Spectrum of the Seas: "New" Studio Balcony Cabins

[Cruise Wonderland]

Since Spectrum of the Seas is almost based in Shanghai year-round (with a few Hong Kong sailings in November-January), perhaps nobody has ever observed an unusual situation about the Studio Balcony cabins (i.e. single balcony cabins, Category 2F) on this ship. I have spotted it since late summer 2019, just a few months after her debut, but RCI hasn’t updated the deck plan for long time until recent days.

 

To start with, let’s recall the locations of Studio Balcony cabins on the first 4 Quantum Class vessels (Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum). Odyssey is not discussed here.

 

 

On Quantum Class, there are 12 Studio Balcony cabins, shown as orange colour on the deck plan.

6 cabins are on Deck Seven (7248, 7250, 7252, 7648, 7650, 7652).

6 cabins are on Deck Six (6248, 6250, 6252, 6648, 6650, 6652) which have obstructed view.

The cabin numbers ending with **52 have normal size balconies, **50 have larger balconies, and **52 have the largest.

 

However, on Spectrum, other than these 12 cabin numbers, there are actually far more Studio Balcony cabins.

On RCI's website, there are two sets of Spectrum's deck plan.

2020 Oct 20 - 2021 Jan 20: It still shows only 12 Studio Balcony cabins.

2021 Jan 24 - 2022 Jan 12: There are more Studio Balcony cabins, appearing even on Decks 13/12/11/10/9/8.

 

RCI does not "add" more cabins to the ship, but only re-categorize some double rooms to become single rooms. I am not sure whether there is any change to the beds or other features in the cabin, or only change of the colour (i.e. category) for those cabin numbers on the deck plan.

 

The "new" Studio Balcony cabin numbers include:

 

NEAR THE MIDSHIP ELEVATORS

Deck 13: 13242 / 13642: originally Category 2D Balcony

Deck 12: 12242 / 12642: originally Category 2D Balcony

Deck 11: 11242 / 11642: originally Category 2D Balcony

Deck 10: 10242 / 10642: originally Category 2D Balcony

Deck 09: 9242 / 9642: originally Category 2D Balcony

Deck 07: 7242 / 7642: originally Category 2D Balcony

Deck 06: 6242 / 6642: originally Category 4C Large Balcony

Deck 13: 13244 / 13644: originally Category 1C Large Balcony

Deck 12: 12244 / 12644: originally Category 1C Large Balcony

Deck 11: 11244 / 11644: originally Category 1C Large Balcony

Deck 10: 10244 / 10644: originally Category 1C Large Balcony

Deck 09: 9244 / 9644: originally Category 1C Large Balcony

Deck 07: 7244 / 7644: originally Category 3D Balcony

Deck 06: 6244 / 6644: originally Category 3D Balcony

 

AFT FACING

Deck 13: 13326 / 13328 / 13728 / 13726: originally Category 1C Large Balcony

Deck 11: 11326 / 11328 / 11728 / 11726: originally Category 4C Large Balcony

 

AFT AREA BUT SIDE FACING

Deck 9: 9322 / 9722: originally Category 4B Specious Balcony

Deck 8: 8320 / 8720: originally Category 8D Balcony

 

 

 

 

In other words, Spectrum has 40 more Studio Balcony cabins than Quantum / Anthem / Ovation. Solo-travelling guests can book these cabins at the price of a single balcony, but eventually have a balcony cabin with the size originally for two persons.

 

Although the new version of deck plan is stated to be effective starting from 2021 Jan 24, but I am sure that these cabin numbers were already changed to Studio Balcony cabins since late 2019. I had booked one of these cabins at the fare of Studio Balcony, although that cruise (in this year) was eventually cancelled, so I cannot verify whether these cabins have any interior modifications.

Edited October 21, 2020 by Cruise Wonderland

[Biker19]

40 minutes ago, Cruise Wonderland said:

so I cannot verify whether these cabins have any interior modifications.

The chances that RCI did any renovation to a brand new ship (especially to cabins) is the same as them sailing next month. What's more likely, and seems to be happening more often, they relabel them.

[At5920Feet]

A personal data point...

We sailed Spectrum in early January and the two of us were booked in 13642, sold as a 2A when we booked it 6 months prior.

 

A week prior to sailing, we received an updated invoice that showed us in a new cabin and much less favorable location on deck 9- this was done without asking us or even explaining which is a different story. After challenging this, we were told the reason for the unexpected move was that 13642 had a capacity for only one, and had mistakenly been categorized as a double. We were able to get a nearby cabin back on deck 13 and caught a glimpse into 13642- it looked large enough for 2 but the cabin attendant said it had a smaller bed than the normal king.  

Perhaps Royal has finally gotten around to correctly labeling this cabin as a single. 

[Ethanol95]

If this happens on Spectrum, could it be translated to future drydock upgrades to Quantum and Ovation? If these single cabins are highly demanded, is it possible that there may be a growing market there? 

[smplybcause]

What? Aft studio? Geeze. Wish the ship sailed where I'm looking to sail right now. 

[Cruise Wonderland]

1 hour ago, At5920Feet said:

A personal data point...

We sailed Spectrum in early January and the two of us were booked in 13642, sold as a 2A when we booked it 6 months prior.

 

A week prior to sailing, we received an updated invoice that showed us in a new cabin and much less favorable location on deck 9- this was done without asking us or even explaining which is a different story. After challenging this, we were told the reason for the unexpected move was that 13642 had a capacity for only one, and had mistakenly been categorized as a double. We were able to get a nearby cabin back on deck 13 and caught a glimpse into 13642- it looked large enough for 2 but the cabin attendant said it had a smaller bed than the normal king.  

Perhaps Royal has finally gotten around to correctly labeling this cabin as a single. 

 

Thank you for the first-hand observations. I am curious to know when did RCI change these cabins from double to single (but forget to update the deck plan)... Were these cabins already in single capacity at the very beginning from inaugural voyage in spring 2019? Or RCI changed them after the ship has sailed for several months in China...

 

1 hour ago, Ethanol95 said:

If this happens on Spectrum, could it be translated to future drydock upgrades to Quantum and Ovation? If these single cabins are highly demanded, is it possible that there may be a growing market there? 

 

It depends on whether these studio cabins are in high demand in Australia and Alaska. It is not difficult to transform a cabin from double to single (just changing the bed to a smaller size will do).

[Biker19]

12 minutes ago, Cruise Wonderland said:

It is not difficult to transform a cabin from double to single (just changing the bed to a smaller size will do).

I can't see a scenario under which RCI would change a "regular" sized cabin (160+ sq ft) into a solo cabin.

[Cruise Wonderland]

10 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

I can't see a scenario under which RCI would change a "regular" sized cabin (160+ sq ft) into a solo cabin.

 

Cabin 13642 seems to be a regular-sized cabin as well. However as mentioned by @At5920Feet above, it has also been changed to a solo cabin on Spectrum.

 

I am not sure if this is because of the popularity of solo cabins in Asia market, or if there are other reasons.

[Biker19]

11 minutes ago, Cruise Wonderland said:

I am not sure if this is because of the popularity of solo cabins in Asia market, or if there are other reasons.

They could just as easily adjust the solo premium and not relabel the cabin, but there may be some market specific reasons to recategorize.

[ipeeinthepool]

Do you need to look at the capacity of the other cabins in the area?  Did they increase the capacity of of some 2 person cabins to 3 or 4 people?  If there is a large market for cabins with increased occupancy, perhaps they needed to reduce the capacity of some cabins due to constraints with lifeboat capacity at specific muster locations.

[Joseph2017China]

Just to point out, that Spectrum is in the Asian market.  The market is "different" in many ways including the way a cruise is sold.  The ship is slightly designed different.  The loyalty program is different (The normal plan exists also, but Chinese citizens have a different one).  Now, the ships have to sail with less capacity, and a market exists for solo cruises.  We don't book on the Chinese website, but if you did you would notice many "differences" also, and it is important to have "single" cabins available for those that want it. It's easy in the USA to tell a solo cruiser that they have to pay double, but it is easier in the Asian market not to say that, but just have a price tag for that cabin on the web-page.  The marketing is way different in China, and how vacations are sold.  So, just like everything else, there is no reason to speculate.  The simple answer is Chinese marketing, and very specific to China.  

[Cruise Wonderland]

3 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Do you need to look at the capacity of the other cabins in the area?  Did they increase the capacity of of some 2 person cabins to 3 or 4 people?  If there is a large market for cabins with increased occupancy, perhaps they needed to reduce the capacity of some cabins due to constraints with lifeboat capacity at specific muster locations.

 

That's a logical point. I need to compare the old and new versions of the entire deck plan again to see if this is the reason.

[Cruise Wonderland]

1 hour ago, Joseph2017China said:

Just to point out, that Spectrum is in the Asian market.  The market is "different" in many ways including the way a cruise is sold.  The ship is slightly designed different.  The loyalty program is different (The normal plan exists also, but Chinese citizens have a different one).  Now, the ships have to sail with less capacity, and a market exists for solo cruises.  We don't book on the Chinese website, but if you did you would notice many "differences" also, and it is important to have "single" cabins available for those that want it. It's easy in the USA to tell a solo cruiser that they have to pay double, but it is easier in the Asian market not to say that, but just have a price tag for that cabin on the web-page.  The marketing is way different in China, and how vacations are sold.  So, just like everything else, there is no reason to speculate.  The simple answer is Chinese marketing, and very specific to China.  

 

I agree with you that Spectrum needs to have some differences comparing with other Quantum Class sisters, in order to cater for the Asians.

 

However Royal Caribbean should already know such characteristics of the Asian (or more accurately, the Chinese) market. It is not the first year they start their business in Asia. They already have more than 10 years of experience.

 

If single cabins are really important, why Spectrum was not originally designed with more single cabins? Instead, Royal Caribbean "suddenly" realized that there is over demand on the single cabins, then changed some of the cabins just several months after the ship entered service / arrived in Asia, and published a wrong deck plan for more than a year without correcting it.

[Joseph2017China]

3 hours ago, Cruise Wonderland said:

 

I agree with you that Spectrum needs to have some differences comparing with other Quantum Class sisters, in order to cater for the Asians.

 

However Royal Caribbean should already know such characteristics of the Asian (or more accurately, the Chinese) market. It is not the first year they start their business in Asia. They already have more than 10 years of experience.

 

If single cabins are really important, why Spectrum was not originally designed with more single cabins? Instead, Royal Caribbean "suddenly" realized that there is over demand on the single cabins, then changed some of the cabins just several months after the ship entered service / arrived in Asia, and published a wrong deck plan for more than a year without correcting it.

Single cabins are more important because the market shows it is important.  However, The cabins are not single cabins!  They are still doubles, but they are listed on the Chinese booking page for Singles.  A Bow/Stern single room is ¥13,336 per person and a normal (the rooms designed as studio) cost ¥7,289 per person.  In marketing, you can't tell a Chinese person, they have to pay double the price.....but if you put on the webpage, to book, one, two, three, or four people, and you pick that you are booking for one person, you will these staterooms being available.  So, RCCL is not telling the person they are paying double, they are just quoting a price for a single person.  We may think it's the same but it makes sense in that market. 

 

Things get a little complicated because we don't book on the chinese page, but rather the US page, and so the booking for cabins are much different.  You should note that the two web-pages are not managed by the same group.  So when RCCL-China makes a change to handle unique booking opportunities, it is not always translated quickly to the USA page, and with the extremely low numbers pre-covid in booking a Chinese cruise, it most likely is not a big priority.  

 

So basically, RCCL did not change cabins, they changed marketing to single customers.  Plus, the ship design is the same for either the Asian Market or the USA/European markets.  What is different is cosmetics only.  Change signs, change a restaurant or two.  All of which is cosmetic, and not structure.  Therefore the single cabins are just cosmetic change, and not structure. 

 

Also, this is Quantum Ultra, so the "sisters" are more like step-sisters.  Similar in many design elements, but different in many others. 

[SkaterJasp]

On 10/20/2020 at 9:02 PM, Cruise Wonderland said:

perhaps nobody has ever observed an unusual situation about the Studio Balcony cabins

Oh it’s been observed and talked about briefly on various trends but largely ignored since the ship sails mostly out of Asia. I stayed in 9322 multiple times on Spectrum. It is indeed standard room reclassified as Studio Balconies. There are no modifications to make them smaller or furnitures taken out to make them studios. The biggest reason is outside Asia there is no need for that many studio balconies and single travelers are willing to pay the single supplement for a larger room. Also you have to consider that every ship that had since been designed for Asia eventually end up sailing seasonally in other parts of the Pacific such as Australia. The ship may be designed for Asia, but it also needs to be flexible to use in other regions in the Pacific. 

Asia sailings, specifically departures out of China, have unique quirks and differences not found in other markets... the demographic and expectations is different and Royal does a very good job at catering to those differences and expectations. One good example that also ins’t talk about is how the NextCruise program in China is different. Than theres that whole other thing with the Gold and Silver level suites and perks offered... in addition, Diamond and above Crown and Anchor members have added, unpublished, perks on these sailings. 

Edited October 23, 2020 by SkaterJasp