I book budget cruises and cheap cabins regularly. They can be brilliant – a great way to see the world at an affordable price.
Unpleasant surprises can come with cheap cabins though, and that is often to do with the location rather than the cabin itself.
Most people think a cabin is just a place to sleep, but expectations can be very different from reality…
#1. Location Matters More Than Size
The cheapest cabins are cheapest for a reason – they’re the ones that no one else would deliberately pick!
They’re more likely to be near engines, anchors, lifts, or under public spaces.
This is when people first realise that noise and vibration can genuinely affect sleep, especially on early port days or sea days.
My parents recently sailed in a guaranteed oceanview cabin on an older ship. They were low down at the aft.
The noise from the engines was deafening when the ship was underway, particularly when the seas were rough.
When the ship was docked, the ropes that secured the ship were right by their cabin.
They had an overnight stay in port during a stormy night, and even with earplugs in, they could hear the rhythmic sound of the ropes being tightened and loosened the entire night as the ship moved with the waves.
They certainly wouldn’t book a guaranteed cabin on the same ship again!
2. “Obstructed View” Can Mean Basically No View
You might want to save money by booking an obstructed view cabin.
People often assume “obstructed” means a pole or a piece of machinery blocking the window – and then they open the curtains to find a lifeboat directly outside.
Deck plans don’t always make this obvious, which is why first-timers feel caught off guard.
You can’t beat getting the help of a good travel agent when it comes to booking the right obstructed-view cabin. They will know if there is a minor obstruction in one corner, or whether you will basically see nothing at all!
Have a look at some more examples of obstructed view cabins here:
The Truth About Obstructed View Cabins – (Photo Examples & How to Find One)
Have a look at the obstructed-view balcony cabin I had on my Royal Caribbean trip to Asia.
It was great for getting some light and fresh air – and it was even better when the ship’s lifeboats were out of the way, being used for tendering – but otherwise there wasn’t much of a view at all!
Find out whether the cost saving was worth it here:
3. The Cabin Layout Can Be… Weird
Cheaper cabins are more likely to have odd layouts.
Beds that don’t separate properly, hardly any floor space, bathrooms you can barely turn around in, and wardrobes that block the drawers when they’re opened.
It’s not a deal-breaker for me, but it’s generally not what people picture when they think of a cruise ship cabin.
Have a look at the cabin I had with an unusual shape and an unusual location on MSC World Europa.
The space-saving sliding bathroom door was particularly annoying…
4. Storage Is Often Much Tighter Than Expected
People assume cruise cabins are cleverly designed for storage, and many are, but the cheapest ones often have less of it.
Fewer drawers, limited hanging space, and nowhere to put suitcases without them getting in the way. (Normally, I store my case under the bed, but if they don’t fit, or there are four of you sharing a cabin, ask the cabin steward if they can be stored elsewhere).
Lack of storage hits especially hard on longer cruises, or if you have three or four people sharing a cabin.
As a general rule, the older the cruise ship, the more storage you will find.
Storage was a priority in older ship design; now it seems that saving space is the main consideration.
5. You May Miss Out On Small But Daily Comforts
You might find you miss out on the space to put a sofa or chair. You might have a smaller TV, fewer plug sockets, older decor or worse air conditioning than other cabins.
Often, the cheapest cabins are among the last to get a refurbishment when the ship is having an update.
On newer ships, even the smallest, cheapest cabins can be comfortable and luxurious.
One of my favourite inside cabins was onboard Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne.
I loved the design and the layout, even though there was no room for a sofa bed, and the floor space was limited.
The compromise was the location, it was close to the ship’s nightclub, but I was aware of that before I left home, so I packed earplugs.
Find out what I liked about that cheap cabin here:
6. Cheap Cabins Are Often Assigned Last
If you book a cheap guaranteed cabin, this can mean you don’t find out where your cabin is until very late.
That uncertainty is what seems to bother people most. It is easy to start reading online forums and spiralling – imagining the worst-case scenario.
I quite like the uncertainty. I know that at the very least, I am going to get a comfortable bed and cabin, and I always pack earplugs in case I end up with a noisy cabin location.
7. The Disappointment Comes From Expectations, Not The Cabin
The cheapest cabins aren’t bad, but they’re rarely what people imagine.
It is easy to see cruise adverts on TV, depicting happy couples in amazing balcony cabins and suites – and people expect to get something similar.
The real issue is that nobody explains what you’re trading off when you are saving money.
Once you understand that, cheap cabins can be a brilliant choice.
You might find you can take two, or maybe even three cruises in a cheap inside cabin for the same price as one in a balcony cabin. You still get the same food, the same entertainment, the same voyage – in a smaller, cheaper cabin.
You need to decide whether spending extra money on a better cabin is worth it for you. Everyone has different priorities and opinions.
Check the deck plans, read the cabin categories carefully, and decide what matters to you personally. Then you can’t go too far wrong…
Compare some of the smallest inside cabins I have stayed in on cruise ships here:
Before You Go
Find out how to avoid the most common problems you might face when you have an inside cabin below:
How to Avoid the Most Common Inside Cabin Problems on Your Cruise
I spotted a big inside cabin on the deck plans on P&O’s oldest ship, Aurora. Have a look at that here:
I Stayed in The Biggest Inside Cabin (P&O Aurora Review)
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