The 9 Best Cruise Ship Inside Cabins ..and 3 to Avoid

Table Of Content

• Both the inside cabin and extended balcony stateroom featured a spacious and modern walk-in shower.
• Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships
• Other interior attractions and activities
• Cruise employees cleaned the bathrooms and replenished our towel supplies every day.
• What is an Interior Upper/Lower Room?

If you want to put three people in a cabin, upgrade to a larger room. The cabin bathroom was a traditional size as other ships we’ve sailed, which is to say it is small but manageable. It features a counter, shelves for toiletries, a commode and standing shower. There was also a makeup mirror that folded in and out to save space. Around the ship, you’ll find spaces like Phantom Lounge and Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab, where you can see shows or dance the night away. When you’re ready to soak up the sun, find a lounge chair at the adults-only pool deck or splash down on one of the slides at WaterWorks.

Both the inside cabin and extended balcony stateroom featured a spacious and modern walk-in shower.

Updating the number of electrical outlets and adding USB ports to the cabins was not part of the 2013 renovation. For a general overview of the highlights and lowlights of inside cabin categories across mega-ship cruise lines, here are our picks for the eight best inside cabins -- and three you may very well want to avoid. While some insides are hardly more than dark closets with a bed and bath, others are downright spacious or have cool decor and nifty technological features. I enjoy weeklong sailings and extended cruises, but I love how a weekend cruise can be the perfect cure for wanderlust, as well as an economical way to sail with friends. But I've cruised on just about every major cruise line and have come to expect close quarters on a cruise ship.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

The takeaway here is that you'll have a tougher time locking down a balcony cabin on an older Carnival ship than on a newer vessel. If you're planning a cruise on one of the line's older vessels and a balcony cabin is a must, you'll want to book early to make sure you get one. At the time of publication, prices started from $374 per person for a four-night Bahamas sailing in an inside cabin (excluding taxes and fees). The ship's quieter adults-only Serenity Deck area was midship on decks 11 and 12 and overlooked the main pool area. Passengers 21-plus could take advantage of a plunge pool with a waterfall, a hot tub, a bar, and loungers and cabanas.

Other interior attractions and activities

That said, picking the right cabin can make a big difference in the enjoyment of your cruise. Even though most people spend a lot of time out and about on the ship and in port, your cabin is your home during your cruise. Are you thinking of booking an interior cabin on Carnival Horizon? Then you’ll want to know what to expect before you decide to purchase that room.

Each time I've sailed on Carnival Radiance, I have opted for an interior cabin. I've stayed in this room type both solo and with friends or a spouse, and I think it always has enough space for two people. Had I chosen an ocean-view or balcony cabin, I may have only added another 15 to 20 square feet to my room, and I don't think it would have been worth the extra cost. My interior cabin was just 185 square feet, but from past experiences in an interior room, I knew it would be enough space. Otherwise, deck three is occupied by the atrium bar and main dining room. With only a few rooms at the front of the ship, I knew this would be a low-traffic area and yet I would have quick elevator access to other areas of the ship.

Cruise employees cleaned the bathrooms and replenished our towel supplies every day.

Carnival Freedom's next two sailings canceled after funnel fire, second within 2 years - USA TODAY

Carnival Freedom's next two sailings canceled after funnel fire, second within 2 years.

Posted: Sun, 24 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

We found there to be plenty of storage between the shelves and counter, along with space in the shower to also store cosmetics. One of our inside cabin's biggest surprise was the bathroom; more particularly, we loved the surprisingly spacious and practical shower. The small ottoman could be used as even more storage if needed, although we mostly used it as spot to sit. The vanity was also where the obligatory stateroom telephone was located, which is much appreciated compared to older ships that have the phones taking up precious real estate on the nightstand. Both cabins featured a vanity with a large mirror that was illuminated with a bright ring light around the exterior, which is perfect for doing makeup or getting ready in the morning without using the bathroom. Having someone else onboard our Carnival Celebration afforded us the opportunity to see how their balcony stateroom compared to our inside cabin.

After all that action, and all those flavors, you’ll need some time to rest and recharge. On board Carnival Horizon, you’ll find some very special staterooms and suites that will have you feeling refreshed in no time. For even more pampering, you may want to opt for a Cloud 9 stateroom to enjoy exclusive room amenities and unlimited access to the spa’s Thermal Suites for no additional charge. Stay in one of these bliss-inducing rooms and you’ll also score priority spa reservations.

Each of our ships is a unique experience — check the features and find out which ship is right for you. Next time we cruise or go on a vacation, I'll consider booking separate rooms for adults and kids so everyone has their own private retreat. Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases. This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points on dining. In other words, if you are sailing seven-night cruises, you will be Gold level on your fourth sailing, as you will be passing the 25-day mark on that sailing.

It may sound fantastical, but the virtual tour will give you a sneak peek of what it will feel like to fly high above deck. With two to nine-day cruises from Tampa to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, Carnival Paradise literally takes cruisers to paradise islands. The ship brims with fun amenities like the WaterWorks splash zone and the relaxing Cloud 9 Spa. Think nightly dance parties in White Heat Dance Club, movies under the stars on the pool deck, and tacos from BlueIguana Cantina. The ship sails around the Bahamas, Caribbean, and more on two to 10-day itineraries.

Since I don't drink many alcoholic drinks and didn't buy a beverage package for this cruise, I brought a handful of soda cans with me and I was glad to be able to keep them cold in my own personal fridge. Your private stateroom is more than just a place to rest and recharge — see the comfy options available. However, the kids had no issues bringing their power strip into their cabin. If the idea of crew members dancing during your meal in dining rooms or rowdy karaoke parties makes you cringe, this isn't the line for you. However, if you're ready to let loose and be a little goofy, it may be a perfect choice.

One exception is the new Carnival Venezia, which has a darker (faux) wood finish to furniture in cabins that ties into the ship's Italy theme. Unlike some of its biggest competitors, Carnival isn't known for a huge range of cabin categories on its vessels. Although there's an official dress code for the evenings, it's pretty laid-back. Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which includes khakis or jeans, polo shirts and sundresses. Super casual clothing like cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts aren't permitted.

Since it's located just beyond the main pool on Deck 9 and beside the Lido Marketplace buffet area, I found it to be an ideal spot to retreat to when buffet area seating was limited. Guy's Burger Joint is a walk-up counter restaurant at the back of the pool area on the Lido Deck. My husband is a huge Guy's Burger fan, so that is always our first meal on embarkation day. Judging from the lines, the majority of Sunshine cruisers had the same idea. Even my special-order veggie burger took under five minutes to make (though it was my least favorite dish on the ship). Spa lovers can stay in one of the 92 Cloud 9 Spa cabins and three spa suites with direct access to the spa.

That's why we've got enough variety to satisfy any type of fun seeker. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world. You can also opt for extra-charge valet laundry and dry-cleaning service, which your cabin steward will handle for you.

When the extra bed isn’t made up, it is essentially a single room. Get all the comforts of home and then some, with absolutely none of the hassles. Or just spend time on your balcony — you’ve got one of our most spacious rooms. These comfy rooms with a view let you sail along to beautiful destinations while gazing at the sort of vistas you simply won't find anywhere on land. The most affordable way to experience all the Carnival excitement, without cutting corners on comfort. The Presidential Suites are among 180 suites you will find on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, the most ever for a Carnival ship.

Various treatments and therapies are available — from deep tissue and stone massages to acupuncture and other traditional Chinese techniques. Additionally, the spa offers hair and nail services, facials and medispa treatments. Club O2 is for the 15-to-17 set and offers a chance for older teens to hang out together, play sports and games, and interact during group activities. The modern atmosphere extended to Club 02 with a bold red and black pattern on the floor, sleek red chairs and metal accents. The pacing of our meal was perfect, and we didn't feel rushed through the courses.