How bad is an inside cabin?

[DiMar]

I always sail with a window or balcony. This time I am going without my DH, so I am forced to get a 1A...anything else becomes terribly expensive and a foolish choice. Carnival says I would have to pay for two even though I am one. At least in a 1A I only pay 1.5 times the price. It is a shame that Carnival has no alternative for singles other than the 1A. What is that inside like?

[Cotton]

I've been a solo cruiser several times, and I agree that the 150% is bad enough; however, there are 1A porthole cabins available. I've had inside once, and altho I can stand it, I much prefer the porthole cabins. In the inside cabins, there's a curtain on one wall which is (I guess) so it at least looks like there's a window there.:rolleyes: One thing for sure - you have plenty of room in a cabin by yourself!

[Cruiser@Heart]

Since I don't spend much time in my cabin, I typically book an inside since I just need it for a place to stash my stuff and sleep. :D Only time I've "HAD" to have a balcony was on my alaskan cruise. Other than that, I usually book a 4A Guar. if traveling with someone or a 1A if cruising solo.

[DiMar]

Thanks for your input. I actually am traveling with my two teen girls, and am torn as to whether I should take two 1As (inside) or a triple outside cabin. It would be nice to have two bathrooms, but it would also be nice to have natural light. Any comments would be well received.

[jleq]

A 1a is about 20 square feet smaller than most OS cabins (excluding suites). Most twin beds take up nearly that much space....if not a bit more. Since there's only one bed (instead of two) on the floor, you have as much "floor space" not taken up beds as in a 6a.

[IBEEMOM]

We alswys book an inside cabin, although it is a 4A, and have no problem with it. They are designed with enough space to be able to move comfortably. It is like flying at the rear of an airplane, the whole thing arrives at the same time. A hint, you may want to take along a nightlight. I use one with a red Christmas bulb in it. There is enough light to see and not so much of a glare from a white bulb. Hope it works out for you. Have a great cruise.

[Longin2cruise]

Since most of my cruises are solo, I generally have an inside cabin. As I'm seldom in the room, it's really not an issue for me. There is one big advantage of an inside room.................it's the best sleeping ever because I'm extremely sensitive to light when sleeping. No doubt balconies are the greatest thing in the world (I've had a couple), but I don't think an inside cabin would ruin your cruise.

[momofmeg]

Although I prefer an oceanview I have done inside cabins. I have never done the inside cabins upper and lower berths on fanasty class since I have always traveled with hubby.

 

We were on Fasciation in 2000 and had an inside cabin on the main deck. In 2003 we were on Inspiration and had an oceanview cabin on Empress deck. The 2 cabins were simliar and approx. the same size-very little difference except for the layout and ofcourse the oceanview had a window.

 

Inside cabins on Carnival are decent-there is also a small light in the bathroom that was is not as bright as the main bathroom light-we usally leave that light on and just crack the door-but you don't even need to do that as usually at the head of your bed there is a light you can reach while still lying down.

[airgirl]

I get inside cabins more than half the time I cruise and I really don't like them. I have a nice waterfront condo in Siesta Key Florida, so I am not denying myself by not having a view on a cruise - I get to see lots of water in Siesta KEy. I travel as a single mom with kids. (the kids are big Carnival fans)

 

However, the times I get them the price difference is substantional - If it is only 100 -200 more, I usually spring for the outside.

 

I find the inside depressing. It is dark all the time - its true you do sleep very, very well!

When I get an inside, I am only in the room to sleep and shower. I do not stay in, even to read. I leave early in the morning and come back late. I read on the decks. I find an actitivy every single minute of the day. My complaint about Carnival is that sometimes there are times with no actitivies - other cruises seem to have more - but then I will go the the hot tub/sauna and even shower in the gym instead of the room to avoid being there.

 

My advice - if you enjoy the peace and quiet of a nice room on vacation, and this is your only vacation, spring for the outside. If you are single and crave company, activities all day long and just going to the room to shower, then you will be able to do an inside.

[MrPete]

When I started cruising, I was fooled by the mindset "How much time do you actually spend in your room?" quandry. I actually went from an outside room on my first cruise to an inside twice. I found it depressing, and annoyed if I was sleeping never knowing when to wake up.

 

 

I have since learned that the better the accomodations, the more time you CAN spend in your room, if you want to, as opposed to RUNNING from it because it's dark or a closet.

 

I've learned I love the choice of sitting on my balcony, to myself or family, or sitting upstairs mingling. I don't have that choice with an inside, cause I don't want to be there.

 

I love my balcony, and the ability to walk outside on it anytime or any way.:)

[sgriff17]

If you stay in an inside cabin, REMEMBER an alarm clock. :)

 

Learned my lesson the hard way - no sunlight to wake you up.

[DreadPirateRobert]

We've had inside cabins several times and they aren't so bad. Of course balcony cabins are much nicer but they are often twice as expensive. We can cruise more often if we take inside cabins.

I love the fact that they have less light. I get more sleep that way.

[palmtre2]

My 10 year old DD loves a balcony, she will get up in the morning and sit with me to watch the sun come up or sit out there while waiting for mom & dad to get dressed for dinner. Of course mom & dad love a balcony when DD goes to bed - for a cocktail & quiet conversation. I guess I shouldn't have started cruising with a balcony now I won't be able to tell you how bad an inside is.

[ilovecruisin']

Inside cabins are great! That's all I ever get 4a upper or empress deck center ship. I don't hang out much in the room though, it's just a place to sleep for me. The inside cabins are quietier too. There are so many other places that I would rather hang out on the ship than be in the room regardless if I had a balcony or not.

[cookok]

Hi. As you can read, 'to each his own...' My first cruise about 8 years ago we did an inside cabin because of price. My only complaint was, as already mentioned, no light to wake you up and I had to keep getting up to see what time it was, not wanting to waste the day away. I'm a morning person. In later cruises we had an outside room and I much prefer the light. And the next cruise we had a balcony, very nice and another one coming up in 3 weeks to Alaska. Over Christmas we are going to try a port hole room to save some $s. I'm not in the room so much, but my wife enjoys laying on the bed and reading some during the day so I think she likes the windows too. Hey but I'll take any room to get a cruise... Enjoy.

[GLW513]

Inside cabins are ok based on the amount of time that you are actually going to spend there. There is only two or three things that you can do in there, sleeping being one of them.

 

The more that you save on your cabin cost, means more that you can spend on excursions, casino, gifts, etc.

[Tatka]

We started with outside and switched permanently to inside...

 

I won't lie,if I could afford balcony without redusing # of our cruises or number of on-land tours we would...But since $$$ difference is usually big I prefer to spend it on something else...

 

Btw..I never (except for when I sleep) turn lights of so it's never dark to enter my cabin. ;)

[DiMar]

I want to thank everyone for their input. Since I have only sailed with a window or balcony, I was "in the dark" about it. Right now I am booked in a 1A with my kids in a 1A next door to me. I kept thinking how horrible it would be trying to all get ready for dinner at the same time with only one bathroom. So last night I chose to give up the window for the privacy and extra bath. In the meantime, Carnival has instituted a new policy starting today that children MUST sail in a cabin with a parent. Because I had already booked (just in time), my reservations stand as they are. If I should decide to move up categories, I must take a triple, so I guess I am staying put! For those of you planning upcoming cruises and have not yet booked, be aware of this new policy...NO KIDS SAILING WITHOUT AN ADULT IN THE SAME CABIN. I bet they will be losing business with this one!

[Vicar]

I only had an inside cabin on my first cruise many years ago. My Ex wife and I wer young and strapped for cash, but wanted to go on a cruise for our honeymoon. It was fine for us then because we were never in the room except to sleep, change, and well......honeymoon *LOL*

 

Today after working in a bldg with NO windows for too many years. I at least need an oceanview, and will always try and get a balcony when I can.

[Cruisegirl6]

I only get inside cabins now, why pay all that extra money for a window? I know what the water looks like! And at night its so dark who can see the water anyway. As for having a balcony, I can't see spending that money to sit in your room on a cruise, maybe if I was old and didn't get around too well that would be another story for me. Balconies are not large, you cannot have a chaise lounge where the family can lie out to get sun, no chaises there and even if you had one whose to say if its in the sun or shade, depends upon the location of the ship traveling. I just can't see any sense in it. I do not want to eat in my cabin, I enjoy dining in the dining room and having full service and even for the atmosphere!!

 

My kids are teenagers and I have the double expense of getting two staterooms, even if I were rich, I couldn't just blow my money on a balcony cabin. For me it is a waste, and even if I had one I will not sit in my stateroom or sit outside a balcony in my stateroom.

 

It is dark, but don't you sleep in the dark at home? On previous cruises, I had outside statrooms, and with the draperies they have, I never got any light in the cabin anyway, I shut the drapes when I sleep. You can always request a wake up call, or bring an alarm with you, I do believe that carnival does have alarm clocks in the staterooms, but I am not all positive, never used one. My kids would get up much early at the crack of dawn, and go up on deck and get some breakfast and wake me up when I tell them the night before. Many watches have alarms you can use that.

 

My opinion is if you want to save money and you won't be spending most of your time in the cabin take the inside, the money you save can be used for shipboard expenses and shore excursions.

 

Just my opinion.....

[imlulu]

On my 1st cruise I had an inside with 3 other girls. It was great! It was nice and dark.

 

On subsequent cruises we have had oceanviews. I originally had a balcony booked then decided the extra money pays ffor 2/3 of our flights. We are going inside. We are cruising with our 2 kids. Originally the TA tried talking me into 2 cabins. However my youngest is only 5 so all 4 of us in a 4A. :D

 

I will say this. When we stay in a hotel I can hoenstly say we never step foot on the balcony except for 1st day so I think we are good to go.

[Facation Fanatic]

The two biggest complaints that I have heard or read about concerning an inside room are 1) No natural light and 2) claustraphobia. The first of these items is a personal preference. Many people I know enjoy an almost totally dark room (you do have some light coming in from under the door) to take afternoon naps. The second item is also personal, although not really a choice.

 

I have sailed in inside, oceanview, and balcony rooms. I have no problem with any of them. I am one of those that does not stay in the room except to sleep, bathe, and change clothes so it really doesn't matter to me. The risk with a balcony room is that if is one of the lower rooms on the ship and the weather or wind is bad, the overspray will make it almost impossible to use the balcony to its fullest. I recall on my Canadian cruise, the weather was so bad that with the exception of a few mornings prior to going to breakfast, the wind and rain limited us to about 2 hours of balcony time the whole week. From that standpoint, the additional money was a waste.

 

I have a balcony room booked for my next cruise since we will hopefully be in a more condusive climate for balcony use (Eastern Carib). However, for my January cruise, I have booked an inside guarantee.

 

The only way you'll know how an inside room is and how it affects you will be to stay in one and see. I haven't seen much variance on this one. Either you are OK with them, or you're not.

 

However, if you have issues with either one of the items I mentioned, then you will have problems. Good luck!

[kathyjack]

We have cruised 10 times. Sometimes in an inside room, sometimes in an outside room. Honestly, for the extra $$ you spend on an outside room, it's just not worth it to us. I'd much rather buy myself a nice piece of jewelry or go on a great excursion I might not go on if I had spent the money for a window! As far as sleeping - it is fabulous - especially those afternoon or early evening naps! We've never brought a night light - just leave the bathrom light on with door closed - there is enough light that comes through under the door. I'm not one of those people who just sleep in the room. I watch the talks on the t.v., read, etc., etc. Having a window wouldn't improve those things for me.

[cantwait2cruise]

Well I'm going to be in my first inside room on our upcoming cruise...previous cruises were oceanview. I'm a little nervous about how I will like it but overall I think it will be fine. We're staying on Main deck and this is the lowest I've stayed, so I'll have to see how I like that too.

[cruising3times]

We also enjoy inside cabins, and since we get two cabins it is much more cost effective. Someone said the inside cabins have curtains where a winter would be, they do on some ships but not on the Pride and Legend. They don't even pretend to have a window.