Royal Caribbean Blog

If you’re dreaming of visiting the gorgeous landscapes and fjords of Alaska on a Royal Caribbean cruise but you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be happy to learn that there are plenty of ways to save money on an Alaska cruise.

Flexibility is key when planning an Alaska cruise on a budget. If you don’t mind visiting one port over another, the departure port, the month you sail, or the type of cabin you book, you can easily find a way to visit the Last Frontier without breaking the bank.

From choosing to cruise in shoulder season to booking the cheapest stateroom, here are our top tips for taking an Alaska cruise on a budget.

Sail during the off-season

More often than not, the best way to save money on an Alaska cruise is to sail during the shoulder season. Alaska’s cruise season runs from late April through September each year, with the busiest season in June, July, and August.

Booking a cruise in the shoulder season months of April, May, and September can often lead to fantastic discounts compared to sailing in the middle of summer. An Alaska cruise in May, for example, can sometimes be half the price of cruising in July.

Related: When is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

There are, of course, pros and cons to sailing during the off-season compared to peak season. While you’ll encounter fewer crowds and lower prices in shoulder season, you might also experience rougher seas, more rain, less daylight, and colder temperatures.

It’s never a good idea to book a cruise based solely on price, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before heading to Alaska in shoulder season:

• What it’s like to go on an Alaska cruise at the end of the season
• What it’s like to go on an Alaska cruise in the early season

Book an interior cabin

One of the best ways to save money not just on an Alaska cruise, but any cruise, is to book an interior stateroom. Interior staterooms can be priced hundreds of dollars cheaper per person than ocean view or balcony cabins, making for great savings for those on a budget.

Related: Why you should book a cruise ship inside room

Royal Caribbean’s interior staterooms offer most of the same amenities as higher-category cabins. You’ll find everything you need to keep comfortable in an interior cabin, with a comfy bed, couch or chair, television, vanity, dresser, closet, and private bathroom.

While interior cabins may not come with a private balcony, there are plenty of public areas onboard to watch Alaska’s scenery pass by during your sailing.

If you want to save even more money on an Alaska cruise, book a guarantee interior cabin. While you won’t be able to pick the exact location of your room when booking a guarantee interior cabin, you can save a bit more money on your cruise fare.

Related: Should I book a guarantee stateroom on a cruise?

Buy lightly-used winter weather gear

Packing for an Alaska cruise involves more research and planning than packing for a summer cruise to warm weather destinations. From water-resistant clothing to base layers, jackets, sweaters, and pants, there’s a lot to remember to ensure you remain warm and comfortable throughout your time in Alaska.

Before breaking the bank on new outfits, head to local thrift stores or check websites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay for lightly-used clothing. You can often find nice name brand clothing at a fraction of the price of buying new, which is extremely helpful for those on tight budgets.

Related: What should you bring on an Alaska cruise?

Do free or cheap activities in port

Once you’ve booked an Alaska cruise and begin searching for shore excursions, you might have sticker shock. Alaska excursions are often quite expensive, with many tours costing well over $100. Some tours, like helicopter excursions, might cost over $400!

Instead of booking shore excursions in each Alaska cruise port, do some research on what activities are available at little to no extra cost in each town.

All Alaska cruise ports have a walkable town center, where you’ll find landmarks, a scenic waterfront, restaurants, museums, shops, hiking trails, and more. Many of these activities come with no extra cost yet still provide an insightful look into Alaska’s history, nature, and culture.

Read through our guides on what to do in Alaska cruise ports to plan your budget-friendly days off the ship:

• Local’s guide of what to do in Juneau, Alaska
• Local’s guide of what to do in Skagway, Alaska
• Local’s guide of what to do in Sitka, Alaska
• Local’s guide of places to visit in Ketchikan, Alaska

Consider your departure port

When browsing Royal Caribbean’s website for cruises to Alaska, you’ll find sailings departing from both Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia.

If you have to fly to the cruise departure port, it’s a good idea to check for typical flight prices and schedules to both Seattle and Vancouver before booking one cruise over another.

You don’t want to book an Alaska cruise departing from Vancouver because it is $100 cheaper per person only to find out that flying to Vancouver will cost $300 more per person than flying to Seattle!

This is extremely important if you’re considering booking a more port-intensive, one-way cruise to Alaska. These often come with cheaper prices, but you’ll have to factor in the cost of one-way flights to or from Vancouver and Anchorage, Alaska.

Do a little research on travel costs and flight schedules prior to booking your cruise to avoid any unexpected costs later on.

Related: How much does an Alaska cruise cost?

Skip specialty dining and drink packages

While Royal Caribbean ships offer incredible specialty dining venues, with everything from hibachi to Italian and a steakhouse, there are more than enough complimentary dining venues to choose from on a cruise. You can easily save $100-200 by dining only at complimentary venues, like the Main Dining Room and Windjammer, instead of specialty restaurants.

Related: Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Additionally, consider not purchasing a beverage package when cruising to Alaska on a budget. Royal Caribbean’s deluxe beverage packages can be priced as high as $80+ per person, per day, and this can drastically increase the price of a 7-night Alaska cruise.

Instead of buying a drink package, opt to enjoy a few drinks in port each day at historic saloons. Not only will drinks be cheaper on land compared to on the ship, but you’ll get a taste of Alaska’s local culture in the process.

Book your cruise far in advance

While it’s possible to find a last-minute cruise deal to Alaska, this is usually the exception and not the norm. Therefore, once you know you want to visit Alaska, book the cruise as soon as possible.

Royal Caribbean usually releases Alaska cruise itineraries in November for the season to come in two years. This is when you’ll often find the lowest prices on cruise fare.

Related: How far in advance to book an Alaska cruise

Even if you book an Alaska cruise for $2000, for example, and the price later lowers to $1500, you can reprice your cruise and save the $500 provided it is before the sailing’s final payment date. To reprice your cruise, call Royal Caribbean or speak to your travel agent to receive the price difference.

Long story short: there’s no harm in booking a cruise earlier rather than later so you’re able to lock-in the lowest price!

Don’t miss out because of a tight budget

Our last tip for taking an Alaska cruise on a budget is to not be too strict with yourself while onboard and in port. An Alaska cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation for many cruisers, and there are certain aspects of the vacation where you may want to splurge.

If visiting Mendenhall Glacier is on your bucket list, don’t skip visiting just to save a few dollars. Likewise, if tasting freshly-caught salmon while in port is important to you, budget $20 for a meal instead of heading back to the ship for lunch.

While keeping to your budget is important, don’t restrict yourself too much that you end up regretting not trying something later on.

Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas is nearing completion.

One of the few projects to continue work during the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021 was an expansion of Royal Caribbean's presence in Galveston. 

A construction update shared by the cruise line indicates they are 75% complete with construction.

The $125 million, 161,000-square-foot cruise terminal will cement the company's presence in the Texas cruise market for decades, not only with a larger building, but with increased capacity as well.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted on Facebook, "Texas will soon be able to welcome our Oasis Class ships – some of the largest in the world! And we’re kicking off with Allure of the Seas!"

The first Allure of the Seas sailing is scheduled on November 13, 2022 to coincide with the opening of Terminal 3 cruise terminal.

Not only can Terminal 3 handle Oasis Class ships, it will also be able to accommodate Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class ships.

Allure will sail 7-night Western Caribbean cruises to destinations like Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Roatan, Honduras.

Inside the terminal

New cruise terminals are more than just a place to check-in and board your cruise. With the new building comes a smoother process, as well as enhancements in the embarkation and disembarkation procedures.

Royal Caribbean says it will be a state-of-the-art building that will be LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which means it will be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently. 

Galveston's new terminal will also have a special area for suite guests with their own "plussed" seating area before boarding begins.

More sailings on Quantum of the Seas will have to skip scheduled glacier visits in Alaska this season.

Guests booked on late August and some September Quantum of the Seas sailings received an email from Royal Caribbean on Wednesday informing them due to "a speed limitation caused by a technical issue with one of the ship’s engines", planned visits to Dawes Glacier have been cancelled.

This new round of itinerary changes are a follow-up on cancelled visits to the glaciers for some August sailings that Royal Caribbean cancelled last month.

Previously, the August 1, 8, and 15 Alaska cruise sailings were impacted.

As a result of the "technical issue with one of the ship's engines", Quantum will skip visits to Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier and instead spend more time in Juneau, Alaska.

Quantum of the Seas is sailing 7-night Alaska cruises from Seattle.

Why the cancellation

In the email to booked guests, Royal Caribbean said Quantum of the Seas has four engines, but one of them needs to be repaired.

"One requires some repair and there's a delay in receiving the parts needed. Additionally, another engine is schedule for routine maintenance soon, which means we'll have to reduce our overall speed."

"Our ships can safely sail in these kinds of situations at reduced speeds, and while we're working to expedite the repair process, the global supply chain issues that we're all experiencing are complication the situation."

Royal Caribbean is offering onboard credit to guests booked as compensation for the change.

• $75 USD for Interior and Ocean View staterooms
• $100 USD for Balcony staterooms
• $200 USD for Suites

Alternative ways to see a glacier

While the glacier viewing at Dawes Glacier is not replaceable, there is still a way to see a glacier for anyone still booked on the cruise.

Juneau is home to Mendenhall Glacier, which can be accessed via helicopter, boat, or by driving to it by road to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.

Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska. 

You could see it from many spots in the park, such as from Nugget Falls, a 377 foot waterfall located near Mendenhall Glacier.

There are also helicopter tours you can book for a guided walk on the glacier or a dog sledding excursion.

Additionally, there are boat and kayak shore excursions that can take you close to the glacier.

Read more: Top 10 things to do in Juneau, Alaska

While in Skagway, there are more glacier viewing opportunities via shore excursions.

Helicopter tours leaving from Skagway generally visit either Chilkat Glacier or Denver Glacier. 

Upon landing on the glacier, most tours will either include a guided glacier hike or dog sledding expedition.

Read more: Top 10 things to do in Skagway, Alaska

Full letter

Here's a copy of the full letter Royal Caribbean sent.

Thanks to Dan Goodlife for sharing the email.

Puerto Vallarta is a common port on Mexican Riviera cruise itineraries, and there’s plenty to discover and experience in this bustling resort town.

Located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta offers beaches, jungles, excellent cuisine, and trendy downtown neighborhoods to enjoy.

While it’s possible to disembark your cruise ship in Puerto Vallarta and explore without a plan, it’s always helpful to have an idea of what activities are available in port. From whale watching to snorkeling, shopping, and lounging at the beach, here’s our list of the top 10 things to do in Puerto Vallarta on a cruise.

Discover downtown Puerto Vallarta

While there are endless tours and activities to book for your port day in Puerto Vallarta, spending extra on an excursion is not entirely necessary. While excursions can offer unique opportunities, such as boat tours and snorkeling, you can have just as much fun wandering around Puerto Vallarta on your own.

The main thoroughfare in Puerto Vallarta is the malecón (boardwalk). A promenade between the sea and city, the malecón is a car-free walkway where visitors can enjoy views of the ocean, street art, shopping, restaurants, and bars.

One neighborhood you’ll want to visit while in Puerto Vallarta is Zona Romántica, the city’s “romantic zone”. Zona Romántica is home to boutiques, restaurants, bars, and shops along narrow cobblestone streets.

Make it a beach day

Puerto Vallarta is arguably the best Mexican Riviera cruise port for swimming. Cabo San Lucas is prone to strong currents due to its position on the Baja peninsula, and while Mazatlán offers nice, long beaches, Puerto Vallarta’s beaches tend to be calmer due to its position in the Bay of Banderas.

One of the most conveniently-accessed beaches in Puerto Vallarta is Playa de Los Muertos, located near the Zona Romántica neighborhood downtown. Shops, restaurants, and bars are all located next to the beach, making it an easy option for a beach day combined with time exploring town.

Located at the end of Playa de Los Muertos is Conchas Chinas Beach, a natural cove with soft sand and calm, clear waters.

You may also want to consider purchasing a day pass to a resort in Puerto Vallarta. Day passes can be nice options for those looking to relax in an all-inclusive environment where they can enjoy unlimited food, drinks, and access to resort amenities at a set cost.

Related: A day spent in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on a cruise

Horseback ride through the countryside

Get up close and personal to Mexico’s rugged beauty on a horseback riding excursion, which will take you through the countryside and into the Mascota River canyon.

Horseback riding tours are led by an experienced guide and tend to visit destinations not as easily accessible by road, meaning you’ll be able to experience Puerto Vallarta in a way many tourists won’t.

Depending on the tour, horseback riding excursions may also visit tequila factories and/or local restaurants, allowing you to learn more about local culture while riding through the countryside.

Visit a tequila distillery

Puerto Vallarta is located in Mexico’s state of Jalisco, which is known for being the birthplace of tequila. In fact, tequila is named after the town of Tequila, Mexico, located just 175 miles from Puerto Vallarta.

Visitors to Puerto Vallarta will have the chance to discover Jalisco’s rich tequila culture and tradition with a visit to a tequila farm. While the town of Tequila itself is a bit too far for a port day excursion, there are many tequila distilleries nearby where you can taste and learn more about Mexico’s most famous liquor.

Whale watching

Whale watching is a popular shore excursion on any Mexican Riviera cruise, and Puerto Vallarta is one of the best ports to book a tour to spot these magnificent animals.

The best time to spot whales off the coast of Puerto Vallarta is from December through March, with January and February providing the best wildlife viewing opportunities. Humpback whales are the most common whales to spot near Puerto Vallarta.

Sail along the Bay of Banderas

Puerto Vallarta is situated in the Bay of Banderas, which boasts excellent scenery of the Sierra Madre Mountains and turquoise Pacific waters.

Yacht cruises are available to book along the bay, where you’ll spend the day cruising along the coast, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and spotting wildlife like dolphins, whales, turtles, and manta rays.

Relax at La Caletas

Las Caletas is a private beach and tropical hideaway far from the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta’s downtown beaches.

You’ll arrive at Las Caletas via boat, during which you’ll have the chance to enjoy the Pacific breeze and maybe even spot wildlife along the way.

Once at Las Caletas, enjoy relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, kayaking, or paddle boarding on the water. If you prefer to explore on land, walk along the area’s nature trails and spot parrots, macaws, and other animals as you enjoy this secluded paradise.

Visit Sayulita and San Pancho

If you’ve been to Puerto Vallarta before or are looking to try something a bit different, consider a day tour to both Sayulita and San Pancho, Mexico.

These two towns are located around an hour from port and offer a more laid-back feel than bustling Puerto Vallarta. While the towns are still fairly touristy, they're much smaller and less crowded than Puerto Vallarta. 

Sayulita is known for surfing whereas San Pancho has a more bohemian, eco-conscious vibe. Many tours combine visits to both towns in one excursion, so there's no need to choose one town over another!

Get your adrenaline pumping

If you’re hoping for a high-energy excursion in Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find plenty of tour opportunities that will surely get your adrenaline pumping.

Puerto Vallarta is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains, where you can find ATV tours, zip lining, speedboats, and rappelling tours down waterfalls and cliffs.

Getting out into the jungle is one of the best ways to experience all that Puerto Vallarta’s surrounding area has to offer, and it is guaranteed to be fun and thrilling experience!

Enjoy a traditional lunch

You can’t cruise to Mexico without tasting local cuisine, which is both affordable and delicious, and Puerto Vallarta has plenty of local specialities to enjoy.

While at the beach, be sure to try pescado embarazado, which is fresh grilled fish marinated in lime and served on a stick.

If you’re in the mood for comfort food, try birria, a spicy stew that originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The stew is made with goat meat, beef, or chicken and served with tortillas and chilis.

Ceviche tostadas, tamales, chilaquiles, tortas, gorditas, and elotes can also be found in Puerto Vallarta. Needless to say, you won’t go hungry while visiting this city!

More Mexican Riviera cruise information

• When is the best time to cruise the Mexican Riviera?
• Mexican Riviera cruise guide

Planning a cruise often starts with setting a budget, which sometimes means forgoing the cruise cabin of your dreams for something smaller and cheaper.

In the past, you could only switch your cabin category by paying the “sticker price” on an upgraded stateroom, but now there’s a second option: RoyalUp.

RoyalUp is Royal Caribbean’s stateroom bidding program that allows passengers to bid on higher cabin categories before their cruise, offering the chance to “win” an upgraded stateroom.

RoyalUp upgrades often come at a lower price than upgrading your stateroom on your own, making it an attractive option for those looking for the best deal on a better stateroom. Whether switching from an interior to balcony or Junior Suite to Grand Suite, here’s what you need to know about Royal Caribbean’s RoyalUp program.

How RoyalUp works

When RoyalUp bidding opens for your sailing, you’ll receive an email offering you the chance to bid on select stateroom options. The bidding process has a few steps:

1. Browse through the stateroom options available and choose the amount you’re willing to pay for each upgrade. You don’t have to make bids on every room category, so just bid on the staterooms you’re interested in.
2. You will enter your credit card information when making the bid. If you win the bid, you’ll receive an email confirmation and your card will be charged the bid amount automatically. Note that your card is not charged unless you win the bid.
3. Once you win the upgrade and have your credit card charged, you are automatically switched to the higher-category stateroom!

Note that RoyalUp is non-refundable, although cancellations and modifications are allowed prior to a bid being accepted. Bids can be accepted up to 2 days before your sail date.

Related: How to upgrade your cabin on Royal Caribbean

How to increase chances of a RoyalUp upgrade

Sailing at less busy times of the year

You may have a higher chance of winning a RoyalUp bid on a cruise with less capacity. Cruises during the off-season may have fewer guests onboard, meaning there are more rooms available.

Even if your cruise will likely be at near-full capacity (cruising during peak season, during holidays, etc.), it doesn’t hurt to make a bid. Stateroom categories can open up through last-minute cancellations, meaning you can still have a chance to be upgraded even on the busiest of sailings.

Related: The best time to go on a Caribbean cruise

Bid higher than the minimum

RoyalUp bids have a minimum and maximum bid. Minimum bids depend on the stateroom category, with some upgrades starting at $30 per person whereas other bids may begin at $200+ per person. Bid amounts on RoyalUp range from weak to strong.

While no winnings are guaranteed, it’s recommended to bid at least a little bit higher than the minimum bid. Many passengers may bid the minimum and hope they win the upgrade, but if your bid is even $10 more than another passenger, you will have a higher chance of receiving the upgrade.

Top things to consider before bidding through RoyalUp

If you’re on the fence between bidding and not bidding for a stateroom upgrade through RoyalUp, there are a few key considerations that may help you decide if it’s right for you. While the idea of receiving a cabin upgrade may seem appealing, RoyalUp comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Look at the cost to upgrade yourself before bidding

Before bidding on an upgraded stateroom category with RoyalUp, contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean to check how much it would cost to upgrade your cabin outright instead of through RoyalUp.

Sometimes you may discover that the cost to upgrade your cabin without RoyalUp is not unreasonable. In fact, it’s not unheard of to upgrade your cabin for the same price of a low bid or even less! Be sure to check to see what the cost of a (guaranteed) upgrade is before placing a bid through Royal Up.

Related: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

Understand the room category and possible cabin locations

RoyalUp cannot guarantee a specific cabin location, so if location is of utmost importance to you, it may be better to upgrade a stateroom on your own instead of through the bidding process.

If you’re bidding on an upgrade from a midship Grand Suite to an AquaTheater suite, for example, your new cabin will be located at the very aft of the ship, which can be prone to more motion throughout the cruise.

Additionally, if you bid from an ocean view to a balcony, you have no control over where the balcony will be located. It may be located midship, or it might be far forward or aft, close to the pool deck, etc.

Bidding is priced per person

Keep in mind that bids placed through RoyalUp are priced per person on a double capacity basis. If you are a solo traveler, you’ll still have to pay the bid amount x2, which can make upgrades more expensive for those cruising solo.

If your stateroom has more than two people, however, you’ll only be charged the bid amount for 2 passengers in the stateroom category. Therefore, a $500 bid per person in a room with four guests will only be $1000 total instead of $2000.

Gratuity amounts increase

If your RoyalUp bid takes you from an interior, ocean view, balcony, or Junior Suite to a Grand Suite or above, your daily gratuities will increase from $14.50 per person, per day to $17.50 per person, per day. This will add $21 per person to a 7-night cruise.

RoyalUp will not maintain connecting rooms

One important note for families before bidding on RoyalUp is that the bidding program will not maintain connecting rooms. If you originally booked a connecting room with friends or family, ensure you are comfortable with the fact that you will no longer be in a connecting room if you win a RoyalUp upgrade.

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

You won’t receive double Crown & Anchor Society points

If you’re upgrading from a standard stateroom (interior, ocean view, balcony) to a suite, keep in mind that you won’t receive double Crown & Anchor Society points through RoyalUp.

RoyalUp stateroom categories available

RoyalUp upgrade opportunities differ based on the original stateroom you booked. Usually you'll be able to upgrade on stateroom categories that are 1-2 steps up from your original cabin.

If you booked an interior cabin, for example, you won’t typically see the opportunity to bid on staterooms like Owner’s Suites and Loft Suites. You will, however, be able to upgrade to ocean view and balcony cabins. The exact room categories available to book depend on the ship.

Many passengers bid on suites with RoyalUp, as you can often find a lower price through bidding than upgrading to the suite category outright.

One possibility of a RoyalUp upgrade is from a regular suite category to Star Class, Royal Caribbean’s top-tier suite level. Star Class benefits include a personalized Royal Genie service, complimentary specialty dining, complimentary deluxe beverage package, complimentary VOOM internet, and more.

Related: A beginner’s guide to sailing in Star Class

How can I access RoyalUp?

You should receive an email a couple months before your cruise offering you the chance to bid with RoyalUp.

If you haven’t received an email, make sure to opt-in to Royal Caribbean International’s marketing emails. To do this, sign up on the Royal Caribbean website, opt-in during online check-in, or through the My Reservations area on Royal Caribbean’s website.

You can also check if you’re eligible to bid on RoyalUp on Royal Caribbean’s RoyalUp portal.

Bidding rules and cancellations

If you bid on RoyalUp and later decide you don’t want to upgrade your stateroom, you can choose to cancel the bid. Likewise, if you prefer to modify the bid to a higher or lower offer, you can modify each stateroom category’s bid. Be sure to make any modifications or cancellations right away, as you never know when you might receive an upgrade confirmation.

Always be sure to double check your bids before hitting submit, too. While it’s unlikely that your RoyalUp bid will be accepted immediately after bidding, be sure to double check your bid amounts. If you meant to bid only $200 per person on an upgrade, do a double check to make sure you didn’t accidentally move the slider to $300 or $400!

Learn more about cruise ship cabins and upgrades:

• Cruise FAQ: Cabins
• The rare cruise ship cabins that get booked very quickly
• Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean

Though I consider myself to be a seasoned cruiser on Royal Caribbean ships, I still learned some new things to remember for upcoming sailings. 

Take a look at the top 10 things I learned while I was on the Mariner of the Seas this July. Knowing a few of these simple tricks can help you during your next cruise!

Importance of the Royal Caribbean app

Before 2020, I had never needed to use the Royal Caribbean app on my smartphone while I was on a cruise. We always had our compass given to us in our stateroom, a physical menu in the main dining room, and an in-person muster drill. Now, Royal Caribbean highly encourages you to download the app before your sailing so you can access all this information online.

I like most aspects of the app, but I missed being able to receive a compass every night in our stateroom. Same in the dining room - I like to look at a physical menu rather than scrolling on my phone.

Luckily, both of these can be easily resolved by asking your stateroom attendant for a physical compass and your waiter for a physical menu. 

I have no complaints about the muster drill, though. It was so much easier and faster to do it on your own following the steps on the app.

Food options

While I was aware that Royal Caribbean ships have plenty of food options, I learned a few interesting facts for those that are vegan or gluten-free.

To accommodate a gluten-free diet, the main dining room takes your order the day before so they can prepare your meal for the next evening. The dining staff tries their hardest to accommodate these requests, and it seems as though they can make almost any meal work. 

As I was scrolling through the app one evening, I noticed there was a vegan menu in addition to the regular main dining room menu. If you only have a normal menu, you can ask to see the vegan menu.

Read more: Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Royal Caribbean

I had previously been on the Mariner of the Seas earlier in 2022, and it had a build-your-own omelet station at the Windjammer. This time around, it was not there, which I was sad about. On the bright side, they still made various pre-made omelets to choose from, such as ham and cheese, vegetable, and cheese.

Diamond Drinks

For those that love sweet treats like I do, this next tip will be important to remember.

I wanted to learn the differences between Ben & Jerry’s milkshakes and Johnny Rockets’ milkshakes. While you have to pay for anything from Ben & Jerry’s, I did not have to at Johnny Rockets.

In the past, the milkshakes were not included as one of my Diamond drink vouchers, but it was this time! The worker explained to me since the milkshake is under the $13 drink limit, it qualifies like any other cocktail or mixed drink.

Another discovery I made was the coffee drinks at Cafe Promenade. I did not think these drinks were included either, so I waited until the end of the cruise to ask if they were included. Low and behold, they were as well! 

Check-in time matters

Since I booked this cruise pretty last minute, I had only a few options to pick from when it came to the arrival time. I had the option of either 1:30 or 2 p.m. I went with the 2 p.m. slot because I did not want to be rushed to leave my hotel. In the end, it didn't matter what time I picked, because the line was so long!

While I was waiting in line, I could hear people saying they had an arrival time of 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, etc. I was shocked to hear this, but I later learned that this sailing was at full capacity and wasn’t located at its normal launching terminal. Those two things combined made for a 1.5-hour wait just to check-in. 

After finally getting on the ship, I found out that those that had an early arrival time did not have a long wait like I did. If your travel allows, sign up for an early check-in time so you can avoid the crowds and start your vacation sooner!

Rideshare apps to and from port

This was my first time using a rideshare app to get to and from the cruise. I was worried the price was going to be extremely expensive to drive 45 minutes (I was at the Orlando airport going to Port Canaveral), but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my options. 

Each way, Lyft was cheaper, so I used this app. (Uber was at least another $50-$100 more.) It was easy to find a ride to the ship, but it was more difficult to get one after the cruise. 

After getting off the ship, I immediately put in a request for a Lyft, and it notified me that it was busy and may take a long time to have a driver pick me up. I did not mind waiting, but I had to request a driver two times before someone picked me up. It did take about 45 minutes in total to order the ride and have them find me at the port.

In the future, it may be worthwhile to schedule a Lyft or Uber to pick you up. Or, you can take the airport shuttle instead.

Dinner theme nights

I remember on past cruises how there would only be formal nights and casual nights. Now, there seems to be a new theme every once in a while! From Caribbean to Tropical, cruisers are encouraged to fit the theme when dining in the main dining room.

A big change I saw was formal night now being called “Dress Your Best.” There was certainly a range of different attires - some people brought their gowns and tuxedos, while others wore dresses or a nice top with dress pants. I usually went with the latter and wore business casual, as did most cruisers.

Ask your stateroom attendant

In addition to requesting a physical compass, I learned of two other things you can request from your stateroom attendant.

After three nights of sleeping with a lumpy pillow and waking up with a sore neck, I asked my attendant for a new pillow. That night, he gave me a feather pillow, and it was so much better than the pillows we were originally given.

Also, since the showers only have a 2-1 body wash and shampoo, I asked my attendant for some conditioner. He certainly delivered because he gave me plenty to use for the rest of the cruise.

Helicopter pad access

When the sun would set in the evening, I wanted to find a great spot on the ship to admire the views. I tried deck four, but some nights I just could not see the sunset. 

I then saw some stairs that led up to the helicopter pad. It was a little difficult to find the access point, but just head towards the front of the ship on deck four, and you should see the stairs.

Once I was there, I saw other people had the same idea. It was truly an excellent place to view everything that was happening. This place would also be great to go when the ship sails in and out of port!

Walking path substitute

The Mariner of the Seas does have a walking path on deck 12, but it is hard to use because it is surrounded by chairs and people. 

Deck four is a good place to get your steps in because there is a path that goes almost the entire way around the ship. To go all the way around, you would need to cut through the sliding doors near the front of the ship and walk to the other side. More than half of this loop around the ship is shaded, so it is the perfect place to walk with little to no interruptions.

Solarium tip

I always love to relax in the Solarium, and many others do too. That makes it hard to find a spot during the day because it is a busy spot among cruisers. I found that a great time to enjoy the Solarium is around 8 p.m. or later. There was no one in the daybeds, so I was finally able to snag one! It was so quiet that I could hear the waves as I relaxed. 

Another important tip I learned: while there are hot tubs in the Solarium, they may be closed when you first arrive. However, there is always at least one hot tub open 24 hours a day, either in the Solarium or outside on the pool deck.

Have you ever wondered how much Royal Caribbean makes on average per cruise ship passenger?

Before the global health crisis, the cruise industry was a very profitable business, with revenues approaching record numbers. That took a major hit in 2020 and 2021, but Royal Caribbean posted numbers in its quarterly report that indicate it's on the verge of becoming profitable again.

With that in mind, it's sometimes fun to take a peek behind the curtain of the business and see the numbers breakdown.

If you care to look in the Form 10-Q that Royal Caribbean Group filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, there's some interesting takeaways from how your cruise fare is spent and how much of it comes back as profit.

Revenue per passenger

In Royal Caribbean Group's filing for the second quarter of 2022, we get a breakdown of revenue and costs that contribute and takeaway from the company's bottom line.

Just like any business, they aim to have more revenue than expenses. 

Keep in mind these numbers encompass all the Royal Caribbean Group brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and SilverSea.

In the second quarter, Royal Caribbean Group carried 1,340,622 passengers. In case you're wondering, that amounts to 8,443,745 days of cruises.

The company breaks down its revenue across two types: "Passenger ticket revenues" and "Onboard and other revenues".

Passenger ticket revenues refers to the money you spend on your cruise fare.

Onboard revenues is the money you spend on cruise add-ons, such as drink packages, shore excursions, wifi, the casino and anything else not included with your cruise fare.

In the second quarter, Royal Caribbean Group revenue broke down as follows:

• Revenue    $1,418,203,000.00 (64%)
• Onboard spending    $766,039,000.00 (35%)

Total revenue for the quarter was $2,184,242,000.00 and total revenue per passenger came out to $1,629.28.

That's just the money coming in, so what about the costs of running a cruise ship?

The cruise operating expenses are the costs for running the ships themselves. There are additional overhead costs that the company has shoreside, which we are not considering for this article because we want to look at just the ship operating revenues.

Commissions refers to travel agent commissions paid for booking the cruise, as well as air and other transportation expenses, port costs that vary with passenger head counts and related credit card fees.

Payroll is the salary of all the shipboard crew members. 

Other operating expenses consist primarily of operating costs such as repairs and maintenance, port costs that do not vary with passenger head counts, vessel related insurance, entertainment and gains and/or losses related to the sale of ships, if any.  

I think the rest of the categories are self-explanatory.

Here's Royal Caribbean Group's expenses for the quarter:

• Commissions, transportation and other: $329,859,000.00 (19%)
• Payroll: $327,141,000.00 (19%)
• Food: $155,226,000.00 (9%)
• Fuel: $275,179,000.00 (16%)
• Onboard costs: $155,570,000.00 (9%)
• Other operating costs: $447,887,000.00 (26%)

Total onboard expenses for the quarter came out to $1,690,862,000.00. 

If you divide expenses by passengers, you come out with $1,261.25 expense per passenger.  Thus, when you subtract expenses per passenger from revenue per passenger, Royal Caribbean Group made $368.02 per passenger this past quarter.

How cruise ships make money

If we've learned anything from the economics of the past two years, it's Royal Caribbean is profitable when there's as many cruise ship passengers onboard.

Part of the reason Royal Caribbean Group is starting to see profitable days ahead is their ships are mostly sailing full again.

The company shared that over the quarter, its ships were sailing at about 82% full, with June just about 90%.

Here's a breakdown of how full the ships were based on the region of the world they sailed.

• North America: About 100%
  • Caribbean: 103%, with some ships reaching 107%
  • Northeast and West Coast (including Alaska): 90%
• Europe: 75% in June

A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.

As a high fixed-cost business, a cruise ship relies on getting as many passengers as possible onboard.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said on the post-earnings conference call with analysts to turn a profit, the company needs to maintain occupancy levels above 90%. In the third quarter, occupancy is slated to fall in the mid-90s range.

Pre-pandemic, Royal Caribbean had a profit margin of around 20%, and the amount of money guests were spending on add-ons was the driving factor.

According to Royal Caribbean Group executives, every dollar a guest spends before the voyage, translates into about $0.70 more on the dollar when they sail and double the overall spending compared to other guests.

Helping their cause, Mr. Liberty said guests are spending at least 30% more "across all categories" than they did in pre-pandemic 2019.

"The spending trends have been consistent across our customer base, even as we were approaching full load factors," Liberty said.

In terms of costs, operating expenses have gone up for the company. 

Mr. Liberty said that while food and fuel are the main categories that are susceptible to inflation, "there are some initial positive signs" with respect to inflation trends for food.

"Our most recent month-over-month FNB (food & beverage) inflation indicator has increased at the slowest pace thus far in 2022," Liberty said. "This, combined with direct conversations with our key suppliers, indicate inflation levels are peaking, so we should start seeing some relief in the coming months."

Regarding fuel, Liberty said the company continued to "optimize" consumption and has partially hedged its costs to below market prices.

Cruising the Mexican Riviera along the country’s Pacific coast is a unique cruise experience that combines rich cultures with mouthwatering cuisine and beautiful beaches.

A Mexican Riviera cruise is a year-round destination. While the cruising experience will remain similar no matter the time of year you sail, you can expect slight differences in weather, crowds, and price throughout the year.

Best time to cruise the Mexican Riviera for weather

Whereas weather on the Caribbean side of Mexico stays warm year-round, the Pacific coast can encounter chillier temperatures depending on the time of year you sail. There’s also a rainy and dry season along the Mexican Riviera, each of which comes with their own pros and cons.

Temperatures

Ports along the Mexican Riviera vary quite a bit in latitude, so you’ll see lower temperatures in ports like Ensenada and Catalina Island compared to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta tends to have the warmest temperatures as it is the furthest south of the ports.

The winter months of December, January, and February bring the chillest temperatures, although you can still expect highs around 75-80 degrees. The ports of Ensenada and Catalina, however, are more northerly, and daily highs are around 70 degrees. Expect chilly mornings and evenings onboard during these months.

Temperatures begin to rise in the spring, with highs in the low to mid-80s and sunny skies. Temperatures remain in the mid-80’s throughout summer, although the ports of Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta can see highs in the low-90s.

Because cruises start and end in Los Angeles, it’s recommended to pack a jacket at any time of year. Temperatures will always be colder the further north you travel along the coast of Baja California and Southern California, and the Pacific is prone to chillier temperatures from what you’ll experience while at sea in the Caribbean.

Dry vs rainy season

The dry season in the Mexican Riviera runs from November through June whereas rainier weather should be expected from late July to October. The rainiest months are August and September, although rainfall typically lasts just a few hours in the afternoon, with most rainfall occurring at night. More arid ports like Cabo San Lucas may encounter less rainfall.

June through September will come with the highest, most humid temperatures in the Mexican Riviera, although humidity levels will be lower than what you would experience in Caribbean ports like Cozumel and Costa Maya.

Best time to cruise the Mexican Riviera for fewer crowds

Peak season in the Mexican Riviera ports of Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán is during the dry season from December to April. This is where you’ll find the most people in port, as many tourists flock to the sunny skies of Mexico during North America’s coldest months of the year.

With the exception of Christmas and spring break, however, you may find fewer crowds onboard a cruise ship during these months. While land-based vacation is at a high in the winter months, you may find fewer guests onboard since school is in session.

During summer, on the contrary, you can expect more guests onboard a cruise ship due to school holidays.

Spring break crowds

Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta in particular are busy cities for spring breakers, leading to a heightened party atmosphere in these ports. Bars, beaches, and restaurants may be busier than what you will see during other months.

You may also find more spring break crowds onboard the ship itself during March and April. College students often book cruises during spring break for the value and party atmosphere, so it’s not uncommon for spring break cruises to have a higher percentage of college students onboard.

You shouldn’t necessarily avoid the Mexican Riviera during spring break, but be prepared for more crowds.

Best time to cruise the Mexican Riviera for whale watching

If booking a whale watching tour is a must for you while in the Mexican Riviera, be sure to cruise between the months of December and March/early April for the highest chances of spotting whales. Humpback and gray whales are the most common to spot along the Mexican Riviera.

During the summer months whales are in northern Pacific waters near Alaska, so the odds of spotting whales off the coast of Mexico are slim to none.

Cheapest time to cruise the Mexican Riviera

A cruise to the Mexican Riviera can offer competitive pricing, especially when compared to a land-based vacation in one of the resort towns along the coast.

Certain times of the year are more affordable than others, which can save you hundreds of dollars per person in cruise fare.

You’ll typically see the lowest prices during these times of year:

• January and February
• Last week of April (after spring break season ends)
• End of August through mid November
• First 2 weeks of December

Pricing is higher during spring break, summer, and around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

More Mexican Riviera cruise information:

• Mexican Riviera cruise guide

Can you believe it's the last day of July already? It is the middle of Summer and there is a lot of Royal Caribbean news to catch up from during this week.

It looks like some unvaccinated passengers above the age of 12 will be able to go on a cruise soon.

We confirmed with Royal Caribbean an update shared by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley that the line intends to open up space for unvaccinated adults without the need for an exemption.

Royal Caribbean promises an update next week, but a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean indicated that, "starting August 8th, 2022, we’ll be transitioning so that we can welcome all guests onboard our ships."

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean redeploys 4 cruise ships for 2023-2024 cruise season due to new speed restrictions
• Royal Caribbean executives talk higher demand for cruises & why cruises are better value than land vacations
• Royal Caribbean Group reports positive cash flow for first time since cruises restarted
• Mexican Riviera cruise guide
• Where to keep Seapass Card, phone, and cash when on a shore excursion?
• A new cruise planner sale began this week
• 10 Royal Caribbean cruise destinations not to be missed

New RCB Video: 6 cruise ship main dining room rules to follow — Plus 1 to break

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 6 cruise ship main dining room rules to follow — Plus 1 to break — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 462nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring a review of the Mariner of the Seas group cruise.

Matt sailed on Mariner of the Seas with a group of friends for the first RoyalCaribbeanBlog group cruise of the year, and shares a look back at the fun they had onboard.

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

Covid-19 testing will be dropped for vaccinated cruisers on shorter sailings

Royal Caribbean announced it will stop requiring a pre-cruise test for vaccinated passengers on shorter sailings.

Starting Aug. 8, testing will be required for unvaccinated guests on all voyages and for vaccinated guests only on voyages that are six nights or longer. 

Up until now, all guests were required to get a Covid-19 test completed prior to their cruise, regardless of vaccination status.

Why Wonder of the Seas might the perfect cruise ship for a first timer

Know someone that has resisted trying a cruise ship for one reason or another? Wonder of the Seas might be the perfect first cruise ship for them!

Whether they think they'll be bored, overwhelmed, or stuck at sea, Royal Caribbean designed Wonder of the Seas to address all those concerns.

Anthem of the Seas Guide & Review

Anthem of the Seas is a popular Royal Caribbean cruise ship because of her innovations and fun itineraries.

If you have a cruise booked on Anthem, here's a full rundown of what to expect onboard!

A common concern for new cruisers is where to keep valuables, including your phone, cash, credit cards, and SeaPass card, while on a shore excursion or exploring port.

It’s important to ensure your belongings remain safe, whether you’re at the beach, kayaking, or sightseeing in a busy city.

From picking the right daypack to keeping valuables in a locker, here are our top tips for where to keep your valuables while on a shore excursion.

As a note, we receive a small commission when you purchase any items from the links below. This costs you absolutely nothing extra, but the small commission helps support our site.

Keeping belongings safe at the beach

Keeping your valuables and SeaPass card secure at a beach you’re unfamiliar with may seem stressful, but there are a few ways to help keep your belongings safe.

If you’re at the beach with a group and want to be as safe as possible, have one person from the group stay near your belongings while others swim or explore the area. This is the most fool-proof way to ensure your belongings remain secure.

If your group wants to go in the water together, cover your belongings with a pool towel and periodically keep an eye on your valuables while in the water. Remaining close to your belongings while swimming is recommended.

Alternatively, if you spot other passengers from your ship at the beach (look for the Royal Caribbean pool towels!), consider asking them if you can keep your belongings nearby while swimming. This can add an extra sense of security on a crowded beach, but you may also want to reciprocate the favor for their group.

Where to keep valuables on city excursions

If you’re on an excursion to a city, no matter the size, it’s important to keep your belongings safe to deter pickpockets, especially in busy areas. Here are a few of our best tips for avoiding any mishaps while in a city:

• Wear a daypack with an anti-theft pocket that lies against your back. Inside this pocket, you can keep your phone, wallet, passport, SeaPass card, etc.
• Don’t keep anything in your back pocket
• If you have a wallet or phone in your front pocket, keep a hand on the pocket when in very crowded areas
• Keep your purse or bag on your lap at restaurants
• Wear a cross-body bag with the opening pointed toward your body
• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Wear your backpack on your frontside while on public transportation

Utilize lockers in port

Lockers are available at Royal Caribbean’s private destinations of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee. Lockers are free of charge in CocoCay, whereas they come with a daily rental cost at Labadee.

Perfect Day at CocoCay has lockers spread throughout the island. You’ll find lockers at Thrill Waterpark, Chill Island, and near Oasis Lagoon and the helium balloon.

Lockers at Labadee are located in Buccaneer's Bay, the first place you’ll arrive in Labadee once off the ship. To access the locker area, take a right at the end of the dock and walk to the large shaded building. Inside you’ll find lockers available.

There are also lockers located at the entrance to the zipline excursion. These lockers are free of charge for those doing the zipline.

Pack light when visiting port

The best way to prevent any mishaps with your belongings while in port is to not bring much with you in the first place. There’s no need to carry around hundreds of dollars in cash, your iPad, laptop, diamond necklace, etc. Carry only what you need for the day and leave your most valuable items back onboard.

Use a water-resistant or waterproof daypack

Having a water-resistant or waterproof daypack is a must while on a shore excursion near the water. Not only can it protect your belongings when participating in water sports or on a boat tour, but it will also protect against rain.

It’s not uncommon for sudden rainfall to occur in the Caribbean and other tropical destinations. The last thing you want to happen while in port is for the weather to take a turn for the worse and become stressed about keeping your belongings dry and secure!

A water-resistant backpack should work for most situations, although you may also want to consider a waterproof dry bag.

Bring a portable safe

If you want to be extra certain your valuables remain safe at the beach, consider purchasing a portable safe. You can attach a portable safe to an object, such as a beach chair or umbrella, with a cable, and the safe can be opened with a 4-digit combination.

Wear shorts with zippered pockets

If your pants/shorts pockets have zippers, place your SeaPass card in the pocket to ensure it does not fall out throughout the day. Whether on a roller coaster in Labadee or snorkeling in the Caribbean, you can have an enjoyable day without worrying whether or not your cards will fall out of your pocket.

Bring a waterproof phone pouch

If you’re going swimming, kayaking, whale watching, or doing any other activity near water, you’re going to need a way to keep your phone from being damaged while still being able to take pictures of your fun day in port.

A waterproof phone pouch can be a great way to bring your phone with you without worrying about it getting wet! These phone pouches can hold most of the newest phones, and you can wear the pouch around your neck, making for easy access while at the beach or participating in a water sport.

Keep valuables in a Ziploc bag

One easy way to ensure your valuables won’t get damaged on a shore excursion is to place them in a Ziploc bag. Putting your passport (or any other belongings that may get damaged by water) in a Ziploc bag takes little time, money, or effort, but can pay off in an unexpected emergency.

After all, you don’t want to open your backpack and realize a water bottle spilled all over your documents!