Star of the Seas Balcony Cabin Review: We Compare ...

Throughout our recent sailings on Star of the Seas, we had the chance to expertise two related but very totally different stateroom designs. Having stayed in each an Ocean View Balcony and an Infinite Ocean View Balcony, we are able to present firsthand insights into how these two cabin classes examine. On this Star of the Seas balcony cabin evaluate, we focus on the professionals and cons to every room sort that will help you decide the proper lodging on your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s latest megaship.

TL;DR: Which Star of the Seas Balcony Ought to You Select?

Conventional Ocean View Balcony: 204 sq ft inside + 50 sq ft outside balcony. Finest for cruisers who need true outside house and the pliability to get pleasure from contemporary air whereas maintaining the cabin air-conditioned. Excellent for heat Caribbean locations.

Infinite Ocean View Balcony: 250 sq ft all-interior house with floor-to-ceiling home windows that open. Finest for cruisers who prioritize additional indoor dwelling house and don’t thoughts sacrificing precise outside entry. Word: AC turns off when window opens.

Backside Line: Each have similar interiors (lavatory, closet, mattress, storage). The choice comes down as to whether you like an actual outside balcony or additional indoor house. We desire the normal balcony for its flexibility, particularly in heat climates.

Pricing: Comparable prices between each classes on most sailings.

Structure of a Star of the Seas Balcony Cabin

Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships provide an impressive array of stateroom options, with 28 totally different cabin classes to select from throughout Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. Past the normal inside, ocean view, and balcony rooms discovered on different ships, these vessels introduce a number of progressive ideas together with the brand new Infinite Balcony design and distinctive interior-facing balcony choices. Because of this not all balcony cabins face the ocean; many overlook the ships’ vibrant inside neighborhoods like Central Park or the family-friendly Surfside space.

This selection means cruisers have extra decisions than ever, however it additionally makes deciding on the precise cabin extra advanced. So, it’s vital to evaluate the ship’s deck plans or speak with a journey advisor earlier than reserving your cruise.

Right here, we’re solely evaluating and constrasting the Ocean View Balcony vs. Infinite Ocean View Balcony choices.

Ocean View Balcony

The standard Ocean View Balcony maintains the acquainted cruise ship format that seasoned cruisers know and love. For this crusing on Star of the Seas, we stayed in cabin 8268. This portside ocean view balcony cabin is positioned simply ahead of the midship elevators.

Upon coming into, you’ll discover the toilet instantly to the precise, with the closet tucked across the nook. The primary dwelling house flows naturally, with the desk positioned on the left wall, a love seat throughout from it, and the Royal king mattress positioned on the ahead wall dealing with aft. The mattress is that this cabin is nearer to the balcony; although, some cabins may have flipped layouts with the couch and desk nearer to the balcony.

A sliding glass door offers clear separation between the 204-square-foot inside and the devoted 50-square-foot outside balcony house.

Except for some coloration palette variations, this cabin is basically the identical as the one we stayed in last year on Icon of the Seas.

Infinite Ocean View Balcony

The Infinite Ocean View Balcony reimagines the normal format by eliminating the outside balcony completely and incorporating that house into an expanded 250-square-foot inside. The room flows seamlessly from the normal cabin space into what Royal Caribbean calls the “balcony” house. It’s primarily an prolonged dwelling space with a floor-to-ceiling window that opens from the highest through the push of a button together with two extra chairs and a desk.

Throughout our first look crusing on Star of the Seas, we stayed in cabin 9590. This starboard facet infinite ocean view balcony cabin is positioned simply aft of the ahead elevators.

Upon coming into, you’ll discover the toilet instantly to the left, with the closet tucked across the nook. The primary dwelling house continues with the Royal king mattress positioned on the ahead wall dealing with aft. Past the mattress, the desk is positioned on the precise wall and the love seat is throughout from it, nearer to the infinite balcony. Just like the normal ocean view balcony cabins, some rooms may have flipped layouts with the mattress nearer to the infinite balcony.

Inside a Star of the Seas Balcony Cabin

Whereas the balcony expertise differs dramatically between these two stateroom classes, the inside lodging are primarily similar. Each the Ocean View Balcony and Infinite Ocean View Balcony characteristic the identical lavatory format, closet design, desk configuration, love seat, and Royal king mattress setup.

The upgraded finishes, plentiful charging retailers, and storage options stay constant throughout each room sorts. This implies your choice between these cabin classes actually comes all the way down to balcony choice fairly than inside facilities, as you’ll get pleasure from the identical comfy dwelling house no matter which possibility you select.

Lavatory

Each cabin classes characteristic similar lavatory layouts with Royal Caribbean’s upgraded design. The standout characteristic is the oblong bathe with a glass door – a major enchancment over the curved bathe stalls discovered on older ships. The bathe features a handy built-in seat on one finish with a towel storage shelf above, giving it a extra hotel-like really feel. There are additionally two hooks for hanging objects and two small cabinets to retailer different bathtub merchandise. Nonetheless, there is just one hair and physique wash dispenser.

The lavatory stays small however useful, with three small cabinets beside the sink and extra small cabinets behind the bathroom. Each loos characteristic a typical cruise ship self-importance with minimal counter house, making our over-the-door shoe organizer essential for storing toiletries and equipment with out cluttering the restricted counter tops.

Essential Cabin Space

Storage and Group: Each cabin sorts characteristic the identical closet design. The closet divides into roughly 2/3 and 1/3 sections. The smaller part offers a full-length hanging house perfect for attire, whereas the bigger part combines a prime garments bar with 4 uncovered steel storage cubes beneath. Whereas these cubes work effectively for footwear, their wire building isn’t perfect for delicate clothes objects, and the shortage of sliding tracks makes entry considerably cumbersome.

Further storage consists of cabinets hidden behind the full-length mirror (the place you’ll additionally discover the secure), 5 desk drawers of various sizes (you’ll additionally discover the mini-fridge and hair dryer right here), and small cabinets close to the tv. These cabinets that are tucked out of the way in which are good for storing electronics, water bottles, and different small objects.

Expertise and Connectivity: Each rooms excel in energy choices. The desk space consists of one 120V outlet, one European outlet, one USB outlet, and one USB-C outlet. Further USB retailers are positioned on either side of the mattress (one both sides, although just one facet has an influence outlet) and close to the tv space (one USB and one USB-C), guaranteeing you’ll by no means battle to maintain gadgets charged.

Seating and Consolation: The Ocean View Balcony contains a generously-sized couch that comfortably accommodates two folks engaged on laptops concurrently. The Infinite Ocean View Balcony offers much more seating choices with its expanded dwelling space, together with the normal couch plus extra seating within the “balcony” house.

The Royal king mattress offered glorious sleep high quality in each configurations after lengthy days exploring the ship. And we additionally appreciated that the desk had a chair fairly that only a stool such as you usually discover in cruise cabins.

Balcony Expertise

Conventional Ocean View Balcony: The 50-square-foot outside balcony offers sufficient house for 2 adjustable chairs, two small ottomans, and a spherical desk. The separation between indoor and outside house permits for versatile use; one particular person can benefit from the contemporary air and ocean views whereas one other stays within the air-conditioned room inside. This proves notably worthwhile in heat Caribbean climates.

Infinite Ocean View Balcony: Just like the design on Superstar’s Edge class, the “balcony” house on this cabin class features as an extension of the inside, that includes two comfy chairs and a desk. The ground-to-ceiling window creates a formidable visible connection to the ocean. When the window opens, all the room transforms into an indoor/outside dwelling house. Nevertheless, this comes with a major trade-off: the air con routinely shuts off when the window opens, that means the cabin temperature turns into regardless of the exterior air temperature occurs to be.

Professionals and Cons Evaluation: Ocean View Balcony vs. Infinite Ocean View Balcony

Ocean View Balcony Benefits:

• True, open outside house for contemporary air and ocean breezes
• Capability to get pleasure from outside time whereas others stay in air-conditioned consolation
• Conventional door offers clear separation and sound barrier so early risers can get pleasure from espresso exterior with out disturbing sleeping cabinmates
• Some conventional balconies can join with neighboring rooms for bigger teams

Ocean View Balcony Disadvantages:

• Much less whole inside sq. footage
• Conventional balcony dividers present much less privateness than infinite design
• Much less inside seating choices in comparison with expanded infinite format
• Would possibly trigger security issues for folks with babies

Infinite Ocean View Balcony Benefits:

• Extra inside dwelling house with a number of seating areas
• Partial safety from the outside components, notably helpful in cool or wet situations
• Enhanced privateness vs. conventional balconies
• Indoor/outside dwelling idea with uninterrupted views

Infinite Ocean View Balcony Disadvantages:

• No true outside house – you’re all the time technically inside
• Air-con shuts off when window opens
• Much less flexibility for {couples} with totally different temperature preferences or morning routines
• Captain can disable perform in sure climate situations eliminating entry to contemporary air

Our Verdict: Star of the Seas Balcony Cabin Assessment

Whereas we are able to recognize the progressive design and extra house of the Infinite Ocean View Balcony, we personally desire the normal Ocean View Balcony setup. The flexibility to step exterior onto a real balcony whereas sustaining climate-controlled inside house offers the pliability we worth most. That is notably vital in Caribbean cruising, the place the cabin can warmth up and fog in shortly by simply opening the window for a quick minute or two.

The Infinite Ocean View Balcony works finest for cruisers who prioritize inside house and don’t thoughts sacrificing true outside entry. It’s a wonderful selection for cooler climates or for individuals who desire additional privateness. Nevertheless, in the event you get pleasure from balcony time in heat climate locations or desire the separation that conventional balconies present, the traditional Ocean View Balcony stays the superior selection.

Feedback

Did you discover our Star of the Seas balcony cabin evaluate useful? Do you like an Ocean View Balcony or Infinite Ocean View Balcony? Drop us an anchor beneath to share your stateroom preferences once you cruise.

The submit Star of the Seas Balcony Cabin Review: We Compare the Ocean View Balcony vs. Infinite Ocean View Balcony Rooms appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

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