A CLEVER travel hack has revealed the best way to enjoy an ocean cruise with extra room.
The handy little hack requires a bit of travel maths, but will guarantee you a comfortable cruise instead of being crammed like sardines.
While most travel tips and hacks will advise you to avoid booking relaxing getaways during school holidays and peak holidays times, this one requires you to understand the size of a ship compared to the number of passengers.
It all comes down to what’s known as the Passenger Space Ratio (PSR).
This is calculated by dividing a ship’s gross registered tonnage by the number of passengers as these factors vary between different vessels.
The higher the figure, the more space you get to enjoy.
According to The Telegraph, “Six Star” lines such as Silversea, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, generally scoring in the 60s and 70s for passenger space ratios, while many mass market ships are in the 20s, 30s and 40s.
It means ships such as Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruisesand Norwegian Cruises often score in the early to mid 40s when it comes to space.
Another tip when it comes to booking roomy cruise cabins is to study the deck plans for design quirks which can reveal extra large cabins on balconies for the same price as a standard room.
Cabins at the ship fronts or backs tend to have a more unusual layout, and can include additional space.
It’s not just the large ocean cruises that have quirky layouts, the same tip can apply to river cruise ships.
Things like “open air balconies” can increase the size of the room by turning the floor to ceiling windows into a French baclony.
A former travel consultant has also revealed a few tips for a more spacious and enjoyable cruise.
Scott Laird revealed his best tips for people to try and find their own space.
Firstly, Laird suggests that those looking for extra space pay for more expensive rooms as they get access to exclusive areas.
If a traveller wants to avoid having to battle over deck chairs to sun themselves on, they could even book their own room with deck.
Scott said the more expensive rooms also have access to their own restaurants, pools, and bars – a ‘ship within a ship’.
He said: “That way, regardless of how busy your sailing proves to be, you can still enjoy yacht-like privacy—plus the fun-loving social atmosphere and amenities of a large cruise.”
Secondly, holiday makers can reserve deck chairs next to the pool for a certain amount of time, but he said each cruise operator is different.
Or, on most cruises, deck chairs can be reserved for a small fee.
Doing one of those options saves the awkward glances and passive aggressiveness of trying to claim and keep a prime spot.
Finally, Scott suggests that those on a cruise should just wander the boat to try and find the space they are looking for.
Whether it’s a quiet bar or a busy restaurant if travellers know how the boat works they can find what they want.
He says: “If you still have difficulty finding your groove on the ship after a round of exploring, consult the experts. Cruise ship crew members live and work aboard their ships for months at a time, so they know them incredibly well.”
