Royal Caribbean Blog

For my recent cruise onboard Adventure of the Seas, my mom and I stayed in the cheapest cabin available.

I selected an inside guarantee cabin around two months before the sailing departure. A significant factor as to why I selected this cabin type was because of the cost. I definitely don't mind cruising in inside cabins, so I thought the $2,160 price was reasonable for a seven-night Western Caribbean sailing.

Read more: How much does a cruise cost?

Because this was an guarantee cabin, I was not able to select its location on the ship. Of course, I always prefer to get a cabin midship for the smoothest possible sailing. I tend to get motion sick, so being in the middle of the ship is ideal for less movement.

However, from my experience with inside guaranteed cabins, it usually ends up being in the very front or back of the ship. For this sailing, we were in the very back of the ship.

About two weeks before our sailing, I checked the Royal Caribbean app and noticed our assigned cabin was 9379. This cabin was situated on the starboard side, in the aft of the ship. 

This cruise was the first time I purchased The Key, so upon opening the door to our stateroom, I saw my purple carry-on on the couch. It was so convenient not to lug it around for the first several hours onboard the ship! 

My first impression of the cabin was that it was tidy and clean. 

We noticed right away that the cabin was quite spacious at 160 square feet. The decor wasn’t dated, but the drawers had a pink tint to them that reminded me the ship is in fact 22 years old.

As soon as you walk into the cabin, you are met with a large closet. The closet had 18 hangers and six wide, wire shelves for all the clothes we packed.

The beds were separated per our request prior to embarkation. Next to both of our beds was a side table with a drawer and an open compartment. One side table had a phone on top that took up the majority of the space.

Each bed had a wall light above our heads. This was perfect for reading and getting all settled in before turning off the lights and the cabin becoming pitch black. The darkness made for good sleeping; this is one of the advantages of an inside cabin.

Our cabin included a full-sized couch. This was nice for another place to sit instead of our beds. Sure there were a few stains on the cushions, but it was nothing terrible. We even lined up our shoes (yes, my mom brought seven pairs of shoes) under the couch for easy viewing and access.

The vanity is a great feature of the cabin because of all the storage. It had nine drawers: six deeper ones and three shallow ones. I found the shallow drawers hard to use, especially since one had a hair dryer in it, rendering it unusable for other things. On both sides of the vanity were glass shelves for additional items. 

On the right side of the vanity was a TV that could swivel in different directions so wherever we were in the cabin, we could see the screen. My mom loved this because she slept on the same side as the vanity and was able to position the TV to be at the foot of her bed so she could watch TV while falling asleep.

Above the TV was a safe and two deep shelves for more storage.

Below the TV was a mini refrigerator. The refrigerator was useful primarily for keeping water and sodas cool. It didn’t get super cold. We tried to put a plate of complementary fruit we received in there, but it didn't fit. We wished it had a deeper shelf so we could have stored more in there. 

The biggest disappointment in our cabin was the lack of outlets. By day two, we were really wishing we had packed an approved power strip so we would have more outlets to charge our cell phones, iPads, watches, camera, and laptop. We were constantly shuffling devices based on need and usage.  

Before the sailing, I thought I had read online that there was another outlet behind the beds. I looked under and behind both beds and unfortunately didn’t find one.

Read more: The clever reason to bring a European power adapter on your cruise ship

The bathroom was certainly not glamorous, but it got the job done (literally!). 

The major thing that caught my eye was four Salt + Breeze bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion on the bathroom counter on embarkation day. This was the first time I’ve had that in a cabin. 

We later asked our room attendant and she said that was a perk for Diamond and above guests. I was very happy to have these toiletries because I am not a fan of the all-in-one soap in the shower.

Behind the right mirror were three shelves for various toiletries. I didn't need this extra storage, so my mom utilized it. We had two sets of towels hanging up when we arrived, but after asking our stateroom attendant, we had three sets each day which was helpful. 

The shower (I call it a space pod!) was compact, but it always had plenty of hot water and good pressure. If you are curious, the approximate diameter of the shower was 29 inches.

Overall thoughts about our cabin

We really appreciated the location of our cabin. There was only one room next to us before you turned the corner to the suites that are across the back of the ship. This meant there was very little foot traffic throughout the day and night, making the location pretty quiet.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Another aspect of the cabin location we enjoyed was the proximity to the Windjammer and pool deck. We only had to walk up two flights of stairs to be near all the excitement!

Something random we noticed was how extremely heavy our cabin door was when trying to open or close it. On the plus side, I think the weight of the door may have helped cut down noise from the hallway.

Our luggage was delivered to our door by 1:30 p.m. on embarkation day, so as soon as we got them, we started to unpack everything. After unpacking, we hid our suitcases under the beds so they could be out of the way to leave as much open space as possible.

Read more: Best inside cruise ship cabin hacks

Not long after receiving our luggage, we met our stateroom attendant. This was my first cruise since the new housekeeping change (one cleaning per day instead of two), so she explained to us that she was available every day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then again from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and asked what time we preferred. Since we had early dining room seating at 5:30 p.m., we selected 6 p.m. each day. 

We had no issues with the once-a-day cleaning. It was nice not having to worry about knocking on the door in the early mornings and waking me up. I also liked not feeling rushed to leave our cabin in the morning so the attendants can clean before their afternoon breaks.

Our stateroom attendant was wonderful and bought extra pillows for us and gave us a paper Cruise Compass every night on our beds (per our request).

Overall, I would say I was pleased with our tiny stateroom. Considering the ship's age, she is in respectable condition. I believe because of the quietness, ideal location on the ninth deck, and convenience to the Windjammer and pool deck, I'd recommend this cabin to future cruisers.

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

Is Royal Caribbean considering starting to charge for its free pizza?

An email survey sent to some cruisers asked if Sorrento's Pizza was offered for a fee, would they would still dine there.

No policy has changed, but the survey wanted to get cruiser feedback on this possible change.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide
• 14 Caribbean cruise mistakes I see passengers making all the time
• Royal Caribbean cancels Panama Canal cruise season for Rhapsody of the Seas
• Is a balcony cabin worth it on a cruise? 8 reasons you should
• Royal Caribbean testing out chatbot that can answer common questions

Video: 10 Reasons people leave their cruise ship vacation disappointed

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: 10 Reasons people leave their cruise ship vacation disappointed

Icon of the Seas construction sneak peek

Ready to take a walkthrough tour of Icon of the Seas while it's still under construction?

The next new Royal Caribbean cruise ship doesn't begin service until January 2024, but we have a batch of new photos to share from the shipyard.

You can see the progress being made on adding water slides, the different neighborhoods onboard, and many of the signature venues.

Royal Caribbean CEO asks how to solve Diamond Lounge crowding problem

Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley took to Facebook to ask cruise fans how they would solve the issue of overcrowding in the Diamond Lounge.

"I’ve been hearing from a lot of our guests about overcrowding in our Diamond lounges and in the Suite lounge," he posted on social media. "What do you think we should do?"

Hundreds of responses followed with plenty of ideas for how to deal with the issue.

What will get you kicked off a cruise ship

There are lots of rules to follow on a cruise ship, and if you break some of them, you could be kicked off the ship.

Every cruise line has a code of conduct that is outlined in the cruise contract that every passenger agrees to when they book a cruise. The cruise contract outlines what you can and cannot do onboard, as well as consequences. 

In reading through the cruise contract for U.S. guests, there's a few rules that could get you taken off your cruise ship if you break them.

When is the best time to book a cruise?

Are you wondering when is the best time to book a cruise?

There's many considerations, such as time of year, sailing length, itinerary and much more that factor into how early you should book a cruise.

Guide to a Bahamas cruise

Are you ready to escape to the warm blue waters of The Bahamas?

Quite a lot of Royal Caribbean cruises will make a stop in The Bahamas due to its convenient location and natural beauty.

Whether you make one stop or spend the entire cruise in their waters, here's your guide to a Bahamas cruise so you know what to expect.

Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's biggest cruise ship and began offering cruises in January 2024.

Icon of the Seas is the first in a new type of Royal Caribbean cruise ship, and is packed with many cool things to do, including a water park, new areas dedicated to families, revamped pool decks, diving shows, dining experiences, and many more attractions that will entice you to try it all.

She is the first new type of vessel for the cruise line since 2014.

The 20-deck high ship comes in at 250,800 tons. She is more than 6% bigger than Wonder of the Seas and is able to hold up to 7,600 passengers. Icon of the Seas is also 10 feet longer than Wonder of the Seas.

Icon of the Seas completed her sea trials in June and November 2023, and was delivered to Royal Caribbean on November 27, 2023. The new cruise ship went to Cadiz, Spain and Ponce, Puerto Rico to receive its finishing touches. She visited Perfect Day at CocoCay before arriving in Miami on January 10, 2024.

In December 2023, Soccer superstar Lionel Messi was named the godfather of Icon of the Seas.

When she launched in early 2024, Icon of the Seas became the largest cruise ship in the world.

If you are thinking of booking Icon of the Seas, or are planning for an upcoming cruise, there are quite a few things you should know about this new ship.

How big is Icon of the Seas?

Icon of the Seas is the first Icon Class ship, which means this cruise ship has a new design, size, and look compared to other ships that came before her.

Icon of the Seas can carry 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy (or nearly 10,000 people when you account for the crew).

Icon of the Seas is 20 decks high, 1,198 feet long, and measures 250,800 gross tons.

That makes Icon larger than any other cruise ship in the world.

Where will Icon of the Seas sail from?

Icon of the Seas offers cruises from Miami, Florida.

Miami will be Icon's homeport from January 2024 through at least April 2026. 

Icon of the Seas itineraries

Icon of the Seas offers weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, and each visits Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The inaugural Icon of the Seas sailing was January 27, 2024.

Other sailings include:

• 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay: Miami; Phillipsburg, St Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Perfect Day at CocoCay; Miami
• 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay: Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Perfect Day at CocoCay; Miami
• 7-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay: Miami; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; Perfect Day at CocoCay; Miami

Icon of the Seas neighborhoods & layout

Ready to see what you can do on Icon of the Seas?

Icon of the Seas has 8 neighborhoods to help passengers easily navigate the ship.

AquaDome

Instead of a Solarium at the front of the ship, Icon of the Seas has an AquaDome area.

The AquaDome itself weighs 363 tons and has over 600 glass panels.

At its heart, this area is home to the indoor AquaTheater from the Oasis Class ships, and put it into this multipurpose space with huge floor-to-ceiling windows, offering 220-degree views. 

The shows here feature aerialists, acrobatics, high dives, and the tallest waterfall at sea (55 feet tall). There will be two shows that passengers can see in the AquaTheater: "Aqua Nation!" and "Pirates vs Mermaids." 

When the space isn't being used for a show, passengers can take in wraparound ocean views and enjoy views of the waterfall as they enjoy a bite or drink.

Read more: Icon of the Seas AquaDome: What to expect

Central Park

Icon of the Seas has its own lush green place onboard, with thousands of real plants, dining, and live music.

The open-air garden neighborhood has living plants, where you can enjoy all sorts of dining and entertainment.

Royal Caribbean opened a new jazz club in Central Park, called Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.

The jazz club will be a new spot to offer "jazz in the park" as passengers stop in for a set.

If champagne is your thing, be sure to stop by Bubbles, which is Royal Caribbean's new walkup champagne window.

You can order glasses of mimosas, prosecco, Bellini, and even bottles of bubbly on tap morning, noon, and night.

Speaking of walkup windows, the cruise line's first walk-up sushi window is in Central Park.

Izumi in the Park has signature rolls, nigiri, and Japanese sweet treats, all served in a portable box to take with you, available for an additional cost.

Of course, there is a Trellis Bar in Central Park, and it has a new look and offers food for the first time.

Read more: Icon of the Seas Central Park: What to expect

Chill Island

Royal Caribbean had plans for the best pool deck at sea with Chill Island.

Chill Island has ocean views galore from the three-deck pool area. 

Icon of the Seas has Swim & Tonic, the first swim-up bar at sea. You'll also find the largest pool at sea: Royal Bay Pool.

If you want a quieter pool experience, head to the infinity-edge Cove Pool that has in-water loungers.

Cloud 17 is another infinite-edge pool to enjoy. It was originally slated to be the adults-only area, but Royal Caribbean changed that to The Hideaway and made Cloud 17 open to all guests.

Cloud 17 also has a whirlpool and Lime & Coconut bar.

Pool information for Icon of the Seas:

• Royal Bay: The largest pool at sea, designed for all guests to enjoy. Located in Chill Island Neighborhood on Deck 15. Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• The Cove Pool: An infinity, portside pool directly facing the ocean. Located in Chill Island Neighborhood on Deck 15. Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m
• Cloud 17: Pool overlooking the ocean with dedicated Lime & Coconut bar and whirlpool. Located in Chill Island Neighborhood on Deck 17. Hours of Operation:  8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Maximum Capacity: 249)
• Swim & Tonic: First-to-brand swim-up bar located in Chill Island Neighborhood on Deck 16.
  Seating for 12 at the swim-up bar. Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – Late.

Thrill Island

Thrill Island is the name of a brand new neighborhood on the first Icon Class cruise ship, and it is a new approach to aquatic fun on a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean wanted to go beyond just having water slides, so Icon of the Seas introduced the first water park at sea.

Related: Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will have the largest water park to thrill all ages

Category 6 is the new water park that has six water slides, including an open free-fall slide, the tallest drop slide at sea, family raft slides that accommodate four riders at once, and two mat-racing slides. 

• Frightening Bolt: The tallest drop slide at sea (Min Height: 52” tall)
• Pressure Drop: The first open freefall slide at sea (Min Height: 52" tall)
• Storm-Chasers (2): The longest mat racing slides at sea (Min Height: 48” tall)
• Hurricane Hunter: The first family raft slide at sea (Min Height: 48” tall)
• Storm Surge: The first suspended family raft slide at sea (Min Height: 48” tall)

All adventures within Category 6 Waterpark are complimentary during the hours of operation: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM.

Because Royal Caribbean wants Icon of the Seas to rival any family land resort, the amount of space dedicated to water slides is meant to rival shoreside resorts.

Crown's Edge is part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride, and an all-out test of courage. 

Guests are strapped in and walk 154 feet above the ocean for this experience. It lasts about two and a half minutes and culminates with a drop-through portion, which Royal Caribbean described as "pretty scary."

There is one FlowRider surf simulator onboard, as well as other brand staples like Adrenaline Peak – the ultimate rock-climbing expedition – a Sports Court, and a totally reimagined Lost Dunes mini-golf course.

After all that fun, you might want to take a break. Nearby, there's Desserted, which is a milkshake bar that has over-the-top milkshakes (including some that have alcohol), and Basecamp, which offers complimentary and for-fee snacks.

Surfside

Surfside is a new neighborhood dedicated to young families, and it's at the heart of the focus of Icon of the Seas.

This neighborhood offers splash areas for babies and kids. There's a new pool-themed version of Royal Caribbean's carousel and a bar with "mommy and me" matching mocktails for kids and cocktails for grownups at The Lemon Post. 

Kids using Splashaway Bay must be fully potty trained. Baby Bay is for children who are still in diapers but gives them a place to splash and play. Additionally, the slide within Splashaway Bay requires a minimum height of 42” tall and a maximum weight of 300 lbs.

Adventure Ocean and the teen club have entrances here, which means easy access to either place.

Grownups can hang back at Water’s Edge pool as the kiddos play at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay, complete with slides, fountains, water cannons, a drench bucket, and more.

Water's Edge hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Read more: Icon of the Seas Surfside neighborhood: What to expect

The Hideaway

Another brand new neighborhood is The Hideaway, which is Royal Caribbean's version of a beach club. Think Las Vegas pool party. 

The Hideaway is the adults-only area on Icon of the Seas. Here, you'll find the first suspended infinity pool at sea.

There's a multilevel terrace, whirlpools, a variety of seating, and a dedicated bar. There are also daybeds you can rent for an additional cost.

The Hideaway Pool hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Suite neighborhood

The Royal Suite Class benefits are available on Icon of the Seas, and that includes three decks of space for suite guests.

Between decks 16 to 19 is an enclave for suite passengers that has many of the ship's suite cabins, along with restaurants, a lounge, and outdoor areas exclusively for suite guests.

This is Royal Caribbean's largest area for suite guests, and it includes a suite sun deck, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and a new casual eatery just for suite guests, The Grove.

Coastal Kitchen will be two decks high on Icon of the Seas. The suite sun deck concept is bigger than ever with a multistory area with lounge space, a pool, a hot tub, and a complimentary Mediterranean restaurant.

Royal Promenade

Royal Caribbean wanted to iterate the Royal Promenade concept on Icon of the Seas, as it's expanded and a step up from previous versions.

The Royal Promenade measures 362 feet long and features ocean views for the first time. As you walk onto the ship, you'll see a giant multi-deck high glass wall that will provide natural light and a way to still see the beautiful ocean that surrounds the ship.

When you walk onto the ship, you'll pass by the 1400 Bar. Each cruise ship is given a number at a shipyard, so Royal Caribbean decided to pay homage to Icon's build number by naming it the 1400 Bar.

One major feature you will quickly notice on The Promenade is The Pearl, which the cruise line describes as a multi-sensory experience built with 3,000 kinetic tiles. 

Something else different about the Royal Promenade is that there's the largest ice arena yet in Absolute Zero.

Also located within the Royal Promenade is Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, which is a new location for this restaurant.

There's also a Dueling Pianos bar, Sorrento's pizzeria, Point and Feather Pub, Spotlight Karaoke, Boleros and Schooner Bar.

Read more: Icon of the Seas Royal Promenade: What to expect

Icon of the Seas Dining

There is a combination of new dining concepts and returning favorites on Icon of the Seas, and some are included with your cruise fare.

With over 20 places to dine on the ship, Royal Caribbean hopes Icon of the Seas will deliver the best in dining. Eleven of them will be complimentary, while nine will incur an additional fee. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Complimentary restaurants

These restaurants are included in your cruise fare.

Keep in mind there may be items on the menu here that cost extra, but the majority of the menu has no additional cost.

AquaDome Market

Food hall-style eating in AquaDome with different stations offering distinct cuisines, such as mac 'n cheese, Greek bowls and pitas, Asian dishes, and more.

Basecamp

Walkup window and bar in Thrill Island. Offers complimentary options, as well as some premium selections that can be purchased á la carte, including waffle chicken nuggets ($7), Wisconsin cheese curds ($6), crispy shrimp bao buns ($8), grilled chicken sandwiches ($9), and smash burgers ($11).

El Loco Fresh

Located on deck 15, El Loco Fresh offers grab-and-go Mexican buffet food.

Main Dining Room

Sit-down meals for breakfast and dinner every day (lunch on sea days).

Park Cafe

Grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, and snacks. Unlike Oasis Class ships, Park Cafe will be open in the evening for late-night bites until 10pm.

Pearl Cafe

24-hour quick service venue offering complimentary sandwiches, ready-made salads, coffee, and more.

Sorrento's

Pizza by the slice.

Sprinkles

Complimentary soft-serve ice cream throughout the day.

Surfside Bites

Grab-and-go food, including popcorn chicken, hot dogs, burgers, and sweet treats.

Surfside Eatery

Dedicated buffet in the Surfside neighborhood so families don't have to go far to get a meal.

Vitality Cafe

Healthy snacks and smoothies.

Windjammer Marketplace

Buffet restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Coastal Kitchen

First ship in the fleet to have a two-story Coastal Kitchen restaurant. This restaurant is reserved exclusively for suite guests.

The Grove

Also reserved just for passengers staying in a suite cabin, The Grove is an al fresco buffet that serves Mediterranean cuisine.

Specialty restaurants

These restaurants have an additional cost to dine here, either a cover charge or are priced individually for each item you order.

• Basecamp (offers complimentary and specialty options)
• Celebration Table
• Chops Grille
• Desserted Milkshake Bar
• Empire Supper Club
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Hooked Seafood
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Izumi in the Park
• Pier 7
• Playmakers Sports Bar 
• Room Service
• Starbucks
• Sugar Beach
• Trellis Bar

What's included with your Icon of the Seas fare?

While it might seem like there are a lot of ways to spend extra money on Icon of the Seas, there's quite a few options included with your cruise fare.

Here is a list of things that are included with your cruise fare:

Thrills

• Adrenaline Peak rock climbing wall
• Baby Bay splash zone
• Carousel
• Category 6 waterpark (6 waterslides)
• Fitness center
• FlowRider surf simulator
• Lost Dunes mini golf course
• Playscape climbable fun for kids
• Running track
• Splashaway Bay kid-friendly aquapark
• Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and more)

Chills

• Cloud 17 (open to all guests)
• The Hideaway neighborhood & pool (suspended infinity pool)
• Royal Bay pool (largest pool at sea)
• Swim & Tonic (swim-up bar and pool)
• The Cove pool (oceanfront infinity pool)
• Water's Edge (family-friendly pool)
• Whirlpools
• The Grove Suite Sun Deck & Pool (suite guests only)

Dining

• AquaDome Market (five unique food stands)
• Basecamp (walk-up snack window)
• El Loco Fresh (self-serve Mexican classics)
• Main Dining Room
• Park Cafe (quick, fresh bakery bites)
• Sorrento's (pizza by the slice)
• Sprinkles (unlimited soft serve ice cream)
• Surfside Bites (sweet & salty snacks)
• Surfside Eatery (family-friendly buffet)
• The Pearl Cafe (pastries, salads & sweets)
• Windjammer (buffet)
• The Grove (upscale Mediterranean restaurant for suite guests)
• Coastal Kitchen (Pacific Coast meets the Med restaurant for suite guests)

Entertainment

• Absolute Zero (ice skating & free skating)
• AquaTheater (high-dive water shows)
• Boleros (Latin-themed bar)
• Dueling Pianos (a battle of the baby grands)
• Lou's Jazz 'n Blues (bar with live jazz music)
• Music Hall (two-story live music venue)
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade (game on at Royal Promenade)
• Point & Feather (English pub with live music)
• Royal Theater (shows and original productions)
• Schooner Bar (nautical bar with piano)
• Spotlight Karaoke (main stage or private room)
• The Attic (comedy club)
• The Overlook (next-level hangout with live music)
• Adventure Ocean (award-winning youth program for ages 3-12)
• Social 020 (ultimate teen hangout)

In addition, there's free programming all day, including trivia, themed events, parades, and more.

Icon of the Seas Bars & Nightlife

Royal Caribbean offers a combination of new and fan-favorite bars to enjoy on Icon of the Seas.

Dueling Pianos: Royal Caribbean’s first dueling pianos bar has twin baby grand pianos with pianists taking song requests to bring high-energy performances to the Royal Promenade.

Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues: Jazz venue in Central Park with live performances of soulful classics and jazz-pop tunes.

Rye & Bean: Coffee shop in the AquaDome that can serve up coffee and espresso cocktails.

The Overlook and Overlook Pods: A new concept entirely, this bar has nooks and is located conveniently near the AquaDome. Royal Caribbean envisions this as a place to drink, play classic board games, and kick back to live music, too. 

1400 Lobby Bar: Located right when you board the ship, the drink menu was developed with renowned mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim. The venue is also the first to open the vibrant Royal Promenade to the outdoors with an ocean-facing terrace.

Bubbles: New walkup champagne window in Central Park open morning, noon, and night.

Royal Caribbean classic bars also found on Icon include:

• Trellis Bar
• Boleros
• Schooner Bar
• Point & Feather English pub
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Spotlight Karaoke
• Music Hall
• The Attic comedy club

What shows will be on Icon of the Seas?

There will be three primary venues for shows: AquaDome, Absolute Zero, and Royal Theater.

The premier show in the AquaDome will be "Aqua Nation!". "Pirates vs Mermaids" is the name of the other show in the AquaDome.

"Starburst" is the name of the ice skating show in the Absolute Zero ice skating arena. There is an additional show in Absolute Zero, "Once Upon A Time."

"Wizard of Oz" will be the featured musical on Icon of the Seas and it has a targeted runtime of around 90 minutes.

Icon of the Seas was delivered in late November 2023

Icon of the Seas was originally scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2022, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused her construction plans to be delayed by a year.

Her first sailing with paying guests was on January 27, 2024.

Cabins and suites on Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has 28 different Icon of the Seas cruise ship cabins you can choose from, with an eye to provide the most spacious rooms designed by the cruise line.

There are new categories of cabins, new neighborhoods, and views never offered before on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

More than 82% of all rooms onboard Icon of the Seas will accommodate three or more guests, and more than 70% of all rooms onboard Icon of the Seas will have a balcony.

Read more: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites

There are 2,805 total staterooms on Icon of the Seas:

• 179 suites
• 1,815 balcony staterooms
• 276 ocean view staterooms
• 535 interior staterooms

New stateroom options

Royal Caribbean has introduced new kinds of cruise cabins for the first time ever with the launch of Icon of the Seas.

There are 14 new categories that range from standard rooms to suites, including more options for families.

One mantra Royal Caribbean wanted for its cabins is more space for families and accessible options in every category, location, and amenities.

Some of the new kinds of cabins you can find only on Icon of the Seas include:

Family Infinite Oceanview Balconies: Cruise ship cabins that can accommodate up to six people in one room, with a bunk alcove for kids and enough TVs for everyone.

The bathroom features a split design – with a shower and a sink on one side and a sink and toilet on the other – to make getting ready for the day or bed easier for every family member.

Surfside Family View Cabins: Located in the new Surfside neighborhood, these cabins are designed for up to four people with convenience to the neighborhood just for young families.

Ultimate Family Townhouse: If you are looking for the biggest and most impressive suite anywhere at sea, Royal Caribbean has a three-level townhouse for you.

It features a multilevel, in-suite slide, areas for karaoke and watching movies, two private balconies, and even a private entrance to Surfside – complete with a white picket fence and mailbox.

How much does it cost? According to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, the average cost of the Ultimate Family Townhouse in 2024 is $75,000 per week.

Related: Icon of the Seas cabins to avoid

Icon of the Seas cabin tours:

• Central Park Infinite Balcony
• Ocean View Balcony
• Interior Plus

Casino

The casino on Icon of the Seas will feature more televisions so you can watch sports at the same time.

"On the all-new Icon of the Seas, you don't have to choose between watching the big game and playing in the casino. More screens means more entertainment, everywhere you look."

There's also a bar-top video poker and a high-limit area.

Icon of the Seas facts

• 20 total decks (18 guest decks)
• 5,610 guests at double capacity and 7,600 maximum guests
• 2,350 crew (bringing maximum total to 9,950 people onboard)
• 7 pools, 9 whirlpools
• 6 record-breaking waterslides
• 250,800 GT
• 1,198 feet long
• 159 feet wide at the waterline
• Captain: Captain Henrik Loy

When can we book Icon of the Seas?

You can now book Icon of the Seas sailings via the Royal Caribbean website or with a travel agent.

The cruise line put bookings on sale beginning October 24, 2022, for Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor members and October 25 to everyone else.

Next-gen power

Icon of the Seas is the cruise line’s first of three ships to be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas).

LNG and the state-of-the-art ship’s additional environmentally friendly applications, such as shore power connection, will boost energy efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint.

The LNG fuel tank on Icon of the Seas is 307 tons and 90 feet long.

Traditionally, cruise ships are powered by diesel. The advantage LNG has over diesel is it is more energy-efficient and will reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the efficiency of Icon of the Seas, "Our new Icon class is coming with LNG-hybrid but, basically it's LNG. It's 35% more fuel energy efficient than regular fuel. And the ship itself, because of the design, is about 30% more efficient."

In addition, Icon of the Seas will utilize a shore power connection that removes emissions while connected at port.

What is The Pearl?

The Pearl is the centerpiece of the Royal Promenade and is what you'll see when you walk onto the ship. It's part of the arrival moment passengers have when they walk onboard the ship.

The Pearl is an interactive, multi-sensory experience made with kinetic tiles.

The Pearl encompasses four things:

• A gorgeous way to introduce the ship as you walk into it
• An engineering marvel
• It creates gorgeous views
• It has an experiential moment inside of it that's different for everyone

It measures 46 feet tall and 50 feet in diameter, with 578 aluminum external panels.

Other interesting facts about The Pearl:

• 9 miles of cables for power & lighting
• 1,323 feet of air conditioning ducts
• Steel mounting frames on the inside
• It required two tugboats to move it to the shipyard
• 5,600-metric-ton-crane lifted it into position
• It's taken 45,000 working hours to construct the sphere

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Royal Caribbean is in the final months prepping what will become the largest cruise ship in the world.

Icon of the Seas won't launch until early 2024, but the ship is already generating incredible hype with an unmatched level of fascination for a new cruise ship yet unseen.

The 20-deck high ship comes in at 250,800 tons and will take away the title of biggest cruise ship in the world from sister vessel, Wonder of the Seas.  In fact, it will be the first time in about  5 years that an Oasis Class ship hasn't been the biggest in the world.

At the Turku, Finland shipyard, Royal Caribbean gave a hard hat tour to travel agents to help familiarize the new ship with some of the top sellers of all things Royal Caribbean.

Beci Mahnken, president and CEO of MEI-Travel, had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the not-yet-completed ship while it's being worked on.  Unlike our visit to the ship in May, Icon is in a far more complete stage of construction now.

Icon already completed her first set of sea trials, and is expected to complete work on her sometime later this year before being readied to start offering cruises.

If there's one thing apparent about Royal Caribbean's new ship, it's that it's anything but ordinary.

Royal Caribbean calls Icon of the Seas a "white paper" ship, because it has been designed from the ground up with new concepts. 

There's been a lot of attention for this new ship, and rightfully so, as it represents the single biggest chance of being a game changer to the cruise industry in the same way the Oasis of the Seas was when it launched.

Royal Caribbean is building on its legacy of not just building big cruise ships, but innovating and leading the industry at the same time.  Royal Caribbean sets the bar all other new cruise ships are judged against.

With five months left before the first passenger steps onboard Icon of the Seas, there's still plenty to do.  In the meantime, here's a look at the latest progress and how much closer to completion the ship is.

Thrills get their own deck

You wont run out of things to do on Icon of the Seas, especially if water slides are your thing.

Icon will introduce the first water park at sea, with six different water slides that will draw your attention within a mile of arriving to the ship.

Thrill Island is the name of a brand new neighborhood coming to the first Icon Class cruise ship, and it is a new approach to aquatic fun on a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean.

Because Royal Caribbean wants Icon of the Seas to rival any family land resort, the amount of space dedicated to water slides is not something you will find at any old hotel complex.

Related: Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will have the largest water park to thrill all ages

In combination with their private island, Royal Caribbean thinks they have a one-two combo that will draw people to Icon like never before.

"The Icon product, along with Perfect Day, with the kind of experiences that we're offering, with the kind of new accommodations that we have on Icon and the experiences that we have for young families, older families and of course couples and singles and what have you, is really squarely standing shoulder to shoulder with Orlando and those kind of destinations," is what Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said about his company's plans.

The water slides, known collectively as Category 6, take up the back of the top deck of the ship, and are flanked by mini-golf, a rock climbing wall, and a brand new thrill "walk".

Crown's Edge is a combination ropes course, sky walk, and obstacle course.

Guests are strapped in and walk 154 feet above the ocean for this experience. It lasts about two and a half minutes and culminates with  drop through portion, which Royal Caribbean described as "pretty scary".

Royal Promenade

Icon of the Seas is not the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to have a Royal Promenade thoroughfare on its ships, but it will be the first to introduce an expanded and evolved version.

At 362 feet long, the Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the seas is longer than a football field, and for the first time, it incorporates ocean views.

As you walk onto the ship, you'll see a giant multi-deck high glass wall that will provide natural light and a way to still see the beautiful ocean that surrounds the ship.

The Pearl is a likely focal point of the Royal Promenade, which the cruise line describes as a multi-sensory experience built with 3,000 kinetic tiles. 

Behind The Pearl, guests will find the Pearl Cafe, which serves freshly toasted croissants, hot chocolate croissants, croissant sandwiches, sweets, and other specialty desserts. 

You will find Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar on the Promenade, which is a new location for this restaurant. There will also be a Dueling Pianos bar, Sorrento's pizzeria, Point and Feather pub, Spotlight Karaoke, Boleros and Schooner Bar.

On one end of the Promenade will be the new ice skating rink, Absolute Zero, with over 2,850 square feet of ice.

Absolute Zero will host two different shows: "Starburst" and "Once Upon A Time."

Casino Royale is located just one deck below the Promenade.

Pools, pools, and more pools

A connection to the water was one of the guiding principles to Icon of the Seas' design, and you'll find a pool deck that exceeds anything else the cruise line has offered.There's 62% more water surface area than on the Oasis Class cruise ships.

Chill Island is the name of its massive resort-style relaxation zone where you'll find the largest pool at sea, an adult only pool, and the first suspended infinity pool at sea. Five of the seven pools on Icon of the Seas are located in Chill Island.

Whether it's sitting by the pool, listening to the Caribbean band, or enjoying time at the ship's swim-up bar, the idea behind Chill Island is you can pick from different ways to take it easy.

Like most of the ship, the pools are under construction and will be among the last things to be completed (no need to add pool water this early).

There will be pools for adults, pools for families, and pools to simply enjoy the views all around you, including the ocean.

The Aquadome

You can't miss the AquaDome as a feature, given that there is a giant glass dome adorned to the front part of the ship. Inside, Royal Caribbean hopes to deliver a jaw-dropping experience.

Instead of an outdoor theater that is subject to weather conditions, Royal Caribbean built a dome it placed on top of the theater, along with enough space to add bars, food hall, and even cruise ship cabins.

Photos simply do not do the AquaDome justice, because it is truly massive. It weighs 363-tons and has over 600 glass panels of cables. It was no simple feat to hoist it into position, as the team in Turku had to use 1,600 feet of cables to lift it into position. The length of cables is longer than the height of the Empire State Building.

Of course, the AquaTheater is at the heart of this neighborhood. Royal Caribbean has a show that that will feature aerialists, acrobatics, high dives, and the tallest waterfall at sea at 55 feet tall.

 There will be two shows that passengers can see in the AquaTheater: "Aqua Nation!" and "Pirates vs Mermaids." 

You'll find the Overlook inside the dome, which has 220-degree views from pods you can sit in and enjoy time with friends.

More family time

If there's one major focus Royal Caribbean has with its new ship, it's it wants to up its family cruise game to a whole new level.

Icon will have an entire neighborhood dedicated to young families, known as Surfside. It's located at the back of the ship in an open-air space that is somewhat similar to the Boardwalk neighborhood on the Oasis Class ships.

Related: Royal Caribbean is building the best cruise ship for young families on Icon of the Seas with a new purpose-built area

Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay are the focal point of the new neighborhood, which is an aquapark and pool designed for families to enjoy together. Royal Caribbean added the Water's Edge pool so adults can lounge in the pool too.  It is located at the aft of the ship, complete with in pool lounge chairs and gorgeous views of the ocean.

As part of Royal Caribbean's plans to attract families away from theme parks and other land destinations in Florida, this part of the ship is all about appealing to not just kids, but their parents too. 

Instead of a place to take your kids, Surfside is meant to be enjoyed alongside your kids.

There's lots of dining choices too, including Surfside Bites. This quick eatery has burgers, popcorn chicken, cinnamon sugar donut holes, and, of course, soft serve! 

You'll also find new cabins in Surfside designed to accommodate more people, which is perfect for families.

There are new categories of cabins on Icon, with over 50% of Icon's room types new to the cruise line.

Related: Royal Caribbean designed first-of-its-kind cabins for its new cruise ship

The ocean view infinite balcony that allows you to expand your indoor living space or invite in the sea breeze with the touch of a button.

One new cabin type is the Family Infinite Balcony room, which has in-room games, a split bathroom, and even a bunk area for children that can be closed off with a curtain for privacy. Plus, each bunk has their own television!

And then there's the epic suite that cannot be overlooked.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is a mind-blowingly epic, 3-story stateroom extraordinaire that features its own back yard with a private entrance into Splashaway Bay. 

Demand is so strong for these rooms that it's selling for $80,000 per week in 2024.

There's an in-suite slide to bring you into "the coolest living room ever", which has hidden nooks too.

Central Park

A fan-favorite neighborhood will make it on Icon of the Seas in the form of Central Park. 

In the heart of the ship is an open air garden with living plants that create a peaceful atmosphere amongst various dining and entertainment venues.

When it's complete, Central Park will have a jazz club, walkup champagne bar window, and new restaurants too.

Related: The Ultimate Icon of the Seas Dining & Lounges Guide

Bubbles is the walkup champagne bar window where glasses of mimosa, prosecco, and Bellini, and bottles of Champagne are available all day.

If elevated dining is your thing, you'll need to check out the new swanky supper club coming to Icon of the Seas.

Empire Supper Club is is meant to be reminiscent of the 1930s in New York City, and it has two seating for guests to experience the extravagant eight course menu.

The menu will feature premium American cuisine and offer selections such as caviar and wagyu. Plus, each course will be paired with a beverage. 

Launching in January 2024

Royal Caribbean has billed Icon of the Seas to be not just a major player in the cruise industry, but the likely heir apparent to the title of most coveted cruise ship.

The first sailing is scheduled for the end of January, and Icon will be the first of at least three new cruise ships in this class.

While it's likely inevitable for Icon to be compared to her Oasis Class sisters, there's little doubt Royal Caribbean isn't up to the task considering their track record of introducing game-changing ships time and time again.

Related: 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the cruise industry

The next step for Icon are around round of sea trials scheduled for later in 2023 to ensure Icon of the Seas is ready to be delivered to Royal Caribbean prior to her January 27, 2024 maiden voyage. 

The first sailing of Icon of the Seas will be a 7-night cruise from Miami on January 27, 2024.

The ship will sail year-round out of Miami in 2024, alternating between Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries, with four different routings available for departures between January 2024 and April 2025.

More information

• 25 things you need to know for your first day on a cruise ship
• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Royal Caribbean is experimenting with a new chat bot that can answer some basic questions customers might have before they get on a ship.

We spotted a new chatbot on select pages of the Royal Caribbean website that provide an option to engage with and get answers.

A customer service chatbot is a bot that uses AI and machine learning to answer basic customer questions via a business messenger. For example, you could ask "how do I book a cruise" or "when can I check-in for my cruise?".

Chatbots use existing knowledge base articles to help answer customers’ questions. They can recognize and answer multiple forms of the same question and can be trained to give instant responses using your preferred voice and tone.

Chatbots are a popular mechanism for ecommerce sites to get answers to customers 24/7 on topics that are very commonly asked. AI chatbots have really risen to prominence since 2020, providing 24/7 support, and automatically resolving questions without any human intervention.

The chatbot is in a pop up that appears on select pages of the Royal Caribbean website, such as the frequently asked questions section. It is not available on the Royal Caribbean app.

If you opt to click on the "Chat with us" pop-up, the Virtual Agent greets you with the option of inquiring about an existing booking or if you have no booking.

The chatbot allows you to type your questions and it will try its best to find you an answer.

Testing out the chatbot

I was curious as anyone to know how helpful the chatbot could be, so I fed it some questions that are commonly asked in Google searches.

Below you'll see the question in bold, followed by the chatbot's response.

How much do you tip a cruise waiter?

As of September 7th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. Gratuities are shared among dining, bar, culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.

Read more: Tipping on a cruise ship: what you should and shouldn't do

Can I bring a 12 pack of water on Royal Caribbean?

Yes, guests are allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles, or cartons per stateroom.

Read more: What food or drinks you're allowed to bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Do I need a passport or birth certificate to take a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Yes, as a US citizen, you will need a valid US passport book that is valid for at least 6 months after your cruise ends to board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. If you are sailing from a US homeport, an official US state-issued birth certificate is also accepted. Guests age 16 and older who present an official US state-issued birth certificate will also need to provide a valid driver's license or government-issued picture ID.

Read more: Passport card vs book: Which should you choose?

Do I need a Covid test to enter US after a cruise?

Vaccinations, face masks, and pre-cruise testing are no longer required to sail, with the following exceptions: transpacific sailings ending in Australia (pre-cruise testing & vaccines required), cruises from Australia (vaccinations, face masks and pre-cruise testing required), and the Ultimate World Cruise (vaccination required).

Can you split a drink package on Royal Caribbean?

I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that at the moment.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Drink Package guide

Will my phone work onboard a Royal Caribbean ship?

Yes, Royal Caribbean works with cellular networks to provide the ability to connect your device through "cellular at sea". These roaming rates to utilize your device are determined by your cellular provider. Prior to your sailing, it is recommended to contact your cellular provider for more information on these rates and special packages available. Additionally, another option for staying connected without utilizing your cellular data is connecting to VOOM, the fastest internet at sea. VOOM allows guests to stay connected via wifi, with a variety of packages to choose from.

Read more: Cellphone Use Onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise

Where can I smoke on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, our ships are designated as non-smoking; however, we recognize that some of our guests do smoke. To provide an onboard environment that meets all needs, we’ve designated certain areas of the ship as smoking areas. Smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas, must be properly disposed of, and never be thrown overboard. We’ll have visible signage posted in areas where smoking is permitted, and ashtrays that are provided for use. Cigar and pipe tobacco are limited to designated outdoor areas and Cigar Bars. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase, possess, or use tobacco on sailings beginning in U.S. ports. For sailings beginning in all other ports, the minimum age is 18 years old.

Where can I eat on embarkation day at the start of a Royal Caribbean cruise?

On the first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise, you can enjoy a meal at our different available venues before heading to your stateroom.

I've been assigned My Time Dining, what does this mean?

My Time Dining is one of the options you’ll get to choose from when you book your cruise. Unlike traditional dining — where a dining time is assigned to you — guests who opt for My Time Dining can eat in the Main Dining Room anytime they like during dinner hours, according to availability. Reservations are strongly recommended. My Time Dining uses the same menu as traditional seating. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. If you would like a specific waiter or table, they are more likely to be able to accommodate your request with advance reservations (however, please note this is based on availability). Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. There will be a My Time Dining check-in desk at the entrance to the dining room with wait staff to greet guests. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. When making a reservation you will be offered “My Time” or traditional dining times* (i.e., 5:30 pm 8:00 pm). *Traditional dining times may vary by ship and itinerary.

Read more: What you need to know about Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining

Ship ratings feature added

In addition to the chatbot, you can now find cruise ship ratings for all of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships.

In visiting any of the ship landing pages, you'll find at the bottom a list of ratings.

In fact, there's a lot of reviews listed for each ship.

For Wonder of the Seas, there were 51,409 reviews. Ovation of the Seas has 27,366 reviews. Mariner of the Seas has 37,647 reviews.

Moreover, the reviews don't seem to be filtered, if at all. There were as many glowing positive reviews and one star negative reviews.

Read more: Why you can't trust online reviews of cruise ships

In case you're wondering, here's how the fleet stacks up based on average review score:

4.7 Stars

• Allure of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas

4.6 Stars

• Adventure of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Serenade of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas

4.5 Stars

• Anthem of the Seas
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas

4.4 Stars

• Enchantment of the Seas
• Rhapsody of the Seas

One of the most popular Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society benefits looks like it may be in need of a refresh.

Royal Caribbean is apparently looking to address overcrowding in its customer loyalty lounges, based on a recent social media post.

Royal Caribbean’s CEO Michael Bayley posted on Facebook the following question, which provided some interesting insight.

“So! I’ve been hearing from a lot of our guests about overcrowding in our Diamond lounges and in the Suite lounge.   It makes sense since our Top Tiers have grown by 30% last year alone! Capacity limitations is a tough one.  What do you think we should do?”

As you can imagine, the post has already prompted hundreds of responses from his followers. Some provided real solutions while others took this as an opportunity to reflect on changes that have taken place within the Crown and Anchor program.   

If you’re one of Royal Caribbean’s top tier loyalty members, you have probably noticed significantly more people heading to loyalty lounges onboard your cruises.

Read more: 11 of our favorite under-the-radar Crown & Anchor perks

Crown and Anchor members who have reached Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle status have access to Royal Caribbean’s loyalty lounges onboard its cruise ships. These loyalty lounges typically consist of a Diamond Lounge, available for Diamond members and above.

The overcrowding in loyalty lounges onboard Royal Caribbean ships has been an issue for a while, with more cruisers achieving Diamond status or higher.

As Mr. Bayley indicated, an influx of new Diamond members has exacerbated the overcrowding problem. So, what really created this problem and what is the solution for overcrowding in the loyalty lounges?  

Increase of top-tier members

As Mr. Bayley shared himself, there has been an estimated 30% increase in the top tiers of the Crown and Anchor program last year. 

This influx of new top-tier members can likely be attributed to Royal Caribbean’s post-pandemic strategy of offering double loyalty points for sailings. During the post-pandemic cruising restart, Royal Caribbean offered a lucrative promotion where loyalty members could earn double Crown and Anchor points for all itineraries.

This meant if you sailed on a 7-night itinerary in a standard cabin, instead of earning 7 Crown and Anchor points, you would earn 14 points. Couple this with staying in a suite or cruising solo, and it was pretty easy to rack-up your points.

Offering double points made it very feasible for loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers to earn top-tier status. Many took advantage of this promotion throughout 2021 and 2022. The strategy made sense operationally for Royal Caribbean to lure back loyal cruisers post-pandemic while the general public might have maintained some hesitancy towards cruising.  

This promotion was obviously very enticing for those looking to bump their Royal Caribbean status.

For example, our own Royal Caribbean Blog videographer, Jenna, earned Diamond Plus status within one year of cruising with the double points promotion. Her first Royal Caribbean cruise was in 2021. Comparatively, I have been cruising with Royal Caribbean since 2005 and I have the same Diamond Plus status as Jenna. 

Read more: I reached Diamond status with Royal Caribbean: here's why this loyalty tier matters

The double points promotion ended in December 2022, although only cruises booked in 2021 for the following year qualified. Undoubtedly, this had a major contribution to the lounge overcrowding because of the influx of new top-tier members with no place to go other than the Diamond Lounge. 

Removing the Concierge Lounge

As some of you might remember, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members once had access to the Concierge Lounges onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships. This used to be the top-tier lounge onboard - and it was a lucrative perk once you hit Diamond Plus loyalty status.

However, in the last decade, Royal Caribbean has been focusing more on amenities and accommodations for suite guests. As cruise ships get bigger, Royal Caribbean has been designing more luxurious suites onboard and providing more lucrative benefits to suite guests.

With each new ship that Royal Caribbean built, the cruise line opted to add a Suite Lounge to replace the Concierge Lounges onboard. This meant that Diamond Plus members could only access Diamond Lounges onboard.

For a while, if you were sailing on a ship that lacked a suite lounge, Diamond Plus members still had the opportunity to visit the Concierge Lounge. But, to accommodate more suite guests, Royal Caribbean chose to first restrict access for Diamond Plus members to the Concierge Lounge. 

For a few years, Diamond Plus members could only utilize the Concierge Lounge at the discretion of the loyalty director onboard each sailing. If a particular sailing had a large number of Diamond Plus members onboard, the sailing would restrict access to the Concierge Lounge.

With the influx of many new Diamond Plus members in the last two years, it was rare to gain Concierge Lounge access anyway. Starting in December 2022, Royal Caribbean revoked all access for Diamond Plus members to enjoy the Concierge Lounge.

As such, Diamond Plus members can only access the Diamond Lounge now. 

Drink Voucher Change

Prior to the pandemic, one of the biggest draws to the Diamond Lounge was receiving unlimited alcoholic beverages during happy hour. Diamond members and above could only receive complimentary drinks in the lounge during happy hour, which typically ran from 5pm to 8:30pm. 

To combat overcrowding in the lounge, Royal Caribbean made the decision to allocate daily drink vouchers onto SeaPass cards. Drink vouchers can be used at any bar onboard for nearly any drink under $15. You no longer needed to wait until happy hour to redeem these, as you could enjoy your drink vouchers at any time during the day. 

Read more: How Royal Caribbean's free drink vouchers for Diamond and higher members works

Unanimously, this was a win-win for everyone. The vouchers were a positive change for loyalty members because it provided flexibility. Also, you could now have almost any drink you wanted rather than ordering from a set drink menu in the Diamond Lounge. 

Because of the drink vouchers, you no longer have to visit the Diamond Lounge to receive your loyalty perks. This has certainly helped with overcrowding, as it would be an absolute zoo each evening if the Diamond Lounge was the only place to receive free loyalty drinks. 

Difficulty Earning Pinnacle Status

Another contributing factor to the overcrowding issue is the massive gap in loyalty status from Diamond Plus to Pinnacle status. Here are the thresholds to reach top-tier status with Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor status: 

• Diamond: 80 points
• Diamond Plus: 175 points
• Pinnacle: 700 points

There is an obvious gap in the loyalty ladder between Diamond Plus and Pinnacle status. It only takes less than 100 points to move from Diamond to Diamond Plus, yet you need to earn more than 500 points to reach Pinnacle status from Diamond Plus. 

Because of this structure, many people get stuck in Diamond Plus status for a very long time. You could earn Diamond Plus status three times over before you reach Pinnacle Status, as it requires triple the amount of effort to get to Pinnacle from Diamond Plus. 

Why visit the Diamond Lounge?

The Diamond Lounge is more than just a spot to grab free drinks. Each evening, you can find different nightly appetizers served. If you’re sailing on an older ship with limited dining options (like my last cruise on Jewel of the Seas), then grabbing a snack here in the early evening can be really nice if you have later dining. 

In addition, you can find continental breakfast served in the Diamond Lounge each morning. Those who prefer to have specialty coffee can enjoy cappuccinos and lattes in the Diamond Lounge all day, which is one of my favorite perks. 

There is also a dedicated Diamond Lounge Concierge to help you with any sort of issues you might have onboard. These concierges can help with dining reservations, questions, tender tickets and more. 

The Diamond Lounge can also be a quiet space to retreat during the day, as this is often not when the lounges are crowded. Most of the overcrowding happens in the mornings and evenings. I’ve heard of some loyalty members heading to the Diamond Lounge on older ships because it provides panoramic views and a quiet space to relax. 

Finally, there is a sense of community in the Diamond Lounge. You are often surrounded by other travelers and loyal cruisers, making it easy to strike up a conversation with those you have things in common with. Many enjoy meeting others in the Diamond Lounge, as it provides a more intimate place to mingle with others. 

Ideas to combat overcrowding

The overcrowding in loyalty lounges is a product of other decisions made by Royal Caribbean. While it seems as though the pandemic exasperated the issue, the overcrowding issue has been building for a while. To start, many loyalty members are stuck in Diamond Plus status for a very long time. In fact, I’ve been a Diamond Plus member for OVER a decade, and that’s with multiple Royal Caribbean cruises each year.

One of the most popular suggestions on Michael Bayley’s Facebook post was needing another loyalty tier between Diamond Plus and Pinnacle status.

Another status could help break up the massive amount of Diamond Plus members that are currently enrolled in the loyalty program. With another status, Royal Caribbean could reevaluate the benefits for each tier as well during the restructure process.

Adding an additional loyalty status could even prove to be profitable for Royal Caribbean. Once Crown and Anchor member reach Diamond Plus, some feel they will never reach Pinnacle status, especially for older cruisers. This leads many to try out other cruise lines because they have already reached their most attainable status with Royal Caribbean.

It seems unlikely that Royal Caribbean will allocate more space on its ships for loyalty lounges. This has been apparent for quite some time, as the location and size of the Diamond Lounge continues to be less than exceptional. 

Another common suggestion was to limit the Diamond lounge to only Diamond Plus members.

Depending on the breakdown between Diamond and Diamond Plus, limiting the lounge to just Diamond Plus members would certainly alleviate some of the crowding. In addition, Pinnacle members able to still access the Suite Lounges onboard, so limiting Pinnacles to just one lounge could help with overcrowding as well. 

Many responses praised Royal Caribbean for creating the drink voucher policy, which has been wildly popular among cruisers. Having more flexibility each day of your cruise is one of the most enticing perks of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, in my opinion. 

Do you think overcrowding is an issue? If so, what do you think could help with the overcrowding?

Royal Caribbean wants to know if a planetarium, obstacle course, or a change in the food they charge for are things its passengers might want on a future cruise ship.

Like many companies, Royal Caribbean will send surveys to its customers to not only get feedback on what their past experience was like, but to also see what people think about changes.

A survey sent to select cruisers this week hinted at some possible ideas the cruise line has and wants to know what its loyal cruisers think.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Michael Dorgan shared some of the questions he received in a post-cruise survey form that went beyond just asking him what his last cruise was like.

To be clear, nothing has changed or announced by Royal Caribbean. These are just questions to select cruisers sent via email survey.

The survey started to drill down in the dining and asking about Sorrento's, which is the complimentary pizza restaurant found on most Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

The question posed was, "If Sorrento's Pizza was offered for a fee, would you still dine there?".

Sorrento's pizza is a staple of the food included on a Royal Caribbean cruise. It has a near cult-like following among avid cruisers who like it especially late at night. More importantly, charging for the pizza would remove effectively the only complimentary late-night food available on Royal Caribbean ships.

It then asked if changing Sorrento's from complimentary to an extra cost venue would stop them from cruising with Royal Caribbean, "How would Sorrento's Pizza being offered for a fee impact your likelihood to choose Royal Caribbean in future?"

Then the survey moved toward new restaurant concepts, and in particular seafood restaurants, and what style of restaurant would a guest want to see on future ships.

Options included Greek, Cajun, Peruvian, British, Caribbean, New England style, surf & turf, or sushi. 

Royal Caribbean already has a New England seafood specialty restaurant with Hooked, and sushi on many of its ships with Izumi.

Another question on the survey was about the cruise line's specialty dining packages, and would the person buy it or not, and how they rated the dining package on past cruises.

Lastly, the survey asked how much interest there would be in new kinds of experiences on future cruise ships. It listed axe throwing, go-karts, an indoor playground, pickleball court, roller coaster, obstacle course, or a planetarium.

Asking about new experiences to offer onboard is no surprise. Cruise ships have made a name for themselves over the last 30 years by continuously adding "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship" experiences. Royal Caribbean is arguably the most synonymous with adding whizz-bang activities to its ships.

All of the ideas would be new to Royal Caribbean, but not necessarily the cruise industry. Norwegian Cruise Line has go-karts on some of its newer ships, and Carnival added a roller coaster to its Excel Class ships.

How realistic is it for these changes to occur?

Will Royal Caribbean actually start charging for pizza? Or add a planetarium to the next new cruise ship? No one really knows.

Historically, Royal Caribbean has used surveys to to test out all sorts of ideas, many of which never see the light of day as a change.

On the other hand, sometimes surveys are indeed precursors to a new addition. In November 2022, Royal Caribbean used surveys extensively leading up to a main dining room menu change in 2023.

It's impossible to know what the future holds. The cruise industry is always evolving, but at this point, surveys should be used as "food for thought", rather than confirmation of anything the line may do.

Reader reaction

If the Royal Caribbean Blog community is any indication, charging for the same pizza that used to be at no cost is not something anyone wants to see, and many see it indicative of a larger set of cut backs and changes over the last few years.

The same survey made it to some other readers, who took to our message boards to voice their opinions.

"Charging for Sorrento’s pizza would be a relatively small thing I guess, but it would frustrate me," said teddy.

ChessE4 sees a real problem with charging for pizza, "Charging for Sorrentos would be the beginning of the end for me. It would be like charging extra for dessert."

Al Miller seemed frustrated at the pattern of increased cost to cruise, "Record earnings! Best quarter ever! You hear this and you think "Whew!" Maybe now they can stop the death by a thousand cuts that is killing my desire to book anything new. Nope! Let's see how fast and how far they can gut the core experience."

JimnKathy hope the survey is merely the line dipping their toe in the water, "I'd like to think these survey questions are merely being test-marketed to gauge guest response...hopefully the RCL marketing/finance folks hear the responses loud and clear."

How do you pick a cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship that will be the right choice for you?

There are so many cabins you can choose from when booking a cruise, that the decision can be downright daunting. Royal Caribbean sails some of the biggest new cruise ships, and its biggest ship has 2805 rooms on just that vessel!

Besides the total amount of rooms, you also have to figure out the cabin categories.

As an example, Icon of the Seas has 28 unique cabin categories. Why so many? Primarily, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure they can offer something for everyone, and the goal is to be able to handle nearly any family onboard. Since cruisers come in all sorts of configurations, the cruise line has developed many cabin types to offer the most choices possible.

No matter which ship you choose, you'll find inexpensive windowless "inside" cabins that are small, but practical, to opulent and sprawling suites that seem more like an apartment.

In terms of cabins, Royal Caribbean has something for everyone. There are small, inside cabins that will get you on the cruise at a reasonable price to huge suites that add more benefits than you can probably use on a sailing.

Royal Caribbean cabin basics

You will find four main categories of cabins on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship: inside cabins, oceanview cabins, balcony cabins, and suites.

No matter which room you book, there is a base set of amenities any room will come with:

• Bed that can be split apart and put together to sleep at least 2 people
• Private bathroom with shower
• Vanity with mirror and chair
• Safe
• Mini-fridge
• Closet
• Television

There are more balcony cabins than ever on Royal Caribbean's newer ships because the popularity of these rooms has become enormous. Plus, balcony cabins cost more than interior rooms, so it's a win-win for the cruise line and consumer.

No matter which ship you consider, suites are the category with the least amount of rooms available. Suites take up more space, and so there just isn't enough room to build as many. Between the few that are available and the surging demand for suites, they are typically the first category to sell out. If you want a suite, you will want to book a cruise as early as possible.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Within each category of stateroom are subcategories that divide up rooms by configuration. As an example, you will see a Superior Oceanview Balcony compared to an Oceanview Balcony. The Superior room is larger, with more square footage than the other cabin.

There are also accessible cabins for those with mobility needs, as well as very limited cabins designed for solo cruisers. 

Inside cabins on Royal Caribbean ships

Inside cabins are attractive to anyone looking to cruise on a budget. Inside rooms are usually the least expensive choice when booking a cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship. Compared to higher-category rooms, you could save quite a substantial amount of money by staying in an inside room.

Inside staterooms are distinguished from other rooms primarily because they offer no natural view of outside the ship. These rooms have no windows or balconies. There are just four walls.

You will also find the smallest amount of living space in an inside cabin. A regular inside cabin on Icon of the Seas measures just 156 square feet, compared to a regular balcony cabin that has 204 square feet of space, plus 50 square feet of balcony space.

The compelling reason to book an inside stateroom is for the value, since they are often the least-expensive rooms you can book and that means it is the lowest entry point to getting on the cruise. The exact size of the room will vary depending on the class of ship you are sailing on, but inside rooms will offer the least amount of space at the lowest price.

Read more: I always stay in an inside cabin on a cruise ship. Here's why I actually like these rooms

Over the years, Royal Caribbean has introduced new kinds of inside staterooms that retain the basic qualities of an inside stateroom, but with a new twist.

Promenade view: Promenade view staterooms are inside staterooms that feature a bay window that overlooks the Royal Promenade. While the room has no view outside the ship, it does provide something to look at, with great opportunities for people watching as well as a great vantage point for events on the Royal Promenade.

Another added benefit of this room category is the bowed windows offer more square footage compared to standard inside staterooms.

The exact size of a Promenade stateroom varies depending on the class of ships. Voyager and Freedom Class Promenade staterooms are 160 square feet, whereas on Oasis Class ships they are 193 square feet.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide

Virtual balcony: One of the newest innovations to the inside stateroom is the virtual balcony stateroom, which takes a conventional inside stateroom and adds an 80-inch LED high-definition television that provides live views around the ship.

The screens are 4K ultra high definition capable screens that stretch from floor to ceiling and receive a video feed from the ship's cameras that are mounted at the stem and stern of the ship.

With virtual balcony staterooms, guests can enjoy a balcony experience without the balcony price.

Oceanview cabins on Royal Caribbean ships

The next category up from an inside cabin is an oceanview cabin, which are slightly larger and have a porthole or window to the ocean. You can't open the window or get any fresh air, but there is natural light.

Generally speaking, oceanview cabins on Royal Caribbean ships are around the same size as a balcony cabin (minus the balcony space). In fact, some oceanview cabins at the front of a ship are substantially larger than balcony rooms, because of their odd shape.

Oceanview cabins at the front are a hidden gem because of how much more space they provide. Some are categorized as family cabins, and have bunk beds for the kids, along with separate bedrooms. Given their odd shape, you may find sloping walls and even a pole in the middle of the room.

Much like the inside staterooms, oceanview cabins are on the inexpensive side and provide guests with an affordable means of being on the ship and still have a view. Natural light is important to many guests, and the ocean view provides that. Essentially, oceanview rooms are slightly larger inside rooms with a window.

The reason to consider an oceanview room is if a view is important to you, but the price of a higher-category stateroom is not possible. Alternatively, sometimes the price difference between an inside room and an oceanview is not too large, and someone may want to upgrade their room option at not a lot of extra cost.

There is one variation on the oceanview stateroom, which offers even more of a windowed view without the balcony.

Panoramic oceanview: Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom gives much more of a view than a traditional oceanview room, with a floor to ceiling wrap around panoramic window that is 76 inches high by 103-321 inches wide. That is a big window.

As you might imagine, the reason to book a stateroom like this is for the amazing views without the balcony view price.  

Balcony cabins on Royal Caribbean ships

The most popular stateroom category on Royal Caribbean ships are balcony cabins because they are an affordable way to get enough living space, fresh air, and private outdoor space.

Not only do you get a larger bedroom area, but you will get your own balcony attached to your room that you can step onto and enjoy the outside views.

Having your own balcony means you have a special spot on the ship just for you to enjoy, that provides views all around the ship, as well as that terrific ocean breeze. Many cruise fans swear by a balcony for the added space, private area, and ambiance that only a balcony room can provide.

A balcony cabin gets you more indoor and outdoor space, and that means more room for everyone to maneuver and makes the room feel less crowded. Additionally, having a balcony means you have a great spot for sail away, enjoying the ocean passing by, or seeing the port you are docked in from the comfort of your stateroom.

Read more: 8 reasons to book a balcony cabin

On Oasis Class ships, Royal Caribbean created balcony cabins that face inwards, rather than to the ocean.

Central Park balconies: On Oasis Class ships, Central Park balcony staterooms are available. Instead of offering a balcony that overlooks the ocean, this stateroom category offers a view of the Central Park neighborhood.

The Central Park balconies offer the same fresh air and light that ocean view balconies do but with the opportunity to enjoy the ambiance of Central Park along with the people watching aspect. In addition, Central Park view balcony staterooms are often slightly cheaper than ocean balconies.

The exact size of a Central Park view stateroom with balcony is 182 square feet with a 50 square foot balcony.

Boardwalk balconies: Just like the Central Park balcony staterooms, the Boardwalk balcony staterooms trade the oceanview of a traditional balcony for a view of the Boardwalk neighborhood.

In addition to the view of the Boardwalk fun, some Boardwalk balconies can offer views of the ocean and/or the AquaTheater, depending on where your room is located. Boardwalk balcony rooms are also usually priced less than ocean balconies.

A Boardwalk balcony room offers 182 square feet of living space, with a private balcony between 47 and 52 square feet.

Suites on Royal Caribbean ships

If you want lots of space and benefits, you'll find a wide array of suites to choose from, with some even encompassing two decks in height.

Depending on which ship you select, there are various Royal Caribbean suite perks that you could choose between. There are rooms that come with a Royal Genie, which is kind of like a butler, and they will ensure you can get a spot in any restaurant, show, or venue and skip nearly every line.

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

As you might imagine, suites will cost more than any other Royal Caribbean cabin. These rooms are designed to attract travelers who can afford to spend more, and want to pay extra to get an elevated experience that gives them certain perks that other passengers will not have access to. 

Suites offer a tremendous amount of personal space, higher-end amenities, special bonuses, and exclusive access.

Royal Caribbean has a few suites that really stand out compared to other cruise lines.

Read more: 5 best cruise ship suites on Royal Caribbean

The AquaTheater suites on the Oasis Class ships are enormous suites at the back of the ship, with even larger wraparound balconies that provide an unfettered view of the AquaTheater venue below, as well as the ocean.

Loft suites are two-story cabins that are configured like mini apartments, with soaring ceilings.

And then there's the Ultimate Family Suites and Ultimate Family Townhouse.

These over-the-top suites are built with families that want to splurge in mind. You will find an in-suite slide, leg room, cinema, playroom, and an enormous amount of living space.

These family suites can sell for as much as $80,000 for a week.

From Junior Suites to Loft Suites, there are a number of options to choose from. Nearly all suites offer access to a concierge lounge and the services of the concierge host. Cabin suites usually consist of more than one room in your cabin and have the most space of any cabin.  

In addition to the impressive rooms, suite guests typically enjoy double Crown and Anchor Society points for each night of their cruise, concierge planning assistance, complimentary drinks, a private lounge, reserved seating by the pool and shows, and a whole lot more.

On Royal Caribbean's Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class cruise ships, the suite program is enhanced and referred to as the Royal Suite Class. Suites on these ships offer the most benefits and the highest level of service, split across three tiers of benefits. 

More on picking a cruise cabin

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

It looks like shorter Panama Canal cruises wont happen after all.

Royal Caribbean informed guests booked on Rhapsody of the Seas sailings in 2024 that were scheduled to visit the Panama Canal that their sailings will no longer visit the Canal. 

The plan was for Rhapsody to offer 7-night cruises through the Panama Canal that begin and ended in Panama. This was a novel idea to offer highly sought-after Panama Canal cruises without having to commit to a two week long cruise.

The Panama Canal represents one the premier sailings in the world, as it focuses on the transit itself. A marvel of engineering, this world wonder links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and revolutionized how good are shipped.

Instead, Rhapsody will offer cruises to the Southern Caribbean. 

No specific reason was given why the Panama Canal transit was being dropped.

The email from Royal Caribbean starts out by saying, "To enhance your experience, we’ve adjusted the itinerary for our upcoming March 16th, 2024 Rhapsody of the Seas sailing. Rhapsody will now sail a 7-Night Southern Caribbean itinerary."

Instead, Rhapsody will visit Aruba and Curacao, in addition to previously scheduled stop of Cartagena, Colombia.

Guests that were booked have three options going forward. They have until  August 29th, 2023 to make a decision.

1. Stay booked on Rhapsody of the Seas for the adjusted itinerary.

Royal Caribbean will attempt to move the booking to a like for like stateroom once the new sailing becomes available. 

The original stateroom category price will either be protected at the original cruise fare rate or reduced to the current cruise fare rate (whichever is lower).

Reimbursement for any non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees incurred (such as a flight, train ticket, or rental car).

2. Rebook any other Royal Caribbean sailing

Royal Caribbean will waive non-refundable deposit change fees to re-book another sailing.

Reimbursement will be offered for any non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees incurred (such as a flight, train ticket, or rental car).

3. Cancel for full refund

A full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare (including non-refundable deposits) and any pre-paid amenities to the original form of payment within 14 business days. 

New sailings for Rhapsody of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has not formally announced the new sailings to the public, but it appears Rhapsody will offer Southern Caribbean cruises from a homeport in Panama in winter 2024.

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship homeported in Panama is a first for the the line in almost a decade.

Prior to the cancellation, Rhapsody was scheduled to sail from Panama between December 2023 and April 2024.

Cruise ships have rules and breaking them can result in serious consequences.

It's rare that you will encounter a scenario that gets you in trouble with the cruise line's guest policy, but you might be curious to know what you can and cannot do onboard. Royal Caribbean takes the safety of everyone on its ships seriously, and there are plenty of regulations related to how guests (and crew members) should conduct themselves.

While everyone can make a mistake, there are consequences to actions, and if the cruise ship determines you're a troublemaker, you could find your cruise coming to a sudden end. A slip in judgment could result in someone being left behind at a port of call, rather than returning home, and it would be that person's obligation to figure out how to get home.

You may recall in 2019 an incident where someone thought it would be funny to video himself jumping off the balcony of his Royal Caribbean cruise ship. He was summarily kicked off the ship while it was still in Nassau, Bahamas and he was banned for life.

In fact, it wasn't just him that got kicked off, but everyone in his group too.

Obviously jumping off the balcony of a cruise ship is an extreme example, but there are other things you absolutely cannot do that you should be aware of so there's no confusion about what you can and cannot do on a cruise ship.

Guest conduct policy

There's a multitude of reasons you could be taken off a cruise ship, and it's spelled out in the guest conduct policy.

Every cruise line has a code of conduct that is outlined in the cruise contract that every passenger agrees to when they book a cruise. The cruise contract outlines what you can and cannot do onboard, as well as the consequences. It also covers billing issues, such as canceling a cruise and refund options.

The ship's Captain and security team can make an assessment if you're in violation of these rules. Consequences vary, but being escorted off the ship is one possibility.

Anyone who is removed from the ship is not entitled to any kind of refund or compensation for the lost time. It's as Gene Wilder once said in the role of Willy Wonka: "You get nothing!"

"I didn't see any cruise contract!"

Actually, you did, but may have not chosen to read it.

When booking a cruise on Royal Caribbean's website, it's one of the required selections to make that you comply with the contract. Travel agents should also convey these terms to you in the booking process for review.

There's a lot more to the cruise contract than rules about being kicked off a cruise ship. There's information about what happens regarding itinerary changes, billing discrepancies, and more. 

In general, it's a good idea to read through the contract to understand what you're agreeing to when you sail on a cruise ship.

Things that will get you kicked off

In reading through the cruise contract for U.S. guests, there are a few notable situations that could get you taken off your cruise ship.

Keep in mind these are simply what's listed, and it's ultimately at the discretion of the Captain and the cruise line how to handle it.

Drugs

Among the list of prohibited items you are not allowed to bring on a cruise ship are illegal drugs, and that can get you in serious trouble.

"Passengers who bring on board dangerous items, marijuana in any form, or any illegal drugs or controlled substances are also subject to immediate disembarkation or denial of boarding."

Just because you are legally allowed to have otherwise illegal drugs (i.e. medical marijuana) where you live does not mean you are allowed to bring them on a cruise ship.

Cruise ships adhere to the laws of the countries you visit, and that supersedes local laws where you are from.

Dangerous behavior

Whether fighting with other cruisers, deliberately entering restricted areas on cruise ships, or damaging cruise ship property and violating serious safety rules, you can get kicked off the ship.

Royal Caribbean's policy covers pretty much anything that a guest does that is perceived to be dangerous. The policy allows the line to confine someone to their cabin, or take them off the ship.

"When in the sole opinion of Carrier or the Captain the Passenger’s conduct or presence, or that of any minor for whom the Passenger is responsible, is believed to present a possible danger, security risk or be detrimental to himself or the health, welfare, comfort or enjoyment of others."

If it sounds vague, it's because Royal Caribbean cannot anticipate every possible scenario that could play out, so it gives the ship leeway in being able to determine who is a danger.

Engaging in a physical altercation, bothering fellow passengers on the pool deck, or assaulting a crew member may lead to being confined in the ship's holding area, commonly known as the brig or cruise ship jail. Additionally, such behavior could result in fines, forced disembarkation, or even a ban from the cruise line.

Heath Policies

While all cruise lines have rolled back nearly every Covid-19 policy from 2021-2022, the cruise contract still has verbiage in there in case onboard rules needed to be altered or amended.

Much of the policy is about what the cruise ship is allowed to do in terms of mitigating the spread onboard, and escorting a guest off the ship to stem the spread of the virus is an option.

"Passenger understands that Carrier’s COVID-19 Policies and Procedures may or will include (but are not limited to): confinement of Passengers to cabins, quarantine or emergency disembarkation of Passenger if, in Carrier’s sole discretion, such steps are necessary to prevent or slow the spread of COVID-19."

Crew members can be kicked off too

It's not just passengers that have rules about being kicked off, because crew members can be removed from a ship as well.

Crew members are not allowed to fraternize with guests or invite them into crew quarters. It's one of the best-known strict rules for crew members, and it prevents them from engaging in any romantic activities with passengers.

The reason this rule exists is because everyone employed on the cruise ship essentially represents the cruise line itself.

If a crew member is removed from a ship, they will very likely lose their job as well.

Crew members must also adhere to other aspects of the code of conduct, which includes rules against vandalism, illegal drugs, attendance, and more.

Bottom line: Be respectful

It's unlikely you'll ever be escorted off a cruise ship for breaking these sorts of rules, but it's important to be aware of what is expected of you when booking a cruise.

Ignorance is never an excuse, and that holds true on cruise ships.

As long as you don't start a fight, follow instructions given by crew members, and don't act in an inappropriate way, you'll probably be fine. 

In all my years of cruising on Royal Caribbean, situations like this have rarely occurred where I've been close enough to become aware of them, but they do occasionally occur. Just like in your hometown, there's always going to be someone who stirs the pot, and there are recourses on a cruise ship for bad behavior.

As they say, don't be that guy, and you'll have a great vacation.