STATEROOM CHOICES:

Stateroom Selections:
Cruise ship staterooms differ in many aspects. All are designed for comfort & convenience. Explore the following stateroom and suite options and then you are ready to make the perfect choice:

Interior Staterooms: Located on the inside of the ship's decks with no porthole or window. These staterooms are extremely dark, with no natural light. Generally these staterooms are the smallest in size. These staterooms offer a shower only. These are the least expensive accommodations on the ship.

Oceanview Staterooms: Located on the outside of the ship's decks with either a large picture window or 1 large porthole/2 small portholes with no balcony. These staterooms offer a shower only.

Balcony Staterooms: Located on the outside of the ship's decks with a balcony. Many ships offer staterooms with balconies that face off the back of the ship, these staterooms offer extra large balconies, plus a great view of where you have been! These accommodations are larger than the standard interior and oceanview staterooms. These staterooms offer a shower only. Many come with refrigerators.

Suites: Located on the outside of the ship's decks with either a balcony or floor to ceiling windows. These accommodations have the largest living space. Many come complete with concierge service, bathtub and shower, and walk-in closets. These are the most expensive accommodations on the ship.

HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR SELECTION:

Location:
This is important. If you are prone to seasickness, you should choose a stateroom located in the middle of the ship where you will feel motion the least. Light sleepers should avoid high traffic areas such as being near elevators, stairs, on the Promenade deck, over or under a show lounge or disco. You may also want to avoid the bow of the ship where the sound of the early morning anchor lowering could interrupt your sleep.

Size:

• Standard interior staterooms are an average of 150 sq feet
• Oceanview staterooms are an average of 175 sq feet
• Balcony staterooms are an average of 200-225 sq feet.
• Suites run between 400 to 1,500 sq feet depending on the type of suite booked.
• Some suites on the newer mega ships offer passengers 2000 to 2500 sq feet.

Stateroom Facilities :

Standard Interior & Oceanview staterooms:
Private bathroom with shower, sink and toilet, radio, television, telephone, 2 lower beds that convert to double, queen, or king size and upper beds for additional passengers. Depending on stateroom size, a chair, or chair and table, or sofa, vanity/desk with chair or stool, nightstands, personal safe, closet space, some drawer space. There is also storage room under beds for your luggage. These staterooms generally will occupy up to 4 passengers. Celebrity and Carnival have interior staterooms that will occupy 5 passengers.

Balcony stateroom:
Offer the same as above, plus a private balcony, sofa bed for additional passengers, and adjoined sitting area. These staterooms generally will occupy up to 4 passengers. Celebrity and Carnival have balcony staterooms that will occupy 5 passengers.

Suites:
Offer the same as a balcony stateroom, plus more space, usually from 400 sq feet to up to 1,500 sq feet, including a separate sitting area, living area, or bedroom depending on the size of the suite you choose. Suites with a separate bedroom offer a queen or king size bed, one or more bathrooms, walk-in closet, drawer, additional storage space, a large balcony where you can easily enjoy your meal or enjoy the sun. The deluxe suites offer whirlpools either inside or outside on your private balcony, TV's with VCR's, Internet connection for your computer, and a dining room. Keep in mind that the larger the suite, the more facilities you will be awarded with. Suites generally will occupy up to 4 passengers. Celebrity and Carnival have suites that will occupy 5 passengers.

Stateroom Upgrades:
Upgrades generally go to past passengers who have sailed with the line before or to those who have booked their reservation as a "category guarantee", which simply means that when you book your cruise, you are not assigned an actual stateroom, but a guarantee of that category or better. Staterooms are assigned by the cruise line normally within 3 weeks of sailing. If the cruise line no longer has staterooms in the guarantee category you booked, you will be upgraded for free.

These upgrades are often from low interior staterooms to higher interior staterooms, or low oceanview staterooms to higher oceanview staterooms. It is rare to book an interior stateroom and receive a free upgrade to an oceanview stateroom.