Inside or outside? An outside cabin will always demand a premium price when compared to an inside one. Outside cabins will have windows or portholes--the size of which can vary from extremely small portholes up to large picture windows, depending on the ship and the deck location. The most obvious drawback of an inside cabin is the lack of natural light, plus you will have to leave the cabin to check weather conditions or to watch as the ship sails into port.

Location. Even with the almost universal use of stabilizers (fins that help to maintain a ship's smooth attitude in the water) a cruise ship on the open sea will usually experience some movement. This can be either pitch (up and down motion) or roll (side to side motion). The area of the ship with the least amount of perceptible motion is at the center (which is why you usually will pay more for a cabin located midship).

Higher or lower? On almost all cruises, the higher the deck where the cabin is located, the higher the price. The further up you get from the water line, the less chance you will be affected by any engine noise or vibration. In addition, the higher decks are often closer to the "amenity" decks--dining, showrooms, the casino, etc. Larger cabins and suites will almost always be located on the uppermost passenger decks.

Suites and balconies. As more and more newer ships come online, there are many more opportunities for either suites (either with or without balconies) and cabins with balconies. Expect to pay a rather steep premium for either.