I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (2024)

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Joey Hadden

Updated

2024-04-19T14:55:16Z

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (1)

I booked a stateroom on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, one of the biggest cruise ships.
For $2,000 a week, the 179-square-foot cabin had a private bathroom, a king-size bed, and a view.
I thought I'd feel cramped in the room, but it had everything I needed and left no space unused.

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My room was a mid-tier cabin at the front of deck eight.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (5)

I booked a mid-tier room — a step above interior staterooms, which have no window. It's a category below staterooms with a balcony, and two steps below a suite.

My cabin was on the same deck as Central Park, an outdoor space with 20,000 plants.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (6)

I thought it was the most relaxing area on the ship, so I enjoyed being close by.

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When I stepped inside my stateroom, I was surprised at how big it felt.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (7)

Right away, I thought the cabin made great use of a small space.

To operate most of the electricity in the room, I had to insert my room key into a slot on the wall.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (8)

I appreciated the energy-saving system.

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On one side of the room, I had a mirror and a desk with several outlets to charge electronics with USB, American, and European ports.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (9)

I thought the desk was useful for eating, as well as storing daily flyers about the day's events.

Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (10)

The desk drawers were mostly empty aside from a hair dryer, which I didn't end up using.

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Across from the desk, I had a couch positioned in between two closets.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (11)

Inside each closet, I found a rack of hangers, shelving, and a small safe. I thought it was plenty of space for a weeklong journey

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Next to the couch and desk area, a small bathroom used clever storage hacks, like placing the trash can and toilet paper under the counter.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (12)

In the bathroom, there were two glasses, a bar of soap, and a two-in-one hair and body wash.

At the top of the shower, a pullout clothing line was useful for drying my bathing suits.

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Each night, my stateroom attendant replenished towels and brought flyers and schedules for the next day.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (13)

Sometimes, the towels were folded creatively to look like animals.

I noticed that my king-size bed at the back of the room was actually two twin beds pushed together.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (14)

All Royal Caribbean cabins come with this configuration, according to its website, so they may be separated for additional guests. I often woke up in the crevice.

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A large flat-screen TV was mounted across from the bed with storage hooks below.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (15)

Skinny nightstands on either side of the bed held lamps, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

Because I booked an ocean-view room, I was able to look out over the front of the ship from a window above my bed.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (16)

The window was equipped with an electronic shade that could be opened during the day for grand views and closed when I was ready to sleep.

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While I thought the room might have been a tight space for a couple with a lot of luggage or a family, it was just right for me.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin. (17)

And watching the sun rise over the Caribbean Sea from the comfort of my room was the best part.