Royal Caribbean Blog

Repairs to a broken pier in Puerto Rico's biggest cruise port might finally be complete soon.

Royal Caribbean's biggest ships have been unable to dock in San Juan San Juan, Puerto Rico for months because of an issue with the pier.

Namely, the line's Oasis Class ships have been left without the ability to safely dock there, and as a result, have skipped visits to Puerto Rico and instead gone to other ports of call.

But a new timeline posted by local media indicates repairs could be ready very soon.

El Vocero reports the Coast Guard is revieing the work on the repairs, and it could be ready later this month.

The San Juan Cruise Port said they are working on reopening Pier 3 West, which is the pier that's prevented big ships from visiting.

"According to a statement, the process of reopening Pier 3 West includes collaboration with multiple regulatory agencies to ensure compliance, safety and operational readiness. A team of engineers has completed all necessary structural assessments of the pier and these have been submitted to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for review."

Port authorities are reportedly “moving forward” with a project designed to meet the requirements to accommodate Oasis-class vessels at Pier 3 West.

If all goes to plan, mega ships will be able to return by January 20, "All regulatory and operational conditions are expected to be met by January 20, 2025, allowing the arrival of the larger cruise ships for the remainder of the season."

Royal Caribbean has not commented or announced any expectations yet related to the pier's status.

What happened to the pier

While San Juan has a few piers, only Pier 3 West can handle Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

Based on reports, damage to the pier that can handle the biggest ships took place in April 2024 when allegedly it was broken after the MSC Meraviglia was involved, however, specific details are not known.

The loss of a dolphin mooring structure just off the main pier is the primary issue, and the Coast Guard is working on it.

A dolphin is a group of pilings arrayed together to serve variously as a protective hardpoint along a dock.

Repairs and assessment are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, as it's work managed by port authorities and subject to approval by the Coast Guard.

Missed port stops have created controversy

Royal Caribbean's biggest cruise ships haven't been able to go to Puerto Rico since November 2024, and it's stirred up a lot of emotions.

Missed port stops can happen for all sorts of reasons, but some cruisers took exception to the San Juan cancellations because they were always done at the last minute, resulting in an itinerary change.

Moreover, the changes were announced well after the final payment date, which meant cancelling or changing sail dates would result in major penalties. This lead some to be frustrated with the circumstances.

"A total disappointment," wrote Clif809 on the Royal Caribbean message boards.

"I’m disappointed also and feeling betrayed," is what MamaShark added when she learned the pier issues have existed since April 2024.

"I reached out to Royal several times before making my final payment and again this week and was assured there would be no change in our itinerary. Receiving an email with itinerary changes today for our 12/29 sailing is unacceptable."

Complicating matters has been Royal Caribbean has diverted Symphony in all cases away from Puerto Rico and St. Maarten and replaced it with visits to its private beach in Haiti and Falmouth, Jamaica.

Haiti is well-known for dealing with major civil strife and safety concerns that have resulted in the worst travel advisory offered by the United States State Department, Level 4 "Do Not Travel".

To be fair, Labadee is in a remote area of Haiti and is walled off from the country on an isolated peninsula.  Furthermore, visits to Labadee have been regularly occurring for months without incident.

Labadee is not near any urban centers, and Royal Caribbean has been monitoring the situation in the area carefully.

Captain Johnny Faevelen announced his retirement from Royal Caribbean International. 

He began his career with the cruise giant in 1975 as an Ordinary Sailor, Abalbody Seaman, and Quarter Master, according to Faevelen's LinkedIn profile. 

Since then, he's worked as a Captain on ships ranging from one of the first modern purpose-built cruise ships, Nordic Prince, to Monarch of the Seas; Voyager of the Seas; Allure of the Seas; Harmony of the Seas; and Symphony of the Seas, just to name a few.  

"50 years has [passed], and it’s time to say [goodbye] to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. 😢 It is with mixed feelings I have handed in my resignation," reads Captain Faevelen's Facebook post. 

"I have been in the thinking box for the last months, 😵‍💫 and come to the conclusion that after 50 amazing years working for such a fantastic company, it’s time to start a new career;🏆 As of January 26.2025 I will start...a new 'job'."

He plans on being "100%" present with his family, including his wife Sissel, two children Erlend and Eirin, and four—soon to be five—grandchildren ranging in ages from newborn to 10 years old. 

"I have met and worked with so...many wonderful people in my career, no one mentioned - no one forgotten. You know who you are 💞 Thank you all for [having] been a part of my life for 50 years. 🥳," he adds. 

He began working with the company in 1975 when he was just 20 years old

Captain Faevelen joined the Song of Norway as an Ordinary Seaman. 

The Song of Norway was the first cruise ship built for Royal Caribbean International and launched in 1970. She initially had a gross registered tonnage of around 18,000. 

However, the demand for cruising was so high that Royal Caribbean lengthened the vessel in 1978, increasing her GRT to 23,000.

Time as a 2nd Officer

Eventually, Captain Faevelen had to stray from the Royal Caribbean brand to gain experience to be considered for further promotion. 

"[This] is me doing celestial navigation...when I was a 2nd. Officer for the first time onboard Skauboard," he explains.

Royal Caribbean didn't have 2nd Officers, so Captain Faevelen sailed on cargo ships to gain the necessary experience and qualifications. 

The work paid off because he became a Captain in 1994

It took the accomplished sailor nearly 20 years to finally be promoted to Captain. 

His first contract was aboard the Nordic Prince in 1994. He didn't just cruise to the Caribbean; he was tasked with sailing through Alaska's icy waters. 

Ending as Captain of one of the world's largest cruise ships

Captain Faevelen's LinkedIn reveals that he's been the Master of Oasis Class ships since 2010 when he became Allure of the Seas' Captain. Since then, he's also been the Captain of Harmony and Symphony of the Seas. 

He's ending his 50-year stint as Symphony of the Seas' Captain. Symphony is currently the 4th largest cruise ship in the world behind Icon, Utopia, and Wonder of the Seas. 

Read more: Take a look inside a cruise ship captain's living quarters

Known for his flamboyant style

Captain Faevelen wasn't your average cruise ship Captain. 

While he is passionate about the sea and the well-being of passengers and crew members, he's also a motorcycle enthusiast and proud Parrot owner. 

Not only that but, as a Captain, he had the privilege of giving away and marrying his daughter on a cruise ship. 

Unfortunately, Captain Faevelen was diagnosed with Melanoma and shared tidbits of his journey on social media. 

"Back again at Kristiansand Cancer Center for my 5th. of 12 Immune Therapy treatments, to prevent further development of melanoma cancer. All good and...I’m in the best hands🥰 ," he wrote on X.

However, at the beginning of 2024, he optimistically shared that he finished his last immune therapy to prevent the cancer cells from returning: "A full PET scan remains, and then I'm ready for whatever 2024 brings!" 

Fond farewell

Sometimes, the crew is just as important as the ship, and it's safe to say that Captain Faevelen was one of the most popular Captains sailing for Royal Caribbean. 

"Best Captain ever on the high seas , you will surely be missed , good luck and enjoy the future with your family 🥰," commented Tracey Ann Lemon on Faevelen's Facebook post. 

Ken Muskat added, "Congratulations to you Captain Johnny. What an incredible career and it was a pleasure getting to know you from my time at Royal. Wishing you the best in your role as 100% family man!"

I was surprised how much money you can save on a Royal Caribbean internet package with one change.

No matter which mainstream cruise line you sail on, you're going to have to pay for a WiFi package if you want to use the internet.

While prices for an internet package are cheaper today than they used to be, it's still an expense. Especially if you want to get everyone in your family access too.

You can save money by taking advantage of a loophole in Royal Caribbean's pricing and opting to buy a multi-device plan, rather than a plan for everyone individually.

When you go to Royal Caribbean's app or website to buy WiFi packages for your cruise, you're given the choice of buying a one device plan, or a multi-device plan.

The multi-device plan is probably intended to be for a person to be able to use more than one device at at a time, but there's no restrictions or rules to say someone else couldn't use your internet plan too.

While prices for an internet package will vary by ship, sail date, and which promotion is active, I found this hack almost always is cheaper.

Royal Caribbean incentives guests to pay for more devices by discounting the per-device fee with the more devices you add.

So instead of buying everyone a one device plan, share a multi-device plan with your family.

Here's a breakdown of the cost difference for a 7-night cruise:

• 1 device package: $167.93
• 2 device package: $272.93 ($105 more)
• 3 device package: $398.93 ($126 more)
• 4 device package: $517.93 ($119 more)

If we bought 4 one-device packages, it would cost $671.72. 

Rather than paying $167.93 for each person, you're paying less and less with each additional device that you add to a multi-device plan.

The catch with sharing an internet package

There's no question sharing a multi-device internet package will save money, but there's one downside to it.

Everyone will share the same login credentials, and it's easy to accidently disconnect someone else who's already signed in.

When you buy a multi-device package, it allows that many devices as you purchased to be logged in concurrently. 

That means if you have the 3 device package, after 3 devices are logged in, when a fourth device attempts to login, it will disconnect the first device.  

It's not necessarily a big deal, nor a reason not to buy it, but you should be aware of how it works. Additionally, you should have a way to contact the people with access to let them know when this happens to prevent a round-robin series of everyone disconnecting each other.

Keep in mind that you can have as many different devices use your internet package during your cruise, but only a fixed number at once.  You can switch from one device to another device, such as disconnecting from your phone to use your laptop and vice versa.

More Royal Caribbean wifi tips

Now that you're saving money with this internet package hack, here's a few more tips you should know about Royal Caribbean's internet.

Every Royal Caribbean ship uses Starlink internet, which means it's true high speed access at sea.  For many years it was substantially slower, but now it does work pretty darn well.

This means you can use a VPN to conduct work, stream a movie, or make a video call with friends or family. The internet works well enough to support this. It is satellite internet, so intermittent slow downs or pauses in service do happen, but they are rare.

If you buy an internet package, you can use it at Royal Caribbean's private destination of Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas with no additional cost.

Internet access will work while your ship is in Labadee, but there's no WiFi access around the private destination.

Whether you buy an internet package or not, always put your phone into airplane mode at the start of your cruise to avoid costly bills later.

Just recently one passenger didn't do this and ran into a surprise $1,300 bill because of roaming charges.

While in airplane mode, you can still make and receive phone calls and text messages by enabling the WiFi calling feature on your phone.  It's free to do so, and you can set it up and test WiFi calling while at home.

And yes, you can use the Royal Caribbean app without purchasing an internet package at all.

When you get on the ship, there will be an option after connecting the WiFi network if you want to use an internet package or just access the app.

Choose the app, and then your app will work during your cruise.

One person just reached his 1,000th cruise with Royal Caribbean, something that seems impossible to most travelers.

Mario Salcedo is sailing on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas this week and it's an important milestone for the cruise line's biggest fan.

Known by the moniker, "Super Mario", Mr. Salcedo celebrated 1,000 cruises total, and all with Royal Caribbean.

Salcedo hit the 1000 cruise milestone while aboard the 3,286 passenger Explorer of the Seas. The ship departed Miami on January 5 on an 11-night voyage to Panama and the Southern Caribbean.

Super Mario began cruising with an 8-night Western Caribbean cruise on Majesty of the Seas on December 31, 1994. Majesty is no longer in the fleet and has been destroyed, that's how old long he's been cruising.

It's an incredible milestone, but he's been setting and breaking his own records for the most everything with Royal Caribbean for quite a while.

A special event was held on the ship's Royal Promenade to celebrate the occasion with Super Mario himself, along with the ship's senior staff.

"Join us in celebrating the extraordinary milestone of Super Mario completing his 1000th sailing with Royal Caribbean," the announcement said in the ship's daily newspaper.

"He has become a beloved member of our cruising family and Pinnacle Club member in our Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program. He has completed the most cruises on Liberty of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and this sailing marks his 54th cruise on Explorer of the Seas."

As you probably guessed, he reached and maxed out Royal Caribbean's upper most loyalty level a long time ago.

Pinnacle Club is when you get to 700 points, which would take you 100 seven-night cruises to reach if you stayed in a cabin less than a suite and never sailed alone.

Pinnacles get free internet packages for duration of every sailing, lapel pins, priority embarkation with the suite guests, and daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant.

After every 350 points earned, Pinnacle Club members get a free cruise certificate good for a Junior Suite cabin.

A cruising legend

If you cruise long enough with Royal Caribbean, you'll probably hear someone talk about Super Mario because of how incredible his achievements are within the line.

He practically lives on cruise ships year-round. Most years, he only spends a few days on land.  The rest of the year he's on a ship.

According to Royal Caribbean, he spends about 50 weeks a year on the line's ships.

The only time in the past 20 years he hasn't cruised most of the year was during the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021.

In 2022, he hit the 10,000 point milestone with the line's customer loyalty program.

To put this in perspective, Crown & Anchor Society members earn one point for each night spent on a Royal Caribbean cruise, with an extra point per night awarded for staying in a suite or cruising solo in a double-occupancy cabin.

It took Super Mario 870 cruises to reach that number.  But since August 2022, he's taken another 130 cruises in just 29 months.

His favorite itineraries are to the Caribbean, and his favorite stop is the cruise line's private destination in Labadee, Haiti.

How Mario became Super Mario

Mr. Salcedo became Royal Caribbean's top cruiser years ago, but he only got started in 2000.

His family moved from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s to start a new life in pursuit of freedom and opportunity.

"We are eternally grateful to this country for having welcomed us with open arms," he said about moving to the United States.

He began cruising 20 years ago back when he was 47-years-old and doesn’t seem to have any regrets.

Read more: Life at sea - An interview with Royal Caribbean's top cruiser, Super Mario

In 1997, Mr. Salcedo opened a small business managing investments for clients in 1997. That same year he took his first cruise and fell in love with the experience and began sampling different lines, regions, and itineraries.

Since then, cruising has become a way of life.

Since his first Royal Caribbean cruise in 2000, Mario has sailed exclusively on Royal Caribbean International ships around the world -- that’s 25 years and counting!

In an interview with All Things Cruise in 2021, he said: "I’m so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."

"For 23 years. Always on Royal Caribbean...Cruising never gets old."

He said in 2019 he paid about $72,093 a year if he stayed in an inside cabin. 

That number went up to $101,258 for a cabin with a balcony.

Super Mario told told Condé Nast Traveler: "I’ve lost my land legs, so when I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line. I’m so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."

How long will we cruise? As long as he can.

"With so many friends and memories made out at sea over the years, I plan to continue cruising indefinitely so long as I’m in good health and having fun."

Mario's favorite cruise memory

Mr. Salcedo shared recently the answer to what is his most memorable cruise memory.

“Without a doubt, the ‘hurricane evacuation’ cruise onboard Enchantment of the Seas in September 2017.

Hurricane Irma was headed towards South Florida packing maximum winds of 150 mph. Evacuation orders were issued, but there were no flights, car rentals, or hotel rooms. Bottled water and essential items ran out quickly and even gasoline was scarce. Miami’s residents were essentially trapped.

A famous CEO came up with the brilliant idea to offer Enchantment of the Seas to the Miami-based shoreside employees and their immediate families as a means of quick, safe, and free evacuation.

I believe the ship carried nearly 3,000 employees and families as she sailed out of Miami and out of harm's way for a 4-day cruise to nowhere. I may have been the only real guest onboard.  

That sailing gave me the unique opportunity to meet, chat, and socialize with many shoreside employees. It was a new and truly unforgettable experience.

I love the onboard crew, but this unplanned encounter with the shoreside employee population was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.”

Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.

When you finally get into your cruise ship cabin, there's a list of 15 things I'd recommend doing immediately.

Some of the things on the list are about preventing problems later, while others are what you can do to get into "cruise mode" faster.

No matter which type of stateroom you book, it's a good idea to get it situated on the first day so there's less to do later and you can fully enjoy your vacation!

Royal Caribbean News

• Legionnaires' later diagnosed with 2 separate cruise ship passengers after getting home
• Royal Caribbean will change cruise ships based from Los Angeles
• Royal Caribbean drops onboard credit offer for long cruises booked during a sailing
• Utopia of the Seas cruise ship review
• Wonder of the Seas cruise ship review
• Royal Caribbean just added 3 new drink specials to a cruise ship and it looks like a great deal
• Royal Caribbean moved its Italian restaurant on two ships. One was a controversial, but the other has a beautiful setting
• I let my kids roam now on their own on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but I added these 6 rules
• 10 Reasons people end up disappointed with their cruise vacation
• Can you bring water on a cruise? Royal Caribbean rules you need to know
• I tried 8 cruise tips that didn't work as well as I hoped once on the ship

New RCB Video: 5 Things I'll do differently on Royal Caribbean in 2025

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 — 5 Things I'll do differently on Royal Caribbean in 2025 — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

25 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise

Ready to start 2025 with the right approach to cruising?

Before you head out to your ship, we have a list of 25 things you should and shouldn't do for your cruise.

From pre-cruise planning to mistakes to avoid on the ship, it's a great list of faux pas and recommendations anyone can take advantage of.

How I find cheap cruises for as little as around $100 a day

It's more difficult than ever to find cheap cruise deals, but they exist.  Assuming you look in the right places.

Sky-high demand for cruise bookings have evaporated many of the deals that used be commonplace, but if you're very flexible and know where to look, there are still good prices out there.

If you want to find a cruise deal, you'll need to be savvy. 

These are 6 of the most overrated tourist attractions I've ever seen

I hate tourist traps because of that feeling that I've wasted my time and money on something truly uninspiring.

There's some debate as to what constitutes a true tourist trap, but in my cruises, I've run across at least 6 places that I knew were overrated wastes of time.

Not everyone will agree, but I feel strongly there are certain places you can visit on a cruise ship that should be skipped.

Cruise purchases vacationers instantly regretted

Have you ever bought something and knew immediately it was a mistake? A lot of cruisers have had the same feeling of remorse related to what they bought on a cruise.

Everyone's tastes are different, but hundreds of past cruise ship passengers shared recently what they bought on a cruise and wish they hadn't. 

Some of the things are commonly cited gripes, while others were a bit of a surprise.

No one wants to waste money, but there are certain purchases vacationers have made on cruise ships and regretted it.

A Royal Caribbean cruise offers a lot of choice in how you vacation, including a number of extra cost options.  It's your choice if you want to buy them, but some left some cruisers not loving their decision.

"Spa services. Staff will make you feel badly about yourself as they push products and additional services," is what one user on Reddit posted after being asked which Royal Caribbean purchase they instantly or later on thought probably didn't think was the best buy.

"Don’t waste your money."

Any purchase made is going to be subjective, but it's interesting to see if there are any patterns to what's deemed a poor choice.

Over 400 comments were made on the Reddit thread sharing everyone's cruise buying regrets, and here are the most popular answers.

Spa services

A relaxing or therapeutic spa service on a cruise ship topped the list of things past cruisers regretted spending their money on while cruising.

Over 20 people cited the spa as being a bad buy.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a spa onboard where you can elect to purchase various treatments. There's also a salon for getting your hair or nails done.

Most of the comments were not complaining about a massage treatment, but rather, centered around the hard sells staff would make with it.

"Staff will make you feel badly about yourself as they push products and additional services. Don’t waste your money," is what Cartographer-Happy wrote.

Jane_Marie_CA wrote, "The cost of services are similar in price to the nice hotel day spa close to the my house. And the pushy sales pitch on board is awful."

"The spa service just didn't deliver on anything they promised, and I had major buyers remorse after seeing the prices," added Background-Cat4269.

One trick I've learned when going to spa is to simply inform the masseuse or stylist at the very start that you're happy to be there, but not interested in buying any products.  

The sales pitches usually occur at the end of the treatment, but a comment in the beginning before it begins usually works well.

Bingo

A number of cruises lamented paying for bingo, as it wasn't what they expected.

There's usually a few different bingo sessions on all ships, with some of the prizes a progressive jackpot.  

In most cases, guests have the choice of purchasing a number of bingo cards to play simultaneously or even a self-playing bingo machine.

"50 bucks entry, something like 200 entrants, for a 600 dollar prize," wrote Candelphins1897.

Mean_Breadfruit_1978 added, "it wasn't regular bingo and I probably shouldn't have done that. It was over really fast too."

" I could have had more fun that hour sitting by the pool and saved $70. Damn do they make a killing on bingo," wrote gnumadic.

Jamie's Italian restaurant

Perhaps the one surprise on this list for me were the amount of people that did not enjoy their meal at Jamie's Italian.

On some ships, Royal Caribbean has Jamie's Italian instead of their in-house Italian restaurant.  It's a partnership that was born out of the launch of the Quantum Class in 2014, and it spread to a few ships before the cruise line decided to invest in revamping its own restaurant.

"Jamies has been hit or miss for me. Prefer Giovanni's for sure though," User_Name_Tooken wrote.

"Gotta agree with Jamie’s. Our last time we only went once and we had the [Unlimited Dining Plan]," imarebelpilot said.

Other specialty restaurants were named across the 400 comments in this thread, but Jamie's seemed to have the most contempt.  

Art auctions

Many people complained they thought the art auctions were a waste of time.

You'll find an art auction held during your Royal Caribbean cruise, which is operated by a company named Park West.  

It seems the issue a lot of people had was the so-called value of buying this art that's put on by the auctioneers.

OnlyAbbreviations226 shared the regret at spending the money on it all, "we spent so much money we didn't know any better. I have pieces all over the house and some in the closet."

"They are pretty and look nice. But as other people have said could have gotten same on line for a lot less money."

"Park west artwork. Only buy it if you like it, not because you think it’s worth anything. It’s mostly all worthless," Recommended No_Eye1022.

One of the top reasons to attend the art auction is the free champagne, as well as the spectacle that is bidding in a live auction.  

Gold chains by the inch

Another surprise were the amount of people that felt they wasted money on the gold chains you can buy on ships by the inch.

Usually there's a table set up on the Royal Promenade or near the Windjammer where you can buy gold chains at whatever length you prefer.

The issue seems to be the chains weren't a bad price, but would break later, usually where the crew member cut it off.

"I got a silver one and it broke," one person wrote. Another replied, " Mine broke right where they cut it  and I am sure I can get pliers and fix it. But so annoying."

Watches

Speaking of jewelry, another bad buy cited by cruisers were watches.

You can find cheap watches, as well as expensive name brand ones, for sale in the shops on a cruise ship.

PrettyLaLa87 wrote, "My husband bought a stupid Invicta watch. I told him not to." 

That comment set off a lot of responses about how the price onboard can vary greatly from what you'd find on land.

When it comes to anything you buy on a ship, ignore any claims of how good a bargain that are made.  Look at it purely as something you'd like to own because it looks nice.

If you are truly looking for a good value in your buy, my advice is to check the price of the item online to price shop and compare.

Drinks

Lastly, some cruisers thought many of the drinks they bought were a bad idea in retrospect.

Some had issues with specific drinks, while others felt they wasted their money on a drink package.

• "This weird S'mores drink I had on Jewel back in February. Took days to get rid of the aftertaste."
• "The drink package. I always get caught up thinking what if I do need it and I never drink enough to even break even on the cost."
• "The beverage package. I didn’t drink enough fresh squeezed juices or Coke or specialty coffees to make it worthwhile."

A beverage package isn't a flat out good value for everyone. You need to know your drinking preferences in order to gauge if it's a good buy.

Generally speaking, you need to drink at least 5-6 drinks every day to "break even" on the cost of the package. Otherwise, you are probably better off financially paying for each drink individually.

Nonetheless, a lot of cruisers elect to buy a beverage package for the convenience factor. There's less remorse about "wasting a drink" if you try something new, as well as the speed of getting a drink since there's no receipts to sign.

Royal Caribbean is never one to shy away from trying something new, and it radically changed locations of its signature Italian restaurant on its two newest ships with mixed results.

There's been an Italian specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships for decades, but the cruise line has tinkered with ways to improve it.

Over the years we've seen the evolution of an extra cost Italian restaurant move from Portofino's to Giovanni's Italian Table to the most recent version, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen.

I've dined at all of the versions and always made a point to eat at Giovanni's on all of their newest ships.  Italian food is not only an incredibly popular cuisine, it's always satisfying and I really like the menu changes Royal Caribbean's Food & Beverage team have made in recent years to improve the menu with new additions.

We thought we knew what to expect with Giovanni's until Royal Caribbean's two newest cruise ships launched and experimented with Giovanni's in new areas of the ship.

The changes have brought improvements and also some questions as a result.

A bold placement on Icon

I think it's safe to say the decision to put Giovanni's Italian Kitchen on the Royal Promenade of Icon of the Seas opened a few eyes.

Traditionally, specialty restaurants have rarely been put on the the main thoroughfare of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship because of all the noise and activity.  

The Promenade is where you'll find lots of activities, parades, and parties.

Icon of the Seas is a brand new kind of cruise ship, and it features two levels for the first time.  As a result, Giovanni's was put on the second level of the Promenade.

There's a bit of a "chicken and the egg" situation here, as it's not clear was Giovanni's moved to the Promenade first and Izumi took over its traditional home in Central Park? Or did Izumi get preferential placement in Central Park and Giovanni's needed a new home?

Regardless, putting Giovanni's on the busy promenade is an interesting choice for two reasons.

First, is the noise factor given there's a lot of ambient noise on the Royal Promenade even when there isn't a part or event.

To be fair, I don't think restaurants have to like a library in terms of sound. You're on a cruise ship vacation, not a tiny cafe tucked in a side street of Naples.

Nonetheless, it's a bit louder in this location. The question is do casual cruisers or people that have never cruised before even noticed?

Royal Caribbean is curious of that answer too, because they've been surveying its passengers to determine if the location on the Royal Promenade is a good idea or not.

The second notable difference is the placement of the wine bar, which is essentially an island in the middle of the walkway.

Located on the opposite side of the walkway from the restaurant is a circular bar that serves as the wine bar for the restaurant.

There's also seating that faces the Royal Promenade, which might be the best people watching spot you'll ever find on a cruise ship.

When you sit down for a drink next to Don & Judy at the wine bar here, you're likely to quickly pick up on all the other passengers walking past you.

Just like the restaurant, the wine bar is far from quiet.  But one major benefit of this wine bar placement is you can easily find it.

On Royal Caribbean ships that have the wine bar in Central Park, it's easily overlooked and often completely empty because I believe people are unaware it exists.

The choice of Giovanni's Italian Kitchen on the Royal Promenade makes for a very convenient place.  You can't miss it, and when inspiring conversation runs out, you have the people watching element.

An incredible view on Utopia

Royal Caribbean once again moved Giovanni's to a new home on its newest ship, Utopia of the Seas.

You'll find Giovanni's on Deck 12 in a spot that had been where Wonderland was located on other Oasis Class ships.

While the cruise line wont ever admit it, I think this decision was equally because they thought it was a good idea and because Wonderland just isn't as popular.

Regardless of the impetus, the result is my favorite Giovanni's view of all time.

The restaurant is set across two decks, with a grand staircase down to the seating area.

There's no doubt when you walk in that the giant glass window with a view towards the back of the ship and the Boardwalk will capture your attention.

It's a beautiful vista, and such a pretty view to enjoy with your meal.

Every table in the restaurant can see out to the window, and thought the Product team really got it right with this location and view.

What's even more interesting is they built an outdoor patio on the other side of the window to be able to dine al fresco.

Admittedly, most months of the year in the Caribbean, you can't pay me to eat outside because it's just too hot and humid, but I have a major aversion to being hot.

For winter sailings, it would seem to be the perfect spot to enjoy a meal with the sun setting at dinner.

Not everything is perfect with this Giovanni's location, however, as I've noticed a few oddities about its placement.

First, there are a few Boardwalk balcony cabins that feel like they are inches away from the outdoor seating area. 

I'm not sure who it's more awkward for if there was someone seated at a table near the balcony while someone is on their balcony, but I wouldn't want to experience it.

The other issue is that there's no elevator or door out from the tables on the lower level.  So you need to go up the stairs and out the restaurant to get to the bathroom.

Still, I love the choice to put Giovanni's in this location on Utopia. I think it truly enhances the vibe of the restaurant and 

Your cruise ship cabin is your "home away from home", but there are a few important housekeeping tasks you should do to make ensure a great sailing.

Because you're going to be living in your stateroom for a week or more, I think it's important to take care of a few potential issues up front. Moreover, you'll get it out of the way quicker so you can enjoy your time on the ship.

While cruise cabins come in different categories, sizes, and prices, there are a core set of steps I do on every cruise I take, regardless of the room I'm in.

I think knocking them out quickly on embarkation day as soon as I walk in is the best approach, and that way I get to relaxing quicker.

Here's my list of 15 things everyone should do when they get to their cabin on a cruise.

Adjust Thermostat

If I'm being honest, the first thing I do after I open the door to my cabin is check the room's thermostat setting.

You have control in your room to set the air conditioning or heat level. On newer Royal Caribbean ships, you can pick the actual temperature, whereas older ships have a slider.

In warmer months, I find it critical to set the thermostat to the coldest temperature simply because anything less and the room feels too hot.  This is especially true if you have a balcony room where the sun radiating in heats the cabin more quickly than an inside room.

It's not uncommon for the room to be too hot or too cold when you get in, so I adjust it when I walk in. Making it as cold as possible is my secret to sleeping better on a cruise ship.

Inspect the Cabin

I think you'll naturally do this, but scan the room visually to ensure it's what you're expecting.

You'll want to identify any cleanliness or maintenance issues early. Royal Caribbean has a team of maintenance workers that live on the cruise ship. They can be dispatched to deal with issues, large or small.

To be fair, there's a good chance everything will work as you expect, but it's good to take a good "once over" to look through and verify it's all functional and clean.

If there are any issues, pick up the stateroom phone and dial the Maintenance or Housekeeping extension.  Your phone should have a dedicated quick dial button for it.

Unpack Essentials

Unpacking may seem trivial, but I find unpacking a necessary evil so that I'm not living out of a suitcase for the duration of my cruise.

While I have lived out of my suitcase, when I take the time to unpack, I feel far more liberated from clutter in the room.  Plus, it's always so much easier to find my stuff if I actually put it away.

There are drawers, closets, and hangers in your room and you can use all of them. I think you'll be impressed by how much storage space there is on Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships.

One tip is to try to keep your clothes away from the life jackets that are probably in your closet.  The life jackets have a tendency to smell a little bit, and that odor could get onto nearby clothes.

Hang Formal Wear

Speaking of unpacking, you'll want to use the hangers in the closet to get your formal clothes out from the suitcase.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise has at least one formal night, although these days the cruise line calls it "Dress Your Best".  It's the same difference, really.

Plus, there are other themed nights, like Red night, White Night, or Caribbean night. If you brought special clothing for these evenings, you'll want to get it unfolded to reduce creases.

There are usually more than enough hangers in your closet, but ask your room attendant if you need more.

"How do I know what the themed nights will be on my cruise?"

Royal Caribbean doesn't communicate theme nights in advance for some reason, but one easy way to figure out the themed nights is to refer to a past Cruise Compass.

Also, the Royal Caribbean app will eventually update a few days before your cruise begins with the information, but if you want to buy something fun, a Cruise Compass will get you more time to work with.

Store your luggage under your bed

There's just enough space under your bed to fit most luggage, and it's my favorite cruise tip for reducing clutter.

Unless you have more luggage than our message board moderator Lovetocruise2002, you should be able to fit them under the bed.  Stacking luggage inside each other works for most people.

You could alternatively put your luggage in the closet, but under the bed is out of sight. And that's probably the least utilized amount of space in your cabin.

Decorate Your Door

Did you know a lot of cruisers bring decorations with them for their cabin door to celebrate that they're on vacation?

You'll need to plan ahead to do this, but you can bring signs, magnets, pictures, and just about anything else to put on your door. Just make sure you don't use any tape or other adhesives.  Magnets work well to hold everything up.

Some ideas for your door decorations include your names, a sign celebrating a special occasion, battery powered Christmas lights, a whiteboard, or anything else creative.

Secure Important Documents

Once in your stateroom, I'll put my passports and travel papers into the safe.

The safe is usually hidden in a closet or drawer, and you just have to set a four digit code to open and close it.

I'll put my passports, car keys, wallet, cash, and any other valuables in there. I always put my wallet in there, and then just carry my SeaPass card and a little bit of cash for tipping or the casino.  It's very liberating to not have my wallet on me.

The safe usually is big enough for small electronics too, but I rarely put mine in there.  

Check Your Balcony or Window

Just like inside your cabin, verify your balcony or window is as you'd expect it.

Ensure doors easily open and close, and the locks function properly.

If you have a balcony, make sure the chair and table are there and it too works as you want.  

In my experience, there's rarely ever a problem, but now is the time to take care of it because you'll probably want to enjoy it for sailaway when the ship departs your homeport.

If you booked connecting balconies, double check the balcony divider is open, and if it's not, ask your stateroom attendant to open it for you.

Test Outlets

Another step in the inspection process of your cabin is that the outlets all work.

I cannot recall a time when an outlet didn't work, but you never know.  The last thing you'd want to do is later be ready for sleep only to realize you can't charge your phone.

Check the Bathroom

If there's one place that I've had the most maintenance issues, it's the bathroom.

When I sailed on Serenade of the Seas in a tiny inside cabin, the toilet didn't work for the first few hours of the cruise.  As I went to the hallway to find my cabin attendant, there was already a crew member there working on the issue.

My checklist in the bathroom of things to check includes:

• Verify the toilet flushes
• Verify there is hot water
• Verify the sink works
• Verify the shower door/curtain works

If you have more than 340 points in Crown and Anchor Society, you're supposed to get upgraded toiletries in the room. I'd say 75% of the time they're there, so it's something to check.

Set Up Sleep Preferences

Every cruise ship cabin has the choice of splitting the bed that's in there into two beds.

You can specify this on your cruise reservation, but sometimes that request doesn't get fulfilled.  Or you might have changed your mind.

You don't have to do anything yourself, because the cabin attendant can arrange this for you.

Likewise, if you have a couch that turns into a bed, you can let the cabin attendant know if they should leave the sofa bed in "sleep mode" all day.  My kids prefer it this way when they cruise so they can lounge or nap easier.

Introduce Yourself to Your Cabin Attendant

I've mentioned the cabin attendant throughout this article, and they're going to be a great asset during your sailing.

Cabin attendants aren't available when you first get to your room, but right around 3pm or so, they should start to filter in and introduce themselves.

Usually they will come to you and knock on your door to introduce themselves. They'll ask how everything is in the room and what preferences you might have.

They're responsible for many cabins on your deck, so they may get busy with other rooms. Nonetheless, you'll want to make sure you talk to them on the first day.

One important question they will have for you is what time of day you want your cabin cleaned.

Royal Caribbean offers the choice of morning or evening service for cabins for balcony rooms or lower categories.  Junior Suites and higher rooms get twice a day cleaning, so there's nothing to decide.

It's a bit controversial, but some cruisers will actually tip their cabin attendant on the first day as a kind of "thank you for everything you're about to do", but I don't prescribe to that theory.

I prefer to wait until the end of the sailing to tip my cabin attendant, almost always on the final morning.

If you ever have any issues or concerns about your stateroom, this is the crew member to talk to. 

Your cabin attendant usually gives you their card, which has their phone number on it.  Keep that handy for any issues that may arise. I place it on the mirror of the vanity in the room so it's easy to find. Plus, it has their name on it so you can remember their name.

Check your loyalty offers

Did you know that if you've cruised at least once you have special discounts and offers?

There's a sheet that will be left on the desk in your cabin with a list of all the discounts and deals you can take advantage of.  

There's no coupon or anything to bring with you, it's just a reminder of what you have available. Basically, you need to remember to ask the crew member to activate it when ordering.

As an example, there are discounts on beer, spa treatments, photo packages, and more.

Put drinks in the fridge

Royal Caribbean lets you bring up to 12 bottles of water or any non-alcoholic beverage on the cruise, so put them in the fridge.

Plus, if you're a Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle Club member, you might have opted in to get complimentary bottles of water or soft drinks.  By default, these are left out on your vanity and they're not cold.

You can put them in the fridge (it's more of a cooler, but I digress) so they're chilled.  Plus, it clears up clutter on your desk or around the room.

Finish your muster drill

If by the point you got into your cabin you have not completed the ship's safety drill, now is the time to get it done.

I prefer to knock out the eMuster when I first board the ship but "I'm on a cruise!" drinks wait for no one.  But you need to do it before the ship sails away, so get it done now.

The drill consists of three parts. The first two, watching a lifejacket safety video and listening to the emergency horn, can be done via the Royal Caribbean app. You can actually do these two steps even before you're on the ship the morning of embarkation day.  We usually do it on the drive to the cruise terminal.

The final step is to go to your muster station to check-in.  On the back of the cabin door is a sign indicating where your muster station is.  It's also located within the "Safety" section of the Royal Caribbean app.

Utopia of the Seas is the newest Oasis Class cruise ship that Royal Caribbean is using to attract someone who has never cruised before to give one a try.  I might not be the target audience, but I think it has some of the best features on any cruise ship.

When you take a ship that sails just three night cruises and has 21 places to eat, 23 bars, five pools, three water slides and two casinos, you get a vacation meant to dispel the myth that you could be bored on a cruise.

Since Utopia of the Seas started sailing in 2024, I've gone on the ship six times. The first few were for evaluating what's new and different, but I came back again and again because it's the perfect weekend escape.

The 5,668 passenger ship is almost like a city, with more events happening every day than I could possibly attend.  That's the fun of this ship. You have the choice of all or none of it, and I like having those choices.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Royal Caribbean wants it to be the gateway ship for millions of Americans that have been reluctant to cruise because they think it's boring, restrictive, or a strange way to vacation. To that point, Utopia only sails short weekend cruises so there's little risk in giving a cruise a try.

I've sailed on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships for decades, but its newest ship has managed to reinvent what the giant ships are all about.

Designed for first timers, but I love it even more

It's very unusual for a brand new cruise ship to start off with weekend cruises, but Royal Caribbean has a plan to flip the script on cruise vacation expectations.

The short cruises are meant to give someone that is concerned a week long cruise would be too long.

The ship itself offers more to do than other Oasis Class ships that came before it, with a special emphasis on parties.  Royal Caribbean calls it "the ultimate weekend party" and that's because they planned out new parties, events, and entertainment to cater to the "I'm here for a good time" crowd.

There are many more late-night parties, additional pool deck events, and high energy shows in each of the three theaters.

I'm not the target audience, but I still like that Utopia isn't a carbon copy of other ships, and I love some of these changes because it's made the ship better for everyone.

A great example is a brand new tiki bar that's been added to the Royal Promenade, The Pesky Parrot.

Pesky Parrot replaced an aging robot bar concept from last decade.  Not only is it a step up in replacing that, but it's actually a fun bar with great cocktails. The Food & Beverage team spent months coming up with tropical drinks that went beyond a pina colada.

Somewhere else that resonates with seasoned cruisers is the resort-style pool deck.

Utopia features "the best in class" features, and its pool deck is a shining example of that. It's colorful, well spaced out, and has a giant Lime and Coconut bar presence to ensure it's convenient to grab a pool drink anytime.  

It even has a soft-service ice cream stand that actually has sprinkles for once. And if you want a bite to eat, a new grab-and-go meal spot is near the pool too.

The Solarium is restricted to just adults at least 18 years old, and it's an expanded area compared to the original Oasis Class ships.

These are great changes that aims to create a fun pool deck experience for someone new to it all, but I can appreciate the changes too.

It’s five times bigger than the Titanic, but not difficult to navigate

For some reason everyone likes to compare cruise ships to the RMS Titanic, so Utopia of the Seas is approximately five times bigger with a gross tonnage of 236,473 (the Titanic weighed 46,328 tons).

It's amazing how easy you can know where you are, and where you're going on a ship as big as Utopia of the Seas.

The ship is split up into 8 neighborhoods, with different attractions, amenities, and points of interest contained within each.

• The Boardwalk: Outdoor spot to walk and enjoy bars and restaurants, along with the AquaTheater (Deck 6)
• Suite Neighborhood: This exclusive area is for suite guests (Deck 17 & 18)
• Central Park: This outdoor neighborhood has a tree-lined street of shops and restaurants, including Izumi, Chops Grille, and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen (Deck 8)
• Royal Promenade: This multi-deck boulevard has bars and retail shops (Deck 5)
• Youth Zone: This area has Adventure Ocean programming, an arcade, and a teen club (Deck 14)
• Vitality Spa & Fitness: This neighborhood has Royal Caribbean's signature spa and a fitness center (Deck 5 and 6)
• Entertainment Place: Home to the casino, comedy club, and theater (Deck 4)
• Pool and Sports Zone: Waterslides, pools, and sports activities (Decks 15 and 16)

It may seem like a ship as massive as Utopia would take you weeks to figure out where everything is, but it's a lot easier to get around than you might think.

Another way to make it even easier to move around Utopia is this ship has destination elevators.

Instead of pressing a button to wait for the next available elevator, you select the floor you want to go to at a panel in the elevator lobby.  The system assigns you an elevator to wait for.

Once inside, the elevator takes an optimized route to the assigned floors.  It's meant to reduce elevator wait times and get people moving faster.

While I don't think the destination elevators are as good as the ones on Icon of the Seas, it's definitely a step in the right direction.

The coolest restaurant at sea is only on Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's restaurant game has steadily improved year after year, and you'll only find its latest creation on Utopia of the Seas.

Royal Railway is a classic train restaurant that looks and even moves like a real train. 

Guests have boarding tickets and wait to board their assigned train.  Once in the car, there's waiter service at tables. Each table has a virtual window that gives diners a look out to the world as their train moves through The Old West.

There's a family friendly story that goes along with the dinner experience, but it's an really fun meal and something completely different than you'd find anywhere else in the world, including on land.

Royal Railway Utopia Station is one of many extra cost restaurants on Utopia.  

There are restaurants that are included with your fare that cost nothing extra to eat there, but many more offered that have an extra cost.  My advice is buy a dining package if you're interested in more than two specialty restaurants.

If you'd rather save money and stick to the included restaurants, fret not, because you won't go hungry.  The Main Dining Room, Windjammer, Sorrento's and El Loco Fresh all have great food that I'd eat every day.

An underrated included restaurant is the Solarium Bistro, and my favorite place for a snack on a sea day is still El Loco Fresh. I love that toppings bar.

Utopia has a few other dining firsts that foodies are going to want to try.

The first ever chef-driven Japanese restaurant within Royal Caribbean's fleet is on Utopia at Izumi Omakase. 

Izumi is found on many other ships, and its hibachi tables are super popular.  But Omakase is a Japanese food fan's dream restaurant.  An intimate multi-course menu where the chef prepares a special plate and associated cocktail to go with it.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen isn't a new concept for Royal Caribbean, but it's in a new location on Utopia.

They moved the restaurant to prime real estate that overlooks the Boardwalk neighborhood and it's simply gorgeous.

What I loved to do on Utopia of the Seas

Every cruise visits the best beach day in the Caribbean

Because Utopia only sails 3- and 4-night cruises, every sailing goes to Perfect Day at CocoCay, and that's a big difference maker.

I'm biased given how much I sail on Royal Caribbean, but their private island is heads and shoulders above every other cruise line private island because of how much there is to do that's worth your time.

There are beaches, pools, an adults-only area, and a waterpark within the island.  Most of it is included in your cruise fare, but there's a lot that's free too.

It's bold to name your island "Perfect", but I think it's a well-deserved title.  Our family has found relaxing and enjoyable visits every time we have gone there, and I think it's exactly what a cruiser wants.

Plus, CocoCay works for both new and established cruisers because it's that high quality. 

Modern cabins

I recently sailed on one of Royal Caribbean's smaller cruise ships that was built almost 30 years ago a week after I was on Utopia of the Seas and the differences in my stateroom were eye-opening.

You'll find cabins of all categories on Utopia, from tiny inside rooms to giant multi-floor suites.

No matter which cabin you pick, it feels up to date with nice touches throughout.  I especially like how much storage they've included in all the cabins.

Plus, there are more USB plugs available than traditionally found on cruise ships.  Be sure to keep an eye out for USB plugs at the bars around the ship too.

A balcony is the most popular type of stateroom on Utopia, and they have exactly the perfect amount of living space.

Each cabin has a bed that can be split apart, private bathroom with shower, vanity area, mirror, safe, television, and closets.

A sequel to an all-1980s music show? Yes please!

Decade-based entertainment isn't new to cruising, but Royal Caribbean is embracing the 1980s more and more, and I love it.

An all-new show was developed for the AquaTheater called "Aqua80s Too", which is a follow-up to the original "Aqua80s" show on sister ship Oasis of the Seas.

AquaTheater shows are high-energy spectacles of diving, acrobatics, dancing, and really, really high diving. They're impressive on their own, but when you mix in the top hits of the 1980s, you've got the best 45 minutes on the ship.

For too long, cruise ships focused on the '60s and '70s, but it's refreshing to see more '80s tunes onboard.  And the show is worth seeing every single time we've sailed on Utopia.

The best bar for music in the fleet

I think I've been up to the Mason Jar bar just about every night of my six sailings on Utopia of the Seas, and it's because I think it's the best bar in the fleet.

The Mason Jar is a specialty restaurant that serves up food from the Southern United States, but it's the bar that truly stands out.

It's a country bar with a country trio band that plays country music hits, and I love going up there for them. They're extremely talented, and their energy is infectious. 

Plus, Royal Caribbean created an entire drink menu just for the Mason Jar. Many of the drinks are inspired by cocktails and liquors of the south, and they're really good.

I'd recommend the PB&J Old Fashioned, No Joke Smoke & Coke, or the Mississippi Moonlight as top choices to try.

Come for the drinks, stay for the band!

What I hated about Utopia of the Seas

The theater show was dull

I was underwhelmed by the "All In" show in the Royal Theater because it felt like a step backwards for Royal Caribbean.

In looking back at their newest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean had steadily pushed the envelope with their original productions, but All In was a stereotypical musical medley with dancing and no plot.

I liked the music, and the performers were fantastic, but the show was too plain.  In an era where Broadway shows and high-flying productions are the norm, All In felt like a one-and-done for me because it just didn't have anything that compelling.

Hard sell if you don't live in Florida

Sailing short cruises is going to attract plenty of new cruisers, but if you're an established Royal Caribbean fan, it's going to be a stretch to fly down for a weekend cruise.

I think there's a lot that veteran cruisers will love about Utopia, but because it only sails short cruises, many people have written it off because of the itineraries.

The obvious counter argument is to book two cruises in a row, and you get a 7-night vacation. However, that still seems like a compromise to some who prefer a 7-night sailing that goes beyond The Bahamas.

I think it's still worth coming down for, even for a short cruise.  Heck, tack it onto a land vacation if a repeat visit to Nassau isn't interesting.  

Nonetheless, I wouldn't be opposed to more varied itineraries, even if it was once a month.

It's impossible to get a reservation for Royal Railway

Royal Caribbean hit a homerun with Royal Railway, but it's become a victim of its own success.

Ever since Royal Railway was announced, demand for it has been through the roof, and it's the hottest ticket in the cruise industry right now.

At some point in the weeks leading up your cruise, reservations open up for the restaurant and it sells out almost immediately.  If you don't book it the same day or two it first comes online to book, you probably won't be able to dine there at all.

I am certain there are cruisers who wait to book it onboard the ship and it's all but guaranteed there's no chance of getting a spot.

I'm not sure what the answer is to fix this, but if they ever roll out the promised additional Royal Railway themes that include the Orient Express or a brunch offering, that might open up sufficient slots to create more inventory to meet demand.

Who should book a cruise on Utopia of the Seas

Without a doubt, the ideal cruiser for Utopia of the Seas is someone that has never been on a cruise before.

This is the ship to convince friends that want a fun, energetic, and memorable vacation that a cruise is right for them.  Royal Caribbean planned it specifically for them, and there's no doubt it's who would love it.

But I also think Utopia is a great family getaway cruise.

The fact it sails every weekend, means you can easily work it into a long weekend vacation.  Or you enjoy time at one of the Orlando theme parks and then rest up on the ship.

Plus, if you're a Royal Caribbean super fan, you'll love that Utopia has the very best features in the fleet right now. 

Don't let the party ship reputation fool you. It's the Royal Caribbean ship experience many of us love, but with extra parties.

Itineraries and pricing

Utopia of the Seas is homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida, which is about a half hour from Orlando International Airport and an hour from Walt Disney World.

Utopia sails only 3- and 4-night cruises, with each sailing visiting Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

One downside to a short cruise is it leaves you very little time to "see it all", but I look at it like visiting a city.  You can go to New York, London, or Los Angeles and never come close to seeing it all, and that's practically to be expected.  So you book subsequent trips to see more of it. I think a cruise on Utopia is the same idea, where you can take more cruises to have more time onboard.

Prices for a 3-night Utopia of the Seas cruise from Port Canaveral start at $627 per person for an interior cabin, based on double occupancy. 

Pricing is variable, and depends on when you go, which cabin you select, and other factors. 

Getting a really good deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise these days is harder than ever, thanks to record demand driving up prices.

Booking a cruise vacation is a great feeling, but it's even better when you can get a low price for it.

A few years ago, there were cruise fares as low as $99, but those have seemingly dried up as cruise lines have had little difficulty in filling their ships.

"Gone are the days of booking a cruise at rock bottom pricing 30 days before departure," said Jenn Greene, a travel advisor with MEI Travel who recently was awarded as the top Royal Caribbean agent in her company.

"With the surge in cruise demand, we are finding fewer and fewer deals especially close to sailing."

While it's more difficult to find cruise deals, they still exist.  The key is knowing where to look, and being as open as possible to sail dates.

In November, I was able to get a 4-night cruise on Allure of the Seas that cost $834.36 with taxes and fees for two people.  That came out to just about $100 per person, per day. 

The trick here was it was booked just two weeks before the sail date.

I try to be flexible with my dates

If you want to find the lowest possible prices, you're going to need to be as flexible with when you cruise as you can.

For the absolute lowest cruise prices, you're probably going to need to be an advantageous cruiser that can go with little advanced notice.

I've consistently found the lowest prices on cruises for last minute offers that sail within a few weeks.  Often these are "middle of the week" cruises, meaning they depart on a weekday and return before the weekend.  Or they're during the shoulder seasons, such as September in Alaska.

Basically, these are unsold cruises that most other people aren't interested in sailing. 

The problem is last minute deals aren't what they used to be, and this strategy isn't something I'd recommend for a family vacation. It's best for couples who don't have many obligations at home.

Royal Caribbean puts out most weeks a "Going, Going, Gone" rate sheet with advertised low rates.  

These sailings usually are available on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but sell out quickly.  How lucrative the deals are truly depends on your definition.

Look for shoulder season prices

If you want to find a good deal on a cruise that isn't coming up soon, then I would target sailings that take place off peak.

Every region has peak and off-peak cruising times, and the best prices are just before or after peak season hits.

As an example, it should come as no surprise the week of Christmas and New Years is one of the most popular times to go on a Caribbean cruise.  But the week before Christmas is when school is still in session, and you can find some really good deals.  Why? Because most people don't want to take vacation time from work and pull kids out of school a few days before they get it automatically with the holidays.

This is true for many other places, including Alaska, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

Just like a last minute cruise, you're going to need to be flexible with your time to take advantage of these prices.

• Caribbean: September and October, January, May
• Alaska: May or September
• Europe: April, May, September, October
• Australia: October, November, March, and April

How to get a lower price on a cruise

You won't find a spring break cruise deal or a Christmas week special because demand is so high that inventory never dips.

If you're interested in cruising during peak times, your best bet is still to book early.

"Ships are selling out up to a year in advance. If you want the best deal on your cruise, book as far out as possible- as that is when pricing is the lowest," said Ms. Greene.

Ideally, book a cruise when Royal Caribbean puts out new deployments for sale.  It may not get you a bargain basement price, but you won't overpay either.

There's another trick that her agency has, which Ms. Greene mentioned as a way to save her clients money.

"When you book with MEI Travel they have software that notifies them if the price does drop, and will proactively reprice your fare for you," she mentioned.

There are other ways to help lower your price overall, no matter what date you pick.

Older ships generally cost less than newer ships.  Booking Adventure of the Seas instead of Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral will net you significant savings.

A guarantee cabin could also save a lot of money, which is when Royal Caribbean picks your cabin instead of you.  Just be aware of the potential downsides of this strategy.

Travel agents can find great prices because they see them first

While I know a few good places to look for a good cruise deal, the truth is I get most of my low price alerts from my travel agent.

Travel agents price out cruises all day long, and in the course of their work, they run across lower prices.  More often than not, they see it before I can.  Plus, they're looking when I'm not.

The Allure of the Seas sailing I previously mentioned was a deal that my MEI Travel agent spotted and texted me about because she knew I'd be interested with a price that low.

Working with a good travel agent is one of the best cruise tips I can recommend to anyone, especially because they can save you money.

Plus, a travel agent might be able to sweeten any price with extras, like extra onboard credit, free specialty dining, and more as a bonus for working with them. 

In fact, MEI Travel is offering free specialty dining experience for two when booking a balcony or suite on select new bookings made through January 31, 2025.