Thursday, May 10, 2012

rear window

This is what a realtor would call a cruise ship “stateroom.”

The less florid call it a “cabin.”

I call it my "bed closet."  You can see why.  It is simply a place for my bed to live. 

It is my home for the 15 night cruise from Barcelona to Dubai.  And noticeably larger than my cabin for the 16 night crossing from New Orleans. 

Probably because of that window.  More on it later.

Both are interior cabins.  That means I do not have a view of the sea.  My first cabin was like a cave.  At least, this cabin overlooks the interior promenade. 

The cruise line refers to the promenade as the ship’s Main Street.  To me, it looks like a rather low-brow strip mall.  But it is a gathering place on special occasions: parades, formal nights, dances.

I started having Mexico withdrawals after living in my cave for over two weeks.  The lack of light was not too bad -- even though I have always slept best when a room is lit with outside light.
What I really missed was noise.  When I entered my windowless cabin, it was almost like entering a recording studio.  It was eerily quiet.

In my promenade cabin, I knew I would get plenty of ambient light by leaving the curtains open.  Of course, it was a bit like living in a Big Brother episode.  But that was my neighbors’ issue.  Not mine.  And I nearly have my act up to Sally Rand quality.

What I hoped for was noise.  Some evidence that I was not alone on this ship.  Just a little bit of Mexican chaos.  After all, I was only two decks above The Action.


But technology worked against me.  Even with the window, the cabin is as quiet as Trappist monastery.

On most cruises, I stay in either a balcony cabin or a balcony suite.  And I live on the balcony on sea days.

Here are a few statistics.  My interior cabin was 160 square feet.  My Promenade cabin is a spacious 167 square feet. That includes a bathroom the size of an airline toilet with a bit of extra space for a shower that allows admittance to most of an average body.

The good thing about the tiny interior cabins is that the lack of space shoos me out to play like some insistent mother. 

But these cabins were built for two things.  To store a small wardrobe.  And to provide a place to sleep.

And ships have always provided a great place for me to sleep.  No matter the size of the cabin.  The movement of the ship is even better for nodding off than the clickety-clack of a Pullman car.

And, for that purpose, it deserves an honorary “stateroom” appellation.

16 comments:

John Calypso said...

Tight quarters on a huge ship - as you suggest a wonderful excuse to get out on deck and mingle.

Dan in NC said...

Wow a full service promenade! Hope you got good sized ostrich feathers! You are giving some rather useful pleasure cruising tips, for us who may take a similar (read: Lottery) trip. Funny how my bunk on the Marsh (DE 730) looked nothing like your present bunk! Keep up the great reporting!
Dan in NC

Irene said...

There are parades on cruise ships?!!  Does your camera do video?

Steve Cotton said...

 It meets its purposes.  To store clothes and to sleep.

Steve Cotton said...

 I simply enjoy the fun of it all.

Steve Cotton said...

 And this ship will soon have a DreamWorks production walking the Promenade.  The line between ships and amusement parks is quickly disappearing.

John Calypso said...

You mentioned an internet package (bandwidth restrictions or just slow speed?).  Are you able to get connected in your cabin?

Steve Cotton said...

 The speed is slow.  I am just happy to have anything, though.  Out here in the Red Sea.  But it has come at a price.  $450 to be exact.  In the first cabin, I had no access.  I do now.  And that is where I am writing.

Mcotton said...

I can understand why you are almost up to Sally Rand quality if you can only fit part of your body in the shower and you forgot to close the window curtains.  Oh my, it sounds like you are having way too much fun.

Kim G said...

Well, the upside of such a cabin is that it could take days for the pirates to find you there.

Meanwhile, thanks for shelling out to keep us readers entertained.

Saludos,

Kim G
Boston,  MA
Where our own cruising experience included such exotic ports of call as Catalina Island, San Diego, and Ensenada, Mexico.

Andean said...

You have a good view from the balcony onto the promenade. Looks like a black tie event, everyone is elegantly dressed.

Steve Cotton said...

 I am my father's son.

Steve Cotton said...

If the pirates are anything like my fellow passengers, it would take them days to figure out which deck to search.  This ship can be a maze.

Steve Cotton said...

 It was one of our formal nights.  As is tonight.

Cineguy said...

Thought it would be fun to joke since I know it wouldn't surprise you that the first thing I noticed about your lovely Boardwalk room was hanging from a ceiling truss just across the way through the window.  My first spotting of that lovely, white-painted, decor-blending Martin professional show-lighting moving head. :D  They will no doubt have some prominent use in the parade and bridge dancing ceremonies down below.  

Steve Cotton said...

 And be part of the new DreamWorks show, as well.