cruise, room choice?

Question

How do a choose a good room for my husband and I on a carnival ship? We want a balcony room. We are trying to decide between a 8A on the "upper" or a 8D on the Lido (ninth, I think). I just have no clue what A or D stand for. I wasn't there when my husband was making the arrangements. He's leaving this up to me! Please help!

Answer 1

Categories are simply a listing of the different types of cabins on the ship by size, location and amenities. Categories are the price structure. What you need to know and understand is that the category designations DO NOT mean the same thing on all cruise lines. For example, a Cat "C" on a Carnival ship is NOT the same as a Cat "C" on a Norwegian or Royal Caribbean ship. AND, a category "C" is not necessarily the same across all of the ships in a cruise line.

If/when you go to a cruise line web site you will see the various cabins listed by type, i.e., SUITE, VERANDA/BALCONY, OUTSIDE, and INSIDE. the category, and generally the square footage of each cabin type. The category will generally be listed next to the cabin type. I always recommend the balcony or Veranda cabins because most ships these days tend to have many of them at a reasonable price (i.e., $1200 to $1500 for a 7-day.) and, frankly, you will enjoy your cruise more with a veranda/balcony cabin.

The standard cabin that most people get (inside/outside/balcony) are generally between 175 and 200 Square feet, about the size of a 9 by 12 ft home bedroom (balconies are about 45 to 55 sq ft). Suites and penthouses can be between 350 and 1300 square feet. Each cabin has a two beds which can be made into a queen, a bathroom with a shower stall, a closet and some drawer space, a TV and telephone, a safe for valuables, and a life jacket for each passenger. Some cabins that are built to accommodate 3 or 4 people will have a pull down bed and/or a sofa bed. If you look closely at the 8A and 8D categories you may find that there is a very minor difference in the square footage; or the cabins may be more because they are on a higher deck.

Cruise ships these days do not experience much motion because they have stabilizers that minimize rocking. So the suggestion to get a cabin mid-ship is not that important. I suggest getting a cabin as high up as you can afford, for the view, and select one that is a few doors away from an elevator bay. You will be using the elevators (and stairs which are generally in the same area) a lot on your cruise and it will save you trime walking from the very front or rear of the ship. Generally the main dining hall is in the back of the ship on a lower deck, like 4,5, or 6, and the other eating places may also be in the rear, but on a high deck. The pools are generally mid-ship and the gym is usually up front and on a high deck. Consider these when you select your cabin.

Finally, go to the Carnival Cruise line web site and find your ship and look at the layout. Then pick your cabin.

I cruise all of the time, have been on more than 15 cruises and I always get a balcony up as high as I can.

Answer 2

The "A" and "D" deal with Carnival's pricing based on popularity/location. Be aware that on Carnival, the Lido deck is the main deck for eating/swimming/sunbathing areas so there is lots of traffic on parts of the deck (generally not in the cabin areas, but you do get "run off" from confused passengers not sure how to get around the ships). Generally more in the middle of the ship (in this case the Upper Deck - Upper by the way is an actual deck name on Carnival Ships - not general location) the less rocking or ship movement you'll feel. Have been in cabins on Carinval from top to bottom, both ends and te middle and no matter where, you will feel some movement, but middle (both up and down and front to back) of the ship is less noticable. The "A" and "D" are both balcony cabins with doors and the same size.

Another thing to think about is that you will be going to all places in the ship and the Upper Deck is more in the middle so you are about equal up and down to go to other decks with the Lido being at the top so you'll be going down several decks to most areas.

Answer 3

I'll tell you what- "A" or "D" - a balcony room is the way to go on a cruise ship. I don't know what the difference is- maybe call a travel agent and "pretend" you are interested in a balcony room and let them explain the differences- I will tell you this- all the balcony rooms for the most part are the same- try to get in the middle of the ship as much as possible- you will feel less rocking- if you are close to the front or close to the back you will feel the boat moving more. Happy cruising and send me a postcard!

Answer 4

Balcony cabins are great! You'll feel like you have the ship all to yourself.

Look at the different cabins offered and choose the cabin that is closest to the middle of the ship. Meaning, not the cabin that's at the end of the ship, say the bow or stern. This way, choosing a mid ship cabin if there are waves, the middle cabin won't rock as much as the cabins on the ends of the ship. For more explaination...take a pencil by holding it in the middle and "rock" it back in forth.

I think I'd also choose the balcony that is the highest, just because...no particular reason except for the slight chance some one bends over to see what's happening below on your balcony. You might have more privacy being up higher, especially if nothing is above you.

Or choose one that's closest to the pool.

Well, that's my two cents worth.

Have fun!

Answer 5

i believe they are the same
the only possible difference would be the windows..
although i think lido decks are the real expensive ones and all of them have windows and balconies...
i would go with D because it is in the middle of the rooms and you will have less kids running back and forth your room screaming!

carnival cruises are amazing and it wont really matter cause you wont be in your room anyways..unles your waiting for free roomservice

watch out with unlimited food and possible soda/beer(costs a bit extra but u still get unlimited) because you can get very fat.

sunbathing is amazing on that cruise and you never feel too hot while doing it.

have fun!(im sure you will)


Edited: banana is right! the D is more in the middle, definitely choose D

Answer 6

i dont really think the room is very important...my room was on the main deck which has a window and all but seriously the only time we were actually in the room was to sleep, so honestly i wouldn't spend the extra money to get a balcony room....
but anways...Lido has lots of stores if i remember correctly, and the pool is on lido as well as the horizon bar which is the buffet eating area...and upper is the deck right below Lido...the upper deck only has rooms...(main deck is right below upper)
but i would say your room doesnt matter at all...

Answer 7

Couldn't 8A and 8D be the cabin numbers on their respective decks? Check Carnival's website. While I can' speak for Carnival, Celebrity showed (and explained) all their cabin types on their website. With a specific cabin number, you could see where you're cabin was, and what type it was - it was an excellent feature, and I'd be surprised if Carnival didn't have something similar.

Answer 8

Ask (him?) for a SCHEMATIC of the ship's floorplan. - I know that the Carnival Cruise Lines has a diagram of each floor (on their reservation webpage?) for you to reserve your individual cabin.
The cruise I took to the Caribbe (on the smaller ship; t.s.s. Mardi Gras) offered this "map" via the trip reservation fliers that were included with the reservation documentation.
ENJOY YOUR CRUISE - mon!

Answer 9

call a travel agent or the crusie line