Royal Caribbean Blog

Celebrity Cruises is not done building its current generation of cruise ship.

Cruise lines build ships in groupings, known as ship classes, and each builds upon the success of the last.

On Tuesday, Celebrity confirmed an order they placed to build their sixth Edge Class ship.

The deal was made with Chantiers de l'Atlantique for delivery of the new ship sometime in 2028.

The cruise line said that while it's the sixth in the Edge Class, it will be more more akin to "Xcel 2" and the sister-ship to Celebrity Xcel, which sails later this year.

Xcel is being built with engines designed to use three types of fuel making the ship the line’s first methanol-capable ship pending future alterations. It was not specified if the next ship will also be methanol-capable.

The decision to order another in the Edge Class lineage demonstrates the company's confidence in the product. It can be argued the Edge Class has fundamentally improved the perception of the brand, as well as catapulted the line ahead of other premium brands.

What makes an Edge ship stand out

Ever since Celebrity launched its first Edge Class ship in 2018, it's completely revamped what a cruise ship in its line is all about.

They were designed to be advanced and not a slight iteration beyond what they had done in the past.

Xcel has a capacity of 3,260 passengers at double occupancy, making it a mid-sized contemporary cruise ship.

The most notable difference almost every notices first is the Magic Carpet on the side, which moves vertically along the side of the ship.

Think of it like a multi-purpose venue that can move from deck to deck to perform certain functions. At the lowest deck, it allows passengers to get on tenders.

In the evening, it moves up to become an outdoor restaurant, but during the day it's just an outside bar.

Another first introduced on Edge Class ships was the advent of the infinite veranda.

These have since been copied to Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, but the idea is the balcony seamlessly integrates into the cabin.

With the push of a button, a floor-to-ceiling glass wall opens, allowing for fresh air and uninterrupted ocean views. Or close the window and allow the balcony space to become indoor space.

At the back of the ship is The Eden.

Think of Eden as a multi-purpose theater, restaurant, and bar rolled into one. You'll find live performances, interactive dining, and wide open ocean views.

In addition, Edge class ships are designed to be "outward-facing", which means they focus on the sea instead of older ship designs that emphasize internal spaces.

Features we can expect on Xcel 2

Celebrity has provided no details beyond the order, but we can make reasonable guesses based on what Xcel is getting.

In addition to some distinctive Edge Class features, there are some differences and enhancements that will make the experience onboard this Edge Class ship different from others.

Xcel will have an expanded Rooftop Garden and Resort Deck with unique cantilevered float pools. 

The expanded Sunset Bar is also on Xcel. It's a multi-level, multi-terraced bar at the aft of the ship.

Grand Plaza was also redesigned with the latter Edge Class ships to provide a better layout.

Celebrity Cruises wants to give power to the people for deciding on the finishing touches to its new cruise ship.

Celebrity Xcel is due out in November 2025, and a new program will allow the public to vote on the things passengers will enjoy onboard.

Traditionally, the choice of a ship's aesthetics, culinary, and programming are decided by teams across the company and vetted through focus groups, executives, and other means of picking the perfect option.

Celebrity wants to give its fans the choice with the Xcel "Dream Makers" program.

The cruise line says anyone will be able to "test, try and vote on new experiences" for Celebrity Xcel. The hope is this will invigorate a ship that is the fifth in the Edge Class with something different.

Celebrity Cruises Chief Marketing and Product Officer Michael Scheiner said they want to involve their guests in the design process, "Celebrity Cruises is known for ground-breaking innovation in ship design and experiences unlike any other at sea, when Xcel launches guests won't have just found their happy place, they'll have helped us build it."

You'll have the final say

Celebrity says its guests will have "the final say" on decisions of what will be added to Celebrity Xcel. 

The way it works is the public will be able to choose through online polls and "and one-of-a-kind experiential in-person events".

To be eligible, you just need to be a resident that is 21 years and older, living in the US, Canada (excluding Quebec), UK, and Australia/New Zealand.

There are three key areas outline where the public has a choice:

• Design
• Culinary
• Entertainment

Specifically, there are seven, new, yet-to-be-revealed experiences, that need the Dream Makers to make a decision on.

Votes will go towards these areas:

• Choosing textiles, managing interior design elements and curating service offerings;
• Picking their favorite dishes and beverages, choosing table settings and shaping dining concepts; and
• Providing input on headline shows, curate props and costumes, select playlists and partake in selections to appoint pivotal entertainment positions onboard.

Want to join the team and be part of this? You just need to head over the Dream Makers website for more information.

New ship has been floated out

Today's announcement coincides with a recent construction milestone for Celebrity Xcel, as the new ship is sitting in water for the first time.

The new cruise ship is under construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship was moved into the water and a new Basin so that the next phase of construction can begin.

This means the ship can float without assistance, and the completion of the ship's exterior.

Celebrity Xcel is sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.

In Summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will set sail on her inaugural European season where guests can immerse themselves in the Mediterranean like never before on seven-to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.

The lesson of letting the internet decide

I love that Celebrity is involving the public in choosing the look and feel for its new ship, but I can't help but recall an infamous result of a similar endeavor.

In 2016, the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council held a contest to name its newest $300 million Antarctic survey vessel. 

Rather than opt for dignified choices, the internet went for funny over form. The front-runner for the contest based on submissions from the public was R.R.S. Boaty McBoatface.

Funny enough, Royal Caribbean thought it was amusing too and extended an offer to the person that came up with the idea, James Hand, to bring his talents and help Royal Caribbean develop the name for a future ship. 

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, said, "Like the rest of the world, we fell in love with the name Boaty McBoatface when we heard it, and we knew immediately that Royal Caribbean could use James Hand’s talent to name our next ship."

Being on vacation isn't an excuse to do anything you want, and sometimes cruise ship passengers are guilty of things that annoy the crew.

Most passengers try to do the right thing and act according to the rules, but there some that do things that leave you scratching your head.

I remember I was waiting in a line for a show in the theater on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship when a passenger walked right past the crew member without waiting in line because they were "a Diamond member".

I was astounded by the audacity of the passenger to flagrantly ignore the crew member. That sort of rudeness, unfortunately, isn't isolated to that one person.

YouTuber Jasyon Judson shared a short video of things that annoy crew members, and I couldn't agree more with the list.

Going to cabin before they open

On any Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll need to wait for your cruise cabin to open before you can access it.

Before they open, crew members are busy cleaning and preparing the cabins for the guests arriving on embarkation day.

Usually you have to wait until 1pm or 1:30pm for cabins to be ready for passengers.  On my Anthem of the Seas cruise in Europe last summer, I had to wait until 2:30pm, but that was unusual.

While the cabins are being prepared, the fire doors are closed to block access to the hallway and there's a large sign warning passengers when cabins will be ready.

Some guests ignore the sign and open the fire door to get into their room.

Aside from the possibility your room is still being cleaned, you're getting in the way of crew members that are working hard to get it all ready.  Passengers walking into their work area is going to hinder what they're doing, even if all you're doing is dropping off carry-on bags.

If you truly want to relieve yourself of carry-on bags, you could buy The Key, which has that option.

It's possible these passengers are used to another cruise line that does allow you to access your room before it's ready, like Celebrity Cruises.

However, it's prohibited on Royal Caribbean.

Bringing own toilet paper or wet wipes

I almost made this mistake until someone told me I'd be creating a problem, rather than solving one.

The toilet paper on a cruise ship is pretty awful. It's single ply, super thin, and has the soft texture of sandpaper.

Bringing your own toilet paper or wet wipes will break Royal Caribbean's toilet system and result in a major delay until it's fixed. One clogged toilet can inconvenience hundreds of passengers because of the nature of the suction plumbing cruise ships have.

Cruise ship plumbing is very sensitive, and it cannot handle things you might flush at home. It's important that you don't flush anything down the toilet aside from the toilet paper that Royal Caribbean provides. 

Moreover, "flushable" wet wipes aren't allowed either to be flushed.  While the wipes might be flushable they are not flushable on the ship and are almost guaranteed to clog the plumbing. That then requires the maintenance crew members to come out and fix it.

Complaining about the weather to Guest Services

I really don't know what someone thinks a crew member can do about it, but some people go to Guest Services to complain about the weather.

I suspect they think the ship's Captain can steer the ship away from clouds or rain and find better weather, but it's not quite that simple.

Cruise ships have a strict schedule to adhere to, and they need to get passengers to the next port of call on time, or deal with far more frustrated guests.

Plus, weather systems are big, and chasing rays of sunshine isn't practical. Not to mention deviating off course wastes fuel.

No matter what the weather, no crew member can do anything about it, so don't bother complaining to them.

Asking crew members to break rules for you

I've witnessed guests being told about a rule, and then asking for the rule to be bent or broken.

A classic example is in the Suite Lounge, when someone is staying in a suite and wants to bring their friend that isn't in a suite into the lounge.

Every suite guest receives a letter in their stateroom informing them in bold letters that this practice is not allowed.

Similarly, some passengers ask crew members to allow their kids that are too short to go on water slides, sneak people into reserved seating, or serve their underage kids alcohol.

Not only will you annoy the crew member with the request, you're putting them at risk to get in trouble or even fired for complying.

Not speaking up if there's a problem

Things break and issues arise on a cruise ship, but the crew can't step in to make it better if you don't say something.

This is actually a pet peeve of mine too, as I'll read about someone's "horrible" cruise experience after they got home, but didn't say anything about it while onboard.

Whether it is a malfunction in the cabin, accident onboard, disagreement with a crew member, or anything else that stops you in your tracks, problems should be addressed onboard and not after the cruise.

If you have a billing discrepancy on your bill, speak to Guest Relations on the ship. If something is not working properly in your cabin, alert your stateroom attendant.

It's no secret that you can get a free cruise if you gamble enough on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but what are the ways to make it easier to earn perks and lose less money?

Ever since I was introduced to the lucrative offers you can get simply by playing in the ship's casino, it's changed how I cruise and I firmly believe saved me money.

Sure, gambling is risky and addictive. And there's a good chance you'll lose a lot of money.  I've never lost sight of that fact, and it's something my wife and I think about when we go into any cruise. Please gamble responsibly.

I find the casino to be a form of entertainment.  I bring a certain amount of cash with me on a sailing that is my gambling budget, and work with that.

While we have fun gambling and trying our luck, the possibility of winning a free cruise is very real and I've taken a number of cruises now that cost me very little.

I'm going on Enchantment of the Seas this week for a 4-night sailing in a balcony for just $170.30 total. To be clear, that $170.30 does not include how much I lost in the casino to earn the "free" cruise, but I'm pretty certain I'm coming out ahead.

A user on the Royal Caribbean sub reddit posted a list of tips he uses to get free cruises, and I thought it was a great assortment of advice for newbie.

Z3Ch0sen0ne is a self-described "unlucky as a....#$%^ when it comes to the casino.  I thought his advice is useful given he's not coming at it from a best case scenario of winning big in the casino.

Both he and his wife have achieved Prime status in the casino, reaching the second level of loyalty status that grants significant benefits.

Here are the 10 casino tips in his post that you might consider taking advantage of on your cruise.

Don't play table games if you want to earn points

He starts off with the sage advice for anyone looking to get as many points as possible of avoiding table games.

"Playing on the tables is probably the worst way to accumulate points. The math is complex and unknown to most people - something to do with time played multiplied by average bet and/or how much money you sit down with and then walk away with."

Instead, he recommends slot machines for their simplicity as well as faster method for earning points.

You'll earn one point for every $5 you wager, and because slot machines are digital, it can precisely track your play.

Convert cash before you cruise

As an Australian, Z3Ch0sen0ne advises anyone going on Royal Caribbean from outside the United States to exchange cash before the cruise.

"If you intend to convert money onboard... don't! You will get ripped 6 ways till Sunday," he claims.

What you want to do is convert your cash before you board the ship.  

If you forget or run out of cash, his other advice is to charge your gambling to your onboard account, "and let your bank handle the exchange rate."

Calling to book is sometimes confusing

Redeeming your instant casino vouchers can be confusing if you reach a person who isn't familiar with the program.

"When you call to book in a cruise with your instant cruise vouchers and get told you can’t do that over the phone. Say ok, hang up and call them again because you’re talking to the wrong person."

Yes, you can combine a casino offer with Next Cruise

Another stumbling block Z3Ch0sen0ne has run into is misinformation about booking with Next Cruise onboard your ship and getting those benefits.

"If you get told you can’t combine a Next Cruise booking and a casino offer (yes I have been told this). Hang up the phone and call again."

My advice is don't even bother calling directly.  Our friends at MEI Travel will book casino bookings for you, as well as regular bookings, with no fees!

Check your offers first, then play

I really like this piece of advice to verify what your goal is before you start gambling.

He recommends going straight to the casino on the first day and scan the QR code at the casino host desk to see which offers they have, and how many points you need to accrue.

"This is your spending limit. I have refused to play at all in the casino on cruises which didn’t have any offers I wanted - because otherwise they win."

Prime is the best status to reach...

Unlike Crown and Anchor Society, where everyone wants to reach the top levels, he doesn't see a point to go past Prime.

"Unless you get a massive windfall and love cruising and have nothing but time on your hands for holidays - Prime is about as good as you can get."

"The Cost/Benefit drops off significantly after prime for losers like me."

...instead, get your spouse to Prime too

Rather than get to Signature or Master, his advice is to get your spouse/partner to Prime status.

He doesn't see the value in just maximizing one of you, "It’s significantly better and cheaper to get yourself and your partner to Prime than it would be to get just one of you to Signature."

You can combine offers

According to Z3Ch0sen0ne, it’s possible to combine Prime offers or instant cruise certificates that coincide with your partners prime offers or instant cruise certificates to get an upgrade to a maximum of a Junior Suite. 

Here is his example:

For instance a 7 night cruise leaving Brisbane in a balcony with $250 freeplay for me and a 7 night cruise leaving Brisbane in an interior room with $100 of freeplay for her can be combined to get a Junior Suite and all of the attached freeplay. 

This can work with interior/interior to get an oceanview, or oceanview/oceanview to get a balcony or balcony/balcony to get a junior suite… so on so forth.

He added that offers must be identical, "the same ship, same date… They don’t have to be identical in terms of the rooms offered to get the upgrade."

Once again, his advice is if you call to combine offers and get told you can't do it, to call back again and talk to someone else.

Try to qualify for prime right after April 1st

To get Prime status in the casino, you need to qualify for it each year.  It's similar to airline or hotel loyalty status. 

The calendar year for Casino Royale begins April 1st and runs through March 31st.  If you accumulate 2,500 points across all your cruises in this time period, you'll get Prime Status for the year.

His advice is if you qualify immediately after the year starts, you can get two years for one.

If you accumulate 2,500 points on the 10th of April 2025, for example, you will get an instant cruise offer... then on the 1st of April 2026 you will "officially" become prime for that year and get a free 7 night cruise offer on Club Royale. 

So if you get all your points in April, you have prime for 24 months. 

If you don't spend in the casino after that, you got 2 free cruises from it (the offers will come 1 year apart) and free drinks in the casino the whole time. You could almost repeat this every 24 months.

I can verify this does work, it just requires you to cruise close to April and benefits those that cruise multiple times per year.

You can look up offers online too

Earlier, Z3Ch0sen0ne posted about going to the casino desk to check casino offers, but another Reddit user shared a hack for finding the offers online without being on a ship.

oOoOsarahOoOo posted the steps how to do it:

1. Try going to the Club Royale offer website
2. Click menu top left of the page
3. Click certificate offer code
4. Enter code (2501C03)

Code break down:

• First two 2 digits = year
• Second two digits= 2 digit for month
• Alpha code= A, C ( C includes longer cruises)
• Last two digits 01-05 =level of offer/ free play For example

January 2025 offer on 7+ day trips with 150.00 free play would look like: 2501c05. Same level with less than 7 day trips 2501a05

Do you get dressed up for formal night on a cruise? There's a good chance a lot of other passengers like to do it as well.

A Royal Caribbean cruise has a different dress code for each evening of the cruise that recommends what to wear to the Main Dining Room.

With more people trying a cruise these days, views on dress codes seem to be changing. 

However, a recent poll of cruise fans indicate at least half still like the idea.

A poll in the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group with 1,000 respondents shows 51% of the people said they always get dressed up for formal night on a cruise.

Another 20% said they "occasionally" do, and 11% chose "rarely".

Just 18% of the people that participated in the survey said they never get dressed up for formal night.

The results of this very unscientific poll shows most cruise fans participate in formal night, despite anecdotal trends to the contrary.

"I'm not dressing up. It’s vacation"

There were strong opinions on both sides of the debate whether or not to get dressed up on a cruise.

Alex Swary wrote, "Unless it’s a funeral or a job interview, I’m not dressing up. It’s vacation."

Ro Carson argued formal night adds a flair to the vacation, "Fun to get dressed up and look around and see everyone else the same."

Rather than participate, Dru Filiberto skips the Main Dining Room on formal night, "We don't get dressed up for formal nights anymore, so we don't go to formal nights anymore. We'll eat somewhere else that night rather than go in casual clothes."

Mary Beth Ritchie shared getting dressed up doesn't have to be black tie, "I usually wear black jeans or leggings with a sparkly top."

"Love getting dressed up. It's like we are on a date," wrote Arlene Patterson.

Marina Patey added, "I live in scrubs on the daily so I treat myself to girly clothes!! It adds something special to my vacation."

How formal night got started on a cruise

Cruise lines evolved from ocean liners, and one of the many concepts they carried over were dress codes.

Dressing up for dinner is a way to passengers to take photos and enjoy an evening of elegance.

Billy Hirsch from CruiseHabit says formal night grew out of the classic cruise days, but remains popular, "Travel on passenger ships is now primarily recreational, the snob-appeal in cruise-line marketing combined with the tendency of tradition to live long at sea has meant that more formal dress has remained popular with many guests - though most seem content to don a bathing suit rather than a tuxedo when by the pool."

I think pop culture influenced what vacationers expect on a cruise ship.  On The Love Boat TV series, dressing up for dinner was part of the fun portrayed.  It conveyed how wearing fancy clothes with dinner was not only part of the experience, but a tradition that comes with a cruise vacation.

A lot has changed since the early days of cruising, and much of it has moved to keep up with changing consumer tastes.

Royal Caribbean doesn't even call it formal night on short sailings anymore.  "Dress Your Best" is now the standard on sailings less than 7 nights, but is effectively the same concept without the stuffy name.

Other lines have gone further than that. Norwegian Cruise Line famously made the change by introducing Freestyle Dining.

Celebrity Cruises replaced formal nights with Evening Chic nights, where the dress code is dressier than smart casual but less so than a traditional formal night.

All dress codes are optional

It's important to note that the dress codes really are more recommendations than actual requirements.

Royal Caribbean's website describes all of its dress codes as "suggested attire", and in my experience, you'd really have to show up in a bathing suit to be turned away.

The formal night dress code only applies to the Main Dining Room for dinner. There's no dress code for walking around the ship, and all other restaurants have their own dress code.

Even on formal night, the dress code at specialty restaurants supersedes the Main Dining Room.

The bottom line is you shouldn't feel obligated to wear a suit or gown to dinner. You certainly can, but keep in mind it's discretionary.

What you should wear on formal night

The advice I give anyone who wants to know what to pack for their cruise in terms of formal night is to dress something nicer than you might wear on any other night.

First and foremost, don't worry too much about it.  There's no fashion police on the ship, and since the dress code are suggestions, you have a lot of latitude in what you can wear.

That being said, one thing The Love Boat got right is dressing up is fun, and for a lot of families, formal night is the perfect excuse for something different and a way to get great photos.

There are so few opportunities in life to get dressed up as adults when it's not for a funeral or a wedding.  And both of those situations are all about someone else.

In addition to dressing nicer, Royal Caribbean also provides photo opportunities around the ship.

There's no obligation to stop and take a photo, but you could get a professional photo taken of you and your family with various backdrops.  

You'll find the photographers near the Main Dining Room, and public areas such as the Royal Promenade, Centrum, or Central Park.

There's no cost to take a photo, but if you want to buy a print or digital download, then you'd order one.

I've seen a lot of guests that get dressed up for dinner change into something more casual as soon as dinner and photos are complete, so there's no obligation to stay dressed up all night.

A sea day on a cruise ship is one of the best things about going on a cruise because of how many choices you have in spending your day, but I've seen far too many passengers mess it up with the wrong approach.

Most cruises have at least one sea day where the ship makes its way to the next port, but spends the day out on the ocean.

I used to hate sea days when I first started cruising because I wasn't properly taking advantage of them.  It's a great opportunity to experience everything Royal Caribbean ships have to offer, and that's important when you sail on a ship like Wonder of the Seas or Icon of the Seas that has so many things to do.

Ultimately, it's your choice what the best use of your time is, but I think passengers miss out on benefiting the most from their sea day when they do certain things.

There isn't necessarily right or wrong things to do, but I'd recommend not making these mistakes.

Not checking the weather forecast

Forget everything else in this article, if there's going to rainy or cold (or both) on a sea day, that will greatly impact your plans.

At some point the evening before your sea day, you'll want to look up the weather forecast for the day.

If you bought the internet package, you can check a host of apps that work well for this. The Windy app allows you to tap wherever in the ocean and it’ll tell you the forecast.

The easiest way to get the forecast for "the middle of the ocean" is to look at the digital Cruise Compass.

Each day there's a new Cruise Compass available to view, even if you don't have a WiFi package.  It lists the forecast on the first page.

Overlooking specialty restaurants for lunch

There's nothing wrong with eating at the cruise buffet for lunch, but don't overlook specialty restaurants.

If I'm on a ship with Playmakers Sports Bar, I make it a point to eat there for lunch because it's the perfect sea day meal.

There could be other specialty restaurants open too for lunch, and many cost less for lunch than dinner.

Missing out on fun activities

FOMO is real on a cruise ship, and sometimes there's an event held only once during your sailing.

Not checking the list of activities for what's coming up that day is a mistake as well, especially events before noon. Opportunities to meet the Captain, learn about how the ship works, and other behind-the-scenes events takes place on sea days and in the morning.

There's also going to be the most activities on a sea day, so this is your chance to get in on them. Looking at the full list ahead of time means you don't miss out on a favorite.

The Royal Caribbean app lists it all, and it's the easiest way to quickly see what looks good and you can even add a reminder for it.

Trying to do too much

While I just mentioned all the fun things to do onboard, I think you want to avoid overdoing it too.

It's debatable how relaxing a sea day should be, but I think trying to squeeze too much in may also lead to that feeling you're "burning the candle on both ends."

This is more of a problem on port intensive itineraries in Europe, Asia, or Alaska, where you want to prioritize time on land.  Sea days are a great way to relax and recharge.

Getting sunburned

It's one thing if you get sunburned at the beach, but getting sunburned on a sea day when sunscreen is a short walk back to your cabin is silly.

It happens all the time, but you really should avoid getting sunburned at all costs.

It'll be painful, and it's so easily avoidable. 

If you forgot to pack some, they sell it in the general store onboard. You probably could borrow some from another passenger, if you asked politely.

Not taking seasick medicine

The highest chance of getting seasick is probably on a sea day, so make sure you take medication for it.

It's unlikely you will get seasick, especially if the weather is favorable.  But I recommend new cruisers take a daily seasickness tablet, just to be safe.

Waking up too early

There have been a few days when I got up too early because I was so excited for a day of fun, and then by 11am, I was ready for a long nap.

There isn't anything wrong with napping during  your cruise, but you also don't want to miss out on prime time activities.

If you're normally an early riser, then this is fine.  What I'm talking about are the people who specifically get up early and then crash later.

Going late to the pool

If you value spending your sea day at the pool, don't be late getting there.

When the sun is shining, everyone else on your ship seems to have the same idea and chairs near the pool go quickly.

You don't need to get up at dawn to get a chair, but if being at the pool is important to you, I would plan to be at the pool deck by 10am at the latest.

There's a little more flexibility if you don't mind chairs further away from the actual pool and in the shade.

Wasting money at the spa

If you are going to get a spa treatment during your cruise, it will almost certainly cost less on a port day

Sea days are when everyone else has lots of time, so demand for the spa is highest.

What you should do is skip the spa on a sea day and book it for a port day. 

Remember, it still counts if you go there in the final hours the ship is docked. So you could go right after your shore excursion and take advantage of the port day price specials.

Not partying late the night before

For those that are looking for the right evening to "go hard", then it's the day before a sea day.

Because you can sleep off a hangover, make sure you prioritize the night before a sea day for those antics.

Missing out on an uncrowded casino

One of the top complaints about the casino on any Royal Caribbean cruise is how crowded it can get there.

The casino will be open while your ship is at sea, and it's notably less crowded during the morning and day of a sea day.  

It'll fill back up in the evening, but take advantage of the open machines while the sun in shing in the casino.

Skipping trivia

I think you're missing out if you don't attend a few trivia sessions.

Royal Caribbean offers all kinds of trivia, and you'll find probably one trivia session every couple of hours on a sea day.

My favorites are the Royal Caribbean trivia, geography trivia, and visual trivia. They're different from the norm, and it's a great sea day activity.

Refusing to nap

If your body is tell you to nap, you should do it.

I know it sounds counter-intuitive to enjoying everything the ship has to offer, but you also don't want to crash at 8pm.  Or be half awake for most of the day.

A good power nap of 45 minutes can work wonders for rejuvenating you for more fun that day.

Not exploring the ship

Royal Caribbean ships are really big, so take time to see it all.

Ideally, you can tour the ship on embarkation day, but you probably didn't get to see it all.  Or some areas were closed.  So a sea day is a great time to see the rest of it.

Walk the decks, peek your head into a shop, and generally see what's around the next corner.  

Not taking advantage of the internet package for the day

If you didn't buy an internet package for your entire cruise, you could buy a 24 hour pass and a sea day is a great time to maximize the value.

The 24 hour pass is available to book only when you get onboard, but since you won't have a shore excursion, you can take full advantage of it.

Plus, you could log out and let family use it too.

Don't forget as a Diamond or Diamond Plus member in Crown and Anchor Society, you're entitled to free internet to use as well.

Missing out on a sunset selfie

That perfect sunset to share on Instagram? There's a good chance of it on a sea day.

While beautiful sunsets can happen in port too, at least at sea there won't be any obstacles.

Knocking out any of your must-dos

This list was meant to offer ideas for what to do on a sea day, but it's also a good reminder a sea day is when you should try to do the things you first intended to do.

If you're like me, you picked a cruise ship because you saw certain activities or attractions onboard that you said "I need to do that!".  If so, you'll want to take advantage of the sea day for it.

I've come back from far too many cruises with regret that I didn't get to do the one or two things that I really wanted to try. It's easy to get sidetracked or fall into the trap of "I'll do it later".

Take advantage of a sea day and get whatever you had your heart set on done.

Hope you had a great week and are staying safe out there. Hopefully you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.

We will have to wait a few more weeks for the next round of cruise sailings.

Royal Caribbean delayed its spring release of 2026-2027 deployments.

It's not unheard of for deployments to be delayed, as they are complicated and sometimes need more time to coordinate all the plans properly.

Royal Caribbean News

• Beloved Royal Caribbean cruise ship Captain announces retirement
• "Super Mario" takes is 1,000th cruise with Royal Caribbean
• Royal Caribbean wants to pay artists to create works for its new cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean ship delayed returning to Baltimore after medical evacuation
• The US shared a travel warning to a place my cruise is going. Should I worry?
• Answers to cruise cabin questions you're too embarrassed to ask
• 7 Things I instantly regret not bringing that cost less than $10 on a cruise
• Big Ships vs. Small Ships: Is one a better choice?
• My favorite spot to go to at CocoCay has gotten better
• I've cruised for 30 years and tried new things on Royal Caribbean ships, but wouldn't do them all again
• How to save money on internet by not buying everyone an internet package

Video: worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise

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 — 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

11 reasons why eating at the buffet instead of the Main Dining Room is better

The buffet on your cruise is more than just a place for a casual meal, it's arguably a better place to eat dinner too.

While the Main Dining Room is beautiful and has terrific service, you might consider eating at the Windjammer instead for the simplicity and speed it offers.

Plus, the Windjammer food variety is impressive, especially if you have picky eaters.

Cruiser liked Carnival better after only cruising with Royal Caribbean

After years of sailing with Royal Caribbean, one cruiser tried Carnival and liked it a lot.

The person detailed their experience on Reddit, sharing what they preferred with Carnival.

"I am SO SO glad we booked! We had been loyal to Royal previously and have Emerald status. We will still do Royal, and eventually want to try Icon [of the Seas], but I feel like my first cruise on Carnival has beat my last two on Royal."

The cruise excursion idea you might have that's really a mistake

I know what you're thinking, and it's actually a bad idea waiting to happen.

Some cruisers will try to fit two different shore excursions into the same day because it looks like they can fit it into their schedule.

The reality is you don't have as much time as you think, and the rigors of trying to do two tours adds up quickly.

What you should know about your cruise room before you arrive

Your cruise ship cabin isn't exactly like a hotel room, so there are important things you should know about it.

From better utilizing your room to things that won't be there, new cruisers might be surprised what's waiting for them in their stateroom.

Check out the important things you should know before you arrive in your cabin about your room.

You're bound to have lots of questions when you're new to a cruise vacation, and maybe a few of them are things a little awkward to ask.

I know I've been in situations where I'm new to something and I feel embarrassed to ask such a basic question to a group of people who know it all, especially when it seems like I probably should be able to figure it out.

The longer you cruise, the more questions you'll see, especially if you join a message board or group online. I try not to judge them, as I was a newbie also at one point. 

I'm betting there are some people brand new to cruises that are curious for an answer to these questions they think are too dumb to ask, so we have the answers right here to make you more confident about your cruise.

Will I have to share a bathroom with other cruise ship passengers?

A room on a cruise ship is somewhat similar to a hotel, but it's definitely not like a hostel.

Rest assured, every stateroom comes with its own ensuite bathroom, so you don't have to leave your cabin to use the facilities. 

Regardless of which type of cabin you book, every stateroom bathroom has a shower, toilet, sink, mirror, and some storage space. If you want a bathtub, you'll need to upgrade to at least a Junior Suite.

Of course, there are public bathrooms around the ship too in the public areas, such as the pool deck, Royal Promenade, and near restaurants.

I'm scared of falling off a cruise ship, should I be?

I can confidently assure you there's no risk of falling off a cruise ship if you follow the rules.

Stories of passengers going overboard perpetuate the myth you can fall off a cruise ship randomly and without any cause. The reality is that's simply not true.

There are two ways you can go overboard: you deliberately jump off the ship, or you go somewhere you're not supposed to go and then slip and fall off the ship.

Unfortunately, many cases of people that go overboard are the result of a suicide.  Others are people doing things they're not supposed to do, like getting up on balcony railings.

All of the railings around the ship are about four feet tall, making it nearly impossible to accidentally fall off as the result of a slip and fall.

As for kids, all balcony doors have a manual lock located high on the door frame to prevent young children from being able to get out to the balcony. Of course, parental supervision is key to ensure they don't climb anything.

Can someone on another cruise ship see into my cabin when my ship is docked in port?

Absolutely, yes!

The windows on your suite, balcony, or oceanview are viewable through both sides of the glass.  If you booked one of these rooms and you're in port, you'll want to be vigilant about what you do with the windows open.

If there's a cruise ship docked across from yours, yes, the passengers on that ship can see onto your balcony and, if your curtains are open, into your cabin!

And that goes also if you booked a Neighborhood cabin, such as a Central Park, Surfside, or Boardwalk room.  There are other cabins (and passengers below) that could potentially have a line of sight right into your room.

Always check what's outside your window or balcony window before changing or getting in the shower.  Or anything else you wouldn't want someone else to see.

Do crew members live on the ship?

Before you accuse me of making up this question, I promise you I have heard it asked many times.

Yes, the crew members on the ship live, work, and sleep on the same ship you sail on.  They don't commute to it.

Below the passenger decks are a few additional decks where the crew members live.  Most crew members share a cabin with other crew members, and they have cabins similar to passenger cabins, although crew cabins are smaller and lack the finishes that passengers have.

There are actually a crew-only buffet restaurant, crew gym, and crew bar also onboard.

Guests are never allowed into the crew areas, unless they book a Behind the Scenes tour.

Why do I hear a "whoosh" sound from the toilet?

Unlike your bathroom at home, the toilet is going to be quite louder and that's because it's a vacuum system.

Similar to the toilets on an airplane, when you flush, the vacuum system engages to make the toilet function.

It's also common to hear a few more thumps as the valves in the system close.

Don't worry, it's all normal.

Is the toilet water salt water?

I swear this question has been asked before, and the answer is no, it's not salt water.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise ship has its own desalination plant onboard that takes sea water, treats it, and converts it back to freshwater.  They also can recycle freshwater to be re-used for things like the toilet.

Do I need to bring my own toilet paper?

Fear not, your stateroom attendant will provide as much toilet paper as you need during your cruise.

Cruise staterooms aren't like an Airbnb that provides one roll and the rest is on you.

Similarly, you don't need to worry about running out of clean towels, because each time your attendant services your cabin, they will replenish used towels with clean ones.

How do I dispose of used feminine hygiene products?

First, definitely do not flush it down the toilet. It will break the toilet for you and everyone around your room.

Royal Caribbean provides sanitary bags to use, and they're located underneath your sink.

Place the used sanitary bag in the garbage can below your sink.  Sometimes it's an open metal container, and on newer ships, there's actually a garbage lid.

Can I be kicked off my ship if the cruise is overbooked?

Just like air lines, cruise lines oversell their ship because they know people cancel and don't show up all the time.

In very rare cases, a sailing approaches and Royal Caribbean sees there's an oversold problem and they'll take action. This is how the public becomes aware that a ship is oversold.

Some passengers get an email alerting them to the oversold nature of the sailing and the line asks for volunteers to change sail dates.

They don't actually bump anyone, they look for people with flexibility that want to save a ton of money to free up their cabin. There are a lot of people than you realize that wouldn't mind deferring their vacation and getting money back for it, such as people who live near the port or retired folks.

So while there is a theoretical possibility the cabins are oversold on your cruise sailing and you'd be denied boarding, it's very, very unlikely and not something you should worry about. 

Is there a TV in my room and what channels does it get?

Yes, every cabin has its own television.

There's a limited subset of channels provided, and many are international feeds of well-known networks.

Channels you can expect include:

• ESPN
• CNN
• Fox News
• MSNBC
• BBC
• Sky News

There are also movie channels, kids channels, and some channels in Spanish, German, or Chinese.

Is a guaranteed cabin a bad choice?

Royal Caribbean offers the option to let them pick the room for you, known as a guarantee cabin.

There are plusses and minuses to a guarantee cabin.  You could save a lot of money by allowing the cruise line to pick your room location, but the downside is you might end up with less desirable room.

A guaranteed cabin could result in a room with an obstructed view and/or in a "bad" location.

I wouldn't say a guaranteed cabin is a bad choice, because the money saving opportunity is often significant.  Plus, you probably won't end up in a truly awful room.

A lot of people that cruise a lot opt for guaranteed cabins, but the key is to be aware of the potential downsides and be okay with it.

Is a big Royal Caribbean cruise ship better than a small ship? That's a question many people looking to book a cruise vacation think about when trying a ship.

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships come in three main sizes: medium, big, and really big. The bigger the ship, the more space it has and that allows for more activities, but it sacrifices things smaller ships are known for.

I see many cruisers who have only sailed on the mega ships concerned if they'd be disappointed in going on a small cruise ship. They think because they're used to the biggest and newest ships, would a small and old ship feel lacking.

Of course, all of Royal Caribbean's ships are big ships compared to luxury cruise lines. 

In order to categorize them properly, we'll consider the Vision, Radiance, and Voyager Class ships to be smaller, and the Freedom, Oasis, Icon, and Quantum to be big.

Here's what you should know when deciding if bigger is better for a cruise ship choice.

Big ships

Most new cruisers gravitate towards the biggest cruise ships in the world because of how effective Royal Caribbean's advertising is.

When you see a commercial, you're seeing one of the line's newest ships and those happen to be the biggest ones too.

Activities

The bigger the ship, the more space they have to include things to do onboard, and that's probably the top reason to book a big ship.

Royal Caribbean's biggest ships are well-known for having water slides, zip lines, mini-golf, surf simulators, multiple pools, and multiple theaters.

Throughout the day there is a lot happening, so you won't be bored from a lack of things to do. Truly, that's the entire point of a big ship is to offer passengers more to do than they can possibly handle so that a cruise feels like a different kind of vacation.

This works out well for families, especially families with kids.  There's more space for kid-focused activities, and even the kids clubs are bigger on the big ships. There are also pools and aqua parks for kids, as well as more programming offered.

But don't look at a big ship as just for kids.  Royal Caribbean blends its activities to appeal to adults as much as kids. The difference is there's more for every age group on big ships, especially kids.

The downside to so many activities is it's difficult to fit it all in, especially if you're on a sailing with a lot of port calls. 

A big ship will probably cost more than a small ship, but if you're not taking advantage of all that you can do onboard, it could seem like a problem.

Dining

Just like all the things you can do on a big ship, there's lots more dining choices too.

You'll find the same subset of core restaurants on all of Royal Caribbean's ships: Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, a snack location or two, and a specialty restaurant.

The difference is on big ships, there's many more choices of each, especially specialty restaurants.

Plus, on its biggest ships, there is an exclusive restaurant just for suite passengers. Coastal Kitchen is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's included in the cost of an expensive suite.  For some cruise fans, they prefer big ships to have access to Coastal Kitchen.

A great example of the difference in dining choices between big and small ships is with its snack locations.  On small ships, there's a single location that serves coffee, snacks, sandwiches, and pizza.  But on big ships, you get separate restaurants for the coffee and snacks, and one for the pizza.  

On Icon of the Seas, there's Pearl Cafe, Cafe Promenade, and Sorrento's Pizza with separate locations to help spread out crowds. 

I think the most noticeable benefit of a big ship are how many specialty restaurants there are, including the newest concepts.

While small ships have specialty restaurants, they lack some of the more popular or new ones.  You won't find hibachi, a supper club, or BBQ options on a small ship.

However, if you don't care to spend the money on a specialty restaurant, then the fact there are more of them on a big ship may not be a selling point at all.

Entertainment

There are production shows on every Royal Caribbean ship, along with live music, comedians, and more.

On a big ship, you'll not only have a greater variety of shows, but also higher quality productions. Many of the big ships have full Broadway shows, whereas small ships have musical revues.

I can see a clear difference in the quality of the shows on a big ship compared to a small one.  It's not that shows on a small ship are bad, rather, shows on a big ship are better because there's a larger budget for them and some shows actually have a discernable plot to them.

For comedians, live musical performances, and game shows, it's more or less the same between the ships.

Suites

While I think you can make an argument for big vs. small ships in each category, it seems big ships have a definitive advantage for suites.

Royal Caribbean specifically offers a superior suite class program on its three biggest ship classes: Icon, Oasis, and Quantum.  If you're booking a suite and staying on these ships, it's a night and day difference in what you get.

Known as the Royal Suite Class, there are far more benefits and more space dedicated to suite passengers. This comes in having Coastal Kitchen, a larger suite lounge with extended hours for drink service, dedicated suite sun deck, and more included in your cruise fare.

The most expensive suites even come with front-of-the-line access via the Royal Genie service that's included.  

The downside to a suite on a big ship is it's going to cost you a lot more than a small ship.

Small ships

Big ships sounds wonderful, but small ships have far more x-factors that give them edges in places you might not think about, especially if you don't have young children.

One of the top two reasons anyone books a Royal Caribbean cruise is for the destinations you visit, and small ships have arguably better and more exotic choices in that realm.

Activities

The small ships will still offer a lot to do, especially on sea days.  This is one of the advantages of cruising with Royal Caribbean, as they infuse their own "high energy DNA" into all of their ships.

Things to do on a small ship will check the important check boxes: there will be trivia, karaoke, bingo, sports court activities, and dance events.

The major component missing on a small ship are the kids focused areas and "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship" offerings. Water slides, aqua parks, and thrill attractions aren't included on small ships.

When you talk to people that love to cruise on small ships, they often describe these vessels as offering "a classic cruise experience".

Dining

There's a surprising amount of dining choices on a small ship, especially the Radiance Class vessels.

The menu at the Main Dining Room is the same across the fleet, and the Windjammer buffet experience is pretty standardized as well.

I feel the lack of variety in specialty dining and pool deck food is where you see the biggest difference on small ships.  Most small ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet have 2 or 3 specialty restaurants, and a casual complimentary offering. You won't go hungry, and they hit the spot.

Many ships have Chef's Table, Chops Grille, Giovanni's, and Izumi onboard for their dining choices.  It's really certain Vision Class ships, like Enchantment of the Seas, that truly lack much choice in specialty offerings.

Entertainment

Adding to the more relaxing atmosphere of a small ship are the pretty darn good daytime and evening entertainment options.

Just like the big ships, there's a sailaway party, DJ dance party at night, piano player, and guitarist onboard.

And you'll still find an evening production show or featured entertainer on small ships.  Big ships have two or three theaters, whereas small ships have one.

The one detraction about shows on small ships is they are typically aging musical revues.  You'll be able to tell exactly which decade the ship started sailing based on the music options in the show.  It's still entertaining, but don't expect Broadway-level performances.

Port variety

The best thing about a small ship is the fact these ships can sail to places the big ships cannot go.

You'll find small ships homeported in places like Tampa, Baltimore, or Boston, which makes it convenient for anyone that can drive to the port to sail to.

But the real value in a small ship is the fact it can get to distant ports that cannot fit big ships. Because these ships are physically smaller, they can get into certain ports and offer more interesting itineraries than mega ships can offer.

Whether it's sailing to the South Pacific, through the Panama Canal, or into historic cities in Europe, small ships have the bucket list itineraries I think a lot of vacationers crave. 

When you get to visit amazing places in the world, the ship you're sailing on is secondary.

Price

Another advantage for a small ship is you it will probably cost you less to go on a small ship over a big ship.

In general, the newer (and bigger) the ship, the higher the price to cruise. There are other factors that influence a price of a cruise, but this is a pretty standard rule.

You could end up paying two or three times more to go on Icon of the Seas instead of Grandeur of the Seas.

The price differences are a little less noticeable when you get closer to the "middle", especially between the Voyager or Freedom Class ships.

Ultimately, a lot of vacationers pick one ship over another because of price, and you'll get more for value picking a smaller, older ship.

Your Royal Caribbean cruise room, or cabin, is probably different than you might expect it to be.

New cruisers might assume their stateroom is just like a hotel room, and while there are indeed many similarities, there are a few things that certainly make the cruise experience different.

To that point, I went through the commonly asked questions from our readers to come up with the things about a cruise cabin that would either surprise you or not be what you'd expect.  In some cases, there are tips on how to better utilize your room.  I hope all of them prepare you for a great time in the room.

Knowing what to expect in your cruise room is the key to avoiding problems later.

The room is probably going to smaller than you expect

Rooms on cruise ships are generally smaller than hotel rooms because of the constraints of a cruise ship.

They have all the basics you'd expect: a bed, desk with mirror, closet, drawers, and private bathroom. But that's about the extent of the similarities.

Depending on the cabin category you choose, the amount of space comes in all sorts of sizes.  In general, the higher the category, the more space you get.  So a balcony room would have more living space than an oceanview room, which has more living space than an inside cabin.

The fact the rooms are smaller shouldn't be that much of a problem because in reality, passengers spend less time in their room than expected.  There's so much happening around the ship between activities, dining, shore excursions, and shows, that most people treat their cabin as a place to sleep, shower, and change. 

So the fact the room is smaller than expected is less important given how little time you'll probably spend in it.

You can split the beds upon request

Any cabin you book comes with a king size bed that can be split apart, if you prefer.

If you're sharing the stateroom with someone you don't want to share a bed with, the beds are able to be split. Likewise, split beds can be combined back into one.

Your travel agent can make that request at the time you book a cruise, but if you arrived to the ship and discovered the beds are still together, you just need to ask your stateroom attendant to make the change.

One other request you might want to make of your stateroom attendant is if you have a couch that converts to a bed, you can ask them to keep the couch bed in "sleep mode" during the day for convenient naps.

The walls are really thin

Another difference between a room on a cruise ship versus hotel is how thin the walls are in terms of noise.

The thin walls mean don't expect every noise coming out of your room to necessarily stay in your room. Be respectful of your neighbors, and understand noise can go both ways between the rooms.

Store luggage beneath your bed

One of my favorite cabin tips is to put your luggage underneath your bed after you unpack.

When I arrive in my room on embarkation day, I'll unpack all my belongings and then take the empty suitcase and shove it underneath my bed.  The beds are high enough to allow most suitcases to fit under them. 

Putting the luggage under the bed frees up space in the closet, and keeps it out of sight too. Some cabins have more storage space than others, but you'll probably need all the closet space you can get, especially if your cruise is 7-nights or longer.

You can probably open the balcony dividers

If you booked two balcony rooms next to each other, there's a good chance you can open the balcony divider between them.

As long as you know the people in the room next to you, you can ask your stateroom attendant to open the balcony divider.  Doing so makes it feel like you have an expansive balcony space and also makes it easier to go back and forth between rooms.

I noted that you can "probably" do this because not all Royal Caribbean ships have balcony dividers that can be opened.  All the new cruise ships are able to do this, but certain older ships cannot.

You get to pick when you want your room made up

When you meet your cabin attendant, you'll be given the choice of when you want your room serviced each day.

Guests staying in a balcony or lower have the choice of morning or evening service.  In either case, there's a window of time your cabin attendant will attempt to service your cabin and change the sheets, make the bed, vacuum, replace the towels, and more.

There isn't a right or wrong time to pick, it's just up to you and your preference.  

My advice is if you like to sleep in, pick the evening service.  But if you're an early riser, then morning works.

If you booked a suite, then you get twice a day service in both morning and evening, so there's nothing to decide.

Some people find the mattresses firm

I really like sleeping on Royal Caribbean's beds, but I know some people report them being on the firm side.

When considering what a cruise ship bed is like, there's a top sheet and comforter provided by default.

How "firm" a bed is definitely depends on the person, and while I've always found them comfortable, I've seen enough posts to the contrary to understand we all see it differently.

You can ask your cabin attendant for a mattress topper to help with that.  If they run out, they can usually provide another comforter to put under the sheets to help too.

There is a cooler, but it's not a fridge

Every cabin includes a minifridge, but it's not really that cold in there to be considered a true refrigerator.

It's good for keeping food fresh for a little bit longer to enjoy later, so don't stick something in there to eat a few days later because it probably won't make it.

Royal Caribbean used to stock the minifridge with a mini bar, but that practice stopped years ago.

The bathroom is tiny, but functional

No matter what cabin you get, I think the bathrooms on Royal Caribbean are small, but efficient. They'll have exactly what you need, without room for much else.

There's a sink, bar of soap, shower (with combo shampoo/conditioner in a dispenser), outlet for a razor, limited storage space, and the toilet.

You will find a hair dryer you can use in the vanity area of the cabin, not in the bathroom.

Speaking of tiny, the shower is going to be small too.  There's enough room for one person, but it's a tight fit.  

What you won't find in your cruise cabin

The top surprise about what's not in your room is a clothing iron because they are a fire hazard.  

Not only does Royal Caribbean not provide them, but you aren't allowed to bring one onboard.  The same goes for clothing steamers and pretty much any appliance.

Other items not included in your cabin include alarm clocks/radios or coffee makers. 

While there is a television in your room, there isn't a DVD player included.  Newer Royal Caribbean ships have the ability to digitally stream to the TV, but it's very few of the new ships that have that feature.