Although I prefer balcony cabins, I didn't think a private verandah was worth the extra money on a 2-night sailing aboard one of the world's biggest cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean has begun leaning more into the short cruise market with 3- and 4-night sailings to its award-winning private island in The Bahamas. However, they rarely offer 2-night getaways.
As such, I was intrigued by a somewhat rare opportunity to take a 2-night cruise, especially on a ship as large as Oasis of the Seas. With limited time onboard, I knew most of my time would be spent exploring the ship, rather than relaxing on a balcony.
Costing $724.98 for two people (including taxes, port fees, and gratuities), the inside cabin wasn't cheap. In fact, we spent more on flights from Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale!
Still, paying extra for a balcony stateroom seemed like a waste of money. For this particular sailing, I knew we'd get the most value from enjoying the ship's amenities and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Oasis of the Seas is a destination in and of itself, with sprawling neighborhoods, countless dining options, unique entertainment, and adrenaline-pumping activities. She was updated in 2019 to feature newer amenities, too. Now, guests can enjoy the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, the Perfect Storm water slides, and more.
Having spent over 50 nights on Oasis Class ships, I knew what to expect onboard. However, my travel partner was embarking on her first-ever cruise — and this was the perfect introduction.
Our two days on Oasis of the Seas were jam-packed from the moment we set foot on the ship. As such, we were only in the room to sleep and shower, which is what I figured.
I don't regret saving money and staying in a windowless inside cabin — it was perfect for our quick Bahamian getaway!
What to expect from Oasis of the Seas rooms: inside cabin review
It's no surprise that the newer the ship, the nicer the cabin. Staterooms on ships like Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas have better storage options, modern designs, and smart features like bedside outlets.
Throughout her 15+ years in service, Royal Caribbean has kept Oasis of the Seas up to par through regular refurbishments and upgrades. However, the staterooms are nearly identical to how they were when the ship debuted in 2009.
There's room for the essentials, though. The layout maximizes the space to comfortably fit a bed, desk, loveseat, coffee table, and two nightstands.
In fact, I was surprised by how spacious room #12153 was. Earlier this year, I sailed on Wonder of the Seas, and my tiny interior stateroom barely had room for an extra chair!
Comparatively, my cabin on Oasis of the Seas had a nicely sized sofa, which is where we kept our suitcases during our 2-night cruise.
While I typically unpack as soon as possible, it was unnecessary on such a short cruise. That said, storage space was abundant, so those on longer voyages won't have trouble settling in.
Some may think that older Oasis Class ships don't have a lot of storage, but between the closet, built-in shelves, drawers, and vanity area, there's more than enough room for two people.
Another difference compared to newer ships is that these cabins lack outlets. Unlike my inside staterooms on Wonder and Symphony of the Seas, the only outlets on Oasis are found near the vanity.
Moreover, they are just standard American and European plugs — no USB or USB-C options. If you like to have your phone charge beside the bed, make sure you bring a portable charger (or a really, really long cable).
As an older ship, there was no key slot by the door to power the cabin's electricity, either. Instead, there was one master switch button that had to be left on for the lights and air conditioning to work.
Although not necessarily as environmentally friendly as newer ships, we never had to worry about accidentally leaving our SeaPass in the cabin when we left.
Speaking of air conditioning, our stateroom stayed surprisingly cold for the entire sailing. I've sailed in some cabins where, even when the thermostat was at its lowest, the room never felt very cool.
Aside from those minor differences (i.e, fewer outlets, dated design, less storage, and a master power switch), the cabin had the same amenities as newer ships.
For example, the mini-fridge kept our two bottles of wine cool; the television worked fine; and the beds were just as comfortable as other ships.
(You can always ask for a mattress topper or extra pillows if you're a particular sleeper and need a plush bed.)
Finally, one thing I love about older Oasis Class bathrooms is how spacious they feel. They aren't as cramped as other bathrooms on ships like Wonder of the Seas.
That's not to say they feel as large as my master bathroom with dual sinks and a walk-in closet at home, but for a cruise ship, the bathroom in my inside cabin on Oasis of the Seas was roomy.
The bathroom was well-maintained, and that extended to the shower itself. Like other Royal Caribbean ships, the shower had the same 2-in-1 shampoo-body wash hybrid and small toiletries shelf.
Read more: I always pack two things for my cruise bathroom that I'll thank myself for later
However, I was pleasantly surprised with the two hooks inside the shower, which were perfect for hanging our wet swimsuits after spending the day ashore at CocoCay.
These were in addition to the hooks on the back of the bathroom door. I never travel without my hanging toiletries organizer and would have been disappointed if the only hooks were inside the shower.
Additionally, the shower pressure was strong, and I loved seeing how clean the showerhead was.
There wasn't any noticeable lime scale buildup or discoloration. In fact, the showerhead looked brand new!
I would book another interior stateroom on Oasis of the Seas again
Cruise ships are floating cities with endless dining and entertainment all under one roof. Oasis and Icon Class ships, especially, take cruising to another level with their size, variety of venues, and onboard activities.
Inside cabins are a great way to cruise on a budget. If you're hardly in your stateroom (like I was on Oasis of the Seas), you don't have to splurge on a balcony cabin.
With so much happening around the ship, from live music to karaoke, AquaTheater performances, mini-golf tournaments, game shows, and more, your stateroom is a place to recharge and shower.
I think it's smarter to spend the extra money on add-ons like shore excursions and specialty meals.
