Is there really an advantage to a mid-ship room?

[faerievert]

Higher "level" verandahs seem to be in the middle of the ship. I'm curious why the middle of the ship is considered more desirable vs the front or back? I love the front for proximity to the thermal spa, gym, casino, and mainstage. Aft would at least have the advantage of being close to the dining room, and the true aft room have the best views (we booked VB guarantee this time in hopes of scoring one of those, but I doubt we'll be so lucky). We called HAL to see if we could get one of those aft rooms, and when we failed she said we could not our preference. We said we much prefer a room at the front or back vs the midship and the agent laughed. Is it really that unusual?

 

Maybe there's some advantage I just don't understand? We've always had a room near the front (forward of the forward elevators) by luck of the draw and it's hard to imagine being anywhere else now.

[GUT2407]

Mid ship = less movement felt.

[Alberta Quilter]

There is if one is prone to seasickness!  I avoid the bow like the plague.  I tend to book mid ship to aft.  

[faerievert]

Huh, I absolutely do get seasick, but it never really bothered me in the room unless I tried to read in bed. But I was rarely in the room awake. My husband loves to hang out on the balcony, but for me it's just a place for sleeping and changing. I would much rather go read in the thermal spa or on the lido. 

I guess I'll never know if it would be better for me unless our guarantee sends us mid-ship.

[Homosassa]

If you ever hit rough seas, it will be obvious why low down and amidships is the best place to be. 

 

While the ship is pitching and rolling and people up high and forward or aft are holding on for dear life, those low and amidships will be having an almost smooth ride. 

[TAD2005]

We always book a "true stern" cabin, but, as you say, they go fast.   We also had a bow cabin on the Zuiderdam, deck 6, cabin 6006.  We had 2 days of 28-30 ft seas from Cadiz to the Azores on an October 2015 TA.   Sleeping was relaxing, no problems, and the dining room was full.   There was some pitching up and down, but it didn't bother us.

One disadvantage of mid-ship balcony cabins is due to the narrowing of the ship in that area.  Looking at the deck plans, it is clear that the decks in the mid-ship area narrow due to the lifeboats and their davits.   On deck 5 of the Vista class ships, the view from a mid-ship balcony is OK looking straight out, but looking down, all you see are the orange tops of the lifeboats hanging right below you.  I call that a partially obstructed view, but HAL sells it as a premium VA grade cabin.   As you go to deck 6, 7 and 8, the view is not as restricted.  Also, the balconies are much narrower in that section of the ship.   There's hardly room to put a regular chair out there without turning it sideways, or your knees will be up against the glass railing.  

[faerievert]

We had very rough seas in the mid-Atlantic on our first cruise. Bad enough to spill drinks and cancel programming. It was so much fun watching the waves roll in on the Lido! They put a net on the pool to try to contain it, but we would watch it crashing over the sides like a beach for hours from deck chairs behind the safety barrier in the far corner. Those were the only seas bad enough to give me an issue in the crow’s nest. So I guess that makes sense that low would be better. Still not sold on mid-ship though.

 

Maybe my sea-sick triggers are unusual? Luckily pitching over waves doesn’t bother me and rocking roll only does a little — my problem’s mostly with yaw (curves/spin) so I get carsick far more than seasick. Sounds like I can handle a high deck forward inside cabin on transatlantic repositioning cruise, I should be fine anywhere 😂 It’s good people have different preferences so we’re not all fighting over the same cabins.

[kazu]

Based on your posts, I think you will be fine - if you get the pitching, side to side, that's what affects DH and my friends who never get seasick.

 

A mid ship cabin can make a difference on most ships whatever affects you.  It's usually recommended that those that suffer from mal de mer book those, but it doesn't mean you won't feel affects depending on the motion of the ocean.

 

The only ship I have been on where it makes little difference is the Prinsendam.  That little ship rides so well that we have seen little difference between forward, mid or more aft 😉 

 

 

[Nymich]

I feel very fortunate because it doesn't seem to bother me where I am.   That being said mid is always where things are the smoothest.

[Hlitner]

Like the OP, we prefer cabins towards the bow (forward of the forward stair case/elevators.  We know this is contrary to what most folks prefer which actually works to our advantage since cabins towards the bow are generally less costly.  Why do we like forward cabins?  All the heavy mechanical stuff (engines) are arrayed around the center of the ship.  So, on some ships, you can get vibration and some noise towards the center.  The maximum foot traffic outside cabins is around mid-ship and people walking, talking, kids running, etc. are maximized towards the center.  As to aft cabins ( very popular with some folks) we find that many ships will often have a shimmy motion near the aft, not to mention vibration from the props and cavitation.    And on some ships it is not unusual to find soot (from the stacks) on aft balconies.  One must also be careful to avoid having a cabin over or under or near the galleys...which are generally towards the aft.

 

So why do we love the bow?  There are few mechanical systems far forward other then the thrusters which are only used entering or leaving ports.  Forward of the the forward elevators there is minimal foot traffic (the further forward the less traffic).   The forward elevators (especially on ships with 3 sets of elevators) are usually less crowded then elevators amid ships or aft (these access the popular Lido area).   Look at the ultra luxury ships (i.e. Silverseas, Seabourn, Sea Dream) and you will often find all the cabins on the front half of the ship.  And we find it interesting that MSC puts their elegant (and expensive) Yacht Club Cabins (and facilities) far forward.

 

As to motion towards the bow, it is true that this area gets the worst ride in rough seas.  But DW and I have no problem with some movement, and in fact, it rocks us asleep.   And the reality for us has been that there are a lot more smooth days then rough days....although we have had our share of very rough weather (30+ foot seas).

 

Hank

[ninjatoes]

I was in 4168, which is 3-4 cabins away from the stern. The engine vibration and swaying while at sea was strong enough to bother a light sleeper or someone who gets motion sickness. I can fall asleep anywhere though, so it didn't bother me. It was just like falling asleep on a moving bus or train.

[wyobean]

As low and as middle as I can get! Usually deck 1 inside. When it gets rough I need a place to go! Those of you who do not get sick are lucky, that includes my DH.

[cruisemom42]

I don't get seasick, but I can think of one other advantage to being midship: you are a reasonable distance from most things. Not a huge issue on smaller ships but can be helpful on larger ones. 

 

Personally I don't care very much where my cabin is located and I can happily be bow, middle, stern, inside, outside, balcony, whatever...

[knittinggirl]

Depends on the itinerary.  w/ scenic cruising in Alaska I'll grab an aft or aft wrap if possible.  Cold weather itineraries are all right for under the pool deck, but warm weather itineraries can be noisy.  Once on the Celebrity Century, we were right under the pool deck, and during a rough night, with so much rattling,  I thought the ceiling was going to fall in on us.

 

A good rule of thumb, is to have a passenger deck above and below your room if possible.   We eliminate under the pool deck first, then the theatre and anything w/ a bar.  We've been under the Lido a few times, and that's usually o.k.

[Wishing on a star]

Last two cruises.... 

1.  Had an ideal cabin, mid-ship location

2.  Had a forward and higher deck cabin, on a big ship.

NIGHT AND DAY!!!   Both with the decrease in 'hiking',  convenience, motion, etc...

 

Will def try to swing a nicer mid-ship location from now. on!