If you’re planning to go on a cruise, you might be curious about what your cabin will be like. Here are some surprising facts about cruise cabins that you should know before you go.
Things to Know: Cruise Cabins
1. Balcony Partitions Can Open
One thing that surprised me recently was finding out that the balcony partition between rooms can be opened. We were on a family cruise and booked two adjacent balcony rooms.
There were no adjoining rooms, so it was a bit of a hassle to go out through the main cabin door to get from one room to the other. You always have to bring your keycard or else you have to knock on the door and wait for someone to open it.
I was also worried about the wind tunnel and the door banging open and shut so frequently. Luckily, our cabin steward suggested opening the balcony partition, which turned out to be a game-changer. It meant that we could move freely between the rooms without having to worry about privacy or bringing our keycards with us. Who knew that balcony partitions can open!
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2. Magnetic Walls
Did you know the cruise walls and doors are magnetic? The cabin walls and doors are made of metal. That means you can use magnets to hang stuff on them. I wish I knew that sooner. There are even magnetic hooks that you can use to keep your hats and lanyards neat and tidy in your cabin.
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3. Beds Can Be Reconfigured
One thing I didn’t realize about the cruise cabin is that the beds can be reconfigured. They can pull a queen or king bed apart so you can have 2 beds instead of one. Some cabins have bunk beds that drop from the ceiling.
On your first day, if you’re unhappy with the bed configuration, don’t be shy to ask the cabin steward for other bed configurations. They will happily work with you on how to best reconfigure your cabin so you will be comfortable
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4. Storage Under the Bed
Cruise cabins are small and often limited in space. After unpacking everything, you might be left wondering where to store your luggage. There is usually space under the bed to store your luggage. Look around for extra storage space. If you’re not sure, ask your cabin steward.
5. Wind Tunnel
If you’ve been on a cruise and have stayed in a balcony cabin before, you will know there is a wind tunnel effect when you leave the balcony door open and open the cabin door simultaneously. By opening both doors at the same time, the wind will create a lot of pressure and slam the cabin door shut.
This can be very scary, especially for young children. So, always hold the cabin door firmly when you open it with the balcony door open. Or, better yet, close the balcony door before you leave the cabin. And make sure your kids know how to do this too, because the cabin door might be too heavy for them to handle.
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6. Extras
A lot of first-time cruisers don’t know this, but you can request extra things from your cabin steward to make your stay more comfortable. For example, if you find your bed too firm, you can ask for an extra mattress topper to soften it up. If you get too hot, you can ask for a summer-weight blanket. I always ask for more pillows, bathmats and hangers when I cruise.
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