first time cruise - inside vs outside cabin

[Janeentj]

On our first cruise we did inside. The only bummer part was waking up and having *no* idea if it was 11:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., or 3:00 p.m. (We forgot a travel alarm!) We did turn on the TV for the ship-cam to at least see if the sun was shining.

[mromoff]

Okay - Picture this...

It's early morning and the ship is pulling into (insert favorite port here). Room service has just delivered coffee, orange juice and warm croissants with butter and jam. You have the room service attendant set the tray on your balcony. You tip the attendant [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img], he leaves. You return to the balcony in your comfortable Celebrity robe and enjoy the view, the coffee and the croissants. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I guess you could say I am pro-balcony. The rooms can be small and the balcony serves as our "Living Room" while on the ship.

Whatever you decide, it will be a great trip!

Mindi

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/boat.gif[/img]
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ffff&cdt=2004;12;4;23;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Constellation - Southern Caribbean

Infinity to Alaska 8-03 [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=147097554&m=8233026937"]Review[/url]
Millennium to Eastern Carribbean 11-02

[woodofpine]

Seriously... One of the finest cruise-economic nuggets I ever saw posted was the one, "Book the cheapest cabins on the best ships"...

You'll end up cruising more for it and like the hokey-pokey "that's what its all about!". [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

For a first cruise... you won't miss what you haven't had...

But - if you opt for an inside, try for one that is near the public areas so that you're not hiking very far to get external.

[Irishwhiskey]

We always start out booking an oceanview midship cabin and go from there depnding what price i can get for an upgrade or if the cruise line runs a special in the meantime.The difference from an iterior to an oceanveiw cabin can be $50.00 PP or more or if its a balcony as much as $500 PP,depending on which criuse line and how full the ship is.For $50.PP I would make the upgrade.We always take advantge of any deals that the cruise lines run prior to sailing.If you should have a good TA who can do the leg work for you by checking up every couple of weeks for changes make it all the better.

[leerobbs]

Unless you are claustrophobic don't waste your money, get the inside. I have done both and I would not pay any extra for a window! A balcony might be different, but that would be a great deal more money! You might look out that window 2 times a day for less than 20 seconds. What a waste of money!

Enchantment 11/00
Enchantment 01/02
Enchantment 11/02
Century 10/25/03

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;12;04;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
12/4/04 Century

[CelebrityMan]

Hulliday,

Preference, preference, preference. Most of the thread postings offer excellent input. Three things I would highlight:

1.) Only you know how claustrophobic you might feel,

2.) If you opt for Inside, try booking the highest grade stateroom and stay in close contact with your T.A. to see if they can get an upgrade to Outside for comparable money,

3.) Take a nightlight. The bow-camera idea works well, and we've used it on Mercury, but at night it doesn't provide enough light to get up and make your way safely to the bathroom.

Personally, I don't care for an Inside. I'm not claustrophobic anywhere but in an Inside stateroom. I didn't think it would bother me, but the one time we tried it we swore "never again!"

One reply mentioned feeling like they were in a cave. For me, that was accurate, and the feeling was very disorienting. I much prefer to be able to see out, to check weather, cruising speed, and see whatever scenery there is.

I, too, am a very social person and spend very little time in the stateroom. However, those early morning and late evening hours it's nice to at least be able to see outside.

Wishing you Godspeed and pleasant times on your Summit cruise. It's a GREAT ship. Have a ball!!!