Choosing a cabin can be one of the most important decisions you might make while on a cruise. Some will argue that you only sleep in them, so location and size don’t matter. I disagree.
In our years of cruising we have experienced everything from an interior cabin to a mini suite and we have had an opportunity to tour others.
We tend to favor balcony rooms. There is nothing quite like watching a sunrise or sunset from your own sacred space.
While sailing through very scenic locations such as the fjords of Norway or Alaska we have found our own private haven on our balcony. There are no crowds to fight and no obstructions to our photography.
When we tire of people, we simply pull up a chair on our balcony and retreat for bit of respite from the crowds and activities.
When the Pandemic hit, many passengers were quarantined to their staterooms. Those who had interior rooms went stir crazy. Those with balconies were at least able to get outside for some fresh air.
In 2017, the Island Princess underwent a complete refurbishment. Televisions, carpet, furniture, linens, drapes, beds and all the amenities were upgraded and given a fresh new look.
The soft palette of mushroom, beige and taupe encourages relaxation as do the amazing Sleepeezee beds found in the suites and Matermoll brand mattresses found in all other rooms. (These are made exclusively for Princess) The 100% Egyptian cotton bed linens and European inspired duvet are a divine luxury to slip into at the end of a long day.
While somewhat smaller than other cruise lines, Princess cruises offer beautiful staterooms. All cabins are equipped with satellite tv’s, a hair drier, a desk/vanity area and a refrigerator,
On the Island Princess there were 11 suites, 53 balcony rooms, 43 oceanview rooms and 10 inside cabins added during the renovations. This made the original cabins just slightly smaller, bringing the total to 1,107 cabins. Twenty of these are wheelchair accessible.
Interior rooms are favored by those who spend little time in their room. They are the least expensive on most cruises. Inside rooms on the Island Princess are 156-165 square feet.
Ocean view cabins range in size from 162-200 square feet. These are available on deck 5 through 9. If you are considering an Ocean view room, there is a bank of cabins on the Fiesta Deck that are worth seeking out. Cabins F502 through F526 have the largest windows of any of the ocean view rooms. Equally important, the bathrooms are a newer design that includes a larger shower than the ship’s balcony cabins have. The TV is affixed to the wall in front of the bed, instead of in the corner as in the balcony cabins. And there are newer hair dryers, which is one item that wasn’t upgraded in many of the rooms, during the renovation .
Balcony rooms range from 210 square feet to 235 square feet. They also have 35-72 square feet of additional outdoor space, which is some of the largest in the industry. Each balcony comes equipped with 2 chairs and a table. Balcony cabins are available on decks 7-12 and 14.
In our balcony room, the large tv’s are a nice upgrade from the tiny versions usually offered on many other cruise lines.
There are also mini suites and suites available which range from 280-over 500 square feet respectively. These both come with upgraded amenities and luxuries not found in the other cabins. After getting a great deal on the second leg of our trip, we would upgrade to a mini suite on the second leg of our journey.
One thing that all rooms offer is a massive amount of closet and storage space. The closet in our balcony room was over 5 feet! The walk in area is across from the bathroom and a wall divides it from the bedroom. In this area there is also a closet which holds the life vests and room safe. Additional shelves located below offer ample space for folded clothing. We found these areas ample enough to store all of our items, even on a 55 day cruise.
There are additional storage cubbies and drawers in the nightstands and in the desk area. The beds are slightly elevated which allows empty suitcases to be stored underneath, making the room easy to organize. Passengers are often surprised to learn that the walls and ceilings are magnetic. Strong magnetic hooks and binders can offer extensive options for hanging clothelines, photos and more.
Perhaps one thing which is still lacking is enough outlets, there are still only two and they are inconveniently placed near the desk. The hair drier occupies one of them and plugs often don’t work easily in the second outlet. This inconvenience if easily rectified by bringing along an extension cord or power strip. Just make sure there is no surge protector on them, or they will be confiscated. Fire is a real concern on cruise ships. Depending on the cabin you choose, there may be an additional outlet located behind the t.v. and possibly one used by housekeeping, located near the floor by the door or behind the bed.
The Island Princess has very small bathrooms. I remember a comedian on our very first cruise, he suggested soaping the walls and spinning to use the tiny showers. This is a pretty accurate description. The water pressure and heat just about compensate for the size. Mini suites have a bathtub/shower combo which is a bit more comfortable. There are three shelves located alongside the vanity for storing supplies. The large shelf under the sink provides ample room for toiletry bags and larger items. There is a single shaving outlet in each bathroom.
A few things to consider when choosing your stateroom:
A forward location will feel more wave action, mid is the most stable and aft may experience more engine noise. Study your deck map to see if you are located near elevators, laundry or teen centers. Is the buffet or bar situated overhead? You may hear rolling carts and music respectively. Any of these locations can be noisy and may disrupt your tranquility. In general the higher decks may also feel more swaying. If you are prone to seasickness or motion problems it is best to get an ocean view or balcony room.
If you are choosing a room with a balcony or window consider which side will have the most scenery as you cruise. For some it may be important to see the sun rise or set.
All in all, we really enjoy being in our balcony stateroom B519, starboard side, midship on the Baja Deck.
For the second half of the trip we will move to a mini suite on the port side, aft and one deck lower on the Caribe Deck. I will add photos once we relocate.
