I've stayed in 3 types of rooms on cruises, and the cheapest has never been worth it. Here's what to book instead.

On one seven-night cruise with my family, upgrading our accommodation was the best decision of the trip. Sarah Gilliland I'm a frequent cruise traveler who's stayed in a variety of accommodations at sea. I've found the cheapest rooms have no view and can feel cramped, especially if shared by a family. Splurging on a higher-category balcony cabin was one of the best decisions I've made on a cruise. Automatically booking the cheapest room on a cruise ship without doing proper research first can ruin a trip. As someone who's been going on cruises for over a decade, I've learned that the price tag for these vacations can vary based on a number of factors, from cruise line to trip duration to room category. Staying in the most standard-level cabin seems like an obvious way to keep costs down.