Anyone tried inside cabins on luxury cruise lines? How was it?

Hi everyone! My wife and I usually book a balcony or Aqua Class cabin on Celebrity, but I’m thinking about trying something different. I’ve seen some itineraries (7–10 days) on Azamara, Oceania, Seabourn, Silversea, etc., that cost about the same as Celebrity ($2,500–$4,000 per person). The catch is they’re inside or window cabins instead of balconies.

For those of you who’ve gone this route, would you say the overall cruise experience makes up for not having a balcony? Would love to hear your thoughts or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!

This is what the original post said:

Hi everyone! My wife and I usually book a balcony or Aqua Class cabin on Celebrity, but I’m thinking about trying something different. I’ve seen some itineraries (7–10 days) on Azamara, Oceania, Seabourn, Silversea, etc., that cost about the same as Celebrity ($2,500–$4,000 per person). The catch is they’re inside or window cabins instead of balconies.

For those of you who’ve gone this route, would you say the overall cruise experience makes up for not having a balcony? Would love to hear your thoughts or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!

I’d pick a better cruise line with a less fancy cabin any day. We’ve done that recently and loved it.

Nico said:
I’d pick a better cruise line with a less fancy cabin any day. We’ve done that recently and loved it.

Good to hear! Which lines have you tried recently with lower-tier cabins?

@Shan
Last fall, we sailed with Cunard in a standard balcony cabin, and it was great. This summer, we’re trying MSC in Northern Europe. Since it’s cheaper, we booked a Premium Aurea Suite with a whirlpool on the balcony.

@Nico
You’d probably have a better experience in a cheaper Yacht Club cabin. We’ve even done an inside Yacht Club cabin on MSC. Spent most of our time in the lounge with other guests.

We booked an ocean-view cabin on an Emerald yacht for a similar reason – to try a premium line at a reasonable price. The window was big, but the room was smaller than balcony ones. No comfy seating and little storage. That’s why we’d skip ocean-view next time, but it wasn’t about the balcony itself—just room size and storage.

Luxury ships don’t have interior staterooms.

I’ve paid for a balcony before, but I barely used it. Last cruise, I went solo in an inside cabin with Norwegian. They made the room feel more open with a fake window and a live view on the TV. Saved money and spent it on tours instead.

Most luxury lines don’t have interior cabins. You’d usually find windows on lower decks, but verandahs are the standard.

Inside Yacht Club cabins on MSC are a hidden gem. Great value!

Keir said:
Inside Yacht Club cabins on MSC are a hidden gem. Great value!

Agree 100%. We booked an inside Yacht Club cabin after a disappointing MSC experience, and it was surprisingly nice. Didn’t miss the balcony much since we hung out in the lounge most of the time. Felt like a river cruise vibe.

If you’re over 50, Viking is a great option since all their cabins have balconies.

Ren said:
If you’re over 50, Viking is a great option since all their cabins have balconies.

What about if you’re 48 or 49?

Galen said:

Ren said:
If you’re over 50, Viking is a great option since all their cabins have balconies.

What about if you’re 48 or 49?

Wait a year!

Galen said:

Ren said:
If you’re over 50, Viking is a great option since all their cabins have balconies.

What about if you’re 48 or 49?

You can still go if you’re 18+, but people might give you some looks if you’re younger.

Galen said:

Ren said:
If you’re over 50, Viking is a great option since all their cabins have balconies.

What about if you’re 48 or 49?

You’d probably be the youngest person there.

We had an ocean-view cabin on Oceania Marina with a big window. It worked well for our three-week trip.