A popular cruise line is addressing the complaints by adding a feature to connecting cabins
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Royal Caribbean ships have found a way to address one of the most common passenger complaints about connecting rooms on cruises.
Two of the company’s ships, Icon and Star of the Seas, have exterior doors for connecting cabins — replacing the traditional interior door, as reported by the Royal Caribbean Blog.
Guests are able to close exterior hallway doors while leaving their main room doors open or unlocked, making it easy to move between rooms without relying on a shared interior door.
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The change is designed to give travelers more flexibility and privacy.
“I have stayed in connecting rooms before, but there is a big difference with them on Star of the Seas. Instead of a connecting door inside the room, [there’s a] a feature I think is pure genius,” said the blog, which is not affiliated with the company itself.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships, Icon and starfish, they install interior doors for the bathroom with two exterior doors. (Stock)
“Royal Caribbean added exterior doors to solve the problem of connecting cabins that they often had – that the standard interior door was small and inefficient,” the blog continued.
“The idea with these rooms is that you can close the exterior doors and keep the main door of your house open or unlocked so you can easily walk into each area.”
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Royal Caribbean’s Iconic class is the newest generation of ships, which includes Iconic and Star of the Seas. Launching in 2024 and 2025, the flagships feature resort-style amenities and family-oriented spaces, the cruise line shared with Fox News Digital.
Common interior door [had been] it’s simple and doesn’t sound too loud.”
Connecting cabins have long been a popular option for families and groups who want separate sleeping areas but still need easy access between rooms.
The thin interior doors, however, and the lack of soundproofing made them unattractive to some travelers.
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The doors still require a room key or wearable device for access, allowing guests to control when the connection is on or off, the blog said.
The update aims to give travelers greater flexibility and improved privacy. (Stock)
For travelers, especially families, the update could make connecting rooms an attractive option without sacrificing privacy or quiet.
‘Crying and screaming all the time’
The issue of noise between connecting cabins has been a common complaint among cruise passengers.
In a Reddit thread discussing connecting rooms on tours, one user described constant interference from neighboring guests.
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“I have a balcony room with a connecting door for a family with three kids, and you are crying and screaming at all hours,” the user wrote.
“I can not sleep.”
The change makes connecting rooms more attractive while improving privacy and reducing noise, a common complaint among passengers. (Stock)
Some say the experience has made them avoid booking connecting rooms altogether.
“Connecting room doors suck. Will not book again,” wrote one reviewer.
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Others have noticed that the rooms work well only when traveling with family or friends.
“They’re great if you really want to hook up,” one user wrote. “It’s bad if you don’t.”
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Icon of the Seas was launched in January 2024 as the first Icon-class ship, which includes eight lounges, seven pools and a dedicated infinity pool.
Based in Miami, it includes more than 40 restaurants.
Star of the Seas launched in August 2025 from Port Canaveral.
The ship has eight neighborhoods, more than 68 dining options and an iconic water park. It’s a 7-night Caribbean cruise with a Full Day stop at CocoCay.
