Inside Crew Cabins on Cruise Ship (2023)

Unlike guest staterooms, crew cabins are pretty small and usually located on deck 0, or below the sea level – deck A and B. Most of the crew cabins don’t have portholes (windows) – this luxury is reserved for some staff and officers – so for first-time crew members this might be a little confusing. You will have a hard time determining if it is day or night. Depending on your position or department, cabins are shared between 2-4 people. Only officers and middle management have single bed cabins, and as we mentioned before they also have portholes.
Inside Crew Cabins on Cruise Ship (1)

Standard crew cabins have:
- Beds (usually bunk beds).
- Toilet/shower cubicle (some of the ships share one bathroom between two cabins, or the older ships have common shower areas for female or male crew).
- Small to medium wardrobe cabinet.
- Writing desk with drawers.
- Phone.
- TV and DVD/VCR player.
- Small refrigerators (rarely, but some crew cabins have them).
- Chairs (usually one or two).
- Safe boxes.
- Mirror.

(Video) Where Does The Crew Live On A Cruise Ship

You need to keep the cabin clean and tidy because you share it with different people from different cultures. Also, there are cabin inspections from time to time in order to make sure that you are living within the rules laid down by the cruise company.

Inside Crew Cabins on Cruise Ship (2)

(Video) A look at the secret crew-only areas on cruise ships

See Crew cabin Gallery

There is a range of crew facilities including bars, open deck area, gym, laundry, crew mess, staff mess, officers mess, disco, accommodation, recreation area, pool, and some even sauna, especially for the crew.

(Video) Crew Cabin Tour on a Cruise Ship

Press here to take a look inside other cruise ship crew areas.

Inside Crew Cabins on Cruise Ship (3)

(Video) CRUISE SHIP CREW CABIN TOUR 🛳 | SMALL SPACE ORGANIZATION | Harmony of the Seas

Take a look at MSC Meraviglia Crew Cabins

Inside Crew Cabins on Cruise Ship (4)

(Video) CRUISE SHIP Deck Officer's Cabin Tour

(Video) CREW CABIN TOUR | I Work On A Cruise Ship | Royal Caribbean Crew VLOG

FAQs

What are crew cabins like on cruise ships? ›

Measuring around 120 square feet, crew cabins are typically tight and don't have windows. They're commonly furnished with a set of bunk beds with privacy curtains, a mini-fridge, a desk, a closet, and a TV with a side table.

Where is the best inside cabin on a cruise ship? ›

Rear-facing balcony cabins are among the best balcony cabins on any ship. Often, their balconies are bigger than balconies on side-facing cabins and they also feel quiet. There are far fewer balcony cabins at the back of a ship than on the sides of a ship, so you don't hear a lot of noise from your neighbors.

What does inside cabin mean on a cruise? ›

An inside cabin on a cruise ship is a windowless room, located in the middle of each deck, rather than along the exterior edge of the ship. These rooms get no natural light, which is why they're often the cheapest cruise rooms you can book. Inside rooms are often the smallest onboard.

How do 4 people sleep in a cruise cabin? ›

Many regular cruise rooms, also called cabins or staterooms, can sleep up to four people. All rooms have two twin beds that can be pushed together to form a queen or king; additional sleeping spots might be a pullout sofa or upper bunks that fold down or pull down from the wall or ceiling.

Which floor is better on a cruise ship? ›

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks.

Can you sleep with cruise staff? ›

Some Truths about Cruise Ship Romances:

Passengers and crew aren't allowed to date. And cruise employees aren't allowed to hook up with passengers. Sorry, Doc from The Love Boat, you would have been fired many, many times. Seriously, this is not worth getting fired over.

What is the roughest part of a cruise ship? ›

The front of a ship can be the most uncomfortable place to be in big waves. This is because the front of a ship pitches a lot more in waves than the center of a ship or even the back.

Are aft cabins better? ›

The Pros: Cruise Aft Cabins

Fans of aft balcony cabins love the expansive, uninterrupted ocean views over the ship's wake. You're also likely to score significantly more space in your cruise's aft cabins than standard balcony cabins along the port and starboard sides of the ship.

What is an inside cabin like? ›

An inside cabin is a stateroom located in the centre of the ship, with no windows or balcony to the outside. Inside cabins offer no natural light and for that reason, they are cheaper than any other type of cruise cabin. There are four main cruise ship cabin types to choose from: Inside cabin – no windows or balcony.

How big are inside cabins on cruise ships? ›

On most major cruise lines (such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess and Holland America), the size of a standard inside cabin will most likely fall between 150 and 185 square feet, a standard outside 160 to 200 square feet and a standard balcony 175 to 220 square feet.

Is an inside cabin on a ship is more expensive than a balcony? ›

Interior cabins are cheaper than balcony rooms

Of course, the biggest reason why many passengers choose to sail in an interior cabin is cost.

Do you share a bathroom on a cruise? ›

You get your very own private bathroom – even though it's a small one. Typical cruise ship bathrooms feature a toilet, single sink with a few shelves for storing toiletries, and a small shower.

How much do you tip the cabin steward? ›

There aren't any hard-and-fast guidelines for this type of tip since it's contingent on your experience, but $25 to $40 on behalf of a couple roughly works out to an extra $2 to $3 per person, per day, for a seven-night cruise.

Do cruise ship workers share rooms? ›

Crew and staff members often have one roommate, though they sometimes have three. Their rooms are furnished simply, giving occupants some combination of a bed, a desk, a closet, a few shelves, and a small bathroom.

Is it better to be on the left or right side of a cruise ship? ›

If you'd rather see the sunrise while sailing south or east, staying on the port side is your ideal choice as well. Choose the starboard side for the opposite situation: sunsets are visible on southbound and eastbound sailings while sunrises are visible on northbound and westbound cruises.

What is the best room on a ship? ›

In general, the most popular spot to be on a cruise ship is midship on a higher deck because these rooms are centrally located. Moreover, cabins towards the middle of the ship have the reputation of providing a smoother ride when the ocean is rough.

Do cruise ships provide condoms? ›

Some cruise lines do understand that the salt sea air and ocean waves can lead to romantic encounters. Royal Caribbean and MSC passengers do have access to condoms, pregnancy kits and lubrication, while P&O, Cunard and Princess have the morning after pill.

How long are cruise workers away for? ›

After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

Who earns the most on a cruise ship? ›

It comes as no surprise that the ship's captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation. The captain can earn almost $100,000 manually depending on the cruise line and experience.

Is it worth getting a balcony on a cruise ship? ›

Balcony cabins are great for giving you that much needed bit of personal space when you're both in the room. If he wants to nap but you're wide awake, a balcony offers you a place to hang out without worrying if you're making too much noise or using too bright lights.

Can you sleep on the balcony of a cruise ship? ›

Can You Sleep on a Cruise Ship Balcony? There are no rules that say that passengers on cruise ships can't sleep on their balconies. That said, cruise lines do generally advise against it. Despite this many people enjoy sleeping on their balconies and you won't have any problem doing so if you want to.

Is it better to have a room in the front or back of a cruise ship? ›

The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.

What does code 7 mean on a cruise ship? ›

Seven or more short blasts of the ship's whistle followed by a single long blast warns passengers to gather at their muster stations. “Delta” signifies damage to the cruise ship; “Papa” means pollution or oil spill; “Sierra” calls for a stretcher. “Priority 2” is a leak on the vessel.

Are there jail cells on a cruise ship? ›

Are there jails on cruise ships? Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship. The term comes from the word "brigantine," which is a type of two-masted sailing ship formerly used to house criminals.

Is crime high on cruise ships? ›

In fact, following the release of the latest CVSSA statistics, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) commented that the report “shows that allegations of serious crime on board cruise ships remain extremely rare, especially compared to crimes that occur on land.”

Are aft facing balconies noisy? ›

Aft balcony rooms are a long walk from elevators and public areas compared to midship cabins, but they're also quieter with limited hallway noise.

Why are aft facing balconies better? ›

Aft-facing balconies are at the back of the ship, looking out over the ocean that the vessel has traveled. The advantages of an aft-facing cabin are the views. They are generally bigger than the side-facing cabins, they provide more privacy, and there is less people-generated noise.

What is the best room on a cruise ship for motion sickness? ›

To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.

How big is an inside cabin? ›

The average size of an inside cabin is 167 feet squared (15.7 meters squared). This varies not only by cruise line but also by ship. The majority of inside cabins are between 160-180 square feet with some being as small as 120ft2 and some as large as 200ft2. Below are 9 examples of inside cabin sizes.

What's the difference between inside and outside cabin? ›

What Is The Difference Between an Inside and Outside Cabin on a Cruise Ship? Inside cabins are located on the inside of a cruise ship and have no windows. Outside cabins, often known as ocean view cabins, are almost identical in size and amenities but have either a porthole or picture window.

Is it hard to sleep on a cruise ship? ›

In fact, cruise regulars will tell you that you'll usually get a better night's sleep on board – thanks to the comfy beds, the gentle rocking motion of the boat and the simple fact that there's no need to set your alarm!

Why is there no floor 13 on cruise ships? ›

Why do Cruise Ships Not Have a Deck 13? Many ships do not have a deck 13 due to superstition surrounding the number. These ships will simply skip from deck 12 straight to 14.

Can you have 5 people in a room on cruise ship? ›

Typically, a five-berth cabin will feature a double sleep sofa and one pull-down bunk; six-berth cabins have two pull-down bunks plus the sofa-bed, so five-person families can put each kid in a separate bed.

Can 4 people fit in a room on Carnival cruise? ›

Carnival cruise ships have cabins in all categories that can accommodate families of three or four, either with a sofa bed or pull-down bunk beds. All ships have connecting rooms, so parents with older children who need more space (and two full bathrooms!) can book adjoining rooms, then open up a door between them.

Which room on a cruise ship is least expensive? ›

The standard (and least expensive) room on any cruise ship is typically called an inside or interior stateroom. These cabins often sleep three to four people and are located in the middle of the ship, with no exterior view of the vessel's surroundings.

What is the most expensive room on a cruise ship called? ›

The Regent Suite on Seven Seas Splendor averages a whopping $77,000 per weeklong cruise ($5,500 per person, per night), takes up 4,443 square feet of space and features the most expensive bed in the world with a price tag of $200,000.

What are the 3 types of rooms on a cruise ship? ›

Cruise ships have four types of cabins (also known as staterooms) namely, inside cabins, outside cabins, balcony cabins, and suites.

Do you have to dress up every night on a cruise? ›

Absolutely not. Your cruise is your own. If you don't want to dress up for the evening, then you certainly don't have to do so. Many people choose to keep it casual.

Do they pat you down before a cruise? ›

No Pat-downs

Don't worry. We've never seen anyone being patted down for a cruise. They are looking for metal objects. If someone sets off the metal detector, then a wand will be used to find the object.

Can you wear jeans on a cruise ship? ›

Acceptable attire includes sportswear, collared shirts, pants and jackets (if desired, but not required) for men and sportswear, casual dresses, or skirts and pants with blouses or knit tops for women. Regular, but not torn or distressed jeans, are fine.

What happens if you don't tip on a cruise? ›

When you forego tipping on your cruise, you aren't hurting the corporation. You're just lowering the pool of funds that hard-working service employees share at the end of the journey. Automatically added gratuities take the confusion out of tipping on your cruise.

Do you tip first class attendants? ›

While flight attendants spend most of the flight providing service to customers, unlike other people in service industries, they shouldn't be tipped. There's no expectation to tip flight attendants, and for that matter some airlines have policies against tipping flight attendants.

How much do you tip a cruise steward 2022? ›

They clean your cabin daily, keeping it stocked with towels, amenities, and anything you need. If your cruise steward goes above and beyond, a cash tip at the end of your stay to show your appreciation. We usually recommend tipping your cruise steward $3-5 per person daily.

Can you bring family if you work on a cruise ship? ›

Yes, you can work onboard a cruise ship if you have a child. A huge percentage of people working on cruise ships have kids. Most of those kids are not onboard though. The majority of crew member that have children have family members at home taking care of them while the crew member works onboard.

What does pineapple mean on cruise? ›

On a cruise ship, the secret symbol of an upside-down pineapple is regularly used as a code for swinging or “wife-swapping”. In most cases, an illustrated and upside-down pineapple is fixed to the cabin door of a guest interested in swinging and partner swapping.

Where does the crew sleep on a cruise? ›

Unlike guest staterooms, crew cabins are pretty small and usually located on deck 0, or below the sea level – deck A and B. Most of the crew cabins don't have portholes (windows) – this luxury is reserved for some staff and officers – so for first-time crew members this might be a little confusing.

Do cruise ship workers get their own room? ›

All officers have their own cabins while the rest of the crew used to share a cabin (two per room). It seems like as of now, all crew members will have a single cabin. Cabins are, I would say, ok … There are three cabinets, bed, sofa, working desk and chair, tv, porthole, bathroom including shower cabin,” they said.

Why do cruises skip 13? ›

Many ships, including cruise liners have omitted having a 13th deck due to triskaidekaphobia. Instead, the decks are numbered up to 12 and skip straight to number 14. Hotels, buildings and elevator manufacturers have also avoided using the number 13 for rooms and floors based on triskaidekaphobia.

What does Bravo Bravo Bravo mean on a ship? ›

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo is used by many cruise lines to alert crew to a fire or other serious incident on board without alarming passengers. Operation Brightstar designates a medical emergency, such as cardiac or stroke on Carnival and Disney Cruise Line vessels.

What is cruise slang for? ›

[ I or T ] slang. to go around public places looking for someone to have sex with: He spends the weekends cruising bars.

Do cruise ship workers get a day off? ›

There are no days off

On ships, weekends and holidays don't exist. You work every day of your entire contract and just have hours off between shifts each day. On land, you can go hard on a Friday night and have a couple of days to recover. On ships, you still have to get up and go to work the next day.

Do cruise ship workers get free food? ›

Do cruise ship employees get free food? A majority of cruise ship lines offer their employees free food throughout the duration of their contracts. There's typically a special kitchen on the boat that prepares food for staff members. Employees may eat in separate dining areas, depending on their classifications.

How much do housekeepers on cruise ships make? ›

Average Royal Caribbean group Housekeeper monthly pay in the United States is approximately $6,000, which is 164% above the national average.

Do you make a lot of money working on a cruise ship? ›

A cruise ship crew member for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian Cruise Line can earn an annual average between $16,000 to $20,000. For leadership staff onboard cruise ships, the annual salary can be much higher from $30,000 to $100,000.

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