Royal Caribbean Blog

UPDATE: The beach club referenced in the South Pacific is a new, unannounced beach club project, and not a Perfect Day island property.

Royal Caribbean just shared a timeline for when its new beach clubs will open to passengers.

Royal Caribbean is currently working on two new beach clubs, rapidly expanding its onshore experiences.

Over the Ultimate World Cruise this past weekend, Royal Caribbean CEO and President Michael Bayley held a question and answer session where he shared the cruise line's plan for when the two new beach clubs in Nassau and Cozumel will open.

The cruise line's next big investments are poised to rival every other cruise line.

The cruise line is also still planning to open a private destination experience in the South Pacific, mimicking the success of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

By 2026, Royal Caribbean will have two exclusive beach clubs on land, with a private destination experience on the way.

According to Michael Bayley, the cruise line is currently working on all three.

Royal Caribbean's CEO announced a timeline for the three projects

"We're aiming to have the Royal Beach Club [in the] Bahamas open towards the end of next year," Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean President and CEO, announced during the Q&A session.

Royal Caribbean's timeline is as follows:

• Royal Beach Club Paradise Island: between October-December 2025
• Royal Beach Club Cozumel: 2026
• Beach Club in South Pacific: 2026 or 2027

Construction has already begun on the Paradise Royal Beach Club in Nassau, Bahamas, Michael Bayley said.

"These projects are underway, and the one in the Bahamas is well underway."

Construction began on the beach club this summer, with photos revealing the ground cleared and building materials being moved in.

The cruise line's goal is to open its first new beach club in the fourth quarter of 2025, between October and December.

As for the Royal Beach Club on the western coast of Cozumel, Mexico—"we're looking at 2026."

Royal Caribbean has hinted that both beach clubs are going to stand out as more than "just another beach" to visit.

Bayley was more vague when it came to the cruise line's third project, a beach club in the South Pacific. 

"Either '26 or '27, we're not sure yet," he said.

Not to be confused with a previously announced private island project, it appears Royal Caribbean has plans for a third beach club somewhere in the South Pacific.

Up until now, nothing has been announced related to it, so this could be a new endeavor that will be formally announced soon.

"We're hoping that all [will] go to plan," Michael Bayley admitted.

"What we've learned in these projects is that, just like anything, they don't go to plan."

However, he wants cruisers to know that the cruise line does have a plan.

Construction has already begun on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island 

Set to open in the fourth quarter of 2025, Royal Caribbean's first beach club aims to solve passenger problems in Nassau, Bahamas.

In 2023, the Nassau Cruise Port saw 4.4 million visitors from cruise ships.

However, Royal Caribbean customers consistently rank as one of the bottom 10% cruise ports.

According to Michael Bayley, the port lacks original, exciting adventures that are unique to the area.

Many passengers describe the shore excursions as uninspiring and rate the port poorly.

When the Royal Beach Club opens on Paradise Island, it will seek to solve customer's dissatisfaction with Nassau.

The Royal Beach Club will open on a 17-acre strip of land across from the cruise ship dock.

Royal Caribbean intends for the club to incorporate Bahamian food and culture while generating hundreds of jobs in the area.

Cruisers can expect to "be welcomed by local architecture that complements the exceptional views of The Bahamas’ turquoise-blue waters and white sand beaches, along with experiences that feature Bahamian fare, island-style barbecues, live music, and local artisans."

The extra-cost, exclusive club will offer access to three pools with swim-up bars, live music, two beaches, and four restaurants.

Additionally, the club will have three distinct zones: a family zone, a party zone, and a chill zone.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel is on track to open in 2026

Royal Caribbean first announced intentions to build a second beach club in March of 2024 and has revealed few details since.

Cruisers are still in the dark as to the name, exact location, and pricing.

However, we do know that sailings to Cozumel are intended to fulfill a need for Royal Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas.

Cruises from the growing Texan port need more variety in the Western Caribbean.

A Royal Beach Club in Cozumel will give Royal Caribbean cruisers some new and exciting to do.

The extra-cost, exclusive club will combine great views, beaches, pools, and food.

Full details haven't yet been shared, but the Cozumel Club will have swim-up bars, cabanas, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.

A new beach club in the South Pacific?

Mr. Bayley slipped in mention of a beach club in the Pacific that has yet to be announced.

While Royal Caribbean has formally announced plans for beach clubs in Mexico and The Bahamas, it has yet to announce a beach club that is likely geared towards the growing cruises from Australia.

Royal Caribbean Blog confirmed the plans are not for the Perfect Day project that was announced in 2019 for the island of Lelepa.  This is in fact a completely different project.

Decorating cruise cabin doors has become a fun and popular tradition among passengers on Royal Caribbean cruises.

Maybe you’re celebrating a special occasion like a milestone birthday, graduation, or anniversary, or perhaps you’re just looking to add a personal touch to your stateroom. Whatever the reason, decorating your cruise cabin door is a great way to make your stateroom easy to spot in the hallway.

However, before you purchase decorations, it’s important to be aware of Royal Caribbean’s rules and policies. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about decorating your stateroom door on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as well as provide some inspiration to help you get started. 

Please note that we have linked Amazon items in this article containing affiliate links. The affiliate links cost you nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission if you purchase the item through the link.

Read more: 30 Cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love

Royal Caribbean allows guests to decorate their cabin door

Though Royal Caribbean passengers are permitted to spruce up their stateroom doors, you will want to be considerate of your fellow guests, avoiding anything that could be deemed offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive.

Royal Caribbean’s code of conduct states, “Inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted. This includes: … placing materials (including signs, banners, decorations, etc.) anywhere on the exterior of the ship, [and] placing materials anywhere on the interior of the ship (including stateroom doors, along corridors, etc.) without the express permission of [the ship's] management or which may be deemed by ship management as inappropriate, or any other illegal or offensive conduct.”

In other words, crew members won't remove lighthearted and tasteful decor, so long as it's confined to your cabin door and not blocking any passageways. 

It's also wise to ensure your decor won't damage the cruise line's property. 

When choosing your cabin door decorations, avoid any that require tape, nails, or adhesives that could harm the finish. Instead, go for magnetic decor, as magnets can be easily placed and removed without leaving any damage.

And as wholesome as the activity is, you shouldn't be personally attached to any decor in case it's stolen. Young children, for instance, may see a cute magnet and think it's okay to grab it from your door. 

If you bought the magnet in port, you'll likely be disappointed when you discover it's missing; it's not easy to replace a unique souvenir bought in Ketchikan, Alaska, or Barcelona, Spain. 

Note that your cabin category doesn't matter. Passengers staying in the smallest interior rooms or lavish suites can personalize their stateroom's door. However, the same rules apply: the decor shouldn't be offensive, blocking passageways, or stuck to the door with potentially harmful adhesives. 

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

The benefits of decorating your cruise cabin door

In a thread posted on the Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum, cruise passengers explain why they love cabin decor. 

"Invariably I will have a morning during a cruise when I will wake up way too early. On that morning I head to Cafe Promenade to grab...a cup of coffee and begin to do my daily walk but rather than use the walking track I walk the halls of each deck. The only reason I do this is to view the various door decorations," said Mike n Ky. 

whitsmom shared, "I like to use it [to] help find our door easier (in the beginning)." 

ScottD talked about the camaraderie that came with his choice of decor. 

"We had a [whiteboard] on our door, supporting our favorite football team who was playing in a big playoff game that day. We had a blast every time we came back to the room and saw different notes added to the board, sometimes in support and sometimes against our team. We loved it," he said. 

What types of decorations are acceptable?

A go-to choice is decor celebrating something specific, whether someone's birthday, graduation, anniversary, or retirement. Cruises, however, are a great vacation option, even if there's nothing monumental to celebrate. 

Are you sailing somewhere new? You can focus your decor on the destination. Perhaps you're a brand-new cruiser and want to honor your first-ever voyage! That's a fun theme for your door, too. Guests may also tailor their decor around holidays like Easter, the 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. 

Families might consider ordering customized magnets with everyone's name, including "Mom," "Dad," etc. These are ideal for families who love cruising and can see themselves on annual (or bi-annual) voyages, as they can be reused. 

Read more: I tried the best inside cruise ship cabin hacks to see how well they worked

Some of the most universal door decor are those relating to drink packages. With Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package, you can enjoy unlimited alcoholic drinks each day of your sailing for a fixed price. And yes, the drink package works ashore at Perfect Day at CocoCay!  

Some making the splurge on a package—which often costs over $65 per person, per day—may want to extend a "warning" to those in neighboring cabins. 

Of course, you want to be mindful of your consumption and not disrupt others! While it's perfectly acceptable to enjoy handcrafted cocktails onboard, your enjoyment shouldn't bother guests, especially when they are trying to rest. 

Read more: I spent $600 on Royal Caribbean’s beverage package

Where can I buy cabin door decorations?

Those looking to score last-minute decor should head to Amazon. "Cruise cabin decor" yields over 2,000 results, so there's no shortage of magnets available to purchase for your upcoming cruise. They're affordable, too. 

A 28-piece nautical pack can be bought for around $10. Celebrating a birthday? Look no further than this 27-piece "birthday cruise" pack for $8.99, which includes everything you need to let other passengers know about the occasion. 

A colorful drink package warning costs $8.99. In addition to a bright yellow warning label, the 13-piece pack also includes beverages to add a fun and eye-catching touch to your stateroom door. 

Whiteboards are popular, too. You can use them to leave messages for your friends and family, perhaps letting them know that you left for dinner or went to grab seats on the pool deck. 

They can also be used to engage with other passengers. It's not uncommon to see whiteboards with a "question of the day," asking guests their favorite food, where they're from, how many cruises they've been on, etc. 

Some cruisers opt to make their own decor to add a personalized element, instead of buying pre-made magnets. While this isn't prohibited by Royal Caribbean, you'll want to ensure you attach magnets to the photographs, signs, etc., rather than relying on tape and glue. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabins for 5 or more people

Another option for more customized cruise cabin decor is to browse Etsy, an online marketplace where you can find lots of handmade items, ranging from t-shirts to cabin door decorations. Under the "cruise cabin decor" search, you can filter by cruise line, material, color, theme, and more. 

Plus, you can indicate if you want decor that's customizable. Note, though, that many items purchased off Etsy won't ship as fast as those from Amazon, so give yourself plenty of time to place your order before your cruise's departure date. 

Finally, you can purchase cruise cabin decor directly through Royal Caribbean. 

For guests celebrating a birthday, it's easy to surprise the special cruiser with the "Happy Birthday Decorations" package available on the Cruise Planner for $69.99. In addition to a door magnet, you'll receive hanging ceiling decor inside your stateroom, a wire photo cable with clips, and more. 

There's also an anniversary package and "Bon Voyage Decorations" package with festive accessories for those who aren't celebrating anything specific onboard. Both include a magnetic door decoration.

Thank you for joining us for this a look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week. We had plenty to share, so let us jump right in!

Ready to book a 2026 cruise? You'll have to wait a few more months.

You can't book any cruises beyond April 2026 quite yet, but it's likely the cruise line will open more cruises to book in 2026 and 2027 very soon.

Based on historical data, Royal Caribbean typically puts out new cruises twice per year, beginning with new sailings appearing online in November.

Royal Caribbean News:

• Royal Caribbean's 9-month world cruise is about to end and passenger calls it "Bizarre" and "Sad"
• Mexico is adding a new tourist tax
• Royal Caribbean shows by ship
• 9 Best Royal Caribbean Bahamas Excursions
• Guide to Izumi Sushi and Hibachi restaurant (menus)
• 9 outfits you'll want to wear on a cruise to Mexico
• 8 foods you must eat on a Royal Caribbean cruise

New RCB Video: DON'T BOOK A CRUISE Without Knowing These 5 Things

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 — DON'T BOOK A CRUISE Without Knowing These 5 Things — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean tightens rules on kids sail free offer

Royal Caribbean has added a new restriction to its continuing kids sail free offer.

Per its requirements, children under the age of 12 can now sail for free when they stay with two paying adults in the same cabin on a sailing 3 nights or longer that doesn't fall during a blackout date.

New criteria now states that the cruise must be purchased at least 30 days before the sailing date.

Hiding ducks on a cruise ship is a "crazy" and popular trend - whether you like it or not

Why do people hide rubber ducks on their cruise?

The latest sailing trend is a global craze that began with a small start: a 10-year-old named Abby.

Today, the viral movement inspires cruisers to both hide and find ducks all around cruise ships, participating in the thrill of the chase.

5 mistakes I made during my European cruise kept me from making the most of my trip

Matt recently sailed in Europe on a 7-night Anthem of the Seas cruise, and shared his regrets of what he did wrong. 

While he had a good time, he also made a few mistakes—from taking public transportation to not grabbing cash sooner.

Cruise scams to watch out for

There's been a recent influx of cruise scammers—here's what you need to know.

A travel agent that frequently books Royal Caribbean cruises has noticed an uptick in the number of problems with scammers.

From imposter accounts on social media to fake phone numbers, scammers have a lot of strategies that can ruin your vacation plans.

The next Royal Caribbean world cruise is in the planning stage. 
 

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, has confirmed the cruise line has plans to announce its next world cruise.

In a new TikTok video posted by @brooklyntravelstheworld, Bayley can be seen making the announcement to cruisers onboard the current Ultimate World Cruise. In the video, Bayley shares Royal Caribbean's plans for not only another world cruise, but also a reunion cruise onboard Serenade of the Seas next summer in Alaska.

“The answer is yes, we are going to do another Ultimate World Cruise,” says Bayley in the announcement. In regards to when the next world cruise will happen, Bayley said Royal Caribbean is still working on the details.

“We’re not entirely sure yet. We are still working our way through it,” explains Bayley. However, the Royal Caribbean International President and CEO continues with an additional exciting announcement, elaborating on plans for an Ultimate World Cruise Reunion voyage next summer.

“We’re announcing today that we are going to hold [an] Ultimate World Cruise reunion cruise. And when we have the reunion cruise, we are going to announce the next world cruise,” shares Bayley. Further, the Royal Caribbean CEO explains how guests on the reunion cruise next summer will have exclusive access to make a deposit on a future reservation for the next world cruise. 

“And when we announce the next world cruise on the reunion cruise, we will only open it for sale for those people who are on the reunion cruise,” states Bayley.

Expanding on this announcement, Bayley shares how guests on the reunion cruise will have the first 24 hours to secure their spot on the next world cruise once it goes on sale. In this way, potential world cruisers can ensure they pick the best cabins for the voyage. “Whatever you want to do to make sure it works for you,” says Bayley.

Royal Caribbean's exciting news is received with applause and cheers from the audience onboard Serenade of the Seas. The video also shows Bayley sharing more details about the timeline of the reunion cruise. 

“In one year, pretty much from today, [the reunion] will be in Alaska - because I think you missed Alaska,” explains Bayley.

He also confirms the reunion cruise will also take place on Serenade of the Seas. "So, you’ll be in Alaska and you’ll be on Serenade [of the Seas]. It will be everybody you [formed] relationships with,” shares Bayley. 

Continuing, he says, “It’s a little bit of a part two of the Ultimate World Cruise, because we know circumstances were the way they were.”

Notably, the Ultimate World Cruise was forced to be rerouted multiple times throughout its 9-month voyage, including an alternative route around Africa to avoid the Red Sea conflict. Originally, Serenade of the Seas was scheduled to visit the Middle East before transiting through the Suez Canal. Other ports of call were missed due to weather issues, political conflict and local protests. 

At the conclusion of the TikTok, Bayley shows a trailer officially announcing the Ultimate World Cruise reunion cruise. The video shows clips of famous sights around the world, including the Great Wall of China and Trevi Fountain in Rome. The video states, “But, there's one chapter left. Relive the memories. Reconnect with friends. And go wild on one more shore.”

The announcement video concludes with the unveil of the reunion cruise, which is scheduled for September 7, 2025 onboard Serenade of the Seas.

Bayley already confirmed earlier this year that Royal Caribbean was planning another world cruise, despite the execution being “extremely complicated” and “massively expensive”.

During the President’s Cruise in July 2024, the CEO stated, “First of all, I think the World Cruise has been a fantastic, unbelievable product for Royal Caribbean to launch and operate. I think it has been a great success."

Currently, Serenade of the Seas is sailing on her last world cruise segment from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Miami, Florida. The ship arrived back to the United States on September 3rd to Bayonne, New Jersey for an overnight stay in New York City, marking her stateside return after 9 months of traveling the world.

During this final segment, guests have visited ports in Iceland, Greenland and Canada before heading south to Bermuda and Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Serenade of the Seas concludes its first-ever Ultimate World Cruise on Tuesday, September 10 in Miami, Florida.

The Ultimate World Cruise was originally divided into four different segments, including Ultimate Americas, Ultimate Asia Pacific, Immersive Africa and Ultimate Europe and Beyond. Royal Caribbean also offered 17 smaller cruise segments on the Ultimate World Cruise, ranging from 9 to 29 nights across the world.

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise has created a huge social media following, with many world cruisers going viral on Instagram and TikTok. Currently, many of the social media creators are sharing their final days onboard Serenade of the Seas. 

Serenade of the Seas set sail on December 10, 2023 for its 9-month voyage around the globe. Departing nearly 274 days ago, world cruisers have visited all seven continents and over 55 countries. These included visits to iconic world sights like the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Taj Mahal in India.

The work is never done improving its cruise ships, and Royal Caribbean is always working on new ways to enhance their vessels.

Utopia of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, which launched in July 2024, and our readers have noticed at least three new things onboard.

Why make changes to a brand new ship? Royal Caribbean embraces a continuous improvement methodology to its business, and a lot of efforts run concurrently. 

Moreover, adding a new option to an existing ship is a better way to "soft test" the feature before adding it to other ships or even the next new cruise ship that is under construction.

As an example, Express Boarding was first added to Freedom of the Seas so it could be tested before the launch of Icon of the Seas.

Here are three new things Royal Caribbean has added just to Utopia of the Seas.

New way to deposit cash

If you've stood in line at Guest Services on a cruise ship, you probably noticed a lot of people in line are there to pay off their onboard account.

It appears Royal Caribbean wants to make that easier and cut down the Guest Services line with a new kiosk that has popped up on Utopia of the Seas called SeaPay.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader CGTLH shared photos of the kiosk after it was added, and it's essentially a self-service way to add cash to your onboard account.

Guests can scan their SeaPass card and view their account balance.

From there, they can simply deposit cash proactively or pay off their onboard bill.

Just like an ATM machine, you insert cash into the machine and get confirmation of the transaction.

New Utopia of the Seas Starbucks 'Been There' mugs

Utopia of the Seas is the latest cruise ship to be added to the Starbucks cruise ship collection.

The Starbucks "Been There" mugs is a fun way to commemorate a visit to a specific place, and Utopia of the Seas is now available for purchase.

Destiny Armstrong posted photos of the new mugs on sale at the Starbucks kiosk on the ship.

The design of the mug represents signature features of Utopia, and there are actually mugs available on 9 other Royal Caribbean ships.

The price for a mug is $16.95.

Sam Adams Utopias beer

If you're looking for a different kind of beer choice, perhaps this new Sam Adams Utopias is up your alley.

CGTLH posted a photo of the Sam Adams Utopias beer, which is anything but a conventional beer. 

Utopias has always been aged in charred whiskey casks, and this year the Sam Adams brewers expanded the kinds of barrels for more complex flavors.

With a retail price tag of $240 per bottle, and an alcohol level of 28% ABV, Utopias is banned in 15 states.

Utopia of the Seas is the only cruise ship to carry Utopias, and the onboard price is $30 for a 1oz pour, or $55 for a 2oz pour.

Ready for that cruise to Mexico, but not sure what you'll need to wear during the trip?

Between the places in Mexico you'll visit, plus the events onboard your cruise ship, there's a need for different clothing.

While you can count on warm weather in Mexico, you'll need to plan to bring clothes needed onboard and in port.  Not to mention if your ship will visit more than one port in Mexico, you may need additional outfits.

Cover-ups, swimsuits, tshirts, shorts, are the sort of thing to bring for your visits around Mexico.  

You'll also want to prepare for onboard activities—whether you're looking forward to surfing or ice skating, you'll need to bring the right attire.

To make sure you're fully prepared on embarkation day, we've compiled this guide of the 9 most important cruise outfits you'll need.

Beach day

Looking forward to enjoying the clear beaches of Cozumel and Costa Maya?

You'll need to properly prepare for a beach day by packing a swimsuit, swimsuit cover-ups and shorts, and comfortable, waterproof shoes.

To get to the beach from the cruise ship, you'll need to exit the cruise ship, and find transportation or begin walking to the nearest beach.

A swimsuit cover-up will help you stay comfortable until you get to the water.

Don't forget a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen! You can easily get sunburned under that hot, tropical sun at any time of year.

Tropical night

Royal Caribbean cruises have themed nights on each night of the sailing. Caribbean cruises will often have a "tropical night," where guests can wear tropical-casual in recognition of the destinations the ship is visiting.

For tropical night, the dress code is casual. Be sure to wear fun patterns, tropical prints, and pastel colors. Outfit basics can be linen shirts, Bermuda shorts, or sundresses.

Complete the outfit with a hat, sunglasses, or beachy sandals for a classic tropical cruise look.

Read more: Caribbean tourist traps to avoid on a cruise

Touring Mayan ruins

One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of a Mexican cruise is the opportunity to visit and tour ancient Mayan ruins.

Whether it's the Mayan Ruins of Tulum, Kohunlich, Chacchoben, or Chichen Itza, you're able to purchase tours of these thousand-year-old palaces.

Your visit will involve riding on a bus as well as walking in heat and sun. Start with a pair of strong, comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting a little dirty.

I recommend wearing a T-shirt and shorts, and bring along a jacket; the AC can get cold on the buses.

Don't forget your hat, cameras, sunscreen, water, and sunglasses.

Casual dress code

It's time to unwind on the ship during a sea day, and the dress code is casual.

You're on a cruise vacation, so relax!

Bring along a swimsuit so you can visit the vessel's pools and hot tubs.

Feel free to kick back in golf shirts and Bermuda shorts at breakfast and lunch, or jeans and polos at dinnertime.

Pair these with T-shirts, blouses, or sundresses. You can wear simple, open-toed shoes like flip-flops and sandals.

However, remember that you should keep swimwear to the pool deck only.

Shopping and chocolate-tasting

All the cruise ports in Mexico are near to tourist-marketed shopping areas, selling tequila, hand-crafted sculptures, and other unique souvenirs.

Tours with companies like the Mayan Cacao Company can also teach you about the history of chocolate in the nation, complete with a tasting session and the opportunity to buy some to take home.

A calm shopping day is the perfect opportunity to wear flowing skirts, linen skirts, or long sundresses.

Don't pack too many items—you can purchase hats, sunglasses, and clothing at market stalls.

Formal night 

Royal Caribbean cruises feature a popular formal night, most often celebrated for dinner in the Main Dining Room.

This is your opportunity to go all out. Fancy, black-tie looks like suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses, or evening gowns are acceptable.

Formal night is a great chance to take family photos, so it's common for cruisers to take the dress code seriously.

However, if you want to dress a little less formally, that's fine too. You'll see many guests wearing cocktail dresses or button-up shirts.  Formal night and Dress Your Best night are essentially the same.

White night

Some Caribbean cruises that are 7 nights or longer have a white theme night. During "white night," you can wear any clothing that is all white!

For dinner at a more formal venue, bring a white dress or slacks.

For meals at a more casual venue, like the Windjammer or El Loco Fresh, you can stick to sundresses, white skirts, or white button-up shirts.

Not everyone participates in these theme nights, but they're a fun opportunity to dress up.

Meeting dolphins

Some Caribbean shore excursions bring guests to interact with dolphins, taking photos and even petting them.

Read more: Viral TikTok warns cruisers to avoid these three Caribbean shore excursions

You should wear non-slip shoes, sunglasses, hats, and swimwear or beach attire (I recommend swim shorts or athletic, waterproof clothing).

Depending on the area in which you purchase this tour, sunscreen could be forbidden. The National Marine Park of Cozumel, for example, forbids the use of chemical sun protection.

Check your shore excursion information, and if this is the case, pack a rash guard to protect from the sun.

"RED" nightclub experience

Some sailings have a special "RED" nightclub experience—a special evening where the nightclub takes over Studio B and a resident DJ plays special techno-dance mixes.

The night of this event can be found in your Cruise Compass or on the Royal Caribbean app.

This experience is the perfect opportunity to whip out these fancy cocktails dresses and heels, or cute clubbing outfits.

Wear dressy shoes and accessories, but pair them with a stylish jacket. Studio B also functions as the ice skating rink, and the RED nightclub experience can get chilly!

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise will end on Tuesday, September 10, and one passenger onboard the 9-month cruise has taken to social media to share their thoughts about returning to land. 

TikTok user Dr. Jenny (@drjennytravels) is one of the most well-known social media stars on the world cruise, and she's spent the last 9 months documenting her time onboard. She has over 164,000 followers and has amassed over 1.9 million likes on her videos. 

With less than one week until Royal Caribbean's first-ever world cruise concludes, Dr. Jenny shares her feelings about what it's like to see this once-in-a-lifetime experience end. 

In a video shared on September 3, one day before Serenade of the Seas' arrival in New York, she shows suitcases placed in the hallway. 

"Look at this," she begins, "seven days left...and as you can see, look at all the luggage out here." 

The hallway looks like a cruise ship on the night before disembarkation when guests normally place their suitcases outside their cabins to be collected by the ship's crew. While passengers can carry their bags off, many choose to collect them in the terminal to make disembarking easier. 

Though the world cruise hasn't officially ended, Dr. Jenny explains how some passengers opted to use the "Luggage Forward" service to have their bags shipped home. 

Read more: A passenger on the 9-month cruise is halfway done and lists what they like and don't like about the trip so far

"This is just bizarre," says Dr. Jenny, "We have watched...people put their luggage out here as they've come and gone, but now this is...world cruisers. Sad day." 

She tags another TikTok user in the caption, saying she saw crew members load up some of Angie Linderman's (@Angie) bags!

The video ends positively, though, with Dr. Jenny dancing the night away with friends at the Silent Disco to "all the New York songs."

"Just think 7 days is a normal cruise length," reads one of the top comments. 

"😭 There was something so comforting knowing that somewhere out there, people were getting to see the world one stop at a time. I've enjoyed following along and I can't wait to see what comes next!" says another. 

"I'm feeling sad, anxious, and kind of dreading the end of this adventure"

In another video shared on August 10, Dr. Jenny explains her feelings with one month left of the Ultimate World Cruise. 

While she admits to being upset, she's also optimistic, saying there's still one month of cruising, showcasing her glass half-full mentality. 

"Today, we have friends joining us on the Ultimate World Cruise for this next mini-segment from Copenhagen to Amsterdam," she exclaims, "I'm so excited, this is just the kind of energy I need!"

The Ultimate World Cruise began on December 10, 2023

Since departing nearly 274 days ago, Serenade of the Seas has visited over 55 countries and eight world wonders, including the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, and The Great Barrier Reef. 

The 9-month voyage was divided into four segments, so cruisers who couldn't be on board for the entire cruise could still enjoy parts of the journey: the Ultimate Americas Cruise, the Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise, the Immersive Africa Cruise, and the Ultimate Europe and Beyond Cruise. 

There are just two ports left on the world cruise: Bermuda and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Serenade of the Seas will call at Kings Wharf on September 6, followed by CocoCay on September 9. 

Royal Caribbean cruises are bookable through early 2026, but when will more cruises in 2026 and 2027 be available to book?

Summer 2026 cruises are not open to book yet, along with anything beyond April 2026.

While it may seem strange to book vacations more than 2 years in advance, booking a cruise that far ahead can net some of the best prices.

Booking a cruise early could get you a great room, a competitive rate, or a booking on a rare itinerary that could sell out quickly.

Whatever the reason, here's what you should know about when to expect Royal Caribbean to post new cruises for sale.

Royal Caribbean puts new sailings on sale twice per year

While nothing has officially been announced by Royal Caribbean as to when 2026 cruises will go on sale, based on historical data, it usually occurs on a set schedule.

Royal Caribbean typically has two release cycles: in the fall and again in the spring.

For the last few years, Royal Caribbean has posted their new sailings around:

• November to early December
• February through April

They've stuck to this pattern, even during the cruise industry shutdown of 2020.

Example deployment schedule from last year

Prior to the actual sailings going on sale, Royal Caribbean will post a deployment schedule, which specifies the week (but not day) of release for each block of itineraries. These blocks are grouped by cruise length and region. 

One trick some cruisers have come up with is to follow what sister brand Celebrity Cruises does, as Celebrity is usually ahead of Royal Caribbean in posting new deployments by about a month.

Which new sailings will be released first?

There's no way to know for certain which itineraries will be released in November or December of this year, but based on the pattern from the last few years, it seems like there's a likelihood of certain regions getting posted first.

In 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020, Royal Caribbean opened up new bookings for three regions in November and December:

• Alaska
• Europe
• 7-night Summer Caribbean

In 2023, the first new deployment release came the week of October 30, and then continued through the week of December 4, 2023 (skipping the Thanksgiving holiday week).

The rest of the new itineraries were released in the spring.

It is very important to remember that this is what the cruise line has done in the past, and they may change everything up this year. But since the question of when new bookings will be released is such a common question, this is the best information we have at our disposal. 

Which new sailings will be released in the spring?

After the winter holidays are over, Royal Caribbean gears up to release new itineraries for the rest of the schedule in the spring.

In 2023, new itineraries were posted as early as the week of February 13, 2023. In 2022, the first new itineraries were posted the week of February 21. In 2021, it was posted during the week of February 15.

Just like the fall, you'll get one batch of itineraries posted per week and the process can take all the way until April or May to fully complete.

In the spring, you'll get the bulk of the new itineraries released that fill in the gaps left from the fall.

Short Caribbean cruises, cruises from New York and Baltimore, and long Caribbean cruises are the notable sailings that get posted in the spring.  Australia cruises are also released this time of year.

Why you want to book a 2026 or 2027 cruise as soon as possible

One of the best strategies to get the lowest price on your cruise is to book a cruise early, even two years early.

It may seem crazy to some to book a cruise quite that far in advance, but there are some really good benefits to placing a deposit that early.

At a very basic level, cruise lines increase the price of a sailing as the ship sells out. By booking early, inventory is at its highest, and that usually nets you some of the best prices (especially for suites). 

If you live in certain countries, you're allowed to re-price your cabin and take advantage of a price drop up until the final payment date. This includes the United States and Canada, but there are others too.

Beyond the cost of a cruise, another good reason to book early is to get a specific cabin.

Read more: What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?

There are certain types of cruise ship cabins that sell out quickly, and booking early is almost always the only way to get them.  Suites are usually the first type of cabin category to sell out because there are so few suites onboard.

Keep in mind that suites always have always non-refundable cruise fare, so there's a bit of a risk if you aren't totally certain what your vacation plans will be in two years or more.

Moreover, there could be a specific location you want, such as an aft balcony and once again, booking early can get you the best room location.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

The other really important reason to book so early is because you may want to cruise over a holiday.

Holiday sailings are always competitive. This includes spring break, Christmas, summer, and New Years. If you want to take a cruise during these times of year, you will want to snag a cabin because prices will almost certainly only go up.

When I'm asked, "How far in advance should I book a cruise?", my answer is always as early as you can.  Certainly when new itineraries are published is the ideal time.

The likely plan

At the risk of jinxing the pattern that's been in play for years, the information in this article is my best guess of what we can expect.

Once a deployment schedule is released, I will post a new article with the information on this site, so until then, our fingers are crossed that it will line up as expected.

While there's no way to be absolutely certain of when Royal Caribbean will release new summer cruises, I hope this article gives you a frame of reference of what to expect.

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?

Food is a big deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and there are a few dishes I think you ought to try at least once.

Dishes from sushi and fried rice to milkshakes and hot dogs are available on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 

With the limitless opportunities for both free and extra-cost dining, choosing the best dishes onboard is a hard decision.

Even on a 7-day cruise, you might struggle to taste all the food onboard.

Read more: I spent a week eating on Icon of the Seas. These are the 11 best dishes I ate

What are the best foods and desserts across the fleet? Here are the top 8 dishes you must try.

Black Pepper Bacon Strip

Chops Grille, a quality, high-class specialty steakhouse, is featured on every ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

It is known as one of the most popular and consistent specialty venues on Royal Caribbean's ships.

The strip of bacon is an appetizer at Chops Grille, and it's so much more than your typical piece of cured pork.

The thick strip comes in a sizable portion, a fatty strip of meat covered with black pepper, and a sweet and spicy glaze.

This bacon strip is a tasty, tender dish that you have to try as your appetizer.

You can find it at Chops Grille, on every Royal Caribbean ship.

Read more: Royal Caribbean menus from every restaurant

Kummelweck Sandwich 

Many of our Royal Caribbean readers seek out the kummelweck sandwich as soon as they board their cruise.

The kummelweck, a Western New York tradition, is a warm sandwich with sliced roast beef on a kummelweck roll.

A kummelweck roll has a hard, circular shape and is sprinkled with caraway seeds. Toppings include au jus, horseradish, and mustard.

You can find the kummelweck at the complimentary cafes onboard—Park Café, Café Promenade, or Café Two70.

These cafes are found on Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.

Rib "I" short rib

The Wonderland specialty restaurant is worth trying for its unique, Alice-in-Wonderland-inspired experience.

Guests will be greeted by the Mad Hatter and guided through a culinary experience unlike any other you've seen before.

Each dish is divided into natural elements: sun, fire, ice, earth, and sea.

One of the entrees, within the earth element, is a delicious, luscious Rib "I" short rib.

The short rib is slow-cooked for five hours and served with red and yellow relish, pumpkin sauce, and a beet puree. The generous portion is topped with a Bordelaise sauce made from white wine, onions, beef broth, and butter.

The Wonderland venue is located on Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.

Escargot

Have you ever tried cooked snails?

Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room provides the opportunity for guests to try escargot as part of their complimentary meal.

The baked snails are soaked in garlic and butter and served with a bread roll for dipping.

This salty, savory dish may have the chewy texture of a snail and isn't for everyone. But if you're brave enough to try something new, this is a must-eat dish!

Escargot is served in the Main Dining Room on Welcome Aboard, French Night, The Royal Night, Mexican Night, and British Night. You can check your Cruise Compass or Royal Caribbean to find the days of these themed nights. 

Funnel cake

If your Royal Caribbean cruise stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, you'll have the chance to try free snacks and finger food, including some delicious funnel cake.

The funnel cake can be found at any of the three different Snack Shack locations on the island: near Thrill Waterpark, Oasis Lagoon, or South Beach.

Deep-fried spirals of dough are topped with light powdered sugar, making for a sweet, warm, and greasy treat.

It's the perfect snack or dessert to enjoy by the beach, the pool, or before hopping on an exciting water slide.

Crispy Goat Cheese Salad

Another favorite at Chops Grille is the crispy goat cheese salad. 

The crispy goat cheese is served on top of the salad in a warm, fried ball. 

Topped with cranberries, green apples, candied walnuts, and balsamic dressing, this is an equally delicious and healthy dish.

Chops Grille is located on all Royal Caribbean ships and can be purchased separately or as part of a dining package.

Read more: Chops Grille is the best Royal Caribbean extra-cost restaurant, according to a passenger survey

Campfire Cookie 

Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade is a specialty, sports bar venue that also serves some classic eats, a la carte.

The campfire cookie is the venue's most popular dessert, a chocolate chip cookie topped with marshmallows.

The first layer is a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie that's been baked in a skillet. It is topped with a generous layer of toasted marshmallows and served with Nutella and caramel sauce.

The dessert also comes with a side of vanilla ice cream and milk shooters.

Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade is located on Freedom of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.

Lobster Tail

Lobster night is one of the most popular nights to dine in the Main Dining Room for dinner.

The Maine lobster has become so popular with cruisers that Royal Caribbean started charging for extra servings.

It is a delicious broiled lobster tail served with melted butter—the waiter will crack and extricate the lobster from its shell for you. 

The lobster served in the Main Dining Room on Royal Night is complimentary (one per person), but you can optionally order an extra cost lobster tail any night from the Main Dining Room.  That lobster tail comes from the Chops menu.

Read more: 7 reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room on your cruise 

You can also find lobster served at Hooked specialty restaurant and the Coco Beach Club restaurant at Royal Caribbean's private island.

The hottest trend in cruising today isn't a new bar, beach, or waterslide; it's hiding rubber ducks.

What began as a small group of people looking to share their enthusiasm about going on a cruise has grown into a global phenomenon with at least a few people on every Royal Caribbean hiding ducks and many others seeking them out.

It's almost like an oral tradition passed down through social media, where someone goes on a cruise and sees others hiding and seeking rubber ducks, thinks its a fun idea, and then subsequently tries it on their next cruise.

The appeal of this activity is hard to describe until you see it in action on a cruise ship.

Essentially, some guests take it upon themselves to purchase small rubber ducks and then hide them around the ship for others to find. Some ducks are purposefully not-so-well-hidden, while others are truly placed in odd spots.

The idea is to provide a "thrill of the hunt" for other guests, primarily children. Parents seem to get into the spirit of it as well.

While sailing on 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise in Europe on Anthem of the Seas, it became clear to me hiding ducks on a cruise ship is not just an American thing. It's gone global.

Loz Griffin posted in the Facebook group for my sailing, "Is anyone hiding ducks on this cruise. We are. And we have LOADS. Can't wait."

That sparked over a dozen other people to respond they would be participating too, and for the duration of the sailing, most of the posts were seemingly about people either hiding ducks or looking for clues as to where their kids could find a hidden duck.

Lisa Hunke shared how it started for her, "My husband thought I was out of my mind when I was getting my ducks ready for our Icon cruise this past February."

"He ended up hiding more of them than I did and was always on the look out for hidden ones."

Why do people hide rubber ducks?

Hiding rubber ducks on a cruise is a relatively new trend in cruising, and it seems it began on Facebook.

The Facebook group "Cruising Ducks™ -Original group" claims it began with a 10 year old girl named Abby.

The idea was to give Abby something fun to do during her sailing, "a cute and entertaining way  to have a blast on cruises and to brighten others days."

This particular group not only encouraged the hiding of ducks, but for those that found the duck to share a photo of their duck in the group so that everyone could see the journey the duck had made.

As of the writing of this article, the Facebook group has over 280,000 members.

Inside the group, there's inspiration for others to find creative looking ducks. Some people go beyond traditional cheap plastic ducks, and hide ornate ducks.

Jheri Mauai shared a photo of the 250 bedazzled ducks that will be hidden soon on a cruise ship.

One man actually prints his own ducks, creating glow-in-the-dark, giant, and very creative ducks.

"Cris the Cruising Duck Man" is his online moniker, and he shares his latest creations.

I sailed with Cris on Icon and Liberty of the Seas earlier this year, and he has a backpack full of ducks he keeps with him to hide.

When questioned why someone would hide a duck in the first place, Rense Dunn responded, "for the kids if you see their faces when they find them. Priceless!"

Pam Mull added, "[it's] just for fun. Everyone enjoys finding them and reading the tags & seeing where they come from."

Not everyone loves the fad

While most people seem indifferent to hiding ducks at worst, there are some cruisers that really despise the trend.

The issue some people have with hiding ducks is where they get hidden, such as in-between plants that get rustled in the process.  Or someone hiding a duck in non-public space, such a restaurant.

Mike Simmons commented, "When I see one, or 5, or 20; now they're my ducks and they love to be re-hidden in the various garbage cans."

Laurie Bridges shared two issues with hiding ducks, "I do not like seeing the tiny ducks in places that small children can find them, as they're a choking hazard."

"It's also pretty disgusting to see one that has a tag attached that advertises a couple looking for others with whom to swing/swap. Yes, we've actually seen that."

How to find ducks on your cruise

The basics are simple, walk around public areas of your cruise ship and keep an eye out for a bright yellow rubber duck.

Most people attach a card to each duck they hide, as a kind of "calling card" to not only identify who hid it, but provide the rules because there's a good chance someone will find it without knowing about this new activity.

If someone stumbles across a duck, they can then either keep them, or re-hide for someone else to find.

Passengers like to hide ducks among plants, on top of signs, or in crevices. 

In my experience, most of the ducks get hidden towards the beginning of the cruise, so if you or your family are hunting for them, seek them out early, especially on a sea day.

Another strategy is to join the Facebook group for your particular Royal Caribbean sailing, as those that hide ducks tend to announce when they're releasing their flock.

Some people will ask in the group about if there are more ducks hidden and for clues as well.  Younger children can sometimes struggle with finding them, so clues can help.

How to hide ducks on your cruise

If this sounds like just the kind of fun you want to try, getting started is pretty easy.

Most people buy a batch of ducks on Amazon, such as this batch of 100 ducks that come with name tags and rubber bands. (Note: this link contains an affiliate link, which means we make a commission but costs you nothing extra!)

Then it's up to you how involved you want to be with sharing this experience.  You could join your sailing's Facebook group or even the Cruising Ducks group.

There are some basic guidelines people that hide ducks tend to follow. Avoid areas where they could blow overboard, as well as pools, hot tubs or inside stores or restaurants.