Star of the Seas Central Park Infinite Veranda Cabin Review
On our maiden voyage aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, we booked a Central Park View Infinite Veranda cabin. This is one of the newest stateroom types Royal has introduced, starting with Icon of the Seas.
We wanted to find out: does it really feel like a balcony, or just a glorified window? And is it worth booking over a standard ocean balcony? Here’s our honest review — the good, the not-so-good, and everything in between.
Watch Our Boarding and Cabin Tour Video
We filmed our full first impressions of this Central Park Infinite Veranda cabin on Star of the Seas. In the video we walk you through the entire space, demo how the balcony window works, and share our honest thoughts on storage, comfort, and noise.
What we cover in the video:
In our walkthrough, you’ll see:
How the Infinite Veranda window opens and closes
The layout of the cabin, including the bed, sofa, storage, and vanity
A look inside the modern bathroom with its surprising touches
Our thoughts on the pros (extra space, smart design, great tech)
The cons (less privacy, not quite a “real” balcony experience)
It’s the perfect sneak peek if you’re considering booking one of these cabins on Star of the Seas.
First Impressions
When we first walked in, our reaction was exactly what you’d expect: “Oh my gosh, this is so cool.” The cabin feels bright, modern, and spacious.
Instead of a sliding glass door leading to a balcony, the room extends right up to a floor-to-ceiling window that opens with the press of a button. It instantly transforms into an open-air veranda.
Because our cabin overlooked Central Park, our view wasn’t of the ocean but of the open-air neighborhood below — with leafy greenery, restaurants, bars, and live music. It felt more like staying in a city hotel with a courtyard than a typical cruise cabin.
Layout and Space
The Infinite Veranda design actually makes the room feel larger than a standard balcony cabin because there’s no wall or door breaking it up.
Inside we had:
A sofa that converts into an additional bed.
A king bed (convertible to twins) with lamps on both sides, each with built-in USB outlets and small side tables.
A standard North American power outlet and telephone next to the bed.
A large vanity desk with a chair, plus USB, European, and multi-socket outlets.
Plenty of shelves, drawers, and a large wardrobe.
A full-length mirror with extra shelving and a small safe hidden behind it.
A mini cooler.
Hairdryer (located in the vanity drawer).
A small table that can be moved around the room.
A large TV opposite the bed with additional shelving and USB outlets.
The veranda space was separated by curtains and featured:
A small table.
Two chairs.
Blackout blinds for complete darkness at night.
An additional light
Storage overall was decent, but we weren’t huge fans of the closet baskets. They look smart, but because you have to pull them out completely, they’re less practical than drawers and made a loud squeek.
The bed was comfortable, the blackout curtains worked perfectly, and overall we slept really well.
In fact, we thought this standard Infinite Veranda cabin was laid out better and much nicer decor than the Junior Sky Suite we stayed in on Allure of the Seas, which felt dated and less functional despite being sold as a premium experience.
Bathroom
The bathroom was surprisingly impressive for a standard cabin. It felt well laid out and modern, with a glass shower door, strong water pressure, and even a built-in shower seat — something we’ve never seen before on Royal Caribbean.
The bathroom also had two standard North American outlets (not the usual low-voltage shaver sockets) – something we haven’t seen on other cruises, making it much easier to use hair dryers, curling irons, or electric toothbrushes.
Storage was excellent, with shelves by the sink and toilet plus a deep drawer for tall bottles. We especially loved the towel rack inside the shower — it meant you could grab your towel without stepping out into the cold. A small touch, but a big win.
Tech and Features
This cabin is packed with modern touches:
Smart lighting controls with movie, evening, and sleep settings.
Thermostat and blinds synced — press “sleep” and the lights dim while the shades close automatically.
Room controls at your fingertips – you can manage lighting, air conditioning, and blinds from:
The touch panel next to the door
Or directly from your mobile phone via the Royal Caribbean app
Flat-screen TV linked with the Royal Caribbean app, offering on-demand movies, daily schedules, and even a Back to the Future channel.
Device casting support – for the first time on a Royal Caribbean ship, you can cast content directly from your own phone or tablet to the cabin TV. Just follow the instructions on the TV.
Plenty of charging options: USB, USB-C, European, and US outlets throughout the cabin.
The Infinite Veranda in Action
So, does it feel like a real balcony?
Yes and no. When the window is lowered, fresh air floods in and the space transforms into something that feels outdoors. The downside is that in hot weather the entire cabin essentially becomes part of the outside, which isn’t always comfortable. It can also cause friction if one person wants fresh air while the other prefers to keep the air conditioning on.
On our cruise, it was simply too hot to use for long periods, but we can imagine how lovely it would be to sit in the chairs with a glass of wine while listening to the live music drifting up from Central Park.
That said, it’s not the same as stepping out onto a traditional balcony. There’s no railing to lean on, no quick “pop outside” for a breath of fresh air.
Because our cabin overlooked Central Park, privacy was also an issue. There’s no sheer curtain, so if the blinds are open you’re visible to everyone below. The only way to get privacy is by closing the blackout blind, which plunges the room into total darkness.
We have previously tried a Boardwalk Balcony on Utopia of the Seas, which gave us that ‘step outside’ feeling but with the lively neighborhood atmosphere instead of Central Park greenery. Because this had a balcony - we felt it had more privacy in the cabin.
For cabins that face the ocean instead, the Infinite Veranda design really shines. The extra window space gives you what feels like a whole wall of glass, flooding the cabin with natural light and offering panoramic sea views. It feels brighter, more open, and in many ways more dramatic than a traditional balcony.
Noise and Comfort
Because we were overlooking Central Park, we could sometimes hear music and chatter drifting up in the evenings. We enjoyed it — it added atmosphere — but if you’re a very light sleeper, it might not be ideal.
Value for Money
Central Park View Infinite Verandas are usually cheaper than ocean-facing balconies. For us, it was a good balance: we got more usable cabin space, modern features, and the unique atmosphere of Central Park without paying a premium.
If you absolutely need ocean views, this won’t replace them. But if you want more space and don’t mind a neighborhood view, we think it’s excellent value.
Infinite Veranda vs. Traditional Balcony
Infinite Veranda (like ours):
✅ Feels more spacious inside the cabin
✅ Modern tech and smart design
✅ Often cheaper than ocean balconies
✅ Unique atmosphere overlooking Central Park or Boardwalk
❌ Doesn’t replicate the “step outside” balcony experience
❌ Less privacy — no sheer curtains, neighbors can see across
Traditional Balcony:
✅ Classic cruise experience — step outside anytime
✅ One person can be outside while the other stays in the AC
✅ Direct ocean views and the sound of the sea
✅ More private than neighborhood balconies
❌ Slightly smaller interior space
❌ Usually more expensive
Star of the Seas Infinite Veranda FAQ
Is the Infinite Veranda worth it?
Yes, if you value extra interior space and modern features. Infinite Veranda cabins feel larger and brighter than standard balconies, and they’re often cheaper. However, if privacy and ocean views are important to you, a traditional balcony may be the better choice.
What’s the difference between a Central Park Infinite Veranda and an ocean-facing Infinite Veranda?
Central Park cabins overlook the open-air neighborhood with restaurants, greenery, and live music, creating a unique atmosphere. Ocean-facing cabins, however, get the big win — uninterrupted sea views and even more natural light flooding into the room.
Do Infinite Veranda cabins get noisy?
Central Park-facing cabins can sometimes pick up background music and chatter from the neighborhood below. Most people find it adds atmosphere, but light sleepers should keep it in mind.
Final Thoughts
Our first impression? We’d book a Central Park View Infinite Veranda again if the price was right, but we’d still prefer an ocean-facing balcony for the privacy and classic cruise experience.
That said, this cabin gave us a completely different perspective of the ship and felt perfectly suited to the neighborhood-style design of Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class. For anyone looking for a modern, spacious cabin at a lower price point, it’s a very clever option — just know what you’re trading when you choose atmosphere over ocean views.
