Royal Caribbean Blog

It's been a few weeks since our last construction photo update of Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship.

Icon of the Seas is being constructed at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, and RoyalCaribbeanBlog commissioned a new set of drone photos to share with all of you what the ship looks like.

Since these are exclusive photos, please do not redistribute these photos. Feel free to share a link to this article instead.

These photos were taken earlier today from near the shipyard.

Last time we shared a photo update, we did not know what features Royal Caribbean had planned for the ship as details were still under wraps.  Since then, Royal Caribbean has revealed what the ship looks like, as well as many of the notable fun things to do onboard.  

One major change you're likely to notice is the addition of the AquaDome to the front of the ship.

The AquaDome will be a new neighborhood on Icon of the Seas that doubles as dining venue and evening theater.

The AquaDome was lifted from its former location behind the ship to its current position at the front of the ship.

You'll also notice the bow of the ship is fully installed, featuring the parabolic bow.

This is a functional design element that creates a curved indentation in the bottom of the vessel’s hull. 

Moving to the side of the ship, we can see a good look at the progress being made across the ship.

While none of the water slides are added yet, we can see the support structures for them.

The Royal Caribbean logo is also on the side of the ship, which is where you can try the Crown’s Edge aerial adventure.

It’s part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride, and the floor can fall away leaving you dangling high over the ocean. 

Let's move to the aft of the ship and see the progress being made on the back half of the ship.

Where the AquaDome was located before, we still see something in its place.

Icon of the Seas is scheduled to be delivered in late 2023 and begin sailing in January 2024.

Icon of the Seas is the first of three Icon Class cruise ships, although more could be ordered. The other two Icon Class ships will be in service by 2026.

Liberty of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class cruise ships, is packed with onboard activities, dining options, and impressive entertainment. Everything from waterslides and ice skating to a Broadway show can be found onboard, but with all the excitement of a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s easy to miss out on some of the ship’s best features.

Because Liberty of the Seas just repositioned from Galveston to Fort Lauderdale, there will be many cruisers onboard this ship for the very first time. To make sure you are as prepared as possible for a cruise on Liberty of the Seas, we’re sharing our top 10 hidden secrets that you shouldn’t overlook.

Tidal Wave waterslide

Waterslides have become more and more common on cruise ships, and Liberty of the Seas has one of the most unique waterslides in Royal Caribbean’s fleet: the Tidal Wave.

The Tidal Wave waterslide is a boomerang-style slide, which allows guests to slide on a raft downhill before “boomeranging” up a nearly vertical wall. This boomerang motion brings a feeling of weightlessness to passengers before they slide back down for a big splash.

Related: Which Royal Caribbean ships have water slides?

Because this type of waterslide is only found on Liberty of the Seas, don’t miss the opportunity to try it once onboard!

Other than the Tidal Wave, you can also find the Perfect Storm waterslides on Liberty of the Seas.

In-pool seating at the Solarium

There’s no swim up bar available on Liberty of the Seas (the fleet’s first will come to Icon of the Seas). You can, however, order a drink at the Solarium Bar and enjoy it from the ship’s in-pool table and chairs.

Located directly under the bridge above the Solarium pool is a small table with chairs located underwater. If you’re looking for the most refreshing place to enjoy a tropical cocktail or beer onboard, this is undoubtedly the best spot.

Because this area is located in the Solarium, it’s reserved for guests aged 16 and above.

Related: Everything about Royal Caribbean’s Solarium

Free saunas and steam rooms

One perk of sailing on Liberty of the Seas is having access to complimentary saunas and steam rooms in the Shipshape Fitness Center.

These saunas and steam rooms are gender-segregated. They can be found in both the men and women’s changing rooms in the gym on Liberty of the Seas. Each changing room has one sauna and one steam room.

On newer or recently amplified Royal Caribbean ships, these complimentary spa areas have been removed. On some ships this area has been removed altogether whereas on others they have built a thermal spa in its place.

The thermal spa on those ships, though, comes at an extra cost. This makes the complimentary saunas and steam rooms a huge benefit of sailing on Liberty of the Seas.

There’s a Broadway show

Most Broadway shows are found only on Oasis or Quantum Class ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, but did you know Liberty of the Seas also has a Broadway show?

Saturday Night Fever can be found on Liberty of the Seas. This show transports guests straight to the 1970s to follow the story of Tony Manero, a Brooklynite who spends his weeknights dancing at a local nightclub.

The 90-minute show features music from the Bee Gees, Sunshine Band, and Tavares.

Sabor

Liberty of the Seas is one of the only ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet without Izumi Sushi, but another top-notch restaurant can be found in its place: Sabor.

Sabor is Royal Caribbean’s Mexican specialty restaurant which focuses on combining traditional flavors with a modern twist. The restaurant is most well-known for offering endless guacamole customized to your spice preference.

Related: How to know if you should buy a Royal Caribbean dining package

Don’t miss the opportunity to build your own tacos with a choice of barbacoa, spicy chicken, fish tempura, or shrimp. If you’d prefer something different, consider a burrito, quesadilla, ceviche, calamari, or chicken-stuffed jalapeños.

You can also pair your meal with one of Sabor’s specialty margaritas, such as the Sweet & Spicy Margarita. Combining Patrón Reposado tequila with fresh juices from pineapple, carrot, lime, and red chili pepper, this drink is sure to pair perfectly with endless Mexican food.

Ben & Jerry’s Suite

When Royal Caribbean built the Freedom Class ships, including Liberty of the Seas, they built a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream parlor in the Royal Promenade.

The decor of Ben & Jerry’s includes signage with two cow statues overlooking the promenade. Although these statues added to the store’s design, they created a problem: the statues blocked the view from cabin 6305, one of the ship’s interior promenade view staterooms.

Related: The rare cruise ship cabins that get booked very quickly

Because of this, Royal Caribbean turned cabin 6305 into the Ben & Jerry’s Sweet. Instead of the typical cabin decor found elsewhere onboard, this cabin is designed with cow motif, including cow-print bedding, cow pillows, and cow wall art.

The best perks of the Ben & Jerry Sweet, however, include vouchers for complimentary Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and access to the Suite Lounge.

Helicopter Pad

All Radiance, Voyager, and Freedom Class cruise ships provide guests access to the helicopter pad. Located in the front of the ship, this spot is one of the best places to watch sailaway on Liberty of the Seas.

Related: The best spot for sailaway on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship

To access the helicopter pad on Liberty of the Seas, go to the outdoor Promenade Deck on deck 4. Walk all the way forward until you reach a set of stairs. Go up the stairs to deck 5, walk all the way forward, and you will reach the helicopter pad.

Easily missed quiet areas

While most people spend a Royal Caribbean cruise enjoying activities, entertainment, and lounging by the pool, some guests are looking for a quiet space to relax.

Liberty of the Seas has quite a few hidden places to take a break from the hustle and bustle found elsewhere onboard. Most of these locations can easily be overlooked, however, especially if you don’t stumble upon them by chance.

Here are our favorite tranquil spots on Liberty of the Seas:

• Internet Cafe/Loyalty Ambassador space (deck 8 between aft elevators)
• Library (deck 9 between aft elevators)
• Card Room (deck 10 between aft elevators)
• Seating space near Liberty Dunes (deck 13 forward)

On Air Karaoke Club

Karaoke is a popular nighttime activity onboard any Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but Liberty of the Seas has a separate karaoke venue, the On Air club. Located on deck 3 by the Studio B ice-skating rink, this area of the ship is often overlooked due to areas like the theater and Royal Promenade.

If you’re looking to watch your fellow passengers put their vocal skills to the test (or bust out your own favorite tune) be sure to spend time at On Air while on Liberty of the Seas.

Most karaoke-specific venues are only found on Oasis Class ships, with others opting to have karaoke in other onboard entertainment spaces instead. This makes the On Air club on Liberty of the Seas unique—and the best place to watch karaoke onboard.

Red dog statue

If you’re searching for a fun photo opportunity, head to the port side aft elevators on Liberty of the Seas. Here you’ll find a cute statue of a red dog overlooking the Royal Promenade.

This fun statue may not bark or play fetch, but it’s a fun piece of art in addition to all the other unique artwork found on Liberty of the Seas.

For the best photo opportunity with the big red dog, have the photo-taker stand directly across from the dog at the starboard side elevators.

Cruising soon? Check out more hidden secrets on Royal Caribbean cruise ships:

• Top 10 Oasis of the Seas hidden secrets
• Top 10 Mariner of the Seas hidden secrets
• Top 10 Wonder of the Seas hidden secrets
• Top 10 Odyssey of the Seas hidden secrets

Construction of Icon of the Seas has reached a new milestone with one of the signature areas added to the ship.

Royal Caribbean has designed Icon of the Seas to have many new features that stand out from the rest of the fleet, as well as just about every other cruise ship out there.

The AquaDome is a new neighborhood concept that will take the AquaTheater concept from Oasis Class cruise ships to a new level.

On Sunday, the Meyer Turku shipyard installed the 363-ton dome, which has over 600 glass panels and was installed using more than 1,600 feet of cables. The length of cables is longer than the height of the Empire State Building.

The process of lifting the massive dome is a large-scale, complex process.

Up until now, the AquaDome was located next to Icon of the Seas at the shipyard.

The dome had been constructed on its own in tandem with ship construction. This is a common strategy in cruise ship building, as it allows multiple facets of the cruise ship construction process to be done simultaneously.

Cruise ship cabins, ship blocks, and other features are built elsewhere and then assembled together later at the shipyard.

What is the AquaDome?

Once complete, the AquaDome is located at the very top of Icon of the Seas.

It will be home to restaurants, retail, bars, lounge spaces, and–most importantly–Royal Caribbean’s next-level AquaTheater.

By day, passengers can relax in one of the AquaDome’s comfortable seating areas with expansive, 220 degree views of the ocean. Based on the ship’s deck plans, the AquaDome also features several dining venues including Hooked Seafood.

The show has the tallest waterfall at sea (55 feet tall), along with flying artists and divers.

Royal Caribbean is also promising guests will see a transforming pool, four robotic arms, state-of-the-art projection, and more.

Other notable new neighborhoods on Icon of the Seas

Besides AquaDome, there will be a few other new areas added to Icon of the Seas that are new to Royal Caribbean.

Thrill Island is a new water park at the top of Icon of the Seas, which has 6 waterslides to choose from.

If you prefer relaxation over excitement, then Chill Island neighborhood is for you, with seven pools to choose from, along with whirlpools, in-water loungers and breathtaking views. 

The Surfside neighborhood is another new concept designed with young families in mind, where adults and kids ages six and under can stay and play all day.

There will also be a revamped adults-only area, known as Cloud 17. For guests age 16+ years old, it overlooks the ocean with dedicated Lime &
Coconut bar and whirlpool.

The Hideaway has a multilevel terrace and first suspended infinity pool at sea.

Icon of the Seas launches in 2024

Icon of the Seas will debut in January 2024 from her homeport of Miami.

The first sailing of Icon of the Seas, a seven-night voyage out of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean, is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2024.

The ship will alternate between Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Hurricane season isn't over yet, and the proof of that is in the late-season subtropical storm Nicole.

While not a hurricane yet (and possibly never a true hurricane), Royal Caribbean has begun re-routing a number of ships to avoid the path of the storm.  

Guests with sailings this week have been notified on a series of changes.

"We're very sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather. The decision to modify our itinerary is not one taken lightly, and we explored all options before taking this measure," a letter distributed to guests on Liberty of the Seas said.

"However, as always, your safety comes first."

"Please know, being onboard a ship is one of the safest places to be because we are faster and can move out of the way of any inclement weather.

Read more: Safe at sea: what it’s like on a cruise ship when there’s a hurricane

Here are the changes due to Subtropical storm Nicole so far:

Liberty of the Seas will change her 4-night Bahamas cruise to skip all scheduled ports and instead sail to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Freedom of the Seas will change from a 4-night Bahamas cruise to head to Falmouth, Jamaica instead.

Anthem of the Seas is altering her 7-night Bahamas itinerary to instead visit Labadee for two days in a row.

Independence of the Seas will still be able to visit Nassau as scheduled, but will drop a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The November 7 sailing of Independence of the Seas will be extended by one day and will now return on November 12. As a result, the November 11 sailing of Independence of the Seas will be shortened by a day and begin on November 12.

Enchantment of the Seas is on an 8-night Southeast Coast and Perfect Day Cruise.  She was already able to visit Charleston and Port Canaveral, but will drop Nassau and CocoCay and head back north.

Read more: What to know about cruising during hurricane season in the Caribbean

Necessary changes

Altering the planned itinerary for cruise ships due to a tropical storm is no simple task, and a large part of the planning process falls to Royal Caribbean's in-house meteorologist.

James Van Fleet shared a video update on Monday explaining the nuances of predicting a hurricane's track, which is necessary to know where to send Royal Caribbean's fleet to avoid the path.

"This is a very odd track, friends. It looks super weird, but it all makes sense to me meteorologically how this plays out."

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Mr. Van Fleet explained that the storm's track is the result of various fronts the storm will encounter, including a cold front that is going to, "punch it right in the face, knock it back to the south west."

"That's why such a weird track over the Bahamas, down over Florida, and then finally going north. It's because that first front literally pushes it back to the southwest. It hangs out for about 12 hours or so, and then a next front comes and grabs it as we get into Thursday and Friday and will yank it up the East Coast as we head into Saturday, Sunday and Monday."

Mr. Van Fleet sees swells between North Carolina, the Bahamas, and the east coast of Florida.

"I think the worst part of that will be on Wednesday in the middle of the week. And that's when much of the fleet is out in ports and away from Florida."

How bad seas? Mr. Van Fleet is expecting ocean swells between 21-28 feet (7 or 8 meters).

Where is Subtropical storm Nicole headed?

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is located about 495 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas.

Nicole has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1002 mb.

According to the National Hurricane Center, a subtropical storm is a cyclone where maximum sustained surface wind speed is 39 mph or more.

Meteorologists expect Nicole will gradually strengthen over the next few days and be near or at hurricane intensity by Wednesday as it approaches Florida.

There is nothing better than finding a great deal on a cruise, especially a cruise fare that starts in the double digits.

Not only does a low price allow me to cruise more often, but I'm also able to budget more on the extras that matter to me. While I’ve seen prices for short cruises in the $100’s, we recently spotted the deal of the year: a $99, 3-night cruise on Liberty of the Seas.

This was Liberty’s first sailing out of her new home port, Fort Lauderdale, FL. She had previously been in Galveston, TX since 2015. She dropped her last guests off in Galveston on October 30, and then made the 2 day trek to Fort Lauderdale to set sail again on November 1. 

After going on my first 3-night cruise this summer, I knew that this would be a perfect getaway. While normally a cruise priced this low would keep my expectations relatively low as well - that was not the case here. I sailed on Liberty in 2019, and knew that it was a great ship with the perfect amount of onboard activities.

For this cruise, I was sailing with my mom who had only ever been on Oasis of the Seas for our wedding, and she found that to be too overwhelming. I knew that she would love a Freedom class ship, and was excited to show her around.

How I found a $99 Cruise Fare

Just like flights, cruise prices are constantly changing. They can vary by length, destinations, occupancy and current promotions.

If you have the flexibility to go on last minute cruises, some of the best prices you'll find are the Going, Going, Gone rates. These deals are sent out weekly to Royal Caribbean's travel agent partners, and are only available for a short period of time, or until it sells out.

In early October, the weekly Going, Going, Gone flyer had dozens of sailings listed, but this 3-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale was one of the lowest rates, with only a 2-night Freedom of the Seas cruise coming in lower at $89. For $10 more, who doesn't want an extra night?

We knew we had to act quickly, so we confirmed that we could make these dates work, and contacted our travel agent to secure the booking!

Cruise Planner Purchases

With the cost of the cruise being so low, we were able to splurge on some extras that we could enjoy. 

We purchased the Unlimited Dining package during a cruise planner sale. We always enjoy the offerings in the Main Dining Room, but I wanted my mom to experience the other options onboard.

When going to purchase my internet package, which luckily was serviced by Starlink, I noticed that The Key was only $2 more per day than Voom Surf and Stream. Having never tried The Key, but reading Jenna’s recent review on her experience with it, I figured why not try it! It was nice to have priority boarding in the terminal, as well as being able to avoid the Windjammer for lunch on the first day. 

We also decided to purchase Royal Caribbean's drink package, as it’s nice not to have to worry about how much you’re spending once you’re onboard.

I’ve also been able to try a variety of new drinks when having the package, since it is reassuring that if I don’t like the drink I’m not out $15. 

Stateroom

We booked a month before the cruise was set to sail, and there were still plenty of staterooms available in all categories. The $99 price tag was for a Guarantee Interior stateroom, and was the per person price.

About two weeks before boarding, we were assigned our interior stateroom on deck 2. Around this time we got an email for a chance to bid on a RoyalUp offer. Our offers ranged from $10 - $130 per person, for a Spacious Interior Stateroom to an Ocean View Balcony. 

I have made Royal Up bids before, without success, though most of those sailings were at or near capacity. We realized that this sailing still had staterooms available in every category at this point, and we decided to bid the minimum ($30) for a chance at a Panoramic Ocean View.

Within an hour, I received the email notification that we had won the bid, and were reassigned to Deck 12. 

One of the gripes I’ve heard about Liberty in recent years is that the staterooms were in need of an upgrade. We were pleasantly surprised to find that our room had looked renovated, and offered plenty of storage. After speaking with our stateroom attendant, we learned that the rooms on these decks had been added within the last few years, which would explain why they didn’t feel rundown. 

I have never sailed in a Panoramic Ocean View cabin before, and immediately fell in love with it. With the floor to ceiling windows that were angled out, I felt like I had found a cheat code for room categories. Not only did we have amazing views, but it is always so refreshing to have natural light in the cabin. 

Itinerary

Due to Liberty arriving from Galveston the same day that we embarked, the cruise didn’t depart until 8pm at night. In fact, the earliest check-in time you could select was 2:30pm. This was helpful for us, as we decided to drive down the morning of the cruise from Sarasota. The drive is only 3 hours, and it was nice to have a leisurely morning, and be able to avoid the rush-hour traffic. 

This cruise had one stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and a sea day. This was perfect for us, as it was my mom’s first time at CocoCay, and also gave us a full day to enjoy the ship. 

One of my favorite parts of going to CocoCay is that you don’t have to spend any money to have fun. We decided not to do any excursions, and just enjoy the island. After walking around to see the offerings, we opted to grab some chairs on South Beach, and spent the day enjoying the sunshine, floating bar, and of course, the mozzarella sticks. It really was the Perfect Day! 

Our last day was a Sea Day, which was a perfect opportunity to relax and take it slow.

After having breakfast in the Windjammer, we went to search for a spot in the Solarium. We had a feeling at this point that the cruise wasn’t sailing at capacity, but when I looked around the Solarium at 9am and there were no chair hogs in sight, that is when I knew for sure.

It turns out that we only had 2,800 passengers on board. I felt like we had won the lottery, as we’ve never had so many choices on which chairs to choose! We spent the day relaxing, watching the World’s Sexiest Man and Belly Flop competitions, and tricking my mom into riding The Tidal Wave water slide. 

Dining

With having the Unlimited Dining Package, our first night’s dinner was at Sabor. This restaurant was replaced with Izumi on Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas. It will likely be replaced when Liberty eventually goes to her dry dock, so I knew I needed to go while we still could. Starting with fresh guacamole, and then ordering 3 more courses, we left feeling like we wouldn’t need to eat again for the rest of the cruise.

Of course, this wasn’t the case. What can I say, cruising really brings out my appetite! We enjoyed Chops Grille our second night, which I knew would impress my mom. She said it was the best meal of any cruise she has been on. We rounded out our third night with an excellent meal at Giovanni’s Table. 

We ate breakfast every morning at the Windjammer buffet, and were happy with the offerings they had. With the lower capacity, it was easy to find a table, and the lines never felt crowded. 

Of course, there were also a few trips to Sorrentos included. There is something about pizza at sea that just makes it taste better. 

How Much Does a $99 Cruise Really Cost

When booking a cruise, it’s important to remember that there are extra fees that will be added into your final cost.

When booking a cruise, you'll notice a line item for Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses. These include any government imposed fees, tolls, taxes, as well as fees or charges incurred from docking in port. These fees are charged per person, and vary per cruise.

Additionally, you'll want to factor in daily gratuities, which are currently $16 per person, per day for non-suite staterooms, and $18.50 per person, per day for suites.

You’ll also want to factor in any Cruise Planner purchases, such as excursions, dining, drink and internet packages, or onboard spending you may want to do.

So, how much did this $99 cruise end up costing us? Let’s break it down:

Cabin type & party size

Cruise length: 3 nights

Stateroom category: Guarantee Interior

Passengers: 2 adults

Base cruise fare

Cruise fare: $198

Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses: $192.50

Prepaid gratuities: $96

Base price after taxes and fees: $486.50

Cruise extras

RoyalUp: $60

Deluxe Beverage Package (including gratuities): $472.35

Unlimited Dining Package (including gratuities): 235.98

The Key: $125.94

Onboard spending: $26

Parking at port: $45

Grand total

Grand Total: $1,451.77

As you can see, the $99 cruise fare advertised rate ends up costing a bit more once you factor in the fees and taxes. Had we not purchased the extra packages (and if I had remembered my flip flops and didn't have to buy them onboard) the total cost of the cruise was $486.50, or $234.25 per person.

After you factor in all the extras we decided to buy (and a new pair of flip flops), we spent about $725 per person, for a 3-night vacation.

Final Thoughts

We had an amazing time on this cruise, especially considering the price. With the fare being as low as it was, we felt like we were able to splurge in other areas like dining and the drink package. 

We felt that the value we got on this vacation was much higher than the rate that we paid. We would have never been able to enjoy all of what we did on a land vacation for that same price tag. Finding cruises at such low rates allows us to cruise more often, which is what’s most important for us!

Happy Sunday! Temperatures may be dropping, but there is plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share.  This is your weekly summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this past week, perfectly fitted for your consumption.

Royal Caribbean shared when it will put new cruises on sale in 2024-2025.

While not complete, the initial deployment schedule gives an idea of when to expect new cruises to book to  Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean promises more release dates will be announced soon for other 2024 - 2025 sailings.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean drops pre-cruise testing requirement for almost all cruises
• Royal Caribbean adds daily limit to unlimited dining plan a la carte restaurants
• Royal Caribbean makes small change to make it easier to track Diamond drink vouchers
• Royal Caribbean has quietly brought back pre-cruise entertainment reservations on some cruise ships
• The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler
• Royal Caribbean cruises in November 2022: What to expect
• What families will love about Icon of the Seas' new dedicated family neighborhood

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 475th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available to enjoy, where Matt lists the things that change about how you cruise as you cruise more often.

Cruising a lot changes your outlook on how you cruise, and I have a list of 5 things I think people that cruise a lot would tell first time cruisers about how the process changes.

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: Where to keep Seapass Card, phone, and cash when on a shore excursion?

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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 — Where to keep Seapass Card, phone, and cash when on a shore excursion? — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Group reports first quarterly profit in almost three years

Royal Caribbean reported its third quarter earnings this week, and had positive cash flow for the first time in almost three years.

Royal Caribbean Group posted better than expected earnings for the third quarter of 2022 with a total revenue of $3.0 billion and net income of $33 million.

Revenue hitting $3 billion is the highest since the third quarter of 2019.

What to expect with Royal Caribbean's Black Friday and Cyber Monday cruise deals

While Royal Caribbean’s Black Friday sale changes year to year, there will undoubtedly be a sale for cruise fares and add-ons.

Just like so many retailers, there will be a post-Thanksgiving sale to look for and it will bring potentially higher savings.

You might be wondering how lucrative these sales will be, and if it will save you any money.

Royal Caribbean is targeting people who vacation in Orlando

Are you a family that typically does a land vacation in Orlando? Royal Caribbean wants you to go on a cruise instead.

During Royal Caribbean Group's earnings call with investors this week, Royal Caribbean Group executives talked about how Icon of the Seas was designed to attract families away from a land vacation in Florida.

The ship's new family-centric offerings are part of the cruise line's more aggressive marketing approach to Orlando attractions.

Choosing the perfect destination to visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise can feel overwhelming, and the “perfect” cruise itinerary can vary greatly from cruiser to cruiser.

Whereas some travelers may prefer spending every day at the beach, others would prefer busy days of sightseeing at ancient monuments or strenuous hikes into the mountains.

Thankfully, Royal Caribbean offers cruise itineraries to destinations both close to home and across the world, meaning you’ll find an itinerary to meet any travel style.

Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, bachelorette party, or a once-in-a-lifetime cruise around the world, here are our top Royal Caribbean cruise itineraries for every type of traveler.

The stressed-out traveler

Our recommendation: any cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay

A cruise is one of the best ways to forget about any stress at home. When you set sail, you’ll forget all about any project deadlines, schoolwork, or chores at home. Nothing but adventure lies ahead, and the best place to enjoy a stress-free getaway is at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Related: 40 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips, tricks and secrets

Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, lives up to its name. This island is perfect, and it offers the best way to unwind. Most activities on the island are complimentary, including white-sand beaches and the Oasis Lagoon pool.

If you’d like to upgrade your day at the island, however, feel free to treat yourself to a day at the Coco Beach Club or Thrill Waterpark for more fun in the sun.

Related: Coco Beach Club: cost, tips & review

Regardless of what you do at Perfect Day at CocoCay, you’re guaranteed to leave the island much less stressed than when you arrived!

The island hopper

Our recommendation: Greek Isles cruise

Island hopping and cruising go hand in hand, but our top choice for the world’s best island hopping destination is Greece. From the world-renowned sunsets in Santorini to the ancient citadel of the Acropolis and charming Venetian harbor of Chania, there’s a wide range of sights to discover in every Greek cruise port.

Related: Ultimate Greek Isles cruise guide

What’s great about a Greek Isles cruise is that you can find activities for every type of cruiser. You’ll find everything from boat tours visiting secluded beaches, walking tours of famous archaeological sites, and beach clubs to kick back and relax with a cocktail.

Another benefit of a Greek Isles cruise is that it’s easy to explore without an excursion. If you’re the type of traveler who doesn’t like to plan organized tours, you’ll find cruise ports in Greece are an excellent place for spontaneous exploration.

The engineer

Our recommendation: Panama Canal cruise

If you find yourself fascinated by great marvels in engineering, whether the Pyramids of Giza or Hoover Dam, book a cruise traversing the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal was built in 1914 and was, undoubtedly, an impressive feat of engineering at the time. Prior to the canal, a ship traveling from New York to San Francisco had to travel over 13,000 miles around South America. The 50 mile canal, however, cut this distance to around 5,000 miles, marking a turning point for trading and commerce opportunities around the world.

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

It takes around 8-10 hours for ships to traverse the canal as they pass through a series of locks which lift ships 85 feet above sea level and back down again. This is a highlight of all Panama Canal itineraries, and you’ll find hoards of passengers on the outside decks watching this process take place.

Previously, most Royal Caribbean cruises to the Panama Canal were only offered on long repositioning itineraries. However, Royal Caribbean will be deploying Rhapsody of the Seas on several 7-night Costa Rica & Panama Canal cruises in 2024. This gives passengers the opportunity to traverse the canal without requiring a multi-week sailing.

The foodie

Our recommendation: Mediterranean cruise

If you’re a foodie, look no further than a Mediterranean cruise. You’ll visit ports with some of the world’s most famous cuisines, from savory crepes in France to refreshing gelato in Italy. And did we mention the paella?

Related: Must-eat foods on a cruise to Italy

While Mediterranean cruises tend to involve busy port days exploring historic sites like the Colosseum and Pompeii, be sure to make time for a nice lunch each day in port. While you can find fantastic food onboard your cruise ship, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to taste authentic Mediterranean cuisine.

If you have more time, you can select a longer Mediterranean cruise to give you more ways to taste cuisines in a diverse array of countries. 12-night Holy Land cruises, for example, visit everywhere from Italy to Israel, Turkey, and Greece. Who can resist authentic falafel, pizza, and gyros?

Related: Western Mediterranean cruise guide

The exotic vacationer

Our recommendation: South Pacific cruise

Most cruisers are familiar with ports like Nassau and Cozumel, but did you know Royal Caribbean offers cruises to some of the world’s most remote islands?

South Pacific cruises from Australia visit ports in Vanuatu, Fiji, and the French territory of New Caledonia. You’ve likely never heard of islands like Lifou, Mare, and Aneityum, but these are all gorgeous destinations available on South Pacific cruise itineraries.

Related: 10 Royal Caribbean cruise destinations not to be missed

If you have the time, consider a transpacific cruise from Hawaii to Australia for the opportunity to visit French Polynesia. Picture yourself snorkeling coral reefs in Mo’orea or sunbathing on the black sand beaches of Tahiti. It really doesn’t get more exotic than that!

The bachelor(ette) party

Our recommendation: 3-night weekend cruise

Planning the perfect bachelor/bachelorette party is all about fun, and the best cruises for these getaways are quick 3-night weekend sailings.

3-night weekend cruises tend to have a higher party atmosphere onboard than longer sailings. This means your bachelor/bachelorette party will fit right in with the ship’s vibe, and you’ll find that the bars and clubs onboard are busy late into the night.

Related: Guide to weekend cruises: Tips for taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise

In addition, most 3-night cruises from Florida include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. With a swim-up bar and pool party every day, there’s no better place to celebrate!

There are several ships offering regularly scheduled 3-night weekend cruises. Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas both sail from South Florida, Independence of the Seas from Port Canaveral, and Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles.

The honeymooners

Our recommendation: Caribbean cruise

After months of meticulous planning for your special day, it’s time for a honeymoon to kick off marriage with your new spouse. And what better way to do that than a Caribbean cruise?

The Caribbean is a destination for endless relaxation. Whether you’re swimming in the crystal clear waters of Antigua or sailing on a catamaran in Mexico, there are plenty of ways to make lifelong memories together.

Related: 20 tips for a Royal Caribbean honeymoon cruise

We recommend finding an itinerary with an adequate balance of port and sea days. While some 7-night cruises may stop at 5 or 6 ports, try to find an itinerary with at least 2 or 3 days at sea. Visiting ports each day can be exhausting, and having more sea days ensures you’ll find plenty of time to relax with your spouse.

The culture-focused traveler

Our recommendation: Asia cruise

If you’re looking for an adventurous itinerary that will bring you far out of your comfort zone, book a Royal Caribbean cruise in Asia. Spectrum of the Seas currently offers cruises from Singapore visiting destinations in Southeast and East Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

Royal Caribbean calls these cruises “Culturally Enriching Cruises'' because they immerse guests into the local culture of a specific country or region. Whereas the majority of guests on a cruise from Florida tend to be from the United States or Canada, for example, the majority of guests on a cruise from Singapore or China are from those regions.

This means you will experience local flavors and culture while onboard, such as cuisine in the Main Dining Room and Windjammer inspired by local cuisine and production shows focusing on music and dancing as opposed to language.

In addition, once off the ship in port, you will continue to be immersed in a culture quite different from what you’re used to at home. From tasting spicy street food in Vietnam to exploring temples in Thailand, a whole world of adventure awaits you on a cruise to Asia!

The active traveler

Our recommendation: Alaska cruise

If the idea of your perfect vacation involves hiking, biking, and kayaking, look no further than a cruise to Alaska.

Those new to cruising may associate a cruise vacation with lounging on a pool chair and filling up plate after plate at the buffet. However, cruising offers so much more than that, and active travelers will find they have plenty of options when it comes to breaking a sweat in port.

Related: Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

An Alaska cruise is the perfect itinerary for those looking to explore the state’s breathtaking scenery. If you’re up for a challenge, put on your hiking boots for a summit hike of Mt. Roberts in Juneau. Or, if you'd prefer an adventure on water, kayak amongst the state's scenic fjords and glacial lakes.

Planning a cruise? Start here:

• 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?

We’re only a few weeks away from countless plates of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, and that also means Royal Caribbean will soon be announcing their 2022 Black Friday sale.

While Royal Caribbean’s Black Friday sale changes year to year, you can expect to see savings on both base cruise fare and add-ons purchased through Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner. 

Let’s take a look at what you should expect for Royal Caribbean’s 2022 Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Does Royal Caribbean offer a Black Friday sale?

Black Friday–a major sales event on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States–is the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season. Retailers typically offer their most elusive deals during this time of the year. These sales continue on Cyber Monday, the online equivalent of Black Friday.

Because of this, you’ll find Royal Caribbean combining Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales into a weeklong “Cyber Week Sale”. 

While Black Friday sales are standard within the cruise industry, the best offers typically come during Wave Season (the first three months of the calendar year). That being said, you can expect to see some savings during the cruise line’s Cyber Week Sale.

When will Royal Caribbean's Black Friday sale be announced?

Royal Caribbean typically releases its Cyber Week Sale information a few days before Thanksgiving. Last year, the sale for pre-cruise add-ons began Tuesday, November 23 and the sale on cruise fares began Wednesday, November 24.

We can expect to see Royal Caribbean’s 2022 Black Friday and Cyber Monday cruise deals announced around November 20, 21, or 22 (Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday) this year. The sale will likely run for one week, from around Wednesday, November 23 to Tuesday, November 29.

What types of deals are offered on Black Friday?

The exact deal offered on Black Friday can change by year, but you can expect to see both savings on cruise fares and savings on pre-cruise purchases like shore excursions and dining packages.

Last year’s Black Friday sale on cruise fare allowed guests to save up to $550 in instant savings + 30% off every guest. The promotion ran from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

It also had many discounts offered on pre-cruise add-ons, including the following:

• Soda or Refreshment Package: up to 50% off onboard prices
• Deluxe Beverage Package: 30% off onboard prices
• Shore excursions: up to 50% off
• Internet: up to 60% off
• Discounts on Unlimited Dining Package (discount varies by ship)
• Dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen: 25% off onboard prices
• 30% off spa treatments (discount varies by ship)

If you’re interested to see what types of Black Friday deals have been offered in recent years, check out our article on Royal Caribbean’s past Black Friday deals.

NOTE: Royal Caribbean will change the name of the promotion on the website depending on which day you visit the site (Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc.), but the promotion remains the same.

Should I book my cruise now or wait until Black Friday?

Royal Caribbean allows you to reprice your cruise until final payment date, meaning you can take advantage of a lower price even after booking*. Final payment is due 75 days prior to the sale date for 1-4 night cruises and 90 days prior to the sale date for cruises 5 nights or longer.

If you book a cruise in early November for $1,500 and later find the same sailing offered for $1,200 during the Black Friday sale, you can reprice the cruise and save $300 (provided the cruise is not within final payment).

Why is this important? Despite Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales offering the potential for savings, this isn’t always the case. Let’s look at an example of how waiting to book a cruise during Black Friday can sometimes be more expensive than booking beforehand.

Sample scenario

It’s early November and you are interested in booking a 7-night cruise on Symphony of the Seas. Royal Caribbean is offering a standard promotion, and the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $2,200.

However, you decide to wait to book the cruise. Black Friday is coming up in only two weeks, so you assume the deal will be better then.

Unfortunately, when you go to book the cruise on Black Friday, the price of that same balcony room is now $2,500! In the two weeks since you last checked, more staterooms sold on that sailing, and Royal Caribbean increased prices for the remaining staterooms.

There’s no guarantee a Black Friday deal will be better than any other promotion offered by Royal Caribbean during the year. Because of this, it’s best to book as soon as possible to lock in the best price for your sailing.

Related: Did Black Friday sales save you money on your cruise?

*NOTE: While Royal Caribbean’s website states that “Our Best Price Guarantee lets you take advantage of a better price within 48 hours from the time you booked,” we’ve confirmed with a travel agent that you can still reprice a cruise up until final payment.

What about booking cruise add-ons like drink packages and internet?

Just like your cruise fare, it’s always better to book cruise add-ons as soon as possible rather than waiting for the chance of a better deal.

You can cancel and rebook any add-ons on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner up to 48 hours before sailing. If you book a drink package at $75/day and later see the price drop to $65/day, you can cancel and rebook at the lower price with no penalty.

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

Therefore, it’s best to book cruise add-ons now and check the Cruise Planner on Black Friday to see if the add-ons you purchased are being offered at a lower price. There’s no guarantee that you’ll find a better price on Black Friday, but if you do, you can easily cancel and rebook to save money.

Planning a cruise? Check out our best money saving tips:

• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How to cruise on the cheap
• Top 14 best free things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How to have the best experience for cheap on Royal Caribbean
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

Royal Caribbean wants to make it easier to keep track of your Diamond drink benefits.

Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle members get a set amount of complimentary beverages every day of your cruise, which includes alcoholic beverages.

In an email to guests, Royal Caribbean said it would make a slight change to how drinks are redeemed.

Effective on sailings starting this Friday, November 4th, guests will sign their check when using any beverage vouchers.

Prior to this change, there was no receipt to sign and the vouchers were all managed in the backend. 

Guests that purchase a drink and pay for it with their SeaPass card get a receipt, so this will be more similar to this.

This is another recent change by Royal Caribbean to the Diamond drink program. In June 2021 the amount of drinks was altered so the Diamond drinks would essentially cover almost any beverage and could be used all day.

Benefits of this change

Royal Caribbean says it is making the change for two reasons that it thinks will benefit guests.

First, the receipt has a count of vouchers to help you better track how many you have left.

So if you’re a Diamond member, and you have 4 a day – it may tell you 2 of 4 have been redeemed.

The second reason is to help with billing discrepancies.

For instance, you ordered a $3 coffee and they may have applied your voucher – and you don’t learn about it until you’re at dinner, wanting that nice $13 cocktail and you’re out of vouchers.

For these reasons, offering receipts should make it simpler to track for guests, "While it’s a little more work for our teams, by having you have your hard check – you can better control both your count and the proper application!"

How the Diamond drink vouchers work

Royal Caribbean provides complimentary drinks each day to its Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle guests.

Guests who are at a lower tier of Crown and Anchor Society (Gold, Platinum, or Emerald) do not qualify for the drink vouchers.

• Diamond: 4 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Diamond Plus: 5 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Pinnacle: 6 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)

Drink vouchers are loaded automatically every day on a guest's SeaPass account. 

This includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and includes any beverage up to $14 per drink.

Royal Caribbean is eyeing its competition, and it's not another cruise line.

With Royal Caribbean's introduction of Icon of the Seas, the company wants to attract families that would otherwise consider a land vacation in a place like Orlando, Florida.

With its mega theme parks, Orlando is one of the top family vacation destinations. The city saw 75 million annual visitors in 2018. While that number has fallen since then due to the global health crisis, Orlando still saw 59.3 million visitors in 2021.

During Royal Caribbean Group's earnings call with investors on Thursday, executives singled out Orlando as the market they hope their new cruise ship will more favorably compete with once it launches.

"The Icon product, along with Perfect Day, with the kind of experiences that we're offering, with the kind of new accommodations that we have on Icon and the experiences that we have for young families, older families and of course couples and singles and what have you, is really squarely standing shoulder to shoulder with Orlando and those kind of destinations," said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.

Mr. Bayley sees the Royal Caribbean International brand being more "aggressive" with how it competes with the Orlando attractions, "And what we're beginning to see is us moving certainly the Royal brand into that space far more aggressively."

"We're really focusing on this target market, which is family and of course has many new neighborhoods, including a neighborhood called Surfside, which is absolutely focused on young families and those young families with children six and under travel all year round, because obviously parents can pull their kids out of pre-K."

Illustrating how compelling a choice Icon of the Seas is to Walt Disney World, the Wall Street analyst shared an anecdote from a recent trip in which another traveler he did not know told him he was going to book Icon of the Seas instead of Disney World, "a random traveler behind me saying they were thinking about going to Disney, but going to book the their family on the Icon."

"One off conversation but part of a broader theme."

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about how the cruise line has narrowed the competitive advantage land vacations have over cruises, "We've seen this 40% gap to land based vacation. It used to be about 20%."

"The Royal brand actually closed the gap very significantly with the introduction of Perfect day, the modernization of our fleet. And so we see there is a lot of opportunity to close that gap here over time."

How Royal Caribbean can compete better with Orlando

Mr. Liberty was pleased with the progress Royal Caribbean International has made to be a more attractive offer compared to land vacations, but thinks more is needed.

"We need to increase frequency with our guests, we need to improve our loyalty programs," he explained when talking about ways to improve.

"We need to be more 1:1 so that we're putting offers in front of our guests that are very relevant to them individually and just bring more awareness."

He thinks by doing those kind of things, it will make Royal Caribbean more competitive with land-based vacations.

Super weapon: Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean sees the launch of Icon of the Seas as not only a great new ship, but the asset that will give them the best choice yet to skip a land vacation.

"It is a game changing, first of its kind vacation experience where everyone can experience their version of the ultimate vacation," Mr. Liberty explained at the beginning of the call with investors.

While Royal Caribbean has always been a top family cruise line, Icon of the Seas is poised to move the cruise line beyond anything else it has ever offered.

Royal Caribbean will introduce a first of its kind area of the ship dedicated to young families at the back of the ship, which has everything a family with young kids could want, along with family-focused accommodations and with easy access to the kids club and other popular onboard attractions.

"Icon is the first in a new class of ships for Royal Caribbean, which is squarely in the family market, which is a scale brand with huge presence in the American market and in a strong global footprint," Mr. Bayley explained.

In Surfside, there will be places for kids and adults to enjoy, including Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay splash parks for junior cruisers and the Water's Edge pool for grownups.

Surfside will also house family-friendly dining venues, although those venues have not been announced yet.