Royal Caribbean Blog

A Royal Caribbean guest is suing the cruise line and its former crew member, alleging she was filmed by a hidden camera in her stateroom bathroom. 

The class action lawsuit was filmed on behalf of the guest in the Southern District of Florida this Tuesday, as first reported by USA TODAY.

The guest was only identified as Jane Doe, but the lawsuit was also filed on behalf of "all other similarly situated passengers."

In August, former crew member Arvin Joseph Mirasol was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. 

He was found guilty of filming guests, including children, with hidden cameras while they were naked, in addition to hiding under cabin beds on Symphony of the Seas.

Read more: "I will be checking under the bed now": Royal Caribbean crew member accused of hiding cameras to spy on guests

Federal authorities found images of women and children undressing on his electronic devices, "numerous videos of naked females," as well as child sexual abuse material.

During a post-Miranda interview, Mirasol admitted to pleasuring himself while watching the videos. He told authorities he "wants to control it...but can't." 

Mirasol was also charged with six pending counts of video voyeurism in Florida state court after the Broward Sheriff’s Office interviewed him.

According to the lawsuit, Mirasol captured images of Doe "while undressed and engaging in private activities" during a February cruise.

The guest, Jane Doe, also alleges that Mirasol uploaded images of her to the Internet, including the dark web.

“Upon information and belief, Mirasol transmitted and/or uploaded images of the Plaintiff while undressed and engaging in private activities, to third parties and/or to the world wide web, including, but not limited to, the dark web, without Plaintiff’s prior knowledge or consent,” the complaint states. 

As a result, she has suffered extreme emotional distress, including physical symptoms like insomnia and dizziness.

The lawsuit places the blame on Royal Caribbean for failing to provide sufficient security, training, or supervision to prevent sexual assaults.

The cruise line did not warn guests about such crimes and allegedly did not notify passengers who stayed in cabins served by Mirasol.

According to the lawsuit, there may be up to 960 impacted passengers, who stayed on Symphony of the Seas between December 1st, 2023, and February 26th, 2024.

Royal Caribbean “knew or should have known sexual assaults were reasonably foreseeable considering the prevalence of sexual assaults aboard RCCL’s cruise ships," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit referenced a 2023 incident on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in which passenger Jeremy Froias installed a hidden camera on a 7-night sailing from Miami, Florida.

Froias was arrested after placing a hidden WiFi camera in the public bathroom between the FlowRider and a bar.

His camera, which was up for 24 hours before security removed it, allegedly depicted more than 150 individuals in various states of undress, including minors as young as four and five years old.

The number of sexual assaults onboard cruise ships rose in 2023, according to the US Department of Transportation. 

Onboard cruise ships embarking and disembarking in the United States, 131 sex crimes were reported to the FBI in 2023.

This is a significant increase from 2022, which saw 87 alleged sexual assaults.

However, the actual numbers could be even higher. 

According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, more than two out of three of all sexual assaults are never reported.

Of these alleged sex crimes in 2023, 75% were committed by cruise ship passengers (98 in total), and only 27 crimes were committed by crew members. Six of the incidents had an "unknown" perpetrator.

Jason Margulies, an attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., in Miami Florida, is representing the plaintiff in this case.

Margulies addressed the allegations that Royal Caribbean hasn't been informing affected guests who sailed on Symphony of the Seas.

“If you're a company that's looking out for the best interest of your passengers, and aren't acting in your own financial interests, then you would certainly be telling all these people that they could be potential victims, right?"

"I mean, that's the humane thing to do.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages, and a jury trial.

Royal Caribbean emailed a statement to USA TODAY: “The safety and privacy of our guests is our highest priority, and we have zero tolerance for this behavior."

“We immediately reported this case to law enforcement and terminated the crew member. As this is pending litigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

Utopia of the Seas offers short cruises on a ship with lots to do. How can you make the most of it?

I recently sailed on Utopia of the Seas for a 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise.

Leaving round-trip from Port Canaveral, Florida, I knew I only had a short amount of time to experience everything Utopia has to offer.

Cruisers first criticized Royal Caribbean when it debuted its newest Oasis Class vessel with only short sailings.

However, the cruise line found that first-time cruisers like to start with 3 and 4-night sailings, and Utopia is the perfect ship to draw them in.

With everything from a train car-themed dining experience to waterslides and escape rooms, there are countless activities to try on Utopia of the Seas.

But how can you fit them all into just a few days?

Explore the ship to get your bearings

I always explore the cruise ship as soon as I get onboard, but this is especially important to do on a short cruise on Utopia. 

On such a huge vessel, with so little time, cruisers have to know their way around.

You'll want to get your bearings as soon as you board, in order to find events quickly and ensure you don't miss anything.

It's hard to keep everything in your head, so start out by getting a visual sense of what the ship's neighborhoods and venues look like.

I recommend wandering the whole ship at least once—you don't want to miss anything on the map. 

Sometimes it takes walking around yourself to find hidden locations or decide if a particular venue piques your interest. Don't take the app's word for it—go see each spot with your own eyes.

Reserve specialty restaurants in advance

A specialty meal is worth the extra cost on Utopia. The 5,668-passenger vessel offers quality venues found on few other ships, such as the Mason Jar, Izumi Omakase, Izumi in the Park, and the Royal Railway.

Other specialty venues onboard include Chops Grille, Sugar Beach, Johnny Rockets, 150 Central, Chef's Table, Playmakers, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Starbucks, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, and Hooked Seafood.

Dining at an extra-cost restaurant gets you higher-quality food in a themed venue and allows you to see more of the ship during a short sailing.

To ensure that you're able to dine at your favorite locations, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. Specialty restaurants on mega ships can sell out quickly, and you never want to be turned away from a dinner you were looking forward to.

You're able to reserve individual restaurants or bookings as part of a dining package on the Cruise Planner website before the cruise.

If you don't make reservations online, you can also go to any dining venue on the first day of the cruise and make your bookings then. My advice is to pre-book to save time and money.

Hit the top deck activities on embarkation day

The best time to go to the pool, water slides or hot tubs is as soon as you board the ship.

The pool deck is open on embarkation day, including the water slides.  Not only is it available, but it's the best time to experience them because there are least amount of crowds.

Most other passengers haven't boarded yet, are busy exploring the ship, or simply don't have their bathing suits with them.

This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy smaller crowds and shorter lines.  Pack a bathing suit in your carry-on, or just wear it onboard.

Use Royal Caribbean's app to prioritize events

To fit in Utopia's non-stop events, you'll need to have a detailed itinerary.

The Royal Caribbean app will become your source of all cruise information and it works with or without the WiFi package.

Events will be listed in great detail each day of the sailing, including the time, venue, and any associated costs.

I recommend consulting the app frequently to keep track of onboard events.

Read more: 5 things to know before sailing on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean app allows you to add events to your own Calender, and it will even send you a notification 30 minutes before the event begins.

I also saw events get canceled or change times while on my Utopia sailing, so checking the app frequently allowed me to stay updated.

Pack your carry-on efficiently  

Maximizing a short cruise on Utopia means using every moment you get onboard—including on embarkation day.

This hack takes a little extra planning but can give you hours of additional fun.

By packing your carry-on efficiently, you'll be able to begin activities before your stateroom is ready or your luggage is delivered.

Read more: 6 mistakes to avoid while planning a cruise and sharing a cabin with a friend

Since luggage doesn't get delivered until late afternoon, packing logically will allow you to start enjoying activities as soon as you get onboard.

Pack lightly, but bring medication, water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, a swimsuit, and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag.

You'll be able to enjoy lunch, time at the pool, or other activities while other cruisers are still boarding and waiting for their cabins.

View event highlights on the TV

Each Royal Caribbean stateroom has at least one TV, where guests can view 10-20 free channels, purchase movies, or cast from their devices (depending on the ship).

On Utopia of the Seas, you'll find that multiple channels stream or show recaps of events happening onboard.

While I don't prefer to view events on TV instead of experiencing them, you can use this feature to take advantage of shorter sailings.

If you find yourself double-booked, a quick replay of the previous events can catch you up.

When you return to your stateroom after dinner or late at night, you'll be able to turn on the television and see the highlights of events you missed.

Read more: I spent over a week on Royal Caribbean's new Utopia of the Seas. I was impressed by how much was changed for the world's newest cruise ship.

For example, my travel buddy and I stopped in to watch the World's Sexiest Man competition on the pool deck but had to leave to grab lunch before the Windjammer closed.

After that, we went on to the next event, but we didn't get to see who had won the competition!

When we returned to our cabin later that night, the TV's re-run showed us which cruiser was awarded the Sexiest Man.

Get off the ship in CocoCay early

The highlight of any Utopia of the Seas cruise will be a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island, so get more out of it by disembarking early.

You can walk off the ship to Perfect Day at CoocCay as early as 8am, and if you can get going that early, you'll enjoy the best spots on the island.

Not only will there be less people in the pool or ocean, but you can cherry pick the best chairs or day beds. 

Moreover, if you start your day earlier, you can enjoy more time before the crowds arrive later in the morning. If you're feeling like heading back to the ship, you'll have already taken advantage of the least crowded time on the island.

Much has been made recently about cruise ship congestion in Alaska, so Royal Caribbean might have an answer.

Together with an Alaskan Native company, Royal Caribbean Group announced a new partnership to co-develop a new port in Juneau. Goldbelt Incorporated is a urban Alaska Native, for-profit corporation.

Some residents have wanted to limit cruise ship traffic in Juneau, despite the likely negative impact on local businesses. The reason is these locals have found the crowds cruise ships bring to be troublesome.

A resident-written ballot proposition was voted on recently to ban cruise ships on Saturdays, but 60% of voters rejected the measure. Unofficial tallies released by the city found that 2,586 residents voted in favor of the measure and 3,873 voted against it — also a 60% margin.

Royal Caribbean Group's plan would build a new port with the goal of, "strengthening the city's infrastructure while improving traffic congestion downtown and enhancing the local and visitor experience."

The new port would be located on Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act land on Douglas Island. Douglas island is west of downtown Juneau and east of Admiralty Island. It is separated from mainland Juneau by the Gastineau Channel.

The project is called, "The Port of Tomorrow" and it is expected to be completed during the 2027 Alaska cruise season.

The port would have two floating berths overlooking the Chilkat Range. 

Once passengers disembark the ship, they would enter a recreated 1800s Alaska Native Tlingit village, where they "will experience Goldbelt Incorporated shareholders' ancestral history through stories, art, songs, dance, and traditional foods."

The existing port in Juneau includes three cruise terminals: the Ferry Terminal, South Franklin Dock, and Marine Park. In addition, ships may anchor and tender passengers ashore when more than three ships are present.

Fixing the traffic problems

In order to leverage the existing whale watching tour operations, passengers would depart directly from West Douglas Island onto whale-watching tours or shuttle boats to Mendenhall Glacier to counter downtown traffic. 

Estimates are it would remove nearly one-third of bus traffic from Juneau's most congested roadways, from downtown Franklin Street to the Glacier Highway, enhancing the overall guest and resident experience, while also paying testament to Alaska Native culture.

Because Douglas Island is located directly in the major shipping routes alongside Steven's Passage, the proposal has other advantages beyond downtown Juneau. 

It promises an environmental advantage, reducing time, speed, and fuel requirements for ships sailing north to Skagway or west to the Gulf of Alaska, making it the most ideal stop-over for routing to Sitka or Seward.

The capital of Alaska cruising

Juneau welcomes more than 1.6 million cruise ship passengers per year, and on its busiest days, 20,000 cruise passengers arrive at the city.

Nearly every major cruise line that sails in Alaska has a stop in Juneau, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Disney, and Viking.

The Alaska cruise season runs between April and October, but Royal Caribbean ships primarily visit between May and September.

According to Juneau's FAQ on the ballot initiative, in 2023, cruise visitors generated $30 million in direct spending and $3.7 million in revenue for the municipal government on Saturdays.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty told Wall Street analysts during a quarterly earnings call in July 2024 that Alaska was one of his company's most sought-after destinations, "Alaska summer itineraries are performing exceptionally well."

In fact, summer Alaska season represents 6% of full-year capacity for Royal Caribbean Group. The company increased their capacity this year as a result of moving bigger ships into the Alaska market.

The cabin you choose for a cruise is where you'll call home for the entire duration of your voyage, so if there's a problem with it, you'll want to do something about it.

To be fair, most staterooms on a cruise ship are free of noise issues. Over the course of my nearly 100 cruises that I've taken, I can count on one hand the amount of times I've had a noise issue in my room.

However, noise issues do happen from time to time, so knowing what to do is helpful in mitigating the problem quickly.

Noise issues could stem from any sort of sources: mechanical, other passengers, wind, just to name a few.

A Royal Caribbean message board user, Couponz, shared an issue in their cabin on Anthem of the Seas that they encountered, "In my stateroom, I hear this loud banging noise that seems to roll with the side-to-side movement of the ship."

If you run into a similar situation, here's what you should know about handling it.

Assessing the source of the noise

The first thing you should do is try to figure out what's causing the noise and where it's coming from.

You'd be surprised how often the source of a noise problem is something you can fix on your own.  I believe one of the most common sources of noise in a stateroom are the hangers in the closet.

Royal Caribbean provides hangers in every stateroom closet, and they can rattle quite a bit (especially if the ship is swaying a bit).

Or perhaps its glasses clinging together, or something else you've left out that is making the noise.

You'll want to determine if the noise is coming from outside the cabin, such as in the hallway or a public area.  Or, if the noise is from coming within your room, such as from the ventilation, plumbing, or in the walls.

Creaking is a somewhat common noise issue on a cruise, especially from the ceiling. As the ship moves, panels move to, and there's a bit of give between them. 

Usually the creaking subsides as movement in the ship does.  On some occasions, I've been able to push firmly against the panel to jostle it to a point where it mitigates the noise.

Regardless, figuring out where the noise is coming from helps in diagnosing the cause, and keying crew members into addressing it.

Immediate fixes

Minor noises, creaks, or thuds can happen.  Just like a hotel room on land that has a loud car going by or the wind rattling a window, most of it can be subtle and short lived.

Many veteran cruisers recommend packing certain devices and aids to use if there is a small noise issue, especially to help them sleep.

A good pair of ear plugs can be a game-changer for keeping you asleep longer.

The Flents Foam Ear Plugs come highly recommended by our readers because they fit well, muffle noise, and you can still hear your alarm go off in the morning. (This link contains an affiliate link, which costs you absolutely nothing extra to use while supporting this site).

Another idea is to download a white noise app to your smart phone that can play the music on loop (“bedtime fan” from App Store is one that a reader recommended).

The LectroFan white noise machine is one such device, and it could be what you need to sleep peacefully (and it can be powered by USB). (This link contains an affiliate link, which costs you absolutely nothing extra to use while supporting this site).

Asking for help

When the issue is beyond your control and it's impacting your ability to sleep or enjoy your room, there's nothing wrong with reporting the issue and seeking help.

Your best bet is to start with your stateroom attendant. He or she works in your room every week, so they know problem areas as well as being up on what's unusual.

If your stateroom is not available, you could go to the Maintenance department. There's usually an extension on your stateroom phone for maintenance or housekeeping.  Either one will result in a technician coming out to check the problem.

That's right, there are a team of technicians on your ship whose job it is to keep up with any maintenance issues.  They wear blue uniforms, and they can be by in under an hour to assist.

Once they arrive to the cabin, show them what the issue is and how or when it occurs.  It's best if it can be reproduced, so if it's intermittent, I'd recommend taking a video of it to show them so they can understand it without waiting around.

If the noise is from another passenger, you'll need to get Security involved.  Once again, I advise taking a video when the noise occurs.

Unfortunately, Security can only truly intervene if they are the ones observing the problem happening.  But a video helps and alerts them to a potential issue, and establishes a report that can be acted on if it continues.

How to escalate a problem

Let's assume the noise issue continues, how do you get it resolved?

As I mentioned, it's best to start with your cabin attendant.  They'll either know of a quick fix or get maintenance involved. But if it continues being an issue, you'll want to escalate the issue.

Ideally, you'd speak with the deck supervisor next. This crew member is in charge of the upkeep of all of the staterooms on your deck (or at least a section). To be honest, it's difficult to know who this person is or how to contact them other than asking your cabin attendant to have them contact you.

You could also go to Guest Services and explain the issue.  I would avoid starting with Guest Services, because they'll just relay the info back to Housekeeping and Maintenance as a first step.

When you speak to Guest Services, explain the issue and what you've done to try to remedy it. Be calm and remember Guest Services isn't causing it. They'll do what they can to assist.

You could request a cabin change if the issue seems habitual, but that's not so simple.  Cruise ships sail completely full these days, so it's rare to have open cabins.  However, it doesn't hurt to ask if you truly believe that will bypass the problem. Just understand there aren't a block of empty cabins available.

If you truly feel like you're not making any progress, ask to speak to the Hotel Director. Guest Services will be able to get them for you.

The Hotel Director is one of the most highly ranked crew members onboard, and they oversee everything involving the hotel side of the operation, including your cabin.

Asking for compensation

Should you get money back if there's a real noise issue?

Compensation for a problem is a bit of a gray area, and really depends on the exact situation. I've seen onboard credit given out for minor and major problems, and then not again.

As an example, when we didn't have hot water in my cabin on embarkation day during the afternoon, I received onboard credit, but didn't get any when a rain shower partially flooded my cabin floor.

In many cases, a supervisor or manager will authorize onboard credit or a future cruise credit without even asking. I think this has been the most common scenario that I've been compensated for an issue.

Keep in mind a noise problem in your cabin does not automatically qualify you for compensation.  If something breaks, there's probably a better argument for it.  But noisy neighbors, the weather, and other things out of Royal Caribbean's control may not warrant it.

Nonetheless, there's no reason you can't ask for it if you feel it's warranted. Don't bother asking your stateroom attendant or the maintenance department for it. You'll want to speak with Guest Services or the Hotel Director.  Ultimately, it's at their discretion and there's no legal obligation on their part to offer you any, per the Cruise Contract you agreed to when you booked your cruise.

Preventative measures for future cruises

In general, there are certain cabins to avoid on a cruise ship as well as the right cabins to choose for a quiet stay.

Ideally, pick a cabin that is one deck above or below other staterooms. Avoid cabins that are one deck above or below a public area, such as a dining room or pool.

Never book a connecting stateroom unless you know the people on the other side of the connecting door.  

Cruise ship cabins are poorly insulated from noise to begin with, but connecting doors are even worse. 

It's totally fine to book connecting cabins when you have both cabins, but don't book a connecting cabin if it's just you in one room. Anecdotally, a lot of RoyalUp bids end up with connecting cabins.

Other typically noisy rooms are cabins that face public areas, such as a Promenade view cabin. 

Royal Promenade View cabins are available on Freedom Class, Voyager Class and Oasis Class ships and they have cabins that face inward towards the Royal Promenade. Each of these rooms has a large bay window that looks out to the Promenade, but this window is not soundproof.

On the Vision & Radiance Class ships, the first few cabins from the Centrum can also deal with noise bleed, as the Centrum is home to loud music in the evening.  

Conclusion

If there's a noise problem in your stateroom, address it early so you can eliminate the problem and enjoy a relaxing rest of your cruise.

I commonly read rants from people that come back from a cruise with noise issues and learn they didn't do anything about it.

A word of warning, be sure to get the issue taken care of onboard.  Some people put up with the noise, and then try contacting Royal Caribbean after the cruise is over for some kind of resolution, especially compensation.

In my experience, getting the issue fixed onboard not only gets rid of the noise, but also is the best way to potentially receive compensation since the crew can assess if the problem is indeed warranting it.

It's likely you will never run into this sort of an issue, but now you'll have the right approach to get it solved.

A 74-year-old man takes his wife that he's been married to for 55 years on a cruise twice a year, and he has no intention of stopping.

Ron Lodowski lives in upstate New York with his wife, Susan, and they love to go on cruises as a way to escape to the tropics and enjoy a carefree trip.

While Millennials lead the post-Covid recovery in travel, baby boomers are increasingly booking trips. That's according to Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.

In an interview in 2023, Mr. Liberty said Baby Boomers tend to pay more for a cruise (because they prefer higher end accommodations) and they bring their kids and grandkids with them.

"That Baby Boomer is bringing in more of that multigenerational travel, as the grandparents are looking to travel with their kids and their grandkids."

Ron is part of that Baby Boomer generation, and he likes how everything is taken care of on a cruise, "Need a meal? Royal has you covered. Need your cabin or suite cleaned? No problem. Want to see some form of entertainment after dinner? Look no further. Royal Caribbean cruising is one stop vacation shopping."

He didn't start cruising until later in life. His first cruise was in 2008 as a gift to his daughter. While he admits he made a "big mistake" choosing a Carnival cruise as his first cruise, he quickly made the jump to Royal Caribbean and now goes on multiple cruises per year.

"I cruise twice a year, on average, normally, once in March or April and once is September or October," he said.

"Living in the Northeast... these dates tend to extend the warm summer for us instead of having the summer begin in May and end in late August or early September."

I asked Ron for his tips for how to plan the right cruise based on how he likes to cruise with Susan and his family.

Book early

Ron says he picks his cruise based on four criteria: the time of the year, the itinerary, the ship, and lastly the price.

As an example, "With the introduction of the newest Icon and Oasis class ships, the cruise decision based upon ship has jumped ahead of the itinerary."

His first tip for booking a cruise is to book the cruise sooner than later.

"The sooner you book, normally the lower the cruise fare.  If the price does decrease, you can always cancel and rebook as long as it is before the final payment date."

The ability to re-book up until final payment to take advantage of a price decrease is available to residents of certain countries, such as the United States or Canada. It is indeed one of the best ways to save money on a cruise.

"I have done this numerous times and have saved thousands of dollars. Better yet? Have your travel agent do this for you. Their charge is nonexistent, and their service is priceless."

Our team recommends using a good travel agent for the service they provide, as well as the opportunity to save money, just as Ron described.

Splurge

Ron approaches every cruise with a sobering but pragmatic view, "Treat ever cruise like it might be your last cruise."

To that point, he doesn't shy away from spending more on cruise extras.

"Enjoy the specialty dining experience, have that extra cocktail after dinner, treat yourself to a suite with all the suite benefits. Or better yet? Go full out and experience the pampering which you will receive from a Royal Genie. You will never forget it!"

While there are a lot of freebies on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Ron sees cruising as an escape. 

I asked Ron what he'd tell someone else his age about why they should try a cruise. He joked, "I would first tell them to turn up your hearing aid" and then said he would explain how a cruise can transport you to amazing places.

"Cruising is an amazing experience. You get to travel to beautiful, scenic places and once onboard everything which you might want, or need is taken care of by one of the helpful crew members"

He also emphasized the importance of meeting new friends on a cruise, "And most importantly, unlike land vacations, where people come and go, when you are on a cruise, people you meet become your friends for life. I speak from experience. "

Book off season

Ron's last tip is to look for off season rates, which can save a lot of money compared to peak season.

As a retiree, Ron and Susan can take advantage of times of the year when there is less demand because school is in session, and thus, families are reluctant go to on vacation.

"Off season rates, January thru March and September thru November are usually much cheaper, so why not take advantage of these months?"

"You're retired, so you have no job or family to interfere with your vacation plans. You deserve it!"

Going on a cruise in the months Ron mentions can be a great time to go on a cruise for those added savings.

While the Caribbean is a year-round destination, booking a trip during one month over another could be the difference in hundreds of dollars.

Royal Caribbean's new last-minute cruise sale might be the best one we've seen in a really long time.

Almost every week, there’s a list of last-minute deals, though they are often limited and not particularly impressive.

Royal Caribbean's 'Going, Going, Gone' deals this week offer some of the best discounts we've seen.

The flyer offers upcoming cruise deals, typically on sailings that depart within the next few months.

These sales are often only available for two days at a time, with a handful of sailings listed by ship name, sail date, itinerary, embarkation port, and special rates for cabins.

Typically, not every cabin category has a great deal offered, and promotions can sell out quickly over the two days they're listed.

However, the Going, Going, Gone deals released on October 15th, has sailings to consider at some really good prices for a cruise in November or December 2024.

There are 77 different sailings at a discounted price you can consider. Additionally, the sale will last for a week, ending on Monday, October 21st.

This offers cruisers more options than usual and extra time to choose their preferred discounted sailing. One thing to keep in mind is that the discounted rates could sell out at any time and the flyer does not get updated.  So you'll want to act quickly.

Read more: How much does a cruise cost? (2024)

The sale has departure dates ranging from November 1st until December 20th, 2024. Departure ports are all based in the United States, over a range of 18 ships.

Here's how to get the best deal this week.

What sailings are offered?

If you've been looking for a last-minute Royal Caribbean cruise deal, the Going, Going, Gone discounts have some excellent prices for upcoming sailings.

The sailings are offered on 18 different ships, to a variety of United States ports.

The featured ports are Bayonne, NJ (BYE), Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL), Galveston, TX (GAL), Los Angeles, CA (LAX), Miami, FL (MIA), Port Canaveral, FL (PCN), and Tampa, FL (TPA).

For the months of November and December, you can get a discounted sailing on the following ships: 

• Adventure of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Serenade of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas 
• Wonder of the Seas

The departure dates on this week's Going, Going, Gone flyer all fall between November 1st and December 20th, 2024.

Which are the best deals?

This week's flyer includes some incredible deals, including on sailings on Royal Caribbean's newest ship: Utopia of the Seas.

Cruises on the newest Oasis Class ship are listed for as low as $572 per person in a neighborhood view stateroom—cheaper than the price of a typical interior cabin onboard! 

That's for a 3-night Bahamas and Perfect Day sailing, departing November 1st from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Balcony staterooms on Utopia are also discounted, ranging from $612 to $752 per person, depending on the sailing.

If you're looking to sail an older Oasis Class ship, Royal Caribbean also lists discounted sailings on Allure of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas.

You could sail on Symphony of the Seas for as little as $434 per person in an interior stateroom, departing November 6th on a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise (out of Miami, Florida).

Read more: Ultimate Guide to last-minute cruise deals

Have you been looking for a discounted suite stateroom? 

This week's flyer also offers discounts on deluxe staterooms on Adventure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.

One of the cheapest sailings in a suite we've ever seen is just $661 per person, on Liberty of the Seas. This cruise departs on December 9th, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day sailing.

As for longer cruises spanning a week or more, 7-night cruises on Radiance of the Seas are listed between $501 and $654 (varying depending on the cabin and sailing) per person.

Adventure of the Seas offers an 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise for as little as $493 per person (in an interior stateroom).

Discounts on longer sailings are also available on Freedom of the Seas, from an 8-night Eastern Caribbean sailing for just $444 per person (in an interior stateroom) to $744 per person in a balcony stateroom.

A 9-night Western Caribbean cruise in a balcony cabin could be yours for $789 per person on Jewel of the Seas (departing on November 29th, from Galveston, Texas).

The fine print

These cruises have some great deals but don't forget to read the fine print. All of the Royal Caribbean's itineraries and prices are subject to change.

Prices listed on the cruise line's website and marketing materials now include all taxes, fees, and port expenses (not including the cost of gratuities).

Governmental departure taxes and fees are additional.

The Going, Going Gone deals are valid only for new individual bookings. Cruisers may not combine these offers with any other promotional offers or discounts, other than Shareholder Benefits, Crown & Anchor benefits, or a NextCruise Onboard Booking Bonus. 

These rates begin on Tuesday, October 15th, and end at 11:59 P.M. on Monday, October 21st.

The prices are listed as per person, in USD, for only the sailings on the flyer. Other stateroom categories, sailings, or dates, are subject to change and may come at different costs.

The pricing is only available for the listed categories and excludes any deluxe accommodations.

Bookings made under the non-refundable deposit program will be subject to a $100 change fee per guest for ship or sail date changes.

You'll want to get onboard your cruise ship as soon as possible to get your vacation started. After all, the price you paid doesn't change if you board at 11am or 2pm.

As a result, you're going to want to get an early check-in time to assure you'll board the ship first.

Boarding a cruise ship is somewhat similar to boarding an airplane. Everyone waits for the ship to be cleared and ready to welcome passengers, and then boarding commences in groups.

Usually suite guests go first, followed by other passengers based on different criteria.

But before you can get into the cruise terminal, Royal Caribbean assigns check-in times to every passenger. It's part of the pre-cruise check-in process, and there are limited slots to each check-in window.

Knowing when to check-in for your cruise can be the difference between an early time and one in the afternoon. While a relatively straightforward process, it's important to know the proper steps as well as what to avoid when checking in.

Getting the earliest check-in time

You'll be able to reserve a check-in time closer to your sail date, and it's imperative to be on the ball to get those early time slots.

Royal Caribbean's online check-in opens 45 days before your cruise is set to begin. 

It's slightly confusing exactly what time check-in opens, because it's 45 days at midnight based on the ship's home port time. Meaning, if you live in New York, but your Alaska cruise departs from Seattle, your check-in time opens at 3am Eastern/midnight Pacific.

In my experience, check-in will open up a few minutes past midnight.  It's rarely exactly at midnight, usually five or ten minutes later.

You can do online check-in via Royal Caribbean's website or their app. Trust me, you'll want to use the Royal Caribbean app and not the website.

The primary reason to use the app is when check-in opens, you can skip right to the check-in times and select a time. The Royal Caribbean website will make you first fill out personal information before getting there.

You'll need to reserve a check-in time for everyone in your party.  After you're done and have the times confirmed, you can go back into the app later and fill out the rest of the personal information.

I know what you're thinking, "do I really need to stay up until midnight to check-in?" and the answer is yes, if you want the earliest time.

If you wait until morning, you'll probably have access to the second or third earliest check-in times.  That's far from terrible, and you'll still be way ahead of people that try to do it later. But if you absolutely, positively need to the earliest time, starting the check-in process at midnight is critical.

The earliest check-in times begin around 10:30am or 11:00am. It can vary from sailing to sailing.

Book a suite

The strategy outlined in this article applies to all passengers, but those staying in a suite have one advantage over other passengers.

Suite guests enjoy a flexible check-in window of plus or minus one hour based on the check-in time you reserved.

This means if you had an 11:00am check-in time via the app, you could check-in as early as 10:00am.

If you book a Star Class cabin, your Royal Genie will coordinate with you a specific time you want to arrive and they will work around your preference. It's the ultimate "fastpass" for checking in, but Star Class cabins will easily cost you five figures.

Keep in mind the check-in times doesn't correlate to boarding time.  It simply refers to what time they'll admit you into the cruise terminal to begin checking in.

It should go without saying that spending the extra money to move up to a suite just for an earlier check-in time almost certainly is not a great value.  But it's a lovely perk to add onto the suite experience.

Purchase The Key

There's one other way to get an early check-in by throwing money at the problem.

Royal Caribbean offers a VIP extra-cost add-on, known as The Key.

Guests that buy The Key get a number of added benefits, including priority access into the terminal on Day 1.

You still select a boarding time during online check-in, but a couple weeks before the cruise, you will get an email that tells you you can board with The Key (usually 11:30 after suite guests) or keep your scheduled time. 

I'm not a fan of purchasing The Key, but it's worth noting it could get you checked-in and onboard faster (among other benefits).

It looks like Royal Caribbean has finally given its customers a feature they've been clamoring for since the inception of a dining package.

Cruise ship passengers can book a dining package, where they can get a bulk discount on specialty restaurants.  Up until now, there was no mechanism to prebook a reservation at a specific restaurant and time before boarding the ship if you had a dining package.

Nearly a year to when they announced plans this upgrade, Royal Caribbean now is allowing guests booking the Unlimited Dining Package to pre-book days and times for restaurants online.

The advantage of this feature is it makes it significantly easier to get reservations instead of running around on embarkation day to make them.

In August 2024, pre-booking was opened up just for Allure of the Seas as a test.  But now it appears the test is available for all ships.

Here's how it works.

Login into Royal Caribbean's website and go to the Cruise Planner for your sailing.

Go to the Dining section, and choose the Unlimited Dining Package.

Click the Reserve button and then select the people you want the package for, and click add to cart.  At this point, you wait for each day's options to open up, with the ability to select times for each restaurant.

Be sure to follow through and make payment for the dining package to lock in your day and times.

There are two catches to its current implementation, keeping in mind Royal Caribbean is constantly working on improving its offerings.

First, the ability to pre-book times appears only available for the Unlimited Dining Package, and not the 3-night dining package.

Second, there does not appear to be a way to pre-reserve restaurants if you have already booked the dining package yet. You could cancel and rebook the Unlimited Dining Package, but you'd be subject to the prevailing rates for it.

Why this feature is so helpful

By allowing passengers to make reservations before they get onboard, it assures them of a specific day and time for their reservations.

Moreover, up until now, passengers had to hustle on the embarkation day to go make reservations.

Not only did this take away from enjoying the start of a vacation, there was usually lines to make a reservation and if someone waited until later in the cruise to book a time, they risk the frustration of restaurants being booked up.

Having to wait until boarding the ship to make dining reservations was the top pain point for passengers that booked a dining package.

With this change, a great deal of frustrations are removed from the cruise planning experience.

This change also benefits Royal Caribbean. If there are less passengers wanting to make dining reservations on embarkation day, they can move staff around to other places and reduce congestion on the Royal Promenade where crew members would wait to take reservations.

Is a dining package worth it?

If you're planning to eat at more than two specialty restaurants on your cruise, there's a good chance a dining package will save you money.

Royal Caribbean offers a flat cost to enjoy as many restaurants as you like with the Unlimited Dining Package, with the caveat if a restaurant is priced a la carte, you can only dine there once per day and with a stipend.

Examples of restaurants priced a la carte include Playmakers Sports Bar, Izumi sushi, and Portside BBQ.

Note that certain restaurants have an upcharge, such as Izumi Hibachi ($15), Chef's Table ($49.99), and Empire Supper Club ($130). 

The UDP doesn't include premium items in the Main Dining Room, the Taste of Royal experience, Celebration Table, or Chops Grille premium cuts. 

I've purchased a dining package about 20 times, and there's no question it can save you money, assuming you eat at the restaurants every night.

An example of how a dining package won't work out financially is if you have busy port day plans or are simply too tired to go to a restaurant for dinner and end up in the buffet or a counter service restaurant.

Likewise, if you're not interested in more than 2 or 3 specialty restaurants, then skipping the dining package makes sense too.

In addition to the Unlimited Dining Package, there are smaller offerings, such as the 3-night dining package, or the Chops + Your Choice package. These offer fewer evenings to dine, but it's cheaper and a good introduction to specialty dining.

Have you ever wanted to know how the crew members live onboard Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship? 

Jordan Bauth, a professional figure skater contracted on Utopia of the Seas has been onboard the newest Oasis Class ship for five months and shared a video to her YouTube channel documenting the crew-only areas. 

Utopia of the Seas launched in July 2024 and is Royal Caribbean's newest ship sailing exclusively on 3- and 4-night voyages to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

While guests enjoy the cruise line's first-ever immersive train car specialty restaurant, tropical Pesky Parrot Bar, and casual poolside bites at The Spare Tire, the crew have their own spaces to unwind and recharge.

Though Bauth's contract states she can venture into the guest areas, she claims to spend most of her time in the crew-only spots. If she does want to hang out in the guest spaces, she must be dressed in her uniform. Sometimes, she even needs to be in formal wear after 6:00pm. 

Here's a peek into where the crew members eat, relax, shop, and more on Utopia of the Seas. 

Helipad

Unlike older Royal Caribbean ships, the helipad on Oasis Class ships is only accessible by crew members. Because of how the vessels were designed, the only way to get there is to go through crew-only areas. 

"I really love the helipad," Bauth says, "It's such a nice way to get some fresh air [and] to get some sunlight on your skin. And it's a really nice way to watch the ship sail into a port and also sail away from a port."

Bauth also mentions that it's an amazing spot for stargazing at night, as there's nothing but open ocean surrounding her. She enjoys watching the sunset here, too. 

To get to the helipad, Bauth has to go to the Deck 6 crew area and take the stairs leading up to Deck 7. 

Outdoor bar

Deck 6 is home to the outdoor bar, where many late-night parties are held. There's usually a DJ playing, and it's also where the crew members can go to smoke. 

Because of that, however, Bauth doesn't go to the outdoor bar much. Instead, she likes to hang out at the crew rec area. 

Crew rec

The crew rec area is where Bauth will unwind after a long day of work. 

If she isn't talking with friends, she might play a game of pool. There are also dartboards, a ping-pong and foosball table, a video game section outfitted with tons of televisions, plenty of comfortable spaces to lounge, and even massage chairs! 

"I also really like hanging out in the crew rec area because it's usually quite quiet, and you do have a bit of service if you want to use your phone," Bauth says. 

Crew pub

The crew pub is located on Deck 4, and this is Bauth's go-to spot for a drink. In addition to a stocked bar, there are some board games available, including Risk, Monopoly, Scrabble, and Chess. 

"I really like the crew pub. You don't really feel like you're on a ship in this area," she explains, "I mean, that's personally what I think." 

Though it's enclosed and lacks natural light, it's tastefully decorated with artwork and televisions where they'll broadcast various sporting events. 

Crew disco 

One deck below the crew pub is the crew disco, which is essentially another bar. 

However, Bauth notes that it's not open regularly. Instead, it's more of a multi-purpose space where Crew Welfare will host events like wine and cheese nights, Latin parties, and more. The space is also used for training. 

Crew dining areas

Crew members have to eat, too! The Crew Windjammer, or crew mess, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Unlike on smaller ships, there's just one space for the crew to eat. As such, Bauth says the space is "massive" since it can accommodate over 1,200 people. 

While most of the food remains the same, there are a lot of different options. Plus, they'll sometimes have theme nights and food specials, including crêpes and ice cream during lunch, breakfast for dinner, etc. 

Outside of the mess is the crew cafe, Java Cafe. While specialty coffee costs money, the prices are relatively affordable. They have alternative milk options and even a juicer that can make smoothies. 

Bauth explains she spends a lot of time here since she's more productive outside of her cabin. However, she doesn't buy coffee too often and opts to make it in her stateroom. 

Attached to the Java Cafe is "Slopchest," the crew store which is like a "mini 7-11." 

In Bauth's opinion, there's not a ton of stuff to buy, but it's a good place if you need something urgently or have a craving for chips, candy, or ramen noodles. 

Human resources

The HR Center is also located on Deck 2. 

This is where crew members go when they need to resolve a room situation, sign off, or have other issues. It's not open 24/7, so they must pay attention to the operating hours. Still, she notes the staff are friendly. 

I-95

I-95 is the easiest way for crew members to navigate from the front (forward) of the ship to the back (aft) without going into guest areas. They also have access to elevators along the corridor for added ease of travel.

Read more: Take a look inside the crew member cabins on Royal Caribbean's newest mega ship

Crew laundry

When crew members need to wash their clothes, they head down to Deck 1. While there are a lot of washers and dryers, it's a busy spot. 

Crew do not have to pay to use the machines; however, they are responsible for purchasing their own detergent. There are also irons available free of charge. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean laundry services on your cruise

Crew gym and barbershop

Because she's a performer onboard Utopia of the Seas, Bauth visits the gym frequently since she has to log gym hours weekly. However, she usually goes to the guest gym to work out while taking in the ocean views. 

Though she doesn't go to the crew gym often, she notes how the space is quite large and never very busy. 

There's a variety of equipment, too—ranging from treadmills to bikes, rowing machines, dumbbells, yoga balls, and even a punching bag. 

Deck 0 is also where the crew barbershop is. “Because I don’t get my haircut really while I’m on a contract I actually didn’t know there was a barbershop...until a couple months ago," she says. 

The space is outfitted with two chairs, sinks, and outlets. 

Crew linen

Below Deck 0 is where the crew linen is. Bauth isn't responsible for washing her own sheets, so whenever she needs fresh bedding, she simply heads to the crew linen area. 

This location also provides crew members with toilet paper, towels, and cleaning supplies—including vacuums—that are available for rent

One of the top reasons people book a cruise are the places you can visit, including some truly hidden gems.

The Caribbean is a year-round cruise destination that attracts millions of cruise ship passengers, and while most are content with the usual spots, there are unique and less popular Caribbean ports that seasoned cruisers love to visit.

Part of the appeal is these spots are less busy than other ports, and they also offer a more authentic or down to earth stay. While exciting tours that involve an adrenaline rush or busy cities is quite popular, some cruisers prefer a quaint tropical island vibe.

It's also fair to say the more you cruise, the greater your appetite for something different. While I enjoy going to Cozumel, Mexico over and over, it's always a pleasure to mix things up and try somewhere new or different.

In fact, many people that cruise a lot will search Royal Caribbean's deployments for unique itineraries that include a visit to an uncommon port.  Or, they'll opt to take an excursion that brings them to a less busy spot.

Here are three ports that are worth a visit over the usual tourist spots when you take a cruise.

St. John

If your ship visits St. Thomas, you could take a short ferry ride over to neighboring St. John for an unspoiled beach day.

While there are beautiful beaches all around the Caribbean, none can compare to St. John's beaches in my opinion. Between the water color and clarity, it's exactly the look you'd expect from a beach when imagining the Caribbean.

Nearly all of St. John is a protected national park, and that means there's very few people on the island. The beaches are pristine and lack many of the amenities you'd find at a beach in St. Thomas.

There are many beaches to consider around St. John, but the top two for cruise ship visitors tend to be Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay Beach. There are more facilities at Trunk Bay, and it's closer to the ferry station.

The chief downside to St. John is getting there.  Because it requires a ferry ride, you need to time your visits properly to ensure you can get back and forth without being late to the cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean usually offers a few excursions to St. John that include the ferry ride, and it's the simplest way to make a day there. 

If you wanted to get there on your own, you could take a taxi to Red Hook and buy a round-trip ferry ticket.

If a ride over to St. John seems too much, you could take a water taxi to Water Island, which is even closer to St. Thomas, and also quite beautiful.

Nevis

Another "do this, not that" island combination is when visiting St. Kitts and Nevis.

Some cruisers elect to take a ferry over to Nevis, where you can enjoy time at one of the beautiful beaches there.

The ferry ride to Nevis takes about 45 minutes each way, and Royal Caribbean offers excursions that visit Nevis.

You can reach the ferry port on your own by walking downtown. It's about a third of a mile walk from Port Zante, or you could take a taxi.

Once you get to Nevis, a popular choice is to visit Oualie Beach for its black-sand beach.

A non-beach idea for a day in Nevis is to visit Alexander Hamilton's birthplace. The famous founding father of the United States grew up on Nevis until he was about 7 years old.

There's actually a museum dedicated to Hamilton, and it's a popular spot for fans of the musical.

The catamaran excursions that take you to Nevis are probably the simplest way to reach the island. Plus, many end the tour at Sunshine's on Nevis. Try a killer bee cocktail (you won't regret it).

Antigua

Among the Southern Caribbean ports you can visit, my favorite has to be Antigua. It features the idyllic beaches you expect, plus unlike the other islands in this article, no ferry ride!

Antigua claims there are 365 beaches around the island, which means there is one beach every day of the year. I'm not sure that statistic has been fact checked, but they do have a lot of pristine beaches to try.

The benefit of having so many beaches is it spreads people around.  Rather than one or two well-known beaches, you can find a great beach that is less crowded.

Royal Caribbean almost built a beach club in Antigua, but even without that distinction, it's a great beach day visit.

My go-to spot in Antigua is Valley Church Beach because it has powdery white sand, smooth aquamarine water, and fantastic views.

Honorable mentions

There are two other islands I wanted to include, but they're pretty rare to be able to visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Nonetheless, if you do have the chance, I would jump at giving it a try.

Anguilla

From St. Maarten, you can take a ferry or catamaran to Anguilla. 

Royal Caribbean offers a "Anguilla Sun, Sand and Sea" shore excursion that will take you to Meads Bay. 

Dominica

Select Southern Caribbean cruises stop at Roseau, Dominica where you can explore the nicknamed "Nature Island".

Instead of beaches, there is a rainforest, tall mountains, and majestic waterfalls to explore.

There are thermal springs, river tubing, rainforests and more to explore.

Antigua is found on only a handful of Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries, so you'll want to dig to find a sailing that goes here.