They Can’t Quite Beam You Aboard, But...

Today’s staterooms are sleeker—and smarter—than ever before. Here are a few surprising features your next cruise stateroom could have in store.

By Diane Tierney

Virtual assistants? Check. Slides from your kids’ bedroom to your living space? You bet. Lighting that adjusts automatically to the time of day? It’s on the way! Today’s cabins might include a gamut of smart technology or feature enormous, opulent spaces or specific themes, like spa staterooms designed to give you that post-massage feeling throughout your stay. Here’s a look at what’s new and trending in cabins today—and what’s in store for the cabins of the future.

Smart staterooms that do all the thinking for you

Smart technology is at the forefront of cabin evolution and many magical features are already available. Princess Cruises’ Medallion wearable technology can detect when you’re approaching your cabin door and unlock it before you get there. Onboard one of Celebrity’s Edge-series ships, the cruise line’s smartphone app lets you control the temperature, curtains, lights and TV while virtual windows, like those on Norwegian, offer a faux ocean view that changes throughout the day. Want to see a show or book a shore excursion? Simply use the cruise line app to plan your day.

Princess Cruises’ app is your handy in-pocket guide.

Over the next decade, according to MSC Group’s 2020 report “The Future of the Guest Experience,” cabins may soon be able to detect your pulse and body temperature and turn on the AC to cool you off when you return from a strenuous workout. Your lights will also adjust themselves depending on the time of day, and your cabin sensors might even be able to detect how you’re feeling based on facial recognition on your smartphone and switch up the artwork on the walls to better suit your mood.

Balconies that go above and beyond

Infinite verandas featuring floor-to-ceiling windows are already creating a seamless flow between indoors and out on several Celebrity ships. At the touch of a button, the top section of the glass wall drops down like a window to allow fresh air in, while the bottom half is stationary and serves as a half wall.

See more sea from your stateroom with Celebrity’s Infinite Veranda.

Sun Princess, scheduled to launch in February 2024, is offering a new stateroom category that features private cabanas beside its balconies for an extra-large outdoor lounge space. Meanwhile, Silversea is launching its Silver Nova and Silver Ray ships with new Otium suites where guests can admire the 270-degree views from the whirlpools on their balconies.

Better family bonding

Carnival Family Harbor staterooms—kitted out in nautical décor—can accommodate up to five family members and include a separate bedroom and living room area (with TVs in each) as well as walk-in closets, full bathroom and separate washroom so there are plenty of spaces to spread out. For the kids at heart, all staterooms aboard Disney Wish feature artwork and subtle decorative nods to Disney’s iconic animated films.

Dreams take flight in themed cabins aboard Disney Wish.

Royal Caribbean family cabins offer endless ways to bond over thrilling new experiences—all in one room. The Ultimate Family Suite (exclusively onboard Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas) is on two levels with an in-suite slide. It includes an air hockey table and table tennis on your balcony along with your very own jacuzzi.

Slide into Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Family Suite.

The latest in luxury

In May 2024, Cunard will introduce guests to its luxurious Queens Grill suites, complete with a choose-your-own pillow concierge, fresh flowers and access to your own personal table at the exclusive Queens Grill restaurant. Explora Journeys worked with luxury brand Molteni&C to furnish the suites of the new EXPLORA I with iconic sofas and chairs and incorporated the brand’s new outdoor collection on selected terraces. Meanwhile, Regent has the most expensive bed at sea worth about $200,000 in its 4,400-square-foot space.

Regent is home to the most expensive bed at sea.

Building a sustainable future

Cruise lines are constantly seeking ways to operate in the most environment-friendly way, from using cleaner LNG fuel to adopting more efficient recycling strategies. Stateroom sensors monitor the use of heating, lighting and cooling to save power when possible, such as turning off devices when a cabin is detected as empty. Special coatings on windows also keep staterooms cool, the AC turns off when a balcony door is opened and water is recycled for heating.