What Type of Stateroom Should I Choose?

There are definitely differences in the types of staterooms available on your cruise. You could have a luxurious suite with concierge service, a room with a balcony, a large window to look outside, or even an inside stateroom to save some money. We’ll explain the differences here.

Suite

The term “suite” varies by cruise line and even by category. Your Marigold Travel Company agent will ensure you understand the differences and inclusions for your suite. Sometimes, a Junior Suite simply means a larger space with a bed, sofa, and chair, all in one room. A suite could also mean a traditional suite, which has multiple rooms within the same stateroom. Often, a suite will come with some sort of elevated service, whether it’s a concierge who helps you plan your days, a lounge with snacks and drinks throughout the day, a reserved pool or sun deck, a private dining location, or the ability to pre-book your activities before anyone else, a suite gives you the ultimate luxury experience aboard a cruise ship.

Balcony

A balcony stateroom is the most popular option on a cruise. Who hasn’t imagined themselves sitting on their balcony, drinking a cup of coffee, and watching the ocean sail by? This room will have two twin beds that can be pushed together to form a queen bed or stay apart as two twins. Most of these rooms sleep up to 4 guests, although more and more cruise lines are realizing that families of 5 need rooms for their whole family, as well, and increasing the capacity of these rooms. The 3rd to 5th guests will often have pull-down beds from the ceiling, or possibly a pull-down bed from the wall (like a Murphy bed), or the sofa will convert to a bed. Any combination of these options is possible, depending on the cruise line. The bathroom typically has a sink, shower, and toilet with basic amenities (shampoo and body wash). The focal point, though, is the sliding door that leads to the balcony outside. The doors will have a lock-up top so that small children can’t reach them and go out alone, if that’s a concern for you. The balcony itself often has two chairs and a small table that can be moved, if needed. Some cruise lines can even remove the divider between your balcony and the room next door if you’re traveling together, but not always. 

Ocean View

Ocean View staterooms will have one or two windows that face the outside of the ship, so you will get some natural sunlight in your room. The view does vary, however, as some windows will be blocked by a lifeboat or other exterior equipment, and some will have a full view of the ocean. Be sure to check with your Marigold Travel Company agent and ask about any blockage from your room. These staterooms often have two twin beds that can be apart or pushed together, along with a sofa that may pull out into a bed or possibly 1-2 Pullman beds from the ceiling. The bedding for a 3rd and 4th guest varies by cruise line, so again, ask your agent. The bathroom will be basic, with a toilet, sink, and shower.

Inside

An inside stateroom is often the most economical but also the smallest room on the ship. These rooms will typically sleep 2-3 people. Some lines have inside rooms to sleep 4, but not all. They’ll have two twin beds that are converted into a queen (unless you request for them to be apart) and often a Pullman bed that comes out of the ceiling or a sofa bed. They’ll have a bathroom like every other room, but there are no windows. No exterior light will come into this room, so bringing a nightlight or something to assist with those overnight trips to the bathroom is a good idea. Some cruise lines have “virtual windows” in their interior staterooms, but those are few and far between.

As you can see, there are large differences between the types of staterooms. No matter which room you choose, your Marigold Travel Company agent will ensure that you are comfortable with everything about it - the amenities, the location on the ship, and the price. You can trust us to steer you in the right direction.