Pick the right cruise cabin

CABIN AMENITIES

Just the facts. The average hotel room in the United States measures 300 square feet; in contrast, the average cruise cabin measures about 175 square feet. It’s what you get for that space that’s important. For the most part, standard cruise cabins are sensibly decorated and offer comfortable beds, reading lamps, ample storage space, bathrooms that have either a shower (but no tub) or a small tub with shower, and individual climate control. In addition, most cruise cabins come with a television, telephone, hair dryer, personal safe and a writing area with a desk and chair.

On premium and luxury cruise lines, standard cabins may offer more impressive amenities like high thread-count sheets, pillow-top mattresses, down duvets, larger bathrooms (with tubs), mini-refrigerators, flat-panel TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Internet access, and a sitting area with loveseat and chairs.

• Insider tip. Having trouble picturing how your cabin will look? Check out CruiseStateroom.com, which offers panoramic 360-degree video views of all cabin categories for most cruise lines. This is one of the best cruise cabin resources on the Web.

SLEEPING AROUND

Just the facts. Most cabins accommodate two passengers, but you can also get triples and quads. Even larger cabins are available on some ships catering to families and small groups. Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises all offer cabins and suites that can accommodate six to eight people.

Not all cruise beds are the same. In fact, the size and arrangement of beds (also called “berths”) varies widely. Most cabins on newer ships have two twin beds that can be “converted” (i.e., moved together) to make a king. But not all. You might get a queen, or two twins that can’t be moved, or one twin on the floor and one fold-down Pullman. Third and fourth beds in a cabin are usually convertible-sofa beds or upper Pullmans, which you reach by ladder (a restraining bar keeps you from falling out). During the day, Pullman beds can be folded up against the wall or into the ceiling to provide more space.

• Insider tip. Your cabin arrangement can come as an unpleasant surprise. Several years ago, when I was sailing aboard Princess Cruises’s Sun Princess, I ended up with a quad balcony cabin with four Pullman beds. This configuration shocked me — and my travel agent — since we had researched Cabin A640 before booking and understood from the deck plan that the room had two Pullmans (for the kids) and two convertible twins (for the grown-ups). I hated this cabin. The beds were uncomfortable and it wasn’t fun sleeping without the hubby. I was supposed to be on the Love Boat, but I felt trapped in a 1950’s sitcom.

According to Princess spokeswoman Susanne Ferrull, Cabin A640 still has four Pullmans. “Most quad cabins on the Sun Princess (and her sister ship Dawn Princess) do not have this designation,” she says. “But a few do.” Again, it pays to ask.

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