Balcony cabins are the most popular type of cruise ship room because they offer a mix of additional living space and a private outdoor space.
Having natural light and an outdoor area just for you makes them an attractive option for many cruisers.
Those added benefits come with a higher price when compared to an inside room. Sometimes the cost difference can be substantial.
Let's go over the pros and cons of balcony rooms and consider which option might be best for different kind of cruisers.
Why should I get a balcony cabin?
First, let's review the advantages of a balcony room over an inside room.
Balcony rooms have more living space
Compared to an inside room, moving up to a balcony will get you a bigger room and the private space of the balcony.
Because cruise ship rooms are usually smaller than hotel rooms you might be used to on land, every square foot of living space matters.
In an inside room you'll often do a shuffle in order to get from one side of the room to another, but that's less an issue with a balcony.
And of course more living space makes a big difference if you're sharing the cabin with other people. Families opting to put 3 or 4 passengers in the same room will appreciate any extra space they can get.
Having your own balcony means not competing with anyone
The balcony itself is the top reason to book this type of stateroom, and it's a great perk.
When you have your own balcony, it's your own little retreat to enjoy the views as your ship sails, get a view of sail away, or enjoy outdoor space at your leisure. Plus, you can enjoy the view from inside your room too.
Best of all, you don't have to worry about someone else taking your seat.
Could be better if you're worried about motion sickness
Some people swear by booking balcony rooms if they are sensitive to motion sickness.
I've heard from other cruisers that having a balcony makes it easier to acclimate if the motion of the ocean starts to get to them. Being able to see the horizon and get fresh air are two strategies for reducing the effect of seasickness.
While there are plenty of other ways to avoid getting seasick, a balcony room offers a convenient way to readjust yourself should you start to feel off.
Why shouldn't I get a balcony cabin?
All the pros aside, there's still an extra cost associated with upgrading to a balcony. Here are some of the considerations to be mindful of.
How much time will you really spend in your room?
One truth of cruising is there is so much to do around your Royal Caribbean ship, so you may end up just using your stateroom as a place to sleep, shower, and change clothes.
If you're going to be out and about enjoying the ship, why spend extra on a balcony room?
Sure, it's nice to have a balcony, but if you aren't in the room to take advantage of it, then you're paying for something you won't really use.
The price difference between a balcony and interior room can be a lot
Sometimes the difference in price to move up to a balcony can be a lot.
While I love balcony cabins, I wouldn't pay any price for them. If an interior room is hundreds of dollars cheaper, you can make the argument that money is better spent on other things.
You'll often see the balcony price gap significantly higher on destination focused itineraries, such as Alaska. When demand is higher for balcony rooms because everyone has the notion to get one to enjoy the scenery, it drives up the price.
How much is too much? That depends on your budget, but all the benefits of a balcony stateroom can't make up for a room cost that's too expensive.
Not all balcony rooms are the same
Royal Caribbean offers balcony rooms that go beyond an ocean view, and that may not be to your liking.
Some of the bigger Royal Caribbean ships have balconies that face inwards to one of the public areas.
| Balcony Type | Description | Available On |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean View Balcony | The most common type of balcony cabin, facing the ocean with unobstructed sea views. | All ship classes |
| Obstructed Ocean View Balcony | Similar to a standard balcony but with a partially blocked view due to lifeboats or ship structure. | All ship classes |
| Central Park Balcony | Overlooks the lush, garden-like Central Park neighborhood with ambient music and restaurants below. | Oasis, Icon Class ships |
| Boardwalk Balcony | Faces the lively Boardwalk neighborhood with views of the carousel, AquaTheater, and ocean in the distance. | Oasis Class ships |
| Surfside Balcony | Faces into the Surfside neighborhood with views of the carousel, Splashaway Bay, and arcade. | Icon Class ships |
| Infinite Ocean View Balcony | Features a floor-to-ceiling window that slides down at the touch of a button to create an open-air balcony space. | Icon Class ships |
| Suites with Balcony | Part of Royal Suite Class; includes larger balconies and upgraded amenities, from Junior Suites to Royal Loft Suites. | All ship classes |
| Connecting Balcony Rooms | Two adjoining balcony staterooms with a partition that can be opened to create one shared balcony. | All ship classes |
| Sunset Balcony | Located at the back of the ship, these balconies offer a wake view and are often more spacious. | All ship classes (limited availability) |
You still get the same private balcony, but it faces into these areas. Not only can people in these neighborhoods see you, but there are balcony rooms on the opposite side of the ship facing you.
In addition to a lack of privacy, neighborhood balcony rooms can be louder than ocean balconies.
From people taking, to parties, to shows, there will be a certain level of noise that can be heard. The noise issue is really only an issue on the actual balcony, as the stateroom does a good job of muffling the sounds in my experience.
You should also know some ocean balconies might be blocked somehow by an object.
The cruise line calls these obstructed balconies, and it's often the kind of balcony room you might get if you book a guarantee balcony room.
The issue with obstructed view balcony rooms is you don't have a full range of view to see from your balcony. Depending on what percentage your view is blocked, this may or may not be an issue.
You can't smoke on your balcony
Just in case you're thinking to book a balcony to have a convenient place to smoke, that isn't allowed.
Royal Caribbean banned smoking in your cabin or on balcony rooms many years ago. Instead, there are designated smoking areas on the ship.
You'll be charged a $250 cleaning fee if you're caught smoking there.
Our advice
A balcony room is a great stateroom for almost any cruise, but it's not necessarily a slam dunk choice every time.
If the extra cost to move up to a balcony room isn't too high, I think it's a great room choice for most cruisers. Who wouldn't want a bigger room and easy access to outdoor space?
I'd caution against letting Royal Caribbean pick your balcony room if you're at all concerned about getting an obstructed view or neighborhood balcony. This is more an issue for new cruisers who aren't used to these rooms.
