Royal Caribbean Blog

One Royal Caribbean performer lost their job for over 6 months due to a visa disaster. 

Lera, an artistic swimmer from Russia who had worked on Royal Caribbean ships for 6 years, lost a contract when she didn't get her visa renewed in time. 

While working on cruise ships, she had been sharing behind-the-scenes videos of what it's like to be a crew member on her social media, with her YouTube channel amassing nearly 9,000 subscribers. 

These include tiny cabin tours, a crew-only beach in Labadee, and sailing on a repositioning cruise without passengers. 

Last year, she realized her visa was close to expiring, so she went to the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas during a port day. 

"Spoiler alert: This was the worst decision ever," she says in a video shared to her YouTube channel. 

Lera booked an appointment for March 25 and brought all the required documentation, including proof of a new contract offer. 

She claims this interview was different compared to other ones. She was asked questions about whether she was traveling to the U.S. for personal reasons and exactly how many days she planned to be in the country. 

"At the end of the interview, I thought, 'That's it. I'm fine. Everything is good,'" Lera explains. However, she was given a piece of paper and told that her documentation needed to be sent for administrative processing.

She began researching what administrative processing was, learning that it's an extra background check. Still, she never learned why her application was flagged or how long the process would take. 

"Believe me, I am doing everything legally. I'm working with one of the biggest cruise ship companies in the world. I never break any rules," she remarks. 

Unfortunately, her hope quickly faded when she discovered a chat with other foreigners going through similar issues — some had been waiting for years!

"No visa means no contract, no work, no nothing...My whole life is built around my contract"

Reading comments about other people who had been waiting 2 to 3 years consumed her, and Lera started to feel down. Because she didn't have a visa, her next contract was canceled. 

"I was feeling so sad because everybody in my cast started receiving contracts," she says. 

Her husband, Mario, also refused his contract because they didn't want to spend 10 to 11 months without seeing each other. 

While they want to settle down and have a family, she claims it's different when you're choosing to make that decision versus when you're forced to do it. 

The last month of her contract wasn't as happy as expected. Not only was she sailing through Europe, which was a dream, but her parents came on board. 

"I was just so exhausted. I was trying to process everything...My whole life is performing on a cruise ship," she confesses. 

However, she had accepted her fate by the very end, saying that she remembers telling herself to enjoy her last show. 

Once the contract ended, she returned to Russia and spent time with her family, but she spent a lot of time lying in bed and thinking about her next steps. 

With time, she began to feel better, celebrating her 30th birthday:

"I am healthy. I have my husband. I have my family and friends...I will be okay."

After her birthday, she visited Colombia and kept emailing the Embassy

After six months of waiting, she finally received an email instructing her to return to the Bahamas, but not revealing whether she would receive her visa or not. 

Initally, Lera booked an Airbnb for five days. Because of the lengthy process, though, she spent over two weeks in the Bahamas. She couldn't leave because the Embassy had her passport. 

"Honestly, those two weeks [were] the worst," she says. Since she wasn't there on vacation, she was constantly anxious.

She finally received her passport but was disappointed to learn that she had only been granted one visa. Lera didn't get the visa needed to travel to Miami, Florida, for rehearsals. Royal, however, assured her that everything should be fine. 

She got a contract to work aboard Allure of the Seas

Lera was excited to be working aboard Allure of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship that just re-entered service after a $100+ million revitalization. Still, after getting the visa and contract, she felt everything was too good to be true. 

With rehearsals scheduled to begin in late February, she started planning her life around her new contract. Her gut feeling was right, as she received an email saying immigration rules had changed, and she couldn't travel to Florida without a tourist visa. 

Lera claims she's the "most controlling person ever," yet she had no control over her life. 

She felt lucky that Royal wanted to continue working with her

Instead of revoking her contract, Royal agreed to let Lera travel straight to Allure. She was supposed to leave at the end of March ahead of Allure's April 11 voyage, but she needed to obtain a Schengen visa.

This added another complicated layer to her already tight travel timeline, especially since she says that right now isn't the best time for Russian citizens to obtain visas. Because she was still in Colombia, she needed to return to Russia to apply. 

"I don't know who cursed me. Please, can you lift that curse? I cannot handle this anymore," she half-joked.

After applying for the visa, she was stuck in yet another limbo, waiting for the country to return her passport. 

Though they had confirmed her passport had been mailed, they didn't disclose whether she was granted the right visa. Without the Schengen visa, she couldn't work on Allure of the Seas, which is where her husband is working.

In the meantime, she tried to keep herself busy by rehearsing using videos sent to her of the choreography, utilizing her phone and laptop to watch the other casts' movements. 

"I'm trying to keep my head high and hoping that I will get the Schengen visa," Lera says. 

She doesn't end the video on a negative note

With hopeful music playing in the background, Lera opens up a package containing her passport. She's shaking and scared. 

However, she quickly breaks down into tears when she realizes she got the necessary Schengen visa.

"I did not expect to react like that...I'm going to a ship!" she happily remarks. If you're sailing on Allure of the Seas this summer, keep an eye out for Lera, who is ready to return to work on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship! 

A balcony is the most popular cabin on a cruise ship, but you don't want to pay for one if it's going to disappoint you.

The last thing you probably want is to wake up each morning looking at a lifeboat, or be kept awake each night by music.

Most people imagine their balcony room will have unfettered views of the ocean and be a private retreat to enjoy every day.

The reality is not all balcony cabins are created equal, and you could end up with a balcony room that's disappointing.

When I booked a Junior Suite on Freedom of the Seas, I was disappointed when I got onboard the ship to see cleaning equipment blocking my view.

I thought my balcony would be a great choice, but I didn't pay close enough attention to the partial obstruction note.

The top balcony cabin letdowns

There are three kinds of balcony cabins I'd think twice before booking.

An obstructed balcony is the first kind that almost always results in a letdown.  This is defined as a balcony that has some structure blocking the view.

It could be because of lifeboats, equipment, or partial overhangs.

Royal Caribbean's deck plans should indicate if a balcony is obstructed, and at what percentage.  You should refer to the deck plans before choosing a cabin. Or see if there's a YouTube cabin video for your specific room.

Another kind of bad balcony cabin is a noisy balcony.

Cabins under the pool deck, nightclub, Windjammer, or near the AquaTheater can all get pretty loud at certain times of the day.

This is more problematic for light sleepers, or anyone that prefers to go to bed early or sleep late. Unexpected sounds emanating from outside the cabin at odd hours can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule.

On one cruise I stayed in a balcony cabin near the Centrum on Jewel of the Seas and the music kept us awake every night.

How loud a cabin is won't show up on deck plans, but I'd recommend always booking a cabin that is located one deck above and below other cabins.

The further away the room is from public spaces, the less likely noise bleed will be an issue as well.

Lastly, some balcony rooms have a lack of privacy that can be alarming.

Neighborhood balconies are cabins that face inwards towards the ship, rather than out to the ocean. Examples include Boardwalk, Surfside, or Central Park balconies.

The issue is people walking by the room or passengers in cabins opposite your room can see directly into your cabin if the curtains aren't drawn.

The good news is these rooms are great for people watching, but not so much for private lounging.

People often book these cabins because of one choice

If you're thinking how could someone be so naive to book those balcony rooms, the reality is they probably booked them indirectly.

Royal Caribbean offers customers a money-saving option by letting the cruise line pick their cabin assignment with a guarantee room.

You could save hundreds of dollars by going with a guarantee cabin assignment, but it's a gamble as to which room you'll get.

Quite often guarantee rooms default to the leftover rooms others didn't pick.

The same holds true for bidding for a stateroom upgrade.

The entire premise of RoyalUp is to allow passengers to pay less to move up to unsold rooms or ones that got cancelled at the last minute.

There's nothing wrong with saving money and getting a great deal on a better cruise room upgrade.  Just understand you might end up in one of these rooms.

Know the differences before booking these "balconies"

There are three more types of rooms that are variations on a traditional balcony that I'd caution you to fully understand why they aren't what you might expect.

None of these cabins should be avoided, per se. Instead, I'd recommend fully comprehending what these rooms are all about before you book.

One of the cheapest rooms you can book is a virtual balcony, where you have a floor-to-ceiling high-definition screen showing live views from outside your room.

I'd argue virtual balcony rooms aren't a replacement for a regular balcony. Rather, they're upgrades from a regular inside room.

A new type of balcony introduced on the Icon Class ships is an infinite balcony.

The idea is the balcony space is convertible, with a sliding glass window that opens up to provide a breeze and view.

In reality, the infinite balcony is more like a room with a window than a room with a true balcony that you can step onto and peer around.

Families tend to like these rooms more because it provides more living space, especially with young children.

Lastly, if you aren't booking both sides of a connecting balcony room, I'd skip them.

I love connecting balcony rooms as a money saving hack for my family, but the common door between the rooms is not very good for abating noise, and that can be a problem if you don't know the people on the other side of the door.

The best Royal Caribbean balcony cabins to look for instead

Now that you know which balcony cabins aren't so great, here are the types of balcony rooms I'd book instead.

People that cruise a lot swear by aft-facing balcony rooms, which are balconies on the back of the ship.

They're usually larger and have incredible wake views.  They're definitely better on Royal Caribbean's older ships, like Vision or Radiance Class vessels.

Another good idea is to book a balcony cabin mid-ship, instead of one at the very front of the ship. This location tends to be the most stable and offer the least sensation of movement.

A lot of first time cruisers want to avoid getting seasick at any cost, so picking a room in the middle is best for this.

One other kind of balcony cabin to look for when you're reviewing deck plans are cabins with angled balconies.

Some corner rooms have more space without extra cost and can be a great choice.

When it's actually better to book an inside room instead of a balcony

There's another kind of balcony disappointment that can occur, and it has nothing to do with your room location.

If you book a cruise on one of the biggest ships, or perhaps a very port intensive itinerary, you're barely going to be in your room because of all the fun things to do outside of it.

I've often heard from readers who liked their balcony room, but lamented how little time they spent inside of it.

And of course there's buyer's regret, when you pay inflated prices due to demand for a balcony room.

Spending extra money on cabin amenities you won't really take advantage of can be a compelling reason to book a cheaper inside room instead.

Research your room to avoid days of regret

It's pretty easy to book the right balcony for your family if you spend a little bit of time researching the right option.

Booking the right balcony adds serious value to your cruise, and can be a wonderful space to enjoy every day.

Ultimately, you want your balcony to be a highlight, not a headache.  Now that you have the right information, you should be able to get the perfect one on your next cruise.

Indulging in delicious food is often one of the highlights of cruising. From homemade pastries to delectable three course meals each evening, it seems like there is never ending food on a cruise! 

Now, it looks like Royal Caribbean is serving a new breakfast food that is quickly becoming a favorite among cruisers. One cruiser posted on Reddit recently about the cruise line’s new homemade cinnamon rolls, stating the pastry has potential to become “a new cult favorite” on Royal Caribbean.

As a cinnamon roll connoisseur myself, I couldn’t wait to see if my cruise would be serving up the newest pastry. Our family can’t resist a good cinnamon roll, and, not to boast, but I make a pretty fantastic homemade cinnamon roll myself! 

I’m currently sailing on Anthem of the Seas on a repositioning cruise from Singapore to Tokyo, and I was thrilled to see the new cinnamon rolls being served our first morning onboard. My mom and I grabbed one of the cinnamon rolls to try with our morning coffee, as they looked promising and appeared similar to pictures circulating online. 

After one bite, we could tell these cinnamon rolls were unlike any pastry we had tried on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Someone needed to do the hard and important work of reviewing these new cinnamon rolls for the site, and I was happy to volunteer! As a lifelong cinnamon roll enthusiast and baker, I’m here to provide you with an in-depth review of Royal Caribbean’s newest pastry, and whether it's worth the hype. 

For starters, the cinnamon rolls seem to be available everywhere breakfast is served.

Because Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum class ship, there are multiple places to dine for breakfast. In addition to the Windjammer buffet, you can find other cafes and eateries serving breakfast onboard. During my first few days on the ship, I was thrilled to find the new cinnamon rolls being served throughout the ship. 

On our first morning, we found the cinnamon rolls being served in Cafe Promenade. The following morning, the rolls were also available in the Windjammer Cafe for breakfast, served alongside other pastries and muffins. The pastry attendant even offered to warm up the cinnamon roll for us, which was a nice touch! 

Today, we ordered a few of the rolls from Cafe 270 to have with breakfast, though these seemed smaller than the other ones we’ve had.

In addition, some Redditors report the cinnamon rolls are available through room service with continental breakfast. Continental breakfast is complimentary on Royal Caribbean cruises and includes an option to order pastries. I'll be testing this theory later in the cruise, as I love receiving breakfast to my cabin with room service!

In the Reddit thread, other cruisers have also shared the cinnamon rolls are available in Park Cafe and Solarium Bistro on Oasis class ships, along with the Pearl Cafe on Icon class ships. One responder shared they were able to get the cinnamon roll warmed up at Pearl Cafe.

The cinnamon rolls seem to be popular aboard our sailing. Every time I’ve waited in line to order one, there are a few others looking to do the same. But, I've never had an issue ordering one, so they seem to be stocked!

Royal Caribbean’s new cinnamon rolls are modestly sized and lightly frosted, but they’re not overly sweet.

I'll be honest, I was skeptical if the new cinnamon rolls would live up to the buzz they're receiving online. I love a big, gooey and sweet cinnamon roll - so the bar was high. But, after taking one bite, our family was genuinely impressed with the new recipe. The dough tastes homemade, and one crew member confirmed the rolls are baked fresh each morning onboard. 

In my amateur baking experience, homemade dough can be a little dense, and that holds true here. Royal Caribbean’s cinnamon rolls are more dense rather than light and fluffy. But, this isn’t a bad thing. We prefer the denser texture - and the bread still tastes soft and fresh.

In our opinion, the filling leans heavily into the cinnamon flavor. It tastes like the cinnamon is blended with sugar or brown sugar rather than butter, giving it a bold, sweet kick. Each roll is generously swirled, and after just one bite, you can see the rich, dark cinnamon ribbon running through the layers.

Now, the best part… the frosting! I prefer my cinnamon rolls to drown in overly-sweet, melty frosting. I typically make my cinnamon roll frosting with butter, vanilla, milk and powdered sugar for a sweet finish. 

However, Royal Caribbean’s new cinnamon rolls are finished with a light layer of cream cheese frosting. There might be a touch of lemon in the frosting too, making it a little tangy. Personally, I wouldn’t complain if there was more frosting; after all, I don’t think you can never have too much frosting on a cinnamon roll.

That said, Royal Caribbean’s new cinnamon rolls seem sufficiently frosted without being over-the-top. There is also a small dusting of powdered sugar to add a hint of sweetness. The sweet frosting perfectly complements the bold cinnamon filling and yeasty, homemade dough.

The hype is real — the cinnamon rolls are drool-worthy.

After sampling a few cinnamon rolls during the first few days of my cruise, I can confirm the newest pastry is worth the hype! Our entire family agreed the new cinnamon rolls are a huge upgrade from the cruise line’s earlier attempt at cinnamon rolls.

Prior to this new recipe, the cinnamon rolls left a lot to be desired — they were bland, dry and noticeably lacked in flavor. The pastry was lightly glazed at best and hardly resembled a real cinnamon roll. They didn’t taste freshly made, and in all honesty, I’ve yet to come across anyone who actually enjoyed them.

Now, it’s pretty apparent the cinnamon rolls are freshly made each day onboard. Many commenters on Reddit stated the rolls tasted like they were from a bakery, and I agree wholeheartedly!

One commenter shared, “[The cinnamon rolls] were in Windjammer and Pearl Cafe as well, when I was on Icon [of the Seas]. Pearl Cafe even heated them up for me when asked. Very good cinnamon roll!”

Another user shared, “I ordered the continental breakfast and checked (assorted pastry) and this arrived! I was pleasantly surprised. Icing isn’t too sweet, and good ratio of icing to roll. Thanks for the tip on where to find them!”

“Yeah I ordered a pastry plate for room service breakfast on the Wonder last week and confirm it was really good,” stated another cruiser.

One cruiser commented similarly, “I had one at the Windjammer on Odyssey [of the Seas] on Sunday just before departing the ship. It was very tasty!”

“Yeah, I was impressed too! The danishes were pretty good too. Everything else was basic but ok,” said another commenter.

I agree with the hype these cinnamon rolls are receiving - and I can see how they will become a favorite onboard. Honestly, they’re on par with what you’d expect from a local bakery or even homemade straight from the oven. If you’re cruising with Royal Caribbean soon, be sure to try one of these cinnamon rolls for yourself!

Royal Caribbean is pausing visits to its private destination of Labadee, Haiti due to violence and lawlessness in the country.

An upsurge in gang violence has prompted Royal Caribbean to change scheduled visits, the second time there's been a major pause in visits since last year.

In April 2025, ships began getting re-routed to bypass Labadee and visit other ports instead.

"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. While Labadee remains a safe destination to visit, and outside of the areas of concern, we’re swapping out our visit," is what the cruise line told passengers who were booked on a ship scheduled to go there.

Royal Caribbean made similar changes between March and October 2024 when gang violence first became a major issue there. The violence gained worldwide attention because of the tenacity and widespread nature of it.

Labadee is the name of a beach area reserved exclusively for the use of Royal Caribbean ships and its passengers on a peninsula in northern Haiti.  It's walled off from the rest of the country and Royal Caribbean employs a private security force there.

Royal Caribbean has leased the 260-acre site since the 1980s, and it's 130 miles north of Port-au-Prince (about a six-and-a-half-hour drive) and has not been impacted by other periods of unrest in the country.

For a few months in 2024, Royal Caribbean cancelled visits to Labadee "in an abundance of caution", but resumed visits later that year.

Prioritizing the safety of its guests and crew members is why Royal Caribbean made the decision, as it does in any part of the world which faces geopolitical issues.

As the summer 2025 cruise season approaches, many are wondering what is happening with scheduled visits to Labadee and what are the chances it will still occur.

Visits starting to cancel

While Royal Caribbean hasn't made an official announcement yet as to what its future plans are for Labadee, at least four Royal Caribbean ships have had scheduled visits changed.

"Your safety is our top priority," is what Royal Caribbean wrote to guests about making these changes.

There is no set timeframe when a stop can be cancelled by, as the change could occur right up to the day the ship is scheduled to visit. We've seen emails go out much sooner than that, but it's important to note itineraries can change at any time.

There have been no safety issues reported or incidents at or near Labadee.

Why Royal Caribbean is pausing visits to Haiti

While there has been no reported incidents of violence in Labadee, an abundance of caution seems to be the primary factor in cancelling calls to Labadee.

Royal Caribbean has a team at headquarters that monitors incidents that could impact their cruise ships.  From severe weather, to political situations, to economic factors, these are all taken into consideration when it comes to the safety of its guests, crew, and ships.

Where are cruise ships are going instead of Labadee?

With Royal Caribbean ships getting re-routed away from Haiti, alternative ports of call are the first choice in trying to update an itinerary.

Depending on which ports are available for a last-minute itinerary change, Royal Caribbean has slipped them in accordingly.

So far, ships have been re-routed to Nassau, Bahamas and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Legally, there is no obligation or requirement for the cruise line to replace the scheduled port visit with another port. 

You're ready for a great day at the beach in warm tropical waters with the sun shining, but the Captain announces a change in the itinerary for your cruise ship. Who makes that call?

Craig Setzer is Royal Caribbean’s Chief Meteorologist, and it's his job to monitor weather developments around the world to make sure cruise ships are never in danger.

When he was hired, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty gave Mr. Setzer his marching orders when he told him, "I'm concerned about port weather events. Something that happens to us when we're in or near port that's sudden, a surprise, unexpected and not well forecast."

Since then, Mr. Setzer has been working every day to ensure bad weather doesn't compromise the safety of Royal Caribbean's planned sailings.

"From a weather perspective, safety is a given and it always comes first," he said during a seminar held at Seatrade Global conference earlier this month.

Of course, ensuring passengers enjoy their vacation is also important, "Guest comfort and guest experience are second on the list, right after safety."

What happens when bad weather threatens a port

When there's bad weather at sea, cruise ships can deviate.  But in port it's a different story.

"When you're in the open ocean, it's more about the wave heights or sudden wind events, " Mr. Setzer explained.

"In port, you don’t have room to deviate… there’s higher sensitivity to weather events like sudden wind gust."

There are risks to ships and the people on them while in port if bad weather strikes suddenly. Lines can break, ships can accidently veer off course and end up grounding or allision.

To determine if a change to your port stop is needed, Mr. Setzer relies on a three step approach: detect, notify, act.

"We have to know that something is coming that wasn't expected," he explained. Looking at weather models and tracking storms is part of that.

The second step is if he sees something concerning, to alert the ship and crew immediately.

The final step is to act and let the people at Royal Caribbean's marine division make a decision on a change.

He said his job is primarily detection, and he's thankful he's not the one making the call on a reroute, "I’m more on the detection part. We’re working together to create a notification part."

Hurricane season and big decisions

Forecasters recently called for an "above normal" hurricane season this year, but that doesn't change how he views his prep for what to expect.

"Even in low years like 1992, South Florida got Andrew. In high years like 2022, we didn’t get anything. So you never know."

Royal Caribbean never takes the threat of a hurricane lightly, "from a marine perspective, we prepare every year with the possibility we could have an impact. We don't say this year it's a low number, so we're going to relax now."

Craig spent 25 years in South Florida, and 22 of those years was spent as a TV weatherman in Miami. That experience from decades in Miami makes him a step ahead.

"I  tend to anticipate the weather more than the models… even before a hurricane advisory comes out, I’m thinking: Where are my ships going to go to stay safe?"

Last year, he participated in a preparedness test with key members across Royal Caribbean. The cruise line runs multiple hurricane exercises per year to get everyone ready for the season. 

In one example, a simulation had a storm that rapidly intensifies as it approaches South Florida. It began developing within 3 days of reaching Miami, putting everyone behind the planning curve from the beginning.

"This scenario is entirely possible and has happened before in history. Most folks think we will have days and days to watch and prepare."

How Royal Caribbean uses AI and radar to outsmart the weather

Royal Caribbean is blending artificial intelligence with weather radar to improve storm detection and cruise safety.

Royal Caribbean partnered with Meteopress to purchase a new radar system for the cruise line's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island in The Bahamas.

This isn't a run-of-the-mill radar station. It incorporates AI tools will forecast the weather to better detect port weather issues well before they hit.

It uses AI and machine learning to determine where traditional weather models have biases, and then corrects for those biases.

The weather radar is so powerful that it can reach up to 300 miles away, which will include Miami.

According to Mr. Setzer, all of this allows meteorologists to better anticipate weather events in terms of time instead of distance. It's a tool for Royal Caribbean to leverage.

Mr. Setzer's role blends science, instinct, and guest care in every voyage. By virtue of the fact Royal Caribbean employs a meteorologist, it provides a hidden value that guests may not be aware of, but is constantly watching for any potential issues.

Royal Caribbean is halting visits to Haiti due to security concerns in the country.

At least two cruise ships so far informed passengers that they will skip visits to Labadee, which is the cruise line's private beach destination in Haiti.

Labadee is located in a remote area of the country, far from the turmoil in the that has plagued the capital for years. 

It's a cruise line private destination operated by Royal Caribbean. The resort area is guarded by a private security force.

Passengers on Voyager of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas reported the change on their current sailing.

Announcements were made by the ship's Captain and letters distributed as well with the update, "As previously announced by our Captain, out of an abundance of caution, instead of visiting Labadee on Thursday, we’ll enjoy a beautiful day in Nassau, Bahamas, on Friday."

Thanks to Brian Landstrom for sharing this letter

Voyager of the Seas will head to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic instead.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, Royal Caribbean also informed guests sailing on the Adventure of the Seas May 2 their planned stop in Labadee will be changed.

Instead of Labadee, Adventure will go to Puerto Plata as well.

Thanks to Paul Crow for providing this email

Another ship re-routed away from Haiti on Wednesday is Symphony of the Seas.

The ship is sailing a 9-night Caribbean itinerary and they are skipping Labadee.

Guests that purchased shore excursions in Labadee will be refunded the value to their SeaPass Account as an onboard credit. 

The letter goes onto say, "We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change."

Some passengers are upset about the change.

One cruiser on Reddit posted, "can’t believe there’s people actually on the ship that is kicking off and saying that they want a full refund of the cruise because they only booked it because they’re going to Haiti."

"Obviously, the safety of the crew staff ships stuff on the island and also the guest is paramount ."

No other cruise lines sail to Haiti.

Gangs claiming more towns

The changes are likely due to an escalation in the gang violence within the beleaguered Caribbean country.

Gangs have formed coalitions in Haiti, and have carried out military-style ambushes, proving themselves to be more mobile and more coordinated that ever before.

On Monday, Haiti's government approved a "war budget" to combat rising gang violence.

Almost half the money is for Haiti’s police and military “to fight the armed groups that threaten national stability."

The civil unrest in Haiti has forced Royal Caribbean's hand in this situation, even if Labadee is not near the areas of conflict.

The latest U.S. State Department Travel Warning is set at "Level 4: Do Not Travel".

There's a litany of reasons why the warning is in place, "Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. Kidnappers may plan carefully or target victims at random, unplanned times. Kidnappers will even target and attack convoys. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members. "

More cancellations could be coming

It's not clear if additional cruises will be cancel their visits to Labadee as well.

Reddit user RC-Cruise-Swing shared what the Captain on Voyager of the Seas said, "The captain just said that Royal Caribbean have cancel all stops to Haiti for the next month due to the ongoing situation which is rapidly escalating."

Political and civil strife in Haiti is not new, and the travel warnings have been in places for many years. 

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach area, is a walled-off, exclusive beach on a peninsula in northern Haiti.

It's located 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Royal Caribbean cancelled visits to Haiti in March 2024 and suspended all visits until October 2024.

Sister company Celebrity Cruises announced it would halt visits to Labadee last month.

Since restarting visits, there's been no incidents with the various cruise ships stopping there.

Guests patiently awaiting their cruise aboard the new Icon Class ship have a lot to look forward to, as Royal Caribbean released Star of the Seas' entertainment lineup. 

From original stage productions to ice skating spectaculars, here's everything you can expect to find on the Star of the Seas, starting with the AquaTheater.

Torque is Star's high-diving spectacle and will feature "the most synchronized swimmers of any AquaTheater show." The aquatic show will also showcase cutting-edge technology, according to the infographic shared by Royal Caribbean.  

First launched on Oasis of the Seas, the AquaTheater has become a fan favorite. An enhanced indoor version debuted on Icon of the Seas in January 2024. 

Supposedly, Pirates & Mermaids will finally debut on Star of the Seas. The new AquaTheater show was supposed to launch on Icon, but as of April 2025, it has yet to make an appearance. In the family-friendly show, pirate escapades will meet mesmerizing mermaids. 

Another favorite entertainment venue is the ice skating rink. Sol, the brand-new show designed for Star of the Seas, will "trace the sun's path from coast to coast...with extreme stunts and out-of-this-world projects," as well as the largest ice skating cast in the fleet. 

Royal Caribbean introduced the first ice skating rink at sea aboard Voyager of the Seas in 1999. Like the AquaTheater, the venue got a major upgrade when Icon of the Seas launched. Absolute Zero is now the largest ice rink at sea and was carefully designed to ensure that every seat was strategically positioned for optimal viewing. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean will add Back to the Future musical to its next new cruise ship

Moving onto the Broadway musical, Star of the Seas will be home to Back to the Future: The Musical. This was first revealed in September 2024 after the Royal Caribbean Productions Facebook page posted that it was holding auditions for the musical. Better yet, the musical will be accompanied by the largest orchestra at sea. 

Icon of the Seas also received a brand-new musical. However, Royal's adaptation of The Wizard of Oz is an original version of the classic story, rather than the 2011 musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber. 

Another new show is coming to the theater aboard Star: Create. According to the infographic, "Artistic creation [will come] to life through dance, visual arts, music, and more in the Royal Theater."

Finally, a new parade will debut in the Royal Promenade. Dubbed "Ocean Odyssey," it'll take the audience on a quest to find the lost Royal Scroll with King Atlantis and his crew. 

Plenty of late-night activities 

From comedy shows in The Attic to salsa dancing in Boleros, lively shows in Dueling Pianos, and sultry jazz, the evening lineup on Star is impressive. 

Overall, it's similar to what you can expect on Icon of the Seas today. You can sip on craft cocktails at 1400 Lobby Bar, listen to electrifying rock and roll tributes in the Music Hall, relax to calming harps in the Overlook, or sing along to your favorite tunes at the Thorn & Thistle Pub. 

With so many places to listen to music, you'll have to hop between venues to hear it all — not to mention the unique cocktails available throughout the ship. 

Read more: 8 changes coming to Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship (and 1 returning favorite)

Star of the Seas will launch in August 2025

Star's construction is moving along so well that Royal Caribbean has bumped up its first voyage not once, but twice! 

At first, Royal planned for Star to debut with two 4-night "showcase cruises" ahead of the official inaugural cruise on August 31, 2025. Now, the first sailing is scheduled for August 20, 2025. 

The 3-night cruise will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

When I sailed on the biggest cruise ship in the world, I wasn't expecting a space meant to provide sweeping views to act as a de facto zen spot.

One change Royal Caribbean made with Icon of the Seas was not to offer a Solarium, which is the traditional adults-only enclave on other ships.

Instead, they went with the Hideaway neighborhood.  This offers adults-only space, but with a pool party atmosphere.

It's clear some cruisers prefer to have a view of the ocean along with peace and quiet.

The more I've cruised on the world's largest cruise ship, the more I've realized an area within the Aquadome neighborhood has become the go-to spot for reading, napping, and enjoying a calming day.

The quietest spot is at the front of the ship

At the very front of the Aquadome neighborhood, which is effectively "behind" the Aquatheater", is arguably the quietest spot.

Known as the Overlook, it's an open seating area that faces the front of the ship.

Royal Caribbean describes it as "With two levels of floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows, the ocean views from inside the awe-inspiring AquaDome are unmatched."

With all the light coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, it's easily one of the most relaxing indoor spaces on the ship.

In fact, the pods are one of the most popular spots on the ship.

Ever since Icon debuted, word got out quickly that snagging a pod is perfect for reading, doing work, or just getting some privacy.

The pods are elevated and enclosed, which makes them semi-exclusive.  

I've used them to do work, and it helps there are outlets within each one.  

Even if you don't have a pod, there are all sorts of comfortable loungers and chairs that face the ocean.

Best yet, there's no music or party atmosphere here. And it's all indoors, so the air conditioning makes it always comfortable. The Hideaway is in direct sunlight with little to no shade.

The only time it gets loud is when there's an Aquatheater show being performed or rehearsed. However, going here in the morning is almost always guaranteed to be quiet.

It speaks to a need some cruisers have about having a quiet place with a view.

It's also become the de facto teen club at night

If you walk through the Overlook after dinner, I've noticed the teens come out in force to hang out here too.

Despite having their own club, teens on cruises seem to prefer to hang out on their own terms. This usually comes in the form of hanging out in stairwells.

In the case of Icon, I noticed the teens gravitated towards the Overlook at night because the area is pretty much empty.

Before you shake your fist angrily at "those young people", there's really nothing for adults to do here after dark.  The bar shuts down and there's no entertainment.  Without the teens, the Overlook empties out considerably.

The best coffee bar on the ship is nearby

If you're going to Pearl Cafe to get your coffee on Icon of the Seas, you're doing it wrong.

Adjacent to the Overlook is the Rye & Bean bar. It has its own espresso machine and can make most coffees you can get elsewhere.

But it's also where you can some fabulous coffee-based cocktails.

It transitions from coffee bar in the morning to cocktail bar at night, and with those views you have from the Overlook, it makes it so enjoyable to sit and watch as you sip.

Image created by PG Cruiser

Two cocktails to try here are the Coffee Boulevardier and the Hibiscus Tea Punch.

The tea is refreshing and flavorful, while the Boulevardier has a really bold taste that makes it not taste like every other cocktail.

The quiet spot to hide on other ships

If you're not sailing on an Icon Class ship, there are other refuges to discover.

The Solarium is usually fairly quiet on other ships, although it is a pool. So there can be loud conversations in the pool, hot tub, or bar.

Ships that have a Library or Card Room tend to be your best bet for a quiet escape, as they aren't nearly as rowdy as any pool would be.

My personal favorite for a quiet retreat is the outside promenade deck that faces the ocean.

It's usually on deck 4 or 5 of most ships, and it offers chairs that face the ocean.  

I'll grab a chair in the shade, and prop my feet up on the stools they usually come with, and then prop my laptop up to do some work.

Your cruise vacation should be plenty fun, including the very start of it.

If you're like me, the final couple of days before the cruise is filled with anticipation and excitement for it to finally begin.  And I always make sure to do whatever I need to do to ensure it all goes off without a hitch.

While I can't anticipate every single possible issue, I've found there's a solid strategy for planning the right start to my cruise that can sidestep the big ones.

If you're flying to Orlando International Airport in order to sail from Port Canaveral ("Orlando" as the cruise line marketing department refers to it), there are "rules" I'd recommend everyone follow to make it as easy as possible.

Have every step of check-in complete before you step foot in Florida

Before your flight lands at Orlando International Airport or your car crosses the border into Florida, you should have completed all the check-in steps in the Royal Caribbean app.

 I hate wasting time doing things that could have been done before, and you're going to need to have the app installed with the online check-in process completed to expedite the process as quickly as possible.

You can do the first two steps in the app in the weeks leading up to your cruise. Don't forget to take a selfie photo too!

The final step needs to be completed the day of the cruise, and you can do that as you drive to the the cruise terminal (preferably someone who is not driving).

Completing all the steps before embarkation day makes the check-in go so much faster.

Hotels are cheaper (and better) in Orlando

Port Canaveral is about 30 to 45 minutes away from Orlando, but I'd still recommend booking a hotel there instead of one in Cocoa Beach.

The hotels in Cocoa Beach are fine, but I think they're overpriced and lack amenities compared to the ones in Orlando.

Because there are more hotels around Orlando, I'm betting you could probably save some money on a hotel there too.

In addition, if you're flying to Orlando in the evening, I'd rather save the drive to the cruise area for the morning.  Plus, having to drive to Port Canaveral that morning works better because you're going to be too excited to sleep in!

There are a lot of hotels north of the Orlando International Airport on or around Semoran Boulevard. 

The two best options to get to cruise terminal

If you don't have your own car to drive, there are two options I'd recommend.

First is to use a ride share service to get you there.  This is what my family does in almost every port because it allows you to travel on your schedule.

There's plenty of cars around the airport, so no need to schedule anything. 

The other option our team really likes is Go Port Shuttle, which can best be described as the only shuttle service that doesn't have the problems of a shuttle service.

It's about $30 per person each way, and works quite efficiently.

Royal Caribbean offers transfers, but I think going on your own is going to involve less "hurry up and wait" situations.

Get the temporary toll pass for your rental car

If you decide to rent a car, be sure to get the the Visitor Toll Pass (not SunPass).

Your car rental company will offer a toll option, but they charge a fee of their own on top of the tolls. It's quite easy to apply for a tag or use the app to save money on both tolls and car rental fees.

You could also stop by the vending machine near the rental car counters and pick up a Visitor Toll Pass. When your trip is done you just return the tag to the machine you picked it up at.

The entire highway between the airport and Port Canaveral is a toll road, with multiple tolls along the way.

Stopping to pay tolls in cash feels so archaic, not to mention it adds more time to your trip.

Drop off bags first, then return your rental car

Speaking of the rental car, don't return the car first.

Instead, go to the cruise terminal and drop off your luggage.  You might even consider dropping off the rest of your family too.

Then, return the car with just the driver and nothing else.  It makes it so much easier to get back to the cruise terminal from the car return facility.

Use MCO Reserve for your flight home

Before your flight home, take advantage of the shortcut for security lines.

Orlando International Airport offers the MCO Reserve service, which “allows travelers to reduce stress by planning ahead and reserving a dedicated time slot for their party to go through TSA security screening.”

It's totally free! Just go to the website and book a time for your security check-in.

Once at the airport, scan your MCO Reserve QR code at a specific MCO Reserve line, then move directly to TSA to screen your boarding pass and ID and proceed through the standard TSA security screening, cutting a considerable amount of time from the process on most days.

Leave time for disembarkation and your return flight

Whether you use MCO Reserve or not, don’t book a return flight before 12:00pm on disembarkation day. 

Even with a smooth exit, it takes time to get off the ship, clear customs, travel to MCO, and go through TSA. Play it safe!

It appears a child fell off the pier into the ocean at Royal Caribbean's private island, putting the child between the ship and the pier.

A variety of reports from cruise ship passengers visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay for the day indicate the child fell into the water.

"At CocoCay today a small child fell in the water between the dock and the Symphony," Henry Yeany posted in an unofficial Facebook group dedicated to Royal Caribbean.

Two Royal Caribbean ships were docked in CocoCay today, Symphony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

The incident occurred in the area of the pier where the cruise ship is tied up to the moorings. There's a gap between the ship and the pier because of buoys that cushion the friction between ship and dock.

There is a bright yellow warning line meant to caution passengers from getting too close.

Luckily, it appears the child was rescued.

"We are on Oasis and heard a bunch of screaming. The child was rescued in a matter of a few minutes. The mother and child got back onboard the Symphony."

Up to two cruise ships can dock at a time at CocoCay, and there are clearly marked lines with warning signs not to approach the edge of the pier.  

Moreover, crew members actively warn passengers to move away from the edge of the pier. It's common to see guests attempting to peer over the side of the pier to look at the water color or fish.  Or to take family photos there.

Photos taken by Mr. Yeany show crew members looking into the water to help assist the child.

Later, the child is seen being carried back onto the ship by an adult.

Cruisers react to the incident

The incident sparked many emotions among cruisers who were glad the child is okay, and also expressed frustrating it happened in the first place.

"This has always been such a big fear of mine! So scary!" wrote Genevieve Dias on a Facebook post.

Suzy Torrez thinks a barrier is necessary, "Maybe think of putting up a guard fence cause not all parents keep an eye on their children from being excited and taking pics."

That idea may not be as easy as it sounds, as the pier needs to be clear for gangways and supply ramps to be used to offload items and people from the ship.

Others assigned blame on the parent for not more closely watching their child.  The opinions were mixed, as no parent can constantly hold their child all the time.  Plus, the spectacle of the private island is an easy distraction.  As with so many accidents, it takes just a quick moment for something like this to occur.

Woman fell into the water last month

Another passenger went off the side of CocoCay's pier last month.

A video shared by richiegino shows a woman in the ocean, between the ship and pier, attempting to get out of the water.

At the start of the video, she is clinging to one of the buoys attached to the pier that is meant to cushion the impact of a ship docking.

A life preserver was then given to her so she could float, presumably until she could be properly rescued out of the water.

How to keep your family safe

Incidents like this might give you pause, but the reality is following the rules can make a big difference in ensuring it never occurs.

First and foremost, follow all posted signs and warnings.  The edges of the pier are clearly marked with a large yellow line meant to keep you from going near it.

It's tempting to look over the side, especially if there's a fish nearby or simply to admire the view. You're better off doing so from one of the decks of your ship instead.

For families, it's a good idea to hold hands of children as they walk on or off the gangway. Reminds kids constantly to stay within designated area, and keep an eye on them at all times.