Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (2024)

Balcony staterooms are among the most popular category of cabin you can book on any cruise ship because of the combination of space and value it provides.

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (1)

When you book a balcony cabin, you get a well-sized room along with a private balcony to enjoy at anytime during your cruise.

Royal Caribbean offers more balcony rooms on its ships than ever before, with its newest cruise ships offering the most balcony rooms. In short, you will find plenty of balcony room choices when booking a cruise on any of its newest vessels.

If you are thinking about booking a balcony stateroom on your Royal Caribbean cruise, here is what you need to know about this stateroom category.

Balcony room basics

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (2)

No matter which balcony cabin you book on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you can expect a very similar experience across the board.

Balcony rooms all feature a bed that can be split into twin beds if necessary, private bathroom with stand up shower, sitting area, television, mini fridge cooler, and of course a private balcony.

Most of the time, there will be a couch in the room. In some balcony rooms, the couch can convert to a twin bed. Other balcony cabins may also include pullman beds, which are retractable beds that can descend from the ceiling.

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (3)

The typical size of a balcony stateroom on Royal Caribbean is right around 180 square feet, not including the balcony.

The balcony itself has seating for at least two people and has a table.

Read more:Avoid these mistakes when picking a cruise ship cabin

Types of balcony rooms

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (4)

There are a few types of balcony cabins you can book.

Traditionally, a balcony room means you have a view of the ocean. Balcony rooms are situated on the outer portion of the ship, with the ability to look out from your room to the ocean.

Royal Caribbean also offers two other types of balcony rooms that actually face inward towards the ship, instead of outwards to the ocean. These interior balcony rooms are only available on Oasis Class cruise ships.

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (5)

Boardwalk balcony rooms have a view of the Boardwalk neighborhood, while Central Park balcony rooms have a view of the Central Park neighborhood.

These inward facing balcony rooms tend to be a little bit cheaper than oceanview balcony rooms, and offer excellent people watching opportunities. There is still plenty of fresh air to enjoy, and you get to see what is happening below in the neighborhood.

Read more:What you need to know about neighborhood balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships

Obstructed balcony rooms

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It is worth talking about a subset of the balcony rooms, known as obstructed balcony rooms.

Obstructed balcony rooms have some physical barrier that blocks at least part of the view you would usually have in a balcony room. That is not to say the view from your balcony is completely obstructed, just partially.

Most commonly, obstructions are either life boats or the ship's structure.

The reason to book an obstructed balcony room is you will be able to get a good deal on these types of cabins because demand for them is much less than a regular balcony. But if having something blocking at least part of your view from your balcony will bother you, then avoid these types of balconies.

Why you should book a balcony room

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (7)

If you are wondering if booking a balcony room is worth the extra money compared to an inside room, here are a few good reasons to move up to a balcony.

Read more:What's the difference between a balcony and a suite cabin on a cruise?

Private space

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (8)

Without a doubt, the number one reason to book a balcony room is you get a private balcony to enjoy when you want it.

Unlike the top deck of the ship, there is no one to contend with to get a great view of the ocean. Moreover, it is your place to enjoy in the morning and evening, or with a cup of coffee.

Some passengers like to take their room service orders outside and enjoy the meal on their balcony as an added plus.

Unlike the pool deck, a private balcony means private space to enjoy time in the sun and also somewhere much more quiet.

More living space

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A balcony room will also give you more space, both inside and outside.

Balcony rooms are larger in terms of square footage, and the balcony adds even more space to enjoy. Cruise ship cabins are traditionally smaller than hotel rooms, so every square foot counts.

When you are traveling with children, having that extra space really makes a difference.

The views

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Of course, the views you get from your balcony are worth it alone to book.

Having a balcony on certain itineraries really makes a difference, such as Alaska or Europe. You will be able to see wildlife and the coastline as your ship passes by, which is especially nice during sail away or sail in.

In addition, just having a view of the open ocean is calming.

Conclusion

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Balcony rooms offer more living space than inside rooms, and the private balcony gives you a really nice area to enjoy anytime during your cruise.

Of course, a balcony room will cost more than an interior room, but in many cases the price jump to a balcony is not unreasonably more.

For a lot of cruise fans, having their own balcony to see every morning, enjoy the ocean as it passes by, and watch the sunset from is worth it every time.

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean (2024)

FAQs

What is the best balcony room on a cruise ship? ›

Know This: Location can matter! One of the best spots for a balconied cabin (or suite) is on a ship's aft deck, facing backward over the wake. It's an incredibly soothing sight ,and often these verandas (even with a standard-category cabin) are deeper and roomier than usual.

Do Royal Caribbean balcony rooms have refrigerators? ›

Each Balcony stateroom (dependent on which type) includes: Your own private balcony with views of either the sea, Boardwalk or Central Park, either a Royal king size bed or two twin beds, private bathroom with shower, vanity area, a TV and telephone, fridge or minibar, hair-dryer and 24 hour room service.

Which side balcony is best cruise ship? ›

Eastbound cruises get the most sun on the port side; westbound on the starboard side. Watching a sunset over the ocean or seeing the sun slip behind distant islands can also be a reason for a side preference. To catch sunsets, you'll want to be on the port side on northbound cruises and starboard on southbound cruises.

Are balcony rooms bigger on Royal Caribbean? ›

Related: The 6 classes of Royal Caribbean ships, explained

In general, ocean-view cabins on Royal Caribbean ships are bigger than inside cabins and around the same size as balcony cabins (when comparing their interior space).

What is the best floor to sleep on on a cruise ship? ›

But if you do worry that you might feel a little unwell, think about the location of your stateroom. The most stable part of the ship is its lowest point of gravity, so on a lower deck, at the center.

Is it worth getting a balcony on a cruise ship? ›

The best views. Balcony cabins don't just offer you access to an outdoor space. They typically also offer you a great view of the outdoors from inside your cabin. This is because the doors leading to balconies in balcony cabins usually are made almost entirely of glass running from floor to ceiling.

What does GTY mean on Royal Caribbean? ›

What is a guarantee or "We Pick" stateroom and how does it work? At times we may offer you the option of making a 'Guarantee' (GTY) booking. This means you may book a stateroom of a guaranteed category type (Interior, Oceanview, Balcony or Suite) on your chosen ship and cruise. However, the exact stateroom, number...

Can you drink in your stateroom on Royal Caribbean? ›

Destinations. Guests are not allowed to bring beer, hard liquor or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. Guests may bring personal wine and champagne onboard only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom.

Can I iron my clothes on Royal Caribbean? ›

Irons and clothes steamers are prohibited items and should not be brought with you on your vacation. What is the code of conduct for guests onboard the ship? All our guests deserve to enjoy their vacation to the fullest so we have outlined the expectations of behavior for people enjoying a cruise vacation.

Are prepaid gratuities worth it on a cruise? ›

Depending on the cruise line and type of room, you should expect a daily charge of $16 to $23 for gratuities. There are a couple of good reasons why you might want to prepay, including getting to spend less during your trip and locking in the current rate.

What is the difference between ocean view and balcony on Royal Caribbean? ›

The key difference between oceanview rooms and balcony cabins is, of course, one has a window and the other has a private verandah, usually furnished with a couple of chairs and a drinks table. Oceanview cabins can have either a rectangular window or a round porthole, which typically do not open.

Is deck 4 on a cruise ship good? ›

Deck 4 cabins are normally quiet. And for a smooth ride in rough seas, midship on that deck, especially in an inside, is the smoothest place on the ship. That's one reason the medical center is usually there.

What does 4N mean on Royal Caribbean? ›

Category 4N - Ocean View Stateroom. Description: Ocean View Two twin beds that convert to Royal King and bathroom.

What does 3B mean on Royal Caribbean? ›

Category 3B - Spacious Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony.

How many people can sleep in a balcony room on Royal Caribbean? ›

Super Studio Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Although the room can sleep up to two people, the room is a single occupancy stateroom with a single full size bed, full bathroom, and a private balcony for the guest to enjoy.

Which deck level is best on a cruise? ›

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks. Like to be near all the action? Most mega-ships place their lido (pool) areas on higher decks.

Where is the most comfortable rooms on cruise ship? ›

Midship cabins

The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

Where are the best and worst cabins on a cruise ship? ›

Here are what I consider to be the best and worst staterooms to book on a cruise.
  • BEST ROOMS TO BOOK ON A CRUISE.
  • Ocean-level cabins.
  • Studio rooms.
  • Port or starboard staterooms.
  • Cabins close to popular attractions.
  • Rooms by elevators.
  • WORST ROOMS TO BOOK ON A CRUISE.
  • Staterooms directly above or below busy areas.
Jan 30, 2024

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