A deluxe balcony royal princess cabin is a mid-tier veranda stateroom measuring roughly 233 to 255 square feet, including the balcony. It adds a sofa bed to the features found in a Standard Balcony cabin, giving you more flexibility for relaxing or accommodating an extra guest. On Royal Princess, these cabins appear under several category codes, including DA through DG, DV, DW, and DZ. Each category can differ by deck, balcony style, and location, with some having details worth checking before you book. Overall, the deluxe balcony royal princess sits between a Standard Balcony and Mini Suite in terms of size, price, and comfort.
That’s the short version. Here’s what actually matters once you start comparing cabin numbers.
The Deluxe Balcony Category Codes, and What Each One Actually Gets You
Princess doesn’t sell one “Deluxe Balcony” cabin. It sells nine or ten variations of it, all bundled under the same marketing name but priced and located differently. If you’ve ever pulled up a deck plan and wondered why DA is more expensive than DE for what looks like the identical room, this is why.
| Code | Size (approx., with balcony) | Where you’ll find it | What’s different |
|---|---|---|---|
| D4 | ~274 sq ft (233 sq ft cabin + 41 sq ft balcony) | Best-positioned spots across several decks | Marketed as “Premium Deluxe Balcony,” sofa bed, some units add a pullman berth |
| DA | ~249 sq ft | Dolphin Deck (9) | Slightly larger footprint than the other Deluxe codes |
| DB | ~233 sq ft | Dolphin, Caribe, Baja, Aloha, Riviera | Standard Deluxe Balcony layout |
| DC | ~233 sq ft | Emerald, Marina | Standard Deluxe Balcony layout |
| DD | ~233 sq ft | Dolphin, Caribe, Baja, Aloha, Riviera | Standard Deluxe Balcony layout |
| DE | ~233 sq ft | Emerald, Dolphin, Aloha, Riviera, Marina | Standard Deluxe Balcony layout |
| DF | ~233–255 sq ft (sources vary) | Emerald, Marina, Lido | Standard Deluxe Balcony layout |
| DV | ~253 sq ft | Varies | Obstructed by solid steel railing or lifeboats |
| DW | ~233 sq ft | Emerald, Marina, Lido | Obstructed view |
| DZ | ~263–291 sq ft | Upper decks | Larger balcony, but usable only while in port |
Notice that DF shows up with two different figures depending on the source. Cruiseline.com lists it at roughly 255 square feet including the balcony, while other cabin trackers round it to 233. That’s not a typo on either end, it’s a difference in whether the balcony square footage is being counted separately or folded into the total. My advice: don’t trust the category average. Pull the actual deck plan PDF for your specific cabin number before you book, because two cabins in the same category on different decks can have slightly different footprints depending on what’s structurally underneath them.
Field note: On my last Royal Princess sailing I had a DE on Riviera Deck and a friend had a DB on Baja Deck the year before. Same category type, same amenities list, but her balcony had about a foot more depth because it sat above a public deck rather than another row of cabins. The brochure never mentions this. The deck plan does, if you know to look at the layer below your cabin, not just your own.
Deck-by-Deck: Where the Deluxe Balconies Actually Sit
Deluxe Balcony cabins run across eight different decks on Royal Princess: Emerald (8), Dolphin (9), Caribe (10), Baja (11), Aloha (12), Riviera (14), Marina (15), and Lido (16). That spread matters more than most guides let on.
- Emerald and Dolphin (decks 8–9) sit closer to the ship’s midsection and tend to ride smoother in rough seas, which is worth knowing if you’re prone to motion sickness.
- Caribe through Riviera (decks 10–14) are the bulk of the standard Deluxe Balcony inventory and are generally the quietest, since they’re sandwiched between other cabin decks rather than public spaces.
- Marina and Lido (decks 15–16) put you a short walk from the pool deck and buffet, which is convenient, but also means more foot traffic in the hallway and, on Lido specifically, some noise from deck chairs and early risers directly above.
If quiet mornings matter more to you than a quick buffet run, aim for a cabin in the 9 through 14 range and avoid anything directly under the pool deck or the Sanctuary. If convenience wins, Marina or Lido gets you there faster at the cost of a bit more ambient noise.
The Obstructed Codes Nobody Explains Properly: DV, DW, and DZ
This is the part most competitor articles skip entirely, and it’s the part that actually changes whether you’ll be happy with your cabin.
DV and DW carry the word “obstructed” because either a solid steel balcony railing (instead of glass) or a lifeboat sits in your sightline. It doesn’t ruin the cabin, but it does mean your view isn’t the postcard shot you’re picturing.
DZ is the one to read twice. These cabins have a bigger balcony on paper, up to 291 square feet total, but the balcony can only be used while the ship is in port. At sea, it’s blocked off. If you booked a DZ expecting to sip coffee on your veranda during a sea day, you’ll be disappointed. This is genuinely useful to know before you pay a premium for “extra balcony space” that you can only use a fraction of the time.
Can a Deluxe Balcony Really Sleep Four?
Short answer: sometimes, and it depends entirely on which code you booked.
The sofa bed is standard across every Deluxe Balcony category, so three passengers is the norm. A fourth person requires either a pullman berth (a bed that folds down from the wall or ceiling) or a rollaway, and not every Deluxe Balcony cabin has one. Princess’s own stateroom page for the Premium Deluxe category confirms this directly: some units include a pullman for a fourth guest, but not all of them do, even within the same category code.
Two practical things to check before you book a family of four into a Deluxe Balcony:
- Confirm the pullman, don’t assume it. Call or check the specific cabin number’s deck plan rather than relying on the category description, since “some” cabins have it and others in the identical category don’t.
- Do the math on floor space. With a sofa bed opened and a pullman down, a 233 square foot room gets tight fast. If you’re traveling with teenagers who need actual elbow room, a Mini Suite at closer to 299 square feet will feel far less like a game of Tetris.
Rollaway beds are also available on request at booking, but Princess only carries a limited number per ship per voyage, so this isn’t something to leave until embarkation day.
Deluxe Balcony vs. Premium Deluxe Balcony vs. Mini Suite
These three get lumped together constantly, and the differences are smaller than the price gaps suggest in some cases and much bigger in others.
| Deluxe Balcony | Premium Deluxe Balcony | Mini Suite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx. size (with balcony) | 233–255 sq ft | ~274 sq ft | ~299 sq ft |
| Sofa bed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pullman for 4th guest | Some cabins only | Some cabins only | Not typically needed, larger base capacity |
| Bathroom | Standard shower | Standard shower | Upgraded, some with tub |
| Location on ship | Spread across 8 decks | Better-positioned spots | Often more central, larger footprint |
| Typical price step-up | Baseline | +5–15% over Deluxe | +20–50% over Deluxe |
The jump from Deluxe Balcony to Premium Deluxe Balcony buys you a slightly bigger room and usually a better location, but the room itself is nearly identical in furniture and finish. The jump to Mini Suite buys you meaningfully more floor space and a proper separate seating area, which matters most if you’re sailing for a week or longer and plan to actually spend daytime hours in the cabin.
My rule of thumb after several bookings: if the price difference between Deluxe Balcony and Premium Deluxe Balcony is under roughly $15 to $25 per person per night, take the upgrade for the better location alone. If the jump to Mini Suite is under about 25 percent of your total fare, it’s usually worth it for a cruise longer than seven nights. Below that threshold, a Deluxe Balcony does the job just fine.
What Past Guests Actually Say
Pulling from verified reviews left specifically on Royal Princess Deluxe Balcony stays, a pattern shows up pretty consistently. Guests traveling as families rate the space as comfortable even with three people aboard, and several specifically call out how quiet the cabin felt, with no noise bleeding through from neighboring rooms. On the flip side, a recurring complaint is that the room can feel dated or worn around the edges depending on when the ship last went through a refurbishment, and more than one reviewer mentioned the balcony itself is narrow enough that two people standing at the rail is about the limit.
That narrow-balcony note isn’t a one-off complaint either. It shows up in the cabin’s own stateroom feature list from independent cabin trackers, which flag it plainly: most Deluxe Balcony balconies on this ship are narrow by design, not by bad luck of the draw.
Field note: If having room to actually sit two chairs and a small table on the balcony matters to you, that’s the single biggest reason to consider the Premium Deluxe or a Mini Suite instead. The interior room size difference between categories is often smaller than people expect. The balcony depth difference is usually where you feel it most.
Is It Worth the Price Jump From Standard Balcony?
A Standard Balcony cabin on Royal Princess gets you the veranda and not much else beyond the basics: twin beds that convert to a queen, a small desk, a mini-fridge. No sofa bed, no third-passenger capacity in most cases. The Deluxe Balcony premium is buying you that sofa bed and the flexibility it brings, plus in several category codes, a modestly larger footprint.
If you’re a couple who just wants a place to watch the sunrise with coffee, the upgrade to Deluxe Balcony probably isn’t worth chasing unless the fare gap is small. If you’re traveling with a child, a friend, or planning to actually use the cabin as a hangout space between excursions, the sofa bed alone justifies the difference for most travelers.
Before You Book: A Quick Checklist
- Pull the exact deck plan for your cabin number, not just the category description. Two cabins in the same category can differ in real balcony depth.
- If you’re booking a DZ, confirm you’re comfortable with a balcony that’s only usable in port.
- If you need a 4th berth, verify the pullman is actually present in that specific cabin, not just typical for the category.
- Compare the live fare gap to Premium Deluxe Balcony and Mini Suite before locking in. The percentage difference on the day you book often makes the decision for you.
- Budget for onboard extras separately. Cabin category won’t affect what you pay for drinks packages, so it’s worth checking the current Princess drink menu pricing while you’re planning your total trip cost.
- If you’re cross-shopping against other cruise lines’ balcony terminology, it helps to know the category names aren’t standardized. Holland America, for example, calls its equivalent room the Eurodam Verandah cabin which causes a lot of confusion for first-time comparison shoppers.
- If a Mini Suite is on your shortlist, know that the newest Princess ships have pushed that category even further. Sun Princess, for instance, introduced the Sun Princess Cabana Mini Suite which is worth a look if you’re flexible on which ship you sail.
FAQs About Deluxe Balcony Royal Princess
What is the difference between a Deluxe Balcony and a Balcony on Princess?
A Standard Balcony has twin beds that convert to a queen, a desk, and a balcony, but no sofa bed and typically caps out at two guests comfortably. A Deluxe Balcony adds the sofa bed, opening up third-passenger capacity, and usually a modest size increase depending on the category code.
Which cabins on Royal Princess have the best balconies?
Categories with the deepest balconies tend to be D4 (Premium Deluxe) and DZ, though DZ balconies are only usable in port. For the best combination of usable balcony space and consistent access at sea, D4 or DA typically outperform the standard DB through DF codes.
What is the difference between a balcony stateroom and a balcony Deluxe stateroom?
“Balcony stateroom” and “Standard Balcony” refer to the same base category. “Deluxe” is the tier above it, distinguished mainly by the added sofa bed and, in several category codes, extra square footage.
When was Royal Princess last refurbished?
Publicly available drydock records point to Royal Princess’s last confirmed major refurbishment being in 2018, with no widely reported major refit since. Schedules shift, so it’s worth checking current itinerary announcements or your booking agent closer to your sail date, since Princess has been actively updating other Royal-class ships in recent seasons.
Is a Deluxe Balcony cabin worth it for a family of four?
Only if your specific cabin has both a sofa bed and a pullman berth confirmed. Without the pullman, you’re limited to three guests. Even with both, 233 square feet sleeping four gets cramped, so families who value extra floor space over cabin category price should look at a Mini Suite instead.
How much more does a Deluxe Balcony cost than a Standard Balcony?
This varies by sailing date and demand, but as a general pattern, expect the Deluxe Balcony fare to run somewhat higher per person than a Standard Balcony on the same sailing. The exact gap swings enough by season that it’s worth comparing live pricing rather than relying on a fixed percentage.
Do all Deluxe Balcony cabins on Royal Princess have the same size?
No. Depending on the category code, cabin size with balcony ranges from roughly 233 square feet up to 291 square feet for the obstructed DZ category. Always check the specific code, not just the “Deluxe Balcony” label.
Should I book Deluxe Balcony or Mini Suite on Royal Princess?
If you’re sailing under a week and mainly want a comfortable base to sleep and shower in, Deluxe Balcony covers it. If you’re sailing longer, traveling with a third or fourth guest regularly, or plan to spend real daytime hours in the cabin, the extra square footage and separate seating area in a Mini Suite tends to earn its price difference.