Royal Caribbean Blog

The marketing is definitely working at Royal Caribbean, with more people than ever cruising, especially new cruisers.

Royal Caribbean Group shared the results of its third quarter in 2024 on Tuesday, and one important metric to note is how many people that have never cruised before.

Speaking to Wall Street analysts on a conference call, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty gave an overview of consumer spending and delved into some interesting facts about who is cruising.

Not only is his company seeing incredible growth, but demand is soaring as well.  And that demand is coming more and more from new cruisers.

In the third quarter of 2024, Royal Caribbean Group carried 2.3 million passengers across all of its brands of lines, which include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and SilverSea.

That's more than they had in the same quarter of 2023 when 1.9 million passengers cruised.

"The majority of our guests this year are either new to cruise or new to brand," Mr. Liberty shared in the call.

Before you assume it's just rookie cruisers booking, loyal customers are also booking, "at the same time our loyalty guests are up 20% compared to last year."

Spending big on cruise add-ons

Regardless of who books, a lot of people are then going right in and spending even more money on additional experiences for their cruise.

The cruise fare includes the basics, but there are lots of other options to consider.  Shore excursions, internet access, beverage packages, spa treatments, and more are some of the things people tend to book.

Mr. Liberty explained, "Once booked, guests are quickly engaged with us and buying on board experiences at higher speeds, translating into higher satisfaction rates and higher onboard spend. "

The term "onboard spend" refers to the category of purchases a customer makes that are above and beyond the cruise fare booking.

He indicated more than 70% of customers are purchasing onboard activities before they sail. Compared to a customer that waits to book their cruise extras onboard, Royal Caribbean Group is seeing people that pre-book spending more than double.

Part of their success in getting almost three quarters of their customers to spend extra are the ways they entice their customers.

"Half of our onboard revenue in the third quarter was purchased through our AI driven pre-cruise channels," Mr. Liberty said.

This comes in the form of specialized sales, promotions, and advertisements that target specific customers.  It could be a generic sale, a promotion targeting senior citizens, or opportunistic holiday promotion.

Who is cruising right now

Royal Caribbean Group is seeing a very healthy consumer looking to book cruise vacations, and they're skewing younger and younger.

"American households are wealthier than ever, with continued wage growth and low unemployment driving strong consumer spending," Mr. Liberty declared during the call.

Specifically, they are seeing Millennials, families and active cruisers all excessively booking on both leisure travel and specifically cruise travel.

"Our addressable market is growing and we are attracting more new customers into our vacation ecosystem, particularly younger demographics."

Royal Caribbean's research shows that consumer spending on leisure has grown a lot faster than most other spend categories over the past 12 months, with spend on travel increasing at a faster pace than other leisure categories.

They believe this trend will continue over the next 12 months, with leisure travel spending growing by more than any other leisure category.

Consumers are paying more too

Not only is the business demand strong, but there's a clear indication customers are willing to pay more for it.

Mr. Liberty was candid in discussing the pricing trends his company employs, "the trends show that we continue to be able to elevate demand, elevate pricing each day."

"We continue to see strong volumes [of] the customers willingness to pay more."

Why? Mr. Liberty thinks their product is so compelling and demand for a cruise vacation, in general, is so robust, that it's viewed as a must-do.

"I think that the cruise experience is now considered to be a very mainstream vacation product. And there's still a significant value proposition versus land based vacation."

Do elections matter to cruise bookings?

There was an interesting question asked by one of the analysts if the upcoming U.S. election has any impact on demand for booking a cruise.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley debunked any sense that the election cycle, or who wins, makes a difference to his company's bottom line, "We've gone back and done the analysis over literally decades, and it may be there may be a little bit of volatility during the week of the election, but over when you spread it over a longer period, there's effectively no impact on bookings as a result of elections, no matter which way they go."

Royal Caribbean Group is on a roll with another great quarter, and even better outlook for the days to come.

The company shared its third quarter financial results, which were better than expected.

Net income for the third quarter was $1.1 billion, compared to Net Income of $1.0 billion for the same period in the prior year.  The company also reported total revenues of $4.9 billion.

The driving force behind its strong quarter was higher prices on last-minute cruises, continued high demand for cruise extras, and lower costs due to timing.

Another factor was balance sheet actions taken in the third quarter resulted in lower interest expense and the company's return to its pre-Covid unsecured balance sheet.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty celebrated the robust earnings, "Our exceptional third quarter results and increased full year expectations reflect the robust demand for our differentiated vacation experiences."

He's already looking ahead to 2025 as a year where Royal Caribbean will grow significantly more, "We see elevated demand patterns continuing as we build the business for 2025, and although the yield comparable will be a high bar, our proven formula of moderate capacity growth, moderate yield growth and strong cost discipline is expected to continue to deliver strong financial results."

Third quarter results

There were interesting statistics to come out of Royal Caribbean Group's strong quarter.

In the third quarter, across all of the company's brands, the occupancy rate was 111%. This means cruise ship cabins were not just sold out, but more cabins had more than two people in them. 

Royal Caribbean Group saw higher pricing overall, but European and Alaska cruises saw particularly higher prices. In addition, the company made more money through selling add-ons, such as drink packages, WiFi, shore excursions, and more.

Strong demand is a major factor, as Royal Caribbean Group is actually seeing the demand and pricing environment accelerated since last quarter, exceeding 2023 levels. 

"Consumer spending onboard, as well as pre-cruise purchases, continue to significantly exceed 2023 levels driven by greater participation at higher prices," the company said in a statement.

They believe their success is due to vacationers preferring their new cruise ships, existing ships, and private destinations.

"Support our growth ambitions"

Another important success for the company this quarter was the company's return to its pre-Covid unsecured balance sheet.

A balance sheet refers to a company's assets, liabilities, and owner's equity at a specific point in time.

Royal Caribbean Group has spent many months paying back loans, refinancing loans, and structuring its debt to not hinder the company's operations.

Like all cruise lines, Royal Caribbean Group took on a lot of debt during the 2020 cruise industry shutdown to stay in business through a variety of loans.

Royal Caribbean Group CFO announced, "This quarter, we achieved an important milestone of returning to a fully unsecured capital structure while also reducing cost of capital and recapturing a portion of our Covid-era share dilution."

He went on to say this change allows them to, "further support our growth ambitions and expand capital allocation." That's an important indication for cruise fans who are always eager to see their new plans.

Capital spending is the category of expenses the company refers to when it builds a new cruise ship or builds a new private island.

As an example, the next private beach experience was announced during the third quarter to build Perfect Day Mexico, which will open in 2027.

Royal Caribbean is taking a precautionary measure to avoid bad weather by switching itineraries on its newest ship.

Guests sailing on Utopia of the Seas for a 4-night Bahamas cruise that boarded on October 28 were informed their voyage would need to change destinations.

The original plan was for Utopia to visit Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Due to "adverse weather" predicted for their voyage, the cruise line changed plans so the ship will go to it's private destination in Haiti, known as Labadee.

Emails were sent to passengers and their travel agents the day before the cruise began to inform them of the change, "Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we've been monitoring some adverse weather along our intended path."

"In order to steer clear of any inclement weather conditions, we'll need to cancel our visits to Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and we'll now enjoy a visit to our private destination, Labadee, Haiti instead."

This is the second time Utopia has visited Labadee unexpectedly in the last few weeks. Earlier in October, Hurricane Milton forced the ship to deviate there.

Royal Caribbean apologized for the last-minute change in plans, "We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather - the safety and well-being of our guests and crew are always our top priority."

Any pre-purchased shore excursions for Nassau or CocoCay will be automatically refunded in the form of an onboard credit to passenger's SeaPass accounts. 

These credits can be used anywhere onboard, and any remaining, refundable amounts at the end of the sailing will be reimbursed to the card on file in up to 14 business days from final disembarkation. 

Cruise ships visiting Haiti again

Utopia of the Seas' visit to Labadee this week is one of many ships that recently began sailing again to the private destination.

While Labadee is in Haiti, it's in a remote area of the country and walled off from the mainland.

Royal Caribbean suspended visits to Labadee in March after Haiti suffered political unrest and gang warfare.

Haiti declared a state of emergency on March 3rd, and the country's Prime Minister resigned on March 12th.

Haiti has been under the U.S.'s highest travel advisory possible since March. The U.S. State Department renewed its Level 4 Travel Advisory this September, still telling citizens the country can not help if they fall victim to a crime.

Unfortunately, Haiti is no stranger to instability.  Royal Caribbean monitors the situation in every place their ships visit closely to ensure ships can visit in a reasonably safe manner.

Adventure of the Seas was the first ship to return to Labadee on October 8, and many other ships have visited since.

Keeping cruise ships out of bad weather

Royal Caribbean monitors adverse weather around the world to keep its passengers, crew members, and ships safe.

Royal Caribbean employs its own meteorologist to assist ship Captains in making changes to itineraries.

Instead of cancelling a cruise, ships can simply sail elsewhere and enjoy better weather and safer conditions.

That could mean something as simple as swapping the order of ports on the itinerary, canceling certain calls altogether or switching the sailing region completely.

With hurricane season winding down (there's just about a month left), the risk of tropical storms will lessen. However, it's not impossible for there to be a hurricane.

Historically, November generates one storm every 1 to 2 years, on average. In the past 10 years, the season's last storm fizzled as soon as Oct. 28 and as late as Dec. 7.

Royal Caribbean is well-known for offering family-focused vacations, but they've taken this to a new level with a special suite.

The Ultimate Family Suite is a one-of-a-kind cabin on Utopia of the Seas that is massive and includes just about everything kids, their parents, and visiting friends could ever want in a room.

Essentially, the design of the suite was centered around coming up with just about everything a family would want in a room, and then added a bunch of other options they've only dreamed of.

This isn't just one of the biggest suites on the ship, it also comes with Star Class benefits, which means it has some of the best perks on the ship.

Ordinarily, a suite this big with this much to do is priced well out of my price range, but because Utopia only sails short 3- and 4-night cruises, the barrier to entry was less than if it was a week-long cruise. Plus, I booked it years ago when Royal Caribbean opened up bookings and I scoured the schedule for an opportune time to book it.

For my family of 4, the price came out to $12,609.08 for the 3-night cruise. I paid for it myself, and neither Royal Caribbean nor a travel agency subsidized or paid for the cabin.

Expensive, yes, but in the grand scheme of this particular suite, it was a reasonable price for an unbelieve room. Plus, I was curious to know if the experience really matched up. Was the cabin all schtick? Or would it be the kind of suite I'd actually want to stay in.

I've stayed in some of Royal Caribbean's biggest cabins in the past, so mega suites aren't new to me. I wasn't sure if this room would live up to the hype, and I was concerned I would be disappointed having paid for a lot of fluff, and not a suite that delivered on a good overall experience.

My suite was located on deck eighteen, which is deck reserved exclusively for suite cabins.

Decks 17 and 18 are part of the suite neighborhood, which includes the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen, an exclusive restaurant for guests staying in a suite (and Pinnacles too).

There's a special entrance to the Ultimate Family Suite as you come out of the elevators.

When I tapped my room key card and opened the door, I walked into the living room and instantly recognized this kind of a room was totally different than what I was used to.

The Ultimate Family Suite has three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a large living room, play room, and a movie room.

It has a loft configuration, which means there are two levels. The master bedroom and kids room are on the upper level.

On the bottom floor is the living room, dining area, play area, and a third bedroom with nearby bathroom.

The living room is larger than many livings room on land, and has a giant sofa and comfy chairs that are perfect for watching television, playing video games, or just chatting with friends. There's a PlayStation and Nintendo Switch that come with the room to use.

There's also an expansive digital table where you can not only have meals, but play a variety of video games.  Kids and adults are quickly drawn to trying a game or two.  My kids spent much more time playing with this table than I expected.

Without a doubt the giant slide is the pièce de résistance of this suite. Everyone is instantly drawn to this feature, and it's undeniably fun to go down (over and over again).

My concern with the slide is it would be a one-and-done thing, but my kids went down it every day dozens of times.  They used the pillows that came with the suite as a mat racer, and they enjoyed riding it over and over again.

And yes, adults can go down the slide too. I was impressed how fast you'll head down on it, and everyone that visited the room wanted a try at it.

Underneath the slide is play area, with a great suspended chair.

At the exit of the slide is the movie room, which is about as big as some inside cabins.

There are no shortage of televisions in this suite, but the movie room has no windows, so you can dim it perfectly for movie watching.  Star Class guests get the pay-per-view movies for free, but you could also stream your favorite flicks to the screen.

The couch is like an overflowing sofa made out of the material from your favorite pillow.  I don't know why there's a television behind the couch.

There's even a microwave where you can heat up your own popcorn.

Near door is a bedroom, which is probably best for grandparents, friends, or even older kids. 

It has a king size bed, vanity area, and a view of the pool deck.

A full bathroom is located next to this bedroom, which also serves as the bathroom visitors would use. 

I was impressed by the double sinks and giant shower, that even has a large bench.

Heading upstairs, you'll walk up piano stairs.  Each step plays a note of a classical music selection. Beethoven's Für Elise was what I heard all weekend. Don't worry, there's a way to turn it off if you prefer (or when going to bed).

The master bedroom is similar to other loft suite master bedroom configurations.

There's a king size bed that faces the windows, so you could wake up to a view of the ocean.  It has nightstands on both sides of the bed, with plenty of power plugs.

There is a sitting area and vanity nearby, along with giant closets behind the bed.

The master bathroom features double sinks and a big shower, with rainforest head and opposing shower heads.

Next door to the master bedroom is the kids room. 

There's a fun door that has a "doggy door" for kids to climb through. I was surprised how much my kids opted to go through the hole rather than open the door.

There are four bunk beds, and each has its own television with headphones.  No fighting over what to watch in this room!

There's a full bathroom attached to this bedroom too.

The entrance to the slide is right off the kids room, and they loved this feature. Being able to slide down rather than take the spiral staircase was their preferred mode of transportation.

Outside the cabin is a sprawling balcony space.

The balcony has three main features, and it faces the ocean.

Staying in this suite means you have your own hot tub to enjoy. It can fit four adults reasonably.  Beyond that, and you'll have to start getting creative with where everyone's legs and feet are going.

There's a dining space outside too, so you can have meals delivered here.

And you'll also find a lucky climber feature, which is really fun for young kids. There's a larger version on the Boardwalk, and I guarantee toddlers will never want to leave it.

An equally compelling feature of this suite is the Royal Genie services, which provides VIP privileges to everyone staying in the cabin.

Speaking of benefits, everyone staying in the Ultimate Family Suite gets complimentary access to Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Obviously this is not a cheap room. It's not affordable or a good value. It's designed to be the epitome of splurges and offer one of the most luxurious and fun rooms you could ever find on Utopia of the Seas.

While the price tag is high, it delivers a wow factor and memory making experience that is unrivaled. 

I was more impressed by how much space there was, and how conducive it was to entertaining friends. There was more than enough space to invite friends to visit, and I never felt like we ran out of space.

Speaking of space, having three bedrooms means you could easily share this cabin with another family and split the cost.  It sleeps up to 8 people, and with so much space, it would comfortably sleep 8 people. We joked the movie room's couch is big enough and comfortable enough to become a makeshift fourth bedroom.

If your family wants a lot of space, absolutely incredible features, the best perks, and are willing to spend a lot for it, then you won't regret booking the Ultimate Family Suite.

Happy (almost) Halloween! I don't have any bad Halloween themed puns to include here, just the latest Royal Caribbean news to catch up on before you hit up the neighborhood for candy.

According to a report, a 66-year-old woman jumped overboard from Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

The incident occurred on Allure of the Seas while the ship was in The Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Bahamas Defense Force conducted a lengthy search for the woman, but she was not found.

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• The #1 Habit to Break If You Don't Want To Gain Weight On A Cruise
• Unexpected new Royal Caribbean cruises for 2026 with unbelievably unique itineraries
• I listed the 7 must-see attractions on Royal Caribbean's new ship, and the best one makes you think you're on a train
• I Tried Doing Every Activity on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas. It was busy, but I'd absolutely do it again.
• 5 Best and Worst Parts of Working on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, According to a Crew Member

New Video: Ultimate Guide to Freebies on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Ultimate Guide to Freebies on a Royal Caribbean Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 548th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Matt goes over some important cruise etiquette questions. From Main Dining Room planning to speakers, here's what you should know.

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.

A giant cruise ship will sail deeper into Alaska than ever before on one-way voyages

Royal Caribbean just released its 2026 Alaska deployments, and one surprising change will allow cruisers to see even more of the region.

Instead of a smaller vessel, the huge Ovation of the Seas will be running open-jaw cruises to the region.

In addition to three other Royal Caribbean vessels sailing to Alaska for 2026, Quantum of the Seas will homeport in Vancouver, Canada, for the summer. 

New Broadway musical coming to Star of the Seas

Star of the Seas' Broadway musical will be a surprising classic: Back to the Future.

Royal Caribbean confirmed the rumors on Monday, posting an official announcement on its social media.

"Blast to the past and introduce the entire fam to Marty McFly’s high-flying adventure, as Back to the Future: The Musical travels straight from Broadway to Star of the Seas, coming summer 2025," the announcement read.

Starbucks-Royal Caribbean partnership: How coffee works onboard the cruise ship

How can you get Starbucks coffee onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship?

The Starbucks partnership on the cruise line allows guests another avenue for getting their coffee fix while on vacation.

However, Starbucks coffee comes at an extra charge, and ordering at these cafes is different than on land.

The best Royal Caribbean hacks, according to the cruise line's fans

DIY projects and hacks are a key part of any cruise, as they help passengers save money and maximize their time onboard.

Royal Caribbean International asked its followers on X for their best cruise hacks, and received helpful responses.

From bringing takeout containers to reserving add-ons at the right time, here are the fans' best hacks.

Managing Royal Caribbean International is a huge task for CEO and President Michael Bayley.

The cruise line employs nearly 88,700 people, with 28 cruise ships visiting over 300 locations around the world.

It's a massive endeavor, but that doesn't mean that it's all serious!

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean's President and CEO, also goes by Bada-bing Bayley. 

Bayley has been with the cruise line for over 40 years, and he brings a clear love and cheerfulness to the job.

He shares openly on social media about his love of Royal Caribbean, from crew member profiles to passenger stories.

If that wasn't enough evidence of his fun-loving personality, Bayley also loves self-admitted "bad dad jokes."

Here's a collection of the best ones he's shared all over the Internet—often to unamused listeners.

Why did the pony ask for a glass of water? Because it was a little horse

Bayley hails from the United Kingdom—Cardiff, Wales, to be exact. The small country borders England, with a population of just over three million.

Bayley attended university in English, graduating from the University of Bournemouth with a degree in business.

When he graduated college, he heard from a friend about a cruise line hiring in the United States.

What do you call a group of men waiting in line for a haircut? A barber-que 

In 1981, Bayley took his first-ever plane flight to the United States and began working with Royal Caribbean International.

His career started with a variety of shipboard and shoreside positions as he received an increasing amount of management responsibility.

Now, Bayley holds decades of experience in the hospitality and cruise industry.

My wife said I should do lunges to stay in shape. That would be a big step forward!

Michael Bayley shares the majority of his "bad dad jokes," on social media. He even started a series he's shared on TikTok and Facebook.

Bayley is rare among other CEOs of huge companies, who usually shy away from sharing a fun or intimate side of life.

However, Bayley often shares personal, hilarious videos, showing viewers what it's like to work for the cruise line, images of his travels, and even household fridge tours.

Why did the bicycle fall over? It was too tired

Bayley publicly shares on social media his genuine love for cruising and sharing fun moments with friends and family. 

He currently resides in Miami, Florida, with his wife and two sons.

His username on Instagram and TikTok is captaincruise guy.

Read more: Who is Royal Caribbean Group's new CEO Jason Liberty

I think my phone is broken! I clicked the home button, but I'm still in the office!

Bayley's very first position at Royal Caribbean was as an assistant purser on the Nordic Prince.

The Nordic Prince, launched in 1971, was the second-ever ship built for Royal Caribbean. 

The vessel was just over 550 feet long, and had a passenger capacity of 741 guests—a far cry from the mega-ships of today!

Read more: Royal Caribbean CEO explains why mega cruise ships are so popular 15 years after their inception

I went to the store to get a dozen bees, but I got thirteen. The guy said, don't worry, that's a free bee

The Nordic Prince sailed mostly in the Caribbean, and Bayley's job onboard was to assist with front desk administration, dealing with details like immigration, customs, crew travel, embarkation, and emergency muster lists.

He speaks fondly of the time he spent in this position. 

According to Bayley, he dealt with lots of crew and passengers at the front desk. 

He especially loved the sirloin steak and french fries served on Saturday night dinner.

What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? Sofish-ticated!

Bayley's online dad jokes series often features guest stars at various cruising events. 

From new ship launches to President's Day cruises, Royal Caribbean's CEO doesn't miss a chance to make new jokes.

He shared this joke with Boy George of Culture Club when they performed at the 2024 President's Cruise on Oasis of the Seas.

Boy George barely cracked a smile at some of Bayley's corny jokes, but he kept laughing.

I am very afraid of a calendar. Its days are numbered

This particular dad joke was shared to TikTok, featuring Philip Smith, former head of the Bahamas Feeding Network.

The cruise line's commitment to the charity began in 2019, and it continues to donate money and food to the organization.

As of 2023, Royal Caribbean had donated over $500,000 to the Bahamas Feeding Network.

What did the chicken say when it saw lettuce? Chicken caesar salad

In addition to being a CEO and comedian, Michael Bayley is a big foodie. He enjoys the abundance of food available on Royal Caribbean ships. 

Bayley has tried his hand at being a Teppanyaki chef in Izumi Hibachi, and he can often be seen posting Royal Caribbean dining polls on his Facebook page.

His favorite restaurants span all over the world, from Sao Paulo to Hong Kong. 

According to his son, Bayley's best-cooked dish is enchiladas.

How does a French skeleton say hello? Bone-jour!

Michael Bayley was named President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International in December 2014.

Prior to that, he actually worked for the line's sister company, Celebrity Cruises. There, he delivered strong results and built up the company's "Modern Luxury" brand.

In his prior role as Royal Caribbean International's Executive Vice President, Bayley was responsible for developing three of the company's cruise lines to an international business scale: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. 

After working in that position for four years, he established 11 regional offices around the world, which now generate more than 50 percent of the corporation’s total revenue.

Now, he is the longtime CEO of the world's largest cruise brand—but he can always make time to crack a few jokes.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas was stuck in Progreso, Mexico, overnight due to technical issues. As a result, the ship's return to New Orleans, Louisiana, has been delayed. 

User cgbdpm shared the news to a Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum on Oct. 24, saying, "Currently on [Brilliance] of the seas in Progresso, Mexico. We should have left port 2 hours ago and captain said engineers said we should be underway hopefully soon. Sounds like engine issues."

CruiseGus later commented that the ship was just sitting in port with the casino closed. "Big revenue lost," they added. Not only that, but they mentioned that the bars were "slammed."

The issues come at the end of a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans, Louisiana. Progreso was the last port of call, following Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Cayman. 

As of 11:00am EST on Friday, October 25, the vessel's location has moved, indicating the ship has successfully departed Mexico. 

"We are moving.. I will update when they give us an arrival time for New Orleans," commented cgbdpm on the discussion forum. 

Brilliance of the Seas, a 90,090 gross registered ton ship launched in 2002, is due back in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 26. However, Brilliance was supposed to have a full day at sea en route back to Louisiana. Now, the ship is expected to arrive in NOLA around 5:00pm, delaying the next cruise's departure. 

The Radiance Class vessel is scheduled to depart on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Progreso on the 26th. However, Royal Caribbean emailed impacted guests informing them of a delayed embarkation process. 

"We’re excited to welcome you onboard Brilliance of the Seas for our October 26, 2024, sailing! Before you head to the terminal, we have an important update to share with you," the email reads.

"To ensure a smooth boarding process, all guests should plan on arriving at your new arrival time as listed below. All guests must be checked in and onboard by 11:00 PM and we'll now set sail at 11:30 PM.  Additionally, arriving earlier than your adjusted time will result in being turned away until your new check-in time. Please arrive no later than 10:30 PM."

Moreover, the email states that while no ports of call have been canceled, the times will differ because of the delayed departure. Additionally, Monday will be a sea day, with Cozumel's stop being moved to Wednesday. 

Brilliance will be docked in Grand Cayman from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Tuesday, Oct. 29, Cozumel from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Wednesday, and Progreso from 9am to 6:00pm on Thursday. Then, the ship will have one day at sea before returning to NOLA on Saturday, Nov. 2. 

As compensation, Royal Caribbean is providing guests with a refund of one day's cruise fare as onboard credit, as well as a pro-rated refund for prepaid daily packages and gratuities. Any unused credits will be refunded to the card on file up to 14 business days from disembarkation.  

Issues earlier this year

During her stint in Australia and the South Pacific, Royal Caribbean canceled a 5-night cruise onboard Brilliance of the Seas due to unexpected technical issues.

The previous 11-night sailing was also impacted, with the ship canceling its scheduled stops in New Caledonia, Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Luganville. Instead, the vessel returned to Sydney, Australia, 4 nights earlier than anticipated. 

Moreover, the April 4, 2024, cruise's departure date was pushed back to April 7. 

Brilliance of the Seas isn't the first Radiance Class ship to struggle with technical problems

Last September, Radiance of the Seas canceled two Alaska cruises because of unplanned technical problems with the ship's propulsion system. 

Passengers on the Sept. 1 sailing were informed on embarkation day that their cruise was canceled. As guests had already boarded the ship, Royal Caribbean let them stay onboard for two nights to give them time to adjust their travel plans. The Sept. 7 cruise was canceled as well. 

The issues continued into 2024, with Royal Caribbean altering a 4-night open-jaw sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Though passengers disembarked on April 26 as scheduled, all stops along the way were canceled, and Radiance arrived in Canada at around 9:00pm on April 25, spending the night in port. 

Subsequently, the April 26 cruise was canceled, too. Passengers found out after they had boarded the ship. Guests boarded as planned after being informed that their departure would be delayed by two days to allow ample time to fix the issue. 

However, around mid-day on Sunday, an announcement was made informing passengers that their cruise would have to be canceled to fix the ongoing technical problem. 

Cruise hacks help passengers save time and money, so they can maximize their time onboard and ashore without breaking the bank. 

Royal Caribbean International took to X (formerly Twitter) to ask cruisers for their most underrated travel hack. Since being posted on October 22, the post has received over 25 replies, with cruise fans eager to share their best-kept secrets. 

From insider tips on pre-booking add-ons to travel advice, here's a list of some of the top cruise hacks shared by seasoned travelers to help you make the most of your next Royal Caribbean cruise. 

Fly in one day early

If you're like me, the closest major cruise port isn't within driving distance. Port Canaveral is over 500 miles—or nearly 8 hours—away from Charlotte, so I'm always on the lookout for flight deals to help make my cruising habit more affordable. 

Though some can drive to their nearest cruise port (or take the Brightline train!), flying is a practical option for those who don't want to spend hours on the road. 

@CaptPat48 recommends flying in at least one day early, and I couldn't second this motion enough! When I was pursuing my Master's, I booked a cruise with a few friends on Allure of the Seas after finding an unbelievable deal. Still, we weren't trying to spend more money than necessary and decided to fly to Florida on the morning of departure. 

Thankfully, we all made it without issue; however, I was an anxious wreck in the hours leading up to our flights. I vowed never to take that kind of risk again and have since always flown out at least one day before the ship's scheduled departure. 

You can't rely on the assumption that your flight will be on time. Even if it is, you must account for the time it'll take to deplane, collect your luggage, and navigate to the terminal. If you miss the ship's all-aboard time, you are responsible for the associated costs of meeting your Royal Caribbean cruise in the next port of call—if possible. 

Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise

Pack take-out containers

There's food available 24/7 on your cruise, from late-night pizza at Sorrento's to poolside tacos from El Loco Fresh in the afternoon and early-morning pastries at Café Latte-tudes/Café Promenade/Pearl Café. Still, sometimes you might have a specific craving, such as french fries or cut fruit, or you may just want extra food on hand to help calm a fussy child! 

"We bring [take-out] containers for bringing snacks back to our room. Then the room steward won't accidentally throw it out and it won't get stale sitting on a plate," says @LisaLueyLutes.

With take-out containers, you can easily keep your favorite snacks in your stateroom without piling up plates in your mini-fridge. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean food: Review and guide

Book another cruise while onboard

@Gina4ISU advises passengers to book another trip while on their current one!

While disembarkation day is sad for everyone (who really wants to return to their daily responsibilities after a week of being pampered by crew members?), one of the best ways to battle the post-cruise blues is to book another one!

While on your ship, visit Royal Caribbean's Next Cruise desk, where the agents will help you explore available itineraries and place a deposit for your next sailing. Not only will you walk away excited for your next getaway, but Royal Caribbean offers incentives to guests who make their next booking while onboard, including:

• The best offer on any cruise, guaranteed
• Up to $600 in onboard credit
• Deposits as low as $100 per person
• Ability to handpick your cabin 
• Booking up to three staterooms with the same benefits for friends and family
• Up to 10% off shore excursions

Plus, you can transfer the booking to your travel agent within 30 days. 

Read more: 4 common mistakes people make when booking another cruise onboard their ship

Reserve add-ons early 

Royal Caribbean cruise fares aren't all-inclusive. While you'll enjoy unlimited dining in venues like the Windjammer Marketplace and Main Dining Room, specialty restaurants cost extra, as well as alcoholic and select non-alcoholic beverages. 

While many cruisers prefer to purchase drinks individually, others find value in one of Royal Caribbean's drink packages. If you're someone who doesn't want to worry about tallying up each beverage while onboard and will drink at least six cocktails daily, you will want to pre-purchase your drink package on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner. 

"Plan ahead and book all of your 'extras' as early as possible (specialty dining, excursions, [The] Key, etc.) as early as possible," writes @DanielAshely13.

Not only will pre-purchasing add-ons help you budget for your vacation, but you will score better deals than if you were to buy them on the ship. 

Plus, everything on the Cruise Planner can be canceled up to 48 hours before your cruise starts, meaning if you purchase a shore excursion or drink package and later discover the price has dropped, you can cancel and rebook for no penalty. 

Read more: Cruise hack lets you preview Royal Caribbean add-on costs before you book a cruise

Wear your swimsuit under your clothes on embarkation day

If you score an early arrival time, you will have nearly the entire day to enjoy the ship's amenities before sailing away! While the casino and onboard shops will be closed, you can take a dip in one of the pools before they become crowded on sea days! 

However, since you'll hand your larger bags over to a porter at the terminal, if swimming on embarkation day is a must-do, make sure you have your swimsuit on under your clothes, as recommended by @rhendrix69.

Alternatively, you can put a bathing suit and change of clothing in your carry-on bag. Though you can't change in your cabin since it won't be available until around 1:00pm or 2:00pm, there are public restrooms on the pool deck! 

Read more: 15 things to pack in your cruise carry-on

Utilize packing cubes

Speaking of packing, @ChipHaynes1 is a fan of packing cubes. 

Packing cubes are a game-changer for keeping your luggage organized and maximizing space. These affordable compartments allow you to sort your clothing and other travel must-haves, making it easy to find what you need in your cabin. 

Plus, when it's time to unpack, you won't waste time taking each item out individually. Instead, simply slide the cubes into the drawers or shelves. 

Read more: 115-item Ultimate Cruise Packing List

Have your ride pick you up at the airport's departure area

To avoid dealing with the chaos of the airport's arrival area, tell your ride to pick you up at departures instead. "Sounds weird I know but it is faster," says @branches053, "Especially if late [at] night when not many flights [are] departing."

Of course, this won't work if you're utilizing a rideshare like Uber or Lyft, as airports have designated pick-up zones for those services. 

However, if a friend or family member picks you up, the departure area can be a great alternative to locate your ride without navigating crowds. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean is discounting airfare by hundreds of dollars for a 2025 cruise

Bring magnetic hooks

"I’m sailing [on] Anthem of the Seas on 7th November from Dubai and I swear by small magnetic hooks for the cabin," remarks @kevevs1908. 

Magnetic hooks are one of the most popular cruise cabin hacks! Since staterooms are much smaller than traditional hotels on land, cruisers have found savvy ways to utilize the available space. 

Hooks can be used to hang hats, beach bags, lanyards, and other miscellaneous items to help keep the vanity area clear of clutter. Plus, if you purchase some with clips, you can safely store important documents, such as shore excursion tickets, disembarkation tags, loyalty benefit info sheets, and more. 

Have a cruise "go bag"

If you're a frequent cruiser, unpacking and repacking the same essentials can be tiresome. 

Instead, @nospam23321 suggests keeping a cruise "go bag" with items like towel clips or bands, lip balm, magnetic hooks, a Bingo dobber, sunblock, door decorations, and rubber ducks. 

This way, packing will be easier since you won't have to worry about certain must-haves. Instead, you can focus on other details of your trip, such as reserving excursions or specialty dining, organizing pre-cruise transfers, or planning the perfect theme night outfit. 

Aim for nonstop flights

Nonstop flights may be hard to come by if you don't leave near a major airport. Even if you do, they can often be more expensive than connecting ones. Still, the extra cost may be worth it. 

@randybieri says, "Try to get nonstop flights, especially on your way to your vacation/cruise, to reduce the risk of losing your luggage during transitions." 

If nonstop flights are out of the question, consider condensing everything into a carry-on bag to minimize the chance of your chosen airline losing your luggage. 

Cruise ship passengers are all too familiar with the extra costs that come with cruising. But what do crew members pay extra for?

Krista Joselyn is a cruise ship singer onboard Freedom of the Seas.

She performs in onboard shows such as the Welcome Aboard show and Once Upon a Time.

The Freedom Class vessel has about 1,365 crew members onboard, and each employee has the freedom to determine exactly what they spend extra on.

In a recent YouTube video, Krista shared a breakdown of her current weekly expenses as a crew member living onboard.

"A top perk of this job," she says, "is getting to save a lot of the money that you make. We have very limited expenses."

Budgeting is entirely up to each crew member, according to Krista. 

"If you wanted to spend $0, you could."

What's free for crew members?

First, Krista explained the items that she doesn't have to pay for while living onboard.

These include:

• Accommodations
• Living expenses
• Laundry
• Gym memberships
• Crew parties

Crew members don't pay extra for cabins and the resulting water and electricity bills. Living expenses aren't taken out of paychecks, either.

The laundry room is free to use onboard, but Krista does have to bring her own laundry detergent. She buys one big package at Costo, so estimates she only spends about 50 cents a week on laundry.

Crew members can also use the crew gym for free. 

As a matter of fact, cast members are required to log gym hours.

 "As a cast member we are required to do five gym hours per week to keep up stamina for the shows," Krista says.

Krista explains that, back home, she would usually spend anywhere between $10 and $50 a month for a gym membership.

"So it is really nice to have such a beautiful gym to use for free."

Royal Caribbean HR also throws free crew parties weekly. These parties have fun themes like White Night, Beach Party, and School vs. Drool.

According to Krista, alcoholic drinks are provided free of charge, and it's a fun opportunity for cast and crew members to enjoy a night together.

Read more: Royal Caribbean crew member shows off daring high dive on cruise ship: "Should be illegal"

What do they spend in a week?

Crew members do get access to a crew mess hall for free, so food isn't a necessary extra fee.

However, Krista says that the menu options and rotation "get a little boring," so she and her boyfriend sometimes splurge on specialty restaurants.

Specialty dining: $50

Crew members can go to the same restaurants cruisers are familiar with onboard: Giovanni's, Chops Grille, Izumi Sushi, Playmakers, and Johnny Rockets.

Krista says they usually get a 20% discount—or more. Even with this discount, specialty food is one of her biggest expenses onboard.

She estimated that she spends about $50 a week on specialty dining.

Water: $3

Bottled water is sold once a week—on sale for $3 a pack.

When it comes to alcoholic drinks, Krista says she saves a lot of money by purchasing liquor from the crew bar and making her own beverages.

However, drinks are very cheap at the crew bar.

According to Krista, you can get a margarita for $4, whereas on land it would be $10. In comparison, passenger bars onboard Freedom of the Seas charge $14 for a margarita.

WiFi: $0

Crew members only get two free hours of WiFi per week, so most crew members pay extra for more time. The WiFi costs $3.99 per hour (depending on the package purchased).

However, Krista invested in a side job so that she wouldn't have to pay extra for more hours of WiFi.

She works an hour or two a week at the WiFi desk onboard. For one hour of work, she received 300 free minutes of WiFi.

Thanks to her job there, she gets between 5 and 10 hours of free Internet each week.

Krista spends about $200 a week onshore

Freedom of the Seas currently sails alternating 7-night itineraries in the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In a typical week, the vessel visits destinations such as St. Thomas, San Juan, the Bahamas, Grand Cayman, and Jamacia.

Krista says that excursions in the Caribbean cost more than she expected.

"A lot of the places that we're going to in the Caribbean here are very touristy and so they are just more expensive and so I really did not expect that."

On many port days, Krista does grab lunch off the ship, visit a nearby beach, or splurge on an exciting shore excursion.

On turnaround day, the ship disembarks in Fort Lauderdale. 

Krista and her boyfriend usually head to Publix to purchase groceries, and then a cafe for food and WiFi.

The ship WiFi isn't always strong enough to download everything Krista wants for the week, so she spends her time gathering new music, podcasts, and Netflix shows.

When the ship stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, most activities and dining are free for the crew, so Krista never spends money on Royal Caribbean's private island.

However, if there are particular activities she wants to experience she will splurge, for example, visiting a waterpark in Nassau. It's worth it for a fun day with the crew!

However, there are also some weeks where Krista doesn't get off the ship, so every cruise is different.

Since Krista doesn't have expenses back home (such as rent and bills), she's usually willing to spend a little more money on experiences like excursions.

She only spends $253 total each week

Every week is different, but according to Krista's calculations of an average week, she would only spend about $253 on both onboard and shore expenses.

Krista is aware that her costs of living on a cruise ship as a crew member are less than what she'd spend living on land.

"Every once in a while I get a little nervous for the day that I'm going to have to start paying rent again," she joked.

"[I'll have to] live in a house and deal with all of those adulty things that I haven't had to deal with in my 20s."

A lot of cruises go to the usual places, but Royal Caribbean just added eight cruises with fascinating itineraries.

These one-off wonders are the cruise line's unique twist on repositioning cruises for its ships.

Repositioning cruises, nicknamed "repos" by veterans, are one-way itineraries taken when ships sail across the oceans to change their seasonal homeports.

Cruise ships tend to relocate depending on the season and weather, which requires them to travel across oceans for a longer sailing.

For example, ships sailing in Alaska for the summer cruise season have to relocate for warmer weather in the fall.

Read more: A giant cruise ship will sail deeper into Alaska than ever before on one-way voyages

In the spring, you'll also see cruise ships returning to Alaska from all over the world.

Fans of cheaper and longer cruises love repositioning sailings for the unique opportunities these sailings offer.

They provide cruisers with the chance to sail a new and unique route, usually at a lower price.

The 2026 repositioning cruises include a wide variety of ship types and will visit a number of exceptional ports.

Voyager of the Seas

The first Voyager-Class ship is scheduled for two repositioning cruises in the spring of 2026.

First, it will cruise a round-trip, 8-night South Pacific cruise departing on April 6th, 2026.

She will sail from Brisbane, Australia, with the following itinerary:

• Brisbane, Australia
• Cruising (2 days)
• Mystery Island, Vanuatu
• Noumea, New Caledonia
• Port Vila, Vanuatu
• Cruising (2 days)

After returning to Brisbane, Voyager will embark on a stunning 25-night Transpacific cruise on April 14th. She will sail from Australia to homeport in Seattle, Washington for the Alaska cruise season.

Read more: Australia & South Pacific cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do

Voyager's Transpacific itinerary is as follows:

• Brisbane, Australia
• Cruising (6 days)
• Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
• Moorea, French Polynesia
• Cruising (5 days)
• Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii (2 days)
• Napali Coast (Cruising)
• Kailua Kona, Hawaii
• Hilo, Hawaii
• Cruising (5 days)
• Seattle, Washington

Anthem of the Seas 

Anthem will take two cruises to complete its repositioning from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for the 2026 Alaska cruise season.

First, she embarks on April 14th for her 18-night Transpacific voyage. 

The itinerary includes:

• Sydney, Australia
• Cruising (2 days)
• Bay Of Islands, New Zealand
• Cruising (4 days)
• Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
• Moorea, French Polynesia
• Raiatea, French Polynesia
• Cruising (5 days)
• Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii (2 days)

Instead of sailing directly to Vancouver from Australia, Royal Caribbean wanted to add a unique twist and allow cruisers the chance to vacation in Hawaii.

Anthem of the Seas' second cruise leaves on May 1st, 2026. She will sail from Hawaii to Vancouver on an 8-night sailing:

• Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
• Kailua Kona, Hawaii (2 days)
• Cruising (5 days)
• Vancouver, British Columbia

Cruisers uninterested in a long Transpacific cruise could still book this second sailing and experience Hawaii and Canada at the lower prices of a repositioning cruise.

Ovation of the Seas 

Two unique cruises will also be available on Ovation of the Seas, a Quantum Class ship.

First, Ovation departs from Singapore on April 17th, sailing a 14-night cruise to Tokyo, Japan.

The unique itinerary will call upon countless exciting ports in Asia:

• Singapore
• Cruising
• Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Vietnam
• Cruising (2 days)
• Hong Kong, China
• Cruising
• Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, China
• Cruising 
• Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea
• Nagasaki, Japan
• Cruising
• Kobe, Japan
• Mt. Fuji (Shimizu), Japan
• Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan

After arriving in Tokyo, Ovation will embark on her repositioning cruise to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

She departs on May 1st, 2026, for a 15-night voyage. On her way to begin the Alaska cruise season, Ovation will call at:

• Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan
• Cruising
• Hakodate, Japan
• Aomori, Japan
• Sapporo (Muroran), Japan
• Cruising (8 days)
• Vancouver, British Columbia (2 days)

Serenade of the Seas

Royal Caribbean recently re-started sailings to Los Angeles, California, after a decade spent taking a break from the area.

Serenade of the Seas will spend the spring of 2026 in Los Angeles, California before repositioning for the Alaska cruise season.

On May 5th, 2026, she will sail a unique, 5-night Pacific Coastal cruise. This sailing includes:

• Los Angeles, California
• Cruising (2 days) 
• Victoria, British Columbia
• Vancouver, British Columbia

When the Alaska weather gets colder, and cruise ships begin to leave the area, Serenade will return to California with another repositioning cruise.

On September 27th, she cruises for 5-nights along the Pacific Coast. 

Serenade's itinerary is as follows:

• Vancouver, British Columbia
• Astoria, Oregon
• Cruising
• San Francisco, California
• Cruising
• San Diego, California

Why sail a repositioning cruise?

Repo cruises allow passengers to visit multiple ports and a lot of the world on a single sailing.

You could cross the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, or visit the coastal cities of Japan. All of these unique port stops take place on one longer cruise, rather than spending more time and money traveling to see different locations.

Plus, repositioning cruises often include many sea days, creating a more laidback schedule even with the frequent ports of call.

Not all repo cruises are long ones. In 2026, Royal Caribbean will offer multiple 5-night repositioning cruises. This allows guests to get a feel for a new cruise line, or for the concept of a repo sailing.

These cruises aren't appealing to everyone. Some passengers despise the idea of spending multiple sea days in the middle of the ocean. Since many of them are multiple weeks long, those who work or attend school have a limited timeline.

Read more: I crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a cheap cruise. Here’s what it's really like to spend 10 days at sea

Additionally, these sailings are always one-way, forcing travelers to book one-way flights rather than roundtrip airfare, which is often more expensive.

Due to these constraints, repositioning cruises have cheaper prices than regular sailings. The rate per day will be much lower than typical Royal Caribbean cruises.