Royal Caribbean Blog

Welcome our guest writer, Phil Schoen! He took some time to write this post entry to share some tips and tricks he and his family learned while sailing on Icon of the Seas. 

We just finished up an amazing week on Icon of the Seas, sailing from February 17th to the 24th of 2024. We were a family of 5, staying in a Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony room, and there were definitely some things we learned along the way. 

Since lists are always fun, I thought I would share some of them. Obviously, this is all just based on our experience and everyone cruises differently. I should also mention that the ship was not at full capacity yet; there were about 6,000 total guests, with 1,200 of them being children. 

Also, we were seeing them making some tweaks to schedules and what is included in various packages and pricing for things. Basically, your experience may differ from what ours was. 

For instance, the Unlimited Dining Package now includes $10 daily credit to Izumi in the Park. Also, the drink package now covers floats at Desserted, though still not milkshakes). 

We also saw them adjust some of the theme nights. They removed White Night for a Red, White, and Blue Night.

You will need to prioritize what you want to do

This goes without saying, but this is a massive ship with a ton to do and a ton of new stuff not seen on other Royal Caribbean ships. Because of that at the end of the week, my wife and I were commenting about the things we didn't get to. 

For example, we never ate at El Loco Fresh or visited the Sports Court, whereas on our last cruise, those were two locations we spent a lot of time at. 

A week goes really fast, and if there is something you are really looking forward to checking out, make it a priority and add it to your "calendar" in the app.

For our family, one priority was the Category 6 water slides, so we went there right after boarding the ship, having packed bathing suits in our carry-on bag. We were able to do a number of them right away with shorter lines than we saw later in the cruise, especially on sea days. 

Additionally seeing the new shows and exploring some of the new venues was a priority, such as Dueling Pianos. 

Consider skipping a port to stay on the ship 

On a related note, you may want to take advantage of a less crowded ship when in port to accomplish more of your priority list. 

We found that on sea days, the pool decks and other venues were very crowded, and there were longish lines for water slides. We decided to not get off the ship when it docked at Perfect Day at Coco Cay, and it turned out to be a great call! 

We got to check out multiple pools and hot tubs, ride the water slides a bunch, and attend a trivia session with only 3 total groups. There weren't any lines at bars, and there were minimal folks in the Hideaway Area pool. It was just really nice to explore this ship with low crowds and made for a really relaxing day.

Read more: 5 best reasons to stay onboard the ship while in Perfect Day at CocoCay

You don't need to pack as many multi-port adapters

One thing the rooms on Icon have is outlets, especially USB ports. You'll find them all over the room, including between the desk, the shelf near the TV, the bathroom, and by the beds. 

Our room also had multiple USB-A outlets near the bunk bed area. If I counted correctly, we had 4 U.S. outlets, 1 European outlet, 10 USB-A outlets, and 2 USB-C outlets.  We did utilize one multi USB-A plug on the desk just to keep things more organized with phones and battery packs, etc., but we absolutely could have made it through without anything. 

Read more: The clever reason to bring a European power adapter on your cruise ship

This is very different than other ships where we felt like we had multiple multi-port adapters in use at all times. There are also outlets out around the ship, with the Overlook area having an exceptional amount and a great place to go if you need to get on a laptop. 

In the Overlook area, especially in the pods, we saw people utilizing the outlets to keep phones and laptops charged and running. 

You will want to pack magnetic hooks to hang things from in the room

One negative thing we found about the rooms (and heard from others as well) is the lack of storage compared to other ships like the Oasis Class. For our family of 5, we struggled to fit everything on the hanging racks and ran out of shelf space. We fit everything, but was tight. 

Additionally, there's no clothesline in the bathroom for hanging up bathing suits or other wet items, only a couple of knobs to hang a few things from. We are glad we brought several magnetic hooks to use on the metal walls, as it allowed us to hang things like hats and nearly-but-not-quite-dry bathing suits. 

Bonus tip: Bring at least 1 more swimsuit than you think you might need, but also try to not overpack other items as storage is at a premium.

Read more: 30 Cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love

Bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper

Overall, we liked the space in the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony room, especially having the bunk bed area which helped separate the kids' area from the main part of the room. 

We also liked how the infinite veranda space made the room bigger, and the chairs on it were comfortable. Opening the window was fun - if a bit of a gimmick - and the black-out shade really worked. It definitely doesn't replace a traditional balcony, and I would refer to the room more as an "Oceanview Plus" vs a real balcony room.

That being said, I thought I would mention another slight negative thing we found, which is that the walls appear to be quite thin, as we could definitely hear our neighbors on both sides. One group was rather loud with quite a bit of screaming from both kids and adults. 

If you are someone who needs things really quiet to sleep or just wants quiet when relaxing in the room, consider bringing earplugs, headphones, or something that can block sound out 

If you are debating it, get the drink package

I know the drink package, especially for this ship, is expensive, but if you are someone who is contemplating getting it, go for it. There are so many unique bars and drinks on this ship that we got so much use out of our package and really enjoyed trying different things that we might not be as open to ordering (for fear of not liking it) if we were paying per drink. 

Also, consider doing a bar crawl, as it motivates you to check out the different bars and drinks. You can spread it out throughout the cruise; you don't need to do it all in one day.

The Basecamp Bar, for instance, has a lot of tropical drinks, themed to Category 6 water park. I found that many of them were pretty strong! The Rye and Bean specializes in coffee and tea-based drinks, whereas Swim and Tonic, a swim-up bar specializes in gin-based drinks. The 1400 Lobby Bar has drinks themed to elements traditional to Royal Caribbean, with names like the FlowRider and the Rising Tides. 

Some drinks that I wish I could have right now include the Coffee Boulevardier from Rye and Bean (the espresso martinis here are also excellent) and the Tradewinds from Basecamp Bar.

Similarly, if contemplating the Empire Supper Club, book it! 

Speaking of things that are not cheap, we got to experience the Empire Supper Club, and it did not disappoint. It was one of the best meal experiences I have had in my life. 

The food was wonderful and creative. They also had some really interesting cocktails, with some pairings I would never have thought of but worked. The excellent music absolutely complemented the meal without taking away from being able to have conversations. 

I probably also had the best service I have ever had on any cruise ship. It's most likely not something you are going to do every cruise, but for a special occasion or if just something you think will appeal to you, go for it! A meal like this on land, when factoring in the cocktails and entertainment, would likely cost 2-3x what they are charging.

Overall, it felt very Great Gatsby-like, and we went all out getting dressed up and trying to match the glitz and glamour of the venue and the event. There are lots of Art Deco touches throughout, including on the rim of the plates, and don't forget to look up! 

A formal invitation with a wax seal is left in your stateroom the evening before, and when you first arrive your server greets you by name. I suppose they use your boarding photo so they know what you look like. 

You are required to arrive at a set time, and they lock the doors behind you to keep the "speakeasy" vibe. Once seated, you are asked what type of water you want, and they start serving the champagne, which keeps flowing during the first few courses, including a few appetizers not even listed on the menu! 

Once you get into the menu, you are given very detailed information about each dish, as well as the cocktail served with it and why it was selected. My favorite course was the raviolo, which was a singular large ravioli served with a decadent sauce and topped with shaved botargo and edible flowers. 

The most interesting cocktail pairing was the Blood and Sand, which was served with the langoustine. I just wouldn't normally pair a scotch-based drink with seafood, but it worked! 

My wife does not eat pork or beef, and they were able to modify a couple of appetizers, so she could fully experience them. For example, they prepared a mushroom-based sauce to go with the raviolo, rather than the standard one which had guanciale in it.

Read more: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Pearl Café is a game-changer

Two of the best changes they made for this ship were the opening up of the promenade and the addition of the Pearl Café. I cannot overstate how much of an upgrade this is over Cafe Promenade. 

The setting is lovely with the large windows, view of the Pearl, and the artwork above your head. The food is really, really good; the steak and egg breakfast sandwich become an everyday item for me, and it is open 24 hours a day. 

One food item they had there that my son enjoyed and got quite often was the tomato and mozzarella salad. We also enjoyed the various croissants they had there, and I also really liked the BBQ chicken biscuit they had in the afternoons.

I will say the line for the coffee where you can get lattes and the like made with Starbucks coffee can get rather long; the crew there is working hard, just lots of people want their coffee! 

 The line for coffee was definitely the longest in the morning. By the afternoon, it would be much shorter, but always at least a few people there. 

There are two separate lines, one for the specialty coffees and one for the food, so if you just wanted food you had a much shorter wait, though if you wanted both coffee and food you had to wait in two lines. 

Seating for the shows, including non-reserved seating for the aqua show

Royal Caribbean entertainment is generally amazing and what is found on this ship is no exception. You probably don't need me to advise you to go see the Wizard of Oz, the Ice Shows, or the Aquashows, but for each, here are a few tips for where to sit. 

For the Wizard of Oz, it's best to sit in the lower section, as close to the middle as you can, but if the only thing available is on the side that is fine, too. Just being closer to the stage is great and several effects will, literally, go over your head, and it really adds to the experience. 

For the ice shows in Absolute Zero, outside of a few seats that may have a pole impacting your view, there really aren't "bad" seats, but I would advise getting as close as you can and even going for the front row, especially for the secondary show, which is aimed at families. 

We had the kids in our group sit in the front row, and at times, the performers would come by and give them high fives; they loved that! 

Perhaps my best tip overall is about AquaAction. The reservations for the shows in the aqua theater (there was only one ready on our sailing) are just for the wooden benches and chairs within that area, NOT for the chairs behind the benches. We wanted to see the show twice and just showed up early. We found that we could just sit in the chairs at the back. 

They're way more comfortable than the wooden benches. Plus, they have tables for your beverage or a crêpe from the Aquadome Market. While slightly further away, the view is just as good, and I would take these over the area the reservations are for. 

Dueling Pianos is an absolute must-do. Get there early!

One of the most fun experiences I have had anywhere, let alone on a cruise ship, was at Dueling Pianos on Icon of the Seas. The level of talent and engagement with the crowd is off the charts! 

Singing along with hundreds of strangers/new friends and laughing with the antics of the performance, you just can't not smile during the show. The "bit" they do for Piano Man was one of the funniest things we have experienced in quite a while. 

That said, it is really popular. You will want to get there at least 30 minutes prior to showtime if you want a seat and you will, unfortunately, see people "saving" seats with drinks for an hour or so like they are deck chairs. 

Also, the earlier shows seem to attract more kids, and they try to go with the crowd (I mean, they did take a request for Baby Shark), so I would suggest going to a later show for the full experience where it gets a bit more "PG-13."

Speaking of shaving chairs, we did see some loungers with towels up on the pool decks. We did find on our second sea day that a lot of chairs were in use. Combined with the ones being saved, it was hard to find loungers that were clearly free on that day. 

This was partially impacted by our first sea day being a bit cloudy and rainy, so everyone was eager to get out. Outside of that second day, there were generally loungers available, even if maybe not in the specific spot you would want one.

There you have it, my top 10 list of tips and thoughts from our week-long cruise on Icon of the Seas. I could probably add 10 more, but this post is already more than long enough! 

How do you make dinner on a cruise ship even better? Give passengers more choice in when they can dine.

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean has offered two traditional dinner times on its ships, where guests are seated at around 5pm or 8pm. The set dinner times have been a crowd pleaser, but for some people it has always felt either too early or too late.

Royal Caribbean wants to fix this by adding a third dinner time. It may seem like a simple change, but the cruise line thinks it will greatly improve the guest experience for anyone in the dining room, even if you don't select this time.

Royal Caribbean Blog got an exclusive update that coming this year, there will be a third dining time that will be added in-between the first two times.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage Linken D'Souza thinks the addition of a middle dining time will give guests, "more choice and variety and flexibility for their vacation."

"We're just trying to create more convenience, variety and options for our guests."

The exact time for the new seating will depend on the ship and itinerary.  It could start around 6:45pm - 7:30pm, depending on what the guest feedback is from early testing.

Mr. D'Souza said they've tested it out already on Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean is methodically rolling it out across the fleet. There isn't a set schedule yet, but Mr. D'Souza believes by the end of the year all the ships will have the additional dining time. It won't be done all at once, instead, the new option gets rolled out ship by ship.

More choices and a better cruise

At the heart of the decision to add a third dining time is the drive to improve the guest experience. Mr. D'Souza was adamant how much his team focuses on making dining better.

This idea seems to have born out of guest feedback Royal Caribbean received where traditional dining times weren't ideal, but switching to My Time Dining didn't work either.

My Time Dining offers flexible dining times, but many cruisers enjoy having the same wait staff and table assignment every night. 

"Guests who dine in the dining room love to have the same server, love to have the same table," Mr. D'Souza explained. "And a lot of people want to be able to choose that time, but they're not able to because the traditional dining times are taken. So they end up in My Time Dining."

Read more: My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

Based on early testing, guest satisfaction is higher as a result of the change, "The people who are now in this new third seating, they are rating us higher than any of the other experiences that we had, whether it was early, late or My Time."

"So we're actually seeing the highest ratings for these guests out of anybody who is dining in the dining room."

There's no menu change, no alterations to dinner on a cruise ship other than adding a new time.

"This is purely about improving the experience...None of it is impacting the guest, there's no structural changes. There's no menu changes. It's all about operational."

Evolution of dinner on a cruise

In considering the changes Royal Caribbean has made over the past few years, there's a definitive path the cruise line has taken in gradually improving dinner on a cruise.

When Royal Caribbean revisited the dining room menus in late 2022, they wanted to improve dinner by making it more predictable and not a two hour affair.

In December 2022, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said that a top complaint from passengers had been how long dinner can take some times. 

Mr. D'Souza said at a land-based restaurant, customers want dinner to take about 60-65 minutes, and since a cruise is vacation, that number would skew a bit longer.

The result was a concerted effort to make dinner speedier so that it would regularly come in at around 75 minutes.

With a more efficient Main Dining Room, there was now an opportunity that did not exist before to insert an additional middle dining time.

Should you choose My Time Dining or traditional dining?

There are good reasons to choose a set dining time or a flexible dining time for dinner in the Main Dining Room, and it all depends on your preferences.

Both options are included in your cruise fare, so the key is to understand how each works to determine which fits with your habits.

You will select a dining preference when you book a cruise. It's one of the early decisions to make as part of the booking process.

Traditional dining will have the same table number, wait staff, and table mates every night of your cruise. With this new choice, there will be three dining times to pick from:

• Early
• Middle
• Late

When you arrive for your cruise, your table number and deck will be marked on your SeaPass card so you know your dining time and location.

Each evening, you'll go to the Main Dining Room at the assigned time and head directly to your table. 

You could be seated with other passengers at traditional dinner. It depends on how big your travel party is, and which table they assign you.  Yes, you can request to have a table just for yourselves, but there's no guarantee it will be granted.  In my experience, the staff is usually good about accommodating such requests.

As Mr. D'Souza alluded to, the reason why some people prefer traditional dining is because they enjoy getting to know their waiters (and the waiters getting to know your preferences), as well as not having to worry about getting a reservation for dinner. Your table will be waiting for you each evening.

Alternatively, you can select My Time Dining, which offers the choice of what time you eat dinner.

The appeal of My Time Dining is you can choose a different dinner time depending on the schedule. If you have a shore excursion on day three, you could select a later dinner time so you have sufficient time to shower, rest, and get dressed before dinner. Then the next day, you could eat earlier.

With My Time, there's the choice of either showing up and waiting for the first available table or making a reservation in advance. It's a lot like going to a restaurant on land. 

Usually there are two lines for My Time Dining: those with a reservation, and those without. People with a reservation get priority for the next available table. Anyone without a reservation will still be seated, but they may wait longer if the dining room is busy.

How do the menus differ between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining, if at all?

The menus for My Time Dining and Traditional Dining are the same, offering the same dishes each evening. You don't have to worry about missing out on any dishes because you select either of the seatings.

Can guests switch between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining during their cruise?

Guests can request to switch between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining, but this is subject to availability and may not always be possible. 

If the dining choice you want is unavailable, be sure to ask to be put on the waiting list. If you're on the ship already, ask to speak to the head waiter to see what they can do to accommodate the change.

Are there any differences in the dress code requirements for My Time Dining compared to Traditional Dining?

The dress code for both dining options is the same, adhering to the ship's overall dress code for the evening, which can range from casual to formal depending on the night. 

Royal Caribbean has posted its new 2025-2026 deployments for the Short Caribbean and Los Angeles cruise markets.

Short Caribbean cruises, as well as those departing from Los Angeles, in 2025 and 2026 are now available to book. 

For the first time in recent memory, two Royal Caribbean ships will offer sailings from California to Mexico, ranging from 3 to 8 nights: 

• Navigator of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas

Additionally, the following ships will make short Caribbean sailings to the Eastern and/or Western Caribbean:

• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas

The new sailings are available to book immediately.

If you're ready to begin planning your next vacation, here's a breakdown of what is offered. 

Short Caribbean sailings

Wonder of the Seas

The second largest cruise ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas, will begin offering short cruises on September 1, 2025.

Royal Caribbean shook up the short cruise market when it announced Utopia of the Seas would enter service with just short cruises.  Both Utopia and Wonder are Oasis Class cruise ships and among the largest ships in the world.

Typically, big new cruise ships sail 7-night cruises, but Royal Caribbean wants to dominate the short cruise market by offering weekend sailings on its best ships in a bid to attract new cruisers.

Wonder will continue offering 7-night cruisers from Port Canaveral until the end of August, and then moves to Miami to start the 3- and 4-night cruises.

Utopia of the Seas

Utopia of the Seas will continue offering short cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Select sailings include stops at Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Short Caribbean voyages are ideal for those seeking a shorter getaway or who might be new to cruising and cannot commit to the idea of spending a week on a ship. 

Jewel of the Seas

It's not just Royal Caribbean's big ships getting into the weekend cruise market, as Jewel of the Seas will also offer 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises.

Jewel will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida between April 2025 and October 2025 to offer weekend cruises.  This means Jewel will remain in the United States instead of going to Europe for the summer of 2025.

Liberty of the Seas

When Jewel of the Seas concludes her short cruise sailings, Liberty of the Seas will pick them up.

Liberty will offer cruises from Port Everglades between October 2025 and March 2026. Sailings will visit Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Mariner of the Seas

If you'd like to take a short Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Mariner of the Seas has sailings for you.

Mariner will offer primarily 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises that visit ports in Mexico. There's also a few holiday cruises in December that are 7-nights for Mariner.

With Mariner of the Seas making short sailings to the Western Caribbean from Galveston, it's also convenient for those who live nearby and don't want to have to pay for airfare.

5-night cruises will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, while 4-night voyages will only visit Cozumel. 

Freedom of the Seas

In addition to Wonder of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas will offer short cruises from Miami.

In April 2025, Freedom wraps up her tenure in Fort Lauderdale before shifting back to Miami.

Freedom will sail 3-6-night cruises, with a 9-night sailing over New Years 2026.

Enchantment of the Seas

Short cruises from Tampa will be available on Enchantment of the Seas for the entire year. There's a mix of 4- and 5-night getaways to the western Caribbean and The Bahamas. 

Highlights of the destinations in store include Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Costa Maya, Nassau and Roatan, plus a lineup of vacations that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Cruises from Los Angeles

Quantum of the Seas

Quantum of the Seas will be homeported in Los Angeles year-round offering cruises to Mexico and Catalina Island. She will be the biggest cruise ship Royal Caribbean has ever based on the west coast.

Rumors had been swirling about a second ship being added to the LA market, and it turns out the rumors were true.

Taking a cruise from the West Coast promises stunning coastal landscapes, world-class cuisine, and vibrant ports of call, such as Cabo San Lucas, which is a popular cruise port as well as a land-based vacation spot. It's known for having a party atmosphere, wildlife, and unique rock formations. 

Note that when visiting via cruise ship, you'll have to tender from the ship to shore. You'll have to wake up early to collect your ticket, so you do not waste the day onboard. 

On longer sailings from Los Angeles, you'll visit Cabo San Lucas, whereas on shorter ones you will sail to the nearby Ensenada, Mexico and/or Catalina Island.

Read more: Guide to weekend cruises: Tips for taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise

Navigator of the Seas

Navigator of the Seas returns to Los Angeles for another season to split the Mexican Riviera sailings with Quantum.

Navigator will still offer short 3- and 4-night cruises, but lean more into the longer sailings that go further south down the Baja Peninsula.

Navigator has been in the LA market since cruises restarted in 2021.

Upcoming deployments

The remainder of the posted deployment schedule covers cruises to China, Australia, and Singapore through April 2026. They're set to be released the weeks of March 11, April 8, and May 13, respectively. 

It's important to remember that the sailings could be released at any point within that week; they're not bound to be published on the first day of the listed week.

For example, Singapore cruises are set to launch the week of May 13; however, they could be released on May 16 or 17. 

Additionally, all itineraries are subject to change without notice.

Royal Caribbean's second Icon Class cruise ship will take a little bit longer to arrive.

On Tuesday, guests booked on the inaugural sailing of Star of the Seas received notification today by the cruise line that the sailing is cancelled.

The 7,600 passenger vessel was scheduled to debut on August 17, 2025 from Port Canaveral.

According to the email Royal Caribbean sent out, the ship will not be ready in time for that sailing, "after a review of the work that remains to be done, we’re unfortunately forced to delay the ship’s delivery date."

"As a result, we must cancel our inaugural 7-Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day August 17th, 2025 sailing."

The new inaugural sailing of Star of the Seas is scheduled for August 31st, 2025.

They went on to apologize for the change in plans, "We’re truly sorry for the impact that this delay has had on your vacation plans."

Royal Caribbean did not specify exactly the reason for the delay in the new ship's delivery, but the fall out will affect those booked on the inaugural.  However, it's not unheard of for a new cruise ship to be delayed because it won't be ready on time.

The cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021 delayed the delivery of Odyssey of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Icon of the Seas.  Other cruise lines have delayed starts too from time to time with their new ships.

Guests booked on the cancelled August 17th sailing have the choice to be automatically moved to the new Star of the Seas inaugural sailing on August 31.  If selected, guests will be moved to a like-for-like stateroom onboard Star of the Seas. This excludes taxes, fees, gratuities (where applicable), and other non-cruise fare items.

Alternatively, guests can move to the Wonder of the Seas sailing departing on August 17th or the Icon of the Seas departing on August 16th. Guests' original stateroom category price will either be protected at their original cruise fare rate or reduced to the current cruise fare rate (whichever is lower). This excludes taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items.

If that's not satisfactory, guests can be moved to re-book any other Royal Caribbean International sailing, but they'll be responsible for any difference in pricing for your cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items.

The final option is to cancel and get a full refund.

Guests must decide by March 12th, 2024 which choice they want, or they'll be automatically moved to the new Star of the Seas inaugural sailing.

Star of the Seas follows up on the tremendously positive reception the public has had for Icon of the Seas, which is the first ship in the Icon Class.

When Star does arrive, she will feature the same neighborhoods that offer lots for passengers to enjoy, including Thrill Island, Chill Island, AquaDome, and the open-air Central Park. 

You can expect more than 40 ways to dine and drink, cutting-edge entertainment across the ship’s four signature stages – air, ice, water and theater – and a lineup of activities for adults, kids, teens and the whole family.

Without a doubt, Star of the Seas will have other features that will distinguish her from Icon.  Royal Caribbean typically tweaks a few venues and changes up offerings to make new ships stand out from others in the class.

At 250,800 gross tons, Star won't be bigger than Icon.  Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider talked on the inaugural voyage about what to expect with Star, and the Icon Class will not follow the Oasis Class trend of subsequently increasing the size of each new ship just enough to make it the biggest in the world.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide

"That isn't the case on Icon. Star will not be a foot bigger. It will be 1198ft long. The third ship in the icon class, yet to be named publicly, will also be 1198ft long."

According to Mr. Schneider, there's no point in continuing that pattern, "We don't feel a need to do that right now. Maybe we'll change our mind. Never say never. But that isn't the design intent."

Under construction in Finland

Star of the Seas is being built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, which is where Icon of the Seas was built, along with other ships such as Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

Star should be right around the same dimensions as Icon of the Seas, so it should be about 250,800 gross tons and carry approximately 5,610 passengers at double occupancy or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy.

When you add crew members, that brings the theoretical maximum amount of people onboard up to 10,000.

The Icon Class is a deliberate effort on Royal Caribbean's part to appeal to the family vacation market, including as many attractions as they've ever thought of in one ship. 

There's still one more Icon Class cruise ship on order, due in 2026. No details have been revealed yet about Icon 3.

When I first started cruising in August of 2023, I thought I would never even learn the names of all Royal Caribbean’s different ships.

Royal Caribbean currently has seven classes: Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, and Vision.

With 28 ships to choose from—and more on the way!—it can feel intimidating to decide which one suits your preferences.

For the new cruiser, selecting the right class of ship to sail on takes a steep learning curve.

Fast forward to today, I’ve now sailed on five ships across four classes. This experience has given me a better grasp of what each class has to offer.

While the cruise line’s ships all stay true to specific branding and design, each class varies a lot when it comes to layout, amenities, atmosphere, and itinerary options.

The best fit for each person comes down to what they enjoy on their cruise vacation.

If you’re looking for a floating resort with activities available onboard, you might prefer a bigger ship. 

But if you’re interested in unique itineraries with multiple ports of call, a smaller class of ship will be a better fit.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide (2024)

I prefer an ambient onboard experience while cruising

My cruising style focuses on the quality of the ship itself. I love ships that have many onboard activities, or a peaceful onboard atmosphere. 

While unique itineraries are fun, they’re not the major draw for me when choosing a cruise.

I don’t mind a not-updated or cheap stateroom, since I enjoy spending time out and about onboard. Most Royal Caribbean ships have a uniform stateroom design, anyway.

My perfect cruise vacation includes a packed schedule of relaxing by the pool, people-watching, enjoying tasty food, and then heading to the nightclub or other entertainment in the evenings.

I don’t usually spend extra money on specialty dining, so I don’t require ships to have many different options when it comes to dining venues. I prefer that the complimentary food tastes high-quality.

I usually cruise with fellow young adults, looking for parties and relaxing spots. I don’t cruise with children, so childcare or kid’s activities don’t factor into my decision-making.

While I enjoy having many different activities to choose from, I like that balanced with a peaceful atmosphere. I dislike too much noise or large crowds, so I prefer ships with a calm ambiance or at least a location where I can get some quiet.

The best kind of ship is one where I have enough to explore over the length of the cruise, but not too much to be overwhelming. 

Oasis Class: Boundless fun

Ships I sailed on: Wonder of the Seas, Allure of the Seas

There’s a lot to love about the Oasis Class. As a new cruiser, these ships blew me away with the breadth of activities and entertainment.

Read more: All about Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class cruise ships

The ships feel huge—packed with food venues, shops, and plenty of other cruisers.

I love how many activities are available onboard, from ice skating to surfing to walking in Central Park. The same applies to specialty dining: there are an endless amount of venues to choose from.

These ships feel less like ships and more like walkable cities. 

The energy is infectious onboard. Crowds gather around and cheer on live musicians, elegant dinners host couples and families, and nightclubs pop with activity and dancing.

I always meet the most people—and make genuine friendships—when I’m on an Oasis Class ship.

However, there are downsides to a ship of this size. I find that you don’t get as many connections with crew members onboard, due to the amount of cruisers and crew members spread all over the ship.

It’s also insanely easy to get lost: I usually need 1-2 days to get my bearings onboard.

And lastly, it’s difficult to book shows. Reservations fill up quickly ahead of time, so I either have to check the app frequently, or get in line half an hour before the show. 

There usually ends up being enough seating, but you have to plan to get into the venue.

Read more: 13 things I wish I'd done differently on my first cruise, from avoiding seasickness to eating at different venues

Freedom Class: Quiet luxury 

Ship I sailed on: Freedom of the Seas

If you want the activity and fun of an Oasis Class ship without all the noise and crowds, I recommend a Freedom Class ship.

This ship felt like an older, more chill version of Wonder of the Seas.

Read more: All about Freedom Class cruise ships

There was plenty to explore onboard, and the ship was in good condition. It also felt less crowded, but still had the fun parties and activities onboard that I enjoyed.

It was easy to reserve or find seating in the shows onboard, and they were fairly good quality! The entertainment wasn’t equal to what you might find on land, but it was plenty of fun for a cruise ship.

When it comes to downsides, the WiFi was incredibly slow on board—especially in the stateroom.

There also isn’t much variety when it comes to specialty food options, and the ship lacks a varied itinerary. 

Radiance Class: Vibrant community

Ship I sailed on: Radiance of the Seas

For a sense of fun yet serenity, Radiance of the Seas was one of my favorite ships.

She is a comparatively smaller ship but with a vibrant nightlife and ample activities.

On my Oasis Class cruises, we joined a community of fellow cruisers onboard. But on Radiance of the Seas, I felt as though I was joining the ship’s community.

Read more: All about Radiance Class cruise ships

Crew members seemed close, and recognized me when I walked around the ship. Captain Marek also brought a personal touch to the sailing by talking with and performing for guests.

Out of all my cruises, Radiance is the only ship where I’ve remembered the name of the captain and other crew members I met while onboard.

The tranquil size and close-knit community made for a peaceful yet warm atmosphere onboard the ship.

As a bonus, Radiance of the Seas is also small enough to attend many diverse ports. I loved getting to experience an entirely new country at our stops in Mexico!

If you’re looking for a pleasant onboard experience, but also want to see exotic ports of call, a Radiance Class ship is the perfect in-between.

Vision Class: Amazing itinerary 

Ship I sailed on: Enchantment of the Seas 

Honestly, I can see why people call Enchantment the worst Royal Caribbean ship.

She’s old—originally launched in 1996—and it shows.

I noticed that the ship was pretty rundown. Lights would flicker or crack in the stateroom, and the elevator also broke down for a full day during my cruise. 

Read more: All about Vision Class cruise ships

Despite the quality of the ship, I loved Enchantment’s complimentary food and ports of call. 

I sailed on her for a seven-day Mediterranean cruise, with a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary. Enchantment’s smaller size allows her to stop at small ports of call, including Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona. 

Being able to visit so many new locations moved all my focus to tours and excursions, leaving little time or energy to explore much onboard.

For the type of cruise I was on, Enchantment does just fine. But a port-focus isn’t my favorite style of cruising.

Should you ask to have your stateroom attendant make up your room in the morning or evening?

Royal Caribbean switched to once-a-day cabin service in February 2023 for standard cabins, and that means you can choose morning or evening service instead of twice a day.  If you're in a suite, you still get twice-a-day service.

Every cabin gets assigned a stateroom attendant who is part of the ship’s housekeeping team. 

They work throughout your cruise to clean and tidy your cabin, take out the trash, replace linens, and keep the area fresh.

Your stateroom attendant also helps with any room requests you might have, such as ice or laundry.

In addition to getting your room cleaned at no extra charge, you will also have the opportunity to choose what time your stateroom attendant comes to clean the room.

On embarkation day, the attendant will introduce themselves and ask what time you prefer your room cleaned: morning or evening?

Read more: 15 Things To Do As Soon as You Get to Your Cruise Cabin

The choice is yours! And it all depends on the vacation schedule you prefer. 

What time you wake up, where you eat, and what activities you go to are all factors you’ll want to consider when selecting a time.

Personally, I always select the evening for the smoothest cruise vacation possible. There are several reasons this is a more efficient choice for many cruisers.

You won’t be rushed out of bed

On my first cruise, I requested to get my room cleaned in the mornings, and I regretted it.

Even on weekends, I’m used to waking up naturally by 8:00 or 9:00 A.M. 

I assumed that I wouldn’t be sleeping in for long on the cruise, and we would already be up and out of the room by the time the steward arrived.

But little did I know, staying in a windowless inside cabin would give me the soundest sleep of my life.

Without windows and natural light to wake me up, I would sleep soundly until 10:00 or even 11:00 A.M! 

Because we slept for so long, we were woken up almost every morning by our steward knocking on the door, ready to freshen up the room.

Of course, I can’t blame her—she wanted to finish cleaning at the time we had requested.

But if I had known how soundly I would sleep in that stateroom, I would have cleared my entire morning schedule.

Sleeping through the morning without a care in the world was a delightful part of that cruise.

By requesting to have your room cleaned at night, you’ll give yourself the freedom to wake up slowly and get dressed in a leisurely manner.

You’ll also be able to enjoy splitting your morning between breakfast, your room, and the pool area without disturbing your steward as they clean.

With an evening cleaning time, you won’t have to worry about your cabin attendant waiting on you to get out!

Read more: I tried the best inside cruise ship cabin hacks to see how well they worked

You’ll never have to make your bed post-afternoon nap

Some cruisers prefer the morning time because they can wake up, hop out of bed, and know that their attendant will come to make the bed soon.

When you’re traveling with a buddy, it’s reassuring to have all parts of cleaning taken care of: no one has to argue over who picks up what or how to make the bed.

Having your bed made after the last sleep of the day is a great idea.

But let’s be realistic; this is vacation! Taking the opportunity to rest as much as possible is the name of the game. 

Whether you prefer mid-morning or afternoon naps, you’ll likely hop back into bed at some point after that morning alarm.

If you choose to have your stateroom cleaned in the evening, naptime will be over and the attendant will come make the bed directly after.

You can gear up for the evening’s activities without worrying about making your bed.

You’re already consistently out of the room for dinner

In my experience, a cruise’s dinner schedule is a much more consistent routine than the breakfast.

Most people order room service for breakfast, make their way up to the Windjammer, or dine in the Main Dining Room in the morning. 

But dinners usually require a specific reservation and consistently take 1.5 to 2 hours.

In the Main Dining Room, you may be assigned a specific time to eat.

If you book a specialty restaurant, you’ll have a certain dinner reservation time to make.

This ensures that you’ll be out of the room at a specific time enjoying your meal and not worrying about if you’ll have to head back to the room at any time.

I prefer to ask my stateroom attendant to come during my traditional assigned time at the Main Dining Room. That way, I plan on heading out of my room anyway, and we all have a consistent time to look forward to each evening.

Sand from the day’s adventures gets cleaned up before bed

What’s a cruise without a day sunning yourself at the beach?

Whether it’s the private shores of Perfect Day at CocoCay, the pink sands in Bermuda, or the famous cool waters of Palma de Mallorca, you’ll likely have at least one beach day on your vacation.

Of course, a day at the beach is something we all dream of. 

But the reality is that the post-clean-up is not so glamorous.

When you come back to your cabin, you’ll likely track in sand and sea salt before you clean up for dinner.

Read more: 30 Cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love

With an evening visit from your stateroom attendant, you can quickly shower off the grime, head to dinner, and then return to a fresh cabin without any lingering sand. 

Even if you don’t, many popular shore excursions involve hiking, biking, or long walks that leave you sweaty and tracking in dirt.

If you choose the morning time, you’ll have to languish in sand and dirty towels until the next day. 

By the time your steward comes in the morning, you might already be at your next messy adventure! 

Despite all the challenges of the last few years, the cruise industry is red hot right now. So much so, it is advising its investors to expect a banner year.

Royal Caribbean Group expected 2024 to be a very good year, but it had to revise expectations because business is doing better than it predicted.

In just the few weeks since Royal Caribbean Group reported its 2024 earnings outlook, the company issued an update because of "robust demand."

This is more than good news if you own stock. It points to many trends cruise fans should expect in the coming year and beyond.

The best wave season ever

Royal Caribbean isn't just seeing high demand, it's experiencing the hottest start to the year in its history.

Wave season is the industry term for the time of year between January and March where cruise bookings are usually the highest of the year. The name refers to the fact it acts as a wave to carry business through the rest of the year, similar to how an ocean wave carries water far out to shore.

In a filing on Friday, the company said the first 5 weeks of the year have had the best wave booking weeks in the company's history.

In short, new reservations for the third and fourth quarters are better than the first two quarters by half.  More bookings in 2024 have been made for the year in quantity and pace. On top of that, more passengers are buying extras for their cruise at higher prices.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty explained, "Since our last earnings call, robust demand for our vacation experiences has significantly exceeded our initial expectations."

When a company files anything with Wall Street, it's important.  For them to adjust forecasts of how much money they expect to make, it shows a significant rise in their business, especially just a few weeks since the forecasts were given.

Don't expect cruise fare cuts

Royal Caribbean Group telling investors it will make even more money than it first advised should be a sign to anyone that going to book a cruise this year there's plenty of other people competing for those cabins.

If you found cruise prices high in 2023 and were hoping for a reversal in price trends, it seems more unlikely now.

Mr. Liberty told investors on February 1st, there are half as many staterooms left in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same time period in 2023.

When you combine sky-rocketing demand at higher prices, there's little impetus to drop cruise fares much.

Cruise fare pricing depends on many factors, not just booking trends. However, it's likely those tailwinds wont compel price cuts like the industry saw in 2020.

Updates and new ships are back

It's not all bad news for consumers, because Royal Caribbean doing better financially has an ancillary benefit.

With Royal Caribbean Group expecting more cash, it means they have more financial flexibility. More cash means money to pay off the massive debt all cruise line accrued during the shutdown of 2020. But it also means they can afford to do more too.

One of the first things Royal Caribbean Group did when things went bad in 2020 was to cut capital spending, which is what the company calls big projects. This includes new cruise ships, refurbishments, and private island development.

As Royal Caribbean Group's financials improved over the last two years, it has started to spend more.  It re-committed to a beach club in Nassau, and built and opened an adults-only expansion at CocoCay.

The best sign that Royal Caribbean Group is ready to spend big again is the fact it placed an order for a new Oasis Class cruise ship. Considering cruise ships cost easily a billion dollars, it's unlikely they would voluntarily take on new debt if they didn't think they could pay it all off.

Moreover, executives let slip they would amplify Allure of the Seas in 2025. Allure had upgrades planned for 2020, but it was cancelled (along with Explorer of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas). 

These are all signs that Royal Caribbean Group seems poised to start spending on the things that cruise ship passengers love: new fun and fancy things to do. While nothing is certain, the fact they've started spending on big ticket items that were fiscally impossible just a couple years ago, says a lot.

Book now before prices go higher

If your goal is to go on a cruise this year or in 2025 or 2026, you'll want to act quickly.

Given the trend of prices going up, booking a cruise early remains your best strategy, as opposed to waiting for last-minute deals.

Traditionally, sales on a last-minute cruise were a strategy cruise lines used to fill up ships to avoid having unsold cabins. 

Read more: I paid $99 per person for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Here's what this cruise is like

Just like the reality of price drops being less likely, I think last-minute sales are equally improbable.

Booking a cruise more than a year in advance has always been a tried-and-true booking strategy, especially for new ships when they first become available to book.

As it gets closer to the sail date, more people book cruises and that means less cabins left to book and that tends to drive up prices.

While a last-minute deal isn't impossible, given the current booking environment, I recommend booking a cruise early rather than betting on a good price in the final weeks before the cruise begins.

Happy Sunday, and I hope you had a great week. It was a busy week of Royal Caribbean fun, and I have a round-up of all of it in this hand-dandy blog post.

It looks like there will be two Royal Caribbean ships based on the West Coast soon.

If rumors are correct, Royal Caribbean is poised to deploy a second cruise ship from Los Angeles, joining Navigator of the Seas, which started sailing from L.A. in 2022.

Cruise schedules for the second half of 2025 show that this ship could be Quantum of the Seas. 

While Royal Caribbean has been absent from the California market for the past ten years, this move shows a renewed commitment to the area.

Royal Caribbean News:

• Royal Caribbean Crown's Edge Review: Worth it or waste of money?
• 8 things Royal Caribbean didn't copy from other cruise ships on Icon of the Seas
• I spent $7,800 for a seven-night cruise on Icon of the Seas. Here's what everything cost, from $700 airfare to $1,000 in onboard expenses
• Photos show the cabin a dog lives in on the world's largest cruise ship
• 4 things I loved and 4 things I hated about Allure of the Seas
• Photos show why taking an Alaska cruise is worth it

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

We've just released the 526th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt reviews a weekend cruise on Oasis-Class Allure of the Seas.

You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or RSS.

New RCB Video: What you'll want to know about getting free cruises in the casino

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — What you'll want to know about getting free cruises in the casino — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Sushi to-go on Icon of the Seas makes it easier than ever to snack beyond the usual

Icon of the Seas has more ways to snack than ever before.

Izumi is Royal Caribbean's designated Japanese cuisine, and with its location in Central Park, the venue is more popular than ever.

Now, Icon of the Seas features a walk-up sushi window in Izumi. 

You can grab a sashimi or nigiri roll, with edamame or seaweed salad, and take the portable container anywhere on the ship!

The worst months to cruise the Caribbean

Warm weather year-round is what makes the Caribbean the most popular cruising destination. Cruisers love visiting those sunny beaches at all times of the year.

But how can you avoid cancellations, those bad rains, and dangerous hurricanes?

Keep track of the worst months to cruise, and plan your sailing accordingly.

Icon of the Seas sought to make boarding day experience less lousy and feel more like vacation

We've all been there before: it's embarkation day, and everyone is racing to get onboard and explore as soon as possible. 

There are many tasks we can give ourselves in the first hours onboard a ship, from booking WiFi to reserving specialty dining.

To make the first day more like a vacation, Royal Caribbean sought to resolve this problem and make day 1 easy.

They've done this by eliminating lines and increasing the amount of preparation you can do before even getting onboard.

15 things cruise lines really do not want you to bring on ships

Packing the wrong item in your cruise luggage could lead to the delay or even cancellation of your beloved vacation.

You never want to bring a banned item onboard, so it's important to plan ahead and know what's restricted.

To keep your boarding day running smoothly, check out the top 15 things cruise lines do not want you to bring onboard. 

From irons to camouflage clothing, here's what you need to know.

A Royal Caribbean cruise provides an opportunity to see some of the most stunning natural landscapes still on Earth.

Alaskan itineraries will take you to glaciers and into fjords, and give you the opportunity to learn about diverse history and culture. 

From majestic scenery to exotic wildlife to delicious seafood, there’s so much to enjoy on a cruise to this rugged state.

However, planning a vacation can still intimidate the new cruiser. 

Are you still balking at the cost and magnitude of an Alaska cruise?

To show why cruisers love these itineraries so much, we asked readers on our Royal Caribbean Blog Facebook page to share the best Alaska cruise photos.

After sifting through hundreds of submissions, we’ve gathered 13 photos that show why taking an Alaska cruise is worth it.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise guide 

Bryan Lamb’s submission shows Mendenhall Glacier, in Juneau, Alaska. 

Almost all Alaska cruises will include a stop at the state’s capital city, Juneau.

Home to only 32,000 people, this small city is a great place to stop and explore.

One of its most popular attractions is the Mendenhall Glacier. It can be accessed via helicopter, boat, or car, and is only 20 minutes from downtown Juneau.

A shuttle bus is even located directly outside the pier where the ship docks in Juneau.

Mendenhall is a 13-mile-long receding glacier, one of the closest to an Alaskan port.

The recreation area offers five walks and hikes to choose from and an informative visitor’s center.

You can even take the 1.5-mile trail to Nugget Falls, a 377-foot waterfall. 

No matter which path you take, you’ll see stunning views of eagles in the trees, huge mountain peaks, or glacier calving across the lake.

Steve Cohen shared this photo of a cruise ship sailing by a snowy mountain.

One major benefit to choosing an Alaskan cruise is the stunning landscape and scenery that will surround your cruise ship.

Unlike a stay on land, on a cruise, you’ll be directly transported to and through these incredible sights, without even needing to lift a finger.

Lush forests, bubbling waters, and soaring mountains will all be visible right from the decks of the ship!

Alaska’s natural beauty suspends travelers in awe, as these photos show.

Imagine sailing through these massive mountains while having access to all the accommodation, dining, activities, and entertainment onboard a cruise ship. 

Your route is pre-planned for you, making a cruise to Alaska a convenient, streamlined way to visit. 

Allison Schwarz’s photo, captioned “along the Klondike Highway,” is a gorgeous example of the landscapes you’ll see on an Alaskan cruise.

Looking at this picture, you can practically feel the fresh air and smell those sweet flowers.

Looking for somewhere to escape those hot summer months?

During the summer, you may struggle to find a vacation that suits you. Your home is hot and humid, and you’re spending more and more money on A.C. every day.

The Caribbean begins a humid, dangerous hurricane season in June. 

To solve your problems, a cruise to Alaska provides the perfect opportunity to visit a cooler place.

Alaskan cruise season usually runs from April to October, with July and August being the most popular times. You do have a shorter sailing window when it comes to avoiding the extreme winter weather, so take advantage of a cruise to Alaska this summer.

Read more: Royal Caribbean releases new 2025 Alaska cruises to book 

Renee Gibbons shared this photo from Ovation of the Seas in June 2022.

Royal Caribbean currently sends Ovation of the Seas on Alaska cruises. This Quantum Class ship provides a lot of facilities to enjoy, whether indoors or outdoors.

No matter the weather, you’ll find something to love.

The state-of-the-art ship has indoor pools, the SeaPlex, an indoor skydiving simulator, and countless other activities.

Whether you’d like to lounge by the pool and watch glaciers go by, or try some fine dining, there’s a lot to enjoy on a Quantum Class ship.

Read more: I cruised on the oldest and newest cruise ships to Alaska: here’s how they compare

Lisa Wolfe’s son plays with sled dog puppies in Skagway, Alaska. 

“Highlight of my son’s trip. It still makes me smile,” she commented.

You can expect unique, memorable shore excursions on your Alaska cruise.

Whether you love the outdoors, want an exhilarating adventure, or love learning about other cultures, there’s something special for everyone.

Skagway is located north in Alaska’s Inside Passage and is packed full of tours involving Alaska’s gold rush history.

The sled dog camp tours are one such popular excursion. There, guests can experience the state sport of dog sled racing firsthand, and meet sled dog puppies.

You’ll be pulled by a team of 14-16 huskies, all led by a competent team of mushers. 

And afterward, you get to meet these charming puppies!

This cozy submission was shared by Marilyn Wescott. 

While the sight of campfires, snow, and mountains may not come to mind when you think of a cruise, you can find that and more in Alaska.

Beaches, snorkeling, and pools are almost synonymous with cruising. But what if the heat and sand don’t appeal to you, or you’re just sick of humid beaches?

Alaska is the perfect refreshing destination for hikers, nature lovers, or long-time cruisers looking for something new.

You’ll be able to find unique excursions, such as ziplining, train rides, rafting tours, glacier viewings, historic museums, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Read more: I tried the cheapest Alaska cruise I could find: here's how it went

And it doesn’t all have to be expensive! We’ve written a guide to cheap and free things to do on an Alaskan cruise.

“Leaving Icy Strait [in] July 2023,” Angie Foil Haeny commented. “We are ready to go again!”

Icy Strait Point is a smaller cruise stop that offers an intimate chance to study nature and history near Hoonah, Alaska.

The town has been founded, owned, and operated by the Huna Tlingit Native Alaskans since 2004. 

Popular outdoor attractions include whale-watching and ziplining.

You can also learn more about the culture and history of the Huna Tlingit people by visiting the Native Heritage Center Theater and viewing songs, plays, and dances.

Read more: Alaska cruise ports guide

Joan Firchow Peet’s submission shows a big chunk of ice calving off Hubbard Glacier.

Your Alaska itinerary will include at least one opportunity to see a majestic floating glacier.

One of the most popular glaciers to visit is Hubbard Glacier, a 400-foot tall and 6 miles-wide tidewater glacier.

It has been nicknamed the “Galloping Glacier” due to how swiftly and frequently it calves ice. In fact, the glacier is quickly advancing at 80 feet per year!

You can see this glacier on a cruise by first sailing into Yakutat Bay.

Read more: Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay: which glacier is better to see on a cruise?

Carlos Varela’s photo of a brown bear in the snow sparks a little jealousy. What a cool snapshot to share with friends and family!

Have you ever seen a brown bear? What about a humpback whale, a sea otter, a bald eagle, a mountain goat, or a harbor seal?

Yes, Alaska is home to these unique animals and more.

Cruise ships offer access to wildlife excursions like whale-watching or bear-spotting tours, so you’re guaranteed a chance to get up close and see these creatures with your own eyes.

Alaska’s diverse ecosystems provide a view into the untouched parts of nature.

Andrea Hancock shared this photo of kids looking out over a balcony at a marvelous view.

To get this perspective outside your bedroom window, you’d want to book a balcony stateroom on your Alaska cruise.

But it’s not a requirement!

The best type of cabin for your cruise depends on what your travel preferences and needs are.

If you’re a budgeter looking forward to spending time out on the ship or on land, an interior cabin is a cheap, efficient option.

Traveling with family and kids who want their privacy? You can book two connecting rooms for extra living space.

For luxury, try a suite stateroom such as a Loft Suite.

Joelle Hotte captioned this picture: “Mom and baby at the end of an incredible whale-watching tour in Juneau.”

Whale-watching is just one of many incredible tours you’ll have the opportunity to take on your Alaskan cruise.

This picture makes us want to hop straight on a ship to Alaska! 

But, before you go, there are a few things you’ll want to prepare for.

For example, shore excursions like these can get expensive, adding it when it comes to creating a marvelous vacation.

To save money, look for last-minute cruise deals in the shoulder season, starting in March or April.

You’ll find lower fares on the Radiance Class ships that sail to Alaska: Radiance of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas.

Christina Topp’s family is all bundled up with smiling faces. 

Wondering what you should pack on an Alaska cruise? It’s not as difficult as it might seem.

We recommend packing lots of layers. Start with base layers, such as T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and leggings. 

Next, make sure you have some warm layers: pullovers, sweaters, fleece jackets, and crewnecks. Anything with down or fleece in it is likely to keep you toasty!

Make sure you also have something with a waterproof layer, like a rain jacket.

For bottoms, bring thick jeans and fleece leggings.

Read more: I’ve been on 5 Alaska cruises, and I see people making the same 12 mistakes: here’s how to avoid them

Ruth Madewell submitted a photo of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad Train, a popular attraction in Skagway, Alaska.

If you’re passionate about history or just want to learn more about Alaska's vibrant heritage, then there’s plenty for you to explore on an Alaskan cruise.

You can wander charming coastal towns, visit indigenous communities, or witness historic sites like in Skagway.

Booking a train ride on the White Pass Railroad offers a scenic route towards Canada’s Yukon territory. On your journey, a guide will offer nuggets of information about frontier Alaska, Skagway’s gold rush history, and modern insight into the town today.

Arguably the most stressful day of any cruise is the first day when you're trying to get onboard and get so many things done.

Royal Caribbean wants its vacations to be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, but the reality is the embarkation experience for the first few hours is less than ideal as many passengers use this time to essentially run errands onboard to set themselves up for the rest of the cruise.

Is it a necessary evil or something that could be improved? Royal Caribbean thinks its newest cruise ship can remedy the situation.

Icon of the Seas was designed to be a ship that can take a leap forward in nearly every aspect of the cruise experience. It has new neighborhoods, easier means to get between decks, integration of technology, and lots of new ways to think about traditional experiences onboard.

Before Icon of the Seas entered service, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider, talked about how Icon would re-think boarding day so that it would be less stressful and easier overall. 

The goal is simple: reduce or eliminated crowds and friction for guests.

"Make it easier"

Speaking at Royal Caribbean headquarters in Miami at a meeting in October 2023, Mr. Schneider identified one of the goals of the Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas was to make the first day of a cruise just as fun as day two through seven.

Up until Icon, the Royal Promenade served as a place for guests to deal with issues that Mr. Schneider referred to as, "transactional" because they were things guests wanted to solve. Issues such as someone forgetting to buy something, set up their internet access, or a question for Guest Services.

"We spent a lot of time researching with guests what their day one experience is," Mr. Schneider explained.

"And what we've learned in that journey is that there is a lot of heavy lifting that the Royal Promenade today takes, that we wish it didn't."

Specifically, Royal Caribbean's feedback from their research was passengers wanted a simpler first day, "The feedback from guests as we did the research to prep for boarding day was that make it easier and easier for me not to have to go to the the booths that you create on only day one that don't exist on day two."

Essentially, the first day had so much going on that it didn't feel like a vacation until day two. Royal Caribbean wants its customers to feel like they are on vacation and enjoying it all from the moment they step onboard.

"They want to start their vacation. They don't want to go find a Voom desk," Mr. Schneider pointed out.

The solution is to allow guests to do more pre-cruise so there's less to do once they board, "The more services that our guests say they naturally would prefer to do pre arrival than do on day one, that we can remove off the Promenade automatically helps."

For about a year, Royal Caribbean had teams looking at how they could leverage technology to remove the first day hassle and make it feel more like day two through six.

Is boarding day better on Icon?

With those goals in place, here's how Royal Caribbean implemented fixes for the issues their research identified.

Easier way to connect to the internet

Buying an internet package is becoming more popular on Royal Caribbean ships, especially with the advent of Starlink internet that brings true high-speed internet to its ships.

Some guests struggle with how exactly to access the internet due to a cumbersome process of first creating an account and then logging in.

The Royal Caribbean app on Icon of the Seas features better app internet connectivity. Specifically, if you have purchased the internet package and you have the Royal Caribbean app installed and set up, there's no more captive portal. You instantaneously are connected to Wi-Fi and you don't have to do anything.

While the traditional way of creating an account still exists, I did notice a few times when I returned to the ship after being on shore, the Royal Caribbean app would open immediately to a screen alerting me that I was connected, with the option of purchasing additional device plans.

Guest services chat

Royal Caribbean is using AI to make it less likely that you'll need to wait in line at Guest Services.

Within the Royal Caribbean app is a chat feature that can help answer issues guests may have. The chat feature interacts with an AI bot, who could help reduce the lengthy Guest Services line. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean's clever idea using AI to get help on the world's largest cruise ship

The way it works is you can ask the bot simple questions. You can can ask an AI bot certain questions like "What can my SeaPass do?" and "How do I access Wi-Fi?"

It will also tell you how much the drink package costs, as well as help you add a registered user to your account and opt out of gratuities.

If it can't answer it for you, then it will connect you with an actual agent.

"Being able to text someone from your pool deck chair or your swim-up bar seat is where we'd much rather you be [on vacation]," said Schneider. 

According to Schneider, the new chat system "works beautifully." 

Pre-book restaurants with a dining package

The one improvement I cannot wait for Royal Caribbean to implement is the new option to pre-book restaurants if you have a dining package.

Traditionally if you bought a dining package, you'd have to wait until you got onboard the cruise ship to make an actual reservation. 

Mr. Schneider pointed out the issue of how this makes the first day less enjoyable, "If you book a dine package with us, you can't actually reserve those restaurants ahead of time. So you have to run around on day one of your vacation to figure it out."

The plan is for all dining packages to be reservable so that guests don't have to do go make reservations on the first day. Essentially, it creates the same experience for people with a dining package and those that pre-book a specific specialty restaurant.

This upgrade is not available yet on any ship, but Royal Caribbean says it's a top priority and they hope, "to get it into market as soon as possible, but we don't have a date yet."

Once implemented, expect it on the Icon Class ships and Utopia of the Seas first, with the rest of the fleet getting it later.

Shore excursion desk

How you book and manage a shore excursion on Icon of the Seas is also different.

Instead of dedicating space to kiosks to book a shore excursion, Icon has removed that.  Mr. Schneider pointed out these spaces, like the one on Freedom of the Seas, are largely empty most of the time because guests are pre-booking tours before the cruise or on the Royal Caribbean app.

"If you think of the evolution of spaces, spaces that were really important 15 years ago are no longer important today. And so the notion of transactional kiosks, when everybody books their shore excursion on their phone or pre-arrival, isn't needed."

However, Royal Caribbean didn't get rid of the shore excursion team all together. 

Behind the Pearl on the Royal Promenade is a service lounge experience, where you can go to talk to someone about an excursion. It's run similar to stores on land where you are seated and a customer service agent comes up to you to address your concern or need.

When you walk up, you're entered into their system for the first available crew member to assist you. Your name is even listed on a screen to show where you are in the queue. There's no physical line, so you can sit down and relax until it's your turn.

On my cruise, there was no one else there so I did not need to wait at all, but not having a formal queue seems like it would be easier, especially for families.  

Order photos from the app

A favorite tradition on any cruise is getting your photos taken. While the memories captured through these photos are a fun, going to the photo gallery to order prints was not.

Royal Caribbean recently implemented new functionality within the Royal Caribbean app to be able to review photos you've taken and order them, all within the app.

Just like the shore excursions, there's no digital kiosks on Icon to preview photos. Next to the shore excursion desk is the photo gallery desk to assist with concerns you might have.