Bargain, Not Basic: Best Cruise Ship Inside Cabins

June 23, 2016 6:51 pm Published by nelson 8,045 Comments

Inside cabins do not have views but do offer an affordable place to sleep, shower and change your clothes during your cruise. They’re perfect for passengers who plan to take full advantage of activity options, families on a budget and those who prefer not to have warm sunlight streaming into their stateroom.

Sizes vary from tiny to spacious. We’ve personally experienced the four people crammed into a small inside, with the kids on upper bunks that pulled down from the ceiling, and though it was tight it worked as a family bonding experience. Spa-lovers and solo travelers may want to go with insides that come with special amenities geared toward them. On select ships you can even book inside connecting cabins for more space.

Here are the best inside cabins.

Family interior stateroom, Freedom-class ships: On Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class ships, two family interior staterooms on Deck 2 sleep up to six in a suite-sized, 324-square-foot space outfitted with twin beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, a sofa bed and two upper Pullman-style bunk beds.

Magical Porthole, Disney Cruise Line: These interior staterooms on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy were the first to debut virtual views (through “portholes” you see a live feed of the ocean with occasional appearances by Disney characters). All Disney cabins have family-friendly features including a heavy curtain to separate sleeping areas. Deluxe inside cabins are 204 square feet and have 1 ½ baths and a sofa bed (and sometimes an upper, pull-down berth). Even standard insides have a shower and bathtub and sleep up to four.

Insides, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder: Designed with families in mind, the standard inside on these ships is a generous 184 square feet. Deluxe insides, with 1 ½ baths, are 214 square feet. All sleep up to four and have bathtubs.

Standard insides, Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival’s inside cabins are the same size as the line’s ocean-view cabins, 185 square feet (even balcony cabins are the same size if you take away the balcony). Spa inside cabins on select ships are located near the Cloud 9 Spa, feature a special spa decor and come with free access to spa facilities.

The Studios, Norwegian Cruise Line: On the latest Norwegian ships including the Norwegian Escape, which debuts this fall, these cutting-edge cabins are a tiny 100 square feet but creatively designed and priced for solo travelers. Portholes offer views into an interior hall, and passengers in The Studios get exclusive opportunity to mingle in the hip Studio Lounge with bar.

Insides, Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice-class ships: Interior cabins on these ships are 183 to 200 square feet, have a sitting area and sleep up to four (on a sofa bed or an upper Pullman-style bunk bed). Like the rest of the passengers on the ship, you rest your head on custom bedding and 100% Egyptian cotton sheets.

Interior staterooms, Oceania Cruises’ Marina and Riviera: These upscale ships have 174-square-foot interiors done up with such niceties as marble and granite-clad bathrooms. Amenities include a complimentary mini-bar with free soft drinks and bottled water, Bulgari bath products and a Belgian chocolate on your pillow at turndown.

Spa insides, Costa Cruises: Costa originated the concept of a destination spa experience at sea and while these inside cabins on select ships are a tiny 149 square feet, if you book a spa cabin you get extraordinary perks including two treatments at the Samsara Spa, access to the spa’s thermal suite and dining at a healthy spa restaurant.

Virtual balcony insides, Anthem of the Seas: When Royal Caribbean’s latest ship debuts in the New York market this fall (it’s currently in Europe), passengers can book these unusual inside staterooms outfitted with a floor-to-ceiling, high-definition screen showing real-time views of the ocean and destinations (if the virtual views make you dizzy you can close the curtain). The larger cabins in this category are 178 square feet and sleep three (one on a sofa bed); some of the interior cabins connect.

Insides, Holland America Line: Inside cabins on the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, as well as on the Westerdam and other Vista-class ships, offer a wide ranges of sizes but include nicely designed large interiors that are a 200 square feet, and sleep up to four.

Article Written By Fran Golden
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