Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean was forced to change over a dozen itineraries on Spectrum of the Seas as tensions between Japan and China continue to rise. 

Guests on at least 14 voyages leaving Shanghai between January and April 2026 were told their cruises would no longer call at Japanese ports.

"We're looking forward to welcoming you onboard Spectrum of the Seas for our February 18, 2026 sailing!" reads an email shared by Cruise the World on Facebook. 

"As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process, we've modified our upcoming sailing. On Day 3, we'll now be visiting Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea, in place of our previously scheduled stop [of Okinawa]." 

(Credit: Cruise the World/Facebook)

The email continues, stating that the cruise line adjusted the ship's departure time from Shanghai (Baoshan), China, to 4:00 p.m.

Cruise the World shared a second communication received from Royal Caribbean, informing them that the 5-night Feb. 27 departure will no longer call at Okinawa or Ishigaki, Japan. 

Rather, guests will enjoy an overnight visit to Seoul (Incheon), South Korea, arriving at 7:00 a.m. on Day 3 and departing at 5:00 p.m. on Day 4. 

"We're excited to bring you this refreshed experience and appreciate your understanding, as itinerary planning is an ongoing process that requires cruisers to have a certain level of flexibility," the email concludes. 

Other changes to Royal Caribbean's Asia cruises

These aren’t the only voyages impacted by the escalating tensions in Japan and China. 

Alongside the Feb. 18 and 27 cruises, several other Spectrum of the Seas itineraries scheduled from late January into early April have also been adjusted. 

Starting with the Jan. 28 sailing, multiple cruises to Nagasaki have been reworked to visit alternative ports outside of Japan. 

Read more: 5 things I wish I knew before trying a Royal Caribbean cruise in Asia

In all cases, the Japanese cruise destinations were swapped with South Korean ports.

• Jan. 28, 2026: Replaced Nagasaki, Japan, with Busan, South Korea.
• Feb. 1, 2026: Replaced Okinawa and Ishigaki, Japan, with an overnight stay in Seoul (Incheon), South Korea.
• Feb. 6, 2026: Replaced Fukuoka, Japan, with Busan, South Korea.
• Feb. 14, 2026: Replaced Nagasaki, Japan, with Busan, South Korea.
• Feb. 18, 2026: Replaced Okinawa, Japan, with Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea.
• Feb. 27, 2026: Replaced Okinawa and Ishigaki, Japan, with an overnight stay in Seoul (Incheon), South Korea.
• March 4, 2026: Replaced Nagasaki, Japan, with Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea.
• March 8, 2026: Replaced Kumamoto and Kagoshima, Japan, with Busan and Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea.
• March 13, 2026: Replaced Okinawa, Japan, with Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea.
• March 17, 2026: Replaced Fukuoka, Japan, with Seoul (Incheon), South Korea.
• April 6, 2026: Replaced Okinawa, Japan, with Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea. 

Escalating Japan-China tensions

Relations between the two Asian countries began rapidly deteriorating in November over Japan's stance on Taiwan's political status. 

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made controversial remarks about Taiwan, prompting China's Consul-General to retaliate on X. 

The post, which has since been deleted, claimed "the intruding dirty neck" must be cut off without a moment's hesitation, and was directed at Takaichi. 

Tensions have continued to rise since then. Most recently, Japan lodged a formal protest after Chinese J-15 fighter jets locked radar on Japanese aircraft near the southern island of Okinawa, as reported by the Associated Press. 

Japan's Defense Minister said it was "an extremely regrettable" act and "a dangerous" one that "exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations."

The radar lock on Saturday is believed to be the first involving Japanese and Chinese military aircraft.

Read more: Royal Caribbean is betting big on this exotic destination. After 4 cruises here, I can see why

Chinese citizens have been advised to avoid travel to Japan

The Japan Times reports that the directive has resulted in mass flight and hotel cancellations across the country. 

According to the Kansai International Airport (KIX), the number of December flights scheduled between Osaka and mainland China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau, has been reduced by 34%. 

Additionally, about 50% to 70% of reservations at 21 hotels made by Chinese nationals through Dec. 31 have been canceled. 

Although Royal Caribbean has neither confirmed nor denied that the recent itinerary changes were prompted by the ongoing geopolitical situation, the timing closely aligns with the rapid decline in Japan–China relations and other travel disruptions across the region. 

A high-profile incident last year aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship involving a cruise ship passenger who was detained and later died has resulted in a new lawsuit from the family.

The guest, who was identified as Michael Virgil, 35, was detained after assaulting crew members and threatening other cruisers in a drunken rage. 

Virgil's fiancée, Connie Aguilar, is suing the cruise line for their part in his untimely death. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, crew members served Virgil "at least 33 alcoholic beverages" before his behavior escalated. 

Aguilar claims that they boarded the ship with their 7-year-old son and were directed to wait at one of the bars since their stateroom wasn't ready. 

Their son, who has autism, grew impatient, so Aguilar left to take him on a walk and check on their stateroom, leaving Virgil alone at the bar. The court documents add that he was served dozens of drinks before he ventured off to find their cabin. 

The incident happened aboard Navigator of the Seas in December 2024 on a cruise out of Los Angeles (San Pedro), California, to Ensenada, Mexico.

A bystander, Christifer Mikhail, recounted that he encountered the now-deceased passenger less than an hour after sailing away during what was supposed to be a quick stop to his cabin to grab his phone charger and a sweater. 

Virgil was making a scene, trying to kick down one of the stateroom doors, punching crew members, and spewing profanity and racial comments.

"I was waiting for them to say cut and come out of the rooms," he said, "I was kinda scared [because] I was like, 'Dude, I'm stuck in this hallway [and] everyone else is kind of behind something.'"

The ship's security team then intervened and assisted in restraining Virgil, who fell victim to "the excessive force and fatal actions taken by crew members including security and medical personnel."

After being detained using towels, zip ties, and handcuffs, he was injected with Haloperidol, a sedative that can have severe side effects when combined with heavy alcohol consumption, in an attempt to calm him down. Unfortunately, he passed away within the hour. 

Moreover, the court filings assert that the crew caused "significant hypoxia and impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest, leading to his death..."

The news aligns with what Virgil's family initially claimed last year, stating that his death was wrongfully caused by the cruise line. 

Aguilar's lawsuit seeks damages for the loss of support, inheritance, past and future earnings, funeral and medical expenses, mental pain and suffering, and more.

His death is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The FBI is typically called to investigate deaths involving U.S. citizens on the high seas. However, cruise criminal jurisdiction is complicated since ships are registered in foreign countries, with most crimes occurring in international waters. 

The location of the vessel, the nationality of the suspect or victim, the ownership of the vessel, the points of embarkation and debarkation, and the country where the vessel is registered all determine the FBI’s role and ability to investigate.

As part of the cruise line's security guidelines, Royal Caribbean reports all allegations of crime to the FBI and United States Coast Guard (USCG).

Another family blamed Royal Caribbean for the death of their loved one, claiming that crew members served her too many drinks

In October 2024, a cruise ship passenger was reported overboard during Allure of the Seas' Taylor Swift-themed cruise. At the time, the vessel was roughly 17 miles north of Nassau. 

The guest was later identified as Dulcie White, 66, with authorities confirming that she didn't fall off the ship: she jumped. 

Despite extensive search efforts, White's body was never recovered. 

According to her daughter, Megan Klewin, White had Royal's unlimited drink package, and the family alleges that crew members overserved her. The lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County states that she was served seven drinks in just over six hours.

"Because of that [drink package, my mom] did overdo it, trying to maybe get her money's worth," Klewin told CBS News. 

"She was completely intoxicated in a way I haven't seen before. It saddens me that that is my last memory of her."

The lawsuit continues, claiming that crew members ignored obvious signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, stammering, and difficulty standing up. Additionally, another passenger noticed White's dangerous behavior and assisted her safely to her stateroom. 

Klewin saw her mother go onto the balcony on Deck 14, then looked away for a moment. The next time she saw her mother, White was "[sitting] on the edge of the balcony like she had climbed up" and fell into the ocean before Klewin could react. 

Before I walk off any cruise ship to head home, I'll double check my onboard account for certain charges to avoid problems later.

It's far easier to get billing discrepancies settled while onboard than at home. This is because once you're home, everything gets charged to your credit card and the refund process involves more steps.  On land, the shoreside team has to coordinate with the ship and figure out if what you're saying is accurate or not.

But if you head to Guest Services and bring up something on your bill that doesn't look right, it's a few keystrokes and they can fix the issue.

I really think every cruiser should double check their cruise bill prior to the conclusion of the voyage to ensure these five things are actually correct.

Unreturned towel fees

Did you know Royal Caribbean will charge you $25 for each pool towel you didn't return?

In my experience, this fee gets hit more accidentally than intentionally.

Sure, if you forgot to actually return a towel, go do that before the cruise ends.  Bring it back up to the pool towel distribution point on the pool deck and have them scan your SeaPass card.

However, I've seen a lot of instances where people returned their towels and accidentally have an unreturned towel fee.

If this is the case, definitely go to Guest Services on the final evening or morning and ask to have it taken off your account.

The wrong gratuity amount

Gratuities are part of the cruise experience these days, but I have seen discrepancies with how they get charged.

Verify the amount is not doubled up. If you prepaid gratuities, then ensure there are no daily gratuity fees onboard. This has happened to me at least once or twice.

Something else to verify is any gratuity you sign on a receipt is actually the right amount.

I have terrible handwriting, and one time I tipped $20 but the waiter misread my chicken scratch and entered $50 because my "2" looks like a "5".

This was an easy fix at Guest Services, but I'd hate to have tried to figure this out if I was at home.

Refunds that should be there

Now that you had Guest Services or a bartender apply a refund for something, you should verify it's fixed before disembarking.

Crew members want to make your life easy, so they'll often tell you that they'll take care of a billing issue (like a refund). The thing is, you want to verify that later.

If you returned something, cancelled a service, or found an accidental charge, be sure your onboard account reflects that.

If you're taking care of this on the final morning of the cruise, ask for a print out verifying the refunds you expect are actually there.

Onboard credit has been applied

There are two sources of onboard credit you could have, but occasionally it doesn't get added.

Any OBC you received from the cruise line is usually added to your account on the first day of the cruise.  You'll see a negative balance to start your sailing, which means it's there.

If you have more than one cabin, be sure each cabin has the credit.  In fact, if your kids are in another cabin, you could ask to have their credit moved to your account.

The other source of onboard credit is from a travel agent, and this one might take a day or two to apply. 

There have been many cruises where I didn't see OBC that my travel agent gave me hit my account until day 2 or 3.  

If you don't see onboard credit you expected in your account, head to Guest Services to verify it's in the process of being applied.

Total owed, and if you want to put cash down before the end of the cruise

Similar to your credit card bill that you probably browse each month, it's a good idea to look over everything while on the ship.

Some cruisers like to then deposit cash to reduce how much gets charged to the credit card.

If you won money in the casino or simply have leftover vacation cash, you can pay off some or all of your SeaPass bill before the cruise ends.  You can deposit cash at any time to offset charges.

How to check the bill

Now that I outlined all the things to look for in your bill, it might help if you knew how to check your bill.

The easiest way is to open the Royal Caribbean app and click the Person icon in the top right, and then scroll down to "Onboard account".

This is where you can see recent charge activity. You can click "Details" to see every single charge and credit there.

The app is updated in real time, so as soon as something is charged, it appears there.

The "old school" way is to go to Guest Services and ask for a print out.

They can do so at anytime, but it requires waiting in line. Plus, it's out of date the moment it prints out.

Who to talk to if there's a problem

Let's assume you find a billing discrepancy or have a question about what something is. What do you do next?

Guest Services is the best place to start. Every ship has a desk that's open 24 hours per day, and they can assist.

On the very newest ships, the Royal Caribbean app has a Guest Services chat feature that you could use to save yourself the trip.

If you're staying in a suite, the Suite Concierge can assist too.  The Suite Concierge may be faster since lines at Guest Services can be quite long.

In addition, if you're a Diamond member or above, the Crown Lounge concierge can assist with billing issues too.

The most wonderful time of the year is also a very popular time to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Some people are surprised to hear that cruise ships are sold out for Christmas and New Years, but the truth is this is one of the very peak times for a cruise vacation. The combination of time off from school and work, along with cold weather at home compels a lot of families to head to the tropics for a warm cruise escape.

If you're booked on a cruise for the end of December and early January, here's what you should know and plan around before you embark.

Look for holiday decorations

Royal Caribbean decorates its ships for Christmas and Hanukkah, so be sure to look for it onboard. They go up after Thanksgiving across the fleet.

Usually the decorations are found on the Royal Promenade or Centrum area. It seems the bigger ships have more of it around.

There will almost certainly be a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah, but likely other lights and signage.

I've also seen special holiday decorations around the Windjammer or Main Dining Room. Even some bars have stuff up.

Royal Caribbean doesn't go crazy with the decor, but there's enough to remind you it's the holiday season and they are great photo opportunities.

You should decorate your door instead of a tree

If Christmas doesn't feel the same without decorating, then plan to decorate your stateroom door.

Cabin doors are metal and with the assistance of magnets, you can give your door a very fun holiday look.

More passengers than you might expect will decorate their cabin doors, so don't feel embarrassed to be doing it.  In fact, some people get really creative.

Battery powered lights are usually fine. But don't bring anything that plugs into an outlet.  And all decorations cannot use any adhesives.  So magnets and magnetic hooks are your friends. 

There will be holiday events during your sailing

If your sailing actually goes over a holiday, then expect to find special Christmas events onboard.

The Royal Caribbean app lists every event. Most of them are the usual assortment, but there are also Christmas events.

There can be gift exchanges, Christmas trivia, caroling, and more. For Hanukkah, there is usually a menorah lighting (it's electric) ceremony held each evening.

In the Main Dining Room, there will be a special Christmas menu. On New Years Eve, the Main Dining Room has plastic hats and noise makers on each table.

Cruises that sail in December and early January but aren't over any holiday probably won't have specific events like this.  

You can meet Santa on cruises over Christmas

If your cruise goes over Christmas, expect Santa to be waiting for you onboard. However, he isn't onboard for other sailings that don't fall over Christmas.

Typically there are a few events where guests can line up and meet Santa Claus. 

It's a lot like meeting Santa at the mall. Report to a specific location, wait in line, and then wait your turn.

Check for holiday hours in ports you are visiting

One of the biggest x-factors with a cruise over Christmas or New Years is what to expect in port. 

The ports will still be open and tourist areas too, but restaurants can be hit or miss.

Certainly shore excursions booked in advance will be safe, along with beaches and resorts.

The question mark is what to expect when you go downtown and look to do shopping or enjoy a meal. Often these establishments are closed for the day, if you're visiting on a holiday.

Booking a shore excursion might be a safer bet to ensure you aren't left with few options.

New Years Eve is a giant party, with paid areas

One of my favorite times of the year to go on a cruise is for New Years Eve because it's the best kind of party.

The ship will transform into a giant floating party. Different parts of the ship are designated for different kinds of ways to celebrate.

There is a Times Square style party on the Royal Promenade, a DJ dance party in a lounge, pool party, and more.

On the Promenade, expect certain areas to be roped off for guests willing to pay for a table. Usually the Pub, Playmakers, and Vintages turn into VIP velvet rope areas that you must book onboard for access. 

Buying a table means you have a reserved seat, drink service, and usually a bottle of champagne too.

The rest of the Royal Promenade is open to a first-come, first-standing area for a midnight countdown and balloon drop.

There's music, dancing, and a lot of energy as everyone awaits the clock to strike twelve.  Then, the entire Royal Promenade is drowned in balloons.

And yes, the kids club is open too during all of this so you can drop off your children while you enjoy a party out.

The holiday decorations come down right after New Years

Once New Years hits, the decorations come down pretty quickly.

Any sailings that begin after January 1st shouldn't expect holiday decorations to remain on display.

Plan around winter weather before or after your cruise

While your embarkation port in Florida, Texas, or Southern California is probably safe from a winter storm, the situation at home might be very different.

Snow and ice can cause major delays and cancellations of flights, so you need to have backup plans.

I always recommend planning to arrive at least one day before your cruise begins to protect against a travel delay.

Coming home can be more of a toss up since accurate weather forecasts likely do not develop until well into your cruise. Your best bet is to plan to fly home the day your cruise ends, but know what your options are for a flight later that evening or the next day.

Having travel insurance is essential any time of the year, but especially in the winter. Travel insurance pays you back for cancelled travel plans, missing luggage, or other weather-related problems.

Good news, we are all one week closer to our next Royal Caribbean cruise!  In case you missed any of the Royal Caribbean fun from this week, here is our weekly round up!

Watch out, repricing a Royal Caribbean cruise might be more difficult than last time you tried it.

Someone claiming to to "work in the pre-cruise department" of Royal Caribbean, shared why the repricing rules have changed.

New terms and conditions may alter if you're able to take advantage a price drop.

Royal Caribbean News

• Cruisers without REAL ID could soon pay extra $45
• Dense winter fog delays three Royal Caribbean cruise ships
• PortMiami, Port Canaveral set yearly records for cruise passengers
• I tried a free food hack on my Royal Caribbean cruise that I couldn't believe was so good
• I sailed on Star of the Seas for 7-nights and saw passengers making 6 mistakes
• What is the best time to eat dinner on a cruise ship for better schedule of shows, pool time, and kids
• 7 things I wish I knew before my first cruise on Star of the Seas
• 5 things that surprised me about Carnival's Amber Cove
• Hiding ducks on a cruise got an upgrade, and all the kids on my ship were using a new app to make it better
• How to pick a cruise you'll love

New RCB Video: 6 Things People Worry Too Much About On A Cruise

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 — 6 Things People Worry Too Much About On A Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Trademark reveals plans for a new restaurant

A new trademark application made with the United States Patent and Trademark Office points to a possible new restaurant coming to Royal Caribbean ships.

While trademark applications are vague and don't always lead to a tangible product, it's a sign of what the cruise line may be strongly considering.

"Saved my Honeymoon": Royal Caribbean CEO saves couple from losing their cruise

Reaching out to Royal Caribbean's CEO actually got one couple the one-time exemption they desperately needed.

When a couple realized they were expecting a baby and it would now interfere with their cruise, they thought they would lose their vacation money.

Thanks to a tip from the internet, they were able to change dates even though the official rules prohibit it.

First cruise ships will return to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

Cruise ships will be able to return to Jamaica again.

Hurricane Melissa devastated the island, and ships had to go elsewhere while clean-up efforts commenced.

However, Falmouth is officially open to cruise traffic once again. 

16 years ago, the biggest cruise ship ever debuted (and it changed cruises forever)

The arrival of Oasis of the Seas literally changed the cruise industry and continues to impact it to this day.

Exactly 16 years ago, the maiden voyage of the first Oasis Class cruise ship took place.

This ship fundamentally altered the economics and perception of what a cruise vacation is all about, and ships built today are still judged against Oasis.

A case of bad fog wreaked havoc with cruise ship operations on the west coast of Florida.

Heavy winter fog enveloped Tampa Bay on Saturday morning, forcing the closure of Port of Tampa Bay. This delayed docking of three of Royal Caribbean’s ships: 

• Rhapsody of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas

The problem was the fog was too dense for safe navigation and thus that delayed each ship's arrival by at least eight hours.

The delay impacted both the sailings wrapping up and the next set of sailings scheduled to begin on Saturday.

Delayed ships

All three of the delayed ships are among the oldest in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Rhapsody of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas are all Vision Class ships. Each is between roughly 73,800 and 82,900 gross tons, and they entered service in the mid to late 1990s.

• Rhapsody of the Seas: Returning from a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, the ship was scheduled to begin a new 7-night voyage with calls to Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Belize.
• Enchantment of the Seas: Returning from a 5-night cruise with two Mexican ports, slated for another 5-night sailing visiting Costa Maya and Cozumel.
• Grandeur of the Seas: Returning from a 7-night cruise and schedule for another week-long journey calling Cozumel, Belize, Roatán, and Costa Maya. 

For all three ships, instead of arriving in the early morning as planned, docking and disembarkation had to be delayed until late afternoon or early evening. 

For example, guests on Rhapsody of the Seas who originally had appointments to arrive at the terminal around 11:00 a.m. were notified they should now arrive around 7:00 p.m., with the latest arrival pushed to 9:30 p.m.

The impact was quite large considering people on the ship waiting to disembark and people waiting for the new sailing were impacted.

According to a statement shared by Port of Tampa Bay, "All Cruise Ships are delayed from entering port today due to fog in the bay."

Guests on Rhapsody of the Seas received an email from the cruise line informing them of the delay:

"Due to dense fog earlier today, our ship was delayed returning to Port Tampa Bay. As a result, the terminal will not be open for embarkation, and we will need to push back our boarding."

Similar notifications were sent to guests on the other two ships.

Later, Rhapsody of the Seas was given permission to enter the bay first. 

Fog is a long running seasonal problem in Tampa

If you've sailed from Tampa in the past, you may have heard of fog delays there.

Port of Tampa Bay is located at the northern end of the bay, about 30 miles from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and close to 40 miles from the bay’s mouth. 

Even in good weather, it takes 2.5–3 hours for a cruise ship to transit from open waters to the terminal.

When fog is dense, the port typically shuts down entirely until it's safe to resume operations. That means all marine traffic, including cruise ships and cargo vessels, are halted until visibility improves enough to ensure safe passage. 

On Saturday, that meant all three Royal Caribbean ships were stuck outside the bay until the afternoon.

Ships stuck waiting to enter the bay then run into a domino delay effect. When multiple ships are waiting to dock, it takes time not only to get each vessel in, but also to secure pilots, coordinate tugs, and ensure safe passage for all. 

The winter cruise season brings more ships than normal to Tampa, and turnaround day with three ships in port pile onto the delays. 

I'm a frequent cruiser on Royal Caribbean, and I've sailed on Star of the Seas five times. It's not only its newest ship but also it's most impressive.

New ships are incredible because they offer the latest and greatest features.  Whether or not you take advantage of everything is secondary to the fact it's great to have access to it all, if you so choose.

Since Star debuted in August 2025, I've figured out all the nuances of the ship.  But someone new to it should know a few things before boarding.

Here are the seven things I wish someone would have told me before I ever went on Star of the Seas to make it a better cruise.

The included restaurants are better than on other Royal Caribbean ships

There are so many different places to eat around Star of the Seas, and I was surprised by how good the included restaurants are.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has included and specialty restaurants. Usually the included restaurants are satisfactory, so you are easily tempted by the extra cost ones.

However, the included options on Star are so good that you can easily rely just on them.

Dining at Aquadome Market, Basecamp, Park Cafe, and Pearl Cafe are all good enough to keep me going all day.  Add to that the Windjammer buffet and the Main Dining Room, and I really don't think you will long as much for specialty restaurants as you would on other ships.

Don't get me wrong, the specialty restaurants are all really good too.  It's just the included food is that much better on Star.

To that point, I'd also add you should skip the Windjammer (and its crowds) on embarkation day.

You'll find really good alternatives at Aquadome Market or Basecamp with far fewer people to contend with.

Price is Right is pay to win

Royal Caribbean added the Price is Right game show to Star of the Seas as a new entertainment event onboard.

The game show offers guests the chance to win cash and prizes, similar to the television show.  However, there are some notable differences.

First and foremost, you have to pay if you want to play.  Before the show begins, you have the option of buying into the game.  Essentially, you buy entries towards the grand prize and that gets you into the game as a potential contestant.

• 1 entry: $15
• 2 entries: $25
• 6 entries: $60

If you don't buy in, you can't be called up to participate and you can't participate in any of the games.

Each item up for bid and game played relies on passengers using their phone to access a website and submit their bid or vote. Only those that paid to enter the game can truly participate.

It reminded me how bingo works on the ship in that respect.

When I played, there were easily over a 100 people that paid to participate.  This made it quite competitive with any of the audience voting.  

When an item was up for bid, you basically had to get the amount exactly right and fast. In the case of a tie, whoever put their price in fastest wins.  Most of the winning bids were submitted in under two seconds.

I had a lot of fun, but the cruise ship version is definitely not exactly what you remember on television.

Finding the dog is likely not going to happen

The top thing everyone I met on Star of the Seas wanted to see was the family dog that lives onboard, Sailor.

Royal Caribbean has captured the imagination of its cruisers by adding a dog to this ship.  However, the dog is not so easy to track down.

Real talk: you're probably not going to even see the dog, let alone meet her.

It seems they limit Sailor to interactions in uncrowded areas and at random times. This means, you're not going to see Sailor on the Royal Promenade or the pool deck.

In all my sailings on Star of the Seas, I've seen Sailor only once or twice.  On my recent sailing, she made a very brief appearance at the Top Tier event for Crown and Anchor Society members.

Based on photos I've seen from other passengers, it seems the only tried and true way to find Sailor is to stalk her relief pad on the jogging track. Sooner or later, she has to go there.  This doesn't sit well with me as a strategy, but so many photos I've seen of guests with Sailor are on the jogging track and that's not a coincidence.

Don't skip restaurants in Surfside because you don't have kids

The Surfside neighborhood is an area of the ship specifically designed for young families, but you shouldn't avoid it just because you don't have kids.

Sure, the arcade, Splashaway Bay, and the mini slide are probably not going to be of interest to you.  But you should still visit for the food.

There are three restaurants in Surfside that are vastly underrated and overlooked by too many cruisers:

• Surfside Eatery: family-friendly buffet
• Surfside Bites: grab-and-go comfort food
• Pier 7: specialty restaurant 

Surfside Eatery might be advertised as a "kids buffet" but there are a lot of food that adults will enjoy too.  Heck, on embarkation day they had the same filet mignon and lobster tails that the Windjammer had.

Plus, this buffet is far less crowded than the Windjammer.

I think Pier 7 is the most underrated restaurant on the ship.  It's almost hidden in the back of Surfside, and it serves up "California-inspired dishes," and I really like that there are different foods you won't usually find elsewhere on the ship.

If you pre-purchase Pier 7 on the Royal Caribbean app, you can get in for just $8.99 per person and it's well worth it at that price.

The shower is amazing, but the basket storage is disappointing

Two things stand out about most of the cabins on Star of the Seas.

First, I love the shower on Icon Class ships.  Royal Caribbean designed a larger than expected shower that has a seat in it too.

Other cruise ships typically have a "tube" design to their shower that feels constricted and tight.  

But the shower on Star of the Seas is one you'd actually want to spend more time in.

However, one design flaw in these staterooms are the choice of baskets for storage.

While there are drawers and a closet, you'll find a set of wire baskets too.  The issue is it puts its contents on display for anyone to see.  But worst of all, they make an awful sound when you pull or put back the basket as it slides against the wood.

The ship's layout makes it feel so much less crowded

If you've been on other cruise ships, then you know how crowded they can feel at times. But that's not really the case with Star of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean engineered the crowd flow so well that even with 2,500 kids onboard our Thanksgiving cruise, it was rare to truly find a crowd.

Having the Royal Promenade be two decks and fully loop really helped open up that space and keep people moving. The pool deck is also well designed, with three decks and smaller, separate pools that spread people out.

Plus, the destination elevators are a godsend.  You'll rarely wait for elevators and encounter even fewer crowded ones. This alone is one of the best quality of life changes I've seen on a cruise ship.

Don't expect the ship to feel like your own private yacht, but you can look forward to less lines than you might have had on other ships.

Some people really are bothered that there's no Solarium

I've heard from a number of readers that they missed having an enclosed adults-only pool area on Star.

Instead, the adults-only pool area are both outdoors at Swim & Tonic and The Hideaway.

Both pools are fun for different reasons, but each has a different vibe from the Solarium that you'd find on other Royal Caribbean ships.

Personally, it doesn't bother me because I'm not someone that ever spent much time in the Solarium.  But it seems to be a piece of feedback worth repeating since it's often mentioned after trying this ship.

Ever since Royal Caribbean made the Swim & Tonic adults-only, I didn't have as much of an issue with the adult spaces. I find Hideaway too loud and lacking shade, but I recognize I'm not the target demographic for that space.

I'll gladly go back on Star of the Seas anytime

Each time I've sailed on Star of the Seas I've come home thinking how much I loved this ship.

Like Icon of the Seas, this class of ship is truly outstanding and I think it's worthy of being called the very best in the world.

Yes, you'll pay a premium to sail on it, but the changes, innovations, and additions to Star make it easily my favorite.

Royal Caribbean just filed a series of bizarre trademarks, and one appears to be for a new restaurant. 

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the cruise line submitted a new trademark for a Korean restaurant.

Although trademark applications are vague, they give a general indication of what the word or phrase is intended for. 

For example, the registration could indicate a new dining concept, modifications to the customer loyalty program, or general cruise ship services. 

In this case, SEOULMATE™ is a "trademark registration [that's] intended to cover the categories of restaurant services; Korean restaurant services."

Another possibility is the trademark is intended for one of Royal Caribbean International's sister brands, such as Celebrity Cruises or Silversea.

To be very clear, Royal Caribbean International has not made a formal announcement about this. Rather, this article is simply speculating on future additions to the fleet based on the trademark filing. 

Other interesting trademark filings

In addition to SEOULMATE™, Royal Caribbean filed a trademark for FRESH PRESS™. The registration is intended to cover the categories of restaurant services, specifically restaurant services featuring smoothies and juices. 

This concept appears to align with the line's existing Vitality Café, which suggests that Royal Caribbean could rebrand (or add to) its healthy dining options. 

It also seems that Royal Caribbean is thinking about creating more interactive experiences, like what they did with Admiral Awesome in Icon of the Seas' Surfside neighborhood. 

The CAPTAIN COOL™ trademark filing "is intended to cover the categories of arranging, organizing, conducting, and hosting social entertainment events; Hosting and conducting social entertainment events, namely, family game shows, for others; Entertainment services in the nature of hosting social entertainment events; Hosting social entertainment events, namely, family friendly events or games; Conducting live entertainment in the nature of games featuring a balance beam, ball toss, 3-legged race, treasure hunt, and immersive story time."

Another trademark points to what the family-friendly events or games could be called: COOLYMPICS™. 

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the filing is "intended to cover the categories of arranging, organizing, conducting, and hosting social entertainment events; Hosting and conducting social entertainment events, namely, family game shows, for others; Entertainment services in the nature of hosting social entertainment events; Hosting social entertainment events, namely, family friendly events or games; Conducting live entertainment in the nature of games featuring a balance beam, ball toss, 3-legged race, treasure hunt, and immersive story time."

As with SEOULMATE™, Royal Caribbean has not made any announcements about the new filings and what they could mean for its ships. 

It's not uncommon for the cruise line to file trademarks in batches, just in case they want to use the names later down the road. 

In many cases, they may file multiple trademarks and end up only using one. 

For example, last year, Royal Caribbean filed two trademarks for concepts relating to the "rental of beach chairs, towels, umbrellas, and cabanas for recreational use":

• Ultimate Family Cabana
• Ultimate Celebration Cabana

As of Dec. 2025, only the Ultimate Family Cabana has been fully conceptualized. The cruise line's largest cabana will be exclusively available at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. 

However, that doesn't mean that they won't eventually use the name "Ultimate Celebration Cabana" somewhere else — perhaps at Perfect Day Mexico or the Royal Beach Club Cozumel? It's too soon to tell!

What time should you pick to eat dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship so you don't miss out on the best things to do onboard?

One of the first decisions you'll need to make when you book a cruise is what time you want to have dinner.

If you opt for Traditional Dinner (instead of My Time Dining), there are three seating times and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

I've found there isn't a single dinner time that is universally best, as it really depends on what your priorities are during the sailing.

Here are the recommendations for which dining time to pick, depending on what you prioritize the most.

Pick early dinner if you have kids or want to eat before everything happens

From the early days of cruising, early dinner has always been popular among families with younger children.

When my kids were younger, it was always advantageous to go to early dinner so you they could eat and then be dropped off at Adventure Ocean. Kids club opens at 7pm, so having dinner before heading there was the perfect timing.

Another advantageous of early dinner is you'll finish right in time for just about everything happening later that evening. 

If my dinner is at 5 or 5:30, I'm probably out of the Main Dining Room by 6:30pm or so, meaning I can see shows, bar performances, or any of the late night stuff.

The problem with early dinner is it eats into your afternoon.  

If you're the type of person that wants to shower and change before dinner, this means you'll likely need to be back in your stateroom to prepare by mid afternoon or so.  I found it cuts into the pool deck time or even some shore excursion plans.

Some people also complain early dinner is, well, too early.

Pick middle dinner if you want your late afternoons back

Royal Caribbean added the "goldilocks dinner" option last year as a way to give passengers more choice in when they eat.

For anyone that thought early dinner was too early and late dinner was too late, middle dinner is right inbetween. 

There are two advantages to middle dinner that I can see.

First, you can enjoy more of your afternoon plans compared to early dinner, especially when you have a full day of touring in port.

When I'm on an Alaska cruise or European cruise, many days we'd get back to the ship and not have enough time to get ready for an early dinner. And of course, we'd feel famished if we waited for late dinner.

Second, middle dinner means you get the benefits of Traditional Dinner without having to go to My Time Dining.  

Many cruisers would pick MTD because they wanted a middle ground of dining times. But there are some inherent benefits to Traditional Dinner.  Now there's no compromise.

The problem with middle dinner is the evening shows don't usually line up for middle dinner and cause a conflict.

Royal Caribbean traditionally has scheduled its evening shows around early and late dinner times, so middle dinner means you're going to have to get creative on seeing the featured shows onboard.

It doesn't mean you can't see shows, but it might be more difficult to plan around dinner and entertainment.

Pick late dinner if you'd rather see shows and then eat

When I first started cruising, I'd always pick late dinner for two reasons: early dinner was too early and it meant we could enjoy entertainment before dinner.

Typically the evening show schedules are arranged such that there are two show times per night, with an early and late show that compliment the early and late dinner.

With late dinner, we could enjoy our afternoon and then transition into evening fun before heading to dinner. That would mean a show, dinner, and then late night fun afterwards.

There's no question late dinner is better for not compromising on your afternoon, and it works well for getting to start your night with fun things.

As I got older, I started to dislike coming out of dinner at around 10pm and feeling like all that was left was late night activities. I preferred having more of the evening in front of me to look forward to after dinner.

I always pick early dinner because it opens up my evening

From a simplicity standpoint, I pick early dinner for my cruises.

Yes, eating at 5pm isn't my personal favorite time to eat dinner, but I think the advantage of having shows fit into my schedule is worth it.  

Plus, I like getting out of dinner and feeling like I have a lot of time still to enjoy what's happening around the ship.

As I mentioned, I started off doing late dinner when I was younger to avoid eating too early and getting more time in port or at the pool.  But I've shied away from it because I didn't want to get out of dinner at 10pm and feel like my night was over.

16 years ago today, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas had its maiden sailing, and the cruise industry has never been the same sine.

Royal Caribbean had already introduced a game changing ship with Voyager of the Seas about a decade earlier. The Voyager Class proved there was a market for big ships with "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship" features.

Royal Caribbean was far from done pushing boundaries, as it wanted to build something even bigger, grander, and more of a spectacle.

Today, Oasis of the Seas is one of many cruise ships that fit into the megaship class.  But in 2009, she was one-of-a-kind and instantly changed the cruise industry forever.

A cruise ship unlike any other before it

It's difficult to appreciate today just how different Oasis of the Seas was from other ships that came before it.

Oasis of the Seas had her maiden voyage on December 5, 2009 and was instantly the world's largest cruise ship by a factor previously unseen.

Before Oasis entered service, Liberty of the Seas was the biggest in the world.  Oasis was more than 40 percent larger, coming in at 225,282-tons and accommodating 5,400 passengers.

The ship was big and so was its ambitions. Oasis had innovative and revolutionary features that are common place today.  But at the time, they were ground breaking.

Just looking at Oasis, you'd instantly notice its split superstructure that created wide open interior spaces. 

The ship started out with the name "Project Genesis," and the designers wanted to try things never before done at sea. The taller and wider you build a conventional ship, the more interior spaces need to be lighted and air-conditioned.  So they devised a "split hull" design

This opened the back of the ship up to form room for the Boardwalk, as well as an open-air park featuring 12,000 plants in Central Park.

This was the first cruise ship to have "neighborhoods". Seven in total, they helped with crowd control and providing context for where passengers are on the ship.

There were four pools, which was once again a first for a cruise ship. Two of the pools were made to feel like a beach, with sloped entries you can walk into just as if you were walking into the ocean. 

The Aquatheater on the back of the ship is an outdoor amphitheater, hosting a water ballet and diving shows that feature professional divers who will jump from as high as 72 feet up. Yet another feature that has become not only synonymous with the brand, but has been copied onto other ships.

Plus, Oasis introduced the concept of having a full Broadway show onboard. "Hairspray" was performed in the theater, and was another incredible feat to offer on a cruise ship.

At launch, Oasis of the Seas had 25 restaurants and 37 bars. There were 9 specialty restaurants, ranging from $4.95 at Johnny Rockets to the $75 for Chef’s Table.

150 Central Park was a brand new concept, where you could pay $35 to enjoy a ten-course tasting menu by Chef Keriann Von Raesfeld, a 23-year old “culinary phenom” that was hired by Royal Caribbean as its own kind of celebrity chef.

Even cruise ship staterooms were changed with Oasis. It had 37 different categories and unique offerings such as the new loft suites, which were a duplex idea that had 18-foot windows looking out to the ocean. 

Also new was the idea of balcony cabins that faced inwards, instead of out to the ocean.  Central Park and Boardwalk balcony cabins were avant garde.

Royal Caribbean also came up with innovative ways to conserve energy and reduce pollution.

Oasis was built with a state-of-the-art electric propulsion system powered by high-efficiency diesel generators. Each used 30% less fuel per passenger than any other ship before it.

There were also solar panels on top of the ship, and inside there were compact fluorescents and LED lighting. The cruise line boasted Oasis cost 40% less to operate than older ships.

How Oasis of the Seas changed cruise ships

Looking back, Oasis of the Seas created the "destination ship" concept. It was the first time the ship was what vacationers sought as much as the places it visited.

Oasis fundamentally changed expectations for what a cruise could offer, pushing other lines to innovate and compete.

For a while, the Oasis Class ships were essentially competing with themselves. It took the rest of the industry years to come up with their own megaships, and by then, Royal Caribbean had already evolved the original into many other forms.

Oasis cemented the idea that a cruise ship should have something for every age group, not just "family friendly" features sprinkled around. It can be argued Oasis shifted the perception of a cruise from "a relaxing week at sea" to "a full vacation akin to a floating resort."

Equally importantly, this ship validated the economy of scale of having such a big ship. Before 2009, the cruise industry wasn't certain a ship with over 5,000 passengers could be commercially viable. 

By having larger ships that dispersed crowds effectively, you could deliver higher onboard revenue.

Once proven, Royal Caribbean continued to push forward with bigger ships, such as the Icon Class.

Other cruise lines also leaned into the trend. 

Norwegian came up with the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus Class ships that offered outdoor promenades. MSC created its World Class ships that look a lot like the Oasis Class. Carnival eventually expanded into Excel Class with more district-style planning.

Looking back, Oasis wasn't just another ship class.  It altered the company's outlook that is still in use today of bold innovation, memory making experiences, and an unrivaled experience you'd struggle to find on land.