Balcony vs Inside

My upcoming cruise on the Getaway, I booked an inside and was able to use the savings to purchase Thermal Spa passes for the week. Well worth it IMO.

Caved and booked the balcony. I'm sure if I didn't watch cabin review videos on YouTube I would have gone through with the inside plan. Oops. Next time though. Maybe. 😂😂

Caved and booked the balcony. I'm sure if I didn't watch cabin review videos on YouTube I would have gone through with the inside plan. Oops. Next time though. Maybe. 😂😂

=))

For Bristol5 and others -- I have done both Hawaii and Alaska with three people in an inside (on the HAL Statendam, RIP, which had large insides). We all enjoyed it quite fine! Just found our favorite spots for watching out the windows in the rest of the ship.

I do not rule out an inside in the future, but as we can now afford it, we will probably always get at least an OV -- it turns out my DH does much better with daylight in the day and sleeps without regard to total darkness at night. But until you try both, you won't know so there's no use in fretting over your first inside!

Also, truth is, on our two balcony cruises, we used the balcony very little -- Panama Canal & Mexican Riviera it was too hot and humid, and around Cape Horn S.A. it was too cold! Although my mom would bundle up in the down comforter and sit out there on the chaise, I think she wanted to show she appreciated us upgrading! However, it is a NICE big window even if the weather is not conducive to outside sitting, and the furniture is usually arranged nicer for getting close to the view.

Thank You, Crystalspin, so nice of you to offer reassurance. I am feeling better about it, I know that we do have one of the Large Insides and I do believe it will be fine. I know I will enjoy the cruise and like you said, will just find a favorite spot to enjoy the scenery from.

That being said, of course, if an upgrade opportunity comes my way at the right price, I too will cave.;)

 

Did your mother "get the same experience" you got by booking her inexpensive inside cabin and then making use of the balcony you paid for? Just wondering...

...not that it's any of my business, but you started it...:p :rolleyes:

This is actually a good idea that we've done as a family on 3 or so cruses - we get an inside room across the hall from mom's balcony or junior suite! Ain't family great?! :D

My first and only cruise was in a balcony cabin. Loved loved loved the balcony. My next cruise will be in an inside cabin in order to keep the cost low. I'm keeping an open mind. Maybe I'll end up liking it and maybe I'll hate it. Either way I can't wait to find out. Based on other's reviews and experiences I'm most concerned about it being so dark I end up sleeping my day away and missing my morning coffee on the balcony.

 

For those who usually cruise inside, why do you cruise inside vs balcony and what do you love about it?

Our first cruise was also a balcony but we peeked into the inside staterooms while walking by and decided that next time we would try an inside stateroom (they didn't look that bad and the price difference was great). We booked an inside stateroom for our next two cruises (as it was much more cost effective and we figured the entire ship is a balcony anyway. The only one we didn't like as much was the NCL because the inside stateroom was really small however that being said, the price was really good so we couldn't complain. The next cruise we took we booked an outside stateroom because the price was as good as an inside. This time we got another incredible deal where the balcony was a better price than the inside so we took it.

My thought is, you do what you feel is best for your budget. We looked at the difference between the balcony and the inside on some sailings and figured the difference in price was our airfare or several excursions. That being said, if you are not into excursions and go on cruises for the experience of staying on the ship then maybe a balcony is for you.

I think you can make the best of it if you take along a little nightlight for some "white light' or you can leave the TV on with the volume off if the dark is a problem.

As for the balcony, it really depends on the itinerary. On our first cruise we were going from Bayonne to Bermuda in May and it was freezing on the Balcony so I really didn't use it much anyway, other than in port and then the ship was empty so I had the decks all to myself so I had my choice of spots to enjoy on any deck :)

We are happy with either.

A cheaper cabin means we can cruise more often but ...

Sometimes a balcony comes with perks - on Celebrity it worked out about the same price to book a balcony with an included drinks package than to book an inside cabin and pay for the drinks package. Silly not to book a balcony in that case. :D

We've booked a balcony for our Med cruise next year as we'll be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary on that cruise. I'd like to have the Ultimate Balcony Dinner on that day, if possible.

I must admit I do sleep better in an inside cabin. Even wearing an eye mask I will often wake around daybreak in a balcony cabin if the curtains allow light seepage, whereas in an inside cabin I sleep later.

I think it is terribly rude for others to post their opinions that they would NEVER do an inside cabin, when you are looking for confirmation and encouragement in your decision to cruise in an inside. You already know the joys of the balcony.

 

I am in your same situation. I have booked my first inside for our upcoming 11 night cruise in March. I am very nervous about it, but I keep looking at the numbers and the price difference just doesn't justify a switch. On our previous cruises I have noted that we really do not spend that much time on the balcony. It is very nice to have, it is a luxury. I think if I can get that idea of missing out on a "luxury" out of my head, I will be fine. I plan on meeting more people and enjoying the public areas of the ship.

 

So, for those of you "STRICTLY BALCONY" people, if you can't say something nice, just don't say anything at all.

I know this is an old post - but here is something else to think about. Disagreeing and stating that some people would never stay in an inside cabin is not rude. It is a differing opinion, to which they are entitled Simply because THEY don't agree with YOU, does not diminish or invalidate their opinions, anymore than it makes your OPINION correct.

The OP asked about inside cabins, and others posted their experiences, good and bad. Now, had they said something along the lines of "INSIDE CABINS ARE BENEATH ME,' or "you must be a cheapskate for booking an inside cabin," then yes, those types of statements would be rude. We all have the right to state our opinion, but don't have the right to not be offended by things in life.

As for my personal opinion, I don't care for inside cabins, as I feel confined by them, though I am not claustrophobic. I enjoy the lighting coming into the room. What was a great compromise, however, was a Promenade cabin on Royal Caribbean. It helped that we were in a Family Promenade, so had a much larger cabin than a standard stateroom, but, having a window (even if it was indoors) did help to offer some scenery and some light (albeit artificial). I would book one of those again without hesitation (not necessarily the Family cabin, but just the Promenade category in general), though you didn't know what the weather outside was. Something to consider if wanting some light as opposed to the darkness, or book a virtual balcony type cabin.

Of course better accommodations are more enjoyable than smaller, darker ones. But, except for a very few, every purchase represents not just what you want - but what other thing you will have to give up to afford that particular thing. Before I remarried, I was still paying children's education expenses - so if I wanted to cruise once a year (paying single supplement) I opted for insides. Once the tuition was done, I (and now, we) switched to balcony cabins.

It is always a matter of allocation of resources: the dollar you spend on A cannot be spent on B. Just ask yourself which is more important.

we have 11 months left until our 3rd cruise, first 2 were balcony this time we are booking interior. we barely spend any time in our room so we figured for like 200-300$ less per person it would be worth the interior, plus if we decide to in a few months we can upgrade or just spend the money we would have spent on a balcony room on a whole lot of booze or awesome excursions.

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we have 11 months left until our 3rd cruise, first 2 were balcony this time we are booking interior. we barely spend any time in our room so we figured for like 200-300$ less per person it would be worth the interior, plus if we decide to in a few months we can upgrade or just spend the money we would have spent on a balcony room on a whole lot of booze or awesome excursions.

 

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I think that IF there is a size difference in the cabins, I wouldn't personally want to book an inside for more than maybe 3 people. For 2, I would consider an inside just for the cost savings alone. Being that we can only get away every so often due to work schedules, and have to fly to any port (except for a long drive to Galveston), we choose to save up a bit more and get the cabin we prefer, since any cruise out of FL or CA is going to run us $1000-$1500 in RT airfare, not to mention hotel costs, shuttle/rental car costs, gratuities, etc.

Love inside cabins. We're on holiday and we spend all our time on deck socialising, chatting, reading, eating, drinking and taking in the view. Or around the ship at trivia, lectures, shows, bars and lounges. There are plenty of isolated places on high outside decks or hidden inside seats if wanting a quiet place to read or chill out. The cabin is only for sleeping, so why waste money? My husband likes the dark for a daytime nap too. Added benefit if budget is an issue is you can afford to cruise more often too. (I like the suggestion of a battery tea light for the bathroom, which works for any cabin category at night. I usually have a little torch. We also take a travel clock with touch light.)

I have had balcony cabins, but mostly either too hot and humid or too cold and/or wet to use the balcony, so a complete waste of space. But even with lovely Mediterranean weather, we spent our time out and about and not in our cabin.

Love inside cabins. We're on holiday and we spend all our time on deck socialising, chatting, reading, eating, drinking and taking in the view. Or around the ship at trivia, lectures, shows, bars and lounges. There are plenty of isolated places on high outside decks or hidden inside seats if wanting a quiet place to read or chill out. The cabin is only for sleeping, so why waste money? My husband likes the dark for a daytime nap too. Added benefit if budget is an issue is you can afford to cruise more often too. (I like the suggestion of a battery tea light for the bathroom, which works for any cabin category at night. I usually have a little torch. We also take a travel clock with touch light.)

 

I have had balcony cabins, but mostly either too hot and humid or too cold and/or wet to use the balcony, so a complete waste of space. But even with lovely Mediterranean weather, we spent our time out and about and not in our cabin.

Thank You for noting positive aspects of booking an inside cabin. Helpful to me.

We have only done ocean view and a balcony once so I can't comment on the interior cabin. However, we did realize after our last cruise with a balcony that we really didn't utilize it as often as we hoped. We enjoyed being up at the pool deck on sea days and port days we're out exploring. I would suggest next time maybe an ocean view if you still want to look outside and have some natural light but not pay a fortune for a balcony.

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We've always cruised in a balcony cabin and are cruising next week (Baltics) for the first time in an inside. We live in Denmark and in the summer, we have 18 hours of daylight, give or take. Blackout shades and sleep masks work to an extent, but not really, and the birds start singing with the sunrise. We've booked an inside so we can get our first decent night's sleep since April!

 

If you're worried about sleeping the day away, set an alarm.

Nawwwwwwwwwwww !! Who wants to set an 'alarm' on a vacation!!! (just joking, folks) I am, usually, an early riser, no later than 06:30 am. My wife, not so much. The last eighteen years of my 30 years on the job, (before I retired) I HAD to get up by 3 am to be a work by 4:30 am. My wife could and HAS slept till 9 am on almost every one of our fifteen cruises, and she is NOT 'morning' person but she's still working and does have to be up by 5:30am. On a relaxing cruise ?? NO way will she wake up at any 'fixed' time. SOOO I always arise 6-6:30, dress and walk down to either the coffee shop or breakfast buffet,sit outside or by the window and watch that beautiful, relaxing ocean. That's what I tell many of my friends is the JOY of cruising, IF you don't want to do,go,eat, at a certain time you don't have too. Many take a cruise to do NOTHING ! Now I realize those with children, especially small ones, that can lead to problems, but us OLDER ' children' ? Nope !! Not in the slightest.;) To each is own, is my motto when it comes to cruising. To all here, have a SAFE and wonderful cruise !! ( And in 23 days, I cannot wait, to hear the boarding deck security kiosk 'ding' and several hours later, that wonderful repeating BOOMING sailaway horn and FEEL the deck start to move.)

Mac

I would NEVER do an inside...I HATE electric lights when the sun is out! However, my mother would NEVER book a balcony....she feels she gets the same experience as I would , but for MUCH less money! It all depends what's important to you!

 

If you're worried about sleeping the day away...turn the TV to the outside view of the ship...turn the sound all the way down...when the sun comes up, it will "light up" your cabin.

The only inside cabin cruise we ( I and my wife) has ever done was our first (a 5 day out of Mobile on the Carnival Holiday in 2007). Since then our other cruises, fourteen in all, and all future ones, WILL be balcony. I know this to be true because the 'BOSS' (wife) decreed it so. Actually, I wouldn't argue even IF it'd make a difference, I, too, love the serenity, the pure beauty of that cobalt blue water. It IS so peaceful. Just the musing of a HAPPY Cruiser (and in 23 more days. Yipeeee it's cruise time AGAIN !) Time to hear that boarding deck security kiosk 'ding' and the loud deep roar of the underway horn ! :)

Mac

Hi, It's great reading everyones comments! I'm a newbie - first cruise in Aug. I've got an inside cabin because it was part of a package deal ... and I am so excited to be going on a cruise that any room is better than none And isn't there a chance of an upgrade??? who knows but my fingers are crossed...

I like the tip about turning on the TV to view the weather outside, will be sure to do that.

Hi, It's great reading everyones comments! I'm a newbie - first cruise in Aug. I've got an inside cabin because it was part of a package deal ... and I am so excited to be going on a cruise that any room is better than none And isn't there a chance of an upgrade??? who knows but my fingers are crossed...

I like the tip about turning on the TV to view the weather outside, will be sure to do that.

Hi RNZN. Hope you enjoy your first cruise - but beware, you may get to like it a little too much and start looking for the next one. Don't worry about an inside cabin- its only somewhere to sleep and change. When you step outside the cabin door the whole ship is available to explore. We usually select an inside as the cost means we can cruise more often - on American cruise lines the drinks are very expensive so if we can get a drink package included with the balcony/oceanview price we work out the cost variation and then can often enjoy the cabin upgrade because of the drinks included price.

Thought....especially for Alaska....great sleep in a very dark inside cabin when daylight extends for many hours and then extra funds to buy the spa pass which to me had the best views of the ocean, scenery and sea life in Alaska all from a lovely quiet peaceful space with limited crowds it was the best of both since the balcony rooms were so pricey! Inside, ocean view both are great values for more cruising but if I can and want to splurge sometimes staring out at the water from my own space, priceless!

We have an interior room booked for our upcoming March trip. I'm a little nervous about it being dark. And I do have 2 boys. My youngest won't be so happy with 4 twin beds. when he's nervous he wants to cuddle with me. This part I'm going to dread. I hope he can handle sleeping in the upper bunk.

What about some type of night light for the bathroom? I think I need to find something that doesn't plug in that I can leave in the bathroom so it's not quite so dark. And LOVE the idea of the tv on and volume down. great idea!!

What about some type of night light for the bathroom? I think I need to find something that doesn't plug in that I can leave in the bathroom so it's not quite so dark.

Bentopher --

There are all sorts of LED (low temperature, safe) battery-operated nightlights. Here's on Amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=led+nightlight+battery

or check your local hardware store or (probably) Target.

If you choose a stick-on variety, stick it to the mirror, not a painted surface: you don't want to damage anything -- they WILL bill you!

We love inside cabins and wouldn't want anything else. Our family of 4 uses the cabin to sleep at night and to keep our stuff. Our 1& 3 year old make sleeping all day unlikely. Also if you leave the pa volume in your cabin on the captain's good morning message is enough to wake you up.

Bring a nightlight for the bathroom!

As far as coffee on the balcony, try the helipad it's pretty peaceful (unless you bring a 3 & 1 year old)

Enjoy your cruise!