Inside Cabin-will I Hate It? Tell Me Something Good About It!

[Mrs. Gump]

Roz -

I'm very intrigued by your service dog. Can you tell us more about how everything is handled on a ship? Is he (or she) ever bothered by the movement on the ship/rough seas? (I have a dog that actually gets car sick!) Do you bring a doggie bed for him? Have you ever had any complaints from other passengers due to allergies, etc... Does he do excursions with you? Any problems with that in other countries? What type of dog is it? If it's long-haired, do you keep it out of the sun if you're sailing somewhere tropical? And last but not least, where does it "do it's business"? You mentioned bags??? Just curious.

[wizard-of-roz]

Mrs. Gump: When service dogs are in "Puppy Training" (between 8 weeks and 14 months old..give or take) they are taken on many, many car/van/train and, if possible, plane rides. If they continuesly get sick from this they are removed from the program. She loves cars/boats/trains/planes and so do we and she has NEVER gotten sick, even in the roughest of seas and longest of rides!

She sleeps on the floor, near my husband, it's a habit she started 4 years ago. I suppose in her mind she doesn't have to work so hard if she's near him when sleeping; (when service dogs are in training they usually sleep on concrete floors or on plastic crate floors). Her crate, at work, is covered in fleece and at home she literally owns the couch!

Once, on Celebrity we requested a table for 4; when the other couple arrived and saw my service dog they asked for a different table and we became a table for 2! I assumed they had an allergy! Most people, on board, absolutely loved her and wanted to pet and be near her! She's sparkling clean and so, so well behaved! If someone asked me to move due to their allergies, I certainly would!

She can go anywhere I am allowed to go. Which means anywhere! The Americans with Disablilites Act protects us both. I must show all of her documentation (license, innoculation record, her picture, etc.). Once, even though she wears a service vest, I was asked to show what she does for me to prove that she was a service dog. It's okay, I'm happy to show her off!

She's 6 years old, a pedigreed black lab with tons and tons of hair (she's a triple coated lab). There's single coated and flat coated, I got lucky? CCI (Canine Companions for Independence) doesn't usually use dogs with pedigrees it's just a coincidence.

I don't sit in the sun too long, so either does she. She has a rain coat, an umbrella and a life jacket that goes everywhere she goes on a cruise. Her life jacket always brings out a chuckle at muster!

The cruise ship provides a 4 x 4 x 2h box, usually located in a spot on the ship where only the crew goes. On Celebrity it's on deck 4 right outside of the theatre on the way to the most aft part of the ship! The box is filled with cyprus or cedar mulch. The moment we arrive onboard I go to guest relations and they tell me where the box is and I introduce it to her, I give her the "key" word for toileting and "waalah"!

A highly skilled, trained dog would NEVER make a mistake and she NEVER has! I use her plastic bags, in her pouch, to pick up the droppings and I dispose it in a trash container that is located right near her box! 99% of the passengers onboard have no idea where she goes until I answer the most important question of all, "where on earth does she go to the bathroom"?

The most fun is watching her walk through a casino in Las Vegas, she loves it! She prances through like a "show dog", maybe it's all the noise, it just triggers something in her and she becomes a diva! :p

I'm happy to answer all questions and I hope that this was a bit enlightening!

Happy Sails and Puppy Dog Tails,

Roz

[tvaud]

We've booked an inside cabin on the Diamond Princess.....I'm not usually chlostrophobic...will this room do me in?

 

Our room is a handicapped accessible room.....so, it is a little larger than most.

 

Suddenly, I'm getting worried about this....:rolleyes:

 

Have you ever stayed in one and what's the feeling of no windows? Do you have any helpful hints? :confused:

 

Roz

 

Roz,

Whenever I'm booked into an inside cabin, I leave the television turned on, but mute the sound. It's like a window, of sorts, to me. I wake up to light in the morning instead of total darkness. It really worked for me.

Cindra

[wizard-of-roz]

Cindra: I love that idea and I'm going to use it!

Thanks,

Roz

[dijo]

Something good about an inside cabin is you get to save a bunch of money and still enjoy all the amenities of the ship. Several years ago we were offered a handicap cabin on our Alaska cruise and it was huge-by far the biggest cabin we've ever had. You will have a wonderful time. Enjoy!

[NthernLgts]

You'll have the best sleep of your life. Seriously. Those rooms are so dark, and when you combine that with the motion of the ship, forget about it! You'll be out like a light. You may want to request a wake-up call so you don't oversleep. They really aren't so bad - I find them rather cozy. Just crank up the A/C and all will be fine.

 

Agree 100% with this and most of the other reasons stated. I am looking forward to the balcony on the upcoming trip, but have no regrets on inside cabins either. The deals can be fantastic to boot.

[sunshine426]

Mrs. Gump: When service dogs are in "Puppy Training" (between 8 weeks and 14 months old..give or take) they are taken on many, many car/van/train and, if possible, plane rides. If they continuesly get sick from this they are removed from the program. She loves cars/boats/trains/planes and so do we and she has NEVER gotten sick, even in the roughest of seas and longest of rides!

 

She sleeps on the floor, near my husband, it's a habit she started 4 years ago. I suppose in her mind she doesn't have to work so hard if she's near him when sleeping; (when service dogs are in training they usually sleep on concrete floors or on plastic crate floors). Her crate, at work, is covered in fleece and at home she literally owns the couch!

 

Once, on Celebrity we requested a table for 4; when the other couple arrived and saw my service dog they asked for a different table and we became a table for 2! I assumed they had an allergy! Most people, on board, absolutely loved her and wanted to pet and be near her! She's sparkling clean and so, so well behaved! If someone asked me to move due to their allergies, I certainly would!

 

She can go anywhere I am allowed to go. Which means anywhere! The Americans with Disablilites Act protects us both. I must show all of her documentation (license, innoculation record, her picture, etc.). Once, even though she wears a service vest, I was asked to show what she does for me to prove that she was a service dog. It's okay, I'm happy to show her off!

 

She's 6 years old, a pedigreed black lab with tons and tons of hair (she's a triple coated lab). There's single coated and flat coated, I got lucky? CCI (Canine Companions for Independence) doesn't usually use dogs with pedigrees it's just a coincidence.

 

I don't sit in the sun too long, so either does she. She has a rain coat, an umbrella and a life jacket that goes everywhere she goes on a cruise. Her life jacket always brings out a chuckle at muster!

 

The cruise ship provides a 4 x 4 x 2h box, usually located in a spot on the ship where only the crew goes. On Celebrity it's on deck 4 right outside of the theatre on the way to the most aft part of the ship! The box is filled with cyprus or cedar mulch. The moment we arrive onboard I go to guest relations and they tell me where the box is and I introduce it to her, I give her the "key" word for toileting and "waalah"!

 

A highly skilled, trained dog would NEVER make a mistake and she NEVER has! I use her plastic bags, in her pouch, to pick up the droppings and I dispose it in a trash container that is located right near her box! 99% of the passengers onboard have no idea where she goes until I answer the most important question of all, "where on earth does she go to the bathroom"?

 

The most fun is watching her walk through a casino in Las Vegas, she loves it! She prances through like a "show dog", maybe it's all the noise, it just triggers something in her and she becomes a diva! :p

 

I'm happy to answer all questions and I hope that this was a bit enlightening!

 

Happy Sails and Puppy Dog Tails,

Roz

 

Roz, Thank you so much for sharing some of the inside secrets regarding your service dog. I also was curious, and always enjoy when I am on a trip and I see a service dog. Always ask permission before I pat them. Makes me miss my furry friend a little less.

 

I will be volunteering with "Canine Companions" this fall, working with their dogs. I hope to be able to take them on outings, shopping, etc.

[sacway]

Roz -

 

Thanks so much for detailing the life of your service dog.

 

Even though I like balcony cabins, I too have found that I've never slept better than in the dark of an inside cabin, rocking with the boat's motion, so i imagine your dog also will enjoy the sleep of a lifetime. You might want to experiment with/without the "helper" lights (night light, bathroom light). I keep a flashlight by the bed since I have learned to enjoy the dark because of the deepness of the sleep. I use the ship's wake up call service so I won't miss ports or dinners. I also love and use the porthole channel.

 

On the last cruise where we had an inside, we would stage "happy hour" on the aft stairwell, along with a few "neighbors" It was like being a a backyard bar-b-que, only with fabulous views, and was part of a richer social life on the cruise than when we have a balcony and spend more time alone together.

Have a fantastic holiday.

 

sacway

[burroughs]

We enjoy inside cabin, because (of course lower rates) but they are usually quite and peaceful, especiall if waters are ruff.' Also, darkness during the early mornings, allow us to sleep later. You won't even miss a window...we enjoy activities during the day, so we're not in our cabin to even look our a window or much less sit on a balcony. The size is the same, however inside cabins seem larger. Put the money you saved toward another cruise.

 

We've booked an inside cabin on the Diamond Princess.....I'm not usually chlostrophobic...will this room do me in?

 

Our room is a handicapped accessible room.....so, it is a little larger than most.

 

Suddenly, I'm getting worried about this....:rolleyes:

 

Have you ever stayed in one and what's the feeling of no windows? Do you have any helpful hints? :confused:

 

Roz

[waterduo]

:) I think that the extra money saved on having an inside cabin,helps toward another cruise!

What is all the fuss about light at night?

There are dimmer switches each side of the beds,so you can turn lights down to almost nil.

Sleep better in an inside cabin.(stateroom)

[ILov2cruise]

After 5 cruises(window or balcony) we booked an inside, would rather stay home than do another inside. I hated that closed in feeling.

[wizard-of-roz]

Thank you all again for your insights on "inside" cabins/staterooms! We've booked it, I'm committed and I'm going to make the very best of it!

Mrs. Gump: Best of luck in the work you will be doing for Canine Companions. Without wonderful people like yourself people like me would be stuck at home watching reruns of the "Love Boat" or the travel channel and not really take part in it all! Your work allows someone like me the most important gift of all "independence"!

Thanks so much,

Roz

[madaamt]

The Only Good Thing I Can Come Up With For An Inside Cabin Is... You Will Have A Cabin On A Ship. We Did It Once And Will Never Do It Again.

[wizard-of-roz]

madaamt: Oh! My! That's all you're going to say? I agree, I'm on the ship but why won't you do it again?

Don't be afraid to elaborate, I'm a big girl I can take it! And, moreover I want to know about your experiences, cruiseline, ship? :(

Roz

[JKJoannie]

We've booked an inside cabin on the Diamond Princess.....I'm not usually chlostrophobic...will this room do me in?

 

Our room is a handicapped accessible room.....so, it is a little larger than most.

 

Suddenly, I'm getting worried about this....:rolleyes:

 

Have you ever stayed in one and what's the feeling of no windows? Do you have any helpful hints? :confused:

 

Roz

 

 

We are wondering the same thing. After a few cruises we have come to the conclusion that we just don't spend any time in the cabin except for sleeping and dressing. We love to drink martinis and good wine, try the specialty restaurants that have a cover charge, give the service people a little extra tip, and have a cabin that is at a very quiet part of the ship. Our shipboard account is always high. So we booked an inside for a December cruise on the Grand. We hand picked our cabin - asked for no upgrades - and saved a ton of money. I hope we're happy. We both like a totally dark room when we sleep, so that won't bother us.

 

When are you going? If it's before Dec, will you post your opinion of it?

[madelinerose]

I would love to cruise when your dog was onboard! "Amazing animals" is putting it mildly. Enjoy your cruise, Roz! ;)

 

 

Thanks again, for the kind words. It's a bit scary trying something new....

 

I'm bringing my service dog, who is about 70 pounds, which is why we get a handicapped room. She is a hearing dog and assists me by alerting me to sounds in my environment that I can not hear. It's so wonderful how cruise ships treat these amazing animals. It's even more fun to watch people's reactions to her on board the ship.

 

I'm truly looking forward to this cruise and I thank you all so much for the great input of ideas and good wishes! :)

 

Warmly,

Roz

[caviargal]

DeepWaterMariner: You would really get a kick out of my service dog at the airports. She wears a vest that has zippered pockets on each side (for her toilet bags) and security literally has to "pat her down" before we can enter. Everyone, in line, smiles when they see it!

 

When we go to the shows I insist that she sit on a seat next to me because you wouldn't believe what we've found in her fur on various floors, especially at the movies or in the shows on cruise ships. In the restaurants we have no choice but to take our chances. I try to be as carful as I can with checking the floor, under the table but sometimes she comes out with the most amazing "stuff" on her!

 

She has been trained not to bark, whine or lick in public. She would blow your mind with her work ethic and some of the things that she can do! I'm very proud to be her human!

 

Sissy: That is what I call my older sister.....YEAH!, on the inside cabin info. I truly appreciate the reassurance!

 

Jacqueline: Shoe bag! What a great idea! And, I think you're right about the fan and the air conditioning. Inside rooms are not subject to open doors or sun coming through the windows.

 

All of you have made me feel so much better about my "cacoon"!

 

Warmly,

Roz

 

Whenever I see these dogs, they just touch my heart:).

 

I am one of those people whom, when passing someone with both a dog and a baby, never notices the child but always speaks to and usually - with permission - pets the dog.

 

I am a big dog lover in general and cannot even watch news stories or movies where animals are mistreated. I think it is wonderful that you have the devotion and companionship of such a special dog.:) My lab is a my best buddy and I always appreciate and enjoy her company.

[Ethel5]

Thank you all again for your insights on "inside" cabins/staterooms! We've booked it, I'm committed and I'm going to make the very best of it!

[Thanks so much,

Roz

 

Enjoy your cruise and don't let the balcony people scare you away! Yes, I do like balconies, but if it were inside or no cruise I will go in a heartbeat. In fact, I like the darkness of an inside-makes it easier to sleep at night and to take a nap during the day. It also makes it possible to get in more cruises. :)

[HMSDingy]

Enjoy your cruise and don't let the balcony people scare you away! Yes, I do like balconies, but if it were inside or no cruise I will go in a heartbeat. In fact, I like the darkness of an inside-makes it easier to sleep at night and to take a nap during the day. It also makes it possible to get in more cruises. :)

 

I started a similar thread....sorry:o ....but I was offered to switch to an obstructed for a not much of an increase. Its not the money but is itly worth it?

[wizard-of-roz]

madelilnerose: We'll be onboard the Diamond Princess on September 30, 2006 and NCL Star on December 14, 2006. If you've got the time book one of these and spend some time with "Brenda" the wonder dog! She completes me and makes me "whole"! Thanks for the good wishes!

 

JKJoannie: I have no idea why madaamt feels so strongly about an inside cabin, most of the posters have been very supportive and have some great ideas to eliminate any claustrophobic feelings or anxiety! And, as you say.....it certainly leaves more $$$ for the fun stuff! ;)

I will definitely let everyone know about my personal view point. As you can see from the above we'll have two different experiences on two different lines, one in September and the other in November. How lucky am I? :p

Happy Sails,

Roz

[jwmcq]

We've had an inside cabin and it was fine. I am a bit clausterphobic so I too was concerned. I agree it was the best sleep ever, but it is true that it is not completely dark. I took a nightlight, but did not use it. But definitely take an alarm clock!

 

In fact, our first cruise was a spur of the moment decision, about 2 weeks out. The only thing left were a few inside rooms on the bottom deck at the very front of the ship - my TA warned me that it was the "worst room in the house." We were still fine and had a great time. The fact that we only paid $279 per person helped! You will be in a larger room mid ship - you should have a great time. Its all in the attitude. There is always something that could ruin your trip if you let it.

 

We have a service dog who assists my blind friend at church. Murphy was her 10 year old dog, and when it was time for him to retire, all of the children cried and cried. (Murphy went to a wonderful home out in the country.) But then she got Micah, the new pup - who had been fully trained of course. A big group got together and had a puppy shower for them. It was so much fun - Micah got all sorts of toys, a new dog bed, etc. Watching my friend complete the training for her new dog was quite interesting. She said that all of her dogs over the years finally realize that she really is blind and not just playing a game (like they had been playing during training.) But before Micah came to this realization, he ran her into a few things. We all had to help her out a bit in those first weeks with the new pup. But now Micah is doing great. These really are amazing animals.

[wizard-of-roz]

HMSDingy: I've had balconies, I've had port holes and windows but never an inside, which is why I started the orginal thread. The windows don't open, sometimes you never see anything and most times they're pretty dirty, however they do let in ambien light. They usually cost more, I don't really see the necessity! When we had the balcony, we stayed on it for most of the cruise! I felt I missed so much of the ship experience!

 

EthelS: Thank you! The balcony folks don't scare me! I've tried it, I liked it but it isolated me so much! You're so right about affording more cruising!

 

Caviargal: I teared up just thinking about some of those pictures of the dogs who suffered through hurricane Katrina. "Brenda" is truly my heart and soul. When she goes to the groomer; she lets out a small whine and I cry all the way back to my office. I clean her crate and blanket and carpet so it's ready for her return! I count the minutes until they call for me to pick her up! She is a true princess in my life. I wipe the tear stains from her eyes when she wakes up from a nap and I brush her teeth and clean her ears EVERYDAY! She works so hard for me, it's the least I can do for her! My husband and I adore her so much and she splits her love between us. She works for me but he's her "rub down" buddy! :)

 

Roz

[wizard-of-roz]

jwmcq: First, I apologize for jumping in again but I loved your story about your friends dogs. It's true, these dogs are trained by seeing and hearing people and they do figure out that these trainers are just that "trainers" and not the real folks they'll be working for. They're so smart, they know when to "shut down" and when to "get to work"!

When I first got my hearing dog, Brenda, my neighbor (trying to test Brenda's skills) knocked at my door until her knuckles were almost raw....finally, Brenda jumped off the couch and started poking me on my leg, then I gave her the sign language "sign" for "what" and she immediately went to the front door and layed down. "Hooray", she got it; I got the door and "Brenda's" and my working relationship was off and running. Sometimes she's a little too friendly and anxious to help but who can fault such enthusiasm?

Thanks again, for some good reassurances on the inside rooms.

Roz

[madelinerose]

Roz, I would love to, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline, this time.

 

You and Brenda have a bond that is incomprehensible to those of us who do not use a service dog. I cannot imagine anyone having a stronger bond than DH and I do with our dog, Maddie, but I suppose yours' is on a totally different level.

 

Brenda is a precious gift and you certainly deserve each other. ;)

 

madelilnerose: We'll be onboard the Diamond Princess on September 30, 2006 and NCL Star on December 14, 2006. If you've got the time book one of these and spend some time with "Brenda" the wonder dog! She completes me and makes me "whole"! Thanks for the good wishes!Happy Sails, Roz

[wizard-of-roz]

Thank you!