Tips for Selecting a Cruise Ship Cabin:
Outside Cabins
by Linda Coffman
Your home away from home
A standard outside cabin has either a picture window or porthole.
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Outside cabin on Windstar's Wind Surf
with traditional portholes.
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To give the illusion of more space, these cabins might also rely on the generous use of mirrors for a more expansive feeling.
In addition to the usual amenities, your outside stateroom might also have a small refrigerator.
The cabin's vanity/desk will almost always have two electric receptacles—one will accept standard US-style plugs (110-volt) and the other for European style plugs (220-volt). To plug in more than one gadget at a time, you'll need a power strip, or, for dual voltage appliances, a plug converter. Bathrooms often have a dual-voltage outlet suitable only for electric shavers.
A hairdryer may be mounted on the bathroom wall, or located at the vanity/desk.
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Holland America Line's Amsterdam: typical standard outside stateroom with picture window
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Two twin beds can be joined together to create one large bed, the equivalent of a queen- or king-size bed.
Going one step further, standard and "larger" outside staterooms on modern ships are often outfitted with a small sofa or loveseat with a cocktail table or small side table. Some of those tables can be raised for dining. The sofas are usually "hide-a-beds" and can accommodate a third person.
A nice touch in some outside cabins are floor to ceiling, wall to wall curtains between the beds and sitting area that allow passengers to create a "private" sleeping space. Cabins that are termed "larger" may have a combination bathtub/shower instead of just a shower.
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Photos © Author's Collection
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