You're spot on. DON'T pick a cabin over or below a venue. We selected one above a bar and I swear the band played "Crazy" as a part of each set. 20 years latter and I still can't get it out of my head! 😁

@gigid4731

Жыл бұрын

Hilarious!

@DaughtersofTMH

6 ай бұрын

😂😂

Great advice - my biggest tip is to ALWAYS look at what's above or below your room - I've been on so many ships where people complain about noise in their cabin, but they never thought to check that their cabin wasn't directly above the onboard nightclub...!!

On my last two cruises I’ve realised lower in the ship is better (ideally deck 7). The royal ships are so big you will need to use the lifts some of the time, but being lowers means when leaving shows when everyone is trying to get a lift you can just take the stairs

Deck 11, Central Park Balcony, midship!

Anyhow we loved the aft balcony deck 6 Liberty I believe. Pros: So relaxing, less traffic, larger balcony and cabin. Cons: Sometimes we would find ash from the smoke stacks, and there was a a pole going through it. Love the Central Park balconies as they are quiet and there is usually good music in the evening. We had a Boardwalk balcony once, and although fun, everything was very humid. Also love the hump balconies.

We've tremendously enjoyed midship Central Park balconies on both Symphony (Deck 10 )and Wonder (Deck 11). They are both high enough above the Deck 8 Central Park Greenery to allow for fun people watching and are awesome at night with the beautiful guitar entertainment.

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

I'm dying to try these Central Park balconies - they're so different to anything I've seen on a ship before!

I like edge of hump (bonus balcony) or forward inside (more floor space because of the slope). Also, the retrofit cabins (cabins added during a refit, such as the deck 12 cabins on Explorer added in 2016) are a newer design and often have upgraded features and technology.

We booked a "spacious ocean view" on deck 10 on Ovation of the Seas - forward facing. It was HUGE at a great price. We just booked another forward facing ocean view cabin with an obstructed view, again on deck 10 of Harmony of the Seas. Our TA got us a good deal, and the "obstruction" is the ship's bow. We consider it a bonus!

@geno5169

Жыл бұрын

My wife and I sailed on the Mardi. We h a Ocean view balcony.we’re sailing on the oasis.we booked a balcony facing there garden. In the aft

Loved the 7th floor after balcony on Freedom of the Seas. Slider door open at night listening to the ocean, large balcony to enjoy morning coffee and room service.

Having sailed the Pacific and Indian Oceans during my Navy days, the view of the sky and ocean was always breathtaking, especially sunrises and sunsets reflecting off the water. And looking up at night at the billions of stars...you can't beat that anywhere. I would spent much of my time just gazing away out there.

Central Park was my favorite area of the ship and I was so happy to have a cabin on deck 8 steps away from that area. #amazing

We have booked the promenade rooms on Royal Caribbean numerous times. We love them. Extra seating room and the window view. We are booked in the Freedom of the Seas in October in the ultra spacious Oceanview at the bow of the ship. Over looking the helipad and under the bridge. Looks very very spacious. Can't wait.

We just got back from the Odyssey, and we were in a balcony with an obstructed view. Fortunately, it was just the top of the lifeboat so it was tolerable. However, if we had had a davit in front of us like the people next to us had, it would’ve really dampened our experience. Lesson learned: pay the extra to pick your own room. Btw the ship is absolutely beautiful!

Have an obstructed view cabin on Odyssey for next March. We're on deck 6, looking over a life boat, but it was MUCH cheaper and still get to enjoy a view on an awesome cruise! Can't wait!

Hi Matt.I have been watching your KZread videos for a few weeks, but just discovered your amazing blog page! Even though we are different (we cruise BECAUSE of the Flowrider, and can't wait to hold a sloth lol, your face in that photo was too funny) I think you are a really cool guy with a superb personality and sense of humor. Your blog is wonderful and even has compasses that we can check. Not worth going on Cruise Critic anymore at all! Your's is way more user friendly. Looking forward to meet you on a future cruise. Many thanks to you and your team. Carmen & Ian Levene

@RoyalCaribbeanBlog

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind words!

My wife and I love aft facing balconies. Our first was on Brilliance of the seas. We loved the aft view and the size of the balcony. The one thing we failed to consider for that cruise was that the cabin was right below the Windjammer Café. Every morning we were awoken to the sound of chairs being dragged on the deck.

@geno5169

Жыл бұрын

My wife and I sailed on the Mardi Gras.we had a oacen balcony.now we’re going to sail on the oasis’s ship.we booked a garden view balcony facing other balcony’s we hope will love it plus we’re in the aft

Thanks for the travel agent tip. I booked a Pacific cruise online from my home in Sydney. The booking was transferred to a partner agency in Miami. RC could not access the booking. My local travel agent pointed out there was an obstructed view. They rebooked me in a better cabin, for a lower price and helped me get a refund for the original booking.

Very helpful, thanks!

@RoyalCaribbeanBlog

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

you can only pick cabins if you don't need a Handicapped cabin, those are very limited.

Every time I book I make sure I have staterooms below and above me.... with one exception. On my last cruise (Voyager of the Seas), I got a Lido deck forward balcony, about three staterooms in. I loved it. Almost all the places I wanted to go were either just down the deck, or an elevator ride down. Dinner and the ice skating venue were the main exceptions. On the whole, I prefer forward over middle or aft, at least on Royal Caribbean, but I'm not going to book a room over the theater without at least one deck of staterooms separating me from that venue.

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree about rooms above and below!

Here is my opinion on a Central Park balcony. Our first cruise on Oasis of the seas we opted for a Central Park balcony cabin. We were unable to use the balcony in the morning because the restaurants below we're doing their prep work and the smell of cooking food came up to our balcony and was kind of nauseating. The side of the ship we were on the sun came through the middle of the roof and we were always in full sun and unable to use that balcony very much at all. My personal preference, I would never get a Central Park balcony again.

@striker0103

Жыл бұрын

May I ask what was cabin number? We are trying Central Park cabin on Oasis in November. TIA

@aidend0

Жыл бұрын

i personally loved the central park balcony. i never smelt the food, i liked the sun, and we were able to see whats going on

@striker0103

Жыл бұрын

@@aidend0 my cabin will be 10629.

@aidend0

Жыл бұрын

@@striker0103 i was 12633, so were in the same spot youre just 2 floors down. i think you would like it

@striker0103

Жыл бұрын

@@aidend0 I hope the issue mentioned above is not true for my cabin level.

Hey Matt! Missed your Q&A last night. I heard that Harmony had to make changes to its current sailing due to the hurricane. When something like this happens, does RC give any kind of credit to passengers (aside from refunded shore excursions)? Sailing on Symphony in 9 days. P.S. Huge thank you to you and your team! Your videos have guided me through 3 cruises! Hope to do a group cruise in the near future!

@RoyalCaribbeanBlog

Жыл бұрын

Sometimes they do give credits, but it depends how much of a change. Flipping between western or eastern doesn't get credits usually.

great video ! could you give me a tip about a trip on the mediterranean sea for july 2023 ! thanks!

I'm a mid ship, middle deck kinda gal! I always look to book a bump out balcony if the ship has one.

Not anywhere near the smoking section…our portside, deck 12 balcony always smelled like a cloud of cigarette smoke on the Oasis…our room would, too whenever we would open the balcony door. We’ll happily stay on the opposite side from now on.

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

Great tip - I'd not even think to check where my room is in comparison to the smokers area!

Booked Deck 12 corner AFT jr suite on Spectrum of the Seas. Privacy and views. Deck 13 is available but its just below a common area, so not the best room. Most of the free food (270, windjammer, mdr) are on the aft of this ship so getting to food will be easy. The Silver Dining room that im entitled to is a long walk away though up front in the suite enclave. The reason is Spectrum was originally made for China and meant to be a ship within a ship with a suite enclave and gold and silver dining within the enclave Even the solarium was only opened to suite guests. Spectrum don't sail to China anymore and the solarium is thankfully no longer exclusive.

If you don’t have an issue with seasickness don’t be afraid to walk!

Hi Matt, we were on Allure in Sept. 21 on deck 16 rm 540 and only noticed movement when the ship was “parking” into port. I think the bigger the ship, the less movement you’re going to feel? I usually get car sick if I’m not driving, but our balcony room in that location was perfect for us.

We were on the Aft on Symphony, had three balcony cabins on the seventh floor, very closed to a door at the end of the hallway, that door leads you to the Boardwalk, it was our little private entrance and exit, it has a little balcony and we could even see the Aqua show from that little balcony, the first day the door was closed to come in , but seeing that it was used they opened it up and we had our own.

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

How did you find these aft balconies from a noise perspective?

@mercyrodriguez5780

Жыл бұрын

There was no noise whatsoever.

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

@@mercyrodriguez5780 Ah, that's good to know!

@mercyrodriguez5780

Жыл бұрын

I hope you understand these cabins were facing the ocean, the noisy ones are the ones that face the Boardwalk

Wake view is the best view.

Any updates as to when Covid testing 2 days pre trip will be ended for all Royal Caribbean cruise ships

I taking a cruise during Thanksgiving as well and I was a little worried about that

Great advice. Wish had learned these tips sooner. Booked Oasis and have Deck Six Forward (6153/6154) which appear to be right above the Royal Theater. Figured deck 6 would be good as am traveling with a disabled child and deck six is easily accessible with the boardwalk and other spaces. Anyone have any advice for tavelling with a child in a wheelchair? I don't see much out there and it's our first cruise. Any tips would be welcome.

I always bring my dohm white noise machine when I travel & never have issues sleeping.

Nice video, Matt, much appreciated. By the way, what are your thoughts on hump cabins? I would also like to ask how I can know how obstructed a balcony cabin will be beforehand. Thanks.

@RoyalCaribbeanBlog

Жыл бұрын

Hump cabins are a great choice!

@thiggs333

Жыл бұрын

@Helcio Mello. I have had luck with merely googling a ship name and cabin number. You’d be surprised how people put up KZreads with the very room you’re looking at.

Upgraded to aft corner balcony 1688 on Navigator next month for the same price as our inside!

@mscolli3

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

Wow - what a success story this is!

Never been on a cruise but i'm planning to book one soon. Can some recommend the best level and room i should choose for a first experience. No view obstructions and long walks.

We got a room on deck 6, promanade window view. What did you think. Was it noisy or not??

Hey, do you know what floor or stateroom type would be the best for someone who gets seasick?

Where going to sail on there oasi for our first . Our stater is in the aft on deck 10.i hope it’s so worth it??

SOTS 1ST week of May 2022 we had Central Park Balcony with extended balcony, next these are the room stewards closet. Noisy as hell one morning sounded like the threw the entire cart down it was so loud a lot of banging.Avoid these rooms.

We are currently reserved on deck 2 midship on Freedom. I get seasick and inside stateroom works well for us. Just wondering if it makes a difference, the ice skating rink is above us. We are night owls and wouldn’t be going to bed until late anyway. Any recommendations would be appreciated

@RoyalCaribbeanBlog

Жыл бұрын

I'd say the rink above probably wont make a difference in terms of noise. Not ideal, but I'm not sure I'd change cabins automatically because of it.

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

I have a friend who stayed below the rink, and it didn't affect them at all! :)

@joellefarrell6671

Жыл бұрын

@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog I moved our rooms to deck 6, mid ship pramanade window view. Is it noisy? Is it something that we should pay extra for or should we just get a regular interior stateroom

I try to just rotate between the port or starboard side. However, if we do Bermuda next summer, I'll do port side for which should be a better view of Manhattan.

@FraserAtSea

Жыл бұрын

This is a great idea - I'd never thought about booking a specific side until leaving Seattle this year - my friends were on the wrong side!

Are the cruises operating at full capacity now? What can we expect from the crowds next week on Harmony?

@RoyalCaribbeanBlog

Жыл бұрын

Yes, back to full capacity

I would have to disagree on the midship rooms being more popular. Every cruise I've booked (or looked at), the midship was all that was left. If it was so popular why would that be?

We recently went on the Carnival Dream. We chose a spa-enabled room that unbeknownst to us was right below the workout center. What a terrible ship design. That designer needs to be fired. Every workout moron thought it was super macho to let their weights slam down instead of being gentle with them. To make matters worse, when the gym closed at 10 PM to became available for the staff to use ALL NIGHT LONG. Tons of people complained but the ship was full and there was little anyone could do to help. However, the staff did their best and found us the last available room but it smelled of sewer. So we chose lack of sleep and noise annoyance over a family of four vomiting due to the intense smell. Needless to say, after years of RCCL cruising, Carnival didn't leave a good first impression. Will likely be the last Carnival Cruise we take.

Please Utilize the audio visuals when editing and check your levels. I really want to appreciate your information but you’re just screaming