Upgrading your cruise cabin is a difficult decision to make. Is it worth the extra money to have nicer accommodations? Well, it really depends on your personal preferences. Some travelers may find that the most basic cabins are fine for them. Others can’t stand them. Cabins can get pretty expensive depending on what kind you go for, so it’s important to understand what you’re getting into before upgrading.
The most basic – and the cheapest – cabin that cruise travelers will find is an inside room. These rooms are not only smaller than most others available, but they are also quite literally inside of the ship. That means that you have no view of the outside world. You have no windows, balconies, or anything like that. Next up is the oceanview cabin, which is very similar to the inside room aside from the fact that it’s located on the perimeter of the ship. This means that you can have a window. The next upgrade is an oceanview cabin with a balcony. The choices after this will depend on the cruise line, but they are just generally bigger, more luxurious, and have better views.
So the question remains: is upgrading from the inside room worth it? For many people, this decision relies on how much time you plan to spend in the room. If you are a traveler who spends the entire day out in the sun and exploring a location, having an inside room may not be a big deal. If you’re only sleeping in it, then you don’t need a view or fancy amenities.
If you’re on the cruise to relax, though, an inside room may be a poor choice. They are undoubtedly stuffier and smaller than all other options. It’s usually not fun to spend hours on end just hanging out in an inside room. Those who want to chill in their cabins might want to go with a more comfortable option.
Another factor to consider is whether you get motion sick or not. Having an inside cabin with no view of the horizon will make your nausea much worse. The last thing that you want is to be stuck feeling sick in a room that worsens your sickness.
Our final tip for deciding whether it is worth it or not to upgrade is to simply compare prices. The price of an upgrade differs for each cruise line, so you may find that you can snag a balcony room for a great deal. If it’s only a bit more money to have a great view, why not just go for it?
At the end of the day, upgrading your cabin is a very personal decision that hinges on your style of travel. For many people, the extra comfort is certainly worth the extra money. For others, the cabin is just a place to sleep. Think about how you like to cruise and make your decision based on that.
