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Help me feel better about booking an inside cabin.


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3 hours ago, TinkBellaMom said:

My main concern is that I will feel a bit closed in with no view of the outside.  My friends who love them tell me they are cosy.

Some opinions from both sides would be appreciated.

 

Get a new husband.  😉  Serious, why go on a cruise you're not comfortable with?  You like the balcony and the sound of the ocean.  You're not getting that in an interior cabin.

Edited by Cigar King
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I’ve only had inside cabins when I have cruised.  I am somewhat claustrophobic, but I haven’t had any issues in inside cabins at all.  They’re not that small! 😉  I sometimes have issues with insomnia so the inside cabins are perfect for me to get a good nights sleep.

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I've had both inside and oceanview cabins (have never booked a balcony), and I have both kinds booked for future cruises. Although I prefer oceanview, I'm not willing to pay a large premium for it, especially since I travel alone and will usually be charge a single supplement. I even have an inside booked on the Radiance next year for an Alaska cruise, where hundreds of posts here on CC will tell you that one ABSOLUTELY MUST!!!! have a balcony. My reasoning there is that land arrangements in Alaska are expensive and I would rather spend money on those.

 

Posts on cruise critic are disproportionately about balcony staterooms, mini-suites, and suites, especially suites, when you consider what the actual numbers of different kinds of staterooms are on most ships and that, as noted above, the inside cabins do get booked.

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With a family of 6 and needing to travel during PEAK pricing times due to our jobs and our children's school holidays, the choice for us is often an inside cabin or not cruising at all.   I have had a few outside cabins with windows that were great (panoramic oceanviews or large window that were 6 feet in diameter since the cabins were added in a meeting area, so they had extra large windows).  Other than those special windows, I would never pay extra for an oceanview cabin over an interior.  Simply not worth it in my mind.

 

I am one who actually prefers the darkness of an interior cabin for sleeping.  It is kind of like a sensory deprivation tank (or as another poster ominously called it - a coffin).  None of us ever feel claustrophobic in it.  We spend so little time in our cabin other than sleeping and getting ready for dinner, it is simply not worth the extra expense for us.  We can cruise every March break in an inside cabin or every 2 years in a balcony cabin.  Easy choice every time - cruise annually.

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My husband was claustrophobic so we booked balconies at least.  We lived in FL  when he retired and we could sail often and most times it was a regular balcony, but occasionally, it was a suite.

 

He passed and now I live Upstate NY where I have to fly to a port.  I would rather stay home than have to cruise in an inside cabin.  I do enjoy spending time on a balcony and being able to see what's going on outside without watching it on TV.  I don't think my cruising habits are going to change as now I sail with my son and his family and my granddaughter and I share a cabin and we all love balconies.

 

When I cruise with my sister, she also wants a balcony, so that's how it will be.  I have considered sailing solo and if I did, I'd have to sail in a balcony as I may end up spending more time on my balcony than I do now.

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Never booked anything other than a balcony.  Last cruise on Symphony of the Seas  we did the group cabin crawl.  Walked into a interior and said I would skip a cruise rather than sail in a interior.  No light,  no view, no fresh air,  and definitely no happy wife.  To each their own..

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I’ve only booked an interior once and will never do so again. Not for me. Balconies only; I would rather skip a cruise then take another one in an interior room but to each his own. If I was retired or living in Florida then maybe I would change my mind but not likely, hated it. 

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My husband and I have traveled exclusively in interiors. We are literally only in the room to shower, change, and sleep. Otherwise, we are out enjoying the ship. For us, spending more money for a bigger room doesn’t make financial sense. We can cruise way more often because we stick to interiors

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We have done balcony, ocean view, inside cabins and on the Oasis class ships Central Park Balcony.

 

Of the four types the one I don't book is the ocean view.

 

Note:  My wife is afraid of heights so very really goes out on the balcony.

 

Benefits for an inside for me.

 

1.  I am a get up at the first sign of light coming through a window type of person.  Some of my best sleep has been onboard a ship in an inside cabin.  I have a tendenancy to sleep in.

2.  While you don't get to hear the ocean, from you cabin.  However if you keep your balcony door closed, you really don't the ocean.  They strongly encourage you to keep the door closed as it doesn't only affect your cabin it affects the other cabins around you. The ocean you hear is essentially white noise.  If you are in an aft cabin you get the same effect from the light drone of the engines.

3.  Except for Oasis class ships there are plenty of lounges etc where you can watch the ocean go by.  During certain times of the year the outside spaces including balconies can be hot, so you don't enjoy them as much.  By hanging out in lounges etc, better opportunity to meet interesting people

4.  Cost.

 

Balcony advantages.

1.  If the weather is temperate, If you bring bottles of wines onboard it is nice to go into the cabin get a glass of wine and go on the balcony and relax.  Repeat refill of glass of wine as desired.

 

 

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Inside cabins are a great option for those of us in FL that want an inexpensive getaway.

 

Other than Boardwalk View balconies on Oasis class which we really like, I'm not sure we'll pay extra for a balcony again unless it is a minimal uncharge.  Ocean View, Promenade View, or interior work fine for less.

 

I sometimes have trouble sleeping away from home but interior cabins sleep great in my opinion.  If you are a napper, they are wonderful for that.  I remember in my early 20's going on a the Majesty with friends... I took a several hour nap one day right during the prime of the afternoon, which my friends did not understand.   But how often do you have a chance to take an afternoon nap without pesky daylight in the way...

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Had one on our first cruise but will never do it again. Just too confined for me and balconies are just awesome. The ocean, the sound, the smell of the sea is all great. That being said I do check inside prices and they are quite inexpensive. Every time I think about it I stop and think of my first cruise and its a nope won't do that again kinda thing.

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2 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

You will be fine.  Ships have lots of interior cabins and  the cabins are filled every cruise.  If you don't like it, you will know not to book one again.

 

 

 

You're considering a short 5 day cruise so it would be a good time for you to give an inside cabin a try to see if you like it.  :classic_wink:

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A couple of hundred dollars each for a window to look out of or a few hundred dollars more each for a balcony it’s often too windy to sit out on? No thanks. I’ll opt for the inside and go on two cruises instead of one.

 

You’ll have all the same facilities in your room and you’ll sleep like a log. 

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5 hours ago, Armac said:

We have cruised many times in everything from a suite to an inside on deck two. Just off Brilliance with an inside on deck 8, we had a great cruise. For us it depends on the itinerary and the price difference, sometimes the upgrade to a balcony is just not worth the extra money in my opinion, other times it is reasonable. I think you are limiting your options if you do not try and inside at least once on a short cruise. As stated before only you can decide if it is wright for you.  

I have done  balcony, ocean view  and inside.  Often do an inside however - price, choose convenient location and I have never regretted getting one.   I spend very little time in cabin and  at night I leave BR door ajar.  Actually do that in  an OV also - they are just as dark.   If ship has them try room that looks over center of ship(cafes, stores etc)

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5 hours ago, matj2000 said:

They are like giant coffins....

This is a gross exaggeration. 

 

Anyway.. OP

 

I am bit claustrophobic, but I love the inside cabins, not sure how a balcony does away with the claustrophobia anyway, as it is not really an exit. I have had balconies, lots of OV, and lots of inside. Every time I book an OV (with the exception of CCL Horizon, because those two bathroom OV's are awesome) I always regret it because the light that comes through the curtains is annoying in the morning. We both used to smoke, so the balcony was nice on the 15 day to Hawaii, but I have since quit, and since one cannot smoke on the balconies any longer, there is no point for my other half. It really just becomes a waste of money for us, or better put... more money that can go to the casino budget. UGH.  

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2 hours ago, kochleffel said:

I've had both inside and oceanview cabins (have never booked a balcony), and I have both kinds booked for future cruises. Although I prefer oceanview, I'm not willing to pay a large premium for it, especially since I travel alone and will usually be charge a single supplement. I even have an inside booked on the Radiance next year for an Alaska cruise, where hundreds of posts here on CC will tell you that one ABSOLUTELY MUST!!!! have a balcony. My reasoning there is that land arrangements in Alaska are expensive and I would rather spend money on those.

 

Posts on cruise critic are disproportionately about balcony staterooms, mini-suites, and suites, especially suites, when you consider what the actual numbers of different kinds of staterooms are on most ships and that, as noted above, the inside cabins do get booked.

Not that I am a big fan of the RC Blog, but I was reading one post where he said he thought having a balcony was not necessary, as the best views were out on deck when you can see both sides of the ship. We also thought the same as you and booked a balcony... so we will see. 

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Deb...you'll be fine.  If you end up not liking it, do what my DW does...withold for the week. :classic_biggrin:

But seriously, I've said this more than once...when we were much younger, we were poor...so inside cabins for us.

When we got a little older and had a bit more money...then it was oceanview and balcony cabins for us.

Now that we are in our Golden Years,...it's only suites for my sweet. :classic_smile:

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We've taken 15+ cruises, all interiors except for one oceanview courtesy of the upgrade fairy.  One day we'll try a balcony, but until then, interiors are perfect for us.  We sleep better (and nap better) in dark rooms.  That said, the rooms aren't totally dark - light gets in around and under the door, and when we have electronics plugged in overnight, there's enough light to avoid bumping into furniture.

 

We're on Team Pay-less-Cruise-more-often. We find ample opportunities to sit outside to watch and listen to the ocean, and appreciate the ability to choose our locations rather than defaulting to whatever view a balcony happens to have at any given moment. 

 

I agree with those who advise you to try the interior once, so that you can make more informed choices for future cruises.

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