Royal Caribbean Blog

Are shore excursions required? Do I need to bring my passport into port? What should I wear on an excursion? We’re answering 15 of your dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions today.

In addition to enjoying time onboard your cruise ship, you’ll have the opportunity to visit ports around the world, such as in the Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, and beyond. Every cruise port has something exciting to offer, whether snorkeling, city sightseeing, wildlife viewing, or visiting a waterpark.

Many cruisers book shore excursions in each cruise port to help provide the best experience in just a few hours, but learning the ins and outs of shore excursions can seem overwhelming. From choosing between excursions to preparing for your day ashore, there’s a lot to remember when planning a fun cruise ship port day.

Just like when we answered your “dumb” cruise questions about dining and cabins, we want to point out that these questions, of course, are not inherently dumb. Rather, they are questions we hear over and over again at Royal Caribbean Blog, and we want to answer them all in one place.

Here are your really dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions answered.

Do I need to book a shore excursion?

You are under no obligation to book a shore excursion while on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Booking shore excursions is completely optional, although it’s a popular choice for many cruisers.

Shore excursions allow you to discover a destination through a guided experience, whether you want to see a port’s top attractions, participate in a thrilling experience like kayaking or zip lining, or spend the day at the beach.

The advantage of a shore excursion is that there is little planning involved on your end. You won’t need to worry about handling transportation logistics or researching what to do. Instead, you just show up at the tour’s designated meeting point and local guides will handle the rest.

Not booking a shore excursion does not exclude you from getting off your cruise ship in port, however, and many passengers prefer the flexibility of exploring on their own. Without a shore excursion, you can still visit a port’s top sights, but there’s just a little more planning involved.

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

Do I need to bring my passport on a shore excursion?

A great debate among cruisers is whether or not you should bring your passport on a shore excursion. Some cruisers swear by bringing their passports into port. Others leave it in their cabin’s safe, knowing that if they were, for some reason, to miss the ship, crew members could retrieve their passport from their cabin.

To be on the safe side, we recommend bringing your passport on a shore excursion. Although the chances of missing your cruise ship are slim, it’s always better to be prepared for an unexpected scenario. You never know if an emergency will happen that might require you to spend extra time in port, thus missing your ship’s departure.

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

We recommend keeping your passport protected while on a shore excursion. Placing it into a waterproof bag, as an example, helps keep it dry and protected when at the beach or on a rainy day.

Do I get a refund if I miss my shore excursion?

Whether or not you get a refund for missing your shore excursion depends on a few factors.

If you booked a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean and your excursion gets canceled due to a schedule change, weather, or if your ship cannot dock in port, you will receive a refund.

If you booked an excursion through an outside provider and you miss the excursion, refunds are at the discretion of the tour provider. Most reputable tour companies will offer a similar refund policy as the cruise line in the case of an unexpected cancellation, but it’s best to check each tour’s policies before booking.

If you miss a shore excursion due to sleeping in or missing the meeting time, it’s unlikely you will be refunded for the excursion.

Can I cancel a shore excursion?

For most shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean, guests can modify or cancel an excursion up to 48 hours prior to port arrival with no penalty. This allows guests ample flexibility in booking shore excursions; if they change their mind about a particular excursion once onboard, they can cancel it without incurring any extra charge.

Certain tours, though, must be canceled 30 days prior to sailing. Tours that involve flights, trains, overnight stays, hotels, special events, and Royal Caribbean Private Journeys should be canceled a month or more in advance of the sailing.

If booking through an independent tour operator instead of Royal Caribbean, you should review the tour’s cancellation policies before booking as they can vary from provider to provider.

The price of my shore excursion went down! Can I get a refund?

Royal Caribbean shore excursions, like all other add-ons in the Cruise Planner website, can vary in price from day to day. An excursion may be offered for $100 on one day and spike to over $150 the next. On some occasions, the price may decrease (sometimes significantly).

If booking a Royal Caribbean excursion, we recommend checking the Cruise Planner website frequently to monitor any price drops. If the price of an excursion you booked dropped, you can cancel and rebook the excursion with no penalty via the website.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

If you notice the price of a tour drop through an independent tour operator, it’s at the discretion of the tour company whether or not you can rebook the tour at the lower cost.

Should I bring my wallet on a shore excursion?

Even though you don’t need your wallet while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, you should bring it on a shore excursion.

Your SeaPass card works on your cruise ship to make purchases, but it will not work in port. Therefore, remember to pack your wallet in your day bag. Bring a credit card, an ID, and some cash to ensure you’re prepared for the day.

Of course, you should bring your SeaPass card, too, as you’ll need to scan it to get on and off the ship on a port day.

Which currency should I bring on a shore excursion?

In addition to bringing your credit card on a shore excursion, you should also bring some cash. Cash can be used to purchase souvenirs or eat at restaurants that do not accept card payments, as well as tipping your shore excursion driver and guides after the tour.

The type of currency to bring depends on your port of call. Most Caribbean cruise ports will accept USD in tourist areas, although you can use local currency if you have any on hand.

Related: How much cash should you bring on a cruise?

Most countries (but not all) on a European cruise use the Euro. If you’re traveling to several countries that use the Euro, it’s a good idea to withdraw a small amount of currency from an ATM before the cruise.

When planning for which currency to bring into port, check the guidelines for each specific country. Some countries may accept card payments virtually everywhere, such as the United Kingdom, whereas others are best traveled with cash.

We do not recommend exchanging currency before a cruise. It’s easy to withdraw money from an ATM once in your embarkation city or cruise port, avoiding the hassle of exchanging currency ahead of time.

What should I bring on a shore excursion?

We advise wearing a daypack on a shore excursion to carry any belongings and essentials you’ll need throughout the tour.

What to bring depends on your ship’s destination along with tour type. Regardless of the tour and destination, you should pack your shore excursion ticket, a wallet, passport (or other ID), phone, camera, and your SeaPass card.

Related: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

If your port is in a warm climate, remember to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, bathing suit (if visiting the beach), flip flops or sandals, beach towels, and a beach bag. We recommend a water-resistant or waterproof bag in case of rain.

If traveling to a colder climate, such as Alaska, you’ll want to pack layers along with rain gear. Bringing a fleece and rain jacket ensures you stay warm and dry, and you’ll also want to ensure your shoes are water resistant.

As far as accessories, bring a pair of binoculars to better view Alaska’s scenery along with a camera and beanie. You might even want to bring a pair of sunglasses—even though you're in Alaska, a sunny day can still lead to sunburn.

Related: Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing

What should I wear on a shore excursion?

Shore excursions vary widely, from beach days to mountain hikes, and it’s important to dress appropriately for an excursion to ensure you’re comfortable during the day.

You can wear a bathing suit on a shore excursion, but remember to also wear something over the bathing suit, such as a cover up or shorts and a t-shirt. As far as footwear, wearing flip flops or sandals is usually your best bet. If the excursion combines a beach day with a more active activity, however, you should pack a pair of sneakers in your bag as well.

For a cold weather excursion, check the weather forecast before disembarking the ship. Weather can change drastically throughout the day in destinations like Norway and Alaska, so it’s important to be prepared for any and all weather scenarios.

Related: Best travel clothes for women on shore excursions

We advise wearing a base layer, such as a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt, followed by a warm layer like a sweatshirt or sweater. On top of these two layers, wear a waterproof jacket if rain is on the forecast.

Some tours may require you to wear a certain type of outfit or footwear. Hiking tours, for example, will usually require closed toed shoes whereas excursions visiting cathedrals may require you to dress more conservatively. Read through the details of your shore excursion before leaving the ship for more information on what to wear.

Where do I meet for a shore excursion?

Each port operates excursions slightly differently with regards to where you will meet your tour group.

Many excursions will meet on the pier as soon as you disembark your ship. For these tours, a crew member or tour guide will hold up a sign with your excursion’s name and number. Look for the correct sign upon disembarking and wait with the tour group until every passenger has arrived for the excursion.

Some ports, such as Costa Maya, have a designated shore excursion meeting area once you enter the port from the pier. These meeting areas are typically shaded, providing more comfort as you wait for other passengers to arrive.

Related: Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

Other Royal Caribbean excursions will require you to meet inside the ship before disembarking, most commonly in the theater. This is common for excursions that require more travel time, such as those visiting mainland Mexico from Cozumel.

Information on where to meet will be found on your shore excursion ticket, which is delivered to your cabin on embarkation day if you booked the tour before your cruise. If you book an excursion while onboard, your shore excursion ticket will be delivered to your cabin during the sailing.

What happens if I lose my SeaPass card on a shore excursion?

Lost your SeaPass card on a shore excursion? If so, there’s no need to worry—you’ll still be allowed back on the ship.

When disembarking the ship in a port of call, you’ll scan your SeaPass card. This allows Royal Caribbean to keep track of which guests are on and off the ship. When coming back to the ship after an excursion, you must scan your SeaPass card.

If you lose your SeaPass card while in port, let the port authorities know once entering the port area. Ship security will verify your identity and let you back onboard, where you can make a visit to Guest Services for a replacement SeaPass card.

Obviously, it’s best not to lose your SeaPass card while in port. Keeping it safe in a daypack is advised. If you put it in a pocket, remember to take it out before swimming in the ocean or participating in active activities.

How do I book a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, and how much do they cost?

To book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, log on to your Royal Caribbean account on the cruise line’s website. If it’s your first time logging in, create an account and link your cruise reservation number to the account.

Once logged in, click on the “Plan My Cruise” button under the listed sailing. This button brings you to the Cruise Planner website, which is where you can book cruise add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, spa treatments, and shore excursions.

Click on the shore excursions tab to see the listed excursions for your cruise itinerary. You can organize excursions by port, activity level, interest, and duration. If you find an excursion that looks interesting, add it to your cart.

Once in the cart, you can purchase the excursion with a credit card or, if you have any, with onboard credit.

The cost of a shore excursion can vary greatly, with some excursions priced at only $25 and others over $1000! There is no set price for a shore excursion—the price ultimately depends on the type of tour, destination, and tour length.

Related: How to save money on cruise excursions

Most basic tours, such as a beach resort day or city tour, cost around $100, with some priced significantly more and less. Excursions in Alaska tend to be higher than those in the Caribbean, especially if they involve helicopter rides and glacier landings. Those in Europe tend to be higher as well, as many excursions in the Mediterranean are full day tours of cities like Rome and Paris.

Can I book a shore excursion for other people?

You can book shore excursions for any passengers in your cabin along with any other passengers with whom you have a linked reservation.

Once you are on the booking page for an excursion in the Cruise Planner, it will prompt you to select the number of guests for the booking. The names of those in your cabin will appear on the list, so you can add all passengers in the cabin to the reservation.

If you want to add a guest who is not staying in your cabin to the excursion reservation, click “Add Guest” on the booking page. This will redirect you to a page where you can link your reservation with another guest.

To do so, you’ll type the guests’ surname(s) along with their date of birth and reservation number. Once your reservations are linked, you can book any pre-cruise add-ons for that guest.

What happens if I miss my cruise ship?

One of the worst things that can happen on a shore excursion is missing your cruise ship. No one wants to be those passengers sprinting back to their ship as the gangway goes up, causing them to miss the ship’s departure and become stranded in a foreign port!

If you miss your cruise ship while on a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, Royal Caribbean will cover the cost and handle the logistics of getting your group back to the next port. Missing your ship is not very common when traveling on a Royal Caribbean excursion, as the ship will wait for you as long as possible.

If you miss your ship while on an independent tour or when traveling with no tour, you must cover the cost of getting to the next port. In these cases, crew members will enter your cabin to try to locate your passport, which they will hand to the port authorities.

Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Once you reach the port, the port authorities will hand you your passport and can assist you with figuring out the next steps. If you do not have a passport and are in a foreign country, you will need to visit the nearest embassy or consulate in order to receive a new passport.

Is it better to book an excursion through the ship or independently?

If you want to book a tour instead of exploring on your own in port, you have two options: booking through the ship or through an outside tour provider.

Booking through Royal Caribbean is not necessary, although it comes with several advantages. When booking through Royal Caribbean, you can feel confident that the tours are properly vetted and that you won’t be left behind in case your tour runs late.

Related: Is it better to book excursions through the cruise ship?

Plus, booking excursions through Royal Caribbean is more convenient. Finding tours and things to do on your own requires more time and research, whereas Royal Caribbean lists all their excursions on the website. You also have the opportunity to speak with the shore excursions staff once onboard, and they can be a valuable resource when choosing between and planning for excursions.

Nonetheless, booking independently gives more options along with (usually) lower prices. You can also book small group tours as opposed to the larger groups you may find on a Royal Caribbean excursion.

Related: 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

You can find reviews for most tours and tour companies online as well, leaving you confident that any tour provider you book is properly vetted. Websites such as Resortforaday, Viator, Shore Excursions Group, and Tripadvisor are all recommended options to find a tour on your own.

Just days after Royal Caribbean's last meteorologist announced he left the company, there's a new posting for a replacement.

Royal Caribbean Group posted on their website a new job listing for the position of Chief Meteorologist.

Last week, James Van Fleet announced on social media he is no longer with Royal Caribbean. Mr. Van Fleet was the first Chief Meteorologist for Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry as a whole.

By employing a meteorologist on staff in a full-time capacity, it assists in tracking hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, severe rainstorms and winter storm fronts which may require itinerary deviations.

The job listing for his replacement seeks someone who has at least 15 years of experience forecasting the weather along with substantial media and public speaking experience.

"The position is responsible for drawing upon global resources and ongoing innovations in science, planning and presentation tools to support the business to proactively manage the impact of weather on operations, revenues and profits.  This includes interaction with individual ships as well as with corporate senior executives, guests, and engagement with the media and general public.  This position will primarily focus on the safety and comfort of guests and crew through active weather forecast support and operational recommendations.  Will also serve as the primary liaison with weather service providers, government agencies, and academic institutions."

Here's what is listed for the responsibilities of this potential new hire:

• Responsible for providing expert analysis, as accurately as possible, on the timing, severity, and exact location of dangerous weather systems such as hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, severe rainstorms and winter storm fronts which may require itinerary deviations.
• Relies on prior experience to determine appropriate means of notifying teams of potentially dangerous weather systems.
• Serves as key subject matter expert spokesman for weather situations which are of public interest, including a prominent presence in social media.
• Evaluates weather related technical systems and planning tools for fleet operations and Newbuild projects.
• Liaison with academic institutions and the science community for oceanographic and meteorological data collection and analysis and scientific innovations
• Provides long-term global deployment expertise related to weather patterns and analysis
• Develops and maintains weather training programs and guidance for shipboard teams
• Provides guidance and expertise to support the Energy Performance group for weather-related opportunities for fuel savings.
• Provides weather-related support and guidance to the fleet as needed.
• Identifies and manages metrological training programs, content and education for nautical officers in the fleet
• This position is responsible for the management of fleet weather support services.

The timing of the change in personnel comes on the precipice of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins next week.

Officially the hurricane season runs between June 1 and November 30, although dangerous storms can occasionally form outside those dates.

While the U.S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hasn't released its forecast yet for the 2023 season (it's coming on May 25), a few other institutions have posted predictions.

Colorado State University currently forecasts a slightly below-average amount of hurricane activity in 2023. The university's predicted 13 named storms for the season, with six storms becoming hurricanes. Two of those could become major hurricanes.

North Carolina State University predicted 11 to 15 named storms in 2023, with six to eight becoming hurricanes and two to three growing into major hurricanes.

Replacing James Van Fleet

The new job posting follows the departure of the first Chief Meteorologist, James Van Fleet.

Van Fleet's last day was May 1, according to his post.

Mr. Van Fleet confirmed on social media that he is moving on from his position with the cruise line following six and a half years of working at Royal Caribbean.

Van Fleet started with Royal Caribbean in January 2017 and was a very visible face of the cruise line who explained how weather would potentially impact cruise ships.  He would often record forecasts that were transmitted to guests in their staterooms, along with being posted online.

Most guests found Mr. Van Fleet's forecasts helpful during hurricane season when tropical disturbances would wreak havoc in the Caribbean.

"As far as the guests go, I also want to thank you for all your trust over the years as we've moved you around storms and systems so you would have the best vacation experience," he shared in the video he shared on social media.

Prior to working with Royal Caribbean, he worked as a meteorologist for local television channels in both Tampa and Orlando, as well as stations in Texas.

Your thoughts

Is it important to you for Royal Caribbean to have a Chief Meteorologist? Would you like to see Mr. Van Fleet return to the role? 

Share your thoughts on hiring a meteorologist in the comments on this post!

After 15 Royal Caribbean cruises, I finally sailed on another cruise line—one of the most controversial in the cruise industry.

Earlier this month, I booked a 7-night Mediterranean cruise on the MSC World Europa, the cruise line’s newest and biggest ship that has many “copycat” features from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships.

MSC Cruises, an Italian cruise line, has recently gained popularity in North America, but has been subject to many complaints about the food, service, and programming from North American cruisers. This makes the cruise line a “controversial” choice for a vacation despite its low prices.

The MSC World Europa is currently the biggest cruise ship in the world after Royal Caribbean’s five Oasis Class ships. While she currently sails exclusively in Europe, her sister ship, the MSC World America, will launch in 2025 from Miami, which could increase competition for Royal Caribbean.

I went onboard to see what MSC has to offer and how it compares to Royal Caribbean. Here’s what I liked, disliked, and what surprised me about my sailing.

I liked the lower prices on cocktails and specialty restaurants, although I find the quality of specialty restaurants better on Royal Caribbean.

It’s no secret that drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise are expensive. Most cocktails are priced around $14 which, after gratuity, is over $15.

On MSC, however, I was pleased to find drinks priced much more affordably—most basic cocktails were around $10 with more “specialty” drinks around $12. Lower drink prices meant I could stretch my budget further and try a wider variety of drinks around the ship, which enhanced my overall experience.

That being said, even though drink prices are cheaper on MSC, it's hard to beat the benefits I receive as a Diamond member in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program. I receive four free drinks every day of my cruise, so I almost never spend any extra money on drinks while sailing on Royal Caribbean.

Related: Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Specialty restaurants were priced lower on my MSC cruise as well.

I paid $30 to dine at the ship's teppanyaki restaurant, but while I enjoyed my meal, I would say it’s a few notches down in quality when compared to Izumi Teppanyaki on Royal Caribbean. It was still tasty, but I found myself missing the signature flavor and courses at Royal Caribbean’s teppanyaki restaurant.

That being said, I’m not always willing to shell out $60 for teppanyaki on Royal Caribbean. Spending $30 is a lot more reasonable, and even if it’s not as good, I wouldn’t hesitate to eat there again.

I also paid roughly $20 USD for all-you-can-eat Mexican food at the ship’s Mexican restaurant, HOLA! Tacos & Cantina. While a great deal on a specialty restaurant, I found the quality somewhat similar (albeit a bit better) to El Loco Fresh on Royal Caribbean, which is a complimentary venue.

Nonetheless, I preferred the lower prices on specialty dining as it didn’t feel like as much of a splurge compared to the complimentary venues onboard.

My cabin on MSC was modern and spacious, much like on Royal Caribbean’s new ships, but there was far less storage space.

As a virtually brand new ship, my interior cabin on the MSC World Europa was spacious and modern, and quickly became my home away from home while onboard.

The room had a large TV, plenty of outlets (including by the bed), and was impeccably clean.

The only complaint I had about my cabin was that there wasn’t nearly as much storage space as I would expect on a brand new ship. Basically the only storage was in the wardrobe, which had a few shelves and drawers.

While there were a few other shelves here and there, the overall storage was lacking compared to cabins on new Royal Caribbean ships like Odyssey of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Although it wasn’t a dealbreaker, I would have appreciated more storage space to better fit my belongings.

I disliked the lack of free water onboard, and it was the biggest pet peeve during my sailing.

What I disliked the most on my MSC cruise—by far—was the lack of free water onboard if you don't have a drink package.

There is a stark cultural difference in providing free water in North America versus southern Europe, and this shows on MSC ships. In North America, it’s expected to receive free tap water virtually anywhere, from restaurants to cafes and bars. In many parts of Europe, though, you’re expected to pay for bottles of water at these locations.

I was shocked at how difficult it was to find free water on the MSC World Europa. Virtually the only place with free water were the few water machines in the buffet. In my experience, most bars, lounges, and restaurants would not give any free water, meaning you would have to either pay for a bottle or bring water from the buffet elsewhere on the ship.

Not only did this seem like a complete waste of plastic (the amount of water bottles used onboard was staggering), but it was cumbersome and annoying. On my next Royal Caribbean cruise, I won’t take for granted the ability to get a free glass of ice water anywhere onboard!

I was impressed by the amount of activities on the MSC World Europa, although there isn’t as much programming scheduled throughout the day.

Royal Caribbean ships are known for being family-friendly and offering endless activity options, from rock climbing to trivia, bumper cars, and game shows.

MSC also offers a wide selection of activities for both kids and adults. I was surprised to see bumper cars and rollerskating available on the MSC World Europa, both of which were located in the Sportsplex, a copycat of Royal Caribbean’s SeaPlex. Additionally, the ship had waterslides and a kids splash pool similar to Royal Caribbean’s Splashaway Bay.

Adults could enjoy live music, karaoke, and production shows, but it seemed like there were fewer activities to choose from on MSC. Royal Caribbean’s daily list of activities is extensive, with activities happening in virtually every corner of the ship all day long.

I didn’t find the fewer amount of activities an issue because truthfully, there was still more than enough to do. I enjoyed spending the evening at a theater show—which were all quite impressive—in addition to watching live music in the pub, attending a crew talent show, and hanging out at the karaoke bar.

I visited the invite-only speakeasy on the MSC World Europa, and it was much cooler than any bar I’ve experienced on Royal Caribbean.

Even the newest bars on Royal Caribbean can’t compete with the MSC World Europa’s invite-only Speakeasy Bar, and it was the most fun experience I had on my entire cruise.

Located on the World Galleria of the MSC World Europa is a telephone booth that looks unassuming at first glance, but is actually the entrance to a secret, invite-only bar.

On the third day of our sailing, my friend and I unexpectedly received an invitation to the bar from a bartender, and we scanned the ticket’s QR code to make reservations for the speakeasy. The next evening, we met at the telephone booth at our designated reservation time.

The door inside the telephone booth opened and we followed the host down a series of crew-only hallways and staircases to the speakeasy, which was decorated with 1920s decor and furnishings.

The next four hours were nothing short of memorable. While drinking inventive cocktails, we watched not just one, but two bands perform, one of which danced around the bar with their instruments, turning the entire venue into a dance party. We were having so much fun we didn’t want to leave!

Although I enjoy the bars on Royal Caribbean ships, I find them a bit repetitive from ship to ship, and I loved the “secret” bar on the MSC World Europa. If anything, visiting the speakeasy made me excited for my upcoming sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, as the cruise line added a variety of new bar concepts including a dueling pianos bar and outdoor/indoor jazz and blues club.

Despite hearing complaints about the complimentary food on MSC, I found it to be totally fine, although Royal Caribbean’s buffet is better.

Perhaps the most common complaint about MSC Cruises is with the food, but I thought it was completely fine.

Food is extremely subjective, and one person’s favorite meal could be another person’s most hated dish. Because of this, I never take food reviews too seriously for cruise lines; instead, I board the ship with an open mind.

During my sailing, I enjoyed meals in the buffet, main dining room, and at Pizza & Burger, a casual grab and go venue.

Before my cruise, I heard there would be extremely limited choices in the buffet that do not change from day to day. Instead, I found there to be a wide variety for each meal with dishes from around the world, from Indian curry to Italian food. There was also a second buffet, Pizza & Burger, which served pizza on one side and American classics, like burgers and chicken nuggets, on the other.

Despite the variety in the MSC buffet, I still prefer Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer Cafe. I feel the Windjammer offers even more variety than MSC’s buffet, and I appreciate the buffet’s theme nights for dinner so that you always know what to expect. I also found the buffet on MSC much more crowded than on most Royal Caribbean ships.

I have no complaints about MSC’s main dining room, but I noted that the menu was geared more toward European tastes. While I’m not an overly picky eater, there were a few nights where I ordered from the permanent classics menu instead of the rotating daily menu as nothing seemed appealing.

The Italian food on MSC was, unsurprisingly, several steps above that on Royal Caribbean. Several of the complimentary pasta and pizza dishes I enjoyed on MSC were on par with food at Italian specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean.

Overall, because food is so subjective, it’s difficult to make a true comparison between MSC and Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean definitely gets points in having more food venues throughout the ship, so that’s a major plus. Most MSC ships only offer complimentary food in the dining room and buffet, whereas Royal Caribbean ships may have six or seven free options.

I heard so many complaints about the service on MSC, but I found every single crew member friendly and approachable.

Just like food reviews, I don’t put too much trust into reviews about service on a cruise ship. While I had heard several negative reviews about the service on MSC, I found the service to be similar to what I’ve experienced on Royal Caribbean.

MSC may be a European cruise line, but I found crew members just as friendly as on an American cruise line. My first few days onboard, I realized crew members weren’t as likely to smile at you as you passed or ask you in-depth questions about your life.

This type of over-the-top friendly service is what most Americans are accustomed to, but European passengers could be taken aback by the excessive smiling and icebreaker questions.

Regardless, I found that once I smiled at a crew member and asked them a question about their day or home country, a barrier broke down and they were immediately willing to engage in conversation.

After all, most crew members on MSC are from the same friendly, hospitable countries as crew members on Royal Caribbean. By the end of the sailing, I had to make rounds around the ship to say goodbye to all of the new crew member friends I had met onboard!

Another aspect of service that surprised me was that my cabin was serviced twice per day on the MSC World Europa. Many American cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival, only service non-suite cabins once per day.

MSC still services cabins twice per day—once in the morning and once for turndown service in the evening. Although I don’t always need my cabin serviced twice per day, I was surprised to see that this was still the case, especially on a cruise line known for its cheap prices.

I thought there would be a ton of smoking around the ship, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

Europeans, on average, tend to smoke cigarettes more frequently than North Americans, and one major complaint many cruisers have about MSC is that there is too much smoking around the ship.

Having more smoking sections onboard was honestly something I was dreading about cruising with MSC. I do not remotely enjoy sitting near smoking areas or breathing in cigarette smoke, and I was worried everywhere would smell like smoke.

Related: Here is where you can smoke on a Royal Caribbean cruise

I was pleasantly surprised to find out there wasn’t as much smoking as I initially thought there would be. While there were technically more smoking areas on MSC compared to Royal Caribbean, it did not inconvenience me at any time as there were more than enough non-smoking areas to enjoy.

Royal Caribbean enforces hand washing much better than MSC, and this makes me feel much safer onboard.

“WASHY WASHY!”

Royal Caribbean’s signature hand washing cheer is something I missed on MSC, as there was a complete lack of hand washing enforcement around the ship.

Before entering the buffet on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you are instructed to either wash your hands or, if there are no sinks available, use hand sanitizer. This helps cut down on the spread of germs, thus lessening the risk for contagious viruses like norovirus to spread.

Related: 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for

Although the MSC World Europa had hand washing stations and sanitizer available, washing your hands before eating at the buffet was not enforced. I combatted this by washing my hands before and after using the buffet tongs, but this wasn’t commonly the case for my fellow passengers.

In addition to a lack of hand washing enforcement, I noticed many doors on my MSC ship had a touch handle. Royal Caribbean has largely gotten rid of touch handles on their ships, instead opting for automatic doors or an open layout with no doors.

Using touch handles seems like another easy way to spread germs, and I was surprised that the ship did not utilize as many automatic doors as Royal Caribbean.

I enjoyed my MSC cruise a lot more than I thought I would, but Royal Caribbean’s loyalty benefits will definitely keep me coming back.

There’s no doubt that MSC created an incredible product with the MSC World Europa, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop cruising with Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society is one of the most generous loyalty programs in the cruise industry. It provides free drinks, discounts, free laundry, a private lounge, and even free cruises to its most loyal cruisers.

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

As I am about to reach Diamond Plus status with Royal Caribbean, there’s less impetus to book cruises on other cruise lines. While on MSC, I missed having access to a Diamond Lounge and the four free drinks I receive every day on Royal Caribbean.

Although I’m not opposed to booking another cruise with MSC due to their interesting itineraries and (usually) lower prices, Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program is enough to keep me loyal to the cruise line.

I had a great first European cruise that took me to the Norway, and much of the week-long cruise exceeded my expectations.

But like all things, hindsight is always 20/20, and if I were to do it all over again, I would have made a few changes to what I did on my first Royal Caribbean cruise to Norway.

With any cruise I take, I like to reflect on the decisions I made for how I could improve the experience going forward.  I certainly hope this is not my last cruise to Norway, so the next time I head there, I can apply these lessons.

Some of these mistakes and good choices are also more universal to other types of cruises, whether in Europe or the Caribbean.  So there may be opportunities for everyone to have a better future cruise experience.

The mistakes

Booked The Key

If you've read this site for any length of time, you know I'm not a fan of Royal Caribbean's VIP program, known as The Key.

In short, I think the benefits sound better than they actually are, and you're better off saving your money. 

However, I feel it important to re-visit certain programs, like The Key, because lots of things change with Royal Caribbean. Plus, I thought perhaps it might be a better purchase in Europe than the Caribbean.

Suffice to say, I came away with the exact same conclusion as before because the program is heavily front-loaded, meaning the bulk of the benefits are for the first day of the cruise.  Plus, the benefits that work for the rest of the cruise left me disappointed.

I could spend this entire article writing about my experience with The Key, but I'll sum it up as follows: many benefits you can achieve on your own without paying for The Key every day of your cruise (i.e. anyone can get early check-in if they plan ahead, you can book a Chops Grille lunch on embarkation day on your own, WiFi packages are cheaper on their own, etc) and the exclusive reserved times at popular attractions are always at inopportune times (either dinner time or too early in the morning).

The only reason I'd recommend The Key is if your cruise had a tender port, in which case being able to get priority for tenders could be really helpful.  On this cruise, we docked at each of our ports.

Not booking the electric car tour

I had a great time in Geiranger and found the scenery stunning.  In fact, it was the first port that I was really impressed with the landscape to the point I thought, "this is something I've never seen before".  

I booked a boat tour of the fjord, but I really wish I had booked one of the electric cars instead.

In Geiranger, you can rent a two-person tiny electric car that has a GPS system built in that offers tours of the surrounding area.  They look funny, but it's a super easy way to get around Geiranger.

There's two reasons why I was better off doing something on land, like a car rental.

First, your ship sails into the Geirangerfjord all morning and you don't get to the town of Geiranger until around noon. So as long as you can wake up and look outside before lunch, you'll see the same scenes the boat tours offer.  

The highlight of the fjord is the Seven Sisters waterfall, but it's so close to the town that you can sleep in and still catch it as your ship passes by the waterfall in the final hour of the sail-in.

Even if you do sleep through the entire sail-in and miss the fjord and waterfall, you can see it on the way out after your ship departs Geiranger!

The other reason I wish I had booked the electric car tour is the photo opportunities.

Depending on which length you book, you can drive up the mountain to Flydalsjuvet or Ørnesvingen view points.  These are the photos everyone wants on their Norway cruise.

To be clear, you could rent one of these vehicles on the spot without a reservation, which is what I ended up doing later in the day, but the problem is everyone wants to rent one in the morning and the lines can be long.

When I stumbled upon the rental, it was too late and there were two lines: one for people with reservations and one for people without.  I gave up on the line in the morning because people with reservations got priority.

I came back later in the day (around 4pm) and managed to get 1-hour rental, but I wish I could have done the extended tour to see more.

Booking Olden hike through the cruise line

I'm not a hiker, but I really enjoyed taking a hike to Briksdalsbreen glacier because it was challenging without being too advanced for a novice.

However, I really could have done this tour on my own without a formal tour.

Being my first Norway cruise and European cruise, I was a bit apprehensive about what to expect on my tours, and I relied heavily on Royal Caribbean's shore excursions.  I think a lot of cruisers feel this way when they aren't totally sure about what to do.

I'm fine skipping tours in cities when I know I can easily get around on my own, such as my day in Bergen.  But I wasn't totally confident in getting around Olden on my own, and booking a Royal Caribbean tour is easy.  

The glacier is located in a national park, and it's perhaps a half hour drive from where cruise ships dock in Olden.

Being such a popular activity and within close proximity to the port, there were a lot of transportation options to get there.  

While booking my excursion to Briksdalsbreen was quite easy with Royal Caribbean, I could have probably saved money by booking an independent tour to get me to and from the park.  

Not doing the sky walk excursion

The one time I had serious FOMO (fear of missing out) in terms of things to do on my Norwegian fjords cruise was when I saw photos from the people that did the Loen Skylift.

As I said, I really enjoyed my hike to the Briksdal glacier, but I think I would have rather done the Loen Skylift.

The Loen Skylift is located only 6 kilometers from the Port of Olden and takes you from the fjord to the top of Mt. Hoven (1011 meters) in only five minutes. 

At the top, there are amazing views of Mt. Skåla and Lake Lovatnet in the east, Jostedalsbreen Glacier and Olden in the south, and the Nordfjord in the west.

I could have seen the glacier, plus a lot more.

Relied on local food for lunch

I love being able to explore the places I visit on a cruise, especially the local cuisine.

In fact, whenever possible, I'll eat a meal in the place I'm visiting over back on my ship.  While the food is included back on my Royal Caribbean cruise ship, I like to immerse myself in the local culture if possible,

In the towns of Olden and Geiranger, the food choices were quite limited and I regret planning my lunches there.

If you're visiting a city, there's lots of choices, but some ports are quite small towns and don't have a ton of variety.

Of the food available in both Geiranger and Olden, it was primarily pizza, burgers, and pastries.  There's nothing wrong with those foods, but it's too similar to what I can get back on the ship.

In Olden, I found a cafe serving pomme frites, which I thought would be the same kind of Belgian fries I love eating at home. However, these were just microwaved french fries.

The next time I visit these towns, I'll plan to return to the ship for my meals.

Thinking I needed any cash

If you read my pre-cruise post about what I think I need to do on my European cruise to properly plan, I thought I needed to convert my U.S. dollars to local currency.  Not only was I wrong, but there's absolutely no need for any cash in Norway.

Every single vendor takes credit cards, and cash is almost non-existent.

Many Royal Caribbean Blog readers warned me that changing currency was a waste, so I didn't do it and I'm glad I didn't because I would have come home with foreign currency at a loss from the service fees associated with them.

Whether I was in England or Norway, there was no need for cash. Street vendors, gas stations, and restaurants all took credit cards.

Just make sure your credit card has zero foreign transaction fees.

Picking this particular itinerary

Don't get me wrong, I had a great cruise and visited some amazing places.  But in the grand scheme of Norway cruises, I think there are superior itineraries out there.

If you're looking through itineraries, I would point you towards one that visits places such as Flam or Stavanger instead of Haugesund or even Bergen.

My issue with Bergen was we were there from 7:30am to 2pm.  I hate these morning-only visits because so much is closed in the city before 9am, which means a lot of wasted time. Plus, the best (and warmest) weather arrives in the afternoon when it is time to leave.

Similar to how you can't see all of Alaska in one cruise, I suspect Norway may require at least two cruises to see it all.  But I also found in my planning some of the most notable spots were in ports we didn't visit.

Given the timing, this was the only itinerary I could pick that worked with my travel times.  And as I said, I really enjoyed this cruise and the places I visited.

But if I had the choice, I'd definitely consider other Norwegian fjord itineraries to be able to visit ports further north.

Things I did right

Booking a balcony cabin

It seems like the eternal debate of Interior vs Balcony staterooms won't be settled anytime soon, but I think spending extra for a balcony cabin on my Norwegian fjords cruise was worth the extra cost.

Since I was solo on this cruise, I would have usually skipped a balcony room and gone for an inside room because it wouldn't be necessary in terms of space.  However, being able to see the beautiful scenery from the comfort of my room was such a nice treat.

Given that the high temperatures each day was barely in the 50 degree range, many times I enjoyed sitting on my couch inside my room with a view outside via the glass balcony door.

When something caught my attention, or I simply wanted to peek outside, it was so convenient to go out and get a view from my balcony.

On the Geirangerfjord sail-in, I started out on the pool deck to see everything, but it was quite cold so I went back to my cabin.  Here, I could still get great views from inside my room. Plus, when we came to Seven Sisters waterfall, the ship spun around to ensure everyone got a view.

There's no doubt I could have saved some money by booking an interior cabin, but it also helped I was sailing in the shoulder season and the cost to upgrade wasn't much more to get a balcony.

Haugesund fjord tour

Our first port stop was in Haugesund, and I thought I made a mistake booking a fjord tour that was about 2 hours away by bus from the ship.  It turned out to be a great choice.

I booked the Åkrafjord and Langfoss waterfall excursion through Royal Caribbean, and it took us to Åkrafjord by boat.  With the sun shining, it was absolutely stunning to see.

The boat took us slowly around the fjord and right up to Langfoss waterfall.  We got so close the captain actually extended a bucket to get water from the waterfall for everyone to drink.

It was a picture perfect day, and that could have been enough for a great tour but then we had lunch.

I have to admit, I've found every single shore excursion lunch to be pretty terrible.  Usually it's disappointing, mass produced food that leaves you hungry until you get back to the ship.

On this tour, however, the food was really good.

We had lunch at a farm that was right at the shores of the fjord, and the family that owned this farm for centuries prepared all sorts of locally sourced food that was excellent.

We had salmon, goat cheese, breads, stews, and lots of other great eats. The matriarch of the family explained where each came from, and I was impressed.  

I then took my food to a table on the porch outside with a view of the fjord and I wish I could have brought back some food with me.

Bought European sim card

Being the geek that I am, I wanted to stay in contact even when not on a cruise ship, so I bought a sim card for my phone to use and it proved to be extremely helpful during my trip.

I purchased a e-sim from Orange Travel, which is a sim card provide that covers Europe. It worked in England, Norway, Finland, and many more countries too.

Because it was an e-sim, there was no physical card to use. Just pay for it, scan a QR code, and your phone is ready to go.  It comes with a local phone number and plenty of data to use.

The reason why this sim card was so helpful was when you were in port, you had great coverage to manage your day. Whether it was plugging in directions via Google Maps, messaging friends, or checking social media during some downtime, it was worth every penny.

Unlike Alaska, Norway has incredible cell coverage and it worked really well almost everywhere I went.  There was even cell coverage in the fjords!

Your thoughts

What do you think about the mistakes and successes from my first Norwegian fjords cruise? If you have cruised to or visited Norway, what mistakes do you feel you made? Any questions for those taking or considering a Norway cruise? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

It will probably cost you more going forward to book a suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean announced a new deposit program for its largest and opulent cruise ship cabins. It applies to sister company Celebrity Cruises as well.

Beginning June 1, 2023, Royal Caribbean is adjusting the deposit requirement for new suite bookings confirmed on or after this date.

The new suite deposit requirement will be calculated as 10% of the cruise fare per guest and is applicable fleetwide.

If the 10% value is less than the standard deposit amount, the required deposit amount will then revert to the standard deposit amount.

Bookings made prior to June 1st, 2023, will not be changed, even if you change the booking to another ship or sail date.  The only reason your deposit amount will change is if you cancel a booking made before June 1st and make a new booking on or after June 1st.

This policy change will apply to all suite categories, including suite guarantees.  This change will apply to all markets and all sailings.

In addition, Junior Suites will be treated like other suites in terms of bookings and deposits.  

Junior Suites will be nonrefundable for new bookings created on or after June 1, 2023.

At this time, deposit requirements for balcony, oceanview, AquaClass, Concierge Class, Veranda, and interior accommodations will remain unchanged.

How the 10% deposit is calculated

The 10% deposit is calculated based on cruise fare after all applicable discounts and promotions have been applied.

In doing some "back of the napkin" math, this appears to affect someone booking a suite over $2,500 per person because the deposit reverts to the $250 if the 10% is less than $250.

Kids Sail Free

If you're taking advantage of the popular Kids Sail Free promotion, the 10% deposit is calculated off the full booking’s cruise fare split amongst the number of guest in the booking.

If the deposit, on a per person basis, is lower than the per person standard deposit, standard deposit will be collected per person.

For any fifth or more guest that are eligible for Kids Sail Free will be charged the standard deposit amount.

Suite deposit cancellation policy

As of June 1st, 2023, all suite bookings, including Junior Suites, have non-refundable deposits.

As such, the full 10% deposit per person will be withheld upon cancellation. If your clients downgrade from a suite category to a lower category which has a lower cruise fare, the higher deposit will still be held.

What if you upgrade your cabin?

You might be wondering what happens if you book an interior/ocean view/balcony stateroom and later upgrade into a suite.

After June 1st, 2023, your deposit amount will be changed from the standard deposit to 10% of their new cruise fare and they will need to pay any difference at the time of upgrade.

NextCruise bookings

All NextCruise Suite bookings made on or after June 1st, 2023, will require 10% of cruise fare, per-person deposit.

Deposits for Junior Suites will now be nonrefundable deposits only, will no longer be reduced and will be calculated on the new percentage rules.

Why is Royal Caribbean making this change?

In the announcement to travel agents, Royal Caribbean did not explain why it is making this policy change but it almost certainly has to do with demand for suites.

Historically, suite cabins are the most sought-after type of staterooms on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty, mentioned the fact suites always sell out first on most sailings, "We used to kind of put everything out there and all the suites would be sold basically right off the bat. And then you would kind of work your way down to the inside cabins."

Over the last few years, Royal Caribbean has updated the suite booking policy to ensure suites booked were going to people that actually wanted them, rather than people that booked them on speculation and subsequently cancelled them later.

Royal Caribbean made suites non-refundable only a few years ago because of the high demand for them, especially when new sailings were announced.

Prior to the non-refundable fares, suites would be booked up early by cruise fans and later decide if they would sail or not. To deter the practice of dumping suites closer to sailing, Royal Caribbean changed suite fares to non-refundable.

This new change is likely partially aimed at ensuring a likely higher deposit amount dissuades someone from booking up a suite unless they know they really want it.

The other very likely reason for this change is because demand for cruises is so high, they can get more money up front now.

Royal Caribbean is seeing record-breaking demand for cruises right now, and the forecast for the rest of the year appears equally positive.

It caught the company off guard, as Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty noted they had expected a slower first quarter, "The fact that demand for the coming nine months is so much stronger than our already robust expectations says a lot about the strength of the consumer and the strength of our brands."

How strong were these bookings? The company says bookings in the first quarter of 2023 outpaced 2019 levels "by a very wide margin" throughout the entire first quarter and into April.

By increasing the suite deposit amounts, Royal Caribbean can get more money up front and potentially more money if someone cancels later.  For a company swimming in billions of debt while enjoying unparalleled demand, you can see why they may have gone in this direction.

Refundable vs non-refundable cruise fares

Just like non-refundable fares found with airfare, rental cars, and hotels, these rates come at a reduced rate as an incentive to lock in plans.

With a non-refundable fare, guests get a lower price while the cruise line gets more protection against a last-minute cancellation.

Refundable cruise fares cost more than non-refundable, but allow more flexibility when cancelling a cruise.

The exact price difference between a refundable and non-refundable fare can vary depending on the sailing.

Read more: Royal Caribbean refundable versus non-refundable cruise fares

No month is more synonymous with summer cruise vacations than the month of July.

You'll find warm temperatures across all of Royal Caribbean's sailings along with (hopefully) sunny skies.

The month of July is the peak of the summer cruise season, which means families are on summer break and demand for a summer vacation reaches its height. Very likely your ship and the places you visit will have lots of people looking to enjoy a break.

In Europe specifically, July is the month when Europeans go on holiday (along with August), so prepare to see a lot of people wherever you go in ports. Be vigilant about your surroundings, as pickpockets in Europe are common in the summer.

The one region where the month of July is off-season is the Caribbean. Given many ships left the Caribbean to sail Europe or Alaska, there are less ships in the Caribbean.  While that may mean less ships in Caribbean ports of call, there's still plenty of people that will be booked on the ships that are left.

If you have a summer cruise in July, here's what to expect on your sailing.

Ships sailing in July 2023

You'll find Royal Caribbean offering cruises in Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean.

July is the most popular month for a summer cruise because families don't have to worry about the school calendar, and it's also when the weather is warmest in Alaska and Europe.

Conversely, July represents a very off-peak time in the Caribbean for cruises.  There are less ships sailing to the Caribbean compared to the winter, and it's also quite hot and humid.

July weather on a cruise

July sees some of the hottest temperatures for any of the regions you will be cruising from.

In Europe, heatwaves are not uncommon in July. The Greek islands can see temperatures that get into the 90s, but most of Europe should have high temperatures in the 80s, with overnight lows in the 60s.

Sea conditions in the Mediterranean are quite calm, with smooth sailing expected.  Likewise, July has great weather in terms of low chance of rain. 

In short, expect hot, sunny skies when you are in port or ashore.

Read more: What is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?

If you are headed to Alaska, you will also enjoy some of the warmest temperatures of the season. July is one of the best months for an Alaska cruise because of the very comfortable outdoor conditions. Temperatures are always all over the place in Alaska, but high temperatures in the 70s or even 80s is not unheard of.

Expect up to 18 hours of sunlight in July. Chances of rain also increase as the summer months go by, so don’t forget to bring all of your rain gear.

Read more: When is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

If you have a Caribbean cruise, I hope you like it hot and humid.

Daily high temperatures in the Caribbean during July will be in the upper 70s to upper 80s, and plenty of humidity. Believe it or not, temperatures don't go much into the 90s because of how the tropics tend to always be around the same temperature throughout the year.

With those toasty temperatures, it will feel perfect for a swim, as the ocean temperatures will be quite warm.

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Expect it to rain every day of your July cruise in the Caribbean, but that doesn't mean an all-day soaker. Thunderstorms roll in and out quickly in the Caribbean, so afternoon downpours are common, but short lived. Plan on outdoor activities but you may need to seek shelter for a few minutes to let the rain pass.

Don't forget, it's hurricane season in the Caribbean, so a tropical storm could cause a change in your itinerary.

Read more: What to know about cruising during hurricane season in the Caribbean

Is July a good month to cruise?

If you want the warmest weather for your cruise, July is the perfect month to take a cruise, especially in Alaska.

The weather in Alaska is always in flux, but generally speaking, you'll find the most comfortable outdoor temperatures in July.  

The optimal weather comes at the price of crowds, as lots of people want to sail this time of year. Demand for a July cruise is among the highest of the year (along with Christmas and Spring Break).  Higher demand means you're not likely to find a deal, especially at the last-minute.

Considering Royal Caribbean cruise ships sail full year-round anyway, what "higher demand" means to you is you'll likely pay more for a July cruise instead of another month, and there will be more ships in port with you.

Not only is demand higher for Royal Caribbean, but other cruise lines as well.  Expect ports full of ships in Alaska and Europe, which means you need to plan ahead better for shore excursions.

Read more: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

Shore excursions in July tend to sell out much faster than other months because of how many other cruise passengers you are competing with. If you have a July cruise booked, be sure to book your tours as early as possible to avoid missing out.

Read more: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

If you're going to take a Caribbean cruise, expect fewer choices of ships compared to the winter.  This is because the summer is off season for the Caribbean cruise market.

I wouldn't characterize July as a bad month to sail the Caribbean. Less ships means your ports of call wont be as busy. Plus, you don't have to worry about being cold at all.

Of course, July in the Caribbean is the wet season, so it will likely rain at least once a day and be quite humid throughout the day. Nonetheless, the rain showers usually pass quickly, and you can enjoy pool weather morning, afternoon, and night.

More information

• 25 things you need to know for your first day on a cruise ship
• 2022 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

Happy weekend! In case you missed any Royal Caribbean news, here is a look at everything that happened this week!

Royal Caribbean is returning to China next year, and will redeploy Anthem of the Seas to Asia.

Spectrum of the Seas will be homeported in Shanghai starting in April 2024. 

In addition, Anthem of the Seas will sail from Singapore in late 2024, which will be the first time Anthem will sail in Asia.  

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean's meteorologist announces he is leaving the cruise line
• I took my first cruise ever and here's what I expected vs what actually happened
• I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise
• I boarded my first European cruise. How different is it from a USA cruise
• Taking a boat to visit an amazing fjord and waterfall in Haugesund
• Fjord and glacier viewings in Geiranger and Olden
• Woman on TikTok shares planning hack for her Royal Caribbean cruise to make packing easier

New RCB Video: 8 reasons to get off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day

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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 — 8 reasons to get off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The best 6 cruise ships for adults

After sailing on 15 Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Jenna has picked the best cruise ships for adults to sail.

While Royal Caribbean is a family cruise line, certain ships may offer a more adult-focused experience than others.

In considering all the options, there are seven ships that would be a great choice for adults sailing without kids.

12 mistakes people make on European cruises

European cruises are among the most popular itineraries Royal Caribbean offers, but navigating the ins and outs of cruising Europe can be challenging for first time travelers to the continent.

We've noticed across our European sailings a handful of very common mistakes first-timers were making on their European voyages.

Whether cramming too many activities into one day or walking around with a painful blister, here are the top 12 mistakes you should avoid on a European cruise.

7 ways to do things differently on your next cruise

There’s a lot to remember on a cruise vacation, including a few things we think you could benefit from changing up.

Doing things slightly differently on a cruise can save you time and stress and make your overall vacation more pleasant.

We picked seven ways to do things differently on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship

One of the most annoying things on a cruise are the people that reserve pool chairs without actually using them.

Since enforcement of the rules that are supposed to prevent chair hogs is lackadaisical, here are our best tips for getting around the chair hogs so you can still enjoy time by the pool.

50 Alaska cruise tips & secrets

Have an Alaska cruise coming up? We've compiled the largest list of Alaska cruise tips we can think of into one article!

Here are the fundamentals of planning a cruise to Alaska with some helpful advice you can use when you get there.

Kayla took her first cruise last year and was instantly hooked, but admittedly some aspects of the cruise were different from what she expected.

In fact, she says the experience on a four-night Oasis of the Seas from Miami was even better than she had imagined.

She shared her thoughts on her first cruise and what stood out from her foray into cruising.

Getting onboard

Before embarking on my cruise adventure, I had envisioned a luxurious, stress-free vacation where I could sit back and relax while exploring new destinations. My expectations were high, but I was determined to have a good time.

As I stepped on board the ship, I was immediately struck by its grandeur and elegance. From the spacious cabins to the lavish dining rooms, everything exceeded my expectations.

Will I be bored?

One of my main concerns was that I would feel confined on the ship and we would run out of things to do on sea days. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of activities available.

Read more: Top untrue myths about a Royal Caribbean cruise

The ship had multiple pools, hot tubs, and water slides, as well as a casino, a theatre, and a variety of restaurants and bars. In the evenings, there were a variety of shows and performances to enjoy, including Broadway-style productions like Cats as well as comedy shows and live music performances.

There was truly something for everyone on board, we actually didn’t have time to experience all the activities this ship had to offer!

Fussy and formal?

Another expectation I had was that the crew would be formal and distant.

I assumed they would be focused on maintaining the ship and catering to the guests' needs, but not much else.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the crew was warm, friendly, and always willing to help. They went out of their way to make sure that every guest had a positive experience, and their enthusiasm was infectious.

Another thing that stood out to me about the onboard experience was the level of service and attention to detail provided by the staff.

Read more: 25 times Royal Caribbean crew members wowed cruise ship passengers with excellent service

From the waitstaff in the restaurants to the housekeeping staff who kept our stateroom tidy, everyone was friendly and accommodating. I felt truly cared for and valued as a guest on board the ship.

Would the food live up to the hype?

One of the things I was most excited about was the food.

I had heard great things about the dining options on board the Oasis of the Seas and was looking forward to trying out the various restaurants.

I was not disappointed.

The food on the ship was exceptional, and I was impressed by the variety of options available. From the casual dining at the Windjammer Cafe to the more formal dining at the main dining room and specialty restaurants, every meal was delicious and expertly prepared.

Would the cabin be too small?

One thing that I was concerned about before the cruise was the size of the cabin.

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

I booked an oceanview room and opted for Royal Caribbean to choose my stateroom location to save on some costs. I had heard that cabins on cruise ships were often small and cramped, but I was pleasantly surprised by the size and comfort of our cabin!

Read more: Your really dumb cruise ship cabin questions answered

We lucked out with a room that was larger because of its location being a partial view of the helipad on the ship and nice floor to ceiling sized window.

Labadee

Labadee, Haiti was a highlight of our cruise on the Oasis of the Seas. The island is located on Haiti's northern coast and is leased by Royal Caribbean, which has developed it into a private resort for their cruise ship guests.

The island offers a variety of activities and experiences, and we were excited to explore everything it had to offer. One of the things that we were particularly looking forward to was the beach.

The island has several beaches to choose from, each offering a unique and beautiful setting for relaxing and soaking up the sun. We decided to start our day on the island with a visit to the Dragon's Tail Coaster, which is a thrilling rollercoaster that winds its way through the jungle and offers breathtaking views of the island and the ocean.

The coaster was a lot of fun, and it was a great way to start our day of exploring. After the coaster, we made our way to the beach.

The beach was stunning, with clear water and soft, white sand. We spent the morning relaxing on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

As the afternoon approached, we decided to explore some parts of the jungle. They had multiple walking paths and beautiful trees. We felt refreshed being able to explore the island at our own pace and truly take in the scenery.

The passengers where very friendly and a couple offered to take a photo of us with the ship in the background. Because of the awesome passengers alone we were able to get fantastic photos without paying for the additional photo package options. Overall, our day on Labadie was a wonderful and memorable experience.

The island offered a variety of activities and experiences, and we enjoyed exploring everything it had to offer.

From the beautiful beaches to the exciting coaster and historic sites, there was something for everyone on the island. If you're looking for a tropical paradise to explore and relax, Labadee is definitely worth a visit.

Trying a drink package

One of the perks of cruising with Royal Caribbean is their unlimited drink package, which we took full advantage of during our trip.

The Royal Caribbean drink package allows you to enjoy unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages throughout your entire cruise, including beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks.

At first, we were a bit hesitant about getting the drink package, as we weren't sure if we would drink enough to make it worth the cost.

Read more: Is the drink package worth it on Royal Caribbean?

However, after doing some research and considering the prices of drinks on board, we decided to go for it. And we're so glad we did!

The drink package made it so easy to enjoy our vacation without worrying about the cost of drinks. We could order whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, without any additional charge.

We tried a variety of different cocktails and beers throughout the trip, and it was nice to have the freedom to experiment and try new things without worrying about the cost.

Our favorite was the Labadoozie on Labadee!

One of the great things about the drink package is that it includes non-alcoholic beverages as well, which was perfect for when we wanted to take a break from drinking or when we needed a refreshing drink to cool down. We enjoyed everything from soda and juice to smoothies and mocktails, and it was nice to have those options available to us.

Another benefit of the drink package was that it allowed us to enjoy drinks in a variety of different settings throughout the ship. We could grab a cocktail by the pool, enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, or try a new beer at one of the ship's bars. It was nice to have that flexibility and to be able to enjoy drinks in different environments.

Overall, the unlimited drink package was a great addition to our cruise experience. It made it easy and stress-free to enjoy drinks throughout the trip, and we were able to try a variety of different cocktails and beers without worrying about the cost. If you're planning a cruise with Royal Caribbean, we highly recommend considering the drink package - it's definitely worth it!

Bottom line

Our first cruise experience on the Oasis of the Seas was nothing short of amazing.

From the moment we boarded the ship, we were impressed by the level of luxury and attention to detail. The ship was stunning, with beautiful decor and a wide range of amenities and activities to keep us entertained throughout the trip.

We were particularly impressed by the quality of the food and drinks on board. The variety of dining options was impressive, and we enjoyed everything from fine dining to casual cafes and snack bars.

The unlimited drink package was also a great addition to the trip, allowing us to enjoy a variety of different cocktails and beers throughout the ship without worrying about the cost.

The highlight of our trip was definitely the day we spent on Labadie, Haiti. The island was stunning, with beautiful beaches, exciting activities, and a rich history and culture to explore. It was a great opportunity to unwind and relax while also experiencing something new and exciting.

Throughout our trip, the staff on board the ship were friendly and attentive, and we felt well taken care of throughout the entire journey. From the housekeeping staff to the waitstaff in the restaurants and bars, everyone we encountered was welcoming and went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience.

Overall, our first cruise experience on the Oasis of the Seas exceeded our expectations in every way. It was a wonderful opportunity to disconnect from our daily lives and enjoy a luxurious and memorable vacation. We highly recommend Royal Caribbean and the Oasis of the Seas to anyone looking for a fantastic cruise experience.

Did you know that if you gamble enough on a Royal Caribbean cruise there is an entirely different set of loyalty rewards you can take advantage of?

I'm by no means advocating you should gamble at all, as it's a risky endeavor.  Please gamble responsibly.

For years I was aware of the Casino Royale program, but never pursued it. My wife and I were not big time gamblers by any means.  On most cruises, we'd each spend $100 per night in the casino just to have something to do to pass the time.

I never even considered trying to get to the next tier of Casino Royale's program until it became clear I had a good shot at getting there.  A few cruises later, I earned enough points to reach the Prime tier in the program, which includes a free cruise, unlimited drinks in the casino, and a few other nice benefits.

For a lot of casual gamblers, you may be unaware of the benefits Casino Royale offers if you can play enough over the course of a year to reach the first status.

While gambling for the sake of achieving benefits isn't a financially smart investment by any means, if you cruise a few times a year already and gamble a few hundred dollars per cruise, there are some seriously lucrative benefits you could enjoy with a little planning.

Thanks to Assaf Ekshtein and Greg Brockman for assistance in ensuring the information is as accurate as possible.

About Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program

Club Royale is Royal Caribbean Casino loyalty program. Club Royale based on collecting point from playing slots machine or table games.

Club Royale has four tiers :

Choice:  0-2499 points – This is the entry level that anyone who place even one round in a slot machine or a table gets.

Prime: 2500 – 24999 points – The prime level gives benefits like internet discount, free drinks in the casino while the casino open (limited to yourself), annual tier free inside cabin cruise that can be used for any 7 night cruise excluding holiday cruises (there are some more restrictions from time to time), and waiver on cash advances in the casino.

Signature: 25000 – 99999 points – The Signature level gives you all the benefits of Prime, plus free internet for one device, ocean view balcony for your annual free cruise.

Master: 100000+ points – Master level gets all the benefits of Signature, plus a grand suite annual free cruise, priority check in, access to access to Coastal Kitchen, free internet for two device, special lunch on the first day, drop of carry on bag, added onboard credit based on length of sailing, and more.

Annual Signature and Masters cruise: The casino, at their discretion, may offer an annual complimentary cruise just for their Top Tier Signature and Masters players. For 2023, there is already a Masters Mediterranean sailing with more possible in the future. 

Unlike Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program which has points that never expire, the Club Royale program works more like airline and hotel loyalty programs, with points that are re-evaluated each year based on passengers' activities.

The Club Royale year runs from April 1st to March 31st of the following year. The tier benefits are valid for the year in which they were reached, as well as the following year.

For example, if a passenger reaches the Prime tier on August 30th, 2023, they will be entitled to all Prime benefits from August 30th, 2023, until March 31st, 2025. Passengers' tiers will be indicated on their cabin card, and once they accumulate the required points, they are immediately entitled to the benefits. If you got to a tier in a middle of the cruise the host can give you sticker with you new tier.

It's important to know the "catch" with the free cruises given out.  First, you still will have to pay taxes, fees and port expenses. Second, the free cruise covers two people in the cabin. Anyone extra in the cabin (such as kids) will have to pay normally.

In addition to the instant cruise certificates, Club Royale can give other offers from time to time based on your last cruise play and other parameters that no one knows.

To see which offers you have, just visit the Club Royale offers site https://www.clubroyaleoffers.com/PlayerLookup.asp enter your last name and reward number (the reward number is you Crown and Anchor number).

How to earn points

Essentially, you earn points based on how much you're gambling.  Unfortunately, the exact math for how many points you earn per dollar spent is variable based on wins and losses.  Dollars spent per point will vary from player to player based on many factors. 

Your points are tracked via your SeaPass card, so be sure you're always using your SeaPass card when gambling at slots machines or table games.

Passengers can check the number of points earned from table games by speaking to the casino host.

Remember, points and benefits are only calculated based on the money you played, and not impacted at all by the money you lost or won.

Slot machines

Every $5 you spend (accumulated) gets you 1 point. On Video Poker, it's every $10.

You can track your number of points in every slot machine while your card is inserted. Please note if you want to know the exact points you will need first to exist (or tap again until the machine button becomes from green to white/blue) and enter again.

Table games

How you earn points at table games is far more vague, and even Royal Caribbean's casino would tell you that you'll earn fewer points at table games compared to slots.  Part of the reason for this is that a slot machine is easier to track since every transaction is digital.

Points are awarded at table games based on the number of hands/time played and the amount of money wagered. However, tracking these points can be challenging, as they are recorded by the pit boss.

It's a good idea to introduce yourself to the casino staff, as they can help ensure the points are accurately recorded each day. 

Note that playing Texas Hold'em cash/tournaments does not earn points.

What do I get for points during my cruise?

As you earn points, you can qualify for short term and long term benefits.

During the sailing you're on, if you earn enough points, you can qualify for free play onboard as well as discounts on a cruise, or even a free cruise.

Using the points you earn on a sailing for free play or redeemed as onboard credit does not impact you tier points or benefits !

Discount/free cruise

By accumulating a certain amount of points in a single cruise, you can get an instant reward certificate during the cruise.

As you might imagine, the more points you have, the better discount/free cruise offers you get .

For example if you accumulate 2500 points in one sailing, you can get a free cruise in an interior cabin and $150 free play; 4800 points will get you a free balcony and $500 free play.

Please note, the exact benefits change from time to time and even from ship to ship, so always check with the casino host first. They will have a sign on their desk with the different options.

If you are not sure that which cruise you want to book, you can always book a “book later” cruise with $200 down payment.

No later than  7 days from the end of the cruise (in some cases it is now 30 days), you need to call the Club Royale number (or use your travel agent) and book the cruise using the Next Cruise certificate and the casino instant certificate.

Free Play/Onboard credit

At the end of the cruise, you can use casino points earned on that sailing as free play or to pay for several things with Royal Caribbean onboard credit.

If you decide to use it for free play, you can go to a slot machine and go to the “Personal Banker” option on the machine.

Note you need to play all the amount you took from free points before you can cash it out , so if you took $20 you need to play $20 and then you can cash out whatever you won at that point.

If you choose to redeem the casino points to used on your on board account, you need to go to the host and ask him on the last night for the same. The casino host can also apply your table points in the same manner.

How I got to Prime and started enjoying benefits

Since I cruise quite a few times per year, a little bit of gambling across all my cruises eventually earned me enough points to pass the 2,500 threshold and earn Prime status.

It occurred on a Wonder of the Seas cruise in December 2022. This meant I qualified for Prime status for the 2023-2024 year, and I got to enjoy onboard benefits immediately.

As soon as the casino host confirmed my yearly points total had reached 2500 points, I was given a sticker to place on my SeaPass card and I could get complimentary drinks in the casino.

The free cruise and other benefits would commence until April 1, 2023 when the 2023-2024 year began.

Even before April 1, I started earning cruise discount vouchers to use on new bookings.  The amounts were commensurate with how much I played, but I was able to get a $100 off and $250 off certificate in my early sailings of the year.

Once April 1 hit, Casino Royale begins the process of issuing your free annual cruise.  The certificate to redeem for a free cruise in an inside room doesn't become available immediately.  It takes a few weeks, but by the end of April, I had my free cruise.

I even got an offer for 15% off room rates at participating MGM Rewards destinations in Las Vegas. Plus, up to a $100 Food & Beverage credit to indulge in during your stay. 

How will this change my cruising habits?

It was never my intent initially to get to Prime status, but I have to admit now that I made it, the benefits are quite nice.

By far the most lucrative benefit for me, besides the free cruise, is the free drinks in the casino.

Combined with my free Diamond Plus daily drink allotment, I stopped purchasing a Royal Caribbean drink package because I had sufficient free drinks to make up for any extras I ended up buying.

Considering how expensive a drink package purchase has gotten, being able to combine 5 free drink vouchers a day from Crown and Anchor Society along with unlimited drinks in the casino is a very attractive proposition.

I haven't redeemed my free cruise yet, but that's one less cruise I have to pay for out of pocket.  

The surprise to me are the limited time offers Casino Royale gives out.  Even $100 off a new booking is a great perk, and it certainly has me rethinking how I book some cruises.

Of course, I've had to remind myself many times that while the Prime benefits in the casino are great, reigning in my gambling is still important. 

Bottom line

It's easy to get carried away with points and casino status, especially if you start eyeing the upper tiers of the program. It makes no economical sense to play in the casino with the notion you'll make money either through your winnings or through casino tier benefits.

I never play with more than I intend to lose, I would advocate not to play simply to earn points. Given the inevitable losses you'll rack up in the casino, the "freebies" you get come at a cost.

If you have the means to afford to gamble and cruise a lot, there's no reason to not at least enroll in Casino Royale and see what happens.

The important thing is to know your limits and not play purely to earn status. There are some very nice benefits, but don't put yourself in an economic bind simply to get free cocktails.

The comped cruises are great if you're a solo cruiser or sailing as a couple. Families will find the free cruises still costing them plenty in extra costs. Then again, every dollar saved in the grand scheme of things is still money they didn't have to spend.

Casino Royale may be the least well-known program among cruisers and there are a few gray areas of how it all works that stifle even the people that gamble the most. 

Personally, the fact I am lucky enough to cruise as often as I do gives me more opportunity than most to earn enough points to make it to Prime. 

Now that I've made it, it's very nice being able to redeem these rewards and enhance my overall cruise experience. If you enjoy gambling in the ship's casino, it makes sense to get to know your casino host and keep track of your points total.  But if gambling seems irresponsible or a poor decision, then skip the program entirely and rely on cruise booking tips and tricks to get a great cruise ship deal.

In the past year and a half, I’ve sailed on fifteen different Royal Caribbean cruise ships. I’ve experienced everything from the cruise line’s smallest ship to the biggest cruise ship in the world, and some ships are definitely better suited for adults than others.

While Royal Caribbean is not an adults-only cruise line, certain ships may offer a more adult-focused experience than others. Whereas some may focus on kid-friendly activities like waterslides and zip lines, others offer upgraded adults-only spaces and a quieter atmosphere onboard.

Whether you’re bringing the kids along or are planning an adults-only getaway, it’s helpful to know which Royal Caribbean ships are best for adults. After sailing on fifteen Royal Caribbean cruise ships, here are the seven ships I would recommend most to adults.

Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, debuted in 2024 as the biggest cruise ship in the world. Although Icon of the Seas puts a heavy focus on family-friendly activities, the sheer amount of features onboard easily puts the ship as a top choice for adults.

Related: Icon of the Seas: Itinerary, features, and more

In lieu of a traditional Solarium, Icon of the Seas has an adults-only pool that overlooks the back of the ship at the Hideaway.

This is Royal Caribbean’s version of a Las Vegas beach club. At The Hideaway you’ll find a suspended infinity pool, multilevel terrace, hot tubs, and a bar.

Even the design of family-focused neighborhoods, like the Surfside Neighborhood, have adults in mind. Surfside will be home to a brand new bar concept, The Lemon Post, which features both an adult and kids cocktail and mocktail menu.

From the bar, parents can supervise their kids at the nearby Splashaway Bay pool area, meaning you won’t need to sacrifice your own fun while keeping an eye on your kids.

With the cruise line’s most innovative entertainment, dining venues, and lounges yet, Icon of the Seas makes for the ultimate cruise vacation for adults.

Icon of the Seas itineraries

Icon of the Seas sails 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruise itineraries. Every itinerary includes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.

In conjunction with the ship’s offerings there is the opportunity to visit Hideaway Beach, a new adults-only beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Having access to this new venue will make your adult-focused getaway even more enjoyable.

Navigator of the Seas

Navigator of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship, is the only Royal Caribbean ship based on the west coast year round, and she offers one of the best values in a cruise vacation. Sailing from Los Angeles, California, she visits ports along the Mexican Riviera.

Although Navigator of the Seas is over twenty years old, she underwent a $115 million amplification in 2019 that significantly revitalized the cruise ship. One of the most significant changes was a revamp of the pool deck, which added Caribbean-style decor and venues. One addition was the Lime & Coconut Bar, which features its own menu of tropical cocktails and stylish hangout space.

In addition to The Lime & Coconut, another of the most chic bars for adults on Navigator of the Seas is The Bamboo Room. This Polynesian-inspired bar crafts some of the most fun, fruity cocktails on Royal Caribbean.

Be sure to try the On The Run cocktail, made with Bacardi Superior Rum, watermelon juice, lime juice, guava syrup, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, and mint. Think of this cocktail as an adult version of a Capri Sun—you can order it to go and sip the drink as you explore the ship.

Outside of bars, new dining venues were also added to Navigator of the Seas including Hooked Seafood and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. These venues are excellent choices for a fun date night and tend to have a more adult-focused atmosphere.

Related: Navigator of the Seas Guide & Review

Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you can’t participate in fun activities, and a few adrenaline-filled features were added to the ship in 2019 as well. Navigator of the Seas features two waterslides, one of which has over 800 feet of dips, drops, and straightaways extending over the side of the ship!

Laser tag, a surfing simulator, and an escape room can also be found onboard.

Navigator of the Seas itineraries

There are far fewer port options available on the west coast of North America compared to in the Caribbean. This means Navigator of the Seas typically sails the same few itineraries year round, but that doesn’t mean the itineraries aren’t enticing.

Related: Mexican Riviera cruise guide

Here are the three main itineraries offered on Navigator of the Seas:

• 3-night Ensenada cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico with one day at sea
• 4-night Catalina & Ensenada cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina Island with one day at sea
• 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise visiting Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán with three days at sea

Mariner of the Seas

Like Navigator of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas is a Voyager Class cruise ship that underwent a significant amplification to add new features and venues to the ship. If we had to pick the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for vacation value, we’d pick Mariner of the Seas.

Related: After 12 sailings on Mariner of the Seas, I’m convinced this ship offers the best value Royal Caribbean has to offer

During her amplification, Mariner of the Seas received $120 million in upgrades, which included an escape room, laser tag, waterslides, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Izumi Hibachi, and Jamie’s Italian.

Like Navigator of the Seas, The Bamboo Room bar is located on the ship’s Royal Promenade, and is a fantastic getaway for adults onboard. In addition, the updated specialty restaurants make planning a date night easy, whether you’re in the mood for hibachi or homemade pasta.

Outside of dining and drinks, Mariner of the Seas has just the right amount of entertainment. The ice skating rink, Studio B, hosts a production show that features twists, turns, and flips on the ice, whereas the theater hosts game shows, comedians, and dancing productions.

Related: Mariner of the Seas Guide & Review

In combination with the wide variety of live music onboard, from Latin tunes at Boleros to piano melodies at the Schooner Bar, Mariner of the Seas offers nearly as much programming as you'll find on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.

Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s massive Oasis Class cruise ships are arguably the most family-focused ships in the fleet. Each of these vessels boasts an unparalleled amount of activities for kids, including splash pads, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, and the most space dedicated to Adventure Ocean kids programming.

With so many activities, it’s unsurprising that Oasis Class ships attract a large number of families, but fear not: you can still have an incredible, adult-focused cruise experience on these vessels.

If we had to pick the Oasis Class ship best for adults, we’d choose Allure of the Seas. Allure of Seas was set to undergo an amplification in 2020 to add features like waterslides, updated kids programming, and new dining venues to the ship, but this has been indefinitely postponed.

Related: The Oasis Class features that are only left on Allure of the Seas

Because of this, the ship isn’t as kid-focused as other Oasis Class ships. This makes for a quieter, more tranquil atmosphere onboard while still offering world-class entertainment and a wide selection of dining and bars.

While onboard, you can enjoy romantic date nights at one of the many restaurants in Central Park, the ship’s outdoor park with over 20,000 plants. After dinner, catch the Broadway production of Mamma Mia, listen to a live rock band at Dazzles, or see a comedian at the ship’s standalone comedy club.

Since Allure of the Seas has not been amplified, cruise fares tend to be lower. Lower fares can make upgrading to a balcony cabin or suite more attainable for some guests, making for the perfect adult getaway.

Anthem of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships are among the best ships for adults. Their sophisticated design, quiet indoor spaces, and spectacular itineraries make them a perfect choice for adults.

That isn’t to say Quantum Class ships aren’t great for families, however, and we often recommend this class of ships to first time cruisers. With bumper cars, indoor skydiving, and surf simulators, Quantum Class ships can be fun for guests of all ages.

Related: All about Quantum Class ships

The reason these ships are so great for adults, though, is due to the their design. Most kid-focused attractions on the ships are found only in designated areas. The majority of family-friendly activities occur in the indoor SeaPlex court and in the ship’s aft, leaving the rest of the ship more geared toward adults.

Plus, the lack of waterslides on these vessels makes the pool deck experience calmer for adults, and the adults-only Solarium on Quantum Class ships is perhaps the best in the fleet.

While you can’t go wrong with any Quantum Class ship, our top recommendation for adults is Anthem of the Seas. As the second ship in the Quantum Class, Anthem of the Seas shines in her diverse itinerary options and high quality entertainment.

Related: Anthem of the Seas Guide & Review

Anthem of the Seas is one of the only non-Oasis Class ships to feature a Broadway show, We Will Rock You. The ship’s high-energy performance tells the story of a group of rock rebels fighting for musical freedom in a dystopian futuristic society.

Outside of the Broadway production are even more exciting entertainment choices, including a cabaret show in the expansive Two70 venue and live rock bands in the Music Hall.

Radiance of the Seas

Planning an adults-only getaway to Alaska? If so, Radiance of the Seas makes a great choice. Like all Royal Caribbean ships, Radiance of the Seas is designed for guests of all ages, but the ship has a more chill vibe onboard compared to newer ships sailing to Alaska.

As a Radiance Class ship, Radiance of the Seas was built with ocean views in mind. Adults will appreciate the impressive amount of windows around the ship, allowing you to see breathtaking views in nearly every direction. Whether at the ship’s champagne bar or in the Viking Crown Lounge, you can always find a quiet spot to relax with a view.

Related: All about Radiance Class cruise ships

Many cruisers also appreciate that Radiance of the Seas gives guests access to the helicopter pad. When sailing through scenic destinations, the helicopter pad is among the best viewing spots on the ship, allowing you to connect more closely with the destinations on your itinerary.

While the ship lacks features like an escape room and ice skating, she still offers other fun activities for adults to enjoy including mini golf, rock climbing, and a sports court. Radiance of the Seas also features an indoor movie theater, which is perfect for chilly sea days or a date night after dinner.

Rhapsody of the Seas

If you’re in search of a low-key getaway on a small cruise ship, it doesn’t get much better than Rhapsody of the Seas.

Rhapsody of the Seas is the second oldest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, and it’s a far cry from the cruise line’s newest and biggest vessels. With a total capacity of just 2,416 guests, the ship holds around a third of the passengers compared to new ships like Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.

Related: All about Vision Class ships

The ship’s small size and age mean there are fewer activities for families. You certainly won’t find features like waterslides, laser tag, and skydiving onboard, although there is a rock climbing wall and Adventure Ocean kids programming.

The smaller amount of kid-friendly activities means far fewer families book cruises on Rhapsody of the Seas compared to the fleet’s newer ships. This leads to a more adult-focused atmosphere onboard, which can make a cruise more relaxing for those traveling without kids.

Plus, cruise fares on Rhapsody of the Seas tend to be much lower than newer ships. Money saved on cruise fare can be put toward extra add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, spa treatments, and shore excursions, leading to a more enhanced cruise experience.

Despite being a small ship, Rhapsody of the Seas still features nine dining venues. Guests can enjoy complimentary meals at the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, and Park Cafe or specialty dining at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, and Izumi.

Related: I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s newest and oldest cruise ships: here’s what it’s like to cruise on each

Outside of dining venues, Rhapsody of the Seas also features a spacious adults-only Solarium, large spa and salon, Schooner Bar, and a variety of entertainment lounges and venues.