Are you planning to go on a cruise but can’t decide between an inside cabin and a balcony cabin? Are you wondering if the extra cost for a balcony cabin is truly worth it? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of staying in an inside cabin versus a balcony cabin.
Pros and Cons: Cruise Inside Cabin versus Balcony Cabin
Cheaper
Staying in an inside cabin has a major advantage – it’s a lot cheaper. The cruise fare for inside cabins is significantly lower than for balcony cabins. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind being in an inside cabin, then it makes sense to stay in one.
When my husband and I were younger and on a tight budget, we always booked inside cabins. We didn’t mind staying in an inside cabin because we didn’t spend much time in our staterooms anyway. We were always out and about on the pool deck or taking part in onboard activities, and we would only return to our cabin to sleep.
Booking an inside stateroom also allowed us to afford cruising on the newest cruise ships, which are typically much more expensive. The inside cabin price on a new ship is often the same or cheaper than the cost of a balcony cabin on an older cruise ship. By staying in the cheapest cabins, we could afford cruising on the newest cruise ships.
Port Intensive Itinerary
If you’re going on a cruise where you will be stopping at a port almost every day, then an inside cabin is perfectly fine. That’s because you won’t use your cabin much during the day, since you’ll be out and about most of the time and only return to your room to sleep. Choosing an inside cabin makes financial sense for port-intensive itineraries.
However, for cruises with many sea days, such as transatlantic cruises, it might be worthwhile to consider upgrading to a balcony cabin.
The View
Staying in a balcony cabin has its perks, and the best one is definitely the view. There’s nothing quite like lounging on your private balcony and enjoying the ocean view.
If you really appreciate a good view, then upgrading to a balcony cabin is truly worth it. This is especially true for an Alaska cruise, where you can see the glaciers right from your own balcony. It’s also not uncommon to spot seals and other wildlife from there, too, making the balcony cabin so worth it.
Long Cruise
If you’re going on a long cruise lasting more than seven days, it could be worth it to treat yourself to a balcony cabin. Staying in an inside cabin for an extended period can make you feel cramped and make you wish for natural light and fresh air.
During a longer cruise, you’ll naturally find yourself spending more time in your cabin, especially as the excitement of onboard activities starts to wear off.
Crowd
If you’re someone who prefers to avoid crowds, then a balcony cabin can be worth the splurge. Instead of lounging by the pool and reading a book, you might prefer to relax with a book in the comfort of your private balcony.
Instead of catching an afternoon matinee at the theater, you might prefer to watch a movie from the comfort of your stateroom. For those who shy away from crowds and enjoy relaxing in their own space, upgrading to a balcony cabin is definitely worth it.
Breakfast in Your Private Balcony
One of the best things about having a balcony cabin is that you can order room service and have breakfast on your balcony. It’s a nice treat.
If you enjoy relaxing on your balcony with a cup of coffee and breakfast, then it’s definitely worth it to upgrade to a balcony cabin!
More Space
One advantage of staying in a balcony cabin is that you get more space. If you are three to four people in your cabin, it could be worth it to splurge on a balcony cabin. A balcony cabin will give you more space to spread out.
Personally, having a balcony was valuable to me when I went on a cruise with my son when he was young and still needed to nap. The balcony allowed me to sit outside, read a book, or simply relax with a coffee while my son was napping.
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Airflow
One of the benefits of staying in a balcony cabin is the ability to open the doors and let in fresh air. If you’re sensitive to airflow and need good ventilation for a comfortable sleep, it might be worthwhile to upgrade to a balcony cabin.
In an inside cabin, you don’t have the option to let in fresh air. So, for those sensitive to airflow, an inside cabin may feel a bit stuffy. However, there are ways to get around it. Personally, I’m sensitive to airflow and have successfully increased the ventilation in my inside cabins by using a portable fan for air circulation. I like this convertible portable fan because it can sit on your nightstand and also be a handheld fan. Plus, there is no need to worry about batteries because it’s USB rechargeable.
Total Darkness
One of the benefits of staying in an inside cabin is sleeping in total darkness. This is a plus for some who are sensitive to light.
The total darkness, coupled with the gentle rocking of the ship, creates an environment that promotes restful sleep. In fact, some people claim that they experience the best sleep when staying in a cruise ship’s inside cabin!
However, for those of you going on a cruise with kids, it might be a bit scary to be in a cabin that is totally dark. If so, you can solve this by bringing your own night light like this neat motion-sensitive night light with a magnetic base so you can attach it to cruise cabin walls.
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Cruise Essentials
Suburbs 101 participates in affiliate programs including the Amazon Associates Program and may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Cruise Lanyard
Bring cruise lanyards; to make your life easier so you are not constantly looking for your cruise card!
Towel Bands
Towel bands are great in keeping your beach towels in place! So, they are slipping off the pool lounge chairs!
Power Strip
Definitely bring a cruise-approved power strip so you have more outlets for charging your devices. Cruise cabins never have enough outlets! Please double-check with your cruise line, as some do not allow power strips and will only allow USB charger cubes.
Packing Cubes
Use packing cubes to make cruise packing easier. These cubes will help keep your clothes organized. Unpacking is easy because you just need to take the cubes out of your luggage and put them in the drawers and shelves—so easy! Assign a color for each person in your cabin so you don’t get your cubes mixed up.
Anti-Theft Cross Body Bag
This anti-theft crossbody bag is perfect for travel. It features a slash-resistant design and RFID-blocking technology for added security. It even comes with a side pocket to hold your water bottle.
Luggage Tags
For safety, make sure every luggage and bags are labeled with a luggage tag. I like these custom luggage tags that you can order and personalize with your information.
Magnetic Hooks
Bring magnetic hooks to organize your cabin and keep it clutter-free. These hooks are for hanging baseball caps, cruise lanyards, goggles, bathing suits and towels.
Detergent Travel Packets
These detergent travel packets are great for handwashing bathing suits in the sink.
Anti-Seasickness
This anti-seasickness medicine is a go-to to combat seasickness on a cruise. If you have kids, make sure you bring the chewable version. If you are looking for a natural solution, try these acupressure bands.
Hanging Toiletry Bag
Cruise cabin sinks are notoriously small. Get a hanging toiletry bag to make it easier!
Cruise Travel Planner Printable
Get our 25 page cruise travel planner to stay organized before and during your cruise. It includes pre-cruise and post-cruise itineraries, a cruise port planner, sea days planner, packing lists, cruise budget tracker and more!
Cruise Travel Insurance
It’s smart to always buy cruise travel insurance, especially if you are going on a cruise during hurricane season.
Wrinkle Releaser
Keep your clothes wrinkle-free and odor-free with these travel size Downy wrinkle releaser.
Check out these free cruise printables
21 Smart and Easy Ways to Save Money on a Cruise
12 Things to Bring from Home to Save Money on Your Cruise
8 Reasons Why Cruise Ship Beverage Packages are a Waste of Money