A few summers ago, I spent 12 nights cruising aboard Jewel of the Seas, one of the oldest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. My husband and I sailed from Amsterdam to Iceland, using the ship as our home base for an unforgettable adventure around the country.
Jewel of the Seas is part of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class, which debuted in the early 2000s. The ship entered service in 2004 and can accommodate around 2,700 passengers at maximum capacity, making her 22 years old today. Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean has hardly upgraded this ship, especially in her cabins.
The ship was the perfect size for our port-intensive itinerary, but our balcony cabin experience was a little more complicated. Although we loved having a private outdoor space, our assigned location came with a major drawback: loud music from the lounge below.
Here is my honest review of Cabin 7168 on Jewel of the Seas, including its spacious layout, dated features, partially obstructed balcony, and frustrating noise issues.
We upgraded from an inside cabin to a balcony guarantee for $300
We originally booked an inside guarantee cabin for $2,700, hoping we might be able to upgrade to a balcony as our departure date approached.
Booking an inside cabin can save a significant amount of money, but you sacrifice space and natural light. I frequently stay in inside cabins, but certain itineraries are worth the splurge for a balcony, especially when visiting scenic destinations such as Iceland, Alaska, New Zealand, South America, and Norway.
As our sailing approached, cruise fares dropped drastically. We could not reprice our reservation because the final payment deadline had passed, but we were able to upgrade to a balcony guarantee stateroom for just $300.
Had we booked a balcony from the beginning, it would have cost us more than $1,000 extra. Waiting worked in our favor, although this strategy is never guaranteed. Prices can just as easily increase if demand for a sailing remains strong.
A few weeks before departure, Royal Caribbean assigned us Cabin 7168, located near the very back of the ship on Deck 7.
With a guarantee reservation, you cannot select your exact cabin. Instead, Royal Caribbean assigns one from the remaining inventory. This means you could receive a less desirable location that other passengers intentionally avoided—and that is precisely what happened to us.
Our first impression was that the cabin felt spacious but dated
Cabin 7168 is categorized as an Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony. The cabin measures approximately 180 square feet, making it around 10 square feet larger than an inside cabin on Jewel of the Seas.
Our first impression was that the room felt very spacious. We had plenty of storage for our luggage, including the bulky winter clothing we packed for Iceland.
However, the cabin’s age was apparent. Its dark wood finishes and decor felt dated, while several areas showed noticeable wear and tear. The small coffee table was heavily scuffed around the edges, and there was a visible stain on the carpet.
Next to the bed was an oversized chair and coffee table. We appreciated having another place to sit, although the chair quickly became additional storage during our cruise.
The room also included two nightstands with drawers. Unfortunately, the stateroom phone took up most of the space on my husband’s side.
Each side of the bed had a small reading lamp, but there were no USB ports nearby. I would have appreciated being able to charge my phone from bed, which you can normally find on newer ships.
The Royal King bed was extremely comfortable
The cabin featured a Royal King bed, and we found it extremely comfortable. My husband and I prefer a firmer mattress, so the bed was perfect for us.
Our room was also an adjoining stateroom, meaning there was a connecting door between our cabin and the one next door. We initially worried that we might hear noise from our neighbors, but that ended up being the least of our concerns.
The connecting door did not create any noticeable disturbance during our sailing. Instead, nearly all the disruptive noise came from the venue directly below us.
Loud music from the Safari Club made it difficult to sleep
Cabin 7168 is located directly above the Safari Club, which is one of the ship’s lounges. Every night, we could hear loud music from the live band below, usually until midnight. Even with earplugs and white noise, we could not drown out the thumping bass.
“There’s a reason no one booked this room,” my husband said on our first night. Unfortunately, he was right.
We eventually started planning late-afternoon naps because we knew we would not be able to sleep until the music stopped. This disturbance was a huge disappointment, especially during a port-intensive itinerary with early mornings ashore.
Passengers who stay out late every night might not be bothered, but this is not a cabin I would recommend to light sleepers or anyone who prefers an early bedtime.
The balcony was spacious and perfect for scenic cruising
Despite the noise, having a private balcony was fantastic during our Iceland cruise. We enjoyed coffee and room-service breakfast outside each morning as we sailed into port. Because Iceland receives almost 24 hours of daylight during the summer, we could enjoy the scenery from our cabin for most of the day.
The chilly Icelandic air also created a cozy atmosphere whenever we opened the balcony door.
Our balcony was large and extended slightly beyond a standard balcony because of its location. It included two chairs and a small table, making it the perfect spot for morning coffee while anticipating the day ahead.
However, the unusual design also gave us a clear view into our neighbors’ balconies. We often found ourselves outside at the same time, and the open layout made the space feel less private than a traditional balcony.
The balcony view was partially obstructed despite its official classification
According to the ship’s deck plans, Cabin 7168 is not categorized as an obstructed-view balcony. In reality, a piece of rusty equipment blocked part of our view.
The obstruction did not prevent us from enjoying the balcony, but I would have been disappointed if we had paid full price for the cabin. Obstructed balconies are typically priced lower, so passengers selecting this cabin should know that the view is not entirely clear.
The balcony itself also showed significant wear. The wooden surfaces were dry and scuffed and appeared overdue for refinishing. At times, I was actually concerned about getting a splinter.
The extra space and scenery were still valuable, but the worn condition and partial obstruction made the balcony feel less premium than we expected.
Storage was plentiful, but charging options were limited
Back inside, the cabin had a large vanity with drawers, outlets, shelving, a television, and a small cooler. I used this area to get ready each morning because the mirror was surrounded by bright lighting.
Additional shelves and a safe were located above the television. We used nearly all the available storage for our hats, scarves, gloves, sweaters, and other cold-weather clothing.
The closet was also spacious, with a combination of shelves and hanging space. We easily filled it with our winter coats and jackets, as packing for Iceland requires many layers for wind, rain, and cold.
As is common on older cruise ships, charging options were limited. We had only one main outlet to use throughout the cruise. Luckily, I brought a USB adapter that worked with the European outlet, which gave us more ways to charge our devices.
My phone cord was not long enough to reach the bed, so I relied on a portable charger each night. Passengers staying in this cabin should bring extra charging adapters, but they should ensure those devices comply with Royal Caribbean’s current policies.
The bathroom was small but functional
Our balcony cabin had a standard cruise ship bathroom with a shower, sink, toilet, and vanity.
The room was small, as expected aboard a ship built more than 20 years ago. The capsule-shaped shower was especially compact, although I was grateful it had a proper door instead of a clingy shower curtain.
The bathroom came with a basic two-in-one liquid soap intended for both hair and body. For this reason, I always bring my own shampoo and conditioner because mainstream cruise lines typically do not provide upscale shower products in standard cabins.
Although the bathroom could only comfortably accommodate one person at a time, it was functional for two adults. A larger group might struggle to share the limited space, so keep this in mind when booking a stateroom for your cruise.
Luckily, the vanity provided plenty of storage underneath the sink and behind the side mirror. The bathroom flooring also appeared to be in good condition compared to some of the more worn areas elsewhere in the cabin.
I wouldn’t book this specific cabin again, but it was a risk we were willing to take
Upgrading to a balcony was absolutely worth the additional $300. For a scenic itinerary like Iceland, having a private outdoor space significantly enhanced our cruise experience.
We loved enjoying coffee outside, watching the ship arrive in port, and letting the cool Icelandic air into our cabin. The room was spacious, the bed was comfortable, and there was enough storage for a 12-night cruise.
However, Cabin 7168 had several drawbacks. The decor and balcony showed their age, the view was partially obstructed, and the open balcony design offered less privacy than expected.
Most importantly, the nightly music from the Safari Club made it nearly impossible to sleep before midnight. That issue put a damper on our experience during a long, port-intensive sailing.
Although I have received excellent rooms through guarantee bookings in the past, it’s always a gamble when you don’t pay extra to choose your stateroom.
I would book another balcony cabin on Jewel of the Seas, particularly for a scenic itinerary, but I would avoid Cabin 7168. After this cruise, my husband said he will pay extra to choose a specific cabin so we don’t need to worry about unnecessary noise during our vacation. After all, no one wants to return from vacation feeling more tired!
