4000 points
Sailings
1335
Average Nights
5.3
Top Region
Caribbean (942)
Best Cruise Rank
123.5
Best Cruise
Ovation Of The Seas
7 Night Southbound Alaska & Hubbard Glac
Balcony | Cruise fare for 2 guests
Royal Intel Comparison
4000 vs 6500 points in January 2026
The 4,000 and 6,500 tiers are the first two levels where balcony inventory becomes a real part of the book, but they do not behave the same way. At 4,000 points, the release offers 1,335 sailings with a strong balcony lead: 950 balcony options against 385 oceanview. At 6,500 points, the book grows to 1,477 sailings, but the cabin mix shifts upward into junior suite territory, with 792 junior suites and 685 balconies.
6500 points
Sailings
1477
Average Nights
5.5
Top Region
Caribbean (982)
Best Cruise Rank
136
Best Cruise
Odyssey Of The Seas
8 Night Italy, France & Spain Cruise
Balcony | Cruise fare for 2 guests
What To Know
That is the key difference. Four thousand is the better balcony tier. Six thousand five hundred is the better suite tier.
The free play step is meaningful but not dramatic. 4,000 points carries $500 FreePlay. 6,500 points carries $750 FreePlay. The extra $250 is real, but it is not enough on its own to justify the jump unless the cabin mix or itinerary improves for your travel window.
The best sailing at 4,000 is a 7 Night Southbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier cruise on Ovation of the Seas, with a balcony and $500 FreePlay. At 6,500, the best sailing is an 8 Night Italy, France & Spain cruise on Odyssey of the Seas from Barcelona, with a balcony and $750 FreePlay. The 6,500 tier reaches farther geographically and gives more premium cabin access, but the 4,000 tier is still the cleaner value if you want Alaska or a straightforward balcony booking.
If your goal is to lock in a balcony without moving into suite pricing, 4,000 is the better stopping point. If your goal is to widen the itinerary pool and move into junior suite-heavy inventory, 6,500 is the stronger tier. The release does not show a sharp drop in either tier, so the choice is mostly about cabin preference and destination rather than scarcity.