Once you have selected the perfect cruise itinerary and ship, you will have to decide what cabin category you would like to book. There are four standard ones: interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite.
Oftentimes, future cruisers know exactly what cabin they want. Other times, it is not that simple. Balcony cabins can sometimes cost thousands of dollars more per person than interior staterooms, and you have to decide if it's worth the splurge or not.
Interior cabins are a great choice for those on a stricter budget or wanting to stretch their vacation dollars as far as possible. Despite being the cheapest accommodations onboard, they still include access to the same amenities as someone staying in an ocean view or balcony cabin.
If, however, you are someone who loves waking up to natural light or is dreaming about sitting on your personal balcony, the savings might not be worth it.
Balconies are popular choices because they are larger than interior staterooms and include access to a private outdoor verandah. While these cabins are more affordable than suites, you will have to decide whether or not the pros of staying in a balcony stateroom are worth the extra cost.
There are pros and cons to each option—it comes down to your family's personal preferences and budget.
The major differences between interior and balcony staterooms
No matter what room you decide on, you can expect to find the same basic amenities, including a television, closet, safe, vanity area with mirror, and ensuite bathroom.
Moreover, both interior and balcony cabins are designed for double occupancy. That, however, does not mean that you won't find some that can accommodate three or four guests, whether that's on pullman beds or a sofa bed.
Regardless of whether your stateroom can fit two, three, or four people, you'll find one king-sized bed that can be split into two twin beds, depending on your preferred configuration.
In terms of differences, balcony cabins will be larger, giving you and your travel party more space both inside and outside. Inside cabins are typically the smallest accommodations onboard.
Given that you will have extra space, you may also find that balcony cabins have more furniture. Not all interior staterooms have space for a small loveseat. Plus, there is definitely no room for outdoor furniture! You will find two chairs and a small table on your private balcony.
While that's a pretty nice benefit, the major appeal to balcony cabins is that they offer both natural light and access to fresh air, whereas interior cabins have no windows offering an outside view. The only light that you will get is from the artificial lights inside.
Amount of space
In most instances, you will find that balcony cabins provide more living space than interior rooms. A balcony room on Carnival Celebration, for instance, measures 249 square feet, whereas the interior rooms only come in at 158. That is a pretty large difference!
Whether you are traveling with two, three, or four people in your room, every inch of extra space that you have makes a difference. The more space you have, the more comfortable everyone can maneuver throughout the cabin.
If you want the most space, you'll have to book a suite with a private verandah. Though more expensive than standard balcony cabins, you'll get additional perks that may help justify the higher price tag. While benefits vary based on the cruise line and the specific suite, you can expect anything from priority embarkation to a private butler!
Pricing
As mentioned earlier, interior staterooms are the cheapest accommodations on a cruise. The extra living space, balcony, and oceanfront view that accompany booking a balcony cabin all come with a higher price tag. The total difference, however, varies.
The price gap between an interior stateroom and a balcony will vary from cruise line to cruise line, ship to ship, and sailing to sailing. It will also depend on factors like itinerary, time of year, and ship class.
Sometimes, the difference is only a few hundred dollars, while it can also amount to thousands of dollars!
Once you have found your ideal cruise and have begun debating cabins, you should look at the total price and divide it by the number of nights the cruise is. This will give you the total nightly price.
You have to remember everything that's included with that price. It is not just the room that you're paying for; this price includes unlimited food, select beverages, entertainment, and transportation between ports of call.
Of course, there are extras that you'll have to keep in mind, such as flights to and from the embarkation and disembarkation port, drink and internet packages, specialty dining reservations, and shore excursions. Booking the more expensive stateroom might mean you have less more to spend on these experiences.
Read more: 20 tricks for cruising cheap on less than $100 per day
Are balcony cabins more popular on certain itineraries than others?
Absolutely! While having a balcony cabin on any cruise, whether it is a 3-night sailing to the Bahamas or 7-night voyage through the glaciers of Alaska, is nice, certain itineraries might lend themselves more to splurging on a balcony.
On a shorter cruise, how much time are you actually going to be spending in your cabin? You will most likely find yourself wanting to spend as much time as possible outside of your stateroom exploring the ship's amenities at night after spending the day ashore in port.
You may be okay in an interior cabin, saving money for cruise add-ons and using your room just as a place to relax and recharge. Plus, you will always be steps away from public areas to take in ocean views.
However, if you are planning on taking a longer cruise and have reason to believe you'll spend more time in your stateroom, you will want the extra space and private verandah.
On Alaska and Mediterranean voyages, it is nice to be able to step outside your cabin to soak in all the views without having to leave your room and head up to the pool deck. The sailings that take you on more scenic journeys are when spending the extra money for a balcony cabin is more important, as the top decks tend to get pretty crowded.
What about ocean view cabins?
Ocean view rooms are more expensive than inside cabins; however, they still lack direct access to fresh air. The biggest perk of these staterooms is that the window that allows you to look outside at the ever-changing scenery.
Note, though, that some cruise ships have rooms with windows that do not get a view of the ocean. Instead, they look out at other parts of the ship, like the Central Park or Boardwalk neighborhoods onboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class. These are more expensive than a traditional interior room but cheaper than rooms with an ocean view window.
Regardless of which you select, they all come with the same basic amenities, including a television and vanity area, housekeeping, and ensuite bathroom.
If I am sailing with a larger party, should that determine which cabin I choose?
The more people you are trying to squeeze into one cabin, the more importance space is.
While both categories are technically sufficient, you may find yourself bickering with your cabin mates if you're sharing an interior cabin for a longer period of time. On a short cruise -- say 3- to 5-nights -- you will be out and about, exploring the ship and spending time ashore. There will be fewer opportunities to return to your cabin for a long rest.
On a longer cruise, though, balconies are useful to have time away from the public areas without returning to a crowded cabin. You may not want to spend every sea day on the lido deck. Having your own personal verandah gives you space to sit outside, enjoy a cocktail, and read a book.
Families will always want to choose the option that gives them the most amount of space. Sometimes, the best option is actually two inside rooms, rather than one balcony. Plus, you will have two bathrooms.
If you are cruising solo, you will have plenty of space in either category. The decision really just comes down to the total cost. Because of the single supplement fee, you'll be paying double regardless of which room you select. If you are able to, it is worth it to sail on a ship that has cabins for single sailors because you will not have to pay the cost of two travelers.
Read more: Can You Cruise by Yourself? A Guide to Solo Cruising
Advantages of interior cabins
If you are financially able to, balcony cabins are usually the preferred cabin type for most cruisers. That, however, does not mean you won't have a great trip if you stay in an inside stateroom.
Those who frequently stay in inside cabins usually talk about how great they're able to sleep because they are not woken up by the sun. That being said, it is even more important to set your alarms because you will have no idea what time it is when you wake up! You do not want to accidentally sleep through all the morning's activities or miss a shore excursion.
Some cruise ships have unique inside cabins that feature windows with interior views of the ship or even LED floor-to-ceiling screens that serve as a "virtual balcony." Usually, these are cheaper than standard inside rooms; however, they are going to be substantially cheaper than balcony rooms and could be a good compromise.
The best way to see and understand all of your available options is to speak with a travel agent. They can advise you on which ships might give you more interior options than others.
Read more: Why you should book a cruise through a travel agent
Advantages of balcony cabins
Future cruisers who are prone to motion sickness should consider a balcony cabin. If your ship starts rocking, having immediate access to fresh air and being able to see the horizon can help you stabilize your mind and reorient yourself.
Some cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon Classes and MSC Cruises' World Class, have balconies that face the interior of the ship. These balcony staterooms have the same balcony experience of ocean-facing balconies, meaning that you'll have access to fresh air and a personal verandah, but often at a discounted price.
If you want even more space and do not care about the location, look into aft balconies. These are found at the back of the ship and tend to have elongated or oddly shaped verandahs, meaning they have larger balconies! You will also get some pretty amazing wake views when the ship is at sea.
Read more: Best rooms on a cruise ship: Deck, location, & category
Balcony cabins are also great for those looking to have more options in terms of cabin location, as you will find that you will have the most choices when booking a balcony. Depending on the preferences of your travel party, you may benefit from staying in a cabin close to the youth clubs.
Should I choose a balcony or interior room?
The best cabin choice depends on your vacation preferences. If you prioritize experiencing everything the ship has to offer and stretching your budget as far as possible, you might prefer to save money on the stateroom and allocate that money towards other cruise add-ons. Splurging on a balcony isn't worth it if you would sacrifice other elements that make a cruise vacation special (i.e., unique shore excursions, a special dinner at a specialty restaurant, etc.).
On the other hand, if you prefer having a front seat to ocean views and the privacy that comes with a personal verandah, you'll be better off spending the extra money on a balcony. Plus, these rooms are better if you are traveling with more than two people in your party because of the additional living space.
The itinerary could make a difference, too. Perhaps you'd be okay saving money and booking the cheaper inside cabin on a Caribbean cruise, whereas you'd want access to a view on a sailing to Alaska.
There are always cruise deals to be found. If you are flexible with your sail date and itinerary, you can find good rates on both balcony and inside staterooms!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
