Hi, we are new to river cruising and are planning a Gate1 cruise next spring on the MS Sound of Music. Can anyone give us advise to which cabins are the best on this ship? Thank you!

I wanted to add that I meant does it makes any difference for starboard or port or forward or aft and I wonder if the cabins with French balconies are worth the extra cost on a river cruise!

We were on the Sound of Music last year. We upgraded to a Cat. C Outside Cabin with Panoramic Window [Cabin 219]. We didn't feel it was worth the extra $$ to get the French Balcony.

We were quite happy with our room and the cruise.

Should add that Cabin 219 was mid ship on the Rhine Deck.

http://www.gate1travel.com/cruises/s...ound-of-music/

Thank you. Did your window open? We were thinking of either Cat. C or the French Balcony. Glad that you enjoyed the cruise. We have done a Gate 1 land tour in the past and were very satisfied.

It was a large window and, yes, it opened. If you want to spend the extra money, I'm sure the French Balcony would be nice.

I talked to our travel agent about it and she explained that it's not a "real" balcony that you can sit outside on, but you would have a floor to ceiling window.

I asked this same question (but generally, not this specific ship) of some friends who are veteran river cruises. After 5 European cruises they said---"Pay extra to not be in the fish bowl." From what I understand this would be the lower floor, water line cabins.
Just sayin'

Thanks. I think that we decided to splurge on a French Balcony as we will be on the ship for 14 days and this way we will not have another cabin above us. We just haven't decided on the exact cabin or the location yet. We're thinking starboard in the middle but never having sailed on a river cruise we really have no idea. Maybe it doesn't make any difference anyway?

Not having another cabin above you can be a benefit or a problem, depending on what IS over your cabin. So, I would inquire about that--will you be under a bar, a jogging/walking path, etc. Perhaps unlikely but you never know.

Also note that the boats sometimes raft up together when in ports. Some have complained not knowing about this in advance.

I didn't find it to be a problem tho.

While there were cabins above ours, we never heard any sounds.

You can see from the link I posted above on the Sound of Music layout.

Thanks everyone. We decided to book a French Balcony. I don't think that there will be a problem with any noise above us as the only thing above us is the sun deck and I hope that no one is up there when we are asleep! Looking forward to our first River Cruise next May.