Royal Caribbean created a smarter balcony cabin for families, and it's a great idea.
Legend of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's newest Icon Class ship. Among the additions and changes, including the rubber duck-themed carousel, Hollywoodland Supper Club, and Royal Railway — Legend Station, is a new category of staterooms.
Royal Caribbean introduced the Family Ocean View Balcony (Category FB) on Legend of the Seas. These spacious accommodations measure 285 square feet, with an additional 50-square-foot private balcony.
Generally speaking, these new cabins are similar to the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony staterooms. However, they have a traditional verandah, replacing the controversial infinite balcony.
According to the deck plans, Family Ocean View Balcony cabins on Legend of the Seas have space for up to six passengers. Each stateroom includes one Royal King bed (which can be converted into two twin beds), one double sofa bed, and one bunk bed with two twin-size beds.
That's not all, though. Many of the Family Ocean View Balcony cabins are connecting, so you can essentially create a "mini-suite" with significantly more space for families of up to 12.
However, instead of a connecting door inside the cabins, these cabins feature a shared vestibule with two separate entry doors. The idea is that you can close the outside doors and keep your primary cabin door open or unlocked so you can easily go between them.
As such, if you don't know the family in the other connecting cabin, you don't have to share an interior door inside your stateroom.
Here's a look at the new family balcony staterooms on Legend of the Seas.
Legend of the Seas Royal Caribbean Balcony Room: PHOTOS + COST
During Legend of the Seas' preview cruise from Málaga, Spain, Royal Caribbean Blog toured cabin #12716, which is designated as a Family Ocean View Balcony (Category FB).
Starting off, you're greeted by a long entryway. To the left are the split bathrooms. These innovative bathrooms separate the shower and bathtub from the toilet.
This makes it easier for families to get ready after a long day ashore by allowing multiple passengers to freshen up without squeezing into one small bathroom.
Another advantage of split bathrooms is that they typically provide more storage space. For example, in cabin #12716, there are six shelves, along with vanity cubbies and two sinks.
You'll find that Royal Caribbean didn't change much about the beloved Icon Class shower design, so guests can enjoy the spacious layout, glass shower door, and built-in bench.
Moving on, much of the cabin is similar to standard balconies on Legend of the Seas.
There's a flat-screen television, an expansive vanity area, two nightstands, and even a large couch that converts into a double bed.
Being a new cruise ship, there's also no shortage of charging options. The vanity alone has one standard American outlet, one European outlet, and even a USB port. There are also American outlets and USB ports conveniently located by the bedside.
Unfortunately, the storage situation is largely unchanged from other standard Icon Class staterooms.
While the stateroom offers more living and sleeping space for families, the closet and wire drawer space is on the limited side, especially considering that these rooms can accommodate up to six guests.
Of course, one of the highlights of this cabin is the balcony. Royal Caribbean's Icon Class was the first ship in the fleet (excluding Celebrity Cruises) to introduce Infinite Balconies.
Although some praise their flexibility and spacious living areas, they remain controversial, with critics claiming they're nothing more than a glorified ocean-view stateroom.
On both Icon and Star of the Seas, there were no standard Family Ocean View Balcony (FB) cabins. Instead, those who wanted ocean views had to book the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony (IB).
Legend of the Seas changes that by offering larger families a traditional balcony experience. Instead of the Infinite Balcony setup, the Family Ocean View Balcony features a true outdoor verandah where guests can step outside and enjoy the fresh ocean air.
The private 50-square-foot balcony comes with two outdoor chairs and a small table, giving families a dedicated place to relax and watch the scenery. This is especially important during the cruise ship's European season, when she'll visit bucket list ports like Barcelona, Spain, and La Spezia, Italy.
That said, perhaps the best part about this specific cruise room is the private bunk bed nook.
The innovative bunk space gives kids their own area while giving the rest of the family a little more privacy. Here, you'll find two twin-size beds, each with its own flat-screen television!
Additionally, the top bunk bed has a privacy curtain, and there are tons of smart storage solutions scattered throughout the area.
For example, there are deep shelves built into the staircase, and there are a few drawers below the bottom bunk. Moreover, there's a narrow shelf above the top bunk that provides a convenient spot to keep a tablet, phone, or other small items.
I don't know about you, but this setup is way more exciting than a standard pullman bed, and I would have loved sleeping here as a child!
So, how much do these staterooms cost? Although they aren't designated as suites, you'll still pay a pretty penny compared to standard balconies and interior cabins on Legend of the Seas.
For example, a Family Ocean View Balcony (Category FB) on Legend of the Seas' July 18, 2027, sailing from Barcelona starts at $9,054.60 for a family of four, breaking down to around $2,263 per person.
Comparatively, a standard guarantee (GTY) ocean view balcony costs $7,094.60. The roughly $2,000 price difference is significant, especially considering that European excursions are often more expensive than Caribbean alternatives.
Not only that, but families also have to factor in airfare, which can add a substantial amount to the overall cost of the vacation.
The price difference is noticeable on Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, too. On the eight-night Southern Caribbean voyage departing on December 11, 2027, a Family Ocean View Balcony starts at $9,639.92 for a family of four.
On the flip side, a standard GTY ocean view balcony on the same sailing comes in at around $6,199.92, or $1,550 per person.
For some travelers, the added space and extra sleeping arrangements may easily justify the higher cost, particularly for larger families. Others, however, may find a standard balcony cabin to be the better value for a Legend of the Seas cruise.
