I've sailed on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas four times, and compared what it was like to try a balcony cabin after a week in an Infinite Grand Suite.
The two cruises were just a few months apart, but the room itself wasn't nearly the biggest difference as what you got with the room.
No matter if it's a tiny inside room or a sprawling suite, I find I adjust to my stateroom and take advantage of what it happens to offer. There are pros and cons to any room, so I can usually rationalize the benefits of picking one cabin or another.
In just four months, I sailed twice on Star of the Seas in different staterooms, but what really changed the experience was what came with the suite.
Why I ended up trying both cabin types
The first cruise I took with my family was over Thanksgiving, and I wanted to do something special since it was their first time on the new cruise ship.
I booked an Infinite Grand Suite because it had so much space and came with extra suite class benefits.
Many of our readers know I'm a Pinnacle Club member and can get access to some suite areas of the ship, but if there are too many other Pinnacles that have a higher point total than me, I could be turned away from it. I wanted to make sure I had access.
On the second cruise over spring break, I decided to save money and book an oceanview balcony instead.
I would be risking the suite benefits access, but I'd be saving a heck of a lot of money. The cost difference was significant, and I wanted to go with a budget-friendly option.
I think my decision to book one cabin over the other is something a lot of cruisers do. Prioritizing budget or a special occasion and choosing a stateroom based on that.
What my balcony cabin experience was really like
A balcony cabin is one of my default go-to choices on almost any cruise because it's so versatile and an efficient space.
There's more living room than in an inside room, and that private balcony still feels like a big upgrade.
Usually, it doesn't "break the bank" either with the combination of value versus what you get.
What's interesting to me is how I usually look for a balcony cabin first, but I rarely spend much out there. Between everything happening onboard the ship and the weather factors outside, I don't actually go out there a lot.
I recognize others relish spending time on their balcony. I certainly don't think they're wrong.
I probably get more value from the balcony because it has plenty of natural light, and I can easily step outside to gauge the temperature or check out what's nearby.
Infinite Grand Suite was better, but that's not the whole story
Moving up to an Infinite Grand Suite, this is far from one of the largest or most impressive suites on Star of the Seas. But I think Royal Caribbean really offers one of its best uses of living space.
Walking into the Infinite Grand Suite, it felt palatial with how much more living space there was, especially if it's just two people.
You have three main sections: the bedroom, the living room, and the convertible balcony area.
Each section is massive, and because the room is so wide and so long, it really feels like you have lots of room to spread out.
The game-changer here is the infinite balcony. I used to hate them, but I changed my mind and I think it's a really smart idea. We keep our window closed the entire cruise and take back the balcony space to make it a secondary living room. It's great for getting work done, reading a book, or lounging somewhere when someone else is sprawling elsewhere.
It's a very nice room, but the real upgrade starts outside the cabin.
The special access that actually made the suite worth it
I think Royal Caribbean has outdone itself with the suite-only amenities on its Icon Class ships. While suite areas are lovely on other ships, it's been taken to a different level on Star.
I find having access to suite-only areas changes my daily routine.
I'll head up in the morning to the Suite Sun Deck because there is always space, no chair stress. Plus, having The Grove means I not only have convenient food choices, but it's a darn good selection of food too!
I love to have a pre-dinner cocktail in the Suite Lounge. While I don't think the layout of the Suite Lounge is the best in the fleet, I love when there's an actual bar to sit at and have a conversation with the bartenders or other guests.
Suite guests get complimentary beer, wine, or soft drinks from 11am to 11pm, and a happy hour in the evening. This is another added reason to book a suite instead of relying on my Pinnacle status.
And of course, having access to the Coastal Kitchen restaurant will spoil you.
I think this might be the biggest differentiator because it offers a fantastic alternative to the Main Dining Room. It's so nice having the choice between the two complimentary venues.
Another great benefit of being in a suite is how much less stress there is with crowd and lines.
On embarkation day, there's a dedicated entrance for suite guests. There is a special line for security and check-in, which means less waiting and getting onboard faster.
At each of the shows, there is reserved seating for suite guests. You still need to make a reservation, but it's great there is a special area to rely on if you're running behind schedule.
Who will feel a suite is absolutely worth it
Suites aren't inexpensive, and there's a notable difference between that and a balcony room. So to help justify the costs, I'd say certain guests might find more reason to try it.
Certainly repeat cruisers who know the "pain points" of a Royal Caribbean cruise will have a greater appreciation for having suite benefits. A newbie would enjoy it, but a repeat cruiser would find more value.
Of course, anyone that hates crowds or waiting is likely to see reason to try a suite. Suites have always been the "easy button" for cruisers that prefer to pay for an elevated experience.
And if you'll seek out these special suite-only areas, I think it will maximize the value of a suite.
Royal Caribbean offers the most suite perks on its Icon Class ships. Granted, the cost is the highest for these rooms too, but you do have more to show for it.
I expected a bigger room. What I got instead was a better cruise
A cruise is what you make of it, and I think the added perks of staying in a suite greatly enhanced my experience.
A balcony will give you a great cruise, but a suite will change how you experience it.
I'll continue to book all kinds of staterooms in the future, but I think anytime I sail on an Icon Class ship, I'll want to give a suite a strong second look.
