We recently experienced a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite for the first time on our Allure of the Seas cruise vacation. When I was a younger traveler, I opted for an inside room due to budget. Later, on my honeymoon, I splurged on a balcony stateroom. We haven’t looked back since. I’m afraid we may once again be spoiled now that we’ve enjoyed a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite.
We typically travel with at least one set of parents and our teenage children so we get balcony rooms that are next to each other. It’s been nice to open the divider between the balconies and have that extra family space. Multiple rooms have also allowed us to have multiple bathrooms which is sometimes critical. 🙂
However, on our recent trip, it was just the two of us and we were celebrating our anniversary. We decided this was the perfect time to splurge on a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite.
5 Reasons We’re Glad We Splurged on a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite.
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Royal Caribbean Junior Suite – So Much Space!
We could actually move between the bed and the vanity/desk area without the need to turn sideways! In fact, we could pass next to each other! We immediately felt very spoiled in the space. To give you a bit of math, a junior suite is approximately 287 sq. feet with a balcony space of 80 sq. feet. This compares to an Ocean View Balcony stateroom which is ROUGHLY 182 sq. feet with a balcony that ranges between 50-60 sq. feet. I have found that there is a lot of variance in the ocean view balcony rooms and there are multiple categories to select from. It can be a bit confusing.
Royal Caribbean Junior Suite – Walk-in Closet!
Check out this closet! I have NEVER been on a cruise and had so many hangers in a stateroom closet. There were two full shelves. Typically, there is one full shelf in a regular Ocean View Balcony stateroom closet. There was also a great space for our pop up hamper at one end so that it didn’t need to be under our hanging clothes. There was also the usual cabinet with shelves where the safe is located and more drawers in the vanity/desk area. I didn’t even need the drawers for my clothes. I ended up using the drawers for makeup and to store chargers, etc. So much space! If you are a family of 3 or 4 this room should have plenty of storage for you.
Have you read my Cruise Cabin Prep Kit post? It may give you a few tips for preparing and organizing YOUR stateroom.
Royal Caribbean Junior Suite – Coffee Pot & Storage!
During past cruises we fall into a routine of ordering a pot of coffee from room service but having a small pot in our room was a treat. Brian wakes up earlier than I do and he enjoyed his cup of coffee out on the balcony while I enjoyed my extra snooze time. Truth be told, I’m a picky coffee drinker so Brian would brew his cup and then when I woke up he would head down to the Cafe Promenade and get my skinny vanilla latte. He’s a keeper!
What all of you regular cruisers will appreciate is that the little-mounted table that housed the coffee pot, didn’t have an outlet. So, each morning Brian would have to move the little coffee pot to the vanity area to plug it in. 😉 This is usually the time that I make a wise-crack like “If a woman had designed this space….”
Royal Caribbean Junior Suite- Larger Balcony!
This was a huge win for us. We really love to spend time out on our balcony during a cruise. Can you get excited about a lounge chair on your balcony? I was so excited for this. My husband and I sat on our balcony in the mornings and worked, sipping our coffee. It was so nice!
It was deeper than a regular Ocean View Balcony which usually holds two standard chairs and a small side table. This splurge on a Junior Suite Balcony had 4 chairs (two that reclined) and a decent sized round table. I have heard of people who order room service and have dinner on their balcony and that would be quite possible.
Double Crown & Anchor Points!
Crown & Anchor Society is the loyalty program for Royal Caribbean International. You earn points for each night of a cruise and those points determine your loyalty “level”. With each new level, you gain perks such as priority check-in, balcony discounts, etc.
I’m pretty loyal to the Royal Caribbean Cruiseline but I’ve always had a bit of burr in my backside regarding their point distribution. For example, a balcony stateroom can be twice the price of an interior stateroom yet both stateroom options net you 1 loyalty point per night. However, when you upgrade to a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite, (or higher) you earn 2 loyalty points per night.
Double Crown & Anchor points was probably our most compelling reason for booking the Jr. Suite. Actually, it was our anniversary and we were traveling alone. That was what got us looking. But, we are so close to Diamond level that the splurge on a Junior Suite was worth it this time. (Woohoo! Diamond Lounge and Happy Hour!)
Yes, there is a price difference between an Ocean View Balcony Room and a Junior Suite but on the slightly older ships, the price difference is not as significant. So, it’s certainly worth looking into. For example, if you were to book a Junior Suite on the Symphony of the Seas…you would pay a premium. But a Junior Suite on…say the awesome Freedom of the Seas would be a good deal less. Of course, the best time to get a good price is by booking early and, if you can avoid key school break time periods. We are not quite there yet. I don’t want our kids (um..young adults) to grow up too quickly but I will enjoy cruising with January prices instead of Spring Break! #emptynestgoals
Royal Caribbean Junior Suite – BONUS!
The Royal Caribbean Junior Suite has a bathtub/shower combo which is important to many people, especially those with small children.
These toiletry items are in the Royal Caribbean Junior Suite upon arrival but are not replenished throughout the week.
What did I love most about the bathroom? The over the mirror light becomes a soft glow like a night light when the switch is off.
If you’ve cruised before you know that you have to turn the light on outside the bathroom door so if it’s dark, you nearly blind yourself and anyone else in the dark room if you have a late night trip to the toilet. Way to go Royal Caribbean!
Would I book a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite Again?
Absolutely! The price would have to be right and fit within our budget but I would definitely WANT to book a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite again. It was such a treat!
Have you ever stayed in a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite? What type of stateroom do you prefer?
Please comment below and tell us why!
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Jillian
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Always, always, book the junior suite! If you consider yourself a true loyalty member and are looking at the pinnacle level, then you will get there twice as fast by booking the junior suite!
I agree! It’s not often in our budget but we definitely book it for special occasions! I’m glad you like it, too! Thanks for reading the blog.
Going on Anthem of the sea,s may 21 we originally booked balcony but as this was for our honeymoon we decided to go for a junior suite
Andrew, you will not regret it! Congratulations!
Where on the ship are these jr. suites located. I have a balcony ocean view on the eigth deck. Great locartion.
Junior suites are sprinkled throughout the ship, usually mid to upper decks since they include balconies.
We are going on our first cruise in Ma and reading your articles have been so helpful with getting prepared. Thanks so much for all the great information, tips and tricks.
Heidi, Thank you so much. That’s very kind. I love helping me with cruise tips. Have a great time on your first cruise. If you’re on Facebook, I’d love for you to join our group and share your experience. https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingJillianCruiseCrew/
Have a great day! 🙂 Jill
great information. One question — what type of coffee pot and coffee are in the Symphony of the seas junior suite?
Thanks for reading Rodney. I’m sorry, I do not recall the brand name. On the Allure, we had a single-serve coffee maker (Keurig type) and an electric kettle. Are you sailing on Symphony soon? If so, I invite you to join our Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingJillianCruiseCrew/) and share your pics and thoughts about that amazing ship!
We just got home from our first cruise and we booked the grand suite because it was our 39tg anniversary present to ourselves and we had our grandbaby with us too.
My question is this…with the smaller junior suite do you get the same treatment at boarding and disembarking with the expedited boarding and quick & easy trip thru passport entry? Or do you have to stand in the 5 mile long line with the peasants (joke!) To get thru passport re-entry?
Hi Donna,
Thanks for reading my post and congrats on your anniversary! Specific to Royal Caribbean, unfortunately no.
The junior suite gives you a larger balcony room and 2 Crown & Anchor points per night. However, it isn’t considered to be a traditional “suite class” with additional perks such as priority theatre seating, embarkation and debarkation, and concierge service.
I hope you had a wonderful trip. Which ship did you sail? ~Jillian
we had a blast on the Mariner of the Seas. we are in the process of booking an 11 day eastern Caribbean if anyone has a favorite ship?
That’s great, Donna! We honeymooned on Mariner so it will always be one of our favorites!
Lol!! Not the peasants. Hilarious!
I did the Grand because I had two teenagers. I believe the JS will be great for just me and my wife. I don’t need lounge since I pay for the drink package. Most excited about the expedited boarding (awesome for the GS) and the double points. I will post my experience once I return.
Sounds great! I look forward to hearing about it. When we sail with our teens we get two balconies. It’s nice having two bathrooms when getting ready. Have a wonderful sailing and I look forward to hearing about your experience.
Hi Jillian today im calling & asking RC because want travel & have 3little childreen & the man tell me 2balconies room im trying to found a photo this room or videos but can’t . If you have from your last holiday can you show me please. Thanks
Hi Márcia – Having two balcony rooms is a great option! When you speak to someone at RC ask them for “connecting staterooms”. They should offer you this option because you have small children. One advantage of having two connecting rooms is that you will have two restrooms. Additionally, in most situations, the balcony divider can be opened up giving you a nice outdoor space.
If you let me know which ship you are planning to sail on, I’m happy to help you find pictures. The size and layout will vary slightly by ship and stateroom category.
– Jillian
Never stayed in one, done Grand Suite once. I compared cost and benefits and now have three RCL cruises booked all with Junior Suites. Next one is in 50 days!!
I’d love to hear what you thought of the grand suite. I think the perks are nice but for the cost difference, they just aren’t that important to us at this point. I think the Junior Suite is a good middle ground. Let me know what you think after your cruise. 50 days! That’s exciting!
We always get a balcony room because on our first cruise we had an exterior view stateroom, and our son came down with chickenpox and quarantined!! Had it not been for the doctor on the Voyager of the Seas demanding we be transferred to a balcony room he wouldn’t have had fresh air for a week…
On our third cruise we lucked out entirely… I asked for an upgrade (obviously willing to pay extra) and was given an owners suite for a few hundred euro extra! Amazing amazing!!!
Jennifer, thank you for sharing. That is such a bummer that your son got the chicken pox on vacation but I am so happy to hear that the doctor took good care of your family.
And…WOW! I’ve never gotten an upgrade. That must have been very exciting!
– Jillian
I love the balcony space!
Wow! This looks amazing! It’s hard to imagine this kind of space on a cruise. I might have to take a peek at some cruise options 😉
It was very nice! Have a great weekend.