The CHEAP Challenge: Results in from the Sky

[kateanon]

I'm SO glad to read this!

It's my first cruise. We booked last minute (since our work schedules are often unpredictable and time off in our positions is hard to come by). Since we were spending a bunch on airfare, we decided to save by booking inside. He's only been in balcony rooms on up before and I was worried this trip would be less desirable to him. But, it's our first together and we're up for exploring all the things we can! I'm sure we'll splurge on a cocktail or two and I've saved to surprise him with a massage, but I'm relieved that you don't have to be in a suite to have a wonderful experience.

[dznymom]

Absolutely the best trip report I have read for a very long time! Thanks so much for sharing with us.

[TrudyC]

wow glad to hear such a great review, we have always taken inside cabins, and eat mostly in the MDR, we prefer to spend our $$ on more trips and have always found the staff treat us as well as possible, and I have told many friends the food and entertainment and service is great where ever you are sleeping... glad to hear you found the same

[CampbellScot]

BRAVO to you!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!

[dalgirl]

Yoyocruiser - thank you soooo much for coming back to tell us how the cruise went - I am also one of those trying an inside cabin for the first time this summer on the 9 day Baltic cruise - and with the added expense of almost 2 weeks away, I am cutting expenses wherever I can. You have inspired me to dig deeper with saving the cash where I can, and I am really looking forward to our "inside" adventure. Mother always told us that most of the fun was in your attitude and you have got me in the right attitude for fun:D

[OceanDreaming2]

[quote name='dalgirl']Yoyocruiser - thank you soooo much for coming back to tell us how the cruise went - I am also one of those trying an inside cabin for the first time this summer on the 9 day Baltic cruise - and with the added expense of almost 2 weeks away, I am cutting expenses wherever I can. You have inspired me to dig deeper with saving the cash where I can, and I am really looking forward to our "inside" adventure. Mother always told us that most of the fun was in your attitude and you have got me in the right attitude for fun:D[/quote]

Our friends had an inside stateroom on the Sun. It was very spacious; unlike other inside staterooms I've seen.

[OceanDreaming2]

We are also considering a 4 dayer on the Sky. The only problem is the airfare costs more than the cruise itself.

[firefighter15]

[quote name='OceanDreaming2']We are also considering a 4 dayer on the Sky. The only problem is the airfare costs more than the cruise itself.[/quote]


I just went thru that, booked a cruise for my wife and I. Just a quick getaway for 3 nights with out the kids and the cheapest airfare I found was $100 more then my BALCONY room for 2! :eek:

[capriciousc]

Thank you so much for posting this! So far we have always stayed in balcony cabins, and planned well in advance. Recently, though, I've been watching last-minute rates since we're within easy driving distance of three or four ports. It's nice to hear that the prices do start going down within the last two weeks before departure - nice to keep in mind for a last-minute getaway!

[jdvmd]

[quote name='OceanDreaming2']Our friends had an inside stateroom on the Sun. It was very spacious; unlike other inside staterooms I've seen.[/quote]

We had an sideways inside room on the Sun this past June doing the Baltic and it ranks up there with one of the best rooms we have ever had and that is including suites and balconies on every other major line. It was fabulous and I would book again in a second. We even had three people in this one.

[yoyocruiser]

It is amazing the number of people who are reporting having such positive experiences in their "inside" rooms. Maybe it has something to do with your level of expectation. If paying a lot or certainly booked in a suite, your expectations are sky high--and any small thing might seem large. Perhaps the inside just puts you in a more positive frame of mind.

So glad this is encouraging people--and helping them feel positive about their upcoming cruise.

I have read about those "sideways" inside rooms. There aren't many.

[marti2282]

This is the kind of thread that keeps me coming back to the boards. So much of what is posted can be cranky and petty. Nice to know that there are still people who relish making their lemons into lemonade!!

[dixielandings]

This is great to know! DH and I just booked a last-minute trip on the Sky for Feb 3, in a balcony-free room (first time for us) - though we do have a porthole.

When you book on the fly like this, there's always the 2nd thoughts that come after - what're we thinking, it's so short, no balcony, what if the service is bad and everyone is drunk and obnoxious...irrational.

Now I'm really excited. If nothing else, we will have 3 days in the Caribbean sun with no one else to think about but each other. And we're SO going to the white hot party! And dancing!!

Thanks!

[nyyhoneybee]

My upcoming cruise is my first one not on an inside cabin and I am afraid it will spoil me. Glad to know it's doable after a suite!

[miztressuz]

Thanks so much for the review of the Sky. First time NCL cruisers, we just booked a B2B in Sept and worried a little about the smallness (relatively) of the ship being able to find stuff to entertain. We also chose this as our 'cheapo' vacation this year planning on doing more things on ship than shelling out a lot of money for excursions or extras. It was nice to see the ship get good marks for service and entertainment since we'll be on it for 7 nights :)

[shelly11]

Thanks for your report! The Sky is the only ship I have been on so far and my husband and I were blown away at how great it was! We are going back soon and taking our daughter this time.

[mickeysgal]

Wow! This review is wonderful. Goes to show you that there is not an "only" way to cruise. Yes, those suites and balconies are great, but an inside cabin is not a ticket to a doomed experience.

[yoyocruiser]

Oh sorry I didn't respond--I didn't notice that there had been more postings.
Dixie--we too booked totally on the fly--10 days out from sailing--so I was very nervous. That's when I came on CC and threw it out to people--and so many people responded that they had been on the SKY and had an inside cabin and had a great time. We usually book months in advance and I research everything to death--so this was quite different for us. Glad I could help alleviate some of your concerns. Go and have a blast!! :)
Shelly--the ship really is great--we LOVED it!!
Honeybee--YES, you can go back for sure!! LOL Maybe everyone can't, but obviously I had no problem.
Mickeysgal--you hit it on the head--there is not one way to do it. That's what I wanted to get across. Because on CC there are an abundance of folks who write about the suites--understandable--as people who really love cruising often do end up in suites-- but it can make you start to think that everyone is in a suite.

[GorillaPaper]

My mom and I just got back from a 3 day on the Sky. Neither of us had cruised before and it was a birthday gift for her. I read A LOT of reviews here on cruise critic and was unsure what to expect, but I also had a wonderful time. The ship, crew, dining, everything was wonderful. It is not just a drunken party crowd either - there are all different age groups and interests. Loved it! Can't wait for the Epic now - just 38 days away!

[JMHAM1]

YAY! I am so glad you came back and posted.

We are going to take all 6 kids with us next year and with 8 total people going...it will be el cheapo! Didn't know if I could do it without some balcony space.

I'm so happy for you and yours and hopeful that we can do it too.

[be4life182]

Great posting! I have to agree, I had a similar experience and although i had wanted to get a balcony this time around, looks like we are going with the inside again since we spent 0 time in there anyways.

Another think I highly agree with is that the late night grill (different names on different ships) definitly had some of our favorite food, and we visited it nightly after we discovered it.

[dalgirl]

[quote name='OceanDreaming2']Our friends had an inside stateroom on the Sun. It was very spacious; unlike other inside staterooms I've seen.[/quote] We are in Cabin 8321 - it was a recommendation from a CC member who had stayed in it and really liked it. It would be great if we decide we "prefer" inside.... a girl can dream;)

[petesweet]

[SIZE="4"][/SIZE][quote name='yoyocruiser']It is amazing the number of people who are reporting having such positive experiences in their "inside" rooms. Maybe it has something to do with your level of expectation. If paying a lot or certainly booked in a suite, your expectations are sky high--and any small thing might seem large. Perhaps the inside just puts you in a more positive frame of mind.

So glad this is encouraging people--and helping them feel positive about their upcoming cruise.

I have read about those "sideways" inside rooms. There aren't many.[/QUOTE]

[SIZE="4"]I never thought of that, but it is very likely true.

From an "insider," many thanks for this enthusiastic report.

Kathy[/SIZE]

[kendal]

[quote name='yoyocruiser'][FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]The Situation: A couple of weeks ago I posted here regarding my decision to take the four day SKY cruise to the Bahamas in an inside cabin with no excursions, no up-charge restaurants, and no shopping—in other words—as cheap as possible. Budget airline, budget transports, no pre-cruise shopping for the new bathing suit. Many people from CC encouraged my efforts, asking for a report back.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]About Us: My favorite part of cruising is having a balcony and especially enjoying coffee in the morning on my balcony. In the past years we have been fortunate enough to have suites, and greatly enjoyed the perks. I totally bought the line, “Once you cruise in a suite you’ll never go back.” And I myself had often said, “I cannot cruise without a balcony.” Well, not sure if some of you have noticed that the economy has not been so great lately. So in my winter doldrums I was dreaming of a cruise, really wanting to spend some time with my kids (home on college break). But I just could not rationalize spending that much money. I was also noticing that the four day cruise prices were dropping drastically about two weeks out from sailing date. So I decided to closely monitor the only week that would work for us—January 9th. Low and behold prices fell. With great encouragement from CCers I decided to go for it. [/FONT][/SIZE]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Questions We Had: As I contemplated the “cheapo challenge” some interesting questions arose. I wondered if my positive feeling about NCL service was because I had been in suites, where it is reasonable to assume that service would excel? Had cruising gone to a “class system”? Or was service good regardless of your room type? Also, on a personal level, how much had I convinced myself that I needed to have the balcony, this amenity or that amenity? What was most important—enjoying my kids and spending time together or being in the best suite?? Did I HAVE TO have a balcony? What WAS the real value of having a concierge to make my restaurant reservations? And food snob that I am—did I really want to eat in buffet lines and MDRs for five days? Would an inside cabin drive me crazy, or would it drive us out to more and broader experiences? Was a four day cruise somehow “less” that a 7 or 10 day cruise in terms of service?[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]So this is what we did: We booked the absolute bottom price—a guarantee inside room. Price: $179 each for two of us, and $109 for the third plus the port charges and $12 per da/person service—about $900 total. No insurance—we were 10 days out, it was a four day cruise, and only to the Bahamas. A risk I know—but one I was comfortable taking. No day ahead flight with added hotel and meal charges. Again—a risk—but one worth taking since I was able to get a direct flight. Discovered that a limo pick-up was cheaper than pay parking and taking a bus to airport—some of my price research surprised me. We were hoping for a room upgrade—didn’t get one—but did get on the 7th deck which was actually a great location—near elevators, and on deck with dining room, shops, and casino (oh no!!)[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]And this is how it went: No kidding, it was the best cruise of my life. Even I am not believing I am saying this. The service was fantastic—no way I felt that anyone looked at my key card thinking “cheapo lady”—LOL. The room was adequate, tough for storage, but there actually was sitting space and the beds were very comfortable, and the bedding was of good quality. I cannot say enough about the food on this cruise. The buffets were kept in perfect shape, good variety. Table cleared quickly. Service in MDRs was incredible. Even the much maligned lobster was really good—but salmon was the real winner. Caesar salads incredible. I could go on and on. Being in an inside cabin definitely meant we stayed out of the room. We took advantage of everything—kids pored over the schedule and planned every day out. They LOVED all the entertainment. Shows, games, activities—gosh, everything was just so much fun.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Top Ten List:[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]10) Two for one martinis at aft bar between 6 and 8 —never listed in the daily—but I read it here on CC[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]9) Workout room with great views[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]8) Caesar salads[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]7) Great Stirrup Cay beach to the far left[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]6)Sail away party on deck[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]5) loungers by the pool (very few towel hogs)[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]4)discovered breakfast in IlDagio (Italian restaurant) that no one seemed to know about[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]3)DJs and dance parties each night—fovorite of my kids[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]2)White Hot Party (everyone was up and out and dancing like CRAZY)[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]1) Buffalo chicken wings at Longboards every morning at 1AM with my two faves[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Over the Top Experience:[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]There was a note in the daily that you could register to have dinner with one of the ship’s officers and they would have a drawing. Well we registered and on Wednesday morning received a lovely invitation. A Guest Services rep met us and then took us to our table with the Captain of Staff—(under the Captain there is the Chief Engineer, Hotel and Food Director, and the Captain of Staff). He was a wonderful gentleman from Croatia who answered all of our questions and was really interesting. The meal was in the MDR but included lovely wines and then he ordered deserts for us from Cagney’s that they brought in and served. It was just us, a lovely woman from Jamaica with her college age daughter—I had mistakenly expected a big table of people. It was just one of the most lovely experiences!![/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]What We Learned: As many CCers suggested, we found that we really did get out and about and really participate much more in the ship activities. For instance, I always sat on my balcony for sail away. But this time we were up on deck, with a great band, everyone dancing—so much fun. We definitely found that we could have great food and great fun without adding a lot of charges. I am thrilled we ahd this challenge—and am totally thrilled that I did not dismiss this opportunity because I could not afford a balcony. I did not NEED a balcony. We learned that a four day cruise attracts a bit of a younger group (though all ages were represented) and to me this is great and means high energy and great entertainment and participation (for example, I have been to a couple of really dead White Hot parties).On the other hand—I encountered no rude or drunken behavior. But there is just a nice high energy feel to this cruise. Finally, who you cruise with is much more important than all the rest—and I value every moment I was able to spend with my two kids who have now both gone back to college. We danced every night, went to all the shows, ate great food, laughed ourselves crazy, and ate us a fare’s worth of hot chicken wings.[/SIZE][/FONT][/quote]

What a great experience for your family! I too love to book a suite for accommodations. A few years ago I booked a 'low budget' price for an inside cabin on RCI. I researched before I chose my cabin-which ended being an awesome choice, right across from a quiet library that had a balcony, which ended up being an extension of our cabin. I had the same experience as you-more time enjoying the ammenties on the ship and a wonderful trip with my family.

Enjoyed your report Yoyocruiser.

[libertyschool]

I enjoyed this so very much :) Glad to hear that your experiment was a success!

It sounds like you have a great relationship with your kids. My oldest is away at University (first year). We will be going on a cruise together this spring so this review really hit home with me. I've missed her so much since she's been away at school. Your review paintd a beautiful picture of what I have to look forward to. Thank you!!! :D