Is Deck 1 on a Cruise Ship Bad – Pros and Cons

One thing you need to know when booking a cruise is what deck you would like to be on. Cruise ships usually have over a dozen decks for guests to choose from, and they have their own qualities. 

Deck 1, in particular, has a bad rap among cruisers. Many people tend to stay away from deck 1 on a cruise ship but don’t have all of the facts about this level to fully inform their decision. 

This article will explain where deck 1 is and everything you need to know about it.

What Is Deck 1?

Deck 1 is usually the lowest deck on the ship. Some cruise ships have decks lower than deck 1 for the crew and label them with letters instead (deck A, deck B, deck C, etc.).

For some cruise lines, it is the lowest available deck to passengers, sometimes containing cabins available for passengers to book. However, this isn’t always the case, and it largely depends on the ship you’re on.

For example, Royal Caribbean cruise ships usually restrict deck 1 to crew, and the lowest deck that passengers may book is deck 2 or 3. 

In contrast, on most Disney cruise ships, deck 1 often contains staterooms for passengers to book. Some Carnival Cruise Line ships also allow passengers to stay on deck 1. 

Now that you know where deck 1 is on a cruise ship, you might wonder, is deck 1 on a cruise ship bad? Let’s find out.

Is Deck 1 on a Cruise Ship Bad?

Deck 1 isn’t inherently a bad place to be on a cruise ship. However, like every deck on a cruise ship, there are pros and cons to staying on deck 1. To illustrate further, let’s look at the pros and cons of deck 1.

Pros of Deck 1

For the most part, deck 1 has the most affordable cabins on the cruise ship because it’s seen as a less desirable deck, but that’s definitely a subjective stance.

The top benefit of staying on deck 1 is that you’ll feel minimal motion sickness because the closer you are to the waterline, the less rocking you’ll feel from the ship. So if motion sickness is one of your main barriers to going on a cruise, you may be in luck if you book a stateroom on deck 1.

What’s more, being so close to the waterline, you’ll also have a great view of the ocean and have a better chance of spotting sea life from your cabin location.

Cons of Deck 1

One of the significant downsides to deck 1 is how noisy it is. While all cruise ship cabins can expect some noise, the worst is on deck 1. Much of this noise is from being closer to the ships’ operations.

In the decks just beneath deck 1 are the crew cabins, laundry facilities, and even the engine room. The engines and propellers of the ship are especially noisy and can be majorly disruptive for your stay, especially if you’re a light sleeper.

If possible, avoiding rooms above these facilities is a good idea, even if you end up in a deck 1 cabin.

Another disadvantage is that, because of the deck’s proximity to the water, there are often no balconies in the suites offered. Some may even have no windows.

However, if you plan on doing numerous activities on the ship and only plan on sleeping in your cabin, this might be a fair trade-off for a more affordable cabin and less seasickness.

Finally, the lower deck is further from the action on the ship. This can be a good thing if you aren’t a fan of being around a lot of people, but depending on the size of your ship, it can also be a nuisance to go up and across the ship for your activities.

Deck 1 FAQ

The Verdict: Should You Choose Deck 1?

To recap, the simple answer to “is deck 1 on a cruise ship bad” is no, it’s not. However, deck 1 is not for everyone. 

If you are prone to seasickness and want to be as close as possible to the water line to catch a glimpse of sea life, you may enjoy deck 1.

It’s also a more affordable option if you spend most of your time at different ports and take advantage of various activities on board. However, a higher deck is a better choice for those seeking a more luxurious cruise experience.