Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean is offering a sale on cruises in honor of Cyber Monday. 

Guests can save up to $1,000 off cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and more, as well as get free fares for 3rd and 4th passengers on select voyages. 

Cruises start at just $126 per person (before gratuities) and are available on sailings departing on or after December 2, 2025. 

Here's a look at Royal Caribbean's Cyber Monday sale highlights.

Up to $1,000 off in instant savings

Royal Caribbean's Cyber Monday sale is only valid on new bookings made on December 1, 2025. The instant savings vary based on stateroom category and sailing length:

5 nights or less

• Inside and Ocean View: $125 savings
• Balconies: $200 savings
• Suites: $400 savings

6 nights or longer

• Inside and Ocean View: $225 savings
• Balconies: $300 savings
• Suites: $1,000 savings

In addition to the instant savings, guests with confirmed bookings can take advantage of the Cruise Planner sale, which is seeing deep discounts on popular add-ons — up to 55% off. 

Sample cruise deals

The following cruises were priced as listed at the time of publication for three guests in an inside cabin:

• April 18-19, 2026: 1-night Southern Caribbean cruise on Serenade of the Seas, starting at $345
• January 13-16, 2026: 3-night Ensenada cruise on Navigator of the Seas, starting at $444
• January 26-31, 2026: 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on Enchantment of the Seas, starting at $734
• April 10-15, 2026: 5-night overnight Cabo cruise on Quantum of the Seas, starting at $1,045
• May 22-29, 2026: 7-night Southbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier cruise on Ovation of the Seas, starting at $2,456
• June 7-12, 2026: 5-night Hamburg & Bruges cruise on Liberty of the Seas, starting at $1,441
• September 27-October 4, 2026: 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Star of the Seas, starting at $3,326
• October 16-19, 2026: 3-night Perfect Day cruise on Jewel of the Seas, starting at $767
• May 7-14, 2027: 7-night Alaska Adventure on Anthem of the Seas, starting at $2,054
• September 19-25, 2027: 6-night Western Caribbean cruise on Icon of the Seas, starting at $2,315

Royal Caribbean's inside cabins are the cheapest. Moreover, many of the above rates are for guarantee staterooms, meaning that Royal Caribbean will assign your specific cabin before your cruise; you cannot choose the exact room. 

Additionally, the newer the ship, the higher the price tends to be, even when taking into account the ongoing Cyber Monday sale. Vessels like Icon, Star, and Utopia of the Seas offer the latest amenities, entertainment, and dining options, which warrant premium prices. 

How to make the most of Royal Caribbean's Cyber Monday sale

Travelers looking to maximize savings should prioritize looking at shorter cruises on older ships. Booking early also increases the chances of securing a better rate before sought-after itineraries and cabins sell out. 

That said, we're seeing some good pricing on last-minute cruises in December and January. Excluding holiday weeks, many sailings are experiencing lower demand. 

For example, a 4-night Perfect Day cruise on Liberty of the Seas starts at $358 for two people in an inside cabin. However, you would have to be flexible and be able to tie up loose ends by December 8, 2025. 

If you don't see a sailing you like, Cyber Monday is also a great time to book add-ons for upcoming cruises. Here's a glimpse at what my Cruise Planner is offering on drink and Wi-Fi packages, specialty meals, and more:

5-night Europe cruise on Liberty of the Seas in June 2026

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $58.99/night
• All-In Package: Drinks, Dining & WiFi: $99.99/night
• VOOM Internet Package: $17.99/night
• Unlimited Dining Package: $26.99/night

3-night Bahamas cruise on Utopia of the Seas in July 2026

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $53.99/night
• Deluxe Beverage Package (Full Cruise) + Royal Beach Club Open Bar Day Pass: $110.99/night
• VOOM Internet Package: $21.99/night
• Unlimited Dining Package: $38.99/night
• Hideaway Beach: $61.99/person
• Coco Beach Club Day Pass: $159.99/person

Maximize your Cyber Monday purchase

When booking cruises, don't forget to use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel purchases. It is an easy way to earn extra rewards that can help cover the cost of pre-cruise incidentals, including airfare and hotels!

Here are some travel credit cards that can help you maximize your cruise purchase:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 2 points/$1 spent on travel
• Capital One® Venture X Card: 2 points/$1 on everyday spend, including travel
• American Express® Green Card: 3 points/$1 on travel

Cyber Monday is also a great time to look into other travel deals. 

For example, I've been eyeing flights from Charlotte to Orlando in July for a cruise on Utopia of the Seas. American Airlines (my preferred airline due to status and flight availability) wants around $440 per person, or around $880 for my partner and me. 

However, by taking advantage of the Atmos points sale, I bought enough points to cover our flights for just $375 when booking through Alaska Airlines, an AA partner. 

I had a great time sailing on the world's largest cruise ship for 7-nights, but I couldn't help but notice others onboard made mistakes that could have been avoided.

It's not my job to correct anyone on the ship, but the cruise writer in me naturally notices when these faux pas' occur.  I assume it's like how a marketing executive might always internally critique how other businesses advertise.

Some of these mistakes are typical for first time cruisers, while others are ones that anyone could have made.  Regardless, I wanted to highlight these so you can be aware of them now to avoid making them yourself!

Here are the six mistakes I saw other cruisers make while I was on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas this past week.

The gym had so many people not knowing the rules

I try to take advantage of the fitness center on any Royal Caribbean ship once or twice per sailing because their equipment is so much better than my home gym.  

I pre-booked a fitness trainer to help guide me through a workout, but he had to talk to no less than five or six other guests in less than an hour about the gym rules.

The number one mistake guests made was not wearing the proper footwear.  Royal Caribbean's rules are anyone in the gym must be wearing shoes.  Flip flops, sandals, Crocs, or Uggs don't count as acceptable footwear.

Proof Matt was in the fitness center

This rule is in place for safety reasons, and each of these people were asked to halt their workout and go put on shoes.

The other mistake were underage guests using the gym. The fitness center is for adults, although teens may use it.

In the cast of teens, they need to get a permission paper signed by their parent authorizing them to use it under the guidance of their parent.  

Younger kids are not allowed to use the gym.

I think some people missed the ship in one port

On our visit to Costa Maya, Mexico, it's clear half a dozen passengers either were late or missed the ship.

We had odd hours in port, 7:30am to 1:30pm, so while it's not typical port times, it's not an excuse for ignorance.

As the all aboard time came and went, Star of the Seas blew its horn multiple times and then there were two different announcements over the public address system asking certain people to go to Guest Services if they are onboard.

Being left behind at a port is probably one of the worst cruise mistakes you can make, so the key is to manage your time closely.

I always plan to return to the port at least 1-2 hours before all aboard time to assure any traffic or bathroom breaks do not make us late.

Also, be sure to set your phone or watch to ship time. I turn off automatic time zone changes on my phone to prevent confusion with this.

If you're ever confused what time it is on the ship, the Royal Caribbean app always has the time in the top corner.

Paid too much for the drink package

When I see a passenger buying a Royal Caribbean drink package on the ship, I shake my head in disbelief because of how much they overpaid for it.

I don't have a problem with anyone buying a drink package, but it costs significantly more on the ship. Like almost double.

There are so many sales and opportunities before the cruise begins to buy a drink package at a discounted cost that there's simply no excuse for waiting to buy it onboard.

I suspect many that do purchase it on the ship might either do so impulsively or after they realize they do indeed want it to cap their drink spending.  Everyone's allowed to change their mind, but if you're on the fence about it, go ahead and pre-purchase it and save yourself hundreds of dollars later.

Skipped Surfside because they didn't have kids

If you sail on Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas and avoid Surfside completely because you don't have kids, you are missing out on some great food options!

I get it, you think Surfside is just for families and young kids and you're imagining the IKEA ball pit room multiplied by a factor of 10, but it's worth going there for the restaurants.

Pier 7 is vastly underrated as a great and inexpensive specialty restaurant.

Considering you can pre-book brunch there for just $8 and kids under 12 eat free, I think it's worth a reservation.  Plus, they have some really good food choices you can't get elsewhere.

Equally compelling is Surfside Eatery.  It's considered the "kids buffet", but they have a lot of food adults would want too.  

On embarkation day, they had a much less crowded buffet with lobster and filet mignon! 

Lost out on casino free play

Did you know Royal Caribbean's casino gives everyone a few dollars to gamble for free?

It's just a few dollars, and it's meant as an incentive to get you in the casino and try your luck.  They're hoping a few spins is enough to compel you to put your own money in too.  But with the right amount of self control, you might hit it big.

Plus, if you gamble with your free play in the first 48 hours of the sailing, you get a bonus free play of an additional two dollars.

You're right to think it's not a lot, but I'll take free money to gamble with any day.  It's "use it or lose it".

One person flagrantly cheated the service animal rule

One family on my cruise almost certainly cheated Royal Caribbean's service animal allowance and it bothered me so much because their selfish act not only is wrong, but it diminishes the important role real service dogs serve.

To be fair, I don't know for a fact this dog wasn't a service animal, but the vest the dog had on was just about the cheapest "vest" I've ever seen.  Plus, on some days it didn't have the vest on at all.

I also noticed the dog was leading the person on the leash and consistently sniffing around as it walked.  

I could be completely wrong, but it left me (and others) in disbelief this was a service animal. This isn't the first time I've seen a so-called service dog on a ship and doing things service animals shouldn't be doing.  

Emotional support animals are not allowed, and neither are regular pets. I love dogs, but the rules are in place for a reason, and buying a service animal vest on Amazon doesn't make your pet a service dog.

With Cyber Monday, it's the perfect time to stock up on the things cruisers love at deep discounts.

Royal Caribbean has its own sale running on different pre-cruise purchases, but this is one of the best times of the year to buy essential travel items that can make your cruise better.

We looked at the things our team swears by when they cruise and found which ones are cheaper today with Cyber Monday sale running.

Note: We receive a small commission if you purchase any products from our affiliate links below. Purchasing from these links costs you nothing extra, but helps support our site. All prices below were accurate at the time of publication. Prices may change during the sale based on availability. Check out our Amazon Storefront for more cruise and travel favorites! 

Apple AirTags

Not only are Apple AirTags really useful for flights, they can come in handy when cruising too.

These small tabs help travelers track their suitcases via Bluetooth.

The AirTag is a small, button-shaped tracking device that can be tracked using Bluetooth right alongside Apple devices in the Find My app.

• Apple AirTags (four-pack) for $62.99 (normally $99; a 36% discount)
• Apple AirTag (individual) for $17.97 (normally $29; a 38% discount)
• Tile by Life360 four-pack for $39.99 (normally $79.99; a 50% discount)

EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter

Of all the products that I've bought to help expand power options in my stateroom, EPICKA's power adaptor is the best one.

It has two USB-A and USB-C outlets, has a power plug, and works with US, EU, and UK power outlets. So it will work in your cabin as well as in hotels around the world.

• EPICKA universal travel adapter for $15.99 (normally $24.99; a 36% discount)

JISULIFE Portable Handheld Fan

Whether you're in the Caribbean, Europe, or Australia, it can get really hot and cooling off is all you can think of.

A portable fan is something you can take around the ship, on deck, or on a shore excursion. Actually, it's doubly useful on a shore excursion.

• JISULIFE Portable Handheld Fan, for $13.67 (normally $17.99, a 24% discount)

Gin-Gins anti-nausea ginger chews

There are a lot of anti-nausea treatments, and one that has gotten a lot of good reviews are these Gin-Gins.

Seasickness can affect even the most well-seasoned cruiser, including myself. It's not fun and it can ruin your day.

• Gin-Gins anti-nausea ginger chews 1-pound bag, $12.38 (normally $15.49)

30-piece magnetic hooks

One of the best cabin hacks out there has been to bring magnetic hooks because of how versatile they can be.

Because there isn't as much storage space as families might need in their cabin, magnetic storage hooks help a lot. You can hang hats, swim suits, towels, and plenty of other clothes.

• 30-piece magnetic hooks, $8.48 (normally $9.98, a 15% discount)

Magnetic multi-angle phone tripod stand

Thanks to Royal Caribbean's high speed internet, I've seen more people than ever streaming from their device while on a cruise.

Having a way to prop up your phone makes it easier, plus you can use it while traveling in an airplane too.

This particular one uses the MagSafe to attach your phone so it snaps on easily

• Magnetic multi-angle phone tripod stand, $31.99 (normally $39.99, a 20% discount)

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag

The ladies on my team bring a good travel toiletry bag to make it simple to pack everything up, unpack, and then get back again.

It's perfect for skincare, makeup, and cosmetics nearly stored without cluttering the (very small) bathroom vanity.

• NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag, $14.32 (normally $17.99, a 20% discount)

Wireless Charger 3 in 1

A wireless charging station eliminates the need to bring multiple cords for different devices, such as your phone, smart watch, and wireless headphones. 

With it, you can charge all of your devices at once.

• Wireless Charger 3 in 1, $17.98 (normally $29.99, a 40% discount)

Hydro Flask Water Bottle

Aside from magnets, a high quality reusable water bottle is probably the top thing I see cruisers bring aboard.

Hydro Flask has a great line of bottles that make it easy to keep water cool and plentiful.

• Hydro Flask Water Bottle, $33.71 (normally $44.95, a 25% discount)

Happy Sunday and Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday with family and friends! There is a lot of Royal Caribbean news to share this week.

In less than a month, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens and it's almost ready!

New photos from the cruise line show off the tremendous progress that's been made, including the new pools, cabanas, and more.

While not totally complete yet, these new on-the-ground photos show off what looks to be a beautiful spot to enjoy the day.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is getting rid of the paper bill at the end of the cruise
• How far in advance can you book a Royal Caribbean cruise?
• We celebrated Thanksgiving on Star of the Seas. It was the perfect family trip
• These are the 6 things I see travelers worry too much about
• I sailed on Freedom of the Seas cruise ship and saw why it's so popular for budget vacations\

New Video: My cruise ship went to Carnival's private port

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—My cruise ship went to Carnival's private port—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The best Royal Caribbean Black Friday deals are live

Black Friday sales continue through this weekend, and it might the best time for a new discount.

While the preview sales began weeks ago, some of the offers have gotten better with the arrival of the actual Black Friday holiday.

There's more instant savings on a new cruise, as well as potentially lower prices on cruise add-ons too.

Fly in same day? Why it's a mistake to fly the same day as your cruise

If you have to fly for your cruise, never make the cardinal mistake of flying the same day as your cruise begins.

Putting your entire vacation at risk is not worth the hotel room and ancillary costs you might be able to skip by travelling the same day.

There are simply too many variables to contend with, and little wiggle room if things go sideways.

7 reasons to would avoid downsizing your cruise cabin

Real talk: saving money by moving to a cheaper cabin might be full of regret later.

Saving money by getting a downgrade is an option, but often the ramifications of that choice become apparent too late, and that could lead to problems.

Not only is a cheaper stateroom going to cost less, but it might compromise in other areas you didn't consider.

I believed these 5 misconceptions about cruising in Europe. Years later, I know I was wrong

After taking a few cruises in Europe, I realized I avoided going for silly reasons.

I believed some rather common assumptions about cruising in Europe, but I wish I had come to my senses earlier.

I think a lot of people put off a European cruise out of unsubstantiated concerns and regret it later.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 585th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Matt interviewed architects from Wilson Butler Architects, who have helped design Royal Caribbean ships for decades.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Before I took my first cruise to Europe, I hesitated to visit for many years out of unwarranted fears.

I started cruising in the Caribbean and it suited me just fine.  I loved going to tropical destinations, and there's no doubt the convenience of living close enough to many ports within the United States was a crutch I leaned on often.

But as readers implored me to try a European cruise and my staff loved those trips, the temptation grew and I eventually gave it a try.

Not only did I love it and ended up going back a few times, but I realized my trepidation was rooted in misconceptions about these voyages.

I thought there would be no avoiding jetlag

The flight time to Europe was probably my first reason to skip a European cruise, but I also had these images I'd be so jetlagged that it would be miserable for most of the trip.

I've taken three cruises in Europe so far, and while jetlag is an issue, it's not as bad as I believed. That's largely because I took certain steps to minimize the effects.

Direct flights that reduced the amount of time in the air (and airport) helped to limit my travel time.  But managing my sleep schedule was the best thing I did.

Travel experts recommend regardless of how well you sleep on an airplane or not, to acclimate to local time as soon as possible. More importantly, avoiding the temptation to nap once arriving in Europe until it's bed time.

It wasn't easy to stay awake in some cases for that long, but there's no doubt I avoided jetlag with this strategy.

Plus, I was able to get on my ship and start enjoying it on day one.

I was ready to exchange a lot of cash for Euros before the trip

The week before my first European cruise I had a list of things to do, and I thought exchanging cash should be there.

When I casually mentioned it to my video editor, she thought I was crazy because cash was unnecessary, especially in Northern Europe.

The reality is every retailer, restaurant, street vendor, and bar takes tap to pay anywhere I went. 

Not only does using a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees mean you don't have to waste time exchanging currency, but you'll likely get a better exchange rate too.

Plus, there's no leftover Euros to come home with (or lose more value when you re-convert back to dollars).

Is there a scenario where having Euros might be helpful? I suppose, but I haven't encountered it yet across three trips.

We worried the kids wouldn't appreciate it

I might have considered taking a cruise to Europe earlier, but my wife and I thought spending the money was a mistake when the kids weren't old enough.

This is flawed logic for two reasons.

First, positive experiences reinforce good travel habits and foster family bonding.  Whether it's in London or Cozumel, spending time together is still better than not at all.

Travel has generally been a great tool for exposing my children to different cultures, foods, and ways other people live.  It helps them understand how the world works and prepare them for unexpected challenges.

The second reason was kids may never fully appreciate travel (or anything), but that's not a reason to not take them too.

My kids had a great time going to the places around the continent. Do they remember historical facts from each spot and can they rattle off the significance of buildings we saw? No, but then again, neither can most of the adults I went with either.

We had a great time exploring together, and I'm glad my kids got to see it too.

I expected long and expensive shore excursions

I had this image in my head of standing in a large group walking slowly around a city listening to a tour guide and it contributed to holding off on going to Europe.

I have a disdain for large group tours to begin with because of the slow pace, but I thought it would be worse in Europe.

The reality is it's so easy to tour on your own that I did very few group tours at all.  Even the ones I took, could have been avoided if I really wanted.

Because so many ports have your ship docked right in the city and there are public transportation options abound, it's easy to get around on your own.

Not only does this allow you to circumvent group tours, but it also limits costs as self-exploration is certainly cheaper.

I thought a language barrier would make things difficult

I didn't think English would be so prevalent everywhere I went.

More people spoke English an I expected, making it so much easier to walk around towns and cities without worrying about limiting my touring.

I do, however, think it's important to know a few words in the local language for basic pleasantries.  Knowing how to say "hello", "thank you", and "bye" makes a difference to locals to not have them treat you as entitled Americans. 

My family has been taking cruises ever since my kids were old enough to sail, and spending a holiday like Thanksgiving at sea was surprisingly satisfying.

I think most people associate major holidays that center around family being celebrated at home, but I've found real advantages to going on a cruise instead.

We picked a 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, to spend Thanksgiving and enjoy not only the holiday but getting away from it all.

Since this is a holiday sailing, a lot of other people have the same idea.  The ship has a maximum capacity of 7,600 people, along with 2, 350 crew members.  That means there can be as many as 10,000 people onboard the ship.

While that sounds daunting, the truth is this ship has been engineered to a point you'd never know that many other people are onboard with you. And it made for a Thanksgiving vacation that perfectly suited our needs.

The ship has so much to do, including a touch of holiday spirit

You won't confuse Star of the Seas for spending Thanksgiving at grandma's house, but that's not a bad thing either.

This is the biggest cruise ship in the world, and that means it's packed with so much to do.  In fact, this is why I love to cruise because of how much there is to do.

Our cruise departed on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and for the actual holiday, our ship was docked in Roatan, Honduras for the day.

It's a little surreal when you're on a cruise ship for a holiday because you might forget what day it is.  Rest assured there are plenty of reminders.

Royal Caribbean decorated the ship with Thanksgiving messaging and colors.  It's nothing over the top, but a nice touch.

Plus, there are special Thanksgiving events aboard:

• Thanksgiving wordsearch
• Thanksgiving trivia
• Thanksgiving scavenger hunt
• Thanksgiving Scattergories game

Of course, there's plenty of the usual cruise ship activities too.  Royal Caribbean's activities staff will add some holiday fun to the mix, but you can easily fall back on what you'd expect on any other cruise. 

There's a special Thanksgiving menu for the traditionalists

Even though spending Thanksgiving on a cruise ship is anything but traditional, you don't have to forgo the basics.

Royal Caribbean ships still serve a full Thanksgiving dinner in the Main Dining Room (or Windjammer buffet), where you can get all the classic foods.

The main offering is a turkey dinner, complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and and vegetables.

Plus, there's pumpkin and pecan pie to choose from.

I can't say it will be the best turkey dinner you've ever had, but it's undeniably a turkey dinner you did not have to prep, cook, or clean up after.

You can still watch all the football

A lot of people associate watching football games as much with the holiday as they do the food.

The major NFL football games are available to watch on the ship, and you can see it both in your stateroom as well as at various bars.

If you want the big game energy, Playmakers Sports Bar has the game on so many screens surrounding the bar that you can't miss it.

Plus, there's beers, bar snacks, and lots of people cheering along with trying to figure out why the Lions and Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving.

Spending thanksgiving in a pool is the best

But the best thing about a Thanksgiving cruise aren't all the things you can do at home on a ship. Rather, it's what else you can do!

The fact you can enjoy a warm Caribbean cruise means time in a bathing suit at the pool.  Or on shore at a beach.  For a lot of people that travel from colder weather back home, this is a real treat.

Even in late November, it's still plenty warm for outdoor activities.  High temperatures each day were easily in the low to mid 80s.

Not to mention Star of the Seas is packed with lots of activities onboard to try, including a brand new Price is Right show where you could win cash prizes or even a new car.

I think the real appeal of cruising over a major holiday is you get to combine the holiday traditions with the best things about taking a cruise.

It's officially Black Friday and that means Royal Caribbean's deepest discount of the season.

Like retailers, Royal Caribbean rolled out early Black Friday sales a few weeks ago. But today, the official sale for the shopping holiday is out and it's a good opportunity to see if there's a better price.

Plus, the amount of instant savings off a new cruise is the best it's been the entire month.

If you've been waiting, here's a look at what Royal Caribbean has on sale now.

What's new with the Black Friday sale

Royal Caribbean is offering up to $1,000 off new sailings booked this weekend.

Cruises booked between November 27, 2025 – November 30, 2025 can qualify for instant savings depending on how long your cruise is and which stateroom category you choose:

5 nights or less

• $125 USD for Inside and Ocean View
• $200 USD for Balconies
• $400 USD for Suites

6 nights or longer

• $225 USD for Interior and Ocean View
• $300 USD for Balconies
• $1000 USD for Suites

The instant savings for Black Friday are combinable with their Kids Sail Free, Free 3rd & 4ths, and BOGO60 offer that has been running during November.

My favorite Royal Caribbean deals right now

Royal Beach Club passes: One of the deepest discounts I've seen this year is a great price on the new beach club opening.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in a few weeks and prices are at the lowest so far.

Think of this like a special shore excursion available exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers (as opposed to an included visit similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay).

Prices for an adult admission that includes alcohol is between $129 - $149 per person. Prior to the sale, prices were closer to $200 - $250 each.

Book a new cruise: The extra savings Royal Caribbean is offering during the actual Black Friday holiday, I think now is the right time to look at cruises for the coming years.

Getting up to $1,000 off your cruise in a single sale is not common, so while you have your family over for Thanksgiving, it might be the time to look for the right sailing.

Don't forget, Royal Caribbean just added new Texas cruises on Icon of the Seas, Alaska cruises and European cruises in 2027-2028, along with more Caribbean cruises.

All-In Package: A limited time offer for just Black Friday is an All-In Bundle, and it's a great combo offer.

Basically, you get the most commonly purchased add-ons in one: drink package, WiFi, dining package, and even access to the new Royal Beach Club.

The pricing for the All-In package without the Day Pass is $119.99 per person.

It's worth pricing out the individual components of the package to see if you could save more buying them separately, but for a lot of people the bundle is a better deal. For my sailing, it was $139 less expensive to book the bundle than all separately.

Cruise ships offer different stateroom categories to accommodate various vacation preferences and travel budgets, ranging from windowless inside cabins to spacious suites. 

Sometimes, however, the cheapest cruise cabin isn't the best. While saving money is always great, the trade-off can affect your onboard experience. For example, a lower-category cruise stateroom typically means less space and no access to natural light.

Before you agree to a downgrade, consider what you might be giving up on your next vacation and whether the cost savings are worth it. Here are 7 reasons the cheapest cruise cabin isn't always the smartest choice. 

No fresh air or natural light

Interior cabins do not have private balconies or windows. As such, they're sometimes referred to as "shoeboxes" or "tombs" because of their compact size and lack of natural light. Some travelers don't mind the setup. Others, however, find the windowless staterooms disorienting and claustrophobic. 

Without a window or balcony, you can't watch the sunrise, step outside for fresh air, or check the current weather conditions. Your stateroom's television will typically have a live feed of the bow or top deck, but it's not a substitute for the benefits of a true verandah or window. 

Plus, if you suffer from motion sickness, being in an interior cabin can make it harder to orient yourself since you can't gaze out at the horizon. 

Limited storage space

Cruise cabins aren't known for being spacious. The lack of storage space, in particular, is a common complaint, especially on older ships. 

While all standard staterooms (i.e., interior, ocean-view, and balconies) provide storage options, the amount varies widely. Since inside cabins are the smallest, they may have limited closets, drawers, and shelving. 

This may not be an issue on a short 3- or 4-night cruise. However, those sailing on longer voyages, such as two-week cruises through the Panama Canal or across the Atlantic Ocean, could find the lack of storage frustrating. 

Read more: I tried the best inside cruise ship cabin hacks to see how well they worked

Less space to relax

The size of inside cabins on Royal Caribbean cruise ships is inconsistent across the fleet. 

For example, most interior staterooms on Enchantment of the Seas come in at around 136 square feet, while those on Utopia of the Seas measure anywhere from 150 to 170 square feet. 

The smaller the rooms are, the less living space you have. In fact, it's not uncommon for many inside cabins to have limited seating, whereas most ocean-view and balcony staterooms have an extra sofa. 

Privacy is harder to come by

One major downside of inside and ocean-view cabins is the lack of a private verandah. Without a balcony, it's harder to savor private moments watching the passing scenery. On typical Caribbean sailings, this may not be as big an issue. 

However, on scenic cruises to places like Alaska or Norway, you might want your own outdoor space to enjoy glaciers, fjords, and wildlife. 

In fact, it is not uncommon for the top deck to be packed on glacier viewing days. As such, a room with a balcony means you won't have to fight the crowds for a good spot. You can even enjoy room service, complete with freshly brewed hot coffee, from the comfort of your private verandah. 

Basic amenities 

One reason to consider splurging on a suite is the extra benefits. The perks vary but often include upgraded toiletries, plush bedding, priority boarding, extra Crown & Anchor points, and access to exclusive lounges. 

Inside, ocean-view, and balcony rooms cover the basics, offering everything from an ensuite bathroom, daily housekeeping, and a television. However, the added comforts of a suite can make a noticeable difference, especially if you're celebrating a special occasion onboard. 

For example, Sky Class suites within the Royal Suite Class include complimentary VOOM internet; access to the Coastal Kitchen restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; priority boarding; suite lounge access; and more.

Read more: What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks?

Last-minute upgrades are a gamble

RoyalUp is Royal Caribbean’s cabin bidding program that allows passengers to bid on higher stateroom categories before their cruise, with the chance to “win” a better cabin. 

It can be tempting to rely on last-minute upgrades to score a balcony or suite at a lower cost. However, availability varies, and there's no guarantee that your bid will be accepted.

There's less of a chance if your cruise sells out in advance, which is common during peak travel times. As such, you should secure your preferred stateroom when booking to avoid disappointment. 

Guarantee cabins are risky

Finally, the cheapest cruise cabins are guarantee inside staterooms. Rather than selecting your specific cabin at the time of booking, Royal Caribbean will randomly assign a stateroom before sailing based on the remaining inventory.

Although they're a good option for cruisers who want to save money on their fare, you risk being assigned a cabin in an undesirable location, such as near a noisy elevator bank or at the front of the vessel. 

Once the stateroom has been assigned, it cannot be changed. This could be frustrating if you're given, for example, a connecting cabin and don't know the party in the adjoining stateroom. 

Read more: I saved $240 on my cruise by letting Royal Caribbean choose my room, and I'd totally do it again

If you cannot drive to your cruise port, you might be struggling with trying to decide when to fly in for your cruise. 

It's tempting to fly the same day as your cruise departure in order to save money and vacation days, but the risk of being delayed or cancelled means you could put your entire cruise vacation in jeopardy.

In all my years of going on Royal Caribbean cruises, one observation I've made is people that miss their cruise because of a travel delay is a very avoidable problem.

There always seem to be at least one person on every sailing that posts on social media that they missed their cruise because they tried to fly in the same day as the cruise departure.

Here are the top reasons not to fly the same as your cruise departs and when to fly in instead for a cruise.

Always fly in at least one day ahead of time (more for overseas)

In deciding when to fly in for your cruise, you should always arrive at least one day before the morning of departure.

Flying the same day as your cruise departure has too many risks. If you miss the cruise ship, Royal Caribbean will not refund your money, regardless of the reason.

Sure, travel insurance might cover it if it's a travel delay, but that won't make up for the vacation you planned.

I recommend always planning to arrive at least one day early before the cruise sets sail. This provides a buffer so that if your flight is cancelled or delayed, you have more time to still get to the embarkation port.

This is especially important if you're flying from a smaller airport that does not have many flights each day.

If you are flying overseas, such as to Europe, then I would recommend expanding that to at least 2-3 days before the cruise begins.

Not only are there less of these flights should it be cancelled, but you will need time to adjust your body clock to the local time and fight jetlag.

Simply put, the risks of flying in on the day of in order to save money are just not worth it. Here's why to fly in for your cruise early instead.

Weather is so unpredictable

You do not need to be a travel expert to know airlines will delay and cancel flights all the time because of bad weather.

Storms will throw off the entire flight schedules for days, especially if they are tropical storms or major winter storms. In fact, I think blizzards, snow storms, and ice storms are more likely to cause your flight to be changed than a hurricane.

Airlines don't play games with bad weather. When they see something coming, they'll cancel a flight quickly so that they can keep their aircraft out of its path.

But even if the bad weather is not as damaging in nature, a few hour delay could be the difference between you making the flight or not.  

Not only do you need good weather at your home airport, but it needs to be clear where you're flying into.  Florida is notorious for pop-up thunderstorms in the summer, which will shut airports down for hours.

Less stress

The last thing you want to do is start off your well-deserved vacation with added stress of will you make it on time.

Flying the same day as your cruise, even when everything is on time, is still a big guessing game until you actually land.

Call me crazy, but I don't want that kind of mental anguish before any of the fun begins.

You get more time to enjoy the cruise on embarkation day

If you fly the same day of your cruise, that will delay when you can actually get to the cruise terminal and step aboard.

I always want to be at the cruise terminal as early as possible so I can board sooner rather than later. Remember, the cost of your cruise doesn't change if you board at 11am or 2pm.

Having a few extra hours on embarkation day can make a big difference in enjoying the trip.  Plus, those first few hours on the first day are the best time to get a lot of things done and take advantage of smaller crowds on the pool deck.  Kids will really appreciate the shorter lines for water slides.

Getting aboard earlier also means less lines at the buffet.  As the afternoon goes on, the Windjammer gets very crowded.

I'm usually so excited for my cruise to begin that I want to get on the ship as early as I can and start enjoying what I paid for!

You can expand your vacation

An added bonus of not flying the same day your cruise begins is you can explore the port you're sailing from.

Royal Caribbean sails from major cities, and that means historical sites, tourist attractions, beautiful beaches, and plenty more to see and do.

You might combine your cruise with a land vacation too, such as a trip to Walt Disney World, New York City, or London.

I find tacking on a land trip to my cruise not only ensures I make the cruise, but I get to experience lots more in the countries and cities I'm traveling to.

In some cases, these are once-in-a-lifetime destinations that you'll want a few days to enjoy.  And if it's a place I've been before, there's always new restaurants or spots to check out since my last visit.

Royal Caribbean is making a major change to the way passengers can access their final bill after completing their cruise.

Historically, a paper copy of guests' final invoices is left outside the cabin on disembarkation morning. However, effective December 15, 2025, the cruise line will retire the printed copies of the spending summary. 

Passengers who want to view their statement before leaving the ship have a few options. First, they can use the Royal Caribbean mobile app, which allows guests to check their folio at any time during the voyage, not just on the final day. 

The final statement will also continue to be emailed to guests. Additionally, passengers can visit Guest Services to request a printed copy or check their spending summary on iTV, where available.

Royal Caribbean informed travel agents of the change in an email sent out on Nov. 25. 

"For ease of communication, we are discontinuing the use of printed invoices at the end of your clients’ cruises. Starting December 15, 2025, guests will have the convenient option to retrieve their final bill through the App, Email, Guest Services, or on iTV (where available)," the cruise line said. 

How to access digital folios

You can request spending summaries from past cruises by emailing [email protected] or calling 800-256-6649.

Note, however, folios are only available for 7 years. As such, final statements for cruises taken before 2018 are no longer available. 

Other things that have gone digital

In recent years, Royal Caribbean has implemented digital technology across many aspects of the onboard experience, starting with eDocs. 

Royal Caribbean (and Celebrity) cruisers do not need to print out a physical boarding pass. Instead, the SetSail Pass is available through the mobile app once the online check-in process has been completed. 

eDocs also contain helpful information like the reservation number, cabin assignment, sailing time, itinerary, and port directions. 

The eDocs also contain the printable luggage tags. While porters have tags available at the terminal, printing the tags and affixing them to your suitcase helps expedite the embarkation process. 

Finally, Royal Caribbean's Cruise Compass has done digital — well, mostly. You can still request physical copies of the daily schedule. However, passengers can access the Cruise Compass digitally through the mobile app.