norwegian cruise line joy balcony rooms

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Norwegian Joy cabins and suites

Norwegian joy staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Norwegian Joy cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Norwegian Cruise Line en-suite amenities and services.

The Norwegian Joy cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

The Haven Deluxe Owners Suite

Layout (floor plan), the haven 2-bedroom family villa, the haven 1-bedroom family villa, the haven courtyard penthouse suite, the haven penthouse suite, the haven suite, concierge staterooms, club balcony mini-suite.

In 2020, NCL recategorized fleetwide the Mini-Suite cabin category, renaming it to "Club Balcony Suite" and adding free perks. The change didn't affect the staterooms' deck locations or cabin numbers.

NCL's Club Balcony Suite's new (bonus) amenities include pre-booking onboard dining and entertainment 125 days prior departure, room service (food-beverage delivery twice per cruise), free laundry service (1x bag) and pressing service (once per cruise), Welcome Aboard gift (1x bottle of sparkling wine).

On Norwegian Joy, the Club Balcony Suite category was introduced on September 19.

Balcony Cabin

Oceanview cabin, interior family suite, interior cabin.

Handicap (wheelchair-accessible) inside staterooms size is 225 ft2 / 21 m2.

Norwegian Joy cabins review

On the Breakaway-Plus class NCL Joy ship:

• The total number of The Haven suites is almost doubled in comparison to the Breakaway-class ships – 95 Suite accommodations, including 2 more Owner’s Suites (each with 2 balconies and floor-ceiling windows).
• The Haven Spa suites’ location is close to the Thermal Suite (complimentary) and the Fitness Center.
• The ship has no Studio decks (2-deck complex of single-occupancy cabins for solo travelers, keycard access only) with its own exclusive Studio Lounge & Bar (accessible by Studio cabins passengers only). Instead, NCL Joy has "Family Interior Suites" (positioned in clusters forward on decks 10, 11, 12). This is a new category Family Suites, each with 2 bedrooms and virtual balconies.
• The Haven Suite can be connected with an adjacent balcony cabin. There are a total of 308 Mini-Suites, 1088 Balcony and 374 Inside staterooms. NCL Joy also has more connecting cabins (in all categories).

Follows the review of Norwegian Joy staterooms as amenities, furniture and included (complimentary) services:

All Norwegian Joy cabins as amenities feature sleeping area with standard twin/single beds (convertible to queen, with leather headboard and lighted recess above-bed), en-suite bathroom (WC, sink, shower stall, bath products, hairdryer), lounge/sitting area (full-size wardrobe, vanity area, ample storage space), flat TV (26″, with recessed under TV nook), safe, mini-bar, direct-dial phone), individual air-conditioning.

The highest grades Norwegian Joy accommodations are in The Haven Suite categories. Haven Suite passengers enjoy exclusive lounge access. This is the Courtyard outdoor relaxation complex, which has its own swimming pool/whirlpool, sundeck/sunbathing area, private fitness centre, valet service. Bonus perks for Suite guests are: key-card cabin access, welcome gifts (Champagne, fruits, flowers), in-room dining (full breakfast menu, evening treats), pillow menu, luxury mattresses, deluxe bedding, plush slippers, terry towels, 24-hour personal butler and concierge service (luggage unpacking), large flat TVs (with DVD players), coffee machines, refrigerator, priority services (check-in, debarkation, tender boat boarding, dining reservations), complimentary specialty restaurant dining (breakfast and lunch).

H2 and H3 Owner Suites have a separate living room, dining area, large dressing area, bathroom (separate shower, bathtub, WC, 2 sinks vanity area), 1/2 guest bathroom, floor-ceiling windows, wraparound balcony (H2 Deluxe), master bedroom (king bed).

H4 Family Villas (2-Bedroom Suites) have a separate living room (with dining area and single sofa bed), luxury bathroom (separate shower, bathtub, WC, 2 sinks vanity area).

H5 Courtyard Penthouses have lounge/living area (single sofa bed), bathroom (shower/bathtub, 2 sinks vanity area, WC).

H6 Penthouse Suites (aft location) feature large window views in the bathroom, which overlooks the veranda.

H7 Penthouse Suites (forward location) feature porthole window views in the bedroom, which overlooks the ship’s bow.

H8-H9 Spa Suites feature soothing decor, floor-ceiling windows, bathroom with whirlpool, separate bathroom (2-sinks vanity, WC, waterfall shower with water jets), location close to the Mandara Spa & Fitness Center, unlimited Thermal Spa Suite access (complimentary).

Mini-Suites and Balcony cabins have queen beds (convertible), sofa beds, double sinks (2-faucet, under sink storage).

Family Oceanview cabins for up to 5 passengers are 220 ft2 / 20 m2 in size.

Unlike most NCL ships, Joy will have no Studio cabins (designed for singles and solo travellers). On other ships, these accommodations have full-size beds, bathrooms (separate sink/WC and shower, corridor window view, keycard access to an exclusive Studio Lounge (single cabins guests only lounge complex).

IMPORTANT: Since May 2015, the NCL charged US$7,95 for room service dining. This is an extra service charge implemented fleetwide (on all NCL cruise ships). Passengers exempted from the new (uncommon for the industry) room service fee are only the occupants of “The Haven” suites. Still, as an exception, all passengers can order (for free) their room-service morning coffee and Continental Breakfast. After implementing the new service charge, NCL upgraded the room service menu, adding more hot food items for Breakfast and a wider food & drinks selection (available for ordering 24 hours a day).

Among the NCL Joy’s cabins related news are:

• New cabin category will be introduced – these are the NCL’s first Concierge-grade rooms. The new Concierge Level suites (forward on decks 14 and 15) will be part of a separate complex (above The Haven). These new accommodations will feature larger balconies, luxurious amenities and personalized service. Replacing the Studios (single cabins) there will be new Interior Suite category cabins each with 2 bedrooms and a virtual balcony (live outside views). Dedicated concierges will make onboard arrangements (entertainment, dining, spa, special events, private parties, etc). There will be also an exclusive-access Concierge Lounge with its own bar.
• Many Inside staterooms will feature innovative virtual balconies.
• The new ship will also have plenty of connecting staterooms for larger families.

Handicap / wheelchair-accessible cruise cabins

NCL Joy ship has a total of  47 wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) in the following categories:

• H5-Courtyard Penthouses (rooms 17126, 18126)
• H7-Penthouse (room 13106)
• M1-MC-Mini-Suites (rooms 10290, 10318, 10890, 10918)
• B1-BD-BF-Balcony (rooms 9924, 10286, 10886, 11918, 12282, 12286, 12882, 12882, 12912, 13912, 14278, 14282, 14878, 14882, 14906, 15886)
• O2-OB Oceanview (rooms 5106, 5108, 5138, 5140, 5706, 5708, 5738, 5740), with room sizes of handicap categories OA (320 ft2 / 30) and O1 (545 ft2 / 51 m2).
• I2-IA-IB-IC-Interior (rooms 5106, 5108, 5138, 5140, 5706, 5708, 5738, 5740). Inside handicap rooms size is 225 ft2 / 21 m2.
• Designed specifically for cruise passengers with disabilities, these accommodations feature wider doors, turning spaces, beds with open bed frames, lowered vanity in the sitting area, amplified phones, captioned TVs, wider bathrooms (roll-in shower, fold-down shower bench, grab bars, lower sinks and closet rods, raised toilets, hand-held showerhead).
• All handicap cabins feature a convenient location near the ship’s elevators.
• All public restrooms on the NCL Joy ship have stalls and automatic door systems. All decks provide elevator access.
• All onboard dining venues, bars and lounges offer wheelchair access and seating.

Norwegian Joy cabin and suite plans are property of Norwegian Cruise Line . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Norwegian Joy Rooms, Pictures & Amenities

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Built in 2017, the Norwegian Joy cruise ship weighs 165K tons and has 1926 staterooms for up to 4622 passengers served by 1731 crew . There are 20 passenger decks, 11 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 36 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for Norwegian Joy showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

Norwegian Joy

Last Drydock: Feb 2024

LIVE SHIP TRACKING

STATEROOM CABINS COMPLETE LIST BELOW

HAVEN PREMIER OWNERS SUITE

Floor Diagram Premier Owners Suite

Sleeps up to: 8 2 Cabins Cabin: 1459 sqft (137 m 2 ) Balcony: 190 sqft (18 m 2 )

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More Info [+/-]

Deck locations, stateroom cabin features, stateroom cabin perks, more diagrams of this cabin type.

HAVEN 2-BEDROOM FAMILY VILLA

Floor Diagram The Haven 2-Bedroom Family Villa

Sleeps up to: 6 24 Cabins Cabin: 516 sqft (48 m 2 ) Balcony: 43 sqft (4 m 2 )

HAVEN AFT PENTHOUSE

Floor Diagram The Haven Penthouse Aft

Sleeps up to: 4 24 Cabins Cabin: 387 sqft (36 m 2 ) Balcony: 50 sqft (5 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Important Size Information

HAVEN COURTYARD PENTHOUSE

Floor Diagram The Haven Courtyard Penthouse

Sleeps up to: 3 24 Cabins Cabin: 280 sqft (26 m 2 ) Balcony: 43 sqft (4 m 2 )

 Accessible Info [+/-]

HAVEN FORWARD PENTHOUSE

Floor Diagram The Haven Penthouse Forward

Sleeps up to: 4 12 Cabins Cabin: 387 sqft (36 m 2 ) Balcony: 33 sqft (3 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

HAVEN SUITE

Floor Diagram Category HJ

Sleeps up to: 4 16 Cabins Cabin: 320 sqft (30 m 2 ) Balcony: 61 sqft (6 m 2 )

HAVEN FAMILY VILLA

Floor Diagram Category HH

Sleeps up to: 5 9 Cabins Cabin: 417 sqft (39 m 2 ) Balcony: 84 sqft (8 m 2 )

HAVEN PENTHOUSE

Floor Diagram Category HI

Sleeps up to: 3 19 Cabins Cabin: 352 sqft (33 m 2 ) Balcony: 84 sqft (8 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

SC PENTHOUSE

Floor Diagram Penthouse

Sleeps up to: 4 26 Cabins Cabin: 339 sqft (32 m 2 ) Balcony: 65 sqft (6 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Floor Diagram Mini-Suite

Sleeps up to: 4 260 Cabins Cabin: 204 sqft (19 m 2 ) Balcony: 44 sqft (4 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Floor Diagram Balcony

Sleeps up to: 4 1024 Cabins Cabin: 172 sqft (16 m 2 ) Balcony: 44 sqft (4 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

FAMILY OCEANVIEW

Floor Diagram Family Oceanview

Sleeps up to: 5 50 Cabins Cabin: 218 sqft (20 m 2 )

Floor Diagram Oceanview

Sleeps up to: 5 61 Cabins Cabin: 161 sqft (15 m 2 )

FAMILY INTERIOR SUITE

Floor Diagram Concierge Family Interior

Sleeps up to: 6 33 Cabins Cabin: 513 sqft (48 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Floor Diagram Interior

Sleeps up to: 4 330 Cabins Cabin: 129 sqft (12 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Norwegian Joy Deck Page Menu

Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck.

Norwegian Joy Quick Stats

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Joy- Club Balcony vs. Family Club Balcony?

By Knicks1130 , February 4, 2023 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Looking at the Joy- Club Balcony vs. Family Club Balcony… is there any difference besides the ability to fit 4/5 people?

Is the size or amenities different?

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BirdTravels

1 hour ago, Knicks1130 said: Looking at the Joy- Club Balcony vs. Family Club Balcony… is there any difference besides the ability to fit 4/5 people?   Is the size or amenities different?   TIA

Location: Families are mid-ship vs. anywhere

The room sizes are the same 249 sq ft (the larger 361 sq ft rooms are ADA rooms). 

The cabin category M 4 ( number ) indicates it is a premium room at a premium price. On other ships (not sure about the Joy), family rooms came with tubs for the kids. 

Is there any way of knowing which family club balconies come with tubs as opposed to walk in showers? I hate showers in bathtubs.

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Celebrate your arrival on board with a complimentary bottle of champagne or sparkling wine and let the stress of the real world float away. Each suite has been designed with style and comfort, along with a view that changes with every port we visit. Plus, you'll be pampered with a deluxe array of complimentary amenities and personal service from a butler and concierge that help create a holiday experience you'll never forget.

Indulge in Exclusive Amenities

• Special Services
• Delicious Extras
• Thoughtful Touches

• Distinctive Purple Keycard
• Personal escort on and off the ship at the pier and at ports-of-call. (not available on Norwegian Joy)
• Priority when reserving restaurants and entertainment
• Concierge Service to help you book dining, entertainment, shore excursions and more.
• Trained and certified Butler Service (not available on Norwegian Joy)

• Daily speciality restaurant breakfast & lunch (not available on Norwegian Joy)
• 24-hour suite room service menu (not available on Norwegian Joy)
• Continental breakfast menu
• Mobile phone that can be used throughout the ship. (not available on Norwegian Joy)
• Nespresso Coffeemaker and Tea Forte tea bags (tea brand subject to change)
• Treats delivered right to your door each night
• 1 bottle of Moet Champagne upon embarkation
• Custom selection of liquor (1 bottle for cruises less than 7 days; 3 bottles for cruises 7 days or longer) upon embarkation
• 2 bottles of spring water replenished daily
• 2 bottles of sparkling water replenished daily
• 6 canned sodas replenished daily
• 1 bottle of sparkling wine upon embarkation
• 1 bottle of spring water upon embarkation

• Complimentary in-suite movies
• Evening turndown service
• NCL umbrella, available for use onboard & ashore
• 100% cotton bed linens, feather duvet, and pillow menu
• Plush bathrobes, slippers, and oversized bath towels
• L’Occitane bathroom products
• 1 complimentary laundry pressing

Our Suites At a glance

3-Bedroom Garden Villa

Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony

Owner's Suite with Large Balcony

Deluxe Penthouse with Balcony

Penthouse with Large Balcony

Forward-Facing Penthouse

Aft-Facing Penthouse

Family Suites

2-Bedroom Family Suites

2-Bedroom Deluxe Family Suite

Explore our 3-bedroom garden villa.

With up to 6,694 sq. ft.*, you have space for up to eight guests. Dine together as your butler serves a meal from our special Suite menu. Then watch the moonlight dance on the waves from your private terrace. Champagne, custom selection of liquor, fruit, bottled water and sodas. Complimentary private transfer from pier to airport.

Available on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star .

Explore Our Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony

Relax with an incredible floor-to-ceiling view, and let the butler and concierge take care of the finer details. With up to 1,392 sq. ft.*, the Deluxe Owner's Suite pampers up to six guests. Champagne, custom selection of liquor (in the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn), fruit, bottled water and sodas. No balcony on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star.

Available on Pride of America , Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star .

Explore Our Owners Suite with One or Two Balconies

Watch the horizon glide by from expansive private balconies. With up to 875 sq. ft.*, your Owner's Suite sleeps up to five* guests, and offers separate living and dining rooms (combined on some ships). Double balcony is offered on Norwegian Dawn.

Available on Pride of America , Norwegian Dawn , Norwegian Sun , Norwegian Sky , and Norwegian Star .

Explore Our Penthouses

Mountains and beaches look so much better from a penthouse view. Unwind in your own stylish space, featuring a living and dining area and the option of extra bedding to sleep up to four* guests. With up to 598 sq. ft.*

Available on Pride of America , Norwegian Dawn , Norwegian Spirit , Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Star .

Explore Our Family Suites

Lots of room for everyone. Check out each port from your private balcony. Kick back in the living and dining area. And be sure to call for butler and concierge service anytime you like. 574 sq. ft.* complete with a double bed, double sofa bed, and a Murphy bed, your Family Suite can accommodate up to six* guests.

Explore Our 2-Bedroom Family Suite

Enjoy the amazing views together on your large, private balcony. Have your butler arrange a culinary feast in your dining area. Or relish a quiet moment after the kids retreat to their room. With up to 574 sq. ft.*, your Family Suite sleeps up to six* guests.

Explore Our 2-Bedroom Deluxe Family Suite

With two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed and walk in-closet and one with two lower convertible beds, there is plenty of space for the whole family. They also feature two bathrooms, two TVs, a living room with a pullman bed and a large private balcony. Sleeps up to five guests.

Available on Pride of America .

Explore Our CONNECTING STATEROOMS

*Square footage and stateroom configuration and capacities vary by ship. Actual amenities vary by ship and category.

**3-Bedroom Garden Villa, Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony and Owner's Suite with Large Balcony only.

Viking cruise cabins and suites: A guide to everything you want to know

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Is a balcony something you can’t live without when staying in a cabin on a cruise ship? If so, Viking could be your line.

Viking is one of the only cruise brands in the world that offers a balcony with every cabin on every ocean ship it operates — even the least expensive, smallest cabins. That’s something that even the most upscale of Viking’s ocean cruise rivals — including Oceania Cruises , Azamara , Seabourn , Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — can’t say.

Viking’s ocean ships also offer a large number of suites, many of which are quite spacious. If you’re looking for a room that is big and open on an ocean cruise (and are willing to pay extra for it), Viking has plenty of options.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

Viking also offers many balcony cabins and suites on its river ships — something that isn’t always the case in the river cruise business, where space on vessels is at a premium. However, unlike its ocean ships, Viking’s river ships aren’t all-balcony-cabin vessels. Some can have as many as 25 cabins per ship that are below the waterline and have windows high in the walls.

Still, even on Viking’s river ships, most cabins are balcony cabins.

A Viking cabin primer

Cruising regulars know that most cruise ships offer cabins in four broad categories: windowless “inside” cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

As noted above, though, you’ll only find the latter two types of cabins on Viking ocean ships. Viking currently operates nine traditional ocean ships aimed at the English-speaking market and two oceangoing expedition ships. Every single passenger room on all 11 of the vessels is either a balcony cabin or a suite with a balcony. As previously mentioned, that’s highly unusual in the cruise business.

Viking is also known for a relatively simple-to-understand array of subcategories of rooms within its balcony-cabin and suite categories. Unlike some cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, which offer as many as 36 different sub-types of cabins, Viking’s ocean ships offer just six.

The bottom line is that you’ll be much less flummoxed when trying to choose the perfect cabin for you on a Viking ocean ship than when trying to choose a cabin on most other vessels.

Related: The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

When it comes to size, even the smallest cabins on Viking’s ocean ships are large by cruise ship standards at 270 square feet, and the largest suites measure nearly 1,500 square feet.

Design-wise, Viking cabins and suites across all categories are modern and elegant in an understated sort of way, with Scandinavian-influenced furnishings and decor that tie to the Norwegian heritage of the company’s founder.

You’ll find beds topped with crisp, white duvets and Scandinavian throws, comfortable contemporary sofas and chairs in neutral tones, and light wood desks and side tables that combine to offer a residential feel in bedroom areas. Soothing, minimalist colors — think creams, grays and lighter blues — are the order of the day.

Bathrooms in Viking cabins are serene, modernist escapes with luxurious travertine marble-lined walls; Scandinavian-influenced, wood-veneered vanities; shiny white sinks; and chrome fixtures.

Viking is an upscale line — some might even call it a luxury line, though Viking doesn’t market itself that way — and Viking cabins and suites have a lot of thoughtful and elegant touches, from sumptuous bedding that envelops you to heated floors in bathrooms. The rooms aren’t overly flashy, though.

Instead, they are eminently functional, with storage in all the right places, lots of outlets for charging your devices and lighting right where you need it. We love the reading lights built into the fabric headboards of beds, which come in addition to the lamps on bedside tables. You won’t have trouble seeing the pages of the Viking Daily activity newsletter while lying in a Viking cabin bed.

Related: The best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise

Other little touches in Viking cabins that show the line’s attention to functionality include the large and clear lettering on the Freyja toiletries that you’ll find in every Viking cabin bathroom. The toiletries were specifically designed with bigger and clearer lettering than is common for toiletries so that the line’s older customers (Viking’s core market is in the 55- to the 75-year-old range) would have no trouble differentiating the body wash from the shampoo.

In a similar nod to functionality and ease of use, Viking had the remote controls for cabin televisions specially designed so they would only have a few buttons.

Balcony cabins on Viking cruise ships

Viking keeps it simple with the array of balcony cabins on its ocean ships. The line’s nine traditional ocean vessels aimed at the English-speaking market each have 418 balcony cabins that can be broken down into three categories:

• 42 Veranda Staterooms (10% of the total).
• 272 Deluxe Veranda Staterooms (65% of the total).
• 104 Penthouse Veranda Staterooms (25% of the total).

The first two categories, Veranda Staterooms and Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, are the same size at 270 square feet (a figure that includes balcony space). They basically look the same. However, the Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, which cost more, have better locations on the ships and come with more amenities and services. These extra amenities and services include:

• Earlier access to shore excursion reservations (67 days in advance of sailing versus 60 days).
• Priority access to spa treatment bookings (60 days in advance).
• One guaranteed priority reservation at every alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 60 days in advance of sailing.
• Binoculars in the room.
• Coffee machines with premium coffee and tea selections in the room.
• A traditional, super-soft Norwegian Marius-weave blanket for use in the room.

Passengers staying in Deluxe Veranda Staterooms can also access their rooms one hour earlier on embarkation day than those staying in Veranda Staterooms.

Both of the first two categories of balcony cabins come with minibars stocked with complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks. In the case of Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, staff replenishes these minibars once per day.

Penthouse Veranda Staterooms offer more space than the latter two categories, at 338 square feet, plus additional amenities and services, including:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 77 days in advance of sailing.
• Two guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 70 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 70 days in advance.
• Minibars that include complimentary alcoholic beverages as well as soft drinks, water and snacks (replenished once daily).
• Complimentary clothes pressing and shoeshine services.
• A welcome bottle of Champagne.
• Earlier access to cabins on embarkation day.

Viking’s two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of balcony cabins with a similar array of amenities and services. Named Nordic Balcony, Deluxe Nordic Balcony and Nordic Penthouse, the cabins of these three categories are slightly smaller than the cabins of the three balcony cabin categories on the traditional Viking ocean ships at 215, 215 and 269 square feet, respectively. They also have a different type of balcony that makes them feel more spacious than their square footage suggests.

Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris have what some in the cruise industry call an “infinite veranda” — a balcony-like space created by a window wall that opens from the top down. Viking calls them Nordic balconies.

Related: How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade

The majority of Viking river ships, known as Viking Longships, have 61 balcony cabins broken down into two categories: 205-square-foot Veranda Staterooms and 135-square-foot French Balcony Staterooms.

The latter has doors that open onto simple balustrades and not full balconies that you can step onto. This feature is known as a French balcony or Juliet balcony (a nod to the balcony of this type made famous in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”). Technically, these French balconies are balconies, even if they’re not quite as satisfying as a balcony with space to lounge.

Including the French balcony cabins, nearly 75% of the cabins on Viking’s Longships have balconies.

Viking also offers smaller versions of its Longships that have fewer balcony cabins, as well as a few different types of river ships with varying numbers of balcony cabins.

Suites on Viking cruise ships

The suite choices on Viking ships also are relatively easy to understand. On Viking’s traditional ocean ships, there are 47 suites broken down into three categories:

• 32 Penthouse Junior Suites.
• 14 Explorer Suites.
• One Owner’s Suite.

The Penthouse Junior Suites measure 405 square feet, including their balcony space, and come with such extra amenities and services as:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 87 days in advance of sailing.
• Three guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant, which can be booked 80 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 80 days in advance.
• Minibars with complimentary alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water and snacks.
• Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing and shoeshine services.

In addition to a bed area, Penthouse Junior Suites have a large sitting area with a sofa, coffee table and chairs, and a separate television. The bathrooms are large, too.

Life starts really getting good in the 14 Explorer Suites on Viking’s traditional ocean ships. They range in size from 757 to 1,163 square feet, including balcony space, and bring even more enhanced amenities and services.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Each of the Explorer Suites is a two-room complex with a well-appointed living and dining area complete with a table that seats four people. Very large master bathrooms feature a double-sink vanity, a spacious glass-enclosed shower and a bathtub (something you won’t find in any of the lesser cabin categories on the vessels).

The Owner’s Suites, of which there is just one on each traditional Viking ocean vessel, are truly sprawling and impressive complexes that measure 1,448 square feet. They are true owner’s suites in that they are used by Viking founder and chairman Torstein Hagen when he sails on the ships, and they feature some of his personal mementos, including family pictures.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge on a suite for your next cruise

Each of the Owner’s Suites has a separate bedroom, living room, dining area that seats six people and master bathroom that includes a sauna with a glass wall facing the ocean.

In addition, each of the complexes has a boardroom with a long table that seats 12 people for meetings and catered dinner parties. There’s an adjacent pantry that can be used by staff serving room service or catering hosted events. Among other personal touches related to Hagen, the company founder, are book, wine and music collections that he curated for the rooms.

Viking’s two oceangoing expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of suites:

• Nordic Junior Suites (322 square feet).
• Explorer Suites (548 square feet).
• Owner’s Suites (1,238 square feet).

The typical Viking river ship has nine suites broken down into two categories — 275-square-foot Veranda Suites and 445-square-foot Explorers Suites.

Bottom line

Viking operates ships with a very easy-to-understand array of cabins, unlike some of its competitors.

Every passenger room on its ocean ships is a balcony cabin or a suite, something that is unusual in the cruise world, and these cabins break down into just a few subcategories. This makes the process of booking a room on a Viking vessel relatively simple compared to booking a room on many other ships.

Design-wise, Viking’s cabins are relatively upscale, with soothing, Scandinavian-influenced decor and lots of luxury touches like heated floors in bathrooms.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for a cruise

SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

I stayed in a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's 2 newest and largest cruise ships. One was clearly better — and $900 cheaper.

• Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are Royal Caribbean's newest and largest cruise ships.
• I stayed in both of their balcony staterooms — a $130-per-person-per-day difference.
• Icon's pricier cabin looked more modern but lacked the functionality and comfort of Wonder's.

Do you know what $900 could buy you? More than three years of Netflix's premium plan, a new Gucci purse, or 2,059 spicy chicken McNuggets.

Or, in the case of Royal Caribbean's two largest and newest cruise ships , the cash could mean the difference between a cheap but functional balcony cabin and, ironically, a more expensive but less comfortable one.

Staterooms with balconies are the most popular cruise cabin category. After all, if you're going on a vacation at sea, wouldn't you want to be able to feel its breeze from your room?

But not all cabins with private outdoor spaces are created equal, even on two new mega-ships owned by the same cruise line.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in 2022 and its larger successor, Icon of the Seas, in January.

Royal Caribbean assigned me an ocean-view balcony cabin for both complimentary sailings, the longest of which was three nights on Icon.

Both ships are operating seven-night cruises around the Caribbean in 2024.

About 66% of Wonder's cabins fall under the 'balcony' category. On Icon, they make up half of the staterooms.

Wonder of the Seas' balcony cabins start shy of $1,110 per person in 2024.

Even with nearly identical itineraries, the ones on Icon are, at their cheapest, a little more than $2,000 per person this year — or double that for the a New Year's cruise.

Wonder and Icon are the most boisterous, flamboyant, and overwhelming vessels I've ever boarded.

The pool decks were intensely colorful, the crowds were inescapable, and the long lists of activities and dining options were paralyzing.

So imagine my surprise when I unlocked my doors to find surprisingly bland rooms.

The neutral tans, blues, and whites did not scream "we belong on the world's biggest and most colorful cruise ships."

The vessels have an almost two-year age difference, as evidenced by some of their decor (mainly Icon's recessed mood lights and the more chic, darker wood tones).

But besides the light fixtures, rugs, and — frankly negligible — wall art and pillows, both cabins were fairly underwhelming compared to everything outside their front doors .

Aesthetics aside, let’s talk functionality.

Both had furnished 50-square-foot balconies.

Regarding the interior space, my 204-square-foot cabin on Icon of the Seas was 22 square feet larger than mine on Wonder.

In retrospect, I would've thought Icon's was smaller. More on that in a bit.

Both king-sized beds faced a television and some wall storage.

And both were flanked by light fixtures with built-in USB outlets, as is expected on most modern cruise ships.

The cruise line says the ships' balcony cabins use two twin mattresses that have been "converted" to make a king bed. It's a common practice I've never had an issue with — until Icon.

On Wonder, the plush pillows enveloped me the moment I laid down. I slept great. No complaints.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the new ship.

I (my back pain) could feel the hard ridge where the two mattresses met, making for a pretty miserable and uncomfortable sleep.

So much for starfishing — I kept to one side of the bed to avoid rolling over the bony bump.

For the most part, the living “rooms” were the same.

Both had the same furniture I see on almost every mass-market ship: a couch that could convert into a bed and a desk that extended into a dresser.

But storage, a high priority for cruisers, was organized differently.

Two thin wardrobes with drawers, hangars, and shelves surrounded either side of my bed on Wonder .

Icon, on the other hand, had one large wardrobe next to the living room.

Unfortunately, it had noticeably less shelving. And the metal bins let out ear-piercing screeches at every move — a lazy and annoying detail that the designers could've easily fixed with cheap felt pads.

So far, the differences have been small. But not for long.

I had two gripes with my Wonder bathroom: the lack of hair conditioner and the ill-positioned faucet that flooded the counter whenever I washed my hands.

I had the same issues on Icon. But that was the least of my concerns.

My bathroom on the older ship was well-sized for 1 person, but maybe too small for 2.

On Icon — the world's largest cruise ship — my bathroom was too compact for even one body.

Michael Bayley, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told reporters in January that 80% of Icon's 2,805 cabins were designed for families, a sharp increase from previous vessels like Wonder.

I'm not sure a family of four could coexist in Icon's balcony cabin — solely because of the bathroom size. There's no way two people could fit in there simultaneously. A fight over who gets priority access to the toilet could ruin a peaceful family vacation! (Which is to say, I'm glad I was traveling alone.)

With the bathroom door closed, I accidentally elbowed the walls more times than I could count.

The spare towels had to be stored on a shelf inside the shower. Because the counter was so small, I had to keep most of my toiletries and products on the shelves or in the drawer.

Surprisingly, that's where Icon excelled. Its bathroom had more storage options than its older counterpart, which didn't even have a drawer.

However, the older ship's shower had a clothesline perfect for drying swimwear. It's a small but crucial amenity, especially on a vessel with so many pools and waterslides.

Unfortunately, both were stocked with two-in-one body wash and shampoo — and no hair conditioner

Let’s go through our checklist.

My balcony cabin on Wonder looked less modern than its successor (the TV on Icon had Chromecast, after all).

But it was significantly more functional and comfortable. The bed was incomparably more pleasant, the closets had more defined storage components, and the bathroom was considerably larger, even if it lacked additional shelving and drawers.

The question is: Which one is more worth its price?

Icon's cheapest balcony cabins are currently $900 more than the most affordable ones on Wonder — an almost $130 per person and day difference.

Based on the quality of the staterooms alone, if you prioritize functionality, comfort, and affordability over modern decor, consider saving money and going with the two-year-old ship .

But let’s not forget that cruise fares include unlimited food, on board activities, and nighttime entertainment.

Both ships have a fairly similar list of amenities. But only the newer one has a waterpark , an adult-only infinity pool club, and a swim-up bar, to name a few unique amenities.

So yes, Icon's balcony cabins are more costly. But the staggering price difference — and tiny bathroom — could be worth it if you think the its surplus of additional amenities is worth paying for.

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