Tips for booking obstructed view cabins on your next cruise
Savvy cruise shoppers have always known what a great value an obstructed view cabin can be. But for newer cruisers who aren’t familiar with the good and the bad of an obstructed-view cruise cabin option, we’re here to let you know what to look for and what to expect!
what IS an obstructed view cruise cabin / stateroom?
Any objects that may even MINIMALLY alter a fully open view from a porthole window or balcony will be considered obstructed. The object may be as simple as a piece of window washing equipment barely in sight or as extreme as a fully obstructed view by a lifeboat. Researching the specific cabin is key to getting the best bang for your obstructed buck!
In short, what is considered an obstructed view can vary tremendously, but USUALLY isn’t a fully blocked view. For example, the most common reason a cabin is considered an obstructed view cabin is being able to see the roof of a lifeboat when standing at the edge of a balcony. So it’s not really blocking a view out, but the lifeboat blocks a few DOWN to the ocean. If you’re sitting on the balcony, you’ll likely never be bothered by it.
The good about obstructed view cabins & Staterooms
The most popular reason people choose obstructed-view cabins is the discounted price. This is one of our favorite tips for saving money when booking a cruise! Sometimes you can book a balcony obstructed view stateroom for the price of a regular inside stateroom or ocean view stateroom. For people on a budget who want outdoor space, this is a great option!
The other great thing about these cabins is they’re often not fully obstructed. The cruise lines will offer discounted partial obstructed view cabins that have almost no obstructions, but they know they have to discount these and disclose even a minimal obstruction to avoid complaints.
One perk of the obstructed view cabins is they are often in the best locations on a ship. Because most of the obstructions come from lifeboats, the cabins are usually in a central area of the ship, one of the most desirable locations.
The bad about obstructed view cabins
Sometimes these staterooms can, in fact, be FULLY obstructed by equipment or lifeboats. Additionally, the discounts may not be enough to make the obstruction worth it.
For example, this ocean-view cabin has a window that is fully blocked by a lifeboat. While you might get some natural light anyway, the question would be how good of a value is this versus an inside cabin:
Cruise lines have been less willing to discount some rooms as ships sail at a fuller capacity. So discounting isn’t as aggressive as it once was for these cabin types.
Is an obstructed view cruise cabin worth it?
Oftentimes, yes! Especially balcony cabins that can be hundreds or even thousands less expensive than a similar cabin without an obstruction.
It’s important to check the location of the cabin you are considering booking. Usually, a travel agent will have the best information, but you can research on your own by going to Cruise Deck Plans and looking at the specific stateroom.
Photos of obstructed view cabins on a cruise ship
Here are some great pics of what to expect when booking an obstructed-view cruise cabin:
In general, we advise avoiding obstructed cabins when you cannot specifically choose the stateroom. So when you book a cruise with an obstructed view and the option is (GTY), meaning, “guarantee” – that means the cruise line will assign the cabin and you have no ability to research just how obstructed a specific cabin is.
Additionally, obstructed-view ocean-view cabins are generally not worth the small discount. There is such a limited amount of view and light that comes into an oceanview stateroom that saving a few dollars on one of these already (relatively) inexpensive cabins isn’t worth the obstruction. In this case, be safe and go with an ocean-view stateroom without anything blocking the view!
Receive Our Monthly CruiseLetter
Including cruise reviews, travel tips, and cruise deals
While your view may be interrupted, obstructed doesn't mean blacked out – the complete opposite, in fact! Natural light will still stream into your cabin and you'll have a firm grasp of whether it's night or day.
While your view may be interrupted, obstructed doesn't mean blacked out – the complete opposite, in fact! Natural light will still stream into your cabin and you'll have a firm grasp of whether it's night or day.
An obstruction is something the blocks a proportion of the direct outward view from a stateroom. This is typically due the position of lifeboats or the outer structure of the ship. Please view our deck plans on our website to determine if your stateroom has an obstructed view.
What does obstructed view mean? It means you'll have either an incomplete view or something will be in your line of sight because of the position of the seats — like a pole, speakers or the sound board — and you won't be able to see the entire stage.
Some people care more about the location than they do the view from the balcony. If you're somebody who likes to be in the middle of the ship for seasickness reasons, getting an obstructed view in the middle can be a really good way to get that location that you want, but without paying the premium price.
Key Takeaways. Certain areas of a cruise ship, including pool decks, dining rooms, and outer decks, can become particularly hazardous during rough seas, posing risks such as injuries from slips and falls.
Limited side view: The seat will be on one side of the performing area and you won't have a full view of the event. Limited or obstructed view: You won't have a full view of the event from those seats. Rear stage/view: The seat is behind the stage.
Deck 4 cabins are normally quiet. And for a smooth ride in rough seas, midship on that deck, especially in an inside, is the smoothest place on the ship. That's one reason the medical center is usually there.
If tickets are marked as an “obstructed” or “limited” view, the venue (not the seller) has determined that those seats do not have a full view of the stage, field, court, ice, etc.
Page 1. OBSTRUCTED VIEWS. An obstruction is something the blocks a portion of the direct outward view from a stateroom. This may be due to the position of lifeboats or the outer structure of the ship. The below staterooms have an obstruction onboard Celebrity Summit®.
Depending on the venue and show, some seats may have a possible or confirmed obstruction of view. This can mean, e.g., a visual obstruction caused by production technology, such as a structure of the sound system, a stage element or a side view to the stage.
All of the D-category staterooms are oceanview balcony staterooms. D1s are known as "Superior Oceanview Staterooms with Large Balcony" because these are the "hump" staterooms, the ones located where the ship bulges out in two places on either side of the ship, creating larger, deeper balconies.
I plus a letter or number = interior. O plus a letter or number = ocean view. B plus a letter or number= balcony. M plus a letter or number = Club Balcony (formerly called mini suites, thus the M) H plus a letter or number = Haven.
Obstructed view seats are those with a pole in the middle of view, and the stage visible on either side of pole. Partial view seats are those with a pole blocking a portion of the stage.
Wild, each year an average of 10 people die and 60 more are injured on a cruise as a result of so-called “operational incidents,” which are basically mishaps — things like fires and explosions, collisions, technical failures and ships getting stranded, grounded or sinking — that cause delays, injuries or fatalities.
You'll likely want to steer clear of forward cabins. These are far and away the cruise rooms most affected by waves since they're the first to dip in rough seas. Even if you're on a lower deck, the forward of the ship might be the worst place to stay if you're prone to seasickness.
Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
