A balcony cabin on a cruise ship is the accommodation so many people prefer, but what's the realistic price you can expect to pay?
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 2024 & 2025. 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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