Quantum of the Seas Ocean View Cabin Review and Tour 2024

Introduction: Our Cabin on Quantum of the Seas

This review (which, with a reference to Big Foot and the Boston Tea Party, will probably be the weirdest you’ll ever read – apologies in advance) is of a deck 3 ocean view cabin on Quantum of the Seas. Ours was cabin 3606, located mid-ship on the starboard side, but similar cabins include: 3652, 3650, 3648, 3646, 3644, 3642, 3640, 3638, 3636, 3634, 3632, 3630, 3628, 3626, 3624, 3622, 3620, 3618, 3616, 3614, 3612, 3610, 3608, 3604, 3602, 3600, 3598, 3596, 3594, 3592, 3590, 3588, 3586, 3584, 3582, 3580, 3578, 3576, 3574, 3572, 3570, 3568, 3566, 3564, 3562, 3558, 3556, 3554, 3550, 3548, 3546, 3252, 3250, 3248, 3246, 3244, 3242, 3240, 3238, 3236, 3234, 3232, 3230, 3228, 3226, 3224, 3222, 3220, 3218, 3216, 3214, 3212, 3210, 3208, 3206, 3204, 3202, 3200, 3198, 3196, 3194, 3192, 3190, 3188, 3186, 3184, 3182, 3180, 3178, 3176, 3174, 3172, 3170, 3168, 3166, 3164, 3162, 3158, 3156, 3154, 3150, 3148, and 3146.

We sailed in this cabin on a 7-night cruise to Alaska to celebrate my son’s graduation from elementary school. Kids these days. On the day I “graduated” from elementary school I came home on the bus to an empty box of Ding Dongs (and a chiding lecture from my mother about rationing our snacks so they’d last a full week) and instructions to go ride my bike until dinner. My kid gets his photo posted all over the internet holding a “Last Day of 5th Grade” sign I spent $10 in printer ink on, a ceremony and reception at school that relatives FLEW in for, and a freakin CRUISE.

Anyway, here’s a complete tour followed by some notable things about our ocean view cabin if you’re booked in or considering a similar one on Quantum of the Seas (note that these cabins are virtually identical to the balcony cabins, but with a window where the balcony would be).

Size and Layout

At 198 sq ft, this ocean view cabin was equivalent to the average-sized water-facing apartment in Seattle within the $10,000-$15,000 a month price range (that’s an exaggeration, but only a slight one). I loved the layout, except for the armoire piece positioned between the bed and the sofa. It blocked my view of outside while I laid in bed and you know as soon as I leaned my head back a giant pod of albino, unicorn, orcas appeared just out of view.

Storage

Speaking of the armoire, storage was ample and included two large armoires, one on either side of the bed, two large cabinets above the bed, and a dresser with five drawers (plus a mini-fridge). I also used under the bed to store our luggage and as a hiding spot when it was time to disembark (obviously it didn’t work or I’d be at the Windjammer buffet eating doughnuts right now and not back at home plugging my nose while I gag down a shot of dehydrated broccoli sprouts to make peace with my gut microbiome after 7 days of cruise binging).

Desk

I used the desk to finally complete my memoir. I’ll share the first (and only) chapter exclusively with you now. It’s called, Sailing Through Life: “In 2010 I went on a cruise for my honeymoon. And that’s pretty much all I’ve done since.” Should I mention the birth of my kid? Nah. But, I do plan to add a footnote indicating that I took a forced hiatus from cruising due to Covid.

Not a Coffee Maker

That’s not a coffee maker, it’s a kettle! While that will come as a disappointment to many Americans, it felt like further vindication to me. No, I’m not British or my cruise blog and YouTube channel would be WAY more popular. So allow me to explain. Twelve years ago, when I got pregnant with my son, I gave up coffee for good. Instead I switched to this hippy dippy drink I invented which is a blend of mushroom powder, caffeine free masala chai, pure cocoa, and turmeric, which you stir into hot water with a stick and drink from a colocasia leaf which you then eat (okay, that last part’s an embellishment, but the drink recipe is 100% true). Anyway, my family and friends have teased me relentlessly about this over the years until my husband sent out a group text a few months ago about a new “mushroom coffee” joint opening in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Seattle. And for the first time ever, I’m a full decade ahead of a trend instead of triple that number of years behind one (I’m wearing my stone-washed tufted Girbaud jeans and ESPRIT shirt right now to prove it).

And you better believe I brought my mushroom “coffee” onboard with me and was thrilled with a kettle for hot water to stir it in! You can also use the kettle for tea if you didn’t get the message back in 1773 that you were supposed to dump it all overboard (sorry, it’s too late – they don’t allow you to dump anything overboard on a cruise ship). My son also liked it for making hot chocolate. There are tea bags and hot chocolate packets available at the buffet.

Mini-Fridge

When you open the large door on the dresser for the first time, be sure to yell, “FOUND YOU,” like you’re playing hide-and-seek with the mini-fridge. And I suggest you keep it stocked with pizza from Sorrento’s and desserts from Cafe Promenade for late night snacking. Or early morning. Or between your first and second breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s always a good time for a snack on a cruise!

Self Portrait

I never purchase cruise ship photos – I find them overpriced and, honestly, tackier than one of those ugly “LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE” signs attached to the wall of a county morgue using some pre-chewed gum. However, for the first time ever, I purchased a photo taken of me on Quantum of the Seas because it so perfectly captured the one thing I did more than anything else on this cruise. Here it is:

You’ll find a similar image, one I regularly disregarded to my peril, on the bathroom door of your cabin, warning of a step up. Heed it if you don’t want to emerge from doing your business with a halo of twittering birds.

Control

If I seem more controlling, even maniacal at times, blame the Quantum. It all began with the self-adjustable thermostat and the plastic slot that allowed me to control the power in our cabin with an old hotel key card. It started out innocent enough with me cranking up the heat as high as it would go to save money on the spa, “man, it’s like a sauna in here” and escalated to me turning off the thermostat completely as I dramatically pulled the card out of the slot, killing most of the power to our stateroom as I chillingly proclaimed, “you’re mine now, Gotham City!”

Outlets

That’s outlets, plural. Older ships sometimes only come equipped with one three-prong outlet, like all I have to plug in are my hot rollers and not two phones, a laptop, a tablet, a portable fan, an electric toothbrush, some ear pods, and some rechargeable heated gloves (true story, this was a cruise to Alaska and I have shamefully poor circulation). Well our cabin on the Quantum came equipped with three, three-prong American-style outlets (two above the desk and one next to the bed), two USB outlets (above the desk), and a European style outlet (above the desk – if you have a European to American outlet converter, pop that in your luggage to make use of it).

Bathroom

The bathroom was pretty standard, but with nice, modern finishes and a solid shower surround. There was the typical “destroy your hair in just three washes!” shampoo/body wash combo, a bar of soap, and a removable shower head if you need to defend your position on the toilet at the one hour mark: “I know I shouldn’t have ordered three cheese plates with dessert, but enter at your own risk!”

And while I loved the glass-enclosed shower (it felt spacious and the glass prevented water from getting all over the bathroom floor), there was this mystery bar in there I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out. Here’s a photo of it:

Oh wait, my bad, those are my legs in the shower – you may recognize them from some alleged Big Foot sightings. If you’re wondering why they’re so hairy, it’s because they keep me warm in the winter and make my shaggy-haired rescue dog feel less alienated. But here’s the mystery bar (honestly, what is it used for?):

Now before this review gets any weirder (trust me, it’s possible, just wait for my full ship review), here’s a quick packing tip before you scream into your pillow and cancel your internet.

Quantum of the Seas Packing Tip

While I’m a rare under-packer who prefers to travel light with only the essentials, I do recommend one popular “cruise cabin hack” for Quantum of the Seas. While this cabin worked for us in almost every way, we did find the lack of a retractable shower clothesline (present in almost every other cabin I’ve sailed in) and a shortage of hooks a problem when it came to hanging jackets, backpacks, and damp bathing suits and clothing. I’d recommend picking up a pack of magnetic hooks* (the walls are metal, so you can slap them up anywhere):

And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Want to preview the dining room and buffet menus on Quantum?

Homework (10 points): Ask any questions you may still have about cabins on Quantum of the Seas to the comments. Or, if you’ve cruised on her before, share your best cabin tips.

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