Unsure of what room to book for your next Royal Caribbean cruise?
This Symphony of the Seas ocean view balcony room review will answer all your questions!
After three years working as a cruise ship crew member onboard five Royal Caribbean ships, I finally had the chance to sail as a guest on Symphony of the Seas.
I’ve stayed in enough interior rooms throughout my maritime career, so booking an exterior stateroom with a balcony was a must.
For my 7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise, my partner and I stayed in Stateroom 6166, which is a forward ocean view balcony room on Deck 6 near the elevators.
Spoiler alert: I’ll never stay in an interior cabin ever again after this experience with a private ocean view and balcony!
Ocean View Balcony Room: 5/5 Stars
- ⭐ Luxury on a Budget
- ⭐ Private Sun Deck/ Balcony
- ⭐ Spacious Stateroom with a View
- ⭐ Outstanding Service & Hospitality
Symphony of the Seas Ocean View Balcony Room Overview
So what does a spacious ocean view balcony look like on Royal Caribbean?
Take a look for yourself!
Our Symphony of the Seas balcony room was approximately 182 square feet with the balcony itself measuring 50 square feet.
While some of these rooms come with two twin beds, we opted for a stateroom with a queen bed.
All of the Ocean View Balcony rooms come with the following:
- Private bathroom
- Private balcony
- Mini fridge
- Wardrobe(s)
- Dresser
- Sofa (sofa bed available in select Ocean View Balcony cabins)
- Hairdryer
- Flat-screen TV
- Telephone
- Mini safe
- Vanity area
🤩 CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY HERE
Bedroom & Living Room
I was a big fan of the queen bed and the firm mattress.
Our living area came with a large sofa and two wardrobes which also included a mini-safe.
Personally, the wardrobes had more than enough space to fit all of our clothing and bags, but we also only traveled with carry-on luggage.
There’s also a mini-fridge stowed inside the dresser, a vanity area with a chair, and large mirror.
Note that not every cabin offers a sofa-bed combo, so if you’re specifically looking for that feature, make sure you double-check the details in the stateroom that you choose.
Bathroom
The bathroom is standard ship size.
(Well, actually it’s slightly larger than the one I had in my crew cabin!)
It has a large and well-lit mirror along with plenty of shelving and counter space.
The shower comes with a detachable shower head that can also be adjusted for height, and plenty of handles for stability.
There’s also complimentary shampoo attached to a dispenser on the wall, but I didn’t use it.
My hair normally doesn’t like generic shampoo, which is why I brought my own.
Just like a regular hotel, fresh towels and soap bars are available as often as you’d like.
Balcony
The balcony was obviously the highlight of the stateroom.
It comes with a small table and two adjustable lounge chairs with foot rests.
Frosted partitions are to the left and right of the balcony for privacy.
For safety, there’s a rail along with glass below it so that you can still enjoy the ocean view from your balcony unobstructed.
Pros of an Ocean View Balcony Room on Royal Caribbean
1. Luxury on a Budget
For less than $100 a day, you get a private ocean view and balcony.
Think about how much more you’d have to pay at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean for a beachfront view.
In Cancun, prices start at a couple hundred per night.
On a Royal Caribbean Oasis Class ocean view balcony room, you get a spacious stateroom and when you open the blinds, *BAM*— there’s the ocean!
2. Private Sun Deck
Being one of the biggest cruise ships at sea, Symphony can get extremely crowded during the high season.
With a balcony room, you don’t have to bother with the open decks if you don’t want to.
Avoid the stress of finding open lounge chairs, hundreds of kids running around, loud noises, etc.
You can hide away for as long as you want on your own private sun deck with a good book or even just take a nap in the sun.
With your own reserved lounge chairs on your balcony, you could do some tanning here too (although there might be a bit more shade on your balcony than the open deck).
3. Private Breakfast with a View
Is there anything better than breakfast on your own private deck with an ocean view?
Every morning of my 7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise, we had fresh breakfast brought directly to us.
No need to get dressed to walk down to the Promenade or fight over tables at the Windjammer.
We just opened the door, picked up our breakfast tray, and brought it out to our balcony!
💡 Tip: complimentary continental breakfast is offered every day!
Ask your stateroom attendant for a few order menus on your first day, fill them out at night, and place them on your doorknob before 2 am.
Your breakfast will be brought to your room at the time you request.
4. Sofa Bed
If you’re a small family on a budget but still want to indulge during your vacation, an ocean view balcony room on Symphony of the Seas could be a good fit for everyone!
Select staterooms come with a sofa bed that can comfortably fit a child or two.
Storage might be a little tricky but completely doable, especially if you travel with just a carry-on each.
5. Secluded and Stunning Sailaway View
If you don’t have a balcony, you have to join others on the open decks in order to catch all sailaways from ports.
See that photo above?
That was the private and secluded view I had from my own balcony leaving St. Thomas!
I didn’t have to be surrounded by hundreds of other people or kids.
It was quiet, not public, and just a step out of my room.
6. Automatic AC Control
If you’re like me and grew up with a family who would always close the car windows if the air conditioner was turned on, then you’ll love this small but ingenious piece of technology that comes with the balcony rooms.
Once the balcony door is open, the AC automatically turns off!
As soon as the sliding door to the deck is closed, the AC turns back on again without you having to do anything.
7. Outstanding Service and Hospitality
This is not to say you won’t get just as great service if you stay in an interior room– because you will.
I was just so impressed by the level of service and hospitality we continued to receive throughout our cruise.
Even as a former Royal Caribbean crew member, I’m no stranger to the company’s first-rate standards and expectations for delivering memorable guest experiences, but WOW.
Our stateroom attendant, Greg, memorized our names and room number after we met for the first time.
He then took note of all of our preferences and continued to fulfill them throughout the cruise.
One of the best examples of this was when we were just asking where we could fill our water bottles with water and ice.
He said to just leave them out on the desk and he’d take care of it.
When we came back from dinner, not only did we have all of our water bottles filled with ice water, but he also left a bucket of fresh ice for us.
Since we cruised when COVID was still an issue and we also needed to test negative for a deployment to work at the South Pole in Antarctica not too long after our vacation, we were very cautious about wearing masks.
Greg brought us enough disposable face masks to last us our entire trip.
8. Perfect for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
If you need to work while cruising, having a balcony room is a huge benefit.
You won’t miss out on sun time with your private deck if you have to work and it’ll also be quieter than if you were trying to get things done in the public areas.
When it gets too hot out, all you have to do is step back into your comfortable, air-conditioned room where you can continue working with a gorgeous view.
Ready to set sail? Book your next Royal adventure now!
Pros of a Balcony Room on Deck 6
1. Easy Accessibility to Promenade, Dining Room, and Central Park
I thought our room on Deck 6 was one of the best balcony rooms on Symphony of the Seas due to its close proximity to the main areas we visited such as the Promenade (Deck 5), Dining Room (Deck 4), and Central Park (Deck 8).
Having a stateroom on Deck 6 meant that we didn’t have to rely on elevators or wait in line for them just to get to dinner or shows.
Deck 6 is also a central-enough deck that the one time we wanted to take an elevator and couldn’t for a reservation at Wonderland on Deck 12, we took the stairs all the way up and it wasn’t as bad as if we had stayed on Deck 3— and I even did it in six-inch stilettos!
💡 Tip: Try to avoid elevators on cruise ships as much as you can!
Not only will you save a TON of time by taking the stairs instead, but they’re almost always less crowded and you get a workout in by the end of the day!
2. Easy Embarkation and Disembarkation
On a similar point, expert cruisers know how crazy embarkation and disembarkation day can be.
With a Deck 6 room, we went from getting on the ship on Deck 5 to our stateroom one floor higher in literally under five minutes.
Most people get stuck waiting for elevators to get to their room on higher decks that are more difficult to get to via stairs with luggage.
My partner and I both were traveling with just carry-on luggage, so going up one set of stairs from Deck 5 was a breeze.
Same with debark— just took the stairs down one flight and we were off the ship in no time!
💡 Tip: Pack as light as possible!
This way you don’t have to check your luggage and risk it not ending up on the ship with you (YIKES); you can take the stairs quickly to your stateroom on embarkation day; and on disembarkation day you can do self-assist check-out, which means you can just walk off when you’re ready! Check out my tips for packing carry-on only for a cruise.
3. Unobstructed Ocean View
In Stateroom 6166, we had an amazing ocean view that wasn’t obstructed by life boats.
It was the most ideal place to sit out after a day in port and watch the sailaway, especially during sunset.
4. Next to Elevators
If you are looking for an ocean view balcony room that’s close to the elevators, Stateroom 6166 is perfect.
During our stay here, we were never far from a staircase or elevators.
If you or someone you know is scared of cruising due to the possibility of emergencies, you’ll definitely want a cabin close to main exits.
Cabins near here are also great if you’re traveling with those who have difficulty with mobility.
To my surprise, I expected my room in this area to be loud due to all the foot traffic but it was the complete opposite and couldn’t have been quieter!
It’s still something to keep in mind though.
I think I may have gotten lucky with my fellow cruising neighbors in my hallway who were just more considerate than I’d expected.
I’ve definitely seen my fair share of loud cruisers, unfortunately.
Cons of an Oasis Class Ocean View Balcony Room
1. You’ll never want to leave your room!
Spending a lot of time in your room is often seen as a cruising faux pas, but not by me.
It’s your vacation, your money, and your time to relax– do whatever you want.
I completely understand cruisers who choose to stay in interior rooms for budgeting purposes and to ensure that they’re always out and about, taking full advantage of everything the ship has to offer.
However, if you splurge on a nice room with a balcony, you should enjoy it as much as you absolutely can.
2. No Iron
This one isn’t really a big con as I know from my experience getting a job on cruise ships that irons aren’t allowed in ANY cabin as it’s a huge fire hazard.
But still, it sucks not having an iron available to press clothes for formal night.
We were reluctant to use the laundering service because we weren’t sure if the clothes would get done in time, but we couldn’t be happier with the result.
We spoke to our amazing stateroom attendant, Greg, and mentioned when we needed the clothes by.
He advised us on the latest we should hand over the clothes to ensure we had them in time for the evening we planned on wearing them and sure enough, within 24 hours, the items can back cleaned and pressed!
FAQ: Symphony of the Seas Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
What is the Difference Between an Ocean View and Balcony Room?
An ocean view room provides you with a port hole or window to see the ocean from.
A balcony room gives you access to your own private deck (balcony) connected to your stateroom.
Who is an Ocean View Balcony Room Best For on Symphony of the Seas?
An ocean view balcony on Royal Caribbean is great for so many types of cruisers:
- Couples on a romantic getaway
- Loved ones celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon
- Retired cruisers looking for some private, quiet time
- Small families looking for luxury on a budget
- Cruisers who don’t like crowds
- Digital nomads, remote workers, or business people who need to work while cruising
- Individuals who might feel claustrophobic in an interior cabin
- Vacationers who might need a little more room for mobility purposes
🤩 CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY HERE
Final Thoughts: Is an Ocean View Balcony Room on Symphony of the Seas Worth It?
If I could give the ocean view balcony room on Symphony of the Seas more than five out of five stars, I absolutely would.
This is a no brainer.
Especially if you find a good deal where an exterior cabin like this costs marginally more than an interior stateroom.
For significantly less than the price of a stay at an all-inclusive Caribbean resort with an ocean view, on Symphony of the Seas :
- You get a private balcony and sun deck
- Front row seats to amazing sailaways and sunsets
- Reserved lounge chairs
- Private breakfast with an ocean view
- Excellent service and hospitality
So what are you waiting for?
Book your next Royal adventure in an ocean view balcony room today!
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