Cruise cabins

[stacynan]

Ok, I've always gotten different points of view of being in a cabin close to the elevator. I'm talking in the same corridor area and not going down the hallway yet. I've had complaints of noice, either by the elevators itself of from passenger's voices, especially early in the morning or late at night while people are sleeping. I'm specifically referring to balcony cabins on the Lido deck (pool deck) on the Carnival Conquest. I have clients wondering about this and I want to give them all the pros and cons on it. What has been your experience?

[weblet]

All the complaints are ones I've heard about (same in hotels). So I usually point this out to the client and recommend that if possible, they go farther down the hallway. Usually they will. Sometimes older clients will want to be next to the elevators, though, as accessability trumps noise. In that case, recommending that they book a cabin on a deck that has limited access (there is no reason for someone without accommodations on that deck to be there) is what I do. Of course, that assumes $$ may not be an issue...

[nny92825100]

I have cruised many times and have stayed all over the ship. My favorite and first choice is about a 1/3 of the way down the hall from the elevator. At that point, the noise of people talking as they get off the elevator and walking down the hall quiets down. The hall is narrow enough where you usually can only have one at your side to talk to, keeping the volumn down. The noise by the elevator can be bad 24/7, especially if there are a lot of children and teens on the cruise. The cabins on the end of the ship have great views, but also can be noisy because the crew has their recreation area below those cabins (check the ship). They can be playing basketball at all hours of the day or night, having a few drinks, or playing their music. I also make sure I am not under the dining area or night clubs. Another dislike I discovered on my last cruise was being on my balcony on the RCI Jewell of the Sea, floor 10, and having the Windjammer look over at me. There was no privacy. Also the carts rolling across the tile floor from early morning till late at night was horrible. After 12 days in the beautiful Baltics feeling like I was in a noisy fishbowl, I was relieved to get off the ship, a first for me.

[Ned]

My wife and I are experienced cruisers. We try to schedule a cruise every other year. While we have never been on a Carnival ship I can give you our point of view about your question in general. We prefer, by the way, to cruise on lines such as Celebrity or Crystal.

We once were in a cabin not too far from the elevators. We won't do it again. It was far too noisy. We used ear plugs for the entire voyage, but since then we stay in a cabin a good distance from any elevators.

The question of elevators, while important, isn't the only factor which must be considered. It's important to know what's below and above one's cabin and what is near the cabin on the cabin's deck itself. If you're directly above or worse yet below the casino on some ships the noise lasts all night. If you're within ear shod of the basketball court, for example, watch out if you want a daytime nap. If your below a restaurant, that could be a noise problem too.

On our first voyage we were above the area of the ship through which all the luggage comes aboard and is sorted both at the beginning of the voyage and the end. It was so noisy on the first and last nights of that voyage, we felt as though we were in the middle of a textile factory floor with all the machines going full blast. Even good ear plugs didn't help us sleep. It was incredibly noisy the night through.

So everyone should be very careful about a cabin choice. If one has never been on the ship of the planned cruise before, or a sister ship, then carefully analyze the deck plans before making a cabin choice.

[Jason's Storm]

I was on RCI Gandeur of the Seas a couple of months ago and got bumped up to an oceanview room that was three rooms from the Centirium. While it wasn't too bad, at times you could hear the noise from it. Especially if they had some loud music going on. So if I were choosing my next room, I would look over the ship maps intensly.

~JS

[deangreenhoe]

I must be "Mr. Dead-To-The-World" because I've sailed in cabins over, under and adjacent to pretty much every kind of public area and never been annoyed by noises. All in all, it's pretty easy to be me.

[dani177]

good drugs can do that uh Dean....seriously I am the same ..have had cabins all over and no problem..Dani

[deangreenhoe]

good drugs can do that uh Dean....[/b]

I wish. <_<

The last time I sailed Princess I was upgraded to a category BA, but the res agent apologized and mused that I might not care for the stateroom. It was located adjacent to the public restrooms by the pool, first cabin in from the busy forward foyer/elevator lobby and directly under the buffet/24 hour cafe.

I loved the location, finding it very convenient. The only noise I noticed was the Bimbo and Bubba from San Diego in the next cabin fighting on their balcony when they got drunk. That could have happened no matter where I was located.

I've just never noticed a difference in exterior noise from a cruise ship cabin to make it a consideration for myself personally. I know some clients can be more easily bothered so still bring location up when choosing cabins. I'd just soon shoot everybody else down the hall so the locations by the stair/elevator towers are left for me.