There's no denying that cruise vacations have gotten more expensive. However, that doesn't mean there aren't ways to cut back on your overall cost.
One easy way to save money on a cruise is to book an interior stateroom. I know, staying in a dark, windowless cabin may sound jarring at first, but I promise it isn't as bad as you think!
Interior staterooms are typically the cheapest accommodations on any cruise ship, and while they don't offer any natural light, they're a great value that allows you to still enjoy all of the standard amenities as everyone else. In other words, you will be able to relax by the pool, eat in the same restaurants, and watch the same entertainment as someone who splurged on an ocean view or balcony cabin.
Additionally, all staterooms are equipped with the same basic amenities, including a television, closet, mini-fridge, safe, vanity area with a mirror, and an ensuite bathroom.
Still not convinced? That's alright. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider an inside cabin on your next cruise.
Able to allocate money towards other cruise add-ons
Since inside cabins are the accommodations on a cruise ship, you will be able to stretch your vacation budget a little further.
Whether that means purchasing once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions, a drink package, or splurging on specialty dining, these experiences will make your cruise even more memorable, rather than restricting yourself to the included options.
Even if you do not put that money towards cruise add-ons, the cost savings between an interior and other cabin categories may allow you to purchase other essentials, like airfare.
Read more: 17 hidden cruise ship extra charges you should know about
Pitch-black darkness offers a good night's rest
If you sleep well in the dark, you'll love an inside cabin. Since there's no natural light, you will be left sleeping in complete darkness once you turn off the lights.
Cruise fans who frequently book inside rooms usually talk about how great they can sleep because they are not woken up by the sun. Of course, you will want to ensure that you have plenty of alarms set to prevent yourself from accidentally sleeping through morning activities or your scheduled shore excursion departure time.
One cabin hack is to purchase a sunrise alarm clock. These have a light that gradually comes on in the half-hour leading up to your pre-set wake-up time to simulate a sunrise, and will wake you up more gently than the abrupt ringing of your phone's alarm.
Read more: Best rooms on a cruise ship: Deck, location, & category
You are booking a port-intensive itinerary
Certain itineraries lend themselves more to booking certain stateroom categories. If, for instance, you are leaning towards a port-intensive itinerary, where you have more days in port than at sea, you likely won't spend a lot of time in your cabin.
As such, your cruise stateroom will primarily serve as a place for you to rest and get ready for the day's planned activities; there will be fewer chances for you to sit out on a balcony, relax, and watch the ocean pass by.
Consequently, it may be smart to save some money by booking an interior room. For example, when I took my first Mediterranean cruise in 2023, I was content with my inside cabin. Since I was spending my days ashore in ports like Valencia, Spain, and Rome, Italy, I didn't have a lot of downtime to spend in my stateroom.
Solo cruisers will have to pay less
Traveling solo? Unfortunately, most cruise lines charge a single supplement fee. This means that you will be paying the price of two passengers in standard cabin categories.
While you should try and sail on a ship with solo cabins, this is not always possible because the number of staterooms for one cruiser is limited, and they get booked up in advance.
Staying in an interior room means that you will be paying less than if you were to book a balcony. Plus, since you'll be alone, you will not be compromising on storage space; there will be plenty for one person!
Read more: Why You Should Book Cruise Ship Cabins for Two Even As a Solo Traveler
You can cruise more frequently
If you love to cruise, one way to (maybe) justify sailing more frequently is to book interior staterooms.
The money saved on your accommodations will allow you to hit the high seas more often, allowing you to explore different cruise lines, ships, and ports of call.
No curtains to close when in port
When docked and staying in an ocean view or balcony room, you will want to ensure that you are covered up before stepping out of the bathroom.
You never know when another ship will pull in beside you, turning your stateroom into a live reality show for those on the other vessel.
In an interior cabin, though, there are no privacy concerns. Due to the lack of windows, there's no way that anyone can view in (or out) of the room.
Read more: 15 Things You Should Never Do in Your Cruise Ship Cabin
Not all inside cabins lack views
Not all interior rooms lack views. Although not as common as standard windowless inside staterooms, some offer interior views of the ship.
On Carnival Glory, for instance, you may stumble upon a room called "Interior with Picture Window." While more costly than a standard interior room, this stateroom features a picture window that allows you to observe the deck outside.
Similarly, Carnival Glory also has interior staterooms with portholes. These windows are smaller than the picture window; however, they actually have an ocean view!
Some Royal Caribbean ships — namely Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, and Icon Class vessels — have cabins with windows that overlook certain public areas, such as the Royal Promenade, Boardwalk, or Central Park
While you won't be booking these rooms for the view itself, it is a great compromise to get some natural light in the room without going over budget.
You'll want to spend more time around the ship
Without an ocean view, it is unlikely that you will want to stay hidden inside your cabin. Instead, you will want to experience all of the other fun activities onboard, whether that's afternoon competitions on the pool deck, live shows, or the thrill-seeking amenities.
In my experience, I often have to force myself to use a balcony to justify the extra price. Although the views and fresh air are perks, there's so much going on around the ship that's more entertaining!
There's a possibility you could bid to upgrade your stateroom
Some cruise lines allow you to bid to upgrade your cabin. While never a guarantee, you can always try and see if you can score an upgrade to an ocean view or balcony cabin. If you are lucky, you will win an upgrade and pay less for the cabin than you would if you booked it outright.
Once when sailing on Allure of the Seas, my travel companion wanted to upgrade from an ocean-view room with a forward-facing window to a balcony. While we got a room overlooking Central Park instead of the ocean, we only paid $100 altogether and enjoyed having a private verandah to sit on.
Of course, if you know that you'll be unhappy in a room with no light, you should not rely on getting a cabin upgrade. It's great if you get the opportunity to score a better stateroom for less; however, since more and more ships are sailing near or at full capacity, there may not be any staterooms available to bid on.
Read more: 12 easy ways how to get a cabin upgrade on a cruise
You will get the same service that you'll get in other cabin categories
All cabins on a cruise, regardless of whether it is an interior or balcony cabin, have a cabin attendant assigned to them.
This special crew member is responsible for making sure that your stateroom is clean and tidy throughout the cruise. Their responsibilities include refreshing your towels, making your bed, emptying the trash, delivering important disembarkation documents, and sometimes leaving fun towel animals (depending on the line)!
Outside of your cabin attendant, other crew members won't know what kind of cruise cabin you are staying in, so you will receive the same service as all other passengers in public areas like the dining room, theater, pool deck, and guest services.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
