Preferred Decks - higher or lower?

[DPNanaTravel]

If one is booking our first cruise well in advance and want a balcony, would you recommend a lower deck or a higher deck?

[Itchy&Scratchy]

middle deck. Or higher, but not immediately under the pools or buffet.

[davekathy]

Higher. Forward. 

Edited October 29, 2019 by davekathy

[Bookish Angel]

 Mid-ship lower.

Edited October 29, 2019 by Bookish Angel

[cb at sea]

Our daytime hours are usually at the pool, so we prefer the higher decks...we don't mind being under the pool deck.  If you suffer motion sickness, lower deck and mid ship is best.

 

It's a time saver to be able to use the stairs to get to your preferred daytime area.  Elevators take time...they often pass your floor by.....  So look at the deck plans, decide what you think you'll be doing during daytime hours, and choose your deck that way.

[Cruiser_1977]

As of now, high (like Lido) and forward. My first aft (still high but on deck 9 of 12) is in January 2021 we shall see.

[marco]

Depends what ship.  We really like the "Sunset" balconies on ships that have balcony cabins overlooking the stern.  They seem to be a bit larger on a whole than those along the hull.

[getting older slowly]

One thing look at the deck plan.....

 

You want cabins above and below of yours.....

 

Also some balconies are covered. partly covered, or fully open.....

 

Google cabin number for pictures / video..... ( a picture is worth a thousand words )

 

and enjoy your cruise

 

Cheers Don 

[George C]

Ideal cabin would be a aft suite on pool deck or right below. 

[John Bull]

35 minutes ago, Bookish Angel said:

 Mid-ship lower.

 

 

For a first cruise I totally agree.

Mid-ships  (halfway between the front & back) and as low a deck as your ego will allow is the most stable point on the ship in case one of your party has problems with the ship's motion. 

Higher decks sway more, and the extremities of the ship - especially the bow - move more than the mid-ships, kinda like a see-saw but not as dramatic.

 

There are other factors too........

Mid-ships is most convenient for all parts of the ship, especially a cabin near a bank of elevators (elevator mechanisms & folk in the lobbies surprisingly aren't problematic).

And heed antipodean Don's advice - being sandwiched between cabins above & below avoids late-night noise from bars, casinos, etc and the early-morning noise of joggers pounding the deck or sunloungers being dragged out just above your head.

A low balcony deck isn't so handy for the pool deck - you'll spend at least an extra 10 seconds a day in the elevator.

 

JB 

[leaveitallbehind]

Mid ship or aft facing higher deck.  Mid ship places us closer to the elevator banks.  Aft facing affords a view that we like with typically a larger balcony.  Higher decks just a preference.

Edited October 30, 2019 by leaveitallbehind

[Heidi13]

When selecting a deck, DW's priority is comfort, so we look for m'ships on the lowest deck that still has cabins below. Going higher has more movement in a seaway, but does have a longer range to the horizon. 

[cruznjan]

Anywhere that is not right under a public area.

[SRF]

A suite. 😄

 

[ldubs]

For us (me) priority is given to egress.  After that, kind of like midship and which deck doesn't really matter a lot.

[geoherb]

I like middle decks the best. If we have a balcony on a Grand-class Princess ship, I want it on the Caribe Deck. Those balconies are larger. It doesn't matter if my cabin is forward or aft. 

[capriccio]

On 10/29/2019 at 6:40 PM, getting older slowly said:

One thing look at the deck plan.....

 

You want cabins above and below of yours.....

 

 

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ was recommended here a while back and I've found it very useful to determine what is exactly above and below any cabin you are considering.  After locating the cabin (with a description of its features) you can drag the deck plans of any other deck on the ship over it and easily see if there is public space (and what it is) above or below.

 

 

[calliopecruiser]

On 10/29/2019 at 7:43 PM, John Bull said:

Mid-ships  (halfway between the front & back) and as low a deck as your ego will allow is the most stable point on the ship in case one of your party has problems with the ship's motion. 

 

Yes - I agree best for a first cruise.  After that, you'll know what you like and don't, and what kind of motion you can tolerate or not.