Which type of cabin to choose?

I've been looking at book a cruise on the Gem and we'll book an ocean view. Should I pick an obstructed ocean view or one of the port hole type ocean views? We've stayed in a port hole type before and it was totally fine with us as we don't spend much time in the cabin. We've also stayed in an ocean view but not an obstructed view cabin and that's why I'm so unsure which to pick.

I guess I do want to be able to see out the window and get some outside light in, which would be better? How obstructed is an obstructed window?

Either way I know we'll have a blast

We had family get both, one got an obstructed outside view and they could see the ocean around a life boat. The ocean view portal was a smaller window and could also see the ocean.

Most obstructed OVs have a picture window, which is 5 or 6 times bigger than a porthole. Different cabins have different degrees of obstruction, but I would say that they all let in more light than a porthole. But some obstructed OVs actually have two small windows, so you'd have to look up the specific cabin number.

That said, the problem in my opinion with a porthole cabin is not the window, it's the location. Decks 4 and 5 are far from the action compared to Deck 8. Of course everything is just an elevator ride away, but those extra 3 or 4 decks every single time you leave or come back to the cabin, it adds up over the course of the cruise.

That's a good point about the location, thank you. I can't wait to book

There are a lot of OV locations that can have noise trouble. Some reviews find the following areas fine, but I've read about deck 8 forward noise from the theater, deck 8 aft (on Gem) noise from Bliss and deck 8 mid-ship noise from having the hallway on deck 9 being directly above the room. Deck 5 mid can be under the casino, dining rooms or kitchen galleys. In the past I have picked a deck 4 porthole (not forward) or deck 5 not full forward under the conference rooms just to be safe as I'm a light sleeper and hate getting noise from above or below. Noisy cabin neighbors is a different unavoidable possibility, but I try to avoid the avoidable.

I've been looking at book a cruise on the Gem and we'll book an ocean view. Should I pick an obstructed ocean view or one of the port hole type ocean views? We've stayed in a port hole type before and it was totally fine with us as we don't spend much time in the cabin. We've also stayed in an ocean view but not an obstructed view cabin and that's why I'm so unsure which to pick.

 

I guess I do want to be able to see out the window and get some outside light in, which would be better? How obstructed is an obstructed window?

 

Either way I know we'll have a blast

We are going in November in an obstructed OV. Hopefully it will be fine. I picked it because it was cheaper and I just wanted light. I have no idea how obstructed it will be or if there will be crew working right outside, causing me to keep the drapes drawn.

DH is excited because it is literally steps away from O'Sheheens and beer, lol.

We are going in November in an obstructed OV. Hopefully it will be fine. I picked it because it was cheaper and I just wanted light. I have no idea how obstructed it will be or if there will be crew working right outside, causing me to keep the drapes drawn.

 

DH is excited because it is literally steps away from O'Sheheens and beer, lol.

We had an ocean view on deck 8 near o Sheehans and it was a good location, although a couple of times we did see and hear crew working outside. Unless you really need to have daylight, why not save your $$$$$ and book an inside. We just did a 14 day Alaska in an inside an unless I can afford a balcony, thats the way we will do it from now onwards. We slept really well.

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There are a lot of OV locations that can have noise trouble. Some reviews find the following areas fine, but I've read about deck 8 forward noise from the theater, deck 8 aft (on Gem) noise from Bliss and deck 8 mid-ship noise from having the hallway on deck 9 being directly above the room.

In the past I have picked a deck 4 porthole (not forward) or deck 5 not full forward under the conference rooms just to be safe as I'm a light sleeper and hate getting noise from above or below.

Deck 4 has a different kind of noise issue: the ocean. You're much closer to the waterline, so you can really feel and hear the waves against the ship. Especially near the bow, where people also report noise from the anchor and/or docking operations. There's a reason those forward portholes are usually the last to be sold…

Thank you all so much, I booked today and went with an obstructed ocean view. I can't wait :)

Thank you all so much, I booked today and went with an obstructed ocean view. I can't wait :)

Great. Enjoy your cruise!