After over a dozen cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean, I finally embarked on an Alaska cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas.
Though I had stayed in interior cabins, it was my first time in a virtual balcony. I was thankful for the live video screen as we sailed through Alaska's fjords, but it wasn't the same as a private verandah.
Still, my tiny inside stateroom was cozy and functional. And in the end, I didn't mind the absence of a balcony as much as I thought. It was hard to stay in the cabin for long with so many amenities on the ship!
My 166-square-foot stateroom was located on Deck 13
For the 7-night cruise, my dad and I paid $1,894.30, or about $950 per person, including taxes and gratuities for our cruise on Quantum of the Seas. Overall, I thought that was a reasonable rate for an Alaska sailing.
The fare would have been substantially higher if we stayed in a traditional balcony, so opting for a virtual balcony was a smart choice because it allowed us to spend more money on add-ons like pricey excursions.
I wasn't disappointed with the stateroom, either. It was nicely appointed and more modern than other cabins I've sailed in recently.
Quantum of the Seas was billed as the world's first "smart ship" when she launched in 2014, so despite being a decade old, Quantum felt fresh and innovative when I sailed on her.
She isn't as large as Oasis or Icon Class ships, but she's packed with technological features like the Bionic Bar, North Star observation capsule, and indoor SeaPlex.
The virtual balcony in our interior cabin was another example of how Royal Caribbean has integrated cutting-edge technology onto newer ships.
The 80-inch LED screen broadcasted real-time, floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean and ports of call into our stateroom.
Though I understood why they called it a virtual "balcony," as there was a balcony railing overlayed on the screen, it felt more like a virtual window. The biggest appeal of a balcony cabin is being able to step outside onto your private verandah!
Still, it was nice to get a glimpse of the weather conditions outside. One day, we could tell it was raining as we departed from Skagway.
Another newer feature in my cabin was that to operate the lights, you had to leave your SeaPass card in a slot near the door.
There were plenty of outlets, too. The vanity area had five different charging options including two American plugs, two USB ports, and one European outlet.
There was another American outlet beside the bed. However, I wish there had been one on each side. Since I slept on the same side as the outlet, my dad had to use my portable charger or leave his phone at the vanity overnight.
One unexpected perk of my virtual balcony cabin was the kettle! I've sailed on cruise ships as new as Celebrity Ascent and have never seen one in my stateroom before.
Since there are complimentary tea bags throughout the ship, it would have been easy to warm up with a piping cup of tea after spending the day ashore while getting ready for evening activities.
However, I prefer a strong cup of coffee, so I didn't use the kettle during my cruise.
We didn't struggle to neatly organize our clothes, shoes, and toiletries
Because I frequently cruise to warmer destinations like the Caribbean, I struggled to appropriately pack for my Alaska cruise and ended up bringing a checked suitcase that weighed 47 pounds and a carry-on bag. Thankfully, we had enough storage to accommodate my overpacking.
The dresser had four nicely sized drawers where we kept some bulkier items and undergarments that we couldn't hang. There was also enough space in the closet to hang our nicer items, like dresses and polo shirts for dinner.
We ended up using the chair beside the closet as a catch-all place for our jackets and shopping bags.
Plus, there were two more large cabinets above the bed. The extra space would have been useful if we were on a longer cruise or sailing with a third guest in the cabin, but we didn't need to use them.
Read more: Ultimate Alaska cruise packing list
Bright and modern bathroom
The bathroom was pretty standard. However, I appreciated how modern it was compared to ships like Freedom and Navigator of the Seas. For example, the darker brown tones complemented the cabin's blue color scheme.
Moreover, while the shower wasn't exceptionally large, the glass door made it feel less cramped than the older ships I've been on. I wish the shower pressure had been a little stronger, but it wasn't the worst I've ever experienced.
For two people, there was enough storage for our toiletries, and I appreciated not having to worry about clutter. The three shelves helped keep everything within reach without taking up valuable counter space.
The location was one of the cons
On embarkation day, it was hard to find our cabin because the hallway leading to the interior staterooms was located port side.
However, the signs said it was on the starboard side. We weren't the only passengers struggling to locate our virtual balcony cabin, either!
Plus, we had a connecting cabin and often heard our neighbor's television. If we didn't hear noise from the adjoining stateroom, we heard creaking noises from the ship's rocking.
One day, the movement was so bad I had to grab the shower handle to stay upright! I was also awoken one morning at 6:00am. It wasn’t the worst experience, but it did take a bit of getting used to.
Should you book an inside cabin for your Alaska cruise?
Interior cabins can be an affordable way to take a family vacation. For example, a 7-night cruise aboard Carnival Luminosa to Alaska in July 2026 starts at $1,114 per person for an interior stateroom, whereas the starting price for a balcony increases to $1,794.
However, not all interior cabins come with virtual balconies. Some are entirely windowless, which means your stateroom will be pitch black when the lights are off. When sailing somewhere as scenic as Alaska, you may want to splurge on a stateroom with a view.
Of course, this means you may have to make sacrifices when it comes to add-ons. Alaska excursions aren't cheap, and many once-in-a-lifetime experiences can cost upwards of $300 per person.
Though you can plan an affordable day ashore, experiences like helicopter tours over glaciers, whale-watching, and visits to historic railroads can really enhance your Alaska cruise.
I didn't mind my interior cabin on Quantum of the Seas. In fact, I booked another inside cabin for my Alaska cruise on Carnival Luminosa in May 2025!
Read more: How to plan an Alaska cruise without cruise line excursions
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.
