The Good Inside Cabin Guide

We all know they are not the best cabins on the ship. But if bagging a bargain on an inside cabin could mean the difference between taking to the seas or staying on dry land, we know what we would do.

So will an inside cabin really save you that much money? The short answer is yes.

“Inside cabins offer great value cruise way to cruise for people wanting to make the most of destinations and ship facilities. Book early to get a great deal on the cabin, itinerary, and dates you want,” Monique Van Gelder from Flight Centre told Cruise Passenger. “You can get good deals last minute, but there might only be upgraded cabins left, which can be more expensive.”

When it comes to inside cabins, location could make all the difference — midship is generally considered the place to be on any ship, since it’s where you’ll feel the least motion. Another way to get a bargain is booking an inside cabin on guarantee status. These cabins are cheaper, but you have no control over the cabin location. The cruise line guarantees you an inside cabin or higher, so there’s a good chance you could receive an upgrade.

So, for the bargain hunters among us, which is the best inside cabin at sea?

Size

The biggest inside cabin at sea belongs to Royal Caribbean: its Spacious Interior stateroom, found on Freedom-class ships like Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, measures a whopping 31.6sqm and sleeps up to six – all still at inside-cabin prices. There’s plenty of runner-up space, too. Royal Caribbean’s Family Interior Cabins, found on Oasis Class ships such as Symphony of the Seas, measure a generous 24.2sqm and also sleep up to six.

Holland America‘s Large Interior Stateroom – its biggest interior category fleet-wide, on ships like Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Noordam – comes in at up to 21.5sqm. Disney‘s Deluxe Inside Stateroom, available on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, measures 19.9sqm and includes a queen bed plus a sofa bed. And on Cunard‘s Queen Mary 2, the Interior Cabin comes in at 18sqm – a handful of which are also Atrium View Inside cabins, overlooking the ship’s Grand Lobby.

Extras

There are lots of perks available for inside cabins, such as free ice cream and concierge lounge passes in Royal Caribbean’s Ben & Jerry’s Sweet, and access to the Studio Lounge with exclusive social events in Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Studio cabins. Carnival offers unlimited spa access and priority booking for treatments with Interior Spa Cabins – and even with the upgrade, it’s still cheaper than stepping up to an Oceanview or Balcony cabin.

View

For a view without the expense, choose Royal Caribbean’s Virtual Balcony Cabin or Promenade Stateroom with a window overlooking the Royal Promenade. Both cost a little more than a standard inside cabin, but still work out cheaper than a real Balcony or Oceanview room.

Most cruise lines also offer obstructed view cabins, which let natural light into your cabin without the hefty price tag of an Oceanview. Carnival’s Obstructed View cabins are a good example – a small step up from an Interior cabin, but still cheaper than an Oceanview.

Families

The Inside Staterooms aboard Disney Dream and Fantasy offer Magical Portholes, which show a projection of the ocean with the occasional Disney character swimming past. It’s a clever way for families to save real money without giving up the porthole experience altogether.

Luxury

Inside cabins aren’t just for budget travellers. Azamara and Cunard both offer upscale interior staterooms — like Azamara’s Club Interior Stateroom — for those chasing a five-star cruise experience without paying for a view.

Have you stayed in an inside cabin? Let us know how you found it in the comments below.