The Worst Cruise Cabins to Book (And Why Most Cruise Websites Get It Wrong)
One of the most common questions I get from first-time cruisers is:
“What is the worst cabin on a cruise ship?”
And honestly, I think most cruise websites get this question completely wrong.
If you search online, you’ll find article after article telling you what cabins you should never book. Never book an inside cabin. Never book a forward cabin. Never book an aft cabin. Never book below the pool deck. Never book a guaranteed cabin.
After more than a decade of cruising, I’ve learned that cruising isn’t nearly that simple.
I’ve sailed in inside cabins, oceanview cabins, balcony cabins, aft balconies, and I’ve toured everything from standard staterooms to suites that were bigger than my first apartment. And after all of those cruises, I’ve come to a conclusion that many cruise experts probably won’t agree with:
There is no universally bad cruise cabin.
There is only the wrong cabin for the wrong person.
The reality is that every cabin category exists because somebody wants it, somebody needs it, or somebody can afford it. A cabin that would completely ruin one person’s vacation could be the perfect cabin for somebody else.
That’s why I’ve never been a fan of blanket statements that tell people to always avoid a certain cabin category. Cruising is far more personal than that.
In fact, some of the cabins that cruise experts love to criticize have given me some of the best memories of my life.
And that’s really what this article is about.
Not finding the worst cruise cabin.
But figuring out which cabin is right for you, your family, your budget, and the type of vacation you’re actually trying to have.
The Worst Cabin Is The One That Doesn’t Get You On The Ship
I know this isn’t the answer most cruise websites give, but it’s the truth.
Some of my most memorable cruises happened in the cheapest cabins I’ve ever booked.
My very first cruise? An inside cabin on Norwegian Sky.
My Cuba cruise? Another inside cabin on Norwegian Sky.
To this day, those two cruises remain among the most memorable travel experiences of my life.
Now, before somebody starts typing that it’s because they were my first cruises, let me point something out.
I’ve sailed on some incredible ships since then: Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Icon of the Seas. I’ve had balcony cabins on all of them, and they were fantastic cruises. The ships were beautiful, the cabins were great, and I have absolutely no regrets spending the money on those balconies.
But here’s the strange thing.
As time passes, some of those cruises start blending together. Not because they weren’t good. Because they were all good.
Yet my first cruise on Norwegian Sky never blends together with anything else. My Cuba cruise never blends together with anything else.
I can remember those trips instantly.
The excitement of walking onto a cruise ship for the very first time and having absolutely no idea what to expect. The feeling of visiting Cuba during a period when travel there was becoming increasingly restricted.
Those memories are permanently fixed in my brain.
And both happened in inside cabins.
That’s why I’ve never been able to agree when people say that inside cabins are automatically the worst cabins on a cruise ship.
If inside cabins are so terrible, why are some of my strongest cruise memories attached to them?
The reality is that the cabin didn’t create those memories. The destination did. The people did. The experience did. The cabin simply gave me a place to sleep at night.
And that’s why I’ve always believed that the worst cabin isn’t necessarily an inside cabin. The worst cabin is the one that keeps you from taking the cruise in the first place.
Because while you’re spending months debating whether an inside cabin is worth it, somebody else has already booked the cruise, boarded the ship, and started making memories. And at least in my experience, those memories end up being far more important than whether your cabin had a balcony attached to it.
Interior Cabins Aren’t Bad Cabins
Cruise forums absolutely love attacking inside cabins, and I’ve never really understood why.
An inside cabin is exactly what it claims to be. There’s no window, no balcony, and no ocean view. Nobody is being tricked here. When you book an inside cabin, you know exactly what you’re getting and, more importantly, what you’re not getting.
What you are getting is a significantly lower price.
Depending on the cruise, that savings can be a few hundred dollars or even a few thousand dollars. That’s money that can stay in your pocket, pay for a future cruise, cover shore excursions, specialty dining, a drink package, or simply make the vacation affordable in the first place.
That’s why I’ve never understood the idea that inside cabins are somehow “bad” cabins. If booking an inside cabin is what gets you onboard the ship, then it may actually be the best cabin you can book.
Now, would I personally choose an inside cabin over a balcony if the price difference was small and I knew I was going to spend hours sitting outside watching the ocean? Probably not. But that’s a completely different conversation. At that point we’re talking about value, priorities, and personal preferences, not whether one cabin is objectively good or bad.
The reality is that an inside cabin isn’t a bad cabin. It’s simply a different product for a different traveler. For some people, the balcony is the vacation. For others, the cabin is little more than a place to shower, sleep, and recharge before heading back out to enjoy the ship.
Neither approach is wrong.
It just comes down to how you like to cruise and what makes the most sense for your budget.
The One Cabin Type I Personally Struggle To Justify
If there is one cabin category that I’ve always struggled to justify, it’s the oceanview cabin.
Now before the oceanview fans come after me, let me be clear: I don’t think oceanview cabins are bad. I’ve sailed in one before and I actually had a great experience.
It was on a Holland America cruise to Alaska, and one day I looked out the window and saw orcas swimming alongside the ship. That’s a memory I’ll never forget, and in that particular situation the oceanview cabin was absolutely worth it.
But outside of scenic itineraries like Alaska, I’ve always felt that oceanview cabins occupy a strange middle ground.
With an inside cabin, you know exactly what you’re getting. You’re booking the cheapest cabin possible and saving money.
With a balcony, you know exactly what you’re paying for. You get private outdoor space, ocean views whenever you want them, and a place to sit outside and relax.
The oceanview sits right in the middle.
You’re paying more than an inside cabin, but you still can’t step outside.
That’s where I struggle.
If the oceanview is only slightly more expensive than an inside cabin, then sure, I’d probably take it. But if the price difference starts getting significant, I immediately find myself asking a different question: should I save the money and stick with the inside cabin, or should I spend a little more and move up to a balcony?
That’s why oceanview cabins are often the hardest category for me to recommend. Not because they’re bad. Not because I haven’t enjoyed them. They simply fall into a middle ground that, for me personally, can be difficult to justify.
Then again, maybe that’s because I’ve only sailed in one oceanview cabin. If I had done more oceanview cruises over the years, maybe I’d feel differently. But when I look back at all the cabins I’ve sailed in, the oceanview is the one category that has always left me asking whether the extra money was really the best use of my cruise budget.
The Worst Cabin For Seasickness
Now let’s talk about one situation where cabin location genuinely matters: motion sickness.
My mother loves cruising, but she also gets seasick. Really seasick.
I’ve seen it happen in Alaska, Bermuda, and on a few other rough sailings over the years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from cruising with her, it’s that cabin location matters a lot more when you’re prone to motion sickness.
One of the best examples was on Norwegian Breakaway during a Bermuda cruise. We were staying high up and toward the aft of the ship. Personally, I loved it. My mother absolutely hated it.
The ship was moving so much that she became extremely nauseated, while I was several decks above her near the H2O area watching the whole thing unfold. The motion was incredible. The ship was pitching so dramatically that the hot tubs were practically emptying themselves. There was barely any water left in them because it kept sloshing from one side to the other. I remember sitting there thinking it was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen on a cruise. My mother was having a completely different experience.
That’s the thing about cabin recommendations. The exact same cabin can be fantastic for one person and miserable for another.
If you suffer from motion sickness, then cabin location becomes much more important than whether you have a balcony, oceanview, or inside cabin. In general, the most movement is felt high on the ship and toward the front or back. That’s why many experienced cruisers who are prone to seasickness prefer lower decks and midship cabins, where the motion tends to be less noticeable.
Of course, no cabin can completely eliminate rough seas. If the ship is moving, you’re going to feel it somewhere. But choosing a lower, more central cabin can make a significant difference, especially on itineraries that are known for rougher waters.
For most cruisers, this won’t be a major concern. But if you’ve struggled with seasickness in the past, this is one area where I would absolutely pay attention to cabin location before booking.
Forward Cabins Aren’t Bad Either
Another cabin type that often gets criticized is the forward-facing balcony.
The biggest complaint?
Wind.
And yes, the critics are right. There is more wind. You’re standing at the very front of a giant ship moving through the ocean. That’s simply physics.
But here’s where I think a lot of people miss the point.
Nobody accidentally books a forward-facing balcony.
People choose these cabins because they want the views.
There is something special about standing on your balcony and looking straight ahead at nothing but open ocean stretching to the horizon. It’s a completely different perspective than what you get from a traditional side-facing balcony.
Are there tradeoffs?
Absolutely.
You may get more wind.
On some ships, the balcony may be less usable while the ship is moving at full speed.
And depending on the weather, you might find yourself spending less time outside than you originally planned.
But that’s part of the package.
It’s a little like buying a convertible and then complaining about the wind. The very thing some people dislike is often the exact reason somebody else booked it in the first place.
Personally, I’ve always believed that cabin recommendations need context. A forward-facing balcony might be a poor choice for someone who wants to sit outside reading a book every afternoon. On the other hand, it might be the perfect choice for someone who values the unique views and doesn’t mind dealing with a little extra wind.
That’s why I don’t consider forward-facing balconies bad cabins. Like almost every other cabin category on a cruise ship, they’re simply a different experience with a different set of pros and cons.
The Most Overlooked Cabins To Avoid
If I had to identify cabin locations that deserve a little extra research before booking, these would probably be at the top of my list.
The first would be cabins located directly below the pool deck.
Now, to be fair, I’ve never personally had one of these cabins, so I can’t sit here and tell you they are always noisy. But over the years I’ve seen enough complaints from cruisers that it’s something I would pay attention to when booking.
Think about everything that happens on a pool deck throughout the day. Guests dragging chairs across the deck, crew members cleaning in the early morning hours, people running around, pool parties, deck events, and all the normal activity that comes with one of the busiest areas of the ship. Not every cabin below the pool deck will have issues, but it’s one of those locations where I would definitely check the deck plans before booking.
The second location I’d pay attention to is cabins near machinery spaces on the lower decks.
Again, this isn’t something I’ve personally experienced, but many cruisers report feeling additional vibration or hearing mechanical noise in certain areas of the ship. Whether it’s noticeable often depends on the ship, the cabin location, and frankly how sensitive you are to noise.
The good news is that both of these situations are relatively easy to research before booking. A quick look at the ship’s deck plans can often tell you whether you’re directly below a busy public area or near parts of the ship where vibration may be more noticeable.
This is one of the few situations where I think spending five extra minutes looking at a deck plan can potentially save you a lot of frustration later.
Why I Love Guaranteed Cabins
Here’s something that surprises a lot of cruisers: I book guaranteed cabins all the time.
Honestly, if I had to guess, probably close to half of my cruises have been booked as guarantees.
A lot of travelers hate the idea. They want complete control over their cabin location, deck, and category. They want to know exactly where they’ll be sleeping before they ever step foot on the ship.
I understand that mindset, but I’ve never really shared it.
I’ve always looked at guaranteed cabins from a value perspective. If the cruise line is willing to give me a lower price in exchange for giving up the ability to pick my exact cabin, I’m usually willing to make that trade.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve never walked onto a ship and thought, “This vacation is ruined because I didn’t choose my exact cabin.”
As a matter of fact, I can only remember one cabin situation that I genuinely regretted over the years, and ironically it wasn’t a guaranteed cabin at all. It was a cabin that I specifically selected myself.
That’s one of the reasons I think people sometimes overestimate the risk of guaranteed cabins. We spend hours studying deck plans and trying to find the perfect location, but sometimes the things that affect your cruise have absolutely nothing to do with where the cabin is located.
For me, the savings have almost always been worth the gamble. Would I choose a guaranteed cabin on every single cruise? No. There are certainly situations where I want a specific location or a specific cabin type. But after booking enough guaranteed cabins over the years, I’ve become completely comfortable with the process.
At the end of the day, I’d rather save the money and spend it on another cruise than spend weeks worrying about whether my cabin is ten doors too far forward or one deck too high.
The Only Cabin I’ve Ever Truly Regretted
Ironically, the only cabin I can remember genuinely regretting wasn’t a guaranteed cabin.
It wasn’t a cabin below the pool deck.
It wasn’t a cabin near the front of the ship.
It wasn’t a cabin near the back of the ship.
It wasn’t even a cabin that the cruise line assigned to me.
It was a cabin that I specifically selected myself.
The problem wasn’t the cabin at all.
The problem was the neighbors.
They smoked constantly on their balcony, and the smoke kept drifting into ours. Every time we wanted to sit outside and enjoy the ocean, we’d end up smelling cigarette smoke instead.
We complained.
The cruise line tried to address it.
Nothing worked.
Eventually the situation got bad enough that the cruise line simply moved us to another cabin.
Looking back, I always find that experience funny because it completely changed the way I think about cabin selection.
Cruisers spend an incredible amount of time researching cabin locations. We study deck plans. We watch YouTube videos. We read cabin reviews. We compare forward cabins, aft cabins, midship cabins, high decks, low decks, and everything in between.
Yet the only cabin I’ve ever truly regretted had absolutely nothing to do with the cabin itself.
It came down to something I couldn’t control.
The people next door.
That’s why I’ve become a little less obsessed with finding the “perfect” cabin over the years. Yes, location matters. Yes, some cabins are better suited for certain travelers than others. But sometimes the biggest factors affecting your cruise experience have nothing to do with the cabin category, deck number, or location on the ship.
Sometimes it’s simply luck.
And sometimes the cabin you spent hours researching turns out to be perfectly fine, while the thing you never considered becomes the real issue.
My Favorite Cruise Cabins Ever
Some of my favorite cabins over the years weren’t suites.
They were aft balconies.
I’ve always had a soft spot for them because they feel different from a standard balcony cabin. On many ships, the balconies are larger, the views are unique, and there’s something relaxing about watching the ship’s wake disappear into the horizon behind you.
One of my favorite examples was on Disney Dream. We had an enormous aft balcony, and I still remember looking outside and seeing the ship’s flag practically hanging right next to our cabin. It was one of those little details that made the experience feel unique, and it’s something I’ve never forgotten.
We also had a fantastic aft balcony on Norwegian Breakaway. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always cooperative on that sailing, but the cabin itself was excellent. Then there was Carnival Victory, where we sailed in one of those extended balcony cabins that felt absolutely enormous compared to a standard balcony. The room itself wasn’t necessarily bigger, but the balcony gave us so much extra outdoor space that it completely changed how we used the cabin.
What I find interesting is that none of those cabins stand out because they were the most expensive cabins I’ve ever sailed in.
They stand out because they were the right cabins for those particular cruises.
That’s really the point I’ve been trying to make throughout this article. People spend a lot of time searching for the “best” cabin category, but the reality is that the best cabin depends on the cruise, the itinerary, the people you’re traveling with, and what you personally value.
On one sailing, an inside cabin might be the perfect choice because it allows you to take the trip in the first place.
On another sailing, an aft balcony might completely transform the experience.
On a scenic itinerary like Alaska, maybe the oceanview cabin suddenly makes a lot more sense than it normally would.
That’s why I’ve never believed there is one perfect cabin category. The perfect cabin depends on the trip, and what works beautifully for one cruise might not be the right choice for the next one.
So What Is The Best Cruise Cabin?
The best cruise cabin is the one that fits:
- Your budget
- Your travel style
- Your family
- Your priorities
If your goal is simply getting onboard, an inside cabin may be perfect.
If you spend every spare moment outside watching the ocean, a balcony may be worth every penny.
If you get seasick easily, location may matter more than cabin category.
If you’re traveling Alaska, maybe that oceanview becomes much more valuable.
There isn’t a universal answer.
And that’s exactly why there isn’t a universally bad cabin either.
Final Thoughts
After all these years of cruising, I’ve learned something that honestly surprised me.
The cabins I remember most aren’t necessarily the most expensive ones. They’re the ones attached to unforgettable experiences.
I remember the inside cabin that introduced me to cruising for the very first time. I remember the inside cabin that took me to Cuba. I remember the oceanview cabin where I spotted orcas swimming alongside the ship in Alaska. I remember the aft balconies with their incredible views and oversized outdoor spaces.
What I don’t remember is the square footage of those cabins.
I remember the experiences.
I remember the destinations.
I remember the people I shared those cruises with.
And I remember how those trips made me feel.
That’s why, after more than a decade of cruising, I’ve never been able to give people a simple answer when they ask me what the worst cabin on a cruise ship is.
Because I don’t think there is one.
The worst cabin isn’t an inside cabin.
The worst cabin isn’t an oceanview cabin.
The worst cabin isn’t a forward cabin.
The worst cabin isn’t an aft cabin.
The worst cabin is the one that keeps you from taking the cruise in the first place.
At the end of the day, cabins are important. Comfort matters. Location matters. Budget matters. But once the cruise is over, those things tend to fade into the background.
The memories don’t.
And while you’re sitting at home trying to find the perfect cabin, somebody else has already booked the cruise, boarded the ship, and started making memories.
In my experience, that’s what cruising is really about.
Before You Cruise
If you’re planning your trip, check out:
- Cruise cabin guides (which room is worth it)
- How Much money to bring on a cruise
- What is included on your cruise fare?
