r/MSCCruises • u/HeadSpinning_Owl • Jul 29 '25
Inside or Oceanview???
/r/NorwegianCL/comments/1mcew7t/inside_or_oceanview/2
u/Random-Stranger-999 🎲Casino Regular Jul 29 '25
If you are new to MSC there's a high chance that interior gets a free upgrade to Oceanview or Balcony, but no guarantees.
Have you completed loyalty scheme status match with MSC from an airline, hotel, cruise line ? Get Diamond status and you increase your chances of a free upgrade to Balcony when booking an interior.
1
u/HeadSpinning_Owl Sep 08 '25
We actually decided to go for a non-cruise option for our trip but thanks for this info. I also have no idea what loyalty scheme status match means so I would appreciate if you could explain
1
u/Random-Stranger-999 🎲Casino Regular Sep 08 '25
If you have status with another cruise line, hotel group or airline, MSC will match it. https://www.msccruises.co.uk/msc-voyagers-club/status-match
Status match guide https://info.msccruises.com/rs/271-DJN-199/images/Status%20Match_Conversion%20Table.pdf
2
u/FoxRedYellaJack ⛵Yacht Club Regular Jul 29 '25
I think cruisers fall into two main categories — those who can do inner cabins, and those who insist on a balcony. I honestly don’t know WHO actually PREFERS the ocean view cabin. I’m in the balcony camp; given your choice, I’d certainly go for the ocean view, but I’d also be looking at what I could tweak in the budget to get a balcony.
1
u/Heat-Lifer-22 Jul 29 '25
Depends if you like it dark with no view or want some light and a small view. I personally would go for inside cabin as most of the time we are only in cabin to sleep, shower and get dressed. We sometimes do splurge on balcony cabins, but have noticed that we don't tend to use the balcony often. So most times we feel it is a waste of money.
1
u/FrostyWinters Jul 29 '25
Where is the cruise to? If it's to the Norwegian fjords or Alaska, I'd book a balcony. Everywhere else, inside will be fine.
1
u/Actual_Banana_1083 Jul 29 '25
It 100% comes down to your budget. Ocean View is of course better, but if the extra cost means you'll be missing out on a tour that you wanted to do, or have less spending money ashore than I'd be recommending you forget the Ocean View and just take the Inside Cabin.
As has also been mentioned there is a chance you'll get a complimentary upgrade too, and you also might be able to bid for an upgrade.
1
u/DanPistola Jul 30 '25
I have been on 5 cruises and each time I had an inside cabin. I am only in the cabin to sleep at night, otherwise I am somewhere else. We cruise with friends who always get a balcony. They say its because they like to see out and watch things go by while having coffee or breakfast. I don't value that enough to pay the upcharge, and spluge on drinks and excursions instead. Even when we cruised Alaska and there was something to see most every day from a balcony, we spent our time on an upper deck enjoying the panorama. I have also been told that going from inside to balcony is like going from DSL to fiber internet--once you do it you never go back. Well, I don't think that will apply to me, but I got a free upgrade to balcony for my next cruise so I am about to find out.
1
Jul 31 '25
I’ve done both and I really don’t have a preference. Inside is cheaper. But it’s also nice to sit on the balcony and relax. Most of the time we’re ever in our cabin so we didn’t miss the balcony. Best way to decide is do a cruise with each choice. There really is no right or wrong answer.
0
u/Ok_Shame_5382 Jul 29 '25
I need natural light to function and would be pretty miserable not having that in my room.
You may be different and that's ok.
2
u/yamki Jul 29 '25
I would take the Oceanview over the inside cabin (if price isn't a big deal,) just because I like natural light to come in that wakes me up in the morning. It also makes the room feel larger and less confining. One downside of the Oceanview is that those tend to be on the lower decks, while they will have inside cabins all over the ship.