bid on upgrades. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, you may be able to snag a great deal on a better cabin.

Maximize Occupancy and Save Money

Finally, if you’re traveling with a group, you may be able to save money by booking an unsold cabin that can accommodate more people than you need. For example, if you’re traveling with two other people, you may be able to book a cabin that can accommodate four people for a lower price than booking two separate cabins. Keep an eye out for cabins with extra beds or pull-out sofas to maximize occupancy and save money.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of snagging a great deal on an unsold cruise cabin. Just remember to be flexible, keep an eye out for extra-value deals, and consider upgrading or maximizing occupancy to save even more.

Unsold cruise cabins are a common occurrence in the cruise industry, and cruise lines have various strategies to fill them. The most common approach is to offer unsold cabins at a discounted price to attract last-minute bookings. However, cruise lines also protect their pricing, especially on balcony cabins and suites.

It’s important to note that not all unsold cabins are created equal. Cruise lines prioritize filling higher category cabins first, as they generate more revenue. This means that if you’re looking for a deal on an unsold cabin, you’re more likely to find one in a lower-category cabin.

Another factor to consider is timing. Unsold cabins are most likely to be available closer to the departure date, as cruise lines try to fill cabins with full-price bookings first. However, waiting until the last minute can also be risky, as the desired cabin category may sell out.

Overall, the best way to find a deal on an unsold cruise cabin is to be flexible with your travel dates and cabin category preferences. It’s also a good idea to work with a travel agent who can keep an eye out for unsold cabins and negotiate on your behalf.

FAQs About Unsold Cruise Cabins

What are unsold cruise cabins.

Unsold cruise cabins are cabins that have not been purchased by passengers for a specific cruise sailing. These cabins are typically offered at discounted prices to attract bookings.

Why do cruise lines have unsold cabins?

Cruise lines aim to fill as many cabins as possible to maximize revenue. However, factors like unpredictable demand or holding back inventory for later sales can result in unsold cabins.

How can travelers find and book unsold cruise cabins?

Travelers can utilize various strategies such as working with travel agents, signing up for mailing lists, following the social media accounts of cruise lines, and checking online booking platforms for last-minute deals on unsold cabins.

Are unsold cabins always available at a discounted price?

Unsold cabins are often offered at discounted prices to encourage bookings. However, discounts may vary based on factors such as cabin category, timing, and the cruise line’s pricing strategy.

Can travelers choose their cabin category when booking an unsold cabin?

While travelers may have preferences, the availability of unsold cabins can vary across different cabin categories. It’s advisable to be flexible with cabin preferences to increase the chances of securing a good deal on an unsold cabin.

About the author

I worked as an officer in the deck department on various types of vessels, including oil and chemical tankers, LPG carriers, and even reefer and TSHD in the early years. Currently employed as Marine Surveyor carrying cargo, draft, bunker, and warranty survey.

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Understanding Unsold Cruise Cabins

How do cruise lines fill them.

If you’ve ever wanted to go on a cruise but find that they’re out of your price range, this is the article for you. Here, you’ll learn all about the little-known world of unsold cruise cabins and discover how you can secure one this year. It can be a slightly challenging process, but with perseverance, those in the know can make big savings.

It won’t surprise you to learn that cruise lines don’t like any of their rooms sitting empty. Empty rooms mean fewer passengers and fewer passengers mean less money being spent onboard. Fewer travelers put a dent in food, drink and merchandise sales. Because of this, companies do whatever it takes to get more people to board their ships and spend money.

They do this by selling unsold cruise cabins at discounted prices closer to the departure date. Let’s dive in and discover how you can secure one for you and your family.

How To Tell If Unsold Cruise Cabins Are About To Go On Sale

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to know whether unsold cruise cabins are about to go up for sale. Cruise ship companies keep their cards close to their chest on this one, hiding this information on their website and from the press. This can make it almost impossible for you to know whether rooms are to be discounted in the immediate future.

The best practice is to prepare yourself by putting in the work to receive discount alerts. Read on to discover how to get a notification the next time a cheap cruise vacation becomes available.

Three Popular Methods For Securing Unsold Cruise Cabins

Below, you’ll discover the three best methods for securing great cruise deals.

Hit Subscribe

The best way to find out about discounted cabins is to subscribe to the mailing lists of all the major cruise lines. The easiest way for them to advertise their offers is to those customers interested in their experiences, so joining their email lists is advisable.

Cruise companies tend to sell through third-party organizations too. This means that major travel agencies could get first-selling rights when it comes to unsold cruise vacation cabins. Signing up for their mailing lists could mean you get discounted vacation tickets before anyone else.

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Use Social Media

In addition to email sends, cruise lines and travel agents might also post about unsold cruise cabin opportunities across their social media platforms. It’s worth following your favorite brands on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and TikTok. Alternatively, you could search for keywords on these sites such as ‘cruise sale’ or ‘cruise discounts’.

While following all the cruise lines across multiple platforms is time-consuming, the savings could be huge. It’ll all be worth it if you secure a great room at a cheap price!

Try Your Luck Closer To The Departure Date

While this third method often doesn’t work, there are occasions when it will - so it’s worth a try. If you have your heart set on a specific ship or journey, check the price of a cabin ahead of time and make a note of it. Then, much closer to the departure date, check again to see if it’s been discounted. If it has, then it’s the perfect time to book.

The risk with this method is that you may accidentally miss out on the trip of a lifetime by waiting it out for too long.

Three Things To Be Aware Of

While successfully navigating the market of unsold cruise cabins can save you lots of money, there are three factors to be aware of.

Perks May Be Offered Instead Of Discounts

Instead of discounted rooms, cruise lines have been known to offer extra perks to encourage bookings. This means that room prices will be the same as before, but you could get free Wi-Fi access or drinks packages.

Savings Might Not Be As Big As You’d Expect

While big savings are out there, most unsold cruise cabins won’t become available with huge discounts. Cruises are very popular, so companies know that they can fill rooms - meaning they don’t always have to be generous with their offers.

Nevertheless, while you aren’t ever going to travel the world for US$100, you could still save hundreds or even thousands.

Upgrades Can Be Thought Of As A Type Of Saving

Instead of a discount, you may be offered a free upgrade. While this would mean you don’t get to enjoy any money-saving successes, you can secure a premium room for the price of a standard one.

For example, closer to your departure date, the company might offer balcony rooms for the same price as interior rooms without a window. While you won’t see a percentage price reduction, it’s still a huge offer that shouldn’t be missed.

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How Cruise Ships Sell Unsold Cabins

Find out how cruise ships sell unsold cabins with these insider tips from CruiseExperts.com

Do you ever wonder how cruise ships sell unsold cabins ? You may be surprised to learn that you can get one of these unsold cabins at a great price. Cruise lines will often wait until the final payment date is met before they will offer unsold cabins, so you will have to be ready to leave on your cruise within a short time frame.

Cruise lines have an advanced marketing system that urges travelers to buy up unsold cabins. If their strategy does not reach its target, they will have to offer the cabins at a discounted price. The goal of every cruise line is to have their double-occupancy capacity number filled so that there are enough travelers aboard ship who will spend money on non-inclusive items like drinks, specialty restaurants, spa treatments and other indulgences and amenities.

Learn How Cruise Ships Sell Unsold Cabins to Save Big!

You can take advantage of these discounted cabins after you learn how cruise ships sell unsold cabins. Marketing strategies usually begin by offering discounted rates on the cheaper cabins, regardless of whether they have ocean views or not, because it is more economically feasible for the cruise line.

Don't Overpay for Your Cruise

What's a cruise cabin guarantee — and will it save you money?

If you're new to cruise vacations, you may wonder about cruise fares that are labeled "cruise cabin guarantee." What does that mean, and can booking a guarantee cabin save you money or help convince the upgrade fairy to visit you? Let's find out.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Cruise cabin types and categories

Let's start with the basics. When you look at cruise fares, you'll see that they can vary widely for the same itinerary. The price differential is due to the cabin type you select. An inside cabin with no windows will generally be much cheaper than a similar cabin with a balcony or one of the ship's top suites.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

On a cruise ship deck plan and cruise fare rate list, categories are usually denoted by short alphanumeric sequences, like 1A. Each type of cabin can have multiple categories within it.

For example, aboard Carnival Cruise Line 's Carnival Celebration, you can pick a balcony cabin in categories 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F and 8G — and that's excluding three different extended-balcony categories. What's the difference? Location on the ship. Each category aligns with aft, midship or forward locations on specific decks.

Cruise fares within the same cabin type but for different categories vary in price. For example, when pricing out a cruise on Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection, you can choose from six balcony cabin categories: guarantee, partial view, standard, prime, deluxe and sunset veranda. The starting prices range from $463 to $730 per person, though each room is 246 square feet.

The difference? Cheaper cabins have obstructed views, while more expensive rooms are on higher decks or have larger balconies.

Booking a 'guarantee' cabin

When you decide to go on a cruise, you not only decide which category of cabin to book, but you also pick the exact cabin on the ship that you want. If you prefer a balcony cabin, you book that category and pick an available cabin number from the deck plan. If you'd like an inside room, you book that cabin category and then pick the one that best suits you.

But many major cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line , Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , let you book what's called a "cruise cabin guarantee." Even luxury line Seabourn sells guarantee cabin fares. You choose the cabin type you want, such as a balcony cabin, but you don't pick a specific category or a room number.

Related: The ultimate guide to choosing a cabin on a cruise ship

These cabins are referred to as cruise cabin guarantees because you are guaranteed by the cruise line to get at least the type of cabin you booked, but you have no control over which room.

The guarantee rooms are often available in addition to the regular pick-your-cabin-number options. However, sometimes cruise lines use guarantee bookings as a type of waitlist when ships or cabin types are sold out or nearly full to hold your space until a room opens up.

What are the benefits of booking a guarantee room?

Travelers book guarantee fares because the pricing is often — but not always — advantageous. On some cruise lines, guarantees are usually the cheapest fare option in the room type you've selected. On other lines, there's no price difference between the lowest category in your room type and the guarantee. The only "savings" you'll net is if you're upgraded to the next cabin category.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

You see, there's a secondary benefit of booking a guarantee cabin beyond the cost savings: If the cruise line sells out of your cabin type, it will move you up to the next available category.

If you were going to pick the cheapest inside cabin anyway and don't care about its location, why not book the guarantee? You might be bumped up to a better category within that cabin type if all the cheapest ones are booked and paid for. That could mean a slightly larger room or a better location on the ship.

And, if all rooms in the cabin type you selected sell out, you might be moved from your original cabin type to a higher one. Just be realistic. You won't get the ship's top suite if you booked an inside cabin, but you might get a room with a window.

Worst-case scenario: You get exactly what you booked — the cheapest room within a given cabin type on that ship. Hopefully, you got it at a discount.

Are there any downsides to booking a guarantee?

Yes. The perfect cruise ship cabin is in the eye of the beholder, and every traveler has different criteria to define perfection. Not all cabins — even within the same type and category — are created equal.

Some cabins can be noisy if they're near the anchor or the tender platform or under the pool deck or nightclub, for instance. The balconies of some cabins may get sooty if they are in the path of the fallout from the cruise ship funnel. Some rooms in odd locations might have unusual layouts or bed arrangements.

If you are super picky about any aspect of your cruise cabin, don't book a guarantee; instead, pick exactly the cabin type, category and room location you want. Every cruise ship has a deck plan that you can study, and you can pick your exact cabin number during the booking process.

Related: 8 cabin locations on cruise ships that you definitely should avoid

The guarantee gamble might not be a good idea for families or friends traveling together who need specific bed arrangements. If your family requires a specific family-friendly cabin , book that and don't mess with a guarantee to save a few bucks.

In addition, sometimes these affordable rooms are not eligible for lucrative booking perks. For example, rooms in Norwegian Cruise Line's best-fare Sail Away category (what it calls cruise cabin guarantee rooms) are not eligible for its Free at Sea fare inclusions. You cannot book the cheapest rooms in any category and still get included drinks, dining, shore excursions and Wi-Fi.

One last thing to note when you book a guarantee cabin: You usually won't know your cabin number until one to three weeks before embarkation. If you can't take that kind of suspense, don't book a guarantee cabin!

Bottom line

Booking a cruise cabin guarantee is like playing a game of chance. You might win big with a low fare or a nicer cabin than you booked. Or you might lose out with the noisy, small or awkward cabin no one else wants. If a cruise ship is oversold, a guarantee room is often the only option for possibly getting on board. Only you can decide if you'd rather take the risk on a bargain or pay more to get exactly the cruise room you want.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Cruise Availability: How to Find Sold-Out Cruises Easily

Should I book my cruise early or late in 2020? Is the Carnival Liberty cruise ship still available? When to book a cruise to Mexico? Is it already too late to book a 3-day cruise? These are common cruise questions that often stay unanswered.

To help you find the best cruise opportunities and understand when is the right time to book a cruise, we rely on data. We analyzed over 40 000 US cruises in the past years to help answer your questions and built a real-time cruise availability feature to save your time, money and energy during your cruise search. 

Our real-time cruise availability feature: What is it and how does it work?

When will your cruise be sold-out our key findings, how to profit from cruisewatch cruise vacancy feature.

Our real time cruise availability feature or cruise vacancy prediction feature is the first and only service out there that helps you check if your preferred cruise is and will remain available in the next few weeks. In other words, if you are worried about booking your cruise too late or too early, this is the perfect service for you as it gives you recommendations about the right time to book your cruise. But how does it work, you wonder? 

This added feature is based on the analysis of a massive data pool collected over the years, allowing our Artificial Intelligence to use machine and deep learning to not only process thousands of cruise deals, ships, and cabins daily, but also predict their sell-out probability very accurately and in real time. 

By combining the power of big data, AI and machine learning, we made our model predict which cruise ships, sailings and cabin types are already very likely to sell out within the next 10 weeks! So get a pen and paper, save your notes, your time and your money.

Is your cruise sold out soon?

When it comes to sailing, one thing is to find  the best cruise destination , so you can explore the most beautiful places that the world has to offer. But to find your dream cruise, you also need to take into account what  the best cruise lines and cruise ships out there have to offer. 

Once you have completed that search, it is now time to book. And wouldn't life be so much easier if you knew exactly the best time to book your cruise? To guide you, here is a ranking predicting the current top destinations, cruise lines, cruise ships and cabin types that are soon to be sold-out, based on data from the past 3 months.

Cruise destinations availability prediction

It is no surprise that the most attractive cruise destinations are booked very fast. According to our results, about 50% of all cruises that are likely to be sold out are sailing to... the Caribbean . This region is very popular, and right behind it are cruises to the Orient, to South America, and to the Mediterranean Sea. 

If you are worried about missing out, you can check out the best cruise deals to the Caribbean , the Orient, South America  and the Mediterranean Sea that are still available for booking.

Cruise lines and cruise ships availability prediction

World brands like MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines or Royal Caribbean are among the cruise lines that will sell out in the upcoming weeks. 

Accordingly, MSC Grandiosa, Carnival Imagination or Pride of America are in the top ten of ships with sailings at cabin level that will likely sell out within the next weeks. As a consequence, not only are these cruise lines and ships popular, many of them come out with their best deals when itineraries first go on sale, and then raise their prices as the ships sell out. Make sure to check their terms and conditions before booking too.

But you don't have to endure that when trying to aboard your preferred ship. Check out MSC Cruises , Carnival Cruise Lines , Norwegian Cruise Lines or Princess Cruises and ships that are still available for booking.

Cabin type availability prediction

Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not always the suites that sell out in advance: Interior cabins have the highest probability of being sold out, followed closely by suites and finally with less probability, ocean view, and balcony.

Spot soon to be sold-out cruises easily

We built this feature to help you optimize your cruise search. Combined with our AI-based price prediction service, use it to gain more control in making informed decisions and find the perfect sailing for your next cruise vacation. Here is how to use it in a few simple steps :

Start your cruise search in the “find a cruise” tab 

Set up a price alert to get the best cruise deals on your preferred cruise by touching the alert bell.  

When opening the details of your cruise, scroll down to see the price details. This gives you information about price fluctuation history, allowing you to determine when to book at the best price. Below the price details you can find the vacancy prediction feature which automatically gives you real-time recommendations about your booking. 

You are now prepared to set sail, cruiser! Share this tip with other cruise enthusiasts by clicking the social media buttons at the top of the page. For more tips about planning your next cruise check out the below recommendations.

                                                                                                                                                    Published on February 18, 2020.

• Choosing the Best Cruise Destination
• Choosing the Right Cruise Line
• Choosing the Perfect Cruise Itinerary

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• CruiseMapper

Cruise cabins and suites

Cruise ship rooms, floor plans, photos.

CruiseMapper's cabin and suites section allows you to explore cruise staterooms by ship. Each page provides extensive information on all passengers accommodations on a particular vessel, including floor plans, room types and categories (grades used upon booking), cabin sizes, deck location. Also provided is an extensive review of all ticket price inclusive en-suite amenities, along with furniture details and additional / bonus perks (if available).  

Here you will find brief descriptions by category of all stateroom types that can be found on cruise ship deck plans . You will find more information and many useful tips on staterooms at our best and worst cabins article. Here you can search for a particular ship (via the above search bar) or you can skip the introduction (explanations) and go down directly to our list of large passenger ships' cabin pages .

Cruise staterooms booking rates are usually based on deck location. Lower-deck accommodations are the cheapest. Midship rooms cost more. Balcony staterooms and Suites located aft or forward are the most expensive. Most cruise companies (especially those with large-sized vessels in the fleets) divide the main cabin types into subcategories. These grades are marked with numbers (like for balcony cabins - B1, B2, B3, B4) and are displayed on the deck layouts with different colors.

Cruise ship suites

Cruise suite accommodations are premium grades cabins. They are usually larger in comparison to balcony staterooms and feature more amenities. As a rule, suites have a full-size bathtub, larger shower, bigger closets and balcony (some have 2 private balconies). Amenities include coffee makers, premium sound systems, large-size TVs, complimentary butler service.

Loft Suites (aka Duplex Suites)

Loft Suites are "duplex suites" (on two levels) and available on the world's largest passenger ships of Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class and Quantum-class. The following layout is of Harmony of the Seas and its largest accommodation - the Royal Loft Suite.

Grand Suite

Twin beds in this type of cabin can be joined in a king bed. Grand Suites have also a double sofa bed and large private balcony, sitting area with 2-armchairs and a coffee table, desk, dressing area with vanity, walk-in closet, safe box, TV, phone, refrigerator, mini-bar, private bath with whirlpool tub and shower, patio chair and table, balcony lounge chair, pillow menu, bathrobes, hairdryer. See below the magnificent Oceania Marina ship's Owner Suite plan.

Captain Suite

Captains Suite accommodations have a huge 220 ft2 (20,5 m2) separate bedroom, while the living area is sized 290 ft2 (27 m2). There are 2 upper beds and a sofa bed, private bathroom with whirlpool hot tub and glass shower, safe, TV and phone, mini-bar, bathrobes, hairdryer.

A table and 3 patio chairs are on the balcony.

Owners Suite

Owner's Suites are some of the most luxurious accommodations at sea. They usually feature two separate bedrooms, private balcony (with luxury lounge furniture, even dining area and hot tub), living room (with sofa bed), luxury bathroom (with whirlpool bathtub and separate shower), second bathroom (WC), dining room, dressing area. Some Owner's Suites (like NCL's) can accommodate up to 10 passengers when connected to an adjacent Suite.

Ocean Suite

OS stands for "Ocean Suite" and category SS is "Spa Suite", recently changed to Junior Suite. These cabins have: twin beds that convert to king, sitting area with armchair and coffee table, sofa, dressing area with vanity, large balcony, wall safe, 2 big closets, mini-bar, refrigerator, private whirlpool bath with tub and shower, television and phone, balcony lounge chair, patio chair and table, pillow menu, bathrobes, hairdryer.

2-Bedroom Mozart Suite (largest stateroom on a riverboat)

World's largest accommodation found on a riverboat is Riverside Mozart 's French Balcony Suite. The vessel has two such accommodations, each sized 885 ft2 / 82 m2. Must be noted, that the stateroom is combined with an adjacent French Balcony cabin.

Penthouse Suite

Penthouse Suites have a twin beds configuration (beds can convert to queen). The other features are a large balcony, dressing area with vanity, sitting area with armchair and coffee table, wall safe, mini bar, private bath with whirlpool tub and shower, television and phone, refrigerator, bathrobes and hairdryer. Some cabins are without whirlpool tub, sofa or coffee table.

Balcony staterooms

Most balcony cruise ship cabins feature floor-ceiling sliding glass doors leading to a private step-out veranda. The balcony also is furnished with a table and pair of chairs/loungers. Standard balconies are separated by dividers. As sizes, balcony cabins on cruise ships vary, with those on Princess and NCl ships being among the smallest compared to other big-ship lines. In our cruise deck plans, we also list room sizes and the size of the balcony. Balcony – Apart from the balcony they can offer You twin beds that can be converted to King-size bed. Balconies also provide sitting area with chair and coffee table and private bath with shower, as well as closet/wardrobe, electronic safe box, mini bar, television and phone, sofa, bathrobes, hairdryer. Most verandas are between 30-60 ft2 ( approx 3-6 m2). Below are shown the layouts of the Anthem ship's Deluxe and Accessible balcony cabins.

Premium Balcony

Premium Balcony cabins also have twin beds that convert to King-size, their wraparound balcony enfolds the stateroom. Balcony's windows are often floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall.

Cove Balcony Staterooms

Cove balconies, unlike Balconies, have two patio chairs and a table. The rest of the stuff is identical. First of all-balcony, and again twin beds that convert to king, sofa, private bath with shower, safe, closet, mini bar, television and phone, sitting area with chair and coffee table, bathrobes and hairdryer.

Cove Balcony rooms are CCL-Carnival's specialty, available on some of the "Fun Ships", and are interesting because they are located on lower decks (thus closer to waterline).

Oceanview staterooms

Oceanview cabins: as sizes are similar to Interior staterooms on cruise ships, but each of them has a Porthole or normal window (both types do not open). Their window sizes also vary by line and ship. On some ocean ships and some luxury river ships, such staterooms feature floor-ceiling windows. Oceanview rooms' window sizes are usually 4x3 ft (1,2x0,9 m). As furniture, Oceanview cruise cabins have twin beds that convert to King-size, sofa, TV and phone, sitting area, safe, mini bar, private bath with shower, and also a washroom with sink and a junior tub, bathrobes and a hairdryer and of course a picture window. You should take a look at the cruise ship deck plans again as Cabins of 5A category have two porthole windows. Unlike deluxe, there is no washroom with sink and junior tub. Below are the layouts of Ovation of the Seas Oceanview cabins (categories standard, large, and superior).

Deluxe Oceanview

These cabins have no balconies but still can offer a marvelous view through their picture window as well as twin beds that convert to King-size. However, beds in Category 6N can't be joined (to King) and sleeps max 5 people.

Other amenities include sofabed, TV, phone, seating, safe, mini-bar, a bathroom with shower, a washroom (with junior tub), bathrobes, hairdryer.

Scenic Oceanview

The interior is the same - twin beds convertible to King-size, picture window, sofa, TV, phone, seating, safe, mini-bar, bath with shower, washroom with sink and junior tub, bathrobes, hairdryer.

The difference is that Scenic Oceanviews are larger.

Inside staterooms

Inside cruise ship cabins' best feature is their price - you book them with the line's cheapest rates available. These cruise accommodations don't offer window views. Still, on some of the newest cruise ships of Royal Caribbean and Disney, there are categories Interior staterooms with a "virtual window", which is a large LED screen displaying outside cam views. The screen doesn't have TV functions.

On some Carnival ships, there are Inside cabins with a "French Balcony" (with opening glass doors). Also, some "interior staterooms" are actually Oceanview (with a non-opening window), but since their views are obstructed, they are booked as Interior. On Royal Caribbean ships, some Inside cabins have a window looking out to the ship's interior promenade (street)

Inside cruise cabins are fitted with twin beds (convertible to King or Queen), private bathroom (shower), sitting area. Next are shown the layouts of Interior rooms on Harmony OTS .

Small Interior Stateroom (as the name implies) is the least spacious standard cabin category on cruise ships. These cabins have two beds – (upper and lower), private bath (WC/shower), a small sitting area.

Single cabins (Studios)

Single occupancy staterooms could be either Inside or Balcony. Some river cruise lines even offer single suites (booking with single occupancy rates). The most famous liner having plenty of single cabins (designed specifically for solo travelers) is Norwegian Epic .

This huge vessel has a total of 128 "Studios".

Next are shown layouts of Quantum OTS single-occupancy cabins (balcony and interior).

Connecting cabins (for large families)

The next layout shows RCI's "Family Connected Junior Suite" plan ( Quantum OTS ). Ship's main cabin grades (Balcony, Oceanview, Inside) are all combined here into a 10-person "Family Suite". The layout also shows the exact positioning of furniture, 3 baths (1 with hot tub), large seating area, 2 double-sofabeds, 2 connecting balconies.

How to choose cabins on cruise ships?

If you are planning a cruise, booking a cabin is certainly as important as picking up the cruise line (brand) or the boat. Before you take that decision, consider some issues related to your own personality and the other people traveling with you.

• The first important thing you have to be honest with your conscious is whether you can get seasick .
• Secondly, what type of person you are and what exactly do you intend to do onboard? Are you a party type or you just would like to spend several calm days at sea, away from the office jungle on land. Would you enjoy the pool with its all opportunities for contacts or you would rather have a rest lying at a balcony?
• No matter the stateroom type, it could still be noisy or make you seasick. The more central and lower position your cabin has, the more stable it is.
• In case you and the rest of the family members / friends are thin or you just don't intend to spend too much time in the cabin, you can pick a small one. Usually, staterooms are able to house no more than 4 people. Two passengers pay full fares and the other receive discounted rates.
• If you need stateroom for 4+ passengers, connecting cabins are the best option, and it will cost you less than a suite. Bathtub-fitted cabins are not so many per vessel. All cruise deck plans show such information (bathtub, sofabed, double bed, bunk beds, etc).

Noise issues - which cabins on the ship to avoid?

If you are a party type and louder sounds are not bothering, everything would be OK. If you organize a family voyage, however, you should look for a cabin away from the noisiest areas in the cruise ship deck plans. The first thing to look for in the cruise ship plan is the engine room location. Along with the noises, there are also vibrations.

Staterooms under discos, sport playgrounds, gym centers are usually very noisy. Cabins under Lido Deck (aka Pool Deck) are also among those to avoid. The buffet restaurant on this deck generates noises from moving tables and chairs and tableware. Staircases are also very noisy.

Take a good look at the cruise ship deck plan - room location is crucial!

Cabin's deck location is of great importance. Lower and more central-positioned accommodations are more stable. However, "cool cabins" are usually on higher decks, which means spending more money won't necessarily save you from seasickness.

Stern cabins (aft) have the largest balconies. Forward suites provide the same view as from the Navigation Bridge (wheelhouse). Some cabins are with limited / obstructed seaview due to lifeboats or other equipment.

Guarantee staterooms - take your chance!

If you are not set on selecting something particular and location is not a priority, you should not investigate the cruise ship deck plan so cautiously. The so-called ''guarantee'' cabin grades can turn to be among the best booking options. The "guarantee stateroom" booking allows you to pick up a category, not a cabin. In case the category is sold out you'll be proposed a higher category lodging. The first cabins to be booked are both the cheapest and the most expensive ones, be aware when you choose to test your luck. However, it could be a bit risky so it's more reasonable to get back to the cruise ship deck plans.

Shipboard facilities

If want to cruise with your children you'd better book a stateroom close to kids entertainment facilities. Cruise ship deck plans can once again help you to choose from the many opportunities created to meet passengers' requirements. Spa cabins are recently available for instance. Passengers get free access to the steam room and other connected facilities. These cabins are of course close to the SPA and you can move between in your bathrobe only.

NCL's The Haven and MSC's Yacht Club accommodations are located within an exclusive complex and offer ''ship within ship'' amenities and services. Passengers (who can afford them) enjoy private sundecks with swimming pools and jacuzzis and exclusive facilities like restaurants, bar lounges, gyms and spas.

Prefabricated cruise ship cabin

On May 24, 2016, a new "Lightweight Composite Cabin" design was unveiled in Southampton, England. The innovation was funded by the UK Government. Involved in the cabin's designing, engineering, manufacturing and furbishing were the companies Carnival UK ( Carnival Corporation 's subsidiary), Gurit Ltd (global composite materials supplier), Lloyd's Register Group Ltd (technical / business services, maritime classification company), PE Composites Ltd (composite designer / manufacturer), Trimline Ltd (marine interior refurbishment specialist) and the University of Southampton.

The new modular cabin prototype is half the weight of a typical cruise room. It also fully complies with the FTP Code's requirements (International Code for the Application of Fire Test Procedures). Reducing the ship's topdecks weight is an important issue for naval architects as the trend for building large-capacity cruise vessels continues. The new (prefabricated) module's halved weight opens up opportunities for adding more passenger rooms to newbuild ships, without adding to the ship's DWT weight.

Note: The following list of cruise lines cabins (per ship) includes only CruiseMapper's largest companies' fleets and only ocean-going vessels. For all other vessels (including small-fleet shipping companies , cruiseferries and riverboats ) use the search box at page top .

List of cruise ships with deck plans

Carnival cruise line.

• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Dream
• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Firenze
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Paradise
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Vista

Princess Cruises

• Caribbean Princess
• Coral Princess
• Crown Princess
• Diamond Princess
• Discovery Princess
• Emerald Princess
• Enchanted Princess
• Grand Princess
• Island Princess
• Majestic Princess
• Regal Princess
• Royal Princess
• Ruby Princess
• Sapphire Princess
• Sky Princess
• Star Princess
• Sun Princess

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Destiny
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Magic
• Disney Treasure
• Disney Wish
• Disney Wonder
• Queen Elizabeth
• Queen Mary 2
• Queen Victoria

AIDA Cruises

Viking cruises.

• Viking Jupiter
• Viking Mars
• Viking Neptune
• Viking Octantis
• Viking Orion
• Viking Polaris
• Viking Saturn
• Viking Star
• Viking Vela
• Viking Venus
• Viking Vesta
• Zhao Shang Yi Dun-Viking Sun

Royal Caribbean

• Adventure Of The Seas
• Allure Of The Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Brilliance Of The Seas
• Enchantment Of The Seas
• Explorer Of The Seas
• Freedom Of The Seas
• Grandeur Of The Seas
• Harmony Of The Seas
• Icon Of The Seas
• Independence Of The Seas
• Jewel Of The Seas
• Liberty Of The Seas
• Mariner Of The Seas
• Navigator Of The Seas
• Oasis Of The Seas
• Odyssey Of The Seas
• Ovation Of The Seas
• Quantum Of The Seas
• Radiance Of The Seas
• Rhapsody Of The Seas
• Serenade Of The Seas
• Spectrum Of The Seas
• Star Of The Seas
• Symphony Of The Seas
• Utopia Of The Seas
• Vision Of The Seas
• Voyager Of The Seas
• Wonder Of The Seas

Holland America

• ms Koningsdam
• ms Nieuw Amsterdam
• ms Nieuw Statendam
• ms Oosterdam
• ms Rotterdam
• ms Volendam
• ms Westerdam
• ms Zuiderdam

P&O Cruises

• Pacific Adventure
• Pacific Encounter
• Pacific Explorer

Costa Cruises

• Costa Deliziosa
• Costa Diadema
• Costa Fascinosa
• Costa Favolosa
• Costa Fortuna
• Costa Pacifica
• Costa Serena
• Costa Smeralda
• Costa Toscana

Azamara Cruises

• Azamara Journey
• Azamara Onward
• Azamara Pursuit
• Azamara Quest

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

• Seven Seas Explorer
• Seven Seas Grandeur
• Seven Seas Mariner
• Seven Seas Navigator
• Seven Seas Splendor
• Seven Seas Voyager

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

Celebrity Cruises

• Celebrity Apex
• Celebrity Ascent
• Celebrity Beyond
• Celebrity Constellation
• Celebrity Eclipse
• Celebrity Edge
• Celebrity Equinox
• Celebrity Flora
• Celebrity Infinity
• Celebrity Millennium
• Celebrity Reflection
• Celebrity Silhouette
• Celebrity Solstice
• Celebrity Summit
• Celebrity Xcel

Marella Cruises

• Marella Discovery
• Marella Discovery 2
• Marella Explorer
• Marella Explorer 2
• Marella Voyager

MSC Cruises

• MSC Armonia
• MSC Bellissima
• MSC Euribia
• MSC Fantasia
• MSC Grandiosa
• MSC Magnifica
• MSC Meraviglia
• MSC Orchestra
• MSC Preziosa
• MSC Seascape
• MSC Seashore
• MSC Seaside
• MSC Seaview
• MSC Sinfonia
• MSC Splendida
• MSC Virtuosa
• MSC World America
• MSC World Asia
• MSC World Europa

Oceania Cruises

• Oceania Allura
• Oceania Insignia
• Oceania Marina
• Oceania Nautica
• Oceania Regatta
• Oceania Riviera
• Oceania Sirena
• Oceania Vista

Silversea Cruises

• Silver Cloud
• Silver Dawn
• Silver Endeavour
• Silver Galapagos
• Silver Moon
• Silver Muse
• Silver Nova
• Silver Origin
• Silver Shadow
• Silver Spirit
• Silver Whisper
• Silver Wind

Seabourn Cruises

• Seabourn Encore
• Seabourn Odyssey
• Seabourn Ovation
• Seabourn Pursuit
• Seabourn Quest
• Seabourn Sojourn
• Seabourn Venture

What are the most, least expensive cabins on a cruise? Here's what to know.

During a recent cruise, my ship sailed to Bermuda, it had a pool and water park on board. But lounging on my stateroom balcony was the part that felt most like a vacation.

Sitting in the sun in my own space on Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Venezia , as the waves rolled by, I was able to relax in a way I don’t usually do at home.

For some travelers, a cruise stateroom is nothing more than a place to rest between activities. But for others like myself, it can make a trip. Many ships have a range of categories to choose from at varying price points, which come with different advantages.

Here’s what the least and most expensive rooms on the Venezia are like.

What is the least expensive cabin on a cruise ship?

Interior or inside staterooms are typically the least expensive category on a cruise. Those cabins are generally the smallest on board and rarely accommodate more than three people, according to Joy Hess, owner and lead travel consultant at Outside the Lines Travel.

They also don’t have windows, something that travelers who get seasick and could benefit from fresh air should keep in mind. Some interior cabins have portholes with screens that simulate a view – like Disney Cruise Line’s “magical portholes” – “so people don’t feel quite as landlocked, so to speak,” said Hess.

“It's a box with no view,” she said of the cabin category. “Interior staterooms are great for people who plan to be out of their room except to sleep.”

Venezia’s cheapest interior staterooms feature a queen-size bed or twin and Pullman beds, and like every room, a TV and dedicated stateroom attendant. Prices vary by sailing dates and length, but an interior room on a nine-day cruise sailing round-trip from New York to Miami and the Bahamas on Feb. 2, 2024, starts at $459 per guest based on double occupancy.

The fare includes most food, and drinks like iced tea and regular coffee and more.

Along with their lower base fares, interior rooms – like other standard categories – also come with cheaper gratuities . Carnival recommends $16 gratuities per person, per day for standard staterooms, according to its website . If guests have not prepaid those tips before their sailing, the line will automatically add the charges to passengers’ onboard accounts, though the amounts can be adjusted at their discretion before they disembark.

Some of Hess’ clients prefer interior rooms for more than just the cost-savings. “Some people are afraid of water, and they don't want to know that they are in the middle of the ocean,” she said. Others enjoy the dark space for sleeping, with no bright sun to wake them in the morning.

What is the most expensive cabin on a cruise ship?

On the opposite end of the price spectrum, multiroom suites tend to be the most expensive rooms on board, Hess said. They can measure thousands of square feet, often with spacious balconies.

They also typically come with a range of perks. In the case of Venezia’s Ocean Suites – its most expensive room category – that includes priority boarding, debarkation, and main dining room times; access to the ship’s Terrazza Carnevale lounge area; special brunches on select sea days; bathrobes and more. Venezia's suites are smaller than some other suites at other ships, though, ranging from 327 to 356 square feet.

Fares for those staterooms also vary by sailing date and length, but an Ocean Suite on the same Feb. 2, 2024, sailing starts at $2,029 per person based on double occupancy. Passengers in suites pay $18 per guest, per day in gratuities.

Planning a cruise?: Here are the documents and costs to keep in mind

Hess said suites can be good fits for travelers with multigenerational families, those celebrating a special occasion, or who just “want to experience a cruise without being around a lot of other people.”

And even if you can’t get the exact room you want, there may be unexpected upsides. Hess once stayed in an ocean-view room on a low deck, but her disappointment at its location turned to joy when she saw whales swim by outside her window, which she said she wouldn’t have seen if she had been higher.

“You can make the most of it no matter what,” she said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach him at [email protected].

Wealthy travelers are paying $17,000 a week for the most luxurious cabin on Silversea's new ultra-luxury cruise ship — see inside

• Silversea Cruises ' new Silver Ray embarked on its maiden voyage in mid-June.
• The ship's most luxurious 1,324-square-foot Otium Suites have amenities like a private hot tub and library.
• The cabin starts at $17,000 per person in 2024, and it's mostly sold out for the year.

Silversea is one of the highest-end cruise lines on the market. So, as you can imagine, its new ship's most expensive suites are luxurious.

Like, really luxurious. And really expensive.

Silversea's new Silver Ray departed on its maiden voyage in mid-June. As is expected of Royal Caribbean Group's ritziest brand , the cruise line's 12th ship is outfitted with 364 of some of the most sumptuous suites at sea, the smallest of which already have a balcony, marble bathroom, and on-demand caviar.

Not too shabby, right?

Well, after seeing Silver Ray's most glamorous 1,324-square-foot Otium Suites, you could find yourself scoffing at its other accommodations.

Its balcony alone is larger than the ship's smallest suites. And its cost is more than three times that of the cheapest option.

In 2024, Silver Ray's Otium Suites start at $17,000 per person for a seven-day roundtrip cruise from Venice, Italy.

It's a steep price compared to the itinerary's least expensive $4,850 per person suite (there's an even cheaper category, but it's sold out for the sailing).

Despite the cost, Silver Ray's two Otium Suites are almost completely booked through 2024.

Upon entering, you're immediately greeted with the library and dining room — spaces you'd be hard-pressed to find in a typical cruise cabin.

Forgot a book? The reading nook is perfectly stocked for travelers interested in learning about bicycle brand Brompton ("The Brompton" by Will Butler-Adams and Dan Davies) and British microchip maker Arm ("The Everything Blueprint: The Microchip Design that Changed the World" by James Ashton).

Or, grab one of the neatly packaged games, such as tic-tac-toe and dominoes.

The dining table would be perfect for churning out a quick round of backgammon.

If you enjoy playing with a side of snacks, the fresh fruit bowl might do. Otherwise, you could call your butler for complimentary caviar or foie gras.

If it looks like a long game, brewing one of the bar's espresso pods or teas might be a good idea. Or, help yourself to some liquor, stocked according to the guests' preferences.

The dining table opens onto a living room with sprawling ocean views.

The couch can convert into a bed to sleep an additional guest. There's certainly ample room for three travelers, after all.

Take note of the chessboard and fresh-cut flowers, small touches that are, again, uncommon in the average suite.

If just one TV isn’t enough, you’re in luck. There’s another one in the bedroom.

It's also where you'll find the vanity, walk-in closet, and sizable bathroom — decorated with marble, of course.

Silver Ray’s cheapest suites have a dual vanity bathroom with a shower.

To out-luxe these cheaper accommodations, the Otium Suite comes with both a shower and a bathtub.

No need to worry about full privacy. The toilet is behind another closed door.

All of the ship's suites have balconies. None are as large as Otium's.

There's no need to hit the pool deck when your 431-square-foot balcony has a private hot tub, lounge chairs, and an outdoor dining table.

To compare, Silver Ray's smallest suites come with a 53-square-foot balcony. Size does matter, after all.

A private hot tub is included in the suite, which starts at $2,430 per person and day.

Hey, at least the cost includes a $399 spa treatment per person, too. Maybe a luxurious massage would help melt away the stress of the payment.

• Main content

• Royal Caribbean International

How will RCL pull this deal? Guarantee cabin on a sold out ship

By Florida_cruisers , March 13, 2019 in Royal Caribbean International

Recommended Posts

Florida_cruisers

My friend wants to join our upcoming cruise and I looked on RCL and various other travel websites, there’s no cabins available. She then called the cruise line and they “found” a cabin for her somehow, so she booked a guarantee inside cabin on a sold out sailing where there’s only ONE suite left. There are no other cabins left in the whole ship. What do you think RCL will do? Upgrade someone else and give her their cabin? Certainly I wouldn’t expect them to give her the suite that’s going for $8k when she booked a guarantee inside, right? 

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I would guess Royal would use the "Royal UP" program to bump up a handful of people.  Owner Suite to Royal Suite, Junior Suite to Owner Suite, Balcony to Jr Suite, Ocean View to Balcony, Inside to Ocean View - and voila, an inside stateroom is now available.     (and Royal gets a bunch more money from all the other upgrades).

Ourusualbeach

Royal does not always show all their available cabins.  Chances are your friend will het an inside cabin. 

Just like an airline there is a small amount of overbooking as well.   There are always cancellations, and RCI typically has cabins that were not available for booking.   

FLACRUISER99

Ships are not sold out until they sail.

13 minutes ago, rimmit said: Just like an airline there is a small amount of overbooking as well.   

And what happens if no one cancels? Airlines offer incentives for people to take alternate flights. I can’t imagine cruiselines doing that, especially when other travel arrangements are involved (airfare, hotel). This is for a Mediterranean cruise. 

If you're talking about your May Jewel of the Seas, I just checked my go to on-line cruise broker and they have insides available on every sailing plus other categories.

11 minutes ago, Florida_cruisers said: And what happens if no one cancels? Airlines offer incentives for people to take alternate flights. I can’t imagine cruiselines doing that, especially when other travel arrangements are involved (airfare, hotel). This is for a Mediterranean cruise. 

I am not sure how they pick people but there are threads on CC about how they got bumped from a cruise and were offered some compensation.

I think the most recent I read about was a mediterannean cruise.  RCI does whatever they want.  They cancel whole cruises just because some company wants to charter the boat.  Cancelling one or two cabins for overbooking is nothing.  Sadly it happens and is not the best way to build a reputation but they do it anyway.  It’s all about the dollar.

Recently had a friend who’s whole cruise was cancelled due to a charter.  They typically give a handful of alternatives for the same price on various dates and maybe $200 in airline change fees.  That’s it.

32 minutes ago, Big_G said: If you're talking about your May Jewel of the Seas, I just checked my go to on-line cruise broker and they have insides available on every sailing plus other categories.

For May 29, 2019? I don’t see it and I’ve looked in many cruise travel sites.... 

11 minutes ago, Florida_cruisers said: For May 29, 2019? I don’t see it and I’ve looked in many cruise travel sites.... 

I'm seeing all categories on that sailing. I'd post the site but I've been spanked before for trying to sneak it in. The prices highlighted in blue are special offers. If a category is sold out they replace the price with the word Call .

Example of one almost sold out.

10 minutes ago, Florida_cruisers said: For May 29, 2019? I don’t see it and I’ve looked in many cruise travel sites.... 

as of right now there is one J3 junior suite and one oceanview gty available.. so they are moving things around

the GTY booking is likely to get the category they paid for, and they will "bump" someone up  (who paid more) to a better cabin.

Thank you all. It’s interesting how the travel industry play these shuffling games. It’s a business after all. 

If the inside cabins are truly sold out, passengers who paid a higher fare might find themselves upgraded to a higher category cabin (either inside their cabin type or next class up, i.e.; inside to another inside or inside to oceanview).

Plan on your friend being assigned the least desirable inside cabin on the ship. Anything better should be looked upon as good fortune.

Not a shuffling game at all.  All cruise lines have a hold on several cabins in different areas of the ship.  They have to do this because there are always a few cabins that will require moving for various reasons.  People have to be relocated due to plumbing problems etc.  We were moved from an inside deck 2 cabin to a deck 8 ocean view balcony in the middle of a cruise due to the impossible noise problem we had from the cleaning crews.  Unable to sleep and awakened every morning about 3:00am because we were beneath the deck 3 restrooms.  They offered us this resolution, we did not ask for another cabin, but it was available so they moved us.  Another great RCCL service story!  In any event, they always have cabins available in such cases even though they don't show on web sites.

4 hours ago, Florida_cruisers said: And what happens if no one cancels? Airlines offer incentives for people to take alternate flights. I can’t imagine cruiselines doing that, especially when other travel arrangements are involved (airfare, hotel). This is for a Mediterranean cruise. 

Cruise lines do this all the time.  It's called a move-over offer.  You take a different cruise and generally get your entire original fare back as a combination of onboard credit and future cruise credit.  Generally they also offer some airline change fees and may offer price protection on some alternative cruises.

Have seen only one case of someone being bumped, and they eventually wound up on the ship anyway.

Charters happen generally 8-12 months out.  We had a Mariner cruise chartered where we would get back to Miami and switch to another ship in Fort Lauderdale.  Booked Brilliance out of Tampa to replace it and had a day to drive across the state to meet the second ship.  In our case had not booked flights yet.

5 hours ago, Florida_cruisers said: My friend wants to join our upcoming cruise and I looked on RCL and various other travel websites, there’s no cabins available. She then called the cruise line and they “found” a cabin for her somehow, so she booked a guarantee inside cabin on a sold out sailing where there’s only ONE suite left. There are no other cabins left in the whole ship. What do you think RCL will do? Upgrade someone else and give her their cabin? Certainly I wouldn’t expect them to give her the suite that’s going for $8k when she booked a guarantee inside, right? 

Mine is not a suite, but I just booked a guarantee balcony cabin for a 9 niter on Anthem Aug. 29th cruise.  There are 3+ different guarantee pricing.  Chose a type 5D balcony guarantee that will be between deck 8-11 and it's not a obstructed view. 

The pricing was excellent and hoping for the best.

5 hours ago, Rewind said: I would guess Royal would use the "Royal UP" program to bump up a handful of people.  Owner Suite to Royal Suite, GRAND SUITE TO OWNERS SUITE , Junior Suite to GRAND Suite, Balcony to Jr Suite, Ocean View to Balcony, Inside to Ocean View - and voila, an inside stateroom is now available.     (and Royal gets a bunch more money from all the other upgrades).

I booked a grand suite, our first. It would be awesome if we got upgraded to the owner’s suite 🙏 . 

Edit: we have cabin 1554 and the balcony looks bigger on the deck plans than the owner’s suites 1560 and 1568. So maybe what we have is better. 

1 hour ago, SRF said:   FTFY

As I was writing that out, I knew I had missed one...   but we book the steerage class so I'm not too familiar with the suites.

• 1 month later...

On 3/13/2019 at 9:05 AM, Big_G said:   I'm seeing all categories on that sailing. I'd post the site but I've been spanked before for trying to sneak it in. The prices highlighted in blue are special offers. If a category is sold out they replace the price with the word Call .   Example of one almost sold out.

Is there anyway you can share your on-line cruise broker?  I'm getting very depressed thinking going on a sold out cruise isn't happening and I've been doing so much research and calling anyone I can think of 😞  I tried messaging you but for some reason I'm not allowed to message (new to this site so not sure why)

15 minutes ago, squeeky126 said: Is there anyway you can share your on-line cruise broker?  I'm getting very depressed thinking going on a sold out cruise isn't happening and I've been doing so much research and calling anyone I can think of 😞  I tried messaging you but for some reason I'm not allowed to message (new to this site so not sure why)

No.  That is the ultimate rule on this site.

And private messaging is disabled.  You can only communicate like this.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

7 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:   No.  That is the ultimate rule on this site.   And private messaging is disabled.  You can only communicate like this.   Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Stinks 😞  I really need help, thought this was a good source to come to

4 minutes ago, squeeky126 said: Stinks 😞  I really need help, thought this was a good source to come to

It is a good source, just ask for what you need.

58 minutes ago, Host Clarea said: It is a good source, just ask for what you need.

Not knowing all of the rules or ins/outs, can the Ops communicate the needed info via e-mail.

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10 First Time Cruise Mistakes that I will Never Make Again on a Cruise

I f you are new to cruising, then trust me, you don’t want to make the same mistakes that I did when I was a first time cruiser. Even if you are not a newbie cruiser, you’ll still want to read this. I have been on over 25 cruises, and I have cruised many times as a couple with my husband and with our kids. Here are the mistakes I made when I was a rookie cruiser. I hope you can learn from my mistakes so you can avoid making them yourself!

1. Bringing a Toddler on a Cruise

A mistake that I’ve made is bringing my kids with me on a cruise when they were toddlers. Looking back, I don’t know why I did it because it turned out to be pure torture. 

I couldn’t enjoy any vacation time because I was constantly babysitting my kids. They were too young to be left alone in the kids’ club, and I had to put them to bed early, so I missed out on all the after-dinner activities and shows. To make matters worse, there was no Wi-Fi back then, so I was left in the dark with nothing to do but lie awake until they fell asleep.

It was a miserable experience, and I wouldn’t call it a vacation at all. If you want to read more about my ordeal cruising with my young kids , you can check out this article.

2. Not Realizing How far the Cruise Port is from the Airport

A big mistake that I made when I went on my first Mediterranean cruise was that I didn’t realize how far the cruise port was from the airport. I mistakenly assumed that Civitavecchia cruise port was located in Rome, but it turned out to be a 45-minute drive from Rome airport. 

I learned this truth only after arriving the night before and staying at an airport hotel in Rome. To make matters worse, I decided to save money on transportation and took the train from Rome airport, which ended up being a 1 hour and 45-minute ride. 

Dealing with luggage at the train station and getting to the cruise port on time was a nightmare! In hindsight, it would have been better to stay at a hotel in Civitavecchia instead of rushing to the cruise port on embarkation day. 

After that experience, I learned my lesson and always researched the location of the cruise port to make sure I didn’t make the same mistake again! (Remember, this happened before the invention of the iPhone, so researching before a cruise wasn’t as easy as it is now!)

3. Not Booking Any Shore Excursions

One big mistake I made when I was a new cruiser was thinking I could wing it when it came to shore excursions. I remember looking at the prices and feeling sticker shocked, so I decided not to commit to anything in advance. 

I figured I could just figure it out when I got on the ship. But boy, was I wrong! I had no idea that shore excursions could sell out so quickly, and I didn’t realize how long the line for the shore excursion desk could be. Needless to say, I learned my lesson. Now, I always make sure to book my shore excursions ahead of time, and I recommend that you do the same!

4. Not Bringing a Carry-On Bag

Another mistake I made when I first started cruising was that I didn’t realize I had to bring a carry-on bag. Somehow I keep forgetting that the check-in luggage takes a long time to get delivered to my cabin. So every time I cruised, I didn’t pack a cruise carry-on bag and then I regretted it. 

I remember my kids wanting to jump in the pool, but they couldn’t because I didn’t have their bathing suits so we had to wait for our check-in luggage to arrive at our cabin. 

Since then, I always packed a carry-on bag with essentials like a toiletry bag, kids’ toys, bathing suits, and medication when I board the ship. Here’s my carry-on bag packing list , which you can download as a free printable to make it easier for you when you’re packing for your cruise.

5. Letting My Seasickness Spiral Out of Control

A mistake I made when I was a newbie cruiser was not knowing how to control seasickness. I’m naturally prone to seasickness, but over the years of cruising, I’ve learned to manage my seasickness. 

I know which cabins to avoid, I know how to prevent seasickness and if it starts, I know how to control it so it doesn’t get out of hand. When I first started cruising, I remember my seasickness was so severe that I literally threw up in the hallway! Check out my tips on how to prevent and avoid seasickness on a cruise .

6. Not Choosing a Cabin

When I first started cruising, I made the mistake of assuming that I couldn’t choose my cabin. Instead, I would always select the Guaranteed Cabin option, thinking it was the best deal since it was the cheapest. 

I didn’t realize that the good cabins get booked early and the reality is I’m stuck with the worst cabin by choosing the guaranteed cabin option. It certainly did not help with my seasickness, because I never got a midship cabin!

7. Cellphone Not Switched to Airplane Mode

When I was new to cruising, I made the mistake of not switching my cellphone to airplane mode. I remember receiving calls while at sea and picking them up, thinking that they were urgent.

However, that was a big mistake as I got a hefty phone bill for those calls on the cruise ship. Ever since then, I have learned my lesson and I make sure to switch my phone to airplane mode the moment I’m on the cruise ship.

8. Heading Straight to the Buffet on Embarkation Day

A mistake that I’ll never make again is going to the buffet for lunch on embarkation day. It’s always so chaotic and crowded at the buffet on the first day because that’s where everyone is having lunch.

I remember balancing my tray full of food with my toddler in tow, looking for a vacant table at the buffet. It was a nightmare! Now, I skip the buffet and head to the main dining room for lunch instead. It’s so much calmer there and a more pleasant place to have lunch.

9. Not Knowing the Cruise Perks

A mistake I made when staying in a suite for the first time on a cruise was not being aware of all the perks that were available to suite guests. When I went on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, I failed to take advantage of all the suite benefits because I didn’t know about them. 

For example, I missed the chance to dine at the Coastal Kitchen, which is a special dining area reserved only for suite guests. It was only on the last night of my cruise that I discovered this. 

Nowadays, I make it a point to review the perks included with my cabin. I also check my loyalty perks to see if I am eligible for other privileges, like priority embarkation, complimentary laundry, and more!

10. Lining Up at Guest Services

When I was new to cruising, I made kept making the mistake of lining up at guest services for small account-related queries that I could have easily checked on the cruise TV folio. I regret wasting so much time standing in long lines during the busiest hours, like right after breakfast.

Now, I try to avoid the guest services line at all costs! And if I do have to line up, I now know that guest services are open 24/7. If I see a long line, I come back at a later time when the lines are shorter (usually later in the evening).

Check out these cruise packing lists with free printables

Alaska cruise packing list

Caribbean cruise packing list

16 Cruise Ship Embarkation Hack (How to Board the Ship Faster)

8 Reasons Why Cruise Ship Beverage Packages are a Waste of Money

8 Warning Signs You Booked a Bad Cruise

12 Things to Bring from Home to Save Money on Your Cruise

The post 10 First Time Cruise Mistakes that I will Never Make Again on a Cruise appeared first on Suburbs 101 .