Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean ships offer a lot, including an adults-only retreat known as the Solarium.

The Solarium is a part of every Royal Caribbean ship, where adults can enjoy a pool experience and simply relax.

If you want to know more about this adults oasis, then here is what you need to know.

What is the Solarium

Essentially, the Solarium is the adults-only pool that is open to guests that are at least 18 years old. Royal Caribbean changed the minimum age from 16 to 18 in 2023.

In some rare cases, the Solarium will be opened up to guests under the age of 18, provided they are directly supervised by a parent or guardian.

The Solarium often includes a pool, hot tub, seating area and a bar.

A nice difference between the Solarium and the main pools are Royal Caribbean tends to have cushioned lounge chairs available to use in the Solarium.

In addition, the Solarium on most ships is glass-canopied to ensure the area is always temperate.  The glass keeps the heat in, and often, the Solarium is one of the warmest spots onboard.

How is the Solarium different across ships?

The layout and features of the Solarium vary by classes of ship.

In general, the Solarium area has gotten larger and offered more to guests in the larger and newer Royal Caribbean ships.

Most Solarium pools are a single wading pool, whereas on the Quantum class ships, the Solarium features a series of cascading lagoons in the center, where guests can swim.

Some Solariums have a retractable roof, whereas on other ships it is fixed.

On Harmony of the Seas, there is no pool in the Solarium but there are hot tubs. 

Majesty of the Seas does not have a Solarium.

Where is the Solarium located?

Here is a breakdown by ship class of where the Solarium is located

• Vision class: Deck 9 mid
• Radiance class: Deck 11 forward
• Voyager class:  Deck 11 forward
• Freedom class:  Deck 11 forward
• Oasis class: Deck 15 forward
• Quantum class: Deck 14 forward

Is there any additional cost to use the Solarium?

No, the Solarium is free for adults to use.

Royal Caribbean has a well-deserved reputation for offering its guests world-class entertainment and chief among the cruise line's offerings are the Broadway shows onboard.

Select Royal Caribbean ships offer Tony Award-winning shows that are the exact show you would have seen on The Great White Way.

Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about the Broadway shows Royal Caribbean offers and what to expect.

Royal Caribbean's Broadway Shows

Here is the current list of which Broadway shows are shown on which ships

Hairspray

Ship: Symphony of the Seas

Back by popular demand, the hugely successful “Hairspray” – the brand’s first Broadway musical at sea – will return on Symphony with a total refresh to headline the Royal Theater.

Hairspray is the classic Broadway musical set in 1962 that deals with racial integration, dancing and the advent of television. Hairspray is a fun show that tackles a serious issue . The show features some very famous songs that many will find themselves singing along to. Excellent lighting, choreography and staging really make this a show not to miss.

Grease

Ship: Harmony of the Seas & Independence of the Seas

Hit musical specially adapted by Royal Caribbean Productions, boasts a soundtrack of crowd favorites such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Born to Hand-Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout” and more.

We Will Rock You

Ship: Anthem of the Seas

Musical from London's West End that was written by legendary comedian and author Ben Elton.

Show features a score of Queen songs such as Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, Bohemian Rhapsody and of course We Will Rock You.

Cats

Ship: Oasis of the Seas

Based on T.S. Eliot's “Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,” CATS was one of the longest running productions on Broadway and is the winner of numerous awards including seven Tonys, two Oliviers and a Grammy.

Mamma Mia!

Ship: Allure of the Seas

Based on the hit music from ABBA, Mamma Mia! is the story of a girl getting married and wanting to meet her estranged father.  Mamma Mia! played on Broadway for over 10 years.

Saturday Night Fever

Ship: Liberty of the Seas

Go back to the 1970's with Tony Manero, the king of the disco dance floor.  It's a great mix of classic music, platforms and polyester!

Royal Caribbean used to offer the following shows as well, but they have since been retired from the cruise line's offerings

• Hairspray - Oasis of the Seas
• Chicago - Allure of the Seas
• Mamma Mia! - Quantum of the Seas

Broadway show costs

There is no additional cost to see the Broadway shows on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Admission is included in guests' cruise fare.

Reserving tickets

On Royal Caribbean ships that allow for entertainment reservations, guests may reserve tickets in advance for the Broadway shows.

To reserve tickets, simply log into the My Cruises section of Royal Caribbean's website and then access the Cruise Planner section.

Broadway shows will be listed under entertainment.  Reservations for Broadway shows are usually not available until about 120 days in advance.

You can absolutely still see one of the Broadway shows without tickets, you will simply need to show up in advance of show time.  Being at the theater at least 20-30 minutes before show time should suffice.

Which Broadway show are you most excited to see on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Tell us in the comments!

Some aspects of a Royal Caribbean cruise are experiences that become forever associated with being onboard one of these amazing ships and certain drinks onboard are among those moments.

Guests who enjoy a tasty, creamy cocktail that is almost like a dessert, often order a Banana Baileys Colada, better known as a BBC on their Royal Caribbean cruise.

Photo by Steve Crofts

The BBC is a creamy drink that combines bananas with the always-pleasing Baileys liquor.

Some of the bartenders will drizzle chocolate syrup around the inside of the glass before they fill it, which is sometimes referred to as a Chocolate BBC.

Photo by Mary ND

BBC's have become a fan favorite across Royal Caribbean ships and we are including it in our list of Royal Caribbean classics!

If you need a BBC fix between cruises, here is the full recipe for how to make one (or more) at home.

Banana Baileys Colada (BBC) Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz. Bailey's Irish Creme
• 1 1/2 oz. Creme of Coconut
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• Half a banana (or banana liqueur)

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and blend well. Add crushed ice and blend until smooth.

Save this recipe on Pinterest

If you are a fellow sushi lover, then you will feel right at home at Royal Caribbean's premier sushi restaurant Izumi.

The next time you make a reservation at Izumi, be sure to consider these fun and tasty aspects of the restaurant that are worth trying!

5. Complimentary edamame

Some of the best things in life are free and when you eat at Izumi, you will get a great starter for no additional cost.

Izumi currently offers complimentary edamame (a preparation of baby soybeans in the pod boiled in water together salt, and served whole).

Not only is this a tasty choice for starting your meal off right, but they are priced right too!

4. Eating at the bar

Eating sushi is an experience and if you like a little show with your meal, try eating at the sushi bar.

Sitting at the sushi bar will get you a front row seat to the sushi chefs creating their masterpieces.

And let me tell you, making sushi is no pedestrian task.  Sushi is as much an art form as it is a kind of food and watching sushi being made is really entertaining!

3. Signature Rolls

If you consider yourself a sushi fanatic, then you will need to flip your menu over to the signature roll section.

The signature rolls often are larger and offer superior flavor than the other rolls on the menu.  It really is the best offering Izumi has.

In addition, be sure to inquire if there are any sushi specials.  From time to time, Izumi will offer certain rolls that are not on the regular menu and these special rolls can be terrific choices too.

2. Teppanyaki experience

In addition to just sushi, select Royal Caribbean ships offer teppanyaki style dining at the restaurant's hibachi section.

Izumi's hibachi is a fun and creative experience, where your chef cooks your food in front of you with a splash of entertainment thrown in.

Hibachi dining is a great way for family and groups to enjoy a meal together and if you want to have a memorable dining experience .

The hibachi meals have a cover charge of $25 for one choice of meat, or $30 two choice of meat. Choices include Beef, Chicken, Lobster or Shrimp.

Each meal includes soup or salad, edamame app, fried rice or lo mein noodles, cooked veggies and dessert.

1. Hot rocks

Whether you eat sushi or not, no trip to Izumi is complete without an order of hot rocks.

Hot rock (Ishiyaki) plates are rocks that are heated to 575 degrees °F, where guests take raw meat and vegetables and cook them on the rock, right at your table.

This ultimate-self serve meal is a really fun way to enjoy a Japanese delicacy.  Each plate comes with lemon ginger vinaigrette, sweet soy sauce and Thai sweet chili dipping sauces.

Guests have the choice of mixed seafood, chicken breast, chicken and beef skewer rock or beef tenderloin.

The hot rocks are perfect for those that do not enjoy sushi necessarily or just someone looking to try something different!

We get a lot of questions on the blog, and a common question is about what to do if the dining choice for dinner that a guest wants is not available.

Sometimes a guest will book a Royal Caribbean cruise, but discover that a particular traditional dinner seating is not available.  Or perhaps My Time Dining is booked up.  Is there any chance to change it?

The answer is, there are two strategies to use when trying to get into the dining option you really wanted.

Add yourself to a waitlist

When a particular dining option gets filled up, Royal Caribbean will allow guests to be added to a waitlist.

These waitlists are virtual queues, where if another guest leaves that dining option for some reason (usually due to cancelling or transferring their cruise reservation), the next guest "in line" can take their spot.

To be added to a waitlist, you need to contact either Royal Caribbean directly or have your travel agent do it on your behalf.

Once you are added to the waitlist, you should see a notation on your reservation in the My Cruises section of Royal Caribbean's web site.

In many cases, the waitlist will eventually come through and you will be automatically added to the dining option of your choice  You will likely not be notified of the change, so you will have to log in periodically to your cruise reservation to see if something has changed.

The fallback: speak to the head waiter

Sometimes, the waitlist option does not work and your next best option is to go speak to the head waiter on embarkation day.

Once you board your Royal Caribbean cruise, go to the main dining room in the afternoon to speak to the head waiter.

There should be a head waiter on duty in the main dining room for a few hours in the afternoon.  

Politely explain your request to the head waiter and ask if there is a way to be moved to the dining option you prefer.

In our experience, this fallback usually gets the job done.  Royal Caribbean wants their guests happy and the head waiters have a good sense of the guest dinner distribution.

Can I move between My Time Dining and Traditional Dining during my cruise?

Royal Caribbean says once you are in one of the dinner options, you are primarily limited to it.

The policy does state they can honor requests to change only once based on availability.

Read more: My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

More dining room tips

Check out these other helpful posts about dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise!

• Top 10 insider tips for Royal Caribbean's main dining room
• Five ways to save money on food and drink on your Royal Caribbean cruise
• Top 10 Royal Caribbean dining tips

Hopefully one of these two choices will get you the dining preference you really want!

Royal Caribbean is famous for the onboard innovations it offers its guests, including ice skating at sea!

Being in the middle of the Caribbean or Mediterranean does not mean you can't put on a pair of skates and go ice skating like it's December in Minnesota.  

If you want to enjoy ice skating as part of your Royal Caribbean cruise (it's complimentary), here are some important things to know.

Ships offering ice skating

Select Royal Caribbean ships offer ice skating, so be sure you are booked on one of these ships in order to enjoy it

• Voyager of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Sympohony of the Seas

Long pants are required to skate

Regardless of how good or bad you are at ice skating, all guests must wear long pants to skate.

Be sure to pack accordingly, especially during summer months when you may not be thinking about packing pants.

You also should pack a pair of socks to wear with the skates.

Helmets are provided for you

Royal Caribbean requires all ice skaters to wear a helmet while skating.

This is for your safety because with ice skating, you have to not only worry about what you are doing but what others are doing as well.

Falls happen a lot during the course of an ice skating session, so there is no excuse for not being safe.

Have you ice skated on a Royal Caribbean cruise before? Tell us about it in the comments!

Perhaps no onboard activity is as synonymous with Royal Caribbean as the surf simulator known as the FlowRider.

When Royal Caribbean started adding FlowRiders to its cruise ships, it generated a lot of buzz and ever since then, the company has been working to add FlowRiders to more and more ships in its fleet.

If you want to give surfing a shot on your next cruise, here is what you need to know about this popular surf simulator.

What is the FlowRider?

Photo by Lawrence Smith

The FlowRider is a simulator that sends water a very high speed across a small area that mimics what it is like to surf on the ocean.

FlowRiders were first created as a business on land and have partnered with Royal Caribbean to offer guests cruising the chance to try it out there.

The FlowRider supports two surfing styles: stand up traditional surfing and boogie boarding.

Which Royal Caribbean ships have a FlowRider?

Royal Caribbean has added FlowRiders to more of its ships recently and here is the list of ships that offer a FlowRider

• Freedom of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas (two FlowRiders)
• Allure of the Seas (two FlowRiders)
• Harmony of the Seas (two FlowRiders)
• Symphony of the Seas (two FlowRiders)
• Quantum of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

How much does the FlowRider experience cost?

Photo by Royal Caribbean

A ride on the FlowRider is included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare.

Guests can ride the FlowRider as many times as they like for free. They will simply need to wait in line for a turn.

There is the opportunity to book private lessons for an additional cost.  At last check, private lessons cost $60 per person and lasts about an hour. Each lesson will have six to eight guests.

Private lessons can be booked onboard the ship and is sometimes available via the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner.

What are the restrictions for using the FlowRider?

Guests participating in the FlowRider, for example, must be at least 52"/132 cm tall to use the bodyboard and 58"/147 cm tall to use the flowboard. 

Absolutely no footwear allowed, no goggles and no go-pro cams are allowed.

Important FlowRider tips

• As the cruise goes on, the lines for the FlowRider can get quite long.  For shorter lines, embarkation day is always simple.  Port days and morning sessions tend to be less crowded.
• Be sure to wear clothing that will not easily come off.  The force of the water has been known to cause "wardrobe malfunctions".  Women, especially, should consider wearing one piece bathing suits and/or t-shirts and shorts.
• Guests can surf until they fall off the board, but the staff is pretty good at challenging the talented guests in an effort to improve their skills and increase the likelihood of falling off.
• Check your Cruise Compass for session times. Often Royal Caribbean will offer special times for teens or adults.
• The sports staff is there for your safety and your assistance. Ask them for advice, especially if you are new.
• Tips for successfully surfing:
  • If you are stand up surfing, shift your weight to the back foot and never lift either foot off the board.
  • If you are boogie boarding, keep your elbows in and keep most, if not all of your legs in the water.

Many of our blog readers are big fans of Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas.  She has garnered the admiration of many over the years, offering a lot in a small size.

Here are some quick facts about Enchantment of the Seas that you might not have know about!

1. Enchantment of the Seas has been stretched

Enchantment of the Seas is a different sized ship today than she was when she was launched.

As part of a ship-wide revitalization, in 2005 the Vision-class ship was cut in half and then expanded with a new 73-foot section and then put back together.

This "stretching" has given Enchantment of the Seas an unique distinction for being a different size than her other Vision-class sister ships.

2. Her Godmother is Colleen Fain

When Royal Caribbean builds a cruise ship, they will choose a godmother and often that will be celebrity but for Enchantment of the Seas, Royal Caribbean decided to keep the honor in the family. Literally.

The ship's "godmother" is Colleen Fain, the wife of Royal Caribbean Ltd Chairman Richard Fain.

Mrs. Fain's duties as godmother included giving the vessel its name during the Southampton ceremonies when she released a giant 46-liter bottle of Taittinger champagne to break against the ship's bow, officially proclaiming the ship's name to be Enchantment of the Seas and wished safe journeys to all of its passengers and crew.

3. There is a bar over the ocean

Enchantment of the Seas has one pool bar that actually juts out over the ocean.

The Oasis pool bar features a glass floor that gives passengers a view of the ocean below them as they enjoy their drinks.

Talk about a bar with a view!

These days, everyone is talking about Royal Caribbean's unlimited alcohol packages because they are a simple way to lock in the price of drinks for your cruise but not everyone drinks enough to warrant purchasing them.

The good news is, there are lots of ways to save money on your drinks without opting for a package.  

Royal Caribbean entices its guests with discount offers and benefits that reduce the total cost of drinks, but you will need to know how to find them all.

Drink of the day

A Royal Caribbean staple is the Drink of the Day, where one drink each day of your cruise is selected to receive a 20% discount.

Your Cruise Compass will list which drink is the Drink of the Day, although you can always ask any waiter or bartender and they can fill you in.

The discount for the Drink of the Day helps cut down on the cost of drinks and is a great way to try new drinks without much financial risk!

Bar specials listed in Cruise Compass

In order to drum up business, many bars and lounges will offer drink specials throughout the day and you can find all of them listed in the Cruise Compass.

In the morning, drinks such as Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's are sold at a reduced rate.  

Later in the day, select bars will offer drink specials. As an example, Michael's Genuine Pub on Quantum of the Seas offered 2 for 1 beer specials and the On Air Club on Freedom of the Seas had some great margarita specials.

The key is to check your Cruise Compass for when and where these drink specials will be offered.  Some are available throughout the cruise while others are only available at select times.

Crown and Anchor Society coupons

Members of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program, the Crown and Anchor Society, will receive coupons for free drinks.

The exact coupon you get will depend on your status in Crown and Anchor society, but you will want to check the list of coupons that are listed in your stateroom on embarkation day.

As an example, for Platinum members there are coupons for

• Buy any wine, beer or soda by the glass and get a second free
• Purchase any glass of wine, beer or soda and receive a 10% discount

Remember that everyone in your stateroom gets their own set of discounts, so be sure to use them all!

Diamond level free drinks

Guests who are Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club Crown and Anchor Society members also receive vouchers for complimentary drinks on each day.

Three drink vouchers per day will be applied to each eligible Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members corresponding SeasPass card to be used to get a free drink at bars on the ship that can be used between 4:30pm and 8:00pm.

Diamond and Concierge club lounges

Speaking of Diamond members, Royal Caribbean provides free drinks to guests that have access to the Diamond Club and/or Concierge club lounges.

These lounges are specifically for guests that have attained at least Diamond level status in Crown and Anchor Society or guests staying in a suite onboard the ship.

There is food to be enjoyed in these lounges as well, but complimentary alcoholic beverages are also on the menu.  

Free drinks at Crown and Anchor Society events

Each cruise, Royal Caribbean will hold "welcome back" parties for its Crown and Anchor members.

At each event, complimentary alcoholic beverages are served and it can be a great way to enjoy free drinks while hearing about what is new and exciting about Royal Caribbean.

Be sure to show up a little early to the events, because the complimentary drinks start flowing as soon as the doors open.

Free champagne

There are a few times during a Royal Caribbean cruise where guests can get free champagne.

These events will be listed in the Cruise Compass and are most often

• Art auctions
• Captain's Welcome
• Holidays such as New Years Eve

What is your best way to save money on a drink while cruising? Share them in the comments!

We love to broadcast live on YouTube and on one recent broadcast, we received a question about what is the best advice for someone going on their first 7-night cruise.

It got us thinking, because there is so much that goes into a Royal Caribbean cruise that we wanted to pick out the really important tips to share for someone about to take their first 7-night cruise.

Read the Cruise Compass

Each evening, your stateroom attendant will deliver to your stateroom the Cruise Compass, which is a daily guide to the news, events and activities that will be occuring on your ship the next day.

Royal Caribbean packs a lot of things to do into each day and you are best served by reading it each evening to be aware of what is happening onboard. 

The Cruise Compass is more than just knowing what time bingo is at.  It offers you insight into tomorrow's weather, which bars will have drink specials, shore excursion information and more.

Some events are not repeated while other activities can change daily, so it is in your best interest to track what is happening so you do not miss any of it.

Pack for two formal nights

A typical Royal Caribbean 7-night cruise will feature two formal nights, so be sure to pack accordingly.

Usually, the first formal night will be on the second night, whereas the second formal night can vary between the fifth or sixth nights of your cruise.

What is formal night? Formal night is an evening where the dress code at the main dining room is more upscale.  For men, this means collared shirts with nice pants (tie and jacket optional) and for ladies, it is a nice cocktail dress, dress or something else similar.

TRUTH ABOUT DRESS CODES

Keep in mind that formal night dress attire only applies to the main dining room and no where else on the ship.  

If you prefer not to dress up for formal night, there are other dining options onboard that you can go to.

Explore the ship early

Your seven night Royal Caribbean cruise will be over before you know it, so be sure to explore the ship properly early so you do not miss out on any of it.

These ships are really big and that means there is a lot to see and do onboard.  Do yourself a favor and explore the ship as much as you can in the first day or two of the cruise so you can easily navigate the ship as well as learn about what is offered onboard.

Embarkation day is always the best time for exploring your ship, so take advantage of your first day onboard by arriving to the ship early (before noon) and just walk around.

You will discover bars, restaurants, public spaces, cinemas and more that you will likely want to stop by later on in the cruise.

Most Royal Caribbean ships now offer interactive wayfinders, that allow you to navigate your way around the ship quite easily. Take advantage of them on each deck to more easily acclimate yourself to the ship.

Bonus tip: Speaking of early, be sure to arrive to your ship early on embarkation day.  Between 10am and 11am is a great time to beat the crowds and start your vacation sooner!

See the shows

Something Royal Caribbean really excels at is entertainment and on a 7-night cruise, there are lots of great shows to take in.

Ice skating shows, Broadway shows, featured productions, comedians and more are available to see and they are all included in your cruise fare.

Do yourself a favor and see the shows, even if you just go for a little bit to get a taste of what to expect.  They really are great spectacles and each show offers a little something different.

Onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, you will find singing and dancing, comedians, magicians, acrobats and more.  

Royal Caribbean really does a great job with putting these shows together and the production values and acting are top notch in all of the shows.

Sign the kids up for Adventure Ocean on embarkation day

If you have children, be sure to stop by Adventure Ocean and sign them up for the complimentary kids program Royal Caribbean offers.

The Adventure Ocean program is designed to let kids explore, play and have fun and it really is a fun way to spend a week at sea.  

Kids will love it because it's a chance to meet and play with other kids their age and parents will enjoy the time to themselves.

If you wait until day two or later, everyone else will already be situated and your child may feel like a wallflower, especially if they are shy.

Adventure Ocean is included in your cruise fare, so stop by the Adventure Ocean room on embarkation day to check the facility out as well as get any questions answered.

Understand how unlimited beverage packages work

Royal Caribbean's unlimited alcohol and beverage packages have never been more popular and they can be a great way to lock in a single price for the duration of your cruise.

The key thing to remember about a 7-night cruise is that you want to make sure you will be able to leverage these drink packages on all 7-nights, otherwise the package may not make financial sense.

On 4-night cruises, the drink package value can be easily gotten but 7-nights is a longer time onboard and "drink fatigue" can set in.

Between having limited time to drink onboard during port days and the daily need to drink to "get your money's worth", we have talked to plenty of guests who would have been better off financially after a 7-night cruise by buying their drinks a la carte.

There is no simple answer for everyone, but our advice is to consider that you will be on your ship for 7-nights and whether you want to be drinking 5-6 drinks per day, every day.

Learn more

There is much more you can learn about a 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise and here are some additional resources to help you.

• All about the Cruise Compass
• What time to board your Royal Caribbean cruise
• Should you buy the unlimited alcohol packages?