Category 9 on deck 1 is not the basement of the ship. We've sailed on Deck 1 (it's ground level) before and this time when I upgraded us, I picked the exact same staterooms. That ground level deck is SO quiet and peaceful! Not a lot of traffic in the halls, I loved it! I would say it's one of the best areas for a stateroom (mind you we were and will be almost in the middle of the ship, near the midship elevators).