Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas just received a major revamp, and I went on board to check out all the new changes. During my cruise on the massive Oasis Class ship, I stayed in the cheapest cabin available: a standard interior stateroom.
Since this was such a busy itinerary, I didn't mind saving money on my accommodations. Instead, I preferred booking a windowless inside cabin to have a more generous budget for shore excursions, local cuisine, and other travel-related expenses.
My sister tagged along with me, and we made great memories aboard Harmony of the Seas, visiting Spain and France — and to my surprise, she didn't completely hate the interior stateroom!
We booked a Category 4V Inside Stateroom months in advance through my MEI travel agent. The fare came to $1,286.74, or $643.37 per person, including gratuities.
Although pricey for a three-night cruise, I realized we'd be paying more since it was Harmony's first sailing after her multi-million dollar Royal Amplification.
In the end, the 172-square-foot cabin wasn't anything fancy, but it was a comfortable, modern retreat after long days exploring Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and Aix-en-Provence, France, and enjoying everything the newly amplified ship offered.
Harmony of the Seas Interior Room Review + Photos
My sister and I were assigned cabin 10277 weeks before our voyage. This is a standard interior stateroom located toward the aft (or back) of the vessel, just steps away from an elevator bank.
We ended up loving our cabin's location since it was easy to get to popular dining venues like the Main Dining Room and Windjammer on Deck 16.
Since breakfast and dinner were usually the first places we headed after leaving the cabin each morning or freshening up in the evening, having those venues a short elevator ride away was convenient.
Our cabin was also tucked away from the louder public areas, such as Dazzles, which helped it feel quiet and relaxing at night.
Moving on, the layout of my 172-square-foot cruise room was nearly identical to the one I stayed in on Quantum of the Seas a few years back, minus the virtual balcony.
There were two twin-sized beds (that could have been combined to create one queen-sized bed), a vanity, dresser, closet, safe, mini-fridge, flat-screen television, two nightstands, full-length mirror, and a small chair tucked into the corner of the cabin.
We used the mini-fridge to keep our water bottles cool, so we'd return to the ship to ice-cold drinks waiting for us in the cabin.
Because we spent so little time in the cabin besides showering and sleeping, the TV was not something we used very often. Still, my sister mentioned she wished it could swivel more, since she had an awkward viewing angle from her bed.
As a newer cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas' staterooms are outfitted with plenty of charging options, including standard American and European outlets, along with USB ports.
There's also one American outlet on the right side of the bed (when facing it). However, the opposite side does not have one. This means you should come prepared with an extra-long charging cord or portable charger.
Moreover, I wish the cabin had a small loveseat instead of a chair. We did appreciate having the extra seating area, especially since my sister is a stickler about not getting into bed until she’s showered, but when used as a catch-all place, there was not much room left to comfortably sit.
Now, let's talk storage. For a basic inside cabin, the storage space was fine. There was a dresser with five drawers and one cabinet, which housed the room's mini-fridge. Additionally, one of the drawers was already occupied by items like a box of tissues and the hairdryer, which left it fairly unusable for personal storage.
Still, we both agreed that for those on longer voyages, there would be more than enough storage to keep everything organized and tidy.
The closet, for example, was spacious and had six deep cubbies — perfect for things like shoes, bags, folded clothes, and other essentials. This is also where you'll find the cabin's safe.
Although we did not fully unpack during our three-night cruise, we did take advantage of the ample hanging space to keep our dresses from getting wrinkled.
That said, we could have easily unpacked and had room to spare, especially since the closet came equipped with nearly two dozen hangers.
Finally, the stateroom's bathroom was cramped but perfectly sufficient for daily use, with everything laid out efficiently to make the most of the small space.
The long sink vanity made getting ready in the mornings easier, especially since my sister often took over the cabin vanity area before I was up and showered.
The shelves also provided a good amount of storage for toiletries and cosmetics. Plus, there were two hooks on the back of the bathroom door, which allowed me to keep my hanging toiletries organizer within reach.
I also appreciated the two shelves in the shower, as this gave us both dedicated space for our shampoo, conditioner, and face wash. Some ships only provide a single small shelf, which I find frustrating.
That said, the shower did not have the best water pressure, and the water temperature was inconsistent. We quickly discovered that if we showered after 9:00 p.m., there would be chilly bursts. As such, my sister began showering before dinner each night.
On the plus side, the shower was surprisingly spacious. The rounded capsule design (with no clingy, gross curtain) helped it feel more open than a typical cruise shower, and it was easy to move around without feeling boxed in or knocking my elbows on the wall.
Like other Royal Caribbean cabins, the bathroom didn't come stocked with a ton of toiletries — just the basic Salt + Breeze hair and body wash, along with a bar of soap.
Was my Harmony of the Seas inside cabin worth it?
For this cruise, I'm glad we didn't shell out more money on a balcony cabin. All we wanted was a clean, modern, and comfortable place to reset between busy port days and all the onboard activities — and our 172-square-foot stateroom provided just that.
Beyond sleeping, showering, and getting ready, we spent very little time in the cabin. As such, the lack of natural light or private outdoor space never felt like a drawback.
That said, there were a few minor quirks, such as the wacky water temperature and awkward TV placement, but nothing that impacted the overall experience in a make-or-break way.
In the end, I'd happily stay in another inside cabin aboard Harmony of the Seas, especially since Oasis Class cruises are less about the stateroom experience and more about everything happening around the ship and ashore.
