Out of the thirteen cruises I've done, I've booked a balcony on every single one. It's not a whim — there are very specific reasons behind it, and there are also some myths worth clearing up before you book yours.

The first is size, though with some nuance: an interior cabin can actually be quite spacious — even as big as a balcony cabin — if it's in a VIP zone of the ship, but generally speaking they're the smallest rooms. For me, the real fundamental difference is natural light. In an interior cabin, if you want to see anything, you have to turn on the light. I've never slept in one myself, but everyone who has tells me it doesn't matter as much day-to-day as you'd think, since you end up spending little time in the cabin anyway. Even so, if I can choose, I'd rather have natural light — it's your vacation, it's what you worked all year for.

There's another difference almost nobody talks about: ventilation. In an interior cabin you usually can't open a window (some newer Norwegian ships now have cabins with an operable window, but that's the exception). That means if you're carrying damp clothes, or you've sweated all day in summer heat, that smell stays in the room — even though they're usually well ventilated artificially, it's not the same as opening the balcony door and letting air move through.

And then there's what, for me, is the real bonus of a balcony: waking up with the ocean right there, or changing at sunset while watching the water, calm, without having to leave your room. Call me a nerd about it, but for me that's worth the price difference.

A suite, beyond the size — sometimes with up to two balconies — comes with another level of experience: priority boarding and access to an exclusive restaurant with no fixed hours (with a noticeably better menu than the main dining room). And then there are the private zones some cruise lines offer, which go a step beyond the cabin category itself: MSC has the Aurea zone (hot tubs and spa access included almost daily — grab it if you can) and the Yacht Club (its own restaurant and pool, a butler during certain hours of the day). Virgin and Norwegian have similar zones. That said, we're talking about 3-5% of the ship: it's not designed for the general public, and the jump in price is considerable.

For the reasons I mentioned: natural light, ventilation, and above all being able to step outside at those specific moments of the day — waking up, sunset, or at night to see the stars — without leaving your own space. You can chase those moments elsewhere on the ship too, no problem, but having your own balcony makes it always available, without depending on anyone or anything. Spending a while out there alone, with music or just watching the ocean, is one of my favorite moments of any cruise.

Mostly the size and, in the best ones, details that multiply the experience. One of the ones I remember most was on the Costa Diadema: two couples, each in their own suite, with rooms at the bow of the ship — one with an open side terrace and the other with an enclosed front terrace (glassed in so the wind doesn't hit you) with its own hot tub. That's a whole other level, let's be honest, and a price that practically doubles a regular balcony cabin.

Beyond the size, the most practical advantages are priority boarding and access to a restaurant with no fixed hours and a better menu. And if you add a private zone like Aurea or the Yacht Club, you move into a whole different category of experience: a butler (not 24 hours, usually a few hours a day, to set up the room the way you like with your favorite drinks and so on), an exclusive restaurant, and an exclusive pool.

An ocean view cabin without a balcony (a window that doesn't open) works really well for families with kids: it gives you peace of mind, since you don't have to watch that nobody steps out onto a balcony — even though the ship is completely safe — and you still get natural light.

An interior cabin is a good option if your priority is saving money to spend on other things, like excursions. Most people I know who've done interior have had a great experience: they tend to be secondary cabins, but they don't feel cramped or claustrophobic.

A balcony is for anyone who wants to fully enjoy the ship without giving up anything in their day-to-day. And if price isn't an issue, a suite and private zones like Aurea give you full access: public and private areas at the same time.

The same one as with the drinks package: focusing only on the price instead of the experience. "I'm barely in the room anyway," "I don't drink that much anyway"... These are your vacation, and the price difference is usually small compared to what you gain in experience. If you can choose a better option, take it.

My priority advice: instead of paying more just to move up a cabin category, prioritize making sure your booking includes the drinks package (even the premium one) or a dinner at a specialty restaurant. An ocean view cabin with all of that included will give you a better experience than a bare suite with nothing else. Think about the experience you want first, and adjust the price afterward — not the other way around. It's like walking into a restaurant: you look at what you feel like eating first, then the price, and then decide if you're willing to pay it. If you choose based on price alone, you end up choosing something you don't even know you actually want.

Yes, the location within the ship. "Obstructed views" are cabins with a window or balcony where, because of their position, part of the view is blocked — by a lifeboat, for example, or because the cabin is at a bend and faces more toward the side of the ship than straight out to sea. They're far from a bad option — you'll still get good views — but they're not exactly the same.

As for the ship's motion depending on the deck or position (bow, stern, higher or lower), my personal experience has been pretty much negligible — it's noticeable a bit more on higher decks, but nothing worth worrying about. What I do always check is that the cabin sits between two decks of cabins, with no common areas directly above or below (restaurant, nightclub, gym). I've had a gym above me and, since it has limited hours, it wasn't an issue; but if you end up under a restaurant or a bar with activity until late, you'll notice the noise. It's also worth being near the elevators, but not right next to them — you hear the machinery going up and down all day. I once had a cabin literally next to a bar: it was really nicely decorated, but you could hear the noise.

Think about the experience you want first, and adjust the price afterward — not the other way around. And on the details: check which deck it's on (no noisy common areas right above or below) and make sure it's not right next to an elevator or a bar.

What type of cabin do you usually prefer, or which one would you like to try? Subscribe and get every new post straight to your inbox.