Inside cabins get a lot of hate from cruisers.
Some people hear “inside cabin” and immediately picture a tiny dark room with no air and no reason to ever book it unless there is absolutely no other option.
But honestly, that is not always fair.
Inside cabins are not for everyone, of course. If waking up to the ocean every morning is the most important part of the cruise, then yes, a balcony or ocean-view cabin probably makes more sense.
But in many cases, an inside cabin can actually be one of the smartest choices on the ship.
You Can Save a Lot of Money
It is no mystery that inside cabins are the cheapest on cruise ships.
According to the data, the price of inside cabins is generally 60 percent lower than that of balcony cabins.
With the money you save, you can do so many other fun things.
You can treat yourself to spa massages, private tours in the cities you visit, dinners at special restaurants, and much more!
And I’ll tell you a secret: if you travel in the off-season, there is a good chance that if the ship is not full, they will upgrade you for free. It happened to me more than once with different cruise lines!
You Sleep So Much Better
One thing people sometimes forget is that inside cabins can be amazing for sleep.
Since they don’t have windows or balconies, there’s no outside noise to disturb you.
Plus, without any natural light coming in, they’re perfect for anyone who prefers a pitch-dark room for sleeping.
Some people actually sleep better in an inside cabin than they do at home.
The only downside is that it can be too easy to oversleep. Seriously, without a window, it’s very possible to wake up and have no idea if it is 7 in the morning or noon.
So setting an alarm is a good idea. Maybe two alarms, if there is an early excursion.
They Usually Have Better Locations
If you are not familiar with cruise ships, you should know that inside cabins are located in the middle of the ship.
And that location has quite a few advantages. First, it means shorter walks to the ship’s amenities like restaurants, theaters, and pools.
Second, being centrally located on the ship usually means less movement, which is ideal for people prone to seasickness.
There are a few other important details to consider, so make sure you know how to find the best cabin location on a cruise ship.
They Encourage Exploration
Cruise ships are made to be explored, to experience all the different areas, and to socialize with other passengers.
An indoor cabin encourages you to get out and spend as much time as possible in all the ship’s public areas.
With a balcony, it’s easy to stay in the cabin for long stretches. Morning coffee on the balcony. Afternoon reading on the balcony. Sunset on the balcony.
Lovely, yes, but also easy to miss what’s happening around the ship.
With an inside cabin, there is more reason to go out.
Go to the pool deck. Find a quiet lounge. Walk outside. Watch the sunset from the promenade deck. Grab a snack. Listen to live music.
Cruise ships are built to be explored. An inside cabin gives a little nudge to actually do that.
They’re Perfect for Shorter or Port-Heavy Cruises
If the itinerary has a new port almost every day, an inside cabin can be a very smart choice.
On those cruises, days start early. People are off the ship exploring, walking, taking tours, eating local food, and coming back tired.
By the time dinner is over, the cabin just needs to be clean, quiet, and comfortable.
A balcony is nice, but on a port-heavy cruise, it may not get used enough to justify the extra cost.
The same applies to short city-focused itineraries; an inside cabin can be perfectly fine. More than fine, actually.
There are probably also several useful cruise hacks and lesser-known areas around the ship that you may never discover if you spend most of the sailing inside your room.
Modern Inside Cabins Have Innovative Technologies
A good thing to consider before choosing an inside cabin is the ship’s age.
Modern cruise ships have more comfortable inside cabins thanks to technology.
For example, in the photo below, you can see an inside cabin with a virtual balcony—an awesome feature available on some Royal Caribbean ships.
These screens display a real-time view of the outside, so even though you’re in an inside cabin, it won’t feel like one at all.
Virtual balconies are not available on every ship or in every inside cabin, so check the exact features of the room before booking.
You can also compare the best and worst Royal Caribbean ships if this feature is important to you.
It Lets You Cruise More Often
This might be the best reason of all.
Choosing an inside cabin can make cruising possible more often. Instead of spending a big amount on one fancy cabin, that same money might stretch into another sailing, a better itinerary, or a longer trip.
For many cruise lovers, the cabin is not the whole vacation. The ship is. The ports are.
The food, the entertainment, the sea days, the silly little routines, the excitement of boarding day. That is the real magic.
An inside cabin gets you on the ship. And sometimes that is what matters most.
Of course, it’s not perfect. Inside cabins can feel small. There is no natural light, and some people really miss seeing the ocean from their room.
For longer cruises, or scenic routes like Alaska or the Norwegian fjords, a balcony can be absolutely worth it.
But inside cabins deserve more credit. They are affordable, cozy, dark, practical, and often much better than people expect.
For the right cruise, they are not just the “cheap option.” They can be the smart option.
And honestly, once the ship sails away and vacation starts, nobody is thinking too much about the cabin category anyway.
They are thinking about dinner, the next port, the pool deck, and maybe whether there is time for one more dessert.
And at the end of the day, being on the ship is already the best part.
Just remember that whichever category you choose, location can make a huge difference.
Avoid these worst cabin locations on a cruise ship if you want a quieter and more comfortable stay.
And once onboard, these simple ways to make your cruise cabin more comfortable can make even a small inside room feel much better.
Our very first cruise on Costa Classica in 1993 out of Miami was an inside cabin, and we had a great time. Best part was we travelled without our two girls, leaving them with Granny and Granddaddy. Yhe sleep in pitch black darkness was amazing. We never felt cramped. A great experience.