đłď¸ Cruises and cabins to avoid
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A better title might be Cruises to think twice about. This list depends on your level of comfort. Plus sometimes the price will be cheaper for less desirable sailings. All of these ships sail with lots of passengers or are even full. So many people accept - and enjoy - them. Just make sure you have appropriate expectations!
The right attitude. Cruising, just like resort-ing, is not always going to be a perfect experience. Clogged plumbing, closed restaurants, bad weather, ship and port accidents, and acts of God happen, even if you book a suite on a luxury line. Take a cue from the ship. Be flexible like the water. Roll with whatever happens and keep moving forward.
Virgin Voyages. We refer to the first sailing or two of a new ship, not the cruise line. There will inevitably be problems with parts of the ship not operational or finished. It takes time for the crew to gel and provide the flawless service that passengers expect. If youâre adventurous, go for it. But itâs best to wait a few months.
Short port stops. Stops typically last from early in the morning to at least 5pm. Thatâs plenty of time to explore and enjoy the port and island. But a few itineraries have a short stop for just a few daylight hours. Thatâs fine for a short walk around the port. But if youâre set on having a full visit at the specific port, find another cruise.
Holiday sailings. Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break cruises are full, busy, loud, and more importantly, more expensive. Consider the week before or after.
Hurricanes. Itâs extremely rare for a cruise to be canceled. Ships simply avoid hurricanes. Like an airplane, if there is bad weather, they go around it. So the worst that typically happens is more sea days and different port calls. Make sure you have insurance and if you want to be totally safe, schedule your trip another time. The Caribbean hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 with peak activity between August and October.
Transocean voyages. The ocean is vast, matey. Transatlantic and transpacific cruises are generally a minimum of 12 days with few stops. So be prepared for - and enjoy - lots of sea days.
Alaskan and Arctic cruises. Even during the summer itâs still cold. So bring appropriate attire and donât expect much outdoor pool time.
Transatlantic weather. Hurricanes arenât the only thing to watch out for. The Atlantic Ocean has its share of bad weather. The best time to cross the Atlantic by ship is generally in late spring (AprilâMay) or summer (JuneâAugust) for the calmest seas, as well as pleasant weather, particularly for northern routes.
The Drake Passage. Expeditions around the tip of South America may encounter extremely bad weather, violent storms, and massive waves. The best months to cross the Drake Passage are November to March, during the Antarctic summer. However, no specific month guarantees calm seas, as weather conditions are highly unpredictable.
Older ships. Be aware of what youâre booking. Major cruise lines generally do a good job of updating older ships, but not always. The ship may look tired, be lagging in paint and maintenance, and not have the appointments and facilities of newer ships. Check when your ship was launched, the last time it was refurbished, and ship ratings from recent passengers.
Ships sold or due to be retired. These vessels are in the opposite situation as maiden voyages. Cruise lines wonât invest in infrastructure if they know the ship will be gone soon. Staff energy often sags. Key employees may have already started leaving.
Cabins to avoid
The guarantee. Itâs the cheapest fare but the only guarantee is youâll get a cabin in that class somewhere. Youâll get whatâs left over after everyone else has picked the better cabins. Itâs like being stuck with the middle seat on a plane. Itâs worth it to pay extra to get a quality location.
Avoid a Blocked view. Obstructions like a lifeboat can spoil your view out an oceanview or balcony cabin. Typically the cruise lines will mark such cabins. Check the official deck plans or other sites like Cruise Deck Plans for symbols or shaded areas and look at your booking confirmation for specific codes. You can also search online for your ship and cabin number to find photos from other cruisers.
Find a safe cabin at Cruise Deck Plans. Select your ship and deck. Then look for the Cabin Deck Tool in the right column. Click there to see what cabins are above and below you. The best cabins are surrounded on all sides, top, bottom, and next to them, by other cabins.
Avoid cabins below the buffet.
Avoid cabins below galley (kitchen) areas.
Avoid cabins above or below the show lounge.
Avoid cabins under the fitness center.
Avoid cabins under or above night club.
Avoid cabins under or above the casino.
Avoid cabins under or above crew areas.
Avoid cabins near multi-level atriums.