When it comes to choosing the perfect cruise cabin, many people jump straight to balconies. But after dozens of cruises in every type of room, I’ve discovered that Oceanview cabins are seriously underrated.
In fact, an oceanview cabin with a window is my top choice – and here’s exactly why…
An oceanview cabin is a cabin with a window that looks out to sea. It may also be called a ‘sea view cabin’ or ‘outside cabin’.
1. Way Cheaper – Without Feeling Budget
Oceanview cabins give you natural light and a view of the sea, at a fraction of the cost of a balcony room.
That price difference can be hundreds of pounds, or more! This is evfen more apparent if you cruise on an older ship. Cruise ships that were built in the 1990s don’t have many balcony rooms at all, but they do have a lot of seaview cabins (with windows). On those ships, the balcony rooms are always a LOT more pricey.
When you compare the price to an inside cabin, it’s usually not that much different, making an ocean view well worth the upgrade in most cases.
Tip: Use the money you save to splurge on drinks packages, speciality dining or unforgettable excursions. You’ll get more cruise for your cash.
2. Having A Balcony Feels Like A Chore To Me
This many sound silly. But on the rare occasions I have a balcony room, I always remember how much extra I paid for the balcony, and I feel under pressure to get my money’s worth.
Let’s say I paid an extra £500 for the balcony. So each day I’ll think to myself: “I need to get 70 quids worth of balcony time in today, I’d better sit out there!”.
Even if I sit on the balcony for an hour per day (which I usually don’t manage), I’m annoyed that it just cost me £70.
If you cruise during colder weather, you might find that you never sit out on the balcony at all. In hot weather, it may be too hot to sit in the sun, or even to have the balcony doors open as that stops your air-conditioning from working.
3. Oceanview Cabins Are The Most Spacious
When you upgrade from an inside to an oceanview, you don’t just get a window, you usually get a lot of extra space too.
On some ships, like P&O Cruises Arvia and Iona, the oceanview rooms are BIGGER than the balcony rooms. That’s because the space that you would have for a balcony is actually inside the room, where you can make better use of it.
4. Oceanview Rooms Are The Best For Seasickness
I often like to book a ‘Guarantee’ cabin to save money. This means that you choose what type you would like e.g. inside/oceanview/balcony and you the cruise line choose your cabin number, based what’s left a few weeks before you depart.
This can be a gamble. Savvy cruisers will choose the best cabin numbers, leaving those who opted for the ‘Guarantee’ fare with some dodgy options.
However, because of the design of ships and not being able to have balconies close to the water, almost all oceanview cabins are on the lowest decks.
If you suffer from seasickness, a cabin on a low deck means that you’ll feel the motion of the ocean much less than you would if you were up at the top where the ship sways more. Since my daughter started suffering from seasickness, I like the reassurance of a cabin on a lower deck.
Suggested read: The Best Deck on a Cruise Ship (For Every Type of Cruiser)
Having a window to look out of can also help when you’re feeling queasy.
5. There’ Less Disturbance From Your Neighbours
If you and your neighbours both have your balcony doors open, you’ll likely be able to hear every word of their conversations. This isn’t a worry with an oceanview room as the windows don’t open.
Also, some people find that if their neighbour leaves their balcony light on, it can shine in through the curtains and disturb their sleep. Again, not a problem if nobody has a light.
6. Oceanview Rooms Have More Privacy
Cruise ship balconies aren’t private at all. And it’s not just the sound, in most cases people will be able to see you too – so nude sunbathing isn’t recommended!
On most ships, you can look up from a promenade deck or down from the sun deck on to people’s balconies. And in some cases, there’s even a walkway between the edge of the balcony and the sea!
This isn’t a problem with an oceanview room. As long as your window looks out to sea, nobody will be able to see in. So you can relax with as little clothing as you like!
7. Balconies Aren’t Safe For Kids
Whatever the age of your kids, you should think twice before booking a balcony room.
You may think that it’s the toddlers that you need to watch, and yes, they are a concern. A toddler could climb on a chair or table and fall overboard in just a few seconds if you take your eyes off them.
However, the kids that sadly end up going over the railings most often are actually teenagers. No matter how often you tell your children about the dangers of balconies, there’s always the chance that they might not heed your advice and decide to do something silly like sitting on the rail or climbing across to another cabin.
Suggested read: What Happens If You Jump Off A Cruise Ship?
Balconies do have locks, but they’re not always high enough to stop kids from opening them. So if you’re in the shower, you’ll always need another adult present to keep an eye on the kids.
8. The Bed Configuration Is Often Better In An Oceanview
When you have three or four guests in a cabin, you’ll want to think about where the extra beds are – this can make a real difference to how comfortable you’ll feel in the room.
As inside cabins are the smallest, the third and fourth beds will be Pullman beds that come down from the ceiling. These will likely be above the main beds. And because you’ll need to use ladders, you may find that mum and dad have to sleep in single beds.
Having a room that’s set up like two sets of bunk beds is okay, but it’s certainly not my favourite configuration.
As oceanview rooms are larger, other bed configurations me be possible. You may be able to have a double bed for the adults and then a seperate bunk bed for the kids – much better!
Of course, cabins configurations do vary, so this isn’t always the case. Be sure to study the deck plan of your ship when choosing a cabin to see what details you can find about the beds. A good travel agent will also be able to help with this.
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8. I like To Check The Weather Before Getting Dressed
Sometimes, I’ll see people wearing shorts and vests on a cold day and I’ll think “You have an inside cabin, don’t you!” I’ve made that mistake planty of times myself!
In an inside cabin, you can check your cabin TV and your daily schedule to get an idea of the weather, but without windows, it can be tricky to know what to wear. I find that opening the curtains and seeing if its sunny or cloudy helps with the decision a lot!
So, now you know why oceanview rooms are so good. But, before you go ahead and book one, there are two things you should know…
What You Must Know Before Booking An Oceanview Room
The Windows Vary From Tiny To Huge
Oceanview, or seaview is a catchall name for cabins with a window. The window in question may be the size of a dinner plate, or you may have a whole wall of glass giving you panoramic views. You’ll need to study the deck plan to find out which you have.
Small windows are usually described as portholes, whereas larger ones are known as ‘picture windows‘. If your room is described as ‘Panoramic Ocean View’, you can expect floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Not All Ships Have Oceanview Rooms
Most cruise ships have rooms with windows, but not all. P&O Cruises’ Britannia is one such example, featuring only interior and balcony cabins, with no traditional oceanview staterooms.
I am about to embark on a cruise on Britannia. Last time we sailed on this ship we opted for an inside cabin. But this time, we have treated ourselves to the next grade up which is an ‘obstructed view balcony’. There will be a lifeboat blocking the view, but it will still be nice to have a bigger cabin and some light into the room.
Not All Windows Have A View Of The Ocean!
Just because you have a window, don’t assume you’ll be able to see the sea!
On some ships, like Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class, there are oceanview rooms that look over the Boardwalk area in the centre of the ship. So rather than admiring the ocean, you may just find yourself watching people sitting outside of the pub – and they might be watching you too!
Other ships, like some Disney ships, have ‘virtual portholes’. This isn’t a real window, but instead just a round TV screen. It’s hooked up to a camera outside, so you can see what the weather is like in real time. You may also see characters pop up at the window from time to time to say hello!
I’ve booked a cruise in one of these virtual porthole cabins this summer and I’m excited to show you what it’s like!
And finally, even if you do have a real window and it does point outwards, you might not see the sea! If you’ve booked an obstructed view cabin, you may have a lifeboat in front of the window that blocks your view completely.
You Can’t Open The Window
A common question from first-time cruisers is whether you can open the window in your cabin. The answer is always no.
If your room has a window rather than a balcony, that’s because it’s in a location that’s vulnerable to high waves or the wind. You may be on a low deck or right at the front of the ship. So for this reason, opening a window wouln’t be safe, and so they are all sealed shut.
How To Avoid Bad Cabins On Your Cruise
Choosing the wrong cabin can seriously affect your cruise – from sleepless nights to endless noise or no view at all.
That’s why I’ve put together this simple checklist to help you avoid the worst cabins on any ship.
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned cruiser, use this before you book to make sure you get a cabin you’ll love, not one you’ll regret!
Related Posts:
- 9 Things You Should NEVER Do On A Cruise Balcony!
- Suite Vs Mini Suite Vs Balcony: What’s The Difference?
- Underwater Cruise Ship Rooms: Do They Exist?
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.
