Royal Caribbean Blog

Symphony of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest cruise ships in the fleet. Offering large open decks, plenty of things to do onboard, and lots of dining choices, its hard not to love everything Symphony of the Seas has to offer.

Currently the second largest ship at sea (a title held for close to four years until Wonder of the Seas entered service in 2022), there's a lot to love about the Symphony of the Seas.

As the fourth Oasis Class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, you can expect to find many fan-favorites, including the zip line, two FlowRiders, AquaTheater shows, and Rising Tide Bar. 

The ship is still relatively new, as it entered service in 2018. It is 1,188 feet long and weights a total of 228,081 gross tons (which is more than the weight of 17,000 African elephants)! 

Here's what Royal Caribbean did right with the Symphony of the Seas and what you can look forward to on your next sailing.

1. Refreshed Solarium 

The Solarium onboard the Symphony of the Seas is an adults-only retreat located at the forward of the ship on deck 15. It features a one-of-a-kind art installation that's comprised of thousands of dichroic acrylic elements. At night, it's lit up with a combination of pinks, blues, and greens. 

Plus, they brought back the Solarium pool after receiving feedback on its removal on the Harmony of the Seas.

Additionally, the Solarium Bistro received a major update compared to older Oasis Class ships. The venue is two-stories, with the top half home to Hooked Seafood. 

2. New specialty dining options 

The Symphony of the Seas was the first Oasis Class ship to replace Sabor on the Boardwalk with Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade. Unlike other specialty dining restaurants, Playmakers is only offered a la carte. You can purchase a side of fries for only $3, while their infamous "Touchdown Sundae" runs at $12 (but it is served in a collectable Playmakers football helmet bowl!).

Inside, you’ll find 31 big-screen televisions! 

If you’ve sailed on the Harmony of the Seas, you’ll notice that this venue replaced the Starbucks on the Boardwalk. The kiosk returned to the Royal Promenade.

Playmakers can also be found on the Wonder of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas after her refurbishment in 2019. 

Symphony was also the first ship in the fleet to receive Hooked Seafood, which serves up fresh New England-style seafood. If you're a fan of oysters, you'll appreciate how you can try oysters three different ways: Rockefeller style, with leeks and white wine, or with brie and champagne. 

Onboard pricing is $24.99 per adult for lunch and $54.99 per adult for dinner. Children cost $12.99 each. 

Hooked is also available on the Navigator of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. 

3. Sugar Beach

Another new addition to this Oasis Class ship's Boardwalk's was Sugar Beach, and it has now become a staple on many ships within the fleet. 

Inside, you can find more than 200 different candies. Guests can also purchase ice cream here and create their own concoction by adding whatever toppings they desire. 

Note that it is not a complimentary venue. 

4. "Hidden" piano staircase

Found on deck 15 leading up the to Windjammer Marketplace on deck 16, the piano staircase plays musical notes when stepped on, and guests can create their own tune by walking up and down them! It's entertaining for all ages. 

5. Entertainment options 

Royal Caribbean is known for their complimentary onboard entertainment that make guests wonder "how am I on a cruise ship?". 

Guests will surely ponder that after watching an adaptation of the broadway musical Hairspray, which features many songs from the original production, as well as jaw-dropping set designs. 

1977, the ice skating show onboard, begins with light-emitting drones before taking viewers on a journey through time to save Her Majesty's Crown Jewels. 

Passengers onboard any Oasis Class ship should make sure that they see an AquaTheatre show, as divers plunge into the deepest pool at sea from up to 30 feet. The show onboard the Symphony of the Seas is HiRO and combines technology, futuristic choreography, unexpected stunts, and acrobatics. 

Finally, Flight: Dare to Dream is a Royal Caribbean Productions original that focuses on chronicling humanity's fascination with flying. It is one of the most ambitious stage productions to date, as the design was informed by Clayton C. Anderson, an Astronaut who lived in space for 167 days and completed 38 hours and 28 minutes over six spacewalks in two missions. 

6. Central Park's abundance of plants

Did you know that there are about 20,700 lush tropical plants in Symphony of the Seas' Central Park neighborhood? In comparison, Harmony of the Seas only has 12,000. 

It takes a special and intricate system of irrigation, fertilization, lighting, and drainage to help sustain such a unique park.

No wonder there's a landscape specialist who works with a team of three horticulturalists onboard! 

Read more: the flourishing garden on Symphony of the Seas has over 20,000 plants, and it's my favorite spot onboard

7. Return of Ultimate Abyss and Perfect Storm

Both the Ultimate Abyss and Perfect Storm can be found onboard the Symphony of the Seas. 

The Ultimate Abyss debuted on the Harmony of the Seas in 2016, while the Perfect Storm waterslides launched after the Liberty of the Seas' dry dock in 2016.

These added thrills immediately became beloved by adventurous sailors. 

From the aft of deck 15, guests can plunge down ten stories on the Ultimate Abyss, one of the tallest slides at sea, and end up on the Boardwalk. Note that it has a minimum height of 44 inches. 

The Perfect Storm features two twisting slides called Cyclone and Typhoon. The pair of slides let passengers race against each other to the bottom. Supercell, the third waterslide, sends riders down a few turns before released into a bowl slide and ends with a plunge pool. 

All slides descend three decks and jet over the Central Park neighborhood that's ten decks below!

8. Nicely appointment accommodations 

Oasis Class staterooms received a major upgrade on the Harmony of the Seas, and Royal Caribbean kept the new design on the Symphony of the Seas. 

There are five main categories of staterooms onboard: studio, interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite. There is a stateroom for cruisers of all budgets, party sizes, and preferences.

Basic amenities in the staterooms include mini-bars (coolers, not refrigerators), safes, phones, and flat-screen televisions. In the bathroom, guests will find cups that can be replaced daily, towels, hand soap, and body wash. 

There are also at least three plugs, as well as two USB outlets, so you never have to worry about not being able to charge your devices!

9. First-ever Ultimate Family Suite

Heads were turned when Royal Caribbean launched the Ultimate Family Suite onboard the Symphony of the Seas in 2018. 

It offers a family experience unlike any other, and you can think of it like a kid's paradise, complete with a personal in-suite slide, video gaming room, life-sized Connect Four, and air hockey table.

While the kids play hard, the adults can relax hard in the Jacuzzi located on the balcony that overlooks the Sports Deck. Plus, they won't have to worry about planning a thing, as the suite comes with a dedicated Royal Genie who takes care of coordinating daily activities and one-of-a-kid experiences.

There is only one of these suites available onboard and only three in the entire world, with the other two on the Wonder of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas. Due to their exclusively, they tend to book up very quickly as soon as new itineraries are released. 

10. Running track alcoves 

Located on deck five in the forward of the ship, guests can find two alcoves off the side of the track. Here you can find shuffleboard, comfortable seating, play ping pong, and, of course, get some phenomenal ocean views!

You'll rarely find these alcoves busy, so it's a great place to escape outdoors if you're hoping to avoid crowds. 

Don't worry, the aft seating on the track is still available for those wishing to soak in some of those sea day wake views. 

Many first-time cruisers want to know whether or not you can cruise with a birth certificate in lieu of a passport, but the answer depends on a few key factors. And, just because you can cruise with a birth certificate doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

Whether or not you can cruise with a birth certificate instead of a passport depends on your citizenship status and cruise itinerary. Sailings from the U.S. permit U.S. citizens to show a birth certificate as proof of citizenship, but additional documentation is required for those over 16 years old.

If you’re considering cruising with a birth certificate instead of a passport, be sure to read this guide thoroughly to understand the rules before embarkation day.

Who can cruise with a birth certificate, and on which sailings is this allowed?

Cruising with a birth certificate is permitted for U.S. citizens, but only in specific cases. The only time U.S. citizens can cruise with a birth certificate (and ID) as their official identification is on sailings departing from U.S. homeports. These must be roundtrip sailings starting and ending in the U.S.

U.S. homeports include:

• Cape Liberty
• Miami
• Fort Lauderdale
• Port Canaveral
• Los Angeles
• Seattle
• Galveston
• Boston
• San Juan

For any cruises departing from outside the U.S. (Canada, Italy, Australia, etc.), U.S. citizens must provide a passport valid at least 6 months after the cruise ends.

Which type of birth certificate is allowed?

Only official U.S. state-issued birth certificates are accepted. Note that state-issued birth certificates are different from hospital birth certificates (baby feet birth certificates), and are issued directly from your state’s vital records office.

To obtain a state-issued birth certificate, contact the vital records office in the state or territory in which you were born, and follow the instructions for requesting a copy and paying any applicable fees.

Do I need other documentation in addition to my birth certificate?

Guests 16 and older who are providing a birth certificate as their citizenship document before a cruise must also provide a valid driver’s license or government-issued picture ID.

If your name has changed since the birth certificate was issued, you must also provide a supporting document (marriage license, legal name change document, etc.) that provides proof of the name change.

Remember that both documents must match the name provided on your cruise reservation.

What documentation is required when cruising with minors?

While guests 16 and above must provide a state-issued ID in addition to their birth certificate, minors under 16 may cruise with just a birth certificate. This is, of course, only valid on cruises departing from a U.S. homeport (otherwise a passport is required).

If the name of the parent and minor child do not match, however, the names of the parent and child must be linked through legal documentation.

If an adult is traveling with a minor who is not the parent or legal guardian of the child, they must present:

• A passport or visa (when required) OR
• The child’s state-issued birth certificate AND
• A notarized letter signed by one of the child’s parents stating that the adult has permission to take the child on a cruise

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) or Certificate of Naturalization are also permitted in lieu of a passport or birth certificate on sailings from U.S. homeports.

Are there any exceptions?

If you sail from a U.S. homeport but are on a cruise visiting Colombia, all passengers–regardless of citizenship status–must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months after the cruise’s return date. No other travel documents will be accepted.

Puerto Rican citizens should note that a birth certificate issued before July 1, 2010, is not a valid proof of citizenship. Therefore, it’s required to obtain a renewed birth certificate. These renewed documents can be ordered through vitalcheck.com.

Permanent residents of the United States can provide a United States Permanent Resident Card, but a passport from their home country is recommended.

Can citizens of other countries cruise with a birth certificate in lieu of a passport?

Citizens of other countries sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise from the U.S. must provide a valid passport from their home country. The only exception to this is with U.S. permanent residents, although bringing a passport is still advised.

Should you cruise with a birth certificate?

We recommend cruising with a passport instead of a birth certificate, even when a birth certificate is permitted as your proof of citizenship documentation.

Traveling to a foreign country without a passport puts you at risk for a variety of headache-inducing scenarios should you miss the cruise ship, require emergency transportation back to the US, etc.

You cannot board a flight from a foreign country back to the United States without a passport. If you miss the ship in Cozumel, for example, you’ll have to travel to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and obtain a replacement passport.

Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Getting stranded in a foreign country without a passport is not how you want to spend your vacation. You never know when an unexpected scenario may occur, so it’s better to be prepared and have a passport handy.

In addition, having a passport makes disembarking the ship easier once the cruise is over, as there’s a separate line for those with U.S. passports versus those traveling with state-issued birth certificates and other forms of identification.

Simply put, it’s always better to have a passport than to travel with just a birth certificate, and it opens up a wide selection of cruise itineraries and international travel choices for the future.

You can view the full list of Royal Caribbean’s required documentation to board here.

More cruise tips & tricks:

• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Is it possible to take a 7-night cruise with only a carry-on and backpack? 

I recently sailed on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise and wanted to avoid paying for checked baggage, so I challenged myself to pack as light as possible!

I knew this wasn't impossible, as I had a friend once pack for an 8-night cruise in just a Spirit Airlines approved personal item, not even a true carry-on sized bag. 

For me, though, this was not going to be an easy task; I’m known for chronically overpacking and having to pay overweight fees. 

What can I say? A girl loves her shoes! When I came back from Europe in December, I had to tie a pair of shoes to my backpack that was already nearly busting at the seams. My suitcase was only .50 ounces underweight after that. 

I figured since it was a Caribbean cruise, it would be easier than packing for one that required bulkier clothing, like an Alaskan sailing. 

In actuality, it was much more difficult than I thought. I tried to pack strategically thinking about the plans I had for the cruise when I left; however, they ended up changing once I got onboard. 

Here's how I packed for my 7-night Caribbean cruise with only a carry-on suitcase and a backpack and what I would do differently if I plan on packing that light again. 

Preparation

Since I usually only check my luggage, I didn't have any TSA-approved travel-sized bottles for my liquids. Thankfully, a Target opened up within walking distance of my apartment in August, so it was easy for me to acquire everything that I needed in one trip. 

I ended up purchasing three empty bottles for my shampoo, conditioner, and hair smoothie, as well as a travel-sized face wash, contact solution, toothpaste, makeup removing wipes, and mouthwash. I know that Royal Caribbean provides body wash in the shower, so I wasn't worried about packing that. 

My plan for sunscreen was to wait until I landed in Florida and swing by Publix. I thought there would be more of a price difference, but I found out it was only a few dollars, if even that much. However, stopping still allowed me to carry on my luggage for free. 

When it came to packing my clothes, I had planned on making myself comfortable in the Solarium most days, especially since this was a work trip, so I wanted to keep it simple with a few swimsuits, a cover up, t-shirts, and athletic shorts.

I also planned on rotating between a few dresses for dinner each nice. This was difficult for me, as I'm used to packing a different outfit for each night and only rotating between shoes. I knew that this was key, though. Seven dresses, even when rolled tightly, can take up a lot of room. 

Even when I do pack different outfits for every night, I often end up repeating at least one. I think I just like having options like I do at home. At the end of the day, I had to accept that I wouldn't be able to have that luxury on this trip, or so I thought. 

What I packed

I definitely was able to fit a lot more into my suitcase than I expected, but I do have an expandable carry-on. Without that, this challenge would've been much harder than it already was. 

I was able to fit three t-shirts, two pairs of athletic shorts, two pairs of jeans, four different evening shirts, four dresses, one pair of pajamas, six pairs of shoes, a small purse, hair straightener, hair towel, and three swimsuits, along with my other undergarments.

A few of those items had to be crammed into my backpack, which was also carrying my laptop, electronic chargers, video camera, and medications. 

How I packed

Before I even began placing all my items in my suitcase, I knew that I was going to have to roll everything pretty tightly. I placed my bulkiest pieces, like my jeans and maxi dress, in the corners of the bag. My smaller items easily filled in the gaps and could be layered on top. 

I realized that my clothes were never really the issue; had more trouble packing my cosmetics and shoes, but I was adamant that I was going to fit everything. 

I had to play a little Tetris in order to fully maximize my available space. Even though I could have fit more clothing on one side, the side that contained my shoes and cosmetics bag protruded when zipped. 

To the airport, I wore another (third) pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and the sixth pair of shoes, which were athletic sneakers. I'm so glad that I ended up throwing this sweatshirt on instead of another t-shirt, as it was so cold the morning of disembarkation. Plus, I was stuck in the airport for about five hours waiting on my flight home. I appreciated that I was able get situated and comfortable!  

Items I regretted having

Even though I set out with the intention to pack fewer evening outfits, I was able to pack a different one for each night, even if it meant wearing the same pair of jeans more than once. 

I ended up repeating outfits a lot, though. I, for instance, wore the same dress for both formal night and dress your best night, even though I intended to wear different outfits for each. 

I could have gotten away with two dresses and two evening shirts instead of four each. Plus, there was one pair of sandals that I only wore once. While I appreciate having the option to choose between pairs of shoes, I really only needed one nicer pair of sandals for the week. 

I also did not need to pack the second pair of sneakers. One athletic pair would've been sufficient, as I only wore my Golden Goose once. I'm so used to only wearing sneakers at home, so I found that when given the opportunity to wear sandals, I gravitated towards them, even if it was just one specific pair. 

Items I wish I had packed

There were quite a few items I found myself wishing that I brought. 

Even though I had every intention to sunbathe while getting my work done, I found that sitting in the Solarium was actually too distracting for me. I'm the kind of person who needs to grind out their assignments in peace and quiet. 

I've always been this way, so I don't know why I assumed it would be different on a cruise ship surrounded by tempting activities. 

I ended up working a lot inside of my cabin in my pajamas or loungewear. It would've been nice to have two more t-shirts and and pairs of athletic shorts, as I only wore my cover up twice. It wasn't the everyday staple I thought it would be.

Another item I wish I brought (and still need to purchase) is a portable charger. This was my first solo cruise, and I didn't realize how much time I would been spending off the ship by myself. 

When I decided to explore Water Island near St. Thomas, my phone barely survived the six hours I was off of the ship. I was constantly using it for photos and taking notes. I never want to be that close to having my phone die while off by myself again!

Even when on the ship, I returned to my cabin each night with less than 10% of battery remaining. I know this is something I definitely need to purchase before my next weeklong cruise in February. 

Finally, I made a rookie cruise mistake and did not bring any small bills.

My ATM fee ended up being over $16, including both Royal Caribbean's fee and my bank's fee. While not necessarily relevant to packing in a carry-on sized bag, this is just something I wish I had done in route to the airport. 

Why I'm glad I didn't have a larger checked bag

It's not a surprise that Ubers to any New York City airport cost an arm and a leg (I've seen rates over $70 before tip for a one-way ride), so I try to take public transportation for only $2.75 as much as I can. 

For my last cruise in May, I had to lug a 48lb bag from my apartment to my local station and through a connecting one to catch the bus to LaGuardia. There were elevators available, but I opted to carry the bag up and down multiple sets of stairs, as it was quicker than waiting on the slow, old elevator. 

This time, it was much easier to navigate transferring between different trains and buses with a smaller suitcase and single backpack. 

Additionally, when I got to the airport, I found out that my flight was indefinitely delayed due to a maintenance issue. I was supposed to board the plane around 5:40pm, but the departure time kept getting pushed back. First to 6:40pm, then 7:10, 7:50pm, and finally 8:24pm.

The only reason we left when we did is because we were able to use another aircraft. There's not telling how long we would've been delayed if we waited on the maintenance issue to be resolved. At one point, an agent even suggested that I go on standby for another flight in case the flight was cancelled. 

Hence I was glad that I had a carry-on bag. It allowed me to be flexible with flight options! 

Final thoughts

Packing for a weeklong trip with only a single carry-on and personal item wasn't as tough as I made it out to be; however, knowing what I know now, there are some ways that I'd change how I pack with limited space in the future, such as focusing more on comfortable clothing rather than evening wear.

I'm surprised that I packed stuff that I ended up not wearing, so I learned that I can get away with less clothing than I initially thought.  

Plus, I was able to easily wheel my luggage off during self-assist disembarkation and keep my belongings with me all the time, rather than placing them in the hallway the night before departure.

Even when I do travel with a checked bag, I can apply some lessons that I learned from this experience to become a more efficient packer!

Traveling with a finite amount of space isn't an easy task, especially if you're used to overpacking. In a way, though, it does simplify your trip and make you focus on what's most important: making memories with friends, both new and old, and family. 

Wonder of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, measuring over 1,100 feet in length and featuring a capacity for almost 7,000 passengers.

With its opulent furnishings, top-of-the-line amenities, and attentive staff, the Wonder of the Seas offers guests a once-in-a-lifetime cruising experience.

The ship features a range of exciting activities and attractions for guests of all ages, including a casino, spa, swimming pool, fitness center, and multiple dining venues. Plus, with its variety of cabins to choose from, there is something for everyone aboard the Wonder of the Seas.

One of the standout features of Wonder of the Seas is its state-of-the-art design. The ship's sleek and modern exterior is sure to turn heads, and the interior is just as impressive. With its spacious and luxurious staterooms, multiple dining options, and exciting onboard activities, Wonder of the Seas is the ultimate floating resort.

We’ve put together a guide to help you plan a cruise on Wonder of the Seas and learn more about the amenities, features, staterooms, activities, dining, and entertainment available onboard.

Wonder of the Seas overview

Wonder of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, whose inaugural sailing was on March 4, 2022.

She is currently the largest cruise ship in the world, taking the title from her sister ship Symphony of the Seas. At 1,188 feet long, 210 feet wide, and with a gross tonnage of 236,857, Wonder of the Seas is a massive vessel.

Read more: Wonder of the Seas vs. Symphony of the Seas

She has a capacity of 5,734 guests at double capacity and 6,988 guests total. With 2,300 crew onboard, the total capacity for Wonder of the Seas is 9,288 passengers!

Despite having such a high capacity, it’s unlikely that Wonder of the Seas will feel extremely crowded. Due to Royal Caribbean’s innovative Oasis Class ship design, Wonder of the Seas is split into several neighborhoods.

The neighborhoods are designed to space out guests and provide a diverse experience throughout the ship, with each neighborhood offering different amenities, activities, and dining.

Like other Oasis Class ships, Wonder of the Seas has the following neighborhoods:

1. The Boardwalk, meant to evoke nostalgia for oceanfront boardwalks of the past. The Boardwalk is complete with an arcade, candy store, hot dogs, sports bar, and Johnny Rockets.
2. Pool & Sports Zone, where guests can enjoy the ship’s pools, hot tubs, and signature activities on the Sports Court
3. Central Park, a tranquil area where guests can walk and relax along thousands of plants and flowers. Central Park is home to several restaurants, retail stores, bars, and artwork.
4. The Royal Promenade, the main thoroughfare on Wonder of the Seas where guests can enjoy bars and lounges, shop, and grab a coffee
5. Entertainment Place, the hub of signature entertainment on Wonder of the Seas, complete with a comedy club, ice skating rink, theater, and casino
6. Youth Zone, home to Adventure Ocean programming, an arcade, and teen club
7. Vitality Spa & Fitness, a peaceful spa and salon with a diverse range of treatments available. The fitness center is available at no extra cost to guests.

Wonder of the Seas differs from her Oasis Class sisters, however, in that she has an eighth neighborhood onboard, the Suite Neighborhood.

The Suite Neighborhood is an exclusive enclave available just for suite guests on Wonder of the Seas. Located at the top of the ship, suite guests can enjoy a private neighborhood that features the Coastal Kitchen restaurant, Suite Lounge, and private Suite Sun Deck.

While other Royal Caribbean ships have a private sun deck for suite guests, Wonder of the Seas takes this concept one step further. The Suite Sun Deck on Wonder of the Seas is a large outdoor space featuring comfy loungers, its own bar, and a plunge pool. The sun deck overlooks both the ocean and sports deck area.

While not the "ship within a ship" concept other cruise lines have, the Suite Neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's most expansive enclave for suites guests on any ship in its fleet.

The Suite Neighborhood offers an exclusive experience for guests looking to enhance their cruise experience, and can be a selling point for those deciding between booking a suite or not.

This area is truly designed to be a destination for suite guests to enjoy with less impetus to leave the suite decks.

Wonder of the Seas dining

As an Oasis Class ship, there is no shortage of dining options found on Wonder of the Seas. Both complimentary and specialty dining options are available and come in a wide range of cuisines and styles, meaning there is something for everyone to eat onboard.

With so many restaurants included in your cruise fare, it’s entirely possible to eat only at the complimentary venues on Wonder of the Seas. From Mediterranean-inspired dinners at Solarium Bistro to American breakfast at Johnny Rockets, it’s unlikely you’ll get bored with the complimentary restaurants available.

Wonder of the Seas also has a wide selection of specialty dining venues. Specialty restaurants come at an extra cost, but offer cuisines and dining experiences not found elsewhere onboard.

Specialty restaurant meals can be purchased individually or as part of a dining package. Purchasing a dining package allows you to try several different restaurants at a lower cost than purchasing each meal individually.

Dining package availability is limited, so it’s a good idea to book a dining package early via the Cruise Planner website. Both a 3-night Dining Package and Unlimited Dining Package may be available depending on the cruise.

Wonder of the Seas complimentary dining options:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Cafe
• Solarium Bistro
• Park Cafe
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrento’s Pizza
• Boardwalk Dog House
• El Loco Fresh
• Vitality Cafe
• Coastal Kitchen (suites only)
• Room service (continental breakfast only)
• Johnny Rockets (breakfast only)

Wonder of the Seas specialty dining options:

• Chops Grille
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar
• Wonderland
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Hooked Seafood
• 150 Central Park
• Sugar Beach (ice cream and candy only)
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Starbucks
• Johnny Rockets (lunch and dinner)
• The Mason Jar
• Chef’s Table

A restaurant brand new to Wonder of the Seas is The Mason Jar, a southern-inspired venue featuring dishes from diverse regions of the American south.

Open for brunch and dinner, menu highlights at The Mason Jar include Meemaw’s Fried Chicken N’ Waffles, Stuffed French Toast, Crab Beignets, Classic Po’boy, Lobster N’ Crawfish Gumbo, Shrimp N’ Grits, and the Southern Burger.

Adjacent to the restaurant is The Mason Jar Bar, serving specialty cocktails including the PB&J Old Fashioned, Mississippi Moonlight, and All Shook-Up shake.

Read more: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant on Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship to feature Royal Caribbean’s newest Italian restaurant, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Guests can dine on Italian-American cuisine, with menu highlights including chicken parmesan and spaghetti carbonara. Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen also has an extensive pizza menu with pizzas made to order in the restaurant’s own pizza oven.

Next to Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is Giovavnni’s Wine Bar, which offers a selection of Italian wines. Guests at the wine bar are also able to order food from Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen next door, although the menu is limited and not included in the dining package. However, this can be a nice option for those wanting to try just an appetizer or pizza from the restaurant, and the prices per item are quite reasonable.

Wonder of the Seas Bars & Lounges

Just like dining venues, Wonder of the Seas has no shortage of bars and lounges to explore. Two brand new bars were brought to Wonder of the Seas: Cantina Fresca and The Vue.

Cantina Fresca is a Latin-themed bar focusing on Mexican-inspired cocktails. This is the place to go onboard for margaritas, with flavors including pineapple jalapeño, strawberry, mango, and passion fruit. Mexican agua frescas are also available here, the first ever offered on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Cantina Fresca is conveniently located next to El Loco Fresh near the Sports Court, offering the perfect beverages to go along with burritos, nachos, and quesadillas.

The Vue is the second new bar on Wonder of the Seas. Taking the place of what would have been a second cantilevered hot tub, The Vue offers picturesque views of the ocean during both day and night. The bar is partially covered by a mosaic canopy, which lights up at night in a kaleidoscope of color.

Other bars and lounges on Wonder of the Seas include:

• Schooner Bar
• Trellis Bar
• Boleros
• Rising Tide Bar
• Solarium Bar
• Bionic Bar
• Cask & Clipper Pub
• Wipe Out Bar
• The Attic
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• The Lime and Coconut

Shows & Entertainment

Wonder of the Seas is packed with entertainment venues and shows to satisfy thousands of guests per week. All shows and entertainment are included in your cruise fare, although reservations are usually required for signature performances. It’s a good idea to open the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you get onboard and reserve your preferred time slots for shows.

There are three main entertainment venues on Wonder of the Seas: the AquaTheater, the Royal Theater, and Studio B.

In the AquaTheater guests can enjoy inTENse, the first AquaTheater show to feature an all-female cast. As the name implies, inTENse is an intense performance with aerial acrobatics, slacklining, high diving, tumbling, and synchronized swimming. Adding to the performance are immersive lighting and sound effects that are sure to leave guests inspired.

The Royal Theater is home to two headliner performances: Voices and The Effectors II. Voices: An Intimate Performance on a Grand Scale, is a hybrid virtual and live show featuring vocal, musical, and dance performances.

The Effectors II: Crash ‘n’ Burn is a sequel to the original show found on Spectrum and Odyssey of the Seas. Royal Caribbean’s cast of superheroes returns to the stage in this performance to battle their archnemesis known as Crash (and his sidekick Burn).

The Effectors II uses dramatic and state-of-the-art technology to create scenery, imaging, and storytelling throughout the show. 

While not a show that was offered when the ship launched, it began performances in June 2022.

In Studio B, the ice rink onboard, guests can travel through the year’s seasons with 365: The Seasons on Ice. The Wonder of the Seas ice show tells the story of Earth’s changing seasons through projection mapping, lighting and sound, costumes, and set design. The ice show features a talented cast of professional figure skaters and includes an impressive performance from an aerialist.

Outside of the main headliner shows on Wonder of the Seas are a variety of other entertainment options. Guests can enjoy live music throughout the ship, from piano tunes at Schooner Bar to acoustic guitar at the pub.

Something new to Wonder of the Seas is live country music at The Mason Jar. On most evenings (and some afternoons), a country band performs at the bar. Guests here can listen to live tunes while sipping a drink from one of the comfy rocking chairs found throughout the bar.

Comedy shows are performed throughout the cruise as well, either in the Royal Theater or in The Attic comedy club.

Pool deck

The pool deck on Wonder of the Seas is a hub of activity throughout the cruise, for both guests looking to relax in the sun and those wanting to participate in onboard activities.

The pool deck’s design shares many similarities with other Oasis Class ships. There are three main pools, several jacuzzis, and one Splashaway Bay location for kids.

Parents with young children will especially enjoy Splashaway Bay, as it provides a splash pad and aqua park area with water sprayers, slides, and dump buckets.

The Perfect Storm waterslides are also found on the pool deck. These are a set of three waterslides: two racing and one that ends with guests sliding around a “champagne” or “toilet” bowl to the bottom. Waterslides are complimentary and open for most of the day.

Wonder of the Seas features a Caribbean-style pool deck, complete with colorful decor and The Lime and Coconut bar. There are three Lime and Coconut locations on the pool deck. Two are found next to the pools on either side of the ship, and the other is located on the upper pool deck.

The location above the pool deck offers comfy seating with panoramic views of the ship and ocean, and is sure to be a popular hangout spot on sea days. Signature drinks to try at The Lime and Coconut are the Rum Runner, Mai Tai, Watermelon Rita, and Lime and Coconut.

In addition to the ample seating around the pool deck, Wonder of the Seas has several casitas available for reservation. These come at an extra cost and provide a covered daybed option for guests looking for a bit more comfort. The casitas on Wonder of the Seas are all located on the upper pool deck on deck 16.

Wonder of the Seas has more diverse pool seating compared to other Oasis Class ships. Across from the massive television overlooking the pool are padded theater chairs. These chairs are accessible throughout the day for guests looking to relax or watch a movie.

Solarium

Like all Royal Caribbean ships, Wonder of the Seas has an adults-only Solarium. Available to guests 16 and older, the Solarium offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle found elsewhere onboard. 

The Solarium on Wonder of the Seas differs from other Oasis Class ships in that It is fully enclosed and climate controlled. This ensures guests are able to enjoy the Solarium in any type of weather.

Inside the Solarium are hot tubs, a small pool, and plenty of pool chairs to lounge in. Padded chairs, mushroom loungers, and sofas are available to sit in as well, leading to maximum comfort for guests.

Here guests can also find the Solarium Bridge wings, one of the hidden secrets on Wonder of the Seas.

Also located in the Solarium is the Solarium Bistro, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Solarium Bistro is a complimentary dining venue that usually has fewer crowds than other venues onboard. Above the Solarium Bistro is Hooked Seafood, where guests can dine on New England style seafood dishes.

Signature activities on Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas is packed with immersive, thrilling, and unique activities for guests of all ages. Most signature activities on Wonder of the Seas are included in your cruise fare. Most are open every day of the cruise, although exact days and times can be found on the Cruise Planner or in the Royal Caribbean app.

Something new to Wonder of the Seas is the Wonder Playscape, an underwater-themed playground with climbing walls, nets, games, puzzles, slides, and plenty of nooks and crannies to discover.

The Wonder Playscape is intended for kids up to 12, but seems to be geared more toward younger children.

Other activities on Wonder of the Seas include:

• The Ultimate Abyss, a dry slide taking guests nine decks down from the Sports Court to the Boardwalk neighborhood
• The zipline, during which guests fly over the Boardwalk neighborhood
• FlowRider, a surf simulator for boogie boarding and standup surfing
• Escape from Planet Z laser tag
• Wonder Dunes mini golf
• Rock climbing walls
• Sports Court area for activities like basketball, pickleball, soccer, ping pong, etc.
• Ice skating rink in Studio B
• Carousel

Wonder of the Seas is set to have an Escape Room located next to Adventure Ocean, but it is not currently built. Once constructed, the Escape Room will likely come at an extra cost.

There are also two arcades onboard: a large arcade near Adventure Ocean and a small set of games next to Playmakers on the Boardwalk. The arcade has an additional cost.

Other activities found on Wonder of the Seas include trivia, game shows, scavenger hunts, karaoke, pool games, and more.

Adventure Ocean

Wonder of the Seas follows Royal Caribbean’s updated Adventure Ocean programming, with childcare and activities for children aged 6 months to 17 years.

Adventure Ocean is free for guests, with the exception of the nursery (6-36 months) and childcare after 10pm.

The following areas are offered in Adventure Ocean on Wonder of the Seas:

• AO Kids, for children aged 6-12, which features a large open area for games like dodgeball, as well as video games, interactive digital tables, and hangout spaces
• AO Juniors, a space for kids 3-5 years old with age-appropriate activities and open play areas
• AO Babies, a nursery area for children between 6 and 36 months
• AO Theater, where movies, talent shows, games, and performances are held
• The Workshop, home to craft and science lab activities
• Play Place, a play area for kids featuring climbing and playground equipment. This area is open throughout the day for parents to visit with their children.

Teens aged 13-17 onboard Wonder of the Seas also have their own designated spaces. The teen areas of Adventure Ocean are less structured than those for other age groups, with teens free to come and go as they please.

The first teens-only space onboard is Social100. This space has plenty of comfy seating and hangout space, video games, books, a vending machine, foosball tables, and interactive digital tables.

Teens also have access to the Social100 Patio, located outside on deck 17. The Social100 patio features its own hot tub, non-alcoholic bar, beanbag chairs and other lounge seating, selfie photo spot, and giant chess set.

Wonder of the Seas cabins and suites

With a capacity of 6,988 guests, there is an array of stateroom categories to choose from when booking a cruise on Wonder of the Seas. In fact, there are a total of 2,867 staterooms found onboard.

Choosing which stateroom to book ultimately depends on your budget and vacation style. Some guests may prefer booking an interior or ocean view room and putting the money saved towards add-ons like a drink package or shore excursion. Others may value the extra space and privacy a balcony or suite provides, even if it comes at a higher cost.

I stayed in a balcony room on my first Wonder of the Seas sailing, and it was a great choice.

No matter which stateroom you choose, all cabins come with a private bathroom, television, vanity/desk area, dresser, couch or lounge chair, outlets, a mini fridge, and storage.

Read more: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites

Here are the non-suite staterooms available on Wonder of the Seas:

• Interior
• Interior with Virtual Balcony
• Promenade View Interior
• Central Park View Interior
• Ocean View
• Central Park View Balcony
• Boardwalk View Balcony
• Ocean View Balcony
• Ocean View with Large Balcony

Read more: Wonder of the Seas cabins to avoid

Accessible staterooms are also available in most room categories, which come with extra space including wider doors, ramps, lowered sink and vanity, lowered storage and safe, etc.

The following suites are available to book on Wonder of the Seas:

• Junior Suite with Balcony
• Grand Suite - 1 Bedroom
• Owner’s Suite - 1 Bedroom
• Crown Loft Suite with Balcony
• Royal Loft Suite
• Spacious AquaTheater Suite - 1 or 2 bedrooms
• Ultimate Family Suite

Read more: A look at the big suites on Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas is the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet to have the Ultimate Family Suite. Complete with an in-suite slide, colorful step climbers, interactive piano staircase, three bedrooms, a jacuzzi, and a movie/game room, the Ultimate Family Suite is sure to impress all kids onboard.

Wonder of the Seas itineraries

Since November 2022, Wonder of the Seas offers year-round sailings from Port Canaveral.

Destinations range from Perfect Day at CocoCay and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Cozumel, Mexico.

How much does Wonder of the Seas cost per person?

The exact cost of a cruise on Wonder of the Seas will depend on which cabin you book, time of year you sail, and how far in advance you book.

The cost of a Wonder of the Seas cruise begins as little as $800 per person and goes up to $1,500 per person.

Meet Wonder of the Seas' Godmother

Marie McCrea is the Godmother of Wonder of the Seas, after being nominated in a contest held on TikTok.

Marie McCrea is a mom, wife and cancer survivor. Marie overcame adversity with incredible strength, and at the center of her story are the memories she inspired and made with her family through it all. 

Wonder of the Seas frequently asked questions

How much did Wonder of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean paid $1.35 billion to the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Naizaire, France to build the ship.

It took them three years to build the ship, which included a construction delay due to the global health crisis in 2021.

How many restaurants are on Wonder of the Seas?

There are more than 20 different places to eat on Wonder of the Seas. 

Not all the restaurants are free to dine, as some have an extra cost to dine there.

• Main dining room
• Sorrento's
• Windjammer Marketplace
• Cafe Promenade
• Boardwalk Doghouse
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar (extra cost)
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade (extra cost)
• Hooked Seafood (extra cost)
• El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca
• The Lime & Coconut (extra cost)
• Izumi (extra cost)
• Wonderland (extra cost)
• 150 Central Park (extra cost)
• Johnny Rockets (extra cost)
• Starbucks (extra cost)
• Sugar Beach (extra cost)
• Chops Grille (extra cost)

Is Wonder of the Seas sailing at full capacity?

Yes, all of Royal Caribbean's ships are sailing at or near full capacity since Memorial Day 2022.

While the ship sailed at reduced capacity when it first debuted, the amount of passengers have steadily gone up since then and has reached full capacity in summer 2022 sailings.

Is there an escape room on Wonder of the Seas?

Not yet.

It looks like there's a space for it near Adventure Ocean, but the venue is not open. Royal Caribbean has not commented on what the escape room will entail, nor when it might open.

More Wonder of the Seas resources:

Wonder of the Seas FAQ

Interesting facts you may not know about Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas Live Blog

10 things to do before you board Wonder of the Seas

Cruise lines follow trends when designing, adding, and removing activities to their ships, and Royal Caribbean is no exception. Golfing simulators, inline skating, and a boxing ring are just some of the cruise ship activities Royal Caribbean has implemented and later phased out.

The latest trend? Pickleball.

It’s no secret that pickleball is soaring in popularity throughout the United States; this racquet sport is the fastest growing sport in the nation.

In fact, it’s estimated that over 36 million people played pickleball in the United States between August 2021 and August 2022, and now you can play it onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, ping pong, and badminton. The game is played with a paddle and a hollow plastic ball on a 20x44 foot court and can be played in singles (2 players) or doubles (4 players).

The sport is easy to learn and accessible to a wide range of age groups and fitness levels, from kids to seniors, which is one of the reasons it has grown so quickly.

The basic objective of the game is to hit the ball to the other side of the court and prevent your opponent from hitting it back to your side. Points are scored when the opponent fails to return the ball (or hits it out of bounds). The first team to reach 11 points wins, as long as they are 2 points ahead.

Pickleball is a relatively new sport, having been invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The sport’s official rulebook was published in March of 1984, and by 1990 the game was being played in every US state.

Today, the game has a professional league, the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), and the PPA Tour has received investments from celebrities including LeBron James, Mark Cuban, and Patrick Mahomes.

And while you won’t be finding any professional pickleball tournaments on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you will find many opportunities to try this popular sport.

How can I play pickleball on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Pickleball is an activity included in your cruise fare and equipment is provided (although you could also bring your own).

To find when pickleball is offered onboard, check the Cruise Compass or Royal Caribbean app. More often than not, Open Play Pickleball is offered in the mornings of your cruise, from around 8AM to 11AM. It’s located on the outdoor Sports Court (or indoor SeaPlex on Quantum Class ships).

Related: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

“Open Play” means you simply show up to the court, grab a paddle and ball, and start playing. If the court is full when you arrive, you’ll have to wait for the court to open up. Because of this, we recommend showing up as soon as the activity begins to guarantee an open court.

It’s important to note, however, that not all Royal Caribbean ships offer pickleball. Smaller, older ships are less likely to offer the sport compared to the newer ships in the fleet. Additionally, the courts used are not pickleball-specific courts; they are used for a variety of other sport activities.

Here are the 16 Royal Caribbean ships that offer pickleball:

• Adventure of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Explorer 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
• Serenade of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas

Why you should play pickleball on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

Meet new people

Like many sports, pickleball can be a fantastic way to meet new people. It’s a social sport, and playing with other passengers can foster new friendships. You may find yourself playing with the same passengers day after day, and you’ll likely run into your new friends around the ship throughout your sailing.

Playing pickleball on a Royal Caribbean cruise can be a great way to meet fellow passengers as a solo traveler, too. Cruising solo on Royal Caribbean may seem daunting, but you'd be surprised at just how easy it is to connect with others onboard. Sports like pickleball, basketball, and volleyball can be a wonderful way to connect with a diverse range of passengers.

Related: 5 things that surprised me about going on my first solo cruise

Stay active

Cruises are synonymous with lounging by the pool and indulging in unlimited food and drinks, but many passengers prefer staying active on a Royal Caribbean cruise. And unlike running around the jogging track or using a stationary bike at the gym, pickleball feels more like fun than exercise.

A fun way to pass the time

Sea days are a popular time to play pickleball on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Starting a morning at sea with a few games of pickleball can help pass the time as your ship sails from place to place. While activities like trivia and watching live music area always fun, switching up your cruising routine with a game of pickleball can make your cruise more unique.

What should I wear to play pickleball?

When playing pickleball on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s important to wear comfortable athletic clothing that allows for flexible, fast movements.

Here are some of our top suggestions of what to wear:

• Athletic shorts/pants: Bringing a pair of comfortable, elastic shorts or workout leggings is recommended when playing pickleball. Wearing jeans or tight pants can lessen the flexibility of movement needed when playing pickleball.
• Closed-toed shoes: Closed-toed shoes are required on Royal Caribbean’s sports courts. Sneakers are your best choice, as they are designed for athletic activities. Bringing sneakers with shoelaces is recommended as well, as laced shoes are required on other onboard activities like the zipline.
• Baseball hat/sunhat: Pickleball courts are located on the upper decks of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships. The sun can get strong on these decks, so we recommend wearing a hat to block the sun.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen: Just like a sunhat, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun while playing pickleball, and definitely remember to put on sunscreen!

How will pickleball’s growing popularity affect the cruising industry?

It’s likely we’ll continue to see pickleball being offered on Royal Caribbean cruises. As the sport continues growing more popular, cruise lines will continue to market the activity on their ships and in promotional materials.

A great example of marketing pickleball is through a personal story from Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International Senior Vice President of Sales.

Freed began playing pickleball in her neighborhood during the pandemic, and during this time, one of her neighbors suggested going on a cruise. Once Freed mentioned how Royal Caribbean’s ships have a pickleball court onboard, her neighbors were immediately drawn to book a cruise.

Soon enough, her group had 12 suites booked onboard a weekend cruise on Freedom of the Seas. They played pickleball every morning and had such a great time that they are already planning a second trip!

For pickleball-enthusiasts, having a court onboard can be a deciding factor between choosing one cruise over another, and Royal Caribbean certainly sees the possibilities of marketing pickleball on their ships.

Other cruise lines have followed this trend as well, with Holland America named the Official Cruise Line of the Professional Pickleball Association. All Holland America ships feature pickleball courts and complimentary beginner pickleball lessons are offered fleetwide.

During these lessons, instructors teach the rules of pickleball to guests, allowing them to enjoy the game throughout the cruise.

While no pickleball lessons are being offered on Royal Caribbean ships, watching a few YouTube videos should allow you to understand the basics of the game before you get onboard.

What other sports activities are available onboard aside from pickleball?

Outside of pickleball, there are many other popular sports activities available on Royal Caribbean cruise ships for no extra cost:

Sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, badminton, and dodgeball can all be played on Royal Caribbean’s Sports Court. Check the Royal Caribbean app for open play times for these sports. There are often tournaments available as well, along with specific times for kids and teenagers onboard.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a rock climbing wall, too, and several have bungee trampolines and FlowRider surf simulators, all of which can be fun ways to exercise during your vacation.

On cold or rainy days, you can also enjoy a selection of indoor sports activities, including ice-skating, bumper cars, laser tag, and dance classes.

Other activities to enjoy on a Royal Caribbean cruise include:

• Waterslides
• Shuffleboard
• Escape Rooms
• Scavenger hunts
• Pool games
• Mini golf
• The Ultimate Abyss slide
• Carousel
• Trivia
• Game Shows
• Entertainment productions

For more information on fun things to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, check out these articles:

• Top things to do on a sea day on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Trying out the free activities on Harmony of the Seas
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• Which Royal Caribbean ships have water slides?

Fear not, Royal Caribbean's new safety drill isn't going anywhere.

When cruises restarted in 2021, Royal Caribbean lead the way with a new approach to the safety drill that gave guests more time and flexibility to getting the maritime safety requirement taken care of during the course of the first day of their cruise.

The change was widely heralded by passengers who loved the change because of how much easier the process became.

In the last few months, two major cruise lines announced they were reverting back from eMuster to the traditional muster drill that required passengers to stop their vacation and attend a safety drill meeting.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced their change last week that they, "have made the decision to reinstate synchronized muster drills on embarkation day across all vessels in the fleet."

Disney Cruise Line made a similar decision in November 2022.

"We don't really look backwards"

Greg Purdy is Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President of Marine Operations, and he unequivocally stated the cruise line has no interest in going back to an in-person muster drill.

"We have no intention of moving back," Mr. Purdy said when asked about other lines changing and if Royal Caribbean would do the same. "We are always looking for opportunities to improve. So if we see a way to improve our drill, we certainly will will pursue that."

"We're always open to change, but we're not so open to going backwards. So we will always look for moving forward and doing things if they're better to do for our guests and our crew."

The decision to stay with eMuster has a lot to do with the results it has produced.

He mentioned that Royal Caribbean has "extremely high percentage rates for guest participation", which is in part due to training of the crew members to facilitate it, as well as plenty of reminder announcements."

Mr. Purdy went on to say participation rates are higher with eMuster than the old way, "we're fairly aggressive about ensuring that you complete the safety drill prior to sailing. So we see rates typically upwards of over 97% on our ships for participation."

"That's actually better than the old traditional drill."

Technology has played a pivotal role in ensuring guest participation is higher because stateroom attendants have access to data if their guests have completed the muster drill yet.

"We're much more proactive and ensuring that you get to the drill or that if you have any questions that those are addressed."

Most importantly, guests get the important information while making the process easier overall, "This has been a real win for the guest and a win for those of our crew that are charged with with safety responsibilities in an emergency."

Mr. Purdy sees the eMuster as a good balance of explaining important information while giving guests a better overall experience, "we wanted to see how do we avoid crowds and how do we give people a more pleasant experience, but most importantly, an experience where the knowledge is transferred in a in a better way."

To that point, he thinks eMuster is a "big step" forward for the cruise line, "we think that it really was a a huge step for us as a quality vacation in the world."

Improving on problems from the old drill

Mr. Purdy pointed out that the old way of the muster drill had its own deficiencies to contend with, "one of the things we saw with that in those early days was that people were dragging those life jackets around the ship."

And since everyone had to stop what they were doing and go up or down stairs to their muster stations with the old drill, it lead to accidents, "not only were they damaging the life jackets, but they were also tripping them a lot of trips and slips."

Of course, Royal Caribbean switched to having the life jackets staged at the muster station and stored in cabins. But there were more issues.

"We started looking even more...you still have these crowds that are just kind of following flows and going to a muster station, but still having slips and trips, not having a comfortable or easy experience."

Royal Caribbean then added safety videos to stateroom televisions, but the advent of apps on everyone's phones lead to the idea of a digital approach to safety drills.

"As people got more used to using their phones, that's when the idea came up saying, couldn't we have an even better transfer of knowledge if we start to leverage the tools we have, which are the apps and the videos."

"And let's think it through, how could we make this safer and also eliminate this kind of period of time that everybody's in this moving down in the masses without really understanding kind of what they're doing or where they're going?"

The other major improvement of eMuster over the old drill was comfort for guests. 

In the old way, people were lined up (often outdoors), which was problematic for elderly guests and young children.

"This is a situation that is counter to a good experience where we're ultimately transferring quality safety knowledge to the guests."

With eMuster, guests get the safety information in a better way, "they're able to have a more personal experience with the crew to ask them questions about the muster, to receive further instruction about donning the life jacket or or what should they bring."

Mr. Purdy went on to say surveys show that passengers are getting more of the important info with eMuster, "for us, this is really an improvement in the transfer of knowledge."

"We actually did surveys to test that, is their retention of knowledge better, and in fact, it was."

How does eMuster work?

If you haven't experienced Royal Caribbean's new muster drill process, it's quite easy.

Within the Royal Caribbean app, you navigate to the safety area and watch a short, animated safety video demonstrating how to properly put on a lifejacket.

Then you play a sound clip of the emergency horn sound, so that you know what to expect.

Finally, you locate your muster station and report there to check-in with a crew member.

Once you arrive at the assembly station, a crew member will give you a very brief safety demonstration. After this is done, they will scan your SeaPass, indicating that you have completed the eMuster drill.

If you don't have a smart device or prefer not to do things digitally, you can go right to your muster station and a crew member will lead you through the process.

Read more: What to expect with Royal Caribbean's new virtual safety drill

Working with the Coast Guard

Not only is eMuster a win with guests, but it's been a process approved by local authorities as well.

Mr. Purdy talked about how the U.S. Coast Guard and DNV maritime classification society to ensure everything is satisfactory, "we've had very good Coast Guard exams...the process seems to be very sound and working very well to maintain our crew knowledge and to keep our guests safe."

Originally developed to help with norovirus

While eMuster was first rolled out after cruise ships resumed service in 2021, the concept had its origins prior to 2020.

When Royal Caribbean began working on a new approach to muster drills, they envisioned a benefit for norovirus incidents, "I remember being in a meeting saying this may help us with Noro at the time, because we thought, wow, people won't be people be able to transmit anything to each other because we have a little more space now through on the first day of that vacation when people are traveling in and coming from all these different places."

When the global health emergency hit, then the benefits of a distributed muster drill process increased dramatically, "We had thought that people on ships in general, in all of our ship design and flows, we try and avoid crowds having to be bottlenecked or to just have have any discomfort."

What's next for eMuster?

I asked Mr. Purdy what improvements or enhancements we can expect from the eMuster process.

"I think a lot of the eMuster improvements that we see near term are more in the kind of the technology able to do it without the unit being on WiFi [in case of power or internet problems]."

"I think we're always also looking at how do we improve the training of our crew to be prepared to answer whatever kind of are the trending questions that are coming up from our guests."

Whether eMuster or the old drill, Mr. Purdy pointed out Royal Caribbean was always looking at ways to enhance and improve the process, "it's not like we implement it and then forget about it. We really do look at how do we continually improve it."

Cruises to Alaska on Royal Caribbean include dining, entertainment, activities, and transportation to some of the world’s most stunning ports, but are they all-inclusive?

The idea of an all-inclusive Alaska cruise is enticing, but Royal Caribbean cruises are not all-inclusive. There are extra costs you may incur which are not included in your base cruise fare.

Royal Caribbean’s approach is to offer a lower entry price to a cruise, allowing guests to pay for add-ons as they wish.

Because of this, it’s possible to cruise to Alaska with Royal Caribbean and spend nothing extra once onboard. There’s more than enough complimentary food options, beverages, activities, and entertainment to keep passengers busy throughout the entire sailing.

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive Alaska cruise experience, though, there are a few purchases you can make before your sailing to have almost everything included once onboard your Royal Caribbean ship.

Let’s dive in to look at all-inclusive Alaska cruise options and how you can create an all-inclusive experience on Royal Caribbean.

Which cruise lines offer all-inclusive Alaska cruises?

None of the mass-market cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, etc.) offer an all-inclusive Alaska cruise experience in their base fare. Some, however, allow you to purchase extra packages that aim to provide a more all-inclusive experience.

Holland America, for example, offers the “Have It All” package, which includes a $100 shore excursion credit, signature beverage package, one night specialty dining, and a wifi package for $50 per person, per day.

However, this is still not entirely all-inclusive, as it only includes one night at a specialty restaurant and a limited dollar amount for shore excursions.

Truly all-inclusive Alaska cruises are hard to come by, only to be found on luxury or expedition cruise lines like Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas. And even then, you’ll still have to pay extra for things like spa services and shore excursions.

The good news is that, while a Royal Caribbean cruise is not entirely all-inclusive, you can turn a standard cruise experience into a more all-inclusive sailing by purchasing only a few add-ons.

What is included on a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise?

Like any Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s important to realize what’s included in your cruise fare when planning an Alaska vacation.

The following is included in your base cruise fare with Royal Caribbean:

• Accommodations (your cruise cabin)
• Gratuities (pre-paid in advance at $16 per person, per day)
• Meals and snacks (excluding specialty restaurants)
• Drinks (water, tea, coffee, lemonade, iced tea, milk, juices, and hot chocolate)
• Adventure Ocean child programming
• Activities and entertainment
• Fitness center
• Pool and sun decks

Related: What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare?

Although there's a lot included, there are several add-ons not included in the cruise fare. Specialty restaurants, internet, alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, and shore excursions are just some of the extra costs you may incur on an Alaska cruise.

Related: Top 30 extra cruise costs that are not included

A step-by-step guide to creating an all-inclusive Alaska cruise with Royal Caribbean

There are a few key add-ons to purchase before your Alaska cruise that can provide an all-inclusive experience once onboard.

By purchasing these ahead of time on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website, you will encounter minimal (if any) additional costs onboard your ship.

Step One: Purchase a drink package

To keep cruise fares lower for all guests, Royal Caribbean does not include alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, soda, and mocktails in its base cruise fare. Therefore, in order to create your all-inclusive Alaska cruise, you’ll want to purchase a drink package.

There are three main drink packages available on Royal Caribbean:

• Deluxe Beverage Package (alcoholic & nonalcoholic beverages)
  • $67 to $79 per person, per night
• Royal Refreshment Package (nonalcoholic beverages)
  • $28 to 38 per person, per night
• Classic Soda Package (Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages)
  • $9 to $14 per person, per night

Drink package prices can change from day to day. As with any pre-cruise purchase on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner, you can cancel and rebook any add-on if you see a price drop. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

Therefore, we recommend booking drink packages as soon as possible. If the price goes down, you can cancel and rebook the package with no penalty. If you wait to book, on the other hand, and the price increases, you’ll be stuck paying the higher price.

Step Two: Purchase a specialty dining package

Although there’s more than enough complimentary food included on an Alaska cruise, if you truly want an all-inclusive experience with Royal Caribbean, you’ll want to book a dining package.

The Unlimited Dining Package is the best choice for those planning an all-inclusive Alaska cruise. This package allows guests to dine at specialty restaurants an unlimited number of times throughout the sailing at one set price.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package

Specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean offer cooking styles and cuisines not found elsewhere onboard, and they provide a more intimate atmosphere than the Main Dining Room or Windjammer buffet.

You can expect to pay around $225 per guest (plus 18% gratuity) for an Unlimited Dining Package on a 7-night Alaska cruise.

Step Three: Pre-book an internet package

Internet is not included on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and if you’re looking to create an all-inclusive vacation while staying connected to friends and family back home, you’ll want to purchase an internet package.

The best option for a Royal Caribbean internet package is the VOOM Surf & Stream package. This package covers both web browsing and streaming, allowing you to surf the web, watch YouTube videos, and Facetime loved ones back home.

For a 7-night Alaska cruise, a VOOM Surf & Stream internet package will cost around $17 per device, per day.

The total cost of an "all-inclusive" cruise to Alaska on Royal Caribbean

If you purchase a Deluxe Beverage Package, Unlimited Dining Package, and internet package before your Alaska cruise, you can expect to spend around $920 per person on a 7-night sailing.

What about shore excursions on an Alaska cruise?

Shore excursions are not included in the price of a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska, but they are highly sought-after. From whale watching tours to kayaking, you’ll certainly want to consider booking an excursion for your Alaska cruise.

Related: Alaska cruise excursions

Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruise excursions must be booked individually; there is no “Unlimited Shore Excursion” package available. Alaska shore excursion prices range from $30 for basic walking tours to $500 for helicopter landings on glaciers.

There’s no requirement to book shore excursions on an Alaska cruise. In fact, many of Alaska’s cruise ports offer plenty to do without spending extra. However, shore excursions are an important additional cost to budget for on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska.

Another alternative: book a Star Class suite for an all-inclusive Alaska cruise

Star Class is the top-tier of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class. It’s the closest you’ll get to an all-inclusive Alaska cruise with the cruise line, and it’s only available on Quantum Class ships sailing to Alaska.

Star Class on Royal Caribbean includes priority boarding, Coastal Kitchen restaurant access, luxury stateroom amenities, complimentary VOOM wifi for each guest, concierge service, access to the Suite Sun Deck, laundry, a Royal Genie, gratuities, specialty dining, and a Deluxe Beverage Package.

Related: A beginner’s guide to sailing in Star Class

Essentially, Star Class provides the most all-inclusive experience you can find on a Royal Caribbean cruise. A few of the only add-ons not included with Star Class are retail and spa services.

The caveat? Star Class isn’t cheap, and the price of these cabins on an Alaska cruise is usually in the five figures. If you’re looking to splurge, though–and have the budget to do so–by all means, book a Star Class room for an all-inclusive Alaska cruise.

If you can’t shell out $15,000 for one vacation, you’re better off booking the Deluxe Beverage Package, Unlimited Dining Package, and internet package on top of your cruise fare in a regular cabin. This provides an “all-inclusive” experience at a more reasonable price for any cruise to Alaska.

Planning an Alaska cruise? Here’s our best advice:

• Alaska cruises from Seattle Guide & Review
• 50 Alaska cruise tips you should use
• Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska
• How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary
• When is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

It appears Royal Caribbean is offering a new way for guests to make cruise ship cabin requests before they board.

Historically, Royal Caribbean has relegated cabin requests to either onboard the ship or via a special needs form.

Guests sailing on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas this weekend were sent a text message with an option to provide stateroom preferences prior to sailing.

It's not clear if all ships have this option.

The message was sent three days prior to the start of the sailing.

The text message includes a link that takes you to an online form.

Upon clicking the link, you will see a brief description that provides options for customizing your cabin before boarding.

Most notably, you must complete the form the same day you receive the text. If you do not submit the form on time, you will need to speak with your stateroom attendant once onboard if you have any accommodations.

It is unclear what would happen if the guest does not have a cellphone to receive this text. There is a possibility that they would receive an email instead to fill out the form.

What questions are on the Guest Request Form?

The form includes five questions that allow you to have your cabin ready in the configuration you want prior to your arrival.

The first three are about your particular sailing. You need to specify the ship you are sailing on, the sail date, and your booking ID. If any of this information is wrong, the form will not be processed.

Questions four and five are related to the particular needs of the guest.

For stateroom requests, you can indicate if you want:

• The bed to be separated
• A baby crib
• An extra blanket
• A joining stateroom door to be opened

For medical requests, you can indicate if you need:

• Distilled water (for CPAP machine use)
• An extension cord (for medical devices only)
• A medical fridge
• A sharps container (to dispose injectable medications)

How this is different

Prior to this option, guests that wanted a change to their beds or have adjacent stateroom doors unlocked would need to wait until they boarded to inform their stateroom attendant.

With this new form, passengers can submit their preferences ahead of time.

The form doesn't encompass every possible request, as there is no comment section to make additional special requests, such as extra pillows or soap for example.

If you have special needs, you would have to fill out the Guest Special Needs Form.

The special needs form needs to happen no later than 30 days prior to your sailing, “except for sign language interpreting requests which must be submitted 60 days prior to sailing” according to the Royal Caribbean website.

How other cruise lines do it

When sailing on cruise lines such as Carnival and Norwegian, guests are able to specify if they want the beds separated before stepping foot on the ship.

For both cruise lines, during the online check-in process, there is a prompt to indicate your cabin preferences.

After adding your passport and credit card information, as well as selecting your arrival time, you complete the online check-in for your Royal Caribbean cruise. They do not ask for cabin preferences.

Typical cruise cabin setup

All cruise cabins have at least two twin beds that can be joined together to make one large bed.

Most one-bedroom cabins have four beds: two on the floor and two beds that can be pulled down from the ceiling.

Depending on the cabin, some rooms may even have a pull-out couch that can be used as another bed. This is typically found in larger suite cabins.

Connecting staterooms on a cruise ship

If a family or large group cruising together does not want to share one stateroom, two staterooms (or more) next to one another is a great option.

To ensure your family or group stays in a connected stateroom, you can look at the ship map to see which rooms are connected. To make your life easier, you can have your travel agent do that for you.

Booking as early as possible ensures you will get staterooms next to each other, or at least, nearby.

Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, is the biggest cruise ship in the world. She features the most modern activities, cabins, entertainment, and dining choices found in the fleet, and there’s no wonder why she is a favorite among many Royal Caribbean cruisers.

While the entire ship is remarkable, there are a few key areas where Wonder of the Seas really stands out. From a reimagined pool deck to a suites-only oasis, here are the 10 things Royal Caribbean got right with Wonder of the Seas.

Brunch at The Mason Jar Bar & Restaurant

The Mason Jar is Royal Caribbean’s newest specialty restaurant concept, with a menu inspired by dishes from various regions of the American South. From chicken pot pie to blackened catfish and St. Louis-style ribs, the restaurant features dishes you may not eat regularly at home.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

In addition to dinner, The Mason Jar is also open for brunch on sea days. Both sweet and savory brunch is available, with items including chicken and waffles, salmon-avocado toast, stuffed french toast, and a crispy chicken sandwich.

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so when I heard that Royal Caribbean’s newest restaurant would feature a brunch menu, I couldn't wait to try it.

I ordered the red velvet pancakes–akin to dessert for breakfast–and tried the restaurant’s gargantuan cinnamon roll. As someone with a sweet tooth, I was in heaven, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book brunch again on my next Wonder of the Seas cruise.

Giovanni’s Wine Bar

While Vintages Wine Bar is found on many Royal Caribbean ships, the cruise line took its wine bar concept up a notch with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is the newest Italian restaurant concept on Royal Caribbean. Giovanni’s Wine Bar is an extension of the restaurant, which offers wine and à la carte appetizers, pizzas, and desserts from Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Related: How Royal Caribbean reimagined its signature Italian restaurant

At Vintages, only a small tapas menu is available, so I loved having an extensive menu of à la carte dishes to choose from at Giovanni’s Wine Bar. Items were priced quite reasonably (around $3-9 for appetizers and $9-12 for pizzas).

I felt the wine bar made an excellent dinner (or snack) choice for those who wanted to try Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen without forking over $50 for dinner per person. Plus, I loved the modern, bright design of the wine bar–a stark contrast to the darker and moodier vibe of Vintages.

inTENse AquaTheater show

Shows in Royal Caribbean’s AquaTheaters are always spectacular, but the AquaTheater show on Wonder of the Seas is one of the best I’ve seen yet.

inTENse, the ship’s AquaTheater show, is the first to feature an all-female cast. Not only did I love the female empowerment of the show, but the slacklining, high-diving, aerial performances, and synchronized swimming were beyond incredible. The show lives up to its name; it is intense!

If you’re sailing on Wonder of the Seas, don’t miss this performance.

Suite Neighborhood

Wonder of the Seas is the first Oasis Class ship to feature a designated Suite Neighborhood, accessible only to suite guests. This neighborhood includes a Suite Lounge, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and private sundeck with its own bar and pool.

Related: Wonder of the Seas neighborhoods tour

The Suite Neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas is an enhanced version of the suites-only areas on other Royal Caribbean ships. Even though other ships may have a private sun deck, lounge, and restaurant for suite guests, they are rarely located in the same place. The Suite Neighborhood combines these features into one convenient area for suite guests, creating a "ship within a ship concept" that is not found on other ships.

Guests in Grand Suites and above can access the Suite Neighborhood, and those in Sea Class (Junior Suites) can dine at Coastal Kitchen for dinner only.

Although I’m not sure I’ll ever sail in a $20,000 suite, the Suite Neighborhood certainly has me dreaming about cruising in luxury!

Windjammer size

On other Oasis Class ships, the Windjammer is quite small in relation to how many guests are onboard. With so many other dining choices available, Royal Caribbean wanted to make the Windjammer less prominent on the Oasis Class.

They later realized, though, that passengers prefer having a large buffet with plenty of seating and endless food choices. Because of this, the Windjammer was reimagined on Wonder of the Seas and is the largest buffet in the fleet.

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean's Windjammer Cafe buffet

As someone who enjoys dining at the Windjammer for breakfast and lunch more than other venues, I appreciated the larger buffet size on Wonder of the Seas. I find that I rarely eat at the Windjammer on other Oasis Class ships; the area always feels too cramped for my liking.

On Wonder of the Seas, though, I dined at the Windjammer nearly every day of my cruise and was impressed by the size and variety of offerings.

Cantina Fresca & El Loco Fresh

El Loco Fresh is one of my favorite complimentary dining options on any Royal Caribbean ship, and I’ll never pass up a quick lunch of burritos, nachos, and tacos.

Wonder of the Seas took El Loco Fresh to the next level by placing it adjacent to a brand-new bar, Cantina Fresca. Cantina Fresca is a Mexican-inspired bar featuring margaritas and aguas frescas, which offer the perfect accompaniment to chips, salsa, and unlimited guacamole.

Additionally, the bar’s location near the Sports Court is perfect for those who want to grab a quick bite to eat in between time at the pool and signature activities like zip lining and the FlowRider.

Climate-controlled Solarium

The adults-only Solarium on Wonder of the Seas may just be the best in the fleet. Unlike other Oasis Class ships, it’s fully enclosed and climate-controlled. In my opinion, this makes it a far more comfortable spot to relax compared to the open-air Solariums on other Royal Caribbean ships.

Related: Wonder of the Seas vs other Oasis Class ships

Outside of being climate-controlled, the Solarium is beautiful. With a domed ceiling, comfy lounge chairs, art pieces, a pool, and a plethora of jacuzzis, it’s one of the best hangout spaces on Wonder of the Seas.

Social100 teens-only patio

Wonder of the Seas features Royal Caribbean’s new rendition of Adventure Ocean kids programming, which focuses on giving kids more flexibility in what they’d like to do compared to the old Adventure Ocean.

Related: 50 best cruising with kids tips & secrets

Part of the new Adventure Ocean includes updated teen spaces, and Wonder of the Seas features both an indoor teen lounge and private outdoor deck known as Social 100: The Patio.

The Patio features its own bar, hot tub, comfy seating areas, large chess board, and selfie backdrops. It’s somewhere passengers aged 13-17 can meet and mingle with kids their own age, and I can imagine it’s a popular spot for teenagers onboard.

I would have loved this hangout space as a teen, and I’ll admit I’m a little jealous there’s not an adults-only equivalent of this space!

Cowboy hat stage in the Royal Promenade

Every Royal Promenade on an Oasis Class ship features a large piece of artwork. While the five-ton, 3D metallic head on Harmony of the Seas impressed me, I was especially impressed by the use of artwork on Wonder of the Seas.

The Wonder of the Seas Royal Promenade features a silver-plated, giant cowboy hat. Upon first glance, I didn’t pay much attention to it.

Later on in my cruise, however, I discovered that the art piece also functions as a stage for The Mason Jar band. I thought this concept was unique and enjoyed listening to the musicians while strolling around the Promenade.

Colorful, reimagined pool deck

The Wonder of the Seas pool deck immediately transports passengers to a Caribbean paradise, with colorful decor and tropical-themed bars dotted along the ample deck space. I’d argue that the pool deck on Wonder of the Seas is the best in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

One of my favorite aspects of the pool deck is The Lime & Coconut, Royal Caribbean’s signature Caribbean-themed bar. This bar features the best of the fleet’s tropical cocktails, including the creamy, tangy Lime & Coconut cocktail, Mai Tai, and Goombay Smash.

Related: Wonder of the Seas Guide, itineraries, features, and more

I appreciated the variety of seating available on the pool deck. Comfy loungers can be found throughout the deck along with private casitas (available by reservation only), in-pool loungers, and even “theater” seating in front of the pool deck’s TV screen.

The pool deck is guaranteed to be busy on any Wonder of the Seas cruise, and it’s the perfect place to catch some sun as you sail through the Caribbean.

The anticipation of a cruise vacation is almost as fun as the trip itself. With endless food, diverse destinations, impeccable service, and impressive entertainment options, boarding a Royal Caribbean cruise is nothing short of exciting.

Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your very first cruise, you’ll find certain aspects of the vacation stand out more than the rest. Some cruisers can’t wait to watch shows each evening whereas others look forward to elegant dinners and tranquil evenings on their balcony more than anything else.

Regardless of your cruising style and preferences, there’s plenty to be excited for on any Royal Caribbean cruise. These are the top 15 things I look forward to every time I go on a cruise ship.

An escape from the ordinary

Boarding a Royal Caribbean cruise transports you far away from day to day life back at home. There’s no need to worry about sitting in traffic, going grocery shopping, or answering work emails. Instead, your biggest worries of the day will be whether to order spaghetti bolognese or steak for dinner (why not both?).

Escaping the normalcy of life at home is always one of the things I look forward to every time I go on a cruise ship. I love waking up in a new place each day, meeting new people, and enjoying three-course meals every evening.

The post-cruise depression really sets in when I settle back into the routine of cooking, cleaning, and working upon returning home, but it’s always worth it.

A schedule of fun activities

As a kid, I loved attending summer camp, where I could participate in a schedule of fun activities like arts and crafts, dodgeball, and rock climbing. A Royal Caribbean cruise, with its daily schedule of activities in the Cruise Planner, often feels like a summer camp for adults, and I absolutely love it.

Related: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

While no one is obliged to participate in any activities on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I find that having a schedule of things to do at nearly every hour of the day is amazing. From trivia to scrapbooking classes, pickleball tournaments, and cocktail seminars, I’m always impressed by the variety of programming available onboard.

I’m usually more of a go-with-the-flow type of traveler, but whenever I’m on a Royal Caribbean ship I religiously check the Cruise Planner to see which fun activities are coming up next.

Visiting new ports

One of the best aspects of cruising for me is the opportunity to explore new destinations. I always prefer booking an itinerary that visits places I’ve never been to before, allowing me to experience the childlike sense of discovery that comes with exploring somewhere new.

Cruising is unique compared to land-based vacations in that you can experience vastly different destinations each day. Exploring the Basque country of Spain on Monday and quaint French towns on Tuesday is something you can’t experience as easily on a land-based trip, and that's something I love most about cruising.

Indian food

Indian food is one of my favorite cuisines; the spicy, aromatic, unique blend of flavors paired with rice and naan perfectly aligns with my palette. One thing I always look forward to when I board a Royal Caribbean cruise is the variety of Indian food I can enjoy during my sailing.

Related: Top 10 insider tips for Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room

You can find Indian food on Royal Caribbean ships in both the Windjammer buffet and Main Dining Room. The Windjammer always has several options available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including chana masala (my personal favorite), butter chicken, and egg bhurji.

Indian dishes are offered in the Main Dining Room, too, but are not always on the menu, so ask your server which Indian dishes are available for your meal.

Desserts

Unlimited food is synonymous with cruising, and I’ll put Royal Caribbean’s desserts near the top of my list on what I look forward to every time I go on a cruise ship.

As someone with a huge sweet tooth, I feel like a kid in a candy store anytime I’m onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. Molten chocolate cake? Tiramisu? Unlimited soft serve ice cream? I’ll skip dinner and head straight to dessert!

Related: Top desserts to try on Wonder of the Seas

Don’t even get me started on the fried cheesecake from 150 Central Park, one of the most beautiful dishes I’ve ever had the pleasure to try. Royal Caribbean simply kills the dessert game, and I’m all here for it.

Live music

The convenience of finding live music onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship cannot be understated, and this is one of the things I look forward to most every time I sail. It’s extremely easy to find impressive musicians around the ship, whether acoustic guitar in the pub or piano tunes at Schooner Bar.

On any given day on a cruise ship–even on Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships–you’ll find live music. While most performances are during the evening, it’s common to find music throughout the day as well, such as a reggae band on the pool deck or classical guitar player at Vintages wine bar.

The service

I’ve never experienced the level of service you receive on a Royal Caribbean cruise anywhere on land.

Whether it’s the incredible service from my stateroom attendant, attentive waiters in the main dining room, or just conversing with bartenders, the incredible service from Royal Caribbean’s crew members is something I look forward to every time I board a ship.

Adjusting back to "normal" customer service is one of the hardest parts about returning home!

Ice skating shows

The ice skating shows on Royal Caribbean ships are vastly underrated. I always hear passengers discussing their favorite Broadway musicals or AquaTheater performances onboard, but rarely the ice skating shows.

Maybe it’s the former gymnast in me, but I love watching the twists, tricks, and flips put on by the talented ice cast. I’ll never get tired of watching back flips on ice, triple axels, and the nerve-wracking headbanger skill–during which a skater’s head comes dangerously close to the ice.

I’ll admit I don’t always understand the storyline of the ice skating shows, but you’ll still always catch me reserving the first show of the cruise on any Royal Caribbean ship.

Meeting crew members

Royal Caribbean crew members are from all over the world, and one thing I always look forward to when boarding a cruise is conversing with the crew onboard.

I’ve gotten to know several crew members during my time onboard, from bartenders to my stateroom attendant and waiters. I always love hearing about their lives back home, how they ended up working on cruise ships, and what their favorite destinations have been.

Chatting with crew members is one of the most interesting aspects of cruising for me. After all, where else can you have a conversation with people from the United States, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Ukraine, Turkey, India, the Philippines, China, and Indonesia in one place?

My home away from home

Coming back to your cabin after a long day exploring port is a wonderful feeling, and my cruise cabin always feels like my home away from home by the end of the sailing.

Even in the smallest of interior cabins, I feel much more “at home” in a cruise cabin compared to a standard hotel room. Maybe it’s the cozy size (or perhaps the escape from the busy atmosphere found elsewhere onboard), but I always look forward to spending time in my cabin on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Sunsets at sea

One place you’ll always find me during sunset on a cruise ship is lounging in a pool chair near the jogging track. I love the quiet, peaceful environment of the pool deck once most passengers have gone to dinner, and the upper pool deck is arguably the best spot to catch views of the sunset.

Related: The best spot for sailaway on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship

I make it a point to watch the sunset nearly every evening onboard, whether from the pool deck, the helicopter pad, or the dining room. And with a cocktail in hand? Even better.

Spending time with friends and family

I find cruises to be the perfect vacation to enjoy with friends and family. They offer the ideal mix of structure and freedom, allowing each member of the family to choose how they would like to spend their day.

I live across the country from most of my family, so I always cherish the time we can spend together when cruising, whether in the Caribbean, Europe, or Alaska. I’ve also had the chance to cruise with some of my best friends who live across the country (or across the ocean) from me.

There's something extra special about making memories with your loved ones on a cruise, and I can't wait to explore more of the world with my friends and family in the future.

Trying new cocktails

Before I started cruising, my repertoire of cocktails was minimal at best. I found myself ordering the same basic cocktails anywhere I went without knowing better. While gin and tonics are great, they’re a bit boring compared to the signature drinks you’ll find on a Royal Caribbean ship.

One thing I look forward to on every cruise is trying new cocktails, whether a standard piña colada or something more unique, such as a PB&J old fashioned or cucumber martini.

Related: Top 10 cocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

Plus, if you have a Deluxe Beverage Package or Crown & Anchor Society drink vouchers, you can try a variety of cocktails without worrying about whether or not you’ll like the drink.

I’ve “wasted” several drink vouchers on cocktails I haven’t enjoyed, but on the flip side I’ve ordered cocktails I was skeptical about which have since become my favorite drinks!

Karaoke

Funny enough, one of my favorite activities to attend on a cruise ship is karaoke. While I’m too shy to get on the stage myself, the energy and performances at karaoke on a cruise ship are unmatched.

In fact, I find myself spending nearly every evening at karaoke on some sailings. Some of the best cruises for this are short 3 and 4-night itineraries from South Florida. These sailings tend to have a higher party atmosphere than other cruises, leading to some seriously fun performances at karaoke.

Perfect Day at CocoCay

While I don’t visit Perfect Day at CocoCay every time I cruise, it’s something I always look forward to whenever the port is on my itinerary.

Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas lives up to its name: it’s absolutely perfect. White sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, and the stunning Oasis Lagoon pool make the island a fantastic place to spend the day.

What I appreciate about Perfect Day at CocoCay is that you don’t need to spend anything extra once on the island. Beach chairs, umbrellas, food, and several non-alcoholic drinks are complimentary. In addition, there are plenty of activities for guests of all ages, including Splashaway Bay for kids and a sports area with basketball, volleyball, and other beach games.

And if you do want to spend extra while on the island? There’s a wide selection of add-ons to book, from private cabana rentals to an adrenaline-packed day at Thrill Waterpark.

Read more about Perfect Day at CocoCay:

• 40 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips, tricks, and secrets
• Guide to Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Coco Beach Club: cost, tips & review

What do you look forward to most whenever you board a Royal Caribbean cruise? Let us know in the comments below!