If you’ve read my earlier post on our 4-night Penang and Phuket cruise from Singapore on the Ovation of the Seas, you’d have a pretty good idea of what a Royal Caribbean cruise is like. This post is specifically a Royal Caribbean balcony room tour — so you know exactly what you’re walking into and can decide if it’s worth paying extra for this cabin category.
How We Got Our Royal Caribbean Balcony Stateroom
The previous time we cruised with Royal Caribbean, we paid extra to handpick a specific room on a specific deck. This time round, we decided to just let them assign us one. No fuss, and it worked out fine.
We went with a balcony stateroom again — mainly because my husband will only consider balcony rooms. Never mind that I hardly ever saw him step out onto the balcony! And me? I prefer staying indoors. Outside is just too hot and humid, especially on a cruise around Southeast Asia.
We were assigned Room 7694 on Deck 7 Aft.
Checking In: What to Expect
Rooms are only ready from 1pm onwards. Once you board, just head straight to your cabin. Your room cards will be in an envelope outside the door, and if you checked in your luggage, it’ll be left outside the room too. Simple and fuss-free.
Our room was a distance away from the lifts this time, compared to our previous trip where we were right next to them. Honestly? I preferred it. We ended up walking more and taking the stairs whenever we could — good for clocking up daily steps, especially when you’re eating non-stop on a cruise!
A full-length mirror by the main door makes it easy to check your outfit before heading out. The room also has a connecting door, ideal for groups who want to stay side by side.
A versatile dressing table that also functions as a writing desk.
The sofa can be converted into a bed, making it ideal for accommodating additional guests.
Inside the Royal Caribbean Balcony Stateroom
Having cruised with Royal Caribbean before, I already knew what to expect. And true enough — the whole cabin setup is exactly the same as before. Same layout, same look. If you’ve been in one Royal Caribbean balcony room, you’ve essentially seen them all.
Waking up to this view from our balcony on the last morning as we arrived back at Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
That said, the biggest plus of a balcony stateroom — beyond the outdoor view — is the natural daylight. It makes the room feel brighter and less enclosed compared to an interior cabin with no windows. You can also get fresh air whenever you want, which is a nice touch.
Bed and Sleep Quality
The bed was comfortable enough. My only gripe: the pillows are too soft. I ended up stacking two just to get proper support. If you’re particular about pillow firmness, take note.
The air-conditioning only goes down to 68°F (20°C) — but honestly, it never even felt that cool. The aircon wasn’t very effective at cooling the room, or maybe the outside heat was just too strong. Either way, we didn’t even touch the quilt the entire night.
I also noticed a visible gap between the balcony door panels. This caused two issues:
- Cool air kept escaping, making it harder to cool the room down
- The wind howled through the gap the whole night — got a bit annoying trying to sleep through that
From Deck 7, you can spot the lifeboats just below along the side of the ship.
The balcony comes with two lounge chairs and a small table.
The Balcony
My husband specifically chose a balcony room. And yet, he barely stepped outside the whole trip. I went out occasionally, but honestly — it’s just too warm and humid out there when you’re cruising in this part of the world. The balcony is a nice-to-have, but for a Singapore-departure cruise, you might not use it as much as you’d think.
Bathroom Breakdown
The bathroom is small but functional. Here’s what’s provided and what you’ll need to bring yourself.
What’s included:
- Hand soap
- 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash (combined, not separate)
- Face towels, hand towels, and bath towels
What you need to pack:
- All other toiletries — conditioner, toothpaste, razor, the works
- Slippers and bathrobe (not provided)
One thing to remember about towels: leave them on the floor if you want fresh ones. If you hang them up, housekeeping takes that as a sign you’re reusing them and won’t swap them out.
Water pressure is on the weaker side — it’s an eco-friendly water-saving system, so don’t expect a power shower. On the bright side, hot water comes on quickly and the temperature is easy to get right.
In-Room Amenities
Drinks and Water
The room comes with a kettle, instant coffee sachets, and sugar. There are also two bottles of drinking water — but they’re only given once and not replenished daily. Plan ahead for this.
💡 Tip: Bring a reusable water bottle. Head to Cafe Promenade or Windjammer to refill. There are signs saying not to refill bottles directly at the dispenser, so what we did was dispense water into the plastic cups first, then pour it into our bottle — better for hygiene too so the bottle top doesn’t touch the dispenser. No in-room water? Fill the glasses, chill them in the mini fridge, and drink from there. Stay hydrated!
Power Sockets and Charging
The sockets are American-style, so bring a travel adaptor. Sockets are located at the dressing table and on one side of the bed only. If you’ve got multiple devices to charge — phone, camera, tablet — pack a multi-port USB charger.
Important: extension cords are not allowed on board. Leave yours at home.
A spacious safe that can fit at least two laptops and a tablet.
Storage Space
The room isn’t huge, but there’s actually plenty of storage once you know where to look:
- Overhead and side storage near the bed
- Hanging space with plenty of hangers next to the bathroom door
- Space under the bed — perfect for storing empty suitcases after you’ve unpacked
Unpack your stuff into the wardrobe and storage spaces, shove the empty luggage under the bed, and the room opens up considerably. Makes a big difference.
Other Things in the Room
- Hair dryer in the drawer
- Box of tissues
- Empty mini fridge
- Long sofa — useful for chilling, though ours was visibly well-used with quite a few stains
- TV with mostly Royal Caribbean in-house channels, news, and National Geographic. Video on demand and movies cost extra.
Which Royal Caribbean Cabin Should You Book?
Not sure which category to go for? Here’s a straightforward breakdown based on what matters to you:
- Near lifts, mid-ship — Convenient, less walking. But expect more foot traffic and noise since cabins aren’t fully soundproofed.
- Low deck, mid-ship — Best for motion sickness-prone travellers. More stability even when the sea gets choppy. I’m prone to motion sickness but didn’t feel a thing on our Deck 7 aft cabin — though I did keep travel sickness pills on hand just in case.
- Balcony stateroom — Worth it for the natural light and fresh air access. Just keep in mind you may not use the outdoor space as much as expected, especially in tropical heat.
- Interior stateroom — The most budget-friendly option. Perfectly fine if the room is just for sleeping and showering. But without natural light, it can feel quite enclosed — know yourself before booking.
- Accessible cabin — Available for guests with mobility needs.
- Near a specific facility — Ask yourself what you’ll be doing most on the cruise. Pick a room close to those facilities.
- Don’t mind either way? — Let Royal Caribbean assign you one. Saves you the decision fatigue.
So, Is the Royal Caribbean Balcony Room Worth It?
Honestly? This time round, I wasn’t as excited about the balcony room as I was on our first Royal Caribbean cruise. Partly because it looks exactly the same — no surprises when you already know what to expect.
But more than that, this trip was jam-packed. Every single day, we were out doing things. We barely spent time in the cabin — no afternoon nap sessions, no movies in bed. It was essentially just a room to shower and sleep in. On our previous cruise, we actually enjoyed hanging out in the room, watching movies, chilling. This time, not so much.
So from a purely practical standpoint: if you’re the type to be out all day and only return to the room at night, an interior stateroom will do the job just fine — and save you a good chunk of money. I literally told my husband I’d rather save that money and put it towards the casino slot machines instead, haha!
But if natural daylight matters to you, or you like the option of fresh air, or you just find windowless rooms a bit depressing — the Royal Caribbean balcony stateroom on Ovation of the Seas is a solid, comfortable choice. Just bring your own toiletries, pack a travel adaptor, and manage your aircon expectations. You’ll be perfectly fine.