Virtual balconies are exclusive to Royal Caribbean ships and offer an innovative way to bring ocean views into the stateroom without the price tag of a traditional ocean-view or balcony cabin.
Instead of standard windowless interior rooms, virtual balcony cabins feature an 80-inch LED television screen that provides live HD views from outside the ship. There's even a balcony railing overlay on the screen to help enhance the illusion that you're staying in an actual balcony room.
The video plays around the clock, so you can view the ship pulling into port or watch the sunset from your cabin as you get ready for dinner. The screen even has curtains in front of it, just like a real balcony stateroom.
Since the screen serves as a "balcony," it won't stream movies or television shows. For that, you'll need to use your stateroom's TV or stream your favorite shows to your tablet.
In addition to the visual aspect of a virtual balcony cabin, sounds akin to what you'd hear while sitting on your private verandah are played, further mimicking the traditional cruise ship balcony experience.
Passengers can adjust the volume or even turn the sounds off at their discretion. Similarly, the live video feed can be turned off if you're worried about being kept awake from the moonlight streaming into your stateroom.
Read more: 8 days of Virtual Balcony Views on Quantum of the Seas
12 ships have virtual balconies onboard
Royal Caribbean debuted virtual balcony staterooms on Quantum of the Seas in 2014. Since then, they've been added to nearly every new build, excluding Icon of the Seas, as well as a few older vessels during dry docks. As of November 2024, virtual balconies can be found on the following ships:
- Anthem of the Seas
- Explorer of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Navigator of the Seas
- Odyssey of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
- Quantum of the Seas
- Spectrum of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Utopia of the Seas
- Voyager of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
The number available on each ship varies. On Explorer of the Seas, for example, there are 81. Note that the ship has over 600 interior cabins; however, only 81 have been outfitted with a virtual balcony. In comparison, Quantum of the Seas has over 300 virtual balcony staterooms.
Read more: I went on a 7-night Alaska cruise and stayed in a virtual balcony cabin for $1,900
Pros of virtual balcony cabins
Real-time weather updates
One of the biggest cons of an inside cabin is that you can't tell what the weather is like outside. In my experience, though Bridge cameras can help you get an idea of whether it's sunny or cloudy, they don't always provide a clear picture.
The cameras used for virtual balconies have a great dynamic range, supporting up to 240 frames per second. As such, they pick up just about what the human eye can see.
This means what's broadcasted onto your virtual balcony accurately displays the current weather conditions. However, since you can't go outside, you can't feel the temperature, so it's smart to check Royal Caribbean's app for the daily lows and highs during your cruise.
Read more: Cruise ship cabins: Everything you need to know
Ocean views without the price tag of a standard balcony
One of the best parts about taking a cruise and sailing on the open ocean is the views! In a standard inside cabin, you can't see anything unless you turn on the television and watch one of the Bridge cameras. Even then, you don't want to waste time in your cabin staring at the TV.
The 80-inch LED virtual balcony screen provides real-time views of the ocean and ports of call, so you can tell if you've begun sailing away or are still docked. The floor-to-ceiling screen helps foster a connection without needing to leave your stateroom. Plus, the added sound effects mimic the sounds of the ocean. In short, the virtual balcony helps brighten an otherwise basic and dark cabin.
When looking at Quantum of the Seas' 7-night Alaska cruise departing on July 7, 2025, the price of a virtual balcony stateroom starts at $1,346/person, while the cost of a traditional balcony skyrockets to $2,155 per guest for a guaranteed cabin or $2,695 to select your specific cabin. That amounts to at least $800 in savings per person, which is a lot of money you can put towards add-ons like excursions, drink packages, Wi-Fi, and more.
Read more: 20 Alaska cruise must-do excursions
Privacy
While each balcony cabin has a private verandah, you don't have to worry about noisy neighbors with virtual balconies. Some ships even have exposed balconies where guests on higher decks can peer directly into your space.
However, with a virtual balcony, you will have peace and quiet whenever you need it while still being able to take in the passing views. Whether you're sipping a pre-dinner drink or unwinding by reading a book on a gloomy sea day, you can do so without the distractions of other passengers on their balconies.
Cons of virtual balcony cabins
No outdoor space
Virtual balconies are a sub-category of inside cabins. While the screen will broadcast a live feed into your stateroom, these cabins lack natural light like ocean-view rooms.
Not only that but there's no verandah, so you can't step outside to enjoy fresh air, sip on a cup of coffee al fresco, or watch the sunset.
Smaller cabin
Interior staterooms are typically the smallest cabins onboard. For example, inside staterooms on Quantum of the Seas measure 166 square feet, while balconies come in at 198 square feet with an extra 55-square-foot verandah.
Similarly, virtual balcony cabins on Utopia of the Seas are around 170 square feet. Traditional ocean-view balconies, however, tend to measure 181 to 191 square feet, plus an extra 50 square feet outside!
Balcony and inside staterooms have the same basic amenities, such as an ensuite bathroom, television, and closet space. The latter is more compact, though. The extra square footage of balcony cabins is ideal for larger families sharing one room who want more space to spread out.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
