Being cheap this cruise

[lbfluffy]

When my mom was alive we booked an inside. She did not like it, I was fine with it. But my husband and I have booked OV, but more often balcony. Love all the comments.

[shredie]

My goal is to stay in every kind of cabin there is on Princess. :D We always get a balcony when it's just DH and me, but when I did solo, I got nice OV obstructed that turned out to be not very obstructed at all. It was great. When we have kids with us, we do insides (because both of my daughters are convinced their children will fall overboard in the middle of the night.) I'm in an inside on this next cruise (5 days!) with one of the kids, and I don't mind it at all. I do the trick with turning the TV to the bridge cam, and then I know what's happening outside.

[PescadoAmarillo]

If cruising in an inside cabin is suffering, I hope to die a martyr. ;)

[Coveguy4]

I did an inside once about 30 yrs ago and again about 20 yrs ago, all other have been balconies,minis or suites. When I book the Royal or Regal I have decided to try an inside again (and unless I have to get a balcony like on my upcoming 10 day Baja in 2018 for the all inclusive,) I will try an OV.

[yvr49]

The last time we had an inside was on the Royal (or Regal, can't remember which one). The worst thing about it was that it was intended for 4 so had upper bunks folded up to the wall. Every time we got out of bed we banged our heads! The steward advised us to ask for a disabled cabin next time because they are larger but I wouldn't want to deprive a truly disabled person. Since that experience my husband refuses to have an inside, instead preferring some daylight. Me, I would rather save $$$ on the cabin and spend on wine or in the casino........as long as I didn't get one of those 4-person cabins again. :)

[53sunset]

When my mom was alive we booked an inside. She did not like it, I was fine with it. But my husband and I have booked OV, but more often balcony. Love all the comments.

 

When we book an inside on Princess we try to book Riviera aft so we're just a few steps from the back of the ship, the lovely adult only pool and fresh air. If we can't get one there we book on the Lido, that way you're just a few steps from open deck. Each ship's deck plan is different so you would want to check the deck plans first. Enjoy your cruise :)

[culvercitycruiser]

I really don't care what class of cabin I'm in when traveling solo. I have the whole bathroom and cabin all to myself which is wonderful! An inside is perfectly adequate. A balcony cabin is nice, but not a necessity. When DH travels, it's a very different thing. He has to have a balcony at the least or feels claustrophobic.

 

One thing about the Oceanview cabins - keep your curtains closed when you're not "presentable". I had crew members working on the lifeboats right outside my window for many hours. It was a bit shocking to look out and see them looking right in!

 

I can appreciate your husband's feelings. Our first cruise was an inside after my sister said you are never in there save the money. I had a huge panic attack in the middle of the night and needed to get some fresh air. I would have paid any amount of money to be in a balcony room but the ship was sold out. Every cruise since has been in a balcony. We do spend time in the room since we have a nice room.

Now my son is older and in college and I am doing my first solo at the end of this month. I have a nice Caribe deck balcony set up.

Edited September 4, 2016 by culvercitycruiser

[BritinSoCal]

We booked an inside cabin for our recent Regal Baltic cruise (it's inside or balconies on this ship) and to be honest we felt the extra cost couldn't be justified.

 

The only thing we missed was the natural daylight to wake up to. If there was a timer on the in room TV we could have woken up to the view from the bridge webcam as opposed to alarm clock, fumble for remote and check the view :)

 

We'll do it again. The money we saved basically covered our airfare and will allow us to cruise more often :D

[FlorenceItaly]

We booked an inside cabin for our recent Regal Baltic cruise (it's inside or balconies on this ship) and to be honest we felt the extra cost couldn't be justified.

 

The only thing we missed was the natural daylight to wake up to. If there was a timer on the in room TV we could have woken up to the view from the bridge webcam as opposed to alarm clock, fumble for remote and check the view :)

 

We'll do it again. The money we saved basically covered our airfare and will allow us to cruise more often :D

 

I appreciate your input. We are sailing on the Regal Christmas cruise and the only reason we booked balcony(BY guarantee) is because it was cheaper than an inside, an incredible rate. The rates have since climbed, but, currently, our balcony rate is still less expensive than the inside. We have mainly cruised insides or OV for years(various cruise lines), but, our cruise last month was a balcony(AQ, Celebrity Summit). It was our first balcony in years! Our cruise in October, is an inside(Celebrity Infinity), then Regal balcony, in December, balcony on Eclipse in January. It is all about the deal. On all these balconies the deal was incredible. If not, it would be best deal which is generally inside or OV.

[JF - retired RRT]

The last time we had an inside was on the Royal (or Regal, can't remember which one). The worst thing about it was that it was intended for 4 so had upper bunks folded up to the wall. Every time we got out of bed we banged our heads! I would rather save $$$ on the cabin and spend on wine or in the casino........as long as I didn't get one of those 4-person cabins again. :)

 

The way to prevent getting a "head banger" is to check out Cruise Critic's deck plans before you choose a cabin. If it has a red dot, don't pick it. Easy Peasy.

[Thrak]

Some balcony cabins are listed as accommodating 4 passengers. I can't see how these could be configured unless both of the "extra" berths were the type that recess into the ceiling. In that case they aren't an issue. Am I correct in assuming that only inside or OV cabins ever have the "head banger" beds mounted on the walls?

Edited September 4, 2016 by Thrak

[jefa]

You may call it "on the cheap" but I always book an inside, as it has meant I have been able to cruise more often (though not enough yet!).

 

My first cruise was a 30 day cruise in a cabin with a red dot. The bunks were on the wall but really didn't cause the two of us any problem. We did put them up one night to see quite how cramped it would have been for 4, and yes it would have been dreadful! We hardly noticed them when they were not made up.

 

If you need light, just leave the TV on, on the webcam, or leave the bathroom light on. We also got some light in, under the cabin door, so it was never pitch black.

[muggo11]

We like booking an inside and splurging on Sanctuary! Great sleeping and luxurious sea days.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Dachsie5]

If you book a Guarantee, chances are good you will get something better than what you booked.

Sorry if this has already been posted....

[joybook]

Our first 3 cruises were with a balcony, but then we decided to try an inside and have not changed. We just could not justify the extra cost when you consider how much time you spend in your cabin and on the balcony anyway. The experience did surprise me a little though as I am one who likes to have light around me, but it really has not been a problem and I cannot see us going back to balcony cabins. We have done a 31 day in an inside (among others) and are about to do a 35 day in an inside.:)

Edited September 4, 2016 by joybook
Correction

[jt58203]

Prior to our first cruise cruise, people told us that we must have a balcony. We did, and were hardly in cabin. What a waste!!!!

 

2nd cruise we travel with in-laws. Since they booked a balcony, so did we (why??? Again, hardly in the cabin).

 

3rd cruise, Panama Canal. I wanted to get an inside room, especially as insides were about 1/3 the cost of balconies. Again everyone was telling us--balcony a must! Turned out our balcony cabin was about 3 doors down from the bow which they opened up during the PC transit. Did we use our balcony--no!!!!

 

Fourth cruise wanted an inside but the promo was get an oceanview for the price of an inside.

 

Fifth cruise, got a balcony, last minute deal.

 

Sixth cruise, introduced a friend to cruising--had to book a balcony, LOL.

 

Seventh cruise---Ahhhhhh, our first inside and LOVED IT!!!!

 

Eighth cruise. Booked an inside way in advance, but due to price drops & upsell offer we got a vista suite for $2 less than the inside we originally booked!

 

Ninth cruise coming up in October. Regal--booked an IA inside about 13 months ago. The ship is nearly full, doubt if there'll be an upsell. Fingers crossed that we get to keep our inside.

 

Tenth cruise will be in January. A group of five ladies (two cabins) with 3 first timers. Not buying the first timer needing a balcony story. Booked an inside. It's a 4 nighter without sea days. Will see what happens.

[Tina G]

We have cruise in most of the cabin categories. My only wish, with the inside cabin, is that it be close to an outside deck, so I have a place to calm down when I can't stand my husband in that small space for ONE MORE MINUTE! Grrrr!

[Times Prince]

I would still be always booking insides if not for a sad little plea from my DH for some natural light in the cabin. :)

I agree with your DH and also think that some natural fresh air helps greatly.

[GUT2407]

I would still be always booking insides if not for a sad little plea from my DH for some natural light in the cabin. :)

 

The lack of natural light coupled with claustrophobia would just about kill me.

[easyboy]

I find no problem having an inside cabin.

[bulldog on water]

someone suggested, awhile ago, that for their inside room they turn the tv on to the deck view channel, turn down the volume and leave it on all nite.

 

that is your open window to the world outside.

[Loreni]

I can't sleep well with the TV on, too much blue light.

 

As I mentioned, we have not noticed much of a relationship between cabin catagory and our cruise enjoyment, but I should clarify that some of the reason may be because of certain decisions Princess has made.

 

For example, when we started cruising on Princess, smoking was allowed on the balconies. The consequence was that we often could not use the balcony at all...certainly enjoying fresh sea air was rarely an option as some whif of smoke was nearly always present. The time we had a chain smoker next door was the last straw: I decided to try Celebrity.

 

But, then Princess banned balcony smoking, so we gave them another chance. Unfortunately, Princess next decided that we do not deserve comfortable balcony furniture. We tried repeatedly to use rolled towels and cushions to make the chairs tolerable...then we gave up. At this point, we felt foolish paying for balcony or mini suite cabins. Again, I was ready to try Celebrity, but DH wants to use our black card once before we switch, so our next cruise is in an OV.

 

Then we will try Celebrity in a balcony, probably to Bermuda from NJ. I still don't expect to find a linear relationship between the price of our cabin and the amount of enjoyment we get. But the incremental improvement might still be worth it. Right now it isn't on Princess. And I doubt the contstantly eroding elite benefits will be much of factor in which cruise line we choose in the future...but I guess we won't know for sure until we try the Delux Canapes.

Edited September 5, 2016 by Loreni

[davekathy]

QUOTE=lbfluffy;50961227]First time in over 20 years we booked an inside cabin. We've been to the Mexican Riviera quite a bit so we opted to purchase the least expensive guarantee. We are saving for our Hawaii land vacation next year. This should be interesting. Still waiting on cabin assignment.

 

I don't equate booking an inside cabin as being cheap. I only say this based on the title of this thread you started. If you consider yourself cheap for booking an inside cabin that your opinion. When we have ever booked an inside cabin we don't consider ourselves to be cheap. I guess to each their own.

[JF - retired RRT]

But I guess we won't know for sure until we try the Deluxe Canapes.

 

Oh No!! :eek: Don't let the canapès be your decision maker.

[Loreni]

[quote=davekathy;50971347

I don't equate booking an inside cabin as being cheap.

 

Nor do I. Unless you are pretty sure you will run out of time before you run out of money, I think booking an inside or OV (especially on Princess) can be a smart move.

 

I really believe Princess does not want us on our balconies, hence the nasty furniture. Look at their newest ships, the Royal/Regal. The balconies couldn't possibly be any smaller. It gives the marketing department a selling point, but in reality few will be able to tolerate much time on these balconies. No chance for two people to stretch their legs out. One person can't put his legs out and still face the sea. It would be cost prohibitive to retrofit the older ships with tiny balconies. But the next best thing is to remove the comfortable furniture. This isn't even a subtle move; it seems transparent and offensive.

 

Notice the mini-suites, even the ones with larger balconies, they now have less furniture. Notice it is not easy to put your feet up and lounge or to have a decent size table and...maybe read a book, maybe fall asleep, maybe order some free room service, or enjoy your free elite tea service. Princess would rather have you out of your cabin and spending money.

 

So if Princess doesn't want you on the balcony, give them what they want: don't book one. Whether or not you then decide to increase your onboard spending is up to you.