A balcony is the most popular cabin on a cruise ship, but you don't want to pay for one if it's going to disappoint you.

The last thing you probably want is to wake up each morning looking at a lifeboat, or be kept awake each night by music.

Most people imagine their balcony room will have unfettered views of the ocean and be a private retreat to enjoy every day.

The reality is not all balcony cabins are created equal, and you could end up with a balcony room that's disappointing.

When I booked a Junior Suite on Freedom of the Seas, I was disappointed when I got onboard the ship to see cleaning equipment blocking my view.

I thought my balcony would be a great choice, but I didn't pay close enough attention to the partial obstruction note.

The top balcony cabin letdowns

There are three kinds of balcony cabins I'd think twice before booking.

An obstructed balcony is the first kind that almost always results in a letdown.  This is defined as a balcony that has some structure blocking the view.

It could be because of lifeboats, equipment, or partial overhangs.

Royal Caribbean's deck plans should indicate if a balcony is obstructed, and at what percentage.  You should refer to the deck plans before choosing a cabin. Or see if there's a YouTube cabin video for your specific room.

Another kind of bad balcony cabin is a noisy balcony.

Cabins under the pool deck, nightclub, Windjammer, or near the AquaTheater can all get pretty loud at certain times of the day.

This is more problematic for light sleepers, or anyone that prefers to go to bed early or sleep late. Unexpected sounds emanating from outside the cabin at odd hours can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule.

On one cruise I stayed in a balcony cabin near the Centrum on Jewel of the Seas and the music kept us awake every night.

How loud a cabin is won't show up on deck plans, but I'd recommend always booking a cabin that is located one deck above and below other cabins.

The further away the room is from public spaces, the less likely noise bleed will be an issue as well.

Lastly, some balcony rooms have a lack of privacy that can be alarming.

Neighborhood balconies are cabins that face inwards towards the ship, rather than out to the ocean. Examples include Boardwalk, Surfside, or Central Park balconies.

The issue is people walking by the room or passengers in cabins opposite your room can see directly into your cabin if the curtains aren't drawn.

The good news is these rooms are great for people watching, but not so much for private lounging.

People often book these cabins because of one choice

If you're thinking how could someone be so naive to book those balcony rooms, the reality is they probably booked them indirectly.

Royal Caribbean offers customers a money-saving option by letting the cruise line pick their cabin assignment with a guarantee room.

You could save hundreds of dollars by going with a guarantee cabin assignment, but it's a gamble as to which room you'll get.

Quite often guarantee rooms default to the leftover rooms others didn't pick.

The same holds true for bidding for a stateroom upgrade.

The entire premise of RoyalUp is to allow passengers to pay less to move up to unsold rooms or ones that got cancelled at the last minute.

There's nothing wrong with saving money and getting a great deal on a better cruise room upgrade.  Just understand you might end up in one of these rooms.

Know the differences before booking these "balconies"

There are three more types of rooms that are variations on a traditional balcony that I'd caution you to fully understand why they aren't what you might expect.

None of these cabins should be avoided, per se. Instead, I'd recommend fully comprehending what these rooms are all about before you book.

One of the cheapest rooms you can book is a virtual balcony, where you have a floor-to-ceiling high-definition screen showing live views from outside your room.

I'd argue virtual balcony rooms aren't a replacement for a regular balcony. Rather, they're upgrades from a regular inside room.

A new type of balcony introduced on the Icon Class ships is an infinite balcony.

The idea is the balcony space is convertible, with a sliding glass window that opens up to provide a breeze and view.

In reality, the infinite balcony is more like a room with a window than a room with a true balcony that you can step onto and peer around.

Families tend to like these rooms more because it provides more living space, especially with young children.

Lastly, if you aren't booking both sides of a connecting balcony room, I'd skip them.

I love connecting balcony rooms as a money saving hack for my family, but the common door between the rooms is not very good for abating noise, and that can be a problem if you don't know the people on the other side of the door.

The best Royal Caribbean balcony cabins to look for instead

Now that you know which balcony cabins aren't so great, here are the types of balcony rooms I'd book instead.

People that cruise a lot swear by aft-facing balcony rooms, which are balconies on the back of the ship.

They're usually larger and have incredible wake views.  They're definitely better on Royal Caribbean's older ships, like Vision or Radiance Class vessels.

Another good idea is to book a balcony cabin mid-ship, instead of one at the very front of the ship. This location tends to be the most stable and offer the least sensation of movement.

A lot of first time cruisers want to avoid getting seasick at any cost, so picking a room in the middle is best for this.

One other kind of balcony cabin to look for when you're reviewing deck plans are cabins with angled balconies.

Some corner rooms have more space without extra cost and can be a great choice.

When it's actually better to book an inside room instead of a balcony

There's another kind of balcony disappointment that can occur, and it has nothing to do with your room location.

If you book a cruise on one of the biggest ships, or perhaps a very port intensive itinerary, you're barely going to be in your room because of all the fun things to do outside of it.

I've often heard from readers who liked their balcony room, but lamented how little time they spent inside of it.

And of course there's buyer's regret, when you pay inflated prices due to demand for a balcony room.

Spending extra money on cabin amenities you won't really take advantage of can be a compelling reason to book a cheaper inside room instead.

Research your room to avoid days of regret

It's pretty easy to book the right balcony for your family if you spend a little bit of time researching the right option.

Booking the right balcony adds serious value to your cruise, and can be a wonderful space to enjoy every day.

Ultimately, you want your balcony to be a highlight, not a headache.  Now that you have the right information, you should be able to get the perfect one on your next cruise.

You have a Royal Caribbean cruise booked, but what if you want to add someone to your reservation?

It's fairly common to have travel plans change, especially when trying to plan a vacation many months in advance.

Royal Caribbean cruise fares are priced out per person, and each person has their own cost within any cabin.  Sometimes a Kids Sail Free deal can negate the fare for children, but there are restrictions in place too.

If you want to add someone to your cruise, the ability to do so and associated cost truly depend on a few different conditions. Sometimes, it's not possible and other times it may incur hefty costs.

How to add additional people to your Royal Caribbean cabin

In order to add someone to your cabin, there are a few prerequisites:

• The change must be made before the ship's manifest is finalized (usually about 72 hours before the cruise begins)
• The cabin must be designated as being able to accommodate the total capacity of your party
• There must be enough life boat spaces for the new person

Changes are allowed up until a few days before a cruise begins, but you may find other issues preventing it from going forward with the change.

Each Royal Caribbean cabin has a maximum capacity. Regardless if you think you could fit that person into the room, it's impossible to add additional people beyond that particular cabin's capacity.

The number of passengers allowed in a room is linked to the number of seats in life rafts and muster stations.

As an example, if you originally booked an oceanview balcony cabin designed for two people but want to add a third person, you'd have to upgrade to a different category oceanview balcony cabin that can accommodate three people.

Whether your cabin can handle the additional person or not, you're going to incur a new cost.  Often, that cost can be prohibitively expensive.

When you make a change to a reservation and add someone, you will have to pay the prevailing rate and not the rate you booked everyone else at originally.

Even if you're making the change sufficiently before the cruise begins and you're okay with the price change, it may not be possible to add someone to a reservation because of maritime law.

If the lifeboat capacity for your muster station is full, Royal Caribbean would not allow you to add that extra person. Regulations related to safety at sea is quite strict, and cruise ships cannot load in more people than can be safely handled in case of an emergency.

Assuming there's no issues with any of these restrictions, then you can add the extra person to your reservation.

You would have to pay for the extra person's deposit and cruise fare, as well as port fees and taxes.

The simplest thing to do is call Royal Caribbean or your travel agent and ask them if it's possible and what the cost would be.

You'll need to call Royal Caribbean or your travel agent to make this sort of a change.  It cannot be done online.

Swapping people is very easy

If you just want to change one person for another, then this is quite easy.

You can always name swap people without any change fees or extra costs as long as it's done before the ship's manifest is submitted and at least one person from the original reservation remains on the booking.

You just have to have your travel agent make the name change, and it's usually quite an easy task.

Usually extra passengers cost less overall

One silver lining to adding extra passengers is they probably won't cost as much as you did to book.

Royal Caribbean's cruise fares are based on double occupancy, and the bulk of the cost is centered around the first two passengers in a cabin.

Often the price for third, fourth, or more people in the same cabin drops quite a lot.

The catch is if you change cabins.

If you booked a cabin for two people and now want to add a third person to your room, you'd have to upgrade your cabin to a higher category that can accommodate three people.

Cabins for two are plentiful and the most common type of cabin on the ship.  There are less cabins for three people, and because they sell out faster, prices tend to be higher.

In fact, this is why sometimes an inside cabin for three people costs more than a balcony cabin for two people.  Revenue management software automatically adjusts rates based on supply and demand principles. 

When many interior cabins are booked because demand is high, it's quite common to see rates increase to the point they are equal to or more than ocean view and sometimes even balcony rates. 

Adding people if you bid for a cabin upgrade

Let's assume you win a bid to upgrade your cabin to a lovely larger cruise ship cabin with the RoyalUp program.  Could you add an additional guest since you now have more space?

The good news is you can add people to your bigger room after winning a RoyalUp bid, but it's considered a reprice when adding people so it would be at the prevailing room rate.

Moreover, if you had another cabin booked prior to the bid, you can't just combine your two bookings into the new one you got with the upgrade. 

Of course, the people booked in the second room could remain in that room "on paper", but sleep and enjoy the nicer room with you.

Alternatives to adding someone to your cabin

Besides trying to add someone to your room, there are other options you could explore.

Booking an additional room is one option, and depending on prevailing rates and how many unsold cabins there are left, this could be feasible.

Even if you're trying to add a minor, they're allowed in a room by themselves if that room is adjacent or connecting to the parent's room.

If not, this might be a good opportunity to bring granny or another adult since the price for one person or two people in a standard cabin is going to be about the same price because of the single supplement fee charged to solo cruisers.

Another idea is to simply upgrade everyone to a suite.

Even after final payment date, Royal Caribbean is usually good about allowing you to spend more money and move up to a higher cost cabin.

Suites often have the highest capacity of any single cabin. Of course, a suite won't be cheap, especially if you're trying to do this closer to your sail date. Plus, suites tend to sell out first.

I started booking rooms on lower decks instead (less dependence on elevators, convenient to walk to dining rooms and promenade, a little cheaper)

Unlike hotels on land, you can pick if room is on a higher or lower level of the cruise ship.

The more I've cruised, the less I've cared about which deck my cabin is on, but I definitely stopped paying extra to be on a higher deck.

I cruise on a monthly basis, and that affords me the time to get on ships and my views have definitely changed as to which deck I prefer to be on.

Like many aspects of a cruise, the better option depends on your needs and tastes. But if someone is brand new to a cruise and wants to know if it's better to be on high or low on a cruise ship, I'd recommend a lower one for a few reasons.

I thought having a better view mattered

I always wanted cabins on a high deck when I started cruising because I equated it like a hotel building, where the better view on a higher floor is worth it every time.

What I discovered as I cruised was the view you had wasn't as important as I thought.

One truth of any cabin is I find I spend very little time in it.  Cruise ships have so much to do onboard that I'm drawn away to the activities.

The result is your cruise cabin is usually for sleeping, showering, and changing. That realization was the first step in rethinking where my room would be.

Something else I noticed when I'd visit someone else's cabin is the difference in view between a higher deck and a lower deck really isn't that much different.

Cruise ships are big, but they're not skyscrapers either. I just don't think you're getting that much more elevation to make a significant difference.

Probably the top reason I started to rethink a cabin on a high deck is the dependence you'll have on elevators.

Other than Icon of the Seas, the elevators on all cruise ships get crowded and in-demand quite quickly. 

Waiting for an elevator is a gamble each time if you'll get one soon or end up waiting for what seems like forever.  Royal Caribbean's Product Development team calls this "microwave minutes" because the time you wait in front of a microwave to make food always seems to take forever.

Obviously I can, and have, taken the stairs to bypass the elevator.  But there are situations where that's nearly impossible, like when you get back on the ship after a shore excursion and you're on deck 1 and need to get to your cabin on deck 12. 

I started booking rooms on lower decks instead

That dependence on elevators was probably the impetus to try a cabin on a lower deck.

A few years ago I was sailing on Mariner of the Seas and told me travel agent I'd like a room closer to the Royal Promenade.  I ended up with a cabin on deck 6, just one room up from the Promenade.

It felt strange, but I instantly fell in love with its location.

I was able to walk and take the stairs to the Royal Promenade, Main Dining Room, Theater, Schooner Bar, and Casino without needing to wait for an elevator.

I found it so convenient to be able to get to my room when I needed.

The real benefit of a higher deck cabin is the pool

If there's one good reason to book a room on a higher deck, it's to be close to the pool deck.

Royal Caribbean always has its pool up on the highest decks.  The same is true for the Windjammer buffet, and even the kids club can be found near the pools on nearly all ships.

If you're someone that loves to spend a lot of time around the pool, there's a compelling reason to pick a cabin on a high deck.

When my kids were younger, it was undeniably convenient to have the buffet and Adventure Ocean close by.  When we cruised on Anthem of the Seas and Adventure Ocean is on the same deck as guest cabins on deck 14, it felt like we had such a convenience being there.

Someone that loves to spend most of their day near the pool might find the convenience factor  of being near the pool a good reason to be on a higher deck.

Plus, being on a high deck means you are also closer to specialty restaurants, fun activities, and the jogging track.

Itinerary matters

I would book a cabin on a higher deck if I was sailing to Alaska or the Norwegian fjords.

Part of what makes these itineraries special is the fact you get to sail past waterfalls, glaciers, and into fjords. 

The best place to see the view is up on the pool deck on a high deck.  Being at a higher vantage point truly makes a difference.

In Alaska, so many times you'll be compelled to run up and see what you're passing next.  It's far easier to do this if your cabin is just a deck or two away from the pool.

In the Caribbean, I think it matters less having that view.  

Is it bad to be on a really low deck?

Some cruisers are concerned with being booked in a cabin on the lowest decks, such as a cabin on deck 2.

Rooms on a low deck near the waterline are often the cheapest in price, and that makes some people question why.

You'll only find inside and oceanview cabins on the lowest decks.  Balcony cabins don't usually start appearing until perhaps deck 6. Since there are only small cabins here, they're going to cost less.

Similar to a cabin on a very high deck, you're far more dependent on the elevator on deck 2 to get around the ship.

You're less likely to get seasick on a low deck

This is a generalization, but you're less likely to get motion sick on a lower deck than a higher deck.

The best place to be to minimize the effects of seasickness are on a low deck, midship. 

That isn't to say you're automatically going to get seasick if you book a cabin near the top of the ship.  Rather, if the ship is rocking, the feeling might be less noticeable if your room is closer to a low deck.

If you're sensitive to motion, it might be worse on a high deck, if you're not, then it probably won't be noticeable to you anyway.

There's not as much difference as you'd think

I've spelled out the major considerations, but don't overthink the issue as I don't think being higher or lower on a cruise ship matters as much as new cruisers think it does.

All decks have their reasons to book it or not.  I'd pay more attention to the cabins to avoid booking than the specific deck number. There are definitely better cabin locations to consider than the exact deck.

In some cases, you won't have a choice.  Suites are almost always located at a very high deck, whereas inside cabins tend to be on lower decks.  

Getting a good night's sleep is important, even on a cruise vacation.

I usually sleep very well on Royal Caribbean ships, but admittedly, I prefer a firm mattress. 

Everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to beds, so I'm not surprised when some people claim the beds are too firm to their taste.

Longtime cruisers know there's a special request you can make if you need another option, but you need to know to ask for it.

You can ask for a mattress topper

If your cruise ship cabin bed is too hard, you can ask your stateroom attendant for a mattress topper.

There's a limited supply of these, where the stateroom attendant will place one underneath your bed sheets to provide a little more padding.

While it won't transform your bed into a heavenly fluffy pillow, it might help just a little. Cruisers have described them as a very thick quilt, an egg foam mattress topper, or a mattress pad.

Some ships do actually have a memory foam pad. All ships have different toppers sometimes its an egg crate, sometimes its the nice foam ones.

It's been my experience has been if you find the mattress is too hard, asking for a topper has been worth asking for.

The problem is they can run out, so you'll need to act quickly.

There's only a limited supply, and after the first night on the ship, enough people will complain to probably get one.

There's no cost to ask for one, but you need to act quickly.

You can request a mattress topper before your cruise begins

While I've always waited to ask for a mattress topper once onboard, you could submit the request before the cruise begins.

Royal Caribbean has a special needs form that you can fill out up to 30 days before your cruise begins.  This form is really meant for medical needs, but it allows for a mattress topper too.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected] with the request.

Their response will be something like this:

"Thank you for contacting the Access Department regarding the accommodations for your upcoming cruise.

To accommodate your back conditions, we will provide a two-inch-thick micro-fiber pillow top at no additional cost. This item will be placed in your stateroom on the day of sailing. Please note, we no longer provide egg crate mattresses for sanitary reasons."

You just need to provide your ship name, sail date, and reservation number.

DIY approach

If they run out, you could make your bed a little more comfortable with a spare comforter.

You can ask your stateroom attendant for an extra blanket to put under the sheet, and that will provide a little extra cushion.

It's a good alternative if they run out of toppers by the time you ask.

Bring one from home

Rather than play a game of roulette with which topper you'll get, some cruisers have begun bringing their own.

"You can bring your own on! I recommend getting a space bag and a hand pump so you can make it really small to fit in your luggage," is what pundromeda recommends.

Another cruiser shared their strategy of bringing their own, "We bring our own (2 twins). The room steward is happy to put it on the bed for us. At the end of the cruise, we just roll them up and put them in their own duffle bag. Ready for next cruise."

While I've never brought my own, many cruisers recommend the Klymit sleeping pad as an option. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission if you buy it)

You can also ask for a fan

Something else that might help you sleep better is to ask your stateroom attendant for a fan.

A fan can serve two purposes: cooling you down and providing white noise.

Royal Caribbean won't let you bring appliances on a cruise ship for fire hazard reasons, but they do have fans you can borrow.

There's a limited supply of large standing fans that guests can use for the duration of the cruise.

Alternatively, you could bring a USB powered fan, such as this one. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission if you buy it)

Suite guests get softer mattresses

Something else worth noting is if you're in a suite on some ships, you can expect a better mattress.

As part of the Royal Suite Class benefits available on the Oasis, Icon, and Quantum Class cruise ships, Royal Caribbean includes "Luxury Pillow Top Mattress and Linen" in the cabin.

It's available for Sea, Sky, and Star Class rooms.

I've been taking my kids on cruise ships since they were young enough to cruise, and it's taught me a few lessons about which cabin is the best.

Going on vacation anywhere as a family presents its own sets of challenges, but I've found cruise ships to be the best way for our family to get away.  As the kids have grown up, the ship experience has evolved to match our needs.

Over the years I've booked us in different cruise rooms for different reasons and at this point, my wife and I agree there's only option that works for us and our kids and it's definitely not stuffing all of us into one room, especially the cheapest cabin I can find.

I know exactly why parents would lean towards booking the lowest category room as a way to keep costs down. But after staying with my kids in small inside rooms, massive suites, and a few in-between, it's become clear to me going cheap in one room is never worth it.

Based on my experiences, here are a couple of the rooms I've tried and the one I'd recommend

All of us in an inside room

When my kids were younger, I'd usually book a small, interior room because it was cheap.

You can book these cabins that have no windows or balcony and can sleep up to four people.  There's almost always beds that come down from the ceiling or wall for the third and fourth passenger.

These cabins are tight fits, as most inside rooms come in at about 164 square feet of space. A standard interior cabin on Icon of the Seas is 156 square feet, or 178 square feet if you move up to a spacious interior cabin.

If you're cruising with toddlers, sure, a small inside room works fine, but it's incredible how much space the pack 'n play, stroller, and all the baby supplies take up.

We used to joke about putting the crib in the closet if we had a spacious interior room because it would get a lot of things out of the way. Don't worry, we never did.

Besides trying not to trip over everything and everyone in the room, the sleeping situation is less than ideal. When your kids are very young, we felt we had to keep the room quiet and dark when the children were ready for bed, and then that meant my wife and I "playing the quiet game".  

As the kids got older, the bigger issue arose and that's sharing one bathroom and one shower. Kids are okay with this when they are young, but as they get older, they seem to take an hour each in there.

I get why parents would choose to put everyone in one room to save money, especially if you're trying to cruise on a budget.

However, families with older kids (especially teens) should avoid trying to cram everyone into an interior cabin because of the lack of space and privacy.

A big suite

While a small interior room is a no-go, what about a big suite? Surely all that extra space would solve the problem.

I thought this was the solution when I took my family on Icon of the Seas for a summer cruise, and we booked the Icon Loft Suite.

This is a massive two-level suite that even has two bathrooms. We're still sharing the suite with my kids, but they're on the lower level on the pull out sofa and my wife and I upstairs on the bed.

This approach did solve the sharing a bathroom problem we had with all of us in an interior room, but we're still sharing one room.

My oldest child is a teenager and the younger one is almost there, and both of them love to sleep in and have their privacy.

I don't think book a mega suite is a bad idea for families, but we definitely overpaid for that second bathroom and extra space. This suite cost $5,000 per night, and it wasn't the ideal solution in the grand scheme of things.

All of us enjoyed the perks of staying in a big suite, such as priority embarkation, access to suite only areas, and the services of the Royal Genie.  Heck, the Genie alone was arguably worth the cost.

And there are other suites that have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, such as the Aquatheater Suite, but they're still super expensive too.

Connecting staterooms offer privacy and plenty of space

For the money, the best choice for a family is to book two connecting rooms.

We usually book connecting balcony cabins, but we've stayed in connecting interior cabins too.

When we went on Liberty of the Seas this summer to Bermuda, I booked us in connecting balcony cabins.

The reason why connecting rooms work so well is it addresses the three major things families need in their cruise accommodations: space, privacy, and value.

Having two separate cabins means you're not climbing over as many people, and even the smallest cabins are manageable with just two people in there.

No matter how old your kids are, there's enough space there too.

Privacy is also perfect with connecting rooms as you have a common door between the rooms.  When the kids want to sleep in, play a game, or call their friends, they have that.  Plus, they have their own beds and aren't sleeping on a pull out sofa.

And the second cabin comes with its own full bathroom, so there's less fighting over the shower.  Notice I said "less" because the kids still fight, but at least it's not among the four of us.

Booking two cabins is usually much cheaper than a suite. In fact, booking two rooms is not as expensive as you might think, especially if you book connecting interior rooms.

When we have connecting balcony rooms, we can not only open and close the connecting door inside the room, but also the balcony dividers. You can't do this on all Royal Caribbean ships, but most support it now.

Compared to trying to put all of us in a single inside room, the extra cost was completely worth the price increase.

Your cruise ship cabin is your "home away from home", but there are a few important housekeeping tasks you should do to make ensure a great sailing.

Because you're going to be living in your stateroom for a week or more, I think it's important to take care of a few potential issues up front. Moreover, you'll get it out of the way quicker so you can enjoy your time on the ship.

While cruise cabins come in different categories, sizes, and prices, there are a core set of steps I do on every cruise I take, regardless of the room I'm in.

I think knocking them out quickly on embarkation day as soon as I walk in is the best approach, and that way I get to relaxing quicker.

Here's my list of 15 things everyone should do when they get to their cabin on a cruise.

Adjust Thermostat

If I'm being honest, the first thing I do after I open the door to my cabin is check the room's thermostat setting.

You have control in your room to set the air conditioning or heat level. On newer Royal Caribbean ships, you can pick the actual temperature, whereas older ships have a slider.

In warmer months, I find it critical to set the thermostat to the coldest temperature simply because anything less and the room feels too hot.  This is especially true if you have a balcony room where the sun radiating in heats the cabin more quickly than an inside room.

It's not uncommon for the room to be too hot or too cold when you get in, so I adjust it when I walk in. Making it as cold as possible is my secret to sleeping better on a cruise ship.

Inspect the Cabin

I think you'll naturally do this, but scan the room visually to ensure it's what you're expecting.

You'll want to identify any cleanliness or maintenance issues early. Royal Caribbean has a team of maintenance workers that live on the cruise ship. They can be dispatched to deal with issues, large or small.

To be fair, there's a good chance everything will work as you expect, but it's good to take a good "once over" to look through and verify it's all functional and clean.

If there are any issues, pick up the stateroom phone and dial the Maintenance or Housekeeping extension.  Your phone should have a dedicated quick dial button for it.

Unpack Essentials

Unpacking may seem trivial, but I find unpacking a necessary evil so that I'm not living out of a suitcase for the duration of my cruise.

While I have lived out of my suitcase, when I take the time to unpack, I feel far more liberated from clutter in the room.  Plus, it's always so much easier to find my stuff if I actually put it away.

There are drawers, closets, and hangers in your room and you can use all of them. I think you'll be impressed by how much storage space there is on Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships.

One tip is to try to keep your clothes away from the life jackets that are probably in your closet.  The life jackets have a tendency to smell a little bit, and that odor could get onto nearby clothes.

Hang Formal Wear

Speaking of unpacking, you'll want to use the hangers in the closet to get your formal clothes out from the suitcase.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise has at least one formal night, although these days the cruise line calls it "Dress Your Best".  It's the same difference, really.

Plus, there are other themed nights, like Red night, White Night, or Caribbean night. If you brought special clothing for these evenings, you'll want to get it unfolded to reduce creases.

There are usually more than enough hangers in your closet, but ask your room attendant if you need more.

"How do I know what the themed nights will be on my cruise?"

Royal Caribbean doesn't communicate theme nights in advance for some reason, but one easy way to figure out the themed nights is to refer to a past Cruise Compass.

Also, the Royal Caribbean app will eventually update a few days before your cruise begins with the information, but if you want to buy something fun, a Cruise Compass will get you more time to work with.

Store your luggage under your bed

There's just enough space under your bed to fit most luggage, and it's my favorite cruise tip for reducing clutter.

Unless you have more luggage than our message board moderator Lovetocruise2002, you should be able to fit them under the bed.  Stacking luggage inside each other works for most people.

You could alternatively put your luggage in the closet, but under the bed is out of sight. And that's probably the least utilized amount of space in your cabin.

Decorate Your Door

Did you know a lot of cruisers bring decorations with them for their cabin door to celebrate that they're on vacation?

You'll need to plan ahead to do this, but you can bring signs, magnets, pictures, and just about anything else to put on your door. Just make sure you don't use any tape or other adhesives.  Magnets work well to hold everything up.

Some ideas for your door decorations include your names, a sign celebrating a special occasion, battery powered Christmas lights, a whiteboard, or anything else creative.

Secure Important Documents

Once in your stateroom, I'll put my passports and travel papers into the safe.

The safe is usually hidden in a closet or drawer, and you just have to set a four digit code to open and close it.

I'll put my passports, car keys, wallet, cash, and any other valuables in there. I always put my wallet in there, and then just carry my SeaPass card and a little bit of cash for tipping or the casino.  It's very liberating to not have my wallet on me.

The safe usually is big enough for small electronics too, but I rarely put mine in there.  

Check Your Balcony or Window

Just like inside your cabin, verify your balcony or window is as you'd expect it.

Ensure doors easily open and close, and the locks function properly.

If you have a balcony, make sure the chair and table are there and it too works as you want.  

In my experience, there's rarely ever a problem, but now is the time to take care of it because you'll probably want to enjoy it for sailaway when the ship departs your homeport.

If you booked connecting balconies, double check the balcony divider is open, and if it's not, ask your stateroom attendant to open it for you.

Test Outlets

Another step in the inspection process of your cabin is that the outlets all work.

I cannot recall a time when an outlet didn't work, but you never know.  The last thing you'd want to do is later be ready for sleep only to realize you can't charge your phone.

Check the Bathroom

If there's one place that I've had the most maintenance issues, it's the bathroom.

When I sailed on Serenade of the Seas in a tiny inside cabin, the toilet didn't work for the first few hours of the cruise.  As I went to the hallway to find my cabin attendant, there was already a crew member there working on the issue.

My checklist in the bathroom of things to check includes:

• Verify the toilet flushes
• Verify there is hot water
• Verify the sink works
• Verify the shower door/curtain works

If you have more than 340 points in Crown and Anchor Society, you're supposed to get upgraded toiletries in the room. I'd say 75% of the time they're there, so it's something to check.

Set Up Sleep Preferences

Every cruise ship cabin has the choice of splitting the bed that's in there into two beds.

You can specify this on your cruise reservation, but sometimes that request doesn't get fulfilled.  Or you might have changed your mind.

You don't have to do anything yourself, because the cabin attendant can arrange this for you.

Likewise, if you have a couch that turns into a bed, you can let the cabin attendant know if they should leave the sofa bed in "sleep mode" all day.  My kids prefer it this way when they cruise so they can lounge or nap easier.

Introduce Yourself to Your Cabin Attendant

I've mentioned the cabin attendant throughout this article, and they're going to be a great asset during your sailing.

Cabin attendants aren't available when you first get to your room, but right around 3pm or so, they should start to filter in and introduce themselves.

Usually they will come to you and knock on your door to introduce themselves. They'll ask how everything is in the room and what preferences you might have.

They're responsible for many cabins on your deck, so they may get busy with other rooms. Nonetheless, you'll want to make sure you talk to them on the first day.

One important question they will have for you is what time of day you want your cabin cleaned.

Royal Caribbean offers the choice of morning or evening service for cabins for balcony rooms or lower categories.  Junior Suites and higher rooms get twice a day cleaning, so there's nothing to decide.

It's a bit controversial, but some cruisers will actually tip their cabin attendant on the first day as a kind of "thank you for everything you're about to do", but I don't prescribe to that theory.

I prefer to wait until the end of the sailing to tip my cabin attendant, almost always on the final morning.

If you ever have any issues or concerns about your stateroom, this is the crew member to talk to. 

Your cabin attendant usually gives you their card, which has their phone number on it.  Keep that handy for any issues that may arise. I place it on the mirror of the vanity in the room so it's easy to find. Plus, it has their name on it so you can remember their name.

Check your loyalty offers

Did you know that if you've cruised at least once you have special discounts and offers?

There's a sheet that will be left on the desk in your cabin with a list of all the discounts and deals you can take advantage of.  

There's no coupon or anything to bring with you, it's just a reminder of what you have available. Basically, you need to remember to ask the crew member to activate it when ordering.

As an example, there are discounts on beer, spa treatments, photo packages, and more.

Put drinks in the fridge

Royal Caribbean lets you bring up to 12 bottles of water or any non-alcoholic beverage on the cruise, so put them in the fridge.

Plus, if you're a Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle Club member, you might have opted in to get complimentary bottles of water or soft drinks.  By default, these are left out on your vanity and they're not cold.

You can put them in the fridge (it's more of a cooler, but I digress) so they're chilled.  Plus, it clears up clutter on your desk or around the room.

Finish your muster drill

If by the point you got into your cabin you have not completed the ship's safety drill, now is the time to get it done.

I prefer to knock out the eMuster when I first board the ship but "I'm on a cruise!" drinks wait for no one.  But you need to do it before the ship sails away, so get it done now.

The drill consists of three parts. The first two, watching a lifejacket safety video and listening to the emergency horn, can be done via the Royal Caribbean app. You can actually do these two steps even before you're on the ship the morning of embarkation day.  We usually do it on the drive to the cruise terminal.

The final step is to go to your muster station to check-in.  On the back of the cabin door is a sign indicating where your muster station is.  It's also located within the "Safety" section of the Royal Caribbean app.

Getting a better cruise ship cabin is a fun way to make your vacation even more exciting, in part, because you'll get more space and maybe even more amenities.

I will often book a cruise in a certain category room, but as the cruise gets closer, reconsider my cabin choice.  

Moving up to a better cabin might be a reflection of extra cash to splurge, a lower-than-expected price, or a change in our family's needs. It could just be a whim, but whatever the reason, it's a fun feeling to (try and) get a better cabin.

Here's everything you need to know about upgrading your cabin on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Upgrading your room the traditional way

The simplest and most straightforward way to upgrade your cabin is to ask your travel agent to do it.  Or if you booked with Royal Caribbean directly, give them a call.

You'll compare the price you originally paid to the price of the better cabin, and pay the difference.

Royal Caribbean claims you can make these sort of changes up until the final payment date, but in my experience, they'll always take more money if you want to spend more.  Any payments or deposits you've previously made can be applied to the new reservation.

Upgrading in this fashion means you're subject to the prevailing rates and, there could be different booking incentives too.

Ideally, you'll try this method as early as possible because cabins book up closer to your sail date. Likewise, prices go up as more cabins are sold.  The chances of a last-minute cheap upgrade are unlikely, but not unheard of either.

It's not a bad idea to re-check cabin prices a day or two after the final payment date to see if any cabins returned to inventory because someone missed final payment or cancelled.

The easiest way to see if there's a room available to upgrade to is to do a mock booking on Royal Caribbean's website and see what comes up.  

Prices can change at any time, and inventory moves in real-time.  So you could very well spot a good price, call in the upgrade, but realize the room is no longer available. Be sure to act quickly.

One major advantage of this strategy is you get to pick the specific cabin and location, ensuring you know which room you are getting before paying. Unless, of course, you book a guaranteed cabin.

The disadvantage of upgrading your room in the traditional manner is you are limited to which rooms are available at that moment and whatever prevailing rates.  Plus, as you get closer to the sailing, it's less likely there will be cabins to move up to, especially balcony rooms or suites.

Bidding to upgrade your cabin

Another way to move up to a nicer room is to tell Royal Caribbean how much you'd be willing to spend to hypothetically upgrade in a blind auction.

Royal Up is the name of the program where guests get a choice of different cabin categories you can place bids for, and a range of prices to choose from.

The bid amount is per person for the entire duration of the cruise. Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom - only the first and second guest will be charged. 

Typically you can begin placing bids through Royal Up up to 90 days before your cruise begins, and you can expect an email from the cruise line to inform you of the choice. Alternatively, you can check if you're eligible to place a bid on Royal Caribbean's website.

If you're going to place a bid, I'd recommend doing it right when bids open up, rather than waiting.

The other best time to place a Royal Up bid is if there's a chance a lot of people won't make the cruise, such as a hurricane or winter storm elsewhere in the country.  Those sort of incidents spur last-minute cancellations and might be an opportune moment for a snipe bid.

Bidding for a cabin is a bit confusing because of the myriad of cabin choices and prices. How much should you bid? Will it actually save me money? Are these rooms really available?

When you bid for a room, keep in mind this is your offer to the cruise line if a cabin were to open up, how much you'd be willing to pay. Royal Up is a mechanism to handle unsold rooms or rooms that get cancelled at the last minute.  

As for how much to bid, it almost doesn't matter because winning bids are routinely accepted at all ranges.

Bid what you're comfortable with, and understand that room might not actually be available (yet).

The advantage of bidding for an upgrade is you might save a lot of money compared to if you had booked that same room outright initially. This is especially true if you want to bid to upgrade to a different kind of interior cabin.

Aside from the confusion over how much to bid, I think the top disadvantage of bidding for a room is you will have no choice in where the room is located.

Winning bids get the cabin automatically assigned by Royal Caribbean, which could result in a room near a public venue, or being more susceptible to motion.

You should not bid for a cabin upgrade with Royal Up if you have more than one cabin booked, because there's no way to get the new cabins near each other.

The cabin you choose for a cruise is where you'll call home for the entire duration of your voyage, so if there's a problem with it, you'll want to do something about it.

To be fair, most staterooms on a cruise ship are free of noise issues. Over the course of my nearly 100 cruises that I've taken, I can count on one hand the amount of times I've had a noise issue in my room.

However, noise issues do happen from time to time, so knowing what to do is helpful in mitigating the problem quickly.

Noise issues could stem from any sort of sources: mechanical, other passengers, wind, just to name a few.

A Royal Caribbean message board user, Couponz, shared an issue in their cabin on Anthem of the Seas that they encountered, "In my stateroom, I hear this loud banging noise that seems to roll with the side-to-side movement of the ship."

If you run into a similar situation, here's what you should know about handling it.

Assessing the source of the noise

The first thing you should do is try to figure out what's causing the noise and where it's coming from.

You'd be surprised how often the source of a noise problem is something you can fix on your own.  I believe one of the most common sources of noise in a stateroom are the hangers in the closet.

Royal Caribbean provides hangers in every stateroom closet, and they can rattle quite a bit (especially if the ship is swaying a bit).

Or perhaps its glasses clinging together, or something else you've left out that is making the noise.

You'll want to determine if the noise is coming from outside the cabin, such as in the hallway or a public area.  Or, if the noise is from coming within your room, such as from the ventilation, plumbing, or in the walls.

Creaking is a somewhat common noise issue on a cruise, especially from the ceiling. As the ship moves, panels move to, and there's a bit of give between them. 

Usually the creaking subsides as movement in the ship does.  On some occasions, I've been able to push firmly against the panel to jostle it to a point where it mitigates the noise.

Regardless, figuring out where the noise is coming from helps in diagnosing the cause, and keying crew members into addressing it.

Immediate fixes

Minor noises, creaks, or thuds can happen.  Just like a hotel room on land that has a loud car going by or the wind rattling a window, most of it can be subtle and short lived.

Many veteran cruisers recommend packing certain devices and aids to use if there is a small noise issue, especially to help them sleep.

A good pair of ear plugs can be a game-changer for keeping you asleep longer.

The Flents Foam Ear Plugs come highly recommended by our readers because they fit well, muffle noise, and you can still hear your alarm go off in the morning. (This link contains an affiliate link, which costs you absolutely nothing extra to use while supporting this site).

Another idea is to download a white noise app to your smart phone that can play the music on loop (“bedtime fan” from App Store is one that a reader recommended).

The LectroFan white noise machine is one such device, and it could be what you need to sleep peacefully (and it can be powered by USB). (This link contains an affiliate link, which costs you absolutely nothing extra to use while supporting this site).

Asking for help

When the issue is beyond your control and it's impacting your ability to sleep or enjoy your room, there's nothing wrong with reporting the issue and seeking help.

Your best bet is to start with your stateroom attendant. He or she works in your room every week, so they know problem areas as well as being up on what's unusual.

If your stateroom is not available, you could go to the Maintenance department. There's usually an extension on your stateroom phone for maintenance or housekeeping.  Either one will result in a technician coming out to check the problem.

That's right, there are a team of technicians on your ship whose job it is to keep up with any maintenance issues.  They wear blue uniforms, and they can be by in under an hour to assist.

Once they arrive to the cabin, show them what the issue is and how or when it occurs.  It's best if it can be reproduced, so if it's intermittent, I'd recommend taking a video of it to show them so they can understand it without waiting around.

If the noise is from another passenger, you'll need to get Security involved.  Once again, I advise taking a video when the noise occurs.

Unfortunately, Security can only truly intervene if they are the ones observing the problem happening.  But a video helps and alerts them to a potential issue, and establishes a report that can be acted on if it continues.

How to escalate a problem

Let's assume the noise issue continues, how do you get it resolved?

As I mentioned, it's best to start with your cabin attendant.  They'll either know of a quick fix or get maintenance involved. But if it continues being an issue, you'll want to escalate the issue.

Ideally, you'd speak with the deck supervisor next. This crew member is in charge of the upkeep of all of the staterooms on your deck (or at least a section). To be honest, it's difficult to know who this person is or how to contact them other than asking your cabin attendant to have them contact you.

You could also go to Guest Services and explain the issue.  I would avoid starting with Guest Services, because they'll just relay the info back to Housekeeping and Maintenance as a first step.

When you speak to Guest Services, explain the issue and what you've done to try to remedy it. Be calm and remember Guest Services isn't causing it. They'll do what they can to assist.

You could request a cabin change if the issue seems habitual, but that's not so simple.  Cruise ships sail completely full these days, so it's rare to have open cabins.  However, it doesn't hurt to ask if you truly believe that will bypass the problem. Just understand there aren't a block of empty cabins available.

If you truly feel like you're not making any progress, ask to speak to the Hotel Director. Guest Services will be able to get them for you.

The Hotel Director is one of the most highly ranked crew members onboard, and they oversee everything involving the hotel side of the operation, including your cabin.

Asking for compensation

Should you get money back if there's a real noise issue?

Compensation for a problem is a bit of a gray area, and really depends on the exact situation. I've seen onboard credit given out for minor and major problems, and then not again.

As an example, when we didn't have hot water in my cabin on embarkation day during the afternoon, I received onboard credit, but didn't get any when a rain shower partially flooded my cabin floor.

In many cases, a supervisor or manager will authorize onboard credit or a future cruise credit without even asking. I think this has been the most common scenario that I've been compensated for an issue.

Keep in mind a noise problem in your cabin does not automatically qualify you for compensation.  If something breaks, there's probably a better argument for it.  But noisy neighbors, the weather, and other things out of Royal Caribbean's control may not warrant it.

Nonetheless, there's no reason you can't ask for it if you feel it's warranted. Don't bother asking your stateroom attendant or the maintenance department for it. You'll want to speak with Guest Services or the Hotel Director.  Ultimately, it's at their discretion and there's no legal obligation on their part to offer you any, per the Cruise Contract you agreed to when you booked your cruise.

Preventative measures for future cruises

In general, there are certain cabins to avoid on a cruise ship as well as the right cabins to choose for a quiet stay.

Ideally, pick a cabin that is one deck above or below other staterooms. Avoid cabins that are one deck above or below a public area, such as a dining room or pool.

Never book a connecting stateroom unless you know the people on the other side of the connecting door.  

Cruise ship cabins are poorly insulated from noise to begin with, but connecting doors are even worse. 

It's totally fine to book connecting cabins when you have both cabins, but don't book a connecting cabin if it's just you in one room. Anecdotally, a lot of RoyalUp bids end up with connecting cabins.

Other typically noisy rooms are cabins that face public areas, such as a Promenade view cabin. 

Royal Promenade View cabins are available on Freedom Class, Voyager Class and Oasis Class ships and they have cabins that face inward towards the Royal Promenade. Each of these rooms has a large bay window that looks out to the Promenade, but this window is not soundproof.

On the Vision & Radiance Class ships, the first few cabins from the Centrum can also deal with noise bleed, as the Centrum is home to loud music in the evening.  

Conclusion

If there's a noise problem in your stateroom, address it early so you can eliminate the problem and enjoy a relaxing rest of your cruise.

I commonly read rants from people that come back from a cruise with noise issues and learn they didn't do anything about it.

A word of warning, be sure to get the issue taken care of onboard.  Some people put up with the noise, and then try contacting Royal Caribbean after the cruise is over for some kind of resolution, especially compensation.

In my experience, getting the issue fixed onboard not only gets rid of the noise, but also is the best way to potentially receive compensation since the crew can assess if the problem is indeed warranting it.

It's likely you will never run into this sort of an issue, but now you'll have the right approach to get it solved.

What's the best cabin for a first-time cruiser?

Planning your first cruise feels daunting because of all the decisions you'll have to make.

It can take a considerable amount of time to navigate all the nuances of choosing your first sailing, from picking the ship to the itinerary.

When you book your first cruise, you'll also have to select a stateroom category.

Royal Caribbean ships have countless stateroom categories that allow the cruise line to cater to a variety of passengers.

Icon of the Seas, for example, has 28 unique stateroom categories.

So how do you pick the best cabin for your first cruise?

Your choice will depend on your budget, preferences, and itinerary.

Interior cabins are the cheapest option

If your goal is to find a stateroom that offers a quiet, simple place to sleep, an interior cabin is your best bet.

Interior, or inside cabins, are windowless, small staterooms located in the center of the ship (not against the vessel's sides).

These cabins are the quietest, darkest places to sleep onboard, and as a bonus—usually come at a cheaper price.

Because they are small, and without amenities like a porthole or balcony, these cabins are often the least expensive on any given cruise.

If you'd like to save your budget for drink packages, shore excursions, WiFi, or any other add-ons, interior cabins are a great option.

These are especially a smart choice on port-intensive itineraries, such as a European cruise. Since you'll be busy, and only returning to your cabin to sleep, booking a cheaper, smaller stateroom makes sense. 

Read more: Is it worth booking an inside cabin for a Mediterranean cruise?

Guarantee staterooms give you a better price in any category

If you book your first cruise on the Royal Caribbean website, you'll see two options in the stateroom section.

You can either select your specific cabin or select "We pick."

This is also known as Stateroom GTY, or a guarantee stateroom.

Read more: What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?

With a guarantee stateroom, you can select your preferred cabin category. You'll choose from a suite/deluxe, a balcony, a neighborhood view balcony (on Oasis and Icon Class ships), an oceanview cabin, or an interior.

Royal Caribbean will then assign you an unpurchased cabin within that category. 

In rare cases where your preferred category is sold out, you'll be upgraded to a higher one. Usually, you'll receive your selected category. 

Flexible cruisers who want to save money while staying in their preferred category prefer booking stateroom GTY.

While you can't control the cabin's specific location, you achieve a good deal and a mystery cabin. 

Choose a larger cabin if your cruise has more sea days

While booking an interior cabin is better if you only need a place to return to sleep, the reverse is true on an itinerary with more sea days.

If you're taking a shorter cruise, a sailing with fewer port days, or you just plan on staying on the ship a lot, you might want to consider splurging on your cruise cabin.

Because your cruise ship stateroom becomes your home on the seas, booking a bigger, more luxurious one makes sense if you'll be spending a lot of time onboard.

Royal Caribbean has luxurious cabin categories that can greatly improve your sailing.

First-time cruisers especially, who want to make the most of their experience, should consider booking a balcony or suite stateroom.

A balcony is most popular on an Alaska cruise

If a cruise to the Last Frontier is on your bucket list, a balcony cabin is the most popular stateroom category.

Cruises to Alaska offer breathtaking scenery, including mountains and glacier views. 

Cruising in the region is so popular because of the beautiful, untouched natural panoramas.

However, the weather in Alaska can also get a little chilly, making it difficult for cruisers to go out-of-doors and enjoy the scenery.

Booking a balcony cabin is the best way to enjoy the natural landscapes from a private outdoor space. 

Most balcony cabins are around 180 square feet, providing more room for families to spread out and stay indoors. 

Read more: Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean

Glimpse the suite life in a Junior Suite

Suite cabins are luxurious accommodations onboard Royal Caribbean ships. 

They come with extra amenities like exclusive lounges and restaurants, concierge service, complimentary robes, free VOOM internet, and more.

However, suites also sell the fastest before a cruise. Only a few are available on each ship, and—despite the high price tag—there's a growing demand for suite staterooms.

If you're considering booking a suite cabin, but are unsure of the type or price tag, you don't want to rush a thousand-dollar decision.

Instead, you can book a Junior Suite.

These cabins are a great, affordable preview to the suite life on a cruise ship.

Read more: 5 best cruise ship suites on Royal Caribbean

A Junior Suite doesn't have all the full suite benefits, but it's still a great experience.

Guests staying in a Junior Suite will receive a larger living area, a balcony, luxury bathroom amenities, a bathroom with tub, an in-room coffee machine, priority boarding, and double Crown and Anchor Society points per night.

Booking one of these suites is a great way for new cruisers to glimpse what a Royal Caribbean suite can offer.

Two connecting cabins for families

First-time cruisers traveling with kids or a larger group can book connecting cabins for more room.

Some interior, oceanview, and balcony categories come with connections, where two cruise cabins have a door in between. 

With the door kept open during the day, you can create a multiple-room cabin.

The cost of two separate staterooms is often cheaper than booking four or more guests in one room.

Besides the price benefit, connecting staterooms also provide more space, more privacy, and two bathrooms.

Connecting staterooms are available on all Royal Caribbean ships, so you should have no problem finding one for your big group.

Royal Caribbean's latest and largest ships offer many room categories, including new innovative categories.

Both launched in 2024, Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are the world's newest and largest cruise ships, and the staterooms onboard reflect that.

For example, more than half of the cabin categories on Icon of the Seas are completely new to the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean wanted to develop new types of staterooms to meet every cruiser's preferences.

After all, choosing a cruise ship stateroom is all about picking the right home on the seas.

You'll need to find a cabin that suits you and your crew's needs, from your budget to space to amenities.

If you're planning a cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ships, here's how to select the best cabin with exciting features.

Cruising with family: The Ultimate Family Townhouse

If you're cruising with a large family, the Ultimate Family Townhouse on Icon of the Seas is worth splurging on.

This one-of-a-kind suite can sleep up to 8 passengers, but it's not just the size that appeals to families.

The cabin comes with a striking amount of amenities that will entertain and pamper your entire crew.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse comes with Star-Class suite benefits, 2 bedrooms, three floors, a slide, a private movie theater, a private balcony jacuzzi, and a secret entrance to Surfside neighborhood.

The room spans 1,772 square feet, with a 251 square foot backyard, and two balconies. It's decorated in fun primary colors and angular patterns, sure to charm kids of all ages.

A stay in this suite promises non-stop fun, with everything you'd need to stay occupied as a family.

There is only one Ultimate Family Townhouse, and it's on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: Icon of the Seas cabins to avoid

Ocean view on a budget: Virtual Balcony

Utopia of the Seas, the 6th Oasis-Class vessel, debuted in 2024 and also features built-in virtual balconies.

The virtual balcony feature allows guests to see an ocean view from an interior stateroom. Think of it more like an upgrade from an inside cabin than a replacement for a regular balcony.

A virtual balcony cabin can be an intriguing alternative to other types of balcony rooms.

These cabins have an 80-inch, floor-to-ceiling HD television screen that provides a live view from outside the cruise ship.

While a virtual balcony still does not offer a window or door for fresh air, guests still get a live view and sounds of the ocean.

Staying in one is an affordable way to get an ocean view without sacrificing the quiet and dark of an inside cabin.

If you love sea days: Spacious Infinite Balcony

Icon of the Seas pioneered the infinite balcony, a space-saving, efficient strategy for giving guests a great ocean (or neighborhood) view.

The infinite balcony is a balcony inside the stateroom, with a sliding window that can be controlled by a button. Instead of walking outside, guests can press a single button to be greeted by fresh air and an ocean breeze.

The Infinite Balcony comes in many variations on Icon of the Seas, offering an ocean view, a Central Park view, or a Surfside view.

A Spacious Infinite balcony adds even more square footage to the cabin, offering guests a large room with all the benefits of a balcony.

If you're sailing an itinerary with a lot of sea days, love staying onboard the ship, or want a convenient, private balcony, an infinite balcony category might be the stateroom for you.

Traveling with young kids: Surfside Family Suite

The Surfside Family Suite on Icon of the Seas was designed specifically for the needs of families traveling with young kids (around 6 years old or younger).

The Surfside Family Suite features two bathrooms, a King-size bed, a living area, a fold-out bed, two televisions, and a balcony overlooking Surfside Neighborhood.

This stateroom comes with Sky-Class suite benefits and is located right next to the kid-friendly Surfside neighborhood.

Surfside features a playscape, a splash pad, family-specific dining venues, and other amenities that appeal to children.

It can accommodate up to four guests and is the perfect choice for a spacious stateroom that allows you to keep an eye on your kids.

The Surfside Family Suite is only available on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: Boardwalk vs. Surfside: What to expect in Royal Caribbean's family neighborhood

Extra cabin storage space: Interior Plus

No matter who you're traveling with, storage space can always be an issue in cruise cabins.

Cruises include a lot of different activities, themed nights, and shore excursions that require you to pack various outfits and supplies.

If you love having extra storage space but don't want to shell out the money for a balcony or suite, Icon of the Seas has a third option for you.

The Interior Plus cabin is a 157-square-foot room that sleeps two passengers.

It has a distinct dressing area, separate from the bedroom and bathroom. The dressing area features the cabin's vanity, a full-length mirror, a wide closet, and multiple drawers and baskets for storage.

Interior rooms are great cabins for those who prefer an inexpensive and dark place to sleep, and the Interior Plus offers the bonus of a little extra storage space.

An adults-only cruise: Solarium Suite

Utopia of the Seas introduced brand-new Solarium Suites to Royal Caribbean.

These two suites are located on Deck 14 above the bridge wings, one on each side of the ship.

Panoramic windows offer sweeping, 280-degree views of the ocean.

While kids can of course stay in this stateroom, it's the perfect opportunity for an anniversary or honeymoon cruise because of its proximity to the Solarium.

The adults-only pool area is right next door, offering instant pool access, hot tub nights, or bar service.

The Solarium Suites span 839 square feet, have a large living area, and come with Star-Class suite benefits.

Neither suite has a balcony; instead, they feature modern infinite balcony technology. Instead of walking out onto a veranda to enjoy the fresh air, you can lower the suite's windows with the push of a single button.

There are two Solarium Suites, offered only on Utopia of the Seas.