Royal Caribbean Blog

2025 is set to be an exciting year for Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruises. Four ships will sail in the region from May to September, visiting historic ports and magnificent glaciers throughout the Last Frontier.

If you’re considering an Alaska cruise in 2025, it’s helpful to know the ins and outs of each ship sailing to the region. Not all Royal Caribbean cruise ships are created equal, after all. Understanding the key differences between the vessels will help you pick the best ship for your cruise vacation.

Let’s jump in and compare the four Royal Caribbean cruise ships sailing to Alaska in 2025.

Quantum of the Seas

Homeport: Seattle, Washington (Monday departures)
Ports: Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Victoria, Sitka, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, Skagway

Quantum of the Seas will return to Alaska in 2025 for her fourth consecutive cruise season in the region, offering 7-night roundtrip itineraries from Seattle. Each week, itineraries visit three Alaska cruise ports along with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia. One shorter, 5-night itinerary is offered in May.

Related: All about Quantum Class ships

Most itineraries include a scenic sailing to Dawes Glacier. To get there, passengers will transit through the stunning Endicott Arm fjord.

As a Quantum Class ship, Quantum of the Seas boasts Royal Caribbean’s most popular amenities and attractions, making the vessel an excellent choice for families.

Adults will love features like the thermal suite—perfect for staying warm in chilly Alaska—along with technology-focused production shows in the Two70 venue.

Kids, on the other hand, can enjoy thrilling attractions like the indoor skydiving simulator, rock climbing wall, and bumper cars.

Quantum of the Seas is well-appointed with pool options for a cold-weather cruise, too. Aside from an outdoor pool is an indoor pool for guests of all ages, as well as an indoor pool in the adults-only Solarium.

Anthem of the Seas

Homeport: Seattle, Washington (Friday departures)
Ports: Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Victoria, Sitka, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, Skagway

Anthem of the Seas will make her Alaska debut in 2025, marking the first Alaska cruise season for the vessel. Like Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas will also sail from Seattle on 7-night roundtrip itineraries.

Related: Anthem of the Seas Guide & Review

Itineraries are nearly identical to those offered on Quantum of the Seas. Guests hoping to visit Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier should double check their itinerary choice, however, as not all sailings include a glacier viewing day.

Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas are both Quantum Class vessels, and passengers will notice little variation between the two ships. It’s worth noting that Anthem of the Seas features a Broadway show—We Will Rock You—and offers Johnny Rockets on the pool deck instead of Quantum’s Asian-inspired Noodle Shop.

Serenade of the Seas

Homeport: Vancouver, British Columbia (Sunday departures)
Ports: Inside Passage (Canada), Sitka, Tracy Arm Fjord, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Skagway

The third ship sailing to Alaska in 2025 is Serenade of the Seas, departing every Sunday on roundtrip cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Embarking an Alaska cruise in Vancouver gives guests the opportunity to sail through Canada’s Inside Passage. As the ship departs the city, guests can enjoy mountain landscapes surrounding both sides of the ship. This provides a sneak peek into the remarkable scenery yet to come.

Related: All about Radiance Class cruise ships

7-night itineraries on Serenade of the Seas visit four ports along with a visit to Tracy Arm Fjord, home to the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Most port visits are to common destinations like Juneau and Ketchikan, but some itineraries include visits to less-frequented ports, such as Haines, Alaska and Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Serenade of the Seas is a Radiance Class cruise ship, which makes her significantly smaller in size and capacity compared to Quantum and Anthem of the Seas.

The core Royal Caribbean features, including the Windjammer buffet, Schooner Bar, and Chops Grille, are still onboard, but there are fewer amenities compared to the fleet’s newer ships.

Related: I've been on every class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships: here's what I like about each

Because of this, families may not find as many options for kids onboard. That being said, there are still amenities like a rock climbing wall, mini golf court, and a kid-friendly splash area. The only indoor pool on Serenade of the Seas is found in the adults-only Solarium, but this area is open for family swimming during select hours.

Radiance of the Seas

Homeports: Vancouver, British Columbia and Seward, Alaska (Friday departures)
Ports: Inside Passage (Canada), Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka

Those hoping to visit Alaska’s interior before or after their cruise should choose a sailing on Radiance of the Seas. The ship will offer one-way itineraries in 2025, departing from Vancouver and ending in Seward, Alaska (and vice versa).

Of all Royal Caribbean’s Alaska itineraries, those on Radiance of the Seas are the most unique.

Related: Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise guide

Unlike itineraries from Seattle, Radiance of the Seas’ itineraries include four, not three, port stops in Alaska. It’s possible, for example, to visit Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point or Ketchikan on a 7-night cruise. Plus, most itineraries include a scenic glacier viewing day of Hubbard Glacier, and visiting this spectacular destination is only possible on Radiance of the Seas.

Another benefit of one-way cruises is the chance to explore Alaska’s interior. Because cruises start or end in Seward, passengers are just a stone’s throw away from destinations like Denali National Park and Preserve and Talkeetna. Royal Caribbean offers Cruisetours to these destinations, which can be added to the start or end of most one-way itineraries.

Like Serenade of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas lacks Royal Caribbean’s newest amenities and onboard thrills. The layout and experience is similar to that of Serenade, but Radiance has an additional specialty dining venue, with Brazilian cuisine available at Samba Grill.

Deciding between a Quantum Class and Radiance Class ship for Alaska

One of the most important choices a prospective cruiser can make when planning an Alaska cruise is deciding between a Quantum Class and Radiance Class ship. Despite both classes being part of Royal Caribbean’s fleet, they are quite different from one another.

If you value options and convenience, pick a Quantum Class ship

It’s hard to go wrong with a Quantum Class cruise ship. These mega-ships are filled to the brim with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, pools, and onboard thrills. Whether it’s a game of laser tag in the SeaPlex or a surfing lesson on the FlowRider, these ships provide endless ways to have fun for guests of all ages.

Related: 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship

Beyond thrills, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas offer state-of-the-art amenities. The vessels are more modern than Radiance Class ships, having been launched over ten years after the latter.

Interior cabins, for instance, feature a virtual balcony, which displays a floor-to-ceiling live video feed of the view outside the ship. Passengers won’t want to miss the North Star, either, which is an observation pod that takes guests 300 feet above sea level. There’s no better way to witness Alaska’s beauty onboard!

Because Quantum Class ships depart from Seattle instead of Vancouver, travel times are typically more convenient for American travelers, as there are numerous direct flights to Seattle available from around the United States.

If you value in-depth itineraries and a low-key vibe, sail on a Radiance Class ship

Radiance Class ships may lack the bells and whistles of the Quantum Class ships sailing to Alaska, but that doesn’t mean they should be overlooked. Some passengers prefer the laid-back atmosphere found on these ships, along with the Alaska-intensive itineraries offered.

Calling Serenade and Radiance of the Seas small is relative—at maximum capacity, both ships can accommodate around 2,500 passengers. Unlike Quantum Class ships, you won’t find skydiving simulators and robotic bartenders onboard, but you can rest assured that there are more than enough activities, bars, and restaurants to stay satisfied.

Related: Does it matter how old your cruise ship is?

The main reason to book a Radiance Class ship to Alaska is for the itinerary. Departing from Vancouver on a Radiance Class ship means passengers can enjoy a more in-depth itinerary once in Alaska. For those interested in one-way cruises, a Radiance Class ship is the only option.

Outside of the itinerary, these ships are renowned for their abundance of windows. Over three acres of glass are found throughout both Serenade and Radiance of the Seas, meaning you’re never far from a panoramic view of Alaska’s beauty.

Any ship is sure to provide an excellent Alaska cruise experience

At the end of the day, any of the four ships sailing to Alaska in 2025 will make for a memorable vacation.

Most Alaska itineraries are relatively similar to one another regardless of the ship, so you can visit attractions like Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau or the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Skagway regardless of the ship you choose.

Nonetheless, it’s important to know the key differences between Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Radiance of the Seas before choosing one over another. Knowing what to expect helps ensure your vacation is off to a fantastic start once you board the ship on embarkation day and set sail to Alaska.

If and when Royal Caribbean orders a new cruise ship to be built, it probably won't be ready until 2028 or later.

New cruise ships are just about the most exciting thing in the cruise industry because of all the excitement and hype they generate. It's akin to your favorite sports team signing the next big thing to play for them.

Naturally, there's a lot of intrigue surrounding new ships and Wall Street is equally interested to hear about new ship order plans as much as cruise fans.

During the Royal Caribbean Group earnings call on Tuesday, cruise line executives were asked if they were effectively done with any new ships showing up before 2028.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty thought about the question and said he believes all the ships that could be ordered in time for 2027 are probably done, and maybe even into 2028.

"I think for the most part, you certainly have seen all of our orders through 27 and maybe even into 2028," he said in response to the question.

He danced around the question a bit, as he wanted to emphasize the company was focused on slowly growing its fleet, and not seeking any kind of rapid building program.

"I will say that we heavily subscribed to moderate yield growth, moderate capacity growth, and good cost control."

"So on that moderate capacity growth standpoint, we continue to to look to moderately grow our fleet, moderately grow each of our brands."

A new smaller cruise ship

While the question covers every brand within the Royal Caribbean Group family, cruisers may be aware of Royal Caribbean International's not-so-well-kept secret of plans to build a new smaller cruise ship.

Referred to as the Discovery Class, it's a proposed plan to replace Royal Caribbean's aging smaller ships: the Radiance and Vision Class.

With the Vision Class ships approaching 30 years old in age, not only is the timing ripe, but the ships have a notable gap in experience between them and the newer ships that have launched in the last few years.

Officially, nothing has been confirmed or revealed regarding the Discovery Class ships. However, there have been subtle hints.

As recently as August 2024, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about them.

He indicated a new ship class was coming in the next three to four years, and was perhaps the most candid about the idea so far.

"We’re working now on another class of ship called Discovery Class. So, that’s going to be super exciting. That’ll come in about another 3 to 4 years from now," he said in an interview.

Doing the math on that quote, three to four years from now is 2027-2028, which is right around the time period Mr. Liberty indicated could be the new timeframe for a future ship order.

What ships Royal Caribbean has on order right now

There are a number of new cruise ships confirmed and ordered to come out in the next few years.

Star of the Seas is under construction in Finland, and will begin sailing in August 2025.

Star is the second Icon Class cruise ship, and will follow-up on the tremendous success of Icon of the Seas. It will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and offer 7-night Caribbean cruises.

In 2026, a third Icon Class cruise ship will join the fleet.

There's no name yet for this ship, and we know virtually nothing about it yet. Royal Caribbean's tendency is not to talk about new ships beyond the next new cruise ship.

A fourth Icon Class cruise ship will launch sometime in 2027.

After that, we'll get a new Oasis Class ship in 2028.

Royal Caribbean also has options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship. 

Options are like reserved slots at a shipyard, which means a cruise line can activate that option later and still get the ship in the construction pipeline.

Royal Caribbean thinks its building a private destination with beaches, pools, and a water park will lure more Texas cruisers.

Right now, Royal Caribbean's private destinations are in The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. However, with the launch of Perfect Day Mexico in Costa Maya, those onboard sailings to the Western Caribbean will have an exciting new option. 

"Perfect Day Mexico is strategically located to deliver exceptional vacation experiences in both the Eastern and Western Caribbean and supports our ambition that every guest on the Royal Caribbean brand will have a 'Perfect Day' on their Caribbean itinerary," said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, during the company's Q4 earnings call on Oct. 29. 

"It also allows us to further grow the large and growing Gulf Coast area, including the Texas market, which...has a similar cruise consideration [to Florida] but only half the penetration," he added. 

In 2022, Royal Caribbean opened its brand-new terminal in Galveston, Texas. The $125 million terminal allows the cruise line to deploy Oasis Class ships to Texas, giving cruise enthusiasts access to some of the largest ships in the world without having to travel to South Florida. 

Though not part of Royal Caribbean's released deployment schedules, Terminal 3 can also accommodate Icon Class ships, should they choose to send them to Galveston in the future. 

Galveston is about an hour from Houston, 3.5 hours from Austin, and 4.5 hours from Dallas. Plus, it's also within driving distance of many cities in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge (4.5 hours) and Shreveport (5 hours). 

Expanding the short cruise market

That said, sending new ships to Texas is only part of the bigger picture. "...[H]aving assets like the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel [and] Royal Beach Mexico will allow us to drive...more of the Gulf Coast and other markets that can have an easier flight cruise experience and at a lower cost flight cruise experience," Liberty said. 

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, added that with Royal Beach Mexico and the Royal Beach Club in Mexico, the cruise line will be able to offer more shorter cruises from Gulf ports such as Tampa, Galveston, and New Orleans. 

"It really is a great opportunity for us, and we know that that short product really catches with the younger families. And of course, we'll be able to offer...an extraordinary short break from these ports to Perfect Day and Royal Beach Club Cozumel," Bayley remarked. 

This approach mirrors Royal Caribbean's shorter itineraries on Oasis Class ships departing from Florida. The line plans to dominate the short cruise market, especially following the launch of Utopia of the Seas, Royal's newest ship that entered service in July 2024 only offering 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral to The Bahamas. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean will move Wonder of the Seas to offer short cruises

What we know about the private destinations so far

Cozumel's Royal Beach Club was announced in March 2024. Like the Royal Beach Club planned for Paradise Island in The Bahamas, this club will be exclusively available to Royal Caribbean passengers, despite being in a port used by all cruise lines—from Carnival to MSC, Disney, Norwegian, etc. 

It'll open in 2026 and will be an optional extra-cost activity for passengers, meaning it won't be included in the cost of the cruise fare. Admission into the beach club will include access to swim-up bars, rentable poolside cabanas, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets. The price is currently unknown. 

On the other hand, as part of Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Collection, Perfect Day Mexico will be more akin to CocoCay's private island experience, though it isn't a private island. 

Read more: I went to CocoCay for the first time, and here's what I'd do differently

Instead, following a major transformation of the port of Costa Maya, Perfect Day Mexico will be a private destination available to Royal Caribbean passengers. 

According to the cruise line, the total project will encompass 90 hectares, equivalent to roughly 220 acres or double the size of Perfect Day at CocoCay. That said, not all the land is developable. 

As such, Royal Caribbean is paying special attention to preserving environmentally protected areas, such as nearby mangroves. About 100 acres are in development under the current plan, while the rest will be set aside for conservation.

Once complete, Perfect Day Mexico will have beautiful beaches, an extra-charge beach club (similar to Coco Beach Club at CocoCay), at least one pool, a water park, an adults-only area, a helium balloon, and Mexican food!

Guests don't have to stay within the Perfect Day Mexico complex. There will also be a transportation center for passengers who'd rather book a tour to explore one of the nearby attractions. 

Read more: Sneak peek at what’s confirmed for Royal Caribbean’s enormous beach experience in Mexico

The marketing is definitely working at Royal Caribbean, with more people than ever cruising, especially new cruisers.

Royal Caribbean Group shared the results of its third quarter in 2024 on Tuesday, and one important metric to note is how many people that have never cruised before.

Speaking to Wall Street analysts on a conference call, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty gave an overview of consumer spending and delved into some interesting facts about who is cruising.

Not only is his company seeing incredible growth, but demand is soaring as well.  And that demand is coming more and more from new cruisers.

In the third quarter of 2024, Royal Caribbean Group carried 2.3 million passengers across all of its brands of lines, which include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and SilverSea.

That's more than they had in the same quarter of 2023 when 1.9 million passengers cruised.

"The majority of our guests this year are either new to cruise or new to brand," Mr. Liberty shared in the call.

Before you assume it's just rookie cruisers booking, loyal customers are also booking, "at the same time our loyalty guests are up 20% compared to last year."

Spending big on cruise add-ons

Regardless of who books, a lot of people are then going right in and spending even more money on additional experiences for their cruise.

The cruise fare includes the basics, but there are lots of other options to consider.  Shore excursions, internet access, beverage packages, spa treatments, and more are some of the things people tend to book.

Mr. Liberty explained, "Once booked, guests are quickly engaged with us and buying on board experiences at higher speeds, translating into higher satisfaction rates and higher onboard spend. "

The term "onboard spend" refers to the category of purchases a customer makes that are above and beyond the cruise fare booking.

He indicated more than 70% of customers are purchasing onboard activities before they sail. Compared to a customer that waits to book their cruise extras onboard, Royal Caribbean Group is seeing people that pre-book spending more than double.

Part of their success in getting almost three quarters of their customers to spend extra are the ways they entice their customers.

"Half of our onboard revenue in the third quarter was purchased through our AI driven pre-cruise channels," Mr. Liberty said.

This comes in the form of specialized sales, promotions, and advertisements that target specific customers.  It could be a generic sale, a promotion targeting senior citizens, or opportunistic holiday promotion.

Who is cruising right now

Royal Caribbean Group is seeing a very healthy consumer looking to book cruise vacations, and they're skewing younger and younger.

"American households are wealthier than ever, with continued wage growth and low unemployment driving strong consumer spending," Mr. Liberty declared during the call.

Specifically, they are seeing Millennials, families and active cruisers all excessively booking on both leisure travel and specifically cruise travel.

"Our addressable market is growing and we are attracting more new customers into our vacation ecosystem, particularly younger demographics."

Royal Caribbean's research shows that consumer spending on leisure has grown a lot faster than most other spend categories over the past 12 months, with spend on travel increasing at a faster pace than other leisure categories.

They believe this trend will continue over the next 12 months, with leisure travel spending growing by more than any other leisure category.

Consumers are paying more too

Not only is the business demand strong, but there's a clear indication customers are willing to pay more for it.

Mr. Liberty was candid in discussing the pricing trends his company employs, "the trends show that we continue to be able to elevate demand, elevate pricing each day."

"We continue to see strong volumes [of] the customers willingness to pay more."

Why? Mr. Liberty thinks their product is so compelling and demand for a cruise vacation, in general, is so robust, that it's viewed as a must-do.

"I think that the cruise experience is now considered to be a very mainstream vacation product. And there's still a significant value proposition versus land based vacation."

Do elections matter to cruise bookings?

There was an interesting question asked by one of the analysts if the upcoming U.S. election has any impact on demand for booking a cruise.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley debunked any sense that the election cycle, or who wins, makes a difference to his company's bottom line, "We've gone back and done the analysis over literally decades, and it may be there may be a little bit of volatility during the week of the election, but over when you spread it over a longer period, there's effectively no impact on bookings as a result of elections, no matter which way they go."

Royal Caribbean Group is on a roll with another great quarter, and even better outlook for the days to come.

The company shared its third quarter financial results, which were better than expected.

Net income for the third quarter was $1.1 billion, compared to Net Income of $1.0 billion for the same period in the prior year.  The company also reported total revenues of $4.9 billion.

The driving force behind its strong quarter was higher prices on last-minute cruises, continued high demand for cruise extras, and lower costs due to timing.

Another factor was balance sheet actions taken in the third quarter resulted in lower interest expense and the company's return to its pre-Covid unsecured balance sheet.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty celebrated the robust earnings, "Our exceptional third quarter results and increased full year expectations reflect the robust demand for our differentiated vacation experiences."

He's already looking ahead to 2025 as a year where Royal Caribbean will grow significantly more, "We see elevated demand patterns continuing as we build the business for 2025, and although the yield comparable will be a high bar, our proven formula of moderate capacity growth, moderate yield growth and strong cost discipline is expected to continue to deliver strong financial results."

Third quarter results

There were interesting statistics to come out of Royal Caribbean Group's strong quarter.

In the third quarter, across all of the company's brands, the occupancy rate was 111%. This means cruise ship cabins were not just sold out, but more cabins had more than two people in them. 

Royal Caribbean Group saw higher pricing overall, but European and Alaska cruises saw particularly higher prices. In addition, the company made more money through selling add-ons, such as drink packages, WiFi, shore excursions, and more.

Strong demand is a major factor, as Royal Caribbean Group is actually seeing the demand and pricing environment accelerated since last quarter, exceeding 2023 levels. 

"Consumer spending onboard, as well as pre-cruise purchases, continue to significantly exceed 2023 levels driven by greater participation at higher prices," the company said in a statement.

They believe their success is due to vacationers preferring their new cruise ships, existing ships, and private destinations.

"Support our growth ambitions"

Another important success for the company this quarter was the company's return to its pre-Covid unsecured balance sheet.

A balance sheet refers to a company's assets, liabilities, and owner's equity at a specific point in time.

Royal Caribbean Group has spent many months paying back loans, refinancing loans, and structuring its debt to not hinder the company's operations.

Like all cruise lines, Royal Caribbean Group took on a lot of debt during the 2020 cruise industry shutdown to stay in business through a variety of loans.

Royal Caribbean Group CFO announced, "This quarter, we achieved an important milestone of returning to a fully unsecured capital structure while also reducing cost of capital and recapturing a portion of our Covid-era share dilution."

He went on to say this change allows them to, "further support our growth ambitions and expand capital allocation." That's an important indication for cruise fans who are always eager to see their new plans.

Capital spending is the category of expenses the company refers to when it builds a new cruise ship or builds a new private island.

As an example, the next private beach experience was announced during the third quarter to build Perfect Day Mexico, which will open in 2027.

Royal Caribbean is taking a precautionary measure to avoid bad weather by switching itineraries on its newest ship.

Guests sailing on Utopia of the Seas for a 4-night Bahamas cruise that boarded on October 28 were informed their voyage would need to change destinations.

The original plan was for Utopia to visit Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Due to "adverse weather" predicted for their voyage, the cruise line changed plans so the ship will go to it's private destination in Haiti, known as Labadee.

Emails were sent to passengers and their travel agents the day before the cruise began to inform them of the change, "Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we've been monitoring some adverse weather along our intended path."

"In order to steer clear of any inclement weather conditions, we'll need to cancel our visits to Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and we'll now enjoy a visit to our private destination, Labadee, Haiti instead."

This is the second time Utopia has visited Labadee unexpectedly in the last few weeks. Earlier in October, Hurricane Milton forced the ship to deviate there.

Royal Caribbean apologized for the last-minute change in plans, "We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather - the safety and well-being of our guests and crew are always our top priority."

Any pre-purchased shore excursions for Nassau or CocoCay will be automatically refunded in the form of an onboard credit to passenger's SeaPass accounts. 

These credits can be used anywhere onboard, and any remaining, refundable amounts at the end of the sailing will be reimbursed to the card on file in up to 14 business days from final disembarkation. 

Cruise ships visiting Haiti again

Utopia of the Seas' visit to Labadee this week is one of many ships that recently began sailing again to the private destination.

While Labadee is in Haiti, it's in a remote area of the country and walled off from the mainland.

Royal Caribbean suspended visits to Labadee in March after Haiti suffered political unrest and gang warfare.

Haiti declared a state of emergency on March 3rd, and the country's Prime Minister resigned on March 12th.

Haiti has been under the U.S.'s highest travel advisory possible since March. The U.S. State Department renewed its Level 4 Travel Advisory this September, still telling citizens the country can not help if they fall victim to a crime.

Unfortunately, Haiti is no stranger to instability.  Royal Caribbean monitors the situation in every place their ships visit closely to ensure ships can visit in a reasonably safe manner.

Adventure of the Seas was the first ship to return to Labadee on October 8, and many other ships have visited since.

Keeping cruise ships out of bad weather

Royal Caribbean monitors adverse weather around the world to keep its passengers, crew members, and ships safe.

Royal Caribbean employs its own meteorologist to assist ship Captains in making changes to itineraries.

Instead of cancelling a cruise, ships can simply sail elsewhere and enjoy better weather and safer conditions.

That could mean something as simple as swapping the order of ports on the itinerary, canceling certain calls altogether or switching the sailing region completely.

With hurricane season winding down (there's just about a month left), the risk of tropical storms will lessen. However, it's not impossible for there to be a hurricane.

Historically, November generates one storm every 1 to 2 years, on average. In the past 10 years, the season's last storm fizzled as soon as Oct. 28 and as late as Dec. 7.

Royal Caribbean is well-known for offering family-focused vacations, but they've taken this to a new level with a special suite.

The Ultimate Family Suite is a one-of-a-kind cabin on Utopia of the Seas that is massive and includes just about everything kids, their parents, and visiting friends could ever want in a room.

Essentially, the design of the suite was centered around coming up with just about everything a family would want in a room, and then added a bunch of other options they've only dreamed of.

This isn't just one of the biggest suites on the ship, it also comes with Star Class benefits, which means it has some of the best perks on the ship.

Ordinarily, a suite this big with this much to do is priced well out of my price range, but because Utopia only sails short 3- and 4-night cruises, the barrier to entry was less than if it was a week-long cruise. Plus, I booked it years ago when Royal Caribbean opened up bookings and I scoured the schedule for an opportune time to book it.

For my family of 4, the price came out to $12,609.08 for the 3-night cruise. I paid for it myself, and neither Royal Caribbean nor a travel agency subsidized or paid for the cabin.

Expensive, yes, but in the grand scheme of this particular suite, it was a reasonable price for an unbelieve room. Plus, I was curious to know if the experience really matched up. Was the cabin all schtick? Or would it be the kind of suite I'd actually want to stay in.

I've stayed in some of Royal Caribbean's biggest cabins in the past, so mega suites aren't new to me. I wasn't sure if this room would live up to the hype, and I was concerned I would be disappointed having paid for a lot of fluff, and not a suite that delivered on a good overall experience.

My suite was located on deck eighteen, which is deck reserved exclusively for suite cabins.

Decks 17 and 18 are part of the suite neighborhood, which includes the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen, an exclusive restaurant for guests staying in a suite (and Pinnacles too).

There's a special entrance to the Ultimate Family Suite as you come out of the elevators.

When I tapped my room key card and opened the door, I walked into the living room and instantly recognized this kind of a room was totally different than what I was used to.

The Ultimate Family Suite has three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a large living room, play room, and a movie room.

It has a loft configuration, which means there are two levels. The master bedroom and kids room are on the upper level.

On the bottom floor is the living room, dining area, play area, and a third bedroom with nearby bathroom.

The living room is larger than many livings room on land, and has a giant sofa and comfy chairs that are perfect for watching television, playing video games, or just chatting with friends. There's a PlayStation and Nintendo Switch that come with the room to use.

There's also an expansive digital table where you can not only have meals, but play a variety of video games.  Kids and adults are quickly drawn to trying a game or two.  My kids spent much more time playing with this table than I expected.

Without a doubt the giant slide is the pièce de résistance of this suite. Everyone is instantly drawn to this feature, and it's undeniably fun to go down (over and over again).

My concern with the slide is it would be a one-and-done thing, but my kids went down it every day dozens of times.  They used the pillows that came with the suite as a mat racer, and they enjoyed riding it over and over again.

And yes, adults can go down the slide too. I was impressed how fast you'll head down on it, and everyone that visited the room wanted a try at it.

Underneath the slide is play area, with a great suspended chair.

At the exit of the slide is the movie room, which is about as big as some inside cabins.

There are no shortage of televisions in this suite, but the movie room has no windows, so you can dim it perfectly for movie watching.  Star Class guests get the pay-per-view movies for free, but you could also stream your favorite flicks to the screen.

The couch is like an overflowing sofa made out of the material from your favorite pillow.  I don't know why there's a television behind the couch.

There's even a microwave where you can heat up your own popcorn.

Near door is a bedroom, which is probably best for grandparents, friends, or even older kids. 

It has a king size bed, vanity area, and a view of the pool deck.

A full bathroom is located next to this bedroom, which also serves as the bathroom visitors would use. 

I was impressed by the double sinks and giant shower, that even has a large bench.

Heading upstairs, you'll walk up piano stairs.  Each step plays a note of a classical music selection. Beethoven's Für Elise was what I heard all weekend. Don't worry, there's a way to turn it off if you prefer (or when going to bed).

The master bedroom is similar to other loft suite master bedroom configurations.

There's a king size bed that faces the windows, so you could wake up to a view of the ocean.  It has nightstands on both sides of the bed, with plenty of power plugs.

There is a sitting area and vanity nearby, along with giant closets behind the bed.

The master bathroom features double sinks and a big shower, with rainforest head and opposing shower heads.

Next door to the master bedroom is the kids room. 

There's a fun door that has a "doggy door" for kids to climb through. I was surprised how much my kids opted to go through the hole rather than open the door.

There are four bunk beds, and each has its own television with headphones.  No fighting over what to watch in this room!

There's a full bathroom attached to this bedroom too.

The entrance to the slide is right off the kids room, and they loved this feature. Being able to slide down rather than take the spiral staircase was their preferred mode of transportation.

Outside the cabin is a sprawling balcony space.

The balcony has three main features, and it faces the ocean.

Staying in this suite means you have your own hot tub to enjoy. It can fit four adults reasonably.  Beyond that, and you'll have to start getting creative with where everyone's legs and feet are going.

There's a dining space outside too, so you can have meals delivered here.

And you'll also find a lucky climber feature, which is really fun for young kids. There's a larger version on the Boardwalk, and I guarantee toddlers will never want to leave it.

An equally compelling feature of this suite is the Royal Genie services, which provides VIP privileges to everyone staying in the cabin.

Speaking of benefits, everyone staying in the Ultimate Family Suite gets complimentary access to Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Obviously this is not a cheap room. It's not affordable or a good value. It's designed to be the epitome of splurges and offer one of the most luxurious and fun rooms you could ever find on Utopia of the Seas.

While the price tag is high, it delivers a wow factor and memory making experience that is unrivaled. 

I was more impressed by how much space there was, and how conducive it was to entertaining friends. There was more than enough space to invite friends to visit, and I never felt like we ran out of space.

Speaking of space, having three bedrooms means you could easily share this cabin with another family and split the cost.  It sleeps up to 8 people, and with so much space, it would comfortably sleep 8 people. We joked the movie room's couch is big enough and comfortable enough to become a makeshift fourth bedroom.

If your family wants a lot of space, absolutely incredible features, the best perks, and are willing to spend a lot for it, then you won't regret booking the Ultimate Family Suite.

Happy (almost) Halloween! I don't have any bad Halloween themed puns to include here, just the latest Royal Caribbean news to catch up on before you hit up the neighborhood for candy.

According to a report, a 66-year-old woman jumped overboard from Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

The incident occurred on Allure of the Seas while the ship was in The Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Bahamas Defense Force conducted a lengthy search for the woman, but she was not found.

Royal Caribbean News

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• What a Royal Caribbean crew member spends her money on in a week
• Royal Caribbean ship stuck in Mexico overnight, delayed return
• The #1 Habit to Break If You Don't Want To Gain Weight On A Cruise
• Unexpected new Royal Caribbean cruises for 2026 with unbelievably unique itineraries
• I listed the 7 must-see attractions on Royal Caribbean's new ship, and the best one makes you think you're on a train
• I Tried Doing Every Activity on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas. It was busy, but I'd absolutely do it again.
• 5 Best and Worst Parts of Working on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, According to a Crew Member

New Video: Ultimate Guide to Freebies on a Royal Caribbean 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 — Ultimate Guide to Freebies on a Royal Caribbean Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 548th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Matt goes over some important cruise etiquette questions. From Main Dining Room planning to speakers, here's what you should know.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

A giant cruise ship will sail deeper into Alaska than ever before on one-way voyages

Royal Caribbean just released its 2026 Alaska deployments, and one surprising change will allow cruisers to see even more of the region.

Instead of a smaller vessel, the huge Ovation of the Seas will be running open-jaw cruises to the region.

In addition to three other Royal Caribbean vessels sailing to Alaska for 2026, Quantum of the Seas will homeport in Vancouver, Canada, for the summer. 

New Broadway musical coming to Star of the Seas

Star of the Seas' Broadway musical will be a surprising classic: Back to the Future.

Royal Caribbean confirmed the rumors on Monday, posting an official announcement on its social media.

"Blast to the past and introduce the entire fam to Marty McFly’s high-flying adventure, as Back to the Future: The Musical travels straight from Broadway to Star of the Seas, coming summer 2025," the announcement read.

Starbucks-Royal Caribbean partnership: How coffee works onboard the cruise ship

How can you get Starbucks coffee onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship?

The Starbucks partnership on the cruise line allows guests another avenue for getting their coffee fix while on vacation.

However, Starbucks coffee comes at an extra charge, and ordering at these cafes is different than on land.

The best Royal Caribbean hacks, according to the cruise line's fans

DIY projects and hacks are a key part of any cruise, as they help passengers save money and maximize their time onboard.

Royal Caribbean International asked its followers on X for their best cruise hacks, and received helpful responses.

From bringing takeout containers to reserving add-ons at the right time, here are the fans' best hacks.

Managing Royal Caribbean International is a huge task for CEO and President Michael Bayley.

The cruise line employs nearly 88,700 people, with 28 cruise ships visiting over 300 locations around the world.

It's a massive endeavor, but that doesn't mean that it's all serious!

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean's President and CEO, also goes by Bada-bing Bayley. 

Bayley has been with the cruise line for over 40 years, and he brings a clear love and cheerfulness to the job.

He shares openly on social media about his love of Royal Caribbean, from crew member profiles to passenger stories.

If that wasn't enough evidence of his fun-loving personality, Bayley also loves self-admitted "bad dad jokes."

Here's a collection of the best ones he's shared all over the Internet—often to unamused listeners.

Why did the pony ask for a glass of water? Because it was a little horse

Bayley hails from the United Kingdom—Cardiff, Wales, to be exact. The small country borders England, with a population of just over three million.

Bayley attended university in English, graduating from the University of Bournemouth with a degree in business.

When he graduated college, he heard from a friend about a cruise line hiring in the United States.

What do you call a group of men waiting in line for a haircut? A barber-que 

In 1981, Bayley took his first-ever plane flight to the United States and began working with Royal Caribbean International.

His career started with a variety of shipboard and shoreside positions as he received an increasing amount of management responsibility.

Now, Bayley holds decades of experience in the hospitality and cruise industry.

My wife said I should do lunges to stay in shape. That would be a big step forward!

Michael Bayley shares the majority of his "bad dad jokes," on social media. He even started a series he's shared on TikTok and Facebook.

Bayley is rare among other CEOs of huge companies, who usually shy away from sharing a fun or intimate side of life.

However, Bayley often shares personal, hilarious videos, showing viewers what it's like to work for the cruise line, images of his travels, and even household fridge tours.

Why did the bicycle fall over? It was too tired

Bayley publicly shares on social media his genuine love for cruising and sharing fun moments with friends and family. 

He currently resides in Miami, Florida, with his wife and two sons.

His username on Instagram and TikTok is captaincruise guy.

Read more: Who is Royal Caribbean Group's new CEO Jason Liberty

I think my phone is broken! I clicked the home button, but I'm still in the office!

Bayley's very first position at Royal Caribbean was as an assistant purser on the Nordic Prince.

The Nordic Prince, launched in 1971, was the second-ever ship built for Royal Caribbean. 

The vessel was just over 550 feet long, and had a passenger capacity of 741 guests—a far cry from the mega-ships of today!

Read more: Royal Caribbean CEO explains why mega cruise ships are so popular 15 years after their inception

I went to the store to get a dozen bees, but I got thirteen. The guy said, don't worry, that's a free bee

The Nordic Prince sailed mostly in the Caribbean, and Bayley's job onboard was to assist with front desk administration, dealing with details like immigration, customs, crew travel, embarkation, and emergency muster lists.

He speaks fondly of the time he spent in this position. 

According to Bayley, he dealt with lots of crew and passengers at the front desk. 

He especially loved the sirloin steak and french fries served on Saturday night dinner.

What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? Sofish-ticated!

Bayley's online dad jokes series often features guest stars at various cruising events. 

From new ship launches to President's Day cruises, Royal Caribbean's CEO doesn't miss a chance to make new jokes.

He shared this joke with Boy George of Culture Club when they performed at the 2024 President's Cruise on Oasis of the Seas.

Boy George barely cracked a smile at some of Bayley's corny jokes, but he kept laughing.

I am very afraid of a calendar. Its days are numbered

This particular dad joke was shared to TikTok, featuring Philip Smith, former head of the Bahamas Feeding Network.

The cruise line's commitment to the charity began in 2019, and it continues to donate money and food to the organization.

As of 2023, Royal Caribbean had donated over $500,000 to the Bahamas Feeding Network.

What did the chicken say when it saw lettuce? Chicken caesar salad

In addition to being a CEO and comedian, Michael Bayley is a big foodie. He enjoys the abundance of food available on Royal Caribbean ships. 

Bayley has tried his hand at being a Teppanyaki chef in Izumi Hibachi, and he can often be seen posting Royal Caribbean dining polls on his Facebook page.

His favorite restaurants span all over the world, from Sao Paulo to Hong Kong. 

According to his son, Bayley's best-cooked dish is enchiladas.

How does a French skeleton say hello? Bone-jour!

Michael Bayley was named President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International in December 2014.

Prior to that, he actually worked for the line's sister company, Celebrity Cruises. There, he delivered strong results and built up the company's "Modern Luxury" brand.

In his prior role as Royal Caribbean International's Executive Vice President, Bayley was responsible for developing three of the company's cruise lines to an international business scale: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. 

After working in that position for four years, he established 11 regional offices around the world, which now generate more than 50 percent of the corporation’s total revenue.

Now, he is the longtime CEO of the world's largest cruise brand—but he can always make time to crack a few jokes.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas was stuck in Progreso, Mexico, overnight due to technical issues. As a result, the ship's return to New Orleans, Louisiana, has been delayed. 

User cgbdpm shared the news to a Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum on Oct. 24, saying, "Currently on [Brilliance] of the seas in Progresso, Mexico. We should have left port 2 hours ago and captain said engineers said we should be underway hopefully soon. Sounds like engine issues."

CruiseGus later commented that the ship was just sitting in port with the casino closed. "Big revenue lost," they added. Not only that, but they mentioned that the bars were "slammed."

The issues come at the end of a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans, Louisiana. Progreso was the last port of call, following Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Cayman. 

As of 11:00am EST on Friday, October 25, the vessel's location has moved, indicating the ship has successfully departed Mexico. 

"We are moving.. I will update when they give us an arrival time for New Orleans," commented cgbdpm on the discussion forum. 

Brilliance of the Seas, a 90,090 gross registered ton ship launched in 2002, is due back in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 26. However, Brilliance was supposed to have a full day at sea en route back to Louisiana. Now, the ship is expected to arrive in NOLA around 5:00pm, delaying the next cruise's departure. 

The Radiance Class vessel is scheduled to depart on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Progreso on the 26th. However, Royal Caribbean emailed impacted guests informing them of a delayed embarkation process. 

"We’re excited to welcome you onboard Brilliance of the Seas for our October 26, 2024, sailing! Before you head to the terminal, we have an important update to share with you," the email reads.

"To ensure a smooth boarding process, all guests should plan on arriving at your new arrival time as listed below. All guests must be checked in and onboard by 11:00 PM and we'll now set sail at 11:30 PM.  Additionally, arriving earlier than your adjusted time will result in being turned away until your new check-in time. Please arrive no later than 10:30 PM."

Moreover, the email states that while no ports of call have been canceled, the times will differ because of the delayed departure. Additionally, Monday will be a sea day, with Cozumel's stop being moved to Wednesday. 

Brilliance will be docked in Grand Cayman from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Tuesday, Oct. 29, Cozumel from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Wednesday, and Progreso from 9am to 6:00pm on Thursday. Then, the ship will have one day at sea before returning to NOLA on Saturday, Nov. 2. 

As compensation, Royal Caribbean is providing guests with a refund of one day's cruise fare as onboard credit, as well as a pro-rated refund for prepaid daily packages and gratuities. Any unused credits will be refunded to the card on file up to 14 business days from disembarkation.  

Issues earlier this year

During her stint in Australia and the South Pacific, Royal Caribbean canceled a 5-night cruise onboard Brilliance of the Seas due to unexpected technical issues.

The previous 11-night sailing was also impacted, with the ship canceling its scheduled stops in New Caledonia, Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Luganville. Instead, the vessel returned to Sydney, Australia, 4 nights earlier than anticipated. 

Moreover, the April 4, 2024, cruise's departure date was pushed back to April 7. 

Brilliance of the Seas isn't the first Radiance Class ship to struggle with technical problems

Last September, Radiance of the Seas canceled two Alaska cruises because of unplanned technical problems with the ship's propulsion system. 

Passengers on the Sept. 1 sailing were informed on embarkation day that their cruise was canceled. As guests had already boarded the ship, Royal Caribbean let them stay onboard for two nights to give them time to adjust their travel plans. The Sept. 7 cruise was canceled as well. 

The issues continued into 2024, with Royal Caribbean altering a 4-night open-jaw sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Though passengers disembarked on April 26 as scheduled, all stops along the way were canceled, and Radiance arrived in Canada at around 9:00pm on April 25, spending the night in port. 

Subsequently, the April 26 cruise was canceled, too. Passengers found out after they had boarded the ship. Guests boarded as planned after being informed that their departure would be delayed by two days to allow ample time to fix the issue. 

However, around mid-day on Sunday, an announcement was made informing passengers that their cruise would have to be canceled to fix the ongoing technical problem.