I've stayed in 3 types of rooms on cruises, and the cheapest has never been worth it. Here's what to book instead.

A frequent cruiser says the cheapest stateroom categories on cruises are often not worth the tradeoff, especially for families. The article argues that booking the lowest-priced room without research can limit views, privacy, and usable space, making the trip feel cramped. It cites that interior staterooms—also called inside cabins—typically sleep up to four, are located in the middle of the ship, and offer no exterior view. It references square footage benchmarks: Disney Fantasy interior staterooms are 169 square feet, while a Royal Caribbean version is around 164, compared with about 330 square feet for a typical U.S. standard hotel room. The author recommends skipping the tightest options and choosing higher-category cabins with more room and privacy.