If there's one piece of cruise advice I always give, it's never travel the same day your cruise departs.  So when I broke that rule, it gave me more trouble than it was worth.

The reason why you never want to fly the same day your cruise departs is a travel delay could cause you to miss your cruise, putting your entire vacation in jeopardy.

So when Royal Caribbean invited me to sail on Wonder of the Seas to preview the opening of its new beach club in The Bahamas, I decided to break my own rule and roll the dice.

Why would I flagrantly choose to travel the same day as my cruise? I had a family commitment the day before the cruise began that wasn't negotiable. And I had spent a lot of time away from home this year on over a dozen cruises.

I booked a Brightline train that took me from Orlando to Miami. It departed at 5:40am and would arrive in Miami at 9:15am. Taking a train instead of flying lessened my concerns because Brightline's fleet tends to run on time with less delays or cancellations.

The good news is my train was on time and I made it to my Wonder of the Seas cruise, but I also regretted my choice a few times and realized why I won't do this again.

No matter how good the plan sounded, I had more anxiety than I expected

Maybe I'm just a worrywart, but until my train was firmly in South Florida, the level of anxiety I experienced surprised me.

At first it was concern over if my alarm would go off and would I wake up on time.  Then it was worrying about finding a parking spot at the train station.  And finally, would the train get me there on time.

I cannot even imagine how much more worried I would have been if I had been flying.  Flights are notorious for being delayed for all sorts of mundane reasons.

Boarding at the cruise terminal begins at 10am, but you have to be onboard by 3pm usually.  That means your buffer for delay or mistake is only a few hours.

In my situation, I felt better that I could always drive myself down to Miami in roughly the same amount of time the train would take.  That's not usually a fallback people who elect to fly can say.

I didn't expect to be so tired all day because of my long travel day

It came as no surprise waking up at 4am was difficult and I was initially tired, but it really dragged me down all day.

My plan was to nap on the ship once the staterooms opened at 1pm, but it was rough getting to that point.

I stopped to get coffee on my way to the train station, so that helped perk me up initially. But those first few hours onboard after boarding before cabins opened were rougher than I expected. I just wanted to lay down and nap.

When my room was ready, that's exactly what I did and it felt glorious.  But my nap left me feeling more lethargic than energized.

A very early start of travel started me off tired and it never really wore off.

In fact, I was in my cabin by 10pm because I just couldn't summon the energy to stay out later.

Had I traveled to Miami the day before, I could have slept much longer the night before the cruise and gotten onboard with a lot more rest.

My plans worked out, but I wouldn't want to do it again

In my case, I was lucky that I was able to make this cruise as scheduled. But I can't say I enjoyed how it all happened on embarkation day.

There are countless examples in the news of a family that misses their cruise ship because of a delayed flight or some other travel mishap.

Even when things go to plan, I found having such a small amount of buffer removed all the pre-cruise excitement and replaced it with angst.

Would I wake up on time? Would my train have delays? Will there be enough parking?

This isn't how I want any vacation to start, and I doubt others would too.  Perhaps there are que sera sera people out there that let fate take its course, but its definitely not my style.

My recommendation remains always travel at least one day before your cruise begins, and don't do what I did.

If you're wondering, "Does Royal Caribbean have free Wi-Fi", you might be surprised it doesn't, especially with more airlines and hotels including it.

Because being online is so ubiquitous today, I'll often see genuine shock that cruisers have to pay for internet access on their ship.

Royal Caribbean sells internet packages that offer unlimited access throughout your cruise, with the only limitation how many devices you want to have connected at one time.

There are two reasons why Royal Caribbean doesn't include Wi-Fi for free. First, high speed satellite internet is expensive and cruise lines don't have a large business travel segment to leverage like hotels and airlines.

Second, Royal Caribbean employs a modular approach to their cruise pricing because most of its customers don't want to pay for amenities they won't use. Basically, offering a Wi-Fi package as an optional add-on keeps the base fare lower for those that don't want or need internet access.

Before you sail on Royal Caribbean, here's a look at the internet options available on your cruise ship.

"Are we going to give free Wi-Fi? No."

You're not the first person to wonder if Royal Caribbean will ever start offering free Wi-Fi.

At an event in 2024, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley was asked that exact question by cruise fans.

He explained the high cost makes charging for internet on a cruise an unavoidable reality.

"We got to pay a ton, a ton, a ton of money for Wi-Fi," Mr. Bayley said.

"Are we going to give free WiFi? No."

Hotels and resorts have the luxury of cheaper cable-based internet access.

The app is free to use without Wi-Fi

While Royal Caribbean doesn't have free Wi-Fi, it does have a free app you can use while on the ship.

The Royal Caribbean app is free to download, even while you're onboard the ship. The cruise line wants you to take advantage of the app because it makes planning and understanding what's happening onboard easier.

Once downloaded on your device, you just need to connect to Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi network. Don't worry, you won't be charged.

You'll have two options: log into your Wi-Fi package or just use the app.

With the app, you can use all of its functions without paying for an internet package, including the free chat feature.

The chat allows you to text anyone else on the ship that has the app downloaded and it's one of the top reasons you can skip paying for Wi-Fi so you can still communicate with friends and family sailing with you.

Wi-Fi packages for sale

If you need internet access, paying for an unlimited internet package is the best option.

You can buy internet access before the cruise or onboard.  You specify how many devices at once you'd like to have and then pay for it.

You can log out devices and log in other devices. The limit is simply how many devices can be logged in at one time.

Always pre-purchase a Wi-Fi package because it's discounted before the cruise begins. Waiting to book it onboard is a mistake because it will cost more.

Cruise ship cell plans

Some cellular carriers now offer internet access while on the ship.

AT&T, Verizon, and other major carriers offer an optional "day pass" where you can connect to the ship's cellular antenna and use your phone like you would at home, including internet access.

I was pleasantly surprised how well AT&T's cruise ship pass worked when I've tried it. Not only is it easy, but impressively fast too.

One advantage using a cell phone day pass has over buying a Voom package from Royal Caribbean is you can "cherry pick" which days to pay for internet access.  Royal Caribbean does offer a 24 hour pass when on the ship, but it costs about $30, whereas cell phone day passes are about half that cost.

The internet loophole that might work

I've found a loophole that might work for you to get limited internet access without paying, but I can't promise it will.

If you have an iPhone, once connected to the ship's free Wi-Fi option to just use the app, you're able to send and receive basic messages and push notifications.

The reason this works is because I believe Royal Caribbean has to open certain protocols to make push notifications within its app work properly. 

You cannot send or receive photos or attachments, and it basically only works with iMessage, although you may have luck with other apps.

Since this is an unintentional loophole, Royal Caribbean could close it at any time and I make no guarantees it actually works.  But in practice, it's been something that I've observed for years.

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!

A grandmother was caught with a loaded gun while on a Royal Caribbean Cruise and was jailed in a prison in The Bahamas.

She claims she "accidentally" forgot to leave the gun in her car before the cruise.

She was arrested when trying to reboard Liberty of the Seas while docked in Nassau, Bahamas. The Royal Bahamas Police Force boarded the ship and arrested her for possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Royal Caribbean News

• Family sues Royal Caribbean after cruise passenger died, was allegedly served 33 drinks
• Royal Caribbean "crowns" new beach club with 43 foot tall logo.
• "Challenging" winds forces Royal Caribbean to delay cruise ship return
• Royal Caribbean changes over a dozen itineraries on Spectrum of the Seas to avoid Japan
• Burrowing owls set to return to the U.S. after stowing away aboard cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean submits plans to Mexico for its new beach club
• Virgin Voyages offers status matching to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity guests
• I always do 6 things before I book a cruise if I have to fly there
• I tried 8 new things on cruise ships this year and one is my new favorite
• Royal Loft Suite on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas photo tour
• I always check my cruise bill for 5 things before the sailing ends to avoid fixing it later
• 8 real-world tips you need for cruising this holiday season

New RCB Video: Changes Royal Caribbean Made In 2025 That I DON’T Like

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 — Changes Royal Caribbean Made In 2025 That I DON’T Like — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Unruly passenger punches cruise ship crew member: video

A guest punched a crew member in the face after some kind of a disagreement, and it was captured on video.

The incident took place on Icon of the Seas at its waterpark.

The man yelled and argued with a crew member before he punched him and then quickly left.

How honest should you be with Royal Caribbean's post-cruise survey?

One question on Royal Caribbean's post-cruise survey has a lot of passengers confused as to how they should really answer it.

The survey is an important tool for evaluating how well each ship, department, and service is onboard.  The cruise line takes it very seriously because feedback can alter policies and promotions.

Some cruisers are worried about how their responses impact the careers of crew on the ship they just sailed on.

When is Perfect Day Mexico going to open?

With 2027-2028 cruises available to book, the big question is when will the first passengers be able to visit Perfect Day Mexico?

It's slated to open sometime in 2027, but there's been no official date and no sailings advertise they will visit it yet.

Executives have hinted when we might see the gates open.

New seasonal 2027-2028 cruises have been released

The last batch of new cruises for the 2027-2028 season in North America were released this week.

13 ships based out of Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Panama are part of this week's release, including Allure of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 587th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Some things Royal Caribbean offered instantly became Matt's favorites, only to be removed later. It seems like Matt might be the "kiss of death" for them.

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

After your cruise is over, Royal Caribbean will send you a survey to get feedback on your vacation, but there's one question that trips up a lot of people.

The Royal Caribbean survey is emailed to all passengers and it's used for staffing decisions, service improvements, and crew recognition.

The company wants to know what you thought of the trip, what stood out, and to rank pretty much everything you experienced.  But it's also a tool for evaluating crew members.

One question, in particular, is a potential red flag for crew members and passengers certainly don't want to get anyone in trouble.

Here's what to do with the post-cruise survey and how honest you should be about crew asking for positive ratings.

What Royal Caribbean wants you to do with that question

Royal Caribbean places a great deal of emphasis on its post-cruise survey because it offers the best opportunity to gather feedback from customers immediately after sailing.

There's one question that seems to trip some cruisers up because they aren't sure how to answer it.

"Were you asked by any crew member(s) to provide positive ratings/reviews on this survey?"

This question is aimed at protecting the integrity of the survey. 

The reason Royal Caribbean asks if someone asked for a high score is because it skews the reality of how well something is working.

The cruise line wants you to be honest so it can improve what needs improving and maintain what's well-received. But if the responses are the result of a crew member guilting, coaching, or encouraging a higher score than deserved, it artificially drives up scores and doesn't allow for a proper evaluation.

Royal Caribbean uses Net Promoter Scores (NPS) to evaluate how effective its cruise ships and private destinations operate.

In short, this is a tool for measuring customer loyalty and predicting business growth. 

Each question is calculated on a scale of 0-10, and the answer has a major impact on how it sees performance:

• 9-10: Promoters, Loyal enthusiasts who fuel growth.
• 7-8: Passives, Satisfied but unenthusiastic; vulnerable to competitors (not included in score).
• 0-6: Detractors, Unhappy customers who can damage your brand.

Basically, this is a way to take the question of "On a scale of 1 - 10, how likely are you to recommend ____", but apply it to different kinds of questions.

You take the percentage of Promoters and subtract the percentage of Detractors from it.  

Why crew members sometimes ask for positive ratings

Based on things crew members have shared in the past, NPS scores are a major factor in how they are rated.

Every crew member on a ship works on a contract, and when it's time for a new contract or for a promotion, Royal Caribbean will use guest survey results as a factor in determining if they should get a new contract, raise, or higher position.

Publicly, there's only anecdotal evidence as to how the NPS scores factor into a crew member's career.

One person posted on Facebook, "I did a galley tour last month, and saw the sign for the employees. The staff person with the top survey numbers over one month would get a day off. The second top person would get a Half-Day off. Considering the number of workers that is a huge prize."

Similarly, lower scores could signal there's a problem.

Mark Lipton, professor emeritus of management at The New School and Parsons School of Design, said in a recent interview how NPS scores tied to compensation can lead to gaming the system, "Whenever something is going to impact my compensation, my odds of a promotion or my very stability in keeping my job here, I am going to be driven to see how I can influence those numbers."

"I never know how to answer this"

Cruisers get confused because most don't want to get the hard working crew members in trouble.

On Facebook, someone asked "I never know how to answer this. Our server did ask for a 10/10 review. But if I said yes, would I get anyone in trouble?"

On the one hand, answering "yes" could alert the cruise line to someone trying to spike scores higher than they should be.

But on the other hand, is this question a test to see if crew members are effectively communicating to guests the importance of the survey and answering "no" gets someone in trouble?

Over 500 comments were shared to the original Facebook post, garnering lots of opinions:

"I answered yes, I feel it is a management issue and if they want true results they should not be trying to skew your response."

"Say no always, but if a specific crew member was off putting, then address that one specifically."

"The answer is No! We just confirmed this on our Oct cruise with a well seasoned bartender. We were informed no staff member is supposed to ask that you give them a 10 rating nor suggest any rating at all!"

"I always say yes, but I never provide names or anything. Because almost every staff member asks in every department."

How I answer this survey question every time

I don't claim to be an NPS expert, but I believe it's important to be honest about the answer if a crew member is clearly trying to push for a higher score out of a sense of guilt or fear.

Crew members can remind you about taking the survey or even say how important the survey is in evaluating them. I feel these are perfectly acceptable reminders because most people on a cruise ship are brand new to cruising.

However, specifically asking for a perfect score or inferring anything less than a perfect score will cause a problem is likely grounds for answering "yes" to the question.

Regardless of how you answer the question, I think it's vitally important to use the open comment section at the end of the survey to call out your favorite crew members and explain why.

That section is indexed and searchable, and managers will pull from this data to identify which crew members stand out as being recognized by guests.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises around the world, which in many cases requires flying to reach.

Just this past cruise season, I flew four times to get to cruises around Europe. It's not as simple as hopping in a car, but mixing up the destinations and itineraries is well worth it.

However, before I commit to any cruise overseas, I have to take airfare into consideration because it might be the difference in if the trip makes practical sense or not.

There's cost, logistics, and how well it all fits into my cruise plans. The last thing I want to do is pick what seems like a fantastic cruise, but create a problem for myself in trying to get there and back.

Here are the six things I'll always do before booking any cruise where I have to fly.

I first look at if there are direct flights available

Not only are direct flights more convenient, they are essential to mitigate the chances of travel delays messing up my cruise.

Getting a direct flight isn't always possible, but I'll prioritize them over spending less on connecting flights.  

Simply put, airline flight schedules are notorious for getting messed up because of bad weather, mechanical issues, late crew members, and a whole array of other unexpected problems. 

Taking a direct flight means I have just one flight with potential hiccups, instead of two or more.

Plus, direct flights mean less travel time and that reduces stress and fatigue. I'm all for starting my trip as relaxed and happy as possible.

I'll check with the cruise line to book flights as a first choice

If there's one lesson I've learned the hard way, it's that booking flights through Royal Caribbean is a smart choice.

Royal Caribbean offers flights through Air2Sea, and I've been impressed by how much cheaper it can be to book through them.

The cruise line regularly discounts flights to places like Alaska and Europe as an incentive to book the flight with them.

As an example, air bookings made between October 1, 2025 - June 6, 2026 for Europe and Alaska sailings departing between March 15, 2026 - November 2, 2026 can qualify for a discount.

Up to $250 per person discount, depending on the destination and airfare:

• Alaska
  • $50 USD per person for Economy and Premium Economy Class seats
  • $100 USD per person for First and Business Class seats
• Europe
  • $100 USD per person for Economy seats
  • $150 USD per person for Premium Economy Class seats
  • $250 USD per person for First and Business Class seats

Last year I booked a flight with the airline only to cancel and rebook with Air2Seas because of the savings offered.

In addition, you can add an Air2Sea flight that remains refundable until final payment due date and it doesn't cost anything to make the booking.  If you find a better deal, cancel the Air2Sea booking before final payment due date at no cost.

I also like that Air2Sea has an "Assured Arrival" policy that can help if an airline mess causes you to miss the cruise.  

I come up with a jet lag plan

Each time I've flown to Europe for a cruise, I've had to come up with a way to combat jetlag.

Jetlag isn't just annoying, it can downright ruin the first few days of your trip. The last thing I want to do is sleep away half my trip.

Depending on what time you land in Europe, I'll craft a strategy that is built around acclimating myself to the local time as fast as possible.

I can't sleep on airplanes, no matter how much I try. I'm just too nervous when I fly and cannot get comfortable enough to get meaningful sleep.  Even in lay flat seats in business class it hasn't worked.

Ideally, I'll get a flight that lands as late in the afternoon as possible.  The idea is to land, get to my hotel, and then go to sleep when it's appropriate for the local time.

Unfortunately, most of my European flights have landed in the morning.  That meant I forced myself to stay awake all day without any naps.  Not easy, but there's no question it got me on the local time so much faster.

I never book a flight to land the same day my cruise begins

If you take one tip from this entire article, let it be this one: never fly the same day your cruise departs.

I cannot imagine the anxiety I would have trying to fly the same day my cruise departed.

Travel delays are too numerous to put your entire vacation at risk because you didn't want to pay for a hotel the night before the cruise.

Even when flying domestically, I won't consider it because I'm just too paranoid about missing the ship. Even with Air2Sea's backing, I'd rather travel with less stress and get to my destination city with lots of time to spare.

Plus, I enjoy exploring the city I'm sailing from and playing tourist there for a day or two. Not only is it fun, but it expands your vacation.

I never fly (or cruise) without travel insurance

If there's one extra cost I think everyone should buy for their cruise, it's a travel insurance policy.

Like all insurance, it's a waste of money until you need it. Then it feels like the best investment you ever made.

I think most people will find travel insurance to cost less than expected, and it covers both the flights and cruise.

Travel insurance covers you for so many possible scenarios in which you'd be on your own otherwise financially to deal with. Lost luggage, travel delays preventing you from making the cruise, accidents and more are covered.

The peace of mind it offers is why I'll buy it every single time.

Pad my flight home

No one wants the "should I book a 10:45am flight?" anxiety spiral. 

While I also don't want to sit in the airport all day after my cruise is over, I'd rather be bored than upset I missed my flight.

Depending on which airport you're flying out of and how far that is from the cruise terminal, you should always give yourself more time to travel to the airport, check luggage, and then get through security and immigration.

If the flight isn't until much later in the afternoon, I'll buy a day pass to nearby hotel. That way I can relax, take a shower, and nap without having to feel like I'm living at the airport that day. 

Ever since Royal Caribbean announced plans to open Perfect Day Mexico, cruisers want to know when it will open.

Royal Caribbean generated more buzz than ever in its history with the announcement of a massive new private beach destination in eastern Mexico.

Not only is it a follow-up to the wildly successful Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, but this one is poised to deliver a bold new take that expands could redefine what a cruise line private island experience is all about.

What's unclear is when exactly the first cruise ships will be able to go to Perfect Day Mexico and the official opening date.

The timeline has changed a bit since the official announcement was made, and there is more ambiguity as to when the first passengers will be able to visit.

Here's what we know so far about an opening date for Perfect Day Mexico.

Opening late 2027

Originally Royal Caribbean announced Perfect Day Mexico would open in September 2027, but that date seems to have been walked back.

At a special event in May held in New York, plans for Perfect Day Mexico were revealed and September was given as the estimated date.

However, Royal Caribbean is now saying there isn't yet a specific month or date picked out yet.

In November 2025, Royal Caribbean spokesperson said that an opening date will be revealed sometime in 2026.

"Perfect Day Mexico is set to debut in late 2027. Royal Caribbean will announce the exact opening date in 2026."

The rumor mill has swirled as to what "late 2027" refers to, but as of now it's anyone's guess.

While 2027 and 2028 cruises are available to book that stop at Costa Maya, there's no official guidance as to which sailings will be officially a Perfect Day stop.

The last thing they want to do is sell a cruise advertised as visiting Perfect Day Mexico only to have to cancel that visit later.

Once the opening date is announced, itineraries will be revised to change from "Costa Maya" to "Perfect Day Mexico".

Based on previous comments from executives, I think it's safe to say it wont be any earlier than September.

Opening at once instead of phases

When Perfect Day Mexico does open, the plan is open it all at once instead of a phased approach.

Speaking to members of the media, Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider said they don't want to open parts, as was the case at CocoCay.

"The plan is still to open it all at once instead of phases," he explained. "We're going to open it all at once. I think at one point we were going to open [CocoCay] all at once, and then it became a phased approach. So yes, our ambition is all at once."

This means all the neighborhoods of Perfect Day Mexico are planned to be ready on the first official day of operation.

What's known about the construction progress

Royal Caribbean is in the process of lining up all the necessary permits, paperwork, and approvals before construction can begin.

Since the cruise line officially took ownership of the port of Costa May and land parcels nearby, it's begun some prep work.

In October 2025, plans were announced to cleanup areas of already contaminated Mahahual mangroves.

At a press conference, Mr. Schneider explained that for years, the coastal wetlands have been used to discharge wastewater from the municipal treatment plant.

According to him, the municipality currently dumps sewage into the coastal area of Mahahual, contaminating both the mangroves and the beach adjacent to the cruise ship pier.

Royal Caribbean plans to build their own reverse osmosis system to provide drinking water as well as a treatment plant to clean up the area, which will later be transferred to the municipal government to serve the entire community.

At some point, demolition and land clearing will begin in and around Costa Maya.

What features Perfect Day Mexico will include

Royal Caribbean is planning to offer the ultimate combo of "thrill and chill" with Perfect Day Mexico.

One of the most anticipated new features is going to be the longest lazy river in the world. There's a lazy component, along with a "crazy river" that will offer ways to get more wet and have a laugh too.

Plus, there's an entire water park with more than 30 waterslides across five towers. The Jaguar's Peak slide will be more than 170 feet tall, which makes it the tallest slide tower in either North or South America.

Chill Beach will have nearly 2 miles of white sand beaches.

Two extra cost admission areas will have day passes to purchase: the adults-only El Hideaway or Costa Beach Club. 

El Hideaway is just for guests 18 or older, and it has a 50,000 sq. ft. party pool. There are multiple swim-up bars, DJ entertainment, and live music.

Costa Beach Club is the elevated beach spot, where crowds are limited and you'll find secluded beaches and pools with luxurious loungers and private service.

How the opening could affect cruises in 2026 and 2027

Costa Maya, as we know it, will be completely redeveloped and reshaped, but it will be a process to get to opening day.

The plan is to demolish all of the current port area, which includes shops, restaurants, and bars. Royal Caribbean will clear it all to make way for Perfect Day Mexico.

Cruise ships visiting in 2026 and most of 2027 will likely encounter some level of construction and closure in the immediate area of the port.

Excursions to the village of Mahahual and surrounding area will remain unaffected.  Tour groups and those venturing on their own will be able to walk past the construction areas to access buses and taxis.

What to do if you want to be first?

If you'd like to experience Perfect Day Mexico on opening day, you'll need to wait a bit longer to know which cruise to book.

Since there's no official opening date announced yet, any sailing that is scheduled to visit Costa Maya in 2027 is debatable if it would be "the one".

If the opening of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is any indication, a date will be announced as the opening date and then it's up to cruisers to determine which cruise ships are scheduled to visit the port on or after the opening day.

There almost certainly will be soft openings in the days leading up to the official first day, but we won't know for certain of that until much later in 2027.

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.