How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (2024)

How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (1)

A connecting balcony room aboard Norwegian Viva - note the door on the right (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (2)

A connecting balcony room aboard Norwegian Viva - note the door on the right (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

If you’ve travelled with family or friends – or are planning to – you’ll know how hard it is to find the perfect room on a cruise. Standard cabins are often too small, while suites are often priced so astronomically that the average family of four doesn’t have a chance of affording one without evaporating the kid’s college fund.

But cruise lines have a secret trick up their sleeves that caters perfectly to friends and families travelling together. Some try to hide this from you; others make booking this hidden hack a much easier process.

The secret to successful cruise travel with family and friends: connecting cabins. These rooms, which typically come across all grades, from economical insides to lavish suites, are indicated with a little symbol on a cruise ship’s deck plan and denote cabins that have a set of inner doors that can open, joining two individual cabins into one.

How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (4)

Cruise ship deck plans will identify connecting cabins (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

Annoying if you’re travelling solo or as a couple (connecting cabin doors often allow for some pretty significant sound bleed-through), these connecting cabins are a value-added godsend for those looking for a bit more space on their next cruise without going into massive debt.

I’ve personally booked connecting cabins four times now, across lines like Cunard, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean – and I’d do it again.

Here’s what I learned about the art of booking connecting cabins on your next cruise.

On This Page

  • The Advantages of Booking Connecting Cabins
  • Which Lines Make It Easy to Book Connecting Cabins?
  • What Do You Need to Consider When Booking Connecting Cabins?
  • Why Not Book a Full-Blown Suite?
  • Connecting Cabins: Space and Value

The Advantages of Booking Connecting Cabins

How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (5)

A connecting Family Harbor ocean view cabin on Carnival Jubilee. (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)

Booking two connecting cabins offers a number of advantages over a larger suite.

First, it’s less expensive: most ships have connecting staterooms in less-expensive Inside and Oceanview categories, while connecting balcony rooms have balcony partitions that can typically be unlocked and opened, creating one very large balcony space.

So for less money than a comparably-sized suite, two oceanview or balcony connecting cabins offer separate living space, double the storage space, twice as many bathrooms, and a lot more space to spread out and relax by day and night.

Having that storage space – and double bathrooms – is a huge win for families with little kids. Rather than cramming four people into one room with little-to-no space to move around, two connecting cabins offer twice the floor space to move around in, plus double-bathrooms and closets to ensure that everyone’s things get hung up and put away, and prevent that queue for the stateroom bathroom during the morning and evening rush.

Much like having a large hotel room, two connecting cabins offer convenience and space for a fraction of the cost of a full-blown suite (though more on why you might want to book one of those further down).

On some ships, like Carnival’s newest Vista and Excel-class vessels, connecting rooms might even be in a desirable area of the ship, like the Family Harbor area designed for parents with little ones.

Which Lines Make It Easy to Book Connecting Cabins?

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Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity make it easy to book connecting cabins (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

Royal Caribbean is one of the easiest lines to book a connecting cabin on: the line’s website asks you up-front how many cabins you’ll need, and a small radio button can be toggled on and off to search for connecting cabins that are right next door to each other. Ditto for sister-brand Celebrity, which also offers the ability to book connecting rooms right online.

Other lines aren’t as user-friendly for those who want to do it themselves. We had good luck booking connecting cabins with Carnival, though the process was much more involved and had us looking at printed-out deckplans to determine which cabins were adjacent to each other and, indeed, connected internally.

Some lines make booking connecting cabins downright difficult. Expect to have to phone in – or use a knowledgeable travel agent – to book a connecting room on lines like Cunard and Holland America, which don’t ask how many staterooms you’d like to book.

What Do You Need to Consider When Booking Connecting Cabins?

How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (7)

Cabin corridors aboard Carnival Conquest (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

When booking a connecting cabin, keep in mind that you may have to pay two deposits: one for the first room, and one for the second. And if you’re putting, say, two people in one room and a solo traveller in another, that solo may cost as much as two fare-paying passengers thanks to the dreaded single supplement charge.

Also keep in mind that you can’t have a minor registered to their own room: you’ll have to manifest anyone underage with another adult of legal age. Can they sleep in the connecting room by themselves? Yes. But you’ll need to have them manifested with an adult at the time of booking.

And if you do put the little ones to sleep in their own connecting room, make sure you lock their door and put out the “Do Not Disturb” sign, just in case. Our room steward on Queen Mary 2 inadvertently interrupted our daughter’s nap, which – through no fault of his own – sent her into an absolute fit worthy of her two years of age. We learned quickly: Do Not Disturb signs are your friend.

Finally, don’t be shocked if you embark your ship and find your connecting room door still in the closed and locked position. Your room steward can quickly unlock the internal connecting doors once you board if you just ask. Our experience has been that the doors are still closed about half the time upon embarkation.

Why Not Book a Full-Blown Suite?

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The Master Bedroom in the Concierge (Funnel) Tower Suite aboard Disney Wish (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

If money is no object, sure: booking a multi-room suite may be the way to go for families travelling together.

But even then, not all suites are created equal. Some are little more than enlarged rooms with no real portioning between living and sleeping areas, while others may be ill-suited to those with little children.

In most cases, you’ll still be left sharing one – albeit very nice and lavishly-appointed – bathroom.

Some lines, however, offer a nice feature for those with the cash to burn on a suite: ultra-luxury line Silversea pairs some of its largest suites with a connecting standard Veranda or oceanview cabin, making these suites some of the most spacious offerings for those looking for both space and privacy.

Connecting Cabins: Space and Value

How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (9)

Costa Toscana balcony stateroom (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

While connecting cabins may not be the right choice for everyone, they offer both privacy and space for families and friends travelling together. They’re fantastic for those on different sleep schedules thanks to their enclosed nature, and they are a boon for families looking to maximize storage and bathroom space – without breaking the bank.

Having booked connecting rooms on four separate cruises now, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so in the future.

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How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane (2024)

FAQs

How Booking Connecting Cabins on My Family Cruise Kept Me Sane? ›

Rather than cramming four people into one room with little-to-no space to move around, two connecting cabins offer twice the floor space to move around in, plus double-bathrooms and closets to ensure that everyone's things get hung up and put away, and prevent that queue for the stateroom bathroom during the morning ...

Can you get connecting rooms on a cruise? ›

Some cabins have connecting rooms with a common door between them. When it comes to bathrooms, an extra might be a good idea.

What is a connecting room in Royal Caribbean? ›

What is a connecting stateroom on Royal Caribbean? A connecting stateroom is a room that has a connecting door that can be open to make more room for guests that desire to be booked next door to each other.

Can a family of four stay in one room on a cruise? ›

If you're looking for a budget-friendly vacation, you can squeeze three to four people in a regular inside, outside or balcony cabin. Just make sure your brood's good with tight quarters and bunk beds. Some cruise lines, like Disney, offer a simple yet sweet amenity -- the room partition.

Which deck is best on a cruise ship? ›

On most cruise ships, the most luxurious accommodation is on the upper decks. Here, you'll find a selection of elegant suites, with generous outdoor space, separate living areas, and amenities ranging from all-inclusive drinks to the service of a concierge.

What does connecting staterooms mean? ›

Connecting cabins are staterooms with a common door between the two. These are great for families, but not if you do not know the people in the other room. While the connecting door is locked if you do not know the other people, noise bleed can be more of an issue from talking, television, phones, etc.

How do you connect with people on a cruise? ›

5 Ways to Stay Connected With Your Party Onboard a Cruise Ship
  1. Give them a call. If you know where the other person is, shipboard and stateroom phones offer the simplest way to reach out and let them know you're running late. ...
  2. Walkie-Talkies. ...
  3. Cabin Notes. ...
  4. The Chosen Meeting Place. ...
  5. Agree your plans.

How do connecting rooms work? ›

What is a connecting room? These are two rooms (or more) connected by a locked adjoining door that can be opened by you and your fellow guests during your stay.

Do you get family rooms on cruise ships? ›

Family staterooms

For larger families, these can often be a much more affordable option when compared with booking two interconnecting staterooms. However, they are not available on every ship and when they are, they often book up very quickly, particularly during school holiday periods.

Can a family of 5 share a room on Royal Caribbean? ›

Royal Caribbean offers several staterooms with an occupancy of 5 or more guests. These staterooms are typically larger and may have additional beds or sofa beds to accommodate more guests. Staterooms with an occupancy of 5 or more are currently not available to book on the web.

Can kids stay in a room by themselves on a cruise? ›

If the relative or guardian insists on booking separate staterooms, minors must either be directly across the hall or next door. Guests 12 and under may not be assigned to a balcony stateroom without a relative or guardian (25 years of age or older) traveling in the balcony stateroom with them.

Is it cheaper to share a room on a cruise? ›

Many cruise lines offer reduced or free fares for the third and fourth guests sharing a stateroom. These discounts can vary depending on the cruise line and the specific sailing, but it's not uncommon to see discounts of up to 50% off the regular fare.

How does a family of four sleep on a cruise ship? ›

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.

What's the nicest room on a cruise ship? ›

Suites: If you're looking for luxury on your cruise, suites offer the most space and best room locations, often with separate living and sleeping areas. They generally feature large balconies, and extra amenities and perks. In other words, a suite can be considered the best cabin on any cruise ship.

What is a secret deck on a cruise ship? ›

The "Secret Decks" are located at the very front of the ship and will be found on varying decks depending on the ship. These areas are typically accessed through a door located on either side of the ship all the way forward. In most cases you will not find a sign on the access doors explaining where they lead.

What is the noisiest part of a cruise ship? ›

And don't forget the cruise ship engine. While humming noises put some to sleep, the loud buzz of machinery might not exactly be restful to others, making these some of the worst cabins on a cruise ship. Passengers on the lowest deck are most likely to hear engine or even anchor sounds.

Can you get a twin room on a cruise? ›

Nearly every oceangoing cruise ship is set up with two twin beds or one two-person bed, ranging from a double to a king, depending on cruise line and cabin type. You will not find the two-double-bed setup so common in hotel rooms.

Does Carnival Cruises offer adjoining rooms? ›

Carnival does offer some adjoining staterooms, and if you are traveling with teenagers consider booking one outside stateroom and the inside stateroom across the hall.

Can you get a single room with a balcony on a cruise ship? ›

Called solo cabins or studios, these are usually small staterooms with most of the same standard amenities (including private bathrooms) as regular cabins, and can be inside, ocean-view and, on a few rare ships, balcony category rooms.

Do any cruise lines make two bedroom rooms? ›

Two-bedroom Grand Suites with a Balcony are on all Oasis class ships including Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

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