Royal Caribbean Blog

An unusual series of circumstances caused on Royal Caribbean cruise ship to spend the day at a rival cruise line's port.

Freedom of the Seas spent Thursday docked at Amber Cove alongside the Carnival Magic. 

Carnival describes Amber Cove as it's "exclusive Dominican Republic cruise port" and has been operating it for about 10 years.

Royal Caribbean passengers were able to walk around the port area, and take advantage of the complimentary pool and lazy river, as well shop and eat at the various extra cost restaurants.

Why a Royal Caribbean ship visited Amber Cove

The strange occurrence of a Royal Caribbean ship going to Carnival's port is the result of a weather and logistical circumstances.

The November 10 sailing of Freedom of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail a 5-night voyage that would visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel.

However, Freedom would not visit either of those destinations.

About a week before the cruise, Royal Caribbean informed passengers their visit to Cozumel was being replaced with a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.  They never specified why there was a change, but it's likely related to other ships being re-routed to Cozumel because Jamaica's cruise ports are closed due to the Hurricane Melissa aftermath.

Then on embarkation day, the ship's Captain updated passengers again that they would have to skip CocoCay because of a cold front moving through the Bahamas that would close the private island.

Instead, Freedom would visit Amber Cove.

How the visit came about will never be known, but it certainly came as a surprise.

Not a private island

As a Royal Caribbean cruiser, it's easy to quickly draw comparisons to what I'm familiar with.  But Amber Cove isn't like something I've been to before exactly.

The closest comparison I can come up with is Amber Cove is like Costa Maya, Mexico but with more options.

Being a cruise port, you don't have to spend the day there.  There are excursions and tours to take you around the nearby area of Puerto Plata. Or you could hop in a taxi and do your own thing.

Inside the port, there are lots of shops and a few restaurants too. Food and drink here cost extra anywhere within Amber Cove. All of the retail and food and beverage spaces are leased out.

The pool and lazy river within the Aqua Zone are included at no extra charge, similar to Taino Bay or Costa Maya. 

There are also upsell options with day beds, cabanas, a water slide, or water craft you can rent. I was surprised how inexpensive cabanas cost compared to Royal Caribbean.  I could have gotten an over-the-water cabana for just $500 for up to 8 people and it included some snacks and water craft rentals.

One notable feature you won't find is beach access.  Amber Cove has a lot of pool space, but no beach. You'll need to book an excursion to any number of nearby beaches in Puerto Plata for that.

It was strange, but a fun day at Amber Cove

It felt a little surreal being in a Carnival port, but I suspect most passengers on Freedom of the Seas had no idea this was Carnival's port unless they were told by someone else.

Because Carnival leases out all of the operations, it doesn't have an overtly obvious Carnival motif to it. I didn't see Freddie the fun ship mascot, or anything else that screamed Carnival.

As a lifelong Royal Caribbean cruiser, I was struck more by how there wasn't a true similar product from my preferred line.

Royal Caribbean has private destinations in CocoCay or Labadee, but you can't leave those places and a lot of the food and drink is included.  That's not the case at Amber Cove.

Truly, it felt like Taino Bay's port is an attempt to copy Amber Cove and has a free pool and lazy river for guests, along with extra cost restaurants and bars. Plus, you can leave Taino Bay on a tour. However, Taino Bay isn't exclusive to Royal Caribbean.

I'm not sure I'll ever have a chance to try Amber Cove, but it's nice having an easy day to relax in port or bypassing it all and heading out to try something else around while in the DR.

Royal Caribbean wants cruisers to "come on down" and win a car playing the line's newest game show at sea.

Cruise Director Marc Walker confirmed that "The Price is Right — Everyone's a Contestant" is coming to Utopia of the Seas. The show is already on Star of the Seas. However, it will debut on Utopia on Thursday, November 13.

"Exciting news to share! We’ve been in secret [rehearsals] this week and I’m pumped to let you know that one cruise early we are bringing you the Price is Right Gameshow where you have a chance to win a New car!" Walker shared on Facebook. 

According to the Cruise Planner, the first Price is Right show on Utopia will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the Royal Theater. It is scheduled to last 45 minutes. 

The cruise ship version of the long-running television show is free to watch. However, all participants must pay to play. Pricing starts at $15.00 USD. 

Walker added, "Make sure your phones are charged - you don’t need to pay for WiFi to play. You could win a NEW car! Cash prizes for those who COME ON DOWN."

Royal Caribbean is known for its game show offerings, including the adult-only Crazy Quest, Love and Marriage Show, Majority Rules, and Battle of the Sexes. 

(Credit: Cruise Director Mitch/Facebook)

With the addition of "The Price is Right — Everyone's a Contestant," cruisers will have yet another way to get in on the action, whether they're playing or just spectating. 

Right now, the show is only on Star and Utopia of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has not confirmed whether it will be rolled out fleetwide. 

What is The Price is Right?

The Price is Right is a television game show where contestants guess the retail price of various consumer goods in exchange for a chance to win cash and other prizes, playing mini-games such as Plinko, Cliffhanger, and Hole in One. 

Each mini-game tests contestants' skills in different ways. Some are based on strategy, while others rely on luck. 

The modern version of The Price is Right premiered on CBS in 1972, with Bob Barker as the first host. Drew Carey took over in 2007. It is now the longest-running daytime game show in U.S. history with over 10,000 episodes. 

Royal Caribbean is not the first cruise line to adapt The Price is Right into a full-scale, interactive experience at sea. 

Norwegian Cruise Line first launched the Price is Right Live on Norwegian Prima. It has since been added to the line's newest ship, Norwegian Aqua. 

Like Royal Caribbean, those playing on NCL have a chance to win a car. However, modest prizes, including new luggage sets and electronics, are up for grabs, too. 

Other cruise lines, including Royal's sister brand Celebrity Cruises, also offer live game show adaptations of popular television shows. Deal or No Deal is popular on Celebrity and Carnival Cruise Line. 

Likewise, Carnival brought Family Feud Live to its fleet after its success on Mardi Gras, the cruise line's first Excel Class ship. 

After pulling cruise ships from Baltimore, Royal Caribbean will bring back a ship there for the summer season.

In March, the cruise line shared deployment information that revealed it would no longer offer cruises from Baltimore in winter 2026-2027.

It was a surprise to many, because Royal Caribbean has had a ship based there year-round for quite a long time. The apparent departure from Baltimore ruffled a lot of feathers among cruise fans that relied on a ship sailing from the Mid-Atlantic region.

However, Royal Caribbean will bring back a ship to Baltimore for at least a few months per year.

Vision of the Seas returns in 2027

The newly revealed plans show Vision of the Seas will sail from Baltimore once again.

Vision will be based in Baltimore between May - October 2027, meaning there will be no sailings from November 2026 - April 2027. In October 2026, Vision will move to Fort Lauderdale.

The plans are to offer 5- and 9-night cruises to Bermuda or 9-night cruises to Canada & New England.

5-night Bermuda Getaway sailings

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Royal Naval Dockyard (2 days)
• Baltimore, Maryland

9-night Bermuda & Bahamas sailings

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda (2 days)
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Bimini, Bahamas
• Baltimore, Maryland

9-night Bermuda & New England Cruise

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Portland, Maine
• Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick (2 days)
• Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Baltimore, Maryland

The new sailings are available to book immediately.

"It'll be back every summer"

It appears Royal Caribbean's game plan has shifted with Baltimore, and it will now be a port that offers summer cruises only.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley answered a question about cruises from Baltimore during the most recent President's Cruise and confirmed the new approach.

"I've had a couple of people ask me, why did you take vision out of Baltimore," he explained during a question and answer session.

"It's seasonal. It's coming back. It'll be back every summer."

Why did they make the change to drop winter cruises from Baltimore? Evidently the logistics were difficult.

"It's just logistics and reality. Winter products out of northeastern ports just have more challenges," he said.  Likely those challenges have to deal with the weather. Winter storms can disrupt itineraries and make it difficult for a ship to get to or from their homeport.

Moreover, during the winter it's cold for a few days until the ship can reach the tropics.  Plus, the distance required to get to the tropics makes for limited itineraries.

There's also a limited set of ships that can actually sail from Baltimore because of the bridges blocking access to the port.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the recently destroyed Francis Scott Key Bridge are too low to allow big ships in.

He went on to say the company understands there's demand for a product there, "We are happy to be operating out of Baltimore. Baltimore is super supportive to Royal Caribbean, and we know there's a lot of guests in the area who like sailing [from there]."

Cruise fans happy with the news

The announcement spread quickly on social media that Royal Caribbean was coming back to Baltimore.

"So happy she is coming back to Baltimore!" posted Dodie B. on a Vision of the Seas Facebook fan group.

Angel D. echoed the statement, "I am excited that she is returning."

Of course, some people wanted more options beyond just a summer season.

• "We also like the winter cruising. I want to head south in February, not July."
• "No 12 night Southern Caribbean which was our favorite."
• "We are in our 70's we could be dead by 2027."
• "Yes 2027 only 3 cruise destinations. You better like Bermuda and Bahamas."

Consumers might be cutting back on spending in some places, but they're still spending big on cruises.

During Royal Caribbean Group's third quarter earnings call, executives were clear that while people might be looking for ways to spend less overall, they're not willing to skimp on vacation.

"Consumers continue to prioritize experiences and make room in their budgets for meaningful vacations," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty as he spoke to Wall Street analysts. 

While there may be-a shift in consumer behavior in everyday life, it hasn't hit vacations.

People are still spending on cruises

If someone is going to try to save money, a vacation isn't where they're looking.

The cruise giant's own research tells them that a vast majority of consumers are still spending the same on vacations as they did before.

Roughly three-quarters of consumers intend to spend the same or more on vacations over the next twelve months, a level that has remained consistent for several quarters. 

Their research also shows that while consumer spending has "normalized" from the elevated levels over the past two years, "demand for experiences and leisure travel remains intact."

While the rest of the economy may have softened on overall spending, people are still spending big on their trips.

Mr. Liberty thinks this is largely due to the great value a cruise offers, "Cruising offers superior value for money versus alternative options, driven by the high-quality onboard amenities and services, pricing inclusive of meals and entertainment, and the opportunity to visit a variety of destinations with the convenience of having everything in one place."

This is evident in the extraordinary demand they've seen for the fist Celebrity river cruises, and the new Icon Class ships.

The other reason the company feels good about the future of consumer spending is because of the new offerings they have lined up.

Royal Caribbean International is on the precipice of launching a new beach club in The Bahamas, followed by two more beach clubs in 2026.  Then you have Perfect Day Mexico opening in 2027.

The opportunity to try those experiences is likely going to drive demand even further, according to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.

"[Beach clubs are] also a driver for itinerary as well because we are beginning to see that itineraries that include the beach club as well as Perfect Day seem to be driving even more demand than historically, which has been really strong."

"I think we'll see that kind of combination of beach clubs really push through in onboard revenue and short excursions."

Willing to pay more

Another interesting anecdote about consumer spending is that cruisers are not only still booking, but they're willing to pay up for it.

Liberty talked about how demand is fueling cruise bookings, "As we see really strong demand and people are dreaming more and more about their vacation experiences."

"We are also seeing that translate to onboard spend. And so we are thoughtfully meeting our guests with the experiences, and they are willing to pay for them."

According to Mr. Liberty, the average cruiser has this makeup:

• Great job
• Great balance sheets (bank accounts)
• A strong desire to vacation and build experiences and memories with their friends and family

He acknowledged that they might not be willing to pay as much as they did like last year, "but they are willing to pay more."

Relying more on loyal customers

While tapping the new-to-cruise market is always going to be the primary area for sourcing business, Royal Caribbean Group is also looking to its repeat customers to cruise even more.

The company has steadily enhanced its loyalty matching program so to make it easier and more beneficial to sail on all the cruise lines owned by Royal Caribbean Group.

In 2024, status matching was introduced between the lines so a person could get an equivalent tier of loyalty status at a different line.

The move provided tangible benefits instantly to those that were loyal to one brand, but wanted to try another one.

The company then announced in its earnings call this year a new way to earn points interchangeably between the cruise lines.

Points Choice is coming early next year, and it means you can sail on Celebrity but earn Royal Caribbean points, or vice versa. This is an important change for cruisers looking to climb the loyalty ladder of one line while still being able to branch out.

Executives think it's a win-win for brand and consumer. Its aim is to generate additional sales across all of its brands while making it easier for cruisers to move up to higher loyalty tiers and their associated benefits.

Texas will soon be home to cowboys, barbecue, and one of the world's biggest cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean announced it will redeploy Icon of the Seas to Galveston, Texas in August 2027.

Measuring 250,800 tons, Icon of the Seas is a groundbreaking vessel that captured the imagination of the public. When every cabin is maxed out, over 10,000 people can sail on the ship when you add in crew members.

Unveiled in 2024, Icon of the Seas is about the same size as sister megaship Star of the Seas. When Icon debuted, it introduced 14 specific innovations just for that ship, including destination elevators, an entire waterpark, AI powered customer support and much more.

Beginning in August 2027, Icon will sail alternating 6- and 8-night cruises to the Western Caribbean. But big things are planned later when the cruise line's new mega destination Perfect Day Mexico opens in late 2027.

Perfect Day Mexico is set to debut in late 2027. Royal Caribbean will announce the exact opening date in 2026. 

Perfect Day Mexico is expected to be a vacationer's dream that is aimed at opening up a bonanza of renewed interest in cruises to Mexico. 

It's not much of a surprise given how popular cruises from Texas have become recently, with bigger ships shifting to be based in Galveston. Plus, its proximity to Perfect Day Mexico allows Royal Caribbean to instantly enhance what has become a familiar set of cruise ports.

Icon's move to Galveston is one of many ship deployments also announced this week. Here's a breakdown of what Royal Caribbean has planned.

Icon of the Seas sailing from Galveston beginning August 2027

Royal Caribbean will reposition Icon of the Seas from Miami, Florida to Galveston with a 9-night cruise.

The sailing will visit the Southern Caribbean before heading to its new homeport of Galveston.

Once there, Icon of the Seas will offer 6-, 7-, and 8-night cruises.  the 8-night cruises will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay too.

The new sailings from Galveston are available to book immediately, and are available through April 2028.

The Texas cruise boom

Royal Caribbean has systematically positioned itself to take advantage of more people wanting to cruise from Galveston.

In 2022, they opened a brand new $125 million cruise terminal so that the port could handle the biggest cruise ships in the world.

Then they moved Allure of the Seas to Galveston, which was the biggest ship to ever sail from the port at the time of her debut.

Other cruise lines quickly took notice and adjusted their plans to match. Carnival invested $53 million to upgrade their terminal so that Carnival Jubilee could sail from there.

Just this week MSC opened a $156 million terminal that it will share with Norwegian. MSC Seascape departed on its first voyage earlier this week from the new terminal.

Royal Caribbean hinted strongly bringing an Icon Class ship to Texas

It wasn't a very well kept secret that Royal Caribbean had ambitions to homeport one of its Icon Class ships in Galveston.

As recently as September, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the idea during the President's Cruise, "I wouldn't be surprised if some big announcement came to Galveston. I'm not saying we're putting an Icon Class there. But if I was a gambling man...."

Prior to that, in August Mr. Bayley answered a question from a travel agent about an Icon ship in Galveston, "We're not going to answer that question. But I can tell you it's coming, baby."

It's one of many hints and teases over the past few years that have pointed to an Icon ship shift.  The only question was when and which of the ships would do it.

A big ship with Royal Caribbean's latest and greatest features

If you want to know why Icon of the Seas is such a big deal, look no further than all the amazing things that are onboard.

Icon encompasses 20 decks, has seven pools, and six waterslides that make up an entire waterpark.

It is divided up into 8 neighborhoods, meant to make it simple to get around the ship and know where you are at any time.

There are over 2,800 staterooms on Icon of the Seas, as well as over 40 bars and restaurants onboard. You can dine at an eight-course meal in a supper club, take the family out for hibachi, or enjoy five different food halls.

On select evenings, there are performances of the Wizard of Oz show in the Royal Theater, plus incredible feats of athleticism and dance in the Aquadome.

In all, the ship has 20 passenger decks. It is 1,198 feet long and 213 feet wide.

More ships released from Texas, California, and New York

In addition to the Icon of the Seas news, Royal Caribbean also shared new deployments for 2027-2028.

Joining Icon in Galveston will be Symphony of the Seas. Symphony will offer short 5-night cruises as well as 7- or 8-night cruises down to the Western Caribbean.

Liberty of the Seas will also sail from Galveston to offer shorter cruises to Mexico.

Oasis of the Seas and Independence of the Seas will sail from Bayonne, New Jersey and offer cruises to Bermuda, The Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean and Canada.

Odyssey of the Seas returns to Bayonne for the winter season to offer 7-12 night cruises down to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

On the west coast, Ovation of the Seas will sail short 3- and 4-night cruises from Los Angeles and Navigator of the Seas is back in LA to offer 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises.

The idea of going on a cruise alone can seem daunting, but I think it's quite rewarding once you try it.

There are plenty of reasons why you'd need to cruise solo: family obligations, a great last-minute rate, or PTO time that's going to expire. Whatever the rationale, you might be concerned that it's a mistake to get on a cruise ship by yourself.

I've taken dozens of cruises alone, and while it's a different approach to how you travel, I find it very liberating doing what you want, when you want to do it. Plus, it means more cruising!

If you're on the fence if a solo cruise is right for you, I've got the reasons to try or skip a solo cruise.

Pros of Cruising Alone

Let's start with the best reasons to try a cruise by yourself because I want to start with why you should give it a try.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say you really ought to give a solo cruise a try, even with the downsides listed later in this article.

Ultimate flexibility

The first thing you'll likely notice when you get on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship solo is you aren't consulting with anyone else what to do next.

Cruising alone means you get to cruise at your speed. You can do what you want, and come and go to whichever activity suits you.

There's no negotiating dinner times, activities, or excursions. No one is waking you up inadvertently, and you have the freedom to set alarms (or not).

Wandering the ship and stopping to do what you like and then leave when you're ready is a very liberating feeling. While I'm sure you enjoy the company of you friends and family, sometimes it's nice to do what you want.

Doing what you want is the common theme of a solo cruise. It allows you to enjoy your cruise without much compromise.

Cruise ships are conducive to solo cruising

Unlike land resorts, cruise ships tend to be a more social experience from start to finish.

I've found that a cruise fosters a lot of social interaction because of how so many events and activities are conducted.

Shore excursions are almost always set up in groups, and you're bound to start up a conversation there. Trivia events at bars are where you're encouraged to form teams. Even the casino tends to generate conversations with strangers because people inevitable like to celebrate or commiserate about how the games are paying out.

Royal Caribbean can seat you with other passengers in the Main Dining Room for dinner.

The more I've cruised alone, the more I've opened up to random conversations with strangers. Most of the time it's just a passing hello, but sometimes you can strike up a good chat and you might have a new friend around the ship.

In fact, the bar scene on cruise ships is a very social one. I've found it can be quite adept to meeting people.

If you have access to the Crown Lounge or Suite Lounge, those are some of the best places to meet other cruisers. There seems to be a sense of comradery in those lounges because of the exclusiveness of them.

It's a faster path to higher loyalty tiers

A common reason to want to cruise solo is to cruise more to reach Royal Caribbean's top tiers within Crown and Anchor Society.

If you're chasing Diamond status or higher, going alone will get you more loyalty points. 

Cruising alone in a standard cabin will get you 2 points per night, and you'll get 3 points per night if you're in a suite. 

There's no doubt I got to Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club status faster because I cruised solo. And once you get higher loyalty status, you get to take advantage of the perks.

Royal Caribbean's best benefits are arguably at the Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club levels. Having them makes cruising so much better, and you might save money too.

For families, one person cruising solo could elevate the entire family since spouses and kids under 18 living in the same household all get the same loyalty status as the highest family member has.

It's a safer environment

While there are no guarantees in life, I find being alone on a cruise ship feels safer than being alone in a city

There are no unfamiliar places at night or dark alleyways to worry about. Cruise ships offer structured, secure environments that make traveling alone feel safer.

I would never say a cruise is crime-free or there's zero risk, but I would argue it feels safer than a city does.

Every single person onboard is accounted for and has their information registered with the cruise line.  It's not a total safety net, but the fact a ship is self contained puts my mind at ease. Heck, it's why I let me kids much more freedom on a ship than I do at home.

Cons of Cruising Alone

Now it's time for the downsides of cruising by yourself. 

Not all of these may apply to you, but I think they are important to be aware of before you tell your travel agent to book the cruise.

The cruise fare is more expensive

The first thing I hear about cruising alone is that it's not cheap.

Booking a standard cabin by yourself means you'll pay the single supplement fee, which is the cost to make up for the missing second passenger.

Royal Caribbean (and nearly every cruise line) charges you a fee if you cruise alone because their business model is based on double occupancy.

Essentially, this means you'll pay for a second person in your stateroom, even though there isn't one there.

While Royal Caribbean does have some solo cabins on certain ships that don't charge the fee, they are few and far between.

Look on the bright side, paying the fee gets you the extra Crown and Anchor points.

There will be times where you're lonely

No matter how many times I've cruised solo, there are moments of loneliness.

This is especially true when dining alone because sitting at a table by yourself tends to make it more self aware that you're the only one there.

The same can be true when you're sitting at a table at a bar, attending a show, or enjoying an activity and miss the comradery of being able to share in it with someone else.

I've found the remedy to this is buying an internet package so you can text, call, and Facetime friends and family at home. It's not exactly the same thing as having them with you on the cruise, but it's the next best thing.

You have to plan everything

Being responsible for all the cruise planning is either the best or worst thing ever.

There's no one else to share in the responsibilities of packing, booking activities, researching what to do, or making decisions along the way.

If you forget something or run into a problem, it's all on you.

This doesn't cause too many issues for my personality, but there have been times I've forgotten to pack something my wife usually brings or I've had to navigate a change in plans and determine the best new option all on my own.

Dining alone is weird

I won't sugar coat it: eating at restaurants on your cruise is strange when it's just you.

It's totally fine at the buffet or when grabbing a slice of pizza, but eating in the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants can make you feel more alone than you really are.

Food is one of the top two reasons people book a Royal Caribbean cruise, so limiting yourself to just casual spots may be too much of a compromise.

My advice here is that no one cares you're eating alone. It may feel like everyone's looking at you, but people are self-centered enough that they're more preoccupied with their own lives than what one person at table 417 is doing by themselves at a table.

Embrace the solo cruise and give a try

I really think cruising alone on Royal Caribbean is a great idea and worth doing at least once.

You should consider certain ships and itineraries that might be better for a solo cruise.  A port intensive itinerary that will keep you busy is better than a cruise with a lot of sea days.

Likewise, I'd recommend a big ship that has lots to do onboard for a solo cruiser.  The more options you have helps keep you engaged.

Without a doubt, buy an internet package so you can always reach out to friends and be social.

Once you've had a taste for solo cruises, I think you will love the change in pace it brings and might just become a go-to way to squeeze in more cruise vacations!

Multiple Royal Caribbean cruise ships have had their itineraries altered due to a powerful cold front impacting Florida and The Bahamas. 

On Tuesday in Nassau, winds near the port will be around 22-24 knots (25-28 miles per hour). In comparison, the winds are forecasted to drop to around 12 knots, or 14 mph, by Thursday. By Monday afternoon, The Bahamas had already issued a near Gale warning (28-33 knots) for the Northern and Northwest Bahamas. 

According to forecasters, the front will continue to push through The Bahamas before stalling over the Southeast islands. This will result in elevated shower and thunderstorm chances throughout the week. 

As the cold front moves across the region, the unfavorable weather conditions forced the cruise line to make adjustments. 

"Our Captain, along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, are tracking a cold front that will bring adverse weather conditions to CocoCay on Tuesday...To provide you with the best experience, we've switched the days and order we'll visit Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas," reads a letter given to guests sailing aboard Wonder of the Seas. 

The 4-night cruise was initially scheduled to call at CocoCay on Tuesday. Now, however, passengers will enjoy a sea day before visiting Nassau on Wednesday, followed by a visit to CocoCay on Thursday. 

Similarly, Freedom of the Seas' 5-night cruise to CocoCay and Mexico has been completely changed. 

The November 10 sailing axed both scheduled stops and replaced them with visits to Taino Bay on Wednesday and Amber Cove on Thursday. 

This means that both port days will be spent in the Dominican Republic's Puerto Plata region, which is known for its beaches and outdoor activities. Royal Caribbean guests also have the rare opportunity to visit Carnival Corporation’s private destination, Amber Cove, which opened in 2015.

"We have been tracking the development of a strong cold front that will be impacting the area of our sailing...As a result, we've made some adjustments to our itinerary," read the notice given to Freedom passengers.

"We'll need to skip our visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, and instead, enjoy a Sea Day tomorrow. Additionally, we will now visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on Day 3 and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic on Day 4. While we know it's not the original itinerary we planned, we're excited for our journey together!"

Moving on, although no ports were cancelled on Utopia of the Seas' Nov. 10 departure, guests will visit Nassau and CocoCay in a different order. 

Utopia, like Wonder, will enjoy a day at sea on Tuesday, followed by CocoCay on Wednesday. The ship will call at Nassau on Thursday, which was formerly the cruise's day at sea, before returning to Port Canaveral on Friday. 

Read more: What to do in Nassau on a cruise? I love these 7 ideas

Finally, Radiance of the Seas' Nov. 10 cruise pushed its scheduled visit to the capital of The Bahamas. Rather than calling at Nassau on Tuesday, the Radiance Class ship will spend the day at sea. Radiance will now visit Nassau on Thursday, after an unchanged stop in CocoCay on Wednesday. 

"We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather - your safety is our top priority," concludes the letter given to guests aboard Wonder of the Seas. 

The ships' shore excursion teams will reschedule any prepaid tours booked through Royal Caribbean. If the excursion cannot be reaccommodated, it will be automatically canceled and refunded to the card on file in up to 14 business days. 

Reminder to remain flexible

The Atlantic hurricane season is set to wrap up on Nov. 30, and as of Nov. 11, tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next seven days. However, that does not mean that cruisers are in the clear for weather-related itinerary changes. 

Cold fronts and high winds can impact sailing conditions, making it unsafe to call in port. Although last-minute changes are disappointing, they are always made with guests' comfort and safety in mind. 

Royal Caribbean has a full-time meteorologist who monitors weather patterns and conditions, working directly with cruise ship captains to determine the safest and most comfortable adjustments when unexpected weather arises. 

"Florida cloud shadow! Ideal cold weather setup for Florida with high pressure dropping into northern Gulf coast with cool & dry air spilling undisturbed down the peninsula," Setzer wrote on X. 

"The warmth of the nearby Gulf/Atlantic often moderate the chilly air but not in this flow pattern."

Royal Caribbean is giving fans the chance to make a permanent mark on the all-new duckie-go-round coming to Legend of the Seas. 

The cruise giant introduced the new member of Legend's duckie crew on Facebook and invited cruisers to give her the perfect name. 

According to Royal Caribbean, she is a "rootin’-tootin’ cowgirl who loves to wrangle up the fun and turns every adventure into a wild ride."

The duckie's favorite thrill is glow-in-the-dark laser tag, and she loves building her own tacos at El Loco Fresh. 

In terms of appearance, she sports a rosy cowboy hat with a bandana, emblazoned with the cruise line's famous crown and anchor symbol. 

Fans were quick to share their creative name ideas in the Facebook post's comments:

• Quack-a-long Katy, the Loco Legend of the West
• The LEGENDary Lasso Lucille
• Annie Duckley, the rooting tootin laser shooting sharpshooter
• Celestial Quackgirl
• Dolly
• Señorita Quackalita
• Royal Ruby
• Bandana Barbara

Vicki Freed, the Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support, and Service, shared that Legend of the Seas isn’t stopping with just one duck friend on the brand-new carousel. 

"Meet the newest feathered explorer joining the Duckie-Go-Round on Legend of the Seas — an Explorer Duckie dedicated to YOU, our incredible travel partners," she wrote on Facebook. 

Unlike the other competition, there are just four options for the tourist-inspired duckie: Kona, Flip, Miles, and Atlas. Voting ends within the next 48 hours. 

The all-new duckie-go-round will set sail in the Mediterranean summer of 2026. Legend of the Seas' inaugural cruise is scheduled for July 11. 

After a stint in Europe, Legend will reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in October 2026, rotating between 6 and 8-night Caribbean cruises. 

After that, she will return to Europe for another season of Mediterranean adventures. After that, however, Legend's fate is unknown, though the cowgirl-themed duckie-go-round hints that Legend could be heading to Texas.

Is the duck a hint of what's to come?

Maybe I'm reading too much into a rubber duck, but it seems more than a coincidence that the rubber duck has a cowboy hat on, which is synonymous with the state of Texas.

There's absolutely no mention of Galveston or Texas in this fun contest, but the timing seems too convenient.

At some point this week we will get the 2027-2028 ship deployments announced for Galveston, and a lot of people expect Royal Caribbean to announce an Icon Class ship based there.

After years of hinting and dropping subtle clues, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International's President and CEO, told a theater full of travel agents that they planned to move an Icon Class ship to Texas. 

Although he could not confirm the timeline, he assured the audience that the news was coming. 

As of now, Royal Caribbean's two Icon Class ships exclusively sail out of Florida. Icon of the Seas' homeport is Miami, while Star of the Seas' is Port Canaveral.

When Legend of the Seas enters service next year, she will cruise from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) after spending a few months in the Mediterranean. 

However, an Icon Class ship has never sailed from Texas. Moving one of the world's largest ships to Galveston would mark a significant expansion of Royal Caribbean’s presence in the Gulf area. 

This isn't surprising, though. Royal Caribbean has been steadily expanding its Western Caribbean offerings, giving cruisers more reasons to explore the region. Once completed, one of the line’s biggest draws will be Perfect Day Mexico. 

The cruise line is taking what worked at its award-winning private island in The Bahamas and making it ever better. There will be spots for chill, thrill, and family-friendly fun throughout the Royal Caribbean-exclusive destination. 

Royal Caribbean also plans to build a 42-acre beach club in Cozumel. It will feature a large pool with a swim-up bar and plenty of spots to relax on the beach. 

The goal of both new private destinations is to help make Western Caribbean itineraries as popular and desirable as Eastern Caribbean ones. An Icon Class ship sailing from Texas would further allow Royal Caribbean to offer better Western Caribbean experiences.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships are among the most activity-packed cruise ships in the world. With only 4 days aboard Wonder of the Seas, I challenged myself to try every complimentary activity.

Wonder of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest megaship to sail short getaway cruises. Building on the popularity of the party-focused Utopia of the Seas, the cruise line is clearly leaning into the trend of weekend party sailings.

I was lucky to be among the first to sail aboard Wonder of the Seas for the ship’s very first 4-night sailing. After a fun-filled cruise on Utopia of the Seas earlier this year, I was eager to see how the experience would compare.

Our itinerary included two ports of call in the Bahamas: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. We also had one sea day to enjoy all of the ship’s amenities and onboard attractions.

Typically, I prefer spending my sea days in the adults-only Solarium. With only one sea day in our short itinerary, I didn’t have much time to check everything off my bucket list.

Although I tried my best to attempt every activity, I did have some limitations. Essentially, I didn’t want to hurt myself and ruin my vacation. My 30-year-old body isn’t quite as nimble as it once was. Luckily, I’ve been cruising with Royal Caribbean for two decades, so I’ve tried many of the activities on prior cruises.

I always crushed climbing on the rock wall and could, at one point, do tunnel flips on the FlowRider (those days are long gone!). The zip line is another favorite activity on Oasis class ships; however, the line was always long and wrapped around the activity deck. I was committed to zip-lining, but I couldn’t find the energy to stand in the scorching heat for more than an hour for a 5-second ride.

Ice skating is another unique activity on Royal Caribbean’s ships, but this requires long pants for skating. I completely forgot to pack pants so I could ice skate, as an August cruise to the Caribbean doesn’t exactly require pants. With just a carry-on suitcase and no pants available, I skipped ice skating.

All that said, I hit the ground running and crammed as much as I could into my sea day. I spent nearly 12 hours of nonstop activity running around the ship. It was exhausting, but tons of fun, and I would definitely do it again!

10:30 a.m. - Windjammer Breakfast

Our morning started later than we expected, but that’s the beauty of a sea day! We had nowhere to be, so we didn’t set an alarm. My friend is a mom of young kids, so she was happy to sleep in.

By the time we got out of bed and dressed, the Windjammer was our only option for breakfast. In my opinion, the Windjammer buffet space is too small on Oasis class ships. Although there are many different places to dine, the Windjammer is your only option for late breakfast. Considering Wonder of the Seas’ focus on late-night partying, I’d like to see more options for brunch or late-morning breakfast.

We navigated the packed buffet for a quick breakfast, along with many other guests doing the same. Despite the crowd, we enjoyed our selections, and the food was served hot and fresh!

11:30 a.m. - The Ultimate Abyss

Following breakfast, I decided to ride the Ultimate Abyss — the world’s tallest dry slide at sea! Because we were finishing breakfast on the ship’s top deck, the Ultimate Abyss was an easy activity to knock off my bucket list.

My friend wasn’t interested in riding the slide with me, so I ventured on my own to experience the 10-story slide. I positioned myself on the slide for a wild ride in the provided snack. It reminded me of the burlap sacks used for slides at a fair, but this one was more padded. We were given a small demonstration on how to position ourselves, and I listened intently.

The slide was so much fun! I was concentrating on following the instructions that I started to slide sideways from being so stiff. I slightly scraped my knee, but nothing that left a mark. I screamed the entire way down.

12:00 p.m. - Boardwalk Carousel

The Ultimate Abyss brings you from the ship’s top deck down to the Boardwalk on Deck 6. After the exhilarating ride, I noticed the Boardwalk’s signature carousel was offering rides. Although we didn’t have any kids with us, we asked if we could ride, and the operator said it was no issue.

I’d passed by the carousel countless times but had never actually taken a ride. In fact, I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d been on one — maybe Disneyland about eight years ago.

We hopped onto two horses for a fun ride. I expected a slow, boring spin, but the carousel moved faster than I anticipated. We laughed along with the kids, and before we knew it, the ride was over after just a few lively turns.

12:30 p.m. - Trivia: Who Wants to be a Caribbeanaire

As we wandered around the ship, I popped into an energetic game in the Karaoke Spotlight lounge in the Royal Promenade. The lounge was packed, so I knew it was going to be a fun game.

This game is similar to the classic ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ game show with multiple-choice questions that gradually get more difficult as the game progresses. Although I didn’t participate, I enjoyed watching the game and trying to answer the questions myself. The crowd was super engaged and interactive, which is always fun. I would definitely attend this show again!

Read more: I went to 5 different parties on my last Royal Caribbean cruise. One was clearly the best

1:00 p.m. - Relaxing on the Back of the Ship

Wonder of the Seas is a busy ship, so we were always on the lookout for a quiet, comfortable place to relax. One of our favorite spots on the ship was at the very back of the ship on the walking path.

Oasis class ships have a dedicated walking and running path around the entire ship on Deck 5. Where the ship wraps around the ship’s aft, you can find some chairs that overlook the ship’s wake.

We relaxed here for about an hour while enjoying the beautiful, sunny day. There were only a few other people relaxing here, so it’s a great spot to retreat if you appreciate ocean views! We retreated to this spot multiple times a day, and it’s a great spot to watch the sunset each evening.

2:00 p.m. - Lunch at El Loco Fresh

One of my favorite casual eateries on a Royal Caribbean cruise is El Loco Fresh. The Mexican cuisine is served buffet-style, but everything tastes freshly made. You can find an assortment of burritos, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, and desserts.

My go-to at El Loco Fresh is a chicken quesadilla with sour cream and Mexican cheese — it’s divine! My friend loved the nachos, and we both tried a taco with tender, flavorful pork. Everything was delicious and we hardly had to wait in line.

3:00 p.m. - Mini Golf

This one is a cruise classic! Wonder of the Seas has a miniature golf course on the back of the ship. Mini golf is a great family-friendly activity to keep both kids and adults entertained. You simply grab your own club and golf ball to start your game. It wasn’t entirely clear which hole was meant to be first, and there didn’t seem to be any particular order that we were meant to follow.

The miniature golf course is brightly colored and ocean-themed with a giant octopus, whale, and stingrays. I loved the theming, even though my miniature golf game isn’t anything to write home about.

5:00 p.m. - Dinner in Main Dining Room

After a rousing game of miniature golf, we ventured back to our cabin to relax, shower, and get ready for dinner. We were assigned a lovely table right by the window with excellent wait staff (shout out to Bayou and Gino). We looked forward to our dinners in the main dining room each evening. The food was also fantastic, and the service was attentive! In fact, it was one of the best main dining room experiences that I’ve had in a while.

8:00 p.m. - inTENSE AquaTheatre Show

Oasis class ships have some of the best entertainment in the cruise industry, including high-diving productions in the AquaTheatre. With a giant amphitheater at the back of the ship, you can watch jaw-dropping shows with divers, synchronized swimmers, acrobats, and aerialists.

Our show on Wonder of the Seas was inTENSE with an all-woman cast of performers. The production was outstanding with high-diving stunts from crazy heights and acrobatics like I’ve never seen. The energetic performance was so entertaining that we returned for a second show the following night.

9:00 p.m. - Pizza at Sorrento’s

Is it really a late night on a cruise ship without a slice of pizza? Because our dinner was early at 5:00 p.m., we enjoyed our late-night stop at Sorrento’s in the Royal Promenade. This was one of the most popular restaurants on our cruise, as there was always a line that wrapped around the restaurant.

Luckily, the line moved quickly, and we were happy to gorge on pepperoni pizza. I also love that Royal Caribbean provides ranch dressing for pizza dipping — it makes my Midwestern heart so happy!

9:30 p.m. - Voices Production Show

Our last activity of the night was attending a show in the Royal Theatre called Voices. I had never heard of this show before, and I was eager to see what the a cappella production would be like.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t my favorite show during our cruise. I looked forward to the a cappella performance, but most of the vocals were pre-recorded. The visual displays were impressive and the singers were very talented, but the show wasn’t my cup of tea. I really appreciated the concept of an a cappella performance, but the pre-recorded vocals were distracting from the live performers.

Royal Caribbean has started its Black Friday sale, and it's the beginning of the holiday shopping season that could save you money on a cruise.

Many cruisers look to Black Friday as a way to net the lowest prices of the year on popular add-ons and even cruise fares.

While I haven't seen deep discounts on drink packages or Wi-Fi, I have spotted deals on other extras that will definitely cost more if you wait to book. Of course, the exact discount will depend on your sailing because there is variable pricing.

Expect there to be a series of "preview sales" leading up to the actual Black Friday and Cyber Monday holidays. Now is the perfect time to re-price things out and I would recommend checking back to see if there are better sales later too.

Royal Caribbean's Black Friday sale on Cruise Planner items applies to purchases made through November 30, 2025.

After spending a day going through all the offers, I came up with a list of the best buys available now. Buying now will get you a good price and definitely save you money compared to anyone that waits to book it onboard.

Day pass to the Royal Beach Club

The best discount right now is on Royal Caribbean's new beach club that is opening in The Bahamas.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens on December 23, 2025 and it looks to be an incredible way to spend your day in The Bahamas.

This is an extra cost beach club experience, meaning you have to purchase admission to get in there.

Thanks to Black Friday, we're seeing prices for an adult admission that includes alcohol around $129 - $149 per person. Prior to the sale, prices were closer to $200 - $250 each.

On two different Utopia of the Seas sailings in 2026, I saw my price drop from $245 to $149 for the day pass with alcohol ($139 for non alcohol).

All-in Package

Exclusive for Black Friday, the All-in Package is a new option that bundles the most popular add-ons into one buy.

It includes an unlimited alcohol package, unlimited specialty dining package, and Wi-Fi internet. If your ship visits Nassau, it also includes admission to the Royal Beach Club.

The pricing for the All-In package without the Day Pass is $119.99 per person.

It's worth pricing out the individual components of the package to see if you could save more buying them separately, but for a lot of people the bundle is a better deal. For my sailing, it was $139 less expensive to book the bundle than all separately.

Unlimited soda package

So far, the unlimited alcohol package prices don't seem much lower, but the soda package is definitely a good buy right now.

I'm seeing prices as low as $8.99 per person, per day on a few upcoming sailings.

That's 40% off the onboard price and could be a great buy for kids and teens that devour soft drinks all day long.

In truth, any pre-cruise sale on a drink package will be cheaper than buying it onboard. When you can get it for a lower than average price online, that's a win.

Thrill Waterpark admission

I've seen better than average prices for Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The waterpark has a variety of slides and a wave pool, and for about $60ish per person, it's a great price.

I've seen the admission cost go as well over $100 per person, so to get it for less than $70 per person is pretty good.  This might the chance for families to finally try all the slides.

Last-minute cruise fares

Don't overlook booking a cruise during Black Friday.

Royal Caribbean is calling these their Black Friday Mega Deals, and there are some seriously good discounts, if you have a flexible travel schedule.

I found cruise fares for less than $200, but you're going to need to move fast. Most of these sailings depart in the next two weeks.

There are also many other cruise deals to choose from.  A list of 12 pages of cruise offers are available.

If you're looking to squeeze in another cruise soon, I'd recommend checking out the list for a cheap last-minute cruise.

Supper club

One other notable discount to highlight are the Supper Club experiences on Royal Caribbean's newest ships.

The Empire Supper Club and Lincoln Park Supper Club are both exquisite six-course meals that usually cost $200 per person.

Thanks to the sale, the price is down to $159.99. That's the lowest price I've seen for the meal.

Expect more sales this month

Don't sleep on the Black Friday sale as what you see today is what it will be.  

Royal Caribbean will likely relaunch its Black Friday offers throughout November, including the actual holiday itself.

While I don't have any inside information of what to expect, it's been experience that they tend to run a series of promotions that mix up the exact discounts.

Last year, the cruise line changed the Black Friday offer a few different times all the way through early December.

I recommend using a price tracking tool to make it easier on yourself so you can be notified when there's a new discount available.