Many cruise ship cabins are cramped and compact, but one Royal Caribbean suite is anything but.
During a 3-night getaway on Utopia of the Seas—Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship—I tried something I had never booked before: a Star Class cabin.
Star Class is the highest tier of the cruise line’s lucrative Royal Suite Class. The program offers top-of-the-line benefits for suite passengers on Royal Caribbean’s newer vessels.
Related: A beginner's guide to sailing in Star Class on Royal Caribbean
With benefits like an included Deluxe Beverage Package, Ultimate Dining Package, reserved spots at entertainment shows and activities, and all-day access to a private, suites-only neighborhood, Star Class provides a cruise experience unlike any other.
Best of all, though, Star Class passengers can utilize the services of a Royal Genie, a crew member who provides personalized experiences onboard.
Acting as somewhat of a concierge, Royal Genies can escort guests around the ship, plan their cruise schedule, reserve tables at venues, and organize in-room dining experiences, among other services.
It’s no secret that Star Class suites are expensive, but one is usually cheaper than the rest
Unsurprisingly, Star Class suites come with a hefty price tag. You can easily expect to pay around $10,000-20,000 for a Star Class suite on a short cruise, with even steeper prices on 7-night itineraries.
Like any Royal Caribbean cabin, the exact price of a Star Class suite varies based on the time of year you book the cruise, along with the type of Star Class suite booked. The most expensive suites, such as the Ultimate Family Suite and Royal Loft Suite, can cost over $50,000 for a 7-night cruise.
One Star Class cabin, on the other hand, is priced more reasonably—the 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite.
On the aft of every Oasis Class cruise ship is the AquaTheater entertainment venue. If you look to either side of the AquaTheater, you’ll see sprawling balconies, which belong to the ship’s AquaTheater suites.
These suites are highly sought-after while cruising on Oasis Class ships, as they offer not only the aforementioned suite benefits, but also access to some of the most impressive balconies onboard.
There are both 1 and 2-bedroom AquaTheater suites onboard these vessels, but only the 2-bedroom suites belong to Star Class. These are almost always the cheapest Star Class suites offered, particularly the cabins on deck 9, which are slightly smaller than those found a deck below.
On my recent Utopia of the Seas cruise, I spent three nights in a 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite. At just over $11,000 with three guests in the cabin, it was the cheapest Star Class cabin available to book onboard.
Take a tour through the coveted 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite
Entering the cabin, you are welcomed by a spacious entryway, complete with a mirror and decorative table.
Immediately upon entering, guests will notice the spacious living room.
A cozy couch and chair make for an excellent lounging space, complete with a coffee table in the middle. The couch can be converted into a double bed when traveling with extra guests.
From the couch, guests can enjoy the living room’s television. For Star Class passengers, a selection of movies are included in their cruise fare.
Under the television is shelving, which features a Lavazza Espresso machine along with additional complimentary beverages.
A mini fridge is found here, too, which comes stocked with both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.
Because the suite includes a Deluxe Beverage Package, you will find Coca-Cola souvenir cups in the cabin as well. These can be used at Coca-Cola Freestyle machines around the ship.
Next up is the dining table, and Star Class guests may find this quite useful during their time onboard. Because room service—including from specialty restaurants—is included, many passengers enjoy meals from the comfort of their cabin.
Lastly, the living room also features floor-to-ceiling closets which include shelving. Because Utopia of the Seas only sails short 3 and 4-night cruises, guests may find there is more storage than necessary. That being said, the closets can still be useful for storing items like luggage and shoes.
Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom in the 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite is spacious and opulent. A king-sized bed dominates the room, with a comfortable ottoman placed at the foot of the bed.
The bed is topped with a luxury pillow top mattress, making it noticeably more plush than those in more basic cabins onboard.
Guests can find nightstands with storage and charging outlets on either side of the bed.
One wall of the bedroom features two large closets and full-length mirrors. Inside the closets is hanging space along with shelving and the cabin’s safe.
On the other side of the room is a vanity and a door directly to the balcony.
Inside the master bedroom is a bathroom.
The bathroom comes with several upgraded features compared to bathrooms in standard cruise cabins, including a bathtub and upgraded toiletries.
Second Bedroom
As the name implies, the 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite also features a second bedroom. This room can accommodate four passengers, as it has both a king-sized bed and two twin-sized pullman beds that can be pulled down from the wall. Nightstands and charging outlets are found on each side of the king-sized bed.
One wall of the bedroom is lined with a desk, drawers, closets, and a television. Storage is abundant, as are outlets, with four USB plugs along with two American-style and one European-style outlet along the desk alone.
There are no windows in the second bedroom, which effectively makes it an interior stateroom. Knowing this, passengers can expect to sleep soundly given the room’s pitch black conditions at night.
While the second bedroom doesn’t have its own ensuite bathroom, the suite has a second bathroom near the living room.
This bathroom includes upgraded toiletries, but it does not have a bathtub.
AquaTheater Suite Balcony
Of course, the pièce de résistance of the 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite is the wraparound balcony. Even though there are over 1,400 balcony cabins on Utopia of the Seas, few compare to those in AquaTheater suites.
The balcony wraps around the cabin’s exterior, forming a corner of Utopia of the Seas. Nearest to the primary bedroom are two padded lounge chairs.
In the widest balcony space you will find a 6-seat dining table and two reclining pool chairs.
This area looks over the AquaTheater, offering the perfect view for these impressive acrobatic and diving performances.
Another two chairs are placed in this area for optimal viewing.
If you want to try Star Class, the 2-bedroom AquaTheater Suite could be your best bet
Royal Caribbean’s Star Class offers a personalized, all-inclusive cruise experience unlike any other. For those looking to try Star Class on a “budget,” the 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite can be a (relatively speaking) cost-effective starting point.
At the end of the day, a Star Class cabin is, unquestionably, a splurge, but the 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite can make that luxury a little more accessible.
