cruise ship staff bedroom

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Crew Living Conditions on a Cruise Ship

If someone came up to you on the street and asked if you would like to live in a twelve-by-twelve box with a total stranger for six months, you’d undoubtedly say, “No thanks.” Yet, at sea, this is done willingly.

It’s true that accommodations are sometimes cramped, especially on smaller vessels, but the ship’s company is generally interesting and friendly. Many people compare it to their first year in a college dorm, without the homework.

On the larger cruise ships, most employees share cabins on one of the crew decks, and some people, especially the cruise staff, actually have living quarters in the plush passenger areas. Although some employees get single cabins, these are usually reserved for cruise staff with more seniority. Employees are usually separated by department, at least on the larger cruise ships. Cruise staff live on the same floor, kitchen and maintenance staff on another, and often the crew is further divided by nationality. Generally, the higher the quarters the better, since on some ships cabins below the water are somewhat noisy from the splash of water and hum of the engines.

Food for the crew gets mixed reviews from most employees. Some crews on smaller ships actually eat the same food as the passengers, but on the large ships, the crew almost always has their own mess hall. According to one recent cruise worker:

“We had several different messes on the ship: one for the Koreans, one for the American and European crew, and a couple of others. The food wasn’t very good and was always smothered in some sauce or another that I didn’t recognize, but it was certainly bearable. The bright spot was that we got lots of leftover dessert from the regular passenger meals, and once a week we were allowed to eat dinner in the restaurant free of charge, though we did have to tip and buy a drink. I guess it couldn’t have been too bad, because I still managed to gain some weight.”

Another cruise worker explains the entertainment that was provided for employees:

“There were movies for the staff, crew bingo games, and live shows to see. After you’ve seen the same shows a few times, though, it’s not so much fun anymore.”

Some ships provide extra amenities for employees, such as televisions for each room and special recreation lounges near the crew quarters. One employee even reported that her ship provided twelve new movies per week, all available on closed-circuit TV in the employee cabins.

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What Are Staff Quarters Like on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

Cruise ships are some of the most luxurious and exciting vacation destinations. But what’s it like to work on a cruise ship? One of the biggest perks is the staff quarters: they provide employees with comfortable and convenient living arrangements as they make their way around the globe.

Staff quarters vary in size and features depending on the cruise line, but all of them offer plenty of amenities to make life at sea comfortable. Most cabins are two-person rooms, with one or two twin beds, a desk, and storage space for clothing and personal items. Rooms also have their own bathrooms complete with a shower, sink, and toilet.

The majority of staff quarters are located on lower decks— typically near to laundry facilities, crew mess halls, and other communal areas for crew members. These rooms generally provide employees with a private space away from guests who occupy the upper decks of the ship.

In addition to sleeping accommodations, staff quarters also come equipped with TVs and other entertainment options such as movies on demand or internet access (depending on the cruise line). Some ships even have their own internal networks that allow crew members to stay connected while at sea.

Another great perk to working on a cruise ship is that staff usually have access to facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, spas, lounges and bars—all free of charge! This allows crew members to relax after long days at work and enjoy many of the same amenities as guests do.

Overall , staff quarters on cruise ships provide employees with comfortable living arrangements while they explore some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. From private bedrooms to access to recreational activities—working on a cruise ship can be an enjoyable experience for those who are looking for an adventure-filled career.

Conclusion : What Are Staff Quarters Like On A Cruise Ship? Staff quarters vary in size but typically offer two-person rooms with twin beds, desk space, storage space for clothing and personal items as well as bathrooms with showers, sinks and toilets. In addition these rooms are usually located near communal areas such as laundry facilities or mess halls; they also come equipped with TVs and other entertainment options plus access to recreational activities such as gyms, swimming pools spas etc.

8 Related Question Answers Found

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Where do cruise ship staff sleep?

Home » Where do cruise ship staff sleep?

Last updated on July 11th, 2023 at 09:50 am

The officers, supervisors, staff and crew have a hierarchy depending on the job they are performing. For someone at the “bottom” of the hierarchy, their cabins are often small, and the space is shared, with little room for anything other than essentials.

Cruise ship staff stay on the ship. Even ships with several thousand passengers have room for all the staff to sleep on the ship. 

On a cruise ship, there are lower decks that aren’t seen by the public and this is where the crew areas are located. Most passenger decks start at Deck 2, but there is quite a bit more space in the hull of the ship, even below the waterline. 

The higher up the job ladder, the more space and privacy (and windows) they’ll have. 

The staff living areas have everything you would expect to find. Cabins usually for 2 people per room, eating areas, a bar, recreation rooms, offices and exercise facilities.

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Cruise Ship Crew Accommodations

One of the most common questions cruise ship job applicants have is what the crew cabins and facilities like onboard a cruise ship. Find out where the cabins are located and what to expect from your home away from home. Learn where the crew eat and where they can spend their free time onboard.

Location of Crew and Officer Cabins

There is a misconception that all crew and officers live below the water line. The fact is that there are crew accommodations throughout almost all the decks of the ship. It is true that the lowest ranking crew have their cabins on deck two and three below the water line, here is where else they live.

Some departments have their officers on decks that are close to where they work. For example, most engineer officers will have their cabins on the same deck as the engine control room which is located around deck four. This deck is just above the water line and many junior engine officers will typically have a porthole.

There are many cabins located on that particular deck because the whole deck is a crew only area. Typically that deck (usually deck 4) houses all provisions, food prep areas, the crew mess, crew office, and a corridor that goes from one end of the ship to the other.

Comparatively, most deck officers will have their cabins close to the bridge at the forward part of the ship. On many cruise ships, the forward part of deck 5 and deck 6 are also officer cabin areas with the outside cabins occupied by senior officers.

Layout of Crew and Officer Cabins

With every new ship built, cruise lines are taking the comfort of their crew into consideration. For example on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas there are more single cabins for crew compared to other cruise ships (see video of at single cabin on Oasis of the Seas, last video on this page.)  Note that this type of single cabin shares a bathroom with their next door neighbour. Here are the other types of crew and officer cabins that you can expect on a cruise ship:

Captain’s Cabin – This cabin is the biggest and best cabin out of all the officer’s cabins, obviously. But, the size and amenities of the Captain’s cabin varies from cruise line to cruise line and from ship to ship. Some of the largest Captain’s cabins feature a separate bedroom, a living room, dining room, bathroom with bathtub, and an office. He also has access to his own pantry and his own conference room.

Senior Officer Cabin – This type of cabin also varies from ship to ship, but is considered the best after the Captain’s cabin. They usually have a separate bedroom, a living room and a bathroom with a bathtub. Their office is typically located within their department rather than close to their cabin.

Junior Officer Cabin – Depending on the cruise line will determine if you are considered a junior officer and thereby get a better cabin than other crew. These types of cabins may also be given to staff holding a managerial position. A junior officer cabin is a single cabin where you don’t have to share your room or your bathroom. It may or may not have a porthole or window, depending on rank.

Deluxe Crew Cabin – This type of cabin is where two crew members share a cabin, typically with bunk beds. They also share a bathroom with each other. These types of cabins are small and don’t have a porthole or a window.

Amenities in the Crew Accommodation

Depending on how new the cruise ship is will determine how well the cabin is set up and how new the amenities are inside the cabin. Typically each cabin has one TV. Sometimes, you may get lucky that a previous crew member has left behind a DVD player or a stereo. There is always a mini fridge to be shared with your cabin mates.

The bathrooms are small in even the largest of cabins. There isn’t a lot of space to put toiletries especially if you have to share the space. There is a single wardrobe for each crew member and the space to keep your empty luggage comes down to creativity. There may be space under a bed or above a wardrobe.

Where Crew Eat On Board Cruise Ships

Where you will eat will also depend on your cruise job which is categorized by rank. Lowest ranking crew have only one option, the crew mess. The crew mess is a cafeteria style setting. There are TVs and some crew like to bring their laptops there because there is typically a WiFi signal there.

On large ships there is a Staff Mess which is offered for people that work for one of the onboard concessions such as spa, the gift shops and the photographers. The Staff Mess is typically a mini-crew mess.

There is also an Officer’s Mess onboard each cruise ship. Depending on what the cruise line considers an officer will determine who is allowed to eat there. This is a sit down service where officers are given a menu that they me choose their meal off of.

Officers and some crew members are also allowed to eat in the passengers’ buffet restaurant. Most crew are also permitted to eat in the specialty restaurants on the ship. Generally, they must pay the price that the passengers pay and they may need approval from their head of department for this occasion.

Crew Facilities on a Cruise Ship

Depending on the cruise ship, there are also a range of crew facilities (usually the bigger and newer the ship, the better the facilities). Most cruise ships have at least a crew recreation area that can be used as a crew internet area and a disco in the evening hours. On bigger ships, these facilities are separated into three separate areas. These spaces are equipped with table games, board games, library of books and DVDs and comfortable sitting areas.

Other facilities for crew include a number of crew and officer launderettes, a crew gym, and a crew store. Officers and some crew members are also permitted to use the passenger gym facilities. More and more cruise ships are making all crew cabins wireless (need to purchase prepaid internet card).

Videos of Cruise Ship Crew Accommodations

Princess Cruises:  Crew cabin on board Golden Princess

Carnival Cruise Lines: Crew Cabin on Carnival Dream

Norwegian Cruise Lines: Officer Cabin on Norwegian Jewel

Royal Caribbean: Crew Areas on Voyager of the Seas

Royal Caribbean: Crew Cabin on Oasis of the Seas

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The Parts of the Cruise Ship You Don't Get to See: What Do the Crew Quarters Look Like?

Hidden belowdecks, they've got their own gyms, bars, hair salons, mess halls and more.

Your average cruise ship can have hundreds to thousands of crew members on board. While it's obvious that they must have their own bunks, passengers may not realize that crew members have an entire ecosystem hidden belowdecks.

Crew members have to be physically fit to meet the demands of the job, and staff must be physically presentable as they're in the hospitality industry. They need to blow off steam between shifts, and eat, and drink, and party. Mingling with guests is a no-no, so crew members have separate gyms, hair salons, laundromats, restaurants, bars, clubs, jacuzzis, swimming pools and more. The quality of these differs from ship to ship, and we'll take a look at a range of them here.

Cruise Hive is an enthusiast website run by Emrys Thakkar, a longtime cruise ship employee. On the site he provides a guided tour of the crew facilities on a Carnival ship :

The Main Corridor

Thakkar refers to this as "I-95," as it's the main corridor that crew members use to travel the length of the ship.

Laundry Facilities

The crew laundry, along with ironing stations so staff member stay crisp-looking.

Internet Cafe

While crew members have WiFi throughout their quarters, the dedicated crew internet cafe is where the signal is strongest.

Crew Barber

Since crew members are out to sea for months at a time, they need a dedicated place to manage those coifs.

Not just a dining area, but the after-shift hangout spot where crew members can watch sporting events on the TV. And Thakkar provides this poignant bit of information: "One of the best times to eat in the mess is at midnight, it is when food not used in the guest dining rooms head on down to the crew," i.e. the fancy desserts that guests have taken a pass on.

There's a distinction between crew and staff. The former help operate the ship and its systems, while the latter are the retail and hospitality employees. Staff dine in a separate area from crew.

Officers Dining Rooms

Thakkar says there are two side-by-side dining rooms that only the Captain and the Officers are allowed to use. Inside they are waited on, like guests.

It doesn't offer the ocean view that the guest gyms do, but there's plenty of iron to pump.

The social hotspot for crew members, it opens every night and gets "really busy" around 9 or 10pm, Thakkar writes. And drinks here cost a lot less than they do abovedecks: "Prices are very cheap, I'm not going to tell you how much because it is so cheap you won't like it!"

Crew Pools and Jacuzzis

"You might have wondered what that area is with the jacuzzis or small pool down below near the ship's bow. This is an area where the crew can head on out for some fresh air. When off-duty they can relax in the pools as much as they want and enjoy the stunning ocean views."

You'll notice there are no shots of sleeping quarters. I couldn't find any on the site, but I did find this YouTube video of a crew or staff member on an unnamed ship giving a tour of her room. It's pretty dang tight:

Depending on the cruise line, facilities can get a lot swankier, as we'll see next.

Crew Center is a website run by ex-crew members who share experiences and offer helpful tips to newbies. On their Crew Facilities section, they feature photographs from different ships to give you a sense of the range. For instance, check out the facilities on a Celebrity Cruises Edge Class ship :

Crew Bar/Lounge

Crew Game Room

Crew Outdoor Lounge

Crew Coffee Shop

Not too shabby, eh? And I have to say it goes up a level from there on an AIDA Cruises Hyperion Class ship:

Crew Restaurant

Crew Hair Salon

Crew Jacuzzi (w/ hilarious slogan)

Crew Laundry

Crew Recreation Room

Crew Bar, Open Deck

Of those three companies, I know which cruise company I'd prefer to work for! (I mean, like, in a parallel universe where people were taking cruises.)

The Part of the Plane You Never Get to See: What Do Cabin Crews' Chillaxation Spots Look Like?

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Inside Crew Cabins on Cruise Ship

Standard crew cabins have: - Beds (usually bunk beds). - Toilet/shower cubicle (some of the ships share one bathroom between two cabins, or the older ships have common shower areas for female or male crew). - Small to medium wardrobe cabinet. - Writing desk with drawers. - Phone. - TV and DVD/VCR player. - Small refrigerators (rarely, but some crew cabins have them). - Chairs (usually one or two). - Safe boxes. - Mirror.

You need to keep the cabin clean and tidy because you share it with different people from different cultures. Also, there are cabin inspections from time to time in order to make sure that you are living within the rules laid down by the cruise company.

See Crew cabin Gallery

There is a range of crew facilities including bars, open deck area, gym, laundry, crew mess, staff mess, officers mess, disco, accommodation, recreation area, pool, and some even sauna, especially for the crew.

Press here to take a look inside other cruise ship crew areas.

Take a look at MSC Meraviglia Crew Cabins

Crew Insights

Articles and experiences shared by crew members working on cruise ship. Find out more about ship life at sea together with tips and advices for first time crew members and cruise oldtimers.

Crew Insight

Norwegian Cruise Line Ends COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for New Hires

MSC Cruises Rewards Crew with All-Expenses-Paid Trips to Formula 1 Grand Prix Worldwide

Royal Caribbean Honors Top Employees with Fleet of the Year Awards

Cunard introduces the Queen Anne’s HR Team

This is how the first climate-neutral cruise ship could look like

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MSC Cruises Implements Controversial New Laundry Policy for Crew Members

Come by the New Seafarer's House at Port Everglades

Meet the Royal Caribbean Champions

Ships & ports.

What Are Crew Cabins Like on Cruise Ships?

One of the most frequently asked questions I received while working on Cruise Ships was… What are the crew cabins like?

And it’s a great question because passengers know our cabin accommodations probably aren’t the best, so they’re intrigued to know exactly how bad the crew cabins can really be.

85% of cruise ship employees (mostly crew) live below the waterline and share very small and dark 9 x 9 cabins with 2 to 4 people in each one. There are bunk beds to sleep in, a small desk and chair, tv, phone, a wardrobe and mirror, a small fridge, and only one bathroom with a sink and shower, shared by all.

Some of the crew member jobs in these types of cabins include cooks, waiters, bar staff, laundry staff and more.

These cabins are also so notoriously small that only one person can be standing at a time – everyone else has to jump in their bunks, waiting their turn.

Having a small cabin with lots of people also means you’ll have to get used to waiting for the bathroom. If you all have similar job positions, you’ll need to be creative in terms of working out a schedule so everyone makes it to work on time.

Earplugs are also a must. You’d be surprised how loud someone snoring in a small cabin can be. Or, if they’re doing other things you may not appreciate – like having sex. Yep – be prepared for it!

Once, while working on cruise ships…

I shared a cabin with the Sommelier (Wine Steward). It was a tiny cabin with a small bunk bed (you can see the image above). I had the bottom bunk and he had the top – separating us vertically by no more than 3 feet. One night I was woken by the sounds of him and his casino girlfriend trying to “quietly” have sex together.

Unfortunately, the noises only got louder, and worse. After 20 minutes with no end in sight(!), I put in my earplugs and finally fell back to sleep again.

This happened every other night (as they had the courtesy to spend every other night in her room) and after about the 3rd time I didn’t even hear it anymore.

I know, strange right? It’s amazing what you get used to working on a cruise ship!

You may also want an eye mask as well, as people are coming in and out at all times of the night and the light from the corridor can be blinding. If they’re really courteous, they won’t turn on the cabin light when they come in!

Small cabins like this really suffer if one or more people are messy. Make sure you always keep your small section clean – don’t leave clothes and dirty laundry hanging around.

As the Internet Cafe Manager, one contract had me in my own cabin for most of my contract. Near the end, a brand new bar waiter was put in my cabin, which is always a little frustrating when you’re used to your own space for so long.

This was his first time at sea and first time away from home. He didn’t really understand the concept of cleaning up after himself, and I was constantly asking him not to leave his dirty clothes all over the floor.

Things finally came to a head one night after I found his dirtly underwear on my pillow. Yep. On my pillow. Last straw…

After a quick chat with the HR manager, he was thankfully moved to another cabin soon after.

And you guessed it – the lower your rank or rung on the ship’s hierarchy, the deeper into the depths of the ship you’ll be. So don’t expect a porthole or window.

In some cases, your lower position may even place you near the bow (front) or stern (back) of the ship where the worst weather is felt as the ship heaves up and down in the waves.

If you’re tendering at a port where the ship can’t dock alongside, the bow of the ship may have the gut-wrenching sound of the ship’s anchor being dropped in the early morning.

The stern has those big ship engines that continuously hum. You may love that sound, or not.

Having said all this, many of my friends in these cabins did get used to the close quarters and really loved it. They made some life-long friends and created some amazing memories.

Also, being in such close quarters and learning to constantly share and be graceful with others can definitely make you a better person, if you choose to learn from it.

The higher your rank, the better your accommodations

If you are one of the staff, you’ll most likely have a slightly larger cabin (10 x 10), but chances are you’ll only share it with one other person or have it all to yourself – making it feel much bigger.

Along with all the amenities you’ll find in the lower ranking cabins (desk, chair, tv, phone, wardrobe etc.) there may be a small couch to hang out on – perfect for having small parties or taking a nap.

There may be a slightly larger single bed due to the extra space.

You’ll also have your own bathroom, or at worst, be sharing a bathroom with the cabin next to you.

I had a cabin that shared a bathroom with the cabin next to me. When using it, the trick was always to remember to lock their bathroom door, so they don’t walk in on you.

You can imagine how many times I forgot to do that. And how many times I forgot to unlock their door after I was done. Sometimes I was not very popular with the neighbors!

And being above or on the waterline, you may even get to enjoy a porthole or window as well. But, while in port or tendering, be sure to be discreet as I’ve had passengers looking in my porthole!

Staff positions that get cabins like these include managers of departments, concessions like gift shop, casino, spa, music, entertainers and more…

I was fortunate enough to spend half my ship career in these types of cabins – sometimes on my own, but often with roommates.

And roommates can often be the best thing about a contract, especially if you get along and are respectful of each other’s space.

I had a roommate who had a hard time waking up each morning.

His phone alarm went off at 5:30am every morning – an annoying little tune that would repeat itself continously until his final alarm at 6am.

Since I didn’t have to get up until 7am, it drove me absolutely crazy. I would throw my pillows and yell at him to turn it off EVERY morning.

After no success, I resorted to turning his first alarm off when he was in the bathroom. He soon figured this out and checked each night before going to sleep.

I then turned the volume off on the alarm, which he also discovered. I even overwrote the alarm sound with a white-noise file. He figured that out too.

After 3 months, his contract ended and I was finally able to get some sleep. We remain good friends to this day, but not without always reminding him about his annoying alarm habits!

Who has the best crew cabins on a cruise ship?

By far, Officers have the best cabins. Complete with spacious larger rooms, sitting areas, office areas, large personal bathrooms, decorative art on the walls and more, the officers often have mini-suites instead of cabins. 

And the higher your rank, the better your “suite”.

The Captain obviously has the best of all these accommodations. The bed is usually a double too, if not a queen. And don’t be surprised to see a dresser or chest of drawers as well.

This isn’t too surprising though, as many of the senior officers have their family onboard from time to time and need the extra space.

You’ll also find many of the officers on the top decks at the front of the ship right near the bridge – the perfect place to be if there are any emergencies.

But it’s not all roses for the officers – being at the front of the ship means they feel the brunt of the bad weather.

And when the fog horns are going all night, guess who doesn’t get a good sleep?

My position as the IT/Communications Officer placed my cabin on deck 10 near the bridge. I was right beside the Hotel Directors cabin, who was often up late at night taking care of passenger issues.

The number of phone calls he would get after midnight, along with our paper-thin walls, made for some pretty sleepless nights.

But other than that it was a great cabin with a big window and an amazing view, and I was lucky to have it.

A Little About the Author...

Rob Lilley is passionate about working on cruise ships, and spent 5 years of his life travelling the seven seas and touching ground on all 7 continents.  With the experience of 2 different job positions in multiple contracts with different cruise lines, from explorer ships to full-sized cruise liners, Rob is keen to share his insider insights with all of those interested in working at sea! More…

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Life Onboard a Cruise Ship: 18 Crew Cabins Must-Haves

18 cruise ship crew cabins’ must-haves

Being a cruise ship crew member is both a challenging and rewarding experience. Living several months onboard a cruise ship, in a small cabin usually without any view (no window), and sharing your personal space with a person you don’t know doesn’t sound that fun, does it? Well, life onboard a ship means you have to adapt to these new conditions and find your way to organize your living space.

I’ve been working as a Shore Excursion staff onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships for a few years now, and in this article, I want to share with you 18 crew cabin must-haves that will make your life onboard a cruise ship easier and more organized. Regardless of what kind of crew cabin you have (single-shared or double-shared), or what cruise line you work for, my blog post will help you prepare for your cruise ship contract and make your onboard life more enjoyable!

So, here’s the list.

1. Bed Sheet Set

The bed sheet set is something I regret not bringing when I first joined the ship. The cruise line normally provides the pillows and a bed sheet set to every crew member upon coming on board, but these usually aren’t new. They have been used by who knows how many crew members, and re-washed every time. During the first few months on board, I was using cruise ship bed sheets, but later I decided to order a brand new bed sheet set and use it till the end of my contract.

So, I suggest you either bring your own bed sheet set from home that you can get rid of once your contract is finished (trust me, you won’t have space in your luggage to drag it back home), or buy a new one that is not that expensive and that you can give to someone or toss after your contract is over.

The one below is made of a comfortable material, suitable for bunk beds, and it is so cheap that you don’t have to keep it afterward. Every crew member’s ship life is all about saving money and space!

2. Memory Foam Pillow

Work onboard a cruise ship is hard – you don’t have a day off, and your schedule is quite busy (although this depends on your job position). Therefore, having a good and healthy sleep is essential for your well-being, and it is important to have a good rest before your next day starts. A memory  foam pillow is an extremely useful thing that I highly suggest having if you are not happy with the pillow your cruise line has provided you with. I must say, Royal Caribbean provides its cruise employees with really cozy pillows (I’ve never had any back or neck issues), but in case you aren’t comfortable with your pillow (or you simply want to have a brand new one) – order a new one and you will not regret it!

3. Mesh Pop-Up Laundry Basket

This is one of the most useful items when you live in a limited space and always have a bunch of dirty laundry to wash (which is the case when you work on a cruise ship). Instead of keeping your dirty laundry in a plastic bag (like I did on my first contract), a mesh pop-up laundry basket can make your life easier. It is collapsible, portable, and doesn’t take up a lot of space (although it looks like it does). I highly recommend you have this item –  it will make your crew cabin look so clean and organized!

4. Air Freshener

Cruise ships are normally several years, or even decades old. Now, imagine how many crew members lived in a cabin you live in? Hundreds of them. Every cruise ship worker is responsible for keeping their cabin clean and tidy, but unfortunately, many cruise ship employees don’t care about that. As a result, crew cabins sometimes have unpleasant smells that can’t disappear even if you clean them on daily basis. What saved my life in regard to that matter is a scent diffuser (or air freshener ) that I usually order online, because I can’t find the one I like when I go out in port. It is totally worth investing, as the scent lasts up to 3 months. You can choose your favorite scent – mine is lavender and was worth every cent I paid for it!

5. Pou-Pourri Toilet Spray

Pou-Pourri Toilet Spray is a very useful item to have when you have a small bathroom, especially when you share it with another person. Cruise ship bathrooms can have very poor ventilation and you will want to have a good toilet spray, trust me! Pou-Pourri Before-You-go Toilet Spray has proven to be really handy, as it eliminates the smells straight away. It is difficult to find it in ports, and the best option is to order it online or bring it from home. Always have it in your bathroom, and your problems are solved!

6. Antibacterial Wipes

Cleanliness is of crucial importance onboard a cruise ship, and I always have stocks of hand sanitizer wipes .  You can either have hand sanitizer wipes in a canister or just regular packs. I like to buy in canisters because they last longer (a few canisters can last the whole contract), but I also always have several packs of hand sanitizer wipes as well.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Bleach Free Cleaning Wipes, Fresh Scent, Moisture Seal Lid, 75 Wipes, Pack of 3 (New Packaging)

7. Travel Toiletry Bag

A travel toiletry bag is one of the cruise cabin must-haves if you want to keep your bathroom organized and smartly use the space. If you are sharing your cabin, you’ll have an extremely limited bathroom storage space, and I highly recommend you get this travel toiletry bag as it will significantly save your space. Your cosmetics, makeup, shower gel, shampoos, man’s razor blade , hairbrush – everything can fit! In addition, you can hang it on your door so it doesn’t take up additional space.

8 . Travel Power Strip (Ship Approved)

As you may know, cruise ship cabins have a limited number of electric outlets, usually two per crew cabin, and only one per cruise passenger cabin. Therefore, if you want to charge more things simultaneously, and your roommate wants to do the same – you’re stuck. That’s why having a travel power strip can save you the troubles and you can charge your phone, laptop, speakers any time!

9. JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker

If you are into music (who isn’t?), and even if you aren’t that much – you’ll need some music in your cabin from time to time! JBL portable Bluetooth speaker is one of the most practical cruise gadgets that you can use both in your crew cabin or outside in port (chilling at the beach, cocktails, friends, and music – what can be better than that?). I have both this one in the picture below, and a smaller, pocket-size JBL speaker , and both are great, except that the bigger one is louder. You can choose whichever you prefer, based on your needs and preferences.

Recommended:

10. External Hard Drive

Let me tell you something – I suck at technology and I had no clue what a hard drive was until I came to the ship. And guess what – this little, seemingly insignificant gadget made my life onboard a cruise ship much easier and more fulfilling! A hard drive   can store a huge amount of files, including a bunch of TV shows and movies, which come in handy when you just want to chill in your cabin and avoid the crowd in a crew mess, staff mess, and other crew and guest areas. Cruises are always busy and you are always surrounded by thousands of people, but sometimes, you just need time for yourself, your thoughts, and a good movie. I always go through such a period at least a few times during my ship contract, and in those times, good movies and music are lifesavers.

11. JBL Wireless Headphones

When you share your cruise ship crew cabin with another person, you need to respect his/her needs and wishes. If your roommate is tired, or just wants to have some peace and rest, you have to respect that and remain silent. That’s why JBL wireless headphones come in handy, and they are also amazing if you want to use them in a gym or during a run. They are small and comfortable, they don’t fall off your ears and they are loud enough.

Have I said that I am not into technology? lol. Well, I had a laptop on my first contract, and I used it a lot when our cruise ship was in a dry dock and I had actual free time to spend in my cabin. The only thing that annoyed me was that my laptop was too heavy, and on my way back home I could barely carry it. On my second contract, however, I decided to leave my laptop at home, and it’s one of the worst decisions I could have made! I really missed my laptop for many reasons – I couldn’t watch movies, transfer my pictures, write emails. And, now if you ask me, I’ll tell you to ALWAYS bring a laptop with you. However, make sure you have a laptop that is light and slim, so it doesn’t take up much space and storage!

Or, if you are looking into something really classy, light and professional, Mac Book Air Retina is the way to go! I am about to buy one and I am so excited!!

2020 Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) – Silver

13. Sony Playstation

If you are into gaming and this type of activity – don’t come on board without Sony Playstation (or come, but order Sony as soon as possible!). I’ve seen so many of my fellow crew members using it, and even I used it for some time. It’s a great way to put your stress away and have fun with your roommate and friends during your time off!

Recommended: PlayStation VR – Marvel’s Iron Man Bundle

14. Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer

An over-the-door hanging shoe organizer is one of the best things I’ve seen people using on cruise ships! It saves you a lot of effort in properly organizing your shoes, and saves so much space! You simply hang it on your door, place your shoes in it, and you can even share it with your roommate as it has a lot of pockets!

15. Refillable Water Bottle

Tap water onboard a cruise ship is pottable, but to be honest, I never drink it. I prefer to buy a water case and then pour water into my refillable water bottle that I carry with me around the ship and outside in ports. I found this one with some motivational notes to lift your spirit when you feel down and depressed. Super cool stuff!

16. Indoor Slippers

If you are used to wearing slippers at home – don’t forget to bring them on a cruise ship, too! Although crew members live squeezed in small cabins, it is our home for several months and slippers are good to have, as floors can be cold sometimes. I never bring them from home, as I always try to save as much as luggage space on my way to the ship – Instead, I prefer to buy them either online or outside in a port.

17. Insulated Water Bottle

For safety reasons, it is strictly prohibited to keep any electric appliances in cruise ship rooms and cabins. A kettle is not allowed, so if you want to have a cup of tea or coffee, you have to go to the crew mess or staff mess. The best way to keep your drinks hot is to buy an insulated water bottle that you can carry around and have your tea/coffee whenever you want. You can also bring it outside in port, and have your drink at the beach or elsewhere!

Recommended: Triple Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Straw Lid – Flip Top Lid – Wide Mouth Cap (26 oz) Insulated Water Bottles, Keeps Hot and Cold – Great for Hiking & Biking (Dreamy Pink-Green)

18. Clutch Wristlet Purse

For women, a clutch wristlet purse is definitely one of the most useful cruise ship must-have items. When I am on duty, I always carry it with me – Inside, I store my phone, schedule, a sea pass card, a pen, and that’s it! Otherwise, I would have to wear these things in my pocket! The purse doesn’t have to be fancy and beautiful – it needs to be practical, discrete, and simple, and it’s good to have a wrist strap so you can put it around your wrist (in the picture below).

I hope my list of 18 crew cabins must-haves helped you plan how to organize your living space onboard a cruise ship. Whether you are joining as a new hire , or as a returning crew member, consider getting these items as they might be extremely helpful and useful to have!

This article may contain Amazon affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see my disclaimer here.

You May Also Like:

• New Hire? This is How the First Day on a Cruise Ship Looks Like
• Working On A Cruise Ship: How To Apply For Cruise Ship Jobs?
• 11 Things You Would Never Expect To Be Part Of Your Cruise Ship Job
• Life Of Shore Excursions Staff Onboard A Cruise Ship: Job Description And Daily Duties
• Life of a Photographer on a Cruise Ship – Crew Member’s Story

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What Do the Cruise Captains’ Quarters Look Like? (inc Videos)

Have you ever wondered where the cruise ship captains’ quarters are located and what they look like?

Well, you are not alone, it’s a common question, and not unsurprisingly, there aren’t many captains sharing details of their private quarters.

However, after some research, we have found some glimpses of the inside of the captain’s quarters.

The size and spec of the quarters will vary depending on the cruise line and the individual ships’ perceived prestige.

So we have endeavored to find as many examples as possible.

What Do the Cruise Captains’ Quarters Look Like?

The cruise captain’s quarters will usually be on par with the average suite types of rooms you’ll find on the ship.  Typically the larger or more luxurious the ship, the larger and more luxurious standard you can expect the captain’s quarters to be.

Although often traveling alone, the captain’s quarters will be large enough for when they do have family or guests staying onboard with them.  Hence large bedrooms and living space.  Much larger than the rest of the crew’s cabins.

As well as typical suite-like features the quarters will have an office with monitors, wifi and various forms of communication, and navigational indicators and monitors so the captain can keep abreast of everything at all times.

There will also be room for meetings with the crew and navigational staff members.

Below are some real-life examples of cruise captains’ quarters that we have found. 

Royal Caribbean Cruise Captains Quarters

TikTok and Royal Caribbean cruise captain @captainjohnnyfaevelen gave a scarce insight into the cruise captain’s quarters on mega cruise ship Harmony of the Seas , one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and no doubt a larger than average captains cruise quarters.

@captainjohnnyfaevelen #welcome to the #captain #cabin and #office #onboard @Royal Caribbean #harmonyoftheseas #oasis #class #modern #cruiseship #shipslife #comfortable #life #at #sea ♬ original sound – Captain Johnny

On its launch in 2016, Harmony of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world.  It has since been overtaken by Symphony of the Seas (2018) and now Wonder of the Seas (2022).

So this captain’s quarters are likely also proportionally larger than many others, so not typical size-wise for the average cruise ship.

From the video, we can see Royal Caribbean Oasis-class cruise ships have very generous-sized captains’ quarters.

On entering the cabin, there is a spacious foyer with doors to:

• Guest Bathroom
• Master Bedroom 
• Large Living room

The quarters have a larger Master Bedroom with Queen size bed.  The bedroom includes a walk-in closet and bathroom with a large bathtub and shower.

The living room is large and spacious, with a dining table and four chairs.   A more relaxed sofa area includes a coffee table, a 55-inch TV, and a recliner chair.

The living room leads to the pantry, which has a refrigerator and dishwashers, various cooking appliances, and lots of food storage space.

Off the living room is the Captain’s Office which can also be accessed directly from the navigation bridge .  The captain’s office has a deck and chair and various monitors on display.

Celebrity Cruise Captains’ Quarters

The video below is by Captain Kate McCue, who has a well-known social media presence in the cruising world.

She’s captain of the cruise ship Celebrity Edge at the time of the recording.  This is a 130,000 gross tonnage cruise ship with the capacity to carry over 2900 passengers.

@captainkatemccue CRIBS: Captain’s Quarters, Suite Life Edition & tour du jour. You asked for it… #fyp #foryou #captainscabin #celebrityedge #cruise #captain #room ♬ Alone – Petit Biscuit

The video above just gives an inside view of her Captains quarters.   She walks through the entrance foyer to the main living space with a large corner sofa, some other comfy-looking chairs, and a large wall-mounted TV.

Kate then highlights the infinite verandah window, which opens fully at the touch of a button.  This makes the verandah feel like part of the quarters, letting in the fresh sea air and natural light. 

The floor-to-ceiling window gives the captain a view of the bridge.

In Kates’s quarters, she highlights her patron saint of seafarers, St Nichols, which many seafarers, not just cruise captains, always travel with for good luck.

The captain’s bedroom has a King Sized bed facing another reasonably large TV.  

Attached is a water closet with dual sinks, a shower, and a smallish soaking tub (which kate uses to wash her Elf Sphynx cat named bug).

She separated the 

dining room with a TV, and a small galley area with a refrigerator.  These rooms are open-planned, joined with the captain’s office which is directly attached to the bridge. 

Where Are the Cruise Captains’ Quarters?

The cruise captains’ quarters are typically located to the rear of the ship’s bridge.  This provides the captain with speedy access to the bridge at a moment’s notice, should it be required.

The access from the bridge with usually be to the captain’s office area of their living quarters., Access to their main living quarters can also be accessed by a separate entrance.

When Does The Cruise Captain Sleep?

Cruise ship captains will typically sleep at night, however, they are on call 24/7 for any emergencies that may arise.  

The captain doesn’t need to be on the bridge at all times as there will be much other staff who can navigate the ship in the captain’s absense, or while they sleep.

Related Posts

What is the Draft of a Cruise Ship? (and Why Does it Matter?)

How Many Doors on a Cruise Ship? (Yes, I Counted)

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Onboard and Onshore Cruise Ship Positions

Whether you long for the sea breeze and ocean air, or you're strictly a landlubber with a passion for hospitality management, there are literally hundreds of positions available in the cruise industry that will meet your needs. But you'll need to know exactly what each position entails before you apply.

There are a large variety of jobs on cruise ships and at cruise line corporate offices.

Skim over the list of job titles below. You may recognize a number of the jobs, i.e., disc jockey, but some may be foreign to you. For example, few people know what a Gentleman Host does!

This page provides you with a list of common positions on luxury cruise liners as well as links to general job descriptions, which will give you a better idea of what each job is all about.

Furthermore, see how jobs are broken down into different departments below.

The only way to get a more detailed look at these jobs is to become a CruiseJobFinder member .

Commonly Available Positions on Cruise Ships:

• Cruise Directors
• Disc Jockeys
• Expedition Leaders
• Hosts and Hostesses
• Naturalists
• Shore Excursion Managers
• Water Sports Instructors
• Youth Counselors
• Cosmetologist
• Fitness Directors
• Medical Staff
• Air/Sea Reservation Agents
• Gift Shop Positions
• Photographers
• Junior Assistant Pursers
• Information Technology Staff
• Administration Assistants
• Customer Service Representatives
• Casino Staff
• Cruise Staff
• Entertainers
• Gentleman Host
• Production Managers
• Shore Excursion Staff
• Beauticians
• Massage Therapists
• Fitness Instructors
• Personal Trainers
• Bar Stewards
• Bedroom Stewards
• Hospitality or Hotel Managers
• Dance Instructors
• Booking Agents
• Sales and Marketing Positions
• Engeering Department Crew

Jobs Listed by Department

Activity and shipboard entertainment departments:.

These positions are all about keeping passengers busy and entertained, and they're the people who are top of mind when passengers hear the term "cruise staff." The activity leaders or instructors work with passengers in small groups, leading them in a specific activity, whether it's diving, dancing, or Yoga. Entertainers provide music (either playing it or as a disc jockey), sing, act, juggle, or other forms of entertainment, either poolside or in the ship's many clubs, casinos, or on stages. Cruise directors are responsible for all of these areas, and making sure that passengers are participating and enjoying each experience. For a more detailed overview of Activity/Entertainment positions and their job requirements, Click Here!

• Art Auctioneer
• Assistant Cruise Director
• Assistant Shore Excursions Manager
• Casino staff
• Cruise Consultant
• Cruise Director
• Dance Instructor
• Disc Jockey
• Dive Instructor
• Gentlemen Host
• Lecturer/ Special Guest Speaker
• Photographer
• Port Lecturer
• Shore Excursions Manager
• Social Host/Hostess

Entertainment

• Audio Visual Coordinator
• Production Manager
• Sound and Light Technician

Deck and Engineering Departments:

These are the people in charge of keeping the ship well maintained, running smoothly, and on course - all the while ensuring everyone's safety, keeping detailed records, and being knowledgeable of maritime laws and regulations. While the captain is usually very visible, you may not realize that there are many additional crew members, each with important duties. For most of these positions you'll need to have some experience onboard a ship and specialized training. However, there are some internships and/or apprenticeship programs that can launch your career in this department. For a more detailed overview of Deck Positions, Click Here!

• Able Seaman
• Chief Officer
• First Officer
• Quarter Master
• Safety Officer
• Security Officer
• Staff Captain

Engineering

• Assistant Engineer
• Chief Engineer
• Chief Electrician
• Chief Radio Officer
• First Assistant Engineer

Service and Hospitality Departments :

These positions can also be called "hotel management" jobs. The common denominator with all of these jobs is that you are providing a direct service to passengers, whether it's cooking food, serving food or beverages, cleaning cabins, doing laundry, and a wide range of other duties. The purser also falls under this category. Pursers are in charge of all onboard accounting during each cruise. For a more detailed overview of Service/Hospitality Positions, Click Here !

Food and Beverage

• Bar Manager
• Buffet Server
• Chef de Partie
• Cocktail Server
• Dining Room Head Waiter
• Dining Room Manager
• Executive Chef
• Food and Beverages Manager
• General Cook
• Maitre d' Hotel
• Pastry Chef
• Wine Steward
• Chief Purser
• Purser Staff

Housekeeping

• Cabin Steward/ess
• Chief Cabin Steward
• Chief Steward/Housekeeper
• Laundry Staff

Hotel Administration

• Computer Systems Manager/IT
• Gift Shop Manager
• Gift Shop Sales Assistant
• Hotel Manager
• Program Coordinator
• Receptionist

Personal Care and Shipboard Medical Departments:

Workers in these jobs are also providing direct care to passengers, but services are in the form of massages, hair care, manicures, or even medical care. Of course you'll need to have the proper credentials or licenses before you can apply for any of these jobs. For a more detailed overview of Personal Care Positions, Click Here!

Salon/Spa/Fitness

• Beauty Therapist
• Fitness Instructor
• Hair Stylist
• Spa Attendant

Nurses and Physicians

Corporate Office Positions:

Some people are much more interested in being an important part of the inner workings of the industry - the very necessary people who keep the company running, not just the ships. If this sounds like you, then here are the main departments you have to choose from for finding work. In many of these positions you can be promoted to executive or leadership roles.

Accounting : If you're more interested in an onshore, behind-the-scenes job in the industry, you could pursue a position in this department. In addition to the traditional accounting positions, you'll also find cruise line-specific jobs like tour accounting.

Administrative/Clerical : Like any other business, it takes a lot of people in the "back office" to keep a company running smoothly. From human resources professionals, to IT workers, without the work and expertise of these employees, the work onboard the ship would be much harder to perform.

Air operations: It takes a lot of coordination between the airlines/airport and the harbor to ensure that passengers and their luggage arrive and depart safely, on time, and with all their possessions intact. These employees are the ones responsible for these important tasks.

Marketing/PR: The cruise industry has become much more competitive than in years past. There are more cruise lines, and more ships all vying for passengers. Marketing and public relations professionals have the task of creating public campaigns that make their companies stand out from the competition. Creativity is important in these positions.

Reservations/Sales : These are the onshore employees that usually have the most interaction with passengers. It's your job to be the first representative of the cruise line that the passenger comes into contact with. You must be very service-oriented, while still keeping in mind that the goal is to sell tickets. These jobs are very important to cruise lines.

• Accounts Payable Staff
• Operations Analyst
• Senior Business Analyst
• Senior Staff Accountant
• Staff Accountant
• Tour Accounting

Administrative/Clerical

• Administrative Assistant
• Administration Manager
• Customer Service
• Human Resources
• IT Lead Developer
• Manager Deployment & Itinerary Planning
• Operations Administrator
• Part-Time Data Entry
• Payroll Clerk
• Software Engineer

Air Operations

• Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) Coordinator
• Pier/Airport Expediter
• Seasonal Air Operations Agent
• Seasonal Corporate Air Ticketing Agent

Marketing / PR

• Account Executive
• Brand Manager
• Field Representative
• Marketing Research Analyst
• Media Relations
• Purchasing Agent
• Vice President of Marketing

Reservations/ Sales

• Inside Sales Representative
• Outside Sales Representatives
• Reservations Sales & Service
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How Much Do Cruise Ship Workers Really Earn? The Truth About Their Pay

This post may contain affiliate links. if you click one, i may earn a commission at no cost to you. as an amazon associate, i earn from qualifying purchases..

Have you ever found yourself mesmerised by the glamorous life on a cruise ship? I mean, who hasn’t? It’s like a floating city filled with endless entertainment, exotic destinations, and the crew that makes everything happen. 

But have you ever wondered about the folks working behind the scenes? You know, the cheerful waiter or the ever-smiling cruise director. How much do they really make for living the dream at sea? 

Let’s unpack the paychecks and perks of cruise ship staff from the high seas with Carnival, Disney, and Royal Caribbean. And who knows? By the end of this article, you might even consider a career on a cruise ship.

What’s in the Wallet of Cruise Ship Crews?

Curious about the earnings of those who keep your cruise experience smooth sailing? Well, the financial tides may surprise you. 

While the median salary for a cruise ship worker might be less than your average Joe in the States. Back in 2018, Carnival Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Royal Caribbean Group shared some figures:

• Carnival Group dished out about $16,622
• Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings was a bit more generous with $20,101
• Royal Caribbean Group wasn’t far behind at $19,396

We haven’t seen new stats since 2018, so hopefully, those salaries have gone up since then. 

Global Earnings

We can also compare these with the median annual earnings of the populations of various countries:

• The USA boasts a hefty $46,625
• Down under in Australia, it’s $35,518
• The UK’s at a cosy $25,383
• Spain and Lithuania hover around $25,000 and $21,000, respectively
• Russia grabs $16,163
• Chile’s chilling at $10,058
• And India, bless, is at $2,473

Seeing the big picture? The average cruise crew member’s salary might look slim in a US wallet, but it’s a fortune in many corners of the globe. It’s no wonder that dreamy three-bedroom sea-view houses are within reach for many crew members from developing nations.

The Reality of Cruise Ship Life

Before you jump ship and sign up, let’s talk hours and contracts. It’s not all sunshine and sea breezes; some crew members grind up to sixteen hours a day, every day of the week.

Meanwhile, the entertainers might just work a couple of hours daily. Contracts can range from a couple of months to nearly a year, but you get a break to touch base now and then.

Perks on Board: More Than Just a Salary

Life at sea comes with its own set of perks. We’re talking about basics like food, accommodation, laundry, and nice-to-haves like training, medical care, and even flights to and from the ship. 

And let’s not forget the discounts for family cruises. However, if you want to Instagram your adventures, you’ll have to pay for the WiFi or hunt down hotspots on port days.

Who Makes What

Ever wonder who’s bagging the most loot? From the captain’s deck to the service floors, here’s a sneak peek:

The captains command an impressive $8,200 monthly. With potential bonuses and perks, their leadership not only steers the ship but secures a prosperous voyage for themselves.

Related reading: Revealing What Cruise Ship Captains Really Earn

Cruise Directors

At $4,900 monthly, cruise directors are the heart of onboard entertainment, orchestrating a symphony of activities that bring joy and laughter to passengers. Their earnings reflect the pivotal role they play in enhancing the cruise experience, making every moment on the high seas memorable.

Medical and Engineering Marvels

The unsung heroes of health and machinery, doctors and chief engineers pocket a handsome $9,750 and $9,000, respectively. Their expertise ensures the wellbeing of all onboard and the smooth sailing of the ship, marking them as invaluable assets to the crew.

The Culinary and Service Maestros

Waiters and chefs, with their impeccable service and culinary delights, earn around $3,300 monthly. Their dedication to gastronomic excellence and guest satisfaction adds a rich flavour to the cruise experience.

The Entertainers and Beauty Specialists

From guest entertainers earning up to $6,000 to beauticians, massage therapists, and nail technicians, each making $3,300, these professionals add sparkle and relaxation to the voyage. Whether it’s through captivating performances or rejuvenating spa treatments, they ensure guests enjoy a holistic and entertaining journey.

Supporting Stars

The hardworking individuals behind the scenes, including gift shop assistants, photographers, musicians, and youth staff, with earnings ranging from $2,150 to $2,400, play crucial roles in enriching the cruise experience.

Is a Cruise Ship Job Worth the Plunge?

Chatting about cruise ship life and the money that comes with it has been a blast. The salary might not be a landlubber’s dream, but with all expenses covered and some unique perks, it’s an adventure worth considering. 

Whether you’re drawn to the sea for the travel, the job, or just the thrill, knowing the score helps you navigate your decisions. Who knows? Maybe the next time we talk, you’ll send postcards from exotic locations, courtesy of your new life on a cruise ship. 

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How the cheapest interior and balcony cabins on Carnival's new cruise ship compare — and why the pricier one is worth it

Posted: June 22, 2024 | Last updated: June 22, 2024

• Carnival's new Carnival Firenze  cruise ship set sail in late April.
• Its interior cabins are $160 cheaper per person than the ones with balconies.
• The cramped balcony stateroom is worth the additional cost.

I finally realized that my parents are, in fact, always right. Unfortunately, learning my lesson took a stint in a windowless cabin on a Carnival cruise .

In mid-May, I found myself stuck on a four-night Carnival Firenze cruise with my family. I was there for work — they were there to enjoy the sun. And that they did, as they luxuriated in a cabin with a balcony while I was stuck in a drab, windowless dungeon.

Never again will I think of my parents as 'snobby' for wanting the more expensive accommodation (sorry, Mom and Dad).

My parents, occasional cruisers, have always preferred staterooms with balconies. After my stint in the ship's interior accommodation, I now understand why balconies are the most popular cabin category.

For Firenze's cheapest itinerary in 2024 — a four-night roundtrip voyage from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico — a dual-occupancy interior cabin starts at $359 per person.

Ones with balconies command a minimum of $519 per person.

That's a $160 difference — and well worth the extra cash.

Carnival Firenze, the company’s newest vessel, set sail in April.

But that doesn't mean it's a brand-new ship.

Firenze had initially joined the fleet of another Carnival Corp brand , Costa Cruises, in 2020 with plans to launch in China — that is, until the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carnival Cruise Line then acquired Firenze and its sister ship, Venezia, in 2022 to grow its US footprint amid "strong interest in people wanting to sail with us," a Carnival spokesperson told Business Insider.

But my interior cabin looked more like an ancient motel than a four-year-old ship.

The spokesperson said Firenze underwent a two-month refresh to "install the Carnival Fun Italian Style Concept."

This Italianized vision came as a photo of Florence, Italy, behind my bed, half covered by pillows. It's for the best — the print looked misplaced, unnecessary, and tacky.

At least it matched the color palette of the equally ugly carpet.

The furniture was functional, but that doesn’t mean it was pretty.

The gray chaise clashed with the bafflingly ugly yellow and red carpet, while the faux marble and wood side table looked as cheap as my fare.

Thankfully, I have no gripes about the desk and closet. Both were sizable and looked like ones I've seen on more expensive and modern cruise ships.

'Expensive' and 'modern' could be the antithesis of my bathroom. It was a total eyesore.

The yellow and red tiles would've been better suited in a McDonald's. But no design crime was bigger than the lack of designated storage units.

The only shelving came preoccupied with tissue boxes and toilet paper rolls, an unnecessary amenity given that my cabin attendant cleaned and restocked my room daily. I would've rather had one less spare toilet paper roll if that meant I could keep my skincare products inside the bathroom instead of out on the desk.

On the bright side, the bathroom and bedroom felt surprisingly spacious for 150 square feet.

Unbeknownst to me, Carnival had put me in one of the ship's accessible, wheelchair-friendly accommodations. As a person without physical disabilities, this meant the shower — a curtain surrounding floor drains — was one of the largest I've had at sea.

Back in the living room, I could've starfished on the floor without hitting any furniture.

Complaints about its appearance aside, the room was large and almost perfectly functional — easily worth its $90-a-night price tag.

But without any natural light, the dated, dark, and mismatched furniture made my cabin look more like a drab hospital room.

Think I'm being dramatic? One look at my parent's balcony cabin will prove my point.

Some of the furniture in my dungeon and their breezy hotel room at sea looked identical.

But the light-filled room and less hideous carpet made the chaise and side table feel more at home.

Unfortunately, nothing could've saved the still misplaced-looking photo of Italy.

However, no amount of natural light could've saved the stateroom from feeling cramped.

The cabin is 72 square feet larger than my interior one. But don't expect to starfish here: The narrow layout and furniture didn't leave much room to spare.

Our four-person family could comfortably lounge in my interior room. Four people inside the balcony cabin required flexible maneuvering around each other and the furniture.

The tiny bathroom made the one in my interior accommodation feel palatial.

Yet, despite being much smaller, the extra shelving — noticeably deprived of excess paper products — made this bathroom more functional.

But the tight layout is worth it for the private outdoor space and light.

The ocean breeze and view provided the perfect backdrop for my parent's peaceful early mornings.

Meanwhile, my early mornings were spent in a dingy, liminal space-like bedroom, never fully sure of the exact time. I felt like a gremlin who lived in perpetual darkness, only reminded that the sun had, in fact, risen when I stopped by my family's bright cabin.

Seeing my mom lounge around with the balcony door cracked open, reading some documents without turning the lights on, was enviable.

A quiet outdoor space is especially important on a ship like Carnival Firenze.

The vessel is loud and rowdy, as is expected of a Carnival cruise. I struggled to find a quiet, relaxing lounge that wasn't overwhelmed by screaming children, screaming adults, or poorly mixed music.

Our cabins were the only truly quiet spaces on the ship. And I'd much rather read a book on a balcony with ocean views than in a dreary, dark interior stateroom.

I should probably add an asterisk next to 'truly quiet spaces.'

The interior and balcony accommodations did share one terrible similarity: ultra-thin walls.

Rowdy passersby could be heard clearly from inside both rooms. The neighbors' TV and late-night conversations constantly woke my dad up. (Maybe my interior cabin wasn't so bad after all.)

But, like I said, I'd trade a gloomy stateroom for a balcony and the chance to eavesdrop on my neighbors.

As usual, my parent's decision to book a balcony instead of an interior cabin was the way to go.

Unless you're on an ultra-strict budget, it'll be worth the additional cost. A little sun and fresh air can go a long way for your sanity, especially on a ship where silence and peace are an upcharged luxury.

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What Does a Cruise Staff Do?

Find out what a Cruise Staff does, how to get this job, salary information, and what it takes to succeed as a Cruise Staff.

The role of Cruise Staff encompasses a broad spectrum of responsibilities, all aimed at enhancing the guest experience aboard a cruise ship. Members of the cruise staff are tasked with the organization and facilitation of onboard activities, ensuring that each passenger finds entertainment and engagement suited to their interests. This position requires a dynamic approach to guest interaction, from hosting events to providing information and assistance, thereby fostering a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere. Through their varied efforts, cruise staff play an integral role in shaping the overall ambiance of the cruise, making every voyage memorable for its guests.

Cruise Staff Job Duties

• Hosting and emceeing onboard entertainment activities such as game shows, trivia contests, and dance parties to ensure guests are engaged and entertained throughout their cruise.
• Coordinating and leading various sports and recreational activities, including deck sports, fitness classes, and water-based games, to promote a fun and active environment for all passengers.
• Facilitating and organizing children and teen activities, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for younger guests through age-appropriate games, educational programs, and entertainment.
• Providing guest services and support, including answering inquiries, resolving issues, and offering information about ship amenities, ports of call, and onboard schedules to enhance guest satisfaction.
• Assisting with the coordination and execution of onboard events and parties, including themed nights, welcome aboard events, and farewell parties, to create memorable experiences for guests.
• Leading shore excursions and guiding guests on cultural, adventure, and sightseeing tours at various ports of call, ensuring a seamless and enriching off-ship experience.
• Overseeing the safety and conduct of guests during activities and events, ensuring compliance with ship policies and safety protocols to maintain a secure environment.
• Performing administrative tasks related to event planning and execution, including scheduling, inventory management of supplies and equipment, and providing feedback reports on activity success and guest engagement.

Cruise Staff Salary & Outlook

Cruise staff salaries vary based on the cruise line’s prestige, ship size, and passenger capacity. Experience level and specific role responsibilities significantly impact earnings. Positions with more guest interaction or entertainment duties typically command higher pay. Seasonality and contract length can also influence compensation, with longer contracts sometimes offering better terms.

• Median Annual Salary: $63,525 ($30.54/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $122,000 ($58.65/hour)

The employment of cruise staffs is expected to grow at an average rate over the next decade.

This growth is driven by increasing global tourism and a rising demand for luxury cruise experiences. Cruise staff are essential for enhancing guest satisfaction through entertainment and services, making their roles critical as cruise lines expand their fleets and introduce new, innovative amenities to attract passengers.

Cruise Staff Job Requirements

Education: Cruise staff positions often require a high school diploma as a minimum, with a significant number holding bachelor’s degrees. Preferred fields of study include hospitality, tourism, business, or communication, reflecting the job’s diverse nature. Coursework in customer service, public speaking, and foreign languages can be advantageous, preparing candidates for the multifaceted interactions and responsibilities encountered on board. A strong educational background in these areas supports the development of skills necessary for success in the dynamic environment of cruise entertainment and guest services.

Experience: Cruise staff candidates typically possess a blend of experience in hospitality, customer service, and entertainment. Prior work on cruise ships or in related sectors like hotels, resorts, or theme parks is highly valued. On-the-job training is common, allowing staff to familiarize themselves with ship operations, safety protocols, and company standards. Many cruise lines also offer specialized training programs to enhance skills in guest interaction, event management, and emergency response, ensuring staff are well-prepared to create memorable experiences for passengers.

Certifications & Licenses: Cruise staff typically do not require specific certifications or licenses. However, a Basic Safety Training (BST) certificate, compliant with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW), is often necessary. Additionally, a valid passport and sometimes a seafarer’s health and medical certificate, verifying fitness for sea duty, may be required. Certifications in first aid or CPR can be beneficial.

Cruise Staff Skills

Guest Relations: Patience and a positive attitude are essential when addressing a broad spectrum of passenger inquiries, complaints, and requests. Cruise staff must ensure every guest feels heard, valued, and satisfied by employing excellent verbal and written communication skills and quickly devising solutions that enhance the onboard experience.

Entertainment Scheduling: A balanced and engaging itinerary is crafted through an in-depth understanding of guest demographics and the variety of onboard entertainment options. Coordination and meticulous planning are required to ensure events flow seamlessly, catering to all ages and interests, thereby enriching the cruise experience.

Safety Procedures: Familiarity with the ship’s layout and the ability to execute emergency drills are critical for cruise staff, ensuring swift and efficient responses to any potential safety incidents. Skills include guiding passengers to muster stations, operating life-saving equipment, and maintaining clear communication with crew and guests during high-stress situations.

Multilingual Communication: Fluency in multiple languages enables effective communication with a diverse passenger base. By facilitating smoother interactions, from addressing inquiries to resolving issues, staff ensure all guests feel welcomed and understood, significantly enhancing their experience.

Conflict Resolution: Handling disagreements and tensions, whether among passengers or between crew and guests, requires the ability to de-escalate situations through active listening, empathy, and problem-solving. A harmonious onboard environment is maintained, contributing to the enjoyment and safety of all.

Activity Coordination: Orchestrating a diverse array of onboard activities demands an acute ability to gauge guest interests and adapt schedules accordingly. From lively deck parties to serene art classes, staff ensure that every passenger finds engaging and memorable experiences during their voyage.

Cruise Staff Work Environment

Cruise staff operate in a unique, floating environment where the ocean is their backyard and the ship, their home and workplace. Their workspace is dynamic, shifting from the sun-drenched decks to the various entertainment venues onboard. Equipped with microphones, activity materials, and sometimes costumes, they bring the cruise experience to life.

Work hours for cruise staff are unconventional, blending early mornings, late nights, and everything in between, depending on the day’s activities and events. The dress code varies, requiring professional attire for events and casual wear for daytime activities, always with an emphasis on neatness and appropriateness.

The social environment is vibrant, with interactions not just among team members but also with guests from around the world, making every day a new cultural exchange. This constant interaction demands a high level of emotional intelligence and adaptability.

Despite the allure of travel and the camaraderie among staff, the job demands a significant commitment, often blurring the lines between work and personal time, challenging the notion of work-life balance. However, for those passionate about creating memorable experiences and embracing a life at sea, it offers an unparalleled opportunity.

Advancement Prospects

Cruise staff have a dynamic pathway for career advancement within the cruise industry, often starting from entry-level positions and moving up to roles such as Cruise Director or even into operations and management. Advancement typically involves gaining experience in various departments, showcasing leadership skills, and demonstrating exceptional guest service.

To progress, individuals should focus on excelling in their current role, taking on additional responsibilities, and showing an aptitude for team management and event coordination. Understanding the intricacies of cruise operations, from entertainment to guest relations, is crucial.

Moving up often requires a willingness to relocate or switch ships, as opportunities for advancement may not always be available on the same vessel. Success in this career path is marked by versatility, adaptability, and a deep commitment to creating memorable experiences for passengers.

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Symphony of the Seas cruise ship review: What to expect on board

Are you planning a cruise on Symphony of the Seas ? Get ready to be wowed.

If you've never been on this famously massive ship or one of its giant Oasis Class sisters before, you'll be amazed at all it has to offer, from outdoor decks loaded with amusements to seemingly endless options for dining, drinking and dancing the night away.

With the exception of Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas , which is in a class of its own, there has never been another set of ships as big, bold and bustling as the Oasis Class vessels. And Symphony of the Seas is one of the newest and most amenity-filled of the five ships in the series.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

If you're one of the nearly 60 million people living in the northeastern U.S., where Symphony of the Seas is based half the year, you will find nothing that comes close to it in terms of offering the ultimate megaresort-at-sea experience.

As I've seen during several cruises on the vessel since it debuted in 2018, including a weeklong voyage out of the New York area in May, Symphony of the Seas is one of the best cruise ships in the world for cruisers who love a big-resort experience with oodles to do all day and night. It's also a particularly wonderful ship for families.

The biggest caveat to picking this ship: You have to be OK with crowds. And noise. Symphony of the Seas carries a lot of people. And it's not a quiet ship. If it's intimacy and tranquility you want in a cruise vacation, this isn't the ship for you.

Overview of Symphony of the Seas

Symphony of the Seas was the world's largest cruise ship when it debuted in 2018, and although it has since been surpassed in size by two newer Royal Caribbean ships ( Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas ), it remains one of the giants of cruising — a floating megaresort on a scale that was inconceivable just a few decades ago.

Royal Caribbean built Symphony of the Seas so big — at 228,081 gross tons, it's nearly 50% bigger than the biggest cruise ships of the early 2000s — not to set a size record but to ensure there was room for a huge range of onboard activities and venues. On that goal, it delivers mightily. As you'll read about below, it has more restaurants, bars, showrooms and decktop fun zones than just about any resort anywhere (on sea or land).

It's also built to hold an enormous number of vacationers. Rising 18 decks high and longer than three football fields, Symphony of the Seas can carry an astounding 6,680 passengers with every berth filled. Add in its 2,200 or so crew, and you're looking at a ship that sometimes sails with nearly 9,000 people on board.

Even by land resort standards, that's a wildly large number of people sharing the same resort space, for sure. But like all of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, Symphony of the Seas has a brilliantly thought-out layout built around themed "neighborhoods" that spreads passengers around in a way that eases congestion.

Related: The classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

As with most Oasis Class ships, there are seven such neighborhoods on Symphony of the Seas, each with its own vibe and similar attractions. This makes it easy to understand the ship and find your way around.

The seven Symphony of the Seas neighborhoods are as follows.

Entertainment Place (Deck 4)

This neighborhood is home to the ship's main theater, comedy club, ice skating rink and casino. The Diamond Club for high-level Crown & Anchor loyalty club members is here as well.

Royal Promenade (decks 5 and 6)

This interior mall-like space houses shops, bars and quick-bite eateries, with the bars stealing the show. Drinking spots in this zone include the Bionic Bar, where the bartenders are robots, and the Rising Tide Bar, which travels elevator-style between the Royal Promenade and Central Park above while you drink. This is also where you'll find the ship's lively English-style pub, Copper and Kettle.

Vitality Spa and Fitness (decks 5 and 6)

Forward of the Royal Promenade is the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center, which includes a salon, barbershop and thermal suite. The on-site Vitality Cafe offers fresh juices and protein smoothies for a fee before or after a workout or treatment.

Boardwalk (Deck 6)

This open-air neighborhood was designed to mimic a classic beach boardwalk of the sort you find along the coast of New Jersey. It boasts a hand-carved wooden carousel, hot dog stand, candy store, sports bar with arcade, and a Johnny Rockets burger joint. The main attractions are two giant rock climbing walls and the AquaTheater, which is home to spectacular water shows.

Central Park (Deck 8)

This open-to-the-sky neighborhood at the center of Symphony of the Seas is filled with living trees and plants, just like New York City's Central Park, and lined with the ship's higher-end shops and restaurants, including a steakhouse and Jamie's Italian, a restaurant created by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Youth Zone (Deck 14)

If you're cruising with young kids, you'll quickly get to know this area, which is home to the sprawling Adventure Ocean kids club and a drop-off nursery for babies and toddlers. A family-friendly escape room is also here. Note that several Youth Zone venues, including the Fuel Teen Disco and a kid-focused arcade, are one deck up on Deck 15.

Pool and Sports Zone (decks 15 and 16)

This top-deck zone of the ship is loaded with just about every family-friendly amusement you could imagine, including multiple pool areas and hot tubs, a kiddie splash area, giant waterslides, two surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, sports court, a zip line and a massive dry slide attraction that will drop you 10 floors to the Boardwalk area below. For those looking to get away from the kids, it also offers an adults-only lounge area called the Solarium.

What I loved about Symphony of the Seas

The incredible array of things to do.

I was three days into my recent seven-day cruise on Symphony of the Seas when I realized that I hadn't even been to the pool once. Not once. I had too much else to do, from rock climbing, miniature golfing, ice skating and zip lining to racing between more big-production shows, parades, karaoke sessions and street parties than I could count. Plus, there were all the dining, drinking and dancing options that I mentioned above — so much that I started to wonder if I'd ever have time to sleep. It's a wildly diverse array of options of the sort I love in a big-resort experience. You will, too, if having lots of choices when vacationing is a priority. There are lots of big cruise ships filled with all sorts of onboard venues. But only a handful offer as many options as Symphony of the Seas.

The spectacular shows

Symphony of the Seas may have the greatest lineup of shows of any ship at sea. Its signature production, "Hairspray," is one of the most spectacular show offerings on any cruise ship. It's a slightly abridged version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that ran in New York City for years. A second, in-house production called "Flight: Dare to Dream" is also a showstopper, if not quite Broadway quality. There's also "Hiro," the you-can't-believe-this-is-on-a-cruise-ship acrobatic and high-diving spectacular in Symphony of the Seas' AquaTheater (yes, this ship is so big it has an entire theater space just dedicated to water shows!). Symphony of the Seas' third major theater, built specifically for ice skating shows, houses its own you-have-to-see-to-believe production extravaganza with some of the world's best ice skaters.

The family-friendliness

From a soaring water park area with three of the coolest waterslides at sea to three separate pool areas, two surfing simulators and an epic splash zone for the little ones, Symphony of the Seas has more family-friendly watery fun than almost any other cruise ship at sea. And that's just the start of its family-friendly allures. Symphony of the Seas is a ship loaded with multiple kids club zones, including a teen-only hangout and an entire outdoor fun zone (the Boardwalk) aimed at families. Even without children along on my recent Symphony of the Seas sailing (my three girls are now all grown), I saw the appeal of this latter zone offering arcade games, a carousel, climbing structures for kids and family-friendly burger and hot dog outlets. I can't wait for grandkids (yep, that's a hint, girls), so I have an excuse to book back onto this ship again.

What I didn't love about Symphony of the Seas

The skyrocketing cost of eateries.

The cost of dining at the better restaurants on Symphony of the Seas has shot upward in recent years — so much so that, in many cases, these eateries are no longer worth the splurge. I was shocked on my sailing to see pasta-focused Jamie's Italian priced at a flat fee of $64.89 per person, including an automatic gratuity. That's a cheeky charge for a place where the waiters recommend bruschetta as a starter and a plate of linguini as a main, even with dessert included. Just three years ago, Jamie's was priced at a more reasonable $41.29 per person, including the gratuity, and made my list of favorite Royal Caribbean eateries. Not anymore. Be warned that Symphony of the Seas' other top eateries — Chops Grille, Hooked Seafood, 150 Central Park and Izumi Hibachi — all now have similarly sky-high prices, too. In some cases (see the dining section below), the prices are rising even as the eateries are making cost-cutting moves that are noticeable. For the consumer, that's not a great combination.

The difficulty getting show reservations

Some people are super organized about booking cruise ship shows in advance. Alas, I am not one of them. That became a real problem for me when I sailed on Symphony of the Seas. When I went to book a seat for "Hairspray" about five days before my sailing, every performance for the next week was sold out. I couldn't get a seat. Ditto for the spectacular AquaTheater and ice rink shows, as well as every single comedy club show (and there were a lot of them). If you're a procrastinator like me, this could happen to you, and it could be stress-inducing.

The good news is that even if you struggle to get a reservation for the shows as I did, you likely will still be able to get into many, if not all, of them once on board. The trick is to queue in the standby lines that begin forming about a half hour before every show. Since some people don't show up for their reservations, there almost always are a bunch of seats open at the last minute in every venue. The entertainment staff releases them about 10 minutes before performances start.

That said, who needs that stress? There's got to be a better way.

The intrusive photographers

Whoever is running the photography program on Symphony of the Seas needs to be reined in. Like, big time. The number of times I saw ship photographers interrupting passengers in the midst of high-priced specialty restaurant dinners to hard sell them on buying photographs was appalling. Even at the most elegant restaurants on board, they were trolling the tables, breaking into dinner conversations to snap pictures and then returning minutes later with the prints and a sales pitch right there at the table . That last part is a new level of aggressiveness, and just ... uncool. Royal Caribbean already is getting $100 per person or more from many of these diners for their food and drinks. It doesn't need to ruin the elegance of the experience with another upsell.

Symphony of the Seas cabins and suites

Symphony of the Seas has 34 cabin and suite categories — a mind-boggling number. But finding the right cabin category for you isn't as complicated as that number might make it seem. Many cabin categories on Symphony of the Seas are essentially the same, with the exception of where the rooms are located.

My cabin was an Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony — the most common type of cabin on Symphony of the Seas. Nearly 60% of all cabins on the ship (1,316 out of 2,759) fall into this grouping of rooms, split among more than a dozen categories that tie to different locations.

Like most cabins in this grouping, my cabin measured 182 square feet, not including its balcony area. By hotel standards, that's relatively small. But it's typical for a balcony cabin on a cruise ship, where space is at a premium, and it's big enough to contain everything you want in a cabin for a week at sea: a king bed that can be split into two single beds, a built-in desk and dresser area with a miniature refrigerator, a seating area with a sofa, built-in closets, and a bathroom.

For the most part, I was happy with my Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony on Symphony of the Seas. While it wasn't high-end in its finishings or amenities, it had a clean-lined, contemporary look that felt modern and up-to-date. Boxy blond wood and walnut furniture against neutral gray walls and carpeting gave it a whiff of a Scandinavian modern feel. The bathroom was modern and bright, with a well-thought-out layout that made the best use of limited space.

If there was a weak point in the room, it was the bed and bedding, which had more of a low-end motel feel than I would expect at the Royal Caribbean price point. The sheets and duvet felt thin. While serviceable, the mattress wasn't a wow.

Still, the room ticked most of the boxes for a cabin at a midmarket level. There was ample storage for two in the floor-to-ceiling built-in closets, which notably were deep enough that my dress jackets and shirts could fit straight in on a hanger. Unlike on some ships, my hanging clothes didn't get smooshed sideways when I closed the closet door.

While the nightstands next to the bed were so small and narrow that they seemed like afterthoughts, both were topped with well-located lamps for reading at night. One side of the bed was equipped with a U.S.-style 120-volt plug perfectly placed for charging electronic devices. (Memo to Royal Caribbean: In a perfect world, you'd want one of these on both sides of the bed.)

Alas, unlike many new ships these days, the nightstand areas lacked USB-A and fast-charging USB-C ports. The only USB ports in the room are in the built-in desk area, which also has three U.S.-style 120-volt plugs and a European-style 230-volt plug.

Other Symphony of the Seas cabin tidbits:

• There are blue "Sleeping off the adventure" magnets to stick to your door when you don't want to be disturbed. That strikes us as an old-school way to do a do-not-disturb notice. Many cruise lines in recent years have switched to more sophisticated electronic systems that let you push a button to turn on a do-not-disturb light outside your door.
• Every cabin has a small hair dryer in a dresser drawer and a personal safe in one of the built-in closets.
• There's a flat-screen television on the wall with movies on demand, but they are exorbitantly priced at $11.99 per movie.

As is typical for Royal Caribbean ships, the cabin bathroom is functional and well-designed, if not particularly upscale in feel. You won't find marble-topped sinks or elegantly tiled showers with sleek Duravit fixtures at this price point. But the semicircular plexiglass-walled shower has enough room that you don't hit the sides when soaping up (not always the case on cruise ships), and there is ample storage space for toiletries on three open shelves on the side of the vanity and an additional open storage area below the sink.

One small gripe with the bathroom is that the toiletry offerings are almost nonexistent. The shower has just a single liquid soap dispenser with what purports to be both body wash and shampoo (call me a nitpicker, but I will note that on land, these are considered to be two different things). There's also no conditioner, nor is there body lotion. Bring your own, I guess.

Those who want something a bit more exclusive than a balcony cabin such as mine can book one of the 190 suites on the ship — some of them truly huge and luxurious. Among the big mass-market lines, Royal Caribbean has some of the most spectacular suites at sea, including two-story-high complexes found on all Oasis Class ships such as Symphony of the Seas.

The largest suite on the ship, the double-decker Royal Loft Suite, measures an astounding 1,530 square feet, not including balcony space — more than eight times the size of my balcony cabin. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room and a living room. It also comes with such high-end touches as Duxiana mattresses and Frette linens — no thin sheets here.

At 850 square feet, the Royal Loft Suite's balcony space is 17 times the size of the balcony I had with my balcony cabin (big enough to have its own sitting area, bar area, dining area and a whirlpool).

Symphony of the Seas is also home to one of the most epic family suites ever conceived for a cruise ship.

Related: Royal Caribbean cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know

Dubbed the Ultimate Family Suite and measuring a palatial 1,346 square feet, it spans two decks that are loaded with all sorts of kid-friendly attractions, including an air hockey table, a building block wall, table tennis on the balcony and a vertical climbing maze.

There's also a crawl-through nook connecting the main bedroom for adults and a second kiddie bedroom, plus — surely the coolest feature of all — a slide that descends from the second floor of the complex to the first floor. (Don't worry, there are stairs for those who want to move between floors the traditional way.)

Other types of cabins on Symphony of the Seas include windowless interior cabins. But in a twist, many of these cabins have "virtual balconies" that let you see what's going on outside the ship in real time.

Symphony of the Seas restaurants and bars

As is typical for Royal Caribbean ships, Symphony of the Seas is packed with dining options — some included in the fare, some at an extra charge. It's got a smorgasbord of bars, too.

Even on one of the ship's longer, nine-night sailings, you'll have trouble visiting every food and drink outlet on board. In fact, we don't recommend you even try. Just pick a few favorites and save the rest for another sailing.

Restaurants

Like all Oasis Class ships, Symphony of the Seas has an enormous main dining room and a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. In addition, you'll find seven more included-in-the-price casual and quick bite outlets — more than almost any other ship at sea. And that's just the beginning when it comes to the dining options.

In addition to the included eateries, Symphony of the Seas is home to an astounding array of nine extra-charge dining venues serving everything from high-end steaks to sushi.

Among the included options, my favorite is Solarium Bistro, which is a small buffet eatery at the front of the ship that sometimes offers more healthy options than the main Windjammer buffet at the back of the ship.

I was thrilled to find Buddha bowls at Solarium Bistro at lunchtime filled with quinoa, cherry tomatoes, green onions, diced mango, sliced cucumber and edamame. Grilled fresh asparagus, grilled peppers, ratatouille and some tasty Indian dishes also made an appearance.

Several times bigger than Solarium Bistro, the Windjammer buffet serves a wider mix of dishes and has far more seating. But it can be jam-packed at times and not always a pleasant experience. On some mornings, I struggled to find an open table for breakfast, and the crowds were so thick around the food stations that I could barely walk through the space. This is despite Windjammer's food stations being set up in one open space where you can quickly see everything that is on offer. That's an improvement versus the traditionally long and narrow buffet lines on some ships that cause long backups.

Symphony of the Seas' Main Dining Room can accommodate more than 1,000 people at tables sprawled across three floors, and the experience is as you would imagine at a restaurant that big. While you'll get table-served meals here that are included in the fare, don't expect anything too gourmet.

In addition to the above, Symphony of the Seas also has several included-in-the-fare cafe-style venues that offer quick bites, some better than others. I was a fan of the make-your-own tacos at El Loco Fresh at the top of the ship. But I didn't love the claustrophobic crowds that sometimes mobbed it (not always). I was disappointed in the pizza at Sorrento's on the Royal Promenade (to be fair, I'm usually disappointed in the pizza on ships; it's a weak point in the cruise world). But I do give the Boardwalk Dog House high marks for delivering not just yummy hot dogs but yummy brats, too.

Also included in the fare is Park Cafe in the Central Park area, where you can nosh on quick-serve breakfast sandwiches and bagels in the morning and salads and paninis at lunchtime. Cafe Promenade on the Royal Promenade is the place to grab your morning coffee (both included-in-the-fare drip coffee and extra-charge specialty coffee drinks). Just be warned that the specialty coffee side of the venue isn't really set up for the volume of customers it gets, and the baristas aren't as well-trained as they should be. You'll wait a long time in line for an espresso drink that may or may not be burnt.

Two no-extra-charge soft-serve ice cream stations are in the middle of the pool deck for your sugar fix.

The extra-charge eateries on Symphony of the Seas run the gamut when it comes to cuisine, level of formality and cost.

You'll find the most laid-back (and least expensive) extra-fee options at the Boardwalk area of the ship, which is home to Johnny Rockets and the Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade. I'm a sucker for the burgers at Johnny Rockets, but no fan of the new $14.99 upcharge to eat there (not too long ago, it was just $6.95). At that price, it's not worth it. Instead, get your burger fix across the way at Playmakers, where the house burger is even bigger, juicier and better priced ($11.99, including a heaping portion of cheesy fries).

For a more high-end experience, the place to go is Central Park. In addition to a classy wine bar and swanky shops (Cartier, Hublot and Bulgari), it's lined with three of Symphony of the Seas' most upscale restaurants: 150 Central Park (the fanciest restaurant on board), Chops Grille (the ship's steakhouse) and Jamie's Italian (created by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver).

I tried all three during my week on board and had mixed feelings about them all, given their high price points. While 150 Central Park ($76.69 per person with the automatic gratuity, not including drinks) was an intimate and elegant venue, its culinary lineup lacked the finesse I expected for a flagship fine dining establishment. The scallops in my starter were small and watery, their flavor overpowered by a chorizo sauce that dominated. My main dish, a lamb Wellington, wasn't much more inspired, resembling something closer to a soggy sausage roll. Both had come recommended by my waiter.

It was a surprise that 150 Central Park would let me down. I went into the venue with memories of several great meals at versions of the restaurant on other Oasis Class ships. But those dinners took place when the menu was under the direction of James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz. I haven't been back since Royal Caribbean ended its partnership with Schwartz in 2018.

If it's a date-night dinner you're after, Chops Grille is my pick over 150 Central Park. Its steaks were as juicy and prime as at any land-based steakhouse. My quibbles here were around the sides (the macaroni and cheese dish was sadly flavorless, the creamed spinach watery) and the loudness level of the piped-in background music. The music volume was intrusive enough that I had trouble hearing my dinner companion (and, can I just say, the whole idea of background music in a classy steakhouse is just ... wrong).

As mentioned above, Jamie's Italian was pricey for what it was: an Italian eatery specializing in homemade pasta.

Not far away on Deck 12 is another high-priced restaurant that is as amusing as it is gimmicky: the "Alice in Wonderland"-themed (and molecular gastronomy serving) Wonderland. Order the short ribs, which will melt in your mouth. Skip the branzino, which won't. And tell your waiter to bring the showiest starters, just for the fun of them — particularly the smoke-infused "bird's nest" egg dish. They won't all wow you, tastewise. But that's not the point.

You also will find Japanese cuisine on Symphony of the Seas at Izumi Hibachi and Sushi on Deck 4. It's two restaurants in one, with a hibachi eatery to the right of the check-in desk and a sushi restaurant and bar to the left. If you have kids, book the hibachi side for family-friendly hibachi hijinks. Skip the sushi side, which isn't as good as you'll get back home.

For better seafood, my pick is Hooked Seafood, one of my favorite eateries on board. Order the fresh-shucked oysters as a starter (if you're sitting at the bar, you'll see them shucked right in front of you) and garlicky mussels as your main. The lobster macaroni and cheese side dish is a winner, too (unlike its counterpart at Chops Grille, it rocks the flavor).

Hooked Seafood is still one of my favorite food spots despite what clearly have been money-saving cutbacks at the flat-fee eatery. Royal Caribbean regulars will notice that the crab-stuffed whole main lobster is no longer on the menu, and the pricier elements of the Royal Seafood Platter (soft-shell crab and scallops) are gone, replaced by cheaper fried items like calamari and coconut shrimp.

This is, alas, a trend I saw across Symphony of the Seas when on board in May. Royal Caribbean hasn't officially said anything about cutbacks on board its ships of late, but I definitely got the sense that there had been some cuts to food operations since the last time I had sailed with the line, presumably to lower costs.

I also thought some of the restaurants were slightly understaffed and/or operating with staff members who weren't as well trained as they used to be.

One Symphony of the Seas restaurant you'll never see unless you pay up for a top suite is Coastal Kitchen. Open to suite guests only, it serves higher-end fare than what you'll find in the main dining room in a more intimate setting. At the very top of Symphony of the Seas overlooking the main pool area, it also boasts stunning 270-degree views.

You will never be more than a short walk away from a bar on Symphony of the Seas. There is at least one and often several drinking spots in nearly every neighborhood.

The most intimate and elegant drinking venue is Vintages, a classy wine bar with indoor and outdoor seating in the upscale Central Park area. It's usually quiet and is the perfect place for a romantic predinner drink.

Also in Central Park is the all-outdoor Trellis Bar. And just a few steps away is the Rising Tide Bar, if it's there. Like the Cheshire Cat, it disappears sometimes, descending three decks to the Royal Promenade below. It is surely the coolest elevator at sea.

In addition to the occasional presence of the Rising Tide Bar, the Royal Promenade is home to the famous-in-the-cruise-world Bionic Bar, where a robotic arm will mix you a cocktail. It's kitschy fun to watch the robots in action, but if a quality drink is important to you, let someone else spend the money to order one here. There's a reason most bars have human bartenders.

Instead, I recommend ordering a mojito at Boleros, a Latin-themed bar and lounge at the other end of the Royal Promenade. Or, grab a pint at the often lively Copper and Kettle nearby. There's live music at both venues.

One deck up, overlooking the Royal Promenade, is the nautical-themed Schooner Bar. It has an eclectic cocktail menu and, in the evening, live piano music. A signature of all Royal Caribbean ships, it's a great bar, though its location above the noisy Royal Promenade on Symphony of the Seas is a design flaw. When there's something big and lively like a parade or dance party happening in the Royal Promenade (and there often is), it gets so loud you can't hear yourself talk.

Other interior bars include two-deck-high Dazzles, a live music and dancing spot often overlooked by guests (when I visited, it was so dead I walked right back out).

There's also no shortage of bars on the ship's outdoor decks, including around the main pool areas (the Pool Bar, Sand Bar and Mast Bar), the surfing pools at the back of the ship (the Wipe Out Bar) and the adults-only Solarium area (the Solarium Bar). The Solarium Bar is my favorite of the bunch for its relative calmness and stunning ocean views.

For a classic sports bar experience, head to Playmakers Bar and Arcade in the Boardwalk area.

If you like a smoked cocktail, don't miss the hidden nine-seat bar at the entrance to Wonderland, which serves the same creative cocktails you'll find in the restaurant. It has the only smoker for drinks on board, used to create the restaurant's signature Smoke Rings drink — a smoky take on an old-fashioned that may be my favorite cocktail on the ship.

For coffee lovers, there's a Starbucks on the Royal Promenade and the previously mentioned Cafe Promenade. Both serve espresso drinks made with Starbucks beans for a fee, but the snacks at Cafe Promenade are free, while the ones at Starbucks cost extra.

Note that if you have a drink package, you won't have to pay for the espresso drinks made with Starbucks beans at the Cafe Promenade. However, you will have to pay for them at Starbucks, so skip Starbucks.

Starbucks coffee, smoothies and juices (also for a fee) are available at the Vitality Cafe in the spa.

Related: Cruise ship drink packages: A line-by-line guide

Symphony of the Seas activities

Like its Oasis Class sisters, Symphony of the Seas is awash with activities of all sorts, nearly all of which are family-friendly. And I'm not just talking about pools and waterslides, though there are plenty of those. This is a ship that offers all sorts of gee-whiz attractions, from two surfing simulators to an ice skating rink to keep you amused day and night.

Several of the most over-the-top attractions can be found in the Sports Zone at the back of the ship's top deck. In addition to the surfing simulators mentioned above (there are two, designed by FlowRider), there's a sports court where you can play basketball or volleyball 16 stories above the ocean, a miniature golf course and — get this — a zip line.

The zip line isn't all that long. But it'll take you flying over the Boardwalk area 10 decks below, which is pretty cool.

Over the years, I've seen enough cruise passengers wipe out in spectacular fashion on Royal Caribbean's surfing pools (they're now on 14 of the line's ships) that I've avoided ever trying to surf on one. That's not a picture I want to see on Instagram. But passengers seem to love them. They're always well used.

The Sports Zone is also where you'll find the Ultimate Abyss, a 10-story slide (dry, not wet) that swirls down to the Boardwalk area below. It looks terrifying, but in the name of research, I was determined to give it a go on my recent sailing. Alas, every day, I would wake up saying I would do it, and by nightfall, I had found an excuse to give it a miss. I am wimpy that way. That said, I've been told it's not nearly as terrifying as it looked, which is the way slides should be, in my opinion.

For fans of wet slides, the place to go on Symphony of the Seas is the Perfect Storm water park area, which is a sight to behold. It has three giant waterslides of a scale only found on the biggest cruise ships.

Symphony of the Seas' top decks also feature three pool areas, oodles of hot tubs and a large splash playground for kids.

In addition, the Solarium is an entire multideck adults-only lounge area with hot tubs at the front of the ship.

The Solarium is a striking space. It sits under a partial glass covering that protects it from the wind that whips over the ship's bow. It's a nice respite from the mayhem often found in the open-to-kids pool areas.

The only major outdoor activity not among all these top deck areas is Symphony of the Seas' twin rock climbing walls. They flank the AquaTheater at the far end of the Boardwalk, and they're massive.

The activities continue indoors, too. At select times (usually on sea days), the entertainment staff offers ice skating sessions and laser tag in Studio B, the ship's indoor ice rink (for laser tag, the ice is covered with a floor and inflatable obstacles are added). Both are popular, so sign up or get in line as early as possible.

Symphony of the Seas also has an escape room aimed at the family crowd, and for kids of all ages, there are arcade games at both the Playmakers Bar on Deck 6 and at a dedicated arcade area on Deck 16 next door to El Loco Fresh.

If you're brave enough to sing in front of your fellow passengers, or if you just want to watch the hilarity of others doing so, you'll find a lounge that is partially dedicated to karaoke on the Royal Promenade. It's called On Air, and it often gets packed when the singing starts. Don't miss it. The performances can be professional level. Karaoke on ships is a serious thing.

For those who like gaming, there's a large casino in the middle of the ship on Deck 4 where smoking is allowed and a smaller one near the ship's theater that is just for nonsmokers.

For pampering, the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center on decks 5 and 6 is the place. It offers a full array of spa treatments (massages, facials and more) and salon services.

The fitness center is a first-class gym with a wide range of exercise equipment and (extra charge) classes, too.

All that said, my favorite area on the entire ship is Central Park. It's been 15 years since Royal Caribbean first unveiled a Central Park area on a ship, on the then-revolutionary Oasis of the Seas, and it still amazes me that it's something that exists on floating vessels (it's now on five Royal Caribbean ships, including Symphony of the Seas).

What I love most about Central Park is that it's a quiet respite from the bustle that you'll find in almost every other part of the ship. You can sit on a park bench, just like you would in a park on land, in the shade of the trees that are miraculously growing in the middle of a cruise ship. You might even forget for a time that you're on a ship.

Symphony of the Seas shows

Royal Caribbean ships are known for some of the best entertainment at sea, and Symphony of the Seas is no exception. In fact, it may have the best lineup of shows of any cruise vessel currently sailing.

The vessel's signature production, "Hairspray," is a slightly abridged version of the Tony Award-winning musical that was the hot ticket on Broadway in the 2000s. You would have paid big money to see this in New York during its seven-year run there. But on Symphony of the Seas, a ticket is included in the fare.

It's not the Broadway cast performing "Hairspray" on Symphony of the Seas, but it's a wonderful performance nevertheless. It takes place in a gorgeous 1,400-seat theater that rivals anything found on Broadway.

The theater is also home to a second musical spectacular created by Royal Caribbean's in-house team: "Flight ... Dare the Dream."

Also the work of Royal Caribbean's in-house entertainment team is the stunning "Hiro" aqua show performed at the outdoor AquaTheater at the back of the ship. Yes, Symphony of the Seas has an AquaTheater, as do all Oasis Class ships. If you haven't been on one of the vessels to see this, you will be amazed.

Like all of Royal Caribbean's aqua shows, "Hiro" is a 45-minute spectacle of high diving, slacklining and synchronized dancing and swimming in the most high-tech pool at sea. I can't get enough of these performances, though they sometimes drag on too long for my taste. After about 30 minutes, some of the watery amazements start to repeat. That said, my fellow passengers on Symphony of the Seas apparently loved the length of "Hiro" just as it was, given the roars of approval and a standing ovation at the end.

Pro tip: Arrive at least a half-hour early for "Hiro" if you care where you sit. Even with a reservation for entry (which is a must), you will find the best seats fill quickly. If you don't want to get soaked, avoid the first few rows, which are squarely in the splash zone.

You also shouldn't miss Symphony of the Seas' ice skating show, "1977." It's another spectacle that you won't quite believe is on a cruise ship. Just the fact that there are ice skating rinks for passenger skating and ice shows on some Royal Caribbean cruise ships may be mind-boggling to you if you're new to cruising.

The storyline of "1977" involves a time-traveling hero who starts out in London in 1977 and travels around the world and through time to catch a jewel thief. But don't bother trying to follow the plot. It's just an excuse to present a skating extravaganza with colorful costumes and foot-stomping music.

Symphony of the Seas' around-the-clock entertainment also includes parades down the Royal Promenade and themed parties in the same space on some nights. I loved the throwback tunes of the '80s party on the third night of the cruise, even if it didn't get as many people dancing as I would have thought.

Across from the ship's Studio B ice rink, there's also a comedy club called The Attic that hosts daily comedy shows. Just be warned that the (free) seats for it (bookable through the Royal Caribbean app) sell out way in advance of every sailing, and there's always a long standby line to get in.

Symphony of the Seas itineraries and pricing

During the Northern Hemisphere's colder months (November to April), Symphony of the Seas sails alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Miami. During the six warmer months of the year (May to October), it repositions to the New York City area for voyages to the Bahamas.

The Eastern Caribbean sailings out of Miami are seven nights long and bring calls at Philipsburg, St. Maarten (the Dutch side of the island of St. Martin); either San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands; and either Nassau, Bahamas, or Perfect Day at CoCoCay , Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. The Western Caribbean cruises out of Miami are mostly seven nights long and bring stops at Nassau; Falmouth, Jamaica; Labadee, Haiti (a private beach destination); and Perfect Day.

A few one-off Western Caribbean sailings out of Miami are four nights in length and bring just one stop.

Note that port calls in Labadee have been canceled through September due to the unrest in Haiti. In most cases, they've been replaced with a stop at Grand Turk Island.

Symphony of the Seas sailings out of the New York City area are mostly seven nights in length and bring calls at Port Canaveral, Florida (near Orlando); Nassau; and Perfect Day. The trips depart from the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, not far from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Symphony of the Seas also sails a handful of longer, nine-night sailings from the New York area.

Prices for seven-night sailings start at $609 per person, based on double occupancy, for a windowless inside cabin. Balcony cabins start at $729. Bigger junior suites and suites typically start at more than $1,000 per person, with fares for top suites priced at more than $10,000 for the week.

Holiday weeks and other prime travel times have higher rates.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

Since Symphony of the Seas sails round-trip from U.S. ports, U.S. citizens can travel with either a current passport or an official copy of their birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo ID. Passports must be valid for at least six months.

The name on your reservation must match that on your passport or other official proof of nationality. Double-check if you've recently gotten married or use a different version of your name.

Symphony of the Seas guests will find an automatic service gratuity of $18 to $20.50 per person, per day, depending on cabin category, added to their onboard account and final bill. You are allowed to adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking.

An 18% gratuity is added to bar and spa/salon bills. You should not feel pressured to add an additional tip.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Royal Caribbean has one of the fastest Wi-Fi systems at sea , and you can take advantage of this on Symphony of the Seas. Currently, Wi-Fi packages with streaming bandwidth cost $29.99 per day for a single device; however, prices do change over time. If you're traveling with family or sharing a room with friends, look for multi-device packages that are less expensive on a per-device basis. Certain suite guests receive complimentary Wi-Fi, so know your included perks before you sign up for a package.

Related: How fast is the internet on Royal Caribbean ships? We put it to the test

Carry-on drinks policy

Royal Caribbean allows every passenger of drinking age to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne onto ships at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas. The line charges a $15 corkage fee if you bring the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or other public areas to drink.

Smoking policy

Smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is allowed only in designated outdoor areas and the casino. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and those who violate this rule will face a $250 cleaning fee. In the casino, only cigarette smoking is allowed, and only in designated areas.

Unlike some lines, Royal Caribbean does not build self-service launderettes onto its ships, so you won't find any on Symphony of the Seas. The ship offers extra-charge laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services.

Electrical outlets

You'll find North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets in cabins, along with USB ports.

The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar. But you won't need cash while on board. Symphony of the Seas operates on a "cashless system," with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a SeaPass card that you can use to make charges, and Royal Caribbean will charge your credit card at the end of the sailing to settle the balance.

While onboard, you can check your balance through Royal Caribbean's app, at Guest Services or via your in-cabin television.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on Symphony of the Seas.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day, and you're bound for the pool deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

During the evenings, there is an official dress code, but it only applies to passengers entering the main dining room. On any given night, one of three dress codes will apply — casual, smart casual or formal.

Casual means just that — jeans, polo shirts and sundresses. Smart casual is a step up to collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits, with a jacket for men optional. Formal officially means suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns. But don't worry if you don't want to go that fancy. Not everybody plays into it. You'll see most men wearing suits or sports coats and women in cocktail dresses.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Bottom line

If your idea of the perfect vacation is a week at a megaresort loaded with every sort of amusement you could imagine plus lots of choices for dining, drinking and entertainment, you'll probably love Symphony of the Seas. Few other cruise ships are as lively and activity-packed. Even on land, there aren't all that many resorts that compare.

Symphony of the Seas also is particularly wonderful for families, as it is packed with family-friendly activities.

Just prepare yourself for the crowds and noise that come with a megaresort designed to hold nearly 7,000 vacationers at once. If you seek a quiet and intimate vacation experience, this isn't the ship for you.

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• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Wealthy travelers are paying $17,000 a week for the most luxurious cabin on Silversea's new ultra-luxury cruise ship — see inside

• Silversea Cruises ' new Silver Ray embarked on its maiden voyage in mid-June.
• The ship's most luxurious 1,324-square-foot Otium Suites have amenities like a private hot tub and library.
• The cabin starts at $17,000 per person in 2024, and it's mostly sold out for the year.

Silversea is one of the highest-end cruise lines on the market. So, as you can imagine, its new ship's most expensive suites are luxurious.

Like, really luxurious. And really expensive.

Silversea's new Silver Ray departed on its maiden voyage in mid-June. As is expected of Royal Caribbean Group's ritziest brand , the cruise line's 12th ship is outfitted with 364 of some of the most sumptuous suites at sea, the smallest of which already have a balcony, marble bathroom, and on-demand caviar.

Not too shabby, right?

Well, after seeing Silver Ray's most glamorous 1,324-square-foot Otium Suites, you could find yourself scoffing at its other accommodations.

Its balcony alone is larger than the ship's smallest suites. And its cost is more than three times that of the cheapest option.

In 2024, Silver Ray's Otium Suites start at $17,000 per person for a seven-day roundtrip cruise from Venice, Italy.

It's a steep price compared to the itinerary's least expensive $4,850 per person suite (there's an even cheaper category, but it's sold out for the sailing).

Despite the cost, Silver Ray's two Otium Suites are almost completely booked through 2024.

Upon entering, you're immediately greeted with the library and dining room — spaces you'd be hard-pressed to find in a typical cruise cabin.

Forgot a book? The reading nook is perfectly stocked for travelers interested in learning about bicycle brand Brompton ("The Brompton" by Will Butler-Adams and Dan Davies) and British microchip maker Arm ("The Everything Blueprint: The Microchip Design that Changed the World" by James Ashton).

Or, grab one of the neatly packaged games, such as tic-tac-toe and dominoes.

The dining table would be perfect for churning out a quick round of backgammon.

If you enjoy playing with a side of snacks, the fresh fruit bowl might do. Otherwise, you could call your butler for complimentary caviar or foie gras.

If it looks like a long game, brewing one of the bar's espresso pods or teas might be a good idea. Or, help yourself to some liquor, stocked according to the guests' preferences.

The dining table opens onto a living room with sprawling ocean views.

The couch can convert into a bed to sleep an additional guest. There's certainly ample room for three travelers, after all.

Take note of the chessboard and fresh-cut flowers, small touches that are, again, uncommon in the average suite.

If just one TV isn’t enough, you’re in luck. There’s another one in the bedroom.

It's also where you'll find the vanity, walk-in closet, and sizable bathroom — decorated with marble, of course.

Silver Ray’s cheapest suites have a dual vanity bathroom with a shower.

To out-luxe these cheaper accommodations, the Otium Suite comes with both a shower and a bathtub.

No need to worry about full privacy. The toilet is behind another closed door.

All of the ship's suites have balconies. None are as large as Otium's.

There's no need to hit the pool deck when your 431-square-foot balcony has a private hot tub, lounge chairs, and an outdoor dining table.

To compare, Silver Ray's smallest suites come with a 53-square-foot balcony. Size does matter, after all.

A private hot tub is included in the suite, which starts at $2,430 per person and day.

Hey, at least the cost includes a $399 spa treatment per person, too. Maybe a luxurious massage would help melt away the stress of the payment.

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More From Forbes

Four seasons yachts announces upcoming launch and 23 itineraries.

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Four Seasons 1, the all suite yacht due to launch in 2026.

Travelers accustomed to Four Seasons style in design and service will have a chance to experience both at sea when Four Seasons Yachts sets sail in 2026. Earlier this year, the company announced its first 10 itineraries; earlier this week, it announced 13 more. All offer the land option of pre or post trips at the company’s resorts.

As Timothy Littley, VP of Itinerary and Planning at Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD and co-owner/operator of Four Seasons Yachts explains, his intention was to design experiences that resonate deeply and truly express the spirit of adventure and discovery. "In our debut year, we're set to explore over 130 distinct destinations across more than 33 countries and territories,” he says. “My professional journey, alongside years of personal exploration, has been dedicated to understanding the nuances of these locales—their culture, their people, and the unique experiences they offer—to ensure we curate something truly extraordinary for our guests.”

The living room of the Loft Suite.

The first sailings are set for January,2026 heading to Croatia, Gibraltar, Montenegro, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye. The Mediterranean itinerary will also highlight Greek islands with stops in Athens, Ios, Santorini and Milos but not always in the usual way: arriving in the tourist favorite island of Santorini, for example, at 5 PM when the other cruise ships are leaving, allowing passengers to enjoy a less crowded island in the evening. Under the radar but islands also worth visiting such as Hydra and Naxos are also included. Caribbean sailings are also among the first itineraries traveling to Saint Barthélemy (St Barths), Nevis, the Grenadines, St Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Curaçao and Aruba. While there, passengers disembark to experience the nightlife of St Barths, Martinique’s volcanic coral reefs and lush rainforest landscapes and a sail in St Lucia’s Tobago Cays among other experiences.

The upper terrace of the Loft Suite

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Among the itineraries announced this week are five-, seven- and nine-night voyages that include legendary ports of call such as Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Capri, Positano, Taormina, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia plus lesser-known gems including Italy’s Portovenere, France’s Fréjus and Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Spain’s Ciutadella de Menorca and Malta’s Gozo. Offshore activities to truly experience the destination are being selected ranging from exploring the esteemed rosé vineyards in Bandol, France to truffle hunting in Viareggio, Italy.

The four level Funnel Suite.

The yacht, Four Seasons 1, is being constructed by renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Ancona, Italy and will contain 95 suites with modular walls that will allow 100 different connection options including reserving one side of a deck for a large family or group of friends traveling together. The largest accommodations are seven signature suites ranging from 2,981 to 9,975 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space offering two to three bedrooms, separate living rooms, indoor and outdoor dining space, splash pools, outdoor showers, and the option to connect to additional suites. The largest, the 9,975 square foot Funnel Suite, includes four levels of living space and floor to ceiling wraparound windows. All feature a design described by Fredrik Johannson, partner and executive director of Tillberg Design of Sweden as welcoming in the same way that the group’s resorts are but unique to the yacht. “It had to have this incredibly elegant aura to it without being over-the-top opulent,” he says. “To this end, we strove for a beautiful simplicity with the interiors.”

Elsewhere on the yacht are 11 dining options, spa and wellness offerings and a 65 foot long stern pool. Taking care of all are staff members on a 1:1 guest to staff ratio, along the lines of what Four Seasons regulars experience on land. And there will be at least 41 opportunities to experience it; that number of sailings at this point is planned for the first year; more may be added.

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