My First Ever Cruise And I Chose An Inside Cabin – Was I Wrong?

This is a guest post from a friend who recently took their first ever cruise – enjoy!

I’m someone who likes space. I don’t get claustrophobic when I’m somewhere cramped, but I definitely get more grumpy when I’m feeling penned in.

Being a larger gent who is quite clumsy definitely contributes to that.

So booking an inside cabin for my first ever cruise was an interesting decision, because they aren’t the most sweeping of stateroom options.

Was it a terrible idea?

Some Context – I Didn’t Make The Decision Blindly

It’s important to quickly give you a bit of my background, because this plays a part.

I might have been on my first proper cruise, but it wasn’t my first time on a cruise ship.

I’ve been working in travel for around 15 years, on and off. So I’m familiar with cruising in general. And because of that, I’ve been lucky enough to be invited on some ship tours – day trips where we’d get a tour of a ship, some lunch, and then kicked off before the actual cruise guests get settled in.

But I had never seen an Inside Cabin in person. Understandable, really – it’s not the cabin they want to show off during a ship tour!

So while I’d seen photos and deck plans, and I knew sort of what to expect from an Inside Cabin, I’d never really understood the size of them until my first cruise on Independence of the Seas.

Booking the Inside Cabin wasn’t one made completely blind to what they were – but I was still in for a bit of a surprise once I stepped inside.

First Impressions – Not Great!

I’ll be honest: walking into the room for the first time, I had a brief “uh oh” moment. We’d just come from the excitement of exploring the ship – the massive Royal Promenade, the pool deck, the Windjammer buffet – and then opened the door to something almost like a cocoon.

Within two strides I’d crossed the entire space. With both suitcases inside, it suddenly felt like a very real game of human Tetris trying to move around each other.

And the low ceiling added to that boxed-in feeling. I’m not especially tall, but if you’re six foot or more, you’ll definitely notice it. If you’re used to hotel rooms and you come to a cruise cabin for the first time, that clearance above your head isn’t much.

For those first few minutes, I really did worry. Would I feel trapped after a few days? Would I start resenting the space every time I had to sidestep my luggage?

But the good news is, that feeling didn’t last long.

Learned To Love It

It’s amazing how quickly you adapt. Once we unpacked and tucked our suitcases away, the cabin felt entirely different. Suddenly there was space to breathe – and even move!

The storage design is actually really smart. Drawers, shelves, hidden cupboards… Once our clothes and bits were organised, it didn’t feel cramped at all.

The one thing I never figured out was the coffee table. It mostly became an obstacle course feature – one I’d inevitably bang my leg on at least once a day.

I tucked it as far out the way as possible but it still just felt like an unnecessary feature in a small room.

We were cruising as a family of three, with our daughter in the Pullman bed that folds down from the ceiling, and I’d been sure that would turn the room into chaos.

But honestly? Even with her bed down, we were perfectly fine. It was just this cosy, den-like space that suited us surprisingly well.

Problems with Bathroom Space? Not for Me

Before the trip, I’d read a lot of comments online about cruise bathrooms being “tiny” or “barely usable,” and as a plus-size cruiser, I’ll admit I had some concerns.

Suggested read: 13 Things Plus-Size Cruisers Struggle With

Again, I’d only really seen larger cruise bathrooms of suites when on ship tours. Still, I knew I wasn’t going to be getting some palatial bathroom.

Turns out though, it was absolutely fine. Compact, yes – but not uncomfortable. The shower was actually roomier than I expected, and also worth mentioning, the water pressure was great. Better than the hotel we stayed at the night before the cruise. Certainly better than our naff shower at home.

The only slight issue was me being, well, me – a bit clumsy. Let’s just say a couple of banged knees while trying to get dressed in the bathroom in privacy reminded me that coordination is not my strongest skill.

But that’s part of cruising in a room with your family as they get older, such as with our preteen daughter; your only real ‘private’ space is the small bathroom and so you make it work, even if getting dressed feels like you’re learning contortion skills working around the sink and toilet.

Public bathrooms elsewhere on the ship were naturally roomier, but for everyday use, ours was perfectly fine.

Suggested read: 14 Things You Should Know About Bathrooms On Cruise Ships

Noise Due to Our Location

Our cabin was just below Boleros and Playmakers, which had me a bit nervous when I saw the deck plans. Late-night music and sports bar noise aren’t usually part of my bedtime routine and if something wakes me up, I tend to stay awake.

There was some sound from above – mostly muffled thumps and the faint echo of music on certain nights – but nothing that ever became a real issue.

It was more background hum than disturbance. If anything, it added to that cosy feeling of being tucked away while the ship buzzed around us.

I did get woken up a couple of times just as I was drifting off, but I’m pretty sure one of those times was because I had a plush duck thrown at me by said preteen because of my snoring.

Can’t really blame the room location for that one.

Why I Would Book Inside Again

Here’s the thing: once you settle in and stop comparing it to a hotel room on land, an Inside Cabin is actually really nice.

It’s your little nest – quiet, dark, cool, and oddly comforting. My wife loved it right away and couldn’t understand why I’d been hesitant. By day two, I had to admit she was right.

Also, cheap connecting cabins for when our daughter is a little older? Yes please!

I did miss having a view when I woke up early and wanted to see what was going on as we arrived into port.

But it wasn’t a dealbreaker – as we sailed into Hamburg, with me wide awake in the early hours, I just threw on some clothes and snuck out of the room to the Promenade Deck for a look around.

So would I book an Inside Cabin again? Absolutely. For the price, comfort, and that surprisingly homely feel, it’s a no-brainer.

If anything, I’d say it added to the experience – reminding me that a cruise isn’t about how big your room is, but everything that happens outside it.

Having Said That…

As much as I enjoyed the Inside Cabin experience, I completely understand why it’s not for everyone. Some people just don’t like being in a room without a window – it can feel disorienting, especially if you’re someone who likes to know what time of day it is without checking a clock.

Others might find the space too compact, especially if they prefer a bit more breathing room or want that classic “wake up to the sea” feeling.

For me, the size ended up being fine, and I genuinely didn’t miss the view as much as I thought I would. However, that doesn’t mean those won’t be red flags for everybody.

Also, that’s not to say I wouldn’t enjoy a bit of natural light next time. My next cruise is actually in an Ocean View cabin, and I’m really looking forward to comparing the two – and one day, I’d definitely love to try a Balcony. There’s something undeniably special about having your own bit of open sea right outside your door.

What I really appreciate about cruising, though, is that there’s something for everyone. Whether you want a cosy, budget-friendly inside cabin, or a massive suite with a private whirlpool, there’s an option to match every personality and travel style.

The key thing is to do your research. I knew going in that booking an Inside Guarantee cabin – where you don’t pick your exact room – was a bit of a gamble.

But in my case, it worked out brilliantly. Still, it’s worth checking deck plans, reading reviews, and thinking carefully about what matters most to you before you book.

At the end of the day, the “perfect cabin” is the one that fits you. And for this trip, the Inside Cabin on Independence of the Seas was exactly that.

Related Posts

• Why I (Almost) Always Choose an Inside Cabin for a Family Cruise
• 13 Things Your Cabin Steward Secretly LOVES You Doing
• Independence of the Seas Cabins to Avoid