Royal Caribbean Blog

Summer 2023 is here, and that means a lot of families want to escape somewhere fun, relaxing, and memorable.

With the cruise ship experience returning to pre-2020 levels of occupancy, market reach, and ship deployments, this year is likely when a summer cruise vacation sounds like a great family trip idea.

Royal Caribbean expects this to be a big year, with demand the highest it has been in a long time. "Demand for our brands is outpacing broader travel due to a strong rebound and an attractive value proposition," is what Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty told investors recently. 

That means planning a summer cruise this year could be a challenge given how cabins are filling up and prices for a cruise might not be much of bargain.

If you're still thinking of taking a summer cruise, act quickly and consider the following destination ideas to get you started.

Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles

If there's a best kept secret of cruises from the United States, it's Royal Caribbean's ship on the west coast.

Navigator of the Seas sails short 3- and 4-night cruises for easy getaways, along with occasional 7-night cruises down the Mexican Riviera. As a recently amplified Voyager Class cruise ship, Navigator of the Seas boasts plenty of amenities, restaurants, lounges, and onboard activities to keep cruisers busy.

A Pacific Ocean cruise from Los Angeles means you can see a different side of Mexico from what you may have already seen on a Cozumel visit on previous cruises. Western Mexico has more wildlife viewing opportunities, such as whales and seals.  There's also beautiful historic, cobblestone-street towns you can explore.

Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns) are small towns recognized by the Mexican government for their culture, history, and charm. There are currently 132 pueblos mágicos in Mexico, several of which are located nearby cruise ports in the Mexican Riviera, including Sayulita and Todos Santos.

Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral

I love the value proposition Mariner of the Seas represents, and she sails a good variety of cruises to mix up your choices.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Mariner of the Seas is conveniently located close to the Orlando area.  

The great thing about Mariner of the Seas are the variety of itineraries.  In summer 2023, there's eastern, western, and southern Caribbean cruises you can choose from, along with Bermuda sailings.

The Bermuda cruises are especially intriguing, since you still get to visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, along with the must-see spots in Bermuda.

An easy destination to wander around, Bermuda is a mix of English tradition with local culture. Its rich history, natural beauty, and geography make it unique among other islands.

Ovation of the Seas from Seattle

While you might think beach and sun for a summer vacation, don't forget about the other amazing summer spot: Alaska.

A Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise is a must-do for anyone that's never been, because of the majestic beauty this area of the world is known for.

Visiting the 49th state means viewing incredible scenery, tasting delightfully fresh cuisine, and experiencing Alaska’s unique history firsthand.

Read more: Why an Alaska cruise is worth it and you should go there

Ovation of the Seas sails from Seattle, and she is the newest Royal Caribbean ship to offer Alaska cruises in 2023.  Plus, sailing from Seattle is an easy city to reach for most Americans with ample flights.

More about Alaska cruises

• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• What Is an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise?
• What to pack for a cruise to Alaska?
• Top 10 tips for planning your Alaska cruise
• 6 mistakes & 3 things we did right on our Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska

Radiance of the Seas from Vancouver, Canada

If you're sold on the idea of an Alaska cruise but want to get a cheap Alaska cruise deal, then Radiance of the Seas might be the ship for you.

Sailing from Vancouver, Canada, Radiance offers 7-10 night cruises that you can also combine with a land tour to further extend your Alaska explorations.  These land tours are add-ons that take you further in-land to places, such as Denali.

Radiance of the Seas sails open-jaw sailings, meaning it begins in one port and concludes in a different port.  This makes getting to and from your ship a bit tricky, but demand is lower for these sailings and it represents very competitive prices.

Anyone that has cruised a lot to Alaska will tell you these open-jaw cruises have the best Alaska itineraries in terms of the ports you'll visit.

Anthem of the Seas from Southampton, England

Whether you live in the UK or fancy a flight across the pond, Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is a great choice for a European vacation.

Anthem sails from Southampton, England, and it's a short train ride away from London. 

Anthem of the Seas has made a name for itself as one of the premier cruise ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. She debuted in 2015 and combines first class style, exquisite dining and original entertainment productions to provide an incredible cruise experience.

This 4,180-passenger ship offers a lot of entertainment and dining onboard, and is best known for some of the headliner attractions, such as bumper cars, the observation pod that takes guests 300 feet above sea level, and a skydiving simulator.  

The beauty of Anthem's summer deployment in England are the different itineraries you can choose from in 2023:

• Spain & France
• Mediterranean
• Spain & Portugal
• Norwegian Fjords
• 7-night cruises
• 14-night cruises

Having a variety of choices is great, and given how easy it is to get to London for most people, Anthem of the Seas is a ship worth sailing on.

Rhapsody of the Seas from Haifa, Israel

A new embarkation port for Royal Caribbean, Haifa, Israel gives you a Greek Isles bucket list cruise along with a pre- or post-cruise vacation to the Holy Land.

Royal Caribbean recently began offerings cruises from Haifa, and this port puts you right in the heart of the eastern Mediterranean with more Greek islands to visit than you can manage.

And since Haifa isn't a traditional cruise port to sail from, we've often seen some of the best Mediterranean cruise prices around.

Sailings this summer will visit ports in Greece and Cyprus, including Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, Greece and Limassol, Cyprus.  

If you're looking to maximize your time in the Greek Isles, Rhapsody of the Seas is going to check-off a lot of choices.

Wonder of the Seas from Port Canaveral

Forget the places you can go, the cruise ship is the destination to many cruise fans!

Wonder of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship and Royal Caribbean's newest ship. This means you're going to find the very latest and greatest that the cruise line has to offer.

While you'll also visit beautiful Caribbean beaches, the ship has a ton to see and do.

It has 16 passenger decks, which are divided into eight neighborhoods. It's a cruise ship that appeals to active families, couples and friend groups.

Like the earlier Oasis-class ships, Wonder will offer multiple main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that’s just on its top deck. Inside the vessel, you’ll find more lounges, bars, restaurants and shops than you can imagine, plus a huge casino, spas and theaters.

Liberty of the Seas from Bayonne

If you're from the Northeast United States, there's no reason you can't find a great cruise vacation in your backyard.

Royal Caribbean's summer deployment of cruise ships to Bayonne, New Jersey offers a little of something for everyone, but you'll find interesting itineraries and lower prices on Liberty of the Seas.

Liberty of the Seas sails from the New York City area, with sailings to Canada, New England, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.

Looking for more information on Royal Caribbean’s destinations? Start here:

• 25 things you need to know for your first day on a cruise ship
• 2023 Royal Caribbean Cruise Planning Guide
• Things I've done that I'll never do again on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• 7 things worth checking again on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• 6 things you may not have tried on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• 15 countries you didn’t know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean
• The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler
• 10 Royal Caribbean cruise destinations not to be missed
• Ultimate Mexico Cruise Guide
• 30 best European cruise tips

When you book your Royal Caribbean cruise, you will be asked to select between three dining options: early, late, and My Time Dining. 

Whatever option you select will be when you dine in the Main Dining Room for the entire duration of your cruise, so it is important that you weigh the pros and cons of each traditional dining time and choose which is best for you and your travel party.

You can, of course, skip the Main Dining Room and go to a specialty restaurant or Windjammer. Even if that is your plan, you will be required to make a selection during the booking process. 

Here is a comparison of early dinner and late dinner on Royal Caribbean cruises. 

What is the Main Dining Room?

The Main Dining Room is Royal Caribbean’s traditional sit-down restaurant that serves three-course meals every night of your cruise. It is also the largest dining venue on any Royal Caribbean ship and spans multiple decks, even on the oldest ships. 

Each night, you will be presented with a menu that contains different appetizers, main courses, and desserts. The best part? You are not limited to one of anything, and everything is complimentary, aside from a few premium options listed at the bottom of the menu! If you want to try two appetizers and two desserts, you can order both. 

The dining times (i.e., early, late, and My Time) only apply to the dinner service, as breakfast is first come, first serve. You can also dine here for lunch, but only on sea days. 

Related: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience

When it comes to the menus themselves, there will be a new one each evening that is centered around a specific theme, such as Mexican and Italian night. If your cruise is over 10 nights, you may see repeated menus.

Those who are unsure of what to order will appreciate the chef's recommendations at the top of the menu. 

Early seating

The first seating in the Main Dining Room usually takes place around 5:30pm or 6:00pm; the exact time varies based on the itinerary. With this seating, you will be able to free up your evenings for shows and other activities taking place around the ship, even if it is just listening to live music in the pub! 

The early seating usually appeals to families with children and those who like to retire early. With this seating, you can easily be in bed by 9:30pm, meaning that you will be well-rested for the next day. 

If you are worried that you will be hungry later on, you will be able to find late-night snacks available at select venues, such as Sorrento's and Cafe Promenade. 

For passengers wanting to dine around fewer children, it is best to skip the early seating. Of course, you could be seated next to a larger family if you select the late seating; nothing is ever guaranteed! 

Likewise, if you are wanting to enjoy the evening entertainment, you may find yourself sleepy after indulging in a three-course meal, especially later in the cruise. Some may prefer to see the earlier shows and eat dinner later.

Finally, the early seating tends to overlap with sail away on the first night, meaning that you will have to skip the Main Dining Room or select a later time if you want to go on embarkation day and attend all of the sail away festivities. 

Note that this tends to be the most popular dining option, so if you want to dine during the first seating, make sure you book your cruise as early as possible! 

Related: 7 cruise ship main dining room rules to follow — Plus 1 to break

Late seating

The late seating commences after the early seating has concluded, and the wait staff has been able to reset all of the tables, meaning that it usually begins around 8:00pm. For many, this might be too late to eat every night; however, there are some pros to selecting this dining time!

For starters, you will not feel rushed in the afternoon. You can spend more time by the pool or exploring the ports before returning to your cabin to get ready. Those with early seating will need to ensure that their excursions end with enough time for them to freshen up for dinner, meaning that they could lose an hour or two extra in port! 

Late seatings also allow for more pre-dinner activities, whether that is a drink or early show. 

And often, the service is more relaxed, as the wait staff is not worried about setting up for another seating afterward. 

Of course, one of the biggest cons is that you will be staying up late each evening for dinner. It is important that you take into consideration your sleep schedule. Will you want to do other things after eating? If so, will that impact your energy level the next day? You do not want to feel groggy during the day!

Related: Your really dumb cruise ship dining questions answered

My Time Dining

Are you torn between early and late dining? You may want to consider My Time Dining, Royal Caribbean's flexible dining option that allows passengers to make reservations during specific hours for the Main Dining Room ahead of time or show up when they are ready to eat. 

This will allow you to eat at 6:00pm one day and 8:00pm the next, if you so wish. Otherwise, you can try to dine around the same time, say 7:30pm, each night of the cruise. It is meant to be an option that allows you to schedule dinner around the rest of your onshore and onboard plans.

My Time Dining, however, is not considered traditional dining. You will not have the same table mates and wait staff each night, as you are seated wherever there is an open table. Many cruisers enjoy getting to know their servers and having them learn their preferences, which is why traditional dining is still so popular! 

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

Early dinner vs. late dinner on Royal Caribbean: Which is best for you?

The early seating is best for families with younger children or those who want to retire to their cabin earlier in the evening. Likewise, it is also the preferred seating for those who enjoy evening entertainment, as you will be finished with your meal by the time the ship is livening up! 

On the other hand, if you prioritize daytime activities, whether that be excursions or lounging by the pool with a cocktail in hand, you will enjoy having time in the evening to get ready, instead of having to cut the afternoon short.

This option will also enable you to attend sail away without compromising on the Main Dining Room experience on embarkation day. 

There is always My Time Dining, too, if you are unable to make up your mind. Just note that your overall dining experience will be a little bit different than if you selected a traditional seating-- you will neither be seated at the same table each evening nor have the same wait staff.

My Time Dining also requires you to plan ahead a little bit, as you could be faced with lengthy wait times if you fail to make reservations ahead of time!

Do not forget that you do not have to eat in the Main Dining Room every night, either. You can always forego the lengthy meal and head up for a quick bite at the Windjammer or opt to indulge in a more intimate specialty dining experience one night!

Both of these options, so long as you make your specialty reservation ahead of time, will provide you with more flexibility in regard to dining time. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package

Happy Sunday and unofficial start to summer! Temperatures are rising, and so is the pace of cruise news to share with you this week.

Royal Caribbean gave us a first look at more than 20 dining venues we can expect on Icon of the Seas.

Among the new venues includes a new Empire Supper Club that will serve an eight-course menu, and is arguably the most elegant dining venue Royal Caribbean has ever offered.

Royal Caribbean’s first food hall will also be coming to Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean increases suite deposit policy
• New Royal Caribbean Starbucks 'Been There' mugs coming this summer
• Royal Caribbean will increase price of travel insurance policy
• What is a cabin attendant on a cruise ship?
• Your really dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions answered
• Royal Caribbean posts job opening for a new Chief Meteorologist
• 7 mistakes & 3 things I did right on my Royal Caribbean Norwegian fjords cruise
• Royal Caribbean cruises in July 2023: What to expect

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 499th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, reviewing Matt's Norway cruise.

Matt took his first European cruise, which was a 7-night cruise to Norway on Anthem of the Seas. He talks about what he liked and didn't like about the cruise, and how a European cruise compares to a North American cruise.

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

New RCB Video: Your really dumb cruise ship cabin questions answered

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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 — Your really dumb cruise ship cabin questions answered — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

I walked through Royal Caribbean's new food hall concept

Icon of the Seas will have the first food hall on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship, and it looks like a great change for the line.

At Royal Caribbean's headquarters in Miami, Matt was able to tour a prototype of the new AquaDome Market to get a sense of what the cruise line has in mind.

From new cuisines to how the food will be served, it's a first-look at what you can expect when you get onboard.

Royal Caribbean vs MSC Cruises: what I liked & didn't like

Jenna tried her first MSC cruise to compare it against her Royal Caribbean experiences.

Sailing on MSC World Europa, she wanted to see how similar or different the line is to Royal Caribbean, and what she enjoyed about it too.

After 7-nights onboard, Jenna came away with a list of what she liked, disliked, and what surprised her about her first MSC cruise.

Alaska vs Norway cruise

How similar is a Norway fjords cruise compared to an Alaska cruise?

Having sailed both, Matt came up with the aspects of each kind of cruise that are the same, and in what ways are they totally different.

Both destinations are certainly going to be colder than the Caribbean or Mediterranean, but they aren't exactly the same type of cruise either.

Carnival Mardi Gras vs Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

Love big cruise ships? Here's a battle of the titans of the two largest cruise lines.

Carnival's Excel Class and Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships are the largest ships in their respective fleets, and bring a mass-market appeal that aims to provide as many choices as possible on a cruise ship.

Allie has sailed on both Carnival Mardi Gras and Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas to see what each ship does better.

Royal Caribbean is dropping a Starbucks cruise ship collection that you always wanted.

The Starbucks "Been There" mugs is a fun way to commemorate a visit to a specific place, and pretty soon you'll be able to get one for the coffee stores you visit on Royal Caribbean's ships too.

Royal Caribbean has featured licensed Starbucks locations on its ships for over a decade, but there's never been a mug you can buy for the ships that have a location.

That's about to change this summer when the coffee giant and cruise line put forward their own Starbucks merchandise.

A total of 10 mugs will become available, one for each ship that has a free-standing Starbucks kiosk onboard.

• Icon of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

While Starbucks drinks are served on many more ships, only a ship with an actual Starbucks kiosk will have a Been There mug.

The design of the mugs are not copies of each other. Each of the mugs has on the mug the sort of activities and signature features of the ship.

For example, you'll find Spotlight Karaoke on the Oasis of the Seas mug, and iFly on Odyssey of the Seas.

This is consistent with the Been There mugs, which depict landmarks from the city or location the Starbucks kiosk is located in.

Royal Caribbean doesn't have a firm date set for the mug, but expects them to launch sometime in late summer.

The plan is for these to be available no later than the end of August, although ships still in Europe may have a delay and the mugs might not become available until the ship returns to the United States.

Royal Caribbean Director of Beverage Operations, Ed Eiswirth, talked about the design and launch of these mugs, "We're planning on having him in on ships in August."

"They all have specific iconic photography for each ship, so they're all slightly different."

The expected price for each mug is $16.95, and it will not be included with any Royal Caribbean drink package (which is the case with all Starbucks kiosk offerings).

Mr. Eiswirth also confirmed that only each ship will have their specific mug, so if you want to collect them all, you'll have to go on each of the ten cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean fans excited for the new mugs

If early reactions are any indication, these Royal Caribbean "Been There" mugs will be quite popular.

Photos of the mugs first appeared on the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group, and excitement for the new launch was near unanimous. 

"I’m sooooo excited!," shared Darren Wolner. "I’ve been hoping for this forever! I have more “Been there” series mugs then I care to admit."

" I collect these for different land based locations so this will be cool," Rob Johnson added.

"Oh my goodness, just picked up Miami and Orlando ones in April and now I need these," is what Clare Kinnear posted, and it is the sort of sentiment many readers had of happy to see this, but also thinking about what's needed to collect them all.

"I have a huge Starbucks mug collection. This is bad 😂😂 I’m excited for this," is what Ashley Harbridge shared, probably while taking a break from planning her next Disney World trip.

Kelly Bellovary, wrote likely what Royal Caribbean wants to hear, "Now we have to plan more cruises!"

Over 10 years in the making

Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to launch a ship that had Starbucks onboard.

The Oasis Class ships introduced the concept with Allure of the Seas had the first "Starbucks At Sea". 

The partnership was a response to cruise ship passengers that wanted signature made-to-order espresso beverages and Frappuccino blended beverages while on vacation.

Since then, Royal Caribbean has steadily offered Starbucks on most of its new ships, as well many refurbished ships.

Most ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet do not have a kiosk, but do serve Starbucks beverages from the ship's proprietary coffee house.

Cabin attendants on Royal Caribbean work diligently throughout your cruise to service your cabin, but what should you expect with the services they provide?

You cabin attendant, also called a stateroom attendant, is a crew member who services your cabin during a Royal Caribbean cruise. They are responsible for cleaning your room throughout the sailing, from restocking towels to making your bed.

Your cabin becomes your home away from home while onboard, and cabin attendants visit your room every day in order to make your cabin as comfortable as possible.

It’s helpful to have an understanding of what services your cabin attendant provides before embarking a Royal Caribbean cruise. From knowing your cabin attendant’s responsibilities to tipping guidelines, here’s everything you should know about cabin attendants on a cruise ship.

What are the responsibilities of my cabin attendant?

Cabin attendants are responsible for serving you cabin, which entails the following responsibilities:

• Restocking toiletries and towels in the bathroom
• Tidying up belongings
• Getting pullman and sofa beds ready for bed
• Cleaning the room (cleaning bathroom, vacuuming floor, etc.)
• Making your cabin’s bed
• Emptying the trash
• Delivering documents and informational sheets about your cruise

Exact service can vary from cabin attendant to cabin attendant. Some cabin attendants may fold clothes laying on your couch or bed and organize belongings on top of your desk. Others, on the other hand, take a more hands-off approach to tidying up personal belongings albeit still cleaning your cabin.

Of course, cabin attendants are known for delivering cute “animals” made out of towels to your cabin. From elephants to monkeys and snakes, finding a towel animal in your room each evening adds extra fun to the cruise experience.

Cabin attendants are not responsible for answering questions about your onboard account, providing mechanical maintenance to your cabin, childcare services, laundry, delivering room service, and helping you unpack.

How do I meet my cabin attendant?

The best time to meet your cabin attendant is on embarkation day. On the first day of your cruise, your cabin attendant will knock on your door to introduce themselves. During the introduction, we recommend letting your cabin attendant know any preferences and requests for your cabin service.

Related: A Royal Caribbean to-do list after you board a cruise ship

Requests may include separating your cabin’s beds, asking for extra towels, and letting them know the time of day you’d prefer your cabin to be serviced. Letting your cabin attendant know any requests in advance helps ensure service goes smoothly throughout the sailing.

If you’re not in the room when your cabin attendant knocks on your door, you’ll likely meet your attendant on the evening of embarkation day. Whenever you see housekeeping carts in the hallway, it means cabin attendants are servicing rooms, and they will make it a point to introduce themselves whenever you pass through the hallway.

How many times (and when) does my cabin attendant clean my room?

In non-suite cabins, your cabin attendant will clean your room once per day. They will service your room in either the morning or evening, and guests can give preference as to which time of the day they would prefer service.

If you’re cruising with more than two guests in the cabin, your cabin attendant will visit your room twice per day in order to prepare your sofa/pullman beds for the day and night.

Guests in Junior Suites and above will receive standard service twice per day—once in the morning and once for turndown service in the evening.

During turndown service, stateroom attendants prepare your room for bed by turning on your cabin’s nightlights and placing informational sheets, such as a Cruise Compass and disembarkation documents, on your bed.

Each stateroom comes with a double sided magnet that lets your cabin attendant know if they can clean the room. If you plan to sleep in, put the do not disturb side of the magnet on your cabin door. If your cabin is ready to be serviced, on the other hand, switch the magnet to the side indicating that your cabin attendant can enter the room.

How do I contact my cabin attendant if there is a problem with my cabin?

We always recommend checking your cabin on embarkation day to ensure there are no problems with the room. If you notice anything wrong, such as a broken closet door or missing TV remote, you should contact housekeeping via your stateroom’s telephone.

Related: 15 things to do as soon as you get to your cruise cabin

Every Royal Caribbean cruise cabin has a phone you can use to contact various departments on the ship at no extra charge. To call housekeeping, simply press the button for housekeeping on the phone. Your cabin attendant or another crew member will answer the phone and respond to your request; service is usually provided quickly and efficiently.

If your cabin has a mechanical issue—a leaky toilet or stuck balcony door—you can call maintenance as opposed to housekeeping. Maintenance will send a crew member to resolve any problems in your cabin as soon as possible.

Should I tip my cabin attendant?

All passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise are charged a daily gratuity fee—this covers the cost of tipping your cabin attendant.

Guests in standard cabins (interior, oceanview, balcony, and Junior Suites) are charged a daily fee of $16 USD per person, per day. Those staying in Grand Suites and above incur an $18.50 USD per person, per day fee.

Related: Tipping on a cruise ship: what you should and shouldn’t do

Despite the daily gratuity, some passengers choose to tip their cabin attendants extra for their service at the beginning or end of the cruise. Tipping extra is completely optional, but it’s an extra way to reward hard working cabin attendants. There is no recommended amount to tip a cabin attendant, but many passengers will tip around $25 to $50 USD extra.

What is a Royal Genie, and how is it different from a cabin attendant?

If you’re staying in a suite on a Quantum, Oasis, or Icon Class cruise ship, you may have access to the services of a Royal Genie in addition to your cabin attendant.

Guests in Star Class, the top tier of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, have access to their own "magic maker" throughout the sailing. This special service is reserved only for top-tier suites such as AquaTheater suites, Owner’s Loft Suites, and Royal Loft Suites.

Related: What is Star Class?

As part of Star Class, each guest can use the service of a Royal Genie. A Royal Genie is a crew member that can enhance your cruise experience through added services and requests. While Royal Genies do not clean your cabin, they can provide services such as:

• Organizing in-cabin parties
• Delivering specialty restaurant meals to your room
• Accompanying you to onboard activities where you can skip the line
• Reserving seats at shows before you arrive
• Bringing Starbucks drinks to your room each day

Depending on your preference and travel style, your Royal Genie’s services can vary greatly. Within reason, most requests can be accommodated, whether you want sushi delivered to the cabin or snacks waiting for you in the room upon return from a shore excursion.

Related: My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise

If you’re staying in a Star Class room, it’s important to know the difference between your Royal Genie’s services and those provided by your cabin attendant. While you can certainly let your Royal Genie know of any cleaning preferences, your cabin attendant will be the one cleaning your cabin throughout the sailing.

If you are planning on purchasing travel insurance through Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, they are raising the price of their policy effective June 1, 2023. 

Royal Caribbean sent out an email to travel agents warning them of the change.

"Dear valued Travel Partner," the email starts, "From time to time, we evaluate the product offering and pricing. As you may know, the plan cost is based upon your clients’ total trip cost (referred to as Total Protected Vacation Cost)."

"Effective June 1, 2023, the price of our Travel Protection product will increase for most guests, specifically when your clients’ Total Protected Vacation Cost is less than $8,000."

While the price of the product is increasing, there are no changes being made to the product itself. 

How much will the insurance policy cost?

There are 32 different price points for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity's insurance, all of which are based on the total vacation cost:

• $0 - $250: $39
• $251 - $500: $49
• $501 - $750: $69
•  $751 - $1,000: $79
• $1,001 - $1,250: $109
• $1,251 - $1,500: $119
• $1,501 - $2,000: $149
• $2,001 - $2,500: $199
• $2,501 - $3,000: $239
• $3,001 - $3,500: $289
• $3,501 - $4,000: $339
• $4,001 - $4,500: $389
• $4,501 - $5,000: $439
• $5,001 - $5,500: $489
• $5,501 - $6,000: $539

• $6,001 - $6,500: $599
• $6,501 - $7,000: $639
• $7,501 - $8,000: $739
• $8,001 - $8,500: $829
• $8,501 - $9,000: $879
• $9,001 - $9,500: $929
• $9,501 - $10,000: $979
• $10,001 - $10,500: $999
• $10,501 - $11,000: $1,099
• $11,001 - $11,500: $1,199
• $11,501 - $12,000: $1,299
• $12,001 - $12,500: $1,399
• $12,501 - $13,000: $1,499
• $13,001 - $13,500: $1,599
• $13,501- $14,000: $1,699
• Greater than $14,001: $1,799

What does the policy protect?

There are three primary components of the travel plan. 

The first is the Cancellation Penalty Waiver, which allows guests to cancel their vacation for specified reasons. It also includes a "Cancel for Any Reason Credit" that can be added for an additional cost.  

The second component is comprised of the benefits of the travel insurance that is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company: 

• Trip Interruption: Up to 150% of total trip cost if you can't start or finish your cruise vacation because you're sick or hurt, there's a death in the family or another covered reason.
• Trip Delay: Up to $2,000 ($250 per day) for catch-up expenses
• Missed Connection: Up to $300 if you miss your trip departure for covered reasons by three hours or more. 
• Accident and Sickness Medical: up to $25,000 if you get hurt and $25,000 if you get sick on your cruise vacation.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: Up to $50,000 if you need emergency medical transportation during your vacation. 
• Baggage Protection and Delay: Up to $1,500 if your bags are lost, stolen, or damaged and up to $500 to buy necessary personal items if your bags are delayed.

Finally, you will get worldwide emergency assistance provided by On Call International. 

What does travel insurance not cover?

There are some things that Royal Caribbean's policy will not cover, such as Cancel for Any Reason. 

This is an addition that can be purchased separately by contacting 1-888-722-2195. If you booked through a travel agent, they will be able to assist you if this is something you are interested in.

Per the policy's contract, "This additional enhancement is offered by Royal Caribbean International as a special service to guests that purchase this cruise ticket Cancellation Penalty Waiver Addendum...Credits are valid for one year from issue date, are not transferable, and have no cash value."

"To be eligible for the credits: 1. The travel protection plan must be purchased prior to having made final payment for the cruise; and 2. Notification of cancellation must be given to Royal Caribbean International prior to the ship's departure."

"Once you’ve cancelled with Royal Caribbean International, please contact the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program Help Line at 1-800-453-4022 or 1-516-342- 7262 regarding cruise credits. Please note that AIR2SEA components are not subject to this cruise credit feature."

Additionally, the insurance policy will not reimburse you for inclement weather or cancelled ports of call.

If, for instance, you book a Western Caribbean cruise but find that the itinerary has been altered to an Eastern Caribbean one; the policy will not provide any compensation. 

Also, the policy's fine print states that benefits are not payable for any loss due to, arising from, or resulting from pre-existing conditions; war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies; or being intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled substance unless taken as administered or prescribed by a physician. 

If you are worried about something not being covered, you should read the fine print prior to purchasing the policy. 

What happens if I have already paid for insurance?

If you have already added travel insurance to your booking, you will not be required to pay the difference in pricing. 

That is, however, unless a certain event triggers a change. This could be a change in ship or sailing date, the addition of a promotion, or when the booking moves from offered to booked status, among other events.

Why should you consider travel insurance for your next cruise?

Travel insurance is not included in the cost of your cruise fare, meaning that you will need to factor it into your cruise budget. 

The purpose of insurance is meant to provide peace of mind in the unlikely event that an unexpected event occurs before, during, or after your trip and protects you against any major financial losses. 

Let's say that you booked your flight for the day before the cruise was scheduled to depart. Unfortunately, it was cancelled, and the airline was unable to rebook you on another flight that would guarantee an on-time arrival. 

The insurance plan would help cover some of the associated costs of rebooking and/or meeting up with the ship at the first port of call. 

Additionally, many passengers partake in active activities while on a cruise, whether they are onboard or ashore. Active activities come with a risk, and you can never predict if you will need medical attentional due to an accident.

Note that those residing in New York are ineligible for Royal Caribbean's insurance during booking. A policy can be added after the fact through travelcruisecare.com. This applies to Celebrity sailings, too. 

Related: Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

Royal Caribbean will have its first food hall on Icon of the Seas, and I had the opportunity to preview this new venue.

The AquaDome Market will be a series of five stalls that offer different quick-serve cuisines, and it's a new choice for Royal Caribbean.

Read more: Royal Caribbean will offer swanky supper club and food hall on new Icon of the Seas when it launches

Food halls are a relatively new concept in the cruise industry, and Icon of the Seas will be the first cruise ship under the Royal Caribbean International brand to offer one.

AquaDome Market will be located in the AquaDome neighborhood, which is another first for the cruise line.  This is an area of the ship enclosed by a massive glass dome on the front of the ship.  Nearly everything about this area is different, from the theater's location, being fully enclosed, and this new eatery.

In preparation for the launch, Royal Caribbean set up a mock-up in its Innovation Lab at the cruise line's headquarters in Miami, Florida, and invited me come see their plans first-hand.

Walking us through the set up was Tim Klauda, Royal Caribbean's Vice President for Product Development, and Valentina Madinabeitia, Product Development Product Owner.

This prototype helps Royal Caribbean "fill in the gaps" that concept art and virtual reality cannot completely convey. Because AquaDome Market's space is more challenging, the team built out more of the space to work through the details

What is the AquaDome Market?

AquaDome Market will be a new complimentary venue at the front of Icon of the Seas that has five food stalls you can choose from.

The five choices include:

• Creme de la Crepe (French crepes)
• Mac's (Macaroni and cheese)
• Feta Mediterranean (Greek cuisine)
• GNGR (Asian cuisine)
• Toast and Garden (Sandwiches and salads)

You'll be able to access the AquaDome Market from the pool deck to make it convenient for anyone that wants to stop in and grab a quick bite to eat.

"We've never had like a food hall concept like this," Mr. Klauda explained. "You're seeing food halls pop up all over the place, so that's not a new concept. But for us, doing it this way and where it's positioned forward."

Being all the way forward helps spread crowds out too. The Windjammer buffet is in the rear of the ship, and El Loco Fresh also towards the aft.  So Royal Caribbean wanted something towards the front of the ship that's easy to access from the pool deck, and bring guests into the AquaDome neighborhood too.

Designing a food hall

Mr. Klauda explained there are many challenges to creating a space for a new food hall, especially within the AquaDome.

"The reason this will be challenging is it's right up against the glass. And so as we've got all this awesome food and all of these options, which is what our guests want, how many people can really pack in there, and get to the food and get in a line? And how is that going to work and how do we queue?"

For this reason, they built out all five stalls of the Market in order to get a better sense of the layout and flow for guests and the crew members.

"We're still working through some of the details, but without this, we'd be solving this after the ship's built."

The team wanted to know how tight the space would be, and can the menus be easily seen by guests and would the queues work well.

One early lesson they discovered were sight lines, as Ms. Madinabeitia explained being able to see each station was an issue, "we realized that when you're looking at this hallway, you really have to be like in front of each one to realize what each one is."

"So we are debating on does the sign come to the side? Those are all the things that by building this type of mockups, we catch before we're on board."

Something else this prototype gives is a chance for the team to experiment with the space. 

"Another opportunity is that the team has the opportunity of also doing rotating specials daily," Ms. Madinabeitia explained. "There's a lot of flexibility and options that could be brought into the space."

While Royal Caribbean intends the AquaDome Market to be complimentary when Icon of the Seas launches, they could experiment with extra-cost options too.

In terms of how it will work, guests will walk up to the stall they want to order food from and place the order and wait for the food to be prepared. There won't be pagers to indicate when the food is ready, because they want the experience to be fairly quick.

"The balance is how customized can I be and still keep up speed so that I can get something, get it handed me pretty quick," Mr. Klauda said.

"If they have to stop and prep and it takes two minutes, this will never be successful. So looking at those options are some of the things we worked through."

In addition, certain halls will be more customizable than others. Ms. Madinabeitia compared GNGR will be more like a Chipotle ordering experience where you choose your base, protein and toppings, whereas Mac's will be more of a set menu.

Sampling the AquaDome Market food

In addition to testing out the physical space, Royal Caribbean is also testing out the food that will be served to guests in AquaDome Market.

Within Royal Caribbean's headquarters is a test kitchen, where a team of chefs work through the various food choices to find the right selections and ingredients to include.

Royal Caribbean's Vice President of Food and Beverage, Linken D'Souza, walked us through this ultra-secretive space to share a glimpse of what they have in mind for the menus.

Designing the food hall was about evolving the cruise line's offerings, "We always want to give something interesting, exciting," he said in talking about the new dining venues on Icon.

"And on the ship as amazing and big as Icon is, that means having food in more places than we've ever had."

We saw examples of food from each of the new food stalls, along with the chance to try a few out ourselves. Mr. D'Souza cautioned us that the menus are still a work in progress, so you may not see these items when Icon launches.

Creme de la Crepe: Strawberry, Nutella, caramelized banana with salted caramel

GNGR: Sweet and sour chicken

Toast and Garden: Monte Cristo sandwich

Mac's: Pizza macaroni and cheese

Mac's: Pulled pork mac and cheese

Feta Mediterranean: Traditional style Greek pitas

One goal for these foods was to give guests something different than they see in other venues.

Mr. D'Souza thinks the AquaDome Market will offer more made-to-order choices for passengers, "It's more about providing a more curated experience for the guests. A more built for you experience."

"Obviously we have large venues, like the Windjammer, where we make some things to order, but the volume is kind of ready for the guests to grab and go. And so this is really about being able to make it a little bit more special."

The variety of choice really stands out to Mr. D'Souza, "what I like about it is you have the ability to walk in and at breakfast, get a monte Cristo for breakfast. And come in for lunch and have a pita, or come in at dinner and have some Chinese food."

For families, he thinks this will be a big win, "especially if you have a family of 5 or 6, you go in and not everybody wants to eat the same thing. You have the choices, but you don't feel like you're at a buffet."

An interesting anecdote from the test kitchen story of the food development was the mac and cheese.

As it turns out, over 500 hours of time has been developed so far to get the mac and cheese sauce consistent and, of course, tasty.

Why so long to get the sauce right? It's all about consistency. 

Paul Fortin, Senior Director of Culinary Operations, explained why it's important, "Consistency. The sauce has to coat the pasta. What sauce is going to coat the pasta properly? All the pastas are specifically done for the sauce, not just for the shape that it is."

When Icon of the Seas launches in 2024, she will have ten brand-new dining concepts onboard, with a total of twenty different venues to choose from.

That does not include bar-like places, such as Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and Desserted, as well as Trellis Bar, which is going to feature a menu of small bites. 

Eleven of them will be complimentary, while nine will incur an additional fee. Royal Caribbean has yet to release the pricing of the specialty restaurants. 

"The experiences had over great food are at the heart of so many shared memories that we could all use more of in our day-to-day," said Linked D'Souza, Vice President, Food and Beverage of Royal Caribbean International. 

"We've designed Icon of the Seas to offer every guest, no matter their tastes, age and mood or the occasion, a variety of ways they can easily make those moments their way every day while on vacation." 

Whether it is grabbing a quick bite to eat at the cruise line's first walk-up sushi window in Central Park, sitting down to indulge in an eight-course meal at Empire Supper Club, trying something new at the brand-new food hall, or splurging on brunch at Pier 7 in Surfside, there is something for everyone onboard Icon of the Seas!

Here is a breakdown of all the dining venues the record-breaking ship. 

Empire Supper Club

Empire Supper Club is one of the brand-new venues onboard Icon of the Seas. It is meant to be reminiscent of the 1930s in New York City. 

Each night, there will be two seating for guests to experience the extravagant eight course menu: 6:00pm and 8:30pm. 

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

And for the first time ever, this will be Royal Caribbean's first dining experience that combines food and music. A three-piece band will be situated in the venue and play a different song during each of the eight courses. 

Celebration Table

Think of Celebration Table as an elevated Chef's Table. Note that the traditional Chef's Table will still be offered, too. 

It is going to be a fully rentable private dining room located inside of Hooked Seafood on Deck 15 that will be able to seat up to twelve passengers and feature floor-to-ceiling windows for some of the best ocean views on the ship. 

The menu will be prix fixe, meaning that all guests will enjoy the same offerings family style; however, there are four different menus to choose from: Italian, Asian, American, and Seafood. There will be an option to personalize and upgrade the selections, too. 

Chops Grille

While Chops Grille is a tried-and-true favorite, the specialty steakhouse will be a little different on Icon of the Seas.

For the first time, guests can choose their own cut of meat from the butcher's display, anything from high grade wagyu to bone-in steaks. Plus, the open window will let them watch the chefs cook their selected cut. 

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

Another favorite will be returning to Icon: Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. The menu will highlight Old World classics, such as veal meatballs, and will be located in the Royal Promenade, marking the first time that Royal Caribbean will place a specialty restaurant here. 

Related: How Royal Caribbean reimagined its signature Italian restaurant

Hooked Seafood

Hooked Seafood is a relatively new specialty restaurant to the brand, and it will be onboard Icon of the Seas serving up delicious New England-style seafood. 

In terms of location, it will be directly underneath the AquaDome. 

Related: Royal Caribbean’s specialty dining packages guide

Pier 7

Pier 7 is the first family-oriented specialty restaurant that will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It will be located steps away from Playscape and the carousel in the Surfside Neighborhood. 

Here, you will find casual California cuisine, with options ranging from tacos, to a smoked salmon benedict, and even buttermilk pancakes. 

Izumi Hibachi and Sushi 

When you dine at Izumi on Icon of the Seas, you will find it to be more scenic than ever before, as it will be located in Central Park and feature al fresco seating, meaning that you can enjoy your favorite sushi in the open air under the stars. 

Plus, there will be more Teppanyaki than on any other ship in the fleet, with a total of six! In comparison, Wonder of the Seas only has three. 

Izumi in the Park

Those who would rather grab a quick bite before returning to all the fun will appreciate Izumi in the Park, which will be open from 11:30am to 10:30pm. You will not have to worry about making a reservation or getting dressed up to enjoy your favorite sushi rolls. 

This walk-up dining option will have signature rolls, nigiri, and Japanese sweet treats, all served in a portable box to take with you, available for an additional cost.

AquaDome Market

The AquaDome Market is Royal Caribbean's first food hall and will feature five different stands, all of which are complimentary and have their own look and menu: Feta Mediterranean, Mac's, Toast and Garden, GNGR, and Crème de la Crepe. 

Starting with Crème de la Crepe, this is where you will find both sweet and savory crepes. GNGR will serve Asian dishes, and Toast and Garden is for those looking for lighter fare, including salads and sandwiches. 

Mac's is the place for mac and cheese lovers, as this stand will remix the classic take on the dish with topping such as slow-roasted pulled pork, smoked gouda,  and BBQ sauce. 

Finally, Feta Mediterranean will serve fresh pitas and Mediterranean bowls, and you will find a bar with beer and wine, too. 

The AquaDone Market will serve breakfast starting at 7:00am for breakfast, lunch at 11:30am, and dinner in the evenings.  

Main Dining Room

The redesigned three-story Main Dining Room will feature a new menu each night that highlights a different cuisine.

You can also dine here for breakfast and lunch. 

Related: First look at Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus

Surfside Eatery

For families who do not want to venture out of Surfside to the Windjammer, there will be Surfside Eatery, an all-day dining option that functions as a buffet during breakfast and lunch before transitioning into a hybrid buffet/traditional sit-down venue at night. 

During the day, you will find fun kid-approved options, including pancakes that can be topped with chocolate chips, fruit, and more, as well as pasta with a variety of different sauces. 

At night, you will find more elevated options that put a contemporary twist on some childhood favorites! 

Surfside Bites

For those interested in grab-and-go fare, look no further than Surfside Bites. This quick service eatery will be open from 11:00am to 5:00pm. 

You will find options like burgers, popcorn chicken, cinnamon sugar donut holes, and, of course, soft serve! 

Windjammer

When Icon of the Seas makes her grand debut, she will have the Windjammer in the fleet. Plus, there will be two bars located inside!

Windjammer is Royal Caribbean's preeminent buffet option that can be found on every ship. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is ideal for those looking for a laid back dining experience with a variety of different options. 

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean's Windjammer Cafe buffet

Basecamp

Basecamp will be located in the heart of Thrill Island and feature food windows with different complimentary options, as well as some premium selections that can be purchase á la carte. 

The bar will serve storm-inspired drinks, and if you find yourself on the starboard side of Thrill Island, you will not have to worry about walking back to the bar. There will be a bar cart, making it more convenient to enjoy your favorite cold beverages while on-the-go. 

Basecamp will be open from 11:00am to 10:00pm, with the bar opening at 9:00am for those who want to start the day with a mimosa!

Pearl Café

Say goodbye to Cafe Promenade! On Icon of the Seas, the popular 24-hour quick service venue is being replaced with Pearl Café. 

Do not worry, though-- you will still be able to enjoy a selection of complimentary sandwiches, ready-made salads, coffee, and more at any hour; it will also be open 24-hours. 

Pearl Café will have cozy nooks that offer specular ocean views, making it a great place to meet up with friends and family before dinner or catch up on your favorite book. 

Sorrento's

At Sorrento's you can grab a slice of your favorite signature pizza, or indulge in a specialty one. You will have to act fast, though, as the flavor of the specialty pie will change every day! 

And for the first time, you can pair your pizza with your favorite draft beer on tap. 

Park Café

Like on Oasis Class ships, Park Café will be located in Central Park and serve breakfast and lunch. On Icon, however, Park Café will be open in the evening from 5:30pm to 10:00pm for late night bites. 

El Loco Fresh

Steps away from the Cove Pool is El Loco Fresh, the grab-and-go spot for Mexican food onboard. It will be open daily from 11:00am to 7:00pm. 

Coastal Kitchen

Coastal Kitchen is the complimentary dining room for suite guests. Star and Sky passengers are able to dine here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while Sea passengers can only eat here for dinner based on availability. 

The two-level restaurant will be able to seat 154 guests and offers views straight into the AquaDome! 

The Grove

Available only to Star and Sky suite guests, the Grove is an al fresco buffet that serves Mediterranean cuisine. It is smaller than Coastal Kitchen, with a capacity of 38 passengers. 

Ask almost any loyal cruiser, and most will agree that there’s something extra special about sailing on a newer cruise ship. Not only is everything onboard spick-and-span, but you’re also experiencing the most advanced innovation and technology from the cruise line. 

This isn’t to say that I don’t like sailing on older cruise ships by any means; I’ve actually sailed on some of the oldest cruise ships in the industry. I also find that older ships can sail more unique itineraries since size isn’t a concern for docking in less popular ports. But, I have to admit that I do love setting sail on a newer cruise ship, especially the most modern cruise ships that a cruise line has to offer. 

Last month, I set sail on Carnival Mardi Gras, which is one of Carnival Cruise Line's newest cruise ships. Launched in 2021, this cruise ship was the flagship vessel for Carnival’s new Excel-class of cruise ships. In my opinion, this shift towards modernizing their fleet was revolutionary for Carnival Cruise Line. 

In fact, some might argue that the new Excel-class of ships is giving Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships a run for their money. With fantastic entertainment and more eateries than most, Carnival has certainly upped its game.

As someone who has sailed on every Royal Caribbean ship class, I was eager to see how Mardi Gras compared to an Oasis-class ship. Last year, I sailed on Harmony of the Seas with my family for a 7-night Caribbean sailing. The two ships are similar in size, holding around 6,000 passengers, and offer a similar type of cruise experience centered around family fun for all. 

Here’s how Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas compared to Carnival’s Mardi Gras, along with some of my honest thoughts about each cruise experience. 

Ship Class Overview

Overall, Carnival’s Excel-class and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships represent important new eras of ship design and technology for each respective cruise line. 

Royal Caribbean has always been known to push the envelope on innovation and advancement in the cruise industry. As such, the debut of its Oasis-class ship in 2009 was met with much excitement from the cruise industry. At the time, there was no other cruise ship like it due to the ship’s sheer size and its unique entertainment. 

These ships are best known for creating an unparalleled design with multiple neighborhoods, including an open-aired space in the middle of the ship. This space is home to Central Park - a serene space with real greenery and open air - along with the aft-facing Boardwalk, which includes a carousel, Johnny Rocket’s diner and AquaTheatre with diving shows. 

With Oasis of the Seas being a smash-hit for Royal Caribbean, the cruise line continued to build similar vessels in the same class. Harmony of the Seas was launched in 2016; at the time, it was the biggest cruise ship in the world. The cruise ship has endless amounts of options for dining, onboard thrills, entertainment and accommodations onboard. 

Personally, I love Oasis-class ships and find they are easy to navigate with their distinct neighborhood designs. Harmony of the Seas was no exception and the open-air spaces were some of the highlights for me. At maximum capacity, Harmony of the Seas can hold 6,700 passengers and weighs 226,000 gross tons. 

On the flip side, Carnival Mardi Gras is the second largest vessel in Carnival’s fleet, only coming in second to sister-ship Carnival Celebration. In comparison, Mardi Gras is smaller than Harmony of the Seas, weighing 180,000 gross tons and holding 5,500 passengers at full capacity. 

Although smaller than Harmony of the Seas, Mardi Gras was revolutionary for Carnival because it was 40% bigger than anything the cruise line had built before. Carnival had resisted the industry’s shift towards building massive mega ships for many years. Instead, Carnival built new vessels that were designed with the same look and feel as previous ship classes. This led to a stagnant innovation from the cruise line - that is, until the debut of the Excel-class ship.  

Mardi Gras was the first introduction of Carnival’s take at having different designated zones onboard. Similar to Harmony of the Seas’ neighborhoods, you can find similarly themed bars, lounges and eateries in Mardi Gras’ six different zones. 

Similar to Harmony of the Seas, Carnival Mardi Gras has an extensive list of dining options, onboard thrills and entertainment choices. The newest vessel debuted a brand-new entertainment venue called Center Stage, which is an outward-facing atrium in the center of the ship that transforms into a nightly space for headliner productions. 

As someone who had cruised previously on older Carnival ships, I was blown away by Carnival Mardi Gras. Quite frankly, I didn’t know what to expect since my prior experiences were on ships that felt dark, cramped and outdated. However, Carnival’s new ship was not only modern, but it was surprisingly stylish and very well designed. 

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

Dining and Restaurants

If you’re like me, then trying out all of the restaurants onboard is one of your favorite cruise ship activities! Lucky for me, Mardi Gras and Harmony of the Seas both had a seemingly endless amount of places to eat onboard. I ran out of time to try everything onboard, only to the praise of my jeans back home in my closet. 

Harmony of the Seas had 9 different dining options onboard that were complimentary. The main dining room serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner during the cruise, offering world-class cuisine in an upscale restaurant. The Windjammer Buffet - which we all know and love as a Royal Caribbean staple - was also great for grabbing breakfast or lunch. 

Harmony of the Seas also features a variety of spots to grab a quick bite to eat, such as Sorrento’s Pizza, Dog House, Mini Bites, Cafe Promenade and Park Cafe. However, it’s really tough to beat Mardi Gras’ dining options for casual spots to eat. Ask anyone who has sailed on both Royal Caribbean and Carnival, and I would bet they agree with this statement. 

Comparatively, Mardi Gras has 20+ complimentary eateries onboard - and they’re all pretty dang delicious. We ran out of time to try every option onboard, although we did try our best. Mardi Gras has Carnival’s signature dining options, such as Guy Fieri’s restaurants Guy’s Burger Joint and Pig & Anchor BBQ Smokehouse. Our personal favorite was Big Chicken, which is a Chick-Fil-A dupe serving crispy chicken tenders and sandwiches thanks to another celebrity partnership with Shaq O’Neal. 

Celeb-chef, Emeril Lagassi, has also partnered with Carnival to debut Emeril’s Bistro, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a creole flair. We loved coming here for breakfast during our cruise, even with the extra $5 surcharge per menu item. 

This doesn’t even scratch the surface for the eateries, as Mardi Gras also has BlueIguana Cantina, the pizzeria onboard, a panini shop and JavaBlue coffeeshop. Sit-down restaurants include the Italian Cucina del Capitano and Asian/Mexican fusion ChiBang. Both of these have the look and feel of specialty dining, but these dining options are complimentary. 

Of course, Carnival has a main dining room, which is home to the cruise line’s famous SeaDay brunch. I appreciate having a brunch option that goes until early in the afternoon, as we had some late nights on Mardi Gras and needed to sleep in. You can also find the Lido Marketplace buffet and specialty dining restaurants, although I’d argue this is where Harmony of the Seas shines in comparison. 

Harmony of the Seas features upwards of 10 different specialty dining venues, including specialty options for steak at Chops Grille, Italian at Jamie’s Italian, Izumi sushi and even 150 Central Park for fine dining. Although I’ve tried the steakhouse and sushi-equivalent on Mardi Gras, I much prefer the specialty dining on Harmony of the Seas. The food was higher quality, portions were more generous and service was more attentive. Overall, the ambiance was more elegant and upscale too.  

I also found that Harmony of the Seas had better service and food at the main dining room in comparison to Mardi Gras. The appetizers, entrees and desserts were higher quality and provided more variety, in my opinion. However, no one can beat Carnival’s melting chocolate cake, which is served each night in the dining room! As a chocolate lover, this one is heavenly each night.

From my experiences, Carnival’s buffets have always left me feeling disappointed - and the Mardi Gras buffet was no exception. The cramped Lido Marketplace space lacked variety and quality in comparison to the Windjammer, which has never let me down.

Overall, Mardi Gras has unbeatable food when it comes to quick, casual options onboard, such as Guy’s Burger Joint and Big Chicken, while Royal Caribbean’s dining room, specialty dining and buffet options are superior. 

Headliner Productions and Entertainment

In general, cruise ships have their best entertainment and headliner productions on the biggest cruise ships. Mega cruise ships tend to have more resources to perform the big-name headliner shows and Broadway productions. For me, this was definitely the case for us when sailing on Harmony of the Seas and Carnival Mardi Gras. 

Generally speaking, the entertainment we experienced on both of these cruise ships were incredible with lights, music, dancing, acrobats, ice skaters, divers, comedians and much more. We were throughly impressed by all of the entertainment provided. Regardless of which cruise line you sail on, I can almost guarantee that you will be awestruck by the entertainment onboard.

As an Oasis-class ship, Harmony of the Seas has some of the best entertainment that Royal Caribbean has to offer. The highlight of the entertainment for me was a 90-minute production of Grease, which felt like I was transported to New York for a Broadway musical.

Harmony of the Seas also features an onboard ice skating rink and AquaTheatre, which are unique venues that showcase even more spectacular production shows. The AquaTheatre had a production show with high-divers, synchronized swimmers and aerial acrobatics. It’s truly unlike anything you’ve seen before on land and truly took our breath away. 

Similarly, Harmony of the Seas features 1887: A Journey Through Time as its main production  in Studio B Ice Skating Rink. The production has skaters with twirls, turns and flips in gravity-defying stunts.

Of course, Harmony of the Seas also offers evening headliner theatre shows, including comedians, magicians, and other singing and dancing productions. You’ll also found bars and lounges with parties, live musicians and more throughout your cruise. 

While Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas has fantastic production shows, Carnival has definitely taken its entertainment to the next level onboard Mardi Gras. Other production shows from Carnival had always felt low budget to me, although the daily comedians are normally a spotlight on any Carnival ship. 

For starters, Carnival debuted the Center Stage concept on Mardi Gras as a main venue for its production shows. This atrium is located midship and spans across multiple decks with an outward facing design. Here, you can find some of Mardi Gras’ biggest productions. 

During our cruise, we enjoyed shows like Celestial Strings (an electrifying strings performance with acrobats), VooDoo Moon (a spooky musical production with aerobatics), Vegas Nights (a flashy production, Vegas-style) and We Are One (a worldly journey with singing and dancing). 

Mardi Gras also features Production Playlist shows in a smaller, more traditional theatre with another group of onboard performers. Special to Carnival is the live gameshows of Family Feud and Deal or No Deal. Finally, you can enjoy Punchliner Comedy Club with multiple shows each day featuring rotating comedians. Fun Fact: Carnival employs more comedians than any other company in the world!

Comparing the two, Harmony of the Seas has more specialty-style entertainment with Broadway musicals, diving shows and ice skating productions. These are entertainment options that are uniquely available on Harmony of the Seas (and other Oasis-class ships).

On the other hand, Mardi Gras certainly has wonderful entertainment headliner productions too. In addition, those who enjoy late-night deck parties and energetic nightclubs will definitely enjoy the fast-paced environment on Mardi Gras.

At the end of the day, I personally think you can’t go wrong with entertainment from either cruise line.

Read more: 7 things I liked better about Royal Caribbean cruises than Carnival

Activities and Thrills

The bigger the cruise ship, the more onboard thrills, activities and amenities you’ll be able to find. For me, this is one of my favorite parts of sailing on a cruise line’s largest ship, as you’ll have an endless amount of things to do. Both Harmony of the Seas and Carnival Mardi Gras are two of the largest vessels in each cruise line’s fleet. As such, we found these ships features more things to do than we had time for!  

To start, Royal Caribbean is known for creating jam-packed cruise ships with nonstop fun thanks to a plethora of onboard thrills. Harmony of the Seas is one of the most innovative ships sailing for the cruise line. Even as an adult, many of the onboard thrills were enticing. Best of all, pretty much all of the onboard thrills are complimentary on Harmony of the Seas. From the Ultimate Abyss (the tallest slide at sea), along with an ice skating rink, zip line, miniature golf, FlowRider surf simulator and a rock climbing wall. 

Similarly, Carnival Mardi Gras is designed with family-fun in mind. One of the most innovative parts of Mardi Gras is Bolt - the very first rollercoaster at sea. As a rollercoaster aficionado, this was one of the best thrill rides I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship.

However, Bolt is not complimentary. For $15 each, you can take two quick laps around the top deck of Carnival Mardi Gras. I found it worth the cost to ride this coaster, as you’ll whip around the ship in a way you’ve never experienced before.

For complimentary onboard thrills, Mardi Gras also offers plenty onboard thrills at the Ultimate Playground, where cruisers can enjoy adrenaline-pumping waterslides at WaterWorks, participate in a round of miniature golf or play some basketball at the sports court. One of the craziest onboard thrills includes the complimentary ropes course, which takes you across the top deck of the ship while doing an obstacle course. You can even hang over the side - if you’re brave enough! 

Onboard Vibe and Atmosphere

Harmony of the Seas and Carnival Mardi Gras are designed to offer an incredible vacation for everyone in your family. As such, you’ll definitely find a little something for everyone onboard these two ships. 

During my Caribbean cruises on both of these ships, Carnival Mardi Gras certainly had an edge when it comes to the party and nightlife scene onboard. Mardi Gras cultivated a more casual ambiance as well with carefree cruisers looking to have a blast. This isn’t to say that things were out of control - and I think Carnival gets a bad rep for this, honestly. 

If party isn’t your vibe, you can enjoy the adults-only area called Serenity onboard. This is located at the front of Mardi Gras and features tons of padded loungers, daybeds and pools to be used just for adults. This is where we spent our afternoons at sea, as we appreciated the quiet space in comparison to the always busy pool deck. 

In a more subdued manner, Harmony of the Seas was still very lively with cruisers looking to have a fantastic vacation. The nightlife wasn’t quite as prominent. In general, the onboard atmosphere of Harmony of the Seas was slightly more upscale with so many specialty restaurant and quality production shows.  

Adults can especially enjoy the beautiful Solarium on Harmony of the Seas. Similar to Serenity on Mardi Gras, you can enjoy an adults-only pool with loungers and daybeds surrounding the space. It’s quiet and peaceful - the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail, read a book or take a nap.

While Serenity is entirely open-air, most of the Solarium is enclosed though with glass panels surrounding the space, meaning it can be enjoyed during less-than-ideal weather.

Staterooms and Suites

To appeal to a wide range of cruisers, both Harmony of the Seas and Carnival Mardi Gras have a variety of accommodations onboard. These include everything from budget-friendly inside cabins to luxurious suites. 

When sailing on Harmony of the Seas, my sister and I stayed in our typical choice: an inside cabin. We were impressed with the stateroom’s decor, design and functionality - it had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Since Royal Caribbean tends to be slightly more expensive than Carnival, we opted to save money by choosing a cheaper cabin. 

Read more: I sailed in an interior cabin on Carnival and a balcony room on Royal Caribbean. Here's the one I'd pick next time.

For those looking to splurge, Harmony of the Seas has some very unique staterooms available onboard thanks to neighborhood zones like Central Park and the Boardwalk. You can choose to stay in these inward-facing balcony rooms where you’ll have views of each respective neighborhood. 

Harmony of the Seas also features massive suites for those looking to splurge, including the aft-facing AquaTheatre Suite (including unparalleled views of the diving spectacles) and Crown Loft Suites.

On the other hand, Mardi Gras’ stateroom selection and prices allowed us to splurge a bit more. We opted to spend a but more so we could try out an Ocean Suite onboard the snazzy new ship, and it did not leave us disappointed. Our room was very large and featured a separate living room and extended balcony. This entry-level suite was only about 50% more than our inside cabin on Harmony of the Seas. 

In as similar way to Harmony of the Seas, Mardi Gras also features themed staterooms to accommodate different cruisers and families. These include the Havana Club staterooms, which provides convenient access to the Havana Club and an exclusive lounge area. Families can enjoy the Family Harbor deck, which are conveniently located near Mardi Gras’ childcare programs in Camp Ocean and include a special family lounge with snacks like PB&J sandwiches and cookies.

Final Thoughts: Is one better?

It’s no surprise that Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most popular cruise lines in the world. This is especially true in comparison of each cruise line’s biggest and most modern cruise ships. After sailing on both, Carnival Mardi Gras and Harmony of the Seas showcase the best-of-the-best from each cruise line.

Do I think one cruise ship is better than the other? Maybe for me, but that’s not the case for everyone. 

I’ve been a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser for most of my life, which inherently sets a bias towards Harmony of the Seas. However, I love to cruise and can truthfully say I’ve enjoyed every single cruise I’ve taken, although some fit my travel style better than others. 

If you prefer your cruises to focus on headliner and unique entertainment, along with more upscale dining choices in specialty restaurants (like Jamie’s Italian, which is one of my favorites), then you’d perhaps lean towards Harmony of the Seas. 

I’m not a huge partier on a cruise; I like to spend my Caribbean cruises taking it slow with a cocktail and good book in hand. I prefer to relax onboard while exploring ports during the day. You won’t find me staying up late at the nightclub most night, which tends to align with onboard vibe on Harmony of the Seas. I also preferred the entertainment onboard Harmony of the Seas with the diving show, Grease musical and ice skating spectacles. 

However, I wouldn’t hesitate to sail on Carnival Mardi Gras again. I loved that the cruise ship's ambiance and the vibe was very carefree and chill. Everyone was having a blast, but it never felt rowdy or out-of-control. Carnival’s quick and casual food options, like Big Chicken and Guy’s Burger Joint, are the best in the business and a huge highlight for me - it’s where the cruise line shines!

You can also expect to find massive sailaway parties and deck parties late into the night while you sail, along with great entertainment each evening. The fast-paced environment is perfect for those looking to let their hair down with the whole family. 

At the end of the day, each cruise ship offers a fantastic cruise vacation.

A cruise ship visit to Alaska and Norway is an ideal way to get a taste of what each of these beautiful parts of the world has to offer, but how do they compare to each other?

I recently took my first cruise to Norway and very quickly the comparisons to Alaska emerged.  Given both are cold weather cruising destinations, the parallels are obvious.  

However, the more I dug into my Norway cruise, the sooner I saw that while they both are located in the upper latitudes of the globe, they are not as similar a cruising destination as you might expect.

An Alaska cruise and a Norway cruise should be right at the top of your must-do list because of how beautiful these parts of the world are, but they aren't exactly the same.  I found far more differences between the two regions than I anticipated before I ever cruised there.

Between my Alaska cruises and my Norway cruise, there are a few important considerations if you are interested in picking either locale for a cruise ship vacation.

Ideally, you'll book a cruise to both Alaska and Norway so that you can enjoy both for what they excel at, but if you're in the market for only one cruise, here's what you should know.

Getting there

Until transporters from Star Trek are invented, getting to Norway or Alaska for your cruise may sway your decision considerably.

As an American, getting to Alaska for a cruise will always be easier and cheaper than Europe for a Norway cruise.

Flights to Seattle are plentiful across the United States, and while airfare prices are generally higher than ever, a domestic flight to Seattle will always cost less than a flight to the United Kingdom.

Even if you consider an Alaska cruise that begins in Vancouver, it will probably be cheaper than getting to Europe.

Of course, if you live in Europe (or closer to Europe than North America), then a Norway cruise could be quite affordable in terms of flying to where the ship departs from.

Airfare in Europe tends to be quite cheap, especially if you can take one of the various low-cost European carriers, such as EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, or Norwegian.

Similar to price, flights will be shorter depending on which embarkation port you live closer to. 

Many savvy travelers will save their credit card points for a European vacation to help take the sting out of airfare.  In fact, investing in a business class flight could also make sense with credit card points.

An Alaska cruise will take me about 5-6 hours to fly to, whereas a flight to London will come in at 8 or 9 hours from Florida.  If you live in the Northeast United States, flight times between New York and Seattle and New York and London aren't that far different.

Ultimately, unless you can drive to Seattle or Southampton, you're probably going to need to fly and it will be a multi-hour ordeal that adds a hefty cost too.

Advantage: Tie

Scenery

On the surface, Alaska and Norway seem to have similar topography and scenery, but I found that not necessarily to be the case.

Fjords can certainly look similar to a glacier inlet that you'd find in Alaska, but I found when you're not in a fjord, Norway isn't as majestic looking as Alaska.

No matter where you are in Alaska, you're going to be nearly surrounded by tall peaks and an open landscape. I was blown away by the beauty of Alaska from my first visit, and the scale of the mountains and countryside around you cannot be properly conveyed until you see it.

In Norway, cities like Haugesund or Bergen don't have those views or towering vistas.  

While the fjords of Gerainger and Olden did resemble the sort of vistas you'd find in Alaska, it was fleeting once your ship left.

That isn't to say Norway isn't beautiful or scenic, because the country is quite lovely and it's quite unspoiled in many areas. In fact, the Scandinavian architecture makes up for what is otherwise quite bland building style of Alaska.

One might even argue the beauty of the fjords while you're in them makes up for whatever mountainous scenery Alaska has elsewhere. Certainly the sail-in for the fjord evoked very similar views that you'd find in a glacier sail-in. 

The difference for me was the impressive and soaring land around you in Alaska really stood out, and I wasn't quite as struck by the immense elevation of Norway compared to Alaska.

Advantage: Alaska

Culture

Where Norway really shines is the rich culture and history of the country.

You'll find small towns and big cities in Norway to visit during your cruise, and there are thousands of years of history you can explore along the way.

Norway's Viking legacy brings all sorts of opportunities to learn and explore, and it's something that extends even to today. Continuing forward to the last couple hundred of years, you'll find art, history, and a culinary tradition that has made Europe appealing for so long as a destination.

Alaska has a long-standing Native American culture that is fascinating to explore, but that's about where Alaska's cultural appeal ends. The Alaska cruise ports tend to be centered around cheesy tourist spots or shopping. 

I didn't find Alaskan cultural appeal to be nearly as strong as Norway.  It's cities are small, and the entire state is sparsely populated.  Don't expect to find high-end restaurants, evocative museums, or a cosmopolitan feel.

This may be one of the appeals of Alaska, that it relies so heavily on its natural beauty as a reason to cruise there, whereas Norway has its natural wonders, along with population centers you can explore in-depth.

Advantage: Norway

Wildlife

This is probably the most simple comparison of the list, because Norway has little to no wildlife you'd be excited to see.

Alaska is known for the amazing animals you can see there: whales, bears, moose, eagles, seals.  There's more than that, but a major highlight of any Alaska cruise are the wildlife spotting opportunities.

Alaska is home to more bears than any other state. There are an estimated 100,000 bald eagles in the world, with around 30,000 calling Alaska home.  The salmon runs are known around the world for how impressive they are.

Norway, however, doesn't have these sort of animal spotting opportunities. The most exotic animals you'll see on a Norway cruise are sheep and goats. 

Advantage: Alaska

Cost

Neither Alaska nor Norway cruises are going to be the cheapest cruise you can find, but both have shoulder seasons when you can find a deal.

The Alaska cruise season runs from May through September, with the months of June through August representing the peak of the season and the highest prices too.

If you take an Alaska cruise in May or September, you can find bargain basement prices for a cruise, especially the sailings from Vancouver.

Read more: The Best Time to Cruise Alaska Month by Month

Likewise, Norway's cruise season also runs from May through September and it's shoulder season will have better prices if you can sail then.

Both Alaska and Norway aren't cheap once you get there.

Food prices especially are much higher than most travelers might expect. Norway is notorious for expensive food, while an Alaska shore excursion is going to be much more expensive than a Caribbean tour.

Advantage: Tie

Which should you choose: Alaska or Norway cruise?

You should really experience both an Alaska cruise and a Norway cruise because while they both have colder temperatures than the Caribbean or Mediterranean, the each are different enough to warrant separate trips.

Of course, it's not as simple as that for everyone to make happen, given the time and costs associated with both cruises.

In reflecting on my Alaska and Norway cruises, I found the natural beauty and wildlife superior in Alaska, while preferring the cities and history that Norway has to offer.

I found myself more impressed with Alaska's looks, but enamored with the old world appeal of Norway (and Europe, in general).

You won't find a shortage of natural beauty in either cruise, and more than likely a hefty price tag to get to either.  But I can all but promise you the journey will be worth it when you get to experience it all yourself.