I awakened in a dimly lit cabin amid the open sea, activated the automatic shade, and watched sunlight slowly fill the space to reveal the bow and Caribbean waters.

I repeated this routine for seven days during my initial cruise voyage in 2022. The journey took place on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, then the largest cruise ship afloat, though the line has since introduced two even larger vessels: Icon of the Seas and Legend of the Seas.

Our weeklong itinerary departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and included stops at Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; plus Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

I occupied an ocean-view stateroom on deck eight that cost $2,000 after a sale reduced the original $3,000 price. Here is a closer look at the 179-square-foot layout.

My room was a mid-tier cabin at the front of deck eight.

The ocean-view stateroom ranked above windowless interior cabins yet below balcony rooms and two tiers beneath suite accommodations.

My cabin was on the same deck as Central Park, an outdoor space with 20,000 plants.

Central Park ranked as the ship's most tranquil outdoor area and frequently the least busy, so its proximity proved convenient.

When I stepped inside my stateroom, I was surprised at how big it felt.

Upon entry, the cabin demonstrated excellent space efficiency, making its sub-200-square-foot size difficult to perceive.

I inserted my room key into a slot on the wall to operate most of the room's electrical systems.

As someone seeking sustainable travel options, I valued this energy-conserving feature.

One side of the room had a mirror and a desk with USB charging ports, as well as American and European power outlets.

The desk served multiple purposes including dining, laptop work, and organizing daily activity schedules and evening entertainment listings.

Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.

The drawers held little besides a hair dryer that remained unused throughout the trip.

Across from the desk, I had a couch positioned between two closets.

Each closet contained hanging racks, shelves, and a compact safe, providing ample storage for a seven-day cruise.

Next to the couch and desk area, a small bathroom used clever storage hacks.

The bathroom supplied two glasses, soap, and combined hair-and-body wash. The waste bin and toilet paper sat beneath the counter to maximize floor space, while a retractable clothesline in the shower helped dry swimwear.

Each night, my stateroom attendant replenished towels and brought flyers and schedules for the next day.

Attendants sometimes shaped towels into animal figures, with the monkey design emerging as a favorite.

I noticed that my king-size bed at the back of the room was actually two twin beds pushed together.

Cabins follow this design to allow separation for extra guests, though it sometimes left me waking in the seam between mattresses.

A large flat-screen TV was mounted across from the bed with storage hooks below.

Slender nightstands flanked the bed, each equipped with lamps, charging outlets, and a cabin phone on one side.

Because I booked an ocean-view room, I could see the front of the ship from a window above my bed.

An electronic shade allowed daytime views of the sea and closed for nighttime privacy.

While I thought the room might have been too small for a couple with a lot of luggage or a family, it was just right for me.

Observing sunrise over the Caribbean from bed remained the highlight of the stay.