There is still a bit of a wait but readers have already decided on their “Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship” in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
Spectrum of the Seas is a future cruise ship that is currently under construction for Royal Caribbean at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. Cruise Hive readers voted the ship as the “Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards.
The future Royal Caribbean vessel will be the first Quantum Ultra class ship, an evolution of the current Quantum-class ships. The ship will have a similar design but be larger than Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas. Spectrum of the Seas will be 168,800 gross tons and be able to carry 4,200 passengers at double occupancy. The future ship will arrive in 2019 and there is even a second sister ship on order for 2020.
Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship Results
In 2nd place in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards came Norwegian Bliss, a Breakaway Plus-class vessel for Norwegian Cruise Line which will arrive in 2018. Norwegian Bliss will be 167,800 gross tons and be able to carry over 4,000 guests at double occupancy.
In 3rd place with a fair amount of votes came the first ever Virgin Voyages cruise ship, which is being built by Fincantieri in Genoa, Italy. This adults-only vessel is set to be unique and offer a new style of cruising. The ship will sail from Miami, Florida and will be 110,000 gross tons carrying 2,800 guests. The future Virgin Voyages ship will arrive in 2020.
In 4th place came the future World Class ship for MSC Cruises. The ship is still far away from arriving in 2022, but we do know it will be powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), built by STX France, and be 200,000 gross tons. You can read more details about the original announcement by MSC in May 2017.
In 5th place came Aidanova for German-based Aida Cruises. This will be the largest ever cruise ship to be built for the Carnival-owned cruise line and there are more on the way for other cruise brands too. Aidanova will be completed in December 2018 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The future vessel will be 180,000 gross tons and be able to carry 6,600 passengers, more than any other ship in the industry.
At the bottom of the results, with the lowest number of votes, came the future global class ship for Asian-based Star Cruises. Not much has yet been revealed from the cruise line, but we do know the first ship will be 201,000 gross tons and be able to carry around 5,000 passengers. The is set to be delivered in 2019.
It’s the first time we’ve done this category for the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards. We aim to focus on the cruise ships in our awards to make them different from most. Voting has been open since September 2017 and thousands of cast a vote. Readers were only able to vote once and any repeats were not counted.
Congratulations to Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas, and we look forward to finding out more about the ship, which the cruise line will release over time the closer it gets to being completed.
For the first time ever we have a draw between Norwegian Joy and MSC Seaside for “Best New Cruise Ship” in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
We really didn’t expect this but two cruise ships have received the same amount of votes in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards. Norwegian Joy and MSC Seaside can both take home the crown for “Best New Cruise Ship” of 2017.
Norwegian Joy is the second Breakaway-Plus class vessel from Norwegian Cruise Line and has been purpose-built for the Chinese market. The ship which is now based out of China was delivered by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany in April 2017. The NCL ship is 167,400 gross tons and can carry over 4,200 passengers at double occupancy.
Norwegian Joy has also won “Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork” for 2017, read all about it here.
MSC Seaside is not long been in service and was just recently christened in PortMiami. This is the first ship in its class and built by Fincantieri in Italy. The ship is part of the cruise lines expansion plans in North America and is offering Caribbean cruises year-round from Miami, Florida. MSC Seaside is 153,500 gross tons and can carry over 4,100 guests at double occupancy.
Best New Cruise Ship Results
With the draw of Norwegian Joy and MSC Seaside for “Best New Cruise Ship” of the year, it leaves just four other news cruise ships within the category. In 2nd place came Majestic Princess which is another vessel purpose-built for the Chinese market. The Princess cruise ship is 143,700 gross tons and began cruises in Spring 2017.
3rd place went to MSC Meraviglia, the biggest news cruise ship to arrive in 2017 and the largest so far for the cruise line. MSC Meraviglia is the first in its class and was built by STX France. The new ship started sailing in Spring and is 167,600 gross tons carrying 4,500 guests.
4th place in the awards went to Viking Sky, a smaller vessel than the others and luxury at its very best. Viking Sky is the third ocean cruise ship for Viking Cruises, and it has 47,800 gross tons and entered service in the summer.
In the final position with the lowest amount of votes from Cruise Hive readers is World Dream, a new cruise ship that arrived for Dream Cruises Asia. The ship was built by Meyer Werft in Germany and is 151,100 gross tons and arrived in the fall.
This year’s Cruise Ship Awards received thousands of votes and more than previous years in the annual awards which Cruise hive readers can vote in. We had really double check this category due to the draw and we made sure there were no double votes from the same IP.
We must congratulate Norwegian joy and MSC Seaside for “Best New Cruise Ship” of 2017 where for the first time ever on Cruise Hive it was a draw!
The popular venue Guys Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line has been voted as “Best Cruise Ship Burger Venue” for 2017.
Once again Guys Burger Joint venue, which can be found on Carnival cruise ships has been voted as the “Best Cruise Ship Burger Venue” in this year’sCruise Ship Awards. Guys also won this category in 2016 so the burgers there must be so good! The Carnival burger venue didn’t just win but almost wiped the competition out with the second place far behind.
Guys Burger Joint first appeared on Carnival Liberty in 2011 as part of the ship FUN 2.0 upgrades. Since then these upgrades have been rolling out across the fleet to add more choice and options to cruisers. Guys Burger Joint offers free grilled burgers and hand cut fries near the main pool and guests can even add their own toppings and sources. The venue is in partnership with Food Network star Guy Fieri.
Best Cruise Ship Burger Venue Results
Guys Burger Joint dominated this category and burger venues on other cruise lines didn’t even come close! In 2nd place came Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean a tradition burger venue which has been a popular choice throughout the fleet.
In 3rd came O’Sheehans Bar & Grill found on Norwegian Cruise Line and 4th came Margaritaville at Sea which is only on some of the newest NCL cruise ships. and it isn’t included int he cruise price. The Dive in Terrace on Holland America Line came in 5th place, The Salty Dog Gastro Pub found on Princess Cruises came in 6th and finally in 7th place came Bistro On Five onboard Celebrity Cruises.
We received thousands of votes by Cruise Hive readers since the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards opened up in September. Readers were only able to vote once and any repeat votes were not counted. We went through checking to make the votes were correct not just for this category but all of them in this year’s awards.
We must congratulate Carnival Cruise Line for Guys Burger Joint winning “Best Cruise Ship Burger Venue” and let’s see if they can keep the trend going in 2018. We’ve already announced Carnival Cruise Line has won “Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment” with the Carnival Dream and “Best Cruise Ship Feature” with Carnival Vista’s SkyRide, there could be even more winners to come.
Royal Caribbeans Harmony of the Seas won the “Best Large Cruise Ship” of 2017 and got more votes than other large vessels in the industry.
Harmony of the Seas is operated by Royal Caribbean, and the ship has just won “Best Large Cruise Ship” in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards. Cruise Hive readers have been voting since September, and they have chosen the third Oasis-class ship, which is also currently the world’s largest cruise ship.
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship didn’t win by much, Carnival Vista, which is the largest ship from Carnival Cruise Line, was just a few votes away but ran out of time! Harmony of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in Spring 2016 and is an impressive 226,960 and can carry over 5,400 passengers at double occupancy.
As expected, with a cruise ship this size it has all the features to keep any type of cruiser busy during the entire voyage. One highlight is the Ultimate Abyss, which is an industry first and came second in this year’s “Best Cruise Ship Feature” on Cruise Hive.
Best Large Cruise Ship Results
Harmony of the Seas had some tough competition in the “Best Large Cruise Ship” category. The ship was up against other large vessels from Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard Line. We tried to keep it fair by not more than one ship from the same cruise line.
Photo By: Royal Caribbean
In close 2nd place came Carnival Vista, the newest Carnival ship, which joined the fleet in the Spring of 2016. The ship is 133,500 gross tons and introduced the first ever SkyRide and IMAX Theater at sea. The SkyRide feature also just won “Best Cruise Ship Feature” of 2017. The Carnival cruise ship has a passenger capacity of over 3,900 at double occupancy.
In 3rd place came Norwegian Escape which is operated by Norwegian Cruise Line and joined the fleet in 2015 as the first Breakaway-Plus class ship. The NCl vessel is a popular choice for cruisers out of PortMiami.
In 4th position came one of the most iconic cruise vessels in the world, Queen Mary 2. This ship, which is operated by Cunard Line, has long been a favorite of cruisers all over the world. When the ship first began sailing in 2003 it was the largest cruise ship in the world at 150,000 gross tons but now it is the 10th biggest!
In the last and final 5th place in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards was MSC Meraviglia which only began service in 2017 and is the largest ever MSC cruise ship so far at 167,600 gross tons and carrying over 4,400 passengers at double occupancy. More even larger cruise ships from MSC are on order.
Just remember a large cruise ship doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. We often find some amazing smaller vessels which offer more port options and a highly rated service.
With thousands of votes from Cruise Hive readers, we must say thank you to you all for taking the time to vote. This is the 4th Annual Cruise Ship Awards and since September voting had been open. We’ve taken away multiple votes from the same IP and checked to make sure voting is accurate.
Congratulations to Royal Caribbeans Harmony of the Seas cruise ship for winning “Best Large Cruise Ship” and we hope cruisers continue to enjoy the ship even if sister ship Symphony of the Seas will be slightly larger when she arrives in March 2018.
Norwegian Joy has won “Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork” and received more votes than three other ships from different cruise lines.
That stunning artwork seen on Norwegian Joy, which is the newest cruise ship currently operated by Norwegian Cruise Line is now award-winning thanks to Cruise Hive readers in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
The 3,900-passenger Norwegian Joy was delivered from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, in April 2017. This Breakaway-Plus class vessel and sister ship to Norwegian Escape has been purpose-built for the Chinese market, and its hull artwork complements that.
The design of the artwork is called “Phoenix” and it was visioned by renowned Chinese artist Tan Ping. Featured on the ship hull is an iconic mythical bird which is believed to reign supreme over all birds of the world and is used a lot throughout Chinese culture.
Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork Results
Norwegian Joy was up against World Dream from Dream Cruises Asia, P&O Britannia from the UK-based P&O Cruises, and Aidaperla from German-based Aida Cruises. This group was very international with cruise lines across the world and not just focused on the U.S. based lines.
In second place came World Dream, it was a very distant second with no possibility of beating Norwegian Joy. World Dream is operated by Dream Cruises Asia and was built at the same shipyard as Norwegian Joy.
In third place for this year’s Cruise Ship Awards came P&O Britannia, the largest-ever cruise ship for the British cruise line. The vessel has the Union Jack on its hull, showcasing the country across the world.
Finally in last position came Aidaperla, a new cruise ship for Germany’s Aida Cruises. the ship and other ships in the fleet are well known for featuring those big red lips on the hull.
We received thousands of votes by Cruise Hive readers in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards. We would like to say thank you to everyone who voted. Readers were only allowed to vote once in each category and any repeat votes found were not counted. As an original cruise blog that started in 1998, the awards are a good way to give back and highlight what our readers liked best in 2017.
For the past two years, Norwegian Escape has dominated the “Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork” category, and now, the sister ship Norwegian Joy has taken the crown.
Carnival Vista has won “Best Cruise Ship Feature” for the second year in a row and received more votes than five other cruise ship features.
The SkyRide feature, which was first introduced on Carnival Vista when it joined the fleet in Spring 2016, has won “Best Cruise Ship Feature” for the second time in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards. SkyRide is an industry-first pedal riding feature that is located on the top deck of the Carnival Vista.
The feature is elevated above the deck and is 800 feet long, offering stunning ocean views. Guests can sit back and enjoy the view or race against each other up to 25 MPH. You can see some behind-the-scenes footage of SkyRide right here.
Best Cruise Ship Feature Results
SkyRide was up against five other cruise ship features and it was pretty close between the top three. The first ever Race Track at sea on Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Joy came in second place. The Race Track is another industry first where guests can race in electric karts on the ship open deck.
In third place came The Ultimate Abyss slide which is 10-storeys high on Harmony of the Seas operated by Royal Caribbean. The slide starts from deck 16 aft and twists all the way down to the boardwalk Neighbourhood a lot further down below!
In fourth came Royal Caribbeans Quantum class RipCord by iFLY feature, located at the aft guests can try their skydiving techniques. Fifth place went to the 4D Cinema on MSC Divina which is based out of PortMiami. In last place with the least amount of votes was the Snow Grotto on Viking Sun.
Just because a feature got a low amount of votes doesn’t mean it isn’t good. In fact, all the cruise ship features are pretty impressive in their unique ways and we suggest trying them all out if possible!
We received thousands of votes in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards which is in its fourth year. Cruise Hive readers were only able to vote once in each category and any repeat votes from the same IP address were disregarded. The annual Cruise Ship Awards are different from most where we focus on the actual ships rather than the cruise lines. Voting opened up in September and ever since readers have been able to make a vote in the category they wanted.
We would like to congratulate the SkyRide feature on Carnival Vista. Readers would be happy to know that SkyRide is also coming to sister ship Carnival Horizon when it joins the fleet in Spring 2018.
Carnival Dream has come out on top for “Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment” in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards.
The Carnival cruise ship, which is the first in its class, has won “Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment” in the 2017 Cruise Ship Awards. Carnival Dream was up against three other ships from different cruise lines, including Norwegian Jade, Pacific Princess, and Queen Victoria.
Carnival Dream, which joined the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in 2009, dominated the group and received the most amount of votes from Cruise Hive readers. The Carnival cruise ship underwent a huge refurbishment at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas.
We featured plenty of photos from onboard the vessel during its major 2-week renovation in February 2017. The ship received the latest FUN 2.0 upgrades, including a new Guy’s Pig & Anchor Barbeque Smokehouse, BlueIguana Cantina, Alchemy Bar, Pizzeria del Capitano, and Bonsai Sushi.
Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment Results
So now we know Carnival Dream came out with the most amount of votes how about the other ships? In a very far second place came Norwegian Jade, which is operated by Norwegian Cruise Line; the vessel completed its dry dock at the end of March 2017.
In a close third place came Queen Victoria, a vessel operated by British-based Cunard Line. The Cunard ship’s major multi-million renovation was among the largest of the year. The ship was taken out of service in May 2017 while it was in dry dock at the shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.
Last in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards came Pacific Princess, which is operated by Princess Cruises. The ship underwent a major refurbishment, which lasted for two weeks. The dry dock was completed in June 2017, and the smaller cruise ship came out all new and ready for service with new enhancements.
Thousands of Cruise Hive readers voted in the annual 2017 Cruise Ship Awards which is now in its fourth year. Our readers were only able to vote once in each nomination category since we opened up the awards for voting in September 2017.
In 2016, Queen Mary 2, which is operated by Cunard Line, won “Best Cruise Refurbishment,” but this time around, the cruise line was outvoted with Carnival Dream getting more votes.
For many passengers, a day at sea is the best day of a cruise vacation, with an entire ship to explore and no rush to join a shore tour or make the most of a few limited hours in a port of call.
On a Carnival cruise, these “Fun Days at Sea” are packed with great activities and plenty of things to do. But when it is the last sea day of a Carnival cruise, what should you make sure to do so you aren’t missing any of the great on board opportunities?
Sea Day Timing
Exactly what you ought to do on a sea day will depend on when that last sea day may be during your cruise. On 3- and 4- night cruises, there is usually only one Fun Day at Sea, and it may be the very first day or the last day of the cruise.
On longer itineraries, there may be multiple sea days, and the last of those days could be early, late, or even in mid-cruise depending on the ports of call. You can check the itinerary of your ship on Carnival.com, or once you are on board, ask at the Guest Services desk for a complete itinerary.
Occasionally, an itinerary’s order may be changed and sea days could be shifted to accommodate weather patterns, port capacities, or ship limitations, but even if the day itself is changed, the sea day activities, options, and fun will still be part of the daily schedule.
Top 10 Things to Do on Your Last Carnival Cruise Sea Day
No matter when your sea day is scheduled, there are many great options you ought to take advantage of…
1. Sleep In or Take a Snooze
You’ll want to rest up for all the fun on a sea day, and sleeping in can help you do just that. There’s no need to rush to join a shore tour, catch an early tender boat, or quickly get involved, as most shipboard activities don’t start until after 9 a.m.
If you are a naturally early riser and don’t want to miss a minute, you could visit the gym or join an early workout or stretch class, or just head to the Lido deck for an early riser’s breakfast. You can always take a nap later in the day to recharge!
Photo By: Melissa Mayntz
2. Taste the Sea Day Brunch
For a more unique dining experience, the last sea day is your last opportunity to take advantage of Carnival’s Sea Day Brunch. Held in the main dining room with open seating, this is a delicious option to fuel up for your Fun Day at Sea.
Photo By: Russell Otway
The menu includes options not found at the Lido buffet breakfast, and you can also order omelettes, steak-n-eggs, grilled salmon, and other decadent entrees, not to mention desserts and morning cocktails.
3. Test Your Skills at Mini Golf and Other Athletic Fun
While it may be a bit busier because no one is off the ship, the miniature golf course is usually open longer hours on a sea day, giving you plenty of time to show off your putting skills.
If you prefer other options, all of Carnival’s athletic fun, including the SkyCourse, SkyRide, basketball court, and ping pong tables (options vary by ship) are available for your sea day fun, typically also with longer hours to accommodate everyone on board.
4. Shop ‘Til You Drop
With the Fun Shops open all day, there will be plenty of great sales to take advantage of during your last sea day.
Photo By: Russell Otway
The exact promotions may vary, but t-shirt sales, $10 flash sales, glassware sales, inch-of-gold custom necklace and bracelet sales, as well as great deals on Bella Perlina bracelets and other luxury jewelry and watches are always popular. The selection is best right when the sales begin, so don’t delay or you may not find the sizes or styles you prefer.
5. Win Your Ship on a Stick
The 24-karat-gold-ship-on-a-stick is Carnival’s ultimate souvenir, and the best way to get one is to win one of the many different games on board.
Photo By: Melissa Mayntz
Join in a trivia contest, get a team together for giant Jenga, participate in a scavenger hunt, grab a pen for Pictionary, stretch your brain for Scattergories, or try any of the other fun and games throughout the day. When the ship is in port there will be fewer chances to win and these souvenirs may slip through your fingers.
6. Slip Down the Waterslide
It’s going to get hot on deck during a sunny day at sea, and there’s no better time to take your turn on the Twister Waterslide or visit WaterWorks for multiple slides, fountains, and splish-splashy fun. Minimum height requirements apply for the larger slides, but there is plenty of aquatic fun even for younger cruisers.
Photo By: Russell Otway
If you prefer more sedate water-going options, don’t miss the pools or whirlpools on board as great ways to get wet.
7. Be Proud of Your Pelt at the Hairy Chest Contest
The famous Hairy Chest Contest is always a sea day favorite and is usually scheduled for the early afternoon of the last sea day. It’s more about attitude than hair, and brave men willing to show off their manliness will complete in several tasks to win the honor of Hairy Chest Champion.
But ladies join in as well, as the all-female judging panel will determine just how worthy each competitor is. This event is always popular – get your lounge chairs or viewing spot by the Lido pool early so you don’t miss out.
8. Grab a Crazy Delicious Lunch
Your last day at sea may be your last opportunity to enjoy the delicious lunch offerings on board. You can always stick with the Lido buffet, deli, or pizza, but why not indulge in one more burger from Guy’s Burger Joint, or try a taco or burrito with fresh homemade salsa from the BlueIguana Cantina?
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line
For a smoky favorite, visit Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, and don’t forget to top off your lunch with soft serve ice cream or frozen yogurt from Swirls.
9. Indulge in the Chocolate Extravaganza
Even while you’re enjoying lunch, save room for Carnival’s Chocolate Extravaganza – an all-chocolate, unlimited dessert buffet on the last sea day.
A wide variety of chocolate delights await you, including cakes, handmade ice cream swans, sugared almonds, chocolate dipped orange peel, rum truffles, chocolate mousse, rice pudding, cookies, and more, as well as a luxurious chocolate fountain. From white to milk to dark, all your chocolate fantasies will be fulfilled at this delicious event.
Photo By: Melissa Mayntz
10. Go Behind the Fun
One of the best experiences you can have on your last sea day on a Carnival cruise is to join the Behind the Fun tour. This tour is limited to just a few passengers who sign up early, and takes this select group into crew areas as well as other restricted areas of the ship, including the galley, theater prep area, laundry services, engine room, and of course, the bridge.
The exact length of the tour, areas visited, and per-passenger cost vary based on the ship class, and while cameras are not permitted for security reasons, complimentary photos are part of the tour as well as exclusive treats and souvenirs.
More to Do on an Early Sea Day
While there are plenty of great things to try no matter when your last sea day is scheduled, if the day at sea is early in the cruise, you may also want to take care of some other tasks.
Get acquainted with your ship, make dining reservations for any specialty restaurants, book spa treatments, buy a drink package, and take care of other beginning-cruise tasks to be sure your Carnival cruise vacation is smooth sailing.
More to Do on a Late Sea Day
When a final day at sea is actually the last day of the cruise, it can be a good time to take care of several essential tasks to be sure your debarkation morning is smooth and efficient.
Attend the debarkation talk or watch it on your in-cabin television, and settle your Sail and Sign account if you have a cash balance. Now is also the time to cash out at the casino, and offer extra tips to any crew members who have made your experience extraordinary.
Don’t forget to stop by the photo gallery to purchase any keepsake photos as well, since they may not be available the next morning.
Any day at sea is a great time on a Carnival cruise, with a wide array of activities and events on board. Don’t miss out, and make the most of your Fun Day at Sea by getting involved – it’s your cruise, make it a fun one!
Portholes are the ultimate in classic ship viewports, but is the view good enough for you to consider a cruise ship porthole cabin for your next cruise vacation? Learn just how different these cabins can be and discover if one is right for you and your cruise preferences.
What Is a Cruise Ship Porthole Cabin?
Portholes go by many names, including bull’s-eye windows and sidescuttles, but their historic purpose has always been the same – to allow natural light and fresh air into below deck spaces. That wasn’t portholes’ original purpose, however.
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The first portholes originated in the late 1400s to allow larger cannons to be part of a ship’s armament, and because the cannons were too large to be safely anchored on deck, holes had to be cut into the hull to accommodate the cannons.
Portholes are generally circular, with glass mounted in a metal frame. Brass and bronze frames are preferred because they are more resistant to saltwater corrosion, but steel, iron and aluminum frames can also be used for portholes. A solid storm cover is typically mounted on the interior of the porthole to allow it to be tightly closed in case of rough seas or to block light.
Today, portholes are largely ornamental or nostalgic. With sophisticated venting systems, electric lighting, air conditioning and on-board generators, it is no longer necessary to have these holes in the hull for light and air, and they certainly aren’t needed for either offensive or defensive purposes on cruise ships.
But they can be great accents that not only provide natural light in cabins but also evoke that sense of true shipboard life with their whimsical nostalgia.
Older, smaller vessels often have a greater number of porthole cabins available, though newer, more modern ships often incorporate porthole-like features with larger, round oceanview windows or even digital screens that mimic portholes, even providing exterior views, in interior cabins. While these aren’t true portholes, they can still be fun accents in a cruise ship cabin.
Inside a Porthole Cruise Ship Cabin
Depending on the cruise line and the types of cabins available on any particular ship, a cruise ship porthole cabin might be classified as a type of oceanview cabin or may have their own porthole category designation.
Some lines even classify porthole cabins as a type of interior cabin, though they do still offer a limited outdoor view.
Generally, these cabins are located on lower decks closer to the waterline, and typically are the furthest forward on the ship, closest to the bow. Because this is at the point where the ship’s hull is bending or curving, these cabins may have slightly smaller floor space, though the square footage differences are minimal when compared to similar interior or oceanview cabins.
All Photos By: Melissa Mayntz
The portholes themselves – there may be one or two in a single cabin – are deeply recessed in the ship’s hull, often within a substantial cubby or shelf. While this is not floorspace for the cabin, it can be a convenient place to store clothing, shoes, beach towels, extra pillows, towel pal friends and other items, freeing up additional space so the cabin seems less cluttered.
The size of the portholes can vary, but they are generally 12-20 inches in diameter per porthole. While this may seem large, because these openings are deeply set into the ship’s hull, the view they offer is extremely limited.
It is enough, however, to admit plenty of natural light, and to see glimpses of the weather and sea conditions. Passengers who are accustomed to the brighter light of full oceanview cabins or balcony cabins may find porthole cabins to be slightly dimmer, which could make the cabin seem smaller or more cramped.
Passengers who prefer a darker sleeping space, however, will likely appreciate the smaller window area, as well as the storm covers that can be closed if total darkness is desired.
A curtain is typically hung across the recessed space as well, which can provide extra shielding from excess light and keep the space hidden so any storage clutter is concealed.
Because these cabins are lower and more forward on the ship, many noises – most notably the crashing of waves against the ship’s bow, as well as the motions of anchors, pilots or tugs – are more noticeable in a cruise ship porthole cabin.
These cabins are also more subject to the motion of the ship as well, including swells and dips. Travelers who are very sensitive to the ship’s motion or who are very light sleepers may want to reconsider opting for a porthole cabin, though in calm seas, these differences are negligible and hardly noticeable.
One of the best features of porthole cabins is the price. Because these are not full oceanview cabins, they are often offered at a significantly lower fare than cabins with broad windows, yet porthole cabins do still offer plenty of natural light.
This can be a great option for cruisers on a budget to still enjoy natural light without a higher price tag.
Despite the differences in porthole cabins, it is important to remember that these cabins are still on the same cruise ship as all other cabin types.
They still include the same cruise amenities, entertainment, dining, activities, itinerary and all the other goodies of the cruise, and passengers in every cabin type have the same opportunities for a great getaway. Why not try a cruise ship porthole cabin for your next cruise?
