You Could End Up in a Bunk Bed on Your Cruise – Here’s Why (I Have)

Most adults probably assume that when they book a cruise, they’ll be sleeping in a normal bed.

But if three or four adults are sharing one cruise cabin, somebody may end up climbing a ladder into what is essentially a bunk bed every night.

After taking over 80 cruises, I have seen lots of different cabin configurations.

I’ve seen some surprisingly creative ways of fitting four people into a very small space.

When you first step into your cabin, it is hard to see even where the extra beds are going to be. You might have assumed the cabin will have a converting sofa bed – but that isn’t always the case.

What Is a Pullman Bed?

“Pullman beds” have their origins in sleeper trains.

In 1865, George Pullman introduced the first successful railway sleeping cars.

Because floor space was highly restricted, he devised a system where seats converted into a lower bunk, and a second bed was pulled down from the ceiling to create an upper berth.

Cruise ships borrowed this design to maximise sleeping capacity without permanently cluttering up the room.

During the day, the bed stores flat against the wall or ceiling, and the room steward pulls it down at night.

These beds are essentially a fold-down upper bunk. They are almost always accessed using a small ladder, have guardrails for safety, and have weight limits typically ranging from 250 to 350 pounds.

When the bunk is folded away, you might barely notice it. They are often positioned over one of the main beds, so you end up with a bunk-bed-style setup.

Some cabins have two Pullman beds, allowing four people to sleep in the cabin. This can make the space feel very cramped, particularly if you have an inside cabin.

Why Would an Adult End Up Sleeping Up There?

Cruise lines don’t reserve Pullman beds for children.

If four adults book a cabin that sleeps four, the sleeping arrangement could be:

• Two people in the main bed/twin beds.
• One on a sofa bed.
• One or two in Pullman beds.

If you are travelling with friends or family, having four people in a cabin can be a great way to save money and keep costs down. However, it does have plenty of drawbacks.

If you have four adults in a cabin, rather than two adults and two children, you will find the space very tight.

You need to have somewhere to store your clothes and toiletries, and everyone will have to be very tidy and get on well to avoid cabin arguments!

Find some hints and tips on avoiding cabin rows here:

5 Cruise Cabin Arguments You Can Easily Avoid

How Do You Know If Your Cabin Has Bunk Beds?

It is very important to look at the cabin description when booking.

Deck plans often use symbols to show:

• Pullman beds.
• Sofa beds.
• Cabins that sleep three or four.
• Cabins with adjoining doors to the next cabin.

Two cabins in the same category can sometimes have different maximum occupancies.

I spend a lot of time looking at deck plans before I choose a cabin. I would recommend using a trusted travel agent to help make sure that you book the right cabin for your family or group.

Those tiny symbols on deck plans actually do matter! They are well worth looking at.

Find out more about deck plans here:

11 Cruise Deck Plan Hacks Only Regular Cruisers Know

I would advise anyone travelling in a group of three or four adults to find out exactly where everyone will sleep before booking.

Are Pullman Beds Comfortable for Adults?

Although Pullman beds are generally large enough for an adult, comfort varies.

You may want to consider:

• Mattress thickness.
• The bed length.
• The ceiling height.
• Can you get up and down the ladder easily?
• The weight limit for adults sleeping in the bed.
  • This varies by ship and cruise line.

My family shared an inside cabin on a short cruise to the Bahamas from Miami.

Although it was ok for four days, I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to do it for any longer!

Personally, I would rather be on a sofa bed, so would pay more for another cabin, rather than risk being stuck in a Pullman bed.

The Awkward Part: Getting Into Bed

This is where the bunk-bed reality becomes obvious. You will need to climb a ladder every night to go to bed, and if you need to get up in the night to use the toilet, you will be doing it in the dark!

You’re also doing this in a potentially very small cabin, possibly while trying not to wake three other people.

This really wouldn’t be suitable for anyone with any type of mobility issues.

Inside cabins can feel extremely cramped once every bed is made up for the night. You might not realise that until bedtime.

Your Cabin Can Look Completely Different at Night

During the day, Pullman beds may be folded away and sofa beds returned to sofas.

At night, suddenly much of the available space is taken up by beds.

Cruise cabins that sleep four can look surprisingly spacious in promotional photos because the extra beds aren’t always shown in their nighttime configuration

I would suggest looking for photos or videos of the exact cabin layout with all beds in use before you consider booking.

What Happens If You Book Four Adults Into One Cabin?

It can be significantly cheaper to book four adults into one room, rather than booking two cabins – which is why groups do it.

Saving money does mean sacrificing privacy and space.

Four adults may be sharing a bathroom, limited storage, a small amount of floor space, and sleeping in bunks.

Based on my own cruise experience, I wouldn’t mind sharing with two others if my bed was a sofa bed – particularly if it was a balcony cabin with extra space.

If there were four of us travelling, I would rather book two cheap, guaranteed inside cabins instead.

Sharing a cabin with three others could spoil what would otherwise be a lovely cruise holiday.

The reality of actually living together in such close proximity for seven nights shouldn’t be underestimated!

Can You Choose Who Sleeps Where?

The people sharing the cabin can decide among themselves who will sleep where.

Cabin stewards can usually set up the appropriate beds.

The main bed usually can be split into two singles, meaning a cabin for four could effectively have four separate sleeping spaces.

The youngest person doesn’t officially have to take the top bunk, but in our family, that is normally what happens!

Not Every Cabin for Four Uses Bunk Beds

There can be some much better options than four bunk beds for groups or families who need to share a cabin.

Some have sofa beds instead, which I much prefer.

Larger suites have separate bedrooms or better sleeping arrangements – but suites can be expensive.

Some newer ships have cabins specifically designed for families.

Just because the cabin information says that it “sleeps four” doesn’t tell you what the setup will actually look like.

Would I Book a Cruise Cabin With a Pullman Bed?

I think that Pullman beds are great for families with children, but as an adult, I am not keen on sleeping in one for too long!

Pullman beds in larger balcony or oceanview cabins might work, but four people in an inside cabin is always going to be a squeeze.

If you are going on a short cruise and finances are tight, four adults in a cabin might be bearable – as long as you get on well, and are tidy and well organised.

If you are going on a longer cruise, you might want to spend more and have more space.

When I sailed on Norwegian Star, I was moved from my standard balcony to a family suite.

The family suite slept up to six people, and could be a great option for larger families, finances allowing.

Have a look at that amazing suite ( that had its advantages and disadvantages) here:

Before You Go

Is It Worth Upgrading From An Inside Cabin On A Cruise?

With THOUSANDS Onboard, Do Cruise Ships Ever Run Out Of Food?