LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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ARE INSIDE CABINS ON ARVIA WORTH IT?

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When booking a cruise, cabin choice feels like a surprisingly big decision. Inside cabins are the cheapest option aboard Arvia — and inevitably come with questions. Are they too small? Too dark? Claustrophobic?

Or are they simply a sensible way to travel if, like us, you plan to spend most of your time exploring the ship and the destinations rather than sitting in your room?

We spent two weeks in an inside cabin aboard Arvia with P&O Cruises, and the short answer is this: it worked far better than we expected.

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First Impressions

I’ll be honest — I was worried. No windows, limited space, two people sharing for fourteen nights. I had visions of feeling boxed in, restless, and vaguely trapped.

In reality, that never happened.

The cabin felt noticeably more spacious than I’d imagined. Not large, obviously, but well designed and thoughtfully laid out. At no point did I feel claustrophobic, and that genuinely surprised me.

The lack of natural light is cleverly offset with mirrors, soft lighting, and a large television, which includes a live webcam feed showing the view from outside the ship. It’s not the same as a balcony, but it does help anchor you to where you are.

The bed is a king size (or twin configuration if you choose it), which felt generous and comfortable, with good linen and supportive pillows. We both slept well.

It’s worth saying, the larger bed means there’s not much room either side – but this didn’t really cause us any issues.

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Storage: Surprisingly Excellent

One of the biggest strengths of the inside cabin is storage. There’s a full-size wardrobe with plenty of hanging space for two people, shelving for folded clothes, and space below to keep shoes neatly out of sight. We never once felt short of room for clothing.

There are also two cupboards, which we quickly divided between us for personal items — hair straighteners, snorkels, handbags, board games, and general clutter. A desk doubles as a dressing table, complete with a large mirror, and shelves above it proved ideal for books, sunscreen and day bags.

Each bedside table has three shelves, perfect for phones, glasses and all the small items that otherwise migrate across a room. Under the bed there’s generous storage for suitcases, laundry bags and bulkier items, which meant we could keep the floor completely clear.

There are also four wall pegs, which became invaluable for jackets, hats and damp swimwear.

The bathroom, while compact, is extremely functional. The shower was large and there was more storage than we could use, with plenty of space to hang towels. Hot water was reliable, water pressure was good, and everything felt clean and well maintained.

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Comfort & Practicalities

The air conditioning worked well throughout our stay, keeping the temperature comfortable overnight. There are plenty of plug sockets, USB ports for charging phones, and multiple lighting options depending on whether you want bright, functional light or something softer in the evening.

One unexpected highlight was how quiet the cabin was. It felt completely soundproofed — we didn’t hear anything from the corridor or neighbouring cabins, which made it a genuinely restful space to sleep.

There’s also a large TV with plenty of channels, though we barely used it. We simply weren’t in the room enough to justify switching it on.

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The Drawbacks

That’s not to say there aren’t downsides.

If one of you is messy, an inside cabin will feel small very quickly. You really do need to use the storage properly and put things away — otherwise the space becomes stressful rather than functional.

There’s no coffee machine. We had a kettle and instant coffee, which went untouched for the two weeks. There is a small fridge, which we mainly used to chill water.

Drying clothes was the single biggest frustration. Swimwear, gym kit and damp clothing had nowhere obvious to dry, and there were a couple of days when I ended up putting on slightly damp swimwear simply because it hadn’t had time to air properly. Theoretically, you can use the launderette dryers, but that felt like a faff for the sake of a swimsuit. Towels, thankfully, were changed daily and pool towels were always available.

Another subtle consideration is motion. On the few occasions when the ship was a little rocky, it felt slightly strange not being able to look out at the horizon — something often said to help with motion sickness. It didn’t cause us any real issues, but it’s worth noting.

And no — despite a brief early suspicion after being allocated a few dreadful restaurant tables — cabin grade does not affect dining treatment. This turned out to be far more about timing and luck than anything else, confirmed both by research and by conversations with other passengers.

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How We Used the Cabin

The truth is, we barely spent time there.

We didn’t sit in the cabin having drinks in the evenings. Instead, we gravitated to decks, bars, quiet corners of the ship, and outdoor spaces. Having an inside cabin almost nudged us into enjoying the ship more — finding our own favourite spots rather than retreating to a private balcony.

For us, that felt like a positive.

That said, we were in the Caribbean on a “hot cruise.” Meaning, it was never a chore to be outside. On a “cold cruise”, this may feel a little different.

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Value for Money

At that price point we paid for the trip, the cabin felt excellent value. Clean, comfortable, quiet, well laid out — and perfectly adequate for how we travel.

It’s also worth saying that our usual travel style is fairly budget-led. We walk a lot, travel independently, and often stay in hostels when on foot-based trips.

This was our first cruise, and while we’ve stayed in some lovely hotels over the years, we don’t routinely book luxury accommodation. Our expectations were therefore realistic — and the cabin exceeded them.

We watched sunrise and sunset from the deck rather than our room, and that felt like a perfectly acceptable compromise.

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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