I stayed in Royal Caribbean's 'promenade' cabin for the first time. The window wasn't perfect, but it was worth the upgrade.

Fri, 11/22/2024 - 10:44

empty promenade view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — I stayed in a Royal Promenade-view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's latest Utopia of the Seas mega-ship.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Royal Caribbean launched Utopia of the Seas, the second-largest cruise ship in the world, in July.
I spent three nights in the ship's Royal Promenade-facing interior cabin.
It was better than having no window, but don't expect natural light or silent nights.

What do you get when you cross an interior-facing cruise cabin with a window?

On Royal Caribbean's new Utopia of the Seas ship, you get a stateroom with views of the ship's busy neighborhoods and all their meandering patrons.

Interior cabins are typically the cheapest cruise accommodations. These savings come with a trade-off — they're often windowless and dingy, with no natural light to be found.

Royal Caribbean has found a way to give cruisers the best of both worlds, in theory at least. I'm not completely sold, but found the window to be better than nothing.

Royal Caribbean's newer vessels do some interior cabins a bit differently.

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Utopia still has classic windowless interior cabins. For guests who want a slight upgrade, the four-month-old mega-ship also has interior staterooms with "virtual balconies" (a large screen displaying a live feed of ocean views) or windows.

The ship also offers several interior cabin options with real windows that look over 'Central Park' and the 'Royal Promenade.'

empty Royal Promenade walkway on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — My interior cabin had a view of the Royal Promenade.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

My 180-square-foot nest for a three-night Utopia of the Seas cruise in mid-November overlooked the Royal Promenade, a wide mall-like walkway lined with stores, bars, and casual bites.

If you like atrium-style hotels, you'll enjoy this stateroom.

Royal Caribbean advertises it as 'perfect for people-watching.'

view out the window of promenade view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — The cabin faces Utopia of the Seas' Royal Promenade neighborhood.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I'd agree. The small sofa adjacent to the window is perfect for perching and crowd-watching while you quietly contemplate which buffet to hit next.

Want to check the line at the pizza slice shop or Starbucks? No need to leave your room — just peek out the window.

Step away from the sofa, however, and you'll be greeted with a less enticing sight.

empty bed in promenade view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — The cabin comes with a king bed.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

The view from the window in an ocean-facing cabin is often the same no matter where you're standing — blue skies and maybe some water.

When I walked away from my window, all I saw was Royal Promenade's ceiling.

If you're a light sleeper or early to bed, expect to be awoken by late-night events.

empty Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — Royal Promenade is lined with stores, bars, and light bites.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

The Royal Promenade hosted an 11:30 p.m. dance party during my first night on the ship.

I'm convinced I could sleep through a nuclear war. Yet, the affair stirred me awake at least once.

Thankfully, the other two nights were almost soundless.

The walkway between the king bed and sofa is narrow — a potentially tenacious trek for a cruiser indulging in their beverage package.

empty bed and soda in promenade view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — The cabin can sleep up to four guests.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

The other couch can be converted into a double bed, allowing the stateroom to accommodate a family of four.

Don't expect to all squeeze into the bathroom.

empty bathroom in promenade view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — The bathroom is functional but small.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

There's ample counter space and shelves. However, the room is compact, making it difficult for even two people to maneuver around each other.

The tight floor plan could feel awkward if you're new to cruises.

If this isn't your first Royal Caribbean rodeo, you could be pleasantly surprised by the separate shampoo, conditioner, and body wash minis. (I've sailed on two of its other mega-ships, and neither came with hair conditioner).

You won't fight over storage space.

open closets flanking an empty couch in promenade view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — There's a decent amount of storage space in the cabin.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Utopia exclusively operates short voyages. As such, its guests would only need to pack for a three- or four-night cruise.

The two tall closets, small wardrobe, and row of hooks under the TV could be ample.

The same goes for the outlets and the USB and USB-C charging ports, of which there are nine in the primary living space.

Expect to take advantage of the storage options — you'll likely have to unpack.

desk, wardrobe in the promenade view interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — The desk and wardrobe are adjacent to the couch and closets.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

My carry-on fit comfortably inside the closet, and I only used two of the surprisingly deep shelves for my clothes.

If you don't want to unpack your luggage (it'll be a short cruise, after all), expect to leave your open bags on the two couches.

Or, if you're feeling a bit chaotic, the sizable desk could double as a defacto luggage rack, which was notably absent from the cabin.

A promenade-facing interior cabin currently starts at about $820 per person for a three-night cruise in 2025.

Central Park neighborhood on Utopia of the Seas — There are several interior cabins overlooking Central Park.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

The voyage would sail roundtrip from Florida's Port Canaveral to Nassau, Bahamas, and Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The same itinerary offers traditional interiors for about $100 less, while its Central Park-view counterpart is about $30 more expensive.

Surprisingly, the starting cost of an ocean-view cabin is about $15 cheaper. However, it wouldn't be conveniently located mid-ship like the Central Park and Royal Promenade-facing options.

My cabin was perfectly functional. I have no major gripes.

TV screen in empty cruise cabin — There are several hooks under the TV.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Some cruisers prefer interior staterooms — it's easier to sleep in when there's no sunlight streaming through your windows.

If you're one of them, the Royal Promenade-view cabin would be a great upgrade from a classic interior.

However, as much as I love an affordable vacation, I prefer my windows to have natural light.

open closet in Utopia of the Seas cruise cabin. — The closet has shelves, drawers, and hangers.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider

If you're like me, I'd suggest paying more for a Central Park view or saving money with an ocean-facing cabin.

People-watching is fun — maintaining a natural circadian rhythm is even better. Plus, I much prefer disassociating while staring at the ocean than at other people.

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I stayed in Royal Caribbean's 'promenade' cabin for the first time. The window …