After studying deck plans on 40+ cruises and making some expensive mistakes early on, I've cracked the code on cabin selection. The cruise lines won't tell you this, but certain room numbers are absolute goldmines while others will ruin your vacation. Here's exactly which cabins to book and which to avoid on every major cruise line.
On Royal Caribbean, you want to be as close to midship as possible on decks 7-9. On Symphony of the Seas, cabins 7188-7194 are my go-to picks — you're directly above the Guest Services desk, so no noise issues, but close to Central Park.
Book These Numbers:
Avoid Like the Plague:
Any cabin ending in 06-12 on deck 3 — these sit directly under the Windjammer buffet. I learned this the hard way on Harmony of the Seas when chair scraping started at 5:30 AM. Cabins directly under the pool deck (usually deck 11) get constant noise from deck chair dragging.
The secret Royal Caribbean doesn't advertise? Cabins 6xxx on most ships are the sweet spot for price vs. location. You're high enough to avoid engine vibration but not so high that elevator waits become annoying.
Share your Royal Caribbean cabin experiences in our deck plans forum — I'd love to hear about your wins and misses!
NCL's Haven is fantastic, but if you're not splurging for suite-class, deck location matters more than cabin size. On Norwegian Encore, I always book deck 10 — you're close to everything but above the main noise zones.
Sweet Spot Cabins:
Here's what Norwegian won't tell you: cabins directly under the Haven sundeck get noise from furniture being moved around. On Norwegian Gem, avoid anything in the 11xxx series — you'll hear every chair scrape from the Haven guests above.
The NCL Noise Trap: Never book cabins near the sports complex. On Bliss, cabins 15xxx-16xxx seem like great locations until the go-kart track fires up at 8 AM. The track runs until 11 PM, and electric go-karts are surprisingly loud.
Carnival's newer ships have much better soundproofing, but location still matters. On Carnival Celebration, deck 7 midship cabins (7xxx series) give you the best bang for your buck.
Carnival Gold Mine Cabins:
The Carnival secret? Avoid any cabin under the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. These seem quiet in theory, but the pool area above has surprisingly active nighttime cleaning. Cabins 9xxx directly below get the worst of it.
Pro tip: Carnival's interior cabins on deck 6 are often $200 cheaper than deck 7, but deck 6 puts you closer to the casino noise. The extra $200 for deck 7 is worth every penny.
Celebrity's newer Edge and Beyond classes have revolutionized deck plans, but traditional wisdom still applies. On Celebrity Beyond, cabins 8xxx give you the perfect balance of convenience and quiet.
Celebrity's Best Kept Secrets:
Infinite Veranda cabins (category I2) on decks 7-8 are actually quieter than traditional balconies because they don't face the promenade deck foot traffic. The "fake balcony" is more private than real balconies on these ships.
Avoid cabins directly under the Magic Carpet — this moving platform creates mechanical noise when repositioning. On Celebrity Apex, this means avoiding certain 6xxx series cabins on the starboard side.
Princess passengers tend to be quieter, but mechanical noise is your biggest enemy. On Sky Princess, cabins 8xxx midship are ideal — close to the Piazza but away from the Crown Grill kitchen exhaust fans.
Princess Pro Tips:
The Princess secret weapon? Mini-suites (category M2) on deck 8 often cost only $300 more than balcony cabins but include priority boarding and other perks that save money overall.
MSC's newer ships like MSC World America have fantastic soundproofing, but avoid cabins near the MSC Yacht Club areas if you're not staying there — the private elevator and concierge traffic creates unexpected noise.
On MSC Seaside, cabins 8xxx offer the best value — you're close to the Bamboo Bar but far enough from the sports bar noise. The aft cabins (8xxx series ending in high numbers) are surprisingly quiet and often $150 cheaper.
Virgin's adults-only policy changes traditional deck plan strategy. On Scarlet Lady, the Sea Terrace cabins on deck 7 are worth the splurge — the hammock space is actually usable because there are no kids running around.
Avoid anything near the Athletic Club on deck 15 — 6 AM workout classes mean 5:45 AM equipment setup noise directly above your head.
Never Book These Locations (Any Cruise Line):
Always Consider These Factors:
Elevator wait times matter more than you think. Cabins midship on decks 6-8 typically have the shortest elevator waits. Anything above deck 12 means longer waits, especially during dinner hours.
The $50-100 you save booking a "deal" cabin location often costs you $200+ in lost sleep, convenience, and vacation enjoyment. I've made this mistake — don't repeat it.
Ready to decode more deck plan secrets? Join our community in the deck plans forum where experienced cruisers share real cabin numbers and honest reviews!
Royal Caribbean: The Midship Magic Numbers
On Royal Caribbean, you want to be as close to midship as possible on decks 7-9. On Symphony of the Seas, cabins 7188-7194 are my go-to picks — you're directly above the Guest Services desk, so no noise issues, but close to Central Park.
Book These Numbers:
- Oasis Class: Cabins X188-X194 (decks 7-9) — midship, elevator access, away from theater noise
- Voyager Class: Cabins X188-X192 (deck 8) — prime Royal Promenade access without the noise
- Icon Class: Cabins X220-X226 (deck 8) — new ship, best location for AquaDome access
Avoid Like the Plague:
Any cabin ending in 06-12 on deck 3 — these sit directly under the Windjammer buffet. I learned this the hard way on Harmony of the Seas when chair scraping started at 5:30 AM. Cabins directly under the pool deck (usually deck 11) get constant noise from deck chair dragging.
The secret Royal Caribbean doesn't advertise? Cabins 6xxx on most ships are the sweet spot for price vs. location. You're high enough to avoid engine vibration but not so high that elevator waits become annoying.
Share your Royal Caribbean cabin experiences in our deck plans forum — I'd love to hear about your wins and misses!
Norwegian Cruise Line: Haven vs. Reality
NCL's Haven is fantastic, but if you're not splurging for suite-class, deck location matters more than cabin size. On Norwegian Encore, I always book deck 10 — you're close to everything but above the main noise zones.
Sweet Spot Cabins:
- Breakaway Class: 10xxx series (deck 10) — perfect elevator access, away from Spice H2O noise
- Epic: 9xxx forward cabins — avoid the weird layout areas midship on this unique ship
- Prima Class: 8xxx midship — these new ships have the best soundproofing here
Here's what Norwegian won't tell you: cabins directly under the Haven sundeck get noise from furniture being moved around. On Norwegian Gem, avoid anything in the 11xxx series — you'll hear every chair scrape from the Haven guests above.
The NCL Noise Trap: Never book cabins near the sports complex. On Bliss, cabins 15xxx-16xxx seem like great locations until the go-kart track fires up at 8 AM. The track runs until 11 PM, and electric go-karts are surprisingly loud.
Carnival: The Fun Ship Formula
Carnival's newer ships have much better soundproofing, but location still matters. On Carnival Celebration, deck 7 midship cabins (7xxx series) give you the best bang for your buck.
Carnival Gold Mine Cabins:
- Vista Class: 7xxx midship — close to RedFrog Pub without the noise
- Dream Class: 8xxx forward — away from Serenity Deck foot traffic
- Conquest Class: 6xxx aft — surprisingly quiet, great for families
The Carnival secret? Avoid any cabin under the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. These seem quiet in theory, but the pool area above has surprisingly active nighttime cleaning. Cabins 9xxx directly below get the worst of it.
Pro tip: Carnival's interior cabins on deck 6 are often $200 cheaper than deck 7, but deck 6 puts you closer to the casino noise. The extra $200 for deck 7 is worth every penny.
Celebrity: Luxury Location Logic
Celebrity's newer Edge and Beyond classes have revolutionized deck plans, but traditional wisdom still applies. On Celebrity Beyond, cabins 8xxx give you the perfect balance of convenience and quiet.
Celebrity's Best Kept Secrets:
Infinite Veranda cabins (category I2) on decks 7-8 are actually quieter than traditional balconies because they don't face the promenade deck foot traffic. The "fake balcony" is more private than real balconies on these ships.
Avoid cabins directly under the Magic Carpet — this moving platform creates mechanical noise when repositioning. On Celebrity Apex, this means avoiding certain 6xxx series cabins on the starboard side.
Princess: The Midship Rule Multiplied
Princess passengers tend to be quieter, but mechanical noise is your biggest enemy. On Sky Princess, cabins 8xxx midship are ideal — close to the Piazza but away from the Crown Grill kitchen exhaust fans.
Princess Pro Tips:
- Always choose odd-numbered decks when possible — even decks often have galley access doors
- Avoid cabins ending in 01-05 or 30-35 — these are typically closest to service elevators
- Deck 7 beats deck 9 on most Princess ships — better elevator response time
The Princess secret weapon? Mini-suites (category M2) on deck 8 often cost only $300 more than balcony cabins but include priority boarding and other perks that save money overall.
MSC: European Efficiency Meets Cabin Strategy
MSC's newer ships like MSC World America have fantastic soundproofing, but avoid cabins near the MSC Yacht Club areas if you're not staying there — the private elevator and concierge traffic creates unexpected noise.
On MSC Seaside, cabins 8xxx offer the best value — you're close to the Bamboo Bar but far enough from the sports bar noise. The aft cabins (8xxx series ending in high numbers) are surprisingly quiet and often $150 cheaper.
Virgin Voyages: Adult-Only Advantages
Virgin's adults-only policy changes traditional deck plan strategy. On Scarlet Lady, the Sea Terrace cabins on deck 7 are worth the splurge — the hammock space is actually usable because there are no kids running around.
Avoid anything near the Athletic Club on deck 15 — 6 AM workout classes mean 5:45 AM equipment setup noise directly above your head.
The Universal Truths
Never Book These Locations (Any Cruise Line):
- Directly under the buffet — chair scraping starts at dawn
- Below pool decks — constant furniture movement
- Near tender platforms — mechanical winch noise in port
- Forward cabins on older ships — anchor chain noise in port
- Cabins adjacent to crew areas — service traffic 24/7
Always Consider These Factors:
Elevator wait times matter more than you think. Cabins midship on decks 6-8 typically have the shortest elevator waits. Anything above deck 12 means longer waits, especially during dinner hours.
The $50-100 you save booking a "deal" cabin location often costs you $200+ in lost sleep, convenience, and vacation enjoyment. I've made this mistake — don't repeat it.
Ready to decode more deck plan secrets? Join our community in the deck plans forum where experienced cruisers share real cabin numbers and honest reviews!
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