So you're about to book a Royal Caribbean cruise and you get to the part where you need to decide which stateroom to book. Suddenly, you have multiple options for each category of stateroom and you wonder, "what is the difference?".
Four basic categories
There are four basic stateroom categories on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship
- Inside staterooms
- Ocean View Staterooms
- Balcony Staterooms
- Suites
Sounds simple enough but within each of those basic categories are a number of sub-categories to further define what you are booking. At its very basic level, not all staterooms in one these four basic categories are the same.
Stateroom differences
When you compare sub categories of staterooms, you will need to compare a few different aspects of the stateroom to see what is most important to you.
Square footage
Generally speaking, the most basic differential for any stateroom category to the next is how much square footage the room is. Usually, the more space a stateroom has, the more expensive the stateroom is.
When we are talking about square footage, we are also talking about balcony size. For staterooms that have balconies (balcony and suite categories), the size of your balcony may be just as big a difference as how large the living space is.
Location
Just like real estate, where your stateroom is located can factor into a difference in category (and price).
The general thought is everyone wants to be mid-ship and high up for the stability and view, respectively. Being in the middle of the ship means everything is equidistant from you and it's easiest to get everywhere.
Of course, some staterooms may be right in the middle but have outside factors that make it less desirable. This includes balconies with obstructed views or staterooms above or below restaurants or public areas (noise bleed).
Capacity
How many people you want to put into one stateroom will also dictate a difference between the rooms.
Family staterooms offer much more space and capacity than regular staterooms but at a higher total cost. Suites offer even more space, at an even higher cost than family staterooms.
Amenities
What you get in your stateroom also factors into the different types of rooms to choose from.
Virtual balcony staterooms are a new category of inside staterooms, where you will get a virtual view of the ocean as opposed to other inside staterooms with no such add-on.
Suites differentiate themselves by offering more than one bathroom, Jacuzzi, separate rooms and more.
