From all-new stage productions to high-tech ice shows, amazing theme parties and breathtaking diving performances, Harmony of the Seas is taking entertainment to the next level. Guests can sing-along with Broadway favorite “Grease” in the Royal Theater or be part of the party with high-energy parades, live DJ performances and even a thrilling escape game, Puzzle Break: Escape the Rubicon!
Happy Sunday! We hope you’re having a great weekend! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!
A change is coming to Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty benefits that will result in the dropping of a balcony discount on last-minute booked cruises.
The Crown & Anchor Society discount that Platinum and above level members enjoy will not be offered on cruises booked less than six months prior to the sail date, beginning on September 1, 2016.
Cruises booked six months or more from sail date will still be eligible for the balcony discount.
Royal Caribbean stated the change was made because a large majority of Crown & Anchor guests reserve outside of the 6 month window, and those that do book sooner often find it more beneficial to take advantage of other promotions that may not be combinable with the balcony discount.
The 158th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we share a first-hand review of Empress of the Seas.
Empress of the Seas has recently returned to Royal Caribbean's fleet of ships, and our own Michael Poole had a chance to take a weekend cruise on her. Michael talks about what he liked about the cruise and who would love a cruise on Empress.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
If you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise and spot something cool, new or just fun, share a photo with us on Facebook or Twitter so we can add it to our Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds each Sunday!
A traditional Nova Scotian welcome to passengers and crew visiting @portofhalifax today aboard #GrandeuroftheSeas! pic.twitter.com/XD9gO7FJt7
— Halifax Seaport (@HalifaxSeaport) August 10, 2016
July 2016- Liberty of the Seas docked in Labadee, Haiti. Onboard 9 night Bermuda and Caribbean! pic.twitter.com/XbmNMUvfUk
— Andrew Page (@AndrewPage_) August 8, 2016
On The Water has an interview with the actress that plays Jan in Grease on Harmony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean posted on YouTube a 360 degress ride video from the Ultimate Abyss.
Cruise Fever shared Grandeur of the Seas' perfect CDC health inspection report.
TTG Asia shared the results of a survey by Royal Caribbean that show most Singaporeans underestimate the value of a cruise.
TravelPulse shared a 4K video review of Harmony of the Seas.
What to wear on your Royal Caribbean cruise seems to be a question we get a lot because no one wants to do the wrong thing. Cruising has changed a lot over the years, but some traditions of dress codes remain to this day.
Before you go on your Royal Caribbean cruise, here is a handy guide to help you understand what cruise clothing you should wear onboard.
The first day of your cruise is a bit of an odd day, with guests arriving onboard and getting acclimated to their new home. Moreover, luggage deliveries to staterooms can take a bit of time, so not all guests have access to all of their belongings throughout the day.
Nearly all guests will arrive to their Royal Caribbean ship wearing something comfortable and relaxing. Depending on the weather conditions at the embarkation port, you will find most guests with t-shirts, shorts/jeans, etc.
While Royal Caribbean offers guests the option to check their luggage and have it delivered later to their stateroom, you might consider retaining a day bag that has a change of clothes, swimsuit, work out clothes and anything else you might need between when you board the ship and when your luggage will actually be delivered. This is especially important for kids, because the pools will be open on embarkation day, but swim suits packed away in checked luggage could lead to disappointment.
During the morning and afternoon, there is no dress code and your itinerary will largely dictate what you should wear onboard.
Caribbean, Mediterranean and other warm-weather cruises will see a mix of t-shirts, shorts, blouses, bathing suits and whatever else is comfortable. Since much of the activities and things to do onboard your ship are outdoors, a vast majority of guests will be dressed for a pool day, and swim suits and associated clothing are quite prevalent.
Cruises to cold weather destinations will see guests wearing heavier clothing, including jeans, sweaters, lounge wear and more. Depending on the season and destination, layering your clothes is common, where t-shirts are worn underneath sweaters to allow for greater flexibility with the changing temperatures.
If you are planning to visit the fitness center, be sure to bring extra shorts, t-shirts, socks and running shoes/sneakers to work out in.
The reality is, there are no guidelines about what you wear during the day on your Royal Caribbean cruise. Restaurants retain some basic dress guidelines, including a casual dress code in specialty restaurants and the main dining room. Quick service venues, such as the Windjammer, Cafe Promenade and other grab-and-go locations have just basic guidelines when it comes to dress code, such as shoes and a shirt.
During the dinner hours, Royal Caribbean does have a dress code for its main dining room. The dress code is only for the dining room, and outside that venue, there is no special dress code .
When people hear dress codes, it causes a great deal of anxiety about what is and what is not allowed. It is a complicated issue because "appropriate" attire for each dress code will depend on the interpretation of the rules. Royal Caribbean tends to be a bit ambiguous about its dress code rules, especially when it comes to enforcing them. In practice, Royal Caribbean's dress code is more a guideline that can be used as an enforcement tool, but is not frequently administered to all guests.
There are three basic dress codes Royal Caribbean uses. We will list each one, along with what Royal Caribbean lists as suggested dress for each one.
Swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps and pool wear are not allowed in the main restaurants or specialty restaurants. T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops are acceptable for lunch.
Despite the name, formal night is not nearly as fancy as you might think. Formal night is certainly the most dressed up evening attire required on your Royal Caribbean cruise, but it is not as ornate as you might imagine.
Evening wear for formal night will vary, and you will see some guests wearing tuxedoes and gowns. It is our opinion that most guests tend to dress a bit less fancy than that, with men wearing suits or sports coats and women wearing cocktail dresses. Essentially, it is clothing that is a bit nicer than you might wear on other nights of the cruise.
Royal Caribbean does provide a tuxedo rental option, which can save on packing space.
If the idea of formal night really bothers you and you, the good news is you absolutely do not have to get dressed up on your Royal Caribbean cruise. The formal night dress code is only for the main dining room and specialty restaurants, so anywhere else on the ship is fair game for shorts, flip flops and tank tops. The Windjammer and other quick service venues will be open and without any formal wear.
Children on a Royal Caribbean cruise will follow similar patterns to adults in terms of what they wear. During the day onboard and onshore, it will be casual for kids, so nothing really important to worry about. Just something they will be comfortable wearing.
In the evening, the dress code for children is the same for adults. There tends to be more leeway in terms of the degree of formality for children's clothing, but at the same time children are expected to be dressed up more than what they would wear during the daytime. The exception would be infants.
For boys, polo shirts and nice pants will suffice for most evenings and girls can wear dresses, skirts and sweaters.
Royal Caribbean's Next Cruise program rewards guests that book another Royal Caribbean cruise while onboard their current cruise and that might generate some questions about how it all works.
If you want to take advantage of this offer when you go on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, then here is what you need to know about Next Cruise.
Photo by Bobby Southard
Essentially, booking another Royal Caribbean cruise onboard with Next Cruise gets you free onboard credit for doing so. The price and booking incentives will be the same onboard as on land, but the difference is the extra onboard credit that you will get by doing so.
The Next Cruise offer is perfect for anyone that knows they will certainly take another Royal Caribbean cruise in the future. Exactly which cruise and when is not important, but considering the Next Cruise offer is "free money," anyone that wants to take another Royal Caribbean cruise in the future will stand to benefit from this offer.
By booking a cruise with the Next Cruise program, guests will receive onboard credit equivalent to the deposit amount required for the cruise length and stateroom category.
If you prefer, there is an open booking Next Cruise option, where instead of booking a specific sailing, you will get a certificate that can be used on any upcoming cruise.
Open booking shipboard credit per stateroom:
After booking a Next Cruise open booking, you will get via email a booking reservation number and that is the number you will need when you are ready to book a specific Royal Caribbean sailing. Give your travel agent or Royal Caribbean your Next Cruise number and they will turn it into an active reservation that reflects the deposit amount you made plus booking incentives your certificate has.
Next Cruise also allows additional flexibility for guests with which reservation they make. These include:
Guests can still use their travel agent when making a Next Cruise booking. In fact, if you booked the cruise you are on with a travel agent, they will automatically get notification of the Next Cruise booking.
There is really just one consideration about Next Cruise to keep in mind and that is the deposit you make is non-refundable.
Unlike other Royal Caribbean cruise reservations, the Next Cruise deposit is non-refundable, which means you either have to take that Royal Caribbean cruise eventually or lose that money. The reason why we stated earlier to book Next Cruise is if you know with certainty that you will take another Royal Caribbean cruise, it is free money to take advantage of. But if you have doubts about taking another Royal Caribbean cruise, keep in mind that Next Cruise program is non-refundable.
One other policy you should be aware of is changing your mind to downgrade your cabin after booking.
Downgrades to your NextCruise will result in an additional charge of between $50 to $500 on your booking and in the loss of your special promotional offer.
Downgrades include booking a shorter duration cruise or booking a lower class of staterooms.
The bottom line is if you are certain that you will take another Royal Caribbean cruise at some point in the future, you are best off booking a Next Cruise offer because it is free money. Seeing as the only drawback is the deposit is non-refundable, there is very little risk involved.
The onboard credit you receive can be taken on the cruise you are on or deferred to the cruise you just booked. We prefer to defer the onboard credit to that future cruise because we have already budgeted for the current cruise, but it is a subjective option.
Royal Caribbean announced it is building a new Innovation Lab facility at PortMiami, adjacent to its corporate headquarters.
Royal Caribbean is being touted as a first-of-its-kind facility built entirely designed to promote the “relentless innovation” that powers the cruiseline, the building will house unique collaborative spaces where new ideas can tested and tweaked.
Much of the first floor will be open space large enough to allow the construction of full-size mockups of shipboard spaces and the things that fill them – "real" reality rather than virtual – for trials, tests and aesthetics. he rest of the building will contain "ignition hubs" where people from different departments and vendors will gather to spend hours, days or weeks talking through problems and projects.
The new 20,000-square-foot, two-story lab, is intended to be as functional as it is architecturally stunning. Royal Caribbean vice president of architectural design, Kelly Gonzalez, is very excited about the the lab as an idea mill where most of the moving parts are human, "Innovation is nothing new for us. Our daily existence here is thriving off of always wanting to raise the bar a little higher. And go a little further."
"Imagine a large conference room that eight to 10 people would walk into. Now imagine the floor is one seamless sheet of glass and there’s rear projection underneath it."
"The whole room is Virtual Reality," Gonzalez continues. "But when you put the glasses on, you and the people you’re with are all sharing the same experience in that room."
Completion date for the lab is the end of January.
A Royal Caribbean cruise vacation provides a tremendous value for guests in terms of what they get for the price they pay, and a very common question among first time cruisers is like this one from Fay Jones.
"Are there any beverages that are included with the meals that is not an additional charge? Also is the tap water safe to drink?"
It is a good question which drinks are included in your cruise, and here is an overview of what to expect in terms of which drinks are included.
You can expect these drinks to be included and available during your cruise for no additional cost
These drinks are available throughout your cruise at a number of locations, so there will always be somewhere to get something to drink for free.
Anything not on this list will cost you extra, including soft drinks, beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
Yes, there is tap water provided on your cruise to drink and it is indeed very safe to drink.
Every Royal Caribbean ship has a meticulously maintained water treatment/storage system that supplies all of the ships potable water.
Some guests report the tap water is not as cold as they would like, in which case your room attendant can bring you ice at any point in your cruise.
If you prefer not to drink tap water, there is bottled water available for purchase or included in a Royal Caribbean drink package.
One of the first considerations when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise is the cabin you will select that will be your home for the duration of the cruise.
On any given Royal Caribbean cruise, there are plenty of cabins to consider across a number of stateroom categories. There are many considerations to take into account, but choosing the right cabin for you should not be a daunting task.
Staterooms come in different sizes, layouts, views and even benefits. What is important to one person might not be as important to someone else. There really is no wrong cabin to pick, but there are definitely rooms you can choose that will enhance your cruise experience.
When considering the right stateroom for you, it is important to consider the differences between the various categories.
The most basic and smallest of the staterooms are inside staterooms. Inside staterooms are distinguished from other rooms primarily because they offer no natural view of outside the ship.
Inside staterooms typically have no windows and no balconies.
The compelling reason to book an inside stateroom is for the value, since they are often the least-expensive rooms you can book and that means it is the lowest entry point to getting on the cruise. The exact size of the room will vary depending on the class of ship you are sailing on, but inside rooms will offer the least amount of space at the least price.
Over the years, Royal Caribbean has introduced new kinds of inside staterooms that retain the basic qualities of an inside stateroom, but with a new twist.
Promenade view: Promenade view staterooms are inside staterooms that feature a bay window that overlooks the Royal Promenade. While the room has no view outside the ship, it does provide something to look at, with great opportunities for people watching as well as a great vantage point for events on the Royal Promenade.
Another added benefit of this room category is the bowed windows offer more square footage compared to standard inside staterooms.
The exact size of Promenade stateroom varies depending on the class of ships. Voyager and Freedom class ships Promenade staterooms are 160 square feet, whereas on Oasis class ships they are 193 square feet.
Virtual Balcony: One of the newest innovations to the inside stateroom is the virtual balcony stateroom, which takes a conventional inside stateroom and adds an 80-inch LED high-definition television that provides live views around the ship.
The screens are 4K ultra high definition capable screens that stretch from floor to ceiling and receive a video feed from the ship's cameras that are mounted at the stem and stern of the ship.
With virtual balcony staterooms, guests can enjoy a balcony experience without the balcony price.
Virtual balcony staterooms are available on Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas.
The next category up from inside staterooms are oceanview staterooms, which are slightly larger rooms that have a porthole or window to the ocean.
Much like the inside staterooms, oceanview cabins are on the inexpensive side and provide guests with an affordable means of being on the ship and still have a view. Natural light is important to many guests, and the ocean view provides that. Essentially, oceanview rooms are slightly larger inside rooms with a window.
The reason to consider an oceanview room is if a view is important to you, but the price of a higher-category stateroom is not possible. Alternatively, sometimes the price difference between an inside room and an oceanview is not too large, and someone may want to upgrade their room option at not a lot of extra cost.
There is one variation on the oceanview stateroom, which offers even more of a windowed view without the balcony.
Panoramic oceanview: Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom gives much more of a view than a traditional oceanview room, with a floor to ceiling wrap around panoramic window that is 76 inches high by 103-321 inches wide. That is a big window.
As you might imagine, the reason to book a stateroom like this is for the amazing views without the balcony view price.
Panoramic ocean view staterooms are found on Navigator of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.
One of the most sought-after stateroom categories are the balcony cabins. Balcony rooms offer the same kind of living space the previous categories did, but with a private balcony space.
Having your own balcony means you have a special spot on the ship just for you to enjoy, that provides views all around the ship, as well as that terrific ocean breeze. Many cruise fans swear by a balcony for the added space, private area and ambiance that only a balcony room can provide.
As you move up the categories of Royal Caribbean staterooms, balcony staterooms come with more space compared to interior staterooms. As anyone that has cruised before will tell you, every square foot matters!
When you book a balcony stateroom, you get more inside as well as the space from your balcony. It all adds up to more room for everyone to maneuver in and makes the entire experience less crowded. Having a balcony means you have a great spot for sail away, enjoying the ocean passing by, or seeing the port you are docked in from the comfort of your stateroom.
There are a few variations on the traditional oceanview balcony cabin available on Royal Caribbean ships. These are all the same balcony experience, but with a different vantage point.
Central Park balconies: On Oasis-class ships, Central Park balcony staterooms are available that instead of offering a balcony that overlooks the ocean, this stateroom category offers a view of the Central Park neighborhood.
The Central Park balconies offer the same fresh air and light that ocean view balconies do but with the opportunity to enjoy the ambiance of Central Park along with the people watching aspect. In addition, Central Park view balcony staterooms are often slightly cheaper than ocean balconies.
The exact size of a Central Park view stateroom with balcony is 182 square feet with a 50 square foot balcony.
Central Park balcony staterooms are available on Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.
Boardwalk balconies: Just like the Central Park balcony staterooms, the Boardwalk balcony staterooms trade the oceanview of a traditional balcony for a view of the Boardwalk neighborhood.
In addition to the view of the Boardwalk fun, some Boardwalk balconies can offer views of the ocean and/or the AquaTheater, depending on where your room is located. Boardwalk balcony rooms are also usually priced less than ocean balconies.
A Boardwalk balcony room offers 182 square feet of living space, with a private balcony between 47 and 52 square feet.
Boardwalk balcony staterooms are available on Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.
At the high-end of Royal Caribbean's stateroom options are the suite cabins, which offer the most luxurious and largest of all the staterooms. As you might imagine, suites are also the most expensive.
The reason to book a suite is simple: you want to indulge on your cruise and splurge for something a bit more than the norm. Suites offer a tremendous amount of personal space, higher-end amenities, special bonuses and exclusive access.
From Junior Suites to Presidential Suites, there are a number of options to choose from. Suites offer access to a concierge lounge and even a butler. Cabin suites usually consist of more than one room in your cabin and have the most space of any cabin. It is difficult to convey just how much larger some of the suites really are, with balconies that exceed the size of some staterooms.
In addition to the impressive rooms, suite guests typically enjoy double Crown and Anchor Society points for each night of their cruise, concierge planning assistance, complimentary drinks and a private lounge, reserved seating by the pool and shows, and a whole lot more.
On Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Quantum class cruise ships, the benefits program has been refreshed and is dubbed, the Royal Suite Class. Suites on these ships offer the most benefits and highest level of service, split across three tiers of benefits.
All Royal Caribbean staterooms come with private bathrooms that are equipped with showers. Suites have bath tubs in addition to showers, so if you need a tub, be sure to look for that as an option.
Not all staterooms have the same level of amenities, depending on ship class, but there are some basics that all have:
Be sure to refer to each ship's layout for specific accommodations and amenities.
Read more: What is the best room on a cruise ship?
Where your cabin is located can be just as important a consideration as the type of room you select. Royal Caribbean's cruise ships are massive, and picking your room location means you have to take into account access and convenience to a number of public areas on the ship.
It is important to note that there is no bad location on a cruise ship, it is just a matter of personal preference in terms of which location means more to you. It is difficult to make generalizations about cabin locations because it can be a very subjective decision but here are some basic guidelines.
In general, the most sought after location for a stateroom is midship, simply because it is centrally located relative to all the amenities and spaces on the ship. This is true of all cruise ships, and depending on your preferences and itinerary, this may or may not be important to you.
In addition, being centrally located is what most guests who are sensitive to motion on the ocean choose, because the center of the ship tends to have the least sensations of movement. Those that can become easily sea sick, may want to take special consideration.
When it comes to picking a stateroom location, arguably the most important criteria can be how close (or far) your cabin is from certain onboard facilities. Some guests prefer to be close to the pool deck, others like easy access to the Royal Promenade and others want to be in close proximity to elevators.
As they say, it is all relative, but consider your cabin's proximity to public spaces near, above and below your room when selecting it. On the larger ships, the time it takes to walk from one point to another is far more pronounced than on smaller ships, but no ship's walking distance is too great to truly be a concern (provided you suffer from no mobility issues).
Speaking of location, you may also want to consult deck plans before choosing a room to look at how close your room is to public areas that tend to generate a lot of noise. If you are a light sleeper, some rooms that are above or below a night club, restaurant, pool or some other public area can suffer from noise bleed. How much noise and how bad of an issue can vary from cruise to cruise and person to person.
If you're at all concerned about this, choose a cabin that has at least two decks above and below it and the nearest public area to assure quietness.
There is also the choice of having your room on the port (left) or starboard (right) side of the ship. In my years of cruising, I have found this to be among the least important considerations, since you never know what you will be facing when, and both sides of the ship offer something to see and getting to the opposite side of the ship is quite easy.
Read more: What is the best location on a cruise ship?
Much of the decision surrounding which stateroom to pick may have to do with whom you are cruising with. A couple cruising will have different needs than someone cruising with kids.
If you are cruising alone, keep in mind most staterooms come with a single supplement fee, which means you will pay extra to subsidize the lack of another passenger. There are some staterooms that are specifically designed for solo cruisers, but they are rare and only on a handful of ships.
Families are at the heart of what Royal Caribbean offers, and those sailing with children may want to consider two additional alternatives to a typical room. Family sized staterooms are extra large versions of regular staterooms that are designed with larger groups in mind. They offer much more space without the typically higher prices that come with a room of that size. Family sized staterooms may not be available to see on Royal Caribbean's web site at all time and tend to have a minimum amount of guests in the room to become available. Check with a travel agent for exact rates on these rooms.
Families should also consider two adjacent or connecting rooms. Having multiple rooms may sound expensive, but often it is not that much more and the added space and extra bathroom (!) make this a very attractive alternative. Families with younger children will want to get connecting rooms to ensure easy access between the rooms, while older kids can probably be fine in a nearby room. Regardless, a second room is an option to consider for larger groups that need more space.
Couples will find the most options to choose from, since staterooms are mostly designed for two guests per room. Nearly all rooms have twin beds that can be separated or combined to form a queen-size bed. You can request either configuration from your stateroom attendant.
Cruising with friends is another common choice, and like couples, bed configurations can be altered as needed. In addition, some cabins have 3rd and 4th berths, which means options like sofa beds and Pullman beds (beds that pull-down from the ceiling) can fit everyone comfortably.
What cabin category do you usually book on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of each category? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
Guests looking for a larger stateroom that provides a few suite perks combined with a balcony experience often look to a Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean's cruise ships.
While not a full suite in terms of the space provided or amenities included, Junior Suites do provide a lot more living space than balcony cabins.
Junior suite staterooms are available on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships and this blog post is aimed at helping everyone understand better what a Junior Suite cabin offers and why you might want to book one.
Junior Suites are the first type of suite staterooms that Royal Caribbean offers. Despite its name, Junior Suites have more in common with balcony staterooms than suites.
The exact layout and size of a Junior Suite will vary between classes of ships, but they all are essentially a large cabin with private balcony that offers more perks than a regular balcony stateroom.
In most cases, you will find in a junior suite two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, a sitting area with sofa bed, private balcony and a private bathroom with a bathtub.
The exact size of a junior suite varies from ship to ship, anywhere from 112 square feet on Empress of the Seas to 299 square feet on Brilliance of the Seas. Most junior suites are about 290 square feet.
The size of the balcony ranges as well, from 40 square feet to 161 square feet, depending on the ship.
The most common question about a Junior Suite is why book this category of stateroom and what benefits does one receive by staying in one.
Without question, a Junior Suite offers more space than a regular balcony stateroom and that means more living space in your cabin. This extra space is in both the cabin and the balcony. When it comes to accommodations on cruise ships, every extra square foot of living space is wonderful.
In addition to the living space, Junior Suites offer a full size tub, which is is great for families or those who like having more space in their shower, as well as a walk-in closet.
Junior Suites also offer guests double Crown and Anchor Society points, which means guests can move up the ranks of the Crown and Anchor Society levels much faster.
If you would like to attain a higher status in Crown and Anchor as soon as possible, booking Junior Suites is one strategy to maximizing the cruises you take to accomplish that goal.
Junior suites also include tea and coffee service ensuite and terry bathrobes (for use onboard). In addition, junior suite guests receive silver SeaPass cards to distinguish themselves as suite guests to Royal Caribbean staff.
In May 2016, Royal Caribbean ushered in a new revamped approach to its suite benefits program called the Royal Suite Class, and Junior Suites are included in this.
Available on Quantum- and Oasis-class cruise ships, Junior Suites qualify for Sea Class benefits. These include:
Despite the word, "suite" being in the name of the Junior Suite, guests staying in a Junior Suite do not receive the full suite perks.
This means guests do not receive the same level of benefits and access that guests staying in Grand Suite or higher staterooms do. Most notably, this includes access to the concierge lounge, concierge service or reserved suites-only areas of the ship.
Like all cabins, the price you'll pay for a Junior Suite will vary from ship to ship, and sailing to sailing. Moreover, a Junior Suite on an older ship will cost less than one on a new ship.
The real question is how much more will a Junior Suite cost compared to a standard balcony cabin.
For a 7-night Caribbean cruise, a Junior Suite for two people could be as cheap as $2,000 or approach $10,000. There are so many factors that influence the price of any cabin, such as:
The bottom line is Junior Suites are extra large balcony staterooms that provide a less-expensive means of splurging for accommodations on a Royal Caribbean cruise without breaking the bank.
The extra living space and perks of a Junior Suite are a nice to have benefit, that provide for a much more enjoyable experience while in your stateroom. Between the extra storage space, larger balcony and bathroom upgrades, many guests easily can see and appreciate the extras.
Many Royal Caribbean veterans will tell you the determining factor to if a Junior Suite is worth the price is it depends on the price difference between it and a regular balcony stateroom. Many times, a Junior Suite upgrade cost is nominal, while on other sailings the price difference has been more substantial.
While a Junior Suite may not offer nearly as many perks and incentives as a traditional suite stateroom, it does include enough advantages to satisfy the needs of most guests looking to enjoy something nicer than a balcony stateroom but cannot or will not opt for a more extravagant suite.
Nearly everyone that goes on a Royal Caribbean cruise will have a cell phone with them. These days, most adults and plenty of older children have a phone and odds are, they are bringing it with them on their Royal Caribbean cruise. With all of those phones on the ship, the last thing you want to do is come home with an unexpectedly large cell phone bill.
The nature of cell phones these days is they are constantly using their cellular connection to determine where the phone is, get updates, and update apps. When you are at home or work, that is quite useful and functional, but on a cruise, it has the potential to cause a major headache when all that use leads to costly roaming charges.
Before we get into how to avoid a big bill, it is important to understand how and why an unexpected large bill can occur.
Before we can discuss strategies for avoiding big bills, we have to explain why these big bills can occur.
It is probably not a surprise to hear that your cell phone functions by communicating with cell phone towers that are set up and powered by the cell phone provider company that you pay each month. When you are in your home country, your service plan allows for regular use of their network, under the service you signed up.
On a Royal Caribbean ship, you are outside your cell phone company's service area and that is what the cell phone industry refers to as "roaming." Instead of using your cell provider's network, you use someone else's cell phone tower and network. Royal Caribbean partners with Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN) to provide a cell phone signal at sea known as "Cellular at Sea." MTN provides the ability to place and receive calls, text messaging and (slow) data at a relatively high cost.
Even if you were to go on a cruise with your phone and never use it, most modern smart phones still use their cellular signal when not in active use to keep its apps up to date. Of course, if you actively use your phone to make a call, check an app or otherwise use your phone's cellular signal to do something, then you will likely have an expensive bill because of all that roaming.
In order to avoid having your phone try to use its cellular connection, all modern phones have an ability to turn off its cellular signal by enabling something called, "airplane mode." This refers to a function that was originally intended for people going on airplanes when phone use was prohibited.
By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose.
Airplane mode is a mode that can be easily turned on and off, so it is important to ensure it remains in airplane mode while you do not want your phone communicating with any cellular towers.
The advantage to using airplane mode is it is a kind of "master switch," which makes it very simple to know if your phone can or cannot accept a cell signal.
How to enable airplane mode depends on your phone model, but a quick Google search should be easy, such as, "How do I enable airplane mode on an iPhone" or "How do I enable airplane mode on a Samsung Galaxy", etc.
You will want to enable airplane mode as soon as you get onboard the ship on your first day. A very common mistake is guests forget to do it until later.
There are additional ways to ensure your phone will not rack up extra charges and one of them is to disable data roaming.
Your phone roaming on another network is something that can happen nearly anywhere. It can happen in foreign countries or even somewhere in your home country that your primary provider does not offer service.
Most modern phones have an option to enable or disable data roaming. This is important, because while most folks know enough not to make phone calls or text while roaming, they may not be aware that their phone is using data even when the phone is not being used by them.
As we mentioned earlier, smart phones perform a variety of maintenance functions, even when the phone is not in active use. Phones will check for app updates, grab local data and try to determine its location. This is normal for smart phones, but if you are on a cruise ship, it can lead to unintentional data use.
A smart safe guard against your phone ever using its data connection while not on your primary cell phone provider is to disable data roaming. Just like airplane mode, it is a setting in your phone that you can toggle. Just do a quick Google search for the exact instructions for your phone model.
Royal Caribbean's high-speed internet, known as Voom, is available on all ships across the fleet and it is the key to staying connected without the big bills.
To use Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi without endangering your financial future, here are the basic steps:
Regardless of which Voom service you choose, this method is the simplest and most reliable way to avoid using your cellular antenna.
If you want to make a phone call while at sea, there are a few options.
If you happen to have an iPhone, you probably can send and receive texts quite easily using Apple's iMessage capability. iMessage is a feature Apple offers that allows messages to be sent via data instead of the usual SMS text messaging service. Since iMessage uses data, and not a cellular signal, you can easily use Voom to make it work.
If you do not have an iPhone, there are other popular (and free) apps that can help. WhatsApp, Google Voice, Viber and a host of other solutions exist that use data-only and will allow you to message from your phone.
There are other ways to avoid a big cell phone bill without having to use Royal Caribbean's onboard internet. We think Voom is the simplest and most convenient option, but other options do exist.
You just booked the perfect Royal Caribbean cruise for your family. Whether it is your first or fiftieth cruise, this results in such a great feeling of euphoria, excitement and anticipation.
Now that you have your sailing booked, what should you do next?
Arguably, planning your Royal Caribbean is almost as fun as the cruise itself, and after you confirm your cruise booking with your travel agent (you used a travel agent, right?), here are eight important things that you should take care of next.
Part of the fun of taking a Royal Caribbean cruise is the "humble brag." Great vacations are an important event in anyone's life, so wanting to tell your friends and family about your next adventure is a very common feeling.
Booking a Royal Caribbean cruise is fun and all of a sudden, you have something new to look forward to. Therefore, it makes total sense to share the good news with everyone you are friends with on social media.
Maybe you will post a photo you found of the ship, or tell the story of how you surprised your kids with the news. However you do it, sharing the excitement with everyone you know is a great way to start the countdown until you sail. Besides, your post might convince a friend or family member of yours to join you on that sailing!
Most guests who book a Royal Caribbean cruise are not lucky enough to be within driving distance of the embarkation port, so looking at airfare is something you want to take care of sooner, rather than later.
Airfare prices are anything but predictable, so you will want to start looking into flight options to ensure the best possible price.
Just like cruise fares, the best prices for airfare seem to favor those who book well in advance.
Be sure to also consider nearby airports that could save you a lot of money. As an example, if your cruise leaves from Port Everglades in Florida, nearby airports of Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach are close enough to be an easy car ride over, especially if that helps bring your total bill down.
Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise
Royal Caribbean, your travel agent and a slew of companies offer trip insurance for your vacation, and depending on your risk tolerance, it may be a good investment.
Trip insurance can protect you against a multitude of emergencies, unforeseen events and accidents. It is one of those things that you are glad you have it, if you need it.
It is important to not just look at price but consider what is actually covered by the plan. A common misconception surrounds hurricanes.
Many people think trip insurance will cover them if there is a hurricane in the general vicinity of their cruise and they can cancel with a full refund. The reality is most plans only cover hurricanes if the cruise is canceled or otherwise directly impacted by the storm. A guest's desire to cancel because they fear a storm is not usually grounds for the insurance to kick in, so it is important to understand what the plan does and does not cover and what circumstances allow for the insurance to kick in.
You should also check if any of your credit cards include trip insurance in your policy. Many credit cards include that provision, provided you used that credit card for payment.
Once again, a good travel agent can be your guide in assisting you as to which options and plans are best for you.
It never hurts to double check your passport to ensure it is still valid and will be current throughout your cruise. All too often, people assume it is still good and then realize very close to their sailing date that their passport expired or will expire.
It only takes a few seconds, but dig out those passports and check each of their expiration dates to ensure you are all set.
You should also be aware that the United States Department of State advises that U.S. citizens traveling on passports that expire in fewer than six months have increasingly been denied airline boarding or detained upon arrival in certain foreign destinations, including popular European travel destinations in the Schengen area. This is not a new requirement, but it is only recently that the requirement has been more strictly enforced.
And if you are wondering, "Do I need a passport?" the answer in our opinion is a resounding yes. The benefits of traveling with a passport far outweigh any of the costs associated with getting one. It is a solid investment for any traveler.
It is probably a good idea to speak with your manager about getting the necessary vacation time from work for the cruise you just booked, especially if you value your employment.
Whether you are a manager or a regular employee, get your time off on that vacation calendar as soon as possible so it can be approved. In some companies, there are policies that prohibit too many employees from taking time off at the same time, so be sure you do not run into an issue with your Human Resources department.
With your cruise booked, you are probably curious about excursions, dining options, drink packages and more, so be sure to link your cruise to your Royal Caribbean account.
If you have not done so already, create an account on Royal Caribbean's website. It's free and should take just a few minutes to complete.
Then, log into your account and add an existing reservation to your account.
Now, you will have access to every detail of your sailing, including shore excursions, beverage packages, entertainment, dining reservations and more.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site
After you complete the last step and register your cruise with your Royal Caribbean account, you can begin looking at what exciting shore excursions are available.
You definitely do not have to book anything right after booking your cruise, but it never hurts to get an idea of what to expect. Plus, there might be something you were not aware was offered.
In our experience, excursion research and planning is a multi-step approach, and the more time you spend considering options and learning about what each port offers, the better informed you will be.
Royal Caribbean's excursions are not the only option to consider, but it is always a good starting point.
Dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise has two options to choose from: Traditional or My Time Dining. You will want to make sure you pick the option you want after booking your cruise.
Traditional dining is where you have a set time each night of your cruise. You will be seated at the same table in the Main Dining Room and have the same wait staff and table mates. This is the most common choice available and is also the most widely available option. There are two times, early and late seating.
My Time Dining takes place in the Main Dining Room as well, but instead of a fixed time and table, you reserve times during the evening or show up and get the first available table. My Time Dining allows for more flexibility in when you eat but requires more planning to ensure you have a spot each night to dine at.
To enroll in any of these options for your cruise, contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly and request the one you want. There can be times when the choice you want is full, but you can request to be put on a waitlist. In our experience, wait list requests usually are fulfilled.
What things do you do right after booking a Royal Caribbean cruise? Are there some pitfalls you would recommend others avoid? Share the important tasks that you think everyone should do in our comments below!
