Not all Royal Caribbean cruise balconies are created equal: How to avoid the the wrong ones
In: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.