As someone who cruises often, I normally find myself booking affordable inside cabin fares. These are often the cheapest accommodations on a cruise ship and provide the basic necessities and a comfortable stay. In fact, I usually pay for the inside cabin guarantee fare, meaning you do not choose the location of your cabin, but instead the cruise line assigns one to you.
However, within the last year, I’ve splurged twice by upgrading to suite cabins. Having the extra space and the luxury of a private balcony in a suite can be a lovely upgrade that really amplifies your cruising experience.
Back in October 2022, I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas to the Mediterranean with my family. This is the second newest ship for Royal Caribbean, debuting in 2021. Odyssey of the Seas is part of the cruise line’s newer Quantum-class of ships.
Although we booked an inside cabin guarantee, we bid $300 each to upgrade to a Junior Suite on our sailing using the RoyalUp program. We were shocked when our bid was accepted and we were upgraded to a Junior Suite for our 12-night sailing!
(Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas)
Fast forward to last month. My sister and I booked a 7-night cruise on Carnival’s Mardi Gras, which is the second newest ship in the cruise line’s fleet. We were surprised to find an Ocean Suite as a fairly affordable option while booking the cruise.
For just $1,500 each, we could sail in a spacious Ocean Suite during our cruise. This felt like the perfect opportunity to try out a suite onboard Carnival, especially considering this ship was one of their newest ships.
(Ocean Suite on Carnival Mardi Gras)
Come along as I compare my experiences in Carnival’s Ocean Suite in comparison to Royal Caribbean’s Junior Suite on two of their newest ships.
As I mentioned, Carnival’s Ocean Suite and Royal Caribbean’s Junior Suite are classified as entry-level suites.
Sailing in an entry-level suite means you get a small taste of luxury without a full-blown suite experience. For someone who likes to travel on a budget, this is a great price point for upgrading without breaking the bank.
Although these suites are not the biggest or most luxurious for either cruise line, the extra space and perks made each experience incredibly memorable. Not to mention, we were sailing on nearly brand-new cruise ships from both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.
For our Royal Caribbean cruise, a Junior Suite is part of the Sea Class on Quantum-class ships, which is the lowest tier of Royal Class Suites. We still received some suite perks, but we did not receive access to the suite lounge or concierge service.
Top-of-the-line suites receive a long list of benefits, but we were happy to receive upgraded bathroom amenities, additional space in the cabin, access to the suite-only Coastal Kitchen for dinner and more.
(Junior Suite Balcony on Odyssey of the Seas)
Honestly, we were lucky to receive a Junior Suite for the price we paid. The total cost of the room was $2,700 for two people, which is a steep discount from the original $6,000 price tag. Considering this was for 12 nights on a brand-new ship, it felt like a steal.
In comparison, we paid $3,000 for our entry-level Ocean Suite on Carnival Mardi Gras. This was only a 7-night sailing, so we did pay more for a shorter cruise with our Carnival suite in comparison to the Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean.
(Ocean Suite balcony on Mardi Gras showing the extended balcony)
Ocean Suites are a step below Excel suites, which are the tippy-top suites on Mardi Gras. Similar to Royal Caribbean, we received additional perks - like priority embarkation, bathrobes and upgraded bathroom amenities; however, we did not receive a concierge or suite lounge access.
In general, Royal Caribbean charges more for its entry-level suites in comparison to Carnival’s price point. This is not surprising since Carnival is the most affordable cruise line in the industry. Our experience is an anomaly since we were able to bid on an upgrade for our Junior Suite rather than pay the full sticker price.
Once we boarded, we had very positive impressions of both staterooms when first getting settled in the cabins.
Honestly, there is nothing like the luxurious feel of a suite when you’re used to an inside cabin!
Sailing on Odyssey of the Seas was a special occasion for my family, as it was a bucket-list itinerary for my dad. We were so excited to both be sailing in Junior Suites, making the experience even more memorable. We boarded our cruise in Rome and went straight to our cabin on Deck 10. We would be staying in 10638 during this 12-night cruise and we couldn’t wait.
(Junior Suite Balcony on Odyssey of the Seas)
Entering the stateroom, we were blown away by the cabin! The room featured a large bathroom with a separate toilet, along with a king bed, small sectional and extra large balcony.
(Junior Suite sectional on Odyssey of the Seas)
The Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas was much more wide than expected and we were surprised to find a separate toilet and vanity from the rest of the bathroom. Our Junior Suite was 300 square feet while the balcony was an additional 80 square feet.
When we boarded Carnival Mardi Gras in Orlando, we received priority embarkation and quickly made our way to Deck 9 to see our room. During this Caribbean sailing, we would be sailing to Grand Turk, Amber Cove and Nassau during spring break - the perfect getaway!
(Ocean Suite on Carnival Mardi Gras)
After sailing onboard sister-ship Carnival Celebration in a tiny inside cabin last year, we were in awe of how much more space we had in this cabin on Carnival Mardi Gras. The cabin was long and narrow, albeit very spacious, and featured a large bathroom, living room and extended balcony.
Our Ocean Suite was a bit smaller than the junior suite, measuring 287 square feet in comparison. The extended balcony was an additional 54 square feet.
Having extra space throughout our cruises was one of the best perks of staying in a suite.
While I’ve grown accustom to the small size of an inside cabin, having so much extra space in our Ocean Suite and Junior Suite truly amplified the cruising experience. I even found myself spending more time in our suite compared to a normal cruise when I am staying in a less luxurious cabin.
(Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas)
The layouts of these suites were a little bit different - which was one of the biggest differences. Our Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean was very wide compared to a normal cabin while Carnival’s Ocean Suite was long and narrow. The Junior Suite almost felt like an open floor plan compared to the Ocean Suite’s layout.
In our Ocean Suite, we also had a large curtain that could divide the space between the bed and the separate living area. This separate living area in the Ocean Suite was awesome for us, especially because we had to do some remote work throughout the cruise.
The heavy curtain kept noise and light to a minimum if one of us was up early while the other wanted to keep sleeping. The large couch was the perfect place to relax - and it was nice having additional seating. There was also a second TV in this area, which was a nice addition.
In comparison, our Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas had a small sectional couch between the bed and the balcony. This space wasn’t necessarily separate and we did not have any sort of curtain to separate the spaces.
I always prefer to unpack my suitcases and we found that both suites had more than enough space to comfortably put away clothes.
Since we were sailing for 12 nights on Odyssey of the Seas, I wanted to unpack my large suitcase immediately after boarding. I had been lugging around two suitcases from the U.S to Paris and then Rome, so I was very much looking forward to being settled for a bit.
(Closet in Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas)
Our Junior Suite had a very large closet for us to use, which was perfect for my sister and I. We also found plenty of drawers in the vanity under the TV. Since this was a fairly long cruise, it was worth the extra charge to have this much additional space.
(Vanity and drawers in Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas)
Similarly, our Ocean Suite had more storage than we knew what to do with. On this cruise, my sister and I only traveled with carry-on luggage and it was just a 7-night sailing. With limited luggage, we quickly unpacked into one of the large closets in the suite. The other closet was still vacant, so we used this to store our suitcases and backpacks.
(Closet in Ocean Suite on Carnival Mardi Gras)
The Ocean Suite on Mardi Gras also had two vanities with drawers for us to use. We only used a few drawers however, leaving the other vanity completely empty. There was so much storage in here, we could have packed a few more suitcases with clothes and still had plenty of space!
Our Junior Suite balcony on Odyssey of the Seas was almost double the size of the extended balcony in our Ocean Suite.
I’ve sailed in standard balcony cabins before on Royal Caribbean, so seeing the massive private balcony in our Junior Suite really blew us away! We found the balcony to have two plushy loungers for us to use, along with a small table. These upgraded loungers really took the experience to the next level, as normal balconies have more standard chairs to use.
(Suite balcony in on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas)
Throughout our cruise, we spent a lot of time on our private balcony. It was nice not feeling like we were missing out on scenery while getting ready for dinner and leaving port. Having so much space just to ourselves really felt like a luxury.
Similarly, we also had a private balcony in our Ocean Suite board Carnival Mardi Gras. This balcony was larger than a standard balcony, although it was very unique. Because our balcony was slightly extended, people above us on higher decks could look directly into our balcony from above. We could also see directly onto a lower deck with sun loungers.
(Extended balcony in Carnival's Ocean Suite)
This visibility was somewhat weird, as we had people hoot and holler at us a few times while we were on our balcony. The stateroom directly above us felt uncomfortably close looking directly onto our balcony while outside.
(Extended balcony with onlooker from above deck in Carnival's Ocean Suite)
Additionally, the balcony had two standard loungers and a small table. These loungers were nothing special - and we preferred Royal Caribbean’s plush loungers instead.
When comparing bathrooms between the two entry-level suites, it was tough to beat the Junior Suite’s split-bathroom layout.
Something I’ve never experienced in a cruise cabin is having a split-bathroom where the toilet area is separate from the shower space.
In our Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas, we found one area of the bathroom to have a large bathtub, vanity and walk-in shower. I’m not one to take baths at home, but I was excited to try out this luxurious tub during our cruise! The walk-in shower was definitely the nicest shower I’ve ever had on a cruise with marble floor, a ledge for sitting and tons of space.
(Bathroom in Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas)
Opposite of the shower space was another door with the cabin’s toilet and an additional vanity. Having an extra sink and mirror was great for getting ready in the morning at the same time with my sister. It was also nice that one could use the shower area without needing to share the toilet, if necessary.
The bathroom in our Ocean Suite was also quite large, featuring an extra large shower. There was no bathtub, although the shower was very spacious. Having a larger vanity and sink was also an upgrade from a standard cruise cabin bathroom, which tends to feel cramped.
(Large bathroom in Ocean Suite on Carnival Mardi Gras)
In both suites, we received upgraded shower amenities. In our Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean, this included Salt + Breeze shampoo, conditioner and body wash, available in the shower and also the bathtub space.
(Upgraded bathroom amenities in Ocean Suite on Carnival Mardi Gras)
Similarly, we found specialty shampoo and body wash in Carnival’s Ocean Suite, although it would have been nice to have conditioner provided too.
Both suites provided extra perks and amenities, although the Junior Suite included more lucrative benefits like Coastal Kitchen access and an espresso machine.
Staying in a suite normally comes with a long list of benefits for a full-blown suite experience; however, entry-level suites like a Junior Suite and Ocean Suite provide a few amenities and perks.
For example, our Junior Suite had an espresso maker provided on the vanity for us to use. This was perfect for busy mornings trying to get ready for excursions. Our Ocean Suite on Carnival did not have anything like this in the suite, so I ended up ordering room service a few mornings instead for coffee.
(LavAzza espresso machine in Junior Suite on Odyssey of the Seas)
Another nice perk of staying in a suite is receiving complimentary bathrobes upon arrival. In both suites, we received extra-soft bath robes to use throughout the cruise. We loved having these to use throughout the cruise!
(Bottled water provided in Carnival's Ocean Suite)
Royal Caribbean also provides Junior Suites with access to Coastal Kitchen for dinner only throughout the duration of the cruise. This is a suites-only dining room that features its own unique and (supposedly) higher-quality meals. We had to make reservations each evening, which were not necessarily guaranteed, as higher-tiered suites had priority.
(Coastal Kitchen, a dining room exclusive to suites, onboard Odyssey of the Seas)
We were excited to try this exclusive area, although our first experience was a bit of a letdown. The service was lacking and overall ambiance with other suite guests felt a little too snooty for us. This was the only time we tried Coastal Kitchen, as our itinerary was very port-intensive and we found the main dining room to be more flexible and enjoyable.
Overall, we preferred our Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, but we wouldn’t hesitate to book another Ocean Suite.
We were lucky to snag our Junior Suite for a steep discount on Royal Caribbean; as such, this suite experience was more upscale and provided more lucrative amenities compared to our Ocean Suite.
(Junior Suite Balcony on Odyssey of the Seas)
We appreciated the access to Coastal Kitchen (even if it was a bad first impression), along with a huge balcony featuring plushy loungers and an in-suite espresso machine. One of the best features of our Junior Suite was the split bathroom with an additional vanity. Having an extra sink, mirror and vanity was super luxurious - I’d book the Junior Suite again just for this!
(Junior Suite bed and sectional on Odyssey of the Seas)
Comparatively, we had a great experience in our Ocean Suite onboard Carnival Mardi Gras. The separate living room and additional TV really elevated the cruising experience, along with having more space in general. We found ourselves spending more time in the suite than we’ve ever spent in our Carnival cabin.
However, the exposed balcony was not our favorite part of the suite, along with having a pretty standard bathroom. Even with this, I wouldn’t hesitate to book another Ocean Suite (or higher) on a Carnival cruise, especially on the newer ships.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
