Royal Caribbean Blog

Cruise lines are constantly in a chess match to outdo each other, and Royal Caribbean is betting it has a super move up its sleeve.

Just like how an auto manufacturer might implement a feature not available on other brands vehicles, Royal Caribbean is poised to outdo other cruise lines with an offering they think will get a lot of attention.

Ironically, their next big investment is in the very thing they have traditionally competed against: fun on land.

Two different beach clubs are going to be built, with one opening in 2025 and 2026. These aren't traditional cruise line private islands that are open to all passengers onboard and included with the cruise fare. This will be something above and beyond that.

Royal Caribbean will open its first Royal Beach Club in Nassau, Bahamas in summer 2025, followed by its second beach club to open in Cozumel, Mexico in 2026.

Differences between the mega cruise ship lines can be subtle, but these beach clubs are about standing out from the pack and drawing in new customers with something no one else can offer.

Solving customer needs

Before you step foot in any of these clubs, the rationale for offering a beach club is about targeting two key markets for Royal Caribbean.

The first beach club opens in one of the most highly visited and poorly rated cruise ports in the world, Nassau. 

Nassau consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of customer satisfaction among Royal Caribbean customers, even though it's located close to the United States and many cruise ships visit it.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said the issue Nassau faces is it lacks special things to do that are also original.

Because it's so frequently visited, passengers find the choices of what to do in port limiting and uninspiring.

Royal Caribbean wanted to solve this problem because not going to Nassau really isn't an option.  The line brought more than 1.6 million visitors to the Nassau cruise port in 2023.

In April 2023, Mr. Bayley talked about this need to improve shore excursion choices for their customers, "We want to improve the experience of our guests. We can’t keep selling experiences to people who say we love going to Perfect Day, it’s fantastic, we want to go back, but the Nassau thing, can you guys stop going there? We can’t do that, so yeah, we want to be a part of the solution."

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Construction is underway to build and open Royal Caribbean's answer to its customer's issues with Nassau.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in summer 2025 on a 17-acre site that is right across from where all the cruise ships dock. Not only is it prime real estate, it's a a shining beacon to every other cruise line what they're missing out on.

Royal Caribbean wants to offer an unparalleled beach experience in a prime spot, exclusively to its customers.

Royal Beach Clubs are limited access and have an extra cost to them. This means only a few thousands Royal Caribbean guests will be able to visit it each day, and it will not be included in the base cruise fare.

About 2,000 people will be able to purchase a pass each day. No word yet on how much admission will cost.

Once inside, guests can enjoy three pools with swim-up bars, live music, two beaches, four restaurants serving local food.

The club is also going to incorporate Bahamian culture in an industry first cooperative effort to give back to the people of The Bahamas with a revenue sharing agreement that gives up to 49% equity.

It's expected the beach club will generate hundreds of jobs between the construction and long-term operation.  Plus, there will be a new tourism levy that will fund reinvesting in the local community. 

Once open, the beach club will offer something fresh and different, not only in Nassau, but among the entire industry too.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel

The second part of Royal Caribbean's plan is to open another beach club in 2026 on the other side of the Caribbean in Cozumel, Mexico.

Cozumel is another traditionally popular cruise port, but unlike Nassau, doesn't have the low rating problem.  However, the club addresses a different need.

Royal Caribbean is investing in many places, including Galveston, Texas.  While Florida may be the capital of cruising, Galveston is quickly becoming a rival hot spot, with newer and bigger ships sailing from Texas.  In fact, Royal Caribbean built a massive new cruise terminal that can handle the largest cruise ships in the world.

The issue with cruises from Galveston has been a lack of port variety. In order to meet the typical week-long vacation window most Americans abide by, cruise ships sailing from Galveston are relegated to the same Western Caribbean cruise ports, including Cozumel.

A Royal Beach Club in Cozumel gives Royal Caribbean passengers something different, and a familiar face in a crowded room of things to do.

Just like Nassau, the beach club in Cozumel will combine great views, with great access to water.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider described the club as having, "great beach, great pool, great food, great service."

The Cozumel club will offer swim-up bars, pools cabanas to rent, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.

Full details haven't been released yet, but there have been hints both beach clubs are going to truly stand out as more than "just another beach" to visit.

Combining new destinations and new ships

The new beach clubs dove tail right into the launch of three new cruise ships that Royal Caribbean thinks will offer the very best vacation choice in the market.

Icon of the Seas launched earlier this year to become the world's largest cruise ship, and has earned incredible accolades for setting a new standard for cruise ships.

Utopia of the Seas also launched this year, and while not as innovative as Icon, she is arguably the top choice for a short weekend cruise.

Next year, Star of the Seas will join the fleet and sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. The sister to Icon of the Seas, Star will will be a follow-up that seeks to capitalize on Icon's success while introducing a few improvements.

Royal Caribbean seems to think combing the very best cruise ships with the very best destinations is how they'll win over thousands of people who have never taken a cruise before. To borrow a term from the military, it looks like a lot of "shock and awe" to stand out from any other choice.

Royal Caribbean has gained a well-deserved reputation for offering some of the best cruises worldwide.

Over the last year, I've sailed eight Royal Caribbean cruises, and seen firsthand how the cruise line excels.

The Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards named Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line Overall, Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean, and Best Cruise Line Entertainment.

With 28 ships in the fleet and more on the way, business is booming.

According to Royal Caribbean's CEO, it's selling more staterooms than ever.

Cruisers are buying their Royal Caribbean cruises at higher prices, and further in advance.

Its prices may be higher than other cruise lines (especially depending on the sailing) but I think you get great value for your money and the cruise is worth it in the long run.

Over the past year, I've learned and come to love the reasons why the cruise line is so popular.

1. Quality service from hard working crew members

Royal Caribbean's crew members go above and beyond.

The level of service onboard a Royal Caribbean ship can shock a newcomer to the cruise line.

You'll receive a personal stateroom attendant who cleans the cabin at least once a day (twice for suites).

If you choose to dine in the Main Dining Room, you'll be served by a waiter and an assistant waiter.

Bartenders come around to the pools for personal drink service, handing them directly to you so you don't even have to lift a finger.

Crew members onboard Royal Caribbean ships ensure excellent service that ensures a pleasant and memorable cruise.

Read more: This Royal Caribbean crew member reminds cruise ship passengers to wash their hands and has a cult-like following of fans

2. Diverse dining & cuisine

Although food is completely subjective, many cruisers enjoy Royal Caribbean's dining options.

The Main Dining Room offers complimentary, hot meals served in a formal setting.

Read more: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience

The Windjammer Buffet has separate stations (usually at least 5) that offer various dishes for every meal.

Complimentary venues like El Loco Fresh and Cafe Promenade also offer a variety of dishes.

No matter your preference, you'll be able to find a quality cuisine onboard.

Splurging on a specialty restaurant also earns even tastier food, from the classic Chops Grill to delicious Izumi Hibachi and Sushi.

Read more: I spent a week on the world's largest cruise ship, the free food was the best of any Royal Caribbean ship

3. World class entertainment

Royal Caribbean has won countless awards for its ship entertainment, and I'm always stunned by the shows onboard.

The cruise line is one of the few that offers full-length Broadway productions. These include fan favorites like CATS, Mamma Mia!, and Grease.

Oasis Class and Icon Class ships with AquaTheaters have amazing water shows that combine synchronized swimming, high-diving, acrobatics, and other talented performers, alongside a marvelous soundtrack.

Royal Caribbean ships also have ice-skating shows, live music, magic shows, comedians, and original productions, all available for free during your cruise.

4. Great loyalty program benefits

The Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, is one of the best among cruise lines.

It rewards guests even for sailing just a few nights onboard.

After signing up for the program, guests receive one point for every night they sail on a Royal Caribbean ship (two points for solo and suite guests).

At just three points, they'll become a gold member, and receive benefits such as:

• 10% off a glass of wine, soda, or beer
• 25% off any coffee beverage (excluding Starbucks)
• 50% off a Johnny Rockets milkshake
• 50% off any glass of wine, beer or soda
• Access to a private departure lounge
• 10% off any Internet package purchased onboard
• $2 Casino Royale FreePlay
• 10% off any spa service (excluding Medi-Spa services)

Not only that, but Royal Caribbean International also offers status matching across all its brands.

If you earn points on a Royal Caribbean ship, you'll receive equivalent benefits while sailing with Celebrity or SilverSea Cruises.

5. Pools and amenities

Your Royal Caribbean cruise fare will include access to the ship's pool deck, including lounge chairs, hot tubs, water slides, and aqua parks.

Royal Caribbean ships have a stunning pool area, complete with hot tubs, comfortable chairs, plentiful bars, and usually some fun activities, such as live music, dance classes, or belly flop competitions.

The Solarium pool area, an indoor section with additional pools and hot tubs, has no extra cost but it is limited to guests 18 and over.

Some ships also have a suites-only pool area, which can only be accessed by guests staying in suites.

Included amenities also include the fitness center, jogging track, and sports court onboard.

6. Complimentary childcare at Adventure Ocean

Active, educational kids programming is also included in your cruise fare.

From its opening in the morning until 10 P.M., Adventure Ocean is free for children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old.

From 10 P.M. to 2 A.M., there is an hourly cost for kid's care.

The programming is tailored to each age group, with kids taking part in fun, social activities led by the staff.

Some ships offer more social programming, such as games and scavenger hunts. Others have science labs and craft workshops.

Teens (ages 12 to 17) have access to a teen club and hangout area, where they can spend time and meet one another.

For babies between 6 and 36 months old, there is a Royal Babies and Tots program. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have a nursery that comes at an hourly charge.

7. Perfect Day at CocoCay, a private island in the Bahamas

Any Royal Caribbean cruise that includes a stop at Perfect Day at Cococay on its itinerary offers free access to this stunning tropical island.

Located in the Bahamas, Royal Caribbean's private island spans 120 acres and offers free beaches, activities, and amenities.

This ideal private island experience includes multiple beaches, a waterpark, a large freshwater pool, a beach club, a zip line, free tram services, and much more.

Guests on the island can pick their favorite activities to enjoy, from snorkeling to beach volleyball.

8. Limitless onboard activities

If you're looking for fun, unique activities to try for free, Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line for you.

Its ships include signature activities that are included in your cruise fare, such as:

• The FlowRider surf simulator
• Rock climbing wall
• Mini golf
• Waterslides
• Ziplining
• Bumper cars
• Ice skating
• Laser tag
• The Ultimate Abyss dry slide
• Aqua parks

Games and parties also abound onboard, including dance parties, movie nights, trivia, scavenger hunts, pool games, and nightclub events.

A look at any Cruise Compass reveals so many free activities all over the ship.

9. Stunning mega-ships

Another draw to Royal Caribbean's fleet is its stunning mega-ships and technological feats.

Every year, the cruise line breaks a new record with the largest cruise ships in the world, the largest dry slides at sea, and so on.

Read more: How cruise ships got so big

Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's latest feet, is currently the biggest cruise ship in the world at 250,800 gross tons.

The vessel features 20 decks, with a capacity for nearly 10,000 people onboard (including passengers and crew members).

The floating theme park has a water park, spa, casino, shopping mall, arcade, gym, three theaters, seven pools, 20 dining venues, and 15 bars.

Sailing on these ships grants you bragging rights as well as the opportunity to enjoy a new, high-tech vacation.

10. Quality staterooms, from two-story to small

Your cruise experience is completely adjustable, varying based on your preferences, priorities, and budget.

To help meet every cruiser's needs, Royal Caribbean offers a large range of cabin categories.

Icon of the Seas, for instance, has 28 distinct stateroom categories.

From cheaper, windowless interior cabins to huge, two-story suites with multiple bedrooms, there's something for everyone.

No matter your choice, each Royal Caribbean stateroom comes with a set of basic amenities: a bed that can split into two, a private bathroom and shower, a vanity, a safe, a mini-fridge, a closet, and a small TV.

I fell in love with cruising before my first child was born, so when we started having kids, taking them with us was a natural fit.

My two kids are now 13 and 9 years old, and I've taken them on enough Royal Caribbean cruises that my oldest has well over 400 points on her own in the Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program. We've cruised around the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, and we're headed to Europe next summer for the first time with them.

Traveling with kids changes the dynamics, and I've learned a lot of lessons along the way.

In all those years, here are the biggest travel mistakes I've made with my kids, from when they were babies and toddlers to teenagers.

I should have cruised more after they were old enough to cruise

Babies need to be at least six months old to be able to sail on most Royal Caribbean cruises, and I wish I took advantage of the first six months of eligibility more.

When babies are in their first year, they're in their "goldfish stage" of life where they are there mostly to observe.  They can't crawl, can't talk, and they're mostly along for the ride.

The advantage of this age is you can do more with them onboard without much impact to your own plans.  

Kids change everything about your life, and that becomes very apparent as they get older and you start to incorporate their personalities into your plans. But in that first year, I feel like you can take them along more since they are still super dependent on you.

While babies seem to come with more supplies than an army regiment, I think we stayed home too much early on.

Not packing enough baby supplies

On one early cruise we took with my oldest daughter, we learned you go through many more supplies on a ship than at home.

We actually ran out of baby formula and ended up making a run to a supermarket in Cozumel, Mexico to get more.  Because the baby formula brands are different there, it left us a bit uneasy with what to purchase.

Part of why we ran low on formula was because the nursery on the ship seemed to feed her more often, and also because we tried to time feedings with when we were at a restaurant onboard.

On top of that, babies just go through a lot of clothing on a cruise and it was eye opening how much more we really needed. 

As a result, we packed double the baby supplies what we thought we would need. It seemed overkill, but the peace of mind of having enough was worth it.

Not slowing down my cruise pace earlier to cruise at their pace

As my kids got older and could walk, "talk", and swim, I learned we had to adjust our cruise expectations.

Because I had started cruising before I had kids, I developed my own rhythm to my onboard plans. But on one cruise, we got to the second day and things were not going well. It seemed like we were butting heads with my daughter about everything.

In frustration, I called my mom to vent and she taught me an important lesson of sometimes you have to take it down a notch and move at her schedule, even if it means not doing what I want to do.

So we skipped our plans the next day and let my daughter splash around in the aqua park, take a full nap, and have plenty of food breaks.

While not the most super adventurous cruise I ever took, we all had a better day overall. I learned my wife and I could enjoy having a cocktail while my daughter played and our evenings were better if a nap happened instead of trying to "power through it".

There's nothing wrong with making grandiose plans, but you also need to keep things simple.

Not calling the nursery during the day for more breaks

Royal Caribbean's onboard nursery is the best money I've ever spent on a cruise, but I wish I took advantage of it earlier on.

The nursery is small and has limited slots for kids. So when you register them, there aren't a lot of reservations you can make in advance.  On the surface, that sounds like you have only a few times to get your kids in there.

The truth is you can always call and ask if they have openings. I found in the daytime especially, they had a lot of no-shows or open slots.

My favorite strategy was when it was time to feed our kids and put them down for a nap to call the nursery first and ask if they had an opening. During the day, I think it almost always worked (most passengers preferred to bring their kids to the nursery for dinner) and we'd tell them to call us after the nap is over.

In many cases, even after the nap, our daughters loved hanging out in there and we'd have some extra time.  

By taking advantage of this strategy, we got more time for my wife and I to go to the pool, hit the casino, or enjoy one of the activities onboard.

Not pushing for more days away from school in early grades

When I was kid, being taken out of school for a day or two (or even a week) was no big deal. Now, it's a major faux pas to have more than a few unexcused absences.

Part of that is because of how much group learning kids do compared to when I was in school, but I really wish I pushed more for days away when the kids were in elementary school.

As my kids have gotten older, the workload at school has increased to the point that I can see why pulling them is a mistake. But in Kindergarten through second grade, it would have had less of a detrimental impact on their learning and grades.

Fighting my kids on what they eat or don't eat on a cruise

Every parent probably struggles with getting their kids to finish their meals, but I wish I had an epiphany about kids eating earlier.

I remember being in the Main Dining Room with one of my kids and struggling to get her to eat whatever she ordered. It then occurred to me, why do I care?

At home, the food costs money and if we make something else, it requires more effort to cook, clean, and serve. But on a ship, there's a buffet and other quick service food choices around. So I'm not hard pressed to ensure they eat the one dish they ordered. If they want Sorrento's pizza, c'est la vie.

After all, they're on vacation too, and if they eat quesadillas from El Loco Fresh, pizza, and whatever else they deem good, that's fine. I'll let us both enjoy the culinary détente, and resume hostilities back at home.

Two cabins is a must

As my kids got older, the need for an extra bathroom and sleeping separation became more and more apparent.

Sharing a cabin with your kids when they are toddlers makes sense since there's a lot of back and forth, but as they get older, I've found for sanity sake, it's a relief having two cabins.

Booking two cabins might sound expensive, but I've found booking two smaller connecting cabins is around the same price as a single larger cabin. This is especially true when comparing it against a suite.

I can't recommend enough to book two connecting cabins when you're cruising with kids so you can have a full bathroom for them. The shower alone is worth it, given how my girls use the shower as a karaoke room, makeup studio, and sauna.

I would caution against booking adjoining rooms because having the common door in-between that comes with a connecting room is well worth it.

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You can bid to upgrade your cruise ship cabin, but how much does it take to win?

The RoyalUp program is Royal Caribbean's bidding program, in which cruisers can bid on a higher stateroom category than the one they booked.

We asked our readers to share if they've ever won a RoyalUp bid, and how much it took to get that stateroom upgrade.

These upgrades come at a lower price than simply upgrading to a better stateroom, making it an attractive and exciting option for getting a good deal.

Essentially, passengers browse through the website page and select the amount they'd be willing to pay to upgrade to a certain cabin category.

The sliding scale reveals how likely you are to get a cabin based on the bid amount. 

The higher the bid amount, the more likely you are to get your upgrade, but the final decision rests on multiple factors.

Whether they upgraded to a balcony, Junior Suite, or Grand Suite, many of our readers shared a winning story.

Boardwalk balcony—$125

Kelseylovestocruise shared that she upgraded from an interior stateroom to a Boardwalk balcony cabin on Harmony of the Seas.

She placed her bid for $125, and it was listed as the lowest amount possible. She still won the bid!

Many cruisers debate if a passenger's Crown and Anchor Society status influences their wins in the RoyalUp program—it's still unclear.

Kelsey was only at Platinum when she was upgraded on her Harmony sailing.

Oceanview infinite balcony—$170

CanHardlyWait had booked an interior guarantee cabin on an Icon of the Seas sailing, then decided to bid the minimum amount on 5 different cabin categories.

To ensure he received his desired category, CanHardlyWait would check cabin availability by doing mock bookings on the website.

By determining that the ship wasn't filling up very fast, he realized he would be able to easily upgrade with the minimum amount.

He won an Oceanview infinite balcony on Icon of the Seas for the minimum bid of $170.

However, CanHardlyWait added that: "Compared to stories I have researched it seems like this trip is an exception to the rule. I would say lack of initial interest in infinite balconies played a factor."

Oceanview balcony—$200

User Bazza was sailing on a 14-night Grandeur of the Seas cruise when they decided to bid around $200 (£175) for an Oceanview balcony, upgrading from a GTY oceanview cabin.

The price was just over the minimum bid amount, and they were granted the Oceanview balcony a month before the sailing.

"Best value cruise so far!" Bazza wrote.

Read more: I spent $250 to upgrade my cruise ship cabin: Was it worth it?

Spacious panoramic oceanview—$30

Ampurp85 has played it close on their cruises: "I have only won on minimums, and I am 2/2 on winning bids."

On Mariner of the Seas, Ampurp85 bid the minimum of $30 per person for a Spacious panoramic oceanview and won, upgrading from an interior to the larger oceanview cabin.

At that time, they were Emerald status in the Crown and Anchor Society.

Oceanview balcony—$70

On an Oasis of the Seas cruise in 2023, Ampurp85 had made it to Diamond status and made another winning bid.

Originally, they were sailing in an interior cabin but decided to bid the minimum of $300 per person on an Oceanview balcony cabin.

However, the minimums later dropped, and Ampurp85 canceled that first bid, and placed the new minimum bid of $70 per person and "15 mins after I placed the new bid I had won."

Spacious balcony cabin—$200

User smost bid just a little above the minimum for a spacious balcony cabin.

They had initially booked an interior stateroom on Mariner of the Seas and decided to bid $200. At that time, the minimum was $160, so this price was just above the cheapest bid.

Read more: How can you win that Royal Up stateroom upgrade bid? It's pure luck

2 days before the sailing, they got the notification that they'd won the upgrade.

Grand Suite—$1,500

After first booking an oceanview balcony on Ovation of the Seas, Ryansox decided to bid for an upgrade.

He bid $1,000, the maximum bid for a Junior Suite, and expected to get that.

However, he also bid $1,500 for a Grand Suite, and "To our surprise, we won the Grand Suite."

Although that may sound like a steep price, Ryansox said that Grand Suites were going for $11,000 through actual bookings.

Instead of booking the Grand Suite directly, he got the room for around $5,000 altogether.

That meant all the benefits (except for double Crown and Anchor Society points) for less than half the price!

Junior Suite—$100

In preparation for a Greek Isles cruise in 2022, Va4fam decided to upgrade from an oceanview balcony.

The minimum bid was $90, and they went ahead and put down $100. With that nearly minimum bid, they won the Junior Suite!

"The rooms were spacious and had great balconies," Va4fam commented.

Oceanview with Large Balcony—$50 

FionaMG booked an oceanview guarantee cabin on Anthem of the Seas. After seeing that she'd been assigned a stateroom far forward, she bid the minimum amount for a different oceanview cabin.

By doing a mock booking on the website, she saw that there was more inventory left in the large balcony category, so decided to bid the minimum amount for an oceanview cabin with a large balcony.

More than a month before the sail date and just a few days after the bid, she received her acceptance through email.

Icon Loft Suite—$1,625

The most expensive suite on Icon of the Seas starts at around $2,000 a night per person.

jenushkask8s managed to get the Icon Loft Suite through a RoyalUp bid.

After booking a 1-bedroom Grand Suite, she bid the minimum amount of $1625 for the Icon Loft Suite.

The Grand Suites on Icon of the Seas are currently priced at around $1,090 per person, per day.

So jenushkask8s upgraded to the Icon Loft Suite for a price that saved her around $700 per day, per person.

I booked a cruise to one of the world’s most jaw-dropping destinations, but my balcony’s view was blocked by a bright orange lifeboat.

Would you ever book an obstructed view cabin on a cruise? These cabins, while identical to others on the inside, have a partially blocked view of the outdoors. Most commonly, the obstruction is caused by a lifeboat or other structural element on the ship.

Obstructed staterooms are frequently noted as “cabins to avoid” by cruise experts, and the partial view can be an unwelcome sight on a special vacation, especially if you didn’t expect it.

Having been on nearly thirty cruises, I always tried to avoid obstructed cabins. Yet on a recent 7-night cruise to Norway aboard Celebrity Silhouette, it was the only balcony option within my budget.

I figured any view was better than no view at all, so I gave it a shot as I sailed through Norway’s majestic fjords.

This is what it was really like to cruise in an obstructed balcony cabin, and whether or not I would do it again.

Originally I booked an interior cabin for my Norwegian fjords cruise. Five months before the sailing, I regretted my decision

As someone who cruises on a budget, I typically book interior cabins. While there’s nothing fancy about a closet-sized cabin without a window, the savings of the cheapest option are hard to beat.

When I originally booked my Celebrity Silhouette cruise to Norway, I booked an interior cabin for $1,830. The price included the cruise fare for two adults along with taxes, port fees, and gratuities.

Related: Inside cabin vs. balcony cabin on a cruise ship

While booking the cruise, I really wanted to book a balcony room, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t in the budget. I knew my cruise to Norway would incur additional expenses compared to a cruise departing from North America.

My airfare would be more expensive and, given the distance from home, I also wanted to budget for a few extra days in the Netherlands—the embarkation country—after the cruise ended. Additionally, Norway is one of the world’s most expensive destinations, so I needed to make sure I could budget for shore excursions, souvenirs, and food in port, too.

In the months leading up to my sailing, though, I started to regret my decision to be as cheap as possible. Cruises to Norway offer spectacular views not only in port, but also when sailing from place to place through the fjords.

I didn’t want to miss out on any of the beauty while in my windowless cabin, but I knew I wouldn’t want to spend the whole cruise on outdoor public decks, either.

Unfortunately, no regular balconies were available—my only economical choice was the obstructed option

I toyed with the idea of upgrading to a balcony for a few days, and I emailed my travel agent for options. Yet with just five months left before my sail date, she informed me that there were no more standard balcony cabins available.

Instead, I had two options.

The first was the obstructed cabin, which Celebrity calls a Partial View Veranda. For the week, this cabin would cost $2,686, or $856 extra compared to my interior cabin. It came with all the same amenities and perks as the cabin I already booked, aside from the addition of a balcony.

The second, and more expensive option, was a non-obstructed balcony cabin in Celebrity’s Aqua Class. At $3,723 for the week—$1,893 more than the interior room—the cabin included perks like meals at an exclusive restaurant, Blu, and complimentary access to the thermal suite.

Related: Celebrity Cruises guide: Ships, itineraries, tips & more

Still budget-conscious, the decision was a no-brainer for me. Paying $856 extra for an obstructed balcony didn’t seem outrageous. I figured that any view was worth it when cruising around somewhere as wonderful as Norway.

On embarkation day, I was worried the view would be completely blocked by a lifeboat

Obstructed view cabins vary greatly from cruise line to cruise line, and even from ship to ship within a particular line.

Sometimes there’s no telling how badly your view will be obstructed. Deck plans only tell you so much, and unless you’re lucky enough to find a video tour of your specific cabin online, you might be walking into the room blindly.

As I boarded Celebrity Silhouette in Rotterdam, I felt nervous. Would the $856 I spent on the Partial View Veranda be worth it, or would the view be completely ruined by an obstruction?

Fortunately, the view was less obstructed than I thought it would be

As I walked into cabin 6186 for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I could see from my obstructed view balcony.

As I expected, a lifeboat was in front of my balcony, but the balcony was a few feet higher than the lifeboat. Because of this, there were no major obstructions when standing on the balcony and looking toward the horizon.

Related: 8 reasons a balcony cabin is worth it to book on a cruise

Sitting on the balcony’s loungers, however, gave a more obstructed view—the lifeboats were directly in line with my eyesight. Additionally, looking straight down was not possible due to the lifeboat.

I did notice that the heights of the lifeboats differed from each other, and mine was slightly higher than the lifeboat next door.

Nevertheless, I was happy the view was only partially obstructed. Sure, that giant lifeboat would always be in view, but given its height, I felt confident it would never be completely in the way of Norway’s scenery.

Inside, I found the cabin cozy and spacious

Aside from the balcony, my cabin’s overall condition was excellent. The room had a good amount of walking space, but I wished there were more storage options and additional outlets to charge my electronics.

When I cruise in interior cabins, I try to spend as little time as possible in my room. There’s really no reason to hang out in a dark, windowless stateroom, so I'm usually in the cabin only to shower, sleep, and change.

Yet when I cruise in balcony cabins, I spend a lot of time in the room. I love having a private outdoor space to call my own, so much so that I have to force myself to leave the cabin to try other activities onboard.

Because of this, I was happy to see that my cabin on Celebrity Silhouette was relatively modern and well-kept. The light furnishings kept the room bright, and I loved having a sofa next to the balcony door so I could enjoy the views from the warmth of my room.

The bathroom was roomier than most cruise bathrooms I've stayed in, and because Celebrity is a premium cruise line, it came stocked with body wash, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.

Related: 7 bathroom hacks to use in your cruise ship cabin

I had minimal complaints with my cabin overall, but I wish the room had more storage space and better outlet locations.

Storage was limited, with only four drawers near the desk and two shelves above the bed (which I found hard to reach). There were no shelves in the closet, so it only worked for hanging clothing, making the space less functional. As far as outlets, the only ones in the cabin were near the desk, which was not convenient for charging my phone at night.

Despite the few faults, I was still happy with my choice to book an obstructed view cabin as we set sail toward Norway.

Having a balcony enhanced my Norwegian fjords experience, but the obstruction wasn’t totally ideal

As Celebrity Silhouette approached Norway, it was officially time to put my obstructed balcony cabin to the test. While I did not mind the slight obstruction on our first sea day, I was curious whether the lifeboat would seem more cumbersome while sailing through the Norwegian fjords.

After four port days in Norway, I came to the conclusion that the upgrade to a balcony was still worth it even if it came with a few downsides.

I won’t lie—if I sat on the chairs on my balcony, the view was more obstructed than I would have preferred. At eye level, most of my view was blocked by not only the lifeboat, but also the balcony railing.

Most of the time, therefore, I preferred standing near the railing to watch the scenery.

When doing so, I didn’t feel as if the lifeboat made my view any “worse” than what I could have seen with a regular balcony.

I also appreciated the natural light the balcony brought into the room, and watching the scenery from my bed was incredibly relaxing.

That being said, I still headed to the ship’s upper decks from time to time for a more complete view. Even though I had my own private balcony, there’s no denying that the outdoor decks provided a more panoramic view of the Norwegian fjords.

Whereas my balcony had views on one side of the ship, I could see scenery on both sides of the ship from Celebrity Silhouette’s upper decks. I could also take better landscape pictures from these decks, as the lifeboats were always in the way when I took photos from my balcony.

I wouldn’t hesitate to book an obstructed cabin again, but I’d pick a regular balcony first

All in all, the cabin was far less obstructed than I initially thought. While not everything was perfect about my Partial View Veranda, it was still a worthy investment. At $856 extra, upgrading from an interior room to the obstructed balcony wasn’t a budget-breaker, and it certainly enhanced my cruise overall.

If I had to pick between an obstructed balcony and a regular balcony, I would, without a doubt, choose a regular balcony. When checking prices on Celebrity’s website, I noticed that the price difference between the two cabin categories is often negligible. Sometimes, it’s even the same price!

I could see choosing the obstructed view if it were several hundred dollars cheaper, or if it was the only balcony option available. If a regular balcony was available for the same price, there would be no reason to book an obstructed view.

In my scenario, I didn’t have an option due to the fact that I decided to upgrade just a few months before my sail date. Even still, I do not have any regrets about booking the obstructed balcony cabin, and I would book it again if it were the only option.

Norway was even more stunning than I could have ever imagined, and I relished every opportunity I could to view the country’s extravagant landscapes—lifeboat in the way or not.

How do you top an already record setting cruise ship? Royal Caribbean has big plans for its next big ship to follow up on Icon of the Seas' incredible success.

Star of the Seas will launch in August 2025 and be the second Icon Class ship in the fleet. Royal Caribbean isn't content with making a carbon copy of Icon, as they've outlined key areas how the next ship will be different.

The new cruise ship will offer 7-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida to destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Just like Icon, Star will be packed with lots to do for everyone, leaning heavily into the family cruise segment.

Picking a homeport less than an hour from the tourist hub of Orlando is no coincidence. Royal Caribbean wants to bring the world's best family vacation to one of the biggest family markets.

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, said his team took a deep dive into the incredible success of Icon of the Seas to find ways to go beyond that with Star, "we've looked at Star and we've kind of identified a series of big focus areas for us through that lens of ship destination and home port."

Doubling down on family

Royal Caribbean has made it no secret the Icon Class ships are positioned to be direct competition to land vacations in Orlando at Walt Disney World.

Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral in order to draw families away from a typical land trip and instead take a cruise.

Mr. Schneider said one goal has been making the family component of Star of the Seas even better for families, "the first focus area has been really doubling down on youth and family."

Surfside is an entire neighborhood designed with kids in mind and Royal Caribbean has a few ways they'll make it even better.

Fundamentally, they're going to make Surfside appeal to slightly older kids too.  Mr. Schneider said Icon's Surfside was meant for ages 0-6, but Star will bring that up to about 10.  That's because the area drew families with slightly older children.

Splashaway Bay and the Playscape will get new features, "more play activations really to kind of make kids of all ages happy with the offering."

The Water's Edge pool was originally meant to be an enclave for parents, but in practice has become an extension of the kids pool.

"What we found over time is it really is just expanded play for kids with parents, too. And so programmatically, we continue to lean in to that," Mr. Schneider said.

The kids clubs on Star of the Seas will get updates too. In addition to evolving the look and feel of Adventure Ocean, Mr. Schneider said there will be more "analog play" offered instead of relying on video and computerized games.

"While we're not taking anything away, one of the things we've heard is more analog play and so more kind of classic analog games," he said in talking about the impetus for the improvements.

Royal Caribbean will reboot the teen offerings to match what they're seeing in guests feedback.

Mr. Schneider said teens, "really want places to meet up and then kind of move around the ship to try to be more adults."

"We're rebooting based on that feedback the look and feel of the teen space and then reevaluating our programming for teens, how we activate them elsewhere in the ship as well."

Photo by Shannon Sinclair

Some other initiatives first introduced on Icon of the Seas will continue with Star of the Seas.  

The Kidfinder option will be rolled out of testing and into full offering on Star of the Seas. This is a waterproof bracelet that allows parents to track the bracelet's location via the Royal Caribbean app.

Fear not, Star of the Seas will have a family dog onboard, named Sailor.

Introducing facial recognition cabins

Royal Caribbean is going to test facial recognition stateroom doors on Star of the Seas.

This was an idea the cruise line had in play just before everything shutdown in 2020, but will get implemented in a small capacity on Star of the Seas.

Read more: Royal Caribbean patents facial recognition cruise ship cabin doors

Mr. Schneider said this will be a pilot program, and was not sure how many cabins will be equipped with it.

One other stateroom change is an update to the epic family suite on Star of the Seas, known as the Ultimate Family Townhouse.

This is the most expensive suite ever that covers three floors and has an in-suite slide, movie-viewing room, karaoke machine and a "backyard" with a ping pong table, outdoor seating and a white picket fence leading directly to the Surfside area.

Mr. Schneider said the townhouse will get an "uplift" and "will get really a new look to it."

Based on guest feedback so far on Icon, the cruise line felt changes were needed.

Upgrades to dining

Royal Caribbean has said the top two reasons people go on a cruise with them is for destination and food, and that drives a lot of the offerings on Star of the Seas.

There will be a sequel to the glitzy Empire Supper Club dining experience.  On Star, the focus will shift west to Chicago and become the Lincoln Park Supper Club.

"It's our flagship intimate fine dining entertainment concept [that] will bring forward that same formula that's worked so well in the Empire Supper Club. But again, themed menu, music, all paired to the Chicago and Chicagoland area."

Royal Caribbean also wants to improve on one of its most well-received complimentary venues, Aquadome Market.

On Icon of the Seas, it's located inside the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood, and offers five food stands offering everything from chicken pita wraps to bacon mac n’ cheese and a variety of paninis. 

"We're currently in the concept testing of how to evolve for Star, and eventually Icon Three, kind of the offering in the market," he said.

Don't worry, the fundamentals of the Aquadome Market won't change.  There will still be great complementary grab and go food served in a food hall.

One restaurant that will be overhauled is Pier 7. Mr. Schneider said called it, "a successful concept for us" but they want to keep it a "white space" to tinker with a new offering.

Located in the Surfside neighborhood, it serves California inspired cuisine and kids eat free there.

Mr. Schneider said they have not picked a final idea for the space yet, "We won't probably announce that until much closer in because we're going to do the same thing we did on Icon, which is we're going through the concepting as a result of it being a white space."

Read more: Royal Caribbean surveys customers for a new restaurant idea on its Icon class ships

Combining a new ship and a new beach club

When Star of the Seas launches, you can eventually look forward to cruises that take you to a day at Royal Caribbean's new beach club in Mexico.

Opening sometime in 2026, the Royal Beach Club Cozumel will be the second Royal Beach Club to open, following Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island in The Bahamas.

An extra cost beach available exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers, admission will include access to swim-up bars, pools cabanas to rent, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.

"We're excited about that kind of combination of new ship, new homeport and then... the continued expansion of our destination product."

More tweaks and enhancements

Mr. Schneider highlighted a few other improvements Royal Caribbean has planned for Star compared to Icon.

The Pearl will be improved to be more spectacular visually, "instead of a single color light ring in the back of each of those 3500 plus tiles, they go to full multicolor rings."

"That allows us to get a much richer color, wash throughout the entire Pearl, and gives us kind of a broader canvas to play with as we think of the stories that we want to tell."

There will also be more more pool space on Star. That's because Mr. Schneider's team was worried about "water weight", but it's practical to add it back, "we are adding a little bit of incremental water weight back in a hot tub that will be adjacent between Lime and Coconut, and the Aquadome Market that was originally planned on being there, but got pulled at the last minute due to water weight."

"It turns out we had enough weight to play with, and that was my quick ten minute, maybe longer run through of our our focus areas."

"The world's best family vacation was never about size for us"

Star of the Seas won't be slightly larger than Icon of the Seas, and Royal Caribbean doesn't necessarily care about that title.

When asked about if Star will be bigger than Icon, Mr. Schneider talked about the importance of what the ship offers rather than dimensions, "that's never been a focus for us. The world's best family vacation was never about size for us. It still isn't."

"The reality is the things that we expected in our kind of hyper focused guest research needs, we've continued to look at through the lens of what we're actually seeing in operation. And all of it is, is just working so well."

He sees tremendous success with how Royal Caribbean has positioned its Icon Class ships to offer the very best experience, and offering many ways for families to bond and create memories.

The Product Development team focuses on the diverse options for guests to enjoy onboard, and while that may move the needle to require a bigger cruise ship, it's not simply size.

Drinks on a cruise ship aren't cheap, so if you can get free drinks, you could significantly cut down on your bar bill.

With cocktails on a Royal Caribbean cruise costing $14 and beers as much as $7.99, enjoying a few drinks every day on your cruise can get expensive.

Royal Caribbean includes some drinks with your cruise fare, but soft drinks, cocktails, beer, and mocktails all cost extra. Each beverage you order that isn't included comes with an automatic 18% gratuity on top of the base cost.

Luckily, there are some easy (and not so easy) ways to get free drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise that almost anyone can take advantage of and save money along the way.

Book a suite

One easy way to get free drinks is to pay for a Royal Caribbean suite.

If you book a Grand Suite or higher cabin, one of the many suite perks you get are complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages each evening in the Suite Lounge.

Depending on which ship you sail, there are different hours where there's an open bar for suite guests. On Icon and Oasis Class ships, the Suite Lounge serves complimentary beer and wine between 11am and 11pm, with cocktails offered between 4:30pm and 8:00pm.

On other ships, there's a happy hour for complimentary drinks in the evening that begins around 5pm and ends around 8pm.

There are two downsides to booking a suite for free drinks. First, you have to pay more to get a suite. Suites can cost a lot and it may still be cheaper to book a standard cabin and pay out of pocket for your drinks.

The other issue is the free drinks are only available in the Suite Lounge and at limited hours.  So when you're at the pool, at a show, or anywhere else on the ship, you're out of luck unless you're willing to walk back to the Suite Lounge.

Of course, you could go for the very top end of Royal Caribbean's suite program and book a Star Class suite. 

Star Class suites are the largest suites offered, and they include a complimentary Royal Caribbean drink package.

Read more: A beginner's guide to sailing in Star Class

Become a Diamond member

My favorite way to get free drinks on any Royal Caribbean ship is to take advantage of arguably the best customer loyalty perk offered by any cruise line, daily free drinks for Diamond members and above.

If you can reach Diamond status within the Crown and Anchor Society, you'll get 4 drink vouchers per day, per person to enjoy at any bar, and at any time.

The vouchers are digital, and you just need to ask the bartender or waiter to use one. 

I love this benefit because it works on every cruise and at any bar. 

Read more: Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

The drawback to the Diamond drink vouchers is you need to cruise enough with Royal Caribbean to attain that status.  You need 80 points in their customer loyalty program to qualify, and if you booked you and your family in a balcony cabin, you would need to sail on 12 week-long cruises before you hit that number.

The Diamond drink vouchers won't benefit anyone new to Royal Caribbean, but if you've cruised a few times before, it could be a target for you to hit in the near future.

Read more: 6 ways you should change how you cruise once you hit Diamond

Attend the art auction

Anyone in any cabin or loyalty status can get free champagne by going to one of the art auctions onboard.

Art auctions are where you can bid for pieces of art to have shipped to your house. Art auctions have been around for years, and since it's a niche interest activity, they offer complimentary champagne if you attend.

Art auctions are only held a few times per sailing, and once the auction ends, so does the champagne. 

Attend the Top Tier event

Another opportunity to get a few mixed drinks once per cruise is to go to the Top Tier event held on cruises longer than 4-nights for members of the Crown and Anchor Society.

It's for anyone that's reached Platinum status, which requires just 30 points.

Top Tier is an event that recognizes the loyalty of Royal Caribbean's customers, and they serve various mixed drinks and champagne during the event.

During Top Tier, the Captain, Hotel Director, and Cruise Director make speeches thanking cruisers and recognizing specific ones that have cruised a lot. Usually the house band plays some music and some of the entertainers perform a number.

Gamble in the casino

If you're willing to potentially lose money in the casino, there is an upside to that gambling.

Gambling is addictive and dangerous, so please exercise caution, but if you're comfortable with gambling, Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale will give you free drinks for an entire year if you gamble enough.

The casino has its own customer loyalty program, and if you can get 2500 points within one year between April 1st and March 31st, you'll get unlimited free drinks at the casino bar.

You can accumulate the 2500 points over different sailings, but once you get the total points, the drink benefit becomes active immediately.

Similar to the Suite Lounge, you can only get free drinks at the casino and no where else on the ship.

The other downside to this is you might lose money.  In fact, you should expect to lose a lot of money before you reach 2500 points.  If you play slot machines, you'll earn 1 point for every 5 dollars you wager, so you can do the math on that.

Nonetheless, free drinks in the casino (along with the free cruise you'll also earn when you reach Prime status) is a very lucrative offer, especially for those that cruise a lot.

Tip the bartender

An old school strategy for getting a free drink here or there is to tip your bartender.

It's not as straight forward as the other ways mentioned in this article, but it could work for you.  Basically, find a bartender you like, tip them well, and maybe you get a free drink here or there.

I wouldn't call this a primary strategy for free drinks, rather, something to keep in mind.  It works well for casual drinkers. 

Even if you don't get any free drinks, you're almost certainly going to get faster service and that makes a difference when the bar gets busy.

Bring your own wine

A tried-and-true way to drink for free on a Royal Caribbean cruise is bring your own wine.

You can bring one bottle of wine (or champagne) per adult on embarkation day, and then enjoy the wine anywhere on the ship.

There's theoretically a corkage fee if you have the wine opened at a bar or restaurant, but it's been my experience that has rarely been enforced.

Not only will this allow you to have wine without paying Royal Caribbean's prices, but you can bring the exact brand and type you prefer.

Of course, you're still paying for the wine when you buy it at home, but you'll probably get a better deal at your wine store than on the ship.

Read more: How to Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package

Book a shore excursion that includes drinks

Many shore excursions in the Caribbean include free drinks, such as a rum punch or margaritas.

I've seen free drinks served on boats, catamarans, ferries, trains, and at the beach. You might consider booking a tour that brings you to a fun spot and also serves complimentary booze too.

There are also all-inclusive beach excursions you can book where it's essentially an open bar when you get there. Day passes to beach resorts are a popular choice for time ashore, and some of the best ones tend to be in Mexico.

...or just buy a drink package

If all of this sounds cumbersome, expensive, or not enough to really make a dent in your bar bill, you might be better off paying for a Royal Caribbean drink package.

Read more: Everything you need to know about a drink package

Drink packages aren't cheap, but they're also a better deal for anyone that might have more than 4 cocktails per day.

The advantage of getting a beverage package is you will cap your bar bill and be able to enjoy unlimited drinks. No bar tab, no regret choosing a cocktail you don't like, and no hoops to jump through.

Moreover, some drink packages include drinks beyond booze, such as sodas, premium coffees, bottled water, and juice.

Dutch environmental protesters have prevented and delayed two Royal Caribbean cruise ships from docking in Amsterdam. 

On August 10, Extinction Rebellion blocked the locks needed for Jewel of the Seas to safely pass through to the port. Instead, the ship was forced to disembark in Ijmuiden about 25 miles from Amsterdam.

The activist group took responsibility for the protest on their website, stating they demanded an immediate cessation of the destructive cruise industry because of the harm it causes to the environment and its impact on human health. 

According to Travel Market Report, they delayed Regent's Seven Seas Mariner by about three hours one day later. 

Most recently, Extinction Rebellion returned and delayed Serenade of the Seas' arrival. Footage shared to their live stream channel shows the 90,090 gross registered ton ship attempting to dock. Unsuccessful, the mooring ropes were retracted before Serenade of the Seas backed out of the port into open water. 

Carlijn van Essen, a spokeswoman for the Port of Amsterdam, confirmed the Radiance Class ship could eventually resume its route, as Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. 

The article continued to explain how police arrived on the scene around 5:00pm to remove eight protestors. They were taken into custody but have been released. A police spokesperson confirmed no arrests were made. 

Serenade of the Seas was initially scheduled to arrive in Amsterdam on August 19. However, amidst the disruptions caused by the environmental group, the ship canceled its call at Bergen, Norway, and headed to Amsterdam on August 18. 

"We are on Serenade OTS anchored in open water today. The port of Bergen Norway was cancelled on the 'Ultimate Fjords Cruise' so we could attempt to get to Amsterdam and dock early," shared Doug_Texas on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum. 

"The climate change protesters are [gluing] themselves to the docks and shutting everything down. Already Jewel OTS was blocked as well as Regent Navigator...This is sad to see"

TikTok user @LittleRatBrain shared footage captured onboard Serenade of the Captain's announcement, in which he explains the goal of arriving before noon and giving passengers an overnight stay. 

Surprisingly, many of the comments support Extinction Rebellion. "I don't blame them," wrote TofuNinja, "It's a beautiful place being ruined by large cruise ships." 

"Much as I enjoy your account, I completely support these protesters," added lolantherosa. 

Katie b said, "I support these protestors. Cruises are disgusting and pollute the ocean."

The protests come a little over one month after the City of Amsterdam announced they'll cap cruise ship visits to just 100 per year (down from 190) starting in 2026. By 2035, the city will end all ocean-going cruise visits. 

According to Cruise Mapper, the next ship scheduled to arrive in Amsterdam is Jewel of the Seas on August 22, with Norwegian Prima arriving the following day at 7:00am local time. 

Anti-tourism protests aren't new in Europe 

Earlier this summer, thousands of protestors marched through Barcelona, soaking vacationers with water guns while they dined al fresco in Las Ramblas. The angry locals were chanting "tourists go home," CNN reported. 

The Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth) has published 13 proposals to reduce the number of visitors and create a new tourism model, including more regulation for tourist accommodations and the closure of cruise ship terminals. 

By November 2028, Barcelona also plans to end short-term rentals to help ensure residents aren't displaced by "overtourism." Reuters reported that the city will revoke all 10,101 apartment licenses approved as short-term rentals. 

In April, a protest took place in the Canary Islands. Locals blamed visitors for increasing the cost of living, pricing them out of their homes, and causing environmental damage. 

Before that, 15,000 people demanded affordable housing while protesting mass tourism in Málaga, as reported by Euronews. 

"Now the city centre is a theme park for tourists,” one of the protestors, Jose, 60, told the news outlet, "What was once ‘El Café Central’ in Málaga’s main square...is an Irish pub full of tourists.”

“I’m not against tourism, but there has to be a limit and control," he says. 

Serenade of the Seas is nearing the end of its 274-day Ultimate World Cruise

Serenade of the Seas set sail from Miami, Florida, on December 10, 2023, on an epic 9-month journey. There's less than one month to go, with the cruise concluding on September 10. 

The cruise was slated to sail to over 150 destinations in 65 countries, visiting 11 Great Wonder of the World including the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and Great Barrier Reef. 

While inclement weather and political disruptions have caused them to adjust the itinerary, most notably to Africa to avoid the Red Sea, it's been a memorable experience for those onboard. 

In addition to changes in the itinerary, the Ultimate World Cruise has seen its fair share of drama, from an unexpected passenger death to a TikTok user-made bingo card with scenarios that could happen onboard (including a pirate takeover, COVID outbreak, and a minor mystery to solve). 

Though nothing's been confirmed regarding dates or ship, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International's President and CEO, said they'd do another Ultimate World Cruise, despite the challenges associated with planning one. 

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

Thanks for joining us for another weekly look at all of the Royal Caribbean news from this week.  The late-summer heat is still on, and we have plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share from this week.

Icon of the Seas has been a big hit so far, but there are a few changes that could make it even better.

While this brand new Royal Caribbean ship does a lot of things right, Stacey found some things she didn't love as much.

She came up with a list of things great about Icon of the Seas, and things that need to change (that no one is talking about).

Royal Caribbean News

• I bought these 5 things just for my European cruise. I think it will make my vacation better and feel better too
• Another Royal Caribbean cruise ship changes plans due to Hurricane Ernesto
• Here's why booking a cruise ship cabin for two is a smart move even for solo cruisers
• I visited 25 Caribbean destinations on a cruise ship. These are the 4 I'd return to and the 3 I'd skip
• How much does a 3 day cruise cost?
• 13 things you'll love about Oasis of the Seas
• I left Royal Caribbean for Celebrity after 20 cruises. Here's why I'm going back to Royal Caribbean next time

New RCB Video: Why Cruise Prices Keep Rising: Royal Caribbean's secrets explained

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 — Why Cruise Prices Keep Rising: Royal Caribbean's secrets explained — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 542nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast, is available where Matt breaks down the latest news of all the changes coming to Allure of the Seas.

We update our podcast weekly, so subscribe for more updates via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or RSS.

You can also leave us a rating or review on iTunes, so go ahead and check it out! We appreciate your feedback.

Hurricane Ernesto alters cruise ship itineraries

Hurricane Ernesto, which first hit the Virgin Islands as a tropical storm, strengthened into a hurricane.

It began affecting Royal Caribbean itineraries on Monday, when the cruise line began to re-route ships.

Icon of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas have been re-directed to avoid the path of the hurricane.

5 savvy ways I saved money on my first Celebrity cruise

Jenna sailed a Celebrity ship for the first time this month, and she ended up spending more money than expected on airfare.

To keep in line with her budget, Jenna implemented several money-saving tactics throughout her sailing. 

Instead of wasting money on souvenirs or forgetting to status-match her loyalty earnings, she used these five hacks to save money on her cruise.

Avoiding drama, surviving sharing costs and how to have a great multigenerational Family cruise

Royal Caribbean cruises are meant for the whole family to enjoy, and that can include multiple generations.

But how can you balance the needs of every family member, from young to old?

Matt has discovered that a cruise vacation can keep families making memories together, as long as you plan carefully, book early, and focus on the experience.

8 lessons I learned from every Royal Caribbean cruise I took this year

Calista has been cruising Royal Caribbean for a year now, and each cruise taught her something about the industry.

After cruising eight different ships over five different classes, she's learned a lot about how to have the best cruise experience possible.

From the right stateroom selection to saving money when exploring ports, here are her top 8 lessons.

They say the grass is always greener on the other side, and after twenty Royal Caribbean cruises, I booked my first Celebrity cruise. I thought I was ready for a change, but my seven nights onboard solidified my preference for Royal Caribbean.

I’ve been mostly “Loyal to Royal” ever since my first Royal Caribbean cruise three years ago. Even though I’ve occasionally ventured to other cruise lines, such as Princess and MSC, I’ve always found myself returning to my cruising roots.

Royal Caribbean, in my opinion, has the most innovative ships at sea. I’ve never once had a bad experience onboard, even when cruising on the line’s oldest and smallest ships. With high quality entertainment, top-notch dining, and a diverse array of onboard thrills, I had little reason to look elsewhere for a cruise vacation.

Throughout the past year, however, several of my fellow Royal Caribbean Blog writers have tried Celebrity Cruises for the first time. Reading about their experiences, I was intrigued by the cruise line’s unique itineraries, adult-focused ships, and more upscale atmosphere.

So when planning a summer cruise to Europe, I booked a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Celebrity Silhouette. I figured it was time to experience what Celebrity was all about.

I boarded my first Celebrity cruise feeling optimistic about my next week onboard, but I quickly realized that I preferred Royal Caribbean.

From the lucrative loyalty status perks to dining options, here’s why I’m going back to Royal Caribbean for my next cruise.

Crown & Anchor Society offers more useful benefits compared to Captain’s Club

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises enable guests to match their loyalty status from one cruise line to the other, but the benefits are not equal. For my travel style, I find Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society offers more lucrative benefits.

As a Diamond Plus member with Royal Caribbean, my status was matched to Celebrity’s Elite Plus status. This meant I could enjoy access to exclusive parties, a continental breakfast in a specialty restaurant each morning, discounts on select add-ons, and two complimentary bags of laundry, among other benefits.

Related: Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club loyalty program info, tips & secrets

I appreciated the benefits not offered by Royal Caribbean, including a free day of access to the ship's thermal suite and a complimentary scoop of gelato at the gelateria. That being said, I didn’t make use of all the benefits, especially because my travel partner did not have status in the Captain’s Club, so I didn’t care to go to private events alone.

I missed certain aspects of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society while on Celebrity, like grabbing evening hors d'oeuvres in the Crown Lounge and using my buy one, get one free benefit at specialty restaurants.

Most of all, though, I missed my free Diamond drinks.

My favorite benefit of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society are the Diamond drink vouchers, which offer a number of complimentary drinks each day depending on your loyalty status. As a Diamond Plus member, I receive five drink vouchers a day.

Onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, I can use these drink vouchers whenever and wherever I want with very few restrictions. In addition, the vouchers can be used ashore at Perfect Day at CocoCay. I’m not a huge drinker, but I love utilizing the Diamond drink vouchers to sample cocktails around the ship, whether it be the Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned or Cucumber Martini.

Related: 21 best drinks to order if you have a cruise drink package

Celebrity Cruises also provides a drink benefit to those with Elite status and higher, but it pales in comparison to what Royal Caribbean offers.

You can order drinks from a Happy Hour menu from 5-7PM each evening. While you can enjoy as many drinks as you'd like during this time, the selection of beverages is extremely limited.

Forget trying the Martini Bar’s inventive Bananas Foster cocktail or a refreshing piña colada on the pool deck. The happy hour drinks were far more basic, such as a vodka soda or glass of wine.

I was still grateful to receive complimentary beverages during my sailing, but I really missed the flexibility of the Crown & Anchor Society’s drink benefit.

I thought I would prefer an adult-focused cruise, but I missed Royal Caribbean’s onboard activities

As a 20-something without kids, I occasionally find Royal Caribbean’s family-friendly atmosphere—particularly on the cruise line’s newest ships—unnecessary for my travel style. While I would have loved that carousel and trendy teen club as a kid, these features don’t necessarily appeal to me as an adult.

Nevertheless, it’s pretty easy to “escape” the kid-focused activities on Royal Caribbean’s ships. Most of these amenities are located in a few select areas of the ship, and by venturing elsewhere, you can find a quieter, adult-centered experience onboard.

Related: The best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for adults

Even so, the lack of family-focused activities on Celebrity Cruises caught my eye. Although the cruise line still has a kids club and activities like family karaoke, there’s a noticeable lack of thrilling attractions like water slides and zip lines on Celebrity’s ships.

I thought this would make the cruise more enjoyable as an adult traveler, since there would be (presumably) fewer screaming kids running around the ship.

Instead, I found myself missing Royal Caribbean’s unique attractions during my Celebrity cruise. Despite attending activities like watercolor class, trivia, and a murder mystery game show, I actually missed my workouts on Royal Caribbean’s rock climbing wall and afternoon rounds of mini golf.

It’s easy to assume activities like the FlowRider, indoor skydiving simulator, and bumper cars are meant for children, but these activities are a lot of fun for adults, too.

During my seven nights on Celebrity Silhouette, I came to the realization that I prefer high-energy, active activities onboard a cruise ship instead of just sitting on a chair for a round of trivia.

It’s unlikely that Celebrity will ever offer these types of thrills in the future, so I’ll probably book my future cruises with Royal Caribbean instead despite the higher number of kids and families onboard.

It’s hard to beat the variety of entertainment on Royal Caribbean

After sailing on five separate cruise lines, Royal Caribbean's entertainment has been the crème de la crème.

Entertainment is always quite low on my list of reasons to book a particular ship or cruise line. I always appreciate the amount of theater shows available while cruising, but if I’m being honest, I don’t always attend the shows. Most evenings I prefer listening to music at a bar instead or lounging on the outdoor decks to watch the sunset.

The exception to this is when I cruise with Royal Caribbean. Aside from the oldest Vision and Radiance Class cruise ships, all of the cruise line’s vessels offer unique entertainment venues, whether it’s the ice-skating shows, technology-focused performances at Two70, Broadway productions, or diving spectacles at the AquaTheater.

With so many unique venues, Royal Caribbean is more the exception than the rule. Traditionally, cruise ships have always offered productions in a theater, and theater shows were the only style of performance offered on Celebrity Silhouette.

I attended the ship’s production of “On Broadway” while onboard, which featured live music and choreography from a selection of Broadway shows, including Hairspray and Les Misérables. I didn’t have any complaints with the show, but it, of course, couldn’t compare to the full-length Broadway productions available on Royal Caribbean.

Both cruise lines fared equally well when it came to other entertainment, such as live bands and comedians. Yet if I had to pick a cruise line based on entertainment, I would choose Royal Caribbean in a heartbeat.

Celebrity offered upscale dining, but I prefer Royal Caribbean's food options

Nearly every review I read about Celebrity raved about the cruise line’s food, but I honestly prefer the dining venues on Royal Caribbean. Given the positive reviews, this was one of the biggest surprises of my vacation.

Food is so subjective that I was apprehensive to even include a food review on this list, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. If you ask five cruisers to review food amongst a list of cruise lines, you’d likely see five drastically different rankings.

For instance, I found the food on both of my MSC cruises to be excellent; the emphasis on high-quality Italian food matched my palette perfectly. Others, however, rank MSC dead-last in their rankings on cruise ship food—some even call it inedible!

All that said, I thought the food on Celebrity Silhouette was not as seasoned as I prefer, and menu options were sometimes too elegant for my tastes.

As a traveler who loves spicy, international flavors, I’m not sure I am in the cruise line’s target demographic for menu options.

I enjoyed the variety of food at the buffet, Oceanview Café, and there were items I’ve rarely seen in Royal Caribbean’s buffet, including hummus, ceviche, and even lobster mac and cheese. Despite this, I felt that most dishes could have used more flavor.

Most of the time, I stuck to the stir-fry station so I could customize the dish to my liking with extra spice and seasonings.

As far as the Main Dining Room, I found myself missing Royal Caribbean’s menu. I love how Royal Caribbean incorporates a theme into each evening, whether Italian or French night. At times, I felt Celebrity tried a little too hard to make classic dishes elevated.

Related: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room experience

Instead of a classic basil pesto found in Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room, for instance, Celebrity offered a more enhanced version, made with walnut-arugula pesto, asparagus, tomato confit, and parmesan cheese.

While fancier, the dish was quite earthy in taste, and I felt the classic dish would have tasted better, despite being more simple.

Again, food is a subjective topic, and perhaps my palette is not as refined as other cruisers onboard. There were plenty of dishes I enjoyed during the week, especially the Indian curries, but I simply prefer the food offerings and menus offered on Royal Caribbean.

I’d still book a cruise on Celebrity, but mostly for the itinerary

Even though I preferred Royal Caribbean over Celebrity, one reason I would book a Celebrity cruise over the former is because of the itinerary options.

Celebrity Cruises offers a wider range of itineraries compared to Royal Caribbean—you can find cruises to countries like Argentina, Peru, Samoa, and India, along with more traditional itineraries. The line even offers cruises to Antarctica, which allow guests to sail by the continent and enjoy views from onboard, as well as expedition cruises to the Galapagos.

Related: The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler

Royal Caribbean still offers intriguing itinerary options, and I’ve sailed on the line in North America, Europe, and Australia. Nonetheless, as someone who chooses cruises primarily for the destination, Celebrity’s offerings are worth browsing.

If I were choosing between a similar itinerary, I would likely pick Royal Caribbean over Celebrity. If I wanted to book that bucket-list cruise to Patagonia, though, I wouldn’t hesitate to book another Celebrity cruise.

Sometimes it takes trial and error to find the best cruise line for you

Every cruiser has their own travel style. Some prefer the party atmosphere of a Carnival cruise while others enjoy a luxury experience onboard a cruise line like Silversea. There’s no right or wrong way to cruise, and sometimes it takes a few tries to find the cruise line that fits you best.

After taking so many Royal Caribbean cruises, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a better cruise option out there. Yet after trying five cruise lines in the past three years, I’ve come to appreciate the quality and consistency of Royal Caribbean's product.

Whether it’s the morning mimosa with my Diamond drink voucher, afternoon ride on the zip line, or evening stroll through Central Park, I love how diverse the Royal Caribbean cruise experience can be.

In the end, I’m happy I tried Celebrity Cruises. I made wonderful memories during my time in Norway, and I had nothing but great experiences with the ship’s condition, service from crew members, and itinerary.

Yet ultimately, I’m still loyal to Royal.