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.
Check out these free cruise printables
Caribbean cruise packing list
Alaska cruise packing list
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
