Which cabin to book?

This is the primary factor that determines how much the cruise is going to cost. There are generally four types of cabins; Inside, Outside (porthole view), balcony, and suite, the cost of which rasies with each type. Within each type are various classes of cabins, each with it's own price structure. Lower decks are cheaper, and for the same type of cabin, Class X might be on deck 1, Class Y might be on deck 2, whth Class Y costing a bit more than Class X, and so on. Generally as you go to higher decks, the cabin rates increase. Also the center of the ship is a little more expensive, with cabins forward and rearward a bit less, as those cabins tend to feel the ship's motion more, or a bit noiser. And finally, some cabins have obstructed views, and they may be cheaper. Typically, the more desireable the cabin, the more expensive it is.

For first time cruisers, especially if you are not sure how seasick you will get; the lower and closer to the center of the ship you are the less you will feel the ship's pitching and rolling. Therefore, an inside cabin on a lower deck might be the best cabin for the first cruise. We often book an inside cabin as we have found we are only in there to sleep, shower, and change clothing anyway, so why book an expensive cabin if we are not going to be there much. However, if we have a third family member cruising with us in the same cabin, some balcony cabins offer a sleeper-sofa, and are usually larger, and warrant the extra expense. And if you are a smoker, be aware that all of the cabins are usually non-smoking; but you can usually smoke on your balcony with the door closed. If you are a smoker, be sure to check the smoking policy before booking.

Seasickness? It happens. However, I have to state that neither my wife or I have ever been seasick on a cruise ship. Most, if not all cruise ships have stabilizers; little winglets on each side of the ship that deploy underwater that help stabilize the ship, and reduce it's rolling. I've been told this can cut down on the ship's rolling by as much as 80% (it's side-to-side motion). However, they have less or no effect on a ship's pitching (forward-to-rear motion), but fortunately, pitching is not as common as rolling. You can also buy Dramamine, wrist patches, or other remedies before leaving home if you are not sure you will get sick. And if you do not have any self medication, don't be afraid to visit the on-board doctor.

I am not a seasickness expert, but its my understanding that the illness comes primarly from your brain receiving mixed signals. If you are inside the ship, your reference is the walls, floors, and ceilings in your surroundings. Your brain expects those to be level. You also obtain a sense of levelness from your inner ear, which is how you maintain your balance. Normally, those two senses agree on what is level. However, when the ship is rolling, it is sensed by your inner-ear, but not your eyes, so your ear sends a conflicting signal to your brain The result is nausea. Its my understanding that if you experience sickness, go to an area of the ship where you can see the ocean; either on one of the top decks or your room's balcony if you have one. When you can see the ocean, your eyes and inner-ear be in synch, and quite possibly your sickness will be minimized. I have a close boating friend that has experienced this many times. His boat has a cabin, and when he goes below, he always gets sick; but when he is in the cockpit, he feels OK.

Another alternative is to book a room lower and in the center of the ship, as those rooms are the least affected by the ship's motion. This may seem in conflict with the lack of being to see the ocean from an inside cabin, but I believe not sensing the ship's motion in the first place is more effective than seeing the ocean to correct the signals to your brain.