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You can book a small, inside cabin that will get you on board one of the line's vessels at a very reasonable cost or a super suite that will set you back many times more but that comes with all sorts of perks. Among notable extras, the Garden Villas have private outdoor sundecks and courtyards with hot tubs. Additionally, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star include private outdoor dining areas and steam rooms. Norwegian also offers four solo cabins on its Hawaii-based Pride of America.
With more space allocated to the bathroom, the newer inside cabin lacked communal seating
If the extra cost is a concern, and you're flexible on dates and destinations, look for deals where balcony cabins will be less expensive. Carnival Cruise Line's interior cabins are some of the largest in the industry, ranging from 185 to 220 square feet. These cabins include two twin beds or one king-size bed, and the larger rooms can sleep up to five guests.
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If I was to sum up Norwegian Cruise Line’s Haven I would say it is like having a backstage pass to the most exclusive and luxurious parts of a ship. The Courtyard area is what really made me sit up and take notice of The Haven. Think of an upscale resort pool at the top of the ship, except it’s reserved just for you and a select few. With NCL Haven lounge access, you can easily find a quiet corner to unwind or mingle with fellow cruisers in this cozy hideaway, away from the lively energy of the rest of the ship. Internet access is included and on certain ships, you are even provided with a mobile phone that you can use while you are on board. There were 4 small shelves beside the mirror and a long shelf under the sink.
The Haven Lounge
However, you sometimes can find ocean-view cabins that are significantly bigger than what is typical for a balcony cabin. This is sometimes the case for ocean-view cabins at the front of ships, where there can be relatively large but odd-shaped rooms with windows but no balconies. Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America and Royal Caribbean offer solo cabins that don't have a single supplement; these include inside, ocean-view and balcony rooms, depending on the line. Expect these to cost more than a standard inside or balcony room but less than the cost of that room with a 100% supplement. Other companies might offer promotions on select sailings with no single supplement, leaving you with the budget for a bigger cabin. The main difference is that balcony cabins are typically larger — with most, but not all, of the extra square footage going to the veranda.
Complaints vary but largely hone in on the cabins' small size (128 square feet), awkward layout (including poor TV positioning) and in-cabin noise from the bathroom. Another reviewer griped that, despite being billed as family-friendly, the cabin wasn't large enough to fit in a cot for a baby on a recent sailing. The general overall consensus was that this "family-friendly" cabin wasn't truly suitable, space-wise, for more than two passengers. If you'd rather enjoy the views from a private balcony — and have a space to escape other cruisers — and you plan to spend more time in your room, book a balcony cabin where you'll be more comfortable. A balcony will also be a better bet if you're trying to fit more than two people in one cruise cabin.
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Experience authentic Thai cuisine at Sukhothai, Norwegian Cruise Line's first Thai specialty restaurant aboard the Norwegian Aqua. Discover traditional dishes with a modern twist, set in a beautifully designed space on deck 17. Norwegian has something for everyone when it comes to cabins on its ships. The Garden Villas found on Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star are truly stunning, with living areas with glass walls looking over the pool areas of the ships.
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You'll also be able to sit outdoors, have a glass of wine or read a book in private. You can order room service and enjoy a quiet breakfast or dinner on the veranda. It's a nice change of pace from going to the bustling lounges for a cocktail or to the restaurants for a meal. Discover the secrets to affordable cruising, from the cheapest months to set sail to insider booking strategies.
Mom and Dad, consider leaving the bathroom squabbles to the young'uns, and shower at the spa. For me, the allure of cruises is exploring the giant ship and enjoying the entertainment, so an additional $150 for a porthole cabin — and even more for a balcony or better — didn't make sense. Note that The Haven is not available on some ships, including Norwegian Sky, Sun, Star, Dawn, Spirit, and Pride of America. Of course, you'll have options for larger suites if you so choose, such as an expansive 3-Bedroom Garden Villas or Aft-Facing Penthouse with Balcony. Balcony staterooms are some of the most desirable rooms and for good reason! With a private verandah attached directly to your cabin, you can breathe in fresh air whenever you would like.
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I wanted to be on a higher floor and I wasn’t too keen on a room next to the stairs. Norwegian's oldest ships (i.e., Norwegian Sky) have ocean view rooms that either feature a porthole or picture window. While the square footage tends to be the same, the location is the primary difference. Porthole rooms are located on lower decks, such as 4, 5, and 6, while those with a picture window can be as high as Deck 10. On more than half of Norwegian's ships, many of the top suites are part of an exclusive, keycard-accessed area called The Haven.
This cabin was supposedly 160 square feet, which is slightly larger than the inside cabin on Norwegian Sun. Earlier this year, I flew to Europe on a whirlwind trip to embark on a two-night repositioning cruise from Málaga, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal on Norwegian Sun. This was one of the oldest cruise ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, although we did not spend much time onboard during our short cruise.
Disney Cruise Line's interior cabins with Magical Portholes also feature live sea cam views on a circular screen — and an occasional appearance from Disney characters. If you need natural light for health reasons and are prone to motion sickness — especially if the seas are rough or you get claustrophobic — you probably won't be happy in an interior cabin. Seeing the horizon and having access to fresh air is essential when the ship starts to pitch and roll, so you'd do better splurging on the balcony cabin. Many cruise planning decisions come down to cost — and which cabin you choose has one of the biggest impacts on your bottom line. If price is an issue, you'll likely find yourself with the dilemma of whether to book an inside cabin or a balcony cabin.
I stayed in a windowless cabin onboard Norwegian Star that cost $1700 — here's what my inside stateroom looked like - Cruise Blog
I stayed in a windowless cabin onboard Norwegian Star that cost $1700 — here's what my inside stateroom looked like.
Posted: Mon, 30 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Probably my favorite feature of the entire stateroom was the larger shower. We’ve been on ships with tiny little corner showers with plastic shower curtains that stick to your bum. This shower was wide, had a sliding glass door and an adjustable shower head that could easily accommodate taller guests. The shower had a pullout line to hang wet clothes and a peg to hang clothes or, in our case, swim goggles. There were also 3 pegs on the outside of the shower door perfect for hanging towels or wet bathing suits. There were some large gouges and scrapes on the storage cabinet and the overall look of the room cried out for modernization.
Older inside cabins usually lack modern design, decor, and functionality. As such, I did not have high hopes for our cheap cabin on Norwegian Sun during our two-night sailing. We paid $454 for two people to sail in an inside cabin guarantee, meaning we did not get a cabin assigned until right before the sail date. I just returned from a four-night sailing on Norwegian Viva, which is the newest cruise ship from Norwegian Cruise Line. This modern, stylish cruise ship is the second in the cruise line’s Prima Class.
Dive into our comprehensive guide and learn how to navigate the high seas without sinking your budget. As mentioned above, Norwegian is known for a large number of suites on its ships. It's also known for some of the very biggest suites in the entire cruise industry. Norwegian's newer ships have relatively few such cabins, as generally cabins that face outward are now built with balconies.
Family Harbor accommodations also offer additional perks with access to the Family Harbor Lounge, which includes complimentary snacks, games, movies and other perks like free specialty dining for the kids. Moreover, guests who choose the new solo stateroom categories will have exclusive access to the Studio Lounge, available on select ships. This key card entry-only area offers a serene space to unwind and meet other solo travelers, accompanied by a well-stocked bar and a range of daily snacks. Beyond the lounge, solo cruisers can partake in tailored activities that allow them to socialize with fellow travelers. Both standard inside and balcony categories are designed for double occupancy, but some rooms in either category can sleep up to four.
I would venture to guess this loveseat area in our older cabin is where Norwegian Cruise Line found space to expand the bathroom for newer inside cabins. Again, we had booked an interior cabin guarantee and did not receive an assignment for the stateroom until right before the cruise. We ended up being assigned cabin 13167, which was located on Deck 13.
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