The brochure category is the least of it. Over 140 nights, where your suite sits on the ship matters more than how it is named.
Deck and distance
Midship suites on the middle decks move least in a sea. If you have ever felt motion on a seven-night cruise, that alone should narrow your choice. Think too about distance to the elevators and stairs: close enough to be convenient, far enough that you are not listening to doors at midnight. On a world cruise you will walk that corridor a thousand times.
What is above and below you
We look at the deck plan for every suite we recommend. A suite under a pool deck, a galley, a lounge with a late set or a crew work area will sound different at 2 a.m. than one under other suites. Likewise a suite over the theater or beneath the jogging track. These are the details that do not appear in the category description and that nobody tells you about until you are aboard.
Port or starboard
On a westbound world cruise the sun favors one side of the ship for long stretches, and arrivals into harbors like Sydney or Lisbon play out on one side too. Which side is right depends on the itinerary direction and on whether you are a morning or an evening person on your verandah. We will tell you which one we would choose, and why.
The verandah is your living room
Over four months a verandah is where you take coffee, read, watch arrivals and call home. Size and privacy vary more than the category name suggests, especially at the aft and the forward corners. If you plan to spend real time outside, it is worth paying for depth rather than for an extra few square feet inside.
Closets, laundry, and the things nobody asks
Ask about closet space and whether a second wardrobe can be added. Ask where the self-service laundry is relative to your suite. Ask whether the suite has a full tub or only a shower, because that matters to some travelers more than they expect. We ask these on your behalf before you choose, and we keep a note of what you told us so the next voyage starts where this one left off.
Tell us how you like to live aboard, and we will send three suites that fit →
