If you’re trying to figure out which cabin to book on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas — especially as a parent traveling with one or two kids — the Infinite Family Balcony deserves a hard look. I stayed in one with my 9-year-old daughter Georgia on a 4-night showcase sailing in late August 2025 (one of the first sailings ever on Star), and we loved it.
Short answer: The Infinite Family Balcony is the perfect family stateroom on Star of the Seas — bigger than a standard balcony, dramatically cheaper than a Surfside Family Suite, and thoughtfully designed for actual families. If you’re a parent traveling with 1-3 kids, this is the cabin to book.
What Is an Infinite Family Balcony?
The Infinite Family Balcony is a new cabin category introduced on Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships (Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas). It’s classified by Royal Caribbean as an “Infinite Balcony Family Cabin” and is designed specifically for families of up to four — though the layout works just as well for a parent traveling solo with one or two kids.
Key specs:
- Cabin size: 290 square feet
- Balcony size: 55 square feet (convertible/infinite)
- Max capacity: 4 people
- Decks: 9, 10, and 11
- Number on Star: 78 cabins total
- View options: Most ocean-facing; some Central Park-facing
What Makes It a “Family” Cabin?
Royal Caribbean has two infinite balcony categories: the regular Infinite Ocean View Balcony (200 sq ft, up to 4 people, but tight) and the Infinite Family Balcony (290 sq ft, much more thoughtfully designed). The “family” designation isn’t marketing — it’s a meaningful difference in layout and space.
The big family-friendly features:
A dedicated bunk bed area near the entry — Two bunks angled differently, each with its own TV, reading light, and storage. A pull curtain for privacy.
A reading nook tucked behind the bunk stairs — Small light, stool, and space for luggage storage. Surprisingly useful. Georgia is sitting in it above.
A chalkboard wall in the main living area — Sounds gimmicky, but kids genuinely love it.
Two separate bathroom areas in many configurations — One with toilet and sink, one with shower and sink. Means two people can get ready at once.
The convertible “infinite” balcony — Glass extends almost floor-to-ceiling so the room feels much larger than its square footage would suggest. The upper window section lowers electronically to open the front of the cabin to fresh air.
The Layout in Detail
Entry and Bunk Area
Walk in the cabin and you’re immediately in the bunk zone. Two bunks at different angles, each with built-in storage cubbies, individual TVs, and reading lights. Georgia took the top bunk and was thrilled — she could draw the curtain closed for “private time” and watch her own show on her own TV. For older kids and tweens, this dedicated kid space is a real selling point.
Note: The bunks are sized for kids and average-height adults. If you have a teen who’s pushing 6’3″ or taller, the bunks might be tight. Otherwise, fine.
Main Living Area
The middle of the cabin houses the king bed, a love-seat couch, a small coffee table, and the chalkboard wall. The bed is comfortable — not luxury hotel level, but solidly good. The couch converts into a sleeper if you need to sleep a fourth person.
The chalkboard. Let me talk about the chalkboard. It sounds like a gimmick. It isn’t. Georgia drew on it every day — what we did, ratings of meals, doodles, notes about where we were when. It became a journal of the cruise.
Infinite Balcony
This is the most-discussed feature of this cabin category. Instead of a traditional outdoor balcony with a sliding door, the Infinite Family Balcony has a floor-to-ceiling glass front. The upper window section lowers electronically to convert the front of the cabin into open-air space with a glass railing.
The tradeoff:
- PROS: Way more flexible than a traditional balcony. The room itself feels much larger because the glass is full-height — you have ocean views from your bed. You can close it up entirely when it’s hot/cold/rainy.
- CONS: It’s not a “separate outdoor space” the way a traditional balcony is. You can’t sit fully outside; you’re inside the cabin with the window down.
Personally, I love it. The added space far outweighed the missing balcony. If you are cruising with kids, the space is amazing. Some longtime cruisers may miss the balcony. It’s worth knowing what you’re getting before you book.
Bathroom
Our cabin had the split bathroom configuration — one section with toilet and sink, separate section with shower and sink. Game-changer for getting ready in the morning, especially when traveling with a child. Plenty of shelf space for toiletries, which is rare on a cruise.
Why This Cabin Worked for Our Daddy-Daughter Trip
1. Georgia Had Her Own Space
At 9, my daughter has reached the age where she wants her own private nook. The bunk area with the curtain gave her exactly that. She could go “to her room” without leaving the cabin.
2. The Chalkboard Was a Daily Highlight
This shouldn’t have been the highlight of a cabin review, but it was. Every day Georgia would update the board with what we’d done that day, the food rating system she invented, doodles of Sailor the dog, you name it. By Day 4 the whole wall was a colorful chaos of our trip.
3. Plenty of Room to Spread Out
290 square feet sounds tiny on paper but the layout is so smart that it never feels cramped. Tons of storage in the bunks, the closet, under the bed. We didn’t fight for space once.
4. Split Bathrooms Were a Lifesaver
On a quick 4-night trip, getting Georgia and me ready for dinner at the same time was way easier with two bathroom areas. Highly recommend confirming your specific cabin has this layout (most do, but not all).
5. The Balcony Made the Cabin Feel Huge
Even though the infinite balcony isn’t a separate outdoor space, the floor-to-ceiling glass made the cabin feel twice as large. Watching the ocean go by from bed is a quietly amazing perk.
What Didn’t Work as Well
No bathtub — Shower only. Wasn’t a problem for us but might be for parents with very young kids who still bathe.
Bunk size for taller teens — Bunks are generously sized but if you have a 6’3″+ teen, double-check.
The infinite balcony divides opinion — If you really want to sit outside with a glass of wine and read in the open air, it’s not the same experience.
Bunks near the entry door — Means some hallway noise might filter in. Wasn’t a problem for us, but light sleepers should know.
Infinite Family Balcony vs. Surfside Family Suite
If you’re choosing between the Infinite Family Balcony and the Surfside Family Suite, here’s the breakdown:
Price — Surfside Family Suite runs significantly more — typically $2,000-$3,000 more per cabin for a 7-night sailing.
Size — Surfside Family Suite is slightly smaller actually (270 sq ft) — but designed differently.
Location — Surfside Family Suite is INSIDE the Surfside neighborhood with door-to-door access to the splash pad, carousel, kids’ club. Infinite Family Balcony is on Decks 9-11, mid-ship.
Perks — Surfside Family Suite is Sea Class suite tier — gets you priority boarding, Coastal Kitchen access, suite pool, and concierge. Infinite Family Balcony is a standard balcony category — no suite perks.
Best for — Surfside Family Suite is best for families with young kids under 7 who’ll use the Surfside neighborhood constantly. Infinite Family Balcony is better for kids 8+ and saves you a meaningful amount of money.
For Georgia at 9, the Infinite Family Balcony was the right call. The Surfside suite location matters less when your kid is comfortable navigating the ship; the larger cabin layout and price savings matter more.
Infinite Family Balcony vs. Regular Balcony
If you’re choosing between this and a standard ocean-view balcony:
Price — Infinite Family Balcony usually runs $200-$500 more per cabin per week than a standard balcony.
Size — 290 sq ft (Infinite Family) vs. 205 sq ft (Standard Balcony) — 40% more space.
Layout — Bunks vs. pull-out sofa for kids. Bunks are dramatically better.
Balcony — Convertible/infinite vs. traditional outdoor. Trade-off discussed above.
For parents traveling with kids, the upgrade to Infinite Family Balcony is usually worth it. The bunks alone make life with kids dramatically easier.
Tips for Booking
- Book early. Only 78 of these cabins on the ship, and they fill up.
- Confirm the bathroom configuration. Most have split bathrooms but not all. Ask your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly.
- Ocean view vs. Central Park view. Most face the ocean; a smaller number face Central Park. Both are great, but if you have a strong preference, specify when booking.
- Royal Up bids. If you’ve booked a lower category, watch for Royal Up email bids to upgrade — sometimes you can land an Infinite Family Balcony for $200-$400 above your original fare.
- Watch for Cruise Planner sales. Add the dining and beverage packages on sale once you’ve booked.
The Bottom Line
If you’re sailing Star of the Seas with 1-3 kids, the Infinite Family Balcony is the cabin to book. It’s larger, smarter, and dramatically more family-friendly than a standard balcony, while costing significantly less than a Surfside Family Suite. The bunks with privacy curtains, the chalkboard, the split bathrooms, and the floor-to-ceiling balcony glass all add up to a cabin that genuinely solves the problems of cruising with kids.
Would I book it again? Absolutely. For our daddy-daughter trip it was perfect, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Infinite Family Balcony?
290 square feet for the cabin plus 55 square feet for the convertible balcony.
How many people can sleep in an Infinite Family Balcony?
Up to four — two adults on the king bed and two children/teens on the bunks. The couch can convert to sleep a fourth in alternative configurations.
Where on the ship is the Infinite Family Balcony?
Decks 9, 10, and 11. Most cabins face the ocean; a smaller subset face Central Park.
Is the infinite balcony really like a regular balcony?
Not exactly. The infinite balcony is a glass-fronted enclosed space where the upper window section lowers electronically to open to fresh air. You can’t fully sit outside the way you can on a traditional balcony, but you get floor-to-ceiling glass views from the cabin itself.
Is it worth the upgrade from a regular balcony?
For families, yes. The extra space, the bunk design, the chalkboard wall, and the larger feel of the cabin all make it a meaningful upgrade. Cost is usually $200-$500 more per cabin per week.
Check out my full review of Star of the Seas
Check out my YouTube Tour of Star of the Seas