Connecting Balcony Cabin Tour & Review | Independence of the Seas Review

Are you considering a connecting ocean view balcony on Royal Caribbean and wondering if it's worth it?
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​This stateroom photo review will help you decide. :)

When Are Rooms Ready On a Cruise?

On Royal Caribbean, staterooms are usually ready by 1 pm on embarkation day, but the exact time can vary. Very often your room is ready even earlier! 
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Independence of the Seas Balcony Cabin

What is a Balcony Guarantee (GTY) Room?

On this 4-night Independence of the Seas cruise, we booked a balcony guarantee room.

​That means the cruise line would choose our room and it could be located anywhere on the ship, but would definitely have a balcony.

In our case, we were assigned a connecting balcony with no obstructions. . 
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Connecting Balcony Cabin Tour and Photo Review 

This is a view of an oceanview balcony room on Independence of the Seas as seen from the bathroom door. 
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Notice the door reflected in the mirror. 

Plenty of space to do work (I hope you don't have to!) or do your make-up before dinner :)

Here you can see the connecting balcony room from in front of the balcony doors looking toward the entrance. 

The door seen in the previous picture is behind that curtain on the left. 
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Connecting Balcony Room on Independence of the Seas | Cabin Review

Lots of Mirrors for 'Fit CHecks

​The room feels spacious with a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror on the left, and a very large mirror at the desk/vanity area. 

Plenty of storage and full length mirror on Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

The glass coffee table, while somewhat a brave choice, does make the room appear more spacious since it's almost invisible, you know?
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Couch in Independence of the Seas Connecting Balcony Room

are there couches in the rooms on independence of the seas?

Yes. We had a couch in our connecting ocean view balcony stateroom on Independence of the Seas. This couch did not turn into a bed.  
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At first peek into the bathroom, you'll likely be happy to see a shower stall and no shower curtain. Not too many ships still have shower curtains these days, but there are some. 
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Inside the shower is an adjustable shower head, a complimentary combination body wash/shampoo, and a clothes line. 
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Pro Tip: Bring your own shampoo/conditioner as this soap can be a bit rough on hair imo. 

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See Also: How To Wash Clothes On A Cruise

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Spacious bathroom on Independence of the Seas | Photo Review

​The bathroom was plenty spacious with a tiled floor and another generously sized mirror. 

Let's head back toward the balcony again!

Queen sized bed | Royal Caribbean Connecting Ocean View Balcony Photos

You can opt for two twin sized beds or have them made into a queen, which we did. 

Independence of the Seas Balcony Sailing Out of Miami, Florida

​Even on an overcast day, a balcony gives you beautiful natural light and the chance to breath in that fresh ocean air without leaving your stateroom!

Can you hear the people next door in a connecting balcony?

It depends. In nearly any room, on a ship or in a hotel, there is a chance you will hear your neighbors.

On this cruise we did hear our neighbors a bit from time to time, but more because it was a group of ladies excited to be on their long weekend cruise and less specifically because we had a connecting room. 
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Kicking back on the balcony for sail away | Independence of the Seas Review

It definitely didn't stop us from enjoying 4 night cruise out of Miami!

Is a connecting balcony worth it?

A connecting balcony is a wonderful option for families traveling together. The door between the rooms can be unlocked by the room steward and left open if you so choose, allowing your family to go back and forth between the two rooms as needed. 

This can be a more affordable option than a suite for a family in many cases! 

If you're not traveling with the stateroom you're connected to, don't worry, the door will remain locked the entire time. 
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Balconies are made for moments like these :)

For us, it was worth it to be able to enjoy moments like this!

As we booked a balcony guarantee, we had a discounted rate for giving up choosing the room location.

Obviously, you'd rather not have a connecting room if you don't need it. But at the same time, it doesn't really matter. We were happy to have a balcony without an obstruction! That was a big win! :) 
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Should you book a balcony guarantee cabin?

If you're looking to save some money, this can be a good option, but you need to consider a few things:

• if you will be greatly disappointed by an obstructed view or connecting room, don't do it. 
• if you have accessibility needs, you may want to choose a room closest to elevators or places you intend to frequent
• if you are very concerned about having a cabin "midship" for movement concerns, pay extra to choose your room. ​

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Ocean View Room Pictures | Symphony of the Seas

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​If the above apply to you, a guarantee cabin may not be the best option for you.

On the other hand, if you are willing to take the chance, you should go into it expecting to get the lowest possible option (obstructed in a less desirable location) and then be excited if you get randomly assigned anything above that.

​If your expectations are set properly, you will be happy with a balcony gty. :) 

When Was Independence of the Seas Built?

Independence of the Seas was built in 2008 and was "amped" (refurbished) in 2018 under the Royal Amplified program. 

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More from this 4 night cruise on Independence of the Seas

• Everything We Ate on a 4-Night Royal Caribbean Cruise
• Fish & Ships Review: Was it Worth It?
• Entertainment & Activities on Independence of the Seas
• Perfect Day at CocoCay Review 
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