Royal Caribbean Blog

A piece of Royal Caribbean's early history is headed to the scrapyard. 

Royal Caribbean's former Song of America, which was once one of the largest cruise ships in the world, was retired in 2023 by Celestyal Cruises.

Song of America entered service for Royal Caribbean in 1982 as the cruise line's fourth ship. She was preceded by Sun Viking, Nordic Prince, and Song of Norway. 

The cruise ship initially offered Caribbean itineraries from Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas; however, she later added sailings from New York to Bermuda to expand the ship's appeal to a broader audience.

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

Celestyal Cruises acquired the cruise ship in 2014, though she departed Royal Caribbean's fleet in 1999 after being sold to Sun Cruises. After a five-year stint as the MS Sunbird, she was once again sold in 2004 to Louis Cruises, operating under the name MS Thomson for eight years. 

In 2012, she was renamed Louis Olympia and began offering cruises out of Piraeus (Athens), Greece, before Louis Cruise Lines re-branded to become Celestyal Cruises in 2014.

Celestyal Olympia sailed for Celestyal Cruises for about a decade before Celestyal sold her to a flag of convenience company which renamed her Bella Fortuna. Celestyal replaced the 40+-year-old ship with the former AIDAaura.

Bella Fortuna's name was eventually shortened to Fortu. On January 22, she departed the United Arab Emirates with her status listed as "to be broken up," according to The Maritime Executive. 

She's en route to Alang, India, home to the world's largest shipbreaking yard.

Read more: Photos show dismantled cruises in a cruise ship graveyard

When Song of America launched, she was the third-largest passenger vessel at sea

She also featured many firsts for the cruise line, including Royal Caribbean's iconic Viking Crown Lounge which provided 360-degree views around the ship. 

It was also the first time Royal Caribbean had put staterooms toward the front of the ship and public spaces near the aft so that the cabins were further from the ship's noisy engines. 

Plus, Song of America had two swimming pools, which had never been done before on any Royal Caribbean ship! That seems unheard of today with vessels like Icon of the Seas that feature upward of seven pools for guests to enjoy. 

Song of America catapulted Royal Caribbean into a modern era of cruising

“Every innovative maritime feature, every one of ‘tomorrow’s’ cruise concepts, will be part of Song of America today" is what the first preview brochure for Song of America said. 

Following Song of America, Royal Caribbean's committee overseeing the construction of a new ship argued for building a vessel that would push the boundaries even further in terms of size. 

Thus, Sovereign of the Seas was born. With a passenger capacity of over 2,600 guests, she could handle more than double what Song of America could accommodate. 

And as we all know, Royal Caribbean ships have continued to become larger and more innovative. I suppose we should expect nothing less from an industry leader who had big dreams in the 1980s, starting with Song of America. 

Read more: 8 ways Royal Caribbean changed the cruise industry

The differences between a brand new cruise ship and one that was built almost 30 years ago is quite stark.

In the past few months, I sailed on an old Royal Caribbean cruise ship and two ships that launched in the past year. You can't help but compare them, even though their approach to cruising is quite different.

Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas began cruising in 1997 just before the era of mega ships began. 

The cruise industry was about to undergo a massive shift in focus, as the launch of Voyager of the Seas in 1999 and Oasis of the Seas in 2010 redefined what the public expected from a cruise ship.  Then in 2024, Icon of the Seas raised the bar yet again, and for some people, it's difficult to go back to the older ships.

I recently sailed on Enchantment after spending my summer on both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.  Each of these ships entered service in 2024, and both of them offer an overwhelming amount of places onboard to relax, eat, explore, and watch. 

Big, new ships are quintessentially what cruising is about today, with so much of the focus of what you can do onboard.  Royal Caribbean is very much in tune with what consumers are looking for in a vacation, and they've built ships to rival land resorts.

Meanwhile, aging ships like Enchantment of the Seas are still sailing and while they don't have nearly as much to do onboard, they're fun ships for a relaxing trip away from work.

Activities were much more varied on Icon of the Seas

One thing you'll quickly notice on a new cruise ship is just how much there is to do onboard.

Icon of the Seas is split up into different areas, with different venues in each one.  It's practically impossible to feel bored, as the line packs every day with activities and events. There are game shows, live music, dance parties, and of course the top deck attractions that capture everyone's attention.

Icon of the Seas is a popular choice for families because of how much Royal Caribbean targets for children and their parents. Naturally, that means there will be lots of kids onboard.

The Surfside neighborhood alone is a great example of this, as the whole section gravitates towards younger children. There's a carousel, buffet serving kid-friendly food, splash park, pool, and more. It's really no surprised there were a lot of families onboard.

Up on the pool deck, there are multiple pools, an entire water park, surf simulator, mini-golf course, and an adrenaline experience that is kind of like a ropes course.

You won't find most of these things on a ship like Enchantment, but it has the basics.  It has a main pool, adults-only pool, and lots of loungers.

Offering all these flashy activities on Icon is going to naturally attract families in the same way a theme park would capture the attention of families more than a national park might. It's hard to resist the glitz of everything on Icon.

Enchantment has a relaxing pool deck with much more space to spread out

One thing I really liked about Enchantment of the Seas was how inviting and spread out their pool deck felt.

It has one main pool, and a lot of deck space around it.  This means you can easily find chairs on either deck of the pool decks, and it felt more sedate compared to Icon's pool deck.

Chair hogs are present on all cruise ships, regardless of size, but I think the fact Enchantment's pool deck was a bit more serene, it helps a bit with that.

Plus, I really think the pool bar scene is superior on Enchantment.  Between the enormous pool bar located in the shade, and the Oasis Bar that faces the ocean, they're great spots to enjoy a cocktail or beer while at sea.

The difference in prices are eye opening

Probably the biggest difference between Enchantment and Icon will be the price to go on each.

Cruise prices are on the rise thanks to record demand, and there is premium pricing to go on a ship like Icon of the Seas.

As an example, if you wanted to go on Icon for spring break in 2026, an oceanview balcony cabin would cost $2,247.80 per person for a week-long cruise on Icon.  

An oceanview balcony on Enchantment would cost just $997.60 per person for a 5-night cruise.

No matter which week you compare prices, you're going to see a stark price difference between these ships.  Families on a tight budget will get more bang for their buck on an older ship, even if there's compromise on what you can do onboard.

Many more dining choices on Icon, including extra cost restaurants

If there was an area of Enchantment of the Seas I was disappointed with, it was their dining variety.

Enchantment has just one specialty restaurant and a small Windjammer buffet.  It was sufficient, and I didn't go hungry.  But I missed having more choices.

Meanwhile, Icon of the Seas has 27 places to eat, including 12 extra cost restaurants. 

Some might question the need of extra cost restaurants, but there are so many on new ships because clearly cruisers are buying it up. 

It's debatable what's necessary, but I think having more choice is always a good thing.  Some cruises I'm quite content eating in the buffet or enjoying my favorite dishes in the Main Dining Room.  But I like to step out and have sushi, or grab nachos and a burger at the sports bar.

Icon even has a food hall that's included in your cruise fare and it's one of my favorite places to eat on any cruise ship.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Empire Supper Club, which is about as fancy a dinner experience you'll find on a cruise ship with jazz music, fine dining, and exquisite service.

While dining upcharges will add to your vacation budget, it's a factor a lot of people look for in a cruise ship.

You'll find fun bars on both ships

What would a cruise ship be without drinks?

There are bars throughout both ships, and I don't think you can be disappointed in the drinking opportunities on either ship.

Enchantment has a great pool bar with Oasis Bar, but I like its Schooner Bar even better. It's massive and actually has a nautical theme, unlike the one on Icon.

The Viking Crown Lounge bar on Enchantment has a stunning view of the top deck and ocean around you.

Icon has better bars that include entertainment, such as the English Pub or Dueling Pianos.

I'm also a sucker for the Swim & Tonic pool because it has a swim-up bar.

Both ships have enticing drink packages you can purchase, but be sure to buy them before the cruise begins to save a lot of money.

The shows on Icon are incredible

Another area where there's simply no comparison is the onboard entertainment.

Icon has three different theaters, with each one a full production show that will take your breath away.

The Wizard of Oz is the probably the top show to see on Icon, and it's a wonderful production true to the 1939 film. It has all the songs you know, a beautiful production, and talented cast.

The aquashow in the indoor Aquatheater is the kind of thing you'll take a lot of video to show friends at home because it's such high energy and you have to remind yourself a few times "I'm watching this on a cruise ship!".

Then you have the ice skating show that features skaters who have competed on the world stage.  

Enchantment has a production show in its theater, but it feels like a high school medley compared to what Icon has.

But both ships had better-than-expected cabins

I'll always prefer a cabin on a new ship for the aesthetics, but I was pleasantly surprised how nice my balcony cabin was on Enchantment too.

No matter which ship you sail on, the stateroom experience is more similar than not, especially in standard rooms.

In terms of amenities, they are very close. So it's really the look and feel of the room that stands out between an old ship and a new ship.

You will find many more electric outlets on Icon, along with USB plugs too.  A ship like Enchantment that was built in the '90s just wouldn't have had those options.

My favorite feature of any cabin on Icon is the fact there is a seat in the shower, something that bucks the decades long trend of having just a tube for a shower.

How much you value activities and your budget make each an obvious choice

I like both cruise ships for different reasons, and I think you'll gravitate towards one or the other depending on what your needs are.

Enchantment lacks the exciting family activities, variety of dining, and excellent shows, but it makes up for it in a great price.  Plus, it's the kind of cruise you can go on to chill.

Icon of the Seas is my favorite cruise ship right now because of how much it packs in, and I greatly value variety. I can't get over how much this ship has changed what I expect from a cruise ship, and it's the place I'd easily go back again and again with my family.

For many people, the price is what drives them in one direction or another.  It's hard to overlook the price gap between a new and old ship.

If you don't have kids and want to save money, Enchantment will win every time.  Even if you have kids, I think you'd find more value in taking them on a smaller ship because there's just enough to keep them occupied.

But if you can afford Icon, it's an incredible vacation that is sure to make a lot of memories along the way.

I've done both, and I'll continue to sail on both in the future.  But each has its strengths that will probably pull you in one direction.

I thought I knew all the great beach spots to visit in Cozumel until I kept seeing people recommend a beach club I'd never heard of before.

Cozumel is known for a great beach day, and I've sampled plenty of them.

On a recent visit to this island in Mexico, I wanted to try something different and I was enticed by the overwhelming recommendations to try Buccanos.

I joined a Facebook group that's dedicated to all things Cozumel, and I was surprised by how many people consistently recommend Buccanos over places I had heard of (and been to) many times before.

Part of the reason I didn't know about Buccanos is that it's located on the north end of the island, closer to the hotels.  Most cruise ship visitors opt to go to the beaches on the southern side of the island.

But it seemed all the recommendations were coming from people that live in Cozumel, and that caught my attention.

Getting there takes a few minutes longer

If you're visiting Cozumel on a cruise ship, a taxi will get you to any beach club.

Except for Del Mar Latino Beach Club or El Cid, you're probably taking a taxi to find a beach spot. 

To get to the north side of town, the taxi will go through downtown and past the airport.  There's not usually much traffic, so it took us about 15 minutes each way.  The cost of the taxi for 3 of us was $20 each way.

Buccanos is pay as you go instead of all-inclusive

The first thing I noticed was unlike so many of the popular beach clubs in Couzmel, it wasn't all-inclusive.

All-inclusive pricing is great if you're a big eater and drinker, but sometimes I'm not in that mood.  Plus, I feel my kids never eat or drink enough to break even on their cost.

The entry cost is 400 mx per person, which is about $20.  That cost goes towards any food or drink you order while there.

There's a pool and beach, with seating around both.  Most of the seating is centered near the beach, but the distance between the beach and pool is perhaps 20 steps.

Seating is on a first-come basis. I arrived right at opening, so I could have any spot. Because we were there in January when it wasn't very hot, the club never got too busy and there were seats available.

The vibe is very much chill and enjoy being on the beach

Very quickly it became apparent that this place was all about relaxing.

Every beach club in Cozumel that I've been to has a different style to it, and Buccanos is more mellow than others. There are no inflatables to climb in the ocean, there's no DJ or party music, and it's not a massive operation either.

Kids are allowed here, and the few that visited on the same day I did were in the pool because the surf was a little rough.

There's waiters who come by your chair periodically to see if you need anything, but it's very much about relaxing and enjoying being in or around the water.

The food quality was amazing

If there's one thing I was really impressed by at Buccanos, it was the presentation of the food offered.

Everything is priced a la carte, so you only pay for what you order.  I started off with guacamole, and because I was feeling peckish, I also ordered the avocado toast.

Most beach clubs have decent food, but it's not going to be sit down restaurant quality.  This was served as if I was at a resort restaurant.

Both plates were huge and well beyond what I expected in terms of quality.

We also ordered a bucket of beers to share, along with a bloody mary to have in the morning.

The prices aren't super cheap, but at least the food quality matches what you pay.  I've been to resort day passes in other countries where you definitely overpay for what you get.

At lunch, we opted to eat at the nearby restaurant instead of at the beach.  This was because the bird situation was too annoying for my taste.  If you turn your back for a second, a bird will swoop in to get your food.

Since we were in Mexico, we ordered fish tacos and shrimp/beef burritos.

Once again, great quality of food.  Our lunch order took a while to come out, but I suspect it was because everyone else was trying to eat lunch at the same time too and the food isn't mass produced.

In total, we paid $132 before tip for 3 people to enjoy a bucket of beers, one cocktail, guacamole, avocado toast, tacos, 2 burritos, and a soda.

Buccanos is a good spot for a beach day without much else

I enjoyed our visit to Buccanos, and quickly saw what all those locals liked about it.

To be fair, I think the locals prefer Buccanos because they can drop in for a bite to eat, beer, and sit by the water.  Perhaps they aren't investing all day like one might at another beach club.

Without a doubt, the food quality was better at Buccanos than any other beach club I've been to in Cozumel.  

The fact it's priced a la carte means you could stop in for half a day, allowing some time downtown to shop and then head to the beach to cool off.

If you're looking for a party vibe, adults-only experience, or lots for kids to do, this isn't the spot for you. This is where you want to go to have beer, admire the view of the ocean, and top it off with a great lunch.

This adorable dog has been living on the world's largest cruise ship ever since Icon of the Seas launched one year ago.

Royal Caribbean awarded Rover the coveted title of “Chief Dog Officer” aboard Icon of the Seas. Joining the ship at just six months old, the golden retriever puppy has been living onboard ever since. As one of the most beloved residents on Icon of the Seas, Rover has a very important role: to bring happiness, joy, and love to all guests and crew members onboard.

Icon of the Seas, the biggest ship in the world, accommodates up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members - keeping Rover quite busy! Of course, Rover does not have free rein onboard the vessel. She is meticulously cared for by her handler, Alison Hubble. 

Known as Rover’s Chief of Staff, Hubble's only job is caring, training, and handling Rover aboard the ship. The dynamic duo meets many guests both onboard and ashore, as Rover is able to explore some ports of call while living aboard Icon of the Seas.

Even still, having a dog live on a cruise ship is unprecedented. According to USA Today, Royal Caribbean first consulted with animal welfare experts at the American Humane Society before bringing her on the ship. This helped ensure Rover is safe, comfortable, and happy onboard Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean even designed a special cabin onboard for Rover and Alison to live together comfortably. The spacious stateroom includes a built-in crate to maintain Rover's safety. Toys and fluffy beds are available around the cabin for Rover to play and nap - what a sweet life!

In a recent video on social media, Royal Caribbean shared a glimpse into Rover’s busy life on Icon of the Seas, including how she continues to capture the hearts of passengers and crew members alike.

First, Rover shares her favorite spot onboard the world’s largest cruise ship

In her exclusive interview on social media, Rover first shares that her favorite place to hang out onboard Icon of the Seas is Central Park. 

Throughout the clips, Rover can be seen sniffing the many different real plants and trees located in Central Park. Dogs have a strong sense of smell, so Rover likely appreciates discovering the real-life greenery in Central Park and taking in the fresh air.

In her day-in-the-life video, Rover shares, “Central Park is my favorite spot. I call it ‘Central Bark.' I love sniffing all the trees, plants, and fresh air. I get to wag hello to everyone as they walk - and relax in the shade!”

Central Park has become a guest favorite and is a standout venue on Royal Caribbean's biggest cruise ships. Originally debuting on Oasis-class vessels, Icon of the Seas also features the serene neighborhood. Renowned for its open-air design, Central Park is considered one of the most innovative spaces on Royal Caribbean’s biggest cruise ships.

To keep the plants alive aboard the vessel, Central Park utilizes a sophisticated irrigation and fertilization system to keep the foliage green and lusciously beautiful. For Rover, this offers many exciting opportunities for new smells and lots of sniffing!

Next, the Chief Dog Officer explains some of her key duties while living on Icon of the Seas

Embracing their vision of creating the ultimate family vacation, Royal Caribbean saw the perfect opportunity to introduce a family dog to live at sea.

Having a dog live full-time onboard a cruise ship was an unprecedented move by Royal Caribbean; however, the marketing strategy was extremely well received. Rover has become synonymous with Icon of the Seas, as many passengers eagerly look for her presence.

In her interview, Rover explains, “It’s literally my job to bring positive vibes, have tons of fun, and make people smile!”

Guests are welcome - and encouraged - to playfully pet and interact with Rover during their vacation. She will never turn down a quick belly rub from happy guests onboard! Both passengers and crew find great joy in her furry presence - and Rover takes her job very seriously. 

Rover is also known for playing fetch and exercising around the ship in venues that aren’t in use, including the helipad! With busy days onboard, Rover tries to spend time with both guests and crew members to keep everyone in high spirits. However, Rover often won’t be seen in crowded areas or food areas for her well-being. 

Rover also has exclusive access to the ship’s bridge, where she loves to take naps!

All that playing and exploring can be quite tiring, especially for Rover! The friendly pup has a busy schedule of socializing and napping between interactions. In particular, Rover shares how she loves to take naps while visiting the captain on the ship's bridge. 

“Being Chief Dog Officer means I get to hang out on the bridge with the captain. I usually rest up on my bed in there - taking lots of naps with wag-worthy views,” explains Rover.

The captain can be seen giving Rover lots of love and attention in the clips, playfully petting her, and tossing the ball. Not many pups get to play fetch with sweeping views of the ocean. Rover is even allowed to sit in the most important seat on the ship: the captain’s chair!

Even better, it appears Rover has her own cozy napping spot on the bridge, complete with a big, fluffy pink bed. The wooden dog house is another example of Royal Caribbean’s commitment to Rover’s comfort and safety on Icon of the Seas, even on the ship’s bridge.

With so much love and attention, Rover loves making everyone happy onboard Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean made it clear that Rover is not a service dog, meaning she does not complete tasks for disability purposes. Instead, Rover’s only job onboard is to bring love, joy, and happiness to everyone onboard Icon of the Seas.

During Rover’s interview, she was asked what she loves most about being Icon of the Seas’ Chief Dog Officer. She replied, “Paws down, it’s the crew. I love how happy everyone is to see me. I get so many pets and love when they’re around. It’s a dream come true!”

During cruises, Rover is available for meet-and-greets with fellow passengers. She also takes her training sessions seriously, often followed by some well-deserved playtime around the ship.

As Royal Caribbean hoped, Rover is one of the most beloved attractions on Icon of the Seas. Many guests will wait several days for the opportunity to meet her - and some even bring gifts to share with Rover.

Fortunately, Rover isn’t limited to the cruise ship—she gets to explore some ports of call as well!

Even with an atypical life for a dog, Rover has plenty of opportunities to explore the world. She can often be seen running around Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Because this private destination is owned and operated by the cruise line, Rover is allowed to explore and play around the island.  Supposedly, Rover also has permission to go ashore in Miami, Florida - which is Icon of the Seas’ homeport.

During her interview, Rover was asked about her favorite activity on the island. She replied, “I love hitting the beach to run, swim, and roll around in the sand. Phew! Playing fetch is the best. My Chief of Staff throws the ball so far and I get to show everyone how fast I am.”

Rover’s handler shared that she absolutely loves running on the beach at CocoCay and highlighted her impressive swimming skills. For Rover, this is her special day of the week to let loose, run around, and burn off all her energy.

In the clip, Rover is seen enthusiastically playing fetch with her handler on the sandy beach of CocoCay. She is also seen playing in the sand, rolling around, and jumping in the water. After all that playtime in the sun and sand, Rover says she needs to clean off back in her cabin.

Rover explains, “Then, I cool off with a fresh bath before snuggling up for a well-deserved snooze on the ship.” Once she's all clean, Rover's handler says she always needs a nap after playing so much. 

Rover also shared a glimpse into her training schedule while onboard

Like any good canine, Rover loves to earn treats by perfecting her skillset. Along with her handler, Rover keeps busy with training while she’s not out and about on the ship. Rover says her favorite rewards include beef treats, which she earns while practicing some of her newest tricks with her Chief of Staff.

Each day consists of training for Rover, typically in the morning. After morning potty breaks, Rover enjoys playtime and training time to ensure she is up-to-date on her skills. Royal Caribbean needs to keep Rover well-behaved so she continues to be obedient while interacting with passengers and crew members.

In addition, maintaining Rover’s calm disposition is important, as she interacts with many children. This heightens the importance of Rover’s obedience, as she looks to her handler for instructions and commands in these situations.

“I love my yummy beef training treats. I earn them when I’m practicing new skills or keeping old ones sharp. I can do all kinds of commands - and I’m working on really cool tricks, like spinning, rolling over, and cleaning up my toys after I play,” says Rover. In the clip, Rover shows off some of her best tricks for the audience, including the impressive task of cleaning up toys!

Rover also encourages guests to wave to her when they see her onboard, as this is one of her latest skills. Rover exclaims, “If you see me around, give me a wave and I might wave back!”

Of course, Rover can’t wait to meet her new friend, Sailor, on the upcoming Star of the Seas

Although Rover was the first dog to live at sea for Royal Caribbean, she will soon have a new friend joining her. With the August 2025 debut of Star of the Seas - the latest Icon Class ship - Rover will be joined by a new pup, Sailor.

At the end of the interview, Rover shares how she can’t wait to meet her new friend later this year when the ship debuts. Rover states, “I’m super excited to meet my new friend! Sailor will be the Chief Dog Officer on Star of the Seas.”

Read more: Royal Caribbean will have a dog that lives on Star of the Seas

I've been taking my kids on cruise ships since they were young enough to cruise, and it's taught me a few lessons about which cabin is the best.

Going on vacation anywhere as a family presents its own sets of challenges, but I've found cruise ships to be the best way for our family to get away.  As the kids have grown up, the ship experience has evolved to match our needs.

Over the years I've booked us in different cruise rooms for different reasons and at this point, my wife and I agree there's only option that works for us and our kids and it's definitely not stuffing all of us into one room, especially the cheapest cabin I can find.

I know exactly why parents would lean towards booking the lowest category room as a way to keep costs down. But after staying with my kids in small inside rooms, massive suites, and a few in-between, it's become clear to me going cheap in one room is never worth it.

Based on my experiences, here are a couple of the rooms I've tried and the one I'd recommend

All of us in an inside room

When my kids were younger, I'd usually book a small, interior room because it was cheap.

You can book these cabins that have no windows or balcony and can sleep up to four people.  There's almost always beds that come down from the ceiling or wall for the third and fourth passenger.

These cabins are tight fits, as most inside rooms come in at about 164 square feet of space. A standard interior cabin on Icon of the Seas is 156 square feet, or 178 square feet if you move up to a spacious interior cabin.

If you're cruising with toddlers, sure, a small inside room works fine, but it's incredible how much space the pack 'n play, stroller, and all the baby supplies take up.

We used to joke about putting the crib in the closet if we had a spacious interior room because it would get a lot of things out of the way. Don't worry, we never did.

Besides trying not to trip over everything and everyone in the room, the sleeping situation is less than ideal. When your kids are very young, we felt we had to keep the room quiet and dark when the children were ready for bed, and then that meant my wife and I "playing the quiet game".  

As the kids got older, the bigger issue arose and that's sharing one bathroom and one shower. Kids are okay with this when they are young, but as they get older, they seem to take an hour each in there.

I get why parents would choose to put everyone in one room to save money, especially if you're trying to cruise on a budget.

However, families with older kids (especially teens) should avoid trying to cram everyone into an interior cabin because of the lack of space and privacy.

A big suite

While a small interior room is a no-go, what about a big suite? Surely all that extra space would solve the problem.

I thought this was the solution when I took my family on Icon of the Seas for a summer cruise, and we booked the Icon Loft Suite.

This is a massive two-level suite that even has two bathrooms. We're still sharing the suite with my kids, but they're on the lower level on the pull out sofa and my wife and I upstairs on the bed.

This approach did solve the sharing a bathroom problem we had with all of us in an interior room, but we're still sharing one room.

My oldest child is a teenager and the younger one is almost there, and both of them love to sleep in and have their privacy.

I don't think book a mega suite is a bad idea for families, but we definitely overpaid for that second bathroom and extra space. This suite cost $5,000 per night, and it wasn't the ideal solution in the grand scheme of things.

All of us enjoyed the perks of staying in a big suite, such as priority embarkation, access to suite only areas, and the services of the Royal Genie.  Heck, the Genie alone was arguably worth the cost.

And there are other suites that have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, such as the Aquatheater Suite, but they're still super expensive too.

Connecting staterooms offer privacy and plenty of space

For the money, the best choice for a family is to book two connecting rooms.

We usually book connecting balcony cabins, but we've stayed in connecting interior cabins too.

When we went on Liberty of the Seas this summer to Bermuda, I booked us in connecting balcony cabins.

The reason why connecting rooms work so well is it addresses the three major things families need in their cruise accommodations: space, privacy, and value.

Having two separate cabins means you're not climbing over as many people, and even the smallest cabins are manageable with just two people in there.

No matter how old your kids are, there's enough space there too.

Privacy is also perfect with connecting rooms as you have a common door between the rooms.  When the kids want to sleep in, play a game, or call their friends, they have that.  Plus, they have their own beds and aren't sleeping on a pull out sofa.

And the second cabin comes with its own full bathroom, so there's less fighting over the shower.  Notice I said "less" because the kids still fight, but at least it's not among the four of us.

Booking two cabins is usually much cheaper than a suite. In fact, booking two rooms is not as expensive as you might think, especially if you book connecting interior rooms.

When we have connecting balcony rooms, we can not only open and close the connecting door inside the room, but also the balcony dividers. You can't do this on all Royal Caribbean ships, but most support it now.

Compared to trying to put all of us in a single inside room, the extra cost was completely worth the price increase.

It's been one year since the biggest cruise ship in the world debuted and changed everything about cruising.

Icon of the Seas celebrated her one year anniversary, and it's the perfect opportunity for Royal Caribbean to take stock of what worked and what stood out on this ship.

Icon caught the attention of just about everyone. Her immense size and equally impressive new features showed off all the hard work that was put into a cruise ship that was designed from the keel up with all new ideas.

During a webinar, Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development for Royal Caribbean, shared the best things about Icon, and even a few ideas that will make it onto Icon's sister ship that will launch later this year.

Ms. Goswami was a key member of the team that designed Icon of the Seas, and she's spent a lot of time interviewing passengers to get a better sense of what's worked.

Biggest wins so far on Icon of the Seas

In thinking about what Royal Caribbean looks at from concept to finish, one big success with Icon has been its ability to provide views of the ocean.

A complaint on the Oasis Class ships is that it's very inward facing, and Royal Caribbean wanted Icon to be different.

"What we love about Icon really is the the ability for our guests to feel connected to the ocean. That was the number one thing that came in through our research that guests wanted to feel connected to the ocean," Ms. Goswami said.

That means more windows to the ocean on the Royal Promenade, as well as adding more pools to the ship.

She also said the addition of the Empire Supper Club resonated with passengers, "We thought we loved dinner and a show, but what about dinner with the show?".

Hot spots on Icon of the Seas

One thing Royal Caribbean has discovered in the year since the ship's debut, is certain areas definitely have become popular with passengers and they've seen more people gravitating towards these areas.

She pointed out they designed the ship to appeal to everyone for different reasons, and that spreads people out, "some people want Thrill Island, some people want chill [in] Hideaway. Some people want to spend the day in the Royal Promenade at Pearl Cafe."

She also pointed out it can depend on the time of day, "Overlook is a very calm place during the day, but the AquaDome is exciting at night, so Icon really is what you want to make of it."

What would you change on Icon

When asked what she would change, Ms. Goswami didn't have something she'd want to change on Icon, but thinks there are ways to make it even better on the subsequent Icon Class ships to come.

Royal Caribbean will launch the second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, later this year and there are orders for at least two more ships beyond that.

"I'm not sure that I want to change anything on Icon, but I want to make sure that everyone has that same wow feeling of their first time on Icon on every other ship that comes out in the class."

"So you will continue to see an evolution of different venues, different concepts, different ideas throughout the rest of the Icon class, but not because we want to change it, because we want to bring you more."

Dining venues biggest hits

Icon of the Seas has a lot of dining choices, but which ones stand out the most?

Ms. Goswami thinks the complimentary food changes on Icon have been a tremendous success, "We did a lot of work around the complimentary dining space for icon, so AquaDome Market has been a home run for us, really kind of giving the option to explore different kinds of foods."

She mentioned 4 specific restaurants as the ones that she thinks guests love

• AquaDome Market
• Pearl Cafe
• Izumi Teppanyaki
• Empire Supper Club

Lessons learned from Ultimate Family Townhouse

One interesting anecdote from the webinar was Royal Caribbean's Product Development team has regular meetings with the Royal Genies on Icon of the Seas to internalize guest feedback.

"I actually have a weekly call with the Genies. Every week they share incredible feedback across the Star Class suites, but also across the entire ship," she shared.

One specific piece of feedback that has resulted in a change on Star of the Seas is the over-the-top family suite, known as the Ultimate Family Townhouse.

Genies said the kids were basically sleeping everywhere in the room, not just in the beds, "we started to think maybe they're crowded. "

"What you'll see on Star is that we've been able to adjust the configuration of the sleeping floor, deck eight, a little bit more to give everybody a little bit more space."

There are also tweaks to some of the design features within the suite.

What changes are being made to Surfside on Star of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean quickly discovered that the family-centric neighborhood onboard was being utlized by older kids too.

"We thought that Surfside would be for families six and younger," Ms. Goswami explained. "However, what we're seeing is that it's about kids ten and under, which is great."

As a result, Surfside on Star of the Seas will be altered to appeal to older kids too.

• More features added to Splashaway Bay
• Completely redesigned the Playscape to make it taller and in certain areas, more challenging, for 7 to 10 year olds
• Adventure Ocean redesign

Another big change is the teen space because of feedback, "one of the things that I think surprised us the most was they asked for less technology. They wanted things that are more like Playmakers, like pool tables and foosball," she explained.

She thinks it's because teens want opportunities to interact without having to formally introduce themselves, "that's very human, you want to just connect with people doing an activity. So we will start to see a lot of changes in the teen space there as well."

The best change on Icon

When asked what was the biggest risk and biggest success, Ms. Goswami did not hesitate to say it was the destination elevators.

Instead of pressing a button to wait for an elevator, guests push a button for which floor they want to go to and are assigned an elevator.

"There's been nothing but positive feedback from destination elevators on Icon and getting places faster."

Changes to the Pearl

You can also expect the focal point of the ship to get better on Star of the Seas.

The Pearl is a giant piece of art in the middle of the Royal Promenade and the first thing you'll see when you get onboard.

According to Goswami, the Pearl ranked as the second highest rated impressive feature on the ship behind only the AquaDome.

"We weren't fully able to calculate how much light penetration would come through The Pearl. So we are saying for Star, The Pearl is getting pearlier. We are making it so much more light inside. We're adding more audio."

She hinted we can expect The Pearl to get more updates on each new Icon Class ship.

Everyone loves Rover

An undeniable success on Icon has been the introduction of the family dog onboard.

Rover is a Golden Retriever that lives on Icon of the Seas, and is a kind of mascot for the ship.

"Rover is truly the biggest hit on icon and it is something," Ms. Goswami shared.

"We wanted to humanize Icon beyond what we could deliver from an infrastructure perspective. And in walks Rover and everything changes."

There will be another dog that lives on Star of the Seas, named Sailor, and the puppy is expected to be born within the next two weeks.

Star of the Seas progress report

Ms. Goswami shared a few more updates on Star of the Seas as we prepare for the ship's launch in August.

• AquaDome Market will have a few new fresh stalls
• New concept in Supper Club with Chicago theme
• Back to the Future: The Musical

Star of the Seas is 85% complete from a construction perspective.

"Within the next two next two weeks, our start up crews will start to arrive in Finland, where she is being built, and really start to operationalize this ship. We are doing final inspections so it is only a matter of time. Star is almost there."

Feedback on infinite balcony

One big change Royal Caribbean made to Icon of the Seas was the addition of the infinite balcony cabin, which has been a bit controversial among passengers.

According to Ms. Goswami, her team has interviewed passengers on Icon throughout the duration of the cruise, and their opinion changes as the cruise goes on.

"Some guests tell us on day one, oh, we wish we had a balcony, but every family has told us almost everyone that by day three they are never going back to a balcony."

She thinks that extra space you get with the infinite balcony has won them over in the end.

Multiple teen spots?

One additional piece of feedback Royal Caribbean has gotten is giving teens a giant dedicated space isn't necessarily what teens want.

"Teens told us told us they don't love having a large, dedicated space. They want a space to meet up, and then they want to roam around the entire ship."

"So we are really thinking through, do we have more than one spot or what that looks like?"

Jen's favorite venue on Icon

Ms. Goswami rounded out the webinar with what is her favorite place on Icon of the Seas.

She quickly pointed out Bubbles, the walk-up champagne window in Central Park.

"What is more fun than walking up to a window and getting champagne?" she joked.

She also really loves the Crown's Edge attraction because it's a genuinely intense offering.

I tried an old Royal Caribbean cruise ship that seems to get a lot of negative reviews, and I have to admit, I was worried.

I'm always one to warn that online reviews are never to be trusted, but it's hard to overlook many of them.

Right after I booked my 4-night western Caribbean cruise, I read a memorable review on Reddit that had the bold title, "As a loyal Royal customer and someone who owns 100k (ish) in Royal stocks it’s time Enchantment of the Seas was taken out back and shot."

The person said, "Enchantment of the Seas is definitely showing her age."

"2 of 4 of the wall sconces in our junior suite work (ish), the toilet seat is loose, HVAC units in the ceiling have visible rust, stains on the ceiling, the HVAC units doesn’t shut off wherever the thermostat is set. The amount of rust on the ship is kind of surprising."

They summed it up with, "I think it’s time to sell Enchantment to some smaller cruise line or send her to Germany to the scrap yard."

Of course, that's quite a knee-jerk reaction and it gave me a chuckle because of the colorful way they described the ship, but it set the tone. 

As the cruise approached, I was determined to go in with an open mind and positive attitude, but I couldn't help shake the notion maybe all those people were right and I'd be disappointed.

An open mind is important for any cruise

One thing I really tried to do was not let posts on the internet ruin my cruise before I began. To that point, I tried to clear my mind of them all and come in without expectations.

With any cruise you plan, I think you want to have a balance of careful planning and spontaneous openness. You don't want to play out the entire vacation in your head ahead of time and render judgements of what was fun and what wasn't before it even begins.

With Enchantment, I wanted to reserve judgement and let the cruise come to me.  

I knew this wasn't going to be Icon of the Seas, and it never expected it to be. I went in I was going on a ship that would be different, and different would not necessarily be bad.

Setting the right expectations

After about 24 hours on the ship, I realized I didn't hate Enchantment of the Seas.  

It wasn't my new favorite ship by any means, and it wasn't ground breaking either.  But because I had come in as open minded as I could and with expectations of a classic cruise experience, it delivered that.

One preconceived notion I couldn't shake early on was it was going to be a rusty old ship with broken features all over.  It wasn't that at all. 

Sure, there was rust in some places and the aesthetics and furniture looked like it belonged on a ship that was built in the 1990s, but it wasn't falling apart and it wasn't as rough as some of those reviews had led me to believe.

To be fair, I've found plenty of rust and broken this or that on just about every Royal Caribbean ship.  New ships aren't immune to wear and tear, and the ocean is unkind to every piece of metal, not just Vision Class ships. If you want to look down and around for rust, you'll find it.

This is when I started to better wrap my head around this cruise, and I started embracing Enchantment as a fun sailing for a few days. 

My cabin felt dated, but I though the ship's casino was impressively large and the Schooner Bar layout was fantastic.

The pool deck was particularly well appointed, and I thought it looked great. It wasn't very hot for this sailing, but the times I was up on the pool, I thought it had a great vibe with giant pool bars and lots of seats.

Without a doubt, not coming into this cruise "kicking and screaming" based on review or assuming I wouldn't like it immediately were all things that helped ensure I started off on the right foot.

You'll probably pay way less to go on Enchantment of the Seas

A friend of mine loves Enchantment of the Seas and met his wife on this ship, and he has told me for years don't listen to the naysayers.

Michael Poole has sailed numerous times on Enchantment, and he loves the simplicity and great prices you can find.  

That's an important distinction, because odds are you're going to be able to go on a ship like Enchantment of the Seas for a bargain price most times.

Older and smaller ships are one of the best ways to save money on a cruise vacation and are probably the best value right now in cruising.

Right now the cruise industry is going through a major renaissance with incredible demand and rising prices.

Families that want to cruise on a budget, or those that are looking to continue to sail without spending a lot are going to find Enchantment of the Seas priced exactly where they want it.

Enchantment has its flaws, but it's fine for a short cruise

I had the right mindset for this cruise, but I was happy I wasn't sailing for a week or longer.

The lack of restaurant choices is the biggest problem I had with Enchantment, as it only has Chops Grille as a specialty restaurant alternative. Chef's Table is there too, but it's a niche offering.

The Windjammer was fine, but quite small and I felt like the selections were significantly limited compared to other Windjammers.

The only compelling alternative option for a snack was Park Cafe in the Solarium. That's an okay option, but it's far away from everything and it's still just pizza and a few sandwiches.

For 4- or 5-night cruises, there's enough going on that it won't negatively impact your sailing too badly. 

Newer ships have spoiled me in how much there is. It's like a movie you loved as a kid that you grow up and re-watch and realize it wasn't as good as you remember because newer movies have evolved the genre and done more. Plus your own tastes have evolved. The same is true of cruise ships.

I wouldn't mind going on Enchantment of the Seas again, but I'd hesitate if it were for a week. Or maybe that's the same flawed approach I was trying to avoid in the first place manifesting itself and I should go for that long.

I was worried, but Enchantment isn't ready to be "taken out back and shot" yet

A major lesson I learned after trying Enchantment of the Seas is that you really can't take "reviews" posted as anything more than entertainment.

So many people have posted about seemingly all the ships that they are "showing her age", and it's a trope that gets overused among cruisers. While the decor may not be what you'd find on a new cruise ship, that doesn't make it automatically bad.

To me, a ship like Enchantment is like visiting a quaint town or a small city.  It's smaller and and doesn't have as much to do as a big city, so you shouldn't expect big city thrills and options.

Just like a small town, I'd be okay going there for a few days but that's about it.  And it will keep me occupied for that long too.

I was impressed by how much I found to keep myself busy during the cruise, especially considering it was a bit "chilly" on our cruise and pool deck time where it was comfortable was limited.

To be fair, if Royal Caribbean would confirm the rumored new "smaller" class of cruise ship and say they'd replace ships like Enchantment, I wouldn't lose any sleep over that.  

But until that happens, I wouldn't mind going back on Enchantment again with the proper expectations.

Based on how 2025 is going so far, don't expect to see cruise prices drop any time soon.

Demand has been red hot for a Royal Caribbean cruise for a while, and there's no sign of things slowing down in 2025.

During an earnings call with investors on Tuesday, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said the momentum of high demand for cruises continued into 2025 with, "the best five booking weeks in the company's history."

In fact, they reported seeing more bookings than last year and at higher fares.

Traditionally the first few months of the year are known as WAVE seasons, which is an industry term for the time of year when cruise lines tend to offer their best promotion.

But with such high demand right now, deals on a new cruise booking in 2025 aren't going to be far and wide, so waiting is probably not the best approach.

"Demand for 2025 is strong"

One recurring theme of the discussion was how well-booked things are already for a 2025 cruise.

Royal Caribbean Group is seeing people paying higher prices while the amount of cabins sold remains in line with prior years, "allowing for further pricing and yield growth as 2025 bookings continue to ramp up."

Reading between the lines, the company is looking to get the most they can from their fares. That's not the formula consumers would want to hear if they are expecting price drops later.

Moreover, if you're waiting on the sidelines to book a cruise, others are ready to take your place.

"We're seeing really good demand trends from Europe, as well as obviously the U.S.," Mr. Liberty explained. He went on to say 80% of their customers will be from North America.

In fact, Royal Caribbean Group uses AI to enhance its pricing and recommend things to its customers, as well as optimize (i.e. raise) prices.

Cutting the time to book a cruise in half

Speaking of AI, Royal Caribbean saw 2024 as a transformative year for them leveraging tech to make it easier on the consumer to get what they need.

Royal Caribbean Group executives touted the innovations introduced last year to improve ways its customers can book a cruise and its various add-ons.

"Guests have been seamlessly planning and booking their dream vacations, reducing the amount of time to book a cruise by half," Mr. Liberty said in his opening remarks.

"We launched over 300 new digital capabilities across channels in 2024, improving the overall experience and reducing friction points while increasing spend."

Many of those innovations were specifically for Icon of the Seas, which had so many new features added just for that ship.

Using AI has benefitted customer and company alike. The use of artificial intelligence has provided, "a better, more efficient experience, and more personalized service."

According to Mr. Liberty, the new in-app chat saw a 35% increase in guest adoption that led to a 20% reduction in the customer service lines onboard the ship.

Why you'll want to book a cruise earlier

Royal Caribbean prices its fares largely based on supply, with higher prices for a sailing as cabins sell out.

I've consistently found the key to getting a great price on a cruise is to book it as early as you can.

Plus, booking earlier assures you of the ship, itinerary, and stateroom you want to reserve. 

Suites and some of the higher in-demand cabins are the first to be reserved, and waiting to book usually results in far fewer choices. 

Cruise fares tend to be cheapest the further in advance you book, and despite a few last-minute deals here and there, it’s best to book in advance and lock-in the best price.

Royal Caribbean's WAVE season 2025 offer

If you book a cruise in January, you can take advantage of its WAVE offer.

If you book before January 31, 2025, you can qualify for Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 60% Off & 30% Off on 3/4 Guest. Plus, there's a Kids Sail Free deal on select sailings.

There will undoubtedly be another promotion in February and March, and likely similar to the January offer in one way or another.

90% of cruises will visit a private destination

An absolutely fascinating statistic was shared by Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz during the call.

"Over 70% of guests on these [Caribbean market] itineraries sailing with the Royal Caribbean brand will visit a private destination this year and that percentage will increase to 90% in 2027, with the opening of the beach clubs at Paradise Island, Nassau, and Cozumel and Perfect Day Mexico."

Demand for Caribbean cruises has been among the strongest of all the markets a Royal Caribbean cruise visits, and it's also a reflection of the overall plan the cruise line has to offer its customers a better overall experience.

Part of the impetus to develop beach clubs and an additional Perfect Day location is to give guests exactly what they want: a fulfilling day on shore where they can make memories while making it easy because Royal Caribbean is taking care of everything.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley shared a few years ago that Perfect Day at CocoCay ranks as the number one destination among Royal Caribbean guests.

"CocoCay is the number one destination that Royal Caribbean goes to in the world out of 100 global destinations, because it’s a curated experience designed and built to deliver a high-level experience to the customer. At the end of the day that’s all that matters."

That's clearly the approach they want to extend to other places in the Caribbean through their private destination portfolio.

Could amplifications be coming back?

One interesting anecdote was shared during a discussion of costs that cruise fans might find interesting.

Mr. Holtz said, "we're also restarting our modernization program," in reference to the capital expenditures the company will make this year.

While Allure of the Seas is set to get major upgrades this spring, the question has lingered what about other ships.

"We have one ship this year and then we'll share more details going forward around our program, but we do see an opportunity around that," he added.  Presumably, the one ship he referenced is Allure.

There's going to be a new player in the river cruise market, and Celebrity Cruises is coming at it with a big plan.

Celebrity made headlines when it announced it will start offering river cruises in 2027, starting with a fleet of 10 ships. There's already hints that there's much more to come, both in expanding the fleet and destinations.

The expansion into river cruises is about offering more choices to customers, and giving its existing customer base a brand-friendly approach into a new way to cruise.

They believe already about half their guests have either tried a river cruise or would want to, and that's the impetus for branching out.

During Royal Caribbean Group's Fourth Quarter earnings call with Wall Street investors on Tuesday, executives shared additional insight into what we can expect in the coming years from the new venture.

New opportunities

Celebrity River Cruises is a bold plan to take advantage of a "fragmented market", according to Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.

"Beginning in 2027, Celebrity River Cruises will provide yet another opportunity for guests to explore even more destinations with our leading brands," said Liberty during the call.

"That's the driving force behind this change. Give people familiar and happy with Celebrity an opportunity to try something different."

When the river ships will be ready

AI generated concept

Mr. Liberty was asked when the new ships will be ready, and he laid out the plan.

"A couple of ships" will be ready for service sometime in 2027, and then we can expect an additional four ships each year to be ready.

He also strongly hinted that 10 ships is only the initial order, and more are likely, "I'd also point out because we are very intentful in our words. The word put in front of it was initial order was 10 ships. And so this is not a hobby for us."

Each ship holds about 180 passengers.

He also said more ships will be ordered before 2027, "you're not going to wait till 2027 to order more. This is our initial order."

The river ships will be designed to look like Edge Class ships

The 10 river ships that Celebrity has ordered so far will be designed with their ocean going Edge Class ships in mind.

The Edge Class ships are the latest class of ship design for the brand, and they've re-defined Celebrity in a lot of ways.

Having first debuted in 2018 with Celebrity Edge, they are stylish ships that incorporate modern technology, and a focus on immersive experiences. They are best known for its outward-facing design connects passengers more closely to the ocean.

"There's an incredible opportunity to take these beautiful small ships and through design, improving in culinary and entertainment staterooms, etc., and really bring it up to the level of what you see on Edge," Mr. Liberty commented.

That design difference is one factor in why the company believes Celebrity will succeed in the river space because having Edge Class level design is "far superior to anything else that's in that space."

All inclusive fares?

River cruises today tend to be all-inclusive, and Celebrity might be headed in that direction with their river cruises.

Mr. Liberty talked about that issue in a round-about way in comparing a Celebrity River Cruise to a luxury river cruise, "I think it's important when you're comparing what Celebrity gets today versus what you might see what Viking gets today as an example, it's important to note that on the Celebrity side, it's not an all-inclusive product."

"So as you start adding in some of the inclusivity that comes with river, we expect those APDs to also elevate."

Celebrity to start, maybe SilverSea in the future

Wall Street analysts were curious if it makes even more sense for Royal Caribbean Group's luxury cruising brand, SilverSea, to get in on the river cruise market.

Mr. Liberty didn't rule it out, but did say they would need to wait and see, "as we build up this kind of engine for river under Celebrity, it will certainly provide opportunity for our ultra-luxury guests to consider a river experience under Silversea."

"We're going to start off with Celebrity. We're going to see that's where we think that there is great scale opportunity. And then of course, we'll be looking to see if there's other ways to expand it for our other brands as it sees fit."

River cruises will not operate year-round

One thing Mr. Liberty was quick to note was that the river cruise market is seasonal, unlike the Caribbean.

"[It] will be a little bit different is usually the river boats do not operate year-round. So there will be parts of the year where the ships are laid up."

He then went on to say, "that's under the kind of the current model," so it's possible Celebrity is envisioning something different.

"We will obviously be studying that to see how we can make them as productive as we can during the off-season when it's cold."

Celebrity's ships may not just be in Europe

The focus of many questions centered around European river cruises, but Mr. Liberty tossed in a quick mention there are river cruises elsewhere.

"I also think that sometimes we always think about certain rivers inside of Europe, but there are also rivers around the world. And we're trying to make sure that we are being able to provide the experiences that our guests are looking for," he said.

Celebrity isn't going after Viking River Cruises

From the start of the call, many Wall Street analysts began making comparisons to the market leader, Viking River Cruises.

Royal Caribbean Group respects the product Viking offers, but said they have a different intent.

"We feel very confident that this isn't about chasing Viking customers or another customer," Mr. Liberty said.

He sees this as a way to getting more people who cruise with the Royal Caribbean Group brands to try a river cruise too, "this is about leveraging this incredible sort of business that we have, this incredible flywheel, this incredible leading brands in each one of their segments and making sure that we keep them inside of our ecosystem."

He believes because of the attractive nature of the ocean going cruises they have, they have a built-in audience that's ready to try a river cruise.

In the announcement of Celebrity River Cruises, the company said half of their customers have expressed an interest in trying a river cruise or already have, and when you combine that with the strong customer loyalty program that allows loyalty matching between each brand, it's a strong case for getting people onto a river ship.

"We're adding more and more things like enterprise loyalty on the reciprocity and so forth. So it really incentivizes our guests and recognizes our guests to stay inside of our ecosystem."

Construction is going so well for Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship that it is moving up the first sailing.

The plan was for Star of the Seas to debut with a 7-night cruise on August 31, 2025.

Guests booked on that sailing received an email to inform them that the new ship will enter service sooner than expected.

"We have an updated timeline for the arrival of Star of the Seas at Port Canaveral! Constructing such a large and amazing ship is challenging, and while delivery can sometimes be delayed, there are other times where we get to sail our new ship earlier."

Royal Caribbean is adding two shorter sailings before the August 31st sailing, calling them "showcase sailings."

There will be two additional 4-Night Perfect Day Cruises on August 23rd and August 27th, 2025.

According to the cruise line, the August 31, 2025 sailing will still take place, "as the first full sailing and inaugural with all of the events and goodies."

What this means is the two four-night cruises that are being added are being treated as pre-inaugural cruises, but the August 31st sailing is the official inaugural sailing.

Those that were originally booked on the August 31, 2025 sailing received an email on Tuesday to inform them of the addition, and to get first dibs on booking rooms on the new cruises.

What's interesting about the addition of the two new sailings prior to the official inaugural, is Royal Caribbean previously pushed back the inaugural sailing in February 2024.

The original Star of the Seas inaugural was scheduled for August 17th, 2025, but then had to be delayed until August 31. 

Sister brand Celebrity Cruises did something similar with new cruises prior to the inaugural with the launch of Celebrity Ascent.

Before its official inaugural sailing, Celebrity Ascent added "pre-inaugural sailings" before its official maiden voyage.

New choices

Guests booked on the original sailing have the choice to book either (or BOTH) of the new showcase sailings, or to move their existing booking to one of the new inaugural 4-Night Perfect Day Cruises as of January 30, 2025.

They could also do nothing and remain as-is on the 7-night sailing to take place on August 31, 2025 as previously scheduled.

Those that were booked in a suite on the original inaugural sailing will have their same suites held as courtesy until February 6, 2025 to make a decision.

Guests in the Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony staterooms will have like-for-like staterooms available to choose from.

If you opt to transfer your reservation to the new sail date in the same room originally booked, Royal Caribbean will prorate the cruise fare for the change in sailing nights, meaning, they'll adjust the cost of your cruise fare to reflect 4 nights instead of 7 nights.

Those that already prepaid will get a refund for 3 nights worth of the cruise fare.

This complimentary transfer covers the cruise fare for the new sail date only and does not include taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items.

Guests have until next week to decide

If you want to move reservations, you need to act quickly.

Royal Caribbean is giving everyone about a week and a half to contact the line to make the change. Change requests must be made no later than February 06, 2025.

If you do not make a change by February 06, 2025, anyone booked on the August 31 sailing will remain booked on that sailing, and you can still choose to add the new Star of Seas showcase sailings based on availability.

What you can expect on Star of the Seas

The new cruise ship is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, and it's expected to be a sequel to Icon of the Seas.

It will be the second in the Icon Class, so she should be right around the same dimensions as Icon of the Seas, so it should be about 250,800 gross tons and carry approximately 5,610 passengers at double occupancy or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy.

When you add crew members, that brings the theoretical total amount of people up to 10,000.

Beginning with the August 31 sailing, the new ship will sail 7-night cruises to the Caribbean. Her placement with a homeport in Port Canaveral is a shot across the bow of the mega theme park market a short drive away in Orlando.

Star is designed to be a floating family resort, just as compelling (if not better) than a theme park vacation.

"Icon will be the best family vacation in the world," is what Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider said about the plans for this ship.

It's going to have an entire area designed for just families, plus it will have a water park, thrill attractions, multiple shows, more pools than ever, and plenty more.