Would you give up a private balcony for an extra-spacious cruise room with floor-to-ceiling windows?
(Credit: Julie Collier / Facebook)
Recently, Julie Collier did just that on a cruise aboard Ovation of the Seas out of Vancouver, Canada, to Alaska.
"We were able to snag room 16138 on Ovation for June 12-19 when it opened up a few days before sailing and WOW. With floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the ship, tons of space, a full bathtub, a separate half bath, and incredible views, it’s an unbelievable cabin. We’d book it again in a heartbeat!" she shared on Facebook.
Sandwiched between two Grand Suites on Deck 16, #16138 is classified as a Category 3M Spacious Ocean View cabin and is anything but your average ocean view cruise room.
(Credit: Julie Collier / Facebook)
In reality, its generous layout, forward-facing floor-to-ceiling windows, and extra amenities make it feel much more like a suite than a standard cabin.
16138 is a hidden gem among cookie-cutter cruise cabins
(Credit: Julie Collier / Facebook)
When you walk into the unique stateroom, you're immediately greeted by an abundance of natural light — more so than most standard balcony cabins.
The wall of floor-to-ceiling windows stretches across the cabin, ensuring you have a view regardless of whether you're lying in bed or getting ready at the vanity.
These panoramic ocean views are highly sought after on Caribbean cruises. They are even more special on Alaska sailings, though, giving passengers a front-row view of the mountains and glaciers.
(Credit: Julie Collier / Facebook)
In terms of basic amenities, Collier shows that the cabin is equipped similarly to other staterooms aboard Ovation of the Seas, with a built-in vanity, closet space, a Royal King bed, flat-screen television, and multiple outlets.
However, in addition to the unique layout and windows, the bathroom further sets this special room apart. Rather than the standard single bathroom with a tiny capsule shower, this stateroom has a large bathroom with a bathtub, along with a separate half bath.
The kind of split bathroom is a huge benefit. Having two separate areas for getting ready helps make mornings and evenings feel less rushed and ensures that everyone has privacy.
(Credit: Julie Collier / Facebook)
That said, one thing to be wary about is the cabin's location.
"It’s all the way forward on Deck 16, so we feel more motion with the wind today, but honestly, we felt the motion midship today, too," Collier said. Those who suffer from serious motion sickness may want to consider a standard cabin on a lower mid-ship deck.
It's also rather close to the Vitality at Sea Fitness Center, which could be another drawback for light sleepers or anyone sensitive to noise.
(Credit: Julie Collier / Facebook)
Still, for many cruisers, the trade-offs are easy to justify when weighed against the cabin's highlights that make this room feel more like a suite — for a fraction of the price.
About Ovation of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum Class ship that launched in 2016. She measures 168,666 gross tons, 1,141 feet long, and can accommodate 4,234 passengers at double occupancy, according to the cruise line. Ovation is also home to over 1,500 international crew members.
Throughout summer 2026, Ovation will offer one-way cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seward, Alaska (and vice versa). In September, she'll return to Long Beach, California, where she'll embark on a series of voyages to Baja California and the Mexican Riviera.
Ovation of the Seas will continue to sail from California on three- to eight-night cruises through at least April 2028.
Highlights include the North Star observation capsule, indoor SeaPlex, RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, and more.
Plus, the vessel just underwent a major dry dock and returned to service with a new lineup of amenities, including the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen specialty restaurant, full-service Starbucks, Izumi Teppanyaki, an expanded casino, and a new suite lounge on Deck 14.
During her Royal Amplification, Ovation of the Seas also got over three dozen new cabins, including 16138 on Deck 16.
