A Royal Caribbean cruise ship is home to many impressive suites, but which one is the most expensive?
While there are spacious multi-room suites and even Aquatheater suites offering stellar views of the ship’s aft, the most expensive suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the Ultimate Family Suite.
Designed to be a hub of activity and fun for families, the Ultimate Family Suite first premiered on Symphony of the Seas in 2018. As of 2022, the suite is currently on three Royal Caribbean ships: Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.
Each Ultimate Family Suite offers a kid-centric design, colorful decor, and unique features not found on any other stateroom or suite onboard. While each suite has a similar concept, though, they differ in layout and offerings.
To see what makes the Ultimate Family Suite the most expensive in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, let’s take a closer look at these one-of-a-kind cabins.
Symphony of the Seas Ultimate Family Suite
The Symphony of the Seas Ultimate Family Suite is the one most known to cruise fans in North America and Europe. This suite can accommodate up to eight guests and is 1,134 square feet with a 212 square foot balcony.
The first thing you notice when you walk into the Ultimate Family Suite is color. Neon orange, red, blue, and yellow cover the walls, furniture, and decor.
The Ultimate Family Suite is two stories. The downstairs area features a dining room area fitted with an air-hockey table, a living room with a couch, chairs, and large television, and a bathroom.
Kids will not be bored hanging out downstairs, either, as the suite features a game room corner with a TV, video game consoles, and lounge chairs. There is also a mini bar in the game room so your favorite beverages and snacks are never too far away.
Extra kid-friendly features are incorporated throughout the downstairs, too. Underneath the stairs are small nooks where kids can relax, read a book, or play with electronics. The dining room wall is also a chalkboard and the game room features a floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall.
There are comfy seating areas throughout the suite as well, with plenty of bean bags and a multicolor hanging chair.
In the upstairs area of the Ultimate Family Suite are two bedrooms, each with their own onsite bathroom. The master bedroom features a king-sized bed, television that drops down from the ceiling, a desk and vanity area, and full-sized closet. The master bathroom features an extra-large rainforest shower with two shower heads.
Since this is a suite, there are upgraded amenities available throughout the bedrooms and bathrooms including bedding and toiletry products.
Next door to the master bedroom is the kids bedroom, which can be accessed via a regular door or through a small porthole designed for kids to crawl through.
The kids bedroom can sleep four and has three murphy beds and a pull-out sofa bed. Like the rest of the suite, colorful decor dots the bedroom and bathroom.
One of the premiere features of the Ultimate Family Suite is the slide. Starting from the kids bedroom and ending in the living room downstairs, it’s sure to be popular with kids staying in the suite.
Complete with a hot tub, outdoor table that doubles as a ping pong table, and colorful step climbers, the balcony is another spacious area of the Ultimate Family Suite. The suite does not have a full ocean view, but instead overlooks the sports area and boardwalk neighborhood on Symphony of the Seas.
Spectrum of the Seas Ultimate Family Suite
There’s no doubt that the Ultimate Family Suite on Symphony of the Seas is impressive, but the suite on Spectrum of the Seas goes a step further.
At over double the size, the Ultimate Family Suite on Spectrum of the Seas is 2,766 square feet with a 212 square foot balcony. And while the suite on Spectrum has a similar concept to the suite on Symphony, there are quite a few differences.
The suite is still geared towards families, but there is noticeably less neon color throughout the suite. Instead, it has a more muted color palette.
There is also much more downstairs space on Spectrum’s Ultimate Family Suite. As the suite can accommodate up to eleven guests, there are two master bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms downstairs. The master bedrooms are more spacious than those on Symphony of the Seas and come with balcony access.
The balcony on Spectrum of the Seas does not feature the step climbers found on Symphony, but has a large jacuzzi and comfortable seating.
Just like on Symphony of the Seas, The Ultimate Family Suite features a kid-friendly living room with an air hockey table, couch and television area, dining room, and separated game room.
A unique aspect of the Ultimate Family Suite on Spectrum of the Seas are the steps leading upstairs. Designed like a piano, each step is a “key” that plays a note as you go up or down.
Upstairs you will find two bunk beds, a crib area for babies, and a third master bedroom.
The bathroom attached to the upstairs master bedroom is perhaps the most impressive in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. More like a spa than a bathroom, it features a standalone tub, spacious vanity, and a rainforest shower room.
The windows are made from a switchable glass to allow for privacy when in port or views of the ocean when sailing. To top it off, the bathroom jets off the side of the ship.
Just like on Symphony of the Seas, there is a porthole connecting the kids room to the master bedroom and a colorful slide heading back downstairs.
The Ultimate Family Suite on Spectrum of the Seas is on the side of the ship and features ocean views.
Wonder of the Seas Ultimate Family Suite
Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship also has an Ultimate Family Suite. As of February 2022, though, little is known about the suite on Wonder of the Seas.
Captain Kate of Celebrity Cruises posted a Tik Tok compilation from the construction of Wonder of the Seas. Near the end of the video there are two short clips of the Ultimate Family Suite. From first glance, it appears to have a similar design to the suite on Symphony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean’s website states that the Ultimate Family Suite on Wonder of the Seas has two king beds, four twin sized bunk beds, and a double pull out sofa bed. The suite can accommodate up to nine guests.
The deck plan for the Ultimate Family Suite shows it to be on Deck 18. It lists the square footage at 1,134 for the room and 212 for the balcony.
The location of the suite is different on Wonder of the Seas compared to Symphony of the Seas, too. Whereas on Symphony the suite overlooks the sport area, the Ultimate Family Suite on Wonder faces the forward and starboard sides of the ship.
Therefore, the view from the Ultimate Family Suite on Wonder of the Seas should be that of the ocean, pool deck, and the Central Park neighborhood below.
What does the Ultimate Family Suite cost?
While the price of the Ultimate Family Suite can vary significantly based on the time of year and ship you choose, it will always come with a hefty price tag.
As an example, I priced out a few separate sailings to see just how much the Ultimate Family Suite can cost:
- 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise on Symphony of the Seas: $33,366
- 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Symphony of the Seas: $25,492
- 5-night Nagasaki and Fukuoka cruise on Spectrum of the Seas: $38,681
- 9-night Thailand & Vietnam cruise on Spectrum of the Seas: $82,949
The cost of the Ultimate Family Suite does not appear to increase significantly with the number of guests. The 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise is listed as $25,492 for two guests and $28,570 for four guests.
Is the Ultimate Family Suite worth it?
Ultimately, deciding whether a suite is worth it or not depends on what you value in a vacation, your families’ specific needs, and, of course, your budget.
Some guests may opt to book a smaller suite or a balcony room and instead use the money they saved to book beverage and dining packages, spa treatments, and shore excursions.
Others may value the exclusivity of a suite and decide that the extra comfort, space, and amenities are worth the extra cost.
It’s important to note that the benefits of staying in the Ultimate Family Suite suite don’t just stop at the suite’s features and amenities, though.
Guests staying in the Ultimate Family Suite are part of Star Class, the highest tier of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite class, which comes with exclusive benefits.
Star Class guests will receive full access to Coastal Kitchen, complimentary specialty restaurants, complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package, complimentary gratuities, complimentary VOOM internet, expedited boarding and departure, reserved seating at entertainment venues, and Suite Lounge and Suite Sun Deck access, among others.
Perhaps the best benefit of staying in Star Class, though, is the Royal Genie. Each Star Class Suite has its own Royal Genie. A Royal Genie acts as a personalized concierge onboard who can take care of special requests, arrange and manage reservations, and plan special events and celebrations.
The exact list of services a Royal Genie can provide vary based on your specific needs. For example, the genie may bring an ice cream bar to your suite for kids, deliver Starbucks to your room at the same time each morning, bring specialty dining to your suite, etc.
Prior to your cruise, you will receive a questionnaire so your Royal Genie can get to know you and your party better before you board the ship.
Is the Ultimate Family Suite more expensive than other staterooms and suites onboard? Yes, but the features, design, and concept of the Ultimate Family Suite is unlike any other cabin offered on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Staying in the Ultimate Family Suite is sure to be an unforgettable experience for both kids and adults alike.
