'I paid to choose my cruise cabin and was left absolutely stunned when I opened the door'

An enthusiastic cruise-goer was stunned at what she found when entering her cabin. The traveller had stepped on-board the P&O ship Aurora, built in 2000 for a getaway and had only forked out an additional £50 for a specific room. Emma, known as @emmacruises on TikTok, said she had opted for a room in the centre of the ship, with no daylight exposure - no windows, no view of the sea. Just a mere four walls.

Having previously heard about this unusual cabin, she was keen to experience it herself. On a visit to a friend's sea-view cabin, Emma noted: "His room felt spacious and bright, the décor was definitely dated but nothing was worn or damaged, which I always think is the main thing." She was particularly taken aback by the tiny bath in her friend's bathroom. "I hope that my cabin would be as nice as this one, just without that balcony part," she said.

To her surprise, Emma's windowless cabin seemed vast. "Normally inside cabins are quite a bit smaller," she added. The headboards were oddly placed next to the door, but Emma found it logical upon further inspection. She 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 only being on the cruise ship for a brief three-day stint, the vessel is known for its month-long voyages. "I would probably miss the sun and daylight after three months," she remarked.

One downside to her cabin was the single plug socket provided, a stark contrast to the multiple outlets found on modern ships. Emma added: "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 starting price for Emma's cruise experience was £299, but since she opted to choose her room, the cost rose to £349. This fee covered all gratuities, entertainment, and meals, assuming a two-person occupancy. Her friend, who chose a standard balcony cabin, shelled out £499 by comparison.

TikTok users were divided on the appeal of an inside cabin, one commented: "I would rather stay at home than have an inside cabin." Meanwhile, HukkaWolf expressed a preference for them, saying: "I love inside cabins so much more than balconies or windows. It's so perfectly dark anytime, perfect sleep at any hour."

READ MORE: