Choosing a balcony cabin over an interior cabin is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when booking a cruise — here is how to decide if the upgrade is worth it for you.
By Vacation Intel
What You Get With Each Cabin Type
Interior Cabins
Interior cabins have no window at all — just a room, typically 150-180 square feet, tucked into the center of the ship. They are the cheapest way to cruise, and since you spend most of waking hours in the ship’s public spaces anyway, many cruisers find they barely notice the missing view. The tradeoff: no natural light, so your body clock relies entirely on alarms, and the room can feel a little tighter for two people unpacking full suitcases.
Balcony Cabins
Balcony cabins add a private outdoor space, usually 40-50 square feet, with two chairs and often a small table. You get natural light, fresh air, and the option to watch a sunrise or a port arrival without leaving your room. They typically run 20-40% more than an equivalent interior cabin, and on some ships the balcony is only a few feet from the balcony next door, so privacy is not absolute.
Who Should Book a Balcony Cabin
A balcony cabin makes the most sense for longer cruises (7+ nights), itineraries with scenic cruising days like Alaska or the Norwegian fjords, and travelers who value private outdoor space over spending that money elsewhere on the ship. If you’re mostly interested in the ports and only sleep in your cabin, an interior room frees up budget for excursions instead.
For a broader look at cabin categories and how they affect your overall cruise budget, see our cruise planning tips, and check Cruise Critic’s cabin reviews for ship-specific balcony layouts before you book.
Balcony Cabin Booking Tips
Not all balcony cabins are equal – some have obstructed views from lifeboats or overhangs, so it’s worth checking a deck plan or reading recent cabin reviews before booking a specific room number. Aft-facing balconies tend to be larger and quieter but can experience more vibration from the engines on some ship classes.
Booking early generally gets you the best balcony cabin selection and pricing, since these rooms sell out faster than interior cabins on most sailings. Guarantee cabins, where the cruise line assigns your exact room closer to departure, can save money but remove your ability to pick a specific location.
Weather is worth considering too: a balcony on a Caribbean cruise gets used constantly, while one on a cooler-weather itinerary like Alaska may see less use outside of scenic cruising days, which is worth weighing against the price premium.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to how you plan to spend your time onboard. Cruisers who value morning coffee with an ocean view, in-room fresh air, and privacy from the crowded pool deck tend to find a balcony cabin worth the upgrade on almost any itinerary longer than a long weekend.
Price Difference
On a typical 7-night Caribbean sailing, expect an interior cabin to start around $600-900 per person, while a comparable balcony runs $900-1,400 per person. That gap widens on premium ships and shrinks on older or repositioning sailings, so it is always worth comparing the specific price difference for your dates rather than assuming a fixed percentage.
Which One Should You Choose
Choose interior if: you are cruising on a budget, you plan to spend most of your time off the ship or in public areas, or you are a fast sleeper who does not care about natural light.
Choose balcony if: you want a quiet retreat to decompress, you are cruising a scenic itinerary like Alaska or the Mediterranean coastline, or the extra cost fits comfortably in your budget.
Vacation Intel Verdict: For scenery-driven itineraries (Alaska, Norway, the Mediterranean), the balcony is worth it. For itinerary-driven Caribbean trips where you are off the ship most days, an interior cabin is a smart way to save money for excursions instead.