Having never sailed to Alaska, I booked a 7-night cruise onboard Norwegian Jewel in an inside cabin. Though I was happy to save money on my cruise fare, I was curious about what it would be like to stay in a stateroom with no exterior view in a region renowned for its beautiful landscapes.
Booking a standard inside stateroom is usually the cheapest way to cruise, and while it might not come with all the bells and whistles of larger rooms, you can save a bit of money for other fun things on your vacation.
For this sailing, three people were sharing the inside cabin. My parents and I shared this small space; however, it wasn't my first time cruising in an interior stateroom with two other passengers.
Take a look inside my cabin onboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel!
In 2022, Norwegian Jewel received an extensive refurbishment. As such, many staterooms were refreshed
NCL's remodel proved to be extensive, and I was surprised by how modern, clean, and up-to-date the staterooms and bathrooms were.
The Norwegian Jewel was originally built in 2005, meaning the vessel is approaching its 20th birthday.
Typically, this is when cruise ships begin to show their age; however, Norwegian's renovation ensures that Norwegian Jewel remains fresh and vibrant for many sailings to come.
The layout of the standard inside stateroom was functional, cozy, and organized
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that although we had three adults staying in this room, it did not feel overly crowded.
There was plenty of storage space, a small desk, drawers, and many shelves throughout the room.
Additionally, there were two closets, which meant we had plenty of space to hang out coats and other bulky items necessary for cruises to a cold-weather destination like Alaska.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the number of mirrors throughout the room. This was helpful for three adults getting ready in the morning.
Though cruising with three people in a cruise ship cabin can be a lot, I was thankful our stateroom onboard the Norwegian Jewel didn't feel too cramped. It was a comfortable home base during our cruise to Alaska!
The bathroom was the most surprising aspect of the stateroom
For an almost 20-year-old ship, the bathrooms in our cabin onboard felt modern and spacious.
There was plenty of counter space, as well as multiple shelves, which helped keep all our belongings organized. I have been on other cruise ships where there is no counter space or shelving in the bathroom, making it rather difficult to get ready in the mornings!
The shower in our inside stateroom was also very nice. Rather than feature a clingy shower curtain, we enjoyed our walk-in shower with a glass door! Guests will also find two small drinking glasses inside the stateroom bathroom.
Overall, I found the inside stateroom's bathroom very nice. The recent refurbishment has made sure the ship will last for many more sailings into the future.
Read: I went on a 7 day Alaska cruise, here are 15 things that surprised me
Our inside cabin had everything we needed during our cruise to Alaska
Aside from the bed and bathroom areas, guests will find plenty of storage.
Shelves to store belongings can be found next to the closet, over the desk and vanity area, and under the TV. Drawers can be found inside the closet. Additionally, the beds have plenty of room underneath to store large suitcases and bags during your cruise.
Personally, I like to unpack as soon as my luggage is delivered to my cabin. I find that it makes getting ready easier, as I don't have to constantly pull my bag out from under the bed. Unpacking also helps keep your stateroom organized!
Our cabin also featured a desk and vanity area with a large mirror and a small makeup mirror.
The mirror affixed on the wall was great for getting ready in the mornings, and it had two light settings! There were times we turned on the mirror's light, rather than the cabin's overhead light to help make the room feel a bit cozier.
The vanity area is home to a few of the cabin's outlets, too. Most cruise ship staterooms have standard American and European outlets. For this reason, I always travel with at least one European outlet adaptor, allowing me to take advantage of all the charging options in the stateroom.
Under the desk, we found a small stool, a hairdryer, and a small garbage can. Additionally, there was a small refrigerator.
The TV had a selection of channels to choose from. First, there was a navigation channel, so we could keep track of our ship's location.
There was also a bow can channel, which allowed us to get a glimpse of the weather conditions while in our inside cabin. Moreover, our TV had channels that showed the different offerings onboard, discussed shore excursions, talked about daily activities, and more.
In addition to the cruise ship channel, there were a variety of entertainment channels that played everything from comedy movies to family-friendly films, all of which were complimentary!
Under the TV, there were even more outlets, as well as a telephone which could be used to call other cabins or the ship's various departments.
Some cabins feature a pullman bed to accommodate a third passenger. This can be a great option for groups traveling together! Not all inside staterooms will have a bunk bed; however, parties of three booked on the same reservation will be placed in a cabin with a pullman bed.
Inside the closet, guests will find a small safe to store belongings and safeguard valuables during their cruise.
I found our inside stateroom onboard the Norwegian Jewel to have every feature and amenity we needed. Norwegian did a great job of refurbishing these rooms, and they will make for great homes at sea for passengers during their cruise!
Our particular stateroom was located near the aft of the ship
Because this was my first time cruising to Alaska, I was curious to see if the ship would be rocky during our sailing. I didn’t know what to expect when it came to how rough the waters might be during our voyage.
Thankfully, there was little rocking during our cruise, even towards the back of the vessel! Typically, the middle of the ship tends to be the most stable, so if you're worried about feeling seasick, you're best bet is to book a mid-ship stateroom.
Read more: I tried the most common seasickness hacks to find out what works best
Our standard inside stateroom was very comfortable
We found our room to be very clean and modern, and I would definitely sail with three people in an inside stateroom again.
Of course, it all comes down to personal preferences for a cruise vacation, as not everyone will like having three people in one small room.
However, for families or groups considering it as an option for their cruise vacation to save money, I can confidently say it was very comfortable.
Something that can help make staying in an inside stateroom with three people more bearable is packing minimally. The less clothing and items being stored in the stateroom, the less cramped the cabin will feel.
While we did use the pullman bed for our Alaska cruise, we did not think that it took away from the overall comfortability of the stateroom.
We were able to fit three adults in this room, and I think two adults and one child would also fit perfectly well!
For guests who want to change the temperature of their room, there is no need to fear. There is a thermostat in each stateroom, so you can make your cabin as comfortable and personalized as possible!
Read more: Best rooms on a cruise ship: Deck, location, & category
What was included in our cruise fare?
Guests staying even in the cheapest staterooms onboard can enjoy all the complimentary offerings onboard their ship, including unlimited food at select venues, cruise activities, tendering services, and more.
Additionally, all of the entertainment onboard, including the main theater production shows are free for guests to enjoy. All of these features are included in the basic cruise fare and the price of the standard inside stateroom.
Read more: What’s included with Norwegian cruise fare?
Did we miss the views?
One of the biggest questions people might have about inside or interior cruise ship staterooms is, "Will I miss the view?"
On our Alaska sailing, there were plenty of indoor and outdoor areas to take in the beautiful views. When admiring the rugged landscapes outside, we enjoyed going up to the very top deck at the front of the ship or Deck 7, where we could walk all the way around the ship.
For indoor views, our favorite place was the Spinnaker Lounge. This area was located towards the top of the ship and at the front, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and many comfortable couches and lounge chairs.
This is a great venue onboard the Norwegian Jewel where guests can enjoy a tasty drink while listening to live music and admiring the passing Alaskan views, mountains, and glaciers.
Because the Norwegian Jewel had many places to take in the scenic views, we did not mind the absence of a window or balcony in our room. Additionally, the bow camera on the stateroom TV showed us what was outside, so if we were in our stateroom and there was something particularly beautiful, we could head outside!
When traveling on a budget, an inside stateroom can be a great choice for cruising.
Read more: Balcony cruise ship rooms: are they worth the splurge?
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my standard inside cabin onboard the Norwegian Jewel
In fact, this stateroom was one of my favorites I've ever stayed in while on an NCL cruise.
These rooms make the perfect home at sea for passengers, while also helping guests cruise on a budget.
For those looking to cruise to Alaska but wanting to save some money, I think a cruise onboard the Norwegian Jewel in a standard inside stateroom can be a great option!
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
