Symphony of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

Considering booking a cruise on Symphony of the Seas? I don’t blame you – she’s a fantastic cruise ship, absolutely packed with great features. But there are a lot of stateroom choices too – how do you find the right one for you?

Don’t worry – I’ve got your back. I’ve scoured the deck plans to make a list of every stateroom and suite option, and then spent hours browsing forums and reviews of the ship to check which cabins you should avoid booking.

While none of the cabins are outright ‘bad’, there are some you might not enjoy as much as others. A lot of it is down to preference. So, with this guide and my handy checklist, you’ll have no trouble avoiding the wrong cabins and picking the best one for you.

How To Choose the Best Cruise Cabin

My checklist tells you everything you need to look out for when booking a cruise – regardless of the ship you’re sailing on. If you want a copy sent to you, just add your details to this form, and I’ll email it right over.

The Different Rooms on Symphony of the Seas

You really are spoiled for choice on Symphony of the Seas – there are 2,759 rooms in total, including 2,571 staterooms and 188 suites.

That’s split across an impressive 35 cabin types. I know, that might seem a little overwhelming, but they’re grouped together at least so you can narrow your search down a little easier.

Here’s a look at all of the cabin options on Symphony of the Seas:

Room	Type	Max. guests	Decks	Average Size (sq ft)	Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior	Inside	2	3, 6-14	149	N/A
Interior Accessible	Inside	4	6	258	N/A
Interior with Virtual Balcony	Inside	4	6-14	172	N/A
Interior with Virtual Balcony Accessible	Inside	4	6	258	N/A
Promenade View Interior	Inside	4	7	172	N/A
Connecting Interior	Inside	2	7-11	172	N/A
Central Park View Interior	Inside	4	9	199	N/A
Spacious Interior	Inside	6	11	260	N/A
Ocean View	Outside View	4	3, 7-11	179	N/A
Ocean View Accessible	Outside View	4	3	264	N/A
Ultra Spacious Ocean View	Outside View	6	11	271	N/A
Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	4	6-14	180	50
Ocean View Balcony Accessible	Balcony	4	6, 9-14	272	80
Ocean View with Large Balcony	Balcony	4	6-14	182	80
Connecting Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	2	7, 9-14	182	50
Boardwalk Balcony	Balcony	4	8-14	182	52
Central Park View Balcony	Balcony	4	10-14	182	52
Boardwalk Balcony Accessible	Balcony	4	14	274	73
Central Park View Balcony Accessible	Balcony	4	14	274	86
Ultra Spacious Ocean View with Large Balcony	Balcony	6	11	271	82
Ultra Spacious Ocean View with Large Balcony Accessible	Balcony	6	11	374	108
Junior Suite	Suite	5	6-14	287	80
Junior Suite Accessible	Suite	4	14	390	107
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom	Suite	4	6-14	371	105
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom	Suite	8	9, 10	580	238
Owner’s Suite	Suite	4	10-14	556	243
1 Bedroom AquaTheater Suite	Suite	4	14	604	631
Spacious 1 Bedroom AquaTheater Suite	Suite	4	11, 12	606	589
2 Bedroom AquaTheater Suite	Suite	8	9, 10	673	610
Spacious 2 Bedroom AquaTheater Suite	Suite	8	8	823	772
Crown Loft Suite	Suite	4	17-18	545	114
Crown Loft Suite Accessible	Suite	4	17-18	737	140
Star Loft Suite	Suite	4	17-18	722	410
Royal Loft Suite	Suite	6	17-18	1,524	843
Ultimate Family Suite	Suite	8	17-18	1,134	212

Symphony of the Seas Room Sizes

It’s important to bear in mind that the sizes given above are all averages. While a lot of the rooms are built to this standard size, there may be some slight variances even within a category.

It’s a good idea to browse the Symphony of the Seas deck plans if you’re getting used to the ship for the first time, because that’ll show you every stateroom and suite to scale. This context might be really useful when deciding which room you want.

Symphony of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

There aren’t really any bad staterooms on an Oasis-class ship like Symphony of the Seas. But there are some that might be a bad fit for you. It depends on a load of different factors, including your budget, how good a sleeper you are, how close to you want to be to amenities and so on.

Bear in mind that the ship is huge – if you don’t think carefully about where you’re going to book, you might have a very long walk ahead of you every day either for breakfast or to get your children to the kids’ clubs etc.

Here’s a look at some of the cabins that you might wish to steer clear of, depending on your personal situation and preferences:

1. Internal Balcony Staterooms

The Oasis-class ships (along with some others in the fleet) have internal balcony staterooms – as in, a room that has a balcony, but that faces the interior of the ship instead of facing out to sea.

These are fun, as they overlook the Boardwalk and Central Park neighbourhoods. But the problem with them is that they also directly face other staterooms across the way.

When you have a regular cabin, you don’t have to worry about people seeing into your room – but you do with an internal balcony. If you want to avoid keeping your curtains drawn every time you want to get changed, you might want to book elsewhere.

When I had one of these rooms, we hardly ever went out on our balcony. Sure, it might be good if you like people-watching. But on a ship like Symphony of the Seas, you’ll have so many more fun things to do instead.

2. Expensive Suites

There are some fantastic suites on Symphony of the Seas, including some with two levels. They’re extremely spacious, beautifully appointed, and they offer a range of benefits depending on which suite you book.

But they’re also pretty expensive – these rooms are in high demand, and Royal Caribbean can charge a pretty penny. The Ultimate Family Suite can cost $20,000 per person, per week – Yikes!

I get the feeling that at this point, Royal Caribbean is just putting ridiculous prices out there, knowing that there are enough people for whom money is no object that they’ll sell out fairly quickly anyway.

Even the entry-level suites are a decent jump in cost above a Balcony Stateroom, so it’s important to consider how much time you’re actually going to spend in your room, and how much you’ll use the extra benefits.

With a ship that has so much to do, a lot of people will be just as happy saving money and choosing a smaller stateroom.

3. Rooms That Might Be Bad for Seasickness

Symphony of the Seas is one of the biggest ships in the world, and also one of the most contemporary. This means she has the best stabilising technology on the ocean to help prevent movement, and she will rock less because she’s huge.

Still, that doesn’t mean she’s completely immune to motion, and if you’re particularly sensitive then you should avoid the cabins on a higher deck towards the bow (front) and aft (rear) of the ship.

The accommodation on the highest decks is all in a mid-ship location but there are some on Decks 12 and 14 you might wish to steer clear of.

4. Connecting Cabins if You Don’t Need Them

Symphony of the Seas, like most cruise ships on the ocean, has connecting cabins. These are side-by-side cabins with a connecting door that can be unlocked by the cabin stewards, if you book both rooms together. They’re good for larger families who want the space of two staterooms, but the option of sharing access.

However, the connecting doors are thinner than a cabin wall. So, you can hear through them. If you aren’t booking both staterooms, try not to book one with a connecting door so that you can’t hear what your neighbours are doing.

5. Loud Cabins

There are some cabins that run the risk of being in a louder location on Symphony of the Seas. These include:

Deck 14 staterooms 14162 to 14240, and 14562 to 14640 – directly below the pool deck, which can be loud in the morning.

Deck 6 staterooms 6130 to 6160 and 6530 to 6560 – directly above the Royal Theatre, which can be loud in the evening.

Deck 7 staterooms 7270 to 7334 – directly above the Playmakers Bar, one of the noisier parts of the ship at night.

6. “Spacious” AquaTheater Suites That Aren’t

Spacious 1 Bedroom AquaTheater Suites

This is just a quick point to make about a quirk of the Symphony of the Seas deck plans and how the rooms are named.

The AquaTheater Suites are split into 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom options, but also into “Spacious” and regular suites.

But with the “Spacious” 1-Bedroom variant, they’re actually smaller than the normal 1-Bedroom AquaTheater Suites.

Not in the room itself – you do get an extra 2 square feet of space. Literally enough space to stand still in!

However, the balcony is actually smaller by some distance. So if you want a 1-bedroom AquaTheater Suite, I’d avoid the Spacious ones.

Best Rooms on Symphony of the Seas

While there are plenty of great room choices on Symphony of the Seas, here are just a selection of the best for you to choose from:

1. Ultimate Family Suite

I know I’ve already flagged this as being extremely expensive, and it is. For most people on Symphony of the Seas, this isn’t going to be a realistic option.

But I have to include it in a list of the best rooms on the ship because it’s just so fun. It’s a room with its own slide – how many kids have dreamed of that?

It also includes an in-suite cinema, gaming tables, video games and so much more, as well as a quieter space where parents can relax. And you’ll get the services of a Royal Genie too, making the entire experience truly magical.

Take a look at this video to see what you can get with a lottery win…

2. AquaTheater Suites

AquaTheater Suites are another premium option, but again their unique feature means they are definitely worth of being included on this list. In their own rights, they are spacious accommodations in a prime location at the aft of the ship, with a heap of benefits too.

But the real reason to book these suites is the epic view you have of the AquaTheater. Never mind front row – this is a unique high-angle that lets you relax in the comfort of your own space with incredible entertainment right outside your balcony.

3. Virtual Balcony Staterooms

One of Royal Caribbean’s best features for cheaper staterooms is included on Symphony of the Seas – the virtual balcony. These staterooms are inside rooms, meaning normally you’d be stuck without any window at all. But these rooms have a giant screen that acts as a digital balcony for you.

OK, you’re not actually getting the benefits of sunlight, or the breeze. But you do get to see the live view, which can be handy for waking up or falling asleep, and it just brightens up the space too.

On many of the other ships, the virtual balcony rooms only sleep 2, so they’re no good for families. But on Symphony, many of them sleep up to four guests in comfort.

4. Deck 14 Staterooms with Kids

Deck 14 is not the place to book if you want a calm, peaceful escape. But if you have kids and want to make the most of the entertainment onboard, it’s a fantastic spot.

Firstly, you’re on the same deck as the kids’ clubs. This is a huge benefit – it’s easier to drop them off, and pick them up at the end of the day too, especially if they’ve fallen asleep and you need to carry them back to your stateroom.

Then, the pool deck is directly above, so you never have to travel far for a fun time splashing around. And towards the aft of Deck 15 is the Windjammer Buffet too, so you’re only one set of stairs away from a snack when you’ve a grumpy child feeling hungry.

What Is the Best Deck on Symphony of the Seas?

There is no single best deck on Symphony of the Seas – it depends on the type of cruise you want.

If you want the best suites, you’ll need to look at Decks 17 and 18. To be close to the pool deck and kids’ clubs, choose Deck 14. If you want to be in between all the features, and enjoy peace, choose Decks 9 to 12.

What Is the Best Room on Symphony of the Seas?

The best room on Symphony of the Seas is the Ultimate Family Suite, if you’re travelling with kids. For adults, the Royal Loft Suite is the next-best choice, offering similar suite benefits but without the kid-focussed features.

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

When you book your cruise with Royal Caribbean, you’re given the choice of deciding on a category, and then letting the cruise line pick your exact room, or paying a little extra to pick the exact stateroom you want.

Choosing a category, and then letting the cruise line pick the room, is called a ‘Guarantee’ room. It’s a little riskier, since the cruise line could put you in a cabin of your chosen category but in a less appealing location, such as a noisier spot.

If that worries you, pay the extra to choose your own. If it doesn’t, save the cash.

Booking Multiple Cabins on Symphony of the Seas

One quick note to add – I’ve mentioned connecting rooms already, but you don’t need these if you’re travelling with family. It’s OK just to book adjacent rooms that aren’t connecting too.

However, if you’re opting for the Guarantee rate, you can ask for adjacent rooms but it’s not certain that you’ll get them. If adjacent rooms are really important, pay the extra to pick the rooms yourself.

Find More Information About Symphony of the Seas Cabins

I’ve done a lot of digging to put together this guide, but if you want to do your own research to supplement it, then I’d recommend these resources:

• Symphony of the Seas Facebook Group
• Another ‘Symphony of the Seas’ Facebook Group
• Symphony of the Seas Reviews

Related Posts:

• Symphony of the Seas Statistics & Facts
• Symphony of the Seas Suites Guide
• Symphony of the Seas Vs Titanic