The Best Cabin Location on a Cruise Ship: Deck, Midship and What to Avoid

The best cabin location on a cruise ship is midship on a low or middle deck. That is where the ship moves least in a swell. Then open the deck plan and check what sits directly above and below your cabin, because the pool deck, buffet, theater and nightclub make worse neighbors than any cabin grade can make up for.

This page is about where on the ship to sleep. Which type of cabin to book, inside, ocean view, balcony or suite, is a separate decision covered in which cruise cabin to book. Choose the type first, then use this guide to pick the best spot within it.

Why midship on a lower deck moves least

A ship at sea moves in two main ways. It pitches, with the bow and stern rising and falling around the middle, and it rolls from side to side. Pitching is felt most at the ends of the ship, and rolling is felt most high up, where the swing is widest. A cabin in the middle and low down sits close to the point the ship moves around.

That matters because seasickness is still common. The CDC says it affects up to 25 percent of cruise travelers despite modern stabilizers, and its motion sickness guidance advises avoiding locations of maximum motion, such as the bow of a ship. If anyone in your cabin is prone to it, midship and low is not a preference, it is the answer. Our guide to cruise seasickness covers remedies and calmer itineraries.

On a calm Caribbean week, many passengers feel little difference anywhere on a big ship. On an ocean crossing, the North Atlantic in spring, Alaska’s open-water stretches or a Bay of Biscay passage, location matters much more. Our sister site’s guide to whether transatlantic cruises are rough shows how much conditions vary by month and route.

Forward, midship or aft

Midship is the safe choice: least motion and the shortest walk to most venues. It is also where the most sought-after cabins sit, so it sells out first.

Aft has the best balconies on many ships, looking over the wake rather than flat sea, and the corner cabins at the stern often have bigger balconies than their grade suggests. Carnival sells these as Aft-View Extended Balconies on ships such as Carnival Vista. The trade is vibration from the engines and propellers, which is more noticeable on older ships and when the ship is maneuvering.

Forward is where the motion is. On a calm itinerary it is fine and sometimes cheaper. On a crossing or anywhere with real weather, it is the wrong gamble for anyone who feels motion. Passengers in forward cabins also commonly report hearing the anchor chain when the ship anchors at a tender port.

Which deck: low, middle or high

Low decks move least and are usually quietest, with cabins above and below on most of them. They are a longer elevator ride from the pools and buffet, and some have only porthole windows. Carnival’s Cove Balconies sit close to the waterline on several ships, which gives a very different view from a high-deck balcony.

Middle decks are the best compromise on most big ships: cabin decks with cabins above and below, plenty of balcony cabins, and less motion than the top.

High decks put you close to the pool and buffet, but they sway more in a swell and are more likely to sit directly under busy public areas. Balconies up high also catch more wind.

Location matters more on smaller and older ships. A mid-size ship from the 1990s generally moves more in the same sea than today’s biggest ships of more than 200,000 gross tons, so the midship rule earns its keep there even on routes that are usually calm.

Port or starboard: does the side matter?

For motion and noise, no. Both sides of the ship behave the same way, and the deck plan matters far more than the side. For views it can, but less than people expect.

On a round-trip cruise, the ship usually passes the same coastline in both directions, so each side gets the land view for half the trip. In Alaska, ships commonly turn in front of the glaciers so both sides get a view, and the best views at the ice are often from the open decks forward anyway. In the Panama Canal, both sides see the locks. On a one-way coastal cruise, such as a northbound or southbound Alaska sailing, the side facing the coast sees more land, which is why some passengers pick a side deliberately.

The side also decides whether a balcony gets morning or afternoon sun, which depends on the route and direction of travel. On a Caribbean cruise that is a comfort question, not a deal-breaker.

What to avoid above and below your cabin

Look at the decks directly above and below on the deck plan. That is where most noise complaints start.

Avoid sleeping directly below:

• The pool deck, where loungers are set out and dragged around from early morning.
• The buffet, for chairs, trolleys and early setup.
• The jogging track, sports court or any open deck used for parties.
• Bars and lounges that stay open late.

Avoid sleeping directly above:

• The theater, with late shows and daytime rehearsals.
• The nightclub, the worst neighbor on most ships.
• The galley or crew work areas, which run through the night.
• The lowest aft decks over the propellers, for vibration rather than noise.

The best cabin of all has other cabins directly above and below it. Cabin decks sandwiched between cabin decks are the quietest places on any ship.

Other spots to check on the deck plan

• Elevators and stairwells. Close is convenient, next door is noisy. Two or three cabins away is ideal.
• Crew service doors, pantries and laundry rooms. Shown as unlabeled or shaded spaces on many plans; carts and doors run at all hours.
• Connecting cabins. The connecting door carries sound. Useful for families, a liability next to one. Deck plans mark them, often with a symbol between the two cabins.
• Walkway-view and promenade cabins. Some ocean view and inside cabins look onto a public walkway. Carnival lists Walkway View categories on Carnival Vista, and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis- and Icon-class ships have balconies facing Central Park or the Boardwalk. You trade privacy and quiet for price and atmosphere.
• Obstructed views. Lifeboats usually sit on one or two decks along the sides. Cabins behind them are sold as obstructed, often at a discount, and Royal Caribbean warns that guarantee bookings may be assigned one.
• The very end of a long corridor. A long walk with bags, sometimes oddly shaped rooms.

The best location for your priority

Families should also check whether connecting or adjoining cabins are available in their grade, which our guide to cruising with kids covers.

The five-minute deck plan check

1. Open the deck plan for your exact ship on the line’s website. Sister ships differ.
2. Find the cabin number and note the decks directly above and below.
3. Check what public spaces sit over and under it, using the deck plans for those decks.
4. Count the cabins to the nearest elevator and stairwell: close, but not adjacent.
5. Check how far forward or aft you are, and whether lifeboats sit outside the window.

Choose your own cabin, and book early to do it

A guarantee booking is cheaper because the line picks the cabin, and it can put you anywhere in the category. If location matters to you, pay the small difference to choose. The best midship cabins go first, so booking well ahead gives you the widest choice; our guide to the best time to book a cruise covers the timing. When you board, the first cruise tips explain what to do if the cabin you get has a problem.

If you already have a booking, it is worth checking the deck plan now. Ask the line or your travel agent whether a move within the same category is possible; the earlier you ask, the more cabins are still free.