Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and its Surfside Family Suite is one of the more intriguing cabin concepts aboard. Priced at $4,744 for a seven-night Caribbean sailing — the same rate whether one or two adults book it — the 269-square-foot suite is designed to give families with young children a sense of separation without the cost of a sprawling luxury suite. Royal Caribbean Blog's Matt Hochberg recently stayed in cabin 9693 on deck 9, located in the ship's Surfside neighborhood, and came away largely impressed.
The suite is divided into three distinct areas: a main bedroom with a king-size bed (which can be split into twins), a kids' nook separated from the main room by a curtain, and a 53-square-foot balcony overlooking the Surfside neighborhood. The kids' space includes its own television and a pullout sofa that converts to a bed — Hochberg noted that a full-grown adult can fit in it, though it's clearly intended for younger children. A second TV in the main room means no fighting over what to watch, which any parent will appreciate.
One of the suite's standout features is its split bathroom layout: one side holds a shower and sink, the other a toilet and sink — a practical setup Hochberg compared favorably to Disney Cruise Line's long-standing approach. However, he flagged two notable drawbacks. First, there is no bathtub, which is unusual for a Royal Caribbean suite and particularly surprising in a cabin marketed to families with small children. Second, storage space falls short for a room rated for up to four passengers — several drawers are pre-occupied by items like a hair dryer and room service menus, and a shelf is taken up by the in-room safe.
Noise, which Hochberg admitted he feared given the suite's position facing an active kids' play area, turned out to be a non-issue. The cabin stayed quiet even during daytime hours, and the indirect sunlight from facing into the neighborhood rather than the open ocean meant he was never disturbed by early morning sun. He does note that the proximity to the Surfside entrance made the balcony feel a bit exposed to foot traffic.
Overall, Hochberg recommends the Surfside Family Suite specifically for families with children under about age eight — the kids' nook and split bath are genuinely well-conceived for that demographic, but the sofa bed and limited storage make it a tighter fit for older kids or teenagers. Star of the Seas carries 2,805 cabins and suites in total. Full details and photos are available at Royal Caribbean Blog.
