For as long as I can remember, the shower on a cruise ship was never the best feature in the cabin.

Most cruise ships have showers that look like a tube meant to beam people up into space.  Not only that, they were super tiny and it felt like I had to keep my arms in and tucked.

It was not only cramped, but made the shower experience less enjoyable.  When you have lots of hot water and great water pressure, that's not something to pass up.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean introduced a new shower for its cabins on the biggest ship in the world and it's a game changer.

Goodbye capsule showers, hello space!

Royal Caribbean is proud of so many innovations introduced on Icon of the Seas, but I think the shower design is unheralded win.

Because Icon was the first of its class, it was treated as a "white paper" ship and every aspect of it was rethought from the ground up, including cabin design.

On ships that came before Icon, standard cabin showers were a tight fit space that looked like a capsule.  In fact, it had curved plastic shower doors that truly felt like you were entering the turbo lift on a Star Trek ship.

The showers were even worse on the older, smaller ships that had a fabric shower divider instead of the plastic.  That curtain loves to cling to you while you shower.

They were certainly functional, but I can't say there was much enjoyment being in them because of how cramped it felt.  I was just glad I wasn't that tall, because I don't know how tall people managed to shower.

Shower design got a little better with newer ships, such as Odyssey of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas.  Clearly more space was given, but it was still a tube.

The improvement came with Icon of the Seas, which redesigned the space completely.

Gone was the capsule design, and instead, we got a shower that looks like one we might actually have at home.

It spans the width of the bathroom and has floor to ceiling glass, providing lots of space and most importantly, room for your elbows!

The glass door maneuvered inward and sideways to keep the bathroom less cramped. 

Another smart change was to add a bench to the shower, once again providing space and functionality to the shower.

It's a far more spacious design, and prior to Icon, you could only find showers like this in suite cabins.

The shower head is also adjustable, as it can slide up or down the pole to provide the right height.

There's a black release button on the back of the arm that the showerhead attaches to that you can press in order to make the adjustment.

Something else worth noting is there's a guard to prevent the shower from getting extra hot, but you can override it.

When Icon launched, there was some that claimed you couldn't get a hot shower on the new ship, but those folks didn't understand how the temperature controls worked.

The temperature control will stop at 38°C (100°F), but you can override it by pressing the black button on the left to move it past the stopper.

Having gone on Star of the Seas in a couple of different cabins, and in each the shower configuration was very nice.

A world different from the worst shower design

If you're saying "Matt, there's no way the shower on a cruise ship makes a difference", then I'd say you haven't cruised on a cruise ship with the cloth curtain showers.

On the Radiance, Vision and some Voyager Class ships are bathrooms that have a tube shower that have a cloth curtain instead of plastic.

This is problematic for two reasons.

First, the curtain does a very poor job at keeping the water inside the shower.  It flails open constantly and you're all but guaranteed to flood your bathroom.

Second, it tends to cling to your body as you're in the shower.

Like a needy ex, I hate clinginess, and then you have to remember that curtain has touched a lot of other people over the years. 

Carnival is joining the trend too

When one of our writers went on Carnival's newest ships, I noticed their shower design also departed from the tube shower.

On Carnival Jubilee, a balcony cabin had a "stylish and well-designed" bathroom.

"The best aspect of the bathroom was the large walk-in shower," wrote Allie Hubers when she sailed on Jubilee.

Just like Icon and Star, the shower was rather large with a glass door that maneuvered inward.

Royal Caribbean is known for being a family cruise line, but which cabin would be the best choice to book?

I've been cruising with my family ever since my first kid was old enough to sail, but there are different needs once you introduce kids into the mix.

Families are often looking for space, privacy, and convenience with their room choice, and if they can not spend a lot for it, then it's a bonus.

Royal Caribbean has a fairly wide range of cruise ship cabins to choose from, even if you're trying to stick to a budget.

Those willing to spend more will find sprawling suites with crazy amenities, but there are also very nice options that will work well in the lower category cabins too.

Here are my top picks for finding the the perfect family-friendly cruise cabin on Royal Caribbean.

1. Budget-friendly cabins

Interior and Ocean View Rooms: These are slightly larger cabins that can sleep up to four people in the cabin.

In addition to the bed that can be combined to form a king or split apart, there are going to be either pullman beds that descend from the ceiling or sofa beds that open up for the extra passenger.

Putting four people in one room will likely be the cheapest option, but it's also going to feel the most cramped. Living space will be at a premium, and all of you will share one bedroom.

Connecting cabins: My favorite configuration for families is to book two connecting staterooms that have a common door between them.

The advantage of connecting cabins is you get twice the space, an extra bathroom, an extra TV, and full separation between each room.  This is a great choice if you're cruising with teens.

Moreover, you can find connecting cabins in a variety of cabin categories, from inside to balcony. 

2. Best mid-range family-friendly cabins

Spacious Ocean View and Balcony Rooms: The advantage of booking a higher category cabin if you're putting all four of you in one room is you get more living space.

Royal Caribbean labels staterooms with the word "spacious" as an indicator it has more square footage, and that means you four people sharing the room comfortably.

Like the inside rooms, it's likely a better price, but a better compromise on the balance of space and value.

Family Ocean View Cabins: Some of the largest cabins you'll find outside of suites are the Family Ocean View Cabins.

Usually located at the very front of the ship, these are massive rooms that often have a separate sleeping room, bunk beds, and more than one bathroom.

The downside to these rooms is they are usually located in the forward area of the ship, which means a longer walk and possibly more motion.

Ultra Spacious Ocean View / Balcony Cabins: Even larger than the family cabins, Ultra Spacious rooms are enormous.

There aren't many of them, but they're designed to accommodate up to 6 passengers. You'll find ultra spacious ocean view rooms on Freedom and Oasis Class ships.

Family Infinite Ocean View Balconies: Royal Caribbean came up with a few new kinds of family staterooms for its Icon Class ships, and each relies on clever layouts.

The Family Infinite Ocean View Balconies has an infinite balcony instead of a standard balcony. This means you can convert the balcony space into an indoor living instead, which is great for young children who want to crawl and walk and have play room.

They can sleep up to six guests too.

Surfside Family View Cabins: These staterooms are located near the Surfside neighborhood, which is an area of the ship designed for young families.

There are Surfside Family View Interior or Balcony rooms, and they can handle three or four people in the room.

The rooms are convenient, as well as being in a family-focused location.

Surfside Family Suite: Royal Caribbean introduced affordable suites that are great for young kids, but also include many more perks.

The idea is having a room where kids and parents share the cabin, without feeling like everyone is on top of each other. Thanks to nooks and clever ideas, it feels like there's more separation than you might expect.

You'll also find a split bathroom and a private balcony accessible via a convertible partition in the bedroom. 

3. Best family-friendly suites

Ultimate Family Suite: If money is no object, go big and try the suite that was made to be second-to-none for families.

This incredible suite has an in-room slide, Lego wall, movie and game room, hot tub, spread across two levels, and has more games and play spaces than I ever thought possible.

Plus, it comes with Star Class perks, including the services of the Royal Genie.  It's an incredible way to vacation as a family.

It's only available on a handful of ships, such as Star of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and a few others.

Royal Family Suite: Another massive room for families to consider has about 560 square feet of space with two bedrooms.

It can sleep up to 8 people, making it the perfect suite to share with grandparents for multigenerational travel.

Tips for booking a family cruise on Royal Caribbean

No matter which suite you book, there are a few good tricks for ensuring you can get on and maybe save some money too.

First, I'd recommend using a travel agent familiar with Royal Caribbean’s family options.  

Royal Caribbean's website sometimes won't show staterooms that can sleep more than 4 people, and you wouldn't want to miss out because of that.  Travel agents are able to easily book them for you.

I recommend MEI Travel for making it as easy as possible to book a family room.

You should also book your family cruise sooner than later, especially for suites.

Royal Caribbean cruises are in high demand, and the first type of cabins to book up are usually suites and some of the unique cabins that don't have much inventory.

I'd also recommend you look at what's nearby your room before selecting a specific cabin.

Having a room near Adventure Ocean kids club, the pools, Surfside, or an area of the ship you think you'll spend a lot of time in would be smart.

Speaking of room location, always consider its location on the ship and how that may factor into motion sickness.

Certain cruise cabin locations are definitely more prone to motion, and that could be an issue for you.

Lastly, don't overlook simply booking two connecting rooms instead of a bigger, more expensive single room.

I love connecting rooms because they're often some of the best values and it gives everyone the living space they need. You might be surprised how much more economical it is to book two rooms instead of one bigger cabin.

When you're trying to decide which cruise ship cabin to book, you might be better off in an inside cabin.

I go back and forth sometimes what type of stateroom is best because each room has its own advantages.  However, I've found there are signals that you should lean in one direction or another.

Picking an inside cabin can sometimes question if you're doing it for a good reason or simply to save money. Besides budget, certain considerations might be a reason to pick an inside stateroom.

Before you decide on a stateroom to reserve, here are four compelling reasons to go with an interior cabin.

You booked a ship because of all the things to do onboard

Royal Caribbean is known for having giant cruise ships packed with so many things to do.  So if you booked a ship like Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas because it has so many fun activities, perhaps an inside stateroom is a good choice.

Considering how much there is to do on the ship, how much time will you really spend in your stateroom?

I've found that when I go on the big ships, I'm instantly drawn to the activities around.  In fact, I often have a lot of FOMO when I'm in my stateroom because it seems there's a lot happening around the ship.

One of the rationales for booking an inside stateroom is in reality, you use your cabin to sleep, shower, and change.  So why spend extra on a nicer room that you won't fully take advantage of?

If one of the reasons you chose a specific ship were all the activities available to try, you might find the stateroom to be an afterthought.  And that's a good reason to stick with an inside room/

You're a light sleeper

No matter how fun a cruise ship is, if you can't get a good night's sleep, it might be frustrating.

Say what you will about the benefits of being in an larger stateroom with a beautiful balcony, but I always sleep so darn well in an inside stateroom.

First, there's no outside light to wake you up in the morning.

When I was in Europe on Independence of the Seas this summer, the sun would rise at around 4am and it messed with my brain because the light would wake me up too early.

Another advantage of an inside cabin is noise from outside the ship, especially when docking.

When our ship docked in Southampton, there was an incessant beeping noise from a truck that was backing up constantly to move items off the ship, and it began at around 5am.  

Because we were in a balcony, that truck disrupted our sleep.  But if we had been in an inside room, it wouldn't have been an issue.

You'll often hear noise on the dock when a ship docks, and it can wake you up too early. 

Without daylight pouring in, there's no natural cue to get up. If you’re the kind who loves hitting the snooze button and skipping breakfast, an inside cabin is your best ally.

There is no such thing as a room being too cold

Do you immediately crank the air conditioning to its coldest setting as soon as you walk into a hotel room? An inside cabin might be for you.

Inside rooms are easily the coldest cabins because there's no natural light or heat emanating from outside to warm it up.

During summer cruises, I'll often keep the curtains drawn in my balcony room because the ambient heat from the sun on my balcony heats up the room.

To be clear, the air conditioning works fine in balcony rooms, but some people prefer their cabins feel like a meat locker.

If you love curling up in a chilly, dark space, this is your cruise cocoon.

You’re planning a port-heavy itinerary

If you're going to book a cruise that has a lot of port visits across 7 nights, such as in the Mediterranean or Alaska, you're going to be off the ship all day.

When you have full day activities, I come back to the ship and immediately shower, nap, and get ready for dinner.

I think having 4, 5, or 6 ports on a single sailing means you'll value the itinerary over what you can see from the ship.  In my experience, balcony rooms are best on sea days primarily.  The value of having it if you're going from start to finish each day in port is kind of lost.

Speaking of places like Alaska, if you choose an early or late season cruise, that might be another reason to go with an inside room because of the weather.

Typically the shoulder seasons in Alaska or Norway can be cold and rainy, thus reducing the usefulness of the balcony.

Is it worth sharing a tiny cruise cabin with three people to save money? I did just that on a recent cruise and it wasn’t as bad as I expected.

Cabins on cruise ships are notorious for their compact size. Fitting thousands of guests on a ship is no small feat, so cabins pack all of the essentials into a small space.

It’s standard for two guests to share a cabin on Royal Caribbean, but many rooms accommodate a third and fourth passenger. These rooms are geared toward families with kids, but adults can share cabins with multiple guests, too.

Last month, my parents and I shared a 150-square-foot interior cabin while cruising to Greece and Croatia. By sharing a cabin instead of booking two separate rooms, we saved over $1,000.

Everyone thought we were crazy to share a room, but it was hard to pass up the savings—here's what it was like.

I booked a cruise to Europe to celebrate my mom’s retirement, and we couldn’t wait for our upcoming trip

Following my mom’s retirement last fall, I began searching for ways to celebrate her newfound freedom. Considering how much fun we had on our mother-daughter cruise to Alaska two years ago, I thought another Royal Caribbean cruise would be the perfect way to celebrate.

To make the occasion even more special, I set my sights on European itineraries. Cruising Europe with my mom? Sign me up!

I found a deal on Explorer of the Seas—a 7-night Greek Isles itinerary for $2,149 total, or $1,074 per person. Considering the price included two adults in an interior room, taxes, gratuities, and port fees, it seemed like a great value on such a dreamy vacation.

We booked the cruise in December for a May departure, and I couldn’t wait to set sail with my mom on such a celebratory trip.

The only downside? My dad now wanted to join, but we didn’t know if it was possible

Come February, our cruise planning process was in full swing. My mom and I booked flights, planned hotel stays before and after the cruise, and began researching shore excursions in our ports of call.

Yet when my dad's schedule opened up and he asked to join, we ran into a major issue.

To book a second cabin for my dad, he would be subject to not only his own cruise fare, but a single supplement fee, too. My mom and I paid just over $1,000 each for the cruise, but he would have to pay over $2,000 for just himself in the room.

Related: How far in advance should I book a cruise?

We didn’t know if paying over $2,000 for a second cabin was worth it, especially when considering additional costs like airfare and hotels in Europe.

Instead, I checked the price to add a third guest to my already-reserved cabin. This was far less expensive—just $681 to add my dad to our room.

The savings were substantial, so we decided to bite the bullet and book the cheaper option.

Initially, I wasn’t entirely concerned about sharing a tiny cruise ship cabin with my parents. Growing up in a family of six, I was accustomed to sharing hotel rooms with my parents and siblings.

How much different would sharing a cruise cabin really be?

When we entered our cabin on embarkation day, I was concerned the room would be too small to share

Embarkation day had finally arrived, and I was already grateful we added my dad to the trip. After two days exploring our departure port of Ravenna, Italy together, we had already made wonderful memories.

I couldn’t wait to explore more of Europe with my parents throughout the week, even if it meant sharing a cabin.

Once onboard, we checked out our room for the first time. Our cabin was #6667, an interior stateroom that can accommodate four guests.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

The first thing I noticed was the cabin’s bed configuration. Although we didn’t request it, the cabin’s main bed had already been split into two twin-sized beds.

We initially considered asking our stateroom attendant to put the beds back together, but ultimately decided that having the beds separated greatly increased the amount of walking space in the room—a plus when sharing a cabin with three people.

As the “kid” in the room, I took one for the team and agreed to sleep in the twin-sized pullman bed that drops from the ceiling.

I had low expectations for this dropdown bed, but definitely didn’t want my parents climbing the rickety ladder to go to sleep.

Aside from the beds, the cabin had a small couch, private bathroom, desk and vanity area, and closet.

All in all, our interior cabin was a standard inside room like on any other Royal Caribbean cruise ship. It had all the basics for a comfortable stay, but even still, I was somewhat concerned how we would fit ourselves (and all of our belongings) in the space.

Luckily, there was a surprising amount of storage

One of the first things I always do when I get to my cruise cabin is unpack. I hate living out of my suitcase during a cruise, but I was worried there wouldn’t be enough storage space for three people in our small cabin.

Related: 15 things you should do as soon as you get in your cruise cabin to make it better

Fortunately, once my parents and I began unpacking, we found there to be more than enough storage.

A spacious closet provided ample room for hanging clothes, and there was also a set of shelves on one side of the closet.

The desk and vanity were also full of storage. In addition to nine drawers, there were shelves behind the mirror and above the TV.

Near the beds were two nightstands with additional storage, too, and the bathroom had shelving behind the mirror.

I was surprised how easily the three of us fit our belongings in the compact room. We stored our suitcases under the bed, and once we had all of our clothes, electronics, and toiletries put away, the room felt more like home.

Throughout the week, we didn’t spend much time in our stateroom

Once we set sail from Italy, the next week was full of adventure.

We toured the ancient Acropolis in Athens, sipped cocktails in Santorini, and strolled the waterfront promenade in Split. Onboard, most of our time was spent watching the ocean from the Promenade Deck or listening to live music from the ship’s various bars and lounges.

As it turned out, we spent almost no time in our stateroom during the day. This helped ease the feeling of being “crammed” into the small room, as we were typically only there to sleep, shower, and change.

Even when we were in the room, the limited space didn't actually feel limited. Most of the time, my parents would relax on their respective beds and I would sit on the couch. With the beds separated, there was more than enough room to walk around the cabin without running into each other.

Sharing a bathroom was annoying, however, and there weren’t enough electrical outlets

One of the biggest downsides to sharing a cabin with three people is sharing one bathroom.

Mornings on cruise ships can be hectic, especially on port days. From showering to grabbing a quick breakfast and making sure you have everything you need to disembark, it’s easy to feel rushed.

Sharing one bathroom with three people made getting ready much slower. This is where having two cabins would have been beneficial.

Related: 7 bathroom hacks to use in your cruise ship cabin

Some cruisers combat this issue by utilizing the showers in the gym’s locker room, but we didn’t find it worth the hassle of lugging our toiletries and clothes across the ship.

Aside from sharing a bathroom, the lack of electrical outlets was another challenge.

Explorer of the Seas launched in 1999, so I knew outlet availability would be limited, but I still found the lack of outlets inconvenient. Between our cellphones, headphones, camera, and laptop, there never seemed to be enough outlet space for the three of us.

I was glad my mom packed a portable charger. This allowed her to charge her phone by the bed each night while my dad and I charged our belongings at the desk.

If I ever shared a cabin with three people again, I’d pack even more portable chargers and USB hubs to maximize charging capacity.

I didn’t love my pullman bed, and it was the worst part of sharing the room

Surprisingly, the worst part of sharing a cabin with my parents had nothing to do with feeling crowded. Instead, it was my pullman bed.

My dropdown bunk bed offered minimal comfort. The mattress was thin, and I found myself sleeping on top of the bed's plush bedding for added comfort.

I'm sure the bed is satisfactory for kids, but it wasn’t ideal for an adult traveler.

Additionally, getting to and from the bed on the ladder was cumbersome. I wished the cabin had a sofa bed instead of the bunk bed, as this would have made getting out of bed easier, especially in the middle of the night.

Despite the downsides, I’m not opposed to sharing a cabin again

When I first planned my mom’s epic retirement cruise, I never expected to be sharing a 150-square-foot cabin with both of my parents, but it really wasn’t that bad.

Next time, though, I’d do a few things differently.

First, I’d book our cruise further in advance. We added my dad to the sailing just three months before departure, which greatly limited our options. Cruise fares were high, and there were limited empty cabins available.

I would also look at booking connecting rooms instead of sharing one cabin. Connecting cabins have a common door between them, which provides double the living space, normal beds, and an additional bathroom for families traveling together.

Sometimes, booking two connecting cabins is priced similarly to putting all guests in one room.

All that being said, my parents and I still had a wonderful week exploring Greece and Croatia on our cruise. Whether indulging in Greek gyros or shopping our way through the markets of Split, the best moments of our vacation took place outside our cabin.

Ultimately, if my dad had to book an entirely separate room, the cost may have prohibited him from joining our trip. At the end of the day, I’ll remember making fun memories with my parents far more than the downsides of sharing one tiny room.

There are several unwritten rules about how you should act during your cruise, including while in your stateroom.

When I travel I never want to be "that guy" that irritates someone else. We're all on vacation and everyone should be able to enjoy it without someone else causing issues.

Anyone new to a Royal Caribbean cruise might be curious what they should or shouldn't do to avoid any mix-ups later. Similar to how in New York you should walk on the right side of the sidewalk to allow someone in a hurry to pass you, cruise ships have their own set of things you should follow.

Here's my list of six things I try not to do on any cruise while I'm in my cabin, and I hope my neighbors would do the same.

Don't let your door slam shut

One common theme you'll find in this article is noise abatement, and it's easy to overlook your cabin door as a potential issue.

Cabin doors are heavy and they slam shut if you just let them go, creating a loud thud sound.

It's less an issue in the middle of the day, but if people nearby are trying to sleep it's the kind of sound that could startle someone awake.

Instead, slowly let the door close by holding onto it so it's not moving on its own.

This is really important to remember if your balcony door is also open.  

The the balcony door and hallway door are both open at the same time, it creates a wind tunnel and if you let the hallway door slam shut, it's extra loud!

I admit that I don't always remember this one, but I really try to follow this form of consideration because I know it wakes me up when someone nearby does it.

Don’t scream to someone else on another balcony

If you're standing on your balcony and see a friend or someone you know nearby on another balcony, below you, or somewhere on the ship, do not yell to them.

Firstly, your voice won't carry as far as you think from your balcony. There's a lot of competing noise and I've found it's difficult to hear someone more than a few feet away because of how your voice carries away.

Secondly, regardless of if they hear you or not, your neighbors will definitely hear you. I'm always amazed how clearly what I say in a normal tone of voice can be heard in neighboring balconies.  When you yell, it's certainly amplified as well.

Rely on a text message or phone call to get their attention instead.  It'll work better and you won't be playing that game of yelling "What?" back and forth.

Don't be loud on your balcony

Speaking of yelling, just don't be loud on your balcony.

Most people do a good job with this, but one area that has been a pain point lately has been music on the balcony.

Bluetooth speakers aren't prohibited on Royal Caribbean ships, but that's not an excuse to blast your music either.

Everything you say carries to balconies near you, and if you were on your balcony enjoying the view, reading a book, or sharing in the experience with family, I doubt you'd want to hear someone else's music too.

Don’t leave a mess

Being considerate goes beyond your fellow passengers.

Your stateroom attendant comes into your room once a day to clean it (twice a day in a suite), but they aren't your maid.

To that point, keep your room as tidy as you can at it relates to your clothes and personal items.

Pick things up off the floor, throw trash away, and try to make it easy enough for them to get in and service your room.

Not only does this benefit your stateroom attendant, but it also ensures you can full utilize your room as there will be less stuff in the way.

Don’t flush things down the toilet

The only thing going down your cruise bathroom toilet should be toilet paper and anything that comes out of you. 

Marine plumbing is quite fickle, and it won't take diapers, sanitary napkins, so-called flushable wipes, or food. If you do, there's a good chance you'll clog up and break the plumbing.

That's not just an issue for you, but for everyone around you.

Cabins in an area share a common plumbing section, and if one of you backs it up, it does so for other cabins too.

Don't be loud in the hall

Being noisy in the hallway is something to think about too.

Conversations can easily be heard in staterooms from the hall, even at a normal conversation volume.  Certainly being loud, obnoxious, or boisterous won't help.

We’re all on vacation and understand that it can be fun and exciting. But you should still remember that there are others around, and they may be resting, sleeping, or just not wanting to hear your noise.

A balcony is the most popular cabin on a cruise ship, but you don't want to pay for one if it's going to disappoint you.

The last thing you probably want is to wake up each morning looking at a lifeboat, or be kept awake each night by music.

Most people imagine their balcony room will have unfettered views of the ocean and be a private retreat to enjoy every day.

The reality is not all balcony cabins are created equal, and you could end up with a balcony room that's disappointing.

When I booked a Junior Suite on Freedom of the Seas, I was disappointed when I got onboard the ship to see cleaning equipment blocking my view.

I thought my balcony would be a great choice, but I didn't pay close enough attention to the partial obstruction note.

The top balcony cabin letdowns

There are three kinds of balcony cabins I'd think twice before booking.

An obstructed balcony is the first kind that almost always results in a letdown.  This is defined as a balcony that has some structure blocking the view.

It could be because of lifeboats, equipment, or partial overhangs.

Royal Caribbean's deck plans should indicate if a balcony is obstructed, and at what percentage.  You should refer to the deck plans before choosing a cabin. Or see if there's a YouTube cabin video for your specific room.

Another kind of bad balcony cabin is a noisy balcony.

Cabins under the pool deck, nightclub, Windjammer, or near the AquaTheater can all get pretty loud at certain times of the day.

This is more problematic for light sleepers, or anyone that prefers to go to bed early or sleep late. Unexpected sounds emanating from outside the cabin at odd hours can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule.

On one cruise I stayed in a balcony cabin near the Centrum on Jewel of the Seas and the music kept us awake every night.

How loud a cabin is won't show up on deck plans, but I'd recommend always booking a cabin that is located one deck above and below other cabins.

The further away the room is from public spaces, the less likely noise bleed will be an issue as well.

Lastly, some balcony rooms have a lack of privacy that can be alarming.

Neighborhood balconies are cabins that face inwards towards the ship, rather than out to the ocean. Examples include Boardwalk, Surfside, or Central Park balconies.

The issue is people walking by the room or passengers in cabins opposite your room can see directly into your cabin if the curtains aren't drawn.

The good news is these rooms are great for people watching, but not so much for private lounging.

People often book these cabins because of one choice

If you're thinking how could someone be so naive to book those balcony rooms, the reality is they probably booked them indirectly.

Royal Caribbean offers customers a money-saving option by letting the cruise line pick their cabin assignment with a guarantee room.

You could save hundreds of dollars by going with a guarantee cabin assignment, but it's a gamble as to which room you'll get.

Quite often guarantee rooms default to the leftover rooms others didn't pick.

The same holds true for bidding for a stateroom upgrade.

The entire premise of RoyalUp is to allow passengers to pay less to move up to unsold rooms or ones that got cancelled at the last minute.

There's nothing wrong with saving money and getting a great deal on a better cruise room upgrade.  Just understand you might end up in one of these rooms.

Know the differences before booking these "balconies"

There are three more types of rooms that are variations on a traditional balcony that I'd caution you to fully understand why they aren't what you might expect.

None of these cabins should be avoided, per se. Instead, I'd recommend fully comprehending what these rooms are all about before you book.

One of the cheapest rooms you can book is a virtual balcony, where you have a floor-to-ceiling high-definition screen showing live views from outside your room.

I'd argue virtual balcony rooms aren't a replacement for a regular balcony. Rather, they're upgrades from a regular inside room.

A new type of balcony introduced on the Icon Class ships is an infinite balcony.

The idea is the balcony space is convertible, with a sliding glass window that opens up to provide a breeze and view.

In reality, the infinite balcony is more like a room with a window than a room with a true balcony that you can step onto and peer around.

Families tend to like these rooms more because it provides more living space, especially with young children.

Lastly, if you aren't booking both sides of a connecting balcony room, I'd skip them.

I love connecting balcony rooms as a money saving hack for my family, but the common door between the rooms is not very good for abating noise, and that can be a problem if you don't know the people on the other side of the door.

The best Royal Caribbean balcony cabins to look for instead

Now that you know which balcony cabins aren't so great, here are the types of balcony rooms I'd book instead.

People that cruise a lot swear by aft-facing balcony rooms, which are balconies on the back of the ship.

They're usually larger and have incredible wake views.  They're definitely better on Royal Caribbean's older ships, like Vision or Radiance Class vessels.

Another good idea is to book a balcony cabin mid-ship, instead of one at the very front of the ship. This location tends to be the most stable and offer the least sensation of movement.

A lot of first time cruisers want to avoid getting seasick at any cost, so picking a room in the middle is best for this.

One other kind of balcony cabin to look for when you're reviewing deck plans are cabins with angled balconies.

Some corner rooms have more space without extra cost and can be a great choice.

When it's actually better to book an inside room instead of a balcony

There's another kind of balcony disappointment that can occur, and it has nothing to do with your room location.

If you book a cruise on one of the biggest ships, or perhaps a very port intensive itinerary, you're barely going to be in your room because of all the fun things to do outside of it.

I've often heard from readers who liked their balcony room, but lamented how little time they spent inside of it.

And of course there's buyer's regret, when you pay inflated prices due to demand for a balcony room.

Spending extra money on cabin amenities you won't really take advantage of can be a compelling reason to book a cheaper inside room instead.

Research your room to avoid days of regret

It's pretty easy to book the right balcony for your family if you spend a little bit of time researching the right option.

Booking the right balcony adds serious value to your cruise, and can be a wonderful space to enjoy every day.

Ultimately, you want your balcony to be a highlight, not a headache.  Now that you have the right information, you should be able to get the perfect one on your next cruise.

You have a Royal Caribbean cruise booked, but what if you want to add someone to your reservation?

It's fairly common to have travel plans change, especially when trying to plan a vacation many months in advance.

Royal Caribbean cruise fares are priced out per person, and each person has their own cost within any cabin.  Sometimes a Kids Sail Free deal can negate the fare for children, but there are restrictions in place too.

If you want to add someone to your cruise, the ability to do so and associated cost truly depend on a few different conditions. Sometimes, it's not possible and other times it may incur hefty costs.

How to add additional people to your Royal Caribbean cabin

In order to add someone to your cabin, there are a few prerequisites:

• The change must be made before the ship's manifest is finalized (usually about 72 hours before the cruise begins)
• The cabin must be designated as being able to accommodate the total capacity of your party
• There must be enough life boat spaces for the new person

Changes are allowed up until a few days before a cruise begins, but you may find other issues preventing it from going forward with the change.

Each Royal Caribbean cabin has a maximum capacity. Regardless if you think you could fit that person into the room, it's impossible to add additional people beyond that particular cabin's capacity.

The number of passengers allowed in a room is linked to the number of seats in life rafts and muster stations.

As an example, if you originally booked an oceanview balcony cabin designed for two people but want to add a third person, you'd have to upgrade to a different category oceanview balcony cabin that can accommodate three people.

Whether your cabin can handle the additional person or not, you're going to incur a new cost.  Often, that cost can be prohibitively expensive.

When you make a change to a reservation and add someone, you will have to pay the prevailing rate and not the rate you booked everyone else at originally.

Even if you're making the change sufficiently before the cruise begins and you're okay with the price change, it may not be possible to add someone to a reservation because of maritime law.

If the lifeboat capacity for your muster station is full, Royal Caribbean would not allow you to add that extra person. Regulations related to safety at sea is quite strict, and cruise ships cannot load in more people than can be safely handled in case of an emergency.

Assuming there's no issues with any of these restrictions, then you can add the extra person to your reservation.

You would have to pay for the extra person's deposit and cruise fare, as well as port fees and taxes.

The simplest thing to do is call Royal Caribbean or your travel agent and ask them if it's possible and what the cost would be.

You'll need to call Royal Caribbean or your travel agent to make this sort of a change.  It cannot be done online.

Swapping people is very easy

If you just want to change one person for another, then this is quite easy.

You can always name swap people without any change fees or extra costs as long as it's done before the ship's manifest is submitted and at least one person from the original reservation remains on the booking.

You just have to have your travel agent make the name change, and it's usually quite an easy task.

Usually extra passengers cost less overall

One silver lining to adding extra passengers is they probably won't cost as much as you did to book.

Royal Caribbean's cruise fares are based on double occupancy, and the bulk of the cost is centered around the first two passengers in a cabin.

Often the price for third, fourth, or more people in the same cabin drops quite a lot.

The catch is if you change cabins.

If you booked a cabin for two people and now want to add a third person to your room, you'd have to upgrade your cabin to a higher category that can accommodate three people.

Cabins for two are plentiful and the most common type of cabin on the ship.  There are less cabins for three people, and because they sell out faster, prices tend to be higher.

In fact, this is why sometimes an inside cabin for three people costs more than a balcony cabin for two people.  Revenue management software automatically adjusts rates based on supply and demand principles. 

When many interior cabins are booked because demand is high, it's quite common to see rates increase to the point they are equal to or more than ocean view and sometimes even balcony rates. 

Adding people if you bid for a cabin upgrade

Let's assume you win a bid to upgrade your cabin to a lovely larger cruise ship cabin with the RoyalUp program.  Could you add an additional guest since you now have more space?

The good news is you can add people to your bigger room after winning a RoyalUp bid, but it's considered a reprice when adding people so it would be at the prevailing room rate.

Moreover, if you had another cabin booked prior to the bid, you can't just combine your two bookings into the new one you got with the upgrade. 

Of course, the people booked in the second room could remain in that room "on paper", but sleep and enjoy the nicer room with you.

Alternatives to adding someone to your cabin

Besides trying to add someone to your room, there are other options you could explore.

Booking an additional room is one option, and depending on prevailing rates and how many unsold cabins there are left, this could be feasible.

Even if you're trying to add a minor, they're allowed in a room by themselves if that room is adjacent or connecting to the parent's room.

If not, this might be a good opportunity to bring granny or another adult since the price for one person or two people in a standard cabin is going to be about the same price because of the single supplement fee charged to solo cruisers.

Another idea is to simply upgrade everyone to a suite.

Even after final payment date, Royal Caribbean is usually good about allowing you to spend more money and move up to a higher cost cabin.

Suites often have the highest capacity of any single cabin. Of course, a suite won't be cheap, especially if you're trying to do this closer to your sail date. Plus, suites tend to sell out first.

I started booking rooms on lower decks instead (less dependence on elevators, convenient to walk to dining rooms and promenade, a little cheaper)

Unlike hotels on land, you can pick if room is on a higher or lower level of the cruise ship.

The more I've cruised, the less I've cared about which deck my cabin is on, but I definitely stopped paying extra to be on a higher deck.

I cruise on a monthly basis, and that affords me the time to get on ships and my views have definitely changed as to which deck I prefer to be on.

Like many aspects of a cruise, the better option depends on your needs and tastes. But if someone is brand new to a cruise and wants to know if it's better to be on high or low on a cruise ship, I'd recommend a lower one for a few reasons.

I thought having a better view mattered

I always wanted cabins on a high deck when I started cruising because I equated it like a hotel building, where the better view on a higher floor is worth it every time.

What I discovered as I cruised was the view you had wasn't as important as I thought.

One truth of any cabin is I find I spend very little time in it.  Cruise ships have so much to do onboard that I'm drawn away to the activities.

The result is your cruise cabin is usually for sleeping, showering, and changing. That realization was the first step in rethinking where my room would be.

Something else I noticed when I'd visit someone else's cabin is the difference in view between a higher deck and a lower deck really isn't that much different.

Cruise ships are big, but they're not skyscrapers either. I just don't think you're getting that much more elevation to make a significant difference.

Probably the top reason I started to rethink a cabin on a high deck is the dependence you'll have on elevators.

Other than Icon of the Seas, the elevators on all cruise ships get crowded and in-demand quite quickly. 

Waiting for an elevator is a gamble each time if you'll get one soon or end up waiting for what seems like forever.  Royal Caribbean's Product Development team calls this "microwave minutes" because the time you wait in front of a microwave to make food always seems to take forever.

Obviously I can, and have, taken the stairs to bypass the elevator.  But there are situations where that's nearly impossible, like when you get back on the ship after a shore excursion and you're on deck 1 and need to get to your cabin on deck 12. 

I started booking rooms on lower decks instead

That dependence on elevators was probably the impetus to try a cabin on a lower deck.

A few years ago I was sailing on Mariner of the Seas and told me travel agent I'd like a room closer to the Royal Promenade.  I ended up with a cabin on deck 6, just one room up from the Promenade.

It felt strange, but I instantly fell in love with its location.

I was able to walk and take the stairs to the Royal Promenade, Main Dining Room, Theater, Schooner Bar, and Casino without needing to wait for an elevator.

I found it so convenient to be able to get to my room when I needed.

The real benefit of a higher deck cabin is the pool

If there's one good reason to book a room on a higher deck, it's to be close to the pool deck.

Royal Caribbean always has its pool up on the highest decks.  The same is true for the Windjammer buffet, and even the kids club can be found near the pools on nearly all ships.

If you're someone that loves to spend a lot of time around the pool, there's a compelling reason to pick a cabin on a high deck.

When my kids were younger, it was undeniably convenient to have the buffet and Adventure Ocean close by.  When we cruised on Anthem of the Seas and Adventure Ocean is on the same deck as guest cabins on deck 14, it felt like we had such a convenience being there.

Someone that loves to spend most of their day near the pool might find the convenience factor  of being near the pool a good reason to be on a higher deck.

Plus, being on a high deck means you are also closer to specialty restaurants, fun activities, and the jogging track.

Itinerary matters

I would book a cabin on a higher deck if I was sailing to Alaska or the Norwegian fjords.

Part of what makes these itineraries special is the fact you get to sail past waterfalls, glaciers, and into fjords. 

The best place to see the view is up on the pool deck on a high deck.  Being at a higher vantage point truly makes a difference.

In Alaska, so many times you'll be compelled to run up and see what you're passing next.  It's far easier to do this if your cabin is just a deck or two away from the pool.

In the Caribbean, I think it matters less having that view.  

Is it bad to be on a really low deck?

Some cruisers are concerned with being booked in a cabin on the lowest decks, such as a cabin on deck 2.

Rooms on a low deck near the waterline are often the cheapest in price, and that makes some people question why.

You'll only find inside and oceanview cabins on the lowest decks.  Balcony cabins don't usually start appearing until perhaps deck 6. Since there are only small cabins here, they're going to cost less.

Similar to a cabin on a very high deck, you're far more dependent on the elevator on deck 2 to get around the ship.

You're less likely to get seasick on a low deck

This is a generalization, but you're less likely to get motion sick on a lower deck than a higher deck.

The best place to be to minimize the effects of seasickness are on a low deck, midship. 

That isn't to say you're automatically going to get seasick if you book a cabin near the top of the ship.  Rather, if the ship is rocking, the feeling might be less noticeable if your room is closer to a low deck.

If you're sensitive to motion, it might be worse on a high deck, if you're not, then it probably won't be noticeable to you anyway.

There's not as much difference as you'd think

I've spelled out the major considerations, but don't overthink the issue as I don't think being higher or lower on a cruise ship matters as much as new cruisers think it does.

All decks have their reasons to book it or not.  I'd pay more attention to the cabins to avoid booking than the specific deck number. There are definitely better cabin locations to consider than the exact deck.

In some cases, you won't have a choice.  Suites are almost always located at a very high deck, whereas inside cabins tend to be on lower decks.  

Getting a good night's sleep is important, even on a cruise vacation.

I usually sleep very well on Royal Caribbean ships, but admittedly, I prefer a firm mattress. 

Everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to beds, so I'm not surprised when some people claim the beds are too firm to their taste.

Longtime cruisers know there's a special request you can make if you need another option, but you need to know to ask for it.

You can ask for a mattress topper

If your cruise ship cabin bed is too hard, you can ask your stateroom attendant for a mattress topper.

There's a limited supply of these, where the stateroom attendant will place one underneath your bed sheets to provide a little more padding.

While it won't transform your bed into a heavenly fluffy pillow, it might help just a little. Cruisers have described them as a very thick quilt, an egg foam mattress topper, or a mattress pad.

Some ships do actually have a memory foam pad. All ships have different toppers sometimes its an egg crate, sometimes its the nice foam ones.

It's been my experience has been if you find the mattress is too hard, asking for a topper has been worth asking for.

The problem is they can run out, so you'll need to act quickly.

There's only a limited supply, and after the first night on the ship, enough people will complain to probably get one.

There's no cost to ask for one, but you need to act quickly.

You can request a mattress topper before your cruise begins

While I've always waited to ask for a mattress topper once onboard, you could submit the request before the cruise begins.

Royal Caribbean has a special needs form that you can fill out up to 30 days before your cruise begins.  This form is really meant for medical needs, but it allows for a mattress topper too.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected] with the request.

Their response will be something like this:

"Thank you for contacting the Access Department regarding the accommodations for your upcoming cruise.

To accommodate your back conditions, we will provide a two-inch-thick micro-fiber pillow top at no additional cost. This item will be placed in your stateroom on the day of sailing. Please note, we no longer provide egg crate mattresses for sanitary reasons."

You just need to provide your ship name, sail date, and reservation number.

DIY approach

If they run out, you could make your bed a little more comfortable with a spare comforter.

You can ask your stateroom attendant for an extra blanket to put under the sheet, and that will provide a little extra cushion.

It's a good alternative if they run out of toppers by the time you ask.

Bring one from home

Rather than play a game of roulette with which topper you'll get, some cruisers have begun bringing their own.

"You can bring your own on! I recommend getting a space bag and a hand pump so you can make it really small to fit in your luggage," is what pundromeda recommends.

Another cruiser shared their strategy of bringing their own, "We bring our own (2 twins). The room steward is happy to put it on the bed for us. At the end of the cruise, we just roll them up and put them in their own duffle bag. Ready for next cruise."

While I've never brought my own, many cruisers recommend the Klymit sleeping pad as an option. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission if you buy it)

You can also ask for a fan

Something else that might help you sleep better is to ask your stateroom attendant for a fan.

A fan can serve two purposes: cooling you down and providing white noise.

Royal Caribbean won't let you bring appliances on a cruise ship for fire hazard reasons, but they do have fans you can borrow.

There's a limited supply of large standing fans that guests can use for the duration of the cruise.

Alternatively, you could bring a USB powered fan, such as this one. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission if you buy it)

Suite guests get softer mattresses

Something else worth noting is if you're in a suite on some ships, you can expect a better mattress.

As part of the Royal Suite Class benefits available on the Oasis, Icon, and Quantum Class cruise ships, Royal Caribbean includes "Luxury Pillow Top Mattress and Linen" in the cabin.

It's available for Sea, Sky, and Star Class rooms.

I've been taking my kids on cruise ships since they were young enough to cruise, and it's taught me a few lessons about which cabin is the best.

Going on vacation anywhere as a family presents its own sets of challenges, but I've found cruise ships to be the best way for our family to get away.  As the kids have grown up, the ship experience has evolved to match our needs.

Over the years I've booked us in different cruise rooms for different reasons and at this point, my wife and I agree there's only option that works for us and our kids and it's definitely not stuffing all of us into one room, especially the cheapest cabin I can find.

I know exactly why parents would lean towards booking the lowest category room as a way to keep costs down. But after staying with my kids in small inside rooms, massive suites, and a few in-between, it's become clear to me going cheap in one room is never worth it.

Based on my experiences, here are a couple of the rooms I've tried and the one I'd recommend

All of us in an inside room

When my kids were younger, I'd usually book a small, interior room because it was cheap.

You can book these cabins that have no windows or balcony and can sleep up to four people.  There's almost always beds that come down from the ceiling or wall for the third and fourth passenger.

These cabins are tight fits, as most inside rooms come in at about 164 square feet of space. A standard interior cabin on Icon of the Seas is 156 square feet, or 178 square feet if you move up to a spacious interior cabin.

If you're cruising with toddlers, sure, a small inside room works fine, but it's incredible how much space the pack 'n play, stroller, and all the baby supplies take up.

We used to joke about putting the crib in the closet if we had a spacious interior room because it would get a lot of things out of the way. Don't worry, we never did.

Besides trying not to trip over everything and everyone in the room, the sleeping situation is less than ideal. When your kids are very young, we felt we had to keep the room quiet and dark when the children were ready for bed, and then that meant my wife and I "playing the quiet game".  

As the kids got older, the bigger issue arose and that's sharing one bathroom and one shower. Kids are okay with this when they are young, but as they get older, they seem to take an hour each in there.

I get why parents would choose to put everyone in one room to save money, especially if you're trying to cruise on a budget.

However, families with older kids (especially teens) should avoid trying to cram everyone into an interior cabin because of the lack of space and privacy.

A big suite

While a small interior room is a no-go, what about a big suite? Surely all that extra space would solve the problem.

I thought this was the solution when I took my family on Icon of the Seas for a summer cruise, and we booked the Icon Loft Suite.

This is a massive two-level suite that even has two bathrooms. We're still sharing the suite with my kids, but they're on the lower level on the pull out sofa and my wife and I upstairs on the bed.

This approach did solve the sharing a bathroom problem we had with all of us in an interior room, but we're still sharing one room.

My oldest child is a teenager and the younger one is almost there, and both of them love to sleep in and have their privacy.

I don't think book a mega suite is a bad idea for families, but we definitely overpaid for that second bathroom and extra space. This suite cost $5,000 per night, and it wasn't the ideal solution in the grand scheme of things.

All of us enjoyed the perks of staying in a big suite, such as priority embarkation, access to suite only areas, and the services of the Royal Genie.  Heck, the Genie alone was arguably worth the cost.

And there are other suites that have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, such as the Aquatheater Suite, but they're still super expensive too.

Connecting staterooms offer privacy and plenty of space

For the money, the best choice for a family is to book two connecting rooms.

We usually book connecting balcony cabins, but we've stayed in connecting interior cabins too.

When we went on Liberty of the Seas this summer to Bermuda, I booked us in connecting balcony cabins.

The reason why connecting rooms work so well is it addresses the three major things families need in their cruise accommodations: space, privacy, and value.

Having two separate cabins means you're not climbing over as many people, and even the smallest cabins are manageable with just two people in there.

No matter how old your kids are, there's enough space there too.

Privacy is also perfect with connecting rooms as you have a common door between the rooms.  When the kids want to sleep in, play a game, or call their friends, they have that.  Plus, they have their own beds and aren't sleeping on a pull out sofa.

And the second cabin comes with its own full bathroom, so there's less fighting over the shower.  Notice I said "less" because the kids still fight, but at least it's not among the four of us.

Booking two cabins is usually much cheaper than a suite. In fact, booking two rooms is not as expensive as you might think, especially if you book connecting interior rooms.

When we have connecting balcony rooms, we can not only open and close the connecting door inside the room, but also the balcony dividers. You can't do this on all Royal Caribbean ships, but most support it now.

Compared to trying to put all of us in a single inside room, the extra cost was completely worth the price increase.