Within a month, I cruised to Alaska on both Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises. I booked an interior cabin for both sailings, but I liked one cabin more than the other.
Alaska cruises are some of my favorite itineraries in the world. I love waking up to inspiring scenery each day while sailing through the state’s fjords, and the active shore excursions are right up my alley.
I typically cruise on a budget, though, and I’ve only ever cruised to Alaska in inside cabins. These tiny cabins are dark and windowless, but they offer the essentials for a comfortable stay, like a bed, vanity, and private bathroom.
Within just a few weeks, I took two 7-night cruises to Alaska. The first was on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, and the second on Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess.
The cruises differed in their itineraries and onboard atmospheres, and the cabins were surprisingly different from one another, too.
After spending 7 nights in each interior cabin, I found things I liked and disliked about both. One cruise line’s cabin, however, was better than the other.
Read more: 10 reasons you should book an interior room on your next cruise
I paid $1,856 for an interior cabin on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas
In late May, I sailed to Alaska on Quantum of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s sleek and modern Quantum Class ships.
My mom and I were excited to explore Alaska together, and we paid just $1,856 total for a virtual balcony interior cabin.
This included our cruise fare, taxes, port fees, and gratuities. At only around $928 per person, it was a great price for a 7-night Alaska cruise.
Read more: I paid $928 for a windowless cabin on my Alaska cruise
3 weeks later, I paid $2,494 for an interior cabin on Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess
Just a few weeks after disembarking Quantum of the Seas, I headed back to Alaska—this time on Royal Princess.
I couldn’t wait to share the experience with my sister who was cruising to Alaska for the very first time. It was also my first time trying Princess Cruises, so I was curious to see how the cruise line's cabins might differ from Royal Caribbean's.
In total, we paid $2,494 for an interior cabin. Like on Quantum of the Seas, this included our cruise fare, taxes, port fees, and gratuities. At $1,247 per person, the cruise was around $300 more than my Royal Caribbean cruise, but it was also during Alaska’s peak cruise season in the middle of June.
Read more: I booked a Princess cruise to Alaska for $1,247 per person—take a tour of my tiny inside cabin
I loved the virtual balcony in my Royal Caribbean cabin
Staying in an interior cabin usually means you can’t see outside, but that isn’t the case on Quantum of the Seas. Many interior cabins on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships feature a virtual balcony—a floor-to-ceiling television screen broadcasting a live feed from cameras on the side of the ship.
During my Alaska cruise, I loved having a virtual balcony in my interior cabin. Each morning, while getting ready for a day in port, I could check the weather outside without physically leaving my room. This helped me from feeling trapped in a small inside room.
I also appreciated being able to watch Alaska’s scenery from the comfort of my budget cabin. If I wanted to relax in the room for a few hours, I could lay in bed and still look at the views outside. Of course, the screen can’t compare to watching the views in real life outside my cabin, but it was better than nothing!
My Royal Princess cabin had a highly functional layout and unique technology
Although I didn’t have a virtual balcony on Royal Princess, the cabin was innovative in its layout.
Most cruise cabins are built into a basic rectangle, with everything except the bathroom visible from one space. My Royal Princess cabin differed in that it had a separate closet area next to the bathroom.
Although not completely separated by a door, this area offered privacy when changing and getting ready, and it had great storage with shelves and closets for hanging clothes.
Other than the layout, I loved how Princess Cruises incorporated technology into the cabin. Under the nightstands was a motion-sensor light.
If I got up in the middle of the night, these lights would turn on, making it easier to navigate the room without bumping into furniture.
The cruise line's unique key cards made accessing my room easier, too. Instead of a traditional card, Princess Cruises gives all passengers a Princess Medallion, a quarter-sized device you can wear around your neck, on a bracelet, or keep in your pocket.
I wore my Princess Medallion around my neck, and when I walked down the hallway to my cabin, my door would automatically unlock.
Read more: Princess Cruises Tips & Tricks
There was more walking space in my Royal Princess cabin, but I preferred having a couch on Quantum of the Seas
I was impressed with the amount of walking space in my Royal Princess cabin.
My sister and I had our bed separated into two twin beds. This helped to open up the room, and I never felt like we were running into each other when going about the cabin.
On Quantum of the Seas, the room felt somewhat restricted. You had to walk around a small passageway at the foot of the bed to reach the back of the cabin.
The long design was narrow, leaving little extra space around the furniture. My mom and I seemed to be always bumping into each other.
That being said, I appreciated having a couch in my Quantum of the Seas cabin. I love having an extra space to sit and relax as opposed to sitting on the bed during the day.
On Royal Princess, the only extra seating in the room was a small chair at the desk.
It's worth noting, though, that not all interior cabins on Quantum of the Seas have a couch. Another Cruise.Blog writer, Elizabeth, recently sailed on the ship, but her cabin's layout was different from mine, with only a small armchair in the room.
Both cabins were ideal for cruising to Alaska on a budget, but I preferred my cabin on Quantum of the Seas
Every cabin design has pros and cons, and these two rooms were some of the best interior cabins I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship.
Some interior rooms are extremely small, with little storage and outdated decor. These cabins had neither of those downsides. Both offered ample storage space, comfortable furnishings, advanced technology, and generous square footage.
I wouldn’t hesitate to book an interior cabin on either ship again, but a few features made my Quantum of the Seas cabin stand out more than my cabin on Royal Princess.
Read more: Balcony vs interior cruise ship rooms: what's the difference?
First, the virtual balcony was a major perk. Alaska cruises are all about the views, but I can’t always splurge on an ocean view or balcony room. Settling for a room with no windows is a lot easier when I know I’ll have a virtual balcony in the cabin.
Next, having a couch seems like a small detail, but it makes a big difference in my cruise experience. It’s much more comfortable to relax on the couch during the day as opposed to my bed, and it’s also handy for separating the space into a bedroom and living room.
Finally, there were more outlets in my Royal Caribbean cabin, which made it easy for my mom and I to charge our electronics. On Royal Princess, I found outlet availability somewhat limited.
Despite liking my Quantum of the Seas cabin slightly more than that on Royal Princess, it’s hard to go wrong with either.
Although some people may scoff at the idea of cruising in a tiny, dark, and windowless room, I found these rooms offered a cozy place to rest and unwind on my trips to Alaska. While not as fancy as a balcony cabin or suite, as far as interior cabins go, both rooms exceeded my expectations.
Read more: Should I cruise on Princess to Alaska? I booked a sailing to see for myself
Jenna DeLaurentis
Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine. She loves to get active while in port, whether cycling through mountains in the Caribbean or scuba diving under the sea.
