Royal Caribbean Blog staff members cruised over 50 times in 2024, sailing on dozens of vessels to countless ports around the world. As professional cruisers, we certainly know the ins and outs of cruising. That being said, there are always lessons to be learned on any cruise vacation.
Whether sailing on the world’s largest ship, Icon of the Seas, or on one of Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships, Vision of the Seas, our team followed a wide range of cruise tips throughout the year.
From stocking up on cheap cruise essentials to opting out of Royal Caribbean's shore excursions, here are the top 10 cruise tips that worked for our Royal Caribbean Blog staffers in 2024.
Calista booked non-Royal Caribbean shore excursions to save money
Royal Caribbean Blog writer Calista took 7 cruises in 2024, trying out new ships like Utopia of the Seas and smaller, older vessels like Brilliance and Rhapsody of the Seas.
Her cruises took her around the Caribbean and Europe, visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, and Barcelona, among other ports.
Related: 8 lessons I learned from every Royal Caribbean cruise I took this year
On most itineraries, Calista booked shore excursions directly through Royal Caribbean. Yet while this was convenient, Royal Caribbean’s excursions are typically more expensive than tours booked through independent operators.
So, during a visit to Nassau, Calista branched out and booked an excursion through shoreexcursions.com instead of through Royal Caribbean.
She paid just $50 per person for an excursion to nearby Pearl Island, whereas Royal Caribbean charged over $100 for a similar tour!
There are several advantages to booking directly through the cruise line, including a guaranteed return to the ship even if the tour runs late. Nonetheless, Calista had a great experience booking a shore excursion on her own.
Matt packed USB hubs and a long charging cable for his cabin
Matt boarded Allure of the Seas in February for a short 3-night cruise—one of his 14 (and counting) cruises in 2024. While packing, he made the mistake of assuming his cabin would have abundant outlets. Instead, due to the cabin's older design, he found himself struggling to charge all of his electronics throughout the cruise.
After this experience, he packed extra USB hubs and a long charging cord for the rest of his cruises in 2024. Even though cabins on new ships like Icon of the Seas have more than enough charging ports, this is not the case for cabins on older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
Note: While Royal Caribbean banned multi-plug outlet adapters earlier this year, USB hubs are still allowed.
Angie reserved entertainment shows before her cruise to ensure she had a seat
On select Royal Caribbean ships, guests can reserve entertainment shows ahead of their cruise on the Cruise Planner website. Because popular productions like Broadway shows can book up quickly, it’s recommended that guests reserve entertainment prior to embarkation day.
Earlier this year, social media strategist Angie took advantage of this advice while preparing for her Harmony of the Seas cruise. She made reservations online for the Broadway production of Grease and other popular events, which guaranteed her a seat.
During the cruise, Angie was grateful she took the time to make entertainment reservations ahead of time. When entering the theater, she noticed a long line of passengers waiting for standby seats at these events.
Related: 7 mistakes I saw passengers make on Harmony of the Seas
Instead of waiting in line and hoping for a seat at a fully-booked show, Angie could walk directly into the theater with her reservation.
Speaking of lines, Angie reserved Traditional Dining over My Time Dining to save time and hassle
The Main Dining Room is a staple of any cruise, and Angie enjoyed dozens of meals in the restaurant on her 8 cruises this year.
While booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, guests must choose between Traditional Dining and My Time Dining. Traditional Dining means passengers dine at the same time each evening with the same table and wait staff. My Time Dining, on the other hand, gives guests flexibility to reserve different dining times each evening.
Related: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining Versus Traditional Dining
Although My Time Dining allows for more flexibility, guests must remember to make dining reservations in advance. If not, they’ll be stuck waiting in line for an open table.
Angie almost always chooses Traditional Dining, and she was glad to have a guaranteed table and dining time each evening of her cruises. There was no need to make reservations individually for each dinner, and she never had to wait in a long line to enter the Main Dining Room.
Elizabeth tried an extra-cost activity on a port day for free
When writer Elizabeth cruised to Alaska earlier this year on Quantum of the Seas—one of 11 cruises in 2024—she was excited to try RipCord by iFLY, the ship’s indoor skydiving simulator. This activity is only available on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships, so trying the activity was a must for Elizabeth while onboard.
Related: I went on a 7-night cruise to Alaska. Here are 16 things that surprised me the most
However, RipCord by iFLY is unlike most Royal Caribbean activities in that it offers varied price options. On port days, the activity is complimentary for a 1-minute flight experience. Sea days, meanwhile, offer a 2-minute flight for nearly $100 per person.
Elizabeth wanted to save money, so she tried the skydiving simulator when her ship was docked in Icy Strait Point. The complimentary 1-minute experience allowed her to get a taste for the activity without spending extra.
Jenna booked her 2024 cruises with a travel agent, leading to savings and extra perks
Perhaps the most tried-and-true cruise tip we share at Royal Caribbean Blog is to book with a travel agent, and I followed this tip on each of my cruises in 2024.
As Royal Caribbean Blog’s video editor, I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s two newest ships this year: Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. Although I typically book most travel, such as flights and hotels, on my own, I always book cruises with a trusted travel agent.
Related: Why first-time cruisers should use a Royal Caribbean travel agent
Booking with a travel agent meant I didn’t need to do anything myself, and I got extra perks like onboard credit and discounted rates along the way. On my Utopia of the Seas cruise, in fact, my travel agent scored an upgraded balcony cabin in a more central location than what I originally booked.
A good travel agent will cost you nothing extra, and it’s one of the most helpful cruise tips to follow.
Allie stocked up on cheap cruise essentials from Dollar Tree
Packing for a cruise can feel overwhelming, especially if you follow every packing list on the internet to a tee. That $30 pair of sandals and $300 underwater camera would be nice, of course, but there’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on your cruise packing list.
Nonetheless, there are some essentials you do need to pack for a cruise, such as toiletries, and many cruisers also enjoy packing fun items like door decorations, too.
When Royal Caribbean Blog writer Allie was preparing for a cruise this year, she decided to shop at Dollar Tree for her cruise essentials. She purchased items like over-the-counter medication, magnetic clips, and travel-sized toiletries for just $1.25 each instead of spending significantly more at a store like Target.
Related: 5 Dollar Tree Items Cruisers Should Stock Up on Before Their Sailing
Sure, items may be more limited, but Allie was surprised how well this packing tip worked while cruising on a budget.
When sailing on the world’s largest cruise ship, Calista tried as many dining venues as possible
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas was, undoubtedly, the most anticipated cruise ship of 2024, and Calista had the opportunity to sail on the vessel this past summer.
As the biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas boasts mind-blowing entertainment venues like the AquaDome and endless thrills at the ship’s Category 6 Waterpark. Aside from activities, though, are an abundance of dining venues, from casual grab-and-go spots to high-end restaurants.
Related: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide
During Calista’s week on Icon of the Seas, she made it a point to try the ship’s diverse dining options. She loved the Mediterranean bowls at AquaDome Market and grab-and-go snacks at Pearl Cafe.
It’s easy to get into a routine of dining at only the Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet, but trying a variety of restaurants while cruising ensures that each day’s dining experience is different from the last. Plus, you might discover a new favorite dish!
Elizabeth tried Royal Caribbean’s coffee card, allowing her to try new beverages
Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package might be the most popular drink package—who doesn’t love unlimited cocktails, after all—but coffee lovers shouldn’t overlook the cruise line’s Cafe Select Coffee Card.
Elizabeth skipped a drink package on her recent cruise to Bermuda, instead opting for Royal Caribbean’s coffee card. For $36.58, the punch card entitled her to 15 espresso-based beverages throughout the cruise. As a plus, the card could be shared between Elizabeth and her travel partner (unlike a drink package).
Related: I tried the Royal Caribbean drink package nobody talks about. Why it's worth the money
With the card, the price per specialty coffee came out to around $2.43 per drink. Considering each drink could cost over $5 without the card, Elizabeth was pleased she gave it a try.
Matt arrived to his embarkation city with more than enough time to spare
European cruises are all the rage during the summer, and Matt was excited to head across the pond this past August for his own European adventure. Matt’s 7-night Spain and France cruise was set to depart from Southampton, so he made sure to arrive in London with plenty of time to spare before embarkation day.
If there’s just one piece of advice to follow when planning a cruise, it’s to always fly into your cruise embarkation city at least one day ahead of time.
Related: The worst part of flying to Europe could easily ruin half your cruise
Our staff members have heard far too many horror stories of cancelled flights, missed connections, and other travel mishaps en route to a cruise. Booking a flight the same day your cruise begins is risky; no one wants to risk missing their cruise altogether due to a travel delay.
Therefore, Matt arrived in London two days before embarkation day. Not only did this ensure he would make it to the port even if he encountered delays, but it also gave him time to recover from jet lag. As a plus, Matt had time to enjoy London’s highlights, too!
