Up next in 10
Cruise Cabin mistakes and screw ups to avoid. Choosing a cruise cabin is much more important than any cruise passengers think. Not all cabin are equal, even in the same grade. Many cruisers say to me that a cruise cabin, or cruise stateroom as some cruise lines call them, is not that important as they do not intend to spend any time in them. Discover why this is a mistake that so many cruise passengers tell me they got wrong, along with other cruise cabin tips I have learnt (mostly the hard way)
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TikTok: @garybembridge
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if you get it right you almost don't
0:02
notice it but if you get it wrong
0:04
you will keep kicking yourself and so
0:07
will whoever you're cruising with that's
0:08
why
0:09
i've put this together if you're new to
0:11
the channel welcome aboard i'm gary
0:13
bembridge and my tips for travellers are
0:15
here to make it easier to find plan
0:17
and have those cruise vacations you and
0:20
your family
0:20
dream of with that in mind let's get
0:23
going one of the biggest mistakes that
0:26
people make
0:27
is they don't want to spend time or
0:29
money on their cabin because of the idea
0:31
that they don't spend any time in there
0:32
i don't spend any time in my cabin
0:34
i just sleep in my cabin it's not that
0:36
important from there comes
0:38
a huge amount of misery and unhappy
0:40
cruise experience i know
0:41
because i learned the hard way and i
0:42
literally get hundreds of comments
0:45
confirming just this it's also actually
0:47
not true
0:48
every single day you will spend up to
0:50
half of your day this is 24 hours a day
0:52
you're gonna spend six to eight hours
0:54
sleeping perhaps one or two hours
0:56
getting ready
0:57
in the morning evening perhaps when you
0:58
come back from an
1:00
excursion so you could be spending half
1:02
of the day there
1:03
the biggest regret i get is that people
1:05
didn't take that
1:06
seriously enough everyone assumes of
1:09
course that
1:10
everything will be perfect it'll run
1:12
smoothly and be just right on a vacation
1:15
but it may not be and it's really not
1:17
worth taking that risk because if it
1:18
goes wrong
1:19
then you have real problems so for
1:21
example it's all fine until you
1:23
have a huge amount of noise which means
1:26
you don't get the rest that you want
1:28
anchors going up nightclubs theaters gym
1:30
equipment banging
1:31
the scraping of chairs on a pool deck
1:33
above you parting people around the
1:35
elevators
1:36
problem neighbors or kids noise coming
1:38
through interconnecting door
1:39
crew coming and going through slamming
1:41
access doors people heading off port
1:44
if your access to that areas right next
1:47
to where you are all night kitchen noise
1:49
vibration from engines and so on i won't
1:51
keep going
1:52
on but there is a huge amount of things
1:54
that could actually get in the way
1:56
of you enjoying and having a great time
1:58
so even if you're partying late you
2:00
still want to be able
2:01
to catch up on your sleep your mind will
2:03
never nap or chill out before going out
2:05
and so that's why it's really important
2:07
to focus on your carbon and don't just
2:09
assume that you're not going to spend
2:11
any time there
2:12
the second thing is you might have to
2:14
spend time in your cabin now in the past
2:16
this could have been say due to a
2:17
norovirus outbreak when you are then
2:19
required
2:19
to stay in your cabin you could be there
2:21
for a few days
2:23
i was once quarantined or forced to
2:25
quarantine in a small ocean view cabin
2:26
had an obstructed view there was noise
2:29
all day because it was above a walkway
2:31
and so it was pretty pretty
2:32
uncomfortable i was there for three days
2:34
also of course more importantly with the
2:36
risks of coronavirus
2:38
and the whole quarantining process a
2:39
whole lot of people
2:41
actually spend up to two weeks
2:42
guaranteed in their cabin and if they
2:43
didn't have a great cabin
2:45
that was a real big issue now the new
2:46
protocols mean that you're unlikely
2:49
to be forced to stay in your cabin for
2:51
that long but you could find yourself
2:52
because these new protocols
2:54
if you are found to be a close contact
2:55
to someone from positive be forced to
2:57
stay in your cabin
2:58
so you do need to also think about what
3:01
happens if i have to stay
3:02
in my cabin so what should you actually
3:05
do well
3:05
the first thing i recommend that you do
3:07
is choose your cabin
3:09
based on a fare where you're allowed to
3:11
choose your cabin not a guaranteed fare
3:13
now this could cost you a little bit
3:14
more but not always a guaranteed fare
3:16
means a cruise line allocates the actual
3:18
cabin to you you have no say
3:20
but always then once you've done that
3:22
look at the deck plans whether it's
3:24
online
3:25
in brochures or downloading a pdf or
3:27
whatever but basically
3:28
simply make sure that you're surrounded
3:30
on all sides by cabins
3:32
so you've got something above you below
3:33
you either side of you and opposite you
3:35
that's the best way of ensuring
3:37
you're going to be away from those
3:38
problem areas the second mistake
3:40
is about not being clear on your
3:43
requirements
3:44
and making sure that you book really
3:46
early if you do have requirements
3:47
whether it's for its accessible needs
3:49
your solo traveler family or whatever
3:51
it's really really important
3:52
if you are either fussy about your cabin
3:55
like i am
3:56
or you're going to have needs so
3:57
accessible cabins is a really important
3:59
one if you do need accessibility issues
4:01
or you need a family cabin all those
4:03
kind of things which are pretty limited
4:05
like solo cabins
4:06
because this is going to drive really
4:09
what's important to you when it comes to
4:10
cabin is an inside cabin an ocean view
4:12
cabin a balcony cabin
4:14
or a suite really really important write
4:16
down your very specific requirements
4:18
make sure your agent has them or
4:20
certainly you have them as a checklist
4:22
things to think about is as i've already
4:24
mentioned is it accessible for example
4:26
if you're traveling with someone who has
4:27
accessibility needs
4:28
do you need an interconnected cabinet
4:30
what sort of amenities do you want do
4:31
you want a bath
4:32
or a shower what sort of size do you
4:34
need do you want a balcony that's
4:36
perhaps
4:36
not overlooked so you can sunbathe is it
4:39
close to the smoking areas do you have
4:41
lots of
4:41
storage space whatever it is just make
4:44
sure you spend some time with you
4:46
whoever you're traveling with around the
4:47
sort of things that are really important
4:49
to you
4:49
in your cabin and really really think
4:52
about it
4:53
me i have a very simple list which my
4:55
travel agent has
4:56
and she knows exactly the sort of cabin
4:58
that i want
4:59
every single time also very importantly
5:02
you need to plan ahead if you have
5:03
special needs
5:04
and you're going to have the greatest
5:06
chance of getting the cabin you need
5:07
when
5:08
the new cruises come on sale so if you
5:10
do have needs
5:12
really really important plan ahead sign
5:13
up for the email newsletters
5:15
let your agent know and as soon as they
5:17
come on board and
5:18
are on sale start booking those so you
5:20
make sure you have the most
5:22
choice possible the next mistake that i
5:25
see
5:25
is not thinking about the people that
5:27
you're traveling with
5:28
so for example i wake up really early
5:30
but my partner doesn't
5:31
so people are often asked what they
5:33
should do for example if one is an
5:35
insomniac
5:36
or whatever so when traveling for
5:38
example i like to choose a cabin which
5:39
has a curtain that you can draw
5:41
to separate the bed and the seating area
5:43
now these are pretty common
5:44
for cabins which have a sofa bed so they
5:46
can sleep three or four people
5:48
so knowing that's an important issue
5:50
means that you can look for a cabin that
5:51
addresses
5:52
that specific need that i have and my
5:55
partner has but if you're traveling with
5:56
friends
5:57
check what is important to them so if
5:59
you're sharing a cabin
6:00
one of those cabins with curtains for
6:02
example could be a great idea
6:04
if you're traveling with others have a
6:06
think around do you want cabins close to
6:07
each other do you want to be
6:08
interconnected for example
6:10
we travel quite often with our mothers
6:12
and if we don't plan well they've ended
6:14
up being on different decks
6:15
far away they get lost and it's much
6:17
less fun because they're not just right
6:19
next door
6:19
opposite to pop by so really just think
6:21
about the sort of things that
6:23
are important for example bathroom size
6:25
is a really important one
6:26
particularly if you both have real needs
6:28
around getting ready at the same time
6:30
which you're likely to do
6:31
so think really carefully about those
6:33
kind of things what is it that's
6:35
important for you
6:36
and the people you're traveling with so
6:37
again a bit like i said earlier write
6:39
down requirements write a checklist with
6:40
everybody
6:41
don't leave it a chance make sure every
6:43
little quirk that people might have
6:45
some of them could surprise you another
6:48
mistake that i see
6:49
is people fretting and worrying about
6:50
whether they should be on the port or
6:52
the starboard side port being left
6:54
starboard being right
6:55
and i get lots of people asking me what
6:57
should i do don't worry about it
6:59
at all in reality it's not important so
7:01
if you're out
7:02
sailing it's mostly at night you're
7:04
going to be far away from land so it's
7:06
not
7:06
really going to make a difference the
7:08
ship can dock either side
7:10
port or starboard and they will do that
7:12
based on whatever's right
7:14
for that particular port they're in with
7:15
its weather the one they've been
7:16
allocated
7:17
to docket or whatever now it is perhaps
7:20
a little bit important
7:21
if you are heading say on a one-way trip
7:23
in alaska because you might want to
7:25
get the chance to see the sunrise or the
7:27
sunset or whatever or you're sending
7:28
into new york
7:29
on transatlantic you might want to be on
7:30
the port side however
7:32
that is not the important thing focusing
7:34
on port and starboard is not important
7:36
focusing
7:37
on which deck you want to be in and
7:39
whether you want to be
7:40
in the front the middle or the back of
7:42
the ship and that's really really much
7:44
more important so if you're worried
7:45
about seasickness for example
7:47
being on a low deck right in the middle
7:49
really important
7:50
if you want to be perhaps near the
7:51
dining venues you might want to be there
7:53
mostly at the back you might want to be
7:55
more at the back
7:56
or if you want to be near the fitness
7:57
center which is more in the front
7:59
so think about those kind of things that
8:01
you want to do don't worry about port
8:03
and starboard it really is going to make
8:05
no difference at all even on cruises
8:07
where site seems really important so for
8:09
example alaska when you do senior
8:10
cruising
8:11
the capital will actually move the ship
8:12
around so both sides get to see the
8:14
glaciers and in fact on those sort of
8:17
sites seeing scenic cruises it's better
8:18
to be up on deck
8:19
anyway so again you might want to choose
8:22
for example to have a cabin right at the
8:24
back which is a balcony at the back so
8:25
you're actually looking at the back and
8:26
getting scenery that way
8:28
so deck and where your on the ship is
8:30
much important than port and starboard
8:33
another really common mistake and this
8:35
might surprise you that i see is taking
8:36
an
8:37
auto upgrade assuming you will get a
8:39
better cabin now i never
8:41
ever put down to take the auto upgrade
8:44
which means that you get moved to a
8:45
higher grade and the cruise line chooses
8:48
where you go
8:49
i focus on choosing the right cabin in
8:51
the grade that i'm in
8:53
make sure that it's really dresses all
8:54
of those issues i've spoken about and
8:56
it's going to be a great cabin
8:57
the danger with taking an auto upgrade
8:59
is you
9:00
normally get no say in the cabin that
9:03
they move you to
9:04
so you tick the box the cruise line
9:07
moves you to a cabin and you don't have
9:08
any say now there's one or two
9:10
exceptions to that but basically you
9:11
might find yourself in a cabin that you
9:12
really don't like
9:13
i've had so many people contact me
9:15
saying they thought the upgrade
9:17
was a great idea they ticked auto
9:18
upgrade and they found themselves in a
9:20
cabin
9:20
which they didn't actually really like
9:22
because bear in mind you'd likely to be
9:23
upgraded to the worst
9:25
of the next grade up because they're
9:26
going to move all those people who've
9:27
paid
9:28
up to the better ones and basically the
9:30
worst ones if you like are left
9:32
at the end of that so what should you do
9:35
focus on choosing the right cabin in the
9:36
grade that you are
9:37
at first the other thing you could do
9:39
though is ask your agent
9:40
if upgrades are available close to the
9:43
setting because you'll often find you
9:44
might be able to pay for an upgrade
9:46
and choose a cabin and you don't have to
9:48
pay that much
9:49
but avoid the auto upgrade
9:52
the biggest mistake of all is people
9:54
forgetting that it's all about location
9:56
location location
9:57
so deciding where on a ship you want to
10:00
be that meets the sort of way that you
10:01
want to cruise
10:02
is the most important thing of all it's
10:05
all about
10:06
as it is with where you live about
10:07
location as i mentioned earlier do you
10:09
want to be close to facilities
10:10
dining rooms night lives whatever and
10:12
this is becoming more important
10:14
particularly on the big mega ships
10:16
otherwise you could find yourself
10:17
walking around huge amounts so actually
10:19
what should you do
10:20
what you should do is take a look at the
10:22
deck plans again pdfs
10:24
online talk to your agent and basically
10:26
run through what you
10:27
and your partner or family think you'll
10:29
be doing on a cruise and decide where on
10:31
the ship that you want to be
10:33
front middle back and which deck which
10:36
is going to give you the best cabin to
10:38
give you the best cruise experience with
10:39
what you want to do
10:41
i have tips for different cabin types
10:43
which you really need to know about
10:44
to also help you decide now i've put
10:46
them in this playlist right here there's
10:48
two videos in here to take a look at
10:49
so click right now to watch to find out
10:52
what you should be doing
10:54
when it comes to choosing a grade
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