Royal Caribbean Blog

When I stepped onboard the newest Silversea cruise ship, I realized almost immediately this wasn't going to be my typical cruise experience.

I'm no stranger to cruises, but some of the changes Royal Caribbean Group have made to its loyalty programs have made it so much easier to jump between the lines. It honestly compelled me to try another luxury cruise.

Part of the appeal was that I'd enjoy top-tier benefits on Silversea because of my Pinnacle Club level on Royal Caribbean. Plus, Silversea's S.A.L.T. program is expanded on its newest ships, to integrate more of the local flavors into the onboard dining. But the other thing drawing me in was the prospect of seeing more of the world.

Some places are only accessible by a smaller cruise ship, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to jumpstart my first Mediterranean adventure and knock off a number of must-see places from my travel list.

Silversea invited me to be their guest on an 11-night Portugal and Spain cruise aboard their newest ship, Silver Ray.

Here's what it's like to sail on Silversea and why their newest ship is the perfect onboarding option for someone used to megaships.

Silver Ray was like a boutique hotel in downtown Lisbon

I didn't want a travel delay to ruin my trip, so I flew in two days early to Lisbon, Portugal to get on my ship. I had time for any potential travel delays and beat jetlag.

I boarded the ship in Lisbon. While Silversea doesn't have an app like Royal Caribbean, their embarkation was quick thanks to the fact there were so many less passengers to contend with.

Silver Ray is about 800 feet in length and has a maximum capacity of 728 passengers. I was given a 2:00 arrival time, so I practically walked on the ship.

The ship is a fraction of the size of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, and it was so easy to get anywhere onboard.

Because Silversea is a luxury cruise brand, everything felt calmer, more intentional, and noticeably more refined. That's not a surprise, but I think it's something that stands out immediately.

Every cabin is a suite

You won't find inside cabins on a Silversea ship, because all the ship has are suites.  Every suite comes with a stateroom attendant and a butler.

In terms of function, the stateroom attendant is the same as you'll find on Royal Caribbean. But the butler is a very neat person you'll interact with everyday of the sailing.

You share the butler with a few other cabins, but I never would have known it because he was always readily available anytime I picked up my cabin phone to dial him.

Butlers don't have a firm set of duties, but I've picked up on a number of things they can do from speaking with other guests:

• Order and deliver room service
• Unpack for you
• Pack for you
• Draw a bath or prepare a steam shower
• Bring you popcorn
• Stock your minifridge with soft drinks, beer, and any alcohol you want
• Offer pillow choices

They're sort of like a Royal Genie on Royal Caribbean, but their role is limited to while you're in the suite. Nonetheless, I was continuously surprised by the touches he made throughout my cruise.

I booked the entry-level deluxe suite with verandah.  It was plenty of room for just me on a solo cruise.

The room layout reminded me more of a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean, until I got into the bathroom.

The bathroom was enormous with a giant shower, double sink, and upgraded features all around. 

I was surprised my suite had no bathtub, but I heard from the ship's officers that many guests prefer the shower over a tub from a safety perspective.  It's just easier to get in and out of a shower.

The food on Silversea isn't just great, it's the best part of Silver Ray

I love to eat on any cruise, but the food quality, variety, and how much is included blew me away.

Silversea ships are all-inclusive, so pretty much everything is included in your cruise fare.

Silver Ray has a number of restaurants you can dine at, ranging from French to Italian to Japanese, and more.

A few restaurants change based on the time of day. La Terrazza is a buffet for breakfast and lunch, but becomes a sit-down restaurant at night. 

The Marquee is an open-air steakhouse, pizza place, and breakfast nook. It's a beautiful take on al fresco dining.

The line's S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program is where things really step up. 

On Silver Ray, there is a lab to cook foods from the region your ship is visiting, Chef's Table to enjoy a carefully curated meal paired with wines from the places you are visiting, and the Kitchen to enjoy a menu that changes every few days to reflect what local cuisine. The S.A.L.T. Bar offers a few local drinks, but it's really the ship's specialized cocktail bar.

It's such a smart idea, and it goes well beyond what you'd get on any other cruise ship. The top two reasons people book a cruise are the destinations and food.  The S.A.L.T. program combines both into one, and it's a foodie's dream.

There's still a Main Dining Room venue in Atlantide, which has a standby menu that never changes along with a regular menu that changes every few days.

If that wasn't enough, there's a brunch held on one sea day that was absolutely incredible in terms of how much variety you'll find. 

To further exemplify the difference in food on Silversea to Royal Caribbean, they were shaving off as much black truffle as you'd like on your food. Your butler is happy to bring you a bottle of your favorite liquor and leave it in your cabin. There's sushi served every day at lunch at the buffet.

Everyone asked if I was bored on a luxury cruise

The top question I was asked by readers once they heard I was on Silversea was if I was bored.  They also wanted to know if it was all old people, and if I was the youngest person onboard.

No, I was far from the youngest person onboard. And while I missed having certain Royal Caribbean venues, I really don't think I was bored.

First and foremost, our itinerary was packed with port stops. I booked this cruise specifically for the places we would go, so I only had 3 sea days across 11 nights.  

I would never compare Silversea's entertainment to Royal Caribbean, but it's not that bad either.

They have a show of some kind every night in the theater.  The musical revues I saw were no worse than any of the similar shows I've seen on a Freedom or smaller class ship.

While docked in Malaga, they brought a Flamenco dancing group onboard to perform. Plus we had a comedian, different musical acts, and more.

I went every night to the S.A.L.T. Bar because they had a guitarist there to sing songs. Similar in idea to the English pubs on Royal Caribbean, and I really enjoyed seeing Lucas perform there every night.

I'll keep an eye on Silversea's entertainment because they recently brought over Mike Szwajkowski from Royal Caribbean. Mike was best known as being one of their best Cruise Directors, and he is about a month into the job as Silversea's Senior Director of Entertainment. I suspect changes will be coming to improve things there.

Nonetheless, I would never book a Silversea cruise for the entertainment. It's the places and level of service that make it stand out.

The places you'll go are a major reason to book Silver Ray

As impressive as Silver Ray was, I loved my time ashore.

Smaller ships can fit in ports big ships cannot. Plus, Silversea's approach to cruising seems to be to hyper focus on itinerary. It's why you'll see their ships sailing to parts of the world that Royal Caribbean never does.

Our sailing took us from Lisbon to Barcelona, with stops in Gibraltar, Cadiz, Malaga, Alicante, and Valencia. 

Silversea fares come in three flavors, and some include a shore excursion credit (expedition voyages include shore excursions as part of the experience). Regardless, it's easy to find tours, excursions, or the opportunity to go on your own and explore.

Plus, we had two ports with overnight stays (although one of those was the result of an weather-forced itinerary change).

The combination of high quality dining and destinations are why I want to go back on Silversea again

Looking back on my nearly two weeks on Silver Ray, I was absolutely sold on this style of cruising.

After more than 100 cruises primarily on Royal Caribbean, I thought I had a pretty good sense of what to expect at sea. But this ship reset that baseline. From the way space is used to how service unfolds throughout the day, Silver Ray showed me just how different cruising can feel when nearly everything is included and designed around fewer guests.

One of the higher barriers to entry will always be price, as a luxury cruise ship will command higher prices than on Royal Caribbean.

A couple could probably get a similar 9-night booking to the sailing I took for about $10,900. For perspective, a Grand Suite on Icon of the Seas in April 2027 would cost $14,609.86 and that's only 7 nights. 

If you value higher quality onboard dining, little-to-no crowds, and want to see more of the world by cruise ship, I think Silversea is the vacation you'd be interested in.

I was so impressed by the level of service and how much a cruise ship could feel like a boutique hotel.

I'm looking forward to sailing with Silversea again, perhaps to knock out one of my bucket-list destinations like an expedition cruise to the Galapagos. Or maybe I'll explore another region of the world on a daily basis, with evenings spent at the S.A.L.T. Bar.

Royal Caribbean is moving up the first sailing of Legend of the Seas when it makes its arrival into Florida.

If your goal is to be the very first onboard the third Icon Class ship, there's a new first voyage from Port Everglades.

In an email sent to booked guests, the cruise line revealed it has added a brand-new sailing for Legend of the Seas right before the originally scheduled first voyage from Florida. That means there’s now an earlier opportunity to sail the ship, even though it doesn’t technically replace the official inaugural voyage.

The change might sound minor at first glance, but for cruise fans who care about being first (or who already have a booking), it creates a new option.

One new sailing has been added

Originally, Royal Caribbean positioned the November 11, 2026 cruise from Fort Lauderdale as the inaugural sailing for Legend of the Seas from Florida. That hasn't changed.

What has changed is that the cruise line has now added a new sailing departing November 8, 2026, just before the November 11th sailing.

In its message to guests, Royal Caribbean framed the move as a way to "open the door to an unforgettable adventure sooner than expected."

The newly added sailing is a short 3-night itinerary from Fort Lauderdale that includes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning to Florida.

Some cruisers could now book the earlier sailing and remain on the November 11th sailing to create a longer back-to-back cruise.

Why being first is important to some people

Even though the November 8 cruise will now be the first time paying guests can step onboard in the U.S., Royal Caribbean is still treating November 11 as the official inaugural sailing.

The email sent to guests booked on the November 11th sailing claims it will remain the inaugural voyage in name.

"Your current voyage remains the actual inaugural sailing."

That distinction matters more than it might seem.

Inaugural sailings typically come with special events, ceremonies, commemorative gifts, and a general sense of occasion that appeals to loyal cruisers.

With this earlier sailing, it's technically a pre-inaugural sailing that may not have as much fanfare, but will sail first.

For some cruisers, that tradeoff is perfectly fine. For others, especially those chasing inaugural status, it could be a reason to stick with their original booking.

What Royal Caribbean is offering booked guests

If you were already booked on the November 11th cruise, Royal Caribbean is giving you options.

According to the email, guests on the November 11 cruise were notified first and given the opportunity to switch to the new November 8 sailing, keep their existing booking, or even book both sailings if they want to double up on early access.

The cruise line says staterooms on the new sailing will be available “at the prevailing rate based on availability,” which suggests pricing will follow standard dynamic pricing rather than any special inaugural pricing structure.

Why Royal Caribbean adds earlier sailings

Royal Caribbean didn’t explicitly say why it added the extra sailing, but I think the reasoning is fairly easy to read between the lines.

Demand for new ships is red hot, especially the Icon Class ships. From Icon of the Seas to Star of the Seas, early sailings have consistently sold at high prices and filled quickly.

Plus, if the ship is going to be ready earlier, they don't want it sitting idle. By adding a short, earlier cruise, Royal Caribbean accomplishes a few things at once.

First, it creates more inventory for a new ship.

Second, it allows the cruise line to generate additional revenue without altering the official inaugural timeline.

And third, it gives flexibility to guests who want to sail early but may not care about the inaugural label.

Launching this summer

Legend of the Seas will be one of the biggest cruise ships in the world when it debuts in later this year

Royal Caribbean is pinning Legend as the next follow-up to the wildly successful Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

The ship measures about 365 meters (1,197 feet) long and roughly 248,663 gross tons, putting it among the largest cruise ships ever built. It will carry about 5,610 passengers at double occupancy, with a maximum capacity approaching 7,600 guests, along with a crew of around 2,350. 

The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, and is nearly ready to begin sea trials.

Onboard, Legend of the Seas will feature the signature Icon Class neighborhood concept, along with a massive waterpark, multiple pools, and a wide mix of dining and entertainment venues.

The ship is scheduled to debut in Europe first, with its inaugural summer season sailing in the Western Mediterranean from ports like Barcelona. After that, it will reposition to the United States for a winter season based in Fort Lauderdale, offering Caribbean itineraries that include stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Although Royal Caribbean's cruise fare includes unlimited food, you may want to consider paying extra for one of the ship's specialty restaurants. 

I know, I know — the idea might sound a little silly at first. I mean, why should you shell out an extra $45+ per person when multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room are "free?" 

After traveling on over 10 Royal Caribbean ships and even splurging on the line's Unlimited Specialty Dining Package add-on, I can confidently say that a specialty meal is always on my must-do list. Everything from the low-key ambience to the food quality and diverse cuisine options justifies the extra charge. 

However, many first-time cruisers might not get the appeal of specialty restaurants until they understand how it differs from the main dining experience.

In this article, we'll highlight 6 reasons why you should skip the Main Dining Room and try at least one specialty restaurant on your next cruise. 

Read more: How does specialty dining work on Royal Caribbean?

More intimate atmosphere

The Main Dining Room on Royal Caribbean ships is a multi-deck space designed to serve hundreds, if not thousands, of passengers at once. As such, it's far from a romantic or relaxed atmosphere, with dozens of waiters constantly moving around, taking orders, and delivering dishes. 

Comparatively, specialty restaurants are smaller and quieter, designed to feel more like an upscale restaurant at home. The smaller setting allows for more attentive, personalized service. 

Another perk is that some specialty restaurants have outdoor seating, such as Chops Grille on Oasis and Icon Class ships. Indulging in a juicy filet mignon while listening to live music in the Central Park neighborhood might just be as close to perfect as it gets on a cruise!

Greater menu variety

Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants offer a wide range of cuisines, from Japanese to Italian, New England-style seafood, Southern comfort food, and classic bar favorites. 

Although the rotating Main Dining Room menus do provide variety — from escargot to bao buns, spaghetti, and more — they're more limited in scope compared to the specialty options. You won't, for example, find sashimi or oysters in the dining room. 

Similarly, specialty restaurants usually focus on a single cuisine. As such, you'll find more authentic presentations and dishes prepared with higher-quality ingredients than in the Main Dining Room. This is to be expected, as cooking for a few hundred people in a specialty restaurant is different than preparing meals for thousands in the dining room. 

Immersive dining concepts

Royal Caribbean ships, particularly the newer and innovative ones, are also home to unique dining concepts that you won't find anywhere else. 

For example, on Utopia of the Seas, you can dine in a "train car" at Royal Railway — Utopia Station. Everything — from the themed menu to the visual and auditory effects — is designed to create a fully immersive, story-driven experience centered around the Wild West. 

Similarly, the supper clubs aboard Icon and Star of the Seas pair a multi-course meal with handcrafted cocktails and live music. Empire Supper Club on Icon of the Seas is themed around the Big Apple, while Star of the Seas transports guests to an elegant lounge in Chicago. Either way, you don't feel like you're dining on a cruise ship! 

Read more: I ate at the most expensive restaurant on Star of the Seas, and it's even better than the original

Fun way to celebrate a special occasion 

Eating at the same restaurant each night can feel monotonous, even if the menu changes daily. Specialty restaurants break up the predictable routine by offering something different, whether that's a certain cuisine or a unique atmosphere.

Not only that, but having a specialty restaurant on the agenda gives you something extra to look forward to and is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or, heck, even a divorce! 

Even if you find the Main Dining Room food perfectly acceptable, you're more likely to remember your special meal in one of the extra-charge restaurants, like hibachi at Izumi or a whimsical evening at Wonderland. 

Read more: I'm a travel writer who cruises on Royal Caribbean every month. These 6 extra cost restaurants are worth booking — and the 2 you can skip

You can choose your dining time

Unlike the traditional seating in the Main Dining Room, where you're assigned a set dining time and table, specialty restaurants give you the freedom to choose when you eat.

If, for example, you chose the early seating on your cruise but prefer a later dinner after a long day in port, you can reserve a specialty restaurant at your desired dining time. 

This flexibility allows you to enjoy the benefits of set dining (i.e., the same table and waiters) for the majority of your sailing, while mixing things up and planning certain meals around your schedule — without feeling tied to the buffet. 

Onboard credit can be used to lower the cost

Finally, if you don't know how to spend your onboard credit, you can apply it toward a specialty dinner on your cruise. Many travel agents offer onboard credit as a booking perk, and Royal Caribbean frequently runs promotions that include it as well.

Essentially, onboard credit is "free" money that can be used toward cruise add-ons, like drink packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, and specialty dining. 

Using it to dine at a specialty restaurant allows you to elevate your cruise experience without dipping into your overall vacation budget. 

Another way to save on specialty dining is to go for lunch instead of dinner, as the cover charge during the afternoons tends to be less.

For example, on an upcoming cruise aboard Liberty of the Seas, the starting price for lunch at Chops Grille is $17.99 per person. The cover charge increases to $46.99 for dinner. 

Royal Caribbean Group has launched a brand-new foundation and even announced its inaugural pledge to support medical residents in South Florida. 

The Royal Caribbean Group Foundation builds on the company's 30-year legacy of global investments in education, local economies, and environmental preservation.

It also advances the company's longstanding belief in tourism as an economic vitality engine and its commitment to creating positive community impact. 

The Royal Caribbean Group Foundation's inaugural pledge goes toward an emergency medicine residency program at Jackson Health System in South Florida. 

As such, the Royal Caribbean Group Foundation Emergency Medicine Residency Program will help strengthen and empower future physicians in South Florida.

Another goal of the foundation's philanthropic partnerships is to expand its ability to collaborate with global organizations and institutions that support economic opportunity, community well-being, and environmental stewardship.

"Strong communities are essential to delivering exceptional vacation experiences, and the Royal Caribbean Group Foundation reflects the company’s belief that tourism can be a force for long-term positive change," said Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. 

"Supporting the education of emergency medicine physicians in South Florida is an example of how we invest in the long-term vitality of the places we operate, contributing to the essential systems that help communities thrive and sustain meaningful economic opportunity."

The new foundation aligns with Royal Caribbean's SEA the Future sustainability program

SEA the Future launched in 2023 and focuses on sustaining the planet, energizing communities, and accelerating innovation. 

The sustainability initiative helps Royal Caribbean Group protect the planet by enhancing energy efficiency, responsibly treating water, and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. 

Everything from reducing food waste to onboard recycling programs and water management policies helps the company work toward its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

In addition, Royal Caribbean Group employees have contributed thousands of volunteer hours supporting education, disaster relief, ocean conservation, and community development initiatives around the world.

And the Royal Caribbean Group Foundation is just another step in the company's mission to invest in the long-term vitality of the destinations people are eager to discover.

Other purposeful projects include:

• $15 million in scholarships awarded to 6,660+ students since 1998
• 235+ community partners supported across 85+ destinations in 2025
• $13 million invested in conservation efforts and transformational operations work with the World Wildlife Fund since 2016
• $1.6 million donated to disaster relief in 2025
• 15 years of operating L'Ecole Nouvelle Royal Caribbean (ENRC) school in Haiti with 4,600 graduates and 700 scholarships awarded
• 280+ scholarships awarded to United Kingdom Cadet Program maritime students
• 26 reimagined educational spaces impacting 26,000+ teachers and 400,000+ students over 20 years

Read more: Royal Caribbean reveals behind-the-scenes secret to how cruise ships make their own water

After plenty of speculation, Royal Caribbean is finally addressing why some of its popular water slides are currently closed, debunking the reason many people thought.

Guests aboard the world's largest cruise ships are complaining that multiple slides at the onboard water parks aren't operating. 

In total, Category 6, the largest water park at sea, is home to six record-breaking slides:

• Pressure Drop
• Hurricane Hunter
• Storm Chasers (duo mat-racing slides)
• Storm Surge
• Frightening Bolt

However, according to numerous Reddit threads, most of the slides at the Category 6 Waterpark have been closed for days during recent sailings. 

"I’m currently on Icon of the Seas with my son, and we specifically booked this cruise for the water park (Category 6). Unfortunately, the majority of the slides have been closed for multiple days, including sea days, with only ONE slide intermittently open," Particular-Bird-1235 wrote. 

Someone else added, "Just got off [Star of the Seas]. Two slides still down the entire week and at times only 2 were operational...Wasn't too happy since we paid a premium for the newest ship."

"Just did the April 5th to 12th on Star and the same two mentioned slides were down. It was pretty much the only thing I complained about in my survey. Paid [a] premium to go on my 2nd Icon class due to water slides for my two sons. Annoyed by the closures," Additional-Dish-6309 commented. 

Peter-Rabbi said, "I was on [Star] last week and two slides were down at first. Then three by the end of the cruise."

Read more: I went on the world's most family-friendly cruise ship without kids

Passengers and frequent cruisers have begun speculating about what’s behind the ongoing closures

Some argued that they could be part of the cruise line's cost-cutting measures in light of the recent fuel increases. However, this theory was quickly debunked by a Royal Caribbean representative, who said that repairs are underway to ensure the cruise line can continue offering a strong guest experience. 

"To clarify, the slide closures are not related to fuel costs or stabilizer usage—that rumor is incorrect. At this time, some slides are temporarily unavailable, and while we can't share specific details or timelines, efforts are ongoing with a strong focus on the overall guest experience," Emjae said. 

One guest aboard Star of the Seas reportedly heard that the green tube slide (Storm Surge) and the small yellow drop slide (Pressure Drop) share the same water system, which needs a replacement part from Germany to be fixed. 

Particular-Bird-1235 added that aboard Icon of the Seas, crew members are telling guests that the slides are closed because of "maintenance / manufacturer maintenance."

Additionally, Guest Services could not provide any compensation beyond a $20 arcade credit. 

Water slide maintenance has been a top priority lately

(Credit: @aaron.dv02 [left] / @fireal7 [right])

Last August, an incident involving a slide that injured a guest caused the same slide to be closed aboard Star of the Seas out of an abundance of caution. 

An adult male was injured while riding the Frightening Bolt, the biggest drop slide at sea with a terrifying trap door launch, after an acrylic glass panel broke off.

While he didn't fall through the gaping hole, other passengers reported seeing "skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands."

(Credit: @maddietspmo [left] / @natalya.ash [right])

After the accident, Deck 15 was closed to prevent further injuries and allow crew members to assess the damage. The Frightening Bolt remained closed after the deck reopened, though. Royal Caribbean also closed the Frightening Bolt aboard Star of the Seas.

Slides on other ships — including Harmony of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas — with similar acrylic panels eventually closed, too. 

Navigator of the Seas' Captain James confirmed that the acrylic tube parts were cracking and needed to be replaced with stronger fiberglass panels to ensure durability for years to come.

Because each fiberglass section is custom-made and cannot be pulled from existing inventory, the process is lengthier than simply swapping out a standard part. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean has closed waterslides across multiple cruise ships to reportedly conduct safety fixes

I spent almost two weeks cruising around the Iberian peninsula, which included about a week's worth of days in cities around Spain.

This was my first time exploring the southern coast of the country, and I got my first taste of what I think most people associate with the country.  While I had been to Northern Spain once, I didn't feel Galicia and the Basque country are what most Americans think of when they imagine a visit to the country.

While sailing on Silversea's Silver Ray ship, I spend two days in Cadiz and Malaga each, and got to also visit Valencia and Alicante.

It was an incredible opportunity to explore the history and culture of Spain's Mediterranean coast, and I came away with some important lessons learned.

Here are the 7 things I either didn't expect or jumped out even more than I expected to me during my week sailing around Spain.

Meal times are much later

The siesta is real, and you need to plan around it.

In Spain, a lot of businesses shut down between 2 and 5pm for an afternoon break. This makes touring in the morning far more important, which might be a problem for those that like to sleep in.

The siesta is a socially accepted "nap" during the mid-day. Not everyone participates in it, but you'll notice a slow down around then.

The benefit to this schedule is they re-open businesses in the evening, and it's common for restaurants and shops to stay open until seven, eight, or even nine at night.

Many cities were easy to explore without a tour

If there's one thing I've come to accept more and more as a truth of cruising in Europe vs the Caribbean, it's that organized tours aren't nearly as necessary.

In almost all the ports we visited, our ship docked so close to the city center that it required either a short walk or a complimentary shuttle bus ride and then you could explore quite easily on your own.

Armed with Google Maps and some pre-cruise research, I was able to easily track down what I wanted to see without needing to rely on a cruise ship tour.

That being said, I did take a few different tours and while it's nice to have background and context provided by a guide, I found these cities were just as enjoyable to walk and see what was around the next corner.

I'd recommend anyone taking a cruise to these cities to embrace the idea of walking around the city on your own.  Download a walking tour or outline a few must-sees beforehand, and you'll find it quite manageable.

I didn't need to convert currency at all

I admit, I fell for a trap of European cruising I've written about before to avoid: I wasted money converting currency to Euros.

I watched a lot of videos before my cruise about what to do in each city, and I became increasingly concerned I'd need cash instead of a credit card (or tap to pay).

After spending a week here, I never needed cash in any restaurant, store, or street vendor I ran into. Everyone took tap to pay. In fact, I stopped bringing a credit card and just relied on my phone to pay with it.

The threat of pickpockets made touring more worrisome

Spain, unfortunately, has a reputation for having a lot of pick-pocketers. The worst is in Barcelona, which is the city I would fly home from.

Knowing this made touring anywhere with any kind of a crowd rather unnerving. It was probably more paranoia than anything, but I felt less safe in a Mercado or historical site with a lot of people around because it seemed like there was a higher chance of pick-pocketing.

Luckily, it didn't happen to me, but I was sure to keep my hands in my pockets when there was a crowd and I sometimes flipped my backpack around.

There's nothing wrong with being a vigilant traveler, so always be aware of your surroundings.

Real paella doesn't have seafood in it

During my Silversea cruise, they had a cooking class to learn how to make authentic paella from Valencia.

The chef leading our class said (and we later confirmed with locals) that real paella never has seafood in it.  Chicken and/or rabbit is the protein that you'd find in the place it originated, Valencia.

The other thing to know about it is that it needs time to be cooked.  Avoid any restaurant that has paella available in less than 25 minutes.

Every region has its own culture

Andalucia, Valencia, Catalonia: regions of Spain are quite different.

Spain is a country that holds different autonomous regions together and it's far less homogenized than you might assume.

It reminded me a little of how Texas, Quebec, or Puerto Rico are parts of their respective countries, but retain a very distinct cultural heritage, language, and approach to life.

As a tourist, you might notice things like how they pronounce basic words in Spanish, how much influence there is from other cultures in their architecture or food, or simply the look of the city.

It was fascinating to visit cities and find a different look and feel to it all.

The mercado was the easiest way to find local food

As a solo traveler, a sit down restaurant isn't as enjoyable as if I was going with a group.  Even with friends, sometimes a quick bite to eat is the right play to keep your adventure going

Every city had a market (called a Mercado) where you could find all sorts of food vendors.  Most are fish, produce and meat sold to be cooked or prepared, but I found food stalls too.

What I loved about eating in the Mercado was I got very fresh food to try, but I didn't have to commit to an entire sit-down meal either.

I regretted not going to the beach

I assumed April would be too cold to enjoy a swim in the Med, but I was totally wrong.

We had picture perfect weather in Alicante and Malaga, and I regret not bringing a bathing suit with me. Or at least, carving out time to spend hanging out on the beach.

I think I was also jaded from being to so many beautiful Caribbean beaches that the thought of going to the beach in Spain seemed unnecessary.

The truth is I wish I could have at least stopped for a bit at the beach in many ports I visited just to sit, relax, and enjoy the view. I was pleasantly surprised how beautiful these beaches were, and I would have loved to have found time to go there too.

Royal Caribbean officially released Legend of the Seas' entertainment lineup, giving Royal Caribbean passengers a lot to look forward to on its next-level Icon Class ship.

From original stage productions to high-diving spectaculars, here's everything you can expect to find on Legend of the Seas, starting with the main theater. 

For starters, Legend of the Seas will be home to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This was first revealed in October 2025 and brings the sweet excitement of Charlie finally getting his golden ticket to the high seas. 

The Royal Theater will also feature a new stage production inspired by a hit television franchise. America's Got Talent LIVE at Sea will be the first time the Got Talent format will appear on a cruise ship and underscores the cruise line's push toward increasingly large and elaborate productions at sea.

Guests can expect a dynamic lineup of variety acts from performers from around the world, including magicians, acrobats, musicians, and more. 

Moving on to the jaw-dropping AquaTheater, which first launched on Oasis of the Seas and has since become a fan favorite venue, Royal Caribbean developed a brand-new show exclusively for Legend of the Seas. 

Shockwave: A Battle for the Beat is a "heart-racing show that will leave you breathless with every beat, featuring spectacular stunts." 

Another favorite entertainment venue is the ice skating rink. Fusion, the show designed for Legend of the Seas, will allow guests to "watch nature's power, passion, and harmony come to life in [the] dazzling ice skating spectacle." 

Royal Caribbean introduced the first ice skating rink at sea aboard Voyager of the Seas in 1999. Although it quickly became a staple across the fleet, from Freedom to Oasis Class ships, the venue got a much-needed upgrade when the first Icon Class vessel launched. 

Now, Absolute Zero holds the title of the largest ice rink at sea and was carefully designed so that each seat was placed to provide the best possible view of the ice. 

In the family-friendly Surfside Neighborhood, Royal Caribbean will also debut a new block party centered around rubber ducks. The Quack Bash will include everything from face painting to music and other bubbly fun. 

Finally, a new parade will debut in the Royal Promenade. Dubbed Voyage to Adventure, this musical parade will celebrate unforgettable destinations around the world.

No shortage of late-night activities

From late-night silent discos to legendary dueling piano battles and smooth jazz in Central Park, the evening lineup aboard Legend of the Seas is impressive.

Overall, it's similar to what you can expect on other Icon Class vessels. You can sip on craft cocktails at 1400 Lobby Bar, sing along to your favorite tunes at the Ale & Arrow Pub, listen to karaoke at the Spotlight Karaoke lounge, or dance the night away at Boleros. 

In fact, to experience every venue on the ship, you’ll have to pack your schedule, hopping from one space to another to take it all in — regardless of whether you're on a seven-night European getaway or an eight-night Southern Caribbean itinerary. 

Legend of the Seas Royal Caribbean launch

Legend of the Seas is expected to make her highly anticipated debut in July, when she sets sail in Europe. This will mark the first time an Icon Class vessel will offer regular voyages around the Mediterranean. While in Europe, Legend will visit iconic destinations like Naples, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; and more. 

Afterward, Legend will reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she'll rotate between six- and eight-night Caribbean cruises. Following her five-month stint in Florida, she will once again return to Europe in April 2027. 

Legend of the Seas will measure 248,663 gross tons, accommodate 5,610 guests at double occupancy, and be 1,196 feet long according to the cruise line. 

Read more: We got a first look at Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas. The world’s biggest cruise ship is almost ready

Royal Caribbean might be working on a dreamy beach escape at its new private beach destination.

Perfect Day Mexico will open in 2027 and bring a number of new ideas to build its biggest private beach.

It's going to be a massive new exclusive offering to Royal Caribbean cruise line guests that has beaches, pools, a lazy river, and adults-only area, and water park.

According to a new filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Royal Caribbean filed for a new kind of cabana that they've never created before.

The cruise line has made a name for itself recently with introducing new kinds of splurges, both on its cruise ships and ashore.

Here's what Royal Caribbean shared in its public documents.

Introducing the Ultimate Family Cove

Royal Caribbean filed a trademark on March 26th for something called "the Ultimate Family Cove".

The filings aren't always a "smoking gun" of what will happen, but the trademark registration seems to be in line with past ideas. Plus, they were filed on the same day as many other known Perfect Day Mexico features. Admittedly, this is all circumstantial evidence, but I think it's reasonably possible.

"Trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of providing facilities for recreation activities, namely, providing swimming pool and cabana facilities, providing beach and beach cabana facilities, hammocks, beach beds, and daybeds; Entertainment in the nature of a water park and amusement center; Recreational services in the nature of a water slide."

It doesn't include any renderings or additional details, and Royal Caribbean has not made any public statements yet about it. In fact, it could be the name of a project for a ship or another private destination.  I'm making my best educated guess.

The trademark describes something that sounds a lot the Ultimate Family Cabana at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

That cabana is a one-of-a-kind giant cabana meant to offer just about everything a family would have, and it's an extension of the "Ultimate Family" suites that the cruise line had already designed on its ships.

At the beach club, it's a two-story enclave that comes filled with anything and everything they could dream of to include for a beach day.  It has its own slide, private bathroom, hot tub, reserved beach space, frozen drink machine, television, and more. 

That cabana is listed for $10,000 for a rental during a visit and includes admission for up to 12 people.  Many of the sales and promotions discount that price down to about $7,000 or so.

Trademarks for more of what's coming to Perfect Day Mexico

In addition to the Ultimate Family Cove cabana, Royal Caribbean filed a number of trademarks related to its Perfect Day Mexico project.

In the case of the rest of the trademarks, they're for features that have already been revealed.

Here's a list of what they registered, and what each one corresponds to:

• Dueling Jaguars: Water slides
• Sombrero Summit: Water slide
• Twisted Sombrero: Water slide
• Tubes 'n Tequila: Bars along the lazy river to stop at in your innertube to get a drink
• Tia Rita's: Bar
• Chill Beach North: Area of beach
• Chill Beach South: Area of beach

Perfect Day Mexico will have its biggest and most daring water slides to date. There will be more than 30 waterslides across five towers, including Jaguar's Peak, a 170-foot-tall slide tower with multiple record breakers like the tallest slides in the Americas and the longest coaster-style waterslide.

The water park will almost certainly cost extra, because the water park at Perfect Day at CocoCay is an extra cost area.

Splash Cove will be located next to the water park and include the world's longest lazy river, plus pools, swim-up bars, and a massive central pool.

In fact, the addition of a lazy river was the result of being one of the most requested things guests wanted to originally had at CocoCay.  Since that island is too small to support such an amenity, Royal Caribbean was sure to include it for Perfect Day Mexico.

No opening date has been officially revealed yet, but it should occur sometime in the second half of 2027.

Within the last few months, I’ve cruised in both an Infinite Veranda cabin and a traditional balcony stateroom. Even though an Infinite Veranda stateroom is considered very polarizing in the cruise community, I actually preferred it over the traditional balcony.

In December 2025, I sailed aboard Celebrity Edge on a 12-night itinerary across New Zealand with my husband. We splurged and booked an AquaClass Infinite Veranda cabin for the sailing. This was my first time experiencing this newer stateroom design, as we had previously sailed in a Deluxe Porthole Balcony while cruising on Celebrity Apex in Norway.

A few months later, I cruised on Celebrity Equinox with my family across South America and Patagonia. We knew the scenery would be fantastic, so we booked balcony cabins on Deck 8 for the sailing.

Both itineraries were scenic through colder weather, so having a balcony was a worthwhile splurge. While I’m not opposed to booking inside cabins to save money, I specifically chose balconies for these cruises to enjoy the views.

Each stateroom had its own pros and cons, but I did prefer the Infinite Veranda design over the traditional balcony. Here’s what my experience was like, and why I preferred the newer, more modern design.

What is an Infinite Veranda?

Celebrity Cruises introduced the Infinite Veranda concept on Celebrity Edge in 2018, which completely overhauled the traditional balcony design. While the seating area for a traditional balcony is outside with a sliding door, the Infinite Veranda has floor-to-ceiling windows that open for fresh air. The seating area is moved inside your cabin rather than actually outdoors.

Since then, Celebrity has continued to commit fully to the Infinite Veranda across its Edge Class ships. When sister-brand Royal Caribbean debuted Icon of the Seas in 2024, the cruise line also incorporated Infinite Verandas onto its newest ship.

Despite Infinite Verandas being the latest and greatest technology, they’re highly controversial. Some cruisers love them while others love to hate on them. Critics often argue they are not true balconies at all, but rather enclosed spaces with a window that opens. Some consider it a downgrade from the traditional outdoor experience.

At the same time, other cruisers have come around to the concept after adjusting their expectations. Rather than treating it as a replacement for a balcony, they see it as a different type of cabin entirely. Fans of the Infinite Veranda enjoy the added space, comfort and flexibility over being fully outside. 

The Infinite Veranda is significantly more spacious

Because the seating area is integrated into the cabin, an Infinite Veranda provides significantly more usable space. By eliminating the separate outdoor balcony, that square footage is instead incorporated into the stateroom, creating a more spacious interior.

In my experience, I immediately noticed the added space in our cabin. The entire room felt larger and less cramped than any other standard cabin I had experienced. Because the veranda space is part of the cabin, it's like having a second living room space with seating. 

We even used part of the area for extra storage, something that would not be possible with a traditional balcony. You wouldn't want your belongings to be subjected to the outdoor elements, but the Infinite Veranda could easily be used for more storage.

By comparison, our standard balcony stateroom on Celebrity Equinox felt noticeably smaller as soon as we walked in. While I wouldn’t normally describe a standard balcony cabin as cramped, it did feel less spacious than the Infinite Veranda. I hadn’t fully realized how much of a difference that additional space makes.

Even though both were technically balcony staterooms, the traditional layout made the interior feel more compact.

The Infinite Veranda is better for cooler weather

One of the biggest advantages of the Infinite Veranda was being able to use the space regardless of the weather. This became very apparent during our New Zealand sailing, where the weather varied dramatically throughout the itinerary.

In the southern part of the country, we experienced colder temperatures with wind and rain. As we continued north toward Auckland and the Bay of Islands, the climate shifted to warmer, more humid conditions. It was the kind of itinerary where the weather was constantly changing, sometimes even within the same day.

With a traditional balcony, those weather changes would directly impact how often we used the outdoor space. In colder conditions, enjoying the balcony meant bundling up with hats and coats. Once we were in the warmer weather, it was too hot and humid to be outside for extended periods. 

With the Infinite Veranda, those issues pretty much disappeared.

We didn’t have to consider if the weather was good enough to use the balcony. Instead, the Infinite Veranda space was always accessible. Whether it was too cold, too windy, or too warm, we could still sit back and enjoy the floor-to-ceiling windows, often with a light breeze coming through when we chose to open them.

A traditional balcony is less flexible

I didn’t realize how much I appreciated the flexibility of an Infinite Veranda until my South America cruise in a traditional balcony. 

While cruising through Patagonia, we almost always had to bundle up just to step outside. This meant putting on a coat, scarf, and hat just to enjoy the views from our balcony. And this was with relatively good weather for the region. We were actually quite lucky with conditions, which says a lot about how demanding that environment can be!

Because of this, our time spent outside on a traditional balcony felt more intentional and limited. It wasn’t something you did casually or frequently, as it was very cold the minute you stepped outside.

With a traditional balcony design, the views are also fairly obstructed. Between your sliding door, the balcony furniture, and the balcony railing, it's hard to actually see the views. If you don’t physically go outside, you can’t really enjoy the scenery. 

In comparison, the Infinite Veranda has uninterrupted views all the time. We found ourselves using the space throughout the day, from having coffee in the morning to watching the sunset in the evening. 

My husband even watched an entire football game on his laptop while sitting in the Infinite Veranda. Ultimately, it became an extension of the cabin rather than a separate outdoor space that required planning around the weather.

Even on rainy or cooler days, we could sit comfortably inside and still take in the scenery without sacrificing comfort. At times, we would briefly open the window for fresh air, getting the benefit of the ocean breeze without fully exposing ourselves to the elements.

For scenic itineraries like New Zealand or Patagonia, where weather can be unpredictable and constantly changing, this design made the space far more usable. This is also true for warmer climates. In the Caribbean, it’s often too hot for me to actually sit outside and enjoy a traditional balcony.

Privacy was another big advantage of the Infinite Veranda

Another unexpected advantage of the Infinite Veranda was the added sense of privacy.

Because the space is enclosed, it felt quieter and more secluded. We rarely heard our neighbors, aside from the occasional sound of someone opening or closing their window. This was one of the downsides of the Infinite Veranda, as it’s fairly noisy whenever you open or close the window.

On our traditional balcony, the experience was very different. While it was nice being outside, it also felt more public. Noise carried easily between balconies, and I was more aware of nearby passengers.

Anytime we were talking on our balcony, I knew our neighbors could probably hear us. This was especially true during scenic sailing days when almost everyone was outside on their balconies watching the scenery. It made the private balcony feel a little less secluded.

Similarly, I was shocked at the noise from people moving their balcony chairs! 

While staying in the Infinite Veranda, we never heard anyone moving chairs. In contrast, in our traditional balcony cabin, we could hear neighbors dragging furniture almost every morning. It’s something I hadn’t considered before, but it’s definitely a downside of the traditional balcony experience.

If you want to actually be outside, you probably won't like the Infinite Veranda

Despite the benefits, the biggest criticism of the Infinite Veranda is valid, as you’re really not outside. At times, I felt more like a dog sticking its head out the window while looking at the views from our Infinite Veranda. While you still get fresh air, it lacks the full outdoor experience that you get with a traditional balcony.

On the flip side, we had unusually sunny and clear weather while cruising around Cape Horn. We were extremely lucky to have calm seas this day, and we spent most of the day taking in the views. This is something the Infinite Veranda simply can't replicate. If being outside is a top priority, you'll probably prefer a traditional balcony.

Temperature control is another downside of the Infinite Veranda

One downside I noticed in the Infinite Veranda cabin was temperature control.

As we sailed into warmer regions near Auckland and the Bay of Islands, the cabin started to feel noticeably warmer, likely due to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Because of this, we often kept the blinds closed during the day to help manage the temperature.

Additionally, when the window is open, the air conditioning automatically shuts off. As you might imagine, this can make the room feel warm or stuffy.

In contrast, our traditional balcony cabin maintained a more consistent temperature, since the outdoor space is separated by a sliding door. Although the air conditioning will shut off when the sliding door isn’t locked, it didn’t seem to be an issue keeping our cabin at a comfortable temperature.

Which one is better? I prefer the Infinite Veranda

After experiencing both cabin types back-to-back, I found myself preferring the Infinite Veranda.

The added flexibility, larger living space, and ability to enjoy the views in any weather made a noticeable difference throughout our cruise. On scenic itineraries, especially in places like New Zealand and Patagonia, it allowed me to take in the views far more often without having to think about temperature, wind, or rain.

However, a traditional balcony still offers something the Infinite Veranda cannot fully replicate. There is nothing like stepping outside, feeling the salty air, and experiencing the ocean without any barrier. For many cruisers, having an outdoor space is the entire point of booking a balcony in the first place.

But for how I actually use the cabin, the Infinite Veranda made more sense. It truly felt like an extension of the cabin rather than a separate space. Having more space elevated our cabin experience substantially. 

If you’ve been hesitant because of how polarizing these cabins are, I wouldn’t let that scare you away. There are clear pros and cons to both designs, and a lot of it comes down to personal preference.

For me, especially when cruising somewhere scenic, the Infinite Veranda is absolutely worth considering. Ultimately, the better option comes down to how you want to experience your time at sea.

One unlucky person thought they were getting a good deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise, only to be defrauded out of over $45,000 and end up without a confirmed reservation. 

Antonio Diaz, 65, and his wife, Maria Blasco Diaz, 64, of Miami, Florida, were arrested on April 7 for allegedly stealing over $200,000 from friends and family members under the guise of offering discounted luxury items, including high-end watches, jewelry, and travel packages, according to a press release from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO).

One of the victims asked Blasco Diaz for cruise advice since she was a frequent cruiser. She then allegedly claimed that she could get cruise discounts through a friend who works for Royal Caribbean.

"Ms. Diaz offered cruise excursions, drink packages, room upgrades, hotel stays, transportation, and travel insurance," said the arrest report cited by another media outlet. The victim then " paid Mr. and Ms. Diaz a total of $44,910 through Zelle, checks, and cash. Checks were all cashed by Ms. Diaz and the Zelle payments were sent to Mr. Diaz." 

The victim believed the offers were legitimate and looked forward to their Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Odyssey of the Seas, scheduled to depart on July 9, 2023. However, none of the promised travel arrangements were ever provided or confirmed. Blasco Diaz went as far as claiming that her friend had even been fired by the cruise line. 

Although the victim was given checks for partial repayment, they "were later determined to be drawn from a newly opened account with insufficient funds," an affidavit in the case reads. 

Eventually, the victim contacted Royal Caribbean directly, who informed them that, although the reservation number was valid, it was not assigned to her or any of her family members.

Blasco Diaz also promised to repay the victim the remaining funds using a home equity line of credit. Per the arrest report, however, that never happened. 

Travel wasn't the pair's only scheme. They reportedly took in nearly $139,000 in deposits for more than a dozen Rolex watches and a Patek Philippe watch, claiming buyers would receive a 50% discount through Diaz's job at a jewelry store.

Not the first cruise-related travel scam

(Credit: LongIsland.com)

This unfortunate story is just another example of why it's important to vet travel agents before handing over money. 

In January 2026, Tavia Thomas, 47, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of grand larceny and schemes to defraud after stealing over $50,000 from clients, police confirmed. 

Thomas was a Long Island-based travel agent and the CEO and Destination Travel Specialist of her company, Destiny Travel. However, she used that position to gain trust and defrauded families by taking payments for vacations and failing to book them.

One victim, for example, was planning to sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Bayonne, New Jersey. They gave Thomas over $35,000 in cruise payments and assumed that they were good to go. However, when they arrived at the cruise terminal, they were told that the booking confirmations were fake and were denied boarding. 

Read more: Travel agent arrested after defrauding nine families out of over $35,000 for fake Royal Caribbean bookings

Travel agents are useful tools and can make your vacation planning process easier

Travel agents handle the meticulous details of planning a cruise, from confirming your stateroom to arranging transportation and booking add-ons. When done right, all you have to do is focus on catching your flight and having a memorable getaway. 

They should never create problems for you or keep important booking details from you, like the alleged scammers in Florida and New York. As Diaz, Blasco Diaz, and Thomas proved, not all travel agents or industry professionals operate with the same level of professionalism or commitment to client care. 

It also underscores your responsibility as a consumer to thoroughly vet any travel professional before giving your confidential payment information. 

In the case of Blasco Diaz's victim, the situation could have likely been avoided had they inquired about the alleged Royal Caribbean employee to book with them directly, rather than having a middleman "handle" the arrangements. 

If you aren't sure where to begin your travel agent search, I recommend asking friends and family members for recommendations. Another option is to find agencies affiliated with reputable organizations, like the American Society of Travel Advisors (the world's leading association of travel professionals).

Moreover, never let any friends handle your reservation on your behalf. If they recommend a travel agent, insist on working with them directly. And even then, you'll want to verify the agent’s credentials and avoid sending large sums of money through unsecured payment methods.