I stayed in a windowless cabin on my weeklong cruise to Alaska, but it wasn't as bad as I thought.
Alaska is known for its snow-capped mountains, wildlife-filled waters, and dramatic fjords. It's nice when you can take in the scenery from your private balcony, but that luxury isn't cheap.
So, on my recent 7-night cruise aboard Carnival Luminosa, I kept my costs low by booking an interior stateroom.
Carnival Luminosa is an older ship, having originally launched as Costa Luminosa in 2009. She was transferred to Carnival Cruise Line in 2022. After undergoing a refit to bring her up to speed with the "FUN" ship brand, Carnival Luminosa began sailing in Australia.
Now, she spends the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere before moving to the Last Frontier in the spring and summer.
After four Carnival cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas, I decided to try something different. While many associate the brand with warm-weather itineraries, I found a lot to appreciate about Carnival cruises to cooler destinations — starting with my spacious interior cabin.
My guarantee inside stateroom cost over $1,700
Initially, I was supposed to sail with my partner. However, the day before we were scheduled to fly to Seattle, she came down with an awful cold.
Rather than push herself on a cold-weather cruise, she decided to stay home. While disappointing, this meant we didn't have to pay anyone to watch our dog, which saved us over $400.
Since the cruise was booked for two people, the fare was $890 per person, totaling $1,780 (including pre-paid gratuities) for a 7-night cruise to Alaska.
Overall, I thought this was a fair price. Costing less than $130 per person, per night, the fare included accommodations, meals, entertainment, and transportation to some of the most dramatic landscapes in North America, albeit with no view from the room.
Read more: Are Carnival cruises all-inclusive? Here's everything that's included with your Carnival cruise fare
The cabin was more spacious than expected
I've stayed in tiny inside staterooms on three Carnival ships — Carnival Celebration, Conquest, and Elation — so I thought I had a good sense of what to expect. However, my cabin on Carnival Luminosa was easily the roomiest.
The space was laid out efficiently to maximize every square inch. Considering I was alone, it felt like I was staying in a junior suite (without the view, of course).
I had more than enough room to comfortably unpack and relax after long days ashore hanging out with sled dogs, exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, and walking through Ketchikan's famous Creek Street.
Investigating the room on embarkation day, I quickly discovered why my cabin was larger than most interior staterooms; the category 4A cabin was designed to accommodate four guests.
Since I was traveling by myself, a room that might have felt tight for a family of four — especially with the oversized couch made up as a bed — was incredibly spacious.
Still, the closet space was plentiful, ranging from the shelves to hanging space and dresser drawers. That said, had my partner come, we likely would have asked for extra hangers.
Considering most of my items, including bulkier sweaters, were packed in my compression packing cubes, I had no trouble staying organized, even if the closet only had five hangers.
Read more: Ultimate Alaska cruise packing list
While the extra space was appreciated, the cabin felt dated
Although the ship wasn't originally built for Carnival, the color scheme and design felt akin to older Carnival ships with yellow and orange wood tones, dark patterned carpeting, and a tiny television.
The bathroom, especially, wasn't as sleek as newer vessels. It had a clingy shower curtain with a blue and green pattern that didn't match the salmon-pink countertop.
Speaking of the bathroom, I was disappointed with the shower pressure. One upside to this meant less water splashed out, drenching the floor through the thin (and relatively useless) "mat."
On a positive note, I appreciated the cleanliness of the bathroom. When I sailed on Carnival Elation last March, I was disgusted by the grimy showerhead. Thankfully, the showerhead in my stateroom on Carnival Luminosa was in better condition.
Beyond the bathroom, another thing I noticed was the lightning in the cabin. Sometimes, interior staterooms have overly bright lighting to make up for the absence of natural light, but I found the lighting in my cabin surprisingly dim thanks to the soft bulbs.
As such, I felt sleepy whenever in my cabin, whether at 10:30am or 10:30pm. This also meant I frequently got ready in the bathroom, rather than sitting at the vanity, because the lighting was brighter and better for making sure my makeup was blended!
Bring a USB cable
Usually, I never travel without the USB cable from my car. However, I realized I had forgotten it on the airplane from Charlotte to Seattle.
At the last minute, I decided to pay $14.99 for a new cord at Safeway before heading to the port on embarkation day, and I'm glad I did!
Carnival Luminosa doesn't have standard bedside outlets. Rather, there's a USB hub with four ports. So, if you want to charge your phone beside the bed, you'll want to pack at least one USB cable.
I'd also recommend bringing more than one cord if you're sharing the stateroom with two or three other passengers, as the vanity only has one American and one European outlet (two total).
This may help avoid bickering over who can charge their phone, tablet, portable charger, and headphones, especially the night before disembarkation or a long port day!
Read more: The 1-item upgrade you need for a better cruise ship cabin experience (it’s already in your house)
I didn't mind being on Deck 1
Cabin 1227 is located on Deck 1. Initally, I was worried I wouldn't like being on the lowest passenger deck aboard Carnival Luminosa. However, I realized it has its perks.
For one, I was just one deck below many of the ship’s popular venues, including Ocean Plaza, home to karaoke nights and live music, as well as the casino, the Vela dining room, Luminosa Theater, Guest Services, and Piano Bar 88. Being so close made it easy to get around without waiting for elevators.
That said, there were a few times I noticed noise from the upper deck at night. Live music from the atrium or Ocean Plaza stage easily traveled down the stairwell and hallway.
Although it wasn't noticeable enough to keep me awake for hours, you may want to bring a pair of earplugs if you think it would bother you.
Carnival Luminosa isn't the fanciest cruise ship, but it's perfect for a laid-back vacation
Measuring just 92,720 gross registered tons, Carnival Luminosa is a far cry from the largest ships in Carnival's fleet. However, her design makes her ideal for warm and cold weather cruises. For example, the main pool on the lido deck can be enclosed to let guests comfortably swim while taking in the towering mountains and fjords.
On my sailing, the main pool was closed for maintenance, so the outdoor Serenity Deck was opened to all ages. While I didn't notice many swimmers throughout the week, I saw a few brave souls lounging in the hot tubs while sailing through Endicott Arm!
Cruises to scenic destinations are less about the cabin and more about the overall experience, from the dining to the ports of call and entertainment.
Was my interior stateroom aboard Luminosa the nicest I've ever cruised in? Not by a long shot, but it was comfortable and came equipped with the basic necessities (plus more space than I needed!). I'd much rather spend money on excursions, especially somewhere as beautiful as Alaska!
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. 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!
