Front, Mid or Rear of the Ship - What’s the Difference?

[BrosephB]

So, I’m still new to the sailing thing and don’t understand why Royal Caribbean sometimes charges different amounts depending on if you’re in the front, mid or rear of the ship. Is there a difference? Is one section of the ship less choppy while at sea?

Thanks!

[twangster]

Royal follows the concept of supply and demand.  More in-demand areas will sometimes come with a higher price.  Areas that have lower demand can have a lower price.  

For certain types of sea motion, namely pitch, the ship pivots closer to midship.  In a pitchy sea state the forward and aft areas can have more motion.  

The thought process for those that fear motion in the ocean is to stay lower and midship.  That will minimize some of the effects but not all motion in the ocean.  Increased demand for midship can cause prices to increase.

In the end something that is less popular or less in demand will have a lower price, usually.  Sea motion doesn't usually impact me so I take advantage of these trends to find lower prices.  

[Moby Dick]

Personally, I've stayed in just about every location on a ship, bow, stern, port, starboard, higher up and a little lower down, and I'm happy with all the above.  But, I've been told by many, so called, experts that being center in all directions is the best if you are sensitive to motion.  So, being in an inside, mid location upper/lower and front to back, theoretically, is the best, that's if motion is an issue for you (anybody).  It all really depends on what you expect from a cruise.  Do you need to be near the elevators, are you a partier, do you just want to party, the view, motion, whatever?  Only you can decide for yourself. 

[Matt]

This article may help: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/01/20/what-the-best-location-cruise-ship

[ChessE4]

While we generally prefer amidship locations, we note that noise abatement is more important than the roll of the ship.  I recommend checking what is above/near your cabin location.  For example, being under a kitchen or the casino is noisy.  On Oasis class ships, we've had Boardwalk balconies and enjoyed them, but you have noise from the aqua shows (if you retire early).  In the end, it depends upon your preferences and what type of sleeper you are.  My wife is more concerned about mattress comfort and my snoring....!

[Moby Dick]

11 minutes ago, ChessE4 said:

While we generally prefer amidship locations, we note that noise abatement is more important than the roll of the ship.  I recommend checking what is above/near your cabin location.  For example, being under a kitchen or the casino is noisy.  On Oasis class ships, we've had Boardwalk balconies and enjoyed them, but you have noise from the aqua shows (if you retire early).  In the end, it depends upon your preferences and what type of sleeper you are.  My wife is more concerned about mattress comfort and my snoring....!

Yes, very important!  We always pick our own room.  We make sure that our cabin is not below any deck with lounge chairs above us, a bar (entertainment source), galley, and so on.  We also try not to be tooooooooo close to the elevator/stairwell lobby, but close enough to not be a long walk.  But, to be honest, even before we became a little more savvy about cruising, I never really had a noise issue, not a bad one anyway.

[Mike45orlando]

Always try for an Aft room.  Shortest distance to the Windjammer.  

[Riley]

Couple other points to consider - if you are on a low deck and near an anchor line any tender port is going to be NOISY early in the morning when the ship drops anchor (also rattle-y - I thought I was in an earthquake for a few moments). 

Also I have been on "Rhapsody" with cabin 3501 - it was a very long walk to the Centrum elevators, main dining, etc.  I got a lot of exercise that cruise!

[Jolly Ogre]

It depends on the ship. On Oasis class we like to be near to have easy access to central park.

[Traveling Mike]

Movement is a big thing.  In calm waters not much difference.  When the seas get ruff there is lots of difference.  One very ruff cruise me and my son were on the very front of the ship.  The ship would go up the big waves then drop 20 to 30 feet.  We would lay in our beds and be lifted into the air some of the waves.  That was the best ride a kid could ask for.  Now you get the idea.  The center of the ship pivots.  The back of the ship follows lower in the water.  The front of the ship moves up and down with the waves.  Same idea with top of the ship and bottom.  More movement on the top.

[CrznTxn]

We have no problems with the motion of the ship and have stayed in pretty much every location, front, middle and back, top and bottom. We only had one "noise" issue that was very minor where we seemed to be located below one of the hallways where the crew were constantly moving carts but after the first day we hardly noticed and really did not care. We are at sea and only spend a minimum amount of time in the cabin. The only request lately is for a room "near" the elevator but not too near. The wife says it is easier to get to and find the room after a "late night" plus it shows off her door art although we lost one of her fancy butterflies last cruise. Guess they needed it worse than us.

[BrosephB]

Thank you everyone! Great information!

[SpeedNoodles]

9 hours ago, Mike45orlando said:

Always try for an Aft room.  Shortest distance to the Windjammer.  

Not on a Quantum-class ship. The elevators/stairs are forward and midship. The walk to them from an aft cabin is significant, lol. 

[Moby Dick]

43 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Not on a Quantum-class ship. The elevators/stairs are forward and midship. The walk to them from an aft cabin is significant, lol. 

We just got off of the Ovation.  We were in a Grand Loft Star Suite.  The walk from our suite to the elevator lobby was a bit of a walk.  However, when you get off of the elevator, you are literally at the entrance to the Windjammer or the Coastal Kitchen, depending on what side of the elevators you got on.  But yes, a bit of a walk to the elevators to the aft/rear of the ship.  Vacation and exercise all in the same trip.  But, it is all worth it.  

[AandD]

6 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

It depends on the ship. On Oasis class we like to be near to have easy access to central park.

We just did our first Oasis class. We were in an interior virtual balcony not far from central park. We loved being near central park. If we get on the Symphony again I would like to stay in a balcony over looking central park.

[D Alt]

I've mostly sailed Forward, thus far. It's quieter as far as people are concerned, but depending on cabin i found i heard more ship noises. And you can feel the motion if it is rougher seas, which didn't bother me. Rocked me to sleep.  but i'd like to check out the other sections as well. 

[Ampurp85]

I prefer aft, if I book myself, I always do aft. I find it is quieter and I feel almost no motion. I have stayed mid and forward, with the latter being my least favorite. When I was forward not only were the announcements from the captain so much louder, but it was congested, and my Wi-Fi was horrible. I think everybody is different and will have different feelings, so try them all and see what works best. 

[Moby Dick]

54 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I prefer aft, if I book myself, I always do aft. I find it is quieter and I feel almost no motion. I have stayed mid and forward, with the latter being my least favorite. When I was forward not only were the announcements from the captain so much louder, but it was congested, and my Wi-Fi was horrible. I think everybody is different and will have different feelings, so try them all and see what works best. 

I've cruised aft, most recently on the Ovation a few weeks ago, and I've cruised aft on Brand X, smaller ships.  On Ovation, I really didn't feel anything of notation.  However, on Brand X, the vibrations were very noteworthy, almost sickening. On Brand X, I've cruised forward on the same class ships and didn't note any vibrations like I did aft.  I do believe size matters , as well as the brand you cruise on, as far as cruising is concerned.  My next cruise booked is on the Harmony, 2 bdrm, Aqua Theater.  I've been there, done that on the Allure and I have no concerns about motion or vibrations.  

[Ampurp85]

7 hours ago, Nimrod said:

I've cruised aft, most recently on the Ovation a few weeks ago, and I've cruised aft on Brand X, smaller ships.  On Ovation, I really didn't feel anything of notation.  However, on Brand X, the vibrations were very noteworthy, almost sickening. On Brand X, I've cruised forward on the same class ships and didn't note any vibrations like I did aft.  I do believe size matters , as well as the brand you cruise on, as far as cruising is concerned.  My next cruise booked is on the Harmony, 2 bdrm, Aqua Theater.  I've been there, done that on the Allure and I have no concerns about motion or vibrations.  

We did a 2br GS on Allure and thanks to reduced capacity and some medical scares we felt a lot of motion one night. Ship was moving at top speed to get back and we could hear the hangers in the empty closets as well as other things bashing about. So speed, weather, etc. can affect all areas of the ship. 

[Moby Dick]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

We did a 2br GS on Allure and thanks to reduced capacity and some medical scares we felt a lot of motion one night. Ship was moving at top speed to get back and we could hear the hangers in the empty closets as well as other things bashing about. So speed, weather, etc. can affect all areas of the ship. 

Yep, there is always exceptions, if's, and's, or buts.