Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships combine modern amenities with technological wonders for a fantastic cruising experience.

The Quantum Class was first released in 2014, pioneering five marvelous ships with unique itineraries.

Many cruisers feel that Royal Caribbean got a lot right with this category, so I was excited to experience my first cruise on a Quantum Class ship.

I took my first cruise on Anthem this past month, choosing a 7-night sailing out of Cape Liberty and stopping at Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau.

After sailing on Anthem of the Seas, I absolutely agree that this is a top-tier ship.

With 2,090 staterooms and 16 guest decks, the ship has ample space for all 4,095 passengers on board.

She’s a large ship, 1,138 feet in length and 136 wide. 

Not only was my Anthem cruise my first on a Quantum Class ship, but it was also my first time sailing out of Cape Liberty in New Jersey.

Based on this experience, I’ve written a comprehensive review of what sailing on Anthem of the Seas is like in 2024.

Read more: Anthem of the Seas Guide and Review

Capacity

Anthem comfortably holds 4,905 passengers and 1,500 crew members. However, you would never be able to tell that over 6,000 people are onboard while walking around the ship.

Each venue was spacious, with enough room to accommodate all the cruisers. I enjoyed how separated and closed-off some of the venues were. 

For example, even though the Royal Esplanade is a long, open space, it is separated into two floors, which spread out the space.

Not only that, but each venue located nearby (the Music Hall, Boleros, and the Royal Theater) is fully closed off from the Esplanade.

This ensures that you can’t see or hear everyone at the same time, which I really appreciate.

And yes, while there were chair hogs on sea days, I never experienced a moment where I couldn’t find a chair where I wanted one. There were always at least one or two available.

As a matter of fact, I found much more seating than I expected!

It seemed like most of the cruisers onboard Anthem for a 7-night cruise were families with kids, or large groups of extended family members.

Strangely enough, it was easier for me to get lost onboard than it usually is on Oasis-class ships, even though Anthem is smaller.

My theory is that the strategy of dividing the ship into neighborhoods, like Royal Caribbean does in its Oasis and Icon-Class ships, really does help you comprehend and remember the space you’re in. 

Entertainment

Anthem of the Seas had a wide variety of exciting performances, games, and events. 

Even over the seven-day cruise, I barely had enough time to see everything.

Read more: I'm new to Royal Caribbean and tried 4 different kinds of cruise ships, here's what I like about each

Two70

The first show I saw onboard was Spectra’s Cabaret, a stunning mixture of music, dance, and technology. 

I loved the song selections and the colorful, flamboyant costumes.

Two70 impressed me with its six moving LED screens and wide, comfortable seating.

I also thought it was an amazing venue for events like the Captain’s Corner and “Are You Smarter Than a Crew Member?” trivia.

The wide glass walls brought in sunlight and gorgeous sea views, while access to the library at the top of the venue made for plenty of space. 

Royal Theater

Games and shows also played in the Royal Theater, such as the popular “We Will Rock You” musical. 

While I was looking forward to seeing this performance, apparently I waited too long.

On the last two days of the cruise, which were both sea days, I decided to go and see the show. 

Days 6 and 7 each had two performances scheduled, and I attempted to go to the last three.

However, all performances were canceled due to the heavy waves and high winds. For the safety of the performers, they chose not to do the performances.

I completely understand why, but this was my first time experiencing such bad sailing conditions that the indoor shows had to be canceled!

The Royal Theater was also home to one of the most confusing musicals I’ve ever seen: “The Gift.” 

The singing and dancing were incredible, but I struggled to connect the plot with the songs chosen.

Dining

While Anthem of the Seas has a broad selection of delectable specialty restaurants, I chose to focus on the complimentary dining options for this cruise.

There’s a wide array of food included in the cruise fare on Anthem: the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer, the Cafe at Two70, Cafe Promenade, Sorrento’s Pizza, SeaPlex Dog House, and Solarium Bistro.

Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room was very hit-or-miss. Some nights, the food was sublime. Other times, it tasted bland or wasn't warm enough.

Our waitstaff was always willing to help out, making suggestions or getting us any other dishes we preferred. I can’t blame them at all for the quality of the food!

But it was a little frustrating to look at a menu and never know if I would enjoy what I ordered.

The service and atmosphere of the Main Dining Room, however, blew me away.

Our waiters were friendly and helpful. They served us to the point of almost predicting our needs.

And I loved the soft, jazzy electronic music that played each night.

My friend and I were seated at a large table, so it seemed that another party was meant to join us. Despite us hopefully waiting each night, we ended up dining alone for the length of the cruise.

Windjammer

I can hardly believe it, but—after six cruises—I feel sick of the Windjammer buffet. 

Maybe that's just because I've been to the Windjammer so often, not only on my past cruises but also over the seven days I spent on Anthem. Or perhaps the food was subpar compared to the other Windjammers I’ve been to on Royal Caribbean ships.

Much like the Main Dining Room, I felt that the meals were hit or miss. 

For example, I usually love all the Indian food served at the Windjammer. On Anthem, however, I only enjoyed a third of the Indian dishes I tried.

Exemplary Guest Service

During meals on Anthem of the Seas, head waiters announced that the ship’s customer service has been the best-rated in the fleet for the past eight weeks.

Based on cruiser survey ratings, the ship’s waitstaff has the best service out of all the other ships.

This may sound like an easy rating to grab, but I honestly agree.

Anthem’s staff, from head waiters to bartenders to chefs, were endlessly charming and attentive. 

I definitely felt that it was some of the best service I’d experienced on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Read more: I’ve cruised on 4 Quantum Class ships. Here are 7 things Royal Caribbean got right with these mega ships

Bars

The service at the bars on Anthem of the Seas was just as ideal as on the rest of the ship.

It was quick and the bartenders were quite friendly, eager to have a conversation when they got the chance.

I also got to use the Bionic bar for the first time. The experience was delightful, but I only bothered to use it once; it felt more like a trendy sensation than a place to sit down and consistently order.

I also noticed that the robots were down for maintenance quite often, so it would have been hard to order there frequently.

The Vintages bar, located on deck 5, quickly became my favorite spot to grab a drink. 

It was open until midnight each night, growing dark and comfortably quiet with speedy service. 

They also have an incredible Mint Berry Delight, which tastes like a sparkling blueberry mojito.

Ports of Call

For a seven-day cruise, Anthem’s itinerary was more sea-day focused. 

We only made stops at three ports: Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, Bahamas. 

As someone who already resides in Florida, a stop at Port Canaveral was completely uninteresting. 

We stayed onboard instead and enjoyed the amenities with fewer guests around.

I did go explore on the days we visited Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

However, given how sea-intensive this cruise was, I would only recommend this itinerary to cruisers who are confident they’ll enjoy everything Anthem has to offer.

I loved this ship and the activities onboard, but if you prefer more exciting ports, I would advise you to choose a different cruise.

Compared to her sister ships, such as Ovation of the Seas, which travels to Alaska, Anthem had one of the more uninteresting itineraries at the time of my sailing.

Read more: Anthem of the Seas 7-night Bahamas and Perfect Day Cruise Compass - February 25, 2024

Stateroom

This was my first time staying in a virtual balcony interior stateroom—a concept that debuted on Quantum of the Seas, Anthem’s sister ship.

I enjoyed being able to look at what was going on around the ship while still inside the stateroom. Just having a small view of the outside world was worth it!

Our stateroom felt clean and very modern, with navy blue and gold decorations. The design was also upgraded, but some changes were more efficient than others. I disliked how the storage was split up over multiple places in the cabin.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled all of its visits to its private beach in Haiti until further notice.

Last night, the line notified guests who had cruises with stops in Labadee over the next week that their visits have been changed to another port or swapped to sea days.

The worsening unrest in Haiti necessitated a change in plans, and thousands of passengers and travel agents received emails that their visit to Labadee would be cancelled.

It appears there will be more rolling cancellations until the situation improves.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted an update on Thursday morning to provide additional context as to the scope of the cancellations.

His Facebook post stated, "We have suspended calls into Labadee, Haiti for the next 7 days and will continue suspension on a rolling basis with 3 days advance notification to our guests sailing on itineraries impacted and changed as we monitor and evaluate the situation in Haiti."

Depending on the ship, the cancelled visit has been replaced with either another port or a sea day. 

• Symphony of the Seas March 17 replaced Labadee with a sea day
• Adventure of the Seas March 15 replaced Labadee with Turks & Caicos

Labadee is located in a remote part of Haiti, and has been a private beach for Royal Caribbean cruise ship passengers since it opened in 1988. 

Haiti is experiencing a major civil upheaval following thousands of gang members escaping multiple prisons in Port-au-Prince.  As a result, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 warning for the country, meaning all travel to the country is discouraged. 

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean initially cancelled just shore excursions, but retained visits to Labadee. This included jet ski, kayak, and fishing excursions.

It's not clear what change necessitated the full cancellation of visits to Labadee for the foreseeable future.

Passenger reaction

Mr. Bayley's update was met with plenty of opinions on if the cancellations were necessary, alternate port options, and other thoughts.

Ashley Sanders wrote, "I, for one, am glad you guys are thinking of the crew and passengers first. Nobody life is worth a stop in a place that's dangerous."

Rachael Correll Estevez brought up two issues with the rolling three day window, "Three days is not enough. It doesn't give people enough time to make other plans at a new port (if one is assigned)."

She pointed out a policy related to infants and the number of sea days allowable for them to cruise, "Some sailings removing Labadee and replacing it with a sea day makes 3 consecutive days at sea, making babies 6-12 months ineligible to sail... how is 3 days enough for those families to adjust to their options?"

Breeda O'Leary posted about the replacement port options, "Please find other ports instead of another sea day whenever possible."

The deteriorating situation in Haiti has forced Royal Caribbean to change planned visits to its private destination.

Guests and travel partners of Royal Caribbean received a major update about sailings to Labadee, Haiti. In emails, the cruise line has announced that it is cancelling stops in Labadee due to the evolving situation in Haiti. 

In its communication to guests and travel partners,  Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, Assistant Vice President of Royal Caribbean International, wrote: “Due to the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution, we're temporarily suspending our visits to Labadee for our entire fleet. We continue to monitor and assess the situation with our Global Security & Intelligence Team.”

Although there have been a number of travel advisories for Haiti for many years, this has not resulted in a significant impact on Royal Caribbean, as Labadee, its private destination, is located on the northern coast of Haiti, far from the turmoil in the that has plagued the capital for years. 

What does this mean for guests currently cruising to Labadee? 

How does this impact cruisers currently on their way to Labadee? Further elaborating on the subject, Yera -Rodriguez explained: “Guests onboard Adventure of the Seas on a March 14 sailing will be re-routed Grand Turk, Turks, and Caicos.” Grand Turk is a port island northern island of Turks and Caicos, used by Carnival Cruise line, not usually visited by Royal Caribbean. 

Alternatively, some guests have received emails noting that they will have a sea day in lieu of the port day in Laadee. Guests onboard the Symphony of the Seas for their March 14th sailing, were advised: “We'll now enjoy a Sea Day instead of visiting Labadee. We've also added extra time to our visit to Falmouth, Jamaica, so you'll have more time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer.” 

Although this is no doubt a disappointment to many guests, Royal Caribbean has repeatedly stated that the safety of its passengers and crew is of the utmost importance. 

Excursion refunds 

On social media, some guests have expressed concern about money lost for booked excursions. Royal Caribbean addressed this issue: “Any pre-paid Royal Caribbean International shore excursions booked for Labadee will automatically be refunded to your original form of payment. In the meantime, feel free to browse all the exciting shore excursion options for your sailing in My Royal Cruise to level up your vacation. Thank you for your understanding. We can't wait to welcome you onboard Symphony of the Seas!”

Typically, guests enjoy fishing trips, a day out on the ocean, jet skis, and ocean water-based activities while visiting Labadee.  On land, there are also some nice amenities, such as cabanas at Barefoot Beach or the thrill of the Dragons Tail Coaster, which provides the ultimate in adrenaline rush riding down the side of the mountain. The 680-foot ride provides incredible views of other surrounding areas while cruising at speeds near 30 miles per hour.

Labadee is also renowned for its beaches, and guests love a beach BBQ while enjoying the majestic waters of the area.

Escalation in recent days

Although this is disappointing for many, the news is not unexpected; in recent days, Haiti has made global headlines for gang violence, and on March 3, a mass prison break in Port-au-Prince led the government to declare a state of emergency after thousands of inmates escaped.  The US Embassy has advised US citizens to depart Haiti as soon as possible.

 The situation in Haiti has been worsening over the last several weeks.  Just last week, Royalcaribbeanblog.com updated readers on the ongoing situation. At the time, the cruise line sent a statement to media outlets, explaining: “The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. Our global security teams are closely monitoring the situation in the area." Additionally, the cruise line warned: ""At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly."

This heightened attention has been due to the US Department of State’s Level 4 travel advisory, updated on July 27, 2023, citing “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure,” among the reasons the US State Department has advised against travel to Haiti for some time. Other countries that have Level 4 advisories include Russia and Syria. 

Yesterday, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry tendered his resignation and appealed for calm as the country descends into chaos.

Royal Caribbean’s exclusive location in Haiti 

While many cruisers think of Labadee as a private island, Labadee is the name of Royal Caribbean’s beach but unlike Perfect Day at CocoCay, it isn't a private island but rather a peninsula. It’s a private port only accessible to Royal Caribbean. In fact, the area of Labadee is secured and monitored to ensure the safety of cruise passengers and crew members. 

Royal Caribbean was monitoring the situation carefully. Labadee is located on the northern coast of Haiti, where the majority of the violence occurs further south in more populated areas. Port-au-Prince is almost 100 miles from Labadee.

Just last week, Royalcaribbeanblog.com reported on the escalation of violence, Presidential crisis, and official travel warnings, with many of our readers inquiring if their cruise will still happen as scheduled. 

Labadee is monitored by guards, and a huge fence blocks it from the public, although you may not see it during your visit. In short, it's walled off from the rest of the country and is in a remote area. It's guarded by a private security force. Most employees working in the restricted area of Labadee live in remote villages located nearby, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, is over 100 miles away . Government warnings about travel to Haiti always focus on the cities. 

Royalcaribbeanblog.com will continue to update the story as information is received from the cruise line and guests. 
 

Royal Caribbean wants to add more value to its guests at the very top of its customer loyalty program.

Pinnacle Club guests received an email on Wednesday informing them of an update to their Pinnacle Club benefits.

Pinnacle Club status is the top tier within its loyalty program, requiring a total of 700 points to attain it.

Read more: Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Overview of the new benefit

Effective on sailings beginning March 15, 2024, and onwards, each Pinnacle Club member may now bring one guest staying in their immediate stateroom to accompany them into the Suite/Concierge Lounge, Suite Sun Decks, and Coastal Kitchen.

Crown Lounge (formerly known as the Diamond Lounge is not included) in this change.

There are some special rules with this new option:

Non-Pinnacle Club guests must be always accompanied by a Pinnacle Club member.

Beverages consumed in these venues will be charged to guests' SeaPass cards - Diamond and above members may redeem their daily drink vouchers. 

On sailings where the number of eligible Suite & Pinnacle Club guests exceeds the Suite venue capacity, access for Pinnacle Club members will be determined by cruise points and extended to one of their stateroom occupants. Those eligible will receive access notifications 48 hours before the sailing and a reminder on boarding day in the Welcome Letter.

Access to Coastal Kitchen is based on space and availability. Reservations are required and can only be made once onboard.

Royal Caribbean went on to say that this new benefit for Pinnacle Club members has not changed Crown Lounge access and remains exclusive to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members, unless communicated otherwise.

Why the change? Royal Caribbean wants to deliver the very best benefits to its most loyal cruisers, "We are committed to ensuring your cruise experience is exceptional, and we believe these updates contribute to that goal."

Adding the new benefit means Pinnacles can bring someone in their cabin with them to enjoy the reserved space.  Prior to this change, the benefit was only applicable to the Pinnacle Club guests.

The gap between Pinnacle Club and the next tier down, Diamond Plus, is significant at 175 points to 700 to move up.

Pinnacle Club benefits comparison

Beyond the benefits shared with lower tiers, Pinnacle Club guests enjoy a great deal of benefits.

Chief among them is a free cruise once they reach the tier. There's a free cruise for two people on a 7-night balcony stateroom for 700 and 1050 cruise point thresholds. 

Plus, a milestone cruise certificate valued at the prevailing rate of a Junior Suite stateroom for 1,400 and every 350 cruise points thereafter.

Pinnacles also get free internet packages for duration of every sailing, lapel pins, priority embarkation with the suite guests, and daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant.

How to qualify for Pinnacle Club

If you'd like to get to Pinnacle Club, you'll need to accrue at least 700 points in Crown and Anchor Society.

You'll earn one point per night of your cruise in a standard cabin (balcony cabin or smaller), which means you'd need 700 cruise nights to get there.

There is a faster way if you're willing to spend extra.  Staying in a suite gets you two points per night. Likewise, booking a standard cabin alone will get you two points per night.

If you stay in a suite by yourself, then you'll earn three points per night, which is the most you can earn per night in Crown and Anchor Society at the moment.

Unlike most hotels or most airlines, your points never expire and you don't have to requalify for your status annually.

Are you looking for a classy, quiet experience at Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room?

Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room is a complimentary venue that serves formal, elegant meals two to three times a day.

It's become a staple of the cruise dining experience and a delicious meal that many cruise fans look forward to.

But you may not be eating alone.

You could be assigned to a table with other guests in the Main Dining Room.

Royal Caribbean tends to assign multiple parties to a table, especially if you’re traveling with a smaller party, such as a couple. 

To conserve dining space, waitstaff often assign multiple groups together at larger tables.

Without proper preparation, first-time cruisers could be met with a disappointing surprise when they come to dinner and find several strangers eating with them.

Being seated with another party can feel like a jarring end to the sophisticated evening you were expecting.

If dining alone is a priority for you, here’s how you can request a table for two.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works and what to expect

How do table assignments work?

Royal Caribbean seats guests according to their availability. 

With the right timing and request, you can ensure that you snag a table for just two.

Royal Caribbean has table sizes for two, four, six, eight, and ten people. 

At those larger tables, the Main Dining Room staff do their best to seat groups together that might have something in common. 

For example, couples could expect to be sat with other couples. Or families with younger kids may find themselves with other families with children.

There’s nothing scary about being seated with another group; your parties will dine and converse, working together to have a lovely evening. 

Just make sure to keep the conversation light and fun! Steer the chat away from controversial topics, and remember that everyone is there to enjoy their meal and have a lovely cruise.

But, there are plenty of valid reasons why you might prefer to be seated alone.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, feeling more introverted, or just don’t want to be focused on your partner during your dinner, you can request to be seated at a table for two for all your meals. 

Just remember that if you don’t specifically request it, you will likely be seated at a larger table with others.

Traditional Dining

When you first book your cruise, you’ll have two options for when you eat your Main Dining Room dinner: traditional dining or My Time Dining.

Read more: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

These times determine when you go to dinner, and you’ll want to choose your selection carefully! You won’t be able to change it after the second day of your cruise.

Traditional dining gives you an assigned table at one of three times: 5:30 P.M., 6:45 P.M., or 8:00 P.M.

The exact times will vary according to your cruise’s itinerary, but you can select one of those three dinner times. 

Once you make your choice, you’ll be assigned to a consistent table and team of waiters each night.

If you’d like to secure a table for just two people before your cruise, you can make a request through email.

Simply contact [email protected] about 2-3 weeks before your cruise and ask for a smaller table for just your party.

If this doesn’t work, or you change your mind, you can still make your request once onboard.

Go to the Main Dining room and ask to speak to a head waiter, letting them know that you’d like a table for two.

The Main Dining Room’s waitstaff is extremely accommodating, and they will do their best to fulfill your request. 

Even if you end up being assigned to a larger table, the other parties may not join you, and waiters can move your group to a smaller table.

The good news is that, with traditional dining, you’ll sit at the same table every night. 

Once you make your original request, your group will be set at its own table.

My Time Dining

My Time Dining is a more flexible schedule for dinner. Instead of being assigned a specific time, you have a first-come, first-served option.

Usually, dinnertime runs between 6:00 and 9:30 P.M., and you will be seated when and where the waitstaff and kitchen are ready to serve you.

You can make a dinner reservation ahead of time in the Cruise Planner or Royal Caribbean app. 

If you choose to wait until you get onboard, you can go directly to the Main Dining Room and a head waiter will be happy to assist you. 

When you make your reservations with them, you can request a table for two.

Be sure that you make this in-person request as soon as you get onboard because reservations fill up quickly.

The benefit of making a reservation ahead of time is that you’ll have to wait less to get a table (up to 15 minutes).

However, you’re not required to make a reservation ahead of time. If you choose to, you can simply show up to the Main Dining Room whenever you feel like eating.

If you do not make any reservations, you might end up waiting up to 45 minutes at peak times.

While waiting to be seated, you can request a small table for your party. But many tables will likely be full at this point.

Usually, they will seat you at whatever tables are most quickly available, so just be patient if they can’t fulfill your request right away!

Seating your larger group together

Looking for special seating for a group larger than just two?

You can still request to dine together, instead of being seated with other parties.

If you’ve selected traditional dining, you can request a table allocation 50 days before the sailing. Your group leader can even assign the seats specifically.

However, Royal Caribbean’s website states that if you’ve selected My Time dining, there is no guarantee that your group will be seated together.

Robotics is seen as the future for many functions, including cruise ships.

An evening show on a cruise is as synonymous with the industry as the buffet or the ports of call visited. Royal Caribbean sees the future of entertainment with robots as integral to the show as the performers.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Entertainment Nick Weir has not only been the head of Royal Caribbean's productions for decades, but he has been an early adopter of robots to augment the show experience.

Robotics offer a way to bring show elements previously impossible, or requiring a great deal of man power to accomplish.

Mr. Weir shared on Twitter that Royal Caribbean has, "a ten year program" for robotics.

While we don't have yet a clear indication of what robots the future holds, it's clear the line is deeply invested in iterating robot technology and opportunities with each new ship.

A foothold in robotics

Royal Caribbean's love affair with robots started with the Quantum Class ships that first launched in 2014.

At the time, Quantum of the Seas was referred to as an innovative new kind of ship, with plenty of tech to go with the robots. There were virtual balcony cabins, high-speed internet access (relative to the time), a new app, and wearable wristbands.

Robots were part of a big that tech push with Quantum. There were robot bartenders, robots in the theater, and even a robotic arm to take guests high above the ship.

The first glimpse passengers got of robots on Quantum was at the Bionic Bar, where robot bartenders take drink orders via tablets located around the bar. 

Passengers then watch as their drinks are prepared by the robot. The robotic arms draw liquor from dozens of bottles hanging from above, and are programmed to add just the right amount of mixers, ice and even lemons and mint. They can even shake the drink to mix it.

Bionic Bar would make its way onto a number of other cruise ships around the fleet, becoming a spectacle for anyone that walked by.

The other massive robotic presence on Quantum was in the Two70 venue, and this clearly resonated the most with Mr. Weir, as robots in theaters continue to appear in the line's latest ships.

On Quantum, robotic entertainment took to the stage with its Roboscreens. Partnering with ABB Robotics, Royal Caribbean utilized a handful of robot arms with screens attached to them to tell the stories in the new Two70 venue.

According to Royal Caribbean, it was the most complex robotics project that was happening outside of Mars.

An Iconic step forward

Robots on Quantum Class ships continued, and it took another step forward on Icon of the Seas.

The Aquadome is not only a new neighborhood, but also the first Aquatheater to incorporate robots into the show.

Combining the AquaTheater from Oasis Class ships with the roboscreens of Quantum Class, you get the next generation of robotics in a show. The idea was to create the greatest canvas to do entertainment on to date.

The six-axis robot arms in the Aquatheater are in the stage area on Icon had never been done before. When ready, the robot arms will be able to pick up the skate boarding half pipe during the show as part of the experience.

Not only does this tech allow for great stunts, developing this tech also allows them to build all sorts of heavy equipment for stage use.

Robots can recreate any sense of forced-motion and direction. One idea is to put a platform on a robot arm, so instead of having a spring board, divers can use the robot arm to be propelled. It's an idea Royal Caribbean has patented.

"Huge plans for robotics"

This ten year plan is to continue the advancement of robots in the shows you find on Royal Caribbean's next batch of new cruise ships.

Mr. Weir tweeted that they're making better progress than originally anticipated, "It’s going really well so far, we are in advance of schedule. Already adding concepts that were destined for Star of the Seas to Aqua Action on Icon."

One idea is what he calls, "Robolights", and they are being prepared on Icon of the Seas. Instead of a screen, the arms have lights on them to help control the lighting precisely to what the performers need.

"The Robolights™️ preparing themselves for a performance (literally) and a clip of them doing their thing in the actual show. "

"Theater World, meet Robot World… a natural partnership."

He shared concept art for what he calls, "robotic fountain system" that appears to be able to spray multiple streams of water from each arm.

Those cruising out of Port Canaveral will soon be able to rely on another form of transportation, as Brightline announced that they're planning on opening a new station in Cocoa Beach. Last week, the Cocoa City Council voted to designate $5 million for the new station.

Brightline recently opened up a new station at the Orlando International Airport (MCO), making it easier for those commuting from Central to South Florida for sailings from Fort Lauderdale and Miami. It was a wise move, as MCO is the busiest airport in Florida, seeing around 44 million passengers annually. 

Despite the influx of passengers, Brightline doesn't have a station in Brevard County. Those heading from Orlando to Port Canaveral have to rely on other forms of transportation, such as rental cars, rideshares, or shuttles. 

Brightline began operations in 2018 with stops in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Now, however, they've expanded to Boca Raton, Aventura, and, of course, Orlando, covering 235 miles. 

At the time of writing, there's no timeline as to when the Cocoa Beach station could open. However, according to City of Cocoa Mayor Michel C. Blake, the City of Cocoa has met with company executives and is ready to move forward with negotiations for a station located near State Road 528 and US 1. 

The drive from Orlando International Airport to Cocoa Beach takes about an hour. While not long, a new Brightline station will allow those embarking on a cruise from Port Canaveral to choose another transportation option. 

Brightline Director of Public Affairs Katie Mitzner said, “Brightline is ready to begin the formal process with Space Coast stakeholders to fulfill our vision for a Brevard County station. We agree the time is now to finalize a plan.”

Read more: I took the Brightline train from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale for my cruise. Here's what it was like

Brightline has seen an increase in ridership of over 100% this year

Additionally, they estimate that they'll see around 4.3 million passengers annually between South Florida and Orlando by 2025. 

A stop in Cocoa Beach makes sense, especially considering this is the area in which the trains slow down to transition from the East/West track to the North/South track. 

The maximum speed for Brightline trains from Orlando International Airport to Cocoa is 125mph. Between Cocoa and West Balm Beach, the speed maxes out around 110mph, while the train substantially decreases to around 79mph between West Palm Beach and Miami. 

Brightline is also building a new station in Stuart 

In March, Brightline announced that Martin Country, specifically the City of Stuart, would be the site for their next station. 

The company reviewed five proposals from both private and public landowners along the Brightline/Florida East Coast Railway corridor. They, however, ultimately decided on Stuart due to its location, as well as the physical characteristics of the site.

The new station is estimated to cost around $60 million and will open in early 2028. 

Ships sailing from Port Canaveral

Royal Caribbean, along with numerous other cruise lines, sail from Port Canaveral. A total of 8 Royal ships will sail from Port Canaveral between now and April 2026. 

In July, Royal's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, will begin offering 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas. While not the largest ship in the world, guests can find various offerings unavailable on other Oasis Class ships, including the Royal Railway - Utopia Station specialty restaurant and Pesky Parrott bar. 

Additionally, upon Star of the Seas' debut in August 2025, the brand-new ship will sail from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Other ships include Adventure, Explorer, Allure, Mariner, Voyager, and Wonder of the Seas. Sailings range in duration from 3-night Bahamas cruises to 13-night Transatlantic voyages. 

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, having the right items in your luggage can make or break your cruising experience. If this is your first time cruising, you might also be wondering what exactly you should pack to use in your cruise cabin.

With limited luggage space, you want to ensure you’ve only packed the essentials that you need for a great cruise. This is especially true for guests who need to fly to the cruise port with checked luggage. In fact, most of the major airlines in the U.S. have just recently increased baggage fees for checked luggage.

With this in mind, it’s crucial to be strategic with packing for your cruise. You’ll want to be prepared for all of the cruise adventures - or unexpected challenges - that come your way. With the right items, you’ll be well-equipped for an incredible vacation at sea.

Regardless of your particular sailing, you’ll be staying in a cabin onboard your cruise ship. From a windowless interior cabin to spacious suites, there are some quirky aspects of cruising that differentiate this vacation from staying in a standard hotel room or all-inclusive resort.

Most cabins on a cruise ship are smaller and more compact than most hotel rooms. While you will be provided with the basics in your cabin, packing some of these essential items on our list will elevate your cruising experience.

Here is our list of 21 cruise cabin essentials that everyone should pack for their vacation. Some of these items are my personal favorites while others come highly recommended by other cruisers as cabin essentials.

Please note, the affiliate links to the products below provide a commission to our blog, which helps support our site. Purchasing from these links below will cost you nothing extra. You can also visit our Amazon storefront to see the cruising products and cabin essentials we recommend.

1. USB Outlet Extender

If you’ve never sailed in a cruise cabin before, you might be surprised to find that staterooms are often limited when it comes to power outlets. Older cruise ships in particular have very limited outlets for charging devices. Some cruise ships will only have one or two outlets available for the entire cabin to share.

Because of this, packing some sort of power extender is crucial. This will allow you and your travel party to charge or power all of your devices. Packing one of these USB outlet extenders with multiple outlets and charging ports will save you a massive headache in your cabin. I also pack a European travel plug adapter since most cabins will have a European outlet in the stateroom.

Cruise Power Strip No Surge Protector with USB Outlets - Ship Approved (Non Surge Protection) Cruise Essentials in 2024 & 2025 (White) Price: $16.99

[2-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 1 USB C, 2 American Outlets and 3 USB Ports, 6 in 1 Travel Essentials to Most of Europe Greece, Italy(Type C) Price: $19.99

2. Magnetic Hooks

One of the most popular essential items to pack for your cruise cabin is a set of magnetic hooks. The walls of your cruise cabin are metal, which allows you to use anything magnetized on the walls.

With cruise cabins also being compact, it’s important to utilize your storage space. Those traveling with multiple people in a stateroom - or on a longer itinerary that requires more luggage - will need to optimize the closets, drawers and shelving for storage.

Cruisers go crazy for magnetic hooks as an essential packing item. While you will have plenty of storage for your belongings, these magnetic hooks allow you to hang your items from the wall.

Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks, 27lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Curtain, Grill(Silver, Pack of 6) Price: $5.99

3. Medication

No one wants to think about the possibility of getting sick during your hard-earned and highly-anticipated vacation. Unfortunately, illness can strike anywhere. If you’re on a cruise, you’ll need to rely on the ship’s onboard shops for any over-the-counter medication needs. As you can imagine, these are astronomically priced and limited in selection.

One essential cabin item is a small supply of over-the-counter medication. I call this my mini pharmacy! Inside, I have medication for multi-symptom day and night cold, anti-nausea medication, pain relief, allergies, laxatives, anti-diarrhea and more.

Additionally, if you have prescription medication, you should always cruise with extra in your cabin. If your cruise is delayed for some reason, such as unexpected weather or medical emergencies, you won’t want to be without your prescription medication. The onboard medical center might be able to help in these instances, but it’s best to be prepared for the worst.

4. Small Fan

Another wildly popular cruise cabin essential is a small fan to use in your stateroom. Although your cabin will have air conditioning, guests rave about bringing a portable fan to use in the evenings. Keeping the fan running in the night allows the cabin’s air to flow better - and also provides a soothing sound for those that sleep with a fan at home.

It’s best to bring a fan that is battery operated if you’re worried about the number of outlets available in the cabin. Otherwise, a plug-in fan will work as well. Some cruisers prefer to have a fan with adjustable legs that can be placed throughout the cabin.

Snawowo Mini Handheld Personal Portable Fan, Baby Stroller Fan, Car Seat Fan, USB or Battery Powered, with Flexible Tripod Clip on Student Bed Desk Bike Crib Treadmill Camping Traveling(Dark Blue) Price: $19.99 

Gaiatop USB Desk Fan, 3 Speeds with Strong Airflow, 5.5 Inch Quiet Small Portable Table Fan, 90° Rotate Personal Cooling Fan For Bedroom Home Office Desktop Travel (Black) Price: $8.99

5. Packing Cubes

Along with most cruisers, I am a huge fan of packing cubes. Packing cubes allow you to neatly organize your clothes while also compressing items when zipped. Not only do these simplify the packing experience itself, but packing cubes are also a huge help when organizing your cabin.

Once onboard your cruise, you will receive your luggage delivered directly to your stateroom. I prefer to unpack my suitcase right away in my cruise cabin to feel settled and organized. Packing cubes make this a seamless experience. I simply remove the packing cubes from my suitcase and place the cube directly in a drawer or shelf in my stateroom.

Veken 8 Set Packing Cubes for Suitcases, Travel Essentials for Carry on, Black Luggage Organizer Bags Set for Travel Accessories in 4 Sizes (Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small) Price: $16.98 

6. Insulated Coffee Mug

While it’s common knowledge to travel with a reusable water bottle, some cruisers swear by bringing their own insulted coffee mug or thermos aboard. This allows you to bring back hot coffee from the buffet, coffee shop or restaurants down to your cruise cabin.

Coffee cups are available on cruise ships for guests to use. But, it can be hard to walk around the ship with a cup of hot coffee. Cruisers sailing on itineraries to cooler environments might be especially interested in purchasing a travel coffee mug for keeping coffee, tea or hot chocolate warm.

SUNWILL 14 oz Coffee Mug, Vacuum Insulated Camping Mug with Lid, Double Wall Stainless Steel Travel Tumbler Cup, Coffee Thermos Outdoor, Powder Coated Navy Blue Price: $9.99 

7. Wrinkle release spray

Cruise ships do not allow guests to bring any steamers or irons in their cabins for fire safety purposes. Instead, you’ll have to get a little creative treating those wrinkly clothes. Many cruise guests bring a small bottle of wrinkle release spray to keep in their cruise cabin to combat wrinkly clothes.

With just a few sprays, wrinkles can be quickly and conveniently removed from your clothes. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s easy and cheap enough. Regardless, you won’t be the only one onboard with wrinkly clothes!

Downy Wrinkle Releaser, Odor Eliminator and Fabric Refresher, Crisp Linen Scent, Travel Essential, 3 Fl OZ (Pack of 2) Price: $7.99 

8. Liquid hand soap

Keeping yourself healthy on a cruise should be a top priority. It’s important to wash your hands frequently throughout your cruise. Most cruise ships only provide a bar of soap in your cruise cabin for hand washing.

This bar of soap is totally useable, but I prefer to pack a small bottle of liquid hand soap to use in my cabin. I find that my hands feel cleaner when I use liquid hand soap in the cabin bathroom. It’s also just easier, in my opinion.

Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, Fresh Breeze - 7.5 Fl Oz (Pack of 6) Price: $7.35 

9. Electronics organizer

Organization is key for keeping your sanity in a cruise cabin. It’s easy for the cabin to feel cluttered given how small the space is. Because of this, I bring an electronics organizer for not only traveling, but to use within my cruise cabin.

If you’re someone with multiple devices that need to be charged, you are no stranger to the overwhelming ball of intertwined charging cords. I finally was fed up with having cords all over the cabin vanity, so I invested in an electronics organizer. This has been a game changer for me!

Electronic Organizer Travel USB Cable Accessories Bag/Case,Waterproof for Power Bank,Charging Cords,Chargers,Mouse ,Earphones Flash Drive Price: $8.99 

10. Hanging cosmetics bag

In the spirit of organization, another cabin essential is a hanging cosmetics bag. I’ve been cruising and traveling with a hanging cosmetic bags for more than a decade. These hang perfectly on the back of your cabin bathroom door so it’s not in the way for anyone.

Similar to the rest of your cabin, your stateroom’s bathroom will be compact. While there will be shelving and storage, this area can also get cluttered quickly. It’s so easy to travel and cruise with a hanging cosmetics bag. Highly recommend!

BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag with Hanging Hook, Water-resistant Makeup Cosmetic Bag Travel Organizer for Accessories, Shampoo, Full-size Container, Toiletries Price: $22.39 

11. Air Freshener

One of the best parts of a cruise is all of the delicious food you’ll be enjoying. But, all of that food has to go somewhere. If you’re worried about having a stinky space, many cruisers recommend bringing a cheap air freshener to keep in your bathroom.

While you have many options for something like this, an old-fashioned car freshener can work best - like the ones that hang from your rearview mirror. Many cruisers swear by an air freshener in their cabin bathroom to facilitate a fresh smelling stateroom. At the end of the cruise, just toss it in the trash.

LITTLE TREES Car Air Freshener | Hanging Paper Tree for Home or Car | Vanillaroma Scent | Pack of 12 Price: $11.92 

12. Lanyard with key holder

When cruising with Royal Caribbean, you’ll need to keep close tabs on your SeaPass card. This is your onboard key that will allow you to enter your cabin and charge your onboard account, along with embarking and disembarking the ship at port stops. Without your SeaPass, you won’t be able to get very far.

One of the most popular cursing essential is a lanyard with a key holder. Keeping your SeaPass on a lanyard helps you to easily and quickly locate your card. I prefer to use a magnetic hook and hang my lanyard on this hook while I am in my cabin.

Cruise Lanyard Must Have Accessories for Ship Cards [2-Pack] in 2024 & 2025 Cruise Lanyards with ID Holder, Key Card Detachable Badge & Waterproof Ship Card Holders (Navy Blue & White) Price: $8.97 

13. Shampoo and Conditioner

Royal Caribbean only provides guests with a 3-in-1 showering product. This is advertised as a shampoo and body wash hybrid. Because of this, packing your own shampoo and conditioner is essential. This is especially important for the ladies out there!

I prefer to purchase travel sized shampoo and conditioner, but you can also fill up reusable bottles with products from home. This makes the cabin experience much better - or else you can expect to have pretty dry hair throughout your cruise.

TRESemmé Shampoo & Conditioner, Sulfate-Free, Travel Size - Moisture Rich Hair Treatment for Dry, Damaged Hair, Mini Shampoo & Conditioner for Hair Repair, Scented, 3 Oz Ea (2 Piece Set) Price: $8.97 

14. Hydration packets

Between all of the eating and drinking onboard your cruise, you might start to feel dehydrated. This is especially true if you are spending extra time in the sun, whether this is on the pool deck or ashore on the beach.

At the end of the day, staying hydrated is very important while cruising. Another popular essential for your cruise cabin is packing some liquid hydration packets that you can add to your water. I prefer LiquidIV or Propel packets because they are small and travel well. I also find that it replenishes my electrolytes quickly so I can get back to the pool deck!

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier - Passion Fruit - Hydration Powder Packets | Electrolyte Drink Mix | Easy Open Single-Serving Sticks | Non-GMO | 1 Pack (16 Servings) Price: $24.13

15. Portable white noise machine

One of the newest essential items that I bring on my cruises is a portable white noise machine. This allows me to sleep soundly without hearing all the ruckus of the cruise ship in the evening.

Whether this is the anchor early in the morning or rowdy passengers stumbling down the hallway, the sound machine helps to drown out the noise. This portable sound machine is powerful and the perfect size for travel. Now, I won’t cruise without it!

White Noise Machine Babelio Mini Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby | 15 Non-looping Sounds | Timer | Easy to Pocket and Travel - White Price: $15.99 

16. Pop-up hamper

During your cruise, you might be surprised how quickly the dirty laundry piles up - with nowhere to go! To help with organization, many cruisers bring a small pop-up hamper to keep in their cruise cabins for dirty clothes.

I’ve tried this a few times while cruising, particularly on longer sailings where I know I will have a big pile of dirty laundry, and I loved it! This pop-up hamper is so small and conveniently fits on the bottom of your suitcase for ease of travel. Some might say this is a nice-to-have, but many say a pop-up hamper is an essential!

Mesh Pop Up Laundry Hamper with Durable Handles - Portable Collapsible Clothes Baskets for Dorm, Bathroom & Travel (Blue) Price: $6.99 

17. Ziplock Baggies

Another essential item for your cruise cabin is a small pack of ziplock baggies! These are so versatile to use throughout your cruise. Anything from keeping your belongings safe during an excursion or packing away some snacks for your big adventure - baggies are great to have.

Having baggies on hand can be very handy in your cabin for a variety of reasons. I would suggest bringing different baggie sizes from sandwich to quart and gallon bags. You can also place your liquids inside a ziplock bag for use in your cabin or when traveling home.

Ziploc Food Storage and Sandwich Bags Variety Pack, New Stay Open Design with Stand-Up Bottom, Easy to Fill, 166 Bags Total Price: $23.97

18. Portable charger

With cabins having limited outlets for charging, it’s essential for someone in the cabin to bring a portable charger. This allows you to not only charge additional devices in your cabin, but you can also take this ashore during your excursions.

Having a small portable charger can help keep your phone fully charged to have throughout your day. In addition, I’ve even used these in my cruise stateroom so I do not need to be physically by the vanity for charging.

Anker Portable Charger, Power Bank, 10,000 mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Charging Technology and USB-C (Input Only) for iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, iPhone 14/13 Series, Samsung Galaxy Price: $15.99

19. Over-the-door shoe organizer

While I haven’t purchased this essential cabin item myself, tons of cruisers are obsessed with packing an over-the-door-shoe organizer for their cabins. While you can certainly use this for storing your shoes, people use this for anything or everything!

With so many cubbies and compartments for storage, you can neatly store many of your cruising essentials without leaving them all over the cabin.

Amazon Basics Over the Door Organizer with 24 Pockets - Black Price: $11.99

20. Motion-censored night light

If you’re someone who has a night light at home to navigate in the night, one essential item to pack is a portable, motion-censored night light for your cruise cabin. This night light will softly illuminate your cabin in the night when it senses motion.

Those booked in an interior cabin should especially consider packing this essential item. Interior staterooms have no windows, so these cabins are pitch black at all hours of the day! Having this kind of night light can ensure you navigate your cabin safely.

Night Light Motion Sensor [Battery Powered] with Rotating Base for Indoor Use in Bathroom, Hallway, Cruise Cabin & More Price: $17.99

21. Laundry packets

On Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships, you won’t have access to any laundry facilities onboard. Your only option for laundry is paying for laundry service through the cruise ship where crew members will wash your dirty clothes.

If you don’t feel like shelling out the money for laundry, you should consider packing travel-sized laundry packets for your cruise cabin. I’ve done more laundry in a cruise cabin sink than I’d like to admit. In fact, I did all my laundry for 100 days in a cruise cabin sink while I lived on a ship for my study abroad program in college.

Tide Sink Packs Laundry Detergent Does 3 Loads (3 packs of 3) Price: $8.39

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Cruising can have quite the learning curve, so why not learn from those that already mastered it all?

If you’re new to Royal Caribbean, it’s natural to feel intimidated by the things you need to learn and prepare for.

One reason you’re probably reading this post right now is so you can find out all the tips and tricks Royal Caribbean veterans know.

Cruise fans have developed tried-and-true strategies to enjoy their cruises to the fullest. Thankfully, the Internet allows us to share all these tips—and for you to learn from them!

By researching and putting into practice these insider hacks, you can make sure you have the best cruise possible. 

If you are new to Royal Caribbean, here are nine things people who cruise Royal Caribbean all the time know about taking a cruise that you might want to consider doing too.

1. Check-in as soon as possible

Getting the earliest check-in time gets you onboard the ship faster.

The Royal Caribbean app and website will open online check-in 45 days before the cruise begins.

Cruise veterans check-in as soon as this opportunity opens, and some even stay up late to be the first!

If you stay up late, checking in at midnight based on the time zone of your sailing, you can get the earliest possible check-in time slot.

After you complete check-in, you’ll receive an option of time slots, usually ranging between 11 A.M. and 2 P.M.

When each time slot fills up with guests, it will close. So it makes sense that you’d need to check-in early to get the earlier times.

The sooner you check-in, the sooner you get onboard the ship!

Since the price you paid for the cruise won’t change, check-in early to get those extra couple of hours onboard.

2. Book specialty dining in advance

Royal Caribbean offers some amazing—and popular—extra-cost dining venues. 

From Chops Grille to Izumi Hibachi, there are formal and delicious meal options for all tastes.

If you want to ensure a table will be open for you, try booking the restaurant before you get onboard the ship.

Royal Caribbean veterans know that restaurants can fill up fast, and you’ll need to act quickly if you want to reserve a table.

You can make reservations online via Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website.

This way, you’ll guarantee a spot and choose the date and time that works best for your schedule.

If you want to celebrate a special occasion or holiday, it’s especially important to plan ahead and reserve as soon as possible.

If you choose to purchase a specialty dining package instead of individual restaurant reservations, have a plan of where and when you want to eat.

Then, make your reservations as soon as you get onboard the ship.

Staff at any one of the specialty venues can help you book your meals for all of the venues.

3. Purchase your cruise years ahead

Royal Caribbean veterans work to get the best possible prices on cruise fares.

The more you save, the more you can spend on activities, excursions, or even another cruise!

To get the best possible price when booking a cruise, you’ll want to book as early in advance as possible.

Ideally, you’d want to book a year or years in advance.

The earlier you book, the more staterooms will be available. Since cruises operate on supply and demand, prices will be cheaper when more supply is available.

By booking one or two years early, you’ll get ahead of the demand and increased prices.

Try asking a Royal Caribbean vet when they book their cruises, and they’ll likely give you an answer measured in years.

If you’re on a cruise and find yourself thinking about the next vacation, you can also book your next cruise directly onboard. You can save hundreds of dollars per person by booking at the Next Cruise area.

For the more impulsive types, last-minute deals are also worth keeping an eye on. While they’re less assured than ones planned years in advance, occasionally those last-minute deals will have a discount worth snatching up.

Read more: How to plan a cruise for the first time

4. Cruise during the off-season

If you’re still looking for fare deals, keep in mind that it matters more when you cruise, not so much when you book the cruise.

Finding lower fares is easier if you’re willing to cruise when school is in session (August to May) and during the cruise shoulder season.

Shoulder season, which offers lower fares, fewer crowds, and comfortable temperatures, varies depending on your destination.

Usually, these times include the months of January (excluding New Year’s Day), February, May, and September, the first two weeks of November, and the first two weeks of December.

Cruising during these times will give you a lower fare, because it’s when other people are less likely to try cruising. 

Buy a cruise for those times when others are at work or in school, and you’ll be rewarded with fewer crowds and lower prices.

5. Try a smaller ship

Yes, Royal Caribbean heavily promotes its newest and biggest ships.

You’ve probably heard about everything there is to try on huge ships like Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

But despite the public attention the mega-ships command, veterans know that every ship in the fleet has something to offer—even the smaller ones.

Radiance, Vision, and Voyager Class ships all have their own charm. 

From a quieter experience to a more tight-knit crew to opportunities at unique ports, some amazing experiences can’t be replicated by a larger ship.

Not only that, but they’re also likely to come with a lower price tag.

There’s nothing wrong with those big, exciting ships like in the Icon, Oasis, and Quantum Class, but be sure that you’re not writing off those smaller ships.

The demand for smaller ships isn’t going away anytime soon, and Royal Caribbean has even discussed plans for a new class of smaller ships.

6. Stay onboard in port

If you ever talk to someone who cruises a lot, there's a good chance if you ask them what their plans are while in port, they'll tell you they are staying on the ship.

There are a few good reasons why you might want to strategically embrace this strategy.

If it's a ship new to you and you want to explore and enjoy what the ship has to offer, staying onboard during a port visit gives you more time onboard and less lines to contend with.

Taking a cruise on Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, or Odyssey of the Seas, there's a good chance you picked these new ships because of all the cool things it offers. While the ship is in port, signature activities tend to be far less crowded, especially the pool and water slides.

Sometimes they stay onboard because there just isn't an excursion or activity that speaks to them. There's nothing wrong with staying on the ship if you don't find a tour that fits your needs.

In addition, cruise pros stay onboard if it's a port of call they've been to in the past. Some ports have a lot of repeatability, while others, not so much.

7. Join the loyalty program

While the Crown and Anchor Society isn’t exactly a secret, veteran cruisers know how to take full advantage of this loyalty program.

You can even sign up before your first cruise, and you’ll earn points for each night you spend on a Royal Caribbean ship.

It’s free to sign up, and you will receive more and more discounts as you earn points.

The Crown and Anchor Society rewards frequent cruisers with onboard discounts, priority embarkation and check-in, and promotional offers.

8. Read Cruise Compasses to prepare

Wondering what exactly you can expect on your next cruise?

It’s hard to accurately predict exactly what events, activities, and specials might be offered on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean pros know that they can consult an old Cruise Compass to see what was previously offered on similar sailings.

Looking at an old cruise itinerary can give you a good idea of what to expect going forward.

From entertainment to activities, Royal Caribbean ships won’t change their schedule too much from week to week.

And we have an archive of old Cruise Compasses you to peruse. 

9. Use a good travel agent

Yes, we always recommend using a good travel agent for your cruise.

They’re able to make life easier for you through planning, preparation, and saving you money overall.

A good travel agent comes at no extra cost to you, as they are paid by the cruise line. They provide expertise and knowledge to help you get the best cruise vacation possible.

A good travel agent will have a wealth of knowledge about Royal Caribbean, and be able to answer a variety of questions for you.

Read more: Royal Caribbean’s top travel agents prove why you need one more than ever

Pros know that no one has all the answers, so having a guide in the form of a travel agent gets you your own personal advocate. 

From booking the cruise to any problems you run into onboard, they will be there to assist you.

Royal Caribbean has made big headlines with its newest and largest cruise ship in the world, but not everything you may have heard is necessarily true.

Icon of the Seas has garnered a lot of attention for a lot of good reasons. It's not only big, but delivers new experiences and reimagines concepts borrowed from existing ships. Icon has generated buzz and some people have started to come up with ways to summarize the ship, but are they fair representations of what you can expect?

Read more: All about Icon of the Seas

I wanted to debunk some of the common Icon of the Seas myths I've read so far, and share why they may not be entirely true.

Icon of the Seas is only for kids

Royal Caribbean may have designed Icon of the Seas to be its most family-friendly cruise ship to date, but it's far from a floating elementary school at sea.

This myth is rooted in Royal Caribbean's extremely effective marketing of the new ship. The cruise line wants to compete more directly with Florida land vacations that attract families, especially families with young children.

They turned an entire neighborhood into a kids space, added a waterpark to its top deck, and designed more cabins for parents and their children to fit into than ever before.

While those are indeed wonderful changes specifically for people taking a cruise with kids, there's still plenty for adults to do, including those without any kids.

Just like other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there's an adults-only space onboard.  Located in the Hideaway neighborhood, you'll find a new take on the adults enclave. 

Then there's all the bars and lounges that lean more adult, such as the Music Hall, Schooner Bar, Pub, and Playmakers. Plus, there's new bar concepts that you'll only find on the Icon Class ships. Dueling Pianos is a new bar that brings an experience never offered before. Rye and Bean is another new bar that offers coffee-infused cocktails that is great for a pick-me-up.

The new jazz club in Central Park brings a throwback to Harlem jazz clubs, and it's the perfect spot for live music, a cocktail, and a good time.

The casino on Icon is massive, and the layout has been greatly improved as well.

Of course, adults will enjoy many venues that kids like too. After all, a space doesn't have to be exclusively for adults for adults to be able to enjoy it. 

Don't forget the new adults-only expansion at Perfect Day at CocoCay.  Hideaway Beach is an extra cost section of the private island where you wont find any children.

The idea it's "just for kids" is overlooking quite a lot of things to do to keep adults entertained too.

You have to book specialty dining for good food

While Royal Caribbean ships have added lots of extra cost restaurants over the years, Icon of the Seas has some really good choices included with your cruise fare.

First and foremost, don't overlook the Aquadome Market as one of the cruise line's best new dining concepts in a long time.

Aquadome Market is a food hall, where you can go to any booth and order a freshly made dish. Each booth caters to a specific cuisine, and you'll find Asian, Greek, salads, and more to consider.

You'll also notice a greater emphasis on grab-and-go choices on Icon of the Seas, especially at Pearl Cafe.

Pearl Cafe is a replacement and upgrade to Cafe Promenade, where there are all sorts of breakfast items, snacks, and compliments to a morning cup of coffee.

In the Surfside neighborhood, there are two restaurants included in your cruise fare, and while they may be in the "kids area", it has some great comfort food many adults will love as well.

Surfside Eatery is a buffet that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's a smorgasbord of chicken nuggets, quesadillas, hot dogs, pizza, and more. 

If you happen to be in a suite, there's two restaurants just for you, instead of the usual one. You'll find sit-down meals at Coastal Kitchen and casual buffet choices at The Grove.

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

And then of course you have the stalwarts of the included cruise dining game: Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, Sorrento's Pizza and Park Cafe.

While there are indeed lots of compelling extra-cost restaurants, you can easily stick to the dining included with your cruise fare and not miss out on great eating.

The ship is too big and overwhelming

Icon of the Seas was designed to capture the public's imagination, and if you've never cruised before, a ship of this size may seem overwhelming.

There's no denying Icon is big, but don't let its size fool you. Royal Caribbean is no stranger to building big ships, and they recognize the importance of ensuring it's manageable and easy to navigate.

The ship is divided up into neighborhoods, which means sections of the ship have a distinct theme and look to them. The idea is that without studying a deck map, you can visually differentiate areas and that makes it easier to remember how to get around the ship.

As soon as you walk around Icon of the Seas, I think you'll find it easier than you think to get around the ship without feeling lost.

One welcome change Royal Caribbean made was to make spaces more open. The Royal Promenade in particular is wider than on other ships, and there's more windows too.

Ever since the age of the megaship dawned in the 90s, the public has been in awe of how big cruise ships are and wonder how difficult it will be to find their way around the ship.

The reality is a cruise is what you make of it, and you can choose to do a lot or nothing at all. Plus, the ships tend to be more manageable than you might think simply by looking at photos of them.

Icon is too expensive and unaffordable

Like all myths, there's a bit of truth to the assumption that Icon of the Seas is expensive. After all, it's a brand new cruise ship and new ships always command a higher price tag.

While Icon of the Seas is not going to offer bargain basement fares, there are deals out there if you're flexible and can plan ahead.

Looking at cruise prices for Icon, there are significantly lower prices for select sailings in 2025 and 2026.  If you want to get on Icon without paying top dollar, you want to book your cruise now.

At the time of writing this article, I found lower prices for upcoming dates in the next two years. Here are examples of some starting prices:

• January 10, 2025: $1723 per person
• May 10, 2025: $2146 per person
• May 24, 2025: $2046 per person
• August 16, 2025: $2254 per person
• September 6, 2025: $1983 per person
• September 27, 2025: $2,057 per person
• October 18, 2025: $1964 per person
• November 15, 2025: $1859 per person

There's even lower prices for a number of winter and spring cruises in 2026.

What's affordable or a deal will vary from person to person, but the high prices you may be seeing for Icon of the Seas this summer can be avoided if you're willing to book well in advance and can sail during certain times of the year.  That isn't to say there's going to be bottom of the barrel prices, just that there are lower prices out there.

Speaking of lower prices, it's always worth working with a good travel agent because sometimes they have agency specific group rates that can be even lower than what you see on the Royal Caribbean website.

You can play with the ship's family dog

There is indeed a dog that lives on Icon of the Seas, and she's as cute as she looks. But I wouldn't make belly rub plans quite yet.

Rover is the name of the golden retriever that is the official "family dog" on Icon. She's less than a year old, and super cute and there is a chance you might see her around the ship.

Read more: I take care of a dog on the world's largest cruise ship

If you're like my kids, your first reaction was "I can't wait to meet Rover", but the reality is it's more likely you'll go the entire cruise without seeing Rover than not.

With up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity, there's a lot of other people who wouldn't mind playing with Rover.  And while Rover is probably used to being on a ship now, she is understandably not going to be at the center of attention to avoid overwhelming her.

Plus, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure Rover gets to live her best life. There's plenty of time for naps and quiet time.

So while you might be able to spot Rover onboard, don't make any firm plans to interact with her in the same way you might plan to meet a theme park character.