Royal Caribbean Blog

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

What are Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus like? Our team tried them out and shared their thoughts.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean began rolling out its new main dining room menu across the fleet. Symphony of the Seas was one of the first ships to get the new menu.

We wanted to see how the new menus compared to my previous dining experiences onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and ranked everything we ate.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean concept art reveals vision for beach club in Nassau, Bahamas
• Why you want to book your cruise now because Royal Caribbean is seeing higher cruise prices due to strong Wave season
• Royal Caribbean crew member reveals what it's like when joining a cruise ship
• What I'd do differently after my first visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Review of the Gen-Z activities Royal Caribbean added to its cruise ships

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 484th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which has a first-hand report on what it's like to cruise with mobility special needs.

Rachel and Rebecca share their experience cruising on Liberty of the Seas after needing special wheelchair accessibility on their cruise.

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

New RCB Video: 9 incredibly easy cruise mistakes to avoid

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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 — 9 incredibly easy cruise mistakes to avoid — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

What a $1400 inside cabin on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas looks like

 Ever wondered what an inside room on one of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships looks like?

Elizabeth tried out a guaranteed inside cabin while sailing on a recent Symphony of the Seas cruise to see what you can get for that price.

Enjoy an in-depth photo tour of this Symphony of the Seas inside room and what you get with the 149 square foot space.

Will I be disappointed if I've only sailed Oasis Class ships and go on another ship?

You'd be surprised how many times we've been asked about trying another kind of Royal Caribbean cruise ship after only sailing Oasis Class ships.

After all, Oasis Class ships have everything you could want on a ship, so will other kinds of ships be disappointing?

Many people are worried that, after they’ve experienced the “best of the best” by Royal Caribbean, a cruise on a different type of ship would not feel as special.

What surprised me on my first solo cruise

Have you ever tried going on a cruise alone?

Taking a cruise without knowing anyone else onboard might seem frightening to some, but there are a lot of people that actually prefer this form of cruising.

From being able to enjoy your cabin to yourself to trying to find conversations with others, cruising solo has its ups and downs.

Elizabeth shared her experience sailing solo on a 7-night cruise and what stood out from her experience.

I sailed onboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas and stayed in the cheapest stateroom available. 

Making her grand entrance in 2018, Symphony of the Seas is the fourth ship in the cruise line's Oasis class and held the title of largest cruise ship in the world until the debut of the Wonder of the Seas in early 2022. 

For $1,400 (including port fees and gratuities), I stayed in a guaranteed cabin, which means that I wasn't assigned my cabin until a few weeks prior to departure.  

This was my first time sailing in an interior stateroom. I've had balcony cabins on all of my previous cruises, so I was nervous as to how I'd adjust to no natural light at all. 

Read more: Interior vs Balcony staterooms

My interior cabin on Symphony of the Seas was only 149 square feet; however, it was one of the most contemporary feeling staterooms I have stayed in.

As I was sailing alone, I opted to keep the two beds together. While this was perfectly fine for me, I could see why a family might want to separate them into two twin-sized beds to help make the space feel more open and create a pathway in the middle of the stateroom. 

There were a total of four American outlets in the stateroom: three by the desk and one by the left side of the bed, where there was also a light switch present. As a solo traveler, this was plenty of power for me! I also appreciated being able to turn off all the stateroom lights from the comfort of the bed. 

Plus, the desk area also had one European outlet socket, as well as two USB plugs. 

There was a telephone located on the other nightstand, but I would have preferred if it was hung somewhere in the room! The phone was so large that it made that a non-functioning nightstand. There was just enough room for a phone and pair of glasses.

Surprisingly, there was an abundance of storage in this cabin. The dresser contained three empty drawers, a fourth that contained a box of tissues and room service information, and fifth that was home to the hairdryer.

There were also two closets, one on each side of the rather large couch. One had five free shelves, with the sixth being occupied by the safe. There were two additional drawers at the bottom. 

The other closet was just for hanging garments and contained eighteen hangers.  

Above the desk was a single glass shelf. I didn't find it to be that wide, but it was a great place to keep my sunglasses and other miscellaneous items throughout the week. When I first entered my stateroom, the desk was full of details regarding my cruise vacation, such as showtimes, Crown & Anchor information, as well as two masks. 

The large mirror above the desk was illuminated with a ring light, which was a great touch to this interior stateroom. It also provided great lighting for my makeup each morning!

Inside the dresser's large cabinet was a mini-fridge. I found that my drinks were always kept cold, despite it saying that it was a cooler and not a refrigerator. It had three selves that could be moved and adjusted according to your preferences, as well as a single shelf on the side. 

As expected, the bathroom inside of my cruise stateroom was small; however, I found it to be modern and clean. There was a shocking amount of counter space, as well as three shelves to the side of the mirror. Additional storage was available underneath the sink, too. On the back of the door were two hooks for wet towels and swimsuits. 

Inside of the shower, there's a soap dispenser that distributes Royal Caribbean's signature bath scent: Salt + Breeze. I was disappointed that there was only one small ledge in of the shower. If I was traveling with one more person, it would have been a tight squeeze to fit all of our products there. 

The water pressure inside of my cabin was neither awful nor great; it was just okay. I did have issues with the temperature that never got resolved. In the mornings, it was nearly impossible to get any hot water. Sometimes, I had to wait twenty-five minutes for the water to heat up to lukewarm! In the evenings, I had the opposite problem: the temperature was scalding hot.

At the entrance, there was a key slot that powered on all the electricity within the cabin to preserve energy. My room steward left a key in there all week, though. Additionally, there was a magnet that I placed on the exterior of my door which alerted the staff when I wanted my room to be tended to. If I wanted to be left alone, there was an option for that, too. 

My stateroom was located on the forward of deck 7 in a "secret" hallway full of other interior cabins in between the port and starboard sides of the ship. It felt like a maze when I was first trying to locate my stateroom. However, I appreciated how there wasn't another cabin door directly next to mine.

I am used to having a cabin located near the mid-ship when sailing, so being located all the way at a single end was a new experience for us. While the forward elevator bank was somewhat close, the aft was quite a walk from where I was located. 

For $200 each day, I was satisfied with my interior stateroom. I was worried that the lack of natural sunlight would cause me to feel cramped, sleep in on accident, or that I would just flat out miss waking up to an ocean view.

If I was sailing with another person, the cost would have dropped to a little over $125 per person, per day, including all taxes, port fees and gratuities. Now that I know what a great value interior staterooms can be, I'll consider them more for my personal travels!

I ate all seven dinners in the main dining room while onboard Symphony of the Seas to try Royal Caribbean's new menus. 

It's been about five years since the last time Royal Caribbean refreshed their dining menus, which is why they first tested the menus in late 2022 on Symphony of the Seas to receive guest feedback.

During the testing phase, they sent a team of six people onboard who were responsible for conducting in-person meetings with 30-40 passengers per day. In addition, surveys were sent out via email. 

Now, Royal Caribbean is in the process of rolling out the new menus fleet wide by February 2023.

To be clear, I'm not a food critic and not classically trained in anything cuisine related. Others may come to their own conclusions, as everyone has different taste buds and preferences.  But since a lot of readers want to know what I thought of the new menu options, I decided to share my opinions.

Here's how I'd rank everything I ate while dining in the main dining room.

Night one: "Welcome Aboard" 

My first night onboard, I was seated at 8:00pm on deck 3. After a long day of traveling, I was ready to eat, and I wasn't the only one! Twenty minutes prior to our seating time, there was a massive line outside of the main dining room's entrance. 

We prefer making reservations for My Time Dining ahead of time, so this was my first time having traditional seating since 2010. 

Appetizer: Spinach and artichoke dip

Ranking: 7.5/10

The dip was creamy, and the chips were just salty enough; however, my one main problem with this dish was the dip to chip ratio. I ran out of the dip with about four chips left, which by themselves, I just thought were okay. 

Main course: Southern fried chicken

Rating: 6/10

While I loved the presentation, this course was probably one of the ones I was most disappointed with. The fried chicken wasn't crispy at all; there was no crunch when I bit into it. I also wish the mashed potatoes were just a little creamier, as they had a stiff texture to them. 

That being said, the chicken did taste good, particularly when dipped into the tabasco honey sauce. I enjoyed the sauce so much that I poured some over my mashed potatoes!

I was also satisfied with the portion. The two pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn were plenty for me. 

Dessert: Boston cream pie

Rating: 8/10

The dessert was my favorite course of the evening. The cake was fluffy, and it wasn't overly chocolatey (I'm not the biggest fan of chocolate heavy desserts). I do wish it was just a tad bit sweeter, though.

Night two: French night

The theme for the second night's dinner was French. For the remainder of the week (with the exception of the last night), I was seated at 5:30pm on deck five with a family of five. I was thankful for the earlier seating, as 8:00pm is personally too late for me. 

Appetizer: Escargots

Rating: 9/10

As always, they were garlicky, buttery, and rich. The bread was a nice touch, as I was able to enjoy more of the sauce. 

I've always appreciated the portion sizing, as I don't think I could eat many more than 6 snails with how heavy the sauce is. 

While I made it a plan to try as much as I could throughout the week, the escargots made another appearance on the Royal night and were enjoyed again by many in my dining party. 

Main course: Roasted beef tenderloin

Rating: 9/10

The beef was tender, and I liked the peppercorn sauce. A huge plus was that the mashed potatoes were softer than the previous night. I wish there were a few more asparagus, though. 

Four people at the table had the seafood linguine, and everyone cleared their plates! 

Dessert: Cappuccino chocolate cake

Rating: 8.5/10

The cake was moist, and the foam on top was light. The description of the dessert said that the cake was a "rich chocolate sponge cake"; but I found that it was overpowered by the coffee flavor.

In my opinion, it did not have a very strong chocolate flavor, and I liked that!

Night three: Italian night

On the third day of my sailing, the evening's theme was White Night, while the dinner's theme was Italian. Everyone got a chuckle of people showing up to dinner dressed in all white preparing to eat dishes heavy on red sauce. 

Appetizer: Golden polenta fries with spicy dip

Rating: 8/10

When my appetizer was served, the dish was almost too hot to touch! The polenta fries were, as advertised, golden and crispy; however, the sauce wasn't spicy at all. Honestly, I thought it was a tad bit sweet. 

Someone else at the table ordered the same appetizer and agreed that the sauce didn't have any kick to it. 

Plus, the bed of spinach at the bottom of the dish was a bit random. 

Main course: Chicken parmesan

Rating: 7/10 

I was served a healthy portion, but like my fried chicken on the first night, the chicken's crust could have been fried a little bit longer. 

The dish was overpowered with a little too much basil for my liking, especially since the layer of mozzarella cheese on top of the chicken was pretty thin. 

On the other hand, I thought the pasta was cooked very well, and I enjoyed the marinara sauce.

Dessert: Tiramisu

Rating: 9.5/10

I thought the tiramisu was better than the cappuccino chocolate cake. Honestly, it was one of my favorite desserts served in the main dining room!

It was rich, creamy, and light all at the same time; however, the description said that there was a hint of Kahúla liqueur, but I found that flavor to be completely absent. 

Night four: Caribbean night

Caribbean night was one of the ones I was most looking forward. I wasn't sure how other guests would react, but I could tell by the multitude of empty tables that it wasn't all that popular. 

Appetizer: Crispy coconut jumbo shrimp

Rating: 10/10

This was the chef's recommended appetizer, and I can see why. The shrimp were crunchy and fried perfectly, but they only had a subtle hint of coconut, which didn't really upset me.

The sweet chili dipping sauce is what made this dish so incredible. Someone in my party even got a second order of them! 

When his second plate arrived, I noticed some inconsistency in plating. They came out in an entirely different dish, the shrimp were noticeably larger, and there was much more of the sauce on the bottom.  

Overall, this was one of my top three dishes that I had!

Main course: Garlic-herb buttered tiger shrimp

Rating: 7/10

If you haven't noticed by now, I love sauces that enrich the flavors of what I'm eating. Sometimes, seasoning just isn't enough, and in my option, they have the ability to make or break the dish. 

In the case of my tiger shrimp, I found myself wishing that they included more of the sauce. In general, I thought there could've been a little bit more of everything. 

There were only five shrimp, a relatively small bed of vegetables, and a half scoop of rice. 

Dessert: Sugar-free blueberry cobbler

Rating: 7.5/10

I don't really know what I was expecting, but I could immediately tell that it was sugar-free. That being said, it was served warm, and the amount of oatmeal crumble on top was just enough. It didn't make the dish crust heavy. 

Night five: Mexican night

From what I gathered onboard, Mexican night had mixed reviews. I heard guests say that it wasn't necessary since El Loco Fresh was on deck 15. Others, like myself, were excited for it (I can never get enough Mexican food). 

Even though the "classics" section is no longer present on the menus, I found that there was usually aa option or two each night for the main course for those who might be a little pickier. On Mexican night, they were spaghetti bolognese and grilled chicken breast. 

Appetizer: Roasted poblano pepper soup

Rating: 10/10

This soup landed itself in my top three favorite dishes. Fair warning, though, I thought it had a kick to it, which surprised me because the description never said anything about it being spicy. 

The only thing that could have made it better was including more of the roasted corn, red peppers, and sautéed chorizo. I would've enjoyed having texture and taste in each bite. 

Main course: Carne asada

Rating: 7/10

You could only order the carne asada medium rare or medium well. I don't love too much red in my steak, so I went with medium well; I think I would have liked it more if I had it prepared medium rare. 

My steak ended up being more on the dry side. The salsa verde, however, was delicious, and I ended up asking for more of it to add to my steak. 

Like the polenta fries, I found that the spinach on top of the pinto beans was random. I wish there had been more peppers instead. 

All of that being said, I was satisfied with the portion of steak I was given!

Dessert #1: Warm chocolate chip cookie

Rating: 10/10 (I would go higher, though!)

I asked for two desserts, mainly because our head waiter had 

recommended the warm chocolate chip cookie multiple times. Everyone felt like they had to try it, and it was better than we all imagined!

It was the best thing I ate on the cruise!

The deep dish cookie was served in a piping hot ramekin and topped with vanilla ice cream.

The outside was crisp and golden, while the inside was perfectly ooey and gooey. It never became too soft, even with the melting ice cream on top.

Dessert #1: Caramel flan

Rating: 6/10

I'm really glad that I ordered the warm chocolate chip cookie because I would've been disappointed if this was the only dessert I got.

The caramel taste was minimal, and the syrup topping was pretty runny.

Night six: the Royal night

I wasn't surprised that the main dining room was the most crowded on "dress your best" night when lobster was listed as a complimentary menu option. 

Everyone in my dinner party ordered at least two of one course, whether it was two appetizers, two main courses, or two desserts. 

Appetizer: Chilled shrimp cocktail

Rating: 9/10

The shrimp cocktail is a classic onboard Royal Caribbean ships. I wish, though, that there were more than four shrimp. At least six would have been nice. I found myself itching for my entree while others enjoyed their second appetizer. 

Main course #1: Broiled lobster tail

Rating: 9.5/10

Three other people at the table ordered the lobster as their first entree, too. All of them were around one pound.However, since additional lobster tails are no longer complimentary and cost $16.99 each, nobody ordered a second to see how it compared to the first.  

My lobster was tender, and they provided just the right amount of butter. Plus, the rice was moist and served as a great compliment. 

I was a little disappointed with the sides, as I would have liked a few more carrots and more than one piece of broccoli. If that had been my only entree, I think I would've had to order something else!

Main course #2: Cheese tortellini

Rating: 8/10

The cheese tortellini wasn't served until after I had finished my lobster.

I wasn't the only person who ordered this dish, and we agreed that the sauce was creamy and rich. 

In my opinion, the portion was pretty small, and I wish there was more fresh parmesan, as it was condensed to one area of my pasta. 

Dessert #1: Sugar-free strawberry shortcake

Rating: 7/10

After the blueberry cobbler, I was expecting this to also be noticeably sugar-free, so I was not surprised by that. I was mainly disappointed by the lack of fresh strawberries, and it was definitely missing that strawberry flavor. 

The cake, however, was perfectly light and spongey.  It would be a great choice for someone who didn't want a heavy dessert!

Dessert #2: Warm chocolate cake 

Rating: 7/10

If you're a fan of chocolate, this dessert is for you, trust me! Personally, with the moist chocolate cake and heavy sauce, it was way too rich for me. 

Night seven: Mediterranean night

On the last night, the family that I had been dining with decided to eat at the Windjammer. The all aboard time for CocoCay was 5:30pm, which was also our fixed dining time. Since I was alone, the waitstaff had me in and out of the main dining room in an impressive thirty-eight minutes!

Overall, however, Mediterranean night was my least favorite. 

Appetizer: Mediterranean tapas medley

Rating: 8/10

The tapas was the best part of my meal. I liked the tzatziki but found the hummus to be a little bland. 

Three slices of pita bread wasn't enough for two dips. I had to ask for more, and the additional slices that were brought out were bigger than my original ones. 

I enjoyed the classic Greek salad, particularly the marinated olives! 

Main course: Vegetable Greek moussaka 

Rating: 3/10

Truthfully, I found the entire dish to be lacking flavor and wish I had ordered the grilled Mediterranean steak instead. 

There were far too many breadcrumbs on top, and they were unusually dry. The small side of tomato salsa wasn't enough to give this dish the added moisture. It was difficult to finish the first layer of the moussaka to reveal the vegetables underneath. Plus, the olives on top did not taste fresh. 

Other than texture, I was unable to tell the vegetables apart; they all tasted the same.

Dessert: Warm apple cobbler

Rating: 7/10

When I first tasted the apple cobbler, I thought that it was sugar-free. I had to double check to make sure that it wasn't! It was served warm with a nice sized scoop of vanilla ice cream, though. 

Gluten-free options

While I did not order any gluten-free food, a member of the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group, Sue Riggs, shared some photos of their gluten-free main dining room options! 

Chicken cordon bleu

Jerk Chicken

Tikka masala 

Steak with chimichurri

Chicken parmesan

Gluten-free desserts

Other main dining room options

The kind family that let me sit with them at dinner also let me snap some photos of their food throughout the week, and I've included those pictures below. 

Seared beef carpaccio 

Pan-seared filet of sole 

Lasagna al forno

 Italian chocolate-hazelnut cake

Asian-style pork bao tacos

Jerk seasoned pork chop

Pesto tagliatelle  

Pineapple sunshine cake

Tortilla soup

 Chili-lime crusted salmon

Overall thoughts on the new menus

Personally, I enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying new things. I knew that if I ordered an appetizer, main course, or dessert that I ended up not liking, I could simply ask for something else-- such are the joys of cruising! 

Truthfully, I came into this expecting there to be some trial and error for the kitchen staff. Overall, I was satisfied with the new menus.

Of course, there were some courses that I wasn't a fan of and would not plan on getting again, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the main dining room compares to my upcoming sailings. 

I went to Perfect Day at CocoCay for the first time, and I learned some things that will enhance my experience when I return to the island.

The first (and last) time I visited Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay was in 2010 when I was eleven years old. Since then, a lot has changed. In 2019, it received a $250 million renovation and was renamed to “Perfect Day at CocoCay.”

Royal Caribbean focused on adding incredible thrills, including a 1,600 foot zip line, freshwater pool, helium balloon, and waterpark that features one of the tallest waterslides in the world at 135 feet.

The island’s beaches are brimming with beach chairs and umbrellas for passengers who would rather spend the day soaking up rays on the beautiful beaches. If you’re willing to spend the money, private cabanas are also available for rent.

Pricing varies based on sailing, but they usually start at $999 for a cabana on Chill Island, Oasis Lagoon, and South Beach.

Additionally, they added a colorful pier to the island, meaning that guests no longer have to tender ashore. The walk time from ship to the Arrivals Plaza is about six minutes, and every attraction can be reached in another ten minutes from there. There are also trams that escort guests throughout the island.

I had such a great day hanging out on the revamped island for the first time, but here are my thoughts on what I’ll do differently next time!

Stick to one main activity

From zip lining, splashing around at the waterpark, sunbathing on the beach, and snorkeling, to kayaking and swimming with pigs, there’s so much to do and so little time to do it all.

Since it was my first time visited the renovated island, I wanted to see and do as much as possible.

I booked the full day pass for Thrill Waterpark, and I was so excited to ride Daredevil’s Peak, one of the tallest waterslides in the world.

Both Odyssey of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas were docked on the day I was there, so the waterpark was busier than I thought it would be. It took about an hour and a half just to ride two waterslides!

There were other rides that I wanted to try, like the Sling Shot and Twister, but the lines were about an hour long each, and I was looking forward to relaxing on the beach for awhile.

The next time I visit CocoCay, I’ll stick to one activity, whether that’s the waterpark, beach, or hanging out at Oasis Lagoon.

Get off the ship early

I wish I had disembarked the ship as soon as I could, as I waited about an hour to go ashore.

By the time I got the waterpark, most rides had a wait time of at least thirty minutes. Unless, that is, you were willing to ride the Screaming Serpent (I wasn’t!).

I think that if I had gotten off early, I would have been able to sneak a few extra rides in, but even if the lines would have been the same length as when I arrived, it would have been nice to hangout in the wave pool before it got crowded.

By the time I got to Chill Island, it was impossible to find a vacant chair, so I ended up placing my items on my towel off to the side because I didn’t want to spend a long time scouting for one.

If you want a front row lounger, it’s crucial that you get off the ship as soon as you can to secure your spot for the day! Plus, why wouldn’t you want to spend as much time as you can on the island? You can always head back in early if you get tired or want to enjoy the ship’s amenities with fewer people onboard.

Buy shore excursions in advance

I am a huge fan of purchasing everything in advance via the Cruise Planner, but since this was technically a work trip and I didn’t know what my schedule would entail, I refrained from doing so.

I made some friends onboard who had booked the Thrill Waterpark, and I spontaneously decided to tag along; I didn’t buy my pass until the night before, so I paid a whopping $149!

They, however, got a Black Friday deal and paid around $50 each.

While I thought riding Daredevil’s Peak was both nerve-racking and incredible, I don’t think it was worth the nearly $150 price tag, especially since I only rode one other slide before we all headed to Chill Island for some much needed relaxation. 

Looking ahead at my future cruises that visit CocoCay, I can purchase a pass for $79.99 and $88.99, which seems much more reasonable to me.

Plan ahead and book your shore excursions for CocoCay beforehand! This is not only a way to save money, but some experiences tend to sell out quickly, like the cabanas and Coco Beach Club.

Bring snorkel equipment

While I was hanging out on Chill Island, I kept hearing people talk about all the fish that they were seeing! Usually, I only snorkel on dedicating snorkeling excursions; however, I want to start carrying a mask with me in case the opportunity presents itself!

I’m familiar with the traditional beach warning flags (i.e., red for high hazard, yellow for medium, and green for low), but I didn’t know that purple meant presence of marine life. They had a purple flag blowing in the breeze, so I feel I missed out on seeing some neat stuff!

I was a bit bummed that I wasn’t able to see the “huge” fish and stingray that everyone was talking about!

I also visited Honeymoon Island on this cruise and having snorkel equipment would’ve been great there, too.

Check the times for the Snack Shack (and other dining venues)

Here at Royal Caribbean Blog, many are fans of the mozzarella sticks at CocoCay, so I was planning on giving them a try while I was there!

Unfortunately, I didn’t check the operating times for the Snack Shack, and it was already closed when I got there around 3:30pm. Our all aboard time was 5:30pm, so I assumed that they would have remained open a little bit later.

I was frustrated that I didn’t get to see if the mozzarella sticks lived up to the hype, so this is first on my list of things to do when I return in a few weeks.

I saw a lot of people carrying around funnel cakes, and they looked tasty, too!

Thankfully, though, I was able to eat a delicious meal at the Chill Grill, so I wasn't left hungry and disappointed. I enjoyed being able to make my own tacos, and I thought they were much better than El Loco Fresh onboard. 

Overall thoughts on Perfect Day at CocoCay

I don’t remember all that much about the island from my first visit years and years ago, but my dad said that he enjoyed a day ashore with only the ship's guests. 

The beaches are pristine, and the day can be whatever you want to make of it.

Personally, I prefer it over Labadee by far. I never feel the need to purchase an excursion there; I’m content just finding a place to hangout on the beach.

I love how Perfect Day at CocoCay's activities are meant to appeal to a wider range of people and interests; you can go to a waterpark, ride a helium balloon, hang out and listen to music at the swim up bar in Oasis Lagoon, or relax on the beach all day.

Plus, the market is also much more relaxed. You can walk in and out of the individual stores without feeling pressure to buy anything.

I’m so glad that I finally got to experience it, as I’ve been wanting to visit since it was revealed nearly three years ago.

We have a detailed look at what will be Royal Caribbean's first private beach club in Nassau, Bahamas.

Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, The Bahamas was originally announced just before the cruise industry shutdown as a new kind of destination experience: not quite as secluded or open a as private island, but still an exclusive option for Royal Caribbean guests.

The project was originally announced in March 2020. Nothing new has been announced, but this our first look at the renderings for the beach option.

While there have not been any major updates announced, the cruise line insists the project is still a go. When asked for comments about the designs, Royal Caribbean had no comment.

We discovered concept art for the new beach club that provides context for what guests can expect.

The Ultimate Beach Club Experience

Royal Caribbean calls the Royal Beach Club the "ultimate beach club experience" for cruise passengers, as well as a place to enjoy for Bahamians.

The project calls for a $110 Million investment that over the next 10 years is projected to return $1 billion in guest spend, government taxes and other expenditures.

It's located on the western end of Paradise Island, which is the narrow strip of land many cruise ship passengers are accustomed to seeing as they sail in or out of Nassau that features a lighthouse at the very end.

Royal Caribbean's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) provides more details as to what guests can expect. It's important to note that these plans could change without notice. Since it's our only insight into what Royal Caribbean is/has planning/planned, it's better than nothing. Please keep expectations in line as merely a reference point.

"The proposed project will include the development of Paradise Beach and Colonial Beach to create an arrivals area, family zone, water sports centre, food and beverage services, and swimming pool and back of house areas in support of a world class beach experience."

It looks like this will be an extra cost experience, as the EIA mentions an entrance fee:

It is anticipated that with the payment of an entrance fee, the experience will include access to the Royal Beach Club, lunch and the rental of a beach chair. For an additional fee, guests will be able to purchase alcohol and sodas, a cabana, day-bed, clamshell, and participate in watersports and local tours.

There will be an array of activities available to guests, including, but not limited to, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing, floating mat rentals, inflatable water slides, parasailing, nature hikes, volleyball, and other sand and water related activities.

The construction of a family attraction will delight visitors of all ages and may include water fountains and splash zones. While the location is inherently beautiful, RCG will also ensure that additional landscaping is planted throughout the site.

Royal Caribbean purchased much of the land on the island, and also has access to additional land from the Bahamian government through a lease.

In looking through some of the proposals, we can see a few concepts for areas of the beach club.  It's clear this is more than just a private strip of sand to enjoy.

The Conceptual Master Plan has a very low resolution image, but we can make out these features:

• Beaches
  • Tranquility Beach
  • Hideaway Beach
  • Sapphire Beach
• Cabanas
  • VIP Cabanas
• Beach Bars
• Bungalows
• Signature Bahamian Bar
• Artisan Village
• Tidal Wading Pool
• Adults Pool
• Food hall
• Tram service
• Restrooms
• Snack Shack
• Kids' Splash Pool and Wading Pool

Upon project completion, Royal Caribbean believes its passengers will spend more time in Nassau.

During a call that could last up to nine hours, the Royal Beach Club experience will include four to five hours on Paradise Island plus additional time for shopping and other Nassau attractions.

Getting to and from the Nassau Beach Club

As Paradise Island is close to the Nassau Port, guests will have direct and quick access to the harbor via water taxis.

Essentially, there will be a transit system that Royal Caribbean will establish where passengers walk off their cruise ship and through the Nassau Port area to reach the water taxi station.

From there, the water taxi can take them to one of two stops at the beach club.

Still moving ahead

Ever since Royal Caribbean announced the Royal Beach Club, it hasn't said much about it and that lead to speculation that the idea might have been cancelled. 

Royal Caribbean executives insist it's simply paused, but still a go once funding for it becomes available.

In December 2022, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about port projects, such as the Royal Beach Club, "We have multiple other port type projects that are still operating. They're still in place. And our ambition is to continue with our strategy. But obviously we have to be mindful of all of the various issues that came from the pandemic."

"My ambition is to as quickly as possible... to get the capital to continue to to create these these products for the business."

The same week, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty echoed the sentiment that nothing is cancelled, "there's nothing that has has been canceled."

"We're going to be able to continue to grow each one of our brands and we're going to be able to invest in Perfect Days and in Royal Beach clubs, etc."

It's not your imagination, cruise prices are on the increase so now may be the best time to lock in the best price.

January is the start of Wave season, and Royal Caribbean is seeing such strong demand that prices aren't dipping much at all.

Wave season is an industry term for the time of year when cruise lines tend to offer their best promotion. It traditionally takes place between January and March.

A lot of people typically book cruises in the early months of year as a result of wanting to plan their vacations for later, as well as being influenced by cold temperatures now that compel them to think of a tropical cruise vacation.

Like other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean has rolled out new offers since the start of the month, and so many people are booking cruises, that price trends are moving up.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, told travel agents on Wednesday during a webinar that demand is so strong for new bookings during Wave season that they're seeing higher prices.

"In the past, when the cruise industry has had a strong wave like we're experiencing now... pricing goes up and we don't see all that dilution in current pricing and we're not seeing that now."

"If anything, we're seeing pricing going up."

This pricing trend reinforces an important cruise planning tip: book early to get the lowest price.

"It allows your client to feel confident that the purchase that they make in the beginning of the year is a better value than if they wait till the end," Ms. Freed added when talking about the prices when booking a cruise early.

More record breaking sales for Royal Caribbean

To echo the point how strong Wave season has been so far, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley shared an anecdote during the webinar how well things have been since the start of the year.

"We have been having record booking day after record booking day," Mr. Bayley said when talking about Wave season so far.

"Last week was the biggest booking week in the history of our business. It was absolutely unbelievable and it just seems to be getting better and better."

He also said this bodes well for the rest of the year, but Mr. Bayley feels strongly about how good things will be for Royal Caribbean this year.

"I've got to tell you, I'm turning pretty positive about the year. Obviously, it's just the beginning of the year."

Why booking a cruise as early as possible matters

Royal Caribbean's cruise fare pricing is based on supply, and the quicker cabins sell on a particular sailing, generally the higher prices go.

The key to getting the best price is to book your cruise as soon as you know you want to go on the sailing and lock in the cabin you prefer.

In addition to the lower prices, booking well in-advance of a cruise assures you of the ship 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.

Read more: Pros and Cons of booking a cruise early vs last-minute

Royal Caribbean's Wave season 2023 offer

If you're curious, Royal Caribbean is offering a number of discounts on cruises when booked in January.

The current promotion offers 30% off every guest and Kids Sail Free deals when booking a cruise between January 3 to January 31, 2023. 

The deals are good for cruises departing in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and some blackout dates apply. 

Throughout January, the line will also run unannounced flash sales that include offers like $550 instant savings and discounts on beverage and dining packages, shore excursions, internet and more.

More demand for cruises

It's not just Royal Caribbean, because survey data points to a lot of people looking to cruise.

According to a AAA survey, 52% of adults in the United States this year are likely to consider a cruise vacation. That's up from 45% a year ago.

AAA sees the demand jumping because a lot more people are comfortable to travel in 2023 compared to the last couple of years.

Recently, Royal Caribbean soft launched their new Hyperlink Program onboard select vessels, and after reading some mixed reviews, I decided to see what the activities were all about while sailing on Symphony of the Seas.

Hyperlink targets guests between the ages of 18-25 and aims to bridge the gap between the Fuel teen club, which is limited to guests 12-17, and other more common adult activities where drinking is more present.

Since I'm only 23, I'm within the age range for this program, so I attended at least one Hyperlink activity everyday while on my cruise to see what I thought. 

I wanted to check out the activities and share with all of you my opinions on how well it all worked.

First impressions

On the very first night, there were two Hyperlink activities: a social gathering near the Solarium Bar, followed by a private table event at the Attic. 

Since I was on my first solo cruise, I was looking forward to the opportunity to get to know other guests around my age. 

When I arrived, the Hyperlink "promoter," who was dressed up in a suit and tie, greeted me and shook my hand. A small speaker playing some of today's hits provided good background noise, and everyone entered a raffle where names would be pulled at the very last event to win "a free cruise or keychain, but probably a keychain." 

There were about ten other attendees present already, so everyone restated their names and where they were from. This kept occurring throughout the event whenever other people would arrive. 

I did notice, however, that while we all said our ages when introducing ourselves, they were never checked by the promoter. In theory, someone who looks like they are between the ages of 18 and 25 could have shown up without question. 

Most of the guests at the social event were under 21, and those who were over the age of 21 arrived drink in hand and did not stay for long, especially those who were looking forward to continuing the gathering in the Attic. 

I ended up meeting a nice guy from Colorado who became my buddy for the week. In fact, we've been in contact since the cruise already! 

A large group of attendees stayed in the Solarium rather than heading down to the club event, myself included. It was nice to get to know everyone instead of heading to a venue where conversation would be minimal. 

Other events offered

Throughout the week, there was at least one Hyperlink event per day, all happening after 10:30pm.

Trivia

The second night's activity was international beer trivia in On Air. It was supposed to begin at 11:30pm; however, it didn't start until closer to 11:45, and the same promoter was the host of the event. 

The room was packed, but once again, no ages were checked. The parents of the friend I made the night prior even stopped in for a little bit.

Additionally, everyone came in groups. If you showed up solo, I think it would've been hard to find a team to play with. There wasn't any real time to talk with others. 

I really didn't find this theme suitable for guests 18-20. Even though I am 23, I am not a beer drinker. In fact, I avoid it at all costs. 

Personally, I think it should have been something more universal, like music or movie trivia. 

In total, the event lasted twenty minutes, as it ended at 12:05am. I'm surprised at how well my new friend and I did; we got eight out of twelve correct, albeit many (if not most) were just great guesses. 

"Frat" games

The next night's event took place in the alcoves located in the forward of the ship off of the running track on deck five. 

I believe that both cup pong and flip cup were supposed to be played, but because of how popular the event was, there was barely enough time to let everyone play cup pong. 

The same friend and I made accompanied me to all the Hyperlink events the rest of the week, which made them more enjoyable, as there weren't any more "get to know each other" opportunities; everyone arrived in pairs or groups. 

At this point, I noticed a recurring theme: ages were not going to be checked. The promoter assigned teams without so much as asking a single person their age. 

The energy at this event was high: loud music was playing; people were screaming and yelling; and you could tell some had a few drinks prior to coming. 

Thus far, the events seemed to be more targeted towards passengers ages 21-25, rather than 18-25, as I felt like this event was not appropriate for the ship to be promoting for those under 21. 

Karaoke 

It was on this cruise I discovered how much I enjoy watching people sing karaoke. Prior to this trip, I usually skipped the karaoke events, as they were often very crowded, and it was difficult to find seating if you didn't arrive ahead of time. 

I was looking forward to the Hyperlink karaoke night because I figured it would be a smaller, more "exclusive" event! 

It turns out that they merged it with "adult" karaoke; however, ages were not checked at all. It was truly just another karaoke night with the only difference being that the same Hyperlink promoter was the host. 

Hyperlink was never even mentioned, and before every song, the promoter would say this was "for you, for me, [and] for everybody!" 

That being said, I really enjoyed myself! The promoter's energy carried the event, as it was evident that he was enjoying himself.

He was often seen dancing off to the side, and at one point, he even ran across the stage throwing tissues! It was quite entertaining. 

'70s club night

Just like the previous night, the event at Studio B's "RED" nightclub was merged with the overarching event. Technically, though, it was just a "meet up" that was scheduled to last thirty minutes. This time,  I never even saw the promoter. If he was there, he was buried in the sea of people on the dance floor. 

About fifteen minutes before it began, there was already a decent sized line. And because this was in a nightclub, all SeaPasses were scanned, so everyone was over 18.

It was nearly impossible to find anyone else who had been to other Hyperlink activities because of how crowded it was. 

Right at the beginning of the dance floor was a bar, and nearly every attendee visited it or carried in another drink. 

Game night

Game night had so much potential! It was slated to be held in the Card Room on deck 14, but when I arrived there were only a few people there; the promoter was nowhere to be found. 

A good age range showed up, too; two 23-year-olds, two 19-year-olds, and one 18-year-old, including myself and friend, were there and ready to play some card games. 

This event would have thrived with some enforcement, like setting up multiple game stations that were ready when people arrived. 

In reality, most people left within ten or fifteen minutes. 

Farewell event

The last activity was another meet up with a DJ, but this one was located in Dazzles.

The overall age of attendees was younger than the RED nightclub event, but that's probably because it was 12:00am, and everyone had to be off the ship in roughly nine hours. 

It was similar to the last clubbing experience, down to the fact that there was no promoter to be found, even though there was supposedly a raffle. 

Now, this could have actually happened, but since it was the last night and I had an early morning, I did not stay longer than fifteen minutes. 

Final thoughts on Hyperlink

The Hyperlink Program is a great idea, but it is lacking in execution.  

None of these activities truly seemed to bridge the gap for those who were between 18 and 20. Rather, they just encouraged drinking behavior (i.e., beer trivia, cup pong, nightclub events). 

Plus, I think that if events are going to be targeted towards a specific age group, there needs to be some method verification, and there should be staff present at every Hyperlink advertised activity. 

Perhaps, even, Royal Caribbean should focus solely on those 18 to 20, as anyone over 21 can partake in all events throughout the cruise ship and most likely are using the time to drink.

Not that I am a sports girl, but I know that exclusive sporting events would've been widely popular, but they were not offered on my sailing. 

All events that were offered were late at night, and sports could be a way to provide entertainment during the day as well-- I found myself struggling to stay awake every single night and would have loved a few events during the day. 

I think, too, that they should have more opportunities for social interaction and meeting new people throughout the week.

Like I said earlier, I am a huge fan of the idea of Hyperlink; I just hope that Royal Caribbean uses feedback from guests to continue improving it! 

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships are extremely popular, and many people only book cruises on the Oasis Class. With an open-air park, kid-friendly Boardwalk, thrilling activities, and world-class entertainment, it’s no secret that Oasis Class ships are something special, but what about Royal Caribbean’s other cruise ships?

If you’ve only cruised on Oasis Class cruise ships before, it’s understandable that you’d choose to book only Oasis Class ships for future cruises. Many people are worried that, after they’ve experienced the “best of the best” by Royal Caribbean, a cruise on a different type of ship would not feel as special.

Yet with six (soon to be seven) classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there is a whole world of cruising to discover outside of the Oasis Class. From the technology-focused, modern Quantum Class ships to the recently refurbished Freedom Class ships, it’s worth giving other Royal Caribbean ships a try.

Here are a few things you should know if you’ve only sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships and want to try something new.

Will I be disappointed if I try a different ship?

Probably the most common question we get from new cruisers that have only sailed on Oasis Class ships is will trying a different kind of Royal Caribbean ship be disappointing.

The short answer is, no, but it will be different.

Oasis Class ships offer so much to see and do, and while other ships may not have the sheer variety of things to do, they still offer a great cruise experience.

The Freedom and Voyager Class ships share a lineage with the Oasis Class, meaning there's a lot of similarities among them that will make you "feel at home" on them too. This includes a Royal Promenade, pool deck activities, theater, and dining room.

Going back to the question of being disappointed, the issue is understanding what the other Royal Caribbean ships have and don't have to ensure it matches up to what you want on a ship.

Someone going from an Oasis Class ship to a Radiance Class, but wanting a cruise ship that has water slides or a full Broadway show would indeed be disappointed. But if those features don't matter as much as the core Royal Caribbean experience, coupled with a different itinerary, may find the sailing fantastic.

As you'll see in this article, there are differences, but as long as you understand what's different and are okay with them, you can have a really great cruise experience on other ships too.

No Central Park

Central Park is a highlight of any cruise on an Oasis Class ship. The open-air neighborhood filled with trees, bushes, and flowers is unlike anything you’ll find on another cruise ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Related: Why Central Park is my favorite spot onboard

If you enjoyed spending time in the park–whether dining outdoors or listening to live music–it’s important to realize there’s nothing quite like Central Park on other ships.

Nonetheless, you’ll still find nice places to hang out on other Royal Caribbean ships. Most passengers on Quantum Class ships rave about Two70, a large indoor entertainment space featuring 270 degree views of the ocean from floor-to-ceiling windows.

Those on Vision, Radiance, Voyager, and Freedom Class ships, on the other hand, love the panoramic views from the Viking Crown Lounge.

Oasis Class aren’t the only mega ships by Royal Caribbean

If you were initially attracted to Oasis Class cruise ships due to their size, you’ll be happy to hear that Royal Caribbean has many other large ships in the fleet.

Quantum Class cruise ships are the second biggest type of Royal Caribbean ship. They have a capacity of nearly 5,000 passengers and weigh 168,000 tons! Onboard these ships you’ll find activities not available on Oasis Class ships, such as bumper cars and indoor skydiving.

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

Freedom Class vessels are also quite large, with a capacity of around 4,500 passengers.

Even Voyager Class ships, while smaller for Royal Caribbean, are still large cruise ships with a capacity of 4,000 passengers. Radiance and Vision Class ships, the smallest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, can still hold around 2,500 passengers.

Just because you sail on a non-Oasis Class ship doesn’t mean you’ll be sailing on a tiny, 200-person vessel.

Read more about Royal Caribbean’s ship classes:

• All about Quantum Class ships
• All about Freedom Class ships
• All about Voyager Class ships
• All about Radiance Class ships
• All about Vision Class ships

There is still a lot to do on all Royal Caribbean ships

It’s understandable that Oasis Class cruise ships are featured in most Royal Caribbean online advertisements and television commercials; they offer the most “I can’t believe they put that on a cruise ship” activities like zip lining, a carousel, and AquaTheater shows.

However, all Royal Caribbean cruise ships offer countless ways to have fun. You’ll find virtual reality zones, waterslides, escape rooms, sports courts, bungee trampolines, indoor skydiving, mini golf, and rock climbing on other ships in the fleet, and the majority of activities are included in your cruise fare.

Related: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

Outside of these activities are game shows, trivia, karaoke, production shows, nightclubs, live musicians, and more, so there’s no need to worry about being bored on any Royal Caribbean ship.

(Probably) no Broadway show

If you enjoyed watching a full-length Broadway show on an Oasis Class ship, you should know that Broadway shows aren’t as common on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

In fact, you’ll only find Broadway shows on 3 non-Oasis Class ships:

• Liberty of the Seas: Saturday Night Fever
• Independence of the Seas: Grease
• Anthem of the Seas: We Will Rock You

An absence of Broadway shows doesn’t mean there isn’t still high-quality entertainment on Royal Caribbean’s other ships, though, and you’ll still find signature production shows across the fleet.

Voyager and Freedom Class ships, like Oasis Class ships, have an ice-skating rink with performances throughout the cruise, and all Royal Caribbean ships have a theater. If you’re sailing on a Quantum Class ship, be sure to check out shows at Two70, a modern venue blending live performances with technology.

Related: Royal Caribbean's 7 ship classes ultimate guide

Look for amplified ships

If you’ve only cruised on Oasis Class ships before, you’ve become accustomed to Royal Caribbean’s latest entertainment, dining venues, activities, and amenities.

Although all Royal Caribbean ships provide an excellent cruise experience, sailing on the fleet’s oldest and smallest ships after an Oasis Class cruise ship can be an adjustment. You may find that some aspects of the ship feel outdated, there are fewer activities available, and dining choices are not nearly as wide as on a new ship.

Therefore, you may want to consider sailing on one of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships or an amplified Voyager or Freedom Class ship. Amplified ships are older cruise ships that have undergone a significant refurbishment to modernize the ship with new venues, amenities, and activities.

Here’s a list of ships to consider when you want to branch out from only sailing on the Oasis Class:

• Odyssey of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas

Fewer dining options

Oasis Class ships have a wide selection of complimentary and specialty dining options. You can find food almost everywhere on the ship, and it’s diverse. From sandwiches at Park Cafe to burritos at El Loco Fresh, you’ll never go hungry on an Oasis Class ship.

And while you’ll never go hungry on any Royal Caribbean ship, you may find fewer dining choices on older ships. This is highly dependent on the ship, as amplified Voyager Class and Freedom Class ships as well as all Quantum Class ships have plenty of dining choices to choose from.

More itinerary options

One plus of cruising on a non-Oasis Class ship after only having cruised on the Oasis Class is having a wider range of itinerary options.

Due to their size, Oasis Class ships are limited to a smaller selection of ports compared to other Royal Caribbean vessels. Only cruising on Oasis Class ships means visiting ports like Cozumel, Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Maarten, and Labadee over and over again.

Related: Ultimate Mexico Cruise Guide

And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with these cruise ports, it can get repetitive cruising to the same locations several times.

Other Royal Caribbean ships visit ports around the world, from Australia to Alaska, northern Europe, the Mexican Riviera, Southeast Asia, and more. You might be surprised to find cruises to countries and cities that you’ve always wanted to visit for a reasonable price on non-Oasis Class ships.

Related: 15 countries you didn’t know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean

You might like other ships even more than the Oasis Class

Many cruisers regard Oasis Class cruise ships as the best Royal Caribbean has to offer. In reality, however, the “best” cruise ship for one person is not best for another.

Some cruisers love the size and amenities of an Oasis Class ship, whereas others find themselves preferring smaller, more relaxed Royal Caribbean ships.

You never know what you’ll like until you try it, and even if you loved cruising on the Oasis Class, you might be surprised how much you enjoy sailing on other ships.

The suite experience can be different

Oasis Class ships feature the Royal Suite Class, a tiered program of suite experiences for passengers in Junior Suites and above.

The Royal Suite Class enhances the traditional suite experience on Royal Caribbean, with the top tier (Star Class) providing unparalleled benefits including a personalized Royal Genie (magic maker) to curate the perfect cruise for you once onboard.

Related: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

The Royal Suite Class is also available on Quantum Class cruise ships, but if you’re staying in a suite on other Royal Caribbean ships, you’ll experience a more traditional suite experience.

The suite experience on older ships is still fantastic, and it has many of the same benefits of suites on Oasis Class ships such as concierge service, Suite Lounge access, in-suite dining, etc. However, if you want the ultimate luxury experience on Royal Caribbean, you’ll find it in a Star Class suite on Oasis and Quantum Class ships only.

You’ll probably save money

Oasis Class ships are high in demand. Unsurprisingly, they come with a higher price tag than most other Royal Caribbean ships.

Sailing on a ship outside of the Oasis Class can offer a fantastic value in a cruise vacation, especially if you book a cruise ship over five years old. It’s not uncommon to find cruises on a Vision, Radiance, or Voyager Class ship for half the price of an Oasis Class ship, even if they’re sailing the same itinerary.

The caveat? Vision and Radiance Class ships have far fewer balconies available compared to the Oasis Class, meaning balcony prices on these ships can be priced similarly to an Oasis Class ship. Be sure to compare prices between cabin categories thoroughly before booking to ensure you’re getting a great deal.

More cruise tips & tricks:

• Pros and Cons of sailing on an older Royal Caribbean cruise ship
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship

I recently went on my first solo cruise during a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing on the Symphony of the Seas, and it was nothing like I expected it to be.

When you embark a cruise ship, you’ll see families in matching t-shirts, eager to kickstart their vacation and spend time together.

Parents will drag their children to Adventure Ocean to get them properly registered before setting sail, while the teens might be nose first into their phones trying to soak in the last bit of cell service.

For older groups of adults, you might find them hopping from bar to bar to figure out which bartender is their favorite as early on as possible.

Cruises are a great vacation for small and large families alike because there’s something for everyone.

Before my first solo cruise, the extent of my independent travel was limited to airports and planes. I was nervous, excited, and everything in between!

Here are five things that surprised me about going on my first solo cruise.

I enjoyed having a stateroom to myself

Initially, I was nervous to be in an interior cabin alone for one week. Prior to this sailing, I had only ever stayed in balcony cabins, and even then I often slept in and nearly missed breakfast.

However, I found coming back to my own stateroom each evening after being around masses of people to be relaxing.

I never had to ask anyone if they wanted to shower first or share closet space; there was no bumping into or bickering with family members while trying to rush to get ready for dinner.

Having an interior cabin to myself made it feel larger, too. I was able to keep everything pretty neat throughout the week, so it never felt cluttered. While I would’ve enjoyed a balcony, I think it would have almost felt like too much space for one person.

Plus, it forced me to get out and mingle on the top deck, rather than stay secluded on my own private terrace.

I will say that I did keep the television channel with the cruise map on all week, and I think having constant music playing in the background helped the room feel more cozy and less lonely!

I prefer exploring ports on my own, rather than going on cruise line sponsored shore excursions

This one truly surprised me, as I made it a plan to only go off with the cruise line due to safety concerns. I don’t have an international cellular plan, so I didn’t want to be wandering in a relatively unfamiliar place without the ability to contact anyone.

I bought a ticket through Royal Caribbean for the Pelican Peak Zip Line in St. Maarten. I had been zip lining in Jamaica before, and all parties were laughing and cheering on each other by the end of the excursion. I had similar hopes and expectations for this tour. 

My group consisted of one family of four, one couple, a brother and sister duo, and another solo guest. Everyone kept to themselves during the ride to Pelican Peak, and the guide was speaking so much that there weren’t any opportunities for participants to mingle.

At the end of the 1,500 foot zip line, all parties dispersed. I thought people would talk about their experiences while waiting for the shuttle back to the cruse terminal, but I found that I was the only person who waited. And after about thirty minutes of waiting, I opted to walk the fifteen minutes back on my own. 

While docked in St. Thomas, I went off on my own to explore Water Island, a quiet and secluded island off the coast that's the smallest of the four U.S. Virgin Islands.

The plan I thought I had went to shambles pretty quickly, but I enjoyed my day talking with locals and other visitors. It made for a more unique experience, and I know that if I ever return, it won’t be quite the same!

It was easy to strike up conversations with other guests

On my first afternoon onboard, I grabbed a strawberry blonde to take back to my stateroom to work on an article about the first look at Royal Caribbean’s new main dining room menus.

In the elevator on the way there, I was asked about the drink by another couple, and we had a full-blown conversation about our favorite cruise drinks before I got off.

That same evening, I went to the first Hyperlink event of the cruise (the Hyperlink program is for guests between the ages of 18 and 25 and aims to bridge cruise ship activities following the teen club to more common adult offerings).

While I was there, I found everyone to be more social and welcoming than I anticipated, and I met two individuals whose family “adopted” me for the week, allowing me to join them at dinner and other activities, including Perfect Day at CocoCay’s Thrill Waterpark.

It was so great to have a buddy that was willing to tag along to the Hyperlink events with me throughout the rest of the week, especially since a few of them were after 11:00pm. 

Seeing how willing people were to jump into conversations at the Hyperlink event made conversing with others a breeze, like when I met a nice couple in Water Island who offered to give me a ride on their golf cart, and I didn’t feel as lonely as I thought I would the rest of the trip.

Dining alone in the Main Dining Room can be a little awkward

When I first moved to New York City, I had immense anxiety about eating alone. Now, I do it at least once per week, albeit in a more fast casual way. Regardless, I had reason to believe that I would have similar experiences solo dining onboard a cruise ship.

In reality, I found it to be much more uncomfortable than I expected, and I felt the loneliest on this trip when I did eat alone.

On the first night, I was tucked into a dark corner seated at a table for two on deck three, and my wait staff was confused at the concept of me sailing alone. I was checked up on at least three or four times asking if anyone was going to be joining me.

Even if I saw other guests hanging out alone during the day, dinner brought travel parties back together.

I’m grateful for the family who let me dine with them each night, as it made my solo cruising experience much more enjoyable!

I’m looking forward to my next solo cruise where I can skip the Main Dining Room, eat in the Windjammer, or dine with others at Izumi’s Teppanyaki!

I didn’t have to prioritize what I wanted to see and do

Since my first solo cruise was also my first work trip, I had to manage experiencing what the ship had to offer, as well as getting all of my assignments done.

That being said, balancing work with cruising felt like a family trip, minus the family.

On those kinds of trips, there’s rarely enough time for everyone to get to do everything that they want to do, so there have to be some compromises made.

The same concept applied to my solo trip, but I got to pick exactly what I wanted to do in my free time, whether that was lounging in the Solarium during the day or watching a show at night.

I didn’t get to zip line, try out the FlowRider, or ride down the Ultimate Abyss, but those are all activities I have done in the past; I was more focused on using my leisure time to relax and enjoy some entertainment!

Overall thoughts on solo cruising

While I enjoyed my trip and am thankful for the new friendships I made, cruising is a whole lot more fun when you're sharing the experience when your loved ones! I often felt myself reminiscing on trips I've taken with my dad and sister and wishing that they were with me. 

In the future, I won't immediately cross a solo cruise off the list, especially now that I know what to expect. To me, a solo cruise equates more with work than for leisure! 

Last week, I had the opportunity to try Royal Caribbean's new Main Dining Room menus. 

In late 2022, the company began testing new menus, and after receiving positive feedback from guests, they announced that they were going to permanently change the menus on all ships within the fleet by February 2023. 

According to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International’s President and CEO, guests often complained about the length of their dinner meal, so one of the primary reasons for the change was the swiftness of service. 

One noticeable change is the creation of a more cohesive theme each night that highlights different cuisines and cooking styles. With that, the “classics” section, which offered a subset of menu options that never changed and were available each night, was removed. 

I went onboard the Symphony of the Seas, one of the first ships in the fleet to receive the new menus, to see how the new menus compared to my previous dining experiences onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and here’s what I thought. 

Read more: Here are the new main dining room menus

Timing of the dinner service

One of the reasons for this change is to decrease the time guests spend in the Main Dining Room. A shorter meal service allows passengers to enjoy other activities during their cruise vacation, both before and after dinner. 

Royal Caribbean believes that dinner should last around 75 minutes, or an hour and fifteen minutes. Prior to the new menus, passengers could spend 95-120+ minutes at dinner. 

I timed each of the seven nights I spent in the Main Dining Room, from when I received my menu to when dessert was set in front of me, to see how true this statement was and found that the average was just a little over 75 minutes. 

Day 1: "Welcome Aboard"

(Southern Fried Chicken served on January 7, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

The first night, I dined solo during the 8:00pm dinner seating on deck three and received my menu at 8:01pm. The theme was "Welcome Aboard," and the highlighted cuisine was American.

My appetizer arrived at 8:27pm, followed by the entree at 8:48pm, and finally dessert at 9:14pm. In total, my dinner experience lasted one hour and thirteen minutes, which was fantastic because I was ready for bed by this point! 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 13 mins.

Day 2: French night

(Roasted Beef Tenderloin served on January 8, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

From the second night on, I was seated at 5:30pm on deck five with a family of five; this minimally impacted the total dining time. 

On my sailing, French night aligned with formal night!

The dinner service took over 75 minutes, as my party secured menus at 5:48pm and received dessert at 7:12pm. The total time spent in the Main Dining Room waiting on food was one hour and twenty-four minutes. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 24 mins.

Day 3: Italian night

(Lasagna al Forno served on January 9, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

On Day 3, my dining party shrunk from six to four, as two had reservations at Chops Grille.

The speed of the service felt almost unbelievable; all three courses were served within one hour and eight minutes! We got our menus at 5:26pm, appetizers at 5:44pm, entrees at 5:58pm, and desserts at 6:34pm.   

Everyone got a chuckle about how the dinner theme was Italian, while the evening's theme was White Night. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 8 mins.

Day 4: Caribbean night

(Jerk Seasoned Pork Chop served on January 10, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

The table was full with six people again on Caribbean night. This was the first night where I could truly tell they had revamped their menus, as the only entree I recognized was the New York Strip Steak. Compared to the three pervious nights, the Main Dining Room was also relatively empty.

Tonight's dinner took exactly one hour and twenty-five minutes from receiving the menus to being presented with dessert. We were seated with menus at 5:39pm, and our desserts arrived at 7:03pm.

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 25 mins. 

Night 5: Mexican night

(Pulled Pork Enchilada served on January 11, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

By this point, it seemed like 95 minutes was the staff's goal, as this was the third night on the sailing where we finished our dinner around the same time.

My dining party received menus at 5:30pm and dessert at 6:54pm, for a total of one hour and twenty-four minutes waiting on food. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 24 mins.

Night 6: The Royal Night

(Broiled lobster tail served on January 12, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

Naturally, the Main Dining Room was the most crowded on "dress your best" night when lobster was listed as a complimentary menu option. 

Four out of six people ordered it as one of their entrees, and they all looked to be roughly 1.00 to 1.25 pounds each. However, since additional lobster tails now cost $16.99 each, nobody ordered a second to see how it compared to the complimentary tail. 

Nearly everyone ordered two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts, so I expected dinner to take longer than other nights; we were served in one hour and thirty-nine minutes. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 39 mins.

Day 7: Mediterranean night

(Vegetable moussaka served on January 12, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

On the last night, I dined solo again and was in and out in just thirty-eight minutes. However, out of all seven nights, I have to say that Mediterranean dinner was my least favorite.

Total dinner time: 38 mins.

Average dinner time for the week: a little over 75 mins.

Reformatting the chef's recommendations

I was able to secure paper copies of the menus for the rest of the week on the second morning of the cruise, but the formatting was soon changed.

At first, the menu items listed at the top as the "chef's recommendation" were not included again under each of the different courses. If your eyes glazed over this portion of the menu, it would be easy to miss an additional appetizer, entree, and dessert option! 

By the third night, the menus presented at dinner were different from those I was given just one day prior, as the recommended items were now repeated.

I appreciated this change, as placing all available options in one place is more convenient for the reader, who is most likely hungry and trying to quickly figure out what they want to eat. 

Price of additional lobster tails

In the past, guests always looked forward to the night when lobster was listed as a complimentary menu option. 

While it was on the menu every night for a surcharge, there was only one night per sailing where guests could indulge in as many lobster tails as they desired. 

With the new menus, Royal Caribbean is limiting guests to just one broiled lobster tail for no additional cost on the evening it's available. If passengers want another, they will be charged $16.99. 

Cutbacks have been seen across many industries throughout the past year, but the realities of the current lobster trade also forced Royal Caribbean's hand in part, as they can only buy 90% Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified food, which means that lobster needs to be either farm raised or wild caught.

Due to environmental concerns, there's been a recent shift in Maine lobster purchasing; vendors, such as Whole Foods, have halted purchasing the lobsters.

Therefore, Royal Caribbean has begun buying MSC certified Canadian lobster instead. 

Kids' menu

There are five main entrees on the kids' menu that are offered nightly and do not change throughout the week: a hamburger, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, spaghetti marinara, and mac & cheese. 

Additionally, they may choose between a fruit salad, veggie sticks, and french fries as a side, as well as three different flavors of ice cream and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. 

Special requests

(Sugar-free blueberry cobbler served on January 10, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean has been great at accommodating specific food allergies and dietary requirements. 

On the new menus, the vegan dishes are indicated via a small leaf icon, and there's at least one vegan dish for each course, including vegan spaghetti bolognese and stuffed grilled eggplant. On my Symphony of the Seas sailing, however, there was not separate menu that was provided upon request. 

For those watching their sugar intake, they also offer at least one sugar-free dessert each evening, such as a crumbly oat and berry bar or a warm blueberry cobbler. 

Per Royal Caribbean's website, you may also send email requests to [email protected] at least 45 days prior to sailing (90 days for European/South American/Asian itineraries). Be sure to include the guests' names, booking number, ship name, and sail date. 

Top three menu items I ate in the Main Dining Room

I ate a lot of delicious food this past week, but a few courses stood out over the others, namely the appetizers and desserts.

#1: Warm chocolate chip cookie

The best thing I had was the warm chocolate chip cookie on Mexican night. It was something our head waiter recommended over and over and over, so everyone felt like they had to try it. It was better than we all imagined!

The deep dish cookie was served in a piping hot ramekin and topped with vanilla ice cream.

The outside was crisp and golden, while the inside was perfectly ooey and gooey. It never became too soft, even with the melting ice cream on top.

#2: Roasted poblano pepper soup

Two of my favorite dishes from the cruise were served on Mexican night; yet, only the soup was on the list of the chef's recommendations. 

What I enjoyed the most about this course was the spicy kick that the soup had. The only thing that could have made it better was including more of the roasted corn, red peppers, and sautéed chorizo. 

#3: Crispy coconut jumbo shrimp

On Caribbean night, the chef's recommended appetizer was the coconut shrimp. The shrimp were indeed crunchy, but they had a subtle hint of coconut; the sweet chili dipping sauce is what made this dish so incredible. Someone in my party even got a second order of them! 

I will note that this is when I noticed some inconsistency in plating. The second order came out in an entirely different dish, and the shrimp were noticeably larger. Plus, there was much more of the sauce on the bottom.  

How does the new Main Dining Room menu compare to my previous dining experiences? 

Growing up, my family had a rule that we would only dine in a specialty restaurant once per cruise, so I ate in the Main Dining Room a lot. 

Speed never really mattered, as you could tell the wait staff if you wanted a quicker dinner service because of a reservation to a show. I remember there being times where they were able to get my family of four in and out in about an hour! 

In terms of food quality, it seemed close to what it was in the past. About a quarter of my dishes came out cold, even though Royal Caribbean said that the new menu was going to ensure hotter food. 

My sister was always a picky eater, and she would eat the roasted chicken breast at least three nights on any given sailing; I can see why the removal of the "classics" section is upsetting to some people.

For me, however, I enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying new things, as that's one of the reasons I love cruising. I knew that if I ordered an adventurous entree that I ended up not liking, I could order something else. 

The only night I was truly dissatisfied was Mediterranean night.

If I wasn't in a rush to go pack, I probably would've ordered the grilled Mediterranean steak, as the vegetable moussaka was coated too heavily in unusually dry breadcrumbs for my liking. 

As with anything new, I expected there to be some trial and error for the kitchen staff, but I was overall impressed with the new menus and am looking forward to seeing how the dining experiences on my upcoming cruises compare!