My husband, 14-year-old daughter and I decided late in May to book the 4-night St. Petersburg Cruise. We booked a junior suite on-line (that was the only category of cabin available when we booked) and started making flight plans and booking a hotel for a few days in Stockholm before the cruise began.

On a routine call to Royal Caribbean, the operator asked me if there was a reason I had selected the suite we were booked in and if I would consider his recommendation for a different suite. I agreed and he re-booked us. What a stroke of luck. The suite he moved us to was 8588 -- on the very back suite on the starboard side. This meant our balcony was about 1/3 bigger than all the others and that we could see scenery on both sides of the ship. It was wonderful.

The other benefit of a suite is that we were fast tracked at the registration line at the cruise port. That alone was worth the extra money. Read more