Cruise fan who paid £50 extra to stay in 'worse' cabin finds surprise benefit

A keen cruise enthusiast received an enormous shock after splashing out on an interior cabin. Sailing aboard P&O's Aurora vessel, which launched in 2000, holidaymaker Emma, known as @emmacruises on TikTok, forked out extra cash to select a unusual accommodation during her voyage.

The distinctive feature of Emma's quarters was its position at the heart of the cruise liner, meaning it lacks natural light and windows - or connection to the "outside world", as she put it. She forked out an extra £50 for the privilege of choosing her own accommodation, having previously learned about this 'peculiar' cabin before embarking on her journey.

After popping into a mate's room which boasted ocean views, Emma said: "His room felt spacious and bright, the decor was definitely dated but nothing was worn or damaged, which I always think is the main thing."

Amongst the unexpected features in her friend's quarters was a bathroom equipped with its own miniature bathtub.

"I hope that my cabin would be as nice as this one, just without that balcony part," Emma commented.

Emma's accommodation, despite lacking windows, felt enormous, she revealed. "Normally inside cabins are quite a bit smaller," she added.

The bed heads were positioned beside the entrance, though she noted this arrangement made perfect sense upon closer examination.

Emma revealed: "What wasn't normal was that we had a really random extra square of space with a sofa and a kettle. It was like having our own tiny lounge in the room, and there was so much floor space in front of it."

Despite her stay lasting just three days, the cruise ship operates voyages spanning several months. "I would probably miss the sun and daylight after three months but... you know," she remarked.

One drawback of the accommodation was its single plug socket, whilst contemporary cruise vessels typically provide multiple outlets.

Emma went on: "I feel as though the value of this extra space would only increase if you were doing a longer cruise, but even still, I would book this quirky cabin again."

The cheapest fare for Emma's voyage started at £299, though Emma's final bill reached £349 after selecting her preferred accommodation.

This covered all gratuities, entertainment and meals, calculated on a twin-occupancy basis. Her companion, who opted for a standard balcony cabin, paid £499 by contrast.

TikTok users remained divided about the interior cabin, with one viewer commenting: "I would rather stay at home than have an inside cabin."

Meanwhile, HukkaWolf declared: "I love inside cabins so much more than balconies or windows. It's so perfectly dark anytime, perfect sleep at any hour."