Royal Caribbean Blog

Cruising used to be a cheap getaway, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Although I find great value from taking a cruise, there’s no denying the cost has increased significantly over the last five years.

Not to mention, Royal Caribbean has been shifting their strategy to offer more party-focused cruises with short Caribbean itineraries. 

For example, Utopia of the Seas debuted last summer as Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis class vessel. The brand-new ship started offering 3-night and 4-night getaway cruises from Port Canaveral in Florida, and it proved to be a huge hit. Following Utopia of the Seas’ success, Royal Caribbean recently shifted another Oasis class ship, Wonder of the Seas, from 7-night sailings to 3-night and 4-night Bahamas cruises.

Short cruises are huge money-makers for the cruise line. In addition to attracting new cruisers, these party-focused itineraries are typically more expensive on a per-night basis. These itineraries also sell out faster than other sailings, so they make sense from a business standpoint.

For the consumer, short cruisers are also a winning strategy. The overall cost is often less for a 3-night or 4-night cruise fare, and you don’t need to take as many PTO days. This allows cruisers to set sail more often compared to weeklong itineraries, which can be more expensive overall and require more vacation days.

Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group's President and CEO, stated in a 2025 Q2 press release, “As consumer preferences continue to evolve - toward more frequent vacations, closer-in vacation planning, and a greater focus on meaningful, experience-driven travel - our experiences are designed to meet these evolving expectations.”

Royal Caribbean has found that onboard spending has been higher as they’ve shifted more ships to shorter Caribbean itineraries. In the same 2025 Q2 financial update, Royal Caribbean stated, “Guest spending onboard and pre-cruise purchases continue to exceed prior years, driven by greater participation at higher prices.”

After totaling everything I spent on my 4-night Wonder of the Seas cruise, it’s easy to see why Royal Caribbean is leaning into short getaways. I spent $2,337.47 on my entire vacation last month, from $179.45 at specialty dining restaurants to $57 on internet access. Here’s a breakdown of my spending.

Our cruise fare was $1,315 for the cheapest interior cabin.

My best friend and I decided a few months ago that we were looking for a girl’s getaway trip together. She lives across the country from me, so this would be the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together. Not to mention, this was her first cruise!

Instead of splurging for a balcony, we opted for the cheapest interior cabin. This happened to be a guaranteed stateroom, meaning we didn’t get to choose the location of our cabin. Although this can be a gamble, it saved us money that we could spend elsewhere during our cruise.

We were pleased to be assigned an interior cabin on Deck 8 towards the front of the ship. The decks above and below us were also staterooms, which kept noise to a minimum. This was a great location on Wonder of the Seas, as we were close to the open-air Central Park with restaurants, bars, and shops. We were never far from the main attractions either.

Although our cabin was modern, it was extremely compact. After sailing in an interior cabin aboard sister-ship Utopia of the Seas, I expected the stateroom to be similar in terms of size and design. This wasn’t the case though, as our cabin was significantly smaller aboard Wonder of the Seas.

To my surprise, this interior cabin had very little space and lacked any couch or chair for additional seating. The layout was also unusual, with the vanity directly in front of my bed. We decided to separate the beds to open up the space, which did help.

The air conditioning also seemed temperamental, which isn’t good for a hot cruise to the Bahamas in August! Luckily, we requested a fan from our cabin attendant, and he provided a large floor fan that kept air circulating all night.

Other than the cabin’s size and temperature control, we had everything else we needed for our short cruise. Because Wonder of the Seas has so much to offer for entertainment, onboard attractions, and activities, we hardly spent any time in our stateroom anyway.

This was the largest expense of our entire vacation, totaling about 56% of the overall cost. Our fare included port fees, taxes, and prepaid gratuities.

I paid $57.98 for VOOM internet, but the reliable speed was worth it!

I always purchase internet while cruising, as my remote work requires occasional meetings and emails. As a Diamond Plus loyalty member, I receive two free days of VOOM Internet access on every cruise. On a 4-night cruise, this means I only needed to pay for two days to have unlimited internet access for the entire cruise.

I purchased my VOOM Surf + Stream internet package on the first day, which allowed me to apply my loyalty discount. I wish Royal Caribbean would provide loyalty discounts to purchases in the Cruise Planner before boarding. Had I purchased the Wi-Fi package before boarding, it would have cost around $92 for the 4-night voyage. Onboard, the cost was $115; but with my loyalty discount, the $57.98 cost was still cheaper than pre-purchasing.

The internet was fast and reliable throughout our entire cruise. I also appreciated being able to use the package while ashore at Perfect Day at CocoCay. My friend was also surprised by the internet’s speed and reliability, as it was her first cruise and she wasn’t sure what to expect. 

This was one of the smallest expenses, costing only 2% of the total vacation cost.

We also splurged on specialty dining for two meals, costing us $179.45.

Oasis class ships are packed with specialty dining restaurants. And after trying other competitor cruise lines, I believe Royal Caribbean has the best specialty dining at sea. In this way, I am always happy to splurge on a specialty dining meal.

I typically book a specialty restaurant on the first night of the cruise, as it’s a reprieve from a hectic boarding day. Specialty dining restaurants are more upscale and intimate with attentive service, which can be a nice change from the main dining room. My friend wanted to try Chops Grille steakhouse, and I was happy to oblige!

We reserved a table for our first night, which allowed us to take advantage of my Diamond Plus BOGO specialty dining offer. The meal was excellent! We loved the experience of eating outside in Central Park as we sailed away from Miami on the first evening. I also tried the ribeye for the first time — it’s a new favorite! This meal was $76.70 for two people.

In addition, my friend loves sushi and definitely wanted to try Izumi, which is Royal Caribbean's Asian-inspired specialty venue. We decided to book lunch at Izumi while the ship was docked in Nassau, Bahamas. This worked out perfectly following our short day ashore, as we only walked around the port area. We both ordered the prix fixe option from Izumi's expansive menu, which included an appetizer, two main course selections, and dessert.

My friend tried the tuna poke bowl and sushi while I opted for the beef noodles and stir fry. She didn’t love her sushi, but everything else was fabulous. Izumi does not offer lunch specials, so it’s the same price regardless of when you dine. We paid $94.90 for our lunch here.

Finally, I couldn’t resist a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks! It was the first day of Starbucks offering their fall menu for the season, so I couldn’t say no. This latte was $7.85 and, although pricey, was similarly priced to what you'd pay at Starbucks on land.

In total, we spent $179.45 on specialty dining during our 4-night Wonder of the Seas cruise, or 8% of our vacation’s total cost. And it was worth every single cent!

My flight to Miami was $380 while airport parking was $20, totaling $400.

Even though I live in Florida, the Panhandle is about as far from Miami as you can get in the state. Instead of driving 8.5 hours, I opted to book a flight instead. My round-trip airfare on Delta Air Lines was $380 from my small airport in Destin, Florida. I also paid $20 to park my car at the airport. On the other hand, my friend booked her flight with points, making it technically free!

Typically, I prefer cruising from Port Canaveral, Florida due to the shorter driving distance. Airfare can add up quickly if you’re flying to a cruise port, especially if you’re traveling with kids. For this reason, short party-focused cruises are most popular for those who can drive to the embarkation port. At $380 for one ticket, this would be $1,520 for a family of four.

I was able to save some money by only eating lunch and dinner at the airport lounges, as I have access with one of my premium travel credit cards. Airport food is outrageously priced, so being able to take advantage of the airport lounges helps keep travel day costs down.

This was one of the bigger expenses, totaling 17% of the entire vacation cost.

We spent $101.04 on Uber rides between the airport, hotel, and cruise port.

Another downside of flying to your cruise port is not having a car to get around. Instead, you have to rely on taxis, Ubers, or shuttles. For this trip, we flew in the night before our cruise and booked a hotel for the night (as you always should!).

My Uber from the airport to the hotel was $41.89 while the following morning’s ride to the port was only $11.02. Our hotel was very close to the cruise port, so this Uber ride was very cheap because of the close proximity. After the cruise, we took another Uber from the cruise port directly to the MIA airport, costing us $48.13.

In total, we spent around $101.04 on Uber rides in Miami, which is 4% of the vacation’s total cost.

I booked a hotel in Miami for one night before the cruise, costing $304.

Because I flew into Miami the night before our cruise, I needed to book a hotel for the night. It’s always best practice to fly into your embarkation port at least one day before your cruise departs. For international flights, I add an extra buffer day or two. This ensures you have plenty of time to account for delays or cancellations.

I landed in Miami around 9:00 P.M. and made my way to the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. The hotel was recently remodeled, so the rooms felt up-to-date. With my Marriott status, we had breakfast included in the room fare. On the morning of embarkation, this was a great way to start our vacation.

The Marriott Biscayne Bay hotel is conveniently located by the cruise port. The morning of embarkation, we could see Wonder of the Seas in the distance at Royal Caribbean’s PortMiami cruise terminal. Because our hotel was close to the terminal, our Uber ride was quick and easy.

Overall, our hotel room was 13% of the entire trip’s cost, which is on the higher end. We probably could have booked a cheaper room closer to the airport, but we appreciated the convenience to the cruise terminal on embarkation day.

In total, our entire cruise vacation aboard Wonder of the Seas was $2,337.47.

This 4-night cruise was not necessarily a cheap getaway. We paid $2,337 in total for this vacation, including airfare, cruise fare, onboard purchases, our hotel room, and port transportation. For four nights, this comes out to $1,168.74 each, or $292 per person for each night of the cruise.

The cost of this cruise could have been much higher. For instance, I receive five complimentary drinks per day with my loyalty status. Had we purchased an expensive drink package or drinks individually, the cost would have hundreds of dollars more. We also skipped any shore excursions in Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, which also cut down on costs.

In addition, my husband had to stay behind for work and, therefore, we didn’t need to pay a dog-sitter for the duration of this cruise. We’ve spent upwards of $500 to have an in-home pet sitter for our two Aussiedoodles. It’s easy to forget about the cost of pet care or home care when planning a vacation, but this can add up quickly.

In comparison, my 4-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas back in February was $2,683, which is only slightly higher than we paid for this vacation. While more expensive than you might anticipate, I really enjoy shorter cruises. In fact, I’ve already booked another sailing aboard Utopia of the Seas this winter. If you're a first-time cruiser or simply wanting a quick vacation, I would definitely recommend Royal Caribbean's short Caribbean options.

With two powerful tropical storms in the Atlantic, Royal Caribbean has changed more itineraries.

The stormy weather coincides with the peak of hurricane season, and after Star of the Seas had its itinerary changed last night, three more Royal Caribbean ships have been moved away.

Hurricane Humberto and a tropical wave near Hispaniola are both making their way closer to the Bahamas and into the Atlantic.

Here's a rundown of which ships have had their sailings changed so far.

Symphony of the Seas will go to Canada instead of the Bahamas

Sailing from New York, Symphony of the Seas is changing her itinerary to sail north to Canada.

An email to guests reads, "Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we’ve been closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Humberto and another tropical storm forming along our voyage path south. These storms' forecast tracks make it hard to provide you with a safe and comfortable journey toward Florida and areas south. 

"So, after exploring all of our options, we’ve decided to sail to Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia instead. We’ll enjoy an overnight stay in Sydney and a full day to explore Halifax."

The original itinerary was a 7-night voyage to visit Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Given the itinerary has been radically changed (Bahamas to Canada), Royal Caribbean is offering onboard credit as compensation:

• Inside stateroom: $75
• Outside Stateroom: $100
• Balcony Stateroom: $100
• Suites: $250
• 3rd or more guest: $25 per person

Additionally, guests will a Future Cruise Credit worth one day of the cruise fare paid.

Symphony's revised itinerary is now:

• September 28: Cape Liberty, New Jersey
• September 29: Sea Day
• September 30: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
• October 1: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
• October 2: Sea Day
• October 3: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• October 4: Sea Day
• October 5: Cape Liberty, New Jersey

Oasis of the Seas swapped CocoCay for Nassau

Instead of visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay on Saturday, September 27, 2025, Oasis of the Seas went to Nassau.

Enchantment of the Seas will avoid The Bahamas

One of Royal Caribbean's smallest ships will bypass the Bahamas.

Enchantment of the Seas is going to Costa Maya and Cozumel instead of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

An email sent to guests booked on the cruise read, "To safely avoid the impacts from the developing storm, we'll now sail a Western Caribbean itinerary and will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, instead of our planned Bahamas & Perfect Day itinerary."

Utopia of the Seas will skip Nassau, Bahamas

Utopia of the Seas is departing today from Port Canaveral for a 3-night weekend cruise, but will change where it will sail.

The third biggest cruise ship in the world will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on Saturday instead, and completely bypass Nassau, Bahamas. Instead, it will remain at sea away from the bad weather with a sea day on Sunday.

Royal Caribbean let passengers know in an email that the itinerary change was intended to avoid strong winds and high waves on the sea.

Liberty of the Seas is going north instead of Bermuda

Liberty of the Seas has a sailing that departs on September 27. 

Instead of visiting Bermuda, it will go north and visit St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.

The Freedom Class ship has a gross tonnage of 155,889 and accommodates 3,634 guests at double occupancy.

Freedom of the Seas will avoid the Bahamas and go to Mexico

Freedom of the Seas, another Freedom Class ship, is also pivoting its itinerary to avoid the tropical storm.

Freedom of the Seas will visit Cozumel, Mexico instead of its original plans to go to Grand Turk.

Freedom of the Seas is sailing from Miami, Florida on a 4-night cruise.

Star of the Seas was scheduled on an Eastern Caribbean sailing, but will visit Mexico instead

As we previously reported, Star of the Seas has changed itineraries.

The newest Royal Caribbean ship will go the Western Caribbean now and will drop a planned visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Two storms at once

Hurricane Humberto formed Friday and has maximum sustained winds of about 90 mph. It should become a major hurricane.

It's not expected to be a threat to the mainland United States, but will impact northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

As of Saturday morning, disturbance 9 is on the verge of becoming Tropical Depression 9 near the southern Bahamas. And while the disturbance is evolving as expected, models continue to change with the forecast track. 

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer says the track isn't quite clear yet, "the models now keep the storm from making landfall in the Carolinas. It's still going to be a very close call."

He said the combination of two storms is, "going to produce enormous wave energy which will begin affecting much of the western Atlantic coasts later this week."

One woman's first cruise turned into a nightmare when she was slapped with a $13,000 medical bill after she began throwing up blood and losing consciousness.

Khiali Baxter was two days into her first-ever Royal Caribbean cruise with her boyfriend when she began feeling unwell. 

"So, I woke up. I started throwing up blood, unfortunately, and I had passed out on the ground," Baxter told KHOU 11, "I could feel myself kind of going in and out of consciousness. I was very cold and terrified."

She was taken to the ship's medical facility, then transported to a hospital four hours away from the cruise port in Costa Maya — but not before waiting four hours onboard and racking up a $4,000 bill.

(Credit: Jennifer Brown/GoFundMe)

While at the hospital, Baxter received over $9,000 in medical care, including several different procedures to help stabilize her.

However, before they would treat her, the staff asked Baxter's family for payment. Baxter's father, Craig, recalled the conversation with a hospital employee in an interview with KHOU 11, saying they'd work as far as $2,500 would take them.

"I've never heard this in my life," he said. 

(Credit: KHOU 11)

Back in Texas, Baxter's parents were scrambling to secure emergency passports to travel to Mexico. 

The last-minute flights and accommodations weren't cheap, but they were not going to leave their daughter in a foreign hospital. 

Travel insurance would have made a huge difference

(Credit: Jennifer Brown/GoFundMe)

Baxter was unaware of the steep out-of-pocket costs associated with international medical care and decided against travel insurance. 

"It was a very, very scary experience, and my main thing that I do want to say is that I really wish I would’ve gotten travel insurance," Baxter said.

Travel insurance is a valuable but often overlooked safety net. Although it might seem like an avoidable expense, it's one of those things you don't want to use but are thankful for when you need it. 

Read more: Travel insurance for a cruise: Why you need it for a Royal Caribbean cruise

(Credit: Jennifer Brown/GoFundMe)

A good insurance policy provides peace of mind in case of unexpected medical emergencies at sea. In Baxter's case, it would have helped recoup some of the expensive treatments she received, such as an endoscopy, colonoscopy, and blood transfusion. 

Even though Baxter didn't have insurance, a family friend set up a GoFundMe. Over 160 generous donors have helped raise $14,138, or roughly 88% of the $16,000 goal. 

Still, the family wants to share Baxter's story in hopes that it prepares others for the unexpected, especially when traveling far from home.

Travel insurance also helps cover things like lost luggage, travel delays, medical evacuations, and more. As such, the small upfront cost is worth the protection it provides during a costly emergency. 

"It was an eye-opening experience that I hope prepares other young people," Craig Baxter said.

Unfortunately, Baxter isn't the only cruiser to be hit with a large medical bill 

Vincent Wasney and his fiancée, Sarah Eberlein, were cruising on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas when Wasney began suffering from a series of seizures. However, before the couple was allowed to disembark, they had to pay over $2,500 in medical bills.

As reported by KFF Health News and NPR, Eberlein heard Wasney make a pained noise before he had his first seizure. Blood began spilling from his mouth as a result of him accidentally biting his tongue.

Wasney's second seizure caused him to stop breathing, while the third seizure, characterized as a grand mal seizure, was even more severe. 

The vessel was close enough to their disembarkation port in Florida, so they could disembark early via rescue boat — but not before paying a $2,500.22 medical bill. 

The charges included $2,285.78 for general ward admission and observation, along with $97.99 for an i-STAT blood test, $104.55 for out-of-facility services, and $11.90 for medication.

Read more: Man was sick on a cruise and was hit with a big bill before being sent home

Royal Caribbean changed a Caribbean itinerary in an effort to avoid the strengthening tropical storm system in the Atlantic Ocean. 

Guests sailing aboard Star of the Seas' September 28, 2025, cruise were notified that they'd no longer be heading to the Eastern Caribbean. 

Instead, the 7-night Caribbean cruise will visit the Western Caribbean, calling at Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

"Our Captain, along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Zetzer, has been monitoring the expected development of a tropical storm near the northwest Bahamas and a hurricane in the Atlantic," reads the email.

"We have decided to change our itinerary to safely avoid the storm and large seas on our eastern route. As a result, we will now sail a Western Caribbean itinerary..." 

This sudden change means that guests won't visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island in The Bahamas. Moreover, Star's inaugural visit to St. Kitts has been postponed. 

Star of the Seas will now call at St. Kitts for the very first time on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2025 — assuming that there aren't any future storm systems that further derail the plans. 

Although disappointing, Royal Caribbean emphasized that the safety and comfort of its guests and crew remain the company’s top priority.

"We're terribly sorry for this last-minute change caused by the weather - your safety is our top priority," the email continues.

"Please remember, being onboard is one of the safest places because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather." 

This is the first storm-related itinerary change for Royal Caribbean's newest Icon Class ship. She entered service for the cruise line in Aug. 2025. 

Read more: Cruising in hurricane season: What you need to know

Not a tropical storm yet

Although the strengthening disturbance isn't a tropical storm yet, the National Hurricane Center predicts that it has an 80% to 90% chance of developing by late Friday, Sept. 26, or over the weekend. 

The path of possible Tropical Storm Imelda prompted Royal Caribbean, as well as Disney Cruise Line, to reroute ships to ensure that all guests and crew members remain safe. 

According to the National Hurricane Center's 8:00 a.m. EDT report on Friday, Sept. 26, an area of low pressure will likely form along the wave by tonight as it moves near the southeast Bahamas. 

The low is expected to develop into a tropical storm when it's in the vicinity of the central and northwest Bahamas over the weekend. 

Even if the storm doesn't strengthen, it will bring heavy rains and gusty winds to places like Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Dominican Republic, eastern Cuba, and The Bahamas. 

Royal Caribbean is getting closer to making a formal announcement about its upcoming new ship class. While we don't have a lot to go on, President and CEO Michael Bayley let a few secrets slip about the Discovery Class. 

Bayley is currently sailing aboard the 2025 President's Cruise on Utopia of the Seas. During the Common Ground chat, he teased a few details about what’s coming next for Royal Caribbean. 

Rumors about the Discovery Class began circulating in July 2023 when Bayley said that they were considering and planning a smaller class of ships. Since then, speculation has only grown with more tidbits spilled by cruise line executives. 

However, Bayley seemed to confirm that Royal Caribbean is full speed ahead for the Discovery Class. 

"We've been working a lot on the Discovery Class...it takes a lot of work to design a ship...[but] we're getting really close," he said while on Utopia of the Seas.

"We can't make any announcements now, but I'm hopeful that in the coming months we will be able to make an announcement on that class." 

In other words, the Discovery Class ships will be happening, but there are still a lot of things that need to happen before the cruise line can formally introduce the ships to the world. 

In the meantime, here is the new information we’ve learned straight from Bayley about the ships.

Where will Discovery Class ships sail?

The Discovery Class was named because of where the ships will sail; they want guests to literally discover new and interesting ports of call. 

"We want the ship[s] to be able to really focus on...the more exotic itineraries," Bayley remarked. 

So, instead of sailing to The Bahamas or Caribbean (those markets are heavily dominated by Oasis and Icon ships, anyway!), guests can expect itineraries to destinations such as the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, Alaska, and the South Pacific. 

Royal Caribbean's smallest ships are also its oldest — think Vision and Radiance Class vessels. Although they've been updated throughout the years, they no longer reflect the modern design and amenities that Royal Caribbean is known for today.

As such, Royal Caribbean's goal is for Discovery Class ships to gradually phase out these aging vessels. 

"[Discovery ships] would...come in and start replacing the older hardware that currently operates in many of those itineraries," Bayley added.

How big will Discovery Class ships be?

Bayley didn't give any exact measurements, but he did reveal that Discovery Class ships will be small enough to sail through the Panama Canal. 

To date, the largest vessel to sail through the Panama Canal was Norwegian Bliss. As such, we know that Discovery Class ships won't be larger than 168,000 gross registered tons (GRT) and 1,094 feet long. 

"It'll go through the Panama Canal, which we think will be a real positive because it'll be able to go to Alaska in the summer, and it can get back into the Caribbean," Bayley said during the Common Ground chat.

Still, 168,000 GRT is considerably larger than Vision and Radiance Class ships, which measure anywhere from 73,817 to 90,090 GRT. 

Discovery Class ships will likely be large enough to offer Royal Caribbean’s signature experiences, but still small and versatile enough to visit ports that are inaccessible to the Oasis and Icon vessels. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean Ships by Size - Largest to Smallest

Royal Caribbean is sending two Vision Class ships to Puerto Rico in 2026 and 2027. 

Originally, Brilliance of the Seas was set to offer Caribbean cruises from Puerto Rico. However, Royal Caribbean decided to swap the ship. Now, Brilliance of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while Vision of the Seas will depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Similarly, Radiance of the Seas was scheduled to offer cruises from San Juan. In the cruise line's latest deployment swap, Radiance will move to Tampa, Florida, while Rhapsody of the Seas will take over the cruises from Puerto Rico. 

Royal Caribbean let impacted travel advisors know about the change in an email.

"Our original plan for Brilliance of the Seas was to offer sailings in 2026 - 2027 departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Instead, Brilliance of the Seas will offer sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Vision of the Seas will offer the sailings from San Juan, Puerto Rico," the first notice reads. 

The second email is similar, just indicating the Radiance and Rhapsody of the Seas will swap places. 

Both continue, "We're truly sorry for the impact that this has on your clients' vacation plans."

Options for passengers on Brilliance or Vision of the Seas

Impacted cruisers booked on either Brilliance or Vision of the Seas have two options:

• Re-book any other Royal Caribbean sailing
• Receive a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare

For those who want to re-book another cruise vacation, Royal Caribbean will waive non-refundable deposit change fees. 

That said, guests are responsible for the difference in cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items — think Wi-Fi, drink packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, etc. 

However, if the reservation was already paid in full, Royal Caribbean will provide a refund of the difference within 14 business days.

If there is no suitable replacement, impacted passengers may request a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare, as well as non-refundable deposits and prepaid amenities.

The email states that if the cruise was booked using a Future Cruise Credit, Royal Caribbean will refund any new funds paid above the certificate amount and reinstate the original certificate.

Additionally, airfare booked through Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program will be automatically refunded.

Options for passengers on Radiance or Rhapsody of the Seas

Impacted cruisers booked on either Radiance or Rhapsody of the Seas have a few options, depending on their sail date:

• Re-book a similar sailing
• Automatically move to the same sailing on Radiance or Rhapsody of the Seas
• Re-book another cruise on any Royal Caribbean ship
• Receive a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare

Option 1 only applies to guests aboard Radiance of the Seas on March 20 and 27, 2027, as well as April 3 and 10, 2027. 

Passengers who choose this option will have the original stateroom category price protected or reduced to the current cruise fare rate — whichever is lower. 

Note that this applies to the cruise fare only. Taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise items will be at the prevailing rate. 

If the booking was already paid in full, Royal Caribbean will automatically issue a refund for the difference. 

Guests booked on sailings outside of the aforementioned dates will be automatically moved to the same cruise aboard Radiance or Rhapsody of the Seas. 

The process is easy, as Royal Caribbean will move them to a like-for-like stateroom, and their original stateroom category price will be protected. 

However, they also have the option to re-book another cruise vacation, and Royal Caribbean will waive non-refundable deposit change fees. They will be responsible for the difference in cruise fare, though. 

Finally, impacted cruisers can request a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare. No other compensation will be provided. 

Guests on any of the four cruise ships have until October 15, 2025, to let Royal Caribbean know of their decision.

Carnival Cruise Line announced a massive overhaul to its loyalty program, and it appears Royal Caribbean won't make the same change.

While speaking on Utopia of the Seas during the line's annual President's Cruise event, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley was asked about the future of the loyalty program.

He took the opportunity to mention Carnival's changes and then call it out as a direction he doesn't want his cruise line to take.

"Carnival announced changes to their loyalty program," Mr. Bayley said at the event, which was met with a chorus of boos from the audience.

"And that is exactly what we're trying to avoid," he then said, and that was met with a round of applause.

His comments come after Carnival's change sparked a great deal of concern that Royal Caribbean might do something similar.

What Carnival is doing

Beginning June 1, 2026, Carnival will implement a new  loyalty system that will change how points are earned and status retained.

In short, it will move to a more dynamic, spending-based model similar to airline frequent flyer programs. 

Known as Carnival Rewards, guests earn stars based on cruise and onboard spending, as well as purchases made through the Carnival Rewards Mastercard.

Moreover, status is no longer lifelong. Tier levels will reset at the start of each new two-year earning period.

Since then, Carnival walked back some changes, likely due to negative customer feedback.

Loyalty matters

The reality is loyalty to Royal Caribbean works for both customer and company.

During Royal Caribbean Group's second quarter earnings call earlier this year, Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, talked about how Royal Caribbean is doubling down on its commitment to its guests, stating that loyalty is a "two-way street." 

"Loyalty is very important. I think people want to be recognized. They want to not just be recognized for their spend today, but be recognized for all that they have done in the past," said Liberty.

Working on improvements to the program

Mr. Bayley's comments about Carnival's changes came after a cruiser asked him about improving the Crown and Anchor Society so that points could be earned interchangeable between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean.

He explained how there is a leadership team within the company that regularly reviews the program and works on solutions for the future.

"You'll see over the coming months and year or two that things will continue to improve in terms of accessibility, simplicity, making it easier to sail between the brands, get offers, this type of thing," he said.

He admitted there isn't yet a clear vision for if or when they'll get to one program across both brands.

"Ultimately, we have not defined this yet, but ultimately we are going to get to a one platform database of our loyalty members for Royal Caribbean Group."

"I don't have the exact timeline. And I think we've had this discussion before, and we've maybe over the last couple of years, we started this journey with loyalty two years ago."

Not tipping over the apple cart

While simplifying loyalty programs may seem like a good idea, he also said their team is concerned with making changes that cause more problems than they solve.

"I think we're incredibly sensitive to not tipping over the apple cart," Mr. Bayley explained.

"We don't want to make decisions that maybe are short term benefits and then and then upset our loyal team members."

He also said technically, it's a difficult task to merge things. Merging data between different platforms and databases with the overlap.

"Our aim is to make everybody happy and and also benefit the company in terms of the shareholders and etc., etc.. So we're going to get there and just, you know, try and be a little patient."

During this year's President's Cruise aboard Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean announced the date and ship for the next annual event. 

Royal Caribbean International President and C.E.O. Michael Bayley announced that the 2026 President's Cruise will be held on Icon of the Seas on the October 3, 2026, sailing. 

It is a 7-night cruise that departs from Miami, Florida, and visits the Eastern Caribbean. The President's Cruise will call at St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line's award-winning private island in The Bahamas. 

The past three cruises have been held on Oasis Class ships. The 2023 President's Cruise was on Allure of the Seas, while last year's was on Oasis of the Seas. 

Finally, this year's President's Cruise was on Utopia of the Seas, the newest Oasis Class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet. 

What is a President's Cruise?

The Royal Caribbean President's Cruise is an annual sailing hosted by Michael Bayley, the President and C.E.O. of Royal Caribbean International. 

You don't have to hold a certain status within the Crown & Anchor Society to sail. As such, anyone is eligible to attend, whether you're a first-time cruiser or a loyal Pinnacle Club member. 

The President's Cruise is a great opportunity for Royal Caribbean fans to sail together with special events and exclusive merchandise. 

Ten-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan performed on the 2023 President's Cruise. Similarly, the '80s band Culture Club was on last year's President's Cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas.

There are also a lot of surprises and commemorative opportunities for those on board. For example, on this year's President's Cruise, guests were surprised with a celebrity appearance by Rev. Run of Run-DMC at Perfect Day at CocoCay's Hideaway Beach. 

The Red Bull Stunt Show was held right on the beach, too. 

There was also a party in Nassau (celebrating the cruise line's 50+ year partnership with The Bahamas), and partnered giveaways at CocoCay from brands like Aperol Spritz, Coca-Cola, and more. 

Finally, Pinnacle Club members got an exclusive tour of the upcoming Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau. Once completed, the beach club will be home to the world's largest swim-up bar, multiple private beaches, and more. 

"It's the most epic celebration at sea— and you’re invited! Set sail with President & CEO Michael Bayley for our annual tradition and get ready for an adventure like no other. A town takeover in Italy? We did it. Celebrity-studded concerts? Always! Surprise champagne attacks from Michael himself? It’s par for the course," says the Royal Caribbean website. 

"Plus, exclusive shore excursions, popping parties and unforgettable events take every moment to the max. Get in on the action, join us for the next one and find out for yourself what makes the President’s Cruise so special."

2027 will be a big one because it is the 10th President's Cruise

Royal Caribbean began its popular President's Cruise in 2016. The first-ever President's Cruise took place aboard Allure of the Seas in September 2016. 

The exclusive cruise was a thank-you event for loyal Crown & Anchor Society cruisers and featured tons of special events and performances, including one by Patti LaBelle. 

The Grammy-award-winning artist performed songs like "Lady Marmalade," "New Attitude," "On My Own," and "You Are My Friend."

There has been a President's Cruise every year since, except in 2020 when it was canceled due to the pandemic. That sailing was also supposed to take place on Allure of the Seas in Europe. 

As such, Royal Caribbean will go all out during the 10th President's Cruise in 2027. 

What to expect on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas is, well, she doesn't need much of an introduction. The Icon Class namesake entered service in January 2024 after years of anticipation. 

It makes sense that the next President's Cruise will take place on an Icon Class ship, as she exemplifies the latest and greatest from the cruise line. 

Onboard, you'll find everything from the record-breaking Category 6 Waterpark to the Crown's Edge over-the-water attraction, an adult-only swim-up bar, the family-friendly Surfside Neighborhood, Empire Supper Club specialty restaurant, and so much more. 

Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean’s Chairman and former CEO, is sharing some of the most dramatic, nail-biting moments throughout the cruise line’s history in his new book.

His new book is titled Delivering the WOW: Culture as Catalyst for Lasting Success and will be released on October 21, 2025. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Fain’s book, which is packed with juicy secrets from Royal Caribbean’s history.

Fain served as Royal Caribbean's CEO for more than three decades. While the cruise line started as a small Norwegian company with three vessels, Fain propelled Royal Caribbean into becoming one of the most valuable and profitable cruise lines in the world. 

Before taking on the role of CEO for Royal Caribbean, Fain worked for Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corporation. This was a Norwegian shipping company and one of the three companies that co-founded Royal Caribbean. Fain served as treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and Joint Managing Director during his 13 years at Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Company.

In 2022, Fain stepped down from his position as Royal Caribbean Group's CEO and still serves as a Chairman and Director of the Board. However, Royal Caribbean announced in June 2025 that Fain will step down from his position as Chairman. Instead, Jason Liberty, current Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, will succeed as Chairman beginning in Q4 2025.

Throughout the book, Fain outlines Royal Caribbean’s massive transformation during his time as CEO. The story highlights many lessons learned, including insights on business leadership and the importance of Royal Caribbean's WOW-focused culture. 

While the book leans heavily into the actionable business insights from Royal Caribbean’s history, Fain sprinkles in dramatic moments throughout Royal Caribbean’s long history. For instance, he shares how the original design of Icon of the Seas’ Aquadome was originally sketched on a napkin in the break room!

As a longtime fan of Royal Caribbean and business analyst, I was eager to read Fain’s stories and business perspective. While I’m not a huge reader, Fain’s book was fun and easy to read. I loved hearing his personal and professional thoughts on many key moments in Royal Caribbean’s history.

Here are some of Fain’s biggest Royal Caribbean secrets and behind-the-scenes moments from his 30 years as Royal Caribbean Group’s CEO.

If you want to purchase Richard Fain’s new book, Delivering the WOW, you can pre-order it here on Amazon. By using our link, Royal Caribbean Blog receives a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Sovereign of the Seas' construction was almost cancelled during the 1987 recession

At the end of 1987, Fain was asked to be the Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and he accepted. The role would begin in the first quarter of 1988, aligning with the launch of Royal Caribbean’s first megaship, Sovereign of the Seas.

Then the unexpected happened. While Fain was looking forward to his new CEO position, the New York Stock Exchange dropped 23 percent on October 19, 1987, which is now known as “Black Monday." At the time, this was the largest single-day market drop in American history. 

With so much uncertainty, Fain says the future of traveling and cruising was up in the air. The former CEO shares how he received a panicked phone call from one of the company's shareholders, urging him to cancel the order for Sovereign of the Seas.

That call came from George Soros, one of the largest shareholders in Gotaas-Larsen. Although Fain had worked with Soros before, this conversation was different. And while Sovereign of the Seas was almost completely built, Soros insisted that Fain cancel the ship’s order.

Fain explains the tense conversation in his book: “George opened up without any of our usual preliminaries: ‘Richard, you need to cancel the order for the Sovereign of the Seas.’ I said, ‘George, we can’t cancel the order. The ship’s finished. It’s almost built.’

He said, ‘I know it’s almost done, but you’ve got to cancel, because nobody’s ever going to want to cruise again. Everybody should just act now, and if they feel poor, they won’t buy a cruise. You should act before the shipyard realizes how bad the future will be.’

I said, ‘George, even if that’s true, the ship is built. We can’t cancel. They’re already vacuuming the carpets!’ He said, ‘You may have to pay them a penalty, but you’ve got to cancel.’”

Fain details that he was confident in the cruise industry’s resiliency from previous recessions, and he didn’t share the stock market’s widespread pessimism.

He writes, “I reminded [George] that Gotaas-Larsen owned only one-third of Royal Caribbean. We couldn’t unilaterally demand the cancellation of a contract. Fortunately…the 1987 crash was short lived. Within six months, the stock market was back to where it had been.”

Just a few months later, on January 15, 1988, Sovereign of the Sea debuted and was blessed by her godmother, Rosalynn Carter. She became one of the most important cruise ships in Royal Caribbean's history.

2. Carnival tried to buy Royal Caribbean in 1988

After her debut, Sovereign of the Seas was a massive success for Royal Caribbean. Fain explains how the megaship was “profitable from her maiden voyage on and her guest satisfaction scores were the highest in the company’s history.”

He continues that the future of Royal Caribbean was looking bright with such strong performance from Sovereign of the Seas. By May 1988, the company was looking at building on the success of Sovereign of the Seas, but competitor Carnival Cruise Line had other plans.

Fain explains, “One morning, Jack Seabrook, the chairman of Gotaas-Larsen, called with shocking news. Carnival, the largest and most powerful cruise line in the world, wanted to buy Royal Caribbean. With that news, our future, our vision, everything we had been working toward was in play. I had only been Royal’s CEO for a few weeks, and suddenly, this call sounded like it might change everything.”

The clock started ticking on a high-stakes, fast-paced deal. Over the course of 40 days, Fain scrambled to find an alternative option. He details late-night negotiations and unexpected network connections, determined to keep Royal Caribbean’s independence.

At one point, a massive wire transfer was needed to secure Royal Caribbean’s future. However, Fain explains that the transfer, worth $300 million, was somehow lost in the London banking system with only a few hours left on the clock. This was the capital needed to finalize a new partnership that would block Carnival's takeover. Without this, Carnival's offer would become the default, and Royal Caribbean's independence would be lost.

When the money finally arrived at the last possible moment, Royal Caribbean entered into a new partnership that allowed the company to maintain its independence. As Fain reflects in the book, this was a make-or-break moment that defined the company and later proved the importance of lasting partnerships.

3. Royal Caribbean’s signature rock climbing wall almost didn’t happen

Royal Caribbean is known for its one-of-a-kind, innovative thrills that you can’t find on any other cruise ship. One of the cruise line’s first notable and unique additions to its ships was a rock climbing wall. While it doesn’t seem as significant compared to today’s attractions, including full-scale waterparks, surf simulators, and zip-lines, the addition was revolutionary at the time.

Fain details how some of the company’s youngest team members actually pitched the idea of a rock climbing wall - and he resisted at first. 

In his book, the former CEO explains during the final design stages for Voyager of the Seas in 1999, there was a large, empty space behind the ship’s funnel. Fain asked a small team of younger team members to imagine something interesting to put there, hoping for a fresh perspective.

After studying the ship’s design for several weeks, the team came back with a proposal for the rock-climbing wall. The team explained how the vertical space was perfect for a rock wall, and there would be plenty of space for equipment. The team also pointed out that rock climbing was becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in America, and could be popular with Royal Caribbean’s younger guests.

Fain states, “I resisted. I could not imagine anyone wanting to change into special gear on vacation and climb a wall. I didn’t tell them, but I privately went to a climbing studio and tried it myself. I came away with several bruises and a conviction that no reasonable person would find this fun.”

The team was pressed to find more reasonable alternatives, but they came back even more convinced that the rock wall would be the winner. “I hated all four ideas, but I thought the rock wall was the least terrible, so I agreed to it.”

However, Fain explains how the rock wall quickly became one of the most talked about features of the new ship.

He writes, “The cruise director commented, ‘Only a fraction of guests actually climb the wall, but it’s one of the most photographed features on board. It tells everyone this ship is different.’ It was so popular that we retrofitted it on our existing ships and have since included it on every new ship.”

Fain explains how this taught Royal Caribbean three valuable lessons. 

First, not everything needs to appeal to everyone. Even though only 10% of guests use the rock-climbing wall, its presence speaks volumes about the Royal Caribbean cruise experience. Second, it became symbolic of the shift Royal Caribbean was trying to make and emphasized that vacations don’t need to be sedentary. Finally, inspiration is everywhere, especially when you give people the opportunity to be creative.

4. Oasis of the Seas’ test blimp was almost shot down by the Swedish Air Force

(Photo shared by Loyal to Royal)

While Royal Caribbean has invented some of the most incredible shipboard technology, not all ideas were a success. Fain explains how the cruise line pursued the idea of putting a blimp on Oasis of the Seas, which ended up being a “spectacular failure”.

The blimp was meant to be towed 500 feet in the air above the vessel to give guests a view of the ship and its surroundings. Royal Caribbean hoped it would be a unique guest experience and a distinctive feature visible to people in the distance.

As you can imagine, Fain says the concept was technically challenging. He details, “It had to be able to withstand hurricane force winds and still be comfortable for 12 guests at a time. And it had to be tested under the most difficult of conditions—first in computer simulations, then in a wind tunnel, then on a special racing track, and finally onboard the ship during sea trials.”

(Photo shared by Loyal to Royal)

In the book, Fain explains how he tried the blimp himself, finding the ride stunning with breathtaking, sweeping views of the Swedish coast. “Once back on solid ground (i.e., the ship’s deck), the safety officer—who had been quiet during the ride—couldn’t stop talking about the view, how awe-inspiring it had been, and how blown away our guests would be.”

Because the blimp’s proper cradle wasn’t ready, the crew members tied the blimp to temporary moorings before bed that day. Unfortunately, there was a storm that night and the blimp actually broke free from the ship and flew away.

“Before we could find it, the captain received a call from the Swedish Air Force. Apparently, our blimp had floated into commercial air space, and the Air Force wanted to shoot it down. Luckily, before they opened fire, the blimp started descending and fell into the ocean. A fishing boat eventually picked it up.”

Fain says the blimp wasn’t meant to be, but it does showcase Royal Caribbean’s continued commitment to innovation at exceptional lengths. Even more importantly, the cruise line isn’t afraid to let go of an idea that isn't the right fit.

5. Royal Caribbean almost failed at building its ice skating rinks

Fain says Royal Caribbean is always determined to expand their entertainment options, especially with each new ship class. While ideating the next innovative space, Studio B came to life. However, the former CEO explains how the Studio B ice skating rink was one of the cruise line’s more interesting technical challenges.

“Our ships already had several entertainment spaces, but we wanted to add one additional space that would be different from anything else on the high seas. Peter Compton, who led our entertainment team, proposed adding a flexible space that would be patterned after the second stage in a TV studio,” writes Fain.

“He proposed calling it Studio B. Like a TV studio, there would be seating for the TV audience, and the space itself would be flexible enough to accommodate many kinds of activities.”

The team imagined what the space could be, but knew they wanted an ice skating rink. While testing artificial ice with a professional figure skater, the cruise line decided that the rink needed real ice. But, Fain never anticipated how challenging this could be.

Fain explains, “We learned instead that normal ice-skating rinks are made by pouring concrete over refrigerant pipes. That works fine on land, but ships flex as they move through the water. Ice can bend (who knew?), but concrete doesn’t.”

Royal Caribbean decided to design a viscous layer that resembled mud. This would stay soft near the bottom but firm towards the top. Because it could bend, the real ice rink could work on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.

Fain details how he visited the Finnish shipyard and watched the workers flood Studio B with water to create a smooth sheet of ice, just as he had hoped. 

“It looked incredible. We high-fived as the Zamboni started smoothing the surface. I had been nervous, but now I could see for myself that it worked. Success,” says Fain.

Even though the ice looked good, the professional skater said it was too warm and soft to skate on. Fain says his heart sank as he imagined the new magnificent cruise ship debuting with an empty Studio B at its core. Luckily, the engineers found a simple fix that included a new refrigerant with a lower freezing point.

“It made the ice harder and colder and the skaters much happier. The ice-skating rink was so successful that we have put it on 16 ships and became the largest employer of figure skaters in America. My heart leaps every time I watch a performance in Studio B and see those extraordinary skaters effortlessly glide across the ice, as if the laws of friction didn’t exist," states the former CEO.

Fain says this displays Royal Caribbean’s unwavering commitment to its innovation with such a difficult and expensive proposition.

If you're ready to book a summer 2027 cruise or a cruise into early 2028, we now know when you'll be able to do that.

Royal Caribbean has shared the dates it will put new sailings on sale that go beyond the current set of sailings.

Typically, Royal Caribbean puts out new sailings to book at two periods of the year, and it appears they'll stick to the same schedule.

The first batch of new sailings will open up in October, meaning we are just weeks away.

Week of October 20, 2025

• Region: Alaska
• Sailing Time Frame: May 2027 – September 2027

Week of October 27, 2025

• Region: Europe
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – October 2027

Week of November 3, 2025

• Region: 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Sailing Time Frame: March 2027 – April 2028 

Week of November 10, 2025

• Region: Northeast, California & Texas
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

Week of November 17, 2025

• Region: Seasonal Caribbean
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Australia
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: China
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Singapore
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

To better explain some of the terminology, here's what you need to know:

• 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round: Cruise ships that are deployed all year to the Caribbean.
  • Does not include ships that visit the Caribbean part of the year
• Seasonal Caribbean: Ships that split their time in the Caribbean. Usually they're in the Caribbean for winter, then Europe in summer.
• Northeast: Cruises that begin from New York, Baltimore, or Boston

It's also important to know Icon 4 will not be part of this deployment release. New cruise ships will open their sailings for booking on a different schedule.

What to know about the deployment schedule

Today's announcement is Royal Caribbean's best estimate when new sailings will be available to book.

It's important to note the new bookings are available to book at some point in that week, but not necessarily on that Monday.

Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.

When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.

Recommendations for how to prepare for new deployments

The deployment schedule is a good warning to start thinking about new cruises you might be interested in booking.

One of the best ways to get the lowest price on a cruise is to book as soon as the new sailings first go on sale.  So it's a good idea to have a plan of which itineraries you'd be interested in potentially booking.

Moreover, if you're interested in a stateroom category that usually sells out, booking early has another advantage.

Once you have an idea of which sailings you're interested in, I'd reach out to a travel agent to coordinate plans.

It's common for the new sailings to be loaded into Royal Caribbean's system slowly, and sometimes it may become available to book in the backend system before the public website.  This is one of the many ways a good travel agent can make your life easier.