Royal Caribbean Blog

Construction of the second Icon Class ship is underway! On December 15, the keel laying ceremony for Star of the Seas took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. 

"Star of the Seas is very important for both the shipyard and the partner network: the 13,000 man-years spent on building the ship create employment and business in Varsinais-Suomi and, with the supply chains, significantly wider as well," said CEO Tim Meyer.

"Once the ship is complete, it will strengthen a completely new kind of cruise experience with the standards set by its sister ship Icon." 

When a ship's kneel is placed into the dry dock during construction, coins are placed beneath it as a symbol of good fortune. 

Just like Icon, Star of the Seas, too, had coins left underneath the steel block of the ship's hull by the ship's customer and builder's representatives. 

The steel block was lowered by a crane to the bottom of the construction pool, which signified the start of the hull's construction. 

Despite this milestone, Star of the Seas won't be ready to sail the seas until August 2025. When she enters service, she'll sail from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

Thankfully, bookings are open. However, Royal Caribbean has not announced any details of how Star of the Seas will be different from Icon. 

There's some more Royal Caribbean news that you should be aware of, especially if you're looking forward to the 2025-2026 deployments or have a holiday cruise booked onboard Oasis of the Seas in December 2023. 

2025-2026 deployments changed

Royal Caribbean updated some of their 2025 and 2026 deployment schedules.

While cruises to the Northeast taking place between April 2025 and April 2026 will still be released for booking the week of February 12, 2024, the deployment of short Caribbean cruises and those departing from Los Angeles have been delayed. Short cruises are those that are 3, 4, and 5 nights long. 

Rather than being released at the same time as Northeast cruises, these sailings will now come out the week of February 19, 2024. 

There is some good news, though. Long Caribbean cruises (i.e., those over 7 nights) will be released one week earlier than planned, or the week of February 12, 2024. 

The deployment schedule for the remainder of cruises departing April 2025 through October 2026 has yet to be announced. 

While booking a cruise in March 2026 may seem like a long way away, by booking this far in advance, you can take advantage of the lowest rates, which are typically found as soon as cruises are opened for booking. 

Plus, you'll be able to frequently reprice your cruise through the final payment date. 

Guests sailing onboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas this holiday season will be able to visit the cruise line's first-ever holiday pop-up market

Found on Deck 8, the Oasis Holiday Marketplace, which was inspired by Europe's popular holiday markets, will run through January 7 and offer a selection of different Christmas ornaments, holiday appeal, and home décor. 

It's a great place to visit before dinner at Chops Grille or after enjoying a cocktail at the Trellis Bars. 

Plus, Santa Claus himself flew in straight from the North Pole for this special occasion! He'll be available to take photos with children, as well as encourage them to write letters to him at the North Pole. 

This special pop-up is in addition to the holiday décor found throughout the ship. 

“The Oasis Holiday Marketplace is a terrific example of Starboard's passion for ‘retailtainment’, offering families onboard engaging shopping experiences during magical holiday sailings,” says Claudia King-McWilliams, VP General Manager of Royal Caribbean.  

Oasis of the Seas' holiday sailings

Oasis of the Seas, the namesake ship of the record-breaking Oasis Class, is one of the largest cruise ships at sea.

Measuring over 226,000 gross registered tons and 1,187 feet long, there are tons of family-friendly activities onboard, making a holiday cruise on Oasis of the Seas the perfect way to celebrate and spend some quality time with loved ones. 

On December 22, Oasis of the Seas will depart from Miami, Florida on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise to Falmouth, Jamaica; Labadee, Haiti; Nassau, Bahamas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The Christmas cruise will be followed by a 9-night New Year's cruise to the Southern Caribbean, with stops at CocoCay; Willemstad, Curaçao; Oranjestad, Aruba; and Falmouth, Jamaica. 

Read more: How Royal Caribbean celebrates Christmas and New Years holidays on its cruise ships

What's Starboard Cruise Services?

Starboard Cruise Services is the world's leading luxury vacation retailer at sea that has been in operation for 65 years.

In addition to "first at sea" brands, they're also responsible for customized cruise line merchandise and destination-inspired goods. They partner with several other mainstream cruise lines, too, including Virgin Voyages, Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line. 

For instance, they have a line of "Texas-inspired" merchandise onboard Carnival Jubilee, Carnival's newest Excel Class ship sailing out of Galveston, Texas. The three different collections include Carnival Saloon, Inaugural Americana, and the Heroes Collection.

The first, Carnival Saloon, will feature denim and Western-inspired fashion (i.e., cowboy boots, fringed t-shirts, and more). 

Starboard Cruise Services employs a team of over 300 shoreside and 1,800 shipboard employees, with over 62 different nationalities represented. 

What is The Pearl on Icon of the Seas? Expect something completely different.

Ever since the Royal Promenade debuted on Voyager of the Seas, it has become a staple onboard many Royal Caribbean ships, and Icon of the Seas is no exception. 

For the first time, Royal Caribbean focused on connecting guests to the light and water through expansive windows. To be successful, however, they needed to build a super-structure that would allow them to replace all of the steel with glass. 

"The Pearl is a fundamental piece of the ship's structure," said Jay Rosser, Manager of Product Development for Royal Caribbean International.

"It is supporting all of the staterooms above it [and] Central Park, which is on Deck 8. That 16-meter diameter sphere of steel is taller than the Hollywood Sign in California." 

The Pearl is an experiential installation that serves more than one purpose

The heart of Icon of the Seas is the Royal Promenade, with the heartbeat coming from The Pearl.

This moody architectural marvel will bring the ship to life, offering different experiences throughout the voyage depending on whether it is the daytime, nighttime, a sea day, or even when docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

"The Pearl has a lot of different purposes. It's hard to put into context," said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer for Royal Caribbean International.

"It's a bit art, a bit sculpture, a bit experience, a bit WOW." 

It took over two years to design The Pearl

At first, The Pearl wasn't called "The Pearl." In fact, it was simply a round globe-like structure, and they were not quite sure what they were going to put inside of it.

Royal Caribbean reached out to Breakfast, a studio located in Brooklyn, New York that's known for their digitally controlled kinetic sculptures, to assist in designing the interior tiles. 

"When Royal Caribbean first contacted us, we were very excited, and we kind of thought they were a little nuts to be honest," said Mattias Gunneras, Co-Founder of Breakfast.

"They came and asked us to design something that was something a lot more ambitious than anything we've done in the past."

It was important to see mock-ups to select the right finishes, including the gloss level, base color, and shimmer level. There were a lot of prototypes that were tested in order to complete the final product. 

Not all of the pieces, however, were constructed in the United States. While the interior tiles were designed in the U.S., the rest was built overseas, beginning at the shipyard in Turku, Finland. 

Once a certain amount was complete, it was barged to another facility, which actually had to remove a door for The Pearl to fit inside! It was then transported back to Meyer Tukru. 

"Everybody's going to interact and experience The Pearl in their own way," remarked Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO.

"It's beautiful; it's artistic; it's incredibly creative; it's spatially so large that once you experience it, you can't quite get your head around it."

The Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the Seas will be filled with entertainment, areas to relax, delicious dining options, and more

At 362 feet long, the Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the Seas will be longer than a football field! It will be filled with brand-new experiences, such as the 4100 Lobby Bar, Dueling Pianos, and largest ice rink at sea. 

Plus, specialty restaurants, including Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, will be found here, rather than in quiet locations like Central Park. 

Youth programming can be accessed from the Royal Promenade, too. Teens will love the brand-new Social 020, which will offer state-of-the-art video game systems and a movie room. 

"The Royal Promenade is a classic with Royal Caribbean and has evolved significantly. It's an amazing hub for the entire community onboard the ship," said Bayley. 

"...it always has been this place where people meet and have fun together, and that is certainly true for Icon." 

Read more: The Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas will be a leap forward with new innovations

Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships are an excellent balance of fun things to do onboard and value. They're big enough to include lots of activities, but they don't come with the price tag of newer cruise ships.

Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas are two ships within this category of Royal Caribbean cruise ship that appeal to families looking to get a good value for their vacation dollar.

Read more: What I liked (and disliked) about my Liberty of the Seas cruise

I often get questions on how to choose between the two ships, and what you should know about the similarities and differences each has. They're quite similar, but there's just enough variations to make one a better choice over the other depending on your preferences.

It's important to note that Freedom of the Seas received a major upgrade in 2020, while Liberty of the Seas' scheduled upgrade in 2021 was postponed and has yet to happen.  This is going to be a recurring theme in comparing these two ships.

Liberty of the Seas received some updates in 2016, which gave her an edge versus Freedom until its 2020 refurbishment.

Here's a look at Liberty of the Seas vs Freedom of the Seas so you can understand what stands out about each.

Ship size

Technically, Liberty of the Seas is one foot longer than Freedom of the Seas, but you really shouldn't factor that in at all.

Freedom Class cruise ships are 1,111 feet long and they were both the largest cruise ships in the world at the time of their debut.  They've since been eclipsed by larger ships, but they still offer that "big ship" experience many cruisers look for in any vessel.

Here's a look at Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas statistics:

Both cruise ships have just under 4,000 passengers, but Freedom of the Seas has a higher guest count because of her upgrades in 2020.

The ship layout is exactly the same, with a Royal Promenade in the middle of the ship, ice skating rink, surf simulator, and water slides. Both ships are 15 decks high.

Dining

The choices in dining venues diverge a bit between the two cruise ships, as you'll find certain restaurants on each ship.

Here's a breakdown of the complimentary dining venues on both Freedom and Liberty of the Seas.

The primary difference is that Freedom of the Seas has El Loco Fresh, which is a casual Mexican restaurant on the pool deck.

You'll find nachos, burritos, quesadillas, and chips along with a toppings bar at El Loco Fresh.

Freedom of the Seas has another advantage with its specialty dining offerings, as it has newer venues.

In my opinion, the specialty restaurant choices on Freedom of the Seas are superior because it has a greater variety of popular restaurants.

Both ships have an Italian restaurant, but Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is the updated version with a newer menu and more choices, including pizza.

Izumi hibachi is one of the most popular restaurants on any Royal Caribbean ship, as its teppanyaki tables often sells out every voyage.

Playmakers is super popular with cruisers because it offers a true sports bar experience, along with excellent bar food to go with it.

Bars

Because Freedom of the Seas got amplified in 2020, she has a few more bar choices.

At the pool, there's the Lime and Coconut. This is a vibrant multi-deck venue that has a wider selection of drinks and seating choices than you'll find at the pool bars on Liberty of the Seas.

Freedom of the Seas also has Playmakers Sports Bar, which is conveniently located on deck four between the atrium and casino. It replaced what is the photo gallery on Liberty of the Seas.

Playmakers is a fun spot to catch your favorite sporting event, with dozens of big screen televisions and lots of seating. It also has a great a la carte priced menu you can order from, so you have bar food for the game.

If you're on Liberty of the Seas and want to watch sporting events, they have the On Air club.  It doubles as a karaoke bar and de-facto sports bar because it has a few televisions that can show sporting events.  But it's not nearly as expansive as Playmakers, nor does it have food.

The rest of the bar choices is largely similar between the two ships.

Cabins and suites

You will find plenty of the core four cruise ship room categories on both Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, such as inside, oceanview, balcony, and suite cabins.

There are Promenade View cabins on both ships, which have a bay window that looks into the Royal Promenade rather than outside.  While there's no natural light with these rooms, it's great for people watching and offers a bit more space than a conventional interior room.

There are two very popular types of cabins that quickly sell out on most sailings.

A balcony located on the ship's "hump" can be found on either ship.  This refers to the rooms that are located on the outwards part of the ship deck plan, right around the middle.

The reason why these rooms are desirable is because their balcony space tends to be larger than other balcony cabins without a higher price.

Speaking of balconies, the other room type worth looking at is an aft balcony.

Located on the back of the ship, these balcony rooms face the ship's wake and their balcony space can be enormous.

Aft balcony rooms on the lower decks have the most balcony square footage, and it's like having a suite balcony.

Both ships also have family oceanview cabins at the front of the ship, which have bunk beds and an extra bathroom. They may not have a balcony, but they're great choices for families on a budget.

The suite offerings on Freedom and Liberty are more or less the same, but there is one important distinction.  

The cabins are similar, but the suite sun deck choices are different. Freedom of the Seas received the Lime & Coconut bar, which took up the space that used to be reserved for suite guests. Liberty of the Seas still has reserved chairs right in the middle of the pool deck for suite guests only.

The suite lounge has a newer look on Freedom of the Seas.

Entertainment

Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas have the same entertainment venues, but the show line-ups are different.

Liberty of the Seas has a full Broadway show onboard, while Freedom of the Seas does not.  Guests can enjoy Saturday Night Fever, which is shown in its entirety as you would see it in a theater on land.  The show is complimentary.

In the theater on Freedom of the Seas, you'll find musical acts and dance production shows, but nothing with as much plot and familiar music as what Liberty has.

Both ships have an ice skating rink, where you can see ice skating shows at no additional cost.

At the bars and lounges on both ships, there is live music each day. The pool deck has a live band as well as a DJ.  In the evening, the Schooner Bar has a piano player and the English pub has a guitarist.  There are other live musical acts at Boleros and other venues.

Pools & slides

Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas both have multiple pools and whirlpool hot tubs to enjoy, but the aesthetics of both differ along with the top-deck attractions.

Both ships have a common set of activities onboard:

• Main pool
• Solarium adults-only pool
• Splashaway Bay kids aqua park
• Rock climbing wall
• Flowrider surf simulator
• Mini-golf course

Freedom of the Seas' pool deck has a Caribbean vibe to it, while Liberty has the traditional Royal Caribbean pool deck look.

More importantly are the water slides. Both ships have a pair of Perfect Storm racer waterslides, but Liberty of the Seas has a big difference.

In addition to the duo of water slides, Liberty has "Tidal Wave", which is a boomerang style slide where two guests ride in a raft that goes up a near vertical wall to provide a moment of weightlessness before sliding back down.

Read more: The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler

Bottom line

Is Freedom of the Seas or Liberty of the Seas better for you? It really depends on which features are the most important, as well as the itinerary.

The biggest difference between the ships are the dining choices and pool deck experiences. The newer restaurants on Freedom of the Seas represent some of the best concepts the line has come up with in recent years.  That isn't to say the specialty dining on Liberty of the Seas is sub-par by any means.

The itineraries offered might be the most compelling factor to select one over the other.

Freedom of the Seas sails from South Florida year-round and offers cruises to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In summer 2024, Freedom will start offering longer Caribbean cruises.

Liberty of the Seas mixes up her itineraries, and moves between Florida cruises in the winter, and the Northeast United States in the summer.  Liberty visits Canada, New England, and Bermuda, along with longer sailings to the Bahamas.

The two sister ships are quite similar, and you really have to dig into the details to find a good reason to select one over the other.

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line can often be seen competing for first place when it comes to which is the better cruise line. These two cruise lines have some of the largest fleets in the world and market themselves as the premier provider for the ultimate cruise vacation. So which is the best and how do they compare?

I have had the privilege of cruising with both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines several times this year. Much of my cruising experience has been sailing onboard Norwegian Cruise Line, but I have also had some great experiences onboard Royal Caribbean ships.

As always, these thoughts and opinions are only my own. I recognize that everyone has their favorites when it comes to cruising, and that everyone’s desires for their vacation will be very different from others, or my own. These are just some of my personal observations and opinions when it comes to comparing these two cruise companies and their great ships!

My Experiences

I have had the privilege and pleasure of so far sailing onboard six different Norwegian Cruise Line ships and two different Royal Caribbean ships.

This may seem like a lot, or for the avid cruiser it might seem limited. From these experiences I have been able to compare and contrast Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line and see some of what each of these major cruise lines have to offer their guests and prospective passengers.

So far I have sailed onboard the Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Viva vessels. For Royal Caribbean I have cruised with the Mariner of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas.

I appreciated getting to sail and experience ships such as Mariner of the Seas and the Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star. As all three of these vessels were built around the same time, and give me a good look and comparison between ships of this age from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Mariner of the Seas was built in 2003 and the Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star were built in 2001 and 2002.

I personally believe that every cruise experience is exactly what you make it. Everyone can have a great cruise vacation on any ship with the right mindset and expectations. I personally believe that cruising can be fun for anyone!

Fleet Size

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines are two of the largest cruise lines in the world. These two cruise brands have very large fleets. With Royal Caribbean sailing 28 ships (including the newest vessels Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas). While Norwegian Cruise Line currently has 19 ships, including the newest addition to the fleet, the Norwegian Viva ship which debuted this past August in 2023.

Royal Caribbean is famous for having the biggest cruise ships in the world. With vessels that can accommodate more than 7,000 guests. While many of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships are also very large, with guest capacities exceeding 4,000 guests. Currently Royal Caribbean’s fleet size is much larger, with 28 vessels to Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes guide

Recently both these cruise lines announced new ships that will be debuted in the years to come. Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are set to release many more ships into the future, signaling a continued success for both these brands.

When it comes to ship production, both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line show no signs of slowing down. This means more innovations are sure to come to the cruise line industry with each new ship that hits the high seas.

Style and aesthetics

(Pool deck onboard Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Viva)

When it comes to style and aesthetics, Norwegian Cruise Line tends to be more understated and modern, while Royal Caribbean thrives off of bright colors and eye catching designs. Both of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer vessels, the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, display examples of sophisticated and relaxing Scandinavian design. While Royal Caribbean’s newer vessels focus on displaying an atmosphere of fun and excitement to its guests.

These two cruise lines are much different when it comes to their branding. In recent years Norwegian Cruise Line has drifted towards more modern and sleek design, ushering in an atmosphere of relaxed sophistication. Royal Caribbean’s newer ships are all about fun and excitement, and are stocked full to the brim with new and exclusive onboard activities and amenities for guests to explore.

With each new ship Royal Caribbean is setting themselves apart by offering more and more for guests to do and see onboard. Royal Caribbean as a brand markets themselves as capable of providing an excellent cruise vacation for the whole family.

In recent years, with the addition of the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Cruise Line has pivoted in their style and offerings. While still a family friendly cruise line, it seems that there is more to do onboard for adults rather than kids aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships.

Bright colors and an atmosphere of overall fun is the common theme onboard Royal Caribbean. While Norwegian Cruise Line users in relaxation alongside notes of sophistication. Both these brands’ styles are great and offer a wide variety for prospective passengers to choose from.

Activities

When it comes to onboard activities it could be almost impossible to choose which of these two cruise lines is better than the other. As always, it can simply be up to individual taste, style, and preferences of each cruise traveler.

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for debuting industry firsts onboard its newer vessels. For example, the Norwegian Speedway is a never before seen onboard activity that is exclusive to Norwegian Cruise Line. Onboard ships such as the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Prima, and the Norwegian Viva, guests can satisfy their need for speed in a real life go-kart experience.

While Norwegian Cruise Line might be interested in coming out with new onboard activities, Royal Caribbean can often be seen expanding and enhancing its proven-popular onboard activities. With more than enough activities to explore and see, Royal Caribbean often creates ships that need to be visited multiple times in order to see and do everything onboard. From ship areas such as Central Park to great activities such as Escape Rooms, there is often so much onboard Royal Caribbean ships that it could be impossible to see everything in just one sailing. These ships are designed to be visited again and again.

For both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean guests will be able to find a wider breadth of activities onboard newer ships. This is due to the innovation and technology that continues to be developed and improved with each new vessel. For those guests looking to experience and do a lot onboard, I would recommend considering a newer ship for your upcoming cruise vacation onboard either Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean.

For both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line ships from the same classes can be very similar. However, not all ships are the same or have the same offerings onboard. For this reason I always recommend thoroughly researching different ships from each class before booking your cruise.

Entertainment

When it comes to entertainment it can be almost impossible to choose between Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Once again, it all comes down to travelers’ personal preferences.

If you are looking for brand new, awe inspiring entertainment, then Royal Caribbean may be your choice.

Royal Caribbean is well known for their innovation and commitment to bringing new and thrilling features to their ships. One of the most unique forms of entertainment offered on some of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, their Oasis Class vessels, are the Aqua Shows. These impressive water shows are offered at the Aqua Theater onboard, and feature awe inspiring entertainment that truly rivals cirque du soleil. “The AquaTheater - only on our Oasis Class - is the deepest pool at sea, flanked by two 30-foot diving platforms that set the scene for mesmerizing dive spectaculars”, states Royal Caribbean about this Royal Caribbean cruise line-specific entertainment.

In addition to water shows, several Royal Caribbean ships feature ice shows. I have had the privilege of seeing a couple of these ice shows in person, and each time I was really impressed. The talent displayed at these shows is exceptional, and I highly recommend checking out at least one ice show performance while onboard if you have the opportunity with Royal Caribbean. In addition to the ice shows, guests are able to experience ice skating themselves while at sea! During specific times during cruise sailings, guests are able to tryout ice skating on the ice rink on Royal Caribbean ships that offer this amenity.

Norwegian Cruise Line features some full length Broadway stage performances that I have greatly enjoyed. If you are someone looking to take in a great theater show, then Norwegian Cruise Line might catch your eye.

Norwegian Cruise Line has some of my most favorite Broadway-style shows at sea that I have seen so far! Some of my personal favorite Broadway inspired shows are ‘Six’ and ‘Jersey Boys’, both of which are available to be seen onboard the Norwegian Bliss ship. As well as ‘The Choir of Man’ which is performed onboard the Norwegian Encore ship. All these shows feature truly impressive acting, singing, and dancing. Some of these shows, such as ‘Six’ have actually been performed on Broadway, and for very good reason. All of these shows have a great story and plot, and are sure to hold audiences’ attention while thoroughly entertaining them.

Recently I was able to see the brand new rendition of ‘Beetlejuice’ onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Viva. This 90 minute show is truly impressive, with just the right amount of laughs, thrills, and awesome singing, dancing, and acting talent.

It is important to note that for both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, guests will find the most, as well as latest and greatest onboard entertainment onboard the newer cruise ships from both these cruise lines. To experience the very best and greatest that a cruise line has to offer, the newest ships are typically the best choice. For example, to find the best onboard entertainment I would consider either an Oasis Class ship with Royal Caribbean or a Prima Class vessel with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Pools and Outdoor Fun

With the introduction of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, guests will be truly blown away when it comes to not only the innovative pool features, but also the number of pools onboard. When Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas debuts in 2024, it will have 5 pools. While Icon of the Seas will have an impressive 7 pools. 

Norwegian Cruise Line is set to make headlines with its brand new, never before seen, waterslide coaster set to debut on the new Norwegian Aqua ship in 2025.

Norwegian Cruise Line also does a great job of providing not only pools and hot tubs onboard, but fun and thrilling waterslides as well! One of my favorite waterslides at sea is the Ocean Loops slide that is available on some Norwegian Cruise Line ships, such as Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss. The Ocean Loops slide features a multi-story free fall drop and two inversion loops for guess to experience. I will say, this slide is very thrilling and may not be for everyone. However, if you are someone who loves a good adrenaline rush, I recommend making the Ocean Loops waterslide a must do while onboard!

Onboard many of Royal Caribbean’s ships, even some of the oldest vessels, guests can find the fun and complimentary water activity, the FlowRider. The FlowRider is an awesome opportunity for guests to try out wave surfing at sea, and as a bonus is completely complimentary to participate in. The FlowRider is a Royal Caribbean classic, and can be found onboard many Royal Caribbean ships.

(Concept art of Icon of the Seas water park)

Every Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean ship features at least one pool onboard. Similarly to entertainment and other onboard amenities, the most advanced top deck fun tends to be on the newer ships in the fleet. Make sure to research any potential cruise ship to see if it has some features you would like to check out and enjoy.

Kids zones

Both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line take pride in their ability to provide excellent cruise vacations for every member of the family. Nearly every Norwegian Cruise Line ship and Royal Caribbean vessel has a designated area just for the younger members of the family.

These kids zones and children’s clubs are usually divided by age, meaning that children can meet other passengers their own age and engage in age appropriate activities under the safe supervision of trained crew members.

Many of the kids clubs offer activities and events for children nearly every hour of the day, for the duration of a cruise sailing. There are often kids clubs onboard for nearly all ages, from small toddlers all the way up to teenagers in high school.

In addition to kids clubs, there are often splash zones and kids pools onboard many of Norwegian Cruise Line ships and Royal Caribbean ships. In my personal experience, it does appear that there are usually more kids zones and areas onboard Royal Caribbean ships. While Norwegian Cruise Line seems to pay special attention to adult only areas onboard.

Every cruise ship is different, and this means that not all the kids zones are the same. If you are someone traveling with children, I recommend researching the specific children’s areas onboard.

Read more: 7 Best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for kids 

Adults-only areas

When it comes to adult only areas there are some great venues onboard many Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean ships.

Royal Caribbean shines when it comes to adult only pool areas, as they are featured onboard almost all of their ships. This adult only area onboard Royal Caribbean ships is often referred to as the ‘Solarium’. This area features comfortable lounge chairs, a small pool, usually at least one hot tub, and often times a bar area.

I have personally been able to experience the Solariums onboard the Liberty of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. Both these venues offer plenty of relaxation for those guests onboard who are 18 years and older. These areas can get quite busy during sea days, so make sure to visit early to find a spot to sit back and relax.

Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line guests can often find the adult only area called ‘Spice H2O’. The Spice H2O is one of my favorite adult only areas that I have seen on large scale cruise ships. During the day it is a place of relaxation, and during the night it often turns into a dance club. During the course of a cruise the Spice H2O is often where guests can find themed dance parties, such as the Norwegian Cruise Line iconic GLOW night!

Food and Dining

Arguably one of the best things about cruising is the food!

For those looking to explore some great dining, passengers do not need to look far when it comes to Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. On both these cruise lines, guests will find no shortage of great food and dining experiences onboard.

Every Norwegian Cruise Line ship has at least two main dining restaurants for guests to choose from. These complimentary dining venues have become some of my favorite cruise dining in my personal experiences. Every Norwegian Cruise Line ship also has at least several specialty dining options in addition to complimentary offerings.

Norwegian Cruise Line in my personal opinion has some of the best food I have been able to sample on larger scale cruise ships. For example the new Indulge Food Hall onboard the Norwegian Viva is a revolutionary dining venue that has some of the best Indian cuisine I’ve ever tried, at sea or on land.

I also greatly have enjoyed much of the food onboard the two Royal Caribbean ships I’ve had the privilege of sailing on. I appreciate that Royal Caribbean is always striving to improve on their fan favorites and offer their returning guests great consistency.

The complimentary restaurants, ‘Taste’ and ‘Savor’ found onboard many of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships are a great dining option. These two restaurants offer a more intimate restaurant dining experience, rather than the large traditional main dining room found on many cruise lines. I prefer this method of dining when it comes to dinner on a cruise ship, and definitely recommend checking out these restaurants if they are available on your next Norwegian Cruise Line sailing.

I have had the privilege of sailing with Royal Caribbean a couple times now, and have always found something appetizing and delicious onboard! Something I will say that I have noticed when it comes to food when comparing Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, is that Norwegian appears to offer more complimentary dining options than Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean tends to offer just one or two main dining restaurants onboard, in addition to the buffet.

If I had to make a choice between the two cruise lines when it came to food, I would say Norwegian Cruise Line has the best options onboard their newer ships. Such as the Breakaway Class, Breakaway Plus Class, and Prima Class. While Royal Caribbean is very consistent across the cruise line, and has some great food offerings onboard their older vessels as well as their new ships.

Bars, Lounges, and Nightlife

Both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have much to offer when it comes to nightlife and exciting bars and lounges for guests to explore!

Both these cruise lines do a great job of offering nighttime entertainment such as comedians and live music. I appreciate that Norwegian Cruise Line provides venues specifically for these kinds of nighttime entertainment in addition to bars and lounges. Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Viva, the comedy lounge called ‘Improv’ and bars such as ‘Syd Norman’s  Pour House’ for live music.

For those looking for live music onboard Royal Caribbean, they do not need to look far. Royal Caribbean’s classic bars such as Playmakers Sports Bar and Schooner Bar are always filled with a good time for guests.

On Mariner of the Seas my favorite bar and lounge is The Bamboo Room. This unique and tropical themed bar is a great place to visit with friends during a night out onboard.

One of my all time favorite bars and lounges onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships is the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar. This incredibly unique bar is an actual ice bar that is very cool (literally). This bar is an indoor venue featuring real structures made from ice. There is a cover charge of $24 per guest which includes two vodka cocktails. This fun bar can be found onboard the Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic ships. I recommend dressing warmly when planning on visiting this bar, as it is quite cold!

Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have great themed parties onboard many of their ships. I have been able to experience quite a few of these themed parties onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships, they are quite fun and I definitely recommend checking out at least one during a cruise sailing. From 80s to the iconic GLOW party, Norwegian Cruise Line has a themed party nearly every night of a cruise for guests to dance the night away at.

I appreciate that both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer a wide breadth of variety when it comes to nightlife activities and entertainment. This means that there is something for everyone to enjoy during the evening and nighttime onboard. From lively dance parties, comedy performances, to relaxed live music, there is guaranteed to be something onboard that every guest enjoys during the nighttime.

Itinerary choices

For myself and many others one of the most important, if not the most important part of cruising is the itineraries, and the unique ease of travel that cruising offers.

There is nothing quite like cruising. The ability to unpack in one spot while being transported to great destinations around the world is quite alluring, and keeps frequent cruisers coming back again and again. Not to mention that now days cruise ships are now great destinations in of themselves and offer so much for guests to do, see, and explore.

Because the itinerary can be the most important part of cruising for many guests, I always recommend perusing and browsing the itineraries offered by cruise lines before picking the ship. Unless of course prospective guests are the most interested in the ship most of all.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both offer incredible itineraries all over the world. Whether it is sailing to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Middle East, or South America, guests can find itineraries to all these awesome destinations on both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.

If you are looking to visit truly unique destinations, I would recommend checking out Norwegian Cruise Line specifically. Guests looking to visit interesting and engaging locations such as Africa, parts of the Middle East, and more should consider a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Royal Caribbean lives up to its namesake and has some really great itineraries in the Caribbean and Bahamas. As well as itineraries that sail all over Europe, including beautiful destinations such as the Greek Isles and Spain.

It is common among both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line that these two brands will often utilize their older ships to sail some of the most unique itineraries. For this reason I always say, never rule out sailing on an older cruise ship. Because these older vessels may have some of the best itineraries at affordable prices.

For example, best friend and fellow Cruise Blog writer Allie and I sailed on a 10 day itinerary onboard the Norwegian Star this fall to the British Isles. The Norwegian Star is an older ship, built in 2001 and is one of the only ships in the fleet that offers this type of itinerary. We were also able to find a great cruise to Spain and Lisbon earlier this year onboard the Norwegian Sun, also an older ship built in 2001.

I highly recommend choosing a cruise vacation off the itinerary. Doing this will help to ensure that no matter what guests will have a great trip. Cruising is first and foremost about travel, and I firmly believe it is one of the very best forms and ways to travel and see the world!

Private Islands

Before embarking on my first cruises with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line last year, I had no idea that some cruise lines own they very own private islands. Since initially finding out about these unique Caribbean destinations, I have been able to visit all three of the private islands owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.

Currently Norwegian Cruise Line owns two private island destinations, one located in the Bahamas called Great Stirrup Cay. With the second one located just off the coast of Belize called Harvest Caye. While Royal Caribbean currently has one private island destination called Perfect Day At Coco Cay also located in the Bahamas. In fact, Great Stirrup Cay and Coco Cay are right next to each other in the Bahamas and guests to these islands can see the other island just across the waves from each other!

I have been able to visit Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay twice now, and I can confidently say this is a beautiful island. While Great Stirrup Cay may have much less to do onshore when compared to its neighbor, Perfect Day at CocoCay, it is still a great Bahamian destination. 

Great Stirrup Cay is a great place to relax and enjoy an afternoon at the beach. This island does not have the plethora of activities that CocoCay does, however if you are someone looking forward to a beautiful beach day on your cruise vacation, Great Stirrup Cay is the perfect place. There are plenty of complimentary lounge chairs and spots to get your feet into the sand. Additionally guests can try out zip lining for an additional cost, or rent some floating chairs and other beach gear should they so choose. 

Similarly to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Great Stirrup Cay does offer complimentary lunch fare to guests onshore. This is a great feature to passengers of both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean over at CocoCay. This is different from Norwegian Cruise Line's Harvest Caye, in which guests will need to pay for their lunch should they choose to eat at this destination. 

I have had the pleasure of visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay just once so far in my cruising adventures. I can easily say that this destination requires at least a couple visits to see and do everything onshore. CocoCay is filled with activities for members of the whole family, and guests will never be bored when visiting CocoCay. From a waterpark to adult only exclusive beaches, there is truly something for everyone on this private island. 

Overall, if you are someone looking for a lot to see and do during a visit to a private island, I would recommend Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you are someone content with a beach day in some beautiful and relaxing scenery, then I would absolutely recommend Great Stirrup Cay or Harvest Caye. 

Harvest Caye is a bit different from Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay because it is in part owned by the Belizean government. This means that Belize has more say in the functionings of the island. Because of this, this great destination has a unique and authentic Belizean feel to it that I enjoyed during my visit. This island has unique activities such as a complimentary wildlife trail that must be seen during a visit! 

Staterooms and Cabin Offerings

Because Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line are some of the biggest cruise lines in the world, it means they are able to provide the most variety to their guests.

(Some staterooms onboard Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean feature bunk bed systems to accommodate more than two people in a cabin)

For this reason, there is a plethora of stateroom and cabin categories and types to choose from for prospective guests. Whether it is a more affordable inside cabin or a luxurious suite, there are so many different types of staterooms for guests to choose from on both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean ships.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide

For those guests looking for an added measure of luxury and exclusivity to their cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line’s ‘The Haven’ can be a great option. The Haven is Norwegian Cruise Line’s luxury ‘ship-within-a-ship’ concept. The Haven is not just a series of beautiful suites, but also exclusive areas designated just for guests staying in a Haven category room. Including a lounge, bar, pool area, and restaurant.

Staying in this exclusive Haven area of the ship is often quite expensive but comes with perks that can not be experienced any other way onboard Norwegian Cruise Line. It is important to note that The Haven is not available onboard every Norwegian Cruise Line ship. If you are someone interested in staying in The Haven, I recommend filtering which ships have these stateroom categories onboard before booking a cruise with Norwegian.

Guests looking at sailing on Royal Caribbean, who want to experience an exclusive stateroom category, but also are looking at keeping to a budget should consider a Promenade View Room or a Central Park View Room.

These Promenade View Rooms rooms are often times quite affordable, but offer a unique cruise experience to guests. Similar to an ocean view stateroom, these rooms feature a window. But instead of the window looking outward towards the ocean, the window is interior and gives guests a look out onto either the Promenade or Central Park, depending which is featured onboard the Royal Caribbean ship. These rooms are typically cheaper than an ocean view room, but are fun in that they offer an interesting stateroom experience that is rather unique to Royal Caribbean.

(Most affordable stateroom onboard Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Viva)

For both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, prospective guests will find no shortage of stateroom options to choose from. Whether it is a large family looking to travel on a budget, or a couple looking to plan a celebratory cruise, both these cruise lines have a stateroom category to sure to suit every traveler’s needs and desires.

Cruise Loyalty Programs

When it comes to cruising with both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, both these cruise lines want to help ensure that their passengers have such a good time that they’ll consider cruising with them again and again.

Because of this, both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer loyalty programs to all their guests. The more that a guest cruises with one or both of these cruise lines, the more points they earn. The more points guests earn the more exclusive benefits they can enjoy on future cruises.

Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program is called the ‘Crown & Anchor Society’, while Norwegian Cruise Line’s loyalty program is called ‘Latitudes Rewards’.

On both these cruise lines guests earn points towards their loyalty program with every cruise they take. For example, with Norwegian Cruise Line guest earn 1 point for every night they spend on a cruise. The amount of points guests earn can also be increased to 2 points or more per night depending on special stateroom categories such as suites or studio staterooms.

Occasionally Norwegian Cruise Line will run promotional deals that can allow guests to earn more points per night of their cruise. For example, when I stayed in a Studio Stateroom for the first time this year I earned 4 points per night onboard the Norwegian Encore.

Some of the benefits of various reward categories with Norwegian Cruise Line include discounts on drink packages, discount on shore excursions, priority check-in, exclusive cocktail parties, discounts at the duty-free shops onboard, discounts on photos, discounts on the internet or wifi packages onboard, and much more during a cruise such as chocolate covered strawberries and a free specialty dining meal for two.

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society rewards program is very similar to that of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards. The more guests cruise the more rewards and perks they have access to for future sailings. This is just one of the ways that these two cruise lines encourage guests to continue cruising with them over and over again. Similarly to Norwegian Cruise Line, certain stateroom categories such as suites can earn guests more than one point per night of their cruise sailing onboard Royal Caribbean.

One of the features that could set Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society apart from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards, is the complimentary drinks perk. The higher status travelers earn on Royal Caribbean, they can earn free drinks for future cruising. For example, at certain tiers guests can enjoy 5+ free drinks a day, this can be a significant cost saving.

Once a passenger cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line and/or Royal Caribbean for the first time they are automatically a member of that cruise line’s loyalty program. For every subsequent cruise thereafter guests will earn points and work their way toward the next loyalty tier to achieve even more rewards for their next cruise vacation.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Overall the choice for Royal Caribbean versus Norwegian Cruise Line come down to personal presences. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines have so much to offer their cruise guests, and there is no shortage of things for passengers to explore about these two cruise lines.

Both these large scale cruise lines specialize in offering something for everyone onboard their ships, and are great about being cruise lines that caters to the whole family. Because of this, both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean can be great options for multi-generational vacations.

Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have many similarities, but they also have some key differences as well. I recommend exploring these two cruise lines in-depth, as well as specific ships before booking a cruise vacation. This will help ensure that guests are booking the best cruise sailing for them.

No matter which of these two cruise lines guests choose, they are sure to have a fun, memorable, and exciting cruise vacation! We hope that this article was helpful, and that it introduced you to some of the differences and similarities between these two cruise lines.

A Mediterranean cruise feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so how important is your cabin choice for this itinerary?

A Mediterranean cruise offers a cruise that has visits to places to a captivating blend of history, culture, and landscapes. Naturally, you'll want to take full advantage of the experience.

One of the first decisions you'll make while preparing for your cruise will be choosing which cabin to book.

Depending on your personal preferences and budget, it can be a tough call to choose which type of cabin is best for your cruise. Is it worth saving money to book a cheaper, windowless inside cabin? Or should you splurge for a balcony cabin instead?

The Mediterranean is not like a Caribbean cruise that you may have experienced many times.  If it's your first cruise ever, you might be debating if the money saved with an inside cabin is going to lead to regret later.

To help you make your decision, I’ll delve into the pros and cons I experienced when I booked an inside cabin for my Mediterranean voyage.

Inside Cabin vs. Balcony

In my case, I knew pretty quickly that I could rule out purchasing a balcony cabin (or a suite).

The cost is steep, ranging from $1,000-2,000 more than an inside cabin.

Since I was traveling alone, it also didn’t make as much sense to spend a lot of money on a room I wouldn’t be sharing with anyone. 

I didn’t need the extra space or privacy, and a balcony isn’t as fun without someone to stargaze with you! 

Traveling solo also comes with a single supplement fee, meaning I was charged extra for traveling with just one person in a stateroom. It wouldn't make sense for me to make an even higher leap in price.

In addition to the extra cost, my Mediterranean cruise also took place in early November, meaning we were already entering winter. 

While the weather wasn’t extremely cold, it was windy and cloudy, with some choppy seas. 

On those windy days, I got too cold to even enjoy the sun on the pool deck.

In hindsight, this tells me that I would not have spent time on a balcony, where a roof blocks off from the sunlight but still exposes you to the wind. 

However, if it’s still important that you have a private outdoor space, you may want to consider booking a balcony.

For my personal needs, it didn’t make sense to shell out that extra money. 

Inside Cabin vs. Oceanview Cabin

With a balcony ruled out, I could next consider whether I wanted to book an oceanview cabin.

Cruise pricing can vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing, but a standard oceanview cabin costs about $25-40 more per night than an inside cabin.

For my 7-night cruise, this would have added at least $200 to the price of booking. 

Since an inside cabin is more budget-friendly than an oceanview cabin, this made my cabin a smart choice.

While the cost wasn’t that significant of a difference, it made enough of a change that I could allocate money to other aspects of my cruise.

For example, saving $200 is $200 more than I could spend on a shore excursion or souvenirs at our destinations.

In the end, I chose to book a windowless inside cabin. I used several categories to determine if this decision made the most sense for my cruise.

Read more: I always stay in an inside cabin on a cruise ship. Here's why I actually like these rooms

Time spent in my stateroom

One unique aspect of a Mediterranean cruise is its frequent port stops at new locations. A Mediterranean cruise usually focuses on the destinations and cultural experiences. 

With the close multitude of islands in the Mediterranean Sea, you can expect your cruise to be port-intensive. 

If you plan on taking advantage of time at the ports of all, a cheaper cabin is a more practical choice.

With so much time spent off the ship, your cabin preferences can take a backseat since you’ll only be returning to sleep.

It makes more sense to spend time enjoying shore adventures and onboard activities than to waste money on a cabin.  

Better locations for seasickness

For those of us prone to seasickness, the location of your cabin may be more important than having a nice view.

Some find that being in the middle of the ship and on a lower deck helps minimize the feeling of motion and ease seasickness.

Inside cabins are more often located in the center of the ship, away from any windows and balconies. Not only that but there are also more to choose from on Royal Caribbean ships, making it easier to choose your cabin location when you book one.

For my cruise, my cabin was located midship on Deck 2, which is a perfect location when it came to seasickness and noise level.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Plenty of space

For a Mediterranean cruise, which requires days of travel from the U.S., taking a longer cruise is the best way to maximize your travel time.

I chose a 7-night sailing to get full advantage of my time in the area. 

And for this longer sailing, it makes sense to want a larger room with more space for all your luggage.

Space was an important factor for my Mediterranean cruise cabin, but an inside cabin still made the most sense for this situation.

Most standard oceanview cabins are about the same size as inside cabins. For an even larger room, I would have had to upgrade to a spacious or ultra-spacious oceanview cabin.

Since that would raise the cruise price even further, an inside cabin was sufficient space for me in the end.

Even though I was traveling alone, I felt that my stateroom would have had more than enough floor and storage space for two people traveling over a period of 7 days.

Ideal sleeping conditions

After a long day of walking around the pebbled streets in places like Greece and Spain, you’re going to want a good night of sleep.

For me, the best conditions for a sound 8 hours of sleep are the dark, cool, and quiet inside cabins on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Especially in a quiet location, I can sleep soundly without waking up at all through the night. It’s the perfect way to relax after a long day.

Read more: 9 ways to sleep better on a cruise ship

If you have a top status with Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, you might be eligible to status match with another cruise line.

Unlike the airline industry, cruise lines don't offer a lot of status matching, but there are situations where it does exist, and it offers cruisers a way to instantly attain perks and benefits with another cruise line despite having never sailed with them in the past.

Because Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are sister brands under the same corporate umbrella, there is some reciprocity between the two lines.  Plus, there are ways to get benefits with other companies too.

Here are eight things you need to know before applying for a Royal Caribbean status match.

1. You can only get status match with one brand within the company

Royal Caribbean offers a status match with only Celebrity Cruises, but not Silversea Cruises.

The same applies to Celebrity passengers who wish to travel on Royal Caribbean.

Silversea's loyalty program, Venetian Society, is a simpler program that does not have tiers. Likewise, Azamara no longer offers a status match with Royal Caribbean because the company was sold off.

There are other companies that will status match with Royal Caribbean, but that is covered later in this article.

2. You need to have certain status first

Before you can get a matching status with Celebrity, you need to make sure you qualify.

Crown & Anchor Society members who reach the Platinum tier in Crown and Anchor Society are eligible to get status matching in the Captain's Club at Celebrity Cruises.

3. You can't status match to the top tier

Depending on your level in Crown and Anchor Society, that will determine which level you get with Celebrity Cruises.

Platinum & Emerald members qualify to get Select Status in Captain's Club. That will get you benefits such as a 25% discount on internet packages, a 30% discount on photo packages, a 10% discount on spa treatments and priority status for the shore excursion waitlist.

Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members will get Elite Status with Celebrity, which gets you unlimited free drinks from the Captain's Club menu each day between 5 and 7 p.m. at most bars and lounges on the ship. It also gets you 30% off Wi-Fi packages, 40% off a digital or print photo package, $200 off The Studio photo packages, and 15% discount on a drink package or a premium drink package upgrade.

On Celebrity's Solstice or Millennium Class ships, being an Elite status member will also get you free access to the steam rooms, saunas and heated loungers in the Persian Garden spa zone on a port day of your choice.

Even if you reach Pinnacle Club with Crown and Anchor Society, you cannot status match to Celebrity's upper most tiers.  The cap is Elite until you cruise enough to earn points on your own.

If you were a Diamond member with Crown and Anchor Society, in order to reach the next tier with Celebrity, you would need to earn at least 750 Captain’s Club points on your own. However, you would continue to receive Elite-level benefits through reciprocity until then. 

4. You're eligible to status match at any time

In short, you are granted a status match that remains with you until you cruise enough to have points to move up to the next level.

Points are only earned on the cruise line being sailed.   You only earn points in each respective program when you sail with that cruise line.  Points can not be added or moved between programs.  

This means even though you get a status with Celebrity, your point total will still be zero.  So you'll need to cruise enough to move up to the next tier.

There is no time limit of when you can status match. 

5. Applying for a status match is easy

Celebrity recommends anyone in Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor program that is not enrolled in Celebrity’s Captain’s Club program should confirm enrollment before booking their cruise.

From experience, I can tell you it's not a problem to status match and then add it to an existing reservation.

In order to status match, you simply need to call Celebrity Cruises to request the status match. The agent on the phone will create a Captain's Club number and then do the matching for you.

6. You can status match with a casino

In addition to status matching with cruise lines, Royal Caribbean has an agreement with MGM Resorts.

For no extra cost, you can link your Crown & Anchor level and immediately take advantage of MGM benefits such as resort fee waivers, discounts on entertainment, and complimentary hotel upgrades.

The tier level you receive with MGM Rewards depends on your tier in the Crown & Anchor Society:

• C&A Gold = Sapphire status with MGM Rewards
• C&A Platinum = Pearl status with MGM Rewards
• C&A Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club = Gold status with MGM Rewards

To link your Crown & Anchor Society account with MGM Rewards, first make a free account on the MGM Resorts website. Next, contact an MGM Rewards representative through phone or email.

Let the representative know your Crown & Anchor Society number. They will contact Royal Caribbean to confirm your information and link you to the appropriate tier with MGM rewards.

7. MSC Cruises will status match your Royal Caribbean status

MSC Cruises is one of the few cruise lines that will status match your loyalty status with other rival lines, including Royal Caribbean.

There is no fee to do so but you need to complete the process at least 7-10 days before your first MSC cruise. The application for this is located on the MSC Cruises website and is easy to complete.

MSC will status match Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Celebrity, Norwegian and Holland America Line. They'll even status match hotel loyalty programs, including Club Med, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood, Fairmont, Expedia, and RIU.

Depending on your status with Royal Caribbean, the benefits will vary. One of our writers was at Emerald Status and qualified for Gold status with MSC, which got her one free hour in the thermal spa, a welcome back cocktail reception, and a complimentary MSC Voyagers Club drawstring bag. 

One caveat to status matching with MSC Cruises is you may only apply for a status match one time.  So you cannot do it again later if you were to move up through Royal Caribbean's tiers.

8. Virgin Voyages will give benefits to top tier Royal Caribbean cruisers

Diamond, Diamond Plus, Pinnacle Club members in Crown and Anchor Society are able to participate in Virgin Voyages' Experience Match offer.

These cruisers get immediate status in the Virgin Voyages program. As part of this, they are granted Sea-Rovers status, which includes the $100 Bar Tab Bonus through 2024.

Is a Royal Caribbean status match worth it?

Royal Caribbean's reciprocity with Celebrity Cruises makes it a smart choice for any cruiser looking to jump between the two lines and be able to enjoy extra perks.

While it would be better if Royal Caribbean and Celebrity had a joint loyalty program where cruises on either line earned you higher status (which is something the company is considering for the future), it's still great to have something to show for it.

Similarly, the free benefits you can receive with MGM, Virgin, or MSC Cruises means there's no reason not to status match with them either, although you'll want to hold off status matching with MSC until you're sure you wont move up higher anytime soon in Crown and Anchor Society.

The only caveat is you must take action before the cruise to get the status match done so it can be applied to your reservation. If you think about it once on the ship, it's too late.

If you're looking at your shore excursion choices and not finding anything that excites you, it might be time to try a day pass to a resort instead.

In any port your cruise ship visits, you'll find lots of different tours. Bus tours, hiking, beach breaks, and historical sights are very common.  So common, that after a couple of visits you may find yourself at a loss of what to do.

I certainly felt that way in some ports of call, especially some Caribbean islands that are well-known for their beaches. I found taking a beach break tour or a taxi to a beach nice, but lacking often in more of the services I like in my day.

Read more: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

Cruising with my kids, it's nice to have shade, food and beverage choices, and sometimes a pool too. I'll admit that while there are stunning beaches to visit, I prefer the pool more than the ocean. But my wife tends to like the ocean.

Out of a need to find a compromise, I discovered that resort day passes were a great choice for so many Caribbean islands.

Years ago, a day pass involved calling the resort directly to inquire if they offered such an option.  It was difficult to know which options existed.

Luckily, the process has gotten a lot easier.  There are a few sites out there that sell resort day passes, specifically for cruise ship passengers.

A day pass to a resort gives you access to their grounds and many facilities. Think of it like being a hotel guest without the room.

There are two day pass websites I frequently check and book through: ResortForADay.com (contains affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use) and ResortPass.com.

No matter which site you choose, the process is pretty much the same. Browse available resorts on the island your ship will be visiting, and book a pass for each person in your party.

Some passes are quite cheap, and others much more expensive. It comes down to how popular the resort is, which amenities it includes, and if it's all-inclusive or not.

Transportation from the cruise ship to the resort and back is never included, so you'll need to arrange that on your own.  I almost always just take a taxi at the port.

One consideration before booking is if it includes food and drinks.  Many are all-inclusive, but not all.  By having all your food and drink included, you get a single price for the day, although it's going to cost more.

For the all-inclusive resorts, there could be a restaurant to go into to dine, or it could be waiter service at the pool. Keep in mind that some resort restaurants have a dress code related to bathing suits, so it might be a good idea to pack a change of clothes.

Some resorts have a stipend, where part of your admission cost will be used towards the food served there. The downside to this strategy is I've found most resorts price their food quite high, so that stipend goes quickly.

In some cases, there are resorts that offer simply a day pass and no food or drink with it. You can usually pay as you go with the food there.  This has a lower up-front cost, but depending on how much you consume, you might end up paying a lot before the day is over.

With ResortForADay, you'll pay a deposit at the time of booking and then have to pay the remainder of the balance once you get to the resort.  

With your pass, you'll get access to chairs and umbrellas that the resort offers. Depending on the resort, the amount of chairs will vary. Some have a lot, some few.  Shade is also a consideration, as it varies considerably from one to another.

Read more: Guide to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean shore excursion

Just like any shore excursion, there are a few things to bring along:

• Confirmation of your reservation
• Identification for the adults
• Money
• Towels
• Accessories for your day (sunglasses, sunscreen, etc)

When you arrive to the resort, you'll need to have proof of your booking with you.  I recommend having a print out to make it simpler. Plus, the agent at the resort will likely need to take it to reference, and phones return to a lock screen often.

All resorts check your identification, and some hold onto it as a sort of collateral while you're visiting.

Once checked-in, you will be free to roam the grounds and use the resort. Almost all provide a bracelet to wear during your stay.

Being that this is a hotel, there will not only be other cruise ship passengers visiting, but also resort guests. In short, the chair hog situation could be present depending on the day.

I've found depending on the resort, weather, and my mood, I love having access to both the beach and pool.

Quite often we go between the two, and then having the convenience of food and drink service makes booking a day pass worth it every time for me and my family.

I love the flexibility it provides, especially with timings. Unlike a group tour, we can arrive and depart when we're ready. This means if my kids are done early, we can hop in a taxi and go back.   Or if things are going really well, we can stay a bit longer.

Not all resorts are the same, so it's important to do your research into what you're getting with a visit.  I recommend skipping the publicity photos the resort provides and doing an internet search for the resort name to get first-hand reviews, as well as photos of the facilities.

You should also be crystal clear on what is and what is not included. Look for verbiage on the individual resort listing to understand what you'll be getting, and what you need to bring or pay extra for.

Just like any excursion you do on your own apart from the cruise line, manage your time to avoid being late. The cruise ship will not wait for you if you're late, so take note of how long it took to get from the cruise terminal to the resort and pad extra time to return.

Ultimately, I find a resort day pass is the perfect family shore excursion for a Caribbean visit, especially if I've visited the island a few times.

I value the amenities you get with a resort pass, and greatly prefer to be able to enjoy the time at the resort on my family's schedule instead of a group visit. It's probably not the cheapest shore excursion you'll find, but I find good value in what I get.

The next time you're considering tours and nothing jumps out at you, perhaps a resort pass might be the best choice.

A balcony stateroom is one of the most popular types of cabins on any cruise ship, and it's a great choice on Wonder of the Seas.

As one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas has quickly become one of the top choices for a cruise vacation. When the ship debuted in 2022, I spent two weeks in a balcony cabin to experience this type of room for myself.

While I've stayed in plenty of balcony rooms on other Royal Caribbean ships, I came away impressed with how the cruise line has continued to improve on this core cabin type.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide

The reason I tend to book a balcony cabin the most is for the balance of space and amenities. It has more living space than an inside room, and it comes with a private balcony without paying a lot more for it in a suite.

I stayed in room 10552, which is a category 4D Ocean View Balcony cabin. This means my room is located on deck 10, and has a private bathroom, balcony, and room for up to two guests.

It connects with cabin 10550.

Here's a look around what this cabin looks like, and what you can expect in a similar room.

For $2,409.94, I spent seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom that sailed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nassau, Bahamas, Labadee, Haiti, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The ship has 2,867 staterooms. My room was towards the center of deck ten.

The best thing about booking a balcony cabin is the fact you have a private balcony that allows in natural light and fresh air. It's not nearly as expensive as a suite, but a step above inside rooms.

My room measured 182 square feet, and that is just enough space for two people to be comfortable for a week on the ship.

As you walk in, there is a keycard slot to put your card (or any card) to activate the electricity in the cabin. 

While it's meant to save energy when not in the room, most people tend to just stick any card they have in there to keep the air conditioning running during the warm summer months.

Royal Caribbean has mastered how to maximize the small space with more storage than ever, especially compared to older cruise ships.

A sitting area has a large mirror, along with a desk and chair.  There are USB and power outlets to keep everything charged here.

The sitting area is quite useful in terms of being somewhere you can work, eat, prep yourself, and have access to charging outlets. Power outlets used to be very few on cruise ships, but new ships come with many more outlets.

Across from the desk is a couch. I find the couch ends up being a collection location for bags, shirts, and souvenirs, but once in a while I clear off enough of it to actually use to sit on.

Next to the couch is a rather large closet, full of hangers, shelving and a safe.

Just like the outlets, there's so much more storage space in this balcony cabin than in a similar room on an older ship. In fact, the amount of storage space on Wonder of the Seas' standard cabins rivals suites on older ships.

Every cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship has its own bathroom, and on Wonder of the Seas Royal Caribbean made a subtle change to the bathroom door.

The bathroom door is magnetized, so it shuts on its own when it gets close to closing.

The bathroom has a stand up shower, sink, and toilet.

The king-size bed is actually two twin beds pushed together. All Royal Caribbean cabins come in this configuration, but you can ask your stateroom attendant to split the beds if you'd like.

There is a nightstand on both sides of the bed, with a lamp and additional charging ports and power outlets.

Across from the bed is a large flat-screen TV with storage hooks below.

The private balcony is accessible from a sliding glass door.

The balcony is large enough for two people to enjoy, as it comes with with chairs and a table.  Having your own balcony means you have a great spot for sailaway, watching the sunset, or taking in the scenery while in port.

The balcony measures 50 square feet, and that adds a considerable amount of living space to the total room.

A balcony cabin is the most popular type of cruise ship cabin, because it has just enough living space to feel comfortable. You won't confuse it with a suite, but compared to an inside room, it's so nice having more area to enjoy.

Plus, the balcony is such a nice area. My wife really enjoys going out to read a book on it.

I don't always book the same class of ship cabin on every cruise, but I tend to book an oceanview balcony most often and I never regret the choice!

Cruises are known for offering an impressive value in a vacation. Food, accommodation, onboard activities, and transportation to various ports is included in guests’ cruise fares, and this is what draws millions of people, including myself, to book cruises every year.

Last month I cruised to the South Pacific from Sydney, Australia, and I spent ten days aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.

Because it was my first time cruising from Australia, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of my cruise budget, but I hoped I could keep costs relatively low while still maximizing my vacation experience.

In total, I spent $3,214 for my cruise vacation. Here’s what everything cost, from my $1,273 flight to $230 catamaran tour.

*All prices are in US Dollar (USD) unless otherwise noted

I paid $1,009 for my cruise fare, which included all taxes, fees, and gratuities

I booked my South Pacific cruise nearly a year in advance. This meant prices were significantly cheaper than if I had booked just a few weeks or months before the departure date.

For a 10-night cruise, my interior cabin came out to just $2,018, which included all taxes, fees, and gratuities for two guests. As one of my friends joined me on the sailing, we paid just $1,009 each. This was a steal for a 10-night itinerary, bringing the nightly cost to just around $100 per person.

Flying to Australia is not necessarily cheap, but I found prices relatively reasonable. For a round trip flight on Delta from Los Angeles to Sydney, I paid $1,273. I booked the flight around three months before my cruise.

In addition to my flight, I spent around $45 on roundtrip transportation from Sydney’s airport to the city center. While I took the train into the city upon arrival, I decided on an Uber on the way back as it was more convenient with luggage, albeit more expensive.

I spent the night in Sydney before my cruise, and I spent $200 total for a hotel room

It’s always recommended to arrive in your cruise departure city the day before your cruise begins. This allows you to have extra wiggle room in case your flight gets delayed or canceled.

Most flights from the United States to Australia depart at night and arrive in Sydney in the morning. However, because of the time difference between the two countries, you will usually arrive two calendar days after your flight departs.

Related: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise

If your flight leaves Los Angeles at 10:30 PM on November 20, for example, you will not arrive in Sydney until the morning of November 22. Be sure to account for this when planning flights to Australia.

Regardless of when you arrive, you will need to book a pre-cruise hotel for the night before your cruise. I spent $200 to stay at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, which was located near the city’s Chinatown neighborhood. While the hotel was not the most luxurious in Sydney—consider the Hilton, Four Seasons, or Shangri-La for a more upscale experience—it provided a comfortable stay before heading to the cruise port the following morning.

I only spent $75 while onboard, but I had $50 onboard credit

One of the aspects I enjoy most about cruising is the fact that you can board a ship and, if you wish, spend absolutely nothing extra while onboard.

When I cruise, I try to stay relatively frugal on the ship. Because I receive five free drinks a day through Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, I rarely spend extra on beverages. And, if I choose to dine at specialty restaurants, I tend to do so for lunch instead of dinner for the lower cover charges.

On my Brilliance of the Seas cruise, I only spent $75 total on top of my cruise fare during my ten days onboard.

On the first evening of the sailing I dined at Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean’s steakhouse, and the cover charge was $50. However, because I had a buy one, get one free deal through my Diamond Plus status, I split the cost with my friend, bringing our meal to just $25 each.

Related: 45 easy ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Additionally, I spent $50 at the casino throughout my cruise, but I spent it far too quickly than I would have liked. After realizing luck was not in my favor, I chose to avoid the casino for the rest of the trip.

By the end of the cruise I had only spent around $75. I dined primarily at the ship’s complimentary venues and attended free activities, which made it easy to keep my expenditure so low.

Additionally, I received $50 onboard credit by booking my sailing through MEI Travel, effectively bringing my overall cost onboard to just $25!

In total, I spent $522 on shore excursions, something out of the ordinary for my cruising style

I rarely book shore excursions in cruise ports. After too many crowded, overly touristy shore excursions, I almost always prefer to explore ports on my own or hire a private guide instead.

Yet when planning my South Pacific cruise, I realized I had no idea how to spend my days in port. I had never been to that region of the world before, and some of the ports, such as Luganville, Vanuatu, are so infrequently visited by cruise ships that I could not find updated information online about the ports.

On our first stop in Lifou, I rented a bicycle for $30 and spent another $7 on an entry ticket to Kiki Beach, one of the most extraordinary beaches I’ve ever seen.

For the following two days in Luganville and Port Vila, Vanuatu, I booked a spot on a private tour of the islands, spending $65 and $105, respectively.

Related: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

Then, in Mystery Island, I split a private cabana rental for $55 per person and took an hour-long day tour of a nearby island for $30.

Finally, my day in Noumea was the most expensive yet, as I signed up for a spot on a private catamaran charter. For $230 per person, myself and seven other passengers spent a day sailing around New Caledonia’s stunning coastline and small islands.

Normally, I would never consider spending $230 for an eight hour excursion in port, but living in luxury for a few hours on a private catamaran—with food and rosé included—was entirely worth the cost.

While in port, I also spent $40 on food and drinks

Even though there is endless food included in your cruise fare onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, I always like to try at least a taste of local cuisine in each port. During my five port days, I spent $40 extra on food and drinks not included in my shore excursions.

In Lifou, I spent $10 on kava, a plant native to the region that is made into a beverage. The drink is a natural drug that can elevate your mood and increase relaxation. Although I’m certainly not advocating trying new drugs when you cruise, tasting kava is a right of passage when cruising to the South Pacific!

Unfortunately, the drink tastes like mud, and I could hardly drink it. I even tried a second cup a few days later on Mystery Island ($10), and it was just as rancid.

Nonetheless, it was an interesting cultural experience.

Aside from kava, I spent another $20 on miscellaneous food and drinks, including a delightful omelet and rice dish on Santo Island and passion fruit cocktails on Mystery Island.

After the cruise I stayed in Sydney one more night, which cost me $100 after discounts

I cruised to Australia with a friend who lives in the United Kingdom. Because we don’t see each other often, we decided to spend another night together in Sydney before returning home.

I decided to “splurge” on a hotel stay at the 5-star Shangri-La Sydney, and I booked a room for $300. However, I was able to use a hotel credit through my American Express card, giving me $200 off the room.

Related: I'm a budget cruiser. Here are 8 easy strategies I used on my recent Royal Caribbean cruise to save money

In addition to the $200 discount, I received a $150 AUD credit to use at the hotel, so my friend and I enjoyed cocktails at the hotel’s bar, which featured a stunning view of Sydney Harbour.

In total, I spent $3,214 for my cruise vacation, which included my cruise fare, airfare, hotels, and all shore excursions

Vacation budgets can vary greatly from person to person, but I found my 10-night cruise on Brilliance of the Seas to be surprisingly affordable.

When I first started planning a cruise from Australia, I expected to spend far more than $3,000 for the vacation. I assumed airfare alone would cost me $2,000, and the cruise fare might cost another $2,000 per person on top of that.

Yet I managed to stay within—even below—my initial budget, and I never felt limited during the cruise. I was able to book several shore excursions, try local food in port, and enjoy food and drinks on the ship without blowing my budget.

If I tried to visit the exotic islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu on my own, I surely would have spent far more on flights and hotels in each destination. If anything, my cruise to Australia and the South Pacific was just another example of the incredible value a cruise vacation can offer.

Merry Christmas! The holidays are here, and so is our weekly round up of the articles and news we shared about Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean is ending its partnership with Ben & Jerry's ice cream this year.

In an announcement to travel agents, the cruise line announced that they will be removing all Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shops onboard its cruise ships.

"Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Shop onboard 13 of our ships will be moo-ving out and making way for something sweeter," the announcement read, stating that December 15th was the last date to taste Ben and Jerry’s ice cream onboard.

Royal Caribbean will be replacing the brand with its own in-house Ice Cream parlor.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean in talks to buy hotel resort in Freeport Bahamas, report says
• Royal Caribbean names greatest soccer player ever as its "icon" for new Icon of the Seas cruise ship
• 8 advantages of booking a suite on your next cruise
• 11 cruise fees you should know about before booking
• Can you bring weed on a cruise?
• Wonder of the Seas vs Symphony of the Seas
• What is a cabin steward on a cruise?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 520th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

This week, we’re responding to listener emails! From Matt’s most recommended cruises to traveling with babies, check out this episode to hear all your questions answered. 

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.

You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or RSS.

Video: 8 Reasons Why Upgrading is Worth It for Your Cruise

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Check out the link to view our latest video: 8 Reasons Why Upgrading is Worth It for Your Cruise

The best time to book cruises by day, month, and last-minute

Is there a secret scoop on the best time to book your cruise?

The truth is, waiting for that special moment is a mistake. The best time to book your cruise is when you see a price that fits your budget and needs.

Industry prices can change by the minute, with no specific pattern. Travel agents have also confirmed that there isn’t any best day of the week to book a cruise.

However, cruise lines often offer promotions around major holidays and “Wave Season,” which runs from January to March.

In the end, it’s most important to seize the deals that align with your needs rather than waiting for a specific time.

I took my first cruise alone and did these 7 things to make solo cruising more fun and less lonely

Taking a solo cruise sounds intimidating, but there’s no reason to be afraid.

Some opportunities are worth taking, even if you have to do it alone.

Calista felt nervous before her first solo cruise, but through the experience, she was able to develop helpful strategies. 

She lists seven tips she tried to make the experience more enjoyable and less lonely.

From making conversation onboard to staying connected online, she was able to minimize feelings of isolation and enjoy the cruising experience. 

The extra step you should take before your cruise for the fastest way on a ship

You’ve spent weeks planning and packing, and embarkation day is finally here.

As you enter the cruise terminal, the last thing you want is a delay before you can finally get onboard.

To get onto your ship the fastest, don’t forget this pivotal step!

The Royal Caribbean app facilitates your boarding process, and the line is now testing a new Express Boarding option. 

This express option, being launched in PortMiami, will reward passengers who complete all necessary pre-boarding tasks on the app. Most important of all: taking the right selfie.

7 things I liked better about Royal Caribbean cruises than Carnival

The debate runs deep—and everyone has their own preferences—but is Royal Caribbean really better than Carnival?

Elizabeth has always been faithful to Royal Caribbean but recently tried two Carnival cruises for the first time.

While she enjoyed her cruises on Carnival’s Celebration and Vista, there were some aspects of Royal Caribbean’s experience that she still craved.

Beginning with the digital embarkation process and continuing to faster Main Dining Room service, she shares everything that Royal Caribbean did better.