No matter if I'm booking a tiny inside room or a mega suite, I always look for cabins in a certain area.

Cruise ships are only getting bigger, and I value being able to quickly get around. Even with improvements to cruise elevators, it's I prefer to pick a cabin near the stairs.

I've found having a cabin near staircases is more efficient and I spend less time waiting on elevators.

Once I started booking cabins near stairs, I realized it was worth it for the convenience and I now look for it every time.

Avoiding long waits for elevators

On my most recent cruise I sailed on a 7-night cruise on Icon of the Seas and stayed in a suite on deck 17 that was right off the forward staircase.

This allowed me to easily walk down to deck 15 and grab food at Aquadome Market for a quick snack or even a meal.  It's actually my favorite restaurant included with your fare on any Royal Caribbean ship, and it was great being so close to it.

Or, I could take the stairs one deck up to the Grove Suite Sun Deck and be able to enjoy one of the best perks of staying in a cruise suite.

I added built-in exercise to my daily routine by taking the stairs, too.

It's so much easier to get around, making it convenient

There's so much happening around the ship that I'll often go back and forth from my cabin to activities and things happening around the ship.

When I've stayed in a cabin all the way forward or at the back of the ship, the walk can feel arduous when you realize you forgot something in the cabin. It's definitely a "first world problem" situation, but the walk back and forth gets old quickly.

I found when I booked a cabin near the stairs, it made so much more convenient to be able to pop in and out of my room.

I like to combine booking a cabin near the stairs on a deck near the area I'll spend most of my time.

As an example, when I sailed on Mariner of the Seas, I booked an inside cabin on deck six because it was right off the Royal Promenade.

I loved being able to walk downstairs and see all the fun happening and then later get back to my room without worrying about an elevator.

When my kids were younger, we booked rooms one or two decks off the Windjammer so it was easy to get snacks and meals every day.

Young kids love going up and down stairs (I think they see it as a kind of challenge), and they seem to want to eat every couple of hours.

Be sure to look at a deck map pick a room

A word of warning: don't just book a cabin near any staircase. You might end up regretting it.

You want to avoid booking a cabin directly under a buffet or public area.

Avoiding a deck below pools, restaurants, or lounges is important because of noise bleed issues. These are notoriously bad cabins to book.

What you want to do is look at a deck plan before you book your cabin, and double check there's at least one deck above or below other staterooms.

You'll find deck plans on the cruise line website, and you can use them to look up staterooms and their locations in relation to stairs and highly trafficked areas.

This one reason I won't book a guarantee cabin

While a guarantee room will save you money, I usually don't book it because it usually ends up with an unsold cabin at the end of the deck.

Royal Caribbean will charge you less money for booking a particular category in exchange for giving up the ability to choose your specific stateroom.

This means once you book, you do not know the exact room assignment. At some point in the weeks leading up to the cruise, Royal Caribbean will assign your stateroom.

I can tackle the day so much better if I've had a good night's sleep, but a being on a cruise vacation means a different bed and sleeping conditions.

I've found I sleep pretty well on cruise ships overall, but I've had to tweak a few things to make it more conducive for a good night's rest.  I think that's partly because I want to adapt my cabin to how I like to sleep at home.

Getting proper rest is important to just about anyone, and you shouldn't have to settle for poor sleep simply because you're not at home. I think a lot of people view vacation as an opportunity to relax and rest up with plenty of sleep.

As your ship moves through the ocean in a bed you're not used to, it can be an adjustment to acclimating to it all.

I wanted to share the tips and tricks for sleeping better on a cruise that have worked for me and our readers.

Make the room colder

If you ask my wife, I keep our cabin like a freezer while we cruise.  That's partly because I sleep so much better when it's cold in my room.

Your stateroom will have air conditioning controls, and I'd recommend turning the air conditioner down so it's as cold as you're comfortable with a few hours before you go to sleep.

This is especially important in the summer when the Caribbean sun is stronger and can really heat up your cabin, even if the balcony door is closed.

A good strategy is to make the room as cold as you can before you leave for dinner so there's sufficient time for it to cool down.

You should also draw the curtains to help darken the room so it can cool down even faster.

Mattress topper

Did you know you can make your bed even softer by asking for a mattress topper?

I prefer a firm mattress, but plenty of others like their beds to feel much softer.  If you're someone like that, then there's an option to help.

You can ask your stateroom attendant for a mattress topper as soon as you meet them on the first day of the cruise.

Depending on the ship, they'll either have an actual mattress pad to insert below the sheet or a comforter that does the same thing.

I'd recommend asking for one as early as you can, because there's a limited supply available.

Stick to your sleep routine from home

There's so much excitement on a cruise, but I find when our kids were younger, it was important to keep them on their schedule.

While it's probably impossible to adhere to the exact schedule, the closer you can keep it, the better overall.

It's a good idea with young kids to keep them doing the usual things at as close to the normal times as possible, including taking a shower, having a glass of milk, or reading in bed.

Don't be shy about asking for what you need

In addition to the mattress topper request, you should ask if you need other extras in your room to help you sleep.

If you need extra pillows or comforters, your stateroom attendant can get them for you.

Your bed will have a few extra pillows to begin with, but don't assume what's in the room is all you're entitled to.

A white noise machine works well too

A lot of people are used to a certain amount of noise while they sleep, whether it's the hum of an air conditioner, television on, or something else.

You could buy a small white noise machine to bring with you, or download an app for your phone to simulate the same thing. Our readers have recommended “bedtime fan” from App Store.

If you prefer a device, try the LectroFan white noise machine. It's powered by USB, so there's no issue with it being confiscated. (This link contains an affiliate link, which costs you absolutely nothing extra to use while supporting this site).

Pack ear plugs

While a little white noise is good, loud noises really make it difficult to sleep.

There are all sort of sounds inside your cabin and outside that could keep you awake, such as snoring, the ship creaking, hangers clanging, or loud passengers.

I'd recommend buying a pack of disposable ear plugs to have, just in case.

The Flents Foam Ear Plugs fit well, muffle noise, but you'll still be able to 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).

Don't pick a cabin near a public venue

You can avoid a lot of noise issues that could disturb your sleep simply by picking the right room.

Tried-and-true cruise advice is to pick a cabin that is one deck above and below other cabins, and not a public space.

Picking a room that's below the pool deck, or above a lounge could result in a lot of unwanted noise bleed.

All you need to do is consult a deck map when choosing a room, and double check that there's other cabins one deck above and below the cabin you're considering booking.

Book an inside stateroom

People that cruise a lot swear the best room to sleep in is an inside cabin with no windows.

Because interior rooms have no natural light, it can get pitch black once the lights are off.

This makes it ideal for sleeping if you're sensitive to light in the morning.  As an added bonus, it won't get hot in there either because of heat coming from the sun!

Plus, an inside room will cost a lot less than a balcony cabin.

Buy a USB fan

One more thing you could buy to bring with you is a fan.

My wife loves to sleep with the sound a fan creating white noise at night. Plus, the fan cools the air.

You'll want to get a USB or battery operated fan, and not one that plugs into the wall.

Your ship will have a limited supply of complimentary fans to use if you were to ask your stateroom attendant, but there are very few of them.  Bringing your own assures you that you'll have one.

Royal Caribbean gives passengers in standard the cabin of what time of day to have their room cleaned, and I always pick the evening option.

You used to get twice a day cabin attendant service up until a few years ago, and then it was cut to just once per day.

I thought I'd hate the change more than I actually did, but I made my peace with it and I've adjusted to it.  While I might have liked the old way, the new once a day service didn't impact my enjoyment of the cruise nearly as much as I thought it would.

Since the change was implemented, I've tried both morning and evening stateroom service and I think I greatly prefer evening service.

It's not perfect, but I find it meshes better with my cruising style.

Choice of morning or evening

If you book a balcony or lower category cabin, your stateroom attendant will service your room once per day. Guests in a suite still get it twice a day.

The choice is in the morning hours or in the evening, around dinner time.

In either case, the cabin attendant will be available for a few hours, so it's not a specific time.  

Regardless of which time you pick, if you need extra towels or something else replenished in your cabin, the cabin attendant (or housekeeping) is happy to step in and assist. 

If you're still in the room for the duration of their service, they'll just skip that day and return to clean it the next day.

I prefer evening service because I'm probably out of the room

In choosing which time I want to my room cleaned, I always choose the evening because it lines up better with my schedule.

Ideally, I want a time that's the most convenient for me.  I'm on vacation, so I'm looking for something that doesn't put me out of my own way.

I like evening service because I'm rarely in my cabin after 5pm.  I'm either at dinner, at a show, at a bar, or out with friends.

Room stewards usually begin working the evening shift around 4pm, and they're out and about until 7pm.  That gives me plenty of time to get ready for dinner and be out of their way.

Most of the time, I'm gone before they even start up.

I also really like coming back to my room at night when my nighttime fun is complete and having a freshly made bed.

I'm a fan of taking afternoon naps on cruise ships, so it's nice that I can take a nap and then my bed is made for me before it's time to go to sleep that night.  It's part of the je ne sais quoi that makes a cruise vacation so much better than a land vacation.

Another advantage of evening service is if you're at the beach and come back to the room to shower, there's inevitably going to be sand coming back with you.  

It's nicer to have the bathroom cleaned after a day in the ocean.

Morning service means I feel rushed to get up and going

My problem with morning service is it hinders sleeping in.

Cabin attendants get working right around 8am or so, and they'll wrap up just before lunch. On a sea day, I might want to sleep in and lounge in my bed for a bit.  

Or I'm at my desk doing work, and the morning is the busiest time for keeping up with my work routine.

And then there's my kids, who think waking up before 10:30am on vacation is a criminal act. So getting them up and out of the room for the room attendant requires an act of God to accomplish.

Essentially, morning service feels like I'm going out of my way so they can get in and clean.

"So what! Sleep in and skip that day" is I'm sure what someone reading this is thinking.  While that's true, my family goes through clean towels like Pringles potato chips. 

And if I'm being honest, I really like my bed made up and sheets changed.

The problem with choosing evening service is apparent in the first two days

While I always pick evening service, there's a notable problem with it that is magnified on short cruises.

Your room isn't serviced again on the first day.  The cabin attendant prepared it for you prior to your arrival, so that counts as the daily cleaning for that day.

The issue is if you pick evening service, you won't have your room service until the evening of day two.  That means you'll go about 36 hours or so before your first cleaning.

If you take a shower on the first day and want to shower again on day two, towels go quickly. Obviously you can re-use towels or even call and get more towels later from housekeeping.  But it always feels like my cabin gets extra messy leading up to that.

This is more of a problem on a short 3-night cruise, where the end of day two is essentially more than halfway through your cruise.

This is the very definition of a first world problem, but it's probably the main downside to my strategy in choosing when my room is cleaned.

I always choose evening service because it's the least bothersome

Ultimately, I go with evening turndown because it's the most convenient option.

I don't think most people want to go out of their way while on vacation, and I find evening service affords me the most flexibility because I'm very likely out of the room anyway.

At the same time, I don't think picking morning service is problematic or a mistake to avoid.  Rather, I think evening service just works better given the reality of what's happening on the ship.  If I'm not going to be in the cabin, that's always the perfect time for someone to clean it.

You're bound to have lots of questions when you're new to a cruise vacation, and maybe a few of them are things a little awkward to ask.

I know I've been in situations where I'm new to something and I feel embarrassed to ask such a basic question to a group of people who know it all, especially when it seems like I probably should be able to figure it out.

The longer you cruise, the more questions you'll see, especially if you join a message board or group online. I try not to judge them, as I was a newbie also at one point. 

I'm betting there are some people brand new to cruises that are curious for an answer to these questions they think are too dumb to ask, so we have the answers right here to make you more confident about your cruise.

Will I have to share a bathroom with other cruise ship passengers?

A room on a cruise ship is somewhat similar to a hotel, but it's definitely not like a hostel.

Rest assured, every stateroom comes with its own ensuite bathroom, so you don't have to leave your cabin to use the facilities. 

Regardless of which type of cabin you book, every stateroom bathroom has a shower, toilet, sink, mirror, and some storage space. If you want a bathtub, you'll need to upgrade to at least a Junior Suite.

Of course, there are public bathrooms around the ship too in the public areas, such as the pool deck, Royal Promenade, and near restaurants.

I'm scared of falling off a cruise ship, should I be?

I can confidently assure you there's no risk of falling off a cruise ship if you follow the rules.

Stories of passengers going overboard perpetuate the myth you can fall off a cruise ship randomly and without any cause. The reality is that's simply not true.

There are two ways you can go overboard: you deliberately jump off the ship, or you go somewhere you're not supposed to go and then slip and fall off the ship.

Unfortunately, many cases of people that go overboard are the result of a suicide.  Others are people doing things they're not supposed to do, like getting up on balcony railings.

All of the railings around the ship are about four feet tall, making it nearly impossible to accidentally fall off as the result of a slip and fall.

As for kids, all balcony doors have a manual lock located high on the door frame to prevent young children from being able to get out to the balcony. Of course, parental supervision is key to ensure they don't climb anything.

Can someone on another cruise ship see into my cabin when my ship is docked in port?

Absolutely, yes!

The windows on your suite, balcony, or oceanview are viewable through both sides of the glass.  If you booked one of these rooms and you're in port, you'll want to be vigilant about what you do with the windows open.

If there's a cruise ship docked across from yours, yes, the passengers on that ship can see onto your balcony and, if your curtains are open, into your cabin!

And that goes also if you booked a Neighborhood cabin, such as a Central Park, Surfside, or Boardwalk room.  There are other cabins (and passengers below) that could potentially have a line of sight right into your room.

Always check what's outside your window or balcony window before changing or getting in the shower.  Or anything else you wouldn't want someone else to see.

Do crew members live on the ship?

Before you accuse me of making up this question, I promise you I have heard it asked many times.

Yes, the crew members on the ship live, work, and sleep on the same ship you sail on.  They don't commute to it.

Below the passenger decks are a few additional decks where the crew members live.  Most crew members share a cabin with other crew members, and they have cabins similar to passenger cabins, although crew cabins are smaller and lack the finishes that passengers have.

There are actually a crew-only buffet restaurant, crew gym, and crew bar also onboard.

Guests are never allowed into the crew areas, unless they book a Behind the Scenes tour.

Why do I hear a "whoosh" sound from the toilet?

Unlike your bathroom at home, the toilet is going to be quite louder and that's because it's a vacuum system.

Similar to the toilets on an airplane, when you flush, the vacuum system engages to make the toilet function.

It's also common to hear a few more thumps as the valves in the system close.

Don't worry, it's all normal.

Is the toilet water salt water?

I swear this question has been asked before, and the answer is no, it's not salt water.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise ship has its own desalination plant onboard that takes sea water, treats it, and converts it back to freshwater.  They also can recycle freshwater to be re-used for things like the toilet.

Do I need to bring my own toilet paper?

Fear not, your stateroom attendant will provide as much toilet paper as you need during your cruise.

Cruise staterooms aren't like an Airbnb that provides one roll and the rest is on you.

Similarly, you don't need to worry about running out of clean towels, because each time your attendant services your cabin, they will replenish used towels with clean ones.

How do I dispose of used feminine hygiene products?

First, definitely do not flush it down the toilet. It will break the toilet for you and everyone around your room.

Royal Caribbean provides sanitary bags to use, and they're located underneath your sink.

Place the used sanitary bag in the garbage can below your sink.  Sometimes it's an open metal container, and on newer ships, there's actually a garbage lid.

Can I be kicked off my ship if the cruise is overbooked?

Just like air lines, cruise lines oversell their ship because they know people cancel and don't show up all the time.

In very rare cases, a sailing approaches and Royal Caribbean sees there's an oversold problem and they'll take action. This is how the public becomes aware that a ship is oversold.

Some passengers get an email alerting them to the oversold nature of the sailing and the line asks for volunteers to change sail dates.

They don't actually bump anyone, they look for people with flexibility that want to save a ton of money to free up their cabin. There are a lot of people than you realize that wouldn't mind deferring their vacation and getting money back for it, such as people who live near the port or retired folks.

So while there is a theoretical possibility the cabins are oversold on your cruise sailing and you'd be denied boarding, it's very, very unlikely and not something you should worry about. 

Is there a TV in my room and what channels does it get?

Yes, every cabin has its own television.

There's a limited subset of channels provided, and many are international feeds of well-known networks.

Channels you can expect include:

• ESPN
• CNN
• Fox News
• MSNBC
• BBC
• Sky News

There are also movie channels, kids channels, and some channels in Spanish, German, or Chinese.

Is a guaranteed cabin a bad choice?

Royal Caribbean offers the option to let them pick the room for you, known as a guarantee cabin.

There are plusses and minuses to a guarantee cabin.  You could save a lot of money by allowing the cruise line to pick your room location, but the downside is you might end up with less desirable room.

A guaranteed cabin could result in a room with an obstructed view and/or in a "bad" location.

I wouldn't say a guaranteed cabin is a bad choice, because the money saving opportunity is often significant.  Plus, you probably won't end up in a truly awful room.

A lot of people that cruise a lot opt for guaranteed cabins, but the key is to be aware of the potential downsides and be okay with it.

Your Royal Caribbean cruise room, or cabin, is probably different than you might expect it to be.

New cruisers might assume their stateroom is just like a hotel room, and while there are indeed many similarities, there are a few things that certainly make the cruise experience different.

To that point, I went through the commonly asked questions from our readers to come up with the things about a cruise cabin that would either surprise you or not be what you'd expect.  In some cases, there are tips on how to better utilize your room.  I hope all of them prepare you for a great time in the room.

Knowing what to expect in your cruise room is the key to avoiding problems later.

The room is probably going to smaller than you expect

Rooms on cruise ships are generally smaller than hotel rooms because of the constraints of a cruise ship.

They have all the basics you'd expect: a bed, desk with mirror, closet, drawers, and private bathroom. But that's about the extent of the similarities.

Depending on the cabin category you choose, the amount of space comes in all sorts of sizes.  In general, the higher the category, the more space you get.  So a balcony room would have more living space than an oceanview room, which has more living space than an inside cabin.

The fact the rooms are smaller shouldn't be that much of a problem because in reality, passengers spend less time in their room than expected.  There's so much happening around the ship between activities, dining, shore excursions, and shows, that most people treat their cabin as a place to sleep, shower, and change. 

So the fact the room is smaller than expected is less important given how little time you'll probably spend in it.

You can split the beds upon request

Any cabin you book comes with a king size bed that can be split apart, if you prefer.

If you're sharing the stateroom with someone you don't want to share a bed with, the beds are able to be split. Likewise, split beds can be combined back into one.

Your travel agent can make that request at the time you book a cruise, but if you arrived to the ship and discovered the beds are still together, you just need to ask your stateroom attendant to make the change.

One other request you might want to make of your stateroom attendant is if you have a couch that converts to a bed, you can ask them to keep the couch bed in "sleep mode" during the day for convenient naps.

The walls are really thin

Another difference between a room on a cruise ship versus hotel is how thin the walls are in terms of noise.

The thin walls mean don't expect every noise coming out of your room to necessarily stay in your room. Be respectful of your neighbors, and understand noise can go both ways between the rooms.

Store luggage beneath your bed

One of my favorite cabin tips is to put your luggage underneath your bed after you unpack.

When I arrive in my room on embarkation day, I'll unpack all my belongings and then take the empty suitcase and shove it underneath my bed.  The beds are high enough to allow most suitcases to fit under them. 

Putting the luggage under the bed frees up space in the closet, and keeps it out of sight too. Some cabins have more storage space than others, but you'll probably need all the closet space you can get, especially if your cruise is 7-nights or longer.

You can probably open the balcony dividers

If you booked two balcony rooms next to each other, there's a good chance you can open the balcony divider between them.

As long as you know the people in the room next to you, you can ask your stateroom attendant to open the balcony divider.  Doing so makes it feel like you have an expansive balcony space and also makes it easier to go back and forth between rooms.

I noted that you can "probably" do this because not all Royal Caribbean ships have balcony dividers that can be opened.  All the new cruise ships are able to do this, but certain older ships cannot.

You get to pick when you want your room made up

When you meet your cabin attendant, you'll be given the choice of when you want your room serviced each day.

Guests staying in a balcony or lower have the choice of morning or evening service.  In either case, there's a window of time your cabin attendant will attempt to service your cabin and change the sheets, make the bed, vacuum, replace the towels, and more.

There isn't a right or wrong time to pick, it's just up to you and your preference.  

My advice is if you like to sleep in, pick the evening service.  But if you're an early riser, then morning works.

If you booked a suite, then you get twice a day service in both morning and evening, so there's nothing to decide.

Some people find the mattresses firm

I really like sleeping on Royal Caribbean's beds, but I know some people report them being on the firm side.

When considering what a cruise ship bed is like, there's a top sheet and comforter provided by default.

How "firm" a bed is definitely depends on the person, and while I've always found them comfortable, I've seen enough posts to the contrary to understand we all see it differently.

You can ask your cabin attendant for a mattress topper to help with that.  If they run out, they can usually provide another comforter to put under the sheets to help too.

There is a cooler, but it's not a fridge

Every cabin includes a minifridge, but it's not really that cold in there to be considered a true refrigerator.

It's good for keeping food fresh for a little bit longer to enjoy later, so don't stick something in there to eat a few days later because it probably won't make it.

Royal Caribbean used to stock the minifridge with a mini bar, but that practice stopped years ago.

The bathroom is tiny, but functional

No matter what cabin you get, I think the bathrooms on Royal Caribbean are small, but efficient. They'll have exactly what you need, without room for much else.

There's a sink, bar of soap, shower (with combo shampoo/conditioner in a dispenser), outlet for a razor, limited storage space, and the toilet.

You will find a hair dryer you can use in the vanity area of the cabin, not in the bathroom.

Speaking of tiny, the shower is going to be small too.  There's enough room for one person, but it's a tight fit.  

What you won't find in your cruise cabin

The top surprise about what's not in your room is a clothing iron because they are a fire hazard.  

Not only does Royal Caribbean not provide them, but you aren't allowed to bring one onboard.  The same goes for clothing steamers and pretty much any appliance.

Other items not included in your cabin include alarm clocks/radios or coffee makers. 

While there is a television in your room, there isn't a DVD player included.  Newer Royal Caribbean ships have the ability to digitally stream to the TV, but it's very few of the new ships that have that feature.

As a frequent cruiser, I stay in many types of cabins, but balcony rooms tend to be the most common choice I make.

I tend to book balcony rooms the most because they offer a great balance of space, amenities, and price. They aren't the cheapest option, but usually a balcony is a reasonably higher cost compared to interior cabins.

This year, I stayed in a balcony cabin on five different Royal Caribbean ships: Liberty of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas.  

In the case of Utopia of the Seas, I actually stayed in two different balcony rooms on separate sailings.

Here's how the spaces stacked up — and which cruise room I liked best for its excellent value.

My balcony room on Liberty of the Seas was all the way forward

In June, I booked connecting balcony cabins at the very front of Liberty of the Seas.

This was a 5-night cruise to Bermuda that I took my family on after my kids finished their school year. Because our schools finish up before Memorial Day weekend, we're able to hop on a summer cruise before the summer season rush starts.

Each cabin was a category 3B Spacious Ocean View Balcony room, with a cost of $4,296.98 per cabin.  

I was able to get one room for free because it was offered to me by Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society as a reward for reaching Pinnacle Club status.

I liked the fact these rooms were spacious balcony rooms, which meant they had more living space so there was less shuffling.  

Plus, booking two connecting cabins is still one of my favorite family cruise hacks for saving money (and sanity).

Liberty of the Seas is a middle-aged cruise ship, so the aesthetics of the cabin are not going to wow anyone, but it's certainly quite functional.

The downside to this cabin was it was all the way forward.  It gave us great views from our balcony, but it meant a longer walk back and forth between the room and other places on the ship. Plus, cabins all the way forward can be more susceptible to motion.

I stayed in two balcony rooms on Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean launched two new cruise ships in 2024, Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

I ended up sailing on Utopia six times in 2024, with two of those sailings in an oceanview balcony.

The first time was a media preview sailing, in which Royal Caribbean invited me to sail as their guest prior to the ship's launch.

For this short 3-night weekend cruise, I had a category 1C cabin that was midship.

One thing you'll notice on a brand new ship is how modern everything looks.

Storage space on Royal Caribbean's newer Oasis Class ships always stands out to me, because there is so much of it. 

Compared to older Oasis Class ships, the cruise line figured out how to add so much more storage options inside it. On both sides of the couch is a closet. One closet was wide open and contained 20 hangers to hang up dresses or suits. It's even big enough to store your suitcase, backpack, and other luggage.

The second closet had five shelves along with a safe to store valuables.

Another tremendous upgrade within cabins on a new ship are how many USB outlets there are.

There's USB outlets on both sides of the bed, along with USB and power outlets elsewhere in the cabin.  This is so helpful for families and it means less reliance on having to remember to pack an outlet extender.

In October, I went back on Utopia again in a category 4D Ocean View Balcony cabin.

This cabin was "free" in the sense I got it through Royal Caribbean's casino program.  Essentially, I gambled enough money on a previous sailing to qualify for a free balcony offer.

All I had to pay were the taxes and fees, which came out to 312.94 per room.

Just like on Liberty of the Seas, I booked two connecting balcony rooms (my wife and I both qualified for a casino offer on this sailing).

I'm not sure you can really tell a difference between the ocean view balcony cabins between my two sailings other than location. 

My next cabin was on Anthem of the Seas in Europe

In August 2024, I sailed alone in a balcony cabin on Anthem of the Seas from Southampton, UK on a 7-night cruise to France and Spain.

I stayed in a category 4D ocean view balcony that cost me $2,822.55. 

You might be wondering why I went for a balcony if it was just me in the room, and there are two reasons why I went with a balcony.

First, the price was good. This balcony cost me almost half as much as the balcony on Liberty of the Seas, and this sailing had two more nights.

Second, because the scenery in Europe is so different to me, I valued being able to easily see my surroundings.  This was especially true for sailing in and sail away, when there was a lot to enjoy.

Also, the weather in Europe was quite mild, so I really enjoyed being able to use my laptop from the balcony and do some work while enjoying temperate weather.

Even though Anthem is about 10 years old, I think the room looks quite up to date with its modern touches.

There are USB outlets around the cabin, and lots of storage too.  While Royal Caribbean may have tweaked options more with its newer ships, I don't think you'll be at a disadvantage with the amenities of a Quantum Class ship.

At 55 square feet, the balcony is average for a Quantum class ship and it has enough room for two chairs and a table.  It's enough space for two people to comfortably enjoy the view and ocean air.

I spent 3 nights in a balcony on the brand new Icon of the Seas

Just like Utopia, Royal Caribbean invited me to stay in a balcony room on Icon of the Seas when she debuted.

Being a brand new ship, you come to expect a beautiful cabin with modern touches. There were the most USB outlets I've seen on any Royal Caribbean ship, but there were two changes that stood out about a balcony room on Icon.

The first change was adding a seat in the shower.

I have never seen a cruise ship shower with a seat before, so this is very unique to Icon of the Seas. 

I also appreciated the size of the shower, as cruise cabin showers have been notoriously small in older ship designs.

The other change that I didn't love as much was the shift from drawers to baskets in some areas.

There are baskets in one of the storage areas, and I can't say I thought it was a good idea.

They didn’t seem to fit well in the shelves: they were heavy and slid harshly over the wood below. They didn’t slide as easily as a drawer, and I had to pull them all the way out if I wanted to get an item out of the basket.

Of course, baskets are not a deal breaker when it comes to a balcony room.  

If I had to pick a winner, I'd say my balcony on Mariner of the Seas felt like the best bang for my buck

The first cruise I took in 2024 I think ended up being the best dollar-for-dollar value.

While still on winter break, I took the family on a 5 night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day on Mariner of the Seas.

Once again, I booked two connecting balcony cabins. The total for two balcony cabins was $3,864.28, making each cabin less than $2,000 each.

Mariner is similar to Liberty of the Seas in age, but unlike Liberty, Royal Caribbean added significant updates to the ship more recently.

Unfortunately, the cabins weren't updated. Royal Caribbean rarely, if ever, updates cabins as part of its ship refurbishments.

Nonetheless, I think the price is perfect for a ship like this.  

I think most cruisers are willing to overlook the curtain color, bathroom motif, and lack of USB plugs if the price is right.

I strongly considered Anthem of the Seas for the best value, but because I had to also think about airfare and other costs of a European cruise, I had to give the edge to Mariner.

When you can go on a cruise for cheap, it's difficult to find many faults, but there are some downsides to a low-cost sailing in an inside cabin.

Thanks to an amazing offer from Royal Caribbean's casino, I was able to go on a 5-night cruise to Mexico for just $200 in an inside cabin.

There's no doubt it was a fantastic value, but I missed having a view and easy access to the outdoors more than I expected.

I've been cruising for a couple of decades now, and I've stayed in plenty of inside cabins before. I'm not someone who tried it for the first time and had a kneejerk reaction to it, so I knew what the experience was like.

However, this time around, I found waking up in the morning to pitch black more jarring than in the past.

Because my inside cabin on deck had no windows, the room was pitch black when my alarm would go off in the morning. I felt like my brain didn't connect that it's morning and I kept thinking I was waking up in the middle of the night.

Likewise, if I woke up on my own, I had no idea if it was 2am or 7am.  It's my personal theory the secret to falling back asleep quickly if you wake up at night is not to open your eyes or check your phone, so a few times I probably woke up 10 minutes before my alarm went off and tried to go back to sleep, only to be awoken again by the alarm.

Had I been in an oceanview cabin or balcony, I would have sensed some light coming in the room and been more aware if it was night or day time.

By the end of the 5-night sailing, I knew the next time I stay in an inside cabin I need to make changes.

I think one factor for me was the length of the sailing.  Most (if not all) of my inside cabin experiences have been on short weekend cruises.  

Weekend cruises go by so quickly and there's so much happening that I don't think the lack of light impacts me as much as on a longer sailing.

While I loved how easy it was to fall asleep in the darkness of the room, I lamented every morning re-adjusting to that lack of light.

I'd stumble around getting up, turn on the lights in the cabin and bathroom, and it felt like "deer in headlights" every time.

Of course, once I was awake and had my wits about me, my inside cabin was perfectly acceptable.

It's not spacious, but it offers just enough space for my belongings and there's room at the vanity for my laptop so I can start my work for the day.

In fact, I think the amount of storage space for a ship as small and old as Serenade of the Seas is ample, and it's better than some newer ship inside cabins I've been in.

Three things I'll do differently next time

Since coming home, I started working on how I could make the inside cabin experience better to avoid this issue.

First, I will bring a sunrise alarm clock with me on my cruise.

I probably mocked this device the first time I heard of it, but I think this would be the game changer for my problem.

It's an alarm clock that has a light that will illuminate slowly to let you know there's daylight out.

The sunrise alarm clock I bought has a gradual light, with two alarms and even has noise you can sleep to: birds, running water, white noise, and more. (Link contains an Amazon affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use, but I get a commission if you buy it)

It also has a sunset feature which will slowly get darker as the evening progresses, but I doubt I'd use that feature since that never bothered me.  Plus, I'm rarely in my cabin past dinner until it's time to sleep.

The second thing I'll bring with me is a nightlight for the bathroom.

I was lucky that this particular cabin had a motion activated light in the ceiling. I had never seen that on any Royal Caribbean ship, and I assume it was added because of the World Cruise.

Some newer Royal Caribbean ships have a standby light in the bathroom, but the one on Serenade was pitch black. 

I'll admit, there are times I've tried to use the facilities without turning a light on so that I could fall back asleep easier, but it doesn't always work out as well as my memory of the bathroom would lead me to believe.

Therefore, a battery operated nightlight is probably the right move to pack as well. (Amazon affiliate link included here)

It's powered by 3 AAA batteries and has LED lights that are activated when motion is detected. The base is magnetic too, so that means you can attach it to any wall or door in your cabin.

Lastly, I'd probably at least consider trying bidding for a stateroom upgrade.

It never crossed my mind to try a Royal Up bid, but I also think I was focused on my super cheap deal. 

Nonetheless, I bet it would have been a low cost to move up to an oceanview cabin. For $50-$100 extra, it probably would have been worth trying to upgrade my cabin.

Of course, there's no guarantee there will be an upgrade option actually available or that your bid will win, but it's a low risk and high reward option.  As long as the bid isn't too outrageous, I feel like it might be the perfect opportunity to give it a try.

How much should you expect to pay for a balcony room? It could be almost double an inside cabin.

Of the four basic cruise ship cabin categories, balconies are the most popular because of the extra space and relative affordability they provide.

Unlike suites, there are many more balcony cabins on Royal Caribbean ships, and the price jump to a balcony is far more palatable compared to going up to a suite.

Having access to fresh air and a private veranda is the rationale most people give for booking a balcony in the first place.

The average cost for a balcony is around $2,200 for 2 people

In trying to answer the question of how much a balcony room will cost, I crunched the numbers.

I sampled the price of a balcony across more than 2,000 upcoming Royal Caribbean sailings in 2026 & 2027. These include short weekend cruises, 7-night cruises, and longer voyages.

When finding the average price, the cost of a balcony cabin came out to $1,139 per person or around $2,200 for 2 people.

Since this is an average, you can expect to find plenty of prices that are well above or below our average because cruise cabin prices vary by ship and itinerary.

Even within the same sailing, the price of a balcony can change on a daily basis. Like airline pricing, the timing of your reservation significantly affects the price.

In general, the earlier you book your cruise, the cheaper the price.

There are different balcony cabins

Another factor that will affect the price of a balcony cabin is the exact cabin type.

Royal Caribbean has many subcategories of balcony rooms that are priced differently depending on:

• Location
• Passenger capacity
• Living space square footage
• View

When you choose a balcony cabin, you'll need to consider these options in picking the right cabin choice for you.

Midship balcony rooms with more living space typically cost more than a smaller balcony room towards the front or back of the ship.

Likewise, a balcony cabin that can accommodate more than two passengers will cost more than a standard double room.

Balconies that aren't balconies

When we talk about a balcony room, you probably envision a private veranda to go outside and enjoy. However, there are a few Royal Caribbean cabins called a balcony that don't actually have that.

A virtual balcony is an inside room with a large floor-to-ceiling television screen showing real time views from outside. It's really meant as an upgrade from a standard inside cabin.

On the brand new Icon Class cruise ships, Royal Caribbean added infinite balconies, which have a window that slides down to provide fresh air.

The idea behind the infinite balcony is you can close the window and retain the balcony space as added indoor space.

Lastly, the neighborhood balconies are actual cabins with a real veranda that looks inwards instead of to the ocean. These are on Oasis Class and Icon Class cruise ships, and have views of one of the ship's neighborhoods, such as Central Park, Boardwalk, or Surfside.

This isn't to say you shouldn't book these types of balconies. Rather, understand what you're getting (and not getting) before you book.

How much more is a balcony cabin from an inside room?

The average cost to move up from an inside cabin to balcony runs the gamut of prices depending on the sailing you choose.

In our analysis, there's roughly a $390 per person difference to move up from an inside cabin to a balcony room, but you can expect wild variations in pricing depending on the specific cruise.

What I recommend doing is when you narrow down your search for which cruise to book, evaluate the cost difference and decide if an inside or a balcony cabin is a better deal.

Top reasons to book an inside cabin:

• Cheaper
• You won't spend that much time in the cabin
• (Arguably) Easier to sleep because of the dark

Top reasons to book a balcony cabin:

• Extra living space
• Private veranda
• Fresh air

Guarantee balcony cabins can save money

If you're not picky, booking a guarantee balcony could save you a lot of money on the cost of a balcony.

By choosing a guarantee cabin, you're letting Royal Caribbean assign you a room from the leftover unbooked staterooms. While you might not get the best cabin location on the ship, you'll still get a balcony room and likely save a few hundred dollars along the way.

The amount of money you can save on a cruise by going with a guarantee cabin will vary considerably, but sometimes it can net you significant savings.

The reason to skip booking a guarantee is if you want a specific location.

Some people absolutely want to be midship for convenience and to avoid getting seasick. Others want a great view, such as an aft balcony that looks out the back of the ship.

Watch out for obstructed balconies

Not all balconies are created equally, and some have obstructions to block part of the view.

Obstructed balconies are just like regular balcony cabins, but there is some physical structure blocking part of your view.

Royal Caribbean provides a percentage of how much of the view is blocked. Usually, the obstruction is a lifeboat, pole, or some part of the ship's steel infrastructure.

One advantage of an obstructed balcony is it will be cheaper than a regular balcony room.

You should also be aware it's quite common for a guarantee cabin booking to end up with an obstructed balcony cabin because they're less desirable and thus end up unsold. Ditto if you're thinking of bidding for a stateroom upgrade to a balcony.

How much is a balcony worth to you?

Ultimately, the decision if a balcony cabin is worth it depends on your costs involved, your vacation budget, and how much you value the benefits of a balcony.

Because the prices vary so wildly, I can't offer advice for everyone. However, I do think it's worth always weighing the cost of a balcony and other cabin categories, rather than going into a booking only focused on a balcony room category.

Something else to consider is the destinations your cruise will visit. If you're taking an exotic cruise to a place like Alaska or Norway, the value of a balcony room is higher because of all the scenery.

It seems a lot of people will justify booking a balcony instead of an inside cabin if the price is reasonable. Around $200 per person to move up to a balcony is the range where it's a no brainer to upgrade. Beyond that, it's up to you and your budget.

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Decorating cruise cabin doors has become a fun and popular tradition among passengers on Royal Caribbean cruises.

Maybe you’re celebrating a special occasion like a milestone birthday, graduation, or anniversary, or perhaps you’re just looking to add a personal touch to your stateroom. Whatever the reason, decorating your cruise cabin door is a great way to make your stateroom easy to spot in the hallway.

However, before you purchase decorations, it’s important to be aware of Royal Caribbean’s rules and policies. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about decorating your stateroom door on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as well as provide some inspiration to help you get started. 

Please note that we have linked Amazon items in this article containing affiliate links. The affiliate links cost you nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission if you purchase the item through the link.

Read more: 30 Cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love

Royal Caribbean allows guests to decorate their cabin door

Though Royal Caribbean passengers are permitted to spruce up their stateroom doors, you will want to be considerate of your fellow guests, avoiding anything that could be deemed offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive.

Royal Caribbean’s code of conduct states, “Inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted. This includes: … placing materials (including signs, banners, decorations, etc.) anywhere on the exterior of the ship, [and] placing materials anywhere on the interior of the ship (including stateroom doors, along corridors, etc.) without the express permission of [the ship's] management or which may be deemed by ship management as inappropriate, or any other illegal or offensive conduct.”

In other words, crew members won't remove lighthearted and tasteful decor, so long as it's confined to your cabin door and not blocking any passageways. 

It's also wise to ensure your decor won't damage the cruise line's property. 

When choosing your cabin door decorations, avoid any that require tape, nails, or adhesives that could harm the finish. Instead, go for magnetic decor, as magnets can be easily placed and removed without leaving any damage.

And as wholesome as the activity is, you shouldn't be personally attached to any decor in case it's stolen. Young children, for instance, may see a cute magnet and think it's okay to grab it from your door. 

If you bought the magnet in port, you'll likely be disappointed when you discover it's missing; it's not easy to replace a unique souvenir bought in Ketchikan, Alaska, or Barcelona, Spain. 

Note that your cabin category doesn't matter. Passengers staying in the smallest interior rooms or lavish suites can personalize their stateroom's door. However, the same rules apply: the decor shouldn't be offensive, blocking passageways, or stuck to the door with potentially harmful adhesives. 

Read more: How to find the cheapest cabins on Royal Caribbean

The benefits of decorating your cruise cabin door

In a thread posted on the Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum, cruise passengers explain why they love cabin decor. 

"Invariably I will have a morning during a cruise when I will wake up way too early. On that morning I head to Cafe Promenade to grab...a cup of coffee and begin to do my daily walk but rather than use the walking track I walk the halls of each deck. The only reason I do this is to view the various door decorations," said Mike n Ky. 

whitsmom shared, "I like to use it [to] help find our door easier (in the beginning)." 

ScottD talked about the camaraderie that came with his choice of decor. 

"We had a [whiteboard] on our door, supporting our favorite football team who was playing in a big playoff game that day. We had a blast every time we came back to the room and saw different notes added to the board, sometimes in support and sometimes against our team. We loved it," he said. 

What types of decorations are acceptable?

A go-to choice is decor celebrating something specific, whether someone's birthday, graduation, anniversary, or retirement. Cruises, however, are a great vacation option, even if there's nothing monumental to celebrate. 

Are you sailing somewhere new? You can focus your decor on the destination. Perhaps you're a brand-new cruiser and want to honor your first-ever voyage! That's a fun theme for your door, too. Guests may also tailor their decor around holidays like Easter, the 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. 

Families might consider ordering customized magnets with everyone's name, including "Mom," "Dad," etc. These are ideal for families who love cruising and can see themselves on annual (or bi-annual) voyages, as they can be reused. 

Read more: I tried the best inside cruise ship cabin hacks to see how well they worked

Some of the most universal door decor are those relating to drink packages. With Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package, you can enjoy unlimited alcoholic drinks each day of your sailing for a fixed price. And yes, the drink package works ashore at Perfect Day at CocoCay!  

Some making the splurge on a package—which often costs over $65 per person, per day—may want to extend a "warning" to those in neighboring cabins. 

Of course, you want to be mindful of your consumption and not disrupt others! While it's perfectly acceptable to enjoy handcrafted cocktails onboard, your enjoyment shouldn't bother guests, especially when they are trying to rest. 

Read more: I spent $600 on Royal Caribbean’s beverage package

Where can I buy cabin door decorations?

Those looking to score last-minute decor should head to Amazon. "Cruise cabin decor" yields over 2,000 results, so there's no shortage of magnets available to purchase for your upcoming cruise. They're affordable, too. 

A 28-piece nautical pack can be bought for around $10. Celebrating a birthday? Look no further than this 27-piece "birthday cruise" pack for $8.99, which includes everything you need to let other passengers know about the occasion. 

A colorful drink package warning costs $8.99. In addition to a bright yellow warning label, the 13-piece pack also includes beverages to add a fun and eye-catching touch to your stateroom door. 

Whiteboards are popular, too. You can use them to leave messages for your friends and family, perhaps letting them know that you left for dinner or went to grab seats on the pool deck. 

They can also be used to engage with other passengers. It's not uncommon to see whiteboards with a "question of the day," asking guests their favorite food, where they're from, how many cruises they've been on, etc. 

Some cruisers opt to make their own decor to add a personalized element, instead of buying pre-made magnets. While this isn't prohibited by Royal Caribbean, you'll want to ensure you attach magnets to the photographs, signs, etc., rather than relying on tape and glue. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabins for 5 or more people

Another option for more customized cruise cabin decor is to browse Etsy, an online marketplace where you can find lots of handmade items, ranging from t-shirts to cabin door decorations. Under the "cruise cabin decor" search, you can filter by cruise line, material, color, theme, and more. 

Plus, you can indicate if you want decor that's customizable. Note, though, that many items purchased off Etsy won't ship as fast as those from Amazon, so give yourself plenty of time to place your order before your cruise's departure date. 

Finally, you can purchase cruise cabin decor directly through Royal Caribbean. 

For guests celebrating a birthday, it's easy to surprise the special cruiser with the "Happy Birthday Decorations" package available on the Cruise Planner for $69.99. In addition to a door magnet, you'll receive hanging ceiling decor inside your stateroom, a wire photo cable with clips, and more. 

There's also an anniversary package and "Bon Voyage Decorations" package with festive accessories for those who aren't celebrating anything specific onboard. Both include a magnetic door decoration.

Choosing the right balcony stateroom on a Royal Caribbean cruise involves understanding the different categories and what each one offers.

When booking a balcony stateroom on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s essential to know how the room categories differ. 

Here is what you need to know about these balcony room to know the difference between them all.

1D vs 2D vs 5D vs 7D

When you decide to book a balcony stateroom, you will see a variety of category numbers: 1D, 4D, 1A, 1E, 2F, etc. There are sixteen sub-categories of balcony staterooms across Royal Caribbean's fleet (not including suites or interior balcony rooms).

Categories like 1D, 2D, and 5D indicate the room's location and size, with lower numbers typically signifying more desirable rooms closer to mid-ship and with more square footage. As the number increases, rooms are often further from mid-ship and may have less space, resulting in lower prices.

The differences can be very subtle from one category to another, but the price tends to drop as the number climbs (i.e. a 7D tends to be cheaper than a 1D).

Another difference between staterooms is the capacity of the cabin. Rooms that accommodate more guests may cost more, but it's the only way to have three and four passengers in the room. 

Location on the ship is another key factor because mid-ship rooms are highly desirable for those concerned about seasickness or who prefer convenience to the elevators.

Other balcony categories

In addition to balcony staterooms that have the letter "D" in the category, there are other categories of balcony staterooms that may be on the same ship.

• A : Ultra Spacious Ocean View with Large Balcony
• C: Ocean view with Large Balcony
• E: Obstructed Ocean View Balcony
• F: Studio Ocean View Balcony
• X: Ocean View Balcony Guarantee

Oasis Class ships

Quantum Class

Freedom Class

Voyager Class

Radiance Class

Vision Class

Which room should I book?

Now that you understand what the categories mean, you might be wondering which category is the right choice for your family.

First and foremost, you will be limited by the room capacity, so if you want a room that can handle 3 or 4 guests, then any category that can only sleep up to 2 guests is out of the question.  Similarly, rooms that can accommodate 4 guests may be "overkill" for what you need.

The other two considerations are price and location.

The location of a cabin is arguably the next most important consideration, as where your room is on the ship (mid-ship, aft, forward, or somewhere inbetween) is an important consideration for some. 

If you are concerned about getting seasick, or prefer convenience to the elevators, then a room mid-ship should be your choice.

Lastly, price moves a lot of guests one way or another. Those higher balcony room numbers (6D and 7D) are going to cost you less, but expect a longer walk down the hall. The obstructed view rooms will save you money as well, but you will not have full view out of your balcony.

Ultimately, the rooms left to book and budget tend to dictate which room categories are really under consideration. Knowing how Royal Caribbean has categorized its rooms provides better insight into picking the right choice for you.