I started booking rooms on lower decks instead (less dependence on elevators, convenient to walk to dining rooms and promenade, a little cheaper)
Unlike hotels on land, you can pick if room is on a higher or lower level of the cruise ship.
The more I've cruised, the less I've cared about which deck my cabin is on, but I definitely stopped paying extra to be on a higher deck.
I cruise on a monthly basis, and that affords me the time to get on ships and my views have definitely changed as to which deck I prefer to be on.
Like many aspects of a cruise, the better option depends on your needs and tastes. But if someone is brand new to a cruise and wants to know if it's better to be on high or low on a cruise ship, I'd recommend a lower one for a few reasons.
I thought having a better view mattered
I always wanted cabins on a high deck when I started cruising because I equated it like a hotel building, where the better view on a higher floor is worth it every time.
What I discovered as I cruised was the view you had wasn't as important as I thought.
One truth of any cabin is I find I spend very little time in it. Cruise ships have so much to do onboard that I'm drawn away to the activities.
The result is your cruise cabin is usually for sleeping, showering, and changing. That realization was the first step in rethinking where my room would be.
Something else I noticed when I'd visit someone else's cabin is the difference in view between a higher deck and a lower deck really isn't that much different.
Cruise ships are big, but they're not skyscrapers either. I just don't think you're getting that much more elevation to make a significant difference.
Probably the top reason I started to rethink a cabin on a high deck is the dependence you'll have on elevators.
Other than Icon of the Seas, the elevators on all cruise ships get crowded and in-demand quite quickly.
Waiting for an elevator is a gamble each time if you'll get one soon or end up waiting for what seems like forever. Royal Caribbean's Product Development team calls this "microwave minutes" because the time you wait in front of a microwave to make food always seems to take forever.
Obviously I can, and have, taken the stairs to bypass the elevator. But there are situations where that's nearly impossible, like when you get back on the ship after a shore excursion and you're on deck 1 and need to get to your cabin on deck 12.
I started booking rooms on lower decks instead
That dependence on elevators was probably the impetus to try a cabin on a lower deck.
A few years ago I was sailing on Mariner of the Seas and told me travel agent I'd like a room closer to the Royal Promenade. I ended up with a cabin on deck 6, just one room up from the Promenade.
It felt strange, but I instantly fell in love with its location.
I was able to walk and take the stairs to the Royal Promenade, Main Dining Room, Theater, Schooner Bar, and Casino without needing to wait for an elevator.
I found it so convenient to be able to get to my room when I needed.
The real benefit of a higher deck cabin is the pool
If there's one good reason to book a room on a higher deck, it's to be close to the pool deck.
Royal Caribbean always has its pool up on the highest decks. The same is true for the Windjammer buffet, and even the kids club can be found near the pools on nearly all ships.
If you're someone that loves to spend a lot of time around the pool, there's a compelling reason to pick a cabin on a high deck.
When my kids were younger, it was undeniably convenient to have the buffet and Adventure Ocean close by. When we cruised on Anthem of the Seas and Adventure Ocean is on the same deck as guest cabins on deck 14, it felt like we had such a convenience being there.
Someone that loves to spend most of their day near the pool might find the convenience factor of being near the pool a good reason to be on a higher deck.
Plus, being on a high deck means you are also closer to specialty restaurants, fun activities, and the jogging track.
Itinerary matters
I would book a cabin on a higher deck if I was sailing to Alaska or the Norwegian fjords.
Part of what makes these itineraries special is the fact you get to sail past waterfalls, glaciers, and into fjords.
The best place to see the view is up on the pool deck on a high deck. Being at a higher vantage point truly makes a difference.
In Alaska, so many times you'll be compelled to run up and see what you're passing next. It's far easier to do this if your cabin is just a deck or two away from the pool.
In the Caribbean, I think it matters less having that view.
Is it bad to be on a really low deck?
Some cruisers are concerned with being booked in a cabin on the lowest decks, such as a cabin on deck 2.
Rooms on a low deck near the waterline are often the cheapest in price, and that makes some people question why.
You'll only find inside and oceanview cabins on the lowest decks. Balcony cabins don't usually start appearing until perhaps deck 6. Since there are only small cabins here, they're going to cost less.
Similar to a cabin on a very high deck, you're far more dependent on the elevator on deck 2 to get around the ship.
You're less likely to get seasick on a low deck
This is a generalization, but you're less likely to get motion sick on a lower deck than a higher deck.
The best place to be to minimize the effects of seasickness are on a low deck, midship.
That isn't to say you're automatically going to get seasick if you book a cabin near the top of the ship. Rather, if the ship is rocking, the feeling might be less noticeable if your room is closer to a low deck.
If you're sensitive to motion, it might be worse on a high deck, if you're not, then it probably won't be noticeable to you anyway.
There's not as much difference as you'd think
I've spelled out the major considerations, but don't overthink the issue as I don't think being higher or lower on a cruise ship matters as much as new cruisers think it does.
All decks have their reasons to book it or not. I'd pay more attention to the cabins to avoid booking than the specific deck number. There are definitely better cabin locations to consider than the exact deck.
In some cases, you won't have a choice. Suites are almost always located at a very high deck, whereas inside cabins tend to be on lower decks.
