Royal Caribbean Blog

A three-day weekend on my kids' school calendar is the perfect opportunity to escape for the weekend to the Bahamas on Independence of the Seas!

Since we live in the Orlando area, weekend cruises are an easy sailing to hop on, especially when there's an extra day off of school.

We're sailing on Independence of the Seas for a 3-night cruise that visits Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

We left our home at 10:30am and made the drive over to Port Canaveral. No traffic and an easy hour or so ride to the coast.

The check-in might have been the easiest and fastest check-in and boarding I've had since cruises restarted last year. We rarely stopped walking, and when we did, it was just to verify everything.  The ship was already open and boarding guests when we got to the terminal.

After getting on the ship, we headed to Playmakers for lunch.

We booked the unlimited dining package for this cruise, so one easy way to maximize the package value is to start the cruise with a specialty restaurant lunch.

I was concerned it would be overly busy, but we had no problem getting a table and the food came out nice and quick.

Our waiter was very nice, but he mistakenly told us we could each only eat at Playmakers once per day. Unfortunately, I've heard waiters occasionally say that, but it's simply not the policy.  In short, the unlimited dining package is unlimited, with no quotas or limitations to how many restaurants or times you can dine at a restaurant on any day. I didn't say anything to him, figuring I can cross that bridge if we need to later.

While we waited for the food, I went over to Izumi to book our dinners. If you have a specialty restaurant package, it's a good idea to go ahead and book a reservation once you get onboard. We had no issues getting the restaurants and times we wanted.

Lunch was served quickly and it was very warm.  Wings, burgers and fries...oh my!

Next up was a visit to our muster station to complete the muster drill process. Couldn't have been easier and still so happy to not have to do the old muster drill process!

The staterooms weren't ready until 1:30pm, so my wife and I took time to hang out in the Solarium for a bit and enjoy the beautiful weather.

For this cruise, we booked connecting Promenade View cabins. 

One of my favorite family cruise tactics is to book two connecting cabins, rather than one large room. We get separation from the kids and an extra bathroom.

Since we booked this cruise a few months ago, prices were much cheaper for this category, so an inside cabin is just fine for a quick weekend cruise.

After the rooms were ready, it was back up to the pool deck for some afternoon sun and sailaway.

The weather was absolutely fantastic, and we enjoyed bright sunny skies for our departure, along with a lot of other guests who were ready to party.

Dinner took us to Giovanni's Table.

This is still the "old" Giovanni's Table menu (and not the new Giovanni's Italian Kitchen), but just like on Allure of the Seas last week, it was great.

We also were treated to a lovely sunset from our table.

After dinner we grabbed a drink at Boleros, where Michael poured a drink in a very unique way.

This leads me to using the new Starlink internet that is now available on Independence of the Seas. Overall, it works great when browsing the web, checking Facebook and whatnot.

Just like pre-Starlink, it will struggle at times as you wait for something to load. We also tried streaming the Mets/Padres playoff game via both MLB.TV and our cable provider web portal. The live stream held up about 50% of the time, with lots of buffering.  This could be a product of too many people also using the wifi, poor connectivity to the closest router, or something else.

In my experience, there are so many variables on the cruise ship that can affect internet performance that it's difficult to assign blame. 

The good news is the internet is substantially faster than what Independence had before, so there's no question it's an upgrade. We'll see how the rest of the cruise goes with regard to performance.

Back to the cruise fun, we went to the Schooner Bar since the piano player there started up first and there was a big crowd for the show.

We rounded out the night in the pub with live guitar music.

Tomorrow we will be at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Stray Observations

I don't ever recall seeing these wood tables in the Solarium on this, or any ship.

We stopped by Cafe Promenade and noticed they also have the new Starbucks drinks available here. This means if you have a Diamond drink voucher or unlimited drink package, you can get drinks here included (unlike the Starbucks kiosk).

One strange thing about our Promenade View cabin is the telephone is on the desk, and not by the bed.

Back in January, I purchased The Key on my Royal Caribbean cruise to determine if this cruise add-on is worth the extra cost. At the time of my first review on The Key, I determined that the benefits were not worth the price.

Nine months later, it was time to give The Key another try.

On my recent 6-night cruise on Allure of the Seas, I purchased The Key to see if my experience would be different from my first cruise with The Key on Harmony of the Seas.

I sailed on Harmony of the Seas when cruises were sailing with limited capacity, and this meant some of the benefits (priority access to the terminal, private time at onboard activities, etc.) were not as important.

Now that I’ve disembarked Allure of the Seas, let’s dive in and see whether I thought The Key was worth the cost this time around—and if you should purchase The Key on your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise.

The Key benefits on Allure of the Seas

Benefits of The Key are subject to change by ship and sailing. These are the benefits I received on Allure of the Seas:

• Early access at the terminal
• Drop off your carry-on luggage in the Main Dining Room on embarkation day; carry-on luggage will be hand delivered to your stateroom
• Exclusive lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille menu
• Private time at onboard activities like rock climbing, FlowRider, etc.
• Priority departure from ship-to-shore at tender ports
• Seats in the exclusive VIP seating section at shows in the Main Theater, AquaTheater, and Studio B
• VOOM Surf & Stream package for one device
• Private à la carte breakfast and choice departure on disembarkation day

Related: Royal Caribbean’s The Key review

Cost of The Key

I purchased The Key for $24.99 per person, per day prior to my cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website. I was sailing solo in my stateroom, so I only had to purchase The Key for one guest, bringing the total cost to $149.94 on my 6-night cruise.

When choosing whether to purchase The Key or not, it’s important to take a look at current pricing for VOOM Surf & Stream internet packages. Because The Key includes an internet package for one device, it’s helpful to calculate the price difference between the two pre-cruise add-ons.

At the time I purchased The Key, the VOOM Surf & Stream internet package was offered for $19.99 per day. For only $5 more per day, I found The Key to be a great deal.

This was the lowest price difference I had ever seen between The Key and a regular VOOM Surf & Stream internet package.

Embarkation day benefits with The Key

Most of the best benefits of The Key are found on embarkation day.

Check-in time was slated to begin at 11:00 AM for The Key guests, but I was able to enter the terminal around 10:30 AM. The Key embarkation area was mixed with suite guests, and it offered a shorter line than the regular check-in area.

That being said, my original check-in time slot outside of The Key was 10:30 AM. I probably could have been one of the first in line at the regular check-in area and had a similarly quick embarkation process.

Once in the terminal, we were able to sit in an exclusive area just for The Key guests. After ~15 minutes or so of waiting, it was time to board Allure of the Seas.

Chops Grille lunch

One of my favorite benefits of The Key is the private embarkation day lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille menu.

While the menu offered at embarkation day lunch isn’t the full Chops Grille menu, it features many of the most popular dishes at the restaurant. Menus can change by ship and sailing.

This lunch ended up being one of my favorite meals I had all week on Allure of the Seas. I had never seen a blackened salmon offered at Chops Grille before, and it was beyond delicious.

In addition, I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to not enjoy a chocolate lava cake, and I fully savored every bite of my plate of gooey, chocolatey-goodness for dessert.

The best benefit of embarkation day lunch, in my opinion, isn’t the food, but the ability to escape the chaos found at other dining venues onboard. The Windjammer, Park Cafe, and other embarkation day lunch spots can get crowded, so dining at a private lunch is a relaxing way to start any cruise vacation.

Luggage delivery

Another fantastic benefit of The Key is that carry-on luggage is hand delivered to your stateroom.

I travel only with a carry-on suitcase and I usually give my suitcase to the porters upon arrival at the terminal, hoping to see it in the hallway outside my room by ~5 PM.

What I appreciate with The Key is that I can bring my carry-on luggage to the Main Dining Room and know it will arrive promptly inside my cabin. In my experience, I’ve received my carry-on luggage several hours earlier with The Key than without.

The Key benefits throughout the cruise

Outside of embarkation day, there are other ways to enjoy benefits of The Key throughout your sailing.

The benefit I used most throughout the cruise was internet access. This is the benefit that makes The Key most worth the cost, especially when the price difference between internet packages and The Key is small.

Another benefit I used several times during my cruise was reserved seating in the Main Theater, AquaTheater, and Studio B. Allure of the Seas has spectacular entertainment options, and it was nice to know I had access to some of the best seating in each venue.

The final benefit I enjoyed with The Key was an exclusive, à la carte breakfast on disembarkation day. The final morning of the cruise can be extremely hectic, so it was nice to enjoy a sit-down meal in the Main Dining Room away from the hustle and bustle found elsewhere onboard.

Benefits of The Key that I did not use

One benefit I did not take advantage of was select private times at onboard activities like the FlowRider, rock climbing wall, etc. This benefit would be nice for those looking to try several onboard activities, though, as I noticed long lines for these activities during non-Key times.

Another benefit I did not use was the priority tendering access for those with The Key, as we did not stop at any tender ports on the itinerary.

Was The Key worth it on my recent cruise?

After a week onboard Allure of the Seas, I determined that yes, The Key was worth the extra cost.

My main reason for determining that The Key was worth it was mostly because The Key was only $5 more per day than the VOOM Surf & Stream internet package. As I would be purchasing an internet package anyway, The Key was only $30 extra.

Priority access to the terminal, exclusive seating at entertainment, and private meals on embarkation and disembarkation day were well worth $30.

Would The Key have been worth the cost if it was $15-20 extra per day than the internet package? It’s unlikely.

When I purchased The Key on my Harmony of the Seas cruise back in January, for example, the internet was offered for $19 per day and The Key for $39 per day. For $20 extra per day, The Key was absolutely not worth the cost to me.

Additionally, I had my own cabin on this cruise. If you purchase The Key, everyone in your stateroom older than 6 must purchase it as well. This can easily get expensive, especially if the price difference between The Key and an internet package is significant.

Would I purchase The Key again? I would, but only if I found another deal like I found on my Allure of the Seas cruise. While I wouldn’t shell out $200 extra for The Key over an internet package, I would definitely consider it for $30-50 extra.

Izumi is Royal Caribbean's popular Japanese specialty restaurant on nearly all of its ships, so is it a good idea to purchased the pre-fixed option instead of paying as you go?

I've been eating at Izumi since it was first introduced on Oasis of the Seas when the restaurant was tucked away on deck 16 and always loved the assortment of sushi (and non-sushi) options. I've always thought besides the variety of food, it also allows for a very filling or light meal because everything is priced a la carte.

Recently, many blog readers have been choosing the pre-fixed menu option and it got me wonder if it was a better idea. Would I save money with it, and would I leave the restaurant feeling as satisfied compared to paying as I go?

On a recent Allure of the Seas cruise I chose to go with the fixed menu option in order to see how well it would work for my style of eating.

What is the pre-fixed menu?

The Izumi menu is priced individually for each item, and that means you pay for what you order.

Royal Caribbean has an alternative option where you pay one price and get certain amount of food included. They've tweaked what's included over the years, but today it's:

• 1 small plate, like Miso Soup or Pork Gyoza Dumplings.
• 2 large plates from a selection of signature rolls, sushi & sashimi, flavorful bowls of ramen and more.
• 1 dessert like mochi ice cream offered in a variety of flavors.

The cost onboard is $34.99 per adult or $10.99 per child (children between the ages of 6-12. Children ages 0-5 are complimentary).  You may find a better price if purchased before your cruise from a Cruise Planner sale. If you have a dining package, you can opt into the pre-fixed menu.

Royal Caribbean sometimes offers the Sushi & Sake lunch, which is different from the pre-fixed menu as it includes alcohol, isn't available for kids, and is more of an experience with the sake instruction aspect.

My meal

I had the unlimited dining package for my cruise and decided to give the pre-fixed option a try.

The waiter gave all of us the choice, and once I opted into it, he took my order based on the three courses I could choose from.

The online menu didn't make the distinction, but at the restaurant, a bowl of miso soup was included in addition to the 1 small plate.  I went with the soup and the vegetable fried rice. I usually do just sushi, but I was really in the mood for fried rice.

As for the large plates, there's quite a few choices to consider.

I ended up with the spicy crispy tuna roll and the chef's sushi selection. The sushi selection has plenty of sushi variety for what I like, and the crispy tuna roll helps bring a different texture to the meal.

To round it out, I went with the chocolate lava cake for dessert.

Izumi prix-fixe review

After trying the pre-fixed menu, I came away from my meal thinking this is an option to simplify the menu down for someone who may be completely new to Japanese food.

I eat a lot of sushi on cruise ships and on land, so I have a pretty good idea of what I like and don't like. Moreover, I've spent years trying different things on the Izumi menu to find the right combination for me.

Thanks to years of dining package prowess, maximizing every dollar out of my dining package has proven to be a fruitful endeavor. 

Depending on how adventurous you are, the prix-fixe menu can be advantageous in terms of value.

I think it's fair to compare it to the dining package, which allocates $35 worth of food to each person.  Unlike the fixed price option, the dining package stipend can be pooled among everyone at your table, which means the light eaters can provide greater value to the friends.  This is usually the case when I eat with my wife, as she rarely ever comes close to getting $35 of value from her dining package.

In adding up the prix-fixed menu option I chose, I came away with $46 of value compared to if I bought the same items a la carte. That sounds like a great value, but there's a few things I would have done differently had things not been included. I would have only gotten one small plate, but since miso soup came with it at no additional cost, I opted for the soup and a small plate. 

I also never order dessert at Izumi. I'd much rather get my extra calories from another sushi roll because I love their sushi that much.

Of course, if you don't eat sushi, then the fixed price menu has fewer options and I think beef teriyaki and an udon or ramen bowl sounds like a lot of food.

Ultimately, if you're looking for a big meal, everyone getting a dining package and pooling your money together should get you more food than everyone on the prix-fixe.  If you are a light eater, I think you'll find more food than you can handle with the option and better off paying for Izumi a la carte.

I certainly didn't walk away disappointed or hungry, but I think for the way I enjoy sushi, I'll stick to the individual item pricing at Izumi for the time being.

If you can go on a cruise in the first two weeks of November or December, there are some seriously good fares available.

Royal Caribbean routinely puts out a weekly offer with last-minute cruise deals out to its travel agent partners, but this week's offers include some really deep discounts.

Some sailings on 2- or 3-night cruises are coming in at just $89 or $99 per person based on double occupancy, which is pretty much the cheapest cruise fare you will find offered by Royal Caribbean.

Listed under the Going, Going, Gone rates, there are dozens of fares listed, with prices ranging in value.

Best of this week's cruise deals

I've gone through all the prices listed to find the lowest deals.

Keep in mind these prices are valid October 5 & 6, 2022, but could easily sell out at the rates listed. There's no way to know if it's still available until you go ahead and price out the cruise.

• Freedom of the Seas 2-night Perfect Day Getaway Cruise from Miami on December 5, 2022: $89 per person
• Independence of the Seas 3-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Port Canaveral on December 5, 2022: $99 per person
• Liberty of the Seas 3-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Fort Lauderdale on November 1, 2022: $99 per person

• Liberty of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Fort Lauderdale on November 7, 2022: $129 per person
• Liberty of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Fort Lauderdale on November 14, 2022: $129 per person
• Liberty of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Fort Lauderdale on November 7, 2022: $129 per person
• Liberty of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Fort Lauderdale on November 28, 2022: $129 per person
• Liberty of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Fort Lauderdale on December 5, 2022: $129 per person

• Freedom of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Miami on October 24, 2022: $149 per person
• Freedom of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Miami on October 31, 2022: $149 per person
• Freedom of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Miami on November 7, 2022: $149 per person
• Freedom of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Miami on November 14, 2022: $149 per person
• Freedom of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Miami on November 28, 2022: $149 per person
• Freedom of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Miami on December 12, 2022: $149 per person
• Independence of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Port Canaveral on October 24, 2022: $149 per person
• Independence of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Port Canaveral on October 31, 2022: $149 per person
• Independence of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Port Canaveral on November 7, 2022: $149 per person
• Independence of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Port Canaveral on November 14, 2022: $149 per person
• Independence of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Port Canaveral on November 28, 2022: $149 per person
• Independence of the Seas 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise from Port Canaveral on December 12, 2022: $149 per person

Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy.

Prices listed are not combinable with any promotional offers or discounts with the exception of Crown & Anchor benefits and NextCruise Onboard Booking Bonus.

Governmental departure taxes and fees are additional.

Why are these cruises so cheap?

Are you wondering why these prices are so inexpensive?

Cruise prices vary depending on the ship and time of year, but if you look at the dates listed, there's a common thread among them. They're all right around very popular times for vacations in Thanksgiving and Christmas, but in weeks before or after these major holidays.

Typically the first two weeks of November and first two weeks of December have much less demand for cruises than nearly any other time of the year. This is because most people get built-in time off from school and work over Thanksgiving or Christmas, so fewer people are able or willing to take time off just before or after these holidays.

And of course, these are all 3- and 4-night cruises.  Short cruises will almost always have a lower total price since there are less nights.

4-night cruises are always harder to fill because they begin on a Monday and end on a Friday. Arguably, you could take the same amount of days off of work and get a 7-night cruise for the same investment in time off when counting weekends.

With less people willing or able to cruise these times of year, you can find great deals.

The catch: taxes and fees

While the cruise prices are cheap, there is a catch when you get to the final price.

When you price out the cruise, you may find yourself paying more in taxes and fees than the cruise fare itself. These are fees charged by local governments for each passenger.

These come in the form of government taxes, fees, or surcharges that may be assessed by any governmental agencies, as well as third party fees and charges arising from a vessel’s presence in a harbor or port.

If you care to break it down, cruise taxes essentially cover these services and charges:

• Tolls
• Ship inspections 
• Local harbor pilots
• Air, hotel, or VAT taxes incurred as part of a land excursion 
• Immigration and naturalization costs
• Internal Revenue Service charges
• Baggage handling at embarkation and disembarkation ports
• Security services

In case you were thinking about it, there's no way to avoid paying government taxes and port charges.

The other catch: getting to the cruise

If you live in Florida and can drive to these cruises, then the prices might just be a wonderful deal.  But others may find the value foiled by extra costs.

The cost of airfare to fly down for this cruise could negate the low prices, especially with how high airfare can be in the final weeks before the trip.  Then there's the food, parking, and hotel costs that come along with it.

There's no doubt these deals are primarily aimed at people with a lot of free time that can drive to the cruise ships easily.

Just like any cruise, alcoholic drinks, internet access, and shore excursions will all cost you extra.

Icon of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship, and is making steady construction progress.

It's still anyone's guess as to what the ship will look like because the cruise line has not revealed the ship's design, amenities, or features.

If you're like me, then you're very curious as to what Royal Caribbean has planned.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog commissioned its own aerial drone photos again this week to share with all of you what construction progress we can see from the shipyard.

Since these are exclusive photos, please do not redistribute these photos. Feel free to share a link to this article instead.

These drone photos were taken on the morning of October 5, 2022 at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

One noticeable difference from photos taken last month are the ship's bow has another section added to it.

Icon of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean International cruise ship with a parabolic bow design.  

This is a functional design element that creates a curved indentation in the bottom of the vessel’s hull. 

Sister company Celebrity Cruises first introduced within the Royal Caribbean Group this type of bow design with its Edge Class ships.

Moving back a bit, we can see another look at the area that appears to be some kind of a theater. Behind it and above a few decks could be a suite sun deck?

Royal Caribbean introduced a new suite sun deck design on Wonder of the Seas, and the area has space for loungers as well as a circular area that could be a hot tub or pool.

The mid-ship area provides a good look at the top pool deck area.

It's all but certain the large oval shaped middle of the deck is where the Central Park neighborhood will be located. Not only have we known for months that Icon of the Seas will retain the neighborhood concept from the Oasis Class ships, but mockups for Central Park were strongly hinted by Royal Caribbean in last week's video update.

You'll also notice one of the large Crown and Anchor logos has been affixed to the side of the ship not facing the camera.

Something else worth noting here is the opposite side of the pool deck has a distinct curvature to it.  Moreover, there's actually a gap between two parts of the deck.  Could this be to make way for some kind of a feature?

Moving back to the next area, it seems clear to me waterslide support beams are in place.

The series of white columns are very likely for waterslides. Note one set of columns are white, while the other are a brown/orange color. Different slides or a different feature all together?

Looking at the back of this area, we can see a FlowRider surf simulator spot on the left side, and a pool area of some kind on the right.

The FlowRider has been a staple of new Royal Caribbean cruise ships for many years, beginning with the Freedom Class ships.

In looking at the aft of Icon of the Seas, we get a much better idea of the ship's rear design.

Similar to the Oasis Class ships, there is an open deck concept at the back, although it isn't clear this will be another Boardwalk neighborhood.

With the Oasis Class ships, each deck cascades up in length, with the longest decks being at the bottom, and shortest at the top. Icon seems to have the opposite look with the longer decks at the top and shorter decks below it.

Icon of the Seas will have a baby blue hull color, which has been a design choice for Royal Caribbean's last few ships.

Still behind the ship in the shipyard is what we presume to be the Solarium dome.

Photo from August 2022

There are far more panels attached today compared to a few weeks ago.

Icon of the Seas is scheduled to start sailing in late 2023.

We should get more information about Icon of the Seas later this month at an event in Miami.

If you're waiting on the sidelines to book a Royal Caribbean drink package, you're doing it wrong.

Royal Caribbean runs sales every few weeks on pre-cruise purchases as a means to encourage its customers to pick up a drink package, internet package, or shore excursion.

Whether each sale saves any money depends on the sailing, but generally speaking, the cost of these items tends to be less when booked prior to the cruise than waiting to buy onboard.

Read more: Will a Royal Caribbean sale actually save me any money?

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.

Don't wait for Black Friday

If you're unfamiliar with Black Friday, it is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States and every retailer rolls out new sales and promotions to compel people to start their holiday shopping. The name "Black Friday" means when retails would usually "get back into the black" financially in terms of profit.

As the calendar gets closer to Black Friday, a lot of cruisers begin talking about a Royal Caribbean Black Friday sale and advocate waiting for that sale as the deal to pick up pre-cruise purchases.

There's two issues with waiting for Black Friday, or any sale for that matter.

First, there is absolutely no guarantee the price will be any cheaper on Black Friday than it is today. Royal Caribbean regularly runs sales for guests to pre-purchase certain add-ons, such as drink packages, wifi, or shore excursions. As is the case with all sales, there is not a blanket discount applied to all items.

The sale price will vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing, meaning there may or may not actually be any discounts applied to the cruise you have booked.

The other issue with waiting for Black Friday is the price could actually go up. Royal Caribbean's prices are very fluid, and the company uses dynamic pricing for its add-ons (and cruise fare too). This means prices go up, down, and back up again. There's no rhyme or reason as to if that drink package cost will go down or up.

So if you wait for Black Friday, you may not see any discount at all and/or an even higher price.

Royal Caribbean always advertises up to a certain percentage off pre-cruise purchases, but you can ignore that figure. The base price can change a lot, making the discount percentage irrelevant. 

Instead, you want to focus on what is the total price after taxes and gratuity.

When to book a Royal Caribbean drink package

Instead of waiting for Black Friday, you should book a drink package today.

If you know you want to get a drink package, the best time to book a Royal Caribbean drink package is today because the price can change at any time.

If the price goes down on Black Friday, or at any point before your cruise, you can easily go into the Cruise Planner site and cancel your purchase and re-purchase it at the lower price. There's no penalty for cancelling a pre-cruise purchase and if you used onboard credit, it will be refunded instantly so you can apply it when re-purchasing.

By booking now, you lock in the price.  If the price goes up, you're guarded against it, and if there is a better sale on Black Friday, you can cancel and rebook.

How to cancel and rebook a Royal Caribbean drink package

The process is pretty simple to cancel and rebook if you do it online.

You could call Royal Caribbean and do this over the phone, but I find it much faster to do it online.

1. Log into the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner at https://www.royalcaribbean.com/account/signin
2. Find your sailing and click Plan my cruise
3. Look for your initials in the top right of the page and click that icon
4. Click Order history
5. Find the purchase you made for the drink package (it will show each order you made)
6. Underneath the drink package listed, click Cancel

That's it! Now you can go back to the Beverage section of the cruise planner and buy it back again.

When will Royal Caribbean announce their 2023 Black Friday deal?

We don't know exactly when the promotion details will be announced, but Royal Caribbean typically waits until a few days before the sale begins to reveal information.

Unlike Best Buy, Walmart or Amazon, cruise lines aren't quite that aggressive with their Black Friday promotions. So they typically wait to provide details.

In 2022, Royal Caribbean announced its Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on November 17, which was just a few days before Black Friday on November 25th. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean's past Black Friday deals

More helpful information

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?

If you've been waiting for a kids sail free deal, it's back!

Beginning today, Royal Caribbean has brought back its popular promotion that offers free cruises for children up to the age of 12 for new cruises booked in October.

Under the terms of the offer, children up to the age of 12 can sail for free when accompanying two paying passengers in the same cabin.

The offer is available today through October 31, 2022 for select sailings departing on or after November 4, 2022 – April 30, 2024.

Of course, there are blackout dates to the Kids Sail Free offer:

Kids Sail Free excludes:

• Thanksgiving sailings departing November 18, 2022 – November 25, 2022; November 17, 2023 – November 24, 2023
• Holiday sailings departing December 18, 2022 – January 6, 2023; December 16, 2023 – January 5, 2024
• Spring break sailings departing March 10, 2023 – March 24, 2023; March 8, 2024 – March 22, 2024
• Holy Week/Easter sailings departing April 1, 2023 – April 11, 2023; March 22, 2024 – April 4, 2024
• Summer Sailings departing May 24, 2023 – September 1, 2023
• Radiance Alaska cruisetours

In addition, the "free" kids fares still will be subject to taxes, fees and port expenses, which can amount to anywhere from $60 to more than $200 per person, depending on the itinerary.

Sweeting the deal is the fact you can combine Kids Sail Free with 30% off every guest, which provides 30% savings off the cruise fare for all guests in the stateroom.

30% Off Every Guest and Kids Sail Free are combinable with each other as well as promotional OBCs, Next Cruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts, and Shareholder Benefits.

30% Off Every Guest and Kids Sail Free are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Ultimate World Cruise, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates.

Offer available to residents of United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and select countries in the Caribbean. 

Will I save money with this deal?

They say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", and similarly, how lucrative a deal is depends on the person trying to book it.

The biggest drawback of any Kids Sail Free offer are the blackout dates, which greatly hinder many families ability to book a cruise that qualifies for the offer.

If you can find a sailing date that isn't blacked out, kids sail free offers can absolutely save money, especially for higher category rooms. Suites, in particular, offer big savings with kids sail free.

Of course, Kids Sail Free deal requires the kids to be in the same stateroom as the parents, so you cannot split across multiple rooms and use the offer.

Using a good travel agent, you can easily compare and contrast prices between sailings.

Fall is in the air, but Royal Caribbean cruises in October are still taking you to places that are plenty warm.

This post will share important information what you should know before going on a cruise in October. This month we see the end of cruising in Alaska for the season, but there is still time to see Europe before that season comes to an end.  Meanwhile, Caribbean sailings will start to increase with ships returning to start winter itineraries.

Just like September, October is also one of the best times to get a great price on a cruise. The combination of school in session and the peak of hurricane season makes for some really low rates.  In fact, last minute cruise prices are pretty good if you can take advantage of certain October sailings.

Ships sailing in October 2023

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships will be operating in the Caribbean and Europe, with a few ships moving around to prepare for new homes in November.

October is the end of the Alaska and European cruise seasons, with ships in Europe heading back to the Caribbean.  Ships in Alaska typically move onto Australia for the summer cruise season down under.

October weather on a cruise

No matter when you cruise in October in the Caribbean, expect very warm summer-like temperatures.

The first half of October is also the peak of hurricane season, but as the month goes on, the chances of a storm begin to diminish a bit.

According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 87 percent of minor and 96 percent of major hurricanes occur between August and October, peaking in early September.

Even if there is a storm somewhere in the tropics, your ship will go around it to avoid going anywhere near the storm.

The biggest impact you could face on an October cruise is a last-minute itinerary change due to a hurricane.

Read more: What to know about cruising during hurricane season in the Caribbean

Over in Europe, fall temperatures means pleasant daytime temperatures in the Mediterranean. While temperatures can heat up over the summer, October weather offers a slight chill in the air and can sometimes be warm enough to take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea.

Expect daytime temperatures in the low 70s Fahrenheit. 

Plan to wear layers so you can adjust to warmer or colder than expected temperatures easily.

Is October a good time to cruise the Caribbean?

In short, you will find some of the best prices for Caribbean cruises in October.

Because families have kids in school, there is less demand for cruises this time of year. The result can be some excellent rates for a cruise in October.

In addition, the looming threat of hurricane season is a benefit and disadvantage of cruising in October. Demand is lower, so that means you pay less.  But the possibility of a storm impacting your cruise means some cruise fans are unwilling to risk the sailing could be altered.

Does Royal Caribbean celebrate Halloween?

If your cruise sails over October 31st, you should plan on Halloween fun onboard.

In years' past, Royal Caribbean has held various Halloween events onboard its ships that sail over the holiday.

Costume contests, haunted houses, trick or treating, and even face painting have all been offered in the past.

If your cruise does not sail over the Halloween holiday, then don't expect Halloween decorations or events on your cruise.

Finding the perfect hotel before a cruise can be challenging, but Fort Lauderdale’s new Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport is a strong contender for the best place to stay before a cruise departing from Port Everglades.

Prior to my recent Allure of the Seas cruise, I spent the night at the Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport hotel. When I stay at a pre-cruise hotel, I’m looking for the following requirements before booking:

• Close to the airport and port, but within walking distance to nearby hotels, shopping, and attractions
• New or updated amenities
• Price between $200-300 per night for a standard room

The Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport hotel had all of these requirements and then some. Because the hotel opened in fall 2021, it was almost brand new and on the surface looks like a great choice for taking a cruise from Fort Lauderdale.

This review covers our stay at the hotel including our room, dining, and thoughts on Marriott’s amenities and services at their Fort Lauderdale Airport location.

*Disclaimer: Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel invited Royal Caribbean Blog to spend the night and write a review on our experience.

First impressions

I was impressed with how clean and bright the lobby was, and there were plenty of comfy seating areas. The lobby had a trendy ambiance, with the bar and restaurant in the middle of the area. This definitely wasn’t a throw-it-together type of hotel lobby.

I was in a standard room, which had a king bed, desk, television, large wardrobe, comfy lounge seating. The room did not have a balcony, but floor-to-ceiling windows brought more than enough light into the room.

The room had high ceilings, making it feel large, and there was no shortage of places to plug in your devices.

The Standard 1 King Bed room is priced around $200 on weekdays and $250 on weekends.

Proximity to airport and cruise port

I flew into Fort Lauderdale International Airport and caught a Lyft to the hotel, which was around $10 and took 10 minutes. The hotel also offers complimentary airport shuttles.

There is no self-parking at the hotel. Instead, valet parking is available for $25.

Traveling from the hotel to Port Everglades is a breeze, too, and the drive only takes around 10 minutes. Rideshare service to the port will cost around $13-15.

The hotel also offers a shuttle to the cruise port. Shuttle service is available three times throughout the day (9:55 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:30 PM). Shuttles cost $15 per person.

The Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel is a 5-minute walk from Dania Pointe, an outdoor shopping and dining area in Dania Beach.

Being so close to Dania Pointe is convenient, especially for those flying into Fort Lauderdale and wanting to explore without the hassle of ordering an Uber.

I enjoyed walking around Dania Pointe and was even able to pick up some last-minute items I needed for the cruise at TJ Maxx. For those looking to dine outside the hotel, there were plenty of restaurants to choose from including a Brazilian steakhouse, ramen shop, and wine bar.

Dining

The Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport has one in-house restaurant, Radiant 166, which is located in the hotel’s lobby.

The menu was extensive with a balance of standard American fare and international cuisine, from Egyptian street food to Italian flatbreads and pasta. I appreciated the wide range of cuisines available as it wasn’t just a “choose a burger or sandwich” type of restaurant.

We started the meal with a hummus plate and avocado toast, both of which were excellent and made from fully fresh ingredients.

For my main course I chose the Chicken Alfredo (although I subbed for salmon). Others at the table enjoyed a pepperoni flatbread and a Mediterranean pita dish.

For dessert we opted for the strawberry and Nutella crêpe. Served with whipped cream and ice cream, it was certainly delicious.

I was impressed with the restaurant overall, and just like any hotel restaurant, it is extremely convenient to dine directly in the hotel. For those tired after a long travel day and not wanting to venture outside the hotel for dinner, it makes a solid option.

There is breakfast available every morning for an extra cost, and snacks and beverages are also available for purchase.

Other amenities

Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite members of Marriott Bonvoy have access to the hotel’s M Club lounge.

The lounge offers complimentary buffet breakfast, light snacks throughout the day, and hors d'oeuvres in the evening. A coffee machine is also available for specialty drinks like cappuccinos and lattes.

Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport has an outdoor pool. The pool was quite large with plenty of chairs and comfortable day beds to enjoy. The pool's temperature was fairly chilly, although I thought it felt nice in the Florida humidity!

If you arrive at the hotel early the day before your cruise, this area is the best place to kick off your relaxing vacation as soon as possible.

A gym was also available with cardio and weight machines.

Final thoughts

I’ve stayed at three hotels near Fort Lauderdale’s airport, and this has been my favorite so far for the following reasons:

• It’s basically a brand new hotel, so you get the benefits of a sparkly clean hotel with new amenities
• Convenient location right by Dania Pointe shopping center
• Close to the airport and cruise terminal

If I had to mention a drawback, it would be that the hotel does not have any suites. They offer rooms with two queen beds, but those hoping for separated bedrooms or living areas will have to look elsewhere.

The price of a standard room at the Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport was comparable to other hotels I had stayed at in the same area, yet it offered more upgraded amenities and rooms.

I thought it offered the perfect place to get my cruise vacation the day before I boarded Allure of the Seas, and I would definitely book this hotel again on a future cruise departing Fort Lauderdale.

Bonus: hotel day pass

After my Allure of the Seas cruise, my flight from Fort Lauderdale International Airport did not leave until 3:30 PM. Instead of spending 6-7 hours waiting around at the airport, I purchased a $25 day pass to the Marriott Fort Lauderdale Hotel.

The day pass gave me access to the pool and fitness facilities, and it was a much more enjoyable experience than sitting at an airport terminal.

If you have a late flight booked following your cruise, a hotel day pass may be something to consider.

It appears crew members now have the choice of wearing a face mask or not on cruise ships.

According to select crew members, Royal Caribbean has changed the policy so that it is up to the crew members to decide if they want to wear a face mask or not.

"The decision to wear a mask or not is up to the crew member," is what crew members are being advised via email as it pertains to "front of the house areas".  The phrase "front of the house" refers to places on the ship where guests are present, as opposed to backstage areas.

Crew members will have the choice to wear a mask in:

• Crew areas
• Crew member offices & meetings
• Hot working areas (galley, engine room)
• Guest areas
• Mixed inside/outside dining venues (bar counters, Johnny Rockets, Playmakers)
• Outside: Private islands

The new guidance also says if a crew member decides not to wear a mask, they no longer need to wear the "smile behind the mask" buttons either.

It's not clear if the policy applies to certain locales, such as Singapore.

Masking for crew members may return as required should a ship deem it necessary based on internal factors the cruise line decides on.

Since the restart of cruises, mask-wearing requirements were common on cruise ships through much of 2021 and into early 2022.

While Royal Caribbean removed face mask rules for guests back in February 2022, crew members have been required to wear masks up until now.

Matching other forms of leisure travel

The entire cruise industry has been steadily moving its health protocols back towards a sense of normalcy in an attempt to match cruise ship protocols with that of leisure travel on land.

In April 2022, the mask mandate was removed for flight attendants as well as passengers. Walt Disney World removed its requirement for cast members to wear masks in February 2022.

Guest reaction

The change has been met warmly by cruise ship guests, who did not understand why the rules remained so different for crew members compared to passengers for months.

Some guests have been vocal about wanting Royal Caribbean to change the rule to make things the same for crew.

GKMCruising joked on the Royal Caribbean Blog message boards, "I told our Cruise Director that it's just a shame you can't have a fire onboard, crew should have a massive mask bonfire on the helipad."

WAAAYTOOO simply wrote, "Hallelujah!"

RGThibs on responded on Twitter, "Happy to see the crew have the option.  Love to see their smile!!"

Do I have to wear face mask on a cruise?

For nearly all sailings, face masks are not required by passengers on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

For sailings departing the U.S., Puerto Rico, Barbados, Canada, Europe & Israel, masks are optional for vaccinated guests and recommended for unvaccinated guests while onboard.

Face masks were a very visible and divisive protocol on cruise ships, but crew members were pretty much the last people on a ship required by the cruise line to wear them.