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I sailed from Miami to the Dominican Republic on a three-day solo cruise in January.
My tiny inside cabin cost about $300 before taxes and fees, which was the cheapest option.
Despite having no windows, I found the room perfect for me and easily worth the cost savings.
I went on my first solo cruise to the Caribbean in January, sailing on Norwegian Cruise Lines for three days from Miami to the Dominican Republic.
The one-way repositioning cruise on the Norwegian Sky, the company's second-oldest and second-smallest ship, only cost me about $300 for an inside cabin.
I booked the tiny room simply because it was the cheapest option, though I was warned by several people about the woes of an inside cabin.
Turns out, the dark little nook didn't bother me. Here's why.
My solo cruise to the Dominican Republic cost about $300 for an inside cabin.
I went on a solo cruise and loved it more than I thought I would.
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I paid another $200 for taxes, fees, and port expenses on top of the $300 inside cabin fare, which was the cheapest on this sailing.
As someone who regularly saves money by staying in hostels on trips, I'm used to making do with cramped spaces.
Photoed is my tiny hostel room at the JumboStay Hostel in Sweden, which is a converted Boeing 747 airplane (there were shared showers).
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While I now have the means to splurge on hotels when I want, I still stay in hostels at some point during my yearly travels and am used to managing with just a bunk bed and a shared bathroom.
So, anything private is an upgrade.
Still, that didn't stop friends and family from warning me against the pitfalls of an inside cabin.
Boarding involved getting my key card and finding assembly station N to get a yellow sticker, which served as the safety briefing.
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Most of the complaints stemmed from the size of the inside rooms. Some also mentioned seasickness being worse and struggling to wake up in the morning due to the lack of windows.
I was assigned mid-ship cabin number 9336.
Any mail I got, like the daily itinerary, was put in the slot behind the silver 9336 sign.
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Inside rooms on the Norwegian Sky measure between 121 and 147 square feet.
I liked the location because it was right in between two elevators, so I had pretty easy access to both sides of the boat.
The cabin can accommodate up to two people, complete with a queen-sized bed that can split into two twins.
The hallway between the door and the bed was pretty short.
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Other inside rooms have more space with things like a single pull-out couch for larger groups, particuarly families.
The bed itself takes up a good chunk of the room, accompanied by lamps, USB ports, and side tables.
Each person gets their own USB port, lamp, and side table.
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They're hard to find, but the USB ports are on the side of the lamps situated behind the bed.
Meanwhile, a small desk sits in the center of the room, and a TV is mounted on the wall.
The view sitting on the bed. The door open leads to the bathroom.
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There was additional storage under the TV, as well as a few glasses.
A closet lined the entryway and was the main storage space.
There was enough space for a few large suitcases inside the closet, which also came with about a dozen hangars and a full-body mirror.
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I hung up my clothes and put my suitcase in the closet and out of the way of the little floorspace I had.
The bathroom had just enough room for a sink, toilet, shower, and a few shelves.
The view of the bathroom from right outside the door.
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The bathroom was tiny, but the shower space was larger than it looked, and I didn't feel cramped inside.
The shower included body wash and a combined shampoo/conditioner.
The shower was round and fit one person easily.
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The shower was round, with good shower pressure and hot water. And I thought there was good storage space for toiletries and towels.
One warning: the shower and sink water was sometimes steaming hot (literally), and I had to run it on cold for a few minutes before it cooled down, so be careful.
Despite its cave-like size, I loved the small room and the bed was very comfortable.
There was also temperature control in the room, so I could keep it at whatever I wanted.
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It probably helps that I don't get claustrophobic, and I was by myself, so I could sprawl out on the big bed.
I didn't feel any sort of disorientation or seasickness being inside the windowless room.
The room came with a few outlets and a hair dryer.
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I sometimes get seasick, but I luckily didn't feel any nausea on this cruise.
I didn't have trouble with my sleep cycle, either.
Royal Caribbean's bigger Explorer of the Seas blocks the Norwegian Sky in this photo.
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The pitch-black room put me right to sleep at night and kept me asleep until my alarm went off around 7 a.m.
At home, I go to the gym every morning, and during the winter, that means getting up before sunrise. So, forcing myself awake without sunlight wasn't anything different from my regular day-to-day.
In fact, I sleep better than I had in weeks, thanks to my dark and cozy little nook.
The TV was small but had information on things like de-embarkation, as well as movies.
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Not only did the dark-out room help me sleep through the night, but I was also able to nap easier.
And even if the lack of sunlight did bother me, I didn't spend enough time in my stateroom to justify the pricey upgrade.
Onboard, I spent most of my time reading in the lounge, playing trivia, or watching shows.
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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.
I only went to my cabin to sleep, shower, and change, so I'd rather use the extra cash on activities instead of my accommodation.
The pool deck on the Norwegian Sky.
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I can understand some people may prefer sitting out on their cabin balconies away from the chaos of the crowds and are willing to pay more for that perk.
The room was perfect because it only had to accommodate me — two people would be too tight a squeeze.
There was not a lot of foot space between the bed, desk, and bathroom.
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As just one person, I found there was just enough space to maneuver the tiny cabin, so I can imagine the space for two people plus bags would be tight.
I recommend upgrading if you're worried about sunlight or want to give yourself a little extra space — especially if you're sharing a cabin. Otherwise, save the money.
