Jan 26, 2010I am going on my first cruise in November and am hoping there is a website that ranks the cabins on each ship much like Seat Guru for airlines and theatre monkey for London theatre tickets. It is a fifteen night cruise on Oceania (Insignia) and we are booked in the least expensive inside cabin so I am thinking if I can at least try and pick my location on the ship, it may be worth it.
Is there anything I should be concerned about, for example, is it bad to be in room directly above the entertainment floor or are they pretty soundproof. Is it better to be mid ship, front, back etc. Any input would really be appreciated! Thank you!
Is there anything I should be concerned about, for example, is it bad to be in room directly above the entertainment floor or are they pretty soundproof. Is it better to be mid ship, front, back etc. Any input would really be appreciated! Thank you!
#2
CruiseCritic.com has a lively discussion board with much fo the info you are seeking. In general, my goal is to find a cabin between two decks of cabins to avoid noise from showrooms, bars, and restaurants. Otherwise, especially in an inside cabin, there's not much to worry about.
#4
Having a "cabin guru" website would be virtually impossible to gather all the information needed. There are a dozen (at least) different cabin classes on each ship versus two or three seat classes on an airplane. Within each cabin class there are numerous different variables such as stern or aft, floor, view, and proximity to any elevators, gathering places, service areas, mechanical components, etc.
And gathering this information would be very difficult. Each cruise line has very different ship configurations. Ships are not like airplanes where you can buy a ticket and walk through it is a few minutes and visually see all the other seats. And they only sail every week or two so there is not the same amount of data available as planes where there are up to dozens of flights every day for similarly configured planes. It just would be impossible to gather this information.
And gathering this information would be very difficult. Each cruise line has very different ship configurations. Ships are not like airplanes where you can buy a ticket and walk through it is a few minutes and visually see all the other seats. And they only sail every week or two so there is not the same amount of data available as planes where there are up to dozens of flights every day for similarly configured planes. It just would be impossible to gather this information.
My wife and I cruised on the Insignia last October. The ship has excellent soundproofing however I would suggest you book a cabin towards the front. Also book your dinners at the sinature restaurants as soon as you get on board. A little known secret is the morning breakfast served on the aft deck in the "tapas" restaurant. Overall I think you'll enjoy your cruise!
#6
oldpenny16 , Mar 11, 2007 7:52 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
There are very good reports from Insignia. Friends who used to travel only on Crystal have switched loyalties after 2 very nice cruises with Oceania. Several former Crystal employees now work for Oceania and have really made a great company.
I 2nd looked at www.cruisecritic.com
I 2nd looked at www.cruisecritic.com
#7
This is the best collection of cabin info I've found. No rankings but it gives you an idea of what's where.
http://travel.travelocity.com/ecruis...er.do?Service=
Not as easy to navigate as Seat Guru, but you can also try:
http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/Main/home1.php
http://travel.travelocity.com/ecruis...er.do?Service=
Not as easy to navigate as Seat Guru, but you can also try:
http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/Main/home1.php
#8
I appreciate everyone's input! I have actually been a lurker on Flyertalk for several years and have accrued many a mile and taken the advice of many of the experts on this site for personal and business trips. Thanks again, Mgt.
#10
It looks like to get specific cabin data you need pay a onetime fee of $11.95. The public link just takes me to the Oceania Home page. Without seeing a sample of the type of info you get, I am reluctant to pay the $12. Has anyone used www.cruisedeckplans.com and feel it is worth the money?
Thanks,
Mgt
Thanks,
Mgt
I like that cruisedeckplans.com though it did not have all the info on the line that I looked up, but it was very good.
My advise, take a look at the deck plan and determine what the WORST inside cabin is. Would that be awful if you were in that? If not, have your travel agent book a Guarantee (GTY). IT will guarantee you that you will get that category or better. Then have your Travel agent call up their RSM (Regional Sales Manager) for the line, and ask if remarks can be put in the record for a DAP upgrade (Do All POssible). Worst case scenario, you don't get upgraded and you end up in the Inside Category that you may not have picked. Cruise lines always overbook the lead price inside cabins so your chances may be very good for being upgraded. I am speaking from experience.
As has been mentioned here www.cruisecritic.com is a great site.
Cheers
My advise, take a look at the deck plan and determine what the WORST inside cabin is. Would that be awful if you were in that? If not, have your travel agent book a Guarantee (GTY). IT will guarantee you that you will get that category or better. Then have your Travel agent call up their RSM (Regional Sales Manager) for the line, and ask if remarks can be put in the record for a DAP upgrade (Do All POssible). Worst case scenario, you don't get upgraded and you end up in the Inside Category that you may not have picked. Cruise lines always overbook the lead price inside cabins so your chances may be very good for being upgraded. I am speaking from experience.
As has been mentioned here www.cruisecritic.com is a great site.
Cheers
#12
Quote:
My advise, take a look at the deck plan and determine what the WORST inside cabin is. Would that be awful if you were in that? If not, have your travel agent book a Guarantee (GTY). IT will guarantee you that you will get that category or better. Then have your Travel agent call up their RSM (Regional Sales Manager) for the line, and ask if remarks can be put in the record for a DAP upgrade (Do All POssible). Worst case scenario, you don't get upgraded and you end up in the Inside Category that you may not have picked. Cruise lines always overbook the lead price inside cabins so your chances may be very good for being upgraded. I am speaking from experience.
As has been mentioned here www.cruisecritic.com is a great site.
Cheers
Great advice - Thank you. I will work the DAP angle though I don't have alot of confidence in the travel agent my in-laws used to book this trip. I noticed there are very few of the inside cabin on the ship so I will hope for the best. Thanks again, MgtOriginally Posted by cruisr
I like that cruisedeckplans.com though it did not have all the info on the line that I looked up, but it was very good.My advise, take a look at the deck plan and determine what the WORST inside cabin is. Would that be awful if you were in that? If not, have your travel agent book a Guarantee (GTY). IT will guarantee you that you will get that category or better. Then have your Travel agent call up their RSM (Regional Sales Manager) for the line, and ask if remarks can be put in the record for a DAP upgrade (Do All POssible). Worst case scenario, you don't get upgraded and you end up in the Inside Category that you may not have picked. Cruise lines always overbook the lead price inside cabins so your chances may be very good for being upgraded. I am speaking from experience.
As has been mentioned here www.cruisecritic.com is a great site.
Cheers
#13
Kagehitokiri , Mar 13, 2007 6:18 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
dont most cruiselines have floorplans online? seems like the ones i looked at usually did, or at least had plenty of information to compare.
#14
Quote:
Oceania has a great website with the layout of the ship but the info I am looking for would be more from customer experiences like noise, ship movement, access, specific room configuration issues, rooms in the same category but might be more desirable etc.Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
dont most cruiselines have floorplans online? seems like the ones i looked at usually did, or at least had plenty of information to compare.
#15
Quote:
And gathering this information would be very difficult. Each cruise line has very different ship configurations. Ships are not like airplanes where you can buy a ticket and walk through it is a few minutes and visually see all the other seats. And they only sail every week or two so there is not the same amount of data available as planes where there are up to dozens of flights every day for similarly configured planes. It just would be impossible to gather this information.
I agree with your facts but disagree with your conclusion. Yes, there are more cabin categories and quirks having to do with individual cabins, but that doesn't mean that a body of knowledge couldn't be collected from the stays of dozens, hundreds, or thousand of cruisers. I could easily see ship maps for each ship in each fleet with red/yellow/green rankings just like on SeatGuru!Originally Posted by SlickRick
Having a "cabin guru" website would be virtually impossible to gather all the information needed. There are a dozen (at least) different cabin classes on each ship versus two or three seat classes on an airplane. Within each cabin class there are numerous different variables such as stern or aft, floor, view, and proximity to any elevators, gathering places, service areas, mechanical components, etc.And gathering this information would be very difficult. Each cruise line has very different ship configurations. Ships are not like airplanes where you can buy a ticket and walk through it is a few minutes and visually see all the other seats. And they only sail every week or two so there is not the same amount of data available as planes where there are up to dozens of flights every day for similarly configured planes. It just would be impossible to gather this information.