An inside cabin on a cruise ship is one that has no exterior window or porthole because it’s located in the ship’s interior. They are the cheapest cabin category.

Inside cabins can be a good choice. Passengers who spend little time in their cabins might be perfectly satisfied to forego natural light, and inside cabins will save money. Also, recent design changes to inside cabins on many ships are making them a more attractive proposition than they once were. For example, some have virtual windows or portholes, while others offer special access to the ship’s spa or other perks.

Here are some of the best inside cabins on the high seas.

Celebrity Cruises

If you’re on one of this company’s five Solstice-class ships, an inside cabin won’t cramp your style: they range in size from 17 to 18.5 square metres and fit in all the regular comforts, including a minibar, safe, flat-screen TV and premium, all-cotton bedding. They can be used by families, as some have a sofa bed and others Pullman bunk beds. Solstice-class ships also have six expansive, 22-square-metre accessible inside cabins designed for wheelchair users, with automatic cabin doors, ramps and roll-in showers.

Holland America Line

Holland America has both large and standard inside cabins on most of its ships, including 18 on the new Koningsdam that launches in April 2016. If you go for the Large Interior Stateroom, there’s a lot to satisfy, including 18.5 square metres of space and cheerful décor. Some even have L-shaped layouts that separate living and sleeping spaces, so check out deck plans before you book. Cabins have all the amenities you expect, plus Sealy mattresses, Elemis bathroom products, and turndown and shoeshine services. The sofa converts into a second bed for the kids.

Royal Caribbean International

For variety and innovation in inside cabins, RCI is really on the ball, and offers around a dozen category choices. Among them, its largest Family Interior Staterooms are 30 square metres and sleep up to six, while Virtual Balcony and Virtual View rooms (on Quantum-class ships plus Navigator of the Seas) feature almost floor-to-ceiling, flat-panel screens that show real-time views of the ocean and passing destinations. There are also Promenade and Promenade Family Staterooms across many ships, which don’t overlook the ocean, but have windows facing the spacious Royal Promenade down the centre of the ship.

Carnival Cruise Lines

When it comes to standard inside cabins, Carnival is hard to beat. They provide the same service and amenities as any other cabin, such as turndown, bathrobes and a safe. Many sleep up to four guests, are wheelchair accessible and interconnecting. Best of all is their roomy size, starting at a tad over 17 square metres, the same size as its balcony cabins (not including the balcony) and noticeably bigger than some of the smaller inside offerings on other cruise lines. Some of Carnival’s ships have inside spa cabins near Cloud 9 Spa, with complimentary spa access.