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What's it like to take a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise in 2023?

Whether you’re planning an Alaska cruise this season or are hoping to visit Alaska in the coming years, it’s helpful to know what to expect.

After my recent Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska on Quantum of the Seas, I gained a few important insights that I wanted to share with those visiting Alaska this summer.

Knowing what to expect when it comes to the check-in process, dining, ports, cabins, and activities will prepare you for everything you may encounter on your vacation.

Alaska cruises are becoming increasingly popular—it’s estimated nearly 1.6 million cruise passengers will visit the state in 2023.

Indeed, the 49th state is one of the most picturesque destinations in the world. From its towering mountains to magnificent glaciers and historic towns, it’s hard not to be in awe of the sights around you as your ship sails through the state’s chilly waters.

Here’s what a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise is like in 2023.

Before your Alaska cruise, you will need to spend a night in Seattle or Vancouver.

One of the most important pieces of cruise advice we share is to arrive in your embarkation city, whether it’s Seattle or Vancouver, the day before your cruise begins. For my Alaska cruise, I flew to Seattle the day before my cruise, arriving in the city around 2PM.

While arriving a day early means you have to pay for a hotel and request an extra day off work, it’s well worth the peace of mind knowing you have enough time to make it to the cruise terminal. Flying to Seattle or Vancouver the same day as your Alaska cruise is risky, as any delays or cancellations could cause you to miss your flight altogether.

After taking the light rail from the airport to downtown, I checked into my hotel, and I had the rest of the evening to sightsee around the city.

I booked a stay at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, which was conveniently located in the heart of downtown. I paid only $220 for the 4-star hotel via Priceline’s Express Deals, a blind booking feature offering discount fares on hotel rooms.

Related: I’m a budget traveler, and here are 10 ways I saved money on my Alaska cruise

During the evening and the following morning, I explored downtown Seattle, visiting popular attractions like Pike Place Market and the Olympic Sculpture Park. I also ate dinner and breakfast in the city; my favorite restaurant in Seattle is Din Tai Fung, a Chinese dim sum restaurant serving freshly made dumplings and noodles.

If you’re cruising to Alaska this year, I recommend turning your pre-cruise stay in Seattle (or Vancouver) into a mini vacation, as it’s a nice way to kick off your cruise vacation a little earlier.

Embarkation day for my Alaska cruise was straightforward, and I was on the ship within 20 minutes of arrival at the cruise terminal.

I had a check-in time of 12PM for my Quantum of the Seas cruise, which timed out perfectly with check-out of my hotel in downtown Seattle.

Royal Caribbean ships depart from Pier 91, which is located around three miles from downtown Seattle. I recommend taking a Lyft or Uber to the cruise port as opposed to a hotel shuttle service, as it’s easier to leave on your schedule rather than wait for a shuttle to arrive.

Related: Guide to Seattle cruise port for Alaska cruises

If you’re cruising from Vancouver, however, it’s possible to walk to the cruise terminal from downtown hotels. If you have a lot of luggage, though, you can always take a Lyft or Uber there as well.

Upon reaching Pier 91 in Seattle, I quickly dropped off my luggage with the porters and entered the cruise terminal. I was pleased to see minimal lines at the terminal’s entrance, although I noticed check-in times were not being enforced, so we probably could have arrived earlier than our scheduled check-in time.

We breezed past check-in and security and were able to immediately board the ship.

Once onboard, most guests immediately headed to the Windjammer buffet for embarkation day lunch. We also decided to eat lunch at the Windjammer, but upon arriving we had to wait in a line for tables to open.

I had never experienced a line to enter the Windjammer before, but we were told the space was at capacity. Luckily the line only took a few minutes, but if you’re looking to avoid crowds, I’d recommend eating lunch at a quieter venue like Cafe @ Two 70 or a specialty restaurant instead.

Cruise cabins to Alaska offer everything you need for a comfortable stay during your week onboard.

Whether you book a small inside room or spacious suite for an Alaska cruise, it will quickly become your home away from home.

I booked an interior cabin for my Quantum of the Seas cruise, and I found the room to have much more walking and storage space than I thought it would.

Related: Take a look inside my interior cabin on Quantum of the Seas

If you’re cruising on Ovation of the Seas or Quantum of the Seas to Alaska, you will find modern cabins with ample storage space and plenty of outlets to charge electronics. In addition, all interior cabins on these ships have a virtual balcony, a floor-to-ceiling television screen depicting a live feed from a camera outside the ship.

If you’re cruising from Vancouver on Radiance of the Seas or Brilliance of the Seas, expect more outdated cabins. You may notice more wear and tear in your cabin on an older ship and there won’t be as much storage space or outlets available.

Nonetheless, cabins on older ships will still offer everything you need during your stay, including a king-sized bed, private bathroom, desk, television, and closet.

Cruise ports are busy, so you should disembark the ship early.

My Quantum of the Seas cruise called upon Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Victoria, and we also enjoyed a glacier viewing day at Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. If there’s one thing I learned during my time in port, it was to disembark the ship early to avoid crowds.

If your cruise visits Alaska in the peak season, there could be four or more ships in port at the same time. This means over 15,000 passengers could visit the port on the same day, leading to intense crowding in busy areas.

I noticed places like Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau were extra busy this year—at times it was too busy to be enjoyable. Mentally preparing for crowds at popular spots is important to ensure you are not too overwhelmed with the amount of people present.

In most scenarios, however, the earlier you disembark the ship, the more empty a cruise port will be. When our ship docked in Ketchikan, for example, we disembarked immediately and enjoyed pleasant, crowd-free walking around the quaint town.

As we were heading back to the ship a few hours later, more cruise ships had since docked, and the crowds increased exponentially. At that moment, I was grateful to have done the majority of my exploring before the crowds arrived.

Shore excursions are expensive in 2023, but there are more than enough low cost activities to enjoy.

If you were shocked upon seeing the prices for Alaska shore excursions, you’re not alone.

Shore excursions in Alaska are notoriously expensive. Expect to pay at least $150 for a whale watching tour, $500-700 for a glacier helicopter ride, and over $100 for a cycling tour to Mendenhall Glacier.

Alaska excursions can quickly break your budget, but the good news is that there is a plethora of free or low cost activities to do in port instead.

During my Quantum of the Seas cruise, I chose to explore ports on my own instead of booking shore excursions. Doing so allowed me to not only have more freedom in what I wanted to do, but save money, too.

Related: Tips for taking an Alaska cruise on a budget

In Ketchikan, I walked to the historic red-light district, Creek Street, hiked up the Married Man’s Trail, and visited two museums on Alaska’s history and Native culture.

In my second port of call, Sitka, I booked a shuttle bus for $20 that took me to Fortress of the Bear, a bear rehabilitation center outside of downtown. With a $15 entrance fee, I was able to watch brown and black bears up close, a fascinating experience with a relatively low cost.

While in Juneau, I spent $50 to rent a bicycle for the day, which enabled me to visit Mendenhall Glacier at a lower cost than cruise ship excursions.

Finally, my last port of call took me to Victoria, British Columbia. With only five hours in port, I decided against an excursion in favor of walking around the city, which proved to be a lovely experience. Victoria’s downtown is the most charming of any cruise ports I visited on the sailing, and admiring the views costs nothing extra.

If you have an Alaska cruise planned for 2023, I recommend reading the following guides to get an idea of what free or low cost activities are available in each port:

• Top 10 things to do in Ketchikan
• Top 10 things to do in Sitka
• Top 10 things to do in Juneau
• Top 10 things to do in Skagway

If your ship visits Skagway, be prepared for extra lines.

Landslides recently occurred right next to one of Skagway’s cruise docks, and it has disrupted scheduled visits to Skagway this summer. In fact, Royal Caribbean canceled Quantum of the Seas visits to Skagway in 2023, but Ovation of the Seas is still making her scheduled visits.

Due to the risk of additional landslides, passengers are not permitted to walk the length of the pier. Therefore, passengers must board shuttle buses outside the ship that will drive down the pier.

The ride only lasts a minute, but you might encounter long lines waiting to board a shuttle bus. Some cruise lines have been using tender boats instead of shuttle buses, but neither method is convenient.

To avoid waiting in line, I recommend disembarking the ship as early as possible. As soon as you hear an announcement that the gangway has opened, leave the ship immediately to be one of the first in line.

Radiance Class ships usually dock at a separate pier in Skagway, so you may not be affected by the landslide if sailing on one of these vessels.

Alaska cruises in 2023 feature Royal Caribbean’s new Main Dining Room menu and a range of other eateries.

One difference with Alaska cruises this year is that they feature Royal Caribbean’s new Main Dining Room menu, which was launched fleetwide in early 2023.

The dinner menu has a different theme each evening, such as Italian night and French night. I noticed a few theme differences compared to what I’ve seen on Caribbean cruises, as an Asian theme night was offered in lieu of Mexican night.

There are three options for dinner in the Main Dining Room: early, late, and My Time Dining. On my cruise, early dinner was at 5PM with late seating at 8PM. With My Time Dining, you can reserve a different dining time for each evening, but if you forget to make a reservation, you’ll have to wait in a line for an available table.

Related: Dinner on Royal Caribbean: Early Dinner vs. Late Dinner

On my Alaska cruise, I ate in the Main Dining Room just two out of seven nights. Unfortunately, our early dining time coincided with the sailaway time from most Alaska cruise ports. If I wanted to watch the breathtaking scenery outside, I had to forgo dinner in the dining room, as most tables were not by a window.

Instead, I dined most evenings in the Windjammer. The buffet’s large windows offered the perfect spot to watch Alaska’s scenery, and I preferred the quick service and wider range of cuisines at the restaurant.

Depending on which ship you book for an Alaska cruise, dining options can vary. All ships will feature the Main Dining Room along with the Windjammer buffet, Chops Grill steakhouse, and an Italian specialty restaurant.

Other venues vary from ship to ship, but you’ll find a mix of included and extra cost food on any cruise ship visiting Alaska.

Booking popular activities like RipCord by iFLY and The North Star can be confusing—here’s how to book a complimentary slot.

If you’re cruising to Alaska on a Quantum Class ship, then you’ll surely want to try the ships’ signature activities.

One of the most popular things to do on both Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas is RipCord by iFLY, an indoor skydiving simulator. For this activity, passengers enter a skydiving chamber that blows strong wind upwards, allowing them to “skydive” in the chamber.

Another sought-after activity is the North Star, an observational pod that rises from the ship’s pool deck to 300 feet above sea level. Views from the North Star are unparalleled—they offer a 360 degree view of Alaska’s scenery from a high vantage point.

The catch with these two activities is that there are both free and paid options. For RipCord by iFLY, 1-minute flights are complimentary, but 2-minute flights cost around $50. As for the North Star, you’ll find complimentary rides when your ship is in port, but the activity costs extra while your ship is at sea.

Related: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

As you might expect, most passengers hope to book a coveted complimentary spot for these activities. In the past, Royal Caribbean opened the full week’s worth of reservations on embarkation day, meaning the slots filled up quickly. Once they were gone, you were out of luck.

In 2023, I noticed a more staggered approach. Instead of opening all slots for the week on embarkation day, the app would open a few slots each day instead. By checking the daily list of activities regularly on the app, you could often find an open slot for the North Star or RipCord by iFLY.

Slots usually opened up the day before the activity, so a 5PM ride on the North Star on Thursday could be booked starting on Wednesday.

Some shows require reservations, so be sure to reserve these productions early.

In addition to reserving select onboard activities, you might also need to reserve entertainment on an Alaska cruise.

Luckily, most entertainment on Royal Caribbean ships does not require reserving a seat in advance. You can enjoy live music at lounges, participate in game shows, and attend the majority of production shows with no prior reservation.

Reservations are only required for the signature shows in Two70, one of the main entertainment spaces on Quantum Class ships. On Quantum of the Seas this show is titled Starwater, whereas the Two70 production on Ovation of the Seas is Pixel’s Cabaret.

In Two70 you will catch productions augmented with technology. The venue was designed to wow guests through its massive screen projections and moving television screens, and it's certainly an impressive entertainment space.

You can make reservations for shows on the Royal Caribbean app once you get onboard, or you can reserve a seat prior to your cruise on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. If there are no seats available, I still advise showing up to the entertainment venue. If there are empty seats in the theater ~10 minutes prior to the show, they will open the theater to those without a reservation.

When it came time to disembark the ship, I was glad I booked a flight after 12PM

No one likes the end of a cruise, but unfortunately all Alaska cruises must come to an end.

I booked my flight home from Seattle’s airport at 12:30PM, and I’m glad I booked a flight after noon. Seattle’s airport is around a half hour drive from the cruise terminal, but during morning rush hour the drive can take even longer.

On the last day of the cruise, I disembarked the ship around 8:30AM. By the time I got through the cruise terminal, walked to the rideshare pickup area, and got inside a Lyft, it was nearing 9 o’clock.

After driving to the airport and going through security, another hour had passed. I was happy I booked a flight a little later so I didn’t have to worry about making my flight on time. Flights before 11AM would be risky, as you never know what kind of delays (both in the cruise terminal and in traffic) you might encounter on the way.

If you’re planning an Alaska cruise, I always recommend booking a flight no earlier than ~11:30AM to ensure you have enough time to make your flight.

Planning an Alaska cruise? Check out more of our tips and tricks:

• 50 Best Alaska cruise tips
• Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing
• Alaska cruise mistakes to avoid

Among the cruising community, Princess Cruises is supposedly the “best” cruise line for Alaska cruises, so I wanted to see how it compared to Royal Caribbean.

It’s no secret that I love cruising to Alaska—I’ve cruised to the Last Frontier five times in the past two years. After four cruises on Royal Caribbean, however, I figured it was time to try something new, so I booked a cruise on the Royal Princess, a Princess ship launched in 2013.

Prior to booking my cruise, I heard that Princess Cruises was a market leader for Alaska cruises. Not only do they have a permit to visit Glacier Bay National Park, but they offer special enrichment activities throughout the sailing, designed to immerse passengers in the state’s cultural and natural wonders.

Because I’ve enjoyed my Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska so much, I was curious as to how Princess would compare to Royal Caribbean’s Alaska offerings.

During my 7-night cruise, I compared the food, cabins, entertainment, service, and ship design of each cruise line to see how they stood apart from each other. Would it be worth sailing on Princess, a line that puts a large focus on Alaska, or would I regret not cruising on Royal Caribbean?

Here’s what I found out.

I paid $2,494 for an interior cabin on the Royal Princess during the peak season. It was slightly more expensive than my Royal Caribbean Alaska cruises.

I always thought a cruise on Princess would be much more expensive than a Royal Caribbean cruise, but that was not the case.

My 7-night Alaska cruise on the Royal Princess came out to $2,494, or $1,247 per guest, as my sister joined me on this sailing. The cruise fare reflected the price of 2 adults in an interior cabin, and it included taxes, fees, and gratuities.

To put this price into perspective, here’s what I paid for an interior cabin on my previous Alaska cruises:

• Ovation of the Seas (October 2021): $727 total (end of season and solo guest)
• Radiance of the Seas (August 2022): $1,118 (2 guests and last-minute deal)
• Quantum of the Seas (May 2023): $1,856 (2 guests)
• Ovation of the Seas (June 2023): $2,182 (2 guests)

Related: What is the cheapest month for an Alaska cruise?

My cruise departed on June 17, so it was right at the start of Alaska’s peak summer season. So while it was the most expensive of all my Alaska cruises, the price may have been cheaper if I sailed in the shoulder season or found a last-minute deal.

I was shocked at how poorly my Princess cruise ship was designed for an Alaska itinerary compared to Royal Caribbean’s ships.

Because Princess is revered for their Alaska cruises, I was flabbergasted at the design and layout of the Royal Princess. It was, to be blunt, terribly designed for cold weather.

I’ve sailed on three Royal Caribbean ships to Alaska: Radiance of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas. All three of these ships were designed for cold weather, with indoor pools, lounges with large windows, and indoor activities like a sports court and movie theater.

When I boarded the Royal Princess, I was shocked to find out there were no indoor pool spaces on the ship. Furthermore, there were hardly any indoor lounges with windows looking toward the outside—most windows in lounges looked toward the promenade deck with views blocked by lifeboats.

Thankfully we had excellent weather for most of the cruise, so it was possible to sit on the outdoor decks to watch Alaska’s scenery. If we hadn’t, though, it would have been challenging to enjoy the views without freezing or getting soaked in the rain.

Related: The best time to visit Alaska

On my Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska, I spend most of my time lounging in the adults-only Solarium, a climate-controlled space with massive floor-to-ceiling windows in all directions.

Other venues, like the Two70 lounge with its 270 degree window views, are much better designed for Alaska compared to the Royal Princess’ dark, enclosed venues.

I couldn’t believe the Royal Princess was built just a year before Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. Although the Royal Princess had some pretty spaces, it seemed years older than the innovative design and layout of Quantum of the Seas.

My cabin on the Royal Princess was better than the cabins I’ve had on other Alaska cruises.

Like most cruises, I booked an interior cabin on the Royal Princess, and it was the best cabin I’ve had on any Alaska cruise thus far. While I usually expect inside cabins to be extremely small, I was impressed with not only my cabin’s size, but its layout.

Most interior cabins on Royal Caribbean cruises are small and compact. On most of my Alaska cruises, my interior room has consisted of a bed, a small chair or couch, and a desk. All furniture was placed in the same area and there was little walking space around the room.

On my recent Quantum of the Seas cruise, I was lucky enough to stay in an interior room built for four guests. These interior rooms are bigger than a standard interior cabin, but it still appeared small compared to the room I had on the Royal Princess.

Related: I always stay in an inside cabin on a cruise ship. Here's why I actually like these rooms

My Royal Princess cabin had two separate spaces in the room: a sleeping area and a closet/bathroom space. The sleeping area had two twin beds, a big desk and vanity area, drawers, nightstands, and a full-length mirror. It also had a large TV, and I was pleased to find out that on-demand movies came at no extra charge.

Behind this part of the cabin was a “walk-in closet” space that connected to the bathroom. It was nice to have this separate closet space as it allowed for easy changing when sharing a room, and it helped to separate the cabin into two areas.

The only thing missing in the room was a plush chair or couch—we had to sit on either our beds or the small desk chair. Nonetheless, the room’s spacious layout made up for the lack of an additional seating area.

I loved spending time in my interior cabin, something I almost never feel about other inside rooms.

While food is subjective, I preferred most of the food on Royal Caribbean compared to Princess.

When reading online reviews about Princess before my sailing, I heard fantastic things about the cruise line’s food. I was expecting the food to wow me, but that was not the case.

Food is, of course, subjective, but I found that overall, I preferred the food on Royal Caribbean over Princess. I enjoy the themed cuisine menus each night on Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room menu, and their buffet is the best I’ve tried on any cruise line thus far.

The Main Dining Room on Princess tended to offer more upscale dishes—oxtail soup and five-spice duck breast, to name a few. Although the dishes we did try were tasty, my sister and I rarely found the menus appealing, so we ended up at the buffet more nights than not.

The buffet on Princess offered both standard American and international options, and while there was a lot of variety, I found the overall quality of food to be higher at Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer buffet. The desserts, in particular, were extremely subpar at the buffet, a disappointment for my sweet tooth!

That being said, the ramen noodle station at the buffet was on par with what I would expect from a specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean. In fact, it was probably the best food I’ve ever had from a buffet on both land and sea.

It was easy to see where Princess allocated extra funds compared to Royal Caribbean.

Although I found the food to be overall better on Royal Caribbean, I noticed a few ways where Princess spent extra on dining compared to the latter.

The buffet had a far wider range of condiments and toppings, whether sriracha for Asian dishes or nutella for French toast.

The soft serve ice cream machine, as another example, had a new flavor each day in addition to vanilla. During the week we enjoyed banana, strawberry, pineapple, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream, and they even had a toppings bar with sprinkles and chocolate sauce.

Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, tends to only offer chocolate and vanilla, and the ice cream station is only open for a short portion of the day. On Princess, we could enjoy ice cream anytime from 11AM to 10PM.

Another plus was that Princess offered complimentary room service, which was a nice perk compared to Royal Caribbean’s $7.95 room service charge.

Related: Royal Caribbean room service guide & tips

Although we were disappointed with the cruise line’s supposed deliver-to-anywhere feature in the app (the food almost never came), we managed to have a few orders delivered throughout the cruise.

It was evident that Princess spent a little more on these small touches, and it definitely enhanced my dining experience.

My Princess cruise shined in its Alaska-themed activities, although Royal Caribbean still offers more to do overall.

Princess runs a program called North to Alaska during their Alaska itineraries, which is an enrichment program designed to immerse passengers in the Alaska experience. This is a huge selling point for their Alaska cruises, and I was interested to see how it compared to Royal Caribbean’s programming.

Unsurprisingly, Princess shined in its Alaska offerings. Although Royal Caribbean may occasionally host Alaska-themed events on its itineraries, it’s nothing like what is offered on Princess.

During our cruise, I attended a “Meet the Sled Dogs” program, during which an Iditarod trainer boarded the ship with sled dog puppies. After a brief presentation about these active pups, passengers were able to meet the puppies in the ship’s atrium.

Related: Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

In addition to the sled dog programming were lectures on Alaska’s glaciers and wildlife along with kid-friendly activities like storytime with the ship’s mascot, Stanley the Bear. As far as food goes, the buffet and Main Dining Room put a focus on Alaskan cuisine during the sailing, which was another nice touch.

I was impressed by the North to Alaska programming, but I still found the activity offerings onboard limited compared to what is offered on Royal Caribbean. It’s hard to beat the activities offered on a Royal Caribbean cruise, from surfing simulators to bumper cars, sushi classes, trivia, and game shows.

While the Royal Princess still offered daily activities, they were not as frequent or varied compared to what I’ve experienced on Royal Caribbean.

I found the service on Princess to be adequate, but it lacked the family feel of a Royal Caribbean cruise.

I was neither impressed nor unimpressed with the service on my Princess cruise. Don’t get me wrong, I met some incredibly friendly crew workers, but at times the service was definitely lacking.

Aside from our favorite ice cream attendants, who exclaimed “My ladies are back!” whenever my sister and I would get in line for a cone, and our welcoming stateroom attendant, I was disappointed with the level of service onboard.

Many crew members did not appear happy to help us with problems when they arose. And, after witnessing a few inpatient crew members in the buffet nearly yell at passengers, I was too intimidated to ask questions about a particular dish if I didn’t know what it was.

Additionally, I missed hearing “Welcome Back!” after getting onboard after a port day, and I found myself missing the service I’ve experienced on other cruises. Perhaps I’m just used to the over-the-top friendly service on Royal Caribbean, but I was genuinely surprised with the more stand-offish service on Princess.

Like food, service is subjective, and one passenger’s experience could be different from another. It’s entirely possible we just encountered some crew members at a stressful time, and my experience should not be a reflection of the hard-working crew as a whole.

Visiting Glacier Bay National Park was a highlight of my Princess cruise, and this experience is not possible on Royal Caribbean.

One major difference between cruising to Alaska on Princess vs Royal Caribbean is visiting Glacier Bay National Park.

The primary reason I booked a cruise on the Royal Princess was to visit Glacier Bay National Park. Royal Caribbean does not have the permit to enter the park, so unfortunately you cannot visit Glacier Bay on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Although you can visit destinations like Hubbard Glacier and Dawes Glacier with Royal Caribbean, I heard great things about Glacier Bay and was determined to check it out.

Related: Hubbard Glacier vs Glacier Bay: which glacier is better to see on a cruise?

The national park certainly lived up to the hype. I was awestruck by the glaciers in the park, especially the 200 foot high Margerie Glacier, which spans nearly a mile wide. We spent the entire morning sailing around the park, visiting several glaciers right after each other.

Because it was a national park, park rangers came onboard during the day to provide information about the park and answer questions. I thought this was a special touch as it allowed visitors to learn more about the destination they were visiting.

Visiting Glacier Bay was the highlight of our time on the Royal Princess, although I wouldn’t necessarily suggest booking a Princess cruise over Royal Caribbean only to visit Glacier Bay. 

Royal Caribbean’s itineraries still visit impressive destinations, and the advantages of a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise still outweighed a visit to Glacier Bay.

I found entertainment on Princess and Royal Caribbean to be comparable, and I wouldn’t choose one line over the other for entertainment.

I do not place much importance on entertainment when I cruise, and truthfully, I almost never attend production shows. Instead, I tend to favor live music and other programming like game shows.

For the purposes of this review, I dragged myself to a few entertainment shows, and boy am I glad I did!

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of entertainment shows on the Royal Princess. I saw two production shows while there, each of which focused on singing and dancing instead of a traditional play.

The singers were so talented I couldn’t believe they weren’t a part of an opera on land. Even though I didn’t understand the storyline of the productions (if there even was one), I would have watched the shows multiple times just to hear the casts’ impressive voices.

Live music was abundant around the ship as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to a live band play relaxing music during our ship’s sailaway from Skagway. I hadn’t seen this type of classy entertainment during sailaway on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and it created a truly magical atmosphere while sailing through breathtaking scenery.

Related: 50 best Alaska cruise tips

Royal Caribbean’s entertainment, on the other hand, is more technologically-focused than the traditional shows on the Royal Princess. On Royal Caribbean cruises you’ll find ice-skating shows, high diving performances, drone shows, and technology-focused productions.

Although not all of these performances are found on ships sailing Alaska cruises, I still find the entertainment on Royal Caribbean’s Alaska itineraries to be more forward-thinking than traditional.

Overall I enjoyed my cruise on the Royal Princess, but I don’t think I would book another Princess cruise over Royal Caribbean.

Despite the complaints listed above (this is a review, after all!), I enjoyed my time on the Royal Princess. While I did not love the ship’s design as a whole, I still liked certain aspects of the ship, including the Outrigger’s Bar in the ship’s aft and the elegant, multi-story atrium.

Other than the dozen ice cream cones I enjoyed throughout the week and the buffet’s delightfully spicy ramen station, I haven't been daydreaming about any of the food I had onboard. It’s not that anything was inherently bad, but nothing blew my mind, either.

The main reason I wouldn’t book a cruise on this ship again over Royal Caribbean, though, lies in the lack of indoor viewing spaces around the ship. Sure, I’m visiting Alaska, but that doesn’t mean I want to stand in the cold for a week!

I appreciate the varied amount of indoor spaces on Royal Caribbean’s ships to Alaska, whether the indoor pool or Viking Crown Lounge. There is a clear connection to Alaska’s scenery on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but you had to intentionally seek this out on my Princess cruise.

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

Perhaps I would have enjoyed cruising on the Majestic Princess more than the Royal Princess, as that ship has an indoor pool, but I still think it’s hard to beat the design of one of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships when it comes to Alaska.

I’m happy to have spent another fun-filled week in Alaska, and to have experienced the state’s majesty with my sister. Visiting Glacier Bay was nothing short of a wonderful experience and it's something that is unattainable on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

If there’s anything I learned last week on the Royal Princess, it’s that there is a cruise line for every type of traveler. While I wouldn’t consider myself a Princess cruiser, I’ll still admit they put out a great product with their Alaska itineraries, even if it didn’t entirely match my cruising style.

We're just about a year away from the launch of Royal Caribbean next, and perhaps final, Oasis Class cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. With that much time left, there's still plenty of construction left.

Utopia of the Seas is under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and Royal Caribbean shared with travel advisors a look at what construction of this ship entails and what makes this ship different.

Utopia will be the first new Royal Caribbean cruise ship to start off with short 3- and 4-night cruises. She will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and will have a number of differences from her Oasis Class sister ships.

Utopia will have a new tiki bar experience, new dining experiences, immersive dining, and an open deck filled with plenty of activities.

During the webinar, two members of Royal Caribbean's product development team shared a photo update of how the new cruise ship is progressing.

LNG Fan Room

Utopia will be the first Oasis class that uses a more environmentally friendly fuel type, Liquified Natural Gas, or LNG.

The photo shows the ship's "fan room", which is a structure that helps vent and ensure the integrity of that fuel source.

It's located at the top of the vessel, and Royal Caribbean integrated the space into the look of the Lime and Coconut Bar.

 There were also photos of the LNG being delivered to the shipyard in France.

Royal Caribbean Director of Product Development, Darren Budden, shared that getting the LNG tanks was an issue because they were being manufactured in an area in China at a time when the country was on lockdown due to a Covid-19 spike.

"If you don't have the base of the vessel completed, it increases exponentially the complexity of building around it. So we all rejoiced on the day that we physically saw that those tanks were delivered," he shared during the webinar.

Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is the focal point of any Oasis Class ship, and this area is taking shape.

One big change to the Royal Promenade is there will not be a Bionic Bar. Instead, a new tiki bar known as the Pesky Parrot, will take its place.

Royal Caribbean Senior Product Owner, Keri-Ann Chin-Sang, talked about this new venue, "It replaces the former Bionic Bar, but we're super excited for it to be a first impression as guests are walking on the ship right at embarkation, you're going to see all of the comfortable lounge furniture, a huge expansive bar that's going to be offering tropical cocktails, frozen drinks, entertainment, a few surprise and delight moments."

Central Park

Compared to other Oasis Class ships, Utopia of the Seas will have a few changes to Central Park.

Izumi has been moved up to Central Park, which is a first for the Oasis Class.

"It's actually going to be a huge Izumi with both Teppanyaki and Sushi. The relocation really allowed us to expand the number of teppanyaki tables. So we now have six tables versus three on previous Oasis class ships," said Ms. Chin-Sang.

Izumi will also have a new pickup window which allows quick grab and go offerings for guests.

Park Cafe will have a new evening terrace experience, which the cruise line hopes will invigorate evenings in this neighborhood, "We're really trying to activate Central Park in the evenings, give people that romantic twinkling vibe that they're looking for wine and jazz in the park and, you know, a space that really brings the outdoor to life right at the heart of the ship."

Izumi is in the former location of Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar combined.

Solarium

The adults-only pool area is at the front of the ship in the Solarium.

Mr. Budden noted that Royal Caribbean made a change to the design of the Solarium with Wonder of the Seas that resonated with guests having the roof enclosed.

"It allows us to have complete climate control. Our guests have really, really loved the Solarium experience there, so we're leveraging that again with Utopia and building on the lessons learned."

"This is going to be an incredibly relaxing experience where people can go and just spend the day really in a climate controlled environment, which we've never been able to deliver to this extent before."

Ultimate Abyss

Utopia of the Seas will have the dry slide experience, known as the Ultimate Abyss, albeit with a few tweaks.

Mr. Budden alluded to the fact MSC's World Europa now claims to have the longest dry slide at sea, so the team at Royal Caribbean felt compelled to make changes to the Ultimate Abyss.

Suffice to say, Utopia will take back the claim of the longest dry slide at sea when the ship launches.

"We've also added some more thrill. So in our usual experience, you go through several circular completions, but we've added some acrylic dead ends that make you think like you're going to slide out and go all the way down into the Boardwalk, but you're actually going to pivot at the last minute," Mr. Budden shared.

"We've also put some rollers in to to bump up your speed as you go along and a section where you're going to be able to see the other rider. So if you know that person and you're racing against them, you'll be able to see in real time if they're ahead of you or not."

The team also talked about the fact they considered many other changes to the Ultimate Abyss, but skipped them because guests would not necessarily notice them.

"We had an inventory of options and then we really went through all of them and chose the ones that we felt were the biggest impact."

"There were a bunch of other ones, but they were really quite expensive and not a lot from an experiential improvements."

One example of a change they passed on was a way for guests to activate lights in the slide on their way down.

"There were a number that if you were sliding quickly, you would actually miss and there was another amenity where there was going to be this little lit button that if you touched it, it would bring a whole bunch of lights. But as we actually started to talk through it, it was like nine out of ten or more of our guests would never know that that was a part of it."

"So we really focused on putting the investment where we were going to see a noteworthy improvement to the experience."

Lime & Coconut

Utopia will have a three-story Lime and Coconut Bar. 

The aforementioned pipe room is not present in this construction photo, but will help form a sort of overarching umbrella.

Royal Caribbean believes the Lime and Coconut's prime location on deck 15 will make it a focal point for fun on the pool deck.

Nearby you'll find the best soft serve ice cream in the fleet, with a revamped Sprinkles location. It will feature toppings as well as complimentary ice cream.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar has been relocated into the deck 11 and 12 former Wonderland location.

Ms. Chin-Sang described the experience "Deck 12, where you enter, will be the wine bar. You'll walk down the spiral staircase that goes around a huge olive tree into the deck 11 Italian kitchen."

Another change will be the terrace seating.  Ms. Chin-Sang said the team wanted to deliver that outdoor dining experience.

"We just weren't sure how we were going to achieve that in this interior ship venue. And so we started thinking about this balcony and we went to the shipyard and we knew we wanted a balcony. And initially there was a lot of pushback on the engineering that would go into creating this cantilevered terrace. We worked at it for months and months and months."

"I think this is going to be one of the most incredible and amazing, stunning locations on the ship."

 The new exterior terrace will overlook the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Immersive dining experience

Something brand new to Utopia of the Seas is an immersive dining experience that combines visuals and dining to create something not seen before on Royal Caribbean.

As we first reported in April, the yet unnamed venue will feature a classic train motif that delivers a mixed reality experience.

"We're hoping to bring guests to more locations than they could have ever possibly visited on a short vacation in this amazing dinner experience," is what Ms. Chin-Sang said when touching on what guests can expect.

"The culinary is going to be great. The crew interaction will be amazing, and just the overall architectural feel of the space guests are really going to feel like they've been they've stepped off of a ship and onto a train."

It's located where Izumi was on previous ships on deck 4.

One car will have 24 seats, and since there are two cars, the whole venue will have around 48 seats.

After prototyping the train car experience at Royal Caribbean's Miami headquarters, the team feels confident it will deliver an incredible new option for passengers.

How long does it take to build a new cruise ship?

One question Ms. Chin-Sang and Mr. Budden were asked was how long it takes to build a ship like Utopia.

From the inception of the strategy to actually the first revenue sailing, it takes about five years, but could be done is as few as four years.

The actual construction of the ship takes closer to about two years.

The advent of block construction is what Mr. Budden said helps make construction go a lot faster, "the technology has shifted to building ships in blocks. And so those blocks can be built simultaneously in different areas."

In terms of how many people, Mr. Bidden said it takes "tens of thousands" of people employed in different areas.

It looks like it will be easier than ever to place a temporary hold on a new booking.

Royal Caribbean has updated its website booking engine to allow temporary holds to be placed in lieu of placing a deposit.

A courtesy hold allows a guest to hold a booking for 24 or 48 hours with no deposit. Different verbiage refers to either 24 or 48 hours on Royal Caribbean's website.

This hold allows the guest to hold not only the cabin, but also the promotional pricing. It's only available for single cabin bookings.

Guests that place a courtesy hold should receive a reminder email to place a deposit before the 48 hour window expires.

If no payment is made before the 48 hour window expires, the reservation is automatically cancelled.

Up until now, the guests were not allowed to place a hold on their own.  Travel agents were able to do this on behalf of their clients, however.

The holds appear to be for about 48 hours and is not available for all types of sailings.  It's not clear yet what the methodology is for which sailings get the option to place a hold via the website, but the new feature is still in testing.

The courtesy hold option has appeared and disappeared over the last couple of days, indicating Royal Caribbean is still testing the new feature.

Managing holds

In addition to the ability to place a hold, Royal Caribbean has added a new area in a guest's account to easily see holds that are placed.

When visiting your account on Royal Caribbean's website, there's a new "Courtesy Holds" option listed.

Why place a hold

There are a few good reasons to place a hold on a cabin before booking a cruise.

Placing a hold locks in the price, which means you have more time to decide to book the cruise.

You not only get to hold the price, but also any promotions that come with the price, such as kids sail free, onboard credit, et al.

All too often, cabins get booked up before someone can decide on if they want to cruise.  This ensures more time to get vacation time approved from work, pet setting, and other considerations you may need to secure before being ready to book.

Another advantage of a hold is you can investigate which add-ons are available to book, such as drink packages, shore excursions, and more.

Unlike a booking, there's no money at play. This means it's easy to lock in a price of a cabin for a short period of time to decide later.

Another easy way to place a hold

If the new feature is not available for the sailing you are looking at, or simply don't want to deal with booking on your own, travel agents can place holds on any sailing.

Royal Caribbean has always allowed travel agents to place a courtesy hold for guests, and this means less work for the guest. Plus, if the hold is converted to a booking, the travel agent can service the booking.

Travel agents have their own tools to place holds and book cruises.

Courtesy hold vs deposit

You might be wondering what the differences and advantages are to placing a hold or a deposit on a sailing.

A courtesy hold requires no money down, but only lasts up to 48 hours before it expires.  

A deposit requires at least a few hundred dollars down, but ensures that cabin is yours until you cancel or if you fail to make final payment date.

Both a courtesy hold and a deposit secure the price and promotions at the time of booking.

If you cancel a hold, there's no penalty or money to be refunded. A cancelled deposit means potentially money to be refunded and/or money lost due to a penalty from a non-refundable deposit type.

You should think of courtesy holds as a way to give yourself more time to think about booking without losing a specific cabin and/or price.  

Deposits ensure the room is yours until final payment date, albeit with certain rules depending on which deposit type you choose (refundable or non-refundable).

If your sailing is already past final payment date, then full payment will be required at the time of booking.  A courtesy hold would still allow you to reserve a room temporarily without money down.

The last thing you want is to experience seasickness while onboard your cruise. The feelings of nausea and dizziness will prevent you from fully experiencing what the ship has to offer, whether it is lounging by the pool, indulging in a three-course meal, or enjoying one of the many night time entertainment options. 

Thankfully, there are remedies that help curb these unpleasant feelings, such as ginger tea, transdermal patches, and green apples. Some of the most common, though, are over-the-counter medications: Dramamine and Bonine. 

Rough sea conditions can affect anyone, regardless of whether you are a first-time or veteran cruiser.

What are the differences between these two popular medications, and which, if any, is better? Like any medication, the answer depends on many factors, including your age, preferences, and overall health. 

Read more: How to beat seasickness on a cruise ship

Editor's note: Royal Caribbean Blog makes no warranties with regard to the safety or effectiveness of Bonine or Dramamine. It is always best to consult with a physician prior to taking any medication, especially if you have existing medical conditions, are pregnant, or you are taking other medications.

Moreover, note that this article contains affiliate links from Amazon, which costs you nothing extra. If you purchase the item through the link, Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission. 

First, what should you know about getting motion sick while on a cruise?

When you begin to feel seasick, it is because there are conflicts between your senses while in motion. In other words, your eyes, ears, muscles, and joints are sending mixed messaging to each other, thus disturbing the inner ear, which is where the vestibular system, or body's balance mechanism, is found. The vestibular system helps to create a sense of balance and spatial orientation. 

Those who experience seasickness are subject to feel a range of mild to severe symptoms, such as dizziness, fatigue, headaches, irritability, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats.  

Thankfully, cruise lines do everything possible to reduce the motion of the ship felt by guests. Today's ships are designed with stabilizers, or fins that jet off the sides of the ship, to help counteract the ocean's movement. This results in less turbulence felt onboard. The newer the cruise ship, the more advanced this technology will be. 

What are Bonine and Dramamine? 

The goal of both medications is the same: prevent you from feeling motion sicknesses. 

Dramamine is the older of the two, having been introduced to the market in 1949. It uses dimenhydrinate, an antihistamine which has a side effect of drowsiness. 

Bonine uses meclizine, another antihistamine, and came into medical use in the early 1950s to treat nausea and vertigo. It offers similar benefits with less drowsiness. 

Over the years, other products have been developed to increase each brand's presence in the market, including non-drowsy and more natural formulas, as well as fast-acting medications. You can find off-brand versions of each, too. 

If you are looking for a brand with more choices, your best bet is Dramamine, as they more options available, ranging from the original product to their non-drowsy and less-drowsy formulas. Plus, they have formulas just for children. 

Bonine (Meclizine) Original Forumla 

Active ingredients: Meclizine HCI 25mg per tablet 

Dosage: Dosage should be taken one hour before travel commences. For those 12 and older, you should take one to two tablets once daily, or as directed by a medical professional. 

Side effects: According to WedMD.com, drowsiness, dry mouth, and tiredness may occur. More serious side effects include mental/mood changes (i.e., restlessness, confusion), fast/irregular heartbeat, shaking/tremors, and difficulty urinating. 

Warnings: You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking this medication, as it can increase drowsiness. Moreover, you need to talk to a doctor prior to taking this medication if you have a history of breathing problems, high pressure in the eye, heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures, stomach and intestine problems, an overactive thyroid, difficulty urinating, or liver or kidney problems. 

Cost: A pack of 16 chewable tablets from Amazon costs $9.99. You can, however, buy in bulk to save money. Two packs of 16 tablets each is currently selling for $15.99. 

Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) Original Forumla 

Active ingredients: Dimenhydrinate 50mg per tablet 

Dosage: You should take Dramamine a half hour to hour prior to when travel commences. For those who are 12-years-old and younger, you can take one to two tablets every four to six hours, not exceeding right tablets within a 24-hour period. Children between the ages and six and eleven can take ½ to one tablet every six to eight hours, not exceeding three tablets in 24-hours. Finally, those between the ages of two and six can take ½ of a tablet every six to eight hours, not exceeding 1.5 tablets in 24-hours. Of course, if your doctor has instructed you otherwise, it is best to listen to them.  

Side effects: Per WedMD.com, the most common side effects are drowsiness, constipation, blurred vision, and dry mouth/nose/throat. Serious side effects include mental/mood changes, fast/irregular heartbeat, shaking/tremors, and difficulty urinating.

Warnings: Like with Bonine, limited alcohol should be consumed when taking this medication. It can increase the level of drowsiness that is felt. Similarly, speak with a doctor if you have a history of breathing problems, glaucoma, have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland, or are taking sedatives or tranquilizers. 

Cost: Two packs of the original chewable formula from Amazon is currently selling for $10.75. 

Other formulas 

Nobody wants to feel sleepy while on vacation, which is why many turn to non-drowsy options. 

Note, though, that these can sometimes be less effective. Compared to Dramamine's original formula, the active ingredient in the non-drowsy version is 500mg of ginger (zingiber officinale), making it a more natural option. 

Another alternative is the all-day less drowsy formula, which contains the same 25mg of meclizine as Bonine, which advertises itself to be less drowsy than Dramamine. 

If you are someone who feels as though you are prone to feeling the effects of seasickness, you may benefit from Bonine's maximum strength tablets. These contain double the amount of meclizine as their traditional counterpart, or 50mg of meclizine HCI per tablet. Per their website, "there is nothing stronger without a prescription." 

Medications for children

Currently, Dramamine for Kids is the only over-the-counter medication motion sickness relief formula for children between the ages two and twelve and contains 25mg of dimenhydrinate, which is half the amount found in the regular formula. 

Like with the original medication, the first dose should be consumed half-an-hour to one hour prior to activity, with those between the ages of two and five getting ½ to 1 tablet every six to eight hours, not exceeded more than three tablets within a single 24-hour period. 

Children between the ages of six and twelve are able to get one to two chewable tablets every six to eight hours. They should not take more than six within 24-hours, unless instructed differently by a doctor. 

What are some other seasickness remedies? 

In addition to packing the right medication, there are some other ways you can prepare for the worst. If over-the-counter medications are not your thing, there are some natural remedies that work to help reduce the effects of motion sickness. 

While this one is not foolproof, it can be advantageous to do your research prior to selecting your cabin. Some locations are more prone to feeling the ship's motion, meaning that you might, too. Staterooms that are located in the middle of the ship and on lower decks tend to feel less motion than those on higher decks or that are located in the forward or aft of the vessel. 

Moreover, it might seem counterintuitive to walk outside and look at the ocean, but if you begin to feel ill you should look out at the horizon. Staring out helps give you a sense of balance. 

Another method to help curb the negative side effects in the moment is to try and locate ginger ale, peppermint tea, or green apples, which contain pectin, a type of fiber found in the cell walls. 

6-gingerol, an active compound found in ginger, helps to reduce the feelings of nausea, making it one of the best natural remedies for seasickness. In addition to ginger ale, you can look for ginger tea, candies, and supplements prior to leaving for your cruise. Similarly, peppermint tea contains antibacterial properties that help reducing nausea an ease stomach cramps. 

Of course, there's always sea bands and transdermal scopolamine patches, and you should make sure that you are hydrated and well-rested throughout your cruise. 

A federal appeals court in Atlanta is allowing a negligence lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises to continue.

In July 2019, 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand fell about 150 feet to her death after slipping through her grandfather's hands and falling through an open window on Deck 11 onboard Freedom of the Seas. The ship was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the time. 

Following this incident, parents Alan Wiegand and Kimberly Schultz-Wiegand sued Royal Caribbean, claiming that the cruise line violated industry standards since they did not have any safety devices in windows in place. 

The case was originally dismissed in July 2021, when U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in Miami, Florida said that Salvatore Anello, Wiegand's grandfather's, behavior was unforeseeable, proximate cause of Chloe's death, with the open window acting as an obvious danger. 

The 21-page decision was released by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta and said that jurors could potentially find that Royal Caribbean was aware of the risk of children falling through open windows, as they had protective railings and warnings on ships telling passengers not to climb over them. 

Likewise, the three-judge appeals court said that jurors should decide whether Royal Caribbean could have foreseen an adult holding the infant near the window. This might not excuse the alleged negligence that the family is suing over. 

It also said jurors should decide whether Royal Caribbean could have foreseen an adult like Anello holding Wiegand near the window, which might not excuse its alleged negligence.

In February 2021, Anello was sentences to three years of probation after pleading guilty to negligent homicide in Wiegand's death.  

He initially would not plead guilty; however, he changed his plea to avoid jail time and serve probation instead. 

According to surveillance footage released by Royal Caribbean, Anello knew the window was open, as he leaned out of it for approximately eight seconds before lifting Wiegand up. She was there about 34 seconds before he lost his grip. 

Jacqueline Garcell, a lawyer for the parents, said, "We look forward to continuing our fight for justice for Chloe Wiegand and to make cruise ships safer."

Amazon Prime Day is among us - and there are some incredible deals to snag for your upcoming cruises and travels! 

Forget Black Friday because Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. In fact, the company stated that this year’s Prime Day is bigger than ever before. Thousands of items will receive substantial price slashes - some up to 80% off! 

Everything from 3-piece luggage sets to packing cubes and AirTags will be on sale. You will find some of our favorite must-have products that are on steep discount during the highly-anticipated Prime Day sale on Amazon. 

Of course, with thousands of items on sale this year for Prime Day, you might be overwhelmed trying to find the best deals. I was even a little overwhelmed while compiling this list! Lucky for you, we’ve researched all of the best cruise items on Amazon that you’ll find on sale this year during the Prime Day event. 

Prime Day begins today, July 11, and will continue for 48 hours through July 12. The sale is quick, so make sure to purchase those items you're eyeing before they sell out. As you can guess, Amazon Prime members receive the best discounts, but anyone can access deals for Prime Day, even without a membership. You can also elect a 30-day free trial for Amazon Prime if you want exclusive access to the best deals this year. 

Here are the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your upcoming cruise vacation that we found. As a note, we receive a small commission when you purchase any items during Prime Day from the links below. This costs you absolutely nothing extra, but the small commission helps support our site. 

Luggage Deals 

Whether you plan to fly to your next cruise or you live close enough to drive, you will definitely need luggage to bring onboard. Investing in solid luggage has been a lifesaver for me, as I have been cruising more frequently. Amazon Prime Day has a slew of luggage with incredible deals on luggage sets and suitcases. Take a look below at some of the best luggage deals we found. 

One of the top luggage deals is this Samsonite Carry-On. This one is a 20-inch, hard side spinner available for 44% off. We’ve taken many cruises with just a carry-on, so having a solid suitcase for cruising is a must! 

• Link: Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Carry-On 20-Inch, Teal 
• Price: $89 (Originally $159.99)

It’s also a great time to buy luggage sets so you can have matching pieces. This is a top rated, 3-piece luggage set from Coolife. Brighter sets will be easier to spot at the baggage claim as well, which are available for the sale too! As a bonus, these have TSA built-in locks so you can ensure your belongings are safe at the airport and cruise terminal. 

• Link: Coolife Luggage 3 Piece Set Suitcase Spinner Hardshell Lightweight TSA Lock.
• Price: $159 (Originally $300)

Check out this 29-inch large spinner from Swissgear - one of the top names in the luggage game. This soft-sided, expandable luggage is perfect for checked baggage or a 7-night itinerary for a week's worth of clothes. It's on big sale during Prime Day too for 37% off and comes in multiple colors!

• Link: SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable Roller Luggage, Black, Checked-Large 29-Inch
• Price: $107 (Originally $149)

Perhaps the best deal on luggage is this 2-piece hardshell luggage set from Rockland. For 70% off, you can snag this matching set with a carry-on sized suitcase and matching 28-inch suitcase! You won't regret snagging this set, which also comes highly-rated from thousands of reviewers. 

• Link: Rockland Melbourne Hardside Expandable Spinner Wheel Luggage, Blue, 2-Piece Set (20/28)
• Price: $102 (Originally $340)

Another fantastic deal is from American Tourister with this 4-piece, upright luggage set. At 58% off the original price, this set could be perfect for your upcoming cruise if you are needing multiple pieces. 

• Link: American Tourister Fieldbrook XLT Softside Upright Luggage, Black, 4-Piece Set
• Price: $80 (Originally $189)

If you’re someone who loves to souvenir shop during your cruise, it’s not a bad idea to pack an expandable duffle bag to ensure you can get all of your new treasures home. This is especially important if you are someone who struggles to leave room in your packed suitcase for souvenirs. In fact, I've started to always pack an expandable duffle because I don't want to feel limited on cruises when it comes to shopping. 

• Link: adidas Unisex Defender 4 Medium Duffel Bag.
• Price: $31 (Originally $45)

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes have been all the rage for a while, but I didn’t start using them until last year. Now, I haven’t looked back. Not only can you stay more organized with your cruise packing, but you can usually squeeze more into your suitcase. Once you arrive to your cruise cabin, you can simply place your cubes in the drawers and shelves - unbelievably easy!

I’ve also invested in compression packing cubes, which save a ton of space in my carry-on. Here are some of the best packing cubes for Amazon Prime Day. 

Those waiting to jump on the packing cube bandwagon will want to take advantage of this amazing deal on an 8-piece set of cubes from Veken. For 37% off, you can have an entire set for your next cruise. This highly-rated set of packing cubes also comes in multiple colors.

• Link: Veken 8 Set of Various Colored Packing Cubes for Carry on Suitcase in 4 Sizes (Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small), Suitcase Organizer Bags Set for Travel Essentials Travel Accessories, Travel Bags Organizer for Luggage
• Price: $16.99 (Originally $30)

If you prefer the 6-piece set of packing cubes, Veken also has another sale during Amazon Prime Day. This is an absolute steal!

• Link: 6 Set of Various Colored Packing Cubes in 4 Sizes (Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small), Veken Packing Cubes for Carry on Suitcase, Suitcase Organizer Bags Set for Travel Essentials Travel Must Haves 
• Price: $16.99 (Originally $30)

Another highly-rated set of packing cubes comes from BAGAIL with 6 pieces and 3 different sizes is on sale for Prime Day. 

• Link: BAGAIL 6 Set Packing Cubes,3 Various Sizes Travel Luggage Packing Organizers
• Price: $20 (Originally $27.99)

If you’re looking to save extra space in your luggage, consider these compression packing cubes. I can attest personally that these are fantastic - I used them on a recent trip and I was shocked by the amount of space saved. 

• Link: Gonex Compression Packing Cubes, 3pcs/4pcs Expandable Storage Travel Luggage Bags Organizers. Organizers
• Price: $23 (Originally $33)

Here’s another set of 4-piece compression packing cubes I found for 25% off during Amazon Prime Day. This set includes 7 pieces and includes a toiletry bag for carry-on luggage too. 

• Link: PFEYRPK Lightweight Compression Packing Cubes for Suitcases, Compressible Expandable Travel Packing Organizer with Clear Toiletries and Backpack Bag, Travel Essentials for Carry on Luggage 7 Set
• Price: $29 (Originally $39)

Electronics

We’ve compiled the following best deals for Amazon Prime Day electronics for all of your cruising needs. Everything from organizers, chargers and converters are on sale. 

Apple AirTags have become increasingly popular since the airport chaos has continued to ensue. Being able to place an AirTag in your luggage allows you to track in real-time where your suitcase is, which is invaluable during flights. It’s also been proven helpful to see where your luggage is at the cruise terminal. 

Also, Apple rarely has sales on their products so snagging this 4-pack for 10% off is a great deal!

• Link: Apple AirTag - 4 Pack
• Price: $89.99 (Originally $99.99)

Apple AirPods are also an essential for cruisers and travelers. Wireless headphones have encouraged travelers to ditch their wired headphones and not looking back. For Prime Day, or

The sale applies to Apple AirPod Pros with noise canceling for just $199, which is 20% off the original price.

• Link: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds, Up to 2X More Active Noise Cancelling, Adaptive Transparency, Personalized Spatial Audio, MagSafe Charging Case, Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone
• Price: $199 (Originally $249.99)

You can purchase 2nd Generation AirPods for just $89 during Amazon Prime Day for 30% off the original price. 

• Link: Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds with Lightning Charging Case Included. Over 24 Hours of Battery Life, Effortless Setup. Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone-
• Price: $89 (Originally $129.99)

Everyone setting sail on a cruise should bring a portable charger packed to keep electronics charged on the go. I’ve also found a portable charger can be useful overnight with the lack of outlets available on older ships. This one has built-in cables and it’s 40% off for Prime Day. 

• Link: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables,10000mAh USB C Power Bank, LED Display Slim Portable Charger,5 Output 2 Input Phone Battery Pack Compatible with iPhone,Samsung,Android.
• Price: $19.99 (Originally $32.99)

We all know cruise ships might not have many outlets available to charge all of our devices. My favorite go-to USB expander plugs into European outlets on cruise ships and provides 2 outlets, 3 USB ports and a USB-C plug-in. I take this on every single cruise and it’s fantastic - even better, it’s on sale for 28% for a 2-pack. 

• Link: [2-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 1 USB C, 2 American Outlets and 3 USB Ports, 6 in 1 Travel Essentials to Most of Europe Greece, Italy(Type C).
• Price: $17.99 (Originally $24.99)

Another great deal for Prime Day is this extra long iPhone cord, measuring 6 feet long. This is perfect for your small cabin when there is only one available outlet on the vanity, so you can charge your device and still use it in bed. 

• Link: 3 Pack Apple MFi Certified Charger Cable 6ft, Lightning to USB Cable Cord 6 Foot, 2.4A Fast Charging,Apple Phone Long Chargers for iPhone.
• Price: $13.49 (Originally $18.99)

I am a huge fan of my electronics organizer. Keeping all of my cords and chargers in a single place has helped immensely with keeping organized both in my luggage and onboard in my cruise cabin. This one is on sale for just $7.64, which is 45% off the original price. 

• Link: Electronic Organizer Travel Cable Accessories Bag,Electronic Organizer Case,Waterproof Electronic Accessories Organizer Bag for Power Bank,Charging Cords,Chargers,Mouse,USB Cable,Earphones Flash Drive.
• Price: $7 (Originally $13.99)

Finally, having a hanging travel cosmetic bag with a hanging hook is a huge space-saver in those tiny cruise ship cabins. These bags hang perfectly on the back of your cabin’s bathroom door, allowing you to save counter space. Bagsmart has one for 38% off. 

• Link: BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag with Hanging Hook, Water-resistant Makeup Cosmetic Bag Travel Organizer for Accessories, Shampoo, Full Sized Container, Toiletries https://amzn.to/3O6MRUZ
  • Price: $18.39 (Originally $29.47)

Cruising Essentials

Here’s a list of all your favorite cruise essentials that are on sale for Amazon Prime Day this year. From magnetic hooks to beach bags and collapsable laundry baskets, you can find some of our favorite cruise essentials below. 

It can get very hot onboard your cruise, especially if you’re heading to the Caribbean in the summer. While the ship will be air conditioned just fine, you might want to invest in a portable, small fan to keep yourself cool.

• Link: JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan, 3 IN 1 Hand Fan, Portable USB Rechargeable Small Pocket Fan, Battery Operated Fan
• Price: $14.39 (Originally $24.99)

An absolute must for any cruise packing - LiquidIV hydration packets. I am truly obsessed with these. Between drinking, traveling and being in the sun, it’s easy to get dehydrated. These LiquidIV hydration multiplying packs help you stay hydrated. Just add to water! They come in tons of flavors and they’re easy to pack. 

• Link: Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier - Strawberry - Hydration Powder Packets | Electrolyte Drink Mix | Easy Open Single-Serving Stick | Non-GMO | 16 Sticks
• Price: $17.49 (Originally $33)

Rubber sandals are the perfect shoes for cruising! These are comfortable, stylish and quick to dry after days spent at the pool onboard. You can easily wear these to the beach during the day or onboard in the evening.  

• Link: Weweya Sandals for Women and Men - Pillow Slippers - Double Buckle Adjustable Slides - EVA Flat Sandal.
• Price: $26.55 (Originally $39.99)

Magnetic Hooks are considered a cruising essential for many. These hooks are easy to use in a cruise ship cabin because of the magnetic walls. You’ll have plenty of new hooks in the cabin for jackets, hats, bags, etc. Even better, these are on sale for Amazon Prime Day at 22% off. 

• Link: DIYMAG Magnetic Hooks, 25lbs+ heavy duty magnetic hooks cruise for hanging,
• Price: $11.99 (Originally $15.99)

There’s nothing worse than staining your clothes on vacation. These Tide To Go Stain removing wipes are easy to travel with and quick to remove stains during your cruise. 

• Link: Tide to Go Instant Stain Removing Wipes, 10 Count Wipes (Pack of 2)
• Price: $7.20 (Originally $12.99)

Cruise Accessories and Bags

You’ll definitely want to pack a variety of bags for your cruise vacation, including a beach bag, clutch for dinner and a bag to use for in-port exploration. Here are some of the best deals for Amazon Prime Day that would be perfect for your cruise!

Packing a pair of sunglasses is essential on a cruise vacation regardless of your destination. I love these sunglasses from Amazon because they are comfortable and classic! For Prime Day, they are 44% off - can’t beat that. 

• Link: SOJOS Trendy Round Sunglasses for Women and Men
• Price: $12.74 (Originally $27)

For your cruise, you’ll want to consider packing a lanyard with an ID holder. This will allow you to carry your cruise card around without worrying about it falling out of your pockets. The zipped pouch also allows you to put some cash, hand sanitizer, credit card, ID and more. This one is 50% off for Prime Day!

• Link: Vera Bradley Women's Cotton Zip Id Case and Lanyard Combo.
• Price: $21 (Originally $42

Packing a swim-up cover up is an essential for women on a cruise, as you’ll want something quick to throw on for the pool deck, buffet or excursion. I have this one from Amazon and it’s on sale for 31% off for Prime Day. It’s easy, comfortable and classic - it also comes in a ton of colors. 

• Link: Yincro Womens Chiffon Swimsuit Cover Up Beach Coverups for Swimwear
• Price: $19 (Originally $36)

Belt bags are everything right now and extremely popular for both men and women. This one is perfect for your upcoming travels. It’s the perfect size for onboard and ashore! For Prime Day, you can snag this one for 33% off. 

• Link: ODODOS Unisex Mini Belt Bag with Adjustable Strap Small Waist Pouch for Workout Running Traveling Hiking, Black.
• Price: $15 (Originally $23)

You’ll want to have a nice beach bag to use for your cruise if you’re heading somewhere beach, like the Caribbean. This is perfect for your excursions, beach days and pool lounging on the ship. For 42% off, this beach bag is a great purchase and comes highly rated!

• Link: Navy Beach Bag, Mesh Beach Bag Oversized Beach Tote 9 Pockets Beach Towel Bag.
• Price: $15 (Originally $26)

Along with belt bags, fanny packs have been making a comeback in recent years! These pouches are perfect for cruising so you can conveniently carry all of your belongings without needing to carry a purse. This one is highly rated and comes in tons of colors. 

• Link: MAXTOP Large Crossbody Fanny Pack with 4-Zipper Pockets,Gifts for Enjoy Sports Festival Workout Traveling Running Casual Hands-Free Wallets Waist Pack Phone Bag Carrying All Phones.
• Price: $12.77 (Originally $20)

For women, I also love to have an evening clutch for nights onboard the cruise ship so I don’t need to lug around a backpack or beach bag. This stylish one is perfect for Caribbean cruises and it’s on sale for 26% off. 

• Link: Aovtero Straw Clutch Purse Women Crossbody Bag Summer Beach Shoulder Bags Envelope Wallet Handbags.
• Price: $14.99 (Originally $23)

Finally, I always pack my tinted moisturizer with SPF to wear during my cruises. It's easy and comfortable while protecting my skin from the sun. The light tint adds the perfect amount of color! This tinted moisturizer from Neutrogena with SPF is on steep discount for 50% off. 

• Link: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector Tinted Facial Moisturizer and Retinol Treatment with Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen with Titanium Dioxide, 20 Fair to Light, 1 fl. oz.
• Price: $9.79 (Originally $20.99)

Royal Caribbean wants to change how leftover food and other human biproducts are used so they can power the cruise ships of tomorrow.

Through a new set of technology, Royal Caribbean Group announced new initiates that include waste-to-energy systems, food waste applications and an expanded network of green hubs.

The three new initiatives are aimed at ensuring the company continues to decrease its environmental footprint.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, Jason Liberty, celebrated the new initiatives, "Pioneering the first waste to energy system on a cruise ship builds on our track-record of waste management and furthers our commitment to remove waste from local landfills and deliver great vacation experiences, responsibly."

A new way to power cruise ships

Two new cruise ships will employ the cruise industry's first systems to turn solid waste directly into energy onboard.

Two systems will debut on on Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas and Silversea Cruises' Silver Nova.

Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis (MAP) and Micro Auto Gasification (MAG) will take waste on board and convert it into synthesis gas (syngas) that the ship can directly use as energy. 

An additional bioproduct of the system, biochar, can also be used as a soil nutrient.

Combatting food waste

Royal Caribbean Group also announced it will reduce food waste across the fleet by 50% by 2025.

It plans to do so through five pillars of initiatives:

• Developing a proprietary platform to monitor food supply and accurately estimate how much food should be produced, prepped and ordered on a given day.
• Using artificial intelligence (AI) to adjust food production in real time.
• Introducing a dedicated onboard food waste role to monitor and train crew members.
• Tracking guest demand for specific menu items and adjusting menu preparation and ordering accordingly.
• Introducing a food waste awareness campaign in the crew dining areas fleet wide. 

The war on waste has already begun, as Royal Caribbean Group reports already it has been able to achieve a 24% reduction in food waste by focusing on the front end of the food system, which prevents and addresses many of the main causes of food waste, including inventory management and over-preparing.

Green Hubs

Another focal point of today's announcement is to strengthen responsible waste management practices.

Royal Caribbean Group announced "Green Hubs", which are a capacity-building program to identify waste vendors in strategic destinations that has helped divert 92% of its waste from landfills.

Now joining the Green Hub program is the Galapagos Islands, where Silversea became the first operator to gain certification in environmental management by diverting all waste from landfill. 

In all my years of cruising, I haven't lost any luggage from when the bags got on the ship to off the ship, and I think that be in part due to a few important steps I've taken to protect my bags.

Airlines are notorious for losing luggage, and it does occasionally happen with cruise ships as well. Anecdotally, it seems luggage is lost far less on a cruise ship than an airplane, but the risk remains.

In order to better protect yourself against this possibility, I thought of all the things I do to reduce the chance your luggage will go astray in the first place.

Beyond these tips, you should never put anything super important in your checked luggage, such as passports, car keys, cash, medicine, or credit cards. Keep any precious items you have in your carry-on bag that you bring onto the ship.

Here are six tips to help keep a cruise line from losing your luggage.

Print luggage tags at home

Royal Caribbean provides you with luggage tags you can print before you leave home, and you should definitely do it.

While porters can provide luggage tags at the cruise terminal, the printable luggage tags are more identifiable and printed, rather than hand written.

Moreover, printed luggage tags will save you time since you won't have to have the porter write out every single tag and then affix them to the bags.

Admittedly, it's just difficult to remember to print them.  I often find myself completely not thinking about printing luggage tags until it is too late.

Luggage tags are available to print about 45 days before your cruise.

Prep bags in advance

Before you leave for the cruise terminal, take a few minutes to remove all existing labels and tags from your previous trips, like airline bag tags and any barcode stickers that get put on your suitcase. 

You want to make it as simple as possible for crew members to identify which bags are going on the ship and are from which sailing.

It's also a good idea to personalize your luggage so you could spot it easily.  Stickers, duct tape, tassel, or whatever you can think of can make a big difference in making your luggage stand out, as well as ensure someone else doesn't accidently take your bag.

Buy luggage tag holders

One of the best investments I ever made in my cruising career was spending a few dollars on plastic luggage tag holders (link contains Amazon affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).

The printable luggage tags work well enough, but they're made out of paper can rip easily.  There's a variety of companies that sell plastic sleeves designed for cruise ship luggage tags that you can simply slip in.

They're waterproof, clear, and easy to see.

Plus, plastic luggage tag holders are affixed to your bags by a steel hook that attaches to the bag.

Put your name on luggage tags

You want to identify your luggage with your name and contact information.

Royal Caribbean's luggage tags that you print out have a space for your name, so write that on every tag you print.

It's also a good idea to add a baggage tag on the outside of your suitcase with your contact information (and one inside in case the outside tag falls off or gets lost).

Buy AirTags

One of the best innovations for tracking your belongings to come out in the last few years are electronic tags, such as Apple AirTags.

These small tabs help travelers track their suitcases via Bluetooth.

The AirTag is a small, button-shaped tracking device that can be tracked using Bluetooth right alongside Apple devices in the Find My app.

A single AirTag will cost $29 and a 4-pack costs $99. If you have an Android phone, the Tile Pro costs $92.99.

While AirTags aren't GPS trackers that provide precise location information, they work well-enough to have an idea where your luggage happens to be, especially if you're playing the "is my luggage on the cruise ship yet" game.

Plus, you can use them for other trips and your flights to or from your cruise!

Read more: I tried AirTags to track my luggage on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Tip porters

It's customary to give the porters that take your luggage a few dollars for their service, and it's a wise investment.

I'm not insinuating that not tipping them means your bags will be cast aside out of spite, but just like bags you'd tip curbside baggage handlers at an airport, it's a good idea to tip the porters too.

On our recent cruise from Los Angeles, we discovered one piece of luggage was missing.  Our porter immediately pointed us to the area with bags that have no tags, and sure enough it was there for some reason.

You just need to tip them $1-2 per bag, and you'll get a smile back for the work they do to lug your stuff around.

Related: Should you use the porters to take your luggage on your cruise ship?

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are ready to catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from this week!

If you're ready to book a cruise on Utopia of the Seas, we have a preview of the staterooms you can choose from.

Royal Caribbean's next new Oasis Class cruise ship launches in summer 2024, and it has generated a lot of buzz already by starting off with short cruises instead of weeklong sailings.

Between the various categories of cabins on Utopia of the Seas, here's a guide to Utopia of the Seas cabins and suites.

Royal Caribbean News

• What it's like to cruise on Freedom of the Seas in 2023
• A look at Nassau's revamped cruise port
• I Drive for Uber and Lyft — Here are the biggest mistakes riders make
• 10 Great Reader Comments on Cruising

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 504th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which is all about taking advantage of your visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

With so much to see and do at Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Matt shares tips and strategies for getting the most out of your day.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! 

New RCB Video: Your really dumb cruise ship dining questions

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Your really dumb cruise ship dining questions — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

12 Alaska cruise mistakes you never want to make

After taking a number of Alaska cruises, Jenna still sees cruisers making rookie mistakes on their Alaska cruise.

Unfortunately, it’s easier than you think to make Alaska cruise mistakes that can ruin a trip or prevent you from experiencing Alaska to the fullest.

We compiled a list of Alaska cruise mistakes you can avoid and ensure your sailing is perfect.

Celebrity Cruises raises gratuities for second time in a year

Celebrity Cruises announced it will increase the automatic gratuity rate for guests once again.

Most cabins will see a 50 cent per day increase from the previous rates. Celebrity had previously raised gratuities in October 2022, just nine months ago.

The new rates go into effect on Tuesday.

How to beat seasickness on a cruise ship

No one wants to get seasick on their cruise. Luckily, there are easy ways to avoid getting seasick on a cruise ship.

There are a variety of regiments available that you can take either before or during your cruise to ensure you don't feel nauseated for long.

It's unlikely you will get seasick, but if you do, these tips will ensure you're prepared for the possibility.