I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have launched into over a dozen sailings and have stayed in practically each sort of lodging, from inside staterooms to luxurious suites.
When selecting their staterooms, cruisers normally orient towards balcony cabins or suites, that are usually seen because the nicer choices onboard. Nevertheless, I are likely to deviate from the pack.
Whereas I gained’t say no if a balcony cabin magically falls into my lap, I nearly all the time select an inside stateroom when reserving my sailings for seven key causes.
An (Irrational) Concern of Going Overboard
Let’s begin with my arguably dumbest cause for preferring inside cabins. Ever since I used to be cruising as a bit child, I’ve had an intense worry of heights and of falling overboard.
As an grownup who lives and breathes cruise information, I now know that this can be very unlikely to fall off a cruise ship except somebody is behaving recklessly or deliberately leaping – which I might by no means do.
However as a baby, I used to be satisfied that I might someway sleepwalk overboard with out my mother and father noticing and that will be it for me. (For the report, I’ve by no means as soon as sleepwalked in my life.)
Even so, I used to arrange “booby traps” within the cabins I shared with my mother and father so they might hear me if I abruptly developed the nighttime behavior and made a beeline for our non-public balcony.
Whereas I now not have this worry as a rational grownup, I nonetheless really feel higher understanding that this isn’t doable.
Inside Cabins Are Cheaper
Rather more moderately, one of many primary causes I began going for inside cabins is as a result of they normally price much less cash.
Particularly after I first began cruising with out my mother and father as an grownup and needed to pay my very own manner, I discovered it loads simpler to save lots of up for an inside stateroom than it could be for an oceanview or balcony cabin.
For analysis functions, I checked out the price of an 8-night Jap Caribbean crusing onboard Carnival Celebration that embarks from Miami on August 9, 2025.
No less than via our Cruise Hive reserving service, inside cabins have been $107 per evening, whereas oceanview cabins have been $149 per evening and balcony cabins have been $152.
As a further instance, I checked out a 7-night Jap Caribbean cruise onboard Disney Treasure that embarks from Port Canaveral on Might 23, 2026.
On this case, the inside cabin price $434 per evening, whereas the oceanview cabin was $473 and the balcony stateroom was $538.
Though I pay much less for my stateroom, I nonetheless bought the identical expertise whereas “out and about” exploring the cruise ship.
Afterall, the place you sleep doesn’t have any affect on the standard of meals in the principle eating room or the joys of the water slides on the pool deck.
This additionally put a reimbursement into my pocket that I might really use to enhance my cruising experiences, akin to splurging on specialty eating or reserving the costlier shore tour.
I Don’t Spend A lot Time in My Cabin
For individuals like my mother and father who will spend hours enjoyable on their non-public balcony taking within the ocean views, it completely is sensible to ebook a balcony cabin.
However in my case, I’m solely ever actually in my stateroom to vary garments, bathe, and sleep.
I’m an especially excessive vitality one that would a lot quite be exploring all the things the cruise ship has to supply, akin to onboard thrill rides or manufacturing exhibits and comedy performances.
Even after I sailed to Alaska up to now, which is legendary for scenic cruising, I spent extra time taking within the sights from the higher decks in order that I might work together with different visitors on the identical time.
Due to this fact, it simply doesn’t make sense for me to pay further for a balcony cabin since I gained’t use this characteristic sufficient to make it value it.
I Don’t Want A lot Area
At this stage in my life, I’m a married younger grownup who doesn’t have youngsters. After I cruise, I’m normally solely crusing with my husband.
Since it’s simply the 2 of us and neither of us usually spend a lot time in our cabin, we don’t actually need loads of house to be comfortable whereas on trip.
For my bachelorette, which was a weekend cruise onboard Carnival Radiance, I used to be even content material sharing an inside cabin with two different women (and we did NOT pack mild).
Inside Cabins Can Nonetheless be Fashionable and Enjoyable
Particularly on the world’s latest cruise ships, the inside cabins are nonetheless designed to be trendy, enjoyable, and useful.
My all-time favourite inside cabin was onboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream. Our stateroom had a “magic porthole,” wherein real-time views could possibly be projected and beloved characters would cease by to say good day.
These magic portholes are discovered on all Disney ships after the unique Disney Magic and Disney Surprise.
As one other instance, Royal Caribbean provides 80-inch digital balconies which can be projected on excessive definition screens in choose inside staterooms.
These could be discovered onboard Symphony of the Seas, Concord of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas.
I like them as a result of not solely are they tremendous cool, however digital balconies are an ideal compromise for cruisers who would possibly fear about feeling claustrophobic in a totally enclosed house.
As one other instance, Virgin Voyages’ Social Insider cabins are a fairly good selection, particularly for younger adults touring with pals who might not wish to share a mattress.
This revolutionary house is small however useful, with a complete of 4 bunk beds. Two of the bunk beds are hideaways that will also be became couches for lounging throughout the day.
And naturally, these are solely just some examples of how cruise ships have made inside areas inviting, useful, and actually fairly cool.
I Really feel the Movement of the Ocean Much less
I very hardly ever get seasick, however my husband is the kind to show a bit inexperienced simply enthusiastic about the ocean.
Inside cabins have a tendency to really feel much less of the movement as a result of they’re nearer to the middle of the vessel, particularly for staterooms which can be positioned midship.
Whereas we nonetheless often really feel motion, it’s much less pronounced in our inside staterooms, which prevents my husband from turning into sick so he can take pleasure in his time onboard.
Learn Additionally: What NOT to Do When Selecting Your Cruise Cabins
The ship’s motion can also be extra pronounced in inside cabins which can be nearer to the aft or stern of the ship, or if crusing in tough climate.
I Sleep Higher at Night time
I actually do sleep higher at evening in inside cabins, and it’s not simply due to my aforementioned worry of falling overboard.
First, I’m somebody who actually wants full darkness to remain asleep, and it may be pitch black within an inside stateroom just about 24/7 if that’s what you want.
Up to now, I’ve really advisable that my family and friends ought to pack an evening mild to allow them to see once they get up.
I even have been unfortunate in that I’ve had loud neighbors who make a number of noise on their balconies. I’ve discovered that inside staterooms are loads quieter, however in fact, that’s simply my distinctive expertise.
Last Ideas: Are Inside Cabins Proper For You?
Each cruise visitor is totally different, so what one individual might want from their cruise expertise can fluctuate from the subsequent.
If you happen to’re somebody who’s crusing with a big household or will spend loads of time in your stateroom, upgrading to a extra luxurious or spacious cabin could also be a worthy funding.
Learn Additionally: What Are the Finest Rooms on a Cruise Ship?
However for those who’re somebody like me who’s trying to cruise on a finances and gained’t spend a lot time in your stateroom, then it can save you your cash or put your funds towards enhancing your trip in different methods.
Make sure that to take a look at our Cruise Hive reserving characteristic to check totally different stateroom classes and costs on a wide range of cruise ships the subsequent time you’re trying to set sail.
