PHOTOS: Inside Small Balcony Room on Symphony of the Seas, Ocean View

I've been on more than 20 voyages and recently sailed on the Symphony of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship that accommodates more than 6,600 passengers, for the first time.

I boarded the 1,188-foot ship for a vacation with my extended family, a group that chose the Symphony of the Seas because of its many amenities for kids and teens.

All 10 of us were spread out across four rooms. Like always, I booked an ocean-view balcony room because I love to sit outside and watch the waves. To me, that's bliss.

The room wasn't huge, but it was big enough for my family to comfortably share, and it had everything we needed. Here's what it was like sharing the accommodation with my husband and daughter.

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