A cabin cruiser is a large type of motorboat that includes basic living accommodations on the boat itself. Modern versions include extravagant amenities as well. The cabin in cabin cruiser therefore, refers to the cabin or enclosure for these living accommodations. A cabin cruiser is something different and smaller than a cruise ship which generally holds thousands of passengers.

Generally, cabin cruisers are somewhere between 25 feet (7.6 meters) and 45 feet (13.7 meters) long. As for their amenities, cruisers usually at least have a toilet (known as a head in the boating world), a kitchen (galley), and sleeping quarters (berth). Most cabin cruisers also have a small dining area and what's known as an aft cabin, or a second sleeping area in the back of the cabin. Newer cabin cruisers will also have additional amenities such as heaters, air conditioners, and power generators.

The design of cabin cruisers have improved over time making them faster while continuing to offer a stable, comfortable ride in spite of their relatively large size. The cockpit (seating area) of a cabin cruiser is usually quite spacious. Traditionally, cabin cruisers have combined the horsepower and running speed of a runabout with overnight accommodations. This is still true, but today cabin cruisers are often referred to as simply “cruisers,” “express cruisers,” "pleasure boats," "pleasure crafts," and “sedans,” with less emphasis on the “cabin” of cabin cruiser or "houseboat" aspects, and more on the entertaining aspect that the cabin cruiser affords.

During the last few years a quiet revolution in cabin cruiser design has taken place, including subtle changes in hull design which have produced performance benefits for the newer cabin cruiser. When the cabin cruiser first became available, the idea behind it was to be a “room with a view” if ever there was one. Today's cabin cruiser may look quite different from the cabin cruiser of previous generations, but the basic idea is still the same. Modern European styling is beginning to replace the old, basic box-on-a-hull design and is transforming cabin cruisers into fashionable floating condominiums. These newer cabin cruisers boast a smoother, more impressive ride. Flatter turns are also increasingly available in the new generation of today's cabin cruiser.