Royal Caribbean Blog

There have been a few shore excursions I've taken over the years that I would love to get my time and money back.

Shore excursions are a major part of any cruise vacation because the ports of call a cruise ship visits is an extension of the overall trip. Each day you visit a new port and there's just enough time to get a taste of what that city, island, or country has to offer.

I've usually had good luck with choosing a tour, as I've learned the sort of things I like and don't like to do. But once in a while, I run into a dud and realize I've made a mistake.

Sometimes the issue is subjective because I personally don't care for the type of tour offered or something else just isn't my cup of tea.

Other times, I felt the tour just didn't measure up to expectations. In any case, it left me wishing I had done something else.

Here are five times I took a cruise ship shore excursion and reconsidered my decision making almost immediately.

Blue Waters Beach Escape in Falmouth

Ever since Royal Caribbean started visiting Falmouth, Jamaica, I've struggled to find a great go-to shore excursion.

Part of the issue is Falmouth is a relatively new cruise port and there aren't a lot of attractions nearby, which means you need a long bus trip to get to the great stuff.

On one visit in 2016, I thought to heck with spending an hour or more on a bus, we'll go to the beach and enjoy the Caribbean waters because how bad could it be?

We tried Blue Waters Beach Escape that I booked through Royal Caribbean and it reinforced one of the most common issues a person can have on a tour booked through the cruise line: an oversold and underwhelming experience.

While bus ride was short to the beach (about 10 minutes), we found a ton of other tours had beaten us here, which left very little seating.  

Some guests who arrived after us had no chairs available and had to settle for beach chair mats until chairs were freed up by departing guests.  The shore excursion title says, "An exclusive Blue Waters Beach Escape", but clearly this was not as exclusive as one may have thought.

On top of that, the food offered by the beach's "5-star chefs" was also quite underwhelming and limited.

The lesson for me here was to reconsider beach break shore excursions sold through the cruise line for the overselling aspect it brings with it. In the Caribbean, there are plenty of beaches in any port, so I'm best served by finding another way to visit one of the other less-crowded options.

A day at Margaritaville

Another "Jamaica mistaica" was to skip the tours all together and just hang out at the Margaritaville in Falmouth.

On my next visit to Falmouth, we thought we'd take it easy and just hang out in the Margaritaville bar that contained within the Falmouth cruise port because it has a rather large pool, plenty of chairs, and food that we'll enjoy (even if it's nothing special or authentic).

The day started off good, as we got to Margaritaville and found our spot. There was no cost to enter the pool or use the facilities and the kids really enjoyed the pool.

Unfortunately, a lot of other people had the same idea we did and by mid-morning, the pool and seating was super crowded.

Being a Margaritaville, the food and drink were nothing spectacular but also quite expensive. The longer we stayed, the more I thought "I could be enjoying a very similar experience back on the cruise ship for a lot less money".

We eventually packed things up and went back to the ship, but the lesson I learned here was Margaritaville is fine for a quick visit, not a whole day stop.

Trying to get to St. John on my own

Ever since I visited St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, I loved how absolutely beautiful it was and wanted to return every time.

In order to visit St. John, you have to take the ferry from an area of St. Thomas known as Red Hook. Red Hook is not really near any popular beaches, so it is not exactly the most popular destinations out there.

My plan was to go take the ferry to nearby St. John and enjoy a day at one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited. 

We went to the taxi stand and asked to go to Red Hook.  In St. Thomas, taxis in the form of a sedan are nearly nonexistent.  

Each taxi driver passed us on to someone else, as they were unwilling to drive us there.  For some strange reason, the taxis in St. Thomas are primarily these converted pickup truck buses, and the taxi operators all want to maximize every seat in the vehicle.

So after 30-40 minutes of literally standing around to go, we were told to board one of these buses to go to Red Hook.  Except the bus was not going to Red Hook. We asked the people onboard where they were headed, and were told some other beach on the island.  So clearly the plan was to take these folks somewhere, and drop us off later. 

I was so irritated at the situation, that I decided I would rather spend my day back on the ship than deal with the taxi consortium.

My lesson learned here was to either book a Royal Caribbean excursion that would take us to St. John, or pre-arrange private transportation to the ferry area.

Read more: Guide to visiting St. John on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Kennedy Space Center

Don't worry, I loved Kennedy Space Center when I visited it on my Anthem of the Seas cruise. The issue was how I chose to get there.

We sailed on Anthem of the Seas from New York and had a port stop in Port Canaveral.

I don't remember why, but when we decided to visit Kennedy Space Center I was fixated on finding a Royal Caribbean shore excursion to take us there. Kennedy Space Center is a very short distance by car from Port Canaveral, and I'm not certain why I didn't take a taxi cab.

We got to the space center without any problems and had a fabulous time, but we wasted a lot of time with the bus.

We booked the Kennedy Space Center Express tour, which was not a guided tour, and it would simply drive us to the entrance and give us a time to return back.

Part of my mistake was assuming 5 hours at Kennedy Space Center was going to be too much time and I'd run out of things to do. The reality was I wish we had another five hours because it was incredible.

Had I just taken a taxi to Kennedy Space Center, we could have squeezed out another hour or two from our day.

Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel

My most recent shore excursion goof was spending the day at Mr Sanchos Beach Club in Cozumel.

Within a half hour of arriving, that little voice in my head started saying "this was a mistake" and I tried my best to enjoy the day but it was a disappointment.

It's my opinion that Mr. Sanchos' popularity seems to have lead to the one faux pas of any beach spot: overcrowding. They clearly had sold every chair and table at the resort and I found it to be overcrowded and unenjoyable.

The wait staff were great, but I found it disappointing how busy things were because it felt like we were all pushed together a little too much.

Making matters worse was the food, which came overcooked and didn't taste great.

I know Mr. Sanchos is a beach resort a lot of people have enjoyed over the years, but I thought it paled in comparison to many other beach days spots in Cozumel.

Bonus: Walt Disney World

Consider this a word of caution rather than a personal experience.

A lot of cruisers that visit Port Canaveral for the day are tempted to book a shore excursion that takes them to Walt Disney World in nearby Orlando. 

It's an hour-long drive and seems like a great idea for a day visit.

The problem with this idea is how incredibly expensive a one-day pass is to the parks, along with the timing.

Because your ship arrives much later than when the theme parks open for the day (compounded by the fact it will take you time to disembark and then drive to the parks), you'll have a very limited window of time to enjoy what Disney offers. 

Moreover, because you have to be back onboard the ship much sooner than the theme parks close, there's just no way you're getting your money's worth from a day visit.

If you want to experience Disney World with a cruise, your best best is to do a land vacation there before your cruise for a few days, and then book a short weekend cruise on Royal Caribbean to recuperate.

The Atlantic hurricane season has been quiet thus far, but it's claimed an itinerary change for at least one cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas cruise ship has changed itineraries to avoid the path of Tropical Storm Fiona.

Guests booked on Harmony of the Seas have been advised they will change from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean itinerary.

In an email to guests, Royal Caribbean said the change was made, "to maintain a safe and comfortable journey."

Instead of sailing to St. Thomas and St. Maarten, Harmony of the Seas will go to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

This change affects the September 18, 2022 sailing of Harmony of the Seas only.

The ship will still visit Perfect Day at CocoCay as scheduled.

Tropical Storm Fiona is now very near the Leeward Islands and is forecasted to move westward across the U.S. and British Virgin Islands on Saturday and Puerto Rico late Saturday and Saturday night.

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Fiona's center is approaching Guadeloupe and tropical storm conditions (winds 39 mph or higher), heavy rain and strong waves are expected in the Leeward Islands.

Fiona is then forecasted to strengthen after moving across Hispaniola early next week and could impact the Turks and Caicos islands as well as southeastern Bahamas.

Cruiser reaction

Whenever cruise lines need to change an itinerary due to weather, there's plenty of thoughts on the impact from the guest perspective. 

Thomas Beaulieu wrote on Facebook, "That's still a great itinerary. You will get more than your money's worth if you bought the beverage package. 5 out 7 days you get full use of the package all day and night! Cheers."

Chris Blahut, wrote "Can’t do anything about the weather. Better to be safe than sorry."

Ragene Warner Pinson was disappointed, but understood the need for the change, "What a bummer. I understand why but that’s still a bummer. St Thomas and Saint Martin are so much better than the Mexico ports and my personal opinion."

Quiet hurricane season so far

At the risk of jinxing our collective luck, so far hurricanes have not been a major factor so far in 2022 in the Atlantic.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs between June and November, and there's been only three named storms before September. 

There were no named storms in the Atlantic during August, the first time that had happened since 1997.

For what it's worth, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued an updated forecast in early August for the rest of the season, which still called for an above-normal level of activity.

NOAA thinks there will be 14 to 20 named storms, with six to 10 turning into hurricanes. Three to five of those could strengthen into major hurricanes — Category 3 or stronger — with winds of at least 111 m.p.h.

So you’re planning a family cruise with a $2000 budget… is it possible?

While planning a Royal Caribbean cruise does not have to break the bank, having a $2000 budget will limit your choice of ships, itineraries, cruise length, and time of the year you can sail.

You and your family can have an amazing cruise vacation no matter the ship or itinerary, but it’s important to have an idea of what you can afford before booking a cruise. If you’re hoping to sail on Royal Caribbean’s newest, most impressive cruise ships, you’ll likely have to fork over more than $2000 for a family of four.

If you’re willing to book a shorter cruise, sail on an older ship, or take the kids out of school to cruise during off-season, you can find much better pricing available.

Let’s dive in to learn more about what costs to expect on a Royal Caribbean cruise for a family vacation and see sample prices for many of Royal Caribbean’s top cruise ships.

Kids Sail Free

Royal Caribbean occasionally offers a Kids Sail Free promotion during which kids 12 and younger are eligible for a free cruise fare. 

This can lead to impressive savings on a cruise, but there are a few caveats:

• Kids Sail Free is not eligible during blackout dates, which tend to occur during school breaks and holidays.
• Taxes, fees, and gratuities are not included in the Kids Sail Free promotion
• There is no pattern as to when Royal Caribbean will offer Kids Sail Free promotions

Keep an eye out for when Royal Caribbean is running a Kids Sail Free deal by following our Facebook page.

Related: Guide to Kids Sail Free and current offers

Budget for additional costs

While it’s possible to cruise with Royal Caribbean and spend nothing extra once onboard, you’ll want to budget for additional costs like transportation, pre-cruise hotels, and any add-ons you purchase onboard like shore excursions and drink packages.

Related: Top 30 extra cruise costs that are not included

One of the biggest costs you can incur is airfare. If you live in California and are flying to Miami for a cruise, you can easily spend $400+ on airfare per person. In this case, it might be better to look for cruises from Los Angeles or Seattle to save money instead of flying across the country.

Budgeting for a hotel the night before your cruise is another important consideration. We recommend flying or driving to your departure port the night before your cruise begins (unless you are a local to the port), so you’ll want to book a hotel for the night before the cruise.

Related: Why you shouldn’t fly to your cruise the same day it begins

Peak season vs off-season cruising

Some of the biggest differences in price you’ll find on Royal Caribbean cruises happen when comparing a peak season cruise with an off-season cruise.

The peak season for Royal Caribbean cruises is anytime kids are out of school, including President’s Day, spring break, summer vacation, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.

Off-season is during any other point in the year:

• January (after New Year’s)
• February (excluding President’s Day)
• March and April (excluding Easter)
• May
• September (excluding Labor Day)
• October
• November (excluding Thanksgiving)
• First two weeks of December

Related: What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?

Most families have to stick to the school calendar and must pay peak season prices for a cruise. If you have a flexible schedule, though, you can find nice savings by cruising with your family during the off-season.

Look for last-minute deals

Finding a cheap last-minute deal is possible and can lead to amazing savings on a family cruise. When searching for a Royal Caribbean cruise, check if there are any last-minute deals available that can potentially save you hundreds of dollars per guest.

Related: Ultimate Guide to last-minute cruise deals

While cruising at the last minute may not be possible for all families, it’s still worth checking if there are any last-minute deals that coincide with your kids’ school schedules.

So… what does a family cruise cost?

To put the cost of a family cruise into perspective, I’ve calculated a few sample cruise fares for the following itineraries:

• 3 and 4-night cruises
• 6, 7, and 8-night cruises
• Cruises on Oasis Class ships only

The pricing was calculated based on the following factors:

• 2 adults and 2 kids over the age of 2
• Interior cabins
• Includes taxes & fees
• Does not include gratuities

These cruise fares were not priced during a Kids Sail Free promotion. During a Kids Sail Free promotion, you can expect to save several hundred dollars on the cruise fare per child.

Cabin choice

In the prices below, I have two pricing examples for booking a cruise cabin for a family: staying together in one interior cabin and booking two connecting interior cabins.

There are many other stateroom categories to choose from when traveling with kids, but these two are generally always the most economical.

Related: What’s the best cruise ship cabin for my family?

These cruise fares were found on Royal Caribbean’s website, but pricing is subject to change. What was a cheap fare one day could change drastically the next day, so don’t be surprised to find varied pricing when you search for your own cruises.

Note: Many of the prices below are over $2000, but I wanted to give a realistic look at what a family cruise can cost. While you can certainly find cruises under $2000 for a family of four, it’s more common to see pricing between $2000 - $3000 as opposed to under $2000, especially for week-long cruises.

Cost of a week-long cruise for a family of 4

A 6,7, or 8-night cruise is the standard length for a cruise vacation, and Royal Caribbean has plenty of ships sailing week-long cruises at any given time.

Many passengers find week-long to be a great length because they give enough time to get acquainted with the ship, visit at least 3-4 ports, and have time to relax without feeling rushed. 

The price of a week-long cruise can vary dramatically depending on the month you sail. During the summer months, it can be hard to find a cruise for a family of four under $2000. Off-season prices, however, can be more budget friendly, although it can still be tricky to find a cruise under $2000.

Peak season pricing (June) on a 7-night cruise:

• Grandeur of the Seas - Caribbean: $2,571 (1 room), $2,926 (2 connecting rooms)
• Ovation of the Seas - Alaska: $4,466 (1 room), $5,690 (2 connecting rooms)
• Allure of the Seas - Caribbean: $3,285 (1 room), $3,875 (2 connecting rooms)

Off-season pricing on a 6, 7, or 8-night cruise:

• Voyager of the Seas (6 nights - Caribbean): $1655 (1 room), $1,842 (2 connecting rooms)
• Enchantment of the Seas (8 nights - Bahamas): $2,082 (1 room), $2,919 (2 connecting rooms)
• Oasis of the Seas (7 nights - Caribbean): $2,303 (1 room), $2,830 (2 connecting rooms)

Cost of a short cruise (2-5 nights) for a family of 4

Shorter cruises (2-5 nights) will almost always have a lower cost than week-long cruises (6-8 nights). A variety of Royal Caribbean ships sail short cruise itineraries, but they’re most commonly scheduled on Voyager and Freedom Class ships.

Related: Here are the absolute best cruises for families

It’s definitely possible to book a 3 or 4-night cruise for under $2000 for a family, even during peak season. 4-night cruises are often cheaper than 3-night sailings as they fall mid-week (Monday through Friday) and therefore have less demand.

The caveat with shorter cruises is that they often have a higher cost per night compared to longer cruises, meaning you may get more bang for your buck on a 7-night cruise even if the total cost is higher per person.

That being said, here are a few prices you can expect for a short cruise.

3-night weekend cruise during the peak summer season in June:

• Independence of the Seas (Bahamas): $1,818 (1 room), $1,877 (2 connecting rooms)
• Navigator of the Seas (Mexico): $1,601 (1 room), $1,895 (2 connecting rooms)

3-night weekend cruise during the off-season in February:

• Freedom of the Seas (Bahamas): $1,277 (1 room), $1,452 (2 connecting rooms)
• Navigator of the Seas (Mexico): $1,264 (1 room), $1,062 (2 connecting rooms)

Can I sail on an Oasis Class ship with my family for under $2000?

Oasis Class cruise ships are the most popular Royal Caribbean ships for families, offering an amazing array of family-friendly activities like water slides, zip lines, rock climbing, mini golf, a sports court, FlowRider, and a carousel.

Related: All about Oasis Class cruise ships

With high demand comes high prices, however, and cruising on an Oasis Class ship will almost always be more expensive than a cruise of the same length and destination as an older class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

To see typical pricing for a family of four to sail on an Oasis Class ship in peak season, I priced out all 5 Oasis Class ships for a family of four on a 7-night cruise in July:

• Oasis of the Seas (Bahamas): $3,755 (1 room), $5,830 (2 connecting rooms)
• Allure of the Seas (Caribbean): $3,285 (1 room), $3,875 (2 connecting rooms)
• Harmony of the Seas (Caribbean): $4,572 (1 room), $4,312 (2 connecting rooms)
• Symphony of the Seas (Europe): $5,295 (1 room), $5,454 (2 connecting rooms)
• Wonder of the Seas (Caribbean): $5,783 (1 room), $5423 (2 connecting rooms)

Next up, I priced out the same ships for a 7-night cruise during the off-season in October.

• Oasis of the Seas (Bahamas): $2,303 (1 room), $2,830 (2 connecting rooms)
• Allure of the Seas (Caribbean): $2,048 (1 room), $2,279 (2 connecting rooms)
• Harmony of the Seas (Caribbean): $2,933 (1 room), $3,273 (2 connecting rooms)
• Symphony of the Seas (Europe): $3,674 (1 room), $4,615 (2 connecting rooms)
• Wonder of the Seas (Caribbean): $3,667 (1 room), $4,907 (2 connecting rooms)

As you can see, you’re unlikely to find a 7-night cruise for under $2000 on an Oasis Class ship, especially in the peak summer season. Expect to pay between $3000 and $5000 for a family of four during this time of year.

That being said, it’s possible to find a cruise for around $2000 during the off-season if you can make it work with your kids’ school schedules.

You’ll typically find the best pricing on Allure of the Seas, as this ship has not been amplified and is the only Oasis Class ship without water slides, the Ultimate Abyss, and updated dining venues. Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas usually have the highest pricing available, as they are the two newest ships in the Oasis Class.

So… can you actually cruise for $2000 with a family?

It’s possible to cruise for $2000 or under with a family when counting solely the cruise fare, especially if you book the cruise during a Kids Sail Free promotion.

However, you won’t have much selection when it comes to cruise length or ship choice. If this is important to you, it might be better to either stretch your budget or wait a few months until you can book the cruise that is of most interest to your family.

Outside of cruise fare, though, there are many factors that can drastically increase the total cost of a cruise vacation, including:

• Airfare
• Parking
• Shore excursions
• Gratuities
• Dining & drink packages

Before booking a cruise, be sure to consider all factors to ensure you can stay within your budget. In the meantime, check out our top articles on how to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise:

• How to cruise on the cheap
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• 7 ways to have a great time in port without booking a cruise ship shore excursion

Right now going on a cruise ship is one of the best vacation values out there, and if you're looking for the best deal, there are a few tried-and-true strategies.

Cruise ships are sailing at 100% capacity in the Caribbean, which means lots of people are vying to get onboard as well.

While there are lots of people enjoying a cruise, the good news is you can still get a great deal on a cruise if you're looking for a deal. The key is to know where and when to look.

To get the best cruise deal, you're going to want to employ these top tips for getting a great price. No matter the time of year, these tricks should get you a great price so you can maximize every dollar of your vacation budget.

Book a cruise during off-peak times

Every region of the world that a cruise ship sails has peak and off-peak times, so if you can take a cruise during the less popular times you will find some of the best cruise deals out the season.

Off-season cruises are when there are less people able or willing to go on a cruise. Usually this is at the very beginning or very end of when ships begin sailing in a region, such as Europe or Alaska.

In the Caribbean, where the cruise season is year-round, the off-peak cruise times are usually opposite the school calendar. When school is in session, there are less families that can cruise.

Just like a 6am flight, there is less demand for these departures and that means lower prices to be found.

Besides bad timing, less than perfect weather can be a factor for why there is less demand for certain sailings.

In Alaska, the very beginning and end of the season is when it is coldest. May and September typically are when Alaska cruise prices dip to their lowest.

In the Caribbean, hurricane season greatly impacts people's desire to book a cruise. This means lower prices for a Caribbean cruise in September or October. You'll also find great prices in January and early February, when school is back in session.

Work with a travel agent

In other forms of travel, the public has been conditioned to expect the best prices if you book things on your own to "skip the middle man". This strategy doesn't work as well with cruises.

The cruise industry still relies heavily on travel agents to spur sales, and there is no doubt that a good travel agent can help get you the lowest possible price for a cruise.

The potential money savings of working with a travel agent are not about simply who can do an internet search for a cruise price faster. Travel agents have access to special group rates and discounts you would never be able to find on your own.

Many travel agents are part of a consortium of agencies, who have rates you cannot otherwise book. 

Moreover, a lot of people booking on their own may simply be unaware of special discounts offered to select groups, such as residency discounts, military discounts, and more.

If there's one incredibly common mistake people make by booking on their own, it's not fully understanding the deposit rules and regretting it later when there are fees for changing or cancelling.  Travel agents can assist greatly with this before making a mistake.

A good travel agent can guide you through the different fares, help you pick out the perfect cruise ship cabin type for your family and avoid the bad cabins.

The best part about leveraging a good travel agent is they should cost you nothing extra to use, because Royal Caribbean pays them a commission for their services.

Book your cruise as early as you can

The best strategy for locking in a great price for your cruise is to book as early as you can.

Cruise ship pricing has many factors, but as more and more cabins on a particular sailing get booked up, prices tend to go up as inventory diminishes.

Cruise experts advocate booking your cruise as soon as you can. Ideally, when Royal Caribbean releases the new sailings around two years in advance of the sail date and inventory is untouched. 

Not only will booking a cruise years in advance get you a rock bottom price, you're also going to have plenty of cabin types to choose from. The first type of cabins to sell out on a cruise are almost always suites.

Of course, booking a cruise that far in advance is difficult for many people because most people don't plan vacations years in the future. But if you have the flexibility, this is the best strategy for netting a great cruise price.

Read more: How far in advance should I book a cruise to get the best price?

Book a cruise on an older ship

While Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Quantum Class ships are as amazing to cruise on as they look, they do not usually have the cheapest cruise fares out there. Newer ships command higher prices.

Instead, price shop around the Voyager or Radiance Class ships to find the real bargains.

Similar to how a used car that is a few years old will provide a better value than a brand new vehicle, cruise ships that have been around for a few years tend to offer better deals to entice cruisers to book them.

The great thing about the Voyager and Radiance Class ships is that you are not compromising a ton on the onboard experience, but will save a lot compared to the bigger ships.

Book a repositioning cruise

If you don't mind flying, you can often find the lowest prices for a cruise on a sailing that begins in one port and ends in a different port.

Known as repositioning sailings, these are when Royal Caribbean moves the ship from one region to another.

Because of the logistics of getting to and from the cruise, as well as duration of the sailing, repositioning cruises can be a tremendous value. Simply put, less people are willing to book these because it requires more vacation time or they'd have to find a different way home.

The most common type of repositioning cruises are transalantic and transpacific cruises, where the ship moves between North America and Europe or Australia.

Last-minute cruise deals

More elusive than booking early, you can sometimes book a last-minute cruise deal if you are flexible.

This won't work for everyone, but there are sometimes really good prices in the final weeks leading up to a sailing when inventory hasn't fully sold out yet.

As mentioned earlier in this article, prices tend to go up over time as more and more people book a sailing. But sometimes a sailing doesn't sell as well as Royal Caribbean wants, and you can find a price drop meant to spur sales.

If you can travel on short notice and aren't picky, there are last-minute cruise deals to be had for those that look for them.

When you book at the last minute, you'll have less cabins to choose from and last minute airfare prices may negate any savings from the cruise fare.

Read more: Why booking a last-minute cruise isn't always a great idea

It's important to act quickly if you do spot a good cruise to book that sails soon, because inventory within the last month or two of a cruise will disappear fast.

Book a guarantee cabin

One way to turn an average cruise price into a great deal is to let Royal Caribbean pick your exact cabin.

Guarantee staterooms are when you tell Royal Caribbean the minimum cabin type you want and let the cruise line assign a cabin to you, instead of you picking a specific room.

You will receive a room of at least that category (or higher), but it may be days or weeks before you learn of the room assignment.

In exchange for this ambiguity of room selection, you can often save hundreds of dollars off your cruise fare.

Keep in mind that you may end up with a cabin at the very front or very back of the ship. Or even a cabin with a partially blocked view. Those that value convenient cabin location or are sensitive to motion sickness may not want to roll the dice on a guarantee cabin.

If the exact location of your cabin doesn't matter much to you, then a guarantee room could be your ticket to deep savings.

Read more: How to find the cheapest cabins on Royal Caribbean

Book Kids Sail Free if you have kids

Royal Caribbean will periodically offer a kids sail free promotion, where the third and fourth passengers under the age of 12 in your cabin will cost you nothing extra in terms of cruise fare.

In short, kids sail free will result in a cruise fare cost of zero dollars for third guests and higher who are 12 years old or younger. You are still responsible for paying for the taxes and port fees associated with the children, along with any other charges onboard.

For families, a kids sail free promotion is one of the most lucrative offers Royal Caribbean has, especially if you book a suite since the per-person savings are highest in these luxurious cabins.

Kids sail free will still save you money on other cabin types, but the amount is significantly less.

One drawback of kids sail free is you have to share a cabin with your kids. This means in many cabins one bathroom for three or four of you.

Families on a budget can often get a great deal, especially when combining kids sail free with the tip earlier in this article about booking as early as you can.

Going Going Gone Rates

A wonderful tool meant for travel agents to spot great deals has returned.

Before the pandemic the Going, Going, Gone weekly flyer was a staple at Royal Caribbean that would list especially good rates for last minute cruises to book.

The flyer usually gets updated weekly on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.

You'll have to act fast if you want in on these days because by week’s end, most of the deals are gone.

You can find the flyer always at this address.

Chase the best deal and not a specific date

The more flexible you are, the better the chances of finding a rock-bottom cruise fare.

If you have the ability to go on vacation anytime, you'll find far more super cheap cruise deals out there compared to trying to find a low price for a specific week.

Cruise experts recommend looking at cruise prices for many destinations and not limit yourself to just one week.  Instead, look at prices across two or three months and you'll likely find many better deals.

Sail from less popular ports

Instead of booking a cruise from Miami, New York, or Orlando, try to book a cruise from a different port to nab a really good price.

Royal Caribbean sails from many cruise ports around the United States, and there are definitely certain embarkation ports where prices tend to be lower for a variety of reasons.

Generally speaking, you'll find lower prices if your cruise begins in one of these ports:

• Tampa, Florida
• Galveston
• Los Angeles
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Baltimore

Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with sailing from these ports.  The reason prices tend to be less on cruises from here are the ships are not always the newest, and the market the cruise lines target for these regions require a different price than other places.

Pick a weird length for a cruise

Instead of a 7-night cruise, try a slightly shorter or longer cruise.

For most families, a week-long cruise is the perfect length of time for a cruise because it fits in nicely with school vacations and time off work.

Often, you'll find a better price for four, five, six and eight-night cruises.

The reason has to do with a combination of logistics and psychology. Many four-, five-, and six-night cruises begin at the start of the week, which still require as many vacation days as a 7-night cruise. 

Usually 5- and 8-night cruises tend to begin on non-traditional embarkation days (i.e. not a weekend) and that can be a problem for many to coordinate with time off.

Book an inside room instead of a balcony

While a balcony cabin is wonderful, you can save a lot of money by booking an inside room instead.

An inside or oceanview cabin will usually get you a much better deal given how popular balcony rooms are these days.

Remember, you're going to be so busy around the ship and in port that your cabin will end up being a place to sleep, shower, and change. So why pay a lot more for a room you won't use all that much?

Read more: Oceanview vs Balcony staterooms on a Royal Caribbean cruise

More cruise advice

• What is the best room on a cruise ship?
• Picking a Cruise Line and Ship
• Avoid these mistakes when picking a cruise ship cabin
• 25 best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets
• 5 Costly lessons learned on a cruise (and how to avoid them!)
• 15 really cool things to do that you can only find on Royal Caribbean cruise ships
• Ultimate Cruise Packing List

There’s not much more exciting than booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, especially when it’s a cruise to Europe. Spending your days exploring historic, charming ports under the warm Mediterranean sun is an experience every cruiser should experience at least once.

If you’ve never cruised to Europe, you’ll want to research the ins and outs of a European cruise to avoid making rookie mistakes not only in the planning process, but once onboard the ship.

Knowing which shore excursions to book, which itinerary to select, and which ship to sail on can help make your European cruise experience worry-free.

Here are our top 30 European cruise tips you should use to plan the cruise vacation of your dreams.

Shore excursions aren’t always necessary

Don’t assume you have to book shore excursions on a European cruise. Most European cruise ports (or surrounding areas) are walkable and charming, meaning you can have a nice day simply walking around without a plan.

In Mykonos, Greece, for example, cruise ships tender directly into town, meaning you can walk around the winding, white cobblestone streets on the island and discover local restaurants, shops, and attractions–all without spending extra on a shore excursion.

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

However… shore excursions are better for certain ports

While most ports are walkable directly from the ship or with a short shuttle ride to town, there are several European cruise ports which require traveling long distances (1-2 hours) each way to reach the city.

Rome, for example, is located an hour and a half from the port of Civitavecchia. Many cruisers will opt to book an excursion through Royal Caribbean as opposed to traveling to Rome independently due to the distance required.

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

If a train is delayed or you encounter traffic on the journey back from Rome, you’ll risk missing the ship. A Royal Caribbean excursion will provide you added protection in knowing that if your tour runs late, the ship will wait for you before leaving.

Understand that European cruises aren’t always as relaxing

Caribbean cruises are the ultimate relaxing getaway. Waking up late, ordering breakfast to your balcony, and spending the day at the pool will have anyone rejuvenated by the end of the week.

European cruises, on the other hand, tend to be busier. Many passengers wake up early and spend between 8-12 hours in port. There tends to be a lot of walking in European cruise ports. When combined with the strong summer heat, this can quickly make you feel exhausted.

Having such a busy schedule isn’t the case for all itineraries, and you certainly don’t have to disembark the ship at every port or spend 10 hours on shore each day, but if you want to make the most of your time in Europe, you might find yourself needing another vacation after the cruise is over!

Consider the distance from port to city

Before booking a cruise itinerary, make sure you understand how far a port is located from the destination city.

Cruise itineraries will list Paris as a port of call, for example, despite the port being in Le Havre, France, which is over 2 hours away from the city center of Paris! The same goes for cities like Rome, Florence, and Marseille.

To check if the ports your itinerary visits are far from the destination city, look for parenthesis next to the port’s name. Rome will be listed as Rome (Civitavecchia), Paris as Paris (Le Havre), Nice as Nice (Villefranche), etc.

While it’s certainly manageable to travel 30-90 minutes into port each way every day of the cruise, if you would rather walk off the ship and explore a port with no hassle, it might be better to choose a different itinerary.

Don’t be afraid of crowds

Europe is a busy travel destination in the summer not only with cruise ship tourists, but with land-based visitors as well.

You’ll find that many tourist attractions, such as the Acropolis in Athens, Pompeii in Naples, and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, are packed with tourists, and you’ll have a hard time finding peace and quiet in the busiest cruise ports.

Don’t let this deter you from booking a cruise to Europe, though, as these attractions are popular for a reason. Witnessing the stunning architecture of the Duomo in Florence and a sunset from Santorini are truly remarkable experiences and worth any crowds you may encounter.

Pick ports with fewer crowds

If the idea of visiting tourist attractions in huge, busy cities sounds like a nightmare, however, there are plenty of ports that receive far fewer tourists than places like Mykonos and Dubrovnik.

Look for cruise itineraries visiting smaller, lesser-visited destinations like La Coruña in Spain and Bari in Italy. While there will still be plenty to see and do in these ports, you may be the only cruise ship in port, meaning you can enjoy the day with fewer crowds.

Be aware of dress codes

If you booked an excursion that visits the Vatican in Rome or other historic churches, be aware of any required dress codes.

The Vatican, for example, has the following dress code which should be adhered to by all visitors:

• Shoulders must be covered
• Do not wear clothing that exposes the knee
• Remove hats
• Cover offensive tattoos or religious symbols
• Ripped/see-through clothing is discouraged

You don’t necessarily have to spend the whole day in Rome wearing pants and a shirt that covers the shoulders, but be sure to pack a change of clothes if you will be visiting the Vatican.

Relax with a great view

With so much happening in port and onboard, don’t forget to take time to relax with a beautiful view.

Cruises to Europe visit gorgeous destinations, from sailing through the fjords of Norway to the dramatic landscapes of Montenegro. You’ll often find a wonderful view out the window if you take a look, so don’t pack your day full of activities with little time left to relax.

Instead grab a coffee or cocktail and find a lounge to sit back and relax with the view.

Fly to your departure port 2 days early

If you’re flying to Europe from North America, you’ll find that most flights arrive in Europe early in the morning. While you may initially think that the schedule works perfectly as you can leave the airport and immediately head to the port, this is a terrible idea.

It’s no surprise that air travel is unpredictable. Delays, cancellations, weather problems, technical errors, and more can cause even a direct flight to turn into a nightmare. Trying to fly to your European cruise departure port the night before your cruise and arrive on the morning of your cruise is extremely risky.

Related: Why you shouldn't fly to your cruise the same day it begins

You’ll also arrive severely jet lagged, too, which can make you feel miserable on your first day in Europe. No one wants to spend the first day of their cruise feeling tired and missing out on a cruise experience they waited so long to enjoy.

Instead fly to your departure port in Europe 2 days before the cruise begins. If your cruise leaves on a Friday, for example, fly to Europe on Wednesday night. You'll arrive Thursday morning, giving you one full day to recover from jet lag before getting onboard the following day.

Spend time in your embarkation/disembarkation port before or after the cruise

Many European cruise itineraries embark in some of the world’s most historic cities, including Rome, Athens, and Barcelona. These cities are filled with some of the most popular attractions in the world, delicious cuisine, and dynamic cultures.

If possible, plan to arrive at least 1-2 days prior to your cruise to ensure you have time to see the city’s top sights and attractions. You don’t want to end up with only ~3 hours total to spend in Rome before your cruise and miss out on sights like the Colosseum and Pantheon!

Bring a theft prevention daypack

Bringing a daypack is essential on any European cruise, but you’ll want to be wary of pickpockets, especially in busy tourist areas. Losing a phone, wallet, or passport is not part of anyone’s vacation plan, but it does happen to some passengers.

Consider purchasing a backpack with theft protection. These backpacks have several features to deter pickpockets, including “secret” pockets that are against your back or zippers with a lock feature to prevent easy access to what’s inside.

Speaking of pickpockets, NEVER put your phone or wallet in your back pocket while visiting port as this makes you an easy target for being pickpocketed.

Get tender tickets early

Some smaller cruise ports in Europe are tender ports, meaning there is no dock where you can walk off the ship and onto land. Instead, these ports use small tender boats to bring passengers from ship to shore while the cruise ship anchors offshore.

To board a tender boat, you need a tender ticket, each of which has a number on it to determine when you’re able to disembark the ship for the tender boat.

These tender tickets become available at a specific time onboard, which will be announced on the loudspeaker or in the Cruise Planner. Tickets are complimentary.

Be sure to pick up a tender ticket right away to avoid lengthy wait times to board a tender boat to shore. The last thing you want to happen is be waiting around on the ship for an available boat when you have limited time in port!

Taste local cuisine in every port

While the food you’ll find on a Royal Caribbean cruise is excellent, don’t skip out on tasting local cuisine just to save a few dollars and eat on the ship.

Tasting fresh pasta and pizza in Italy, crêpes in France, paella in Spain, and moussaka in Greece is well worth the extra cost and it might end up being the best meal you’ve ever had!

Related: Must-eat foods on a cruise to Italy

When looking for a restaurant in your cruise port, don’t eat directly in the tourist center. While you may still have a nice meal sitting across the street from the Colosseum or Duomo in Florence, you’ll likely pay a premium for food that is half as good as something you’d find a few blocks away.

Don’t try to fit too much in one day

There’s so much to see on a European cruise that it can be overwhelming to fit everything in one day. From churches, museums, hikes, beaches, monuments, and more, it’s impossible to see everything.

Instead of spending your day on a strict timetable with little free time, choose just one or two things you’d like to experience in each cruise port. Once you do those two things, spend the rest of the day walking around, visiting a local cafe or restaurant, and taking in local culture.

It’s easy to get burned out with sightseeing on a European cruise, and you’ll probably have a better time fitting in just a few activities each day as opposed to a full, rigid schedule.

Pick the best cruise ship for you

There are ships of all sizes sailing in Europe each summer, each of which has a unique layout, onboard amenities, dining, and entertainment options. 

If you’re looking for the newest and biggest ship, book an Oasis Class cruise ship for your European cruise. Royal Caribbean sends one Oasis Class ship to Europe each summer, and these ships are unparalleled in terms of onboard experience, with countless restaurants, activities, and onboard entertainment.

If you’d prefer a more personal feel and having the ability to visit a wider range of ports, book a cruise on a smaller ship. These ships have far fewer passengers than Royal Caribbean’s big cruise ships, and passengers looking for a cruise experience without the bells and whistles will find that small cruise ships fit their needs for a cruise vacation.

Related: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

The ship isn’t as important as the destination

Unlike on a Caribbean cruise that may have several sea days, European cruises have little time at sea and more time in port. European cruises are more about visiting amazing destinations as opposed to sailing on a specific cruise ship.

After a busy day in port, you’ll find yourself tired and ready to have a nice meal, watch a show, and go to bed. You won’t always have the energy for things like water slides, zip lines, and bumper cars.

Therefore it’s best to pick a European cruise based on itinerary. If you’re dying to visit Ireland but the itinerary is only offered on a smaller ship, don't hesitate to book the cruise.

Figure out the best time to cruise to Europe for your preferences

Royal Caribbean’s European cruise season runs from April to October each year, and each month comes with its own pros and cons.

Spring and fall will bring lower temperatures, fewer crowds, and lower prices, but some itineraries are not available during certain months of the year.

Summer, on the other hand, will be warmer, busier, and more expensive, but this schedule works best for those traveling with kids still in school.

Related: What is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?

European cruise itineraries vary greatly

There are a ton of cruise itineraries offered in Europe, from island hopping Greece to visiting the British isles and Canary Islands. Before you pick a cruise, research which itineraries are available and pick the one that interests you the most.

Here are the main European cruise itineraries you’ll see offered by Royal Caribbean:

• Western Mediterranean
• Greek Isles
• Greek & Adriatic
• Spain & France
• Greece, Israel, and Cyprus
• Norwegian fjords
• British Isles
• Canary Islands
• Northern Europe & Russia (currently paused)

Don’t limit yourself to a Western Mediterranean cruise itinerary

A cruise to the Western Mediterranean is one of the most popular itineraries for those cruising to Europe for the first time. After all, visiting ports like Florence, Barcelona, and Rome are on many passengers’ bucket lists, and these cities are definitely worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

Related: Western Mediterranean cruise guide

Yet there are so many other European cruise itineraries to choose from, so take a look at other itineraries before choosing the one you’ve heard the most about. You may find that a cruise to Norway or Greece interests you more than visiting Spain, so don’t be afraid to do more research before picking a cruise itinerary.

Pick a port-intensive itinerary

If you’re traveling all the way to Europe from North America or beyond, try to find a port-intensive cruise itinerary. You’ll want to make the most of your time in Europe and see as many ports as possible.

Luckily, most European cruise itineraries are already port-intensive, visiting 5-6 ports in one week in addition to an embarkation/disembarkation port. It’s not uncommon to have only one sea day (or no sea days).

While this can make for a busy, tiring cruise, it’s well worth having a port-intensive itinerary to experience the most you can during your short time in Europe.

Ride a bike

Many European countries have excellent bicycle infrastructure, and exploring a new port on bicycle can be a nice way to see the country while creating your own budget-friendly shore excursion.

Cycling will be more pleasant in smaller ports of call or those with safe, car-free bicycle paths, such as La Rochelle, France or Lisbon, Portugal.

If you’re interested in cycling while in port, research which bicycle rental companies are available or if the city has a public bicycle sharing program available.

Consider My Time Dining

European cruises are busy, with many port days running longer than what you’ll find in other regions of the world. It’s not uncommon to see 12 hour port days on the days with long travel time into the city (Rome, Paris, etc.).

If you’re planning your days in port and realize that you won’t always make it back to the ship in time for traditional seating in the Main Dining Room (especially the early seating at 5:30), consider choosing My Time Dining. This way you’ll have more flexibility on when you eat dinner each night and you won’t be worried about missing your reservation.

Related: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

Book your European cruise with a travel agent

Just like our advice for any other Royal Caribbean cruise, be sure to book a European cruise with a travel agent.

A good travel agent will cost you nothing extra and can save you time and money leading up to your cruise. It’s not uncommon for travel agents to offer special rates that you cannot find on the Royal Caribbean website and extra onboard credit.

In addition, travel agents are available to answer any questions you may have and they will be the ones contacting Royal Caribbean with any problems that may arise. Therefore you won’t have to worry about waiting on hold and taking time out of your busy schedule.

Related: 10 secrets Royal Caribbean travel agents wish you knew

Purchase travel insurance

Travel insurance is important to purchase for any cruise as it can provide coverage in case of medical emergencies, travel and airline delays, lost luggage, etc.

It’s always better to have travel insurance and not need it than to realize you don’t have insurance when you need it the most!

Pack chic, casual clothing for port

While you’re certainly able to spend a day in port dressed in a t-shirt from your favorite sports team and gym shorts, you probably want to pack clothing that is more chic (albeit still comfortable).

Related: What to wear on a Mediterranean cruise

Europeans tend to dress up more than North Americans in their day to day lives, and you’ll definitely stick out like a sore thumb wearing clothing like yoga pants and shirts with an American flag pattern.

Consider packing comfortable clothing that looks nicer than what you would wear to the gym. Lightweight sundresses, jumpsuits, and patterned shirts for women can be cute, fun options whereas men may want to pack fitted t-shirts, nice shorts, and short sleeve button ups.

Realize it can get extremely hot

If you’re cruising to Europe in the middle of summer, be prepared for the heat. You’re unlikely to have any issues on a cruise to Norway or Iceland, but will definitely encounter high temperatures in western and southern Europe.

Prepare for the hot temperatures by wearing lightweight clothing, taking rests in the shade whenever possible, and staying hydrated.

If you follow our tip above about not trying to schedule too much in one day, you’ll have plenty of free time to relax in the shade at a restaurant or cafe, giving you time to cool down on the hottest of port days.

Bring comfortable shoes

A European cruise often entails a lot of walking, and you’ll certainly take more steps in Europe than you would laying on a beach in the Caribbean.

Bringing comfortable walking shoes is extremely important on a cruise to Europe to avoid feeling miserable with blisters and sore feet.

While you don’t need to pack the bulkiest tennis shoes for your cruise, be sure to pack shoes you’ve worn many times before to avoid any mishaps.

Bring euros/local currency

While it’s possible to cruise to many places in the Caribbean with only US dollars, you’ll want to have Euros (or other local currency) on a European cruise.

Most ports and establishments will accept card payments, but it’s recommended to carry a small amount of cash with you ($100-150 in local currency) each day in port.

Be flexible

Flexibility is key when it comes to any Royal Caribbean cruise. Not everything always goes to plan, and you may find that your itinerary changes, you miss a port due to weather, have to visit an alternate port due to a medical emergency, etc.

With the right mindset, you can take these changes in stride and make the most out of the new situation. If your mindset is negative, though, you can easily make this “ruin” your cruise experience.

Stay flexible and you’re sure to have an amazing European cruise experience.

Learn a few local phrases

On a European cruise, you’ll most likely be visiting many countries in one week, all of which speak a different language. While English is commonly spoken throughout Europe, it’s helpful to know a few basic phrases in the language of each country you visit.

Knowing how to say phrases like hello, goodbye, thank you, how are you, how much does this cost, etc. can help make your days in port stress-free.

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?

Crew members on Royal Caribbean cruise ships work incredibly hard to provide an excellent vacation, and there are so many examples of times someone's vacation has been improved thanks to the crew.

The more you cruise, the more likely you will run into an exceptional crew member who really cares about an issue or request you have while onboard. Royal Caribbean's internal credo is "Passionate Friendly Committed" and that mantra applies to the crew's attention to guests.

To that point, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted on Facebook this week, "Our crewmembers are undoubtedly the greatest in the industry!" and took the time to thank the hard working crew members.

"Thank you to our entire crew, who are the faces of the unforgettable vacations that our guests expect!"

Mr. Bayley's words a reminder of how much impact a crew member can have on a vacation, and it got me thinking about examples of when crew really step up.

I asked the RoyalCaribbeanBlog community to share examples of times that Royal Caribbean staff have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service for their family while sailing.

On the Harmony in August debarkation day Coastal Kitchen was packed and breakfast coming out delayed. By the time we finished the concierges were done with their 3rd and final escort downstairs. I asked if there were any more and was told no, they were done. No worries, we gathered our things and made our way to wait for elevator. The concierges came out and said they would make an exception and do one more! We were whisked off in lightening speed. Very very kind, in no way did they have to do that. 

Neesa

On Liberty a week ago, we went to Johnny Rocket’s for our autistic son’s 31st birthday.   Our waiter figured it out, discreetly checked with us, and came out with a piece of cake with a candle in it.  He and another waiter sang happy birthday.  I’m not sure where he got the piece of cake, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there at Johnny Rocket’s. 

teddy

My wife loves chocolate croissants. At some point during our 7 nights on Indy in July, I think she mentioned it to the server who puts out the Diamond Lounge breakfast pastries because we hadn't seen any all trip in any of the locations we would normally find them. 

I went up to get coffee from the machine on one of the last mornings and there was a covered plate sitting on the concierge's desk. The server finally came across some chocolate croissants, remembered, and set aside about 5 of them for my wife. Small gesture but definitely above & beyond to me given that we had barely spoken to him. It's not like he was our stateroom attendant and we had gotten to know him over the course of a week.

OCSC Mike

Our stateroom attendant on Allure for our 2 bedroom Grand Suite made sure one in our travel party got the bodywash and conditioner she liked. On every cruise I have been on there is always a crew member who remembers me and what I like.

Ampurp85

Our stateroom attendant on Voyager let us use his hotspot from his international sim card when in port to download some maps because the onboard internet sucked in the Baltics this summer.

MLH

On symphony at Jamie's my then 4 year old wanted mac and cheese. They didn't have on the menu so I asked her to pick something else. Our waiter said not to worry and went to get a bowl of it from Chops!

Marlena

My last cruise there was a bar server on the pool deck that would find me everyday no matter where I lounged and gave me great service the rest of the day! 

Jerseygirl98

I think for me it's any crew member that makes me feel special. I've experienced this with a Head Waiter on Jewel, Waiter team on Freedom and a Bartender on Oasis. They took the time to get to know me/spend time with me, to spoil me with extras and of course make my experience even better.  Maybe that's my love language. I appreciate that more. 

D Alt

I love red velvet cake. My waiter made sure I had it every night. He went to Chops and got it for me. I will never forget his act of kindness.

Sweety

Darla Fox  went above and beyond as a pub singer.  She was engaging and entertaining and understood what her job was.  She made it a point to learn requested songs for our group and would come back later in the cruise and play them for us.  She made an effort to get to know her audience and interacted with them more than I've seen any other entertainer on a cruise ship ever do.  

AshleyDillo

A concierge (Dudley), currently on Mariner, who went way out of his way to ensure there were gluten free appetizers for my wife in the suite lounge.

smokeybandit

Every night for dessert, my youngest wanted chocolate chip cookies for dessert.  I don’t know what it was about those cookies, but he was obsessed with them.  Our server Amilia and another server were assigned to cover the unexpected large party.  Amilia came over to take our dessert order, and of course my youngest orders cookies.  A few minutes later, she comes back to tell us that they’re out of cookies in Coastal Kitchen, but not to worry, she called down the Main Dining Room galley and they’re going to send up some fresh ones. Fifteen minutes now, and Amilia comes flying out of the back, all of our desserts in hand.  She then proceeds to apologize to us for the wait and ran down there herself to get one order of cookies for a 7 year old.  We apologized to her and told her she didn’t have to do that, we could have just run to the Windjammer or the MDR or even ordered them to the cabin from room service!  Without batting an eye, she just matter of factly stated, “There’s no way I was going to let him leave on his last night without his cookies.”  

USCG Teacher

While dining in Giovanni's on Allure back in 2019, the waiter ran over to Chops to grab a specific brand of wine we discovered and enjoyed that was not on hand at Giovanni's. My wife still asks for it by name on every Royal cruise now!

JohnK6404

Were at Izumi's and we asked if they had Yummy Yummy sauce to the waitress, most places have it at their Hibachi.  She went in the back and came back with sauce that one of the cooks made by looking the recipe on his phone, made the meal so much better.  Next we had Jamie's booked before we board, but till it was coming up on the night realized that was the 2nd formal night in the dinning room, which means that was lobster night and would miss it.  Was a little bummed, the waiter always asked if he would see us the next night, but told him we would be going to Jamie's and bummed we were missing lobster night.  We are sitting there our apps come that we ordered and then our main dish comes out.  A few minutes later our waiter comes back with 4 lobster tails and said the head waiter sent these up for us. 

dustfsu

In 2010 the first year Bud Light Lime was available towards the end of the cruise the pub ran out. Our server disappeared after taking our order and he came back maybe 10 minutes later( an unusually long time) walking down the promenade. He appeared a bit sweaty and then apologized.  He had gone to 5 different bars looking for the beer.

constable145

On Oasis and I requested a memory foam topper to go on top of the hard bed.  I was told they had no such thing.  The stateroom attendant inquired of any special requests.  I mentioned having had a memory foam mattress on Oasis in May and how I could not sleep comfortably on the regular mattress.  When we moved into our new cabin my side of the bed was quite comfy, great for my back.   The attendant inquired if all was well and he showed me how he doctored my side of the bed with mattress pads and blankets.  He was one of the nicest attendants I ever met.

Pattycruise

When we have been fortunate/able to eat in Coastal Kitchen on our sailings, there is a black truffle butter pasta that I weep over. It's not even the pasta itself as much as it is the sauce. I said something to our server the first night we were dining there and then, the chefs came out at one point and made their way over to our table and I let them know how much i enjoyed it, that it is my favorite dish in all of Coastal Kitchen and that i could now die happy, having been reunited with my favorite dish on the seas. For the remaining nights of the cruise, I had black truffle butter pasta for dinner.

asquared17

Cruising with my in-laws, there was a night after Coco Cay when the kids were too tired for the Main Dining Room. So our wait staff sent our usual desserts to be delivered by the in-laws. I was wowed!

BowTieBrigade

After getting the first towel animal, I left a cute note saying I wanted to keep it, success in used to royal breaking them down the next morning. For the rest of the 8-night cruise we had towel animals every night. This is our fifth cruise and we've never had animals every night. It's a small thing but coming back every night to see an adorable animal on the bed waiting for me had me smiling every night.

Crimson Cruiser

Daughter, 7 at the time, decided to try the climbing wall.  She did ok but just could not get past one point and was frustrated.  Next time she came to try again, one of the (female) sports staff put on the harness and climbed alongside her, pointing out where to put the foot or where to grab, and eventually literally pushing my daughter's bottom up to help through the challenging spot.

roundabout

I happened to see a chef walking towards Jaime’s on the Anthem right before opening time. I quickly mentioned to her (Chef Sharon) how much I loved the food. She then brought me into the closed restaurant and had her entire kitchen staff come out to meet me. That was an amazing experience to see the smiles and appreciation from those who work ‘back of house’.

BrianB

I did two cruises on Navigator in fairly quick succession this last year.  I apparently spent far too much time in the Schooner Bar because not only did the bartenders remember me, and called me by name, but they remembered how to make the 'Kat-tini' that I had showed them how to make in November.  Wow!

BeachGal

I love the towel animals! And love that Royal committed to continuing delivering them. In an article I read about Royal continuing them they said they deliver them every other night, but the stateroom attendants have discretion to provide them more frequently based on request or "guest enjoyment", so your thank you note likely played into getting them every night.

Jack805

My husband had taken his tux to be altered before we left and somehow his tux shirt did not get back into the suit bag. Out of desperation I asked the concierges if they still have shirts onboard from when they rented them out while knowing that my chance was about .00032343% of that happening.  It turns out that she knew the tailor on the ship and called him. Within 15 minutes he met us in our cabin, measured my husband for a shirt and left.  Within 15 additional minutes he returned with a tux shirt that fit my husband freshly pressed and ready to wear.

AlohaLivin

We mention to our waiter's and our head waiter on our last two cruises, that we love Indian curry dishes.  They have brought us a fantastic dish every night with dinner...Most of the time from the crew mess.

Psycho and Barb

What are some examples of times that Royal Caribbean staff have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service for you or your family?

Cruise ships are massive ocean going vessels packed with lots to do, so how fast can they really go?

To move a ship as large as Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class cruise ships requires a combination of power generation and efficiency. After all, the easier something is to get going, the less energy required overall.

If you have seen a modern cruise ship up close, they are quite large and can move from port to port, and even continent to continent.

Here's everything you may have wondered about cruise ships and their speeds.

How fast can a cruise ship travel?

Depending on the exact ship, cruise ships can get up to a good speed given the need.

Cruise ship speeds are measured in knots, and one knot is 1.15078 miles per hour on land.

Royal Caribbean says its cruise ships go as fast as 18 to 20 knots, depending on the specific ship and itinerary travelled. This is equivalent to 20 to 23 miles per hour on land.

But how fast can they get up to if they needed? During her sea trials in 2016, Harmony of the Seas' top speed was in excess of 25 knots, making her the fastest cruise ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet at the time.

The reality is ships never approach their top speed because it's just not good for fuel consumption.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain explained that it makes more sense to cruise at a lower speed, "We would never go at that speed."

"The real objective is to go 18 or 19 knots much more efficiently, (and) the thing that makes it able to do that also makes it faster."

According to Fain, the fastest speed that other Royal Caribbean ships is under 25 knots.

In order to measure a ship's top speed, they calculate an average that takes into consideration going with and against the waves in the ocean. The weather plays a major role in how fast a ship could travel, just like how an airplane's top speed can depend on how strong of a tail or headwind it encounters.

Similarly, a ship's displacement, condition of the hull and propeller, or draft can all factor into a ship's top speed.

How cruise ships can go faster

Looking at a massive cruise ship, it looks to be challenge to move the ships at almost any normal speed, so how do they do it?

The secret in managing speed versus fuel efficiency is in the ship's engineering.

Over the years, cruise ship design has seen improvements of the hull design and other design tweaks meant to allow the ship to move at faster speeds. As an example, Harmony of the Seas is 20% more efficient than Oasis or Allure of the Seas, thanks to improvements in hydrodynamic design, a new type of engine and product enhancements

One example of using science to help ships be faster is via the installation of an air bubble system under the hull. Tiny bubbles stick to the bottom of the ship's hull so the ship literally is sailing on a cushion of air.

This air lubrication system allows the ship to float on air, with millions of tiny bubbles created under the hull to reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. 

Essentially, every improvement means cruise ships can go faster with the same fuel use or the same speed with less energy.

What is the fastest cruise ship in the world?

Because Royal Caribbean cruise ships are meant to be pleasure vessel (as opposed to ocean liners that are designed to get passengers from one port to another), speed is not a major objective for these ships.

But fast speeds are still needed in the case of an onboard emergency, or to outrun bad weather.

By most accounts, the fastest ship is/was Cunard's Queen Mary 2, with a top speed of 30 knots, or 35 mph.  She was just a tad slower than sister vessel Queen Elizabeth 2, which ad a reported top speed of 32 knots.

Instead of the diesel-electric configuration found on many ships, Queen Mary 2 uses an integrated electric propulsion to achieve her faster-than-average speeds.

Beyond those Cunard ships, many contemporary cruise ships clock in right around Harmony of the Seas' top speed of around 25 knots.

Why do cruise ships travel at a slower speed?

Not only do cruise ships rarely travel at their fastest speed, but they often go much slower.

There can be many reasons why a cruise ship slows down, and it's not just to save fuel. Certainly fuel consumption can play a major role in determining what speed to travel at, but other conditions can dictate a slower speed.

One common reason is a short distance between ports of call. Cruise ships are scheduled to arrive in port at a certain time, and each hour they spend in port costs the company money in docking fees. As a result, a ship will reduce speed so they arrive exactly at the time they are scheduled to dock, and not earlier.

On sea days, it is common for a ship to slow down to follow favorable weather so passengers can enjoy the sunshine. This is especially the case when the distance to the next port is short.

Sometimes, the Captain will even slow a ship down to everyone can see a sunset or other passing scenery.

In some places around the world, government regulations require cruise ships to travel at a slow speed. 

Of all the mistakes a first-time cruiser could make, some are very easy to avoid because they are likely the easiest to identify as a pitfall.

I've shared lots of advice on how to avoid cruise mistakes over the years and most of these mistakes are the sort of problems new cruisers would have no idea exist until it's too late.

But there are plenty of mistakes that don't require years of cruise experience to identify as a fault.

I've certainly overlooked these mistakes as a given, but it's important to remember that plenty of people new to cruises try this sort of vacation every day, which means it's important to cover these topics too.

Consider this a refresher for what not to do in order to cover all your bases and not succumb to an easy first-time cruiser mistake.

Not knowing what time to be on the ship

The last thing you want to do is be late and your cruise ship to leave you behind. To that point, Royal Caribbean posts the time you need to be on the ship in multiple places and communicates it over the public address system.

To begin with, you'll need to be onboard the ship on the first day of the cruise (known as embarkation day) by a certain time in order to make the cruise.

Whether your travel plans to get you to the cruise ship are delayed, or you simply get busy in town, all passengers need to be onboard the ship by the all aboard time in order to be admitted to the cruise.

Often most passengers are competing to get the earliest check-in time for their cruise, but you'd be surprised how many guests get onboard in the final hour before the ship's gangway is disconnected.

The exact time you must be onboard by depends on the itinerary, but it's usually in the mid to late afternoon.

Similarly, you'll need to be back on the ship by a certain time in each port of call your cruise ship visits during your voyage.

Cruise ships remain docked in a port for a set amount of time and must leave by a certain time to ensure they can stick the planned schedule.

It's quite easy to avoid making this mistake, because times are posted in multiple places.

On the first day of the cruise, pick a time for check-in via the Royal Caribbean app and then get to the terminal at that time. It's okay if you're a little late (life happens), but there is a finite amount of time to get to the terminal before they will deny you boarding because the ship needs to leave.

On days your ship is in port, the all-aboard time is posted in the Cruise Compass, Royal Caribbean app, and signs near the gangway as you disembark.

Always triple-check whether the all-aboard time is based on the ship's clock or the local time.

Read more: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

Picking a cruise ship that doesn't have the activity you want onboard

If you're disappointed in the cruise ship you're sailing on because it doesn't have a water slide, show, or activity you really wanted to do, that issue could have been avoided had you looked up information about the ship before booking.

Royal Caribbean has a fleet of over 20 cruise ships, and they are not all the same.

While the television commercials you see will show off a variety of fun things to do, these activities are not on every ship. 

You don't need to spend hours researching to know what each ship offers. Understanding what features a ship has (and doesn't have) is an easy way to avoid regret later.

• Royal Caribbean ship classes guide & explanation
• See how Royal Caribbean ships stack up by size
• 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?

Sunburn

After one day on a cruise, you'll start noticing a few people on your cruise walking around with that beet red look to them, and it could have easily been avoided.

Getting a sunburn is never fun, and on a cruise in the tropics, it's quite easy because of how strong the sun is in that part of the world.

When you're on vacation, it's easy to get caught up in the euphoria of the excitement that comes with time away from it all, but you will absolutely regret looking like a lobster later when the after-effects of the sunburn start to kick in.

Nothing ruins your beautiful cruise photos like a giant red sun burn, not to mention how painful it can be to the person who has it.

Be sure to not only pack sunscreen, but apply it early and often. 

Read more: 8 cruise ship tips from a former employee

Not putting phone into airplane mode

When you leave the country, your cell phone goes into roaming mode and that can be incredibly costly.

On a Royal Caribbean ship, you are outside your cell phone company's service area and that is what the cell phone industry refers to as "roaming."  Instead of using your cell provider's network, you use someone else's cell phone tower and network.

In simple terms, this means you'll be charged an arm and a leg to get cell phone access outside the United States.

Instead, just put your phone into airplane mode, which deactivates your phone's cellular antenna.

You can still use the phone while in airplane mode to connect to wifi, take photos, or any of your apps.

Read more: How to use your cell phone on a Royal Caribbean cruise (and not come home to a big bill)

Not knowing about activities

Missing out on a fun activity can be a real downer while on a cruise.

Karaoke, bingo, shows, and demonstrations are available every day of your cruise, but it's up to you to know when it's happening.

It's quite common to hear someone tell someone else about a really fun event they attended and hear the other person profess disdain for being unaware it was happening.

Moreover, some events only happen once onboard. Certain activities may only be offered once or twice, so you'll need to be aware of the schedule to avoid missing out.

All the events of the cruise are listed in the Cruise Compass as well as the Royal Caribbean app. It's a good idea to review the schedule each evening for the following day to ensure you wake up in time for anything you have your heart set on doing. You can even set reminders in the Royal Caribbean app by adding the event to "My Calendar".

It contains important information like the hourly activities, the weather, special happenings, the drink of the day, and information on the ports. 

Read more: 10 Tips to save you time on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Carrying your wallet around onboard

This tip is just about comfort more than anything else, but I really don't know why people carry their wallets around the ship once they are able to get into their staterooms.

Each cabin has a safe you can put valuables, such as a wallet, into to avoid theft or losing it.

In short, there's no reason to have a wallet on you while you're on the ship. Royal Caribbean ships are cashless, so all transactions are done via the SeaPass card. You won't need credit cards or identification in the regular flow of the day.

There are still a few times cash is needed, such as in the casino or when tipping a waiter, but there's less risk in carrying a wad of cash in your pocket rather than the entire content of your wallet.

Considering most men's wallets look more like George Costanza's wallet than a svelte money clip, you'll feel far more at ease with the wallet safely stowed away in the safe.

Packing prohibited items

There's a fairly long list of things you can't bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and there's always plenty of people who try to bring them anyway.

On embarkation day, security will scan every piece of luggage coming onboard and if they find something you shouldn't have, they will hold your bag.

This means your luggage wont be delivered to your cabin and you'll have to wait several more hours for security to contact you. At that point you'll need to meet security and watch them confiscate the prohibited item until the end of the cruise.

Read more: What can you not bring on a cruise

It's very easy to avoid this issue by reviewing the prohibited items before you start packing for your cruise.

Not double-checking you have travel documents before leaving home

If you forget to pack underwear, you can buy more at near the port, but if you forget your travel documents, you won't be able to go on the cruise at all.

Due to government regulations, you absolutely need to have the proper travel documents with you in order to cruise.

Make sure your passport, birth certificates, and other forms of identification are on your cruise packing list. Then when it's time to leave your house, check again that those documents are with you in the right bag.

One more tip is to keep all your travel documents with you during the cruise ship boarding process. Do not pack these items in the luggage you give the porters.

Not difference between port and starboard

There's a fair amount of cruise ship lingo, but two terms you should figure out quickly to make navigation easier for yourself.

When facing the front of the ship, port is the left side and starboard is the right.

An easy trick to remember this is "port" and "left" are both four letter words.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cruise ship term glossary

Planning a Royal Caribbean 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
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Royal Caribbean has not divulged when its new Starlink internet service will become available, but it's clear work is underway on a number of ships to install Starlink.

Ever since Royal Caribbean announced it would switch its ship-based internet service to SpaceX's Starlink service last month, cruise fans have been eager to know when the service might begin.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reached out to Royal Caribbean for a schedule of when each ship would get the new service along with a start date for service, but the cruise line did not provide any such schedule.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson did not provide a timeline other than saying, "the Starlink technology rollout will start immediately across all Royal Caribbean International ships."

Royal Caribbean Group promised to get Starlink to ships across all three Royal Caribbean Group brands by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

In the meantime, cruise ship passengers are seeing Starlink installation crews around many ships laying the foundation for the new service to start up.

We reported at the beginning of September seeing Starlink added to Independence of the Seas, although the service has not yet become operational as of the writing of this article.

According to readers, more ships are getting work done with teams onboard.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Michael Fenstermaker shared a photo from Allure of the Seas this week.

"There is a team of contractors aboard the Allure of the Seas planning the routing for the installation of cables to support the Starlink antennas," he said in his report.

Wayne Henderson is sailing on Enchantment of the Seas and also spotted a crew onboard.

"I'm currently on Enchantment in Halifax and they are installing the receivers on the forward section," Mr. Henderson said via email.

Over on Liberty of the Seas, Karen Fraser shared photos of the crew installing satellite receivers on that ship.

When will Starlink become available?

The short answer is no one really knows yet outside of Royal Caribbean when Starlink will become available on cruise ships, but the rumor mill has plenty of thoughts.

"They are already installed on the aft section and I was told it'll be operational in about 3 to 4 weeks," is what Mr. Henderson heard on Enchantment of the Seas.

Another reader, Jeff Robinson, is on Independence of the Seas and heard it will be a few more weeks, "Voom is on its last month of contract and when the month is over, Starlink."

Why Starlink on cruise ships matters

If having interenet access on a cruise vacation doesn't get you excited, you might be in the minority.

Just like anywhere on land, having reliable and fast internet access has become a way of life and not just for those looking to do some work while at sea.

Society has become more reliant than ever on having internet access, and on a cruise ship, the internet is the way to stay in contact with the outside world.

Whether texting or calling family, checking on the latest updates on social media, or tracking sports, casual internet use is a major need for a lot of travelers.

And then there's the contingent of vacationers who do have a need to keep up with work while on vacation, or prefer to work remotely from somewhere else.

Up until now, Royal Caribbean's internet service had been hit or miss, depending on the ship you sailed on and the region of the world you visited. All but the newest ships had mediocre to poor internet speeds, and even the new ship internet access was generally slower than internet access on land.

What can guests expect?

Royal Caribbean did not divulge technical details about the Starlink service onboard, such as what kind of speeds guests can expect or how much bandwidth each ship will receive. 

They did say passengers should expect to use streaming services and make video calls once deployed.

Another big question is price.

No pricing has been shared for Starlink, and it remains unknown what price changes, if any, will occur as a result of the switch to Starlink.

When Royal Caribbean tested Starlink on Freedom of the Seas earlier this summer, they did not alter the prices during the trial period.

Read more: I tried Elon Musk's Starlink internet on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Many readers seem to think prices will go up as a result of the upgrade, but the company has not commented on pricing.

A lot of cruise ship passengers will drive to their port of embarkation, whether with their own vehicle or in a ride share and you might be wondering how to get there.

Cruise ship terminals are usually well-marked and have a reasonable amount of signage to indicate which exit they are located at, but it can be confusing which one is the right terminal.

Even in this age of mobile apps providing GPS directions to just about anywhere, if you don't pinpoint the right spot, you may end up driving in the wrong direction.

In an effort to provide a simple list of cruise ship terminals and associated parking information, here is what you should know about where to go at each of the major cruise ports Royal Caribbean sails from in the United States and what the parking situation is like at each port.

Miami

PortMiami has two possible cruise terminals Royal Caribbean sails from: Terminals A and G, but you'll probably end up sailing from Terminal A.

In fact, Oasis Class ships always sail from Terminal A.

Address

Terminal A: 2000 N Cruise Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

Terminal G: 1103 N Cruise Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

Driving Directions

From Miami International Airport (7 miles):

• Via Port Tunnel: Take 836 East through the toll. 
• Continue onto FL836 E/I-395 E, then keep right to merge onto MacArthur Causeway.  
• Use the left 2 lanes to take the exit towards Port of Miami Tunnel and follow the signs to your pier terminal. 

• Via Port Bridge: Take 836 East through the toll.    
• Exit at US1 N.E. 2nd Avenue/Biscayne Boulevard, proceed straight through one light, and then turn right at the second light onto Biscayne Boulevard (US1). 
• Stay in your left-hand lane and turn left into the Port of Miami on N.E. 5th Street. 
• Drive across the bridge and follow signs to your pier terminal.    

From Ft. Lauderdale International (26 miles):

• Via Port Tunnel: Take I-95 South to Exit 2D toward I-395 E/Miami Beach. 
• Merge onto MacArthur Causeway. 
• Use the left 2 lanes to take the exit towards Port of Miami Tunnel and follow the signs for your pier terminal.

• Via Port Bridge: Take I-95 South to Exit 3B, N.W. 8th Street. 
• Turn left onto 5th Street and continue straight until you reach the Port of Miami entrance. 
• Drive across the bridge and follow signs to your pier terminal. 

Parking Costs

Royal Caribbean Terminal A Garage rates as of January 15, 2022:

• For sailings 6 days or more – the rate will remain the same - $25 per night
• For sailings 5 nights or less – the new rate will be $28 per night

Other garages and lots:

• Long term (overnight or greater), per vehicle, per space, per day or fraction of $22

Fort Lauderdale

The cruise terminals in Fort Lauderdale are known as Port Everglades, and Royal Caribbean has two terminals it sails from: Terminal 18 and Terminal 29. Generally, most ships sail from Terminal 18.

Passengers should follow the port’s digital signage upon arrival to guide them to the correct terminal.

Address

Terminal 18: 1901 SE 19th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Terminal 29: Port Everglades Terminal 29, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Driving Directions

From Fort Lauderdale International Airport (5 miles):

• Exit the airport and follow signs for I-595 East/Port Everglades. Continue to the last exit on I-595 East and follow the signs to Port Everglades.
• This will automatically take you to the Port Everglades security entrance.
• From there, follow the directional signs for your designated ship's pier terminal.

From Miami International Airport (30 miles):

• Take 836 East to I-95 North.
• Exit I-95 North at 595 East.
• Follow 595 to the end; then follow the Port Everglades signs.

Parking Costs

Rates are $15 USD per day for the regular vehicles and $19 for the oversized vehicles (rates subject to change without notice by the Port Authority).

Orlando

Port Canaveral is the name of the port area that Royal Caribbean markets as Orlando, and it's where you'll find ships sailing primarily out of Terminal 1.

When there are multiple ships, Royal Caribbean will use other terminals as well, such as Terminal 5.

Address

Terminal 1: 9050 Discovery Rd, Port Canaveral, FL 32920

Terminal 5: 9245 Charles M Rowland Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Driving Directions

From Orlando International Airport (MCO):
Approximately 45 minutes west of Port Canaveral.

• Take the North exit from the airport, staying to the right on SR 528 East.
• Take SR 528 East all the way to Port Canaveral.
• Upon approaching the port area, follow the signs indicating Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals B Side.

Parking Costs

• 3 Nights/4 Days - $68.00
• 4 Nights/5 Days - $85.00
• 5 Nights/6 Days - $102.00
• 6 Nights/7 Days - $119.00
• 7 Nights/8 Days - $136.00
• 8 Nights/9 Days - $153.00

Galveston

Royal Caribbean's home port in Texas is in the coastal island of Galveston, where Royal Caribbean is transitioning to a new cruise terminal in November 2022.

Address

Cruise Terminal 2: 2702 Harborside Dr, Galveston, TX 77550

New cruise terminal: 1028 Harborside Dr, Galveston, TX 77550

Driving Directions

From Hobby (HOU) Airport:

• Turn right onto Eastex FRWY/US-59
• Merge onto US-59 S via the ramp- on the left.
• Take I-45 south to Exit 1C, and turn left (east) onto Harborside Drive/Hwy 275.
• Continue about 4.7 miles to Kempner / 22nd street (which is the street leading into the Cruise Ship Terminal entrance), and turn left.
• The are adjacent to the terminal is for loading/unloading luggage curbside only.

From George Bush International Airport (IAH):

• Exit the airport and turn right onto Eastex FRWY/US-59.
• Merge onto US-59 S via the ramp- on the left.
• Take I-45 south to Exit 1C, and turn left (east) onto Harborside Drive/Hwy 275.
• Continue about 4.7 miles to Kempner / 22nd street (which is the street leading into the Cruise Ship Terminal entrance), and turn left.
• The are adjacent to the terminal is for loading/unloading luggage curbside only.

Parking Costs

There are three parking lots available and can be booked in advance directly from the Port of Galveston’s website.

There are three lots at Cruise Terminal 3: the North Lot, South Lot, and Pier 14 Lot.

Cape Liberty, New Jersey

Unlike other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean sails out of New Jersey instead of New York City. The good news is it's easier to get to without city traffic.

Cape Liberty is in the Port of Bayonne, just a few minutes from Newark International Airport.

There is just one cruise terminal in Cape Liberty, so it's easy to find where to go.

Address

4 Port Terminal Blvd, Bayonne, NJ 07002

Driving Directions

From Newark International Airport (9 miles):

• Exit the airport, following signs to the NJ Turnpike.
• Take the NJ Turnpike to exit 14A.
• Pay toll at exit and continue straight (after traffic light onto bridge) onto Route 440.
• Follow signs for Route 440 South.
• Continue on Route 440 South to Port Terminal Blvd.
• Turn left at Port Terminal Blvd. (there is a traffic light at the intersection).
• This is the entrance for the "Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor" or the old "Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne."
• Continue straight and approach the guard gate.
• Continue past the guard gate and follow the signs to the cruise terminal.

From NJ Turnpike north or south:

• Exit the airport, following signs to the NJ Turnpike.
• Take the NJ Turnpike to exit 14A.
• Pay toll at exit and continue straight (after traffic light onto bridge) onto Route 440.
• Follow signs for Route 440 South.
• Continue on Route 440 South to Port Terminal Blvd.
• Turn left at Port Terminal Blvd. (there is a traffic light at the intersection).
• This is the entrance for the "Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor" or the old "Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne."
• Continue straight and approach the guard gate.
• Continue past the guard gate and follow the signs to the cruise terminal.

Parking Costs

Parking fees are $25 per day including all taxes for the parking garage at the terminal.

Oversized vehicles, such as campers and RV’s, that occupy more than one space, will be charged double the normal rate.

The height restriction of the garage is 7’ 4”. There is an open lot adjacent to the parking garage to accommodate vehicles with height restrictions.

Tampa

Cruises from Tampa have two possible terminals your ship could sail from: Terminal 2 or Terminal 3.

Luckily, both terminals are adjacent to each other.

Address

Terminal 2: 651 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602

Terminal 3: 815 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602

Driving Directions

From Tampa International Airport (10 miles):

• Exit the Airport and follow signs to I-275 North.
• I-275 merges with I-4 East.
• Take I-4 East to Exit #1 (Ybor City).
• Go south on 21st Street, turn right on Adamo Drive (Hwy 60).
• Turnleft (south) on Channelside Drive.
• Cruise Terminal 3 main entrance is approximately 5 blocks South on Channelside Drive.
• Entrance is on the left at Cumberland Street.
• In the event of a last minute change in pier assignments, signage will indicate the assigned terminal for your particular ship.

Parking Costs

Parking will cost $15 Per Day. 

A valet option has a one time fee of $20 on top of the $15 daily rate. 

Baltimore

Cruises from Baltimore offer a convenient departure for the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States from the South Locust Point Cruise Terminal.

Address

South Locust Point Cruise Terminal: 2001 E McComas St, Baltimore, MD 21230

Driving Directions

Traveling from the south:

• Follow I-95 North to Exit 55, Key Highway.
• From the ramp, stay straight on East McComas Street.
• The South Locust Point Cruise Terminal's entrance is on the right.

Traveling from the north:

• Follow I-95 South through the Ft. McHenry Tunnel, be sure to be in the right lane when going through the tunnel.
• Take Exit 55, Key Highway.
• Turn left at the traffic light onto East McComas Street.
• Follow the signs to the South Locust Point Cruise Terminal's entrance on the right.

Parking Costs

Parking is approximately $15.00 per night.

Seattle

Royal Caribbean sails from Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91 in Seattle.

Address

2001 W Garfield St, Seattle, WA 98119

Driving Directions

From I-5 South:

• Head north on I-5 and follow signs to the Mercer Street Exit
• Take exit 167 (left-side off-ramp) to Mercer Street
• Take a right turn on to Fairview Avenue North (400 feet)
• Take a left turn on Valley Street (0.18 miles)
• Valley Street bends to the left and becomes Broad Street (0.75 miles)
• Turn right to Denny Way (0.32 miles)
• Bend right to Western Avenue (0.22 miles)
• Western joins Elliott Avenue West (1.18 miles)
• Follow signs to Magnolia Bridge
• Turn right at 14th Ave West (signal light intersection) (0.14 miles)
• Stay to the right and follow ramp joining the Magnolia Bridge (West Garfield Street) (0.35 miles)
• Exit right. Follow signs to Smith Cove Park (0.55 miles) and Cruise Terminal
• Turn right at bottom of ramp and follow signs for cruise terminal parking or cruise terminal

From I-5 North:

• Head south on I-5 and follow the signs to the Mercer Street Exit
• Take exit 167 to Mercer Street (right-hand off-ramp)
• Take a right turn on to Fairview Avenue North ( 400 feet)
• Take a left turn on Valley Street (0.18 miles)
• Valley Street bends  to the left and becomes Broad Street (0.75 miles)
• Turn right to Denny Way (0.32 miles)
• Bend right to Western Avenue  (0.22 miles)
• Western joins Elliott Avenue West (1.18 miles)
• Follow signs to Magnolia Bridge
• Turn right at 14th Ave West (signal light intersection)  (0.14 miles)
• Stay to the right and follow ramp joining the Magnolia Bridge (West Garfield Street)  (0.35 miles)
• Exit right.  Follow signs to “Smith Cove Park” (0.55 miles) and Cruise Terminal
• Turn right at bottom of ramp and follow signs for cruise terminal parking or cruise terminal

Parking Costs

General parking is available for $27 per day. Book online at Republic Parking Northwest.

Boston

Royal Caribbean offers seasonal cruises from Boston to Canada and New England from the Raymond L. Flynn Black Falcon Cruise Terminal.

Address

1 Black Falcon Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Directions

From Logan International Airport (4 miles):

• When exiting Logan Airport, follow signs to enter the Ted Williams Tunnel (toll)
• Take Exit #25 (South Boston) and stay in the right lane
• Turn right onto Congress Street and turn left onto B Street
• At the next signal, turn right onto Seaport Boulevard (changes to Northern Avenue)
• At the end of Northern Avenue, turn right on Tide Street and make an immediate left onto Drydock Avenue
• Follow Drydock Avenue and turn right on Black Falcon Avenue
• There will be signs directing you to ship locations as well as police officers to assist

Parking Costs

Massport offers Cruise Parking at 492 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 (Lot D3). Parking arrangements must be made online prior to arrival here.

Seward, Alaska

If you happen to do an Alaska open-jaw sailing from Seward, Alaska down to Vancouver, here's what to know when it comes to getting to the cruise ship terminal.

Address

Port of Seward
Alaska Railroad Dock
Seward, AK 99664

Directions

From Anchorage Airport (130 miles):

• Take International Airport Road east until you reach Minnesota Drive.
• Take a right on Minnesota Drive and follow the signs to Seward Highway South.
• Once on Seward Highway, you’ll travel approximately 130 miles to Seward.
• Once in Seward, follow the signs to the Alaska Railroad Dock.
• You will also be able to see the ship terminal from the highway on your left as you enter Seward.
• For directions to the Hospitality Center in Anchorage please call (907) 278-8070.

Parking Costs

There is no parking at the terminal. You'll need to contact the City of Seward for parking information.

New Orleans

Royal Caribbean sails from Terminal 2 in New Orleans.

Address

920 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130

Directions

For guests being dropped off, not parking:

• Take I-10 East toward New Orleans.
• Follow signs for Westbank (Business 90) as you approach downtown.
• Exit at Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St. exit.
• Continue to Convention Center Blvd.
• Right on Convention Center Blvd.
• Continue to Henderson St.
• Left on Henderson St.
• Continue to Port of New Orleans Place.
• Left on Port of New Orleans Place to cruise terminals.

To pier parking facility for Julia Street Cruise Ship Terminal #2 from Interstate 10 east to Exit 11C:

• Stay on I-10 all the way into the city.
• From the left lane, take exit 234C, Business 90 West/Westbank/Claiborne Ave.
• Stay left and take the Business 90 West/Westbank exit.
• Continue to Exit 11C.
• Exit 11C Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St.
• Continue straight ahead in the left lane to Convention Center Blvd.
• Turn left on Convention Center Blvd.
• Continue past two traffic lights and cross the intersection for Julia Street.
• Entrance to parking lot will be on the right directly after Julia Street.
• Parking facility located directly next to the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.

To pier parking facility for Julia Street Cruise Ship Terminal #2 from Interstate 10 west to Exit 11C:

• After passing the Carrollton Ave. exit, take Exit 234A, 90/Superdome, Claiborne Ave., Westbank.
• Stay in one of the left two lanes, under the "Business 90 West / Westbank" sign.
• Take the Business 90 West/Westbank exit.
• Continue to Exit 11C.
• Exit 11C Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St.
• Continue straight ahead in the left lane to Convention Center Blvd.
• Turn left on Convention Center Blvd.
• Continue past two traffic lights and cross the intersection for Julia Street.
• Entrance to parking lot will be on the right directly after Julia Street.
• Parking facility located directly next to the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.

Parking Costs

The parking lot is a within a block of the terminal, and shuttle service is provided if needed. P

Parking rates: 4 day parking is $90; 5 days parking is $110; 7 days parking is $150.

Los Angeles

If your Royal Caribbean is sailing from Los Angeles, that means the terminal will be at the San Pedro World Cruise Terminal.

Address

100 Swinford St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Directions

From Los Angeles International Airport

• Take the 110 Freeway South towards San Pedro.
• Exit at Harbor Boulevard (same exit as the Vincent Thomas Bridge).
• Stay to the right - Harbor Boulevard (Do not go over the bridge.)
• At the light, cross over the main road, turning right into the "World Cruise Terminal."
• Follow the directions to parking and passenger drop-off.

Parking Costs

Parking is available for $20 a day. 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

When your Royal Caribbean cruise begins in San Juan, you will sail out of the Pan American cruise terminal, which is across the bay from Old San Juan.

Address

FW52+9V6, Calle Muelle, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico

Directions

From Luis Munoz Marin International Airport

• Exit the Airport to San Juan taking the middle lane on Baldorioty Ave.
• This avenue will take you to New and Old San Juan.
• Once you are at the end of the avenue you will find a traffic light.
• On the right you will see the Condado Lagoon and on your left you will see the Yacht Club.
• This is a one-way road.
• Stay in the left lane and follow the signs directing to San Juan or the Convention Centre.
• Keep to your left and make a U-turn whenever possible.
• After the turn, remain on the right hand side and continue forward past the Yacht Club, Sizzlers Restaurant.
• At the corner make a right, continue to the traffic light.
• Make a right hand turn at the next right.
• Follow the road to the entrance of the pier.

Parking costs

No parking available at the terminal. You'll need to find somewhere else to park and then take a taxi or shuttle to the terminal.