The single most common complaint I see when I read a bad review of a cruise is a problem with the cabin. I reckon maybe 70% of the negative reviews come down to a cabin issue, at least in part.
And yet the vast majority of the time, the fault lies with the cruiser, because they didn’t do their research in advance. Try telling them that, though…
Every ship is unique, but there are a list of cabin locations that apply to most (if not all) cruise ships that you should definitely think twice about before you pay that deposit.
1. Cabins Right Beneath the Buffet
That morning buffet buzz? Lovely when you’re up there, less lovely when it’s right above your bed.
Cabins directly under the ship’s buffet areas can be noisy – think chairs scraping, trolleys clattering and the low rumble of foot traffic starting before sunrise.
Add the occasional dropped plate or rolling cart and, well… breakfast might come with a side of sleep deprivation.
2. Anywhere Neat The Theatre, Club or Atrium Stage
These venues are entertainment gold… for everyone except the person trying to sleep next door.
Sound from live shows, thumping music and microphone testing can bleed straight into your room.
That atrium band you loved? Less enjoyable when it echoes through your headboard at 10:45 p.m.
Make sure you check the deck plans because if you’re directly above or below these venues, you may get the bass of those speakers thumping away into the late hours.
3. Next to Self-Service Laundrettes
Onboard laundrettes are a great amenity – unless your cabin shares a wall with one!
People come and go at all hours, doors bang, machines rumble and someone will absolutely stand outside the room loudly debating fabric softener.
Plus, if there’s a bench or folding table, expect laundry-day socialising just outside your door.
Read more: How To Do Laundry on Cruise Ships: The Ultimate Guide
4. Far Forward at the Bow
These cabins might feel luxurious or private – but they’re also the spot where ship movement is most intense.
If you’re prone to seasickness, being up front is a fast ticket to queasy town. Add wind, creaks, and a lot more motion during choppy sea days, and that balcony suite might not feel worth it.
Top tip if you do suffer from seasickness: aim for the middle of the ship, on a lower deck. That’s where you’ll feel the movement the least. Also newer ships tend to have better stabilisers.
A lot of forward-facing balconies can’t even be used while the ship’s in motion, so always check that before you book.
Read more: The Worst Locations For Seasickness On A Cruise Ship
5. Right Over the Anchor
Cabins in the extreme forward section on lower decks come with a fun cruise tradition: the 5:30 a.m. anchor drop.
It’s not subtle. It’s a metal-on-metal clang that can jolt you out of dreams like a maritime alarm clock. If your itinerary includes lots of port days, steer clear of anything too close to the front and low down.
Read more: How Anchors Work On Cruise Ships (An Expert Explains)
6. Close to Elevators and Stairwells
Sure, it’s convenient. But it’s also the hangout spot for groups coming back from shows, heading to excursions, or just talking loudly about buffet plans.
People chat as they leave the elevator. They do usually hush up as they realise that they’re on the corridor with cabins, but by them, they’ll have already walked pasy your room. That’s not ideal if you like silence with your sleep.
7. Adjacent to Crew Areas or Utility Rooms
Those “Crew Only” doors hide corridors full of movement, carts, and utility gear. It’s all necessary – but not exactly peaceful.
If your room borders a service area, you might hear the occasional door slam, vacuum noise, or whatever mysterious machinery lives behind the walls.
And you can’t exactly ask them to keep it down when they’re serving the needs of a few thousand guests…
8. Next to the Sports Court, Running Track or Kids’ Play Zones
If your cabin sits under the basketball court or next to the running track, expect early-morning thudding and bouncing.
Likewise, kids’ areas – while wonderful for families – aren’t always serene. Children on sugar highs are not known for whispering quietly while skipping past your door.
Being next to the kids’ clubs can be really handy if you’re travelling with children who’ll use it. It can be a nightmare if you aren’t.
9. Close to the Galley or Above the Engine Room
These areas are typically hidden from guests, but your nose and ears may still notice them.
The galley often hums with late-night cleaning and early-morning prep, complete with rolling trolleys and clanging pans.
Engine room-adjacent cabins might feel subtly shaky and occasionally carry the scent of marine fuel. Not the dream ambience for your lie-in.
Read more: Where Is A Cruise Ship Engine Located?
10. With Obstructed Views
You paid for a sea view – and you got one. Sort of. Except now there’s a lifeboat in it.
Obstructed view cabins are cheaper, but come with drawbacks. Views are partially or fully blocked by lifeboats or structural parts of the ship.
Worse, those lifeboats need maintenance, so don’t be shocked if a crew member pops past your window mid-breakfast.
11. Connecting Cabins You’re Not Actually Using
Unless you’re booking both rooms, skip the connecting option.
The doors aren’t as soundproof as regular walls, and you’re far more likely to hear your neighbours’ conversations, TV, or bedtime habits.
It’s not a guarantee of noise, but it’s certainly more likely than with a non-connecting cabin.
Some people can get quite upset over the noise, too…
12. Under the Swimming Pool
This one comes up quite a lot…
It sounds pretty idyllic to be close to the pool onboard your cruise. That convenience of being just a single set of stairs from a refreshing dip is a nice thought, but the pool is one of the worst offenders for causing noise to the room below.
Well, not the pool itself, but the decking around it – and all those loungers that are dragged across the wooden floor, very early in the morning.
If you’re likely to be up early yourself to grab one of these then it’s not an issue – but if you value a lie-in, maybe an extra deck between you and the pool deck would be a good idea.
13. Close to Smoking Areas or the Casino
Depending on your ship, smoking may be allowed in certain indoor or outdoor spaces – and smoke has a sneaky way of drifting.
If you’re sensitive to the smell, avoid cabins near smoking-permitted balconies, casino areas (if allowed), or outer decks marked for cigars.
There’s nothing worse than sipping coffee outside your own cabin while inhaling someone else’s leftover Havana.
Read more: 5 Wild Rumours I Heard From The Smoking Area On A Cruise
How To Check The Deck Plans
If you want to avoid booking a cabin in a bad location, you need to start with the deck plans.
Every cruise line lists detailed deck plans for each ship right on their website – usually under the “Ships” or “Fleet” section. Just select your ship and look for the deck-by-deck breakdown.
Zoom in and take your time. Check not just your cabin, but what’s above, below, and beside it. Look out for:
- Symbols or icons next to cabin numbers – these usually mark connecting cabins, accessible rooms, sofa beds, pull-down bunks, or obstructed views. There’s normally a legend or key that explains what each symbol means. Don’t skip this – it’s how you’ll know if your “balcony” faces a lifeboat or if that sneaky extra door connects to someone else’s room.
- Greyed-out areas or unlabelled blocks – these often represent crew areas, galleys, service rooms or other “noisy” zones.
- Unusual gaps or cut-outs in passenger cabins – that might be where a laundrette or public venue is lurking.
Cross-reference with the deck above and below. That “quiet” cabin might look fine on your deck, but if the pool deck is right above it or the engine room is below, it might not stay quiet for long.
The Risk of Guarantee Cabins
A guarantee cabin can look like a smart deal on paper – you choose the type (inside, oceanview, balcony etc.), and the cruise line picks the actual cabin for you. In exchange, you get a cheaper fare. But there’s a trade-off.
When you book a guarantee cabin, you give up control over the location. That means you could end up in any available room in that category – including the very ones we’ve just warned you about: under the buffet, next to the lift, or with a glamorous view of a lifeboat.
You might luck out and get upgraded. But you might not. If you’re sensitive to noise, prone to seasickness, or just a picky sleeper, it might be worth paying a little more to choose your exact cabin and avoid surprises.
Think of it like this: would you book a hotel room without knowing if it faced the nightclub or the car park? Same idea, just with more water involved.
When you pick a guarantee cabin, it’s not just the location that you’re leaving up to chance, but also the layout of the cabin itself.
Some cabins have very weird layouts that savvy cruisers know to avoid. The last time I opted for a guarantee cabin, my stateroom looked like this…
Get the right location, and your cabin becomes a peaceful retreat. Get it wrong… and it might be the noisiest nap of your life.
I’ve got a ton of guides to the cabins to avoid on different ships, so check those to see if your next cruise ship is covered! You can click on the maginfying glass at the top to search for the name of your ship.
What if you’ve already booked and then find out your cabin is dodgy?
Don’t panic. Just call the cruise line (or your travel agent if you used one) and explain. They will usually let you change it. There may be a fee to upgrade, but your peace of mind is worth it.
Read more: How To Upgrade Your Cruise Cabin After Purchase
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Hi Jennie, Loved your article about the worst cabins on a ship. I just wanted to add to #4, Far forward on the bow. On one cruise, we wanted the front cabin…needless to say, there was fog. All night we heard the foghorn, so we had little sleep that night! Didn’t even think of that situation.