I paid $3,000 to cruise in an inside cabin to Alaska. I saved money, but regretted not booking a balcony.
In:Alaska cruises offer some of the world’s most striking scenery, so it’s no surprise that many cruise passengers book balcony cabins for these dreamy itineraries.

On my recent Alaska cruise, however, I opted for a windowless interior cabin instead. Although I loved the idea of cruising in a balcony stateroom, I didn’t want to spend hundreds more for the extra space.
The cruise wasn’t cheap to begin with, so I wanted to save money wherever I could.
At first, I thought I made the right decision. My inside cabin was surprisingly spacious. It also came equipped with a virtual balcony, which provided a live video feed of the outdoors.
As the week progressed, however, I started to regret my decision. The crowded ship had me longing for my own private balcony, and natural light would have been a bonus on Alaska’s long summer days.
Next time I cruise to the Last Frontier, I’ll bite the bullet and spend extra for the balcony instead.
I cruised to Alaska during peak season, and prices were high

Alaska’s short summer cruise season, which runs from May through September, leads to high demand. Cabins book up quickly, especially during the busiest summer months of June, July, and August.
Related: Alaska cruise weather: A Month by Month Guide
Last December, when researching Alaska cruises for this summer, I set my sights on a June 20th departure on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. With summer daylight at its peak and a higher chance of sunny weather, June is arguably the best month to cruise to Alaska.

I knew cruise fares would be high in June, but they were even higher than I anticipated. The cheapest cabin aboard Anthem of the Seas, an interior guarantee stateroom for two adults, was nearly $3,000 for the week.
Just two years prior, also during June, I cruised to Alaska aboard Quantum of the Seas, and I paid $1,850 for a similar itinerary.
With rising prices, I didn’t even bother to consider an oceanview or balcony cabin. Rather, I decided to save money and allocate my savings toward other pre-cruise expenses like airfare and specialty dining.
Once onboard, I was pleasantly surprised with the interior cabin

In the weeks leading up to my cruise, I was so excited to explore more of Alaska that I almost forgot about my tiny inside room.
It wasn’t until embarkation day that I was forced to confront my decision.
Once onboard, I headed to the cabin feeling somewhat regretful about booking the cheapest room.
Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship
Nonetheless, my worries subsided once I entered my stateroom for the first time.
My brother, who was joining me on the cruise, immediately remarked at how spacious and modern the cabin felt. He had previously cruised in an inside room on Rhapsody of the Seas, one of the oldest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, so the cabin on Anthem was a major upgrade.

The room had a bed (which we later separated into two twin beds), an armchair, desk, dresser, closet, and private bathroom.
I liked the layout of the cabin, which placed the bed at the edge of the room. This configuration provided ample walking space in the main living area, so I never felt cramped.
Additionally, the room had a ton of storage. My brother and I easily unpacked our belongings and still had room to spare.

Overall, I had no complaints with the cabin. It was modern and had all the amenities for a comfortable stay.
At the time, I didn’t mind not having a balcony. I thought my inside room would be the perfect place to unwind during our 7-night cruise.
Outside my cabin, crowds were in full force, and I longed for the privacy of a balcony

One of the downsides of cruising to Alaska in the peak summer season are the high crowds. With over 4,000 guests onboard, our cruise was completely sold out.
Embarkation day is always somewhat chaotic, so I didn’t mind the crowds on day one. Yet on our first sea day, I felt overwhelmed with the crowded ship.
Related: 25 Alaska cruise tips to follow on your upcoming cruise
Whether the busy Windjammer buffet or crowded Solarium, I found myself wishing for a moment of tranquility. A balcony would have been the perfect place to relax away from the hustle and bustle elsewhere onboard.

Luckily, crowds seemed to dwindle as the cruise progressed. After busy days in port, it appeared that most passengers opted to rest and recoup in their stateroom instead of spending time in public areas.
Regardless, over the course of the week, I grew tired of navigating my way around the crowds. While I still enjoyed watching Alaska’s scenery from the ship’s public decks, I longed for a few moments of peace and quiet on my own private balcony.
The cabin’s virtual balcony was a nice perk, but it wasn’t a replacement for the real thing

One of the perks of cruising in an interior cabin on Quantum Class cruise ships like Anthem of the Seas are the virtual balconies.
On these ships, many interior cabins feature floor-to-ceiling television screens that project a live feed from outside the ship. This way, passengers staying in inside rooms can still enjoy the scenery and “natural” light.
Related: Is a virtual balcony worth the money on Royal Caribbean?
Virtual balconies are certainly a nice benefit, but they’re hardly a replacement for a regular balcony. Even the highest-quality screen can’t replicate the feeling of viewing Alaska’s scenery with your own eyes.
“The virtual balcony is just a reminder of what we don’t have,” my brother joked as we left the room for real-life views instead.
I have to admit his statement rang true.
There are some perks to booking an inside room, and I didn’t necessarily regret saving money

Despite longing for a balcony during my cruise, the savings were pretty hard to beat.
Had I spent $1,000 more for a balcony, I would have had a tighter budget during the cruise. With our savings, my brother and I had more money to spend on add-ons like internet packages and specialty dining.
We enjoyed three specialty restaurants during the week, which we may have skipped had we splurged on a balcony. I loved the elevated dining experience at venues like Chops Grille and Jamie’s Italian, and these meals were a highlight of our cruise.

Aside from the savings, a balcony wasn’t always necessary—or even the best choice. During our ship’s visit to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, we enjoyed panoramic views from the pool deck.
One of the advantages to being on an outside deck was the ability to view the scenery and wildlife from both sides of the ship. Balconies only face one direction, so you might miss out with the limited viewpoint.
Had I booked a balcony room, I still would have headed to the pool deck to view the glacier anyway.
Even still, it’s hard to go back to an inside room after cruising with a balcony

Despite saving money, I still regretted not booking a balcony on my Alaska cruise.
I loved my time in port, and I didn’t mind viewing scenery from public decks, but I couldn’t shake off the regret about booking the cheapest cabin.
Initially, I was perplexed by my sudden shift in attitude toward budget cabins. As a cruise writer, I visit Alaska nearly every summer, and I always book inside rooms. I’ve never once regretted my decision.
This time around, however, I felt differently. Ultimately, I realized my expectations were shifted after my cruise to Norway last year.

Last summer, I sailed along the Norwegian fjords in a balcony cabin, and I absolutely loved having my own private space to watch the views. Whether cruising along the stunning Nordfjord or passing dozens of small islands around Molde, it was hard to beat a balcony cabin on such a scenic itinerary.
Related: When is a cruise ship balcony worth it?
Alaska cruises, like those to Norway, offer spectacular views on both sides of the ship. After experiencing a balcony cabin in Norway, I felt like something was missing on my cruise to Alaska.
Saving money has its advantages, but after spending a week in a windowless cabin in Alaska, I don’t think I’ll do it again. Next time, I’ll splurge on a balcony to fully experience all that the state has to offer from the comfort of my own cozy cabin.