When you first sleep on your cruise ship bed, you might soon discover that what looks like a double or queen bed is actually two single beds pushed together.
After over 80 cruises, this is something I’m completely used to, but when I recently published my Norwegian Epic cabin video, I got lots of comments about the uncomfortable-looking bed!
The bed in question (on Norwegian Epic) was actually very comfortable, but it made me realise that people who haven’t cruised before might have no idea it was actually two single beds, not one double/queen-sized bed.
You can often spot the join between the mattresses once you know it’s there.
There’s actually a very practical reason cruise lines do this.
Why Are Cruise Ship Beds Two Singles?
On a cruise ship, the same cabin needs to work for lots of different passengers.
A couple might want one large bed, while two friends or family members sharing the exact same cabin might want twins.
Instead of cruise lines having separate “double-bed cabins” and “twin-bed cabins”, the beds can simply be rearranged as necessary.
I have sailed with many people over the years – my extended family, my partner, my brother, with friends and solo – and this flexibility in sleeping arrangements is really useful.
Cabins have to be turned around incredibly quickly between guests, so changing the bed layout is much easier than having completely different cabin types.
What Happens When You Book?
The cruise lines often ask whether you want the beds configured as a double bed or twins.
Sometimes this preference appears during online check-in or can be added to the booking.
There have been plenty of times when I have walked into my cabin to find it made up as a double bed when I need twins.
I simply speak to the cabin steward, or leave him a note, and it has never been any problem to have the room reconfigured before I go to bed.
Don’t panic if you walk into the cabin with your friend and discover you have one double bed. It is easily fixed!
How Do They Turn Two Beds Into One?
The cabin steward will physically push them together.
The bedding is changed so that it looks and feels like one large bed.
They may also have to move the bedside cabinets.
The bed is made up with a mattress topper, sometimes a mattress connector, and the sheets are stretched across both beds.
I never normally notice a gap when sleeping, but I tend to sleep on one side, rather than the middle anyway.
Can You Feel the Gap in the Middle?
I don’t notice the crack down the middle once the bed is made up.
I don’t think I have ever fallen down the gap in the middle!
I always find cruise ship beds to be very comfortable – in fact, I usually sleep better in a cruise ship cabin than I do at home!
Find out more about that here:
Why I Sleep Better On A Cruise Than At Home
Sometimes You Can’t Separate the Beds
Although the majority of cruise ships have beds that can be split into two, not all of them do.
Some beds are fixed because of:
- The cabin layout.
- The fixed bedside furniture.
- Wall fittings and lights.
- Suite designs.
- Accessible cabin layouts.
It is best to check the cabin description or deck plan if having separate beds is essential. A good travel agent can also help with this and flag up the problem if they know you are travelling with someone other than your partner.
I’ve stayed in a huge variety of cabins, from inside cabins and solo cabins to balcony cabins, and layouts can vary considerably.
When I sailed with my Mum on Disney Magic, the double bed didn’t split. I slept on the sofa bed instead. This was fine – but it was an awfully expensive cruise to end up sleeping on a sofa!
Have a look at that unusual cabin here:
What About Solo Cruise Cabins?
Dedicated solo cabins are different; they are more likely to have a fixed single or double bed, because they don’t need to accommodate two people.
When I stayed in a dedicated solo/studio cabin onboard Norwegian Breakaway, I had a fixed double bed that was very comfortable. Have a look at that cabin here:
If, however, you find yourself as a solo traveller in a standard cabin, you will still get the normal two single beds pushed together configuration.
What About Third and Fourth Passengers?
If you are going to have three or four guests in a cabin, the extra two passengers will sleep on a sofa bed, or pullman beds that fold down from the ceiling or the walls.
Find out more about three or four guests sharing a cabin here:
What About River Cruise Ships?
River ships might have fixed beds rather than beds that can be split into two singles.
When I booked a cruise on Tui Skyla, I had no option but to upgrade to a more expensive cabin on a higher deck. I was cruising with my brother, and the cheapest cabins all had fixed double beds.
Find out how I got on, on that budget river cruise here:
In contrast to that, I took a luxury river cruise with Uniworld, and I took my Dad.
Uniworld told me that the beds did split into two – which they did – but they were SO close together, they may as well not have done.
I ended up sleeping with my head at the foot end of the bed, and at one point, kicked my Dad in the face!
The cabin decor in that cabin had to be seen to be believed….have a look at that here:
Why This Is Actually Pretty Clever
Cruise lines have thousands of passengers arriving every week in completely different travelling groups.
A simple bed that converts from twins to a double makes each cabin much easier to sell.
Newer ships all seem to have settled on this design; on older ships, you are more likely to find unusual layouts and quirky design features.
After cruising so many times, it feels completely normal to me now, but it’s one of those clever little things about cruise ship design that most passengers never think about.
Before You Go
Find out which cruise lines still make you share a table at dinner (luckily, there aren’t many of them) below:
Cruise Lines That Still Make You Share Dinner Tables With Strangers (And Ones That Don’t)
Do you really need to dress up when you cruise? Find out here:
Do You REALLY Have To Dress Up On A Cruise?
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