Cruise cabin-inside or balcony?

[ronandannette]

I'd love to hear the pros and cons of both. I've never been on a cruise, but am hoping to by 2025. For those Disers who have been on one or more (not necessarily a Disney cruise), please tell me the pros and cons of a balcony and inside room, or Oceanview. My DS is 4, so I don't think I'd feel comfortable getting a balcony room until he's much older. I'd be ok with an inside room ,as long as it's less than 7 days. When DH and I go on an Alaskan cruise for our 25th anniversary in 4 years, we'll be getting a balcony room. But I'm hoping to go on a cruise with my family before then. I just want to explore all options.

I agree with the major point that’s been made here; the pro of an inside is the economy. Unless you’re claustrophobic and have a dread of the entire idea, I’d really recommend an inside for your first cruise, if price is at all a factor. Use it as a reasonably-priced opportunity to see if you even like cruising; not everybody does. Get out on-board and take in all the entertainment and activities that appeal to you. Think of the ship itself as your “hotel”, not just the cabin.

Here’s a little tip if you choose Carnival: Aim to book a Category 4J cabin if the ship has that category. They are full forward, have huge wrap-around windows overlooking the deck outside and are located right beside doors leading directly onto it. They are priced like regular insides and we’d take one again, as an alternative to a balcony, in a heartbeat.

Carnival ~

• All staterooms and suite accommodations, including outside balconies, are NON-SMOKING. This policy applies to all forms of smoking, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaporizers, electronic cigarettes and marijuana.

I would have been filing complaints until it was stopped unless they wanted to credit me for my inability to use my balcony.

Stand down...the poster said it was years ago, when smoking was allowed on balconies, which it was on every cruise line. She asked if it still is, which it is not. As cruising smokers, when it was, we did, and now that it’s not, we don’t. There are plenty of designated smoking areas on deck. I don’t doubt that it happens, but in the past 10 or so years, I don’t remember ever noticing illicit smoking on any balcony near us.

 

[kdonnel]

Do they still allow smoking on the balconies?

Of the major cruise lines only Costa and Fred Olsen permit smoking on your balcony.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/smoking-on-cruise-ships-what-to-expect

However, there will always be people who do not follow the rules and the cruise lines tend to not be as helpful as you might want in stopping rule breaking behavior.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Beyond price--obviously, a big factor--I think a lot of the choice of inside/balcony comes down to personality and vacation style. We're mostly introverts, and we need our own space. I think of it like going to WDW--some people stay at a value resort, using it mainly to sleep, and wring every second of fun out of the parks. Other people, like us, prefer to stay off-site in a house rental, with lots of room and a private pool. Neither way is wrong, they're just different. My family would be miserable in an on-site value room, and I suspect others would be miserable off-site, even in a pleasant house.

 

[lucas]

Hello there Disneyland1084 - haven't "seen" you in a long time!!

We've been cruising for many years - see my signature below. In the old days, we always stayed in an inside cabin. But, for us in this stage of our lives - never again in an inside. Too small, too dark and too depressing. We actually prefer an ocean view cabin. If we can't get an ocean view, a balcony is our second choice. But, the main thing no matter what category we book... we will not book a connecting room. The noise just travels thru the connecting door too much. We have had past experiences of loud neighbors and it is just not worth taking the chance. It is too much money to let it be ruined by noisy neighbors, crying kids, etc. And, from past experience - we never book a guaranteed room where the cruise line assigns the cabin. As we say - a guaranteed room is a guarantee to be in a bad location. We have been assigned connecting cabins, a cabin under the treadmills (Princess), and a handicapped (not needed!) cabin that also backed/shared a wall with the elevators (thanks to DCL for that one - and being Platinum didn't make any difference in the assignment). Hope that makes sense and helps.

 

[DL55]

Whether you choose inside, ocean view or balcony try to get one that is positioned with cabins above and below you. I have heard that under the pool you can hear chairs being dragged as they set up in the morning. Also sounds from the entertainment level can be loud.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Whether you choose inside, ocean view or balcony try to get one that is positioned with cabins above and below you. I have heard that under the pool you can hear chairs being dragged as they set up in the morning. Also sounds from the entertainment level can be loud.

That's a good thing to think about. I've heard about this on a few YouTube videos. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Get a balcony, unless you’re a god awful parent, your son would be very safe on a balcony. It’s also a great adult area to escape to when the kids are sleeping.