Choosing a cruise ship cabin isn’t a simple process.
First-time cruisers can easily get overwhelmed with all the choices. Beyond determining what cabin category best suits their needs, cruise passengers need to select what deck of the ship they want to stay on and in what location — the front, middle, or back of the ship.
Related: Should cruisers book an interior cabin, ocean-view, or balcony?
Midship cabins on lower decks are ideal for people who may experience seasickness since the ship’s motion is felt the least in this more stable, central area. Passengers staying in forward staterooms, those at the front of the ship, and aft staterooms, those at the back of the ship, will feel more of the ship’s sway.
Just how much of the ship’s motion you’ll feel in forward or aft cabins depends on sea conditions. But it’s helpful to know that forward cabins on high decks are most vulnerable to the ship’s rocking, swaying, and even shaking when strong waves hit the hull.
One seasoned cruiser recently learned this the hard way on a Princess Cruises ship sailing in rough seas. Surprised by significant ship ‘shuddering’ felt in a forward cabin, the passenger shared their experience in the Cruise community on Reddit, hoping to determine if this was a normal occurrence.
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A Princess cruise ship is shown at sea; some passengers complain they feel the ship “shudder” when it’s underway.
Image source: Princess Cruises.
Princess cruise ship experience reveals problem with forward cabins
“I’ve been on many a cruise, usually opting for a balcony room near the mid-ship on a center deck,” Reddit user The_Amusement_Shark wrote. “On our last cruise, we hit rough seas and our ship was rocking substantially. It did not bother us in the least!”
For their current Princess cruise, the passenger chose a cabin in a forward location just under the ship’s bridge — the upper deck area where the captain and crew control the ship.
Related: Celebrity and Princess cruise lines have a sweet problem
“We’re currently on the Sun Princess and, this time, we have a balcony room right under the bridge. Big mistake!” The_Amusement_Shark wrote. “I knew we’d feel ship movement, what I didn’t know is that our stateroom would shudder, similar to an earthquake feeling, every 15 seconds or so when we’re underway.”
“Is this normal? Can waves striking the hull really make a ship this large shudder like this?” The_Amusement_Shark asked other cruisers in the Reddit community. “I feel silly for only expecting rocking and rolling. No nausea in our cabin, but sleeping has been a challenge.”
Cruise ship ‘shudders’ are often felt in forward cabins during rough seas
One experienced cruiser who commented in the Reddit thread reported that they sailed in a forward cabin aboard the same ship and got sea sick for the first time ever.
“Funny you mention this,” wrote Phite. “I’ve never gotten motion sick on any ship across many types and sizes but when I was on the Sun in the same position you were, I got sick for the first time in my life.”
A few other cruisers who sailed in similar forward cabin locations on other ships shared that they experienced the same kinds of ship shudders and groans in rough seas. Some explained how this uncomfortable experience with forward cabins ceases when seas are calm.
Related: Norwegian Cruise Line passengers share advice for new cruisers
“It truly depends on the weather and the wave size and direction. I’ve had forward cabins like that, and in heavy seas, felt that boom, and have even spent time on the balcony admiring the massive plume of spray when it happens,” noted PamtasticOne. “Here’s hoping that you sail into calmer seas which stops that nuisance. Remember, these ships are engineered for insane seas, what you are experiencing is just like normal airline turbulence. Not even a blip on the damage scale.”
For some cruisers, forward-facing cabins can be very desirable for the fantastic views they offer at the front of the ship. But as these cruise passengers’ experiences demonstrate, it’s important to be aware of the potential for discomfort in rough seas if you’re considering one of these cabins for your next cruise.
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