Royal Caribbean Blog

Winter cruises don't look like they'll become a thing with Royal Caribbean.

The cruise line doesn't plan on having any Christmas cruises out of the UK, according to its CEO.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, explained why the line won't be having a Christmas cruise in Europe.

On this year's President's Cruise, held on Oasis of the Seas, he answered guest's burning questions during a Q&A session.

One cruiser from the UK asked, "Please, can we have a Christmas cruise coming out of Southampton?"

The CEO, although sympathetic to his fellow Brits, explained why the cruise line isn't planning on a Christmas cruise out of England.

Transatlantic cruises aren't practical in the winter 

Michael Bayley told cruisers that a Christian cruise out of Southampton isn't in Royal Caribbean's plans: "I don't think it's going to happen in the near future."

The main reason for that, he said, is the weather. "The weather's terrible," he said frankly, citing "gale-force winds and seas at 30 feet."

Because a Christmas cruise out of the UK requires the ship to be in the UK, this often involves a Transatlantic journey: "To operate a ship out of Europe, we have to bring it to Europe."

The Atlantic Ocean is particularly rough and stormy in the winter, the exact time a ship would need to start traveling to arrive for a Christmas cruise.

A Transatlantic cruise would take between 11 and 12 days, also requiring the cruise line to sell the sailing.

Because Transatlantic cruises are so long, they don't sell as quickly.

"They're extremely expensive," Mr. Bayley said, "and they don't sell very well because nobody's got the time during late October [or] November, to take that much time off to sail."

Most people are already taking off work and school in late December and January, October and November aren't popular times to sail, especially on such a long cruise.

Plus, the ships for a Christmas cruise are bigger vessels, so "we need a lot of people to stay on."

Sailing out of the UK would require the line to sell out a Transatlantic voyage on a larger ship, which isn't likely.

"It becomes [about] economics," Mr. Bayley explained. "It's difficult for us to operate it and make it profitable."

Considering the climate, timing, and economics of a Transatlantic cruise in the winter, it doesn't make sense for Royal Caribbean to schedule a Christmas cruise out of the UK.

Independence of the Seas is scheduled to home port in Southampton, England, in the summer of 2025, giving her plenty of time to cross the Atlantic on smoother seas.

Read more: The worst months to cruise to Europe

Mr. Bayley also addressed winter cruises out of the Canary Islands.

"There's just not enough demand for those ships at the rates that make it economical. It doesn't work," he said.

"There's a seasonality to the business and you've got to be very careful about how the ships are deployed."

Cruise ship schedules depend on a variety of factors, from weather to customer demand, to holidays and vacations.

Royal Caribbean has to carefully choose when ships are deployed in certain regions, and it won't be able to offer every cruise guests desire.

Will there be an Icon Class ship in Europe? 

Following up with more requests from Royal Caribbean's European audience, a cruiser from Spain also posed a question.

Rebecca from Madrid wanted to know: "Please, will an Icon Class ship be in Europe?"

Cruisers want to know if one of Royal Caribbean's newest classes will homeport in Europe.

She also asked that Royal Caribbean add more short, weekend cruises to Europe's itineraries, saying that the only one available to her (sailing out of Barcelona) was already sold out.

Mr. Bayley immediately answered in the positive. 

"I think that's a great idea," he said.

Royal Caribbean sees "a big opportunity [right] now for shorter cruises in Europe, especially at the Spanish ports."

Shorter, weekend cruises will be in the plans for the cruise line, especially with how much demand it's seeing from the market.

Although Mr. Bayley didn't specify if these weekend cruises could take place on an Icon Class ship, he did answer Rebecca's questions in the affirmative. "We have looked at that."

However, weekend cruises will be focused around major ports in Spain.

Where are Royal Caribbean's Christmas cruises?

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of holiday sailings on all its ships. 

The cruise line tends to sail most of its ships on Caribbean itineraries during the winter, taking advantage of the warmer weather and classic vacation areas.

On a Christmas cruise, you can expect the vessel to be brightly decorated, complete with a Christmas tree in a central location (such as the Royal Promenade).

The sailing is likely to also have Christmas-themed activities, such as caroling, holiday movies, and appearances from Santa and his elves.

There is also a menorah lighting, and a priest onboard to conduct public mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The following Royal Caribbean cruises will take place over Christmas Day, 2024:

• Explorer of the Seas: 11-day Southern Caribbean cruise
• Jewel of the Seas: 10-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Ovation of the Seas: 10-day New Zealand cruise
• Vision of the Seas: 8-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
• Serenade of the Seas: 9-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
• Anthem of the Seas: 4-day Penang Phuket cruise
• Spectrum of the Seas: 9-day best of Japan cruise
• Navigator of the Seas: 7-day Cabo cruise cruise
• Radiance of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Icon of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
• Enchantment of the Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Brilliance of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Quantum of the Seas: 7-day South Pacific cruise
• Adventure of the Seas: 6-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Freedom of the Seas: 8-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
• Grandeur of the Seas: 5-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
• Wonder: of the Seas 7-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
• Symphony of the Seas: 7-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
• Oasis of the Seas: 6-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Rhapsody of the Seas: 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise
• Odyssey of the Seas: 7-day Perfect Day and Bahamas cruise 
• Harmony Of The Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise 
• Allure Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise
• Liberty Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
• Independence Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day 
• Voyager Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day 
• Utopia Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
• Mariner Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean cruise 

The cruise ship that wants you to completely re-think short cruises, is only one day away from making its formal debut. 

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is the second-biggest cruise ship ever built and will depart from Port Canaveral, Florida on Friday afternoon on its inaugural voyage to The Bahamas.

The key detail is its itinerary, because the new ship will only sail short cruises to The Bahamas.  It's a play by Royal Caribbean to introduce the predominant choice in the short cruise market.

Short cruises are usually what people that have never cruised before tend to book, and Royal Caribbean wants to take advantage of this market.  The new to cruisers singlehandedly represents the largest growth market any cruise line can tap, and enticing more new cruisers is how Royal Caribbean hopes to expand its customer base and continue to drive record profits.

The RoyalCaribbeanBlog team will be reporting live from Utopia of the Seas over the next few days, with full coverage of what this new ship is all about.

Big, bold, and brisk sailings

Built at the giant Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, Utopia of the Seas measures 236,473 gross tons, making her slightly larger than Wonder of the Seas but not quite as big as Icon of the Seas.

Like Wonder, Utopia is part of the Oasis Class of ships and are best known for being giant ships that offer just about everything you'd want on a single cruise ship. She can accommodate 5,668 passengers at double occupancy, along with 2,290 crew members.

Utopia is the sixth in the Oasis Class, with at least one more ship due out in 2028.

Her size is what allows Royal Caribbean to include its best ideas and offerings. Utopia of the Seas is positioned to have the very best features of any Oasis Class ship, which is why Royal Caribbean is so excited to have her start cruising.

On the top deck ,passengers can choose from water slides, a zip line, surf simulator, multiple pools, mini-golf course, adults-only section, kids aquapark, and a basketball court. When you go inside Utopia, there are bars, restaurants and shops, plus a huge casino, spa and theaters.

Every weekend is a party

Oasis Class ships aren't new, but Utopia of the Seas starting off with short cruises is a different approach.

Royal Caribbean is not mincing words when they say Utopia is meant to be the ultimate short getaway. In addition to all the activities onboard, there are shows, parties, and dance events meant to keep passengers in the right vibe every day of the sailing.

According to Royal Caribbean, there are 40 ways to dine, drink and party, including a selection of parties only on Utopia:

• Resort-style and sloping beach-entry pools
• Rezolution dance party with epic light productions
• Royal Kappa Chi throwback collegiate party
• Sail Away Pool Party 
• Senses Sunset Pool Party
• Plunge Day Pool Party, a Vegas-inspired daytime party
• Red late-night DJ
• Largest Shush! Silent Party in the fleet
• Silent Toga, [a] toga party with a silent twist

For fun that involves sitting down, Royal Caribbean advertises 9 shows you can take in on Utopia.

There are shows in each of the three theaters on Utopia, including the ice skating rink and outdoor Aquatheater.

The venue getting the most buzz is the new Royal Railway immersive dining car experience. This is where you can board a classic train car and be surrounded by digital screens, projections, decorations and even actors that all combine to make you feel like you're on a train.  It's something never before tried at this scale on a cruise ship.

The goal is to deliver to their guests exactly what Royal Caribbean's market research tells them cruisers want: first experiences that create family bonding moments with memories they'll take home and cherish.

Having one of Royal Caribbean's best ships in the fleet to offer weekend cruises is exactly how the line thinks they'll do that, along with homeporting her in Port Canaveral. Royal Caribbean has made no secret they are targeting the family vacation market that typically considers an Orlando vacation, which is just 45 minutes west of where Utopia sails twice per week.

The coup de grâce for Utopia is the combination of Utopia and a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island. The combination of a cruise on a great ship and a stop at arguably the best cruise line private island is the formula to separate itself from the competition on land or at sea.

Sailing from Port Canaveral through early 2026

Utopia of the Seas will offer 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral through at least March 2026.

Every sailing includes one visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, Bahamas. The 4-night cruises include a sea day, although some Utopia of the Seas sailings in early 2025 have added a second stop at CocoCay.

The inaugural cruise will depart on Friday, July 19, 2024. This voyage will signify the ship's official start of service with paying passengers onboard.

At the time of writing, the lowest advertised fare on the Royal Caribbean's website for a cruise onboard Utopia in 2024 starts at $682 per person (including taxes and fees) for an interior room on the October 21 sailing. 

Prices drop a bit if you're willing to book further out, such as the January 9, 2026 sailing that begins at $567 per person (including taxes and fees) for an interior room.

Divorce, death, arrests, medical emergencies, mean girls, and pregnancy have all rippled through the Ultimate World Cruise, according to one TikToker.

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise onboard Serenade of the Seas continues to be a hot topic on social media over the last 7 months. The 9-month expedition set sail from Florida in December 2023 and has been traversing around the globe ever since. The voyage is more than halfway complete, slotted to conclude in September 2024.

The latest viral video from the Ultimate World Cruise comes from Abby Cooper (@the.coopercrew) on TikTok. Cooper just returned from sailing on a segment of the Ultimate World Cruise from Rome to Barcelona. Although she has not been sailing for the entirety of the world cruise, Cooper’s mom and aunt are onboard for the full voyage.

Cooper shares some of the most interesting information she learned while sailing on the world cruise. 

“Back home and ready to spill the tea,” she captioned her TikTok. The video, which has over 2 million views on TikTok, was posted earlier this week. More than 1,000 viewers have commented on the TikTok, along with 270k likes and 13k shares.

“Since I am off the Ultimate World Cruise, there’s one more secret I have to share with you,” starts the video.

Cooper continues, “There have been FOUR DIVORCES and TWO DEATHS.”

In a follow-up video, Cooper shares more details about her time onboard the Ultimate World Cruise. More importantly, the TikToker is unveiling some of the most interesting stories she heard while visiting her mom and aunt.

First, Cooper shares she was onboard Serenade of the Seas for a 9-night itinerary, which was sold as an individual segment of the Ultimate World Cruise.

“I was only on for 10 days because they did not sell out the cruise for all of the cabins to be full for 9 months,” explains Cooper. She claims about 800 people started the voyage with the intent to sail the full 9 months. “I think they’re down to about 750 [guests],” she shares.

For clarification, Cooper says she booked this segment of the Ultimate World Cruise to visit her mom and aunt, whom she hasn’t seen in 7 months.

“I got lots of information from lots of different sources, and not just from my mother and not just my aunt. I met lots of world cruisers. But, while I was there, there were more people on the ship that were not world cruisers,” Cooper shares.

Divorce

First, Cooper shares what she learned about couples divorcing on the world cruise. During her time onboard Serenade of the Seas, Cooper says she learned that four separate couples have divorced during the world cruise.

“Four separate couples got on [the ship] together, and one of them has now gone home. I don’t know if it was a male or female… I don’t know,” shares Cooper in her follow-up TikTok.

Moreover, she says there has been a similar situation on the ship with best friends who boarded the world cruise together. “They got on together, now only one of them remains,” explains Cooper.

Perhaps unsurprising, the 9-month cruise put some marriages to the test. Sharing a small cabin for months, along with traveling constantly together, has been too much for some couples.

As anticipated, the comment section is flooded with remarks regarding divorce on the world cruise.

“This is huge. Divorce on the world cruise WAS, in fact, on my 2024 bingo card,” reads the top comment on Cooper’s TikTok. Receiving 47k likes and 24 responses, many agree that they anticipated some marriages would not survive the world cruise.

“This. This is the tea we were waiting for. We want the good stuff, not cocktail hour coverage,” proclaims one viewer.

Another viewer commented, “Wait, do the divorces still have to continue sharing a room?” In which Cooper responded, “One person went home from each couple. Voted off the island!”

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of divorces. That’s hilarious,” writes one viewer. In response, one commenter explains, “Honestly, can you imagine being stuck on a boat with your soon-to-be ex-spouse?”

Deaths

Along with divorce, Cooper continues to share in her TikTok how two individuals have allegedly died during the world cruise.

“There have been two deaths, neither of which are under suspicious circumstances,” says Cooper. In this way, she explains how the world cruisers skew towards older demographics.

Cooper states, “It’s normal for cruisers to be of an older age group, which means they are more likely to kick the bucket.”

Back in February, Royal Caribbean confirmed that one passenger had passed away during the world cruise. Cruisers on social media confirmed the death, with many reporting that the passenger who passed was an elderly woman. However, Royal Caribbean has not announced any further deaths.

Many of the commenters were actually surprised that the death count was not higher considering the duration of the voyage. “Two [deaths] seems remarkably low,” states one of the top comments. A flood of comments agreed, stating how death is not uncommon even on shorter voyages.

“I was on a 4-day cruise and someone died,” writes one commenter. “I went on a 12-day cruise several years ago and two people passed. There were two hearses waiting when we disembarked,” responded another viewer.

Pregnancy

In the viral TikTok, Cooper continues to share the information she learned about while sailing onboard the Ultimate World Cruise. In addition to death and divorce, she claims one passenger got pregnant and had to leave the voyage.

“There was someone that got pregnant, like right away or maybe even before they got on the cruise. They were kicked off at 5 months because they do not provide prenatal care on the ship,” states Cooper.

All cruise ships have rules regarding pregnancy, with Royal Caribbean having restrictions for pregnant women in place. The website states that Royal Caribbean does not accept guests who are more than 23 weeks pregnant. This is because there is limited medical availability onboard. Royal Caribbean warns pregnant guests that ships do not have OBGYN doctors available; as such, any unstable or poorly controlled pregnancies are potentially life-threatening.

“That baby has now been born,” concludes Cooper.

Some of the commenters were confused about how the pregnant passenger received any prenatal care while cruising. “They’d have no prenatal care for 4 months,” questions one viewer.

Arrest

As if pregnancy, death, and divorce weren’t interesting enough, Cooper drops another bomb: One guest was also arrested during the 9-month world cruise.

“There has been someone that was arrested. He was arrested in India in customs,” says Cooper. Although Cooper does not have many details about the arrest in her video, she claims the passenger was allowed back onboard.

She shares, “They did not hold him in India. They just sent him back to the ship.”

While the passenger was arrested by customs in India, Cooper says she learned that the man was allowed to continue cruising. “The ship has allowed him to stay and continue his journey,” she says.

One user commented, “Was this Serenade of the Seas? If so, we just got off July 11th and there was definitely some drama!!”

“…I want to know why he was arrested?” commented one viewer on the video.

In response, one person commented with more information allegedly regarding the arrest. “Love the tea, thank you! The individual in India was arrested for having a satellite phone, which are outlawed without prior government authorization,” wrote one person in the comment section.

Medical Emergencies

Perhaps the most unsurprising information shared in the video was regarding medical emergencies. With thousands of people onboard a cruise ship, it’s not uncommon to have medical emergencies while sailing. The Ultimate World Cruise has been no exception to this!

According to Cooper, “There have been a couple of different medical emergencies. At one point, they called for everyone that was a certain blood type to come down and donate blood.”

The blood was apparently needed for one passenger who was having internal bleeding issues and was hemorrhaging. “They needed blood and they were in the middle of nowhere,” continues Cooper in the viral video.

Because medical emergencies can happen while cruising, all cruise ships are equipped with a medical center, along with doctors and nurses for urgent care. Cruise ships are actually very prepared for a multitude of medical emergencies. Those that cannot be handled onboard the ship are evacuated, sometimes by helicopter.

One viewer commented, “Internally bleeding on a world cruise is so crazy and unfortunate, [for real].”

Drama and “Mean Girls”

At the conclusion of her TikTok, Cooper shares how there is plenty of drama onboard the Ultimate World Cruise. In particular, there are “mean girls” on the world cruise, claims Cooper.

“There are mean girls. People will put on a front online and act like they’re all nice, and they’re not necessarily,” claims Cooper in her video. The comment section was flooded with speculation regarding who Cooper might be referring to in the TikTok.

One person commented, “Need more details on the mean girls!” In response, another said, “Mean girls?! And cliques? I am so nosey, please spill!” However, Cooper never specifies in the video or in the comment section who she was referring to with these remarks.

Finally, Cooper explains how the world cruise apparently has a Facebook group that most of the cruisers are active on. She explains the group is more like a “Reddit thread” where everyone complains about “this, that, and the other.”

In the video, Cooper shares, “I saw a post that someone was complaining about the windows not being clean enough in the dining room… There was too much saltwater on the window apparently.”

Fear not, Cooper remarks at the end of her viral TikTok that she, indeed, had a great time on her Ultimate World Cruise segment. She claims she liked around 90% of the people she interacted with during her cruise.

Most importantly, Cooper was able to see her mom for the first time in 7 months, and this was the highlight for her. “The cruise isn’t done until September, and that covers most of what I know,” concludes Cooper.

Do kids need to be reigned in more on cruise ships?

Royal Caribbean has always been a family-focused brand, providing exciting vacation experiences for all ages. However, some adult cruisers feel the number of unruly kids onboard degrades their cruising experience.

At a talk on Utopia of the Seas' preview cruise this week, one travel agent shared that she's receiving a lot of complaints from adult clients.

She claims some of her clients are even leaving Royal Caribbean for other cruise lines because of the amount of unruly children onboard.

"I'm hoping you take this as an opportunity for improvement," she said to senior management on Utopia of the Seas.

She explained that adults are having an increasing amount of problems with unruly children onboard Royal Caribbean's vessels, particularly on Icon of the Seas, a ship marketed to families.

"Icon is fantastic, but [at] the swim-up bar, there's kids splashing into your drinks."

She said that she was on the dance floor at Bolero's at midnight, and still had children crawling through adult's legs as they tried to dance.

Because of these incidents, passengers are starting to leave Royal Caribbean for other quieter, more adult-focused cruise lines.

To improve the adult experience, the travel agent suggested more adult-oriented areas or curfews at the bars onboard.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, responded that the cruise line hears passengers' concerns and will look into it.

Royal Caribbean will revisit curfews for kids

For cruisers ages 17 and under, Royal Caribbean has a curfew of 1:00 A.M. 

Security staff onboard take measures to enforce this curfew by asking kids to return to their staterooms and checking the SeaPasses of passengers in public areas.

Michael Bayley said that the cruise line has been receiving an increased amount of written complaints about kids in public areas, so the line is willing to revisit the curfew policy.

"It's probably time for us to take a look at [the curfew]. I think the idea of curfews in some of the bars is a great idea," he said.

Other senior staff at the talk suggested an earlier curfew, especially for adult-focused bar and lounge areas, such as Bolero's or the swim-up bar.

Mr. Bayley reassured passengers that Royal Caribbean is still a family brand that welcomes kids onboard, but "we do need to make sure that we respect the adults."

"And you know what they say, everybody loves their own kids, but they're not so fond of everybody else's kids."

Royal Caribbean has already made changes in recent years to recognize customer feedback regarding kids onboard.

The Solarium, a crystal canopy pool area located at the front of most Royal Caribbean ships, used to allow guests aged 16 and over. 

In September of 2023, the cruise line raised the age limit to 18 years old, keeping the adults-only name consistent. 

Parents can continue to take advantage of Adventure Ocean

Royal Caribbean has a free kid's program across its fleet.

Adventure Ocean features activities for kids aged 6 months to 11 years, with different rooms and games tailored to each age range.

Parents have to register at the beginning of the cruise and sign their children in and out at each visit.

On sea days, the area is open from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M., then from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. and from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M.

Adventure Ocean is completely free between those hours, but there is an extra charge per hour after 10:00 P.M.

On port days, Adventure Ocean is open for the entire time that the ship is docked at port.

Guests booked on Royal Caribbean shore excursions can even drop off their kids and head to their destination.

Tween and teen cruisers can also find activities in separate hangout spaces designed specifically for them.

Read more: I'm a teen and went on the world's largest cruise ship. I was worried it would be juvenile, but it exceeded all my expectations

To avoid infringing on other cruiser's vacations, parents can take advantage of Adventure Ocean and should avoid leaving their children unattended.

Royal Caribbean's guest conduct policy states that parents and guardians are responsible for the behavior of accompanying minors, and must appropriately supervise them throughout the cruise vacation.

Read more: Royal Caribbean is testing a way to track your kids on the world's largest cruise ship

Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President of Travel, Trade, and Support also spoke about the activities available for kids onboard Royal Caribbean's ships.

"We are reevaluating some of the activities for the young children and also the teens to keep them more engaged with one another in our different venues like Adventure Ocean," she said. 

How to choose a cruise with fewer children onboard

Royal Caribbean is a family brand, but some cruises will have more kids than others.

Adults looking to avoid mischievous youngsters can plan ahead by avoiding certain sailings.

Summertime and holiday cruises, when kids are on break from school, will have a larger amount of families onboard.

"Icon has a huge number of families," Mr. Bayley said. "Of course, it peaks during the summer with families and kids."

Read more: 4 mistakes I saw other people make on Icon of the Seas—and 2 mistakes I made

Larger ships, such as Icon of the Seas, are marketed as floating amusement parks for all ages, so they have a wider appeal to families.

Royal Caribbean's mega-ships, from the Icon to the Oasis Class, are packed with activities like waterslides, ice skating, rock climbing, mini-golf, carousels, craft lessons, theater productions, and so much more.

They appeal to families because of their ability to entertain people of all ages.

Read more: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

On the other hand, sailings when school is in session (September to May) and longer cruises are likely to have fewer kids onboard.

Any adults who are cruising and notice rowdy or unattended kids onboard can let Guest Services know and allow crew members to handle it.

There's a new kind of experience on Royal Caribbean's cruise ship that is unlike anything else we've seen on a ship , just don't call it "another restaurant."

Royal Railway Utopia Station is an immersive dining experience, where guests feel like they're on a classic train that surrounds them with sight, sound, and visual effects.

Traditionally cruise ship restaurants rely primarily on the cuisine, with a bit of decor style to make it pleasing to the eye.  Royal Railway goes well beyond that by incorporating the two things most people look for in a vacation: food and destination.

Think of Royal Railway as a platform, rather than a restaurant. Unlike Chops Grille steakhouse, Royal Railway can change themes and cuisines to offer different experiences. Over the next few months, Royal Caribbean will incorporate more show types and expand its offerings.

The cost of Royal Railway starts at $74.99 per adult and $24.99 per child. Those with an Unlimited Dining Package can pay a $15 surcharge for adults and no extra cost for kids.

On my visit, I went through the Wild West theme to see what it's all about.

Disclosure: Royal Caribbean invited me to dine at Royal Railway during a preview event, and I did not pay for my meal.

Going west

The day of the meal, guests receive a paper ticket at their stateroom that they'll need to bring to the restaurant in order to board, just like a real train.

Royal Railway is tucked away on deck 4, and you might not know it's there until you see the train station flip board that hints at what's to come.

You then walk onto the platform, where you wait for your train to board. This is the welcome moment, where adults are given glass flasks of alcohol to drink while they wait for their train. The platform feels purposefully dingy, and the entire area looks like a train station instead of an area on a cruise ship.

A fun fact about the platform is it has a house phone for calling anywhere around the ship, but to fit into the period, it's a rotary phone.

When boarding begins, you have a few minutes to either remain on the platform or board immediately. But you'll probably want to see the train itself and start the journey.

Royal Caribbean says the train car design is based on a few different classic trains of the late 19th century and early 20th century. It's meant to be timeless, rather than a specific train.

There's bench seating that comes in 2 or 4 tops. The tables cannot be moved, as it's just like a train in that sense and fixed.

As you're seated, it might feel like dinner at another restaurant, but once the train leaves the station, that's where the similarities end.

The train starts up, and the subwoofers in the seats provide a gentle jolt as the train slowly accelerates out of the station.  It's not jarring, it simply provides a sensation of movement. The window blinds open up revealing a digital landscape around you that can be seen all around the car.

In the Old West mode, you'll see mountains, deserts, gold rush towns, and every other typical scene you've ever seen in a western movie.

The menu has a choice of appetizer, entree, and desert. Each of the menu choices seems to tick a box of food type: beef, chicken, vegetarian, fish. It's American fare that I think will suit most palates.

Everyone's meals in the car are served at the same time, similar to Chef's Table or Empire Supper Club.

I tried a few different items across the menu, but my favorites were the Fart 'n Dart Beans, Corn Chowder, Royal Railway cigar dessert.  My tablemate commented the lobster was fantastic.

Throughout the meal, there's a story being told and this is when the immersive experience begins to take shape. Not only are you seated in a train car, but you now have the visuals around you, characters in the car pulling you into the story, and of course the meal you're enjoying.

The story aspect is light hearted and a pleasant interlude between servings.  There's still plenty of time to relax and talk with your tablemates, and each of the scenes that takes place only takes a few minutes.

My favorite part of the story is the conductor that comes in with telegrams that are addressed to certain guests in the car.  He reads them aloud, and they're silly and sure to get a laugh when you hear the subject and then realize it's for someone in your group.

Our reservation was for 8:30pm and it was complete by about 9:45pm.

More ideas to come

The Wild West story is certainly a family-leaning experience, but Royal Caribbean plans to offer more themes.  In about 30-45 days, they hope to launch their second theme, Silk Routes, which is a Marco Polo journey from the Orient back to the West.  It's more adult-themed in the sense they envision it being a good fit for date night.

There's plans for a few more themes, along with a brunch option, and even whiskey tastings.

A platform with many possibilities

It became very apparent to me the incredible potential the train car has once Royal Caribbean is able to fully leverage it with a series of themes and offerings. It reminds me of a video game console, where one game alone might not be enough, but when you add multiple games, then you really enjoy it.

I enjoyed the Old West theme, and would love to bring my family onboard so they can experience it.  But I'm even more excited for the next iterations of Royal Railway because it adds so much repeat value.

Unlike specialty restaurants, I think Royal Railway is about experience first, and food second.  That isn't to say the food is bad at all, rather, it's a total package instead of being just about what you eat.

A real memory maker

Visually, it's stunning, and I think it's one of those things to do on a cruise ship that will resonate with families.

Royal Caribbean is always looking for ways to create memories for its guests, and it seems Royal Railway was created to do just that. It's an undeniably different kind of meal, and that will make it stand out when you look back on your vacation.

I think someone booking Royal Railway is going to do so because they want to do something fun and different during their cruise. The sort of activity that they can talk about when they get back home.

Royal Railway is unlike any other specialty restaurant I've tried on a cruise ship because it's not really a specialty restaurant.  It's something completely different that doesn't really fit into the defined categories we usually think about on a cruise. The fact there's something new to try is what has always appealed to me about cruising, as well as Royal Caribbean's continuous drive to push the envelope of what you can do on a ship.

One of the most exciting shopping events of the year is upon us - Amazon Prime Day! As one of the biggest online retailers in the world, Amazon runs a two-day sale every summer with the hottest deals of the year.

While Amazon has sales throughout the year on many of its best-selling items, Amazon Prime Day is the sales event of the year with the biggest discounts. This year, Amazon Prime Day will be happening for two days: July 16-17.

Lasting only two days, the sale is a quick one. Not to mention, Amazon also releases lightning deals that are time sensitive, meaning they are only available for a short period of time. Every five minutes will bring new deals and discounts during the 48-hour period, according to Amazon.  

If you are looking to purchase any travel essentials for your upcoming cruise vacation, it's the best time to snag some fantastic deals. This is actually the 10th anniversary of Amazon Prime Day, with each year bringing bigger and better discounts than before. Prime Day features discounts on a wide assortment of product categories, including electronics, appliances, home goods, travel necessities and more.

This year, Amazon says Prime members can shop more than 5 million deals worldwide across 35 different categories during the annual sale. Shoppers can expect to find the lowest prices of the year for some of the site’s top-selling products.

Amazon Prime Day is a member-exclusive event, meaning you need to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the best deals during Prime Day. Moreover, you can also try starting a 30-day free trial to enjoy this year’s shopping event if you don't have a membership. 

With millions of deals (literally) available for Prime Day, you might be feeling overwhelmed. Everything from new luggage sets to packing cubes, portable fans and magnetic hooks are on sale this year. If you’re setting sail on a cruise this year, you should take a look at some of our favorite Amazon products during this year’s Prime Day sale.

I combed through the list of products on sale (for hours, I should say) so you don't have to! Here are some of the best Prime Day deals we found on Amazon for your upcoming cruises. 

Please note that we receive a small commission if you purchase any of the products from our affiliate links below. You can also check out our Amazon Storefront for other essential cruise items that we recommend. Purchasing from the links below costs you nothing extra, but the small commission supports Royal Caribbean Blog. All prices below were at the time of publication. Prices may change during the sale based on availability.

Luggage Deals

If you’re in the market for new luggage, now is the best time to purchase for your cruise. Regardless of how you arrive to your cruise port - by car or airplane - you’ll need to have luggage for your vacation.

Whether you need just a carry-on for lighter travel or you want to invest in a multi-piece set, Prime Day has hundreds of luggage deals. Your best bet is to purchase a luggage set for the steepest discounts, including 2-piece or 3-piece sets.

Luggage is always one of the top-selling products for Prime Day, so take a look at some of the best Prime Day deals we found for luggage.

Samsonite Luggage

One of the best brands for affordable luggage is Samsonite. Each year, Amazon slashes the price of Samsonite luggage, including a variety of carry-on suitcases and checked bags. You can also find luggage sets if you’re looking to invest in multiple suitcases. 

One of the top deals this year is this 2-piece Samsonite luggage set in Mint Green. This includes a 21-inch and 28-inch suitcase for more than 50% off the original price. Amazon lists this luggage set as its best-selling product.

• Link: Freeform Hardside Expandable with Double Spinner Wheels, 2-Piece Set (21/28), Mint Green
• Price: $219.81 (Originally $479)

Another fantastic deal on Samsonite luggage is this 3-piece luggage set. You’ll receive a 20-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch suitcase in this set with an incredible discount of 50%. This is perfect for families looking to have a combination of checked luggage and carry-ons.

• Link:  Samsonite Centric 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinners, Black, 3-Piece Set (20/24/28)
• Price: $250 (Originally $499)

For those looking to just purchase a carry-on, Samsonite is selling one of its best-rated carry-on suitcases for 33% off. This carry-on has received thousands of 5-star ratings, so it's a great suitcase for your upcoming cruise!

• Link: Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Black, Pro Carry-on
• Price: $146.82 (Originally $219.99)

Luggage Accessories

Along with suitcases, Prime Day has thousands of discounted luggage accessories as well. One handy tool for those flying to their embarkation port is this electronic luggage scale. 

This will help you determine if your luggage is overweight - it can happen quickly with all of that shopping both on the ship and in your ports of call! This one has a 4.6 star rating and is on sale for 20% off this Prime Day.

• Link: Amazon Basics Portable Digital Luggage Weight Scale, One Size, Black
• Price: $8.34 (Originally $10.42)

Packing cubes are another popular Amazon product for our cruisers; in particular, compression packing cubes can help save space in your luggage. You can not only stay organized, but packing cubes also allow for easy unpacking in your cruise stateroom. Simply remove the cube from your luggage and place them in your cabin’s closet, drawers or shelves. 

These Gonex compression packing cubes are some of the best-selling packing cubes on Amazon - and they're getting a big discount for Prime Day. You’ll receive 4 packing cubes with various sizes to maximize your luggage space. I own these personally and I refuse to cruise without them!

• Link: Gonex Compression Packing Cubes, 4pcs Expandable Storage Travel Luggage Bags Organizers (Blue)
• Price: $21.99 (Originally $29.99)

For non-compression packing cubes, this set of five packing cubes from Travelwise is on sale for 41% off. This set includes five cubes with various sizes. Although these do not compress your clothes, packing cubes are extremely useful for organization while traveling. This set has a fantastic rating of 4.7 stars!

• Link: TravelWise Luggage Packing Organization Cubes 5 Pack, 2 Small, 2 Medium, 1 Large (TWPC-24)
• Price: $19.99 (Originally $33.99)

Another cruise essential that I travel with is my electronics organizer. This organizer contains all of my cords and chargers for the many devices that I cruise with. It’s so convenient having all of my cords neatly in one location when traveling and I also appreciate how it keeps my cruise cabin less cluttered. For under $10, this has been a game changer for me!

• Link: BAGSMART Cord Organizer Travel Cable Organizer Bag Tech Electronic Organizer Travel Case, Travel Essentials for Charger, Cable, Phone, Flash drive, Single Layer - Black
• Price: $8.09 (Originally $10.99)

Speaking of organization, one cruise essential that we recommend is a hanging toiletry bag. With limited space in your cruise cabin bathroom, you can save space by utilizing one of these organization bags. A hanging toiletry bag allows you to keep your counter uncluttered with your toiletries being stored properly on the back of the door. I don’t travel without mine!

• Link: BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Hanging Travel Makeup Organizer with TSA Approved Transparent Cosmetic Bag Makeup Bag for Full Sized Toiletries, Medium-Black
• Price: $19.99 (Originally $27.99)

Keeping with the organization theme, this handy travel jewelry case is also on sale for Prime Day! This allows you to store all of your jewelry safely in one place while traveling, both in your suitcase and in your cruise cabin. This one comes highly rated and I love the pink color!

• Link: BAGSMART Travel Jewelry Organizer Case Foldable Jewelry Roll for Journey-Rings, Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets,Mini,Light Pink
• Price: $15.29 (Originally $19.99)

Those who need to take daily medication during their vacation might also consider purchasing this travel pill organizer for their cruise. Moreover, you can use this to pack over-the-counter medication for your cruise, as the onboard shops are overpriced with a limited selection of medicine. 

• Link: FYY Daily Pill Organizer, 7 Compartments Portable Travel Pill Case [Folding Design]Pill Box for Purse Pocket to Hold Vitamins,Cod Liver Oil,Supplements and Medication-Pink
• Price: $6.50 (Originally $8.95)

Cruise Necessities

Prime Day is filled with deals for some of our favorite cruising necessities, such as this waterproof phone case. If you’re looking to take some fantastic photos on the beach or in the pool without worrying about ruining your phone, consider purchasing this waterproof phone pouch.

• Link: Case-Mate IP68 Waterproof Phone Pouch - Travel Beach Cruise Ship Essentials - Floating Waterproof Phone Case w/ Crossbody Lanyard for iPhone 15 Pro Max/ 14 Pro Max/ 13 Pro Max/ S24 Ultra - Sand Dollar
• Price: $13.28 (Originally $19.99)

Magnetic hooks are very popular among cruisers, as staterooms on a cruise ship have magnetic walls. Since the space is small, these magnetic hooks can be used to hang a variety of items directly on your wall. This helps your cabin stay tidy and organized!

• Link: Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks, 27 lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Cabins, Grill (Silver White, Pack of 10)
• Price: $6.24 (Originally $11.99)

Another popular product for many cruisers is a mini portable fan to use in your stateroom. This is especially important if you prefer to have a fan running while you sleep. Those who like a cool cabin might also appreciate the additional airflow by having one of these portable fans.

A USB-powered fan will ensure you don’t need to waste an outlet in your cabin, either. This portable fan comes highly rated with 4.6 stars on Amazon- and it’s on sale for 34% off during Prime Day.

• Link: Cordless Desk Fan, Battery Operated Fan with USB, 70ft Strong Airflow Portable Fan, Quiet Operation Fan with LED Light and 360° Rotate Table Fan for Bedroom Home Office Outdoor Travel(Pink)
• Price: $21.24 (Originally $24.99)

Similarly, handheld fans are becoming increasingly popular for cruisers as well. Visiting destinations throughout Mexico and the Caribbean are sure to bring high temperatures, especially if you’re cruising in the late summer months. Consider purchasing this popular handheld fan for 31% off - it’s a great deal!

• Link: Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan, Powerful Handheld Fan, Cute Design 3 Speed Personal Small Desk Fan with Base, Lightweight Makeup USB Rechargeable Fan for Stylish Girl Women Travel Indoor Outdoor Black
• Price: $8.99 (Originally $19.99)

In addition, one cruise essential that I never leave at home is a portable charger. To start, I never want my phone to run out of battery while on vacation. Moreover, cruise cabins have limited outlets usually so having another source for charging devices can be super helpful while cruising.

This one is on sale for Prime Day and includes built-in cords to save you space. It’s on sale for 27% and comes with thousands of 5-star reviews.

• Link:  VEEKTOMX Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh Power Bank for iPhone, Slim Fast Charge USB C Battery Pack, Travel Essentials Powerbank Compatible with iPhone 15/14/13, Samsung, Android, etc
• Price: $23.98 (Originally $32.99)

If you’re looking for a charger that's easier to have with you throughout the day, this mini portable charger would be perfect to fit in your beach bag for those port days ashore.

• Link:  VVEEKTOMX Mini Portable Charger Power Bank 10000mAh, 22.5W Fast Charging Powerbank USB C Slim & Lightweight Travel Phone Charger, Dual Voltage Small Battery Pack for iPhone/Samsung/Google/Tablet, White
• Price: $25.99 (Originally $38.99)

Another must-have electronics item for cruising is a European adapter, as many cruise ships will have a European outlet in cruise ship cabins. This expands your charging capacities while cruising - and we highly recommend you bring one, especially if you’re cruising on an older ship.

• Link: [2-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 1 USB C, 2 American Outlets and 3 USB Ports, 6 in 1 Travel Essentials to Most of Europe Greece, Italy(Type C)
• Price: $17.84 (Originally $20.99)

Another electronics must-have for cruising, in my opinion, is a portable sound machine. If you prefer to sleep with white noise playing, you should consider purchasing one of these for your next cruise. These are small and easy to pack - so it won’t take up too much space in your suitcase. Perfect for families traveling together as well! 

• Link: White Noise Machine Babelio Mini Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby | 15 Non-looping Sounds | Timer | Easy to Pocket and Travel - White
• Price: $15.99 (Originally $19.99)

One very popular item for traveling - and every day wear honestly - is a belt bag. These small cross-body purses are perfect for keeping all of your essentials in one convenient location. Belt bags are extremely popular for both men and women because they are both comfortable and practical. This one is on sale for Prime Day and has great ratings!

• Link:  Telena Belt Bag for Women Men Fashionable Crossbody Fanny Pack for Women Waist Bag with Adjustable Strap Light Brown
• Price: $11.19 (Originally $13.99)

Regardless of where you’re cruising, you should definitely plan to pack sunscreen. Those planning to spend time on the beach or chilling on the pool deck will especially want to make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen. I love to travel with sunscreen that I can wear on my face daily, such as the Unseen Sunscreen from Supergoop! You can snag 20% off select SuperGoop products during the Prime Day sale, which is a great deal!

• Link:  Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen - SPF 40-1.7 fl oz - Invisible, Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen - Weightless, Scentless, and Oil Free - For All Skin Types and Skin Tones
• Price: $30.40 (Originally $38)

If you’re concerned about seasickness during your cruise - or you’re prone to motion sickness - you should plan to pack medication. Dramamine is one of the most popular seasickness medications. For Prime Day, you can get a great deal on Dramamine Chewables for Kids for 30% off. This medication is highly rated with nearly all 5-star reviews and would be easy for kids to take.

• Link: Dramamine Kids Chewable, Motion Sickness Relief, Grape Flavor, 8 Count, 3 Pack
• Price: $9.79 (Originally $13.99)

You can also purchase the original Dramamine medication for your cruise, which is on sale for Prime Day as well. Even though I am not prone to seasickness, I always pack Dramamine when cruising in case of an emergency.

• Link:  Dramamine Original, Motion Sickness Relief, 36 Count
• Price: $8.39 (Originally $11.99)

Another interesting item to bring on a cruise that I’ve seen many people rave about is an insulated coffee mug with a lid. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, you will typically need to use the small coffee cups provided by the cruise line in the buffet area. These cups are easy to spill, especially if you want your coffee to go.

If you have the space for an insulated coffee mug, you can take coffee with you easily from the buffet and keep it warm. Those going on cold-weather cruises like Alaska, Iceland, and Norway might especially appreciate having an insulated mug to take in the sights from the chilly top deck. This one is on sale for 44% off and comes highly recommended!

• Link: ALOUFEA 12oz Stainless Steel Insulated Coffee Mug with Handle, Double Wall Vacuum Travel Mug, Tumbler Cup with Sliding Lid, Navy
• Price: $10.15 (Originally $17.99)

Meghan Trainor could have brought her Gucci on and wore her Louis Vuitton onto Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

The famous singer was the center of attention on Monday for the official christening of Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean celebrated the launch of its newest cruise ship at a ceremony held onboard the ship while in Port Canaveral, Florida. Ms. Trainor took part in the traditional naming of a new cruise ship. The ship, which formally sets sail for the first time this weekend, is the second biggest ship in the world.

With her help, a bottle of champagne was broken against the bow of the ship — something that is supposed to bring good luck to the vessel and its passengers.

"I'm privileged to be a part of naming Utopia of the seas. This is crazy," she said as she took to the stage for the ceremony. 

She also talked about how sharing the experience with her family means so much to her, "I've never been able to vacation on a ship like this, and neither has any of my family."

"We're so excited and honored. And my son is going to have the best trip of his whole life. So thank you, Royal Caribbean for making this happen."

She went onto sing "All About That Bass" to the crowd on her ukulele. 

Utopia of the Seas offers 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas, which is a bold move by Royal Caribbean because new cruise ships usually begin service with 7-night cruises.

The reason for the change in game plan is to attract more new cruisers to try a cruise vacation on Royal Caribbean. The combination of a brand new ship offering the very best Royal Caribbean has to offer and homeporting of the ship very close to Orlando is what the cruise line thinks will be a winning formula.

Who is Meghan Trainor?

Meghan Trainor is an American singer-songwriter known for her catchy pop songs with retro influences. 

She became famous with her catchy debut single, "All About That Bass" was released in 2014.  Not only was it a good tune, but it promoted body positivity.

Trainor has released multiple albums, won several awards, and is recognized for her distinctive voice and playful, upbeat music style.

What is a cruise ship godmother?

A godmother is part of maritime tradition and a ceremonial role that all new cruise ships incorporate.

Cruise lines select someone to christen their new ship. Sometimes it's a well-known celebrity, such as Meghan Trainor, and other times it's an important community member.

As an example, soccer megastar Lionel Messi held the role on Icon of the Seas, whereas a contest on TikTok was held to find a godmother for Wonder of the Seas.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

A vacation for making memories

It's likely there's a Meghan Trainor song or two that always conjures up a memory of where you first heard it, and Royal Caribbean wants Utopia of the Seas to be just as memorable.

"A lot of first time cruisers are looking for first experiences... burn in memories that they're going to have," explained Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer while onboard Utopia.

To that point, Utopia of the Seas has a lot of firsts that Royal Caribbean has never done before, such as an immersive dining car experience, a new tiki bar, new parties around the ship, and much more. 

Plus, the ship visits Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas. Perfect Day at CocoCay is an expansive beach and pool playground where cruise ship passengers can enjoy different ways to relax, explore, or party.

When you include all of it together, it's the formula the cruise line thinks will bring in new cruisers.

Cruise ships are always evolving, including how to power them.

In a world growing more aware of the importance of protecting the environment, cruise lines are holding themselves to a higher standard.

Royal Caribbean has its own net zero carbon emission goals, and its newest cruise ships rely on new fuel sources to power them.  They're even using biofuels on some ships, as well as launching the first waste-to-energy system on a cruise ship.

However, the work isn't complete and the ultimate goal of a clean burning fuel unreached.

At a Q&A session on the 2024 President's Cruise, a passenger named Bridget asked, "What is the top thing Royal Caribbean is working on towards [its] environmental impact?"

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told passengers that the cruise line is committed to sustainability, but can't rely on solutions that don't yet exist.

He was honest about where Royal Caribbean succeeds environmentally and where it needs work.

Royal Caribbean works with the latest research it has at the time 

Michael Bayley explained Royal Caribbean's commitment and mindset regarding the environment.

"Everything that we do is put through that lens of trying to be as sensible as we can buy new ships, for example; Icon, Utopia, Star."

Icon of the Seas launched in January of 2024, Utopia of the Seas will have its first voyage in July of 2024, and Star of the Seas is set to arrive in the summer of 2025.

Royal Caribbean has focused on making its new ships as environmentally friendly as possible in tandem with new research providing information.

The three new ships were all made with hybrid engines and can run on a combination of typical marine fuel and LNG (liquified natural gas).

LNG is considered more environmentally friendly because, according to Mr. Bayley, it's about 24% better in carbon footprint than marine fuel.

"We are committed to making the journey to carbon neutrality," he said.

"Over time, we set goals for 2030."

Read more: Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will advance goal of creating sustainable cruising

Although LNG is considered better for the environment, it's not perfect.

Liquified natural gas has also been criticized for leaking when it's transferred between tanks.

"When decisions are made on building ships, they're made with the information that's available at the time. And of course, the information at the time when we signed contracts to build ships is different from how it looks today," Michael Bayley said. 

Although Royal Caribbean builds its new ships with the newest technology they're aware of, the information changes from year to year.

Cruise ships can be built in 18-12 months, but they take years to come to fruition. Icon of the Seas, for example, was conceived before 2016 and finally launched in 2024.

With these long timelines, information can change over the years.

"In five years, how we do this is going to look different as well," Mr. Bayley continued.

"There is no magical fuel"

The biggest issue for cruise ship sustainability is fuel. Cruise ships use a massive amount of fuel to power their journeys and amenities onboard.

Michael Bayley touched on this during the Q&A: "The big question is, what is the future fuel for all of this transportation? It's still unknown."

Transportation industries such as cargo ships and airlines are investing in the issue and attempting to find a solution, but there's still not a perfectly sustainable option.

"There is no magical fuel," Mr. Bayley said, and he believes "that's the formula for success in the future."

Five to ten years ago, LNG was viewed as the solution to creating a more sustainable fuel. But now it's not considered the best option.

Read more: Which Royal Caribbean ships are powered by LNG?

Mr. Bayley also addressed other options that are still being developed, such as methanol and fuel cells.

He didn't make a mention of the new biofuel Royal Caribbean has been testing on its ships.

However, none of these options are viable for cruise ships yet. 

The entire marine industry is working on a solution

And before you consider boycotting cruise ships for their lack of sustainable fuel, it's important to consider the big picture.

When it comes to environmental issues, Mr. Bayley pointed out that the whole world "is on the same journey" to carbon neutrality.

Many governments and industries are working on the question of sustainable transportation.

Nearly everything we consume in the Western world has arrived by cargo ship, powered by typical marine fuel.

"80% of everything we consume comes on containers," Mr. Bayley said. "The cars we drive, the clothes we wear, the water we drink."

Typically, these items come by ship or rail, so there's no getting away from the question of carbon-neutral fuel.

Fuel is a big question for the entire marine industry, and Royal Caribbean is committed to figuring out a sustainable answer.

"I can assure you we're committed to that," Mr. Bayley told passengers on the President's Cruise. 

"We are working diligently, not only as a company but [also] within the industry and within the larger sector of the maritime industry, which is vast."

He also urged listeners to check out Royal Caribbean's sustainability report on the website, which describes all of the cruise line's efforts in detail.

Royal Caribbean has more sustainable waste management than cities on land

Royal Caribbean understands its responsibility to the environment and has done an excellent job at managing waste onboard its ships.

Just 7% of the waste onboard Royal Caribbean ships ends up in the landfill. 

The rest is recycled, incinerated, or turned into purified water that can be dumped in the ocean.

"I would challenge any city in Europe or the world to have a better, more advanced technology than we have onboard," Mr. Bayley said.

"Now, if you went home and understood how much of your waste is going into a landfill, I'm going to bet it's a lot more than 7%."

According to the Trash in America report by Frontier Group, 52.6% of trash in the United States is thrown in landfills or otherwise combusted without energy recovery.

Read more: Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships will convert waste to energy

When Royal Caribbean designed Utopia of the Seas, they had a primary goal of loading it up with the absolute best food and drinks you could find at sea.

Rather than build a cruise ship with the same exact options as previous vessels, the team at Royal Caribbean had the goal of packing Utopia of the Seas with just about every plussed up idea they had.

Read more: Utopia of the Seas guide

If you look back at ships over time, you can find different ideas, initiatives, and upgrades on each. Sometimes they are added in a refurbishment, sometimes they are a new idea at the time when the ship was built, and in other cases, they are one-off enhancements.

The Product Development team at Royal Caribbean wanted to come up the ultimate dine and drink evolution, according to Jay Schneider.

Schneider leads the Product Development team, and it's his job to dream up ideas for cruise ships that will position Royal Caribbean ahead of any vacation option out there.

'Our ultimate dine and drink evolution'

Mr. Schneider said Royal Caribbean's research indicates people choose to cruise for two primary reasons: destinations and food.

While entertainment and retail do factor into that decision, where the person goes and what they eat always rank highest.

"We really wanted to focus on that tradition, evolution, revolution from a food and beverage perspective," Mr. Schneider explained in an exclusive interview with Royal Caribbean Blog.

He's referring to an internal directive for new cruise ship building that relies on embracing aspects that have worked in the past (traditional), improving upon others (evolution), and coming up with completely new ideas (revolution).

Mr. Schneider sees everywhere you look on Utopia of the Seas the very best food and beverage options you'll find on any Royal Caribbean ship.

From a massive overhaul of Izumi and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen with expanded new locations, to something as simple as adding sprinkles to the complimentary soft-serve ice cream on the pool deck, "we leaned into kind of that ultimate dine and drink, which got us to really re-examine every venue, every offering."

Royal Caribbean nicknamed the initiative, "Project Feast", and it's goal was to deconstruct what their guests were looking for in how they dine, drink, and eat onboard.

The team felt good about many of the existing restaurant properties, but wanted more out of them, "Great steak house in Chops, excellent Italian in Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, great seafood in Hooked, great Japanese in Izumi. But even in those, where do they evolve to?"

He says that evolution is present on Utopia of the Seas.

A similar effort was already underway for sister ship, Icon of the Seas, but there was more time to re-evaluate what was working well.

"In the case of Izumi, we really thought we were on to something with Izumi in the Park. Let's take a look at that, deconstruct it and say, where else would we go with it?"

Read more: How Izumi went from concept to success

The result is the biggest Izumi yet, with double the teppanyaki tables, new al fresco dining, a to-go window, and even an omakase experience.

The team saw a different goal with Giovanni's, because they wanted to enhance the restaurant, "We really wanted to lean into great Italian, gorgeous, uplifting the experience."

It's in a new location on deck 12 and spans two stories, and even has an outdoor terrace that overlooks the Boardwalk.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean reimagined its signature Italian restaurant

Chops Grille got the upgraded menu options first introduced on Icon of the Seas, along with brand new decor. Schneider believes it's the best in the fleet now.

While all of those venues got upgrades, Mr. Schneider felt it was time to redevelop completely the Bionic Bar concept.

"Our research said it was tired, it was underutilized, and so it gave us a great opportunity to lean into consumer testing and say, an awesome tiki bar is going to be a really great place if we do it right."

The result is the Pesky Parrot, which he believes is a home run for guests.

Over on the pool deck, there's a new complimentary food truck that gives passengers great complimentary food close to the pools. 

The Spare Tire serves up snacks on Utopia, and it's part of the evolution of an idea to offer more great complimentary options that was first conceived with the Aquadome Market on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: What the Food Was Like on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

"Our research has said they want the unapologetic resort day when they're at sea. And that is amazing access to water, great views and then great food, so they don't have to go very far."

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Weekends now, but a ship for everywhere

Royal Caribbean turned a few heads when it announced Utopia of the Seas would begin with just 3- and 4-night cruises instead of 7-night voyages.  It flew in the face of what traditionally a new ship would do, but Royal Caribbean wanted to offer the very best weekend ship to attract new cruisers.

Read more: 5 moves Royal Caribbean is making to overhaul its weekend cruise business

That's the plan for now, but Utopia of the Seas is ready to longer cruises, should the need arise.

"If you think of kind of the evolution of all of our ships, none of them stay in the perfect itinerary, in the perfect location," Mr. Schneider explained.

"We really honed in on designing a global ship that matches what our brand ambition, our brand DNA, and then all rooted in what our guests are looking for us to deliver."

"I would argue Icon unapologetically has been the best of that so far, and I would also argue Utopia builds on that."

A weekend cruise sounds like the perfect Royal Caribbean cruise because you can getaway for just a few nights and not need a lot of time off from work.

There are pros and cons to taking a short cruise over the weekend, but it's often the way a lot of people try a cruise for the very first time.

Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise. Knowing which departure ports offer weekend cruises, which destinations you can visit, and how much to budget for will help determine which weekend cruise will be best for your mini-getaway.

Best ship for a weekend cruise

While all Royal Caribbean ships may offer a 3-night cruise here and there, there are several ships that almost exclusively run on the same schedule every week. These ships tend to offer 3-night cruises from Friday afternoon to Monday morning and 4-night cruises from Monday afternoon to Friday morning.

While most ships running weekend cruises are not the newest and largest in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the majority of these ships have recently been amplified in the cruise line’s Royal Amplified program. Amplifications bring an impressive upgrade to Royal Caribbean ships, adding new onboard activities, stateroom options, and dining/lounge venues.

Utopia of the Seas is the hottest new cruise ship on the market, and is designed to be the ultimate weekend cruise ship, especially if you're new to cruising.  

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Utopia offers 3-night weekend cruises from Friday to Monday that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

The new ship has 21 restaurants, five pools, two casinos and an ice skating rink.

Allure of the Seas also offers weekend cruises from her homeport of Miami, Florida. She departs on Friday afternoons and visits both Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning back to Florida on Monday morning.

Allure of the Seas makes a great weekend cruise option for those who love having a nearly endless amount of activities to choose from onboard, from zip lining to AquaTheater shows.

Voyager of the Seas offers longer weekend cruises from Port Canaveral. She has 4- and 5-night cruises in 2024 and 2025, and they go to Cozumel, Mexico or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in addition to The Bahamas.

Voyager is a mid-sized ship and the original Voyager Class cruise ship. She has a lot to do, and her prices tend to be very competitive.  She doesn't sail the Friday to Monday weekend cruises, however.

Freedom of the Seas, a Freedom Class ship, offers year-round 3-night weekend cruises departing from Miami, visiting both CocoCay and Nassau. 

Freedom of the Seas was amplified in February 2020 and received a major upgrade, with additions including the Perfect Storm waterslides, a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, and the new Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen restaurant.

Independence of the Seas is the weekend getaway ship of choice for those who prefer to depart from Miami, Florida. She is a Freedom Class cruise ship offering 3-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. Passengers on Independence of the Seas can enjoy an escape room, water slides, and the Izumi hibachi restaurant.

Navigator of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship, is the only Royal Caribbean cruise ship permanently homeported at the Port of Los Angeles. She offers 3-night weekend cruises to Ensenada, Mexico. Navigator of the Seas was amplified in 2019 with a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, new tropical-themed bars like the Bamboo Room, an escape room, and more.

Weekend cruise itineraries

Royal Caribbean offers cruises as long as 19+ nights and as short as 2 nights to destinations all over the world. Regardless of whether you book the longest cruise, a transpacific sailing visiting French Polynesia and New Zealand, or the shortest cruise to the Bahamas, you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable cruise vacation.

How long are weekend cruises?

Most weekend cruises tend to be 3-nights, leaving port on Friday afternoon and returning early Monday morning. A 3-night cruise gives the perfect length for a true “weekend getaway,” allowing you to forget all the stress brought on by work or school and truly escape.

Occasionally you may find 2-night cruises over the weekend, which leave Friday afternoon and return Sunday morning, although these are much less common.

Weekend cruise departure ports

Most of Royal Caribbean’s regularly scheduled weekend cruises leave from the ports of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, or Los Angeles.

Due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (otherwise known as the Jones Act), all foreign-flagged ships departing from the United States must include an itinerary stop in a country other than the United States.

Weekend cruises from New York, Boston or Baltimore don't exist because of the time required to reach a foreign port due to distance.

On some occasions you may find weekend cruises leaving from other ports around the world, such as Southampton, England and Haifa, Israel, although these tend to be more of a one-time cruise than a weekly itinerary choice.

Where can I visit on a weekend cruise?

Weekend cruises are fairly limited in the destinations they can visit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience an amazing day in port on a 3-night getaway.

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau is the capital of New Providence Island and is one of the most commonly visited ports on any Royal Caribbean cruise. The city is filled with fun activities, from waterparks to historical sites and enjoying day passes at all-inclusive resorts.

While it’s possible to disembark the ship in Nassau and simply walk around, we highly recommend planning what you would like to do in Nassau in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on the island’s best offerings and beaches.

Read more: Best things to do in Nassau on a cruise

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private destination in the Bahamas and is a favorite port among cruise fans. The island offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking to spend the day relaxing at Chill Beach, join the party at the swim-up bar, reserve a private, floating cabana, or slide down the tallest waterslide in North America.

While it’s not necessary to have a plan for your day at CocoCay, it’s a good idea to be familiar with what is offered on the island to ensure you can book any excursions or addons in advance.

Ensenada, Mexico

Ensenada is a port city on Mexico’s Pacific coast in the state of Baja California. If you’ve taken a cruise to other Mexican ports like Cozumel and Costa Maya, you’ll be surprised at how different the geography and coastline of Ensenada is compared to the Caribbean.

Whereas the Yucatan peninsula offers dense jungles, Mayan ruins, and calm beaches, Ensenada has a dry climate. A day in Ensenada is best spent enjoying Baja California’s nature, whether exploring the Calafia Valley Wine Country, riding an ATV on the coast, or hiking through El Salto Canyon.

Read more:  A day in Ensenada, Mexico while cruising on Navigator of the Seas

Other destinations

Royal Caribbean occasionally offers short cruises to more exotic destinations. Currently there are cruises to Cyprus, Le Havre (Paris), and Naples, Italy available to book! The vast majority of weekend cruises, however, tend to visit the same ports due to their proximity to the United States.

Will there be a sea day?

The majority of weekend cruises departing from Florida do not have a sea day, although you may occasionally run into an itinerary with one day at sea. Weekend cruises tend to be port-intensive, meaning they stop in a new port each day.

The exception is with cruises departing from the Port of Los Angeles on Navigator of the Seas. Weekend cruises on Navigator of the Seas have a full day at sea prior to a port day in Ensenada, Mexico. A sea day is perfect for trying the newly amplified ship’s upgraded features, including the longest waterslide at sea and The Lime & Coconut Bar.

If your weekend cruise itinerary does not include a sea day, that does not mean you have to disembark the ship in each port you visit. Many passengers opt to spend one of the port days onboard instead of in port so they can make the most of the cruise ship’s activities, dining, and amenities.

Which cruise ship should I pick for a weekend cruise?

Most of Royal Caribbean’s ships offering weekend cruises are extremely similar to each other, but Utopia of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are the notable favorites.

Being among the biggest cruise ships in the world, Utopia and Allure offer the most to do onboard and the most choices in entertainment, dining, and activities.

The Voyager and Freedom Class cruise ships are almost identical in layout and onboard features. While some dining venues, bars, and water slides may differ, passengers should expect a relatively similar experience no matter which Voyager or Freedom Class ship they choose. The primary benefit of these ships over the Oasis Class ships is price, as they are likely going to be noticeably cheaper.

There are a few differences between them that should be noted, though:

• Utopia of the Seas is the perfect ship if you want the very best ship, and don't mind paying more than other weekend cruise options
• Allure of the Seas does not yet have as many upgrades as Utopia of the Seas. However, prices on Allure tend to be quite competitive
• Navigator of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas offer different style waterslides than the other ships
• There is an escape room available on Freedom, Independence and Navigator of the Seas
• Freedom Class ships are longer than Voyager Class ships, giving more space for a Splashaway Bay area for kids on the pool deck and more venues and stores inside the ship
• Utopia of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas offer the revamped Adventure Ocean kids programming, which offers kids more flexibility in activities rather than a rigid activity schedule

Should I pick Utopia of the Seas?

Utopia of the Seas stands apart from any other cruise ship offering weekend cruises because she's brand new and offers so much more to do onboard.

Royal Caribbean thinks Utopia is the top choice for anyone that wants to do a weekend cruise, especially first-time cruisers.  Utopia has the best in class offerings, which means her pools, activities, shows, and cabins are arguably superior to any other Oasis Class ship.

A 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas will almost certainly be the type of sailing where the ship is considered the destination. Whether dining outdoors in Central Park, watching impressive acrobatics and diving in the AquaTheater, or zip lining over the Boardwalk, it’s unlikely a weekend will be enough time to explore the entire ship!

One important distinction to note before booking a weekend cruise on Allure of the Seas is that she has a few differences compared to other Oasis Class cruise ships. While she was scheduled to be amplified in 2020, her amplification has been postponed. Therefore she does not have many features you will find on other ships offering weekend cruises, including water slides, an upgraded pool deck, and new restaurants and bars.

Weekend cruise cost

Weekend cruises offer a great value for a short getaway, as food, lodging, entertainment, and onboard activities are included in your cruise fare. When comparing the price of a hotel, dining at restaurants, and purchasing tickets to entertainment on land, a cruise tends to come at a much lower cost.

In general, a weekend cruise in the cheapest stateroom category (interior) will cost between $700 and $1000 total for 2 adults. The cost of a balcony stateroom will be slightly higher, usually falling somewhere between $1000 and $1450.

Weekend cruises can differ in price depending on the following factors:

• How far in advance you book the cruise
• What time of year you plan to cruise
• Which stateroom you select
• Whether you purchase cruise addons or shore excursions

Generally speaking, the further in advance you book a cruise, the cheaper your price will be. Booking a year in advance can usually net a better price than waiting until just a few weeks or months until the cruise.

This is not always the case, however, as there may sometimes be last-minute weekend cruise deals available. Last-minute deals should not be relied upon, though, and the last thing you want to happen is have a weekend cruise sell out before you can book it!

The time of year you sail can be one of the biggest factors in determining how much a weekend cruise will cost. Summer months and holidays can bring the highest prices due to demand, whereas the months of January, February, September (excluding Labor Day weekend), October, and November (excluding Thanksgiving) tend to be cheaper.

The category of stateroom you select can also make a big difference on the overall cost of a weekend cruise. Interior staterooms will almost always be the cheapest stateroom category available.

Interior rooms can actually make a fantastic stateroom choice for a weekend cruise. Not only will you save money, but with such a short cruise, it’s unlikely you will be spending much time at all in your stateroom anyway. There is so much to do onboard a Royal Caribbean weekend cruise that you might only be in your room to shower and sleep!

Cost of cruise addons and excursions

One of the biggest benefits to booking a weekend cruise is that booking a dining or beverage package comes with less of a “sticker shock” than on a longer sailing.

If a beverage package is priced at $75/day on a 7-night cruise, your total cost will be over $500 plus gratuities! If that same price is offered on a 3-night cruise, you’ll only be shelling out around $225 plus gratuities.

This can make purchasing a beverage package much more enticing. Plus, it’s unlikely you will get bored or tired of drinking on a short cruise. It’s common for many passengers to order fewer drinks as the days go on during a longer cruise, thus not getting the full value of their drink package. 3-nights is a more reasonable amount of time to enjoy unlimited tropical cocktails, beer, wine, coffee drinks, and fresh juices without feeling like you’ve been drinking too much!

Another great thing about the majority of Royal Caribbean’s weekend cruises is that they include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s extremely easy to spend an entire day at CocoCay without spending anything extra, as food, beaches, pools, hammocks, and more are included in your cruise fare. Drink packages work on the island, too, meaning you won’t have to budget anything extra for drinks.

Pros and cons of weekend cruises

Pro: Relaxing getaway

A weekend cruise can offer a much-needed getaway for many passengers. Being able to leave any stress at home and visit multiple tropical destinations in a short amount of time is simply a wonderful way to spend a weekend.

Cruises tend to be much more relaxing than other weekend getaways as well. There’s no need to worry about constantly driving from place to place, paying high prices for food at every meal, and finding activities that are fun for both kids and adults. A cruise offers everything you need in one package.

Plus, many of the same benefits that you will receive from a longer cruise (excitement of going somewhere new, feeling pampered, etc.) you will also receive on a short sailing.

Pro: Less vacation time needed

A great benefit of a weekend cruise is that far less vacation time is needed compared to a 7-night cruise, especially if you live close to the departure port. By departing on Friday afternoon and returning Monday morning, it’s possible to take just one or two days off of work.

If you have few vacation hours or you’re saving them for a longer trip, a 3-night cruise offers the chance to have a mini-vacation without sacrificing your precious PTO time.

Pro: Ability to splurge

A shorter cruise can be a great time to splurge on things like drink packages, shore excursions, and specialty dining. Knowing you don’t have to budget for a full week’s vacation might make you more willing to pay for a few extras to enhance the cruise experience.

Spending $100 for a shore excursion in Nassau may not seem as bad when you don’t have 3 or 4 other ports to visit. Likewise, booking a specialty dinner at Chops, Izumi Hibachi, or Jamie’s Italian can be a nice way to “splurge” while still having a fantastic weekend getaway.

Con: higher cost per day

A major drawback to a weekend cruise is that the cost per day of a 3-night cruise is often more expensive than the cost per day of a longer cruise. To put this into perspective, I checked the prices of two cruises: a 3-night cruise on Freedom of the Seas and a 7-night cruise on Harmony of the Seas. Both sailings take place in September, just after the summer cruise season is over.

On the 3-night sailing on Freedom of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1068. This makes the cost per day $356 per room, or $178 per person.

On the 7-night sailing on Harmony of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1,960 total. This makes the cost per day $280 per room, or $140 per person.

While the cost per day ($178 versus $140) may not seem too drastic, it becomes much different once the cost of airfare and a pre-cruise hotel stay are added to the total cruise cost.

Let’s say you pay $300 roundtrip (per person) in airfare and $250 for a hotel the night before your cruise. This adds $850 to your total cruise cost.

The 3-night cruise now costs $1918, making the cost per day around $639 per room, or $319 per person. The 7-night cruise, on the other hand, now costs $2,810, making the cost per day $401 per room, or around $200 per person.

Con: It’s over before you know it

Booking a 3-night cruise sounds like a perfect idea… until it’s over! Weekend cruises go by very quickly, and they seem to be over just as you are getting acquainted with the ship and settling into “vacation mode”.

While a short cruise is still better than no cruise at all, you’ll likely wish you had at least one or two more days onboard.

Read more: Is it worth it to book a 3-night cruise?

Con: Limited ships offer weekend cruises

Most weekend cruises are on Voyager and Freedom Class cruise ships. While these are amazing ships full of new activities and amenities, you won’t often have the chance to sail on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships when cruising on the weekend.

While this problem will be slightly improved once Allure of the Seas begins offering weekend cruises, it’s unlikely that Royal Caribbean will offer regularly scheduled 3-night cruises on new ships like Wonder of the Seas or Odyssey of the Seas.

Pro and Con: Party atmosphere

Weekend cruises tend to come with a bigger party atmosphere when compared to longer sailings. Bachelor parties, wedding guests, and friend groups are common on shorter cruises… and they come onboard to party!

Whether this is a pro or con ultimately depends on your preferences. It does lead to an extremely lively atmosphere onboard, but if you’re looking for a quiet sailing, a weekend cruise may not be the best choice for you.

Have you ever been on a weekend cruise? What tips and tricks do you have for others planning 3-night Royal Caribbean cruises? Let us know in the comments!