Happy Sunday! We are so happy that you stopped by and hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Grab a mug of your favorite hot beverage, sit back, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean news.

The big news this week was Royal Caribbean revealing Icon of the Seas to the public.

For the first time, we got to see what the new cruise ship looks like, as well as the major features onboard.

Designed with families in mind, Icon of the Seas will have 8 neighborhoods, including four new neighborhoods: Surfside, Thrill Island, Chill Island, and The Hideaway.

Icon of the Seas will be the biggest cruise ship in the world and begin sailing from Miami in late January 2024.

Your first chance to book a cruise will be on Tuesday, October 25, while Crown & Anchor loyalty members will be granted early access to bookings on Monday, October 24.

More Icon of the Seas

• Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites
• The Ultimate Icon of the Seas Dining & Lounges Guide

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

What does Matt think of Icon of the Seas?

Matt shares his thoughts on Royal Caribbean's big reveal on this week's podcast episode, including a first-hand report of what happened at the media event held at Royal Caribbean headquarters.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: 5 cruise ship shore excursions I tried and instantly regretted

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 5 cruise ship shore excursions I tried and instantly regretted — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

50 best cruising with kids tips & secrets

If you're going on a cruise with kids, then we have all the best tips and tricks to help you have a fabulous cruise.

When you go on a cruise with your family, it can mean a mix of ages and even generations, and we wanted to focus on the sort of things families should know before they go on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Whether you are taking your own kids or going with someone else's, here are the top 50 best tips for cruising with kids on Royal Caribbean.

Odyssey of the Seas live blog

Allie is live blogging from Odyssey of the Seas this week!

She's sailing a 12-night Holy Land cruise aboard one of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships that includes three days in Israel, along with stops in Limmasol (Cyprus), Santorini (Greece), Rhodes (Greece) and Chania (Greece).

Follow Allie's adventure every day with her live blog posts.

Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner is where you book add-ons like shore excursions, drink packages, specialty restaurants, and internet packages. It’s your go-to place to see what is available on your upcoming cruise.

If you’re new to Royal Caribbean, the Cruise Planner can feel a bit overwhelming at first. 

Here’s our Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site.

The fall temperatures may be dropping, but the Royal Caribbean news from this week is as hot as ever, and we have it all summarized for you in this week's round up!

The price for your next cocktail probably went up by a dollar.

Royal Caribbean has raised the price of a signature cocktail from $13 to $14 per drink, before gratuity. The price used to be $13 per drink.

While the individual Royal Caribbean drink prices have gone up by a dollar, your Royal Caribbean drink package benefits & Diamond drink vouchers have also been increased to match the price change.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is ready to open the world's first renewable energy cruise terminal
• Royal Caribbean updates: Starlink on more ships, construction photos & more
• The ultimate kids cruise packing list
• 15 most commonly asked cruise questions we've been asked in 2022
• Check out our Independence of the Seas live blog

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 472nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt weighs the benefits of going on a short 3-night cruise.

After sailing on Independence of the Seas for the weekend, Matt talks about whether a short cruise is over too quickly.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: What it's like on a cruise ship during a hurricane

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — What it's like on a cruise ship during a hurricane — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

What you'll notice when cruising on an older cruise ship

There's nothing wrong with cruising on an older ship, but pretty quickly you'll notice a few things that are different from new ships.

Older ships offer a tremendous value and offer more varied itineraries, but they also have nuances about them that stand out from other ships.

Before you step aboard, here are the biggest changes you'll notice about Royal Caribbean's older cruise ships.

Why my first European cruise wasn't what I expected

Jenna had traveled to Europe prior to ever taking a cruise, so how would the ship-based trip compare to her other visits?

As soon as she stepped foot in her first European cruise port, her concerns were quickly admonished.

Her European cruise experience wasn’t at all what she expected, and it quickly became her favorite destination to cruise in the world.

Disney Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean

Which family cruise line offers a better cruise experience: Disney Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean?

Sylvia took a cruise on the Disney Wish and Mariner of the Seas during the same week to put the two offers to the test.

I hope everyone reading this is having a wonderful Sunday and enjoying some time this weekend with friends, family and some good food too.  Here is a summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this week in one easy-to-read blog post for your convenience!

We have new photos of Icon of the Seas ship construction to share this week!

We're as curious as you to know what this new cruise ship is all about, so RoyalCaribbeanBlog commissioned photos to be taken from the shipyard to see what's new and different.

Not only has the bow been nearly all installed, but a number of top deck designs are starting to take shape. You can view all the Icon of the Seas construction photos and see for yourself!

Royal Caribbean News

• Spotted: Royal Caribbean makes face masks optional for crew members
• Royal Caribbean brings back kids cruise free promotion
• Royal Caribbean offering fall fares as low as $89 per person
• Royal Caribbean cruises in October 2022: What to expect
• Should you book the Izumi pre-fixed sushi option?
• We're live blogging from Independence of the Seas this weekend!
• Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel Review

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 471st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt sums up his Allure of the Seas cruise and answers many more listener emails.

As an addendum to last week's episode, Matt talks about the rest of the sailing and how the hurricane impacted the sailing.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: I tried the best inside cabin hacks

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — I tried the best inside cabin hacks — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

I tried The Key (again) to see if it's worth it

On a recent 6-night cruise on Allure of the Seas, Jenna purchased The Key to see if the experience was any better or different than in the past.

The Key provides VIP benefits to guests that pay for it, but is it worth it to spend the extra money?

Royal Caribbean advertises plenty of benefits, but are they as good as they sound?

Is Black Friday the best time to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package?

One mantra I see cruise fans repeat is the advice for people to wait for Black Friday to buy their cruise add-ons because they feel the best discounts are offered that week.

The problem with waiting for any one sale is you're putting a lot at risk for a potential discount that may or may not materialize.

Should you wait or book now? Here's a look at the pros and cons of waiting for a Black Friday sale.

Allure of the Seas Guide & Review

Want to know everything about Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas?

Our planning guide will give you all the important information about Allure before you get onboard.

Happy Sunday! It has been a busy week of Royal Caribbean news, and we have it all summarized for you in this round up.

Royal Caribbean made a change to its Covid-19 protocols by removing vaccine requirements for sailings that sail to Canada or Barbados.

Both the Canadian and Barbadian governments recently announced a number of updates to their Covid protocols as it relates to tourists.

Starting October 1, 2022, for sailings of 9 nights or less, Royal Caribbean is welcoming all guests, regardless of vaccination status, for cruises that embark, debark, or visit Canada.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean updates: pre-booking entertainment, hurricane itinerary changes & more
• Are Boardwalk balcony cabins too loud?
• I tried Royal Caribbean's least well-known specialty restaurant
• Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port
• Excursion Focus: Tulum Ruins & Mayan Cenote tour in Cozumel
• Excursion Review: Jaime's at the Blue Reef all-inclusive day pass in Costa Maya
• Beach Reads: Banned Books Week September 26 - October 2

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 470th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt and Jenna share a review of their Allure of the Seas cruise.

Recorded while onboard Allure, this week's episode talks about what Allure is like and the impact Hurricane Ian had on their sailing.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Ultimate Cruise Packing List

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Ultimate Cruise Packing List — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Top 10 Allure of the Seas secrets

Psst, want to know the best Allure of the Seas insider tips and secrets?

From where to go for sailaway, to how to see the Aquatheater shows without a seat, to great seating areas, we have the best tricks in this article.

Anyone with an Allure of the Seas cruise will want to read this before they sail.

What it’s like on a cruise ship during a hurricane

The possibility of bad weather can happen on any cruise, but Royal Caribbean is prepared for those scenarios, especially if there's a hurricane.

Hurricane Ian disrupted many cruise ship itineraries in the Caribbean, and I was on Allure of the Seas for a 6-night cruise that had to get around the major hurricane.

While staying at sea and away from the storm is the safest decision, you might still want to know how bad things get and what possibilities could occur if your cruise ship vacation is disrupted by a tropical storm.

13 changes I'd love to see on future Royal Caribbean cruise ships

Have you ever thought what changes you'd make if you were in charge of Royal Caribbean?

While she loves going on each cruise, Jenna listed 13 things she would upgrade or change if she had the chance.

This list includes new specialty restaurants, onboard activities, and new cabins.

Happy weekend! We have a look back at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week to share with all of you.

Royal Caribbean shared another sneak preview of Icon of the Seas with everyone this week.

Royal Caribbean released a new teaser video that provided glimpses of features the new cruise ship could have onboard.

The 7 minute video did not reveal the ship's design or announce anything formally, but eagle-eyed viewers noticed Icon of the Seas will have a few areas onboard that seem to confirm previous rumors.

Royal Caribbean News

• Starlink added to first cruise ship since Royal Caribbean signed deal with SpaceX
• Royal Caribbean updates: CocoCay adults beach construction, Icon of the Seas sale date & more
• Royal Caribbean plans to hire over 1,400 new entertainers for its cruise ships
• The best travel tech gadgets for a cruise ship vacation
• Ultimate Mexico Cruise Guide

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 469th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt shares his top recommendations for what to do in the Western Caribbean ports his ship will visit.

Matt is headed out on Allure of the Seas this week, and talks about the popular things to do in each of the ports on this itinerary.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Video: 5 most desirable cabin locations on a cruise ship!

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: 5 most desirable cabin locations on a cruise ship!

New Icon of the Seas construction photos

Because Royal Caribbean hasn't shared full details yet about Icon of the Seas, I decided to share construction photos to preview what we can expect.

These new aerial drone photos show the progress being made on building Icon of the Seas, which will be Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship and first ship in the Icon Class.

What is the best way to spend an extra $1,000?

Whether money burns a hole in your pocket or you just want to splurge a little, what is the best way to spend $1,000 on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Certainly there are a lot of ways to budget for an affordable trip, but what if you want to step out a little bit and go bigger?

Even if you're not looking to "make it rain" with cash, these tips could still help those out on a budget because it can illustrate the best ways to spend your money and make it go further. After all, you might be surprised the difference one thousand dollars can make.

I reached Diamond status: here's why this loyalty tier matters

In less than a year, Jenna went from no cruises to Diamond in Crown and Anchor Society and she's realized this tier makes a difference.

Diamond offers impressive benefits, including access to the Diamond Lounge and free drink vouchers every day of the cruise.

Jenna shares how she was able to reach Diamond status so quickly along with her favorite benefits, and how her day-to-day life onboard has changed as a Diamond member.

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

Did you know about all the really common and simple mistakes you can avoid on a cruise ship?

While there are plenty of mistakes to avoid that new cruisers probably have no clue about without learning first-hand about them, there's also a handful of mistakes that don't require years of cruise experience to identify as a fault.

Consider this a refresher for what not to do in order to cover all your bases and not succumb to an easy first-time cruiser mistake.

Royal Caribbean News

• Harmony of the Seas changes itinerary to avoid Tropical Storm Fiona
• Spotted: Starlink being installed across multiple Royal Caribbean cruise ships
• How to get to Royal Caribbean's cruise terminals and how much parking will cost
• Alaska cruise packing list
• When is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• 5 Signs you're ready to move up to a suite on a cruise ship
• Which family cruise can you book for $2000?
• 30 Best European cruise tips
• How to prevent seasickness on a cruise
• Guide to cruises from Galveston
• How fast do cruise ships go?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 468th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt answers emails listeners have sent in.

This week's podcast episode is dedicated to just answering questions and comments our podcast listeners have submitted.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Video: Royal Caribbean drink package vs. Diamond Drinks!

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: Royal Caribbean drink package vs. Diamond Drinks!

25 examples of crew members wowing passengers

Royal Caribbean's crew members are known for their excellent service and it's very common for them to go above and beyond what's expected.

The more you cruise, the more likely you will run into an exceptional crew member who really cares about an issue or request you have while onboard. 

I asked the RoyalCaribbeanBlog community to share examples of times that Royal Caribbean staff have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service for their family while sailing.

13 ways to get the best cruise deals

Want to save money on a cruise, or do you want to get the lowest possible price on a cruise?

The key to finding a great cruise deal is to know where and when to look.

No matter the time of year, these tricks should get you a great price so you can maximize every dollar of your vacation budget.

Cruise ship shore excursions I instantly regretted

Every now and then I'll take a shore excursion and realize I've made a mistake.

I've usually had good luck with choosing a tour, but occasionally I'll run into one that makes me wish I had chosen something different.

Here are five times I took a cruise ship shore excursion and reconsidered my decision almost immediately.

Thank you for joining us for this a look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week. We had plenty to share, so let us jump right in!

Royal Caribbean rewards its repeat customers with a variety of benefits, but which Crown & Anchor benefits are the absolute best?

Depending on your cruising style and preferences, all the benefits may not be useful, but there are certainly a few that stand out as must-use nearly every cruise.

You can expect discounts, vouchers, and even freebies just for having sailed with Royal Caribbean in the past.

Royal Caribbean News

• Icon of the Seas looks like it will have a new bow design for Royal Caribbean
• Royal Caribbean cruises in September 2022: What to expect
• When do shore excursions become available to book?
• 50 Alaska cruise tips you should use
• Ultimate Hawaii cruise guide
• Letting the Genie out of the bottle: Asking Royal Caribbean's wish maker the top questions
• Cozumel’s Del Mar Latino Beach Club all-inclusive day pass review

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 467th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt reviews his recent sailing on Mariner of the Seas.

Just a few weeks later, Matt returned to Mariner of the Seas for another cruise and shares what his experience was like going solo on Mariner.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Video: Rare cruise ship cabins that get booked very quickly!

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: Rare cruise ship cabins that get booked very quickly!

I tried the cheapest Royal Caribbean Alaska cabin I could find

What's it like if you go on an Alaska cruise in the smallest, cheapest cabin you can find?

The cruise fare for Radiance of the Seas was listed at $240 per person with $293 in taxes and fees. 

As someone who cruises on a budget and loves visiting Alaska, Jenna took the leap and booked the cruise unsure of what to expect.

I've been on every class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships: here's what I like about each

After trying each of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes, Jenna has her favorites.

Royal Caribbean has six distinct classes of cruise ships, each with their own layouts, amenities, itinerary options, and onboard atmosphere. 

Even though all Royal Caribbean cruise ships share a common cruise line "DNA", they can feel quite different from one another when comparing the ships side by side.

What happens if you're late and miss your cruise ship?

It’s every cruiser’s worst nightmare - arriving late to the port and missing the cruise ship's departure.

Longtime cruisers will tell you they’ve undoubtedly seen instances of cruise ships leaving late passengers behind. If you go up to the top deck at departure time, you might catch a glimpse of passengers running back to the ship.

If there’s one mistake that cruisers should absolutely never make, it’s arriving late to the cruise port. Those who do make this costly mistake will tell you time and time again how important it is to be on time for the ship's scheduled departure. 

Happy weekend! It has been a busy week of Royal Caribbean news and events, and we have a look back at everything that happened this week.

Faster internet is coming to every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship!

Royal Caribbean Group announced a new partnership with SpaceX's Starlink to provide internet on cruise ships with high-speed & low-latency.

Royal Caribbean Group said it will begin deploying Starlink "immediately" and should be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

Royal Caribbean News

• Starlink could be added first to Independence of the Seas
• Spotted: Digital copy downloads of the Cruise Compass
• Labor Day pre-cruise planner sale has begun
• We were live blogging from Radiance of the Seas in Alaska this week

Video: 10 insider tips for Royal Caribbean's main dining room

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: 10 insider tips for Royal Caribbean's main dining room

I tried AirTags to track my luggage on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Should you buy AirTags to track your luggage on a cruise?

While I've always had good luck with my luggage being delivered to my stateroom in a timely manner, you can never be too careful when it comes to ensuring your luggage doesn't get lost.

I thought I would give it a try to see how well it works after reading from other readers that started using them.

Royal Caribbean brought back the behind-the-scenes tour

Royal Caribbean's behind-the-scenes paid tour is back again, and I tried it out on Mariner of the Seas to see if it was worth the money.

The 2-hour walking tour will bring you to places like the ship's bridge, kitchen, engine control room, and more.

The goal is to provide a glimpse of what goes on while guests are enjoying their vacation to make the cruise ship function.

I put the best inside cabin cruise hacks to the test

I picked out the best sounding cruise cabin tips to get an idea of how well they work.

There are lots of tips for how to maximize cruise ship cabins, but I was curious were these actually good ideas or just good sounding.

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

Royal Caribbean updated its Covid protocols this week to allow unvaccinated cruisers onboard most of its ships.

Beginning September 5, all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, can cruise on the following itineraries, as long as they meet testing requirements to board.

This includes cruises that sail from any Florida homeport, as well as Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, and most European cities.

While vaccination is not required, Royal Caribbean kindly asks all guests to disclose their status during check-in to ensure they maintain a highly vaccinated onboard population.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean announces Singapore cruises in 2023-24
• Royal Caribbean will give leftover cruise credits as onboard credits instead
• What you need to know about Royal Caribbean accepting self-administered Covid tests
• Royal Caribbean answers cruise ship special needs and accessibility questions
• How online cruise planning is getting easier
• We're live blogging from Radiance of the Seas this week on an Alaska cruise
• Why fall is a great time to cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia
• What is a cruise ship dry dock?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 466th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Rebecca reviews her Quantum of the Seas Alaska cruise.

Quantum of the Seas gets lost in the shuffle of Alaska cruises to consider, so Rebecca talked about her recent sailing on Quantum.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Video: All the LEVELS & PERKS of Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society!

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: All the LEVELS & PERKS of Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society!

Exclusive Icon of the Seas aerial photos

We have a new batch of Icon of the Seas construction photos to share from the shipyard.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog commissioned its own aerial drone photos to share what we can see so far from the shipyard.

These photos were taken earlier this week, and show off the progress being made on a ship we still largely know little about.

Royal Caribbean will increase gratuities

Beginning September 7, the daily gratuity rate is going up.

Royal Caribbean will charge guests in non-suite staterooms $16 per person, per day. Guests in suites will be charged $18.50 per day.

This is the first gratuity rate change in well over 4 years. The daily gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes.

Allure of the Seas is the last Oasis Class ship with some classic features

Because Allure of the Seas did not get a Royal Amplification yet, she remains the last Oasis Class ship with amenities and venues that have since been removed on other ships.

In the meantime, guests can enjoy a few classic features you either can’t find on the others or are slowly being phased out.

Thanks for joining us for another weekly look at all of the Royal Caribbean news from this week.  The late-summer heat is still on, and we have plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share from this week.

We're all eager to get more details about Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship, we got a tease of what Icon of the Seas will be all about.

Royal Caribbean has released a new video talking about Icon of the Seas and how the company came up with ideas for the ship.

The end result are five pillars of what Icon of the Seas will encapsulate.

Royal Caribbean News

• Top 10 Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas hidden secrets
• What is Friends of Bill W. on a cruise?
• Live Blog Preview: Taking a cheap Alaska cruise
• The cruise ship hot takes you should probably ignore
• 11 of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean
• Top 5 binoculars for an Alaska cruise
• Beach Reads: Books from Royal Caribbean cruise ports

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 465th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available that compares a Disney Cruise to a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Sylvia recently tried out the Disney Wish and Mariner of the Seas right after each other to compare and contrast Disney Cruise Line versus Royal Caribbean.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Video: The classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: The classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise

What should (and shouldn't) you do on the first day of the cruise to ensure you have a great start?

There's lots of good advice out there, so we whittled it down for you.

From arriving at the cruise terminal to making dining reservations, exploring the ship, and finding the best spot for sailaway, here are some of the best do’s and don’ts for the first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise.

3 hints what Icon of the Seas could look like

Above all else, we're eager to know what Icon of the Seas will actually look like, and a few eagle-eyed readers might have spotted indications in Royal Caribbean's recent teases.

There have been a few hints in Royal Caribbean's recent video updates. Whether they end up being accurate or are red herrings, remains to be seen.

Check out these 3 hints at what Icon of the Seas could look like based on these details.

Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

It's not uncommon for first-time cruisers to make rookie mistakes in the shore excursion planning process for a variety of reasons.

Anyone can make a mistake, so here's a list of the 10 common pitfalls when booking a shore excursion!