Help me feel better about booking an inside cabin.

[shippmates]

We mainly cruise in inside cabins so we can cruise more.  Every once in a while we will find a balcony that is not much more than an inside.  I sleep much better in an inside and spend most of my time on deck.  You may be surprised to how much you will enjoy the inside.

 

[cruznwithmom]

 I love love love the balcony - I get up earlier than my travel partner, and I can go out on the balcony while waiting for her to get up. It is also lovely in the time period when you are getting ready for dinner and your travel companion takes longer than you do.

 

But if it was an inside cabin or no cruise at all I would do an inside cabin.

[oldmom]

What  time of year is your cruise? In the short winter months when the sun sets so early,  I do not mind an inside. Prefer a balcony in spring/summer. My opinion is - I rarely have a view in a hotel-except maybe of a roof-or parking lot-so an inside is fine. Don't get me wrong-LOVE my balcony rooms. You can always book an inside now-and change to a balcony if the price lowers-or bid for an upgrade later.

[Jarmo]

I am all about interiors.  Don't spend enough time in the cabin to make spending more for something nicer worth it.

[voyager70]

5 minutes ago, Jarmo said:

I am all about interiors.  Don't spend enough time in the cabin to make spending more for something nicer worth it.

.

+1.  I've stayed in everything from insides to full Suites.  All depends on pricing.   Just get me on the ship I'm happy 😁

 

[ksws64]

We’ve enjoyed different cabins. Of course the great sleep you get in the inside cabins is awesome. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned that I like about them is that the ones we’ve had have been cooler. If your cruise is in the tropics, this may be more important. Often cabins with balconies get warm even if you keep the curtains closed, but the interior cabins we’ve had stay very comfy and cool. 

 

I also agree...any cabin on a ship is better than a day at home or work. 😁 

Happy Cruising!!! 

[jbethel11]

11 hours ago, TinkBellaMom said:

At the risk of sounding snobbish, we have never booked an inside cabin.  It is mostly because we have only cruised once every couple years and I love the sound of the sea from a balcony, so it is affordable when you have a couple years to save for the trip.

Now we are retired and live close to the piers.  My husband is always looking for our next trip.  He found a 5 day on the Indy at a very good price, but only if we take a inside on deck 10.  He says if we take these we can cruise more often, which makes sense.

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.

Deb

I will give you a perspective from a younger cruiser. I hate inside cabins on cruises for more than 4 days. You feel cramped, especially when you have many people sharing your cabin. (You do not have that problem, I presume). But when I went with my grandmother on the Carnival Horizon (I know a different cruise line) I did not mind the 4 days in the cabin, as I was mostly outside of the stateroom, having fun. To make a long story short, if you spend most of your time outside of your cabin, and feel as if your cabin is simply for sleeping and bathing, then you will love it. But if you spend the majority of the time, in your cabin, then you will not like it. 

[brillohead]

6 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

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. 

I'm wondering if that blogger was Michael, by any chance? 

I was on a cruise with him for his very first inside, and he was amazed at how little difference it made to him.  He's always out and about with his backpack and camera, so the presence or absence of a balcony didn't really matter.   

[brillohead]

10 hours ago, TinkBellaMom said:

I did a bit more checking on the cabin and it is an accessible cabin.  It is forward starboard and next to last cabin on deck 10.  I’m thinking it may be slightly larger than most.  I’m ok with it after listening to all of you who enjoy and inside.  Thank you!

We are fortunate to live so close to the ports, no more airfare expenses, and we can leave with little notice to take advantage of the deals.  No more complaining from me.

 

The accessible cabin is going to be significantly larger than a standard inside (snagged one last-minute once that was released to the general public).  You'll have a lot more room around the bed and couch, plus the bathroom will be huge.

If you get a chance, ask one of your neighbors or your cabin steward to let you have a peek at a regular inside, just to have an idea of the size/layout (which will basically be identical to a balcony room).  

I think an accessible room is a great intro to cruising in an inside.  Just remember that they won't always be available.

FWIW, it's very rare that I cruise in anything other than an inside.  I only sleep/shower/change in the room, and I'd rather spend my money elsewhere than on a window I won't look out or a balcony I won't sit on.  Have a great cruise, and come back and update this thread to let us know your thoughts!!!
 

[kelship]

On our last cruise, inside cabin...we hadn't learned the "turn on the tv to the outside camera channel" yet so we had a hard time with no daylight. We slept so much! 

 

Having said that, a week in an inside room is wildly better than a week at work. 😉

[pspercy]

If you're going on Indy consider PR cabins, we did 28 days on Mariner in a Promenade and it was great.

We did a 17dy Transatlantic on Vision in an Inside and it was one of our best ever cruises

Go for it 🙂

[DISFANS3]

Going back to a inside cabin for next cruise, to save a few $$$..

[Bloodgem]

I don't mind what cabin I have as long as it is suitable for our needs (accessible; for 3 with a sofa bed).

The cabin is only for a holiday and a holiday is better than working or housework

[parrotfeathers]

I have to fly to ports.  I am not going to spend $400+ to stay in an inside cabin.  That isn't a vacation to me.  I love drinking coffee or reading on the balcony.

 

It could have something to do with the fact I live on a farm with no neighbors.  I am not sure how I will adjust if I ever have to move in a regular subdivision.

[kerryincork]

I love cruising period.

 

As long as I am on A ship I don't care where I sleep 🚢😊😉

 

If I can afford a suite, that's what I book. If I can only afford an inside, the same 😉.

 

One of the positives I find with an inside, is that they are really dark. I usually sleep with an eye mask or else I am awake at the crack of dawn. So I often get a better night's sleep when on an inside.

 

Also no matter the cruise I am on I have always found quiet spaces to relax {inside or out}, so don't let this be a deterrent. Also because you are staying in an inside, I feel this encourages you to participate more in the cruise.

 

Also afternoon naps are easier in your dark room 😉

[ditmar2007]

I had an inside cabin the last time (two previous was in a balcony cabin). I didn't mind one bit. 
 

All the money I saved can be used much more fun than staying in my cabin. I have a whole ship to roam. 

[LMaxwell]

I like insides.  If it means I get on the ship vs not getting on, it's all good with me.  With 3 of us I *prefer* the extra space normally found in an oceanview room but not a deal breaker.  Wife loves to nap and interior is best for that.  Also find that interior rooms easier to keep cooled down.  Really, they are fine, there are hundreds of them and thousands of people every week sail inside cabins.  Try it, you may find you are not bothered one bit, or actually like it. 

[Ocean Boy]

The first time I stayed in an inside cabin my first thought when I walked in was I hate this and I'll never do it again. In no time at all it was perfectly fine. I really am rarely in the cabin other than to sleep and shower. I window is rather worthless as you can't see anything out of it at night and I am not in there during the day. I do like balconies as it is nice to sit out there for awhile before going to bed. The issue becomes is that little time out on the balcony before bed worth the cost difference. I now weigh that with every cruise I book. The only other thought I always have in my mind is what would it be like if I, or everyone, were ever quarantined in their cabins. I know I would hate being stuck in an inside cabin. 😮

[hallux]

1 hour ago, kerryincork said:

Also because you are staying in an inside, I feel this encourages you to participate more in the cruise.

 

SPOT ON!  I've only been on 2 cruises but by having the inside cabin you're encouraged to roam the ship and participate in the fun activities the CD has planned.  Some ships have places besides the pool deck that folks can go to relax, read, and enjoy scenery.

 

On my last cruise I said that next time I'd want a balcony.  Well, that hasn't happened.  By the way - if folks think the regular inside cabins are tight, they should see what the "studio" cabins are like.  I'm by no means claustrophobic, but they are definitely small.  However I only spent sleep/rest/clean-up/clothes changing time in there so it wasn't horrible.  The new ships (and the old ones that have been through a dry dock recently) have SOOO much to do.

[reallyitsmema]

56 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

The first time I stayed in an inside cabin my first thought when I walked in was I hate this and I'll never do it again. In no time at all it was perfectly fine. I really am rarely in the cabin other than to sleep and shower. I window is rather worthless as you can't see anything out of it at night and I am not in there during the day. I do like balconies as it is nice to sit out there for awhile before going to bed. The issue becomes is that little time out on the balcony before bed worth the cost difference. I now weigh that with every cruise I book. The only other thought I always have in my mind is what would it be like if I, or everyone, were ever quarantined in their cabins. I know I would hate being stuck in an inside cabin. 😮

 

We just got off the Anthem last Sunday and were quarantined with the flu.  Thankfully, we were in a JS because I think I would have gone stir crazy in an inside cabin.  Just being able to open the balcony door and air out the cabin made me feel better.  We tried to sit out on the balcony but we were headed back to Bayonne and it was too cold for us with fevers.

 

While I understand why people book insides, they are not for us.  We enjoy the natural light and fresh air with a balcony.  Typically, we spend more time on our balcony on colder weather cruises than we do on Caribbean cruises, but we will always book a cabin with a balcony, even if we never sit out on it.

[LuCruise]

5 hours ago, pspercy said:

If you're going on Indy consider PR cabins, we did 28 days on Mariner in a Promenade and it was great.

We did a 17dy Transatlantic on Vision in an Inside and it was one of our best ever cruises

Go for it 🙂

Room 6305 on Indy is the Ben & Jerry suite.  There is only one, but if its not booked and you can get it, it gets you extras such as access to suite lounge (not to mention free ice cream and sweets brought to your room).  It's a very nice perk for an inside room.

[edspec]

I like insides, as others have said great sleep.

Edited February 10, 2019 by edspec
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[pcur]

I am prone to anxiety in small places:  not quite claustrophobic, but I get anxious.  Don't-put-me-in-a-bunk-bed-on-top type of thing.  Having said that, I spent 28 nights in an inside cabin on one of our cruises.  I mean it was a South Seas Tahiti cruise round trip from Los Angeles!  

 

A good compromise is getting a Promenade View cabin on ships that offer them (including the Indy).  About $100 pp more than a regular inside, but you have the window, and you have light filtered into the cabin.  Helps you wake up.

 

My husband is a notorious late sleeper, and inside cabins encourage him to sleep until 2pm, so turning on all the lights in the cabin was the only way to wake him up.

Edited February 10, 2019 by pcur

[CMurph]

We only booked balcony cabins for many years.  I'm not sure why we booked inside for the first time.  It was probably a free casino cruise.  We discovered that it was great!  True, I enjoyed a few minutes in the morning and evening on the balcony,  but during the day I prefer to be out somewhere on the ship.  The fact that the inside cabin is so small means that one of us leaves while the other finishes getting ready (translation....hubby leaves while I finish getting ready).  That results in him roaming around a bit more on his own.  If he wants to nap during the day..I leave the cabin and find a more open space to relax, read...whatever.   We don't just sit around in our cabin.  I remember as a kid taking beach vacations...I truly hated when others wanted to nap or go to a movie.  I was like...that is wasting precious time at the beach!   I don't want to spend precious time on a beautiful ship inside my cabin.   This doesn't mean we will never book a balcony or suite again, just saying that an inside cabin does not make an impact on our cruise at all.  For the record, we do not care for the promenade cabins.  The curtains need to be closed while you are in the room much of the time for obvious reasons.  Also, the layout of the cabin we were in was very cramped and hard to get around in.

[Mikew0805]

18 hours ago, brillohead said:

I'm wondering if that blogger was Michael, by any chance? 

I was on a cruise with him for his very first inside, and he was amazed at how little difference it made to him.  He's always out and about with his backpack and camera, so the presence or absence of a balcony didn't really matter.   

Yeah, I think that is his name. We did book one for Alaska, but otherwise it is just not that important to me. I really like the darkness and quiet of an inside cabin.