Royal Caribbean Blog

The Royal Amplification program was designed to give new life to Royal Caribbean's older cruise ships. 

When the Royal Amplification program was initially announced in 2018, 10 ships were scheduled to receive updates over the course of 4 years; however, the initiative came to a halt during the pandemic as a result of the worldwide port and shipyard closures.

Before getting postponed, 6 ships were successfully amplified, including Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Freedom of the Seas. 

For years, loyal Royal Caribbean fans had been left wondering when the program would be restarted, as ships like Allure of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas fell short compared to their upgraded counterparts. 

Thankfully, Royal Caribbean has officially restarted the Royal Amplification program. The long-anticipated upgrades are in full swing and resumed with Allure of the Seas in early 2025.

Curious about which ships have been amplified and which are on the docket? You're in the right place. 

Independence of the Seas (2018)

Independence of the Seas was the first ship to undergo Royal Amplification, re-entering service with her new upgrades in May 2018. The revitalization cost over $100 million and added a slew of new experiences to the Freedom Class ship, including:

• A SkyPad (a virtual reality trampoline, which has since been closed)
• Perfect Storm water slides
• Re-designed pool deck
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Splashaway Bay
• "Battle for Planet Z" glow-in-the-dark laser tag
• New escape room
• Panoramic Oceanview staterooms
• Sugar Beach candy shop
• Improved ice rink
• Fish & Ships
• New lounges

Mariner of the Seas (2018)

Royal Caribbean invested $120 million into the refurbishment of Mariner of the Seas, and the results made it one of the favorite ships of Royal Caribbean Blog founder Matt Hochberg. Mariner's Royal Amplification finished in June 2018 and added new ways to drink, play, and dine, such as:

• Perfect Storm racer water slides
• A SkyPad (a virtual reality trampoline, which has since been closed)
• "Battle for Planet Z" laser tag
• Royal Escape Room: The Observatorium
• The Bamboo Room (the cruise line's first-ever Polynesian-inspired, tiki-chic bar)
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Jamie’s Italian
• Izumi Hibachi and Sushi
• FlowRider surf simulator

Navigator of the Seas (Feb 2019)

The third ship to be royally amplified was Navigator of the Seas. She sailed into Miami, Florida, in February 2019 with $115 million of next-level features, including:

• The Blaster (Royal Caribbean's first aqua coaster)
• Riptide water slide
• Caribbean resort-style poolscape with a small kids' splash pad
• Johnny Rockets Express
• El Loco Fresh
• The Lime and Coconut
• Royal Escape Room: The Observatorium
• To Dry For stand-alone blow-dry bar
• Hooked Seafood
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• The Bamboo Room
• FlowRider surf simulator
• Rock climbing wall
• Redesigned Adventure Ocean with dedicated teen spaces

Voyager of the Seas (Oct 2019)

Voyager of the Seas wasn't the first Voyager Class ship to undergo a Royal Amplification. However, she was the first to debut in Asia following the upgrades. After a 41-day, $97 million transformation, Voyager arrived in Singapore in October 2019, ready to offer guests new staterooms, attractions, and more.

• Perfect Storm three-story water slides
• "Battle for Planet Z" laser tag
• Reinvigorated Vitality Spa and Fitness Center
• Redesigned kid and teen spaces

Oasis of the Seas (Nov 2019)

Costing $165 million, Oasis of the Seas' amplification was one of the cruise line's most expensive to date. The ship received everything from the Perfect Storm water slides and the Ultimate Abyss dry slide to new dining venues like Portside BBQ.

• The Ultimate Abyss
• Perfect Storm water slides
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• Splashaway Bay
• The Lime and Coconut
• Portside BBQ
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Bionic Bar
• El Loco Fresh
• Sugar Beach
• Spotlight Karaoke
• Music Hall
• Aqua80
• One Sky
• All-new Adventure Ocean
• Social298 for teens
• "Clash for the Crystal City" laser tag
• Royal Escape Room – Mission Control: Apollo 18

Freedom of the Seas (2020)

Freedom of the Seas might not be the newest ship in the fleet, but she holds a special place for Royal Caribbean Blog writer Elizabeth, who took her first-ever Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Freedom in 2009. 11 years later, Freedom of the Seas received a $116 million transformation in 2020 — and was the last ship to be amplified before the cruise industry came to a screeching halt. 

• Perfect Storm water slides
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• Splashaway Bay
• The Lime and Coconut
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
• El Loco Fresh
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• "Clash for the Crystal City" laser tag
• 360-degree transformation of Adventure Ocean
• Social033 for teens

Allure of the Seas (2025)

Allure of the Seas was scheduled to receive major renovations in 2020. However, her Royal Amplification process was indefinitely postponed due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic. She finally received her long-awaited transformation in early 2025 before returning to sail in Europe for the first time in a decade. 

• Perfect Storm water slides
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• Splashaway Bay
• The Ultimate Abyss
• Royal Escape Room – Apollo 18: Lunar Landing
• Glow-in-the-dark laser tag
• The Lime and Coconut
• El Loco Fresh
• Pesky Parrot tiki bar
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar
• Adventure Ocean refresh
• Social298 for teens
• Over 100 new cabins, including the Ultimate Panoramic Suites
• Aqua80Too

Ovation of the Seas (Planned 2026)

In June 2025, Royal Caribbean announced plans to continue upgrading older ships, starting with Ovation of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas. Ovation of the Seas is the first on the schedule. She will be out of service from March 15 until May 1. Upon Ovation's return to service, guests can expect the following changes:

• Expanded casino
• Sound Cellar (upper level of the former Music Hall)
• Starbucks
• Pesky Parrot tiki bar
• Izumi Hibachi
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
• New staterooms, including the Ultimate Family Suite

Harmony of the Seas (Planned 2026)

Royal Caribbean plans to amplify its largest ship ever, Harmony of the Seas, between April 1 and May 21, 2025. Following Oasis and Allure of the Seas, she's the third Oasis Class ship to be royally amplified. As one of the largest ships in the fleet, Harmony of the Seas already boasts impressive features; however, there are a lot of exciting changes coming to the 9-year-old vessel, including:

• The largest Casino Royale in Royal Caribbean's fleet
• Pesky Parrot tiki bar
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• The Lime & Coconut
• Refreshed adults-only Solarium
• El Loco Fresh
• Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade
• Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse
• New staterooms, including the Ultimate Panoramic Suites and Ultimate Family Suite

Liberty of the Seas (Planned 2026)

Liberty of the Seas is also getting her much-needed Royal Amplification next year. Currently, she's the only Freedom Class ship that has yet to undergo the transformation, and fans have been vocal about how dated she feels. Liberty of the Seas will be out of service from April 19 until May 29. Afterwards, she will offer a series of European cruises to showcase her new amenities.

• Expanded casino
• Izumi Hibachi
• Starbucks
• Royal Escape Room
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• The Lime and Coconut
• El Loco Fresh
• New staterooms

Explorer of the Seas (indefinitely postponed)

Two ships that were supposed to undergo the Royal Amplification process, Explorer of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas, have been indefinitely postponed.

Explorer was on the docket to receive over $100 million in upgrades in 2020, such as The Lime and Coconut, revamped Adventure Ocean, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, and more. 

Royal Caribbean hasn't provided any official updates on when (or if) Explorer's amplification will be rescheduled. It will likely be a while, though, as Explorer of the Seas underwent a dry dock in 2023 that added the Perfect Storm water slides. 

Adventure of the Seas (indefinitely postponed)

Adventure of the Seas' Royal Amplification in 2021 was also canceled. Like with Explorer, Royal Caribbean hasn't publicly announced plans to upgrade the 24-year-old ship. 

She's not totally out-of-date, though. In 2016, the Perfect Storm water slides were added to Adventure's aft. Likewise, Adventure of the Seas also features Izumi Sushi (not Hibachi) in the Royal Promenade. 

Most people think Royal Caribbean deals are only found in various promotions, but there's a list of the best offers most people don't know about.

Tucked away on the cruise line website is a PDF document that gets updated once a week with the best offers, known as the "Going, Going, Gone" rates.

These are last-minute sailings that have unsold cabins leftover with good prices. Deals can range from "good" to "deep savings", and if you act quickly, you could take advantage of them.

Bargain hunters that have flexibility should start their search with the GGG sales.

The cruise sheet with the deals

Every week on Tuesday or Wednesday, Royal Caribbean updates a list of sailings of heavily discounted sailings.

To be honest, this list is intended for travel agents as a reference to know about good deals, but it's publicly available for anyone to see, you just need to bookmark URL once because it never changes.

You can find the link to the Going, Going, Gone rates here.

These are almost always cruises departing in the next 60 days or so, and it's offered as a way to fill unsold cabins.

For each sailing, there's a listed price for different cabins. Not every cabin category may be available to book, but it gives you a quick reference for the price point.

Where to find the secret list

You won't find the link to the Going, Going, Gone list linked to on Royal Caribbean's website. 

Instead, you just have to bookmark it or Google it each time you want to find it.

What to know before you book

Updated usually on Tuesday, the Going, Going, Gone rates are a static list of prices that are bookable on a first-come basis.

Rates can sell out, and the list won't get updated when that occurs. 

Sometimes there might be one cabin left at the advertised price on the list, so you'll need to act quickly.

You book the price the same way you'd book any other cruise. There's no promo code or special instructions needed.  Going, Going, Gone serves as a heads up that there are lower prices available.

As you'll quickly tell from the sheet, there is a limited selection to choose from on any given week. Only certain itineraries, ships, and categories may be there, and some weeks there could be very few options.

One more thing to know is since these are almost always cruises that are past the final payment date, you'll need to pay the entire cruise fare upfront.

Here are my best tips for browsing the Going, Going, Gone deals and finding the right cruise for you.

• Be Flexible: Dates and ships are limited.

• Check Weekly: New list drops every Tuesday.

• Book Fast: Deals disappear quickly.

• Work with a Travel Agent: They make everything easier, and it's how I always book mine.

• Compare Total Cost: Always factor taxes, fees, and airfare.

Examples of past deals

Our team has relied on the Going, Going Gone rates as a source of deals to peruse.

One example was an oceanview cabin on Freedom of the Seas for 7-nights for just $584 per person. It cost just $1678 total for two people, and saved almost 60% off the previous price.

Another time we found a 4-night cruise on Allure of the Seas listed on Going, Going Gone for $834.36 for two people in a guaranteed interior stateroom. That's just $104 per person, per night, including gratuities and port fees. 

The best deal ever was a $99 per night cruise fare for another guarantee inside room, but this was on Liberty of the Seas.

As you can see, sometimes you have to roll the dice with which cabin you'll get assigned.  Flexibility is so important with these special prices.

By far, the best markdowns are on repositioning cruises or off-season sailings.

I've consistently found great deals on September and October cruises especially, because it's a time of year with slower demand for all itineraries: Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska.

Who should book these deals

While anyone can book a Going, Going, Gone rate, I think certain types of people will benefit the most from them.

Given that these are all last-minute sailings that depart within the next 6-10 weeks, I think those with flexible schedules would be the ideal customer.

Retirees, people that can work remote, couples without children, and aging bloggers might have the time off to make these sailings work the best.

I also think someone that lives within driving distance of the embarkation port would be ideal to book. If you're booking a cruise that leaves in a few weeks, pricey last-minute airfare could offset any savings from the cruise fare.

However, if you have airline or credit card points available, this might be the perfect opportunity to cash those in.  

Regardless, look at the total cost of the vacation beyond the fare before booking.

Bottom line

Royal Caribbean's Going, Going, Gone can be a hidden treasure chest for savvy cruisers, but you'll need to be swift and be open to limited choices.

While the choices of ships, sail dates, and staterooms are going to be limited, there could be good prices available.

I look at this sheet as a bonus opportunity to sneak in another cruise, rather than the primary means of planning out a family vacation. For those types of cruises, rely on booking a cruise early as the best strategy to get a good price.

If you time it well, this little-known secret can turn into your biggest cruise savings.

A fight among passengers on one of the biggest cruise ships was so bad that Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas had to go back to port.

The incident occurred on Monday night, which was the first day of the cruise.  Wonder of the Seas had departed Miami to begin a 4-night Bahamas cruise.

According to a report by Local10, the ship returned to PortMiami on Monday night because the fight onboard injured some guests.

When the ship arrived, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel were waiting at the pier to provide medical care.

In a statement by Royal Caribbean, they explained, "Our team provided medical care to adult guests who were involved in an altercation onboard, and the guests are being treated for their injuries."

"We notified local authorities and are working closely with them. As this is an ongoing investigation, we have no more information to share at this time."

Wonder of the Seas is an Oasis Class cruise ship, capable of accommodating 6,988 passengers.

The ship launched in 2022 and just shifted to offering short 3- and 4-night cruises as part of a new strategy by the cruise line to embrace short sailings as a way to draw in new cruisers.

What happened onboard?

None of the media reports regarding the incident share what exactly occurred, but the incident caused some injuries.

Our team scoured the Facebook groups for the sailing to get witness reports from onboard the ship.

Here are what some people report, although most of it seems to be second-hand reports.

"2 incidents. Lady with broken ankle and a huge brawl. Saw the lady with her ankle and leg wrapped up and the guy into the fight with blood everywhere"

"A ships officer said there was at least two [incidents], one with the lady with a broken foot/ankle, and another one with a fight."

"A family group was just escorted off with their suitcases, by Security, from the back exit door on 5 (Royal Promenade)"

Cruise ship security measures

A fight on a cruise ship isn't common, but each ship is prepared to deal with it.

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires all cruise lines to have a security guide.

Wonder of the Seas has dedicated security and medical teams to respond to an incident onboard. Each member of the team lives on the ship and is on duty and available at all times.

According to Royal Caribbean, crime allegations are reported to law enforcement officials in the next port of call, as well as to the nation where their ships are flagged. 

The company also reports allegations of crime to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Coast Guard (USCG), in compliance with United States laws.

For a crime such as the man allegedly assaulting with serious bodily injury, US federal law requires Royal Caribbean to report the incident to the FBI by telephone as soon as possible, to the United States Department of Homeland Security electronically and to the USCG in writing. 

Royal Caribbean has big plans to upgrade Harmony of the Seas in 2026 with lots of new upgrades and changes.

Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean announced three of its ships will undergo a Royal Amplification to improve the onboard experience. 

Royal Caribbean Blog has already shared the plans for Ovation of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, so in this article, but today we have a look at what changes are coming to Harmony of the Seas. 

Harmony of the Seas' Royal Amplification is scheduled to take place in April and May 2026. Harmony will depart from Galveston, Texas, on March 16, 2026, on a 16-night one-way cruise to Barcelona, Spain. She's not scheduled to re-enter service until May 21.

Although Harmony of the Seas isn't the oldest ship in Royal's fleet, there are a lot of exciting changes coming to the 9-year-old Oasis Class ship. Here's what's in store for Harmony post-Royal Amplification. 

Deck-by-deck changes coming to Harmony of the Seas

Starting on Deck 3, the Conference Center is being removed and replaced with 29 new inside cabins. Moving on up, the Attic comedy club and Crown Lounge are being removed to make way for an expanded casino (the largest Casino Royale in Royal Caribbean’s fleet!).

The move reflects a broader trend across Royal Caribbean's fleet, where less popular venues are being replaced with more casino space to drive extra revenue. 

Deck 5 is only seeing one minor change, which isn't too surprising: the Bionic Bar is being replaced with the Pesky Parrot Bar. The Pesky Parrot made its debut on Utopia of the Seas and has since been added to Allure of the Seas. Royal Caribbean also plans to add the Pesky Parrot Bar to Ovation of the Seas during the ship's Royal Amplification in 2026. 

A few notable changes are coming to Deck 6. First, the Vitality Cafe is being relocated to make way for new staterooms (6454, 6456, 6458, 6460, and 6462). Additionally, the Picture This photography studio will be moved next to the Focus photo gallery.

However, the most substantial change is that Sabor is being replaced with Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade — a move that also took place on Allure of the Seas during her long-awaited Royal Amplification earlier this year. Also new to Harmony of the Seas is the Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, which will likely be in the Solarium Bistro like on other ships. 

Decks 7, 8, 9, and 10 are remaining unchanged, except for one small modification in Central Park: Hublot will be moved next to Cartier and Omega, rather than on the left side of the Park Café. Surprisingly, Royal Caribbean isn't replacing Jamie's with Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. 

Higher up on the ship, Royal Caribbean plans on adding a few more interior cabins on Deck 11 towards the aft of the ship. These include staterooms 11900, 11902, 11904, 11906, 11908, 11910, 11912, 11914, 11916, 11918, 11922, and 11928. 

According to the deck plans, cabins 11920 and 11924 will be new balcony staterooms. Rather than having private verandahs that face across the Boardwalk, these will face straight aft toward the AquaTheater. 

The same is happening on Deck 12, with interior and two special balcony staterooms. However, to make way for the new cabins, Wonderland, the whimsical specialty restaurant inspired by Alice in Wonderland, will be removed. 

Deck 14 will see some of the most substantial changes. 28 new staterooms will replace the lower level of the adults-only Solarium and Adventure Ocean kids' club, particularly the Voyagers, Explorers, and Aquanauts rooms.  

Although the deck plans don't state it specifically, it appears that two of the new staterooms will be the Ultimate Panoramic Suites that were also added to Allure of the Seas. These spacious suites do not have balconies, but they have floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and a king-sized bed with a Duxiana mattress. 

Unfortunately, the new staterooms mean that the Solarium will have fewer seating options, as the lounge chairs near the bridge wings won't exist anymore. 

On Deck 15, the Pool Bar will be transformed into the Lime & Coconut to complement the new Caribbean-inspired pool deck. Moreover, the Crown Lounge will take over part of the Living Room, one of the dedicated teen spaces. Mini Bites will also become El Loco Fresh, allowing guests to enjoy casual poolside tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. 

Finally, while the new deck plans don't list the Ultimate Family Suite on Deck 17, it was previously announced that Harmony of the Seas would be receiving this popular suite as part of her Royal Amplification. 

First introduced on Symphony of the Seas, the Ultimate Family Suite is a special cabin for families seeking an over-the-top vacation experience. 

According to the deck plans, it seems that two Crown Loft Suites are being transformed into the Ultimate Family Suite on Deck 17. The brand-new suite 1730 will replace the former cabin 1730, as well as 1732.  

Read more: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide

Changes coming to two other ships

As mentioned earlier, Liberty and Ovation of the Seas are the other two ships getting major upgrades through Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplification process. 

The enhancements are meant to modernize older vessels and offer a more consistent guest experience across the fleet. 

For example, following Allure of the Seas' renovation, Harmony of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship that doesn't have a Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade onboard. 

Cruise ship internet was stereotypically slow, but Royal Caribbean has adopted a new generation of technology to make it the fastest yet.

On Star of the Seas, guests can purchase an unlimited internet package that provides high speed wifi to use during their cruise.

This ship is different from other ships in that it employs equipment capable of delivering up to 10Gbps in satellite internet.

All of Royal Caribbean's ships are serviced by Starlink internet, which provides high speed internet.  It's been a game changer ever since the cruise line switched to Starlink in 2022.

Star of the Seas is going one step further with a Starlink Community Gateway, which can deliver "10Gbps of symmetrical throughput," meaning it can supply up to 10Gbps for both downloads and uploads. 

Starlink shared the news on X, indicating the next-gen technology is available on the brand new cruise ship that began service in August.

Royal Caribbean reportedly spent $1.25 million to place gateways around the ship that can relay data back and forth with the orbiting Starlink satellites in space and terrestrial internet infrastructure.

Why this matters to cruisers

Having reliable internet on a cruise ship has been a top priority for many cruisers for quite a while, as cruise lines compare themselves to land resorts but often are nitpicked by customers for slower internet.

The internet speeds with the normal Starlink service on Royal Caribbean ships has been more than adequate, but this Community Gateway product has the potential to offer internet speeds on a ship that would be even faster than what's available at home or a resort.

More guests expect to be able to step on a cruise ship and use the internet onboard the same way they would on land.

With symmetrical 10Gbps speeds, it would easily allow for more bandwidth to be offered to customers and that means less waiting for things to load.

The potential for faster speeds is what this could offer.

Throttling?

Even with Starlink, cruise lines have typically throttled guest connections, regardless of the available bandwidth.

What this means is if a ship has access to a certain amount of bandwidth, each guest is limited to a certain fraction of it.

"Cruise lines are throttling guest usage so end users are not necessarily reaping the bandwidth benefits," wrote Scott Sanders of The Disney Cruise Line Blog on X as he shared his experience with Starlink.

We think the rationale for throttling is so that no single person uses more than their share of bandwidth. But the caps tend to make large file transfer and video streaming sometimes problematic.

Throttling could also be a cost cutting move. Making available enough bandwidth for guests to experience better speeds may require a higher cost. As an example, Starlink posted on its website that the Community Gateway costs $75,000 per Gbps per month.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, alluded to how expensive satellite internet is last year when he publicly talked about it at an event.

"We got to pay a ton, a ton, a ton of money for WiFi," he explained.

"I sign the invoices when they come in [and] every time I see them I'm like, oh my God." Mr. Bayley said he cringes whenever he sees the yearly bill. 

He couldn't remember the exact amount the cruise line pays each year but reiterated that "it's huge."

The good news is Starlink has a major advantage over traditional satellite internet that preceded it because it has low latency.  This means the connection responded much faster, so there's less waiting for something to happen.

What if there was an easy fix you could apply to your next cruise that would make a big difference?

After all my years of cruising, I've found sometimes a very small change can have a big impact on my enjoyment of a cruise. Think of it like discovering a new marinade that invigorates a tired meal you're used to, or perhaps a supplement that makes your gym workout less tiresome.

Cruises are a very personalized experience, because everyone chooses a different way to enjoy it.  I could spend weeks on the same ship and never try one aspect of the cruise that someone else did.

I asked our readers for an easy thing they do to make their cruise better, and wanted to share the tips, hacks, and alterations they came up with for an even better Royal Caribbean cruise.

Skip the buffet for breakfast

A great example of a "do this, not that" in order to enhance your cruise is where to have breakfast.

Most people default to hitting up the Windjammer buffet for breakfast. That's fine, but it can be quite crowded.

Fred Hazelton recommended a sit down breakfast and skip the buffet.

Royal Caribbean opens its Main Dining Room for breakfast every day of the cruise, including the final morning.

Not only is the pace more relaxed, but you're assigned a table and have the choice of traditional American breakfast items: scrambled eggs, omelettes, pancakes, and more.

It also won't take a long time to enjoy breakfast in the Main Dining Room.  You can expect to complete the meal in less than hour.

The only potential issue is breakfast isn't served as long in the Main Dining Room as it is in the Windjammer, so you'll need to get going early for it.

On Oasis of the Seas, breakfast is served between 8:00am and 9:30am in the Main Dining Room.

Put the kids in a connecting stateroom

I've been cruising with my kids since they were each 6 months old, but there's no doubt sharing a room with them isn't always idyllic.

Krystal Sodaitis recommended booking connecting rooms so the kids have their own room, and I couldn't agree more.

Booking connecting rooms instead of a larger single room is one of my favorite family cruise hacks.

This strategy gets you an extra bathroom, separation with a common door, and so much more privacy and living space.

The older your kids get, the more important this is.  When my kids were young, they needed a perfectly dark and quiet environment to fall asleep (and stay asleep).  This meant my wife and I had to go bed early and had to keep lights and noise to a minimum as not to disturb them.

As they got older, having an extra bathroom went from "nice to have" to "must have" because of how much time girls need to prep and pamper before they're ready to go out.

Plus, the separate bedroom gives everyone privacy.

I love my kids, but sharing one cabin with them isn't necessarily the best setup for a cruise.

It's also worth mentioning booking two connecting smaller cabins may actually be cheaper than a single larger higher category stateroom, such as a suite.

Don't live out of your suitcase

It's tempting to get on the cruise and start all the fun as soon as possible, but I agree putting away your clothes makes a difference.

Stephen Dennis wrote, "Keep your cabin clean. Don't live out of your suitcase!" and I think he's right.

On shorter cruises I'd sometimes just leave everything in my suitcase because the effort to unpack and pack it all back later seemed silly.

The truth is unpacking makes the room less cluttered and easier to find what you actually need.

I didn't want to admit that unpacking mattered because my laziness and pride was blocking it. But once I started unpacking, I realized the cabin does feel different.

Moreover, keeping the stateroom tidy is more than just being proper.  Having things put away means you can actually enjoy the furniture in the room, like the couch.

Cruise ship couches seem to be magnets for junk, discarded clothing, and paperwork.  Not being able to sit on the couch because there's too much stuff really limits the usable space.

When I keep my couch clear, I find it almost liberating how much more expansive the cabin feels.

Pay everything ahead of time

Early on in my cruising career, I used to dread the final morning of the cruise because of the final bill waiting outside my door (and my vacation ending too).

One solid strategy for limiting onboard spend is to pre-purchase as much as you can, which is exactly what Paul Fossetti recommended.

"Pay everything ahead of time. Once onboard, don’t have to worry about anything," is what he wrote and there's truth to this.

Not only does this reduce the final bill at the end of the cruise, but it allows you to spread expenses out.  

After booking the cruise, you could split up purchases on different credit card billing cycles to take the sting out of the costs.

Equally important is how much cheaper it is to pre-pay for these things compared to buying it onboard.

Royal Caribbean has so many pre-cruise sales that you're almost certain to save money by pre-booking, especially on drink packages, shore excursions, internet access, and specialty dining.

Many readers recommended a beverage package as an easy thing to do for a better cruise, and using Paul's tip will save so much money on that.

You can find discounts of up to 40% off a drink package when pre-purchased.  

Relax and don't sweat the small stuff

So many readers posted tips related to going onboard with the right attitude.

• "Go on it and forget about everything"
• "Don't worry about unexpected plan changes"
• "Don’t sweat the small [stuff] and enjoy yourself"
• "Attitude! Don't worry"

Cruises are designed to be fun, enjoyable, and relaxing, but you've got to let it all come to you.

Jeff Page wrote, "Relax and don't sweat the small stuff," and that's terrific advice for any cruiser.

Like any vacation, it may not all go exactly as you thought.  It might rain, your kids might have a bad day, your steak might not be cooked to order, and the Bills might blow another AFC Championship game.  You can't let those things ruin your cruise.

On one cruise I had grandiose plans for visiting St. Thomas and my plans backfired almost immediately and I got so frustrated and angry.  My wife took me to a nearby bar for a drink to regroup and it served as a good lesson that you can't let things like that go from a small problem to a major one.

We had a couple drinks, found something else to do, and salvaged our day.

My experience is akin to what many recommended with anything that doesn't go your way on the cruise. Go with the flow, and make the best of the situation at hand.

Cruise solo

I saw a few people recommend to cruise solo, and it's actually solid advice.

Cruising alone may not be ideal, but it's better than not cruising at all. Sometimes there are situations where friends and family can't join you for the cruise, but the chance to go is worthwhile.

On the surface, comments of "cruise solo" sound like a preferred way to travel. But I think it's a reminder if the choice is cruise solo or don't cruise at all, there's value in cruising solo.

This isn't a free pass to ditch your family in favor of a cruise, but there are situations where it may make sense to take a leap and try a cruise alone. 

I can tell you from experience cruising alone isn't as limiting as you might fear.

Welcome back to this week's comprehensive look at all the recent Royal Caribbean news. It was a big week for the cruise line, so let's dive in!

A Royal Caribbean passenger is accused of jumping overboard to dodge vacation gambling debt.

Authorities say a man jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship to allegedly avoid paying nearly $17,000 in gambling debt.

The crazy event unfolded as Rhapsody of the Seas was returning to port after a 7-night cruise.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean reroutes ship away from Tropical Storm Mario
• I cruised on the biggest ship to ever sail from Los Angeles. One short cruise wasn't enough
• 7 things I wish more cruisers did on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas
• I cruise with friends a few times a year. Here's how to avoid problems that could ruin your relationships
• Icon of the Seas vs MSC World America: one was better, but the other was a better value
• Royal Caribbean Group loyalty perks compared: Crown & Anchor, Captain’s Club & Venetian Society
• Trying 5 of the new parties on the newest weekend party ship

New RCB Video: Cruises I'd Skip After Taking Almost 100 Royal Caribbean Cruises

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 — Cruises I'd Skip After Taking Almost 100 Royal Caribbean Cruises —and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Ports cruise ships will visit instead of its now cancelled Caribbean port

After cancelling six months of visits to Labadee, Haiti, we know where its ships will go instead.

Royal Caribbean has canceled over 35 stops to its private destination through April 2026.

Cruise ships have been re-routed to places in The Bahamas, Jamaica, and beyond.

Royal Caribbean's getting closer to opening worlds biggest swim up bar

The pace of construction progress is picking up at Royal Caribbean's first beach club.

There are clearly visible buildings at the future site of the Royal Beach Club in Nassau, Bahamas, including the home of what will be the world's biggest swim-up bar.

The beach club will have an extra cost once open, but it will be exclusive to Royal Caribbean passengers.

Best ways to get Royal Caribbean deals and discounts

I compiled a list of the best tried-and-true ways to get a Royal Caribbean cruise discount.

There are lots of ways you can try to find better prices, but only a few are clearly the top strategies.

The key is knowing when to book, and where to look before you choose a fare.

Construction begins on fourth Icon Class ship

It doesn't have a name yet, but Royal Caribbean has already begun building its fourth Icon Class ship.

A special ceremony was held this week at the shipyard in Finland to officially lay the keel.

This is an important milestone in a cruise ship's construction.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 576th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available! 

With cruise ships skipping Labadee for at least another six months, what should Royal Caribbean do with the private beach?

We update our podcast weekly, so subscribe for more updates via YouTube, iTunes, Google Podcasts, or RSS.

You can also leave us a rating or review on iTunes, so go ahead and check it out! We appreciate your feedback.

I think going on a Royal Caribbean cruise is better with friends, so I'll invite as many as I can to sail each time we have something booked.

Although I know these people well in my everyday life, group travel is a different dynamic and I've learned there need to be certain expectations ahead of time.

We're all on vacation together, but there are challenges to navigate when you're sailing with people you know. You definitely don't want to let something silly not only ruin the cruise, but put your entire friendship in jeopardy.

Over the years, I've added techniques based on life lessons that make a cruise with friends so much better and less likely to break up our relationships.

I make it clear we aren't spending every minute together

The great thing about a cruise vacation is how much there is to see and do, and I think it's easier to do your own thing than if I traveled to a city or theme park with friends.

When I extend an invitation to book the same cruise as us, I try to convey that we want to sail together but understand that they will want alone time and we do too.

I remember the "Full House" episode when the Tanners went to Disney World and Danny overplanned the entire trip in a vain effort to stimulate bonding.  All it did was annoy everyone, and that has stuck with me.

I'll tell my friends there will be times where we want to chill, or do an excursion with just us. And I'm okay if they want to do the same thing.

I love traveling with friends because there are times when we can socialize together by the pool, on the beach, or at dinner.  But it doesn't have to be a 24/7 activity.

Not every friend is right for a cruise together

Real talk: some friends are wonderful people to hang out with for a beer at home, but traveling together might not be a great idea.

I've learned there are different family dynamics, special needs, and personalities that might work well for dinner out but not necessarily on the same ship for a week.

The issue isn't everyone needs to be a clone of my personality, rather, I don't want frustrations to boil over.

Some of my friends compliment my travel's family style better than others, so it's okay to be picky with which friends I'll invite. Being friends only at home isn't a bad thing either.

Book the cruise with the same travel agent

A lesson of making your cruise easier is to use the same travel agency for the booking.

Not only could you potentially get group benefits from Royal Caribbean if you book enough cabins, but being booked under the same travel agent really makes coordinating onboard plans a lot simpler.

I don't want to be nagging my friends to make final payment or try to answer billing questions. I'll let the travel agent do that, so we can focus on the fun things together.

Plus, a travel agent can easily link everyone's reservations together so that dining together is simple.

I make planning a group conversation

There are two elements to a cruise where I think you really want a group effort: dining and excursions.

I rarely plan out anything onboard the ship during the day, but I'll definitely want to get a consensus about where and when we plan to eat because dinner on cruises is the most pivotal time.

Are we going to eat in the Main Dining Room? Buy a dining package? Windjammer it up?

The reason dinner is so important is it's clearly the meal every day where most passengers are doing the same thing, and it's a good opportunity to talk about our day, make evening plans, and essentially come together.  

The other group think activity is to plan out our tours on shore.

Finding an awesome shore excursion to share in together is probably the best thing about cruising with friends.  Hanging at a beautiful beach, exploring a city, or trying something together really adds to the memories.

It's fairly informal, but we usually text each other excursion ideas and then agree on one.  Going back to my second tip in this article, I've found the people that I like to invite to a cruise have the same ideas of what a fun excursion are going to be, and that helps ensure we're on the same page.

Usually it's easy enough to toss them a link to book a dinner or excursion, so there's no mess of money to be discussed.  But if we're going to share a cabana or private tour and I'm going to book it, then I'll be very clear on how much they owe before we agree to book it. 

I've learned you should never assume how much the other people think they'll owe. 

Establish a way to text onboard

It's so much easier to stay in contact with friends on Royal Caribbean ships now, thanks to better internet and even a free chat feature in the app. You can even make a group chat with the app.

Before getting onboard, have a plan how you'll communicate with each other.  Text, WhatsApp, or the Royal Caribbean app all work, but get that sorted out before the ship departs.

The key is to ensure you all agree on something before you get onboard so no one is left in the dark.

Sharing a cabin? Split your bill (and bed)

If you've invited a friend to share a cabin with you, be sure to get them on a different billing option than you.

Nothing ruins a friendship faster than money, so go to Guest Services after you board the ship and have them add their credit card to their account.  That way, there's no confusion who owes what or why someone bought something.

While on the topic of money, you should agree on how you're splitting the onboard credit for the cabin. It's quite common to get OBC, so agree who gets it or how you'll split it.  Never assume!

Speaking of splitting, you can split your bed by asking your stateroom to do it.

You can specify this on your cruise reservation ahead of time, but if it doesn't get done, just ask your cabin attendant.

Ask, don't expect

Another lesson from cruising with friends is it's safer to ask them about a plan or idea rather than waiting for them to come to you.

It can be dicey trying to balance your friendship in a way that doesn't seem like you're too needy or distant.

I feel I'm a point in my life where we don't need to act like it's high school and there are social rules for when and when not to do something, especially when it comes to inviting yourself.

Ultimately, I'll opt to shoot a quick message over to ask if our friends want to join us or if we can join them for something. But there's the understanding the answer can be "no" and it won't hurt our feelings.

Examples include:

• Getting chairs at the pool deck
• Going to a show
• Sitting at the bar for drinks

These are situations where the words, "Mind if I join you" are said. 

Too many times I've deferred not to be a bother only to realize later they would have loved to have us join them, but didn't want to bug us.

A new tropical disturbance in the Pacific Ocean is causing at least one cruise ship to be rerouted away from its path.

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas has adjusted its current itinerary to reroute away from Cabo San Lucas and avoid the impact of Tropical Storm Mario.

One cruiser posted to a Royal Caribbean Facebook page about the last-minute itinerary change. The guest, who is currently sailing on Ovation of the Seas, reported that the captain announced the reroute to avoid Tropical Storm Mario.

The passenger wrote, “On Ovation preparing to leave Los Angeles…The captain just came on and due to Tropical Storm Mario forming near Cabo San Lucas, our ship’s itinerary has changed. We have 2 days at sea now and 2 days in Ensenada, Mexico (overnight). Really wanted to go to Cabo, but oh well. As long as we’re on a ship, who cares!!!”

Another guest onboard posted to Reddit about the itinerary change. The poster shared, "Our overnight cruise to Cabo on Ovation just was bumped to Ensenada because there was no chance for tenders with the tropical storm. Entirely understandable but still a massive bummer. Especially since we now head back to a port we didn’t want to visit again, much less for two days."

Tropical Storm Mario officially developed on Friday off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The storm is forecast to bring heavy rain with strong winds and potential flooding to the Baja California peninsula. Because Cabo San Lucas doesn’t have a dock for cruise ships, guests must take small tender boats to go ashore. 

Ovation of the Seas is currently sailing a 5-night Cabo Overnight itinerary from Los Angeles, California. The Quantum class ship departed from Los Angeles today, September 12, 2025, for the Baja California cruise.

The cruise ship was scheduled to arrive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on September 14, 2025 for an overnight stay. Ovation of the Seas was meant to depart Cabo San Lucas on September 15, 2025 and spend one day at sea before returning to California. Instead, the cruise ship will spend two days at sea before docking in Ensenada, Mexico for an overnight visit.

The revised itinerary allows Ovation of the Seas to steer clear of the storm’s path while still providing passengers with a port experience in Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center described Tropical Storm Mario as a “tiny” storm, but the system is expected to intensify over the next few days. The storm has reported sustained winds of 40 mph, which could extend upwards of 25 miles north of the storm's center.

In addition, tropical storm conditions could be possible as a result of the system along portions of the coast of Michoacan as the system moves parallel to the southwestern coast of Mexico.

Forecasts show that heavy rainfall will impact Jalisco and nearby regions through Saturday morning, and the National Hurricane Center warns this could result in flash flooding for high terrain areas. Tropical Storm Mario is predicted to bring two to four inches of rain. 

The National Hurricane Center states that gusty winds are possible along the coasts of western Guerrero, Michoacan, and Colima. Tropical Storm Mario is currently moving toward the west-northwest at 14 mph and forecasters predict this will continue throughout the weekend.

By Sunday, the system is forecast to shift farther out to sea, gradually moving away from land. As it tracks west into the open Pacific early next week, Tropical Storm Mario should begin to weaken. However, coastal areas may still feel lingering effects like high surf and scattered showers.

Ovation of the Seas is still scheduled to return to Los Angeles, California on September 17, 2025 despite the revised itinerary. It’s not uncommon for cruise lines to reroute ships to avoid storms to maintain the safety of the vessel, crew members, and passengers. In addition, rerouting ensures guests can still enjoy their vacation comfortably without stormy weather and rocky seas.

There are three swim-up bars planned for Royal Caribbean's first-ever private beach club, including The Floating Flamingo, which is billed as "the world’s largest swim-up bar."

Royal Caribbean is making significant construction progress on its exclusive beach club in Nassau, Bahamas that it hopes will alleviate a major guest complain about the popular cruise port.

With multiple beaches, swimming pools, restaurants, and bars, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will offer plenty of space for guests to relax, cool off, and avoid the crowds at other beaches in Nassau, which can see upwards of 20,000 to 30,000 cruise passengers per day. 

Once completed, Royal Caribbean guests can enjoy the exclusive amenities and breathtaking ocean views — for an extra charge. 

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in December 2025

Ralph Salsman shared photos of the beach club's construction process on Facebook. Salsman captured the images on September 10, 2025. 

The photos reveal that the lounge over the swim-up bar is taking shape. Floating Flamingo, the world’s biggest swim-up bar, will be the go-to spot for partiers with refreshing drinks, live tunes, and unbeatable ocean views. 

The upstairs portion will be home to the 720-square-foot Party Deck, an exclusive poolside area overlooking the Floating Flamingo swim-up bar with an exclusive beverage menu, charging station, mini-fridge, and more. 

Other photos show various buildings around the 17-acre property coming along, including the private cabanas. The cabanas at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island are an extra-cost add-on that can be purchased to elevate your island beach day. 

The beach and poolside cabanas feature comfortable lounge seating, shade, and personalized service. Those with more money to burn can splurge on the $10,000 two-story Ultimate Family Cabana. 

The price includes admission for up to 12 guests, a cabana attendant, private bathroom, heated whirlpool, reserved beach space, a hammock, frozen drink machine, and more. 

It's in high demand, too. According to Michael Bayley, President & C.E.O. of Royal Caribbean International, the first Ultimate Family Cabana was sold within the first hour of opening beach club sales. 

Basic admission to the beach club is more reasonable, with the cheapest pass starting at $129.99. The price includes unlimited food and non-alcoholic drinks. 

A pass with unlimited alcoholic drinks is available starting at $169.99 per person. Additionally, it includes transportation on the water taxi, Wi-Fi, beach chairs, umbrellas, and access to basic facilities like showers and restrooms. 

Depending on your itinerary, there may also be a few bundled options, such as the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Refreshment Package + Thrill & Chill Combo. 

For a set daily price, you can enjoy admission to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark, and a Royal Refreshment Package. 

Regardless of which pass cruisegoers buy, all dining at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is included. Many dishes have a Bahamian flair, including the fire engine fritters, pinwheel shrimp skewers with guava glaze, Bahama-style baked mac & cheese, and vanilla bundt cake with guava sauce.