Royal Caribbean Blog

Oversold cruise ships aren't totally unheard of in the industry. 

Although not as common as oversold flights, cruise lines occasionally accept more bookings than a ship can accommodate because they know some guests will cancel due to last-minute travel changes.

For example, Royal Caribbean recently oversold two Alaska cruises aboard Voyager of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas. The Last Frontier is an extremely popular cruise destination with limited capacity, with demand far exceeding available cabins during peak sailing seasons.

When a cruise is overbooked, the cruise line starts by reaching out to affected guests before embarkation, offering lucrative options such as generous compensation, future cruise credits, or alternative sailings to those willing to adjust their plans. 

Fortunately, most cruisers never experience this issue, though some actually hope they do because of the tempting perks. Still, the news headlines of overbooked cruises can be scary for those with strict travel plans and little wiggle room. 

Here's exactly what happens when a cruise ship gets overbooked — and why cruise lines oversell itineraries to begin with. 

Look for volunteers and offer generous incentives to change plans

In the weeks leading up to any cruise, Royal Caribbean monitors its bookings as part of its inventory management process. If it comes across a potential issue, the cruise line proactively reaches out to remedy the situation. 

For example, guests sailing on the July 16, 2026, Serenade of the Seas cruise received an email asking select cruisers if they'd consider rebooking a different voyage. 

However, as you might notice, the company did not use the words "oversold" or "overbooked." Rather, they were looking for passengers with "flexible travel arrangements."

(Credit: Marie Paulette / Facebook)

"Ahead of our Serenade of the Seas July 19, 2026, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements. If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as "Read" , and gear up for your upcoming adventure - although, there are some pretty sweet options below," the email reads. 

Royal Caribbean offered passengers the ability to transfer their booking to another 2026 sailing aboard Ovation of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, or Voyager of the Seas at no additional cost. 

In addition, guests would receive a full refund of the paid cruise fare, a 50% Future Cruise Credit (FCC), and reimbursement of any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses. 

The second option stated that passengers could cancel their booking and receive a 100% refund, along with a 100% FCC to be used on a future Royal Caribbean voyage. 

Royal Caribbean also oversold a cruise on Voyager of the Seas. Like the overbooked Serenade of the Seas cruise, those sailing aboard Voyager were given the option to move to a different sailing aboard Serenade, Anthem, or Voyager of the Seas and receive a full refund of the paid cruise fare. 

Unlike the Serenade of the Seas sailing, however, Royal Caribbean did not offer an additional FCC to Voyager passengers who chose to cancel their upcoming cruise. 

(Credit: Jennifer Seitz / Facebook)

The only way to get an FCC in this case would be to fully cancel their upcoming Voyager of the Seas cruise. Those who accept this option would receive a 100% refund, along with a 100% FCC to be used on a future Royal Caribbean sailing. 

The idea behind these last-minute offers is to find people booked on the cruise who might sail a lot and can change their plans because they have multiple vacations booked. For these passengers, missing out on one sailing may not be as disruptive to their schedule, especially if the compensation offered makes it worthwhile.

Royal Caribbean is also searching for opportunistic deal hunters who wouldn't mind delaying their trip or switching ships for a refund and FCC. Of course, the exact compensation offered will depend on the situation, so don't take these examples aboard Serenade and Voyager of the Seas to be the only scenarios you could encounter in an overbooked cruise email. 

Do cruisers ever get denied boarding because of an overbooked sailing?

Thankfully, it is extremely rare for a cruise to be oversold and have passengers denied boarding, but it has happened. 

In December 2023, a few people booked on Quantum of the Seas from Australia encountered a situation where they were unable to board after the ship reached capacity and ran out of available cabins, USA TODAY reported. 

According to the news article, Jai Raynor and his wife, Kaitlyn, were denied boarding for the eight-night South Pacific cruise. They had booked a guarantee (or GTY) cabin for around $1,900. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean will let you now pay $30 to find out your guaranteed cruise cabin sooner

Normally, GTY cabins allow the cruise line to assign passengers a room closer to the sailing date, often in exchange for a lower fare. Rarely, however, does the number of guests booked exceed the number of available cabins. 

"Unfortunately, efforts to accommodate all those who wished to sail fell short for a group of our guests, and some were unable to sail as planned," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told USA TODAY.

"We take these disruptions seriously, and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused," they added.

In the end, Raynor and the other impacted sailors were given a full refund, along with an FCC worth their entire paid fare and complimentary Deluxe Beverage Packages. 

Why do cruise lines oversell sailings to begin with?

Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales & Trade Relations, talked about why cruise lines oversell cabins during a Q&A session aboard Ovation of the Seas in 2025. 

"Because of such high demand, we have been selling a lot more guarantees because travel partners said, 'Please have a lower price point,'" Freed explained.

Billy Hirsch, owner and founder of CruiseHabit, told Royal Caribbean Blog that overselling cruise cabins is actually a practical business approach since data shows that there are people who either cancel at the last minute or don't show up on embarkation day.

"Even if a sailing is totally booked weeks out, there will almost always be some number of guests who cancel at the last minute or fail to show up. Trying to fill cabins at the last minute is risky and can harm price integrity," Hirsch said.

As such, cruise lines will make an educated prediction, based on years of data, of how many empty staterooms they'll likely have ahead of any given sailing and sell that many extra cabins ahead of time.

Freed continued, saying, "Occasionally, we don't get the wash or the cancellations on the guarantees, and we are in an oversold situation." 

To be clear, Royal Caribbean prefers to avoid oversold sailings whenever possible. However, the cruise line also has to balance demand to keep its ships sailing as full as possible. As Freed said, "We're not trying to do an oversold situation. That's not our goal. But we have to make sure that our ships are sailing at full capacity."

According to Freed, there's a certain methodology that helps them choose which guests to reach out to when they realize a sailing is overbooked. Factors include whether passengers live near the cruise port, whether they have flight arrangements, and their ages.

"We'll just kind of say, do you think these people are flexible? And then we do offer them quite beautiful compensation to kind of go on to a different sailing with a nice upgrade," she adds.

"Usually forecasts work out, but when they don't, if those offers are so good that people are happy to accept them, then everyone leaves the port feeling good — whether on the ship or in a cab," Hirsch concluded. 

Is Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas the right cruise ship for your next vacation?

I previously sailed aboard this Freedom Class ship in 2023. However, I wanted to get back on board to see whether the changes during her highly anticipated Royal Amplification improved the experience. 

This dry dock added new amenities, such as the Lime & Coconut Bar, Izumi Sushi and Hibachi, and even a unique ice skating show that can't be found on any other ship in the fleet. 

I embarked on a five-night voyage aboard Liberty of the Seas from Southampton, England, to Hamburg, Germany, and Zeebrugge, Belgium. The sailing gave me enough time to experience the ship's venues and updates, entertainment offerings, and overall atmosphere — and in the end, I wish it had been a longer cruise!

Here's what my cruise on the Liberty of the Seas ship was like and whether you should rush to book a sailing on this Freedom Class ship or not. 

About Liberty of the Seas

Debuting in 2007, Liberty of the Seas was the second Freedom Class cruise ship to enter Royal Caribbean's fleet. At one point, she was among the biggest cruise ships in the world, but that title has since been awarded to Oasis and Icon Class vessels like Utopia of the Seas and Star of the Seas. 

Still, despite not being the largest cruise ship in the world, Liberty of the Seas has a lot to offer guests. There's more than enough to keep passengers busy — ranging from the resort-style pool deck to the adults-only Solarium, retail shops, unique shows, FlowRider surf simulator, waterslides, complimentary poolside movies, and more. 

Here's a full list of the features and amenities available aboard Liberty of the Seas:

• Adventure Ocean
• Social040
• Casino Royale
• Perfect Storm waterslides (Cyclone and Typhoon)
• Tidal Wave waterslide
• Jogging track
• Library
• Mini-golf course
• Outdoor moving screen
• Multiple pools and hot tubs
• Adults-only Solarium
• Royal Escape Room
• Platinum Theater
• Skylight Chapel
• Sports Court
• Studio B ice rink
• Vitality Spa
• Fitness center

According to the cruise line, Liberty of the Seas measures 154,407 gross tons and can accommodate 3,948 guests at double occupancy. She's home to over 1,350 international crew members and comes in at 1,112 feet long. 

Although she's spending summer 2026 in Europe, sailing from Southampton to bucket list destinations like Portugal, Norway, and Denmark, Liberty will relocate to Galveston, Texas, in October, where she'll offer Western Caribbean voyages through at least April 2028. 

Cruise embarkation

My fiancée and I flew to London, England, six days before our scheduled embarkation for a pre-cruise vacation. We arrived on time and had a great time exploring London, visiting iconic attractions like the Tower of London and eating our way through Borough Market. 

Before we knew it, it was time to order an Uber from our pre-cruise hotel and make our way to the London Waterloo train station. Since Southampton isn't as close to central London, we decided to take the train since it was more affordable than hiring a private car. 

The journey was straightforward and relatively affordable, coming in at around $65 for two people. Plus, the two-hour-long ride gave us a much-needed opportunity to relax after five busy days sightseeing in London. The train also had complimentary Wi-Fi and power outlets at every seat. 

After arriving in Southampton, we opted to hire a taxi to take us to the terminal. Although it is within walking distance, we had too much luggage and preferred the ease of being dropped off steps from the building's entrance. It was affordable, coming in at less than $10 for both of us and our massive suitcases. 

After arriving, we ran into a few hiccups at the Southampton cruise terminal. The first delay we had was waiting in the long line to obtain luggage tags. However, those who pre-printed them quickly dropped off their bags and made their way inside. As such, we could have avoided this delay if we had printed our tags at our pre-cruise hotel in London. 

We ran into another small issue when the check-in agent escorted us to another port employee to verify our credit card information for our SeaPass accounts. This was unexpected since I had already completed the online check-in and entered the payment details before arriving in Southampton. 

Even with the short delays, we were on board in around thirty minutes and eager to begin our cruise to Germany and Belgium, starting with a quick stop at our cabin to drop off our carry-on bags.

Liberty of the Seas interior cabin

Since we splurged during our pre-cruise visit to London, my fiancée and I decided to book the cheapest available cabin aboard Liberty of the Seas: a Category 4V Inside Stateroom. The fare came to $1,497.84, or $748.92 per person, including gratuities. 

Since we didn't spend extra on a balcony cabin, we didn't have a strict budget for our port days, opting to book museum tickets and cooking classes, rather than aimlessly walking around.

Our 162-square-foot cabin was located on Deck 7 in the aft (or back) of the ship. The location ended up being perfect for us since it wasn't far from an elevator bank. As such, we could easily get to popular dining venues like Café Promenade and the Windjammer buffet on Deck 11. 

Overall, the layout was typical for an outdated Freedom Class cabin, with one Royal King bed (that could have been split into two twin beds), a vanity, dresser, closet, safe, mini-fridge, television, an ensuite bathroom, two nightstands, a full-length mirror, and a decent-sized couch. 

Having sailed on Liberty before, I wasn't surprised by the lack of charging options, though I wish Royal Caribbean had devoted some time and money to updating the older staterooms during the ship's Royal Amplification in 2026.

In the stateroom, there were just two standard American outlets, along with one European outlet, all located at the vanity. This meant there weren't any convenient bedside charging options. 

Moving on, we agreed that — between the built-in dresser, closet, hidden shelves, and generously-sized nightstands — there was more than enough storage to keep everything organized, and we didn't struggle to fully unpack for our five-night cruise. 

The bathroom was small and, like the rest of the cabin, somewhat dated. However, it was perfectly functional for everyday use, and I loved that there wasn't a clingy shower curtain like on some older Royal Caribbean vessels. 

Another feature I appreciated was the extra-long sink vanity, which gave us lots of space to spread out our makeup and toiletries when getting ready for our port days or freshening up for dinner. 

On the flip side, the shower wasn't my favorite. The shower pressure was pretty weak, and the finicky temperature controls meant it was difficult to find that "perfect" temperature — it was either scalding hot or freezing cold. 

Overall, I'm glad we opted for a cheaper inside cabin on this particular sailing. Because it wasn't a scenic cruise, we didn't spend much time in our room, and shelling out extra money for a balcony would have been a little pointless. 

Food on Liberty of the Seas

Liberty of the Seas offers a lot of dining choices for guests, including some new additions that were introduced during the ship's Royal Amplification in 2026. 

When sailing on Liberty of the Seas, you will find a lot of variety, with each restaurant falling into one of two categories: complimentary or specialty.

Complimentary restaurants are included in your cruise fare, while specialty restaurants cost extra. Aboard Liberty of the Seas, the specialty restaurants have a set cover charge that includes a multi-course meal. 

Here's an overview of the complimentary and specialty dining options aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas ship:

Complimentary dining

• Café Promenade
• El Loco Fresh
• Main Dining Room
• Sorrento's Pizza
• Windjammer Marketplace
• Room service (continental breakfast only)

Specialty dining

• Chef's Table
• Chops Grille
• Giovanni's Table
• Izumi Sushi and Hibachi
• Johnny Rockets
• Starbucks
• Room service 

My fiancée and I primarily stuck with the included options, eating at places like the Windjammer Marketplace, Café Promenade, and Main Dining Room. However, we did splurge on one specialty meal at Izumi Hibachi, which is one of our favorite extra-charge restaurants in the fleet. 

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the food aboard Liberty of the Seas, especially after a disappointing dining experience on Harmony of the Seas in May 2026. 

We ate in the Main Dining Room three times during our five-night sailing, and there were more hits than misses during each meal — which is something I didn't expect going into the experience. Highlights include the chicken and leek pie, goat cheese tart, and spaghetti with marinara sauce. 

Moving on, Izumi Hibachi was fantastic as always. Having dined at the specialty teppanyaki restaurant on multiple ships, ranging from Freedom of the Seas to Icon of the Seas, I can confidently say that it's hard to go wrong with Izumi. Whether you're in the mood for seafood, filet mignon, scallops, chicken, or shrimp, there's something for everyone. 

Plus, the interactive cooking experience adds a fun layer of entertainment to the meal. Royal Caribbean calls this "eatertainment," since you're paying for not only a higher-quality meal, but also a live show. 

We also skipped the dining room the next night in favor of a quick dinner in the buffet, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The kung pao chicken was especially tasty, and my fiancée was a huge fan of the chicken patties, along with the vegan brownie. 

Finally, even the fast-casual options were better than recent sailings aboard ships like Harmony of the Seas. For starters, everything at El Loco Fresh actually tasted fresh. Generally speaking, El Loco Fresh isn't my favorite Mexican restaurant at sea, with venues like Carnival's BlueIguana Cantina and Disney's Donald's Cantina preparing more consistent, flavorful dishes. 

That said, El Loco Fresh aboard Liberty of the Seas exceeded my expectations. Perhaps it was the ingredients sourced in Europe, but everything — ranging from the cheese quesadillas to the chili beef and guacamole — was noticeably fresher and more memorable. 

In fact, El Loco Fresh was our go-to spot for sea day lunches, rather than trying to navigate the crowded Windjammer. We walked in once to see what was available, but nothing spoke to us. Instead, we headed back outside to fill up on chips and salsa, quesadillas, and burritos. 

Café Promenade was another constant for us. Not only did we stop by daily for our specialty coffee fix, but it also became our preferred spot for a light breakfast, with fresh fruit, pastries, and other grab-and-go options that were quick to eat. 

Entertainment and activities 

There is no shortage of activities, shows, and events aboard Liberty of the Seas. That said, because it is a mid-sized vessel, the overall environment is more relaxed than on ships like Utopia of the Seas, and it's relatively easy to cross everything off your must-do list on a five, six, or seven-night voyage. 

During our cruise, we made the most of our sea days and evenings, attending the brand-new Western-themed ice show, watching original productions in the theater, and listening to live music in the pub. 

Other shows and events aboard Liberty of the Seas include:

• Bring the Beat Back: A Party Through the Decades
• Latin Fiesta with Son del Rio
• Plunge Day Pool Party
• Rock Brit Street Party
• Royal Kappa Chi
• Anchors Away
• Boots and Blades
• In Concert
• Saturday Night Fever — The Musical
• The Price is Right — Everyone's a Contestant

Although Liberty is an older ship, I'd argue that the entertainment is one of the vessel's selling points. The ice skating show, in particular, was among the best I've seen on Royal Caribbean ships, and I was impressed by the dancing and singing in Saturday Night Fever — The Musical! 

That said, I found the promenade parties to be a little gimmicky. The Rock Brit Street Party was especially cringey, but it seemed to be a hit for many passengers. Perhaps this was because it was the night England played Ghana in the World Cup, though. 

If you are overwhelmed by everything available on Liberty of the Seas, the best place to start is the Cruise Compass. Every Royal Caribbean ship offers a daily Cruise Compass, conveniently available in the mobile app. This feature gives a detailed breakdown of restaurant hours, the activities schedule, and more. 

Speaking of, there are so many fun activities offered on Liberty of the Seas, including:

• Perfect Storm waterslides 
• Tidal Wave waterslide
• FlowRider surf simulator 
• Splashaway Bay 
• Baby Bay
• Rock climbing wall
• Sports court
• Adventure Ocean 
• Mini-golf course
• Social040 
• Casino Royale
• Adults-only Solarium sun deck
• Studio B ice skating rink
• Royal Escape Room

During our sea days, we mainly relaxed in the adults-only Solarium, though the first day was a little chillier than expected. It was a popular spot, and the prime lounge chairs went quickly. This was true even on port days. 

Still, it was a much quieter spot than the main pool deck, which hosted events like dance lessons, outdoor movies, and the ever-popular belly flop contest. As such, we enjoyed lounging in the Solarium pool, catching up on our latest reads, and sipping on crisp beverages — away from the hustle and bustle just a few hundred feet away. 

If you are an avid gambler, you'll love the expanded Casino Royale aboard Liberty of the Seas. Although it isn't the largest in the fleet, it is strictly non-smoking. Overall, I thought there was a good variety of slot machines and table games available. I tried my luck with my $6 FreePlay and won $60, but I lost it all minutes later. 

My Liberty of the Seas review: Is the ship worth it?

I've been on over three dozen cruises, with my first Royal Caribbean cruise being aboard Freedom of the Seas in 2010. Although they aren't as flashy and new as they were two decades ago, there's still a lot to love about Freedom Class ships — Liberty of the Seas included. 

For starters, there are so many included activities. Whether you like relaxing by the pool, working on your surfing skills, playing a friendly game of basketball, or catching an evening show, there's something for everyone. Plus, since she's an older ship, sailing aboard Liberty is much more affordable compared to voyages on vessels like Utopia or Legend of the Seas. 

That said, not everything aboard my Liberty of the Seas cruise was perfect. My fiancée and I thought that the dining room service was slow, and the chair hogging was a bit out of control. The elevators were pretty slow, too, so we ended up taking the stairs more than usual.

Moreover, I wish Royal Caribbean had given the cabins a little more TLC during Liberty's Royal Amplification. Although the cruise line refreshed many of the public spaces, our stateroom showed noticeable signs of wear, including a large stain on the couch, chipped cabinets, and a lack of charging options. 

That said, the overall vibe of Liberty of the Seas was the perfect mix of exciting and relaxing, especially after a lengthy pre-cruise stay in London. 

I loved the new additions, including the Lime & Coconut Bar and Izumi Hibachi. Plus, the entertainment showcases some of the best offerings in the cruise line's fleet. Between the Boots and Blades ice skating show, live music, interactive game shows, and Saturday Night Fever — The Musical production, the evening lineup was always exciting. 

On the final night of the cruise, I wished I had another few days on board and was jealous of those sailing back-to-back on the nine-night voyage to Spain and Portugal!

Despite the issues with the service and outdated stateroom, my fiancée and I had a great time aboard this Freedom Class ship, and the very, very minor shortcomings were outweighed by everything done right — ranging from the new ice skating show to the condition of the vessel and overall value. 

So, all that to say, yes, I'd highly recommend a cruise aboard Liberty of the Seas, whether that's a last-minute European voyage or Caribbean getaway from Galveston, Texas. 

Royal Caribbean is not shy about trying to outdo itself, and it's new cruise ship makes an already successful class even better.

Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship and it welcomed members of the media onboard to get a first look at what's new and different.

One thing you have to know about Royal Caribbean is they are never content with what's been done. New ships are opportunities to evolve what's loved, add more for guests to discover, and improve everything else.

I boarded Legend of the Seas in Malaga, Spain for a short 4-night preview sailing to see what the new world's biggest cruise ship has to offer.

Big and small changes are everywhere

Royal Caribbean has spent years marketing this ship, so some of what's different about Legend of the Seas is well-known. But lots of other tweaks don't make the press release.

The two big areas where Legend differs from Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas are dining and entertainment.

Walking around this brand new ship, Legend is different enough without messing with what has worked so well on the first two ships. It appears more fundamental changes will have to wait for Hero of the Seas.

By far, the new dining is stealing the show even before the ship has welcomed any passengers have stepped on.

The new Hollywoodland Supper Club is an intimate and sophisticated dinner option where guests can enjoy entertainment, paired cocktails and exquisite food.

This restaurant is themed to the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, filled with movie stars and galas. As my mom would say, "music you can hum along to" because it's so well-known.

Perhaps the main attraction is the new Royal Railway restaurant, which is a first for the Icon Class.

This takes the place of the comedy club onboard, and it's a marvel of engineering, story telling, and great food.

One major difference is how much bigger the space is and how it really feels like you're on a train station before you step foot on a classic train.

Silk Routes is a dinner option that matches the route Marco Polo took from the Orient back east, with each course of food matching the region you're traveling in. Butter chicken in India, Adana kebab in Turkey, Raspberry Bombolini in Italy, and more.

Given it's small size, it's a hot ticket and the kind of dining experience you can't find anywhere else.

Legend of the Seas is filled with all new shows at every venue, which is a staple of Royal Caribbean.  

Two new shows headline the lineup.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an all-new musical that is shown in the Royal Theater.

Another can't miss show is America's Got Talent LIVE.  

A variety talent show, this is something different for Royal Caribbean, and I can't wait to see the initial performances onboard.

One major differentiating factor to Legend (and all the Icon Class ships) is how focused it is on families.

Not only are there plenty of cabins designed for young families, but there's more for them onboard.

Surfside is an entire area with younger children in mind. It has a splash area, aqua park, and an all-new carousel.

This carousel has the cutest rubber ducks you can ride on, making it endearing for children.

Speaking of kids, there are kids-focused restaurants in Surfside, including a kids buffet, grab-and-go burger and pizza station, and a bar that serves "mommy and me" matching mocktails for kids and cocktails for grownups.

Many parents will appreciate how much larger the casino is on Legend. 

It actually spans two decks, with a beautiful passage within the middle of it.  Royal Caribbean has steadily increased its gaming space across ships, and the casino on Legend has the feel of a land-based resort.

Royal Caribbean also included an homage to the ship's predecessor of the same name.

The original Legend of the Seas ship model can be found in the Schooner Bar, which will instantly stand out for how very different the original is to today's version. 

The Pearl will stop you in your tracks

It's hard not to notice the upgraded visuals of The Pearl as you walk onboard Legend of the Seas.

While this architectural and engineering marvel is impressive on any ship, inside it's a kaleidoscope of colors and movements. It's a bright neon infusion that will make this an absolute must-stop for a selfie every time you pass by.

This is a classic example of how the third ship in a class can stand out from other ships and instantly make the previous ships feel just a little bit dated.

The core of what makes these ships so good is still here

Royal Caribbean knows what works well, and they haven't deviated much from what made Icon of the Seas a game changing success.

There are 8 neighborhoods, including Central Park in the middle of the ship, Thrill Island and its six water slides, indoor AquaTheater, and expansive Royal Promenade.

A ship this large might concern you that it would be difficult to navigate, but I think the Icon Class ships are the easiest to get around.  Not only do the neighborhoods help distinguish different areas so you know where you are, but there are escalators, well-positioned stairs, and the super quick destination elevators.

The ship's food hall is back again, albeit with a new lineup of restaurants.  There are Korean rice bowls, Mexican tacos, and the fan favorite crepes.

This is a great example of something that was brand new to the fleet when it debuted on Icon, but now is the sort of "how did I ever cruise without it" feature.

The Category Six waterpark has six waterslides that have quickly become a must-do for so many people that cruise on these ships.

The first Legend of the Seas sailing begins next week

Legend of the Seas is 248,663 gross tons and can accommodate 5,610 passengers at double occupancy. It's able to hold up to 7,600 passengers. When you add in the 2,350 crew members, it's the very definition of a mega ship.

The maiden voyage will take place on July 4, 2026 when Legend sets sail from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. This will be the first time paying passengers will onboard, and will kick off the ship's summer season in Europe.

The new ship will offer 7-night Western Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona, Spain. Visits will include Marseille, France; Civitavecchia, Italy; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and La Spezia, Italy.

In November, Legend of the Seas will move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she'll offer a series of six- and eight-night cruises to the Western and Southern Caribbean. Each cruise will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Cruises on Legend of the Seas are available to book through April 2028. At the time of publication, an interior stateroom on the Nov. 11 3-night naming cruise starts at $796 per person. If you want to sail longer, there is a 6-night voyage on January 3, 2027 that starts at $1,138 per person in an inside cabin.

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a relaxing weekend and enjoying summer! It is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the recent Royal Caribbean news!

A dead, pregnant endangered fin whale was found on the bow of an Alaska cruise ship as it returned to port.

The incident prompted a federal investigation into what is believed to be a vessel trike that caused the death of the animal.

Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas was the ship involved in the incident.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group cruise ships quietly collect data that's helping scientists study the oceans
• 5 reasons to try Celebrity after staying loyal to Royal Caribbean
• Disney vs Royal Caribbean: One person tried both and says Royal Caribbean is better for kids
• Traveling with my friends and all of our kids can be tricky. A cruise gave everyone what they wanted.
• 12 things that surprised me about trying an ultra-luxury cruise
• Photos: Inside an interior room on Liberty of the Seas
• This overlooked Royal Caribbean cabin trades a balcony for a lot more space
• 9 essential Alaska cruise things to buy
• I flew across the country for a cruise. I maximized the trip by making a few smart decisions

NEW RCB Video: Free things you can get on a cruise by asking

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 — Free things you can get on a cruise by asking— and don’t forget to subscribe here.

FBI warns public to report crimes on cruise ships

The FBI wants cruise ship passengers to report crimes that occur onboard.

Crimes at sea look different than on land, but they're still prosecutable. 

The FBI is urging passengers to report incidents immediately to cruise ship security.

Another casino expansion has been announced

Royal Caribbean is going to expand the casino space on Symphony of the Seas, following a growing trend onboard.

In fall 2026, a new non-smoking casino will be added, replacing the Crown Lounge and the Comedy Club.

A similar change will also be made on two other Oasis Class ships later this year.

Royal Caribbean expands access to the Royal Genies

If you're willing to pay for it, you can enjoy the services of the Royal Genie on every ship in the fleet.

Royal Caribbean confirmed that the Royal Genie Service is now available on all ships globally.

This includes Freedom, Radiance, Voyager, and Vision Class ships.

What's changed on Royal Caribbean's upgraded Liberty of the Seas

After completing big changes to Liberty of the Seas, our team got a first-hand look at what's new and different.

Liberty is the latest ship to be amplified, which means many new venues and features have been added or swapped out onboard.

This includes restaurants, bars, entertainment, and more.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 614th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available with small tweaks to how you cruise.

Matt ranks the Royal Caribbean bars by vibe and best drink at each.

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

We know what you're thinking: Leave Royal Caribbean after years of climbing the Crown & Anchor Society ladder? Well, it could be worth it — and we'll tell you why.

Indeed, it can seem jarring to switch from Royal Caribbean's action-packed vessels to Celebrity's laid-back, upscale ships. However, you may just discover that you prefer Celebrity Cruises' refined experience since it doesn't sacrifice the things you love most about cruising; it just elevates them. 

Of course, the premium cruise line isn't for everyone. For example, you likely won't like Celebrity if you enjoy sailing on ships with water slides, ice skating rinks, zip lines, and mini-golf courses. Still, if your ideal vacation leans more toward relaxing by the pool and exploring unique destinations, Celebrity could be a better fit. 

Here are five reasons why you should consider switching to Celebrity Cruises, even if you're a diehard Royal Caribbean fan. 

The Royal Caribbean status match program makes it easy to enjoy top-tier loyalty perks on your very first cruise

Did you know that you can match your Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society status to other cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises?

Royal Caribbean International obviously wants you to continue sailing with them. However, they also understand the evolving needs of today's vacationers. 

As such, Royal Caribbean's parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, created a cohesive ecosystem that offers cruisers a way to instantly earn perks and benefits across its brands, despite never having sailed with a particular line before.

This means that Crown & Anchor Society members receive reciprocal status recognition in Celebrity’s Captain’s Club and even Silversea’s Venetian Society. 

Although the perks aren't exactly identical, the Royal Caribbean loyalty match program makes it easier to branch out and try different cruise lines without feeling like you are starting from scratch.

For example, Diamond Crown & Anchor Society cruisers get four complimentary drinks per day, but Elite Captain’s Club members get access to a limited, complimentary happy hour menu from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Additionally, Celebrity offers a complimentary bag of laundry for Elite cruisers and above, but only Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members get a free laundry bag when sailing on voyages that are 5+ nights.

Read more: I sailed on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruises. Here are 6 things Royal Caribbean should steal

Cruises with Celebrity can be credited toward your Royal Caribbean loyalty status

Royal Caribbean's Points Choice program allows cruisers to earn loyalty points when cruising on any line within the Royal Caribbean Group family, including Celebrity and Silversea. In other words, you can continue to rack up Crown and Anchor Society points, even if you choose to sail with Celebrity Cruises.

Points are converted using brand-specific exchange rates, which will be reviewed and published annually on the respective websites.

Based on 2026 rates, if you take a seven-night Celebrity cruise in an inside cabin, you'll earn one Crown & Anchor point per night, adding up to seven additional C&A loyalty points by the end of the voyage.

Celebrity offers more worldly itineraries 

Although Royal Caribbean offers impressive itineraries to places like the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and beyond, Celebrity's offerings are even more destination-focused. This approach gives travelers more opportunities to visit unique ports of call. 

With Celebrity, you can sail to interesting destinations like Bali, India, and the Galápagos. They also offer immersive Japan voyages during the country's spring festival season. This is an experience that's high on my bucket list, as I have always wanted to visit Japan as the famous cherry blossoms bloom across cities like Tokyo and Kyoto.

Celebrity also lets guests explore Europe year-round, rather than limiting Mediterranean itineraries to the busy summer months. As such, passengers can wander historic cities during the quieter shoulder seasons.

Celebrity Cruises is geared more toward adult cruisers

Celebrity is not an adult-only cruise line, but it is much more geared toward older travelers than families with young children. Instead of packing its ships with water slides, rock climbing walls, surfing simulators, and other family-friendly amenities, the onboard experience focuses more on world-class dining options, upscale bars and lounges, and sophisticated entertainment. 

I prefer this type of atmosphere, despite just being in my mid-20s. As someone who is childless (and has a partner who works with children all day as a teacher), I appreciate being on a ship that feels more relaxed. 

Since the vessels are less kid-centered, many families prefer other cruise lines, though plenty still sail with Celebrity. However, I've noticed that the kids on Celebrity ships tend to be better behaved, rather than causing a ruckus running up and down halls, smashing all the elevator buttons, and so on. 

Read more: 9 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a Celebrity ship

You can save money on popular add-ons with the Celebrity All Included bundle

Celebrity's All Included bundle is one of my favorite things about the cruise line because it makes budgeting for your vacation much easier from the beginning. 

The All Included package includes a Classic Beverage Package and Basic Wi-Fi Package. According to Celebrity Cruises, you can save up to $800 per person compared to onboard prices for the same amenities.

"More convenience. Greater value. It's that simple," the website states.  

For example, on an upcoming seven-night cruise aboard Celebrity Beyond in February 2027, the base fare for a standard inside cabin starts at $1,127. Guests can upgrade to the All Included package for an additional $595 per person, which breaks down to about $85 per day. 

When compared with Royal Caribbean, this price is pretty reasonable, especially since the Deluxe Beverage Package alone frequently costs at least $70 or more per day. Wi-Fi can easily add another $20 per day to that, too. 

When choosing Celebrity Cruises doesn't make sense

As much as I love Celebrity Cruises, I realize it isn't the best cruise line for everyone. If you have younger kids, then you might find that Celebrity's fleet offers less family-friendly entertainment and amenities. 

Celebrity also isn't the ideal cruise line for partiers. Although you may discover that the cruise line definitely isn't a retirement home at sea, it's definitely more tame than lines like Royal Caribbean or Carnival. 

Finally, I'd steer clear of Celebrity Cruises if you are a budget traveler since the cruise line tends to have higher fares than competitors. 

Bottom line

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are two of the best cruise lines at sea and are great choices for your vacation. However, one might appeal more to your current lifestyle, whether that's toting along little ones or finally taking a much-needed child-free getaway. 

Celebrity is a top pick for destination-focused travelers, as well as those who prefer a more relaxed, boutique hotel-like atmosphere, since the vessels don't have any adrenaline-pumping attractions. 

At the end of the day, there’s no "better" choice between Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. The answer ultimately depends on your lifestyle and what you prefer to get out of your vacation. 

That said, if you haven't considered giving Celebrity a try, there are many good reasons why it might be the right time to step outside your comfort zone and see just what they have to offer. 

Read more: 50 Celebrity Cruises Tips & Tricks tips and tricks that will make your voyage better

Disney and Royal Caribbean are two of the most family-friendly cruise lines at sea. Both have devout followers, with many arguing that one is better than the other. Recently, one family finally decided to try Royal Caribbean and shared why they'd be hesitant to sail with Disney again. 

Disney Cruise Line is known for its immersive theming, unique rotational dining, and one-of-a-kind character experiences. On the flip side, Royal Caribbean is known for its innovative ships, thrilling attractions, and a wide variety of activities for all travelers. And although both cruise lines cater to families, they offer very distinct vacation experiences. 

Disney, for instance, doesn't have any mega-ships packed with roller coasters, zip lines, or ropes courses sailing out of North America or Europe. The most exciting attraction on its Wish Class ships, including Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny, is the AquaMouse, and even that pales in comparison to the waterslides aboard Icon, Star, and Legend of the Seas. 

"My most recent Disney cruise was in April and we just got off Royal Independence of the Seas yesterday and honestly overall we preferred this for our almost 2 and 4 year olds. I cant even imagine how much better some of the bigger boats would’ve been since they offer even more kid friendly spaces," shared Purple_Grass_5300 on the r/royalcaribbean Reddit thread. 

Continuing on, they said, "Everybody said Disney is known for exceptional staff but the staff on Royal were much more attentive during dining and around the boat in general too. Refills came much faster, they’d even wash my youngests bottle at dinner and give us a fresh bottle of milk on our way out... Everybody was [also] super friendly from other passengers to staff. I feel like they were much more sociable on this cruise than [on] Disney."

The parents also preferred Royal Caribbean's main dining, which is less structured than Disney's formal rotational dining. For starters, Disney doesn't offer a flexible dining option for families, and the meal is usually centered around a themed show or interactive experience. 

"I think the 5pm dining also made it easier since our youngest goes to bed at 630, so being outta there by 6 was a big difference compared to our Disney cruises where dinner always took 1.5hr and one night even took 2hrs on our most recent trip," they explained.

"It was also nice that we literally were the first table in [the] dining room without asking so that made a difference [compared to] Disney where we had a longer walk and couldn’t bring strollers. I liked the option of having my stroller because then it made bringing bottles, wipes, etc much easier too." 

Others in the Reddit thread agreed, arguing that Royal Caribbean offers better value than Disney Cruise Line, with the latter rarely being worth the extra cost. 

"Prefer [Royal Caribbean] over [Disney Cruise Line (DCL)]. DCL is overhyped and overpriced. The food and entertainment [are] better on [Royal Caribbean]," said Icy_Paramedic778. 

Pusheen_The_Limit added, "For spring break we did a back to back Utopia [of the Seas] to the Disney Wish with our 5 y.o., and it was enlightening to compare the experiences so close together."

Here are three other reasons the original Redditor, Purple_Grass_5300, thought Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas was a better fit for their family than Disney Cruise Line. 

Read more: I spent two days in Disneyland Paris and it reminded me how much better a value cruises are

Their kids preferred Splashaway Bay

Splashaway Bay is a popular amenity on many Royal Caribbean ships, providing younger kids with a dedicated area to cool off with slides, water cannons, and other interactive features. 

On Independence of the Seas, Splashaway Bay is located steps from Baby Bay, which is for young children who aren't fully potty trained. Because they aren't allowed in the main pools, this area gives infants and toddlers their own place to splash and play on warm-weather sailings. 

"I preferred [the splash area on Royal Caribbean] for my 4 year old over Disney’s since she loved the 2ft pool and it was close enough to baby zone that I could stand in one spot and see both of them, Purple_Grass_5300 said. 

"Yes Disney’s splash for babies is much bigger but my 2 year old didn’t care and was happily going down the slide over and over. Again this never seemed crowded, for awhile we were the only babies but at most we’d see 4 other little ones."

There were other activities they could enjoy together

Outside of the Splashaway Bay area, Purple_Grass_5300's family spent time at the mini-golf course and the Sky Climber course. Plus, their oldest child got to do karaoke three times!

"The kids fun festival was [also] cute with free face painting and balloon animals," they added. 

They spent more time utilizing the Adventure Ocean facilities

For families with younger children, there's no denying the benefit of sailing on a ship with a top-tier kids' club. Generally speaking, Disney and Royal Caribbean are considered two of the best in the industry, offering age-appropriate programming and dedicated play spaces for no extra charge. 

Based on their experiences, Purple_Grass_5300 thought Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean spaces were more versatile and usable for their family. 

"The living room space was great to kill time and relax a bit with toys that changed up a little each day. The space never seemed crowded, most of the time we’d be the only ones in there and at most there were 3 of us in there. Yes Disney’s toddler room is much fancier but when you compare 1hr a day vs 9am-10pm everyday, it’s a huge difference," they explained. 

Purple_Grass_5300's family also utilized Royal Caribbean's toy-lending program, which allowed them to borrow a bag of toys from the nursery and swap them out during the sailing. 

"Both kids liked them and it helped me pack less knowing we’d have toys on board," they added. 

That said, Purple_Grass_5300 wishes that Royal Caribbean's ships had better technology when it came to the kids' clubs. For instance, Disney can send messages directly to your mobile phone when a child is ready to be picked up. On Independence of the Seas, the kids' club could only call the stateroom phone. 

"It seemed kinda useless for me to use them since they only call your room if your kid needs to be picked up, so my original plan on having the youngest nap while I swam or did slides with my oldest wouldn’t work out. But it was still fine because she loved kids club so I ended up dropping her off there while our youngest napped in the room," they said. 

In the end, they still plan on sailing with Disney for special themed cruises but will likely move solely to Royal Caribbean in the future 

There were some aspects of a Disney cruise that Purple_Grass_5300 missed during their sailing on Independence of the Seas, including the "magic moments, the shows, [and] fireworks." 

However, with children so young, they didn't know what they were missing and were just happy to be on a cruise. Plus, it was easier to get them into bed by 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. each day, which was a huge advantage compared to Disney. 

"Overall, I still plan on doing DCL for Merrytime, Halloween and a Pixar day but afterwards I probably will just stick to Royal for all other cruises," they concluded. 

Royal Caribbean is adding a non-smoking casino to another of its mega ships, replacing other venues.

Symphony of the Seas is one of the biggest ships in the world, and this fall it will get an update to expand its casino. The change will coincide with swapping out a couple of other venues.

In an email to casino players, Royal Caribbean confirmed it will expand the casino space on the ship sometime in Fall 2026.

Since there is no drydock scheduled, it appears the ship is conducting in-service work. This means the ship will continue sailing, but there will be a few weeks of construction while the work is completed.

A guest sailing on Symphony of the Seas this week heard the changes will be complete by September, "We are onboard and they are supposed to do it by September."

This change isn't unique, as the cruise line has made similar changes to most of its other Oasis Class ships.

We expect the Crown Lounge and comedy club to be removed so that the casino space can takeover.  

Comedy Shows will be moved permanently to the Royal Theater instead of having a more intimate club feel.

The Crown Lounge will likely be relocated, which is a dedicated area for Crown and Anchor Society members that are at least Diamond level or above.

On other ships, this space has been moved to Deck 16 to replace the Teen Club.  The Teen Club was renovated on those ships and become smaller.

What's coming next

When the new section of the casino opens, it will offer more space than ever for non-smokers.

When combined with the smoking section, there will be over 29,000 square feet of casino space.

598 slot machines and 38 tables games will be offered onboard.

A push for non-smokers to gamble more

Casinos on cruise ships have become big business for Royal Caribbean. They've systematically expanded the casino on numerous ships over the past few years, indicating the change is part of a strategy to offer more opportunities for passengers to gamble.

This all started with Wonder of the Seas when that cruise ship first entered service.

Wonder was originally destined for China and designed with more gambling spaces.  But a last-minute change kept Wonder in North America, and the cruise line experimented with keeping plans for a non-smoking casino in lieu of a jazz club.

Shortly thereafter, all the Jazz on 4 clubs on other Oasis Class ships were converted to non-smoking casinos. The jazz performers were relocated to Central Park.

More recently, Royal Caribbean replaced a wine bar on Freedom of the Seas and a pub on Radiance of the Seas with non-smoking casinos.

Losing the comedy clubs is a hit to entertainment

While the Crown Lounge will be relocated to a different space, there won't be a dedicated comedy club anymore on Symphony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean will continue offering comedy shows in the much larger Royal Theater, but it's a far less intimate venue.

Some comedians use "crowd work" to interact with guests and generate funny jokes. Trying to do that in a theater is more difficult since the comedian is further from the audience, and the audience cannot easily see each other.

Trying to solve a problem and make more money

This change on Symphony of the Seas is an attempt to accomplish two goals: generate profit and satisfy its guests needs.

While the original casino on Symphony of the Seas has a non-smoking section, it's part of a larger room. The reality is the smoke from the smoking section permeates across to the non-smoking side, leaving an odor.

While Royal Caribbean is unwilling to ban smoking in the casino, it prefers to add dedicated non-smoking gambling space instead.

The idea is to offer a completely smoke-free area for cruisers, so there's less compromise.

Gambling on Royal Caribbean has gained in popularity over the last few years. Not only has there been a surge in interest among passengers trying to take advantage of the casino loyalty program, but the expanding casino space on other ships clearly indicates the cruise line sees value there.

Legend of the Seas will debut with the line's first two-story casino, and Harmony of the Seas just had its casino expanded to become the biggest in the fleet.

Royal Caribbean doesn't share information regarding how profitable its casinos are, but the expanding casino footprint across the fleet is part of a pattern of actions that wouldn't make sense if it wasn't generating money for them.

I thought I knew what to expect from a cruise, but trying an ultra-luxury cruise completely changed my perspective.

I had cruised with Royal Caribbean for 20 years before I tried my first two Silversea sailings, and the experience surprised me more than I expected.

While I had been on Celebrity Cruises, which is a premium cruise line, the experience on Silversea was completely different than anything I had ever had done before.  The approach to cruising on a luxury line is fundamentally different.

I've sailed on Silver Dawn and Silver Ray, with the Ray being the newest ship in the Silversea fleet.  Both ships offer the latest innovations and options you'll find on this brand, and it opened my eyes in a few ways to how different the experience could be from what I was used to on Royal Caribbean.

Thanks to status matching and the ability to earn loyalty points anyway you like, the opportunity to try one of the other lines within the Royal Caribbean Group family is more enticing than ever.  

After spending almost three weeks on Silversea ships, here's what surprised me the most about the experience.

The dress code has been greatly relaxed

Before I stepped foot on a Silversea ship, I knew they had a much more stringent dress code than Royal Caribbean ever had.

However, they have revised their dress code twice and each time it's been relaxed to be less stringent.

As of June 1, after 6pm guests can wear nice jeans (think dark wash, no holes).  Jackets for men are optional every night, even on formal night. You can even wear anything not a proper tennis shoe to dinner.

The idea is it aligns more with a country club feel, and feels less stuffy.  

As a Royal Caribbean cruiser, these are welcome changes. It gives me more options in how to dress up for dinner, and lowers the barrier to trying it. Plus, I think it reflects what society expects.  Even on an ultra-luxury cruise, the reality is "nice jeans" are quite prevalent in how people dress today.

Your loyalty status isn't as important when everything is included

On Royal Caribbean, your loyalty level includes so many perks, but it's far less important on Silversea.

Your Seapass card doesn't have any indication if it's your first Silversea cruise or your fiftieth.  

On the one hand, there's far less included with the Venetian Society. But on the other hand, so much more is included in the cruise fare on Silversea compared to Royal Caribbean.

One major benefit I was glad to have was complimentary laundry as part of my status matching.

Silversea ships have self-service laundry machines, but they cost money and you have to do it yourself.  Because I matched my Pinnacle Club status from Royal Caribbean, I was eligible for as much free dry cleaning as I liked.

This one perk was so helpful so I didn't have to pack as much and could re-use clothing.

The S.A.L.T. program blew me away with how much I loved it

One differentiating factor for Silversea is it's local culinary program.

S.A.L.T. stands for Sea And Land Taste, and both of my ships have a kitchen, bar, and even a restaurant based on this program.

The idea is you can access foods and drinks from the areas your ship visits.  Depending on your itinerary and ports of call you make, the food offerings change.

In Norway, we made venison and a berry compote, but in Spain we made paella. 

On both of my cruises, my preferred evening hang out spot was in the S.A.L.T. Bar because this is where the best mixologists on the ship were located. 

Plus, Silversea added a guitarist while I was on the Ray and it added a much needed form of evening entertainment.

It's a simple concept, but it really makes a difference in how it elevated the total experience and made me feel more connected to the places we were visiting.

Passengers were so willing to include me in their groups

I cruised solo on both my sailings, but I was openly welcomed by other passengers at events and on tours.

I don't expect anything, but I was pleasantly surprised how friendly everyone was.  Perhaps I assumed there might be a stuffy attitude given the luxury cruise status, but it was completely the opposite.

At bars, I struck up conversations with other guests and quickly made new friends.

During a tour, I was invited to sit with one family that quickly became friendly with me.  We ended up touring other cities together, part of the trivia team, and even had dinner a few times.

You can meet fun people on Royal Caribbean ships too, but because of the intimate nature of the ship, it felt easier to make friends too.

There's a learning curve to the butler

Every cabin on Silversea is a suite, and every suite comes with a butler. Admittedly, it's not easy to fully understand what they can do for you.

The butler will introduce themselves to you as soon as you get to your cabin, and while most of their services are fairly obvious, there are a variety of other things butlers can do that are unadvertised.

For example, your butler can unpack all of your luggage for you and then pack it all back again at the end of the cruise.  Many of my fellow passengers had no idea this was a thing, and a few thought it was too weird to have them handle their garments.  Personally, I loved this option!

The butler can also draw a bath for you.  This sounded strange, but after trying it on Silver Dawn, I really enjoyed it.  

Other things my butler was able to do was clean my shoes, deliver fresh popcorn to my room, and even stock my fridge with Dr. Pepper (a soda that I couldn't get elsewhere on the ship).

Learning what the butler can do is part trial and error, and part hearing how other passengers use them.

There are still extra cost restaurants

Despite the fact Silversea is an all-inclusive cruise line, there are a few restaurants that cost extra.

On both ships, the sushi and French restaurants required reservations and had an extra cost to dine there.

Like on Royal Caribbean ships, you can easily subside on the included dining. But if you wanted to splurge, the option is there.

It's a bit surprising that extra cost food exists on Silversea, and they aren't cheap either.

I ate at both Kaiseki and La Dame to try them out.  I liked each for different reasons, but I was quite content with the included places.

There's no app

Silversea doesn't have an app, and that's actually not a problem.

Instead, there's a website you can access via your phone for the daily activities and various messaging options.  But it is strange to travel anywhere and not have an app.

Check-in is perhaps a bit more convoluted than Royal Caribbean's, but it's basic and it works. Moreover, they don't need a fancy app for check-in because you're only competing with a few hundred passengers instead of thousands.

Nonetheless, I was a bit surprised when I went to look for an app and didn't find one.

The food selections are impressive everywhere

If there's one thing Silversea does so much better than Royal Caribbean, it's their food onboard.

From the quality, to the selections, to what's included, everything is a notable step up.  Frankly, I expected this to be the case considering an ultra-luxury cruise should offer higher quality.

You'll notice it immediately when you have embarkation day lunch at the ship's buffet.  You are escorted to your chair, offered to have the daily fresh cooked pasta brought to you, and then navigate a buffet that includes sashimi, shellfish, filet mignon, and more.

Room service has filet mignon as a standard option on the menu to be delivered to your room anytime of day. 

Each of the included restaurants has a wide menu, and the cafes have giant cakes that look as good as they taste.

If you're used to Royal Caribbean's great food, you'll love Silversea's even more.

Crew members go to great lengths to be helpful

I'm constantly amazed how dedicated and resourceful crew members are on any ship I've sailed, and that includes Silversea.

Because Silversea has such a high guest-to-crew member ratio, you will rarely ever have to wait for one to assist.  And they are extremely eager to help you in anyway they can.

Many of them learned my name quite quickly, along with my last order. It really felt like I was in the TV show, "Cheers!" when I walked into various venues by the second or third day, because everyone knew my name.

There are no lines

Good luck finding a crowd, let a lone a line, on Silversea.

Across two cruises, the only time I encountered a line was when we had an itinerary change and suddenly everyone wanted to rebook their tours.

It was refreshing how there was no wait for elevators, nor were there crowds when embarking or disembarking the ship.

While I expected the ship to feel less crowded than Royal Caribbean, I did not expect it to be as uncrowded as it was.

I was invited to dine with the Captain

While on Silver Ray, I received an invitation to dine with the ship's Captain for one evening in the their Main Dining Room.

In all my years of cruising, I've never been invited to dine with the Captain in the Main Dining Room, and it was quite a treat.

Initially, I was worried it would be awkward to carry the conversation for an entire meal with someone I've never met. That proved to be anything but a problem.

Captain Giovani Schiaffino has clearly perfected the art of talking, because he had something to say every minute. I barely got to say anything!

It was so much fun, and a real treat to experience.  I noticed he had other guests dining with him every night at his table, which is a nice touch.

Many suites on the new ships don't have a tub

When I walked into my suite on Silver Ray, I did a double-take when I realized there was a shower instead of a tub.

This didn't bother me, but I was a bit astonished there wasn't one because tubs seem to be synonymous with luxury.

I spoke to the Hotel Director, and she mentioned anecdotally a lot of passengers prefer a shower because it's easier to get in and out.  Considering the average age of a Silversea cruise is older than Royal Caribbean, that kind of makes sense.

Don't worry, the higher tier suites have tubs. It was just my entry-level suite that didn't have one. 

The summer cruise season is well underway, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Houston has just issued a reminder for passengers to stay safe onboard.

With millions of cruisers set to sail across the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, and beyond this summer, it’s important to remember the safety procedures and precautions to take at sea.

The FBI posted on X and Facebook this week to remind passengers what to do in the case of a crime onboard.

Crimes should be reported to security staff immediately, says the FBI

When a crime occurs on a cruise ship, the investigation looks different than when a crime occurs on land. In their social posts, the FBI urges passengers to report incidents immediately to cruise ship security.

“As summer vacations begin, the FBI reminds you that if you have been a victim of assault with serious bodily injury, kidnapping, [or] sexual assault aboard a cruise ship, report it to security staff immediately. If you are no longer on the cruise, contact your local police and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.”

The Bureau encourages passengers to report the incident if they are a victim or a witness of a crime. If a passenger wants to report a crime after they disembark, they can report it at tips.fbi.gov, by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI, or by contacting their local FBI office.

Crimes at sea are quite rare

Although the FBI’s reminder might seem like a cause for concern, crimes on cruise ships are still relatively rare. Cruise ship crimes often make headlines due to their “shock” factor, but crime rates at sea remain infrequent compared to rates on land.

A study from Northeastern University, for example, compared the rates of homicide, assault, and sexual assault within the cruise industry to those rates in the mainland United States.

Statistics from eight cruise lines were studied in the research along with crime rates in U.S. cities with a population between 250,000 and 499,999 people.

When comparing violent crime rates per 100,000 population, the rates of homicide, sexual assault, and aggravated assault were significantly lower on cruise ships.

The average aggravated assault rate for passengers and crew, for instance, was just 2.6 per 100,000 people in the four years studied. The rate on land, on the other hand, was 432.2 cases of aggravated assault per 100,000 people.

Additionally, the Department of Transportation publishes a Cruise Vessel Security & Safety Act (CVSSA) Statistical Compilation each quarter. In Q3 of 2025, a total of 47 alleged incidents were reported to the FBI among seven mass market cruise lines.

The report can be found here.

If a crime does occur at sea, the FBI has jurisdiction in many cases

It’s no secret that cruise ships have their own security personnel and holding cells onboard, but in many cases, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has jurisdiction over the investigation.

When applicable, the FBI investigates offenses and enforces United States law on cruise ships. In most cases, the Bureau has jurisdiction in the following circumstances:

• The crime occurs within maritime jurisdiction of the United States
• The crime is committed by or against a U.S. national
• The crime occurs on a sailing departing from or returning to the United States
• The vessel is wholly or partially owned by a U.S. national or company

U.S. citizens sailing on cruise ship itineraries that do not visit the United States can still contact the FBI to report a crime. Depending on the location of the crime and the nationalities of perpetrators and victims involved, though, the FBI may not have jurisdiction over the case.

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act aims to improve safety

In 2010, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) was signed into law, which aims to improve the safety and security of passengers on cruise ships.

The law applies to cruise ships that carry at least 250 passengers and call upon a U.S. port. According to the law, ships must comply with the following requirements, among others:

• Staterooms and crew cabins must be equipped with security latches and time-sensitive key technology
• The vessel should have technology to capture images of and/or detect passengers who have fallen overboard
• Vessels must maintain a video surveillance system for the purpose of documenting crimes and providing evidence to law enforcement
• Vessels must carry equipment for and conduct training on how to preserve forensic evidence
• Passengers should be provided with a security guide in commonly understood English

The CVSSA does not apply to cruise ships operating outside of the United States, although cruise lines must still follow the regulations and safety standards of the region they are operating in.

Safety is of utmost importance for cruise lines, and the FBI is there to help

By and large, passengers are safer on a cruise ship than they are on land. Cruise ships take meticulous care in keeping up with security and safety standards onboard.

In the early days of cruising, there was a lack of standardized safety regulations on cruise ships. As the years passed, though, it became clear that it was just as important to enforce safety and legal regulations at sea as it was on land.

Today, for example, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the leading cruise trade association in the industry, and CLIA members must adhere to legal requirements for reporting crimes on cruise ships. 59 cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, are members of CLIA.

In the case of a crime onboard, passengers should feel secure and confident that they can report the crime and that it will be investigated in a detailed manner.

Even though cruise ship crimes are still somewhat rare, it’s helpful to know who to contact when you need to report a crime or give a statement. The FBI is available to assist in these situations.

We wanted to celebrate my wife's birthday with our friends and their families, but I didn't want to end up overwhelmed with too much togetherness.  That's why we opted for a cruise instead of a land vacation somewhere.

We would be traveling with an empty nest family, family with kids older than ours, and even one of our friends brought their senior citizen parents. It was a wide range of ages, each with their own food and activity preferences.

I knew we needed something with plenty of dining, activities, and entertainment options. An Alaska cruise was the obvious choice.

We worked with the same travel agent to get us booked on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas.

To our delight, the trip was so much fun because we got to vacation together without overdoing how much time we spent together.

We shared what we were doing in a group chat without expectations

We started a group chat as a way to plan our cruise, but once onboard, it became our "hey, this is what I'm up to if anyone wants to join" messaging center.

There's always a few things going on at any given time while on a Royal Caribbean ship. Trivia, entertainers performing, pools, and the casino are just a few examples.

If one of us was headed to do something, we'd post where we were headed. I never expected anyone to join, but sometimes I'd get a person or two. And sometimes the entire group would show up.

We met up each evening for dinner, then, depending on the entertainment, either stayed together or went in different directions.

Leveraging a group chat was an easy way to always stay in contact.  But a mutual understanding of family time versus group time was also important.

The teens made friends, but we enforced family time

Each family we were traveling with had kids of various ages, but they all were tweens and teens.  As such, they expect a fair amount of independence.

I've cruised long enough to know it's important to give your teens roaming privileges, but also made sure they were back with us for certain activities or meals.

At the very least, dinner every night is a must-do for all of us together.  They're expected to not only dine with us, but be dressed and on time for it.  

Certainly we did all of our shore excursions together, but we also picked a few activities during our cruise that we wanted everyone present. Any good parent can also wield guilt to compel their kids to join in an "optional" trivia or other event.

All of things included on a cruise made it so much easier

Whenever we take land vacations, it seems my wallet is constantly open. From paying for meals and snacks to coughing up credit cards for activities, family fun comes at a steep cost.

On a cruise, much of the food and beverages are included. This includes pools, activities, entertainment, ice cream, pizza, and more.  It means my kids can indulge without it hurting my bottom line.

The fact my kids have their Diamond drink vouchers is a huge value because they can enjoy mocktails and Frappuccinos without it costing me anything. 

We planned some excursions together, but met up in port

The focus of an Alaska cruise is what we do on land, so excursions were very important.

Prior to the cruise, we booked tours and shared our plans.  In Ketchikan, we all booked the same wildlife and waterfall tour. It worked out really well because they put our group in one van, so it felt like a private tour.

In Sitka, part of our group went out on a small marine wildlife tour. I tried to invite more of the group, but the boat was limited in capacity.

We all met up after our tours concluded in Juneau before heading back to the ship.

Just like the ship, we kept things open but without expectations.

We could find places to spread out if we wanted alone time

Even if a trip with friends goes exceedingly well, you're going to want alone time at some point.

Aside from our balcony room, a cruise ship offers lounges, open decks, restaurants, and seating just about everywhere that we could find a place to getaway.

I spent my mornings working at the internet cafe on deck 7 because it allowed me to work and take calls without disturbing my wife in the room.  Moreover, there are comfortable office chairs that were far better than any lounge chair.

Anyone that wanted to find space could find it, which wouldn't be the case if we all rented an Airbnb.

Avoiding feeling "attached at the hip" made this trip a success

During our weeklong adventure, there was enough to keep us all entertained without the issue of feeling like were on top of each other.

There's a fine line between together time and "I need a break", and a cruise works very well to balance this.

We enjoyed our time at sea so much, we're doing it again for New Years Eve with the same families.  I think it will be an even better experience considering we nailed the winning vacation formula to cruise with friends and family.