Royal Caribbean Blog

Is a big Royal Caribbean cruise ship better than a small ship? That's a question many people looking to book a cruise vacation think about when trying a ship.

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships come in three main sizes: medium, big, and really big. The bigger the ship, the more space it has and that allows for more activities, but it sacrifices things smaller ships are known for.

I see many cruisers who have only sailed on the mega ships concerned if they'd be disappointed in going on a small cruise ship. They think because they're used to the biggest and newest ships, would a small and old ship feel lacking.

Of course, all of Royal Caribbean's ships are big ships compared to luxury cruise lines. 

In order to categorize them properly, we'll consider the Vision, Radiance, and Voyager Class ships to be smaller, and the Freedom, Oasis, Icon, and Quantum to be big.

Here's what you should know when deciding if bigger is better for a cruise ship choice.

Big ships

Most new cruisers gravitate towards the biggest cruise ships in the world because of how effective Royal Caribbean's advertising is.

When you see a commercial, you're seeing one of the line's newest ships and those happen to be the biggest ones too.

Activities

The bigger the ship, the more space they have to include things to do onboard, and that's probably the top reason to book a big ship.

Royal Caribbean's biggest ships are well-known for having water slides, zip lines, mini-golf, surf simulators, multiple pools, and multiple theaters.

Throughout the day there is a lot happening, so you won't be bored from a lack of things to do. Truly, that's the entire point of a big ship is to offer passengers more to do than they can possibly handle so that a cruise feels like a different kind of vacation.

This works out well for families, especially families with kids.  There's more space for kid-focused activities, and even the kids clubs are bigger on the big ships. There are also pools and aqua parks for kids, as well as more programming offered.

But don't look at a big ship as just for kids.  Royal Caribbean blends its activities to appeal to adults as much as kids. The difference is there's more for every age group on big ships, especially kids.

The downside to so many activities is it's difficult to fit it all in, especially if you're on a sailing with a lot of port calls. 

A big ship will probably cost more than a small ship, but if you're not taking advantage of all that you can do onboard, it could seem like a problem.

Dining

Just like all the things you can do on a big ship, there's lots more dining choices too.

You'll find the same subset of core restaurants on all of Royal Caribbean's ships: Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, a snack location or two, and a specialty restaurant.

The difference is on big ships, there's many more choices of each, especially specialty restaurants.

Plus, on its biggest ships, there is an exclusive restaurant just for suite passengers. Coastal Kitchen is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's included in the cost of an expensive suite.  For some cruise fans, they prefer big ships to have access to Coastal Kitchen.

A great example of the difference in dining choices between big and small ships is with its snack locations.  On small ships, there's a single location that serves coffee, snacks, sandwiches, and pizza.  But on big ships, you get separate restaurants for the coffee and snacks, and one for the pizza.  

On Icon of the Seas, there's Pearl Cafe, Cafe Promenade, and Sorrento's Pizza with separate locations to help spread out crowds. 

I think the most noticeable benefit of a big ship are how many specialty restaurants there are, including the newest concepts.

While small ships have specialty restaurants, they lack some of the more popular or new ones.  You won't find hibachi, a supper club, or BBQ options on a small ship.

However, if you don't care to spend the money on a specialty restaurant, then the fact there are more of them on a big ship may not be a selling point at all.

Entertainment

There are production shows on every Royal Caribbean ship, along with live music, comedians, and more.

On a big ship, you'll not only have a greater variety of shows, but also higher quality productions. Many of the big ships have full Broadway shows, whereas small ships have musical revues.

I can see a clear difference in the quality of the shows on a big ship compared to a small one.  It's not that shows on a small ship are bad, rather, shows on a big ship are better because there's a larger budget for them and some shows actually have a discernable plot to them.

For comedians, live musical performances, and game shows, it's more or less the same between the ships.

Suites

While I think you can make an argument for big vs. small ships in each category, it seems big ships have a definitive advantage for suites.

Royal Caribbean specifically offers a superior suite class program on its three biggest ship classes: Icon, Oasis, and Quantum.  If you're booking a suite and staying on these ships, it's a night and day difference in what you get.

Known as the Royal Suite Class, there are far more benefits and more space dedicated to suite passengers. This comes in having Coastal Kitchen, a larger suite lounge with extended hours for drink service, dedicated suite sun deck, and more included in your cruise fare.

The most expensive suites even come with front-of-the-line access via the Royal Genie service that's included.  

The downside to a suite on a big ship is it's going to cost you a lot more than a small ship.

Small ships

Big ships sounds wonderful, but small ships have far more x-factors that give them edges in places you might not think about, especially if you don't have young children.

One of the top two reasons anyone books a Royal Caribbean cruise is for the destinations you visit, and small ships have arguably better and more exotic choices in that realm.

Activities

The small ships will still offer a lot to do, especially on sea days.  This is one of the advantages of cruising with Royal Caribbean, as they infuse their own "high energy DNA" into all of their ships.

Things to do on a small ship will check the important check boxes: there will be trivia, karaoke, bingo, sports court activities, and dance events.

The major component missing on a small ship are the kids focused areas and "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship" offerings. Water slides, aqua parks, and thrill attractions aren't included on small ships.

When you talk to people that love to cruise on small ships, they often describe these vessels as offering "a classic cruise experience".

Dining

There's a surprising amount of dining choices on a small ship, especially the Radiance Class vessels.

The menu at the Main Dining Room is the same across the fleet, and the Windjammer buffet experience is pretty standardized as well.

I feel the lack of variety in specialty dining and pool deck food is where you see the biggest difference on small ships.  Most small ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet have 2 or 3 specialty restaurants, and a casual complimentary offering. You won't go hungry, and they hit the spot.

Many ships have Chef's Table, Chops Grille, Giovanni's, and Izumi onboard for their dining choices.  It's really certain Vision Class ships, like Enchantment of the Seas, that truly lack much choice in specialty offerings.

Entertainment

Adding to the more relaxing atmosphere of a small ship are the pretty darn good daytime and evening entertainment options.

Just like the big ships, there's a sailaway party, DJ dance party at night, piano player, and guitarist onboard.

And you'll still find an evening production show or featured entertainer on small ships.  Big ships have two or three theaters, whereas small ships have one.

The one detraction about shows on small ships is they are typically aging musical revues.  You'll be able to tell exactly which decade the ship started sailing based on the music options in the show.  It's still entertaining, but don't expect Broadway-level performances.

Port variety

The best thing about a small ship is the fact these ships can sail to places the big ships cannot go.

You'll find small ships homeported in places like Tampa, Baltimore, or Boston, which makes it convenient for anyone that can drive to the port to sail to.

But the real value in a small ship is the fact it can get to distant ports that cannot fit big ships. Because these ships are physically smaller, they can get into certain ports and offer more interesting itineraries than mega ships can offer.

Whether it's sailing to the South Pacific, through the Panama Canal, or into historic cities in Europe, small ships have the bucket list itineraries I think a lot of vacationers crave. 

When you get to visit amazing places in the world, the ship you're sailing on is secondary.

Price

Another advantage for a small ship is you it will probably cost you less to go on a small ship over a big ship.

In general, the newer (and bigger) the ship, the higher the price to cruise. There are other factors that influence a price of a cruise, but this is a pretty standard rule.

You could end up paying two or three times more to go on Icon of the Seas instead of Grandeur of the Seas.

The price differences are a little less noticeable when you get closer to the "middle", especially between the Voyager or Freedom Class ships.

Ultimately, a lot of vacationers pick one ship over another because of price, and you'll get more for value picking a smaller, older ship.

Your Royal Caribbean cruise room, or cabin, is probably different than you might expect it to be.

New cruisers might assume their stateroom is just like a hotel room, and while there are indeed many similarities, there are a few things that certainly make the cruise experience different.

To that point, I went through the commonly asked questions from our readers to come up with the things about a cruise cabin that would either surprise you or not be what you'd expect.  In some cases, there are tips on how to better utilize your room.  I hope all of them prepare you for a great time in the room.

Knowing what to expect in your cruise room is the key to avoiding problems later.

The room is probably going to smaller than you expect

Rooms on cruise ships are generally smaller than hotel rooms because of the constraints of a cruise ship.

They have all the basics you'd expect: a bed, desk with mirror, closet, drawers, and private bathroom. But that's about the extent of the similarities.

Depending on the cabin category you choose, the amount of space comes in all sorts of sizes.  In general, the higher the category, the more space you get.  So a balcony room would have more living space than an oceanview room, which has more living space than an inside cabin.

The fact the rooms are smaller shouldn't be that much of a problem because in reality, passengers spend less time in their room than expected.  There's so much happening around the ship between activities, dining, shore excursions, and shows, that most people treat their cabin as a place to sleep, shower, and change. 

So the fact the room is smaller than expected is less important given how little time you'll probably spend in it.

You can split the beds upon request

Any cabin you book comes with a king size bed that can be split apart, if you prefer.

If you're sharing the stateroom with someone you don't want to share a bed with, the beds are able to be split. Likewise, split beds can be combined back into one.

Your travel agent can make that request at the time you book a cruise, but if you arrived to the ship and discovered the beds are still together, you just need to ask your stateroom attendant to make the change.

One other request you might want to make of your stateroom attendant is if you have a couch that converts to a bed, you can ask them to keep the couch bed in "sleep mode" during the day for convenient naps.

The walls are really thin

Another difference between a room on a cruise ship versus hotel is how thin the walls are in terms of noise.

The thin walls mean don't expect every noise coming out of your room to necessarily stay in your room. Be respectful of your neighbors, and understand noise can go both ways between the rooms.

Store luggage beneath your bed

One of my favorite cabin tips is to put your luggage underneath your bed after you unpack.

When I arrive in my room on embarkation day, I'll unpack all my belongings and then take the empty suitcase and shove it underneath my bed.  The beds are high enough to allow most suitcases to fit under them. 

Putting the luggage under the bed frees up space in the closet, and keeps it out of sight too. Some cabins have more storage space than others, but you'll probably need all the closet space you can get, especially if your cruise is 7-nights or longer.

You can probably open the balcony dividers

If you booked two balcony rooms next to each other, there's a good chance you can open the balcony divider between them.

As long as you know the people in the room next to you, you can ask your stateroom attendant to open the balcony divider.  Doing so makes it feel like you have an expansive balcony space and also makes it easier to go back and forth between rooms.

I noted that you can "probably" do this because not all Royal Caribbean ships have balcony dividers that can be opened.  All the new cruise ships are able to do this, but certain older ships cannot.

You get to pick when you want your room made up

When you meet your cabin attendant, you'll be given the choice of when you want your room serviced each day.

Guests staying in a balcony or lower have the choice of morning or evening service.  In either case, there's a window of time your cabin attendant will attempt to service your cabin and change the sheets, make the bed, vacuum, replace the towels, and more.

There isn't a right or wrong time to pick, it's just up to you and your preference.  

My advice is if you like to sleep in, pick the evening service.  But if you're an early riser, then morning works.

If you booked a suite, then you get twice a day service in both morning and evening, so there's nothing to decide.

Some people find the mattresses firm

I really like sleeping on Royal Caribbean's beds, but I know some people report them being on the firm side.

When considering what a cruise ship bed is like, there's a top sheet and comforter provided by default.

How "firm" a bed is definitely depends on the person, and while I've always found them comfortable, I've seen enough posts to the contrary to understand we all see it differently.

You can ask your cabin attendant for a mattress topper to help with that.  If they run out, they can usually provide another comforter to put under the sheets to help too.

There is a cooler, but it's not a fridge

Every cabin includes a minifridge, but it's not really that cold in there to be considered a true refrigerator.

It's good for keeping food fresh for a little bit longer to enjoy later, so don't stick something in there to eat a few days later because it probably won't make it.

Royal Caribbean used to stock the minifridge with a mini bar, but that practice stopped years ago.

The bathroom is tiny, but functional

No matter what cabin you get, I think the bathrooms on Royal Caribbean are small, but efficient. They'll have exactly what you need, without room for much else.

There's a sink, bar of soap, shower (with combo shampoo/conditioner in a dispenser), outlet for a razor, limited storage space, and the toilet.

You will find a hair dryer you can use in the vanity area of the cabin, not in the bathroom.

Speaking of tiny, the shower is going to be small too.  There's enough room for one person, but it's a tight fit.  

What you won't find in your cruise cabin

The top surprise about what's not in your room is a clothing iron because they are a fire hazard.  

Not only does Royal Caribbean not provide them, but you aren't allowed to bring one onboard.  The same goes for clothing steamers and pretty much any appliance.

Other items not included in your cabin include alarm clocks/radios or coffee makers. 

While there is a television in your room, there isn't a DVD player included.  Newer Royal Caribbean ships have the ability to digitally stream to the TV, but it's very few of the new ships that have that feature.

One cruiser was surprised how much they enjoyed Carnival after cruising with Royal Caribbean for years.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most popular mainstream cruise lines in the world. Royal Caribbean is known for building some of the biggest and most advanced cruise ships in the world. On the other hand, Carnival Cruise Line has just started constructing mega cruise ships in the last five years. 

Carnival's focus on fun can be misconstrued as a party-centric experience. For this reason, many cruisers tend to be either loyal to Royal Caribbean or diehard fans of Carnival Cruise Line. As two of the top competitors in the industry, the cruise lines have more in common than you might think. 

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line offer affordable cruise fares onboard their family-friendly vessels. Some argue that Carnival’s newest and most innovative ships in their Excel class rival Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships. With many dining choices and plenty of onboard thrills, the two classes are quite similar.

One cruiser recently shared their first-time experience on Carnival Cruise Line after being loyal to Royal Caribbean for years. The user, @Itwo_Inokam, detailed their first impressive Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Jubilee on Reddit in the r/Cruise subreddit.

Carnival Jubilee is the newest and biggest ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. The Excel class vessel was launched in 2023 and holds 6,500 passengers at capacity. Prior to sailing on Carnival Jubilee, the cruiser stated they sailed twice on Allure of the Seas.

In the post, the first-time cruiser shared, "I am SO SO glad we booked! We had been loyal to Royal previously and have Emerald status. We will still do Royal, and eventually want to try Icon [of the Seas], but I feel like my first cruise on Carnival has beat my last two on Royal.”

Here’s why the first-timer’s family cruise with Carnival Cruise Line exceeded expectations after cruising with Royal Caribbean.

One of the most pleasant surprises from cruising with Carnival was the inclusion of so many restaurants onboard

Many cruisers praise Carnival Cruise Line for having a multitude of casual dining options included in their cruise fare. The majority of restaurants on Carnival’s Excel class ships are complimentary, with only a few select specialty options for splurging.

The first-time Carnival cruiser said, “The food was incredible! We ate at Chibang, Cucina del Capitano, and did all of the Street Eats, Guy’s [Burger Joint], Big Chicken, and BlueIguana Cantina.”

The cruiser found some of the complimentary dining options on Carnival were comparable to specialty dining on Royal Caribbean. The first-timer said, “We just can't believe how many choices there were that weren't an up-charge, and all delicious. Some definitely would be considered specialty dining on Royal Caribbean.”

With this, the cruiser found Carnival to be better value for the money. They commented, “Because Carnival includes so much at no up-charge, we came out with a significantly lower bill. Experiences with our kids at dining options that would have been a per-person charge on Royal, weren’t on Carnival.”

Further, the cruiser said they attempted to try all of the food during their cruise, but nearly ran out of time because there were so many options.

“We tried so hard to try everything, and it was just too much. And we were amazed at how good it all was. The type of quality was what you'd expect from specialty dining or an up-charge. Also, even items that were an up-charge like Emeril’s [Bistro] were so cheap for the quality! Same with the seafood station on the lido deck,” concluded the cruiser.

Read more: Royal Caribbean vs Carnival: Which is a better choice?

On prior cruises with Royal Caribbean, the cruiser stated that their main dining room and buffet experiences were somewhat disappointing. The long-time Royal Caribbean cruiser said they have personally noticed a decline in the dining experience, including the Windjammer buffet and main dining room.

The cruiser explained, “It’s so sad - [Royal Caribbean] wasn’t always like it is now. One of my favorite parts of cruising is eating and trying new foods. [Now], you’re pushed into getting the specialty dining because the Windjammer is a miss more than a hit. On our last two [cruises], the dining room was unbelievably slow only to receive warm to cold food.”

Carnival’s Camp Ocean was particularly impressive and accommodating for the first-time cruiser and his kids

Along with Carnival Jubilee’s expansive dining options, the family was especially wowed by the youth programming onboard. With a focus on family fun, Carnival Cruise Line has a well-established childcare program across its fleet, including a state-of-the-art facility on Carnival Jubilee.

In their experience, the cruiser stated, “My kids are 9 and 10, and they were actually mad when we picked them up from [Camp Ocean]. There is a room with over a dozen [Playstation consoles] and they also have structure, and do crafts and other activities with the kids.”

Additionally, the cruiser noted how the interactive staff also enhanced their experience. “My kids were the ones that pointed out how happy [the staff] seemed and they shared the staff played with and amongst the kids, and it made [Camp Ocean] even more fun.”

The family also preferred Carnival’s structure for its youth programming, as the experience aligned better with the family’s needs

Although Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line both provide childcare options onboard their ships, each cruise line takes a slightly different approach. For this family, Carnival’s approach to youth programming was preferred.

“The hours on Carnival’s kids’ club aren’t broken up where you need to find additional activities for kids. You can leave them in there, if they want to stay, as soon as it opens,” the parent explained.

In contrast, the cruiser stated Royal Caribbean had more strict hours for drop-off times on their cruises. ”On Royal Caribbean, you need to get them out for all meals. It closes at 12 and then reopens at 2, I think, and closes again at 5 - and opens back after dinner,” stated the cruiser.

Because they limit screen time and tablet use, the cruiser said filling these gaps during the day on Royal Caribbean can be taxing. To keep their kids entertained on Royal Caribbean, the poster said they often found activities, classes, or events that required an extra cost. This often resulted in the cruiser’s kids not wanting to return to Adventure Ocean on Royal Caribbean.

Clarifying this perspective, the cruiser stated, “I am not saying that people shouldn't want to spend time with their kids, I'm just sharing that for us, we'd have to find or pay for activities for the kids and they often didn’t want to go back once we picked them up for lunch.”

Because the kids enjoyed their time at Camp Ocean, the cruiser was able to relax more and save money during their Carnival cruise.

The poster shared, “Even though Carnival has classes you can pay for, we didn't need to because they have so many free things for kids, and [Camp Ocean] on Jubilee made the kids want to stay in it so we didn't need to find or pay for as many options for them."

In the end, Carnival’s flexible hours and attentive staff helped facilitate a welcoming and fun environment for the family’s children. Compared to prior experiences with Royal Caribbean, the first-timer preferred Carnival’s childcare for the value.

Along with childcare, the first-time cruiser also loved all of the free activities available for everyone

During their cruise on Carnival Jubilee, the family was also blown away by all of the activities and entertainment available. The cruise line is known for having a lively and energetic atmosphere with nonstop fun from the moment you get onboard. Part of this includes a variety of events while sailing, especially on larger vessels with more guests to entertain.

“The amount of free activities for everyone, but especially the kids, will definitely keep us coming back. The adult entertainment and amount of varied activities was incredible,” shared the cruiser.

During their time on Carnival Jubilee, the cruiser said they enjoyed watching gameshows as a family, including Love & Marriage, Family Feud, and Deal or No Deal. The first-time Carnival cruiser said, “We couldn't keep up with all of the choices and options for shows each evening.”

Read more: Is Carnival Jubilee worth the hype? My honest review

After sailing on Carnival Jubilee, the family has already booked another Carnival cruise

Even though the family was hesitant to venture from Royal Caribbean, the first-time Carnival cruiser was happy with their experience. From the snazzy ship design to the impressive dining experience and Camp Ocean, the family plans to return to Carnival Cruise Line.

As for Carnival’s bad reputation, this first-time cruiser said Carnival doesn’t deserve the bad rap. “I'm sorry to admit that I used to contribute to it and had never even sailed the line. I just believed what others would say…and justify avoiding them even though we hadn't been pleased with Royal on the last two cruises.”

In the end, the family had an overwhelmingly positive experience on Carnival Jubilee. The cruiser stated, “For the affordability and quality, I feel like we more than got our money's worth! If you're on the fence about Carnival, I'd encourage you to try it on a newer ship sailing 7+ days.”

In fact, the poster shared in the comment section that their family has already booked a future sailing with Carnival.

In the comments, many cruisers agreed with the first-time Carnival cruiser

After detailing their first Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Jubilee, the Reddit post resonated with other cruisers. First, one of the most common opinions in the comment section involved the food. Many cruisers preferred Carnival’s complimentary dining compared to Royal Caribbean’s dining options.

“The Windjammer had constant lines to get in. The pizza and burgers were bad - cafe style patties put out on a tray with half stale buns. Nothing like Guy’s [Burger Joint] on Carnival,” shared one Carnival cruiser.

Another responder said, “My wife and I took our honeymoon cruise on Jubilee’s sister ship, Celebration, in 2023 and we had the time of our lives. Service was amazing, so many incredible food options that we didn’t even get to try them all (Big Chicken was our go-to).”

One commenter noted how they felt Carnival’s complimentary food surpassed even some of Royal Caribbean’s specialty dining. The cruiser explained, “Really irritating [Johnny Rockets] was not included, yet I could get Guy’s [Burger Joint] and BlueIguana Cantina, which were pretty darn good (better than the paid-for stuff at Royal), for free."

In particular, Carnival fans agreed that Excel class ships rivaled Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships. One cruiser stated, “The Excel Class ships are really nice. Much closer to the Royal experience, but with far better food. We love doing them but just wish they had better entertainment.”

Another overarching theme in the comment section involved Carnival Cruise Line getting a bad reputation compared to Royal Caribbean. Each cruise line offers a different experience, which can align with some travelers better than others. For some, Royal Caribbean is a better option while others prefer Carnival's experience. 

One responder said, “Glad you enjoyed it. Carnival undeservedly gets a bad rap and it's created by those who have never cruised with them.”

Similarly, another cruiser shared, “So tired of seeing the same lame ‘Walmart of the Seas’ comment. Yes, the average customer base is not the same as Celebrity or Princess, but that’s the point! There’s something for everyone with cruising.”

I go on a Royal Caribbean cruise about once a month, and I always seem to forget to pack something minor that could have made my trip so much better.

Most of the time, I think I do a good job remembering to bring the essentials with me, but it's the small things that seem to elude me from time to time.

It might be because they're not critical elements that I cannot cruise without. Rather, they're ancillary items that improve the experience for me.

An example is when I went on Liberty of the Seas for a short cruise and forgot to pack liquid hand soap.  There's nothing wrong with the bar soap that the cruise line provides and it didn't ruin my cruise by any means, but I prefer the liquid soap because it's easier and faster to use.

With that in mind, there are other cheap things everyone can pack for a cruise that makes a small difference. I call these "good to have" items that aren't essential, but still helpful.

So before you zip up that suitcase, double check you have these things that cost less than $10 make your cruise better.

This article contains affiliate links to products I've mentioned, which means it costs you absolutely nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you buy it.

Liquid hand soap

$9.88 on Amazon.

I mentioned already liquid hand soap, but it really is worth bringing on every cruise.

It's so important to stay healthy on a cruise ship, and washing your hands is step one in that process.  You'll hear the mantra of washing your hands quite a lot.

In your cabin bathroom will be a bar of soap that you can use, but I find liquid soap is so much easier to use and completely cover your hands in a good lather.

Also, bar soap always leaves my hands feeling dry after I use it.

An added benefit of liquid soap is my hands smell better too.

Pop-up laundry hamper

$6.79 on Amazon.

I never thought a cheap laundry hamper could make such a difference in my cabin, but it really does.

I originally started bringing a laundry hamper with me as a way to test out inside cruise cabin hacks, and I've brought one with me ever since.

When I've forgotten it, I thought I'd be fine with just a pile of dirty laundry in the corner somewhere, but that pile becomes a mountain quickly and expands with it.

The hamper makes laundry more manageable and it collapses down when I'm done with it.

Some readers recommend instead to put the dirty laundry in a suitcase, but I keep my suitcase under my bed and I'll admit I'm too lazy to take it out and put it away everyday.

Plastic luggage holders

$5.99 at Amazon.

I probably forget to actually print out luggage tags more than I've forgotten to pack the luggage tag holders, but that's a different blog post.

When I use my luggage tag holders, I don't worry about my luggage tags accidently getting ripped off in the transit process to my cabin.

A pack of them are cheap and they last forever.

Shampoo and body wash

$9.52 at Amazon.

Anytime I've gone on a cruise and forgotten to bring my own body wash or shampoo, I've regretted it every time I showered.

If you're the type of cruiser that can rely on the 2-in-1 mystery liquid that comes out of the dispenser in your cruise ship shower, I salute you, because I cannot.

Just like the hand soap, I find it makes a difference in how clean I feel to have my own stuff.  I don't have any scientific evidence, but I have a hard time believing 2-in-1 stuff can work as effectively.  

Plus, I prefer the scent my own toiletries have.

I should point out if you're staying in a suite, you'll get higher end toiletries that come with separate body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. I can tolerate these a bit more, but if you have specific needs for your hair, I'd recommend bringing your own.

Your hair products might cost more than $10, but I feel that even some of the cheap stuff from your local store is better than what's waiting in that shower dispenser.

Over the counter medications

$5.39 at Amazon.

When I cruise solo, I seem to always forget to bring a bag of medications with me and always realize it when I unpack in my cabin.

Most of the time I never need any, but if you're fighting a hangover, upset stomach, or stuffy nose, having medications with you makes a big difference in feeling better quickly (and cheaply).

Royal Caribbean does sell some medicine in its shop, but they charge a high price for it and the shop is only open when the ship is at sea and during certain hours.  Plus, who wants to get up and go out when they have a hangover and just want to take an aspirin to help with the headache?

Lip balm

$9.99 at Amazon.

When I cruise to Europe or Alaska and I encounter a humidity level that's far less that the Caribbean, I regret not bringing Chapstick with me.

Chapped lips hurt, and it seems the drier air in these itineraries almost always hits me.

More things that are must-haves on a cruise

Of course, there are plenty of other things I bring on a cruise that cost more than $10, but I think are very helpful.

I thought it would be helpful to include other items that I would be disappointed not to have with me onboard.

Besides the basics that everyone packs, I wanted to include a few other items I'd recommend to anyone going on a cruise.

AirTags

It's not just for a flight, AirTags are great for a cruise too.

The idea is simple: keep track of where your luggage is to make sure it's on the ship and not lost somewhere in the terminal. Plus, you can use them when flying too.

Water bottle

One of the top trends right now is to bring a reusable water bottle so you can keep hydrated easily on your cruise.

It means you can make less trips to get water, but is also really useful when on a shore excursion.  During the hot summer months, this is a must-have.

Headphones

I love bringing noise-cancelling headphones because it's the perfect accessory for enjoying quiet time on the ship.

I really love putting them on when I'm on the pool deck so I can enjoy the breeze and sun while laying out in a lounger, without all the conversations, music, and noise you'd have to put up with around you.

For years, I've used and recommended the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for over-the-ear comfort and unbeatable noise cancellation.

I know a lot of other people that prefer the Apple AirPods Pro because they offer noise cancelling without the heft and size.

Air freshener

Whether you're sharing a cabin with a friend or family member, what happens in the bathroom shouldn't be well-known to everyone else.

Poo pourri and other air fresheners are a must-pack item to keep your cabin bathroom from being a point of contention (or embarrassment) 

Magnetic hooks

Magnets that can you can affix to the walls are so helpful and you can use them almost anywhere in your cabin.

There's a lack of storage space on cruise ships, so magnetic hooks provide convenient ways to hang clothes and accessories.

I recommend these magnetic hooks if you have not purchased one yet.

E-reader

If you're a reader, bringing a Kindle or other e-reader is a must-have on a cruise.

You'll find lots of opportunity to read while on a cruise, especially on a sea day. The Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for the pool deck as well as in your cabin.

Night light

It shouldn't come as a shock that inside cabins are really dark at night because they have no natural light source.

This night light not only offers lighting, but it will only come on when someone moves around.

Royal Caribbean has a new ship coming out in 2025 and they want feature the work of aspiring artists on it.

Star of the Seas will enter service later this year and it's one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, which includes a large art collection.

Royal Caribbean is no stranger to art, as all of their ships have rather large collections featured onboard. The art is more than just paintings, in many cases it defines the look and feel of areas of its ships.

The "Artist Discovery Program" is the cruise line's new search for artists across the Caribbean to submit their art for consideration.

Artists that are selected could get as much as $100,000 in commission budget if selected.

The selected winners of the discover program will head to Turku, Finland to work with the Royal Caribbean team in integrating their visions for Star of the Seas.  Finland is where Star of the Seas is currently under construction.

The goal is to promote local artists around the Caribbean and provide them with exposure to grow their craft.

Royal Caribbean International Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider sees this as a tremendous opportunity, "We are excited for this next edition of The Artist Discovery Program and can’t wait to be awestruck by visionary artists across the Caribbean."

"Our goal is to connect our guests to the enduring beauty and creativity of the Caribbean, and this immersive program is a pathway to celebrating and exploring local culture while onboard the next Icon of vacations – Star of the Seas."

How to enter the contest to be considered

In order to be considered for the Artist Discovery Program, an artist must submit the following:

• Five samples of previous works: The work must be original.
• A brief artist statement that helps explain their work, inspiration and other details regarding the pieces submitted.
• A copy of their CV / resume.

You can apply via the program website.

Royal Caribbean wants to commission painting of large-scale murals in four key areas of the ship:

Royal Promenade

Embarkation area

Suite Sundeck Lobby

Suite Sundeck

Joining a collection onboard that includes an array of pieces created by local artists and inspired by the region, each creation will invoke the vibrancy of the Caribbean.

Star of the Seas begins sailing in August 2025

The new cruise ship will begin offering cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida on August 31, 2025.

Star will sail will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Port Canaveral.  Every sailing includes a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Star follows up on the incredible success of the first Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas.

Icon of the Seas blew away expectations when she launched in January 2024 and is not only the biggest cruise ship in the world, but also one of the most popular ones for the amazing features onboard.

The new ship will have 20 decks and manned by 2,350 crew members.

You're going to have to wait a little bit longer for new Royal Caribbean cruises to be released for 2026-2027.

The deployment schedule has been quietly updated this week and the cruise line has added new offerings, while pushing everything back.

The deployment schedule refers to when Royal Caribbean will put new sailings on sale for the first time, and each release is tied to a region of the world for sometime between 2026 and 2027.

Royal Caribbean already released some new cruises in the fall, but took a break over the winter holidays.

Here's when that the new deployment schedule looks like and what to expect.

Updated 2026-2027 deployments

According to the updated schedule that has been distributed to travel agents, there's now a new offering for Singapore that will come first, followed by others a bit delayed.

• Week of February 3, 2025: Singapore
• Week of February 10, 2025: Europe 2.0
• Week of February 17, 2025: Short Caribbean & West Coast
• Week of February 24, 2025: Seasonal Caribbean
• Week of March 10, 2025: China
• Week of March 31, 2025: Australia

Updated schedule

Original deployment schedule

What's different is Singapore is now coming up first. Previously Singapore was listed as "TBD".

"Europe 2.0" refers to a follow-up deployment to the European sailings already released for 2026 that occurred in October.

One other change is the addition of China. Like Singapore, it had a "TBD" distinction, but now is added for early March.

Short Caribbean & West Coast, Seasonal Caribbean, and Australia remain unchanged.

What's been released already for 2026-2027

In case you missed it, there have been some cruises already released and ready to book that came out in the fall.

• Alaska 2026
• Europe 2026
• Summer & Yearlong Caribbean 2026-2027
• Northeast 2026-2027

The deployment schedule could change again

Royal Caribbean systematically puts out new cruise sailings each year, and it usually occurs in the fall and spring.

But this schedule could change again if they need more time to align offerings.

Something else to be aware of is that the releases occur at some point during the week specified. It could be any day of that week and is rarely, if ever, the actual day listed.

Cruise fans will commonly mistake that and assume the new sailings come out on February 10, instead of some day that week.

Something else to be aware of is the sailings get loaded into Royal Caribbean's system slowly, so it's not uncommon to start seeing some sailings pop up on the Royal Caribbean website before others.  Or for travel agents to see new sailings in their backend system before the website.

Often new sailings start appearing on the website around midnight GMT, and usually fill out the schedule by the next morning.

What's missing

If you're thinking big picture, you would remember that in 2026 Royal Caribbean is going to launch a new cruise ship and wonder where that fits into this.

Royal Caribbean's third Icon Class cruise ship will launch sometime in 2026 and her arrival will impact where other ships are sailing from too.

We have very few details about Icon 3. We don't even know the ship's name or where it will sail from.

Formal construction of the ship began in October 2024, and you can't book cruises yet for it.

Historically, Royal Caribbean does not include new ships as part of its regular deployments.  New ships typically have their own deployment release that's independent of the others.

So that means if Icon 3 were to sail in Europe in summer 2026, I would not necessarily expect it to be part of the Europe 2.0 release in February.

What I would expect is a special announcement of Icon 3's name, homeport, and what date the public can start booking sailings.

What you should be doing now while you wait for new deployments

With just a few weeks left until Royal Caribbean releases the rest of its deployments, there are some things you could do now to prepare.

My advice is let your travel agent know what sort of sailings you're interested in and the time frame so they can jump on it when it becomes available.

We don't know which ship will sail from a particular port or dates, but you can make educated guesses and then your agent knows what you're looking for so you can book it quickly.

One of the top reasons to book a cruise as soon as they become available is to get one of the highly desirable cruise cabins that sell out quickly.

Plus, booking a cruise as early as possible is one of the best ways to save money on a cruise. 

In general, cruise prices are lowest when they are first put out and then get more expensive as cabins get booked up.

Planning on booking a cruise in 2026-2027? These stories will help:

• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• What is the best time to cruise to the Caribbean?
• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

You booked an amazing cruise, but the U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for the place you're scheduled to go.

This scenario plays out a lot because cruise ships tend to visit countries around the world that have their issues.

Should you cancel? Will Royal Caribbean change the itinerary?

One vacationer is booked on Jewel of the Seas for a cruise in April wrote on Facebook, "Has anyone read that there is a travel warning for Belize City, Belize?"

"What are your thoughts? Should I be sacred?" is what this person wrote, and it's a commonly asked question related to many other ports.

Here's what these warnings mean and how they apply to your cruise.

What are these warnings about?

The United States State Department has warnings for Americans traveling around the world, and they use different levels to convey how concerning the issues are.

These warnings are all listed on the State Department website, and are updated as needed.

A Level 1 warning is the lowest warning, and it's described as "Exercise normal precautions."

Level 2 is a step up, and changes the wording to be "Exercise increased caution." 

In both cases, the government wants Americans to be less cavalier than usual, and to be aware of the minor issues that have flared up recently.

Many countries have a Level 1 or Level 2 warning, including the United Kingdom, Greece, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada.

When you get to Level 3, the warning changes to "Reconsider Travel".  And then you have Level 4 of "Do Not Travel".

These are more serious warnings that alert Americans to terrorism threats, war, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, high crime rates and other personal security issues.

Countries with the Level 4 warning are ones that are either known for having a history of internal strife or enduring wars, such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Burma, Syria, or Lebanon.

Will the cruise line change plans because of the warnings?

Usually, cruise lines don't change their plans, even for a Level 3 or 4 warning.

That might sound strange, but the reality is these warnings apply to specific areas of the country and not necessarily where your cruise ship will visit. Violent crime rarely involves tourists.

That isn't to say the warning isn't important, but the places tourists go aren't necessarily where the problems occur.

In the case of Belize, the warning was related to violent crime on the south side of the city.  When reading the warning, the State Department clearly says, "This area (south of Haulover Creek Canal and continuing south to Fabers Road) does not overlap with the typical tourism areas. "

Most shore excursions in Belize City actually take place in the ocean, surrounding jungle, or caves. According to Viator's list of Belize City tours, nearly all of them took place in the jungle, around ruins, or on the water. 

Most importantly, Royal Caribbean has a team that monitors safety issues around the world.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, "The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority."

"At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. 

"Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly."

Essentially, the decision to change an itinerary depends on the specific situation in that country and how it impacts tourism areas.

Is it safe to go if there's a travel warning?

Travel warnings shouldn't be ignored, but they aren't a reason to cancel your plans either.

There's risk with almost anything you do, and that extends to travel.  Of course, that risk also applies to cities in our own country too.

Many countries have had travel warnings for many years, and the State Department re-issuing similar warnings is not new, per se.

If you are truly concerned, you don't have to get off the ship. There's no requirement to go on a shore excursion.

The tour operators that Royal Caribbean partners with are vetted by the cruise line for safety, and if there's unnecessary risks involved, the tour is cancelled. 

An example of this was when a ferry boat sank to Blue Lagoon in The Bahamas.  Following the incident, cruise lines pulled bookings until the tour operator addressed safety issues.  

In a more extreme example, Royal Caribbean suspended visits to its private destination of Labadee for many months until it was determined their ships could return again.

The purpose of these travel warnings is to give travelers insight into issues occurring in these countries.

Labadee, Haiti has a "No Travel" warning!

The most notable travel warning has to do with Haiti because that's where a lot of Royal Caribbean ships visit.

Haiti has a Level 4 warning, and the country's issues have been well-documented in the news.

The State Department warning states, "Since March 2024, Haiti has been under a State of Emergency. Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed."

That's lead to a lot of concerned cruisers who have sailings that visit Royal Caribbean's private beach in Labadee, which is a small peninsula in northern Haiti.

It's important to remember where Labadee is located, as it's on a peninsula walled off from the rest of the country. There is a large wall and barbed wire fence between the property line and the outside, and Labadee has its own private security.

Moreover, there has not been any fighting or civil strife anywhere near Labadee.

It might seem like a genius move, but booking two shore excursions on the same day is better idea than it really is in practice.

I received an email a week ago from a podcast listener who is headed on a Western Caribbean sailing and wanted to know if she should try to book two excursions on the same day.

"Is it possible to do two excursions from one day?" she asked. It seems like a good way to maximize time in a port, but there's more to a day ashore than I think some people consider.

I often joke that some tours sound better while you're sitting in air conditioning on your couch than in practice.  As an example, that hike through the jungle sounds lovely until you realize it's going to be a hot and humid day to start with, along with bugs, and those shoes that weren't as comfortable as well as you thought.

A lot of vacationers go on a sailing that takes them to places they may only visit once, and they want to seek out the really fun activities that they can tell everyone at home about when they return.

While booking two shore excursions on the same day might seem like a good idea, I think it's actually a mistake waiting to happen for a few important reasons.

There isn't as much time in port as it seems

To begin, time management while on shore excursions is not straight forward.

In order to go on two shore excursions on the same day, you'll need to schedule them so that one ends before the next one begins without being late.

It's not unusual for a tour to run late, or for the meeting point to not be factored into the overall length of the excursion.

Plus, you may want extra time on the end of your first tour to do something else, like shop.  Many excursions end in an area where there are many shops, or include photo opportunities.

You would not want to risk losing out on the other tour you have booked because you didn't make it there on time.

It's harder to know precisely when one tour would conclude with confidence so you could get to the next one.

What time your ship arrives and leaves is misleading

In my experience, you don't have as much time in port as you think you do.

Your itinerary lists what time your ship will be in each port of call, but those hours aren't when you actually be off the ship.

The arrival time you see is the estimated time the ship will pull into port.  At that point it has to line up with the pier, tie its lines, and get cleared by local authorities to disembark passengers. Getting cleared is sometimes very quick, while other times can take a while. It all depends how thorough the local authorities want to be in investigating everything is as expected.

Then at the end of your day in port, the time listed is when the ship is scheduled to depart, which means you're expected to already be back onboard the ship.

Realistically, you'll want to be back on the ship much earlier than the all aboard time.  So in practice, that shaves off an hour or two from your day in order to be back on the cruise ship with plenty of time to spare.

Both issues shave time off your total time in port, and that leaves you with less time to work in multiple shore excursions.

You're going to be more tired than you think

Assuming you have plenty of time for two excursions in one day, I think in reality you might not have the energy for both.

It's easy while at home to assume you can do it all, but tours are taxing, even basic ones.

When you're wet from rain in Alaska or under the hot Caribbean sun, the amount of energy you have is going to wane.

Buses are uncomfortable, walking on uneven pavement and cobblestone roads hurts, and you probably had to wake up early for the first tour. 

Trying to do two excursions is going to be pretty darn tiring.

It can dilute the value of what you paid

One of the most common places I see people trying to work two tours into one day is at Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Often guests will book admission to the Coco Beach Club or Hideaway Beach, and then also book a jet ski tour or zip line adventure.

I think the most egregious example are people that book a cabana and admission to Thrill Waterpark.

The issue here is you're taking away time from one activity that you paid for to go and do another, and I think that reduces the value of what you paid.

Avoid the temptation to double dip with activities and enjoy the primary one all day.

You'll have time for more activities

While I'm advocating not booking two shore excursions for the same port day, that doesn't mean you can't include something else before or after one tour.

Most tours leave you with time to work something else in, and in many cases, there is a natural fit related to the tour or where you're dropped off.

There might be a beautiful beach you could head to and unwind for the rest of the day. Or you might stay in the city or two to do some shopping or sightseeing.

In my experience, some tour operators will give their guests the choice of going back to the ship or being dropped off at a popular area.

And if you're spent after one tour, you can head right back to the ship for a well-deserved shower and nap.

With just one excursion booked, you have more flexibility to see how you're feeling, and include a DIY adventure.

Plan another port visit instead

If you really are tempted to try two excursions on the same day, that might be a sign you should plan another cruise.

Repeating the same itinerary isn't counterintuitive at all.  It's actually a really good way to enjoy these amazing places and see more of them.

Of course that means you'll have to wait to come back again and there's the cost that comes with booking another vacation, but having another trip to look forward to is the best way to get over the post-cruise depression that comes when your vacation ends.

One tour is the best plan, but keep the option for exploring on your own

If you're someone that is thinking about doing two tours on the same day, I recommend sticking to just one tour and leaving your day open for additional exploring after.

I just don't think the logistics of working in both tours makes a lot of sense, especially x factors such as transportation, fatigue, and proper timing.

The anxiety and effort required to make it all work just isn't worth it.

If you do have plenty of extra time, I think you will find many options to consider on your own that give you peace of mind and flexibility to go with it.

Royal Caribbean named its private island in The Bahamas "perfect", and the moniker certainly holds up if you've been there to experience it.

Ever since Perfect Day at CocoCay opened in 2019, it's been a revelation as to what a private cruise line beach day can be because of all the options offered.

Royal Caribbean opened Perfect Day at CocoCay in phases, going back to 2018 when construction on some of the first areas to be completed began allowing guests in.

One of those areas was the Oasis Lagoon, and it's since become my go-to spot, every time we visit CocoCay.

At its opening, Oasis Lagoon was the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. It covers 33,175 square feet, which makes it enormous.

Whether or not it still holds that title, it's exactly what I want from my private island day.

While I think most people on a cruise prefer the beach, I like a pool day better. I don't have to worry where I walk, there are no creatures lurking, and the water is always refreshing.

Royal Caribbean didn't just build a giant pool, they added the best swim-up bar I had ever been to, complete with seats on both sides.  

Guests can swim up and sit at the bar, or opt to go to the "dry side" and enjoy drinks without being in the water.

There's no cost to access Oasis Lagoon or any of the chairs and umbrellas nearby.

In 2023, Royal Caribbean shared the swim-up bar at Oasis Lagoon is one of the highest rated attractions on the island.

There are also small islands throughout Oasis Lagoon for you to sit at as well, with plants and trees that provide just the right amount of shade.

For years I would immediately go to Oasis Lagoon first on almost every visit because it offered exactly what I wanted from my day. Sometimes we'd venture elsewhere and book a spot at the Coco Beach Club or one of the beaches.  But I always preferred going to Oasis Lagoon.

The one problem I had with Oasis Lagoon was it tended to attract the party crowd because of the DJ that was originally placed near the swim-up bar.

I don't mind a party vibe to my pool day, but it evolved over the years and became more raucous, especially when there were 20 and 30 year olds hanging there.

When it got loud, I either enjoyed it, or moved to a different end of the pool.

A big shift in the dynamic of Oasis Lagoon occurred in 2024 when Royal Caribbean opened its adults-only area, Hideaway Beach.

An even bigger swim-up bar and giant pool was added to this area, and with it, went the DJ.

Royal Caribbean purposefully brought over that party vibe that had grown at Oasis Lagoon to Hideaway.

In their research to create the ultimate day for adults, feedback indicated guests want a drink in their hand with music to enjoy. 

Since the opening of Hideaway Beach, the DJ has been removed from Oasis Lagoon and replaced with a programmed musical setlist.

The result has been the energy at Oasis Lagoon has been more subdued than pre-2024 levels, and I think it's made it better.

Without the DJ to raise the volume, I think the pool has remained fun and enjoyable without feeling like a Vegas pool party.

I'm sure everyone has their own feelings on what is the right level of music, energy, and partying for a pool.  But I think Royal Caribbean has found a new normal for Oasis Lagoon that really meshes well without being overbearing.

To be fair, Hideaway Beach's pool is heated, whereas Oasis Lagoon's pool is heated by the sun and nothing else.  It can be downright frigid in Oasis Lagoon at times.

While Hideaway Beach is newer, flashier, and has limited access, I think Oasis Lagoon is a fun spot to head to, and considering it's included in your cruise fare, it's hard to pass up that value.

My favorite Oasis Lagoon tips and tricks

While enjoying Oasis Lagoon, here are a few ideas to maximize your day.

If you bought a Royal Caribbean drink package, you can enjoy drinks at the pool too.  There's no additional charge, and that's a great way to get your value back from a drink package.

Likewise, if you are a Diamond member or higher in Crown and Anchor Society, the daily drink vouchers work here too.  

And no, you do not need to bring the soda cups with you off your ship to use them at Oasis Lagoon (or anywhere at CocoCay).

Just like at a bar on the ship, you just need to let the crew member know you want to use a drink voucher. 

When you're feeling a little hungry, the Snack Shack is just a few steps away from Oasis Lagoon.

The quickest way to get there is exit the Oasis Lagoon pool on the "right side" of the bar.  When facing the swim-up bar, there's a set of stairs out of the pool on the right side.

Walk past the smoking area and you'll see it across the tram path.  

The Snack Shack is included in your cruise fare and has some of my favorite foods, such as the mozzarella sticks, funnel cake, and the "secret sandwich" that you can only order by name.

If you need shade but don't want to get out of the water, you can find lots of under the bridge that's near the bar. 

There's always shade here, and it's close to the bar, so you don't have to venture far to get a refill.

There are islands and loungers in the water, and they are first-come, first-reserved.

My advice is get off the ship very early if you want to nab one of them.

A medical emergency has delayed the return of a Royal Caribbean ship to its home port.

Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas will be delayed returning to Baltimore, Maryland, due to a medical evacuation. Because of the emergency, Vision of the Seas unexpectedly diverted in San Juan, Puerto Rico to evacuate the passenger before continuing its sailing.

The docking in San Juan has caused Vision of the Seas to be delayed on its current voyage, which will push back the ship’s return by one day to Baltimore. This diversion will also cause the ship's following 12-night itinerary on January 16, 2024 to depart one day later. 

According to guests onboard the current sailing, Vision of the Seas will now return to Baltimore on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 7:00 am. Guests will be able to disembark the vessel at this time. 

The Vision class ship was sailing on a 12-night round-trip itinerary from Baltimore, Maryland to the Caribbean. Ports of call included St. Croix, St. John’s, St. Maarten, Martinique and St. Kitts & Nevis. 

Vision of the Seas departed St. Kitts on January 12, 2024 to begin sailing back to Baltimore, Maryland. The ship was scheduled to have three sea days before returning to Baltimore on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Guests currently aboard Vision of the Seas reported the captain made an announcement in the late afternoon about diverting towards Puerto Rico for an emergency airlift.

(Current location at time of publication for Vision of the Seas. Source: CruiseMapper)

“We are turning around to go to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's 150 nautical miles from where we are. They're trying to get the coast guard involved and will notify us more once we have more information,” commented one passenger onboard on the Vision of the Seas Facebook page.

Those onboard reported the captain later announced in the evening that the Coast Guard deemed an airlift was not possible. “They just announced that [the] Coast Guard cannot do an airlift, so we have to go all the way to San Juan to get this person off. We should be there tomorrow morning,” shared one guest on Facebook.

Instead of the airlift, Vision of the Seas would sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico to dock and evacuate the passenger. After arriving in San Juan, guests reported the passenger was successfully transferred to the hospital and the ship resumed the sailing almost immediately.

(Photos shared from passenger on Facebook)

“We docked in San Juan at 5:00 am, the passenger and her family were taken off, we are all praying for her!” commented one guest on Facebook. 

Royal Caribbean sent communication to guests on the impacted January 16, 2025 sailing about the delay. The cruise line said, “Due to our previous sailing’s delay in arriving at the Port of Baltimore, our sailing will now take place on Friday, January 17th.” 

Vision of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail on an 8-night itinerary from Baltimore on January 16, 2025. The original itinerary would sail to Charleston (South Carolina), Port Canaveral (Florida), Grand Bahama Island (Bahamas) and Nassau (Bahamas) with three sea days. To make up for the delay, Vision of the Seas will skip its first port of call in Charleston, South Carolina with an additional sea day.

One passenger shared in a post on Reddit, “We received an email stating we are now boarding Friday morning instead of Thursday and an updated itinerary. No more Charleston (sad). Getting pro-rated for the day we will miss and any packages that were purchased in the form of onboard credit for that day.”

In addition to the medical evacuation, Vision of the Seas might need to navigate choppy waters with an Atlantic storm passing through the area. One guest onboard commented, "Captain was trying to go around a storm, but now that we are changing course for the medical evacuation, we may end up having to sail into the weather system.”

Royal Caribbean states that all guests will receive refunds for shore excursions booked in Charleston, South Carolina to the original form of payment. Those with booked flights through Royal Caribbean will automatically be rescheduled. Those with independent airfare will receive $400 USD for international travel and $200 for domestic travel, on a per person basis.