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I stayed in interior cabins on 3 major cruise lines. Here's how they compared — and which was the best value by far.

A woman smiling on the balcony of a cruise ship.
I often go on cruises and typically book interior cabins because I find they're the best value.

Lauren Mack

  • As a frequent traveler, I've spent many days in interior staterooms on different cruise lines.
  • My interior cabin on the Holland America Line's Rotterdam had a lot of amenities and felt luxurious.
  • I love the beds on Princess Cruises ships, but my Norwegian Cruise Line studio was the best value.

As a frequent cruiser, I always book interior cabins. They're often the most economical option, though they aren't identical across cruise lines.

So, I compared my recent interior cabins on Holland America Line's Rotterdam, Norwegian Cruise Line's Getaway, and Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess.

Here's how the spaces stacked up โ€” and which cruise room I liked best for its excellent value.

One of my interior cabins was on Holland America Line's Rotterdam.
Rotterdam cruise ship lit up at sunset with clouds above it
I spent 12 days on Holland America Line's Rotterdam ship.

Lauren Mack

Last December, I sailed on Holland America Line's Rotterdam for a 12-day Panama Canal cruise that cost $849 plus $460 for taxes, fees, and port charges.

My rate included a $25 onboard credit but no gratuities or add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, WiFi, or excursions.

The above rate was for my half of the cabin, which I booked to share with a friend. Had my original reservation been for one person, I would've paid a higher rate for the same cabin.

The cabin had a decent amount of space, especially compared with ocean-view rooms on the ship.
Light-up mirror above vanity area next to minibar area, exit, across from bed in interior room on Holland America Line Rotterdam
My room felt fairly spacious.

Lauren Mack

My 160-square-foot cabin featured two wardrobes, a queen-size bed, a desk, and a minibar.

It was only about 15 square feet smaller than some ocean-view staterooms on the ship, which start at 175 square feet.

The large bathroom was a highlight.
Cruise ship bathroom
My bathroom in the Holland America Line cabin felt luxurious.

Lauren Mack

This bathroom is one of the largest ones I've experienced on a cruise.

I liked that it had a walk-in glass shower as big as ones I've seen in nice hotels on land and a ton of storage around the vanity, shower, and toilet.

I had a lot of amenities and basics in my cabin.
inside stateroom on Holland America Line Rotterdam
My room came with an umbrella and other essentials.

Lauren Mack

The number of in-room amenities was impressive and included a mini refrigerator, a safe, a makeup mirror, a hairdryer, robes, beach towels, and an umbrella.

Plus, this cabin had the most electrical outlets I've seen in a cruise room thus far.

Lastly, the cabin had a well-stocked minibar.
Mini fridge and safe in stateroom on Holland America Line Rotterdam
My Holland America Line room had quite the bar area.

Lauren Mack

The cabin had an expertly curated minibar area featuring a cabinet that included red wine, white wine, rocks glasses, and a stainless-steel ice bucket.

Bottles of Mondavi chardonnay, La Marca prosecco, and premade On the Rocks cocktails were also available for an extra fee.

Overall, my Holland America Line room was classy, and standouts included the well-stocked minibar and massive shower.

My next cabin was on the Norwegian Cruise Line's Getaway.
Top deck of Norwegian Cruise Line Getaway with large pool, hot tubs, and water slides
The Norwegian Cruise Line Getaway is quite large.

Lauren Mack

In February 2023, I sailed alone in a studio cabin on Norwegian Cruise Line's Getaway on a six-day Bermuda cruise for $699 plus $283 for taxes, fees, and port charges.

The rate included free WiFi, an unlimited drink package, one specialty dining meal, and $50 toward a port excursion.

Norwegian's studio suites are designed for solo travelers, so I didn't have to pay the single-traveler supplement most lines charge for cruising alone.

If I'd had a travel companion with me and we booked a non-solo interior cabin, the rate per person would've been even cheaper.

The studio felt futuristic and well-designed.
Norwegian Cruise Line studio cabin with white quilted headboard behind bed and slanted tv next to it
Clever lighting and smart design choices make the stateroom appear larger.

Lauren Mack

My 100-square-foot studio was packed with thoughtful and stylish futuristic decor, such as cushioned wall panels along two sides of the bed back-lit with strip lighting.

I also loved my porthole "window" that could transform the room from pitch black to colorfully lit. Though I couldn't see the ocean out of it, it made the room feel larger and more cheerful than a standard interior cabin.

This was the smallest room of the three on this list, but I felt the space was used well.
Angled mounted TV with cabinets on either side and vanity below i Norwegian Cruise Line studio cabin
No space felt wasted in my Norwegian Cruise Line studio.

Lauren Mack

The studio was filled with space-saving furnishings and designs.

For example, the handles on the wardrobes' sliding doors doubled as towel racks.

The bathroom didn't offer much privacy, but I didn't mind.
View of glass shower and large sink in Norwegian Cruise Line studio cabin
The shower is pretty close to the bed in the studio.

Lauren Mack

As this room is designed for solo travelers, the shower isn't separated by a door โ€” it's just across from the bed.

The all-glass tiled shower and separate stall with a toilet felt tiny but manageable.

Lastly, I loved the perks that came with the studio.
Hallway on Norwegian Cruise Line of studio cabins with colorful interior porthole windows lit up
Norwegian Cruise Line has some nice options for solo travelers.

Lauren Mack

My room came with attractive perks, such as access to a private lounge for cruisers in studios.

Plus, my hallway was accessible only by keycard for other people staying in studios, which made me feel extra safe as a solo traveler.

Overall, I found my interior Norwegian Cruise Line studio to be convenient, cozy, and stylish.

I also spent 16 days in an interior cabin on the Caribbean Princess.
Caribbean Princess cruise ship on water
I spent 16 days on Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess.

Lauren Mack

In August 2023, I stayed in an interior room on Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess on a 16-day sailing to Canada, New England, and Greenland for $1,863 plus $270 for taxes, fees, and port charges.

I sailed with another traveler in this interior stateroom, so this was for my half of the cabin and based on double occupancy.

This rate didn't include gratuities or add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, WiFi, or excursions.

The room didn't feel particularly special, but it was very comfy.
Dimly lit interior cabin on Caribbean Princess with queen bed with mirror behind it and nightstands on either side of bed with lamps
My interior Princess Cruises cabin had a very comfortable bed.

Lauren Mack

My 162-square-foot cabin had one large closet, a desk, and a queen-size bed.

The highlight was its famous Princess Luxury Bed, a comfy medium-firm mattress with a plush 2-inch-thick pillow top. It's the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on while cruising.

I enjoyed the many in-room entertainment options.
Dimly lit interior cabin on Caribbean Princess with queen bed with mirror behind it and nightstand with lamp
I enjoyed the in-room entertainment on my Princess Cruise.

Lauren Mack

I forgot to photograph it, but the cabin's compact bathroom felt nice and standard compared with others I've had on cruises.

The ship's touchless technology made it easy for me to unlock the stateroom door and request services.

Plus, the in-room entertainment was superior to what I've had on other cruise lines. I could watch movies or live satellite television or listen to music and audiobooks that were preloaded on the TV.

Overall, I found my cabin to be comfortable and quiet, with tons of options for entertainment.

If I had to pick a winner, I'd say my studio on the Norwegian Cruise Line felt like the best bang for my buck.
Studio stateroom on NCL Getaway with bed next to quilted white walls
I had a great experience in my interior room on Holland America Line.

Lauren Mack

Holland America Line had the most luxurious furnishings and impeccable service, and Princess Cruises had the most comfortable bed and the best in-room entertainment.

For me, though, the all-around pricing and perks of Norwegian Cruise Line's stylish interior studios can't be beaten.

It was the smallest room I stayed in, but it had nearly the same furnishings and amenities as competitors' cabins. Plus, as a frequent solo traveler, the lounge access, the added security, and the lack of a supplemental fee are music to my ears.

Still, I was happy with my cabins on Holland America Line and Princess Cruises โ€” and I'd love to see both lines offer studios in the future.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Forget cruise ships — Carnival is spending big in a race to compete with Royal Caribbean's private island resorts

composite of Royal Caribbean's Royal Beach Club and Carnival's Celebration Key
Carnival and Royal Caribbean are in a race to expand their private island resorts portfolio.

Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International

  • Carnival Corp is growing its land-based portfolio with an expanded private island and a new resort.
  • Carnival expects to spend $600 million on the coming Celebration Key.
  • Popular cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have seen massive success with their private islands.

Carnival Corp is best known for its vacations at sea. Now, it's pouring millions into developing its on-land portfolio in a race to compete with Royal Caribbean's ever-expanding private resorts collection.

The cruise giant announced plans on Tuesday to expand its 27-year-old private island, Half Moon Cay (now renamed RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay), by the summer of 2026. It'll be a busy year for the company, which also expects to debut a new exclusive resort, Celebration Key, in the prior year.

The impending launches are part of a growing trend of land-based destinations to attract more travelers by cruise lines. It may sound ironic at first glance, but the real estate investments have been no laughing matter โ€” the $600 million Celebration Key project is set to be Carnival Corp's largest.

rendering of floating cabanas in a pool
Carnival says Celebration Key will have 12 eight-person floating cabanas, shown in a rendering, for rent.

Carnival Cruise Line

Plans for the mile-long slice on Grand Bahama Island include more than 30 food and drink venues, an adult-only beach club, and a kid-friendly lagoon. So far, 20 of Carnival Cruise Line's 27 ships are scheduled to sail to the exclusive resort-like port.

Celebration Key is being billed as a beacon of exciting entertainment โ€” seemingly antithetical to the peaceful white sand beaches of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Don't expect a new waterpark when the Caribbean island unveils its expansion in 2026. Instead, the mile-long beach would be updated with additional food and beverage venues, a new tram, expanded lounges, cabanas, and a second pier to accommodate Carnival's largest Excel class ships. (It plans to debut three larger ships starting in 2029.)

Half Moon Cay, Carnival
Holland America and Carnival's ships both sail to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Cruise Image Library/Holland America Line

In 2026, Carnival itineraries that include both RelaxAway and Celebration Key start at about $350 per person for a four-day cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Travelers are already booking cruises to Celebration Key, half a year from its debut. With success seemingly impending, Dave Bernstein, Carnival Corp's CFO, told investors in October that the company expects the project to be a "smash hit and provide an excellent return on our investment."

The prediction should come as no surprise โ€” competitor Royal Caribbean Group has already proven the star power of the private port playbook.

The cruise giant's recently expanded island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is its highest-rated port. Using this momentum, the company plans to launch another private resort, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, in the Bahamas in December 2025.

rendering of people in a pool at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island would have two beaches and three pools, as shown in a rendering.

Royal Caribbean

Like Celebration Key, the 17-acre getaway would have 10 bars and several pools and beaches, including some for families. Travelers would have to pay for admission, but once inside, the resort would be all-inclusive.

Expect to see more from Royal Caribbean's real estate pipeline โ€” Paradise Island will inaugurate its Royal Beach Club Collection. And in 2027, the cruising powerhouse plans to launch Perfect Day Mexico, another private port it recently acquired for $292 million.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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