Why You Should Book An Inside Room On A Cruise Ship

If you're planning a cruise — and especially if you've never been on one — you may be wondering if it's worth shelling out the money for a room with a view of the ocean or an interior courtyard. What you might not be considering, though, is a less expensive inside room. 

If you haven't been on a cruise before, an inside room is one that isn't on the outside edge of the ship, meaning it doesn't have a balcony or a window with an ocean view. They are likely to be smaller than outside rooms as well. However, none of these reasons should take inside rooms off your list of options. There are a handful of reasons you should choose one of these rooms that go far beyond the lower price, from how it affects your sleep to whether or not you're going to feel at your best while you're staying there. 

Obviously, the price tag is the main selling point for an inside room. There are good reasons why it's less expensive — after all, you're not going to have a balcony to sit on or a window to look out of. First-timers may want that balcony for the full experience, but cruises present plenty of activities to keep you out of your room for most of the trip — like shows, dinners, the gym, pools, shore excursions, and more. You may find yourself only stopping by the cabin to shower and sleep, so the balcony or window may not be worth the extra money in the end. 

The price difference can be pretty significant. At the time of writing, choosing an interior room on a Carnival Cruise Line seven-day trip from New Orleans through the Western Caribbean in June 2025 can save you over $400 compared to an ocean-view room and over $1,000 compared to a balcony room. That gives you more money to spend on shore, at the spa, or on other entertainment. Additionally, on a seven-day Holland America cruise from Seattle, Washington to Alaska in May 2025, you can save more than $500 with an inside room as opposed to an ocean-view room.

One cruiser on the r/Cruise subreddit explained why an interior room is their cabin of choice, writing: "I sail inside cabins to save money so I can cruise more often. I'm rarely in the room and when I have had a balcony, I used it for about 30 minutes the entire cruise. It's a waste of money to some folks like myself."

Do you want to experience the best sleep you've ever had? Book an interior room. With no windows, it can get completely dark, meaning you won't have to use blackout curtain hacks if you're a light sleeper. "I had the best sleep of my life in an interior cabin," Cruise Critic user CruiseGal999 wrote in a forum. "If I didn't have a wake up call and the phone rang, I would have slept through the entire day. There's nothing like it."

Another reason you may want to pick an inside room is because it's quiet. Balconies can be loud, whether they face the ocean or an inside courtyard — perfect if you enjoy getting away for a bit for some R&R. On the other hand, it may also encourage you to get out and join activities rather than lounging inside the cabin, away from the sea and sunshine.

There is an interesting compromise on some cruise ships that might give you the best of both worlds, though. Some Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line ships have large, wall-spanning LED screens that show a live feed from a balcony (pictured above), so you don't feel like you're that far away from the actual ocean.

There is a downside to picking an interior room that you'll want to consider: a higher risk of seasickness (and general motion sickness). Seasickness can happen because your inner ear detects the ship's movement, but your eyes don't if you're not looking at the horizon. If you feel ill and are in a windowless inside room, it may take you longer to adjust. However, you can help your chances of preventing seasickness by choosing a room on a lower deck and toward the center of the ship, as you're not going to experience as much movement as you may in other parts. 

It may be worth bringing motion sickness medication with you, like Dramamine or Bodine, just in case. Again, looking at the horizon can actually help, so you may be able to skip the medication during the day while you're out and about and take it in the evening before you go to bed.

"Inside cabins are hidden gems if they are on the right floor," explained Quora user Elizabeth Brooks on the forum A Cruise Ship/Vacation Journal. "For years, my family enjoyed an inside cabin on Princess that was yards away from dining room and casino. I recommend it highly if you can get on the lower decks and center." A room in the center of all the action, you say? Sign us up.