Cruise cabin math: When booking two rooms makes more sense than one

Yahoo

01-06-2025

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Brian and Julie Kearns take cruises with their three children at least twice a year – but they don't always stay together.
Sometimes the couple books adjacent cabins, or a balcony stateroom with another across the hall, depending on what offers the best price. They have all piled into a single five-person cabin, too, but found it to be 'extremely tight,' particularly as their kids – 14, 11 and 10 – have gotten older, according to Julie.
'They have more luggage (than when they were younger) – and they're just bigger,' said Julie, who runs the How We Cruise YouTube channel and travel agency alongside Brian.
Cruise lines offer a variety of cabin options for travelers with children, but finding the right one for a given family can be a complex process. 'It's kind of like a puzzle,' said Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel. 'How does it best fit?'
Here's what travelers should know.
Standard cruise cabins can typically accommodate a maximum of four guests (though some can fit five). Cabins accommodating three, four or five guests have a mattress that can be split into two twin beds, along with a pull-out sofa or a Pullman bed that pulls down from the ceiling or out from the wall, according to Feldman.
Brian Kearns added that depending on the cruise line and type of cabin guests are in, they could have one or the other or a combination. Julie noted that as more cruise lines have cut stateroom cleaning back from twice to once a day in recent years, she has noticed that those aren't necessarily tucked back away like they were previously.
'If you're coming back into the room to change for dinner or take a rest or whatever you're doing, you have lost all that space that you might have had years ago,' she said.
Cruise lines also offer connecting staterooms and family cabins. Feldman likened the latter category to a junior suite.
Julie Kearns said staying in a Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony room on Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas last year, which has a separate bunk room for kids, was a 'game changer.'
However, Feldman warned that not all ships have family category cabins, and they tend to sell out quickly on the ones that do. Older ships, which typically have fewer activities such as rock climbing walls and go-karts, are less likely to have family-centric staterooms.
Cruise lines also offer a wide range of suites, ranging from suped-up cabins with a bit of extra room to multi-level spaces that resemble houses rather than the typical accommodations at sea. Those include the three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse aboard Icon, and the EPCOT-inspired Tomorrow Tower Suite on Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Treasure.
Like the Kearns have done, families could split into different rooms, as well, depending on the age of their children. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, requires passengers 14 and under to be in the same cabin or a connecting room as a relative or guardian at least 25 years old, according to its website. Teenagers between 15 and 17 can be booked no more than three staterooms away from those adults.
Not necessarily. Depending on the cruise line, itinerary, cabin category and other factors, splitting a room isn't always the better deal.
'Sometimes two double-occupancy staterooms can cost less than a quad-occupancy stateroom,' said Feldman. 'There are times it can cost a little bit more, but even when it does cost a little bit more, you have to realize what you're getting out of it.'
Two rooms offer twice the living space and double the bathrooms, he noted. If you work with a travel advisor, potential perks like onboard credit would apply to both cabins.
Larger family staterooms also tend to be pricier. For example, a 335-square-foot Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony cabin aboard Icon currently starts at $1,531 per person for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing May 2, 2026, according to the line's website. A 246-square-foot Central Park View Balcony currently costs $1,027 per person for the same sailing.
But the cost could be worth it depending on how many people are in your party. "When it comes to each family, it depends on what your idea of value is," said Brian Kearns.
Cruise ship kids clubs: Here's everything to know
Here are some of the family-friendly offerings guests will find on major cruise lines, though exact offerings may vary by ship:
Carnival: Connecting rooms are available for all of Carnival's stateroom types. The line's upcoming ship, Carnival Festivale, will have 1,000 interconnecting rooms, the most of any vessel in its fleet. Carnival's Family Harbor Staterooms & Suites on Excel and Vista Class ships also offer guests additional space and perks like access to the Family Harbor Lounge, where they will find snacks, board games, video games and more.
Royal Caribbean: The cruise line offers a wide range of interior, ocean view and balcony cabins, in addition to suites. There are more than 20 accommodation types on its newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, alone. In addition to Icon's Ultimate Family Townhouse with an in-suite slide, cinema, karaoke and private patio, and a similar two-story Ultimate Family Suite on several other ships.
Disney Cruise Line: Disney has family-friendly amenities in cabins throughout its fleet, such as ample under-bed storage and split bathrooms, with a sink and shower in one room and a toilet and sink in another. Keep an eye out special reveals above pull-down bunk beds, like a Fairy Godmother constellation on Disney Wish and an illuminated Genie on Disney Treasure. The line also has accommodations for larger families, including five-person staterooms, connecting rooms and suites.
MSC Cruises: Travelers will find staterooms for families of varying sizes on MSC ships. Almost all vessels in its fleet have connecting family cabins that can accommodate as many as 10 passengers. The line's five-person cabins – found on ships like MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Magnifica and MSC Virtuosa – frequently have balconies or panoramic windows and bathtubs.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Guests sailing with Norwegian can choose from luxe, multi-room suites in the The Haven ship-within-a-ship area, an expanded range of solo cabins and many others in between. The line's Three-Bedroom Garden Villas, which have sweeping ocean views, a dining room and a private garden with a hot tub, are popular with larger family groups, according to the cruise line.
With so many options and variables, Feldman said the choice comes down to individual needs and preferences. 'So, it's important to look at all aspects of it and decide what works best for each family."
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sharing a cruise cabin with kids? Splitting up may actually be better