We’ve sailed with Atlas Ocean Voyages twice now. Our first expedition was to Antarctica and our most recent epicurean expedition was in the Mediterranean. On these cruises, we tested out the two different balcony cabin options: the Horizon Stateroom and the Veranda Stateroom. How did they compare? Which is the better option? We share all the details in our Atlas Ocean Voyages stateroom review.

Our Atlas Ocean Voyages Stateroom Review- Is a Horizon Stateroom or Veranda Stateroom the Better Option?

When reviewing the cabin options on Atlas Ocean Voyages, guests will have the choice of ocean view, balcony, or suite accommodations.

The Adventure Ocean View Staterooms are the most economically priced. These rooms are on Deck 3, are approximately 183 square feet, and offer only window views to the outside world.

The suites will come with the highest price tag. The Navigator Suite is a 1-bedroom suite with an oversized balcony, measuring in at 465 square feet. The Discovery Suite is only slightly smaller at 445 square feet, and the Journey Suite is 382 square feet. All suites come with added perks like butler service and expanded room service menus.

However, the majority of the cabins on Atlas Ocean Voyages are balcony accommodations, either deluxe at 300 square feet or standard at 270 square feet. Where these rooms differ are the balconies themselves. Guests can either choose a traditional walk-out balcony (Veranda Stateroom) or an infinite balcony (Horizon Stateroom). This setup is more like a floor-to-ceiling window that opens on the top.

Now, there are pros and cons to each setup. And which one you should choose will ultimately depend on your personal preferences and likely even the region in which you are sailing. The biggest advantage to the Horizon Stateroom is the added square footage in your living space. The biggest advantage to the Veranda Stateroom is having a personal, dedicated outdoor space.

Layout of an Atlas Ocean Voyages Stateroom

For our Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica cruise, we stayed in cabin 545. This Horizon Stateroom (category A2) is located aft on the starboard side of Deck 5. For our recent Epicurean Expedition in the Med, we stayed in cabin 514. This Veranda Stateroom (category B2) is located foward on the portside of the ship.

When comparing the two stateroom options, both have a very similar layout and inclusions. The main differences are visible in the size of the seating area. So, let’s take a look at the basic layout of Atlas Ocean Voyages balcony staterooms.

In both cabins, immediately upon entering, the bathroom was to the left with the closets across the way. Continuing into the room, the bed was beyond the bathroom with the television on the opposite wall. Then, there was the seating area to the left and the desk to the right immediately preceding the “balcony”.

The color palette does vary by ship. On World Voyager, our room featured lighter wood tones with green accents. On World Traveller, our room featured darker wood tones with blue acccents. Our personal preference is always the lighter wood finishes as it makes the room seem more open, but both still offered nautical vibes.

Inside the Atlas Ocean Voyages Stateroom

Bathroom

The bathroom in our Atlas Ocean Voyages stateroom was certainly an upgrade compared to those on mainstream cruise lines in terms of both the size and the amenities. Roughly speaking, it’s probably close to double in size when compared to a traditional balcony cabin bathroom; the size is certainly more on par with a bathroom found in a suite on contemporary cruise lines.

It features three storage shelves above the toilet, a large vanity, an oversized shower, and marble finishes. With a rainfall showerhead and jet options, the walk-in shower is like a mini-spa in your stateroom. Not to mention, it’s also stocked with luxurious L’OCCITANE amenities, including the always-welcomed liquid hand soap dispenser.

Main Cabin Area

The closets in both stateroom types are identical. While you will notice three sets of doors in the entrance hallway, only two are closets. The first door houses the lifejackets only.

The second set of doors is the larger of the two closets. Here, you’ll find a small 3/4 length clothes bar with a small shelf underneath, a 1/2 length clothes bar with the safe and two drawers underneath, and a series of five shelves in the middle. Finally, the third corner closet has a clothes bar, with one overhead shelf and two lower shelves.

While this may sound like a lot of storage space, it just wasn’t very practical. None of the clothes bars were long enough to hang dresses without having them bunch at the bottom. The shelves were also pretty narrow so didn’t fit our packing cubes well. Further, there was limited space for shoe storage once we unpacked and organized all of our clothing for the respective 9-day and 12-day voyages. Particulary when it comes to polar voyages, the rooms also lack storage areas to dry wet gear.

The queen bed was across from the flatscreen television, and there was a small nightstand on each side of the bed. Though, only one side features a USB outlet for charging devices in the evening. The luxurious Portuguese cotton linens ensured we got a restful night sleep after long days of exploring lesser-visited Mediterranean ports or the 7th Continent.

When it comes to the desk, you will notice some differences in size between the Horizon and Veranda stateroom options. The desk in the Horizon stateroom is longer, offering more space. There’s also a chair located beside the desk in this category. Both still feature a stocked mini-fridge as well as a Nespresso Coffee machine and Kusmi Teas, which is definitely a nice touch. In terms of outlets, you’ll find a 110V, 220V, and two USBs at the desk. (There are also a few additional outlets located near the television.)

The sitting areas also differ. Given that there is more interior space in the Horizon Stateroom, these cabins feature a loveseat and coffee table. Whereas, the Veranda Stateroom features just two chairs and a small round table. Even still, the area feels tight and one chair is in front of the balcony.

Balcony

Finally, there was the balcony.

Where the Veranda Stateroom lacks interior space, it makes up for it with dedicated outdoor space. The balcony features two cushioned chairs and a round table. In warmer climates, this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some ocean views between the exciting ports of call. We used this space to watch the ship sail into and out of ports; however, we didn’t spend as much time on the balcony as we would have expected. This is mostly because the temperatures were just sooo hot.

With the Horizon Stateroom, the “balcony” is what the cruise industry often refers to as an infinite balcony. This floor-to-ceiling window opens from the top via the push of a button. It opens to approximately mid-torso level so guests can still enjoy access to fresh air. It also allows for taking photos of the scenery. However, there is no true division of indoor and outdoor space.

Further, the air conditioning shuts off when the window is opened. This means that one guest can’t enjoy the outdoors while the other enjoys the air conditioned cabin. Putting down the window is also a bit noisy, so it’s not likely that one guest can enjoy the ocean breeze with a morning coffee while the other guest is still sleeping.

Inclusions

When it comes to inclusions, the Horizon Stateroom and Veranda Stateroom are identical, as are the deluxe counterparts. These rooms include:

• Free stocked minibar
• Free 24-hour room service including alcoholic beverages
• Nespresso Coffee and Kusmi Teas
• Still and sparkling water in reusable glass bottles
• L’OCCITANE bath amenities
• Plush bathrobes and slippers
• Complimentary use of binoculars
• Twice daily service
• Reusable water bottle

Further, all Atlas Ocean Voyages’ expeditions include:

• A free cultural immersion tour
• Gourmet dining at all restaurants with ever-changing menus
• Unlimited beverages, including wine, beer, and spirits in all restaurants and lounges
• Specialty coffees, teas, and fresh-pressed juices
• Pre-paid gratuities
• Additional region-specific inclusions

Recap of Our Atlas Ocean Voyages Stateroom Review

Overall, both Atlas Ocean Voyages stateroom options were comfortable with adequate space. We love the upgraded bathrooms, but we do wish the closets and storage space had a better layout.

With a ship of this size, room location isn’t much of an issue as none of the public areas are ever too far away. But if you are prone to motion sickness, securing a midship cabin would be ideal as you’ll feel more motion the more forward (or aft) you go.

When it comes down to deciding which is better, a Horizon Stateroom or a Verdanda Stateroom, we think each has its place.

Of course, we loved the added interior space in the Horizon cabin allowing for a larger desk and seating area. We think the infinite balcony was perfect in Antarctica. We could put down the window to get a sense of the conditions and a little fresh air without fully gearing up to go outside. Also, we could quickly grab photos of passing scenery and icebergs. But we think we would have missed the true balcony in a warmer climate.

For our recent Mediterranean cruise in a Verdanda stateroom, we definitely felt the desk and seating area were cramped given our previous comparison. However, we appreciated that we could step outside onto the balcony and still keep the rest of the cabin cool. If we had a Horizon cabin this trip, I don’t think we would have used the window much as I wouldn’t have wanted the air conditioning to shut off even for a couple minutes.

Thus, the decision really comes down to your preferences and what’s most important to you. These two stateroom categories are comparably priced for most itineraries, but both are a bargain when compared to the fares on other luxury lines!

Comments

Have you sailed with Atlas Ocean Voyages yet? What is your preferred cabin category when you cruise? Drop us an anchor below with your thoughts on traditional vs. infinite balconies on cruise ships.