Royal Caribbean Blog

You booked an amazing cruise, but the U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for the place you're scheduled to go.

This scenario plays out a lot because cruise ships tend to visit countries around the world that have their issues.

Should you cancel? Will Royal Caribbean change the itinerary?

One vacationer is booked on Jewel of the Seas for a cruise in April wrote on Facebook, "Has anyone read that there is a travel warning for Belize City, Belize?"

"What are your thoughts? Should I be sacred?" is what this person wrote, and it's a commonly asked question related to many other ports.

Here's what these warnings mean and how they apply to your cruise.

What are these warnings about?

The United States State Department has warnings for Americans traveling around the world, and they use different levels to convey how concerning the issues are.

These warnings are all listed on the State Department website, and are updated as needed.

A Level 1 warning is the lowest warning, and it's described as "Exercise normal precautions."

Level 2 is a step up, and changes the wording to be "Exercise increased caution." 

In both cases, the government wants Americans to be less cavalier than usual, and to be aware of the minor issues that have flared up recently.

Many countries have a Level 1 or Level 2 warning, including the United Kingdom, Greece, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada.

When you get to Level 3, the warning changes to "Reconsider Travel".  And then you have Level 4 of "Do Not Travel".

These are more serious warnings that alert Americans to terrorism threats, war, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, high crime rates and other personal security issues.

Countries with the Level 4 warning are ones that are either known for having a history of internal strife or enduring wars, such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Burma, Syria, or Lebanon.

Will the cruise line change plans because of the warnings?

Usually, cruise lines don't change their plans, even for a Level 3 or 4 warning.

That might sound strange, but the reality is these warnings apply to specific areas of the country and not necessarily where your cruise ship will visit. Violent crime rarely involves tourists.

That isn't to say the warning isn't important, but the places tourists go aren't necessarily where the problems occur.

In the case of Belize, the warning was related to violent crime on the south side of the city.  When reading the warning, the State Department clearly says, "This area (south of Haulover Creek Canal and continuing south to Fabers Road) does not overlap with the typical tourism areas. "

Most shore excursions in Belize City actually take place in the ocean, surrounding jungle, or caves. According to Viator's list of Belize City tours, nearly all of them took place in the jungle, around ruins, or on the water. 

Most importantly, Royal Caribbean has a team that monitors safety issues around the world.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, "The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority."

"At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. 

"Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly."

Essentially, the decision to change an itinerary depends on the specific situation in that country and how it impacts tourism areas.

Is it safe to go if there's a travel warning?

Travel warnings shouldn't be ignored, but they aren't a reason to cancel your plans either.

There's risk with almost anything you do, and that extends to travel.  Of course, that risk also applies to cities in our own country too.

Many countries have had travel warnings for many years, and the State Department re-issuing similar warnings is not new, per se.

If you are truly concerned, you don't have to get off the ship. There's no requirement to go on a shore excursion.

The tour operators that Royal Caribbean partners with are vetted by the cruise line for safety, and if there's unnecessary risks involved, the tour is cancelled. 

An example of this was when a ferry boat sank to Blue Lagoon in The Bahamas.  Following the incident, cruise lines pulled bookings until the tour operator addressed safety issues.  

In a more extreme example, Royal Caribbean suspended visits to its private destination of Labadee for many months until it was determined their ships could return again.

The purpose of these travel warnings is to give travelers insight into issues occurring in these countries.

Labadee, Haiti has a "No Travel" warning!

The most notable travel warning has to do with Haiti because that's where a lot of Royal Caribbean ships visit.

Haiti has a Level 4 warning, and the country's issues have been well-documented in the news.

The State Department warning states, "Since March 2024, Haiti has been under a State of Emergency. Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed."

That's lead to a lot of concerned cruisers who have sailings that visit Royal Caribbean's private beach in Labadee, which is a small peninsula in northern Haiti.

It's important to remember where Labadee is located, as it's on a peninsula walled off from the rest of the country. There is a large wall and barbed wire fence between the property line and the outside, and Labadee has its own private security.

Moreover, there has not been any fighting or civil strife anywhere near Labadee.

It might seem like a genius move, but booking two shore excursions on the same day is better idea than it really is in practice.

I received an email a week ago from a podcast listener who is headed on a Western Caribbean sailing and wanted to know if she should try to book two excursions on the same day.

"Is it possible to do two excursions from one day?" she asked. It seems like a good way to maximize time in a port, but there's more to a day ashore than I think some people consider.

I often joke that some tours sound better while you're sitting in air conditioning on your couch than in practice.  As an example, that hike through the jungle sounds lovely until you realize it's going to be a hot and humid day to start with, along with bugs, and those shoes that weren't as comfortable as well as you thought.

A lot of vacationers go on a sailing that takes them to places they may only visit once, and they want to seek out the really fun activities that they can tell everyone at home about when they return.

While booking two shore excursions on the same day might seem like a good idea, I think it's actually a mistake waiting to happen for a few important reasons.

There isn't as much time in port as it seems

To begin, time management while on shore excursions is not straight forward.

In order to go on two shore excursions on the same day, you'll need to schedule them so that one ends before the next one begins without being late.

It's not unusual for a tour to run late, or for the meeting point to not be factored into the overall length of the excursion.

Plus, you may want extra time on the end of your first tour to do something else, like shop.  Many excursions end in an area where there are many shops, or include photo opportunities.

You would not want to risk losing out on the other tour you have booked because you didn't make it there on time.

It's harder to know precisely when one tour would conclude with confidence so you could get to the next one.

What time your ship arrives and leaves is misleading

In my experience, you don't have as much time in port as you think you do.

Your itinerary lists what time your ship will be in each port of call, but those hours aren't when you actually be off the ship.

The arrival time you see is the estimated time the ship will pull into port.  At that point it has to line up with the pier, tie its lines, and get cleared by local authorities to disembark passengers. Getting cleared is sometimes very quick, while other times can take a while. It all depends how thorough the local authorities want to be in investigating everything is as expected.

Then at the end of your day in port, the time listed is when the ship is scheduled to depart, which means you're expected to already be back onboard the ship.

Realistically, you'll want to be back on the ship much earlier than the all aboard time.  So in practice, that shaves off an hour or two from your day in order to be back on the cruise ship with plenty of time to spare.

Both issues shave time off your total time in port, and that leaves you with less time to work in multiple shore excursions.

You're going to be more tired than you think

Assuming you have plenty of time for two excursions in one day, I think in reality you might not have the energy for both.

It's easy while at home to assume you can do it all, but tours are taxing, even basic ones.

When you're wet from rain in Alaska or under the hot Caribbean sun, the amount of energy you have is going to wane.

Buses are uncomfortable, walking on uneven pavement and cobblestone roads hurts, and you probably had to wake up early for the first tour. 

Trying to do two excursions is going to be pretty darn tiring.

It can dilute the value of what you paid

One of the most common places I see people trying to work two tours into one day is at Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Often guests will book admission to the Coco Beach Club or Hideaway Beach, and then also book a jet ski tour or zip line adventure.

I think the most egregious example are people that book a cabana and admission to Thrill Waterpark.

The issue here is you're taking away time from one activity that you paid for to go and do another, and I think that reduces the value of what you paid.

Avoid the temptation to double dip with activities and enjoy the primary one all day.

You'll have time for more activities

While I'm advocating not booking two shore excursions for the same port day, that doesn't mean you can't include something else before or after one tour.

Most tours leave you with time to work something else in, and in many cases, there is a natural fit related to the tour or where you're dropped off.

There might be a beautiful beach you could head to and unwind for the rest of the day. Or you might stay in the city or two to do some shopping or sightseeing.

In my experience, some tour operators will give their guests the choice of going back to the ship or being dropped off at a popular area.

And if you're spent after one tour, you can head right back to the ship for a well-deserved shower and nap.

With just one excursion booked, you have more flexibility to see how you're feeling, and include a DIY adventure.

Plan another port visit instead

If you really are tempted to try two excursions on the same day, that might be a sign you should plan another cruise.

Repeating the same itinerary isn't counterintuitive at all.  It's actually a really good way to enjoy these amazing places and see more of them.

Of course that means you'll have to wait to come back again and there's the cost that comes with booking another vacation, but having another trip to look forward to is the best way to get over the post-cruise depression that comes when your vacation ends.

One tour is the best plan, but keep the option for exploring on your own

If you're someone that is thinking about doing two tours on the same day, I recommend sticking to just one tour and leaving your day open for additional exploring after.

I just don't think the logistics of working in both tours makes a lot of sense, especially x factors such as transportation, fatigue, and proper timing.

The anxiety and effort required to make it all work just isn't worth it.

If you do have plenty of extra time, I think you will find many options to consider on your own that give you peace of mind and flexibility to go with it.

Royal Caribbean named its private island in The Bahamas "perfect", and the moniker certainly holds up if you've been there to experience it.

Ever since Perfect Day at CocoCay opened in 2019, it's been a revelation as to what a private cruise line beach day can be because of all the options offered.

Royal Caribbean opened Perfect Day at CocoCay in phases, going back to 2018 when construction on some of the first areas to be completed began allowing guests in.

One of those areas was the Oasis Lagoon, and it's since become my go-to spot, every time we visit CocoCay.

At its opening, Oasis Lagoon was the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. It covers 33,175 square feet, which makes it enormous.

Whether or not it still holds that title, it's exactly what I want from my private island day.

While I think most people on a cruise prefer the beach, I like a pool day better. I don't have to worry where I walk, there are no creatures lurking, and the water is always refreshing.

Royal Caribbean didn't just build a giant pool, they added the best swim-up bar I had ever been to, complete with seats on both sides.  

Guests can swim up and sit at the bar, or opt to go to the "dry side" and enjoy drinks without being in the water.

There's no cost to access Oasis Lagoon or any of the chairs and umbrellas nearby.

In 2023, Royal Caribbean shared the swim-up bar at Oasis Lagoon is one of the highest rated attractions on the island.

There are also small islands throughout Oasis Lagoon for you to sit at as well, with plants and trees that provide just the right amount of shade.

For years I would immediately go to Oasis Lagoon first on almost every visit because it offered exactly what I wanted from my day. Sometimes we'd venture elsewhere and book a spot at the Coco Beach Club or one of the beaches.  But I always preferred going to Oasis Lagoon.

The one problem I had with Oasis Lagoon was it tended to attract the party crowd because of the DJ that was originally placed near the swim-up bar.

I don't mind a party vibe to my pool day, but it evolved over the years and became more raucous, especially when there were 20 and 30 year olds hanging there.

When it got loud, I either enjoyed it, or moved to a different end of the pool.

A big shift in the dynamic of Oasis Lagoon occurred in 2024 when Royal Caribbean opened its adults-only area, Hideaway Beach.

An even bigger swim-up bar and giant pool was added to this area, and with it, went the DJ.

Royal Caribbean purposefully brought over that party vibe that had grown at Oasis Lagoon to Hideaway.

In their research to create the ultimate day for adults, feedback indicated guests want a drink in their hand with music to enjoy. 

Since the opening of Hideaway Beach, the DJ has been removed from Oasis Lagoon and replaced with a programmed musical setlist.

The result has been the energy at Oasis Lagoon has been more subdued than pre-2024 levels, and I think it's made it better.

Without the DJ to raise the volume, I think the pool has remained fun and enjoyable without feeling like a Vegas pool party.

I'm sure everyone has their own feelings on what is the right level of music, energy, and partying for a pool.  But I think Royal Caribbean has found a new normal for Oasis Lagoon that really meshes well without being overbearing.

To be fair, Hideaway Beach's pool is heated, whereas Oasis Lagoon's pool is heated by the sun and nothing else.  It can be downright frigid in Oasis Lagoon at times.

While Hideaway Beach is newer, flashier, and has limited access, I think Oasis Lagoon is a fun spot to head to, and considering it's included in your cruise fare, it's hard to pass up that value.

My favorite Oasis Lagoon tips and tricks

While enjoying Oasis Lagoon, here are a few ideas to maximize your day.

If you bought a Royal Caribbean drink package, you can enjoy drinks at the pool too.  There's no additional charge, and that's a great way to get your value back from a drink package.

Likewise, if you are a Diamond member or higher in Crown and Anchor Society, the daily drink vouchers work here too.  

And no, you do not need to bring the soda cups with you off your ship to use them at Oasis Lagoon (or anywhere at CocoCay).

Just like at a bar on the ship, you just need to let the crew member know you want to use a drink voucher. 

When you're feeling a little hungry, the Snack Shack is just a few steps away from Oasis Lagoon.

The quickest way to get there is exit the Oasis Lagoon pool on the "right side" of the bar.  When facing the swim-up bar, there's a set of stairs out of the pool on the right side.

Walk past the smoking area and you'll see it across the tram path.  

The Snack Shack is included in your cruise fare and has some of my favorite foods, such as the mozzarella sticks, funnel cake, and the "secret sandwich" that you can only order by name.

If you need shade but don't want to get out of the water, you can find lots of under the bridge that's near the bar. 

There's always shade here, and it's close to the bar, so you don't have to venture far to get a refill.

There are islands and loungers in the water, and they are first-come, first-reserved.

My advice is get off the ship very early if you want to nab one of them.

A medical emergency has delayed the return of a Royal Caribbean ship to its home port.

Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas will be delayed returning to Baltimore, Maryland, due to a medical evacuation. Because of the emergency, Vision of the Seas unexpectedly diverted in San Juan, Puerto Rico to evacuate the passenger before continuing its sailing.

The docking in San Juan has caused Vision of the Seas to be delayed on its current voyage, which will push back the ship’s return by one day to Baltimore. This diversion will also cause the ship's following 12-night itinerary on January 16, 2024 to depart one day later. 

According to guests onboard the current sailing, Vision of the Seas will now return to Baltimore on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 7:00 am. Guests will be able to disembark the vessel at this time. 

The Vision class ship was sailing on a 12-night round-trip itinerary from Baltimore, Maryland to the Caribbean. Ports of call included St. Croix, St. John’s, St. Maarten, Martinique and St. Kitts & Nevis. 

Vision of the Seas departed St. Kitts on January 12, 2024 to begin sailing back to Baltimore, Maryland. The ship was scheduled to have three sea days before returning to Baltimore on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Guests currently aboard Vision of the Seas reported the captain made an announcement in the late afternoon about diverting towards Puerto Rico for an emergency airlift.

(Current location at time of publication for Vision of the Seas. Source: CruiseMapper)

“We are turning around to go to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's 150 nautical miles from where we are. They're trying to get the coast guard involved and will notify us more once we have more information,” commented one passenger onboard on the Vision of the Seas Facebook page.

Those onboard reported the captain later announced in the evening that the Coast Guard deemed an airlift was not possible. “They just announced that [the] Coast Guard cannot do an airlift, so we have to go all the way to San Juan to get this person off. We should be there tomorrow morning,” shared one guest on Facebook.

Instead of the airlift, Vision of the Seas would sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico to dock and evacuate the passenger. After arriving in San Juan, guests reported the passenger was successfully transferred to the hospital and the ship resumed the sailing almost immediately.

(Photos shared from passenger on Facebook)

“We docked in San Juan at 5:00 am, the passenger and her family were taken off, we are all praying for her!” commented one guest on Facebook. 

Royal Caribbean sent communication to guests on the impacted January 16, 2025 sailing about the delay. The cruise line said, “Due to our previous sailing’s delay in arriving at the Port of Baltimore, our sailing will now take place on Friday, January 17th.” 

Vision of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail on an 8-night itinerary from Baltimore on January 16, 2025. The original itinerary would sail to Charleston (South Carolina), Port Canaveral (Florida), Grand Bahama Island (Bahamas) and Nassau (Bahamas) with three sea days. To make up for the delay, Vision of the Seas will skip its first port of call in Charleston, South Carolina with an additional sea day.

One passenger shared in a post on Reddit, “We received an email stating we are now boarding Friday morning instead of Thursday and an updated itinerary. No more Charleston (sad). Getting pro-rated for the day we will miss and any packages that were purchased in the form of onboard credit for that day.”

In addition to the medical evacuation, Vision of the Seas might need to navigate choppy waters with an Atlantic storm passing through the area. One guest onboard commented, "Captain was trying to go around a storm, but now that we are changing course for the medical evacuation, we may end up having to sail into the weather system.”

Royal Caribbean states that all guests will receive refunds for shore excursions booked in Charleston, South Carolina to the original form of payment. Those with booked flights through Royal Caribbean will automatically be rescheduled. Those with independent airfare will receive $400 USD for international travel and $200 for domestic travel, on a per person basis.

There are different places you can eat dinner on a cruise ship, but there are compelling reasons to eat the buffet instead of the Main Dining Room.

Royal Caribbean offers different choices in where to eat dinner, including fancy sit down meals, restaurants that cost extra, and casual options too.

Over the years I've eaten at all of them, and I think the Windjammer Cafe is vastly underrated for dinner.  It doesn't come with the level of service the Main Dining Room has, but I think the variety, ease of getting in and out, and flexibility really make it a top choice.

In thinking about where to eat on my next sailing, I had to consider both options and ultimately picked the buffet.  I'm on vacation, and I sometimes I want to relax more and not concern myself the pomp and circumstance that comes with the dining room.

If you're trying to decide where to eat on your cruise, here are the top 11 best reasons to choose the Windjammer buffet instead.

It's fast

The cruise ship experience has evolved over the decades, and sitting down for a long meal isn't what some people consider to be a fun experience.

The Windjammer offers a way to quickly grab the food you need and be on your way.  There's no waiting for a seating time, no waiters to deliver your food.  You can eat as quickly as you can serve the food from the buffet trays and sit down and eat it.

It's quite possible to have a full meal in the Windjammer in less than 20 minutes, whereas a "fast" meal in the Main Dining Room would easily take one hour.

Having a fast meal is useful if you want to get to a show or some other activity onboard the ship. Or perhaps you need to make an appointment.

Crew members keep the food supply moving, so there's rarely any long waits.  Occasionally there can be a line for certain foods, but it's not much more than a minute or two.

There are so many different choices

I love how many choices of food you'll find in the Windjammer, especially for dinner.

Royal Caribbean goes well beyond just burgers and hot dogs.  You'll find salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas, carved meats, desserts, and plenty more.

There's usually a set of options that don't change every day, along with a rotating mix of food.

I've found it advantageous to be able to find a wide range of foods every day, because what I'm in the mood to eat can vary.

Plus, I like to mix and match my foods and not limit myself to a single cuisine.

Some of the same food from the Main Dining Room

At dinner Royal Caribbean offers many of the same food that you'll find in the Main Dining Room right in the Windjammer.

It's not exactly the same offerings, but if you're feeling conflicted about where to eat, you can often find overlap between the menus. That means less compromise about what you can choose from.

The added bonus of the buffet is if you want seconds or thirds, you can quickly go up and get some more without waiting.

No dress codes

You're on vacation, so who needs to bother with a different outfit for dinner?

Royal Caribbean has no dress code for the Windjammer anytime of day, with the exception you cannot come in with a wet bathing suit and must wear shoes and a cover up.  That's it.

Eating at the Windjammer for dinner means less to pack, and less prep each evening.  It also means more time to enjoy at the pool or in port because you don't have to get back to your room to get dressed up.

Easier to indulge with lots of food

Let's be real, one major reason people like eating at a buffet is because you can eat as much as you want.

You serve yourself exactly how much you want, even if it's an entire plate full of just one food. I know I've come back to my table at times with just a plate full of Indian curry with zero regrets.

Of course, if we're talking about indulging, the desserts available are probably where most will gravitate towards. Some evenings there are really incredible sweets there, such as funnel cake, fondue station, or personal-sized lava cakes.

Overeating isn't what everyone will do, but sometimes you're in the mood for extra and the Windjammer has that whereas the Main Dining Room does not.

Easier to get a great view

It's so easy to get a table near a window and see what's happening around you while you eat in the Windjammer.

On most ships, the Windjammer is at the very back of the ship and it's surrounded by glass.  Even if you don't get a table right at the window, you can see outside from many tables nearby.

Plus, on Radiance and Quantum Class ships, there's an outdoor seating area at the very back where you can enjoy the sunshine and ocean breeze with your meal.

I never miss an opportunity to dine outside when possible because it's so enjoyable to see right out to the ocean as you eat.

It's the best choice when you had a busy day in port

On a day when you spend many hours exploring a port of call, the last thing I want to do is get dressed up for dinner.

I love to hit up the Windjammer for dinner on a port day when we come back to the ship in the late afternoon or evening. It's so much easier to drop off my things in my cabin, and then head up to the Windjammer for a quick, but satisfying meal.

This is especially true when I'm on a cruise to Alaska or Europe, where it's easy to spend 6-8 hours walking, kayaking, or bussing around town.

Along those lines, I'll often eat my way around the ports I visit.  So having the Windjammer open until 9:30pm or so leaves a late dinner option that goes beyond a slice of pizza.

My favorite place to bring picky eaters

When my kids were younger, the only place I took them to eat was the Windjammer because they were so picky.

Royal Caribbean's buffet does a good job of offering traditional favorites and more adventurous food, but it's definitely a great spot for those that know what they want.

You'll find burgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers every night of the cruise. Plus, there is usually a grilled meat or two.  And the salads are all build-your-own, so you can customize it the way you want it.

The cooking stations are worth eating here alone

My favorite thing about the Windjammer are the cooking stations, and the chef will make the dish exactly the way you want it.

At breakfast there is an omelet station to make eggs as you'd like them.  I've even seen recently waffles being made on the spot in the mornings on some ships.

For lunch and dinner, there's usually a rotating option and it is a not-so-guilty pleasure of mine to eat here.

I personally could eat the Asian stir fry station food every day, and pretty much did when I was on Anthem of the Seas last summer in Europe.

Fresh food will always be a step ahead of prepared food, and the cooking stations are my first stop in the Windjammer on every visit.

No set dining times

Flexibility is kind at the Windjammer, as you can come in whenever you like.

While the Windjammer isn't open all day long (it takes short breaks between meals to clean and reset), they have longer serving hours compared to the Main Dining Room.

First and foremost, this means you don't have to make a reservation or adhere to a dining time. As long as they are open, you are welcome to go in.

Plus, they serve for long periods of time.  You can get breakfast in many cases right up until lunch, whereas the Main Dining Room offers it for just a few hours earlier in the morning.

Opens up your nighttime fun

Because you can get in and out of the Windjammer, you can take advantage of all the fun activities onboard your ship.

Each evening there are various events held throughout the ship, and if you're at a sit down restaurant for 90 minutes or more, you're going to miss out on some of them.

I love that I can get a satisfying meal at the buffet and then be right back out to enjoy live music, catch a trivia session, or attend a show. This can be really important on the big ships where the signature show performances are must-sees.

If you're used to eating in the dining room, I think you'll find the evening so much longer when you get back more time after eating at the Windjammer.

If you’re a frequent cruiser, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in the same cruise routine. Humans are creatures of habit and gravitate towards familiar, comfortable experiences. This can be true even while traveling when you’re already outside of your normal comfort zone!

For one Royal Caribbean cruiser, switching things up during her recent Royal Caribbean cruise was an eye-opening experience. Seasoned cruiser, Patty, recently sailed onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas on a 5-night sailing to the Western Caribbean.

Patty explained that she’s been cruising for over 30 years with her first cruise in 1992 with Norwegian Cruise Line. She has cruised around the world, including a recent sailing to Australia and Bali with her family. In addition, she has cruised to Europe and Asia with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. However, she has visited the Caribbean more times than any other port of call in the world.

During her 5-night sailing, Patty visited Cozumel, Mexico, and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. For some cruisers, the ports of call will always be the highlight of any sailing. However, Patty normally finds the onboard experience to be her favorite part of any cruise. From the delectable dining to the onboard activities and show-stopping entertainment, Patty finds herself enjoying the ship as much as she’s exploring ashore.

Looking to expand her cruising horizons, Patty decided to try a few new things instead of sticking to her 30-year cruising routine. Some changes were small while others were more significant. Overall, these new experiences resulted in an “exceptional” Royal Caribbean cruise.

Skipping the buffet and heading straight to the bar

When boarding a cruise ship, embarkation day can be quite hectic. Between busy cruise terminals, muster drill requirements, unpacking your suitcase, and getting settled, some might be surprised by the chaotic nature of embarkation day.

To kick off her vacation on the right foot, Patty decided to head straight to the bar after boarding. It’s not an unusual stop for most vacationers, but Patty shares she often doesn’t have a cocktail until later in the evening when cruising. Normally, she is in a hurry to visit the Windjammer buffet after boarding, along with dropping off carry-on luggage and checking her table location in the Main Dining Room.

Speaking of the Windjammer, Patty decided on the first day of her cruise that she wanted to skip the crazy buffet for lunch. Most cruisers head straight to the buffet on embarkation day, creating long lines. Sometimes, it’s hard even to find a table for lunch during this time!

Instead, Patty decided to visit a new quick-casual dining option on Independence of the Seas: Fish and Ships. As a seafood lover, Patty was eager to try the new-to-her restaurant. The complimentary dining option is only available on Independence of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

Located on the pool deck, Patty found there was no one in line at Fish and Ships. This was a welcomed change from the crowded buffet. The menu included a few no-cost options, such as fried shrimp with chips, fish sandwich, fish and chips, and chicken fingers.

Patty was excited to try the fish and chips, along with the breaded shrimp. She found the fish to be very tasty and fried with a thick breading. Although the shrimp was smaller than expected, these were enjoyable as well. Patty’s travel companion was not a seafood fan, so instead, she ordered the chicken tenders with French fries. The tenders were so small, Patty said they seemed mislabeled and should have been called chicken nuggets.

Visiting the sauna and steam room in the spa

After visiting Cozumel more times than she can count, Patty decided to stay aboard Independence of the Seas rather than heading ashore. In addition, the weather was hot and muggy. With this, Patty wanted to experience a quieter cruise ship while most guests decided to go ashore.

Even after cruising for more than three decades, Patty had never been in the spa to visit the sauna or steam room before. Without allocating dedicated time to try the spa’s amenities, it’s always too busy for her to stop by. In addition, some cruise ships charge to visit these spa amenities, so Patty was happy to try both for free.

Unsurprisingly, Patty was the only person in the women’s sauna and steam room. As suspected, most passengers had disembarked for the itinerary’s port of call, especially with only two stops on the sailing. Patty shared that the facilities were clean, as she anticipated, and she appreciated being the only person in the space. “It was calming since I had no idea what I was doing,” she explained.

Although she had some questions, Patty stated the spa had signage with instructions and warnings for passengers. While some might glaze over these, Patty felt it was important to understand the facilities.

First, she decided to try the sauna. The instructions stated to add water to the coals, so Patty did as instructed. The rules also advised that spa visitors should only stay in the sauna for 10 minutes or less. To be safe, Patty shared she only stayed in the sauna for 7 minutes due to being alone and having high blood pressure.

Up next, she ventured over to the steam room in the spa. She described the space as having a single-tile seat to rest on. Unfortunately, the steam room was claustrophobic to Patty because the steam was so thick. Again, she decided to only stay in the steam room for less than 10 minutes - not that she wanted to spend any extra time.

To complete her spa visit, Patty cooled off in the shower. She shared how she enjoyed using the extra-large shower in the spa compared to her interior cabin’s tiny shower. Although she was glad to try the sauna and steam room for the first time, Patty doesn’t necessarily need to visit these facilities again.

Enhancing her interior cabin

Staying in an inside stateroom, Patty wanted to try a few small changes to enhance her cabin experience. After reading a blog post on our site about questions to ask your cabin steward, she learned about the option to ask for mattress toppers. Because cruise beds are often too firm for her liking, Patty wanted to see if the mattress topper would enhance her quality of sleep.

After boarding on the first day of her cruise, Patty asked the cabin steward if she could have a mattress topper added to her bed. She returned that evening to find the mattress topper already on her bed. Patty was pleased with the mattress topper, stating how she slept better on the softened mattress.

To optimize the cabin space, Patty wanted to try another new strategy. Originally, she explained her interior cabin had one nightstand on both sides of the bed. Patty decided to rearrange the cabin so each bed was against the cabin wall, allowing more space between the beds for navigating the room.

By pushing the beds against the wall, Patty was also able to stack pillows along the side of the wall for comfortable side sleeping. This prevents the pillows from falling all over the floor as well, so Patty will continue separating her bed like this in the future.

See more: I stayed in the cheapest, smallest cabin on Independence of the Seas. Look inside my 162-square-foot room

Other small changes included extra pillows and more hangers for the closet to provide more hanging space for her clothes. Finally, Patty requested a paper Cruise Compass to be delivered daily because she doesn’t always enjoy using the Royal Caribbean app.

Luckily, their cabin steward was happy to accommodate these requests and Patty found the small enhancements to make a big difference during her cruise.

Repeat specialty dining visits

When Patty cruises, she typically only visits a specialty dining restaurant once during her sailing. Never before had she thought to revisit the same specialty dining restaurant more than once during the same cruise.

During her time on Independence of the Seas, Patty had onboard credit to spend before the end of the cruise. She opted to try Giovanni’s Table for lunch on the first sea day for only $22.99 compared to $54.99 per person for dinner to save money. 

Patty described the lunch as fantastic, starting with the crispy calamari. She felt the serving size was easily five times the size of what the Main Dining Room would serve. The lightly breaded calamari had a crispy coating and was served with lemon garlic aioli and tomato sauce. In fact, she couldn’t stop talking about how good the heavenly calamari was!

For her main entree, Patty decided to try the fillet mignon after her waiter highly recommended it. She decided to try the fillet with smaller pasta dishes for the sides. Patty said the waiter was right and the steak was incredible, cooked to perfection, and very tender. She argues the fillet is better than what she’s had in Chops Grille Steakhouse on Royal Caribbean.

After a wonderful first visit, they returned to Giovanni’s. On the last day of her cruise, Patty shared how her waiter from lunch was promoting the restaurant. He remembered her and offered to make her a deal to return that night. To her surprise, the waiter offered a BOGO deal for both Patty and her guest to dine for only $54.99 each.

Read more: Everything I ate on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas: Food review and pictures

After a subpar experience in the Main Dining Room, Patty didn’t hesitate to accept the BOGO offer. Normally, she enjoys connecting with the waitstaff in the dining room throughout her cruise, but found this wasn’t the case on her short cruise. She stated, “This was the first time I can ever remember not wanting to be in the Main Dining Room on the last night of a cruise.”

As such, Patty dined at Giovanni’s for the final night of her cruise and ordered nearly the same meal. She couldn’t resist ordering the amazing calamari once more, along with the fantastic fillet.

Trying new breakfast options

When cruising with Royal Caribbean, Patty normally enjoys breakfast in the Windjammer or Main Dining Room. While she’s considered ordering room service before, she had never found the right opportunity to do so.

On this cruise, she wanted to splurge and try Royal Caribbean’s complimentary room service option for breakfast. She ordered her breakfast to be delivered between 9 and 9:30 a.m., hoping her must-have coffee wouldn’t be served lukewarm. Patty also ordered an English muffin and fruit plate for breakfast.

At promptly 8:50 a.m., the room service department rang her cabin to ensure she was awake to receive the order. A few minutes later, the meal was delivered to her stateroom. Patty was delighted to find her coffee was in a carafe and served very hot - just the way she likes it. She anticipated the English muffin might also be served lukewarm, but found it was still warm as well.

Overall, she was very impressed by the experience and found it was a nice way to start the day while her roommate wanted to sleep in. Patty questioned why she had never ordered room service before and will definitely continue doing so in the future!

Another thing Patty wanted to try was the light breakfast in the Diamond Lounge for top-tier loyalty members. She describes how breakfast was served until 10 a.m. on sea days and this particular sailing had very few top-tier loyalty members. Patty was the only person in the lounge for breakfast, so it was quite relaxing.

The lounge served a nice continental breakfast, which included pastries, yogurt, fruit, juice, and specialty coffee. Even better, the lounge featured a beautiful view of the ocean!

Formal night at the buffet

During her sailing on Independence of the Seas, the musical Grease was showing at 7:00 p.m. on formal night. Patty was looking forward to seeing the Broadway musical during her cruise, although the time conflicted with dinner in the Main Dining Room.

Instead, Patty opted to skip the dining room to have dinner in the Windjammer buffet on formal night. This was the first time Patty had ever skipped formal night in the dining room after 30-plus years of cruising. Following the musical, she made her way to the buffet for a late dinner. While she is usually pleased with the Main Dining Room, Patty enjoyed trying something different on formal night.

To start, she was surprised to find that the buffet had a similar theme as the Main Dining Room. The formal night theme in the main dining room was “Savor La France” while the Windjammer theme was “A Taste of France.” Because of this, most of the food being served in the Main Dining Room was also available in the buffet.

One of the highlights of their casual dining experience was finding a nice window seat to enjoy the aft-facing views of the ship. Patty was able to watch the sunset during her dinner in the Windjammer; in comparison, her Main Dining Room table was smack-dab in the middle of the large dining hall, far away from any ocean views. Being able to savor the sunset without battling any crowds made for a memorable dinner.

The Windjammer offered a crepe bar with tasty toppings to try, so Patty opted to try the strawberry and chocolate crepe. Although the food was fine, she likely won’t return to the buffet for formal dinner when given the option. 

In the future, Patty also concludes she probably won’t get dressed up for formal night if she isn’t heading to the dining room anyway. Grabbing buffet food in her gown seemed too casual for formal night, and Patty shared she missed having a longer meal in the dining room.

Other small changes that added to the cruise experience

During this short cruise, Patty challenged herself to do little things differently in hopes of creating some new cruise traditions and routines. You never know unless you try!

Patty is a relatively new diabetic and wanted to see how Royal Caribbean could accommodate her dietary needs. As such, she ordered the low-sugar options in the dining room for dessert. These included vanilla ice cream, coffee pot de creme, coconut cake, and dark chocolate custard.

Of course, Patty found the desserts were not as good as full-sugar desserts. But, she was happy to see options provided as a choice for those trying to watch their weight or needing to monitor their blood sugar. Even as a diabetic, Patty was able to enjoy one of her favorite things about cruising, which is always the food!

In the same way, Patty found Johnny Rockets was accommodating to her dietary requests. She felt guilty ordering a full milkshake because of the sugar content, but she didn’t want to be wasteful. Instead, she inquired about whether she could order a half-size milkshake instead of the full-size. To her surprise, the crew was happy to accommodate the request and the smaller size satisfied her sweet tooth.

Additionally, Patty shared how she sat on the promenade deck one evening after sunset and gazed at the stars. This was a new way to relax while finding a serene place away from other cruisers. It almost felt like having the ship to herself.

Finally, Patty decided on disembarkation day to visit the coffee shop while waiting for their numbers to be called. She was surprised that her Diamond voucher was accepted for the specialty coffee, and felt this was a wonderful way to end her vacation. She never considered this as a possibility, but she was glad she asked about using her voucher before heading home.

“Maybe it's my age, but it's funny how you can get in a rut doing the same routines while cruising. I enjoyed pushing myself to make some changes. They were small, but they added to the overall experience on our Independence of the Seas cruise. Anytime I can cruise with one of my daughters, I’m in,” concluded Patty.

Repairs to a broken pier in Puerto Rico's biggest cruise port might finally be complete soon.

Royal Caribbean's biggest ships have been unable to dock in San Juan San Juan, Puerto Rico for months because of an issue with the pier.

Namely, the line's Oasis Class ships have been left without the ability to safely dock there, and as a result, have skipped visits to Puerto Rico and instead gone to other ports of call.

But a new timeline posted by local media indicates repairs could be ready very soon.

El Vocero reports the Coast Guard is revieing the work on the repairs, and it could be ready later this month.

The San Juan Cruise Port said they are working on reopening Pier 3 West, which is the pier that's prevented big ships from visiting.

"According to a statement, the process of reopening Pier 3 West includes collaboration with multiple regulatory agencies to ensure compliance, safety and operational readiness. A team of engineers has completed all necessary structural assessments of the pier and these have been submitted to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for review."

Port authorities are reportedly “moving forward” with a project designed to meet the requirements to accommodate Oasis-class vessels at Pier 3 West.

If all goes to plan, mega ships will be able to return by January 20, "All regulatory and operational conditions are expected to be met by January 20, 2025, allowing the arrival of the larger cruise ships for the remainder of the season."

Royal Caribbean has not commented or announced any expectations yet related to the pier's status.

What happened to the pier

While San Juan has a few piers, only Pier 3 West can handle Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

Based on reports, damage to the pier that can handle the biggest ships took place in April 2024 when allegedly it was broken after the MSC Meraviglia was involved, however, specific details are not known.

The loss of a dolphin mooring structure just off the main pier is the primary issue, and the Coast Guard is working on it.

A dolphin is a group of pilings arrayed together to serve variously as a protective hardpoint along a dock.

Repairs and assessment are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, as it's work managed by port authorities and subject to approval by the Coast Guard.

Missed port stops have created controversy

Royal Caribbean's biggest cruise ships haven't been able to go to Puerto Rico since November 2024, and it's stirred up a lot of emotions.

Missed port stops can happen for all sorts of reasons, but some cruisers took exception to the San Juan cancellations because they were always done at the last minute, resulting in an itinerary change.

Moreover, the changes were announced well after the final payment date, which meant cancelling or changing sail dates would result in major penalties. This lead some to be frustrated with the circumstances.

"A total disappointment," wrote Clif809 on the Royal Caribbean message boards.

"I’m disappointed also and feeling betrayed," is what MamaShark added when she learned the pier issues have existed since April 2024.

"I reached out to Royal several times before making my final payment and again this week and was assured there would be no change in our itinerary. Receiving an email with itinerary changes today for our 12/29 sailing is unacceptable."

Complicating matters has been Royal Caribbean has diverted Symphony in all cases away from Puerto Rico and St. Maarten and replaced it with visits to its private beach in Haiti and Falmouth, Jamaica.

Haiti is well-known for dealing with major civil strife and safety concerns that have resulted in the worst travel advisory offered by the United States State Department, Level 4 "Do Not Travel".

To be fair, Labadee is in a remote area of Haiti and is walled off from the country on an isolated peninsula.  Furthermore, visits to Labadee have been regularly occurring for months without incident.

Labadee is not near any urban centers, and Royal Caribbean has been monitoring the situation in the area carefully.

Captain Johnny Faevelen announced his retirement from Royal Caribbean International. 

He began his career with the cruise giant in 1975 as an Ordinary Sailor, Abalbody Seaman, and Quarter Master, according to Faevelen's LinkedIn profile. 

Since then, he's worked as a Captain on ships ranging from one of the first modern purpose-built cruise ships, Nordic Prince, to Monarch of the Seas; Voyager of the Seas; Allure of the Seas; Harmony of the Seas; and Symphony of the Seas, just to name a few.  

"50 years has [passed], and it’s time to say [goodbye] to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. 😢 It is with mixed feelings I have handed in my resignation," reads Captain Faevelen's Facebook post. 

"I have been in the thinking box for the last months, 😵‍💫 and come to the conclusion that after 50 amazing years working for such a fantastic company, it’s time to start a new career;🏆 As of January 26.2025 I will start...a new 'job'."

He plans on being "100%" present with his family, including his wife Sissel, two children Erlend and Eirin, and four—soon to be five—grandchildren ranging in ages from newborn to 10 years old. 

"I have met and worked with so...many wonderful people in my career, no one mentioned - no one forgotten. You know who you are 💞 Thank you all for [having] been a part of my life for 50 years. 🥳," he adds. 

He began working with the company in 1975 when he was just 20 years old

Captain Faevelen joined the Song of Norway as an Ordinary Seaman. 

The Song of Norway was the first cruise ship built for Royal Caribbean International and launched in 1970. She initially had a gross registered tonnage of around 18,000. 

However, the demand for cruising was so high that Royal Caribbean lengthened the vessel in 1978, increasing her GRT to 23,000.

Time as a 2nd Officer

Eventually, Captain Faevelen had to stray from the Royal Caribbean brand to gain experience to be considered for further promotion. 

"[This] is me doing celestial navigation...when I was a 2nd. Officer for the first time onboard Skauboard," he explains.

Royal Caribbean didn't have 2nd Officers, so Captain Faevelen sailed on cargo ships to gain the necessary experience and qualifications. 

The work paid off because he became a Captain in 1994

It took the accomplished sailor nearly 20 years to finally be promoted to Captain. 

His first contract was aboard the Nordic Prince in 1994. He didn't just cruise to the Caribbean; he was tasked with sailing through Alaska's icy waters. 

Ending as Captain of one of the world's largest cruise ships

Captain Faevelen's LinkedIn reveals that he's been the Master of Oasis Class ships since 2010 when he became Allure of the Seas' Captain. Since then, he's also been the Captain of Harmony and Symphony of the Seas. 

He's ending his 50-year stint as Symphony of the Seas' Captain. Symphony is currently the 4th largest cruise ship in the world behind Icon, Utopia, and Wonder of the Seas. 

Read more: Take a look inside a cruise ship captain's living quarters

Known for his flamboyant style

Captain Faevelen wasn't your average cruise ship Captain. 

While he is passionate about the sea and the well-being of passengers and crew members, he's also a motorcycle enthusiast and proud Parrot owner. 

Not only that but, as a Captain, he had the privilege of giving away and marrying his daughter on a cruise ship. 

Unfortunately, Captain Faevelen was diagnosed with Melanoma and shared tidbits of his journey on social media. 

"Back again at Kristiansand Cancer Center for my 5th. of 12 Immune Therapy treatments, to prevent further development of melanoma cancer. All good and...I’m in the best hands🥰 ," he wrote on X.

However, at the beginning of 2024, he optimistically shared that he finished his last immune therapy to prevent the cancer cells from returning: "A full PET scan remains, and then I'm ready for whatever 2024 brings!" 

Fond farewell

Sometimes, the crew is just as important as the ship, and it's safe to say that Captain Faevelen was one of the most popular Captains sailing for Royal Caribbean. 

"Best Captain ever on the high seas , you will surely be missed , good luck and enjoy the future with your family 🥰," commented Tracey Ann Lemon on Faevelen's Facebook post. 

Ken Muskat added, "Congratulations to you Captain Johnny. What an incredible career and it was a pleasure getting to know you from my time at Royal. Wishing you the best in your role as 100% family man!"

I was surprised how much money you can save on a Royal Caribbean internet package with one change.

No matter which mainstream cruise line you sail on, you're going to have to pay for a WiFi package if you want to use the internet.

While prices for an internet package are cheaper today than they used to be, it's still an expense. Especially if you want to get everyone in your family access too.

You can save money by taking advantage of a loophole in Royal Caribbean's pricing and opting to buy a multi-device plan, rather than a plan for everyone individually.

When you go to Royal Caribbean's app or website to buy WiFi packages for your cruise, you're given the choice of buying a one device plan, or a multi-device plan.

The multi-device plan is probably intended to be for a person to be able to use more than one device at at a time, but there's no restrictions or rules to say someone else couldn't use your internet plan too.

While prices for an internet package will vary by ship, sail date, and which promotion is active, I found this hack almost always is cheaper.

Royal Caribbean incentives guests to pay for more devices by discounting the per-device fee with the more devices you add.

So instead of buying everyone a one device plan, share a multi-device plan with your family.

Here's a breakdown of the cost difference for a 7-night cruise:

• 1 device package: $167.93
• 2 device package: $272.93 ($105 more)
• 3 device package: $398.93 ($126 more)
• 4 device package: $517.93 ($119 more)

If we bought 4 one-device packages, it would cost $671.72. 

Rather than paying $167.93 for each person, you're paying less and less with each additional device that you add to a multi-device plan.

The catch with sharing an internet package

There's no question sharing a multi-device internet package will save money, but there's one downside to it.

Everyone will share the same login credentials, and it's easy to accidently disconnect someone else who's already signed in.

When you buy a multi-device package, it allows that many devices as you purchased to be logged in concurrently. 

That means if you have the 3 device package, after 3 devices are logged in, when a fourth device attempts to login, it will disconnect the first device.  

It's not necessarily a big deal, nor a reason not to buy it, but you should be aware of how it works. Additionally, you should have a way to contact the people with access to let them know when this happens to prevent a round-robin series of everyone disconnecting each other.

Keep in mind that you can have as many different devices use your internet package during your cruise, but only a fixed number at once.  You can switch from one device to another device, such as disconnecting from your phone to use your laptop and vice versa.

More Royal Caribbean wifi tips

Now that you're saving money with this internet package hack, here's a few more tips you should know about Royal Caribbean's internet.

Every Royal Caribbean ship uses Starlink internet, which means it's true high speed access at sea.  For many years it was substantially slower, but now it does work pretty darn well.

This means you can use a VPN to conduct work, stream a movie, or make a video call with friends or family. The internet works well enough to support this. It is satellite internet, so intermittent slow downs or pauses in service do happen, but they are rare.

If you buy an internet package, you can use it at Royal Caribbean's private destination of Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas with no additional cost.

Internet access will work while your ship is in Labadee, but there's no WiFi access around the private destination.

Whether you buy an internet package or not, always put your phone into airplane mode at the start of your cruise to avoid costly bills later.

Just recently one passenger didn't do this and ran into a surprise $1,300 bill because of roaming charges.

While in airplane mode, you can still make and receive phone calls and text messages by enabling the WiFi calling feature on your phone.  It's free to do so, and you can set it up and test WiFi calling while at home.

And yes, you can use the Royal Caribbean app without purchasing an internet package at all.

When you get on the ship, there will be an option after connecting the WiFi network if you want to use an internet package or just access the app.

Choose the app, and then your app will work during your cruise.

One person just reached his 1,000th cruise with Royal Caribbean, something that seems impossible to most travelers.

Mario Salcedo is sailing on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas this week and it's an important milestone for the cruise line's biggest fan.

Known by the moniker, "Super Mario", Mr. Salcedo celebrated 1,000 cruises total, and all with Royal Caribbean.

Salcedo hit the 1000 cruise milestone while aboard the 3,286 passenger Explorer of the Seas. The ship departed Miami on January 5 on an 11-night voyage to Panama and the Southern Caribbean.

Super Mario began cruising with an 8-night Western Caribbean cruise on Majesty of the Seas on December 31, 1994. Majesty is no longer in the fleet and has been destroyed, that's how old long he's been cruising.

It's an incredible milestone, but he's been setting and breaking his own records for the most everything with Royal Caribbean for quite a while.

A special event was held on the ship's Royal Promenade to celebrate the occasion with Super Mario himself, along with the ship's senior staff.

"Join us in celebrating the extraordinary milestone of Super Mario completing his 1000th sailing with Royal Caribbean," the announcement said in the ship's daily newspaper.

"He has become a beloved member of our cruising family and Pinnacle Club member in our Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program. He has completed the most cruises on Liberty of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and this sailing marks his 54th cruise on Explorer of the Seas."

As you probably guessed, he reached and maxed out Royal Caribbean's upper most loyalty level a long time ago.

Pinnacle Club is when you get to 700 points, which would take you 100 seven-night cruises to reach if you stayed in a cabin less than a suite and never sailed alone.

Pinnacles get free internet packages for duration of every sailing, lapel pins, priority embarkation with the suite guests, and daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant.

After every 350 points earned, Pinnacle Club members get a free cruise certificate good for a Junior Suite cabin.

A cruising legend

If you cruise long enough with Royal Caribbean, you'll probably hear someone talk about Super Mario because of how incredible his achievements are within the line.

He practically lives on cruise ships year-round. Most years, he only spends a few days on land.  The rest of the year he's on a ship.

According to Royal Caribbean, he spends about 50 weeks a year on the line's ships.

The only time in the past 20 years he hasn't cruised most of the year was during the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021.

In 2022, he hit the 10,000 point milestone with the line's customer loyalty program.

To put this in perspective, Crown & Anchor Society members earn one point for each night spent on a Royal Caribbean cruise, with an extra point per night awarded for staying in a suite or cruising solo in a double-occupancy cabin.

It took Super Mario 870 cruises to reach that number.  But since August 2022, he's taken another 130 cruises in just 29 months.

His favorite itineraries are to the Caribbean, and his favorite stop is the cruise line's private destination in Labadee, Haiti.

How Mario became Super Mario

Mr. Salcedo became Royal Caribbean's top cruiser years ago, but he only got started in 2000.

His family moved from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s to start a new life in pursuit of freedom and opportunity.

"We are eternally grateful to this country for having welcomed us with open arms," he said about moving to the United States.

He began cruising 20 years ago back when he was 47-years-old and doesn’t seem to have any regrets.

Read more: Life at sea - An interview with Royal Caribbean's top cruiser, Super Mario

In 1997, Mr. Salcedo opened a small business managing investments for clients in 1997. That same year he took his first cruise and fell in love with the experience and began sampling different lines, regions, and itineraries.

Since then, cruising has become a way of life.

Since his first Royal Caribbean cruise in 2000, Mario has sailed exclusively on Royal Caribbean International ships around the world -- that’s 25 years and counting!

In an interview with All Things Cruise in 2021, he said: "I’m so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."

"For 23 years. Always on Royal Caribbean...Cruising never gets old."

He said in 2019 he paid about $72,093 a year if he stayed in an inside cabin. 

That number went up to $101,258 for a cabin with a balcony.

Super Mario told told Condé Nast Traveler: "I’ve lost my land legs, so when I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line. I’m so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."

How long will we cruise? As long as he can.

"With so many friends and memories made out at sea over the years, I plan to continue cruising indefinitely so long as I’m in good health and having fun."

Mario's favorite cruise memory

Mr. Salcedo shared recently the answer to what is his most memorable cruise memory.

“Without a doubt, the ‘hurricane evacuation’ cruise onboard Enchantment of the Seas in September 2017.

Hurricane Irma was headed towards South Florida packing maximum winds of 150 mph. Evacuation orders were issued, but there were no flights, car rentals, or hotel rooms. Bottled water and essential items ran out quickly and even gasoline was scarce. Miami’s residents were essentially trapped.

A famous CEO came up with the brilliant idea to offer Enchantment of the Seas to the Miami-based shoreside employees and their immediate families as a means of quick, safe, and free evacuation.

I believe the ship carried nearly 3,000 employees and families as she sailed out of Miami and out of harm's way for a 4-day cruise to nowhere. I may have been the only real guest onboard.  

That sailing gave me the unique opportunity to meet, chat, and socialize with many shoreside employees. It was a new and truly unforgettable experience.

I love the onboard crew, but this unplanned encounter with the shoreside employee population was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.”