cruise question

Is an inside stateroom really bad?

We're going to do the Norwegian Gem's Mediterranean cruise in July (YAY)... and I want to know if it's worth it to spend $800 for an outside stateroom... I've never been on a cruise before...what are the disadvantages to inside stateroom, besides no window?

Re: cruise question

It's not REALLY bad, there's just no light and obviously no way to see outside from in your room. The staterooms on a cruise are REALLY small, so if you are claustrophobic, you might wish you had a window. Other than that, I honestly don't understand the point of getting a room with just a window. How much do you really get out of it? We usually get a balcony. But if that wasn't an option, I'd rather save the money and get an inside stateroom. I'm kind of an all-or-nothing type personality though. It might be kind of annoying to wake up in the morning and have absolutely no idea what time of day it is because it's always super dark when the lights are off, but that's also the upside, at least for me—between that and the rocking of the ship, I sleep like a baby!

ETA: 800 for a balcony is worth it. For just a window, it's not!

Message edited 1/19/2008 12:54:13 AM.

Re: cruise question

I always stay in an inside stateroom. It has never bothered me, you are hardly ever in the room. I usually rather spend more money on a better cruise then the actual room. I think you will be fine!

So by outside, you been just a window, not balcony. If it is just a window, the extra money is not worth it to me. I say this because, the rooms with the windows are usually on the bottom of the ship. I rather be on a higher deck in an inside stateroom. I hate being on a low deck. If it is $800 for a balcony, then go for it. That is not a bad price at all.

Message edited 1/19/2008 1:00:25 AM.

Re: cruise question

I had no problem with it at all. I really spent almost no time in it. I guess it depends on how much of a joiner you are. If you are going to pack your day full.. then get the inside one. But if you are not... then get a balcony. I did get very sea sick, and I don't get sea sick, In an inside one but ther was a storm and seriously half the boat was puking. I don't know that my room would have made a difference. My wine was sloshing in its glass at dinner. The inside rooms are SOOO small.. So Like I said .. how much time do you plan to spend in it?

Re: cruise question

first of all- i'm jealous!! LOL i'm DYING to take a mediterranian cruise.. we're actually looking into it for july, too!
anyway- i've only been on one cruise and we had an inside stateroom. it didn't make a difference to me. we went with a couple friends and were hardly ever in the room. i think if it was for a special occasion like a honeymoon or big anniversary, i would splurge for the balcony or window.... but for just a vacation, i would save the money and use it to pay for some on-shore excursions and tours you might want to do... have fun!!!

Re: cruise question

I just realized you are going on a Mediterranean cruise the same time I'm going on one. Different boats though. Where does the cruise go and when is it?

Re: cruise question

I personally prefer balcony suites when going on cruises. They are a bit more pricey, but I can't stomach not being able to get fresh air while in the room.

A cruise is a cruise though! HAVE FUN!!!

Re: cruise question

We went on a Med cruise and had a balcony and I can't imagine not having it. Besides making the room feel so much bigger, we loved sitting out there at the end of the day or when we got up in the morning. We got to see the ports as we arrived and were able to tell what the weather was like

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For me, this would probably be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'd be on vacation. I'd rather just spend the extra $$$$.

Re: cruise question

we cruised a lot as a family. If its your very first cruise, an inside cabin is fine, but once you go outside (ie get a window/balcony), you'll never be able to go back.

Re: cruise question

I always stay in an inside cabin. We only use the room for sleeping so it doesn't matter to us. We did a Med. cruise in June of 2006 and we were never in the room. It was a very active vacation. The only positive I feel like we were missing out on is you can eat breakfast on your balcony instead of the public areas... but we would rather spend that extra money on excursions.

Re: cruise question

No not bad at all.

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I prefer the Balcony, but I am claustrophobic. I once got locked in a bathroom on a cruise. If the balcony is a lot of $$ , how about an obstructed view with a window.

Re: cruise question

I like the inside stateroom. There is no window, but you really don't spend too much time in your stateroom. You only go there to shower, sleep and get dressed.

I love that it is so dark. It helps me sleep.

My only advice would be to bring a glow in the dark travel clock because it will be so dark that you will have no idea what time it is when you wake up.

Re: cruise question

We did balcony for our honeymoon and it was simply amazing. You get to sit out there and watch going into ports or at a long day you can relax. Our cruise was filled with senior citizens so we really took advantage.

Then, we went on a second honeymoon to Bermuda last year but did an inside ... it was fine! If you have one, you will be less likely to "hang out" but that can be good too because you are out and about.

I would do either again but I wouldn't spend $800 on just a window.

Re: cruise question

If I was going on a short cruise I'd say that an inside stateroom was ok. However on anything longer than a week I would only stay in an outside stateroom. The staterooms are small enough as it is but the outside ones are larger. The inside staterooms are very cramped and dark.

Re: cruise question

We have been on 2 cruises and both with windows. This one with the kids, to save money, we are getting an inside.
You really do not stay in your room that much so I don't see the reason to spend the extra money IF you don't have it.

Re: cruise question

I"ve been on a ton of cruises all with balconies except one time, I had the window. I hated it. I would NEVER get a window rrom again. Some people say that you don't spend a lot of time in the room, but I'm not so sure if that is true. Sometimes, you like to go back to the room to relax. When my dh would like to rest in the room, I'd sit in my bathing suit on the balcony. It just adds to your room...it's totally worth it.

I would also get a balcony if I was taking the cruise that you're going on. Standing on your balcony looking at the sights...

I hope I talked you into it....

I just re-read your post and I saw that it's only $800 for a balcony...that is an awesome price!!! I usually spend that when we go to the caribbean.

Message edited 1/19/2008 9:57:21 AM.

Re: cruise question

it is totally fine...u are just in there to sleep shower and get dressed....

didnt bother us one bit

Re: cruise question

i have only been on NCL cruises... the first one we had an inside room- it was fine... but on our most recent cruise to Alaska we splurged for the balcony- it was worth EVERY penny! I dont think we would have enjoyed the trip half as much with out it... im not sure we will ever people to go back to an inside room...

Re: cruise question

I prefer balcony cabins. I've been in an inside cabin and felt completely claustephobic. I had no idea what time it was, where I was or anything. I couldnt sleep and I know you're not in the room for a long time, but I felt completely cramped.

We got a balcony on our last cruise and it was awesome. Every morning i woke up and would sit on the balcony to read or just relax. I had a cake sent to our room and we would sit and eat our cake on the balcony.

When we cruise in the future we're getting a balcony

Re: cruise question

I never stayed in an insided room and I have never had a balcony - just a window. I think having some natural light is really nice and it gives you the opportunity to see where you are if you just want to hang in the room for a while. I personally don't think a balcony is worth 800

Re: cruise question

When we went to Alaska in 2005, DH and I had an inside stateroom (RCL Sernade of the Seas) we didn't mind because actually slept amazingly well in it because it was so dark

But we also traveled with my parents who had a balconey, my aunts and uncles who had the rooms at the back of the ship (AMAZING!) so we had access to a balconey the whole time.

We just came back from a cruise and we had a window (RCL Navigator) and I didn't really see much difference actually. And we had the same situation as the last cruise as well.

Have fun! My parents are doing a Baltic cruise this summer and I am SO jealous

Re: cruise question

for a Med. cruise, I would definitely swing for the balcony. the views are amazing!

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Let me clarify.... It's $800 for an "oceanview stateroom"... it's $1800 for a balcony... big difference! ha... if it were 800 for the balcony, I would do it... but just for a window, not so sure it matters... especially a porthole -- do you really see anything out of it?? besides that it's a rainy or sunny day??

thanks for all the posts, guys!

And for Allison, it's a Norwegian Gem cruise leaving from Barcelona -- stopping at Nice, Florence, Rome, Napes, and some place else I can't remember...