Are you an innie or an outie?

[Happy ks]

I need air!!!

 

We book what we can afford, most of the time it's an OV, once in a great while an inside because of cost. But we love to be able to have coffee in the morning, a glass of wine before dinner, and a break in the afternoon all on the balcony.

 

I also don't undrestand it when people state things like "you're not in your cabin long enough to make a difference". Yes... you are, you sleep in there, get ready in there, get away from the crowds in there. That little bit of real estate makes a big difference in our appreciation of the week.

 

Our last OV cabin, we even tried taking a small fan onboard, as the cabins are so stuffy, but it was confiscated at check in.

[RetireeWannabee]

I'm an innie. It's an affordability issue for us. We won't be in the cabin much, anyway, so will always book cheapest cabin and be happy with it.

[NAS-KARR]

OUTIE on EVERY cruise no matter to where or what time of year !

or cost even (on 2nd thought).

[bbcc]

I had an innie once and we had to get upgraded two days into the cruise. Problem was there was an airconditoning unit below our room. Not fun. Being that you are going to Hawaii I would definitely go for the outie for the views. Many advantages to an outie. Not much comes close to sunrises and sunsets while on the ocean. I wake up to sunrises and get ready for dinner to sunsets. Sitting on the balcony reading is another favorite time for me. Listening to the sound of the water at night puts me to sleep. No more innies.

 

HI- Ditto, Ditto, ditto. Love the shower & tub combo more room in the mini-suite bathroom.:cool: Love the balcony on sea days. Even upgraded to a suite on two cruises. We do almost all b2b's and welcome more sq ft to relax with on longer cruises.;) We have friends that book inside only and when we cruise with them they are in the public areas reading and playing trivia. We play cards with them in our cabin because there is more space. Either way just enjoy cruising. The enjoyment is what it's all about.:D

[cutrat]

It wasn't a claustrophobia reaction -- it was that apparently I have a previously unknown "need" for natural light. We had the tv tuned to the bridge cam -- but that wasn't enough. I got progressively snarkier, sleeping more and more poorly, during the cruise, until by the end all I wanted to do was get OFF the ship (which I'd never felt before, and haven't since). All I really remember about that cruise (thankfully only a 3 night one) is "do not EVER go inside again!"

 

 

That's how we felt. The more we were in the cabin the more tired we got and the crabbier the kids got. We usally get two cabins (balcony for us and interior for the kids) but with our last cruise being booked only a week out, the cabin choices were limited....

[ssantow]

I prefer a Balcony in the Caribbean or South Pacific, however for our Transatlantic we have a Promenade cabin on the VOS. I hear the weather for a crossing can be nasty and we will not get as much use out of the balcony. Besides with a Promenade I can indulge in my favorite pastime, people watching.

[whale-watcher]

Outie...would not book a cruise unless balcony available...even for cool and foggy new england.

[CowPrincess]

Oh, good grief!!! I hadn't even THOUGHT of "needing light" when I booked. I got us an oceanview cabin because DH is a little claustrophobic (I don't mind inside cabins AT ALL, but thought he'd freak out). Thank god I went OV -- he is the MOST "sensitive to light" (or cloud, or rain, or fog) person I've EVER met. It'll be WELL worth the extra for him to have natural light.

[momofmeg]

At first we did inside staterooms, the first time because we were not even sure we would like cruising. We did a cheapie 4 day and LOVED it!

 

After that, we did a couple of more insides and then we did Alaska- we wanted a window for that. That was an older ship, (HAL Statendam) balconies were only in suites so we settled for an oceanview.

 

A couple of years later we were on a brand new ship and had our first balcony! Loved it! so now when we can afford it we book balconies!

 

Now I had no problem with an inside stateroom and to be honest-if I can't afford a balcony I would just as soon have an inside.

 

Many people like that they have no windows as they sleep really well- no glaring sun to wake them up at 6 AM- ofcourse- if you have an early excursion (or just want to get up early) you can schedule a wake up call.

 

I will say this-whenever we book an inside or oceanview that is just a window-we spend much more time on the lido and promande decks.

[doctordi]

The money I have saved lets me go on about one more cruise per year. The only time I've gotten a balcony I reserved an inside and got upgraded to a veranda balcony - too bad I was cruising solo!

[ladypalmtree]

We do mini suite now...with dd 15 :eek: we need the space..and the balcony is great. She and I did a four day cruise last summer and had a window. The very least I could do is a window. I need light...I have enough trouble sleeping when I should and an inside would really mess me up and probably depress me. Dh demands at least a balcony when we cruise now. My oldest has been on a couple of cruises since she moved out and loves inside...she loves to sleep all day and party all night...to each his own...lpt:rolleyes:

[jamscckmc]

A balcony is a deffinate in Alaska or Hawaii. $1200 seems an awfully big jump in price. How many days is your cruise? Sometimes it's just a few hundred diffenence for the cheapest balcony or balcony guaranty. The balcony staterooms are so small that having that extra space makes it seem so much bigger. If I was on a 3 or 4 day carribean I would just do an OV. I am too claustrafobic for an inside. I feel like I am locked in a closet. Did two short cruises in an inside, never again. It is usually not much to go from an inside to an OV. Even an obstrutive view is OK to get the light.

[bplazo]

Have to have at least a balcony.

[cruzin w chris]

Nothing less than balcony. I have never understood the "we don't spend any time in there anyway" mindset. You have to sleep, get dressed, need a break from people, & spend time with DH. Why not do it while looking at the ocean?!!:D

well we spend the entire day either off the ship in port or out in the sun by the pool or at a meal. and at night we are at shows or bars or casino till the wee hours. so basically we sleep and get dressed there and that is it.

[sexyaznboy]

Wow, such a diverse crowd!

I really think it comes down to what is important to you when you are cruising. Yes there are some of us, including me, that spend little time as possible in my room when I'm on a cruise. I wake up early, go to the gym, eat breakfast, if its a port day get ready, if not then walk around the ship and enjoy the decks until lunchtime, suntan in the afternoons, take part in lectures and presentations, then its time for dinner, and the show, and at night, clubbing or casino! Of course there are times when you are just relaxing in your room and it would be nice to look out over the ocean! But for me, I would typically be saving anywhere from 300 to 700 dollars per person if I did inside, and that can go a long way towards another cruise. I think it is similar to backpacking through Europe on the cheap vs staying in the 5 star hotels. For many only the best is acceptable. Not that being inside makes any of us "lower class citizens". But I have definitely come across that pity look..."Oh you poor thing, you have to stay in that shoebox!" :p If I were wealthy, and that money was not an issue, I'd say sure, I'd go for the outside/balcony. But to me it typically isn't worth the greater expense for the few moments I would have to enjoy in the room. There is just SO much to do on the ship, I wouldn't be happy being confined in my room for so long, innie or outie!

 

:cool:

[kat89447]

In my teens my siblings and I usually had inside cabins or OV. Since I was pregnant though I have gotten more clausterphobic, my hubby thinks its the mommy instinct of always having an escape route in case of emergency. lol I have cruised with my child on the Wonder when she was 7 and now we are going to the caribbean (she's 10). We have been lucky enough to have balconies for these cruises. I think if it were just my spouse and I we would be "ok" with just a window, but the balcony created some very special memories with our daughter. My hubby and daughter loved to have breakfast on the balcony together and watch sunrises or us pulling into port while I got a little more sleep. We spent an hour or so before dinner in our cabin before dinner to take a break from the many activities and would have "cocktails" on the balcony. And my favorite time was in the evening she and I would spend an hour or so out there before bed time reading a book or watching dolphins. There is nothing better than hearing whales or dolphins from your bedroom at sea. On our next cruise my sister is bringing her 2 yr old daughter and the balcony will give her a place to sit and read while her baby naps. While price can be a factor, at least with children and the fact that you spend quite a lot of extra time in your room, it is worth the expense. For those that are worried about kids falling overboard, they have locks on the doors at the top of the door so small kids can't open them.

[flamomo]

I've never even been in an inside cabin to see what it would be like, but I have the sense that it would be rather like being in a cave.I don't think I'm claustrophobic, but that idea just does not appeal to me.

I've been in balcony cabins on 4 past cruises, and once in an OV because there were no balconies available when we booked. The OV was "just OK". I love getting up early and sitting on the balcony with a cup of coffee, watching the sky get light. Sometimes in the afternoon, rather than hang out by the pool, I like to sit on the balcony with my feet propped on the railing, relaxing in the sun. It's peaceful there. I often sit on the balcony in the evening, after returning from a show or the casino, and enjoying the quiet and the sound of the sea.

 

However, if it were the only way I could afford to cruise, I do believe I would learn to adapt to an inside.

 

I am really loooking forward to my first mini-suite when I go on the Tahitian Princess on the Tahiti & French Polynesia itinerary later this year.

[dyanalee]

Thanks for everyone's responses, I am pleasantly surprised by the number of innies! I've just discovered cruising, this will only be my third. For me, a lot depends on the price of the balcony vs inside. If it is an extra 500 to 600 dollars per person, that is a lot of money to me. It may be worth it to many, and many who have the money to spend, then I say go for it!!! I like to be outside most of the time, mind you, there is nothing like looking out over the balcony and seeing the ocean's waves and the sun rise and set. I do have a colleague at work, when I tell her that I'm going for an inside cabin, she looks at me like I'm mad, and how could I possibly do that and she would NEVER be able to do it. I'm a bit surprised, it is kind of like being an "outie snob"!:rolleyes:

 

Well I am here to say that I'm an innie and I'm proud of it! (although I can be swayed to the "dark side" if the price is right! :D

Our first cruise many years ago my husband booked us an outside because of the porthole window to make sure I did not get seasick. My friend and her husband booked an inside room and she got so sick. NOTHING worse then being seasick, so we have booked outside since, and our last cruise we got upgraded to a balcony. This time I just booked a balcony, we want to be able to sit out there and read or just look at the ocean, I find that very relaxing.

[BermudaMom]

Love the sea and enjoy opening my house blinds each day to see the Atlantic and greet a new day. I think an innie would drive me nuts - not being able to immediately see the ocean each day when I wake up. I know, I'm spoilt. Love to spoil ourselves with a suite onboard ship and do spend a lot of time on our own sitting on the balcony relaxing. True relaxation!