9 ways to make your cruise ship's cabin seem more spacious

Interior staterooms on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas features a virtual balcony,
which gives your cabin a more spacious feel. (Royal Caribbean International)

Cruise ships offer travelers a lot of pluses: entertainment, activities, transportation and a seemingly endless supply of food. But they don't get many points for providing roomy accommodations.

Some cabins, in fact, are only slightly more than 100 square feet; compare that with the average hotel room, which is about 330 square feet.

If your stateroom is a small interior room with no outside light, it can seem claustrophobic. Some lines, in fact, have added virtual balconies to interior rooms to make them seem bigger.
With a little forethought, savvy passengers can take a page out of an interior designer's guidebook and create some magic in their staterooms, according to a recent CruiseCritic.com article. Here are some suggestions.

Pack sensibly

Don't bring a giant bag; use one that's less than 28 inches, says Cruise Critic. That will help you reduce clutter. In addition, a big bag will take up so much space in your closet that you won't have much room to hang your clothes.

Look for hidden storage space

Some lines put built-in cabinets behind mirrors, in ottomans and in other surprising places. Don't forget to store things under the bed. The more items you can put out of sight, the larger your cabin will feel.

Bring your own storage compartments

Some cruisers pack over-the-door shoe bags or other organizers to help them stay in control of cabin space.

Remove small furniture

When you board, ask if small pieces of furniture, or things such as your bedspread or throw pillows, can be stored elsewhere. This will clear out more room space for you.

Keep it tidy

Hang up your clothes, stash small items. If they're out of sight, you'll feel better, and the cabin will seem larger.

Use the walls

Cabins are mainly made of metal. If you bring along a few magnets, you can hang some of the daily paperwork — planners and party invitations on a wall instead of having them litter the desk. And if you hang them near the door, Cruise Critic suggests, you can check them on the way out.

Move the beds, if possible

On some ships, you can have the beds reconfigured to create more space in one area or another.

Turn on your TV

If you have an inside cabin, you can make your cabin seem bigger by tuning your set to the bridge or bow cam station, which will give you an ocean view.

Natural light helps

Leave your drapes open during the day if you have an ocean-view or balcony room. A dark room seems too much like a cocoon.

Article by Rosemary McClure
LA Times