• I booked an Infinite Veranda cabin on my Celebrity cruise and was surprised by how much I loved it.
• The polarizing design replaces a traditional balcony with more of a windowed "sunroom."
• Despite lacking a true outdoor space, the cabin's flexibility and privacy made it worth the price.

My husband and I recently went on a 12-night cruise to New Zealand aboard Celebrity Edge — and, despite reading polarizing reviews online, we decided to splurge on an Infinite Veranda cabin.

The stateroom design has been a topic of debate since it debuted in 2018, as Celebrity replaced a traditional balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows that open with the push of a button.

Honestly, I had a hard time understanding the concept until I experienced it myself. Think of a traditional cruise balcony like an outdoor patio, while the Infinite Veranda is more like a (sometimes open-air) sunroom.

For some, the lack of true outdoor space dilutes the cabin experience, while others appreciate the added versatility.

I hadn't experienced anything like it before, but after 12 nights in the cabin, I'm convinced it was worth the cost.

Instead of dedicating space to an outdoor balcony, the Infinite Veranda layout brings the seating space inside the cabin. So, our room felt extra spacious.

I'm a chronic overpacker, but even with five suitcases, we had no issues finding storage. We were also pleasantly surprised by the extra space along the side of the Infinite Veranda, where we could store some of our luggage without our cabin feeling cluttered.

The extra space also made our cabin more functional. Throughout the cruise, we used the Infinite Veranda as a second seating area.

With two chairs and a small table, it was the perfect spot to have our morning coffee or a glass of wine at sunset. We ended up spending more time in our stateroom than usual because it was so comfortable.

One of the most unexpected benefits of the Infinite Veranda was the added sense of privacy it provided.

On a standard balcony, your outdoor space is more exposed, with only a small divider separating you from your neighbors. They can also feel less secluded.

Depending on the ship's design, a standard balcony might even be visible from other decks. On a previous cruise, for example, a stranger on an upper deck yelled things at me while I was taking photos on my standard balcony. It was pretty embarrassing.

Thankfully, we didn't have to worry about that while using our Infinite Veranda. Even with the window open, the space felt enclosed and much quieter.

Unlike on traditional balconies, where you can often hear chairs moving or conversations next door, we never heard our neighbors.

All of this gave us a greater sense of privacy while we enjoyed the ocean views.

Because the Infinite Veranda is built into the room rather than separated by a sliding door, we didn't have to go outside to take in sweeping views of New Zealand's fjords, cascading waterfalls, and jagged coastlines.

With the country's cooler temperatures, bundling up to sit on a traditional balcony wasn't especially appealing. Instead, we loved lowering the window and enjoying the scenery from the comfort of our cabin.

Unlike a standard balcony, which exposes you to wind, rain, or noise, the Infinite Veranda let us enjoy the views from anywhere in the room, even from bed.

Whether we were sailing through Fiordland National Park or just wanted fresh, cool air in the cabin after dinner, we used the space constantly.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Infinite Veranda is the lack of a true outdoor space. At times, it can feel more like sticking your head out a car window than stepping onto a balcony.

Additionally, the air conditioning shuts off automatically when the window is open. This can make the room stuffy or humid in warmer climates — luckily, though, this wasn't an issue for us with New Zealand's cooler weather.

Some travelers also prefer the separation between indoor and outside space that true balconies with a door can offer. For example, it can be convenient if someone wants to hop on a phone call while their cabinmates are napping. This wasn't an issue for us, though.

I can understand why the Infinite Veranda is polarizing, but for us, it was worth the money.

In total, we spent $6,826 on an Infinite Veranda stateroom in Celebrity's AquaClass, which included wellness-focused perks such as access to a thermal spa and an exclusive restaurant.

Infinite Veranda rooms typically cost more than standard veranda cabins, but prices vary widely — and I've even seen them cost slightly less on some itineraries.

Although I was hesitant to book such a highly debated cabin, it turned out to be one of the highlights of our cruise. In fact, I've already booked another Infinite Veranda cabin for my cruise to Norway this summer.