Symphony of the Seas is one of the world's largest cruise ships. However, I discovered that the cabins are far from spacious. I stayed in an inside cabin on a weeklong cruise to the Caribbean from Miami, Florida. It was my first time in an interior stateroom, and I wasn't sure what to expect.
The 228,081 gross registered ton ship has over 2,700 staterooms onboard capable of accommodating 6,680 guests at maximum capacity.
My previous cruise experiences had been in balcony staterooms. Though inside cabins are known for being the smallest on board, I was most worried about the lack of natural light.
I don't spend much time in my stateroom on a cruise, especially on ships as large as Symphony of the Seas. However, I wasn't sure how I'd adjust to a windowless room. Would the lack of sunlight be cozy, or would it drive me crazy?
While I'll always prefer balcony staterooms for the extra living space and private verandahs, inside cabins are an affordable choice for those who wish to maximize their vacation funds.
My interior stateroom aboard Symphony was a no-frills cabin that still had the same necessities as ocean view and balcony staterooms for a fraction of the cost.
Compact but efficiently designed
I won't lie—my inside stateroom was tiny, measuring just 149 square feet. Thankfully, I was traveling alone, so I didn't have to share the space with two or three other passengers.
Though the space would have been functional with another guest, three people in the cabin would have felt too cramped.
That said, the bed could be separated into two twins to create a walkway. Since I was traveling alone, I sacrificed more floor space for a larger bed. I’d rather have the extra room to stretch out rather than sleep in a smaller bed!
Despite its size, Royal Caribbean designed the stateroom to maximize the space. For example, I appreciated the large sofa. It was a great catch-all place without cluttering the vanity area. Other interior cabins, including Carnival Elation, haven't had other seating areas.
I also loved the abundance of charging options, including American and European outlets, as well as USB ports. There was also a bedside outlet, which meant I didn't have to rely on my portable charger at night.
Older Royal Caribbean ships usually have just two or three American outlets, so having multiple charging options made it convenient to charge my phone, laptop, and headphones without needing a bulky adapter or switching plugs around.
Speaking of the vanity, it was a good size for my cosmetics. The glass shelf helped keep the area organized, too. It wasn't the widest shelf ever, but it was great for storing things like sunscreen and sunglasses.
Since the cabin lacked natural light, the LED light proved especially useful when getting ready. The lighting in the stateroom helped brighten up the otherwise pitch-black space.
The storage space was adequate for a solo traveler, too. There was one large closet for hanging garments which contained eighteen hangers. The other closet was full of deep shelves and the cabin's safe.
The vanity area also had a dresser with three drawers. Because I was alone and had more than enough storage, I used one of the drawers as a hamper for my dirty clothing!
However, one popular cruise cabin hack that many veteran sailors swear by is either bringing a trash bag or pop-up laundry hamper.
That said, in a space as tight as my interior cabin on Symphony of the Seas, I'm not sure I'd want a pop-up hamper taking up valuable floor space.
When I haven't had extra drawers, I've used my suitcase as a hamper, though it's sometimes more work having to pull the suitcase out from underneath the bed every time I change.
Read more: Cruise ship cabin guide
Modern bathroom
A contemporary cruise ship bathroom can easily make any cruise feel ten times more luxurious. Though I loved how modern my bathroom on Symphony of the Seas felt, it didn't check all my boxes.
For example, I had issues with the shower's water pressure and temperature. It was nearly impossible to shower with hot water in the mornings, and I sometimes had to wait around 25 minutes for the water to heat up! I had the opposite problem in the evening after a long day ashore: the water was scalding hot.
I also wasn't too impressed with the shower's water pressure. While it wasn't awful, I've had much better on other cruises, including Carnival Celebration.
Something else I wish Royal Caribbean would add to its newer ships is extra storage in the showers. The tiny shelf isn't enough for families who bring multiple different products. I feel like it would be easy for them to add a second shelf, but that's just my opinion!
Also, please do yourself a favor and bring your own shampoo and body wash when sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise!
The provided shampoo-body wash hybrid isn't the best, and the selection of productions available in the onboard store is limited unless you're willing to splurge on toiletries from the spa.
All in all, though, the bathroom was comfortable and nicely decorated. It was a nice contrast to the 90s-like feel in cabins like Freedom of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas.
The solid glass door (instead of the frosted door) made the otherwise small bathroom feel more spacious!
Not the best location
As I've begun to cruise more frequently, I have come to understand the importance of cabin location. My inside stateroom on Symphony of the Seas was located at the forward of the ship in a "secret" hallway. In other words, it wasn't as easy to find as a mid-ship balcony.
The forward elevator bank wasn't too far, but whenever I was walking from the aft of the ship, such as after dinner, the journey felt like a trek.
Plus, because it was all the way in the front, I could feel a lot of motion. Mid-ship cabins are ideal for those who suffer from motion sickness, so I wouldn't recommend cabin 7412 for anyone who gets seasick easily.
Was my tiny, windowless interior stateroom worth $1,400?
Because I cruised alone, I had to pay the dreaded single supplement fee. However, my travel agent said that reserving the cabin for two guests was cheaper than one, so my sister was "booked" on the reservation and was a no-show on embarkation day.
Still, my total came out to $1,393.20. Had another guest traveled with me, my portion of the fare would have been closer to $700. For that price, I was extremely satisfied with the value of my interior stateroom. It wasn't the fanciest cabin onboard, but it was nicely appointed and had everything necessary for a comfortable voyage.
Compartively, I paid $1,396.76 for a 5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas in September. Vision is a Vision Class ship that launched in 1998 and is one of the oldest, smallest vessels in the fleet. Symphony is far newer, having debuted in 2018.
You read that right: I paid more for a 5-night cruise on one of the oldest ships in Royal's fleet compared to a weeklong cruise on Symphony of the Seas!
I spent more time enjoying the ship's amenities on Symphony than lounging in my cabin. Oasis Class ships are jam-packed with everything from zip lines to ice skating rinks, FlowRider surf simulators, rock walls, mini-golf courses, and more, so it isn't hard to keep yourself busy.
Not only that but the evenings were filled with tons of entertainment, whether watching an ice skating show, an original production in the theater, or a jaw-dropping high-diving show at the outdoor AquaTheater.
Inside cabins aren't everyone's favorite. However, if you are looking to cruise on a budget and are more interested in the ship's amenities than the cabin experience, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend an interior stateroom.
Read more: How to save money on a cruise: 23 money-saving tips
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.
