Inside cabins on cruise ships are controversial. Some love them because of their value. Others would rather make budget cuts elsewhere to afford a balcony stateroom.
Within the past few years, I've stayed in interior cabins on countless cruise ships, including two of the largest in the world: Symphony and Wonder of the Seas. Though nearly identical, the Oasis Class ships have some stark differences, including their staterooms.
I'll always prefer a balcony, but I don't usually mind staying in inside cabins on mega-ships, as there's so much to do, from ice skating to rock climbing, zip-lining, playing mini-golf, and more.
Between my two weeklong Caribbean voyages, I spent nearly $3,600, including prepaid gratuities, on my cruise fares. The most expensive cruise was my 7-night sailing on Wonder of the Seas, costing $2,292.10 for two guests.
My sailing aboard Symphony of the Seas was cheaper, coming in at $1,393.20, which included the single supplement fee.
Interior staterooms may not have the luxury of an ocean view or balcony, but with the variety of activities on Oasis Class ships, they're an affordable way to experience everything these engineering marvels offer without breaking the bank.
Here's my comparison of the cheapest cabins on two of Royal Caribbean's mega-ships.
Cabin overview
Inside cabins are typically the smallest rooms on a cruise ship. Neither my cabin on Symphony nor Wonder of the Seas was the most spacious I've ever stayed in, with both measuring less than 160 square feet.
While the staterooms were approximately the same size, the layouts were different. I preferred the layout of my cabin on Symphony of the Seas, as it had a nicely-sized couch, whereas my stateroom on Wonder had just one extra chair, in addition to the vanity.
However, the color palate of my interior cabin on Wonder of the Seas was brighter, lacking the same dark wood accents found in my room on Symphony. Even the back of the door on Wonder was brighter and painted in a calming blue!
Aside from the couch, the layouts were relatively similar. One wall featured the vanity and dresser area, with a swivel TV above the dresser. Plus, the staterooms had the same basic amenities, including a mini-fridge, a safe, an ensuite bathroom, and a television.
The beds were positioned centrally in the room, flanked by small nightstands. In both cases, I opted to keep the beds configured together, rather than separated them into two twin-sized beds. This definitely limited the available floor space, but the layout was still functional.
Moving on, my stateroom on Wonder of the Seas was updated to feature more charging options, most notably four bedside outlets (both American and USB!) built into the table lamp. Though the interior cabin on Symphony also had a bedside charging option, it was a singular American outlet built into the headboard.
While I appreciated how Symphony's bedside lamps were affixed to the headboard, thus freeing up the nightstands, the built-in charging options on Wonder were great and added an extra layer of convenience to the cabin, especially when traveling with another passenger.
Still, there wasn't a shortage of outlets in either cabin, with most located in the vanity area. Wonder of the Seas had one extra European outlet, bringing the total number of charging options in the stateroom to 11, whereas Symphony of the Seas had 7. Either way, this is a major upgrade compared to older ships like Vision of the Seas.
Read more: I stayed in a tiny inside cabin on Symphony of the Seas because it was the cheapest option
Storage
The storage situation was extremely similar in both staterooms. My cabins aboard Wonder and Symphony of the Seas had two closets, as well as a dresser with five drawers.
Since I was sailing alone on Symphony, I had no issues unpacking my small carry-on and comfortably settling in. I was slightly worried there wouldn't be enough room in my cabin on Wonder, as I had packed for a two-week trip and was cruising with my partner.
Thankfully, there was more than enough space to accommodate all our things. The two closets offered plenty of hanging space for our clothes. Plus, we didn't even have to ask for extra hangers!
The dresser also allowed us to neatly store everything from swimsuits to undergarments and other personal items like medication.
Read more: Little known cruise bed upgrade that's worth asking for
Vanity storage was the same on both ships, with a small shelf above the vanity. This is where we kept our sunscreen, cosmetic bags, and sunglasses. The same was true aboard Symphony, as the shelf helped keep the vanity's surface free of clutter.
Overall, there was more than enough storage in my interior cabins on Wonder and Symphony of the Seas. However, I could see space becoming tight if traveling with three or four people in a single room.
Bathroom
Unless staying in a lavish suite, cruise ship bathrooms are built to maximize functionality instead of comfort. They pack a lot into a small space, including a toilet, sink, and standing shower.
Because Symphony and Wonder of the Seas are newer, I didn't have to worry about clingy shower curtains in either bathroom. Instead, the showers had glass doors, which made the compact area feel more open.
As true with Symphony's sleeping area, the tone of the bathroom was darker than Wonder's, complete with brown backsplash and floor tiles. Compartively, Wonder's bathroom felt much brighter, with a blue floral backsplash pattern and light wood shelving.
Not only did I prefer the color scheme in Wonder's bathroom, but I thought the vanity's design was more efficient. It was wider with a curved sink, whereas Symphony's vanity was much narrower with a rectangular sink tucked into the corner.
One major difference between the two bathrooms was the shower pressure. Usually, I'm pleased with the shower pressure on a cruise ship; however, Symphony's was a disappointment.
Plus, I had issues with the temperature, as it was nearly impossible to get the water to heat up in the mornings. In the evenings, I had the opposite problem: the water was scalding hot.
Thankfully, I had no issues with the shower on Wonder of the Seas. The shower pressure was amazing, and the temperature stayed consistent no matter the time of day!
Read more: I paid $2,200 for an inside cabin on a 7-night Wonder of the Seas cruise
Location
To save even more money on my cruise fares, I booked guarantee rates, meaning Royal Caribbean assigned my specific staterooms closer to the departure dates. Somehow, I ended up with two cabins located at the front of the ship.
My stateroom on Symphony of the Seas was harder to find, as it was hidden in a "secret" hallway, whereas my cabin on Wonder was located at the end of the port side's hallway next to a crew-only closet.
Although both cabins were located at the front of the ship, I experienced much less movement while cruising on Wonder of the Seas. However, this was just a matter of luck, as ship movement can vary from day to day depending on factors like weather and sea conditions.
While seasickness wasn't a huge issue, the proximity to the crew linen closet was bothersome. We'd often be woken up as early as 7:45am by crew members congregating outside preparing for the morning shift. Plus, my partner remarked that the noise continued throughout the afternoon when she'd retire for a nap.
The two staterooms were also on different decks, with my cabin aboard Wonder on Deck 9 and Symphony on Deck 7. In both cases, I was just one deck away from Central Park, which was convenient for grabbing breakfast at Central Park or a nightcap from the Trellis Bar.
Deck 7 was closer to the bustling Royal Promenade, though I wasn't much further on Deck 9. Still, being just two decks away from Cafe Promenade and one from the Boardwalk was certainly convenient when navigating the ship. I only relied on the elevator when going to the top decks!
Read more: The absolute worst cruise ship cabins to avoid on any ship
Final thoughts
I fell in love with Oasis Class ships over a decade ago when my family cruised on Oasis of the Seas for spring break. Since then, I've sailed on every ship within the line's innovative class, with the expectation of Utopia of the Seas.
While I'd argue that it's hard to go wrong with a vacation aboard an Oasis Class vessel, choosing a bad stateroom can easily ruin the experience. Though the issues I had with my rooms on Symphony and Wonder of the Seas were minimal, I'd advise against saving money and booking a guarantee fare if you're worried about being assigned an undesirable cabin.
For example, if you're easily susceptible to motion sickness, a stateroom at the front of the ship would be less than ideal. Moreover, if you're someone who prefers to sleep in, you wouldn't want a noisy cabin directly underneath the pool deck.
Not only that but interior rooms aren't for everyone. When Oasis of the Seas debuted in 2009, she was the first-ever cruise ship to feature interior-facing balconies.
These cabins overlooking the Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods became popular, offering a unique experience for cruisers who wanted a different view or the extra space of a balcony without splurging on an ocean-view room.
Taking that into consideration, if you book a GTY balcony, ensure that it's for your desired category. For example, if you want an ocean-view balcony room, don't book a guarantee Central Park balcony.
Between the two, I preferred my cabin aboard Wonder of the Seas because of its lighter color scheme, which made the room feel more spacious, as well as modern touches like extra bedside outlets.
However, I wouldn't hesitate to book another cruise on Symphony of the Seas. Ultimately, both ships are great, and whether I'd choose to book another interior room on Wonder or Symphony would come down to the itinerary and price.
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.
