Cruise ship cabins are often thought of as being cramped spaces with tiny bathrooms and little in the way of storage for guests embarking on a weeklong vacation to island paradises. But that way of thinking is in the past. Cruise lines are not only reimagining their staterooms on new ships to reflect modernization of design, but they're also redesigning old rooms on existing ships to fit the needs of modern traveling families.
Beyond that, cruise lines now must face how the coronavirus pandemic will affect travelers, and what their needs will be on board. While new ships debuting this year and next were designed and began construction well before the pandemic, the sentiment remains that guest staterooms are a retreat for families when post-COVID travel anxiety arises. As such, several new trends we're seeing in stateroom and other design innovations reflect this new effort to serve guests as they return to the high seas.
Expanding cabins
Travelers who are heading out on their first post-pandemic cruise, whether as part of a typical group or as part of a large family reunion, will love that many of the newest ships have more connecting rooms. Carnival's Mardi Gras, launching this summer, has 300 pairs of connecting rooms and what the line calls "family cabins," while the Disney Wish, debuting June 2022, has more than 900 staterooms with connecting doors. The designs allow for larger groups and families to remain together throughout the trip, but can also allow for closed doors for quiet time and privacy.
In addition to these interior innovations, cruise lines are reconfiguring deck spaces to add more balcony and veranda rooms, which become an extension of your living space onboard. Balcony staterooms are an easy spot for families or couples to go when the pool decks are busy, or when you just want to be away from groups but still be outside. You can have room service delivered here and eat quietly while enjoying the ocean views and taking in the sun. The Disney Wish will offer 948 veranda rooms, compared to Disney’s next largest ship, the Disney Dream, which has 901.