Cruise rooms near stairs and promenade are best

The big Royal Caribbean cruise ships are great, but sometimes the journey from your cabin to the fun can get tedious.

On my last two cruises, I found myself with cabins on a lower deck than usual and near the stairs. This may seem like a lot, but it made a big difference in my overall enjoyment.

There are compelling arguments for where to choose your cabin. The aft cabins offer great views, the midship cabins are more stable, and some balconies are larger due to the ship’s design.

Learn more: Royal Caribbean cabin guide

I’m one of those people who doesn’t spend a lot of time in my cubicle, but I find myself going back and forth a lot. With so much going on on board, sometimes you need your sunglasses, your laptop, your swimsuit or your playing cards. But I don’t want them all at once.

Out of necessity, I began booking staterooms located on a lower deck and close to the stairs, which greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the cruise.

Being on a low deck allows you to avoid waiting in elevators

Choosing a cabin that’s just a deck or two from the Royal Promenade is half the strategy.

Conventional wisdom says to book a balcony cabin on an upper deck to enjoy the view. I would say that in the Caribbean there is a negligible difference in terms of views between Deck 7 and Deck 9.

Learn more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Being on a lower deck means you can easily climb a flight of stairs or two and get into the heart of what’s happening on the ship. You’ll mainly find activities between decks 3, 4 and 5 of most Royal Caribbean ships, as this is where the theaters are located, as well as the Royal Promenade and many bars.

If all I have to do is walk up a bridge or two, I can easily accomplish that and avoid the elevator.

I find that after 2 or 3 flights of stairs, I start to feel like Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters trying to climb 22 flights of stairs.

This same methodology would be true if I stayed on an upper deck when it came to the pool and buffet, but I find that there are more things happening that draw me to the lower decks.

Learn more: Choosing the quietest cabins on Royal Caribbean

Choosing a cabin near the stairs is even better

Now combine a cabin on the lower deck with a cabin located near the stairs and you have a winning combination.

Royal Caribbean ships have two stairwells, one towards the front and another amidships.

If you choose a cabin all the way forward or all the way back, you’re going to find a long distance to cover every time you go to and from your room.

This is especially true on the Quantum, Oasis and Icon Class cruise ships, where the corridors seem to go on forever.

When I stayed in a room near the stairs, I found it very convenient to be able to access my cabin. With children this is very useful because inevitably someone has forgotten something in the room.

Plus, not having to go far to get something from my room is very convenient.

Because I like to spend most of my time on the Promenade, having a stall near the stairs makes it easier to go back and forth to pick up or drop something off.

Avoid cabins with sound bleeds

Before choosing the first cabin on Deck 6 near the stairs, you should make sure that it is not above or below a public place.

Ideally, you will choose a cabin located one deck above and below another cabin.

You want to avoid any cabin located above or below a swimming pool, bar, lounge or restaurant due to the risk of noise spreading into your cabin.

Learn more: Choosing a cabin for your cruise

Also, don’t book a connecting room if you don’t know the person in the connecting room, as the connecting door fails to prevent noise leakage.

The key is to check the deck plans on the Royal Caribbean website before selecting a room.

Sequels are the exception

This strategy works for interior, ocean view, and balcony staterooms, but if you prefer to stay in a suite, you’re out of luck.

Suites tend to be located on upper decks. On Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, you’ll find its Neighborhood Suite on decks 17 and 18.

If you want to book a suite, you probably won’t be able to choose a cabin on a lower deck.

Learn more: A $7,000 suite on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas