any other "inside" cruisers here?

[BroncosFan2010]

While that may be the case for you, it certainly wasn't my experience!

 

First cruise, we booked a balcony as it was our honeymoon. We barely used it. Second cruise, we booked one of the coveted centre hump balconies on the Serenade - our thinking was that because it was a better balcony, we would use it more. We used it even less! It doesn't matter what type of cabin we have - we just don't spend a lot of time in it.

 

Last year we booked our first inside cabin and loved it. As others have said, they are very dark and quiet - perfect for getting a good nights sleep after a busy day.

 

LOL we booked a hump on the Serenade for our B2B! We know we will get LOTS of use out of the balcony.

[beej]

I've done several cruises with cabins from inside to balcony, the balcony being an upgrade. To be truthful, I don't have any problem with any room, as long as i am at sea. I do really like the Promenade cabins, tho. i love sitting in the window watching everything going on, on the Promenade. What a great place to watch the parade. PR is definitely a fav

[TheWog]

Nope, sorry. Balcony only.

[Jolimont]

Our first cruise was a balcony (free upgrade) and I didn't like it very much. Too close to the ocean, too loud, smokers all around, no room to swing a cat, plastic chairs, bad AC because our neighbors kept on forcing their balcony door open (which makes the AC work over-time and not manage).

 

Then we booked an oceanview and that was good.

 

Third cruise we were broke but wanted to go anyway, so we booked an inside. What a great value!

 

I do prefer not to be too low on the ship because of engine noise, but if I can get an inside on deck 7 or up I'm happy as a clam.

 

We're just there for one week, it doesn't matter how big the room is for that short a time. I'm pickier at home, but on a cruise, I don't care what the cabin is like, it's a cruise so it's all good!

[pcur]

We go with the price. If an ocean view is not that much more than an inside, we get the ov. If the balcony with our D+ discount is the same as an ov, we go with the balcony. If the ov and balconies are too expensive, then we go with an inside.

 

Since we want to cruise more now, I watch prices and we stay flexible for our cabins. The only thing we insist on is a mid-ship cabin.

 

Examples: upcoming Rhapsody for 19 nights is inside; next cruise is a balcony; next cruise is an ocean view. All depends on price.

[maddawg271]

Technically not an "inside" cabin, but I've been on 5 cruises and all 5 were Explorer promenade rooms...

[The Viking]

We have only had balcony rooms but were thinking of Inside.

 

Then last week we spend a few days at a motel on the Ocean. All the balcony rooms, which all were towards the ocean, were already reserved at that time, so we had to go for a regular room on the back side.

 

We never thought we would have missed the balcony as much as we did and decided that we will never go with inside staterooms on a cruise.

 

We love to get back to the balcony in the evening and relax with a cup of coffee or drink and listen to the waves without music and traffic all around us. Nothing better that have a cup of morning coffee on your peaceful balcony.

 

We have never had issues with nighbors smoking or being loud,

[EGG]

We love inside cabins. We took a balcony for a Panama Canal cruise. What were people talking about, saying you want a balcony for a Panama Canal cruise. It was hot, it was humid, it was foggy and when you go through the canal you see a wall. So we spent the entire canal transit up on deck where you can move from back to front of the ship and see different views and socialize.

 

On other days we forced ourselves to sit outside, scrunched against the wall of the balcony just because we had the balcony. I wouldn't even consider eating on the tiny balcony table, just doesn't seem appetizing, juggling plates and drinks.

 

I looked enviously at the cabins across the hall, the inside cabins that cost so much less. The small size of the balcony, is why people always try to get a hump, or an aft, or a suite balcony.

 

Our experience was so disappointing that on another cruise, Europe this time, we could have gotten a balcony guarantee for cheaper than our hand picked inside. With a deck of balcony cabins over the casino and bars, we chose to keep the inside and we did not regret it.

 

We just love the dark and quiet of an inside cabin. Lucky us.

[CMM]

I think our Destiny is with inside cabins.

 

After booking a balcony 9N Princess cruise a few years back to experience it, we were called with a "Down Grade" offer we just couldn't refuse. If we moved to an interior cabin we would cruise for free. Apparently they had overbooked. So we happily skipped on back to the interior cabins!

 

Someday hubby does want to try one, but the price needs to be right.

 

Looking forward to experiencing the Promenade cabins this time!

[Ruby71]

We are cruising inside next spring on the Serenade. This thread has really helped because I have been trying to decide if we should upgrade. With 5 ports we will be busy and not have a lot of time in the room, so I think I'd rather spend the $ on excursions. Thanks for starting this thread. Its been great to hear the different opinions.

Sharon

[swcruise]

Hi,

 

We have cruised inside, PR and balconies. We are just back from the Spendour and we got a great deal and OBC for an inside. I kinda missed the baccony that I had last year as I was waking up early and writing my daily journal, I thought it wond be nice do do that on my private balcony looking out at the sea.

 

Last year we had 4 sea days and thought a balcony was essential, it was amazing how little we used it and it wasn't very private either.

 

Next year we are looking at AOS on two interconnecting staterooms, if there is a good deal for a balcony next year then we will look into it, but we are booking the indoors option in the coming few weeks.

 

But as everyone says, it is the same ship, same views and facilities and you can spend your money on other things.

 

My mum thinks cruising is a great deal, I agree with that the cost of the cruise is super but when you add on flights, transfers, overnight before you go to the ship, excursions and onboard spending it adds up to way more for a week than a package holiday.

 

S

[travelnut4]

I love hearing that insides are enjoyed by so many! We want to do the FOS at Christmas 2011 and seeing that the price is so much higher due to the holiday, I am now considering 2 insides rather than an inside + balcony. This will save us about $1,000! My choice would be Deck 9 midship (and above the promenade...noisy???) or Deck 7 or 8 slightly aft of the elevators. What are your opinions on those locations?

[Sequim88]

Had to read this thread because on our next cruise one of my brothers and his wife have never cruised before. Due to college and wedding expenses for their daughters they are on a really tight budget. My parents are paying for them and my other brother and I and our wives for their 60th anniversary celebration, but for insides. While I and my youngest brother (many time cruiser) have opted to pay difference for our own balcony 1st timer brother will stay with the inside. Collectively we are upgrading Mom & Dad to a balcony but that's a surprise (good thing they aren't in to web forums ;)). They've never had a balcony in 10 or so cruises and this may well be their last one.

 

For 1st timer brother I've been trying to play up the benefits of an inside (aside from cost saving) so this thread has been really helpful. I think he is a little sad they can't do a balcony too. We had actually been looking for an inside for ourself but there are no handicap insides on Serenade above deck 4 and we wanted to all be on same deck. We had an inside booked on Brilliance in 2008 but last minute balcony gauranties were only $50 more so we switched. Found out the wheelchair, although not needed in the cabin, was a real PITA because it was so tight in the cabin. So only HC cabins from now on.

 

In Alaska (as others have noted) a balcony is really worth it. We spent hours on it with door open listening to music playing in the room and watching the scenery glide by. On the TA the balcony was nice coming into ports but for the sea days we could have done without it.

 

Someday we will try an inside. Very likely for a Baltic cruise for our 35th in a couple years. Unlike Alaska with less to see the darkness of the cabin during the midnight sun would be nice. Besides on a cruise like that, which is higher cost anyway, the savings would be very important. Pay for the airfare to/from Europe probably.

[Ruby71]

I love hearing that insides are enjoyed by so many! We want to do the FOS at Christmas 2011 and seeing that the price is so much higher due to the holiday, I am now considering 2 insides rather than an inside + balcony. This will save us about $1,000! My choice would be Deck 9 midship (and above the promenade...noisy???) or Deck 7 or 8 slightly aft of the elevators. What are your opinions on those locations?

 

We had an inside room on deck 7 by the aft elevators last spring on the Liberty (sister ship). We loved the location, it was quiet and easy to get to the promenade by stairs. I think deck 9 would be fine, you may hear noise just during parades, but you would probably be out of the room then anyway. The promenade deck really quiets down around midnight every night. Its a wonderful ship you will have a great time!

Sharon

[travelnut4]

Thanks for the input Sharon!

[QTBabyNurse]

Probably 75% of the cruises that we have been on were inside cabins especially when our son was small and money was much tighter. It was more important for us to cruise more often than to have a more expensive cabin. We didn't have our first balcony until just a couple of years ago and we've been cruising since the early 1980's! I have to admit, it was very nice...however the only reason I took it is because the price was incredible and it was a corner aft balcony which is prime real estate! My last cruise I took however, we were back in an inside. I strictly go by price.

Now, if I was doing a Mediterranean or an Alaskan cruise, I would definitely pay the premium to get a balcony as those types of cruises are "once in a lifetime" experiences!

I agree with the post that said there is no better experience than taking an afternoon nap in an inside cabin!!

[morgan1312]

As others have said, I'm an insider because of the great nights sleep I get on cruises. We started with insides because of pricing and were upgraded to an outside once, I hated that room, as soon as the sun was up, so was I. Even with the blackout curtains, the sun crept in around the sides of the curtains and woke me up.

[cruisendude2001]

i have cruise over 15 times and have come to appreciate an inside more so than a balcony.. although a balcony ( weve only had one 2 or 3 times and barelly used it as we planned on)is nice it is never "private" there people who can see you from above and next to you. i like an inside as big plus because part of my vacation is relaxing and if i want to take a nap i don't have to get in a fight with the curtains just to get some darkness.. we are sailing on the Freedon of the Seas this coming july ( 25-8/1) and for a promenade stateroom so we can try an inside/outside. but we usually figure in the money we save over the years by booking an inside it gives us the chance to cruise more often.. hope this helps

[readytogo2]

My first cruise we had an inside, I couldn't believe how nice a cruise could be and realized what I have been missing with all those land vacations we took over the years. We spent so littole time in our cabin, I never could justify anything better.Our 2nd cruise we booked 3 insides for us and our kids..well we were upgraded to 3 outsides..... I gotta say, it was sooo nice to see daylight and also where we were. By our 4th cruise, we booked a balcony because the price was so good and also all our friends and family also booked the same all next to each other...we had a blast. My justification for booking an inside diminished as we found that having that balcony, we did spend more time to ourselves. It is so nice to have the sun wake us up so we don't sleep away the day. And we love having breakfast and cocktails on the balcony. I am not trying to steer anyone away from insides, just saying how we all have different takes on things.

 

BTW- I do smoke occasionally but not when I know other people are on their balcony...my wife hates smoke but if we do smell the cigarette smoke...hey it does blow away and it sure beats cigar smokers:eek: I find it more annoying to hear people talking load and slamming their balcony doors.

[aussiespirit]

Yes! we are insiders too, we are booked on our 4th cruise and will be in an inside cabin again as we have been on all our previous cruises, why? as you said, it is the cheapest way to get on board, inside cabins have everything we need, to sleep, shower and relax, we like to spend as much time as possible exploring the ship and if possible (weather) sitting out on deck people watching and meeting new people, I love cruising whatever way I can get on board!!!!

[DebbyD]

Our first cruise in 96 was an inside cabin, I didn't like the inside and felt very closed in, the second cruise we booked oceanview and I really liked the fact I could look out the window and see the world. We haven't cruised in 13 years and are booked on the Serenade in August and we booked a balcony. DH really enjoys sitting outside and watching the world go by.

[dachshunddoglover]

Back in the good old days when you could combine discounts, we always got a balcony. Now that you can't, we are only booking insides or oceanviews. We love the promenade cabins also. No big deal. As long as you are on the ship, there is no such thing as a bad cabin!!

 

E-Beth

[retiring soon]

Hi all!

I've had all the usual kinds of cabins & like them all. I'd say we've had more insides than anything. Last Nov on the Freedom of the Seas I tried a Promenade cabin solo & will have that again this Nov.

 

I just came back from a Celebrity Alaska cruise with a balcony but we didn't use it that much although it was nice to have. We woke up really early though even with the curtains closed tightly.

 

DH is another who would prefer an inside over an outside. On our RCI Asia cruise last year a balcony was double the price of an inside so we had a large inside, a bit roomier than a standard inside.

 

Next year I'll be cruising solo on the Epic in a studio cabin, only 100 sq feet!:D

~Jo~ :)

[stp147]

And not to start a war, but if there were to be a smoker anywhere near our balcony, I would be royally ticked and I wouldn't use it.

 

+1

 

Glad I'm not the only one.

 

Plus, the way DW and I afford our annual cruise vacation is by taking advantage of inside staterooms during off-peak times :D

[cofgren]

You all make the inside cabins sound like the best thing since sliced bread. So, I think that's what we will do on our next cruise. OH PLEASE, not happening. If you want to convince yourselves it's about the time in your cabin , go ahead. It's about the money. I want to wake up in the morning and walk to my balcony and enjoy the ocean while having a private breakfast with my family. And in the evening we watch the sunset and enjoy ocean viewing together. I have been on 15 cruises, all with balconies. Will not cruise without one. But for all you insiders,enjoy.