Radiance of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

Royal Caribbean is a cruise line known for having the biggest ships in the world, and some of the most technologically advanced ones too. But the fleet contains some older ships that are also still very popular, including Radiance of the Seas.

Of course, with over 20 years of cruising under her belt, the ship has hosted around a million passengers over the years. Many of those guests will have enjoyed an incredible cruise, but for others, they may have booked the wrong cabin for them and had their experience slightly soured.

To help you avoid that mistake, this guide will take you through the best and worst cabins on Radiance of the Seas, so you get the perfect cruise for your tastes.

How to Choose the Best Cabin

Some things to look out for are specific to a ship, while others are tips for all cruise ships. To help, I’ve made a free checklist of everything to look out for when booking a cabin, regardless of the ship you’re on. Leave your details here if you want a copy, and I’ll send it right over.

The Different Rooms on Radiance of the Seas

To understand the best rooms and the cabins to avoid on Radiance of the Seas, it’s best to start by looking at all the cabins onboard. There are 1,061 rooms in total, which includes 64 Suites.

Of all the rooms on the ship, 54% have a balcony, which is pretty consistent with most of the ships in the fleet – the smaller and older Vision-class ships stand out for having a much lower percentage, though.

In total, Radiance of the Seas has 16 different cabin types, although some of these are only marginal differences. Here’s the list in full, including sizes and where you’ll find them:

Room	Type	Max. guests	Decks	Average Size (sq ft)	Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior	Inside	4	2-4, 7-10	170	N/A
Interior Accessible	Inside	3	3-4	258	N/A
Studio Interior	Inside	1	4	108	N/A
Ocean View	Ocean View	4	2-4	170	N/A
Connecting Oceanview	Ocean View	4	3-4, 7	170	N/A
Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	2	7-8	170	N/A
Ultra Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	6	7-8	265	N/A
Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	4	7-10	179	20-41
Connecting Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	2	7-10	179	41
Spacious Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	5	7-10	204	41
Junior Suite	Suite	4	10	299	66
Junior Suite Accessible	Suite	4	10	362	86
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom	Suite	4	10	385	106
Owner’s Suite – 1 Bedroom	Suite	4	10	532	57
Owner’s Suite – 2 Bedroom	Suite	8	7-10	584	151
Royal Suite	Suite	4	10	952	172

Radiance of the Seas Room Sizes

One thing that’s important to note is that the room sizes in the table above are averages. While most rooms will be right, there may be some that are a little larger than others.

It’s a good idea to browse the Radiance of the Seas deck plans on the Royal Caribbean website, because then you can see all of the rooms to scale – and maybe grab yourself a room with a little more space.

Accessible Cabins on Radiance of the Seas

The Accessible cabins on Radiance of the Seas are those that have been adapted for wheelchair users. This means they’ll have slightly wider doors, and a wet room instead of a traditional bathroom, with supports.

What’s unusual is that, according to the official list of cabins on Radiance of the Seas, you’re limited to just Interior Accessible or Junior Suite Accessible.

But that’s not actually the case. There are Ocean View and Balcony Staterooms that are accessible too – you just need to find them on the deck plans.

A strange little quirk of the Radiance of the Seas deck plans, but not the only one…

Radiance of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

While there are no real ‘bad’ rooms on Radiance of the Seas, there are some that might be best avoided, depending on your personal preferences. So this is a list of the cabins you might want to avoid on the ship.

1. Obstructed View Balcony Cabins

Balcony Cabins 7050 to 7090, 7550 to 7590, 7110 to 7150, 7610 to 7650

On many cruise ships, some of the ocean view or balcony cabins that you can book will be advertised as having a restricted view. It is often the lifeboats that are the cause, but it can also be steel railings (due to high winds) or other objects in your view.

Typically, to make up for the partially ruined view, you pay less for these rooms – so it’s a good value option for cruisers who don’t mind not having an unspoilt balcony or window view.

Radiance of the Seas, officially, doesn’t have any obstructed view cabins. However, those Balcony Staterooms I’ve listed all have a partially-blocked view due to an overhang that covers the lifeboats on the deck below.

What’s weird is that, on sister ship Jewel of the Seas (with the same layout), the deck plans make a note that the view is obstructed. And on Brilliance of the Seas, another sister ship, the cabins are officially labelled as having an obstructed view (and so you pay less!).

So, don’t book these cabins if you can avoid it on Radiance of the Seas. You’ll pay the same as you would for an unobstructed view, which is a bit cheeky of the cruise line.

2. Cabins Below the Pool Deck

1028 to 1052, 1528 to 1552

A common problem on cruise ships is the noise that can carry through the floor or the ceiling. And one of those problematic spaces is on Deck 10, situated right underneath the pool deck.

Specifically, it’s the sound of deck chairs being scraped across the wooden deck that can often wake guests in the early hours. If you enjoy a lie-in, consider avoiding this part of the ship directly underneath the pool areas.

3. Cabins Above the Theatre & Bars

Most of Deck 7

Another potentially noisy spot is Deck 7, since on the deck below you’ve got the Theatre and several of the ship’s bars. So this is less of a problem if your priority is a lie-in, but if you like an early night, you might find the evening noise runs a little long and is a little loud.

That’s my second recommendation for avoiding rooms on Deck 7 – if you want a good balcony view and a peaceful night, then definitely skip these rooms.

4. A Loud Owner’s Suite

1054

This is one very specific suite on the ship, but it comes from a Reddit thread I discovered. This Owner’s Suite is in an unusual mid-ship position, right next to the Centrum area.

This means that there’s often a lot of late-night noise coming through the cabin walls, which can be very loud. The headboard of the bed also shares a wall with an elevator shaft which can be noisy too.

If you want an Owner’s Suite, try one of the others in quieter parts of the ship.

5. Small Studio Interior Cabins

While it’s great that Radiance of the Seas offers single cabins for solo travellers, think carefully before you book one. The size of these cabins is pretty small and even on your own, they can feel a bit cramped.

Take a look at this video before booking to see if you would be comfortable with the size of this room…

If the price is good and it removes all single supplement fares, then it’s probably worth it. If not, consider booking a regular interior cabin and paying a little extra – you’ll get almost double the space.

6. Connecting Cabins

There are plenty of options for connected cabins on the Radiance of the Seas, but if you’re not planning to book both of the linked cabins, it might be a good idea to steer clear of them.

The door that connects these cabins is thinner than a regular cabin wall. So, even when it’s shut and locked, you might catch some of the sounds from the neighbouring room.

Typically, this isn’t much of an issue unless your neighbours are being loud. But if they are, especially when you’re attempting to catch some shut-eye, it can get pretty annoying – and let’s face it, who wants their sleep disrupted?

7. Smaller Cabins for Families

A lot of the Interior and Ocean View cabins can sleep up to four guests, but when those sofa beds and pull-down beds are in use, they become very cramped, very quickly.

If you’re travelling with more than three people on Radiance of the Seas, I would recommend you either book an Ultra Spacious Ocean View, or you choose a suite.

Suggested read: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks

Best Rooms on Radiance of the Seas

1. Aft-View Spacious Balcony Staterooms

The balcony staterooms on Radiance of the Seas are already good choices, since they’re pretty roomy, but the Spacious Balcony Staterooms just feel that bit more special with the extra square footage.

Take a look at this video to see how large it is…

And the best of those are at the rear of the ship with an aft view. Aft views are always popular on cruise ships – you’re sheltered from any wind and being able to look out over the ship’s wake is pleasant.

These rooms do cost a bit more than a regular Balcony Stateroom but if you want to make the most of your balcony, they’re a great choice.

2. Interior Staterooms

Radiance of the Seas is a little dated in places, and she is an older ship. So when I recommend the Interior Staterooms as some of the best on the ship, it’s not because they’re stunning, or because they’re packed with the latest tech like you might find in modern Royal Caribbean interior rooms.

But, they are a decent size – not big, but there are many smaller cabins on other cruise ships. And they’re a good price too. If you’re on a budget then the interior rooms are a really solid choice, especially if you want a good sleep – being in total darkness with no window can be very soothing.

Here’s a video of this room type so you can see how spacious it is…

3. Royal Suite

The Royal Suite is expensive, and for most people it’ll be well outside their budget. But you can’t mention the best staterooms and suites on Radiance of the Seas and not include it.

Compared to the rest of the rooms on the ship, it’s huge, and yet it isn’t designed to be crammed full of people. It’s all about enjoying luxurious space, with a balcony that’s bigger than hundreds of the actual staterooms on the rest of the ship! Plus you can take advantage of some great suite perks too.

What is the Best Deck on Radiance of the Seas?

The best decks on Radiance of the Seas are decks 8 and 9. Here you’ll find some of the better accommodation options, and you’ll be surrounded by cabins above and below, which helps to minimise the noise levels.

Read more: The Best Deck on a Cruise Ship (to Avoid Seasickness and Noise)

What is the Best Room on Radiance of the Seas?

The best room on Radiance of the Seas is the Royal Suite – it’s huge and has a very large balcony. The Owner’s Suites and Grand Suites are other good options. For guests who can’t afford a suite, the Spacious Balcony Staterooms are the best choice.

Choose Your Own Room or Go For the ‘Guarantee’ Option?

When you book a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’re typically presented with two options – let the cruise line decide your room for you, or pay an extra fee to select your exact room. You’ll be shown two prices:

If you are happy for Royal Caribbean to choose your room then you still get to decide what type of room you want – Inside, Ocean View etc. – but the cruise line picks exactly which one. This is called a ‘guarantee’ cabin.

If you don’t really mind which cabin you’re assigned to, then just pay the lower fee and let Royal Caribbean decide where to put you. But if you want to avoid those noisy locations, it’s best to pay a bit more and choose your cabin number.

Find More Information About Radiance of the Seas Cabins

I’ve spent a lot of time researching this guide, using Facebook groups and forums. If you want to spend a bit more time digging even deeper, then check these out:

• Royal Caribbean Cruising Facebook Group
• Radiance of the Seas Reviews on Cruise Critic

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• Radiance of the Seas Statistics & Facts
• Radiance of the Seas Suffers Serious Propulsion Issue
• Royal Caribbean Ships Ranked From Best To Worst