Royal Caribbean Blog

Do you get dressed up for formal night on a cruise? There's a good chance a lot of other passengers like to do it as well.

A Royal Caribbean cruise has a different dress code for each evening of the cruise that recommends what to wear to the Main Dining Room.

With more people trying a cruise these days, views on dress codes seem to be changing. 

However, a recent poll of cruise fans indicate at least half still like the idea.

A poll in the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group with 1,000 respondents shows 51% of the people said they always get dressed up for formal night on a cruise.

Another 20% said they "occasionally" do, and 11% chose "rarely".

Just 18% of the people that participated in the survey said they never get dressed up for formal night.

The results of this very unscientific poll shows most cruise fans participate in formal night, despite anecdotal trends to the contrary.

"I'm not dressing up. It’s vacation"

There were strong opinions on both sides of the debate whether or not to get dressed up on a cruise.

Alex Swary wrote, "Unless it’s a funeral or a job interview, I’m not dressing up. It’s vacation."

Ro Carson argued formal night adds a flair to the vacation, "Fun to get dressed up and look around and see everyone else the same."

Rather than participate, Dru Filiberto skips the Main Dining Room on formal night, "We don't get dressed up for formal nights anymore, so we don't go to formal nights anymore. We'll eat somewhere else that night rather than go in casual clothes."

Mary Beth Ritchie shared getting dressed up doesn't have to be black tie, "I usually wear black jeans or leggings with a sparkly top."

"Love getting dressed up. It's like we are on a date," wrote Arlene Patterson.

Marina Patey added, "I live in scrubs on the daily so I treat myself to girly clothes!! It adds something special to my vacation."

How formal night got started on a cruise

Cruise lines evolved from ocean liners, and one of the many concepts they carried over were dress codes.

Dressing up for dinner is a way to passengers to take photos and enjoy an evening of elegance.

Billy Hirsch from CruiseHabit says formal night grew out of the classic cruise days, but remains popular, "Travel on passenger ships is now primarily recreational, the snob-appeal in cruise-line marketing combined with the tendency of tradition to live long at sea has meant that more formal dress has remained popular with many guests - though most seem content to don a bathing suit rather than a tuxedo when by the pool."

I think pop culture influenced what vacationers expect on a cruise ship.  On The Love Boat TV series, dressing up for dinner was part of the fun portrayed.  It conveyed how wearing fancy clothes with dinner was not only part of the experience, but a tradition that comes with a cruise vacation.

A lot has changed since the early days of cruising, and much of it has moved to keep up with changing consumer tastes.

Royal Caribbean doesn't even call it formal night on short sailings anymore.  "Dress Your Best" is now the standard on sailings less than 7 nights, but is effectively the same concept without the stuffy name.

Other lines have gone further than that. Norwegian Cruise Line famously made the change by introducing Freestyle Dining.

Celebrity Cruises replaced formal nights with Evening Chic nights, where the dress code is dressier than smart casual but less so than a traditional formal night.

All dress codes are optional

It's important to note that the dress codes really are more recommendations than actual requirements.

Royal Caribbean's website describes all of its dress codes as "suggested attire", and in my experience, you'd really have to show up in a bathing suit to be turned away.

The formal night dress code only applies to the Main Dining Room for dinner. There's no dress code for walking around the ship, and all other restaurants have their own dress code.

Even on formal night, the dress code at specialty restaurants supersedes the Main Dining Room.

The bottom line is you shouldn't feel obligated to wear a suit or gown to dinner. You certainly can, but keep in mind it's discretionary.

What you should wear on formal night

The advice I give anyone who wants to know what to pack for their cruise in terms of formal night is to dress something nicer than you might wear on any other night.

First and foremost, don't worry too much about it.  There's no fashion police on the ship, and since the dress code are suggestions, you have a lot of latitude in what you can wear.

That being said, one thing The Love Boat got right is dressing up is fun, and for a lot of families, formal night is the perfect excuse for something different and a way to get great photos.

There are so few opportunities in life to get dressed up as adults when it's not for a funeral or a wedding.  And both of those situations are all about someone else.

In addition to dressing nicer, Royal Caribbean also provides photo opportunities around the ship.

There's no obligation to stop and take a photo, but you could get a professional photo taken of you and your family with various backdrops.  

You'll find the photographers near the Main Dining Room, and public areas such as the Royal Promenade, Centrum, or Central Park.

There's no cost to take a photo, but if you want to buy a print or digital download, then you'd order one.

I've seen a lot of guests that get dressed up for dinner change into something more casual as soon as dinner and photos are complete, so there's no obligation to stay dressed up all night.

A sea day on a cruise ship is one of the best things about going on a cruise because of how many choices you have in spending your day, but I've seen far too many passengers mess it up with the wrong approach.

Most cruises have at least one sea day where the ship makes its way to the next port, but spends the day out on the ocean.

I used to hate sea days when I first started cruising because I wasn't properly taking advantage of them.  It's a great opportunity to experience everything Royal Caribbean ships have to offer, and that's important when you sail on a ship like Wonder of the Seas or Icon of the Seas that has so many things to do.

Ultimately, it's your choice what the best use of your time is, but I think passengers miss out on benefiting the most from their sea day when they do certain things.

There isn't necessarily right or wrong things to do, but I'd recommend not making these mistakes.

Not checking the weather forecast

Forget everything else in this article, if there's going to rainy or cold (or both) on a sea day, that will greatly impact your plans.

At some point the evening before your sea day, you'll want to look up the weather forecast for the day.

If you bought the internet package, you can check a host of apps that work well for this. The Windy app allows you to tap wherever in the ocean and it’ll tell you the forecast.

The easiest way to get the forecast for "the middle of the ocean" is to look at the digital Cruise Compass.

Each day there's a new Cruise Compass available to view, even if you don't have a WiFi package.  It lists the forecast on the first page.

Overlooking specialty restaurants for lunch

There's nothing wrong with eating at the cruise buffet for lunch, but don't overlook specialty restaurants.

If I'm on a ship with Playmakers Sports Bar, I make it a point to eat there for lunch because it's the perfect sea day meal.

There could be other specialty restaurants open too for lunch, and many cost less for lunch than dinner.

Missing out on fun activities

FOMO is real on a cruise ship, and sometimes there's an event held only once during your sailing.

Not checking the list of activities for what's coming up that day is a mistake as well, especially events before noon. Opportunities to meet the Captain, learn about how the ship works, and other behind-the-scenes events takes place on sea days and in the morning.

There's also going to be the most activities on a sea day, so this is your chance to get in on them. Looking at the full list ahead of time means you don't miss out on a favorite.

The Royal Caribbean app lists it all, and it's the easiest way to quickly see what looks good and you can even add a reminder for it.

Trying to do too much

While I just mentioned all the fun things to do onboard, I think you want to avoid overdoing it too.

It's debatable how relaxing a sea day should be, but I think trying to squeeze too much in may also lead to that feeling you're "burning the candle on both ends."

This is more of a problem on port intensive itineraries in Europe, Asia, or Alaska, where you want to prioritize time on land.  Sea days are a great way to relax and recharge.

Getting sunburned

It's one thing if you get sunburned at the beach, but getting sunburned on a sea day when sunscreen is a short walk back to your cabin is silly.

It happens all the time, but you really should avoid getting sunburned at all costs.

It'll be painful, and it's so easily avoidable. 

If you forgot to pack some, they sell it in the general store onboard. You probably could borrow some from another passenger, if you asked politely.

Not taking seasick medicine

The highest chance of getting seasick is probably on a sea day, so make sure you take medication for it.

It's unlikely you will get seasick, especially if the weather is favorable.  But I recommend new cruisers take a daily seasickness tablet, just to be safe.

Waking up too early

There have been a few days when I got up too early because I was so excited for a day of fun, and then by 11am, I was ready for a long nap.

There isn't anything wrong with napping during  your cruise, but you also don't want to miss out on prime time activities.

If you're normally an early riser, then this is fine.  What I'm talking about are the people who specifically get up early and then crash later.

Going late to the pool

If you value spending your sea day at the pool, don't be late getting there.

When the sun is shining, everyone else on your ship seems to have the same idea and chairs near the pool go quickly.

You don't need to get up at dawn to get a chair, but if being at the pool is important to you, I would plan to be at the pool deck by 10am at the latest.

There's a little more flexibility if you don't mind chairs further away from the actual pool and in the shade.

Wasting money at the spa

If you are going to get a spa treatment during your cruise, it will almost certainly cost less on a port day

Sea days are when everyone else has lots of time, so demand for the spa is highest.

What you should do is skip the spa on a sea day and book it for a port day. 

Remember, it still counts if you go there in the final hours the ship is docked. So you could go right after your shore excursion and take advantage of the port day price specials.

Not partying late the night before

For those that are looking for the right evening to "go hard", then it's the day before a sea day.

Because you can sleep off a hangover, make sure you prioritize the night before a sea day for those antics.

Missing out on an uncrowded casino

One of the top complaints about the casino on any Royal Caribbean cruise is how crowded it can get there.

The casino will be open while your ship is at sea, and it's notably less crowded during the morning and day of a sea day.  

It'll fill back up in the evening, but take advantage of the open machines while the sun in shing in the casino.

Skipping trivia

I think you're missing out if you don't attend a few trivia sessions.

Royal Caribbean offers all kinds of trivia, and you'll find probably one trivia session every couple of hours on a sea day.

My favorites are the Royal Caribbean trivia, geography trivia, and visual trivia. They're different from the norm, and it's a great sea day activity.

Refusing to nap

If your body is tell you to nap, you should do it.

I know it sounds counter-intuitive to enjoying everything the ship has to offer, but you also don't want to crash at 8pm.  Or be half awake for most of the day.

A good power nap of 45 minutes can work wonders for rejuvenating you for more fun that day.

Not exploring the ship

Royal Caribbean ships are really big, so take time to see it all.

Ideally, you can tour the ship on embarkation day, but you probably didn't get to see it all.  Or some areas were closed.  So a sea day is a great time to see the rest of it.

Walk the decks, peek your head into a shop, and generally see what's around the next corner.  

Not taking advantage of the internet package for the day

If you didn't buy an internet package for your entire cruise, you could buy a 24 hour pass and a sea day is a great time to maximize the value.

The 24 hour pass is available to book only when you get onboard, but since you won't have a shore excursion, you can take full advantage of it.

Plus, you could log out and let family use it too.

Don't forget as a Diamond or Diamond Plus member in Crown and Anchor Society, you're entitled to free internet to use as well.

Missing out on a sunset selfie

That perfect sunset to share on Instagram? There's a good chance of it on a sea day.

While beautiful sunsets can happen in port too, at least at sea there won't be any obstacles.

Knocking out any of your must-dos

This list was meant to offer ideas for what to do on a sea day, but it's also a good reminder a sea day is when you should try to do the things you first intended to do.

If you're like me, you picked a cruise ship because you saw certain activities or attractions onboard that you said "I need to do that!".  If so, you'll want to take advantage of the sea day for it.

I've come back from far too many cruises with regret that I didn't get to do the one or two things that I really wanted to try. It's easy to get sidetracked or fall into the trap of "I'll do it later".

Take advantage of a sea day and get whatever you had your heart set on done.

Hope you had a great week and are staying safe out there. Hopefully you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.

We will have to wait a few more weeks for the next round of cruise sailings.

Royal Caribbean delayed its spring release of 2026-2027 deployments.

It's not unheard of for deployments to be delayed, as they are complicated and sometimes need more time to coordinate all the plans properly.

Royal Caribbean News

• Beloved Royal Caribbean cruise ship Captain announces retirement
• "Super Mario" takes is 1,000th cruise with Royal Caribbean
• Royal Caribbean wants to pay artists to create works for its new cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean ship delayed returning to Baltimore after medical evacuation
• The US shared a travel warning to a place my cruise is going. Should I worry?
• Answers to cruise cabin questions you're too embarrassed to ask
• 7 Things I instantly regret not bringing that cost less than $10 on a cruise
• Big Ships vs. Small Ships: Is one a better choice?
• My favorite spot to go to at CocoCay has gotten better
• I've cruised for 30 years and tried new things on Royal Caribbean ships, but wouldn't do them all again
• How to save money on internet by not buying everyone an internet package

Video: worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

11 reasons why eating at the buffet instead of the Main Dining Room is better

The buffet on your cruise is more than just a place for a casual meal, it's arguably a better place to eat dinner too.

While the Main Dining Room is beautiful and has terrific service, you might consider eating at the Windjammer instead for the simplicity and speed it offers.

Plus, the Windjammer food variety is impressive, especially if you have picky eaters.

Cruiser liked Carnival better after only cruising with Royal Caribbean

After years of sailing with Royal Caribbean, one cruiser tried Carnival and liked it a lot.

The person detailed their experience on Reddit, sharing what they preferred with Carnival.

"I am SO SO glad we booked! We had been loyal to Royal previously and have Emerald status. We will still do Royal, and eventually want to try Icon [of the Seas], but I feel like my first cruise on Carnival has beat my last two on Royal."

The cruise excursion idea you might have that's really a mistake

I know what you're thinking, and it's actually a bad idea waiting to happen.

Some cruisers will try to fit two different shore excursions into the same day because it looks like they can fit it into their schedule.

The reality is you don't have as much time as you think, and the rigors of trying to do two tours adds up quickly.

What you should know about your cruise room before you arrive

Your cruise ship cabin isn't exactly like a hotel room, so there are important things you should know about it.

From better utilizing your room to things that won't be there, new cruisers might be surprised what's waiting for them in their stateroom.

Check out the important things you should know before you arrive in your cabin about your room.

You're bound to have lots of questions when you're new to a cruise vacation, and maybe a few of them are things a little awkward to ask.

I know I've been in situations where I'm new to something and I feel embarrassed to ask such a basic question to a group of people who know it all, especially when it seems like I probably should be able to figure it out.

The longer you cruise, the more questions you'll see, especially if you join a message board or group online. I try not to judge them, as I was a newbie also at one point. 

I'm betting there are some people brand new to cruises that are curious for an answer to these questions they think are too dumb to ask, so we have the answers right here to make you more confident about your cruise.

Will I have to share a bathroom with other cruise ship passengers?

A room on a cruise ship is somewhat similar to a hotel, but it's definitely not like a hostel.

Rest assured, every stateroom comes with its own ensuite bathroom, so you don't have to leave your cabin to use the facilities. 

Regardless of which type of cabin you book, every stateroom bathroom has a shower, toilet, sink, mirror, and some storage space. If you want a bathtub, you'll need to upgrade to at least a Junior Suite.

Of course, there are public bathrooms around the ship too in the public areas, such as the pool deck, Royal Promenade, and near restaurants.

I'm scared of falling off a cruise ship, should I be?

I can confidently assure you there's no risk of falling off a cruise ship if you follow the rules.

Stories of passengers going overboard perpetuate the myth you can fall off a cruise ship randomly and without any cause. The reality is that's simply not true.

There are two ways you can go overboard: you deliberately jump off the ship, or you go somewhere you're not supposed to go and then slip and fall off the ship.

Unfortunately, many cases of people that go overboard are the result of a suicide.  Others are people doing things they're not supposed to do, like getting up on balcony railings.

All of the railings around the ship are about four feet tall, making it nearly impossible to accidentally fall off as the result of a slip and fall.

As for kids, all balcony doors have a manual lock located high on the door frame to prevent young children from being able to get out to the balcony. Of course, parental supervision is key to ensure they don't climb anything.

Can someone on another cruise ship see into my cabin when my ship is docked in port?

Absolutely, yes!

The windows on your suite, balcony, or oceanview are viewable through both sides of the glass.  If you booked one of these rooms and you're in port, you'll want to be vigilant about what you do with the windows open.

If there's a cruise ship docked across from yours, yes, the passengers on that ship can see onto your balcony and, if your curtains are open, into your cabin!

And that goes also if you booked a Neighborhood cabin, such as a Central Park, Surfside, or Boardwalk room.  There are other cabins (and passengers below) that could potentially have a line of sight right into your room.

Always check what's outside your window or balcony window before changing or getting in the shower.  Or anything else you wouldn't want someone else to see.

Do crew members live on the ship?

Before you accuse me of making up this question, I promise you I have heard it asked many times.

Yes, the crew members on the ship live, work, and sleep on the same ship you sail on.  They don't commute to it.

Below the passenger decks are a few additional decks where the crew members live.  Most crew members share a cabin with other crew members, and they have cabins similar to passenger cabins, although crew cabins are smaller and lack the finishes that passengers have.

There are actually a crew-only buffet restaurant, crew gym, and crew bar also onboard.

Guests are never allowed into the crew areas, unless they book a Behind the Scenes tour.

Why do I hear a "whoosh" sound from the toilet?

Unlike your bathroom at home, the toilet is going to be quite louder and that's because it's a vacuum system.

Similar to the toilets on an airplane, when you flush, the vacuum system engages to make the toilet function.

It's also common to hear a few more thumps as the valves in the system close.

Don't worry, it's all normal.

Is the toilet water salt water?

I swear this question has been asked before, and the answer is no, it's not salt water.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise ship has its own desalination plant onboard that takes sea water, treats it, and converts it back to freshwater.  They also can recycle freshwater to be re-used for things like the toilet.

Do I need to bring my own toilet paper?

Fear not, your stateroom attendant will provide as much toilet paper as you need during your cruise.

Cruise staterooms aren't like an Airbnb that provides one roll and the rest is on you.

Similarly, you don't need to worry about running out of clean towels, because each time your attendant services your cabin, they will replenish used towels with clean ones.

How do I dispose of used feminine hygiene products?

First, definitely do not flush it down the toilet. It will break the toilet for you and everyone around your room.

Royal Caribbean provides sanitary bags to use, and they're located underneath your sink.

Place the used sanitary bag in the garbage can below your sink.  Sometimes it's an open metal container, and on newer ships, there's actually a garbage lid.

Can I be kicked off my ship if the cruise is overbooked?

Just like air lines, cruise lines oversell their ship because they know people cancel and don't show up all the time.

In very rare cases, a sailing approaches and Royal Caribbean sees there's an oversold problem and they'll take action. This is how the public becomes aware that a ship is oversold.

Some passengers get an email alerting them to the oversold nature of the sailing and the line asks for volunteers to change sail dates.

They don't actually bump anyone, they look for people with flexibility that want to save a ton of money to free up their cabin. There are a lot of people than you realize that wouldn't mind deferring their vacation and getting money back for it, such as people who live near the port or retired folks.

So while there is a theoretical possibility the cabins are oversold on your cruise sailing and you'd be denied boarding, it's very, very unlikely and not something you should worry about. 

Is there a TV in my room and what channels does it get?

Yes, every cabin has its own television.

There's a limited subset of channels provided, and many are international feeds of well-known networks.

Channels you can expect include:

• ESPN
• CNN
• Fox News
• MSNBC
• BBC
• Sky News

There are also movie channels, kids channels, and some channels in Spanish, German, or Chinese.

Is a guaranteed cabin a bad choice?

Royal Caribbean offers the option to let them pick the room for you, known as a guarantee cabin.

There are plusses and minuses to a guarantee cabin.  You could save a lot of money by allowing the cruise line to pick your room location, but the downside is you might end up with less desirable room.

A guaranteed cabin could result in a room with an obstructed view and/or in a "bad" location.

I wouldn't say a guaranteed cabin is a bad choice, because the money saving opportunity is often significant.  Plus, you probably won't end up in a truly awful room.

A lot of people that cruise a lot opt for guaranteed cabins, but the key is to be aware of the potential downsides and be okay with it.

Is a big Royal Caribbean cruise ship better than a small ship? That's a question many people looking to book a cruise vacation think about when trying a ship.

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships come in three main sizes: medium, big, and really big. The bigger the ship, the more space it has and that allows for more activities, but it sacrifices things smaller ships are known for.

I see many cruisers who have only sailed on the mega ships concerned if they'd be disappointed in going on a small cruise ship. They think because they're used to the biggest and newest ships, would a small and old ship feel lacking.

Of course, all of Royal Caribbean's ships are big ships compared to luxury cruise lines. 

In order to categorize them properly, we'll consider the Vision, Radiance, and Voyager Class ships to be smaller, and the Freedom, Oasis, Icon, and Quantum to be big.

Here's what you should know when deciding if bigger is better for a cruise ship choice.

Big ships

Most new cruisers gravitate towards the biggest cruise ships in the world because of how effective Royal Caribbean's advertising is.

When you see a commercial, you're seeing one of the line's newest ships and those happen to be the biggest ones too.

Activities

The bigger the ship, the more space they have to include things to do onboard, and that's probably the top reason to book a big ship.

Royal Caribbean's biggest ships are well-known for having water slides, zip lines, mini-golf, surf simulators, multiple pools, and multiple theaters.

Throughout the day there is a lot happening, so you won't be bored from a lack of things to do. Truly, that's the entire point of a big ship is to offer passengers more to do than they can possibly handle so that a cruise feels like a different kind of vacation.

This works out well for families, especially families with kids.  There's more space for kid-focused activities, and even the kids clubs are bigger on the big ships. There are also pools and aqua parks for kids, as well as more programming offered.

But don't look at a big ship as just for kids.  Royal Caribbean blends its activities to appeal to adults as much as kids. The difference is there's more for every age group on big ships, especially kids.

The downside to so many activities is it's difficult to fit it all in, especially if you're on a sailing with a lot of port calls. 

A big ship will probably cost more than a small ship, but if you're not taking advantage of all that you can do onboard, it could seem like a problem.

Dining

Just like all the things you can do on a big ship, there's lots more dining choices too.

You'll find the same subset of core restaurants on all of Royal Caribbean's ships: Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, a snack location or two, and a specialty restaurant.

The difference is on big ships, there's many more choices of each, especially specialty restaurants.

Plus, on its biggest ships, there is an exclusive restaurant just for suite passengers. Coastal Kitchen is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's included in the cost of an expensive suite.  For some cruise fans, they prefer big ships to have access to Coastal Kitchen.

A great example of the difference in dining choices between big and small ships is with its snack locations.  On small ships, there's a single location that serves coffee, snacks, sandwiches, and pizza.  But on big ships, you get separate restaurants for the coffee and snacks, and one for the pizza.  

On Icon of the Seas, there's Pearl Cafe, Cafe Promenade, and Sorrento's Pizza with separate locations to help spread out crowds. 

I think the most noticeable benefit of a big ship are how many specialty restaurants there are, including the newest concepts.

While small ships have specialty restaurants, they lack some of the more popular or new ones.  You won't find hibachi, a supper club, or BBQ options on a small ship.

However, if you don't care to spend the money on a specialty restaurant, then the fact there are more of them on a big ship may not be a selling point at all.

Entertainment

There are production shows on every Royal Caribbean ship, along with live music, comedians, and more.

On a big ship, you'll not only have a greater variety of shows, but also higher quality productions. Many of the big ships have full Broadway shows, whereas small ships have musical revues.

I can see a clear difference in the quality of the shows on a big ship compared to a small one.  It's not that shows on a small ship are bad, rather, shows on a big ship are better because there's a larger budget for them and some shows actually have a discernable plot to them.

For comedians, live musical performances, and game shows, it's more or less the same between the ships.

Suites

While I think you can make an argument for big vs. small ships in each category, it seems big ships have a definitive advantage for suites.

Royal Caribbean specifically offers a superior suite class program on its three biggest ship classes: Icon, Oasis, and Quantum.  If you're booking a suite and staying on these ships, it's a night and day difference in what you get.

Known as the Royal Suite Class, there are far more benefits and more space dedicated to suite passengers. This comes in having Coastal Kitchen, a larger suite lounge with extended hours for drink service, dedicated suite sun deck, and more included in your cruise fare.

The most expensive suites even come with front-of-the-line access via the Royal Genie service that's included.  

The downside to a suite on a big ship is it's going to cost you a lot more than a small ship.

Small ships

Big ships sounds wonderful, but small ships have far more x-factors that give them edges in places you might not think about, especially if you don't have young children.

One of the top two reasons anyone books a Royal Caribbean cruise is for the destinations you visit, and small ships have arguably better and more exotic choices in that realm.

Activities

The small ships will still offer a lot to do, especially on sea days.  This is one of the advantages of cruising with Royal Caribbean, as they infuse their own "high energy DNA" into all of their ships.

Things to do on a small ship will check the important check boxes: there will be trivia, karaoke, bingo, sports court activities, and dance events.

The major component missing on a small ship are the kids focused areas and "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship" offerings. Water slides, aqua parks, and thrill attractions aren't included on small ships.

When you talk to people that love to cruise on small ships, they often describe these vessels as offering "a classic cruise experience".

Dining

There's a surprising amount of dining choices on a small ship, especially the Radiance Class vessels.

The menu at the Main Dining Room is the same across the fleet, and the Windjammer buffet experience is pretty standardized as well.

I feel the lack of variety in specialty dining and pool deck food is where you see the biggest difference on small ships.  Most small ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet have 2 or 3 specialty restaurants, and a casual complimentary offering. You won't go hungry, and they hit the spot.

Many ships have Chef's Table, Chops Grille, Giovanni's, and Izumi onboard for their dining choices.  It's really certain Vision Class ships, like Enchantment of the Seas, that truly lack much choice in specialty offerings.

Entertainment

Adding to the more relaxing atmosphere of a small ship are the pretty darn good daytime and evening entertainment options.

Just like the big ships, there's a sailaway party, DJ dance party at night, piano player, and guitarist onboard.

And you'll still find an evening production show or featured entertainer on small ships.  Big ships have two or three theaters, whereas small ships have one.

The one detraction about shows on small ships is they are typically aging musical revues.  You'll be able to tell exactly which decade the ship started sailing based on the music options in the show.  It's still entertaining, but don't expect Broadway-level performances.

Port variety

The best thing about a small ship is the fact these ships can sail to places the big ships cannot go.

You'll find small ships homeported in places like Tampa, Baltimore, or Boston, which makes it convenient for anyone that can drive to the port to sail to.

But the real value in a small ship is the fact it can get to distant ports that cannot fit big ships. Because these ships are physically smaller, they can get into certain ports and offer more interesting itineraries than mega ships can offer.

Whether it's sailing to the South Pacific, through the Panama Canal, or into historic cities in Europe, small ships have the bucket list itineraries I think a lot of vacationers crave. 

When you get to visit amazing places in the world, the ship you're sailing on is secondary.

Price

Another advantage for a small ship is you it will probably cost you less to go on a small ship over a big ship.

In general, the newer (and bigger) the ship, the higher the price to cruise. There are other factors that influence a price of a cruise, but this is a pretty standard rule.

You could end up paying two or three times more to go on Icon of the Seas instead of Grandeur of the Seas.

The price differences are a little less noticeable when you get closer to the "middle", especially between the Voyager or Freedom Class ships.

Ultimately, a lot of vacationers pick one ship over another because of price, and you'll get more for value picking a smaller, older ship.

Your Royal Caribbean cruise room, or cabin, is probably different than you might expect it to be.

New cruisers might assume their stateroom is just like a hotel room, and while there are indeed many similarities, there are a few things that certainly make the cruise experience different.

To that point, I went through the commonly asked questions from our readers to come up with the things about a cruise cabin that would either surprise you or not be what you'd expect.  In some cases, there are tips on how to better utilize your room.  I hope all of them prepare you for a great time in the room.

Knowing what to expect in your cruise room is the key to avoiding problems later.

The room is probably going to smaller than you expect

Rooms on cruise ships are generally smaller than hotel rooms because of the constraints of a cruise ship.

They have all the basics you'd expect: a bed, desk with mirror, closet, drawers, and private bathroom. But that's about the extent of the similarities.

Depending on the cabin category you choose, the amount of space comes in all sorts of sizes.  In general, the higher the category, the more space you get.  So a balcony room would have more living space than an oceanview room, which has more living space than an inside cabin.

The fact the rooms are smaller shouldn't be that much of a problem because in reality, passengers spend less time in their room than expected.  There's so much happening around the ship between activities, dining, shore excursions, and shows, that most people treat their cabin as a place to sleep, shower, and change. 

So the fact the room is smaller than expected is less important given how little time you'll probably spend in it.

You can split the beds upon request

Any cabin you book comes with a king size bed that can be split apart, if you prefer.

If you're sharing the stateroom with someone you don't want to share a bed with, the beds are able to be split. Likewise, split beds can be combined back into one.

Your travel agent can make that request at the time you book a cruise, but if you arrived to the ship and discovered the beds are still together, you just need to ask your stateroom attendant to make the change.

One other request you might want to make of your stateroom attendant is if you have a couch that converts to a bed, you can ask them to keep the couch bed in "sleep mode" during the day for convenient naps.

The walls are really thin

Another difference between a room on a cruise ship versus hotel is how thin the walls are in terms of noise.

The thin walls mean don't expect every noise coming out of your room to necessarily stay in your room. Be respectful of your neighbors, and understand noise can go both ways between the rooms.

Store luggage beneath your bed

One of my favorite cabin tips is to put your luggage underneath your bed after you unpack.

When I arrive in my room on embarkation day, I'll unpack all my belongings and then take the empty suitcase and shove it underneath my bed.  The beds are high enough to allow most suitcases to fit under them. 

Putting the luggage under the bed frees up space in the closet, and keeps it out of sight too. Some cabins have more storage space than others, but you'll probably need all the closet space you can get, especially if your cruise is 7-nights or longer.

You can probably open the balcony dividers

If you booked two balcony rooms next to each other, there's a good chance you can open the balcony divider between them.

As long as you know the people in the room next to you, you can ask your stateroom attendant to open the balcony divider.  Doing so makes it feel like you have an expansive balcony space and also makes it easier to go back and forth between rooms.

I noted that you can "probably" do this because not all Royal Caribbean ships have balcony dividers that can be opened.  All the new cruise ships are able to do this, but certain older ships cannot.

You get to pick when you want your room made up

When you meet your cabin attendant, you'll be given the choice of when you want your room serviced each day.

Guests staying in a balcony or lower have the choice of morning or evening service.  In either case, there's a window of time your cabin attendant will attempt to service your cabin and change the sheets, make the bed, vacuum, replace the towels, and more.

There isn't a right or wrong time to pick, it's just up to you and your preference.  

My advice is if you like to sleep in, pick the evening service.  But if you're an early riser, then morning works.

If you booked a suite, then you get twice a day service in both morning and evening, so there's nothing to decide.

Some people find the mattresses firm

I really like sleeping on Royal Caribbean's beds, but I know some people report them being on the firm side.

When considering what a cruise ship bed is like, there's a top sheet and comforter provided by default.

How "firm" a bed is definitely depends on the person, and while I've always found them comfortable, I've seen enough posts to the contrary to understand we all see it differently.

You can ask your cabin attendant for a mattress topper to help with that.  If they run out, they can usually provide another comforter to put under the sheets to help too.

There is a cooler, but it's not a fridge

Every cabin includes a minifridge, but it's not really that cold in there to be considered a true refrigerator.

It's good for keeping food fresh for a little bit longer to enjoy later, so don't stick something in there to eat a few days later because it probably won't make it.

Royal Caribbean used to stock the minifridge with a mini bar, but that practice stopped years ago.

The bathroom is tiny, but functional

No matter what cabin you get, I think the bathrooms on Royal Caribbean are small, but efficient. They'll have exactly what you need, without room for much else.

There's a sink, bar of soap, shower (with combo shampoo/conditioner in a dispenser), outlet for a razor, limited storage space, and the toilet.

You will find a hair dryer you can use in the vanity area of the cabin, not in the bathroom.

Speaking of tiny, the shower is going to be small too.  There's enough room for one person, but it's a tight fit.  

What you won't find in your cruise cabin

The top surprise about what's not in your room is a clothing iron because they are a fire hazard.  

Not only does Royal Caribbean not provide them, but you aren't allowed to bring one onboard.  The same goes for clothing steamers and pretty much any appliance.

Other items not included in your cabin include alarm clocks/radios or coffee makers. 

While there is a television in your room, there isn't a DVD player included.  Newer Royal Caribbean ships have the ability to digitally stream to the TV, but it's very few of the new ships that have that feature.

One cruiser was surprised how much they enjoyed Carnival after cruising with Royal Caribbean for years.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most popular mainstream cruise lines in the world. Royal Caribbean is known for building some of the biggest and most advanced cruise ships in the world. On the other hand, Carnival Cruise Line has just started constructing mega cruise ships in the last five years. 

Carnival's focus on fun can be misconstrued as a party-centric experience. For this reason, many cruisers tend to be either loyal to Royal Caribbean or diehard fans of Carnival Cruise Line. As two of the top competitors in the industry, the cruise lines have more in common than you might think. 

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line offer affordable cruise fares onboard their family-friendly vessels. Some argue that Carnival’s newest and most innovative ships in their Excel class rival Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships. With many dining choices and plenty of onboard thrills, the two classes are quite similar.

One cruiser recently shared their first-time experience on Carnival Cruise Line after being loyal to Royal Caribbean for years. The user, @Itwo_Inokam, detailed their first impressive Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Jubilee on Reddit in the r/Cruise subreddit.

Carnival Jubilee is the newest and biggest ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. The Excel class vessel was launched in 2023 and holds 6,500 passengers at capacity. Prior to sailing on Carnival Jubilee, the cruiser stated they sailed twice on Allure of the Seas.

In the post, the first-time cruiser shared, "I am SO SO glad we booked! We had been loyal to Royal previously and have Emerald status. We will still do Royal, and eventually want to try Icon [of the Seas], but I feel like my first cruise on Carnival has beat my last two on Royal.”

Here’s why the first-timer’s family cruise with Carnival Cruise Line exceeded expectations after cruising with Royal Caribbean.

One of the most pleasant surprises from cruising with Carnival was the inclusion of so many restaurants onboard

Many cruisers praise Carnival Cruise Line for having a multitude of casual dining options included in their cruise fare. The majority of restaurants on Carnival’s Excel class ships are complimentary, with only a few select specialty options for splurging.

The first-time Carnival cruiser said, “The food was incredible! We ate at Chibang, Cucina del Capitano, and did all of the Street Eats, Guy’s [Burger Joint], Big Chicken, and BlueIguana Cantina.”

The cruiser found some of the complimentary dining options on Carnival were comparable to specialty dining on Royal Caribbean. The first-timer said, “We just can't believe how many choices there were that weren't an up-charge, and all delicious. Some definitely would be considered specialty dining on Royal Caribbean.”

With this, the cruiser found Carnival to be better value for the money. They commented, “Because Carnival includes so much at no up-charge, we came out with a significantly lower bill. Experiences with our kids at dining options that would have been a per-person charge on Royal, weren’t on Carnival.”

Further, the cruiser said they attempted to try all of the food during their cruise, but nearly ran out of time because there were so many options.

“We tried so hard to try everything, and it was just too much. And we were amazed at how good it all was. The type of quality was what you'd expect from specialty dining or an up-charge. Also, even items that were an up-charge like Emeril’s [Bistro] were so cheap for the quality! Same with the seafood station on the lido deck,” concluded the cruiser.

Read more: Royal Caribbean vs Carnival: Which is a better choice?

On prior cruises with Royal Caribbean, the cruiser stated that their main dining room and buffet experiences were somewhat disappointing. The long-time Royal Caribbean cruiser said they have personally noticed a decline in the dining experience, including the Windjammer buffet and main dining room.

The cruiser explained, “It’s so sad - [Royal Caribbean] wasn’t always like it is now. One of my favorite parts of cruising is eating and trying new foods. [Now], you’re pushed into getting the specialty dining because the Windjammer is a miss more than a hit. On our last two [cruises], the dining room was unbelievably slow only to receive warm to cold food.”

Carnival’s Camp Ocean was particularly impressive and accommodating for the first-time cruiser and his kids

Along with Carnival Jubilee’s expansive dining options, the family was especially wowed by the youth programming onboard. With a focus on family fun, Carnival Cruise Line has a well-established childcare program across its fleet, including a state-of-the-art facility on Carnival Jubilee.

In their experience, the cruiser stated, “My kids are 9 and 10, and they were actually mad when we picked them up from [Camp Ocean]. There is a room with over a dozen [Playstation consoles] and they also have structure, and do crafts and other activities with the kids.”

Additionally, the cruiser noted how the interactive staff also enhanced their experience. “My kids were the ones that pointed out how happy [the staff] seemed and they shared the staff played with and amongst the kids, and it made [Camp Ocean] even more fun.”

The family also preferred Carnival’s structure for its youth programming, as the experience aligned better with the family’s needs

Although Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line both provide childcare options onboard their ships, each cruise line takes a slightly different approach. For this family, Carnival’s approach to youth programming was preferred.

“The hours on Carnival’s kids’ club aren’t broken up where you need to find additional activities for kids. You can leave them in there, if they want to stay, as soon as it opens,” the parent explained.

In contrast, the cruiser stated Royal Caribbean had more strict hours for drop-off times on their cruises. ”On Royal Caribbean, you need to get them out for all meals. It closes at 12 and then reopens at 2, I think, and closes again at 5 - and opens back after dinner,” stated the cruiser.

Because they limit screen time and tablet use, the cruiser said filling these gaps during the day on Royal Caribbean can be taxing. To keep their kids entertained on Royal Caribbean, the poster said they often found activities, classes, or events that required an extra cost. This often resulted in the cruiser’s kids not wanting to return to Adventure Ocean on Royal Caribbean.

Clarifying this perspective, the cruiser stated, “I am not saying that people shouldn't want to spend time with their kids, I'm just sharing that for us, we'd have to find or pay for activities for the kids and they often didn’t want to go back once we picked them up for lunch.”

Because the kids enjoyed their time at Camp Ocean, the cruiser was able to relax more and save money during their Carnival cruise.

The poster shared, “Even though Carnival has classes you can pay for, we didn't need to because they have so many free things for kids, and [Camp Ocean] on Jubilee made the kids want to stay in it so we didn't need to find or pay for as many options for them."

In the end, Carnival’s flexible hours and attentive staff helped facilitate a welcoming and fun environment for the family’s children. Compared to prior experiences with Royal Caribbean, the first-timer preferred Carnival’s childcare for the value.

Along with childcare, the first-time cruiser also loved all of the free activities available for everyone

During their cruise on Carnival Jubilee, the family was also blown away by all of the activities and entertainment available. The cruise line is known for having a lively and energetic atmosphere with nonstop fun from the moment you get onboard. Part of this includes a variety of events while sailing, especially on larger vessels with more guests to entertain.

“The amount of free activities for everyone, but especially the kids, will definitely keep us coming back. The adult entertainment and amount of varied activities was incredible,” shared the cruiser.

During their time on Carnival Jubilee, the cruiser said they enjoyed watching gameshows as a family, including Love & Marriage, Family Feud, and Deal or No Deal. The first-time Carnival cruiser said, “We couldn't keep up with all of the choices and options for shows each evening.”

Read more: Is Carnival Jubilee worth the hype? My honest review

After sailing on Carnival Jubilee, the family has already booked another Carnival cruise

Even though the family was hesitant to venture from Royal Caribbean, the first-time Carnival cruiser was happy with their experience. From the snazzy ship design to the impressive dining experience and Camp Ocean, the family plans to return to Carnival Cruise Line.

As for Carnival’s bad reputation, this first-time cruiser said Carnival doesn’t deserve the bad rap. “I'm sorry to admit that I used to contribute to it and had never even sailed the line. I just believed what others would say…and justify avoiding them even though we hadn't been pleased with Royal on the last two cruises.”

In the end, the family had an overwhelmingly positive experience on Carnival Jubilee. The cruiser stated, “For the affordability and quality, I feel like we more than got our money's worth! If you're on the fence about Carnival, I'd encourage you to try it on a newer ship sailing 7+ days.”

In fact, the poster shared in the comment section that their family has already booked a future sailing with Carnival.

In the comments, many cruisers agreed with the first-time Carnival cruiser

After detailing their first Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Jubilee, the Reddit post resonated with other cruisers. First, one of the most common opinions in the comment section involved the food. Many cruisers preferred Carnival’s complimentary dining compared to Royal Caribbean’s dining options.

“The Windjammer had constant lines to get in. The pizza and burgers were bad - cafe style patties put out on a tray with half stale buns. Nothing like Guy’s [Burger Joint] on Carnival,” shared one Carnival cruiser.

Another responder said, “My wife and I took our honeymoon cruise on Jubilee’s sister ship, Celebration, in 2023 and we had the time of our lives. Service was amazing, so many incredible food options that we didn’t even get to try them all (Big Chicken was our go-to).”

One commenter noted how they felt Carnival’s complimentary food surpassed even some of Royal Caribbean’s specialty dining. The cruiser explained, “Really irritating [Johnny Rockets] was not included, yet I could get Guy’s [Burger Joint] and BlueIguana Cantina, which were pretty darn good (better than the paid-for stuff at Royal), for free."

In particular, Carnival fans agreed that Excel class ships rivaled Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships. One cruiser stated, “The Excel Class ships are really nice. Much closer to the Royal experience, but with far better food. We love doing them but just wish they had better entertainment.”

Another overarching theme in the comment section involved Carnival Cruise Line getting a bad reputation compared to Royal Caribbean. Each cruise line offers a different experience, which can align with some travelers better than others. For some, Royal Caribbean is a better option while others prefer Carnival's experience. 

One responder said, “Glad you enjoyed it. Carnival undeservedly gets a bad rap and it's created by those who have never cruised with them.”

Similarly, another cruiser shared, “So tired of seeing the same lame ‘Walmart of the Seas’ comment. Yes, the average customer base is not the same as Celebrity or Princess, but that’s the point! There’s something for everyone with cruising.”

I go on a Royal Caribbean cruise about once a month, and I always seem to forget to pack something minor that could have made my trip so much better.

Most of the time, I think I do a good job remembering to bring the essentials with me, but it's the small things that seem to elude me from time to time.

It might be because they're not critical elements that I cannot cruise without. Rather, they're ancillary items that improve the experience for me.

An example is when I went on Liberty of the Seas for a short cruise and forgot to pack liquid hand soap.  There's nothing wrong with the bar soap that the cruise line provides and it didn't ruin my cruise by any means, but I prefer the liquid soap because it's easier and faster to use.

With that in mind, there are other cheap things everyone can pack for a cruise that makes a small difference. I call these "good to have" items that aren't essential, but still helpful.

So before you zip up that suitcase, double check you have these things that cost less than $10 make your cruise better.

This article contains affiliate links to products I've mentioned, which means it costs you absolutely nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you buy it.

Liquid hand soap

$9.88 on Amazon.

I mentioned already liquid hand soap, but it really is worth bringing on every cruise.

It's so important to stay healthy on a cruise ship, and washing your hands is step one in that process.  You'll hear the mantra of washing your hands quite a lot.

In your cabin bathroom will be a bar of soap that you can use, but I find liquid soap is so much easier to use and completely cover your hands in a good lather.

Also, bar soap always leaves my hands feeling dry after I use it.

An added benefit of liquid soap is my hands smell better too.

Pop-up laundry hamper

$6.79 on Amazon.

I never thought a cheap laundry hamper could make such a difference in my cabin, but it really does.

I originally started bringing a laundry hamper with me as a way to test out inside cruise cabin hacks, and I've brought one with me ever since.

When I've forgotten it, I thought I'd be fine with just a pile of dirty laundry in the corner somewhere, but that pile becomes a mountain quickly and expands with it.

The hamper makes laundry more manageable and it collapses down when I'm done with it.

Some readers recommend instead to put the dirty laundry in a suitcase, but I keep my suitcase under my bed and I'll admit I'm too lazy to take it out and put it away everyday.

Plastic luggage holders

$5.99 at Amazon.

I probably forget to actually print out luggage tags more than I've forgotten to pack the luggage tag holders, but that's a different blog post.

When I use my luggage tag holders, I don't worry about my luggage tags accidently getting ripped off in the transit process to my cabin.

A pack of them are cheap and they last forever.

Shampoo and body wash

$9.52 at Amazon.

Anytime I've gone on a cruise and forgotten to bring my own body wash or shampoo, I've regretted it every time I showered.

If you're the type of cruiser that can rely on the 2-in-1 mystery liquid that comes out of the dispenser in your cruise ship shower, I salute you, because I cannot.

Just like the hand soap, I find it makes a difference in how clean I feel to have my own stuff.  I don't have any scientific evidence, but I have a hard time believing 2-in-1 stuff can work as effectively.  

Plus, I prefer the scent my own toiletries have.

I should point out if you're staying in a suite, you'll get higher end toiletries that come with separate body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. I can tolerate these a bit more, but if you have specific needs for your hair, I'd recommend bringing your own.

Your hair products might cost more than $10, but I feel that even some of the cheap stuff from your local store is better than what's waiting in that shower dispenser.

Over the counter medications

$5.39 at Amazon.

When I cruise solo, I seem to always forget to bring a bag of medications with me and always realize it when I unpack in my cabin.

Most of the time I never need any, but if you're fighting a hangover, upset stomach, or stuffy nose, having medications with you makes a big difference in feeling better quickly (and cheaply).

Royal Caribbean does sell some medicine in its shop, but they charge a high price for it and the shop is only open when the ship is at sea and during certain hours.  Plus, who wants to get up and go out when they have a hangover and just want to take an aspirin to help with the headache?

Lip balm

$9.99 at Amazon.

When I cruise to Europe or Alaska and I encounter a humidity level that's far less that the Caribbean, I regret not bringing Chapstick with me.

Chapped lips hurt, and it seems the drier air in these itineraries almost always hits me.

More things that are must-haves on a cruise

Of course, there are plenty of other things I bring on a cruise that cost more than $10, but I think are very helpful.

I thought it would be helpful to include other items that I would be disappointed not to have with me onboard.

Besides the basics that everyone packs, I wanted to include a few other items I'd recommend to anyone going on a cruise.

AirTags

It's not just for a flight, AirTags are great for a cruise too.

The idea is simple: keep track of where your luggage is to make sure it's on the ship and not lost somewhere in the terminal. Plus, you can use them when flying too.

Water bottle

One of the top trends right now is to bring a reusable water bottle so you can keep hydrated easily on your cruise.

It means you can make less trips to get water, but is also really useful when on a shore excursion.  During the hot summer months, this is a must-have.

Headphones

I love bringing noise-cancelling headphones because it's the perfect accessory for enjoying quiet time on the ship.

I really love putting them on when I'm on the pool deck so I can enjoy the breeze and sun while laying out in a lounger, without all the conversations, music, and noise you'd have to put up with around you.

For years, I've used and recommended the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for over-the-ear comfort and unbeatable noise cancellation.

I know a lot of other people that prefer the Apple AirPods Pro because they offer noise cancelling without the heft and size.

Air freshener

Whether you're sharing a cabin with a friend or family member, what happens in the bathroom shouldn't be well-known to everyone else.

Poo pourri and other air fresheners are a must-pack item to keep your cabin bathroom from being a point of contention (or embarrassment) 

Magnetic hooks

Magnets that can you can affix to the walls are so helpful and you can use them almost anywhere in your cabin.

There's a lack of storage space on cruise ships, so magnetic hooks provide convenient ways to hang clothes and accessories.

I recommend these magnetic hooks if you have not purchased one yet.

E-reader

If you're a reader, bringing a Kindle or other e-reader is a must-have on a cruise.

You'll find lots of opportunity to read while on a cruise, especially on a sea day. The Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for the pool deck as well as in your cabin.

Night light

It shouldn't come as a shock that inside cabins are really dark at night because they have no natural light source.

This night light not only offers lighting, but it will only come on when someone moves around.

Royal Caribbean has a new ship coming out in 2025 and they want feature the work of aspiring artists on it.

Star of the Seas will enter service later this year and it's one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, which includes a large art collection.

Royal Caribbean is no stranger to art, as all of their ships have rather large collections featured onboard. The art is more than just paintings, in many cases it defines the look and feel of areas of its ships.

The "Artist Discovery Program" is the cruise line's new search for artists across the Caribbean to submit their art for consideration.

Artists that are selected could get as much as $100,000 in commission budget if selected.

The selected winners of the discover program will head to Turku, Finland to work with the Royal Caribbean team in integrating their visions for Star of the Seas.  Finland is where Star of the Seas is currently under construction.

The goal is to promote local artists around the Caribbean and provide them with exposure to grow their craft.

Royal Caribbean International Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider sees this as a tremendous opportunity, "We are excited for this next edition of The Artist Discovery Program and can’t wait to be awestruck by visionary artists across the Caribbean."

"Our goal is to connect our guests to the enduring beauty and creativity of the Caribbean, and this immersive program is a pathway to celebrating and exploring local culture while onboard the next Icon of vacations – Star of the Seas."

How to enter the contest to be considered

In order to be considered for the Artist Discovery Program, an artist must submit the following:

• Five samples of previous works: The work must be original.
• A brief artist statement that helps explain their work, inspiration and other details regarding the pieces submitted.
• A copy of their CV / resume.

You can apply via the program website.

Royal Caribbean wants to commission painting of large-scale murals in four key areas of the ship:

Royal Promenade

Embarkation area

Suite Sundeck Lobby

Suite Sundeck

Joining a collection onboard that includes an array of pieces created by local artists and inspired by the region, each creation will invoke the vibrancy of the Caribbean.

Star of the Seas begins sailing in August 2025

The new cruise ship will begin offering cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida on August 31, 2025.

Star will sail will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Port Canaveral.  Every sailing includes a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Star follows up on the incredible success of the first Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas.

Icon of the Seas blew away expectations when she launched in January 2024 and is not only the biggest cruise ship in the world, but also one of the most popular ones for the amazing features onboard.

The new ship will have 20 decks and manned by 2,350 crew members.

You're going to have to wait a little bit longer for new Royal Caribbean cruises to be released for 2026-2027.

The deployment schedule has been quietly updated this week and the cruise line has added new offerings, while pushing everything back.

The deployment schedule refers to when Royal Caribbean will put new sailings on sale for the first time, and each release is tied to a region of the world for sometime between 2026 and 2027.

Royal Caribbean already released some new cruises in the fall, but took a break over the winter holidays.

Here's when that the new deployment schedule looks like and what to expect.

Updated 2026-2027 deployments

According to the updated schedule that has been distributed to travel agents, there's now a new offering for Singapore that will come first, followed by others a bit delayed.

• Week of February 3, 2025: Singapore
• Week of February 10, 2025: Europe 2.0
• Week of February 17, 2025: Short Caribbean & West Coast
• Week of February 24, 2025: Seasonal Caribbean
• Week of March 10, 2025: China
• Week of March 31, 2025: Australia

Updated schedule

Original deployment schedule

What's different is Singapore is now coming up first. Previously Singapore was listed as "TBD".

"Europe 2.0" refers to a follow-up deployment to the European sailings already released for 2026 that occurred in October.

One other change is the addition of China. Like Singapore, it had a "TBD" distinction, but now is added for early March.

Short Caribbean & West Coast, Seasonal Caribbean, and Australia remain unchanged.

What's been released already for 2026-2027

In case you missed it, there have been some cruises already released and ready to book that came out in the fall.

• Alaska 2026
• Europe 2026
• Summer & Yearlong Caribbean 2026-2027
• Northeast 2026-2027

The deployment schedule could change again

Royal Caribbean systematically puts out new cruise sailings each year, and it usually occurs in the fall and spring.

But this schedule could change again if they need more time to align offerings.

Something else to be aware of is that the releases occur at some point during the week specified. It could be any day of that week and is rarely, if ever, the actual day listed.

Cruise fans will commonly mistake that and assume the new sailings come out on February 10, instead of some day that week.

Something else to be aware of is the sailings get loaded into Royal Caribbean's system slowly, so it's not uncommon to start seeing some sailings pop up on the Royal Caribbean website before others.  Or for travel agents to see new sailings in their backend system before the website.

Often new sailings start appearing on the website around midnight GMT, and usually fill out the schedule by the next morning.

What's missing

If you're thinking big picture, you would remember that in 2026 Royal Caribbean is going to launch a new cruise ship and wonder where that fits into this.

Royal Caribbean's third Icon Class cruise ship will launch sometime in 2026 and her arrival will impact where other ships are sailing from too.

We have very few details about Icon 3. We don't even know the ship's name or where it will sail from.

Formal construction of the ship began in October 2024, and you can't book cruises yet for it.

Historically, Royal Caribbean does not include new ships as part of its regular deployments.  New ships typically have their own deployment release that's independent of the others.

So that means if Icon 3 were to sail in Europe in summer 2026, I would not necessarily expect it to be part of the Europe 2.0 release in February.

What I would expect is a special announcement of Icon 3's name, homeport, and what date the public can start booking sailings.

What you should be doing now while you wait for new deployments

With just a few weeks left until Royal Caribbean releases the rest of its deployments, there are some things you could do now to prepare.

My advice is let your travel agent know what sort of sailings you're interested in and the time frame so they can jump on it when it becomes available.

We don't know which ship will sail from a particular port or dates, but you can make educated guesses and then your agent knows what you're looking for so you can book it quickly.

One of the top reasons to book a cruise as soon as they become available is to get one of the highly desirable cruise cabins that sell out quickly.

Plus, booking a cruise as early as possible is one of the best ways to save money on a cruise. 

In general, cruise prices are lowest when they are first put out and then get more expensive as cabins get booked up.

Planning on booking a cruise in 2026-2027? These stories will help:

• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• What is the best time to cruise to the Caribbean?
• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?