Royal Caribbean Blog

Could this be what the next version of Royal Caribbean's main dining room menu looks like?

Royal Caribbean sent past guests an email survey with options for a new main dining room menu, and asked them for feedback.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Shannon Apodaca shared screenshots from the survey, which asked a variety of questions regarding the main dining room experience.

The example menu is for a French night theme, and it features both a new layout and new choices on the menu.

The survey then asked for ratings of each dish and how appealing they were to the respondent. 

Also included in the survey were questions about the main dining room experience overall, such as:

• How many minutes is too short, just right, and too long for dinner in the main dining room?
• What proportion of the menu would you prefer to contain familiar vs new dishes?

Then the survey asked for the top 3 things you look for in the menu items:

• Wide variety of dishes
• Lots of dishes to choose from
• Familiar items
• Healthy options
• New items I've never had
• Easy to understand descriptions
• Small portions
• Listing of all ingredients in each dish
• Sourcing of ingredients
• Exotic options

Next was a question about top 3 things in particular do you look for in the service of the main dining room:

• Gets to know me
• Anticipates my needs
• Doses not rush my service
• Offers suggestions
• Quick Service
• Friendly staff
• Bring samples to try
• Goes above and beyond
• Provides detailed description of menu items
• Refills drinks promptly
• Same server each night

Finally, it asked for guests to share the ideal main dining room atmosphere, in terms of lighting, table settings, music, silverware and more.

Following up on ship testing

This survey is being conducted in conjunction with a real-world example of the new menu taking place on Symphony of the Seas.

As we reported first, Royal Caribbean has changed the main dining room menu on only Symphony of the Seas to trial out the new menu.

Thanks to Thomas Napolitano for providing these menus

The new menu layout is part of the test, along with a change in the lobster portions provided.

Royal Caribbean says the impetus for making the change is for the guest experience in an effort to simplify the dining room menu, which would allow the service to speed up.

In short, Royal Caribbean is looking for a way to make the dinner experience in the main dining room more predictable and efficient.

The last port of call on our Odyssey of the Seas cruise takes us to Curacao.

Since the distance between our previous stop of Aruba and Curacao is quite short, the ship docked around 8am and we had a full day to enjoy the island.

We had no plans for the day other than not going to another beach.  After three beach days in a row, the family wanted something different. With that in mind, we decided to just wing it and see what happens.

Breakfast was in Cafe @ Two70 for how quick we can get in and out for time onshore.

Odyssey of the Seas docked a reasonable distance from downtown, with an easy walk from ship to shops.

The day started out cloudy and quite humid. As the day went on, we had an occasional light rain shower, but the clouds eventually cleared. The humidity, however, did not go away.

Before you can get to the real part of downtown, you have to go over a pontoon bridge. This bridge will sometimes move to make way for boat traffic, which is a neat sight to see.

Once downtown, we started meandering to look for souvenirs and anything else interesting. We had no agenda, just see where the streets would take us until the kids complained too much.

We ran across Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue , which is the oldest surviving synagogue in the Americas.

We had visited it a few years ago as part of a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, but the kids are older, so we decided to poke our heads in again.

At first, I just wanted to give the synagogue a couple of dollars to see the inside of the temple and take another glimpse.

The first synagogue building was purchased in 1674, and the current building dates from 1730.

Something else unique about this building are the sand-covered floors.

There's also a small museum that tells the story of Jewish community in Curacaco, dating back to the late 15th century.

We continued our walk around town and get to the main square, where the kids took an ice cream break.

We did some more shopping before stopping for lunch at a restaurant along the water.

The food was nothing special, but the views of the water were nice.

At this point, the humidity was a bit too much, so we decided to head back to the ship.

We rested up for the evening, as it was Thanksgiving.

The ship didn't do a ton for Thanksgiving, but it covered the basics. There is a special menu in the main dining room and a few Thanksgiving activities in the Cruise Compass.

Prior to dinner, we took the kids to get a drink from the Bionic Bar.  

They loved watching the robots make the drinks. I find the drinks too sweet for my taste, but they loved it.

Next was dinner in the main dining room. We were on My Time Dining because when you book the Unlimited Dining Package, you automatically get moved to My Time to free up a table in traditional dining.

The earliest time you can book is 6:45, but we wanted to dine with our friends in the first seating of dinner at 5:30.

We got downstairs at 5:30 and asked and they said to come back at 6 once they knew who the no-shows were.  Sure enough, we were seated at a table right next to them at 6pm.

It's hard not to appreciate the beauty of the main dining room on Odyssey of the Seas because it's a different look than dining rooms across the fleet.

There's the normal main dining room menu, along with a special Thanksgiving menu.

I had to get turkey, along with the butternut squash soup.  My wife opted for the honey baked ham.

After dinner, we went to the Schooner Bar for "Name That Tune: Thanksgiving songs".  If you're like me, you can't think of any inherently Thanksgiving songs.

Sure enough, the idea was song titles that could double as Thanksgiving references, as opposed to songs synonymous with the holiday.

We weren't sure where to go next, so we headed up to Playmakers to watch the evening NFL football game between the Patriots and Vikings.

We didn't intend to stay for the whole game, but had a good time so did so anyway.

I rounded out my evening with some time in the casino before heading to bed.

Tomorrow is a sea day.

Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way.

Here’s what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Do I need cash on a cruise ship?

Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Prior to your cruise, you’ll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise.

You won’t require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. Plus, you’re never required to make any extra purchases in the first place if you take advantage of the complimentary options available on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Related: What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

When will I need cash on a cruise ship?

Although cash isn’t required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where you’ll want to have cash available.

Tipping crew members

Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members.

While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, it’s common to tip crew members extra for excellent service.

Tipping extra is not necessary, and there’s no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50.

Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing.

Port days

The time when you’ll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when you’re in port. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments.

And while you don’t need to visit a port with $1000 in your wallet, you’ll want to make sure you have enough money to account for expenses throughout the day.

Depending on what you plan to do in port, you might need cash for the following:

• Taxis
• Restaurants and cafes
• Museum entrance fees
• Beach chair rentals
• Souvenirs

We recommend bringing around $100-200 in cash with you on a port day. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port.

Can I use my credit card while in port?

You’re welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. However, you’ll want to make sure you’ve notified your bank that you will be out of the country.

If you haven’t notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card.

How to get cash on your cruise ship

If you forgot to bring cash on your cruise, there are a few ways to get it once onboard.

First is the ATM. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction.

Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino.

If you go to any slot machine, you’re able to transfer money to the game via your onboard account, which is connected to your credit or debit card.

If you transfer money to the slot machine and immediately cash out, you can take your cashout slip to the casino cage and receive the listed amount in cash.

Which currency do I need on a cruise?

Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary.

If you’re sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary.

You’ll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, you’ll receive change in Mexican pesos.

Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destination’s local currency. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted.

To avoid currency confusion, especially if you’re traveling to multiple countries on one cruise, we recommend using a credit or debit card to make purchases in port whenever possible.

More tips & tricks for planning your Royal Caribbean cruise:

• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation
• The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler
• How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget
• Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

It's kind of amazing that we were in the Dominican Republic yesterday and we'll make it down to the Southern Caribbean the next day.

Aruba is the next port of call, but we weren't due in until 1:30pm.  So today was half sea day, and half port day.

Since we had a sea day start to the day, we took things easy and slept in. My wife had a spa massage booked for the morning, but the girls and I slept in a bit.

Eventually we made it to the Windjammer for breakfast.

After eating, I took the kids up the SeaPlex to try out a Royal Caribbean original video game where you have to move your body to move the character.

Like other arcade games, it costs money, but it was a fun thing to try out.

As Odyssey of the Seas approached Aruba, we got ourselves ready to go once we docked.

We booked day passes to the RIU Palace resort through Resortforaday.com, which includes admission to the resort and is all-inclusive.  This means we can use the pool and beach, as well as enjoy unlimited drinks and food at a couple restaurants.

Walking off the ship was super easy.  In fact, we've had no lines at all walking off or coming back onboard the ship.  Maybe we're just getting lucky with times, but the process has been handled well.

Our time in Aruba was from 1:30pm to 11:30pm, giving us an afternoon and evening in port.

There were taxis waiting as we walked off the ship and took the short 10 minute ride to the resort. 

We checked in at the resort lobby and got wristbands for the day and cards to get towels. It's always so much easier if we don't have to schlep towels back and forth from the ship, especially when the towels are wet at the end of the day.

The pool is large, with various depths and features. The pool was so large there was no issue with it being overcrowded at all.

We were able to easily get chairs at the pool, and the hotel buildings provided shade for where we wanted to sit.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included, and there is a large swim up bar in the pool, as well as a dry bar on the other side. There are also waiters that walk around periodically to take orders, but I found the waiters to be quite infrequent.

The resort is situated on Palm Beach, and the walk from pool to beach is just a few steps.

All the beaches in Aruba are public access, but the chairs and palapas are reserved for hotel guests.  

Palm beach is lovely, and it did not disappoint with white sand that felt very soft. Water was warm and as you can see in these photos, quite beautiful.

As afternoon turned to evening, we got to enjoy a beautiful sunset right on the beach.  While I generally prefer pools to beaches, I spent a lot of time at the beach, especially when the sun started to set.

For dinner, we had access to either the sports bar or the buffet restaurant.  It's worth noting you need to be dry and not have sleeveless clothing to go into the buffet. It's not listed in the day pass buying process, but I saw someone else mention it in a review, so we packed clothes to change into.

The buffet restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and is quite expansive with tons of choices. Even the pickiest eaters will find something here.

We had a great time at the RIU Palace, and while not cheap, delivered on the fun we were hoping for.

We took a taxi ride back to the ship and showered once back onboard.

Still in port, we decided to go up to Playmakers for a drink and a bite to eat. One nice thing about having the unlimited dining package is you can stop in for just a bite since we weren't going to eat at Playmakers otherwise today.

We ran into one of our favorite waiters, Jessica, working in Playmakers.  It's always a pleasure when you can reconnect with crew members you had a good rapport with in the past.

Tomorrow we will be in Curacao.

Planning your first cruise is always exciting, but it can be difficult to know what to expect. From packing to embarkation day and exploring new ports, there’s a lot to consider when preparing for a cruise vacation.

In order to make sure you have the best cruise possible, you’ll want to avoid the common pitfalls and mistakes many newbie cruisers make. Even a small mistake can have a negative impact on the enjoyment of your cruise, and you’ll want to avoid making decisions that can ultimately ruin your time onboard.

Here are the top 20 worst cruise ship mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation.

Packing important items in your checked luggage

When you arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day, you have the option to check in your luggage with porters. Most passengers opt to do this to avoid the hassle of lugging their suitcases around the ship on embarkation day.

Before handing off your suitcases to the porters, double check to make sure you have everything you’ll need to embark the ship in your carry-on bag.

Related: The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

It’s important to keep identification, medication, items for your kids, etc. in your carry-on bag to ensure they’re handy on embarkation day.

Bringing the wrong documentation

One of the top ways to ruin a cruise is by being denied boarding in the first place! Before you book a cruise, make sure to review which necessary documentation is required for your sailing.

Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Necessary documentation for your cruise depends on your citizenship, residency, and from where in the world you are embarking a cruise ship. Review Royal Caribbean’s official policy on necessary identification here to ensure you have the proper documentation for your cruise.

Having an expired passport

In addition to having proper documentation for a cruise, make sure it will be valid at the time of travel. You don’t want to realize your passport expired as you’re packing for the cruise!

You must ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your cruise. If your cruise is in June but your passport expires in July, you may be denied boarding.

Be aware of when your passport (or driver’s license) expires and plan accordingly if it will expire before the cruise. Passport renewals can take several weeks, so it’s important to plan ahead to ensure you don’t miss your cruise.

Not researching anything in port

We don’t recommend “winging it” when it comes to visiting a new cruise port. With limited time in each destination, you’ll want to make the most of your time and have the best experience possible.

While you don’t have to plan your port day down to the minute, knowing the basics of what your port has to offer can help you plan the perfect day.

Related: Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

Research the port’s top attractions, culture, food, and language. It’s better to be knowledgeable about what you can do in port so you don’t regret not experiencing something in the destination later on.

Not putting your phone in airplane mode

One of the most expensive mistakes you can make on a Royal Caribbean cruise is forgetting to put your cell phone in airplane mode. Leaving your phone’s data on can lead to expensive international roaming charges, and no one wants to be surprised with a huge bill.

Cell service on cruise ships is not covered even if you have a phone plan with international coverage. Therefore, regardless of your phone provider or where in the world you are cruising, always make sure to put your phone on airplane mode when your ship is sailing.

Booking a flight the same day your cruise begins

One piece of advice we give over and over again is to arrive in your embarkation port the day before your cruise.

Booking a flight that arrives the same day of your cruise is risky. Weather delays, technical issues, and unexpected mishaps can easily cause you to miss the ship. Booking a flight that arrives the day before your cruise provides extra wiggle room in case of any travel issues.

Airline travel has always been unpredictable, so be sure to plan for extra travel time.

Booking flights too early on disembarkation day

Just like traveling to your cruise port, you’ll want to plan wiggle room for any delays you might encounter on disembarkation day.

Most cruise ships return to port around 6AM on disembarkation day. This does not mean, however, that you are able to disembark the ship at 6AM.

Disembarkation usually starts around 7AM, with most guests off the ship by 9:30AM. Disembarkation, travel to the airport, checking bags, and going through security can take a few hours, especially if the port is far from the airport.

We don’t recommend booking a flight before 12PM, although it’s important to research travel times from your cruise port to the airport. Some airports, like Fort Lauderdale, are located just a few minutes from the cruise terminal whereas others require more travel time.

Picking the cheapest cruise you see

Everyone loves finding a good deal, but don’t book a cruise based solely on price. Booking a cruise based on price ignores other important factors like ship size, itinerary, activity options, and stateroom choices.

Related: Why you shouldn’t book the cheapest cruise you can find

Before you book the cheapest cruise you can find, be sure to consider these factors. You don’t want to book a cheap cruise only to realize the itinerary isn’t what you wanted or that there are limited activities for kids onboard.

Do research before booking to make sure your cruise vacation is as amazing as possible.

Picking the wrong ship

Royal Caribbean cruise ships may all offer a classic Royal Caribbean experience, but amenities, size, and activity options vary widely. Although you can have an excellent cruise on any ship, you might prefer one style of cruising over another.

If you’re traveling with kids, for example, you might want to consider a ship with an abundance of family-friendly activities. Voyager, Freedom, Quantum, and Oasis Class ships have activities like waterslides, Splashaway Bay, a FlowRider, zip line, and ice skating.

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

If your main goal is to visit exotic ports, you’ll want to look for a cruise on a smaller ship. Royal Caribbean deploys its older, smaller cruise ships on more unique itineraries to places like Fiji, the Panama Canal, and Croatia.

The more research you do on Royal Caribbean ships before booking your cruise will help avoid any disappointment upon boarding.

Not packing sunscreen

No one likes getting sunburned, and a bad burn can severely impact the enjoyment of your cruise vacation.

If you’re cruising to a warm destination, you’ll probably be spending much more time in the sun than you’re used to. Whether lounging on the beach or sightseeing in a city, it’s important to apply and reapply sunscreen throughout the day.

Booking shore excursions in every port

If you’re new to cruising, you might assume you should book shore excursions in every port you visit, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

While shore excursions can offer a stress-free way to see the top sights of any port, they come with several drawbacks. Large tour groups, little time spent in each destination, and a higher price than exploring independently are just some of the cons of booking a shore excursion.

Many ports can be easily explored without an organized tour. Plenty of passengers prefer disembarking the ship and spending their day exactly how they want to spend it. Whether that means taking a taxi to a local beach or shopping downtown, there are many ways to spend time in port without an excursion.

If you’re debating between booking an excursion or exploring on your own, these tips should help you make a decision:

• 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion
• Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• 5 cruise ship shore excursions I tried and instantly regretted
• What to do if Royal Caribbean’s shore excursions are sold out

Getting upset about itinerary changes

Itinerary changes are possible on a cruise, so it’s important to understand that the cruise you originally planned for may encounter changes.

Changes can occur due to weather, port restrictions, medical emergencies, unrest in a port of call, etc. Therefore, it’s extremely important to be flexible with any itinerary changes.

Instead of declaring your cruise “ruined” due to an itinerary change, view the change with excitement instead of anger. If you will be visiting a new destination, research the best things to do in port, local cuisine, and culture. If your port stop was replaced with a sea day, plan something special for the extra time onboard, such as visiting the spa or reserving dinner at a specialty restaurant.

As with everything in life, changes can happen unexpectedly, but you shouldn’t let an itinerary change ruin your cruise.

Being rude to crew members

Royal Caribbean’s crew members work extremely hard on their multi-month contracts. Most crew work 7 days a week while still maintaining a positive attitude and helping guests in every way they can.

While most ship operations run smoothly, there’s always a chance something will go astray. If your dining room waiter accidentally brings you the wrong appetizer or a bartender charges for the wrong drink, approach the situation politely.

Being rude and yelling at crew members is never a nice way to go about your cruise vacation. If something bothers you, you can calmly ask a crew member to resolve the problem.

Missing the cruise ship

A surefire way to ruin any cruise vacation is by missing your cruise ship and being left behind in port. Whether you arrived late on embarkation day or lost track of time at the beach in Mexico, missing the ship is an unfortunate scenario.

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

Missing your ship is, more often than not, an expensive and time-consuming ordeal, especially if you’re traveling without a passport.

Visits to the US embassy for emergency identification documents and last-minute airline prices are not ideal. Be sure to keep track of time when in port to ensure your cruise ship doesn’t leave without you.

Not purchasing travel insurance

Another way to ruin your cruise vacation is by not purchasing travel insurance.

Traveling can lead to many surprises, from canceled flights to emergency doctor visits. Having travel insurance ensures you are financially covered in the most unpredictable situations.

Related: Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

In fact, Royal Caribbean’s onboard medical services are not covered under most insurance plans that work at home. Travel insurance, on the other hand, should cover any medical services you may require once onboard.

Not leaving clothes out for disembarkation day

Before you put luggage outside your stateroom door the night before disembarkation, be sure to leave clothes to wear the following morning.

The night before disembarkation, you can opt to place luggage in the hallway which will be transported to the cruise terminal for pick up the next morning. Although this is a hassle-free way of moving your luggage from place to place, be sure to leave daytime clothes for disembarkation day.

You don’t want to disembark the ship in your pajamas!

Forgetting medicine

One of, if not the most important thing to pack for a cruise is any prescription medication you require. Check and double check to make sure all necessary medication is in your carry-on bag before leaving for a cruise.

While you’ll find pharmacy options in port and in the ship’s medical center, there’s no guarantee your specific medication and brand will be stocked.

It’s a good idea to pack over-the-counter medications with you as well, such as motion-sickness medication, ibuprofen, anti-nausea tablets, etc.

Selecting the wrong cabin type

One surefire way to negatively impact your cruise vacation is by selecting the wrong cabin type or location.

Before booking the cheapest or first cabin you see, consider what you’re looking for in a cruise vacation.

If you plan to spend the whole day outside of your cabin, an inside room can be a budget-friendly option. If you’d rather enjoy the privacy of a balcony, however, consider booking a higher category room.

Related: Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean

Your cabin location is another important factor to consider before booking a cruise. Some cabins may be more prone to movement than others, whereas some are located closer to certain venues onboard.

Before picking a cruise ship cabin location, be sure to read our guide on the best cabins on a cruise ship.

Arguing with other passengers

Did you know every Royal Caribbean cruise ship has a jail onboard? Make sure you don’t end up there.

With thousands of passengers on any cruise ship, arguments and conflict can occasionally occur.

Just like in any land-based setting, it’s best to avoid conversations about politics and controversial topics with fellow passengers. Be courteous of those around you on a cruise and you’ll avoid any major issues.

Not checking your bill at the end of the cruise

Every purchase you make onboard is charged to your SeaPass card. You can check your account balance throughout the cruise via the Royal Caribbean app, and we recommend looking at the balance periodically to check for any errors.

You may occasionally encounter an incorrect charge, and it's always better to catch this mistake while onboard instead of at home. If you don't check your invoice until the cruise ends, you'll have to call Royal Caribbean and wait on hold. It's much easier to go to Guest Services while onboard to take care of any billing issues.

More cruise tips & tricks:

• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Today we visited the Dominican Republic for the first time, which makes it a nice change of pace.

I've had many cruises with scheduled stops to a port in the Dominican Republic, but they always ended up being cancelled.

Today, we are visiting La Romana, which is on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic.

Odyssey of the Seas wasn't due in until about 10am, so we took our time in the morning and grabbed breakfast at Cafe @ Two70.

As the ship pulled into La Romana, the mountainous countryside stood out immediately.

Prior to the cruise, I booked a private boat charter through a website called GetMyBoat. It's a third-party listing of boats you can charter, and this one sounded like a perfect fit.  It was 3 hours of having the boat to ourselves, and it comes with a crew, lunch, and a few stops along the way.

The boat left from Punta Cana, which is about a 45 minute car ride away.  The company that chartered the boat arranged for an additional cost transportation to and from the port. Carlos was waiting when we disembarked and met us in the taxi lot.

I believe we docked a little early, so we were able to walk off the ship earlier than I anticipated. There is a small port area with lots of shops you can browse as you walk out (or back in as you return).

We met Carlos who had a large passenger van and he got us on our way.  The kids loved when he hooked up his phone to the Bluetooth and played their favorite songs.

I didn't realize Punta Cana was as close as it is to La Romana, primarily via highway. 

Once we got to the beach, Carlos dropped us off at the main building for the company that owns the boats they charter.  We signed the necessary paperwork and were taken right away to the beach to board our boat.

We had booked a 60 foot long boat that has 2 levels, 2 bathrooms, and even a water slide off the back of the boat.

Our visit would take us to a snorkeling spot and a swimming spot to enjoy. Along the way we would also visit a dolphin park. All the stops are at various areas just off the coast, so there's no long commute times on the water.

Since it was reserved just for us, the boat felt very large with tons of space.  And since it was our own charter, as soon as we were ready to go, the captain pulled up anchor and we were on our way.

Our first stop was a snorkeling area, where the boat provided all the equipment.  You could optionally just hop in the water for a swim without snorkel gear if you preferred to just be in the water.

One of the crew members escorted us around the water and helped the kids.  There was a strong current, so there was a lot of swimming required.

After we got back onboard, it was time for lunch.  I paid extra to get an upgraded lunch option for the kids, so we had burgers, chicken kabobs, and fruit.  Later we were served chips and salsa.

Also included were soft drinks and rum punch and rum and cokes. We had the option to BYOB as well, with a stop at a liquor stand before boarding the boat.

We passed by a dolphin park, which meant we could see dolphins swimming around in their enclosure from our boat.  We didn't go in or anything, so it's merely a quick minute long stop to glance.

Next up was our swimming stop, where we could get in the water that was about 4 or 5 feet deep. 

This proved to be best time of the day, because the kids loved going down the water slide over and over again and we all got time to relax in the water.

After the swim, we started heading back to shore.

I loved our time because it delivered exactly what was promised. We got back to La Romana with 2 and a half hours to spare, which is always my primary concern when doing a tour on my own far from the port.

The crew were great, and having the boat to ourselves was fantastic. It felt special and I only wish we had more time during the tour. In case you're wondering, the boat cost $688, and then it was an additional $300 for the roundtrip transportation and upgraded lunch.

Carlos drove us back and we browsed a few shops at the port before getting back on the ship.

After showering, it was time for dinner at Wonderland.

My kids wanted to eat at Wonderland because they've never dined there and thought the whimsical nature of the restaurant sounded fun. I have to admit I would have preferred dining elsewhere.

As it turned out, the kids loved the experience.  The kids menu was a homerun, and the main menu items ended up being really good.  Plus, the kids loved the schtick more than I thought they would.

I even found the food better than I remembered, and I don't think anyone regretted going to Wonderland.

After dinner, my wife and I did a little window shopping around the Royal Esplanade before hitting up the casino for a bit.

Tomorrow we will be in Aruba.

Planning your cruise vacation often includes the age-old debate of whether or not you should book excursions through the cruise line.

When you arrive to a cruise port, you often have three choices for how to spend your day:

1. Explore the port on your own
2. Book a tour through the cruise line
3. Choose a third-party tour company

When it comes to cruising, I firmly believe there’s a time and place for each of these options. Depending on your budget and length of time in the port, it can be very cost-effective to book a third-party vendor.

There’s also been times on European cruises where I want to visit somewhere that isn’t on the excursion list. Sometimes, it’s way too expensive to book excursions through the cruise line when I can get the same experience for much less with an independent tour company. 

I also appreciate exploring ports by foot whenever possible. Some ports are inherently easier to explore on your own; for example, some ports allow cruise ships to dock right in the city center where you can easily walk around or take a taxi.

In general, I’ve found that European cruise ports are very pedestrian-friendly so we often choose to do our own thing whenever possible. This allows you to have flexibility to spend your day exactly how you want and I love exploring a city by foot.

However, on a recent 12-night European cruise to Israel onboard Odyssey of the Seas, we booked four excursions through the cruise line - and it was the absolute best decision we could have made.

Here’s why I don't have any regrets about booking Royal Caribbean sponsored excursions on our Holy Land sailing. 

Immigration Preference

First (and probably most importantly), the biggest advantage of having a shore excursion through the cruise line was having priority immigration when we arrived in Israel.

Although not common for European ports, Israel requires face-to-face immigration for all maritime tourists. With nearly 4,000 passengers onboard, every single person was required to go through this in-person immigration even if they were not planning to go ashore.

Originally, we had booked a third-party tour through Viator because we had an overnight in Ashdod and we weren’t worried about returning to the port at a certain time.

However, I decided to do some research about immigration in Israel just a few months before we sailed. I discovered that Royal Caribbean tours would receive immigration priority and everyone on an independent tour would need to wait for all cruise line tours to go through immigration first.

Those that were not on a sponsored excursion had to get an immigration number prior to arrival; these were given on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Also, large independent tours that comprised of 30-50 cruisers onboard had to coordinate getting similar immigration numbers so everyone could go through at similar times.

I watched online as many scrambled to change their tour plans and coordinate with their independent guides when they found out about the immigration delay.

For larger cruise ships, immigration in Israel can take four to five hours! We decided to cancel our third-party excursion, watch the cruise portal, and book a Royal Caribbean excursion as soon as a full-day tour opened up.

This was the best decision we made, as we were able to go through immigration promptly at 8:00am. As expected, those who did not have a Royal Caribbean excursion had to wait until 12pm-1pm to get off the ship.

Most of the sites in Israel close near 4pm-5pm, so this really doesn’t allow for much time to see everything the city has to offer.

For us, Israel was the main highlight of the itinerary and we wanted to optimize our 3 days there with full-day tours. Losing half of a day waiting for immigration would have been not only frustrating, but also disappointing.

We heard stories of people who did not get through immigration quick enough and their independent tours cancelled on them - or they were left behind entirely to fend for themselves. We met others who tried to explore the port on their own after getting left behind, but found difficulties trying to do things without a tour guide.

Late Return Guarantee

In addition to priority immigration, another major perk of booking an excursion though the cruise line was having the guarantee that the ship would not leave us behind.

After thinking through our excursions, we realized that we had a lot of driving between all of the sites we wanted to see. For example, visiting the Dead Sea and Masada was more than 2 hours away from the Ashdod cruise port.

Since we wanted to see places that were not close to the cruise port, it made sense to book our excursions through the cruise line. We also found there to be a lot of traffic jams in Israel; our tour guides mentioned that Israeli people love having the luxury vehicles, which congests the road.

On our second day in Israel visiting Masada and the Dead Sea, we found ourselves more than an hour behind schedule. There were tons of tour buses visiting Masada at the same time and only one person was operating the two cable cars that take people up to the mountain top and back to the visitor center.

We waited in line for an hour with people pushing and shoving their way through the crowd. Most were likely scared of being separated from their tours and being stuck 2 hours away from the cruise port.

With our Masada delay, we visited the Dead Sea almost two hours later than anticipated on the schedule. Instead of stressing about getting back to the ship on time, we had a sense of ease knowing the ship would not leave us because we were on a Royal Caribbean sponsored excursion.

We enjoyed our time floating in the Dead Sea instead of skipping it entirely because we were stressed about getting back to the ship on time. 

There were tons of tours that returned late to the ship that evening, so Odyssey of the Seas left three hours later than scheduled.

The same thing happened on our third day when the ship was docked in Haifa. As we were shuffled from site to site, we were about an hour behind schedule. This had us running late and then we hit traffic on the way back to the cruise port.

Again, the ship departed Israel later than anticipated because there were other tours also behind schedule.

I can only imagine the panic that would have overwhelmed us if we had been on an independent tour during this time. Our tour guide said he had never seen the amount of people we saw when visiting Masada. You just never know when things might go amiss in these situations. 

We were very grateful that we were on Royal Caribbean sponsored excursions and did not have to stress about getting left behind in a foreign country.

Priority Tendering

Although Israel was the main draw for us with this 12-night itinerary, we also had port stops in Greece and Cyprus.

Santorini is one of the most popular ports in Greece, along with being a popular destination for travelers all over the world. Its stunning volcanic, mountain landscape makes it a bucket-list destination, but also a logistically challenging port for cruise ships.

During our visit to Santorini, there were five other ships docked during the same time, so it was very busy. Santorini also requires tenders for those wanting to go ashore to the island.

Those who choose to independently get off the ship are tendered from a one end of the ship while excursions through the cruise line launch from the other end. Those independently exploring are brought to Skala, which is a small tender port near Fira.

Since the town of Fira is located up the mountain, you have to either ride a cable car, walk the steps or ride a donkey (yes, really!).

If you’re on a cruise line excursion, you are likely brought to the Athinios port instead where you can take busses throughout the island.

I’ve been to Santorini twice before. My first visit was on a land-visit during my study abroad semester, so I knew the lay of the land. The second time I visited Santorini was on my honeymoon with my husband, in which we chose to independently take on the island with a ferry to Oia and bus ride to Fira.

As young-20-something newlyweds, we didn’t mind the thrill of running down the stairs along the donkeys to get back to the tenders! If anything, it was a fun memory for us after a lovely day on our own time.

However, I knew my parents (in their early 60s) would not appreciate the stress of riding a donkey, the physical strain of doing all the steps, or the frustration of being crowded in a line waiting for cable cars.

After weighing the options, we chose to book an excursion through the cruise line for Santorini. We were given priority tendering to get off the ship and didn’t have to fight any crowds onboard.

The tender brought us to the Athinios port and we were bussed across the island to the Village of Oia, in addition to a stop at a winery and visit to Fira.

Not having to worry about the tendering situation, along with the stress of how we would get back to the tender port from the mountaintop of Fira was a huge relief.

We had a lovely day exploring the island by bus and I was grateful that we didn’t experience any logistical challengers, especially considering how many ships were docked at the port at the same time.

Overall Safety

While Israel is generally considered to be very safe, we did see a few headlines before our cruise that gave us pause with the rising tension in that area of the world.

Speaking broadly, cruise lines do not want to take any major, known risks with their excursions; most of the time, these companies are vetted thoroughly for safety.

When cruise lines market and sell tours, they are inherently accepting some sense of liability when something goes wrong.

Of course, things can happen when you travel whether you’re on a cruise line excursion, exploring a port on your own or traveling with an independent tour company. There will continue to be risks with traveling that you accept when you choose to pack your bags and head out to see the world.

For this itinerary, we felt booking excursions through the cruise line was the best decision we could make for our safety. Since we had not traveled to this area of the world before and we were not familiar with the port or the country, it felt like the most informed decision we could make.

We knew we were paying a premium for booking excursions through the cruise line; yet, it felt like the money was worth it to have peace of mind for our time in Israel.

General Convenience

One of the biggest draws of booking a cruise short excursion with the cruise line is the general convenience you’ll have, especially when it comes to logistics.

It’s so nice to just wake up, have breakfast and meet at a designated spot onboard. There’s very little planning, coordinating and stress involved with sponsored shore excursions.

We also appreciated the flexibility of booking excursions through the cruise line. In this instance, my mom wasn’t entirely sure which days in Israel she wanted to take tours. She considered staying on the ship because she didn’t know how comfortable she felt getting off the ship.

Having our excursions booked with the cruise line gave us cancellation flexibility if she ended up changing her mind last minute and not wanting to join us on tours; you simply walk to the shore excursion desk and the crew members help you from there.

There’s no coordinating with a tour company in this instance, which can be difficult onboard if you have internet troubles or don’t want to purchase an internet package.

At the end of the day, we knew were were also paying a premium for the convenience provided; in this instance, it was absolutely worth it for us.

I wouldn't change anything about the shore excursions we booked through the cruise line during this European cruise to Israel - it was truly the best decision we could make for our family.

The first port of call for our Odyssey of the Seas cruise brings us to Labadee.

Labadee a private destination for Royal Caribbean (it's not an island, rather, a peninsula) and it's a usually a beautiful stop for beach fun.

I'm not sure what time we docked, but I know the "all clear" announcement woke me up. We weren't planning to be the first one's off the ship, but we also didn't want to sleep away the day.

Before heading off the ship, we went down to Cafe @ Two70 to get a quick bite to eat and coffee.

Cafe @ Two70 is similar to Park Cafe, and it offers specialty coffees, bagel bar, and some hot breakfast sandwiches. It's also complimentary.

The great thing about getting food in this spot is you can walk right out to Two70 and have a great view with your drink and food.

After getting some food and caffeine, we walked off the ship.

The weather was great and substantially less humid and hot than our previous visit in July.

We booked a over the water cabana at Barefoot Beach. I really like the convenient location, as well as the buffet area reserved just for guests here.

I was surprised to see a few new water features added to Barefoot Beach, including an inflatable "Aquabana". They also added floats, which the kids liked for islands to take a breather.

I've seen the floats at Perfect Day at CocoCay, but I've never seen the Aquabana before. Fun addition!

We spent the day relaxing at the beach and the water and air temperature was absolutely perfect. It was warm enough to be outdoors and swim without being uncomfortably hot.

All aboard was 3:30pm, so we eventually headed back to the ship to shower and change.

I also took this opportunity to sneak in a quick nap before dinner.

Dinner was at Teppanyaki, and it's my favorite hibachi of the entire fleet simply for the views.

Our chef, Ryan, was excellent and put on a great show. And the food was great too!

After dinner I ran into the stowaway piano player in the elevator and enjoyed a show during my ride!

After dinner I went back to the cabin to do a live video on the RoyalCaribbeanBlog YouTube channel.  The connection dropped twice, but so far Odyssey's internet has performed much better than Starlink on Independence or Allure of the Seas.

We went to Two70 to see the "Two70 Experience", which is a technical demonstration of all the cool things the technology in this space can do.

Hosted by the Cruise Director (Anna), she showed off the Vistarama and Robo screen technology.

It went through several vignettes and was really interesting to see how great everything looks.

After the show, it was back to the pub for some music before bed.

Tomorrow we will be in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

Stray Observation

The pepperoni at Sorrento's Pizza looks very different than on other ships. It's really large.

There’s no denying that there is plenty of unlimited, complimentary food on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Many guests, however, prefer spending extra to dine at Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants, and one of the best ways to do this is by purchasing an Unlimited Dining Package.

With Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package, you can dine at specialty restaurants for brunch, lunch, and dinner every day of the cruise. A dining package is almost always a more economical option than purchasing restaurant reservations individually, making it a nice value for those hoping for a more upscale dining experience.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package.

How much does the Unlimited Dining Package cost?

The Unlimited Dining Package can vary per sailing, but here are a few sample prices you can expect for an Unlimited Dining Package (no gratuity added):

• 3-night cruise: $115 per guest
• 4-night cruise: $150 per guest
• 7-night cruise: $260 per guest

An 18% gratuity will be added to the total cost of the Unlimited Dining Package upon checkout.

How and when should I book the Unlimited Dining Package?

The Unlimited Dining Package can be booked prior to your cruise via Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website. Royal Caribbean may also sell dining packages on embarkation day once you board the ship if they have availability.

If you want to book an Unlimited Dining Package for your cruise, however, it’s best to do so as soon as possible.

It’s never a good idea to wait to book a dining package hoping the price will drop. Royal Caribbean allows guests to cancel and rebook any pre-cruise purchases on the Cruise Planner website up to 48 hours before their cruise.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

Therefore, if you purchase a dining package for $200 and later see the price dropped to $150, you can cancel and rebook the package at the lower cost with no penalties.

À la carte vs cover charge restaurants

There are two types of specialty restaurants: those with a cover charge and those with à la carte options. With an Unlimited Dining Package, you won’t have to worry about paying a cover charge for each restaurant individually, as everything is included in the cost of the dining package.

Cover charge restaurants usually charge between $35 and $60 for dinner per person. Therefore, an Unlimited Dining Package is cheaper than paying for all cover charge restaurants individually if you plan to enjoy several meals during the cruise.

Cover charge restaurants

Cover charge restaurants include an all-you-can-eat meal for one set cost. For these restaurants, you can choose as many appetizers, main courses, and desserts as you’d like.

With a dining package, you won’t have to consider the individual cost of each item when dining at a cover charge restaurant.

Cover charge restaurants include:

• Jamie’s Italian
• Giovanni’s Table
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
• Chops Grille
• The Mason Jar
• Wonderland
• Izumi Hibachi/Teppanyaki
• 150 Central Park
• Hooked Seafood
• Samba Grill
• Sabor
• Johnny Rockets (sit-down location)
• Chef’s Table

À la carte restaurants

À la carte restaurants, on the other hand, put a price on each menu item. Instead of offering one set price per meal, you’ll have to pay for each individual item.

How does this work with a dining package? Depending on the restaurant, you’ll receive either $20 or $35 in food credit. You can put this credit toward appetizers, main courses, or desserts.

With the exception of Izumi Sushi, you can only dine at à la carte restaurants once per day. You cannot break up the $20 food credit in multiple trips to the restaurant on the same day.

À la carte restaurants include:

• Portside BBQ
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Izumi Sushi
• Johnny Rockets Express
• Fish & Ships

Are there any limitations with the Unlimited Dining Package?

The Unlimited Dining Package comes with a few basic rules that you should know about before your cruise:

• Guests with a dining package must wait to make reservations at specialty restaurants until they board the ship
• One reservation must be used on the first or second night of the sailing
• For restaurants with à la carte pricing, you receive a $20 credit which can only be used once a day
• Izumi Hibachi has a $15 surcharge on top of the dining package, which will be charged onboard
• Certain venues are excluded from dining packages (Chef’s Table, Vintages, etc.)
• You’ll receive a discount of 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles above $100 while dining in specialty restaurants

Which restaurants are NOT included in the Unlimited Dining Package?

Special dining experiences like Chef’s Table, wine pairing dinners, and the Mystery Dinner Theater are excluded from the Unlimited Dining Package.

Tapas and small bites offered at venues like Vintages and The Bamboo Room are also not included in a dining package. These small bites will be priced à la carte and charged to your onboard account.

For ships with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, the dining package covers food when dining at the Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen restaurant. However, it does not include food ordered from the Giovanni’s Wine Bar menu.

Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s, La Patisserie, and Sugar Beach are also not included with the Unlimited Dining Package.

How can I make dining reservations with the Unlimited Dining Package?

If you purchase a dining package, you must wait until you board the ship on embarkation day to make reservations. We recommend that you do this as soon as possible once onboard to ensure you can book the restaurants and times that work best for you.

Once onboard, head to any specialty restaurant to make reservations for the duration of your cruise. You do not have to visit each restaurant individually. If you visit Chops Grille, for example, you can make reservations for all other restaurants at the same time.

The only exception to this rule is with Izumi Hibachi. If you plan to dine at Izumi Hibachi during your cruise, reservations must be made at the restaurant itself. Therefore, we recommend making all dining reservations at Izumi Hibachi and heading to the restaurant right after boarding.

When can I dine at specialty restaurants?

You can dine at specialty restaurants for breakfast (brunch), lunch, and dinner. All specialty restaurants are open for dinner each day, whereas the availability of brunch and lunch can differ by restaurant and ship.

The Mason Jar–Royal Caribbean’s southern-inspired restaurant–is only open for brunch on sea days, for example, and does not offer lunch. 150 Central Park and Wonderland, on the other hand, are only open for dinner.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

Most specialty restaurants that offer lunch will be open for lunch on sea days and select port days.

Should I purchase an Unlimited Dining Package for my kids?

If you’re sailing with children under 12 and plan to dine at specialty restaurants, you don’t necessarily need to book a dining package for them.

Children 5 and under dine at specialty restaurants for free, and children aged 6-12 can be added to a dining reservation for only $10 per child.

If you do want to purchase a dining package for kids, though, you’ll find it’s offered at a much lower price than for adults. A 7-night Unlimited Dining Package, for example, may be priced at $260 per adult and only $77 per child.

Pros & Cons of the Unlimited Dining Package

If you’re trying to determine whether or not the Unlimited Dining Package is worth it on Royal Caribbean, it’s helpful to take a look at the pros and cons of this package before booking.

Check out our YouTube video on the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel to learn more about the pros and cons of a Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Package:

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Want to learn more about dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Here are some helpful tips:

• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Top Ten Royal Caribbean Dining Tips
• What is the best Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant?
• I tried Royal Caribbean’s least well-known specialty restaurant: here’s what I thought

While the typical Royal Caribbean television commercial shows off all the amazing things you can do on a cruise ship, my favorite activity on a cruise is doing a lot of nothing.

Today is our first sea day and we decided not to set an alarm. That meant we ended up sleeping in a lot more than I thought. The curtains on Odyssey do a great job of blocking out the sun.

When we did get up, we decided to head to breakfast at the Solarium Bistro.

Solarium Bistro is one of my favorite tips about eating on Odyssey of the Seas because it's a lesser-known place for breakfast. It's less crowded than the Windjammer and it has an omelette station.

The best part of the omelette station is they deliver the omelette when its ready back to your table instead of you waiting for it.

After breakfast, I went out to the pool deck to enjoy some fresh air. I think a lot of other people had slept in because things were not too busy by mid-morning.

Later we went down to the main dining room to book a time for dinner.  While we have the unlimited dining package for this cruise, I want to eat in the dining room on Thanksgiving so I can get the traditional Thanksgiving menu offering.

I had no issue getting a reservation for 6:45 on Thanksgiving, which I was pleasantly surprised to get because I thought it would be close to booked up.

By now I needed coffee, so we went to Cafe @ Two70 to get a macchiato (included with my drink package).

I then sipped the coffee in Two70 with a great view of the aft.

We spent a fair amount of time in Two70 just enjoying the views and comfortable seating.

Eventually, we went back to the cabin and I thought a nap sounded like a great idea. Naps on a sea day are everything I love about cruising.

After a quick nap, it was up to the Windjammer for lunch. 

Since this was a late lunch and we had dinner early, I just had something to tide me over.

I forgot on Odyssey of the Seas, there is no outdoor seating at the back of the Windjammer like there is on other Quantum Class ships. Still a great view.

Back in the room, I was playing with the Royal Caribbean app and noticed the fun options it has on Odyssey, like the ability to open your cabin door with your app or control the television with the app.

The kids wanted to hit the pool, so it was back up to the pool deck for some aquatic fun.

The kids had a good time swimming and going in the hot tub while I kept an eye on them from a lounge chair in the shade.

Dinner tonight was at Chops and it's formal night.

We had dinner with a group of friends on the ship with us, so it was a large seating and the staff handled it flawlessly.

Service was great and the food was as good as I remember. 

After dinner, my wife took the kids to see Showgirl. We saw the show the last time we were on Odyssey, but my kids wanted to see the show.

We met up at the 80's party in Music Hall. I greatly prefer the parties that would have otherwise taken up the Royal Promenade on other ships be relegated to the Music Hall.

When the band took a break, we went to the Schooner Bar to check out the piano player and it ended up becoming a game for the kids of "do you know this song". It's amazing how they know some random old songs but can also not know more modern music.

I rounded out the evening in the casino, where we had a friendly group of people. Shoutout to Greg for his "method" and casino dealer Matteo for reading the blog.

Tomorrow is our first port stop in Labadee.

Stray Observations

I found the stowaway piano player!