First Interior Cabin! (OV & Balcony Previously!)

[LiveLAUGHLove21]

Hey everyone! Recently booked a last minute cruise so wanted to hit up the boards.

 

This will be my first time in an interior & my friends very first cruise.

 

Anyone who usually has an OV room book an interior? Find a big difference?

 

Taking a four day cruise on Elation, yay!

 

Happy Cruising Everyone!!!

[Tapi]

If you're like me, you need to try it once to realize that you'll never, EVER do it again, no matter how much cheaper it is. I couldn't stand it.

 

But you will also hear from people who have no problems with interior cabins, In fact some say they prefer them because they are so dark.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Tapi

[jasbo49]

We've never been in an interior either. But I think if you look at it as an adventure, a new experience -- and find a lot to do outside your cabin -- you'll enjoy it.

 

Just remember it was the savings that drew you to book the insider. Be a happy camper. You're still getting the same food and entertainment, the same ship to wander. I think a cruise in an inside stateroom would be most non-cruise experiences.

 

Jim

[Lilly57]

We wondered how we would find an inside cabin after enjoying a Balcony. We needn't have worried. We spend very little time in it anyway, would rather cruise more in an inside than less in a Balcony/ov. However, if money was no object!

 

Enjoy your cruise

 

Lynda

[GottaLuvCruising]

You'll be OK! With an inside stateroom, it's just a different cruise dynamic. We spend most of our time out and about on the ship with an inside or OV. We spend most of our time on the balcony when we have one. I prefer the balcony, but can have a good time either way.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

I spent $350 pp for a balcony on our first cruise, and there's no way we got $700 out of it. If you are on a fun ship, it may not be important at all.

 

For our Celebrity cruise in August, I got an OV because it is less active on board and beautiful outside. Activity level and scenery is a factory, but generally I am going to upgrade only when it is a good deal.

[fuddrules]

Bring a small clock, perhaps battery operated, and some type of small light. Otherwise other than the tv if you have it on its impossible to know the time.

 

It could be high noon and pitch black in the room

 

there wasnt as much storage it seemed but overall they are a good deal

Edited January 13, 2014 by fuddrules

[CatlinSTJ]

We couldn't do it unless it was very port intensive and we were never on the ship except to sleep anyway.

[bjd2]

We did that once and won't do it again. Glad that we tried it once though. It didn't ruin our cruise but we know that we badly miss the natural light through the windows. We did turn the tv to the forward camera so I always knew when I woke whether it was light out or not.

 

Other than the one interior, all others have been balconies. The next is in a scenic ocean view on the Sunshine so we'll have our light. This will likely decide for us if we truly need the balcony in the future, or just the light.

 

Happy cruising!

[LaLetum]

Hello:

 

Our first cruise - back when the dinasours roamed the Earth - was in an Inside. We quickly moved up to a Balcony.

 

A few years back, we thought we would save some money (ok, just applied it to the Bar tab) and do anothe inside.

 

In our humble opinoin, we shall not be doing that again. We missed the freedom of a balcony (and the airy, sunny feeling it provides to the cabin.) While it is true, for the most part, that all you do is change, sleep and perhaps use the bed for other things besides sleeping; it just was not the same without the balcony.

 

We did not enjoy being in an inside (we tried to move to a balcony, but they were all sold out once we were on the ship;) we shall not be doing that again.

 

Our advice, it is worth exactly what you are paying for it, would be to save a few dollars here and there before the cruise and move to a balcony.

 

If you do stay in an inside, ignore this thread. Give it a go. You will still have a great cruise. At least you will know for sure which way to go the next time you cruise.

 

As a post script, if you do stay in an inside, one little hint that we gleemed from this board was that we could shower and change in the locker room of the health club. While having to haul all your stuff up to the health club and back is a pain, those large showers and plenty of space helps offset the claustrophobic feeling of an inside. Additionally, bring a night light for the bathroom which you can leave on at night - it is very, very dark in the cabin with all the lights off and toe stubbing sucks at 2am when you stumble toward the bathroom.

 

Have a great cruise!

Edited January 14, 2014 by LaLetum

[DebJ14]

We once had an inside cabin in 1981. That was the first and last. In fact, neither DH or I would consider going unless we had a balcony. We actually missed a port on the inside - slept right through the day and woke up at 2pm. We decided that we don't live in a closet with no windows, so why would we vacation in one?

[Sinjan]

Our first cruise was a cove on the Dream and our second was a 4J on Conquest. The rest, including our upcoming Paradise cruise, have all been interiors.

If you're the type to hang out in your cabin a lot then you probably won't like it as well. If you're like us and only use your cabin for sleeping and showering, then you'll probably be fine with it.

[LiveLAUGHLove21]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I enjoy seeing other peoples perspectives!

 

I just randomly decided "I want to go on a cruise & take a friend for my birthday", so keeping the whole tab down is important.

 

I'm sure the interior will be just fine for these four days. I LOVE cruising with newbies, its great seeing it through their eyes!

 

I'm kinda looking forward to the dark and I always bring my travel alarm clock ;)

 

Yaaahoo whoo can't wait to cruise! Anyone been on Elation lately? How's she doin?:D

[BigDfromTN]

This like so many things is a personal preference. Our first inside was a 4 day on Elation and booked last minute also. On Elation we normally book a porthole for the value of the room. On our next 2 trips we have one booked in an interior and one in a balcony.

 

Dont worry its only 4 days and the best way to try one. The rooms are VERY dark. Enjoy you trip!

[kruzerci]

We've had Royal Suites to inside cabins and every category in-between.

 

Balconies and suites give you a totally different cruise experience, but one of my favorite cruises was in an inside cabin.

 

It's all what you make of it. If you compare it to a balcony and look at what you miss, you will have a hard time. If you are simply excited to be able to squeeze in another cruise and you're happy just to be on the ship, you will have a great time.

 

Our last 7-8 cruises have been in suites and balconies, but our second cruise this year will be in a promenade view interior room. If prices drop, we will upgrade to a balcony, if not, we will enjoy our cruise and simply use the promenade deck more often :).

 

Look at the positives and don't compare and you will have no problem!

[krogers2063]

I was just on the Elation in March we had a great time. It is small and older but we had an amazing time. No complaints here. We had 4 in an inside cabin. It was cramped but it was a girls trip for my daughters senior spring break trip. The ship or the cabin doesnt make your vacation.....you make your vacation and I made memories of a lifetime with my daughter!!!!!!!

[boomonster]

We usually book a balcony but also did a last minute and got did an inside. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I got the best sleep in there. As long as I was on the ship I would sleep anywhere.

[JustCruiseMe]

I think if you are more of one to spend solitude time on your balcony you might miss it but for us it would be a waste. We don't spend time in the room except for sleep. We'd both rather be out and about with people and hustle and bustle as a PP stated, if money would no issue I'm sure we'd get a little enjoyment of it but we actually own beach property so seeing the ocean all day isn't THAT important.

[Danacat222]

I have never had a balcony, i have had ocean view and French Door and inside. I like the inside for its darkness, if i need a nap it's nice and dark and cool. I like to be out of the cabin, on deck, by the pool, at the casino, comedy club...inside is a good value for me (I can even afford a balcony), if i had a balcony i might never go out on it except the first day. If i were claustrophobic an inside would be a problem. I never had a problem telling time or knowing what time of day it was, just use the TV and a clock.

[samzgirl84]

We always booked balconies and loved them. My DH did not use the balcony much but I did. 2 cruises ago we tried the interior and we love that too. And we love saving the money that an interior saves you. One tip for interior room users: when you go to bed at night, turn on the TV, mute it and turn it to the forward webcam channel. It makes an awesome night light and in the morning, you can see if it is light out yet and where the ship is headed.

 

Have a great cruise!!!!!

[LiveLAUGHLove21]

I may have to try the TV idea.

 

We are going to have a GLORIOUS time, not only because we are on a cruise but because I won't be working ;)

 

Cruised on Elation three previous times and always had a great time. Most recently cruised on the Breeze in October- it was incredible.

 

I personally just love cruising. A day on a cruise is better than a day in the office!

[kruzerci]

I may have to try the TV idea.

 

 

 

It's a great idea. We have done that whenever we have had in inside room.

[sharecruises]

I won't do a balcony on Carnival anymore cause I don't like cigarette smoke...Carnival is one of the few dinosaurs who still allow smoking the on the balcony - but now it will be worse cause Royal Caribbean changed their policy as of this month - no more balcony smoking - so we no doubt will get even more balcony smokers.

 

Insides are fine , especially on a short cruise - the tips for alarm clock, etc are good, but chances are you will be busy and not even notice it that much JMO

[Jbird81]

We LOVE an inside cabin honestly! The best sleeps we have ever had on cruise ships have been in them! I've slept in one on all three of my cruises so far and never had a complaint. The darkness helps you fall asleep immediately, and they're a great size for us.

[baracegirl]

Hey everyone! Recently booked a last minute cruise so wanted to hit up the boards.

 

This will be my first time in an interior & my friends very first cruise.

 

Anyone who usually has an OV room book an interior? Find a big difference?

 

Taking a four day cruise on Elation, yay!

 

Happy Cruising Everyone!!!

 

 

Hi!

 

I have sailed in interior, OV, porthole, balcony and aft balcony cabins. My very favorite cabin is the aft view balcony. However, it is not monetary feasible for every cruise. Most times I will book a porthole room. I still get outside light and don't pay the premium price for the balcony. I don't mind the interior cabins at all and would not hesitate to book again.

 

Debbie