If you want to stretch your vacation budget as far as possible, you may have interior cruise ship cabins on your radar. These windowless rooms offer significant savings compared to oceanview and balcony cabins.
Though you'll miss out on scenic views from the comfort of your room, inside cabins provide the same essential amenities as other standard rooms, including comfortable beds, ensuite bathrooms, and more. Plus, many cruisers prefer enjoying the ship's amenities and ports of call, rather than staying locked away in their stateroom.
If you are considering an inside cabin for your upcoming cruise, here's a guide to maximizing your experience in these tiny, windowless rooms!
Read more: Cruise ship cabins: Everything you need to know
What are interior rooms?
Interior cruise ship cabins are one category of standard rooms on mainstream ships. Typically, they're the cheapest cabins onboard. Though they lack natural light, they're a great value, allowing you to enjoy other amenities on the ship, such as the pool, the Main Dining Room, and original productions in the theater.
Moreover, inside cabins are often the smallest rooms onboard. Still, cruise lines cleverly design the tiny cabins to feature many of the same amenities as oceanview and balcony staterooms. As such, they are outfitted with a queen-sized bed that can be converted into two twins upon request, a small desk or vanity area, a closet, and an ensuite bathroom.
When it comes to size, interior cabins generally fall somewhere around 145 to 185 square feet, depending on the cruise line and ship. The smallest rooms on Carnival Celebration, for example, measure 158 square feet, whereas inside cabins on Celebrity Ascent come in at around 180 square feet.
Read more: Inside cabin vs. oceanview on a cruise ship
True to its name, most inside staterooms do not have a window; however, some cruise lines have become clever in making these cabins more appealing. Royal Caribbean and Disney, for instance, use LED screens to create "virtual balconies" and "magic portholes" that broadcast a live feed directly into your stateroom.
Some Carnival ships also have special interior sub-categories that let passengers enjoy the benefits of natural light for a fraction of what a traditional oceanview room costs. These include Interior with Picture Window (Walkway View) rooms, as well as "Porthole Interior" cabins. The latter actually have ocean views; however, since the porthole windows are so small, they are deemed inside rooms.
Similarly, Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships have inside rooms with windows overlooking the interior Boardwalk and Central Park Neighborhoods. Still, the majority of inside rooms remain windowless, which can be an adjustment for many cruisers.
Read more: I sailed in tiny interior cabins on old Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships
Many cruise ships have accessible inside cabins, ideal for cruisers with mobility issues. These staterooms are equipped with wider doorways, grab bars, roll-in showers, and more; however, there are a limited number of accessible cabins onboard, so it is important to book early!
Location
Generally speaking, the cheapest inside cabins are those that the cruise line assigns before your sailing. Dubbed "guarantee cabins," these rooms are sold at a lower price since you don't get to choose your specific stateroom. In theory, saving money on your accommodation sounds like a great deal; however, there are some potential drawbacks.
First, you may end up near an elevator shaft, which can lead to excessive noise keeping you awake. Additionally, those sensitive to the ship's rocking might be upset with an interior cabin at the forward (front) of the vessel, where motion is typically more noticeable.
Midship rooms are the most convenient, as their central location places them closer to popular venues, including the dining rooms and main theater. However, you may want to be a short distance away from go-to spots, such as the adults-only sundeck, youth clubs, or casino. If so, pay attention to the ship's deck plan to see which cabins are the closest.
If you're looking for an interior stateroom with a unique layout, like Carnival's "Porthole Interior" rooms, your choices will be more limited, as these specialty cabins are few in number and usually located in specific areas of the ship. For instance, on Carnival Conquest, porthole staterooms are located at the front of Deck 1 (Riviera) and 2 (Main), whereas standard inside cabins can be found from Deck 1 up to Deck 10.
Capacity
Most interior rooms comfortably accommodate two guests; however, some cabins offer additional sleeping options for larger families or groups. Sofa and pullman beds allow staterooms to hold up to three or four passengers. That said, they aren't standard in every room onboard, so you'll want to check the specific details of the cabin you're eyeing to make sure it meets your needs.
If you are traveling with five or six people in your party, you'll likely have to book two separate interior cabins, as few have space for that many guests. One exception is Royal Caribbean's "Spacious Interior" rooms available on select ships—namely those in the Freedom and Oasis Class.
On Allure of the Seas, for example, cabin 11139 measures 260 square feet and can accommodate six passengers, whereas standard interior cabins are just 172 square feet. The extra room makes them a great option for larger groups, providing more comfort and space for everyone.
Pricing
Let's take a look at a few cruises to see the cost difference between interior and balcony cabins. Starting with the 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival's Mardi Gras departing on February 7, 2026, an interior room begins at $779 per person, whereas a balcony costs $1,069 each.
Similarly, the price of an inside cabin on Anthem of the Seas to Alaska in August 2025 starts at $796. However, if you want a private verandah to soak up the stunning views, a balcony cabin will set you back $1,210 per person.
Finally, a 9-night cruise aboard Norwegian Viva to the Greek Isles in July 2026 starts at a whopping $2,378 for an interior stateroom, while a balcony cabin on the same sailing starts at $3,378 per person.
Note that these prices were accurate at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Tips for staying in interior cruise cabins
Pack strategically
Avoiding overpacking will help you organize your belongings in your limited storage space, especially if sharing a cabin with two or three other guests. Versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched will ensure your wardrobe stays flexible and stylish.
Don’t hesitate to re-wear outfits, too! Instead of packing a different outfit for dinner each night, pack a few key pieces that can be dressed up, down, or re-worn.
Plus, consider bringing travel-sized toiletries to save room in the bathroom. Typically, bathrooms have just one small shelf in the shower, so if you bring full-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, you will quickly run out of space.
Read more: 15 Packing Tips for First-Time Cruisers
Choose the right location
As mentioned earlier, you must choose the right location for your cruise chain. Otherwise, you might suffer from an abundance of foot traffic or feel the ship's motion more intensely when trying to fall asleep.
When selecting your perfect cabin, evaluate your needs and preferences. Do you want to be close to a specific view, or are you worried about feeling seasick? If you aren't sure about how to go about choosing the perfect cabin location, consult with a good travel agent!
Not only will they help you make the best stateroom selection based on your preferences, but they will act as your personal liaison with the cruise line, meaning you won't have to waste time on hold should you need to make any changes to your booking. Plus, they can help you reserve shore excursions, specialty meals, pre-cruise airfare, and more.
Utilize popular cabin hacks
Magnetic hooks, motion sensor nightlights, and over-the-door shoe organizers can help optimize your cruise ship cabin experience.
Hooks are great for hanging things like hats, beach bags, and lanyards to keep the vanity clear of clutter, while motion sensor nightlights help illuminate your cabin when shuffling from the bed to the bathroom. When the lights are off, inside staterooms are pitch black!
Over-the-door shoe organizers are also ideal for cruisers who want to maximize storage. They can hold everything from toiletries to sunscreen, snacks, shoes, jewelry, and more.
Read more: Top 25 cruise cabin hacks to improve your stateroom's functionality
Book adjoining rooms for more space
Though some inside cabins can accommodate three or four passengers, you'll have a much more comfortable experience splitting your group into two rooms.
Not only will you benefit from extra living and storage space, but having two bathrooms is a game-changer when getting ready for long port days or freshening up for dinner. The added privacy is also great for parents who want space to unwind.
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.
