Inside cabins on cruise ships are a topic that sparks passionate debate among travelers. Some cruisers absolutely adore them, primarily for the incredible value they offer, allowing them to stretch their vacation budget further. Others, however, would rather meticulously trim expenses elsewhere to ensure they can indulge in the luxury and open air of a balcony stateroom. This fundamental split highlights the core decision many face when booking a cruise: save on the room and spend on experiences, or invest in a comfortable private retreat.
Over the years, I’ve personally navigated this decision countless times, experiencing interior cabins on a wide array of vessels, including two of the largest ships sailing today: Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. While these Oasis Class giants, though nearly identical in many respects, still present subtle yet significant differences in their staterooms, I’ve also ventured into the older, smaller Vision Class with Enchantment of the Seas, and even tried a different cruise line’s take on the budget cabin with Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne. My voyages, totaling nearly $3,600 for two weeklong Caribbean trips on Royal Caribbean, underscored the substantial savings interior rooms can provide.
Ultimately, while a balcony will always hold a special place in my cruising heart, I’ve come to appreciate the unique offerings of inside cabins, especially on mega-ships where the array of activities, from ice skating and rock climbing to zip-lining and mini-golf, means less time spent in the room. These interior staterooms, despite lacking an ocean view or a private balcony, truly represent an accessible gateway to experiencing all that these engineering marvels provide without the hefty price tag. This comparative analysis delves into the practicalities, hidden surprises, and real-world experiences of staying in these often-underestimated spaces.
1. **The Enduring Debate: Why Choose an Inside Cabin?** The choice of an inside cabin often boils down to a fundamental budgeting decision for many cruisers. It’s a trade-off where the absence of a window or balcony directly translates into significant cost savings, making a cruise vacation accessible to a broader audience. For those who view their stateroom merely as a place to sleep and store their belongings, maximizing time exploring the ship’s vast amenities and destinations, the value proposition of an inside cabin becomes undeniably appealing. This perspective aligns perfectly with the experience on mega-ships, where the sheer volume of activities overshadows the need for an expansive private space.
My personal experiences illustrate this financial benefit quite clearly. My seven-night sailing on Wonder of the Seas, for instance, cost $2,292.10 for two guests, while a similar trip aboard Symphony of the Seas was even cheaper at $1,393.20, which included the single supplement fee. These figures highlight how opting for an interior room can drastically reduce the overall cruise fare, freeing up funds for excursions, specialty dining, or onboard activities. It’s an effective strategy for experiencing top-tier ships and itineraries without financial strain.
This affordability is often the deciding factor, allowing travelers to experience the full spectrum of a ship’s offerings – from thrilling activities to diverse dining – without breaking the bank. It underscores the idea that luxury and memorable experiences aren’t solely confined to the most expensive accommodations. Instead, savvy cruisers can leverage inside cabins as a smart way to enjoy all the marvels a modern cruise ship has to offer.
2. **Room to Roam (or Not): A Look at Cabin Dimensions and Layouts** Inside cabins are, almost universally, the most compact rooms found on any cruise ship, a characteristic that often defines the initial perception of these spaces. My experiences confirmed this, as both my cabins on Symphony and Wonder of the Seas measured less than 160 square feet. Despite their similar modest sizes, the internal layouts presented noticeable differences that impacted the overall feel and functionality of the space. For example, Symphony’s cabin boasted a nicely-sized couch, providing a comfortable extra seating area, whereas Wonder’s stateroom only featured one additional chair next to the vanity, making Symphony’s layout feel more accommodating.
Venturing beyond the Oasis Class, my stay on the older Enchantment of the Seas further highlighted the compact nature of these rooms, with its windowless inside stateroom spanning just 142 square feet. Upon entry, it was a small but clean space, reinforcing the efficiency-driven design common in budget accommodations. On Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, the cabin was described by some reviews as “tiny with miniature furniture which made it very claustrophobic,” though I was eager to see it for myself.
Intriguingly, the Queen Anne presented a different layout philosophy. Unlike the typical inside cabin where the bed is immediately visible upon entry, here the beds were “tucked around the corner,” creating a less conventional, yet potentially more private, arrangement. While the overall cabin size remained consistent with other inside rooms, this unique design prompted a consideration of its practical benefits or drawbacks, questioning why most cruise lines adhere to a more uniform, direct layout. Despite the compact nature, the bed configuration flexibility – allowing for twin beds or a joined large bed – proved crucial in optimizing the available floor space, a feature I utilized on all my cruises to suit my travel needs.
3. **Powering Your Adventure: Charging Options and Modern Amenities** In our increasingly connected world, the availability of charging options within a cruise cabin has become a surprisingly significant factor in overall guest satisfaction. This was a clear point of differentiation between the Royal Caribbean ships I experienced. My stateroom on Wonder of the Seas, being more recently updated, truly impressed with its modern charging solutions, most notably four bedside outlets that thoughtfully included both American and USB ports, conveniently built into the table lamp. This contrasted sharply with the interior cabin on Symphony, which, while offering a bedside charging option, provided only a singular American outlet integrated into the headboard.
Despite Symphony’s bedside lamps being affixed to the headboard, a design choice that effectively freed up nightstand space, the comprehensive built-in charging options on Wonder added an extra layer of convenience, particularly valuable when traveling with a partner and needing multiple devices powered simultaneously. However, neither cabin suffered from a shortage of outlets overall, with the majority located in the vanity area. Wonder of the Seas even boasted an extra European outlet, bringing its total charging options to an impressive eleven, compared to Symphony’s seven. This abundance is a marked improvement from older ships, such as the Vision of the Seas, where finding available outlets could be a genuine challenge.
Shifting to the older Enchantment of the Seas, I noted the absence of electricity ports near the bed, necessitating charging my phone at the outlet on the desk – a minor inconvenience but one that highlights the evolution of cabin design. Conversely, Cunard’s Queen Anne truly shined in this regard, a pleasant surprise given the general expectation for US or European sockets on most cruise ships. Queen Anne’s cabin featured UK plug sockets, USBs, and even the newer USB-A ports, making it remarkably convenient for charging various devices. The presence of a mini-bar fridge was typical, though Enchantment curiously lacked one, having an empty cabinet where it would normally be. However, Queen Anne’s inclusion of a kettle and biscuits provided a delightful touch, elevating the in-cabin experience with a simple, appreciated amenity.
4. **Mastering the Art of Storage: Closet Space and Drawer Solutions** Effective storage is paramount in the compact environment of a cruise cabin, especially for longer voyages or when traveling with multiple people. Across my stays on Wonder and Symphony of the Seas, the storage provisions were remarkably consistent. Both cabins came equipped with two closets and a dresser featuring five drawers, providing a solid foundation for organizing belongings. My solo trip on Symphony meant unpacking my small carry-on was a breeze, with ample space to comfortably settle in.
The true test of storage capacity came on Wonder, where I was sailing with my partner for a two-week trip, having packed accordingly. Initially, a slight worry about sufficient space lingered. However, these concerns proved unfounded, as the cabins offered more than enough room to accommodate all our things. The two closets provided generous hanging space for our clothes, and notably, we didn’t even need to request extra hangers, a common necessity on some cruises.
The dresser also served its purpose admirably, allowing us to neatly stow away everything from swimsuits to undergarments and essential personal items like medication. Vanity storage remained consistent on both ships, with a small shelf above the vanity proving ideal for keeping sunscreen, cosmetic bags, and sunglasses accessible and the main surface free of clutter. While the storage was generally ample for two, particularly on shorter trips, I could foresee space becoming a genuine challenge if three or four people were sharing a single interior room for an extended period, as cruise lines often prioritize overall space over excessive storage, which comes at a design cost. This reality was also evident on Enchantment of the Seas, where the closet featured six shelves and ample hangers, even offering enough floor space to store suitcases inside for the duration of the cruise. On Queen Anne, while sufficient for a four-night cruise for two, the thought of accommodating four people’s clothes for two weeks seemed daunting, despite the luxurious inclusion of fluffy bathrobes that occupied some valuable space.
5. **Navigating the Smallest Spaces: Bathroom Design and Functionality** Unless one is indulging in the expansive luxury of a lavish suite, cruise ship bathrooms are inherently designed with maximum functionality, rather than spacious comfort, as their primary objective. These compact spaces ingeniously pack in a toilet, a sink, and a standing shower. A welcome feature on the newer Symphony and Wonder of the Seas was the absence of clingy shower curtains; instead, both bathrooms boasted modern glass doors. This seemingly minor detail made a significant difference, effectively making the compact shower area feel more open and less confined.
Aesthetic differences were apparent between the two Royal Caribbean mega-ships. Symphony’s bathroom adopted a darker, more subdued tone, characterized by brown backsplash and floor tiles. In stark contrast, Wonder’s bathroom felt remarkably brighter, adorned with a calming blue floral backsplash pattern and lighter wood shelving, which I personally preferred. Beyond aesthetics, Wonder’s vanity design proved to be more efficient; it was wider and featured a gracefully curved sink, whereas Symphony’s vanity was noticeably narrower, with a rectangular sink somewhat tucked into a corner, making it less practical for daily use.
One significant distinction that impacted the daily experience was the shower pressure. While typically pleased with shower pressure on cruise ships, Symphony’s was a noticeable disappointment. Compounding this, I struggled with temperature regulation; getting the water to heat up in the mornings was nearly impossible, while in the evenings, the water often became scalding hot. Thankfully, these issues were absent on Wonder of the Seas, where the shower pressure was consistently amazing and the temperature remained stable regardless of the time of day. On the older Enchantment of the Seas, despite an “even smaller tube-shaped shower,” I appreciated its rounded glass door and the surprisingly strong, hot water pressure. The sink and toilet maintained high quality throughout the stay, and while counter space was lacking, the presence of multiple mirrors and ample cabinet space behind them proved useful. Cunard’s Queen Anne also impressed with a “really good size” shower and a well-designed bathroom that, while not the largest I’d encountered, functioned perfectly.
6. **The Unexpected Assignment: Locating Your Guarantee Cabin** Opting for a “guarantee rate” is a common strategy for saving money on cruise fares, but it comes with a trade-off: the cruise line, not the passenger, assigns the specific stateroom closer to the departure date. In my personal experience across multiple Royal Caribbean voyages, this often led to some unexpected cabin locations. On both Symphony and Wonder of the Seas, I somehow ended up with cabins situated at the very front of the ship. My stateroom on Symphony was particularly elusive, tucked away in what felt like a “secret” hallway, while my cabin on Wonder was positioned at the very end of the port side’s hallway, directly adjacent to a crew-only closet.
My guarantee cabin on Enchantment of the Seas placed me in a “very low position on the ship’s 11 decks,” specifically on Deck 2. While this location offered the convenience of being just two decks away from my Main Dining Room table on Deck 4, it also meant relying heavily on the elevator for nearly all other ship amenities and destinations. On Cunard’s Queen Anne, the guarantee booking also placed me on Deck 1, a deck I had never experienced so far down on a ship before, prompting initial uncertainty about its implications for accessibility and noise.
The specific positioning of these guarantee cabins had various practical consequences. Although both Wonder and Symphony cabins were at the front, I experienced significantly less movement on Wonder of the Seas, though this largely depends on external factors like weather and sea conditions. The proximity to the crew linen closet on Wonder, however, proved bothersome, as we were frequently awakened as early as 7:45 AM by crew members gathering for their morning shifts, with noise persisting into the afternoon. On Queen Anne, being on Deck 1 meant being directly under an area called the “Bright Lights Society,” which turned out to be the ship’s nightclub, raising potential noise concerns later identified during the cruise. Despite these varied placements, the cabins on Symphony (Deck 7) and Wonder (Deck 9) offered convenient proximity to Central Park, and Symphony’s Deck 7 was also just two decks away from the bustling Royal Promenade and one from the Boardwalk, minimizing elevator use for many popular spots.
