Royal Caribbean Blog

Deciding between a balcony cabin and a Junior Suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Here’s what you need to know to make the best choice.

Royal Caribbean's cabins come in many configurations, and there are pros and cons to each. You can find great value with an inside cabin, look for the perks of a suite, or find comfort in a balcony. Everyone picks a room for different reasons.

The Junior Suites on Royal Caribbean fall into a blend of both balcony and suite, and it is difficult to make a general rule why you might pick it over a balcony cabin.

The reason choosing between a balcony or Junior Suite is challenging is because of how close in nature they are and because the price gap can be so different depending on the sailing you pick.

Not only that you could also be choosing between moving up to a Junior Suite or even going further and booking a Grand Suite.

On my Serenade of the Seas 7-night cruise to Canada and New England, I decided to book a Junior Suite and spend right around $1200 more to move up to a Junior Suite and I think it was worth it.

Key Takeaways

• Junior Suites are nearly double the size of standard balcony cabins, providing extra comfort and room to move.
• Enjoy additional benefits like a full-size tub, walk-in closet, priority boarding, and more Crown and Anchor points.
• The price difference varies significantly by sailing, making it essential to weigh the benefits against the additional expense.
• Ideal for those who value space, comfort, and extra amenities, especially on longer cruises or when traveling with more than two people.

Room differences

I'm fond of describing a Junior Suite as, "an extra large balcony room" because in many ways it boils down to that.

Most balcony cabins on Serenade of the Seas will have 179 square feet of living space and a 41 square foot balcony.

The Junior Suite comes in at 300 square feet and 65 square feet of balcony space. That's not quite double, but it's close to it.

If you're sharing the cabin with one other person, the Junior Suite can feel palatial in terms of how much extra space you have to walk around. It's noticeable when you try to get around the other person without having to shimmy or slip by them.

I think a lot of people that book Junior Suites love the bathroom configuration, as you'll get a full-size tub instead of the standard shower.

The balcony is also larger, and if you spend a lot of time on your balcony, then there's a good reason to move up to a Junior Suite. Having not just chairs but a lounger makes it feel like a spot you would want to spend time in, and there's enough room on the balcony that it feels like a big space.

One other difference with a Junior Suite is there is a walk-in closet.  On Royal Caribbean's older ships that don't have as much storage space as newer ships, it's so nice having plenty of closet space.

Like all cabins, you'll get a mini fridge, safe, vanity sitting area, and storage space.

What you get for staying in a Junior Suite

While not a full suite, you do get certain perks for booking a Junior Suite.

• An extra point per night in Crown and Anchor Society
• Priority boarding
• Dinner at Coastal Kitchen on Oasis Class and Quantum class ships
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Bathtub
• Walk-in closet

What I liked about my Junior Suite

Walking into my Junior Suite on Serenade of the Seas, I was immediately struck by the width of the room. If you've never been in a Junior Suite, you will immediately notice how much bigger it is.

The room isn't actually that much longer, but it's certainly wider.  There's more space to walk when moving past the bed, and then there's a sofa, table, and chair and ottoman.

I really loved the chair and ottoman much more than I thought I would, and it was the perfect spot to get work done while being comfortable.

I also found the shower to be much more enjoyable because it's not the usual "space tube" shower.  I'm sure those that prefer having a tub will find it even more important.

Then there's the balcony, and I find I spend so much more time on my balcony when it's not very hot outside. Being this was an October cruise to Canada, heat was not an issue.

We stayed in the two bedroom panoramic oceanview suite on Serenade last year when sailing to Alaska, and it lacked a balcony in favor of windows.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Alaska guide

In retrospect, I much rather prefer the balcony now because I like having the fresh air, sound of the ocean, and being able to peek my head over the balcony railing to see what's coming up.

I would be remiss if I did not talk about the fact it's not really a suite, so there's no Suite Lounge access or Concierge host benefits.

This doesn't bother me much on this sailing because I was with a large group of friends sailing on a Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise, so I wouldn't want to spend much time in the Suite Lounge anyway.

However, you still get two Crown and Anchor Points per day for staying in a Junior Suite, which makes it an easy way to move up the ladder of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program.

Cost difference

I don't think any factor weighs as much in if it's worth it to book a Junior Suite than how much more it will cost.

You can wax poetically all about why it's worth booking any cabin, but money is what makes the world go 'round and it's a major reason for anyone to pick a cabin.

The cost difference between a standard oceanview balcony and a Junior Suite on this sailing was $1258.

My Junior Suite cost $4181 for two people, including gratuities and it was a refundable cruise fare. My price dropped to $3913 when my wife was dropped from the reservation because she could not sail.

Someone else on my cruise staying in an oceanview balcony paid $2655 for two people in their room.

The cost difference will vary considerably for every cruise, and sometimes the price gap is negligible, and other times it's substantial.

So why did I think it was worth spending extra?

Ultimately, I valued the space it provided and because at the time of booking, I thought it would be a cruise for just me and my wife and why not splurge a little bit to get a bigger room.

I'll spend extra when my kids cruise with us, but I have a tendency to assume if it's just me or my wife, that we don't need a lot of space.

Given that I knew the itinerary would be new and not hot outside, I thought a balcony was necessary.  Having a larger balcony was equally interesting.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt a Junior Suite was an affordable splurge. I certainly could have saved the money and used it towards something else, but I wanted to treat my wife to something bigger than a balcony without going up to a suite.

Is a Junior Suite worth it?

Depending on your sailing, the price difference will vary considerably.

The extra space, double Crown and Anchor Society points, and tub shower are nice perks to have. Just like any larger cabin, when you get onboard and have the extra space, you'll likely forget about the bill you paid a few months earlier.

The primary decision for most is the cost. The difference can be just a few hundred dollars or up to thousands.

The decision can be more worthwhile to move up to a Junior Suite if you have more than two people in a cabin. This is when that extra space can really come in handy.

It can also be worth it to book a Junior Suite if you're chasing Crown and Anchor points.  Getting an extra point per night makes it easier to get to the higher tiers faster.

Ultimately, I compare the price of a Junior Suite to a balcony and then think about who I'm sharing the room with, the itinerary, and if I think I'll spend a lot of time in the room or not.

Cruise ship cabins are notoriously small, so unless you splurge for a suite or balcony, personal space may be at a premium in your stateroom.

If you’d like to save your money but still enjoy your cabin experience, it’s time to get creative. Many cruisers have created innovative hacks for optimizing the tiny cabin space on a cruise ship. 

Read more: 30 Cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love

A quick search on social media apps such as TikTok will show you thousands of ideas for making your cruise cabin experience more enjoyable. 

Many cruisers try to make the most of their small cabin experience. Therefore, these clever cruise hacks tend to go viral and can help you enjoy your cruise.

One particular cabin hack, posted by user HappyGoLiving, has gained millions of views and thousands of likes on TikTok. 

This hack only requires magnetic hooks and a blackout curtain to turn any cruise cabin into a more private, secluded area.

HappyGoLiving shares that she recently went on a Holland America cruise. She traveled with a friend who prefers to get up early in the morning while on vacation, while HappyGoLiving likes to sleep in. 

To solve their differences, HappyGoLiving decided to use magnetic hooks and blackout curtains to build a secluded fort in the cruise cabin. 

Creating a dark space can be perfect for light sleepers or those sharing a cabin with cruisers who use a different sleep schedule. 

Here’s what you need to do this cruise hack and whether we think the strategy is too much trouble or worth it.

Read more: 30 Cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love

Start by buying magnetic hooks and blackout curtains before your cruise 

While preparing and packing for your cruise, you will first want to purchase magnetic hooks to bring onboard.

Magnetic hooks will cling to the stateroom’s walls, typically made of steel.

If you’re a frequent cruiser, these magnetic hooks will be a helpful investment. 

Small magnetic hooks can optimize your cabin space by allowing you to hang items on your walls. 

Cruisers love to bring magnetic hooks because you can place them directly on the wall to hang up jackets, bags, hearts, and umbrellas. 

If you are a frequent cruiser and would like to organize your cabin space, it is a good idea to invest in magnetic hooks.

To make this cruise hack happen, HappyGoLiving purchased magnetic hooks with swivel carabiners, which allowed her to clip the magnets onto the loops of the blackout curtains. This ensured that she could hang them while the hooks clung to the metal walls. 

HappyGoLiving explained that she purchased blackout curtains to serve as temporary walls for the second part of the cruise hack. 

To complete this hack, you want to make sure you have curtains that are long enough to fall from the floor to the ceiling of the stateroom. Most cruise cabins have a height of 7’6”, so keep this in mind while choosing your curtain length.

If you already have blackout curtains at home, feel free to bring those along on your cruise and save money. If you don’t, try to purchase ones that are around 90” long, such as these blackout curtains from Amazon. 

Next, loop the magnetic hooks through the blackout curtains to hang from the cabin ceiling

In her viral TikTok, HappyGoLiving shows how she looped each magnet hook through the curtain holes. 

Since she purchased carabiner hooks, HappyGoLiving could clip each one into the blackout curtain loops. 

After clipping each curtain hole with a magnetic hook, she stuck each magnet to the cabin ceiling.

HappyGoLiving also wrote that the magnets were strong enough for her to hook every other hole in the curtain, so you may only need a few hooks to complete this.

As she hung the curtains, she worked on one side of the bed and made her way to the other, hanging each hook one by one. 

If you want to create a cocoon around your bed, you will want the curtains to loop around it for privacy.

After all of the hooks are on the ceiling, HappyGoLivingshows shows the end result of an enclosed private space around the cruise bed. 

She commented that she packed three curtains but would have been better off with five. Consider bringing at least four curtain panels to cover the entire space around your bed.

You’ll be able to sleep soundly in your cabin by hanging the curtains around your bed, thanks to the blackout quality. 

The curtains will block any light from your window or balcony and any disturbances from your travel partner if they go to bed later or wake up earlier than you. 

This also allows you to have your own space to get ready in the morning and change without using the bathroom. 

It is important to note that this cruise hack works best if you select to split your bed into two twin beds. 

You can request separate beds by filling out the Google Form Royal Caribbean will email out a few days before your cruise.

Read more: 15 Things To Do As Soon as You Get to Your Cruise Cabin

Some TikTok users thought this hack wasn’t worth the trouble, but others said it was a genius idea

Many users in the comment section of the viral TikTok praised this clever cruise hack. 

One Tiktok user, Taylor, commented: “I worked on a ship for 7 months. WHY did I not think of this.” 

Another user, Stephy Lynn, thought this cruise hack was clever: “I love this for privacy for changing clothes without having to steal the washroom from everyone.”

Some even pointed out this could be an excellent hack for families traveling with babies or small children. Another parent shared that having a private space like this would work well for her upcoming cruise, as she plans to travel with her teenage son, who prefers his own space.

Some commenters even pointed out that this hack is a great idea for families traveling with babies, small children, or just a large group. 

TikTok user Mel commented, “This is genius for a sleeping baby/toddler on a cruise.” 

Another parent shared that having a private space like this works well for an upcoming cruise with her teenage son, who prefers his own space.

However, some users felt purchasing and packing the supplies would be too much of a hassle. 

One of the top comments on the Tiktok is from user Meredith Roberts, who states: “I typically just go with an eye mask.”

Some agreed with her comment, while others responded they could not sleep with eye masks. Users said they can't sleep with eye masks on: it feels uncomfortable, crushes their lashes, or doesn’t stay on while they are sleeping.

Some commenters responded that this hack takes up too much luggage space.

“Who has room in their suitcase for grommet curtains?” user7318110758522 wrote. 

This is a fair point since you would need to pack magnetic hooks and at least two long curtains—or five, according to the Tiktok creator.

Cruisers with limited luggage space may struggle to find room to pack the supplies needed for this hack. 

Creator HappyGoLiving clarified that she lives in Miami, so she is able to pack heavily for the short drive to the nearby cruise port.

One user also questioned why someone would want to make their small cabin feel smaller by spacing off areas with this hack.

Another commenter pointed out that this hack could confuse the cabin cleaning staff when they enter the room.

HappyGoLiving shared that she took down the hooks and folded up the curtains each morning, only implementing this hack when it was time for bed. 

Is this viral cruise hack worth it?

Ultimately, you might still wonder whether this hack is worth the money, space, and preparation necessary to pack the supplies for your upcoming cruise.

Several aspects should come into consideration as you’re deciding this.

Are you driving or flying to your cruise port?

If you’re driving to your port, like the creator of this TikTok hack, you may have more luggage space available. You won’t be limited to airline luggage restrictions, so you can pack a larger suitcase and fit in those magnetic hooks and blackout curtains.

However, if you’re flying, you may want to reconsider. You will have to keep to specific airline requirements and may have to pay extra for that larger checked bag and any overweight bags.

You should also decide how much you want to spend to make this hack happen. If you already own blackout curtains, you will only need to purchase the carabiner hooks, which will only cost $10-$20, depending on how many you buy.

However, if you need extra blackout curtains, you might spend $40-$50, depending on which type you choose and how many panels you need.

Is spending up to $80 for extra privacy in your cruise cabin? That’s up to you to determine. 

Another consideration is the type of cabin you choose for your cruise. If you’re a light sleeper and easily woken up by natural light, a windowless inside cabin is the best (and cheapest!) option for you and also negates the need for blackout curtains to block any natural light.

If you don’t opt for a windowless cabin, you could try an eye mask to block the light.

However, some people don’t like the feeling of an eye mask, and you won’t have a private area in your cabin if you skip this hack.

However, if you prefer to sleep in while others in your cabin get up early—or if you stay up late while they try, this cruise hack might still be worth a try.

Also, those traveling with small children might find this hack particularly useful. With the hooks and curtains, you can section off a portion of the cabin for babies and toddlers. 

Having a dark, private space for the children to sleep in helps everyone get some peace and quiet!

Whether or not it’s something you decide to try out, you have to admit that this is an innovative cruising hack for your cabin.
 

It looks like a new water slide might be coming to Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas.

Inside Royal Caribbean's waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay, new construction has appeared recently that looks like a waterslide support tower.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Bobby Southard visited Thrill Waterpark over the weekend and noticed the new pole.

The new pole is located near the family tower of water slides, which already has three slides: Sling Shot family raft slide, Splash Speedway mat slide, and Twister tube ride.

Royal Caribbean has not announced any new slides being added to its waterpark yet.

The new pole and its arms look identical to the existing slide support poles.

"None of the new slide has actually been installed yet, just a pole with arms and you can see piping going up the structure," Mr. Southard described of the work being done.

There is also more of the unassembled slide support structure visible from the waterslides when looking towards the backstage area.

About Thrill waterpark

Thrill Waterpark is an extra-cost option for guests that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. Only those that buy a ticket can get into this area and enjoy the slides.

Read more: 41 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips

As of today, there are 8 slides across to towers, along with a wave pool and obstacle course pool.

Thrill waterpark was added when Perfect Day at CocoCay opened in 2019.

The price of admission into the waterpark varies considerably depending on which ship and sail date you are on. Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing to set the cost.

Across a few cruises booked in 2024, the cost ranges between $89 - $169 per person.

Thrill Waterpark there are four main areas within the park itself.

Daredevil’s Tower is the signature waterslide tower that has five different slides, including Daredevil’s Peak, which is the tallest waterslide in North America at 135 feet high.

Splash Summit is the other waterslide tower where the new slide construction has been spotted. Splash Summit has mat racer slides, a two-person tube slide, and a family raft slide.

Adventure Pool is an obstacle course pool designed for kids that has lillypads, a rope swing, rock wall and more.

The wave pool generates waves that are intense in the deep end, and gentle in the shallow end.

Happy Sunday! We are so happy that you stopped by and hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Grab a mug of your favorite hot beverage, sit back, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean news.

Royal Caribbean announced it was recategorizing its cabin categories, including adding new room types rear-facing and sunset cabins.

Royal Caribbean’s goal with these changes is to simplify choices for travel agents, and to add new room types to appeal to many cruise fans. 

Several new stateroom options have been added: separated Triple and Quad occupancy staterooms (interior and oceanview), more high occupancy guarantee staterooms, and new Junior Suite and Balcony categories.  

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is helping the United States evacuate Americans from Israel
• New app features, Celebrity Cruises Black Friday offer, search results & more
• The simple trick to avoid thousands of dollars in cellphone charges on a cruise ship
• Here's when Royal Caribbean will put new 2025-2026 cruises on sale
• 17 of the worst ways people waste money on their cruise vacation
• I took my second cruise ever, and changed 7 things this time around
• 5 important things to do before new cruises are available to book
• Chops Grille review

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 516th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

In this episode, Matt previews his upcoming cruise on Serenade of the Seas. This will be his very first cruise to Canada and New England, so he is sharing everything planned for his trip next week.

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.

Video: Grading cruise tips from Reddit

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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! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Cruise expert grades cruise tips from Reddit — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Voyager of the Seas review: What it's like to cruise on Royal Caribbean's oldest Voyager Class ship

When Voyager of the Seas debuted in 1999, she turned the cruising world upside down. Voyager was the ship that introduced the idea of having an ice-skating rink at sea, rock climbing wall at sea, and indoor promenade.

However,  Voyager of the Seas is now Royal Caribbean’s oldest Voyager Class ship.

What is it like to sail on her in 2023? Angie recently went on a cruise out of Galveston, and reviews the ship’s amplifications, cabin, embarkation process, dining, activities, entertainment, and ports of call. 

What to bring on a cruise to Alaska? 8 things you'll want to take with you

If you are planning a cruise to Alaska, you may already know that preparing for this region will be different than preparing for other sailings. 

Even though a summer cruise may not be as cold as you would imagine, there are still nuances to planning a great cruise to Alaska.

You will certainly want to be prepared and make sure you have the best vacation possible at this once-in-a-lifetime destination. 

These are the eight most important things to pack with you on an Alaska cruise.

I took my first short cruise. Here's 7 things I liked and didn't like about my 3-night sailing

After taking a week-long first cruise, Calista decided to go ahead and try a shorter, 3-night cruise to see the difference between these two lengths.

The ship traveled from Miami, Florida, to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas over a weekend, embarking on Friday and disembarking on Monday.  

As with any aspect of cruising, there were pros and cons to choosing a shorter sailing. 

In this article, Calista examines the 7 things she liked and didn’t like about her first short cruise.

8 cruise ship shore excursions our readers tried and instantly regretted

Are you getting confused planning your next cruise’s shore excursions?

We’re here to make you feel better, as some of our readers had to learn their lessons these hard way.

Shore excursions are a major part of the cruise experience, and some can cost you a substantial amount of time and money.

No one wants to waste energy on a terrible tour, but there are always bad options out there.

Royal Caribbean Blog readers have had their own encounters with instantly regrettable shore excursions, and we’ve gone ahead and outlined the 8 worst experiences. 

50 best cruising with kids tips & secrets

If you're going on a cruise with kids, then we have all the best tips and tricks to help you have a fabulous cruise.

When you go on a cruise with your family, it can mean a mix of ages and even generations, and we wanted to focus on the sort of things families should know before they go on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Whether you are taking your own kids or going with someone else's, here are the top 50 best tips for cruising with kids on Royal Caribbean.

We have a look at some changes and updates Royal Caribbean has made or announced over the past few days.

From new options in Royal Caribbean's app, to a refreshed website, to a Black Friday offer, here’s everything you should know about this week.

New app update

Royal Caribbean rolled out a new update to its app, which adds a new features to it.

The app has a few new noteworthy icons you can now click to access more content without leaving the app.  It could be designed to make it less necessary to hop between the app and cruise line website, or it could be a way to simply elevate information and content cruisers may not have known existed.

There's a new Videos icon, which essentially showcases the same videos Royal Caribbean produces for its YouTube channel and marketing.

The app also has a Loyalty Hub to track and enroll in the Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program.

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

It explains how each tier works and what benefits you get with each.

Cruise searches look different

If you do a search for a new cruise booking on Royal Caribbean's website, you can expect to find a new look to it.

Royal Caribbean has periodically enhanced the look and feel of its search function, and it attempts to include more information related to your search in a concise manner.

Also, the ability to add a cruise to your watchlist is more explicit, whereas before it just had a heart icon.

The watchlist feature was added in December 2022, but it appears they want to provide more visibility to it.

The cruise line has indicated the amount of first time cruisers has never been higher, so making the search function easier to navigate is clearly a step in providing more information to them during the booking process.

Celebrity Cruises Black Friday offer

While we don't yet know Royal Caribbean's Black Friday offer, sister brand Celebrity Cruises has shared what to expect.

Celebrity Cruises will begin its Black Friday offer on November 10th, and it will run through December 5th.

Celebrity will have a BOGO 75% off a second guest as well as up to $300 in onboard credit for nearly all itineraries through April 30, 2026.

Royal Caribbean will almost certainly have a Black Friday sale of its own, but has not revealed any details yet. Check out all of their past Black Friday offers to get an idea of what to expect.

Royal Caribbean updates gift card policy

In case you missed it, Royal Caribbean gift cards just got much easier to use, thanks to a change in how to redeem them.

Gift cards are valid for both Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, and there are four ways to use your gift card value:

• Booking a new cruise on Royal Caribbean's website
• Calling Royal Caribbean and redeeming over the phone
• Working with a travel agent to book a new cruise
• Waiting to use it onboard and redeem as onboard credit.

Prior to sailing, gift card amounts can only be applied toward the cruise fare and may not be used for pre-payment of beverage packages, dining packages, shore excursions, pre-paid gratuities, etc. 

Check out all the details on how to use a Royal Caribbean gift card.

Wasting money is not on anyone’s agenda when planning a cruise, but unfortunately, thousands of passengers find themselves wasting money during their vacation.

Whether you’re a first-time or veteran cruiser, it can be challenging to navigate the ins and outs of going on a cruise. There is a lot included in your base cruise fare, but most guests onboard end up spending extra on add-ons like alcoholic beverages, shore excursions, and spa treatments.

What is “worth it” to one passenger may seem like a waste of money to another, but there are a few sure-fire ways to spend more than necessary. From purchasing forgotten items at onboard shops to buying photo packages, here are 17 of the worst ways people waste money on their cruise vacation.

Buying drinks without a drink package

Let’s say, for instance, a Deluxe Beverage Package costs $80 per day with gratuities added. With most cocktails priced around $16 each with gratuity added, you would have to drink around five drinks each day to break even.

Five drinks may seem steep, but when you consider how easy it is to enjoy a few drinks by the pool followed by a few glasses of wine at dinner, it’s not an unreasonable amount. In fact, many passengers find they drink far more than five alcoholic beverages a day on a cruise.

Related: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide

If you plan on imbibing all day, every day of your cruise, it would be a waste of money to purchase each drink individually. In this case, buying a drink package will allow you to enjoy unlimited beverages without raking up a massive bill by the end of your cruise.

Purchasing toiletries onboard

Forgot your toothpaste at home or your favorite bottle of shampoo? You’ll be able to purchase these items on your Royal Caribbean cruise, but it won’t come cheap. It’s not unheard of to pay $10 for a small bottle of Advil or $8 for a tub of toothpaste onboard!

Unfortunately, shopping options are limited while in the middle of the ocean. Royal Caribbean knows desperate passengers will pay whatever price is listed if they find themselves in need of these items.

To avoid paying high prices for basic necessities, try to remember packing everything in the first place. If you do forget an important toiletry item, see if you can find it at a pharmacy or shop in port before buying it onboard.

Reserving specialty restaurants individually instead of purchasing a dining package

Planning to dine at several of Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants? From Italian fare to hibachi, New England-style seafood, and a Brazilian steakhouse, there is a wide variety of specialty restaurants to choose from while onboard.

Specialty restaurants come with an extra charge, and there are two ways to book these meals. The first is by making restaurant reservations individually on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website or in the app. By doing this, you can select the date and time of your reservation months in advance.

The second way to book specialty restaurants is by reserving a dining package. Royal Caribbean offers several dining packages, from the Unlimited Dining Package to the 3-night Dining Package. With a dining package, you cannot book dining reservations until you board the ship.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package

Booking restaurants individually ensures you can better plan your dining times, but it comes with one major con: a higher price. In most cases, booking a Royal Caribbean dining package means you can save money at specialty restaurants, as the price of the package is cheaper than booking reservations individually.

Therefore, if you plan to dine at several specialty restaurants during your cruise, it’s recommended to purchase a dining package to save money in the long run.

Buying “local" souvenirs in port

Regardless of whether your cruise docks in Cozumel, Athens, or Phuket, you’re likely to see an abundance of souvenir shops once ashore. And while some souvenir shops may offer local, handmade artwork and trinkets, the majority will not.

Before spending $20 on a “handpainted” magnet or $50 on a piece of “local” jewelry, try to ensure the souvenir is actually worth the cost. More often than not, you’ll see every souvenir shop selling the same souvenirs that arrived in bulk from a factory in another country.

While you can find locally-made souvenirs in port, it takes some extra digging.

Losing a pool towel

Prone to forgetfulness? If so, be extra cautious with pool towels on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

While onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, passengers must scan their SeaPass card at a towel station to check out a towel. You are able to check out as many towels as you’d like, but there’s one catch: if you do not return a towel by the end of the cruise, each towel lost will incur a $25 charge.

Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to keep track of your pool towel onboard. We recommend returning your pool towels after each day of use. Having fewer towels checked out at once will help prevent any towel from becoming lost.

Not bringing their own drinks onboard

Each guest on a Royal Caribbean cruise can bring a certain number of drinks with them on embarkation day. By doing so, passengers can save money by avoiding purchasing these beverages onboard.

Each guest of drinking age is permitted to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne to the cruise terminal on embarkation day. Passengers may also bring up to twelve standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles, or cartons of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroom, such as soda and sports drinks.

Related: 30 Do’s and Don’ts for the first day of your cruise

If you enjoy drinking wine or soda but did not purchase a drink package, you’ll almost certainly waste money by buying these drinks individually. Plus, if you prefer a certain type of wine or soda, there’s no guarantee your preference will be available on the ship.

Spending too much time in the casino

It goes without saying, but you’re more likely to waste money than win money in the casino on Royal Caribbean. Although there’s nothing wrong with spending a few evenings gambling onboard, it’s better to go in with the mindset that you may lose money.

Of course, there is always the possibility of winning money onboard. It’s not unheard of for passengers to win thousands of dollars gambling on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Like any casino, though, you shouldn’t expect to strike it rich.

Only booking tours through the cruise line

Shore excursions are among the most popular add-ons to purchase for a cruise vacation, but keep your options open. Even though booking tours through the cruise line is convenient, booking a similar excursion through an independent tour operator can be a lot cheaper.

Related: 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

Before booking the first shore excursion you see, do some research. Browse websites like GetYourGuide, Viator, and TripAdvisor to see a wider range of tours available. Although booking through an independent tour operator will not offer the same protections as booking directly through Royal Caribbean, many passengers prefer the lower prices and wider range of options.

Thinking a shore excursion is always necessary

Speaking of shore excursions, another way people waste money on their cruise is by booking an excursion in every port.

When planning a cruise—especially as a first-time cruiser—it can be tempting to book an organized tour in every port of call. After all, if you’ve never been to a particular destination, a shore excursion is an easy way to visit the area’s highlights.

Nonetheless, shore excursions are not always necessary, and some passengers almost never book tours in port. Depending on where your cruise ship visits, it may be easier to explore on your own rather than book an excursion.

This is especially true in smaller ports, where the main attractions are within walkable distance to the cruise port. Skagway, Alaska, as an example, boasts more than enough to do without spending anything extra on a tour or ground transportation, and you’ll find similar scenarios in many European cruise ports.

Related: 16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions

Before spending hundreds on a tour of every port, research low-cost activities instead. You may be surprised to find enough to do without an organized excursion.

Using the ATM onboard

All Royal Caribbean cruise ships are equipped with an ATM, but withdrawing money from the machine can come with a hefty $6 fee per transaction.

One way to combat this is by using a debit or credit card that does not charge for ATM fees. In many cases, these cards will initially charge you and then reimburse any applicable fees at the end of the month.

While an ATM fee isn't huge, those small amounts can quickly add up.

Purchasing art at art auctions

Think twice before bidding on that $5,000 piece of artwork on your cruise.

Art auctions are a notorious activity on cruise ships, and they are extremely controversial. They promise a stellar investment on an original piece, and many passengers fall for the trap of spending way too much money on these paintings.

Related: What should you not buy on a cruise ship?

Although browsing the artwork can be fun—and the free champagne at the auction is a nice touch—bidding on artwork is arguably one of the worst ways people waste money on a cruise.

Forgetting to put their phone in airplane mode

As soon as your ship sails away from port, be sure to put your phone into airplane mode. Even if your cell phone coverage includes international service, it will not include roaming coverage from a cruise ship.

A simple call to friends and family back home while at sea could quickly result in a $100+ phone bill. Additionally, if you don’t have any international coverage at all, taking your phone off airplane mode while in port can see similarly high charges.

Avoid wasting money on this unnecessary expense and remember to always put your phone into airplane mode while onboard. If you need to connect to the internet on a cruise, purchase a wifi package instead.

Read more: The simple trick to avoid thousands of dollars in cellphone charges on a cruise ship

Buying professional photos

It’s impossible to miss the photographers onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise; they walk around the ship and set up backdrops hoping to capture that picture-perfect image of your vacation.

These photographers will, more than likely, ask you to pose for a photo. Having a photo taken does not cost anything extra, but purchasing the professional photos comes with a steep charge.

An individual, 8x10 photo print on a Royal Caribbean cruise costs around $20. Photo packages are available to reserve in advance, but these aren’t cheap either, with a package of twenty photos priced at over $160.

There’s nothing wrong with purchasing a professional photo by which you can remember your cruise vacation, but modern phones can take pictures with excellent quality. If you’re cruising on a budget, it’s best to just use your phone’s camera instead.

If you're a Diamond member or above in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, however, you get one free photo.

Only reserving massages on the ship

You’ll find the Vitality Spa on every cruise ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. While offerings may vary slightly from ship to ship, you can expect to see services such as standard massages, stone therapy, thermal suites, and facials available to reserve.

Spa treatments on Royal Caribbean are not cheap, with most 70 minute massages priced at over $200 per guest.

Depending on your travel style, a spa treatment may or may not be viewed as a waste of money. That being said, weigh your other options before booking a massage on the ship.

At some ports, you may be able to find massages priced much lower than onboard. Plenty of beach clubs in popular ports like Cozumel and Costa Maya, for example, offer in-house spa treatments for around half the price as onboard offerings.

If you’re flexible with massage options, booking a treatment in port can help you avoid wasting extra money onboard.

Buying bottled water onboard

Some cruisers may swear by drinking the bottled water on a cruise ship, but in most cases, this is not only a waste of money, but worse for the environment, too.

Water on a Royal Caribbean cruise is safe to drink, and the cruise line provides unlimited glasses of water free of charge. Yet instead, plenty of passengers choose to purchase water bottles on the ship, which cost around $3 each.

Not only is drinking from plastic water bottles worse for the environment, but it’s a waste of money when considering you can enjoy unlimited water onboard anyway. And, even though bottled water is included in a drink package, it’s more environmentally friendly to bring a reusable water bottle and fill up the bottle from complimentary glasses of ice water instead.

Tipping twice

Certain onboard purchases come with an automatic, 18% gratuity charge, including drinks and spa and salon treatments. When you reserve a $167 spa treatment, you will pay around $30 in gratuities upon checkout.

Likewise, 18% gratuity is added to drinks like cocktails and coffee beverages, too—each $14 cocktail will actually cost over $16.

Related: Tipping on a cruise ship: what you should and shouldn’t do

Because you are already paying tips with these purchases, you shouldn't feel the need to tip extra once onboard for drinks, spa treatments, and dining. If you would like to give something extra to crew members, you’re always welcome to do so, but remember that you already paid gratuities for these services.

Waiting too long to book flights and hotels for the cruise

The last of the worst ways people waste money on their cruise vacation is by waiting too long to book flights and hotels before the cruise.

If you are not within driving distance of a cruise port, odds are you’ll be flying to the departure city. It’s best practice to buy flights as far in advance as you can to ensure you have the most options and see the lowest fares.

Far too often cruisers wait too long to purchase flights for their cruise and see that prices have raised dramatically. No one wants to pay hundreds of dollars more than another passenger on a plane, so booking flights early can, in most cases, save you money.

Hotels are another pre-cruise expense that should be booked early. You may be able to find cheap last-minute hotel deals, but this isn’t always guaranteed. To avoid spending more than necessary for a pre-cruise hotel, book the hotel as early as you can, especially when traveling during peak season.

There might be a good reason to buy a Royal Caribbean gift certificate now. 

Royal Caribbean sent an email update advertising its gift cards, which now offer easier ways to redeem the cards.

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean's gift cards/certificates had stringent redemption rules that made that impractical.

With the old cards, you had to redeem them many weeks before your cruise began, and couldn't be redeemed onboard the ship.

With the new change, the Royal Caribbean Gift Card is a pre-paid gift card similar to a gift certificate. It is valid for both Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises.

There are four ways to redeem them:

• On the Royal Caribbean website
• By calling the cruise line at 866-562-7625
• Through your travel agent
• On sailings where the onboard currency is USD (most sailings except China), gift cards can be used onboard as payment toward your onboard expense account. 

At this time, gift cards cannot be used towards pre-cruise purchases such as shore excursions, beverage packages, internet, etc.

Gift Cards cannot be redeemed for cash or quasi-cash (for example, gaming chips, money orders, deposits, wire transfers, traveler’s checks, foreign currency, and similar items).

The funds on these gift cards don’t expire, but if the card’s full value hasn’t been used within nine years from the date of purchase, you will need to contact customer service to transfer the remaining funds to a new gift card number.

Anyone can use the card because your name does not appear on the card. You may use it yourself or give it to anyone you choose. It's imperative you guard the number, as anyone can use it.

How to buy a Royal Caribbean gift card

The can buy purchased online at the Royal Caribbean website, as low as $50 and up to $2,000.

When purchasing the card, you have the option of buying it for yourself or for someone else.

Currently, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay and PayPal are accepted. Checks are not acceptable for the purchase of gift cards.

International purchases for gift cards are not available at this time. Gift card currency is restricted to USD.

Your gift card will be sent to the recipient via email on the delivery date you choose at the time of purchase. For same-day delivery, most gift cards are sent within an hour of your purchase. 

The recipient will receive a message on the delivery date you chose informing them of your gift, with a link to retrieve it online.

The link in the email leads to a page that shows the gift card you created — complete with the design you selected, the recipient’s name, the card’s value, card number and your personalized message. 

What can you buy with a gift card?

Royal Caribbean allows you to use its gift cards towards the balance of your cruise fare, or onboard the ship as a kind of onboard credit.

Read more: Royal Caribbean onboard credit

If you use it pre-cruise, then it goes towards your cruise fare.

However, if you wait to use it onboard, then it will be used as a credit against your onboard charges.

Is a gift card worth it?

With the simpler redemption rules, this makes a Royal Caribbean gift card more attractive as a way to help someone taking a cruise have some extra money to spend.

Under the old redemption rules, it made using the certificates cumbersome.

Given that the card can be used towards cruise fare or onboard purchases, it gives a great deal of flexibility with no fine print to hold you back.

Another advantage of a gift card is it makes it far easier for the recipient to use, and ensures the funds are used for a cruise vacation.  A cash gift could be used for anything.

If you're used to visiting the Caribbean, you will want to know what to bring on a cruise to Alaska that might be different from anywhere else.

Having cruised to the last frontier, I quickly learned that there's a different approach to packing for an Alaska cruise.

You likely already know planning for a cruise to this region is different than other sailings. And while a summer cruise up to Alaska will not be frigid or even as far north as you might imagine, there are nuances to planning a great cruise.

A good mantra for any traveler is to be prepared, and you certainly don't want to get to Alaska only to realize you should have brought something truly important. Maybe it's something to enhance your trip, or it could be a real game-changing tool. In either case, learning about what you need now can save time.

While we have a comprehensive Alaska cruise packing list, I thought about the things that you really should consider bringing that would not be obvious. Here's my list of eight important things to bring with you to the 49th state.

Read more: 50 Best First Time Alaska cruise tips

You will find in this article links to products that we receive a small commission for when you purchase them. This costs you absolutely nothing extra, but the small commission helps support our site.  As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Binoculars

You'll be surrounded by nature's beauty throughout your Alaska cruise, and a pair of good binoculars can really make a difference.

From the bald eagles that are pretty much everywhere, to whale sightings, remote villages, and even bears, there is a lot to spot.  While you might be able to get a glimpse with the naked eye, having binoculars makes a world of difference.

Binoculars are so helpful for kids because they can really get a sense of detail when trying to view nature.  Adults can enjoy them too for the same reason, and with the benefit of having a little more patience to look around.

When you get close enough to see a glacier, binoculars are so important so that you can see the jagged edges of ice. Plus, the colors pop so much more when viewed closely.

Read more: Top 5 binoculars for an Alaska cruise

Waterproof and thermal insulated jacket

If you buy one piece of clothing for Alaska, it should be a light and insulating waterproof jacket.

The weather will change a lot during your cruise, even hourly, and you'll need to adjust to it.  And it will likely rain too, but because it changes so often, you will need the right clothing.

On my first cruise, I bought a Columbia 2-in-1 jacket that was insulated and also waterproof. The only thing worse than being wet and is being wet and cold!

You will likely hear about the importance of layering on an Alaska cruise, and the outermost layer should be a good all-weather jacket to keep you dry. Don't get something puffy or bulky. You want a jacket that can be easily folded up or tied around your waist when the sun comes back out later.

Read more: Alaska cruise outfits: ideas of what to wear

Waterproof shoes

I didn't think about my footwear when planning my first Alaska cruise, and I regretted not having waterproof shoes.

Not only can it rain, but you'll encounter puddles and damp trails in the towns you visit.  Plus, some of the terrain may be slippery or not paved.

It makes sense to get a pair of hiking shoes that are waterproof to keep your feet dry no matter where you go.  

I can deal with wet hair and even wet clothing, but wet feet turn cold quicker (thanks to being in the extremities of your body) and that will sour almost any outdoor experience.

Read more: 6 mistakes & 3 things we did right on our Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska

Sunglasses

When you imagine visiting Alaska, is a bright shining sun what you picture? Probably not, but there's plenty of sunshine too.

Summer in Alaska is a lot sunnier than most people anticipate, and you will actually need to bring sunglasses with you.

If you have plans to visit a glacier by helicopter or seaplane, sunglasses are essential to avoid the glare of the sun off the surface of the ice.

Insect repellant

I've got to be real with all of you and warn you that mosquitos are an unfortunate reality of going to Alaska in the summer, especially during the warmest months.

There are plenty of mosquitos around Alaska throughout the summer.  In fact, there's a running joke that the mosquito is the unofficial state bird of Alaska. Given how much wetlands, slow moving rivers, and stagnant pools there are, it's a prime breeding ground for them.

Mosquitoes are usually worse inland than on the coast, so bringing insect repellent is extra important for those doing a Cruise Tour to Denali and other interior destinations before or after their cruise. 

It's a good idea to pack a can of insect repellent spray, wipes, or lotions.  There are many varieties, but you should buy one before you leave from home to ensure you don't pay higher tourist prices in Alaska.

Another option are mosquito-repellent wristbands because of how easy they are to use, especially for kids. 

Of course, you could also wear long sleeves and pants to avoid giving mosquitos a target to land on, but there's always exposed skin somewhere.

Read more: The weirdest Alaska cruise questions

Waterproof backpack

Just like how rain can make you wet, it can also get your belongings wet, so it's important to have a waterproof backpack with you when you go on shore.

When I sail to the Caribbean, we might bring a beach bag, but a backpack elsewhere seems unnecessary. 

Read more: What to bring on a Caribbean cruise

In Alaska, however, backpacks are far more useful because you will need somewhere to put extra clothes, souvenirs, binoculars, and other important items.

Water resistant backpacks should be sufficient in most scenarios, although 100% dry bags can be a safe option, too (affiliate links included here).

Some backpacks are able to be packed down into a very small size (affiliate link), which can be helpful for those traveling on airplanes or with limited room in their suitcase.

Sleep mask

People aren't exaggerating when they say it doesn't get dark in Alaska.  During the summer, the sun stays up well into the night and might only go down for a few hours before rising again.

Whether you're a light sleeper or night, the natural light could interfere with your sleep routine and some people find it quite difficult to fall or stay asleep with the light coming in from their cruise ship balcony or window.

It's a good idea to invest in a quality sleep mask so that you can have it pitch dark when you sleep.

I used the Manta Sleep Mask (affiliate link) for my first transatlantic flight to go on a European cruise earlier this summer, and it worked perfectly.

Water bottle

You already know how important it is to stay hydrated, but I found I was getting parched far more often in Alaska than elsewhere.

Even hiking on flat paths will drain you, and having water makes such a difference.

I think it's a great idea to also bring with you a reusable water bottle that you can bring on any shore excursion with you.

Our staff love the Hydro Flask (affiliate link) as their top pick for bringing on a cruise.

I learned a few things from my first cruise, and decided to change a few things for my second cruise ever.

Having learned through both research and personal experience, I was now armed with important tips on how to have the best experience possible. 

And I was ready for more: I went ahead and planned a second cruise on Freedom of the Seas for a 3-night sailing traveling from Miami, Florida, to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

Read more: Freedom of the Seas cruise review

And this time, I had even more to look forward to: the fun I knew I would have and my newfound wisdom from my maiden voyage. 

In this post, I’ll share the most valuable lessons I took away from my first cruise and applied to my second cruise. 

From packing essentials to must-see shows, these are the top 7 things I changed this time around.

Read more: 11 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a cruise ship

1. Took a shorter cruise

The most fundamental difference about my second cruise was the difference in length.

My first cruise was a 7-night sailing, while my second one was only a weekend cruise spanning three nights.

I had found 7 nights a little too long for me: I felt claustrophobic by day 5 and realized that there was no way to escape the ocean. 

However, a 7-night cruise did allow for plenty of time to explore the ship and experience countless events and 4 shows.

Additionally, our Wonder of the Seas cruise had time for 3 full port days, allowing me to experience 3 new destinations. 

In contrast, my Freedom of the Seas cruise was only 3 nights. We stopped at just 2 ports, had fewer events to go on, and only attended 2 shows. 

Although it was a smaller ship, and there was less of it to explore, I wished I had more time to attend events and shows onboard. 

Where my first cruise had dragged a little long, my second one flew by in a flash. I think my sweet spot would be somewhere in between 3 and 7 days, such as a 5-night sailing. 

2. I went to the casino

On my first cruise, I felt a little nervous about trying out the casino. I walked through it a few times but stopped myself from actually participating.

But on my second, I went ahead, got some quarters, and tried out a few slot machines.

Not only was it an activity of its own, but the casino was also full of other cruisers. Once I started playing, I was able to make conversation with them.

With the fewer bonding events offered on this cruise, I was glad I took the chance to try a new activity and meet other cruisers.

3. I attended the Crazy Quest game show

I don’t know how I missed it on my first cruise, but I wasn’t going to miss the Quest game show again!

This adults-only scavenger hunt is famous (or perhaps infamous) among Royal Caribbean cruisers for its wild antics. 

My girlfriend and I attended together, and we had a blast.  The game show host split the entire room into teams, with team captains, and hilarity ensured. I was shocked at just how crazy the show got, but I’m glad I got to experience it this time around.

For those who haven’t been before, the Quest game show is a must-see. 

And if you’re introverted like me, don’t worry—you’re not required to participate. 

Everyone on stage is doing so out of their own free will. 

Read more: 50 things everyone should do on a Royal Caribbean cruise at least once

4. I ate at the Main Dining Room less

While I enjoyed the complimentary food offerings in the Main Dining Room, I didn’t always enjoy how formal it was.

On my second cruise, I chose not to eat in the Main Dining Room as frequently. Out of the 9 meals we had on the 3-day cruise, I only ate at the Main Dining Room once.

On that night, I recognized the menu from my previous cruise. The food, again, was quality, but it was nothing new to me.

And we did find that it was a very formal, multiple-course meal. My girlfriend commented that it was a little too formal for her, as well.

We preferred to go to the Windjammer for the majority of our meals for a quicker and more independent meal option. 

5. I didn’t bring my laptop

On my Wonder of the Seas cruise, I regretted bringing my laptop.

It took up unnecessary space. I only bought Wi-Fi for one device, and the TV in our cabin was a Smart TV, so I could stream shows directly from my phone.

I left it behind when I sailed on Freedom of the Seas. 

This time, the cabin’s TV was not a smart TV, so I didn’t have a larger scene to watch shows on.

We decided to go to movie nights hosted on the ship’s pool deck instead, enjoying a drink in the hot tub at sunset.

Given that it was a shorter cruise and I had less downtime, I didn’t miss access to personalized TV on a large screen. And ultimately, I was grateful for the extra packing space I had by leaving behind my laptop.

6. I packed a wider variety of clothes

On my first cruise, I made the mistake of packing cute dresses and swimsuits. 

I prepared with the mindset of a beach vacation, thinking I would only need simple dresses or beach outfits.

But once I got there, I was surprised at how many other activities I had access to. 

I should have prepared for activities like laser tag, ice skating, and biking. I also didn’t realize that the air conditioning can get cold on a cruise ship; sometimes, simple dresses didn't have enough coverage.

For my second cruise, I came more prepared with sneakers, pants, shorts, and warmer hoodies. I packed the perfect amount, having finally learned my lesson. 

7. I tried more activities on Perfect Day at CocoCay

My first encounter with Perfect Day at CocoCay was just alright. 

On my first cruise, I learned that weather can make a big impact on your experience on Perfect Day at CocoCay.

On the day Wonder of the Seas stopped at Royal Caribbean’s private island, the weather was cloudy and threatening to rain. 

Although my sister and I woke up early enough to get some sun, we mostly spent our time lounging by the water on Harbor Beach and South Beach.

We grabbed a few complimentary snacks and then walked over to Oasis Lagoon, a pool and floating bar with a live DJ. It looked like a blast, but the pool was too crowded for us to even find a space.

We decided to head back to the ship before 2:00 P.M and eat our lunch at the Windjammer buffet. Shortly after we returned, the rain started.

On my second cruise, however, I came prepared with more information about the complimentary and specialty experiences available on Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

I learned that, in addition to the snack bars, full lunches are also complimentary, offered at Splashaway Bay, Captain Jill's Galleon, Skipper's Grill, Chill Grill, and the Snack Shack.

I also saw that fun shore excursions were offered on the island, like snorkeling, swimming with pigs, and a glass-bottom boat tour. 

On our Freedom of the Seas cruise, I decided to go ahead and take full advantage of the experience. I purchased a snorkeling excursion for our day at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and it turned out to be a blast.

When my girlfriend and I arrived, we were given our snorkeling gear and pointed to the beach at Chill Island. 

We didn’t swim all the way out to the airplane wreck, but we were able to see a shipwreck, friendly tropical fish, two stingrays, and one harmless moon jelly! 

After that, we ate a complimentary lunch at Skipper’s Grill. 

It was still early enough in the day that we grabbed a spot at the floating bar directly in front of the DJ. There, we drank and danced into the afternoon.

Anyone can make a mistake on a cruise, but no one wants to make a mistake that could cost them thousands of dollars.

A costly mistake has a deeper effect than simply a lesson learned, and it can truly ruin your vacation.

There was a news story recently in the UK where a woman went on a Caribbean cruise and left her cell phone's antenna on, and it racked up some serious charges.

She was unaware that using her phone normally on a cruise ship shot up her monthly phone bill from £35 to £1186.59!

Why was her bill so high? Her phone was outside of its normal cellular network, and when you try to use a cell phone for calls, data, or texting on someone else's network, you incur crazy high rates.

Many cellular plans (even international plans) do not include calls, texts, or data on cruise ships and they will charge you extremely high roaming rates for such services that will show up weeks later on your phone bill.

Data usage is especially troublesome because smart phones will use data even when you are not actively using your phone.  Phones will continuously check for updates or notifications, as well as run app updates in the background.  All of this uses data, and that can drive up your bill without you even using the device.

In the case of this British woman, she was able to negotiate with the phone carrier to drop the price by half, but that's still many hundreds extra in fees that could have been avoided.

If that sounds like scary, the good news is you can protect yourself from running into a giant cell phone bill with a very simple trick.

Airplane mode

Every cell phone has a feature that prevents the phone from using its antenna, but you need to remember to activate it.

There's a feature on every phone to put your phone into airplane mode, which disables your antenna until you re-enable it. 

As the name implies, it was designed for use while on an airplane but works just as well on a cruise ship. 

Your best bet is to get on the ship and before sail away, use your phone to let anyone know what's going on and then turn on airplane mode.  Keep it in airplane mode until you return home.

By keeping your phone in airplane mode, your phone cannot join any cellular networks and will not get you a giant bill later.

Don't worry, you can still use Wi-Fi while your phone is in airplane mode, which means you can connect to the ship's Wi-Fi or use a Wi-Fi hotspot in one of the ports of call you visit. This includes iMessage.

Some cruisers will tell you to turn data roaming off as a feature in your phone, but that requires a bit more digging into your phone settings and isn't as simple to enable or re-enable as airplane mode.  

Read more: 40 Best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets

How to turn on airplane mode on with an iPhone

The easiest way to turn on airplane mode with an iPhone is to swipe up.

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to bring up Control Center. Then tap the airplane mode button, which looks like an airplane.

To turn it off later, just follow the same steps and click the airplane button again.

If you want to enable Wi-Fi or Bluetooth while your phone is in airplane mode, just swipe up from the bottom once again. Tap the Wi-Fi button to enable Wi-Fi or the Bluetooth button to enable Bluetooth.

How to turn airplane mode on with an Android

If you have an Android device, the easiest way to activate airplane mode is similar to an iPhone.

Swipe down from the top of your home screen and then click the airplane mode button, which looks like an airplane.

You can still make calls with Wi-Fi calling

What if you want to be able to call and text friends and family, but don't want a giant bill?

The best strategy is to buy a Royal Caribbean Voom Wi-Fi package for your cruise and then use a feature known as Wi-Fi calling.

With an internet package for your cruise, you could rely purely on data and call with Facetime, Whatsapp, Facebook messenger or some other messaging app.

Read more: Royal Caribbean WiFi: Guide to Internet at sea

If you need to make a "real" phone call, make sure Wi-Fi calling is enabled on your phone.

Wi-Fi calling is a feature nearly every cellular carrier provides that allows the phone to use Wi-Fi data instead of a cellular signal to place the call. This is useful in areas where there's bad cell coverage on land too!

The important thing is to activate Wi-Fi calling before your cruise while you're still at home.  There's no cost to use Wi-Fi calling, but it's a setting in your phone you need to activate.

Depending on your device and cellular carrier, the instructions will vary. Here are some instructions for the major carriers, but you can always do an internet search for your carrier:

• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Verizon

Your cellular provider might sell a cruise ship specific cell plan, but I don't recommend them because they are expensive and perform poorly.  A cruise ship Wi-Fi package will probably work better, be cheaper, and has no limit.

Don't forget about Royal Caribbean's free chat feature

If you don't want to pay for a Wi-Fi package but still want to be able to communicate with people on your ship during the voyage, there's a free alternative.

The Royal Caribbean app has a chat feature that is free to use.

Read more: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

You just need to have the Royal Caribbean app downloaded and installed on your phone before the cruise. Then once onboard, connect to the Wi-Fi and select the option to just use the app.

While not as full featured as other messaging apps, it's free to use and works well enough for communicating with someone else on the ship that has the app too.

Of course, it wont work for messaging anyone not on the ship.