Yahoo Lifestyle Royal Caribbean cruise passenger sparks debate over room with 'obstructed view'
One Icon of the Seas cruise passenger was not happy when she discovered how the ocean looked from her balcony at night.
A Royal Caribbean cruise passenger has ignited a debate about obstructed views on cabin balconies after complaining about a fixture on the outside of her balcony.
The woman named Abbie, who was enjoying a holiday on the world's largest cruise ship Icon of the Seas, earlier this year, questioned whether her room should be considered an 'obstructed view' room, arguing that a railing on the outside of the ship “messes up” the way the ocean looks at night.
In a video posted to social media, Abbie shares her view and explains the railing which spans the length of the ship cuts off the bottom of her view of the ocean down below when she’s sitting on the balcony.
“This rail goes all the way down,” Abbie, who was travelling with her husband, explains. “So you sit on the balcony, you should be able to just see right down at the ocean. But you can't.
“It's obstructed about a foot or so. And that messes up the way that the ocean looks at night. It's really pretty at night.”
What is an obstructed view?
According to cruise giant Royal Caribbean, an obstruction is “something that blocks a proportion of the direct outward view from a stateroom.” They go on to explain that the type of obstructions are usually lifeboats or the “outer structure of the ship”.
Abbie claims the bottom 30 centimetres of her view of the ocean is blocked by the railing but many responded to say she’s “gotta be joking”.
“No, that is not considered to be an obstructed view,” said one viewer. “Obstructed view balconies will have equipment [blocking] the view.” But Abbie argues the railing is equipment, saying “it’s still a rail blocking my view. A rail that holds equipment.”
“I can’t believe someone would COMPLAIN about that view,” said another of the stunning scenery in Abbie’s video.
Royal Caribbean was contacted for comment on the matter by Yahoo News.
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Cruises growing in popularity across all generations
While it was feared the cruise industry would never fully recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2023/24 travel period has had roughly 50 per cent more passengers than the year prior to the pandemic.
What’s more, in the past, many have assumed the clientele on cruises with the older generation, but Gen Z and millennials are increasingly attracted to setting sail for their holidays.
Carnival Australia said earlier this year there has been a steady increase in young Australians going on cruises in the past few years, with Cruise Lines International Association managing director Joel Katz telling the public broadcaster the average cruise age of 49 is "much younger than it used to be".
And operators are now moving to attract younger passengers offering onboard services such as state-of-the-art gyms, tattoo parlours and late-night pizza stands.
One such attraction has been Royal Caribbean's nine-month Ultimate World Cruise which has become a TikTok sensation with content creators like Aussie comedian Christian Hull documenting his adventures on board.
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