Inside Staterooms and Claustraphobia

[Plaid Princess]

Ok... I'm looking for some opinions here.

DH and I are hoping to take a short cruise between now and our TA cruise next year, and I'd love to bring mom along. However, to bring mom, economically we'd need to do an Inside stateroom as we'd need to cruise in the high season (mom is a teacher).

Here's the kicker: my mom is extremely Claustrophobic. This is something that I can in no way relate to, so I really don't know how best to describe the stateroom to make her feel comfortable.

Any Cruisers out there with extreme Claustrophobia who have cruised in an Inside Stateroom? Did you do fine with it? End up sleeping in a lounger on the deck?

Any insite would be appreciated!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I avoid inside rooms for that very reason. Best book a verandah room, the inside rooms will make claustrophobic people far worse.

 

[bumbershoot]

What does she usually need in a hotel room?

It's a hotel room with a very small window-like thing on one end. The "magic" porthole shows views of the outside, so while it isn't a window, it does show the outside.

 

[bethy]

I can't think of many worse places for a claustrophobic person. My guess is the ship itself will be hard enough to handle for her in that regard.

 

[jerseygal]

I also got a verandah room and it was fine! I could not deal with an inside room.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The "magic" porthole shows views of the outside

Reminder - the magic portholes are only on the Dream and Fantasy inside rooms. Not the Magic or Wonder.

We typically book an Oceanview room, because I prefer having a window. But we did book an inside on our Dream cruise last year. I figured I could handle it for that short a cruise, and I wanted to experience the magic porthole. I would think that anyone who has claustrophobia would have some real issues with an inside room.

 

[squirrel]

I would go for a porthole at least. I found deck 2 on the classic ships fine. Window is large enough and if you book certain rooms in the forward part your room could be approx. 2 feet larger. We are in 2504, which has the most space along with 2004.

 

[mom2mizmous]

I would go for a porthole at least. I found deck 2 on the classic ships fine. Window is large enough and if you book certain rooms in the forward part your room could be approx. 2 feet larger. We are in 2504, which has the most space along with 2004.

I agree! I am not generally claustrophobic , but felt uncomfortable in an inside cabin on the Dream- the magic pothole just wasn't the same as a real window. I do think a window- any size would be enough. One thing we hated about inside the two times we tried them (one on RCCL recently) is that you lose your sense of time without natural sunlight. Could be just us though. PS I feel for you guys sailing on a teacher's schedule - I am also a teacher and can only sail at the most expensive, crowded times of the year too!

 

[professorandmom]

At $100 per person per day, my daughter and I couldn't pass up an inside cabin on the Wonder last December...we've never done an inside before but heck - we were on the ship right? Well, not only did I get up in the morning and go right up on deck, I felt like the cabin never was bright enough. Even with all the lights on, it seemed dim...I wouldn't do an inside ever again - even to be on the ship but that is my experience...certainly lots of people love the inside cabins
Now maybe with the Wonder cabin revamp, the lighting has improved...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I felt like the cabin never was bright enough. Even with all the lights on, it seemed dim

That's how I felt, also, in the inside room on the Dream. And that was with the magic porthole. Yes, it "looks" like a window, but it doesn't give out light like a window would.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I avoid inside rooms for that very reason. Best book a verandah room, the inside rooms will make claustrophobic people far worse.

The OP said that is out of her budget.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I am not that claustrophobic, but maybe the magic portholes would help if you chose to sail on the Dream. Also, see if she has any breaks that are specific to her school or state but not nationwide breaks. For instance, some schools have a fall break that is not attached to a holiday, and so you might find some good rates on an oceanview then. We got a very good rate (inside stateroom, but there were good prices on outsides too) during a break like that a couple of years ago.

 

[Julylady]

My Mom is very claustrophobic and refuses to stay in an inside room. She won't even stay in a porthole room! She needs to be able to go outside and be in fresh air whenever she wants.Two years ago we did the RCCL Allure in a Central Park balcony. I figured it would be okay since technically it's outside and you can see the sky. No good. We got through the week, but never again!

I know you said a veranda or porthole room is over your budget, but maybe you could scrimp somewhere else? Maybe cut down on excursions? No bingo? Limited alcohol?

 

[Pooh2]

I am claustrophobic and just booked our first cruise in a veranda room.
Just the thought of an inside room made me feel ill at ease so it was splurge or not go.
Google photos and youtube videos online of inside stateroom in the category that you are considering with your mom and let her decide if it's doable.

 

[MunFam]

I am extremely claustrophobic. I don't like riding in closed elevators. I remember specifically thinking...thank GOD we upgraded to a porthole room for our WBPC cruise. I could not shower or use the toilet with the door closed either. The rooms were sooo small. If we pulled the curtains during the day, it felt like the walls closed in on me.

I had previously cruised in a verandah on another cruise line and personally did not see the point for the added cost, but that window (we had one large) was SO worth it. I spent most of my time on deck, outside anyways...

 

[bethy]

I am not very claustrophobic - only a little bit. But I would rather not cruise at all than sleep in a cabin with no access to the outside and to fresh air. A porthole would barely help me at all.

I'm not saying that the same will be the case for her but since you say she is "very" claustrophobic then a porthole might not even be enough.

My MIL is very claustrophobic and she would never even get on a cruise ship for that reason. She's scared of elevators, etc too.

 

[Ofinn]

We had a porthole room for the first time this year. I missed the verandah at first, but I overcame it. I haven't tried an inside room. I have a feeling I wouldn't like it, but if it was all I could afford(which will probably be the case if we cruise DCL in Europe) I would make the best of it. I would rather be on a cruise in an inside room than not on a cruise at all.

 

[mareed]

I think a bigger issue is whether you're planning for all 3 of you to be in the same cabin, or getting a separate cabin for you Mom and paying the single supplement, which is essentially 200%. There's no way I'd sail in any inside or even a regular verandah cabin with 3 adults, but I'm sure some people do. I do agree with others that with severe claustrophobia, and inside cabin is probably not a good idea, though most of my Disney cruises have been inside (with 2 people in cabin) and I'm perfectly fine with that. I keep my house pretty dim and never open blinds for natural light, so the Wonder's inside cabin lighting was great for me!

 

[lbus42]

A cruise may be out of the question if she is that claustrophobic. An inside stateroom is not the only place where there are no windows. There are long corridors which may seem like an endless MRI chamber to her. Also much of the entertainment i.e. lounges, theaters, shows, and even dining rooms have no views to the outside. Also since part of claustrophobia concerns the fear of being trapped, she may have fears of the ship itself, of having no where to go in the event of an emergency but to another part of the same dis-stressed ship.

 

[llachance]

I am very claustrophobic and manage to make inside cabins work so that I can cruise more often. Lots of time out of the cabin. I do love the magic portholes and leave them on looking outside. Obviously not an option on the small ships.